The mere philofopher is a character which is commonly but little acceptable in the world, as being fuppofed to contribute nothing either to the advantage or pleasure of fociety; while he lives remote from communication with mankind, and is wrapped up in principles and notions equally remote from their comprehenfion. On the other hand, the mere ignorant is ftill more defpifed; nor is any thing deemed a furer fign of an illiberal genius in an age and nation where the fciences flourish, than to be intirely void of all relish for those noble entertainments. The most perfect character is fuppofed to lie between those extremes; retaining an equal ability and tafte for books, company, and bufinefs; preferving in converfation that discernment and delicacy which arife from polite letters; and in bufinefs, that probity and accuracy which are the natural result of a juft philosophy. In order to diffuse and cultivate fo accomplished a character, nothing can be more useful than compofitions of the easy Яtyle and manner, which draw not too much from life, require no deep application or retreat to be comprehended, and fend back the ftudent among mankind full of noble fentiments and wife precepts, applicable to every exigence of human life. By means of fuch compofitions, virtue becomes amiable, fcience agreeable, company inftructive and retirement entertaining.

Man is a reasonable being; and as fuch, receives from fcience his proper food and nourishment: But fo narrow are the bounds of human understanding, that little fatisfaction can be hoped for in this particular, either from the extent or fecurity of his acquifitions. Man is a fociable, no less than a reasonable being: But neither can he always enjoy company agreeable and amufing, or prefervé the proper relifh of them. Man is alfo an active being; and from that difpofition, as well as from the various neceffities of human life, muft fubmit to bufiness and oc

cupation:

cupation: But the mind requires fome relaxation, and cannot always fupport its bent to care and industry. It feems, then, that nature has pointed out a mixed kind of life as most suitable to human race, and fecretly admo. nished them to allow none of these biaffes to draw too much, fo as to incapacitate them for other occupations and entertainments. Indulge your paffion for science, says she, but let your science be human, and such as may have a direct reference to action and fociety. Abstruse thought and profound researches I prohibit, and will feverely punish, by the penfive melancholy which they introduce, by the endless uncertainty in which they involve you, and by the cold reception which your pretended discoveries will meet with, when communicated. Be a philofopher; but, amidst all your philosophy, be still

a man.

Were the generality of mankind contented to prefer the eafy philofophy to the abftract and profound, without throwing any blame or contempt on the latter, it might not be improper, perhaps, to comply with this general opinion, and allow every man to enjoy, without oppofition, his own tafte and fentiment. But as the matter is often carried farther, even to the abfolute rejecting all profound reasonings, or what is commonly called metaphyfics, we fhall now proceed to confider what can reasonably be pleaded in their behalf.

We may begin with observing, that one confiderable advantage which refults from the accurate and abftract philofophy, is, its fubferviency to the easy and humane ; which, without the former, can never attain a fufficient degree of exactnefs in its fentiments, precepts, or reafonings. All polite letters are nothing but pictures of human life in various attitudes and fituations; and infpire us with different fentiments, of praife or blame, admiration or ridicule, according to the qualities of the object which

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which they fet before us. An artist must be better qualified to fucceed in this undertaking, who, befides a deli cate taste and a quick apprehenfion, poffeffes an accurate knowledge of the internal fabric, the operations of the understanding, the workings of the paffions, and the various fpecies of fentiment which difcriminate vice and virtue. However painful this inward fearch or inquiry may appear, it becomes, in fome measure, requifite to thofe, who would defcribe with fuccefs the obvious and outward appearances of life and manners. The anatomift presents to the eye the most hideous and difagreeable objects; but his fcience is highly useful to the painter in delineating even a VENUS or an HELEN. While the latter employs all the richest colours of his art, and gives his figures the moft graceful and engaging airs; he must ftill carry his attention to the inward ftructure of the human body, the position of the muscles, the fabric of the bones, and the ufe and figure of every part or organ. Accuracy is, in every cafe, advantageous to beauty, and just reafoning to delicate fentiments. In vain would we exalt the one by depreciating the other.

Befides, we may obferve, in every art or profeffion, even those which most concern life or action, that a spirit of accuracy, however acquired, carries all of them nearer their perfection, and renders them more fubfervient to the interefts of fociety. And tho' a philofopher may live remote from bufinefs, the genius of philofophy, if carefully cultivated by several, must gradually diffuse itself thro' the whole fociety, and beftow a fimilar correctness on every art and calling. The politician will acquire greater forefight and subtilty, in the fubdividing and balancing of power; the lawyer more method and finer principles in his reasonings; and the general more regularity in his difcipline, and more caution in his plans and operation. The ftability of modern govern

ments

ments above the antient, and the accuracy of modern philofophy, have improved, and probably will ftill improve, by fimilar gradations.

Were there no advantage to be reaped from these ftudies, beyond the gratification of an. innocent curiosity, yet ought not even this to be despised; as being one acceffion to those few fafe and harmlefs pleasures which are bestowed on human race. The fweeteft and moft inoffenfive path of life leads thro' the avenues of science and learning; and whoever can either remove any obftructions in this way, or open up any new profpect, ought fo far to be efteemed a benefactor to mankind. And tho' these researches may appear painful and fatiguing, 'tis with some minds as with fome bodies, which being endowed with vigorous and florid health, require fevere exercise, and reap a pleafure from what, to the generality of mankind, may feem burdenfome and laborious. Obfcurity, indeed, is painful to the mind as well as to the eye; but to bring light from obfcurity, by whatever labour, muft needs be delightful and rejoicing.

But this obfcurity in the profound and abstract philosophy, is objected to, not only as painful and fatiguing, but as the inevitable fource of uncertainty and error, Here indeed lies the juftest and most plausible objection against a confiderable part of metaphyfics, that they are not properly a science, but arife either from the fruitless efforts of human vanity, which would penetrate into fubjects utterly inacceffible to the understanding, or from the craft of popular fuperftitions, which, being unable to defend themselves on fair ground, raife thefe intangling brambles to cover and protect their weakness. Chaced from the open country, thefe robbers fly into the foreft, and lie in wait to break in upon every unguarded avenue of the mind, and overwhelm it with religious fears and prejudices. The Louteft antagonist, if he remits his

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watch

watch a moment, is oppreffed. And many, through cowardice and folly, open the gates to the enemies, and willingly receive them with reverence and fubmiffion, as their legal fovereigns.

But is this a juft caufe why philofophers fhould defift from fuch researches, and leave fuperftition ftill in poffeffion of her retreat? Is it not reasonable to draw a direct contrary conclufion, and perceive the neceffity of carrying the war into the moft fecret receffes of the enemy? In vain do we hope, that men, from frequent disappointments, will at laft abandon fuch airy fciences, and discover the proper province of human reason. For, besides that many perfons find too fenfible an intereft in perpetually recalling fuch topics; befides this, I say, the motive of blind defpair can never reasonably have place in the sciences; fince, however unsuccessful former attempts may have proved, there is ftill room to hope, that the industry, good fortune, or improved fagacity of fucceeding generations may reach discoveries unknown to former ages. Each adventurous genius will still leap at the arduous prize, and find himself stimulated, rather than difcouraged, by the failures of his predeceffors ; while he hopes that the glory of atchieving fo hard an adventure is reserved for him alone. The only method of freeing learning, at once, from these abftruse questions, is to enquire seriously into the nature of human underftanding, and fhew from an exact analyfis of its powers and capacity, that it is by no means fitted for fuch remote and abftrufe fubjects. We must fubmit to this fatigue, in order to live at ease for ever after: And must cultivate true metaphyfics with fome care, in order to deftroy the falfe and adulterate. Indolence, which to fome perfons, affords a fafeguard against this deceitful philoso→ phy, is, with others, overbalanced by curiofity; and defpair, which, at fome moments, prevails, may give place

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