386 FALLACIES. 



vqlence to the evidence of physical facts, to the prin- 

 ciple of population for example. As if the subjection 

 of mankind to physical suffering, often entirely una- 

 voidable, and, wlien capable of being warded off, 

 capable only by means of forethought and self- 

 restraint, were more difficult to reconcile with the 

 ways of Providence in some one of its particular 

 manifestations than in so many others. As if, in so 

 far as pain is an imperfection, any one day's experi- 

 ence were not sufficient to convince the devoutest 

 mind that imperfection, in that sense, in the work, 

 entered into the plans of the Creator, and that no 

 attribute really incompatible with it can be correctly 

 ascribed to him. 



Although several other varieties of a priori fallacy 

 might probably be added to those here specified, these 

 are all against which it seems necessary to give any 

 special caution. Our object is to open, without 

 attempting or affecting to exhaust, the subject. 

 Having illustrated, therefore, this first class of Fallacies 

 at sufficient length, I shall proceed to the second. 



