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cause_n necessary_a produce_v sufficient_a 2,945 5 8.9424 4 true
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A89672 A conference with a theist. Part II. Shewing the defects of natural religion; the necessity of divine inspiration; the rationale of the mosaical laws, and defence of his miracles : together with an account of the deluge, the origin of sacrifices, and the reasonableness of Christ's mediatorship. / By William Nicholls ... Nicholls, William, 1664-1712. 1699 (1699) Wing N1094A; ESTC R181001 142,863 328

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that_o god_n use_v as_o much_o wisdom_n and_o contrivance_n in_o the_o formation_n of_o the_o body_n of_o the_o earth_n as_o in_o that_o of_o a_o animal_n or_o why_o shall_v specific_a gravity_n tie_v he_o up_o more_o in_o one_o than_o the_o other_o no_o doubt_n there_o be_v the_o same_o most_o admirable_a contrivance_n in_o the_o formation_n of_o the_o course_n body_n of_o the_o earth_n as_o in_o other_o fine_a and_o small_a contexture_n only_o the_o earth_n be_v a_o body_n who_o part_n be_v so_o great_a as_o they_o can_v be_v distinct_o view_v at_o the_o same_o time_n and_o many_o of_o they_o hide_v from_o we_o and_o therefore_o we_o be_v apt_a to_o conclude_v that_o they_o be_v less_o elegant_a so_o we_o proceed_v to_o philosophize_v upon_o it_o under_o this_o mistake_n and_o allow_v it_o only_o the_o rude_a contexture_n which_o may_v arise_v from_o the_o bare_a subsidency_n of_o part_n and_o the_o law_n of_o specific_a gravity_n but_o this_o be_v a_o grievous_a error_n and_o we_o 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gabriel_n the_o joyful_a come_n of_o the_o messiah_n with_o all_o the_o benefit_n which_o shall_v follow_v from_o he_o second_o there_o be_v no_o consequence_n in_o the_o argument_n if_o the_o supposition_n be_v true_a for_o if_o god_n do_v so_o far_o comply_v with_o second_o cause_n as_o some_o time_n to_o cooperate_v with_o they_o it_o do_v not_o follow_v that_o those_o cause_n can_v produce_v a_o supernatural_a effect_n of_o themselves_o though_o god_n shall_v pick_v out_o merry_a man_n to_o foretell_v joyful_a thing_n and_o melancholy_a one_o to_o foretell_v sad_a one_o it_o do_v not_o follow_v that_o either_o merry_a or_o melancholy_a man_n can_v foretell_v any_o thing_n without_o the_o assistance_n of_o god_n because_o prediction_n be_v the_o effect_n of_o divine_a and_o infinite_a knowledge_n and_o not_o of_o bodily_a temperament_n it_o will_v be_v still_o the_o gift_n of_o god_n though_o such_o qualification_n be_v necessary_a for_o the_o receive_n it_o 5._o prophecy_n 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naioth_n in_o ramah_n where_o samuel_n live_v 1_o sam._n 19.19_o another_o at_o kiriath_n jearim_n 1_o sam._n 10.5_o neither_o be_v prophecy_n among_o the_o jew_n only_o the_o run_n about_o the_o country_n now_o and_o then_o of_o a_o craze_a wretch_n as_o your_o people_n be_v wont_a to_o say_v but_o in_o a_o manner_n a_o settle_a dispensation_n there_o be_v great_a number_n of_o the_o prophet_n in_o that_o nation_n for_o even_o in_o the_o most_o corrupt_a time_n there_o be_v fifty_o of_o the_o son_n of_o the_o prophet_n together_o behold_v elijah_n when_o he_o be_v catch_v up_o into_o heaven_n ●_o king_n 2.7_o and_o obadiah_n hide_v a_o hundred_o prophet_n fifty_o in_o a_o cave_n during_o the_o rage_n of_o ahab_n persecution_n 1_o king_n 18.4_o now_o it_o be_v not_o possible_a that_o such_o a_o number_n of_o man_n so_o regular_o educate_v shall_v all_o be_v enthusiastical_o mad_a but_o i_o see_v any_o thing_n can_v be_v assert_v to_o serve_v a_o turn_v or_o to_o vilify_v religion_n 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be_o not_o able_a to_o guess_v at_o but_o why_o shall_v miracle_n make_v man_n doubt_v of_o the_o be_v of_o a_o god_n in_o my_o mind_n they_o do_v plain_o prove_v his_o existence_n for_o when_o ever_o a_o miracle_n be_v do_v there_o be_v something_o do_v by_o a_o power_n superior_a to_o nature_n now_o if_o there_o be_v a_o power_n superior_a to_o nature_n then_o nature_n be_v not_o self-existent_a and_o consequent_o there_o be_v a_o god_n which_o create_v nature_n this_o must_v be_v demonstration_n to_o all_o materialist_n that_o allow_v nothing_o in_o the_o world_n but_o infinite_a and_o eternal_a matter_n and_o a_o necessary_a concatenation_n of_o cause_n for_o if_o a_o miracle_n or_o supernatural_a power_n break_v or_o disturb_v one_o link_n of_o these_o cause_n and_o nature_n afterward_o go_v on_o undisturbed_o again_o it_o be_v most_o certain_a that_o there_o be_v a_o power_n above_o nature_n which_o direct_v it_o for_o otherways_o a_o necessary_a and_o fatal_a nature_n will_v move_v on_o with_o a_o infinite_a disturbance_n so_o that_o i_o say_v philologus_n that_o though_o to_o a_o epicurean_a who_o will_v have_v all_o thing_n come_v by_o chance_n miracle_n be_v not_o so_o good_a a_o proof_n of_o a_o deity_n as_o the_o frame_n of_o the_o universe_n and_o the_o wise_a end_n of_o thing_n yet_o to_o a_o materialist_n who_o will_v have_v all_o thing_n to_o be_v nature_n the_o eviction_n of_o a_o miracle_n must_v be_v demonstration_n for_o this_o overthrow_v his_o whole_a hypothesis_n and_o tell_v he_o to_o his_o face_n that_o matter_n and_o nature_n be_v but_o a_o limit_a and_o subordinate_a power_n and_o in_o subjection_n to_o a_o superior_a mind_n or_o power_n which_o be_v god_n nay_o let_v the_o miracle_n be_v true_a or_o false_a either_o wrought_v by_o god_n or_o the_o devil_n it_o be_v home-proof_n against_o a_o materialist_n for_o a_o witch_n or_o a_o apparition_n be_v total_a destruction_n to_o that_o philosophy_n therefore_o it_o be_v no_o wonder_n that_o so_o great_a a_o outcry_n be_v raise_v against_o miracle_n and_o preternatural_a power_n for_o if_o these_o be_v once_o evince_v the_o hobbist_n be_v at_o a_o end_n 5._o one_o false_a miracle_n no_o argument_n against_o true_a one_o and_o whereas_o you_o object_n against_o miracle_n that_o they_o be_v no_o proof_n of_o a_o inspiration_n from_o god_n because_o there_o may_v be_v a_o great_a many_o false_a miracle_n and_o that_o moses_n in_o the_o 13_o of_o deut._n give_v they_o warning_n of_o the_o same_o i_o think_v this_o be_v only_o puzzle_v the_o case_n and_o raise_v a_o dust_n instead_o of_o argue_v the_o point_n for_o what_o though_o there_o be_v false_a and_o pretend_a miracle_n be_v there_o therefore_o no_o true_a one_o because_o there_o have_v be_v many_o false_a witness_n must_v therefore_o no_o true_a evidence_n be_v credit_v because_o there_o be_v very_o many_o quack_n and_o empiric_n be_v there_o no_o good_a physician_n in_o the_o world_n because_o there_o be_v many_o knave_n be_v there_o no_o honest_a man_n this_o be_v a_o mad_a way_n of_o conclude_v which_o will_v destroy_v all_o humane_a society_n and_o conversation_n out_o of_o the_o world_n man_n must_v neither_o eat_v nor_o drink_v because_o some_o man_n have_v be_v poison_v those_o way_n they_o must_v receive_v no_o good_a money_n because_o there_o be_v a_o great_a deal_n of_o counterfeit_n they_o must_v believe_v nothing_o that_o be_v tell_v they_o because_o there_o be_v many_o liar_n among_o men._n now_o man_n will_v be_v the_o most_o miserable_a creature_n in_o the_o world_n if_o he_o be_v to_o square_v his_o action_n by_o this_o method_n but_o god_n have_v give_v to_o all_o man_n judgement_n and_o reason_n to_o distinguish_v between_o truth_n and_o falsehood_n between_o sincerity_n and_o design_n and_o this_o we_o must_v make_v use_n of_o in_o consider_v miraculous_a power_n and_o prove_v the_o spirit_n whether_o they_o be_v of_o god_n by_o this_o we_o may_v discern_v whether_o the_o produce_v miracle_n be_v above_o the_o power_n of_o art_n or_o nature_n or_o whether_o it_o do_v not_o show_v the_o finger_n of_o god_n whether_o it_o be_v the_o effect_n of_o a_o delude_a imagination_n and_o not_o rather_o the_o evidence_n of_o clear_a and_o undisturbed_a sense_n whether_o it_o be_v the_o operation_n of_o god_n or_o the_o power_n of_o the_o devil_n whether_o it_o tend_v to_o the_o advancement_n of_o the_o kingdom_n of_o light_n or_o of_o darkness_n whether_o it_o tend_v to_o further_a moral_a goodness_n and_o piety_n or_o else_o wickedness_n and_o superstition_n whether_o it_o contribute_v to_o the_o strengthen_n or_o overthrow_v of_o god_n law_n whether_o it_o confirm_v what_o we_o be_v sure_a god_n have_v reveal_v before_o or_o contradict_v it_o now_o with_o this_o caution_n we_o may_v very_o well_o distinguish_v true_a from_o false_a miracle_n and_o assent_v to_o the_o true_a whilst_o we_o reject_v the_o false_a and_o therefore_o moses_n in_o the_o chapter_n which_o you_o allege_v do_v with_o very_o good_a reason_n give_v the_o jew_n warning_n that_o they_o do_v not_o receive_v impression_n from_o miracle_n with_o too_o great_a precipitancy_n and_o give_v they_o a_o good_a rule_n to_o judge_v when_o they_o be_v false_a viz._n namely_o when_o they_o contradict_v the_o stand_a rule_n of_o morality_n or_o any_o other_o revelation_n of_o god_n if_o there_o arise_v among_o you_o a_o prophet_n or_o a_o dreamer_n of_o dream_n and_o give_v thou_o a_o sign_n or_o a_o wonder_n etc._n etc._n say_v let_v we_o go_v after_o other_o god_n etc._n etc._n you_o shall_v not_o hearken_v unto_o the_o word_n of_o that_o prophet_n etc._n etc._n but_o you_o shall_v walk_v after_o the_o lord_n your_o god_n and_o keep_v his_o commandment_n and_o obey_v his_o voice_n etc._n etc._n this_o be_v but_o wise_a and_o discreet_a caution_n but_o to_o condemn_v all_o true_a miracle_n for_o the_o sake_n of_o some_o imposture_n be_v unreasonable_a scepticism_n and_o will_v tend_v to_o dispute_v all_o truth_n and_o certainty_n out_o of_o the_o world_n and_o make_v all_o man_n turn_v pyrrhonicks_n and_o seeker_n 6._o and_o it_o be_v likewise_o false_a consider_v instance_n of_o the_o jew_n and_o solomon_n consider_v which_o you_o in_o the_o next_o place_n lie_v down_o that_o the_o miracle_n and_o inspiration_n among_o the_o jew_n have_v no_o influence_n upon_o their_o understanding_n or_o life_n from_o the_o instance_n of_o the_o idolatrous_a jew_n in_o the_o wilderness_n and_o king_n solomon_n indeed_o i_o can_v by_o no_o mean_n excuse_v the_o jew_n for_o their_o perfidious_a defection_n to_o idolatrous_a worship_n whilst_o moses_n be_v in_o the_o mount_n but_o yet_o i_o can_v go_v with_o you_o so_o far_o as_o to_o assert_v that_o the_o figure_n of_o a_o calf_n be_v think_v by_o they_o to_o be_v the_o divine_a image_n for_o this_o be_v such_o a_o grossness_n as_o be_v not_o to_o be_v suppose_v in_o humane_a nature_n it_o be_v most_o probable_a that_o they_o design_v this_o only_a as_o a_o hieroglyphic_n or_o emblem_n of_o the_o true_a god_n in_o imitation_n of_o the_o egyptian_n for_o as_o the_o egyptian_n with_o who_o they_o have_v long_o converse_v worship_v their_o god_n apis_n under_o the_o hieroglyphic_n of_o a_o bull_n or_o calf_n so_o the_o jew_n who_o love_v a_o pompous_a ceremonious_a worship_n think_v to_o worship_v the_o true_a god_n so_o too_o for_o it_o be_v plain_a that_o they_o intend_v to_o pay_v their_o devotion_n to_o the_o true_a god_n because_o in_o the_o relation_n of_o this_o passage_n exod._n 32.4_o it_o be_v say_v this_o be_v the_o elohim_n or_o god_n which_o bring_v thou_o out_o of_o the_o land_n of_o egypt_n which_o be_v more_o particular_o explain_v in_o the_o next_o verse_n to_o morrow_n be_v a_o feast_n to_o the_o lord_n or_o to_o jehovah_n and_o as_o for_o those_o place_n in_o ecclesiaste_n after_o all_o that_o be_v object_v by_o atheist_n and_o socinian●_n i_o do_v not_o see_v any_o thing_n to_o the_o contrary_a but_o that_o these_o be_v only_o prosopopoeia_n of_o epicurean_o wherein_o the_o absurdity_n of_o these_o opinion_n be_v expose_v and_o bring_v into_o the_o number_n of_o those_o other_o vanity_n which_o in_o this_o book_n he_o be_v condemn_v phil._n but_o after_o all_o credentius_n i_o can_v be_v persuade_v but_o that_o it_o be_v the_o prejudice_v opinion_n of_o the_o unphilosophical_a jew_n and_o their_o pretence_n more_o immediate_o to_o the_o divine_a protection_n which_o give_v occasion_n to_o the_o rise_n of_o so_o many_o miracle_n in_o scripture_n which_o may_v otherways_o be_v natural_o account_v for_o it_o will_v be_v too_o long_o to_o run_v through_o all_o the_o pretend_a miracle_n in_o scripture_n which_o i_o can_v easy_o make_v out_o to_o be_v do_v by_o the_o power_n of_o nature_n i_o shall_v only_o pick_v out_o one_o or_o two_o which_o may_v
of_o water_n be_v of_o great_a gravity_n than_o the_o crust_n of_o the_o earth_n than_o the_o mass_n of_o it_o will_v lie_v next_o to_o the_o thick_a part_n of_o the_o earth_n or_o where_o there_o be_v more_o matter_n so_o that_o if_o the_o earth_n be_v thick_a about_o the_o pole_n x_o or_o if_o there_o be_v any_o internal_a solid_a there_o it_o will_v then_o lie_v round_a part_n of_o the_o limbus_n of_o the_o earth_n u_o t_n x_o in_n and_o leave_v the_o hollow_a at_o u_o y._n fig._n ii_o now_o suppose_v the_o diameter_n of_o the_o earth_n or_o terraqueous_a globe_n to_o be_v as_o it_o be_v thereabouts_o 8000_o mile_n and_o the_o thickness_n of_o the_o crust_n of_o the_o earth_n a_o 32d_o part_n of_o this_o as_o the_o second_o figure_n represent_v than_o the_o crust_n will_v be_v 250_o mile_n thick_a which_o will_v be_v a_o solidity_n strong_a enough_o to_o contain_v the_o internal_a water_n to_o resist_v the_o chap_v from_o the_o sun_n to_o keep_v a_o consistency_n in_o all_o the_o 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big_a yet_o be_v the_o most_o thin_a and_o refine_a math._n see_v mr._n newton_n princip_n philos_fw-la math._n venus_n mercury_n and_o the_o moon_n though_o nigh_a to_o the_o centre_n of_o the_o system_n be_v denser_n than_o the_o earth_n neither_o be_v this_o rule_n observable_a in_o the_o earth_n itself_o for_o several_a of_o the_o heavy_a fossils_n as_o metal_n marble_n and_o stone_n lie_v often_o very_o high_a towards_o the_o surface_n of_o the_o earth_n and_o other_o light_a strata_n below_o they_o nor_o be_v there_o any_o reason_n to_o think_v that_o god_n in_o the_o creation_n wrought_v by_o such_o law_n of_o gravity_n for_o without_o doubt_n he_o wrought_v either_o by_o his_o immediate_a omnipotent_a power_n or_o else_o by_o a_o subordinate_a plastic_a nature_n as_o he_o do_v in_o the_o production_n of_o animal_n and_o vegetable_n since_o and_o here_o the_o law_n of_o specific_a gravity_n have_v little_a or_o nothing_o to_o do_v nay_o we_o see_v they_o be_v constant_o supersede_v when_o the_o fibre_n of_o a_o tree_n thrust_v themselves_o upward_o from_o the_o centre_n and_o the_o juice_n of_o it_o contrary_a to_o their_o own_o proper_a tendency_n be_v draw_v up_o so_o many_o foot_n from_o the_o ground_n what_o become_v here_o of_o the_o law_n of_o specific_a gravity_n be_v the_o body_n of_o any_o animal_n compose_v after_o this_o manner_n if_o this_o be_v so_o there_o will_v be_v no_o such_o thing_n as_o organical_a part_n which_o be_v compose_v so_o admirable_o for_o the_o use_n and_o beauty_n of_o the_o animal_n if_o this_o be_v so_o a_o man_n which_o be_v the_o most_o beautiful_a will_v be_v the_o most_o clumsy_a creature_n in_o the_o creation_n his_o bone_n must_v all_o lie_v towards_o his_o foot_n his_o flesh_n next_o to_o they_o his_o blood_n and_o spirit_n where_o his_o head_n and_o then_o consider_v what_o a_o monster_n of_o a_o creature_n this_o specific_a gravity_n will_v make_v he_o neither_o do_v it_o avail_v any_o thing_n to_o say_v that_o the_o composition_n of_o a_o animal_n do_v in_o some_o measure_n answer_n to_o the_o law_n of_o specific_a gravity_n because_o the_o heavy_a bone_n which_o lie_v inmost_a be_v enclose_v with_o the_o flesh_n and_o blood_n which_o be_v light_a but_o then_o pray_v consider_v that_o the_o bone_n be_v not_o place_v there_o by_o this_o law_n but_o by_o the_o prudent_a direction_n of_o nature_n to_o support_v the_o pliable_a flesh_n and_o to_o extend_v it_o to_o that_o just_a proportion_n which_o she_o design_v but_o grant_v the_o supposition_n true_a yet_o the_o marrow_n which_o be_v much_o light_a than_o the_o bone_n be_v conclude_v within_o they_o the_o bone_n be_v its_o superficial_a crust_n in_o the_o same_o manner_n as_o we_o suppose_v the_o earth_n to_o be_v to_o the_o abyss_n now_o why_o shall_v not_o we_o suppose_v