Page:A Philosophical Inquiry Concerning Human Liberty (3rd ed., 1735).djvu/37

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Human Liberty.
33

us whether we will or no, and we cannot reject ’em. We must be conscious that we think, when we do think; and thereby we necessarily have the Ideas of Reflection. We must also use our senses when awake; and thereby necessarily receive the Ideas of Sensation. And as we necessarily receive Ideas, so each Idea is necessarily what it is in our mind: for it is not possible to make any thing different from itself. This first necessary action, the reader will see, is the foundation and cause of all the other intelligent actions of man, and makes them also necessary. For, as a judicious author, and nice observer of the inward actions of Man, says truly,[1] Temples have their sacred images, and we see what influence they have always had over a great part of mankind. But in truth, the Ideas and images in mens minds, are the Invisible Powers that constantly govern them, and to these they universally pay a ready submission.

Judging of Propositions2. The second action of man is judging of propositions. All propositions must appear to me either self-evident, or evident from proof, or probable, or improbable, or doubtful, or false. Now
  1. Locke’s Works. p. l, 2.