3. Communication by words,
civil or philofophical.
4. The imperfection of words,

is the doubtfulness of their

fignification.

5. Caufes of their imperfec-

tion.

6. The names of mixed modes

doubtful: first, becaufe

the ideas they ftand for,

are fo complex.

7. Secondly, because they

have no ftandards.

8. Propriety not a fufficient

remedy.

9. The way of learning thefe

names contributes alfo to

their doubtfulness.
10. Hence unavoidable obfcu-

rity in ancient authors.

11. Names of fubftances, of
doubtful fignification.

12. Names of fubftances re-

ferred, firft, to real effen-

ces, that cannot be known.

13, 14. Secondly, to co-exifting

qualities, which are known

but imperfectly.
15. With this imperfection.

they may ferve for civil,

but not well for philofo-

phical ufe.

16. Inftance, liquor of the

nerves.

17. Infiance, gold..

18. The names of fimple ideas,

the leaft doubtful.

19. And

1. Abuse of words.

2, 3. First, words without any,

or without clear ideas.

4. Occafioned by learning

names, before the ideas

they belong to.

5. Secondly, a steady appli-

cation of them.

6. Thirdly, affected obfcu-

rity, by wrong applica-

tion.

7. Logic and dispute have

much contributed to this.

8. Calling it fubtilty.

9. This learning very little

benefits fociety.

10. But deftroys the inftru-

ments of knowledge and

communication.

11. As ufeful as to confound

the found of the letters.

12. This art has perplexed re-

ligion and juftice.

13. And ought not to pass for

learning.

14. Fourthly, taking them for

things.

15. Inftance in matter.

16. This makes errours lafting.

17. Fifthly, fetting them for

what they cannot fignify.

18. V. g. putting them for the

real effences of substances.

19. Hence we think every

change of our idea in ful

ftances, not to change the

fpecies.

20. The cause of this abuse, a

supposition of nature's

working always regularly.

21. This abufe contains two

falfe fuppofitions.

22. Sixthly, a fuppofition that

words have a certain and

evident fignification.

23. The ends of language:

firft, to convey our ideas.

24. Secondly, to do it with

quicknefs.

25. Thirdly, therewith to con-
vey the knowledge of

things.

26-31. How men's words fail in

all these.

32. How in fubftances.

33. How in modes and rela-

tions.

34. Seventhly, figurative speech

alfo an abufe of language.

СНАР. І.

Of knowledge in general. SECT.

1. Our knowledge converfant about our ideas.

2. Knowledge is the perception of the agreement, or difagreement, of two ideas.

3. This agreement fourfold.
4. Firft, of identity, or di-
verfity.

5. Secondly, relation.
6. Thirdly, of co-existence.
7. Fourthly, of real existence.
8. Knowledge actual or ha-
bitual.

9. Habitual knowledge, two

fold.

4. Fourthly, not demonftra-
tive knowledge.
5. Fifthly, fenfitive know-
ledge, narrower than ei-
ther.

6. Sixthly, our knowledge,
therefore, narrower than
our ideas.

7. How far our knowledge
reaches.

8. First, our knowledge of
identity and diversity, as
far as our ideas.
9. Secondly, of co-existence,
a very little way.

10. Because the connexion be-
tween moft fimple ideas
is unknown.

11. Efpecially of fecondary qualities.

12-14. And farther, becaufe all connexion between any fecondary and primary qualities is undiscovera

ble.

15. Of repugnancy to co-exist,

larger.

16. Of the co-existence of

powers, a very little way. 17. Of fpirits yet narrower. 18. Thirdly, cfother relations, it is not eafy to fay how far. Morality capable of demonftration.

19. Two things have made moral ideas thought in-. capable of demonftration. Their complexedness and want of fenfible reprefentations.

20. Remedies of thofe difficulties.

21. Fourthly, of real exift

ence; we have an intuitive knowledge of our own, demonftrative of God's, fenfitive of fome few other things, 22. Our ignorance great. 23. Firft, one caufe of it, want

of ideas, either fuch as we have no conception of, or