Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
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A36110
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A discourse, proving from Scripture and reason that the life of man is not limited by any absolute decree of God by the author of The duty of man, &c.
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Author of The duty of man.
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1680
(1680)
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Wing D1617; ESTC R14478
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40,954
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140
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fatal_a and_o necessary_a 2._o other_o upon_o the_o contrary_a extreme_a have_v as_o groundless_o think_v that_o it_o be_v altogether_o fortuitous_a and_o casual_a among_o those_o who_o ascribe_v every_o thing_n to_o the_o dispensation_n of_o a_o sure_a and_o inevitable_a destiny_n the_o stoic_n have_v be_v always_o reckon_v the_o chief_a combatant_n it_o be_v well_o know_v that_o those_o stupid_a and_o senseless_a philosopher_n do_v teach_v that_o all_o effect_n be_v necessary_o produce_v by_o the_o natural_a order_n and_o series_n of_o cause_n which_o be_v from_o the_o outgoing_n of_o eternity_n inseparable_o chain_v together_o so_o that_o neither_o humane_a industry_n nor_o the_o divine_a power_n can_v alter_v what_o such_o a_o conjunction_n of_o cause_n be_v to_o produce_v that_o humane_a industry_n care_n and_o good_a menagery_n can_v alter_v the_o decree_n of_o fate_n the_o stoic_a moralist_n seneca_n very_o fair_o confess_v fatis_fw-la agimur_fw-la cedite_fw-la fatis_fw-la non_fw-la solicitae_fw-la possunt_fw-la curae_fw-la mutare_fw-la rati_fw-la stamina_fw-la fusi_fw-la seneca_n in_o oedip._n the_o same_o seneca_n also_o affirm_v that_o the_o supreme_a be_v be_v so_o strict_o tie_v to_o the_o sempeternal_a series_n and_o order_n of_o cause_n that_o he_o must_v follow_v but_o can_v gainsay_v what_o be_v thus_o establish_v quicquid_fw-la est_fw-la quod_fw-la nos_fw-la sic_fw-la vivere_fw-la jussit_fw-la sic_fw-la mori_fw-la eadem_fw-la necessitate_v deos_fw-la alligat_fw-la irrevocabilis_fw-la humana_fw-la ac_fw-la divina_fw-la pariter_fw-la cursus_fw-la vehit_fw-la sen._n lib._n de_fw-fr provide_v 5._o there_o be_v two_o very_a dangerous_a author_n of_o great_a name_n and_o fame_n who_o among_o many_o other_o bad_a opinion_n have_v recall_v this_o stoical_a dream_n which_o be_v long_o since_o reject_v the_o one_o be_v the_o famous_a mr._n hobbs_n the_o other_o the_o subtle_a author_n of_o that_o book_n entitle_v tractatus_fw-la theologico_fw-la policitus_fw-la both_o which_o i_o may_v perhaps_o have_v occasion_n to_o examine_v more_o particular_o but_o if_o all_o thing_n be_v thus_o establish_v by_o a_o fatal_a necessity_n sound_a reason_n will_v suggest_v to_o sober_a man_n that_o it_o be_v a_o needless_a thing_n for_o the_o sick_a to_o call_v for_o the_o physician_n aid_n and_o indeed_o cicer_n overy_n ingenious_o confess_v this_o si_fw-mi fatum_fw-la tibi_fw-la est_fw-la ex_fw-la hoc_fw-la morbo_fw-la convalesceri_fw-la sive_fw-la tu_fw-la medicum_fw-la adhibueris_fw-la sive_fw-la non_fw-la adhibueris_fw-la convalesces_fw-la si_fw-la fatum_fw-la tibi_fw-la est_fw-la non_fw-la convalesces_fw-la sive_fw-la medicum_fw-la adhibneris_fw-la sive_fw-la non_fw-la convalesces_fw-la &_o alterutrum_fw-la fatum_fw-la est_fw-la medicum_fw-la ergo_fw-la adhibere_fw-la nihil_fw-la valet_fw-la cic._n lib._n de_fw-fr fato_fw-la and_o although_o seneca_n think_v he_o have_v fall_v upon_o a_o very_a good_a answer_n yet_o it_o be_v true_o never_o a_o whit_n better_o cum_fw-la sanitas_fw-la inquit_fw-la videatur_fw-la de_fw-la fato_fw-la debetur_fw-la &_o medica_fw-la quia_fw-la ad_fw-la nos_fw-la benificium_fw-la fati_fw-la per_fw-la huius_fw-la manus_fw-la venit_fw-la lib._n 2._o nat_n cap._n 35._o by_o which_o mean_v the_o physician_n be_v as_o fatal_o determine_v to_o prescribe_v the_o cure_n as_o the_o sick_a man_n recovery_n be_v destinate_a the_o age_n in_o which_o these_o man_n live_v be_v dark_a and_o blind_a we_o ought_v as_o much_o to_o pity_v their_o case_n as_o correct_v and_o reprehend_v they_o it_o be_v our_o happiness_n that_o we_o be_v not_o leave_v to_o the_o conduct_n of_o natural_a reason_n and_o will_v god_n our_o thankful_a acknowledgement_n be_v answerable_a to_o the_o greatness_n of_o this_o blessing_n i_o shall_v not_o need_v to_o stand_v in_o reject_v this_o dream_n i_o think_v the_o hazard_n this_o speculation_n have_v expose_v some_o of_o its_o favourite_n to_o will_v be_v forcible_a enough_o to_o affright_v other_o from_o embrace_v it_o i_o remember_v i_o have_v read_v of_o some_o who_o this_o conceit_n have_v so_o far_o distract_v that_o they_o do_v cast_v away_o their_o sword_n and_o other_o weapon_n when_o their_o enemy_n approach_v say_v if_o it_o be_v our_o fate_n to_o die_v to_o keep_v our_o weapon_n will_v never_o preserve_v we_o from_o death_n it_o be_v also_o report_v of_o the_o delude_a mahometans_n that_o in_o battle_n they_o take_v courage_n from_o this_o that_o they_o be_v no_o soon_o bear_v than_o fate_n seal_v upon_o their_o forehead_n how_o long_o they_o shall_v live_v and_o what_o death_n they_o shall_v die_v alas_o who_o will_v not_o pity_v man_n thus_o infatuate_v and_o bewitch_v sure_o as_o st._n augustin_n excellent_o speak_v si_fw-la cor_fw-la tuum_fw-la non_fw-la esset_fw-la fatuum_fw-la non_fw-la crederes_fw-la fatum_fw-la tract_n 37._o in_o joh._n next_o the_o stoic_a stand_v the_o stargazer_n and_o astrologer_n who_o attribute_v the_o shortness_n or_o extension_n of_o our_o life_n to_o the_o bad_a or_o benign_a aspect_n and_o conjunction_n of_o the_o star_n in_o the_o time_n of_o our_o nativity_n now_o although_o i_o deny_v not_o that_o the_o heaven_n have_v a_o influence_n upon_o inferior_a thing_n yet_o sure_o this_o secret_a and_o occult_a dominion_n stargazer_n plead_v for_o be_v so_o manifest_o cross_v to_o reason_n and_o daily_a experience_n that_o no_o man_n in_o his_o wit_n will_v affirm_v it_o the_o prophet_n have_v long_o since_o advise_v we_o not_o to_o be_v dismay_v at_o the_o sign_n of_o heaven_n add_v the_o heathen_n they_o be_v dismay_v at_o they_o jer._n 10.2_o as_o if_o it_o have_v be_v only_o peculiar_a to_o the_o heathen_a part_n of_o the_o world_n who_o be_v ignorant_a of_o god_n providence_n to_o believe_v the_o vain_a predicton_n of_o astrologer_n babylon_n be_v upbraid_v for_o she_o trust_v astrologer_n stargazer_n and_o monthly_a prognosticator_n isa_n 47.13_o these_o man_n confident_o presume_v to_o foretell_v the_o time_n of_o man_n death_n and_o the_o easy_o deceive_v multitude_n give_v a_o ready_a assent_n to_o whatever_o they_o speak_v so_o easy_o a_o matter_n it_o be_v to_o impose_v any_o thing_n upon_o the_o belief_n of_o the_o vulgar_a the_o palmaster_n as_o foolish_o pretend_v that_o god_n have_v seal_v upon_o every_o man_n hand_n how_o long_o he_o shall_v live_v and_o that_o observe_a man_n as_o they_o will_v have_v we_o believe_v they_o be_v can_v understand_v this_o by_o the_o line_n and_o draught_n in_o the_o palm_n of_o the_o hand_n and_o for_o proof_n of_o this_o they_o aledg_v job_n 37.7_o where_o it_o be_v say_v he_o seal_v up_o the_o hand_n of_o every_o man_n that_o all_o man_n may_v know_v his_o work_n but_o from_o this_o place_n no_o such_o thing_n can_v be_v collect_v for_o elihu_n be_v there_o take_v up_o in_o express_v the_o greatness_n of_o god_n work_n and_o the_o divine_a power_n in_o command_v the_o snow_n and_o the_o rain_n small_a and_o great_a to_o be_v on_o the_o earth_n and_o he_o add_v he_o seal_v up_o the_o hand_n of_o every_o man._n that_o be_v when_o snow_n and_o rain_n be_v upon_o the_o earth_n man_n can_v labour_v and_o toil_n their_o hand_n be_v seal_v up_o they_o can_v work_v epicurus_n and_o his_o follower_n can_v never_o be_v reconcile_v to_o this_o opinion_n but_o yet_o the_o acount_n they_o give_v of_o this_o matter_n be_v every_o whit_n as_o extravagant_a and_o irrational_a they_o be_v equal_o unhappy_a in_o the_o account_n they_o give_v of_o the_o beginning_n and_o period_n of_o being_n the_o account_n these_o man_n give_v of_o the_o original_n of_o being_n be_v so_o incredible_a that_o no_o rational_a man_n can_v have_v any_o temptation_n to_o believe_v it_o but_o this_o belong_v not_o to_o the_o present_a discourse_n i_o shall_v therefore_o only_o consider_v what_o they_o say_v of_o the_o period_n of_o being_n and_o brief_o their_o opinion_n be_v that_o it_o be_v no_o more_o but_o the_o casual_a and_o fortuitous_a separation_n of_o those_o particle_n of_o matter_n that_o be_v unite_v by_o a_o happy_a chance_n and_o hit_v this_o error_n be_v of_o a_o old_a date_n and_o have_v long_o ere_o now_o past_a prescription_n if_o it_o have_v not_o be_v so_o suitable_a to_o the_o humour_n of_o bad_a men._n the_o saducee_n who_o religion_n it_o be_v to_o contradict_v the_o pharisee_n be_v very_o great_a stickler_n for_o this_o dream_n some_o man_n have_v confine_v the_o divine_a providence_n to_o the_o star_n and_o pluck_v out_o sublunary_a being_n from_o his_o immediate_a rule_n and_o dominion_n cicero_n can_v not_o be_v persuade_v that_o god_n have_v any_o knowledge_n of_o thing_n contingent_o future_a some_o to_o mend_v the_o matter_n confess_v god_n may_v know_v the_o general_a kind_n of_o thing_n but_o they_o will_v not_o allow_v that_o he_o know_v every_o particular_a for_o this_o they_o think_v be_v inconsistent_a with_o the_o immutability_n of_o the_o deity_n but_o other_o have_v be_v more_o illiberal_a in_o their_o concession_n think_v it_o enough_o if_o they_o grant_v that_o god_n have_v a_o care_n of_o mankind_n
the_o former_a opinion_n for_o the_o psalmist_n do_v not_o desire_v the_o knowledge_n of_o the_o period_n of_o his_o life_n he_o do_v not_o ask_v when_o he_o shall_v die_v only_o he_o beg_v the_o divine_a aid_n and_o assistance_n that_o he_o may_v wise_o improve_v the_o short_a time_n he_o have_v to_o live_v i_o can_v stand_v to_o consider_v such_o text_n of_o scripture_n as_o these_o which_o be_v no_o way_n acquaint_v with_o the_o doctrine_n they_o be_v bring_v to_o defend_v there_o be_v only_o one_o text_n that_o seem_v to_o favour_v this_o opinion_n viz._n job_n 14.5_o see_v his_o day_n be_v determine_v the_o number_n of_o his_o month_n be_v with_o thou_o thou_o have_v appoint_v his_o bond_n that_o he_o can_v pass_v but_o i_o have_v consider_v this_o all_o along_o in_o this_o discourse_n i_o confess_v some_o in_o return_n to_o this_o say_v that_o all_o job_n word_n be_v not_o approve_v of_o god_n therefore_o it_o be_v hard_o to_o conclude_v any_o thing_n from_o they_o but_o this_o be_v a_o very_a insufficient_a answer_n that_o which_o satisfi_v i_o be_v this_o that_o job_n here_o only_o say_v that_o our_o day_n be_v determine_v but_o he_o speak_v nothing_o how_o they_o be_v determine_v now_o in_o what_o sense_n the_o period_n of_o every_o man_n life_n may_v be_v say_v to_o be_v determine_v i_o have_v already_o consider_v second_o there_o be_v many_o example_n in_o scripture_n which_o show_v that_o the_o period_n of_o every_o man_n life_n be_v bound_v and_o limit_v by_o a_o absolute_a decree_n the_o most_o remarkable_a be_v that_o act._n 4.28_o both_o herod_n and_o pontius_n pilate_n with_o the_o gentile_n &_o the_o people_n of_o israel_n be_v gather_v together_o for_o to_o do_v whatsoever_o thy_o hand_n &_o thy_o counsel_n determine_v before_o to_o be_v do_v the_o scribe_n &_o pharisees_n frequent_o stir_v up_o the_o multitude_n to_o lay_v hand_n upon_o christ_n but_o their_o endeavour_n be_v always_o to_o no_o purpose_n and_o the_o account_n the_o scripture_n give_v for_o this_o be_v because_o his_o hout_n be_v not_o come_v in_o return_n to_o this_o i_o shall_v desire_v it_o may_v be_v consider_v that_o when_o we_o say_v the_o period_n of_o every_o man_n life_n may_v be_v extend_v or_o shorten_v the_o meaning_n be_v not_o that_o it_o be_v impossible_a that_o it_o can_v be_v otherwise_o we_o never_o doubt_v but_o the_o great_a governor_n of_o the_o world_n may_v make_v what_o reserve_v case_n he_o please_v from_o the_o ordinary_a course_n of_o thing_n and_o no_o wonder_n though_o the_o present_a case_n which_o be_v upon_o all_o account_n so_o extraordinary_a be_v exempt_a from_o the_o general_a rule_n and_o for_o such_o exempt_a case_n to_o which_o there_o ought_v to_o be_v allowance_n make_v no_o reasonable_a man_n can_v think_v they_o do_v any_o prejudce_n to_o the_o thing_n i_o have_v be_v prove_v three_o it_o be_v a_o common_a opinion_n that_o the_o futurition_n of_o thing_n depend_v only_o upon_o the_o divine_a will_n antecedent_o to_o which_o thing_n be_v only_o possible_a in_o answer_n to_o which_o i_o easy_o grant_v that_o there_o be_v nothing_o that_o come_v to_o pass_v contrary_a to_o the_o divine_a will_n the_o most_o criminal_a action_n be_v order_v by_o his_o infinite_a wisdom_n and_o permit_v to_o be_v but_o yet_o we_o have_v no_o ground_n to_o think_v that_o he_o decree_v every_o future_a action_n else_o it_o be_v hard_a to_o vindicate_v the_o holiness_n of_o god_n upon_o which_o consideration_n many_o learned_a man_n have_v be_v induce_v to_o deny_v god_n immediate_a concur_v with_o the_o creature_n in_o all_o its_o operation_n and_o yet_o we_o need_v not_o run_v ourselves_o upon_o this_o rock_n for_o we_o may_v safe_o enough_o maintain_v that_o the_o divine_a will_n be_v immediate_o efficatious_a for_o god_n who_o create_v man_n with_o a_o freedom_n of_o will_n design_v that_o he_o shall_v act_v without_o constraint_n and_o the_o reason_n why_o man_n act_v free_o be_v because_o god_n will_v man_n to_o act_v so_o which_o plain_o discover_v that_o the_o most_o contingent_a action_n depend_v immediate_o upon_o the_o divine_a will_n four_o we_o can_v never_o give_v a_o rational_a nor_o satisfy_v account_n how_o the_o divine_a knowledge_n concern_v the_o period_n of_o humane_a life_n be_v infallible_a &_o certain_a if_o it_o be_v not_o found_v upon_o the_o sure_a basis_n of_o a_o absolute_a decree_n this_o object_n i_o have_v partly_o remove_v already_o while_o i_o show_v that_o god_n know_v whatsoever_o be_v true_a because_o his_o cognisance_n be_v infinite_a wherefore_o it_o be_v unreasonable_a to_o think_v that_o god_n can_v not_o have_v a_o perfect_a comprehension_n of_o thing_n if_o he_o have_v not_o decree_v they_o absolute_o now_o to_o make_v this_o yet_o more_o plain_a i_o shall_v prove_v by_o instance_n from_o scripture_n that_o god_n have_v a_o certain_a knowledge_n of_o those_o thing_n which_o he_o never_o decree_v as_o absolute_o future_a and_o first_o it_o be_v a_o very_a remarkable_a instance_n which_o we_o have_v 1_o sam._n 23.11_o 12._o where_o david_n hear_v that_o saul_n be_v to_o come_v to_o keilah_n he_o earnest_o beseech_v god_n to_o tell_v he_o if_o the_o man_n of_o keilah_n will_v deliver_v he_o and_o his_o man_n into_o the_o hand_n of_o saul_n and_o if_o saul_n will_v come_v down_o to_o both_o which_o he_o get_v this_o answer_n that_o saul_n will_v come_v down_o and_o that_o the_o keilite_n will_v deliver_v he_o up_o and_o yet_o the_o event_n show_v that_o none_o of_o those_o come_v to_o pass_v because_o the_o fulfil_n of_o both_o do_v depend_v upon_o david_n stay_v in_o keilah_n and_o yet_o god_n certain_o know_v that_o if_o david_n have_v not_o depart_v from_o keilah_n they_o shall_v have_v deliver_v he_o into_o the_o hand_n of_o saul_n and_o far_o it_o be_v very_o evident_a that_o david_n be_v not_o inquire_v what_o be_v the_o present_a propension_n and_o inclination_n of_o the_o keilite_n but_o what_o shall_v be_v the_o event_n of_o his_o stay_n and_o according_o he_o receive_v a_o answer_n from_o god_n another_o instance_n we_o have_v 2_o king_n 13.19_o where_o elisha_n the_o prophet_n be_v very_o wroth_a with_o joash_n king_n of_o israel_n because_o he_o do_v not_o smite_v upon_o the_o ground_n five_o or_o six_o time_n and_o the_o reason_n the_o prophet_n add_v be_v for_o then_o have_v thou_o smite_v syria_n till_o thou_o have_v consume_v it_o which_o make_v it_o as_o evident_a as_o any_o thing_n can_v be_v that_o god_n foreknow_v that_o joash_n shall_v have_v smite_v syria_n till_o he_o have_v consum_v it_o if_o he_o have_v smite_v upon_o the_o ground_n five_o or_o six_o time_n it_o be_v no_o difficult_a task_n to_o prove_v this_o by_o a_o multtude_n of_o instance_n from_o scripture_n but_o i_o think_v i_o need_v add_v no_o mere_a for_o the_o satisfaction_n of_o consider_v man_n and_o for_o other_o a_o million_o of_o demonstration_n will_v be_v urge_v to_o no_o purpose_n and_o thus_o i_o have_v do_v with_o the_o second_o thing_n i_o propose_v that_o god_n have_v not_o by_o any_o absolute_a or_o inconditionate_n decree_v fatal_o determine_v the_o period_n of_o every_o man_n life_n i_o proceed_v to_o the_o three_o thing_n propose_v namely_o whether_o the_o period_n of_o every_o man_n life_n be_v mutable_a and_o before_o i_o prove_v it_o to_o be_v so_o i_o must_v premise_v two_o caution_n first_o when_o we_o say_v the_o period_n of_o every_o man_n life_n be_v mutable_a we_o mean_v no_o more_o but_o that_o it_o may_v be_v shorten_v by_o our_o intemperance_n or_o neglect_v of_o the_o mean_n and_o be_v extend_v by_o our_o good_a managery_n and_o religious_a manner_n of_o live_v second_o when_o i_o say_v the_o period_n of_o every_o man_n life_n be_v movable_a the_o meaning_n be_v not_o that_o it_o be_v necessary_o so_o and_o that_o it_o can_v be_v otherwise_o for_o this_o will_v not_o be_v consistent_a with_o our_o dependent_a condition_n therefore_o there_o be_v allowance_n to_o be_v make_v to_o extraordinary_a case_n the_o act_n of_o divine_a providence_n in_o the_o government_n of_o humane_a affair_n be_v sometime_o extraordinary_a and_o therefore_o it_o must_v be_v leave_v to_o his_o infinite_a wisdom_n and_o goodness_n to_o make_v what_o reserve_v case_n he_o think_v fit_a from_o the_o general_a rule_n yet_o for_o ordinary_a the_o period_n of_o humane_a life_n be_v mutable_a and_o god_n do_v not_o exclude_v the_o power_n of_o second_o cause_n in_o govern_v the_o world_n these_o thing_n be_v premise_v i_o doubt_v not_o but_o to_o offer_v such_o argue_v ment_n for_o the_o proof_n of_o the_o mutability_n of_o the_o period_n of_o every_o man_n life_n as_o shall_v be_v sufficient_a for_o the_o conviction_n of_o any_o man_n who_o be_v not_o blind_v by_o prejudice_n or_o prepossess_v with_o