Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
authority_n	believe_v	church_n	doctrine_n	5,028	5	6.8462	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A50959	A treatise of civil power in ecclesiastical causes shewing that it is not lawfull for any power on earth to compell in matters of religion / the author, J.M.	Milton, John, 1608-1674.	1659 (1659)	Wing M2185; ESTC R13133	23,223	97

we_o but_o the_o illumination_n of_o the_o holy_a spirit_n so_o interpret_n that_o scripture_n as_o warrantable_a only_o to_o ourselves_o and_o to_o such_o who_o conscience_n we_o can_v so_o persuade_v can_v have_v no_o other_o ground_n in_o matter_n of_o religion_n but_o only_o from_o the_o scripture_n and_o these_o be_v not_o possible_a to_o be_v understand_v without_o this_o divine_a illumination_n which_o no_o man_n can_v know_v at_o all_o time_n to_o be_v in_o himself_o much_o less_o to_o be_v at_o any_o time_n for_o certain_a in_o any_o other_o it_o follow_v clear_o that_o no_o man_n or_o body_n of_o man_n in_o these_o time_n can_v be_v the_o infallible_a judge_n or_o determiner_n in_o matter_n of_o religion_n to_o any_o other_o man_n conscience_n but_o their_o own_o and_o therefore_o those_o beroean_n be_v commend_v act._n 17.11_o who_o after_o the_o preach_n even_o of_o s._n paul_n search_v the_o scripture_n daily_o whether_o those_o thing_n be_v so_o nor_o do_v they_o more_o than_o what_o god_n himself_o in_o many_o place_n command_v we_o by_o the_o same_o apostle_n to_o search_v to_o try_v to_o judge_v of_o these_o thing_n ourselves_o and_o give_v we_o reason_n also_o gal._n 6.4_o 5._o let_v every_o man_n prove_v his_o own_o work_n and_o then_o shall_v he_o have_v rejoice_v in_o himself_o alone_o and_o not_o in_o another_o for_o every_o man_n shall_v bear_v his_o own_o burden_n if_o then_o we_o count_v it_o so_o ignorant_a and_o irreligious_a in_o the_o papist_n to_o think_v himself_o discharge_v in_o god_n account_n believe_v only_o as_o the_o church_n believe_v how_o much_o great_a condemnation_n will_v it_o be_v to_o the_o protestant_a his_o condemner_n to_o think_v himself_o justify_v believe_v only_o as_o the_o state_n believe_v with_o good_a cause_n therefore_o it_o be_v the_o general_a consent_n of_o all_o sound_a protestant_a writer_n that_o neither_o tradition_n counsel_n nor_o canon_n of_o any_o visibie_a church_n much_o less_o edict_n of_o any_o magistrate_n or_o civil_a session_n but_o the_o scripture_n only_o can_v be_v the_o final_a judge_n or_o rule_v in_o matter_n of_o religion_n and_o that_o only_o in_o the_o conscience_n of_o every_o christian_a to_o himself_o which_o protestation_n make_v by_o the_o first_o public_a reformer_n of_o our_o religion_n against_o the_o imperial_a edict_n of_o charles_n the_o five_o impose_v church-tradition_n without_o scripture_n give_v first_o beginning_n to_o the_o name_n of_o protestant_a and_o with_o that_o name_n have_v ever_o be_v receive_v this_o doctrine_n which_o prefer_v the_o scripture_n before_o the_o church_n and_o acknowledge_v none_o but_o the_o scripture_n sole_a interpreter_n of_o itself_o to_o the_o conscience_n for_o if_o the_o church_n be_v not_o sufficient_a to_o be_v implicit_o believe_v as_o we_o hold_v it_o be_v not_o what_o can_v there_o else_o be_v name_v of_o more_o authority_n than_o the_o church_n but_o the_o conscience_n than_o which_o god_n only_o be_v great_a 1_o ioh._n 3.20_o but_o if_o any_o man_n shall_v pretend_v that_o the_o scripture_n judge_n to_o his_o conscience_n for_o other_o man_n he_o make_v himself_o great_a not_o only_o than_o the_o church_n but_o also_o then_o the_o scripture_n than_o the_o conscience_n of_o other_o man_n a_o presumption_n too_o high_a for_o any_o mortal_a since_o every_o true_a christian_a able_a to_o give_v a_o reason_n of_o his_o faith_n have_v the_o word_n of_o god_n before_o he_o the_o promise_a holy_a spirit_n and_o the_o mind_n of_o christ_n within_o he_o 1_o cor._n 2.16_o a_o much_o better_a and_o safe_a guide_n of_o conscience_n which_o as_o far_o as_o concern_v himself_o he_o may_v far_o more_o certain_o know_v then_o any_o outward_a rule_n impose_v upon_o he_o by_o other_o who_o he_o inward_o neither_o know_v nor_o can_v know_v at_o least_o know_v nothing_o of_o they_o more_o sure_a than_o this_o one_o thing_n that_o they_o can_v be_v his_o judge_n in_o religion_n 1_o cor._n 2.15_o the_o spiritual_a man_n judge_v all_o thing_n but_o he_o himself_o be_v judge_v of_o no_o man_n chief_o for_o this_o cause_n do_v all_o true_a protestant_n account_v the_o pope_n antichrist_n for_o that_o he_o assume_v to_o himself_o this_o infallibility_n over_o both_o the_o conscience_n and_o the_o scripture_n sit_v in_o the_o temple_n of_o god_n as_o it_o be_v opposite_a to_o god_n and_o exalt_v himself_o above_o all_o that_o be_v call_v god_n or_o be_v worship_v 2_o thess._n 2.4_o that_o be_v to_o say_v not_o only_o above_o all_o judge_n and_o magistrate_n who_o though_o they_o be_v call_v god_n be_v far_o beneath_o infallible_a but_o also_o above_o god_n himself_o by_o give_v law_n both_o to_o the_o scripture_n to_o the_o conscience_n and_o to_o the_o spirit_n itself_o of_o god_n within_o we_o when_o as_o we_o find_v james_n 4.12_o there_o be_v one_o lawgiver_n who_o be_v able_a to_o save_v and_o to_o destroy_v who_o be_v thou_o that_o judge_v another_o that_o christ_n be_v the_o only_a lawgiver_n of_o his_o church_n and_o that_o it_o be_v here_o mean_v in_o religious_a matter_n no_o well_o ground_v christian_n will_v deny_v thus_o also_o s._n paul_n rom._n 14.4_o who_o be_v thou_o that_o judge_v the_o servant_n of_o another_o to_o his_o own_o lord_n he_o stand_v or_o fall_v but_o he_o shall_v stand_v for_o god_n be_v able_a to_o make_v he_o stand_v as_o therefore_o of_o one_o beyond_o expression_n bold_a and_o presumptuous_a both_o these_o apostle_n demand_v who_o be_v thou_o that_o presume_v to_o impose_v other_o law_n or_o judgement_n in_o religion_n than_o the_o only_a lawgiver_n and_o judge_n christ_n who_o only_o can_v save_v and_o can_v destroy_v give_v to_o the_o conscience_n and_o the_o forecited_a place_n to_o the_o thessalonian_n by_o compare_a effect_n resolve_v we_o that_o be_v he_o or_o they_o who_o or_o wherever_o they_o be_v or_o can_v be_v they_o be_v of_o far_o less_o authority_n than_o the_o church_n who_o in_o these_o thing_n as_o protestant_n they_o receive_v not_o and_o yet_o no_o less_o antichrist_n in_o this_o main_a point_n of_o antichristianism_n no_o less_o a_o pope_n or_o popedom_n than_o he_o at_o rome_n if_o not_o much_o more_o by_o set_v up_o supreme_a interpreter_n of_o scripture_n either_o those_o doctor_n who_o they_o follow_v or_o which_o be_v far_o worse_a themselves_o as_o a_o civil_a papacy_n assume_v unaccountable_a supremacy_n to_o themselves_o not_o in_o civil_a only_o but_o ecclesiastical_a cause_n see_v then_o that_o in_o matter_n of_o religion_n as_o have_v be_v prove_v none_o can_v judge_v or_o determine_v here_o on_o earth_n no_o not_o church-governor_n themselves_o against_o the_o conscience_n of_o other_o believer_n my_o inference_n be_v or_o rather_o not_o i_o but_o our_o saviour_n own_o that_o in_o those_o matter_n they_o neither_o can_v command_v nor_o use_v constraint_n lest_o they_o run_v rash_o on_o a_o pernicious_a consequence_n forewarn_v in_o that_o parable_n mat._n 13._o from_o the_o 26_o to_o the_o 31_o verse_n lest_o while_o you_o gather_v up_o the_o tare_n you_o root_v up_o also_o the_o wheat_n with_o they_o let_v both_o grow_v together_o until_o the_o harvest_n and_o in_o the_o time_n of_o harvest_n i_o will_v say_v to_o the_o reaper_n gather_v you_o together_o first_o the_o tare_n etc._n etc._n whereby_o he_o declare_v that_o this_o work_n neither_o his_o own_o minister_n nor_o any_o else_o can_v discern_o enough_o or_o judge_o perform_v without_o his_o own_o immediate_a direction_n in_o his_o own_o fit_a season_n and_o that_o they_o ought_v till_o then_o not_o to_o attempt_v it_o which_o be_v further_o confirm_v 2_o cor._n 1.24_o not_o that_o we_o have_v dominion_n over_o your_o faith_n but_o be_v helper_n of_o your_o joy_n if_o apostle_n have_v no_o dominion_n or_o constrain_a power_n over_o faith_n or_o conscience_n much_o less_o have_v ordinary_a minister_n 1_o pet._n 5.2_o 3._o feed_v the_o flock_n of_o god_n not_o by_o constraint_n etc._n etc._n neither_o as_o be_v lord_n over_o god_n heritage_n but_o some_o will_v object_v that_o this_o overthrow_v all_o church-discipline_n all_o censure_n of_o error_n if_o no_o man_n can_v determine_v my_o answer_n be_v that_o what_o they_o hear_v be_v plane_n scripture_n which_o forbid_v not_o church-sentence_n or_o determine_n but_o as_o it_o end_v in_o violence_n upon_o the_o conscience_n unconvinced_a let_v who_o so_o will_v interpret_v or_o determine_v so_o it_o be_v according_a to_o true_a church-discipline_n which_o be_v exercise_v on_o they_o only_o who_o have_v willing_o join_v themselves_o in_o that_o covenant_n of_o union_n and_o proceed_v only_o to_o a_o separation_n from_o the_o rest_n proceed_v never_o to_o any_o corporal_a enforcement_n or_o forfeiture_n of_o money_n which_o in_o spiritual_a thing_n be_v the_o two_o arm_n of_o antichrist_n not_o of_o the_o true_a church_n the_o one_o be_v a_o inquisition_n the_o other_o no_o

better_a than_o a_o temporal_a indulgence_n of_o sin_n for_o money_n whether_o by_o the_o church_n exact_v or_o by_o the_o magistrate_n both_o the_o one_o and_o the_o other_o a_o temporal_a satisfaction_n for_o what_o christ_n have_v satisfy_v eternal_o a_o popish_a commute_n of_o penalty_n corporal_a for_o spiritual_a a_o satisfaction_n to_o man_n especial_o to_o the_o magistrate_n for_o what_o and_o to_o who_o we_o owe_v none_o these_o and_o more_o be_v the_o injustice_n of_o force_n and_o fine_v in_o religion_n beside_o what_o i_o most_o insist_v on_o the_o violation_n of_o god_n express_a commandment_n in_o the_o gospel_n as_o have_v be_v show_v thus_o than_o if_o church-governor_n can_v use_v force_n in_o religion_n though_o but_o for_o this_o reason_n because_o they_o can_v infallible_o determine_v to_o the_o conscience_n without_o convincement_n much_o less_o have_v civil_a magistrate_n authority_n to_o use_v force_n where_o they_o can_v much_o less_o judge_n unless_o they_o mean_v only_o to_o be_v the_o civil_a executioner_n of_o they_o who_o have_v no_o civil_a power_n to_o give_v they_o such_o commission_n no_o nor_o yet_o ecclesiastical_a to_o any_o force_n or_o violence_n in_o religion_n to_o sum_n up_o all_o in_o brief_a if_o we_o must_v believe_v as_o the_o magistrate_n appoint_v why_o not_o rather_o as_o the_o church_n if_o not_o as_o either_o without_o convincement_n how_o can_v force_n be_v lawful_a but_o some_o be_v ready_a to_o cry_v out_o what_o shall_v then_o be_v do_v to_o blasphemy_n they_o i_o will_v first_o exhort_v not_o thus_o to_o terrify_v and_o pose_v the_o people_n with_o a_o greek_a word_n but_o to_o teach_v they_o better_v what_o it_o be_v be_v a_o most_o usual_a and_o common_a word_n in_o that_o language_n to_o signify_v any_o slander_n any_o malicious_a or_o evil_a speak_v whether_o against_o god_n or_o man_n or_o any_o thing_n to_o good_a belong_v blasphemy_n or_o evil_n speak_v against_o god_n malicious_o be_v far_o from_o conscience_n in_o religion_n according_a to_o that_o of_o marc_n 9.39_o there_o be_v none_o who_o do_v a_o powerful_a work_n in_o my_o name_n and_o can_v likely_o speak_v evil_a of_o i_o if_o this_o suffice_v not_o i_o refer_v they_o to_o that_o prudent_a and_o well_o deliberate_a act_n august_n 9_o 1650_o where_o the_o parliament_n define_v blasphemy_n against_o god_n as_o far_o as_o it_o be_v a_o crime_n belong_v to_o civil_a judicature_n pleniùs_fw-la ac_fw-la meliùs_fw-la chrysippo_n and_o crantore_n in_o plane_n english_a more_o wary_o more_o judicious_o more_o orthodoxal_o than_o twice_o their_o number_n of_o divine_n have_v do_v in_o many_o a_o prolix_a volume_n although_o in_o all_o likelihood_n they_o who_o whole_a study_n and_o profession_n these_o thing_n be_v shall_v be_v most_o intelligent_a and_o authentic_a therein_o as_o they_o be_v for_o the_o most_o part_n yet_o neither_o they_o nor_o these_o unner_a always_o or_o infallible_a but_o we_o shall_v not_o carry_v it_o thus_o another_o greek_a apparition_n stand_v in_o our_o way_n heresy_n and_o heretic_n in_o like_o manner_n also_o rail_v at_o to_o the_o people_n as_o in_o a_o tongue_n unknown_a they_o shall_v first_o interpret_v to_o they_o that_o heresy_n by_o what_o it_o signify_v in_o that_o language_n be_v no_o word_n of_o evil_a note_n mean_v only_o the_o choice_n or_o follow_v of_o any_o opinion_n good_a or_o bad_a in_o religion_n or_o any_o other_o learning_n and_o thus_o not_o only_o in_o heathen_a author_n but_o in_o the_o new_a testament_n itself_o without_o censure_n or_o blame_v act_n 15.5_o certain_a of_o the_o heresy_n of_o the_o pharise_n which_o believe_v and_o 26.5_o after_o the_o exact_a heresy_n of_o our_o religion_n i_o live_v a_o pharisee_n in_o which_o sense_n presbyterian_a or_o independent_a may_v without_o reproach_n be_v call_v a_o heresy_n where_o it_o be_v mention_v with_o blame_n it_o seem_v to_o differ_v little_a from_o schism_n 1_o cor._n 11.18_o 19_o i_o hear_v that_o there_o be_v schism_n among_o you_o etc._n etc._n for_o there_o must_v also_o heresy_n be_v among_o you_o though_o some_o who_o write_v of_o heresy_n after_o their_o own_o head_n will_v make_v it_o far_o worse_o than_o schism_n when_o as_o on_o the_o contrary_a schism_n signify_v division_n and_o in_o the_o worst_a sense_n heresy_n choice_n only_o of_o one_o opinion_n before_o another_o which_o may_v be_v without_o discord_n in_o apostolic_a time_n therefore_o ere_o the_o scripture_n be_v write_v heresy_n be_v a_o doctrine_n maintain_v against_o the_o doctrine_n by_o they_o deliver_v which_o in_o these_o time_n can_v be_v no_o otherwise_o define_v then_o a_o doctrine_n maintain_v against_o the_o light_n which_o we_o now_o only_o have_v of_o the_o scripture_n see_v therefore_o that_o no_o man_n no_o synod_n no_o session_n of_o man_n though_o call_v the_o church_n can_v judge_v definitive_o the_o sense_n of_o scripture_n to_o another_o man_n conscience_n which_o be_v well_o know_v to_o be_v a_o general_a maxim_n of_o the_o protestant_a religion_n it_o follow_v plain_o that_o he_o who_o hold_v in_o religion_n that_o belief_n or_o those_o opinion_n which_o to_o his_o conscience_n and_o utmost_a understanding_n appear_v with_o most_o evidence_n or_o probability_n in_o the_o scripture_n though_o to_o other_o he_o seem_v erroneous_a can_v no_o more_o be_v just_o censure_v for_o a_o heretic_n than_o his_o censurer_n who_o do_v but_o the_o same_o thing_n themselves_o while_o they_o censure_v he_o for_o so_o do_v for_o ask_v they_o or_o any_o protestant_a which_o have_v most_o authority_n the_o church_n or_o the_o scripture_n they_o will_v answer_v doubtless_o that_o the_o scripture_n and_o what_o have_v most_o authority_n that_o no_o doubt_n but_o they_o will_v confess_v be_v to_o be_v follow_v he_o then_o who_o to_o his_o best_a apprehension_n follow_v the_o scripture_n though_o against_o any_o point_n of_o doctrine_n by_o the_o whole_a church_n receive_v be_v not_o the_o heretic_n but_o he_o who_o follow_v the_o church_n against_o his_o conscience_n and_o persuasion_n ground_v on_o the_o scripture_n to_o make_v this_o yet_o more_o undeniable_a i_o shall_v only_o borrow_v a_o plane_n simile_n the_o same_o which_o our_o own_o writer_n when_o they_o will_v demonstrate_v plain_a that_o we_o right_o prefer_v the_o scripture_n before_o the_o church_n use_v frequent_o against_o the_o papist_n in_o this_o manner_n as_o the_o samaritan_n believe_v christ_n first_o for_o the_o woman_n word_n but_o next_o and_o much_o rather_o for_o his_o own_o so_o we_o the_o scripture_n first_o on_o the_o church_n word_n but_o afterwards_o and_o much_o more_o for_o its_o own_o as_o the_o word_n of_o god_n yea_o the_o church_n itself_o we_o believe_v then_o for_o the_o scripture_n the_o inference_n of_o itself_o follow_v if_o by_o the_o protestant_a doctrine_n we_o believe_v the_o scripture_n not_o for_o the_o church_n say_v but_o for_o its_o own_o as_o the_o word_n of_o god_n then_o ought_v we_o to_o believe_v what_o in_o our_o conscience_n we_o apprehend_v the_o scripture_n to_o say_v though_o the_o visible_a church_n with_o all_o her_o doctor_n gainsay_v and_o be_v teach_v to_o believe_v they_o only_o for_o the_o scripture_n they_o who_o so_o do_v be_v not_o heretic_n but_o the_o best_a protestant_n and_o by_o their_o opinion_n whatever_o they_o be_v can_v hurt_v no_o protestant_a who_o rule_n be_v not_o to_o receive_v they_o but_o from_o the_o scripture_n which_o to_o interpret_v convince_o to_o his_o own_o conscience_n none_o be_v able_a but_o himself_o guide_v by_o the_o holy_a spirit_n and_o not_o so_o guide_v none_o then_o he_o to_o himself_o can_v be_v a_o worse_a deceiver_n to_o protestant_n therefore_o who_o common_a rule_n and_o touchstone_n be_v the_o scripture_n nothing_o can_v with_o more_o conscience_n more_o equity_n nothing_o more_o protestant_o can_v be_v permit_v then_o a_o free_a and_o lawful_a debate_n at_o all_o time_n by_o writing_n conference_n or_o disputation_n of_o what_o opinion_n soever_o disputable_a by_o scripture_n conclude_v that_o no_o man_n in_o religion_n be_v proper_o a_o heretic_n at_o this_o day_n but_o he_o who_o maintain_v tradition_n or_o opinion_n not_o probable_a by_o scripture_n who_o for_o aught_o i_o know_v be_v the_o papist_n only_o he_o the_o only_a heretic_n who_o count_v all_o heretic_n but_o himself_o such_o as_o these_o indeed_o be_v capital_o punish_v by_o the_o law_n of_o moses_n as_o the_o only_a true_a heretic_n idolater_n plane_n and_o open_a deserter_n of_o god_n and_o his_o know_a law_n but_o in_o the_o gospel_n such_o be_v punish_v by_o excommunion_n only_o tit._n 3.10_o a_o heretic_n after_o the_o first_o and_o second_o admonition_n reject_v but_o they_o who_o think_v not_o this_o heavy_a enough_o and_o understand_v not_o that_o dreadful_a awe_n and_o spiritual_a efficacy_n which_o the_o apostle_n have_v express_v so_o high_o to_o be_v in_o church-discipline_n