OF M A iSf. 355 



* 



negation ? Such negative expreffions can com- 

 municate no politive idea. But, to fay that we 

 are certain, of the exigence of the former, and 

 Icfs aifured of that of the latter ; that the fub- 

 flance of the one is funple, indivifible, and has 

 no form, becaufe it manifells itfelf only by a 

 fmgle modification, which is that of thought ; 

 that the other is lefs a fubftanc^, than a fubjed: 

 capable of receiving fpecies of forms relative to 

 our fenfes, which are all as uncertain and as va- 

 riable as the organs themfelves, is advancing 

 one ftep towards a didind: idea of the nature of 

 the two fnbftances : It is afcribing to both dif- 

 ferent and peculiar properties; it aiiigns lothem 

 politive qualities, and enables us to inllitute a 

 comparifon between them. 



All our knowledge is ultimately derived from 

 comparifon. What is abfolutely incomparable^ 

 muft be incomprehenlible. Of this God is the 

 only example : fie cannot be comprehc?rJed, 

 becaufe he can be compared with no orber be- 

 ing. But every thing whicli is fulceptible of 

 ijeing compared, and of being relatively viewed 

 in ditierent ilghrs, becomes a fource of human 

 knowledge. The more fubjeds of comparifon 

 which any cbjed alTords, the means of formino: 

 a proper knowledge concerning it are propor- 

 tionally incrcafcd and facilitated. 



The cxifxence of the foul is felf-evidcnt : To 

 be, and to think, are, with regard to us, the fame 

 thing. 1 iiis truth is more than intuitive : It i3 



Z 2 independei\t 



