Encyclopaedia Britannica, or, a Dictionary of arts, sciences, and miscellaneous literature : enlarged and improved. Illustrated with nearly six hundred engravings > Volume 13, MAT-MIC

jhap. VII.
M E T A P
ofTruth, poreal motion. In the mean time, it is fufficient to
obferve, that whatever the agents may be in the ope¬
rations of nature, Avhatever the manner of their agency
or the extent of their power, they depend upon the
Firft Caufe, and are all under his centroul.
Chap. VII. O/"Truth, and the different Sources
oj Evidence.
Sect. I. Of Truth.
By purfuing thefe inquiries in the order which to
us appears mott natural, we are now led to the contem¬
plation of thofe faculties of the human mind of which
truth is properly the objea. But what is truth ? 1 his
was a famous queftion among the Greek lophiits >
which had been fo often agitated, and to _ which fo
many abfurd anfwers had been given, that it came at
laft to be doubted by men of the world whether a
fatisfaftory anfwer could -be given, or indeed whether
the matter was worthy of inveftigatiem. It is well
known, that among the ancient philofophers there
was a feft called from their principles Sceptics, and from
their founder Tyrrhenians, who openly avowed their
opinion that truth, like virtue, is nothing but a name 5
that all things are equally true, or rather equally doubt-
Vol. XIII. Part II.
H Y S I C S. . 6ot
ful and that it is in vain for man to hope for certain-
ty in any inquiry in which he ca^n be engaged, f'f
fcepticifm as this no modern philofopher has profeiled ;
but many have had enough of it to make iober men
hefitate about defining truth,, and even mfinuate that
of truth no definition can be given. This furely is a
miftake. If truth cannot be defined, it itill wanders
at large and in difguife, and vain rnuft be the purfuifc
of every man who endeavours to obtain it 3 he is pur¬
fuing he knowTs not what. vv
So obvious and fo folid is this reflection, that dimorC
every philofopher of merit who has lately written on 1
the nature of evidence has begun bis work, n not
with a formal definition, with fomething at leap equi¬
valent to a definition of the objedl of his purfuit. lo
repeat all thefe definitions could ferve no other pur-
pofe than to fwell this article to a difproportioned
bulk, and to perplex perhaps the mind of the reader.
We fliall therefore content ourfelves with that which
is given by Mr Wollafton. “ Thofe propofitions (fays
he) are true which reprefent things as they are . ^or
truth is the conformity of thofe words or figns dv
which things are exprefled to the things themfelves.
Notwithilanding the obje&ions of a very learned anc
acute writer (w), this is the bell definition Oi truth
which we have met with in any language. It is con-
4 G cife
“d tXVa "w ^on, and detacKmen, of*
,j„n. When upon a folemn ^came purpoMy and profefTed.y to teach, he did
though it was what he tully <.na pence y ’ . i a • n.ri11q- n . ancl that in its common ule
not define it. He knew that definition was never w0’rds do not conftitute truth;
and application it was feldom the fr.end of truth. Philofophically vmwen wora ^ ;t ;s r(,corded.
they are only the vocal inftruments by which it is commumcated, or the written g y
Byyan inqurL, therefore, things are to be examined ^ktd ^
conveyed bv words in fome form or ot icr, av nen are o definition quite another. Explanation is the
fufficiently underftood before, ^ explanation is one ^ an‘d is
frff office of a teacher : Definition, if it be good, is the faff f.W ared him for it.
then the moft o<f»ii»yigeoi//?y employed by t e teac er, " ™ ^ P declaring at his rifing a marvel-
GOD is a mind, am! truth is confequently an « e of MIND ,fin„ theKawfo/fy tlem:-
lous intlrument, He by whom all things were made h. h delegated ™ P°we oi enl, I U . g
wlniil he hath referred to HIMSELF the office which ls '7'“^ >3 through the fnftrumentality of
knowledge, by his eternal TRUTH to the ““Te -"uniform and eo.if,llent in his opefations; fo that one part
his creatures, or more immediately po™ him.e , . tlv sr'K (lieds ills Us hi over the material creation
of his divine economy is always .UuBrative of another As "f J ^ Crehended by the intclM,
to be apprehended by the eye, TRUTH is the/la thed down rom he yen “ “ ^ar by theii
ts: - “
receive it from them.” The Chart and Scale of Truth, <^'1’ ,, for nerfoicuitv feems to be deferiptive, not
This paif ige, of which feme parts are divine, of which indeed no
of truth in the common acceptation of the ^ut alt km™ J to . as ufcd by Mr Wol-
adequate definition can be given ru,>, ^ k{J fenfe h mav ^tainly be explained, if not defined-, and
lafton and others, it is oppofite toAA^ WMft j ;ven a „ood explanation of the word truth as oppofed to
if the learned lefturer will allow tha Mi v\ odaiton has given a go / exnreffion We have called it a
fa!rehood we fliall not quarrel with him or any man about the propriety ot an exprellion.
of truth 3 be caufe it was fo called by the author from whom tt is taken.