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Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
cause_n good_a great_a world_n 3,255 5 4.3685 3 true
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A60590 Two compendious discourses the one concerning the power of God, the other about the certainty and evidence of a future state : published in opposition to the growing atheism and deism of the age. Smith, Thomas, 1638-1710. 1699 (1699) Wing S4254; ESTC R4066 40,478 66

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communion_n if_o in_o thing_n which_o be_v plain_o and_o confess_o possible_a in_o themselves_o we_o be_v not_o to_o engage_v the_o infinite_a power_n of_o god_n without_o a_o just_a cause_n nor_o to_o think_v god_n almighty_a oblige_v to_o make_v good_a our_o groundless_a and_o extravagant_a fancy_n much_o less_o be_v we_o to_o destroy_v the_o nature_n of_o thing_n and_o swallow_v down_o and_o maintain_v real_a and_o manifest_a contradiction_n and_o make_v that_o which_o will_v be_v one_o of_o the_o great_a wonder_n of_o the_o world_n suppose_v that_o it_o be_v possible_a to_o be_v do_v ordinary_o and_o every_o where_o and_o every_o day_n a_o thousand_o time_n without_o any_o other_o proof_n than_o our_o bare_a phansy_v so_o as_o they_o do_v who_o maintain_v the_o doctrine_n of_o transubstantiation_n in_o all_o the_o school-nicety_n of_o it_o against_o scripture_n and_o reason_n against_o the_o principle_n of_o nature_n and_o philosophy_n against_o the_o attestation_n of_o sense_n 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and_o that_o no_o
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according_a to_o his_o will_n in_o the_o army_n of_o heaven_n and_o among_o the_o inhabitant_n of_o the_o earth_n and_o none_o can_v stay_v his_o hand_n and_o say_v unto_o he_o what_o do_v thou_o so_o that_o we_o see_v that_o the_o credibility_n of_o this_o article_n be_v found_v not_o only_o upon_o scripture_n and_o revelation_n but_o upon_o nature_n and_o right_a reason_n which_o i_o shall_v more_o full_o prove_v by_o make_v good_a ii_o the_o second_o general_a head_n that_o the_o attribute_n of_o infinite_a power_n be_v essential_o involve_v in_o the_o notion_n and_o idea_n of_o god_n power_n in_o itself_o be_v a_o excellence_n and_o perfection_n and_o thing_n be_v more_o or_o less_o value_v according_a to_o the_o great_a or_o lesser_a degree_n which_o they_o have_v of_o it_o i_o do_v not_o mean_v that_o force_n and_o energy_n only_o such_o as_o be_v find_v in_o inanimate_a being_n arise_v from_o the_o several_a disposition_n of_o matter_n whereby_o they_o be_v apt_a to_o make_v 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himself_o and_o get_v the_o mastery_n over_o other_o and_o make_v himself_o be_v dread_v every_o where_o yet_o however_o such_o a_o one_o who_o have_v attain_v a_o despotic_a power_n whether_o rightful_o by_o succession_n or_o by_o force_n of_o arm_n and_o cruelty_n or_o by_o the_o art_n whether_o of_o lawful_a or_o wicked_a policy_n may_v please_v himself_o with_o the_o success_n of_o his_o council_n and_o stratagem_n and_o dextrous_a management_n of_o affair_n both_o in_o peace_n and_o war_n and_o fancy_n great_a matter_n of_o himself_o and_o swell_v with_o the_o thought_n of_o his_o acquire_v greatness_n he_o be_v not_o able_a to_o withstand_v the_o least_o sickness_n this_o can_v soon_o mortify_v he_o and_o bring_v he_o upon_o his_o knee_n and_o make_v he_o sensible_a of_o his_o weakness_n and_o the_o folly_n of_o his_o pride_n when_o god_n do_v but_o arm_v the_o most_o despicable_a creature_n against_o he_o and_o give_v they_o a_o commission_n to_o assault_v and_o invade_v he_o the_o least_o infliction_n baffle_v and_o rout_v his_o hope_n and_o confidence_n give_v he_o a_o fair_a prospect_n of_o himself_o and_o of_o his_o defect_n and_o show_v he_o what_o a_o miserable_a creature_n man_n be_v at_o the_o best_a who_o can_v secure_v himself_o of_o health_n of_o happiness_n of_o life_n for_o one_o moment_n by_o this_o he_o be_v make_v to_o see_v and_o acknowledge_v that_o there_o be_v something_o above_o he_o to_o who_o he_o be_v accountable_a that_o order_n and_o dispose_v of_o all_o thing_n at_o his_o pleasure_n that_o all_o that_o power_n which_o be_v distribute_v among_o so_o many_o creature_n in_o such_o a_o strange_a variety_n and_o subordination_n be_v derive_v from_o some_o supreme_a be_v in_o who_o it_o be_v unite_v and_o infinite_o much_o more_o and_o if_o that_o he_o withdraw_v his_o influence_n or_o blow_n upon_o any_o counsel_n it_o come_v to_o nothing_o and_o the_o design_n of_o these_o mighty_a man_n who_o have_v get_v the_o empire_n of_o the_o world_n into_o their_o hand_n be_v soon_o at_o a_o end_n together_o with_o their_o life_n and_o they_o faint_v away_o and_o drop_v into_o their_o grave_n and_o all_o their_o thought_n perish_v because_o all_o the_o power_n they_o have_v be_v but_o the_o communication_n of_o his_o will_n a_o emanation_n of_o his_o providence_n and_o a_o imperfect_a shadow_n of_o that_o power_n by_o which_o he_o govern_v the_o world_n all_o second_o cause_n be_v influence_v by_o he_o and_o act_v only_o by_o virtue_n of_o what_o they_o have_v receive_v for_o it_o be_v the_o plain_a and_o unconstrained_a collection_n of_o reason_n that_o nothing_o have_v of_o itself_o a_o power_n to_o act_v whereby_o it_o contribute_v to_o make_v up_o the_o harmony_n of_o the_o world_n that_o their_o essence_n and_o the_o operation_n flow_v from_o they_o be_v both_o limit_v and_o be_v easy_o dissolvible_a by_o that_o power_n which_o first_o make_v they_o and_o that_o they_o have_v a_o dependence_n upon_o a_o be_v which_o be_v infinite_a and_o almighty_a and_o independent_a what_o a_o blot_n and_o stain_n will_v it_o be_v to_o that_o fair_a idea_n of_o a_o god_n to_o imagine_v that_o any_o thing_n possible_a can_v be_v above_o his_o power_n or_o too_o hard_a for_o his_o omnipotence_n what_o be_v this_o but_o to_o clothe_v he_o with_o the_o infirmity_n of_o a_o man_n to_o level_v he_o with_o his_o creature_n and_o to_o take_v off_o that_o essential_a and_o necessary_a distinction_n between_o they_o this_o power_n then_o must_v be_v infinite_a for_o what_o can_v limit_v or_o restrain_v it_o who_o can_v put_v a_o force_n upon_o he_o or_o stop_v his_o procedure_n when_o there_o be_v nothing_o equal_a and_o coordinate_a can_v man_n who_o breath_n be_v in_o his_o nostril_n who_o a_o few_o year_n since_o have_v no_o be_v and_o that_o which_o he_o have_v he_o owe_v whole_o to_o another_o bear_v a_o infant_n into_o the_o world_n make_v to_o his_o hand_n he_o as_o soon_o as_o he_o come_v to_o year_n and_o can_v use_v his_o reason_n and_o discern_v thing_n quick_o perceive_v his_o weakness_n and_o want_n and_o can_v help_v himself_o can_v the_o unite_a strength_n of_o other_o creature_n they_o act_n only_o as_o they_o be_v direct_v all_o that_o they_o have_v be_v plain_o borrow_v and_o at_o the_o disposal_n of_o he_o who_o make_v they_o they_o may_v be_v trace_v to_o their_o original_n and_o be_v perishable_a in_o their_o nature_n it_o be_v the_o power_n of_o god_n which_o as_o at_o first_o give_v still_o continue_v to_o they_o their_o be_v now_o to_o demand_v why_o be_v there_o then_o no_o infinite_a effect_n of_o a_o infinite_a power_n be_v to_o forget_v that_o this_o imply_v a_o contradiction_n infinity_n be_v a_o incommunicable_a attribute_n and_o only_o peculiar_a to_o god_n and_o therefore_o the_o distance_n will_v ever_o remain_v infinite_a between_o the_o opposite_a term_n of_o such_o a_o relation_n as_o that_o of_o the_o creator_n to_o the_o creature_n but_o god_n have_v give_v sufficient_a display_v of_o his_o power_n and_o the_o effect_n of_o it_o be_v so_o various_a and_o innumerable_a that_o they_o be_v convince_a and_o demonstrative_a argument_n of_o its_o be_v infinite_a and_o that_o no_o power_n less_o than_o such_o can_v ever_o have_v produce_v they_o the_o invisible_a thing_n of_o god_n from_o the_o creation_n of_o the_o world_n be_v clear_o see_v be_v understand_v by_o the_o thing_n that_o be_v make_v even_o his_o eternal_a power_n and_o godhead_n i_o rom._n 20._o we_o judge_v of_o worldly_a productive_a power_n by_o vast_a pile_n of_o building_n but_o what_o be_v a_o pyramid_n or_o a_o aquaduct_n or_o a_o colossus_n or_o a_o amphitheatre_n to_o the_o orderly_a and_o glorious_a frame_n of_o thing_n how_o pitiful_a and_o mean_a in_o comparison_n of_o the_o heaven_n let_v we_o cast_v up_o our_o eye_n thither_o
and_o there_o behold_v 28._o the_o several_a orb_n move_v on_o in_o a_o uninterrupted_a order_n the_o swiftness_n of_o their_o motion_n and_o withal_o the_o greatness_n of_o their_o body_n that_o the_o earth_n about_o which_o poor_a mortal_n contend_v so_o much_o and_o to_o get_v a_o little_a part_n and_o share_v of_o which_o they_o can_v possess_v long_o venture_v their_o quiet_a and_o their_o life_n and_o oftentimes_o their_o very_a soul_n be_v but_o a_o point_n in_o respect_n of_o they_o the_o vast_a distance_n between_o we_o and_o the_o heaven_n the_o glorious_a and_o inexhaustible_a brightness_n of_o the_o sun_n and_o the_o star_n and_o the_o kind_a influence_n of_o they_o upon_o all_o thing_n here_o below_o and_o the_o like_a and_o we_o can_v but_o be_v fill_v with_o the_o admiration_n of_o god_n who_o make_v they_o the_o heaven_n declare_v the_o glory_n of_o god_n and_o the_o firmament_n show_v his_o handy_a work_n let_v we_o reflect_v upon_o the_o situation_n of_o the_o earth_n how_o it_o be_v hang_v upon_o nothing_o in_o the_o middle_n of_o the_o heaven_n have_v no_o foundation_n to_o rest_v upon_o but_o a_o magnetical_a vigour_n imprint_v by_o the_o hand_n of_o god_n whereby_o the_o part_n of_o it_o be_v so_o firm_o unite_v all_o of_o they_o tend_v towards_o the_o centre_n by_o a_o innate_a principle_n of_o gravity_n that_o if_o it_o be_v possible_a for_o it_o according_a to_o the_o fancy_n of_o archimedes_n to_o be_v move_v out_o of_o its_o place_n by_o any_o engine_n it_o will_v return_v speedy_o to_o it_o again_o the_o virtue_n and_o fruitfulness_n of_o it_o in_o produce_v those_o various_a sort_n of_o plant_n flower_n and_o tree_n with_o those_o several_a mineral_n and_o metal_n and_o other_o fossil_n which_o lie_v hide_v in_o the_o bowel_n of_o it_o the_o great_a variety_n of_o live_a creature_n which_o serve_v for_o the_o ornament_n and_o beauty_n of_o the_o creation_n and_o above_o all_o let_v we_o contemplate_v man_n the_o curious_a make_v and_o frame_v of_o his_o body_n and_o the_o use_n of_o each_o part_n but_o chief_o the_o faculty_n of_o his_o mind_n whereby_o he_o be_v able_a to_o govern_v himself_o and_o the_o other_o creature_n subject_a to_o he_o and_o even_o make_v use_n of_o those_o thing_n which_o he_o can_v alter_v and_o change_v and_o derive_v a_o benefit_n from_o they_o to_o himself_o now_o the_o conclusion_n natural_o arise_v hence_o be_v 1._o that_o the_o builder_n and_o maker_n of_o all_o be_v god_n because_o this_o frame_n and_o constitution_n of_o the_o world_n be_v above_o all_o create_a strength_n and_o power_n and_o thing_n can_v not_o make_v themselves_o but_o owe_v their_o be_v and_o original_n to_o his_o divine_a will_n and_o to_o his_o infinite_a power_n and_o wisdom_n and_o 2._o that_o he_o who_o make_v the_o heaven_n and_o the_o earth_n and_o all_o thing_n therein_o who_o have_v hang_v up_o those_o light_n in_o the_o sky_n which_o flame_n so_o bright_o who_o have_v imprint_v such_o a_o swift_a and_o unwearied_a motion_n in_o the_o star_n who_o have_v fill_v that_o vast_a distance_n of_o space_n between_o we_o and_o they_o with_o so_o subtle_a and_o perspicuous_a a_o body_n who_o have_v cast_v the_o earth_n into_o such_o a_o figure_n that_o every_o part_n of_o it_o may_v enjoy_v the_o influence_n of_o the_o heaven_n with_o the_o great_a advantage_n and_o as_o it_o be_v interchangeable_o and_o by_o turn_n who_o have_v cause_v those_o deep_a channel_n for_o the_o water_n upon_o which_o ship_n may_v pass_v from_o one_o extreme_a part_n of_o the_o world_n to_o the_o other_o and_o keep_v up_o and_o maintain_v a_o commerce_n with_o all_o mankind_n and_o the_o like_a he_o can_v do_v much_o more_o his_o power_n be_v not_o confine_v to_o any_o one_o effect_n if_o he_o do_v but_o once_o will_v the_o same_o present_o a_o new_a world_n shall_v start_v up_o out_o of_o nothing_o for_o what_o shall_v hinder_v it_o be_v equal_o easy_a to_o a_o infinite_a and_o inexhaustible_a power_n to_o make_v more_o as_o one_o who_o question_n a_o artist_n power_n who_o have_v bring_v some_o curious_a piece_n to_o perfection_n whether_o a_o statue_n or_o a_o picture_n or_o a_o watch_n or_o a_o medal_n but_o that_o suppose_v the_o same_o convenience_n he_o can_v make_v more_o according_a to_o the_o first_o model_n and_o vary_v and_o alter_v it_o according_a to_o the_o several_a work_n and_o move_n of_o his_o fancy_n and_o if_o this_o be_v so_o easy_o conceivable_a and_o withal_o so_o agreeable_a to_o reason_n who_o can_v doubt_v of_o those_o lesser_a thing_n which_o have_v be_v bring_v to_o pass_v in_o the_o several_a age_n of_o the_o world_n such_o as_o be_v the_o alteration_n of_o the_o course_n of_o nature_n for_o a_o time_n as_o the_o stand_v still_o of_o the_o sun_n and_o moon_n that_o disorder_n in_o the_o heaven_n which_o this_o interruption_n may_v cause_v be_v soon_o after_o remove_v and_o the_o former_a regular_a motion_n restore_v the_o divide_v of_o the_o red_a sea_n into_o two_o part_n the_o water_n of_o it_o rise_v up_o and_o stand_v on_o a_o heap_n the_o wonder_n of_o egypt_n and_o all_o those_o stupendous_a miracle_n wrought_v by_o our_o bless_a saviour_n and_o his_o apostle_n for_o if_o we_o consider_v thing_n thorough_o as_o great_a thing_n be_v do_v every_o day_n but_o the_o commonness_n of_o they_o take_v away_o the_o wonder_n and_o make_v we_o slight_a and_o neglect_v they_o let_v we_o embrace_v either_o of_o the_o two_o hypothesis_n it_o matter_n not_o one_o will_v judge_v it_o more_o incredible_a that_o so_o great_a a_o body_n as_o the_o sun_n or_o earth_n shall_v move_v at_o all_o than_o that_o the_o motion_n of_o the_o one_o or_o other_o shall_v be_v interrupt_v and_o stop_v for_o some_o hour_n but_o that_o our_o sense_n and_o the_o interchange_n and_o vicissitude_n of_o day_n and_o night_n and_o the_o several_a season_n of_o the_o year_n assure_v we_o of_o it_o and_o it_o be_v as_o great_a if_o not_o a_o great_a wonder_n that_o the_o tide_n shall_v be_v so_o regular_a and_o periodical_a according_a to_o the_o course_n of_o the_o moon_n and_o that_o this_o flux_n and_o reflux_n shall_v be_v make_v twice_o almost_o in_o five_o and_o twenty_o hour_n than_o that_o the_o water_n in_o a_o small_a gulf_n as_o be_v the_o arabian_a shall_v rise_v and_o swell_v as_o it_o be_v into_o a_o mountain_n and_o leave_v part_n of_o the_o channel_n dry_a and_o bare_a and_o to_o be_v pass_v over_o on_o foot_n they_o will_v say_v that_o these_o admirable_a effect_n be_v according_a to_o nature_n a_o word_n use_v by_o these_o man_n who_o be_v afraid_a to_o own_o a_o deity_n to_o very_o ill_a purpose_n but_o what_o do_v they_o mean_v by_o nature_n do_v they_o mean_v a_o principle_n of_o thing_n void_a of_o life_n and_o understanding_n but_o can_v the_o stately_a and_o curious_a and_o regular_a frame_n of_o thing_n flow_v from_o such_o a_o principle_n can_v that_o which_o have_v no_o sense_n or_o understanding_n or_o life_n or_o skill_n be_v the_o author_n of_o such_o being_n which_o be_v endow_v with_o all_o how_o come_v it_o to_o confer_v that_o upon_o other_o which_o it_o have_v not_o in_o itself_o if_o they_o say_v that_o they_o mean_v by_o nature_n that_o order_n of_o thing_n which_o be_v fix_v and_o establish_v by_o god_n the_o supreme_a cause_n in_o the_o beginning_n by_o which_o the_o world_n be_v ordinary_o govern_v why_o then_o will_v they_o deny_v the_o god_n of_o nature_n to_o be_v able_a to_o alter_v it_o when_o it_o shall_v make_v for_o his_o glory_n a_o serious_a reflection_n upon_o the_o ordinary_a work_n of_o nature_n will_v quick_o silence_v all_o those_o doubt_n and_o scruple_n which_o have_v be_v raise_v by_o a_o company_n of_o ignorant_a illiterate_a and_o debauch_a atheist_n and_o deist_n against_o the_o belief_n of_o the_o miracle_n record_v in_o the_o scripture_n and_o confirm_v by_o unquestionable_a evidence_n of_o thousand_o who_o have_v see_v they_o do_v and_o be_v actual_o present_a at_o the_o 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