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Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
authority_n church_n infallibility_n infallible_a 2,837 5 9.9103 5 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A69762 A perswasive to an ingenuous tryal of opinions in religion Clagett, Nicholas, 1654-1727. 1685 (1685) Wing C4370; ESTC R927 37,500 66

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in_o this_o business_n without_o direct_v they_o to_o use_v the_o best_a help_n they_o can_v to_o find_v out_o the_o truth_n be_v very_o dangerous_a indeed_o and_o no_o wise_a man_n will_v contend_v for_o this_o liberty_n of_o judgement_n in_o behalf_n of_o christian_a people_n or_o of_o any_o sort_n of_o man_n whatsoever_o for_o this_o be_v not_o so_o much_o to_o advise_v they_o to_o judge_v for_o themselves_o as_o to_o conclude_v for_o themselves_o before_o they_o have_v take_v any_o pain_n to_o judge_v for_o i_o do_v not_o see_v how_o man_n can_v be_v say_v to_o judge_v who_o refuse_v the_o mean_n without_o which_o they_o can_v make_v no_o trial_n now_o the_o assistance_n of_o man_n of_o great_a knowledge_n and_o ability_n than_o themselves_o have_v be_v one_o very_o necessary_a mean_n by_o which_o private_a and_o unlearned_a person_n be_v to_o examine_v and_o judge_v in_o matter_n of_o religion_n and_o god_n have_v not_o only_o give_v we_o ability_n to_o find_v out_o some_o truth_n by_o ourselves_o but_o also_o to_o weigh_v and_o consider_v what_o other_o offer_v to_o we_o and_o therefore_o he_o have_v appoint_v governor_n and_o guide_n of_o soul_n that_o be_v to_o feed_v the_o flock_n and_o to_o instruct_v christian_a people_n in_o the_o way_n to_o heaven_n and_o one_o part_n of_o their_o work_n be_v to_o enable_v they_o to_o give_v a_o answer_n to_o every_o one_o that_o ask_v a_o reason_n of_o the_o hope_n that_o be_v in_o they_o i_o pet._n 3._o 15._o which_o i_o conceive_v they_o can_v do_v without_o inform_v and_o help_v they_o to_o judge_v for_o themselves_o so_o that_o liberty_n of_o examine_v in_o order_n to_o private_a judgement_n do_v by_o no_o mean_n exclude_v advise_v with_o and_o harken_v to_o man_n of_o great_a skill_n and_o ability_n than_o ourselves_o especial_o to_o the_o public_a guide_n of_o soul_n but_o rather_o make_v it_o necessary_a so_o to_o do_v this_o be_v one_o mean_n of_o god_n appointment_n by_o which_o we_o be_v to_o inform_v 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the_o blame_n will_v lie_v upon_o they_o but_o rather_o that_o we_o also_o shall_v answer_v for_o it_o ourselves_o otherwise_o why_o shall_v our_o saviour_n say_v why_o of_o yourselves_o do_v you_o not_o judge_v that_o which_o be_v right_a luke_n 12._o 57_o and_o st._n john_n believe_v not_o every_o spirit_n but_o try_v the_o spirit_n etc._n etc._n 1_o joh._n 4._o 1._o and_o st._n paul_n prove_v all_o thing_n hold_v fast_o that_o which_o be_v good_a 1_o thess_n 5._o 21._o and_o let_v no_o man_n deceive_v you_o 2_o thess_n 2._o 3._o again_o if_o it_o be_v dangerous_a to_o permit_v man_n to_o judge_v for_o themselves_o in_o that_o sense_n wherein_o i_o contend_v for_o it_o than_o these_o be_v not_o wholesome_a but_o very_o dangerous_a exhortation_n and_o yet_o if_o a_o church_n which_o pretend_v to_o be_v a_o infallible_a guide_n in_o religion_n can_v make_v it_o out_o clear_o and_o plain_o that_o she_o be_v so_o i_o shall_v without_o much_o examination_n of_o her_o particular_a 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yield_v more_o easy_o to_o the_o antecedent_n argument_n of_o the_o infallibility_n of_o that_o church_n but_o if_o the_o doctrine_n for_o which_o she_o vouch_v this_o authority_n do_v upon_o the_o most_o impartial_a trial_n that_o i_o can_v make_v appear_v to_o be_v worldly_a unscriptural_a or_o contrary_a to_o common_a sense_n then_o i_o be_o bind_v to_o examine_v the_o ground_n of_o her_o pretence_n more_o severe_o than_o in_o the_o former_a case_n and_o there_o be_v no_o question_n but_o such_o doctrine_n may_v be_v teach_v by_o man_n pretend_v to_o inspiration_n or_o infallibility_n which_o will_v justify_v a_o man_n in_o reject_v that_o pretence_n out_o of_o hand_n and_o trouble_v himself_o no_o more_o about_o it_o if_o a_o physician_n of_o never_o so_o great_a name_n shall_v tell_v i_o that_o he_o will_v infallible_o cure_v my_o disease_n and_o then_o prescribe_v a_o dose_n of_o arsenic_n i_o think_v reason_n will_v advise_v rather_o to_o question_v his_o infallibility_n 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a_o good_a reason_n for_o toleration_n or_o for_o the_o universal_a liberty_n of_o practise_v according_a to_o a_o man_n conscience_n or_o persuasion_n for_o to_o what_o purpose_n be_v liberty_n of_o enquiry_n if_o after_o all_o i_o must_v be_v conclude_v by_o the_o authority_n of_o my_o superior_n or_o else_o suffer_v under_o those_o law_n by_o which_o they_o provide_v for_o uniformity_n in_o religion_n to_o this_o i_o answer_v that_o every_o man_n right_a and_o duty_n to_o judge_v for_o himself_o in_o matter_n of_o religion_n be_v no_o good_a reason_n for_o toleration_n unless_o it_o be_v also_o apparent_a that_o every_o man_n use_v that_o right_o as_o he_o ought_v to_o do_v i._n e._n with_o industry_n deliberation_n and_o impartiality_n if_o all_o man_n be_v sincere_a and_o will_v examine_v without_o prejudice_n without_o that_o bias_n to_o one_o side_n which_o be_v make_v by_o lust_n and_o passion_n and_o worldly_a interest_n if_o they_o all_o intend_a to_o know_v the_o truth_n that_o they_o may_v do_v their_o duty_n then_o doubtless_o it_o be_v very_o fit_a that_o all_o shall_v enjoy_v a_o undisturbed_a liberty_n of_o practice_n according_a to_o their_o judgement_n for_o than_o no_o man_n will_v err_v in_o thing_n plain_a and_o necessary_a to_o his_o own_o salvation_n and_o the_o peace_n of_o church_n and_o state_n for_o our_o lord_n have_v assure_v we_o that_o if_o any_o man_n will_v do_v the_o will_n of_o god_n he_o shall_v know_v of_o the_o doctrine_n whether_o it_o be_v of_o god_n but_o so_o long_o as_o there_o be_v that_o hypocrisy_n in_o the_o world_n whereof_o man_n be_v conscious_a to_o themselves_o so_o long_o as_o all_o those_o vice_n also_o reign_v which_o insensible_o corrupt_v the_o judgement_n and_o make_v man_n disloyal_a to_o the_o truth_n
pretend_v to_o great_a thing_n in_o teach_v religion_n but_o then_o i_o shall_v be_v something_o forward_o to_o give_v he_o a_o trial_n too_o for_o otherwise_o i_o may_v encourage_v a_o very_a impudent_a hypocrite_n to_o be_v more_o impudent_a still_o and_o to_o play_v upon_o my_o easiness_n till_o i_o have_v swallow_v all_o the_o foolish_a and_o damnable_a opinion_n which_o he_o will_v have_v i_o believe_v for_o his_o own_o advantage_n second_o when_o we_o meet_v with_o doctrine_n that_o seem_v to_o strike_v at_o the_o foundation_n of_o morality_n and_o good_a live_n we_o be_v to_o examine_v they_o too_o before_o we_o yield_v our_o assent_n though_o they_o be_v recommend_v by_o man_n of_o name_n and_o authority_n for_o the_o end_n of_o divine_a truth_n be_v a_o good_a and_o holy_a life_n and_o therefore_o i_o shall_v suspect_v that_o to_o be_v false_a doctrine_n which_o in_o my_o judgement_n either_o take_v away_o the_o necessity_n of_o piety_n and_o virtue_n or_o discourage_v man_n from_o endeavour_v to_o attain_v they_o for_o instance_n i_o find_v this_o doctrine_n maintain_v by_o some_o man_n of_o great_a note_n that_o god_n have_v from_o all_o eternity_n absolute_o choose_v some_o man_n to_o salvation_n and_o reprobate_v the_o rest_n without_o respect_n to_o any_o personal_a qualification_n now_o if_o this_o be_v true_a i_o can_v see_v for_o my_o life_n how_o the_o obtain_n of_o eternal_a happiness_n and_o the_o avoid_n of_o damnation_n depend_v upon_o any_o care_n of_o i_o or_o upon_o any_o thing_n that_o i_o can_v do_v since_o every_o man_n state_n be_v absolute_o overrule_v by_o predestination_n and_o a_o irreversible_a decree_n so_o that_o let_v i_o do_v what_o i_o please_v all_o that_o i_o can_v do_v for_o another_o world_n will_v be_v but_o lose_v labour_n and_o may_v as_o well_o be_v spare_v but_o if_o i_o be_o sensible_a of_o this_o it_o be_v but_o reasonable_a that_o i_o shall_v not_o rely_v upon_o the_o credit_n of_o the_o author_n or_o of_o the_o preacher_n for_o so_o perilous_a a_o doctrine_n but_o because_o it_o be_v pretend_v to_o be_v ground_v upon_o the_o nine_o chapter_n to_o the_o roman_n i_o shall_v go_v to_o the_o apostle_n myself_o and_o careful_o inquire_v into_o his_o meaning_n in_o that_o place_n by_o the_o best_a rule_n of_o interpretation_n that_o i_o can_v learn_v and_o whoever_o go_v thus_o impartial_o to_o work_v will_v find_v that_o the_o apostle_n in_o that_o place_n be_v discourse_v of_o another_o question_n and_o indeed_o upon_o a_o subject_n that_o have_v nothing_o to_o do_v with_o this_o question_n of_o absolute_a election_n or_o reprobation_n of_o the_o person_n of_o man_n and_o that_o though_o the_o word_n sound_v that_o way_n to_o a_o man_n that_o be_v already_o prepossess_v yet_o the_o meaning_n of_o they_o be_v nothing_o to_o the_o purpose_n suspicion_n of_o doctrine_n when_o it_o be_v ground_v upon_o so_o good_a a_o reason_n as_o we_o be_v now_o speak_v of_o shall_v cause_v inquiry_n and_o then_o that_o inquiry_n will_v discover_v on_o which_o side_n the_o truth_n lie_v he_o that_o will_v be_v a_o libertine_n and_o live_v as_o he_o list_v may_v be_v please_v when_o he_o meet_v with_o any_o pretend_a doctrine_n of_o religion_n that_o will_v excuse_v a_o wicked_a life_n or_o discourage_v virtue_n and_o holiness_n and_o therefore_o it_o be_v likely_a that_o he_o will_v rest_v satisfy_v and_o examine_v no_o far_o but_o a_o honest_a mind_n will_v not_o let_v a_o man_n deceive_v himself_o in_o this_o manner_n but_o if_o it_o do_v not_o cause_v he_o to_o reject_v such_o opinion_n as_o soon_o as_o ever_o he_o have_v well_o satisfy_v himself_o of_o their_o consequence_n it_o will_v at_o least_o keep_v he_o from_o admit_v they_o till_o he_o have_v try_v they_o every_o way_n that_o he_o can_v three_o we_o ought_v also_o to_o be_v very_o well_o satisfy_v and_o that_o upon_o much_o consideration_n of_o the_o matter_n before_o we_o separate_v from_o the_o communion_n of_o the_o church_n where_o we_o live_v for_o whatever_o some_o man_n may_v think_v of_o it_o this_o be_v a_o business_n of_o so_o weighty_a a_o nature_n and_o consequence_n that_o it_o be_v not_o to_o be_v resolve_v upon_o or_o continue_v in_o till_o we_o be_v sure_o we_o be_v in_o the_o right_n and_o that_o upon_o most_o plain_a and_o evident_a reason_n and_o if_o there_o be_v any_o case_n in_o which_o a_o christian_a ought_v not_o to_o go_v rash_o to_o work_v this_o be_v one_o and_o therefore_o it_o be_v great_o to_o be_v lament_v that_o so_o many_o among_o we_o pretend_v to_o the_o power_n of_o godliness_n shall_v make_v so_o light_a a_o matter_n as_o they_o plain_o do_v of_o run_v into_o separate_a congregation_n it_o be_v very_o notorious_a when_o one_o discourse_n the_o point_n with_o they_o that_o they_o never_o inquire_v why_o the_o church-assembly_n be_v to_o be_v forsake_v and_o what_o it_o be_v in_o the_o establish_a form_n of_o worship_n or_o in_o the_o term_n of_o our_o communion_n that_o make_v it_o needful_a for_o a_o honest_a and_o wise_a christian_n to_o depart_v from_o it_o and_o this_o be_v a_o argument_n that_o they_o take_v it_o to_o be_v a_o matter_n of_o very_o little_a consequence_n for_o otherwise_o they_o will_v have_v apply_v themselves_o with_o more_o diligence_n to_o weigh_v it_o in_o all_o the_o particular_n that_o belong_v to_o it_o and_o therefore_o i_o shall_v offer_v some_o reason_n in_o behalf_n of_o such_o inconsiderate_a people_n to_o convince_v they_o how_o bold_a and_o dangerous_a a_o thing_n it_o be_v to_o separate_v from_o this_o church_n of_o england_n unless_o they_o be_v full_o satisfy_v upon_o mature_a examination_n that_o there_o be_v just_a and_o necessary_a cause_n for_o separation_n such_o namely_o as_o will_v make_v they_o sinner_n against_o god_n if_o they_o do_v not_o separate_v 1._o if_o without_o just_a cause_n i_o separate_v from_o this_o church_n i_o do_v wilful_o reject_v the_o great_a blessing_n and_o advantage_n of_o communion_n with_o it_o and_o must_v be_v answerable_a to_o god_n for_o slight_v that_o merciful_a providence_n of_o he_o through_o which_o i_o happen_v to_o be_v bear_v and_o breed_v in_o a_o place_n where_o i_o may_v enjoy_v the_o benefit_n of_o church-communion_n without_o venture_v at_o any_o disorderly_a and_o sinful_a practice_n for_o they_o sure_o it_o be_v no_o small_a blessing_n if_o my_o lot_n have_v be_v cast_v where_o so_o great_a a_o blessing_n do_v as_o it_o be_v lie_v in_o wait_n for_o i_o where_o the_o true_a christian_a doctrine_n and_o way_n of_o worship_n be_v recommend_v to_o i_o by_o public_a authority_n and_o establish_v by_o law_n and_o custom_n and_o defend_v to_o my_o hand_n by_o clear_a and_o strong_a argument_n if_o this_o be_v our_o case_n in_o the_o church_n of_o england_n than_o my_o separation_n from_o she_o i_o say_v it_o again_o make_v i_o guilty_a of_o a_o stupid_a and_o ungrateful_a contempt_n of_o god_n exceed_v mercy_n in_o dispose_v my_o condition_n in_o this_o world_n so_o to_o my_o advantage_n that_o i_o be_v bear_v baptize_v and_o breed_v in_o a_o place_n where_o the_o truth_n invite_v i_o and_o be_v ready_a to_o receive_v i_o before_o i_o make_v one_o step_n towards_o a_o search_n after_o she_o indeed_o to_o be_v baptize_v within_o the_o communion_n of_o a_o particular_a church_n and_o to_o have_v be_v bear_v and_o to_o live_v under_o that_o authority_n which_o require_v i_o to_o keep_v close_o to_o it_o be_v of_o itself_o no_o sufficient_a reason_n why_o we_o shall_v continue_v to_o be_v of_o it_o but_o it_o be_v a_o mighty_a reason_n why_o we_o shall_v examine_v thing_n careful_o before_o we_o leave_v it_o or_o take_v up_o a_o resolution_n never_o to_o return_v to_o it_o if_o we_o have_v leave_v it_o already_o because_o if_o there_o be_v no_o just_a reason_n for_o separation_n we_o shall_v have_v the_o more_o to_o answer_v to_o god_n for_o it_o be_v a_o great_a fault_n to_o neglect_v search_v after_o the_o truth_n in_o matter_n of_o this_o concern_v even_o when_o it_o lie_v a_o great_a way_n off_o from_o a_o man_n but_o it_o be_v much_o more_o inexcusable_a to_o reject_v it_o when_o it_o lie_v at_o our_o door_n 2._o i_o have_v need_n be_v very_o careful_a and_o impartial_a in_o this_o case_n since_o if_o the_o reason_n upon_o which_o i_o separate_v be_v not_o real_o weighty_a and_o substantial_a i_o be_o at_o once_o guilty_a of_o throw_v off_o that_o subordination_n and_o subjection_n to_o the_o pastor_n and_o guide_n of_o the_o church_n which_o the_o christian_a profession_n require_v and_o of_o contemn_v the_o lawful_a command_n of_o my_o superior_n in_o the_o state_n contrary_a to_o the_o rule_n of_o the_o gospel_n which_o oblige_v i_o to_o submit_v to_o their_o ordinance_n i_o shall_v not_o easy_o be_v