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Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
authority_n article_n church_n doctrine_n 2,382 5 6.4327 4 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A66427 A short discourse concerning the churches authority in matters of faith shewing that the pretenses of the Church of Rome are weak and precarious in the resolution of it. Williams, John, 1636?-1709. 1687 (1687) Wing W2734; ESTC R7663 18,741 33

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upon_o for_o to_o believe_v as_o another_o believe_v unless_o a_o man_n know_v what_o it_o be_v he_o believe_v and_o upon_o what_o account_n be_v very_o absurd_a as_o may_v be_v make_v out_o anon_o so_o much_o of_o the_o will_n of_o god_n as_o may_v be_v discover_v by_o the_o light_n of_o nature_n be_v beside_o my_o present_a business_n because_o there_o be_v little_a difference_n among_o we_o about_o it_o but_o that_o part_n of_o the_o will_n of_o god_n which_o we_o be_v bind_v to_o know_v and_o adhere_v to_o as_o we_o be_v christian_n by_o profession_n distinguish_v from_o the_o rest_n of_o mankind_n as_o be_v in_o covenant_n with_o god_n be_v the_o subject_a of_o this_o ensue_a discourse_n now_o this_o part_n of_o the_o will_n of_o god_n be_v either_o reveal_v to_o the_o mind_n of_o every_o individual_a christian_a by_o particular_a and_o immediate_a inspiration_n from_o god_n or_o it_o be_v make_v know_v to_o some_o particular_a select_a person_n who_o be_v to_o instruct_v the_o rest_n the_o first_o of_o these_o way_n be_v not_o pretend_v or_o allow_v either_o by_o protestant_n or_o papist_n but_o the_o second_o be_v viz._n that_o god_n do_v discover_v his_o will_n to_o some_o that_o they_o may_v publish_v it_o to_o the_o rest_n and_o thus_o far_o i_o take_v it_o to_o be_v agree_v betwixt_o we_o before_o we_o advance_v another_o step_n we_o will_v lay_v it_o down_o 11._o as_o a_o ground_n that_o no_o man_n know_v the_o mind_n of_o a_o man_n save_v the_o spirit_n of_o a_o man_n that_o be_v in_o he_o no_o man_n can_v know_v the_o mind_n of_o another_o far_a than_o it_o be_v discover_v to_o he_o and_o by_o consequence_n no_o man_n can_v know_v revelation_n from_o god_n make_v to_o the_o mind_n and_o understanding_n of_o another_o but_o by_o one_o of_o these_o two_o way_n in_o the_o first_o place_n either_o god_n by_o inspiration_n must_v assure_v he_o that_o he_o have_v make_v such_o revelation_n to_o the_o other_o as_o when_o god_n send_v st._n paul_n at_o his_o conversion_n to_o damascus_n to_o be_v instruct_v by_o ananias_n which_o be_v a_o extraordinary_a case_n not_o fit_a to_o be_v draw_v into_o precedent_n and_o so_o neither_o pretend_v to_o nor_o to_o be_v expect_v since_o stance_n of_o it_o hitherto_o be_v so_o rare_a or_o in_o the_o second_o place_n he_o to_o who_o the_o revelation_n be_v make_v must_v bring_v such_o testimony_n and_o evidence_n as_o may_v convince_v man_n that_o it_o be_v real_o divine_a his_o bare_a word_n for_o it_o will_v not_o be_v a_o competent_a proof_n nor_o will_v the_o testimony_n of_o other_o man_n satisfy_v the_o mind_n of_o reasonable_a enquirer_n in_o this_o case_n for_o those_o other_o must_v have_v some_o to_o witness_v for_o they_o too_o and_o so_o on_o without_o end._n which_o plain_o evince_v that_o this_o be_v not_o a_o basis_n for_o faith_n to_o rest_v upon_o let_v we_o see_v then_o what_o will_v do_v for_o we_o can_v forget_v what_o our_o saviour_n confess_v of_o himself_o to_o the_o jew_n viz._n 31._o that_o if_o he_o bear_v witness_n of_o himself_o his_o witness_n be_v not_o true_a that_o be_v it_o be_v not_o of_o force_n to_o convince_v but_o then_o he_o tell_v the_o jew_n 11_o they_o ought_v to_o believe_v he_o for_o his_o work_n sake_n and_o according_o he_o appeal_v to_o his_o hearer_n that_o the_o work_n which_o he_o do_v in_o his_o father_n name_n bear_v witness_n of_o he_o 3._o the_o miracle_n which_o he_o wrought_v among_o they_o be_v sufficient_a to_o prove_v his_o authority_n to_o be_v divine_a and_o his_o doctrine_n to_o be_v from_o god._n nicodemus_n free_o confess_v as_o much_o when_o he_o own_v he_o a_o teacher_n come_v from_o god_n because_o no_o man_n can_v do_v the_o miracle_n which_o he_o do_v except_o god_n be_v with_o he_o and_o as_o our_o saviour_n do_v demonstrate_v his_o divinity_n by_o his_o work_n so_o when_o he_o send_v his_o apostle_n to_o publish_v his_o doctrine_n to_o the_o world_n he_o seal_v their_o commission_n by_o give_v they_o a_o power_n to_o work_v miracle_n which_o may_v convince_v their_o hearer_n of_o its_o truth_n and_o they_o the_o apostle_n go_v 20._o forth_o and_o preach_v every_o where_o the_o lord_n work_v with_o they_o and_o confirm_v the_o word_n with_o sign_n follow_v so_o that_o it_o be_v not_o to_o be_v doubt_v but_o that_o the_o doctrine_n which_o the_o apostle_n preach_v be_v divine_a and_o the_o miracle_n which_o they_o wrought_v be_v our_o assurance_n that_o it_o be_v so_o and_o hitherto_o all_o christian_n proceed_v with_o little_a or_o no_o difference_n have_v thus_o lay_v down_o miracle_n as_o a_o foundation_n upon_o which_o we_o be_v in_o some_o manner_n to_o ensure_v our_o faith_n it_o seem_v necessary_a before_o we_o proceed_v in_o few_o word_n to_o set_v down_o 1._o what_o we_o mean_v by_o miracle_n and_o 2._o how_o far_o this_o testimony_n of_o miracle_n may_v extend_v so_o as_o to_o authorise_v our_o belief_n first_o by_o miracle_n we_o must_v understand_v such_o work_n as_o be_v not_o only_o without_o the_o line_n of_o ordinary_a course_n and_o measure_n of_o nature_n for_o of_o this_o kind_a many_o thing_n happen_v which_o may_v be_v call_v wonder_n but_o not_o miracle_n but_o such_o as_o be_v above_o the_o power_n of_o nature_n to_o effect_v but_o because_o many_o such_o work_n have_v in_o appearance_n be_v wrought_v for_o very_o different_a purpose_n we_o must_v in_o the_o second_o place_n look_v what_o judgement_n must_v be_v make_v of_o all_o such_o thing_n and_o certain_o some_o way_n there_o be_v to_o distinguish_v or_o else_o the_o mind_n of_o man_n will_v be_v involve_v in_o most_o perplex_v and_o inextricable_a difficulty_n by_o such_o contradiction_n as_o have_v be_v abet_v with_o sign_n and_o wonder_n let_v we_o see_v then_o by_o what_o rule_v we_o must_v examine_v and_o judge_v miracle_n themselves_o or_o such_o doctrine_n as_o be_v advance_v upon_o they_o for_o to_o receive_v all_o without_o distinction_n will_v come_v to_o the_o same_o thing_n as_o to_o allow_v none_o because_o that_o can_v never_o prove_v any_o one_o point_n which_o may_v be_v allege_v or_o colourable_o pretend_v in_o favour_n of_o another_o unless_o there_o be_v some_o way_n to_o appropriate_v it_o to_o one_o side_n as_o by_o the_o rule_n follow_v it_o may_v whatsoever_o doctrine_n be_v propose_v that_o be_v contrary_a to_o right_a reason_n or_o the_o fundamental_a law_n of_o nature_n can_v be_v divine_a or_o such_o as_o we_o ought_v to_o believe_v though_o never_o so_o many_o sign_n shall_v be_v show_v to_o confirm_v it_o for_o right_a reason_n be_v only_o a_o judgement_n make_v according_a to_o that_o law_n and_o standard_n of_o justice_n and_o truth_n which_o god_n our_o creator_n have_v stamp_v upon_o the_o mind_n of_o men._n and_o the_o fundamental_o of_o reason_n issue_v from_o god_n as_o light_n flow_v from_o its_o fountain_n the_o sun_n must_v always_o remain_v unchangeable_o the_o same_o because_o he_o himself_o from_o who_o they_o spring_v have_v no_o variation_n and_o if_o the_o principle_n of_o reason_n be_v not_o so_o fix_v we_o shall_v be_v expose_v to_o all_o manner_n of_o illusion_n and_o shall_v never_o be_v able_a to_o believe_v any_o thing_n because_o we_o can_v be_v certain_a of_o nothing_o 2._o upon_o this_o ground_n god_n direct_v the_o jew_n to_o try_v their_o prophet_n who_o if_o they_o preach_v up_o other_o god_n be_v not_o to_o be_v hearken_v to_o though_o they_o work_v miracle_n nothing_o be_v more_o absurd_a or_o inconsistent_a with_o right_a reason_n than_o allow_v many_o gods._n yet_o further_o god_n when_o he_o create_v man_n according_a to_o the_o exact_a law_n of_o eternal_a justice_n implant_v in_o our_o nature_n the_o seed_n of_o it_o and_o the_o sense_n