« back to search

"Nay, it must be such as may be produc'd openly, by the Asserters of any Truth; that, by alledging It, they may be able to convince others, that what they maintain is a Real Truth, and not some Phantastick Conceit of their own; without which, their Clear and Distinct Perception is Invisible, and so can satisfie no Man; nor clear themselves from being Self-conceited; but, to argue like Phanaticks, who pretend they discern Things by an Inward Light, which none can see but themselves, nor they themselves make it visible to others."

— 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

"Nay, it must be such as may be produc'd openly, by the Asserters of any Truth; that, by alledging It, they may be able to convince others, that what they maintain is a Real Truth, and not some Phantastick Conceit of their own; without which, their Clear and Distinct Perception is Invisible, and so can satisfie no Man; nor clear themselves from being Self-conceited; but, to argue like Phanaticks, who pretend they discern Things by an Inward Light, which none can see but themselves, nor they themselves make it visible to others."

Metaphor in Context

[...] This, then, unanswerably concludes ours to be the Genuin Rule of Truth; in regard, this must be such as all Men must be forc'd to Assent to, unanimously Agree in it, nor can ever hap to be Deceiv'd in it by any Chance whatever: Since, otherwise, the whole Nature of those Men would be Depraved, and good for nothing, as having no Rule by which to know any Truth whatever. Nay, it must be such as may be produc'd openly, by the Asserters of any Truth; that, by alledging It, they may be able to convince others, that what they maintain is a Real Truth, and not some Phantastick Conceit of their own; without which, their Clear and Distinct Perception is Invisible, and so can satisfie no Man; nor clear themselves from being Self-conceited; but, to argue like Phanaticks, who pretend they discern Things by an Inward Light, which none can see but themselves, nor they themselves make it visible to others. Of which, more hereafter.
(p. 62)