thence: As Sure of as that (for Example) there are a certain number of Satellites always attending on Jupiter, or Saturn; they cannot be feen indeed with the naked Eye, nor without knowing how to fix the Telescope, but That being done 'tis evident beyond Contradiction. And This is another Inftance of Light we have in thefe Important Cafes. I will mention but One more, and that is; Tho' we can have no Adequate Idea of the Supreme Being; tho' we are exceedingly at a lofs in many Queftions concerning him, yet that Infinite Reafon prefides we fee very evidently, we can be fatisfied we are not (as a late Author expreffes it) expofed here in a Fatherless World. But that our Selves, and all our Affairs, and the whole Compass of Eternity, and Immenfity is under the Care, Conduct, and Protection of One who is Infinitely Wife, Juft, Good, and Powerful, which Infinite Reafon muit be. Let us call this Incomprehenfible Something, GOD, or by whatever other Name. Thus much we can be affured of concerning him, and more it concerns us not to know to our Present Purpose, whatever may be required as an Article of Faith, which I Dispute not, nor any thing else Legally eftablish'd. All thefe Inferiour Beings, Numberless, (Great in Themselves, Inferiour yet to Thee) Eternally obey Thy Soveraign Will, Governing always, Irrefiftable, Unchangeable, Impoffible to Err, To Fate Subjected, Thou thy felf art Fate. I cannot finish this Reflection upon Humane Understanding better than with thefe few Lines out of Milton, who I can never bring in too often if it be not improperly. Henceforth Henceforth I learn that to Obey is Beft, This having learnt thou haft attain'd the Summ I ask Pardon of the Divines that I so often fet my foot upon Holy Ground; They will have the Goodnefs to confider we Painters are a fort of Lay-Brothers by Profeffion, as well as Hiftorians, Poets, and Philofophers; And befides They may make Reprifals upon Us, and talk of Painting as much as They please. [[]] 1 Let us now fee whether in the Science I am treating of, as much Certainty is not to be had as perhaps in any other whatsoever. With an Exception always to what is Inconteftably Divinely Reveal'd, both as to the Revelation it felf, and the Senfe of it; and to what is Mathematically Demonftrable. A very little Reflection on what has been faid, and on what is feen abroad in the World will give us an Idea of Other Sciences as to the particular we are at prefent upon. I will now fhew how That matter ftands with relation to Connoiffance in its feveral Branches, The Knowledge of the Goodness of a Picture, Drawing, &c. The Diftinguishing of Hands, and Originals, and Copies. Rules may be eftablish'd fo clearly derived from Reason as to be Incontestable. If the Defign of the Picture be (as in General it is) to Please Please, and Improve the Mind (as in Poetry) the Story must have all poffible Advantages given to it, and the Actors must have the Utmoft Grace, and Dignity their feveral Characters will admit of: If Hiftorical, and Natural Truth only be intended That must be follow'd ; tho' the Best Choice of These must be made; In Both Cafes Unity of Time, Place, and Action ought to be obferv'd: The Composition must be fuch as to make the Thoughts appear at first Sight, and the Prin→ cipal of them the most confpicuously; And the Whole must be fo contrived as to be a Grateful Object to the Eye, both as to the Colours, and the Maffes of Light, and Shadow. These things are so evident as not to admit of any Difpute, or Contradiction; As it alfo is that the Expreffion must be Strong, the Drawing Juft, the Colouring Clean, and Beautiful, the Handling Easy, R 2 and |