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Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
truth_n object_n zeal_n zealous_a 12 3 10.2942 5 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A49908 A treatise of the causes of incredulity wherein are examin'd the general motives and occasions which dispose unbelievers to reject the Christian religion : with two letters, containing a direct proof of the truth of Christianity / translated from the French of Monsieur Le Clerc.; De l'incredulité. English Le Clerc, Jean, 1657-1736. 1697 (1697) Wing L827; ESTC R19200 151,596 339

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it_o be_v conclude_v from_o thence_o that_o this_o science_n be_v only_o a_o chimaera_n no_o body_n dare_v maintain_v it_o but_o it_o be_v just_a thus_o with_o the_o christian_a religion_n and_o such_o as_o be_v carry_v away_o with_o a_o false_a zeal_n the_o incredulous_a object_n further_o that_o since_o those_o who_o show_v the_o great_a zeal_n observe_v not_o the_o most_o important_a precept_n of_o this_o religion_n it_o be_v at_o lest_o a_o sign_n that_o they_o be_v not_o themselves_o persuade_v of_o its_o truth_n for_o otherwise_o say_v they_o they_o will_v not_o quit_v the_o best_a part_n of_o it_o seeing_z if_o the_o speculative_a doctrine_n be_v true_a what_o concern_v practice_n be_v not_o less_o so_o but_o if_o the_o most_o zealous_a be_v not_o persuade_v of_o their_o religion_n what_o may_v be_v judge_v of_o its_o proof_n this_o be_v certain_o a_o prejudice_n that_o be_v very_o difficult_o conquer_v in_o the_o mind_n of_o those_o who_o have_v more_o regard_n to_o what_o be_v say_v than_o to_o what_o be_v do_v and_o who_o look_v upon_o man_n moral_n as_o the_o character_n of_o their_o belief_n every_o person_n have_v not_o strength_n of_o thought_n enough_o to_o consider_v the_o law_n of_o the_o gospel_n in_o themselves_o without_o any_o respect_n to_o the_o manner_n how_o they_o be_v obey_v or_o to_o the_o judgement_n that_o christian_n seem_v to_o make_v of_o they_o by_o their_o conduct_n but_o at_o bottom_n this_o be_v a_o ill-grounded_a prejudice_n from_o which_o no_o consequence_n can_v be_v infer_v against_o the_o truth_n of_o the_o christian_a religion_n as_o it_o will_v appear_v by_o the_o follow_a remark_n first_o of_o all_o we_o may_v grant_v that_o there_o be_v some_o of_o those_o zealot_n in_o show_n for_o a_o part_n of_o the_o christian_a doctrine_n who_o be_v not_o in_o effect_n persuade_v of_o any_o of_o they_o and_o who_o make_v use_v of_o the_o cloak_n of_o religion_n to_o impose_v upon_o the_o multitude_n the_o better_a to_o carry_v on_o their_o affair_n in_o the_o world_n but_o do_v it_o follow_v from_o hence_o that_o the_o christian_a religion_n be_v not_o true_a by_o no_o mean_n since_o it_o be_v evident_a that_o these_o man_n may_v be_v deceive_v as_o well_o as_o other_o they_o be_v not_o always_o such_o as_o make_v the_o great_a noise_n about_o a_o art_n that_o best_o understand_v it_o and_o if_o all_o the_o discourse_n of_o these_o people_n be_v well_o examine_v it_o may_v be_v easy_o perceive_v that_o the_o christian_a religion_n have_v beauty_n to_o which_o they_o be_v utter_a stranger_n there_o may_v be_v also_o remark_v in_o their_o disposition_n some_o invincible_a obstacle_n to_o the_o sincere_a acknowledgement_n of_o the_o truth_n of_o christianity_n which_o be_v entire_o contrary_a to_o those_o disposition_n the_o great_a part_n of_o these_o people_n believe_v for_o example_n that_o force_n must_v be_v make_v use_n of_o to_o establish_v truth_n and_o that_o the_o magistrate_n who_o favour_v they_o aught_o to_o use_v those_o hardly_o that_o be_v not_o of_o their_o sentiment_n nay_o they_o maintain_v that_o without_o this_o christianity_n be_v lose_v and_o that_o all_o other_o religion_n shall_v triumph_v over_o it_o all_o have_v be_v still_o pagan_a according_a to_o they_o if_o constantine_n and_o the_o other_o succeed_a christian_a emperor_n have_v not_o employ_v their_o authority_n to_o destroy_v heathenism_n now_o what_o other_o thing_n can_v such_o discourse_n mean_v but_o that_o they_o be_v stranger_n to_o the_o true_a proof_n of_o christianity_n as_o well_o as_o to_o the_o spirit_n of_o charity_n and_o moderation_n which_o be_v the_o life_n and_o soul_n of_o the_o gospel_n those_o who_o have_v well_o study●d_v these_o proof_n and_o careful_o examine_v all_o the_o part_n whereof_o the_o christian_a religion_n be_v make_v up_o find_v it_o so_o well_o ground_v its_o promise_n so_o become_v god_n and_o man_n and_o its_o precept_n so_o useful_a to_o humane_a society_n that_o to_o make_v it_o whole_o triumph_v over_o error_n it_o be_v enough_o in_o their_o judgement_n to_o obtain_v a_o liberty_n of_o preach_v it_o and_o that_o such_o as_o profess_v it_o may_v incur_v no_o danger_n for_o so_o do_v in_o a_o word_n that_o it_o may_v oppose_v the_o contrary_a opinion_n with_o equal_a arms._n these_o person_n animate_v with_o that_o spirit_n of_o moderation_n whereof_o i_o speak_v and_o equal_o press_v all_o the_o part_n of_o christianity_n do_v not_o contradict_v by_o their_o action_n the_o doctrine_n they_o profess_v with_o their_o mouth_n if_o religion_n therefore_o be_v to_o be_v judge_v of_o from_o the_o conduct_n and_o discourse_n of_o its_o professor_n regard_v aught_o to_o be_v have_v rather_o to_o these_o man_n than_o to_o other_o second_o i_o have_v show_v elsewhere_o that_o since_o man_n do_v not_o always_o act_v according_a to_o their_o knowledge_n but_o most_o frequent_o follow_v the_o movement_n of_o their_o passion_n their_o sentiment_n must_v not_o be_v always_o conclude_v from_o their_o carriage_n this_o be_v so_o it_o may_v probable_o happen_v that_o certain_a zealot_n may_v act_v very_o disagreeable_o to_o their_o profession_n which_o be_v a_o argument_n that_o we_o ought_v not_o to_o judge_n of_o their_o persuasion_n from_o their_o manner_n we_o must_v confess_v however_o that_o if_o in_o those_o zealot_n there_o appear_v a_o continual_a series_n of_o action_n contrary_a to_o the_o clear_a command_n of_o the_o gospel_n or_o inveterate_a habit_n of_o walk_a contrary_n to_o what_o must_v be_v know_v to_o be_v a_o essential_a part_n of_o christianity_n than_o we_o have_v great_a occasion_n to_o suspect_v they_o of_o hypocrisy_n and_o a_o design_n of_o cover_v their_o infidelity_n with_o a_o show_n of_o zeal_n for_o it_o be_v not_o possible_a but_o that_o a_o strong_a and_o sincere_a belief_n shall_v at_o length_n eradicate_v out_o of_o the_o heart_n all_o habit_n which_o be_v direct_o contrary_a to_o it_o but_o the_o most_o ingenuous_a man_n may_v act_v sometime_o against_o their_o persuasion_n by_o surprise_n or_o the_o sudden_a motion_n of_o a_o violent_a passion_n three_o as_o it_o will_v be_v injustice_n to_o judge_n of_o the_o goodness_n of_o the_o law_n of_o any_o government_n from_o the_o way_n how_o they_o be_v observe_v so_o it_o will_v be_v very_o ill_o reason_v to_o condemn_v the_o christian_a religion_n because_o such_o as_o profess_v it_o obey_v it_o not_o there_o may_v be_v most_o excellent_a law_n and_o acknowledge_v too_o for_o such_o yet_o not_o always_o strict_o observe_v by_o reason_n of_o the_o interest_n and_o passion_n of_o those_o who_o break_v they_o as_o it_o may_v be_v remark_v in_o all_o kingdom_n of_o the_o world_n it_o be_v just_a so_o with_o the_o christian_a religion_n what_o cause_v this_o contradiction_n between_o the_o sentiment_n and_o carriage_n of_o man_n beside_o the_o reason_n already_o allege_v be_v perhaps_o because_o they_o know_v not_o how_o to_o apply_v the_o general_a law_n to_o the_o particular_a case_n which_o happen_v every_o day_n and_o that_o they_o mistake_v the_o most_o prohibit_v action_n for_o exception_n to_o the_o rule_n 26._o arrian_n upon_o epictetus_n l._n 3._o c._n 26._o a_o famous_a philosopher_n say_v that_o most_o of_o man_n error_n proceed_v from_o their_o not_o know_v how_o to_o apply_v general_a to_o particular_a idea_n if_o we_o consider_v it_o near_o we_o shall_v find_v that_o the_o same_o thing_n occasion_n at_o least_o in_o part_n the_o violation_n of_o many_o law_n which_o be_v all_o the_o while_n think_v just_a and_o wellgrounded_n zeal_n accompany_v with_o very_o great_a ignorance_n and_o the_o great_a as_o the_o ignorance_n be_v grosser_n furnish_v the_o incredulous_a likewise_o with_o another_o pretence_n of_o look_v upon_o religion_n as_o a_o blind_a persuasion_n mere_o build_v upon_o the_o credulity_n of_o the_o people_n and_o indeed_o we_o see_v that_o in_o all_o religion_n such_o as_o have_v least_o examine_v thing_n and_o that_o be_v the_o less_o discern_a appear_v frequent_o the_o hot_a in_o defence_n of_o the_o party_n with_o which_o they_o be_v engage_v the_o furious_a zeal_n of_o the_o jew_n and_o mahometans_n as_o well_o as_o that_o of_o the_o pagan_a populace_n be_v so_o well_o know_v that_o i_o need_v bring_v no_o example_n of_o it_o in_o those_o sect_n also_o into_o which_o christianity_n be_v at_o present_a divide_v the_o heat_n wherewith_o the_o ignorant_a multitude_n defend_v their_o sentiment_n and_o endeavour_v to_o propagate_v they_o be_v but_o too_o common_a this_o blind_a zeal_n have_v so_o often_o break_v out_o and_o have_v make_v use_n of_o such_o ill_a method_n to_o advance_v each_o party_n that_o there_o be_v no_o sect_n but_o have_v some_o reason_n to_o be_v ashamed_a of_o it_o but_o if_o this_o false_a zeal_n may_v be_v consider_v as_o a_o consequence_n of_o the_o principle_n of_o the_o heathen_n
ill_o concern_v those_o thing_n they_o know_v by_o experience_n and_o that_o they_o govern_v themselves_o with_o prudence_n enough_o in_o the_o affair_n of_o life_n to_o this_o i_o answer_v that_o i_o do_v not_o deny_v but_o those_o i_o speak_v of_o may_v reason_v very_o well_o about_o what_o be_v the_o object_n of_o their_o passion_n or_o when_o they_o confine_v themselves_o within_o the_o limit_n of_o their_o experience_n but_o i_o maintain_v that_o they_o have_v not_o as_o much_o as_o the_o notion_n of_o reason_v solid_o about_o speculative_a thing_n that_o make_v no_o impression_n upon_o the_o sense_n such_o as_o be_v the_o proof_n whereupon_o the_o truth_n of_o the_o christian_a religion_n be_v build_v to_o be_v convince_v of_o this_o we_o need_v only_o examine_v they_o if_o we_o can_v upon_o these_o two_o head_n first_o we_o must_v discourse_v they_o about_o some_o abstract_a subject_n such_o as_o be_v for_o example_n the_o general_a idea_n of_o most_o thing_n the_o notion_n of_o virtue_n and_o vice_n and_o if_o they_o reason_v exact_o herein_o we_o may_v just_o conclude_v that_o these_o person_n be_v not_o of_o their_o number_n who_o continue_v unbeliever_n for_o want_v of_o know_v how_o to_o reason_v right_o but_o if_o we_o hear_v they_o talk_v of_o such_o matter_n without_o any_o principle_n or_o coherence_n if_o we_o see_v that_o they_o do_v not_o comprehend_v what_o be_v say_v to_o they_o upon_o such_o occasion_n be_v it_o never_o so_o clear_a or_o notwithstanding_o all_o the_o pain_n take_v to_o make_v it_o plain_a which_o happen_v but_o too_o frequent_o than_o it_o will_v be_v easy_o grant_v i_o that_o their_o infidelity_n do_v at_o least_o proceed_v in_o part_n from_o their_o ignorance_n of_o the_o art_n of_o reason_v another_o way_n we_o have_v to_o discover_v this_o kind_n of_o unbeliever_n be_v when_o we_o find_v they_o distaste_v with_o all_o discourse_n upon_o abstract_a matter_n or_o with_o any_o thing_n that_o relate_v not_o to_o their_o passion_n when_o they_o avoid_v the_o read_n of_o all_o book_n require_v any_o attention_n especial_o of_o such_o book_n as_o be_v write_v to_o prove_v the_o truth_n of_o what_o they_o disbelieve_v final_o when_o they_o will_v enter_v upon_o a_o discussion_n of_o any_o such_o subject_n nor_o will_v be_v at_o the_o pain_n of_o compare_v the_o answer_n of_o believer_n with_o the_o objection_n of_o the_o incredulous_a we_o may_v sufficient_o know_v such_o person_n who_o be_v so_o to_o speak_v so_o fill_v with_o what_o they_o have_v learn_v from_o experience_n of_o the_o affair_n of_o the_o world_n that_o nothing_o else_o can_v enter_v into_o they_o and_o be_v displease_v when_o they_o hear_v other_o discourse_n such_o be_v festus_n for_o instance_n the_o governor_n of_o judea_n who_o be_v mention_v in_o the_o act_n of_o the_o apostle_n he_o can_v scarce_o hear_v a_o short_a discourse_n from_o st._n paul_n and_o charge_v he_o with_o madness_n after_o hear_v from_o he_o another_o discourse_n full_a of_o evidence_n and_o good_a sense_n be_v he_o tell_v of_o some_o method_n how_o to_o squeeze_v money_n dexterous_o out_o of_o his_o province_n or_o be_v he_o acquaint_v with_o some_o intrigue_n that_o may_v contribute_v to_o prefer_v he_o to_o a_o more_o considerable_a post_n he_o will_v immediate_o understand_v what_o be_v say_v to_o he_o or_o he_o will_v get_v it_o repeat_v to_o he_o so_o often_o and_o will_v have_v ask_v so_o many_o question_n about_o it_o that_o he_o shall_v at_o least_o have_v a_o exact_a notion_n of_o the_o business_n but_o because_o s._n paul_n speak_v to_o he_o of_o thing_n no_o way_n relate_v to_o his_o design_n or_o passion_n he_o can_v scarce_o patient_o hear_v he_o and_o understand_v nothing_o of_o his_o discourse_n there_o be_v a_o world_n of_o people_n at_o this_o day_n in_o the_o midst_n of_o christendom_n who_o be_v very_o near_o in_o the_o same_o disposition_n they_o speak_v very_o well_o of_o their_o temporal_a affair_n or_o any_o thing_n belong_v to_o they_o they_o willing_o converse_v about_o the_o news_n of_o the_o time_n and_o that_o sometime_o with_o sense_n enough_o but_o put_v they_o once_o by_o such_o thing_n to_o talk_v of_o religion_n they_o be_v present_o tire_v they_o speak_v of_o it_o ridiculous_o they_o show_v in_o a_o word_n so_o great_a a_o contempt_n of_o such_o discourse_n as_o if_o they_o be_v matter_n beneath_o they_o and_o to_o which_o they_o can_v stoop_v without_o uneasiness_n as_o these_o unbeliever_n who_o reason_n not_o at_o all_o be_v moreover_o entire_o possess_v with_o passion_n opposite_a to_o the_o gospel_n and_o have_v be_v long_o habituate_v to_o obey_v they_o so_o they_o be_v not_o accessible_a on_o any_o side_n and_o i_o see_v not_o how_o without_o a_o miracle_n they_o can_v be_v convince_v of_o their_o miserable_a state_n nor_o reclaim_v from_o their_o error_n however_o it_o be_v fit_a to_o make_v some_o reflection_n upon_o this_o sort_n of_o unbeliever_n that_o we_o may_v 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order_n to_o be_v inform_v of_o a_o thing_n of_o such_o importance_n nay_o i_o dare_v affirm_v that_o there_o be_v not_o any_o unbeliever_n who_o perceive_v not_o if_o he_o mind_v it_o that_o this_o negligence_n be_v one_o of_o the_o principal_a cause_n of_o his_o incredulity_n and_o i_o shall_v bring_v many_o proof_n of_o it_o in_o the_o sequel_n of_o this_o work_n now_o to_o make_v what_o i_o have_v say_v more_o evident_a i_o will_v instance_n this_o fault_n in_o other_o person_n where_o people_n may_v remark_n it_o more_o impartial_o than_o in_o themselves_o when_o christianity_n begin_v to_o make_v a_o noise_n in_o judea_n that_o be_v chief_o when_o the_o apostle_n declare_v every_o where_o the_o resurrection_n of_o their_o master_n and_o show_v that_o he_o want_v not_o faithful_a disciple_n on_o earth_n though_o he_o be_v himself_o no_o more_o there_o all_o the_o jew_n ought_v one_o will_v think_v to_o have_v inform_v themselves_o of_o what_o these_o disciple_n say_v see_v they_o be_v thing_n most_o near_o concern_v they_o to_o know_v they_o expect_v their_o messiah_n about_o that_o time_n they_o groan_v so_o heavy_o under_o the_o roman_a tyranny_n that_o they_o wish_v for_o nothing_o so_o much_o as_o liberty_n and_o they_o hope_v the_o messiah_n shall_v prove_v their_o deliverer_n in_o this_o disposition_n they_o ought_v to_o hearken_v i_o shall_v think_v to_o every_o one_o that_o speak_v to_o they_o of_o a_o messiah_n to_o get_v rid_v of_o their_o doubt_n whether_o the_o wish_a deliverer_n be_v yet_o come_v or_o not_o methinks_v too_o the_o apostle_n shall_v have_v be_v hear_v of_o all_o the_o world_n when_o they_o preach_v the_o doctrine_n and_o the_o miracle_n of_o their_o master_n especial_o his_o resurrection_n for_o indeed_o these_o miracle_n be_v so_o great_a and_o many_o that_o more_o can_v not_o be_v expect_v from_o the_o messiah_n the_o