Алкифрон, или Мелочный философ

of life. But the fubduing prejudices and acquiring true knowledge, that Herculean labor, is the lad, being what demands the mod perfect abilities, and to which all other advantages are preparative. Right, faid Euphranory Alciphron hath touched our true defect. It was always my opinion, that as foon as we had provided fubfiftence for the body, our next care fhoukl be to improve the mind. But the defire of wealth fteps between and ingroileth men's thoughts. II. Alciphron. — Thought is that which we are told didinguifTieth man from bead : and freedom of thought makes as great a difference between man and man. It is to the noble aflerters of this privilege and perfection of human kind, the free-thinkers I mean, who have fprung up and multiplied of late years, that we are indebted for all thofe important difcoveries, that ocean of light which hath broke in and made its way, in fpite of ilavery and fuperftition. Euphrano'r, who is a fmcere enemy to both, tedified a great efteem for thofe worthies who had preferved their country from being ruined by them, having fpread fo much light and knowledge over the land. He added, that he liked the name and character of a freethinker 5 but in his fenfe of the word, every honed inquirer after truth in any age or country was intitled to it. He therefore defired to know what this feet was that Alciphron had fpoken of as newly fprung up ? what were their tenets ? what were their difcoveries ? and wherein they employed themfelves, for the benefit of mankind ? Of all which, he mould think himfelf obliged, if Alciphron would inform him. That I mall, very eafily, replied Alciphron, for I profefs myfelf one of the number, and my mod intimate friends are fome of the mod confiderable among them. And perceiving that Euphranor heard -'him with refpect, he proceeded very fluently. You mud know, faid he, that the mind of man may be fitly compared to a piece of land. V so MINUTE PHILOSOPHER. [Dial. I.]