CHAPTER Ví: ISO our conceptions of things ; this is our main business and design in the first part of Logic. Now if we can but direct our thoughts to a just and happy manner in forming our ideas of things, the other operations of the mind will not so easily be perverted; because most of our errors in judgment, and the weakness, fallacy and mistakes of our argumentation, proceed from the darkness, confusion, defect, or some other irregularity in our conceptions. The rules to assist and direct our conceptions are these : 1. Conceive of things clearly and distinctly in their ow,t natures. 2. Conceive of things completely in all their parts. 3. Conceive of things comprehensively in all their proper.; ties and relations. 4. Conceive of things extensively in all their kinds. 5. Conceive of things orderly, or in a proper method. SECT. I.--Of gaining clear and distinct Ideas. THE first rule is this, Seek after a clear and distinct conception of things as they are in their own nature, and do not content. yourselves with obscure and coy fused ideas, where dearer are to be attained. There are some things indeed whereof distinct ideas are scarce attainable, they seem to surpass the capacity of the under- standing in our present state ; such are the notions of eternal, immense, infinite, whether this infinity be applied to number, 'as an infinite multitude ; to quantity, as infinite length, or breadth; to powers and perfections, as strength, wisdom, or goodness, in- finite, &c. Though mathematicians in their way demonstrate several things in the doctrine of infinites, yet there are still some insolvable difficulties that attend the ideas of infinity, when it is applied to mind or body ; and while it is in reality but an idea ever growing, we cannot have so clear and distinct a conçep' tion of it as to secure us from mistakes in some of our reasonings about it. There are many other things that belong to the material world, wherein the sharpest philosophers have never yet arrived at clear and distinct ideas ; such as the particular shape, situa- tion, contexture, and motion of the small particles of minerals, metals, plants, &c. whereby their very natures and essences are distinguished from each other. Nor have we either senses or instruments sufficiently nice and accurate to find them out. There are other things in the world of spirits wherein our ideas are very dark and confused, such as their union with animal nature, the way of their acting on material beings, and their converse with each other. And though it is a laudable ambition to search what may be known of these matters, yet it is a vast hindrause
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