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	reason_n	2,482	5	5.7783	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A44651	The history of religion written by a person of quality.	Howard, Robert, Sir, 1626-1698.	1694 (1694)	Wing H2998; ESTC R13393	42,440	146

the_o history_n of_o religion_n write_a by_o a_o person_n of_o quality_n quae_fw-la quidem_fw-la disquisitio_n &_o ad_fw-la animi_fw-la institutionem_fw-la pulcherrima_fw-la &_o ad_fw-la moderandam_fw-la religionem_fw-la necessaria_fw-la cic._n de_fw-fr nat._n deor._n l._n 1._o london_n print_v in_o the_o year_n mdcxciv_o the_o preface_n since_o preface_n be_v so_o much_o in_o fashion_n i_o presume_v it_o will_v not_o be_v judge_v improper_a that_o i_o set_v one_o before_o this_o history_n of_o religion_n to_o clear_v the_o design_n of_o it_o and_o prevent_v misapprehension_n though_o the_o title_n be_v the_o history_n of_o religion_n yet_o there_o be_v nothing_o contain_v in_o it_o of_o a_o polemical_a or_o controversial_a nature_n no_o dispute_n or_o argument_n upon_o any_o controversy_n the_o world_n have_v be_v stuff_v with_o too_o many_o useless_a wrangling_n of_o that_o kind_n already_o the_o subject_a of_o the_o follow_a discourse_n arise_v from_o matter_n of_o fact_n how_o religion_n have_v from_o the_o beginning_n be_v manage_v by_o priest-craft_n of_o the_o heathen_n to_o mislead_v the_o vulgar_a and_o profane_a as_o they_o be_v please_v to_o term_v they_o into_o a_o blind_a implicit_a obedience_n to_o their_o inspire_a and_o divine_a authority_n teach_v the_o belief_n of_o many_o god_n or_o divine_a power_n and_o appoint_v so_o many_o various_a way_n of_o superstitious_a devotion_n such_o as_o the_o worship_v of_o idol_n of_o pillar_n and_o column_n consecrate_v by_o they_o adoration_n of_o sepulcher_n and_o dead_a man_n all_o artificial_o calculate_v and_o contrive_v so_o as_o they_o find_v will_v most_o easy_o make_v impression_n upon_o the_o mind_n of_o men._n so_o also_o the_o notion_n they_o teach_v concern_v the_o other_o world_n be_v make_v suitable_a to_o what_o be_v see_v and_o familiar_a to_o we_o in_o this_o that_o they_o may_v be_v more_o easy_a for_o man_n digestion_n by_o these_o mean_v the_o priest_n make_v themselves_o and_o their_o daily_a increase_a number_n be_v think_v absolute_o useful_a to_o other_o but_o yet_o to_o confirm_v and_o preserve_v themselves_o in_o the_o authority_n and_o dominion_n they_o have_v get_v they_o invent_v two_o great_a assistance_n mystery_n and_o persecution_n by_o mystery_n to_o prevent_v the_o use_n of_o understanding_n and_o by_o persecution_n to_o punish_v any_o that_o shall_v attempt_v to_o break_v out_o of_o the_o brutal_a pound_n and_o use_v their_o reason_n essay_n montaigne_n say_v that_o persecution_n be_v a_o trial_n full_a of_o uncertainty_n and_o danger_n for_o what_o will_v not_o a_o man_n say_v what_o will_v not_o a_o man_n do_v to_o avoid_v intolerable_a torment_n etiam_fw-la innocent_n cogit_fw-la mentiri_fw-la dolour_n many_o nation_n less_o barbarous_a than_o the_o greek_n or_o roman_n that_o call_v they_o so_o esteem_v it_o cruel_a and_o horrible_a to_o torment_v and_o pull_v man_n in_o piece_n for_o doubtful_a and_o questionable_a fault_n he_o say_v further_a that_o julian_n call_v the_o apostate_n have_v experiment_a by_o the_o cruelty_n of_o some_o christian_n that_o there_o be_v no_o beast_n in_o the_o world_n so_o much_o to_o be_v fear_v by_o man_n as_o man._n all_o these_o practice_n of_o the_o heathen_n i_o have_v endeavour_v and_o i_o believe_v very_o plain_o to_o make_v appear_v that_o they_o be_v retain_v and_o follow_v to_o this_o day_n in_o what_o be_v call_v the_o church_n of_o rome_n where_o dissemble_a priest-craft_n under_o pretence_n of_o humble_v and_o guide_v the_o understanding_n of_o the_o vulgar_a and_o unlearned_a have_v usurp_v a_o power_n over_o both_o faith_n and_o conscience_n they_o have_v make_v it_o a_o terrible_a thing_n for_o man_n to_o trust_v themselves_o or_o their_o own_o reason_n in_o any_o thing_n relate_v to_o religion_n it_o be_v with_o they_o a_o equal_a crime_n for_o the_o profane_a vulgar_a as_o the_o heathen_n also_o call_v they_o not_o to_o submit_v their_o understanding_n to_o god_n and_o their_o priest_n not_o consider_v that_o no_o dictate_v of_o any_o superior_n or_o learned_a man_n can_v engage_v a_o man_n faith_n without_o he_o have_v reason_n to_o believe_v that_o god_n have_v teach_v what_o they_o prescribe_v but_o than_o not_o to_o believe_v be_v not_o oppose_v the_o humane_a but_o the_o divine_a authority_n so_o that_o in_o truth_n the_o business_n of_o submit_v our_o understanding_n to_o humane_a authority_n be_v but_o a_o chimerical_a notion_n and_o come_v to_o nothing_o but_o be_v aware_a of_o this_o reason_n which_o be_v so_o obvious_a and_o plain_a they_o clamour_v like_o demetrius_n and_o the_o silversmith_n great_a be_v the_o church_n which_o if_o fair_o examine_v not_o any_o thing_n appear_v more_o unintelligible_a or_o ridiculous_a i_o confess_v some_o of_o our_o own_o learned_a man_n with_o too_o much_o imitation_n of_o the_o roman_a clamour_n when_o they_o write_v with_o presumption_n enough_o on_o some_o dark_a and_o difficult_a point_n insert_v a_o submission_n to_o the_o judgement_n and_o correction_n of_o their_o holy_a mother_n the_o church_n when_o they_o themselves_o neither_o pretend_v to_o tell_v we_o nor_o indeed_o know_v when_o or_o from_o whence_o this_o infallible_a judgement_n shall_v come_v and_o until_o it_o do_v they_o assume_v to_o themselves_o the_o dictating_a and_o prescribe_v power_n and_o submit_v themselves_o to_o nothing_o less_o than_o that_o great_a nothing_o for_o if_o any_o shall_v pretend_v to_o show_v it_o or_o expect_v it_o from_o tradition_n or_o father_n or_o council_n or_o the_o pope_n there_o be_v no_o one_o almost_o so_o mean_o learned_a as_o not_o to_o know_v how_o fallible_a and_o contradictory_n to_o one_o another_o all_o these_o have_v be_v the_o church_n of_o christ_n be_v no_o question_n in_o believer_n the_o household_n of_o nymphas_n be_v call_v a_o church_n and_o many_o other_o place_n and_o family_n where_o believer_n be_v much_o more_o must_v the_o church_n of_o christ_n consist_v of_o believer_n in_o general_a in_o which_o diffusive_a capacity_n she_o can_v judge_v of_o particular_a question_n and_o controversy_n because_o of_o the_o division_n into_o sect_n and_o party_n the_o division_n among_o we_o into_o contrary_a party_n and_o opinion_n make_v it_o necessary_a to_o judge_n of_o what_o we_o may_v call_v the_o church_n by_o the_o doctrine_n not_o of_o the_o doctrine_n by_o the_o pretend_v church_n to_o supply_v all_o possible_a defect_n they_o chief_o follow_v the_o method_n and_o pretence_n of_o mystery_n as_o the_o sure_a way_n to_o keep_v up_o their_o authority_n they_o frame_v most_o of_o their_o article_n upon_o dark_a place_n affect_v to_o make_v religion_n become_v a_o art_n and_o themselves_o the_o sole_a master_n of_o it_o plutarch_n tell_v we_o that_o alexander_n the_o great_a write_v a_o letter_n to_o aristotle_n complain_v of_o he_o that_o he_o have_v set_v forth_o his_o book_n of_o select_a knowledge_n to_o instruct_v other_o as_o well_o as_o himself_o but_o aristotle_n answer_v that_o those_o treatise_n which_o be_v his_o metaphysic_n be_v indeed_o publish_v but_o so_o write_v as_o not_o to_o be_v expose_v to_o common_a capacity_n so_o that_o in_o effect_n alexander_n be_v indeed_o the_o only_a person_n to_o who_o he_o have_v yet_o communicate_v they_o i_o suppose_v he_o have_v the_o like_a reason_n to_o write_v out_o of_o the_o reach_n of_o common_a capacity_n that_o the_o learned_a now_o a_o day_n have_v for_o their_o obscure_a write_n and_o dark_a gibberish_n even_o to_o keep_v the_o profane_a vulgar_a from_o dare_v to_o use_v their_o own_o understanding_n about_o matter_n which_o they_o see_v to_o be_v so_o perplex_v and_o intricate_a unless_o they_o will_v enter_v into_o their_o society_n and_o so_o become_v free_a of_o the_o trade_n in_o my_o opinion_n it_o ought_v to_o beget_v admiration_n to_o see_v with_o what_o boldness_n those_o that_o pretend_v to_o extraordinary_a share_n in_o learning_n and_o divinity_n write_v upon_o the_o most_o hide_a and_o never_o to_o be_v determine_v point_n with_o what_o confidence_n and_o furious_a difference_n some_o have_v write_v of_o the_o trinity_n assert_v their_o opinion_n to_o be_v plain_a and_o easy_a and_o almost_o demonstrable_a while_o other_o as_o learned_a call_v they_o ridiculous_a absurdity_n and_o heresy_n nor_o have_v the_o sacred_a particular_a providence_n escape_v the_o impious_a temerity_n of_o the_o learned_a wrest_v the_o intention_n of_o it_o to_o their_o own_o corrupt_a private_a interest_n make_v it_o a_o sanctifier_n of_o any_o successful_a mischief_n or_o murder_n of_o any_o side_n of_o contrary_a party_n and_o to_o patronize_v man_n worst_a imperfection_n i_o will_v not_o enlarge_v into_o a_o dispute_n but_o if_o possible_a make_v they_o blush_v with_o a_o character_n of_o divine_a providence_n give_v they_o by_o a_o heathen_a writer_n the_o excellent_a plutarch_n in_o his_o life_n of_o pompey_n by_o occasion_n of_o some_o discourse_n of_o that_o nature_n say_v providence_n be_v a_o point_n of_o

though_o the_o world_n from_o the_o begin_n very_o ready_o and_o with_o the_o great_a reason_n consent_v to_o such_o a_o thing_n as_o religion_n yet_o there_o can_v not_o be_v on_o the_o one_o hand_n such_o a_o artificial_a scheme_n of_o some_o part_n of_o it_o and_o on_o the_o other_o such_o various_a and_o strange_a opinion_n about_o what_o god_n we_o must_v believe_v in_o or_o in_o the_o exercise_n of_o our_o devotion_n to_o those_o high_a power_n but_o by_o the_o contrivance_n of_o the_o priest_n it_o be_v impossible_a that_o the_o people_n or_o as_o we_o be_v now_o call_v the_o laity_n shall_v busy_v themselves_o about_o or_o shall_v be_v capable_a to_o invent_v such_o name_n of_o god_n such_o particular_a application_n of_o their_o power_n such_o method_n and_o way_n of_o devotion_n such_o distinction_n of_o sacrifice_n and_o lest_o of_o all_o be_v it_o probable_a that_o they_o shall_v be_v the_o inventor_n of_o sacrifice_v themselves_o that_o be_v of_o sacrifice_v their_o own_o person_n or_o the_o person_n of_o their_o child_n agamemnon_n to_o change_v the_o contrary_a wind_n vow_v to_o diana_n the_o fair_a which_o fall_v out_o to_o be_v his_o own_o daughter_n iphigenia_n i_o suppose_v he_o do_v not_o design_n the_o cruelty_n upon_o his_o own_o daughter_n but_o chalcas_n the_o priest_n first_o suggest_v the_o make_v and_o then_o the_o performance_n of_o his_o vow_n in_o the_o war_n of_o thebes_n maenaecias_n the_o son_n of_o creon_n vow_v himself_o to_o mars_n the_o decii_n devote_v themselves_o to_o the_o infernal_a god_n marius_n in_o the_o cimbrian_a war_n sacrifice_v his_o daughter_n calphurnia_n curtius_n shoot_v himself_o into_o a_o gulf_n be_v first_o make_v ready_a by_o the_o priest_n and_o gird_v cinctu_fw-la gabino_n the_o saxon_n be_v so_o persuade_v by_o their_o priest_n that_o many_o of_o they_o be_v even_o ambitious_a of_o be_v sacrifice_v who_o doubt_n that_o all_o these_o death_n or_o murder_n be_v sole_o owe_v to_o the_o doctrine_n and_o institution_n of_o priest_n the_o proness_n of_o mankind_n to_o believe_v by_o degree_n give_v encouragement_n and_o opportunity_n to_o those_o that_o pretend_v to_o separate_v themselves_o whole_o to_o the_o service_n of_o the_o god_n and_o by_o that_o show_n of_o a_o near_a attendance_n and_o understanding_n of_o they_o they_o intit'led_a themselves_o to_o teach_v and_o to_o prescribe_v such_o rule_n and_o way_n of_o religion_n towards_o the_o heavenly_a power_n as_o they_o find_v may_v be_v useful_a to_o enlarge_v their_o own_o power_n and_o interest_n and_o the_o more_o various_a and_o intricate_a they_o contrive_v the_o method_n and_o rule_n of_o devotion_n and_o worship_n so_o much_o the_o more_o there_o will_v be_v need_n of_o their_o interpretation_n and_o direction_n and_o also_o of_o their_o number_n thing_n most_o ridiculous_a and_o improbable_a nay_o impossible_a be_v sometime_o most_o proper_a for_o they_o to_o pronounce_v and_o teach_v for_o what_o be_v rational_a carry_v its_o own_o weight_n and_o they_o can_v derive_v no_o authority_n to_o themselves_o by_o such_o a_o method_n of_o religion_n but_o thing_n that_o be_v sublime_a above_o the_o reach_n of_o servile_a reason_n thing_n that_o reason_n can_v understand_v or_o justify_v if_o believe_v must_v be_v a_o entire_a submission_n to_o the_o sacred_a authority_n of_o these_o divine_o inspire_v person_n that_o be_v the_o teacher_n of_o other_o to_o this_o purpose_n they_o ever_o teach_v that_o no_o belief_n can_v or_o aught_o to_o be_v hard_o to_o a_o active_a faith_n the_o difficulty_n not_o be_v in_o the_o thing_n we_o be_v teach_v to_o believe_v but_o in_o the_o perverseness_n or_o imbecility_n of_o the_o person_n who_o want_v faith_n to_o believe_v i_o wish_v that_o among_o the_o most_o reform_a christian_n these_o method_n of_o priest-craft_n be_v not_o so_o much_o and_o violent_o pursue_v the_o imposition_n to_o believe_v and_o profess_v unnecessary_a and_o even_o extravagant_a thing_n where_o neither_o reason_n will_v justify_v it_o nor_o do_v religion_n require_v it_o have_v thus_o lay_v open_a how_o religion_n be_v from_o the_o beginning_n manage_v by_o priest-craft_n and_o always_o frame_v and_o model_v to_o support_v their_o interest_n and_o power_n prevail_v by_o degree_n on_o the_o mind_n of_o man_n it_o will_v be_v proper_a to_o examine_v in_o due_a place_n whether_o it_o be_v probable_a that_o the_o priest_n themselves_o believe_v what_o they_o teach_v but_o first_o i_o will_v brief_o show_v how_o the_o same_o priest-craft_n continue_v apparent_o in_o the_o romish_a church_n to_o this_o day_n the_o pagan_a doctrine_n of_o demon_n and_o hero_n be_v revive_v in_o that_o of_o angel_n and_o saint_n saint_n be_v canonize_v or_o as_o their_o writer_n speak_v beatify_v as_o former_o the_o hero_n be_v deify_v and_o as_o i_o instance_a before_o the_o duke_n de_fw-fr beufort_n die_v valiant_o in_o the_o field_n become_v one_o of_o plato_n hero_n and_o one_o of_o the_o church_n saint_n and_o as_o the_o hero_n and_o demon_n be_v make_v mediator_n with_o the_o superior_a god_n so_o it_o continue_v still_o the_o name_n of_o hero_n and_o demon_n be_v only_o change_v into_o saint_n and_o angel_n every_o private_a christian_a be_v direct_v to_o choose_v he_o a_o particular_a patron_n in_o heaven_n that_o may_v intercede_v for_o he_o with_o god_n their_o very_a sepulcher_n be_v as_o much_o reverence_v as_o former_o their_o relic_n be_v keep_v with_o a_o sacred_a veneration_n and_o prayer_n be_v make_v to_o they_o as_o mediator_n notwithstanding_o st._n paul_n declaration_n before_o cite_v 2.5_o there_o be_v but_o one_o god_n and_o one_o mediator_n between_o god_n and_o man_n even_o the_o man_n jesus_n christ._n the_o reverence_n and_o adoration_n pay_v to_o image_n be_v by_o some_o endeavour_v to_o be_v extenuate_v by_o pretend_v that_o image_n be_v only_o use_v as_o venerable_a memorial_n to_o excite_v other_o to_o the_o imitation_n of_o the_o holiness_n of_o the_o saint_n represent_v by_o those_o image_n this_o pretence_n be_v also_o former_o use_v in_o that_o particular_a and_o also_o for_o the_o ceremony_n use_v at_o sepulcher_n which_o i_o mention_v before_o because_o the_o priest_n perceive_v that_o it_o look_v too_o gross_a to_o pay_v devotion_n to_o senseless_a thing_n but_o when_o they_o have_v obtain_v the_o power_n of_o a_o implicit_a obedience_n to_o their_o direction_n they_o fail_v not_o to_o enjoin_v the_o veneration_n of_o the_o image_n themselves_o whoever_o have_v be_v in_o the_o country_n under_o the_o dominion_n of_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n have_v see_v this_o i_o believe_v no_o such_o person_n will_v deny_v the_o adoration_n pay_v by_o the_o romanist_n to_o the_o image_n of_o the_o virgin_n mary_n i_o know_v a_o person_n of_o quality_n that_o be_v at_o brussels_n when_o the_o image_n of_o the_o virgin_n mary_n be_v carry_v a_o little_a way_n out_o of_o town_n the_o priest_n attend_v it_o and_o the_o people_n pay_v adoration_n to_o it_o and_o when_o it_o come_v to_o the_o place_n where_o it_o be_v to_o be_v fix_v the_o priest_n have_v contrive_v a_o device_n to_o make_v the_o image_n bow_v to_o the_o people_n so_o that_o one_o of_o the_o company_n be_v overjoy_v to_o see_v how_o gracious_a the_o bless_a virgin_n in_o her_o image_n have_v be_v to_o they_o in_o milan_n where_o the_o body_n of_o st._n anthony_n lie_v the_o people_n crowd_v to_o kiss_v the_o stone_n and_o rub_v their_o bead_n against_o they_o the_o now_o bishop_n of_o sarum_n say_v in_o the_o account_n he_o give_v of_o that_o place_n that_o in_o the_o little_a chapel_n of_o st._n anthony_n these_o word_n be_v write_v exaudit_fw-la quos_fw-la non_fw-la audit_n &_o ipse_fw-la deus_fw-la they_o have_v reason_n to_o rub_v bead_n and_o pay_v a_o extraordinary_a devotion_n to_o a_o saint_n more_o ready_a to_o hear_v than_o god_n himself_o be_v a_o person_n of_o quality_n that_o give_v a_o account_n of_o his_o travel_n through_o france_n and_o italy_n be_v present_a when_o they_o take_v down_o the_o jawbone_n of_o st._n anthony_n and_o his_o tongue_n in_o a_o christaline-glass_n which_o be_v set_v awhile_o on_o the_o altar_n first_o the_o priest_n and_o all_o the_o assistant_n pay_v their_o devotion_n to_o it_o than_o it_o be_v carry_v in_o procescession_n and_o after_o that_o ceremony_n be_v over_o it_o be_v full_a employment_n for_o two_o priest_n of_o the_o cloister_n to_o rub_v against_o it_o the_o bead_n that_o be_v hand_v to_o they_o by_o the_o people_n in_o the_o lady_n of_o lauretta_n chapel_n they_o kiss_v the_o wall_n lick_v the_o stone_n and_o rub_v their_o bead_n against_o they_o in_o the_o church_n of_o st._n john_n lateran_n be_v the_o scala_fw-la sancta_fw-la or_o the_o stair_n on_o which_o our_o saviour_n go_v up_o to_o the_o judgment-hall_n they_o be_v of_o white_a marble_n on_o one_o of_o they_o it_o be_v