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"The First Step we take into our Inmost Thoughts, we meet with and discover these Primary Truths: whose Self-Evidence is the Earliest Light that dawns to our Soul, as soon as over her Power of Knowing awakens into Action."

— Sergeant, John (1622-1707)

Author

Sergeant, John (1622-1707)

Work Title

Non Ultra, or, A Letter to a Learned Cartesian Settling the Rule of Truth, and First Principles, Upon their Deepest Ground

Place of Publication

London

Publisher

Printed for A. Roper

Date

1698

Metaphor

"The First Step we take into our Inmost Thoughts, we meet with and discover these Primary Truths: whose Self-Evidence is the Earliest Light that dawns to our Soul, as soon as over her Power of Knowing awakens into Action."

Metaphor in Context

'Tis the Business of this following Paper, to let you into the Certain Knowledge, what Kind of Propositions are the First Principles, and the Rule of Knowing all Truth whatever. The First Step we take into our Inmost Thoughts, we meet with and discover these Primary Truths: whose Self-Evidence is the Earliest Light that dawns to our Soul, as soon as over her Power of Knowing awakens into Action. 'Tis a Subject, tho' most Necessary, and of the highest Influence, yet neglected by Writers hitherto. Two or three have, indeed, spoken of it; but, none I know of, has handl'd it professedly, and at large. Tho' it be Dry, and requires Chawing ere it becomes Nutritive; yet, I dare presume, it is Solid, and not at all Windy. Even, Seeds, when first planted, are Dry; which, yet, hinders them not from yielding a Large Increase afterwards: The First Principles are the Seeds of all Truths; which, by how much their Roots are laid Deeper, so much Higher they Rear and Extend their Branches. The Present I offer you, is Small; but the Little it contains, (as far as concerns this Subject,) is wrought entirely out of Natural and Reflected Reason, without being beholding at all to the Dishonourable Task of Transcribing; as some Pieces, I could name, are. I dare undertake, that the Reasons produc'd here, are so firmly Grounded, that they can fear no Opposition but Drollery, the last Effort of Nonplust Reason. You will not expect Fine Language, in a Matter that cannot bear it. Self-Evidence is so brightly Luminous, that nothing can make it more Glossy: Nor is all the Eloquence in the World able to do these First Truths any Service at all: All Attempts to burnish or varnish them, do, instead of doing this, dawb and hide them; as Painting does a Perfect Beauty. [...]