32
The HISTORY of
Motion in general, and not prosecute it through all particular Bodies; to what will he at last arrive, But only to a better Sort of Metaphysicks? And it may be, his Followers, some Ages hence, will divide his Doctrine into as many Distinctions, as the School-men did that of Matter and Form; and so the whole Life of it will also vanish away into Air and Words, as that of theirs has already done.
Sect. XIV. The ill effects of dogmatical Philosophy. But it is time for me to give over this Argument; in which, I fear, that what I have already said, will alarm some excellent Men, whose Abilities I admire; who may perhaps suspect, that it has been with a particular Reflection. I might say for my self, that first they must pass Sentence on themselves, before they can think so, seeing I have nam'd no Man. But I will rather sincerely profess, that I had no satyrical Sense, but only declar'd against Dogmatists in general. And I cannot repent my having done it, while I perceive there are two very dangerous Mischiefs, which are caus'd by that way of Philosophy. The one is, that it makes Men give over, and believe that they are satisfy'd, too soon. This is of very ill Consequence; for thereby Men's Industry will be slackned, and all the Motives to any farther Pursuit taken away. And indeed this is an Error, which is very natural to Men's Minds; they love not a long and a tedious Doubting, though it brings them at last to a real Certainty; but they choose rather to conclude presently, than to be long in Suspence, though to better purpose. And it is with most Men's Understandings, as with their Eyes; to which those seem more delightful Prospects, where Varieties of Hills and Woods do soon bound their Wandrings, than where there is onelarge
