and Analyfes. New Inductions may be inftituted, new Axioms eftablifhed, and new Inventions found: and thus the great volume of Nature is calculated, by the omnifcience of its Author, to afford scope to the virtuous and honourable employment of fages and philofophers, till its whole system fhall diffolve and vanish, and be fucceeded by one of a fuperior order; when there will be "a new heaven and a new earth," in which the FIRST will himself take place of second Causes; when the film which is fpread over the carnal eye will be removed, new objects presented, and new fcenes difclofed, under the aspect and illumination of a brighter SUN. * See Ifaiah lx. 19, 20; and Luke xvii. 2. CHAP. CHA P. IX. Of the Logic of FACTS. 'ROM Phyfics, the plan chalked out for the arrangement and execution of this general Chart of Truth leads me to that extenfive department comprehending all those tranfactions, occurrences, and events, which are known by the name of FACTS, as belonging to the fame Theoretic province of the Mind, and entitled to the fame diftinction from subjects both of Practical and Poetical intention. • Τῆς δὲ θεωρητικῆς διανοίας, καὶ μὴ πρακτικῆς, μηδὲ ποιητικῆς, τὸ εὖ καὶ κακῶς, ΤΑΛΗΘΕΣ ἐσι καὶ ΨΕΥΔΟΣ, Ariftot. Eth. Nicom. Lib. vi. cap. 1. EU * Οὐκ ἔσι δὲ προαιρετὸν ἐθὲν γεγονός· οἷον ἐθεὶς προαιρεῖται Ιλιον πεπορθηκέναι. ἐδὲ γὰρ βολεύεται περὶ τα γεγο κότος, THIS is a kind of truth, which is fo direct and obvious in its nature, fo open to the apprehenfion, and fo familiar to the mind, of all men; that it seems to have escaped philofophical enquiry and critical examination. As it is, however, a species of truth of more univerfal extent than any other, and of more immediate importance in every stage and sphere of life; and, particularly, fince by the decree of providence it has been made a principal foundation of those fuperior and fublimer truths, which are the main object of this analyfis, it demands, in its place, a logical confideration. νότος, ἀλλὰ περὶ τῇ ἐσομένε, καὶ ἐνδεχομένα. τὸ δὲ γεγονὸς ἐκ ἐνδέχεται μὴ γενέσθαι. διὸ ὀρθῶς Αγάθων, Μόνε γὰρ αὐτῇ καὶ θεὸς σερίσκεται, · Ibid. SECT. SECT. I. Of the PRINCIPLE of Facts. ACTS have, indeed, a moft intimate. FA and infeparable connection with Phyfics. As truths they derive their existence from the fame FIRST PRINCIPLE, from the notices and indications of the EXTERNAL SENSES; and, had it not been for their clofe connection with the subject of the fucceeding chapter, they would have been entitled to the precedence in this logical arrangement, as they fupply the foundation of all phyfical deductions: for without Experiments, which are a fpecies of Facts, there can be no found philofophy of nature. But, whereas Phyfics leave the first impreffions made upon the SENSES by individual objects, and, from Appearances and Effects, by the help of experiments, defcend to the investigation of Qualities and Causes, in order c order to form general laws for the proof of particular truths, which are permanent, and will extend to all times and places fo long as nature remains the fame; Facts, as truths, result immediately from the individual objects prefented to the SENSES, from the Appearances and Effects themselves, and, however certain, are tranfient, and confined within the limits of time and place. They are all particular independent truths, not deriving their proof from generals, as thofe of Phyfics do; but requiring to their confirmation, that a particular event, or feries of events occurred to the ocular obfervation of a certain person or perfons, at a certain time and place; that a particular phanomenon appeared; or that a particular thing, was heard or feen to be faid or done. So that, for the proof of Facts, the coincidence of a particular tranfaction, person, time, с Philofophia individua dimittit; neque impreffiones primas individuorum, fed notiones ab illis abftractas complectitur; atque in iis componendis et dividendis, ex lege naturæ et rerum ipfarum evidentia, verfatur. Atque hoc prorfus officium eft atque opificium rationis. Baconus De Augm. Sc. lib. II. cap. 1. and |