I affirm 'tis manifestly absurd—no excuse in the world can be given why a man should use a word without an idea[111]. Certainly we shall find that wt ever word we make use of in matter of pure reasoning has, or ought to have, a compleat idea, annext to it, i.e. its meaning, or the sense we take it in, must be compleatly known.
'Tis demonstrable a man can never be brought to imagine anything should exist whereof he has no idea. Whoever says he does, banters himself with words.
G.
We imagine a great difference & distance in respect of knowledge, power, &c., betwixt a man & a worm. The like difference betwixt man and God may be imagin'd; or infinitely greater[112] difference.
G.
We find in our own minds a great number of different ideas. We may imagine in God a greater number, i.e. that ours in number, or the number of ours, is inconsiderable in respect thereof. The words difference and number, old and known, we apply to that wch is unknown. But I am embrangled[113] in words—'tis scarce possible it should be otherwise.
The chief thing I do or pretend to do is onely to remove the mist or veil of words[114]. This has occasion'd ignorance & confusion. This has ruined the schoolmen and mathematicians, lawyers and divines.