Page:Of the Principle and Duties of Natural Religion, 6th ed., 1710.djvu/22

2 In my Entrance upon this Work, I am sensible of what ill Consequence it may be, to lay the Stress of a weighty Cause upon weak or obscure Arguments, which instead of convincing Men, will rather harden and confirm them in their Errors.

And therefore-I cannot but think myself obliged in the management of this Argument, to use my utmost caution and endeavour, that It be done with so much strength and perspicuity, as may be sufficient to convince any Man, who hath but an ordinary Capacity, and an honest Mind; which are no other Qualifications than what are required to the Institution of Men, in all kind of Arts and Sciences whatsoever.

In order to this, I judge it expedient to premise something concerning the several kinds and degrees of Evidence and Assent, and to lay down some common Principles, which may serve as a Foundation to the following Discourse.

The several ways whereby Men come to the knowledge or belief of any thing without immediate Revelation, are either by such Evidence of Things as is more Rh