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	reason_n	see_v	3,316	5	3.1434	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A59560	A sermon preached at White-hall, in Lent on Friday, March 20, 1684/5 / by John Sharp ...	Sharp, John, 1645-1714.	1685 (1685)	Wing S2988; ESTC R7068	17,221	41

prevent_v it_o by_o a_o speedy_a reformation_n of_o our_o life_n i_o say_v if_o one_o of_o our_o friend_n shall_v come_v from_o the_o dead_a and_o tell_v we_o all_o this_o there_o be_v no_o doubt_n but_o it_o will_v strike_v we_o with_o infinite_a horror_n and_o amazement_n it_o will_v be_v the_o most_o confound_a scene_n that_o ever_o our_o eye_n behold_v the_o most_o awaken_n lecture_n that_o ever_o our_o ear_n hear_v and_o such_o impression_n it_o will_v in_o all_o likelihood_n make_v upon_o we_o as_o will_v not_o sudden_o be_v wear_v out_o but_o here_o be_v the_o point_n whether_o all_o this_o will_v be_v effectual_a for_o the_o work_a a_o perfect_a change_n of_o life_n a_o last_a reformation_n upon_o a_o man_n that_o have_v long_o resist_v the_o ordinary_a mean_n of_o conversion_n and_o by_o long_a custom_n of_o sin_v have_v make_v a_o course_n of_o vice_n almost_o natural_a to_o he_o we_o say_v in_o all_o probability_n it_o will_v not_o be_v effectual_a for_o the_o reform_v such_o a_o man_n because_o it_o will_v be_v so_o easy_a after_o the_o first_o heat_n which_o the_o vision_n occasion_v be_v over_o to_o find_v out_o colourable_a excuse_n and_o evasion_n why_o he_o shall_v not_o pursue_v a_o reformation_n which_o his_o soul_n so_o much_o hate_v and_o which_o his_o present_a interest_n and_o appetite_n be_v so_o much_o against_o for_o first_o of_o all_o though_o he_o be_v never_o so_o sensible_o smite_v at_o the_o first_o yet_o after_o a_o little_a time_n the_o infinite_a love_n he_o bear_v to_o that_o course_n of_o life_n which_o this_o vision_n come_v to_o testify_v against_o will_v put_v he_o upon_o invention_n for_o the_o render_v the_o credit_n of_o his_o very_a sense_n doubtful_a and_o suspect_v many_o reason_n will_v be_v suggest_v to_o he_o from_o his_o bribe_a understanding_n why_o he_o shall_v not_o in_o this_o case_n believe_v his_o own_o eye_n for_o why_o may_v not_o all_o this_o be_v a_o mere_a delusion_n the_o effect_n of_o a_o melancholy_a distemper_a fancy_n a_o business_n whole_o transact_v on_o the_o stage_n of_o his_o imagination_n that_o he_o have_v such_o a_o apparition_n and_o that_o he_o be_v horrible_o fright_v with_o it_o he_o can_v doubt_v but_o whether_o this_o apparition_n be_v real_o present_v to_o his_o outward_a sense_n and_o be_v not_o only_o the_o fiction_n of_o his_o own_o heat_a and_o disturb_a brain_n he_o think_v he_o have_v reason_n to_o doubt_v for_o he_o remember_v that_o even_o in_o dream_n thing_n have_v be_v as_o lively_o represent_v to_o he_o and_o make_v as_o great_a impression_n on_o he_o as_o the_o same_o thing_n can_v have_v be_v or_o do_v if_o he_o have_v be_v awake_a and_o he_o know_v very_o well_o that_o fancy_n have_v a_o strange_a power_n over_o a_o man_n judgement_n even_o when_o his_o eye_n be_v wide_o open_a especial_o if_o the_o circumstance_n of_o be_v alone_o of_o melancholy_a and_o pensiveness_n and_o some_o particular_a accident_n do_v concur_v to_o the_o raise_n of_o it_o how_o many_o people_n meet_v with_o goblin_n in_o their_o nightwalk_a and_o see_v army_n fight_v in_o the_o air_n and_o assure_o persuade_v themselves_o and_o other_o that_o they_o do_v so_o when_o as_o in_o truth_n the_o one_o be_v nothing_o else_o but_o tree_n and_o the_o other_o but_o cloud_n form_v into_o such_o shape_n by_o the_o power_n of_o their_o imagination_n how_o many_o person_n in_o feverish_a distemper_n see_v plain_o fiend_n and_o devil_n stand_v at_o their_o beds-foot_n ready_a to_o take_v they_o away_o and_o hear_v dreadful_a noise_n but_o yet_o none_o be_v so_o simple_a as_o to_o believe_v these_o to_o be_v reality_n but_o only_o the_o effect_n of_o their_o present_a frenzy_n and_o why_o may_v not_o this_o bugbear_n of_o a_o vision_n that_o do_v at_o first_o so_o fright_v the_o man_n be_v a_o thing_n of_o the_o same_o kind_n a_o mere_a creature_n of_o his_o own_o disorder_a fancy_n it_o be_v certain_o not_o impossible_a for_o a_o man_n who_o concernment_n it_o be_v not_o to_o believe_v any_o thing_n of_o this_o nature_n at_o last_o to_o bring_v himself_o to_o such_o a_o opinion_n especial_o when_o he_o be_v help_v forward_o by_o the_o concurrent_a vote_n of_o all_o his_o jolly_a companion_n who_o he_o tell_v the_o thing_n to_o who_o to_o be_v sure_a will_v not_o fail_v to_o laugh_v hearty_o and_o make_v very_o merry_a with_o his_o story_n and_o if_o it_o be_v possible_a to_o droll_n it_o out_o of_o his_o head_n by_o persuade_v he_o that_o the_o whole_a matter_n be_v but_o the_o result_n of_o melancholy_n and_o a_o craze_a brain_n and_o that_o if_o he_o still_o continue_v to_o believe_v it_o he_o be_v fit_a for_o bedlam_n than_o their_o company_n but_o second_o suppose_v he_o can_v thus_o easy_o baffle_v the_o credit_n of_o his_o sense_n but_o be_v force_v to_o believe_v that_o what_o he_o see_v and_o hear_v be_v more_o than_o a_o fancy_n or_o imagination_n yet_o that_o inveterate_a principle_n of_o vice_n within_o he_o will_v put_v he_o upon_o other_o way_n and_o contrivance_n for_o the_o hinder_v that_o effect_n which_o the_o vision_n ought_v in_o reason_n to_o have_v upon_o he_o though_o he_o can_v question_v the_o truth_n of_o the_o matter_n of_o fact_n yet_o it_o be_v likely_a he_o may_v question_v the_o force_n of_o the_o argument_n draw_v from_o thence_o for_o his_o conviction_n here_o be_v one_o pretend_v to_o come_v to_o he_o from_o the_o dead_a but_o how_o shall_v he_o be_v certain_a that_o he_o do_v real_o come_v from_o thence_o for_o any_o thing_n h●_n know_v it_o may_v be_v some_o trick_n put_v upon_o he_o some_o knavish_a fellow_n have_v a_o mind_n to_o fright_v he_o or_o some_o bigoted_a religionist_n assume_v the_o person_n of_o a_o ghost_n think_v by_o this_o pious_a fraud_n to_o convert_v he_o to_o his_o persuasion_n as_o he_o have_v read_v in_o story_n such_o prank_n have_v be_v play_v to_o serve_v a_o turn_n or_o promote_v a_o good_a cause_n and_o whereas_o his_o reason_n may_v tell_v he_o that_o this_o can_v not_o be_v so_o see_v the_o person_n that_o appear_v to_o he_o have_v both_o the_o countenance_n and_o the_o voice_n of_o his_o friend_n yet_o that_o he_o will_v get_v over_o the_o imposture_n be_v cunning_o carry_v on_o and_o the_o surprise_n and_o fright_v it_o put_v he_o into_o do_v so_o disorder_v his_o judgement_n that_o he_o be_v not_o able_a to_o distinguish_v between_o the_o true_a and_o the_o counterfeit_n but_o suppose_v he_o be_v convince_v that_o here_o be_v no_o juggle_v in_o the_o matter_n but_o what_o appear_v be_v a_o true_a spirit_n or_o a_o ghost_n if_o there_o be_v any_o such_o yet_o how_o shall_v he_o know_v that_o it_o be_v the_o ghost_n of_o his_o friend_n if_o he_o be_v sure_a it_o be_v he_o he_o will_v give_v credit_n to_o what_o he_o report_v because_o of_o the_o former_a experience_n he_o have_v have_v of_o his_o integrity_n but_o this_o he_o can_v any_o way_n be_v certain_a of_o for_o any_o thing_n he_o know_v to_o the_o contrary_a it_o may_v be_v one_o of_o those_o ill-natured_a inhabitant_n of_o the_o air_n that_o be_v so_o much_o talk_v of_o that_o make_v it_o their_o business_n to_o disturb_v the_o rest_n and_o quiet_v of_o mankind_n and_o take_v a_o pleasure_n in_o fill_v their_o head_n with_o fear_n and_o scruple_n and_o draw_v they_o to_o all_o kind_n of_o superstition_n he_o have_v hear_v and_o read_v of_o such_o and_o there_o be_v no_o man_n of_o any_o persuasion_n or_o religion_n jew_n turk_n or_o heathen_a nay_o all_o the_o several_a sort_n of_o heathen_n at_o this_o day_n which_o be_v to_o be_v find_v either_o in_o the_o east_n or_o the_o western_a indies_n and_o christian_n too_o of_o all_o communion_n there_o be_v none_o of_o these_o but_o have_v story_n to_o tell_v of_o apparition_n and_o vision_n for_o the_o confirmation_n of_o their_o several_a doctrine_n and_o tenet_n now_o that_o all_o these_o apparition_n be_v to_o have_v credit_n give_v to_o they_o be_v absurd_a because_o they_o contradict_v one_o another_o in_o their_o discovery_n how_o therefore_o can_v he_o tell_v whether_o this_o particular_a apparition_n that_o be_v make_v to_o he_o aught_o to_o be_v credit_v or_o no_o as_o to_o what_o it_o declare_v concern_v religion_n and_o the_o state_n of_o the_o other_o world_n in_o plain_a english_a rather_o than_o such_o a_o man_n as_o we_o be_v speak_v of_o will_v be_v prevail_v upon_o to_o quit_v his_o dearly-beloved_n lust_n and_o vice_n he_o will_v find_v excuse_n and_o reason_n a_o great_a many_o why_o he_o ought_v not_o to_o believe_v any_o thing_n that_o be_v convey_v to_o he_o in_o such_o a_o manner_n as_o we_o now_o suppose_v especial_o if_o we_o consider_v in_o the_o three_o place_n what_o advantage_n he_o

will_v make_v for_o his_o purpose_n from_o that_o very_a way_n that_o we_o now_o think_v will_v be_v most_o effectual_a to_o convert_v he_o that_o be_v one_o come_n from_o the_o dead_a here_o be_v a_o apparition_n pretend_v to_o be_v send_v upon_o a_o particular_a message_n to_o he_o from_o the_o other_o world_n to_o persuade_v he_o to_o embrace_v such_o a_o religion_n and_o to_o change_v his_o way_n of_o live_v and_o threaten_v he_o with_o horrible_a punishment_n if_o he_o do_v not_o the_o very_a unusualness_n of_o the_o thing_n will_v put_v some_o apprehension_n into_o he_o especial_o consider_v his_o concernment_n to_o find_v out_o all_o the_o way_n that_o can_v be_v to_o elude_v the_o force_n of_o the_o argument_n that_o it_o be_v not_o so_o convince_a do_v not_o carry_v in_o it_o so_o great_a evidence_n as_o at_o first_o sight_n there_o seem_v to_o appear_v for_o what_o imaginable_a reason_n can_v be_v give_v why_o he_o shall_v be_v deal_v with_o in_o a_o way_n so_o different_a from_o that_o that_o the_o rest_n of_o mankind_n be_v the_o particularity_n of_o the_o miracle_n will_v give_v occasion_n to_o he_o to_o suspect_v the_o truth_n of_o what_o it_o discover_v if_o his_o neighbour_n and_o friend_n be_v thus_o haunt_v he_o may_v think_v he_o have_v reason_n to_o be_v alarm_v and_o to_o apprehend_v some_o danger_n in_o that_o course_n of_o life_n he_o be_v so_o much_o dissuade_v from_o but_o since_o none_o in_o the_o place_n where_o he_o live_v be_v thus_o exercise_v beside_o himself_o he_o can_v satisfy_v his_o reason_n as_o to_o this_o way_n of_o proceed_v with_o he_o if_o this_o mean_n of_o conviction_n be_v rational_a and_o strong_a without_o doubt_n other_o will_v have_v it_o afford_v to_o they_o and_o be_v convince_v by_o it_o as_o well_o as_o he_o but_o since_o no_o such_o thing_n appear_v as_o the_o apparition_n itself_o be_v unaccountable_a so_o be_v the_o argument_n and_o motive_n it_o offer_v unaccountable_a also_o and_o till_o he_o be_v convince_v in_o the_o same_o way_n and_o by_o the_o same_o reason_n that_o other_o man_n be_v he_o will_v continue_v as_o he_o be_v i_o represent_v these_o thing_n not_o to_o show_v the_o weakness_n or_o invalidity_n of_o such_o a_o argument_n as_o we_o be_v speak_v of_o but_o to_o show_v how_o easy_o those_o that_o have_v espouse_v interest_n inconsistent_a with_o religion_n and_o christianity_n may_v find_v out_o expedient_n for_o the_o avoid_v the_o force_n of_o it_o but_o four_o and_o last_o let_v all_o this_o go_v for_o nothing_o let_v we_o suppose_v the_o man_n to_o be_v very_o well_o satisfy_v in_o his_o own_o mind_n both_o concern_v the_o matter_n of_o fact_n and_o the_o cogency_n of_o the_o argument_n he_o have_v from_o thence_o to_o live_v after_o another_o rate_n than_o he_o have_v hitherto_o do_v nay_o as_o often_o as_o he_o think_v of_o this_o vision_n or_o be_v ask_v concern_v it_o he_o have_v the_o same_o sense_n and_o make_v the_o same_o judgement_n of_o it_o that_o he_o do_v at_o first_o though_o it_o be_v many_o year_n after_o i_o say_v suppose_v all_o this_o yet_o do_v it_o from_o hence_o follow_v that_o such_o a_o man_n will_v be_v effectual_o bring_v over_o to_o virtue_n and_o religion_n after_o he_o have_v long_o pursue_v a_o course_n of_o sin_n and_o resist_v the_o argument_n of_o the_o gospel_n alas_o it_o be_v very_o unlikely_a how_o much_o alarm_v soever_o he_o be_v at_o first_o yet_o it_o be_v a_o hundred_o to_o one_o if_o he_o be_v such_o a_o person_n as_o we_o speak_v of_o but_o in_o time_n and_o by_o degree_n the_o impression_n will_v wear_v off_o and_o nature_n return_v to_o its_o first_o course_n it_o be_v the_o newness_n and_o surprizingness_n of_o the_o thing_n that_o first_o wrought_v upon_o he_o but_o that_o will_v not_o last_v always_o after_o he_o have_v once_o get_v over_o the_o first_o transport_v and_o be_v come_v again_o to_o his_o usual_a temper_n and_o to_o his_o business_n and_o to_o his_o company_n the_o argument_n though_o it_o have_v the_o same_o force_n that_o it_o have_v at_o first_o yet_o it_o grow_v flat_a and_o unaffecting_a and_o will_v have_v no_o more_o effect_n upon_o he_o than_o the_o stand_a motive_n of_o christianity_n former_o have_v notwithstanding_o all_o his_o first_o conviction_n he_o will_v live_v as_o tame_o under_o the_o bondage_n and_o tyranny_n of_o his_o old_a reign_a lust_n though_o perhaps_o not_o without_o some_o check_n of_o conscience_n now_o and_o then_o as_o those_o that_o never_o have_v such_o kind_n of_o mean_n vouchsafe_v they_o for_o their_o conversion_n and_o it_o must_v needs_o be_v thus_o for_o when_o all_o be_v do_v argument_n will_v still_o be_v but_o argument_n they_o can_v persuade_v but_o they_o can_v compel_v the_o efficacy_n of_o they_o do_v in_o a_o great_a measure_n depend_v upon_o our_o will_n and_o choice_n especial_o where_o they_o be_v to_o combat_v with_o strong_a passion_n and_o prepossession_n be_v there_o not_o a_o thousand_o person_n in_o our_o day_n that_o be_v as_o full_o convince_v of_o the_o truth_n of_o the_o christian_a revelation_n and_o the_o necessity_n of_o a_o holy_a religious_a life_n in_o order_n to_o the_o go_v to_o heaven_n or_o avoid_v the_o pain_n of_o hell_n as_o they_o will_v be_v if_o one_o shall_v come_v to_o they_o from_o the_o dead_a nay_o more_o full_o perhaps_o than_o they_o will_v have_v be_v by_o the_o testimony_n of_o such_o a_o apparition_n have_v they_o want_v the_o scripture_n and_o have_v not_o the_o conscience_n of_o these_o person_n at_o several_a time_n by_o several_a mean_n be_v severe_o awaken_v and_o have_v they_o not_o at_o these_o season_n in_o the_o most_o serious_a manner_n imaginable_a make_v vow_n and_o resolution_n to_o live_v a_o holy_a christian_a life_n and_o yet_o we_o see_v they_o continue_v still_o unreformed_a still_o they_o be_v the_o same_o sensual_a careless_a unchristian_a liver_n that_o ever_o they_o be_v i_o appeal_v to_o the_o conscience_n of_o man_n whether_o this_o be_v not_o true_a and_o why_o shall_v we_o think_v it_o will_v fare_v otherwise_o with_o we_o if_o god_n shall_v send_v one_o from_o the_o dead_a to_o reclaim_v we_o that_o very_a miracle_n will_v not_o convince_v our_o understanding_n more_o than_o they_o have_v be_v convince_v already_o and_o therefore_o why_o shall_v we_o think_v it_o will_v work_v more_o upon_o our_o will_n the_o sum_n of_o all_o this_o discourse_n be_v this_o that_o how_o prevail_v soever_o we_o may_v imagine_v such_o a_o experiment_n as_o the_o rich_a man_n here_o offer_v to_o abraham_n for_o the_o conversion_n of_o his_o brethren_n will_v be_v upon_o we_o yet_o a_o sensual_a man_n that_o be_v unwilling_a to_o give_v up_o himself_o to_o the_o conduct_n of_o religion_n may_v easy_o find_v out_o way_n to_o avoid_v the_o force_n that_o it_o ought_v to_o have_v upon_o his_o mind_n nay_o more_o easy_o perhaps_o than_o he_o have_v hitherto_o resist_v the_o motive_n of_o the_o gospel_n and_o therefore_o we_o may_v certain_o conclude_v with_o abraham_n in_o the_o text_n that_o they_o that_o hear_v not_o moses_n and_o the_o prophet_n or_o to_o put_v it_o into_o our_o own_o language_n they_o that_o hear_v not_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n neither_o in_o all_o probability_n will_v they_o be_v persuade_v though_o one_o rise_v from_o the_o dead_a nothing_o now_o remain_v but_o that_o i_o draw_v two_o or_o three_o inference_n from_o what_o have_v be_v say_v and_o so_o conclude_v in_o the_o first_o place_n from_o what_o i_o have_v discourse_v upon_o this_o argument_n we_o may_v discover_v the_o infinite_a wisdom_n of_o god_n in_o the_o pitch_v upon_o that_o method_n he_o have_v do_v for_o the_o bring_v man_n to_o virtue_n and_o happiness_n namely_o by_o the_o stand_a revelation_n of_o moses_n and_o the_o prophet_n and_o of_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n for_o we_o may_v perceive_v this_o method_n be_v every_o way_n more_o accommodate_v for_o that_o end_n than_o if_o god_n shall_v be_v every_o day_n work_v miracle_n for_o the_o reclaim_n particular_a person_n as_o it_o be_v more_o suitable_a to_o the_o other_o method_n of_o god_n providence_n to_o the_o way_n that_o he_o have_v choose_v for_o the_o government_n of_o the_o world_n which_o be_v by_o the_o settle_a stand_v law_n of_o motion_n leave_v natural_a cause_n to_o produce_v their_o natural_a effect_n and_o not_o interpose_v his_o omnipotency_n but_o upon_o especial_a extraordinary_a occasion_n so_o also_o as_o we_o have_v see_v be_v it_o much_o more_o effectual_a for_o the_o convince_a man_n understanding_n and_o the_o work_n upon_o their_o will_n than_o the_o other_o method_n of_o private_a miracle_n and_o revelation_n will_v be_v we_o have_v see_v how_o many_o way_n the_o force_n of_o a_o argument_n draw_v from_o one_o appearance_n