XVI. PROLEGOMENA. 



of Council. For all loi^ic, as well as all 

 mathematical reasoning- whatever, must be 

 founded on Axioms, and what is that mode of 

 sensation, which we call an Axiom, but a truth, 

 evident to all men, and therefore used, as bein^ 

 approved by the authority of universal council, for 

 the basis of logical reasonings, whereby we hope 

 to conduct others to the perception of truttis less 

 evident. 



But we will go at once into the question of 

 etymology, and tlie meaning of the most im- 

 portant words in which religious ideas are con- 

 veyed, and adapted by God to our imperfect 

 power of perception, whereby the reader will be 

 prepared for what is to follow respecting the 

 infallibility of Authority. 



Of Truth. I shall begin with this word, as 

 it is of consequence, in limine, to settle our minds 

 with respect to what we mean by Truth, about 

 which such great mistakes have been made. 

 Truth is the corrupted past particible of the 

 Saxon and English verb /o irow or believe, and 

 signifies Troth or Belief that which one troweth.* 

 But every man, according to this meaning, might 



* This lias been satisfactorily proved by Parson Home, after- 

 wards Home Tooke, in bis Diversions of Purley, by an ingenious 

 argument, which, unfortunately for him and luckily for Religion, 

 turns against himself, both with respect to the word, and to the 

 words right, wrong, &c. for all these words imply an infiiiite 

 source of Truth and of Right, which is Divine Authority. 



