Selected quad for the lemma: nature_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
nature_n	aaron_n	body_n	rod_n	23	3	8.6408	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A39359	An answer to a book intitled Tractatus theologico politicus	Earbery, Matthias.	1697 (1697)	Wing E68; ESTC R41104	85,540	210

so_o stark_o mad_a as_o to_o build_v a_o ark_n and_o take_v all_o manner_n of_o beast_n and_o foul_n into_o it_o out_o of_o a_o fantastical_a fear_n that_o he_o shall_v be_v drown_v upon_o the_o dryland_n you_o must_v confess_v he_o do_v it_o by_o virtue_n of_o a_o supernatural_a revelation_n s._n have_v you_o any_o other_o instance_n of_o the_o like_a nature_n l._n yes_o more_o than_o i_o shall_v at_o present_a take_v pain_n to_o enumerate_v but_o however_o i_o will_v gratify_v your_o curiosity_n with_o two_o or_o three_o which_o will_v abundant_o show_v the_o falsity_n of_o your_o a_o s_z so_o much_o boast_v proposition_n we_o read_v in_o the_o 18_o chap._n of_o gen._n that_o sarah_n be_v inform_v by_o the_o angel_n 10_o ver_fw-la that_o she_o shall_v have_v a_o son_n but_o who_o except_o spinosa_n will_v say_v that_o this_o prediction_n be_v accommodate_v to_o the_o capacity_n of_o sarah_n or_o her_o lord_n abraham_n when_o moses_n tell_v we_o in_o the_o 11_o the_o and_o 12_o the_o ver_fw-la that_o abraham_n and_o sarah_n be_v old_a and_o well_o strike_v in_o age_n and_o it_o cease_v to_o be_v with_o sarah_n after_o the_o manner_n of_o woman_n therefore_o sarah_n laugh_v within_o herself_o say_v after_o i_o be_o wax_v old_a shall_v i_o have_v pleasure_n my_o lord_n be_v old_a also_o s._n a_o woman_n may_v easy_o imagine_v what_o she_o earnest_o desire_v l._n if_o you_o except_v against_o a_o woman_n let_v we_o consider_v the_o revelation_n make_v unto_o moses_n which_o you_o will_v find_v to_o be_v direct_o contrary_a to_o the_o apprehension_n and_o above_o the_o natural_a conception_n of_o that_o mighty_a prophet_n i_o will_v feign_v learn_v how_o it_o be_v at_o all_o agreeable_a to_o the_o natural_a conception_n of_o moses_n that_o the_o lift_v up_o his_o rod_n shall_v be_v able_a to_o work_v all_o those_o sign_n and_o wonder_n which_o it_o do_v in_o the_o land_n of_o egypt_n s._n though_o it_o be_v not_o a_o conception_n agreeable_a to_o reason_n yet_o it_o may_v be_v to_o his_o fancy_n and_o we_o all_o know_v the_o strength_n of_o fancy_n in_o produce_v wonder_n l._n imagination_n without_o doubt_n have_v very_o great_a force_n upon_o the_o imagine_v person_n but_o that_o it_o shall_v be_v able_a to_o have_v force_n upon_o object_n place_v without_o he_o so_o as_o to_o work_v any_o visible_a effect_n upon_o they_o be_v to_o i_o till_o i_o be_o better_a inform_v a_o very_a absurd_a supposition_n i_o know_v some_o of_o the_o ancient_n have_v be_v possess_v with_o a_o opinion_n that_o the_o very_a eye_n of_o a_o envious_a person_n do_v dart_n a_o kind_a of_o poison_n upon_o those_o who_o be_v in_o a_o great_a station_n and_o the_o poet_n presume_v they_o have_v the_o same_o or_o like_o effect_n upon_o other_o animal_n nescio_fw-la quis_fw-la teneros_fw-la oculus_fw-la mihi_fw-la fascinat_fw-la agnos_fw-la and_o my_o lord_n bacon_n say_v something_o to_o solve_v this_o phaenomenon_n by_o the_o effluvium_n of_o the_o animal_n spirit_n and_o if_o the_o matter_n of_o it_o be_v true_a which_o i_o do_v very_o much_o question_n his_o lordship_n solution_n of_o it_o will_v be_v the_o best_a that_o can_v be_v give_v but_o suppose_v it_o true_a yet_o such_o weak_a effluvia_n as_o be_v engender_v by_o the_o strength_n of_o imagination_n whatever_o impression_n they_o can_v make_v on_o the_o tender_a part_n of_o humane_a body_n yet_o you_o can_v without_o madness_n suppose_v they_o able_a to_o turn_v aaron_n rod_n into_o a_o serpent_n or_o to_o make_v it_o more_o like_o a_o live_a creature_n or_o turn_v a_o whole_a river_n into_o blood_n to_o divide_v the_o red_a sea_n slay_v all_o the_o first_o bear_v of_o egypt_n and_o do_v work_n of_o the_o like_a stupendous_a nature_n s._n do_v not_o pharaoh_n magician_n do_v something_o very_o like_o it_o l._n all_o you_o can_v infer_v from_o thence_o be_v only_o this_o viz._n that_o they_o be_v assist_v by_o some_o invisible_a power_n which_o be_v more_o than_o man_n of_o your_o principle_n be_v willing_a to_o grant_v who_o deny_v their_o existence_n or_o at_o least_o their_o intermeddle_v with_o humane_a affair_n s._n but_o suppose_v such_o thing_n do_v as_o you_o divine_v call_v it_o by_o invisible_a power_n how_o shall_v a_o man_n know_v whether_o those_o power_n be_v good_a or_o evil._n l._n god_n be_v the_o fountain_n of_o all_o goodness_n no_o revelation_n be_v make_v or_o confirm_v by_o he_o that_o be_v repugnant_a to_o the_o immutable_a law_n of_o nature_n which_o consist_v in_o unfeigned_a love_n to_o god_n and_o to_o our_o neighbour_n the_o pagan_a priest_n make_v great_a pretence_n to_o prophesy_v and_o miracle_n but_o it_o be_v to_o confirm_v a_o superstition_n contrary_a to_o natural_a light_n and_o therefore_o those_o seem_a sign_n and_o wonder_n be_v just_o ascribe_v to_o the_o operation_n of_o lie_v and_o deceitful_a spirit_n for_o these_o be_v know_v maxim_n that_o good_a can_v proceed_v from_o evil_a and_o that_o a_o kingdom_n divide_v against_o itself_o can_v stand_v and_o we_o may_v as_o well_o conceive_v that_o light_n can_v be_v the_o fruitful_a mother_n of_o darkness_n as_o that_o satan_n can_v be_v the_o author_n abetter_n or_o confirmer_n of_o the_o precept_n of_o the_o decalogue_n or_o the_o most_o holy_a rule_n of_o practice_n deliver_v by_o our_o bless_a saviour_n s._n do_v not_o your_o own_o apostle_n say_v that_o satan_n can_v transform_v himself_o into_o a_o angel_n of_o light_n l._n we_o do_v say_v that_o evil_a spirit_n do_v never_o encourage_v a_o seem_a sanctity_n that_o be_v gross_a wickedness_n in_o a_o religious_a dress_n but_o that_o they_o can_v be_v abetter_n or_o promulger_n of_o that_o real_a and_o genuine_a sanctity_n which_o be_v prescribe_v by_o the_o mosaic_a and_o christian_a religion_n and_o of_o the_o excellence_n of_o which_o we_o have_v as_o clear_v perception_n as_o we_o have_v of_o the_o truth_n of_o any_o mathematical_a proposition_n but_o to_o pass_v by_o moses_n and_o descend_v to_o the_o other_o prophet_n what_o pre-conception_n by_o nature_n can_v isaiah_n have_v that_o cyrus_n shall_v be_v king_n of_o persia_n that_o jerusalem_n shall_v be_v destroy_v by_o the_o chaldean_n and_o that_o that_o very_a cyrus_n see_v isa_n 44._o 28._o shall_v rebuild_v the_o temple_n say_v to_o jerusalem_n thou_o shall_v be_v build_v and_o to_o the_o temple_n thy_o foundation_n shall_v be_v lay_v if_o revelation_n be_v adapt_v only_o to_o the_o capacity_n of_o the_o prophet_n certain_o isaiah_n be_v a_o person_n of_o the_o large_a natural_a capacity_n that_o ever_o yet_o be_v bear_v into_o the_o world_n or_o as_o i_o believe_v ever_o will_v be_v bear_v hereafter_o s._n you_o keep_v to_o instance_n in_o the_o old_a testament_n it_o will_v be_v more_o to_o my_o satisfaction_n to_o hear_v something_o of_o this_o nature_n to_o be_v allege_v out_o of_o the_o new_a l._n what_o think_v you_o of_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o incarnation_n of_o the_o son_n of_o god_n and_o of_o the_o holy_a trinity_n which_o be_v found_v upon_o divine_a revelation_n these_o can_v not_o be_v adapt_v to_o the_o capacity_n or_o opinion_n of_o any_o one_o inspire_v author_n since_o they_o be_v above_o the_o conception_n of_o all_o mankind_n s._n i_o fear_v you_o mistake_v this_o author_n his_o meaning_n be_v not_o that_o nothing_o be_v teach_v in_o scripture_n which_o exceed_v humane_a conception_n for_o as_o he_o show_v p._n 28._o the_o prophet_n be_v ignorant_a of_o speculative_a thing_n and_o be_v of_o contrary_a opinion_n among_o themselves_o and_o therefore_o they_o may_v give_v vent_n to_o some_o odd_a opinion_n which_o be_v altogether_o irreconcilable_a to_o the_o reasonable_a conception_n of_o other_o men._n l._n i_o have_v already_o examine_v all_o those_o place_n of_o scripture_n upon_o which_o he_o will_v ground_v this_o wild_a assertion_n and_o i_o hope_v have_v plain_o show_v that_o no_o such_o thing_n can_v be_v deduce_v from_o they_o but_o to_o come_v close_o to_o the_o purpose_n your_o author_n must_v acknowledge_v either_o that_o the_o prophet_n as_o he_o call_v all_o divine_o inspire_v author_n be_v assist_v and_o teach_v by_o god_n or_o that_o they_o be_v guide_v by_o their_o natural_a fancy_n reason_n and_o judgement_n if_o prophecy_n do_v come_v from_o god_n and_o if_o it_o be_v according_a to_o his_o own_o definition_n in_o the_o very_a first_o word_n of_o his_o book_n the_o certain_a knowledge_n of_o some_o thing_n reveal_v to_o man_n by_o god_n he_o can_v overthrow_v the_o certainty_n of_o it_o in_o speculation_n as_o well_o as_o practic_n until_o he_o can_v destroy_v the_o very_a idea_n which_o all_o rational_a man_n do_v entertain_v of_o god_n he_o must_v suppose_v he_o either_o to_o be_v nothing_o else_o but_o the_o settle_a course_n and_o order_n of_o nature_n and_o then_o he_o and_o his_o

because_o it_o take_v away_o from_o trade_n the_o freedom_n of_o lie_v and_o cheat_v and_o defraud_v which_o some_o perhaps_o think_v essential_a to_o it_o but_o if_o you_o gentleman_n desire_v a_o commonwealth_n that_o you_o may_v barter_n away_o our_o religion_n for_o a_o free_a trade_n i_o say_v pray_v god_n bless_v the_o monarchy_n of_o england_n scep_v prithee_o do_v think_v we_o desire_v to_o take_v away_o your_o religion_n your_o reason_n ought_v to_o be_v your_o only_a religion_n and_o that_o i_o be_o sure_a no_o man_n desire_v to_o take_v from_o you_o my_o author_n design_n be_v only_o to_o take_v off_o those_o prejudices_fw-la which_o the_o vulgar_a entertain_n of_o the_o scripture_n who_o despise_v reason_n and_o think_v that_o the_o scripture_n be_v the_o only_a oracle_n of_o truth_n in_o order_n to_o this_o my_o author_n promise_v to_o demonstrate_v that_o prophecy_n or_o revelation_n be_v nothing_o else_o but_o strength_n of_o fancy_n that_o the_o ancient_a prophet_n be_v only_a man_n of_o a_o strong_a imagination_n and_o of_o a_o weak_a reason_n that_o the_o divine_a law_n be_v nothing_o else_o but_o fatal_a necessity_n that_o miracle_n be_v only_o those_o work_n of_o nature_n of_o who_o cause_n we_o be_v ignorant_a that_o the_o true_a way_n of_o interpret_n those_o book_n you_o call_v scripture_n do_v show_v that_o they_o be_v of_o humane_a invention_n and_o that_o every_o individual_a man_n have_v a_o right_a and_o authority_n to_o interpret_v scripture_n as_o he_o please_v and_o that_o log._n no_o far_o i_o beseech_v you_o this_o be_v task_n enough_o for_o one_o time_n let_v we_o therefore_o leave_v his_o preface_n and_o proceed_v to_o the_o book_n itself_o that_o we_o may_v see_v quid_fw-la dignum_fw-la tanto_fw-la feret_fw-la hic_fw-la promissor_n hiatu_fw-la scep_v with_o all_o my_o heart_n and_o first_o let_v we_o begin_v with_o his_o definition_n of_o prophecy_n and_o so_o orderly_o examine_v the_o strength_n of_o all_o his_o invincible_a argument_n log._n i_o be_o content_a and_o also_o further_o promise_n that_o if_o he_o bring_v any_o objection_n against_o reveal_v religion_n which_o i_o can_v answer_v i_o will_v then_o become_v of_o his_o opinion_n and_o subscribe_v to_o whatsoever_o you_o will_v have_v i_o scep_v it_o be_v as_o fair_a as_o i_o can_v wish_v it_o to_o be_v thus_o therefore_o he_o begin_v explicit_fw-la praefatio_fw-la &_o incipit_fw-la hoc_fw-la loco_fw-la primum_fw-la de_fw-fr prophetia_fw-la a._n prophesy_v or_o revelation_n be_v the_o certain_a knowledge_n of_o something_o or_o thing_n reveal_v unto_o man_n by_o god_n how_o do_v you_o like_o this_o definition_n the._n very_o well_o provide_v the_o author_n think_v as_o he_o speak_v and_o do_v not_o impose_v upon_o we_o as_o his_o custom_n be_v by_o ambiguous_a term_n a._n well_o then_o mind_v the_o consequence_n all_o natural_a knowledge_n may_v proper_o be_v call_v prophecy_n for_o those_o thing_n which_o we_o know_v by_o natural_a light_n depend_v upon_o the_o sole_a knowledge_n of_o god_n and_o his_o eternal_a decree_n but_o our_o mob-divines_a that_o stand_v gaze_v with_o their_o mouth_n open_a to_o heaven_n to_o catch_v wonder_n exclude_v natural_a reason_n from_o prophecy_n as_o if_o the_o one_o descend_v from_o heaven_n and_o the_o other_o spring_v from_o earth_n only_o and_o yet_o humane_a reason_n be_v divine_a in_o as_o much_o as_o the_o very_a faculty_n be_v by_o god_n create_v and_o it_o be_v only_o excel_v by_o prophecy_n in_o two_o thing_n first_o that_o prophecy_n extend_v its_o bound_n further_a and_o second_o it_o can_v be_v cause_v by_o the_o law_n of_o nature_n the._n and_o pray_v sir_n what_o charm_n can_v you_o see_v in_o such_o a_o jargon_n of_o discourse_n as_o shall_v draw_v your_o mind_n away_o one_o step_n from_o reveal_v religion_n for_o here_o be_v a_o very_a absurd_a confusion_n of_o natural_a knowledge_n and_o that_o which_o proceed_v from_o divine_a revelation_n no_o man_n that_o apprehend_v the_o necessary_a connexion_n of_o two_o term_n be_v ever_o yet_o call_v a_o prophet_n by_o any_o but_o this_o a._n if_o natural_a knowledge_n may_v proper_o be_v call_v prophecy_n than_o every_o man_n that_o by_o his_o natural_a reason_n can_v comprehend_v all_o the_o necessary_a property_n of_o a_o triangle_n or_o the_o undoubted_a certainty_n of_o mathematical_a axiom_n or_o those_o self-evident_a proposition_n which_o be_v know_v by_o a_o bare_a perception_n of_o the_o term_n will_v be_v a_o prophet_n and_o so_o not_o only_o all_o the_o lord_n people_n will_v be_v prophet_n but_o all_o the_o devil_n people_n too_o for_o as_o much_o as_o some_o proposition_n by_o the_o sole_a light_n of_o reason_n be_v evident_a to_o all_o mankind_n a._n you_o mistake_v my_o author_n for_o he_o tell_v you_o page_z 2._o that_o tho_o natural_a knowledge_n be_v divine_a yet_o the_o teacher_n of_o it_o can_v be_v call_v prophet_n because_o whatever_o they_o teach_v other_o without_o the_o help_n of_o faith_n or_o credulity_n may_v know_v as_o well_o as_o themselves_o t._n this_o only_o show_v with_o how_o much_o confidence_n and_o stupidity_n your_o infallible_a author_n contradict_v himself_o for_o p._n 1._o he_o assert_n exit_fw-la traditâ_fw-la definitione_n sequitur_fw-la cognitionem_fw-la naturalem_fw-la prophetiam_fw-la vocari_fw-la posse_fw-la what_o more_o evident_a than_o that_o he_o may_v be_v call_v a_o prophet_n who_o be_v endow_v with_o natural_a knowledge_n if_o natural_a knowledge_n may_v be_v call_v prophecy_n a._n that_o be_v but_o a_o small_a mistake_n his_o true_a meaning_n be_v that_o reason_n be_v not_o less_o certain_a and_o divine_a than_o revelation_n its_o self_n t._n natural_a thing_n be_v call_v divine_a upon_o a_o threefold_a account_n as_o they_o be_v the_o workmanship_n of_o god_n and_o in_o this_o sense_n all_o thing_n that_o have_v a_o real_a subsistance_n may_v be_v call_v divine_a as_o they_o be_v the_o work_n of_o god_n but_o the_o word_n divine_a be_v not_o frequent_o use_v in_o this_o signification_n because_o it_o be_v too_o general_a and_o comprehend_v so_o much_o that_o it_o determine_v too_o little_a or_o 2._o thing_n be_v more_o frequent_o call_v divine_a that_o for_o their_o excellence_n seem_v to_o have_v some_o resemblance_n of_o the_o very_a nature_n and_o perfection_n of_o god_n this_o homer_n style_v his_o hero_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d and_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d and_o grace_n be_v call_v 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d by_o the_o apostle_n and_o indeed_o in_o this_o sense_n the_o rational_a faculty_n of_o the_o soul_n may_v not_o be_v improper_o call_v divine_a forasmuch_o as_o they_o be_v not_o only_o give_v we_o by_o god_n but_o do_v still_o bear_v his_o image_n and_o inscription_n upon_o they_o but_o 3_o and_o last_o those_o thing_n be_v most_o proper_o style_v divine_a which_o be_v immediate_o produce_v by_o the_o power_n of_o god_n not_o according_a to_o the_o regular_a law_n of_o nature_n but_o in_o a_o manner_n altogether_o superior_a to_o they_o and_o in_o this_o most_o proper_a signification_n creation_n prophecy_n and_o miracle_n be_v the_o work_n of_o god_n and_o bear_v all_o the_o character_n of_o divinity_n upon_o they_o because_o the_o first_o cause_n be_v only_o concern_v in_o the_o production_n of_o they_o without_o the_o concurrent_a efficacy_n of_o inferior_a agent_n hence_o it_o be_v that_o the_o evangelist_n reckon_v up_o the_o genealogy_n of_o our_o bless_a saviour_n name_v the_o other_o patriarch_n as_o son_n of_o man_n because_o they_o come_v into_o the_o world_n according_a to_o the_o usual_a manner_n of_o generation_n but_o adam_n he_o call_v the_o son_n of_o god_n for_o though_o his_o body_n be_v out_o of_o precede_a matter_n yet_o it_o be_v form_v by_o the_o immediate_a power_n of_o god_n without_o observation_n of_o the_o regular_a course_n of_o nature_n the_o very_a magician_n can_v say_v when_o they_o see_v louse_n miraculous_o produce_v by_o aaron_n rod_n that_o this_o be_v the_o very_a finger_n of_o god_n because_o they_o know_v it_o be_v not_o within_o the_o bound_n of_o the_o power_n of_o nature_n and_o that_o it_o can_v not_o be_v do_v by_o those_o inferior_a invisible_a power_n which_o they_o invoke_v and_o the_o prophet_n call_v their_o inspire_a write_n the_o word_n of_o the_o lord_n because_o not_o deduce_v from_o the_o settle_a course_n and_o order_n of_o thing_n but_o deliver_v to_o they_o immediate_o by_o god_n himself_o in_o respect_n to_o which_o it_o be_v call_v by_o st._n peter_n the_o sure_a word_n of_o prophecy_n a._n what_o do_v you_o infer_v from_o hence_o t._n that_o your_o author_n trifle_n when_o he_o equal_v humane_a reason_n to_o divine_a inspiration_n say_v very_o bold_o that_o aequali_fw-la jure_fw-la ac_fw-la alia_fw-la cognitio_fw-la quaecunque_fw-la illa_fw-la sit_fw-la divina_fw-la vocari_fw-la potest_fw-la when_o it_o be_v evident_a that_o the_o one_o be_v found_v on_o the_o