Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
authority_n	apostle_n	church_n	tradition_n	3,170	5	9.1818	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A30406	Reflections on The relation of the English reformation, lately printed at Oxford	Burnet, Gilbert, 1643-1715.	1688 (1688)	Wing B5854; ESTC R14072	57,228	104

a_o present_a interest_n be_v the_o motive_n but_o it_o be_v a_o degree_n of_o impiety_n of_o which_o one_o will_v hope_v there_o be_v few_o man_n capable_a to_o lie_v so_o long_o and_o so_o solemn_o both_o to_o god_n and_o man._n but_o i_o come_v now_o to_o look_v a_o little_a more_o narrow_o into_o the_o matter_n of_o this_o treatise_n i_o will_v not_o at_o all_o engage_v myself_o to_o examine_v a_o great_a many_o passage_n that_o be_v cite_v in_o it_o out_o of_o some_o of_o our_o author_n and_o in_o particular_a out_o of_o dr._n heylin_n and_o mr._n thorndike_n when_o we_o object_n to_o those_o of_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n some_o thing_n out_o of_o erasmus_n or_o cassander_n or_o for_o historical_a matter_n when_o we_o cite_v p._n paul_n or_o thuanus_n we_o know_v with_o how_o much_o neglect_n they_o put_v by_o these_o authority_n as_o if_o they_o be_v not_o concern_v in_o they_o though_o these_o person_n live_v and_o die_v in_o the_o visible_a communion_n of_o their_o church_n and_o i_o do_v not_o see_v why_o we_o may_v not_o take_v the_o same_o liberty_n with_o such_o writer_n that_o though_o they_o have_v be_v in_o communion_n with_o our_o church_n yet_o have_v it_o seem_v continue_v in_o it_o with_o some_o difficulty_n and_o it_o will_v not_o appear_v very_o strange_a if_o at_o the_o end_n of_o our_o civil_a war_n those_o person_n who_o see_v the_o ill_a effect_n of_o some_o ill_a principle_n very_o apparent_o be_v carry_v by_o the_o impression_n which_o those_o confusion_n make_v upon_o they_o to_o oppose_v those_o disorder_n by_o a_o over-bending_a of_o their_o notion_n to_o the_o other_o extreme_a for_o this_o be_v a_o excess_n to_o which_o the_o humane_a nature_n be_v so_o liable_a that_o it_o be_v a_o wonder_n if_o all_o writer_n especial_o man_n of_o warm_a temper_n that_o have_v be_v sower_v by_o ill_a usage_n have_v be_v preserve_v from_o it_o so_o that_o i_o will_v whole_o wave_v all_o that_o he_o cite_v from_o these_o or_o any_o other_o of_o our_o author_n and_o will_v come_v to_o the_o matter_n themselves_o chap._n i._n of_o the_o importance_n of_o those_o matter_n object_v to_o the_o reformation_n suppose_v they_o all_o true_a the_o dispute_n that_o we_o have_v with_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n be_v at_o first_o manage_v with_o more_o sincerity_n by_o our_o adversary_n than_o they_o have_v be_v of_o late_a they_o justify_v their_o church_n in_o those_o point_n for_o which_o we_o accuse_v she_o and_o object_v the_o strong_a thing_n they_o can_v to_o we_o but_o when_o they_o feel_v their_o cause_n too_o weak_a to_o be_v maintain_v by_o fair_a method_n than_o they_o betake_v themselves_o to_o other_o that_o be_v indeed_o less_o sincere_a but_o yet_o be_v more_o apt_a to_o make_v impression_n on_o weak_a mind_n in_o france_n and_o among_o we_o three_o new_a method_n have_v appear_v of_o late_a year_n the_o first_o be_v to_o take_v off_o man_n from_o enter_v into_o the_o merit_n of_o the_o cause_n and_o to_o prepossess_v they_o with_o such_o prejudices_fw-la against_o the_o reformation_n as_o may_v lead_v they_o to_o condemn_v it_o without_o examine_v to_o a_o discern_a mind_n this_o method_n furnish_v the_o strong_a of_o all_o prejudices_fw-la against_o those_o who_o use_v it_o this_o show_v such_o a_o distrust_n of_o the_o cause_n itself_o and_o it_o discover_v itself_o so_o plain_o to_o be_v a_o trick_n that_o it_o give_v every_o man_n a_o just_a ground_n of_o indignation_n against_o those_o who_o fly_v to_o it_o beside_o that_o it_o afford_v a_o good_a plea_n to_o all_o man_n to_o continue_v in_o the_o religion_n in_o which_o they_o be_v bear_v and_o breed_v without_o harken_v to_o any_o new_a discovery_n for_o if_o the_o ground_n upon_o which_o the_o reformation_n be_v make_v be_v good_a it_o signify_v little_a to_o a_o enquirer_n into_o truth_n whether_o this_o work_n be_v set_v on_o foot_n and_o manage_v with_o all_o the_o exactness_n and_o regularity_n that_o may_v have_v be_v desire_v or_o not_o truth_n be_v always_o truth_n from_o what_o hand_n soever_o it_o come_v and_o the_o right_a way_n to_o find_v it_o out_o be_v to_o free_v our_o mind_n from_o all_o prejudices_fw-la that_o so_o we_o may_v examine_v matter_n with_o unprepossessed_a understanding_n a_o second_o method_n be_v to_o persuade_v the_o world_n that_o we_o have_v not_o yet_o understand_v one_o another_o that_o popery_n have_v only_o appear_v odious_a because_o it_o be_v misrepresent_v to_o the_o world_n in_o false_a colour_n but_o that_o it_o will_v be_v find_v to_o be_v quite_o another_o thing_n if_o it_o be_v true_o represent_v the_o bishop_n of_o meaux_n have_v the_o honour_n to_o begin_v this_o piece_n of_o legerdemain_n our_o man_n of_o the_o mission_n here_o have_v too_o slender_a a_o stock_n of_o their_o own_o and_o therefore_o they_o give_v we_o the_o french_a mode_n in_o controversy_n as_o well_o as_o our_o gallant_n do_v it_o in_o clothes_n so_o they_o have_v think_v to_o do_v wondrous_a feat_n with_o this_o method_n of_o represent_v but_o the_o want_n of_o sincerity_n of_o that_o prelate_n in_o this_o as_o well_o as_o in_o other_o thing_n have_v be_v so_o evident_o make_v out_o that_o if_o some_o man_n have_v not_o a_o secret_a that_o make_v they_o proof_n against_o all_o discovery_n he_o will_v be_v a_o little_a out_o of_o countenance_n and_o our_o representer_n here_o be_v so_o expose_v that_o nothing_o be_v want_v for_o their_o conviction_n but_o a_o sense_n of_o that_o shame_n with_o which_o they_o have_v be_v cover_v it_o be_v indeed_o a_o strange_a piece_n of_o confidence_n in_o man_n to_o come_v and_o offer_v to_o convince_v the_o world_n that_o after_o dispute_n of_o 150_o year_n continuance_n neither_o side_n have_v understand_v the_o state_n of_o the_o controversy_n and_o though_o the_o same_o decree_n of_o council_n and_o the_o same_o form_n of_o worship_n be_v still_o receive_v yet_o all_o these_o thing_n must_v of_o a_o sudden_a so_o change_v their_o nature_n that_o in_o defiance_n of_o all_o that_o which_o upon_o other_o occasion_n they_o say_v in_o behalf_n of_o tradition_n a_o new_a discovery_n shall_v be_v make_v give_v we_o new_a sense_n of_o all_o those_o thing_n but_o whatsoever_o success_n that_o book_n may_v have_v have_v where_o a_o plunder_v army_n manage_v the_o argument_n yet_o it_o be_v become_v now_o as_o ridiculous_a here_o as_o it_o be_v pretend_v to_o have_v be_v successful_a beyond_o sea._n a_o three_o method_n be_v the_o set_n up_o the_o credit_n of_o oral_a tradition_n not_o upon_o the_o authority_n of_o some_o passage_n of_o scripture_n but_o upon_o this_o general_a topic_n that_o one_o age_n must_v needs_o have_v deliver_v the_o same_o faith_n to_o the_o succeed_a age_n that_o it_o have_v receive_v from_o that_o which_o go_v before_o it_o and_o by_o consequence_n that_o we_o must_v have_v in_o the_o present_a age_n the_o same_o doctrine_n which_o the_o apostle_n deliver_v at_o first_o 17_o age_n ago_o it_o be_v find_v that_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o church_n can_v not_o well_o be_v found_v on_o passage_n of_o scripture_n for_o than_o we_o must_v be_v allow_v first_o to_o believe_v the_o scripture_n and_o its_o authority_n and_o genuineness_n and_o then_o to_o inquire_v into_o the_o meaning_n of_o those_o passage_n and_o to_o examine_v to_o which_o of_o all_o the_o different_a church_n that_o be_v in_o the_o world_n they_o do_v belong_v now_o it_o be_v apparent_a that_o if_o it_o be_v once_o allow_v that_o we_o may_v carry_v our_o inquiry_n so_o far_o as_o to_o be_v able_a to_o settle_v ourselves_o in_o these_o point_n than_o this_o infallible_a authority_n be_v not_o so_o necessary_a to_o we_o as_o they_o will_v make_v we_o believe_v since_o we_o be_v suppose_v to_o have_v find_v good_a proof_n for_o believe_v the_o scripture_n and_o for_o discover_v the_o true_a meaning_n of_o the_o hard_a passage_n in_o they_o without_o its_o help_n now_o this_o will_v spoil_v all_o and_o throw_v out_o those_o argument_n that_o persuade_v we_o of_o the_o necessity_n of_o a_o infallible_a judge_n both_o for_o our_o find_v out_o and_o for_o our_o expound_v the_o scripture_n they_o be_v now_o sensible_a of_o all_o this_o and_o see_v that_o it_o be_v a_o very_a false_a method_n of_o argue_v to_o prove_v the_o scripture_n by_o the_o church_n when_o the_o church_n must_v be_v first_o prove_v by_o the_o scripture_n and_o therefore_o they_o do_v betake_v themselves_o to_o the_o infallibility_n of_o oral_a tradition_n sound_v it_o upon_o this_o general_n topic_n that_o all_o the_o man_n of_o one_o age_n must_v needs_o have_v instruct_v the_o follow_a age_n in_o the_o same_o faith_n that_o they_o have_v receive_v from_o the_o former_a age_n and_o upon_o this_o a_o great_a many_o imaginary_a impossibility_n be_v

reckon_v up_o to_o show_v that_o this_o can_v not_o fail_v and_o so_o they_o infer_v the_o certainty_n of_o this_o method_n of_o conveyance_n now_o this_o be_v so_o extravagant_o ridiculous_a and_o so_o contrary_a to_o the_o common_a experience_n of_o all_o mankind_n that_o all_o that_o can_v possible_o be_v say_v to_o support_v it_o signify_v no_o more_o but_o to_o show_v how_o many_o fine_a thing_n a_o man_n of_o wit_n can_v say_v to_o prove_v the_o impossibility_n of_o a_o thing_n which_o yet_o every_o man_n of_o sense_n know_v be_v not_o only_o possible_a but_o be_v so_o certain_a a_o effect_n of_o such_o a_o oral_a conveyance_n that_o it_o be_v rather_o impossible_a it_o shall_v not_o fail_v how_o be_v the_o first_o oral_a tradition_n of_o the_o religion_n deliver_v to_o adam_n corrupt_v though_o the_o long_a life_n of_o the_o first_o patriarch_n be_v a_o much_o strong_a argument_n for_o prove_v the_o impossibility_n of_o such_o a_o corruption_n than_o any_o that_o these_o gentleman_n can_v allege_v how_o be_v the_o jewish_a religion_n corrupt_v in_o our_o saviour_n time_n though_o the_o only_a scene_n of_o their_o solemn_a worship_n be_v at_o jerusalem_n and_o the_o assemble_v of_o their_o whole_a nation_n in_o their_o temple_n three_o time_n a_o year_n be_v much_o strong_a inducement_n to_o make_v we_o conclude_v that_o it_o be_v impossible_a for_o a_o oral_a conveyance_n to_o miscarry_v among_o they_o than_o any_o that_o can_v be_v pretend_v to_o among_o christian_n do_v we_o not_o see_v that_o the_o most_o common_a transaction_n be_v so_o diversify_v after_o they_o have_v pass_v through_o a_o few_o hand_n that_o truth_n be_v very_o soon_o lose_v when_o it_o have_v no_o better_a standard_n than_o fame_n and_o chat_v do_v not_o all_o language_n change_v so_o much_o in_o a_o course_n of_o some_o age_n that_o those_o who_o live_v here_o 500_o year_n ago_o will_v be_v no_o more_o understand_v if_o they_o be_v now_o among_o we_o and_o yet_o it_o be_v easy_a to_o point_v out_o the_o infallibility_n of_o the_o conveyance_n of_o a_o language_n with_o much_o lively_a colour_n than_o these_o man_n can_v lay_v on_o here_o if_o oral_a tradition_n have_v any_o pretention_n to_o certainty_n it_o must_v be_v chief_o with_o relation_n to_o such_o thing_n as_o be_v sensible_a and_o visible_a and_o that_o fall_v under_o the_o observation_n of_o all_o man_n for_o in_o matter_n that_o be_v speculative_a it_o be_v natural_a for_o every_o man_n to_o dress_v they_o according_a to_o those_o explication_n with_o which_o he_o clothes_v they_o and_o if_o his_o reputation_n either_o for_o piety_n learm_v or_o a_o true_a understanding_n of_o matter_n be_v establish_v it_o be_v so_o probable_a that_o these_o will_v be_v so_o well_o receive_v that_o what_o be_v believe_v in_o one_o age_n in_o some_o general_a word_n will_v be_v believe_v in_o another_o with_o the_o addition_n of_o those_o new_a explication_n that_o it_o be_v indeed_o a_o wonder_n if_o it_o be_v otherwise_o especial_o in_o age_n of_o ignorance_n and_o superstition_n if_o it_o be_v find_v that_o in_o thing_n which_o be_v sensible_a this_o oral_a tradition_n be_v so_o certain_o change_v that_o we_o be_v as_o sure_a of_o it_o as_o we_o ean_v possible_o be_v of_o any_o matter_n of_o history_n than_o it_o be_v a_o vain_a thing_n to_o go_v about_o to_o persuade_v we_o that_o this_o be_v a_o infallible_a conveyance_n in_o matter_n of_o doctrine_n since_o it_o be_v plain_a that_o the_o one_o be_v much_o more_o like_a to_o be_v sure_a than_o the_o other_o can_v ever_o be_v suppose_v to_o be_v if_o in_o the_o worship_n of_o god_n the_o adoration_n of_o image_n and_o saint_n and_o a_o infinity_n of_o new_a rite_n be_v bring_v in_o if_o in_o the_o sacrament_n the_o adoration_n of_o it_o the_o deny_v the_o cup_n to_o all_o except_o the_o priest_n the_o deny_v the_o sacrament_n to_o infant_n if_o in_o the_o government_n of_o the_o church_n the_o pope_n have_v not_o only_o bring_v the_o other_o bishop_n to_o become_v subject_a to_o they_o but_o have_v break_v through_o the_o authority_n of_o metropolitan_n and_o the_o equality_n that_o be_v settle_v between_o themselves_o and_o the_o other_o patriarch_n though_o these_o thing_n be_v enact_v by_o the_o first_o general_n council_n if_o pope_n have_v get_v possession_n of_o a_o authority_n over_o prince_n when_o they_o be_v either_o heretic_n or_o be_v favourer_n of_o heretic_n and_o have_v maintain_v this_o possession_n these_o last_o 600_o year_n if_o i_o say_v all_o these_o thing_n which_o be_v not_o only_o sensible_a but_o be_v very_o contrary_a to_o those_o inclination_n and_o interest_n that_o be_v the_o powerful_a spring_n of_o human_a nature_n have_v yet_o be_v bring_v into_o the_o world_n so_o manifest_o be_v it_o any_o wonder_n if_o in_o dark_a age_n in_o which_o a_o blind_a obedience_n and_o a_o unreserved_a submission_n to_o churchman_n be_v look_v on_o as_o the_o chief_a branch_n of_o catholic_n religion_n a_o great_a many_o new_a doctrine_n that_o be_v infinite_o for_o the_o advantage_n of_o a_o corrupt_a and_o design_v clergy_n be_v introduce_v and_o receive_v instead_o of_o wonder_v at_o the_o success_n of_o all_o these_o innovation_n we_o shall_v have_v have_v much_o more_o reason_n to_o wonder_v if_o they_o have_v not_o prevail_v but_o upon_o the_o whole_a matter_n all_o these_o new_a method_n show_v we_o that_o those_o who_o manage_v they_o see_v the_o weakness_n of_o the_o old_a one_o and_o that_o their_o cause_n can_v be_v maintain_v on_o that_o bottom_n on_o which_o the_o writer_n of_o controversy_n have_v at_o first_o put_v it_o and_o that_o therefore_o they_o must_v a_o little_a change_n their_o way_n and_o this_o be_v a_o age_n in_o which_o wit_n and_o fine_a thought_n be_v high_o value_v those_o who_o fancy_v they_o be_v master_n in_o those_o hope_v to_o raise_v a_o sink_a cause_n which_o how_o successful_a soever_o it_o may_v be_v when_o it_o be_v manage_v by_o dragoon_n yet_o have_v never_o appear_v more_o naked_a and_o despicable_a than_o it_o have_v do_v of_o late_a year_n therefore_o they_o have_v give_v this_o new_a air_n and_o turn_v to_o the_o common_a subject_n of_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o church_n and_o of_o tradition_n and_o have_v betake_v themselves_o to_o the_o certainty_n of_o oral_a tradition_n as_o their_o last_o retrenchment_n and_o after_o all_o those_o declamation_n that_o have_v be_v make_v of_o late_a against_o those_o who_o pretend_v not_o to_o carry_v the_o assurance_n of_o our_o religion_n beyond_o a_o moral_a certainty_n they_o now_o fly_v to_o a_o plea_n which_o if_o it_o be_v true_a be_v but_o at_o most_o a_o moral_a certainty_n but_o be_v so_o far_o from_o be_v true_a that_o we_o have_v as_o much_o certainty_n as_o we_o can_v have_v for_o a_o negative_a proposition_n that_o it_o be_v and_o ever_o must_v be_v false_a the_o author_n of_o this_o treatise_n offer_v we_o a_o new_a essay_n of_o one_o of_o these_o late_a method_n for_o instead_o of_o attacking_z our_o reformation_n in_o any_o of_o its_o essential_a part_n he_o go_v about_o only_o to_o prove_v that_o it_o be_v not_o canonical_a and_o all_o this_o when_o it_o be_v grant_v to_o be_v true_a amount_v to_o no_o more_o than_o this_o that_o the_o corruption_n of_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n have_v be_v extreme_o advantageous_a to_o the_o clergy_n the_o great_a part_n of_o they_o be_v too_o much_o lock_v up_o in_o ignorance_n and_o too_o much_o addict_v to_o their_o interest_n to_o admit_v of_o any_o change_n and_o that_o therefore_o the_o lesser_a part_n be_v force_v to_o make_v use_n of_o the_o civil-power_n to_o support_v they_o in_o reform_v those_o abuse_n but_o this_o must_v be_v acknowledge_v to_o be_v lawful_a otherwise_o all_o national-reformation_n from_o receive_a error_n be_v no_o more_o to_o be_v think_v on_o for_o suppose_v a_o error_n have_v overspread_v a_o national_a church_n which_o be_v a_o supposition_n that_o none_o can_v deny_v since_o how_o infallible_a soever_o the_o catholic_n church_n may_v be_v suppose_v to_o be_v it_o be_v past_a dispute_n that_o every_o particular_a church_n may_v be_v so_o overrun_v with_o error_n that_o the_o great_a part_n may_v be_v infect_v and_o if_o this_o fall_v to_o be_v in_o a_o conjuncture_n in_o which_o a_o general_a council_n can_v be_v call_v and_o if_o the_o heresy_n be_v new_a such_o as_o for_o instance_n the_o pelagian_a be_v when_o it_o first_o appear_v so_o that_o it_o have_v spread_v far_o before_o it_o have_v be_v condemn_v by_o a_o general_n council_n what_o must_v be_v do_v in_o such_o a_o case_n if_o the_o prince_n may_v not_o support_v the_o sound_a though_o the_o lesser_a part_n so_o that_o according_a to_o this_o supposition_n if_o those_o doctrine_n and_o form_n of_o worship_n that_o