324 TONIC: OR THE RIGHT USE OF REASON. between them. These are called propria quarto mode in the: schools, or properties of the fourth sort. Note, Where there is any one property or essential attri- bute, so superior to the rest, that it appears plainly that all the rest are derived from it, and such as is sufficient to give a full distinction of that subject from all other subjects, this attribute or property is called the essential dii jérence, as is before declared ; and we commonly say, the essence of the thing consists in it ; an the essence of matter in general seems to consist in solidity or solid extension. But for the Most part we are so much at a loss in finding out the intimate essence of particular natural bodies, that we are forced to distinguish the essential difference of most things by a combination of properties. So a sparrow is a bird which has such coloured feathers, and such a particular size, shape, and motion. So wormwood is an herb which has such a leaf of such a colour, and shape, and taste, and such a root, and stalk. So beasts and fishes, minerals, metals, and works of art sometimes, as w:ll as of nature, are distinguished by such a collection of properties. SECT. IW. The farther Divisions of Mode. II. TIIE second division of modes is into absolute and re- lative. An absolute mode is that which belongs to its subject, without respect to any other beings whatsoever : but a relative mode is derived from the regard that one being has to others. So roundness and smoothness are the absolute modes of a bowl for if there were nothing else existing in the whole creation, a bowl might be round and smooth ; but greatness and smallness are relative modes ; for the very ideas of them are derived merely from the comparison of one being with others ; a bowl of four inches diameter is very great, compared with one of an inch and an half ; but it is very small in comparison of another bowl, whose diameter is eighteen or twenty inches. Motion is the absolute mode of a body, but swiftness or slowness are rela- tive ideas, for the motion of a bowl on a bowling- green, is swift, when compared with a snail ; and it is slow, when compared with a cannon bullet. These relative modes are largely treated of by some logical and metaphysical writers under the name of relation: and these relations themselves are farther subdivided into such as arise fi-on the nature of things, and such as arise merely from the operations if our 'minds ; one sort are called real relations, the other mental; so the likeness of one egg to another, is a real relation, because it arises from the real nature of things ; for whether there was any man or mind to conceive it or no, one egg. would be like another : but when we consider an egg is a noun substantive in grammar, or as Signified .by the letters e, g, g, these are there mental relations, and derive their very nature
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=