Butwhathasbeentheutilityofthoseschools？Whatscienceisthereatthisdayacquiredbytheirreadingsanddisputings？Thatwehaveofgeometry，whichisthemotherofallnaturalscience，wearenotindebtedforittotheschools。Plato，thatwasthebestphilosopheroftheGreeks，forbadeentranceintohisschooltoallthatwerenotalreadyinsomemeasuregeometricians。Thereweremanythatstudiedthatsciencetothegreatadvantageofmankind：butthereisnomentionoftheirschools；norwasthereanysectofgeometricians；nordidtheythenpassunderthenameofphilosophers。Thenaturalphilosophyofthoseschoolswasratheradreamthanscience，andsetforthinsenselessandinsignificantlanguage，whichcannotbeavoidedbythosethatwillteachphilosophywithouthavingfirstattainedgreatknowledgeingeometry。Fornatureworkethbymotion；thewaysanddegreeswhereofcannotbeknownwithouttheknowledgeoftheproportionsandpropertiesoflinesandfigures。Theirmoralphilosophyisbutadescriptionoftheirownpassions。Fortheruleofmanners，withoutcivilgovernment，isthelawofnature；andinit，thelawcivil，thatdeterminethwhatishonestanddishonest；whatisjustandunjust；andgenerallywhatisgoodandevil。Whereastheymaketherulesofgoodandbadbytheirownlikinganddisliking；bywhichmeans，insogreatdiversityoftaste，thereisnothinggenerallyagreedon；buteveryonedoth，asfarashedares，whatsoeverseemethgoodinhisowneyes，tothesubversionofCommonwealth。Theirlogic，whichshouldbethemethodofreasoning，isnothingelsebutcaptionsofwords，andinventionshowtopuzzlesuchasshouldgoabouttoposethem。Toconclude，thereisnothingsoabsurdthattheoldphilosophersasCicerosaith，whowasoneofthemhavenotsomeofthemmaintained。
AndIbelievethatscarceanythingcanbemoreabsurdlysaidinnaturalphilosophythanthatwhichnowiscalledAristotle’sMetaphysics；normorerepugnanttogovernmentthanmuchofthathehathsaidinhisPolitics，normoreignorantly，thanagreatpartofhisEthics。
TheschooloftheJewswasoriginallyaschoolofthelawofMoses，whocommandedthatattheendofeveryseventhyear，attheFeastoftheTabernacles，itshouldbereadtoallthepeople，thattheymighthearandlearnit。*ThereforethereadingofthelawwhichwasinuseaftertheCaptivityeverySabbathdayoughttohavehadnootherendbuttheacquaintingofthepeoplewiththeCommandmentswhichtheyweretoobey，andtoexpounduntothemthewritingsoftheprophets。Butitismanifest，bythemanyreprehensionsofthembyourSaviour，thattheycorruptedthetextofthelawwiththeirfalsecommentaries，andvaintraditions；andsolittleunderstoodtheprophetsthattheydidneitheracknowledgeChrist，northeworkshedid，ofwhichtheprophetsprophesied。Sothatbytheirlecturesanddisputationsintheirsynagogues，theyturnedthedoctrineoftheirlawintoafantasticalkindofphilosophy，concerningtheincomprehensiblenatureofGodandofspirits；whichtheycompoundedofthevainphilosophyandtheologyoftheGrecians，mingledwiththeirownfancies，drawnfromtheobscurerplacesoftheScripture，andwhichmightmosteasilybewrestedtotheirpurpose；andfromthefabuloustraditionsoftheirancestors。
*Deuteronomy，31。10
ThatwhichisnowcalledaUniversityisajoiningtogether，andanincorporationunderonegovernment，ofmanypublicschoolsinoneandthesametownorcity，inwhichtheprincipalschoolswereordainedforthethreeprofessions；thatistosay，oftheRomanreligion，oftheRomanlaw，andoftheartofmedicine。AndforthestudyofphilosophyithathnootherwiseplacethanasahandmaidtotheRomanreligion：andsincetheauthorityofAristotleisonlycurrentthere，thatstudyisnotproperlyphilosophythenaturewhereofdependethnotonauthors，butAristotelity。Andforgeometry，tillofverylatetimesithadnoplaceatall，asbeingsubservienttonothingbutrigidtruth。Andifanymanbytheingenuityofhisownnaturehadattainedtoanydegreeofperfectiontherein，hewascommonlythoughtamagician，andhisartdiabolical。
Nowtodescendtotheparticulartenetsofvainphilosophy，derivedtotheUniversities，andthenceintotheChurch，partlyfromAristotle，partlyfromblindnessofunderstanding；Ishallfirstconsidertheirprinciples。Thereisacertainphilosophiaprimaonwhichallotherphilosophyoughttodepend；andconsistethprincipallyinrightlimitingofthesignificationsofsuchappellations，ornames，asareofallothersthemostuniversal；whichlimitationsservetoavoidambiguityandequivocationinreasoning，andarecommonlycalleddefinitions；suchasarethedefinitionsofbody，time，place，matter，form，essence，subject，substance，accident，power，act，finite，infinite，quantity，quality，motion，action，passion，anddiverseothers，necessarytotheexplainingofaman’sconceptionsconcerningthenatureandgenerationofbodies。Theexplicationthatis，thesettlingofthemeaningofwhich，andtheliketerms，iscommonlyintheSchoolscalledmetaphysics；asbeingapartofthephilosophyofAristotle，whichhaththatfortitle。
Butitisinanothersense；forthereitsignifiethasmuchas“bookswrittenorplacedafterhisnaturalphilosophy“：buttheSchoolstakethemforbooksofsupernaturalphilosophy：forthewordmetaphysicswillbearboththesesenses。Andindeedthatwhichistherewrittenisforthemostpartsofarfromthepossibilityofbeingunderstood，andsorepugnanttonaturalreason，thatwhosoeverthinkeththereisanythingtobeunderstoodbyitmustneedsthinkitsupernatural。
Fromthesemetaphysics，whicharemingledwiththeScripturetomakeSchooldivinity，wearetoldtherebeintheworldcertainessencesseparatedfrombodies，whichtheycallabstractessences，andsubstantialforms；fortheinterpretingofwhichjargon，thereisneedofsomewhatmorethanordinaryattentioninthisplace。AlsoIaskpardonofthosethatarenotusedtothiskindofdiscourseforapplyingmyselftothosethatare。TheworldImeannottheearthonly，thatdenominatestheloversofit“worldlymen，“buttheuniverse，thatis，thewholemassofallthingsthatareiscorporeal，thatistosay，body；andhaththedimensionsofmagnitude，namely，length，breadth，anddepth：alsoeverypartofbodyislikewisebody，andhaththelikedimensions；andconsequentlyeverypartoftheuniverseisbody，andthatwhichisnotbodyisnopartoftheuniverse：andbecausetheuniverseisallthatwhichisnopartofitisnothing，andconsequentlynowhere。Nordoesitfollowfromhencethatspiritsarenothing：fortheyhavedimensionsandarethereforereallybodies；thoughthatnameincommonspeechbegiventosuchbodiesonlyasarevisibleorpalpable；thatis，thathavesomedegreeofopacity：butforspirits，theycallthemincorporeal，whichisanameofmorehonour，andmaythereforewithmorepietybeattributedtoGodHimself；inwhomweconsidernotwhatattributeexpressethbestHisnature，whichisincomprehensible，butwhatbestexpressethourdesiretohonourHim。
Toknownowuponwhatgroundstheysaytherebeessencesabstract，orsubstantialforms，wearetoconsiderwhatthosewordsdoproperlysignify。Theuseofwordsistoregistertoourselves，andmakemanifesttoothers，thethoughtsandconceptionsofourminds。Ofwhichwords，somearethenamesofthethingsconceived；asthenamesofallsortsofbodiesthatworkuponthesensesandleaveanimpressionintheimagination：othersarethenamesoftheimaginationsthemselves；thatistosay，ofthoseideasormentalimageswehaveofallthingsweseeorremember：andothersagainarenamesofnames，orofdifferentsortsofspeech；asuniversal，plural，singular，arethenamesofnames；anddefinition，affirmation，negation，true，false，syllogism，interrogation，promise，covenant，arethenamesofcertainformsofspeech。Othersservetoshowtheconsequenceorrepugnanceofonenametoanother；aswhenonesaith，“amanisabody，“heintendeththatthenameofbodyisnecessarilyconsequenttothenameofman，asbeingbutservalnameofthesamething，man；whichconsequenceissignifiedbycouplingthemtogetherwiththewordis。Andasweusetheverbis；sotheLatinsusetheirverbest，andtheGreekstheirestithroughallitsdeclinations。
Whetherallothernationsoftheworldhaveintheirseverallanguagesawordthatanswerethtoit，ornot，Icannottell；butIamsuretheyhavenotneedofit：fortheplacingoftwonamesinordermayservetosignifytheirconsequence，ifitwerethecustomforcustomisitthatgiveswordstheirforce，aswellasthewordsis，orbe，orare，andthelike。
Andifitwereso，thattherewerealanguagewithoutanyverbanswerabletoest，oris，orbe；yetthementhatuseditwouldbenotajotthelesscapableofinferring，concluding，andofallkindofreasoning，thanweretheGreeksandLatins。Butwhatthenwouldbecomeoftheseterms，ofentity，essence，essential，essentiality，thatarederivedfromit，andofmanymorethatdependonthese，appliedasmostcommonlytheyare？Theyarethereforenonamesofthings；butsigns，bywhichwemakeknownthatweconceivetheconsequenceofonenameorattributetoanother：aswhenwesay，“amanisalivingbody，“wemeannotthatthemanisonething，thelivingbodyanother，andtheis，orbeing，athird；butthatthemanandthelivingbodyisthesamething，becausetheconsequence，“Ifhebeaman，heisalivingbody，“isatrueconsequence，signifiedbythatwordis。
Therefore，tobeabody，towalk，tobespeaking，tolive，tosee，andthelikeinfinitives；alsocorporeity，walking，speaking，life，sight，andthelike，thatsignifyjustthesame，arethenamesofnothing；asIhaveelsewheremoreamplyexpressed。
Buttowhatpurpose，maysomemansay，issuchsubtletyinaworkofthisnature，whereIpretendtonothingbutwhatisnecessarytothedoctrineofgovernmentandobedience？Itistothispurpose，thatmenmaynolongersufferthemselvestobeabusedbythemthatbythisdoctrineof“separatedessences，“builtonthevainphilosophyofAristotle，wouldfrightthemfromobeyingthelawsoftheircountry，withemptynames；asmenfrightbirdsfromthecornwithanemptydoublet，ahat，andacrookedstick。Foritisuponthisgroundthat，whenamanisdeadandburied，theysayhissoul，thatishislife，canwalkseparatedfromhisbody，andisseenbynightamongstthegraves。Uponthesameground，theysaythatthefigure，andcolour，andtasteofapieceofbreadhasabeing，there，wheretheysaythereisnobread：anduponthesamegroundtheysaythatfaith，andwisdom，andothervirtuesaresometimespouredintoaman，sometimesblownintohim，fromheaven；ifthevirtuousandtheirvirtuescouldbeasunder；andagreatmanyotherthingsthatservetolessenthedependenceofsubjectsonthesovereignpoweroftheircountry。Forwhowillendeavourtoobeythelaws，ifheexpectobediencetobepouredorblownintohim？Orwhowillnotobeyapriest，thatcanmakeGod，ratherthanhissovereign；nay，thanGodHimself？Orwhothatisinfearofghostswillnotbeargreatrespecttothosethatcanmaketheholywaterthatdrivesthemfromhim？AndthisshallsufficeforanexampleoftheerrorswhicharebroughtintotheChurchfromtheentitiesandessencesofAristotle：whichitmaybeheknewtobefalsephilosophy，butwroteitasathingconsonantto，andcorroborativeof，theirreligion；andfearingthefateofSocrates。
Beingoncefallenintothiserrorof“separatedessences，“theyaretherebynecessarilyinvolvedinmanyotherabsurditiesthatfollowit。Forseeingtheywillhavetheseformstobereal，theyareobligedtoassignthemsomeplace。Butbecausetheyholdthemincorporeal，withoutalldimensionofquantity，andallmenknowthatplaceisdimension，andnottobefilledbutbythatwhichiscorporeal，theyaredriventoupholdtheircreditwithadistinction，thattheyarenotindeedanywherecircumscriptive，butdefinitive：whichtermsbeingmerewords，andinthisoccasioninsignificant，passonlyinLatin，thatthevanityofthemmaybeconcealed。Forthecircumscriptionofathingisnothingelsebutthedeterminationordefiningofitsplace；andsoboththetermsofthedistinctionarethesame。Andinparticular，oftheessenceofaman，which，theysay，ishissoul，theyaffirmittobeallofitinhislittlefinger，andallofitineveryotherpart，howsmallsoever，ofhisbody；andyetnomoresoulinthewholebodythaninanyoneofthoseparts。CananymanthinkthatGodisservedwithsuchabsurdities？Andyetallthisisnecessarytobelieve，tothosethatwillbelievetheexistenceofanincorporealsoul，separatedfromthebody。
Andwhentheycometogiveaccounthowanincorporealsubstancecanbecapableofpain，andbetormentedinthefireofhellorpurgatory，theyhavenothingatalltoanswer，butthatitcannotbeknownhowfirecanburnsouls。
Again，whereasmotionischangeofplace，andincorporealsubstancesarenotcapableofplace，theyaretroubledtomakeitseempossiblehowasoulcangohence，withoutthebody，toheaven，hell，orpurgatory；andhowtheghostsofmenandImayadd，oftheirclotheswhichtheyappearincanwalkbynightinchurches，churchyards，andotherplacesofsepulture。TowhichIknownotwhattheycananswer，unlesstheywillsay，theywalkdefinitive，notcircumscriptive，orspiritually，nottemporally：forsuchegregiousdistinctionsareequallyapplicabletoanydifficultywhatsoever。
Forthemeaningofeternity，theywillnothaveittobeanendlesssuccessionoftime；forthentheyshouldnotbeabletorenderareasonhowGod’swillandpre-ordainingofthingstocomeshouldnotbebeforeHisprescienceofthesame，astheefficientcausebeforetheeffect，oragentbeforetheaction；norofmanyothertheirboldopinionsconcerningtheincomprehensiblenatureofGod。Buttheywillteachusthateternityisthestandingstillofthepresenttime，anunc-stans，astheSchoolscallit；whichneithertheynoranyelseunderstand，nomorethantheywouldahic-stansforaninfinitegreatnessofplace。