He must certainly be aware of the current logical (not metaphysical) use of the phrase _a priori_: as when we say, that Le Verrier and Adams demonstrated _a priori_ that a planet _must_ exist exterior to Uranus, before any astronomer communicated information that it _does_ exist.

Or again: the French Commissioners proved by actual measurement that the earth is an oblate spheroid, of which Newton had convinced himself _a priori_.
_I_ always avoid a needless argument of metaphysics.

Writing to the general public I cannot presume that they are good judges of anything but a practical and moral argument.

The _a priori_ views of God, of which I here speak, involve no subtle questions; they are simply those views which are attained _independently of the alleged authoritative information_, and, of course, are founded upon considerations _earlier_ than it.
But it would take too much of space and time, and be far too tedious to my readers, if I were to go in detail through Mr.Rogers's objections and misrepresentations.

I have the sad task of attacking _his good faith_, to which I further proceed.
II.