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book_n holy_a scripture_n teach_v 2,798 5 6.1836 4 true
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A61545 A discourse concerning the nature and grounds of the certainty of faith in answer to J.S., his Catholick letters / by Edw. Stillingfleet ... Stillingfleet, Edward, 1635-1699. 1688 (1688) Wing S5582; ESTC R14787 74,966 133

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of_o faith_n and_o have_v he_o find_v out_o the_o church_n authority_n too_o without_o the_o church_n help_v and_o yet_o do_v he_o want_v some_o necessary_a point_n of_o faith_n then_o it_o follow_v that_o after_o the_o submit_v to_o the_o church_n authority_n there_o be_v still_o necessary_a point_n of_o faith_n which_o may_v be_v want_v and_o then_o a_o absolute_a submission_n be_v not_o all_o that_o be_v require_v of_o one_o that_o have_v find_v out_o the_o church_n authority_n but_o my_o whole_a argument_n there_o proceed_v upon_o a_o supposition_n viz._n that_o if_o one_o may_v without_o the_o church_n help_v find_v out_o the_o church_n authority_n in_o scripture_n then_o why_o not_o all_o necessary_a point_n of_o faith_n so_o that_o it_o go_v upon_o a_o parity_n of_o reason_n and_o i_o see_v no_o answer_n at_o all_o give_v or_o pretend_v but_o only_o he_o endeavour_v to_o stop_v my_o mouth_n with_o a_o handful_n of_o dirt._n thus_o i_o have_v dispatch_v this_o long_a argument_n 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which_o be_v there_o receive_v as_o in_o the_o lump_n and_o if_o we_o receive_v the_o book_n which_o contain_v all_o we_o must_v by_o the_o same_o authority_n receive_v all_o contain_v in_o it_o as_o if_o a_o purse_n be_v leave_v to_o a_o man_n by_o his_o father_n will_n full_a of_o gold_n and_o silver_n and_o this_o by_o the_o executor_n be_v declare_v to_o contain_v all_o the_o gold_n and_o silver_n his_o father_n leave_v he_o they_o who_o deliver_v this_o purse_n to_o he_o from_o the_o executor_n do_v certain_o deliver_v to_o he_o all_o the_o gold_n and_o silver_n leave_v he_o by_o his_o father_n but_o if_o he_o suspect_v there_o be_v both_o gold_n and_o silver_n leave_v he_o by_o his_o father_n which_o be_v not_o in_o that_o purse_n than_o he_o must_v call_v in_o question_n the_o integrity_n of_o the_o executor_n who_o declare_v that_o all_o be_v contain_v therein_o this_o be_v now_o the_o case_n of_o the_o christian_a church_n as_o to_o all_o divine_a truth_n which_o respect_n man_n salvation_n the_o primitive_a church_n who_o answer_n to_o the_o executor_n in_o the_o other_o case_n do_v unanimous_o declare_v that_o all_o such_o truth_n be_v undoubted_o contain_v in_o the_o write_a word_n although_o therefore_o there_o may_v be_v a_o real_a difference_n in_o the_o nature_n of_o the_o doctrine_n therein_o contain_v as_o there_o be_v between_o gold_n and_o silver_n yet_o he_o that_o receive_v all_o must_v receive_v one_o as_o well_o as_o the_o other_o and_o the_o matter_n of_o salvation_n be_v of_o great_a moment_n they_o that_o receive_v the_o whole_a will_n of_o god_n upon_o ground_n of_o certainty_n must_v be_v assure_v that_o therein_o they_o receive_v all_o matter_n necessary_a to_o our_o salvation_n never_o be_v any_o purse_n so_o rifle_v as_o this_o be_v by_o j._n s._n he_o examine_v not_o only_o the_o coin_n in_o it_o but_o the_o very_a string_n and_o lining_n of_o it_o he_o be_v a_o dreadful_a man_n at_o ransack_v a_o metaphor_n 40._o he_o tell_v i_o my_o similitude_n be_v so_o far_o from_o run_v on_o four_o leg_n that_o it_o be_v in_o many_o regard_v lame_a on_o the_o right_n and_o indeed_o only_o foot_v it_o ought_v to_o stand_v on_o and_o which_o be_v worse_o perhaps_o against_o myself_o the_o sum_n of_o it_o amount_v to_o this_o that_o because_o scripture_n contain_v all_o and_o protestant_n have_v scripture_n therefore_o they_o have_v all_o a_o strange_a kind_n of_o discourse_n as_o if_o because_o they_o have_v it_o in_o a_o book_n therefore_o they_o have_v it_o in_o their_o mind_n and_o soul_n in_o which_o and_o no_o where_o else_o faith_n be_v to_o reside_v but_o be_v not_o the_o question_n put_v whether_o we_o have_v all_o the_o point_n of_o faith_n which_o our_o saviour_n teach_v and_o how_o can_v i_o answer_v a_o question_n about_o all_o but_o by_o show_v where_o we_o have_v all_o if_o all_o the_o doctrine_n of_o christ_n be_v there_o we_o must_v be_v certain_a we_o have_v all_o if_o we_o have_v the_o scripture_n which_o contain_v all_o but_o it_o be_v not_o enough_o to_o have_v it_o in_o a_o book_n i_o grant_v it_o but_o still_o if_o you_o ask_v where_o all_o my_o faith_n be_v contain_v i_o must_v refer_v you_o to_o that_o book_n which_o contain_v all_o for_o i_o profess_v to_o believe_v every_o thing_n there_o and_o nothing_o as_o a_o point_n of_o faith_n but_o what_o be_v there_o we_o do_v not_o pretend_v that_o it_o be_v enough_o for_o person_n to_o say_v their_o faith_n be_v in_o such_o a_o book_n but_o we_o grant_v that_o they_o ought_v to_o read_v and_o search_v and_o actual_o believe_v what_o ever_o they_o find_v in_o that_o book_n but_o still_o all_o point_n be_v not_o equal_o necessary_a to_o all_o person_n that_o be_v therein_o contain_v but_o all_o such_o as_o be_v necessary_a to_o salvation_n lie_v there_o open_a to_o the_o capacity_n of_o all_o who_o desire_v to_o know_v they_o now_o this_o be_v one_o of_o the_o thing_n j._n s._n find_v fault_n with_o this_o similitude_n of_o a_o purse_n for_o viz._n that_o people_n think_v it_o be_v a_o easy_a thing_n to_o open_v and_o as_o easy_a to_o come_v at_o the_o sense_n of_o scripture_n as_o to_o take_v money_n out_o of_o a_o purse_n it_o be_v but_o pluck_v the_o string_n and_o the_o deed_n be_v do_v and_o be_v this_o any_o disparagement_n to_o a_o rule_n of_o faith_n to_o be_v plain_a and_o easy_a if_o it_o be_v not_o so_o it_o can_v not_o be_v a_o rule_n of_o faith_n for_o all_o person_n we_o do_v not_o say_v that_o any_o person_n by_o open_v the_o scripture_n may_v present_o attain_v to_o the_o certain_a sense_n of_o all_o place_n of_o scripture_n but_o that_o which_o i_o assert_v be_v that_o no_o man_n who_o set_v himself_o to_o read_v and_o consider_v the_o scripture_n as_o he_o ought_v and_o pray_v for_o wisdom_n from_o god_n shall_v miss_v of_o know_v all_o thing_n necessary_a to_o his_o salvation_n but_o mr._n s._n be_v for_o mend_v the_o similitude_n and_o true_o he_o do_v it_o after_o a_o extraordinary_a manner_n he_o will_v allow_v the_o scripture_n to_o be_v a_o purse_n provide_v the_o purse_n mouth_n be_v tie_v up_o with_o a_o knot_n of_o such_o a_o mysterious_a contrivance_n that_o none_o can_v open_v it_o but_o those_o who_o know_v the_o mind_n of_o the_o bequeather_n and_o that_o the_o church_n to_o which_o it_o be_v leave_v as_o a_o legacy_n have_v knowledge_n of_o his_o mind_n and_o so_o can_v open_v it_o whilst_z other_o only_o perplex_v themselves_o more_o while_o they_o go_v about_o it_o the_o point_n then_o between_o we_o be_v whether_o the_o scripture_n be_v leave_v only_o to_o the_o church_n to_o interpret_v it_o to_o the_o people_n in_o all_o point_n or_o whether_o it_o be_v intend_v for_o the_o general_a good_a of_o the_o whole_a church_n so_o as_o thereby_o to_o direct_v themselves_o in_o their_o way_n to_o heaven_n and_o consequent_o whether_o it_o may_v not_o be_v open_v and_o understand_v by_o all_o person_n in_o matter_n that_o be_v necessary_a to_o their_o salvation_n 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this_o be_v if_o there_o be_v such_o mystical_a knot_n which_o tie_v it_o together_o that_o none_o but_o the_o church-guide_n can_v unloose_v how_o can_v this_o then_o ever_o be_v so_o know_v as_o to_o be_v a_o rule_n of_o faith_n to_o the_o people_n and_o not_o mere_o a_o rule_n but_o a_o most_o certain_a and_o safe_a rule_n which_o be_v the_o great_a nonsense_n in_o the_o world_n if_o it_o can_v be_v understand_v by_o those_o who_o be_v to_o make_v it_o their_o rule_n they_o may_v as_o well_o say_v that_o algebra_n be_v a_o rule_n for_o mason_n and_o carpenter_n and_o a_o jacob_n staff_n for_o a_o tailor_n be_v measure_n but_o mr._n s._n have_v beat_v his_o brain_n so_o long_o about_o rule_n
suspect_v any_o fraud_n or_o design_n in_o the_o alteration_n that_o appear_v in_o the_o manuscript_n copies_n and_o as_o to_o translation_n that_o have_v be_v make_v among_o we_o the_o people_n who_o be_v not_o able_a to_o examine_v they_o by_o the_o original_n have_v no_o reason_n to_o suspect_v they_o as_o to_o any_o matter_n of_o faith._n not_o mere_o from_o the_o skill_n and_o integrity_n of_o the_o person_n and_o the_o care_n that_o have_v be_v take_v but_o because_o it_o be_v so_o much_o the_o concernment_n of_o some_o man_n to_o have_v lessen_v the_o credit_n of_o our_o translation_n as_o much_o as_o be_v possible_a and_o they_o have_v not_o be_v able_a to_o produce_v any_o thing_n that_o may_v shake_v the_o faith_n of_o a_o consider_v man._n if_o it_o be_v say_v after_o all_o this_o be_v but_o human_a faith_n and_o not_o divine_a i_o answer_v iu._n we_o must_v be_v careful_a to_o distinguish_v the_o certainty_n of_o human_a and_o divine_a faith_n in_o this_o matter_n we_o do_v not_o pretend_v that_o we_o have_v a_o absolute_a divine_a certainty_n of_o thing_n that_o be_v only_o capable_a of_o human_a certainty_n and_o we_o do_v not_o say_v that_o we_o have_v only_o human_a certainty_n of_o thing_n capable_a of_o divine_a certainty_n if_o the_o question_n be_v put_v concern_v the_o object_n of_o divine_a faith_n than_o we_o do_v answer_v that_o we_o have_v a_o divine_a certainty_n of_o they_o from_o those_o thing_n which_o be_v the_o proper_a evidence_n of_o divine_a revelation_n we_o believe_v the_o doctrine_n of_o christ_n with_o a_o divine_a faith_n because_o it_o be_v confirm_v by_o miracle_n and_o prophecy_n we_o believe_v the_o new_a testament_n to_o be_v write_v by_o the_o holy_a spirit_n because_o the_o promise_n of_o the_o spirit_n be_v fulfil_v upon_o they_o and_o especial_o in_o a_o thing_n of_o so_o great_a concernment_n to_o the_o whole_a christian_a church_n but_o if_o the_o question_n be_v ask_v only_o concern_v a_o matter_n of_o fact_n as_o whether_o the_o book_n that_o bear_v such_o name_n be_v write_v by_o the_o person_n who_o name_n they_o bear_v then_o i_o can_v have_v no_o great_a certainty_n than_o belong_v to_o a_o matter_n of_o fact_n but_o than_o it_o be_v so_o circumstantiate_v that_o i_o have_v a_o great_a and_o more_o absolute_a certainty_n as_o to_o this_o than_o any_o other_o matter_n of_o fact_n which_o want_v the_o proof_n that_o this_o have_v and_o if_o as_o to_o book_n and_o copy_n and_o translation_n we_o have_v as_o high_a a_o certainty_n as_o the_o thing_n be_v capable_a of_o it_o be_v madness_n to_o expect_v and_o require_v more_o for_o where_o there_o be_v but_o a_o human_a testimony_n there_o can_v be_v the_o certainty_n of_o divine_a faith_n which_o must_v not_o only_o have_v a_o divine_a object_n but_o must_v rest_v on_o a_o divine_a testimony_n but_o where_o the_o testimony_n be_v human_a the_o certainty_n must_v be_v such_o as_o relate_v to_o the_o high_a of_o that_o kind_n but_o still_o such_o a_o faith_n may_v have_v absolute_a certainty_n of_o its_o kind_n and_o although_o in_o regard_n of_o its_o testimony_n it_o be_v human_a faith_n yet_o in_o regard_n both_o of_o its_o object_n its_o inward_a cause_n and_o its_o effect_n it_o may_v be_v true_o call_v divine_a ix_o the_o last_o objection_n be_v concern_v the_o number_n of_o canonical_a book_n 58._o pray_v satisfy_v we_o say_v mr._n s._n about_o this_o exact_a number_n of_o book_n and_o how_o many_o will_v just_o serve_v turn_n one_o will_v think_v by_o his_o objection_n j._n s._n be_v prepare_v matter_n for_o the_o critical_a history_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n he_o seem_v so_o concern_v to_o lessen_v the_o authority_n of_o it_o but_o i_o shall_v answer_v the_o objection_n he_o offer_v 56._o 1._o there_o may_v have_v be_v book_n lose_v that_o be_v write_v by_o person_n divine_o inspire_v and_o we_o have_v no_o unanimous_a consent_n of_o the_o christian_a church_n that_o there_o be_v none_o lose_v and_o those_o book_n may_v contain_v matter_n different_a from_o or_o to_o be_v superad_v to_o the_o canon_n we_o have_v now_o and_o without_o this_o we_o can_v have_v no_o certainty_n that_o the_o book_n we_o have_v now_o contain_v all_o the_o divine_a revelation_n i_o answer_v i._o if_o we_o have_v the_o unanimous_a consent_n of_o the_o christian_a church_n that_o we_o have_v the_o canon_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n entire_a than_o we_o have_v their_o consent_n that_o there_o be_v no_o book_n write_v by_o divine_a inspiration_n lose_v and_o this_o appear_v by_o the_o contest_v in_o the_o iv._o century_n about_o the_o just_a number_n of_o the_o canonical_a book_n the_o church_n then_o differ_v about_o some_o book_n not_o then_o universal_o receive_v as_o the_o apocalypse_n in_o some_o and_o the_o epistle_n to_o the_o hebrew_n in_o other_o which_o show_v that_o the_o church_n be_v then_o so_o solicitous_a to_o preserve_v any_o book_n that_o appear_v to_o be_v write_v by_o person_n inspire_a that_o although_o these_o do_v then_o want_v universal_a consent_n yet_o they_o be_v still_o keep_v and_o read_v and_o disperse_v till_o upon_o further_a examination_n they_o come_v to_o be_v universal_o read_v it_o be_v not_o therefore_o in_o the_o least_o probable_a they_o shall_v suffer_v any_o apostolical_a write_n to_o be_v lose_v ii_o this_o be_v to_o charge_v the_o christian_a church_n with_o so_o gross_a a_o neglect_n as_o overthrow_v the_o force_n of_o all_o his_o argument_n for_o tradition_n for_o we_o must_v suppose_v a_o apostolical_a write_n send_v to_o some_o church_n by_o direction_n of_o the_o holy_a spirit_n and_o yet_o that_o church_n be_v so_o notorious_o careless_a as_o to_o lose_v a_o book_n contain_v in_o it_o many_o point_n of_o faith_n now_o i_o appeal_v to_o any_o one_o of_o common_a sense_n whether_o he_o can_v trust_v their_o word_n for_o matter_n of_o faith_n who_o can_v be_v so_o negligent_a as_o to_o lose_v a_o great_a many_o point_n of_o faith_n at_o once_o and_o the_o more_o such_o a_o book_n be_v disperse_v the_o argument_n be_v still_o strong_a against_o tradition_n beside_o this_o show_v the_o great_a insufficiency_n of_o oral_a tradition_n if_o these_o point_n of_o faith_n be_v lose_v because_o such_o a_o book_n be_v lose_v wherein_o they_o be_v contain_v if_o tradition_n have_v be_v so_o effectual_a a_o mean_n of_o convey_v matter_n of_o faith_n it_o shall_v have_v appear_v in_o such_o a_o case_n viz._n in_o preserve_v such_o matter_n of_o faith_n though_o the_o book_n be_v lose_v but_o we_o find_v nothing_o like_o this_o so_o much_o as_o pretend_v although_o it_o be_v much_o easy_o pretend_v than_o prove_v iii_o this_o be_v to_o suppose_v the_o providence_n of_o god_n not_o to_o be_v immediate_o concern_v in_o preserve_a book_n write_v by_o divine_a inspiration_n mr._n s._n do_v real_o suppose_v that_o book_n write_v by_o divine_a inspiration_n may_v have_v be_v lose_v or_o at_o least_o that_o we_o can_v prove_v that_o they_o be_v not_o but_o we_o think_v it_o a_o considerable_a proof_n that_o they_o can_v not_o because_o the_o divine_a providence_n do_v so_o immediate_o concern_v itself_o in_o preserve_v that_o which_o tend_v so_o much_o to_o the_o good_a of_o his_o church_n if_o a_o hair_n do_v not_o fall_v from_o our_o head_n nor_o a_o sparrow_n fall_v on_o the_o ground_n without_o the_o providence_n of_o god_n as_o our_o saviour_n affirm_v be_v it_o not_o very_o unreasonable_a to_o suppose_v that_o a_o divine_a book_n 30._o write_v for_o the_o benefit_n of_o the_o christian_a church_n shall_v be_v whole_o lose_v especial_o consider_v the_o extraordinary_a care_n the_o first_o christian_n take_v in_o time_n of_o the_o great_a persecution_n to_o preserve_v the_o scripture_n and_o no_o force_n or_o violence_n can_v extort_v they_o out_o of_o their_o hand_n on_o mr._n s_n supposition_n it_o be_v no_o hard_a matter_n for_o a_o book_n of_o scripture_n to_o be_v lose_v viz._n if_o the_o several_a book_n have_v be_v commit_v to_o the_o custody_n of_o some_o man_n in_o trust_n for_o the_o whole_a church_n but_o if_o we_o consider_v the_o thing_n as_o they_o real_o be_v it_o will_v appear_v hardly_o possible_a for_o the_o book_n be_v not_o keep_v up_o at_o first_o in_o a_o few_o hand_n but_o disperse_v abroad_o in_o multitude_n of_o copy_n and_o receive_v with_o mighty_a veneration_n both_o on_o the_o account_n of_o the_o author_n of_o they_o and_o the_o matter_n contain_v in_o they_o they_o be_v read_v both_o in_o public_a and_o in_o private_a they_o hear_v they_o in_o their_o assembly_n and_o they_o make_v they_o their_o constant_a employment_n at_o home_n they_o be_v their_o rule_n of_o life_n as_o well_o as_o of_o faith._n and_o how_o be_v it_o possible_a to_o suppose_v any_o book_n so_o receive_v so_o