Selected quad for the lemma: ground_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
ground_n	believe_v	faith_n	good_a	2,481	5	4.3352	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A30491	Third remarks upon An essay concerning humane understanding in a letter address'd to the author.	Burnet, Thomas, 1635?-1715.	1699 (1699)	Wing B5955; ESTC R20274	20,916	28

third_z remark_n upon_o a_o essay_n concern_v humane_a understanding_n in_o a_o letter_n address_v to_o the_o author_n london_n print_v for_o m._n wotton_n at_o the_o three_o dagger_n in_o fleetstreet_n mdcxcix_o third_z remark_n upon_o a_o essay_n concern_v humane_a understanding_n sir_n i_o have_v not_o yet_o receive_v the_o favour_n of_o your_o answer_n to_o my_o second_o letter_n or_o second_o remark_n upon_o your_o essay_n about_o humane_a understanding_n you_o ruffle_v over_o the_o first_o remark_n in_o a_o domineer_a answer_n without_o give_v any_o satisfaction_n to_o their_o content_n but_o the_o second_o be_v more_o full_a and_o explicit_a i_o be_v in_o hope_n you_o will_v have_v be_v more_o concern_v to_o answer_v they_o and_o to_o answer_v they_o more_o calm_o and_o like_o a_o philosopher_n you_o best_o know_v the_o reason_n of_o your_o silence_n but_o as_o it_o will_v be_v understand_v in_o several_a way_n so_o it_o may_v be_v subject_a to_o that_o construction_n among_o other_o that_o you_o can_v not_o satisfy_v those_o objection_n or_o query_n without_o expose_v your_o principle_n more_o than_o you_o have_v a_o mind_n they_o shall_v be_v expose_v you_o know_v there_o be_v a_o sect_n or_o party_n of_o man_n among_o we_o who_o we_o have_v much_o ado_n to_o bring_v to_o a_o fair_a and_o distinct_a account_n of_o their_o doctrine_n and_o principle_n they_o can_v or_o will_v not_o fix_v their_o notion_n and_o declare_v they_o free_o to_o the_o world_n that_o they_o may_v be_v impartial_o examine_v i_o hope_v you_o do_v not_o approve_v that_o method_n nor_o think_v it_o worthy_a of_o imitation_n yet_o if_o to_o find_v out_o truth_n be_v the_o end_n and_o design_n of_o your_o write_n as_o i_o believe_v it_o be_v it_o must_v be_v first_o know_v what_o you_o affirm_v and_o what_o you_o deny_v before_o the_o matter_n can_v be_v examine_v especial_o as_o to_o those_o grand_a point_n that_o be_v of_o common_a concern_v and_o which_o i_o have_v make_v the_o subject_a of_o my_o inquiry_n i_o mean_v the_o ground_n of_o morality_n and_o religion_n and_o in_o prosecution_n of_o the_o same_o argument_n that_o we_o may_v have_v a_o little_a more_o light_a into_o your_o doctrine_n i_o now_o desire_v to_o know_v what_o natural_a conscience_n be_v according_a to_o your_o principle_n i_o tell_v you_o in_o my_o former_a remark_n that_o i_o think_v it_o be_v necessary_a as_o a_o ground_n for_o morality_n to_o allow_v a_o natural_a distinction_n betwixt_o good_a and_o evil_a right_a and_o wrong_n turpe_fw-la &_o honestum_fw-la virtue_n and_o vice_n and_o this_o distinction_n i_o think_v be_v manifest_v and_o support_v by_o natural_a conscience_n whether_o among_o those_o that_o have_v or_o have_v not_o external_n law_n this_o i_o think_v be_v teach_v we_o plain_o by_o the_o apostle_n of_o the_o gentile_n when_o 15._o rom._n two_o 14_o 15._o he_o say_v those_o that_o be_v without_o a_o law_n be_v a_o law_n to_o themselves_o do_v by_o nature_n the_o thing_n contain_v in_o the_o law_n which_o show_v the_o law_n write_v in_o their_o heart_n their_o conscience_n bear_v witness_n and_o their_o thought_n accuse_v or_o excuse_v they_o the_o gentile_a philosopher_n and_o poet_n have_v say_v the_o same_o thing_n concern_v natural_a conscience_n as_o you_o can_v but_o know_v and_o that_o you_o must_v go_v against_o the_o best_a author_n divine_a or_o humane_a if_o you_o deny_v to_o man_n natural_a conscience_n as_o a_o original_a principle_n antecedent_o to_o any_o other_o collection_n or_o recollection_n i_o do_v not_o deny_v that_o you_o allow_v such_o a_o principle_n as_o conscience_n in_o some_o sense_n or_o other_o but_o consider_v pray_v how_o you_o define_v it_o or_o what_o you_o say_v be_v to_o be_v understand_v by_o it_o conscience_n you_o 8._o pag._n 18._o §._o 8._o say_v be_v nothing_o else_o but_o our_o own_o opinion_n of_o our_o own_o action_n but_o of_o what_o sort_n of_o action_n i_o pray_v and_o in_o reference_n to_o what_o rule_n or_o distinction_n of_o our_o action_n whether_o as_o good_a or_o evil_a or_o as_o profitable_a or_o unprofitable_a or_o as_o perfect_a or_o imperfect_a or_o of_o all_o promiscuous_o of_o natural_a action_n and_o about_o thing_n of_o indifferency_n as_o well_o as_o other_o as_o for_o instance_n whether_o we_o have_v play_v well_o in_o a_o game_n at_o chess_n or_o in_o a_o party_n at_o tennis_n be_v this_o matter_n of_o conscience_n yet_o we_o make_v a_o judgement_n of_o our_o action_n in_o these_o case_n as_o well_o as_o other_o but_o though_o they_o be_v imperfect_a in_o their_o kind_n or_o not_o well_o manage_v we_o feel_v no_o accusation_n or_o remorse_n of_o conscience_n for_o it_o sure_o therefore_o that_o principle_n ought_v to_o be_v better_o describe_v and_o distinguish_v than_o by_o such_o a_o loose_a character_n of_o it_o as_o make_v all_o our_o action_n indifferent_o the_o object_n of_o conscience_n i_o take_v conscience_n to_o relate_v to_o our_o moral_a action_n only_o and_o to_o the_o distinction_n of_o moral_a good_a and_o evil_a and_o such_o other_o difference_n accuse_v excuse_v or_o justify_v we_o according_a as_o we_o have_v observe_v neglect_v or_o contemn_v those_o difference_n this_o we_o understand_v by_o natural_a conscience_n and_o take_v it_o to_o be_v the_o foundation_n of_o natural_a religion_n as_o that_o be_v of_o reveal_v now_o i_o do_v not_o remember_v that_o in_o this_o sense_n you_o have_v once_o name_v natural_a conscience_n in_o your_o book_n though_o you_o have_v a_o fair_a opportunity_n for_o it_o in_o your_o large_a discourse_n about_o practical_a principle_n in_o your_o three_o chapter_n book_n i._n but_o it_o may_v be_v you_o think_v there_o be_v none_o true_o natural_a in_o this_o acceptation_n however_o see_v you_o own_o natural_a religion_n let_v we_o consider_v what_o you_o understand_v by_o it_o and_o how_o you_o can_v make_v it_o subsist_v without_o natural_a conscience_n in_o that_o sense_n and_o notion_n we_o have_v give_v of_o it_o you_o place_v natural_a religion_n i_o think_v in_o the_o belief_n of_o the_o be_v of_o a_o 23._o pag._n 277._o §._o 23._o god_n and_o of_o obedience_n due_a to_o he_o this_o be_v good_a so_o far_o as_o it_o go_v and_o be_v well_o support_v but_o the_o question_n be_v what_o law_n those_o be_v that_o we_o ought_v to_o obey_v or_o how_o we_o can_v know_v they_o without_o revelation_n unless_o you_o take_v in_o natural_a conscience_n for_o a_o distinction_n of_o good_a and_o evil_a or_o another_o idea_n of_o god_n than_o what_o you_o have_v give_v we_o that_o principle_n of_o conscience_n and_o a_o true_a idea_n of_o god_n with_o moral_a attribute_n be_v admit_v we_o have_v a_o foundation_n for_o natural_a religion_n but_o not_o be_v admit_v i_o do_v not_o see_v by_o what_o ratiocination_n you_o can_v collect_v antecedent_o to_o revelation_n what_o the_o will_n of_o god_n be_v what_o his_o law_n be_v how_o promulgated_a and_o make_v know_v to_o we_o and_o consequent_o what_o we_o have_v to_o direct_v our_o obedience_n if_o we_o do_v not_o know_v wherein_o that_o obedience_n consist_v i_o may_v know_v there_o be_v a_o king_n and_o that_o i_o be_o bind_v to_o obey_v he_o yet_o if_o i_o do_v not_o know_v his_o law_n nor_o what_o his_o pleasure_n be_v i_o can_v tell_v when_o i_o please_v he_o or_o displease_v he_o obey_v he_o or_o disobey_v he_o if_o i_o know_v not_o i_o say_v in_o what_o particular_n my_o duty_n and_o allegiance_n be_v to_o be_v express_v and_o practise_v neither_o can_v we_o think_v natural_a religion_n a_o matter_n of_o small_a concern_v or_o consequence_n see_v in_o virtue_n of_o that_o principle_n without_o any_o external_n law_n so_o far_o as_o we_o know_v noah_n and_o job_n not_o to_o mention_v more_o have_v be_v account_v just_o and_o upright_a in_o the_o sight_n of_o god_n and_o mark_v as_o the_o particular_a favourite_n of_o heaven_n by_o one_o of_o the_o prophet_n ezek._n fourteen_o 14._o if_o they_o have_v no_o other_o guide_n or_o motive_n to_o virtue_n and_o piety_n than_o your_o idea_n of_o god_n and_o of_o the_o soul_n with_o a_o arbitrary_a difference_n of_o good_a and_o evil_a i_o wonder_v how_o they_o can_v attain_v to_o such_o a_o degree_n of_o righteousness_n as_o will_v bear_v that_o eminent_a character_n from_o god_n and_o his_o prophet_n upon_o this_o occasion_n also_o we_o may_v reflect_v upon_o natural_a faith_n and_o the_o nature_n of_o it_o you_o know_v how_o it_o be_v describe_v by_o the_o same_o apostle_n of_o the_o gentile_n he_o that_o come_v to_o god_n must_v believe_v that_o he_o be_v and_o that_o he_o be_v a_o rewarder_n of_o they_o that_o diligent_o seek_v he_o and_o without_o this_o faith_n he_o say_v it_o be_v impossible_a to_o please_v he_o heb._n xi_o 6._o now_o how_o shall_v a_o man_n in_o

the_o state_n of_o nature_n have_v just_a ground_n of_o this_o faith_n if_o he_o have_v no_o other_o idea_n of_o god_n than_o that_o he_o be_v a_o all-powerful_a all-knowing_a and_o eternal_a be_v how_o from_o this_o can_v he_o prove_v that_o he_o will_v be_v a_o rewarder_n of_o those_o that_o seek_v he_o if_o goodness_n and_o justice_n belong_v to_o his_o essence_n as_o well_o as_o those_o other_o perfection_n he_o may_v from_o the_o idea_n of_o god_n have_v a_o good_a foundation_n and_o support_v of_o his_o faith_n and_o consequent_o of_o his_o virtue_n and_o piety_n but_o without_o these_o he_o be_v leave_v in_o the_o dark_a as_o to_o his_o fate_n or_o future_a reward_n in_o another_o state_n last_o as_o to_o providence_n we_o can_v tell_v from_o your_o principle_n how_o far_o it_o will_v extend_v we_o see_v provision_n be_v make_v for_o the_o subsistence_n of_o creature_n here_o that_o the_o world_n may_v be_v keep_v upon_o the_o wheel_n and_o still_o go_v but_o as_o to_o their_o happiness_n as_o we_o see_v it_o uncertain_a here_o so_o we_o can_v prove_v from_o the_o bare_a power_n and_o knowledge_n of_o their_o maker_n what_o it_o will_v be_v hereafter_o so_o much_o for_o natural_a religion_n we_o return_v now_o to_o natural_a conscience_n and_o to_o what_o you_o call_v practical_a principle_n whereof_o you_o discourse_v ample_o in_o the_o forementioned_a chapter_n as_o to_o that_o 3._o b._n 1._o c._n 3._o controversy_n about_o natural_a principle_n i_o think_v it_o may_v turn_v either_o way_n according_a as_o they_o understand_v the_o term_n of_o the_o question_n which_o in_o my_o mind_n you_o have_v not_o fair_o represent_v if_o by_o principle_n you_o understand_v distinct_a knowledge_n that_o be_v distinct_a idea_n and_o distinct_a proposition_n we_o do_v not_o hold_v innate_a principle_n in_o that_o sense_n yet_o so_o you_o seem_v to_o represent_v they_o and_o their_o idea_n and_o you_o call_v they_o character_n fair_a character_n indelible_a character_n stamp_v imprint_v engrave_v in_o the_o mind_n 3_o ch._n 2_o &_o 3_o for_o all_o those_o expression_n you_o use_v upon_o that_o occasion_n now_o all_o these_o expression_n seem_v to_o signify_v clear_a and_o distinct_a representation_n as_o picture_n or_o sculpture_n represent_v their_o original_n do_v any_o one_o assert_v that_o there_o be_v such_o express_a idea_n express_a proposition_n in_o the_o mind_n of_o man_n and_o a_o express_a discernment_n of_o their_o connexion_n or_o inconnexion_n before_o the_o use_n of_o reason_n or_o as_o much_o before_o it_o as_o after_o it_o i_o say_v as_o much_o before_o it_o as_o after_o it_o for_o the_o full_a clear_a and_o most_o distinct_a knowledge_n that_o we_o have_v after_o the_o use_n of_o reason_n can_v be_v more_o ample_o express_v than_o to_o say_v it_o be_v imprint_v or_o engrave_v upon_o the_o mind_n in_o fair_a and_o indelible_a character_n you_o exaggerate_v the_o matter_n and_o set_v the_o question_n at_o what_o height_n you_o please_v that_o you_o may_v have_v the_o fair_a mark_n to_o shoot_v at_o if_o you_o have_v reflect_v upon_o that_o common_a distinction_n of_o knowledge_n as_o clear_v or_o obscure_a general_a or_o particular_a distinct_a or_o indistinct_a whereof_o we_o have_v daily_a instance_n in_o the_o life_n of_o man_n you_o may_v have_v represent_v more_o soft_o and_o more_o easy_o conceive_v those_o natural_a impression_n which_o indeed_o compare_v with_o perfect_a knowledge_n be_v but_o general_a obscure_a and_o indistinct_a notice_n and_o yet_o sufficient_a for_o the_o purpose_n to_o which_o they_o be_v design_v when_o a_o child_n feel_v the_o difference_n of_o bitter_a and_o sweet_a he_o know_v and_o understand_v that_o difference_n in_o some_o kind_n or_o degree_n for_o it_o have_v its_o consequence_n and_o become_v a_o principle_n of_o action_n to_o he_o now_o whether_o you_o please_v to_o call_v this_o principle_n knowledge_n or_o sense_n or_o instinct_n or_o by_o any_o other_o name_n it_o still_o have_v the_o effect_n of_o knowledge_n of_o some_o sort_n or_o other_o and_o that_o before_o this_o child_n have_v the_o name_n of_o bitter_a or_o sweet_a pleasant_a or_o unpleasant_a much_o less_o can_v he_o define_v what_o either_o of_o they_o be_v we_o suppose_v these_o original_a impression_n to_o be_v like_o gold_n in_o the_o oar_n that_o may_v be_v refine_v or_o rough_a diamond_n that_o by_o polish_n receive_v a_o further_a lustre_n or_o to_o come_v near_o to_o your_o similitude_n like_o monograms_n or_o sketche_n that_o want_v their_o full_a line_n and_o colour_n to_o complete_a they_o and_o yet_o one_o may_v discern_v what_o or_o who_o they_o be_v make_v to_o represent_v though_o imperfect_o draw_v i_o say_v this_o only_a by_o the_o bye_n that_o the_o question_n may_v be_v better_o state_v for_o my_o design_n at_o present_a be_v only_o to_o speak_v of_o practical_a principle_n or_o what_o i_o call_v natural_a conscience_n in_o reference_n to_o the_o distinction_n of_o moral_a good_a and_o evil._n according_o i_o understand_v by_o natural_a conscience_n a_o natural_a sagacity_n to_o distinguish_v moral_a good_a and_o evil_a or_o a_o different_a perception_n and_o sense_n of_o they_o with_o a_o different_a affection_n of_o the_o mind_n arise_v from_o it_o and_o this_o so_o immediate_a as_o to_o prevent_v and_o anticipate_v all_o external_n law_n and_o all_o ratiocination_n and_o when_o i_o say_v moral_a good_a and_o evil_a i_o mean_v it_o in_o contradistinction_n to_o natural_a good_a and_o evil_a pleasure_n or_o pain_n convenience_n or_o inconvenience_n which_o be_v thing_n of_o another_o order_n and_o character_n this_o inward_a sense_n we_o speak_v of_o be_v simple_a and_o irrespective_a as_o to_o those_o natural_a evil_n or_o good_n they_o be_v not_o its_o proper_a object_n they_o may_v be_v frequent_o in_o conjunction_n but_o not_o necessary_o by_o these_o rule_n and_o mark_n i_o think_v it_o appear_v sufficient_o what_o i_o mean_v by_o natural_a conscience_n and_o i_o wish_v you_o will_v as_o free_o and_o full_o tell_v we_o your_o notion_n of_o it_o so_o far_o as_o it_o be_v opposite_a or_o different_a from_o this_o that_o by_o a_o just_a state_n of_o the_o question_n we_o may_v come_v more_o easy_o to_o the_o discovery_n of_o truth_n for_o there_o be_v some_o question_n that_o be_v hard_o to_o state_n clear_o and_o distinct_o than_o to_o resolve_v when_o so_o state_v you_o will_v not_o now_o say_v i_o believe_v that_o if_o there_o be_v such_o a_o natural_a principle_n in_o the_o soul_n of_o man_n infant_n or_o young_a child_n will_v be_v able_a to_o distinguish_v moral_a good_a and_o evil_a for_o you_o may_v as_o well_o expect_v that_o in_o a_o seed_n there_o shall_v be_v leave_n flower_n and_o fruit_n or_o that_o in_o the_o rudiment_n of_o a_o embryo_n there_o shall_v be_v all_o the_o part_n and_o member_n of_o a_o complete_a body_n distinct_o represent_v which_o in_o continuance_n be_v fashion_v and_o bring_v to_o perfection_n this_o be_v the_o case_n we_o represent_v such_o a_o principle_n as_o natural_a conscience_n we_o say_v be_v seat_v in_o the_o soul_n of_o man_n as_o other_o original_a principle_n be_v which_o show_v themselves_o by_o degree_n in_o different_a time_n and_o different_o according_a to_o other_o circumstance_n whether_o you_o will_v call_v this_o principle_n knowledge_n or_o by_o any_o other_o name_n as_o we_o tell_v you_o before_o be_v indifferent_a to_o we_o but_o it_o be_v a_o principle_n of_o distinguish_v one_o thing_n from_o another_o in_o moral_a case_n without_o ratiocination_n and_o be_v improveable_a into_o more_o distinct_a knowledge_n we_o may_v illustrate_v this_o from_o our_o outward_a sensation_n we_o can_v evident_o distinguish_v red_a and_o yellow_a colour_n and_o yet_o be_v at_o a_o loss_n how_o to_o define_v either_o of_o they_o or_o to_o express_v their_o difference_n in_o word_n and_o so_o in_o taste_n odour_n sound_n and_o other_o sensible_a quality_n we_o be_v different_o affect_v by_o their_o impression_n and_o so_o be_v a_o child_n before_o any_o reflection_n or_o ratiocination_n though_o neither_o of_o we_o can_v give_v a_o idea_n of_o the_o affection_n we_o feel_v nor_o of_o the_o particular_a modification_n and_o action_n of_o the_o object_n whence_o it_o arise_v this_o show_v we_o that_o there_o may_v be_v a_o power_n in_o the_o soul_n of_o distinguish_v one_o thing_n from_o another_o without_o ratiocination_n and_o if_o in_o sensible_a quality_n why_o not_o also_o in_o moral_a and_o intellectual_a relation_n such_o as_o good_a and_o evil_a true_a and_o false_a as_o our_o outward_a sense_n be_v sufficient_a without_o distinct_a idea_n and_o proposition_n to_o give_v we_o notice_n of_o what_o be_v convenient_a or_o inconvenient_a to_o the_o body_n so_o those_o inward_a sensation_n be_v design_v to_o direct_v we_o as_o to_o what_o be_v agreeable_a or_o disagreeable_a good_a or_o hurtful_a