tion; but in view of the ability to think for oneself, which the diffusion of education has made quite general, it has seemed best to avoid protracted discussion by presenting as brief an outline as can well stand alone.
As far as possible I have avoided the use of technical words and terms, that the subject may be easily understood by all. I have tried to place before the reader the facts and conclusions briefly, and in as logical an order as the extent and the nature of the subject will permit. This I have done without fear of the objections of the Materialists and Sensists, which are too much regarded, yet with an effort to consider sufficiently fair objection and reasonable inquiry. We should not fear to assert the truth because Sensists regard as unworthy of notice what can not be perceived by the corporeal senses. Let us remember that truth has power in itself to accomplish its own mission, and that the bare assertion of truth is an enlightening power. Rather than weary the perceptive reader with what might seem protracted or unnecessary argument, I have frequently trusted to this fact, and have left many points unconfirmed; and in other cases the argument is briefly generalized to avoid lengthy discussions of details. Yet I have endeavored to substantiate fully the fundamental essentials
