BOOK I PART IV
wherein these questions have been the subjects
of enquiry and reasoning. Two thousand years
with such long interruptions, and under such
mighty discouragements are a small space of
time to give any tolerable perfection to the sci-
ences; and perhaps we are still in too early an
age of the world to discover any principles,
which will bear the examination of the latest
posterity. For my part, my only hope is, that
I may contribute a little to the advancement
of knowledge, by giving in some particulars
a different turn to the speculations of philoso-
phers, and pointing out to them more distinctly
those subjects, where alone they can expect as-
surance and conviction. Human Nature is the
only science of man; and yet has been hitherto
the most neglected. It will be sufficient for me,
if I can bring it a little more into fashion; and
the hope of this serves to compose my temper