TO SIR JOHN HARTOPP, BART. ..11 Sin, IT is fit the public should receive through your hands, what was written originally for the assistance of your younger studies, and was then present- ed to you. It was by the repeated importunities of our learned friend Mr. John Eames, that I was persuaded to revise the Rudiments of Logic, and when I had once suffered myself to begin the work, I was drawn still onward, far beyond my first design, even to the neglect, or too long delay, of other pres- sing and important demands that were upon me. It has been my endeavour to form every part of this Treatise both for the instruction of students, to open their way into the sciences, and for the more extensive and general service of mankind, that the Gentleman and the Chris- tian might find their account in the perusal, as well as the Scholar. I have therefore collected and proposed the chief principles and rules of right judg- ment in matters of common and sacred importance, and pointed out our most frequent mistakes and prejudices in the concerns of life and religion, that we might better guard against the springs of error, guilt and sorrow, which sur- round us in our state of mortality. , You know, Sir, the great design of this noble science is to rescue our reasoning powers from their unhappy slavery and darkness; and thus, with all due submission and deference, it offers an humble assistance to divine reve- lation. Its chief business is to relieve the natural weakenesses of the mind, by some better efforts of nature : It is to diffuse a light over the understand- ing in our enquiriesafter truth, and not to furnish the tongue with debate and controversy. True Logic is not that noisy thing that deals all indispute and wrangling, to which former ages had debased and confined it ; yet its disci- ples must acknowledge also, that they are taught to vindicate and defend the truth, as well as to search it out. True Logic Both not require a long detail of hard words to amuse mankind, and to puff up the mind with empty sounds, and a pride of false learning; yet some distinctions and terms of art are necessary to range every idea in its proper class, and to keep our thoughts from confusion. The world is now grown so wise, as not to suffer this valua- ble art to be engrossed by the schools. In so polite and knowing an age, every man of reason will covet some acquaintance with Logic, since it renders its daily service to wisdom and virtue, and to the affairs of common 'life, as well as to the sciences. I will not presume, Sir, that this little Book is improved since its first composure in proportion to the improvements of your manly age. But when you shall please to review it in your retired horns, perhaps you may refresh your own memory in some of the early parts of learning. And if you find all the additional Remarks and Rules made so familiar to you already by your own observation, that there is nothing new among them, it will be no un- pleasing reflection that you have so far anticipated the present zeal and labour of, SIR, Your most faithful And obedient Servant, ?I I. WATTS. I,oudsa, Aug. 24, 1724,
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