Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	faith_n	true_a	word_n	2,531	5	4.4807	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A59228	A letter from the authour of Sure-footing, to his answerer	Sergeant, John, 1622-1707.	1665 (1665)	Wing S2574A; ESTC R221073	12,076	25

if_o you_o advance_v this_o civil_a piece_n of_o atheistry_n you_o must_v pardon_v i_o if_o i_o be_v smart_n with_o you_o in_o opposition_n to_o so_o damnable_a and_o fundamental_a a_o error_n i_o love_v christianity_n and_o mankind_n too_o well_o to_o suffer_v that_o position_n which_o destroy_v effectual_o the_o root_n of_o all_o their_o eternal_a happiness_n and_o the_o substance_n of_o all_o their_o hope_n to_o pass_v unstigmatize_v as_o it_o deserve_v nor_o think_v to_o avail_v yourself_o by_o some_o discourser_n in_o our_o school_n it_o will_v be_v show_v when_o press_v that_o they_o be_v still_o preserve_v good_a christian_n through_o the_o virtue_n of_o tradition_n which_o they_o all_o hold_v to_o notwithstanding_o their_o private_a speculation_n but_o you_o not_o because_o of_o your_o want_n of_o certain_a ground_n to_o make_v you_o rational_o hold_v christ_n faith_n they_o only_o mistake_v a_o word_n whereas_o you_o will_v be_v find_v to_o err_v in_o the_o whole_a thing_n or_o the_o ordinary_a mean_n to_o true_a christianity_n again_o if_o such_o cause_n be_v fit_v to_o be_v lay_v by_o god_n providence_n it_o be_v impossible_a to_o avoid_v the_o doctrine_n propose_v in_o sure-footing_a because_o it_o be_v absolute_o impossible_a to_o invent_v any_o thing_n that_o look_v like_o such_o cause_n but_o those_o which_o be_v deliver_v there_o nor_o do_v any_o other_o way_n ever_o attempt_v to_o show_v any_o such_o whence_o i_o foresee_v your_o cause_n will_v force_v you_o to_o fly_v for_o refuge_n to_o the_o actual_a uncertainty_n or_o possible_a falsehood_n of_o all_o our_o faith_n for_o any_o thing_n any_o man_n live_v know_v by_o ordinary_a mean_n a_o sad_a consequence_n of_o a_o erroneous_a tenet_n but_o it_o be_v connatural_a and_o so_o to_o be_v expect_v such_o effect_n shall_v follow_v the_o renounce_n the_o rule_n of_o faith_n 5._o three_o i_o conceive_v it_o very_o reasonable_a that_o you_o will_v please_v to_o declare_v whether_o controversy_n ought_v to_o have_v any_o first_o principle_n or_o no_o if_o none_o then_o to_o speak_v candid_o out_o and_o confess_v that_o controvertist_n be_v certain_a of_o nothing_o they_o say_v since_o their_o discourse_n have_v no_o ground_n or_o first_o principle_n to_o rely_v on_o if_o any_o whether_o tradition_n be_v it_o or_o if_o it_o be_v not_o what_o else_o be_v and_o then_o vouch_v as_o plain_a reason_n tell_v we_o you_o ought_v that_o what_o you_o assign_v have_v true_o in_o it_o the_o nature_n of_o a_o first_o principle_n which_o common_a reason_n give_v to_o be_v self-evidence_n or_o last_o to_o profess_v if_o you_o judge_v it_o your_o best_a play_n that_o what_o you_o substitute_n in_o stead_n of_o tradition_n though_o it_o be_v a_o first_o principle_n yet_o it_o need_v not_o be_v at_o all_o self-evident_a any_o thing_n shall_v content_v i_o so_o you_o will_v but_o please_v to_o speak_v out_o and_o to_o the_o point_n 6._o again_o since_o it_o be_v evident_o your_o task_n to_o argue_v against_o tradition_n certainty_n it_o be_v as_o evident_a that_o while_n you_o argue_v against_o it_o you_o must_v bear_v yourself_o as_o hold_v it_o uncertain_a i_o conceive_v then_o plain_a reason_n oblige_v you_o not_o to_o produce_v any_o thing_n against_o tradition_n which_o depend_v upon_o tradition_n for_o its_o certainty_n for_o in_o do_v so_o you_o will_v invalidate_v and_o even_o nullify_v all_o your_o own_o proof_n since_o if_o tradition_n be_v hold_v by_o you_o uncertain_a and_o they_o have_v no_o certainty_n but_o by_o mean_n of_o it_o they_o must_v be_v confess_v uncertain_a too_o and_o so_o they_o will_v be_v incompetent_a to_o be_v produce_v as_o proof_n and_o yourself_o very_o disingenuous_a to_o produce_v they_o i_o add_v self-contradicting_a too_o and_o unskilful_a nature_n and_o aristotle_n teach_v we_o that_o a_o discourser_n ought_v not_o sustain_v contrary_a to_o himself_o hence_o plain_a reason_n exclude_v you_o from_o allege_v any_o kind_n of_o testimony_n either_o from_o scripture_n council_n father_n or_o history_n till_o you_o answer_v my_o corollary_n 12_o 15_o 16._o which_o pretend_v to_o demonstrate_v the_o certainty_n of_o all_o these_o dependent_a on_o tradition_n and_o the_o only_a way_n to_o show_v my_o discourse_n there_o to_o be_v weak_a be_v to_o manifest_v my_o mistake_n by_o declare_v into_o what_o other_o thing_n your_o certainty_n of_o those_o testimony_n be_v final_o resolvable_a which_o be_v not_o coincident_a with_o tradition_n when_o you_o produce_v such_o a_o principle_n and_o prove_v it_o such_o you_o have_v right_a to_o allege_v the_o foresay_a testimony_n for_o than_o you_o can_v make_v good_a their_o authority_n till_o then_o you_o can_v have_v no_o right_n in_o true_a reason_n to_o do_v it_o not_o only_o because_o till_o then_o you_o be_v to_o be_v hold_v a_o renouncer_n of_o that_o thing_n be_v certainty_n upon_o which_o there_o be_v pretend_v demonstratious_a against_o you_o they_o be_v build_v and_o those_o presume_v true_a one_o because_o you_o let_v such_o strong_a attempt_n pass_v unanswered_a but_o very_o particular_o for_o this_o consideration_n that_o our_o present_a matter_n restrain_v you_o from_o it_o for_o our_o discourse_n be_v about_o the_o ground_n of_o that_o authority_n which_o ascertain_v to_o we_o faith_n which_o therefore_o be_v antecedent_n to_o the_o notion_n of_o faith_n faithful_a church_n council_n father_n nay_o and_o creditable_a history-book_n too_o since_o those_o rely_v on_o tradition_n take_v at_o large_a for_o their_o certainty_n as_o be_v evident_a by_o plain_a reason_n coral_n 16_o 24._o which_o devolve_v into_o this_o that_o tradition_n be_v first_o authority_n and_o so_o not_o proovable_a or_o disproovable_a by_o any_o other_o secondary_a authority_n but_o aught_o to_o be_v impugned_a by_o pure_a reason_n but_o if_o you_o think_v fit_a to_o grant_v this_o certainty_n to_o tradition_n take_v at_o large_a yet_o deny_v it_o to_o christian_a tradition_n which_o have_v beside_o its_o human_a force_n most_o powerful_a divine_a motive_n also_o to_o strengthen_v it_o please_v to_o speak_v it_o out_o and_o the_o strange_a unreasonableness_n of_o the_o position_n will_v quick_o be_v make_v appear_v or_o if_o you_o grant_v christian_a tradition_n certain_a in_o bring_v down_o those_o common_a point_n in_o which_o we_o agree_v yet_o fallible_a nay_o actual_o err_a in_o bring_v down_o to_o we_o those_o other_o point_n which_o we_o be_v find_v hold_v upon_o tradition_n when_o you_o leave_v we_o and_o for_o which_o as_o grievous_a error_n you_o pretend_v to_o leave_v we_o please_v to_o declare_v in_o what_o you_o hold_v the_o virtue_n of_o tradition_n consist_v ascertain_v to_o we_o both_o those_o common_a point_n and_o how_o we_o come_v to_o know_v tradition_n be_v engage_v for_o they_o which_o do_v it_o will_v quick_o appear_v whether_o its_o ascertain_a virtue_n have_v its_o effect_n upon_o some_o and_o not_o other_o or_o on_o all_o unless_o you_o do_v this_o your_o very_a admittance_n of_o tradition_n certainty_n in_o some_o overthrow_v you_o without_o more_o ado_n for_o to_o acknowledge_v it_o argumentative_a for_o the_o certainty_n of_o some_o grant_v it_o a_o virtue_n of_o ascertain_v which_o therefore_o you_o be_v oblige_v to_o grant_v in_o all_o unless_o you_o give_v the_o reason_n of_o your_o exception_n otherwise_o to_o admit_v it_o when_o your_o interest_n be_v not_o touch_v and_o reject_v it_o when_o it_o oppose_v you_o be_v plain_o to_o confess_v that_o tradition_n be_v able_a to_o certify_v yet_o that_o you_o admit_v it_o when_o you_o list_v and_o reject_v it_o when_o you_o list_v 7._o be_v inform_v then_o by_o evident_a reason_n that_o no_o kind_n of_o authority_n but_o only_o the_o way_n of_o reason_n be_v a_o competent_a weapon_n to_o fight_v against_o tradition_n with_o i_o have_v three_o thing_n to_o propose_v to_o your_o thought_n on_o this_o occasion_n which_o i_o hope_v will_v sound_v reasonable_a to_o any_o intelligent_a man_n by_o the_o very_o mention_v first_o that_o you_o will_v not_o allege_v such_o argumment_n as_o strike_v as_o well_o at_o the_o constancy_n of_o every_o species_n in_o nature_n especial_o rational_a nature_n that_o be_v such_o natural_a medium_n as_o tend_v to_o destroy_v all_o natural_a certainty_n second_o that_o your_o objection_n be_v not_o foreign_a or_o fetch_v it_o from_o afar_o of_o for_o these_o be_v multipliable_a without_o end_n and_o apt_a to_o be_v suggest_v by_o fancy_n upon_o every_o notseeing_a the_o coherence_n of_o some_o other_o remote_a whether_o real_a or_o conceit_a truth_n with_o the_o tenet_n we_o aim_v to_o impugn_v but_o that_o they_o be_v immediate_a and_o close_a that_o be_v take_v out_o of_o the_o intrinsecal_n nature_n of_o the_o thing_n for_o so_o they_o will_v be_v more_o forcible_a and_o by_o consequence_n be_v apt_a to_o do_v your_o cause_n much_o service_n and_o unless_o they_o be_v such_o they_o will_v do_v it_o none_o

a_o letter_n from_o the_o author_n of_o sure-footing_a to_o his_o answerer_n sir_n i_o be_o certain_o inform_v there_o be_v a_o answer_n to_o my_o book_n intend_v and_o a_o person_n choose_v out_o for_o that_o employment_n who_o name_n i_o be_o unconcern_v to_o know_v it_o be_v only_o his_o quality_n as_o a_o writer_n i_o have_v to_o do_v with_o i_o receive_v the_o alarm_n with_o great_a cheerfulness_n know_v that_o if_o my_o adversary_n behave_v himself_o well_o it_o will_v exceed_o conduce_v to_o the_o clear_n and_o settle_v the_o main_a point_n there_o controvert_v but_o because_o there_o be_v difference_n between_o be_v call_v a_o answer_n and_o be_v a_o answer_n and_o that_o it_o be_v extreme_o opposite_a to_o my_o genius_n to_o be_v task_v in_o lay_v open_a man_n fault_n even_o as_o writer_n though_o it_o have_v be_v my_o unhappiness_n former_o to_o meet_v with_o adversary_n who_o way_n of_o write_v make_v that_o carriage_n my_o only_a duty_n wherefore_o to_o prevent_v as_o much_o as_o i_o be_o able_a all_o occasion_n of_o such_o unsavoury_a opposition_n and_o to_o make_v way_n to_o the_o clear_v the_o point_n that_o so_o our_o discourse_n may_v redound_v to_o the_o profit_n and_o satisfaction_n of_o our_o reader_n i_o make_v bold_a to_o offer_v you_o these_o few_o reflection_n which_o in_o effect_n contain_v no_o more_o but_o a_o request_v you_o will_v speak_v to_o the_o point_n and_o in_o such_o a_o way_n as_o be_v apt_a to_o bring_v the_o matter_n near_o a_o clear_n this_o if_o you_o please_v to_o do_v you_o will_v very_o much_o credit_v yourself_o and_o your_o endeavour_n in_o the_o opinion_n of_o all_o ingenuous_a person_n if_o you_o refuse_v and_o rather_o choose_v to_o run_v into_o rhetorical_a excursion_n and_o such_o discourse_n as_o be_v apt_a to_o breed_v new_a controversy_n not_o pertinent_a to_o the_o present_a one_o under_o hand_n you_o will_v extreme_o disparage_v both_o yourself_o your_o party_n and_o your_o cause_n and_o give_v i_o a_o exceed_a advantage_n against_o they_o all_o i_o shall_v also_o have_v the_o satisfaction_n to_o have_v manifest_v beforehand_o by_o mean_n of_o this_o letter_n that_o i_o have_v contribute_v as_o much_o as_o in_o i_o lie_v to_o make_v you_o avoid_v those_o fault_n which_o i_o must_v then_o be_v force_v to_o lay_v open_a and_o severe_o press_v upon_o you_o little_a to_o your_o credit_n nor_o your_o cause_n neither_o you_o being_n as_o i_o be_o inform_v and_o reason_n give_v it_o signal_o choose_v out_o as_o hold_v most_o able_a to_o maintain_v it_o 2._o that_o there_o may_v be_v no_o more_o distance_n between_o we_o than_o what_o our_o cause_n enforce_v i_o hearty_o assure_v you_o that_o though_o i_o high_o dislike_v your_o tenet_n negative_o opposite_a to_o what_o we_o hold_v faith_n and_o the_o way_n of_o write_v i_o foresee_v you_o must_v take_v unless_o you_o resolve_v to_o love_v candour_n better_o than_o your_o cause_n as_o be_v inconclusive_a and_o so_o apt_a to_o continue_v not_o finish_v debate_n yet_o i_o have_v not_o the_o least_o pique_n against_o you_o or_o any_o man_n person_n nor_o have_v i_o any_o particular_a aversion_n against_o the_o protestant_a party_n rather_o i_o look_v upon_o it_o with_o a_o better_a eye_n than_o on_o any_o other_o company_n whatever_o which_o have_v break_v communion_n with_o the_o catholic_n church_n it_o preserve_v still_o unrenounce_v the_o form_n of_o episcopacy_n the_o church-government_n institute_v by_o christ_n and_o many_o grave_a solemnity_n and_o ceremony_n which_o make_v our_o union_n less_o difficult_a many_o of_o their_o sober_a writer_n acknowledge_v divers_a of_o the_o renounce_v tenet_n to_o be_v truth_n some_o of_o they_o also_o profess_v to_o hold_v tradition_n especial_o for_o scripture_n letter_n and_o even_o for_o those_o point_n or_o faith-tenet_n in_o which_o they_o and_o we_o agree_v that_o be_v where_o their_o interest_n be_v not_o touch_v i_o wish_v they_o will_v as_o hearty_o hold_v to_o it_o in_o all_o other_o point_n which_o descend_v by_o it_o and_o look_v into_o the_o virtue_n it_o have_v of_o ascertain_v and_o declare_v in_o what_o that_o virtue_n consist_v i_o be_o confident_a a_o little_a candour_n of_o confess_v true_o what_o they_o find_v join_v with_o a_o endeavour_n of_o look_v into_o thing_n rather_o than_o word_n will_v easy_o make_v way_n to_o a_o fair_a correspondence_n i_o esteem_v and_o even_o honour_v the_o protestant_n from_o my_o heart_n for_o their_o firm_a allegiance_n to_o his_o sacred_a majesty_n and_o his_o royal_a father_n this_o unite_n they_o already_o with_o all_o sober_a catholics_n under_o that_o excellent_a notion_n of_o good_a subject_n and_o in_o the_o same_o point_n of_o faith_n the_o indispensableness_n of_o the_o duty_n of_o allegiance_n we_o owe_v our_o prince_n by_o divine_a law_n last_o i_o declare_v that_o for_o this_o as_o well_o as_o for_o charitable_a consideration_n i_o have_v a_o very_a particular_a zeal_n for_o their_o reconcilement_n to_o their_o mother-church_n and_o that_o it_o be_v out_o of_o this_o love_n of_o union_n i_o endeavour_v so_o earnest_o to_o beat_v down_o the_o wordish_a and_o dissatisfactory_a way_n of_o write_v and_o go_v about_o to_o evidence_n the_o ground_n of_o all_o our_o faith_n know_v that_o as_o wound_n be_v never_o connatural_o and_o solid_o cure_v by_o unite_n the_o distant_a side_n at_o the_o surface_n and_o leave_v they_o disunite_v and_o unhealed_a at_o the_o bottom_n but_o the_o cure_n must_v begin_v there_o first_o so_o the_o only_a way_n to_o heal_v the_o wound_n of_o the_o church_n be_v to_o begin_v first_o to_o win_v some_o to_o acknowledge_v the_o most_o radical_a and_o bottom-principle_n of_o all_o faith_n as_o controvert_v between_o we_o without_o which_o all_o agreement_n in_o particular_a point_n must_v needs_o be_v unsound_a and_o hollow-hearted_a this_o be_v my_o only_a aim_n in_o sure-footing_a that_o therefore_o you_o may_v not_o obstruct_v so_o good_a a_o work_n and_o withal_o perform_v the_o duty_n of_o a_o solid_a and_o candid_a writer_n i_o offer_v to_o yourself_o and_o all_o ingenuous_a reader_n these_o few_o reflection_n not_o spring_v from_o my_o will_n for_o what_o authority_n have_v i_o to_o prescribe_v you_o your_o method_n but_o from_o true_a reason_n work_v upon_o the_o thing_n which_o make_v it_o just_a duty_n in_o you_o and_o so_o ought_v oblige_v you_o to_o follow_v it_o 3._o in_o the_o first_o place_n since_o the_o scope_n of_o my_o whole_a book_n be_v about_o the_o first_o principle_n in_o controversy_n or_o the_o ground_n of_o all_o faith_n as_o to_o our_o knowledge_n that_o be_v about_o a_o point_n antecedent_n to_o all_o particular_a point_n i_o conceive_v it_o reasonable_a you_o shall_v let_v your_o discourse_n stand_v firm_a to_o the_o matter_n in_o hand_n and_o not_o permit_v it_o to_o slide_v into_o controversy_n about_o particular_n for_o so_o it_o be_v evident_a we_o shall_v be_v apt_a to_o multiply_v many_o word_n little_a to_o our_o present_a purpose_n on_o what_o condition_n you_o may_v have_v right_a to_o allege_v particular_n as_o pretend_a instance_n of_o tradition_n fail_v shall_v be_v see_v hereafter_o 4._o next_o i_o desire_v you_o will_v please_v to_o speak_v out_o categorical_o and_o declare_v whether_o you_o hold_v faith_n absolute_o certain_a to_o we_o or_o else_o possible_a to_o be_v false_a for_o any_o thing_n we_o know_v to_o explicate_v myself_o better_a that_o so_o i_o may_v void_a some_o common_a and_o frivolous_a distinction_n my_o intent_n be_v to_o demand_v of_o you_o in_o behalf_n of_o the_o christian_a reader_n and_o his_o due_a satisfaction_n whether_o you_o hold_v god_n providence_n have_v lay_v in_o the_o whole_a creation_n any_o certain_a mean_n by_o way_n of_o proper_a cause_n to_o such_o a_o effect_n to_o bring_v down_o faith_n true_o to_o we_o and_o whether_o we_o can_v arrive_v at_o certain_a knowledge_n of_o those_o mean_n that_o be_v come_v to_o see_v or_o know_v the_o connexion_n between_o such_o cause_n and_o their_o effect_n speak_v of_o i_o make_v bold_a to_o press_v you_o earnest_o to_o this_o declaration_n and_o my_o reason_n be_v because_o nothing_o will_v more_o conduce_v to_o the_o conclusion_n of_o our_o present_a debate_n for_o in_o case_n such_o cause_n be_v lay_v and_o can_v be_v see_v by_o we_o than_o they_o be_v evident_a or_o demonstrative_a reason_n for_o the_o ground_n of_o our_o faith_n certainty_n but_o if_o no_o such_o cause_n be_v lay_v or_o be_v lay_v can_v be_v see_v by_o we_o than_o all_o the_o wit_n of_o man_n can_v never_o avoid_v the_o consequence_n but_o that_o we_o can_v have_v only_a probability_n for_o all_o our_o faith_n that_o be_v for_o any_o thing_n we_o absolute_o know_v it_o be_v all_o as_o false_a as_o a_o old_a wife_n tale_n since_o there_o be_v no_o degree_n in_o truth_n and_o falsehood_n