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
veris, because apt to beget belief or persuasion touch-
ing the matter in hand.