Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	good_a	holy_a	scripture_n	3,042	5	5.5201	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A76698	The apostolical and true opinion concerning the Holy Trinity, revived and asserted partly by twelve arguments levied against the traditional and false opinion about the Godhead of the Holy Spirit. Partly by a confession of faith touching the Three Persons. Both which having been formerly set forth, were much altered and augmented, with explications of Scripture, and with reasons: and finally, with testimonies of the Fathers, and of others. All reprinted, anno 1653. By John Bidle, M.A. And now again with the life of the author prefixed, anno Dom. 1691.	Biddle, John, 1615-1662.; Irenaeus, Saint, Bishop of Lyon.	1691 (1691)	Wing B2868B; ESTC R211856	15,790	16

THE APOSTOLICAL And True Opinion concerning the HOLY TRINITY Revived and Asserted Partly by Twelve ARGUMENTS levied against the Traditional and False Opinion about the Godhead of the Holy Spirit Partly by a CONFESSION of FAITH touching the Three Persons Both which having been formerly set forth were much altered and augmented with Explications of Scripture and with Reasons And finally With TESTIMONIES of the FATHERS And of Others All Reprinted Anno 1653. By JOHN BIDLE M. A. And now again with the LIFE of the Author prefixed Anno Dom. 1691. A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE OF John Bidle M. A. Sometimes of Magd. Hall Oxon. THE intelligent and searching Reader finding in this Book under the Title of The Apostolical and true Opinion concerning the Holy Trinity Revived and Asserted c. several Explications of Holy Scripture and Testimonies out of the most ancient Christian Writers touching that great and momentous Doctrine much differing from the commonly-receiv'd Opinions of both Papists and Protestants of these later Ages will without doubt be desirous to know something of the Author's Life and Qualifications Let him please therefore to take this plain and short Account without those Embellishments which the Lives of eminent Men are deservedly adorned with but which my Abilities will not reach to Know then that the Author John Bidle was born at Wotton-under-hedg in the County of Gloucester in the Year of our Lord Christ 1615. His Father Edward Bidle was of a middle sort of Yeomen and also dealt in Woollen Clothes by which means he maintained his Family honestly and with credit suitable to his Rank or rather above it His Son John our Author was educated in the Free-School of that Town where his proficiency in the Learning there taught was soon taken notice of both by Neighbours and those more remote among whom my Lord Barkley as a Personage of the greatest Honour so great a lover and promoter of Learning is in the first place to be remembred Who in respect to the early Blossoms of a rare Wit great Probity and Ingenuity in our young Scholar conferr'd upon him the exhibition of ten Pounds per Annum among other the poorer Scholars although by his Age being not of ten Years he was not qualified according to common Method for that Donation And this Favour it seems added greater Vigour and Industry to the Youth's Studies for after this he did not only with ease surpass those his School-fellows of the same Rank but in Time even out-run his Instructions and became Tutor to himself so overcoming both the Labours of his Task and those Difficulties he met with in his Course However the want of fit Teaching on the one hand and the benefit of that Exhibition on the other or perhaps the want of fit Provisions for a Student in the University detain'd him longer in that School than was otherwise for his Improvement for here he continued till he was about Seventeen Years of Age. In this Time he gave some Specimens of his pregnant both Wit and Judgment in the Translation of Virgil's Bucolicks and the two first Satyrs of Juvenal into elegant English Verse afterward publish'd in print with approbation of Learned Men. He composed also and recited before a full Auditory an elaborate Oration in Latin for a gracing to the Funeral of an honourable School-fellow Yea even in these younger Years was observed in him a singular piety of Mind and contempt of secular Affairs Whence it came that he applied himself to the study of Vertue together with the Liberal Arts and with great diligence gave dutiful Assistance to his Mother become a Widow by the Death of his Father From hence he was sent to the University of Oxford and was admitted a Student in Magdalen-Hall there where in due time he proceeded Master of Arts with good applause and was reckon'd among those of his rank that did in an especial manner commend the Learning of that Academy Here he did so Philosophize as it might be observed he was determined more by Reason than Authority however in Divine Things he did not much dissent from the common Doctrine as may be collected from a little Tract he wrote against Dancing But the fame of his Learning and Prudence in instructing Pupils there having conciliated to him the Esteem of Persons of Quality and more particularly of the Overseers of the School of Wootton he was chosen by them to succeed in the Mastership thereof which he may seem to have as wisely as modestly refused but did in the mean time commend to them another fit Person whom they accepted of This refusal gave opportunity to the Magistrates of Gloucester upon ample Recommendations of the principal Persons in the University to chuse and importune him to be Master of the Free-School of Crisps in that City which he consented to and at his approach thither was met and received by them with much Joy and Honour Anno 1641. Neither did he deceive their Expectations nor come short of the Character had been given of him whilst he discharged that Imployment with such skil and faithfulness that they thought themselves not a little happy in that behalf who could commit their Sons to his Instruction Whence it came to pass that not so much by the Salary which is not great but by the Gratuities of Parents he reap'd considerable Profits But Money did not infect his Mind with the love of it his Mind was set upon the Knowledg of Divine Truth and that not for Curiosity but for the Love of Christ who is Truth and Life And having laid aside the Impediments of Prejudice he gave himself liberty to try all things that he might hold fast that which is good Thus diligently reading the Holy Scripture for Socinian Books he had read none and fervently imploring Divine Illumination he perceiv'd the common Doctrin concerning the Holy Trinity was not well grounded in Revelation much less in Reason And being as generous in speaking as free in judging he did as occasion offered discover his Reasons of questioning it Which some Zealots not being able to bear they accus'd him to the Magistrates of Heresy in that Point before whom he exhibited in Writing this Confession May 2 1644. 1. I believe there is but one Infinite and Almighty Essence called God 2. I believe that as there is but one Infinite and Almighty Essence so there is but one Person in that Essence 3. I believe that our Saviour Jesus Christ is truly God by being truly really and properly united to the only Person of the Infinite and Almighty Essence But when this did not satisfy the Magistrates but they did still press upon him to acknowledg three Persons in the Divine Essence and he it seems knowing that the word Persons when ascribed to God is taken both by the Ancient Fathers and by Modern Writers in various Significations did about fourteen days after confess that that there are three in that one Divine Essence commonly termed Persons By this