CHAPTER IV. 455 .assistance of sense also to be acquainted with lines, angles, and figures ; and in practical mathematics our senses have still greater employment. If we would judge of the pure properties and actions of the mind, of the nature of spirits, their various perceptions and powers, we must not enquire of our eyes and our ears, nor the images or shapes laid up in the brain, but we must have recourse to our own consciousness of what passes within our own mind. If we are to pass a judgment upon any thing that relates to spirits in a state of union with animal nature, and the mixt pro- perties of sensation, fancy, appetite, passion, pleasure and pain, which arise thence, we must consult our own sensations, and the other powers which we find in ourselves considered as men or creatures made up of a mind and an animal, and by just reason- ings deduce proper consequences, and improve our knowledge in these subjects. If we have occasion to judge concerning matters done in past ages or in different countries, and where we ourselves can- not be present, the powers of sense and reason, for the most part, are sufficient to inform us, and we must therefore have recourse to the testimony of others ; and this is either divine or human. In matters of mere human prudence, we shall lind the greatest advantage by making wise observations on our own conduct, and the conduct of others, and a survey of the events attending such conduct. Experience in this case is equal to a natural sagacity, or rather superior. A treasure of observations and experience collected by wise men, is of admirable service here ; and per- haps there is nothing in the world of this kind equal to the sacred Book of Proverbs, even if we look ou it as a mere human writing. In questions of natural religion, we must exercise the fa- culty of reason which God has given us; and since he has been pleased to afford us his word, we should confirm and improve, or correct our reasoning on this subject by the divine assistance of the bible. In matters of revealed religion, that is, Christianity, Juda- ism, Sic. which we could never have known by the light of nature, the word of God is our only foundation and chief light; though here our reason must be used both to find out the true meaning of God in his word, and to derive just inferences from what God has written, as well as to judge of the credentials whereby di- vine testimony is distinguished from mere human testimony, or from imposture. As divine revelation can never contradict right reason, for they are two great lights given us by our Creator for our conduct;
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