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Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
church_n authority_n believe_v infallibility_n 2,951 5 11.3667 5 false
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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

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tragical_o declaim_v against_o one_o another_o practice_n and_o error_n that_o they_o be_v as_o injudicious_a violent_a and_o factious_a as_o other_o man_n that_o they_o be_v for_o the_o great_a part_n very_o credulous_a and_o superstitious_a in_o religion_n as_o well_o as_o pitiful_o ignorant_a and_o superficial_a in_o the_o minute_a punctilio_n of_o literature_n in_o a_o word_n that_o they_o be_v of_o the_o same_o nature_n and_o make_v with_o ourselves_o and_o that_o we_o know_v of_o no_o privilege_n above_o we_o bestow_v upon_o they_o by_o heaven_n except_o priority_n of_o birth_n if_o that_o be_v one_o as_o it_o be_v likely_a few_o will_v allow_v 4._o some_o give_v a_o decisive_a voice_n in_o the_o unravel_n of_o mystery_n and_o the_o interpretation_n of_o scripture_n to_o a_o general_n council_n and_o other_o to_o one_o man_n who_o they_o hold_v to_o be_v the_o head_n of_o the_o church_n universal_a upon_o earth_n
hand_n but_o the_o priest_n with_o the_o like_a ceremony_n they_o have_v no_o colour_n of_o 102._o authority_n from_o the_o scripture_n but_o only_o from_o custom_n and_o tradition_n 93._o now_o their_o own_o advantage_n be_v the_o motive_n that_o put_v the_o primitive_a clergy_n upon_o revive_a mystery_n they_o quick_o erect_v themselves_o by_o its_o assistance_n into_o a_o separate_a and_o politic_a body_n though_o not_o so_o soon_o into_o their_o various_a order_n and_o degree_n for_o in_o the_o two_o first_o century_n we_o meet_v with_o no_o subdeacon_n reader_n or_o the_o like_a much_o less_o with_o the_o name_n or_o dignity_n of_o pope_n cardinal_n patriarch_n metropolitan_o archbishop_n primate_fw-la suffragans_fw-la archdeacon_n dean_n chancellor_n vicar_n or_o their_o numerous_a dependent_n and_o retinue_n but_o in_o small_a time_n mystery_n make_v way_n for_o those_o and_o several_a other_o usurpation_n upon_o mankind_n under_o pretence_n of_o labourer_n in_o the_o lord_n vineyard_n 94._o the_o degree_n or_o constitution_n concern_v ceremony_n and_o discipline_n to_o increase_v the_o splendour_n of_o this_o new_a state_n do_v strange_o affect_v stupify_v and_o amaze_v the_o mind_n of_o the_o ignorant_a people_n and_o make_v they_o believe_v they_o be_v in_o good_a earnest_a mediator_n between_o god_n and_o man_n that_o can_v fix_v sanctity_n to_o certain_a time_n place_n person_n or_o action_n they_o seem_v almost_o a_o different_a and_o more_o divine_a species_n of_o creature_n distinguish_v themselves_o from_o other_o man_n in_o their_o garb_n in_o their_o manner_n of_o live_v by_o tithe_n and_o donation_n in_o their_o separate_a place_n at_o church_n and_o several_a other_o way_n by_o this_o mean_v the_o clergy_n be_v able_a to_o do_v any_o thing_n they_o engross_v at_o length_n the_o sole_a right_n of_o interpret_n scripture_n and_o with_o it_o claim_v infallibility_n to_o their_o body_n 95._o this_o be_v the_o true_a origin_n and_o progress_n of_o the_o christian_a mystery_n and_o we_o may_v observe_v how_o great_a a_o share_n of_o their_o establishment_n be_v owe_v to_o ceremony_n these_o never_o fail_v to_o take_v off_o the_o mind_n from_o the_o substance_n of_o religion_n and_o lead_v man_n into_o dangerous_a mistake_v for_o ceremony_n be_v easy_o observe_v every_o one_o think_v himself_o religious_a enough_o that_o exact_o perform_v they_o but_o there_o be_v nothing_o so_o natural_o opposite_a as_o ceremony_n and_o christianity_n the_o latter_a discover_v religion_n naked_a to_o all_o the_o world_n and_o the_o former_a deliver_v it_o under_o mystical_a representation_n of_o a_o mere_o arbitrary_a signification_n 96._o it_o be_v visible_a than_o that_o ceremony_n perplex_v instead_o of_o explain_v but_o suppose_v they_o make_v thing_n easy_a then_o that_o will_v be_v the_o best_a religion_n which_o have_v most_o of_o they_o for_o they_o be_v general_o and_o may_v all_o be_v make_v equal_o significative_a a_o candle_n put_v ●…nto_o the_o hand_n of_o the_o baptise_a to_o denote_v the_o light_n of_o the_o gospel_n be_v every_o whit_n as_o good_a a_o ceremony_n as_o to_o make_v the_o sign_n of_o the_o cross_n upon_o their_o forehead_n in_o token_n of_o own_v christ_n for_o their_o master_n and_o saviour_n wine_n milk_n and_o honey_n signify_v spiritual_a nourishment_n strength_n and_o gladness_n as_o well_o as_o stand_v at_o the_o gospel_n betoken_v our_o readiness_n to_o hear_v or_o profess_v it_o 97._o in_o short_a there_o be_v no_o degree_n of_o enthusiasm_n high_o than_o place_v religion_n in_o such_o foolery_n nor_o any_o thing_n so_o base_a as_o by_o these_o fraudulent_a art_n to_o make_v the_o gospel_n of_o no_o effect_n unless_o as_o sar_n as_o it_o serve_v a_o party_n but_o i_o shall_v have_v a_o better_a occasion_n of_o exhaust_v the_o subject_a of_o ceremony_n elsewhere_o i_o treat_v of_o they_o here_o only_o as_o they_o make_v up_o the_o gentile_a mystery_n and_o be_v afterward_o bring_v in_o to_o constitute_v those_o of_o the_o christian_n but_o as_o the_o vastmultitude_n of_o the_o latter_a quick_o render_v all_o secret_a rite_n almost_o impossible_a so_o to_o preserve_v the_o mystery_n thing_n be_v purposely_o make_v downright_o unintelligible_a or_o very_o perplex_v in_o this_o poi●…_n our_o pretend_a christian_n outdo_v all_o the_o mystery_n of_o the_o heathen_n for_o the_o honour_n of_o these_o may_v be_v destroy_v by_o discovery_n or_o the_o babble_a tongue_n of_o any_o initiate_v person_n but_o the_o new_a mystery_n be_v thus_o secure_o place_v above_o the_o reach_n of_o all_o sense_n and_o reason_n nay_o so_o jealous_a be_v the_o clergy_n of_o their_o own_o order_n lest_o any_o of_o they_o shall_v irreligious_o unfold_v those_o sublime_a mystery_n to_o the_o profane_o inquisitive_a laity_n that_o they_o think_v fit_a to_o put_v it_o as_o much_o out_o of_o the_o power_n of_o the_o holy_a tribe_n itself_o as_o out_o of_o we_o to_o understand_v they_o and_o so_o it_o continue_v in_o a_o great_a measure_n to_o this_o day_n the_o conclusion_n thus_o i_o have_v endeavour_v to_o show_v other_o what_o i'm_n full_o convince_v of_o myself_o that_o there_o be_v no_o mystery_n in_o christianity_n or_o the_o most_o perfect_a religion_n and_o that_o by_o consequence_n nothing_o contradictory_n or_o inconceivable_a however_o make_v a_o article_n of_o faith_n can_v be_v contain_v in_o the_o gospel_n if_o it_o be_v real_o the_o word_n of_o god_n for_o i_o have_v hitherto_o argue_v only_o upon_o this_o supposition_n for_o the_o reason_n to_o be_v see_v towards_o the_o end_n of_o the_o preface_n notwithstanding_o all_o pretence_n that_o may_v be_v make_v to_o the_o contrary_a it_o be_v evident_a that_o no_o particular_a instance_n or_o doctrine_n of_o any_o sort_n can_v serve_v for_o a_o proper_a answer_n to_o this_o discourse_n for_o as_o long_o as_o the_o reason_n of_o it_o hold_v good_a whatever_o instance_n can_v be_v allege_v must_v either_o be_v find_v not_o mysterious_a or_o if_o it_o prove_v a_o mystery_n not_o divine_o reveal_v there_o be_v no_o middle_a way_n that_o i_o can_v see_v when_o those_o passage_n of_o scripture_n i_o have_v cite_v for_o my_o assertion_n be_v either_o reconcile_v to_o such_o as_o any_o will_v bring_v against_o i_o or_o prove_v not_o to_o be_v understand_v by_o i_o when_o my_o argument_n against_o all_o inconceivable_a mystery_n and_o the_o absurdity_n of_o god_n reveal_v any_o such_o mystery_n be_v confute_v it_o be_v time_n enough_o then_o for_o other_o to_o produce_v example_n or_o for_o i_o to_o consider_v '_o they_o and_o though_o by_o convince_a people_n that_o all_o the_o part_n of_o their_o religion_n must_v not_o only_o be_v in_o themselves_o but_o to_o they_o also_o must_v appear_v sound_n and_o intelligible_a i_o may_v just_o leave_v every_o one_o to_o discover_v to_o himself_o the_o reasonableness_n or_o unreasonableness_n of_o his_o religion_n which_o be_v no_o difficult_a business_n when_o once_o man_n be_v persuade_v that_o they_o have_v a_o right_a to_o do_v it_o yet_o the_o duty_n i_o owe_v god_n and_o the_o world_n oblige_v i_o to_o proceed_v further_o according_a as_o i_o enjoy_v health_n or_o leisure_n without_o limit_v myself_o as_o to_o any_o time_n that_o be_v a_o thing_n in_o no_o man_n power_n to_o command_v at_o his_o pleasure_n my_o next_o task_n therefore_o be_v god_n will_v to_o prove_v the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n perspicuous_a possible_a and_o most_o worthy_a of_o god_n as_o well_o as_o all_o calculate_v for_o the_o high_a benefit_n of_o man._n some_o will_v not_o thank_v i_o it_o be_v probable_a for_o so_o useful_a a_o undertake_n and_o other_o will_v make_v i_o a_o heretic_n in_o grain_n for_o what_o i_o have_v perform_v already_o but_o as_o it_o be_v duty_n and_o no_o body_n appláuse_n which_o be_v the_o rule_n of_o my_o action_n so_o god_n know_v i_o no_o more_o value_v this_o cheap_a and_o ridiculous_a nickname_n of_o a_o heretic_n than_o paul_n do_v besore_n 14._o i_o for_o i_o acknowledge_v no_o orthodoxy_n but_o the_o truth_n and_o i_o be_o sure_a wherever_o the_o truth_n be_v there_o must_v be_v also_o the_o church_n of_o god_n i_o mean_v and_o not_o any_o human_a faction_n or_o policy_n beside_o the_o imputation_n of_o heterodoxy_n be_v now_o as_o liberal_a upon_o the_o slight_a occasion_n out_o of_o ignorance_n passion_n or_o malice_n as_o in_o the_o day_n of_o ireneus_fw-la and_o epiphanius_n it_o be_v many_o time_n instead_o of_o a_o reproach_n the_o great_a honour_n imaginable_a some_o good_a man_n may_v be_v apt_a to_o say_v that_o suppose_v my_o opinion_n never_o so_o true_a it_o may_v notwithstanding_o occasion_v much_o harm_n because_o when_o people_n find_v themselves_o impose_v upon_o in_o any_o part_n of_o religion_n they_o be_v ready_a to_o call_v the_o whole_a in_o question_n this_o offence_n be_v plain_o take_v not_o give_v and_o my_o design_n be_v nothing_o