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RV 190 (Chap. 24.) when I come to say; "But I must use Demonstration to you?" "How should you? Do you comprehend what Demonstration is; or, how a Thing is demonstrated; or by what Methods; or, what resembles a Demonstration, and yet is not a Demonstration? Do you know what True, or False is? What is consequent to a Thing, and what contradictory? Or unsuitable, or dissonant? But I must excite you to Philosophy. How shall I show you that Contradiction, among the Generality of Mankind, by which they differ, concerning Good and Evil, Profitable and Unprofitable, when you know not what Contradiction means? Show me then, what I shall gain, by discoursing with you? Excite an Inclination in me, as a proper Pasture excites an Inclination to eating, in a Sheep: for if you offer him a Stone, or a Piece of Bread, he will not be excited. Thus we too have certain natural Inclinations to speaking, when the Hearer appears to be somebody; when he gives us Encouragement: but if he sits by, like a Stone, or a Tuft of Grass, how can he excite any Desire in a Man? Doth a Vine say to an Husbandman, "Take care of me?" No: but invites him to take care of it, by showing him, that, if he doth, it will reward him for his Care. Who is there, whom engaging sprightly Children do not invite to play, and creep, and prattle, with them? But who was ever taken with an Inclination to divert himself, or bray, with an Ass? for, be the Creature ever so little, it is still a little Ass.

§. 2. Why do you say nothing to me, then?

I have only this to say to you: That, whoever is ignorant what he is, and wherefore he was born, and in what kind of a World, and in what Society; what Things are good, and what evil; what fair, and what base: who understands neither Discourse, nor Demonstration; nor what is true, nor what is false; nor is able to disginguish between them: such a one