Selected quad for the lemma: nature_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
nature_n	law_n	natural_a	positive_a	3,927	5	10.5552	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A48896	Some thoughts concerning education	Locke, John, 1632-1704.	1693 (1693)	Wing L2762; ESTC R213714	103,512	276

and Qualities and the other Bodies The first of these is usually referr'd to Metaphysicks but under what Title soever the consideration of Spirits comes I think it ought to go before the study of Matter and Body not as a Science that can be methodized into a System and treated of upon Principles of Knowledge but as an enlargement of our Minds towards a truer and fuller comprehension of the intellectual World to which we are led both by Reason and Revelation And since the clearest and largest Discoveries we have of other Spirits besides God and our own Souls is imparted to us from Heaven by Revelation I think the information that at least young People should have of them should be taken from that Revelation To this purpose I think it would be well if there were made a good History of the Bible for young People to read wherein every thing that is fit to be put into it being laid down in its due Order of Time and several things omitted which were suited only to riper Age that Confusion which is usually produced by promiscuous reading of the Scripture as it lies now bound up in our Bibles would be avoided And also this other good obtained that by reading of it constantly there would be instilled into the Minds of Children a Notion and Belief of Spirits they having so much to do in all the Transactions of that History which will be a good Preparation to the study of Bodies for without the Notion and allowance of Spirits our Philosophy will be lame and defective in one main Part of it when it leaves out the Contemplation of the most Excellent and Powerful Part of the Creation § 179. Of this History of the Bible I think too it would be well if there were a short and plain Epitome made containing the chief and most material Heads for Children to be conversant in as soon as they can read This though it will lead them early into some Notion of Spirits yet is not contrary to what I said above That I would not have Children troubled whilst young with Notions of Spirits whereby my meaning was that I think it inconvenient that their yet tender Minds should receive early Impressions of Goblins Spectres and Apparitions wherewith their Maids and those about them are apt to fright them into a compliance with their Orders which often proves a great inconvenience to them all their Lives after by subjecting their Minds to Frights fearful Apprehensions Weakness and Superstition which when coming abroad into the World and Conversation they grow weary and asham'd of it not seldom happens that to make as they think a through Cure and ease themselves of a load has sate so heavy on them they throw away the thoughts of all Spirits together and so run into the other but worse extream § 180. The Reason why I would have this premised to the study of Bodies and the Doctrine of the Scriptures well imbibed before young Men be entered in Natural Philosophy is because Matter being a thing that all our Senses are constantly conversant with it is so apt to possess the Mind and exclude all other Beings but Matter that prejudice grounded on such Principles often leaves no room for the admittance of Spirits or the allowing any such things as immaterial Beings in rerum natura when yet it is evivent that by mere Matter and Motion none of the great Phoenomena of Nature can be resolved to instance but in that common one of Gravity which I think impossible to be explained by any natural Operation of Matter or any other Law of Motion but the positive Will of a Superiour Being so ordering it And therefore since the Deluge cannot be well explained without admitting something out of the ordinary course of Nature I propose it to be considered whether God's altering the Center of gravity in the Earth for a time a thing as intelligible as gravity it self which perhaps a little variation of Causes unknown to us would produce will not more easily account for Noah's Flood than any Hypothesis yet made use of to solve it But this I mention by the by to shew the necessity of having recourse to something beyond bare Matter and its Motion in the explication of Nature to which the Notions of Spirits and their Power to whose Operation so much is attributed in the Bible may be a fit preparative reserving to a fitter opportunity a fuller explication of this Hypothesis and the application of it to all the Parts of the Deluge and any Difficulties can be supposed in the History of the Flood as recorded in the Bible § 181. But to return to the study of Natural Philosophy though the World be full of Systems of it yet I cannot say I know any one which can be taught a young Man as a Science wherein he may be sure to find truth and certainty which is what all Sciences give an expectation of I do not hence conclude that none of them are to be read It is necessary for a Gentleman in this loarned Age to look into some of them to fit himself for Conversation But whether that of Des Cartes be put into his Hands as that which is most in Fashion or it be thought fit to give him a short view of that and several other also I think the Systems of Natural Philosophy that have obtained in this part of the World are to be read more to know the Hypotheses and to understand the Terms and Ways of Talking of the several Sects than with hopes to gain thereby a comprehensive scientifical and satisfactory Knowledge of the Works of Nature Only this may be said that the Modern Corpusoularians talk in most Things more intelligibly than the Peripateticks who possessed the Schools immediately before them He that would look farther back and acquaint himself with the several Opinions of the Ancients may consult Dr. Cudworth's Intellectual System wherein that very learned Author hath with such Accurateness and Judgment collected and explained the Opinions of the Greek Philosophers that what Principles they built on and what were the chief Hypotheses that divided them is better to be seen in him than any where else that I know But I would not deterr any one from the study of Nature because all the Knowledge we have or possibly can have of it cannot be brought into a Science There are very many things in it that are convenient and necessary to be known to a Gentleman And a great many other that will abundantly reward the Pains of the Curious with Delight and Advantage But these I think are rather to be found amongst such as have imployed themselves in making rational Experiments and Observations than in writting barely speculative Systems Such Writings therefore as many of Mr. Boyles are with others that have writ of Husbandry Planting Gardening and the like may be fit for a Gentleman when he has a litle acquainted himself with some of the Systems of the Natural