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	true_a	11,956	5	5.9540	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A52291	An answer to an heretical book called The naked Gospel which was condemned and ordered to be publickly burnt by the convocation of the University of Oxford, Aug. 19, 1690 : with some reflections on Dr. Bury's new edition of that book : to which is added a short history of Socinianism / by William Nicholls.	Nicholls, William, 1664-1712.; Bury, Arthur, 1624-1713. Naked Gospel.	1691 (1691)	Wing N1091; ESTC R28145	124,983	144

just_a exception_n be_v a_o social_a duty_n and_o which_o any_o man_n that_o speak_v truth_n and_o have_v not_o just_o lose_v his_o reputation_n may_v claim_v from_o we_o as_o fellow_n creature_n but_o when_o the_o matter_n relate_v be_v incredible_a or_o which_o my_o reason_n tell_v i_o be_v not_o enough_o probable_a or_o when_o the_o relater_n be_v sufficient_o exceptionable_a or_o if_o any_o thing_n else_o accompany_v the_o relation_n which_o will_v give_v sufficient_a suspicion_n of_o falsity_n to_o a_o prudent_a man_n then_o if_o i_o believe_v such_o a_o relation_n i_o be_o true_o say_v to_o be_v credulous_a because_o there_o i_o make_v my_o belief_n exceed_v its_o just_a bound_n i_o give_v more_o credit_n to_o the_o relater_n than_o he_o ought_v to_o have_v whereas_o my_o faith_n in_o this_o case_n ought_v to_o stop_v at_o the_o confine_n of_o probability_n i_o let_v it_o pass_v over_o they_o and_o believe_v thing_n improbable_a but_o there_o can_v be_v no_o such_o thing_n in_o a_o divine_a faith_n for_o take_v that_o in_o our_o author_n sense_n to_o be_v only_o a_o piece_n of_o justice_n to_o god_n there_o can_v be_v no_o excess_n in_o believe_v what_o he_o reveal_v or_o relate_v to_o we_o it_o be_v impossible_a there_o shall_v lie_v any_o exception_n against_o he_o as_o a_o relater_n for_o he_o be_v most_o true_a and_o can_v deceive_v we_o as_o to_o whatever_o difficulty_n there_o lie_v in_o the_o matter_n relate_v he_o be_v most_o powerful_a and_o can_v make_v good_a what_o he_o promise_v his_o wisdom_n be_v infinite_a and_o know_v exact_o the_o express_a modus_fw-la of_o those_o truth_n he_o have_v reveal_v to_o we_o which_o our_o finite_a understanding_n can_v comprehend_v it_o be_v impossible_a for_o we_o to_o believe_v too_o much_o what_o god_n affirm_v unless_o we_o can_v suppose_v that_o our_o belief_n can_v be_v great_a than_o god_n veracity_n or_o that_o god_n can_v say_v something_o be_v so_o which_o we_o know_v impossible_a to_o be_v so_o so_o that_o to_o make_v credulity_n a_o excess_n of_o faith_n be_v to_o prescribe_v bound_n how_o far_o man_n shall_v believe_v god_n and_o to_o give_v they_o caution_n that_o they_o shall_v not_o credit_v he_o any_o far_a than_o they_o see_v reason_n for_o it_o but_o when_o his_o relation_n begin_v to_o they_o to_o seem_v unreasonable_a that_o then_o they_o shall_v choose_v whether_o they_o will_v believe_v he_o or_o no_o that_o then_o they_o shall_v stand_v upon_o their_o own_o guard_n for_o fear_n of_o be_v censure_v for_o easy_a man_n and_o be_v think_v the_o worst_a of_o all_o fool_n the_o credulous_a so_o that_o in_o short_a whatever_o credulity_n be_v it_o be_v not_o a_o excess_n of_o divine_a faith_n unless_o we_o can_v believe_v god_n too_o true_a or_o that_o god_n can_v tell_v we_o something_o be_v true_a which_o be_v manifest_o false_a second_o that_o a_o acquiescence_n in_o the_o determination_n of_o general_a council_n though_o in_o matter_n of_o faith_n be_v not_o credulity_n i_o will_v not_o have_v our_o author_n think_v that_o we_o ground_n our_o faith_n in_o the_o bless_a trinity_n upon_o the_o determination_n only_o of_o general_a council_n which_o he_o mean_v by_o his_o great_a humane_a authority_n as_o if_o we_o have_v nothing_o in_o scripture_n to_o urge_v for_o it_o we_o have_v argument_n enough_o from_o thence_o to_o confound_v all_o the_o force_n and_o subtlety_n of_o our_o heretical_a adversary_n and_o several_a learned_a man_n in_o the_o begin_n of_o this_o age_n have_v bring_v so_o much_o from_o thence_o as_o perfect_o silence_v this_o heresy_n for_o a_o time_n and_o have_v baffle_v their_o cause_n for_o ever_o i_o be_o sure_a at_o least_o against_o all_o such_o espouser_n of_o it_o as_o this_o author_n seem_v to_o be_v and_o as_o for_o council_n when_o we_o rely_v upon_o their_o determination_n in_o assert_v and_o explain_v the_o ancient_a faith_n i_o do_v not_o think_v we_o be_v so_o much_o credulous_a as_o these_o fort_n of_o gentleman_n be_v saucy_a to_o say_v no_o worse_o when_o they_o bespatter_v these_o august_n assembly_n with_o so_o much_o contumely_n and_o buffonery_n as_o they_o use_v to_o do_v there_o be_v none_o of_o our_o church_n that_o look_v upon_o the_o determination_n of_o general_a council_n to_o be_v the_o infallible_a oracle_n of_o god_n they_o be_v as_o our_o author_n speak_v humane_a authority_n but_o then_o they_o be_v the_o great_a humane_a authority_n upon_o earth_n they_o be_v the_o representative_n of_o the_o church_n universal_a and_o if_o our_o judgement_n be_v apt_a to_o be_v incline_v by_o the_o authority_n of_o single_a doctor_n they_o ought_v to_o be_v much_o more_o so_o by_o the_o authority_n of_o such_o a_o number_n of_o good_a and_o learned_a man_n convene_v from_o all_o the_o part_n of_o the_o christian_a world_n we_o do_v not_o run_v up_o the_o authority_n of_o council_n so_o high_a as_o to_o give_v they_o power_n to_o constitute_v new_a article_n of_o faith_n as_o the_o papist_n do_v but_o then_o we_o look_v upon_o they_o to_o be_v the_o best_a judge_n in_o the_o world_n of_o old_a one_o and_o of_o what_o be_v the_o true_a ancient_a and_o catholic_n faith_n to_o declare_v what_o doctrine_n according_a to_o 3._o lirinensis_n rule_n have_v universality_n consent_n antiquity_n when_o they_o come_v to_o be_v contest_v by_o heretic_n 32._o for_o the_o member_n of_o these_o council_n be_v bishop_n draw_v from_o all_o part_n of_o the_o world_n be_v able_a to_o give_v a_o account_n of_o the_o belief_n of_o the_o faithful_a in_o their_o district_n and_o of_o the_o uncorrupted_a write_n and_o tradition_n of_o their_o forefather_n neither_o yet_o do_v we_o allow_v they_o if_o they_o shall_v oppose_v their_o opinion_n or_o tradition_n against_o the_o express_a word_n of_o god_n but_o only_o when_o they_o declare_v the_o truth_n of_o their_o doctrine_n as_o theodoret_n 8._o speak_v of_o the_o nicene_n father_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d out_o of_o scripture_n word_n pious_o understand_v of_o which_o there_o be_v no_o o●e_n but_o must_v allow_v they_o to_o be_v the_o most_o excellent_a and_o the_o most_o authentic_a expositor_n and_o yet_o though_o we_o can_v grant_v it_o to_o be_v a_o article_n of_o our_o christian_a faith_n that_o general_a council_n can_v err_v because_o there_o be_v no_o such_o proposition_n find_v in_o scripture_n nor_o by_o any_o necessary_a consequence_n to_o be_v deduce_v from_o thence_o but_o most_o good_a man_n look_v upon_o it_o as_o a_o theological_a verity_n for_o which_o there_o be_v some_o probable_a argument_n out_o of_o scripture_n allege_v as_o mat._n 18._o 20._o when_o two_o or_o three_o be_v gather_v together_o in_o my_o name_n i_o will_v be_v in_o the_o midst_n of_o they_o and_o joh._n 16._o 3._o when_o the_o spirit_n of_o truth_n be_v come_v he_o will_v guide_v you_o into_o all_o truth_n and_o the_o most_o good_a and_o learned_a man_n in_o all_o time_n have_v general_o think_v that_o the_o inerrability_n of_o a_o general_a council_n that_o be_v fair_o call_v and_o due_o celebrate_v be_v one_o of_o the_o piè_fw-la credibilia_fw-la which_o a_o good_a man_n though_o he_o be_v not_o necessitate_v be_v yet_o well_o dispose_v to_o believe_v for_o if_o we_o consider_v the_o great_a love_n which_o god_n do_v bear_v to_o his_o church_n and_o the_o peculiar_a providence_n he_o do_v exercise_n over_o it_o if_o we_o consider_v the_o promise_n that_o he_o have_v make_v to_o it_o that_o it_o be_v his_o desire_n that_o all_o man_n shall_v be_v save_v and_o shall_v come_v to_o the_o knowledge_n of_o all_o necessary_a truth_n there_o be_v no_o good_a man_n but_o will_v be_v incline_v to_o believe_v that_o god_n out_o of_o his_o infinite_a love_n and_o goodness_n which_o he_o have_v declare_v to_o bear_v to_o his_o church_n will_v not_o suffer_v the_o representative_n of_o it_o in_o these_o sacred_a assembly_n to_o err_v in_o any_o important_a matter_n of_o faith_n that_o he_o will_v not_o permit_v any_o deadly_a poison_n thus_o to_o sink_v into_o the_o bowel_n of_o his_o church_n when_o they_o use_v all_o the_o fair_a and_o honest_a mean_n they_o can_v to_o avoid_v it_o but_o that_o he_o will_v give_v his_o holy_a spirit_n to_o direct_v they_o in_o settle_v the_o true_a faith_n as_o may_v be_v best_a for_o the_o edification_n of_o his_o church_n but_o though_o general_a council_n have_v not_o a_o divine_a inerrable_a authority_n yet_o they_o have_v in_o matter_n of_o religion_n the_o great_a humane_a and_o coercive_a one_o especial_o when_o own_v and_o confirm_v by_o the_o secular_a power_n therefore_o though_o we_o be_v certain_a that_o they_o have_v determine_v something_o erroneous_o and_o which_o our_o own_o reason_n and_o judgement_n tell_v we_o be_v so_o yet_o we_o ought_v to_o keep_v this_o reason_n to_o ourselves_o and_o

not_o to_o oppose_v the_o concur_v judgement_n of_o so_o many_o great_a and_o holy_a man_n with_o our_o private_a sentiment_n it_o be_v more_o probable_a that_o we_o shall_v be_v deceive_v than_o they_o and_o though_o god_n may_v pardon_v our_o mistake_n when_o we_o take_v care_n they_o shall_v go_v no_o far_o than_o ourselves_o yet_o we_o can_v be_v so_o sure_a of_o that_o when_o we_o endeavour_v to_o bring_v other_o likewise_o into_o our_o error_n a_o good_a man_n though_o he_o can_v not_o be_v convince_v of_o the_o truth_n oft_o heir_n determination_n yet_o out_o of_o duty_n and_o respect_n to_o so_o great_a a_o authority_n will_v not_o go_v open_o to_o condemn_v they_o for_o though_o he_o look_v upon_o their_o determination_n not_o as_o inerrable_a declaration_n of_o faith_n yet_o he_o will_v take_v they_o for_o the_o best_a expedient_n of_o unity_n so_o that_o if_o he_o happen_v to_o be_v mistake_v in_o his_o sentiment_n which_o be_v contrary_a to_o their_o declaration_n and_o shall_v withal_o endeavour_v to_o corrupt_v other_o by_o diffuse_v they_o this_o will_v be_v to_o make_v breach_n in_o the_o church_n which_o will_v be_v more_o prejudicial_a to_o he_o than_o his_o own_o error_n this_o may_v make_v he_o guilty_a at_o the_o same_o time_n of_o heresy_n and_o schism_n too_o so_o that_o i_o take_v a_o acquiescence_n in_o the_o determination_n of_o general_a council_n or_o any_o such_o like_a humane_a authority_n to_o be_v so_o far_o from_o credulousness_n that_o it_o be_v a_o great_a part_n of_o prudent_a caution_n and_o wariness_n and_o that_o we_o shall_v be_v far_o the_o more_o credulous_a and_o conceit_a fool_n if_o we_o can_v believe_v that_o our_o private_a opinion_n be_v sufficient_a to_o weigh_v down_o they_o or_o that_o god_n will_v suffer_v the_o establishment_n of_o these_o great_a and_o holy_a man_n to_o be_v pull_v down_o and_o destroy_v by_o the_o propagation_n of_o our_o conception_n chap._n v._n why_o faith_n make_v a_o great_a figure_n under_o the_o gospel_n than_o it_o do_v under_o the_o law_n the_o author_n spend_v this_o long_a chapter_n in_o show_v what_o a_o great_a necessity_n there_o be_v in_o the_o primitive_a time_n of_o christianity_n of_o a_o strong_a faith_n than_o there_o be_v now_o which_o make_v our_o saviour_n to_o recommend_v it_o then_o so_o much_o to_o his_o disciple_n which_o he_o illustrate_v by_o the_o instance_n of_o loyalty_n which_o be_v but_o mean_a and_o inconsiderable_a in_o peaceable_a time_n and_o not_o worth_a a_o reward_n from_o the_o prince_n but_o in_o time_n of_o danger_n when_o a_o man_n venture_v his_o life_n to_o serve_v he_o it_o be_v then_o a_o virtue_n of_o a_o large_a extent_n and_o aught_o to_o be_v encourage_v by_o the_o great_a reward_n he_o proceed_v to_o show_v the_o particular_a necessity_n of_o faith_n at_o that_o time_n first_o from_o the_o difficulty_n which_o hinder_v the_o believe_v of_o the_o gospel_n to_o the_o gentile_n who_o despise_v the_o meanness_n of_o the_o gospel_n to_o the_o jew_n who_o be_v prejudice_v by_o the_o fond_a opinion_n they_o have_v of_o their_o own_o law_n and_o by_o the_o expectation_n of_o a_o pompous_a messiah_n second_o from_o the_o danger_n which_o the_o gospel_n bring_v in_o expose_v its_o professor_n to_o persecution_n etc._n etc._n three_o upon_o account_n of_o the_o method_n of_o the_o gospel_n which_o be_v to_o be_v preach_v to_o the_o whole_a heathen_a world_n these_o be_v the_o extraordinary_a mean_n he_o say_v why_o faith_n be_v so_o much_o recommend_v at_o that_o time_n the_o ordinary_a be_v the_o serviceableness_n of_o this_o virtue_n to_o religion_n and_o holiness_n which_o do_v continue_v still_o so_o that_o god_n do_v not_o load_v his_o servant_n with_o more_o faith_n than_o be_v absolute_o necessary_a to_o salvation_n for_o if_o he_o shall_v do_v this_o he_o say_v he_o must_v do_v it_o with_o reason_n or_o without_o reason_n if_o without_o reason_n that_o will_v contradict_v his_o wisdom_n if_o with_o reason_n that_o can_v be_v no_o other_o but_o in_o order_n to_o the_o piety_n and_o happiness_n of_o man._n and_o this_o be_v the_o sum_n of_o this_o chapter_n now_o any_o one_o may_v see_v what_o the_o design_n of_o all_o this_o be_v to_o make_v the_o belief_n of_o our_o saviour_n divinity_n and_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o trinity_n to_o be_v no_o part_n of_o the_o faith_n deliver_v to_o the_o saint_n and_o that_o those_o great_a exhortation_n to_o faith_n the_o scripture_n give_v have_v no_o relation_n to_o the_o faith_n of_o our_o saviour_n divinity_n and_o that_o they_o be_v not_o urge_v to_o strengthen_v they_o against_o any_o difficulty_n they_o may_v conceive_v in_o this_o doctrine_n but_o only_o to_o confirm_v they_o against_o those_o other_o difficulty_n and_o danger_n which_o he_o there_o mention_n now_o though_o it_o be_v very_o true_a that_o these_o difficulty_n which_o the_o author_n mention_n be_v such_o as_o do_v deter_v many_o from_o espouse_v christianity_n so_o that_o there_o be_v need_n of_o a_o great_a faith_n than_o ordinary_a at_o that_o time_n to_o conquer_v they_o yet_o he_o do_v not_o enumerate_v all_o the_o difficulty_n their_o faith_n be_v to_o superate_v but_o leave_v out_o that_o principal_a end_n of_o faith_n which_o be_v to_o give_v life_n to_o all_o the_o rest_n that_o jesus_n christ_n be_v the_o eternal_a son_n of_o god_n this_o doctrine_n be_v so_o strange_a and_o wonderful_a both_o to_o jew_n and_o gentile_n that_o it_o fright_v many_o proselyte_n away_o from_o christianity_n so_o that_o how_o much_o soever_o the_o fondness_n of_o the_o jew_n to_o their_o own_o law_n and_o the_o meanness_n of_o our_o saviour_n appearance_n may_v hinder_v they_o from_o comply_v with_o his_o religion_n yet_o this_o doctrine_n of_o he_o be_v the_o eternal_a son_n of_o god_n and_o equal_a with_o his_o rather_o be_v such_o a_o hard_a say_n a_o truth_n so_o difficult_a to_o man_n natural_a reason_n at_o first_o appearance_n that_o they_o ought_v to_o have_v have_v as_o great_a encouragement_n to_o confirm_v their_o faith_n in_o this_o point_n as_o to_o support_v they_o against_o any_o of_o those_o difficulty_n which_o our_o author_n mention_n and_o this_o we_o find_v to_o be_v the_o great_a scandal_n all_o along_o to_o the_o jew_n for_o joh._n 5._o when_o our_o saviour_n declare_v to_o they_o his_o original_n his_o be_v the_o son_n of_o god_n and_o his_o cooperate_a with_o the_o father_n my_o father_n work_v hitherto_o and_o i_o work_v therefore_o the_o jew_n seek_v the_o more_o to_o kill_v he_o because_o he_o not_o only_o have_v break_v the_o sabbath_n but_o say_v also_o that_o god_n be_v his_o father_n make_v himself_o equal_a with_o god_n and_o so_o joh_n 6._o 58._o when_o our_o saviour_n declare_v himself_o to_o be_v the_o bread_n which_o come_v down_o from_o heaven_n many_o of_o his_o disciple_n when_o they_o hear_v this_o say_v this_o be_v a_o hard_a say_n who_o can_v bear_v it_o and_o so_o likewise_o v_o 52._o what_o if_o you_o shall_v see_v the_o son_n of_o man_n ascend_v up_o where_o he_o be_v before_o it_o follow_v that_o from_o that_o time_n many_o of_o his_o disciple_n go_v back_o and_o walk_v no_o more_o with_o he_o and_o again_o joh._n 8._o upon_o our_o saviour_n declare_v to_o the_o jew_n that_o he_o be_v the_o son_n of_o god_n they_o be_v all_o so_o enrage_v as_o to_o tell_v he_o that_o he_o be_v a_o samaritan_n and_o have_v a_o devil_n joh._n 8._o 15._o and_o so_o likewise_o v._n 58._o upon_o his_o say_n before_o abraham_n be_v i_o be_o they_o take_v up_o stone_n to_o cast_v at_o he_o the_o like_a offence_n they_o take_v at_o his_o forgive_a sin_n mat._n 9_o 11._o or_o at_o any_o other_o word_n or_o action_n of_o he_o which_o do_v any_o way_n seem_v to_o infer_v his_o divinity_n so_o that_o there_o be_v a_o great_a deal_n of_o need_n of_o a_o very_a strong_a and_o vigorous_a faith_n to_o believe_v in_o the_o divinity_n of_o christ_n at_o that_o time_n especial_o when_o they_o have_v so_o many_o prejudices_fw-la to_o deter_v they_o from_o it_o and_o beside_o we_o find_v that_o our_o saviour_n do_v great_o encourage_v and_o commend_v those_o that_o do_v hearty_o believe_v and_o make_v a_o ready_a profession_n of_o it_o thus_o mat._n 16._o when_o peter_n make_v that_o eminent_a confession_n of_o our_o saviour_n divinity_n thou_o be_v the_o son_n of_o the_o live_a god_n he_o immediate_o give_v he_o his_o blessing_n and_o entail_v that_o great_a promise_n upon_o he_o thou_o be_v peter_n and_o upon_o this_o rock_n will_v i_o build_v my_o church_n and_o the_o gate_n of_o hell_n shall_v not_o prevail_v against_o it_o joh._n 16._o 18._o and_o so_o joh._n 20._o 28._o when_o thomas_n make_v that_o most_o express_a confession_n of_o our_o lord_n divinity_n upon_o occasion_n