E X A M I N A T I O N O F, &c. 65 



fpecies, is only a fugitive image of the immu- 

 table eternity of this harmonic triangle, a uni- 

 verial prototype of all exiftences, and of all ge- 

 nerations. 



This philofopher paints only ideas. Difen- 

 gaged from matter, he flies into the regions of 

 abllradionj and, loiing fight of fenfible objedts, 

 he contemplates thofe of intelled: alone. One 

 caufe, one end, one mean, compofe the whole 

 of his perceptions : God is the caufe, perfecftion 

 the end, and harmonic reprefentations the means. 

 This idea is fublime; the mode of philofophi- 

 fmg is noble and full of fimplicity; but it is 

 perfectly vacant, and affords no objeds for fpe- 

 culation. We are not pure intelligences. We 

 are unable to give real exiftence to our ideas. 

 Chained to matter, or rather depending on the 

 caufes of our fenfations, it is impofFible that we 

 fhould realife abftraclions. To Plato I might 

 reply in his own manner, ' The Creator realifes 



* every thing he conceives; his perceptions be- 

 ' get exiftence: The created being, on the con- 



* trary, conceives nothing but by retrenching 



* from reality; and annihilation is neceffary to 

 ' bring forth his ideas.' 



Let us, without regret, therefore, confine out- 

 felves to a philofophy more humble and more 

 material; and, keeping within the fphere which 

 nature has allotted us, let us examine thofe rapid 

 and daring fpirits who attempt, though in vain, 

 to fly beyond the limits of humanity. The whole 



Vol. ir. E ' of 



