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iv INTRODUCTION.

But the utility of Commonplace-Books in some form is now so universally admitted that arguments
in their favor are almost superfluous. Scarcely a scholar can be found of reputation in any depart-
ment of study, or a professional man of any class, who has not found their use a necessity, and proved
their value in his own experience.

Various plans have been suggested for their arrangement. The method of Locke has, perhaps,
been more highly recommended than any other, and has been adopted by a greater number; but the
index prefixed to the Commonplace-Book of Locke, in which indeed the whole secret of his method
consists, is too complicated for general use.

The "Theological Commonplace-Book," published at Cambridge, is limited in its range, as its title
indicates; and the student is embarrassed rather than otherwise by a printed index of subjects designed
only for professional reading, containing many unsuited to his purpose, and wanting many he would
desire to use.

The Index Rerum of Dr. Todd, constructed mainly on the principle of the index to Locke's
Commonplace-Book, is what it claims to be, simply an "Index of things," and as such is of great
value. If properly and faithfully used, it will place at command the stores of knowledge contained
in one's own library, or in books which are always accessible. But though valuable in its place and
desirable in connection with Commonplace-Books, it does not supersede them, for it fails to secure to
us the stores of information derived from the reading of books which are not always or usually within
our reach, or acquired by listening to lectures, or in conversation with men of cultivated or gifted
minds. But knowledge obtained in all these ways, if transcribed to a Common-Book with a
suitable index like the one we have described, and which it is our present purpose to recom-
mend, will be thus retained and made available for future use as occasion may require. And although
the process of copying with sufficient fullness of detail the facts or arguments thus obtained may
involve considerable labor, yet the result will be found to repay abundantly for the time and the toil
that is bestowed upon it.

A Commonplace-Book of this kind may also be made of great service not only as a record or
repository of facts, arguments, and illustrations, which are brought to our view in the course of our
reading, or by the other methods suggested, but also as a register of our own thoughts and reflections
upon various subjects as they are thus presented to our notice.

We recommend then this work of our Book Agents to the student and the general reader, as free
from the objectionable features to which we have referred, more simple in its plan, and better adapted
than any we have seen to the object for which it was intended. We cannot too strongly commend
its use to those who are just commencing a course of reading and study preparatory to professional
life. The publishers have done good service to the public and to the Church in its preparation. We
trust it will be widely circulated and extensively used, and we are confident that the results will be
highly satisfactory.
W. R.

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