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# Title: An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding (shelfmarks Leibn. Marg. 38; ZEN Leibn. Marg. 38)
# Folio 327, page id 778263916:0343
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Improvement of Knomledz
Experiments and Iristorical Observations, e may have, trom Wrhictr
may dram Adrantases oF Fase and flealth, andthereby increale our locke
Ot Conveniences lor this Lite; buc berond this, our Talents reach nOt,
our Faculcies CannOt attaim.
D. Fr. From Wrhence it isobrious to conclude, that lince our Paculties
are noc tuced to venetrate inco the internal Fabrick andreal FPences OFBO-
dies; Dur yet plainly discover to us the Beins of a Crod; and the RnOW.
ledse of our sclves, enovoh to lead us into a full and clear discovery ot
our Duty, and great Concernment, it Will become us, 25 rational Crea-
tures, toemploy our Faculties about what thes are most adopred to, and
tollorr the direction ol Nature, irhere it seems to point us out the ray.
For tis rational to conclude, that our proper imploymene lics in thole
tinquiries, and in thar sore oF Rnomledse, which is most suited to our
natural Capacities, and carries in it our grearest intere(c, i. e. the Condirion
Ot our eternal Ellate: and theretore it is, I think, that Morality is the pro-
per Science, and Business of Mantind in general, (Who ore both concer-
ned, and Cicced to scarch out their Summum Bonum,) 25 several ArtS COn
versant about several parrs of Nature, are the Lot and private Talent ot
particular Men, For the common Convenience ofhumane Lito, and their
oon particular Sublictence in this Worid. OP erhar Consequence the dis-
corery ot onc natural Body, and ies Properties may be to humane Lite,
chewhole sreat Continent ol america is a convincins instance; whole
Tonorance in uscsul ArtS, and rant ol the greatest part of the Convenien-
cies ot Lite, in a C ounery thac abounded wich all soris ol natural elener.
Ichinls, may be actributed ro their Pgnorance, of irhrat as to be found in
a very ordinary despicable stone, I mean the Mineral oF Tron. And
Wrhatever re thinke ot our Paris or Improvements in this parc of the Worla,
Where Hnon ledse and Plenty seem to vie cachrith ortier; vettoany one
that will serioussy reftect on it, I suppose, it will appear past doube, thar
rere che use oEtron lost amons us, e pould in a ser ABCs be unavOI
dibly reducedto the Wants and Ignorance of the ancient lavase ameriu
cans, Whole natural Fndomments and Provisions, come no ray Mort et
those oFthe most Aouristrins and polite Notions. S0 thar he irho first
made knoun theuse of that one contemptible Mincral, may be truly Ay led
ehe Father ot Arts, and Author ofPlener.
5. 12. Tvould nor therefore be thoughe to dil esteem, or dissuade the
Siudr of Nature. Preadily agrec the Contempletion oF his Norks sives
us occasion to admire, revere, aud oloritie chieir Author: andit rixhlv
directed, may be of greater benesit to Markind, than the Monuments ot
exemplary Charity, that have at (0 sreat Charse been raised, by chetoun.
ders ofFrospitals and AIms.houses. He thac tirst invented Printins; dil-
corcredthe Vse of the Compals; or made publicls the Virtue and rixtu
LIC OF Rin Rina; did morefor the propasation ol Hnomledge, tor the
nequilition oF Conveniencies oFLite; and lavedmore trom the Crrave, than
those whio buile Colleges, Workehouses, and FPospitals. AII that Prould
LaY, is, that We Pould not be t00 formardls possessed wich che Opinion,
or Expectation ot Hnomledse, where it is not to be had; or by Ways.
chat ill not attain it: That we Mould noc tatre doubitul Systems, for
compleat sciences; nor unintellisible Notions, For scientifical Demon-
strations. In the Hnow ledseof Bodies, ve must be content to glean irhat
ne can trom particular sixperiments, since e cannot trom a Discovery
of their real E. sences, srasp at a time wrhole Sticares; and in bundles, com-
prehend the Nacure and Properties of whole Species together. Where Du
Enquirus is concernins Co exiltence, or Repuenanes io co exist; Whietu