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book_n believe_v church_n scripture_n 4,985 5 6.5050 4 true
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A58804 The Christian life. Vol. 5 and last wherein is shew'd : I. The worth and excellency of the soul, II. The divinity and incarnation of our Saviour, III. The authority of the Holy Scripture, IV. A dissuasive from apostacy / by John Scott ... Scott, John, 1639-1695. 1699 (1699) Wing S2059; ESTC R3097 251,737 514

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not_o perfect_o understand_v and_o in_o which_o theophilus_n have_v not_o be_v before_o instruct_v thus_o also_o st._n john_n testify_v of_o his_o gospel_n chap._n 20._o 31._o these_o thing_n be_v write_v that_o you_o may_v believe_v that_o jesus_n be_v the_o christ_n the_o son_n of_o god_n and_o that_o believe_v you_o may_v have_v life_n through_o his_o name_n and_o if_o it_o be_v object_v that_o by_o these_o thing_n the_o apostle_n only_o mean_v the_o miracle_n of_o christ_n which_o be_v the_o motive_n of_o our_o belief_n and_o not_o his_o doctrine_n which_o be_v to_o be_v believe_v by_o we_o this_o be_v notorious_o false_a since_o by_o these_o thing_n st._n john_n mean_v his_o gospel_n in_o which_o not_o only_o the_o miracle_n but_o the_o doctrine_n of_o christ_n be_v contain_v and_o therefore_o in_o his_o first_o epistle_n chap._n 5._o 13._o he_o say_v these_o thing_n have_v i_o write_v unto_o you_o that_o believe_v on_o the_o name_n of_o the_o son_n of_o god_n that_o you_o may_v 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use_n of_o the_o bible_n be_v a_o case_n so_o plain_a that_o they_o who_o of_o late_a age_n have_v think_v meet_a to_o repeal_v this_o allowance_n have_v never_o be_v able_a to_o produce_v so_o much_o as_o one_o probable_a colour_n of_o primitive_a authority_n to_o warrant_v their_o practice_n and_o though_o in_o other_o point_n they_o not_o only_o claim_v but_o ravish_v antiquity_n in_o despite_n of_o modesty_n as_o well_o as_o truth_n yet_o here_o they_o be_v so_o abandon_v of_o all_o pretence_n to_o it_o that_o they_o be_v not_o able_a to_o produce_v so_o much_o as_o one_o passage_n of_o any_o primitive_a father_n that_o seem_v to_o discourage_v the_o people_n from_o read_v the_o scripture_n and_o much_o less_o that_o forbid_v they_o so_o to_o do_v and_o it_o be_v notorious_a to_o all_o the_o world_n that_o in_o the_o primitive_a age_n when_o the_o latin_a be_v the_o vulgar_a language_n of_o the_o roman_n the_o bible_n be_v translate_v into_o that_o language_n for_o the_o use_n and_o instruction_n of_o the_o people_n but_o when_o through_o the_o many_o incursion_n of_o the_o barbarous_a nation_n into_o the_o roman_a empire_n this_o language_n be_v wear_v out_o by_o degree_n and_o instead_o of_o be_v the_o vulgar_a become_v a_o unknown_a tongue_n to_o that_o people_n the_o governor_n of_o that_o church_n have_v to_o serve_v their_o own_o secular_a end_n introduce_v into_o it_o sundry_a corrupt_a doctrine_n and_o practice_n which_o they_o fear_v the_o light_n of_o the_o scripture_n may_v detect_v to_o the_o people_n they_o think_v it_o most_o advisable_v not_o to_o translate_v it_o into_o the_o new_a vulgar_a but_o to_o let_v it_o remain_v lock_v up_o from_o their_o cognizance_n in_o the_o old_a latin_a which_o by_o this_o time_n very_o few_o except_o the_o clergy_n understand_v and_o when_o for_o some_o time_n it_o have_v lie_v hide_v from_o they_o in_o a_o unknown_a tongue_n they_o proceed_v at_o last_o whole_o to_o forbid_v the_o use_n of_o it_o to_o the_o 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a_o licence_n in_o write_v from_o the_o bishop_n of_o the_o diocese_n or_o the_o inquisitor_n and_o this_o upon_o pain_n of_o not_o receive_v absolution_n of_o their_o sin_n unless_o they_o deliver_v up_o those_o their_o bibles_n to_o their_o ordinary_n to_o which_o rule_n pope_n clement_n the_o eight_o afterward_o add_v this_o observation_n that_o hitherto_o by_o the_o command_n and_o practice_n of_o the_o holy_a roman_a and_o universal_a inquisition_n the_o faculty_n of_o grant_v such_o licence_n for_o read_v or_o keep_v bibles_n in_o the_o vulgar_a tongue_n or_o any_o summary_n or_o historical_a compendium_n of_o the_o say_v bibles_n be_v take_v away_o which_o be_v to_o be_v inviolable_o observe_v and_o in_o the_o index_n of_o prohibit_v book_n publish_v by_o pope_n alexander_n the_o seven_o not_o only_o those_o bibles_n that_o be_v translate_v and_o print_v by_o heretic_n but_o also_o all_o bibles_n in_o any_o vulgar_a tongue_n be_v absolute_o forbid_v and_o though_o where_o the_o reformation_n have_v prevail_v they_o be_v force_v against_o their_o own_o law_n more_o free_o to_o indulge_v the_o use_n of_o the_o scripture_n to_o their_o people_n yet_o in_o those_o country_n where_o they_o be_v sole_a master_n this_o privilege_n be_v very_o rare_o grant_v and_o now_o be_v thus_o necessitate_v to_o deprive_v the_o people_n of_o the_o light_n of_o the_o scripture_n lest_o they_o shall_v thereby_o discover_v their_o error_n and_o corruption_n it_o be_v necessary_a for_o they_o to_o invent_v some_o plausible_a pretence_n to_o justify_v a_o practice_n so_o contrary_a both_o to_o scripture_n and_o primitive_a antiquity_n and_o so_o enormous_o derogatory_n to_o the_o common_a right_n of_o christian_n and_o when_o it_o must_v be_v do_v it_o be_v a_o very_a hard_a case_n if_o man_n of_o wit_n and_o learning_n can_v find_v something_o to_o say_v for_o any_o thing_n now_o the_o two_o main_a pretence_n that_o be_v urge_v in_o this_o case_n be_v first_o that_o a_o general_a permission_n of_o the_o use_n of_o scripture_n to_o the_o people_n must_v necessary_o open_v a_o wide_a door_n to_o error_n and_o heresy_n second_o that_o it_o will_v prove_v a_o unavoidable_a occasion_n of_o great_a corruption_n in_o manner_n 1._o that_o a_o general_a permission_n of_o the_o use_n of_o scripture_n to_o the_o people_n must_v necessary_o open_v a_o wide_a door_n to_o error_n and_o heresy_n because_o there_o be_v many_o thing_n in_o scripture_n which_o be_v hard_a to_o be_v understand_v and_o which_o the_o unlearned_a who_o be_v unqualify_v to_o understand_v they_o aright_o will_v be_v apt_a to_o wrest_v into_o a_o wrong_a sense_n to_o their_o own_o destruction_n to_o which_o i_o answer_v 1._o that_o this_o reason_n hold_v as_o good_a against_o the_o writing_n and_o publish_v the_o scripture_n at_o first_o in_o language_n that_o be_v vulgar_o know_v to_o the_o people_n as_o against_o the_o translate_n they_o now_o into_o the_o vulgar_a language_n for_o the_o hebrew_n 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this_o objection_n pretend_v it_o be_v doubtless_o very_o unadvised_o do_v of_o god_n to_o publish_v such_o a_o dangerous_a book_n to_o the_o world_n which_o those_o for_o who_o he_o publish_v and_o to_o who_o he_o direct_v it_o can_v familiar_o converse_v with_o without_o eminent_a peril_n of_o be_v infect_v with_o heresy_n and_o if_o the_o scripture_n be_v such_o a_o quarrelsome_a knife_n as_o these_o man_n say_v it_o be_v that_o the_o people_n can_v hardly_o touch_v it_o without_o cut_v their_o finger_n they_o be_v certain_o more_o behold_v to_o the_o church_n for_o take_v it_o from_o they_o than_o they_o be_v to_o god_n for_o bestow_v it_o on_o they_o 3._o this_o objection_n make_v as_o much_o at_o least_o against_o the_o priest_n read_v the_o scripture_n as_o the_o people_n for_o most_o of_o those_o heresy_n that_o have_v be_v broach_v to_o the_o people_n be_v first_o
be_v so_o accidental_o i_o will_v fain_o know_v what_o mean_v of_o instruction_n be_v there_o which_o may_v not_o accidental_o become_v a_o occasion_n of_o mislead_v man_n into_o heresy_n and_o therefore_o if_o this_o be_v a_o sufficient_a reason_n to_o deprive_v man_n of_o scripture_n it_o be_v sufficient_a to_o deprive_v they_o of_o all_o other_o mean_v of_o instruction_n and_o see_v the_o knowledge_n of_o religion_n be_v the_o food_n of_o man_n soul_n to_o keep_v they_o in_o ignorance_n for_o fear_n they_o shall_v err_v be_v to_o deny_v they_o food_n for_o fear_v they_o shall_v surfeit_v there_o be_v no_o doubt_n but_o man_n who_o mind_n be_v tincture_v with_o heretical_a pravity_n will_v be_v apt_a enough_o to_o extract_v the_o poison_n of_o error_n out_o of_o the_o clear_a conveyance_n and_o discovery_n of_o truth_n but_o what_o then_o do_v not_o bad_a man_n ordinary_o apply_v the_o best_a thing_n to_o the_o worst_a purpose_n if_o man_n fall_v into_o heresy_n by_o read_v the_o scripture_n where_o lie_v the_o fault_n not_o in_o the_o scripture_n sure_a no_o christian_n will_v pretend_v that_o and_o if_o it_o be_v in_o themselves_o in_o their_o pride_n or_o vainglory_n or_o covetousness_n or_o sensuality_n as_o it_o be_v demonstrable_a it_o be_v be_v it_o just_a that_o all_o shall_v be_v deprive_v of_o it_o because_o some_o ill_a man_n have_v make_v a_o ill_a use_n of_o it_o some_o man_n have_v surfeit_v by_o eat_v and_o drink_v be_v it_o just_a that_o all_o mankind_n therefore_o shall_v be_v deprive_v of_o meat_n and_o drink_v suppose_v a_o prince_n pretend_v to_o be_v a_o infallible_a geographer_n shall_v issue_v out_o a_o proclamation_n command_v all_o his_o subject_n to_o travel_v at_o midnight_n and_o shall_v assign_v this_o as_o the_o reason_n of_o it_o that_o he_o have_v be_v certain_o inform_v that_o several_a of_o they_o have_v lose_v their_o way_n at_o noon_n and_o wander_v into_o bog_n and_o precipice_n by_o the_o light_n of_o the_o sun_n will_v any_o one_o imagine_v this_o to_o be_v the_o true_a reason_n or_o rather_o will_v not_o every_o one_o believe_v that_o his_o true_a design_n be_v to_o keep_v his_o people_n in_o ignorance_n of_o the_o road_n and_o situation_n of_o his_o country_n that_o so_o they_o may_v never_o be_v able_a to_o discover_v the_o error_n of_o his_o map_n which_o will_v perhaps_o discover_v he_o to_o be_v not_o only_o a_o fallible_a geographer_n but_o also_o a_o very_a erroneous_a one_o and_o where_o the_o people_n be_v forbid_v travel_v in_o the_o light_n of_o the_o scripture_n whatever_o may_v be_v pretend_v wise_a man_n will_v believe_v that_o the_o true_a reason_n be_v not_o to_o prevent_v the_o people_n fall_v into_o error_n but_o to_o prevent_v the_o discover_v the_o error_n of_o those_o to_o who_o guidance_n and_o direction_n they_o be_v whole_o and_o sole_o subject_v and_o this_o i_o conceive_v be_v a_o sufficient_a answer_n to_o the_o first_o objection_n viz._n that_o the_o allowance_n of_o the_o scripture_n to_o the_o people_n be_v a_o dangerous_a inlet_n of_o error_n and_o heresy_n i_o proceed_v therefore_o to_o the_o second_o which_o be_v this_o object_n 2._o that_o there_o be_v many_o thing_n record_v in_o scripture_n which_o be_v very_o apt_a to_o suggest_v lewd_a thought_n to_o the_o people_n and_o thereby_o to_o corrupt_v their_o manner_n as_o particular_o the_o many_o bad_a example_n therein_o relate_v which_o be_v of_o a_o very_a contagious_a nature_n and_o consequent_o dangerous_a for_o the_o people_n to_o converse_v with_o in_o answer_n to_o which_o i_o desire_v these_o four_o thing_n may_v be_v serious_o consider_v 1._o that_o this_o objection_n strike_v as_o much_o against_o the_o scripture_n itself_o as_o against_o the_o people_n read_v it_o for_o what_o worse_a thing_n can_v be_v say_v of_o the_o scripture_n than_o this_o that_o it_o be_v such_o a_o infectious_a book_n so_o apt_a to_o excite_v impure_a thought_n in_o man_n mind_n and_o to_o kindle_v lewd_a affection_n in_o their_o heart_n that_o it_o be_v by_o no_o mean_n fit_v the_o people_n shall_v read_v it_o shall_v this_o be_v say_v to_o a_o turk_n or_o a_o heathen_a who_o have_v never_o read_v one_o word_n in_o the_o bible_n he_o will_v certain_o conclude_v it_o to_o be_v nothing_o but_o a_o canto_n of_o ribbaldry_n write_v for_o no_o other_o end_v but_o to_o provoke_v and_o entertain_v the_o lascivious_a inclination_n of_o mankind_n and_o certain_o have_v our_o objector_n but_o as_o much_o reverence_n for_o this_o holy_a book_n as_o they_o pretend_v they_o will_v rather_o oblige_v their_o people_n to_o read_v it_o than_o withhold_v it_o from_o they_o upon_o a_o pretence_n that_o do_v so_o scandalous_o reflect_v upon_o its_o reputation_n if_o there_o be_v any_o such_o passage_n in_o scripture_n as_o be_v apt_a to_o start_v lewd_a thought_n in_o man_n mind_n the_o utmost_a that_o can_v be_v fair_o pretend_v be_v that_o those_o passage_n ought_v to_o have_v be_v leave_v out_o of_o 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be_v understand_v and_o such_o as_o do_v not_o only_o exceed_v the_o apprehension_n of_o common_a capacity_n but_o also_o puzzle_v the_o understanding_n of_o the_o most_o acute_a and_o profound_a enquirer_n but_o that_o which_o i_o assert_v be_v this_o that_o all_o those_o doctrine_n of_o faith_n and_o rule_n of_o manner_n which_o be_v necessary_a for_o man_n to_o believe_v and_o practice_v in_o order_n to_o their_o attainment_n of_o eternal_a life_n be_v so_o plain_o and_o clear_o reveal_v in_o scripture_n that_o there_o be_v no_o honest_a teachable_a mind_n that_o be_v capable_a of_o understand_v common_a sense_n but_o may_v from_o thence_o receive_v full_a information_n of_o they_o upon_o faithful_a and_o diligent_a enquiry_n and_o though_o in_o some_o text_n these_o necessary_n be_v not_o so_o plain_o propose_v as_o in_o other_o yet_o in_o some_o text_n or_o other_o they_o be_v all_o of_o they_o so_o plain_o propose_v that_o no_o man_n can_v read_v the_o scripture_n and_o still_o be_v ignorant_a of_o they_o without_o be_v wilful_o blind_a for_o which_o there_o be_v no_o remedy_n either_o in_o the_o scripture_n or_o out_o of_o it_o and_o this_o i_o shall_v endeavour_v to_o prove_v 1._o from_o the_o express_a testimony_n of_o scripture_n 2._o from_o the_o avow_a design_n of_o write_v the_o scripture_n 3._o from_o the_o frequent_a command_v god_n lay_v upon_o we_o to_o read_v the_o scripture_n 4._o from_o the_o obligation_n that_o lie_v upon_o we_o under_o pain_n of_o damnation_n to_o believe_v and_o receive_v all_o those_o necessary_n to_o salvation_n contain_v in_o it_o 1._o from_o the_o express_a testimony_n of_o scripture_n it_o be_v evident_a that_o in_o all_o thing_n necessary_a to_o salvation_n at_o least_o the_o scripture_n be_v clear_a and_o pla●n_a for_o to_o be_v sure_a if_o in_o any_o thing_n the_o scripture_n be_v plain_a it_o be_v in_o those_o thing_n that_o be_v most_o necessary_a to_o be_v believe_v and_o know_v and_o therefore_o if_o it_o be_v obscure_a in_o these_o thing_n we_o may_v reasonable_o presume_v it_o be_v plain_a in_o nothing_o but_o that_o it_o be_v in_o many_o thing_n plain_a and_o easy_a to_o be_v understand_v be_v evident_a from_o its_o own_o testimony_n for_o thus_o of_o the_o mosaic_a law_n it_o be_v express_o affirm_v by_o moses_n this_o commandment_n which_o i_o command_v thou_o this_o day_n it_o be_v not_o hide_v from_o thou_o neither_o be_v it_o far_o off_o deut._n 30._o 11._o where_o moses_n speak_v not_o only_o of_o the_o ten_o commandment_n which_o consist_v for_o the_o most_o part_n of_o law_n of_o nature_n be_v upon_o that_o account_n more_o easy_a to_o be_v understand_v but_o of_o all_o the_o commandment_n of_o moses_n in_o general_a whether_o ceremonial_a judicial_a or_o natural_a for_o so_o v_o 16._o this_o commandment_n we_o find_v contain_v as_o well_o the_o statute_n and_o judgement_n as_o the_o commandment_n of_o the_o law_n all_o which_o must_v take_v in_o the_o whole_a mosaic_a institution_n and_o according_o ps._n 119._o 105._o david_n call_v this_o word_n of_o god_n a_o lamp_n unto_o his_o foot_n and_o a_o light_n unto_o his_o path_n which_o how_o can_v it_o be_v if_o it_o do_v not_o burn_v clear_a enough_o to_o guide_v and_o direct_v he_o and_o if_o it_o do_v then_o to_o be_v sure_a it_o burn_v clear_a enough_o to_o direct_v he_o in_o those_o thing_n wherein_o it_o be_v most_o necessary_a for_o he_o to_o be_v direct_v again_o in_o the_o 19_o ps._n 7_o 8._o we_o be_v tell_v that_o the_o testimony_n of_o the_o lord_n be_v sure_a make_v wise_a the_o simple_a and_o that_o the_o commandment_n of_o the_o lord_n be_v pure_a enlighten_v the_o eye_n but_o how_o can_v any_o law_n make_v the_o simple_a wise_a or_o enlighten_v the_o eye_n of_o man_n unless_o it_o be_v so_o plain_o and_o clear_o deliver_v as_o that_o the_o simple_a may_v be_v capable_a of_o apprehend_v and_o the_o eye_n of_o man_n of_o discern_v the_o sense_n of_o it_o i_o know_v it_o be_v object_v by_o bellarmin_n that_o these_o word_n do_v only_o imply_v that_o this_o law_n indeed_o be_v understand_v do_v enlighten_v man_n eye_n and_o direct_v their_o practice_n but_o by_o no_o mean_n that_o it_o be_v plain_a and_o easy_a to_o be_v understand_v but_o this_o be_v a_o mere_a cavil_v for_o it_o be_v plain_a that_o it_o be_v by_o understand_v the_o law_n that_o the_o simple_a be_v make_v wise_a and_o the_o eye_n of_o man_n enlighten_v if_o therefore_o this_o law_n be_v so_o obscure_a in_o its_o self_n as_o that_o it_o can_v make_v itself_o understand_v by_o all_o that_o sincere_o inquire_v into_o it_o how_o be_v it_o possible_a that_o it_o shall_v make_v they_o wise_a or_o enlighten_v the_o eye_n of_o their_o mind_n but_o it_o be_v plain_a that_o the_o intent_n of_o those_o passage_n