صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني
[blocks in formation]

A VARIETY OF REMARKS AND RULES FOR THE ATTAIN-
MENT AND COMMUNICATION OF USEFUL KNOW-
LEDGE, IN RELIGION, IN THE SCIEN-
CES, AND IN COMMON LIFE.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

1

[blocks in formation]

IN the last page of the treatise of logic, which I published many years ago, it is observed that there are several other things which might assist the cultivation of the mind and its improvement in knowledge, which are not usually re presented among the principles or precepts of that art or science. These are the subjects which compose this book; these are the sentiments and rules, many of which I had then in view, and which I now venture into publick light.

The present treatise, if it may assume the honour of that name, is made up of a variety of remarks and directions for the improvement of the mind in useful knowledge. It was collected from the observations which I had made on my own studies and on the temper and sentiments, the humour and conduct of other men in their pursuit of learning, or in the affairs of life; and it has been considerably assisted by occasional collections in the course of my reading, from many authors and on different subjects. I confess in far the greatest part I stand bound in answer for the weaknesses or defects that will be found in these papers, not being able to point to other writers, whence the twentieth part of them are derived.

The work was composed at different times and by slow degrees. Now and then indeed it spread itself into branches and leaves like a plant in April, and advanced seven or eight pages in a week; and sometimes it lay by without growth, like a vegetable in the winter, and did not increase half so much in the revolution of a year.

As these thoughts occurred to me in reading or meditation, or in my notices of the various appearances of things among mankind, they were thrown under

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]
« السابقةمتابعة »