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Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
christian_n apostle_n faith_n true_a 2,275 5 4.8716 4 true
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A30400 A rational method for proving the truth of the Christian religion, as it is professed in the Church of England in answer to A rational compendious way to convince without dispute all persons whatsoever dissenting from the true religion, by J.K. / by Gilbert Burnet. Burnet, Gilbert, 1643-1715. 1675 (1675) Wing B5846; ESTC R32583 48,508 114

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holy_a spirit_n of_o god_n have_v declare_v honourable_a in_o all_o without_o exception_n be_v a_o great_a sublimity_n they_o may_v well_o glory_n in_o it_o our_o saviour_n recommend_v cellbate_v only_o to_o those_o who_o be_v able_a to_o receive_v it_o but_o the_o roman_a church_n will_v force_v all_o in_o order_n to_o receive_v it_o whether_o they_o can_v or_o not_o and_o though_o s._n paul_n make_v it_o one_o of_o the_o character_n of_o a_o person_n fit_a to_o be_v a_o bishop_n that_o he_o have_v be_v marry_v and_o educate_v his_o child_n well_o which_o i_o shall_v not_o stretch_v so_o far_o as_o either_o the_o greek_a or_o the_o russian_a church_n do_v now_o and_o do_v not_o at_o all_o command_v he_o to_o abandon_v she_o and_o have_v elsewhere_o condemn_v that_o in_o all_o person_n without_o exception_n except_o it_o be_v for_o a_o time_n in_o order_n to_o fast_v and_o prayer_n 5._o and_o conform_v to_o this_o the_o primitive_a church_n do_v not_o require_v the_o clergy_n to_o abandon_v their_o wife_n but_o on_o the_o contrary_n do_v condemn_v such_o as_o do_v yet_o the_o roman_a church_n have_v most_o tyrannical_o impose_v this_o on_o all_o the_o clergy_n and_o although_o we_o read_v that_o god_n will_v judge_v whoremonger_n and_o adulterer_n but_o no_o where_o that_o he_o will_v judge_v the_o marry_a yet_o they_o have_v be_v very_o gentle_a to_o these_o cry_a scandal_n which_o continue_v to_o this_o day_n and_o have_v allow_v the_o concubinate_a when_o they_o condemn_v the_o marriage_n of_o the_o clergy_n by_o which_o they_o show_v they_o prefer_v the_o tradition_n of_o man_n to_o the_o command_n of_o god_n and_o thus_o far_o i_o have_v examine_v this_o branch_n of_o the_o parallel_n 1._o k._n make_v between_o the_o roman_a and_o the_o christian_a religion_n wherein_o i_o have_v be_v long_o than_o i_o intend_v but_o as_o short_a as_o the_o particular_n he_o name_v do_v allow_v when_o he_o bring_v the_o rest_n of_o his_o &c._n &c._n i_o doubt_v not_o it_o shall_v appear_v they_o be_v a_o sequel_n of_o such_o thing_n which_o the_o same_o or_o the_o like_a consideration_n will_v clear_v but_o i_o must_v follow_v his_o next_o step_n that_o the_o roman_a religion_n have_v be_v propagate_v over_o a_o great_a part_n of_o the_o world_n without_o the_o help_n of_o arm_n or_o humane_a enticement_n by_o stranger_n who_o convert_v many_o from_o paganism_n that_o allow_v liberty_n to_o their_o religion_n that_o teach_v severity_n and_o mortification_n to_o all_o which_o i_o reply_v that_o since_o the_o roman_a church_n be_v still_o christian_a i_o deny_v not_o but_o god_n may_v bless_v the_o honest_a endeavour_n of_o a_o great_a many_o of_o that_o communion_n so_o that_o their_o labour_n may_v have_v great_a success_n on_o infidel_n in_o convert_v they_o to_o christianity_n herein_o god_n bless_v they_o as_o he_o do_v the_o hebrew_n midwife_n who_o charitable_a tender_a heart_n god_n reward_v build_v they_o house_n pass_v over_o their_o lie_n but_o i._o k._n must_v not_o insist_v on_o this_o as_o a_o good_a argument_n otherways_o he_o will_v be_v drive_v into_o great_a absurdity_n do_v not_o the_o arrian_n by_o ulphilas_n his_o mean_n who_o be_v a_o stranger_n to_o the_o goth_n that_o be_v a_o barbarous_a cruel_a and_o yet_o vast_o numerous_a people_n convert_v they_o both_o to_o christianity_n and_o arrianism_n at_o once_o from_o whence_o we_o find_v the_o whole_a roman_a empire_n very_o soon_o overrun_v by_o arrianism_n upon_o the_o incursion_n of_o the_o goth_n vandal_n and_o longobard_n philostorgius_n do_v also_o inform_v we_o that_o theophilus_n a_o arrian_n convert_v the_o indian_n to_o the_o christian_a faith_n do_v not_o the_o greek_a church_n when_o it_o be_v break_v from_o the_o roman_a convert_v many_o nation_n the_o bulgar_o the_o muscovite_n and_o many_o other_o northern_a kingdom_n in_o fine_a what_o will_v i._o k._n answer_v according_a to_o his_o own_o argument_n to_o the_o great_a progress_n of_o the_o doctrine_n of_o luther_n and_o zuinglius_fw-la who_o notwithstanding_o all_o the_o opposition_n they_o meet_v and_o all_o the_o persecution_n their_o follower_n suffer_v yet_o do_v so_o strange_o propagate_v their_o doctrine_n that_o before_o half_a a_o age_n go_v about_o the_o great_a half_n of_o the_o roman_a church_n fall_v off_o from_o the_o obedience_n of_o that_o see_v to_o their_o doctrine_n which_o hold_v all_o the_o mystery_n of_o the_o christian_a religion_n and_o there_o be_v no_o need_n of_o more_o and_o instead_o of_o all_o the_o juggle_n the_o roman_a priest_n have_v bring_v in_o teach_v man_n a_o easy_a way_n to_o heaven_n do_v preach_v all_o the_o severity_n of_o a_o holy_a life_n which_o our_o saviour_n and_o his_o apostle_n teach_v and_o as_o they_o teach_v a_o severe_a course_n of_o life_n to_o all_o christian_n i_o do_v not_o speak_v of_o the_o particular_a severity_n of_o some_o order_n in_o the_o roman_a church_n but_o what_o must_v be_v the_o necessary_a condition_n upon_o which_o all_o may_v hope_v for_o salvation_n so_o they_o advance_v this_o without_o arm_n and_o under_o great_a persecution_n and_o here_o i._o k._n must_v think_v how_o he_o will_v answer_v his_o own_o dilemma_n that_o either_o this_o be_v do_v with_o miracle_n or_o without_o they_o if_o with_o they_o the_o doctrine_n must_v be_v true_a that_o be_v confirm_v by_o miracle_n if_o without_o they_o that_o propagation_n be_v a_o great_a miracle_n and_o thus_o i._n k._n will_v find_v it_o hard_o to_o avoid_v the_o dint_n of_o his_o own_o argument_n beside_o when_o i._o k._n speak_v of_o the_o propagation_n of_o the_o roman_a religion_n he_o must_v not_o prove_v that_o from_o the_o propagation_n of_o christianity_n by_o person_n of_o that_o religion_n though_o the_o same_o instrument_n may_v at_o the_o same_o time_n have_v engage_v their_o new_a convert_v to_o the_o particular_a conceit_n of_o that_o church_n for_o as_o it_o be_v observe_v before_o god_n blessing_n the_o sincerity_n of_o their_o labour_n so_o that_o they_o make_v convert_v to_o the_o christian_a doctrine_n that_o have_v so_o much_o to_o be_v say_v for_o it_o that_o it_o be_v a_o wonder_n all_o the_o world_n do_v not_o receive_v it_o it_o be_v not_o strange_a if_o those_o so_o convert_v see_v the_o foundation_n of_o the_o divine_a mission_n of_o jesus_n christ_n to_o be_v true_a do_v either_o in_o humble_a gratitude_n to_o their_o charitable_a instructor_n pay_v they_o all_o the_o return_n of_o acknowledgement_n and_o obedience_n or_o be_v ignorant_a of_o that_o doctrine_n which_o be_v whole_o new_a to_o they_o do_v easy_o receive_v and_o imbibe_n any_o particular_a opinion_n they_o may_v infuse_v in_o they_o and_o so_o at_o the_o same_o time_n become_v votary_n to_o christ_n and_o to_o rome_n but_o if_o i._n k._n will_v deal_v fair_o and_o satisfy_o he_o must_v
and_o endless_a wrangling_n of_o the_o school_n in_o matter_n of_o philosophy_n in_o which_o man_n be_v accustom_v to_o that_o game_n of_o dispute_v and_o subtilise_v about_o nothing_o and_o go_v from_o those_o study_n to_o divinity_n and_o carrying_z that_o same_o temper_n and_o fiery_a edge_n along_o with_o they_o they_o make_v all_o that_o work_n about_o it_o which_o have_v now_o so_o long_o divide_v the_o world_n they_o be_v also_o by_o a_o long_a practice_n habituate_v to_o many_o maxim_n and_o axiom_n which_o be_v lay_v down_o for_o rule_n not_o to_o be_v inquire_v into_o or_o deny_v come_v real_o to_o believe_v those_o be_v true_a and_o to_o carry_v they_o along_o with_o they_o to_o all_o their_o theological_a debate_n all_o which_o will_v appear_v very_o evident_a to_o any_o that_o compare_v their_o philosophical_a and_o theological_a work_n from_o which_o many_o of_o their_o strange_a inference_n and_o position_n do_v take_v their_o rise_n and_o i_o be_o afraid_a do_v still_o receive_v their_o nourishment_n thus_o far_o i_o have_v discourse_v of_o the_o several_a prejudices_fw-la the_o power_n of_o the_o natural_a man_n do_v lay_v in_o the_o way_n of_o our_o apprehend_n and_o judge_v aright_o of_o divine_a truth_n and_o the_o common_a notion_n of_o the_o moral_a philosophy_n will_v concur_v to_o teach_v all_o man_n that_o before_o their_o mind_n can_v be_v right_o qualify_v for_o the_o understanding_n any_o intellectual_a truth_n but_o most_o chief_o divine_a truth_n we_o must_v abstract_n from_o all_o those_o figure_n of_o thing_n which_o our_o sense_n present_a to_o we_o and_o rise_v above_o all_o grosser_n phantasm_n it_o be_v no_o less_o necessary_a that_o our_o thought_n be_v serene_a and_o free_a of_o passion_n that_o we_o may_v free_o and_o at_o leisure_n consider_v what_o lie_v before_o we_o without_o the_o bias_n of_o preconceive_a opinion_n or_o interest_n and_o it_o be_v equal_o rational_a with_o these_o that_o we_o have_v modest_a mind_n not_o 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along_o with_o he_o in_o all_o his_o inquiry_n which_o certain_o will_v not_o be_v want_v if_o he_o bring_v with_o he_o a_o sincere_a &_o well_o prepare_v mind_n not_o bias_v nor_o prepossess_v and_o of_o this_o we_o may_v be_v well_o assure_v both_o from_o the_o divine_a goodness_n and_o veracity_n for_o as_o he_o have_v promise_v that_o whoso_o seek_v shall_v find_v so_o it_o be_v a_o necessary_a consequent_a of_o infinite_a goodness_n to_o assist_v all_o that_o sincere_o seek_v after_o life_n and_o happiness_n but_o if_o any_o come_v to_o this_o study_n without_o he_o be_v due_o prepare_v he_o have_v himself_o to_o thank_v if_o he_o fall_v into_o error_n and_o mistake_n the_o next_o thing_n a_o exact_a searcher_n into_o religion_n must_v labour_v in_o be_v once_o to_o observe_v the_o nature_n of_o christianity_n and_o the_o great_a design_n of_o it_o and_o in_o this_o he_o be_v not_o to_o follow_v the_o small_a game_n of_o some_o particular_a and_o obscure_a passage_n but_o to_o observe_v through_o the_o whole_a new_a testament_n what_o be_v the_o great_a end_n of_o all_o our_o saviour_n speak_v and_o do_v and_o his_o disciple_n testify_v and_o write_v if_o once_o we_o comprehend_v this_o a_o right_a it_o will_v be_v a_o thread_n to_o carry_v we_o through_o particular_a disquisition_n for_o as_o there_o be_v many_o natural_a truth_n of_o which_o we_o be_v well_o assure_v though_o philosophy_n offer_v we_o some_o argument_n against_o they_o in_o the_o answer_v which_o we_o be_v not_o able_a to_o satisfy_v our_o reason_n so_o there_o may_v be_v some_o divine_a truth_n very_o certain_o make_v out_o to_o we_o and_o yet_o there_o may_v be_v place_n of_o scripture_n which_o seem_v so_o to_o contradict_v those_o truth_n that_o they_o can_v be_v well_o answer_v again_o a_o serious_a enquirer_n will_v see_v good_a reason_n to_o believe_v the_o scripture_n must_v be_v plain_a evident_a and_o clear_a since_o they_o be_v at_o first_o direct_v to_o man_n of_o very_a ordinary_a part_n and_o of_o no_o profound_a understanding_n and_o learning_n therefore_o he_o may_v well_o conclude_v those_o strange_a superstructure_n some_o have_v rear_v up_o for_o amuse_v the_o world_n can_v be_v none_o of_o the_o article_n of_o faith_n necessary_a to_o be_v believe_v and_o as_o the_o first_o convert_v be_v honest_a simple_a man_n so_o our_o saviour_n and_o the_o apostle_n speak_v in_o a_o plain_a easy_a stile_n therefore_o all_o these_o force_a criticism_n and_o inference_n by_o which_o some_o more_o ingenious_a than_o candid_a writer_n will_v expound_v they_o in_o a_o sense_n favourable_a to_o their_o opinion_n a●e_v not_o to_o be_v receive_v since_o these_o do_v often_o represent_v the_o divine_a discourse_n rather_o like_o the_o little_a trick_n of_o double-dealing_n and_o sophistry_n for_o which_o a_o honest_a tutor_n will_v severe_o chide_v his_o pupil_n word_n be_v to_o be_v understand_v in_o their_o plain_a meaning_n and_o not_o as_o logic_n or_o a_o nicety_n of_o criticism_n may_v distort_v and_o throw_v they_o if_o then_o a_o man_n will_v in_o this_o method_n which_o no_o honest_a man_n can_v except_v against_o go_v to_o the_o search_n of_o the_o scripture_n with_o a_o mind_n prepare_v as_o have_v be_v already_o say_v he_o can_v fail_v of_o find_v out_o all_o that_o be_v necessary_a for_o his_o salvation_n nor_o be_v he_o to_o be_v doubtful_o anxious_a concern_v the_o true_a book_n for_o none_o deny_v but_o the_o church_n care_n in_o all_o age_n have_v be_v the_o great_a conveyance_n of_o this_o the_o many_o various_a translation_n of_o all_o age_n and_o language_n nay_o and_o different_a religion_n agree_v in_o all_o material_a point_n and_o the_o citation_n out_o of_o those_o book_n which_o we_o find_v in_o a_o series_n of_o author_n who_o have_v live_v in_o the_o several_a age_n since_o they_o be_v write_v agree_v likewise_o with_o the_o book_n themselves_o together_o with_o many_o ancient_a manuscript_n which_o do_v yet_o remain_v of_o a_o great_a many_o language_n may_v abundant_o satisfy_v even_o the_o most_o severe_a inquirer_n that_o these_o be_v the_o very_a book_n which_o the_o apostle_n deliver_v and_o be_v universal_o receive_v by_o all_o christian_n the_o matter_n of_o fact_n be_v thus_o clear_v without_o any_o necessity_n of_o run_v to_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o church_n all_o those_o scruple_n which_o i._o k._n with_o the_o rest_n of_o his_o brethren_n will_v needs_o raise_v do_v vanish_v since_o they_o never_o distinguish_v exact_o between_o a_o witness_n and_o a_o judge_n for_o the_o former_a nothing_o be_v require_v but_o honesty_n and_o good_a information_n and_o we_o have_v the_o agree_a suffrage_n of_o many_o witness_n that_o do_v all_o agree_v in_o their_o testimony_n of_o these_o book_n who_o though_o they_o differ_v very_o much_o in_o their_o exposition_n of_o they_o yet_o concur_v in_o their_o verdict_n about_o the_o book_n and_o be_v check_n on_o one_o another_o in_o the_o faithful_a preserve_n and_o transcribe_v they_o in_o this_o sense_n we_o do_v receive_v the_o church_n testimony_n as_o the_o necessary_a mean_n of_o convey_v these_o book_n to_o we_o but_o a_o authority_n sacred_a and_o solemn_o declare_v be_v require_v in_o a_o judge_n and_o this_o no_o church_n can_v so_o much_o as_o pretend_v to_o but_o from_o the_o scripture_n therefore_o the_o scripture_n be_v receive_v as_o divine_n can_v depend_v on_o the_o sentence_n of_o the_o church_n as_o a_o judge_n since_o all_o its_o jurisdiction_n be_v derive_v from_o scripture_n which_o therefore_o must_v be_v acknowledge_v before_o it_o can_v be_v believe_v but_o because_o there_o be_v person_n of_o a_o mean_a condition_n and_o not_o educate_v so_o as_o to_o make_v all_o the_o inquiry_n which_o be_v necessary_a in_o so_o important_a a_o business_n there_o be_v therefore_o a_o short_a method_n for_o such_o
or_o write_v such_o character_n as_o shall_v convey_v into_o the_o ear_n or_o eye_n of_o other_o corporeal_a impression_n from_o which_o they_o may_v judge_v of_o our_o thought_n which_o be_v a_o great_a way_n about_o and_o much_o more_o unintelligible_a though_o we_o be_v very_o sure_o it_o be_v true_a then_o that_o a_o spirit_n shall_v communicate_v its_o thought_n to_o our_o understanding_n which_o it_o may_v either_o do_v by_o such_o outward_a impression_n on_o our_o sense_n as_o bring_v the_o thought_n of_o other_o man_n to_o our_o knowledge_n or_o without_o these_o outward_a object_n may_v make_v the_o same_o impression_n on_o our_o brain_n and_o like_v to_o this_o be_v the_o impression_n make_v on_o we_o in_o sleep_n in_o which_o we_o imagine_v we_o converse_v with_o the_o object_n of_o sense_n or_o final_o without_o the_o mean_n of_o any_o corporeal_a phantasm_n a_o spirit_n especiaal_o the_o supreme_a and_o sovereign_a spirit_n may_v immediate_o convey_v to_o our_o 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the_o christian_a religion_n chap._n iu._n it_o be_v consider_v if_o j._n k._n have_v prove_v convince_o the_o truth_n of_o the_o christian_a religion_n j._n k._n go_v on_o in_o his_o series_n of_o truth_n and_o his_o next_o attempt_n be_v to_o prove_v the_o truth_n of_o christian_a religion_n and_o indeed_o the_o atheism_n that_o have_v of_o late_o break_v out_o in_o the_o world_n and_o in_o upon_o we_o have_v engage_v so_o many_o excellent_a pen_n of_o all_o the_o party_n and_o division_n of_o christendom_n to_o stand_v up_o in_o vindication_n of_o our_o most_o holy_a faith_n with_o so_o much_o closeness_n of_o reason_n that_o it_o may_v be_v just_o a_o problem_n whether_o that_o pestiferous_a contagion_n have_v not_o occasion_v as_o much_o good_a to_o christian_a religion_n by_o the_o many_o admirable_a treatise_n have_v be_v write_v for_o it_o upon_o that_o account_n as_o it_o have_v do_v hurt_v by_o its_o own_o venom_n but_o to_o see_v i._o k._n manage_v so_o glorious_a a_o 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the_o common_a impression_n of_o nature_n and_o reason_n and_o this_o must_v prove_v as_o our_o saviour_n himself_o teach_v we_o that_o his_o miracle_n be_v true_a one_o and_o not_o wrought_v by_o the_o prince_n of_o devil_n since_o his_o doctrine_n 31._o be_v opposite_a and_o destructive_a of_o his_o interest_n and_o kingdom_n and_o our_o saviour_n also_o assert_v the_o truth_n of_o what_o he_o say_v most_o common_o from_o this_o topick_n that_o he_o come_v not_o to_o do_v his_o own_o will_v but_o the_o will_n of_o he_o that_o send_v he_o that_o he_o seek_v not_o himself_o nor_o his_o own_o honour_n but_o his_o father_n again_o our_o saviour_n assert_n his_o authority_n from_o the_o prophecy_n of_o moses_n and_o the_o other_o inspire_v person_n of_o that_o dispensation_n who_o prediction_n of_o the_o messiah_n do_v all_o agree_n to_o he_o and_o receive_v completion_n in_o he_o and_o from_o these_o our_o saviour_n often_o silence_v the_o jew_n and_o this_o be_v to_o we_o still_o a_o 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propagate_v as_o it_o be_v it_o can_v not_o have_v be_v make_v out_o that_o it_o be_v true_a and_o if_o so_o what_o must_v have_v be_v the_o strong_a argument_n use_v for_o it_o before_o it_o be_v so_o propagate_v either_o these_o be_v convince_a or_o not_o if_o they_o be_v not_o convince_a than_o it_o be_v propagate_v by_o weak_a and_o unconclude_a argument_n we_o can_v be_v bind_v to_o submit_v to_o it_o or_o believe_v it_o if_o these_o argument_n be_v convince_a we_o either_o know_v they_o or_o we_o know_v they_o not_o if_o we_o know_v they_o not_o how_o can_v we_o judge_v they_o be_v convince_a if_o we_o know_v they_o than_o we_o may_v be_v as_o well_o convince_v by_o they_o as_o those_o be_v to_o who_o they_o be_v at_o first_o propose_v the_o great_a argument_n the_o apostle_n offer_v be_v that_o our_o bless_a saviour_n wrought_v many_o miracle_n in_o the_o sight_n of_o the_o jew_n and_o that_o he_o be_v dead_a and_o lay_v in_o the_o grave_n be_v raise_v from_o the_o dead_a and_o 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