Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
cause_n good_a great_a think_v 4,338 5 3.9369 3 true
View all documents for the selected quad

Text snippets containing the quad

ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A45642 Immorality and pride, the great causes of atheism a sermon preach'd at the cathedral-church of St. Paul, January the 8th 1697/8 : the first of the lecture for that year, founded by the Honourable Robert Boyle, Esq. / by John Harris ... Harris, John, 1667?-1719. 1698 (1698) Wing H850; ESTC R15170 14,121 30

There are 2 snippets containing the selected quad. | View original text

mr._n harris_n first_a sermon_n at_o mr._n boyle_n lecture_n 1698._o immorality_n and_o pride_n the_o great_a cause_n of_o atheism_n a_o sermon_n preach_v at_o the_o cathedral-church_n of_o st._n paul_n january_n the_o 3_o d._n 1697_o 8._o be_v the_o first_o of_o the_o lecture_n for_o that_o year_n found_v by_o the_o honourable_a robert_n boyle_n esq_n by_o john_n harris_n m._n a._n and_o fellow_n of_o the_o royal-society_n london_n print_v by_o j._n l._n for_o richard_n wilkin_n at_o the_o king_n be_v head_n in_o st._n paul_n churchyard_n 1698._o to_o the_o most_o reverend_a father_n in_o god_n thomas_n lord_n archbishop_n of_o canterbury_n sir_n henry_n ashurst_n baronet_n sir_n john_n rotheram_n sergeant_n at_o law_n john_n evelyn_n senior_n esquire_n trustee_n appoint_v by_o the_o will_n of_o the_o honourable_a robert_n boyle_n esquire_n most_o reverend_a and_o honour_a as_o i_o have_v the_o honour_n to_o preach_v this_o sermon_n by_o your_o kind_a and_o generous_a appointment_n so_o i_o now_o publish_v it_o in_o obedience_n to_o your_o command_n and_o humble_o offer_v it_o as_o also_o my_o ensue_a discourse_n to_o your_o candid_a patronage_n and_o acceptance_n i_o have_v in_o pursuance_n of_o your_o grace_n direction_n study_v to_o be_v as_o plain_a and_o intelligible_a as_o possible_o i_o can_v and_o shall_v by_o the_o divine_a assistance_n prosecute_v my_o whole_a design_n after_o the_o same_o manner_n which_o method_n of_o treat_v this_o subject_a appear_v very_o suitable_a to_o the_o pious_a and_o excellent_a design_n of_o our_o noble_a and_o honourable_a founder_n i_o humble_o desire_v your_o prayer_n to_o almighty_a god_n that_o he_o will_v vouchsafe_v to_o render_v my_o weak_a endeavour_n effectual_a to_o show_v the_o groundlessness_n and_o inconclusiveness_n of_o those_o objection_n which_o atheistical_a man_n usual_o bring_v ●gainst_a the_o great_a and_o important_a truth_n of_o religion_n which_o be_v the_o end_n they_o be_v sincere_o direct_v to_o by_o most_o reverend_a and_o honour_a your_o most_o oblige_a humble_a servant_n harris_n psalm_n x._o 4._o the_o wicked_a through_o the_o pride_n of_o his_o countenance_n will_v not_o seek_v after_o god_n neither_o be_v god_n in_o all_o his_o thought_n in_o this_o psalm_n be_v contain_v a_o very_a lively_a description_n of_o the_o insolence_n of_o atheistical_a and_o wicked_a man_n when_o once_o they_o grow_v powerful_a and_o numerous_a for_o then_o as_o we_o read_v at_o the_o three_o verse_n they_o will_v proceed_v so_o far_o as_o open_o to_o boast_v of_o and_o glory_n in_o their_o impiety_n they_o will_v bold_o defy_v and_o contemn_v the_o great_a god_n of_o heaven_n and_o earth_n v_o 13._o they_o will_v deny_v his_o providence_n v_o 11._o and_o despise_v his_o vengeance_n and_o as_o we_o be_v tell_v in_o these_o word_n of_o my_o text_n they_o will_v grow_v so_o proud_a and_o high_a as_o to_o scorn_v to_o pay_v he_o any_o honour_n or_o worship_n to_o pray_v to_o he_o or_o call_v upon_o he_o but_o will_v endeavour_v to_o banish_v the_o very_a thought_n of_o his_o be_v out_o of_o their_o mind_n the_o wicked_a through_o the_o pride_n of_o he_o etc._n etc._n in_o which_o word_n we_o have_v a_o account_v more_o particular_o by_o what_o method_n and_o step_n man_n advance_v to_o such_o a_o exorbitant_a height_n of_o wickedness_n as_o to_o set_v up_o for_o atheism_n and_o to_o deny_v the_o existence_n of_o a_o god_n for_o there_o be_v in_o they_o these_o three_o particular_n which_o i_o shall_v consider_v in_o their_o order_n i._o here_o be_v the_o general_a character_n or_o qualification_n of_o the_o person_n the_o psalmist_n speak_v of_o which_o be_v that_o he_o be_v a_o wicked_a man._n the_o wicked_a through_o the_o pride_n etc._n etc._n ii_o the_o particular_a kind_n of_o wickedness_n or_o the_o origin_n from_o whence_o the_o spirit_n of_o atheism_n and_o irreligion_n do_v chief_o proceed_v and_o that_o be_v pride_n the_o wicked_a through_o the_o pride_n of_o his_o countenance_n etc._n etc._n and_o iii_o here_o be_v the_o great_a charge_n that_o be_v bring_v against_o this_o wicked_a and_o proud_a man_n viz._n wilful_a atheism_n and_o infidelity_n he_o will_v not_o seek_v after_o god_n neither_o be_v god_n in_o all_o his_o thought_n or_o as_o it_o be_v in_o the_o margin_n of_o our_o bibles_n with_o good_a warrant_n from_o the_o hebr._n all_o his_o thought_n be_v there_o be_v no_o god_n in_o discourse_v on_o the_o two_o first_o of_o these_o head_n i_o shall_v endeavour_v to_o show_v that_o immorality_n and_o pride_n be_v the_o great_a cause_n of_o the_o growth_n of_o atheism_n among_o we_o and_o on_o the_o three_o i_o shall_v consider_v the_o objection_n that_o atheistical_a man_n usual_o bring_v against_o the_o be_v of_o a_o deity_n and_o show_v how_o very_a weak_a and_o invalid_a they_o be_v and_o first_o i_o think_v it_o very_o necessary_a to_o say_v something_o of_o the_o cause_n of_o infidelity_n and_o atheism_n and_o to_o show_v how_o it_o come_v to_o pass_v that_o man_n can_v possible_o arrive_v to_o so_o great_a a_o height_n of_o impiety_n this_o my_o text_n natural_o lead_v i_o to_o before_o i_o can_v come_v to_o the_o great_a subject_n i_o design_n to_o discourse_n upon_o and_o i_o hope_v it_o may_v be_v of_o very_o good_a use_n to_o discover_v the_o ground_n of_o this_o heinous_a sin_n and_o the_o method_n and_o step_n by_o which_o man_n advance_v to_o it_o that_o so_o those_o who_o be_v not_o yet_o harden_v in_o it_o nor_o quite_o give_v up_o to_o a_o reprobate_a mind_n may_v by_o the_o blessing_n of_o god_n take_v heed_n and_o avoid_v be_v engage_v in_o such_o course_n as_o do_v natural_o lead_v into_o it_o i._o therefore_o let_v we_o consider_v the_o general_a character_n or_o qualification_n of_o the_o person_n here_o speak_v of_o in_o my_o text_n and_o that_o be_v that_o he_o be_v a_o wicked_a man._n the_o wicked_a through_o the_o pride_n etc._n etc._n and_o this_o be_v every_o where_o the_o language_n of_o the_o sacred_a scripture_n when_o it_o speak_v of_o atheistical_a men._n david_n tell_v we_o psal._n 14._o 1._o and_o 51._o 1_o that_o it_o be_v the_o fool_n i._n e._n the_o wicked_a man_n for_o so_o the_o word_n nabal_n often_o signify_v and_o be_v so_o here_o to_o be_v understand_v it_o be_v he_o that_o have_v say_v in_o his_o heart_n there_o be_v no_o god_n it_o be_v such_o a_o one_o as_o be_v a_o fool_n by_o his_o own_o fault_n one_o stupefy_v and_o dull_v by_o vice_n and_o lust_n as_o he_o sufficient_o explain_v it_o afterward_o one_o that_o be_v corrupt_a and_o become_v filthy_a and_o that_o have_v do_v abominable_a work_n so_o the_o apostle_n st._n paul_n suppose_v that_o those_o man_n will_v have_v in_o they_o a_o evil_a heart_n of_o unbelief_n who_o do_v depart_v from_o the_o live_a god_n and_o live_v without_o he_o in_o the_o world_n and_o indeed_o it_o be_v very_o natural_a to_o conclude_v that_o those_o which_o be_v once_o debauch_v in_o their_o practice_n may_v easy_o grow_v so_o in_o their_o principle_n for_o when_o once_o it_o be_v a_o man_n interest_n that_o there_o shall_v be_v no_o god_n he_o will_v ready_o enough_o disbelieve_v his_o existence_n we_o always_o give_v our_o assent_n very_o precipitant_o to_o what_o we_o wish_v for_o and_o will_v have_v to_o be_v true_a a_o man_n oppress_v with_o a_o load_n of_o gild_n and_o conscious_a to_o himself_o that_o he_o be_v daily_o obnoxious_a to_o the_o divine_a vengeance_n will_v be_v often_o very_o uneasy_a restless_a and_o dissatisfy_v with_o himself_o and_o his_o mind_n must_v be_v fill_v with_o dismal_a and_o ill-boding_a thought_n he_o be_v unwilling_a to_o leave_v his_o sin_n and_o to_o forego_v the_o present_a advantage_n of_o sensual_a pleasure_n and_o yet_o he_o can_v but_o be_v fearful_a too_o of_o the_o punishment_n of_o a_o future_a state_n and_o vehement_o disturb_v now_o and_o then_o about_o the_o account_n that_o he_o must_v one_o day_n give_v of_o his_o action_n now_o it_o be_v very_o natural_a for_o a_o man_n under_o such_o circumstance_n to_o catch_v at_o any_o thing_n that_o do_v but_o seem_v to_o offer_v he_o a_o little_a ease_n and_o quiet_v and_o that_o can_v help_v he_o to_o shake_v off_o his_o melancholy_a apprehension_n of_o impend_a punishment_n and_o misery_n some_o therefore_o bear_v down_o all_o thought_n and_o consideration_n of_o their_o condition_n in_o a_o uninterrupted_a enjoyment_n of_o sensual_a delight_n and_o quite_o stupefy_v and_o drown_v their_o conscience_n and_o reason_n in_o continual_a excess_n and_o debauchery_n and_o thus_o very_a many_o commence_v atheist_n out_o of_o downright_a sottishness_n and_o stupidity_n and_o come_v at_o last_o to_o believe_v nothing_o of_o the_o truth_n of_o religion_n because_o they_o never_o think_v any_o thing_n about_o it_o nor_o understand_v any_o thing_n of_o it_o other_o
notion_n and_o find_v by_o this_o mean_v quiet_a and_o ease_v in_o the_o practice_n of_o their_o sin_n they_o at_o last_o degenerate_a so_o far_o as_o firm_o to_o believe_v the_o truth_n of_o what_o they_o perhaps_o at_o first_o advance_v and_o talk_v only_o from_o a_o spirit_n of_o contradiction_n and_o become_v so_o stupid_a and_o blind_a as_o like_o great_a liar_n to_o believe_v their_o own_o figment_n and_o invention_n ephesian_n to_o such_o any_o extravagant_a and_o inconsistent_a hypothesis_n so_o it_o do_v but_o clash_v with_o sacred_a scripture_n shall_v be_v no_o less_o than_o a_o real_a demonstration_n a_o bold_a and_o dare_a falsity_n shall_v pass_v for_o undoubted_a truth_n and_o a_o profane_a jest_n or_o a_o scurrilous_a reflection_n on_o the_o character_n or_o person_n of_o one_o in_o holy_a order_n shall_v be_v a_o sufficient_a refutation_n of_o the_o plain_a demonstration_n he_o can_v bring_v against_o their_o principle_n and_o practice_n for_o it_o be_v most_o certain_a that_o though_o a_o proud_a man_n always_o think_v himself_o in_o the_o right_n and_o arrogate_v to_o himself_o a_o exemption_n from_o the_o common_a frailty_n and_o error_n of_o mankind_n yet_o there_o be_v no_o body_n so_o frequent_o deceive_v and_o mistake_v as_o he_o for_o he_o do_v so_o over-estimate_n all_o his_o faculty_n and_o endowment_n and_o be_v so_o much_o enamour_v of_o and_o trust_n so_o much_o to_o his_o own_o quickness_n and_o penetration_n that_o he_o usual_o imagine_v his_o great_a genius_n able_a to_o master_n any_o thing_n without_o the_o servile_a fatigue_n of_o pain_n and_o study_n and_o therefore_o he_o will_v never_o give_v himself_o time_n serious_o to_o examine_v into_o thing_n he_o scorn_v and_o hate_v the_o drudgery_n of_o deep_o revolve_v and_o compare_v the_o idea_n of_o thing_n in_o his_o mind_n but_o rash_o proceed_v to_o judgement_n and_o determination_n on_o a_o very_a transient_a and_o superficial_a view_n and_o there_o will_v he_o stick_v be_v the_o resolution_n he_o be_v come_v to_o never_o so_o absurd_a and_o unaccountable_a for_o he_o be_v as_o much_o above_o confess_v a_o error_n in_o judgement_n as_o he_o be_v of_o repent_v of_o a_o fault_n in_o practice_n and_o indeed_o as_o the_o absurd_a and_o ridiculous_a paradox_n which_o atheistical_a writer_n maintain_v show_v their_o shallow_a insight_n into_o thing_n and_o their_o precipitancy_n in_o form_v a_o determination_n about_o they_o so_o the_o pride_n and_o haughtiness_n with_o which_o they_o deliver_v they_o abundant_o demonstrate_v the_o true_a spirit_n of_o such_o author_n and_o the_o real_a ground_n both_o of_o their_o embrace_v and_o maintain_v their_o opinion_n plato_n describe_v the_o atheist_n of_o his_o age_n to_o be_v a_o proud_a insolent_a and_o haughty_a sort_n of_o man_n the_o ground_n of_o who_o opinion_n be_v he_o say_v 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d in_o reality_n a_o very_a mischievous_a ignorance_n though_o to_o the_o conceit_a vender_n and_o embracer_n of_o it_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d it_o appear_v to_o be_v the_o great_a wisdom_n and_o the_o wise_a of_o all_o opinion_n lactantius_n tell_v we_o in_o his_o discourse_n de_fw-fr ira_fw-la dei_fw-la p._n 729._o oxon._n that_o the_o true_a reason_n why_o diagoras_n melius_n and_o theodorus_n two_o of_o the_o ancient_a atheist_n deny_v a_o deity_n be_v that_o they_o may_v gain_v the_o glory_n of_o be_v the_o author_n of_o some_o new_a opinion_n contradictory_n to_o the_o common_a notion_n of_o mankind_n and_o of_o the_o former_a of_o these_o diagoras_n sextus_n empiricus_n acquaint_v we_o that_o because_o a_o certain_a perjure_a person_n who_o have_v wrong_v he_o live_v unpunished_a by_o the_o god_n he_o be_v so_o enrage_v at_o it_o that_o he_o undertake_v to_o maintain_v there_o be_v no_o god_n at_o all_o lib._n adr._n mathem_n edit_fw-la genev._n 1621._o the_o like_a pride_n and_o arrogance_n lactantius_n tell_v we_o he_o find_v in_o the_o two_o great_a writer_n that_o appear_v against_o christianity_n in_o his_o time_n in_o bythinia_n the_o former_a of_o these_o who_o it_o be_v probable_a be_v the_o famous_a porphyry_n call_v himself_o antistes_fw-la philosophiae_fw-la the_o chief_a or_o prince_n of_o philosopher_n and_o say_v lactantius_n nescio_fw-la utrum_fw-la superbius_fw-la a_o importunius_fw-la pretend_v to_o correct_v the_o blind_a error_n of_o mankind_n and_o to_o guide_v man_n into_o the_o true_a way_n he_o can_v not_o bear_v that_o unskilful_a and_o innocent_a person_n shall_v be_v enslave_v by_o the_o cheat_n of_o and_o become_v a_o prey_n to_o crafty_a and_o design_v men._n lib._n de_fw-fr justit_fw-la p._n 420_o 421._o oxon._n with_o the_o like_a assurance_n do_v the_o modern_a writer_n of_o this_o kind_n express_v themselves_o and_o though_o they_o have_v in_o reality_n very_o little_a or_o nothing_o new_a but_o only_o the_o argument_n of_o the_o ancient_n a_o little_a vary_a and_o embellish_v as_o i_o shall_v have_v occasion_n to_o observe_v hereafter_o more_o at_o large_a yet_o they_o all_o set_v up_o for_o new_a light_n and_o mighty_a discoverer_n of_o the_o secret_n of_o nature_n and_o philosophy_n and_o all_o of_o the_o assume_v the_o glory_n of_o first_o lead_v man_n into_o the_o way_n of_o truth_n and_o deliver_v they_o out_o of_o the_o dark_a maze_n of_o vulgar_a error_n this_o be_v the_o pretence_n of_o vanini_n who_o be_v burn_v for_o atheism_n at_o tholouse_n a._n d._n 1619._o who_o mind_n he_o say_v grow_v more_o and_o more_o strong_a healthful_a and_o robu_v as_o he_o exercise_v it_o in_o search_v out_o the_o secret_n of_o that_o supreme_a philosophy_n judicatura_fw-la which_o be_v whole_o unknown_a to_o the_o common_a and_o ordinary_a rank_n of_o philosopher_n and_o this_o he_o say_v will_v soon_o be_v discover_v by_o the_o perusal_n of_o his_o physico-magicum_a which_o be_v now_o to_o see_v the_o light_n vid._n vanini_n amphitheatr_n in_o epist._n dedicat._n after_o the_o same_o manner_n do_v machiavelli_n spinoza_n hobbs_n blount_n and_o all_o the_o late_a atheistical_a writer_n deliver_v themselves_o instance_n of_o which_o i_o think_v i_o need_v not_o stay_v to_o give_v since_o it_o be_v conspicuous_a through_o the_o whole_a course_n of_o their_o write_n and_o no_o doubt_n take_v notice_n of_o by_o every_o reader_n only_o of_o the_o first_o of_o these_o viz._n machiavelli_n i_o can_v but_o take_v notice_n that_o vanini_n himself_o say_v that_o it_o be_v his_o pride_n and_o covetousness_n that_o make_v he_o deny_v the_o truth_n of_o the_o miracle_n record_v in_o sacred_a scripture_n amphitheatr_n p._n 51._o edit_fw-la lugduni_n 1615._o and_o as_o the_o write_n so_o the_o discourse_n of_o these_o gentleman_n do_v equal_o discover_v this_o pride_n and_o vanity_n for_o they_o do_v usual_o deliver_v themselves_o with_o such_o a_o scornful_a and_o contemptuous_a air_n when_o they_o either_o endeavour_n to_o establish_v their_o own_o or_o to_o overthrow_v their_o adversary_n argument_n as_o sufficient_o show_v the_o propriety_n and_o truth_n of_o the_o psalmist_n observation_n here_o that_o it_o be_v through_o the_o pride_n of_o his_o countenance_n that_o the_o wicked_a will_v not_o seek_v after_o god_n the_o lxxii_o indeed_o render_v it_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d through_o the_o abundance_n of_o his_o wrath_n and_o therein_o they_o be_v follow_v by_o the_o vulgar_a latin_n as_o if_o the_o wicked_a be_v angry_a against_o god_n and_o enrage_v at_o his_o presidency_n over_o humane_a affair_n as_o if_o they_o fret_v under_o and_o quarrel_v at_o the_o severity_n of_o his_o law_n and_o government_n and_o scorn_v to_o apply_v themselves_o to_o he_o by_o prayer_n and_o to_o submit_v to_o he_o by_o obedience_n but_o though_o this_o may_v be_v a_o good_a sense_n of_o the_o word_n and_o though_o i_o doubt_v not_o a_o stubborn_a frowardness_n and_o perverseness_n of_o our_o will_n against_o the_o will_n of_o god_n may_v be_v a_o frequent_a cause_n and_o ground_n of_o infidelity_n yet_o our_o english_a translation_n appear_v to_o i_o to_o be_v much_o better_o warrant_v from_o the_o hebrew_n for_o there_o it_o be_v proper_o through_o the_o elevation_n of_o his_o nose_n or_o face_n which_o true_o be_v very_o emphatical_a and_o express_v such_o a_o proud_a and_o scornful_a gesture_n of_o face_n as_o be_v the_o natural_a indication_n of_o the_o internal_a haughtiness_n of_o a_o man_n mind_n or_o as_o the_o targum_fw-la on_o this_o place_n render_v it_o of_o the_o arrogance_n of_o his_o spirit_n such_o a_o turn_v and_o air_n of_o countenance_n as_o argue_v a_o proud_a contempt_n of_o all_o the_o rest_n of_o mankind_n who_o troth_n on_o in_o the_o common_a road_n believe_v and_o worship_v a_o god_n and_o poor_o submit_v to_o be_v govern_v by_o his_o law_n and_o precept_n and_o thus_o have_v dispatch_v my_o two_o first_o particular_n and_o show_v that_o wickedness_n and_o pride_n be_v two_o great_a cause_n of_o infidelity_n and_o atheism_n