Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	evil_a	good_a	know_v	2,974	5	4.2147	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47422	Mr. Blount's oracles of reason examined and answered in nine sections in which his many heterodox opinions are refuted, the Holy Scriptures and revealed religion are asserted against deism & atheism / by Josiah King ...	King, Josiah.	1698 (1698)	Wing K512A; ESTC R32870	107,981	256

principle_n which_o be_v good_a as_o infinity_o of_o be_v and_o necessity_n of_o existence_n it_o unvoidable_o follow_v that_o the_o principle_n of_o evil_a the_o other_o anti-god_n which_o be_v in_o all_o thing_n contrary_a to_o the_o former_a must_v be_v a_o infinite_a non_fw-fr entity_n which_o yet_o exist_v and_o if_o this_o be_v not_o the_o height_n of_o nonsense_n nothing_o can_v be_v so_o beside_o this_o principle_n overthrow_v all_o religion_n as_o well_o natural_a as_o reveal_v it_o destroy_v all_o virtue_n and_o goodness_n for_o if_o this_o contrary_a principle_n be_v the_o cause_n of_o all_o evil_a then_o evil_a necessary_o fall_v out_o all_o freedom_n of_o will_n be_v destroy_v all_o difference_n of_o good_a and_o evil_a be_v take_v away_o for_o if_o evil_a become_v once_o necessary_a it_o lose_v its_o nature_n there_o can_v be_v th●n_o no_o government_n of_o the_o world_n by_o law_n no_o reward_n no_o punishment_n for_o they_o all_o suppose_v liberty_n of_o action_n all_o these_o must_v be_v banish_v out_o of_o the_o world_n if_o this_o persian_a opinion_n be_v true_a which_o according_a to_o mr._n blount_n may_v be_v true_a if_o genesis_n be_v a_o parable_n and_o in_o his_o opinion_n it_o be_v so_o to_o such_o contradiction_n man_n expose_v themselves_o when_o they_o take_v on_o they_o the_o patronage_n of_o such_o gross_a lie_n and_o falsehood_n how_o important_a this_o question_n be_v and_o of_o how_o great_a concernment_n it_o be_v to_o we_o to_o fix_v it_o on_o sure_a ground_n no_o body_n can_v be_v ignorant_a to_o which_o purpose_n that_o of_o simplicius_n be_v remarkable_a in_o his_o commentary_n on_o epictetus_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d the_o controversy_n about_o the_o nature_n of_o good_a and_o evil_a not_o be_v well_o state_v be_v the_o cause_n of_o great_a impiety_n towards_o god_n and_o pervert_v the_o principle_n of_o good_a life_n and_o cast_v those_o person_n into_o innumerable_a perplexity_n who_o be_v not_o able_a to_o give_v a_o rational_a account_n thereof_o if_o we_o consult_v origen_n and_o celsus_n we_o may_v soon_o perceive_v that_o the_o origin_n of_o evil_n can_v be_v discover_v by_o natural_a religion_n for_o both_o own_o the_o discovery_n thereof_o to_o be_v of_o great_a difficulty_n celsus_n say_v 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d it_o be_v a_o difficult_a thing_n to_o know_v the_o nature_n of_o evil_a unless_o a_o man_n philosophise_n the_o vulgar_a be_v not_o capable_a of_o it_o and_o although_o origen_n differ_v from_o celsus_n lib._n 4._o and_o say_v that_o celsus_n be_v in_o a_o error_n in_o impute_v this_o to_o matter_n yet_o in_o this_o accord_n with_o he_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d if_o any_o thing_n in_o the_o world_n be_v of_o difficult_a discovery_n that_o which_o relate_v to_o the_o origin_n of_o evil_n be_v of_o the_o number_n of_o those_o thing_n this_o be_v affirm_v by_o origen_n with_o respect_n to_o natural_a religion_n in_o which_o all_o thing_n be_v of_o very_o easy_a investigation_n and_o as_o mr._n blount_n say_v of_o the_o innate_a idea_n of_o a_o deity_n p._n 178._o be_v soon_o imprint_v on_o the_o mind_n of_o men._n plutarch_n in_o his_o book_n de_fw-fr iside_n &_o osiride_n p._n 369_o 370_o and_o 371._o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d etc._n etc._n this_o opinion_n please_v many_o and_o wise_a man_n some_o think_v there_o be_v two_o god_n of_o contrary_a nature_n one_o be_v the_o author_n of_o all_o good_a the_o other_o of_o evil._n and_o diogenes_n laertius_n tell_v we_o that_o this_o be_v the_o opinion_n of_o the_o persian_a magi_n who_o be_v of_o great_a antiquity_n than_o the_o egyptian_n according_a to_o aristotle_n in_o his_o first_o book_n of_o philosophy_n one_o of_o those_o god_n be_v call_v oromasdes_n the_o other_o pluto_n or_o arimanius_n and_o plutarch_n say_v that_o mithra_n be_v a_o mediatour-god_n who_o the_o persian_n place_v between_o the_o other_o two_o the_o chaldean_n make_v god_n of_o the_o planet_n two_o of_o which_o they_o make_v good_a the_o other_o two_o author_n of_o evil_a and_o the_o odd_a three_o to_o be_v promiscuous_a and_o middle_a trim_v god_n half_a good_a and_o half_a evil_n the_o greek_n impute_v all_o good_a to_o jupiter_n olympius_n but_o evil_a to_o hades_n the_o egyptian_n teach_v that_o osiris_n be_v the_o author_n of_o all_o good_a but_o that_o typho_n be_v the_o author_n of_o evil._n and_o plutarch_n say_v far_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d the_o very_a name_n of_o typho_n be_v a_o sufficient_a indication_n of_o his_o nature_n i_o shall_v not_o trouble_v my_o reader_n with_o any_o more_o instance_n of_o this_o nature_n because_o how_o various_a and_o how_o different_a the_o opinion_n of_o philosopher_n be_v as_o to_o the_o origin_n of_o evil_a how_o obscure_a and_o confuse_a they_o be_v in_o the_o account_n they_o give_v thereof_o all_o man_n know_v that_o have_v be_v any_o way_n conversant_a in_o these_o controversy_n and_o plutarch_n book_n de_fw-fr iside_n and_o osiride_n and_o de_fw-fr procreatione_fw-la animae_fw-la e_fw-la timaeo_n be_v undeniable_a and_o sufficient_a evidence_n thereof_o in_o which_o book_n beside_o the_o diversity_n before_o mention_v the_o reader_n will_v soon_o find_v that_o the_o great_a admirer_n of_o the_o philosopher_n do_v not_o seem_v to_o understand_v they_o on_o this_o subject_a but_o this_o indeed_o be_v no_o wonder_n since_o nothing_o be_v more_o plain_a than_o that_o they_o do_v not_o understand_v themselves_o neither_o can_v it_o be_v otherwise_o since_o they_o be_v destitute_a of_o proper_a mean_n requisite_a hereunto_o and_o now_o i_o appeal_v to_o any_o judicious_a reader_n whether_o any_o thing_n can_v be_v more_o absurd_a more_o impious_a more_o contradictory_n to_o right_a reason_n than_o what_o mr._n blount_n have_v write_v concern_v the_o origin_n of_o evil._n and_o if_o the_o right_a notion_n thereof_o can_v have_v be_v imprint_v on_o man_n mind_n by_o nature_n without_o scripture_n and_o reveal_v religion_n how_o be_v it_o possible_a so_o many_o philosopher_n and_o whole_a nation_n shall_v have_v be_v guilty_a of_o such_o grand_a absurdity_n as_o we_o have_v see_v that_o they_o be_v pag._n 193._o the_o opinion_n of_o plurality_n of_o world_n seem_v more_o agreeable_a to_o god_n be_v infinite_a for_o so_o must_v all_o god_n be_v quality_n be_v communicative_a quality_n to_o be_v continual_o make_v new_a world_n since_o otherwise_o this_o quality_n or_o act_n of_o create_v will_v be_v only_o once_o exert_v and_o for_o infinite_a duration_n lie_v useless_a and_o dormant_a answer_n the_o opinion_n of_o the_o plurality_n of_o world_n be_v maintain_v by_o several_a of_o the_o ancient_a philosopher_n as_o anaximander_n anaximenes_n democritus_n epicurus_n his_o scholar_n metrodorus_n and_o other_o who_o maintain_v a_o infinity_n of_o world_n and_o their_o great_a reason_n as_o elias_n cretensis_n say_v be_v from_o the_o infinite_a power_n and_o goodness_n of_o god_n on_o the_o contrary_a the_o stoic_n will_v not_o allow_v above_o one_o world_n which_o they_o call_v the_o universe_n and_o plato_n endeavour_n to_o prove_v the_o same_o by_o three_o argument_n as_o may_v be_v see_v in_o plutarch_n in_o his_o first_o book_n chap._n 5._o of_o the_o opinion_n of_o the_o philosopher_n of_o the_o same_o opinion_n be_v his_o scholar_n aristotle_n who_o labour_v to_o prove_v the_o same_o in_o no_o less_o than_o two_o whole_a chapter_n as_o to_o the_o validity_n of_o his_o argument_n i_o shall_v not_o write_v any_o thing_n in_o particular_a think_v it_o much_o better_a to_o advise_v the_o reader_n to_o consult_v he_o about_o this_o subject_a this_o be_v notorious_a that_o what_o he_o take_v upon_o himself_o to_o prove_v he_o common_o confirm_v by_o strong_a reason_n and_o indeed_o a_o man_n shall_v scarce_o find_v any_o philosophical_a subject_n but_o may_v by_o some_o mean_n or_o other_o be_v collect_v out_o of_o his_o write_n dr._n pearson_n assure_v we_o in_o his_o dedication_n of_o laertius_n to_o king_n charles_n the_o second_o that_o dr._n harvey_n be_v common_o know_v to_o have_v say_v nihil_fw-la fere_n unquam_fw-la in_o ipsis_fw-la naturae_fw-la penetralibus_fw-la invenisse_fw-la se_fw-la quin_fw-la cum_fw-la aristotelem_fw-la suum_fw-la pensiculatius_fw-la evolveret_fw-la idem_fw-la ab_fw-la illo_fw-la aut_fw-la exp●ica●um_fw-la aut_fw-la saltem_fw-la cognitum_fw-la reperiret_fw-la he_o scarce_o ever_o find_v any_o thing_n among_o the_o mystery_n of_o nature_n but_o when_o he_o have_v diligent_o peruse_v the_o book_n of_o aristotle_n he_o find_v the_o same_o either_o explain_v or_o know_v by_o he_o so_o that_o i_o conceive_v that_o his_o authority_n and_o reason_n to_o be_v a_o great_a prejudice_n to_o the_o opinion_n of_o the_o plurality_n of_o world_n it_o be_v report_v of_o aristotle_n that_o when_o he_o read_v the_o mosaic_a write_n that_o he_o commend_v they_o for_o the_o majesty_n of_o the_o style_n he_o think_v it_o worthy_a of_o a_o

god_n the_o fault_n he_o find_v be_v that_o the_o method_n be_v unphilosophical_a which_o do_v not_o command_n but_o persuade_v a_o belief_n in_o the_o reader_n without_o all_o controversy_n he_o commit_v not_o that_o pretend_a error_n in_o moses_n and_o therefore_o i_o doubt_v not_o but_o the_o reader_n will_v find_v more_o satisfaction_n in_o his_o oracle_n of_o reason_n for_o the_o unity_n of_o the_o world_n then_o in_o mr._n blount_n for_o the_o plurality_n of_o world_n but_o whatsoever_o liberty_n may_v be_v allow_v philosopher_n in_o this_o point_n because_o perhaps_o it_o may_v not_o plain_o contradict_v any_o principle_n of_o reason_n which_o be_v the_o rule_n they_o walk_v by_o the_o same_o ought_v not_o to_o be_v allow_v to_o we_o for_o this_o opinion_n certain_o deserve_v a_o censure_n in_o all_o who_o pretend_v to_o christianity_n the_o argument_n make_v use_v of_o be_v very_o weak_a the_o power_n of_o god_n be_v infinite_a his_o goodness_n be_v infinite_a and_o communicative_a yet_o his_o power_n and_o his_o goodness_n do_v not_o extend_v themselves_o beyond_o his_o will_n and_o pleasure_n this_o will_v make_v god_n a_o necessary_a agent_n and_o deprive_v he_o of_o those_o perfection_n he_o have_v be_v please_v to_o bestow_v on_o some_o of_o his_o creature_n but_o that_o which_o exceed_v all_o bellef_n be_v that_o mr._n blount_n who_o make_v this_o world_n we_o live_v in_o eternal_a and_o consequent_o uncreated_a and_o a_o god_n shall_v yet_o in_o this_o place_n contend_v for_o a_o plurality_n of_o world_n and_o that_o upon_o a_o pious_a pretence_n for_o fear_n forsooth_o that_o the_o act_n of_o create_v shall_v only_o be_v once_o exert_v and_o for_o a_o infinite_a duration_n lie_v dormant_n and_o useless_a if_o this_o manner_n of_o argumentation_n be_v allow_v of_o into_o what_o absurdity_n may_v we_o fall_v tully_n in_o his_o first_o book_n de_fw-fr finibus_fw-la speak_v of_o the_o difference_n between_o epicurus_n and_o democritus_n and_o that_o epicurus_n corrupt_v and_o deprave_v what_o he_o pretend_v to_o correct_v in_o democritus_n observe_v that_o he_o make_v innumerable_a world_n to_o have_v their_o original_a and_o to_o perish_v daily_o innumerabiles_fw-la mundi_fw-la qui_fw-la &_o oriantur_fw-la &_o interiant_n quotidie_fw-la how_o agreeable_a be_v this_o false_a and_o ridiculous_a assertion_n with_o our_o author_n method_n the_o minute_n declination_n of_o atom_n without_o a_o efficient_a cause_n be_v absurd_a and_o unbecoming_a a_o philosopher_n yet_o it_o be_v agreeable_a to_o this_o method_n for_o this_o declination_n be_v more_o according_a with_o god_n goodness_n than_o a_o constant_a natural_a descent_n of_o atom_n in_o parallel_a line_n but_o this_o favour_n must_v not_o be_v afford_v here_o since_o mr._n blount_n by_o his_o approve_v ocellus_n lucanus_n have_v banish_v with_o epicurus_n and_o descartes_n all_o final_a cause_n from_o these_o speculation_n nay_o if_o this_o method_n be_v allow_v i_o know_v nothing_o in_o epicurus_n natural_a philosophy_n but_o may_v be_v defend_v although_o tully_n have_v abundant_o prove_v he_o to_o be_v as_o bad_a a_o naturalist_n as_o he_o be_v a_o moralist_n or_o a_o logician_n this_o opinion_n of_o the_o plurality_n of_o world_n seem_v not_o to_o be_v so_o agreeable_a to_o holy_a scripture_n certain_o moses_n relation_n of_o the_o creation_n must_v needs_o be_v think_v to_o be_v deficient_a if_o this_o opinion_n be_v true_a for_o he_o menrion_n only_o one_o world_n which_o comprehend_v all_o thing_n this_o opinion_n be_v also_o for_o some_o time_n account_v heretical_a for_o virgilius_n bishop_n of_o zalzburg_n be_v cast_v out_o of_o his_o bishopric_n excommunicate_v and_o condemn_v for_o a_o heretic_n by_o pope_n zachary_n for_o this_o opinion_n as_o the_o great_a annalist_n baronius_n acquaint_v we_o in_o the_o year_n of_o our_o lord_n 748._o what_o aventinus_n and_o other_o affirm_v of_o his_o deprivation_n and_o excommunication_n for_o hold_v there_o be_v antipode_n prove_v a_o mistake_n although_o i_o doubt_v not_o but_o that_o assertion_n will_v have_v give_v great_a offence_n as_o may_v probable_o be_v gather_v from_o lactantius_n in_o the_o three_o book_n of_o his_o instit_fw-la chap._n 24._o and_o from_o st._n austin_n of_o the_o city_n of_o god_n book_n 16._o chap._n 9_o and_o from_o many_o other_o after_o they_o as_o also_o from_o the_o little_a skill_n that_o pope_n zachary_n and_o the_o pope_n about_o those_o day_n have_v in_o the_o mathematical_a science_n i_o hope_v it_o may_v not_o be_v unpleasing_a to_o the_o reader_n if_o i_o give_v he_o here_o a_o short_a account_n of_o the_o resolution_n of_o this_o question_n by_o mersenus_n a_o late_a learned_a jesuit_n and_o one_o that_o have_v the_o reputation_n of_o a_o great_a philosopher_n he_o think_v the_o opinion_n of_o the_o plurality_n of_o world_n not_o to_o be_v heretical_a nor_o against_o the_o faith_n because_o as_o he_o say_v it_o do_v not_o contradict_v any_o express_a place_n of_o holy_a scripture_n nor_o the_o determination_n of_o the_o universal_a church_n yet_o he_o think_v it_o to_o be_v a_o very_a rash_a opinion_n forasmuch_o as_o it_o repugn_v the_o consent_n of_o the_o father_n who_o authority_n notwithstanding_o he_o think_v to_o be_v of_o no_o such_o weight_n in_o matter_n philosophical_a if_o the_o jesuit_n have_v plain_o prove_v this_o matter_n to_o be_v pure_o philosophical_a he_o have_v not_o be_v wide_o of_o the_o mark_n but_o the_o method_n of_o moses_n and_o his_o silence_n in_o so_o great_a a_o point_n make_v his_o reproof_n to_o be_v too_o mild_a this_o opinion_n therefore_o to_o say_v the_o least_o of_o it_o be_v impious_a profane_a and_o unbecoming_a a_o christian_n what_o follow_v in_o mr._n blount_n oracle_n touch_v reveal_v and_o natural_a religion_n have_v be_v often_o treat_v of_o in_o the_o forego_n discourse_n in_o which_o i_o have_v prove_v the_o insufficiency_n of_o natural_a religion_n as_o to_o the_o great_a end_n of_o man_n happiness_n and_o misery_n in_o another_o world_n and_o other_o thing_n incident_a to_o that_o question_n wherefore_o not_o be_v willing_a to_o trouble_v my_o reader_n with_o long_a repetition_n i_o proceed_v to_o that_o which_o follow_v in_o this_o section_n and_o relate_v to_o ocellus_n lucanus_n pag._n 210._o if_o any_o man_n shall_v conceive_v the_o universe_n to_o have_v be_v make_v he_o will_v not_o be_v able_a to_o find_v into_o what_o it_o shall_v be_v corrupt_v and_o dissolve_v since_o that_o out_o of_o which_o it_o be_v make_v be_v before_o the_o universe_n as_o that_o into_o which_o it_o shall_v be_v corrupt_v be_v after_o the_o universe_n answer_n that_o which_o make_v ocellus_n lucanus_n and_o aristotle_n and_o other_o to_o fall_v into_o this_o great_a error_n as_o to_o the_o world_n eternity_n be_v two_o great_a mistake_v which_o they_o look_v on_o as_o undoubted_a principle_n the_o one_o be_v that_o out_o of_o nothing_o something_o can_v not_o be_v produce_v and_o that_o whatsoever_o have_v a_o beginning_n must_v have_v a_o end_n and_o reciprocal_o whatsoever_o shall_v have_v no_o end_n have_v no_o beginning_n whereas_o these_o pretend_a maxim_n be_v not_o ground_v on_o general_a reason_n but_o only_o upon_o particular_a observation_n of_o such_o thing_n here_o below_o which_o be_v produce_v by_o the_o ordinary_a way_n of_o generation_n and_o corruption_n yet_o so_o difficult_a it_o be_v for_o a_o man_n to_o retrieve_v himself_o from_o such_o observation_n that_o it_o must_v be_v confess_v that_o among_o all_o the_o hypothesis_n of_o they_o who_o will_v destroy_v our_o holy_a faith_n none_o be_v so_o plausible_a as_o that_o of_o the_o eternity_n of_o the_o world_n and_o this_o make_v scaliger_n in_o his_o sixty_o first_o exercitation_n against_o cardan_n sect._n 6._o where_o he_o reject_v the_o argument_n of_o philoponus_n as_o frivolous_a for_o so_o he_o call_v they_o to_o conclude_v sola_fw-la religione_fw-la mihi_fw-la persuadetur_fw-la mundum_fw-la coepisse_fw-la atque_fw-la finem_fw-la incendio_fw-la habiturum_fw-la nothing_o but_o reveal_v religion_n can_v induce_v i_o to_o believe_v that_o the_o world_n have_v a_o beginning_n and_o that_o it_o shall_v have_v a_o end_n pag._n 210._o ocellus_n lucanus_n say_v his_o opinion_n be_v that_o the_o universe_n admit_v neither_o generation_n nor_o corruption_n forasmuch_o as_o it_o ever_o be_v and_o ever_o shall_v be_v answer_n it_o be_v very_o evident_a that_o our_o naturalist_n proceed_v in_o assert_v his_o principle_n of_o the_o usual_a course_n of_o generation_n and_o corruption_n which_o be_v obvious_a to_o our_o sense_n or_o on_o the_o work_v of_o art_n which_o always_o suppose_v pre-existent_a matter_n which_o if_o we_o deny_v all_o his_o argument_n vanish_v and_o in_o truth_n he_o be_v guilty_a of_o that_o sophism_n which_o the_o logician_n call_v petitio_fw-la principii_fw-la a_o beg_n of_o his_o principle_n in_o take_v that_o to_o be_v grant_v which_o be_v the_o thing_n to_o be_v prove_v and_o