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ON SOME OF THE FIRST PRINCIPLES

OF

METAPHYSICKS, ETHICKS, AND THEOLOGY.

**********

BY ASA BURTON, D. D.

PASTOR OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN THETFORD, VERMONT

PORTLAND:

PRINTED BY ARTHUR SHIRLEY.

1824.

B908 KRE

District of Vermont, To wit:

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BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the twenty-third day of February, in the forty-eighth year of the Independence of the United States of America, the

REV. ASA BURTON,

of the said District, hath deposited in this office, the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as author, in the words following, to wit:

Essays on some of the first principles of Metaphysicks, Ethicks, and Theology. "By ASA BURTON, D. D. Pastor of the Church in Thetford, Vermont."

In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled "An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned.” JESSE GOVE, Clerk of the District Court of Vermont.

A true copy of record, examined and sealed by me,

J. GOVE, Clerk,

INTRODUCTION :

Containing preliminary Observations.

THE AUTHOR of the following essays, when he first entered on the study of theology, felt the importance of forming a just and true theory of the human mind. This feeling prompted him to read with attention all the most noted and distinguished authors, he could find, on the subject of pneumatology. He expected, by studying them, to digest a true system. This course he pursued for several years. When he had carefully attended to English, Scotch, French and German authors, instead of finding increased light, his mind was more darkened and perplexed with respect to several parts of this very important subject. Failing of success in this way, he determined to lay aside reading authors, except occasionally, and make an attempt by an exertion of his own powers, to arrange his thoughts systematically on the principles and operations of the human mind. In this way, he has succeeded, in some good measure, to his own satisfaction.— That theory of the mind, which was the result of much study, and which he had taught students in divinity under his care; which was generally approved by them, and which they frequently urged him to publish, it is the object of these essays to illustrate and explain. In doing this, he determined not to adopt the plan or theory of any author he had ever read, for this reason; he does not agree, except in part, with the system or plan of any preceding author. He, however, approves many things they have advanced, and views them as having reflected much light on this science. He feels himself much indebted to them, for a number of important suggestions, which have afforded him much assistance in the work before him.

As it is not his design to follow others by adopting their theories; so he does not write in opposition to them, any further than is necessa

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