ABSTRACT
WE have explained the Nature, and reckon’d up the Species of Reason in our last; I come next to discuss some of its Accidents. It happens to Reasons, according to the common Way of Speech, as to Quantities, to be added or subtraced, encreased or diminished, protracted and contracted, multiplied and divided, and compared together according to Equality and Inequality; which last, since it is the principal Thing in itself, and altogether necessary for understanding the rest, as well as for illustrating the whole Doctrine of Reasons, we will discourse of it in the first Place. Yet so that it concerns me to speak something by way of Preface, before I enter upon a Thing so subtle and intricate, which, either by the Nature of the Thing, or thro’ the Fault of those that treat of it, is involved in a most thick Mist; to clear up which I can neither hope nor promise from my poor Ability: especially since I find it a very difficult Thing to express the Thoughts which occur to me about it in suitable Words, and digest them in a clear Method. M. Meibomius declares that he spent five full Years in this Speculation, nor does all that vast Labour seem to produce any Thing found or solid, beside some little Criticisms. And that great Man Gregory Vincentius who is behind none of the modern Geometricians dwelt longer, and took more Pains upon the same, and yet in my Opinion left the Thing as obscure as he found it. What then can be expected from the Study of a few Hours, what (to say no more) from this almost extemporary Writing, about such a perplexed Subject? Nevertheless we must pursue our Method, we must proceed in the Journey we have begun, however rugged and impervious, and suggest something, tho’ rough and unelegant to be polished and improved by your more mature Judgment.
