And first, as to the inconveniences of living in the World; no very small one is that strong _Idea_ and warm perception it gives us of its Vanities; since these are ever at hand, constantly thronging about us, they must necessarily push aside all other Objects, and the Mind being prepossess’d and gratefully entertain’d with those pleasing Perceptions which external Objects occasion, takes up with them as its only Good, is not at leisure to tast those delights which arise from a Reflection on it self, nor to receive the _Ideas_ which such a Reflection conveys, and consequently forms all its Notions by such _Ideas_ only as it derives from sensation, being unacquainted with those more excellent ones which arise from its own operations and a serious reflection on them, and which are necessary to correct the mistakes and supply the defects of the other. From whence arises a very partial knowledge of things, nay, almost a perfect ignorance in things of the greatest moment. For tho’ we are acquainted with the Sound of some certain words, _viz. God_, _Religion_, _Pleasure_ and _Pain_, _Honour_ and _Dishonour_, and the like; yet having no other _Ideas_ but what are convey’d to us by those Trifles we converse with, we frame to our selves strange and awkward notions of them, conformable only to those _Ideas_ sensation has furnish’d us with, which sometimes grow so strong and fixt, that ’tis scarce possible to introduce a new Scheme of Thoughts and so to disabuse us, especially whilst these Objects are thick in our way.