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Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
cause_n wit_n world_n write_v 85 3 4.9990 4 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A26588 A discourse of wit by David Abercromby ... Abercromby, David, d. 1701 or 2. 1686 (1686) Wing A82; ESTC R32691 73,733 250

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of_o the_o understanding_n sort_n to_o be_v far_o beyond_o any_o foreign_a writer_n in_o the_o subject_a they_o handle_v whether_o french_a spanish_a or_o italian_a but_o what_o barkley_n say_v of_o the_o scot_n may_v likewise_o be_v say_v of_o the_o dane_n german_n and_o hollander_n tycobrache_fw-la be_v a_o star_n of_o the_o first_o magnitude_n kepler_n greiier_n clavius_n nostradamus_n be_v matchless_a but_o i_o think_v without_o the_o offence_n of_o any_o other_o nation_n we_o may_v apply_v more_o particular_o this_o sentence_n to_o the_o english_a literae_fw-la nunquam_fw-la se_fw-la felicius_fw-la habuerunt_fw-la quam_fw-la cum_fw-la in_o anglos_n inciderunt_fw-la for_o the_o world_n be_v oblige_v to_o they_o for_o the_o best_a and_o new_a discovery_n i●_n natural_a philosophy_n physic_n and_o anatomy_n but_o the_o pity_n be_v they_o write_v so_o much_o in_o their_o own_o tongue_n that_o the_o less_o know_a sort_n of_o foreigner_n abroad_o ask_v sometime_o if_o there_o be_v any_o 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we_o run_v yet_o much_o more_o counter_a to_o reason_n and_o the_o subordination_n that_o god_n have_v establish_v in_o this_o world_n when_o we_o presume_v to_o set_v up_o for_o judge_n of_o our_o sovereign_n or_o dare_v to_o question_v upon_o what_o account_n he_o do_v this_o or_o that_o issue_n out_o this_o or_o that_o order_n as_o if_o we_o understand_v better_a than_o he_o the_o public_a interest_n which_o god_n have_v entrust_v to_o he_o not_o to_o we_o we_o shall_v never_o then_o be_v useful_a member_n to_o the_o commonwealth_n we_o make_v a_o part_n of_o unless_o we_o keep_v within_o the_o bound_n of_o our_o respective_a station_n it_o be_v then_o safe_a and_o a_o great_a piece_n of_o wit_n in_o a_o tradesman_n for_o instance_n to_o mind_v his_o business_n and_o domestic_a concern_v rather_o than_o to_o asperse_v th●_n government_n by_o his_o malicious_a reflection_n or_o which_o be_v yet_o worse_o to_o write_v seditious_a pamphlet_n and_o calumniatory_a libel_n in_o 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christian_n 5._o that_o the_o clear_a light_n of_o reason_n may_v contribute_v somewhat_o towards_o the_o increase_n of_o the_o dark_a light_n of_o faith_n 6._o divine_a revelation_n to_o be_v propose_v by_o and_o receive_v from_o the_o universal_a church_n 7._o the_o vulgar_a error_n that_o of_o three_o physician_n two_o be_v atheist_n confute_v 8._o the_o foresay_a reproach_n press_v home_o to_o some_o divine_n especial_o to_o those_o of_o the_o romish_a church_n with_o a_o great_a appearance_n of_o truth_n 9_o the_o usefulness_n of_o natural_a philosophy_n and_o the_o best_a method_n of_o learning_n 10._o that_o we_o must_v conform_v our_o discourse_n to_o those_o we_o converse_v with_o and_o not_o make_v a_o affect_a show_n of_o wit_n before_o the_o dull_a sort._n 1._o it_o may_v be_v a_o paradox_n though_o no_o untruth_n that_o wit_n be_v the_o worst_a of_o god_n gift_n bestow_v upon_o mankind_n if_o we_o judge_v a_o thing_n bad_a that_o either_o be_v the_o occasion_n or_o cause_n of_o evil_n and_o mischief_n for_o it_o be_v not_o only_o the_o headwel_n of_o rebellion_n sedition_n and_o heresy_n which_o we_o may_v easy_o discover_v whether_o we_o reflect_v upon_o our_o time_n or_o by_o a_o start_n backward_o take_v a_o view_n of_o the_o forego_n age_n but_o it_o be_v also_o the_o inventor_n of_o those_o innumerable_a engine_n make_v use_v of_o by_o man_n for_o the_o ruin_n of_o mankind_n under_o pretence_n either_o of_o a_o necessary_a defence_n or_o just_o attack_v yet_o as_o by_o malice_n or_o misapplication_n it_o may_v be_v a_o fit_a instrument_n for_o evil_a so_o if_o we_o turn_v it_o once_o the_o right_a way_n it_o may_v prove_v the_o most_o useful_a as_o undoubted_o it_o be_v the_o most_o shine_a participation_n of_o the_o divine_a nature_n and_o i_o know_v not_o why_o aristotle_n say_v that_o a_o man_n who_o can_v live_v in_o a_o retire_a solitude_n must_v be_v either_o a_o god_n or_o a_o beast_n since_o for_o this_o i_o conceive_v nothing_o else_o 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be_v none_o it_o can_v be_v understand_v but_o of_o the_o dull_a sort_n who_o be_v once_o alone_o be_v in_o all_o sense_n alone_o and_o with_o no_o body_n because_o they_o be_v no_o company_n to_o themselves_o i_o mean_v they_o know_v not_o how_o to_o play_v the_o time_n away_o with_o what_o either_o be_v within_o or_o without_o themselves_o but_o such_o as_o can_v act_v the_o philosopher_n part_n with_o whatever_o they_o see_v feel_v or_o touch_v do_v neither_o need_n or_o incline_v much_o to_o converse_v except_o perhaps_o those_o that_o be_v of_o a_o no_o less_o or_o rather_o of_o great_a ability_n than_o themselves_o nay_o book_n to_o such_o man_n be_v not_o necessary_a companion_n in_o their_o retirement_n for_o they_o can_v want_v their_o company_n too_o though_o not_o so_o well_o as_o that_o of_o men._n one_o of_o these_o three_o they_o be_v always_o conversant_a with_o themselves_z god_n or_o the_o obvious_a work_n of_o his_o power_n that_o be_v without_o we_o i_o conceive_v not_o it_o be_v true_a what_o god_n be_v for_o how_o shall_v he_o be_v what_o he_o be_v if_o i_o can_v comprehend_v he_o yet_o i_o may_v apprehend_v he_o to_o be_v a_o be_v infinite_o perfect_a that_o be_v to_o say_v who_o perfection_n be_v numberless_a i_o need_v not_o then_o if_o i_o please_v want_v a_o subject_a to_o think_v on_o when_o alone_o if_o consider_v apart_o those_o perfection_n one_o after_o another_o i_o measure_v as_o far_o as_o i_o can_v reach_v their_o dimension_n their_o length_n their_o breadth_n and_o their_o depth_n so_o i_o shall_v now_o meditate_v upon_o his_o power_n and_o then_o contemplate_v the_o strange_a effect_n thereof_o in_o the_o work_n of_o the_o creation_n which_o i_o shall_v always_o conceive_v infinite_o below_o what_o he_o can_v have_v do_v or_o may_v yet_o do_v i_o shall_v again_o represent_v to_o myself_o though_o very_o imperfect_o the_o brightness_n of_o his_o glory_n in_o the_o sun_n moon_n and_o star_n his_o constancy_n in_o the_o earth_n his_o activity_n in_o the_o fire_n the_o depth_n of_o his_o essence_n in_o the_o bottomless_a sea_n and_o the_o least_o of_o his_o creature_n shall_v be_v unto_o i_o a_o fair_a copy_n of_o his_o wisdom_n goodness_n and_o other_o perfection_n 2._o but_o if_o i_o make_v no_o other_o use_n of_o my_o wit_n than_o this_o i_o be_o but_o a_o mere_a moralist_n and_o not_o a_o christian_a for_o as_o such_o i_o must_v lay_v aside_o my_o philosophy_n and_o believe_v what_o i_o conceive_v not_o upon_o the_o infallible_a authority_n of_o a_o obscure_a revelation_n nevertheless_o though_o my_o religion_n forbid_v i_o to_o play_v the_o philosopher_n yet_o if_o i_o pretend_v to_o a_o rational_a belief_n i_o presume_v nothing_o against_o its_o true_a maxim_n as_o i_o look_v then_o upon_o the_o mere_a light_n of_o faith_n to_o be_v somewhat_o dark_a so_o i_o know_v the_o light_n of_o reason_n to_o be_v somewhat_o clear_a may_v not_o i_o then_o join_v those_o two_o light_n together_o and_o make_v perhaps_o a_o great_a one_o of_o they_o both_o i_o believe_v the_o mystery_n of_o the_o trinity_n though_o i_o comprehend_v it_o not_o i_o think_v it_o not_o unlawful_a to_o slatter_v my_o own_o weakness_n with_o the_o discovery_n of_o some_o rudiment_n thereof_o in_o my_o soul_n as_o be_v one_o in_o nature_n and_o threefold_a in_o operation_n i_o mean_v as_o have_v three_o distinct_a faculty_n the_o memory_n understanding_n and_o will._n the_o incarnation_n be_v above_o the_o reach_n of_o a_o angelical_a understanding_n the_o angel_n themselves_o by_o the_o mere_a light_n of_o nature_n can_v not_o but_o judge_v it_o impossible_a it_o be_v a_o strange_a metamorphosis_n that_o faith_n only_o teach_v i_o to_o be_v real_a style_v i_o not_o nevertheless_o quite_o impertinent_a if_o for_o my_o own_o satisfaction_n i_o endeavour_v to_o persuade_v to_o myself_o the_o
sun_n the_o debate_n between_o ajax_n and_o ulysses_n etc._n etc._n i_o admire_v nothing_o more_o in_o lucan_n than_o the_o unevenness_n of_o his_o style_n he_o fly_v high_a and_o on_o a_o sudden_a low_a again_o in_o the_o same_o page_n and_o sometime_o in_o the_o same_o verse_n you_o shall_v read_v none_o so_o elevate_v upon_o some_o occasion_n and_o none_o so_o flat_a on_o other_o rencounter_n claudian_n and_o he_o be_v near_o of_o a_o temper_n livy_n by_o his_o long_a and_o minute_n narrative_n wear_v out_o his_o own_o wit_n and_o the_o reader_n patience_n his_o best_a piece_n in_o my_o judgement_n be_v his_o harangue_n or_o those_o senseful_a speech_n he_o put_v in_o the_o mouth_n of_o statesman_n and_o great_a captain_n i_o have_v have_v also_o a_o great_a veneration_n for_o cicero_n yet_o i_o be_o very_o sensible_a that_o he_o be_v not_o himself_o upon_o all_o occasion_n i_o find_v few_o of_o his_o plea_n so_o well_o pen_v as_o that_o he_o make_v in_o defence_n of_o milo_n he_o know_v not_o what_o he_o will_v be_v at_o in_o his_o book_n de_fw-fr natura_fw-la deorum_fw-la and_o his_o best_a interpreter_n i_o fancy_n as_o es●al●pier_n etc._n etc._n and_o other_o do_v but_o guess_v at_o his_o meaning_n as_o to_o the_o accuracy_n and_o politeness_n of_o expression_n he_o be_v every_o where_o the_o same_o and_o the_o best_a master_n of_o the_o latin_a tongue_n aristotle_n be_v beyond_o envy_n itself_o though_o not_o every_o where_n beyond_o reach_n the_o new_a philosopher_n speak_v more_o distinct_o and_o give_v more_o sensible_a notion_n of_o most_o thing_n his_o best_a piece_n i_o take_v to_o be_v his_o artificial_a logic_n or_o art_n of_o argue_v conformable_o to_o certain_a infallible_a rule_n his_o politic_n his_o poetry_n his_o rhetoric_n and_o his_o moral_n he_o be_v a_o very_a obscure_a metaphysitian_n because_o he_o handle_v such_o matter_n as_o be_v beyond_o the_o reach_n of_o humane_a understanding_n and_o think_v it_o not_o enough_o to_o say_v that_o 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shall_v say_v something_o no_o less_o to_o the_o purpose_n and_o more_o particular_a i_o may_v be_v allow_v then_o to_o say_v in_o second_o instance_n that_o our_o own_o indiscretion_n be_v common_o the_o cause_n of_o this_o disorder_n for_o as_o we_o never_o write_v witty_o but_o when_o our_o imagination_n be_v exalt_v to_o a_o certain_a degree_n of_o heat_n destructive_a to_o our_o cold_a dulness_n so_o when_o our_o spirit_n be_v spend_v by_o a_o long_a and_o serious_a application_n it_o will_v then_o prove_v a_o piece_n of_o prudence_n in_o we_o to_o lay_v aside_o our_o pen_n and_o meditate_v no_o more_o on_o the_o subject_a till_o we_o recover_v our_o lose_a spirit_n and_o first_o vigour_n i_o believe_v vigil_n keep_v this_o precept_n since_o he_o spend_v near_o thirty_o year_n in_o the_o composure_n of_o his_o poem_n but_o our_o folly_n be_v such_o that_o black_a paper_n we_o must_v though_o our_o soul_n be_v not_o able_a to_o act_v its_o part_n because_o of_o the_o suppose_a 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long_o as_o they_o be_v not_o fit_a for_o it_o they_o will_v undoubted_o be_v more_o satisfy_v with_o their_o child_n than_o some_o of_o they_o have_v reason_n to_o be_v because_o i_o fancy_v the_o former_a will_v not_o be_v so_o unlike_o one_o another_o as_o to_o the_o endowment_n of_o the_o mind_n we_o may_v proportionable_o discourse_v at_o the_o same_o rate_n of_o our_o spiritual_a child_n our_o write_n they_o may_v all_o resemble_v one_o another_o in_o not_o unlike_a stain_n of_o wit_n if_o we_o manage_v ourselves_o aright_o in_o conceive_v of_o they_o sect_n xiii_o the_o art_n of_o write_v witty_o 1._o why_o some_o do_v speak_v ill_a and_o write_v well_o and_o some_o do_v write_v ill_a and_o speak_v well_o 2._o that_o we_o ought_v first_o to_o consider_v before_o we_o undertake_v to_o write_v if_o the_o subject_n be_v not_o beyond_o our_o natural_a ability_n 3._o what_o use_v we_o be_v to_o make_v of_o author_n that_o we_o wrong_v ourselves_o by_o not_o peruse_v our_o own_o wit._n 4._o that_o some_o be_v profess_v robber_n of_o other_o man_n work_n as_o several_a german_n and_o other_o subtle_a thief_n as_o not_o a_o few_o french_a undoubted_o be_v 5._o that_o we_o must_v not_o be_v too_o positive_a in_o our_o assertion_n 6._o aristotle_n obscurity_n instanced_a in_o some_o few_o example_n 1._o it_o may_v be_v think_v not_o out_o of_o purpose_n to_o inquire_v in_o this_o place_n why_o some_o do_v speak_v ill_a and_o write_v well_o and_o on_o the_o contrary_a why_o other_o speak_v well_o and_o write_v ill_a the_o difficulty_n i_o confess_v be_v considerable_a and_o i_o be_o not_o full_o resolve_v in_o the_o case_n yet_o it_o may_v be_v say_v that_o this_o proceed_v from_o some_o of_o the_o different_a character_n of_o wit_n we_o have_v speak_v of_o elsewhere_o for_o some_o be_v slow_a in_o conceive_v because_o perhaps_o they_o have_v a_o too_o weak_a understanding_n and_o fear_v too_o much_o to_o be_v mistake_v so_o their_o utterance_n upon_o this_o account_n be_v very_o uneasy_a and_o such_o speak_v their_o thought_n so_o imperfect_o that_o one_o will_v think_v they_o have_v but_o a_o very_a superficial_a understanding_n nevertheless_o they_o be_v sometime_o excellent_a penman_n and_o the_o fit_a man_n in_o the_o world_n to_o appear_v in_o print_n because_o the_o uneasiness_n of_o their_o utterance_n come_v rather_o from_o a_o certain_a wariness_n and_o weakness_n perhaps_o too_o of_o the_o imagination_n than_o from_o any_o real_a defect_n of_o judgement_n but_o as_o for_o those_o that_o speak_v well_o and_o write_v ill_a if_o by_o this_o expression_n we_o mean_v that_o some_o do_v speak_v great_a sense_n who_o can_v write_v senseful_o i_o think_v i_o may_v be_v allow_v to_o say_v that_o there_o be_v no_o such_o thing_n possible_a for_o whosoever_o can_v speak_v sense_n i_o know_v not_o why_o he_o may_v not_o likewise_o couch_v it_o upon_o paper_n if_o he_o please_v but_o if_o perchance_o we_o understand_v by_o speak_v well_o and_o witty_o a_o certain_a facility_n easiness_n of_o expression_n the_o volubility_n of_o the_o tongue_n or_o a_o certain_a show_n of_o eloquence_n without_o either_o great_a sense_n or_o acuteness_n there_o be_v i_o confess_v many_o half-witted_a man_n and_o more_o yet_o of_o the_o weak_a sex_n that_o speak_v well_o though_o they_o write_v not_o witty_o because_o of_o the_o shallowness_n of_o their_o judgement_n which_o be_v rather_o a_o help_n than_o a_o hindrance_n to_o their_o talkative_a humour_n especial_o if_o they_o have_v as_o common_o they_o want_v it_o not_o any_o quickness_n of_o fancy_n for_o such_o people_n it_o be_v no_o less_o useless_a to_o prescribe_v rule_n of_o write_v witty_o than_o to_o teach_v fool_n how_o to_o speak_v to_o the_o purpose_n 2._o the_o first_o precept_n then_o of_o this_o art_n i_o conceive_v to_o be_v no_o other_o but_o the_o