When such great men as Gassendus, Cartesius, Cudworth, Locke, Bayle, Sir Isaac Newton and Mr. De Fontenelle treat of the most profound questions in metaphysicks, mathematicks, and other parts of philosophy; they by handling them as far as their clear and distinct Ideas reach’d, have written with no less perspicuity to their proper readers, than other authors have done about historical matters, and upon the plainest and most common subjects.
On the other side, when authors, who in other respects are equal to the foregoing, treat of any subjects further than they have clear and distinct Ideas; they do and cannot but write to as little purpose, and take as absurd pains, as the most ignorant authors do, who treat of any subject under a total ignorance, or a confus’d knowledge of it. There are so many examples of these latter occurring to every reader; and there are such frequent complaints of mens venturing beyond their ability in several questions; that I need not name particular Authors, and may fairly avoid the odium of censuring any one. But having met with a passage concerning the ingenious Father Malebranche in the Letters of Mr. Bayle, who was an able Judge, a friend to him, and a defender of him in other respects, I hope I may, without being liable to exception, produce Father
