2. Simple ideas are all real appearances of things.
First, Our simple ideas are all real, all agree to the reality of
things: not that they are all of them the images or representations of what does exist; the contrary whereof, in all
but the primary qualities of bodies, hath been already shown. But, though whiteness and coldness are no more in
snow than pain is; yet those ideas of whiteness and coldness, pain, etc., being in us the effects of powers in things
without us, ordained by our Maker to produce in us such sensations; they are real ideas in us, whereby we
distinguish the qualities that are really in things themselves. For, these several appearances being designed to be
the mark whereby we are to know and distinguish things which we have to do with, our ideas do as well serve us
to that purpose, and are as real distinguishing characters, whether they be only constant effects, or else exact
resemblances of something in the things themselves: the reality lying in that steady correspondence they have
with the distinct constitutions of real beings. But whether they answer to those constitutions, as to causes or
patterns, it matters not; it suffices that they are constantly produced by them. And thus our simple ideas are all real
and true, because they answer and agree to those powers of things which produce them in our minds; that being
all that is requisite to make them real, and not fictions at pleasure. For in simple ideas (as has been shown) the
mind is wholly confined to the operation of things upon it, and can make to itself no simple idea, more than what
it has received.
