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christian_n body_n church_n unite_v 1,528 5 10.0785 5 true
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A61548 A discourse in vindication of the doctrine of the Trinity with an answer to the late Socinian objections against it from Scripture, antiquity and reason, and a preface concerning the different explications of the Trinity, and the tendency of the present Socinian controversie / by the Right Reverend Father in God Edward, Lord Bishop of Worcester. Stillingfleet, Edward, 1635-1699. 1697 (1697) Wing S5585; ESTC R14244 164,643 376

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church_n of_o jerusalem_n consist_v of_o all_o such_o then_o eusebius_n must_v suppose_v that_o church_n guilty_a of_o the_o same_o impiety_n with_o which_o he_o charge_v the_o ebionite_n and_o will_v he_o then_o have_v say_v that_o they_o have_v the_o true_a knowledge_n of_o christ_n among_o they_o no_o say_v they_o eusebius_n speak_v his_o own_o opinion_n but_o hegesippus_n be_v a_o ebionite_n himself_o mean_v otherwise_o but_o eusebius_n do_v not_o use_n hegesippus_n his_o word_n but_o his_o own_o in_o that_o place_n and_o withal_o how_o do_v it_o appear_v that_o hegesippus_n himself_o be_v a_o ebionite_n this_o one_o of_o their_o late_a writer_n have_v undertake_v but_o in_o such_o a_o manner_n as_o be_v not_o like_a to_o convince_v i_o it_o be_v thus_o 41._o hegesippus_n be_v himself_o a_o jewish_a christian_a and_o make_v use_v of_o the_o hebrew_n gospel_n and_o among_o the_o heretic_n which_o creep_v into_o the_o church_n of_o jerusalem_n he_o never_o number_v the_o ebionite_n or_o cerinthian_o but_o only_o the_o gnostic_n i_o will_v not_o dispute_v whether_o hegesippus_n be_v a_o jewish_a christian_n or_o not_o grant_v he_o be_v so_o yet_o how_o do_v it_o appear_v that_o all_o the_o jewish_a christian_n be_v at_o that_o time_n ebionites_n or_o cerinthian_o it_o seem_v they_o be_v neither_o of_o they_o heretic_n although_o they_o be_v opposite_a to_o each_o other_o the_o one_o hold_v the_o world_n create_v by_o inferior_a power_n the_o other_o by_o god_n himself_o the_o one_o we_o see_v make_v christ_n a_o mere_a man_n but_o the_o cerinthian_o hold_v a_o illapse_n of_o the_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d upon_o he_o and_o so_o make_v he_o a_o kind_n of_o a_o god_n by_o his_o presence_n as_o nestorius_n do_v afterward_o but_o honest_a hegesippus_n take_v neither_o one_o nor_o the_o other_o for_o heretic_n if_o our_o unitarian_n say_v true_a but_o yet_o it_o do_v not_o appear_v that_o hegesippus_n be_v either_o one_o or_o the_o other_o for_o he_o speak_v of_o the_o church_n of_o jerusalem_n as_o be_v plain_a by_o eusebius_n 22._o and_o the_o cerinthian_o and_o ebionite_n be_v in_o other_o part_n the_o former_a in_o egypt_n and_o the_o lesser_a or_o proconsular_a asia_n and_o the_o latter_a about_o decapolis_n and_o coelesyria_n from_o whence_o they_o spread_v into_o arabia_n and_o armenia_n as_o appear_v by_o epiphanius_n but_o origen_n say_v that_o all_o the_o jewish_a christian_n be_v ebionite_n what!_o no_o cerinthian_n among_o they_o be_v not_o those_o jewish_a christian_n or_o be_v they_o all_o turn_v ebionites_n then_o no_o such_o thing_n appear_v by_o origen_n say_n but_o we_o be_v not_o inquire_v now_o what_o they_o be_v in_o his_o time_n but_o in_o the_o church_n of_o jerusalem_n do_v origen_n say_v all_o the_o jewish_a christian_n there_o be_v such_o and_o as_o to_o his_o own_o time_n it_o be_v not_o improbable_a that_o those_o who_o then_o make_v up_o the_o separate_a body_n of_o jewish_a christian_n be_v ebionite_n but_o what_o be_v this_o to_o the_o first_o christian_n of_o the_o church_n of_o jerusalem_n very_o much_o say_v they_o because_o the_o first_o christian_n be_v call_v nazarene_o and_o the_o nazarene_o hold_v the_o same_o doctrine_n with_o the_o ebionite_n but_o the_o title_n of_o nazarene_o do_v not_o always_o signify_v the_o same_o thing_n it_o be_v at_o first_o use_v for_o all_o christian_n 24.5_o as_o appear_v by_o the_o sect_n of_o the_o nazarene_o in_o tertullus_n his_o accusation_n of_o s._n paul_n than_o it_o be_v take_v for_o the_o christian_n who_o stay_v at_o pella_n and_o settle_v at_o decapolis_n and_o thereabouts_o as_o epiphanius_n affirm_v 7._o for_o although_o all_o the_o christian_n withdraw_v thither_o before_o the_o destruction_n of_o jerusalem_n as_o eusebius_n say_v yet_o they_o do_v not_o all_o continue_v there_o but_o a_o great_a number_n return_v to_o jerusalem_n and_o be_v there_o settle_v under_o their_o bishop_n but_o those_o who_o remain_v about_o pella_n keep_v the_o name_n of_o nazarene_o and_o never_o be_v unite_v with_o the_o gentile_a christian_n but_o keep_v up_o their_o old_a jewish_a custom_n as_o to_o their_o synagogue_n even_o in_o s._n jerom_n and_o s._n augustine_n time_n now_o these_o nazarene_o may_v be_v all_o ebionite_n and_o yet_o those_o of_o the_o church_n of_o jerusalem_n not_o so_o at_o all_o 2._o the_o next_o thing_n observable_a from_o this_o place_n of_o eusebius_n be_v that_o while_o the_o nazarene_o and_o ebionites_n be_v settle_v in_o coelesyria_n and_o the_o part_n thereabouts_o there_o be_v a_o regular_a christian_a church_n at_o jerusalem_n under_o the_o bishop_n of_o the_o circumcision_n to_o the_o siege_n of_o hadrian_n eusebius_n observe_v that_o before_o the_o destruction_n of_o jerusalem_n all_o the_o christian_n forsake_v not_o only_a jerusalem_n 5._o but_o the_o coast_n of_o judea_n but_o that_o they_o do_v not_o all_o continue_v there_o be_v most_o evident_a from_o what_o eusebius_n here_o say_v of_o the_o church_n and_o bishop_n of_o jerusalem_n between_o the_o two_o sieges_n of_o titus_n vespasian_n and_o hadrian_n 8._o which_o be_v in_o the_o 18_o year_n of_o his_o empire_n say_v eusebius_n who_o produce_v another_o testimony_n out_o of_o justin_n martyr_n which_o show_v that_o the_o christian_n be_v return_v to_o jerusalem_n for_o therein_o he_o say_v that_o barchochebas_n in_o that_o war_n use_v the_o christian_n with_o very_a great_a severity_n to_o make_v they_o renounce_v christianity_n how_o can_v this_o be_v if_o all_o the_o christian_n be_v out_o of_o his_o reach_n then_o be_v settle_v about_o pella_n and_o although_o eusebius_n say_v 6._o that_o when_o the_o jew_n be_v banish_v their_o country_n by_o hadrian_n be_v edict_n that_o then_o the_o church_n of_o jerusalem_n be_v make_v up_o of_o gentile_n yet_o we_o be_v not_o so_o strict_o to_o understand_v he_o as_o though_o the_o christian_n who_o suffer_v under_o barchochebas_n be_v whole_o exclude_v orosius_n say_v 13._o that_o they_o be_v permit_v by_o the_o emperor_n edict_n it_o be_v sufficient_a for_o i_o if_o they_o be_v connive_v at_o which_o be_v very_o probable_a although_o they_o do_v not_o think_v fit_a to_o have_v any_o such_o public_a person_n as_o their_o bishop_n to_o be_v any_o other_o than_o gentile_n and_o hegesippus_n be_v allow_v after_o this_o time_n to_o have_v be_v a_o jewish_a christian_n of_o the_o church_n of_o jerusalem_n so_o that_o the_o church_n there_o must_v consist_v both_o of_o jew_n and_o gentile_n but_o they_o can_v never_o show_v that_o any_o of_o the_o ebionite_n do_v admit_v any_o gentile_a christian_n among_o they_o which_o show_v that_o they_o be_v then_o distinct_a body_n 2._o they_o be_v not_o only_o distinct_a in_o communion_n but_o have_v a_o different_a rule_n of_o faith_n this_o be_v a_o point_n of_o great_a consequence_n and_o aught_o to_o be_v well_o consider_v for_o since_o our_o unitarian_n own_o the_o ebionite_n as_o their_o predecessor_n we_o ought_v to_o have_v a_o particular_a eye_n to_o the_o rule_n of_o faith_n receive_v by_o they_o which_o must_v be_v very_o different_a from_o we_o if_o they_o follow_v the_o ebionite_n as_o i_o doubt_v not_o to_o make_v it_o appear_v they_o say_v the_o ebionite_n use_v only_o s._n matthew_n be_v gospel_n but_o the_o christian_a church_n then_o 42._o and_o ever_o since_o have_v receive_v the_o four_o gospel_n as_o of_o divine_a authority_n eusebius_n one_o of_o the_o most_o approve_a author_n in_o antiquity_n by_o our_o unitarian_n reckon_v up_o the_o four_o evangelist_n and_o s._n paul_n be_v epistle_n as_o write_n universal_o receive_v by_o the_o christian_a church_n then_o he_o mention_n some_o general_o reject_v as_o spurious_a and_o after_o those_o which_o be_v doubt_v among_o which_o he_o mention_n the_o gospel_n according_a to_o the_o hebrew_n which_o the_o jewish_a christian_n follow_v now_o here_o be_v a_o apparent_a difference_n put_v between_o the_o gospel_n according_a to_o the_o 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to_o go_v about_o to_o prove_v they_o but_o to_o show_v what_o use_n we_o be_v to_o make_v of_o they_o we_o must_v consider_v that_o it_o can_v be_v deny_v that_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o trinity_n do_v meet_v with_o opposition_n very_o early_o in_o the_o christian_a church_n especial_o among_o the_o jewish_a christian_n i_o mean_v those_o who_o strict_o adhere_v to_o the_o law_n of_o moses_n after_o the_o apostle_n have_v declare_v the_o freedom_n of_o christian_n from_o the_o obligation_n of_o it_o these_o as_o i_o shall_v show_v by_o and_o by_o soon_o after_o the_o dispersion_n of_o the_o church_n of_o jerusalem_n gather_v into_o a_o body_n by_o themselves_o distinct_a from_o that_o which_o consist_v of_o jew_n and_o gentile_n and_o be_v therefore_o call_v the_o catholic_n christian_n church_n and_o this_o separate_a body_n whether_o call_v ebionites_n nazarene_o or_o minean_n do_v not_o only_o differ_v from_o the_o catholic_n christian_n church_n as_o to_o the_o necessity_n of_o 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doctrine_n of_o christ_n it_o must_v be_v understand_v of_o his_o pre-existence_n and_o divinity_n for_o the_o other_o we_o see_v he_o account_v a_o impiety_n and_o he_o tell_v we_o the_o church_n of_o jerusalem_n then_o consist_v of_o believe_a jew_n and_o so_o it_o have_v do_v from_o the_o apostle_n time_n to_o that_o of_o hadrian_n be_v banishment_n of_o the_o jew_n which_o be_v a_o considerable_a testimony_n to_o two_o purpose_n 1._o to_o show_v that_o the_o primitive_a church_n of_o jerusalem_n do_v hold_v the_o doctrine_n of_o christ_n pre-existence_n and_o divinity_n but_o say_v our_o unitarian_n this_o do_v not_o follow_v for_o what_o reason_n when_o it_o be_v plain_a that_o eusebius_n account_v that_o the_o only_a genuine_a doctrine_n no_o say_v they_o 176._o he_o mean_v only_o the_o miraculous_a conception_n and_o that_o they_o hold_v that_o in_o opposition_n to_o those_o ebionite_n who_o say_v that_o he_o be_v bear_v as_o other_o man_n be_v this_o be_v very_o strange_a 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his_o explication_n of_o the_o trinity_n be_v a_o great_a piece_n of_o nonsense_n 13._o though_o it_o come_v so_o near_o to_o socinianism_n but_o how_o do_v the_o other_o antagonist_n escape_v what_o nothing_o but_o good_a word_n to_o he_o in_o this_o place_n they_o have_v a_o mind_n to_o keep_v he_o in_o heart_n and_o only_o charge_v he_o with_o a_o heresy_n which_o they_o laugh_v at_o but_o in_o another_o place_n they_o set_v he_o out_o with_o such_o colour_n as_o show_v they_o intend_v only_o to_o play_v one_o upon_o the_o other_o they_o charge_v he_o not_o only_o with_o heresy_n but_o polytheism_n 24._o which_o they_o say_v be_v next_o to_o atheism_n that_o his_o vindication_n be_v a_o supercilious_a disdainful_a and_o peevish_a answer_n that_o he_o have_v neither_o humanity_n nor_o good_a manner_n leave_v 31._o that_o there_o be_v nothing_o considerable_a in_o his_o book_n but_o what_o he_o borrow_a from_o them_o these_o be_v some_o of_o the_o flower_n which_o they_o bestow_v on_o these_o person_n of_o reputation_n in_o polemic_a squabble_n as_o they_o call_v it_o which_o plain_o show_v that_o their_o aim_n be_v as_o much_o as_o may_v be_v to_o divide_v and_o then_o to_o expose_v we_o and_o shall_v we_o still_o go_v on_o to_o gratify_v this_o insult_a humour_n of_o they_o by_o contend_v with_o one_o another_o and_o afford_v they_o still_o new_a matter_n for_o book_n against_o both_o as_o we_o may_v see_v in_o their_o late_a discourse_n about_o nominal_a and_o real_a trinitarian_n which_o be_v intend_v for_o a_o rare_a show_n wherein_o the_o two_o party_n be_v represent_v as_o combat_v with_o one_o another_o and_o they_o stand_v by_o and_o triumph_v over_o these_o cadmean_a brethren_n as_o they_o call_v they_o neither_o be_v they_o the_o socinian_o only_o but_o those_o who_o despise_v all_o religion_n who_o i_o doubt_v be_v the_o far_o great_a number_n be_v very_o much_o entertain_v with_o such_o encounter_n between_o man_n of_o wit_n and_o part_n because_o they_o think_v and_o they_o do_v not_o think_v amiss_o that_o religion_n itself_o will_v be_v the_o great_a sufferer_n by_o they_o at_o last_o and_o this_o be_v the_o most_o dangerous_a but_o i_o hope_v not_o the_o most_o prevail_a party_n of_o man_n among_o we_o the_o socinian_o profess_v themselves_o christian_n and_o i_o hope_v be_v so_o especial_o if_o but_o one_o article_n of_o faith_n be_v require_v to_o make_v man_n so_o but_o i_o can_v but_o observe_v that_o in_o the_o late_a socinian_n pamphlet_n there_o be_v too_o strong_a a_o bias_n towards_o deism_n which_o consideration_n alone_o shall_v make_v we_o unite_v and_o look_v more_o narrow_o to_o their_o step_n i_o do_v not_o charge_v their_o writer_n with_o a_o profess_a design_n to_o advance_v deism_n among_o we_o but_o their_o way_n of_o manage_v their_o dispute_n be_v as_o if_o they_o have_v a_o mind_n to_o serve_v they_o and_o such_o man_n who_o be_v enemy_n to_o all_o reveal_v religion_n can_v not_o find_v out_o better_a tool_n for_o their_o purpose_n than_o they_o be_v for_o they_o know_v very_o well_o that_o in_o such_o a_o nation_n as_o we_o which_o be_v real_o concern_v for_o the_o profession_n of_o religion_n one_o way_n or_o other_o there_o be_v no_o open_v profess_v school_n of_o atheism_n but_o the_o design_n must_v be_v carry_v on_o under_o some_o show_n of_o religion_n and_o nothing_o serve_v their_o turn_n so_o well_o as_o set_v up_o natural_a religion_n in_o opposition_n to_o reveal_v for_o this_o be_v the_o way_n by_o degree_n to_o loosen_v and_o unhinge_v the_o faith_n of_o most_o man_n which_o with_o great_a reason_n be_v build_v on_o the_o scripture_n as_o the_o sure_a foundation_n but_o here_o it_o be_v fit_a to_o observe_v the_o several_a step_n they_o take_v in_o order_n to_o this_o advance_v deism_n and_o how_o our_o unitarian_n have_v comply_v with_o all_o of_o they_o i._o the_o first_o point_n they_o be_v to_o gain_v be_v the_o lessen_v the_o authority_n of_o scripture_n and_o if_o this_o be_v once_o do_v they_o know_v man_n mind_n will_v be_v leave_v so_o rove_a and_o uncertain_a that_o they_o will_v soon_o fall_v into_o scepticism_n and_o infidelity_n ii_o the_o next_o be_v to_o represent_v churchman_n as_o person_n of_o interest_n and_o design_n who_o maintain_v religion_n only_o because_o it_o support_v they_o and_o this_o they_o call_v priest-cra●t_a and_o if_o they_o can_v by_o this_o mean_n take_v away_o their_o authority_n too_o the_o way_n lie_v still_o more_o open_a for_o they_o for_o it_o be_v more_o easy_a to_o make_v a_o prey_n of_o the_o flock_n when_o the_o shepherd_n be_v suspect_v only_o to_o look_v after_o their_o fleece_n since_o such_o a_o suspicion_n take_v away_o all_o trust_n and_o confidence_n in_o their_o guide_n and_o they_o know_v very_o well_o how_o little_a other_o will_v be_v able_a to_o defend_v themselves_o iii_o another_o step_n be_v to_o magnify_v the_o deist_n as_o man_n of_o probity_n and_o good_a sense_n that_o assert_v the_o just_a liberty_n of_o mankind_n against_o that_o terrible_a thing_n call_v priest-craft_n and_o that_o will_v rescue_v religion_n from_o false_a gloss_n and_o absurd_a notion_n take_v up_o from_o the_o school_n and_o teach_v in_o the_o university_n on_o purpose_n to_o keep_v under_o those_o principle_n of_o universal_a liberty_n as_o to_o opinion_n which_o those_o of_o free_a mind_n endeavour_v to_o promote_v but_o especial_o they_o be_v great_a enemy_n to_o all_o mystery_n of_o faith_n as_o unreasonable_a imposition_n on_o those_o of_o more_o refine_a understand_n and_o of_o clear_a and_o distinct_a perception_n as_o they_o have_v learn_v to_o express_v themselves_o these_o they_o account_v intolerable_a usurpation_n on_o man_n of_o such_o elevation_n as_o themselves_o for_o mystery_n be_v only_o for_o the_o mob_n and_o not_o for_o person_n of_o such_o noble_a capacity_n iv._o the_o last_o thing_n be_v to_o represent_v all_o religion_n as_o indifferent_a since_o they_o agree_v 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as_o to_o their_o interest_n in_o this_o world_n which_o they_o have_v reason_n to_o value_v but_o to_o be_v a_o deist_n seem_v to_o be_v only_o a_o set_n up_o for_o have_v more_o wit_n than_o to_o be_v cheat_v by_o the_o priest_n and_o impose_v upon_o by_o the_o common_a form_n of_o religion_n which_o serve_v well_o enough_o for_o ordinary_a people_n that_o want_v sense_n and_o be_v not_o skill_v in_o demonstration_n but_o the_o deist_n be_v so_o wise_a as_o to_o see_v through_o all_o these_o thing_n and_o therefore_o this_o name_n gain_v a_o reputation_n among_o all_o such_o as_o hate_v religion_n but_o know_v not_o how_o otherwise_o to_o distinguish_v themselves_o from_o process_v atheist_n which_o they_o will_v by_o no_o mean_n be_v take_v for_o although_o if_o they_o be_v press_v home_o very_o few_o among_o they_o will_v sincere_o own_v any_o more_o than_o a_o series_n of_o cause_n without_o any_o intellectual_a perfection_n which_o they_o call_v god_n a_o strange_a god_n without_o wisdom_n goodness_n justice_n or_o providence_n but_o i_o be_o now_o to_o show_v how_o in_o all_o these_o point_v the_o present_a unitarian_n have_v be_v very_o serviceable_a to_o they_o in_o the_o book_n which_o they_o have_v late_o publish_v and_o disperse_v both_o in_o city_n and_o country_n 1._o as_o to_o the_o authority_n of_o scripture_n they_o have_v be_v already_o just_o expose_v for_o undermine_v the_o authority_n of_o s._n john_n gospel_n by_o muster_v up_o all_o the_o argument_n of_o the_o old_a heretic_n against_o it_o 5._o and_o give_v no_o answer_n to_o they_o and_o what_o defence_n have_v they_o since_o make_v for_o themselves_o no_o other_o but_o this_o very_a trifle_a one_o that_o they_o repeat_v their_o reason_n but_o do_v not_o affirm_v they_o 47._o what_o be_v the_o meaning_n of_o this_o if_o they_o be_v true_a why_o do_v