Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	church_n	scripture_n	write_v	5,125	5	5.8373	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A66429	The truth of the Holy Scriptures a sermon preached at St. Martin's in the Fields, April 1, 1695 : being the fourth of the lecture for this present year, founded by the Honourable Robert Boyle, Esquire / by John Williams ...	Williams, John, 1636?-1709.	1695 (1695)	Wing W2736; ESTC R7718	13,649	37

d_o r_o williams's_fw-fr four_o sermon_n at_o mr._n boyle_n lecture_n 1695._o imprimatur_fw-la april_n 1._o 1695._o guil._n lancaster_n the_o truth_n of_o the_o holy_a scripture_n a_o sermon_n preach_v at_o st._n martin_n in_o the_o field_n april_n 1._o 1695._o be_v the_o four_o of_o the_o lecture_n for_o this_o present_a year_n found_v by_o the_o honourable_a robert_n boyle_n esquire_n by_o john_n williams_z d._n d._n chaplain_n in_o ordinary_a to_o his_o majesty_n london_n print_v for_o ri._n chiswell_n and_o tho._n cockerill_n sen_n r_o &_o jun_n r_o at_o the_o rose_n and_o crown_n in_o st._n paul_n churchyard_n and_o at_o the_o three_o leg_n in_o the_o poultry_n m_o dcxc_o v._n heb._n i._n 1_o 2._o god_n who_o at_o sundry_a time_n and_o in_o divers_a manner_n speak_v in_o time_n pass_v unto_o the_o father_n by_o the_o prophet_n have_v in_o these_o last_o day_n speak_v unto_o we_o by_o his_o son_n etc._n etc._n in_o these_o word_n there_o be_v contain_v as_o i_o have_v before_o show_v 1._o a_o description_n of_o revelation_n it_o be_v god_n speak_v 2._o the_o certainty_n of_o it_o it_o be_v by_o way_n of_o declaration_n god_n who_o at_o sundry_a time_n etc._n etc._n 3._o the_o order_n observe_v in_o deliver_v this_o revelation_n it_o be_v at_o sundry_a time_n etc._n etc._n 4._o the_o perfection_n and_o conclusion_n of_o all_o it_o be_v in_o these_o last_o day_n by_o his_o son_n under_o the_o second_o i_o have_v show_v 1._o that_o god_n have_v actual_o reveal_v his_o will_n at_o sundry_a time_n and_o in_o divers_a manner_n 2._o what_o be_v the_o character_n of_o true_a revelation_n 3._o i_o be_o now_o in_o order_n to_o prove_v that_o the_o scripture_n of_o the_o old_a and_o new_a testament_n do_v contain_v the_o matter_n of_o divine_a revelation_n and_o have_v upon_o they_o the_o character_n belong_v to_o it_o for_o the_o better_a dispose_n of_o what_o i_o have_v to_o say_v under_o this_o head_n of_o discourse_n i_o shall_v observe_v 1._o it_o be_v one_o thing_n to_o assert_v and_o prove_v the_o matter_n of_o scripture_n to_o be_v true_a and_o another_o to_o prove_v it_o to_o be_v of_o divine_a revelation_n 2._o it_o be_v one_o thing_n to_o prove_v the_o matter_n of_o scripture_n to_o be_v of_o divine_a revelation_n and_o another_o to_o prove_v these_o book_n to_o be_v of_o divine_a inspiration_n 3._o it_o be_v one_o thing_n to_o assert_v that_o there_o be_v once_o such_o book_n so_o inspire_v and_o another_o thing_n to_o prove_v this_o set_a of_o book_n which_o now_o make_v up_o and_o compose_v the_o canon_n of_o the_o old_a and_o new_a testament_n to_o be_v those_o very_a book_n from_o hence_o arise_v four_o question_n viz._n quest_n 1._o how_o we_o can_v prove_v the_o matter_n of_o scripture_n to_o be_v true_a q._n 2._o how_o we_o can_v prove_v the_o matter_n of_o scripture_n to_o be_v of_o divine_a revelation_n book_n of_o mere_a human_a composition_n may_v contain_v nothing_o but_o truth_n without_o any_o supernatural_a assistance_n and_o therefore_o though_o we_o be_v never_o so_o well_o able_a to_o maintain_v and_o prove_v the_o truth_n of_o the_o matter_n that_o be_v not_o sufficient_a unless_o we_o can_v advance_v high_o and_o prove_v the_o authority_n and_o divinity_n of_o the_o matter_n q._n 3._o how_o we_o can_v prove_v those_o book_n to_o be_v of_o divine_a inspiration_n the_o epistle_n of_o clemens_n romanus_n be_v sometime_o read_v in_o the_o church_n as_o the_o apocrypha_fw-la ancient_o be_v and_o be_v now_o with_o we_o because_o of_o the_o excellency_n and_o profitableness_n of_o the_o matter_n but_o yet_o it_o be_v not_o esteem_v to_o be_v canonical_a and_o of_o immediate_a inspiration_n from_o god_n q_n 4._o how_o we_o prove_v these_o book_n that_o be_v now_o extant_a and_o receive_v by_o the_o christian_a church_n as_o canonical_a to_o be_v those_o book_n which_o be_v once_o in_o time_n past_o write_v by_o inspiration_n from_o god_n it_o will_v be_v of_o some_o use_n to_o we_o in_o 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of_o ability_n impartiality_n and_o care_n so_o that_o if_o after_o all_o that_o be_v to_o be_v suspect_v nothing_o of_o that_o kind_n be_v certain_a and_o we_o call_v in_o question_n all_o matter_n of_o the_o like_a nature_n whatsoever_o but_o this_o be_v further_a to_o be_v inquire_v into_o now_o of_o this_o kind_n there_o be_v some_o thing_n to_o be_v find_v only_o in_o scripture_n and_o no_o where_o else_o in_o which_o case_n we_o have_v no_o other_o way_n to_o judge_v of_o the_o truth_n of_o it_o than_o by_o the_o credibility_n of_o the_o matter_n the_o self-agreement_n its_o concordance_n with_o time_n place_n and_o other_o circumstance_n of_o action_n together_o with_o the_o credit_n and_o reputation_n of_o the_o penman_n of_o it_o but_o there_o be_v other_o thing_n which_o fall_v in_o with_o other_o write_n and_o then_o beside_o the_o former_a way_n of_o trial_n we_o be_v to_o have_v recourse_n to_o such_o book_n to_o compare_v they_o and_o determine_v concern_v the_o truth_n 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as_o the_o nature_n of_o the_o thing_n will_v bear_v and_o admit_v we_o have_v as_o much_o as_o be_v reasonable_a in_o itself_o and_o sufficient_a to_o ground_v a_o certainty_n upon_o for_o according_a as_o the_o nature_n of_o the_o thing_n be_v and_o the_o ground_n upon_o which_o its_o proof_n and_o evidence_n depend_v such_o be_v the_o certainty_n and_o as_o in_o thing_n mathematical_a demonstration_n be_v the_o proof_n and_o in_o thing_n natural_a and_o sensible_a sense_n be_v the_o proof_n and_o in_o thing_n rational_a and_o moral_a reason_n and_o argument_n be_v the_o proof_n so_o in_o matter_n of_o fact_n where_o we_o ourselves_o be_v not_o present_a testimony_n and_o record_n be_v the_o proof_n though_o for_o a_o further_a confirmation_n of_o it_o there_o be_v the_o collateral_a proof_n of_o moral_a evidence_n viz._n the_o credibility_n of_o the_o matter_n

and_o the_o person_n into_o who_o testimony_n and_o veracity_n the_o matter_n be_v final_o resolve_v and_o beyond_o this_o we_o can_v go_v in_o the_o evidence_n for_o the_o truth_n of_o the_o matter_n of_o fact_n and_o consequent_o if_o we_o have_v this_o evidence_n we_o have_v as_o great_a a_o certainty_n in_o thing_n of_o this_o nature_n as_o demonstration_n be_v in_o thing_n mathematical_a and_o sense_n in_o thing_n sensible_a i_o say_v beyond_o this_o we_o can_v go_v unless_o we_o advance_v to_o supernatural_a evidence_n but_o that_o belong_v not_o to_o this_o place_n so_o that_o here_o we_o have_v no_o reason_n to_o doubt_v and_o where_o there_o be_v no_o reason_n to_o doubt_v there_o be_v certainty_n and_o if_o we_o can_v be_v certain_a of_o any_o thing_n we_o ourselves_o have_v not_o see_v or_o be_v present_a at_o we_o may_v be_v certain_a of_o what_o be_v record_v in_o the_o scripture_n since_o there_o be_v no_o evidence_n for_o any_o thing_n of_o that_o kind_n which_o we_o 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the_o fable_n of_o poet_n or_o the_o legend_n of_o the_o most_o superstitious_a and_o credulous_a age_n of_o the_o world_n and_o with_o all_o our_o history_n though_o never_o so_o fame_v and_o common_o receive_v we_o be_v in_o no_o better_a a_o condition_n than_o if_o varro_n fabulous_a and_o obscure_a age_n have_v be_v continue_v and_o all_o the_o age_n be_v now_o this_o day_n what_o it_o be_v before_o the_o olympiad_n wrap_v up_o in_o invention_n and_o conjecture_n but_o if_o there_o be_v any_o credit_n to_o be_v give_v to_o such_o memorial_n and_o that_o we_o read_v approve_v history_n with_o another_o sort_n of_o appetite_n and_o assurance_n than_o we_o do_v fable_n and_o that_o we_o read_v lucan_n a_o poetical_a historian_n with_o another_o sort_n of_o relish_n than_o ovid_n metamorphosis_n then_o the_o like_a credit_n be_v to_o be_v give_v to_o the_o scripture_n as_o to_o any_o and_o so_o much_o the_o more_o as_o the_o evidence_n proper_a to_o its_o kind_n be_v beyond_o the_o evidence_n we_o have_v for_o any_o other_o write_n whatsoever_o and_o this_o i_o shall_v undertake_v and_o prosecute_v by_o prove_v 1._o that_o the_o scripture_n have_v sufficient_a evidence_n of_o that_o kind_n to_o ground_n a_o certainty_n upon_o 2._o that_o it_o have_v all_o the_o evidence_n that_o any_o write_n or_o matter_n of_o this_o kind_n have_v and_o more_o in_o order_n to_o which_o it_o may_v well_o serve_v as_o a_o introduction_n to_o what_o be_v to_o follow_v brief_o to_o reflect_v upon_o the_o writer_n themselves_o and_o their_o qualification_n upon_o who_o credit_n and_o authority_n there_o must_v be_v confess_o sometime_o a_o absolute_a reliance_n since_o the_o relator_n of_o matter_n of_o fact_n profess_v not_o to_o write_v out_o of_o their_o own_o head_n but_o to_o receive_v what_o they_o write_v from_o a_o constant_a and_o uninterrupted_a tradition_n or_o to_o collect_v from_o the_o best_a record_n and_o memorial_n or_o to_o set_v down_o what_o be_v of_o their_o own_o knowledge_n and_o observation_n and_o therefore_o the_o reputation_n of_o their_o report_n and_o narrative_n do_v very_o much_o depend_v upon_o their_o skill_n and_o judgement_n that_o they_o be_v not_o abuse_v by_o false_a information_n and_o upon_o their_o honesty_n and_o integrity_n in_o not_o put_v abuse_n upon_o the_o world_n as_o for_o the_o way_n of_o information_n there_o be_v nothing_o of_o that_o kind_n want_v in_o the_o sacred_a penman_n for_o the_o first_o writer_n moses_n live_v so_o near_o upon_o the_o traditionary_a age_n and_o the_o thing_n he_o write_v of_o be_v of_o such_o a_o nature_n as_o may_v well_o be_v suppose_v to_o be_v deliver_v down_o without_o any_o difficulty_n from_o progenitor_n to_o posterity_n have_v there_o be_v no_o other_o mean_n of_o conveyance_n and_o especial_o as_o have_v be_v before_o suggest_v sermon_n ii_o if_o we_o consider_v the_o few_o hand_n they_o be_v to_o pass_v through_o when_o at_o the_o most_o eight_o person_n only_o in_o succession_n continue_v the_o line_n of_o above_o two_o thousand_o five_o hundred_o year_n from_o the_o deluge_n to_o the_o time_n of_o moses_n and_o that_o the_o matter_n be_v snch_n as_o all_o those_o hold_v themselves_o concern_v to_o deliver_v they_o down_o as_o they_o have_v receive_v they_o forasmuch_o as_o all_o the_o prophecy_n they_o have_v receive_v which_o concern_v the_o good_a of_o mankind_n and_o of_o their_o posterity_n depend_v upon_o the_o careful_a and_o faithful_a preservation_n of_o these_o memorial_n both_o as_o to_o time_n and_o pedigree_n as_o well_o as_o the_o matter_n which_o the_o series_n of_o time_n and_o descent_n be_v to_o be_v the_o great_a supporter_n of_o from_o hence_o it_o be_v afterward_o that_o these_o chronological_a table_n and_o genealogical_a roll_n be_v in_o all_o time_n exact_o keep_v and_o which_o upon_o occasion_n they_o may_v have_v recourse_n to_o and_o that_o there_o be_v annal_n in_o future_a age_n that_o be_v look_v upon_o as_o sacred_a 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report_n of_o and_o what_o have_v be_v do_v with_o so_o much_o faithfulness_n impartiality_n and_o judgement_n as_o their_o composer_n testify_v that_o even_o that_o what_o tend_v to_o the_o disparagement_n of_o their_o nation_n and_o ancestor_n their_o family_n and_o person_n be_v not_o conceal_v when_o it_o may_v tend_v to_o the_o glory_n of_o god_n the_o reason_n of_o the_o divine_a proceed_n towards_o they_o or_o the_o give_v any_o life_n to_o the_o matter_n they_o relate_v a_o practice_n rare_o to_o be_v observe_v in_o other_o author_n and_o when_o it_o be_v do_v give_v credit_n to_o what_o they_o report_v but_o the_o chief_a thing_n be_v the_o credibility_n of_o the_o matter_n which_o i_o shall_v now_o proceed_v to_o 1._o the_o credibility_n of_o the_o matter_n which_o be_v a_o stand_a character_n that_o we_o be_v to_o judge_v of_o the_o truth_n of_o a_o relation_n by_o but_o then_o we_o must_v judge_v aright_o concern_v the_o credibility_n of_o it_o for_o that_o at_o first_o sight_n may_v seem_v to_o be_v incredible_a which_o upon_o far_a consideration_n and_o examination_n may_v prove_v to_o be_v credible_a as_o st._n paul_n say_v to_o agrippa_n act_v ●6_n 8._o why_o shall_v it_o be_v think_v a_o thing_n incredible_a with_o you_o that_o god_n shall_v raise_v the_o dead_a it_o may_v seem_v a_o thing_n incredible_a at_o the_o first_o proposal_n as_o it_o do_v to_o the_o athenian_n act_n 17._o 32._o but_o the_o apostle_n state_n the_o case_n right_a 1_o cor._n 15._o 35._o in_o answer_n to_o that_o question_n some_o man_n will_v say_v how_o be_v the_o dead_a raise_v up_o and_o with_o what_o body_n do_v they_o come_v thou_o fool_n that_o which_o thou_o sowe_v be_v not_o quicken_v except_o it_o die_v and_o that_o which_o thou_o sowe_v thou_o sowe_v not_o that_o body_n that_o

to_o the_o relation_n themselves_o or_o the_o manner_n and_o circumstance_n of_o they_o but_o what_o shall_v no_o more_o prejudice_v we_o against_o the_o truth_n and_o certainty_n of_o the_o thing_n relate_v and_o much_o less_o of_o the_o whole_a than_o the_o difficulty_n of_o divine_a providence_n shall_v warrant_v we_o to_o deny_v it_o and_o for_o want_v of_o not_o understand_v some_o of_o its_o operation_n or_o event_n we_o shall_v take_v encouragement_n to_o deny_v what_o we_o do_v understand_v it_o be_v a_o excellent_a say_v of_o st._n austin_n de_fw-fr doctrina_fw-la l._n 4._o c._n 6._o speak_v of_o the_o divine_a writer_n where_o i_o do_v understand_v they_o there_o be_v nothing_o seem_v to_o i_o more_o wise_o or_o more_o eloquent_o express_v but_o where_o i_o do_v not_o understand_v they_o there_o to_o i_o appear_v less_o of_o their_o eloquence_n but_o yet_o i_o do_v not_o doubt_v it_o to_o be_v such_o as_o it_o be_v where_o i_o understand_v it_o we_o ought_v rather_o to_o 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chief_a arbiter_n and_o director_n of_o all_o and_o if_o there_o shall_v be_v find_v in_o his_o book_n any_o literal_a error_n one_o name_n put_v for_o another_o or_o a_o different_a read_n of_o the_o same_o name_n we_o can_v in_o reason_n judge_v it_o to_o be_v a_o oversight_n of_o so_o sufficient_a and_o so_o careful_a a_o writer_n but_o that_o it_o may_v proceed_v from_o some_o one_o that_o transcribe_v it_o after_o the_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d or_o original_a copy_n in_o some_o successive_a generation_n and_o which_o in_o reason_n it_o be_v impossible_a whole_o to_o prevent_v it_o be_v not_o here_o necessary_a for_o i_o to_o enter_v upon_o a_o debate_n how_o far_o the_o providence_n of_o god_n do_v herein_o concern_v itself_o in_o preserve_v the_o text_n free_a from_o all_o corruption_n i_o be_o now_o treat_v upon_o this_o argument_n human_o speak_v and_o of_o the_o truth_n of_o