By Infallible Certainty, I do not mean abfolute Infallibility, because that is an Incommunicable Attribute. And it were no less than a blafphemous Arrogance, for any Man to pretend to fuch a perfect unerring Judgment on which the Divine Power it felf could not impofe. But I mean a Conditional Infallibility, that which fuppofes our Faculties to be true, and that we do not neglect the exerting of them. And upon fuch a Suppofition there is a neceffity that some things must be fo as we apprehend them, and that they cannot poffibly be otherwise.

By Indubitable Certainty, I mean that which doth not admit of any reasonable Caufe of doubting, which is the only certainty of which moft Things are capable; and this may properly be afcribed both to that kind of Evidence arifing from the Nature of Things, and likewife to that which dotharife from Teftimony, or from Experi

ence.

I am from the Nature of the Things themfelves Morally certain, and cannot make any doubt of it, but that a Mind free from paffi on and prejudice, is more fit to pass a true Judgment, than fuch a one as is biaffed by Affections and Interefts. That there are fuch Things as Virtue and Vice. That Mankind is naturally defigned for a fociable life. That it is most agreeable to Reafon and the common Interefts of thofe in Society, that they should

be

be true to their Compacts, that they should not hurt an innocent Perfon, &c.

And as for the Evidence from Teftimony which depends upon the Credit and Authority of the Witnesses, these may be fo qualified as to their ability and fidelity, that a Man must be a fantastical incredulous Fool to make any doubt of them. And by this it is that I am fufficiently affured, That there was such a Perfon as Queen Elizabeth; That there is fuch a Place as Spain.

And fo for the Evidence of Experience, I am by that to a great degree affured of the fucceffion of Night and Day, Winter and Summer; and have no fuch reason to doubt, whether the Houfe wherein now I am, fhall this next Minute fall upon me, or the Earth open and fwallow it up, as to be in continual fear of fuch Accidents.

II. That kind of Affent which doth arise from fuch Evidence as is lefs plain and clear, is called Opinion and Probability. When though the Proofs for a Thing may preponderate any Thing to be faid against it, yet they are not fo weighty and perfpicuous as to exclude all reasonable doubt and fear of the contrary.

And this doth arife from a more imperfect and obfcure reprefentation and conception of Things, either by our Senfes or Understandings, by Testimony or by Experience.

When

When the Evidence on each fide doth equiponderate, this doth not properly beget any Affent, but rather a Hefitation, or Sufpenfion of Affent.

CHAP.

Two Schemes of Principles relating to Practical Things, whether Natural or Moral, propofed in the Method used by Mathematicians of Postulata, Definitions, and Axioms.

Having

gene- vid. Dr.

premised these Things in ral concerning feveral kinds of Evi- H. More dences and Affents; I fhall in the next Place offer fome particular Schemes of Principles relating to practical Things, whether Natural or Moral, in the fame Way and Method as is ufed in the Mathematicks, confifting of Poftulata, Definitions and Axioms.

A Scheme of Natural Principles.

Every thing is endowed with fuch a natural Principle, whereby it is neceffarily inclined to promote its own prefervation and wellbeing.

Poftula

tum.

That which hath in it a fitness to promote Defin. I. this End, is called Good. And on the contrary, that which is apt to hinder it, is called Evil. Amongst which there are feveral de

I

grecs,

Defin. 2.

Axiom. I.

2.

3.

4.

grees, according as things have more or less fitness, to promote or hinder this End,

The leffening or escaping of Evil is to be reckoned under the Notion of Good.

The leffening or lofs of Good is to be reckoned under the Notion of Evil.

That which is Good is to be chofen and profecuted, that which is Evil to be avoided. The greater Good is to be preferred before the Lefs, and the leffer Evil to be endured rather than the Greater.

Such kinds of Things or Events, whether Good or Evil, as will certainly come to pass, may fall under computation, and be estimated as to their feveral degrees, as well as things prefent. Because when fuch a space of time is elapfed, that which is now future, will become prefent. Which is the Ground of Men's dealing for Reversions.

And thus likewife is it for fuch Things as may probably come to pass; Though this probability fhould be fomewhat remote, it is counted a valuable Thing, and may be estimated at a certain Rate, for a Man to be one amongst four or five equal Competitors for a Place, to be the fourth or fifth Expectant of an Inheritance; tho' in fuch Cafes there be the odds of Three or Four to One, yet the Price that is fet upon this, may be fo proportioned, as either to reduce it to an equality, or make it a very advantageous Bargain.