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"Lastly, As this pretended Necessity of Explicating, and Meditating, quite degrades yours from being the Genuin, First, and, consequently, the Right Rule of Knowing Truth; so it abets ours, and gives it a Clear Title to be such a Rule, since the Self-evidence of those First Truths, express'd by Identical Propositions, (which is our Rule,) is such, as is both Impossible to be Explicated, and Impossible to need Meditating, to clear it to us; but, at the first Instant we open the Eye of our Mind, it discovers it self fully to all Mankind, to be most True; and, withall, begets, forces and fixes us in a Full and Firm Assent to its Verity."

— 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

"Lastly, As this pretended Necessity of Explicating, and Meditating, quite degrades yours from being the Genuin, First, and, consequently, the Right Rule of Knowing Truth; so it abets ours, and gives it a Clear Title to be such a Rule, since the Self-evidence of those First Truths, express'd by Identical Propositions, (which is our Rule,) is such, as is both Impossible to be Explicated, and Impossible to need Meditating, to clear it to us; but, at the first Instant we open the Eye of our Mind, it discovers it self fully to all Mankind, to be most True; and, withall, begets, forces and fixes us in a Full and Firm Assent to its Verity."

Metaphor in Context

[...] Nor, consequently, can any stronger Argument be brought, to Demonstrate that this Rule of yours is not the Right one, than 'tis to confess or pretend that it stands in need of, or, even, can admit Assistance, or Light, either from the one, or the other. For, if it can need any Explication, it follows, that it must be something Obscure: And, if it can need Poring and Meditating upon it, ere it be admitted, or can be known, then 'tis far from being most Self-evident: Both which utterly destroy the Nature of such a Rule. For, since we must know all other Truths by It, its Evidence must be the First Thing to be known; and therefore, the Knowledge of its Truth must antecede the Knowlege of all other Truths whatsoever, and be Clearer than They. Which being so manifest, I wonder what Thoughts or Considerations our Explicating or Meditating can suggest, that can do this First Rule of Truth any Service, or give it any Advantage; since, all others being more Obscure than It, they may, indeed, (could they affect it,) impart to it their own greater Obscurity, and make it less Clear and Intelligible than it was; but, can never make it Clearer, as having no greater, but far less Clearness themselves. Lastly, As this pretended Necessity of Explicating, and Meditating, quite degrades yours from being the Genuin, First, and, consequently, the Right Rule of Knowing Truth; so it abets ours, and gives it a Clear Title to be such a Rule, since the Self-evidence of those First Truths, express'd by Identical Propositions, (which is our Rule,) is such, as is both Impossible to be Explicated, and Impossible to need Meditating, to clear it to us; but, at the first Instant we open the Eye of our Mind, it discovers it self fully to all Mankind, to be most True; and, withall, begets, forces and fixes us in a Full and Firm Assent to its Verity.
(pp. 79-80)