4. Firft, as to identity and 6. Thirdly, in other relations 7. Fourthly, concerning real existence, we have none. 8. Thefe axioms do not much influence our other knowledge. 9. Because they are not the truths the firft known. 10. Because on them the other parts of our knowledge do not depend. 11. What ufe thefe general maxims have. r2. Maxims, if care be not taken in the ufe of words, may prove contradictions. 13. Inftance in vacuum. 14. They prove not the existence of things without us. 15. Their application dangerous about complex ideas. 1618. Inftance in man. 19. Little ufe of thefe maxims, in proofs, where we have clear and diftinct ideas. 20. Theirufe dangerous, where our ideas are confused. CHA P. X. Of the existence of a God. SEC T. 1. We are capable of knowing certainly that there is a God. 2. Man knows that he himfelf is. 3. He knows alfo, that nothing cannot produce a being, therefore fomething eternal. 4. That eternal being muft be moft powerful. 5. And moft knowing. 6. And therefore God. 7. Our idea of a most perfect being, not the fole proof of a God. 8. Something from eternity. 9. Two forts of beings, cogitative and incogitative, 10. Incogitative being cannot produce a cogitative. 11, 12. Therefore there has been an eternal wisdom. 13. Whether material, or no. 14. Not material, firft, because every particle of matter is not cogitative. 15. Secondly, one particle alone of matter cannot be cogitative. 16. Thirdly, a fyftem of incogitative matter cannot be cogitative. 17. Whether in motion or at reft. 18, 19. Matter not co-eternal wich an eternal mind. CHA P. XI. Of the knowledge of the existence of other things. SECT. 1. Is to be had only by fen-, fation. 2. Inftance, whiteness of this paper. 3. This, though not fo certain as demonstration, yet may be called knowledge, and proves the existence of things without us. 4. Firft, because we cannot have them but by the inlets of the fenfes. 5. Secondly, because an idea from actual fenfation, and another from memory, are very diftinct perceptions. 6. Thirdly, pleasure or pain, which accompanies actual fenfation, accompanies not the returning of thofe ideas, without the external objects. 7. Fourthly; our fenfes affift one another's teftimony of the existence of outward things. 3. Being that, which makes us prefume things to be true, before we know them to be fo. 4. The grounds of probability are two; conformity with our own experience, or the teftimony of others experience. 5. In this all the arguments, pro and con, ought to be examined, before we come to a judgment. 6. They being capable of great variety. CHA P. XVI. Of the degrees of affent. SECT. 1. Our affent ought to be re- 2. These cannot be always 5. Probability is either of tion. 6. The concurrent experience of all other men with ours produces affurance approaching to knowledge. 7. Unquestionable teftimony and experience for the moft part produce confidence. 8. Fair teftimony, and the nature of the thing indifferent, produces alfo confident belief, SECT. Of reason. 1. Various fignifications of 12. Fourthly, because of wrong 13. Fifthly, because of doubt- fame certainty that reafon evidence of reafon. 6. Traditional revelation much |