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	scripture_n	tradition_n	2,838	5	9.5550	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A33459	A treatise of humane reason	Clifford, M. (Martin), d. 1677.	1674 (1674)	Wing C4707; ESTC R21053	22,005	94

i_o have_v say_v something_o of_o it_o be_v fore_o in_o answer_v this_o argument_n turn_v against_o this_o opinion_n unhappy_o and_o because_o the_o manner_n of_o establish_v this_o liberty_n in_o a_o commonwealth_n will_v require_v a_o discourse_n entire_o by_o itself_o the_o last_o defence_n of_o this_o cause_n and_o which_o indeed_o need_v not_o the_o assistance_n of_o any_o other_o shall_v be_v because_o though_o man_n deceive_v themselves_o herein_o and_o as_o it_o often_o happen_v know_v not_o their_o own_o opinion_n it_o be_v impossible_a that_o ever_o any_o man_n shall_v have_v be_v be_v or_o can_v hereafter_o be_v guide_v by_o any_o thing_n else_o but_o his_o own_o reason_n as_o in_o other_o thing_n so_o also_o in_o matter_n of_o religion_n i_o say_v impossible_a for_o whatsoever_o way_n we_o take_v we_o shall_v find_v that_o the_o last_o anchor_n to_o which_o our_o faith_n hold_v the_o last_o element_n into_o which_o it_o be_v resolve_v and_o therefore_o it_o be_v likewise_o compound_v of_o the_o same_o be_v only_o reason_n for_o when_o i_o ask_v why_o you_o believe_v any_o mystery_n of_o faith_n you_o will_v answer_v perhaps_o because_o the_o present_a church_n command_v you_o if_o i_o proceed_v and_o ask_v why_o do_v you_o believe_v what_o the_o present_a church_n command_v you_o will_v say_v because_o the_o former_a church_n teach_v the_o same_o why_o do_v you_o believe_v the_o former_a church_n because_o god_n command_v you_o so_o to_o do_v why_o do_v you_o believe_v that_o god_n command_v it_o because_o you_o find_v it_o in_o the_o scripture_n why_o do_v you_o believe_v the_o scripture_n to_o be_v the_o word_n of_o god_n because_o they_o be_v confirm_v by_o miracle_n why_o do_v miracle_n confirm_v that_o because_o they_o be_v work_n which_o can_v proceed_v from_o nothing_o but_o the_o absolute_a and_o immediate_a power_n of_o the_o deity_n why_o so_o because_o nothing_o contrary_a to_o or_o above_o the_o course_n of_o nature_n can_v be_v do_v by_o natural_a agent_n but_o miracle_n be_v effect_n contrary_a to_o or_o above_o the_o course_n of_o nature_n therefore_o they_o proceed_v from_o the_o divine_a operation_n thus_o you_o see_v faith_n at_o last_o resolve_v into_o a_o syllogism_n which_o be_v the_o proper_a work_n of_o the_o understanding_n on_o the_o other_o hand_n if_o i_o demand_v why_o you_o do_v believe_v that_o any_o miracle_n be_v do_v for_o the_o confirmation_n of_o the_o faith_n because_o of_o the_o great_a and_o many_o testimony_n of_o the_o truth_n thereof_o why_o do_v you_o believe_v those_o testimony_n because_o so_o many_o person_n in_o so_o several_a time_n and_o place_n with_o so_o several_a interest_n can_v never_o agree_v in_o be_v deceive_v or_o to_o deceive_v so_o that_o you_o rest_v not_o at_o all_o in_o any_o authority_n but_o discourse_n first_o what_o may_v be_v say_v for_o or_o against_o the_o validity_n of_o it_o examine_v it_o punctual_o in_o all_o circumstance_n and_o at_o last_o submit_v to_o it_o upon_o some_o syllogism_n which_o be_v the_o only_a law_n that_o bind_v our_o reason_n two_o thing_n be_v to_o be_v consider_v in_o all_o authority_n before_o we_o obey_v or_o believe_v it_o first_o the_o condition_n and_o quality_n of_o the_o person_n who_o command_v or_o instruct_v and_o second_o the_o true_a interpretation_n of_o their_o command_n or_o instruction_n for_o the_o first_o the_o person_n in_o command_v must_v have_v a_o lawful_a power_n derive_v to_o they_o either_o from_o god_n nature_n or_o custom_n which_o latter_a depend_v upon_o the_o two_o former_a and_o in_o instruct_v must_v have_v either_o a_o absolute_a infallibility_n or_o else_o at_o least_o a_o probability_n of_o not_o err_v so_o that_o no_o authority_n be_v obeyable_a or_o believeable_a in_o itself_o without_o far_a examination_n no_o not_o that_o of_o god_n himself_o for_o the_o strength_n of_o god_n authority_n depend_v upon_o that_o syllogism_n which_o prove_v that_o the_o nature_n of_o god_n be_v such_o that_o he_o can_v neither_o deceive_v nor_o be_v deceive_v now_o all_o this_o examination_n be_v pure_o and_o entire_o the_o work_n of_o our_o reason_n by_o measure_v a_o particular_a and_o a_o universal_a whatsoever_o have_v such_o condition_n be_v to_o be_v obey_v or_o believe_v but_o such_o person_n or_o person_n have_v such_o condition_n therefore_o such_o person_n or_o person_n be_v to_o be_v obey_v or_o believe_v neither_o do_v our_o reason_n only_o prescribe_v obedience_n and_o belief_n to_o we_o but_o also_o search_v and_o establish_v the_o bound_n of_o both_o set_v up_o some_o solid_a and_o apparent_a notion_n by_o which_o we_o know_v our_o ne_fw-fr plus_fw-la ultra_fw-la true_a it_o be_v that_o some_o man_n obey_v and_o some_o man_n believe_v without_o consider_v that_o they_o make_v this_o discourse_n but_o that_o be_v only_o from_o inadvertency_n as_o man_n often_o move_v their_o body_n without_o any_o particular_a exerted_a thought_n of_o do_v so_o thus_o far_o then_o authority_n whole_o depend_v upon_o reason_n and_o much_o more_o in_o the_o second_o condition_n which_o be_v the_o interpretation_n of_o it_o in_o which_o business_n the_o interposition_n of_o reason_n be_v so_o necessary_a that_o i_o shall_v omit_v either_o to_o prove_v or_o illustrate_v the_o point_n now_o as_o they_o who_o enslave_v themselves_o to_o authority_n make_v it_o the_o rule_n and_o guide_v of_o faith_n because_o that_o even_o the_o belief_n that_o scripture_n be_v the_o law_n of_o god_n depend_v upon_o it_o as_o true_o it_o do_v in_o my_o opinion_n upon_o the_o tradition_n of_o miracle_n so_o i_o say_v that_o much_o rather_o reason_n be_v to_o be_v account_v that_o rule_n and_o that_o guide_n we_o look_v for_o because_o even_o authority_n upon_o which_o even_a scripture_n itself_o depend_v depend_v as_o much_o upon_o that_o neither_o do_v we_o more_o believe_v the_o scripture_n for_o authority_n than_o that_o very_a authority_n for_o the_o reason_n we_o think_v we_o have_v to_o do_v so_o the_o samaritan_n say_v i_o have_v a_o infallible_a rule_n which_o be_v the_o book_n of_o moses_n and_o only_o they_o the_o jew_n say_v i_o can_v err_v for_o i_o follow_v the_o old_a testament_n which_o be_v infallible_a and_o only_o that_o the_o christian_a assure_v himself_o of_o the_o truth_n as_o long_o as_o he_o be_v guide_v by_o the_o evangelist_n and_o apostle_n who_o write_n be_v the_o infallible_a dictate_v of_o the_o holy_a ghost_n the_o turk_n assume_v the_o same_o from_o the_o alcoran_n and_o the_o heathen_a from_o oracle_n sybill_n book_n and_o the_o like_a what_o shall_v i_o do_v none_o of_o all_o these_o book_n can_v be_v believe_v by_o their_o own_o light_n for_o there_o be_v thing_n equal_o strange_a in_o they_o all_o follow_v the_o authority_n of_o the_o church_n which_o can_v misguide_v you_o most_o willing_o but_o again_o the_o same_o difficulty_n return_v in_o another_o habit_n for_o as_o every_o one_o cry_n i_o follow_v these_o book_n which_o be_v infallible_a so_o he_o go_v on_o too_o and_o say_v i_o believe_v these_o book_n to_o be_v so_o because_o our_o church_n and_o our_o tradition_n which_o be_v certain_o the_o best_a authority_n assure_v we_o that_o they_o be_v write_v by_o divine_a inspiration_n let_v the_o christian_a take_v heed_n of_o say_v here_o but_o my_o tradition_n be_v more_o ancient_a and_o more_o universal_a for_o in_o the_o first_o the_o jew_n will_v overcome_v he_o and_o in_o both_o the_o heathen_a i_o must_v in_o this_o diversity_n of_o way_n either_o stand_v still_o that_o be_v suspend_v absolute_o from_o the_o belief_n of_o any_o religion_n which_o be_v almost_o impossible_a after_o the_o belief_n that_o there_o be_v a_o god_n or_o i_o must_v choose_v out_o of_o these_o now_o election_n be_v a_o work_n so_o proper_a to_o reason_n that_o it_o can_v be_v do_v by_o any_o thing_n else_o and_o therefore_o to_o be_v bring_v to_o a_o necessity_n of_o a_o election_n be_v to_o be_v necessary_o bring_v to_o submit_v in_o matter_n of_o religion_n to_o the_o determination_n of_o our_o understanding_n so_o that_o in_o matter_n of_o religion_n wherein_o there_o be_v difference_n i_o choose_v this_o side_n rather_o than_o the_o other_o because_o my_o reason_n bid_v i_o and_o where_o there_o be_v no_o difference_n even_o there_o i_o be_o whole_o guide_v by_o my_o reason_n because_o the_o uncontradict_v concurrence_n of_o the_o party_n make_v up_o a_o syllogism_n to_o persuade_v i_o say_v to_o persuade_v only_o my_o belief_n brief_o i_o can_v believe_v but_o by_o a_o act_n of_o the_o will_n nor_o can_v i_o will_v but_o according_a to_o the_o direction_n of_o the_o understanding_n so_o that_o they_o who_o say_v they_o follow_v authority_n or_o they_o follow_v divine_a particular_a revelation_n or_o any_o thing_n else_o imaginable_a do_v it_o because_o that_o agree_v with_o their_o own_o reason_n and_o will_v quit_v the_o party_n as_o soon_o as_o it_o do_v otherwise_o the_o end_n end_n contumelia_fw-la afficere_fw-la

shall_v direct_v you_o to_o forsake_v your_o christian-belief_n for_o which_o the_o devil_n do_v not_o want_v such_o pleasant_a colour_n and_o specious_a fallacy_n as_o may_v possible_o deceive_v even_o a_o good_a understanding_n before_o i_o answer_v this_o objection_n i_o desire_v to_o know_v of_o he_o that_o make_v it_o what_o it_o be_v for_o something_o it_o must_v be_v which_o he_o place_n in_o the_o same_o ecclesiastical_a superiority_n that_o i_o do_v reason_n the_o private_a spirit_n what_o if_o that_o shall_v persuade_v he_o to_o this_o apostasy_n it_o can_v not_o indeed_o if_o it_o be_v true_a but_o the_o same_o condition_n will_v make_v reason_n as_o infallible_a as_o that_o and_o i_o may_v as_o well_o judge_v of_o the_o truth_n of_o the_o one_o as_o you_o of_o the_o other_o what_o be_v it_o then_o you_o will_v trust_v your_o soul_n with_o in_o this_o important_a business_n be_v it_o the_o authority_n of_o man_n these_o very_o may_v lead_v you_o into_o error_n and_o it_o be_v not_o impossible_a into_o the_o great_a and_o worst_a of_o all_o which_o be_v the_o desertion_n of_o christ_n himself_n not_o that_o this_o be_v likely_a to_o happen_v neither_o more_o probable_a be_v it_o that_o our_o reason_n shall_v so_o far_o misguide_v we_o but_o alas_o in_o this_o affair_n of_o so_o vast_a and_o so_o eternal_a consequence_n what_o security_n can_v we_o assume_v whilst_o there_o remain_v a_o possibility_n of_o miscarriage_n and_o this_o possibility_n be_v evident_a for_o let_v we_o consider_v it_o in_o a_o council_n which_o if_o there_o be_v any_o assurance_n in_o the_o number_n of_o man_n be_v that_o where_o most_o probable_o it_o may_v be_v find_v i_o will_v not_o here_o reckon_v up_o the_o many_o error_n which_o great_a and_o famous_a council_n have_v fall_v into_o themselves_o and_o labour_v to_o establish_v in_o other_o they_o be_v many_o and_o notorious_a but_o certain_o if_o a_o council_n can_v take_v away_o the_o satisfaction_n of_o christ_n death_n and_o divinity_n of_o his_o person_n as_o be_v do_v by_o that_o great_a one_o of_o the_o arrian_n which_o condemn_v athanasius_n not_o without_o the_o approbation_n of_o the_o pope_n and_o the_o whole_a world_n beside_o a_o council_n have_v already_o do_v that_o thing_n which_o you_o affirm_v impossible_a for_o it_o to_o do_v for_o they_o who_o believe_v christ_n to_o come_v into_o the_o world_n as_o a_o example_n and_o pattern_n only_o of_o holiness_n be_v no_o more_o to_o be_v call_v christian_n than_o abrahamist_n or_o davidists_n if_o you_o will_v here_o contend_v that_o even_o these_o man_n desert_v not_o whole_o christianity_n as_o a_o man_n may_v do_v by_o the_o impulsion_n of_o his_o own_o private_a reason_n yet_o certain_o you_o will_v confess_v that_o they_o who_o fall_v so_o far_o into_o error_n may_v as_o well_o have_v sink_v deep_a and_o exalt_v some_o other_o prophet_n above_o christ_n as_o well_o as_o make_v christ_n to_o be_v but_o a_o prophet_n and_o this_o possibility_n of_o error_n even_o in_o so_o high_a a_o degree_n we_o shall_v find_v in_o the_o nature_n and_o very_a element_n of_o a_o council_n for_o if_o any_o one_o member_n of_o it_o may_v be_v a_o heathen_a or_o atheist_n in_o opinion_n as_o the_o life_n of_o many_o pope_n and_o the_o speech_n of_o some_o declare_v that_o they_o themselves_o have_v be_v why_o not_o two_o not_o three_o not_o more_o not_o the_o major_a part_n that_o be_v the_o whole_a council_n from_o the_o sanction_n of_o the_o 2_o ●_o nicene_n council_n which_o establish_v the_o worship_n of_o image_n how_o easy_a a_o step_n be_v there_o make_v for_o the_o next_o to_o the_o introduction_n of_o a_o full_a undisguised_a and_o heathenish_a idolatry_n which_o we_o must_v not_o say_v can_v not_o because_o by_o the_o mercy_n of_o god_n it_o do_v not_o happen_v and_o i_o very_o believe_v if_o god_n have_v not_o stir_v up_o some_o person_n of_o excellent_a ability_n and_o worthy_a spirit_n for_o such_o sure_a they_o be_v though_o not_o exempt_v from_o humane_a weakness_n to_o examine_v by_o the_o rule_n of_o their_o own_o reason_n those_o folly_n and_o dangerous_a error_n in_o religion_n which_o partly_o by_o the_o interest_n partly_o by_o the_o ignorance_n of_o man_n and_o insensible_a advance_n of_o ill_a custom_n be_v blind_o embrace_v by_o the_o whole_a world_n if_o these_o man_n i_o say_v have_v not_o discover_v the_o past_a error_n and_o by_o that_o mean_v make_v their_o adversary_n more_o cautious_a not_o to_o fall_v into_o any_o new_a one_o the_o world_n through_o the_o adoration_n of_o saint_n and_o image_n and_o the_o boundless_a increase_n of_o vain_a and_o superstitious_a ceremony_n will_v have_v pass_v before_o this_o time_n to_o its_o old_a and_o abominable_a worship_n of_o several_a deity_n and_o to_o a_o religion_n overwhelm_v if_o not_o with_o the_o same_o yet_o with_o as_o many_o and_o as_o vain_a impiety_n it_o remain_v therefore_o that_o you_o put_v your_o confidence_n rather_o in_o the_o tradition_n of_o the_o former_a than_o the_o command_v of_o the_o present_a church_n but_o what_o those_o be_v you_o must_v either_o trust_v some_o number_n of_o man_n present_a which_o be_v not_o without_o the_o possibility_n of_o be_v misguide_v or_o your_o own_o search_n and_o diligence_n which_o be_v to_o fall_v into_o that_o opinion_n which_o you_o condemn_v in_o i_o and_o true_o they_o who_o build_v their_o belief_n whole_o upon_o the_o authority_n of_o past_a or_o present_a age_n if_o they_o look_v upon_o all_o the_o consequence_n of_o that_o opinion_n be_v in_o much_o great_a danger_n of_o be_v draw_v from_o the_o christian_a faith_n than_o those_o who_o remit_v the_o judgement_n of_o these_o thing_n to_o their_o own_o reason_n for_o ever_o since_o the_o begin_n of_o the_o christian_a belief_n there_o have_v be_v the_o authority_n of_o above_o a_o hundred_o to_o one_o against_o it_o and_o this_o authority_n back_v and_o strengthen_v with_o the_o universal_a agreement_n of_o more_o than_o three_o thousand_o year_n before_o it_o but_o on_o the_o contrary_a if_o we_o weigh_v impartial_o the_o motive_n and_o argument_n which_o every_o religion_n can_v produce_v in_o its_o own_o defence_n reason_n itself_o will_v find_v more_o and_o much_o great_a for_o the_o christian_a than_o it_o can_v for_o any_o other_o belief_n whatsoever_o and_o i_o be_o very_o confident_a that_o no_o man_n ever_o from_o a_o christian_a become_v a_o turk_n or_o a_o jew_n because_o his_o reason_n tell_v he_o that_o be_v a_o better_a religion_n but_o because_o either_o fear_n of_o punishment_n or_o hope_n of_o reward_n or_o some_o other_o sinister_a cause_n persuade_v his_o reason_n that_o the_o worst_a religion_n in_o itself_o will_v be_v the_o better_a to_o he_o upon_o those_o condition_n now_o all_o those_o argument_n by_o which_o some_o man_n have_v labour_v to_o prove_v that_o our_o guide_n in_o spiritual_a matter_n ought_v to_o be_v infallible_a will_n though_o they_o be_v grant_v for_o true_a as_o i_o believe_v in_o some_o sense_n they_o be_v will_v not_o at_o all_o dispossess_v reason_n of_o this_o authority_n which_o we_o have_v declare_v to_o be_v her_o due_a for_o the_o infallibility_n of_o a_o guide_n i_o conceive_v to_o be_v only_o this_o that_o it_o can_v fail_v to_o bring_v we_o to_o that_o end_n for_o which_o we_o choose_v to_o be_v guide_v by_o it_o and_o if_o to_o this_o end_n there_o happen_v to_o be_v a_o thousand_o several_a way_n it_o be_v a_o guide_n no_o less_o infallible_a as_o to_o the_o end_n if_o it_o lead_v we_o through_o a_o long_a a_o unpleasant_a and_o obscure_a tract_n than_o if_o it_o conduct_v we_o by_o a_o short_a a_o delightful_a and_o a_o open_a road_n for_o not_o the_o goodness_n of_o the_o passage_n but_o certainty_n of_o not_o miss_v the_o end_n be_v that_o which_o constitute_v this_o kind_n of_o infallibility_n and_o true_o every_o man_n particular_a reason_n if_o well_o follow_v for_o whatsoever_o guide_v you_o pitch_n upon_o whether_o scripture_n spirit_n church_n past_a or_o present_a or_o any_o thing_n else_o imaginable_a must_v have_v that_o condition_n annex_v or_o else_o it_o will_v become_v unprofitable_a will_v infallible_o carry_v he_o at_o last_o though_o perhaps_o through_o many_o tedious_a and_o troublesome_a wander_n to_o his_o eternal_a happiness_n if_o it_o be_v follow_v for_o that_o condition_n can_v be_v repeat_v too_o often_o with_o constancy_n diligence_n and_o sobriety_n this_o doctrine_n set_v the_o great_a gate_n of_o heaven_n so_o wide_o open_a that_o it_o will_v displease_v those_o man_n who_o with_o a_o envious_a kind_n of_o pride_n think_v it_o more_o honour_n to_o enter_v in_o with_o a_o few_o at_o a_o narrow_a wicket_n but_o i_o true_o out_o of_o a_o humble_a consideration_n of_o my_o own_o weakness_n and_o the_o general_a imbecility_n of_o humane_a