Selected quad for the lemma: knowledge_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
knowledge_n	according_a	act_n	action_n	74	3	5.9269	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A28982	A free enquiry into the vulgarly receiv'd notion of nature made in an essay address'd to a friend / by R.B., Fellow of the Royal Society.	Boyle, Robert, 1627-1691.	1686 (1686)	Wing B3979; ESTC R11778	140,528	442

touch_v upon_o the_o contrary_a pole_n of_o the_o same_o or_o another_o vigorous_a loadstone_n the_o lily_n will_v present_o forget_v its_o former_a inclination_n and_o regard_v the_o southern_a part_n of_o heaven_n to_o which_o position_n it_o will_v as_o it_o be_v spontaneous_o return_v have_v be_v force_v aside_o towards_o the_o east_n or_o towards_o the_o west_n if_o it_o be_v again_o leave_v to_o its_o liberty_n so_o that_o though_o it_o former_o seem_v so_o much_o to_o affect_v one_o point_n of_o heaven_n yet_o it_o may_v in_o a_o trice_n be_v bring_v to_o have_v a_o strong_a propensity_n for_o the_o opposite_a the_o lily_n have_v indeed_o no_o inclination_n for_o one_o point_v of_o heaven_n more_o than_o another_o but_o rest_v in_o that_o position_n to_o which_o it_o be_v last_o determine_v by_o the_o prevalence_n of_o magnetical_a effluvia_fw-la and_o this_o example_n may_v serve_v to_o illustrate_v and_o confirm_v what_o we_o have_v be_v late_o say_v in_o general_n ii_o another_o receive_a axiom_n concern_v nature_n be_v that_o she_o never_o fail_v or_o miss_v of_o her_o end_n natura_fw-la sine_fw-la svo_fw-la nunquam_fw-la excidit_fw-la this_o be_v a_o proposition_n who_o ambiguity_n make_v it_o uneasy_a for_o i_o to_o deliver_v my_o sense_n of_o it._n but_o yet_o to_o say_v somewhat_o if_o by_o nature_n we_o here_o understand_v that_o be_v that_o the_o schoolman_n style_n natura_fw-la naturans_fw-la i_o grant_v or_o rather_o assert_v that_o nature_n never_o miss_v its_o end_n for_o the_o omniscient_a and_o almighty_a author_n of_o thing_n have_v once_o frame_v the_o word_n and_o establish_v in_o it_o the_o law_n of_o motion_n which_o he_o constant_o maintain_v there_o can_v no_o irregularity_n or_o anomaly_n happen_v especial_o among_o the_o great_a mundane_a body_n that_o he_o do_v not_o from_o the_o beginning_n foresee_v and_o think_v fit_a to_o permit_v since_o they_o be_v but_o genuine_a consequence_n of_o that_o order_n of_o thing_n that_o at_o the_o beginning_n he_o most_o wise_o institute_v as_o i_o have_v former_o declare_v in_o instance_n of_o the_o eclipse_n of_o the_o sun_n and_o moon_n to_o which_o i_o can_v add_v other_o as_o the_o inundation_n of_o nilus_n so_o necessary_a to_o the_o health_n and_o plenty_n of_o egypt_n and_o though_o on_o some_o special_a occasion_n this_o institute_v order_n either_o seem_o or_o real_o have_v be_v violate_v as_o when_o the_o sun_n be_v say_v to_o have_v stand_v still_o in_o the_o day_n of_o joshua_n and_o the_o red_a sea_n to_o have_v divide_v itself_o to_o give_v free_a passage_n to_o the_o israelite_n lead_v by_o moses_n yet_o these_o thing_n have_v be_v rare_o do_v for_o weighty_a end_n and_o purpose_n by_o the_o peculiar_a intervention_n of_o the_o first_o cause_n either_o guide_n or_o overrule_a the_o propensity_n and_o motion_n of_o secundary_a agent_n it_o can_v be_v say_v that_o god_n be_v frustrate_v of_o his_o end_n by_o these_o design_v though_o seem_v exorbitance_n by_o which_o he_o most_o wise_o and_o effectual_o accomplish_v them_o but_o if_o by_o nature_n be_v mean_v such_o a_o subordinate_a principle_n as_o man_n be_v wont_a to_o understand_v by_o that_o name_n i_o doubt_v the_o axiom_n be_v in_o many_o case_n false_a for_o though_o it_o it_o be_v true_a as_o i_o have_v often_o say_v that_o the_o material_a world_n be_v so_o constitute_v that_o for_o the_o most_o part_n thing_n be_v bring_v to_o pass_v by_o corporeal_a agent_n as_o regular_o as_o if_o they_o design_v the_o effect_n they_o produce_v yet_o there_o be_v several_a case_n wherein_o thing_n happen_v quite_o otherwise_o thus_o it_o be_v confess_v that_o when_o a_o woman_n be_v with_o child_n the_o aim_n of_o nature_n be_v to_o produce_v a_o perfect_a or_o genuine_a human_a foetus_fw-la and_o yet_o we_o often_o see_v that_o nature_n wide_o miss_v her_o mark_n instead_o of_o that_o produce_v a_o monster_n and_o of_o this_o we_o have_v such_o frequent_a instance_n that_o whole_a volume_n have_v be_v publish_v to_o recount_v and_o describe_v these_o gross_a and_o deform_v aberration_n of_o nature_n we_o many_o time_n see_v and_o have_v former_o note_v that_o in_o fever_n and_o other_o acute_a disease_n she_o make_v critical_a attempt_n upon_o improper_a day_n and_o in_o these_o unseasonable_a attempt_n do_v not_o only_o for_o the_o most_o part_n miss_v of_o her_o end_n which_o be_v to_o cure_v the_o patient_n but_o often_o bring_v he_o to_o a_o far_o worse_a condition_n than_o he_o be_v in_o before_o she_o use_v those_o miscarry_v endeavour_n to_o this_o may_n may_v be_v refer_v the_o cheat_n man_n put_v upon_o nature_n as_o when_o by_o graft_v the_o sap_n that_o nature_n raise_v with_o intention_n to_o feed_v the_o fruit_n of_o a_o white_a thorn_n for_o instance_n be_v by_o the_o gardener_n bring_v to_o nourish_v a_o fruit_n of_o quite_o another_o kind_a so_o when_o maulster_n make_v barley_n to_o sprout_v that_o germination_n whereby_o nature_n intend_v to_o produce_v stalk_n and_o ear_n be_v pervert_v to_o a_o far_o differ_v purpose_n and_o she_o delude_v and_o now_o to_o annex_v some_o argument_n ad_fw-la hominem_fw-la we_o be_v tell_v that_o nature_n make_v every_o agent_n aim_n at_o assimulate_v the_o patient_n to_o itself_o and_o that_o upon_o this_o account_n the_o fire_n aim_v at_o convert_v wood_n and_o the_o other_o body_n it_o work_v on_o into_o fire_n but_o if_o this_o be_v so_o nature_n must_v often_o miss_v of_o her_o end_n in_o chemical_a furnace_n where_o the_o flame_n do_v never_o turn_v the_o brick_n that_o it_o make_v red-hot_a into_o fire_n nor_o the_o crucible_n nor_o the_o cuple_n nor_o yet_o the_o gold_n and_o silver_n that_o it_o thorough_o pervade_v and_o bring_v to_o be_v of_o a_o colour_n the_o same_o or_o very_o near_o the_o same_o with_o its_o own_o and_o keep_v in_o a_o very_a intense_a degree_n of_o heat_n and_o in_o actual_a fusion_n and_o even_o when_o fire_n act_v upon_o wood_n there_o be_v but_o one_o part_n of_o it_o turn_v into_o fire_n since_o to_o say_v nothing_o of_o the_o soot_n and_o concrete_v smoke_n the_o ash_n remain_v fix_v and_o incombustible_a and_o so_o to_o add_v another_o instance_n ad_fw-la hominem_fw-la when_o we_o be_v tell_v that_o nature_n make_v water_n ascend_v in_o sucking-pump_n ob_fw-la fugam_fw-la vacui_fw-la she_o must_v needs_o as_o i_o former_o note_v to_o another_o purpose_n miss_v of_o her_o aim_n when_o the_o pump_n exceed_v five_o and_o thirty_o or_o forty_o foot_n in_o height_n for_o then_o though_o you_o pump_n never_o so_o much_o and_o withdraw_v the_o air_n from_o the_o upper_a part_n of_o the_o engine_n the_o water_n will_v not_o ascend_v to_o the_o top_n and_o consequent_o will_v leave_v a_o cavity_n for_o whole_a replenish_n she_o be_v suppose_v to_o have_v raise_v that_o liquor_n two_o or_o three_o and_o thirty_o foot_n iii_o another_o of_o the_o celebrate_a axiom_n concern_v nature_n be_v that_o she_o always_o act_v by_o the_o short_a or_o most_o compendious_a way_n natura_fw-la semper_fw-la agit_fw-fr per_fw-la vias_fw-la brevissimas_fw-la but_o this_o rule_n as_o well_o as_o divers_a other_o do_v i_o think_v require_v to_o be_v somewhat_o explain_v and_o limit_v before_o it_o be_v admit_v for_o it_o be_v true_a ●hat_n as_o i_o have_v frequent_o occasion_n to_o inculcate_v the_o omniscient_a author_n of_o the_o universe_n have_v so_o frame_v it_o that_o most_o of_o the_o part_n of_o it_o act_n as_o regular_o in_o order_n to_o the_o end_n of_o it_o as_o if_o they_o do_v it_o with_o design_n but_o since_o inanimate_a body_n at_o least_o have_v no_o knowledge_n it_o can_v reasonable_o be_v suppose_v that_o they_o moderate_a and_o vary_v their_o own_o action_n according_a to_o the_o exigency_n of_o particular_a circumstance_n wherewith_o they_o must_v of_o necessity_n be_v unacquainted_a and_o therefore_o it_o be_v strange_a if_o there_o be_v not_o divers_a occurrence_n wherein_o they_o be_v determine_v to_o act_n by_o other_o than_o the_o short_a way_n that_o lead_v to_o particular_a end_n if_o those_o other_o way_n be_v more_o congruous_a to_o the_o general_a law_n or_o custom_n establish_v among_o thing_n corporeal_a this_o i_o prove_v by_o instance_n take_v from_o gravity_n itself_o which_o be_v perhaps_o that_o quality_n which_o of_o all_o other_o be_v most_o probable_o refer_v to_o a_o inbred_a power_n and_o propension_n for_o it_o be_v true_a that_o if_o a_o stone_n or_o another_o heavy_a body_n be_v let_v fall_v into_o the_o free_a air_n it_o will_v take_v its_o course_n direct_o towards_o the_o centre_n of_o the_o earth_n and_o if_o it_o meet_v with_o a_o incline_a plane_n which_o put_v it_o out_o of_o its_o way_n it_o will_v not_o for_o all_o that_o loss_n its_o tendency_n towards_o the_o centre_n but_o run_v along_o that_o plane_n by_o which_o mean_v its_o tendency_n downward_o

be_v prosecute_v though_o not_o as_o before_z in_o a_o perpendicular_a line_n yet_o in_o the_o short_a way_n it_o be_v permit_v to_o take_v these_o obvious_a phaenomena_n i_o confess_v agree_v very_o well_o with_o the_o vulgar_a axiom_n and_o possible_o be_v the_o chief_a thing_n that_o induce_v man_n to_o frame_v it_o but_o now_o let_v we_o suppose_v that_o a_o small_a bullet_n of_o marble_n or_o steel_n after_o have_v for_o a_o pretty_a space_n fall_v through_o the_o air_n light_n upon_o a_o pavement_n of_o marble_n or_o some_o such_o hard_a stone_n that_o lie_v as_o floor_n be_v wont_a to_o do_v horizontal_a in_o this_o case_n experience_n show_v as_o be_v former_o note_v on_o another_o occasion_n that_o the_o fall_a stone_n will_v rebound_v to_o a_o considerable_a height_n in_o proportion_n to_o that_o it_o fall_v from_o and_o fall_v down_o again_o rebound_v the_o second_o time_n though_o not_o so_o high_a as_o before_o and_o in_o short_a rebound_v several_a time_n before_o by_o settle_v upon_o the_o floor_n it_o approach_v as_o near_o as_o be_v permit_v it_o to_o the_o centre_n of_o heavy_a body_n whereas_o if_o nature_n do_v in_o all_o case_n act_v by_o the_o most_o compendious_a way_n this_o bullet_n ought_v not_o to_o rebound_v at_o all_o but_o as_o soon_o as_o it_o find_v by_o the_o hardness_n of_o the_o floor_n it_o can_v descend_v no_o low_o it_o ought_v to_o have_v rest_v there_o as_o in_o the_o near_a place_n it_o can_v obtain_v to_o the_o centre_n of_o the_o earth_n whence_o every_o rebound_v must_v necessary_o remove_v it_o to_o a_o great_a distance_n and_o so_o likewise_o when_o a_o pendulum_n or_o bullet_n fasten_v to_o the_o end_n of_o a_o string_n be_v so_o hold_v that_o the_o string_n be_v praeter_fw-la propter_fw-la perpendicular_a to_o the_o horizon_n if_o it_o be_v thence_o let_v fall_v it_o will_v not_o stop_v at_o the_o perpendicular_a line_n or_o line_n of_o direction_n which_o be_v suppose_v to_o reach_v from_o the_o nail_n or_o other_o prop_n through_o the_o centre_n of_o the_o bullet_n to_o the_o centre_n of_o the_o earth_n but_o will_v pass_v beyond_o it_o and_o vibrate_v or_o swing_n to_o and_o fro_o till_o it_o have_v pass_v again_o and_o again_o the_o line_n of_o direction_n for_o a_o great_a while_n before_o the_o bullet_n come_v to_o settle_v in_o it_o though_o whenever_o it_o remove_v out_o of_o it_o towards_o either_o hand_n it_o must_v real_o ascend_v or_o move_v upward_o and_o so_o go_v further_o off_o from_o the_o centre_n of_o the_o earth_n to_o which_o it_o be_v pretend_v its_o innate_a propensity_n determine_v it_o to_o approach_v as_o much_o and_o as_o soon_o as_o be_v possible_a but_o this_o instance_n have_v be_v former_o touch_v upon_o i_o shall_v now_o observe_v to_o the_o same_o purpose_n that_o have_v take_v a_o good_a sea-compass_n and_o the_o experiment_n succeed_v with_o a_o naked_a yet_o nice_o poise_v needle_n and_o suffer_v the_o magnetic_a needle_n to_o rest_v north_n and_o south_n if_o i_o hold_v the_o proper_a pole_n of_o a_o good_a loadstone_n at_o a_o convenient_a distance_n on_o the_o right_n or_o left_a hand_n of_o the_o lily_n this_o will_v be_v draw_v aside_o from_o the_o north_n point_v towards_o the_o east_n or_o west_n as_o i_o please_v and_o then_o the_o loadstone_n be_v remove_v quite_o away_o the_o lily_n of_o the_o needle_n will_v indeed_o return_v northward_o but_o will_v not_o stop_v in_o the_o magnetic_a meridian_n but_o pass_v on_o divers_a degree_n beyond_o it_o and_o will_v thence_o return_v without_o stop_v at_o the_o meridian_n line_n and_o so_o will_v by_o its_o vibration_n describe_v many_o arch_n still_o short_a and_o short_a till_o at_o length_n it_o come_v to_o settle_v on_o it_o and_o recover_v that_o position_n which_o if_o nature_n always_o act_v by_o the_o most_o compendious_a way_n it_o shall_v have_v rest_v at_o the_o first_o time_n that_o by_o the_o removal_n of_o the_o loadstone_n it_o have_v regain_v it_o but_o the_o truth_n be_v that_o at_o least_o inanimate_a body_n act_v without_o knowledge_n or_o design_n of_o their_o own_o can_v stop_v or_o moderate_v their_o own_o action_n but_o must_v necessary_o move_v as_o they_o be_v determine_v by_o the_o catholic_n law_n of_o motion_n according_a to_o which_o in_o one_o case_n the_o impetus_fw-la that_o the_o bullet_n acquire_v by_o fall_v be_v more_o powerful_a to_o carry_v it_o on_o beyond_o the_o line_n of_o direction_n than_o the_o action_n of_o the_o cause_n of_o gravity_n be_v to_o stop_v it_o assoon_o as_o it_o come_v to_o the_o near_a place_n they_o can_v give_v it_o to_o the_o centre_n of_o the_o earth_n and_o something_o like_o this_o happen_v in_o levity_n as_o well_o as_o gravity_n for_o if_o you_o take_v a_o oblong_a and_o convenient_o shape_a piece_n of_o light_a wood_n as_o fir_n or_o deal_v and_o have_v thrust_v or_o sink_v it_o to_o the_o bottom_n of_o a_o somewhat_o deep_o stagnant_a water_n give_v it_o liberty_n to_o ascend_v it_o will_v not_o only_o regain_v the_o surface_n of_o the_o water_n where_o by_o the_o law_n of_o gravity_n it_o ought_v to_o rest_v and_o do_v rest_n before_o it_o be_v force_v down_o but_o it_o will_v pass_v far_o beyond_o that_o surface_n and_o in_o part_n as_o it_o be_v shoot_v itself_o up_o into_o the_o incumbent_a air_n and_o then_o fall_v down_o again_o and_o rise_v a_o second_o time_n and_o perhaps_o much_o often_o and_o fall_v again_o before_o it_o come_v to_o settle_v in_o its_o due_a place_n in_o which_o it_o be_v in_o a_o aequilibrium_fw-la with_o the_o water_n that_o endeavour_n to_o press_v it_o upward_o another_o of_o the_o sentence_n that_o be_v general_o receive_v concern_v nature_n be_v that_o she_o always_o do_v what_o be_v best_a to_o be_v do_v natura_fw-la semper_fw-la quod_fw-la optimum_fw-la est_fw-la facit_fw-la 22._o but_o of_o this_o it_o will_v not_o be_v safe_a for_o i_o to_o deliver_v my_o opinion_n till_o i_o have_v endeavour_v to_o remove_v the_o ambiguity_n of_o the_o word_n for_o they_o easy_o admit_v of_o two_o different_a sense_n since_o they_o may_v signify_v that_o nature_n in_o the_o whole_a universe_n do_v always_o that_o which_o be_v best_a for_o the_o conservation_n of_o it_o in_o its_o present_a state_n or_o that_o in_o reference_n to_o each_o body_n in_o particular_a nature_n do_v still_o what_o be_v best_a that_o be_v what_o most_o conduce_v to_o the_o preservation_n and_o welfare_n of_o that_o body_n if_o the_o first_o of_o these_o sense_n be_v pitch_v upon_o the_o axiom_n will_v be_v less_o liable_a to_o exception_n but_o then_o i_o fear_v it_o will_v be_v difficult_a to_o be_v positive_o make_v out_o by_o such_o instance_n as_o will_v prove_v that_o nature_n act_v otherwise_o than_o necessary_o according_a to_o law_n mechanical_a and_o therefore_o till_o i_o meet_v with_o such_o proof_n i_o shall_v proceed_v to_o the_o other_o sense_n that_o may_v be_v give_v our_o axiom_n which_o though_o it_o be_v the_o most_o usual_a yet_o i_o confess_v i_o can_v admit_v without_o it_o be_v both_o explain_v and_o limit_v i_o ready_o grant_v that_o the_o alwise_a author_n of_o thing_n corporeal_a have_v so_o frame_v the_o world_n that_o most_o thing_n happen_v in_o it_o as_o if_o the_o particular_a body_n that_o compose_v it_o be_v watchful_a both_o for_o their_o own_o welfare_n and_o that_o of_o the_o universe_n but_o i_o think_v withal_o that_o particular_a body_n at_o least_o those_o that_o be_v inanimate_a act_v without_o either_o knowledge_n or_o design_n their_o action_n do_v not_o tend_v to_o what_o be_v best_a for_o they_o in_o their_o private_a capacity_n any_o further_a than_o will_v comport_v with_o the_o general_a law_n of_o motion_n and_o the_o important_a custom_n establish_v among_o thing_n corporeal_a so_o that_o to_o conform_v to_o these_o divers_a thing_n be_v do_v that_o be_v neither_o the_o best_a nor_o so_o much_o as_o good_a in_o reference_n to_o the_o welfare_n of_o particular_a body_n these_o sentiment_n i_o be_o induce_v to_o take_v up_o not_o only_o by_o the_o more_o speculative_a consideration_n that_o have_v be_v former_o discourse_v of_o and_o therefore_o shall_v not_o here_o be_v repeat_v but_o by_o daily_a observation_n and_o obvious_a experience_n we_o see_v oftentimes_o that_o fruit-tree_n especial_o when_o they_o grow_v old_a will_v for_o one_o season_n be_v so_o overcharge_v with_o fruit_n that_o soon_o after_o they_o decay_n and_o die_v and_o even_o whilst_o they_o flourish_v the_o excessive_a weight_n of_o the_o too_o numerous_a fruit_n do_v not_o seldom_o break_v off_o the_o branch_n they_o grow_v upon_o and_o thereby_o both_o hinder_v the_o maturity_n of_o the_o fruit_n and_o hasten_v the_o death_n of_o the_o tree_n whereas_o this_o fatal_a profuseness_n will_v have_v be_v prevent_v if_o a_o wise_a nature_n