SSB LOGIC : On, THE RIGHT USE OF REASON, this life, or the life to come. If it be a virtue, we must seek what are the principles of it, what are the rules of it, what are the tendencies of it, and what are the false virtues that counter- feit it, and what are the real virtues that oppose it, what are the evils which attend the neglect of it, and what are the rewards of the practice of it both here and hereafter. If the subject be historical, or a matter of fact, we may then enquire whether the action was done at all ; whether it was done in such a manner, or by such persons as is reported ; at what time it was done in what place ; by what motive, and for what design ; what is the evidence of the fact, who are the wit - nesses ; what is their character and credibility ; what signs there are of such a fact ; what concurrent circumstances which may either support the truth of it, or render it doubtful. In order to make due enquiries into all these, and many other particulars which go towards the complete and comprehen- site idea of any being, the science of ontology is exceeding ne- cessary. This is what was wont to be called the first part of metaphysics in the peripatetic schools. It treats of being in its most general nature, and of all its affections and relations. I confess the old popish school-men have mingled a number of useless subtleties with this science ;. they have exhausted their own spirits, and the spirits of their readers, in many laborious and intricate trifles ; and some of their writings have been fruitful of names without ideas, which have done much injury to the sacred study of divinity. Upon this account many of the mòderns have most unjustly abandoned the whole science at once, and thrown abundance of contempt and raillery 'upon the very name of metaphysics ; but this contempt and censure is very unreasonable, for this science, separated from some aris- totelian fooleries, and scholastic subtleties, is so necessary to a distinct conception, solid judgment, and just reasoning on many subjects, that sometimes it is introduced as a part of Logic, and not without reason. And those, who utterly despise and ridi- cule it, either betray their own ignorance, or will be supposed to make their wit and banter a refuge and excuse for their own la- ziness. Yet thus much I would add, that the later writers Of ontology are generally the best on this account, because they have left out much of the ancient jargon. See the brief scheme of ontolegyin the Philosophical Essays, by L Watts. Here let it be noted, that it is neither useful, necessary, or possible to run through all the modes, circumstances, and rela- tions of every subject we take in hand; but in ontology we enumerate a great variety òf them, that so a judicious mind may choose what are those circumstances, relations and properties df any subject, which are most necessary to the present design of . hirh that speaks, or writes, either to explain, to illustrate, or to prove the point. '
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