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book_n hear_v word_n write_v 3,062 5 5.4531 4 true
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A09277 VindiciƦ gratiƦ. = A plea for grace More especially the grace of faith. Or, certain lectures as touching the nature and properties of grace and faith: wherein, amongst other matters of great use, the maine sinews of Arminius doctrine are cut asunder. Delivered by that late learned and godly man William Pemble, in Magdalen Hall in Oxford. Pemble, William, 1592?-1623.; Capel, Richard, 1586-1656. 1627 (1627) STC 19591; ESTC S114374 222,244 312

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be_v assure_v that_o a_o heart_n surcharge_v with_o covetous_a desire_n ambitious_a thought_n voluptuous_a unclean_a and_o impure_a affection_n be_v far_o un_fw-we fit_n for_o the_o study_n and_o meditation_n of_o these_o sacred_a write_n and_o shall_v never_o attain_v to_o the_o save_a understanding_n thereof_o again_o be_v humble_a and_o not_o proud_a sober_a and_o not_o curious_a neglect_v no_o help_n of_o nature_n or_o art_n that_o may_v be_v get_v nor_o rely_v too_o much_o upon_o either_o as_o foolish_a anabaptist_n do_v on_o the_o one_o side_n and_o presumptuous_a wit_n on_o the_o other_o who_o stock_n will_v soon_o decay_v study_v to_o obey_v not_o to_o dispute_v turn_v not_o conscience_n into_o question_n and_o controversy_n lest_o whilst_o thou_o be_v resolve_v what_o to_o do_v thou_o do_v just_o nothing_o draw_v not_o all_o to_o reason_n leave_v something_o for_o faith_n where_o thou_o can_v not_o find_v the_o bottom_n admire_v the_o depth_n kiss_v the_o book_n and_o lay_v 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teach_v and_o which_o be_v strange_a the_o very_a principle_n of_o the_o word_n of_o god_n notorious_a truant_n grow_v old_a in_o ignorance_n and_o age_n but_o our_o apostle_n be_v plain_a with_o they_o they_o be_v but_o child_n and_o of_o the_o young_a size_n too_o babe_n infant_n suckling_n and_o if_o they_o take_v snuff_n to_o be_v thus_o disgrace_v he_o will_v prove_v it_o to_o be_v so_o like_o a_o wise_a nurse_n he_o know_v what_o fit_v their_o diet_n they_o must_v be_v feed_v with_o milk_n and_o that_o be_v child_n food_n i._n e._n plain_a and_o easy_a doctrine_n for_o vongue_n beginner_n who_o be_v unexpert_a in_o the_o word_n of_o righteousness_n not_o with_o strong_a meat_n of_o hard_a and_o high_a mystery_n of_o religion_n which_o be_v for_o man_n of_o age_n which_o through_o long_a custom_n have_v their_o wit_n exercise_v to_o discern_v both_o good_a
will_v also_o evident_o appear_v to_o he_o that_o shall_v but_o a_o little_a survey_n the_o write_n of_o philosopher_n both_o those_o that_o be_v extant_a in_o whole_a or_o in_o part_n and_o such_o who_o title_n only_o we_o have_v remain_v record_v by_o those_o that_o have_v write_v their_o life_n for_o among_o so_o many_o hundred_o volume_n write_v by_o the_o ancient_n how_o few_o or_o none_o almost_o shall_v we_o find_v touch_v the_o matter_n of_o religion_n those_o great_a scribbler_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d as_o chrysippus_n be_v call_v who_o leave_v no_o part_n of_o logic_n oratory_n mathematics_n morality_n policy_n and_o nature_n itself_o unattempted_a but_o with_o a_o curious_a and_o inquisitive_a eye_n pry_v into_o the_o small_a matter_n yet_o in_o those_o high_a speculation_n concern_v the_o nature_n of_o divine_a thing_n be_v either_o miserable_o blind_a or_o wilful_o negligent_a aristotle_n a_o man_n of_o the_o deep_a reach_n that_o antiquity_n ever_o breed_v among_o so_o many_o book_n that_o he_o write_v and_o be_v in_o part_n yet_o extant_a have_v not_o leave_v we_o any_o one_o discourse_n by_o which_o it_o may_v appear_v that_o he_o bestow_v any_o pain_n in_o search_v after_o the_o knowledge_n of_o god_n except_o a_o little_a 8._o here_o and_o there_o in_o some_o poor_a pitiful_a dispute_n theophrastus_n his_o scholar_n who_o exceed_v the_o master_n in_o numbersome_a write_n compose_v six_o book_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d and_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d three_o which_o we_o wish_v have_v remain_v to_o posterity_n albeit_o by_o the_o very_a title_n we_o may_v suspect_v what_o stuff_n they_o be_v not_o unlike_a to_o hes●ods_n theogonia_n and_o such_o other_o foolery_n and_o that_o both_o his_o book_n and_o other_o write_v of_o the_o same_o subject_n by_o crito_n simon_n xenocrates_n strato_n cleanthes_n epicurus_n and_o many_o more_o as_o may_v be_v see_v in_o laertius_n be_v they_o now_o extant_a will_v give_v we_o but_o small_a satisfaction_n in_o this_o point_n unless_o it_o be_v to_o discover_v the_o gross_a stupidity_n and_o dulness_n of_o those_o otherwise_o refine_a and_o sublimate_v wit_n tully_n who_o have_v read_v they_o and_o set_v 1._o down_o the_o sum_n of_o their_o opinion_n give_v we_o cause_n to_o believe_v that_o the_o wise_a of_o they_o all_o and_o himself_o too_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d be_v here_o stark_a fool_n and_o forsake_v the_o right_a way_n of_o search_v out_o the_o deity_n in_o the_o footstep_n of_o nature_n by_o a_o due_a proceed_n from_o the_o low_a to_o the_o high_a they_o give_v heed_n to_o old_a &_o fond_a fable_n or_o vanish_v away_o in_o their_o idle_a imagination_n and_o new_a opinion_n nor_o can_v it_o be_v otherwise_o if_o we_o respect_v either_o the_o corruption_n of_o nature_n which_o how_o quick_a and_o forward_o soever_o it_o be_v in_o other_o matter_n be_v dull_a enough_o in_o sacred_a employment_n as_o the_o experience_n of_o many_o disposition_n prove_v who_o be_v excellent_a in_o many_o sort_n of_o learning_n yet_o dunce_n in_o divinity_n or_o if_o we_o regard_v the_o policy_n of_o satan_n who_o blind_a the_o eye_n of_o so_o learned_a and_o wise_a man_n make_v use_v of_o their_o wit_n and_o pen_n in_o darken_n the_o clear_a light_n of_o divine_a knowledge_n by_o senseless_a fable_n and_o foolish_a fancy_n which_o pass_v unto_o the_o ignorant_a vulgar_a with_o approbation_n under_o the_o authority_n of_o their_o deep_a learning_n wherefore_o see_v neither_o the_o most_o wise_a and_o learned_a in_o former_a time_n have_v always_o apply_v their_o industry_n in_o this_o part_n of_o knowledge_n nor_o yet_o the_o labour_n of_o such_o as_o have_v be_v busy_v therein_o be_v preserve_v to_o our_o time_n nor_o those_o few_o monument_n that_o be_v leave_v do_v give_v sufficient_a proof_n that_o man_n have_v do_v their_o best_a in_o go_v so_o far_o as_o they_o may_v we_o must_v without_o consideration_n of_o particular_n first_o dispute_n in_o general_a how_o deep_a the_o eye_n of_o natural_a reason_n can_v pierce_v into_o divine_a mystery_n and_o then_o see_v in_o brief_a how_o far_o man_n who_o invention_n be_v come_v to_o our_o knowledge_n have_v proceed_v therein_o concern_v the_o first_o you_o be_v to_o call_v to_o mind_n that_o religion_n contain_v in_o it_o two_o chief_a branch_n 1._o all_o divine_a truth_n to_o be_v know_v and_o believe_v in_o way_n of_o spiritual_a contemplation_n and_o assent_n and_o the_o summary_n of_o these_o be_v the_o article_n of_o our_o creed_n which_o in_o general_n declare_v unto_o we_o what_o be_v to_o be_v believe_v touch_v god_n as_o creator_n in_o the_o first_o article_n redeemer_n in_o the_o rest_n 2._o all_o divine_a and_o moral_a duty_n to_o be_v do_v and_o practise_v by_o we_o the_o brief_a whereof_o be_v in_o the_o decalogue_n describe_v unto_o we_o the_o rule_n of_o 1._o piety_n in_o god_n worship_n 2._o of_o charity_n in_o righteousness_n towards_o man_n within_o these_o bound_n we_o must_v seek_v for_o the_o utmost_a extent_n of_o the_o mere_a natural_a man_n knowledge_n which_o we_o will_v do_v begin_v with_o the_o knowledge_n of_o god_n the_o redeemer_n touch_v which_o i_o lay_v down_o this_o position_n as_o infallible_a and_o undeniable_a that_o the_o mere_a natural_a man_n can_v by_o the_o most_o industrious_a use_n of_o 1._o all_o nature_n help_n attain_v unto_o any_o the_o least_o knowledge_n of_o god_n as_o he_o be_v man_n redeemer_n in_o christ._n this_o be_v most_o apparent_a by_o the_o scripture_n whole_o ascribe_v the_o knowledge_n of_o this_o mystery_n to_o the_o son_n of_o god_n reveal_v it_o from_o the_o bosom_n of_o 12._o the_o father_n and_o to_o the_o spirit_n of_o god_n but_o utter_o deny_v so_o much_o as_o a_o thought_n of_o it_o to_o any_o of_o the_o great_a or_o wise_a of_o this_o world_n yea_o unto_o the_o bless_a angel_n themselves_o and_o it_o be_v no_o less_o agreeable_a to_o good_a reason_n which_o forbid_v to_o imagine_v that_o a_o man_n fall_v &_o corrupt_v by_o sin_n shall_v ever_o attain_v to_o the_o understanding_n of_o those_o thing_n which_o adam_n in_o his_o perfection_n never_o have_v knowledge_n of_o now_o the_o knowledge_n of_o god_n as_o redeemer_n with_o all_o the_o dependence_n thereupon_o as_o adam_n have_v no_o need_n of_o it_o so_o be_v he_o before_o his_o fall_n utter_o ignorant_a of_o it_o and_o have_v so_o remain_v forever_o if_o god_n have_v not_o vouchsafe_v to_o reveal_v it_o to_o he_o which_o revelation_n though_o make_v to_o adam_n when_o we_o be_v in_o his_o loin_n yet_o be_v not_o as_o i_o may_v speak_v general_n and_o deriveable_a to_o all_o his_o posterity_n as_o the_o first_o connaturall_a and_o imprint_v knowledge_n be_v but_o particular_a for_o the_o benefit_n of_o adam_n and_o so_o many_o of_o his_o seed_n as_o be_v elect_v and_o though_o no_o doubt_n but_o adam_n do_v instruct_v his_o child_n and_o they_o they_o for_o some_o descent_n in_o this_o mystery_n yet_o wickedness_n increase_v in_o man_n as_o fast_o as_o man_n multiply_v in_o the_o earth_n and_o by_o reason_n of_o the_o darksome_a obscurity_n of_o this_o mystery_n in_o those_o first_o time_n of_o the_o world_n it_o come_v to_o pass_v that_o this_o knowledge_n quick_o decrease_v be_v almost_o decay_v even_o among_o the_o son_n of_o god_n the_o few_o of_o god_n church_n who_o therefore_o god_n be_v fain_o by_o new_a revelation_n continual_o to_o instruct_v but_o for_o the_o son_n of_o man_n the_o rest_n of_o the_o wicked_a world_n it_o be_v utter_o extinct_a and_o no_o spark_n of_o it_o leave_v alive_a they_o soon_o forget_v what_o they_o care_v not_o to_o believe_v wherefore_o we_o must_v confine_v the_o mere_a natural_a man_n knowledge_n within_o these_o two_o limit_n 1._o the_o knowledge_n of_o god_n as_o creator_n 2._o the_o knowledge_n of_o the_o moral_a law_n and_o beyond_o these_o it_o be_v not_o possible_a for_o he_o to_o go_v the_o knowledge_n of_o which_o though_o very_o much_o eclipse_v in_o adam_n himself_o but_o more_o and_o more_o darken_a in_o his_o posterity_n as_o they_o further_o degenerate_v from_o his_o original_a purity_n yet_o be_v it_o not_o so_o far_o obscure_v except_o in_o such_o who_o brutish_a and_o savage_a education_n have_v make_v they_o equal_a to_o the_o beast_n that_o perish_v but_o that_o by_o careful_a education_n and_o vigilant_a industry_n in_o the_o use_n of_o all_o help_n it_o may_v be_v somewhat_o repair_v though_o this_o some_o what_o be_v but_o a_o very_a little_a part_n almost_o nothing_o of_o its_o first_o clearness_n wherefore_o in_o the_o second_o 2._o place_n touch_v the_o knowledge_n god_n as_o creator_n i_o suppose_v a_o mere_a natural_a man_n may_v know_v these_o thing_n touch_v god_n in_o his_o nature_n and_o attribute_n 1._o that_o there_o be_v a_o god_n 2._o that_o
much_o be_v our_o assent_n weaken_v but_o of_o the_o three_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o speaker_n be_v the_o chief_a who_o wisdom_n and_o fidelity_n certain_o know_v unto_o we_o will_v move_v we_o to_o a_o certain_a belief_n of_o those_o thing_n wherein_o we_o apprehend_v no_o great_a matter_n of_o consequence_n nor_o discern_v any_o evidence_n of_o the_o truth_n at_o all_o whereas_o if_o one_o that_o have_v neither_o wit_n nor_o honesty_n tell_v we_o of_o a_o matter_n of_o great_a moment_n whereof_o we_o also_o see_v the_o probability_n and_o truth_n in_o part_n yet_o do_v he_o not_o persuade_v we_o to_o belief_n though_o he_o may_v move_v we_o to_o a_o strong_a suspicion_n thus_o than_o you_o see_v that_o assent_n be_v the_o approbation_n of_o the_o truth_n of_o any_o thing_n be_v common_a to_o knowledge_n opinion_n and_o belief_n but_o with_o this_o difference_n in_o exact_a knowledge_n our_o assent_n be_v always_o firm_a and_o unremovable_a in_o opinion_n it_o be_v always_o waver_v and_o mutable_a in_o belief_n it_o be_v certain_a but_o more_o or_o less_o according_a to_o the_o different_a concurrence_n of_o those_o three_o forename_a ground_n now_o out_o of_o that_o which_o i_o have_v speak_v let_v these_o two_o conclusion_n be_v careful_o observe_v 1._o that_o all_o knowledge_n be_v more_o certain_a than_o belief_n which_o rule_v you_o must_v understand_v in_o thing_n of_o the_o same_o kind_n not_o of_o divers_a thus_o he_o that_o most_o firm_o believe_v any_o truth_n upon_o the_o former_a ground_n be_v not_o yet_o so_o certain_a of_o it_o as_o he_o that_o perfect_o know_v it_o as_o a_o countryman_n who_o strong_o believe_v that_o the_o sun_n or_o least_o star_n be_v big_a than_o the_o whole_a earth_n upon_o the_o affirmation_n of_o a_o learned_a and_o honest_a mathematician_n be_v not_o yet_o so_o certain_a of_o it_o as_o when_o afterward_o he_o know_v it_o by_o infallible_a demonstration_n but_o now_o in_o divers_a kind_n our_o belief_n of_o some_o thing_n may_v be_v more_o certain_a than_o our_o knowledge_n of_o other_o as_o our_o belief_n of_o divine_a thing_n upon_o god_n testimony_n may_v be_v more_o certain_a than_o the_o knowledge_n of_o humane_a thing_n by_o the_o light_n of_o our_o reason_n because_o our_o understanding_n have_v always_o this_o prejudice_n that_o in_o the_o general_a it_o may_v possible_o err_v but_o god_n word_n can_v err_v at_o all_o 2._o that_o perfect_a knowledge_n take_v away_o all_o belief_n supra_fw-la that_o be_v for_o so_o you_o must_v understand_v it_o perfect_a knowledge_n of_o any_o thing_n exclude_v all_o belief_n of_o the_o same_o thing_n otherwise_o perfect_a knowledge_n in_o one_o thing_n may_v help_v our_o belief_n in_o another_o and_o knowledge_n in_o part_n of_o the_o same_o thing_n do_v much_o strengthen_v our_o belief_n of_o the_o other_o part_n but_o here_o in_o this_o opposition_n between_o knowledge_n and_o belief_n your_o must_v always_o remember_v what_o knowledge_n we_o mean_v namely_o scientiam_fw-la intuitivam_fw-la or_o per_fw-la visionem_fw-la that_o knowledge_n which_o be_v have_v by_o behold_v thing_n in_o their_o proper_a nature_n but_o not_o scientiam_fw-la disciplinarem_fw-la or_o per_fw-la revelatione●_n that_o knowledge_n which_o be_v get_v by_o discourse_n and_o relation_n of_o other_o and_o so_o these_o two_o proposition_n we_o believe_v what_o we_o know_v not_o and_o we_o believe_v what_o we_o know_v be_v not_o opposite_a each_o to_o other_o for_o it_o be_v true_a we_o believe_v that_o which_o we_o do_v not_o know_v namely_o by_o the_o proper_a and_o immediate_a sight_n of_o the_o thing_n themselves_o and_o it_o be_v true_a also_o we_o beeleeve_v that_o which_o we_o do_v know_v viz._n by_o relation_n which_o so_o far_o forth_o represent_v to_o we_o the_o nature_n of_o the_o thing_n relate_v as_o that_o we_o be_v not_o ignorant_a what_o it_o be_v we_o do_v believe_v where_o it_o must_v also_o be_v observe_v that_o the_o difference_n be_v great_a between_o these_o two_o sort_n of_o knowledge_n in_o regard_n of_o the_o assent_n that_o be_v give_v to_o matter_n thus_o know_v knowledge_n that_o be_v by_o vision_n or_o intuition_n of_o thing_n that_o be_v present_v to_o the_o sense_n or_o understanding_n in_o their_o proper_a evidence_n enforce_v assent_n unto_o the_o thing_n know_v for_o in_o this_o case_n the_o apprehension_n of_o the_o thing_n be_v so_o clear_a that_o the_o understanding_n can_v but_o approve_v the_o truth_n of_o it_o and_o therefore_o the_o college_n of_o the_o sceptike_n of_o old_a be_v little_o better_a than_o a_o society_n of_o fool_n and_o their_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d or_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d perpetual_a doubtfulness_n of_o all_o thing_n be_v somewhat_o worse_o than_o madness_n when_o they_o will_v not_o assent_v that_o they_o see_v the_o sun_n shine_v when_o they_o look_v on_o it_o nor_o that_o the_o fire_n be_v hot_a when_o they_o feel_v it_o burn_v nor_o will_v be_v certain_a of_o any_o principle_n or_o conclusion_n in_o reason_n &_o nature_n and_o such_o be_v anaxagoras_n his_o dull_a melancholy_a or_o wilful_a frenzy_n to_o maintain_v in_o good_a sadness_n that_o the_o snow_n be_v black_a for_o such_o be_v the_o natural_a assinity_n between_o evident_a truth_n and_o our_o understanding_n that_o though_o we_o will_v yet_o wecannot_v but_o subscribe_v and_o yield_v our_o allowance_n and_o assent_n unto_o it_o whence_o it_o fall_v out_o many_o time_n that_o a_o usurer_n a_o chuch-robber_n or_o some_o other_o not_o willing_a to_o leave_v this_o or_o that_o course_n though_o doubtful_a whether_o lawful_a or_o not_o dare_v not_o for_o his_o life_n read_v such_o or_o such_o a_o book_n write_v on_o those_o subject_n for_o fear_v lest_o he_o shall_v be_v make_v to_o know_v more_o than_o he_o be_v content_a to_o practice_v and_o that_o his_o conscience_n shall_v be_v convict_v in_o spite_n of_o his_o will_n but_o now_o it_o be_v not_o so_o in_o that_o other_o 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one_o essential_a property_n of_o faith_n faith_n say_v they_o be_v a_o assent_n give_v to_o any_o proposition_n reveal_v by_o god_n propter_fw-la authoritatem_fw-la revelantis_fw-la and_o two_o essential_a property_n this_o assent_n have_v 1._o certainty_n 2._o obscurity_n of_o certainty_n we_o shall_v speak_v hereafter_o concern_v obscurity_n we_o yield_v unto_o they_o thus_o far_o that_o all_o the_o object_n of_o faith_n be_v obscure_a that_o be_v in_o the_o apostle_n sense_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d thing_n not_o see_v and_o comprehend_v in_o their_o proper_a nature_n by_o our_o sense_n or_o understanding_n and_o so_o not_o only_o the_o more_o secret_a mystery_n of_o religion_n as_o the_o trinity_n incarnation_n etc._n etc._n who_o depth_n and_o largeness_n our_o reason_n can_v compass_v but_o all_o other_o matter_n historical_a or_o prophetical_a which_o be_v easy_a enough_o to_o be_v understand_v be_v notwithstanding_o obscure_a that_o be_v inevident_a not_o lie_v open_a to_o the_o direct_a view_n of_o body_n or_o mind_n but_o this_o do_v not_o please_v our_o adversary_n it_o be_v not_o want_n of_o evidence_n in_o the_o thing_n reveal_v but_o want_v of_o perspicuity_n in_o the_o revelation_n itself_o which_o they_o understand_v by_o obscurity_n their_o meaning_n be_v thus_o faith_n be_v a_o assent_n to_o obscure_a proposition_n that_o be_v to_o proposition_n not_o understand_v whereof_o we_o know_v not_o the_o meaning_n ay_o this_o be_v it_o this_o be_v as_o a_o learned_a man_n speak_v one_o root_n of_o popery_n in_o grain_n whence_o original_o issue_v out_o that_o black_a darkness_n of_o superstitious_a ignorance_n which_o cover_v the_o face_n of_o all_o that_o part_n of_o christendom_n where_o romish_a tyranny_n have_v the_o upper_a hand_n and_o yet_o that_o we_o may_v here_o also_o gratify_v they_o a_o little_a we_o confess_v that_o christian_n can_v for_o a_o need_n yield_v assent_n to_o such_o proposition_n whereof_o they_o understand_v not_o