understanding, and show, from an exact analyfis of its powers and capacity, that it is by no means fitted for fuch remote and abftrufe fubjects. We muft fubmit to this fatigue, in order to live at ease ever after: And must cultivate true metaphyfics with fome care, in order to destroy the false and adulterate. Indolence, which, to fome perfons, affords a fafeguard against this deceitful philofophy, is, with others, over-balanced by curiofity; and defpair, which, at fome moments, prevails, may give place afterwards to fanguine hopes and expectations. Accurate and juft reafoning is the only catholic remedy, fitted for all perfons and all difpofitions; and is alone able to fubvert that abitrufe philosophy and metaphysical jargon, which, being mixed up with popular fuperftition, renders it in a manner impenetrable to careless reasoners, and gives it the air of science and wisdom. ;

Befides this advantage of rejecting, after deliberate inquiry, the most uncertain and disagreeable part of learning, there are many pofitive advantages, which refult from an accurate fcrutiny into the powers and faculties of human nature. It is remarkable concerning the operations of the mind, that though most intimately present to us, yet, whenever they become the object of reflection, they seem involved in obfcurity; nor can the eye readily find thofe lines and boundaries which difcriminate and diftinguish them. The objects are too fine to remain long in the fame aspect or fituation; and must be apprehended in an inftant, by a fuperior penetration, derived from nature, and improved by habit and reflection. It becomes, therefore, no inconfiderable part of science barely to know the different operations of the mind, to feparate them from each other, to clafs them under their

proper

proper heads, and to correct all that seeming diforder, in which they lie involved, when made the object of reflection and inquiry. This task of ordering and distinguishing, which has no merit, when performed with regard to external bodies, the objects of our fenfes, rifes in its value, when directed towards the operations of the mind, in proportion to the difficulty and labour which we meet with in performing it. And if we can go no farther than this mental geography, or delineation of the diftinct parts and powers of the mind, it is at least a fatisfaction to go so far; and the more obvious this science may appear (and it is by no means obvious), the more contemptible still must the ignorance of it be esteemed, in all pretenders to learning and philofophy.

Nor can there remain any suspicion, that this fcience is uncertain and chimerical; unless we should entertain fuch a scepticism as is entirely fubverfive of all fpeculation, and even action. It cannot be doubted that the mind is endowed with feveral powers and faculties, that these powers are distinct from each other, that what is really diftinct to the immediate perception may be distinguished by reflection; and confequently, that there is a truth and falfehood in all propofitions on this subject, and a truth and falsehood, which lie not beyond the compass of human understanding. There are many obvious diftinctions of this kind, fuch as thofe between the will and understanding, the imagination and paffions, which fall within the comprehenfion of every human creature; and the finer and more philofophical diftinctions are no lefs real and certain, though more difficult to be comprehended. Some inftances, especially late ones, of fuccefs in these inquiries, may give us a juster notion of the certainty and folidity of this branch of learning, And shall we efteem it worthy the labour of a philofo

pher

pher to give us a true fyftem of the planets, and adjust the position and order of those remote bodies; while we affect to overlook thofe who, with fo much fuccefs, delineate the parts of the mind, in which we are fo intimately concerned?

nature.

But may we not hope, that philofophy, if cultivated with care, and encouraged by the attention of the public, may carry its refearches ftill farther, and difcover, at leaft in fome degree, the fecret springs and principles by which the human mind is actuated in its operation? Aftronomers had long contented themfelves with proving, from the phænomena, the true motions, order, and magnitude of the heavenly bodies: Till a philosopher, at last, arofe, who feems, from the happiest reafoning, to have alfo determined the laws and forces, by which the revo lutions of the planets are governed and directed. The like has been performed with regard to other parts of And there is no reason to despair of equal fuccefs in our inquiries concerning the mental powers and œconomy, if profecuted with equal capacity and caution. It is probable, that one operation and principle of the mind depends on another; which, again, may be refolved into one more general and univerfal: And how far these researches may poffibly be carried, it will be difficult for us, before, or even after, a careful trial, exactly to determine. This is certain, that attempts of this kind are every day made even by those who philofophize the moit negligently: And nothing can be more requifite than to enter upon the enterprize with thorough care and attention; that, if it lie within the compass of human undertanding, it may at laft be happily atchieved; if not, it may, however, be rejected with fome confidence and fecurity. This laft conclufion, furely, is not defirable;

nor

nor ought it to be embraced too rafhly. For how much must we diminish from the beauty and value of this species of philofophy, upon fuch a fuppofition? Moralists have hitherto been accustomed, when they confidered the vaft multitude and diverfity of those actions that excite our approbation or diflike, to fearch for fome common principle, on which this variety of fentiments might depend. And though they have fometimes carried the matter too far, by their paffion for fome one general principle; it muft, however, be confeffed, that they are excufable in expecting to find fome general principles, into which all the vices and virtues were justly to be refolved. The like has been the endeavour of critics, logicians, and even politicians: Nor have their attempts been wholly unfuccefsful; though perhaps longer time, greater accuracy, and more ardent application, may bring these sciences still nearer their perfection. To throw up at once all pretenfions of this kind, may justly be deemed more rash, precipitate, and dogmatical, than even the boldest and most affirmative philofophy, that has ever attempted to impofe its crude dictates and principles on mankind.

What though thefe reafonings concerning human na ture seem abstract, and of difficult comprehenfion? This affords no prefumption of their falfehood. On the contrary, it seems impoffible, that what has hitherto escaped fo many wife and profound philofophers, can be veryo bvious and easy. And whatever pains these researches may coft us, we may think ourfelves fufficiently rewarded, not only in point of profit but of pleasure, if, by that means, we can make any addition to our stock of knowledge, in fubjects of fuch unfpeakable importance.

But as, after all, the abftractedness of these fpeculations is no recommendation, but rather a disadvantage

to them, and as this difficulty may perhaps be furmounted by care and art, and the avoiding of all unneceffary detail, we have, in the following inquiry, attempted to throw fome light upon subjects, from which uncertainty has hitherto deterred the wife, and obscurity the ignorant. Happy, if we can unite the boundaries of the different fpecies of philofophy, by reconciling profound inquiry with clearness, and truth with novelty! And ftill more happy, if, reasoning in this easy manner, we can undermine the foundations of an abstruse philosophy, which feems to have hitherto served only as a shelter to superstition, and a cover to abfurdity and error!