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	faith_n	rely_v	2,393	5	11.2596	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A59791	An apology for writing against Socinians, in defence of the doctrines of the Holy Trinity and incarnation in answer to a late earnest and compassionate suit for forbearance to the learned writers of some controversies at present / by William Sherlock ...	Sherlock, William, 1641?-1707.	1693 (1693)	Wing S3265; ESTC R21192	19,159	38

and_o thus_o for_o fear_n we_o shall_v have_v believe_v too_o much_o upon_o the_o authority_n of_o council_n which_o be_v the_o only_a bottom_n he_o will_v allow_v our_o faith_n he_o give_v they_o a_o secret_a stab_n himself_o and_o make_v their_o authority_n ridiculous_a that_o the_o several_a bishop_n declare_v what_o faith_n have_v be_v teach_v and_o receive_v in_o their_o church_n be_v true_a that_o this_o authority_n chief_o carry_v the_o point_n be_v false_a athanasius_n grow_v famous_a in_o the_o council_n for_o his_o learned_a and_o subtle_a disputation_n which_o confound_v the_o arian_n and_o what_o argument_n he_o chief_o rely_v on_o we_o may_v see_v in_o his_o work_n and_o whoever_o do_v but_o look_v into_o the_o father_n who_o write_v against_o the_o arian_n in_o those_o day_n will_v find_v that_o their_o faith_n be_v resolve_v into_o scripture_n and_o reason_n and_o not_o mere_o or_o chief_o into_o authority_n and_o thus_o he_o come_v to_o be_v plain_a and_o succinct_a and_o 5_o tell_v we_o that_o of_o all_o controversy_n we_o can_v touch_v upon_o at_o present_a this_o of_o the_o trinity_n be_v the_o most_o unreasonable_a the_o most_o dangerous_a and_o so_o the_o most_o unseasonable_a it_o be_v the_o most_o unreasonable_a 1._o because_o it_o be_v on_o all_o hand_n confess_v the_o deity_n be_v infinite_a unsearchable_a incomprehensible_a and_o yet_o every_o one_o who_o pretend_v to_o write_v plain_a than_o another_o on_o this_o controversy_n profess_v to_o make_v all_o comprehensible_a and_o easy_a i_o perceive_v he_o be_v well_o verse_v in_o mr._n hobbs_n divinity_n though_o i_o can_v discover_v no_o mark_n of_o his_o skill_n in_o father_n and_o council_n for_o this_o be_v mr._n hobb_n reason_n why_o we_o shall_v not_o pretend_v to_o know_v any_o thing_n of_o god_n nor_o inquire_v after_o his_o attribute_n because_o he_o have_v but_o one_o attribute_n which_o be_v that_o he_o be_v incomprehensible_a and_o as_o this_o author_n argue_v it_o be_v a_o small_a favour_n to_o request_v of_o person_n of_o learning_n that_o they_o shall_v be_v consistent_a with_o and_o not_o contradict_v themselves_o that_o be_v that_o they_o will_v not_o pretend_v to_o know_v any_o thing_n of_o god_n who_o they_o acknowledge_v to_o be_v incomprehensible_a which_o be_v to_o pretend_v to_o know_v what_o they_o confess_v can_v be_v know_v now_o i_o desire_v to_o know_v whether_o we_o may_v dispute_v about_o the_o be_v and_o nature_n of_o god_n and_o his_o essential_a attribute_n and_o perfection_n and_o vindicate_v the_o notion_n of_o a_o deity_n from_o those_o impossibility_n inconsistency_n absurdity_n which_o some_o atheistical_a philosopher_n charge_n on_o it_o notwithstanding_o that_o we_o confess_v god_n to_o be_v incomprehensible_a and_o if_o the_o incomprehensibility_n of_o the_o divine_a nature_n do_v not_o signify_v that_o we_o can_v know_v nothing_o of_o god_n and_o must_v inquire_v nothing_o about_o he_o the_o trinity_n of_o divine_a person_n be_v as_o proper_a a_o object_n of_o our_o faith_n and_o modest_a inquiry_n as_o the_o unity_n of_o the_o divine_a essence_n for_o they_o be_v both_o incomprehensible_a and_o to_o say_v that_o every_o one_o who_o pretend_v to_o write_v plain_a than_o another_o on_o this_o controversy_n profess_v to_o make_v all_o comprehensible_a and_o easy_a may_v with_o equal_a truth_n and_o authority_n be_v charge_v on_o all_o those_o who_o undertake_v to_o vindicate_v the_o notion_n and_o idea_n of_o a_o god_n or_o to_o explain_v any_o of_o the_o divine_a attribute_n and_o perfection_n a_o finite_a mind_n can_v comprehend_v what_o be_v infinite_a but_o yet_o one_o man_n may_v have_v a_o true_a and_o more_o perfect_a notion_n of_o the_o nature_n and_o attribute_n of_o god_n than_o another_o god_n be_v incomprehensible_a in_o heaven_n as_o well_o as_o on_o earth_n and_o yet_o angel_n and_o glorify_a spirit_n know_v god_n after_o another_o manner_n than_o we_o do_v there_o must_v be_v infinite_a degree_n of_o knowledge_n when_o the_o object_n be_v infinite_a and_o every_o new_a degree_n be_v more_o perfect_a than_o that_o below_o it_o and_o yet_o no_o creature_n can_v attain_v the_o high_a degree_n of_o all_o which_o be_v a_o perfect_a comprehension_n so_o that_o the_o knowledge_n of_o god_n may_v increase_v every_o day_n and_o man_n may_v write_v plain_o about_o these_o matter_n every_o day_n without_o pretend_v to_o make_v all_o that_o be_v in_o god_n even_o a_o trinity_n in_o unity_n comprehensible_a and_o easy_a this_o be_v a_o spiteful_a and_o scandalous_a imputation_n and_o be_v intend_v to_o represent_v all_o those_o who_o undertake_v to_o write_v about_o the_o trinity_n and_o to_o vindicate_v the_o primitive_a faith_n of_o the_o church_n from_o the_o scorn_n and_o contempt_n of_o heretic_n as_o a_o company_n of_o vain-conceited_n presume_v but_o ignorant_a scribbler_n who_o pretend_v to_o make_v the_o incomprehensible_a nature_n of_o god_n comprehensible_a and_o easy_a but_o the_o comfort_n be_v we_o have_v so_o good_a company_n that_o we_o be_v able_a to_o bear_v this_o charge_n without_o blush_v even_o general_a council_n and_o those_o great_a light_n of_o the_o church_n athanasius_n st._n hillary_n st._n basil_n the_o gregory_n st._n chrysostom_n st._n austin_n and_o many_o other_o beside_o all_o those_o who_o in_o all_o succeed_a age_n to_o this_o day_n have_v with_o equal_a zeal_n and_o learning_n defend_v the_o same_o cause_n and_o yet_o never_o profess_v to_o make_v all_o comprehensible_a and_o easy_a all_o that_o any_o man_n pretend_v to_o in_o vindicate_v the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o trinity_n be_v to_o prove_v that_o this_o faith_n be_v teach_v in_o scripture_n and_o that_o it_o contain_v no_o such_o absurdity_n and_o contradiction_n as_o shall_v force_v a_o wise_a man_n to_o reject_v it_o and_o either_o to_o reject_v the_o scripture_n for_o its_o sake_n or_o to_o put_v some_o strain_a and_o unnatural_a sense_n on_o scripture_n to_o reconcile_v it_o to_o the_o principle_n of_o reason_n and_o this_o i_o hope_v may_v be_v do_v by_o those_o who_o yet_o acknowledge_v the_o divine_a nature_n and_o the_o trinity_n in_o unity_n to_o be_v incomprehensible_a but_o here_o he_o have_v a_o very_a fair_a opportunity_n have_v he_o think_v fit_a to_o take_v it_o to_o correct_v the_o insolence_n and_o presumption_n of_o his_o learned_a writer_n of_o controversy_n who_o will_v not_o allow_v the_o divine_a nature_n to_o be_v incomprehensible_a and_o will_v not_o believe_v god_n himself_o concern_v his_o own_o nature_n beyond_o what_o their_o reason_n can_v conceive_v and_o comprehend_v who_o deny_v prescience_n for_o the_o same_o reason_n that_o they_o deny_v the_o trinity_n because_o they_o can_v conceive_v it_o nor_o reconcile_v it_o with_o the_o liberty_n of_o human_a action_n and_o for_o the_o same_o reason_n may_v deny_v all_o the_o attribute_n of_o god_n which_o have_v something_o in_o they_o beyond_o what_o we_o can_v conceive_v especial_o a_o eternity_n without_o begin_n and_o without_o succession_n which_o be_v chargeable_a with_o more_o absurdity_n and_o contradiction_n than_o the_o trinity_n itself_o for_o a_o duration_n which_o can_v be_v measure_v and_o a_o eternal_a duration_n which_o can_v be_v measure_v and_o a_o succession_n without_o a_o beginning_n a_o second_o or_o three_o without_o a_o first_o be_v unconceivable_a to_o we_o and_o look_v like_o very_o plain_a and_o irreconcilable_a contradiction_n this_o be_v the_o true_a use_n of_o the_o incomprehensibility_n of_o the_o divine_a nature_n not_o to_o stop_v all_o inquiry_n after_o god_n nor_o to_o discourage_v our_o study_n of_o the_o divine_a nature_n and_o perfection_n for_o we_o may_v know_v a_o great_a deal_n and_o may_v every_o day_n increase_v our_o knowledge_n of_o what_o be_v incomprehensible_a tho'_o we_o can_v know_v it_o all_o but_o to_o check_v the_o presumption_n of_o some_o vain_a pretender_n to_o reason_n who_o will_v not_o own_o a_o god_n nor_o believe_v any_o thing_n of_o god_n which_o their_o reason_n can_v comprehend_v which_o must_v not_o only_o make_v they_o heretic_n but_o if_o pursue_v to_o its_o just_a consequence_n must_v make_v they_o atheist_n or_o make_v such_o a_o god_n as_o no_o body_n will_v own_v or_o worship_n but_o themselves_o a_o god_n adequate_a and_o commensurate_a to_o their_o understanding_n which_o must_v be_v a_o little_a finite_a comprehensible_a god_n in_o the_o next_o place_n to_o prove_v how_o unreasonable_a it_o be_v to_o dispute_v in_o vindication_n of_o the_o trinity_n he_o observe_v again_o that_o this_o matter_n have_v be_v sufficient_o determine_v by_o due_a authority_n but_o have_v answer_v this_o once_o i_o see_v no_o need_n to_o answer_v it_o again_o to_o back_o this_o he_o add_v that_o the_o present_a issue_n show_v that_o in_o this_o world_n it_o never_o will_v be_v better_o understand_v for_o it_o seem_v as_o he_o say_v the_o master_n of_o the_o sentence_n and_o some_o modern_a writer_n

man_n shall_v believe_v as_o he_o please_v and_o no_o man_n concern_v himself_o to_o confute_v heresy_n or_o to_o divide_v the_o church_n with_o dispute_n which_o be_v the_o true_a latitude_n our_o author_n seem_v to_o aim_v at_o and_o then_o he_o may_v believe_v as_o he_o please_v too_o but_o pray_v why_o shall_v we_o not_o write_v against_o the_o socinian_o especial_o when_o they_o be_v the_o aggressor_n and_o without_o any_o provocation_n publish_v and_o disperse_v the_o most_o impudent_a and_o scandalous_a libel_n against_o the_o christian_a faith_n he_o will_v give_v we_o some_o very_a wise_a reason_n for_o this_o by_o and_o by_o when_o he_o come_v to_o be_v plain_a and_o succinct_a in_o the_o mean_a time_n we_o must_v take_v such_o as_o we_o can_v meet_v with_o he_o be_v afraid_a pe●●le_n shall_v lose_v all_o reverence_n for_o the_o litany_n shall_v we_o go_v on_o to_o vindicate_v the_o doctrine_n 3._o of_o the_o trinity_n in_o unity_n i_o shall_v not_o easy_o have_v apprehend_v this_o and_o possible_o some_o of_o the_o common_a people_n may_v have_v be_v as_o dull_a as_o myself_o have_v he_o not_o take_v care_n before_o he_o part_v for_o fear_v no_o body_n else_o shall_v observe_v it_o to_o teach_v people_n to_o ridicule_n the_o trinity_n in_o their_o prayer_n dr._n wallis_n will_v not_o undertake_v to_o say_v what_o a_o divine_a person_n signify_v as_o distinguish_v from_o nature_n and_o essence_n only_o say_v a_o person_n be_v somewhat_o but_o the_o true_a notion_n of_o a_o person_n he_o do_v not_o know_v this_o author_n commend_v this_o as_o ever_o hold_v to_o by_o all_o learned_a trinitarian_n for_o indeed_o all_o the_o doctor_n mean_v by_o his_o somewhat_o be_v that_o three_o person_n signify_v three_o real_a subsistence_n and_o be_v real_a thing_n not_o a_o sabellian_n trinity_n of_o mere_a name_n and_o yet_o in_o the_o very_a next_o page_n he_o teach_v his_o reader_n to_o ridicule_n the_o litany_n with_o the_o doctor_n somewhat_n o_o holy_a bless_a and_o glorious_a trinity_n three_o somewhat_n and_o one_o god_n have_v mercy_n on_o we_o etc._n etc._n be_v there_o ever_o any_o thing_n 16._o more_o senseless_a or_o more_o profane_a that_o because_o the_o doctor_n will_v not_o undertake_v to_o define_v a_o person_n but_o only_o assert_v in_o general_a that_o a_o divine_a person_n be_v somewhat_o or_o some_o real_a be_v in_o opposition_n to_o a_o mere_a nominal_a difference_n and_o distinction_n therefore_o in_o our_o prayer_n we_o may_v as_o well_o call_v the_o three_o divine_a person_n father_n son_n and_o holy_a ghost_n three_o somewhat_n nobis_fw-la non_fw-la licet_fw-la esse_fw-la tam_fw-la disertis_fw-la i_o be_o sure_a he_o have_v reason_n hearty_o to_o pray_v that_o these_o three_o somewhat_n as_o he_o profane_o call_v they_o will_v have_v mercy_n on_o he_o in_o the_o next_o place_n he_o say_v he_o be_v well_o assure_v 3._o that_o the_o late_a socinian_n pamphlet_n will_v have_v die_v away_o or_o have_v be_v now_o in_o few_o man_n hand_n have_v not_o divers_a person_n take_v on_o they_o the_o labour_n to_o confute_v they_o but_o do_v his_o socinian_n friend_n who_o be_v such_o busy_a factor_n for_o the_o cause_n tell_v he_o so_o do_v they_o print_v they_o that_o no_o body_n may_v read_v they_o be_v they_o not_o disperse_v in_o every_o corner_n and_o boast_v of_o in_o every_o coffee-house_n before_o any_o answer_v appear_v however_o be_v it_o so_o be_v there_o no_o regard_n to_o be_v have_v to_o heretic_n themselves_o and_o be_v it_o not_o better_a that_o such_o pamphlet_n shall_v be_v in_o a_o hundred_o hand_n with_o a_o answer_n than_o in_o five_o hand_n without_o one_o i_o shall_v think_v it_o at_o any_o time_n a_o good_a reward_n for_o all_o the_o labour_n of_o confute_v to_o rescue_v or_o preserve_v a_o very_a few_o from_o such_o fatal_a error_n which_o i_o doubt_v not_o but_o be_v a_o very_a acceptable_a service_n to_o that_o merciful_a shepherd_n who_o be_v so_o careful_a to_o seek_v one_o lose_v and_o straggle_a sheep_n heresy_n and_o vice_n die_v by_o be_v neglect_v just_a as_o weed_n do_v for_o we_o know_v the_o parable_n that_o the_o devil_n sow_v his_o tare_n while_o man_n sleep_v but_o this_o be_v no_o new_a charge_n the_o good_a bishop_n of_o alexandria_n meet_v with_o the_o same_o censure_n for_o his_o zeal_n against_o arius_n for_o it_o seem_v that_o heresy_n will_v have_v die_v too_o if_o it_o have_v not_o be_v oppose_v i_o doubt_v this_o author_n judge_n of_o other_o man_n zeal_n for_o heresy_n by_o his_o own_o zeal_n for_o the_o truth_n which_o want_v a_o little_a rub_n and_o chafe_v to_o bring_v it_o to_o life_n but_o heresy_n be_v all_o flame_n and_o spirit_n will_v blow_v and_o kindle_v itself_o if_o it_o be_v not_o quench_v but_o yet_o if_o what_o he_o say_v be_v true_a that_o by_o our_o unskilful_a way_n of_o confute_v heresy_n we_o run_v into_o those_o very_a absurdity_n which_o our_o adversary_n will_v reduce_v we_o to_o this_o i_o confess_v be_v a_o very_a great_a fault_n and_o when_o he_o show_v i_o any_o of_o those_o absurdity_n i_o will_v thankful_o correct_v they_o for_o all_o the_o obloquy_n in_o the_o world_n will_v never_o make_v i_o blush_v to_o recant_v a_o error_n but_o before_o he_o pretend_v to_o that_o i_o must_v desire_v he_o that_o he_o will_v first_o read_v my_o book_n which_o i_o know_v some_o man_n censure_v without_o read_v it_o such_o general_a accusation_n be_v very_o spiteful_a and_o common_o have_v a_o mixture_n of_o spite_n both_o against_o the_o cause_n and_o against_o the_o person_n his_o next_o argument_n be_v very_o observable_a we_o must_v not_o dispute_v now_o against_o socinian_o because_o these_o controversy_n about_o the_o trinity_n have_v be_v 4._o above_o thirteen_o hundred_o year_n ago_o determine_v by_o two_o general_a council_n the_o nicene_n and_o first_o constantinopolitan_n which_o be_v own_v by_o our_o church_n and_o their_o creed_n receive_v into_o our_o liturgy_n ergo_fw-la we_o must_v not_o defend_v this_o faith_n against_o heretic_n because_o it_o be_v the_o faith_n of_o two_o general_a council_n which_o be_v own_v by_o our_o church_n do_v athanasius_n think_v this_o a_o good_a argument_n against_o write_v and_o dispute_v against_o the_o arian_n after_o the_o council_n of_o nice_a have_v condemn_v arius_n and_o his_o doctrine_n do_v st._n basil_n gregory_n nazianzen_n nyssen_n st._n chrysostom_n st._n jerom_n st._n austin_n think_v this_o a_o good_a argument_n who_o write_v so_o large_o against_o these_o heresy_n which_o former_a council_n have_v condemn_v but_o this_o author_n think_v the_o best_a way_n be_v to_o let_v the_o matter_n stand_v upon_o this_o bottom_n of_o authority_n that_o be_v let_v heretic_n ridicule_n our_o faith_n as_o much_o as_o they_o please_v we_o must_v make_v they_o no_o other_o answer_n but_o that_o this_o be_v the_o faith_n of_o the_o nicene_n and_o constantinopolitan_a council_n and_o the_o faith_n of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n and_o can_v he_o intend_v this_o for_o any_o more_o than_o a_o jest_n when_o he_o know_v how_o socinian_n despise_v the_o determination_n of_o council_n and_o particular_o with_o what_o scorn_n they_o treat_v the_o nicene_n father_n be_v this_o a_o age_n to_o resolve_v our_o faith_n into_o church_n authority_n or_o will_v he_o himself_o believe_v such_o absurd_a doctrine_n as_o they_o represent_v the_o trinity_n in_o unity_n to_o be_v mere_o upon_o church_n authority_n for_o my_o part_n i_o declare_v i_o will_v not_o i_o great_o value_v the_o authority_n of_o those_o ancient_a council_n as_o credible_a witness_n of_o the_o traditionary_a sense_n of_o the_o church_n before_o those_o controversy_n be_v start_v but_o be_v not_o these_o doctrine_n teach_v in_o scripture_n be_v they_o manifest_o repugnant_a to_o the_o plain_a and_o evident_a principle_n of_o reason_n all_o the_o council_n in_o the_o world_n shall_v never_o reconcile_v i_o to_o they_o no_o more_o than_o they_o shall_v to_o the_o doctrine_n of_o transubstantion_n and_o therefore_o methinks_v he_o may_v have_v at_o least_o allow_v we_o to_o have_v challenge_v the_o scripture_n as_o well_o as_o general_a council_n on_o our_o side_n and_o to_o have_v vindicate_v our_o faith_n from_o all_o pretend_a absurdity_n and_o contradiction_n to_o reason_n but_o will_v any_o man_n of_o common_a sense_n who_o have_v not_o intend_v to_o expose_v the_o faith_n of_o the_o holy_a trinity_n have_v tell_v the_o world_n at_o this_o time_n of_o day_n that_o we_o have_v no_o other_o safe_a and_o sure_a bottom_n for_o our_o faith_n but_o only_o the_o authority_n of_o general_n council_n nay_o that_o the_o council_n of_o nice_a itself_o on_o who_o authority_n we_o must_v rest_v have_v little_a else_o themselves_o for_o their_o determination_n but_o only_a authority_n that_o it_o be_v authority_n chief_o carry_v the_o point_n