KNOWLEDGE. Knowledge is defined by Mr. Locke, to be the perception of the con nexion and agreement, or disagreement and repugnancy of our ideas, It also denotes learning, as the improvement of our faculties by reading; experience, or the acquiring new ideas or truths, by seeing a variety of objects, and making observations upon them in our own minds. The branches of knowledge are die mathematical sciences, natural philosophy in its varieties, natural history of the three king doms of nature, moral philosophy, grammar, logic, and metaphysics, jurisprudence, political economy, history, and geography ; while the belles-/ettres include poetry, essay-writing, and works of fancy. No man, says the admi rable Dr. Watts, is obliged to learn and know every thing ; this can neither be sought nor required, for it is utterly impassible yet all persons are under some obligation to improve their own understanding, otherwise it will he a barren desert, or a forest overgrown with weeds and brambles. Universal ignorance or, infinite error will overspread the mind which is utterly neglected, and lies without any cul tivation. The following rules, therefore, should be attended to for the improvement of know ledge : 1. Deeply possess your mind with the vast importance of a good judgement, and the rich and inestimable advantage of a right rea soning. 2. Consider the weaknesses, failings, and mistakes of human nature in general. 3. Be not satisfied with a slight view of things, but to take a wide survey now and then of the vast and unlimited regions of learning, the va. ricty of questions and difficulties belonging to every science. 4. Presume not too much upon
a bright genius, a ready wit, and good parts ; for this, without study, will never make a man of knowledge. 5. Do not imagine that a largd and laborious reading, and a strong memory, can render you truly wise without studious meditation. 6. Be not so weak as to imagine that a life of learning is a life of laziness. 7. Let the hope of new discoveries, as well as the satisfaction and pleasure of known truths, ani mate your daily industry. 8. Do not hover always on the surface of things, nor take up suddenly with mere appearances. 9. Once a day, especially in the early years of life and study, call yourselves to an account what new ideas you have gained. 10. Maintain a con stant watch at all times against a dogmatical spirit. 11. Be humble, and courageous enough to retract any mistake, and confess an error. 12. Beware of a fanciful temper of mind, and a humorous conduct. 13. Rave a care of tri fling with things important and momentous, or of sporting with things awful and sacred. 14. Ever maibtain a virtuous and pious frame of spirit. 15. Watch against the pride of your own reason, and a vain conceit of your own intellectual powers, with neglect of Divine aid and blessing. 16. Offer up, therefore, your daily requests to God, the Father of Lights, that he would bless all your attempts and la bours in reading, study, and conversation. KORAN. The book of the Mahometan doctrine, containing the revelations of their pretended prophet.