Selected quad for the lemma: knowledge_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
knowledge_n	able_a	account_n	acquaint_v	13	3	7.4154	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A56390	A free and impartial censure of the Platonick philosophie being a letter written to his much honoured friend Mr. N.B. / by Sam. Parker.	Parker, Samuel, 1640-1688.; Bisbie, Nathaniel, 1635-1695.	1666 (1666)	Wing P463; ESTC R18216	56,029	122

describe_v the_o nature_n of_o being_n that_n be_v not_o obnoxious_a to_o sense_n i_o demand_v by_o what_o way_n and_o method_n they_o come_v to_o that_o knowledge_n for_o it_o be_v not_o enough_o to_o prove_v that_o this_o or_o that_o be_v the_o idea_n of_o any_o thing_n because_o some_o fanciful_a man_n be_v able_a to_o make_v pretty_a hypothesis_n concern_v it_o but_o if_o any_o man_n have_v attain_v any_o certain_a knowledge_n thereof_o he_o be_v able_a to_o give_v a_o rational_a account_n of_o the_o way_n and_o method_n by_o which_o he_o proceed_v in_o his_o enquiry_n but_o this_o these_o bold_a definer_n neither_o have_v nor_o can_v do_v but_o if_o you_o will_v be_v so_o civil_a as_o to_o take_v their_o word_n they_o will_v requite_v your_o civility_n by_o acquaint_v you_o with_o more_o strange_a and_o stupendous_a mystery_n and_o here_o before_o i_o conclude_v this_o head_n i_o can_v but_o proclaim_v a_o quarrel_n against_o the_o metaphysic_n of_o the_o school-doctor_n who_o pretend_v too_o by_o their_o definition_n to_o unfold_v the_o most_o hide_a and_o abstract_a essence_n of_o thing_n but_o their_o performance_n be_v a_o pregnant_a argument_n of_o the_o vanity_n of_o their_o undertake_n for_o their_o vast_a volume_n be_v fill_v with_o well_o nigh_o nothing_o but_o empty_a and_o insignificant_a word_n frivolous_a and_o confuse_a distinction_n useless_a and_o imaginary_a notion_n precarious_a and_o uncertain_a supposition_n senseless_a and_o unintelligible_a discourse_n and_o with_o a_o deal_n of_o such_o fantastic_a and_o uncouth_a stuff_n as_o make_v fool_n stare_v and_o wise_a man_n laugh_v but_o the_o intrinsic_a essence_n of_o any_o one_o be_v be_v no_o more_o explain_v and_o unsecrete_v after_o all_o their_o labour_n than_o it_o be_v afore_o this_o sir_n you_o may_v understand_v as_o a_o recantation_n of_o my_o error_n or_o rather_o bemoan_v my_o unhappiness_n in_o that_o i_o have_v contrary_a to_o what_o you_o once_o advise_v i_o lose_v so_o much_o time_n and_o industry_n in_o these_o absurd_a and_o senseless_a author_n and_o though_o this_o be_v only_o to_o accuse_v yet_o it_o be_v as_o easy_a a_o task_n to_o make_v good_a my_o charge_n to_o the_o utmost_a as_o it_o be_v to_o make_v it_o but_o that_o because_o it_o can_v be_v do_v unless_o by_o a_o induction_n of_o particular_a instance_n will_v require_v a_o large_a discourse_n than_o can_v be_v allow_v to_o a_o digression_n in_o this_o letter_n 3._o my_o three_o impeachment_n be_v their_o affect_v a_o mysterious_a obscurity_n and_o abstruseness_n thereby_o to_o render_v their_o notion_n more_o solemn_a and_o venerable_a of_o this_o i_o may_v produce_v you_o infinite_a instance_n but_o for_o a_o full_a conviction_n let_v i_o only_o engage_v you_o to_o spend_v one_o hour_n either_o in_o plato_n parmenides_n which_o though_o proclus_n think_v a_o entire_a &_o exact_a system_n of_o platonic_a divinity_n etc._n yet_o himself_o waste_v several_a chapter_n in_o a_o enquiry_n after_o the_o scope_n and_o design_n of_o that_o dialogue_n or_o any_o of_o those_o of_o his_o theological_a commentator_n who_o they_o will_v allow_v to_o have_v understand_v he_o for_o patricius_n will_v not_o allow_v that_o his_o first_o glosser_n to_o the_o number_n of_o above_o 75_o be_v able_a to_o reach_v his_o meaning_n exotericus_fw-la but_o chief_o proclus_n his_o 6_o plato_n theology_n or_o for_o brevity_n sake_n his_o theological_a institution_n annex_v to_o they_o of_o the_o obscurity_n and_o ambiguity_n of_o plato_n sentiment_n concern_v the_o deity_n i_o have_v treat_v you_o know_v where_o &_o therefore_o thither_o i_o refer_v you_o only_o let_v i_o note_v transcribe_v that_o when_o cardinal_n bessarion_n profess_v to_o give_v we_o a_o brief_a &_o summary_n account_v of_o plato_n notion_n of_o god_n in_o his_o parmenides_n he_o amass_v together_o as_o their_o manner_n be_v a_o cento_n of_o flat_a contradiction_n &_o give_v a_o description_n much_o like_o that_o peripatetic_a riddle_n of_o matter_n aelia_n laelia_n crispis_n nec_fw-la mass_fw-es nec_fw-la foemina_fw-la nec_fw-la androgyna_n nec_fw-la casta_fw-la nec_fw-la meretrix_n nec_fw-la pudica_fw-la sed_fw-la omne_fw-la and_o then_o applaud_v both_o himself_o and_o plato_n for_o their_o orthodox_n sentiment_n about_o the_o deity_n just_o such_o another_o senseless_a jargon_n be_v that_o supposititious_a piece_n of_o dyonysius_fw-la the_o areopagite_n de_fw-fr divinis_fw-la nominibus_fw-la again_o be_v it_o not_o a_o wild_a kind_n of_o speculative_a fanaticisme_n to_o explain_v the_o unaccountable_a idea_n of_o immaterial_a being_n by_o number_n and_o figure_n of_o which_o i_o have_v already_o give_v you_o a_o sufficient_a instance_n but_o if_o i_o shall_v transcribe_v their_o pretty_a dream_n and_o conceit_n of_o the_o superessential_a unity_n of_o the_o divine_a order_n and_o oeconomy_v of_o the_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d of_o the_o paternum_n profundum_fw-la jynge_n teletarchae_n fontani_n patres_fw-la of_o the_o field_n of_o truth_n the_o super-celestial_a region_n &_o invisible_a heaven_n together_o with_o the_o description_n of_o their_o several_a inhabitant_n &_o of_o all_o other_o intellectual_a hypostasis_n i_o be_o confident_a it_o will_v tempt_v your_o gravity_n though_o you_o be_v stoical_o morose_v much_o beyond_o the_o essay_n of_o a_o smile_n unless_o perhaps_o your_o perusal_n of_o jacob_n behem_n may_v have_v prevent_v their_o novelty_n but_o the_o grecian_a theology_n as_o proclus_n contend_v be_v found_v by_o orpheus_n 5._o advance_v by_o pythagoras_n and_o complete_v by_o plato_n as_o orpheus_n represent_v his_o mystery_n by_o tale_n and_o fable_n pythagoras_n by_o number_n and_o symbol_n so_o plato_n and_o his_o follower_n have_v in_o imitation_n of_o they_o communicate_v their_o notion_n by_o emblem_n 4._o fable_n symbol_n parable_n heap_n of_o metaphor_n allegory_n and_o all_o sort_n of_o mystical_a representation_n as_o be_v vulgar_o know_v all_o which_o upon_o the_o account_n of_o their_o obscurity_n and_o ambiguity_n be_v apparent_o the_o unfit_a sign_n in_o the_o world_n to_o express_v the_o train_n of_o any_o man_n thought_n to_o another_o for_o beside_o that_o they_o carry_v in_o they_o no_o intelligible_a affinity_n to_o the_o notice_n which_o they_o be_v design_v to_o intimate_v the_o power_n of_o imagination_n be_v so_o great_a and_o the_o instance_n in_o which_o one_o thing_n may_v resemble_v another_o be_v so_o many_o that_o there_o be_v scarce_o any_o thing_n in_o nature_n in_o which_o the_o fancy_n can_v find_v or_o make_v a_o variety_n of_o such_o symbolise_v resemblance_n so_o that_o emblem_n fable_n symbol_n allegory_n though_o they_o be_v pretty_a poetic_a fancy_n be_v infinite_o unfit_a to_o express_v philosophical_a notion_n and_o discovery_n of_o the_o nature_n of_o thing_n and_o beside_o see_v they_o have_v leave_v we_o no_o key_n to_o these_o dark_a cipher_n there_o can_v be_v no_o sure_a and_o constant_a way_n to_o unriddle_v what_o conception_n be_v lock_v up_o under_o they_o so_o that_o it_o do_v not_o only_o require_v a_o great_a deal_n of_o pain_n to_o frame_v conjecture_n of_o their_o mea●ing_n but_o the_o sure_a we_o can_v pitch_v upon_o be_v withal_o so_o uncertain_a and_o ambiguous_a that_o they_o unavoidable_o leave_v we_o fluctuate_a in_o mere_a uncertainty_n and_o what_o wife_n man_n will_v take_v so_o much_o pain_n for_o such_o a_o knowledge_n that_o can_v at_o high_a amount_v but_o to_o a_o doubtful_a guess_n the_o truth_n of_o it_o be_v they_o have_v by_o these_o exorbitance_n be_v high_o injurious_a to_o the_o advancement_n of_o true_a and_o solid_a philosophy_n for_o it_o needs_o little_o less_o pain_n to_o discover_v their_o meaning_n then_o perhaps_o it_o will_v to_o have_v examine_v the_o thing_n itself_o and_o yet_o when_o that_o be_v do_v we_o be_v as_o far_o from_o our_o end_n as_o before_o the_o end_n of_o philosophy_n be_v to_o search_v into_o and_o discover_v the_o nature_n of_o thing_n but_o i_o believe_v you_o understand_v not_o how_o the_o nature_n of_o any_o thing_n be_v at_o all_o discover_v by_o make_v it_o the_o theme_n of_o allegorical_a and_o dark_a discourse_n but_o i_o must_v not_o too_o much_o aggravate_v this_o accusation_n upon_o the_o platonist_n in_o particular_a see_v it_o have_v be_v the_o catholic_n crime_n of_o all_o the_o learned_a world_n the_o monk_n of_o viterbo_n in_o his_o counterfeit_n berosus_n derive_v this_o art_n of_o wrape_v up_o and_o unfold_a mystery_n at_o the_o same_o time_n from_o noah_n but_o perhaps_o another_o man_n will_v have_v fetch_v it_o its_o invention_n from_o the_o oracular_a devil_n who_o take_v upon_o they_o to_o foretell_v what_o they_o can_v not_o foreknow_v be_v force_v to_o use_v such_o shift_n to_o hide_v their_o ignorance_n ambage_n nexa_fw-la delphico_fw-la mos_fw-la est_fw-la deo_fw-la arcana_fw-la tegere_fw-la and_o from_o hence_o they_o who_o affect_v a_o title_n of_o wisdom_n imitate_v their_o oracle_n and_o because_o they_o undertake_v to_o explain_v

withal_o to_o pretend_v to_o demonstrative_a evidence_n in_o these_o thing_n again_o when_o they_o confident_o assert_v the_o first_o mind_n to_o be_v the_o only_a author_n of_o soul_n and_o that_o humane_a soul_n be_v temper_v in_o the_o same_o vessel_n where_o the_o soul_n of_o the_o universe_n have_v be_v wrought_v and_o that_o they_o be_v make_v out_o of_o some_o remain_a fragment_n of_o that_o mixture_n out_o of_o which_o the_o god_n of_o the_o second_o and_o three_o classis_fw-la have_v be_v frame_v that_o the_o first_o mind_n have_v depute_v the_o genii_n or_o junior_a deity_n guardian_n of_o his_o offspring_n and_o that_o it_o be_v they_o that_o marry_v they_o to_o their_o respective_a vehicles_n when_o they_o define_v whether_o the_o apostate_n genii_n be_v pure_o immaterial_a and_o whether_o they_o be_v vital_o unite_v with_o matter_n and_o whether_o they_o be_v make_v peccable_a only_o by_o union_n with_o their_o vehicles_n whether_o any_o of_o the_o aerial_a spirit_n be_v atheist_n or_o no_o whether_o any_o of_o they_o be_v of_o a_o sportive_a drol_a humour_n and_o delight_n to_o effect_v antic_a prodigy_n in_o the_o air_n to_o abuse_v and_o affright_v silly_a mortal_n how_o they_o change_v intelligence_n and_o discourse_v together_o when_o they_o delineate_v the_o cosmographie_n of_o the_o archetypal_a world_n replenish_v with_o the_o immaterial_a idea_n of_o all_o material_a being_n and_o describe_v the_o systeme_n of_o the_o invisible_a heaven_n when_o they_o frame_v particular_a hypothesis_n not_o only_o of_o the_o nature_n of_o the_o soul_n but_o of_o the_o manner_n of_o its_o live_n before_o its_o lapse_n into_o this_o life_n and_o after_o its_o return_n home_o again_o last_o when_o they_o graphical_o describe_v the_o manner_n of_o the_o world_n last_o and_o final_a conflagration_n i_o may_v add_v too_o their_o hypothesis_n about_o the_o manner_n of_o the_o world_n production_n for_o unless_o they_o have_v be_v spectator_n it_o be_v not_o possible_a for_o they_o to_o know_v in_o what_o way_n and_o method_n the_o universe_n be_v erect_v that_o depend_v whole_o on_o the_o free_a election_n of_o the_o divine_a will_n though_o some_o learned_a man_n have_v think_v it_o a_o mighty_a confirmation_n of_o the_o truth_n of_o the_o mosaic_a write_n if_o they_o can_v but_o evince_v a_o consonancy_n of_o any_o of_o the_o philospher_n hypothesis_n with_o the_o mosaic_a account_n of_o the_o origine_fw-la of_o the_o universe_n as_o if_o their_o naked_a surmise_n can_v give_v any_o testimony_n to_o truth_n for_o either_o they_o receive_v the_o account_n they_o give_v from_o a_o credible_a tradition_n and_o if_o so_o then_o moses_n be_v the_o first_o author_n thereof_o for_o none_o else_o can_v give_v any_o certain_a account_n of_o the_o process_n providence_n be_v please_v to_o use_v in_o the_o production_n of_o thing_n but_o certain_o it_o be_v no_o argument_n of_o the_o truth_n of_o the_o mosaic_a account_n because_o the_o jew_n tell_v it_o to_o the_o egyptian_n and_o they_o to_o the_o grecian_n for_o this_o can_v add_v no_o authority_n or_o evidence_n to_o it_o or_o else_o they_o be_v of_o their_o own_o frame_n and_o consequent_o be_v altogether_o groundless_a and_o unwarrantable_a conjecture_n for_o it_o be_v sure_o impossible_a any_o man_n reason_n shall_v tell_v he_o the_o particular_a circumstance_n of_o the_o world_n creation_n as_o that_o its_o material_a principle_n be_v a_o tohu_n and_o a_o bohu_n that_o it_o be_v agitate_a by_o the_o divine_a spirit_n that_o several_a portion_n be_v form_v at_o several_a time_n that_o all_o be_v finish_v in_o six_o day_n space_n rather_o than_o five_o or_o seven_o and_o the_o like_a this_o design_n therefore_o of_o discover_v a_o consonancy_n between_o the_o hypothesis_n of_o any_o of_o the_o philosopher_n concern_v the_o origine_fw-la of_o the_o universe_n and_o the_o mosaic_a account_n thereof_o be_v absolute_o scopeless_a and_o unprofitable_a but_o this_o be_v a_o digression_n that_o have_v thrust_v its_o self_n in_o here_o before_o i_o be_v aware_a of_o it_o to_o resume_v therefore_o my_o former_a theme_n be_v it_o not_o the_o high_a and_o most_o disingenuous_a madness_n for_o man_n to_o give_v such_o confident_a and_o definitive_a sentence_n in_o matter_n so_o remote_a and_o unaccountable_a all_o the_o forementioned_a particular_n to_o which_o it_o be_v easy_a to_o add_v a_o thousand_o more_o be_v apparent_o beyond_o the_o reach_n of_o humane_a cognisance_n and_o such_o thing_n as_o can_v be_v know_v but_o by_o revelation_n there_o be_v no_o other_o mean_n to_o attain_v to_o any_o knowledge_n of_o thing_n of_o their_o vast_a distance_n and_o remoteness_n and_o if_o we_o will_v but_o reflect_v upon_o our_o own_o thought_n we_o must_v confess_v that_o we_o can_v perceive_v the_o idea_n of_o being_n that_n be_v not_o place_v within_o the_o horizon_n of_o sense_n and_o those_o that_o pretend_v to_o a_o discovery_n of_o they_o have_v better_o pretend_v to_o oracle_n prophecy_n illapse_n and_o divination_n then_o to_o the_o sober_a and_o steady_a maxim_n of_o philosophy_n and_o therefore_o it_o be_v not_o unusual_a with_o the_o platonist_n to_o pretend_v to_o a_o kind_n of_o enthusiasm_n they_o style_v themselves_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d the_o inspire_a priest_n of_o truth_n and_o their_o philosophy_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d as_o if_o it_o have_v be_v pour_v into_o they_o in_o a_o divine_a and_o ecstatical_a fury_n and_o proclus_n say_v it_o a_o thousand_o time_n of_o plato_n and_o his_o commentator_n that_o they_o do_v 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d as_o if_o they_o have_v write_v with_o a_o kind_n of_o bacchical_a enthusiasm_n and_o they_o every_o where_o talk_v so_o like_o prophet_n and_o oracle_n as_o if_o they_o be_v inspire_v at_o least_o by_o a_o bath-col_a and_o it_o be_v huge_o pleasant_a to_o read_v their_o own_o exorbitant_a parade_n of_o the_o exalt_v divine_a and_o extatick_a sublimity_n of_o platonic_a contemplation_n they_o boast_v so_o often_o of_o sequester_v themselves_o from_o all_o corporeal_a commerce_n and_o soar_v up_o into_o the_o ethereal_a region_n that_o a_o man_n will_v expect_v news_n from_o the_o three_o heaven_n every_o day_n if_o they_o be_v in_o good_a earnest_n we_o may_v expect_v strange_a discovery_n indeed_o but_o alas_o these_o son_n of_o imagination_n be_v as_o little_o trouble_v with_o real_a ecstasy_n as_o other_o man_n only_o they_o be_v please_v to_o express_v the_o frenzy_n of_o their_o fiery_a and_o subtle_a fancy_n by_o these_o allusion_n so_o that_o let_v they_o talk_v never_o so_o seraphical_o of_o retire_v from_o the_o trivial_a and_o common_a entertainment_n of_o sense_n they_o do_v but_o sit_v down_o in_o the_o theatre_n of_o fancy_n and_o entertain_v themselves_o with_o the_o idola_fw-la specus_fw-la or_o image_n of_o their_o own_o complexion_n and_o though_o they_o take_v they_o for_o great_a reality_n as_o other_o sleeper_n do_v their_o dream_n yet_o when_o they_o awake_v out_o of_o their_o fanciful_a vision_n and_o return_v to_o a_o strength_n and_o consistency_n of_o reason_n they_o then_o discern_v they_o to_o have_v be_v only_o evanid_v appearance_n represent_v as_o all_o dream_n be_v upon_o the_o scene_n of_o imagination_n now_o it_o be_v a_o great_a mistake_n of_o some_o man_n to_o think_v it_o necessary_a that_o we_o shall_v be_v able_a to_o confute_v such_o vain_a and_o ungrounded_a position_n and_o that_o for_o this_o reason_n because_o they_o be_v out_o of_o the_o sphere_n of_o humane_a knowledge_n for_o though_o they_o may_v sometime_o perchance_o like_o the_o cartesian_a vortices_fw-la justle_v with_o some_o certain_a truth_n belong_v to_o our_o sphere_n by_o reason_n of_o their_o vicinity_n yet_o that_o happen_v by_o chance_n and_o be_v not_o necessary_a but_o be_v in_o their_o own_o nature_n out_o of_o our_o view_n it_o be_v not_o to_o be_v expect_v we_o shall_v give_v any_o account_n of_o they_o because_o that_o will_v be_v to_o assert_v what_o we_o can_v know_v which_o be_v to_o commit_v the_o very_a fault_n we_o be_v now_o chastise_v it_o be_v therefore_o sufficient_a to_o show_v the_o absurdity_n of_o a_o assertion_n if_o i_o can_v evince_v it_o to_o be_v unevident_a though_o i_o can_v not_o to_o be_v untrue_a for_o it_o be_v not_o less_o unbecoming_a a_o wise_a man_n to_o assent_v to_o a_o uncertainty_n than_o to_o a_o untruth_n because_o it_o be_v not_o the_o real_a certainty_n of_o a_o truth_n that_o be_v a_o sufficient_a motive_n of_o our_o assent_n but_o its_o evidence_n to_o we_o for_o all_o truth_n be_v in_o themselves_o equal_o certain_a though_o not_o equal_o necessary_a and_o durable_a but_o it_o be_v from_o the_o variety_n of_o evidence_n that_o the_o difference_n of_o our_o knowledge_n proceed_v and_o howsoever_o assertion_n may_v be_v in_o themselves_o real_a and_o certain_a truth_n yet_o unless_o they_o be_v evident_a as_o well_o as_o