44 THE IMPiÇ:QVEMENT on THE MINH. CHAP. V.Judgment of Books. J. IF we would form á judgment of a Book which we have` not seen before, the first thing that oflérs is the title -page and we may sometimes guess á little at the import and design of a book thereby : though it must be confessed, that titles are often deceitful, and promise more than the book performs. The author's name if it be known in the world, may help us to con- jecture at the performance a little more, and lead us to guess in what manner it is done. A perusal of the preface or isitroduc- lion (which 1 before recommended) may farther assist our judo--. went ; and if there be an index of the contents, it will giye someadvancing light. If we have not leisure or inclination to read over the book itself regularly, than by the titles of chapters, we may be di- rected to peruse several particular chapters or sections, and ob., serve whether there be any thing valuable or important in them. We shall find hereby whether the author explains his ideas' Clearly, whether he reasons strongly, whether he methodize* well, whether'his thoughts and sense be manly and his manner polite ; or, on the other hand, whether he be obscure; weak, rsffing and confused: or, finally, whether the matter may not be solid and substantial, though thç manner or style be rude and disagreeable. H. By having run through several chapters and sections in this manner, we may generally judge whether the treatise be Worth a complete perusal or no. But if by such an occasional survey of some chapters, our expectation be utterly discouraged, We may well lay aside that book ; for there is great probability he can be but an indifferent writer on that subject, if he affords but one prize to divers blanks, and it may he some downright, blots -too. The piece caw hardly be valuable if in seven or eight chapters which we peruse, there be but little truth, evidence,, force of reasoning, beauty, and ingenuity of thought, ei.e- ming- led with much error, ignorance, impertinence, dulness, mean - and common thoughts, inaccuracy, sophistry, railing, 3tc. Life, is too short, and time is too precious, to read every new book; quite over, in order to find that it is not worth the reading. III. There are somegeneral mistakeswhich persons are fre- quently guilty of in passing a judgment on the books which they react. One is this; when a treatise is written but tolerably well, we are ready to pass a. favourable judgment of it, and some times to. exalt its:character far beyond its merit, if it agree with our own principles, and support the opinions of our party. On the other hand, if the. author he of different sentiments, anti espouse contrary principles, we can find neither wit nor reason,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=