the one and the other, and the right ordering of them, for its clearer information. All which three-viz. Things as they are in themselves knowable; Actions, as they depend on us in order to happiness; and the right use of Signs, in order to knowlege-being toto cœlo different, they seemed to me to be the three great provinces of the intellectual world wholly separate and distinct one from another. Locke. 2 A CONDUCT OF THE UNDERSTANDING. I. INTRODUCTION.-THE last resort of a man in the conduct of himself is his understanding; for though we distinguish the faculties of the mind, and give the supreme command to the will, as to an agent; yet in truth the man, as the agent, determines himself to this or that voluntary action, on some precedent knowlege, or appearance of knowlege, in the understanding; to whose dictates the will itself, how uncontrollable soever it may be thought to be, never fails in its obedience. Hence great care should be taken of the understanding, to conduct it right in the search of knowlege, and in the judgments it makes. PARTS. In men's understandings their natural constitutions put so wide a difference, that art and industry never are able to master it; even amongst men of equal education there is a great inequality of parts. Yet were all equal, still most men I imagine come very short of what they might attain did they not neglect their understandings. A few rules of logic are thought sufficient for those who pretend to the highest improvement; whereas I think there are not only many natural defects in the understanding overlooked which are capable of amendment, but also many faults in |