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ploy it to the full Extent of all its Powers, and furnish Matter for those various Opinions, Fancies, and Views of Things, that make up the Subject of its Thoughts and Contemplations. Let us but reflect upon the fingle Idea of Unity or One, and obferve what a Variety of Combinations are formed, by continually adding it to itfelf; infomuch that the Underftanding finds no Stop or Boundary, in its Progrefs from Number to Number. In what an Infinity of different Lights may Extenfion alone be confidered? What Limits can be fet to that endlefs Diverfity of Figures, which it is in the Power of the Imagination to fashion and represent to itself? If to thefe we add thofe numberless other Combinations, that refult from varioufly compounding and comparing the reft of our fimple Ideas, we shall have little Reafon to complain of being limited to a fcanty Meafure of Knowledge, or that the Exercife of the human Faculties is confined within narrow Bounds. But having traced the Progrefs of the Mind through its original and fimple Ideas, until it begins to enlarge its Conceptions by uniting and tying them together; it is now time to take a Survey of it as thus employed in multiplying its Views, that we may fee by what Steps it advances from one Degree of Improvement to another, and how it contrives to manage that infinite Stock of Materials it finds itfelf poffeffed of.

The Divifion of complex 1deas into thefe of real Exftences, and those framed by the Mind

VI. WHOEVER attentively confiders his own Thoughts, and takes a View of the feveral complicated Ideas that from time to time offer themfelves to his Understanding, will readily obferve, that many of them are fuch as have been derived from without, and fuggefted by different Objects affecting his Perception; others again are formed by the Mind itself, varioufly combining its fimple Ideas, as feems beft to anfwer thofe Ends and Purposes it has for the present in View. Of the firft Kind are all our Ideas of Subftances, as of a Man, a Horse, a Stone, Gold: Of the fecond are thofe arbitrary Collections of things, which we on many Occafions put together, either for their Usefulness in the Commerce of Life, or to further the Purfuit of Knowledge: fuch are our Ideas of ftated Lengths whether of Duration or Space, as Hours, Months, Miles, Leagues, &c. which Divifions are apparently the Creatures of the Mind, inafmuch as we often find them different in different Countries, a fure fign that they are taken from no certain and invariable Standard in Nature. Many of our Ideas of human Actions may be alfo referred to this Head,

as

as Treafon, Inceft, Manflaughter, which complex Notions we do not alwayas derive from an actual View of what thefe Words defcribe, but often from combining the Circumftances of, them in our own Mindsor, which is the moft ufual Way, by hearing their Names explained, and the Ideas they stand for enumerated. Thefe two Claffes compre hend all our complex Conceptions, it being impoffible to con! ceive any that are not either fuggefted to the Understanding: by fome real Exiftences, or formed by the Mind itfelf, arbi trarily uniting and compounding its Ideas. We fhall treat of each in Order. --3:

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Ideas of Subfances, Collections of Simple Ideas, beld together by unknown Support.

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1. The ed in the
TH tioned in the foregoing Chapter is that

I. HE firft Head of complex Idens men

of Subftances, which I chufe to handle before the other, because, as will afterwards appear, the Notices derived from this Source, very much help us, in forming, thofe arbitrary Col

lections, which make up the fecond Divifion. For in many of them, we take our Hints from the Reality of things, and combine Ideas that actually exift together, though often with an Exclufion of others, as will be explained when we come to treat of abftract and univerfal Notions. It has been already obferved, that the Impreffions conveyed into the Understanding from external Objects, confift for the moft part of many different Ideas joined together, which all unite to make up one Whole. Thefe Collections of various Ideas, thus co-cxifting in the fame common Subject, and held together by fome, unknown Bond of Union, have been diftinguished by the Name of Subftances, a Word which im plies their fubfifting of themfelves, without Dependence (at leaft as far as our Knowledge reaches) on any other created Beings. Such are the Ideas we have of Gold, Iron, Water, a Man, Sc. For if we fix upon any one of thefe, for inftance Gold, the Notion under which we reprefent it to ourfelves, is that of a Body, yellow, very weighty, hard, fufible, malleable, &c. Where we may obferve, that the feveral Properties that go to the Compofition of Gold, are

represented

reprefented to us by clear and evident Perceptions; the Union too of thefe Properties, and their thereby conftituting a diftinct Species of Body, is clearly apprehended by the Mind; but when we would push our Enquiries farther, and know wherein this Union confifts, what holds the Properties together, and gives them their Self-fubfiftence, here we find ourfelves at a Lofs. However, as we cannot conceive Qualities, without at the fame time fuppofing fome Subject in which they inhere; hence we are naturally led to form the Notion of a Support, which ferving as a Foundation for the Coexistence and Union of the different Properties of things, gives them that separate and independent Existence, under which they are reprefented to our Conception. This Support we denote by the Name Subftance; and as it is an Idea applicable to all the different Combinations of Qualities that exift any where by themselves, they are accordingly all called Subtances. Thus a House, a Bowl, a Stone, &c. having each their diftinguishing Properties, and being conceived to exift independent one of another, the Idea of Subftance belongs alike to them all.

The Divifion
of Modes into
Effential and
Accidental.

II. IN Substances therefore there are two things to be confidered: Firft the general Notion of Self-fubfiftence, which, as I have faid, belongs equally to them all; and then the feveral Qualities or Properties, by which the different Kinds and Individuals are diftinguished one from another. These Qualities are othewife called Modes, and have been diftinguished into Effential and Accidental, according as they are conceived to be feparable or infeparable from the Subject to which they belong. Extenfion and Solidity are effential Modes of a Stone, because it cannot be conceived without them; but Roundness is only an accidental Mode, as a Stone may exist under any Shape or Figure, and yet ftill retain its Nature and other Properties.

The Notion of
Self-fubfift-
ence infepa-

able from Subflances.

III. I MIGHT run farther into thefe Divifions and Subdivifions, in which Logicians have been very fertile; but as they tend little to the Advancement of real Knowledge, and ferve rather to fill the Memory with Words and their Significations, than furnith clear and diftin&t Apprehenfions of fhall not trouble the Reader with them. It is more material to obferve, that the Change of Properties in any Subftance, though it oft-times changes the Nature of that Subtance, that is, its Species or Kind; yet it never destroys C

VOL. II.

Things, I

the

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the general Notion of Self-fubfiftence, but leaves that equally clear and applicable, as before any fuch Alteration happened. Wood by the Application of Fire is turned into Charcoal; but Charcoal however different from Wood, is ftill a SubFrance. In like manner, Wax may be converted into Flame and Smoak, a human Body will moulder into Duft, yet thefe Alterations deftroy not their Being or Exiftence; they are still Substances as before, though under a different Form and Appearance. In the feveral Experiments made by Chymifts, Bodies undergo many Changes, and put on fucceffively a great Variety of different Shapes; and yet by the Skill and Addrefs of the Operator, they are often brought back to their first and primitive Form. What Alteration can we fuppofe the Fire, or the Application of any other Body to make, unless on the Configuration, Texture, or Cohefion of the minute Parts? When these are changed, the Body is proportionably changed; when they return to their original State, the Body liketvife puts on its firft and natural Appearance.

Foundation of tre different

Species of corForeal Sub

IV. ALL that is effential to Matter therefore, is the Cohesion of folid extended Parts; but as thefe Parts are capable of innumerable Configurationis, as their Texture may be very various, frances. -and-the internal Conftitution thence arifing be of Confequence extremely different in different Bodies, we may from thefe Confiderations conceive pretty clearly, the Source and Foundation of all the different Species of corporeal Subtances. Nor is this a Notion taken up at Random, or one of thofe chimerical Fancies in Philofophy, derived rather from a Warmth and Liveliness of Imagination, than Observations drawn from Things themfelves. Do we not daily fee our Food, by the Changes it undergoes in the different Avenues of the Body, converted first into Blood, and thence employed in nourishing, building up, and enlarging, the feveral Parts of that wonderful Fabrick? Rain defcending from the Clouds, and mixing with the Mold or Earth of a Garden, becomes Aliment for Trees of various Kind, puts on a Diverfity of Forms, according to the different Channels and Conveyances thro' which it paffes, and at laft after innumerable Changes and Tranfmutations, fprouts forth in Leaves, opens in Buds, or is converted into the Subftance of the Tree ittelf. Can we conceive any greater Difference between the component Parts of Gold, and thofe of a Stone, than between the moiftened Particles of Garden Mold, and thofe new Forms and Figures, under which they appear, after they have

been

been thus fafhioned by Nature, for the Purposes of Growth and Nourishment ?

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Effence of Subftances nothing but the internal Structure

and Conftitu

'tion.

V. IF this be duly attended to, it will not appear wonderful to affert, that the Variety of material Subftances, arifes wholly from the different Configuration, Size, Texture, and Motion of the minute Parts, As thefe happen to be varioufly combined, and knit together under different Forms, Bodies put on a Diversity of Appearances, and convey into the Mind by the Senfes, all thofe feveral Impreffions, by which they are diftinguished one from another. This internal Conftitution or Structure of Parts from which the feveral Properties that diftinguish any Substance flow, is called the Effence of that Subftance, and is in Fact unknown to us, any farther than by the perceivable Impreffions it makes upon the Organs of Senfe. Gold, as has been faid, is a Body yellow, very weighty, hard, fufible, malleable, &c. That inward Structure and Confirmation of its minute Particles, by which they are fo clofely linked together, and from which the Properties above-mentioned are conceived to flow, is called its Effence; and the Properties themselves are the perceivable Marks that make it known to us, and diftinguish it from all other Subftances. For our Senfes are not acute enough to reach its inward Texture and Conftitution. The Parts themfelves, as well as their Arrangement, lie far beyond the utmoft Penetration of human Sight, even when aflifted by Microscopes, and all the other Contrivances of Art.

Is wholly un

known to us,

nor ferves to diftinguish the Species.

VI. THUS as to the Effence, or internal Conflitution of Gold, we are wholly in the dark; but many of the Properties derived from this Effence, make obvious and diftinct Impreffions, as the Weight, Hardness, and yellow Colour, &c. Thefe Properties combined together, and conceived as co-exifting in the fame common Subject, make up our complex Idea of Gold. The fame may be faid of all the other Species of corporeal Subftances, as Lead, Glafs, Water, c. our Ideas of them being nothing else, but a Collection of the ordinary Qualities obfervable in them.

VII: THIS however ought to be obferved, that though the Effence or inward Structure of Bodies, is altogether unknown to us, yet we rightly judge, that in all the feveral Species, the Effences are diftinct. For each Species being a Collection of C 2

Yet is rightly prefumed to be difint in all the feveral

Kinds.

Properties,

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