Preface

What I here make public has, after a long and scrupulous inquiry, seemed to me evidently true and not unuseful to be known--particularly to those who are tainted with Scepticism, or want a demonstration of the existence and immateriality of God, or the natural immortality of the soul. Whether it be so or no I am content the reader should impartially examine; since I do not think myself any farther concerned for the success of what I have written than as it is agreeable to truth. But, to the end this may not suffer, I make it my request that the reader suspend his judgment till he has once at least read the whole through with that degree of attention and thought which the subject-matter shall seem to deserve. For, as there are some passages that, taken by themselves, are very liable (nor could it be remedied) to gross misinterpretation, and to be charged with most absurd consequences, which, nevertheless, upon an entire perusal will appear not to follow from them; so likewise, though the whole should be read over, yet, if this be done transiently, it is very probable my sense may be mistaken; but to a thinking reader, I flatter myself it will be throughout clear and obvious. As for the characters of novelty and singularity which some of the following notions may seem to bear, it is, I hope, needless to make any apology on that account. He must surely be either very weak, or very little acquainted with the sciences, who shall reject a truth that is capable of demonstration, for no other reason but because it is newly known, and contrary to the prejudices of mankind. Thus much I thought fit to premise, in order to prevent, if possible, the hasty censures of a sort of men who are too apt to condemn an opinion before they rightly comprehend it.

After a long and careful inquiry, what I publish here has seemed to me clearly true and useful to know. It seems especially useful to those troubled by skepticism. It also seems useful to those who seek a demonstration of God’s existence and immateriality, or the soul’s natural immortality. I am content for readers to examine impartially whether it is true and useful. I care about the success of what I have written only insofar as it agrees with the truth. But so that the truth may not suffer, I ask readers to withhold judgment until they have read the whole work at least once. I ask them to give it the attention and thought the subject seems to deserve. Some passages, taken by themselves, are very likely to be grossly misinterpreted. This could not be avoided. Readers might also charge those passages with having the most absurd consequences. Yet a reading of the whole work will show that those consequences do not follow. Even if readers do read the whole work, they are very likely to mistake my meaning if they read it hastily. But I trust that, to a thoughtful reader, my meaning will be clear and obvious throughout. Some of the ideas that follow may seem new and unusual. I hope I need not apologize for that. Anyone who rejects a truth capable of being demonstrated must surely be very weak or have very little knowledge of the sciences, if the only reason for rejecting it is that it is newly known and contrary to people’s prejudices. I thought it proper to say this beforehand, to prevent, if possible, the hasty criticism of those too ready to condemn an opinion before they properly understand it.