Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1835-10-22

happily dircctcd-but what sort Of proof
do YOU desire. and what would satisfy
you:'
Such proofs rs accompany physical
science. This have always loved; for
never find it deceive me. rest upon
1T with entire conviction. There is no
mistake and can be no dispute in malhc-
mates. And If revelation comes from
God, why have we not such an evidence
for II as mathematical demonstrationi'
Sir, you are too good n philosopher
hot toknow, that the nature OF evidence
must be adapted TO the nature of its
object; that If you break in upon this
adaptation, you will have no evidence
at all; seeing that evidence is no more
interchangeable than objects. If you
ask for mathematical evidence, YOU
must confinc yourself to mathematical
dispositions. Your subject must be
quantity. II you wish to pursue mo-
raj investigation, you must quit Your
mathematics, and con6nc yourself to
moral evidence. Your subject must be
the relations rhich subsisf betreea in
feihgent beings. II would be quite as
wise to apply rule in ethics TO the
calculation OF an eclipse, as to call for
Euclid when we want 10 know our du-
ty, or TO submit the question, whether
God has spoken, to the test of a prob
lem in the comic sections. How would
you prove mathematically that bread
nourishcs men, and that fevers kill
them: Yet you and both arc as firmly
convinced of the truth of these promo
sitions, as OF any mathematical demon
stratIon whatever; and should I call
them in question, my neighbors would
either pity me as an idiot, or shut me
up as mailman. II is, therefore, a
great mistake 10 suppose, that there is
no satisfactory nor certain evidence but
what is reducible to mathematics.
This train of reflection appeared new
TO him. For, however obvious il is. we
must remember. that nothing is more
superficial than neutrality-suspicious.,
and nothing is more credulous than It's
unbelief Dogmatical positions. assert
ed with confidence. set off with small
ridiculc, and favorable TO native dcpra-
witty, have a prodigious effect upon the
volatile youth; and persuade him that
they have enlightened his understand
ing, when they have only ilattered his
vanity, or corrupted his heart.
The officer, though staggered, made
an effort to maintain his ground and la
mented that the objections to other
modes of reasoning are numerous and
perplexing, while the mathematical
conclusion puts all scepticism at def
ance.'
Sir, rejoined the clergyman, 'obiec-
tons against a thing fairly proved, are
OF no weight. The proof rests upon
our knowledge, and the objections up
on our ignorance. IL is true, that moral
demonstrations and religious doctrines
may be attacked in n very ingenious
and plausible manner, because they in
volve questions on which our Ignorance
Is greater than our knowledge but still
our knowledge is knowledge: or in
other words, our certainty is certainty.
In mathematical reasoning our know
ledge is greater than our ignorance
When you have proved that Tie three
angles Of erery Triangle are equal 10 faro
righf angles, there is an end of doubt:
because there are no materials for igno-
rance to work up into phantoms: but
your knowledge is really no more GER
tain than your knowledge on any other
subject.
There is also a deception in this
matter. The defect complained of is
supposed to exist in the nature of The
proof; whereas IL exists, for the most
part, in the mind Of The Inquirer. II
is impossible 10 tell how far the inilu-
ence Of human dePravity obscures the
light of human reason
At the mention OF 'dcpravity. the
officer smiled, and seemed inclined to
jest: probably suspcciing, a. is COM
mon with men. Of that class. that his
antagonist was gong TO retreat into his
creed and intrcnch himself behind
technical term instead of an argument.
The triumph was premature.
You do not imagine, Sir. said ne,
continuing his discourse TO the officer.
you do not imagine that a man who
has been long addicted to stealing.
feels the force Of reasoning against
theft as strongly as a man Of tried hon
csiy. II you hesitate. proceed a step
further. You do not imagine that an
habitual thief feels as much abhor-
renee of his own trade and character.
as a man who never committed an act
Of shelf IN his whole life. And YOU
will not deny that The practice Of aag
crime gradually weakens, and frequent
" destroys, the sense 1T ITS turpiiudc
This Is strong fact, which, AZ a philos-
ophcr you are bound 10 explain. To
ne It Is clear as the day. that his vice
has debauched the intellect: for It j.
that The considerations
which oncs filed him with horror. pro-
duce BOir no more impression upon him
than they woulG produce upon horse.
Why Has the vice changed Have
the considerations changed Mo-
The vice y as pemicIous. and the con
arc as strong ~ ever. But