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	sufficient_a	1,462	5	7.5981	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A39270	The vanity of scoffing, or, A letter to a witty gentleman evidently shewing the great weakness and unreasonableness of scoffing at the Christian's faith, on account of its supposed uncertainty : together with the madness of the scoffer's unchristian choice.	Ellis, Clement, 1630-1700.	1674 (1674)	Wing E575; ESTC R3033	22,122	41

of_o faith_n which_o none_o can_v have_v will_v you_o not_o be_v angry_a i_o have_v sometime_o hear_v a_o man_n of_o your_o own_o temper_n when_o he_o be_v in_o his_o gibe_a mood_n and_o have_v a_o mind_n to_o recreate_v himself_o and_o his_o companion_n with_o such_o wild_a frisking_n of_o his_o playsome_a wit_n call_v all_o man_n fool_n that_o dare_v say_v they_o know_v there_o be_v any_o such_o thing_n as_o that_o we_o call_v a_o world_n thus_o when_o wit_n begin_v to_o rave_v it_o know_v not_o when_o to_o make_v a_o end_n and_o that_o you_o may_v seem_v wise_a not_o only_o the_o christian_n but_o all_o man_n whatsoever_o must_v be_v content_a sometime_o at_o least_o to_o be_v think_v fool_n and_o the_o certainty_n of_o sense_n no_o more_o regard_v than_o that_o of_o faith_n but_o when_o this_o gentleman_n be_v ask_v whether_o he_o know_v he_o have_v a_o estate_n in_o this_o world_n and_o if_o he_o do_v not_o believe_v that_o man_n shall_v do_v he_o wrong_v that_o shall_v thrust_v he_o out_o of_o his_o possession_n or_o pretend_v a_o right_a to_o share_v with_o he_o in_o his_o inheritance_n he_o come_v a_o little_a to_o himself_o and_o be_v content_a to_o be_v a_o fool_n for_o company_n he_o swear_v it_o stout_o that_o he_o will_v not_o so_o tame_o part_v with_o his_o estate_n here_o as_o we_o christian_n in_o some_o case_n be_v willing_a to_o do_v and_o that_o he_o will_v send_v any_o such_o bold_a intruder_n to_o seek_v a_o portion_n in_o that_o other_o world_n which_o we_o expect_v yet_o be_v this_o gentleman_n more_o beholden_a to_o the_o certainty_n of_o faith_n than_o sense_n for_o the_o knowledge_n of_o his_o right_n sense_n can_v only_o inform_v he_o that_o a_o house_n and_o land_n etc._n etc._n be_v there_o visible_a and_o now_o in_o his_o possession_n but_o other_o evidence_n create_v faith_n be_v the_o only_a thing_n can_v make_v he_o a_o satisfactory_a assurance_n of_o his_o rightful_a title_n to_o they_o it_o be_v so_o clear_a that_o a_o man_n may_v have_v so_o great_a a_o assurance_n of_o faith_n as_o may_v free_v he_o from_o doubt_v and_o beget_v a_o cheerful_a acquiescence_n and_o confidence_n that_o we_o have_v no_o other_o assurance_n of_o any_o thing_n do_v before_o we_o be_v bring_v forth_o or_o in_o those_o part_n of_o the_o world_n which_o we_o never_o see_v whereof_o yet_o we_o conclude_v ourselves_o so_o certain_a that_o we_o will_v hiss_v at_o the_o man_n that_o shall_v deny_v they_o it_o be_v not_o therefore_o yet_o apparent_a that_o we_o be_v fool_n because_o we_o pretend_v to_o a_o certainty_n of_o faith_n or_o if_o it_o be_v we_o shall_v be_v sure_a to_o find_v company_n among_o you_o we_o will_v yet_o grant_v you_o this_o your_o desire_a advantage_n also_o suppose_v we_o then_o that_o no_o such_o certainty_n as_o we_o pretend_v to_o can_v be_v have_v but_o suppose_v withal_o that_o your_o opinion_n have_v as_o little_a of_o probability_n as_o our_o faith_n have_v of_o certainty_n the_o advantage_n be_v not_o yet_o so_o great_a but_o that_o if_o we_o must_v be_v think_v foolish_o credulous_a you_o must_v also_o be_v esteem_v as_o foolish_o opinionative_n when_o you_o have_v set_v your_o wit_n on_o tenter_n to_o prove_v the_o thing_n that_o we_o believe_v to_o have_v no_o be_v you_o be_v still_o fain_o to_o come_v off_o with_o a_o mere_a possibility_n that_o they_o may_v not_o be_v we_o will_v not_o be_v so_o unreasonable_a as_o you_o be_v to_o demand_v of_o you_o as_o you_o ridiculous_o do_v of_o we_o any_o thing_n like_o mathematical_a demonstration_n for_o your_o opinion_n of_o no_o god_n no_o soul_n no_o future_a life_n and_o the_o like_a but_o we_o think_v it_o reasonable_a that_o you_o shall_v show_v we_o some_o at_o least_o probable_a reason_n for_o your_o opinion_n if_o you_o will_v have_v it_o pass_v for_o a_o opinion_n that_o be_v for_o something_o rational_a and_o not_o rather_o for_o a_o mere_a dotage_n and_o yet_o such_o reason_n show_v you_o none_o nor_o ever_o can_v do_v your_o opinion_n be_v therefore_o groundless_a and_o vain_a now_o on_o the_o other_o hand_n we_o upon_o all_o occasion_n produce_v our_o motive_n of_o credibility_n and_o such_o ground_n of_o believe_v as_o all_o man_n able_a to_o exercise_v their_o reason_n do_v account_n sufficient_a to_o build_v a_o faith_n upon_o because_o all_o that_o matter_n of_o this_o nature_n be_v capable_a of_o and_o he_o that_o demand_v more_o only_o declare_v his_o ignorance_n and_o be_v as_o ●bsurd_a as_o he_o that_o will_v not_o own_o there_o be_v any_o colour_n because_o he_o hear_v they_o not_o or_o sound_n because_o he_o see_v they_o not_o yet_o do_v we_o offer_v you_o more_o than_o you_o can_v just_o demand_v for_o what_o we_o have_v reason_n enough_o upon_o the_o true_a motive_n of_o credibility_n only_o to_o believe_v we_o have_v undeniable_o so_o much_o assistance_n both_o from_o sense_n and_o reason_n as_o to_o render_v they_o high_o probable_a even_o in_o the_o judgement_n of_o the_o consider_a unbeliever_n now_o if_o it_o be_v thus_o as_o you_o will_v certain_o find_v when_o you_o shall_v have_v patience_n to_o peruse_v serious_o the_o many_o thing_n which_o be_v write_v to_o this_o purpose_n then_o certain_o be_v the_o folly_n yet_o you_o who_o out_o of_o a_o vain_a and_o groundless_a opinion_n of_o the_o truth_n whereof_o you_o can_v give_v no_o probable_a account_n go_v on_o to_o deride_v our_o faith_n of_o thing_n both_o credible_a and_o probable_a and_o on_o no_o other_o account_n but_o this_o that_o still_o you_o suppose_v it_o possible_a that_o we_o may_v be_v deceive_v yea_o but_o this_o be_v our_o folly_n that_o we_o believe_v thing_n incredible_a and_o so_o you_o say_v we_o do_v because_o we_o do_v believe_v such_o thing_n to_o be_v as_o far_o exceed_v the_o comprehension_n of_o any_o man_n understanding_n when_o you_o have_v say_v this_o you_o have_v say_v all_o and_o we_o must_v either_o now_o be_v fool_n or_o never_o but_o say_v i_o pray_o be_v it_o a_o thing_n so_o incredible_a that_o there_o shall_v be_v something_o that_o we_o poor_a mortal_n be_v not_o able_a by_o our_o reason_n to_o comprehend_v you_o say_v indeed_o it_o be_v only_a pride_n which_o make_v man_n hope_v for_o heaven_n the_o vanity_n of_o which_o expression_n it_o be_v as_o easy_a for_o i_o to_o show_v as_o you_o will_v find_v it_o hard_o to_o prove_v that_o it_o be_v only_a pride_n which_o make_v man_n humble_a but_o i_o be_o not_o now_o to_o disprove_v your_o bold_a say_n but_o reprove_v your_o unreasonable_a arrogance_n i_o shall_v only_o therefore_o return_v you_o this_o which_o i_o think_v no_o man_n will_v say_v stand_v in_o need_n of_o a_o proof_n that_o it_o be_v pride_n alone_o can_v make_v man_n think_v that_o what_o their_o reason_n do_v not_o comprehend_v be_v not_o i_o shall_v need_v to_o do_v no_o more_o but_o wish_v you_o serious_o to_o advise_v with_o your_o own_o philosophy_n to_o discover_v this_o piece_n of_o your_o folly_n to_o you_o there_o you_o will_v easy_o learn_v without_o my_o help_n that_o incomprehensibility_n by_o our_o sense_n and_o reason_n be_v so_o far_o from_o make_v any_o colourable_a proof_n that_o the_o thing_n to_o which_o it_o be_v suppose_v to_o belong_v be_v not_o that_o even_o the_o minute_a thing_n considerable_a in_o nature_n have_v depth_n unsearchable_a by_o either_o nay_o it_o have_v be_v often_o show_v you_o and_o let_v i_o now_o beg_v this_o favour_n of_o you_o when_o you_o next_o take_v our_o book_n into_o your_o hand_n not_o to_o resolve_v beforehand_o to_o laugh_v at_o what_o shall_v make_v you_o wise_a and_o modest_a that_o while_o you_o be_v study_v how_o to_o charge_v our_o faith_n with_o soul_n absurdity_n you_o plunge_v yourselves_o sometime_o into_o the_o very_a same_o and_o oft_o into_o those_o which_o confess_o on_o all_o hand_n be_v much_o foul_a i_o shall_v therefore_o leave_v with_o you_o this_o reasonable_a request_n that_o you_o will_v only_o so_o long_o forbear_v to_o censure_v our_o faith_n as_o absurd_a till_o you_o can_v free_v yourselves_o from_o those_o absurdity_n which_o you_o be_v force_v inevitable_o to_o run_v into_o by_o contradict_v it_o all_o that_o i_o have_v hitherto_o say_v tend_v only_o to_o persuade_v you_o to_o be_v so_o just_a to_o mankind_n as_o to_o think_v it_o possible_a some_o of_o they_o may_v be_v wise_a and_o know_v more_o than_o yourselves_o or_o if_o this_o will_v not_o down_o with_o your_o proud_a stomach_n to_o imagine_v at_o least_o for_o a_o time_n that_o you_o may_v possible_o be_v as_o foolish_a as_o the_o wise_a of_o those_o who_o be_v not_o of_o your_o opinion_n till_o you_o have_v weigh_v well_o what_o they_o can_v plead_v for_o themselves_o if_o we_o all_o err_v pity_v the_o

be_v so_o stubborn_a and_o impudent_o refractory_a as_o to_o persist_v in_o disputation_n and_o so_o unreasonable_a as_o once_o more_o to_o call_v for_o any_o far_a satisfaction_n in_o a_o thing_n so_o heterodox_o yet_o so_o magisterial_o assert_v we_o shall_v usual_o see_v these_o tall_a gentleman_n if_o they_o can_v find_v no_o fair_a opportunity_n of_o quit_v the_o company_n and_o run_v away_o begin_v to_o stoop_v by_o little_a and_o little_a even_o so_o long_o till_o the_o bravado_n dwindle_v into_o a_o bare_a it_o may_v be_v so_o and_o yet_o possible_o it_o may_v be_v thus_o and_o no_o man_n can_v tell_v we_o whether_o it_o be_v thus_o or_o so_o so_o that_o whatever_o conquest_n they_o obtain_v if_o ever_o they_o prove_v master_n of_o the_o field_n must_v be_v whole_o attribute_v to_o the_o weakness_n of_o their_o adversary_n nothing_o to_o their_o own_o valour_n and_o prowess_n to_o deal_v clear_o with_o you_o after_o all_o that_o i_o have_v have_v to_o this_o day_n the_o 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safe_a or_o honourable_a to_o yourselves_o i_o shall_v show_v you_o the_o former_a of_o these_o now_o and_o the_o late_a in_o the_o close_a of_o this_o letter_n you_o tell_v we_o that_o see_v these_o thing_n can_v be_v know_v it_o be_v most_o reasonable_a that_o man_n shall_v please_v themselves_o in_o a_o free_a enjoyment_n of_o all_o thing_n they_o esteem_v good_a in_o this_o world_n and_o so_o make_v to_o themselves_o as_o much_o happiness_n as_o they_o can_v here_o see_v that_o happiness_n which_o man_n expect_v after_o death_n in_o another_o world_n be_v for_o aught_o we_o know_v no_o better_a than_o a_o dream_n i_o dare_v not_o doubt_v but_o while_o you_o talk_v at_o this_o