Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
authority_n	call_v	great_a	power_n	2,783	5	4.5526	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A45644	The notion of a God neither from fear nor policy a sermon preach'd at the cathedral-church of St. Paul, March the 7th 1697/8 : being the third of the lecture for that year, founded by the Honourable Robert Boyle, Esq. / by John Harris ...	Harris, John, 1667?-1719.	1698 (1698)	Wing H852; ESTC R15402	19,178	32

we_o may_v by_o that_o mean_n frame_v notion_n of_o thing_n which_o perhaps_o do_v never_o nor_o ever_o will_v exist_v thus_o we_o may_v gain_v the_o notion_n of_o a_o fly_a horse_n of_o a_o creature_n half_o a_o man_n and_o half_a a_o horse_n a_o man_n of_o a_o thousand_o foot_n high_a etc._n etc._n and_o therefore_o say_v they_o 317._o why_o may_v not_o the_o mind_n of_o man_n by_o this_o compound_v and_o ampliate_a power_n feign_v as_o well_o the_o notion_n of_o a_o deity_n to_o which_o i_o answer_v that_o this_o power_n in_o our_o mind_n do_v not_o nor_o can_v extend_v so_o far_o all_o that_o we_o can_v do_v by_o it_o be_v to_o connect_v together_o two_o or_o more_o possible_a and_o consistent_a idea_n or_o to_o ampliate_v or_o enlarge_v any_o one_o or_o more_o of_o they_o in_o point_n of_o time_n extent_n etc._n etc._n thus_o as_o be_v before_o say_v by_o connect_v the_o idea_n of_o wing_n and_o a_o horse_n or_o of_o a_o horse_n and_o a_o man_n we_o may_v feign_v a_o pegasus_n or_o a_o centaur_n and_o i_o can_v imagine_v either_o of_o these_o creature_n or_o any_o other_o to_o live_v five_o thousand_o time_n as_o long_o or_o to_o be_v fifty_o thousand_o time_n as_o big_a as_o be_v usual_a but_o all_o this_o be_v still_o short_a of_o what_o it_o be_v bring_v for_o and_o will_v give_v no_o account_n at_o all_o of_o the_o invention_n of_o the_o idea_n of_o a_o god_n for_o suppose_v the_o mind_n will_v endeavour_v to_o amplify_v the_o idea_n of_o a_o man_n into_o that_o of_o god_n which_o be_v the_o way_n sextus_n empiricus_n say_v man_n may_v and_o do_v come_v by_o the_o notion_n of_o a_o deity_n supra_fw-la first_o he_o say_v the_o mind_n can_v give_v he_o eternity_n of_o duration_n but_o how_o come_v it_o by_o that_o idea_n of_o eternity_n be_v that_o idea_n previous_a to_o the_o invention_n of_o a_o deity_n and_o have_v mankind_n a_o clear_a conception_n of_o it_o if_o they_o have_v the_o notion_n of_o god_n can_v not_o be_v then_o invent_v for_o one_o of_o his_o chief_a attribute_n be_v know_v before_o but_o i_o suppose_v they_o will_v say_v that_o the_o notion_n of_o eternity_n be_v gain_v by_o ampliate_v the_o idea_n of_o duration_n or_o time_n beyond_o the_o common_a and_o ordinary_a term_n and_o thus_o by_o imagine_v a_o man_n to_o live_v a_o thousand_o or_o ten_o thousand_o year_n i_o may_v come_v to_o frame_v the_o notion_n of_o a_o be_v that_o shall_v always_o exist_v but_o that_o be_v a_o gross_a mistake_n for_o a_o be_v that_o shall_v endure_v ten_o thousand_o or_o ten_o million_o of_o year_n be_v not_o therefore_o exempt_a from_o die_v at_o last_o any_o more_o than_o one_o that_o endure_v but_o ten_o minute_n have_v i_o not_o in_o my_o mind_n before_o a_o clear_a idea_n of_o eternity_n i_o can_v no_o more_o by_o this_o ampliate_a power_n gain_v a_o notion_n of_o a_o eternal_a be_v than_o i_o can_v believe_v myself_o to_o be_v eternal_a for_o every_o thing_n about_o i_o will_v contradict_v that_o notion_n and_o it_o be_v very_o strange_a that_o i_o shall_v come_v to_o believe_v any_o be_v can_v have_v a_o eternal_a duration_n from_o consider_v of_o thing_n that_o be_v all_o perishable_a and_o mortal_a that_o which_o lead_v man_n into_o this_o mistake_n be_v i_o suppose_v this_o we_o have_v all_o of_o we_o a_o notion_n of_o a_o be_v perfect_a or_o eternal_a as_o to_o his_o duration_n because_o there_o be_v such_o a_o be_v in_o reality_n and_o therefore_o whenever_o we_o go_v about_o to_o consider_v of_o time_n or_o of_o the_o period_n or_o term_n of_o the_o duration_n of_o a_o be_v we_o can_v ampliate_v it_o so_o as_o to_o suppose_v it_o shall_v never_o cease_v to_o be_v but_o have_v its_o be_v still_o continue_v on_o without_o end_n that_o be_v we_o can_v connect_v the_o idea_n that_o we_o have_v of_o eternity_n with_o a_o be_v and_o so_o render_v it_o eternal_a but_o this_o can_v never_o be_v do_v if_o there_o be_v no_o idea_n of_o eternity_n at_o all_o if_o there_o be_v nothing_o eternal_a if_o there_o be_v no_o god_n the_o case_n be_v the_o same_o as_o to_o all_o the_o other_o perfection_n of_o the_o divine_a nature_n we_o have_v clear_a idea_n and_o notion_n of_o they_o in_o our_o mind_n and_o therefore_o we_o can_v talk_v about_o they_o and_o be_v understand_v because_o there_o be_v real_a idea_n that_o answer_v to_o those_o word_n that_o we_o use_v and_o something_o real_o exist_v that_o answer_v to_o those_o idea_n but_o be_v there_o no_o such_o be_v nor_o any_o thing_n real_a in_o nature_n to_o deduce_v our_o idea_n from_o be_v there_o no_o god_n it_o be_v impossible_a there_o can_v be_v any_o such_o idea_n at_o all_o but_o however_o this_o assertion_n that_o the_o mind_n of_o man_n be_v able_a to_o invent_v the_o notion_n of_o a_o deity_n and_o communicate_v it_o to_o the_o world_n be_v a_o most_o flat_a and_o palpable_a contradiction_n to_o what_o the_o atheist_n at_o other_o time_n urge_v and_o that_o too_o as_o found_v on_o principle_n that_o he_o be_v very_o fond_a of_o in_o my_o last_o discourse_n i_o show_v you_o that_o he_o object_v against_o the_o be_v of_o a_o god_n from_o our_o not_o be_v able_a to_o have_v any_o idea_n of_o he_o and_o this_o he_o endeavour_v to_o support_v by_o assert_v also_o that_o we_o have_v no_o knowledge_n but_o sense_n and_o that_o all_o our_o conception_n be_v passive_a now_o both_o these_o be_v absolute_o inconsistent_a with_o the_o original_a that_o he_o be_v now_o attribute_v to_o the_o notion_n of_o a_o god_n for_o if_o it_o be_v true_a as_o he_o say_v it_o be_v that_o we_o can_v have_v no_o idea_n of_o god_n it_o be_v very_o strange_a to_o suppose_v that_o a_o politic_a man_n shall_v invent_v and_o the_o world_n receive_v the_o idea_n or_o notion_n of_o that_o which_o be_v impossible_a for_o any_o one_o to_o invent_v or_o receive_v it_o be_v a_o little_a odd_a that_o a_o man_n shall_v first_o cunning_o devise_v he_o know_v not_o what_o and_o then_o the_o affright_a world_n believe_v they_o know_v not_o what_o and_o that_o we_o shall_v prove_v and_o assert_v and_o the_o atheist_n ridicule_fw-la and_o deny_v the_o existence_n of_o that_o which_o we_o do_v none_o of_o we_o all_o know_v any_o thing_n about_o but_o so_o it_o must_v be_v according_a to_o the_o atheist_n uniform_a scheme_n of_o thing_n again_o if_o as_o he_o assert_n all_o our_o conception_n be_v passive_a and_o all_o our_o knowledge_n sense_n which_o way_n can_v this_o cunning_a inventor_n of_o a_o god_n come_v by_o his_o notion_n or_o idea_n of_o he_o how_o can_v his_o mind_n attain_v any_o such_o feign_n and_o ampliate_a power_n for_o according_a to_o the_o atheist_n principle_n the_o mind_n can_v have_v no_o active_a much_o less_o spontaneous_a power_n at_o all_o but_o all_o our_o idea_n and_o conception_n will_v be_v mere_a necessary_a motion_n mechanical_o occasion_v by_o the_o impression_n of_o external_n object_n so_o that_o as_o protagoras_n tell_v we_o in_o plato_n theoetet_fw-la 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d it_o be_v neither_o possible_a to_o conceive_v that_o which_o be_v not_o nor_o indeed_o any_o thing_n else_o but_o only_o just_a as_o our_o mind_n suffer_v it_o by_o impression_n from_o without_o and_o therefore_o no_o man_n can_v ever_o possible_o invent_v any_o thing_n at_o all_o nor_o have_v any_o power_n within_o he_o of_o put_v or_o join_v together_o two_o or_o more_o simple_a idea_n or_o of_o ampliate_v or_o enlarge_n any_o idea_n or_o notion_n at_o all_o much_o less_o can_v he_o grow_v so_o very_o subtle_a as_o to_o invent_v the_o notion_n of_o a_o deity_n and_o as_o no_o lawgiver_n nor_o politician_n can_v we_o see_v have_v invent_v the_o notion_n of_o a_o deity_n if_o he_o have_v have_v a_o mind_n so_o to_o do_v so_o it_o appear_v very_o weak_a and_o foolish_a in_o he_o to_o do_v it_o if_o he_o can_v for_o while_o there_o be_v no_o belief_n among_o man_n of_o any_o divine_a and_o almighty_a power_n he_o will_v have_v be_v a_o mortal_a god_n himself_o 87._o as_o hobbs_n call_v the_o commonwealth_n his_o will_n will_v have_v be_v his_o law_n and_o man_n obedience_n to_o he_o will_v have_v be_v found_v in_o the_o fear_n they_o be_v under_o of_o his_o great_a power_n and_o this_o according_a to_o the_o atheistical_a principle_n will_v have_v be_v a_o much_o better_a stay_n and_o support_v to_o his_o authority_n than_o the_o idle_a obligation_n of_o conscience_n and_o religion_n for_o the_o aforesaid_a author_n tell_v we_o 7._o that_o if_o the_o fear_n of_o spirit_n i._n e._n of_o a_o god_n be_v take_v away_o man_n will_v be_v much_o better_o fit_v for_o civil_a obedience_n and_o in_o another_o place_n he_o

tell_v we_o that_o the_o true_a cause_n from_o whence_o superstition_n take_v its_o rise_n be_v preserve_v and_o maintain_v be_v fear_n ibid._n that_o if_o all_o thing_n will_v but_o succeed_v according_a to_o man_n mind_n they_o will_v never_o be_v enslave_v by_o superstition_n but_o because_o they_o be_v often_o in_o great_a straits_n and_o so_o put_v to_o it_o that_o no_o counsel_n or_o help_v will_v be_v beneficial_a to_o they_o they_o be_v toss_v and_o bandy_v about_o between_o hope_n and_o fear_v and_o at_o last_o have_v their_o mind_n so_o debilitate_a that_o they_o be_v prone_a to_o believe_v any_o thing_n ibid._n but_o that_o in_o reality_n all_o those_o thing_n which_o have_v be_v the_o object_n of_o man_n vain_a religious_a worship_n be_v nothing_o but_o the_o dreadful_a phantasm_n and_o mad_a figment_n of_o a_o sorrowful_a and_o timorous_a mind_n ibid._n and_o the_o reason_n he_o say_v why_o all_o man_n be_v thus_o subject_a by_o nature_n to_o superstition_n be_v only_o from_o fear_n and_o not_o as_o some_o have_v fancy_v from_o any_o confuse_a idea_n of_o a_o god_n which_o they_o will_v have_v to_o be_v impress_v on_o all_o mankind_n the_o author_n of_o the_o leviathan_n speak_v yet_o a_o little_a plain_o as_o to_o this_o point_n 51._o ignorant_a man_n say_v he_o feign_v to_o themselves_o several_a kind_n of_o invisible_a power_n stand_v in_o awe_n of_o their_o own_o imagination_n in_o time_n of_o distress_n invoke_v they_o in_o time_n of_o success_n give_v they_o thanks_o make_v the_o creature_n of_o their_o own_o fancy_n go_n this_o be_v the_o natural_a seed_n of_o religion_n which_o man_n take_v notice_n of_o have_v form_v into_o law_n etc._n etc._n and_o he_o tell_v we_o in_o another_o place_n 26.51_o that_o fear_v of_o power_n invisible_a feign_v by_o the_o mind_n or_o imagine_v from_o tale_n public_o allow_v be_v religion_n not_o allow_v be_v superstition_n so_o that_o according_a to_o mr._n hobbs_n religion_n and_o superstition_n differ_v only_o in_o this_o that_o the_o latter_a be_v a_o lie_n and_o a_o cheat_n stand_v only_o on_o the_o authority_n of_o private_a man_n whereas_o the_o former_a be_v support_v by_o the_o power_n of_o the_o government_n in_o these_o four_o thing_n say_v he_o elsewhere_o 54._o consist_v the_o natural_a seed_n of_o religion_n viz._n ignorance_n of_o second_o cause_n opinion_n of_o ghost_n devotion_n towards_o what_o man_n fear_v and_o take_v thing_n casual_a for_o prognostic_n these_o be_v the_o account_n which_o our_o modern_a atheistical_a writer_n give_v of_o the_o origin_n of_o religion_n and_o the_o notion_n of_o a_o god_n among_o men._n and_o this_o they_o with_o great_a assurance_n put_v off_o as_o their_o own_o new_a invention_n without_o be_v so_o just_a as_o to_o mention_v any_o of_o the_o ancient_n from_o who_o they_o have_v borrow_v every_o article_n of_o it_o that_o trite_a passage_n every_o body_n know_v primus_fw-la in_o orbe_fw-la deos_fw-la fecit_fw-la timor_fw-la and_o lucretius_n mention_n fear_v and_o the_o ignorance_n of_o second_o cause_n as_o that_o which_o give_v the_o first_o rise_v to_o the_o notion_n of_o a_o god_n for_o say_v he_o 49._o when_o man_n with_o fearful_a mind_n behold_v the_o thing_n in_o the_o earth_n and_o heaven_n they_o become_v abject_a and_o depress_v under_o the_o fear_n of_o the_o god_n who_o empire_n ignorance_n of_o cause_n set_v up_o in_o the_o world_n for_o when_o man_n can_v see_v any_o natural_a reason_n for_o any_o effect_n they_o strait_a fancy_n it_o be_v the_o product_n of_o some_o divine_a power_n the_o very_a same_o thing_n he_o say_v also_o in_o another_o place_n etc._n where_o he_o attribute_n likewise_o the_o notion_n of_o ghost_n and_o consequent_o of_o the_o god_n interfere_v with_o the_o affair_n of_o the_o world_n to_o man_n not_o be_v able_a to_o distinguish_v dream_n from_o real_a appearance_n tully_n tell_v we_o that_o there_o be_v some_o in_o his_o time_n and_o no_o doubt_n long_o before_o who_o attribute_v the_o opinion_n and_o belief_n of_o the_o god_n to_o have_v be_v feign_v by_o wise_a man_n for_o the_o good_a of_o the_o commonwealth_n causâ_fw-la and_o plato_n acquaint_v we_o 10._o that_o the_o ancient_a atheist_n do_v affirm_v that_o the_o god_n be_v not_o by_o nature_n but_o by_o art_n and_o law_n only_o and_o so_o be_v different_a in_o different_a place_n according_a as_o the_o different_a humour_n of_o the_o law_n giver_n chance_v to_o determine_v the_o matter_n sextus_n empiricus_n say_v that_o there_o be_v at_o first_o some_o intelligent_a and_o prudent_a man_n 310._o who_o consider_v what_o will_v be_v beneficial_a to_o humane_a life_n and_o these_o first_o feign_v the_o fabulous_a notion_n of_o god_n and_o cause_v that_o suspicion_n that_o there_o be_v in_o man_n mind_n about_o they_o afterward_o he_o say_v that_o heretofore_o man_n live_v wild_a and_o savage_a and_o prey_v upon_o one_o another_o like_o wild_a beast_n till_o some_o man_n be_v willing_a to_o prevent_v and_o repress_v injury_n and_o rapine_n invent_v law_n to_o punish_v those_o that_o do_v amiss_o and_o then_o they_o feign_v that_o there_o be_v god_n also_o who_o take_v cognizance_n of_o all_o man_n action_n whether_o good_a or_o bad_a that_o so_o no_o one_o may_v dare_v to_o commit_v any_o secret_a wickedness_n when_o he_o be_v by_o this_o mean_v persuade_v 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d that_o the_o god_n though_o unseen_a by_o man_n do_v yet_o inspect_v into_o all_o humane_a action_n and_o take_v notice_n who_o do_v well_o and_o who_o the_o contrary_a sextus_n also_o attribute_n the_o rise_v of_o man_n belief_n of_o a_o god_n to_o their_o ignorance_n of_o second_o cause_n as_o i_o show_v you_o before_o that_o lucretius_n do_v for_o he_o make_v democritus_n speak_v thus_o 〈◊〉_d when_o man_n of_o old_a see_v strange_a and_o frightful_a thing_n in_o the_o air_n or_o heaven_n such_o as_o thunder_n lightning_z thunderbolt_n eclipse_n of_o the_o sun_n and_o moon_n etc._n etc._n not_o know_v the_o natural_a cause_n of_o they_o but_o be_v terrify_v by_o they_o they_o straight_o imagine_v the_o god_n to_o be_v the_o author_n of_o they_o this_o therefore_o be_v prove_v to_o be_v the_o true_a sense_n of_o the_o ancient_a atheistical_a writer_n and_o from_o they_o copy_v by_o the_o modern_n viz._n that_o fear_n ignorance_n and_o cunning_a be_v the_o first_o original_n or_o cause_n of_o the_o notion_n and_o belief_n of_o a_o god_n let_v we_o now_o fair_o examine_v the_o case_n and_o see_v what_o ground_n there_o be_v for_o such_o a_o assertion_n and_o whether_o this_o can_v account_v for_o that_o universal_a notion_n of_o a_o divine_a and_o omnipotent_a be_v which_o we_o find_v every_o where_o in_o the_o world_n and_o 1._o i_o say_v that_o the_o notion_n of_o a_o god_n can_v not_o come_v from_o fear_n for_o if_o it_o do_v either_o this_o fear_n must_v be_v universal_o inherent_a in_o all_o mankind_n or_o else_o peculiar_a only_o to_o some_o dastardly_a and_o low-spirited_n mortal_n if_o the_o former_a be_v assert_v it_o be_v a_o very_a convince_a argument_n that_o there_o be_v a_o just_a ground_n for_o such_o a_o fear_n and_o that_o it_o have_v something_o that_o be_v real_a for_o its_o object_n that_o can_v thus_o affect_v all_o man_n after_o the_o same_o manner_n and_o if_o it_o be_v so_o that_o all_o man_n be_v natural_o subject_a to_o this_o fear_n of_o a_o deity_n how_o can_v any_o one_o ever_o discover_v that_o there_o be_v no_o real_a ground_n for_o this_o in_o the_o nature_n of_o the_o thing_n how_o come_v he_o himself_o exempt_v from_o this_o poorness_n of_o spirit_n and_o if_o he_o be_v not_o exempt_v from_o this_o terrible_a passion_n how_o come_v he_o to_o discover_v that_o the_o object_n of_o this_o fear_n be_v all_o a_o cheat_n and_o nothing_o but_o a_o mere_a mormo_n and_o bugbear_n it_o be_v very_o lucky_a for_o he_o that_o the_o ramble_a atom_n of_o his_o constitution_n jump_v by_o chance_n into_o such_o a_o courageous_a and_o noble_a frame_n and_o temper_v but_o pray_v who_o be_v this_o mighty_a man_n when_o and_o where_o do_v he_o live_v what_o ancient_a history_n give_v we_o any_o account_n of_o this_o happy_a person_n that_o laugh_v at_o that_o which_o all_o the_o world_n beside_o be_v afraid_a of_o let_v the_o atheist_n give_v we_o but_o any_o relation_n of_o he_o that_o be_v authentic_a and_o it_o shall_v be_v allow_v as_o the_o great_a thing_n they_o have_v ever_o yet_o advance_v but_o i_o suppose_v they_o will_v not_o say_v that_o this_o fear_n be_v universal_a but_o that_o it_o only_o possess_v mean_a and_o abject_a spirit_n and_o never_o invade_v the_o great_a and_o brave_a soul_n let_v we_o see_v whether_o this_o will_v do_v they_o any_o service_n now_o by_o brave_a and_o great_a soul_n who_o do_v they_o