Selected quad for the lemma: church_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	answer_v	ask_v	believe_v	2,709	5	6.2047	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A62844	Christianity not mysterious, or, A treatise shewing that there is nothing in the Gospel contrary to reason, nor above it and that no Christian doctrine can be properly call'd a mystery / by John Toland.	Toland, John, 1670-1722.	1696 (1696)	Wing T1763; ESTC R7180	73,824	208

way_n contradict_v how_o shall_v we_o be_v convince_v of_o the_o infallibility_n of_o the_o other_o reason_n may_v err_v in_o this_o point_n as_o well_o as_o in_o any_o thing_n else_o and_o we_o have_v no_o particular_a promise_n it_o shall_v not_o no_o more_o than_o the_o papist_n that_o their_o sense_n may_v not_o deceive_v they_o in_o every_o thing_n as_o well_o as_o in_o transubstantiation_n to_o say_v it_o bear_v witness_v to_o itself_o be_v equal_o to_o establish_v the_o alcoran_n or_o the_o poran_n and_o it_o be_v a_o notable_a argument_n to_o tell_v a_o heathen_a that_o the_o church_n have_v declare_v it_o when_o all_o society_n will_v say_v as_o much_o for_o themselves_o if_o we_o take_v their_o word_n for_o it_o beside_o it_o may_v be_v he_o will_v ask_v whence_o the_o church_n have_v authority_n to_o decide_v this_o matter_n and_o if_o it_o shall_v be_v answer_v from_o the_o scripture_n a_o thousand_o to_o one_o but_o he_o will_v divert_v himself_o with_o this_o circle_n you_o must_v believe_v that_o the_o scripture_n be_v divine_a because_o the_o church_n have_v so_o determine_v it_o and_o the_o church_n have_v this_o decide_n authority_n from_o the_o scripture_n it_o be_v doubt_v if_o this_o power_n of_o the_o church_n can_v be_v prove_v from_o the_o passage_n allege_v to_o that_o purpose_n but_o the_o church_n itself_o a_o party_n concern_v affirm_v it_o heyday_o be_v not_o these_o eternal_a round_n very_o exquisite_a invention_n to_o giddy_a and_o entangle_v the_o unthinking_a and_o the_o weak_a 7._o but_o if_o we_o believe_v the_o scripture_n to_o be_v divine_a not_o upon_o its_o own_o bare_a assertion_n but_o from_o a_o real_a testimony_n consist_v in_o the_o evidence_n of_o the_o thing_n contain_v therein_o from_o undoubted_a effect_n and_o not_o from_o word_n and_o letter_n what_o be_v this_o but_o to_o prove_v it_o by_o reason_n it_o have_v in_o itself_o i_o grant_v the_o bright_a character_n of_o divinity_n but_o it_o be_v reason_n find_v they_o out_o examine_v they_o and_o by_o its_o principle_n approve_v and_o pronounce_v they_o sufficient_a which_o orderly_o beget_v in_o we_o a_o acquiescence_n of_o faith_n or_o persuasion_n now_o if_o particular_n be_v thus_o severe_o sift_v if_o not_o only_o the_o doctrine_n of_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n be_v consider_v but_o also_o their_o life_n prediction_n miracle_n and_o death_n sure_o all_o this_o labour_n will_v be_v in_o vain_a may_v we_o upon_o any_o account_n dispense_v with_o contradiction_n o_o bless_a and_o commodious_a system_n that_o discharge_v at_o one_o stroke_n those_o troublesome_a remark_n about_o history_n language_n figurative_a and_o literal_a sense_n scope_n of_o the_o writer_n circumstance_n and_o other_o help_n of_o interpretation_n we_o judge_v of_o a_o man_n wisdom_n and_o learning_n by_o his_o action_n and_o his_o discourse_n but_o god_n who_o we_o be_v assure_v have_v not_o leave_v himself_o without_o a_o witness_n 17._o must_v have_v no_o privilege_n above_o the_o mad_a enthusiast_n or_o the_o devil_n himself_o at_o this_o rate_n 8._o but_o a_o veneration_n for_o the_o very_a word_n of_o god_n will_v be_v pretend_v this_o we_o be_v please_v with_o for_o we_o know_v that_o god_n be_v not_o a_o man_n that_o he_o shall_v lie_v 19_o but_o the_o question_n be_v not_o about_o the_o word_n but_o their_o sense_n which_o must_v be_v ever_o worthy_a of_o their_o author_n and_o therefore_o according_a to_o the_o genius_n of_o all_o speech_n figurative_o interpret_v when_o occasion_n require_v it_o otherwise_o under_o pretence_n of_o faith_n in_o the_o word_n of_o god_n the_o high_a folly_n and_o blasphemy_n may_v be_v deduce_v from_o the_o letter_n of_o scripture_n as_o that_o god_n be_v subject_a to_o passion_n be_v the_o author_n of_o sin_n that_o christ_n be_v a_o rock_n be_v actual_o guilty_a of_o and_o defile_v with_o our_o transgression_n that_o we_o be_v worm_n or_o sheep_n and_o no_o men._n and_o if_o a_o figure_n be_v admit_v in_o these_o passage_n why_o not_o i_o pray_v in_o all_o expression_n of_o the_o like_a nature_n when_o there_o appear_v a_o equal_a necessity_n for_o it_o 9_o it_o may_v be_v demand_v why_o i_o have_v so_o long_o insist_v upon_o this_o article_n since_o that_o none_o express_o make_v scripture_n and_o reason_n contradictory_n be_v acknowledge_v before_o but_o in_o the_o same_o place_n mention_n be_v make_v of_o some_o who_o hold_v that_o they_o may_v seem_v direct_o to_o clash_v and_o that_o though_o we_o can_v reconcile_v they_o together_o yet_o that_o we_o be_v bind_v to_o acquiesce_v in_o the_o decision_n of_o the_o former_a a_o seem_a contradiction_n be_v to_o we_o as_o much_o as_o a_o real_a one_o and_o our_o respect_n for_o the_o scripture_n do_v not_o require_v we_o to_o grant_v any_o such_o in_o it_o but_o rather_o to_o conclude_v that_o we_o be_v ignorant_a of_o the_o right_n mean_v when_o a_o difficulty_n occur_v and_o so_o to_o suspend_v our_o judgement_n concern_v it_o till_o with_o suitable_a help_n and_o industry_n we_o discover_v the_o truth_n as_o for_o acquiesce_v in_o what_o a_o man_n understand_v not_o or_o can_v reconcile_v to_o his_o reason_n they_o know_v best_a the_o fruit_n of_o it_o that_o practise_v it_o for_o my_o part_n i_o be_o a_o stranger_n to_o it_o and_o can_v reconcile_v myself_o to_o such_o a_o principle_n on_o the_o contrary_a i_o be_o pretty_a sure_a he_o pretend_v in_o vain_a to_o convince_v the_o judgement_n who_o explain_v not_o the_o nature_n of_o the_o thing_n a_o man_n may_v give_v his_o verbal_a assent_n to_o he_o know_v not_o what_o out_o of_o fear_n superstition_n indifference_n interest_n and_o the_o like_a feeble_a and_o unfair_a motive_n but_o as_o long_o as_o he_o conceive_v not_o what_o he_o believe_v he_o can_v sincere_o acquiesce_v in_o it_o and_o remain_v deprive_v of_o all_o solid_a satisfaction_n he_o be_v constant_o perplex_v with_o scruple_n not_o to_o be_v remove_v by_o his_o implicit_a faith_n and_o so_o be_v ready_a to_o be_v shake_v and_o carry_v away_o with_o every_o wind_n 14._o of_o doctrine_n i_o will_v believe_v because_o i_o will_v believe_v that_o be_v because_o i_o be_o in_o the_o humour_n so_o to_o do_v be_v the_o top_n of_o his_o apology_n such_o be_v unreasonable_a man_n walk_v after_o the_o vanity_n of_o their_o mind_n have_v their_o understanding_n darken_v 18._o be_v stranger_n to_o the_o life_n of_o god_n through_o the_o ignorance_n that_o be_v in_o they_o because_o of_o the_o hardness_n of_o their_o heart_n but_o he_o that_o comprehend_v a_o thing_n be_v as_o sure_a of_o it_o as_o if_o he_o be_v himself_o the_o author_n he_o can_v never_o be_v bring_v to_o suspect_v his_o profession_n and_o if_o he_o be_v honest_a will_v always_o render_v a_o pertinent_a account_n of_o it_o to_o other_o 10._o the_o natural_a result_n of_o what_o have_v be_v say_v be_v that_o to_o believe_v the_o divinity_n of_o scripture_n or_o the_o sense_n of_o any_o passage_n thereof_o without_o rational_a proof_n and_o a_o evident_a consistency_n be_v a_o unblamable_a credulity_n and_o a_o temerarious_a opinion_n ordinary_o ground_v upon_o a_o ignorant_a and_o wilful_a disposition_n but_o more_o general_o maintain_v out_o of_o a_o gainful_a prospect_n for_o we_o frequent_o embrace_v certain_a doctrine_n not_o from_o any_o convince_a evidence_n in_o they_o but_o because_o they_o serve_v our_o design_n better_a than_o the_o truth_n and_o because_o other_o contradiction_n we_o be_v not_o willing_a to_o quit_v be_v better_o defend_v by_o their_o mean_n chap._n ii_o of_o the_o authority_n of_o revelation_n as_o it_o regard_v this_o controversy_n 11._o against_o all_o that_o we_o have_v be_v establish_v in_o this_o section_n the_o authority_n of_o revelation_n will_v be_v allege_v with_o great_a show_n as_o if_o without_o a_o right_n of_o silence_v or_o extingu_n sh_v reason_n it_o be_v altogether_o useless_a and_o impertinent_a but_o if_o the_o distinction_n i_o make_v in_o the_o precedent_a section_n n._n 9_o be_v well_o consider_v the_o weakness_n of_o the_o present_a objection_n will_v quick_o appear_v and_o this_o controversy_n be_v better_a understand_v hereaster_n there_o i_o say_v revelation_n be_v not_o a_o necessitating_a motive_n of_o assent_n but_o a_o mean_a of_o information_n we_o shall_v not_o confound_v the_o way_n whereby_o we_o come_v to_o the_o knowledge_n of_o a_o thing_n with_o the_o ground_n we_o have_v to_o believe_v it_o a_o man_n may_v inform_v i_o concern_v a_o thousand_o matter_n i_o never_o hear_v of_o before_o and_o of_o which_o i_o shall_v not_o as_o much_o as_o think_v if_o i_o be_v not_o tell_v yet_o i_o believe_v nothing_o pure_o upon_o his_o word_n without_o evidence_n in_o the_o thing_n themselves_o not_o the_o bare_a authority_n of_o he_o that_o speak_v but_o the_o clear_a conception_n i_o form_n of_o what_o he_o

christianity_n not_o mysterious_a or_o a_o treatise_n show_v that_o there_o be_v nothing_o in_o the_o gospel_n contrary_a to_o reason_n nor_o above_o it_o and_o that_o no_o christian_a doctrine_n can_v be_v proper_o call_v a_o mystery_n by_o john_n toland_n the_o second_o edition_n enlarge_v we_o need_v not_o desire_v a_o better_a evidence_n that_o any_o man_n be_v in_o the_o wrong_n than_o to_o hear_v he_o declare_v against_o reason_n and_o thereby_o to_o acknowledge_v that_o reason_n be_v against_o he_o archbishop_n tillotson_n london_n print_v for_o sam._n buckley_n at_o the_o dolphin_n over_o against_o st._n dunstan_n church_n in_o fleetstreet_n mdcxcvi_o the_o preface_n i_o believe_v all_o man_n will_v ready_o allow_v that_o none_o shall_v speak_v with_o more_o freedom_n and_o assurance_n than_o he_o that_o defend_v or_o illustrate_v the_o truth_n but_o if_o we_o credit_v the_o history_n of_o former_a time_n or_o due_o consider_v what_o pass_v in_o the_o present_a we_o shall_v find_v none_o more_o backward_o to_o speak_v their_o mind_n in_o public_a than_o such_o as_o have_v right_o on_o their_o side_n indeed_o the_o goodness_n of_o their_o cause_n and_o design_n shall_v fortify_v they_o one_o will_v think_v against_o all_o the_o attack_n of_o their_o enemy_n nor_o be_v there_o want_v frequent_a example_n of_o person_n who_o with_o unshaken_a constancy_n suffer_v the_o most_o disgraceful_a and_o violent_a thing_n for_o love_n of_o the_o truth_n yet_o if_o we_o make_v a_o just_a computation_n and_o take_v in_o the_o primitive_a martyr_n with_o the_o prophet_n and_o apostle_n themselves_o the_o profess_a defender_n of_o truth_n only_o for_o truth_n be_v sake_n will_v be_v find_v to_o be_v a_o small_a handful_n with_o respect_n to_o the_o numerous_a partisan_n of_o error_n and_o such_o be_v the_o deplorable_a condition_n of_o our_o age_n that_o a_o man_n dare_v not_o open_o and_o direct_o own_o what_o he_o think_v of_o divine_a matter_n though_o it_o be_v never_o so_o true_a and_o beneficial_a if_o it_o but_o very_o slight_o differ_v from_o what_o be_v receive_v by_o any_o party_n or_o that_o be_v establish_v by_o law_n but_o he_o be_v either_o force_v to_o keep_v perpetual_a silence_n or_o to_o propose_v his_o sentiment_n to_o the_o world_n by_o way_n of_o paradox_n under_o a_o borrow_a or_o fictitious_a name_n to_o mention_v the_o least_o part_n of_o the_o inconvenience_n they_o expose_v themselves_o to_o who_o have_v the_o courage_n to_o act_v more_o aboveboard_n be_v too_o melancholy_a a_o theme_n and_o visible_a enough_o to_o be_v lament_v by_o all_o that_o be_v true_o generous_a and_o virtuous_a the_o pravity_n of_o most_o man_n disposition_n and_o the_o ambition_n of_o particular_a person_n make_v this_o matter_n seem_v less_o strange_a in_o politic_a and_o secular_a affair_n and_o yet_o a_o man_n may_v not_o only_o make_v new_a discovery_n and_o improvement_n in_o law_n or_o physic_n and_o in_o the_o other_o art_n and_o science_n impunible_o but_o also_o for_o so_o do_v be_v deserve_o encourage_v and_o reward_v but_o wonderful_a that_o the_o sacred_a name_n of_o religion_n which_o sound_v nothing_o but_o sanctity_n peace_n and_o integrity_n shall_v be_v so_o universal_o abuse_v to_o patronize_v ambition_n impiety_n and_o contention_n and_o that_o what_o be_v our_o bigh_a interest_n perfect_o to_o understand_v shall_v for_o reason_n afterward_o to_o be_v lay_v open_a both_o be_v maintain_v to_o be_v obscure_a and_o very_o industrious_o make_v so_o nay_o it_o be_v come_v to_o this_o that_o truth_n meet_v no_o where_o with_o strong_a opposition_n than_o from_o many_o of_o those_o that_o raise_v the_o loud_a cry_n about_o it_o and_o will_v be_v take_v for_o no_o less_o than_o the_o only_a dispenser_n of_o the_o favour_n and_o oracle_n of_o heaven_n if_o any_o have_v the_o firmness_n to_o touch_v the_o minute_a thing_n that_o bring_v they_o gain_n or_o credit_n he_o be_v present_o pursue_v with_o the_o hue_n and_o cry_n of_o heresy_n and_o if_o he_o value_v their_o censure_n compel_v to_o make_v honourable_a amends_o or_o if_o he_o prove_v contumacious_a he_o fall_v a_o sacrifice_n at_o least_o in_o his_o reputation_n to_o their_o implacable_a hatred_n nor_o be_v he_o like_v we_o may_v be_v sure_a to_o receive_v fair_a quarter_n from_o the_o declare_a antagonist_n of_o religion_n who_o principle_n as_o they_o trample_v upon_o all_o equity_n and_o truth_n so_o they_o oblige_v they_o to_o hate_v and_o molest_v the_o strenuous_a assertor_n of_o these_o and_o all_o other_o virtue_n but_o of_o such_o depress_v consideration_n enough_o notwithstanding_o which_o i_o have_v venture_v to_o publish_v this_o discourse_n design_v thereby_o to_o rectify_v as_o much_o as_o i_o be_o able_a the_o narrow_a bigoted_a tenet_n of_o the_o one_o and_o the_o most_o impious_a maxim_n of_o the_o other_o no_o atheist_n or_o infidel_n of_o any_o kind_n can_v just_o be_v angry_a with_o i_o for_o measure_v sword_n with_o they_o and_o attacking_z they_o only_o with_o the_o weapon_n they_o prescribe_v i_o the_o true_a christian_a can_v no_o more_o be_v offend_v when_o he_o find_v i_o employ_v reason_n not_o to_o enervate_v or_o perplex_v but_o to_o confirm_v and_o elucidate_v revelation_n unless_o he_o be_v apprehensive_a i_o shall_v render_v it_o too_o clear_a to_o myself_o or_o too_o familiar_a to_o other_o which_o be_v absurdity_n no_o body_n will_v own_v i_o hope_v to_o make_v it_o appear_v that_o the_o use_v of_o reason_n be_v not_o so_o dangerous_a in_o religion_n as_o it_o be_v common_o represent_v and_o that_o too_o by_o such_o as_o mighty_o extol_v it_o when_o it_o seem_v to_o favour_v they_o yet_o vouchsafe_v it_o not_o a_o hear_n when_o it_o make_v against_o they_o but_o oppose_v its_o own_o authority_n to_o itself_o these_o be_v high_a privilege_n indeed_o and_o the_o sure_a mean_n of_o have_v always_o the_o better_a of_o the_o dispute_n that_o can_v possible_o be_v devise_v that_o the_o mistake_a unbeliever_n may_v not_o say_v i_o serve_v a_o hypothesis_n in_o the_o defence_n of_o my_o faith_n like_o some_o who_o first_o imagine_v or_o receive_v a_o opinion_n and_o then_o study_v proof_n to_o establish_v it_o i_o solemn_o declare_v the_o thing_n be_v much_o otherwise_o and_o that_o i_o hold_v nothing_o as_o a_o article_n of_o my_o religion_n but_o what_o the_o high_a evidence_n force_v i_o to_o embrace_v for_o be_v educate_v from_o my_o cradle_n in_o the_o gross_a superstition_n and_o idolatry_n god_n be_v please_v to_o make_v my_o own_o reason_n and_o such_o as_o make_v use_v of_o they_o the_o happy_a instrument_n of_o my_o conversion_n thus_o i_o have_v be_v very_o early_o accustom_a to_o examination_n and_o enquiry_n and_o teach_v not_o to_o captivate_v my_o understanding_n no_o more_o than_o my_o sense_n to_o any_o man_n or_o society_n whatsoever_o now_o the_o best_a method_n i_o think_v of_o communicate_v to_o other_o the_o truth_n be_v that_o by_o which_o a_o man_n have_v learn_v it_o himself_o that_o the_o well-meaning_a christian_a may_v not_o suspect_v as_o it_o fall_v out_o very_o ordinary_o that_o i_o aim_v at_o more_o than_o i_o declare_v and_o cunning_o disguise_v some_o bad_a principle_n under_o the_o fair_a pretence_n of_o defend_v the_o true_a religion_n i_o assure_v he_o that_o i_o write_v with_o all_o the_o sincerity_n and_o simplicity_n imaginable_a be_v as_o thorough_o convince_v of_o what_o i_o maintain_v as_o i_o can_v be_v of_o any_o thing_n if_o any_o good_a man_n shall_v after_o this_o protestation_n persist_v to_o think_v hard_o of_o i_o it_o must_v needs_o proceed_v from_o violent_a prepossession_n for_o very_o few_o can_v be_v find_v that_o be_v not_o deep_o engage_v in_o some_o of_o one_o sort_n or_o another_o for_o which_o a_o due_a allowance_n must_v be_v make_v how_o fond_a be_v we_o all_o apt_a to_o be_v of_o what_o we_o learn_v in_o our_o youth_n as_o the_o sight_n or_o remembrance_n of_o the_o place_n where_o we_o pass_v that_o agreeable_a time_n do_v strange_o affect_v we_o a_o mother_n be_v more_o charm_v with_o the_o lisp_a half-formed_a word_n of_o her_o prattle_a infant_n than_o with_o the_o best_a language_n and_o most_o solid_a discourse_n that_o any_o upstart_n but_o of_o yesterday_o shall_v pretend_v to_o overthrow_v what_o cost_v the_o ancient_n so_o much_o time_n and_o breath_n to_o establish_v and_o themselves_o so_o great_a pain_n and_o charge_n to_o learn_v be_v of_o hard_a digestion_n to_o some_o and_o when_o other_o be_v but_o pray_v to_o explain_v their_o term_n which_o common_o signify_v nothing_o or_o what_o they_o must_v be_v ashamed_a to_o own_o that_o will_v never_o be_v think_v in_o a_o error_n they_o be_v uneasy_a as_o a_o extravagant_a merchant_n to_o examine_v his_o account_n and_o it_o be_v well_o if_o they_o can_v restrain_v their_o passion_n not_o only_o a_o few_o man_n