Selected quad for the lemma: christian_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
christian_n	believe_v	faith_n	truth_n	2,701	5	5.8880	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A42447	Some considerations concerning the Trinity and the ways of managing that controversie	Gastrell, Francis, 1662-1725.	1696 (1696)	Wing G303; ESTC R14599	33,473	64

only_o as_o a_o trial_n and_o exercise_n of_o our_o faith_n and_o the_o more_o implicit_a that_o be_v the_o full_a do_v we_o express_v our_o trust_n and_o reliance_n upon_o god_n nay_o far_o there_o be_v those_o who_o do_v not_o scruple_n to_o say_v the_o more_o contradiction_n the_o better_a the_o great_a the_n struggle_v and_o opposition_n of_o reason_n the_o great_a be_v the_o triumph_n and_o merit_n of_o our_o faith_n but_o there_o be_v no_o likelihood_n of_o suppress_v any_o of_o our_o doubt_n or_o dispute_v in_o religion_n this_o way_n for_o beside_o the_o natural_a propension_n of_o the_o soul_n to_o the_o search_n of_o truth_n and_o the_o strong_a and_o impatient_a desire_n we_o have_v to_o know_v as_o much_o as_o ever_o we_o can_v of_o what_o immediate_o concern_v we_o it_o be_v general_o and_o very_o just_o look_v upon_o both_o as_o the_o privilege_n and_o duty_n of_o man_n to_o inquire_v and_o examine_v before_o he_o believe_v or_o judge_n and_o never_o give_v up_o his_o assent_n to_o any_o thing_n but_o upon_o good_a and_o rational_a ground_n and_o therefore_o it_o will_v be_v a_o very_a hard_a thing_n to_o persuade_v the_o world_n to_o stifle_v and_o restrain_v so_o many_o powerful_a motive_n of_o action_n but_o shall_v they_o be_v far_o prevail_v upon_o to_o go_v direct_o contrary_a to_o their_o reason_n it_o will_v be_v much_o more_o difficult_a to_o conquer_v the_o uneasiness_n of_o the_o reluctance_n and_o indeed_o it_o be_v well_o the_o difficulty_n of_o subdue_a the_o understanding_n be_v too_o great_a to_o be_v master_v for_o a_o slight_a reflection_n will_v serve_v to_o convince_v we_o that_o the_o necessary_a consequence_n of_o a_o blind_a resignation_n of_o judgement_n will_v be_v far_o more_o fatal_a to_o christianity_n than_o all_o our_o present_a division_n what_o blasphemy_n and_o contradiction_n may_v and_o have_v be_v impose_v upon_o man_n belief_n under_o the_o venerable_a name_n of_o mystery_n and_o how_o easy_a be_v villainous_a practice_n derive_v from_o a_o absurd_a faith_n this_o be_v matter_n of_o common_a observation_n and_o have_v bring_v a_o just_a scandal_n upon_o a_o large_a party_n of_o christian_n and_o give_v occasion_n to_o man_n of_o light_n undistinguish_a capacity_n to_o deny_v and_o scoff_n at_o the_o save_v truth_n of_o the_o gospel_n because_o they_o be_v accompany_v with_o a_o ridiculous_a mixture_n of_o error_n no_o doubt_n therefore_o we_o may_v and_o ought_v careful_o to_o examine_v the_o faith_n and_o principles_n we_o design_v for_o the_o rule_n of_o our_o life_n and_o endeavour_v to_o understand_v all_o our_o religion_n so_o far_o as_o to_o be_v able_a to_o justify_v it_o both_o to_o ourselves_o and_o unbeliever_n we_o ought_v indeed_o to_o proceed_v with_o all_o the_o caution_n and_o humility_n imaginable_a and_o take_v a_o just_a estimate_n of_o our_o task_n and_o ability_n but_o to_o deny_v we_o the_o liberty_n either_o of_o use_v or_o obey_v our_o reason_n be_v a_o suspicious_a as_o well_o as_o a_o unjust_a restraint_n 2._o there_o be_v other_o who_o call_v the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o trinity_n a_o incomprehensible_a mystery_n and_o yet_o be_v at_o a_o great_a deal_n of_o pain_n to_o bring_v it_o down_o to_o a_o level_n with_o humane_a understanding_n and_o be_v all_o very_a earnest_n to_o have_v their_o own_o particular_a explication_n acknowledge_v as_o necessary_a article_n of_o faith_n but_o the_o number_n and_o disagreement_n of_o the_o expositor_n plain_o discover_v the_o vanity_n of_o such_o pretence_n this_o have_v prove_v so_o unsuccessful_a a_o way_n that_o instead_o of_o unite_n the_o different_a judgement_n of_o christian_n in_o one_o point_n it_o have_v break_v the_o controversy_n into_o a_o thousand_o more_o for_o zeal_n and_o opposition_n raise_v up_o a_o great_a many_o assertor_n of_o the_o common_a belief_n and_o every_o one_o look_v out_o for_o some_o new_a term_n and_o mode_n of_o speech_n which_o shall_v be_v full_a and_o more_o expressive_a than_o those_o in_o question_n the_o difference_n and_o dispute_n be_v by_o consequence_n proportionable_o multiply_v for_o the_o term_n and_o form_n of_o speech_n make_v use_v of_o be_v capable_a of_o several_a sense_n and_o each_o of_o they_o attend_v with_o other_o accessary_a idea_n mistake_v must_v necessary_o arise_v and_o divers_a new_a thought_n be_v suggest_v to_o such_o who_o head_n be_v employ_v upon_o the_o same_o subject_a and_o thus_o it_o come_v to_o pass_v that_o defence_n and_o vindication_n of_o the_o orthodox_n faith_n produce_v more_o heresy_n wherefore_o in_o all_o such_o matter_n as_o these_o which_o be_v too_o big_a to_o be_v grasp_v we_o have_v better_o sit_v down_o content_v with_o what_o we_o have_v firm_a hold_n of_o than_o tire_v ourselves_o with_o vain_a endeavour_n to_o take_v in_o more_o it_o will_v certain_o be_v the_o true_a and_o the_o safe_a way_n strict_o to_o confine_v ourselves_o to_o scripture_n expression_n and_o never_o speak_v of_o supernatural_a thing_n but_o in_o the_o language_n of_o revelation_n which_o be_v the_o proper_a standard_n of_o all_o other_o word_n that_o shall_v be_v use_v on_o these_o occasion_n it_o be_v in_o vain_a to_o shift_v the_o measure_n when_o there_o be_v never_o another_o to_o be_v find_v which_o can_n or_o aught_o to_o reach_v far_o it_o may_v however_o sometime_o be_v necessary_a to_o change_v this_o method_n and_o introduce_v new_a term_n to_o secure_v the_o true_a faith_n against_o the_o false_a interpretation_n of_o such_o as_o pervert_v scripture_n for_o if_o heretic_n will_v make_v use_n of_o new_a expression_n to_o contradict_v the_o receive_a doctrine_n we_o must_v have_v new_a term_n to_o express_v the_o same_o truth_n in_o in_o opposition_n to_o their_o heresy_n and_o in_o this_o case_n the_o church_n may_v very_o reasonable_o require_v her_o member_n to_o show_v their_o steady_a continuance_n in_o the_o ancient_a faith_n by_o the_o use_n of_o such_o term_n as_o plain_o infer_v their_o denial_n of_o any_o late_a erroneous_a invention_n set_v up_o against_o it_o 3._o there_o be_v a_o three_o sort_n of_o man_n in_o the_o world_n who_o pretend_v that_o there_o be_v no_o mystery_n propose_v to_o we_o as_o a_o object_n of_o faith_n and_o in_o order_n to_o make_v this_o of_o the_o trinity_n appear_v to_o be_v none_o they_o bring_v a_o cloud_n over_o the_o whole_a bible_n and_o with_o strange_a force_a criticism_n and_o allegory_n give_v the_o very_o plain_a text_n such_o a_o unusual_a mysterious_a turn_n as_o neither_o the_o language_n will_v bear_v nor_o be_v any_o way_n consistent_a with_o the_o design_n or_o character_n of_o the_o holy_a writer_n but_o this_o be_v a_o very_a odd_a preposterous_a method_n of_o explain_v scripture_n by_o darken_v a_o great_a part_n of_o it_o to_o illustrate_v the_o rest_n and_o as_o ridiculous_a a_o project_n of_o heal_a division_n as_o pull_v down_o a_o whole_a side_n of_o stand_a wall_n to_o mend_v a_o breach_n and_o after_o all_o the_o socinian_n hypothesis_n seem_v to_o i_o to_o have_v more_o of_o mystery_n and_o contradiction_n to_o natural_a reason_n in_o it_o than_o what_o be_v object_v to_o the_o catholic_n doctrine_n i_o be_o not_o for_o clog_a the_o faith_n nor_o multiply_a mystery_n yet_o we_o ought_v not_o present_o to_o deny_v what_o we_o do_v not_o understand_v but_o sober_o and_o impartial_o consider_v how_o much_o we_o be_v able_a to_o comprehend_v and_o how_o far_o we_o be_v oblige_v to_o believe_v what_o we_o do_v not_o the_o method_n therefore_o i_o design_v to_o observe_v in_o the_o follow_a discourse_n shall_v be_v different_a from_o any_o of_o those_o now_o mention_v i_o shall_v not_o go_v about_o to_o press_v man_n to_o a_o blind_a veneration_n or_o presumptuous_a belief_n of_o any_o thing_n without_o examination_n or_o in_o defiance_n to_o reason_n i_o shall_v not_o offer_v to_o impose_v any_o new_a arbitrary_a explication_n of_o my_o own_o upon_o other_o man_n conscience_n but_o confine_v myself_o whole_o to_o the_o usual_a warrant_a form_n of_o expression_n i_o will_v not_o wrest_v and_o strain_v scripture_n to_o help_v out_o a_o private_a notion_n nor_o do_v any_o thing_n to_o betray_v the_o just_a right_n and_o privilege_n of_o our_o common_a reason_n but_o careful_o endeavour_v to_o distinguish_v how_o far_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o trinity_n be_v a_o mystery_n and_o how_o far_o a_o mystery_n may_v become_v a_o object_n of_o faith_n from_o whence_o i_o hope_v to_o make_v it_o appear_v that_o nothing_o hard_a or_o unreasonable_a be_v require_v of_o we_o by_o our_o church_n for_o the_o belief_n of_o this_o article_n in_o order_n to_o which_o i_o shall_v rank_v all_o my_o reflection_n upon_o this_o subject_a under_o these_o three_o head_n of_o enquiry_n i._o what_o it_o be_v that_o perplex_v and_o obscure_v our_o faith_n in_o the_o trinity_n ii_o what_o be_v sufficient_a for_o

conceive_v a_o trinity_n it_o be_v no_o mystery_n and_o consequent_o no_o oppression_n of_o our_o faith_n and_o so_o far_o as_o it_o can_v be_v comprehend_v it_o do_v not_o bind_v we_o to_o any_o explicit_fw-la act_n of_o faith_n as_o be_v plain_a from_o what_o have_v be_v say_v before_o concern_v the_o nature_n of_o faith_n and_o the_o person_n oblige_v to_o believe_v this_o article_n for_o all_o thing_n necessary_a to_o salvation_n be_v to_o be_v believe_v by_o all_o sort_n of_o man_n and_o nothing_o can_v be_v believe_v any_o far_a than_o the_o term_n in_o which_o it_o be_v propose_v be_v understand_v but_o a_o mystery_n can_v be_v bring_v down_o to_o the_o low_a capacity_n and_o be_v deliver_v in_o term_n that_o be_v plain_o and_o distinct_o understand_v for_o than_o it_o will_v be_v no_o long_o a_o mystery_n so_o far_o therefore_o as_o we_o be_v oblige_v to_o believe_v be_v no_o mystery_n for_o whatever_o term_n i_o be_o bid_v to_o believe_v a_o thing_n in_o i_o can_v comprehend_v i_o can_v mean_v no_o more_o but_o that_o i_o believe_v it_o to_o be_v in_o some_o manner_n i_o can_v comprehend_v and_o i_o be_o sure_a there_o be_v no_o difficulty_n or_o danger_n in_o believe_v that_o there_o be_v some_o thing_n which_o we_o be_v not_o able_a to_o find_v out_o or_o comprehend_v these_o be_v the_o reflection_n which_o offer_v themselves_o upon_o a_o careful_a and_o impartial_a consideration_n of_o this_o subject_a but_o here_o i_o foresee_v it_o may_v be_v ask_v what_o do_v we_o understand_v more_o of_o the_o trinity_n now_o than_o we_o do_v before_o what_o new_a hypothesis_n be_v here_o advance_v to_o solve_v all_o the_o difficulty_n of_o that_o doctrine_n by_o in_o answer_n to_o which_o objection_n i_o have_v this_o further_a to_o add_v for_o the_o justification_n of_o the_o forego_n discourse_n first_o that_o the_o principal_a design_n of_o my_o inquiry_n be_v to_o know_v what_o god_n require_v we_o all_o to_o believe_v in_o order_n to_o our_o salvation_n not_o how_o far_o the_o soul_n of_o man_n be_v capable_a of_o discover_v the_o deep_a thing_n of_o god_n for_o i_o be_o full_o persuade_v that_o there_o may_v be_v thing_n necessary_a to_o be_v believe_v and_o yet_o we_o not_o oblige_v to_o believe_v they_o in_o that_o distinct_a particular_a sense_n in_o which_o some_o learned_a man_n have_v explain_v they_o though_o their_o hypothesis_n shall_v be_v very_o rational_a and_o consistent_a and_o perhaps_o real_o true_a and_o therefore_o can_v there_o be_v any_o new_a way_n find_v out_o of_o make_v the_o trinity_n conceivable_a by_o human._n understanding_n i_o do_v not_o think_v we_o shall_v be_v under_o any_o obligation_n of_o believe_v that_o particular_a exposition_n of_o it_o for_o beside_o the_o difficulty_n of_o such_o abstract_a notion_n even_o in_o their_o plain_a dress_n with_o respect_n to_o mean_a capacity_n which_o be_v all_o equal_o concern_v in_o necessary_a article_n of_o faith_n it_o can_v be_v imagine_v that_o we_o shall_v be_v oblige_v to_o believe_v more_o than_o the_o christian_n who_o live_v before_o we_o be_v that_o more_o shall_v be_v necessary_a to_o our_o salvation_n than_o be_v to_o they_o and_o it_o be_v certain_a their_o faith_n be_v sufficient_a and_o effectual_a for_o obtain_v eternal_a life_n who_o can_v not_o possible_o believe_v what_o we_o suppose_v to_o be_v but_o late_o discover_v but_o two_o consider_v that_o we_o be_v permit_v with_o humility_n and_o reverence_n to_o exercise_n our_o soul_n in_o the_o search_n of_o divine_a knowledge_n and_o moreover_o that_o we_o ought_v as_o christian_n as_o well_o as_o man_n to_o give_v a_o reason_n of_o the_o faith_n we_o profess_v and_o defend_v it_o against_o all_o false_a and_o unjust_a imputation_n i_o have_v also_o make_v it_o my_o business_n to_o inquire_v how_o far_o we_o be_v capable_a of_o form_v distinct_a conception_n of_o a_o trinity_n and_o upon_o enquiry_n find_v that_o after_o a_o faithful_a trial_n of_o our_o faculty_n and_o a_o strict_a examination_n of_o all_o the_o simple_a notion_n which_o make_v up_o the_o proposition_n to_o believe_v we_o can_v arrive_v at_o great_a knowledge_n in_o this_o point_n than_o our_o forefather_n have_v do_v and_o that_o so_o much_o of_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o trinity_n as_o be_v a_o mystery_n to_o they_o be_v like_a to_o be_v so_o to_o the_o end_n of_o the_o world_n which_o if_o i_o have_v as_o full_o and_o sufficient_o prove_v to_o other_o as_o i_o be_o convince_v of_o it_o myself_o i_o shall_v not_o think_v my_o time_n or_o labour_n lose_v upon_o this_o subject_a for_o next_o to_o understand_v a_o thing_n thorough_o be_v to_o know_v we_o can_v understand_v it_o next_o to_o resolve_v a_o problem_n in_o mathematics_n be_v to_o demonstrate_v it_o can_v be_v do_v our_o soul_n be_v as_o much_o at_o rest_n our_o desire_n as_o quiet_a and_o all_o our_o design_n and_o pursuit_n as_o much_o at_o a_o end_n when_o we_o despair_v of_o victory_n as_o when_o we_o actual_o conquer_v and_o therefore_o if_o these_o be_v the_o true_a and_o proper_a limit_n of_o our_o faith_n and_o knowledge_n which_o i_o have_v assign_v if_o i_o have_v give_v a_o just_a account_n of_o what_o we_o be_v require_v to_o believe_v concern_v the_o trinity_n how_o much_o it_o be_v possible_a for_o we_o to_o believe_v of_o it_o and_o how_o far_o we_o be_v capable_a of_o have_v distinct_a conception_n about_o it_o it_o be_v in_o vain_a to_o search_v for_o new_a notion_n and_o hypothesis_n which_o may_v probable_o puzzle_v or_o deceive_v our_o understanding_n but_o can_v never_o lead_v we_o far_o into_o the_o knowledge_n of_o the_o trinity_n but_o i_o will_v not_o pretend_v to_o measure_v the_o ability_n of_o other_o man_n by_o my_o own_o i_o shall_v only_o say_v this_o more_o which_o i_o be_o sure_a i_o can_v true_o affirm_v that_o i_o have_v take_v all_o the_o care_n imaginable_a to_o deliver_v my_o judgement_n impartial_o and_o sincere_o and_o have_v not_o dare_v to_o impose_v any_o thing_n upon_o other_o which_o i_o do_v not_o believe_v myself_o or_o be_v any_o way_n inconsistent_a with_o the_o principle_n of_o right_a reason_n postscript_n these_o paper_n be_v in_o the_o press_n and_o every_o word_n in_o the_o book_n and_o preface_n as_o they_o stand_v now_o be_v write_v before_o his_o majesty_n injunction_n come_v forth_o the_o author_n be_v glad_a to_o find_v that_o he_o have_v not_o transgress_v they_o the_o authority_n and_o reasonableness_n of_o which_o he_o pay_v such_o a_o submission_n to_o that_o if_o he_o have_v not_o prescribe_v to_o himself_o the_o same_o rule_n in_o write_v that_o be_v now_o see_v enjoin_v by_o his_o superior_n he_o will_v have_v show_v his_o obedience_n to_o they_o by_o suppress_v what_o he_o have_v write_v finis_fw-la act_n 14._o ver_fw-la 15._o