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The Nature and Importance of the Subject. DESIRE of knowledge is natural to the mind of man. And nothing discovers the true quality and difpofition of the

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mind more, than the particular kind of knowledge it is moft fond of. Thus we fee that low and little minds are most delighted with the knowledge of trifles; as may be perceived in children: an indolent mind, with that which serves only for amufement, or the

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entertainment

entertainment of the fancy: a curious mind is best pleased with facts: a judicious, penetrating mind, with demonftration and mathematical science: a worldly mind esteems no knowledge like that of the world: but a wife and pious man, before all other kinds c knowledge, prefers that of GOD and his own foul.

Some kind of knowledge the mind is continually craving after: and by confidering what that is, its prevailing turn and temper may easily be known.

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This defire of knowledge, like other affections planted in our nature, will be apt lead us wrong, if it be not well regulated. When it is directed to improper objects, or pursued in a wrong manner, it degenerates into a vain and criminal curiofity: a fatal inftance of this, in our first parents, we have upon facred record; the unhappy effects of which are but too visible in all.

Self-knowledge is the fubject of the enfuing treatise - A fubject, which the more I think of, the more important and extensive it appears: fo important, that every branch of it seems abfolutely neceffary to the right government of our lives and tempers and fo extenfive, that the nearer view we take of its several branches, the more are still opening to the view, as nearly connected with it as the other, Like what we find in microfcopical

pical obfervations on natural objects; the better the glaffes, and the nearer the scrutiny, the more wonders we explore; and the more furprizing discoveries we make of certain properties, parts or affections belonging to them, which were never before thought of. For in order to a true felf-knowledge, the human mind, with its various powers and operations, must be narrowly infpected; all its fecret bendings and doublings displayed; otherwise, our self-acquaintance will be but very partial and defective; and the heart, after all, will deceive us. Wherefore, in treating this subject, there is no small danger, either of doing injury to it, by flight and fuperficial inqueft on the one hand, or of running into a research too minute and philofophical for common ufe, on the other. The two extremes I fhall avoid, and endeavour to fteer a middle course between them.

Know thyfelf, is one of the most useful and comprehenfive precepts in the whole moral fyftem; and it is well known in how great a veneration this maxim was held by the antients; who highly efteemed the duty of felfexamination, as neceffary to it.

Thales the Milefian is faid to be firft author of it (a).

He used to say, that for

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(a) He was the prince of the philofophers, and flourished about A.M. 3330, and was contemporary with Jofiah king of Judah.

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