328 recencs. full assurance in any point, is to read only one side of a controversy : These are generally the confident and infallible diotators to mankind ; they see no difficulty and admit no doubt. I must confess I have followeda different me- thod of study, and therefore I have so few indubitables among myphilosophi- cal acquirements. But though I cannot pronouncecertainty on my sentiments on this argument, yet I have been loth to renounce and obliterate them at once, and to leave so vast a vacancy among my intellectual ideas, unless I could have found some tolerable system of the nature and operations of our souls to put in the room of it, which was attended with less or fewer difficul- ties. But this I have sought in vain, both in my own meditations, and among the works of the learned. An iuextended spirit, without proper proximities to place or body, is a hard idea to us, while we dwell in this incarnate state among shapes and matter, place or motion ; but a spirit that is extended, era thinkingpower with dimensions and shape, with local parts andmotion, ap- pears to me still an harder idea, and gives greater pain and difficulty to the mind that will pursue any position through all its train of consequences. I think I have no partiality for the name of the French philosopher: But let every man who has sent any new beams of light into the world of nature, and taught us better to understand the works of God, have the just debt of honourspaid to his memory. Let theillustrious nameof Newton standhighest in that sphere, and without a rival. But let those also who have opened the way for so great a light to shine, by removing the rubbish and darkness of former ages, have their proper monuments of praise. Had not aDes Cartes risen up in the world and traced his way before, I much question whether Sir Isaac Newton had ever made so vast and sublime a progress in the discovery of his wonders to this enlightened age. If I can pretend to any freedomof thought in my little sphere of enquiry after truth, I must ascribe the original of it to my reading the first book of Des Cartes's principles in the very begin- ning of my studies, and the familiar commentswhich I heard on that work. Thatgreat man, in someof his writings, pointed out the road to true philo- sophy, by reason and experiment, and mathematical science; though he did not steadily pursue that track himself in his own philosophising on corporeal things. Gassenduo and the Lord Bacon went a little before him: Mr. Boyle followed after ; and they all carried on the noble design of freeing the world from the long slavery of Aristotle and substantial forms of occult qualities, andwords without ideas. They taught mankind to trace out truthby reason- ing and experiment; and they agreedto leave her to stand on herown lirun- dations, without the support pf an ipse dixit. The present age, in all their boasted and glorious acquisitions of knowledge, owe more to these gentlemen, than I have found some of themwilling to pay. Mr. Locke is another illustrious name. He has proceeded to break our philosophical fetters, and to give us further release from the bondage of an- cient authorities and maxims. I acknowledge the light and satisfaction which I-have derived from many of his works. His admirable letter of toleration led me as it were into a new region of thought, wherein 1 found myself sur- prised and charmed with truth. There was no room to doubt in the midst of sun- beams. These leaves triumphed overall the remnant of my prejudices on the side. of bigotry, and taught me to allow all men the same freedom to chose their religion, as -I claim to chose my own. Blessed lie God that this doctrine has now taken such root in Great Britain, that I trust neitherthe powers nor the frauds of Rome, nor the malice, pride, and darkness ofman- kind, nor the rageofhell shall ever prevail against it. His treatises of the original of government, and of education, have I.üd the foundations of true liberty,. and the rules of just restraint for the younger and elder years of man. His writings relating tochristianity, have some ex- cellent thoughts in them ; though I fear he has sunk some of the divise themes and glories of that dispensation too touch below their original design.
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