Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	act_n	believe_v	faith_n	1,884	5	5.9965	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B08370	A soveraign remedy against atheism and heresy. Fitted for the vvit and vvant of the British nations / by M. Thomas Anderton.	Anderton, Thomas.; Hamilton, Frances, Lady.	1672 (1672)	Wing A3110A; ESTC R172305	67,374	174

demonstrative_a assent_n of_o himself_o be_v the_o author_n and_o revealer_n of_o the_o christian_a doctrine_n it_o be_v so_o far_o from_o be_v fit_a the_o doctor_n of_o his_o church_n shall_v convict_v pagan_n or_o heretic_n by_o clear_o evidence_v to_o they_o god_n reveal_v the_o save_a truth_n that_o it_o be_v not_o possible_a for_o though_o some_o divine_n have_v say_v faith_n be_v consistent_a with_o clear_a evidence_n of_o god_n have_v reveal_v the_o truth_n of_o its_o object_n because_o forsooth_o though_o the_o believer_n do_v see_v the_o truth_n and_o by_o consequence_n can_v not_o doubt_v of_o it_o or_o be_v a_o heretik_a yet_o he_o do_v not_o see_v it_o in_o its_o proper_a cause_n but_o only_o in_o god_n revelation_n notwithstanding_o i_o say_v this_o unwary_a opinion_n of_o some_o schoolman_n themselves_o can_v not_o well_o reconcile_v with_o it_o the_o merit_n obscurity_n liberty_n and_o obsequiousness_n of_o christian_a faith_n nor_o show_v how_o it_o be_v possible_a for_o any_o learned_a catholic_a or_o other_o man_n to_o be_v a_o heretik_a in_o his_o judgement_n because_o the_o malice_n of_o heresy_n this_o be_v a_o error_n in_o the_o understanding_n as_o well_o as_o obstinacy_n in_o the_o will_n consist_v in_o doubt_v or_o deny_v inward_o that_o god_n do_v reveal_v such_o a_o article_n of_o faith_n but_o if_o every_o learned_a catholic_a do_v see_v by_o virtue_n of_o tradition_n that_o he_o do_v rea_o reveal_v it_o he_o can_v not_o see_v nor_o say_v the_o contrary_a in_o his_o mind_n and_o by_o consequence_n can_v not_o be_v a_o heretik_a and_o yet_o it_o be_v grant_v on_o all_o side_n that_o any_o learned_a man_n without_o forget_v any_o part_n of_o his_o learning_n or_o knowledge_n may_v be_v a_o heretik_a beside_o the_o assent_n and_o certainty_n of_o christian_a faith_n do_v not_o enter_v further_o upon_o its_o object_n than_o to_o say_v it_o exist_v or_o that_o the_o act_n of_o faith_n be_v true_a it_o medle_n not_o with_o why_o it_o exist_v or_o with_o any_o of_o its_o proper_a or_o particular_a cause_n that_o be_v with_o any_o reason_n why_o the_o object_n exist_v or_o why_o the_o act_n of_o faith_n be_v true_a it_o be_v ground_v only_o upon_o god_n revelation_n and_o this_o say_v no_o more_o than_o it_o be_v so_o all_o other_o reason_n and_o cause_n be_v impertinent_a as_o to_o the_o nature_n and_o use_n of_o faith_n faith_n be_v a_o imperfect_a knowledge_n and_o a_o total_a rely_v upon_o the_o divine_a authority_n and_o not_o upon_o the_o knowledge_n of_o proper_a or_o any_o other_o cause_n now_o it_o be_v impossible_a that_o the_o obscurity_n and_o nature_n of_o faith_n can_v be_v more_o or_o so_o much_o destroy_v by_o subsequent_a evidence_n impertinent_a to_o its_o end_n and_o nature_n than_o by_o a_o evidence_n that_o immediate_o and_o direct_o oppose_v and_o be_v inconsistent_a with_o its_o motive_n its_o merit_n and_o nature_n if_o the_o act_n of_o faith_n be_v not_o consistent_a with_o the_o clear_a sight_n or_o evidence_n of_o its_o truth_n in_o the_o proper_a and_o particular_a cause_n notwithstanding_o those_o cause_n be_v not_o its_o motive_n nor_o consider_v or_o touch_v by_o the_o act_n or_o assent_v of_o faith_n how_o can_v its_o merit_n obscurity_n or_o nature_n consist_v and_o continue_v with_o a_o clear_a sight_n of_o its_o truth_n or_o of_o its_o motive_n or_o which_o be_v the_o same_o with_o evidence_n of_o the_o divine_a revelation_n this_o sight_n or_o evidence_n be_v as_o destructive_a of_o the_o obscurity_n and_o difficulty_n we_o meet_v with_o in_o assent_v to_o the_o mystery_n and_o of_o the_o trust_n we_o repose_v in_o god_n by_o believe_v which_o be_v no_o less_o essential_a to_o faith_n than_o its_o truth_n as_o it_o be_v direct_o oppofit_n to_o the_o state_n of_o obscurity_n wherein_o we_o must_v be_v if_o we_o trust_v his_o word_n deliver_v to_o we_o by_o the_o church_n as_o also_o to_o the_o darkness_n and_o desguise_n he_o must_v speak_v to_o we_o in_o if_o he_o will_v have_v we_o trust_v he_o and_o merit_n by_o faith_n or_o indeed_o believe_v he_o at_o all_o for_o man_n do_v not_o believe_v when_o they_o assent_v to_o a_o truth_n they_o see_v or_o can_v not_o deny_v and_o it_o be_v impossible_a for_o they_o to_o see_v that_o god_n who_o be_v truth_n itself_o speak_v or_o reveal_v any_o mystery_n without_o see_v also_o it_o be_v truth_n he_o speak_v or_o reveal_v our_o adversary_n seem_v to_o make_v the_o montebank_n say_v see_v be_v believe_v the_o rule_n of_o divine_a faith_n q._n why_o shall_v not_o the_o merit_n of_o faith_n be_v consistent_a with_o the_o clear_a evidence_n of_o the_o truth_n thereof_o in_o its_o proper_a cause_n or_o with_o clear_a evidence_n of_o god_n reveal_v the_o mystery_n believe_v be_v it_o not_o sufficient_a for_o a_o meritorious_a assent_n that_o the_o will_n apply_v the_o understanding_n to_o clear_v the_o difficulty_n which_o may_v retard_v or_o suspend_v the_o act_n of_o faith_n before_o its_o actual_a assent_n must_v this_o assent_n also_o meet_v with_o obscurity_n and_o overcome_v a_o difficulty_n in_o say_v and_o not_o see_v that_o god_n reveal_v what_o it_o assent_v unto_o after_o all_o our_o former_a pain_n take_v in_o find_v out_o the_o rule_n of_o faith_n and_o examine_v the_o nature_n of_o catholic_a tradition_n a._n the_o chief_a merit_n of_o christian_a faith_n consist_v in_o overcome_v the_o difficulty_n we_o find_v in_o assent_v to_o more_o than_o we_o see_v or_o with_o more_o assurance_n than_o we_o see_v there_o be_v evidence_n of_o truth_n if_o we_o do_v see_v or_o certain_o know_v that_o god_n reveal_v what_o we_o assent_v unto_o by_o the_o act_n of_o faith_n we_o can_v not_o have_v that_o difficulty_n in_o assent_v to_o the_o mystery_n thereof_o which_o we_o find_v by_o experience_n for_o what_o difficulty_n can_v there_o be_v in_o say_v inward_o god_n reveal_v the_o trinity_n or_o the_o trinity_n be_v true_a if_o we_o see_v that_o god_n reveal_v that_o mystery_n and_o by_o a_o immediate_a consequence_n that_o it_o be_v true_a therefore_o the_o proper_a and_o immediate_a merit_n of_o a_o act_n of_o faith_n as_o such_o do_v consist_v in_o overcome_v the_o difficulty_n of_o actualy_a assent_v that_o god_n reveal_v the_o mystery_n or_o matter_n we_o believe_v he_o do_v reveal_v though_o we_o see_v not_o his_o revelation_n nor_o any_o necessary_a connexion_n between_o it_o and_o the_o doctrine_n tradition_n or_o testimony_n of_o the_o church_n as_o for_o those_o other_o difficulty_n antecedent_n to_o this_o and_o to_o the_o act_n of_o faith_n which_o we_o overcome_v and_o be_v rather_o disposition_n to_o make_v ourselves_o fit_a to_o believe_v by_o remove_v the_o obstacle_n of_o education_n and_o custom_n or_o by_o examine_v the_o nature_n of_o tradition_n and_o the_o motive_n of_o credibility_n than_o immediate_a act_n of_o faith_n the_o merit_n that_o result_v from_o overcome_v those_o difficulty_n be_v not_o the_o proper_a and_o immediate_a merit_n of_o faith_n itself_o because_o it_o be_v antecedent_n to_o it_o for_o after_o all_o our_o aforesaid_a inquiry_n and_o examination_n of_o the_o rule_n and_o motive_n of_o faith_n we_o find_v still_o a_o great_a difficulty_n in_o assent_v actualy_a or_o believe_a that_o god_n reveal_v what_o tradition_n affirm_v he_o do_v this_o our_o own_o experience_n do_v demonstrat_fw-la and_o it_o may_v be_v prove_v by_o diverse_a place_n of_o holy_a scripture_n as_o that_o of_o luc._n 19_o when_v one_o have_v be_v credible_o inform_v and_o perhaps_o see_v how_o christ_n wrought_v many_o miracle_n he_o desire_v christ_n to_o dispossess_v his_o son_n of_o a_o dumb_a devil_n christ_n tell_v he_o if_o he_o can_v believe_v he_o will_v deliver_v his_o son_n from_o that_o spirit_n without_o doubt_v the_o father_n find_v great_a difficulty_n in_o the_o very_a act_n of_o faith_n whereby_o he_o believe_v christ_n power_n for_o though_o he_o say_v i_o do_v believe_v yet_o he_o cry_v out_o add_v lord_n help_v my_o incredulity_n and_o yet_o this_o man_n be_v very_o well_o dispose_v and_o inform_v of_o christ_n power_n and_o miracle_n before_o he_o bring_v his_o son_n to_o he_o otherwise_o he_o will_v not_o have_v take_v so_o much_o pain_n to_o follow_v he_o and_o present_v his_o son_n before_o he_o and_o indeed_o incredulity_n as_o obstinacy_n also_o do_v suppose_v as_o much_o information_n and_o evidence_n of_o the_o motive_n of_o credibility_n and_o of_o the_o rule_n of_o faith_n or_o tradition_n as_o be_v requisite_a for_o the_o actual_a assent_n of_o faith_n otherwise_o none_o can_v be_v call_v incredulous_a or_o obstinate_a for_o not_o believe_v the_o faithful_a therefore_o merit_n and_o overcome_v a_o great_a difficulty_n by_o the_o very_a act_n of_o faith_n after_o that_o all_o other_o difficulty_n precedent_a to_o it_o be_v clear_v or_o overcome_v and_o

be_v a_o prudent_a or_o pious_a act_n without_o see_v seeim_v supernatural_a sign_n so_o obvious_a to_o all_o kind_n of_o people_n that_o they_o may_v if_o reflect_v upon_o exclude_v all_o prudent_a doubt_n of_o our_o be_v mistake_v because_o they_o must_v dispose_v we_o to_o fix_v our_o thought_n so_o firm_o upon_o god_n goodness_n and_o veracity_n that_o we_o assent_n with_o great_a assurance_n to_o what_o the_o church_n say_v and_o its_o sign_n show_v than_o if_o we_o have_v see_v it_o not_o because_o the_o church_n say_v it_o or_o because_o the_o sign_n confirm_v its_o testimony_n but_o because_o we_o rationa_o judge_v it_o impossible_a that_o god_n will_v permit_v such_o a_o appearance_n and_o testimony_n to_o be_v false_o father_v upon_o himself_o or_o permit_v we_o to_o be_v deceive_v by_o sign_n so_o likely_a to_o be_v supernatural_a q._n how_o can_v a_o certainty_n only_o moral_a of_o god_n be_v the_o author_n of_o the_o commission_n and_o doctrine_n of_o the_o church_n be_v a_o solid_a and_o sufficient_a ground_n for_o act_n of_o christian_a faith_n whereby_o we_o believe_v without_o the_o least_o doubt_n and_o by_o consequence_n with_o more_o than_o moral_a certainty_n or_o assurance_n that_o god_n be_v author_n of_o the_o commission_n and_o doctrine_n of_o the_o church_n how_o can_v any_o prudent_a act_n of_o our_o understanding_n assent_v to_o more_o than_o it_o do_v see_v or_o assent_v with_o great_a assurance_n than_o there_o be_v appearance_n of_o the_o truth_n a_o intellectual_a act_n or_o assent_v be_v a_o intellectual_a sight_n of_o the_o truth_n of_o the_o object_n to_o say_v therefore_o that_o by_o act_n of_o faith_n we_o assent_v to_o more_o than_o we_o see_v or_o with_o great_a assurance_n than_o there_o be_v appearance_n of_o the_o truth_n be_v as_o much_o as_o to_o say_v that_o by_o act_n of_o faith_n we_o see_v more_o than_o we_o see_v and_o believe_v more_o firm_o than_o we_o can_v a._n the_o answer_n of_o this_o objection_n be_v that_o assent_n be_v no_o more_o than_o a_o interior_a yield_v a_o thing_n to_o be_v as_o dissent_n be_v a_o interior_a deny_v it_o to_o be_v the_o assent_n of_o the_o mind_n be_v not_o always_o a_o intellectual_a sight_n of_o the_o truth_n of_o its_o object_n it_o be_v not_o always_o the_o same_o thing_n in_o the_o soul_n to_o say_v a_o thing_n be_v so_o and_o to_o see_v it_o be_v so_o for_o if_o these_o two_o be_v the_o same_o the_o soul_n can_v never_o assent_v or_o rely_v upon_o authority_n nor_o be_v mistake_v in_o any_o assent_n because_o it_o be_v never_o mistake_v in_o its_o sight_n of_o the_o truth_n beside_o this_o opinion_n that_o confound_v the_o assent_n of_o faith_n with_o the_o sight_n of_o the_o truth_n whether_o it_o be_v in_o proper_a cause_n or_o by_o its_o connexion_n with_o the_o evidence_n of_o god_n revelation_n take_v away_o the_o obscurity_n liberty_n and_o merit_n of_o christian_a faith_n because_o a_o clear_a sight_n of_o the_o truth_n by_o whatsoever_o mean_v it_o come_v be_v not_o compatible_a with_o those_o attribute_n st_o paul_n tell_v we_o that_o faith_n be_v a_o argument_n of_o thing_n not_o appear_v and_o sure_o if_o they_o do_v not_o appear_v by_o faith_n they_o be_v not_o see_v by_o a_o act_n of_o faith_n more_o a_o great_a proportion_n of_o the_o supernaturality_n of_o faith_n and_o of_o its_o merit_n consist_v in_o over_o come_v the_o difficulty_n we_o find_v not_o only_o in_o examine_v the_o motive_n and_o in_o adhere_v with_o the_o will_n but_o in_o assent_v with_o the_o understanding_n to_o the_o truth_n and_o to_o the_o existence_n of_o its_o revelation_n as_o to_o that_o of_o the_o trinity_n incarnation_n etc._n etc._n but_o if_o our_o assent_n of_o faith_n be_v a_o intellectual_a sight_n of_o the_o truth_n or_o of_o the_o existence_n of_o divine_a revelation_n of_o those_o mystery_n such_o a_o assent_n can_v not_o involve_v nor_o we_o find_v therein_o any_o intellectual_a difficulty_n for_o what_o intellectual_a difficulty_n can_v there_o be_v in_o say_v inward_o it_o be_v so_o if_o we_o see_v it_o be_v so_o there_o be_v rather_o a_o necessity_n in_o such_o a_o case_n of_o say_v it_o be_v so_o faith_n be_v so_o far_o from_o be_v a_o intellectual_a sight_n of_o the_o verity_n believe_v or_o assent_v unto_o that_o the_o less_o clear_o you_o see_v the_o truth_n or_o the_o revelation_n credit_v so_o it_o be_v prudent_o credible_a the_o great_a your_o faith_n be_v therefore_o christ_n reproach_v st_n thomas_n for_o not_o believe_v the_o resurrection_n until_o he_o have_v see_v with_o his_o eye_n christ_n resuscitate_v 20._o ●oan_n 20._o and_o tell_v he_o they_o be_v happy_a that_o believe_v and_o do_v not_o see_v what_o they_o believe_v now_o the_o reason_n why_o faith_n and_o sight_n or_o knowledge_n be_v so_o opposite_a be_v because_o the_o nature_n and_o notion_n of_o faith_n be_v to_o supply_v and_o by_o consequence_n it_o do_v suppose_v the_o want_n of_o sight_n or_o knowledge_n hence_o it_o be_v that_o many_o say_v faith_n and_o knowledge_n be_v no_o more_o consistent_a one_o with_o the_o other_o than_o the_o want_n and_o not_o want_v of_o the_o same_o thing_n and_o indeed_o this_o notion_n of_o faith_n be_v well_o ground_v because_o experience_n do_v convince_v and_o all_o confess_v our_o human_a nature_n to_o be_v so_o imperfect_a that_o it_o stand_v in_o need_n of_o christian_a faith_n to_o supply_v the_o want_n of_o knowledge_n touch_v divine_a mystery_n and_o even_o in_o worldly_a affair_n we_o must_v in_o most_o rely_v for_o want_n of_o clear_a knowledge_n upon_o the_o authority_n and_o testimony_n of_o lawful_a witness_n and_o take_v their_o word_n for_o legal_a evidence_n which_o as_o it_o be_v a_o sufficient_a proof_n of_o what_o they_o testify_v so_o be_v it_o a_o demonstration_n of_o the_o imperfection_n of_o our_o understanding_n and_o that_o most_o of_o our_o human_a assent_n and_o judicial_a sentence_n be_v not_o intellectual_a sight_n of_o the_o truth_n itself_o but_o humble_a submission_n to_o the_o authority_n and_o knowledge_n of_o other_o which_o we_o believe_v though_o for_o aught_o we_o evident_o know_v we_o may_v be_v misinform_v by_o their_o mistake_n or_o malice_n but_o the_o supernatural_a sign_n of_o the_o catholic_a church_n do_v shine_v so_o clear_o upon_o the_o same_o that_o not_o any_o who_o reflect_v upon_o they_o and_o rely_v upon_o god_n veracity_n can_v prudent_o entertain_v the_o least_o fear_n or_o doubt_v of_o be_v mistake_v in_o its_o authority_n or_o mislead_v by_o its_o doctrine_n notwithstanding_o that_o we_o do_v not_o clear_o see_v the_o divine_a trust_n of_o the_o church_n or_o the_o infallible_a truth_n of_o its_o tenet_n but_o though_o the_o assent_n of_o christian_a faith_n be_v not_o a_o intellectual_a sight_n of_o the_o truth_n reveal_v or_o of_o the_o divine_a revelation_n it_o do_v suppose_v at_o least_o in_o our_o predecessor_n sensation_n or_o a_o intellectual_a sight_n of_o some_o seem_o supernatural_a sign_n which_o be_v credible_o report_v to_o we_o by_o tradition_n be_v sufficient_a to_o gain_v so_o much_o credit_n and_o authority_n for_o the_o church_n wherein_o they_o appear_v as_o that_o whoever_o do_v not_o believe_v its_o testimony_n and_o assent_v or_o yield_v not_o to_o its_o doctrine_n as_o divine_a be_v just_o condemn_v by_o christ_n himself_o in_o his_o last_o word_n to_o the_o apostle_n 16._o marc._n 16._o v._n 16._o and_o therefore_o tell_v they_o that_o his_o church_n shall_v have_v visible_a and_o supernatural_a sign_n whereby_o it_o may_v be_v easy_o discern_v from_o all_o heretical_a assembly_n some_o whereof_o he_o specify_v as_o power_n to_o cast_v out_o devil_n to_o cure_v disease_n to_o speak_v unknowen_a language_n to_o rid_v people_n of_o serpent_n these_o beside_o other_o relate_v in_o scripture_n as_o the_o conversion_n of_o nation_n to_o christianity_n the_o continual_a succession_n and_o sanctity_n of_o doctrine_n and_o doctor_n the_o spirit_n of_o profecy_n and_o many_o such_o miraculous_a mark_n join_v with_o profound_a humility_n and_o eminent_a virtue_n be_v so_o far_o above_o all_o heathen_n and_o heretic_n pretend_v morality_n and_o sanctity_n that_o when_o their_o saint_n be_v compare_v with_o canonize_a catholics_n they_o appear_v to_o be_v but_o hypocritical_a sycophant_n puff_v up_o with_o that_o secret_a pride_n so_o proper_a to_o all_o sectary_n prefer_v their_o own_o private_a interpretation_n of_o scripture_n before_o the_o public_a sense_n and_o practice_v of_o a_o visible_a and_o miraculous_a church_n we_o conclude_v therefore_o that_o a_o assent_n of_o christian_a faith_n be_v not_o a_o intellectual_a sight_n of_o the_o truth_n reveal_v nor_o of_o the_o revelation_n and_o yet_o the_o faithful_a do_v assent_v to_o both_o with_o no_o less_o assurance_n than_o if_o it_o have_v be_v a_o clear_a sight_n of_o both_o because_o every_o