CONTENTS.

CHAP. I.

PAGE

NOTICES in the Scriptures respecting certain facts, as per-

taining to the arts and sciences-their differences-the

ends which they are calculated to promote-object of

the following Treatise to discourse on the Nature and

Philosophy of Language, as connected with the Sacred

Scriptures-author of the "Diversions of Purley"-the

noun―verb, and its " peculiar differential circumstance,"

&c.-the philosophy of Horne Tooke not favourable to

the inquiry respecting the verb-destruction of the MSS.

of Horne Tooke, and the probable conclusion to be

drawn from the circumstance the opinions of other

writers respecting the primitive part of speech-the ob-

ject of the present Treatise more fully stated, and the

plan for pursuing the inquiry laid down

CHAP. II.

Faculties and powers of the inferior animals-those of

mankind-the progressive state of man-the perceptive

faculty of an infant, and that of other animals-their

ends essentially different-instinct and intellect-in-

stinctive signs not analogous to language

CHAP. III.

Comparison between the perceptive faculty, as observable

in an infant or child, with the same faculty in the adult

-example drawn from a view of objects at sea-eluci-

dation of three elementary parts of speech-five parts

of speech elucidated by four balls-conceptions of

novelty as giving birth to the expression of ideas-their

differences substantive the primitive part of speech-

correspondence of the argument with that of Locke and

the Bishop of Worcester respecting substance-trans-

positive idiom of language affording an additional argu-

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ment in favour of the hypothesis-the verb consequently

not the primitive-the theory embracing such a doctrine

proved to be false

CHAP. IV.

The nature of the verb-its being, action, &c.-time-pre-

liminary elucidations deduced from the action and re-

action of balls-metaphysical science recommended-

verb the life of language, but not the cause of the exist-

ence of the substantive-atheistical philosophy-an ex-

position of its absurdities recommended, as subsidiary to

the theory for unfolding the force and application of the

verb

CHAP. V.

PAGE

Grotius-Locke-Bichat-Morgan-Lawrence-Rennell

-true philosophy-body-soul-leading faculties of

the soul-passions-Aristotle-Cicero-three distinct

faculties of the soul-the soul nevertheless undivided-

metaphysical writers their inaccurate definitions of the

passions-lecturer of Trinity College, Dublin-Dr.

Hutcheson-no exciting reason previous to affection

and instinct-excitement to the faculty of judging de-

pendent on the will-Locke's definition of passion proved

to be incorrect-appetite-affection-passions-defini-

tions

CHAP. VI.

Locke's notion of matter and substance-controversy be-

tween Locke and the Bishop of Worcester-the infer-

ence of Locke shewn to be the highest probability and

opinion; that of the Bishop of Worcester, the demon-

stration and certainty, that" the thinking thing in us is

immaterial"-argument of modern chemists confuted-

the commencement of the study of philosophy and true

theoretic science aided by the light of Revelation

CHAP. VII.

Opinion that if Horne Tooke had pursued the same course

of reasoning as Locke had done, respecting fundamental

doctrines, he would then have been able to answer his

own query respecting the substantive and the verb-ap-

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plication of the two preceding chapters to the question

of Horne Tooke-none else than the FIRST CAUSE can

say
I HAVE EXISTENCE IN OR WITH MY ESSENCE-

inference and exemplification of the nature of the arti-

ficial verb and definition-elucidation of five elementary

parts of speech and the use of the article and other re-

strictives the use of supernumerary particles when rea-

soning on the simple proposition

CHAP. VIII.

Question, whether or not the English grammar should be

formed on the Latin plan-opinions of grammarians re-

specting the six cases-objections answered-the au-

thors of the Eton Latin Grammar have proceeded upon

the supposition that the Latin can be taught in connexion

with the English grammar-Latin neuter nouns, &c.—

elucidations of the English genitive-accentuation and

the union of the parts of speech which stand for the Eng-

lish of Latin nouns--Latin prepositions-tenses of the

verb

CHAP. IX.

Sentences-the opinion that every sentence is a factitious

word controverted-Burke-the unity essential to a

thinking being is not requisite to the operations of a

thinking being-ellipsis of the verb "to be"-sentences

of childhood-opinion that the imperatives, go, hark, &c.

are virtual sentences-this opinion controverted-order

of words analogous to the operations of intellect-eluci-

dations and conclusion of the argument

CHAP. X.

Question respecting the origin of language-was it invented

by man, or was it revealed to him by his Creator?—

atheistical philosophy-remarks of Johnson-Selkirk-

Juan Fernandez-the young man caught in the woods of

Hanover-in France-arguments drawn from these cir-

cumstances, and from Genesis, chap. 1.-the knowledge

and use of any language to be improved by an acquaint-

ance with other languages-primitive language-the

Scriptures afford the safest arguments respecting the

transmission of it-writers on this subject not cor-

responding in their opinions-the claims of different na-

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tions-Arabians-Syrians - Ethiopians - Armenians

and the Jews-etymology of names considered--the

name of Babel-and the names which are assigned by

Moses to eastern countries, &c.—proved by Mr. Maurice

to be the very names by which they were anciently

known over all the east

CHAP. XI.

No notice in the sacred records respecting the primitive

tongue-arguments of various writers stated-proba-

bility that all the people of the earth journeyed and set-

tled in the plains of Shinar-division of the people of all

the earth-remark of Shuckford respecting the Baby-

lonian and Hebrew language-answered by a passage

in Jeremiah, &c.-alphabetic writing-writings of Job---

language of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

CHAP. XII.

Causes of the fluctuation of language stated-language of

the Israelites neither spoken nor generally understood in

Egypt at the time of the famine-the marriages of Joseph

and Moses with Egyptian women—
-the friendship which

possibly subsisted between the Israelites and the Egyp-

tians until the death of Joseph-the mixed multitude

which departed from Egypt-the language in which the

written law was promulgated on Mount Sinai different

from the language of the original or former sons of

Eber-from the time of the captivity the Hebrew ceased

to be a living language

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ANTI-SCEPTICISM;

OR,

An INQUIRY into the NATURE and PHILOSOPHY of LANGUAGE, as connected with the SACRED SCRIPTURES.

CHAP. I.-SEC. I.

Notices in the Scriptures respecting certain facts, as pertaining to the arts and sciences-their differences-the ends which they are calculated to promote-object of the following Treatise-to discourse on the Nature and Philosophy of Language, as connected with the Sacred Scriptures-author of the "Diversions of Purley"-the noun -verb, and its "peculiar differential circumstance," &c.-the philosophy of Horne Tooke not favourable to the inquiry respecting the verb destruction of the MSS. of Horne Tooke, and the probable conclusion to be drawn from the circumstance the opinions of other writers respecting the primitive part of speech-the object of the present Treatise more fully stated, and the plan for pursuing the inquiry laid down.

ALL the circumstances and relations, which are incidentally mentioned in the sacred records respecting contemporary manners and the arts and sciences, are, unquestionably, calculated to assist and strengthen the intellectual energies of man. But the intimations and relations which we find in those sacred stores are of a two-fold nature. They are divisible into those which are essential to the necessities and comforts of man in this lower world, and into those which have reference more particularly to his being and happiness in that which is to come. The former may be viewed as so many relations of facts, which were addressed immediately to the external senses at the time those facts are recorded to have taken place; and this knowledge, the sound philosopher believes could not, at so early a period of the creation,

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