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Therefore there is no Idea,
or conception of anything we call Infinite. No man can have in
his mind an Image of infinite magnitude; nor conceive the ends,
and bounds of the thing named; having no Conception of the thing,
but of our own inability. And therefore the Name of GOD is used,
not to make us conceive him; (for he is Incomprehensible; and his
greatnesse, and power are unconceivable;) but that we may honour him.
Also because whatsoever (as I said before,) we conceive, has been perceived
first by sense, either all at once, or by parts; a man can have no thought,
representing any thing, not subject to sense. No man therefore
can conceive any thing, but he must conceive it in some place;
and indued with some determinate magnitude; and which may be divided
into parts; nor that any thing is all in this place, and all in another
place at the same time; nor that two, or more things can be in one,
and the same place at once: for none of these things ever have,
or can be incident to Sense; but are absurd speeches, taken upon credit
(without any signification at all,) from deceived Philosophers,
and deceived, or deceiving Schoolemen.
CHAPTER IV
OF SPEECH
Originall Of Speech
The Invention of Printing, though ingenious, compared with the
invention of Letters, is no great matter. But who was the first that
found the use of Letters, is not known. He that first brought them into
Greece, men say was Cadmus, the sonne of Agenor, King of Phaenicia.
A profitable Invention for continuing the memory of time past,
and the conjunction of mankind, dispersed into so many, and distant
regions of the Earth; and with all difficult, as proceeding from a
watchfull observation of the divers motions of the Tongue, Palat,
Lips, and other organs of Speech; whereby to make as many differences
of characters, to remember them. But the most noble and profitable
invention of all other, was that of Speech, consisting of Names or
Apellations, and their Connexion; whereby men register their Thoughts;
recall them when they are past; and also declare them one to another
for mutuall utility and conversation; without which, there had been
amongst men, neither Common-wealth, nor Society, nor Contract, nor Peace,
no more than amongst Lyons, Bears, and Wolves. The first author
of Speech was GOD himselfe, that instructed Adam how to name such
creatures as he presented to his sight; For the Scripture goeth
no further in this matter. But this was sufficient to direct him
to adde more names, as the experience and use of the creatures should
give him occasion; and to joyn them in such manner by degrees,
as to make himselfe understood; and so by succession of time,
so much language might be gotten, as he had found use for;
though not so copious, as an Orator or Philosopher has need of.
For I do not find any thing in the Scripture, out of which,
directly or by consequence can be gathered, that Adam was taught
the names of all Figures, Numbers, Measures, Colours, Sounds, Fancies,
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