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On the NATURE and LIMITS of CERTAINTY and 

 PROBABILITY. By the Reverend GEORGE MILLER, 

 F.T.C.D and M.R.I.J. 



j;i'';v. 



4> 1793- 



JL HE rafh and unfuccefsful efforts which bold fpeculators Read May 

 have made in metaphyfical enquiry have brought difcredit upon 

 every attempt to examine the firft principles of human know- 

 ledge. The fober part of mankind, alarmed at the perplexities 

 which have generally been the refult of fuch enquiries, with- 

 draw their attention from every difquifition profeffmg to be 

 metaphyfical as from a fruitlefs purfuit. If this perfuafion 

 operated univcrfally, perhaps no very bad confequences would 

 follow from it ; but whilfl the fincere friends of truth fhun 

 the diredl enquiries of metaphyfics, they are lefs prepared to 

 efcape from the fubtleties with which the fceptic endeavours 

 to enfnare them, or the errors into which in their own refearches 

 they may fometimes be betrayed. It becomes neceflary, there- 

 fore, to eftablifli principles by which they may be directed, 

 and the authority of Lord Bacon fliould encourage us to hope 



that 



