Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	find_v	great_a	time_n	2,975	5	3.1999	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A45023	An humble motion to the Parliament of England concerning the advancement of learning, and reformation of the universities by J.H.	Hall, John, 1627-1656.	1649 (1649)	Wing H350; ESTC R6718	26,750	48

mouths that from the interest perhaps of o●e Citizen whose merits hath made him a part of posterity and enabled him to a noble gratitude to his Country in rescuing her from the dotage and Tyranny of Time And indeed without letters and consequently the preservation and encouragement of them to what a darknesse and mist should we be confined and in what a shadow should we live a darknesse worse then that of Plato his cave when our children or childrens children should be to seek for what we know to day no observation be left to mankinde for traditions must needs be in a few hands and soone corrupt to shorten the long journey of knowledge and to bring it nearer an end As we may see by one example The best man upon earth and the onely more than man spake and did so many things as all the Volumnes in the world could scarce containe as one of his own Penmen witnesses of him and yet there is no more memory of them preserved amongst us then what is left in a very few sheets not at all to mention that Question whether all the integrall parts of that divine Book were preserved or no Certaine we are what a great losse we have in humane stories and what a large measure of Time was either not described by them or not now to be found so that in a Trichotomy of Time made by the learnedst Roman sixteen hundred years since there was one part unknowne and the other fabulous and yet sure we cannot but beleeve but that before mankinde had gleaned up some litterature and was softened and polished by it there were abundance of examples of either fortitude and many invincib●e Heroes before Achilles whose Trophees are buried with them and Triumphs forgot as if they had never been seen whilst those others that remaine must be accounted just such with us as the favour or envy of Poets and Historians are pleased to make and represent them so vast is the Prerogative of letters that they can dispense not onely life but estimation and glory unto whom they please and command the reputation of past and the beleefe of present and future ages But to advance knowledge to its highest and truest end how necessary and subservient will it be to that great designe of Religion which without an immediate concourse and favour of Providence can scarce either subsist without it or preserve it selfe untainted with grosse errours or distempered imaginations how serviceable may it be to many sublime mindes and refined understandings that calling all things to an exact Test of reason wil not be brought to the acknowledgement of their Maker or the Truth of what is left concerning him if they be not guided by forcible demonstrations and porismaticall inferences of nature which may not precariously but irresistibly infer a Deity and strong and naturall inductions of Reason without which such mindes are but in vaine attempted and difficultly overcome Or to goe further how shall we ever be sensible of the excellency and power of that divine Book which Gods owne finger hath wrote and left us if wee want ability and eyes to looke upon the fulnesse and order of those Treasures Man indeed who is a determinate narrow thing must necessarily confine his thoughts to one subject and when he thinkes of one thing of necessity desists thinking of another But God who is such a free infinity can with one intuitive knowledge see all things and is the centre in every part of his circle And therefore what he writes must needs be as universall as his owne Spirit and at one time communicate many knowledges whereas man can onely write of this or that and therefore it is unprofitable industry not to ●● undertaken without due assistances to attempt the search of that Book which like himself hath an infinity and immensity of knowledge in it Not to speake of the forme of it which being writ in Tongues much removed from this place and age and that surely with all height of Elegance and fulnesse of expression t is not to be hoped for that any Translations can come up to it but that there must be abundance of exquisite knowledge smothered up in the Originall Which though it hath been studied and pursued by numerous exalted wits unwearied undertakers yet we know that there are abundance of ripe notions left to be found out by future and latter endeavours which shall never think to want a Crown from this attempt till this earth burn i● her funerall Pile and we shall see all knowledge not in ● mist but in a myrrour and view the centre the spring the root the life of it face to face Nor can I see what ca● more heighten or beautifie this best Science then the regaining those Trophees from the Heathens which they stole from us who though they knew not how to use yet triumphed in them For all their glimmering notions were but lighted at our candle although they obscured and disguised them with false lights yet b● that light did they shine to themselves and after ages who cannot but looke up with reverence at their advanced Natures and wish they had been heightened b● a more noble principle which had crowned all the● various Sciences with the principall Science and in the● brave strayings after Truth helpt them to better fo●tune than onely to meet with her handmaids and kep● them from the fate of Ulisses who wandring throug● Hel met all the ghosts yet could not see the Queen B● there is a strange Magneticall attraction in knowledg● which plucks and draws the soule towards it which ● just so much nearer its due repose by how much it fal● nearer to this centre And indeed it were a pity that the great Princesse of it should be lesse adorned then some of her subjects and that she who is all glorious within should want her garments of wrought gold and needlework and not as well make her selfe glorious in the spoyles of her enemies as the Israelites steal away jewells from the Egyptians or Solomon fetch gold from Ophir to adorn the Temple I wish it were in my power and your patience most Noble Senators rather to view this intention in its many large particularities then to propose it thus dead coloured in a generall draught which can like a Mercury on the way onely point but goe no further But truly t is enough for me a person hid in obscurity and neglected into retirement to make good wishes and breath after these huge attempts which I hope the sublime disposer of all humane affaires will as well put into your hearts as he hath put into your hands to accomplish You have done great things for us and equall to what hath been done in any Nation either stoutly or fortunately And if you will but now make good our hopes in this one thing you will put an end to all our wishes and settle us in a condition which will somewhat resemble that