tHAPTBIt IV. 467 tiples of truth 'settled in the tsmiitd, whose evidence is great and obvious, that they may be always ready at hand to assist us iii judging of the 'great variety of thin0 Which occur." These may be called first notions, or fundamental principles; for though many of them are deduced from each other, yet most Or all of thetas may be tailed principles when compared with a thonsand other judgments which we form under the regulation and influ- ence of these primary propositions. Every art and science, as Well as the atT'ai rs of eivii lifh and religion, have peboliar principles Of this kind belonging to them. There are metaphysical, physical, Mathematical, psi llti- cal, economical, medicinal, theological, moral and prudential principles of judgment. It world be too tedious to give a spe- cimen of them an iu this place. 'Those which are of the most universal use to us both as men and as Christians, may be found in the following t:haptee among the rules' Of judgtnent about par- ticular objects. VIII. Direct. Let the " degrees of your assent to every proposition bear an exact proportion to the different degrees of evidence." Remember this is one of the greatest ,principles of wisdom that man can arrive at in this world, -and the best human security against dangerous mistakes in speculation or practice. In the nature of things, of which our knowledge is made up, there is Mate variety in their degree's of evidence. Aral as God hash given our minds a power to suspend their assent till the evidencebe plain, so we have a power to receive things Which ate proposed to us with a stronger or weaker belief in infinite variety of degrees, proportionable to their evidence. I believe that the planets are inhabited, and I believe that the earth relit among them yearly round the son ; but I do not believe both these prepositions with au equal firmness of 'assent, because the arguments for the latter are drawn from mathematical observa- tions ; but the arguments tor `the former are but probable conjec- tures and moral reasonings. Yet neither do I believe either of these propositions so firmly, As I do that the earth is about tw'eu- ty -four thousand miles round, because the mathematical proof of this is much easier, plainer and stronger. And yet farther, when I say that the earth was created by the power of God. Lime still a more infallible assurance of this than of all the rest, be- cause reason and scripture join to assure me of it. I. Direct. "Keep your mind always open to reteivetruth, and never set limits to your own improvement." Be ready al- ways to hear what may be objected even against your favourite opinions, and those Which have had longest possession of your assent. And if there should be any new and uncontroulable evidence brought against these old oe beloireil sentiments, de 'MA
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