19. Our nominal efferncerning facts. c. 16. § 6.

or rules of probability. § 7.

OF

Human Understanding.

§. I.

BOOK I. CHAP. I. ·

Introduction.

SINCE it is the understanding, that

An enquiry into the understanding, pleafant and

useful.

fets man above the reft of fenfible beings, and gives him all the advantage and dominion, which he has over them; it is certainly a fubject, even for its noblenefs, worth our labour to enquire into. The underftanding, like the eye, whilft it makes us fee and perceive all other things, takes no notice of itfelf; and it requires art and pains to fet it at a distance, and make it its own object. But, whatever be the difficulties that lie in the way of this enquiry; whatever it be, that keeps us fo much in the dark to ourselves; fure I am, that all the light we can let in upon our own minds, all the acquaintance we can make with our own underftandings, will not only be very pleasant, but bring us great advantage, in directing our thoughts in the fearch of other things.

Defign.

§. 2. This, therefore, being my purpose, to enquire into the original, certainty, and extent of human knowledge; together with the grounds, and degrees of belief, opinion, and affent; I fhall not at prefent meddle with the phyfical confideration of the mind; or trouble myself to examine, wherein its effence confifts, or by what motions of our fpirits, VOL. I. B

or