iÜfl LOGIC : OR, fItE ttÌEEIIIt GSE OF REASON. Judge of objects tòo small, for some things Which appear through &lasses to be really and distinctly existent, are either utterly in- 'Visible, or greatly confused, when we would judge of them by the naked eye. 4. We must place ourselves in such a,position toward the Object, or place the object in such a position toward cur eye, as may give us the clearest representation of it : for a different po- sitivn greatly alters the appearance of the shape of bodies ; and for this reason we should change the position both of the eye and the object in some cases, that by viewing the object in several appearances, we may pass a more complete and certain judgment Concerning it. 5. We must consider what the medium is by which objects are repres`eñted to our senses ; whether it be Thinner or thicker ; whether it he air or vapour, or Water, or glass, &c. whether it be 'duly enlightened or dusky; whether it reflect or refract, or only transmit the appearance of the object; and whether it be tinctured with any particular colour : whether it be moving or at rest. fi. We must sometimes use biker helps to assist our senses ; and If we make use of glasses, we must make all just allowances for the thickness or thinness of them, for the clearness or dulness, Por the stuonthness or roughness, for the plainness, the convexity or concavity of them, and for the distance at which these glasses Are placed from the eye, or font the object, (or from one another, if there be two or more glasses used) astri all this according to the rules of art. The same sort of caution should he used also its mediums which assist the hearing, such as speaking - trumpets, hearing- trumpets, &e. al. If the object may be proposed to more senses than one, let us ca11 in the assistance of some other senses to examine it, and this will increase the evidence of what one sensé dictates. For example ; our ear may assist our eye in judging of the distance Of bodies, which are both visible and sonorous, as an exploded tenon, or a cloud charged with thunder. Our feeling may assist our sight in judging of the kind, the shape, situation, or dis- tance of bodies that are hear at hand, as whether a garment be silk or stuff; &c. So, if I both see,' hear, and embrace my friend, I tin sure he is present. S. We should also make several trials, at some distant times, and in different circumstances, comparing former experiments with later, and our own observations with those of other persons. It is by Such methods as these that modern philosophy has been so greatly improved by the use of sensible experiments. SECT. II. Principles anti Pules of Judgment in matters óf Reason and Speculation. ÍT is by reason wé judge both in matters of speculation and
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