to reject the evil, is an elementary principle of my guidance through life: while to search for truths preliminary and preparatory to such choice or rejection, is altogether indispensable as a mean to an end; and the search therefore must necessarily be pursued, even though at great cost of pains and labour."

CHAPTER II.

INTELLECTUAL AND MORAL TRUTH.

OUR inquirer's state of mind then is this: he recognizes the obligation of diligently applying the faculties with which he is endowed: he has motives compelling him to search for Truth.

This truth may in his case be called Moral Truth; which, it may be observed, is essentially different from mere Intellectual Truth. A proposition which declares a truth abstractedly from all considerations of propriety of conduct, may be said to enunciate an intellectual truth. For example: the sun now shines; on such a day lightning struck the spire of a particular church; the Duke of Wellington vanquished the French at Waterloo; the force of gravity attracts bodies to the centre of the earth;-these, for the present at least, and in accordance with the principle of considering them abstractedly, we may call intellectual truths; they may or they may not hereafter be connected with questions of moral conduct: if so connected, they

will then become moral truths. But our inquirer seeks for moral truth. He wishes to know what things relating to human conduct are true, in order that he may act suitably to such truths, as a man placed in the world.

Accordingly it is clear that, though intellectual truths may be obtained, which may not in any perceptible manner be connected with moral truths; still moral truths must involve the consideration of truths submitted to the intellect. The perception therefore of intellectual truth is a natural preliminary to the appreciation of that which is moral.

Whatsoever shews us either intellectual or moral truth may be called the Evidence thereof. The evidence which shews that the Duke of Wellington conquered the French is the concurrent testimony of all men. The proof that it is proper for men to eat food is made up of several different parts: there is the evidence that food will support life; the instinctive love of life; the appetite of hunger.

While therefore the evidence of intellectual truth shews that things have been, are, will be; the evidence of moral truth shews that they have been, are, will be, ought to be. Thus not only are we convinced that Queen Victoria is the sovereign of England; that Napoleon Buona

parte died at St. Helena; that a vine, if it produces fruit next autumn, will bear grapes and not apples; but also that if a man's life is in danger he ought to adopt means of preservation.

To afford assistance in appreciating moral evidence, and to exhibit facts and principles which may serve for illustration, and may also themselves be of advantage in guiding conduct, are the objects of this treatise.

CHAPTER III.

INTELLECTUAL TRUTH.

REVERTING to the consideration of mere intellectual truth, we find that the evidence which manifests the certainty of propositions is of two kinds. "Some truths (says Mill) are known directly and of themselves; some through the medium of other truths." Those which are known thus mediately are the subject of inference: but those which are known directly are original premises from which others are inferred. "Our assent to the conclusion being grounded upon the truth of the premisses, we never could arrive at any knowledge by reasoning, unless something could be known antecedently to all reasoning."

We obtain knowledge directly from our powers of seeing, hearing, tasting, touching, smelling. This is the evidence of our senses: and what is

*Mill's Logic, p. 6. Though his words are here used, still the text presents views slightly varied from those which he has given.