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Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
knowledge_n degree_n infinite_a matter_n 2,387 5 10.0479 5 true
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A58018 An essay, concerning critical and curious learning in which are contained some short reflections on the controversie betwixt Sir William Temple and Mr. Wotton, and that betwixt Dr. Bentley and Mr. Boyl / by T.R. Esq. Rymer, Thomas, 1641-1713. 1698 (1698) Wing R2425; ESTC R9362 16,809 80

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nevertheless_o a_o study_n which_o some_o man_n think_v worth_a their_o care_n and_o if_o at_o last_o they_o attain_v to_o the_o reputation_n of_o a_o almanac-maker_n or_o conjurer_n they_o be_v abundant_o satisfy_v with_o the_o worthy_a distinction_n there_o be_v yet_o other_o science_n as_o geometry_n and_o metaphysic_n which_o in_o some_o degree_n be_v extreme_o useful_a and_o necessary_a for_o without_o this_o great_a branch_n of_o mathematics_n many_o part_n of_o nature_n can_v never_o be_v full_o comprehend_v nor_o clear_o demonstrate_v nor_o accommodate_v to_o use_v with_o any_o skill_n or_o certainty_n and_o without_o metaphysic_n what_o notion_n can_v we_o have_v of_o that_o vast_a circle_n of_o knowledge_n beyond_o the_o sphere_n of_o matter_n and_o motion_n which_o be_v conversant_a about_o spirit_n and_o incorporeal_a substance_n but_o i_o shall_v not_o desire_v to_o be_v a_o profound_a critic_n in_o they_o because_o the_o great_a acquirement_n that_o can_v be_v hope_v 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pretend_v to_o rival_n her_o work_n and_o produce_v the_o
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our_o understanding_n be_v too_o gross_a to_o be_v consistent_a with_o a_o immediate_a intuition_n which_o be_v the_o happiness_n and_o prerogative_n of_o spiritual_a intelligence_n only_o whereas_o the_o mind_n of_o man_n take_v impression_n from_o external_n object_n and_o these_o impression_n make_v she_o reflect_v upon_o the_o nature_n of_o the_o thing_n from_o whence_o she_o receive_v they_o lead_v we_o through_o a_o long_a chain_n and_o series_n of_o thought_n before_o we_o can_v arrive_v at_o any_o conclusion_n now_o in_o order_n to_o bring_v these_o conclusion_n to_o some_o clearness_n and_o perfection_n we_o must_v often_o ruminate_v upon_o they_o we_o must_v turn_v our_o thought_n into_o word_n and_o expression_n and_o thus_o we_o shall_v instruct_v and_o inform_v the_o very_a mind_n that_o produce_v they_o by_o put_v it_o still_o upon_o a_o more_o intense_a application_n for_o we_o doubtless_o understand_v ourselves_o better_a by_o express_v the_o idea_n we_o have_v form_v within_o than_o we_o possible_o can_v by_o private_a thought_n and_o internal_a reflection_n which_o be_v always_o a_o little_a dark_a and_o cloudy_a the_o image_n become_v more_o clear_a and_o determinate_a when_o it_o be_v set_v in_o open_a light_n and_o be_v as_o it_o be_v a_o second_o time_n submit_v to_o the_o censure_n of_o the_o mind_n we_o can_v so_o easy_o flatter_v ourselves_o with_o false_a beauty_n and_o appearance_n our_o judgement_n will_v reform_v the_o mistake_v our_o vanity_n may_v before_o have_v fond_o entertain_v and_o give_v we_o a_o just_a and_o more_o exact_a view_n of_o our_o abilty_n thus_o we_o shall_v understand_v the_o real_a compass_n and_o circle_n of_o our_o knowledge_n we_o shall_v digest_v and_o settle_v what_o we_o have_v already_o imbibe_v and_o be_v the_o better_a able_a to_o proceed_v to_o further_a improvement_n we_o shall_v discover_v our_o own_o natural_a infirmity_n or_o defect_n and_o consequent_o may_v learn_v to_o apply_v proper_a remedy_n and_o relief_n to_o they_o it_o have_v be_v a_o controvert_v question_n in_o philosophy_n a_o omnes_fw-la animae_fw-la sint_fw-la aequales_fw-la and_o though_o i_o will_v not_o undertake_v to_o maintain_v the_o affirmative_a in_o all_o point_n for_o why_o shall_v not_o our_o soul_n be_v of_o different_a stature_n and_o complexion_n as_o well_o as_o our_o body_n yet_o i_o be_o thus_o far_o of_o the_o opinion_n as_o to_o think_v that_o no_o man_n soul_n be_v so_o unlucky_o form_v so_o sink_v and_o immerse_v in_o his_o body_n that_o it_o can_v by_o due_a care_n be_v make_v to_o exert_v its_o faculty_n and_o advance_v to_o a_o considerable_a degree_n of_o knowledge_n not_o that_o i_o will_v therefore_o conclude_v that_o it_o be_v positive_o in_o every_o man_n power_n provide_v he_o use_v his_o utmost_a industry_n to_o reach_v what_o perfection_n he_o please_v in_o any_o science_n all_o be_v not_o blessed_v with_o the_o same_o portion_n of_o genius_n nature_n have_v visible_o frame_v and_o fashion_v some_o man_n to_o particular_a thing_n wherein_o they_o proceed_v with_o a_o great_a deal_n of_o ease_n and_o delight_n the_o native_a tendency_n and_o propension_n of_o their_o soul_n concur_v with_o their_o diligence_n and_o labour_n on_o the_o other_o hand_n it_o be_v equal_o difficult_a if_o not_o impossible_a to_o turn_v the_o stream_n and_o be_v successful_a in_o spite_n of_o nature_n whereof_o we_o have_v a_o remarkable_a instance_n in_o the_o famous_a cicero_n who_o though_o he_o be_v very_o fond_a of_o ingenious_a man_n and_o write_n and_o spare_v no_o time_n nor_o pain_n to_o have_v make_v himself_o as_o considerable_a a_o poet_n as_o he_o be_v a_o orator_n yet_o his_o verse_n be_v so_o extreme_o unpoetical_a that_o the_o critic_n can_v allow_v he_o any_o title_n or_o pretention_n at_o all_o to_o the_o character_n and_o yet_o we_o must_v not_o altogether_o condemn_v his_o poetical_a essay_n when_o we_o consider_v what_o he_o himself_o somewhere_o suggest_v in_o his_o own_o defence_n that_o such_o exercise_n do_v not_o only_o relieve_v and_o unbend_v his_o thought_n from_o severe_a study_n but_o be_v of_o great_a use_n to_o he_o in_o his_o other_o composure_n they_o furnish_v he_o with_o the_o knowledge_n of_o figurative_a ornament_n with_o that_o fertility_n of_o imagination_n and_o that_o beauty_n of_o conception_n which_o be_v the_o mother_n of_o eloquence_n and_o of_o all_o that_o be_v graceful_a in_o speak_v so_o that_o invention_n in_o any_o kind_n will_v turn_v to_o some_o advantage_n or_o other_o there_o will_v either_o be_v pleasure_n or_o profit_n and_o still_o the_o mind_n must_v be_v improve_v but_o to_o return_v it_o too_o often_o happen_v that_o those_o who_o now_o adays_o set_v up_o for_o the_o censor_n of_o write_n be_v bias_v by_o partiality_n and_o in_o spite_n of_o all_o their_o specious_a pretence_n a_o strong_a tincture_n of_o ill_a nature_n and_o virulence_n unhappy_o appear_v in_o every_o line_n they_o common_o tell_v we_o indeed_o in_o their_o preface_n that_o they_o have_v deal_v very_o handsome_o and_o candid_o with_o the_o author_n they_o comment_v upon_o and_o that_o a_o critic_n ought_v to_o be_v as_o cautious_a and_o impartial_a in_o determine_v a_o man_n reputation_n as_o a_o judge_n in_o the_o decision_n of_o his_o fortune_n but_o all_o this_o be_v soon_o forget_v for_o when_o we_o come_v to_o the_o remark_n themselves_o we_o be_v entertain_v with_o nothing_o but_o continual_a snarl_v and_o insolence_n the_o poor_a writer_n be_v use_v most_o inhumane_o for_o the_o ill_a cadence_n of_o a_o verse_n or_o the_o ruggedness_n of_o a_o period_n and_o if_o by_o chance_n he_o have_v offend_v against_o any_o of_o the_o small_a precept_n of_o aristotle_n etc._n etc._n then_o to_o be_v sure_a there_o be_v no_o mercy_n nor_o quarter_n for_o he_o the_o little_a lapse_n of_o a_o pen_n and_o sometime_o the_o errata_fw-la of_o the_o press_n can_v be_v pass_v by_o without_o a_o strange_a disgust_n and_o and_o severe_a reprimand_n and_o rather_o than_o not_o swell_v up_o his_o annotation_n to_o a_o just_a volume_n this_o mild_a inoffensive_a good_a nature_a creature_n will_v acquit_v his_o conscience_n and_o fall_v foul_a upon_o the_o author_n moral_n will_v give_v we_o a_o account_n of_o his_o religion_n estate_n and_o pedigree_n or_o if_o he_o have_v the_o least_o reason_n to_o suspect_v his_o friend_n have_v none_o he_o be_v very_o free_a in_o disclose_v that_o secret_a too_o i_o be_o sorry_a some_o piece_n late_o write_v on_o good_a subject_n and_o by_o good_a hand_n which_o i_o forbear_v to_o name_n have_v fall_v under_o this_o censure_n and_o for_o want_v of_o a_o prudent_a conduct_n have_v lose_v a_o great_a part_n of_o that_o reputation_n they_o may_v otherwise_o have_v just_o claim_v thus_o criticism_n dwindle_n into_o down_o right_a raillery_n and_o aspersion_n and_o we_o must_v take_v it_o as_o we_o find_v it_o a_o composition_n of_o a_o great_a deal_n of_o dogmatical_a arrogance_n and_o ill_a nature_n mingle_v with_o a_o very_a little_a wit_n and_o discernment_n which_o be_v the_o reason_n it_o have_v so_o small_a effect_n upon_o those_o scribbler_n who_o every_o day_n crowd_v the_o press_n with_o their_o senseless_a production_n but_o if_o critical_a writer_n will_v lay_v aside_o their_o private_a pique_n and_o employ_v themselves_o only_o in_o pursue_v the_o main_a business_n of_o their_o art_n the_o reformation_n and_o finishment_n of_o letter_n they_o will_v prove_v extraordinary_a member_n in_o the_o commonwealth_n of_o learning_n but_o till_o man_n will_v divest_v themselves_o of_o the_o prevail_a affection_n of_o humanity_n this_o candour_n and_o ingenuity_n be_v rather_o to_o be_v wish_v for_o than_o expect_v not_o that_o i_o will_v here_o be_v suppose_v to_o insinuate_v that_o the_o present_a age_n have_v not_o actual_o produce_v man_n of_o as_o considerable_a ability_n and_o accurate_a learning_n as_o any_o other_o age_n of_o the_o world_n for_o