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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
master_n	able_a	great_a	speak_v	260	4	3.9623	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A56539	Monsieur Pascall's thoughts, meditations, and prayers, touching matters moral and divine as they were found in his papers after his death : together with a discourse upon Monsieur Pascall's, Thoughts ... as also another discourse on the proofs of the truth of the books of Moses : and a treatise, wherein is made appear that there are demonstrations of a different nature but as certain as those of geometry, and that such may be given of the Christian religion / done into English by Jos. Walker.; Pensées. English	Pascal, Blaise, 1623-1662.; Walker, Joseph.; Perier, Madame (Gilberte), 1620-1685. Vie de M. Pascal. English.; Filleau de la Chaise, Jean, 1631-1688. Discours sur les Pensées de M. Pascal. English.	1688 (1688)	Wing P645; ESTC R23135	228,739	434

things of the weightiest Consequence and that have been ever in force Besides it would be pleasant to see a Combination carry'd on betwixt Five or Six hundred thousand Men and that not one of them nor of their Posterity ever discover'd it For there was not one of those Miracles but that every one of all that People being all together in one Camp might have discover'd the fraud or that they might have avow'd as having seen them with their Eyes or being done in their Days or in the time of their Fathers What a difficult thing then would it have been to Moses to have gained so many People and especially a People so hard to govern And how could it be but there would have been found some heady Person or some Man of good Sense that would have opposed such a design Whoever would have attempted it must have but little experience of Men to believe but that there would soon have been as many Sectaries as Moses or at least but that he would have been desirous to have inform'd Posterity of this Deceit and might easily enough have done it Besides What could there have been fitter to have render'd the Jews ridiculous to all the World instead of admiring them and how blind must they have been not to see it For Instance What would the Aegyptians have said of all the Plagues Moses said he smote them with of the slaying their First born of the drowning Pharoah's Army in the Red-Sea And by what Complacency could all those other Nations whom he boasted to have overcome by such extraordinary ways could they have sufferr'd to pass for currant so many Fables unless they had been also of the Combination and as truly Enemies of the Glory which is ridiculously imagin'd the others sought after I grant Men may invent Fables yet they do not carry them thus far when they desire they should be believ'd and besides they take great heed to place their beginning a great way off and to hide it in the obscurity of past Ages But as it is not Mens scope to appear Ridiculous and Deceivers they never invent things that may be gainsaid by Witnesses that are living and by whole Nations that are concern'd in them For Example It would have been pleasant for the Moors when they return'd into Africa being expell'd by the Spaniards to have gone about to have made the World believ'd that they were brought over by Miracles like that of Moses and that after the Mediterranian Sea had divided it self to let them pass through it they saw it join together again and Drown an Army of I cannot tell how many thousand Men that pursu'd them yet the design would have been no less Extravagant in respect of the Jews for we must not look on those times though so remote and ignorant yet not to be so dark as they are represented Men heard and knew what past amongst each other they had the same Intrest and Passions we have they saw what they saw and knew what was needful to be known even as we do These two Hypothesies must then of necessity be laid aside neither was Moses an Impostor that deceiv'd the Jews nor were the Jews of intelligence with him There remains only to say Moses was not Author of the Book that goes under his Name or at least that it is but since his time that all the Miracles have been added to it that it contains this is the most Infidelity can Inspire but Reason will not suffer a Man of the least Sense to stop here If there were nothing else to assure one that this Book is truly of Moses and that we have it just as he wrote it but only because it goes in his Name that this Book testifies that it has ever been attributed to him and that till this time none ever thought of saying the contrary this were sufficient cause not in Reason to doubt of it because we have no other assurance that the Books of past Ages are of Authors that they are attributed unto And let it not be alledg'd that there are Books which having for some time passed under the Name of certain Authors have at last been found to be but forgery for not to enter into this Query it is impossible this should happen to a Book of the greatest Importance to which the Authors Name is of great Moment and whereof in all Ages there has been so much care used to Examine the Original and Truth because Truth is of that Nature that all things agree therein and concur in Establishing it and that it is impossible that no Industry nor Cunning can find any thing that can contradict it on the contrary Untruth and Fraud at last discovers it self if one makes it ones indeavour to inquire into it because it cannot chuse but that a great many things will appear contrary to it and that notwithstanding all the Foresight and Skill those Deceivers have it is impossible let the Mind of Man be never so wary that one should perceive all Inconveniencies may occur and if one could foresee them how to frame ones self to adjust them For to conclude When to this purpose there might be certain Effects within the power of Men it is also as sure there are also a great many things without their reach they must be able to command the Time present and that to come alter the Course of all things and in a Word be Masters of Nature and of the Mind and Will of Men. So that it is evident we have incomparably more Proofs in behalf of the Books of Moses than there is for others These were deposited in the hands of some few Persons it was but few that were concern'd about them those that were seldom thought of them and when they did it was of no great importance But the Book we speak of is of quite another kind It was always in the Hands of a great People it was the continual Object of their Care and as it was the Ground of their Religion and of a Religion that hated Lying and Deceit how was it possible they would have sufferr'd to be impos'd upon in regard of the Name of the Author and that it should be alter'd by so many Fables Or how could all this be done and that they should never perceive it And who could have been so bold as to have attempted all this Let this continu'd Course of Miracles wrought in Aegypt and in the Wilderness be seriously consider'd and let one seriously judge if all those are things that can be foisted into a Book and made be accounted to pass for the Original This is the utmost could be done for some inconsiderable Book that was to be seen but by a few Persons and for some private Miracle that may be said was done but in presence of a few Witnesses And it is seen these things do not spread far nor do not continue any long time they scarce any sooner appear but they are opposed so far

Monsieur PASCALL'S THOUGHTS Meditations and Prayers Touching Matters MORAL and DIVINE As they were found in his Papers after his Death Together with a DISCOURSE upon Monsieur Pascall's THOUGHTS Wherein is shewn what was his Design As also another DISCOURSE On the PROOFS of the Truth of the Books of Moses And a TREATISE Wherein is made appear that there are DEMONSTRATIONS of a different Nature but as certain as those of Geometry and that such may be given of the Christian Religion Done into English by Jos Walker Licensed by R. M. LONDON Printed for Jacob Tonson at the Judge's Head in Chancery-lane near Fleet-street 1688. TO THE HONOURABLE Robt. Boyle ESQUIRE A Member of the Royal Society Honoured Sir IT being my Fortune to Live some Years in a Port where your Immortal Brother for so his Deeds has made him the Earl of Orrery came to take Shipping for Ireland his Lordship was pleas'd to shew me a small Treatise writ I think by the Baron De Isola intimating it was worth Translating into English I on my part yielded a ready compliance and his Lordship was pleas'd to say it was done to his satisfaction The Approbation of so great a Judge incouraged me to set on farther Attempts of that kind so that hearing by a Judicious Person that Monsieur Pascall's Works would be well accepted I got one of the Books and have used my Endeavours about it and observing a Parity there is in some things betwixt your Honour and our Author I thought I could not commit the so much Admir'd and Esteem'd Monsieur Pascall and his Precious Remains into safer and better Hands than the Famous Master Boyle's nor recommend him to Travel the Kings Dominions under a better or safer Conduct than that of your Honours Favourable Approbation and Acceptance If the Translation has not the Advantages of Art and Elegancy it requir'd and deserves I cannot help it the Will must pass for the Deed much Silver cannot be expected out of a Lead Mine I have kept to the Authors Sense as near as I could and have given way that any one else might have perform'd it better if they pleas'd Monsieur Pascall was Nobly Descended and a great lover of Vertue and Learning from his Infancy Every body knows Sir you Eminently enjoy these Advantages He was call'd a Christian Philosopher and Mathematician who knows not but your Honour deserves these Epithets by the many Learned and Profound Treatises you have Compos'd He made all his Works and Actions of his Life tend to the Temporal and Eternal good of Men You have Employ'd your whole Life and Estate in Laborious Studying the abstrusest Recesses of Nature for the Glory of God of Religion and the good of Manking as appears by your Excellent Treatise of the Stile of the Holy Scritures c. Monsieur Pascall was Eminently Charitable Pious and Exemplary in his Morals hating and reproving Vice in himself and others wherein he surpast most of the Clergy These things Sir cannot be deny'd you to such a Degree that for disapproving Vice you acquir'd the Title of Lay-Bishop for those truly deserve double Honour who throughly Reform themselves and do sincerely reprove Sin and Vice impartially in all sorts of Persons whatsoever The Prophets Christ the Apostles and all Good Men have done so Those who are indifferent in this regard and that manage themselves and Interests with a kind of human Policy thinking thereby to scape in a whole Skin let such tremble for a Monsieur Pascall and a Master Boyle will Rise up in Judgment and condemn them such doings will not turn to Account in the End as appears by our next Neighbours sad Experience I observe and could Instance other particular Strains in Monsieur Pascall's and your Honours Works and Life which the World would be Proud to know but I hold my Hand and referr so weighty a Work to be perform'd by your Panegyrists It is very seldom such Vertues as were in him are found in those of the Communion wherein he Liv'd But when I consider and compare his Writings and Life with a Lord Treasurer Manchester a Master Herbert and many other Worthies that have liv'd and shin'd in the English Climate I will not presume but shall leave it to the Learned World to judge the apparent differences may be discern'd It is true Monsieur Pascall is Dead but his great Purity of Life and Zeal according to what he could discern through the Mists of Superstition and part of his Remains in this Treatise and you Illustrious Sir in the Numerous Issue you have enrich'd the World with I say the Pious and Learned Master Boyle and Monsieur Pascall in their Excellent Works do yet and Will for ever Live and Shine and speak aloud in the Temple of Fame and will be rever'd in the Memory of Good Men and thereby have acquir'd a Name better than of Sons and Daughters I know it is a common Practice to Expose Pieces as the Real Product of a Couper a Carrachio a Vandike c. and to impose on Men Spurious Brats for Legitimate Children because they may have some Features of their Parents I dare not assure the World that the Account here given us of Monsieur Pascall's Life and Works are a Lively and Perfect Representation of him on the contrary having seriously consider'd the Solidity and Design of his Book in most parts of it I am rather apt to believe there are many Strokes and Alterations made by other Hands through that which some call pia fraus that were never intended by him had he liv'd to have seen his own Works finish'd It is Recorded of Epaminondas that he earnestly desir'd he might obtain one of the Prizes at the Olympick Games that his Mother might partake with him the Pleasure of his Happiness What an exceeding great Contentment must it needs be to your Illustrious Relations to see you for so many years successively enjoy in the sight of all Europe greater Honours than that so Passionately desir'd by that Famous Graecian You were not Content to search into the Secrets and Nature of all things in the Elements over and under us but you at length lanched out into the Boundless Ocean not precipitately as it is said the Prince of the Ancient Philosophers did but by your Rare and Indefatigable Studies You I may say Inverted the Order for the Prophet made the Waters Potable by casting Salt into them whereas you make Salt Waters Sweet and Wholsom by taking the Fire and Salt out of them What Cause has all Europe to thank Heaven for the Blessing they do or may if they be not wanting to themselves receive by your Contriving and perfecting those Engines and Materials for making Salt 〈◊〉 water Fresh A Secret no less Profitable than Pleasant Almighty God was pleas'd you should discover and in this last Age of the World communicate to Men to refresh and Cherish them in their Sea Voyages with what Quantity of Wholsom Water they

Matters of Fact seeing that in rejecting them one should be ingag'd to hold nothing for assur'd in any History For the ground of all human Certainty is that Men are not Idiots and that there are certain Rules in Nature from whence they never depart but by a total subversion of Reason The contrary is no sooner admitted than that there would be nothing firm nor constant Let it be permitted to invent as one list that in the Days of Caesar and Pompey all Men were struck with a Distemper that made them take the Illusion of their Imagination for real Truths there would nothing remain certain in all the Revolutions that are Related of those times and the Battels of Pharsalia and Actium might be made pass for Dreams of Phanaticks So that when one is arriv'd to that pass that to believe a thing is not one must suppose an effectual Folly I do not say in a whole Notion but only in a great many Men one is arriv'd at the Borders of human certainty in things It goes no farther neither also can it be greater even for things present Because to conclude we are no less permitted to suppose this defect of Reason in Men now and in our selves than in those that are past not only all things past are for us as if they had not been But we cannot tell neither what to think of those things we see transacted and shall be no less ignorant of what is past and of the present than we are for those to come Now there is no question but the Supposition that Moses deceiv'd the Jews is of this kind for not to speak of the Folly that must be attributed to him if he had taken such a way to attain to this End it is certain it would be to have made all that People pass for Fools and Senseless to say they had marcht over the Red-Sea on dry Land if it had not been so to have thought they had seen a Mountain all of a Flame if they had not seen it that they should have imagin'd to have been fed with Manna had they been fed only with ordinary Food that they should have believ'd their Garments did not wax old though they were forc'd often to change that they should have believ'd to see that with a stroke of a Rod Moses made Issue out of a Rock Streams of Water sufficient to satisfie Six hundred thousand Men although they had seen nothing Doubtless it would be no easie matter to invent Tricks or Machines that should imitate or produce such Effects as these and could there any one be found able to do it it might be very well said to him that he would not want Followers no more than Moses and that he might make Men believe almost what he pleas'd Nevertheless it must needs be that the Jews believ'd to have seen all these strange Effects and made no scruple at all of yielding so ready an Obedience to this Man's Law and by submitting that he should bear such an absolute sway over them that alone without Guards or Army he should condemn Thirty or Fourty thousand of them to Death and see the Sentence presently put in Execution There have been some that have assay'd not indeed to go so far as him for there was never any one so void of Sense as to attempt that but to fansy ways by which Moses might have deceiv'd the Jews For Example they pretend that to make the Israelites pass the Red-Sea he took the opportunity of the Tides being out and made them believe it divided of it self and that afterwards the Tide coming in he made them believe it of its own accord overflow'd and drown'd the Aegyptians They pretend also that the Water he made issue out of the Rock was nothing else but a secret Spring which he discover'd by means of a Wild Ass that he made follow him But this is so wretchedly weak that it does not deserve to be refuted Let it only be consider'd how a thing so common as the Ebbing and Flowing of the Tide could be unknown not only to the Jews who had liv'd above Two hundred years in Aegypt but also to the Natives of the Country that they should so ignorantly cast themselves into it How could that Stream be so little and hide it self from so many People who were all ready to Perish of Thirst and of a sudden become so abundant as to satisfie them with the Camels and all their other Beasts and Cattel And to conclude by what Art could Moses so dazle the Eyes of all this People that they believ'd that in an Instant with a stroke of his Rod he made the Water stream out of the Rock like a great Torrent To conclude It is to no purpose to explain one part of these Wonders seeing one is forc'd to confess that one cannot explain them all One must wholly forbear or shew the whole System intire without prejudicing any part for inasmuch as it appears the Jews were not impos'd upon it is sufficient to convince and oblige us to believe all the rest and to consider Moses as the Minister of a God that would make himself be known to Men for the Laws of Nature being once surpassed does suffice to shew that something appears greater than it and that never Man before Jesus Christ appear'd so visibly to be Dispenser of the Power of this Master of Nature as him of whom we speak Some it may be will rather chuse to say that indeed it is impossible Moses should have impos'd on the Jews but that it may very well be that they themselves might have contributed to the Deceit and that they might consider this heap of Wonders all false as it was as a thing capable to procure them the Admiration of other Nations But certainly there can be nothing but the desire of raising some pretext of doubting of one kind or other that can produce so unlikely a Supposition For of all things that unbelief can inspire this is the most unjustifiable We will make appear afterwards this People could not yield to this Imposture in supposing that soon or a long while after the Death of Moses the Law being already setled amongst them how any new comer should think of such a strange way of rendring them considerable And it was so unlikely the love of the Nation should inclinē them to it that it appears that that very thing would have been the greatest obstacle against it which is no less certain in regard of Moses than of any one else But there is also much less appearance of it in regard of the ancient Jews For who can imagin that by an intelligence with Moses they would have submitted to a Law which they believed to be nothing more than the Production of his own Brain and for which nevertheless they sufferr'd themselves to be so hardly used that for any little omission of its Ceremonies they were to suffer Death without Mercy What more can be done for