a. [f. L. ēvidenti-a + -AL.]
1. a. Of or pertaining to evidence. b. Based or resting on evidence; relying on evidence; esp. the Evidences of Christianity, as in Evidential method, school, system.
1654. W. Sclater, Fun. Serm., 20. No such evidentiall verity is demonstrated in Holy Writ, as of Absolute Necessity to be believed unto salvation.
1668. Howe, Bless. Righteous (1825), 204. It is a steady … direction of heart towards the future glory … that must be the evidential ground of thy hope to enjoy it.
1683. E. Hooker, Pref. Ep. Pordage’s Mystic Div., 69. The firm and evidential Probation of invisibls, things out of sight.
1772. R. Hill, in Fletcher, Logica Genev., 58. You cannot suppose that … he intended to exclude good works in an evidential sense.
1865. Mozley, Mirac., i. 7. The evidential function of a miracle is based upon the common argument of design.
1871. Tylor, Prim. Cult., I. 380. The basis of theological science must be historical as well as evidential.
1882–3. Schaff, Encycl. Relig. Knowl., III. 2507/1. Whately was a genuine disciple of the ‘evidential’ school. Faith is to him the conclusion drawn from historical premises.
2. Furnishing evidence; having the nature of evidence; serving to attest. Const. of.
a. 1641. Bp. Mountagu, Acts & Mon. (1642), 198. Sight of all our senses is most active, penetrative, discerning, and evidentiall.
1701. Fleetwood, Miracles, 229. Those [miracles] should be Evidential ones, which God enables Men to work in order to gain belief.
1837. J. Macculloch, Proofs Attrib. God, II. 431. Subjects evidential of the attributes of the Deity.
1839. Blackw. Mag., XLVI. 94. Evidential miracles … simply prove Christianity.
1879. Farrar, St. Paul, I. 202. That Paul should have passed … from one direction of life to the very opposite is evidential of the power and significance of Christianity.
† 3. Resting on documentary evidence. Obs.
(Folkingham explains that the ‘evidential’ character of a possession is that which is denoted by such terms as feodum, allodium, etc.)
1610. W. Folkingham, Art of Survey, III. i. 65. The Propriety of Possessions intimates their particular state and condition, and may be deuided into Vocall and Euidential. Ibid., III. ii. 66.
