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Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
authority_n ancient_a church_n father_n 3,954 5 5.0522 4 true
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A71070 An answer to several late treatises, occasioned by a book entituled A discourse concerning the idolatry practised in the Church of Rome, and the hazard of salvation in the communion of it. The first part by Edward Stillingfleet ... Stillingfleet, Edward, 1635-1699. 1673 (1673) Wing S5559; ESTC R564 166,980 378

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governor_n of_o a_o christian_a society_n the_o privilege_n of_o command_v in_o thing_n which_o god_n have_v n●t_a al●_n ready_a determine_v by_o his_o own_o law_n we_o plead_v for_o the_o respect_n and_o reverence_n which_o be_v due_a to_o the_o lawful_a constitution_n o●_n the_o church_n whereof_o we_o be_v member_n and_o 〈◊〉_d the_o just_a authority_n of_o the_o guide_v it_o in_o the_o exercise_n of_o that_o power_n which_o be_v commit_v to_o the_o governor_n of_o it_o as_o the_o successor_n of_o the_o apostle_n in_o their_o care_n of_o the_o christian_a church_n although_o not_o in_o their_o infallibility_n 6._o we_o allow_v a_o very_a great_a authority_n to_o the_o guide_n of_o the_o catholic_n church_n in_o the_o best_a time_n of_o christianity_n and_o look_v upon_o the_o concurrent_a sense_n of_o antiquity_n as_o a_o excellent_a mean_n to_o understand_v the_o mind_n of_o scripture_n in_o place_n otherwise_o doubtful_a and_o obscure_a we_o prosess_v a_o great_a reverence_n to_o the_o ancient_a father_n of_o the_o church_n but_o especial_o when_o assemble_v in_o free_a and_o general_a council_n we_o reject_v the_o ancient_a heresy_n condemn_v in_o they_o which_o we_o the_o rather_o believe_v to_o be_v against_o the_o scripture_n because_o so_o ancient_a so_o wise_a and_o so_o great_a person_n do_v deliver_v the_o contrary_a doctrine_n not_o only_o to_o be_v the_o sense_n of_o the_o church_n in_o their_o own_o time_n but_o ever_o since_o the_o apostle_n nay_o we_o reject_v nothing_o that_o can_v be_v prove_v by_o a_o universal_a tradition_n from_o the_o apostolical_a time_n downward_o but_o we_o have_v so_o great_a a_o opinion_n of_o the_o wisdom_n and_o piety_n of_o those_o excellent_a guide_n of_o the_o church_n in_o the_o primitive_a time_n that_o we_o see_v no_o reason_n to_o have_v those_o thing_n force_v upon_o we_o now_o which_o we_o offer_v to_o prove_v to_o be_v contrary_a to_o their_o doctrine_n and_o practice_n so_o that_o the_o controversy_n 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himself_o whether_o he_o do_v in_o earnest_n think_v that_o his_o own_o church_n be_v so_o bereave_v of_o all_o common_a sense_n as_o not_o to_o understand_v the_o force_n of_o this_o maxim_n and_o if_o it_o think_v it_o of_o any_o weight_n in_o this_o matter_n how_o it_o can_v ever_o approve_v the_o ordination_n of_o heretic_n or_o decree_n that_o the_o sacrament_n retain_v their_o efficacy_n where_o the_o essential_o of_o they_o be_v observe_v whatever_o the_o faith_n or_o manner_n of_o the_o instrument_n be_v and_o this_o be_v all_o i_o intend_v in_o this_o preface_n of_o the_o rest_n of_o his_o book_n the_o reader_n may_v expect_v a_o account_n as_o god_n give_v health_n and_o opportunity_n the_o content_n preface_n to_o the_o two_o first_o answer_n p._n 1._o a_o particular_a examination_n of_o the_o pamphlet_n entitle_v doct._n stillingfleet_n against_o doct._n stillingfleet_n of_o the_o insufficiency_n of_o j._n w.'s_n way_n of_o answer_v p._n 13._o no_o contradiction_n about_o the_o charge_n of_o idolatry_n p._n 18._o a_o distinct_a answer_n to_o his_o proposition_n p._n 26._o in_o what_o sense_n the_o church_n of_o rome_n be_v own_v by_o we_o as_o a_o true_a church_n p._n 29._o his_o appendix_n about_o idolatry_n consider_v p._n 34._o the_o second_o contradiction_n examine_v p._n 39_o the_o charge_n of_o fanaticism_n defend_v p._n 50._o no_o contradiction_n in_o the_o charge_n of_o division_n p._n 65._o the_o conclusion_n p._n 71._o a_o answer_n to_o the_o book_n entitle_v doct._n stillingfleet_v principles_n consider_v the_o occasion_n of_o annex_v those_o principle_n p._n 75._o of_o the_o notion_n of_o infallibility_n p._n 79._o n._n oh_o concession_n p._n 85._o his_o principle_n lay_v down_o p._n 95._o his_o exception_n answer_v p._n 98._o his_o proof_n of_o infallibility_n examine_v p._n 110._o of_o the_o argument_n from_o scripture_n for_o infallibility_n p._n 116._o of_o the_o argument_n from_o tradition_n for_o it_o p._n 123._o of_o
their_o guide_n only_o upon_o the_o opinion_n of_o their_o skill_n and_o integrity_n and_o when_o they_o see_v reason_n to_o question_v these_o they_o know_v of_o no_o obligation_n to_o follow_v their_o conduct_n over_o rock_n and_o precipice_n if_o they_o be_v so_o careless_a of_o their_o own_o welfare_n other_o be_v not_o bind_v to_o follow_v they_o therein_o but_o we_o be_v not_o to_o presume_v person_n so_o whole_o ignorant_a but_o they_o have_v some_o general_a rule_n by_o which_o to_o judge_n of_o the_o skill_n and_o fidelity_n of_o their_o guide_n if_o a_o person_n commit_v himself_o to_o the_o care_n of_o a_o pilot_n to_o carry_v he_o to_o constantinople_n because_o of_o his_o ignorance_n of_o the_o sea_n shall_v this_o man_n still_o rely_v upon_o his_o authority_n if_o he_o carry_v he_o to_o find_v out_o the_o north_n west_n passage_n no_o though_o he_o may_v not_o know_v the_o particular_a coast_n so_o well_o yet_o he_o know_v the_o east_n and_o west_n the_o north_n and_o south_n from_o each_o other_o if_o a_o stranger_n shall_v take_v a_o guide_n to_o conduct_v he_o from_o london_n to_o york_n although_o he_o may_v not_o think_v fit_a to_o dispute_v with_o he_o at_o every_o doubtful_a turn_n yet_o be_v he_o bind_v to_o follow_v he_o when_o he_o travel_v all_o day_n with_o the_o sun_n in_o his_o face_n for_o although_o he_o do_v not_o know_v the_o direct_a road_n yet_o he_o know_v that_o he_o be_v to_o go_v northward_o the_o meaning_n of_o all_o this_o be_v that_o the_o supposition_n of_o guide_n in_o religion_n do_v depend_v upon_o some_o common_a principle_n of_o religion_n that_o be_v or_o may_v be_v know_v to_o all_o and_o some_o precept_n so_o plain_a that_o every_o christian_n without_o any_o help_n may_v know_v they_o to_o be_v his_o duty_n within_o the_o compass_n of_o these_o plain_a and_o know_v duty_n lie_v the_o capacity_n of_o person_n judge_v of_o their_o guide_n if_o they_o carry_v they_o out_o of_o this_o beat_a way_n they_o have_v no_o 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doubtful_a and_o require_v skill_n to_o resolve_v they_o but_o it_o be_v only_o to_o suppose_v that_o their_o authority_n be_v not_o absolute_a nor_o their_o direction_n infallible_a but_o if_o we_o take_v away_o this_o infallible_a direction_n from_o the_o guide_n of_o the_o church_n what_o authority_n be_v there_o leave_v they_o as_o much_o as_o ever_o god_n give_v they_o and_o if_o they_o will_v not_o be_v content_v with_o that_o we_o can_v help_v it_o and_o that_o it_o may_v appear_v how_o vain_a and_o frivolous_a these_o exception_n be_v i_o shall_v now_o show_v what_o real_a authority_n be_v still_o leave_v in_o the_o governor_n of_o the_o church_n though_o infallibility_n be_v take_v away_o and_o that_o lie_v in_o three_o thing_n 1._o a_o authority_n of_o inflict_a censure_n upon_o offender_n which_o be_v common_o call_v the_o power_n of_o the_o key_n or_o of_o receive_v into_o and_o exclude_v out_o of_o the_o communion_n of_o the_o church_n this_o the_o church_n be_v invest_v with_o by_o christ_n himself_o and_o be_v the_o necessary_a consequence_n of_o the_o be_v and_o institution_n of_o a_o christian_a society_n which_o can_v be_v preserve_v in_o its_o purity_n and_o peace_n without_o it_o which_o authority_n belong_v to_o the_o governor_n of_o the_o church_n and_o however_o the_o church_n in_o some_o respect_n be_v incorporate_v with_o the_o commonwealth_n in_o a_o christian_a state_n yet_o its_o fundamental_a right_n remain_v distinct_a from_o it_o of_o which_o this_o be_v one_o of_o the_o chief_a to_o receive_v into_o and_o exclude_v out_o of_o the_o church_n such_o person_n which_o according_a to_o the_o law_n of_o a_o christian_a society_n be_v fit_a to_o be_v take_v in_o or_o shut_v out_o 2._o a_o authority_n of_o make_v rule_n and_o canon_n about_o matter_n of_o order_n and_o decency_n in_o the_o church_n not_o mere_o in_o the_o necessary_a circumstance_n of_o time_n and_o place_n and_o such_o thing_n the_o contrary_a to_o which_o imply_v a_o natural_a indecency_n but_o in_o continue_v and_o establish_v those_o ancient_a rite_n of_o the_o christian_a church_n which_o be_v practise_v in_o the_o early_a time_n of_o christianity_n and_o be_v in_o themselves_o of_o a_o indifferent_a nature_n which_o authority_n of_o the_o church_n have_v be_v not_o only_o assert_v in_o the_o article_n of_o our_o church_n but_o strenuous_o defend_v against_o the_o trifle_a objection_n of_o her_o enemy_n 20._o from_o scripture_n antiquity_n and_o reason_n and_o i_o free_o grant_v not_o only_o that_o such_o a_o authority_n be_v in_o itself_o reasonable_a and_o just_a but_o that_o in_o such_o matter_n require_v by_o a_o lawful_a authority_n such_o as_o that_o of_o our_o church_n be_v there_o be_v a_o advantage_n on_o the_o side_n of_o authority_n against_o a_o scrupulous_a conscience_n which_o ought_v to_o over-rule_v the_o practice_n of_o such_o who_o be_v the_o member_n of_o that_o church_n 3._o a_o authority_n of_o propose_v matter_n of_o 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authority_n to_o declare_v what_o the_o mind_n and_o will_n of_o god_n be_v contain_v in_o scripture_n in_o order_n to_o the_o salvation_n and_o edification_n of_o the_o soul_n of_o man_n but_o beside_o this_o we_o may_v consider_v the_o bishop_n and_o representative_a clergy_n of_o a_o church_n as_o meet_v together_o for_o reform_v any_o abuse_n creep_v into_o the_o practice_n of_o religion_n or_o error_n in_o doctrine_n and_o in_o this_o case_n we_o assert_v that_o such_o a_o synod_n or_o convocation_n have_v the_o power_n and_o authority_n within_o itself_o especial_o have_v all_o the_o ancient_a right_n of_o a_o patriarchal_a church_n when_o a_o more_o general_a consent_n can_v be_v obtain_v to_o publish_v and_o declare_v what_o those_o error_n &_o abuse_n be_v &_o to_o do_v as_o much_o as_o in_o they_o lie_v to_o reform_v they_o viz._n by_o require_v a_o consent_n to_o such_o proposition_n as_o be_v agree_v upon_o for_o that_o end_n of_o those_o who_o be_v to_o enjoy_v the_o 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government_n that_o those_o who_o adhere_v to_o the_o religion_n of_o the_o roman_a church_n yet_o agree_v to_o the_o reject_v that_o authority_n which_o he_o challenge_v in_o england_n which_o be_v sufficient_o know_v to_o have_v be_v the_o beginning_n of_o the_o breach_n between_o the_o two_o church_n afterward_o when_o it_o be_v thus_o agree_v that_o the_o bishop_n of_o rome_n have_v no_o such_o authority_n as_o he_o challenge_v what_o shall_v hinder_v our_o church_n from_o proceed_v in_o the_o best_a way_n it_o can_v for_o the_o reformation_n of_o itself_o for_o the_o pope_n supremacy_n be_v cast_v out_o as_o a_o usurpation_n our_o church_n be_v thereby_o declare_v to_o be_v a_o free_a church_n have_v the_o power_n of_o government_n within_o itself_o and_o what_o method_n of_o proceed_v can_v be_v more_o reasonable_a in_o this_o case_n than_o by_o the_o advice_n of_o the_o governor_n of_o the_o church_n and_o by_o the_o concurrence_n of_o civil_a authority_n to_o publish_v such_o 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that_o church_n and_o n._n o._n do_v not_o say_v that_o we_o oppose_v the_o whole_a church_n but_o the_o more_o universal_a church_n i._n e._n i_o suppose_v the_o great_a number_n of_o person_n at_o that_o time_n but_o do_v he_o undertake_v to_o make_v this_o good_a that_o the_o great_a number_n of_o christian_n then_o in_o the_o world_n do_v oppose_v the_o church_n of_o england_n how_o do_v he_o know_v that_o the_o eastern_a armenian_n abyssin_n and_o greek_a church_n do_v agree_v with_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n against_o we_o no_o that_o be_v not_o his_o meaning_n but_o by_o the_o more_o universal_a church_n he_o fair_o understand_v no_o more_o but_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n and_o that_o we_o do_v oppose_v the_o doctrine_n and_o practice_n of_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n we_o deny_v not_o but_o we_o utter_o deny_v that_o to_o be_v the_o catholic_n church_n or_o that_o we_o oppose_v any_o lawful_a authority_n in_o deny_v submission_n to_o it_o but_o according_a to_o the_o canon_n 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the_o christian_a church_n and_o be_v far_o more_o for_o preserve_v the_o dignity_n of_o it_o than_o the_o roman_a church_n can_v be_v for_o we_o shall_v think_v it_o a_o happy_a state_n of_o the_o christian_a church_n if_o all_o the_o patriarch_n do_v enjoy_v their_o ancient_a power_n and_o privilege_n and_o all_o christendom_n will_v consent_v to_o a_o true_o free_a and_o general_a council_n which_o we_o look_v on_o as_o the_o best_a expedient_a on_o earth_n for_o compose_v the_o difference_n of_o the_o christian_a world_n if_o it_o may_v be_v have_v but_o we_o can_v endure_v to_o be_v abuse_v by_o mere_a name_n of_o titular_a patriarch_n but_o real_a servant_n and_o pensionary_n of_o the_o pope_n with_o combination_n of_o interest_v party_n instead_o of_o general_a council_n with_o the_o pleasure_n of_o pope_n instead_o of_o ancient_a canon_n let_v they_o reduce_v the_o ancient_a government_n of_o the_o church_n within_o its_o due_a bound_n let_v the_o bishop_n of_o rome_n content_v himself_o with_o the_o privilege_n he_o then_o enjoy_v let_v debate_n be_v free_a and_o bishop_n assemble_v with_o a_o equal_a proportion_n out_o of_o all_o church_n of_o christendom_n and_o if_o we_o then_o oppose_v so_o general_a a_o consent_n of_o the_o christian_a church_n let_v they_o charge_v we_o with_o not_o submit_v to_o all_o the_o authority_n extant_a of_o the_o world_n but_o since_o the_o state_n of_o christendom_n have_v be_v so_o much_o divide_v that_o a_o true_o general_n council_n be_v next_o to_o a_o impossible_a thing_n the_o church_n must_v be_v reform_v by_o its_o part_n and_o every_o free_a church_n enjoy_v the_o right_n of_o a_o patriarchal_a see_v have_v according_a to_o the_o canon_n of_o the_o church_n a_o sufficient_a power_n to_o reform_v all_o abuse_n within_o itself_o when_o a_o more_o general_a consent_n can_v be_v obtain_v by_o this_o we_o may_v see_v how_o very_a feeble_a this_o charge_n be_v of_o destroy_v all_o church-authority_n by_o refuse_v submission_n to_o the_o roman_a hierarchy_n and_o how_o very_o pityful_a a_o advantage_n can_v from_o hence_o be_v make_v by_o the_o dissent_v party_n among_o we_o who_o decry_v that_o patriarchal_a and_o ancient_a government_n as_o anti-christian_n which_o we_o allow_v as_o prudent_a and_o christian._n but_o of_o the_o difference_n of_o these_o two_o case_n i_o have_v speak_v already_o 4._o but_o yet_o n._n o._n say_v my_o principle_n afford_v no_o effectual_a way_n or_o mean_n in_o this_o church_n of_o suppress_v or_o convict_v any_o schism_n ●98_n sect_n or_o heresy_n or_o reduce_v they_o either_o to_o submission_n of_o judgement_n or_o silence_n therefore_o my_o principle_n be_v destructive_a to_o all_o church-authority_n to_o which_o i_o answer_v 1._o that_o the_o design_n of_o my_o principle_n be_v to_o lay_v down_o the_o foundation_n of_o faith_n and_o not_o the_o mean_n of_o suppress_v heresy_n if_o i_o have_v lay_v down_o the_o foundation_n of_o peace_n and_o leave_v all_o person_n to_o their_o own_o judgement_n without_o any_o regard_n to_o authority_n this_o may_v have_v be_v just_o object_v against_o i_o but_o according_a to_o this_o way_n it_o may_v have_v be_v object_v to_o aristotle_n that_o he_o be_v a_o enemy_n to_o civil_a government_n because_o he_o do_v not_o lay_v down_o the_o rule_n of_o it_o in_o his_o logic_n or_o that_o hypocrates_n favour_v the_o chemist_n and_o mountebank_n because_o he_o say_v not_o a_o word_n of_o the_o college_n of_o physician_n if_o i_o have_v say_v any_o thing_n about_o the_o authority_n of_o particular_a church_n or_o the_o way_n of_o suppress_v sect_n then_o how_o insult_o have_v i_o be_v ask_v what_o be_v all_o this_o to_o the_o foundation_n of_o faith_n excellent_a protestant_a principle_n of_o faith_n they_o begin_v now_o to_o resolve_v faith_n into_o the_o authority_n of_o