Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	body_n	matter_n	motion_n	2,080	5	8.1894	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A39359	An answer to a book intitled Tractatus theologico politicus	Earbery, Matthias.	1697 (1697)	Wing E68; ESTC R41104	85,540	210

be_v a_o foolish_a thing_n to_o limit_v the_o power_n of_o nature_n and_o to_o say_v her_o law_n extend_v to_o some_o thing_n only_o and_o not_o to_o all_o l._n your_o author_n speak_v herein_o as_o little_a like_o a_o good_a philosopher_n as_o a_o good_a jew_n or_o a_o good_a christian_n if_o the_o law_n of_o nature_n be_v fix_v and_o immovable_a they_o may_v be_v observe_v and_o the_o observation_n of_o they_o we_o call_v the_o study_n of_o natural_a philosophy_n to_o say_v therefore_o with_o your_o author_n that_o the_o course_n of_o nature_n be_v fix_v and_o immutable_a and_o yet_o that_o her_o power_n extend_v to_o all_o thing_n est_fw-la potentiam_fw-la naturae_fw-la infinitam_fw-la esse_fw-la omnino_fw-la credendum_fw-la est_fw-la be_v a_o contradiction_n in_o the_o very_a term_n for_o if_o she_o can_v do_v all_o thing_n she_o can_v alter_v her_o settle_a course_n and_o move_v in_o a_o order_n quite_o contrary_a to_o what_o now_o she_o steer_v nor_o do_v he_o mend_v the_o matter_n by_o assert_v in_o the_o same_o page_n that_o the_o fix_v law_n of_o nature_n extend_v to_o all_o thing_n that_o be_v comprehend_v in_o the_o divine_a understanding_n for_o the_o divine_a understanding_n must_v needs_o comprehend_v as_o well_o what_o be_v impossible_a as_o what_o be_v possible_a to_o be_v do_v and_o the_o mutability_n as_o well_o as_o the_o fixation_n of_o the_o rule_n of_o motion_n in_o material_a body_n into_o such_o notorious_a absurdity_n do_v your_o author_n run_v whilst_o he_o endeavour_v to_o destroy_v the_o credibility_n of_o miracle_n by_o jumble_v together_o the_o name_n of_o god_n and_o nature_n s._n if_o there_o be_v a_o fix_a course_n of_o nature_n how_o can_v there_o be_v a_o miracle_n which_o be_v neither_o more_o nor_o less_o than_o a_o interruption_n of_o it_o l._n because_o it_o be_v fix_v by_o a_o superior_a intelligent_a be_v who_o can_v unfix_v the_o same_o when_o it_o be_v for_o his_o own_o glory_n or_o the_o general_n benefit_n of_o mankind_n if_o nature_n do_v not_o keep_v for_o the_o most_o part_n a_o settle_a course_n we_o can_v have_v no_o distinct_a notion_n of_o a_o miracle_n but_o she_o be_v so_o steady_a that_o she_o give_v we_o time_n to_o view_v she_o and_o from_o that_o view_n to_o frame_v such_o axiom_n of_o possibility_n and_o impossibility_n as_o be_v as_o evident_a to_o our_o reason_n as_o any_o of_o those_o principle_n which_o some_o though_o i_o fear_v not_o true_o do_v stile_n innate_a notion_n s._n i_o be_o still_o of_o my_o author_n mind_n that_o we_o call_v those_o work_n miracle_n who_o natural_a cause_n we_o do_v not_o understand_v l._n no_o we_o rather_o call_v that_o work_v a_o miracle_n which_o we_o know_v be_v do_v not_o by_o a_o natural_a but_o by_o the_o immediate_a energy_n of_o some_o supernatural_a power_n for_o the_o course_n of_o nature_n be_v steady_a nothing_o be_v more_o easy_a than_o to_o observe_v when_o her_o course_n be_v break_v i._n e._n when_o something_o be_v do_v that_o we_o be_v sure_o be_v repugnant_a to_o those_o fix_a rule_n which_o she_o be_v bind_v to_o observe_v in_o all_o other_o case_n s._n prithee_o what_o be_v those_o rule_n how_o do_v you_o know_v that_o they_o have_v ever_o be_v break_v l._n the_o first_o rule_n exit_fw-la nihilo_fw-la nihil_fw-la fit_n out_o of_o nothing_o there_o can_v come_v nothing_o be_v as_o clear_v by_o its_o own_o light_n as_o any_o one_o proposition_n we_o can_v easy_o frame_v unto_o ourselves_o either_o therefore_o matter_n make_v itself_o that_o be_v it_o be_v a_o cause_n before_o it_o do_v exist_v which_o be_v a_o wild_a absurdity_n or_o it_o be_v make_v by_o a_o superior_a be_v and_o its_o very_a production_n the_o beginning_n of_o miracle_n we_o all_o know_v that_o mutation_n of_o body_n may_v be_v make_v by_o the_o regular_a law_n of_o motion_n but_o that_o matter_n shall_v make_v itself_o or_o be_v produce_v out_o of_o nothing_o by_o she_o own_o law_n of_o motion_n be_v repugnant_a to_o the_o common_a sense_n of_o mankind_n if_o matter_n therefore_o be_v make_v there_o be_v a_o time_n when_o it_o do_v not_o exist_v and_o therefore_o its_o motion_n from_o non_fw-fr existence_n to_o existence_n can_v not_o be_v according_a to_o any_o fix_a rule_n of_o nature_n which_o have_v then_o no_o be_v and_o consequent_o god_n do_v not_o always_o work_v by_o fix_a and_o unalterable_a rule_n to_o which_o the_o very_a notion_n of_o creation_n be_v direct_o repugnant_a s._n you_o ramble_v too_o wide_a from_o our_o present_a purpose_n can_v you_o prove_v that_o any_o thing_n yet_o be_v ever_o do_v since_o the_o creation_n that_o be_v certain_o repugnant_a to_o any_o one_o fix_a law_n of_o nature_n which_o may_v be_v a_o sufficient_a testimonial_a to_o a_o man_n that_o he_o be_v send_v from_o god_n l._n it_o be_v a_o maxim_n in_o reason_n that_o one_o body_n act_n upon_o another_o by_o contaction_n or_o protrusion_n only_o if_o two_o body_n be_v place_v never_o so_o near_o and_o no_o contiguous_a body_n between_o they_o may_v remain_v to_o all_o eternity_n in_o that_o posture_n without_o affect_v each_o other_o or_o produce_v any_o alteration_n in_o they_o if_o therefore_o any_o man_n can_v produce_v a_o alteration_n in_o body_n by_o the_o sole_a word_n of_o his_o mouth_n all_o man_n will_v conclude_v this_o man_n do_v act_n by_o virtue_n of_o a_o supernatural_a power_n when_o therefore_o the_o child_n of_o israel_n see_v moses_n turn_v water_n into_o blood_n or_o bring_v louse_n and_o frog_n etc._n etc._n upon_o the_o land_n of_o egypt_n by_o the_o lift_n up_o his_o rod_n or_o our_o saviour_n cure_v disease_n by_o the_o word_n of_o his_o mouth_n or_o raise_v man_n from_o the_o dead_a etc._n etc._n they_o must_v conclude_v that_o this_o be_v do_v by_o a_o spiritual_a and_o not_o by_o a_o material_a power_n which_o can_v cause_v no_o alteration_n on_o another_o body_n but_o by_o contraction_n or_o emission_n of_o minute_n particle_n the_o secret_a operation_n of_o which_o do_v constitute_v the_o whole_a body_n of_o natural_a magic_n now_o if_o the_o move_n of_o the_o wand_n or_o speak_v a_o few_o word_n do_v produce_v the_o wondrous_a effect_n but_o now_o mention_v in_o the_o production_n or_o alteration_n of_o body_n by_o the_o sole_a force_n of_o nature_n they_o will_v do_v it_o always_o when_o utter_v or_o apply_v after_o the_o same_o manner_n because_o the_o law_n of_o nature_n be_v fix_v and_o immovable_a but_o since_o we_o see_v they_o have_v do_v it_o but_o can_v do_v the_o same_o thing_n again_o we_o very_o rational_o conclude_v that_o these_o alteration_n be_v make_v in_o body_n by_o a_o spiritual_a and_o a_o superior_a power_n your_o author_n therefore_o must_v not_o think_v to_o shame_n we_o off_o with_o a_o wild_a pretence_n that_o what_o we_o call_v miracle_n be_v some_o strange_a work_n of_o nature_n so_o call_v with_o respect_n to_o the_o ignorance_n of_o the_o vulgar_a for_o we_o be_v willing_a the_o miracle_n upon_o which_o our_o religion_n be_v ground_v shall_v be_v try_v by_o the_o most_o know_a axiom_n of_o natural_a philosophy_n and_o challenge_v the_o whole_a race_n of_o epicurean_a atomist_n to_o show_v how_o they_o can_v be_v do_v according_a to_o any_o hypothesis_n that_o ever_o yet_o be_v frame_v of_o the_o mechanical_a law_n of_o motion_n s._n do_v not_o my_o author_n clear_o demonstrate_v that_o the_o sun_n be_v stop_v his_o course_n of_o which_o we_o read_v in_o the_o book_n of_o joshua_n be_v nothing_o else_o but_o a_o refraction_n of_o light_n the_o sky_n be_v then_o full_a of_o hail_n and_o the_o like_a may_v be_v say_v of_o the_o dial_n of_o ahaz_n l._n your_o author_n bold_o say_v much_o but_o he_o prove_v nothing_o the_o stand_v still_o of_o the_o sun_n or_o the_o prolongation_n of_o light_n by_o any_o other_o mean_n whether_o natural_a or_o miracu_fw-la lous_a will_v have_v be_v equal_o beneficial_a to_o the_o israelite_n in_o afford_v they_o time_n to_o slay_v their_o enemy_n but_o because_o it_o will_v be_v great_a encouragement_n to_o the_o israelite_n to_o see_v god_n himself_o assist_v they_o in_o a_o miraculous_a manner_n and_o the_o scripture_n do_v relate_v this_o as_o a_o miracle_n and_o since_o no_o sufficient_a reason_n can_v be_v give_v why_o the_o sun_n shall_v stop_v his_o course_n or_o the_o earth_n stand_v still_o which_o in_o the_o effect_n be_v the_o same_o thing_n unless_o by_o the_o immediate_a power_n of_o god_n we_o have_v more_o reason_n to_o believe_v the_o scripture-narrative_a than_o the_o improbable_a conjecture_n of_o your_o dare_a author_n for_o why_o must_v we_o needs_o conclude_v that_o because_o it_o be_v possible_a the_o child_n of_o israel_n may_v be_v deceive_v that_o therefore_o they_o certain_o be_v so_o or_o how_o be_v it_o probable_a that_o the_o air_n

be_v full_a of_o hail_n shall_v make_v a_o whole_a nation_n believe_v that_o the_o day_n be_v long_o than_o it_o ought_v to_o be_v s._n suppose_v the_o earth_n do_v stand_v still_o do_v it_o therefore_o follow_v it_o must_v be_v a_o miracle_n may_v there_o not_o be_v a_o concourse_n of_o grosser_n particle_n of_o matter_n in_o the_o liquid_a ether_n that_o may_v stop_v its_o course_n for_o a_o season_n without_o the_o interposition_n of_o a_o miraculous_a power_n l._n since_o we_o have_v no_o infallible_a knowledge_n of_o all_o the_o possible_a motion_n that_o may_v happen_v in_o the_o celestial_a matter_n we_o can_v conclude_v that_o new_a alteration_n therein_o be_v the_o immediate_a effect_n of_o a_o supernatural_a power_n but_o since_o we_o be_v sure_a that_o one_o body_n work_v upon_o another_o by_o contaction_n only_o we_o be_v sure_a that_o joshua_n prayer_n can_v by_o no_o force_n of_o nature_n cause_n the_o continuance_n of_o the_o sun_n upon_o the_o horizon_n beyond_o the_o usual_a time_n but_o alas_o we_o do_v not_o seek_v for_o miracle_n in_o the_o heaven_n above_o nor_o in_o the_o sea_n beneath_o most_o fruitful_a of_o amaze_a prodigy_n we_o appeal_v to_o the_o most_o approve_a axiom_n of_o natural_a philosophy_n as_o the_o test_n of_o the_o truth_n of_o those_o miracle_n upon_o which_o our_o religion_n be_v ground_v he_o that_o admit_v the_o historical_a part_n of_o reveal_v religion_n to_o be_v true_a as_o your_o author_n do_v more_o than_o once_o can_v never_o pretend_v to_o solve_v all_o that_o be_v therein_o record_v by_o natural_a cause_n without_o run_v into_o absurdity_n of_o the_o gross_a nature_n in_o compliance_n to_o his_o own_o hypothesis_n he_o must_v believe_v that_o the_o course_n of_o nature_n be_v settle_v and_o yet_o in_o compliance_n to_o the_o historical_a account_n of_o the_o scripture_n he_o must_v believe_v that_o word_n can_v cure_v disease_n and_o raise_v the_o dead_a etc._n etc._n and_o yet_o that_o the_o same_o word_n speak_v by_o another_o person_n can_v do_v it_o i._n e._n that_o the_o course_n of_o nature_n be_v settle_v and_o that_o it_o be_v not_o settle_v but_o move_v at_o random_n he_o must_v admit_v that_o one_o inanimate_a body_n act_n upon_o another_o only_a by_o contaction_n and_o he_o must_v admit_v that_o word_n have_v make_v alteration_n in_o inanimate_a body_n which_o yet_o can_v cause_v no_o other_o contaction_n than_o what_o arise_v from_o the_o modulation_n of_o the_o air._n he_o must_v believe_v it_o to_o be_v a_o law_n of_o nature_n that_o the_o dead_a can_v be_v raise_v up_o to_o life_n because_o that_o be_v know_v to_o be_v above_o her_o usual_a course_n and_o he_o must_v believe_v that_o the_o dead_a have_v be_v restore_v to_o life_n by_o virtue_n of_o a_o divine_a command_n in_o short_a your_o author_n endeavour_n to_o solve_v miracle_n by_o natural_a cause_n be_v ridiculous_a to_o the_o high_a degree_n for_o he_o attack_n reveal_v religion_n in_o that_o place_n which_o be_v of_o all_o other_o most_o impregnable_a if_o the_o spark_n of_o your_o principle_n do_v believe_v that_o moses_n and_o the_o prophet_n and_o our_o saviour_n do_v real_o do_v all_o those_o mighty_a thing_n record_v of_o they_o by_o a_o due_a application_n of_o natural_a cause_n why_o do_v not_o they_o attempt_v to_o do_v the_o same_o or_o why_o do_v they_o laugh_v at_o all_o other_o who_o do_v attempt_v it_o as_o fool_n and_o madman_n and_o how_o do_v it_o happen_v that_o no_o such_o thing_n be_v ever_o well_o attest_v to_o have_v be_v do_v by_o other_o person_n who_o have_v make_v experimental_a philosophy_n their_o study_n with_o good_a success_n and_o how_o come_v it_o to_o pass_v that_o they_o be_v repugnant_a and_o irreconcilable_a to_o all_o the_o axiom_n of_o philosophy_n that_o hitherto_o have_v be_v write_v that_o the_o more_o any_o learned_a man_n consider_v they_o the_o more_o he_o find_v of_o a_o natural_a impossibility_n in_o they_o and_o why_o can_v your_o author_n find_v out_o as_o easy_a and_o probable_a a_o solution_n of_o all_o the_o sign_n and_o wonder_n wrought_v by_o our_o saviour_n as_o of_o the_o stand_v still_o of_o the_o sun_n or_o the_o passage_n of_o the_o child_n of_o israel_n over_o the_o red_a sea_n s._n my_o author_n be_v a_o wise_a man_n than_o to_o believe_v all_o the_o strange_a story_n to_o be_v literal_o true_a which_o you_o read_v in_o your_o bibles_n he_o tell_v you_o that_o whatsoever_o be_v there_o report_v to_o be_v do_v which_o can_v possible_o be_v ascribe_v to_o natural_a cause_n be_v to_o be_v presume_v as_o thrust_v in_o by_o malicious_a design_v man_n and_o that_o in_o tell_v wonder_n the_o scripture_n speak_v to_o the_o fancy_n but_o not_o to_o the_o reason_n of_o mankind_n l._n nothing_o speak_v less_o to_o the_o fancy_n than_o the_o christian_a religion_n which_o in_o its_o doctrine_n and_o precept_n too_o be_v altogether_o perfective_a of_o humane_a reason_n but_o if_o your_o author_n deny_v his_o assent_n to_o the_o historical_a part_n of_o the_o bible_n and_o only_o in_o some_o place_n pretend_v to_o give_v it_o to_o please_v the_o state_n of_o holland_n why_o do_v he_o give_v no_o reason_n for_o his_o dissent_n for_o one_o substantial_a reason_n will_v be_v sufficient_a in_o this_o case_n to_o overthrow_v the_o whole_a bulk_n of_o reveal_v religion_n why_o do_v he_o not_o show_v that_o no_o man_n can_v have_v any_o certainty_n of_o any_o matter_n of_o fact_n unless_o he_o see_v it_o do_v with_o his_o own_o eye_n why_o do_v he_o not_o prove_v that_o number_n and_o probity_n of_o witness_n be_v no_o sufficient_a motive_n to_o assent_v why_o do_v he_o not_o produce_v some_o testimony_n of_o witness_n that_o may_v invalidate_v the_o credit_n of_o these_o who_o have_v record_v the_o miracle_n of_o our_o b._n s._n or_o of_o his_o apostle_n there_o be_v certain_o no_o more_o obvious_a way_n of_o ruine_v reveal_v religion_n than_o the_o disprove_v those_o relation_n of_o miracle_n upon_o which_o its_o rational_a evidence_n be_v most_o strong_o ground_v either_o therefore_o your_o author_n can_v find_v nothing_o to_o say_v on_o this_o topic_a or_o else_o through_o inadvertency_n he_o have_v omit_v those_o argument_n which_o be_v most_o conducive_a to_o support_v so_o bad_a a_o cause_n s._n it_o be_v enough_o that_o he_o demonstrate_v before_o that_o the_o power_n of_o god_n and_o nature_n be_v the_o same_o there_o can_v be_v no_o such_o thing_n as_o a_o miracle_n l._n a_o historical_a account_n be_v to_o be_v refute_v in_o a_o historical_a manner_n not_o by_o foreign_a argument_n which_o have_v no_o force_n to_o refute_v a_o matter_n of_o fact_n we_o urge_v the_o testimony_n of_o a_o sufficient_a number_n of_o high_o creditable_a witness_n that_o miracle_n have_v be_v do_v your_o author_n deny_v all_o because_o according_a to_o his_o reason_n it_o be_v impossible_a any_o such_o thing_n shall_v be_v this_o be_v just_a as_o if_o a_o blind_a man_n shall_v endeavour_v to_o confute_v all_o those_o who_o testify_v there_o be_v such_o a_o thing_n as_o light_v by_o give_v his_o reason_n that_o oblige_v he_o to_o think_v that_o there_o can_v be_v no_o such_o thing_n when_o a_o thing_n be_v well_o attest_v to_o have_v be_v do_v it_o be_v a_o vain_a attempt_n to_o make_v man_n renounce_v their_o sense_n in_o compliance_n to_o his_o reason_n s._n you_o think_v you_o have_v gain_v a_o great_a point_n when_o you_o have_v bring_v a_o man_n to_o acknowledge_v the_o reality_n of_o your_o boast_a miracle_n but_o alas_o you_o fight_v for_o that_o which_o can_v do_v you_o no_o good_a when_o you_o have_v gain_v it_o for_o miracle_n can_v never_o make_v we_o understand_v either_o the_o essence_n or_o existence_n or_o providence_n of_o god_n l._n according_a to_o my_o notion_n of_o a_o miracle_n it_o be_v a_o work_n that_o be_v do_v by_o the_o immediate_a finger_n of_o god_n and_o that_o a_o work_n we_o know_v to_o be_v do_v by_o god_n alone_o shall_v not_o so_o much_o as_o render_v we_o certain_a of_o the_o existence_n of_o a_o god_n be_v to_o i_o a_o unaccountable_a riddle_n again_o a_o miracle_n be_v a_o work_n that_o we_o know_v can_v be_v do_v according_a to_o the_o mechanical_a law_n of_o matter_n and_o motion_n but_o be_v therefore_o ascribe_v to_o a_o free_a spiritual_a and_o powerful_a agent_n and_o yet_o that_o all_o this_o shall_v be_v no_o demonstration_n of_o the_o spirituality_n freedom_n and_o power_n of_o the_o divine_a nature_n be_v to_o i_o the_o 2d_o part_n of_o the_o same_o riddle_n again_o a_o miracle_n be_v a_o work_n that_o be_v wrought_v to_o give_v some_o man_n a_o testimonial_a that_o they_o be_v send_v on_o some_o errand_n by_o god_n to_o his_o creature_n man_n and_o yet_o that_o this_o shall_v be_v no_o argument_n of_o