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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
A62581 The rule of faith, or, An answer to the treatises of Mr. I.S. entituled Sure-footing &c. by John Tillotson ... ; to which is adjoined A reply to Mr. I.S. his 3d appendix &c. by Edw. Stillingfleet. Tillotson, John, 1630-1694.; Stillingfleet, Edward, 1635-1699. Reply to Mr. I.S. his 3d appendix. 1676 (1676) Wing T1218; ESTC R32807 182,586 472

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reasonable_a to_o be_v suppose_v or_o no_o may_v easy_o be_v determine_v not_o only_o from_o every_o man_n be_v own_o experience_n of_o the_o world_n but_o from_o a_o more_o advantageous_a instance_n of_o the_o experience_n of_o the_o first_o age_n of_o christianity_n be_v there_o ever_o a_o more_o know_v and_o diligent_a teacher_n of_o this_o doctrine_n than_o our_o saviour_n and_o yet_o his_o disciple_n fall_v into_o many_o mistake_n concern_v it_o so_o that_o in_o order_n to_o the_o certain_a propagate_a of_o it_o the_o wisdom_n of_o god_n think_v it_o requisite_a to_o endue_v even_o those_o who_o have_v learn_v this_o doctrine_n from_o himself_o with_o a_o infallible_a spirit_n by_o which_o they_o may_v be_v lead_v into_o all_o truth_n and_o secure_v from_o error_n and_o mistake_n which_o have_v be_v unnecessary_a have_v it_o be_v impossible_a for_o they_o to_o mistake_v this_o doctrine_n the_o apostle_n who_o teach_v the_o world_n by_o a_o infallible_a spirit_n and_o with_o 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skilful_a in_o therefore_o by_o like_a parity_n of_o reason_n it_o must_v follow_v that_o tradition_n itself_o be_v better_o than_o a_o book_n even_o the_o best_a way_n imaginable_a to_o convey_v down_o such_o law_n to_o we_o mr._n s._n say_v 93._o express_o it_o be_v but_o how_o true_o i_o appeal_v to_o experience_n and_o the_o wisdom_n of_o our_o lawgiver_n who_o seem_v to_o think_v otherwise_o tradition_n be_v already_o define_v to_o we_o a_o delivery_n down_o from_o hand_n to_o hand_n of_o the_o sense_n and_o faith_n of_o forefather_n i_o e._n of_o the_o gospel_n or_o message_n of_o christ._n now_o suppose_v any_o oral_a message_n consist_v of_o a_o hundred_o particularity_n be_v to_o be_v deliver_v to_o a_o hundred_o several_a person_n of_o different_a degree_n of_o understanding_n and_o memory_n by_o they_o to_o be_v convey_v to_o a_o hundred_o more_o who_o be_v to_o convey_v it_o to_o other_o and_o so_o onward_o to_o a_o hundred_o descent_n be_v it_o probable_a this_o message_n 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integrity_n in_o pastor_n or_o parent_n and_o likewise_o with_o very_o different_a success_n according_a to_o the_o different_a capacity_n and_o disposition_n of_o the_o learner_n we_o allow_v likewise_o that_o there_o have_v be_v a_o constant_a course_n of_o visible_a action_n conformable_a in_o some_o measure_n to_o the_o principle_n of_o christianity_n but_o then_o we_o say_v that_o those_o outward_a act_n and_o circumstance_n of_o religion_n may_v have_v undergo_v great_a variation_n and_o receive_v great_a change_n by_o addition_n to_o they_o and_o defalcation_n from_o they_o in_o several_a age_n that_o this_o not_o only_o be_v possible_a but_o have_v actual_o happen_v i_o shall_v show_v when_o i_o come_v to_o answer_v his_o demonstration_n now_o that_o several_a of_o the_o the_o main_a doctrine_n of_o faith_n contain_v in_o the_o scriptute_fw-la and_o action_n therein_o command_v have_v be_v teach_v and_o practise_v by_o christian_n in_o all_o age_n as_o the_o article_n sum_v up_o in_o the_o apostle_n creed_n the_o use_n of_o the_o two_o sacrament_n be_v a_o good_a evidence_n so_o far_o that_o the_o scripture_n contain_v the_o doctrine_n of_o christian_a religion_n but_o then_o if_o we_o consider_v how_o we_o come_v to_o know_v that_o such_o point_n of_o faith_n have_v be_v teach_v and_o such_o external_a action_n practise_v in_o all_o age_n it_o be_v not_o enough_o to_o say_v there_o be_v a_o present_a multitude_n of_o christian_n that_o profess_v to_o have_v receive_v such_o doctrine_n as_o ever_o believe_v and_o practise_v and_o from_o hence_o to_o infer_v that_o they_o be_v so_o the_o inconsequence_n of_o which_o argument_n i_o shall_v have_v a_o better_a occasion_n to_o show_v afterward_o but_o he_o that_o will_v prove_v this_o to_o any_o man_n satisfaction_n must_v make_v it_o evident_a from_o the_o best_a monument_n and_o record_n of_o several_a age_n that_o be_v from_o the_o most_o authentic_a book_n of_o those_o time_n that_o such_o doctrine_n have_v in_o all_o those_o age_n be_v constant_o and_o universal_o teach_v and_o practise_v but_o then_o if_o from_o those_o record_n of_o former_a time_n it_o appear_v that_o other_o doctrine_n not_o contain_v in_o the_o scripture_n be_v not_o teach_v and_o practise_v universal_o in_o all_o age_n but_o have_v creep_v in_o by_o degree_n some_o in_o one_o age_n and_o some_o in_o another_o according_a as_o ignorance_n and_o superstition_n in_o the_o people_n ambition_n and_o interest_n in_o the_o chief_a pastor_n of_o the_o church_n have_v minister_v occasion_n and_o opportunity_n and_o that_o the_o innovator_n of_o these_o doctrine_n and_o practice_n have_v all_o along_o pretend_v to_o confirm_v they_o out_o of_o scripture_n as_o the_o acknowledge_a rule_n of_o faith_n and_o have_v likewise_o acknowledge_v the_o book_n of_o scripture_n to_o have_v descend_v without_o any_o material_a corruption_n or_o alteration_n all_o which_o will_v sufficient_o appear_v in_o the_o process_n of_o my_o discourse_n then_o can_v the_o oral_n and_o practical_a tradition_n of_o the_o present_a church_n concern_v any_o doctrine_n as_o ever_o believe_v and_o practise_v which_o have_v no_o real_a foundation_n in_o scripture_n be_v any_o argument_n against_o these_o book_n as_o if_o they_o do_v not_o full_o and_o clear_o contain_v the_o christian_a doctrine_n and_o to_o say_v the_o scripture_n be_v to_o be_v interpret_v by_o oral_n and_o practical_a tradition_n be_v no_o more_o reasonable_a than_o it_o will_v be_v to_o interpret_v the_o ancient_a book_n of_o the_o law_n by_o the_o present_a practice_n of_o it_o which_o every_o one_o that_o compare_v thing_n fair_o together_o must_v acknowledge_v to_o be_v full_a of_o deviation_n from_o the_o ancient_a law_n sect_n v._o they_o §_o 1._o 2_o dly_a how_o much_o more_o he_o attribute_n to_o his_o rule_n of_o faith_n than_o we_o think_v fit_a to_o attribute_v to_o we_o 1._o we_o do_v not_o say_v that_o it_o be_v impossible_a in_o the_o nature_n of_o the_o thing_n that_o this_o rule_n shall_v fail_v that_o be_v either_o that_o these_o book_n shall_v cease_v to_o descend_v or_o shall_v be_v corrupt_v this_o we_o do_v not_o attribute_v to_o they_o because_o there_o be_v no_o need_n we_o shall_v we_o believe_v the_o providence_n of_o god_n will_v take_v care_n of_o they_o and_o secure_v they_o from_o be_v either_o lose_v or_o material_o corrupt_v yet_o we_o think_v it_o very_o possible_a that_o all_o the_o book_n in_o the_o world_n may_v be_v burn_v or_o otherwise_o destroy_v all_o that_o we_o affirm_v concern_v our_o rule_n of_o faith_n be_v that_o it_o be_v abundant_o sufficient_a if_o man_n be_v not_o want_v to_o themselves_o to_o convey_v the_o christian_a doctrine_n to_o all_o successive_a age_n and_o we_o think_v he_o very_o unreasonable_a that_o expect_v that_o god_n shall_v do_v more_o than_o what_o be_v abundant_o
and_o christian_n concern_v the_o messiah_n be_v a_o temporal_a prince_n in_o case_n it_o be_v a_o point_n hold_v ever_o deliver_v but_o most_o certain_a it_o be_v it_o be_v so_o hold_v by_o the_o jew_n in_o our_o saviour_n time_n and_o have_v be_v hold_v so_o ever_o since_o to_o this_o day_n i_o shall_v not_o trouble_v the_o reader_n with_o transcribe_v the_o rest_n of_o this_o demonstration_n only_o desire_v he_o as_o he_o read_v it_o over_o to_o imagine_v instead_o of_o mr._n s._n a_o pharisee_fw-mi demonstrate_v against_o one_o of_o christ_n disciple_n the_o infallibility_n of_o the_o oral_a tradition_n of_o the_o jew_n and_o i_o doubt_v not_o but_o he_o will_v find_v this_o demonstration_n and_o every_o part_n of_o it_o change_v only_o the_o name_n as_o forcible_o conclude_v christ_n not_o to_o be_v the_o messiah_n as_o it_o do_v infer_v any_o point_n of_o popery_n against_o the_o protestant_n §_o 4._o before_o i_o leave_v this_o instance_n of_o the_o jewish_a tradition_n i_o shall_v brief_o consider_v what_o mr._n white_a etc._n have_v offer_v by_o way_n of_o answer_n to_o it_o as_o first_o that_o the_o matter_n of_o these_o tradition_n be_v nothing_o else_o but_o explication_n of_o scripture_n frame_v and_o invent_v by_o their_o own_o rabbin_n so_o we_o say_v that_o the_o popish_a tradition_n be_v innovation_n but_o then_o mr._n white_a and_o mr._n s._n tell_v we_o that_o they_o can_v demonstrate_v they_o to_o be_v descend_v from_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n because_o it_o be_v the_o present_a persuasion_n of_o a_o multitude_n of_o christian_n that_o they_o be_v so_o descend_v in_o like_a manner_n if_o this_o demonstration_n be_v good_a the_o jew_n can_v prove_v their_o tradition_n to_o be_v descend_v from_o moses_n and_o the_o prophet_n second_o he_o say_v that_o the_o form_n of_o these_o tradition_n be_v more_o ridiculous_a than_o the_o cant_v of_o gypsy_n or_o the_o juggle_n of_o hocuspocus_a because_o it_o consist_v in_o invent_v the_o sense_n of_o scripture_n from_o the_o mystery_n and_o number_n and_o change_n of_o letter_n this_o be_v a_o gross_a inexcusable_a mistake_n for_o though_o the_o jew_n have_v such_o a_o cabala_n call_v gematry_n as_o this_o which_o mr._n white_a describe_v yet_o that_o cabala_n which_o be_v urge_v in_o this_o instance_n and_o which_o our_o saviour_n reprove_v in_o the_o pharisee_n by_o the_o name_n of_o tradition_n be_v quite_o another_o thing_n and_o among_o the_o jewish_a writer_n know_v by_o the_o name_n of_o the_o unwritten_a or_o oral_a law_n which_o they_o say_v be_v deliver_v to_o moses_n on_o mount_n sinai_n and_o by_o he_o convey_v to_o aaron_n and_o joshua_n and_o the_o elder_n and_o successive_o deliver_v down_o from_o one_o age_n to_o another_o and_o at_o last_o by_o rabbi_n jehuda_n compile_v into_o one_o volume_n which_o they_o call_v mishna_n or_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d and_o this_o do_v not_o consist_v in_o the_o art_n of_o number_v combine_a or_o change_v of_o letter_n as_o mr._n white_n imagine_v but_o suppose_v it_o do_v so_o and_o be_v more_o ridiculous_a than_o he_o conject_v it_o to_o be_v the_o instance_n will_v be_v so_o much_o the_o more_o conclusive_a against_o they_o if_o what_o they_o affirm_v be_v true_a that_o oral_a tradition_n be_v infallible_a and_o that_o the_o persuasion_n of_o a_o traditionary_a church_n in_o any_o age_n that_o such_o a_o doctrine_n descend_v to_o they_o from_o christ_n or_o moses_n be_v a_o demonstration_n that_o it_o do_v so_o for_o if_o this_o be_v sufficient_a evidence_n it_o be_v nothing_o to_o the_o purpose_n what_o the_o doctrine_n be_v either_o for_o matter_n or_o form_n for_o if_o it_o be_v once_o demonstrate_v to_o have_v come_v from_o christ_n or_o moses_n it_o be_v without_o any_o far_a dispute_n to_o be_v receive_v as_o of_o divine_a authority_n so_o that_o mr._n white_a quite_o alter_v the_o state_n of_o the_o question_n which_o be_v not_o whether_o the_o jewish_a cabala_n be_v absurd_a and_o ridiculous_a but_o whether_o the_o general_a persuasion_n of_o the_o jew_n in_o any_o age_n that_o it_o descend_v to_o they_o by_o uninterrupted_a tradition_n from_o moses_n be_v a_o demonstration_n that_o it_o do_v so_o if_o it_o be_v than_o the_o jewish_a cabala_n be_v as_o demonstrative_o of_o divine_a authority_n as_o the_o oral_a doctrine_n of_o the_o papist_n three_o he_o say_v this_o cabala_n be_v a_o doctrine_n deliver_v to_o few_o and_o that_o with_o strict_a charge_n to_o keep_v it_o from_o publicity_n and_o so_o communicate_v it_o again_o successive_o to_o a_o select_a committee_n of_o a_o few_o wherein_o say_v he_o you_o may_v see_v as_o fair_a a_o opportunity_n for_o juggle_a and_o cozenage_n as_o in_o our_o case_n there_o be_v a_o impossibility_n this_o i_o think_v be_v true_a of_o the_o cabala_n which_o it_o seem_v mr._n white_a have_v only_o in_o his_o view_n but_o be_v a_o horrible_a mistake_n if_o he_o speak_v of_o the_o oral_a law_n which_o be_v contain_v in_o the_o mishnah_n and_o which_o this_o instance_n only_o intend_v for_o of_o this_o maimonides_n talmud_n say_v express_o that_o in_o every_o age_n from_o the_o time_n of_o moses_n to_o rabbi_n jehudah_n who_o compile_v the_o mishna_n the_o oral_a law_n be_v public_o teach_v and_o that_o after_o rabbi_n jehudah_n have_v compile_v it_o into_o one_o volume_n the_o israelite_n do_v general_o write_v out_o copy_n of_o it_o and_o it_o be_v every_o where_o careful_o teach_v for_o fear_v lest_o the_o oral_a law_n shall_v by_o forgetfulness_n be_v last_o among_o the_o jew_n so_o that_o upon_o account_n of_o the_o publickness_n of_o the_o doctrine_n there_o be_v as_o great_a a_o impossibility_n of_o juggle_a and_o cozenage_n in_o the_o case_n of_o the_o jewish_a as_o of_o the_o romish_a tradition_n beside_o be_v wash_v of_o hand_n and_o cup_n which_o they_o also_o pretend_v to_o have_v come_v down_o to_o they_o from_o moses_n and_o to_o have_v be_v constant_o practise_v in_o every_o age_n a_o secret_a thing_n be_v it_o not_o a_o practical_a tradition_n and_o perform_v in_o a_o sensible_a matter_n if_o therefore_o no_o age_n can_v conspire_v to_o impose_v upon_o the_o next_o in_o a_o plain_a custom_n and_o if_o a_o universal_a tradition_n of_o such_o a_o thing_n can_v come_v in_o without_o such_o a_o conspiracy_n how_o can_v this_o be_v the_o persuasion_n of_o any_o age_n that_o wash_v of_o hand_n etc._n etc._n be_v prescribe_v by_o moses_n and_o practise_v in_o all_o age_n if_o it_o have_v not_o true_o be_v so_o §_o 5._o second_o as_o for_o instance_n among_o christian_n whereof_o many_o remain_v yet_o upon_o record_n as_o namely_o the_o various_a and_o opposite_a tradition_n about_o the_o time_n of_o easter_n and_o concern_v the_o baptism_n of_o heretic_n and_o the_o apostolical_a tradition_n as_o st._n austin_n call_v it_o concern_v the_o admission_n of_o infant_n to_o the_o communion_n all_o which_o have_v be_v frequent_o urge_v in_o this_o controversy_n and_o none_o of_o they_o yet_o sufficient_o answer_v i_o shall_v to_o avoid_v tediousness_n pass_v by_o these_o insist_v only_o upon_o that_o of_o the_o chiliast_n which_o in_o justin_n martyr_n time_n be_v the_o persuasion_n of_o all_o orthodox_n christian_n that_o be_v in_o mr._n s_n dialect_n of_o all_o the_o holder_n to_o tradition_n for_o if_o notwithstanding_o the_o persuasion_n of_o that_o age_n that_o this_o doctrine_n be_v descend_v to_o they_o from_o the_o apostle_n it_o be_v not_o real_o so_o descend_v then_o the_o persuasion_n of_o christian_n in_o any_o age_n that_o a_o doctrine_n be_v bring_v down_o to_o they_o from_o the_o apostle_n be_v no_o demonstration_n that_o it_o be_v so_o §_o 6._o to_o this_o instance_n mr._n white_a answer_n etc._n by_o tell_v we_o that_o eusebius_n say_v that_o this_o tradition_n spring_v from_o papias_n a_o good_a but_o a_o credulous_a and_o simple_a man_n who_o it_o seem_v be_v mistake_v in_o say_v that_o it_o be_v the_o apostle_n doctrine_n but_o for_o all_o this_o justin_n martyr_n say_v it_o be_v receive_v by_o all_o orthodox_n christian_n in_o his_o time_n as_o a_o doctrine_n descend_v to_o they_o from_o the_o apostle_n and_o if_o justin_n say_v true_a nothing_o can_v make_v more_o against_o their_o demonstration_n of_o the_o infallibility_n of_o tradition_n than_o the_o natural_a consequence_n from_o these_o two_o say_n of_o eusebius_n and_o justin_n which_o be_v this_o that_o the_o mistake_n of_o one_o simple_a and_o credulous_a man_n may_v in_o a_o age_n or_o two_o give_v occasion_n to_o the_o universal_a entertainment_n of_o a_o doctrine_n as_o descend_v down_o to_o they_o from_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n when_o there_o be_v no_o such_o matter_n have_v not_o mr._n white_a now_o do_v his_o rule_n of_o faith_n great_a service_n by_o this_o answer_n but_o it_o be_v according_a to_o his_o manner_n in_o