Selected quad for the lemma: christian_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
christian_n	catholic_n	church_n	visible_a	3,069	5	9.7377	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A59860	The protestant resolution of faith being an answer to three questions : I. How far we must depend on the authority of the church for the true sense of Scripture? II. Whether a visible succession from Christ to this day makes a church, which has this succession, an infallible interpreter of Scripture, and whether no church, which has not this succession, can teach the true sense of Scripture? III. Whether the Church of England can make out such a visible succession?	Sherlock, William, 1641?-1707.	1683 (1683)	Wing S3332; ESTC R22228	24,360	46

faith_n of_o the_o primitive_a church_n in_o these_o matter_n and_o therefore_o the_o great_a advocate_n for_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n be_v force_v to_o take_v the_o same_o course_n in_o confute_v heresy_n as_o they_o call_v they_o that_o we_o do_v they_o allege_v the_o authority_n of_o scripture_n the_o authority_n of_o father_n and_o council_n to_o justify_v their_o innovation_n and_o here_o we_o willing_o join_v issue_n with_o they_o and_o be_v ready_a to_o prove_v that_o scripture_n and_o all_o true_a antiquity_n be_v on_o our_o side_n and_o this_o have_v be_v often_o and_o unanswerable_o prove_v by_o the_o learned_a patron_n of_o the_o reformation_n but_o there_o be_v some_o very_a material_a thing_n to_o be_v observe_v from_o hence_o for_o our_o present_a purpose_n for_o either_o they_o think_v this_o a_o good_a way_n to_o prove_v what_o they_o intend_v and_o to_o convince_v gainsayers_a by_o the_o authority_n of_o scripture_n and_o primitive_a antiquity_n or_o they_o do_v not_o if_o they_o do_v not_o think_v this_o a_o good_a way_n to_o what_o purpose_n be_v there_o so_o many_o volume_n of_o controversy_n write_v why_o do_v they_o produce_v scripture_n and_o father_n and_o council_n to_o justify_v the_o usurpation_n of_o their_o church_n and_o those_o new_a addition_n they_o have_v make_v to_o the_o christian_a faith_n and_o worship_n if_o this_o be_v not_o a_o good_a way_n to_o convince_v a_o heretic_n why_o do_v they_o give_v themselves_o and_o we_o such_o a_o impertinent_a trouble_n if_o this_o be_v a_o good_a way_n than_o we_o be_v in_o a_o good_a way_n already_o we_o take_v that_o very_a way_n for_o our_o satisfaction_n which_o by_o their_o own_o confession_n and_o practice_n be_v a_o very_a proper_a mean_n for_o the_o conviction_n of_o heretic_n and_o to_o discover_v the_o truth_n and_o after_o the_o most_o diligent_a inquiry_n we_o can_v make_v we_o be_v satisfy_v that_o the_o truth_n be_v on_o our_o side_n if_o the_o authority_n of_o scripture_n signify_v any_o thing_n in_o this_o matter_n than_o it_o seem_v heretic_n who_o reject_v the_o authority_n of_o a_o infallible_a judge_n may_v understand_v scripture_n without_o a_o infallible_a interpreter_n by_o the_o exercise_n of_o reason_n and_o judgement_n in_o study_v of_o they_o otherwise_o why_o do_v they_o pretend_v to_o expound_v scripture_n to_o we_o and_o to_o convince_v we_o by_o reason_n and_o argument_n what_o the_o true_a sense_n of_o scripture_n be_v if_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o primitive_a church_n and_o first_o christian_n writer_n be_v considerable_a as_o they_o acknowledge_v it_o be_v by_o their_o appeal_n to_o they_o then_o at_o least_o the_o present_a pope_n or_o church_n be_v not_o the_o sole_a infallible_a judge_n of_o controversy_n unless_o they_o will_v say_v that_o we_o must_v not_o judge_v of_o the_o doctrine_n or_o practice_n of_o the_o primitive_a church_n by_o ancient_a record_n and_o then_o baronius_n his_o annal_n be_v worth_a nothing_o but_o by_o the_o judgement_n and_o practice_n of_o the_o present_a church_n the_o sum_n be_v this_o there_o be_v great_a reason_n to_o suspect_v that_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n herself_o do_v not_o believe_v she_o own_o infallibility_n no_o more_o than_o we_o protestant_n do_v for_o if_o she_o do_v she_o ought_v not_o to_o suffer_v her_o doctor_n to_o dispute_v with_o heretic_n from_o any_o other_o topick_n but_o her_o own_o authority_n when_o they_o vie_v reason_n and_o argument_n with_o we_o and_o dispute_v from_o scripture_n and_o antiquity_n they_o appeal_v from_o the_o infallibility_n of_o the_o present_a church_n to_o every_o man_n private_a reason_n and_o judgement_n as_o much_o as_o any_o protestant_n do_v and_o if_o the_o article_n of_o the_o christian_a faith_n may_v be_v establish_v by_o scripture_n and_o antiquity_n without_o a_o infallible_a judge_n as_o they_o suppose_v they_o may_v be_v by_o their_o frequent_a attempt_n to_o do_v it_o this_o plain_o overthrow_v the_o necessity_n of_o a_o infallible_a judge_n in_o a_o word_n not_o to_o take_v notice_n now_o how_o weak_a and_o groundless_a this_o pretence_n of_o infallibility_n be_v it_o be_v evident_a that_o it_o be_v a_o very_a useless_a doctrine_n for_o those_o who_o believe_v the_o church_n infallibility_n have_v no_o great_a assurance_n of_o their_o faith_n than_o we_o have_v who_o do_v not_o believe_v it_o and_o those_o who_o do_v not_o believe_v the_o church_n infallibility_n can_v never_o be_v confute_v by_o it_o so_o that_o it_o can_v neither_o establish_v any_o man_n faith_n nor_o confute_v any_o heresy_n that_o be_v it_o be_v of_o no_o use_n at_o all_o the_o church_n of_o england_n reverence_n the_o authority_n of_o the_o primitive_a church_n as_o the_o best_a witness_n of_o the_o apostolical_a faith_n and_o practice_n but_o yet_o resolve_v her_o faith_n at_o last_o into_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o scripture_n she_o receive_v nothing_o for_o a_o article_n of_o faith_n which_o she_o do_v not_o find_v plain_o enough_o teach_v in_o scripture_n but_o it_o be_v a_o great_a confirmation_n of_o her_o interpretation_n of_o scripture_n that_o the_o primitive_a church_n own_v the_o same_o doctrine_n which_o she_o do_v and_o she_o look_v upon_o it_o as_o a_o just_a prejudice_n against_o any_o exposition_n of_o scripture_n if_o they_o contradict_v the_o common_a faith_n of_o the_o first_o christian_n and_o therefore_o when_o the_o word_n of_o scripture_n be_v fair_o capable_a of_o different_a sense_n she_o choose_v that_o sense_n which_o be_v most_o agreeable_a with_o the_o catholic_n faith_n and_o practice_n of_o the_o primitive_a church_n but_o shall_v any_o doctrine_n be_v impose_v upon_o she_o as_o article_n of_o faith_n which_o be_v no_o where_o to_o be_v find_v in_o scripture_n or_o which_o be_v plain_o contrary_a to_o it_o as_o the_o new_a trent_n creed_n be_v whatever_o pretence_n there_o be_v for_o the_o antiquity_n of_o such_o doctrine_n she_o utter_o reject_v they_o she_o will_v not_o put_v out_o her_o own_o eye_n to_o follow_v any_o other_o guide_n and_o thanks_o be_v to_o god_n she_o need_v not_o reject_v any_o true_o catholic_n doctrine_n in_o this_o way_n we_o still_o retain_v the_o faith_n of_o the_o primitive_a church_n and_o be_v great_o confirm_v in_o it_o from_o that_o admirable_a consent_n there_o be_v between_o the_o scripture_n as_o expound_v by_o we_o and_o that_o faith_n which_o be_v ancient_o own_v and_o receive_v by_o all_o christian_n have_v thus_o show_v in_o what_o sense_n the_o church_n be_v the_o interpreter_n of_o scripture_n i_o proceed_v now_o to_o the_o second_o thing_n contain_v in_o this_o paper_n that_o this_o church_n must_v be_v know_v to_o be_v the_o true_a church_n by_o its_o continual_a visible_a succession_n from_o christ_n till_o our_o day_n now_o these_o few_o word_n contain_v a_o great_a many_o and_o very_o great_a mistake_n the_o subject_n of_o the_o inquiry_n be_v how_o we_o may_v find_v out_o such_o a_o church_n who_o word_n we_o may_v safe_o take_v for_o the_o true_a sense_n and_o meaning_n of_o scripture_n now_o 1._o the_o author_n of_o this_o paper_n whether_o ignorant_o or_o design_o i_o know_v not_o alter_v the_o state_n of_o the_o question_n and_o instead_o of_o a_o church_n which_o be_v a_o unerring_a and_o infallible_a interpreter_n of_o scripture_n which_o will_v be_v very_o well_o worth_a find_n he_o tell_v we_o how_o we_o may_v know_v a_o true_a church_n now_o i_o take_v a_o true_a church_n and_o a_o infallible_a interpreter_n of_o scripture_n to_o be_v very_o different_a thing_n a_o church_n may_v be_v guilty_a of_o schism_n and_o heresy_n and_o yet_o may_v be_v a_o true_a church_n though_o not_o a_o sound_n orthodox_n and_o catholic_n church_n for_o a_o true_a church_n be_v such_o a_o church_n as_o have_v all_o thing_n necessary_a and_o essential_a to_o the_o be_v and_o constitution_n of_o a_o church_n this_o a_o church_n may_v have_v and_o superadd_a other_o thing_n which_o be_v destructive_a of_o the_o christian_a faith_n and_o very_o dangerous_a and_o fatal_a mistake_n as_o we_o believe_v and_o be_v able_a to_o prove_v the_o church_n of_o rome_n have_v do_v and_o yet_o we_o acknowledge_v she_o a_o true_a church_n because_o she_o retain_v the_o true_a christian_a faith_n though_o miserable_o corrupt_v by_o addition_n of_o her_o own_o as_o a_o man_n be_v a_o true_a man_n though_o he_o be_v sick_a of_o a_o mortal_a disease_n now_o if_o a_o true_a church_n may_v corrupt_v the_o christian_a faith_n we_o have_v no_o reason_n to_o rely_v on_o the_o authority_n of_o every_o true_a church_n for_o the_o true_a sense_n and_o meaning_n of_o scripture_n 2._o let_v we_o suppose_v that_o by_o a_o true_a church_n he_o mean_v a_o infallible_a church_n who_o authority_n we_o may_v safe_o rely_v on_o in_o expound_v scripture_n this_o church_n he_o say_v be_v to_o be_v know_v by_o a_o continual_a visible_a

sound_a word_n according_a to_o which_o he_o be_v to_o direct_v his_o preach_a whether_o this_o refer_v to_o a_o short_a summary_n of_o faith_n such_o as_o our_o creed_n be_v i_o can_v say_v though_o it_o be_v not_o improbable_a it_o may_v but_o it_o be_v plain_a we_o have_v a_o form_n of_o sound_a word_n deliver_v to_o we_o by_o the_o catholic_n church_n which_o contain_v the_o true_a catholic_n faith_n and_o therefore_o aught_o to_o be_v so_o far_o a_o rule_n to_o we_o in_o expound_v scripture_n as_o never_o to_o contradict_v any_o thing_n which_o be_v contain_v in_o it_o for_o that_o be_v to_o contradict_v the_o faith_n of_o the_o catholic_n church_n and_o when_o one_o great_a article_n of_o this_o faith_n concern_v the_o eternal_a godhead_n of_o christ_n the_o son_n of_o god_n be_v corrupt_v by_o arius_n a_o presbyter_n of_o the_o church_n of_o alexandria_n it_o give_v a_o occasion_n for_o a_o more_o full_a declaration_n of_o the_o sense_n of_o the_o catholic_n church_n about_o it_o and_o though_o the_o effect_n of_o that_o controversy_n be_v very_o fatal_a to_o the_o church_n yet_o it_o be_v very_o happy_a that_o it_o break_v out_o in_o such_o a_o age_n when_o it_o can_v be_v determine_v with_o great_a certainty_n and_o great_a authority_n than_o it_o can_v have_v be_v in_o any_o succeed_a age_n of_o the_o church_n by_o man_n who_o be_v venerable_a for_o their_o age_n for_o their_o wisdom_n for_o their_o piety_n for_o their_o undaunted_a confession_n under_o heathen_a and_o persecute_v emperor_n who_o know_v what_o the_o sense_n of_o the_o catholic_n church_n be_v before_o this_o controversy_n break_v out_o and_o before_o external_n prosperity_n have_v through_o ease_n and_o wantonness_n corrupt_v the_o faith_n as_o well_o as_o the_o manner_n of_o christian_n 3._o as_o for_o matter_n of_o external_n order_n discipline_n and_o government_n the_o universal_a practice_n of_o the_o catholic_n church_n be_v the_o best_a and_o safe_a comment_n on_o those_o general_a rule_n and_o direction_n we_o have_v lay_v down_o in_o scripture_n there_o be_v no_o doubt_n at_o all_o but_o the_o apostle_n do_v appoint_v governor_n and_o rule_n of_o order_n and_o discipline_n in_o the_o church_n plant_v by_o they_o what_o these_o be_v the_o christian_n of_o those_o day_n see_v with_o their_o eye_n in_o the_o daily_a practice_n of_o the_o church_n and_o therefore_o the_o apostle_n in_o those_o epistle_n which_o they_o write_v to_o their_o several_a church_n do_v not_o give_v they_o so_o punctual_a and_o particular_a a_o account_n of_o those_o matter_n which_o they_o so-well_a know_v before_o but_o as_o occasion_v serve_v make_v only_o some_o accidental_a mention_n of_o these_o thing_n and_o that_o in_o such_o general_a term_n as_o be_v well_o enough_o understand_v by_o they_o who_o know_v the_o practice_n of_o the_o church_n in_o that_o age_n but_o it_o may_v be_v can_v mere_o by_o the_o force_n of_o the_o word_n which_o may_v be_v capable_a of_o several_a sense_n be_v so_o certain_o and_o demonstrative_o determine_v to_o any_o one_o sense_n by_o we_o who_o do_v not_o see_v what_o be_v do_v in_o those_o day_n as_o to_o avoid_v all_o possible_a cavil_n of_o contentious_a man_n this_o have_v occasion_v those_o dispute_n concern_v infant_n baptism_n the_o several_a order_n and_o degree_n of_o church_n governor_n the_o rite_n and_o ceremony_n of_o religious_a worship_n and_o the_o like_a those_o who_o live_v in_o those_o day_n and_o see_v what_o the_o apostle_n do_v in_o these_o matter_n can_v not_o doubt_v of_o these_o thing_n though_o it_o be_v not_o in_o express_a word_n say_v that_o infant_n shall_v be_v baptize_v with_o their_o parent_n or_o that_o bishop_n be_v a_o superior_a order_n to_o presbyter_n and_o presbyter_n to_o deacon_n or_o that_o it_o be_v lawful_a for_o the_o governor_n of_o the_o church_n to_o institute_v and_o appoint_v some_o significant_a rite_n and_o ceremony_n for_o the_o more_o decent_a and_o orderly_a administration_n of_o religious_a office_n but_o because_o there_o be_v not_o a_o precise_a and_o punctual_a account_n give_v of_o these_o matter_n in_o the_o write_n of_o the_o apostle_n which_o there_o be_v no_o need_n of_o then_o when_o these_o thing_n be_v obvious_a to_o their_o very_a sense_n some_o perverse_a and_o unreasonable_a disputer_n who_o obstinate_o reject_v all_o other_o evidence_n will_v judge_v of_o these_o thing_n just_a as_o they_o please_v themselves_o and_o alter_v their_o opinion_n and_o fancy_n as_o often_o as_o they_o please_v but_o now_o if_o there_o be_v any_o certain_a way_n to_o know_v what_o the_o practice_n of_o the_o apostle_n be_v in_o these_o case_n this_o be_v the_o best_a comment_n we_o can_v possible_o have_v on_o such_o text_n as_o be_v not_o sufficient_o plain_a and_o express_v without_o it_o now_o methinks_v any_o reasonable_a man_n must_v acknowledge_v that_o the_o best_a way_n to_o understand_v the_o practice_n of_o the_o apostle_n be_v from_o the_o practice_n of_o the_o catholic_n church_n in_o succeed_a age_n especial_o while_o the_o memory_n of_o the_o apostle_n be_v fresh_a and_o the_o church_n govern_v by_o apostolical_a man_n when_o we_o can_v reasonable_o suspect_v any_o deviation_n from_o the_o primitive_a practice_n and_o this_o be_v the_o rule_n which_o the_o church_n of_o england_n own_v in_o such_o matter_n and_o by_o which_o she_o reject_v and_o confute_v both_o the_o innovation_n and_o corruption_n of_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n and_o the_o wild_a pretence_n of_o fanaticism_n so_o that_o we_o do_v in_o the_o most_o proper_a sense_n own_o the_o belief_n and_o practice_n of_o the_o primitive_a church_n to_o be_v the_o best_a mean_n for_o expound_v scripture_n we_o do_v not_o leave_v every_o man_n to_o expound_v scripture_n by_o a_o private_a spirit_n as_o our_o adversary_n of_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n reproach_n we_o we_o adhere_v to_o the_o ancient_a catholic_n church_n which_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n on_o one_o side_n and_o the_o fanatic_n on_o the_o other_o have_v forsake_v and_o though_o we_o reject_v the_o new_a invention_n of_o a_o infallible_a judge_n yet_o we_o be_v no_o friend_n at_o all_o to_o scepticism_n but_o can_v give_v a_o more_o rational_a account_n of_o our_o faith_n than_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n can_v have_v we_o no_o other_o way_n of_o understand_v the_o sense_n of_o scripture_n but_o by_o propriety_n of_o the_o language_n and_o the_o grammatical_a construction_n of_o the_o word_n and_o the_o scope_n and_o design_n of_o the_o text_n their_o connexion_n and_o dependence_n on_o what_o go_v before_o and_o what_o follow_v and_o such_o like_a mean_n as_o we_o use_v for_o the_o understanding_n any_o other_o book_n of_o humane_a composition_n i_o doubt_v not_o but_o honest_a and_o diligent_a inquirer_n may_v discover_v the_o true_a meaning_n of_o scripture_n in_o all_o the_o great_a article_n of_o our_o faith_n but_o yet_o this_o alone_a be_v a_o more_o uncertain_a way_n and_o liable_a to_o the_o abuse_n of_o heretic_n and_o impostor_n the_o socinian_o be_v a_o famous_a example_n what_o wit_n and_o criticism_n will_v do_v to_o pervert_v the_o plain_a text_n and_o some_o other_o sectary_n be_v as_o plain_v a_o demonstration_n what_o work_n dullness_n and_o stupidity_n and_o enthusiasm_n will_v make_v with_o scripture_n but_o when_o we_o have_v the_o practice_n of_o the_o catholic_n church_n and_o a_o ancient_a and_o venerable_a summary_n of_o the_o christian_a faith_n which_o have_v be_v the_o common_a faith_n of_o christian_n in_o all_o age_n to_o be_v our_o rule_n in_o expound_v scripture_n though_o we_o may_v after_o all_o mistake_v the_o sense_n of_o some_o particular_a text_n yet_o we_o can_v be_v guilty_a of_o any_o great_a and_o dangerous_a mistake_n this_o use_n the_o church_n of_o england_n make_v of_o the_o catholic_n church_n in_o expound_v scripture_n that_o she_o religious_o maintain_v the_o ancient_a catholic_n faith_n and_o will_v not_o suffer_v any_o man_n to_o expound_v scripture_n in_o opposition_n to_o the_o ancient_a faith_n and_o practice_n of_o the_o catholic_n church_n but_o though_o the_o belief_n and_o practice_n of_o the_o catholic_n church_n be_v the_o best_a mean_n of_o understand_v the_o true_a sense_n of_o scripture_n yet_o we_o can_v affirm_v this_o of_o any_o particular_a church_n or_o of_o the_o church_n of_o any_o particular_a age_n except_v the_o apostolic_a age_n or_o those_o age_n which_o immediate_o succeed_v the_o apostle_n notwithstanding_o this_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n may_v be_v no_o good_a expositor_n of_o scripture_n for_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n though_o she_o usurp_v the_o name_n of_o the_o catholic_n church_n as_o presume_v herself_o to_o be_v the_o head_n and_o fountain_n of_o catholic_n unity_n yet_o she_o be_v but_o a_o part_n of_o the_o catholic_n church_n as_o the_o church_n of_o england_n and_o the_o church_n of_o