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Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
ground_n believe_v faith_n revelation_n 1,466 5 9.8611 5 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A42813 Essays on several important subjects in philosophy and religion by Joseph Glanvill ... Glanvill, Joseph, 1636-1680. 1676 (1676) Wing G809; ESTC R22979 236,661 346

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deduce_v some_o corollary_n that_o may_v be_v of_o use_n for_o the_o better_a understanding_n of_o the_o whole_a matter_n 1._o reason_n be_v certain_a and_o infallible_a this_o follow_v from_o the_o state_n i_o give_v of_o the_o nature_n and_o notion_n of_o reason_n in_o the_o beginning_n it_o consist_v in_o first_o principle_n and_o the_o conclusion_n that_o be_v raise_v from_o they_o and_o the_o observation_n of_o sense_n now_o first_o principle_n be_v certain_a or_o nothing_o can_v be_v so_o for_o every_o possible_a conclusion_n must_v be_v draw_v from_o those_o or_o by_o their_o help_n and_o every_o article_n of_o faith_n suppose_v they_o and_o for_o the_o proposition_n that_o arise_v from_o those_o certain_a principle_n they_o be_v certain_a likewise_o for_o nothing_o can_v follow_v from_o truth_n but_o truth_n in_o the_o long_a series_n of_o deduction_n if_o error_n creep_v in_o there_o be_v ill_a consequence_n in_o the_o case_n and_o the_o sort_n of_o conclusion_n that_o arise_v from_o the_o observation_n of_o sense_n if_o the_o sense_n be_v right_o circumstantiate_v and_o the_o inference_n right_o make_v be_v certain_a also_o for_o if_o our_o sense_n in_o all_o their_o due_a circumstance_n deceive_v we_o all_o be_v a_o delusion_n and_o we_o be_v sure_a of_o nothing_o but_o we_o know_v that_o first_o principle_n be_v certain_a and_o that_o our_o sense_n do_v not_o deceive_v we_o because_o god_n that_o bestow_v they_o upon_o we_o be_v true_a and_o good_a and_o we_o be_v as_o much_o assure_v that_o whatever_o we_o due_o conclude_v from_o either_o of_o they_o be_v certain_a because_o whatever_o be_v draw_v from_o any_o principle_n be_v virtual_o contain_v in_o it_o 2._o i_o infer_v that_o reason_n be_v in_o a_o sense_n the_o word_n of_o god_n viz._n that_o which_o he_o have_v write_v upon_o our_o mind_n and_o heart_n as_o scripture_n be_v that_o which_o be_v write_v in_o a_o book_n the_o former_a be_v the_o word_n whereby_o he_o have_v speak_v to_o all_o 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they_o from_o god_n who_o can_v mistake_v and_o will_v not_o deceive_v so_o that_o rely_v on_o they_o in_o thing_n clear_o perceive_v be_v trust_v in_o god_n veracity_n and_o goodness_n and_o that_o be_v a_o exercise_n of_o faith_n thus_o luke_n 12._o the_o not_o belief_n of_o reason_n that_o suggest_v from_o god_n clothing_n the_o lily_n that_o he_o will_v provide_v for_o we_o be_v make_v by_o our_o saviour_n a_o defect_n of_o faith_n vers._n 28._o o_o you_o of_o little_a faith_n and_o for_o the_o other_o part_n that_o faith_n be_v a_o act_n of_o reason_n that_o be_v evident_a also_o for_o it_o be_v the_o high_a reason_n to_o believe_v in_o god_n reveal_v 4._o no_o principle_n of_o reason_n contradict_v any_o article_n of_o faith_n this_o follow_v upon_o the_o whole_a faith_n befriend_v reason_n and_o reason_n serve_v religion_n and_o therefore_o they_o can_v clash_v they_o be_v both_o certain_a both_o the_o truth_n of_o god_n and_o one_o truth_n do_v not_o interfere_v with_o another_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d say_v aristotle_n truth_n agree_v with_o all_o thing_n that_o be_v whatsoever_o contradict_v faith_n be_v opposite_a to_o reason_n for_o it_o be_v a_o fundamental_a principle_n of_o that_o that_o god_n be_v to_o be_v believe_v indeed_o sometime_o there_o be_v a_o seem_a contradiction_n between_o they_o but_o then_o either_o something_o be_v take_v for_o faith_n that_o be_v but_o fancy_n or_o something_o for_o reason_n that_o be_v but_o sophistry_n or_o the_o suppose_a contradiction_n be_v a_o error_n and_o mistake_n 5._o when_o any_o thing_n be_v pretend_v from_o reason_n against_o any_o article_n of_o faith_n we_o ought_v not_o to_o cut_v the_o knot_n by_o deny_v reason_n but_o endeavour_v to_o unite_v it_o by_o answer_v the_o argument_n and_o it_o be_v certain_a it_o may_v be_v fair_o answer_v for_o all_o heretic_n argue_v either_o from_o false_a principle_n or_o fallacious_o conclude_v from_o true_a one_o so_o that_o our_o faith_n be_v to_o be_v defend_v not_o by_o declaim_v against_o reason_n in_o such_o a_o case_n which_o strengthen_v the_o enemy_n and_o to_o the_o great_a prejudice_n of_o religion_n allow_v reason_n on_o his_o side_n but_o we_o must_v endeavour_v to_o defend_v it_o either_o by_o discover_v the_o falsehood_n of_o the_o principle_n he_o use_v in_o the_o name_n of_o reason_n or_o the_o ill_a consequence_n which_o he_o call_v proof_n 6._o when_o any_o thing_n be_v offer_v we_o for_o a_o article_n of_o faith_n that_o seem_v to_o contradict_v reason_n we_o ought_v to_o see_v that_o there_o be_v good_a cause_n to_o believe_v that_o this_o be_v divine_o reveal_v and_o in_o the_o sense_n propound_v if_o it_o be_v we_o may_v be_v assure_v from_o the_o former_a aphorism_n that_o the_o contradiction_n be_v but_o a_o appearance_n and_o it_o may_v be_v discover_v to_o be_v so_o but_o if_o the_o contradiction_n be_v real_a this_o can_v be_v no_o article_n of_o revelation_n or_o the_o revelation_n have_v not_o this_o 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must_v have_v ground_n either_o from_o our_o particular_a reason_n or_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o church_n otherwise_o our_o faith_n be_v vain_a credulity_n and_o not_o faith_n in_o god_n 8._o a_o man_n may_v hold_v a_o erroneous_a opinion_n from_o a_o mistake_a sense_n of_o scripture_n and_o deny_v what_o be_v the_o truth_n of_o the_o proposition_n and_o what_o be_v the_o right_a meaning_n of_o the_o text_n and_o yet_o not_o err_v in_o faith_n for_o faith_n be_v a_o belief_n of_o god_n reveal_v and_o if_o god_n have_v not_o so_o reveal_v this_o or_o that_o as_o to_o give_v we_o certain_a ground_n to_o believe_v this_o to_o be_v his_o sense_n he_o have_v not_o sufficient_o reveal_v it_o to_o oblige_v our_o faith_n so_o that_o though_o i_o deny_v such_o or_o such_o a_o sense_n while_o i_o believe_v
it_o be_v not_o from_o god_n his_o veracity_n and_o authority_n be_v not_o concern_v since_o i_o be_o ready_a however_o to_o give_v a_o cheerful_a assent_n to_o whatever_o be_v clear_o and_o sufficient_o reveal_v this_o proposition_n follow_v from_o the_o former_a and_o must_v be_v understand_v only_o of_o those_o doctrine_n that_o be_v difficult_a and_o obscure_o deliver_v and_o that_o many_o thing_n be_v so_o deliver_v in_o scripture_n be_v certain_a for_o some_o be_v only_o hint_v and_o speak_v occasional_o some_o figurative_o and_o by_o way_n of_o parable_n and_o allegory_n some_o according_a to_o man_n conception_n and_o some_o in_o ambiguous_a and_o enigmatical_a phrase_n which_o obscurity_n may_v occasion_n mistake_v in_o those_o who_o be_v very_o ready_a to_o believe_v whatever_o god_n say_v and_o when_o they_o do_v i_o shall_v be_v loath_a to_o say_v that_o such_o err_v in_o faith_n though_o those_o that_o wrest_v plain_a text_n to_o a_o compliance_n with_o their_o interest_n 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religion_n be_v set_v so_o far_o above_o reason_n that_o at_o length_n it_o be_v put_v beyond_o sobriety_n and_o sense_n and_o than_o it_o be_v fit_a to_o be_v believe_v when_o it_o be_v impossible_a to_o be_v prove_v or_o understand_v the_o way_n to_o be_v a_o christian_n be_v first_o to_o be_v a_o brute_n and_o to_o be_v a_o true_a believer_n in_o this_o divinity_n be_v to_o be_v fit_a for_o bedlam_n man_n have_v be_v teach_v to_o put_v out_o their_o eye_n that_o they_o may_v see_v and_o to_o hoodwink_v themselves_o that_o they_o may_v avoid_v the_o precipice_n thus_o have_v all_o extravagancy_n be_v bring_v into_o religion_n beyond_o the_o imagination_n of_o a_o fever_n and_o the_o conceit_n of_o midnight_n whatever_o be_v fancy_v be_v certain_a and_o whatever_o be_v vehement_a be_v sacred_a every_o thing_n must_v be_v believe_v that_o be_v dream_v and_o every_o thing_n that_o be_v absurd_a be_v a_o mystery_n and_o by_o this_o way_n man_n in_o our_o day_n have_v be_v prepare_v to_o swallow_v
their_o peculiar_a animal_n the_o certainty_n of_o which_o i_o believe_v the_o improvement_n of_o microscopical_a observation_n will_v discover_v from_o whence_o i_o infer_v that_o since_o this_o little_a spot_n be_v so_o thick_o people_v in_o every_o atom_n of_o it_o '_o ●…is_n weakness_n to_o think_v that_o all_o the_o vast_a space_n above_o and_o hollow_n under_o ground_n be_v desert_n and_o uninhabited_a and_o if_o both_o the_o superior_a and_o low_a continent_n of_o the_o universe_n have_v their_o inhabitant_n also_o it_o be_v exceed_o improbable_a argue_v from_o the_o same_o analogy_n that_o they_o be_v all_o of_o the_o mere_a sensible_a nature_n but_o that_o there_o be_v at_o least_o some_o of_o the_o rational_a and_o intellectual_a order_n which_o suppose_v there_o be_v good_a foundation_n for_o the_o belief_n of_o witch_n and_o apparitions_z though_o the_o notion_n of_o a_o spirit_n shall_v prove_v as_o absurd_a and_o unphilosophical_a as_o i_o judge_v the_o denial_n of_o it_o and_o so_o this_o first_o objection_n come_v to_o nothing_o i_o descend_v then_o to_o the_o second_o prejudice_n which_o may_v be_v thus_o form_v in_o behalf_n of_o the_o objector_n ii_o ii_o there_o be_v action_n in_o most_o of_o those_o relation_n ascribe_v to_o witch_n which_o be_v ridiculous_a and_o impossible_a in_o the_o nature_n of_o thing_n such_o be_v 1._o their_o fly_v out_o of_o window_n after_o they_o have_v anoint_v themselves_o to_o remote_a place_n 2._o their_o transformation_n into_o cat_n hare_n and_o other_o creature_n 3._o their_o feeling_n all_o the_o hurt_n in_o their_o own_o body_n which_o they_o have_v receive_v in_o those_o 4._o their_o raise_v tempest_n by_o matter_a some_o nonsensical_a word_n or_o perform_v ceremony_n alike_o impertinent_a as_o ridiculous_a and_o 5._o their_o be_v suck_v in_o a_o certain_a private_a place_n of_o their_o body_n by_o a_o familiar_a these_o be_v presume_v to_o be_v action_n inconsistent_a with_o the_o nature_n of_o spirit_n and_o above_o the_o power_n of_o those_o poor_a and_o miserable_a agent_n and_o therefore_o the_o objection_n suppose_v they_o perform_v only_o by_o the_o fancy_n and_o that_o the_o whole_a mystery_n of_o witchcraft_n be_v but_o a_o illusion_n of_o crazy_a imagination_n to_o this_o aggregate_v objection_n i_o return_v 1._o in_o the_o general_a the_o more_o absurd_a and_o unaccountable_a these_o action_n seem_v the_o great_a confirmation_n be_v they_o to_o i_o of_o the_o truth_n of_o those_o relation_n and_o the_o reality_n of_o what_o the_o objector_n will_v destroy_v for_o these_o circumstance_n be_v exceed_v unlikely_a judge_v by_o the_o measure_n of_o common_a belief_n it_o be_v the_o great_a probability_n they_o be_v not_o fictitious_a for_o the_o contriver_n of_o fiction_n use_v to_o form_v they_o to_o as_o near_o a_o conformity_n as_o they_o can_v to_o the_o most_o unsuspected_a reality_n endeavour_v to_o make_v they_o look_v as_o like_o truth_n as_o be_v possible_a in_o the_o main_a supposal_n though_o withal_o they_o make_v they_o strange_a in_o the_o circumstance_n none_o but_o a_o fool_n or_o madman_n will_v relate_v with_o a_o purpose_n of_o have_v it_o believe_v that_o he_o see_v in_o ireland_n man_n with_o horn_n on_o their_o head_n and_o eye_n in_o their_o breast_n or_o if_o any_o shall_v be_v so_o ridiculous_o vain_a as_o to_o be_v serious_a in_o such_o a_o incredible_a romance_n it_o can_v be_v suppose_v that_o all_o traveller_n that_o come_v into_o those_o part_n after_o he_o shall_v tell_v the_o same_o story_n there_o be_v a_o large_a field_n in_o fiction_n and_o be_v all_o those_o relation_n be_v arbitrary_a composition_n doubtless_o the_o first_o romancer_n will_v have_v frame_v they_o more_o agreeable_a to_o the_o common_a doctrine_n of_o spirit_n at_o least_o after_o these_o suppose_a absurdity_n have_v be_v a_o thousand_o time_n laugh_v at_o people_n by_o this_o time_n will_v have_v learn_v to_o correct_v those_o obnoxious_a extravagancy_n and_o though_o they_o have_v not_o yet_o more_o veracity_n than_o the_o age_n of_o ignorance_n and_o superstition_n yet_o one_o will_v expect_v they_o shall_v have_v get_v more_o cunning._n this_o suppose_a impossibility_n then_o of_o these_o performance_n seem_v to_o i_o a_o probable_a argument_n that_o they_o be_v not_o wilful_a and_o design_v forgery_n and_o if_o they_o be_v fancy_n it_o be_v somewhat_o strange_a that_o imagination_n which_o be_v the_o most_o various_a thing_n in_o all_o the_o world_n shall_v infinite_o repeat_v the_o same_o conceit_n in_o all_o time_n and_o place_n but_o again_o 2._o the_o strange_a action_n relate_v of_o witch_n and_o presume_v to_o be_v impossible_a be_v not_o ascribe_v to_o their_o own_o power_n but_o to_o the_o agency_n of_o those_o wicked_a confederate_n they_o employ_v and_o to_o affirm_v that_o those_o evil_a spirit_n can_v do_v that_o which_o we_o conceit_n impossible_a be_v bold_o to_o stint_v the_o power_n of_o creature_n who_o nature_n and_o faculty_n we_o know_v not_o and_o to_o measure_v the_o world_n of_o spirit_n by_o the_o narrow_a rule_n of_o our_o own_o impotent_a being_n we_o see_v among_o ourselves_o the_o performance_n of_o some_o outgo_v the_o conceit_n and_o possibility_n of_o other_o and_o we_o know_v many_o thing_n may_v be_v do_v by_o the_o mathematics_n and_o mechanic_n artifice_n which_o common_a head_n think_v impossible_a to_o be_v effect_v by_o the_o honest_a way_n of_o art_n and_o nature_n and_o doubtless_o the_o subtlety_n and_o power_n of_o those_o mischievous_a fiend_n be_v as_o much_o beyond_o the_o reach_n and_o activity_n of_o the_o most_o know_a agent_n among_o we_o as_o they_o be_v beyond_o the_o wit_n and_o ability_n of_o the_o most_o rustic_a and_o illiterate_a so_o that_o the_o utmost_a that_o any_o man_n reason_n in_o the_o world_n can_v amount_v to_o in_o this_o particular_a be_v only_o this_o that_o he_o can_v conceive_v how_o such_o thing_n can_v be_v perform_v which_o only_o argue_v the_o weakness_n and_o imperfection_n of_o our_o knowledge_n and_o apprehension_n not_o the_o impossibility_n of_o those_o performance_n and_o we_o can_v no_o more_o from_o hence_o form_v a_o argument_n against_o they_o than_o against_o the_o most_o ordinary_a effect_n in_o nature_n we_o can_v conceive_v how_o the_o f●…_n be_v form_v in_o the_o womb_n nor_o as_o much_o as_o how_o a_o plant_n spring_v from_o the_o earth_n we_o tread_v on_o we_o know_v not_o how_o our_o sou●…s_n move_v the_o body_n nor_o how_o these_o distant_a and_o extreme_a nature_n be_v unite_v as_o i_o have_v show_v elsewhere_o and_o if_o we_o be_v igno●…t_v of_o the_o most_o obvious_a thing_n about_o we_o and_o the_o most_o considerable_a within_o ourselves_o it_o be_v then_o no_o wonder_n that_o we_o know_v not_o the_o constitution_n and_o power_n of_o the_o creature_n to_o who_o we_o be_v such_o stranger_n brief_o then_o matter_n of_o fact_n well_o prove_v ought_v not_o to_o be_v deny_v because_o we_o can_v conceive_v how_o they_o can_v be_v perform_v nor_o be_v it_o a_o reasonable_a method_n of_o inference_n first_o to_o presume_v the_o thing_n impossible_a and_o thence_o to_o conclude_v that_o the_o fact_n can_v be_v prove_v on_o the_o contrary_a we_o shall_v judge_v of_o the_o action_n by_o the_o evidence_n and_o not_o the_o evidence_n by_o our_o fancy_n about_o the_o action_n this_o be_v proud_o to_o exalt_v our_o own_o opinion_n above_o the_o clear_a testimony_n and_o most_o sensible_a demonstration_n of_o fact_n and_o so_o to_o give_v the_o lie_n to_o all_o mankind_n rather_o than_o distrust_v the_o conceit_n of_o our_o bold_a imagination_n but_o yet_o further_o 3._o i_o think_v there_o be_v nothing_o in_o the_o instance_n mention_v but_o what_o may_v as_o well_o be_v account_v for_o by_o the_o rule_n of_o reason_n and_o philosophy_n as_o the_o ordinary_a affair_n of_o nature_n for_o in_o resolve_v natural_a phaenomena_n we_o can_v only_o assign_v the_o probable_a cause_n show_v how_o thing_n may_v be_v not_o presume_v how_o they_o be_v and_o in_o the_o particular_n under_o our_o examen_fw-la we_o may_v give_v a_o account_n how_o it_o be_v possible_a and_o not_o unlikely_a that_o such_o thing_n though_o somewhat_o vary_v from_o the_o common_a road_n of_o nature_n may_v be_v act_v and_o if_o our_o narrow_a and_o contract_a mind_n can_v furnish_v we_o with_o apprehension_n of_o the_o way_n and_o manner_n of_o such_o performance_n though_o perhaps_o not_o the_o true_a one_o it_o be_v a_o argument_n that_o such_o thing_n may_v be_v effect_v by_o creature_n who_o power_n and_o knowledge_n be_v so_o vast_o exceed_v we_o i_o shall_v endeavour_v therefore_o brief_o to_o suggest_v some_o thing_n that_o may_v render_v the_o possibility_n of_o such_o performance_n conceivable_a in_o order_n to_o the_o removal_n of_o this_o objection_n that_o they_o be_v contradiction_n and_o impossible_a for_o the_o first_o then_o that_o the_o