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	divine_a	infallible_a	2,075	5	9.6381	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A35682	The usefulness of the stage, to the happiness of mankind, to government, and to religion occasioned by a late book written by Jeremy Collier, M.A. / by Mr. Dennis.	Dennis, John, 1657-1734.; Collier, Jeremy, 1650-1726. Short view of the immorality and profaneness of the English stage.	1698 (1698)	Wing D1046; ESTC R12743	51,263	154

top_n of_o all_o human_a thing_n and_o though_o not_o so_o sacred_a as_o revelation_n be_v in_o some_o measure_n divine_a for_o reason_n be_v give_v we_o by_o god_n for_o our_o guide_n where_o we_o have_v no_o revelation_n to_o contradict_v it_o and_o both_o human_a authority_n and_o revelation_n hold_v and_o depend_v on_o reason_n we_o always_o assent_v to_o revelation_n divine_a authority_n because_o reason_n assure_v we_o that_o we_o always_o ought_v to_o assent_n to_o it_o and_o we_o sometime_o refuse_v to_o acknowledge_v human_a authority_n because_o we_o be_v convince_v by_o reason_n that_o we_o ought_v not_o to_o submit_v to_o it_o for_o the_o council_n he_o have_v cite_v i_o must_v tell_v he_o that_o we_o be_v not_o oblige_v to_o acknowledge_v any_o of_o those_o council_n infallible_a but_o refuse_v to_o be_v determine_v by_o their_o decree_n unless_o they_o be_v confirm_v by_o reason_n or_o revelation_n now_o i_o desire_v to_o know_v of_o mr_n collier_n whether_o he_o himself_o pay_v the_o last_o deference_n to_o those_o council_n or_o no_o if_o he_o answer_v that_o he_o own_v their_o authority_n how_o dare_v he_o appear_v to_o have_v read_v so_o many_o play_n as_o he_o have_v cite_v through_o out_o this_o book_n when_o the_o decree_n of_o these_o council_n even_o in_o this_o very_a case_n appear_v from_o his_o own_o citation_n so_o much_o strong_a against_o the_o clergy_n than_o they_o do_v against_o the_o laity_n but_o if_o he_o answer_v that_o he_o disow_v their_o authority_n with_o what_o prodigious_a assurance_n can_v he_o offer_v to_o impose_v it_o on_o we_o that_o while_o he_o take_v his_o own_o satisfaction_n he_o may_v laugh_v àt_v our_o credulity_n but_o to_o come_v to_o the_o father_n they_o have_v their_o reason_n for_o cry_v out_o against_o the_o stage_n which_o can_v so_o much_o as_o be_v pretend_v to_o be_v reason_n to_o we_o they_o have_v chief_o five_o and_o those_o five_o reason_n will_v serve_v to_o answer_v whatever_o have_v be_v cite_v by_o mr_n collier_n in_o his_o long_a ecclesiastical_a scroll_n first_o play_v in_o their_o time_n be_v a_o part_n of_o the_o pagan_a worship_n and_o that_o in_o the_o begin_n of_o christianity_n be_v alone_o a_o sufficient_a motive_n to_o oblige_v the_o father_n to_o forbid_v those_o diversion_n to_o the_o new_a christian_n several_a of_o which_o may_v be_v very_o well_o suppose_v to_o be_v not_o yet_o confirm_v in_o the_o faith_n the_o second_o reason_n why_o the_o father_n forbid_v the_o first_o christian_n play_n be_v because_o the_o combat_n of_o the_o gladiator_n be_v mingle_v with_o those_o diversion_n and_o something_o which_o be_v full_a as_o barbarous_a media_fw-la inter_fw-la carmina_fw-la pof●unt_fw-la aut_fw-la ursum_fw-la aut_fw-la pugiles_fw-la hor_n ep_n 1._o l._n 1._o the_o three_o be_v the_o gesticulation_n of_o the_o pantomime_n which_o indeed_o be_v unsufferable_o lewd_a and_o unfit_a to_o be_v see_v not_o only_o by_o christian_n but_o by_o any_o civil_a people_n let_v any_o one_o but_o consult_v what_o mr_n collier_n have_v cite_v from_o the_o father_n and_o he_o will_v find_v that_o these_o be_v three_o of_o the_o main_a reason_n which_o prevail_v upon_o the_o father_n to_o forbid_v the_o christian_n the_o diversion_n of_o the_o theatre_n it_o be_v not_o lawful_a say_v theophilus_n who_o he_o cite_v first_o for_o we_o to_o be_v present_a at_o the_o prize_n of_o your_o gladiator_n lest_o by_o this_o mean_v we_o shall_v be_v accessary_a to_o the_o murder_n there_o commit_v neither_o dare_v we_o presume_v upon_o the_o liberty_n of_o your_o other_o show_n lest_o our_o sense_n shall_v be_v touch_v and_o disoblige_v with_o indecency_n and_o profaneness_n and_o tertullian_n who_o he_o cite_v next_o say_v in_o his_o apologetic_n we_o keep_v off_o from_o your_o public_a show_n becáuse_v we_o can_v understand_v the_o warrant_n of_o their_o original_n but_o there_o be_v two_o reason_n behind_o the_o first_o of_o which_o be_v draw_v from_o the_o purity_n of_o the_o primitive_a time_n which_o make_v tertullian_n as_o mr_n collier_n have_v cite_v he_o cry_v out_o page_z 354._o but_o if_o you_o can_v wait_v for_o delight_n if_o you_o must_v be_v put_v into_o present_a possession_n etc._n etc._n by_o which_o tertullian_n seem_v to_o allow_v that_o diversion_n indeed_o be_v necessary_a but_o that_o christian_n will_v find_v abundant_a entertainment_n in_o the_o very_a exercise_n of_o their_o religion_n this_o i_o must_v confess_v be_v very_o well_o direct_v by_o tertullian_n but_o if_o cato_n be_v former_o laugh_v at_o for_o speak_v in_o the_o senate_n as_o if_o he_o have_v live_v in_o plato_n republic_n whereas_o he_o be_v real_o in_o the_o very_a dregs_o of_o that_o of_o romulus_n how_o shall_v this_o upstart_n reformer_n escape_v contempt_n who_o have_v apply_v to_o this_o profligate_n age_n what_o tertullian_n direct_v to_o those_o fervent_a christian_n who_o soul_n be_v flame_v with_o divine_a love_n in_o the_o purity_n of_o happy_a time_n thus_o have_v i_o examine_v four_o of_o the_o five_o reason_n not_o one_o of_o which_o can_v be_v a_o reason_n to_o we_o for_o neither_o be_v our_o drama_n a_o part_n of_o idolatrous_a worship_n nor_o have_v we_o either_o gladiator_n or_o pantomime_n nor_o the_o people_n of_o this_o age_n be_v satisfy_v to_o be_v always_o entertain_v with_o the_o scripture_n but_o require_v other_o diversion_n but_o the_o five_o reason_n be_v yet_o to_o come_v by_o which_o it_o will_v appear_v that_o these_o venerable_a gentleman_n be_v by_o no_o mean_n qualify_v to_o judge_v of_o a_o cause_n of_o which_o it_o appear_v even_o from_o mr_n collier_n citation_n that_o they_o have_v not_o the_o least_o knowledge_n for_o say_v the_o bishop_n of_o antioch_n who_o he_o cite_v first_o the_o tragical_a distraction_n of_o tereus_n and_o thyestes_n be_v nonsense_n to_o we_o now_o can_v any_o man_n possible_o talk_v thus_o who_o have_v the_o least_o knowledge_n of_o the_o nature_n of_o tragedy_n and_o particular_o of_o that_o tragedy_n it_o be_v below_o that_o prelate_n to_o consider_v horace_n for_o he_o will_v have_v tell_v he_o irae_fw-la thyesten_n exitio_fw-la gravi_fw-la stravere_fw-la &_o eltis_fw-la urbibus_fw-la ultimae_fw-la stetere_fw-la causae_fw-la cur_n perirent_fw-la funditus_fw-la imprimeritque_fw-la muris_fw-la hostile_a aratrum_fw-la exercitus_fw-la insolens_fw-la compesce_fw-la mentem_fw-la be_v the_o moral_a which_o the_o poet_n draw_v from_o this_o fable_n nonsense_n to_o we_o be_v it_o impertinence_n in_o a_o poet_n to_o tell_v we_o that_o we_o ought_v to_o restrain_v our_o anger_n because_o the_o indulge_v it_o have_v often_o bring_v man_n into_o fatal_a calamity_n for_o have_v this_o prelate_n understand_v this_o affair_n what_o can_v he_o have_v possible_o dislike_v here_o the_o moral_a or_o the_o fable_n the_o moral_a that_o methinks_v shall_v be_v hardly_o become_v of_o a_o professor_n of_o that_o religion_n which_o be_v therefore_o extol_v above_o all_o other_o because_o it_o be_v more_o moral_a be_v it_o the_o fable_n then_o which_o offend_v he_o or_o the_o manner_n of_o convey_v the_o instruction_n methinks_v it_o be_v something_o odd_a in_o a_o christian_a prelate_n to_o condemn_v that_o method_n of_o teach_v which_o be_v chief_o practise_v by_o his_o great_a master_n who_o he_o profess_v to_o imitate_v but_o now_o to_o come_v to_o the_o author_n de_fw-fr spectacul_n be_v what_o need_v i_o mention_v say_v he_o the_o levities_n and_o impertinence_n in_o comedy_n or_o the_o rant_a distraction_n of_o tragedy_n be_v th●se_a thing_n unconcern_v with_o idolatry_n christian_n ought_v not_o to_o be_v at_o they_o for_o w●re_o they_o not_o high_o criminal_a the_o foolery_n of_o they_o be_v egregious_a and_o unbecoming_a the_o gravity_n of_o believer_n now_o let_v i_o ask_v mr_n collier_n whether_o it_o be_v lawful_a for_o christian_n to_o read_v history_n it_o will_v certain_o be_v the_o absurde_a thing_n in_o the_o world_n to_o deny_v it_o now_o aristotle_n have_v declare_v very_o formal_o that_o tragedy_n be_v more_o grave_a and_o more_o instructive_a than_o history_n and_o though_o when_o the_o question_n be_v concern_v grace_n i_o will_v believe_v the_o least_o of_o the_o father_n before_o aristotle_n and_o all_o his_o interpreter_n the_o schoolman_n together_o yet_o where_o the_o dispute_n be_v concern_v the_o nature_n of_o write_v and_o the_o colour_n of_o speech_n i_o will_v believe_v aristotle_n single_a testimony_n before_o all_o the_o father_n and_o council_n join_v in_o a_o body_n though_o play_n be_v forbid_v by_o the_o father_n and_o council_n yet_o the_o father_n own_o and_o mr_n collier_n own_v that_o they_o be_v not_o forbid_v by_o scripture_n nor_o be_v they_o forbid_v by_o reason_n for_o who_o be_v they_o who_o frequent_v they_o who_o be_v they_o that_o approve_v of_o they_o who_o be_v they_o that_o have_v not_o the_o least_o scruple_n about_o they_o not_o a_o parcel_n of_o

the_o character_n but_o i_o can_v for_o my_o life_n conceive_v why_o the_o bring_v a_o foolish_a or_o a_o vicious_a priest_n upon_o the_o stage_n shall_v be_v such_o a_o abominable_a thing_n for_o since_o person_n of_o all_o degree_n from_o monarch_n to_o peasant_n be_v daily_o bring_v upon_o the_o stage_n why_o shall_v the_o clergy_n be_v exempt_v the_o clergy_n have_v be_v treat_v by_o our_o comic_a poet_n with_o a_o great_a deal_n more_o respect_n than_o the_o laity_n because_o they_o have_v hardly_o spare_v any_o condition_n of_o the_o laity_n but_o none_o of_o the_o superior_a clergy_n have_v be_v ever_o expose_v in_o our_o comedy_n which_o be_v one_o sign_n of_o the_o good_a intention_n of_o the_o poet_n and_o that_o they_o only_o show_v the_o folly_n and_o vice_n of_o some_o while_o they_o reverence_v the_o piety_n and_o learning_n of_o other_o and_o the_o order_n in_o general_n and_o whereas_o mr_n collier_n affirm_v that_o foreign_a state_n suffer_v no_o priest_n to_o be_v expose_v on_o the_o comic_a stage_n to_o that_o we_o answer_v that_o in_o country_n where_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n be_v establish_v they_o have_v some_o reason_n to_o use_v this_o niceness_n for_o prudence_n require_v that_o the_o magistrate_n shall_v always_o take_v care_n of_o the_o establish_a religion_n and_o the_o establish_a religion_n in_o those_o country_n be_v almost_o all_o priestcraft_n to_o expose_v the_o priest_n be_v there_o to_o expose_v religion_n beside_o in_o those_o place_n priestcraft_n and_o secular_a policy_n have_v a_o near_a alliance_n and_o a_o close_a dependence_n on_o each_o other_o by_o much_o than_o they_o have_v here_o for_o the_o priest_n be_v considerable_o assistant_n to_o the_o magistrate_n in_o the_o enslave_v the_o people_n beside_o in_o italy_n and_o spain_n the_o inquisition_n rage_v and_o priest_n will_v be_v sure_a to_o take_v care_n of_o themselves_o as_o for_o france_n though_o they_o never_o have_v a_o priest_n upon_o the_o stage_n yet_o they_o have_v a_o poem_n which_o be_v write_v on_o purpose_n to_o ridicule_n even_o the_o superior_a clergy_n and_o by_o who_o be_v it_o write_v by_o mounseur_fw-fr boileau_n the_o most_o sober_a and_o most_o religious_a of_o all_o their_o poet_n who_o advise_v it_o who_o command_v it_o mounseur_fw-fr de_fw-fr lamoignon_fw-fr illustrious_a for_o his_o profound_a capacity_n renown_v for_o his_o learning_n and_o fame_v for_o his_o piety_n who_o believe_v that_o the_o expose_v that_o litigious_a humour_n that_o be_v creep_v into_o the_o regular_a clergy_n may_v do_v important_a service_n to_o the_o gallican_n church_n and_o why_o shall_v our_o magistrate_n make_v any_o exception_n against_o the_o expose_v the_o fault_n of_o the_o clergy_n here_o where_o the_o religion_n be_v so_o pure_a that_o to_o touch_v a_o priest_n be_v by_o no_o mean_n to_o hurt_v the_o religion_n and_o whereas_o mr_n collier_n say_v that_o to_o affront_v a_o priest_n be_v to_o affront_v the_o deity_n so_o it_o be_v to_o a_o affront_n a_o peasant_n who_o be_v a_o good_a christian_a beside_o affront_n be_v always_o personal_a but_o a_o priest_n in_o a_o play_n be_v a_o general_a character_n and_o the_o bring_v a_o ill_a or_o a_o ridiculous_a one_o upon_o the_o stage_n rather_o proceed_v from_o our_o veneration_n for_o religion_n than_o from_o any_o contempt_n of_o it_o and_o whereas_o mr_n collier_n take_v a_o great_a deal_n of_o pain_n to_o prove_v that_o a_o priest_n ought_v not_o to_o be_v contemn_v because_o he_o be_v a_o degree_n above_o a_o gentleman_n that_o defence_n methinks_v be_v not_o altogether_o so_o pertinent_a for_o it_o be_v evident_a that_o person_n of_o degree_n superior_a to_o gentleman_n be_v every_o day_n expose_v on_o the_o stage_n and_o beside_o the_o way_n for_o a_o clergyman_n to_o secure_v himself_o from_o contempt_n be_v not_o to_o boast_v of_o secular_a advantage_n which_o in_o he_o be_v true_o ridiculous_a but_o to_o show_v his_o meekness_n and_o his_o humility_n which_o be_v true_a christian_a virtue_n beside_o the_o character_n in_o every_o comedy_n be_v always_o at_o the_o bottom_n universal_a and_o allegorical_a or_o else_o the_o instruction_n can_v not_o be_v universal_a a_o ridiculous_a or_o vicious_a priest_n in_o a_o comedy_n signify_v any_o man_n who_o have_v such_o folly_n or_o vice_n and_o the_o cassock_n be_v produce_v on_o purpose_n to_o signify_v to_o the_o clergy_n that_o they_o be_v partly_o concern_v in_o the_o instruction_n and_o have_v sometime_o their_o vice_n and_o folly_n as_o well_o as_o the_o laity_n the_o expose_v upon_o the_o stage_n a_o priest_n who_o be_v a_o ill_a or_o a_o ridiculous_a person_n can_v never_o make_v the_o order_n contemptible_a for_o nothing_o can_v make_v the_o priesthood_n contemptible_a but_o priest_n he_o among_o they_o who_o write_v the_o ground_n of_o the_o coutempt_n of_o the_o clergy_n say_v nothing_o that_o i_o remember_v of_o the_o stage_n but_o he_o say_v a_o great_a deal_n of_o their_o own_o folly_n and_o something_o too_o of_o their_o vice_n now_o the_o expose_v these_o folly_n and_o vice_n will_v be_v a_o way_n to_o reclaim_v they_o and_o so_o to_o preseruè_v the_o esteem_n that_o they_o have_v in_o the_o world_n this_o be_v plain_a from_o experience_n for_o the_o inferior_a clergy_n be_v much_o more_o respect_a in_o england_n than_o the_o regular_a clergy_n be_v either_o in_o france_n or_o italy_n where_o they_o be_v never_o expose_v on_o the_o stage_n and_o their_o life_n be_v here_o less_o scandalous_a than_o they_o be_v abroad_o they_o who_o have_v be_v at_o marseilles_n may_v inform_v mr_n collier_n that_o it_o be_v there_o a_o very_a common_a thing_n to_o see_v priest_n both_o secular_a and_o regular_a who_o be_v slave_n in_o the_o galley_n for_o the_o most_o detestable_a crime_n it_o appear_v to_o be_v full_a as_o necessary_a to_o expose_v a_o priest_n who_o be_v a_o ill_a man_n as_o one_o of_o the_o laity_n because_o his_o example_n be_v more_o contageous_a and_o the_o salvation_n of_o so_o many_o soul_n depend_v on_o it_o whereas_o a_o layman_n influence_n few_o beside_o a_o layman_n often_o offend_v through_o want_v of_o consideration_n because_o he_o do_v not_o reflect_v his_o worldly_a avocation_n divert_v his_o thought_n from_o religion_n so_o that_o such_o a_o one_o may_v have_v return_n of_o conscience_n but_o a_o ill_a clergyman_n can_v pretend_v inconsiderateness_n for_o it_o be_v his_o daily_a business_n to_o reflect_v on_o his_o duty_n and_o consequent_o such_o a_o one_o must_v be_v a_o downright_a atheist_n and_o a_o atheist_n sin_v on_o this_o side_n the_o law_n have_v nothing_o to_o restrain_v he_o but_o the_o apprehension_n of_o infamy_n and_o the_o fear_n of_o become_v contemptible_a beside_o a_o layman_n who_o transgress_v have_v his_o rector_n or_o his_o curate_n to_o remind_v he_o of_o his_o duty_n shall_v a_o clergyman_n who_o be_v a_o ill_a liver_n go_v on_o without_o admonition_n be_v that_o for_o his_o advantage_n or_o the_o benefit_n of_o his_o flock_n or_o the_o good_a of_o the_o public_a we_o own_o indeed_o that_o it_o be_v our_o duty_n to_o be_v instruct_v by_o they_o yet_o ought_v they_o sometime_o to_o take_v their_o turn_n and_o be_v subject_a to_o our_o remonstrance_n as_o the_o roman_a consul_n if_o we_o may_v have_v leave_n to_o make_v such_o a_o comparison_n be_v accountable_a to_o the_o tribune_n of_o the_o people_n by_o the_o policy_n of_o that_o constitution_n thus_o i_o have_v answer_v what_o may_v be_v object_v from_o reason_n against_o the_o stage_n in_o general_n and_o what_o mr_n collier_n have_v object_v against_o the_o english_a stage_n in_o particular_a i_o mean_v as_o much_o as_o be_v fit_a to_o be_v answer_v for_o there_o be_v no_o defend_v the_o immodesty_n or_o immorality_n of_o or_o unnecessary_a profaneness_n of_o some_o of_o our_o play_n let_v we_o now_o come_v to_o the_o objection_n which_o mr_n collier_n have_v bring_v from_o authority_n chap._n iii_o the_o objection_n from_o authority_n answer_v the_o objection_n from_o authority_n be_v of_o two_o sort_n council_n and_o father_n but_o now_o let_v i_o ask_v mr_n collier_n this_o question_n be_v these_o person_n inspire_v or_o no_o that_o be_v do_v the_o spirit_n of_o god_n dictate_v whatever_o they_o write_v to_o they_o if_o he_o say_v it_o do_v i_o have_v nothing_o to_o say_v to_o such_o a_o man_n but_o abandon_v he_o to_o ecclesiastical_a censure_n if_o he_o say_v it_o do_v not_o why_o then_o i_o must_v tell_v he_o that_o we_o live_v in_o a_o age_n in_o which_o there_o be_v person_n that_o be_v too_o judicious_a and_o too_o generous_a to_o forego_v their_o reason_n for_o mere_a human_a authority_n a_o age_n in_o which_o we_o account_v it_o not_o only_o a_o absurdity_n but_o a_o sin_n to_o believe_v in_o any_o thing_n under_o heaven_n as_o well_o know_v that_o reason_n be_v the_o