Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
authority_n	king_n	law_n	person_n	8,134	5	5.4280	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A55818	A discourse for the vindicating of Christianity from the charge of imposture Offer'd, by way of letter, to the consideration of the deists of the present age. By Humphrey Prideaux, D.D. and arch-deacon of Suffolk.	Prideaux, Humphrey, 1648-1724.	1697 (1697)	Wing P3412A; ESTC R219515	81,417	183

a_o root_n and_o the_o effect_n vast_o above_o the_o efficiency_n of_o such_o a_o cause_n ever_o to_o produce_v it_o for_o can_v it_o possible_o be_v imagine_v that_o a_o wicked_a man_n can_v either_o have_v inclination_n to_o do_v so_o much_o for_o the_o promote_a of_o that_o righteousness_n which_o all_o his_o passion_n and_o desire_n so_o violent_o run_v counter_a unto_o or_o if_o he_o will_v that_o such_o a_o one_o can_v ever_o be_v so_o well_o acquaint_v with_o all_o the_o way_n thereof_o as_o so_o exact_o to_o prescribe_v they_o if_o it_o be_v so_o difficult_a for_o such_o a_o one_o to_o conceal_v his_o inclination_n in_o his_o expression_n if_o it_o be_v so_o hard_a for_o he_o when_o he_o vent_v himself_o into_o word_n or_o write_n not_o to_o let_v loose_a something_o in_o they_o of_o what_o he_o real_o be_v as_o i_o have_v already_o show_v how_o can_v any_o copy_n be_v draw_v from_o such_o a_o mind_n but_o what_o must_v in_o some_o feature_n or_o other_o resemble_v the_o original_a or_o any_o thing_n at_o all_o proceed_v from_o thence_o but_o what_o must_v carry_v with_o it_o some_o savour_n of_o the_o iniquity_n thereof_o set_a but_o such_o a_o one_o to_o write_v a_o letter_n and_o he_o will_v scarce_o be_v able_a to_o do_v it_o without_o put_v so_o much_o of_o his_o passion_n and_o his_o temper_n into_o it_o as_o that_o we_o may_v read_v from_o thence_o what_o he_o be_v as_o every_o man_n experience_n may_v tell_v he_o that_o correspond_v with_o such_o and_o how_o much_o more_o than_o may_v we_o be_v assure_v will_v he_o lay_v himself_o open_a when_o he_o have_v the_o large_a scope_n of_o a_o book_n to_o express_v himself_o in_o and_o especial_o when_o that_o book_n be_v of_o such_o a_o nature_n as_o give_v he_o the_o full_a occasion_n and_o the_o most_o invite_a opportunity_n so_o to_o do_v and_o what_o book_n can_v be_v more_o such_o than_o that_o which_o be_v to_o propose_v a_o new_a law_n to_o mankind_n in_o the_o write_n of_o such_o a_o book_n if_o ever_o certain_o the_o wicked_a man_n will_v show_v himself_o and_o in_o the_o same_o manner_n as_o mahomet_n do_v conform_v his_o law_n to_o his_o own_o inclination_n and_o prescribe_v such_o rule_n of_o live_v to_o other_o as_o may_v best_o justify_v he_o in_o those_o which_o he_o himself_o follow_v and_o although_o he_o shall_v not_o intend_v any_o such_o thing_n though_o he_o shall_v not_o design_n so_o to_o do_v and_o it_o be_v hard_o to_o imagine_v of_o such_o a_o man_n that_o he_o shall_v not_o yet_o at_o least_o the_o prevail_a bent_n of_o his_o passion_n and_o the_o corruption_n of_o his_o judgement_n which_o always_o follow_v therefrom_o must_v necessary_o lead_v he_o thereinto_o it_o be_v moral_o speak_v altogether_o impossible_a but_o that_o the_o wicked_a man_n must_v appear_v in_o what_o the_o wicked_a man_n do_v and_o the_o deed_n word_n and_o write_n which_o proceed_v from_o such_o a_o one_o must_v in_o some_o measure_n savour_n of_o what_o he_o be_v and_o therefore_o if_o there_o be_v nothing_o in_o the_o law_n of_o our_o holy_a religion_n as_o i_o hope_v i_o have_v full_o show_v that_o there_o be_v not_o which_o can_v make_v the_o least_o discovery_n of_o any_o such_o thing_n nothing_o that_o can_v afford_v the_o least_o pretence_n for_o such_o a_o charge_n against_o it_o where_o so_o large_a a_o scope_n be_v give_v for_o it_o this_o sufficient_o prove_v that_o neither_o the_o first_o founder_n of_o the_o christian_a religion_n nor_o those_o who_o first_o write_v it_o in_o the_o book_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n in_o which_o we_o now_o have_v it_o can_v possible_o be_v wicked_a man_n and_o consequent_o not_o such_o impostor_n as_o you_o will_v have_v they_o to_o be_v but_o here_o i_o know_v it_o will_v be_v object_v that_o there_o be_v no_o necessity_n that_o all_o impostor_n shall_v be_v as_o wicked_a as_o mahomet_n and_o therefore_o though_o jesus_n christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n be_v no_o such_o wicked_a person_n yet_o however_o they_o may_v be_v still_o impostor_n for_o all_o that_o for_o first_o it_o have_v happen_v that_o very_o just_a and_o good_a man_n have_v have_v recourse_n to_o imposture_n to_o bring_v to_o pass_v and_o establish_v their_o most_o commendable_a design_n as_o we_o have_v a_o instance_n in_o minos_n king_n of_o crete_n and_o another_o in_o numa_n king_n of_o rome_n both_o which_o to_o give_v the_o great_a authority_n to_o their_o law_n pretend_v to_o have_v have_v they_o by_o divine_a revelation_n and_o second_o you_o will_v say_v it_o be_v possible_a a_o man_n may_v be_v a_o impostor_n by_o enthusiasm_n and_o mistake_v and_o false_o impose_v thing_n for_o divine_a revelation_n not_o out_o of_o a_o wicked_a design_n to_o deceive_v other_o but_o that_o he_o be_v real_o deceive_v herein_o himself_o and_o if_o in_o these_o two_o case_n a_o man_n that_o be_v not_o wicked_a may_v be_v a_o impostor_n you_o will_v urge_v that_o though_o jesus_n christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n be_v not_o wicked_a man_n yet_o this_o will_v not_o prove_v they_o not_o to_o have_v be_v impostor_n because_o it_o be_v possible_a that_o in_o one_o of_o these_o two_o case_n they_o may_v have_v be_v such_o in_o order_n to_o the_o clear_n of_o the_o first_o of_o these_o objection_n i_o desire_v you_o will_v consider_v these_o three_o follow_v particular_n 1._o that_o in_o every_o religion_n there_o be_v these_o two_o part_n to_o be_v observe_v very_o distinct_a from_o each_o other_o 1._o the_o religion_n itself_o and_o 2._o the_o mean_n whereby_o it_o be_v promote_v and_o propagate_v among_o men._n 2._o when_o the_o imposture_n be_v only_o in_o the_o former_a of_o these_o two_o and_o a_o true_a religion_n or_o at_o least_o one_o that_o be_v real_o believe_v to_o be_v such_o be_v promote_v by_o mean_n of_o imposture_n that_o be_v by_o feign_v a_o divine_a revelation_n where_o there_o be_v none_o or_o by_o counterfeit_v miracle_n or_o by_o any_o other_o such_o mean_n tend_v to_o deceive_v man_n thereinto_o this_o amount_n to_o no_o high_a than_o a_o pious_a fraud_n which_o out_o of_o a_o overhot_a and_o inconsiderate_a zeal_n some_o man_n have_v make_v use_n of_o for_o the_o promote_a of_o the_o best_a ends._n and_o such_o man_n for_o the_o sake_n of_o such_o end_n may_v still_o be_v denominate_v good_a and_o righteous_a in_o the_o main_a how_o much_o soever_o they_o may_v have_v be_v out_o in_o make_v use_n of_o such_o mean_n to_o promote_v they_o 3._o when_o the_o imposture_n be_v in_o the_o end_n as_o well_o as_o in_o the_o mean_n and_o not_o only_o the_o revelation_n pretend_v but_o also_o the_o religion_n itself_o be_v all_o false_a counterfeit_a and_o feign_v this_o amount_n to_o such_o a_o imposture_n as_o be_v total_o wicked_a without_o any_o mixture_n of_o good_a therein_o in_o the_o former_a case_n where_o the_o imposture_n be_v only_o in_o the_o mean_n there_o be_v a_o good_a end_n design_v and_o therefore_o something_o still_o from_o whence_o the_o person_n use_v it_o may_v be_v denominate_v good_a but_o where_o the_o imposture_n be_v in_o both_o it_o be_v wickedness_n all_o over_o without_o any_o thing_n at_o all_o in_o it_o to_o exempt_v he_o from_o be_v perfect_o wicked_a that_o make_v use_v thereof_o which_o particular_n being_n premise_a my_o answer_n to_o the_o objection_n be_v as_o follow_v 1._o i_o do_v acknowledge_v it_o to_o be_v relate_v by_o 2._o author_n of_o good_a credit_n that_o minos_n king_n of_o crete_n when_o he_o first_o frame_v the_o law_n of_o his_o country_n to_o give_v they_o the_o great_a authority_n use_v to_o retire_v into_o a_o cave_n on_o mount_n dicta_fw-la and_o from_o thence_o to_o bring_v they_o forth_o to_o his_o cretan_n as_o if_o they_o have_v be_v there_o deliver_v to_o he_o by_o jupiter_n and_o that_o numa_n when_o he_o found_v the_o law_n of_o rome_n 1._o practise_v the_o same_o art_n pretend_v to_o have_v receive_v they_o from_o the_o nymph_n egeria_n that_o so_o he_o may_v procure_v they_o to_o be_v receive_v by_o the_o roman_n with_o the_o great_a veneration_n and_o by_o this_o device_n they_o both_o obtain_v there_o end_n in_o bring_v very_o rude_a and_o barbarous_a people_n to_o submit_v to_o those_o good_a order_n and_o rule_n which_o they_o prescribe_v for_o their_o live_n civil_o peaceable_o and_o just_o together_o but_o this_o although_o it_o be_v a_o fraud_n in_o the_o mean_n yet_o as_o far_o as_o it_o relate_v only_o to_o a_o political_a end_n belong_v to_o another_o matter_n and_o do_v not_o at_o all_o fall_n within_o that_o argument_n of_o religion_n which_o we_o be_v now_o treat_v of_o 2._o as_o to_o the_o law_n of_o numa_n i_o acknowledge_v that_o they_o reach_v not_o only_a matter_n of_o state_n but_o those_o of_o

people_n so_o indifferent_a in_o religion_n first_o to_o manifest_v himself_o unto_o for_o the_o jew_n be_v so_o far_o from_o be_v weary_a of_o that_o religion_n which_o they_o have_v so_o long_o profess_v when_o he_o first_o appear_v in_o his_o mission_n among_o they_o that_o they_o be_v then_o grow_v into_o the_o contrary_a extreme_a a_o very_a extravagant_a bigotry_n and_o superstition_n concern_v it_o so_o that_o nothing_o be_v more_o difficult_a than_o to_o withdraw_v they_o from_o it_o nor_o can_v any_o thing_n be_v more_o offensive_a to_o they_o than_o a_o offer_n tend_v thereto_o and_o so_o it_o continue_v with_o they_o even_o to_o this_o day_n and_o the_o case_n be_v not_o much_o otherwise_o as_o to_o all_o the_o rest_n of_o mankind_n the_o gentile_n be_v then_o grow_v almost_o as_o tenacious_a of_o their_o idolatry_n as_o the_o jew_n of_o their_o law_n and_o learning_n be_v in_o that_o age_n among_o both_o at_o the_o high_a pitch_n that_o ever_o it_o be_v in_o the_o world_n and_o consequent_o man_n be_v never_o less_o dispose_v than_o at_o that_o time_n to_o receive_v a_o new_a religion_n or_o ever_o better_a able_a to_o defend_v their_o old_a and_o therefore_o have_v christianity_n be_v a_o imposture_n it_o can_v never_o have_v escape_v in_o such_o a_o age_n as_o that_o a_o full_a detection_n or_o ever_o have_v be_v able_a to_o have_v bear_v up_o against_o it_o such_o inquisitive_a head_n and_o pierce_a wit_n as_o be_v then_o in_o the_o world_n will_v have_v sift_v it_o to_o the_o bottom_n dive_v into_o its_o deep_a secret_n and_o unravel_v and_o lay_v open_a the_o whole_a plot_n and_o the_o prejudice_v world_n will_v immediate_o have_v crush_v it_o to_o piece_n thereon_o so_o that_o it_o shall_v never_o more_o have_v appear_v among_o mankind_n but_o the_o truth_n of_o our_o holy_a religion_n be_v such_o that_o it_o bold_o offer_v itself_o to_o this_o trial_n and_o it_o seem_v to_o have_v choose_v such_o a_o age_n as_o this_o first_o to_o come_v into_o the_o world_n of_o purpose_n to_o undergo_v it_o that_o so_o it_o may_v be_v the_o better_o justify_v there_o by_o and_o justify_v by_o it_o it_o be_v for_o although_o it_o be_v oppose_v by_o the_o utmost_a violence_n of_o the_o prejudice_v world_n they_o can_v get_v no_o ground_n of_o it_o though_o it_o be_v thorough_o examine_v and_o diligent_o search_v into_o by_o the_o acute_a and_o subtle_a wit_n of_o those_o age_n in_o which_o it_o first_o appear_v they_o can_v never_o discover_v any_o fraud_n or_o make_v out_o the_o least_o flaw_n therein_o but_o in_o spite_n of_o both_o it_o triumph_v by_o its_o own_o naked_a truth_n only_o over_o all_o manner_n of_o opposition_n and_o by_o god_n mercy_n continue_v still_o so_o to_o do_v even_o to_o this_o day_n that_o a_o cheat_n and_o a_o fraud_n in_o a_o thing_n of_o this_o nature_n shall_v be_v impose_v on_o man_n total_o ignorant_a and_o illiterate_a or_o that_o such_o as_o they_o when_o void_a of_o all_o manner_n of_o religion_n as_o the_o man_n of_o mecca_n for_o the_o most_o part_n be_v when_o mahomet_n begin_v his_o imposture_n among_o they_o shall_v be_v easy_a to_o embrace_v a_o new_a one_o be_v no_o hard_a matter_n to_o conceive_v but_o that_o a_o imposture_n shall_v be_v receive_v and_o obtain_v such_o prevalency_n over_o man_n in_o so_o learned_a and_o discern_a a_o age_n as_o that_o wherein_o christianity_n first_o appear_v in_o the_o world_n or_o that_o they_o who_o where_o then_o so_o zealous_o addict_v to_o the_o religion_n they_o have_v be_v educate_v in_o whether_o jew_n or_o gentile_n shall_v ever_o have_v be_v induce_v to_o forsake_v it_o for_o a_o new_a one_o found_v only_o on_o a_o cheat_n and_o fraud_n be_v what_o moral_o speak_v we_o may_v very_o well_o reckon_v impossible_a 7._o mahomet_n offer_v at_o no_o prophecy_n that_o he_o may_v not_o run_v the_o hazard_n of_o be_v confute_v by_o the_o event_n but_o jesus_n christ_n deliver_v many_o clear_a and_o plain_a prophecy_n several_a of_o which_o respect_v that_o very_a age_n in_o which_o he_o live_v and_o be_v all_o in_o their_o proper_a time_n as_o plain_o verify_v by_o the_o completion_n of_o they_o 8._o mahomet_n offer_v at_o no_o miracle_n in_o public_a although_o continual_o call_v upon_o and_o provoke_v to_o it_o by_o his_o opposer_n for_o not_o be_v able_a to_o work_v any_o true_a one_o or_o will_v not_o hazard_v himself_o to_o a_o discovery_n by_o those_o which_o be_v counterfeit_v and_o therefore_o all_o those_o thing_n which_o he_o will_v have_v go_v for_o miracle_n that_o be_v his_o converse_n with_o the_o angel_n gabriel_n his_o journey_n to_o heaven_n and_o the_o army_n of_o angel_n that_o help_v he_o in_o his_o battle_n be_v only_o relate_v by_o he_o as_o thing_n act_v behind_o the_o curtain_n of_o which_o there_o be_v no_o other_o witness_n but_o himself_o alone_o and_o consequent_o there_o can_v be_v no_o witness_n on_o the_o other_o side_n ever_o to_o contradict_v they_o but_o jesus_n christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n have_v the_o real_a power_n of_o work_a miracle_n do_v they_o open_o in_o the_o sight_n of_o thousand_o where_o all_o manner_n of_o opportunity_n be_v give_v to_o every_o spectator_n to_o examine_v into_o they_o and_o try_v whether_o they_o be_v true_a or_o no_o and_o therefore_o have_v there_o be_v any_o cheat_n or_o fraud_n in_o they_o it_o be_v not_o possible_a to_o conceive_v how_o they_o shall_v have_v escape_v a_o discovery_n and_o yet_o no_o such_o discovery_n can_v ever_o be_v make_v which_o be_v so_o convince_a a_o argument_n of_o their_o truth_n and_o reality_n that_o even_o the_o bitter_a enemy_n of_o our_o holy_a religion_n from_o the_o first_o yield_v in_o this_o particular_a and_o both_o jew_n and_o heathen_n allow_v all_o those_o miraculous_a work_n which_o be_v relate_v of_o our_o saviour_n and_o his_o apostle_n in_o the_o book_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n to_o have_v be_v real_o and_o true_o wrought_v by_o they_o as_o have_v be_v afore-observed_n and_o indeed_o the_o evidence_n be_v too_o manifest_a to_o be_v deny_v since_o those_o very_a blind_a that_o receive_v their_o sight_n those_o dumb_a that_o be_v enable_v to_o speak_v those_o deaf_a that_o be_v restore_v to_o their_o hear_n those_o lame_a that_o be_v make_v to_o walk_v and_o those_o dead_a that_o be_v raise_v again_o to_o life_n live_v many_o year_n after_o to_o be_v as_o stand_a monument_n of_o the_o truth_n of_o those_o thing_n which_o no_o one_o can_v contradict_v and_o therefore_o the_o opposer_n of_o the_o gospel_n of_o jesus_n christ_n have_v all_o along_o rather_o choose_v to_o invalidate_v the_o authority_n of_o those_o miracle_n than_o deny_v the_o truth_n and_o reality_n of_o they_o for_o they_o allow_v the_o matter_n of_o fact_n object_n that_o there_o be_v other_o power_n low_a than_o the_o divine_a that_o be_v able_a to_o bring_v they_o to_o pass_v and_o therefore_o although_o those_o work_n be_v wrought_v they_o do_v not_o yet_o prove_v either_o the_o person_n or_o the_o doctrine_n which_o they_o teach_v to_o come_v from_o god_n and_o consequent_o can_v give_v no_o such_o evidence_n as_o that_o which_o we_o insist_v upon_o from_o they_o for_o the_o truth_n of_o that_o religion_n which_o we_o profess_v that_o other_o by_o magic_a art_n have_v do_v the_o same_o thing_n that_o the_o scripture_n themselves_o tell_v we_o so_o of_o janne_n and_o jambres_n and_o simon_n magus_n and_o profane_a writer_n of_o apollonius_n tyanoeus_fw-la apuleius_n and_o other_o that_o both_o moses_n and_o jesus_n christ_n know_v this_o very_a well_o and_o therefore_o forewarn_v their_o disciple_n against_o it_o tell_v they_o that_o false_a prophet_n shall_v arise_v who_o shall_v show_v sign_n and_o wonder_n to_o deceive_v if_o possible_a the_o very_a elect_n and_o that_o they_o shall_v take_v care_n not_o to_o hearken_v to_o they_o and_o therefore_o say_v they_o if_o sign_n and_o wonder_n can_v be_v wrought_v by_o false_a prophet_n how_o can_v they_o be_v evidence_n for_o the_o true_a or_o how_o can_v we_o at_o all_o rely_v upon_o they_o for_o the_o verify_n of_o any_o doctrine_n which_o they_o deliver_v unto_o we_o or_o if_o those_o miracle_n which_o be_v wrought_v by_o they_o who_o be_v send_v of_o god_n be_v only_o true_a miracle_n and_o all_o other_o false_a one_o how_o shall_v we_o distinguish_v the_o one_o from_o the_o other_o so_o as_o by_o they_o to_o discern_v whether_o the_o doctrine_n be_v of_o god_n or_o no_o but_o these_o difficulty_n will_v be_v easy_o remove_v and_o the_o miracle_n of_o our_o saviour_n and_o his_o apostle_n as_o they_o be_v allow_v to_o be_v true_o wrought_v by_o they_o so_o also_o will_v they_o as_o true_o prove_v the_o doctrine_n which_o they_o teach_v to_o come_v from_o god_n if_o you_o