Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	call_v	effect_n	nature_n	1,689	5	5.4122	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A36132	A discovery of theisme together with such philosophical and mathematical observations as are consonant thereunto : deliver'd in a more refin'd manner then hitherto written, against atheisme and prophaness / by a person of quality.	Person of quality.	1698 (1698)	Wing D1660; ESTC R16081	23,490	112

Consideration of which together with the pious Examples Resignations in Spirit and contempt of worldly advantages Eminent in not a few Christian Professors raiseth no small desire in the Theist that he might Associate with them in saying Almighty and most merciful Father And consequently that in his Judgment next to the Belief of one God Christian Profession ought to be Embrac'd before any other in the World And thus you have a Summary of the most pertinent Science and Tenents applicable to the Doctrine of Theisme not hitherto devulg'd as also its Tendency to the Improvement of Holy Religion and Practice FINIS POSTSCRIPT THE main Intention of this Treatise has like the Figure of Janus two Faces By the one of which the Reader may take a backward prospect of such prophane Superstitions and Worships as were frequent in the Traditions and Writings of the Antients some of which are particularly mention'd in this Book Together with others better known then readily number'd yet so display'd that their Errors and Absurdities are totally render'd Inconsistent with the superlative Conviction which the Providence of the Almighty has visibly convey'd to Humane Understanding But such has been the gross Neglect or Supidity in Men that they have perversly applyed the Devotion of their Souls rather to the artful Insinuations of Counterfeit Tenents then to the sincere and palpable acknowledgment that there is Deity from what every common Eye may discern in the vast Theatre of his Works that contains Innumerable Scenes of manifest Wonders that could have no other Author then one Omnipotent The other signal Part if not the most useful was so to introduce Atheisme on the publick Stage that it might have a reproachful and full defeat from the Demonstration of a God by the Doctrine of the Theist no less prospicuously discernable then that Mankind with whatsoever is besides in the Compass of the Universe are by Divine appointment under a miraculous Conduct Notwithstanding however powerful those Motives the Atheist to cover his supine disregard of all such conspicuous and sublime Evidences that ought to be undeniably Attributed to the Ordination Management and Power of a deified Author seems to acquiesce in what he terms Nature and to which obscure Denomination he endeavours to annex the total sum of his Infidelity by urging that whatsoever has Being above or below have an ordinary and natural Subsistency from the Method of Causes and Effects Tho he cannot deny that by so affirming he is enforc'd to grant that this Empress of the Universe which he calls Nature is not Intellegible by any rational Definition of the Word or any Proprieties he Attributes to her because it is not possible for him to give any original Account either of the Natural Being of Man Animal or Vegetable Or when the Sun and Stars began first to shine for Universal Benefit no more then he is certainly able to tell what a Clock 't was before he was born Too many there are that if but Entertain'd with Tales of Magick Witchcraft or the devices and feats of a Jugler tho a despicable Imposter will not only incline to believe them but heartily wish they might behold such Imaginary Facts perform'd which but related they deem supernatural Wonders But were the same Persons Interogated whether by any of their Senses they as easily were charm'd by the miraculous Constitution of the Universe and all it Circumscribs 't is to be doubted that not a few of them would with the common Atheist reply that although divers Existencies and Operations in the World they behold appear stupendiously wonderful yet as they consider them as things of Course they could not Judge them so extraordinary as the Miracles they had heard of but for ought they could prove were never perform'd which Imbecillities in humane Comprehension proceed from no other Fond then want of Judicious Consideration or not being pertinently Instructed by Superiors Should it be demanded by the Reader why Texts of Holy Scripture or Arguments from Venerable Writers have not been more frequently Cited then are to be found in the precedent Book the Answer that can most properly be given is that the Authors design was barely to Convict the Atheist by proofs Inserted whereby the open Evidence of Theisme in the Belief of one God without other Divine Testimonial or Article of Faith might be ascertain'd to the clearest Eye of the Intellect Not but all necessary Texts of Holy Writ are thereby effectually Imply'd as is no less perspicuously discernable from the demonstrative Parts of this Treatise then if pronounc'd with the Psalmist That the Heavens declare the glory of God and the Firmament sheweth his handy Work Nor can the Atheist if not obdurately such be by any other process so readily Convicted As he that may probably extend his Faith to the Belief of an Infinite Power and Being from Actual and Visible Miracles that could be produc'd no otherwise then by an Omnipotent Author Will not so easily devote his Assent to the most celebrated Authority of any Writing however Divine it ought to be understood 'T is reported of the Philosopher Aristotle tho far different in Opinion from the obstinacy of the Antient or Modern Atheist that he having perus'd the Books of Moses his Judgment of them was that they had in them the voice of God tho otherwise nothing was prov'd by them But had that great Man of Science throughly consider'd what might have been affirm'd suitable to what is sufficiently Demonstrated in this Work he would have at least declar'd for the Doctrine of Theisme But such is the inveterate Impudence and Odium that too many in our days have against Holy Belief of whatsoever Denomination that it is their Luxury to cabal for Atheisme and Prophaneness as they mingle those Impieties with their Wine and Mirth by which they would ascribe to themselves the Title of Wits however wickedly Principled or so foolishly Impious that they resist the Dictates of Sense As if they had Resolvedly confin'd their Souls to such a narrowness of Conception that the broadest Miracles of Divine Providence were not to operate on their understandings But 't is hop'd if they shall please with any reasonable discretion to Inspect the Substance of this Book that there Infidility together with their Debaucheries of Life will be so far Reform'd as that they will approve themselves better Subjects in their Duties to Heaven and Earth then hitherto they have been