Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
authority_n	church_n	divine_a	scripture_n	9,471	5	6.5421	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A81304	The Quaker no Papist, in answer to The Quaker disarm'd. Or, A brief reply and censure of Mr. Thomas Smith's frivolous relation of a dispute held betwixt himself and certain Quakers at Cambridge. By Hen. Denne.	Denne, Henry, 1606 or 7-1660?	1659 (1659)	Wing D1024; Thomason E1000_13; ESTC R207840	18,534	22

inasmuch as the Quakers are a people as to matter of conversation most estranged from the fashions of the world and as to matter of interest I think so unprovided of all humane help that they are as little able to vindicate themselves as the Papists and consequently must be content to be both abused alike 16. But I had almost forgot my Opponent T. S. I have onely to desire him at parting to consider how much an over acting zeal oftentimes obstructeth sound judgement This is not the first time that it hath betrayed him to censure His passionate expression so I may call it rather then a proposition viz. that all who refuse the Oath of Abjuration are Papists would prove himself if he rightly considers it as much a Papist as it would prove George Whitehead one yea and more too inasmuch as George Whitehead refuses it onely because it is an Oath and not as it contains this or that matter but it s more then probable that T. S. if he be a true Protestant Divine of the English Hierarchy out of his declared respects to Antiquity and a good conscience also would not willingly abjure that is deny upon his Oath some of the particulars contained in the Oath But I will not contest with him about that I wish him often to remember the counsel of the wise man Prov. 24.28 especially when he enters such disputes as these Be not witness saith he against thy neighbour without cause and deceive not with thy lips To be a witness without cause is to speak any thing to the prejudice of our neighbour rashly and unadvisedly and otherwise then the due order of Justice and Charity doth require This I think T. S. hath not so well observed as he ought to have done both in the dispute it self and in the publication of it However I remain his servant in all good offices H. D. A Postscript YOu Mr. Tho. Smith are very earnest to fasten the suspicion of Popery upon your Adversaries especially George Whitehead but 't is a wonder to me that being Rhetorick Professour you remember no better that honest advice of the Oratour given you in your Grammar Qui alterum incusat probri c. He that accuses his neighbour of any crime ought to examine himself well and take heed that he be not found guilty of it himself I will not say you are a Papist it should be too much contrary to Charity considering what you profess But this I do say that you give more cause of suspicion that way then any thing you have yet objected against George Whitehead I shall give two Instances of this and leave you then to your private Meditations First At the end of your Letter to Mr. E. of Taft you talk of a pure Spouse of Christ the Church in all ages Now Sir is not this in effect to justifie the Church of Rome to be a pure Church What other Church I pray you was there in all ages but the Roman Church and those which agreed and agree with her in all or at least in the most and grossest of those corruptions and errours for which Protestants when time was separated themselves from the Roman Church and for which they do still at this day abandon her Communion Secondly you say That meerly upon the Authority of this Church we receive the Canon of Scriptures And what is this good Sir but to say that either the Authority of the Church is Divine and Infallible which none but Papists will say or that we have no Divine and Infallible Assurance which Books of Scripture are Canonical and which are not For as concerning the Inward Assurance of the Spirit 't is too notorious how much you reject it with the Papists Ex ungue Leonem From these two Capital Assertions of Popery let any indifferent man judge whether Mr. T. S. netwithstanding his vehement pretendings to the contrary may not be justly thought to favour the Doctrine of the present Church of Rome a little more then a man of his Profession should do But I have done The Grace of God a due knowledge of your self with a spirit of true Charity towards your Brethren which are all that profess the Blessed Gospel of Jesus Christ in sincerity be ever with you Amen FINIS