CIIAPTER VI. tñ5 cr. ,comprehensive Conception of Things, and of Abstraction. TIIE third rule to direct our conceptions, requires us to eonceive of things comprehensively. As we must survey an ob- ject in all its parts to obtain a complete idea of it, so we must consider it in all its modes, attributes, properties, and relations, tîn.order.to obtain a comprehensive conception of -it. The comprehension of an isles, as it was explained under the' doctrine of universals, includes only the essential modes or attributes of that idea ; but in this place the word is taken in a larger sense ; and implies also the various occasional properties, accidental modes, and relations. The necessity of this rule is founded upon the same reason as the former ; namely, 'Í'hat our minds are narrow and scanty in their capacities, and as they are not able to consider all the parts of a complex idea at once, so neither can they at once con- template all the different attributes and circumstances of it : we must therefore consider things successively and gradually in their vario{ts.appearances and circumstances ; as our natural eye cannot at once behold the six sides of a dye or cube, nor take cognizance of all the points that are marked on them, and there- 'f'ore we turn up the sides successively, and thus survey and num- ber tite points that are marked on each side, that we may know the whole. In order to a comprehensive view of any idea, we must first ,consider whether the object of it has an existence as well as an essence ; whether it be a simple or complex idea ; whether it be .a sù¢ stance or a mode ; if it be a substance, then we must en- quire what are the essential modes of it which are necessary to ,it's .nature, and what are those properties or accidents of it which belong to it occasionally, or as it is placed in some parti- ,sular circumstances : we must view it in its internal and absolute modes and observe it in those various externalrelations in wdtigh it stands to other. beings : we ntust consider it in its powers and capacities either to do or suffer : we must trace it up to its vari- ous causes whether supreme or subordinate. We most descend to tite variety of its effects, and take notice of the several ends and designs which are to be attained by it. We must conceive of it as it is either art object or a subject, what are the things that are a -kin to it, and what are the opposites or contraries of it; for many things are to be known both by their contrary and their ,ltindred ideas. If tlle thing we discourse' of be a mere mode, we must en- quire whether it belongs to spirits or bodies ; whether it be as ;physical or moral mode; if umoral, then we must consider its re- ;ation to God, to ourselves, to our neighbours ; its, reference $s VOL. vtt. B s
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=