42 LECTURE I. 



If, however, those professed sceptics, 

 whom I have incorporated under the title 

 of Moderns, really suppose that they have 

 no opinion on certain subjects, they deceive 

 themselves; for by repeatedly thinking that 

 there may be nothing which is not an ob- 

 ject of sense, they at last bring themselves 

 to believe that there is nothing, which is 

 a positive opinion, and also a creed found 

 to have various conveniences. Else whence 

 arises their zeal to make proselytes and to 

 refute the opinions of others, who, perceiv- 

 ing the deficiencies and fallibility of our 

 senses, believe that there are many things 

 far more demonstrable to reason than to 

 sight. 



Mr. Hunter's opinions may be denied, 

 but cannot be refuted. It is, however, 

 easier to maintain a proposition diametri- 

 cally opposite to truth, than one originating 

 in any intermediate degree of error. Those, 

 therefore, who attempt to account for the 

 vital phaenomena upon any other suppo- 

 sition than the one I have had the honor of 

 advocating in your presence, would lead us 



