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christian_n apostle_n church_n creed_n 1,331 5 10.2664 5 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A38042 Socinianism unmask'd a discourse shewing the unreasonableness of a late writer's opinion concerning the necessity of only one article of Christian faith, and of his other assertions in his late book, entituled, The reasonableness of Christianity as deliver'd in the Scriptures, and in his vindication of it : with a brief reply to another (professed) Socinian writer / by John Edwards ... Edwards, John, 1637-1716. 1696 (1696) Wing E214; ESTC R3296 60,720 171

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mercy_n he_o save_v we_o tit._n 3._o 5._o where_o there_o be_v not_o this_o persuasion_n and_o belief_n the_o true_a notion_n of_o christianity_n vanish_v and_o the_o conceit_n of_o merit_n come_v in_o its_o room_n wherefore_o there_o be_v a_o necessity_n that_o we_o believe_v and_o be_v persuade_v aright_o as_o to_o this_o matter_n we_o be_v worthless_a creature_n of_o ourselves_o but_o there_o be_v a_o worthiness_n derive_v to_o we_o from_o the_o unspotted_a and_o meritorious_a righteousness_n of_o he_o that_o be_v the_o eternal_a son_n of_o god_n he_o that_o know_v not_o this_o he_o that_o believe_v not_o this_o deserve_v not_o the_o name_n of_o a_o christian_n i_o shall_v have_v be_v glad_a to_o have_v find_v something_o of_o this_o nature_n in_o this_o gentleman_n christianity_n but_o he_o endeavour_v to_o seduce_v his_o reader_n by_o other_o apprehension_n he_o tell_v they_o that_o the_o bare_a assent_v to_o this_o that_o jesus_n be_v the_o messiah_n be_v the_o sum_n total_a of_o the_o christian_a faith_n and_o the_o gospel_n require_v no_o more_o last_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o resurrection_n of_o the_o final_a judgement_n and_o of_o eternal_a glory_n in_o heaven_n be_v contain_v in_o such_o passage_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n as_o these_o christ_n will_v raise_v up_o he_o at_o the_o last_o day_n john_n 6._o 44._o the_o lord_n jesus_n christ_n shall_v judge_v the_o quick_a and_o the_o dead_a at_o his_o appear_v 2_o tim._n 4._o 1._o father_n i_o will_v that_o they_o who_o thou_o have_v give_v i_o be_v with_o i_o where_o i_o be_o that_o they_o may_v behold_v my_o glory_n john_n 17._o 24._o and_o be_v not_o these_o truth_n the_o proper_a object_n of_o our_o faith_n now_o under_o the_o gospel_n they_o so_o peculiar_o belong_v to_o the_o doctrine_n and_o belief_n of_o the_o messiah_n can_v we_o believe_v in_o he_o and_o yet_o not_o believe_v these_o great_a thing_n which_o be_v bring_v to_o light_n by_o his_o preach_v the_o gospel_n for_o though_o they_o be_v in_o some_o measure_n discover_v and_o reveal_v before_o i._o e._n the_o general_n doctrine_n concern_v a_o future_a state_n and_o the_o endless_a happiness_n accompany_v it_o be_v not_o unknown_a yet_o christ_n word_n and_o those_o of_o the_o apostle_n do_v more_o abundant_o assure_v we_o of_o the_o truth_n of_o they_o especial_o christ_n rise_v from_o the_o dead_a and_o ascend_a into_o glory_n have_v irrefragable_o confirm_v the_o reality_n of_o they_o according_a to_o that_o of_o st._n peter_n we_o be_v beget_v again_o unto_o a_o lively_a hope_n by_o the_o resurrection_n of_o jesus_n christ_n from_o the_o dead_a to_o a_o inheritance_n incorruptible_a and_o undefiled_a and_o that_o fade_v not_o away_o reserve_v in_o heaven_n for_o we_o 1_o pet._n 1._o 4._o who_o but_o the_o vindicator_n can_v imagine_v that_o these_o evangelical_n doctrine_n be_v not_o necessary_a matter_n of_o faith_n to_o christian_a man_n who_o but_o he_o can_v fancy_v and_o which_o be_v more_o public_o assert_v that_o the_o belief_n of_o the_o messias_n be_v send_v from_o god_n without_o be_v acquaint_v with_o his_o gracious_a appointment_n as_o to_o our_o future_a reward_n be_v all_o that_o be_v require_v as_o necessary_a to_o constitute_v a_o christian_a believer_n especial_o when_o it_o be_v say_v he_o that_o come_v unto_o god_n must_v believe_v that_o he_o be_v a_o rewarder_n heb._n 11._o 6._o observe_v it_o he_o must_v believe_v than_o it_o be_v not_o indifferent_a but_o a_o necessary_a article_n of_o faith_n chap._n ii_o the_o foresay_a article_n and_o doctrine_n be_v prove_v to_o be_v necessary_a matter_n of_o christian_a faith_n not_o that_o a_o man_n be_v suppose_v actual_o to_o exert_v his_o assent_n and_o belief_n every_o moment_n that_o we_o may_v be_v true_a christian_n all_o these_o fundamental_a truth_n must_v be_v embrace_v and_o none_o exclude_v the_o late_a writer_n forgetfulness_n it_o be_v prove_v that_o he_o ground_n his_o notion_n of_o one_o article_n upon_o the_o weakness_n of_o understanding_n and_o capacity_n in_o the_o generality_n of_o people_n herein_o he_o follow_v the_o step_n of_o the_o racovian_o who_o submit_v the_o great_a mystery_n to_o the_o judgement_n of_o the_o vulgar_a and_o if_o they_o will_v not_o bear_v that_o test_n reject_v they_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o trinity_n how_o say_v to_o have_v no_o difficulty_n in_o it_o it_o contain_v in_o it_o no_o contradiction_n this_o proposition_n jesus_n be_v the_o messiah_n be_v not_o more_o intelligible_a than_o any_o of_o the_o article_n before_o mention_v thus_o i_o have_v brief_o set_v before_o the_o reader_n those_o evangelical_n truth_n those_o christian_a principle_n which_o belong_v to_o the_o very_a essence_n of_o christianity_n i_o have_v prove_v they_o to_o be_v such_o and_o i_o have_v reduce_v most_o of_o they_o to_o certain_a proposition_n which_o be_v a_o thing_n the_o vindicator_n call_v for_o p._n 16._o if_o what_o i_o have_v say_v will_v not_o content_v he_o i_o be_o sure_a i_o can_v do_v nothing_o that_o will_n and_o therefore_o if_o he_o shall_v capricious_o require_v any_o thing_n more_o it_o will_v be_v as_o great_a folly_n in_o i_o to_o comply_v with_o it_o as_o it_o be_v in_o he_o to_o move_v it_o from_o what_o i_o have_v say_v it_o be_v evident_a that_o he_o be_v gross_o mistake_v when_o he_o say_v whatever_o doctrine_n the_o apostle_n require_v to_o be_v believe_v to_o make_v a_o man_n a_o christian_n be_v to_o be_v find_v in_o those_o place_n of_o scripture_n which_o he_o have_v quote_v in_o his_o book_n p._n 11._o the_o place_n which_o he_o quote_v be_v make_v use_n of_o by_o he_o to_o show_v that_o there_o be_v but_o one_o article_n of_o belief_n viz._n that_o christ_n be_v the_o messiah_n but_o i_o think_v i_o have_v sufficient_o prove_v that_o there_o be_v other_o doctrine_n beside_o that_o
they_o have_v make_v sure_a of_o hereafter_o by_o another_o tenent_n of_o they_o three_o by_o virtue_n of_o this_o expedient_a they_o can_v throw_v off_o any_o doctrine_n when_o they_o please_v especial_o those_o main_a article_n of_o the_o holy_a trinity_n of_o christ_n satisfaction_n etc._n etc._n for_o it_o be_v but_o say_v that_o they_o be_v not_o necessary_a to_o be_v believe_v there_o be_v a_o necessity_n of_o believe_v but_o one_o and_o the_o business_n be_v do_v thus_o you_o see_v how_o it_o be_v their_o concern_v to_o hold_v up_o their_o one_o article_n but_o who_o see_v not_o that_o hereby_o they_o depress_v christianity_n and_o unspeakable_o injure_v the_o faith_n of_o the_o gospel_n what_o be_v the_o meaning_n of_o catechise_v which_o have_v be_v so_o universal_o commend_v and_o practise_v by_o the_o ancient_n there_o be_v in_o the_o primitive_a church_n particular_a person_n that_o make_v it_o their_o business_n to_o instruct_v and_o inform_v the_o ignorant_a in_o a_o 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thing_n as_o a_o formal_a design_v of_o this_o no_o i_o will_v not_o entertain_v such_o a_o thought_n but_o i_o only_o take_v notice_n how_o serviceable_a his_o paper_n and_o opinion_n be_v to_o this_o purpose_n he_o have_v mighty_o gratify_v the_o atheistical_a rabble_n by_o this_o his_o enterprise_n and_o according_o we_o may_v suppose_v they_o in_o such_o word_n as_o these_o to_o express_v their_o great_a obligation_n and_o thankfulness_n to_o he_o on_o this_o occasion_n we_o be_v behold_v to_o this_o worthy_a adventurer_n for_o rid_v the_o world_n of_o so_o great_a a_o encumbrance_n viz._n that_o huge_a mass_n and_o unwieldy_a body_n of_o christianity_n which_o take_v up_o so_o much_o room_n now_o we_o see_v that_o it_o be_v this_o bulk_n and_o not_o that_o of_o mankind_n which_o he_o have_v a_o eye_n to_o when_o he_o so_o often_o mention_v this_o latter_a this_o be_v a_o physician_n for_o our_o turn_n indeed_o we_o like_v this_o chemical_a operator_n that_o do_v not_o trouble_v we_o with_o a_o parcel_n of_o heavy_a drug_n of_o no_o value_n but_o contract_v all_o into_o a_o few_o spirit_n nay_o do_v his_o business_n with_o a_o single_a drop_n we_o have_v be_v in_o bondage_n a_o long_a time_n to_o creed_n and_o catechism_n system_n and_o confession_n we_o have_v be_v plague_v with_o a_o tedious_a beadroll_z of_o article_n which_o our_o reverend_a divine_n have_v tell_v we_o we_o must_v make_v the_o matter_n of_o our_o faith_n yea_o so_o it_o be_v both_o conformist_n and_o nonconformist_n though_o disagree_v in_o some_o other_o thing_n have_v agree_v in_o this_o to_o molest_v and_o crucify_v we_o but_o this_o noble_a writer_n we_o thank_v he_o have_v set_v we_o free_a and_o ease_v we_o by_o bring_v down_o all_o the_o christian_a faith_n into_o one_o point_n we_o have_v hear_v some_o man_n talk_v of_o the_o epistolary_a composure_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n as_o if_o great_a matter_n be_v contain_v in_o they_o as_o if_o the_o great_a mystery_n of_o christianity_n as_o they_o call_v they_o be_v unfold_v there_o but_o we_o can_v never_o make_v any_o thing_n of_o they_o and_o now_o we_o find_v that_o this_o writer_n be_v partly_o of_o our_o opinion_n he_o tell_v we_o that_o these_o be_v letter_n send_v upon_o occasion_n but_o we_o be_v not_o to_o look_v for_o our_o religion_n for_o now_o for_o this_o gentleman_n sake_n we_o begin_v to_o talk_v of_o religion_n in_o these_o place_n we_o believe_v it_o and_o we_o believe_v that_o there_o be_v no_o religion_n but_o in_o those_o very_a chapter_n and_o verse_n which_o he_o have_v set_v down_o in_o his_o treatise_n what_o need_v we_o have_v any_o other_o part_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n that_o be_v bible_n enough_o if_o not_o too_o much_o happy_a thrice_o happy_a shall_v this_o author_n be_v perpetual_o esteem_v by_o we_o we_o will_v chronicle_v he_o as_o our_o friend_n and_o benefactor_n it_o be_v not_o our_o way_n to_o saint_n people_n otherwise_o we_o will_v certain_o canonize_v this_o gentleman_n and_o when_o our_o hand_n be_v in_o his_o pair_n of_o bookseller_n for_o their_o be_v so_o beneficial_a to_o the_o world_n in_o publishing_n so_o rich_a a_o treasure_n it_o be_v a_o bless_a day_n when_o this_o hopeful_a birth_n see_v the_o light_n for_o hereby_o all_o the_o orthodox_n creed-maker_n and_o systematick_a man_n be_v ruin_v for_o ever_o in_o brief_a if_o we_o be_v for_o any_o christianity_n it_o shall_v be_v this_o author_n for_o that_o agree_v with_o we_o singular_o well_o it_o be_v so_o short_a all_o couched_a in_o four_o word_n neither_o more_o nor_o less_o it_o be_v a_o very_a fine_a compendium_n and_o we_o be_v infinite_o oblige_v to_o this_o great_a reformer_n for_o it_o we_o be_v glad_a at_o heart_n that_o christianity_n be_v bring_v so_o low_a by_o this_o worthy_a penman_n for_o this_o be_v a_o good_a presage_n that_o it_o will_v dwindle_v into_o nothing_o what!_o but_o one_o article_n and_o that_o so_o brief_a too_o we_o like_v such_o a_o faith_n 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