BRANCHE is confined to his own nation, and to his own age. And ADDISON, perhaps, will be read with pleafure, when LOCKE fhall be entirely forgotten.

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 entirely deftitute of all relish for thofe noble entertainments. The moft perfect character is fuppofed to lie between thofe extremes; retaining an equal ability and tafte for books, company, and business; preferving in converfation that difcernment and delicacy which arife from polite letters; and in bufinefs, that probity and accuracy which are the natural result of a juft philofophy. In order to diffuse and cultivate fo accomplished a character, nothing can be more useful than compofitions of the eafy ftyle 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 sentiments and wife precepts, applicable to every exigence of human life. By means of fuch compofitions, virtue becomes amiable, icience agreeable, company inftructive, and retirement entertaining.

Man is a reasonable being; and as fuch, receives from science 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 lefs than a reasonable being: But neither can he always enjoy company agreeable and amusing, or preserve the proper relish for them. Man is also an active being; and from that difpofition, as well as from the various neceffities of human life, must fubmit to business and occupation: But the mind requires fome relaxation, and cannot always fupport its bent to care and induftry. It seems, then, that nature has pointed out a mixed kind of life as moft fuitable to human race, and fecretly admonished them to allow none of these biaffes to draw too much, so as to incapacitate them for other occupations and entertainments. Indulge your paffion for science, fays fhe, but let your science be human, and fuch as may have a direct reference to action and fociety. Abftrufe thought and profound researches I prohibit, and will severely 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 difcoveries shall meet with, when communicated. Be a philofopher; but, amidst all your philofophy, be still a man.

Were the generality of mankind contented to prefer the easy philofophy to the abstract 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 of all profound reasonings, or what is commonly called metaphyfics, we shall now proceed to confider what can reasonably be pleaded in their behalf.

We may begin with obferving, that one confiderable advantage, which refults from the accurate and abstract philofophy, is, its fubferviency to the eafy and humane; which, without the former, can never attain a fufficient degree of exactness in its fentiments, precepts, or reasonings. All polite letters are nothing but pictures of human life in various attitudes and fituations; and inspire us with different fentiments, of praise or blame, admiration or ridicule, according to the qualities of the object, which they fet before us. An artist must be better qualified to fucceed in this undertaking, who, befides a delicate taste and a quick apprehenfion, posfeffes 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. How painful fo ever this inward fearch or enquiry 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 anatomist presents to the eye the moft hideous and disagreeable 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 still carry his attention to the inward ftructure of the human body, the pofition of the muscles, the fabric of the bones, and the use and figure of every part or organ. Accuracy is, in every cafe, advantageous to beauty, and juft reafoning to delicate fentiment. In vain would we exalt the one by depreciating the other.

Befides, we may obferve, in every art or profeffion, even those which moft concern life or action, that a

fpirit of accuracy, however acquired, carries all of them nearer their perfection, and renders them more fubfervient to the interefts of fociety. And though a philofopher may live remote from business, the genius of philosophy, if carefully cultivated by feveral, must gradually diffuse itself throughout 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 operations. The stability of modern governments above the ancient, and the accuracy of modern philosophy, have improved, and probably will still improve, by fimilar gradations.

Were there no advantage to be reaped from these ftudies, beyond the gratification of an innocent curiofity, yet ought not even this to be despised; as being one acceffion to those few safe and harmless pleasures, which are bestowed on human race. The sweetest and moft inoffenfive path of life leads through the avenues of science and learning; and whoever can either remove any obstructions in this way, or open up any new profpect, ought fo far to be efteemed a benefactor to mankind. And though these researches may appear painful and fatiguing, it is with fome minds as with fome bodies, which, being endowed with vigorous and florid health, require fevere exercise, and reap a pleasure 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

But this obfcurity in the profound and abstract philofophy, is objected to, not only as painful and fatiguing, but as the inevitable fource of uncertainty and error. Here indeed lies the jufteft and moft plaufible objection. against a confiderable part of metaphyfics, that they are not properly a fcience; 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 themfelves on fair ground, raise these 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 ftouteft antagonist, if he remit his 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 fufficient reason, why philofophers should defift from fuch researches, and leave fuperftition ftill in poffeffion of her retreat? Is it not proper to draw a direct contrary conclufion, and perceive the neceffity of carrying the war into the moft fecret recefies of the enemy? In vain do we hope, that men, from frequent difappointment, will at laft abandon fuch airy fciences, and discover the proper province of human reafon. For, befides that many perfons find too fenfible an intereft in perpetually recalling fuch topics; befides this, I fay, the motive of blind defpair can never reasonably have place in the fciences; fince, however unfuccefsful former attempts may have proved, there is ftill room to hope, that the industry, good fortune, or improved fagacity

3