Beattie, J. (1807). All reasoning terminates in first principles. All evidence ultimately intuitive. Common sense the standard of truth to man. In J. Beattie, An essay on the nature and immutability of truth, in opposition to sophistry and scepticism (pp. 40-131). London, Great Britain: J Mawman.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/13913-002
In this induction, we cannot comprehend all sorts of evidence, and modes of reasoning; but we shall endeavour to investigate the origin of those which are the most important, and of the most extensive influence in science and common life; beginning with the simplest and clearest, and advancing gradually to those which are more complicated, or less perspicuous. All the objects of the human understanding may be reduced to two classes, viz. Abstract Ideas, and Thoughts really existing. Of Abstract Ideas and their Relations, all our knowledge is certain, being founded on Mathematical Evidence (a); which comprehends, 1. Intuitive Evidence, and, 2. the Evidence of strict Demonstration. We judge of Things really existing, either, 1. from our own experience; or, 2. from the experience of other men. 1. Judging of Real Existences from our own experience, we attain either Certainty or Probability. Our knowledge is certain when supported by the evidence, 1. Of Sense External (6) or Internal (c); 2. Of Memory (d); and, 3. of Legitimate Inferences of the Cause from the Effect (e) Our knowledge is probable, when, from facts already experienced, we argue, 1. to facts of the same kind (f) not experienced, and, 2. to facts of a similar kind (g) not experienced. 2. Judging of Real Existences from the experience of other men,we have the Evidence of their Testimony (h). The mode of understanding produced by that evidence is properly called Faith; and this faith sometimes amounts to probable opinion, and sometimes rises even to absolute certainty. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)