Page images
PDF
EPUB

by the Light of the Rules which they have lately learned.

For a farther Progress in these Studies, they may confult Quintilian and Voffius's Rhetoric; the Art of Poetry will be best learned from Boffu and Bobours in French, together with Dryden's Effays and Prefaces, the critical Papers of Addifon, Spence on Pope's Odyssey, and Trapp's Prælectiones Poetica; but a more accurate and Philofophical Account is expected from a Commentary upon Ariftotle's Art of Poetry, with which the Literature of this Nation will be in a fhort Time augmented.

VI. With regard to the Practice of Drawing, it is not neceffary to give any Directions, the Ufe of the Treatife being only to teach the proper Method of imitating the Figures which are annex'd. It will be proper to incite the Scholars to Industry, by fhewing in other Books the Use of the Art, and informing them how much it affifts the Apprehenfion, and relieves the Memory; and if they are oblig'd fometimes to write Descriptions of Engines, Utenfils, or any complex Pieces of Workmanship, they will more fully apprehend the Neceffity of an Expedient which fo happily fupplies the Defects of Language, and enables the Eye to receive what cannot be conveyed to the Mind any other Way. When they have read this Treatife and practis'd upon thefe Figures, their Theory may be improved by the Jefuit's Per

b 4

Perspective, and their manual Operations by other Figures which may be eafily procured.

VII. Logic, or the Art of arranging and connecting Ideas, of forming and examining Arguments, is univerfally allow'd to be an Attainment in the utmost Degree worthy the Ambition of that Being, whofe highest Honour it is to be endued with Reafon; but it is dcubted, whether that Ambition has yet been gratified, and whether the Powers of Ratiocination have been much improved by any Systems of Art or methodical Inftitutions. The Logic which for fo many Ages kept Poffeffion of the Schools, has at laft been condemned as a mere Art of Wrangling, of very little Ufe in the Pursuit of Truth; and later Writers have contented themselves with giving an Account of the Operations of the Mind, marking the various Stages of her Progrefs, and giving fome general Rules for the Regulation of her Conduct. The Method of thefe Writers is here followed; but without a fervile Adherence to any, and with Endeavours to make Improvements upon all. This Work, however laborious, has yet been fruitlefs, if there be Truth in an Obfervation very frequently made, that Logicians out of the School do not reafon better than Men unaffifted by thofe Lights which their Science is fuppofed to beftow. It is not to be doubted but that Logicians may be fometimes overborn by their Paffions, or blinded by their Prejudices; and that a Man may reafon ill, as he may act ill, not because he does not know what is right, but be

caufe

cause he does not regard it; yet it is not more the Fault of his Art that it does not direct him when his Attention is withdrawn from it, than it is the Defect of his Sight that he miffes his Way when he shuts his Eyes. Against this Cause of Error there is no Provision to be made, otherwife than by inculcating the Value of Truth, and the Neceffity of conquering the Paffions. But Logic may likewife fail to produce its Effects upon common Occafions, for want of being frequently and familiarly applied, till its Precepts may direct the Mind imperceptibly, as the Fingers of a Mufician are regulated by his Knowledge of the Tune. This Readiness of Recollection is only to be procured by frequent Impreffion; and therefore it will be proper when Logic has been once learned, the Teacher take frequent occafion, in the most easy and familiar Converfation, to obferve when its Rules are preserved, and when they are broken, and that afterwards he read no Authors, without exacting of his Pupil an Account of every remarkable Exemplication or Breach of the Laws of Reasoning.

When this System has been digested, if it be thought neceffary to proceed farther in the Study of Method, it will be proper to recommend Croufaz, Watts, Le Clerc, Wolfus, and Locke's Effay on Human Understanding; and if there be imagined any Neceffity of adding the Peripatetic Logic, which has been perhaps condemned without a candid Trial, it will be con

venient

venient to proceed to Sanderfon, Wallis, Crackanthorp and Ariftotle.

VIII. To exite a Curiofity after the Works of God, is the chief Design of the fmall Specimen of Natural History inferted in this Collection; which, however, may be fufficient to put the Mind in Motion, and in fome measure to direct its Steps; but its Effects may easily be improved by a Philofophic Mafter, who will every Day find a thousand Opportunities of turning the Attention of his Scholars to the Contemplation of the Objects that furround them, of laying open the wonderful Art with which every Part of the Universe is formed, and the Providence which governs the Vegetable and Animal Creation. He may lay before them, the Religious Philofopher, Ray, Derham's Phyfico-Theology, to-gether with the Spectacle de la Nature; and in time recommend to their Perufal, Rondoletius and Aldrovandus.

IX. But how much foever the Reafon may be ftrenghtened by Logic, or the Conceptions of the Mind enlarged by the Study of Nature, it is neceflary the Man be not fuffered to dwell upon them fo long as to neglect the Study of himself, the Knowledge of his own Station in the Ranks of Being, and his various Relations to the innumerable Multitudes which furround him, and with which his Maker has ordained him to be united for the Reception and Communication of Happiness. To

confider

confider these aright is of the greatest Importance, fince from these arife Duties which he cannot neglect. Ethics or Morality, therefore, is one of the Studies which ought to begin with the first Glimpse of Reason, and only end with Life itself. Other Acquifitions are merely temporary Benefits, except as they contribute to illuftrate the Knowledge, and confirm the Practice of Morality and Piety, which extend their Influence beyond the Grave, and increase our Happiness through endless Duration.

This great Science therefore must be inculcated with Care and Affiduity, fuch as its Importance ought to incite in reasonable Minds; and for the Profecution of this Defign, fit Opportunities are always at hand. As the Importance of Logic is to be fhewn, by detecting falfe Arguments, the Excellence of Morality is to be displayed, by proving the Deformity, the Reproach, and the Mifery of all Deviations from it. Yet it is to be remembered, that the Laws of mere Morality are of no coercive Power; and however they may by Conviction of their Fitness please the Reafoner in the Shade, when the Paffions ftagnate without Impulse, and the Appetites are fecluded from their Objects, they will be of little force against the Ardour of Defire, or the Vehemence of Rage, amidft the Pleafures and Tumults of the World, To counteract the Power of Temptations, Hope must be excited by the Profpect of Rewards, and Fear by the Expectation of Punishment;

and

« PreviousContinue »