Selected quad for the lemma: christian_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
christian_n	church_n	pope_n	true_a	2,058	5	5.2491	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A53931	A treatise proving Scripture to be the rule of faith writ by Reginald Peacock ... before the Reformation, about the year MCDL.	Pecock, Reginald, 1395?-1460?; Wharton, Henry, 1664-1695.	1688 (1688)	Wing P1043; ESTC R1772	67,273	88

imprimatur_fw-la libre_fw-la cui_fw-la titulus_fw-la a_o treatise_n of_o reginald_n peacock_n etc._n etc._n guil._n needham_n r._n r._n in_o christo_n p._n ac_fw-la d._n d._n wilhelm_n archiep._n à_fw-fr sac._n dom._n etc._n etc._n jan._n 12_o 1687._o a_o treatise_n prove_v scripture_n to_o be_v the_o rule_n of_o faith._n write_v by_o reginald_n peacock_n bishop_n of_o chichester_n before_o the_o reformation_n about_o the_o year_n mcdl_o london_n print_v for_o james_n adamson_n at_o the_o angel_n and_o crown_n in_o s._n paul_n churchyard_n 1688._o preface_n if_o in_o any_o part_n of_o the_o christian_a religion_n a_o undoubted_a certainty_n and_o most_o firm_a assurance_n may_v just_o be_v require_v if_o a_o scrupulous_a examination_n and_o curious_a enquiry_n may_v ever_o be_v allow_v in_o matter_n of_o religion_n certain_o a_o exact_a knowledge_n of_o the_o rule_n of_o faith_n will_v deserve_v as_o our_o first_o so_o our_o chief_n consideration_n for_o since_o the_o article_n of_o christianity_n be_v not_o in_o themselves_o self-evident_a nor_o can_v be_v find_v out_o by_o the_o sole_a principle_n of_o reason_n since_o all_o reveal_v religion_n be_v no_o far_o credible_a than_o as_o they_o can_v demonstrate_v their_o revelation_n to_o have_v be_v true_a and_o real_a some_o rule_n be_v necessary_a which_o may_v propose_v to_o mankind_n those_o article_n of_o faith_n which_o reason_n can_v not_o suggest_v and_o propose_v they_o also_o with_o such_o evidence_n as_o that_o the_o denial_n of_o assent_n shall_v in_o all_o become_v irrational_a what_o this_o determinate_a rule_n be_v have_v be_v the_o great_a controversy_n of_o this_o and_o all_o precede_a age_n however_o all_o party_n agree_v in_o affix_v some_o certain_a property_n to_o it_o whereby_o it_o may_v be_v distinguish_v and_o indeed_o without_o which_o it_o can_v never_o supply_v the_o office_n or_o serve_v the_o end_n of_o a_o true_a rule_n these_o may_v be_v reduce_v to_o four_o head_n that_o it_o be_v able_a safe_o and_o inviolable_o to_o convey_v down_o all_o reveal_v necessary_a truth_n that_o it_o be_v fit_v to_o propose_v they_o clear_o and_o invariable_o to_o all_o mankind_n that_o it_o be_v independent_a on_o all_o other_o reveal_v article_n and_o last_o that_o it_o be_v assign_v as_o a_o rule_n by_o god_n the_o author_n of_o all_o reveal_v religion_n if_o either_o of_o the_o two_o first_o condition_n be_v deficient_a the_o rule_n will_v be_v unuseful_a if_o either_o of_o the_o latter_a uncertain_a and_o without_o authority_n the_o scripture_n enjoy_v all_o these_o property_n in_o so_o eminent_a a_o manner_n that_o no_o reasonable_a doubt_n can_v be_v make_v of_o the_o truth_n of_o it_o for_o if_o we_o consider_v that_o whatsoever_o be_v reveal_v may_v be_v pronounce_v whatsoever_o be_v pronounce_v may_v be_v write_v down_o and_o whatsoever_o be_v commit_v to_o write_v may_v be_v preserve_v safe_a while_o those_o write_n be_v preserve_v unaltered_a we_o must_v conclude_v that_o any_o reveal_v religion_n may_v be_v entire_o and_o without_o danger_n of_o mistake_n propose_v from_o write_a book_n to_o the_o universal_a belief_n of_o mankind_n since_o these_o will_v afford_v a_o stand_a rule_n both_o to_o pastor_n of_o teach_v of_o their_o people_n and_o to_o the_o people_n of_o examine_v the_o doctrine_n of_o their_o pastor_n in_o case_n of_o diffidence_n the_o independence_n of_o scripture_n from_o all_o other_o reveal_v article_n be_v no_o less_o evident_a for_o that_o these_o book_n be_v indeed_o write_v by_o those_o person_n who_o name_n they_o bear_v and_o these_o person_n high_o credible_a be_v know_v by_o the_o same_o evidence_n whereby_o the_o author_n and_o credibility_n of_o any_o other_o book_n be_v know_v i_o mean_v by_o the_o concurrent_a testimony_n and_o consent_n of_o all_o succeed_a age_n consider_v not_o as_o a_o collection_n of_o man_n profess_v the_o christian_a faith_n but_o as_o person_n devoid_a neither_o of_o common_a sense_n nor_o integrity_n as_o they_o must_v have_v be_v if_o they_o have_v mistake_v themselves_o or_o delude_v we_o in_o believe_v and_o then_o testify_v a_o matter_n of_o fact_n so_o easy_a to_o be_v know_v and_o more_o easy_a to_o be_v remember_v be_v thus_o assure_v of_o the_o credibility_n of_o scripture_n that_o it_o be_v write_v by_o such_o historian_n who_o real_o either_o perform_v or_o see_v those_o miracle_n which_o they_o do_v attest_v we_o can_v but_o believe_v these_o miracle_n and_o consequent_o that_o the_o author_n and_o founder_n of_o the_o christian_a religion_n act_v by_o a_o divine_a commission_n and_o may_v reasonable_o command_v our_o assent_n to_o their_o revelation_n be_v thus_o assure_v of_o the_o divine_a authority_n of_o the_o scripture_n we_o may_v probable_o conclude_v from_o the_o nature_n and_o end_n of_o they_o but_o most_o certain_o from_o their_o own_o testimony_n that_o they_o contain_v all_o thing_n necessary_a to_o salvation_n and_o be_v the_o only_a rule_n of_o faith_n and_o all_o this_o although_o we_o do_v not_o yet_o believe_v any_o other_o article_n of_o the_o christian_a religion_n on_o the_o other_o side_n tradition_n want_v every_o one_o of_o those_o condition_n which_o be_v necessary_o require_v to_o a_o rule_n of_o faith._n for_o first_o we_o can_v never_o be_v assure_v that_o any_o article_n be_v invariable_o and_o entire_o without_o any_o addition_n or_o diminution_n convey_v down_o to_o we_o by_o tradition_n since_o it_o have_v be_v in_o all_o time_n and_o age_n observe_v that_o matter_n of_o fact_n much_o more_o of_o belief_n not_o immediate_o commit_v to_o write_v present_o degenerate_v into_o fable_n and_o be_v corrupt_v by_o the_o capricious_a malice_n or_o ignorance_n of_o men._n nothing_o can_v exempt_v the_o tradition_n of_o the_o christian_a religion_n from_o this_o fate_n at_o least_o from_o our_o reasonable_a suspicion_n of_o it_o but_o the_o infallibility_n of_o that_o society_n of_o man_n which_o convey_v down_o this_o tradition_n but_o the_o latter_a can_v never_o be_v know_v till_o this_o certainty_n of_o tradition_n be_v first_o clear_v and_o presuppose_v since_o the_o belief_n of_o this_o suppose_a infallibility_n must_v at_o last_o be_v resolve_v into_o the_o sole_a truth_n and_o certainty_n of_o tradition_n in_o the_o next_o place_n tradition_n can_v certain_o and_o invariable_o propose_v the_o belief_n of_o christianity_n to_o all_o private_a person_n for_o from_o whence_o shall_v this_o tradition_n be_v receive_v from_o a_o pope_n or_o a_o council_n or_o both_o or_o from_o none_o of_o these_o but_o only_o the_o universal_a church_n in_o every_o one_o of_o these_o case_n infinite_a difficulty_n will_v occur_v which_o will_v single_o appear_v insuperable_a as_o who_o be_v a_o true_a pope_n what_o his_o intention_n in_o define_v be_v whether_o he_o act_v canonical_o in_o what_o sense_n he_o have_v define_v what_o council_n whether_o ecumenical_a patriarchal_a or_o provincial_n may_v be_v secure_o trust_v what_o be_v the_o necessary_a condition_n and_o qualification_n of_o a_o general_n council_n whether_o all_o these_o condition_n be_v ever_o observe_v in_o any_o council_n what_o these_o council_n be_v what_o they_o have_v define_v what_o be_v the_o true_a sense_n and_o intention_n of_o their_o definition_n from_o who_o must_v we_o learn_v the_o belief_n of_o the_o universal_a church_n if_o pope_n and_o council_n be_v reject_v from_o all_o christian_n or_o only_o from_o the_o clergy_n if_o from_o the_o late_a whether_o the_o assent_n of_o every_o member_n of_o the_o clergy_n be_v require_v if_o not_o how_o great_a a_o part_n may_v safe_o dissent_v from_o the_o rest_n from_o who_o the_o opinion_n of_o the_o major_a part_n be_v to_o be_v receive_v whether_o from_o the_o write_n of_o doctor_n or_o the_o teach_n of_o live_a pastor_n if_o from_o the_o latter_a whether_o it_o be_v sufficient_a to_o hear_v one_o or_o a_o few_o parish_n priest_n or_o all_o or_o at_o least_o the_o major_a number_n be_v personal_o to_o be_v consult_v all_o these_o difficulty_n may_v be_v branch_v out_o into_o many_o more_o and_o other_o no_o less_o insuperable_a be_v find_v out_o which_o will_v render_v the_o proposal_n of_o religion_n by_o way_n of_o tradition_n if_o not_o utter_o impracticable_a at_o least_o infinite_o unsafe_a three_o tradition_n be_v so_o far_o from_o be_v independent_a on_o other_o article_n of_o the_o christian_a faith_n that_o the_o belief_n of_o all_o other_o article_n must_v be_v presuppose_v to_o it_o for_o since_o all_o sect_n propose_v different_a tradition_n and_o the_o truth_n of_o none_o of_o they_o be_v self-evident_a it_o must_v first_o be_v know_v which_o be_v the_o true_a church_n before_o it_o can_v be_v determine_v which_o be_v the_o true_a tradition_n now_o the_o knowledge_n of_o the_o true_a church_n can_v be_v obtain_v only_o two_o way_n either_o from_o the_o truth_n of_o her_o doctrine_n or_o from_o the_o external_a note_n of_o a_o

treatise_n which_o i_o now_o publish_v require_v i_o to_o descend_v low_a and_o demonstrate_v that_o even_o in_o latter_a age_n it_o be_v the_o common_o receive_v opinion_n of_o the_o church_n that_o scripture_n be_v the_o rule_n of_o faith._n and_o this_o alone_a will_n as_o evident_o overthrow_v the_o plea_n of_o tradition_n as_o if_o the_o consent_n of_o all_o age_n herein_o be_v demonstrate_v for_o since_o tradition_n be_v the_o perpetual_a succession_n of_o any_o doctrine_n convey_v down_o in_o the_o church_n by_o word_n of_o mouth_n from_o the_o apostle_n to_o this_o present_a time_n if_o this_o succession_n be_v in_o any_o age_n whatsoever_o interrupt_v it_o can_v no_o more_o claim_v the_o title_n of_o tradition_n than_o if_o it_o have_v never_o be_v believe_v so_o that_o if_o it_o can_v be_v prove_v the_o doctrine_n of_o tradition_n be_v the_o rule_n of_o faith_n be_v in_o any_o age_n of_o the_o church_n disbelieved_a not_o only_o the_o proof_n of_o this_o article_n from_o 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the_o church_n tradition_n must_v necessary_o ever_o since_o have_v cease_v to_o be_v the_o rule_n of_o faith_n since_o otherwise_o all_o definition_n of_o the_o church_n must_v indifferent_o be_v admit_v make_v by_o she_o both_o when_o she_o follow_v and_o when_o she_o deviate_v from_o the_o rule_n of_o faith_n and_o consequent_o the_o faith_n of_o all_o private_a christian_n must_v be_v subject_v to_o infinite_a uncertainty_n now_o to_o prove_v that_o the_o tradition_n of_o this_o article_n be_v in_o any_o age_n of_o the_o church_n interrupt_v and_o discontinue_v it_o be_v not_o necessary_a that_o all_o member_n of_o the_o church_n shall_v then_o agree_v in_o the_o disbelief_n of_o it_o that_o no_o doctor_n shall_v believe_v tradition_n to_o be_v the_o rule_n of_o faith_n or_o none_o maintain_v the_o insufficiency_n of_o scripture_n it_o be_v sufficient_a that_o some_o divine_n of_o great_a name_n who_o live_v and_o die_v in_o the_o communion_n of_o the_o church_n be_v ever_o hold_v in_o great_a esteem_n both_o for_o piety_n and_o learning_n and_o never_o censure_v by_o the_o church_n for_o any_o erroneous_a opinion_n much_o less_o for_o heretic_n that_o some_o such_o i_o say_v disbelieved_a this_o article_n and_o maintain_v scripture_n to_o be_v the_o rule_n of_o faith._n for_o if_o any_o such_o be_v than_o the_o contrary_a opinion_n can_v not_o be_v the_o belief_n of_o the_o universal_a church_n much_o less_o a_o article_n of_o faith._n that_o there_o be_v such_o doctor_n i_o shall_v immediate_o prove_v by_o produce_v their_o own_o word_n and_o thereby_o demonstrate_v my_o intend_a purpose_n and_o not_o only_o so_o but_o far_o shall_v therewith_o render_v it_o high_o probable_a that_o it_o be_v the_o general_o receive_v opinion_n of_o the_o church_n at_o that_o time_n that_o scripture_n not_o tradition_n be_v the_o rule_n of_o faith_n by_o all_o those_o argument_n which_o a_o question_n of_o this_o nature_n will_v admit_v i_o mean_v by_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o most_o eminent_a writer_n and_o public_a practice_n of_o the_o church_n in_o council_n for_o it_o can_v be_v imagine_v that_o so_o many_o learned_a person_n esteem_v as_o it_o be_v the_o oracle_n of_o their_o time_n and_o pillar_n of_o the_o church_n shall_v either_o be_v ignorant_a of_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o church_n touch_v the_o fundamental_a principle_n of_o faith_n or_o if_o wilful_o oppose_v it_o shall_v obtain_v or_o conserve_v to_o themselves_o so_o great_a a_o reputation_n or_o that_o the_o general_a council_n of_o that_o time_n shall_v in_o their_o session_n and_o disputation_n permit_v the_o sufficiency_n of_o scripture_n to_o be_v lay_v down_o as_o a_o uncontroverted_a principle_n without_o give_v some_o check_n to_o so_o grand_a a_o error_n that_o the_o church_n therefore_o in_o the_o fifteen_o age_n do_v general_o believe_v the_o scripture_n to_o be_v the_o rule_n of_o faith_n and_o contain_v all_o thing_n necessary_a to_o salvation_n may_v be_v evident_o demonstrate_v from_o this_o treatise_n which_o i_o now_o publish_v the_o author_n of_o which_o be_v far_o the_o most_o eminent_a and_o learned_a bishop_n of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n in_o his_o time_n a_o person_n who_o as_o himself_o assure_v we_o have_v spend_v more_o than_o twenty_o year_n in_o write_v controversial_a book_n against_o the_o lollard_n when_o he_o compose_v this_o treatise_n and_o who_o every_o where_o give_v manifest_a proof_n of_o his_o great_a learning_n so_o eminent_a a_o person_n can_v be_v suppose_v to_o have_v be_v ignorant_a of_o the_o general_a belief_n of_o the_o church_n in_o his_o time_n concern_v the_o rule_n of_o faith_n nor_o will_v his_o apparent_a zeal_n for_o the_o interest_n of_o the_o church_n permit_v we_o to_o believe_v that_o he_o wilful_o oppose_v the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o church_n in_o who_o service_n he_o employ_v the_o great_a part_n of_o his_o life_n or_o that_o when_o he_o so_o zealous_o plead_v the_o cause_n of_o the_o church_n against_o the_o lollard_n he_o shall_v himself_o depart_v from_o the_o church_n in_o her_o principal_a article_n and_o therein_o become_v a_o lollard_n since_o therefore_o he_o plain_o assert_n and_o teach_v that_o scripture_n be_v the_o rule_n of_o faith_n this_o undeniable_o prove_v that_o the_o belief_n of_o this_o proposition_n be_v not_o in_o the_o time_n of_o our_o author_n account_v any_o part_n of_o lollardism_n or_o suppose_a heresy_n but_o rather_o esteem_v a_o article_n of_o catholic_n belief_n at_o least_o a_o article_n which_o may_v be_v free_o dispute_v without_o violate_v the_o definition_n or_o dissent_v from_o the_o universal_a belief_n of_o the_o church_n and_o indeed_o our_o author_n in_o the_o begin_n of_o this_o discourse_n assure_v we_o that_o the_o doctor_n of_o his_o time_n disagree_v in_o determine_v whether_o the_o church_n or_o scripture_n be_v chief_o to_o be_v respect_v in_o the_o resolution_n of_o faith._n one_o thing_n may_v be_v object_v against_o the_o authority_n of_o our_o author_n that_o he_o be_v force_v by_o the_o roll_a clergy_n to_o recant_v several_a opinion_n and_o doctrine_n teach_v by_o he_o as_o erroneous_a and_o consequent_o that_o he_o can_v be_v esteem_v a_o doctor_n of_o the_o church_n but_o here_o not_o to_o say_v that_o the_o sentence_n of_o two_o or_o three_o partial_a bishop_n for_o no_o more_o condemn_v he_o be_v not_o to_o be_v account_v the_o judgement_n of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n this_o very_a recantation_n add_v no_o small_a strength_n to_o our_o argument_n for_o when_o the_o malice_n of_o his_o enemy_n oblige_v he_o to_o recant_v all_o those_o doctrine_n which_o they_o esteem_v to_o be_v erroneous_a they_o take_v no_o notice_n of_o his_o have_v assert_v scripture_n to_o be_v the_o only_a rule_n of_o faith_n nor_o oblige_v he_o to_o recant_v that_o proposition_n a_o manifest_a argument_n that_o it_o be_v not_o then_o account_v either_o heretical_a or_o erroneous_a or_o contrary_a to_o the_o receive_a doctrine_n of_o the_o church_n since_o otherwise_o they_o will_v not_o have_v fail_v to_o place_v it_o in_o the_o front_n of_o his_o recantation_n as_o a_o error_n of_o a_o high_a degree_n and_o great_a contagion_n than_o any_o of_o those_o for_o which_o he_o stand_v condemn_v which_o in_o truth_n be_v so_o far_o from_o be_v heresy_n that_o they_o be_v all_o at_o that_o time_n maintain_v by_o many_o eminent_a divine_n who_o never_o be_v censure_v by_o the_o church_n and_o some_o of_o they_o so_o far_o true_a that_o no_o learned_a man_n of_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n will_v at_o this_o day_n deny_v they_o and_o this_o also_o full_o clear_v our_o author_n from_o any_o suspicion_n of_o lollardism_n or_o secret_a inclination_n to_o it_o that_o he_o be_v not_o singular_a herein_o defend_v no_o paradox_n nor_o oppose_v any_o doctrine_n of_o the_o church_n i_o come_v next_o to_o prove_v the_o