Selected quad for the lemma: opinion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
opinion_n	great_a	see_v	time_n	2,318	5	3.3017	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A36317	Fears and jealousies ceas'd, or, An impartial discourse, tending to demonstrate from the folly and ill success of the Romish politicks, that there is no reason to apprehend any danger from popery in a letter to a friend.	Doolittle, Thomas, 1632?-1707.	1688 (1688)	Wing D1884; ESTC R12533	8,954	10

have been always so famous for Not many years ago we might perhaps have apprehended something from them of that Nature whilst we are still prejudic'd in their Favour by all the Histories of the last age whereby we learn that in those days they never acted any of their more eminent Villanies till their Plots were so laid that they cou'd scarce fail of success and apparent advantages to the Cause It was only upon such well grounded Designs that they rais'd Rebellions and Murthered Princes and others in their Persons and Reputations It was for the Advancement of the Catholick Church that they contriv'd and carried on the Holy League in France against Henry the 3d and his Majesties Grandfather Henry the 4th and to secure it Murthered them both It was to put this Nation into perpetual Confusion that they endeavour'd to blow up his Majesties other Grandfather King James the first together with the best part of the Nobility and Gentry They Encouraged and assisted the Scotch Rebels against his Father K. Charles the first that they might set us Hereticks a cutting one anothers Throats It was to reduce the Low Countries to the Obedience of the Holy See that the Prince of Orange was Assassinated It was to create an abhorrence in the minds of people against Heresy that they Banter'd the Poor Ignorant Spaniards and made them believe that Englishmen ever since the Reformation were shap'd like Dragons and reported all about the World that the Devil was run away with Luther alive But as there are certain Periods of time for the Rise and Fall of all other Arts and Sciences so it is no wonder if we find a sensible Decay in the once so flourshing Politiques of the Religious Society It is manifest to all men what wretched Bunglers our Present Aukward Pretenders to them have shew'd themselves For tho' it cannot be denied that they Poor Souls have always discover'd a willing mind to imitate the most Notorious of their Predecessors in their most execrable Crimes nay and I dare say that for them they are so well become Conscience proof that as far as the promoting of any Mischief goes their weak endeavours shall never be wanting to surpass them if it were possible Yet if one shoud enquire how the Catholick Cause has thriv'd under their hands he 'l soon find that instead of Effecting any of those Glorious Enterprises which their Brave Ancestors by executing have render'd their Names deservedly Infamous to all succeeding Ages they with all the Bustle and Clutter they have made in the World have gain'd nothing but the Odium of all Mankind without being guilty of any thing that look'd like a design or at least but such as has been so poorly laid that the most short-sighted might be able to look through with half an Eye they have expos'd the Weakness of their Cause to the Contempt of Wise men and its Deformities to the scorn and detestation of all others These things being certainly true as I am able further to prove if you or any one shall make the least doubt of them I must beg pardon of the Reverend Fathers of the Mission if I entertain so mean an Opinion of them as to think that their Common Sense is at last vanish't as well as their Honesty and Learning By mentioning their Learning I find I had almost forgot that to be one of the weighty reasons of your Fears which I cannot but wonder to see you lay so great a stress upon at this time of the Day Time was indeed when we entertained a very Favourable opinion of their Learning of which they especially the Jesuits have made such Noisy Brags all over Europe a while ago we thought it was in the power of their Elaborate Eloquence to lead Captive some silly Women Ay and that they could by pure dint of Sophistry confound the addle brains of some Crazy-men too But now the Good Fathers have by indefatigable Industry and all the success imaginable laboured to undeceive the World in this point and let us who expected such mighty things from them know that we were much mistaken in thinking that they Poor Men were in the least guilty of any thing that looks like a Scholar I can't advise you my Friend to a more infallible Remedy to cure your Ignorance in this point nor inflict a more severe Pennance upon you for it than to desire you to read some of their Writings and if you are not then fully convinc'd beyond all contradiction by undeniable Arguments of their own that they are as perfectly endued with all the Dullness Stupidity and Duncery as is possible for Pedants that have receiv'd any tincture of Letters to be I 'll be content to give up the Cause But lest your Mortification shou'd be too great in toyling your self by turning over that great and nauseous Dunghil which the Rabble of their Writers have made to deal as gently with you as I can I shall letting alone their most Incomparable Preachers only recommend to your perusal a brace of their Cock Controvertists and such I 'll assure you as are leading men among the Jesuits too and when you are become a little acquainted with them you may easily guess what the Poor Under-pullers are The two mighty Heroes I mean are the Profound Sabran and the Accurate Pulton Now were it possible for the Fable to be true of the Mountains being with Child lying in and being brought to Bed of a Mouse O how will the little Curs snarl at me here for my Nonsense and I were invited to the Labour as Gossip I am sure the whole Comedy wou'd not force a greater laughter from me then I find my self inclin'd to when I seriously think of these men when I consider with my self what a couple of Tools they have here sent us over from beyond Sea to perswade three Nations out of their Senses When you first set your eyes upon the Great Sabran you 'll find him look so big that Captain Hackum himself with his truss'd up Whiskers does not carry half the terror in his Countenance But alas when he comes to enter the Lists you 'll see his Learned Adversary Mr. G. put him to such miserable shifts by tracing his Thefts discovering his Forgeries and Baffling him when he makes but the least offer of an Argument to defend himself withal that even you will pity him I am sure I did as far as the great Esteem and Affection I bear for the whole Party wou'd permit me But yet not to defraud the Father of his due praise I cannot forbear doing him Justice by taking notice of a very notable Stratagem of his You may wonder perhaps after what has been said to hear that any such thing shou'd proceed from him but a Stratagem I do assure you it was and such a one as had it but hit would have smelt not a little of the Genuin Spirit of an Ancient Jesuit When his Antagonist like another Peleus had Maul'd