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M A C A 2 1 N E of M A G A 2 1 E ^
what the sun, and what heat is, Hence
it follows, that where there happens
any doubt of the truth of the matter
enquired into, we ought to Suspend our
judgment, fo as neither to affirm nor
deny any thing concerning it, ttli we
have exactly examin'd all the difficulties
of it, and by the rules of perception
removed the doubts concerning it.
For it is not enough to demand our
assent because this or that appears clearly
and distinctly toothers. but it must
appear as clearly and distinctly to ourselves.
Ferr as every one desires knowledge
for himfelf, it is most reasonable,
that he should be allowed to uSe his
own understanding, and not to Submit
implicitly to another ; and that he
may paSs judgment So far only as his
own knowledge guides him. Therefore,
before we can with safety give
dur assent to any thing, we must bc
certain the thing is fo indeed, as it is
conceived by us ; and not only fir, but
that it cannot be otherwise. Nor are
cve to suppose that all things that are
true admit of the fame certainty t for
it may be true that a man is frequent
in acts rf devotion, and is liberal to the
^ooot, &c. which are signs Sufficient
anor rally to persuade me that he is goesty ;
tho' it may happen that lie is not really
so in his heart. So that the jud^
a^atnt Srrmed of Such a one Srom his
outward behaviour is only contingeaay
^"Ue.
And lastly, as it car be of little use
to know the nature of things, except
we remember them; we must take
care :o commit nothing to memory that
bai not been sirst thoroughly cxaminld,
and assented rightly to. For the memory
doth of itself, and spontaneously
retain things that are clearly understood,
arid follows right judgment. The
more clearly any thing is perceived by
us, the stronger it is impressed upon
otur memories ; and we mtite easily remember
those things that ate propounded
to us in order, than th fe which
arc hurried in confusedly. Aral inor^
de^te promote andallis; the tttctnory •
t.
let us not load the understanding witlt
a multiplicity of objects, but keep the
mind still and quiet. Let us strengthen
it w ith moderate study, and frequent ex.
ercife : and thirdly, it will be a great
help to the memory if the things we
commit to it be not only evident, but
also connected, orderly disposed, and
adorned with the circumstances of
causes, effects, time, place, &c.
^s a^s e^, a^s ^s • e^s e^s a^, e^s a^, a^, .^t
The Dan--r of yielding to Temptations.
F.vemp/tsied in the dicassa/ Fall of a
Ilely Hermit.
^ HERE ate few, if any books,
.I cut of which a man of learning
may not extract something for his use.
I have often experienced the truth of
this maxim, when calling in at my
bookseller's, l have taken the book
next to my hand off the counter, to
employ the minutes l have bern o.
blaged to linger away there, in waiting
for one friend or other. Yester.
day when l came there, the Turkish
tales happened to lie in r.ry way ; upon
opening of that amuting author, I
happened to dip upon a short tale,
which gave me a great many serious
reflections. The very same fable may
fall into the hands of a great many
men of wit and pleasure, who 'tis probable,
will read it with their usual levity
; but since it may as probably divert
and instruct a great many persons
of plain and virtuous rtainds, l desire
you will give it a place in your much
admired Magazine. The moral to
he drawn from it is entirely christian.
And is so very obvious, that l
shall leave to every reader the
pleasure of picking it out for himfelf.
I shall only premile, t.o obviate any
offence that may be taken, that a great
many notions in the Mahometan religion
are borrowed from the Holy Seriptutes.
There was formerly a .canton,
whose name was.Bertyrsa, which for the
space us an hundred years very lcpvent-