Selected quad for the lemma: nature_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
nature_n	wrong_a	wrong_n	wrong_v	28	3	8.6426	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A59814	A discourse concerning the divine providence by William Sherlock ...	Sherlock, William, 1641?-1707.	1694 (1694)	Wing S3286; ESTC R8109	271,248	406

perfect_a and_o absolute_a power_n to_o do_v it_o be_v think_v a_o reproach_n for_o a_o great_a and_o powerful_a man_n to_o oppress_v much_o less_o than_o will_v the_o all-powerful_a god_n do_v so_o 4._o for_o to_o observe_v but_o one_o thing_n more_o it_o be_v the_o glory_n of_o power_n to_o do_v good_a not_o to_o do_v hurt_v and_o if_o this_o be_v the_o natural_a glory_n of_o power_n it_o be_v its_o natural_a perfection_n too_o and_o the_o most_o natural_a exercise_n of_o it_o and_o therefore_o it_o be_v that_o which_o perfect_a power_n will_v do_v it_o be_v nature_n be_v to_o do_v good_a but_o never_o to_o do_v hurt_v that_o if_o to_o punish_v be_v not_o to_o do_v good_a perfect_a and_o absolute_a power_n can_v not_o punish_v if_o we_o right_o consider_v thing_n we_o must_v confess_v that_o it_o be_v a_o much_o great_a power_n to_o do_v good_a than_o to_o do_v hurt_v to_o save_v than_o to_o destroy_v to_o make_v so_o excellent_a a_o creature_n as_o man_n be_v and_o to_o maintain_v and_o preserve_v he_o in_o be_v than_o to_o kill_v he_o in_o most_o case_n it_o require_v very_o little_a power_n to_o do_v hurt_v every_o man_n how_o weak_a and_o inconsiderable_a soever_o he_o be_v have_v a_o great_a deal_n of_o power_n to_o do_v hurt_v but_o there_o be_v very_o few_o who_o can_v do_v much_o good_a and_o therefore_o it_o be_v plain_a that_o to_o do_v good_a be_v the_o great_a power_n and_o therefore_o to_o do_v good_a must_v be_v essential_a to_o the_o great_a power_n it_o be_v certain_a that_o to_o do_v good_a be_v the_o most_o glorious_a power_n because_o good_a be_v in_o itself_o a_o beautiful_a lovely_a and_o glorious_a thing_n but_o evil_a be_v very_o inglorious_a all_o creature_n love_v to_o receive_v good_a they_o feel_v it_o they_o rejoice_v in_o it_o they_o adore_v and_o praise_v their_o maker_n and_o great_a benefactor_n they_o live_v in_o he_o they_o depend_v on_o he_o they_o fly_v to_o he_o to_o supply_v their_o want_n they_o take_v refuge_n and_o sanctuary_n in_o his_o power_n and_o think_v themselves_o safe_a under_o his_o wing_n and_o can_v there_o possible_o be_v a_o more_o lovely_a idea_n and_o representation_n of_o power_n than_o this_o a_o power_n which_o make_v a_o world_n and_o all_o the_o creature_n in_o it_o which_o contrive_v their_o nature_n with_o all_o variety_n of_o art_n and_o wisdom_n and_o with_o very_o different_a capacity_n of_o happiness_n according_a to_o the_o different_a excellency_n and_o perfection_n of_o their_o nature_n and_o provide_v for_o they_o all_o with_o a_o bounteous_a hand_n this_o be_v great_a and_o excellent_a power_n indeed_o which_o give_v be_v and_o preserve_v it_o and_o provide_v daily_o for_o such_o infinite_a number_n and_o variety_n of_o creature_n as_o be_v in_o the_o world_n this_o be_v the_o lovely_a and_o charm_a idea_n of_o a_o god_n but_o a_o arbitrary_a lawless_a power_n which_o tyranize_v over_o creature_n which_o can_v do_v what_o mischief_n it_o please_v and_o delight_n to_o do_v it_o be_v a_o very_a terrible_a thing_n indeed_o but_o not_o glorious_a it_o be_v what_o all_o creature_n must_v fear_v and_o hate_v and_o fly_v from_o not_o praise_n and_o adore_v so_o that_o if_o we_o will_v allow_v the_o most_o perfect_a and_o absolute_a power_n to_o be_v the_o most_o glorious_a as_o we_o must_v do_v if_o we_o acknowledge_v power_n to_o be_v glorious_a than_o the_o most_o absolute_a power_n must_v be_v the_o most_o kind_a and_o beneficent_a thing_n in_o the_o world_n for_o this_o be_v the_o glory_n of_o power_n to_o do_v good_a thus_o we_o see_v in_o what_o sense_n absolute_a will_v and_o power_n can_v do_v no_o wrong_n because_o the_o will_n and_o power_n of_o god_n which_o be_v the_o only_a absolute_a will_n and_o power_n be_v absolute_a rectitude_n and_o justice_n and_o absolute_a goodness_n too_o absolute_a power_n can_v do_v no_o wrong_n because_o it_o can_v never_o will_v nor_o choose_v to_o do_v any_o wrong_n not_o because_o power_n can_v make_v that_o just_a and_o right_a which_o without_o such_o absolute_a power_n will_v have_v be_v wrong_a for_o no_o power_n can_v make_v right_a to_o be_v wrong_n nor_o wrong_v to_o be_v right_a good_a and_o evil_a just_a and_o unjust_a be_v of_o a_o eternal_a and_o unchangeable_a nature_n not_o make_v so_o by_o power_n but_o in_o their_o notion_n antecedent_n to_o power_n and_o the_o natural_a rule_n and_o measure_n of_o it_o the_o will_n of_o god_n be_v eternal_a justice_n and_o goodness_n and_o therefore_o his_o will_n be_v the_o eternal_a rule_n of_o justice_n and_o goodness_n and_o therefore_o in_o propriety_n of_o speech_n when_o we_o speak_v of_o god_n we_o can_v neither_o say_v that_o god_n will_v any_o thing_n because_o it_o be_v just_a and_o good_a or_o that_o it_o be_v just_a and_o good_a because_o god_n will_v it_o both_o which_o imply_v a_o distinction_n between_o the_o will_n of_o god_n and_o justice_n and_o goodness_n which_o in_o the_o divine_a nature_n be_v the_o same_o but_o since_o the_o imperfection_n of_o our_o understanding_n can_v admit_v one_o simple_a notion_n and_o idea_n of_o a_o infinite_a mind_n but_o must_v apprehend_v every_o thing_n by_o distinct_a conception_n in_o god_n as_o we_o do_v in_o creature_n it_o be_v more_o agreeable_a to_o the_o nature_n of_o thing_n to_o make_v good_a and_o evil_a antecedent_n to_o the_o will_n of_o god_n and_o the_o rule_n of_o his_o will_n and_o choice_n because_o this_o assert_n the_o eternal_a and_o unchangeable_a nature_n of_o good_a and_o evil_a and_o the_o inflexible_a justice_n and_o holiness_n of_o the_o divine_a will_n that_o god_n never_o can_v will_v any_o thing_n but_o what_o be_v just_a and_o good_a and_o never_o will_v any_o thing_n for_o any_o other_o reason_n but_o because_o it_o be_v just_a and_o good_a whereas_o to_o make_v justice_n and_o goodness_n to_o depend_v whole_o upon_o the_o will_n of_o god_n that_o therefore_o any_o thing_n be_v just_a and_o good_a because_o god_n will_v it_o suppose_v that_o justice_n and_o goodness_n have_v no_o stable_a nature_n of_o its_o own_o but_o may_v at_o any_o time_n change_v its_o nature_n with_o the_o will_n of_o god_n and_o it_o be_v impossible_a to_o prove_v that_o the_o will_n of_o god_n can_v change_v as_o the_o will_n of_o man_n do_v if_o it_o have_v no_o eternal_a and_o unchangeable_a rule_n or_o be_v not_o eternal_a and_o unchangeable_a justice_n and_o goodness_n itself_o when_o we_o speak_v of_o god_n after_o the_o manner_n of_o man_n our_o word_n must_v be_v expound_v to_o the_o same_o sense_n except_v metaphorical_a and_o figurative_a expression_n as_o when_o they_o be_v use_v of_o man_n now_o we_o all_o know_v what_o a_o vast_a difference_n there_o be_v between_o these_o two_o expression_n when_o use_v of_o man_n such_o a_o man_n always_o will_n and_o choose_v what_o be_v good_a and_o just_a and_o he_o make_v every_o thing_n good_a and_o just_a by_o will_v it_o the_o first_o suppose_v a_o certain_a and_o invariable_a rule_n of_o good_a and_o evil_n the_o second_o resolve_v the_o nature_n of_o good_a and_o just_a into_o arbitrary_a will_n and_o pleasure_n and_o it_o be_v the_o very_a same_o case_n when_o we_o speak_v of_o god_n power_n which_o be_v nothing_o else_o but_o the_o execution_n of_o his_o will._n god_n absolute_a power_n can_v do_v nothing_o but_o what_o be_v just_a and_o good_a but_o we_o must_v not_o therefore_o say_v that_o absolute_a power_n make_v every_o thing_n it_o do_v just_a and_o good_a as_o if_o power_n be_v not_o regulate_v by_o justice_n and_o goodness_n but_o be_v the_o rule_n of_o it_o there_o be_v great_a reason_n curious_o to_o distinguish_v in_o this_o matter_n because_o there_o be_v a_o sort_n of_o christian_n who_o attribute_v such_o thing_n to_o god_n as_o be_v irreconcilable_a with_o all_o the_o notion_n we_o have_v of_o justice_n and_o goodness_n and_o think_v to_o silence_v all_o objection_n and_o to_o justify_v all_o by_o the_o sovereign_a dominion_n and_o absolute_a power_n of_o god_n which_o can_v do_v no_o wrong_n but_o if_o it_o be_v a_o wrong_n to_o creature_n to_o be_v eternal_o miserable_a for_o no_o other_o reason_n but_o the_o will_n and_o pleasure_n of_o god_n i_o can_v but_o think_v the_o absolute_a decree_n of_o reprobation_n to_o be_v very_o unjust_a and_o the_o execution_n of_o such_o decree_n to_o be_v do_v wrong_n how_o absolute_a soever_o the_o power_n be_v that_o do_v it_o and_o i_o confess_v i_o can_v but_o wonder_n that_o man_n who_o make_v the_o glory_n of_o god_n the_o end_n of_o all_o his_o action_n as_o certain_o it_o be_v when_o right_o understand_v shall_v attribute_v such_o thing_n to_o god_n as_o all_o the_o rest_n of_o mankind_n think_v very_o inglorious_a that_o when_o the_o true_a and_o great_a glory_n of_o

such_o a_o absolute_a power_n and_o therefore_o no_o creature_n have_v such_o a_o sovereign_n and_o absolute_a will_n neither_o for_o how_o powerful_a soever_o any_o man_n be_v god_n be_v more_o powerful_a than_o he_o and_o can_v call_v he_o to_o a_o account_n and_o no_o power_n no_o will_n which_o can_v be_v check_v and_o control_v and_o call_v to_o a_o account_n be_v perfect_o absolute_a and_o as_o absolute_a power_n make_v the_o divine_a providence_n absolute_a and_o unaccountable_a so_o do_v perfect_a and_o unerring_a wisdom_n but_o for_o a_o very_a different_a reason_n absolute_a power_n have_v no_o superior_a power_n to_o give_v law_n to_o it_o and_o to_o call_v it_o to_o a_o account_n perfect_a and_o unerring_a wisdom_n have_v no_o superior_a wisdom_n to_o take_v a_o account_n or_o to_o judge_n of_o its_o action_n nothing_o can_v judge_v of_o wisdom_n but_o wisdom_n and_o a_o inferior_a can_v comprehend_v a_o superior_a wisdom_n especial_o when_o there_o be_v such_o a_o vast_a disproportion_n as_o there_o be_v between_o a_o finite_a and_o a_o infinite_a understanding_n which_o must_v of_o necessity_n in_o a_o thousand_o instance_n make_v the_o judgement_n of_o god_n unsearchable_a and_o his_o way_n past_o find_v out_o it_o neither_o become_v the_o infinite_a wisdom_n of_o god_n in_o all_o case_n to_o give_v a_o account_n of_o his_o action_n nor_o the_o modesty_n of_o creature_n to_o demand_v it_o as_o elihu_n tell_v job_n why_o do_v thou_o strive_v against_o he_o for_o he_o give_v not_o account_n of_o any_o of_o his_o matter_n 33._o job_n 13._o but_o both_o these_o be_v think_v very_o grievous_a by_o some_o man_n they_o be_v terrible_o afraid_a of_o a_o absolute_a power_n which_o can_v do_v what_o it_o please_v and_o justify_v whatever_o it_o do_v by_o a_o absolute_a and_o unaccountable_a will._n other_o be_v very_o uneasy_a that_o god_n do_v any_o thing_n without_o give_v they_o the_o reason_n why_o he_o do_v it_o and_o to_o be_v revenge_v of_o providence_n they_o will_v allow_v nothing_o to_o be_v wise_o and_o just_o do_v which_o they_o can_v comprehend_v every_o event_n which_o they_o can_v account_v for_o they_o make_v a_o objection_n against_o providence_n and_o thus_o they_o may_v easy_o object_v themselves_o into_o atheism_n or_o infidelity_n for_o they_o can_v never_o want_v such_o objection_n while_o infinite_a and_o unsearchable_a wisdom_n govern_v the_o world_n here_o than_o i_o shall_v lay_v the_o foundation_n of_o all_o in_o justify_v the_o sovereignty_n of_o providence_n which_o will_v justify_v every_o thing_n else_o and_o i_o shall_v distinct_o consider_v god_n sovereign_n and_o absolute_a power_n and_o his_o unsearchable_a and_o unaccountable_a wisdom_n 1._o absolute_a power_n and_o the_o very_o name_v absolute_a power_n put_v a_o end_n to_o the_o dispute_n about_o the_o extent_n of_o god_n dominion_n over_o his_o creature_n for_o absolute_a power_n have_v no_o limit_n and_o can_v have_v none_o and_o therefore_o absolute_a dominion_n extend_v to_o all_o that_o absolute_a power_n can_v do_v this_o be_v what_o mankind_n be_v afraid_a of_o who_o judge_n of_o god_n absolute_a power_n by_o the_o arbitrary_a and_o tyrannical_a government_n of_o some_o absolute_a monarch_n but_o true_a absolute_a power_n can_v do_v no_o wrong_n can_v injure_v and_o oppress_v its_o creature_n but_o will_v do_v good_a and_o judge_n righteous_o defend_v the_o innocent_a and_o punish_v the_o wicked_a if_o i_o can_v make_v it_o appear_v that_o this_o be_v the_o essential_a character_n of_o absolute_a power_n it_o will_v make_v we_o infinite_o secure_a in_o the_o divine_a providence_n for_o all_o man_n must_v grant_v that_o the_o power_n of_o god_n be_v absolute_a and_o if_o this_o absolute_a power_n govern_v the_o world_n the_o world_n must_v be_v very_o well_o and_o just_o govern_v if_o absolute_a power_n can_v do_v nothing_o but_o what_o be_v just_a and_o good_n now_o this_o be_v the_o natural_a notion_n which_o all_o mankind_n have_v of_o supreme_a and_o absolute_a power_n which_o be_v the_o supreme_a and_o natural_a lord_n and_o judge_n of_o the_o world_n thus_o abraham_n reason_v with_o god_n and_o therein_o speak_v the_o sense_n of_o mankind_n shall_v not_o the_o judge_n of_o all_o the_o earth_n do_v right_a 18._o genes_n 25._o if_o absolute_a power_n can_v do_v wrong_a there_o be_v no_o certain_a redress_n of_o those_o wrong_n and_o injury_n which_o inferior_a power_n do_v for_o the_o last_o appeal_n must_v be_v to_o the_o great_a and_o most_o absolute_a power_n and_o if_o that_o will_v not_o certain_o rectify_v the_o injury_n of_o inferior_a power_n but_o instead_o of_o that_o may_v do_v wrong_v itself_o we_o can_v certain_o promise_v ourselves_o ever_o to_o have_v right_o do_v we_o this_o show_v how_o necessary_a it_o be_v that_o absolute_a will_n and_o power_n shall_v be_v absolute_a rectitude_n and_o justice_n if_o there_o be_v any_o such_o thing_n as_o justice_n in_o nature_n for_o absolute_a power_n be_v by_o nature_n the_o last_o and_o supreme_a judge_n and_o the_o natural_a judge_n of_o right_n and_o wrong_n must_v be_v natural_a justice_n and_o rectitude_n or_o else_o natural_a justice_n be_v a_o mere_a speculative_a notion_n which_o can_v never_o be_v reduce_v to_o practice_n for_o there_o never_o can_v be_v exact_a and_o perfect_a justice_n in_o the_o world_n unless_o there_o be_v a_o judge_n who_o be_v exact_a and_o perfect_a justice_n and_o if_o absolute_a will_n and_o power_n be_v not_o that_o judge_n there_o can_v be_v none_o for_o absolute_a power_n if_o it_o be_v not_o absolute_o and_o perfect_o just_a can_v do_v wrong_n whoever_o else_o judge_n right_o but_o beside_o this_o it_o be_v demonstrable_a à_fw-la priori_fw-la that_o absolute_a power_n must_v be_v absolute_a rectitude_n and_o justice_n 1._o because_o all_o infinite_a perfection_n how_o different_a soever_o they_o be_v in_o our_o conception_n of_o they_o be_v but_o one_o infinite_a be_v which_o be_v absolute_o perfect_a and_o therefore_o in_o a_o be_v absolute_o perfect_a one_o absolute_a perfection_n can_v never_o be_v divide_v or_o separate_v from_o any_o other_o absolute_a perfection_n and_o therefore_o absolute_a power_n can_v never_o be_v separate_v from_o absolute_a justice_n for_o to_o say_v any_o be_v be_v absolute_o perfect_a which_o be_v the_o most_o natural_a notion_n of_o god_n and_o yet_o that_o it_o want_v any_o absolute_a perfection_n be_v a_o contradiction_n absolute_a will_n and_o absolute_a government_n be_v the_o most_o perfect_a will_n and_o most_o perfect_a government_n and_o that_o be_v the_o most_o perfect_a justice_n and_o goodness_n if_o justice_n and_o goodness_n be_v any_o perfection_n we_o must_v not_o judge_v of_o the_o absolute_a will_n and_o absolute_a government_n of_o god_n by_o what_o we_o call_v absolute_a power_n in_o man_n which_o be_v the_o foundation_n of_o all_o the_o mistake_v about_o god_n government_n we_o find_v man_n apt_a to_o abuse_v their_o power_n the_o more_o absolute_a it_o be_v into_o tyranny_n and_o oppression_n and_o this_o make_v some_o afraid_a that_o god_n absolute_a will_n and_o power_n may_v use_v his_o creature_n very_o hardly_o also_o but_o the_o case_n be_v very_o different_a as_o different_a as_o the_o absolute_a power_n of_o man_n be_v from_o the_o absolute_a power_n of_o god_n what_o we_o call_v absolute_a power_n in_o man_n be_v not_o absolute_a power_n that_o be_v it_o be_v not_o perfect_a power_n it_o be_v not_o a_o power_n which_o can_v do_v all_o thing_n for_o there_o be_v infinite_a thing_n which_o the_o most_o absolute_a prince_n have_v not_o power_n to_o do_v and_o that_o be_v not_o absolute_a perfect_a power_n which_o can_v do_v all_o thing_n absolute_a government_n among_o man_n signify_v only_o a_o uncontrollable_a liberty_n to_o do_v all_o that_o it_o will_v and_o can_v do_v a_o will_v which_o be_v under_o no_o human_a restraint_n which_o may_v will_v whatever_o it_o please_v and_o do_v whatever_o it_o will_v as_o far_o as_o it_o can_v but_o have_v not_o power_n to_o do_v all_o that_o it_o will_v now_o such_o a_o absolute_a will_n as_o this_o which_o have_v not_o all_o power_n may_v be_v very_o wild_a and_o extravagant_a and_o far_o from_o will_v always_o what_o be_v right_a and_o just_a for_o such_o a_o will_n as_o this_o be_v no_o perfection_n and_o therefore_o as_o it_o be_v separate_v from_o a_o true_o absolute_a power_n so_o it_o may_v be_v separate_v from_o rectitude_n and_o justice_n nay_o such_o a_o will_n be_v not_o true_o absolute_a no_o more_o than_o its_o power_n because_o there_o be_v a_o will_n as_o there_o be_v a_o power_n above_o it_o and_o no_o will_n be_v absolute_a which_o have_v a_o superior_a will_n to_o control_v it_o and_o to_o give_v law_n to_o it_o and_o yet_o god_n be_v high_a than_o the_o high_a to_o who_o sovereign_a will_v the_o most_o absolute_a prince_n be_v accountable_a and_o