BELIEF, in its general and natural sense, denotes a persuasion, or a strong assent of the mind to the truth of any proposition. In which sense, belief has no relation to any particular kind of means or arguments, but may be produced by any means whatever. Thus we are said to believe our senses, to believe our reason, to believe a witness, &c. And hence, in rhetoric, all sorts of proofs, from whatever topics deduced, are called persuasus, because apt to beget belief or persuasion touching the matter in hand.