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Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
church_n build_v peter_n rock_n 30,238 5 9.7701 5 true
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A59812 A discourse concerning a judge of controversies in matters of religion being an answer to some papers asserting the necessity of such a judge : with an address to wavering protestants, shewing what little reason they have to think of any change of their religion : written for the private satisfaction of some scrupulous persons, and now published for common use : with a preface concerning the nature of certainty and infallibility. Sherlock, William, 1641?-1707. 1686 (1686) Wing S3285; ESTC R8167 73,491 104

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obstinate_o refuse_v to_o consult_v that_o live_a oracle_n and_o infallible_a judge_n who_o god_n have_v place_v in_o his_o church_n to_o decide_v all_o controversy_n in_o faith_n and_o worship_n protest_v sir_n i_o thank_v you_o for_o your_o charity_n and_o though_o i_o do_v not_o find_v myself_o so_o uncertain_a as_o i_o perceive_v you_o think_v i_o be_o yet_o i_o shall_v be_v glad_a of_o such_o a_o infallible_a guide_n as_o you_o talk_v of_o if_o i_o know_v where_o to_o find_v he_o pap._n he_o be_v to_o be_v find_v in_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n for_o that_o be_v the_o church_n which_o be_v the_o pillar_n and_o ground_n of_o truth_n there_o be_v st._n peter_n chair_n who_o christ_n make_v the_o supreme_a governor_n of_o his_o church_n who_o he_o command_v to_o feed_v his_o lamb_n and_o his_o sheep_n that_o rock_n on_o who_o christ_n promise_v to_o build_v his_o church_n and_o that_o the_o gate_n of_o hell_n shall_v not_o prevail_v against_o it_o and_o therefore_o in_o communion_n 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this_o to_o the_o purpose_n when_o the_o scripture_n express_o condemn_v the_o worship_n of_o image_n and_o give_v religious_a worship_n to_o any_o other_o be_v but_o to_o god_n only_o and_o by_o their_o own_o confession_n say_v nothing_o of_o the_o worship_n of_o saint_n and_o that_o st._n paul_n dispute_v design_o against_o prayer_n in_o a_o unknown_a tongue_n and_o that_o our_o saviour_n institute_v his_o supper_n in_o both_o kind_n and_o command_v they_o to_o drink_v of_o the_o consecrate_a cup_n as_o well_o as_o to_o eat_v the_o bread_n though_o i_o have_v a_o great_a reverence_n for_o antiquity_n yet_o if_o st._n paul_n in_o his_o day_n pronounce_v a_o anathema_n against_o angel_n themselves_o who_o shall_v preach_v any_o other_o gospel_n we_o may_v safe_o renounce_v the_o authority_n of_o any_o church_n that_o shall_v contradict_v the_o express_a command_n and_o institution_n of_o christ._n to_o conclude_v this_o argument_n be_v antiquity_n our_o only_a guide_n and_o rule_n in_o 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of_o our_o saviour_n to_o make_v it_o so_o much_o a_o art_n and_o a_o mystery_n that_o none_o but_o great_a scholar_n can_v understand_v it_o scholar_n indeed_o have_v make_v a_o art_n and_o a_o mere_a dispute_v art_n of_o it_o and_o heretic_n who_o have_v corrupt_v the_o gospel_n have_v endeavour_v by_o perverse_a comment_n to_o make_v plain_a place_n obscure_a and_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n have_v more_o countenance_v this_o pretence_n than_o any_o other_o church_n in_o the_o world_n to_o frighten_v people_n from_o read_v that_o book_n which_o be_v the_o most_o dangerous_a book_n that_o ever_o be_v write_v against_o popery_n and_o after_o all_o their_o talk_n of_o the_o obscurity_n of_o scripture_n their_o deny_v the_o people_n the_o free_a use_n of_o it_o be_v a_o plain_a confession_n that_o they_o think_v it_o too_o plain_a against_o themselves_o so_o plain_a that_o every_o ordinary_a christian_n will_v be_v able_a to_o see_v it_o but_o if_o so_o very_a few_o people_n be_v able_a to_o judge_v of_o the_o dispute_n in_o religion_n what_o course_n shall_v woman_n and_o other_o person_n who_o the_o paper_n make_v such_o incompetent_a judge_n take_v suppose_v they_o have_v be_v educate_v in_o the_o communion_n of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n and_o be_v now_o assault_v by_o popish_a priest_n to_o go_v over_o to_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n must_v they_o make_v this_o change_n with_o reason_n or_o without_o it_o must_v they_o judge_v for_o themselves_o or_o forsake_v one_o church_n and_o choose_v another_o without_o judgement_n or_o can_v woman_n or_o busy_a or_o ignorant_a people_n more_o easy_o find_v out_o the_o true_a church_n and_o the_o infallible_a judge_n than_o they_o can_v read_v in_o scripture_n that_o they_o must_v worship_v none_o but_o god_n that_o they_o must_v not_o worship_v image_n and_o picture_n that_o they_o must_v pray_v to_o god_n in_o a_o know_a tongue_n and_o celebrate_v the_o supper_n of_o our_o lord_n by_o drink_v of_o the_o cup_n as_o well_o as_o by_o eat_v the_o bread_n whoever_o venture_v to_o forsake_v the_o communion_n of_o a_o church_n wherein_o he_o be_v baptize_v and_o educate_v i_o be_o sure_a aught_o to_o be_v able_a to_o judge_v whether_o he_o be_v or_o no_o and_o those_o who_o confess_v they_o be_v not_o able_a to_o judge_v aught_o to_o be_v keep_v where_o they_o be_v for_o it_o be_v safe_a to_o continue_v in_o a_o church_n without_o judgement_n than_o to_o forsake_v it_o without_o reason_n and_o judgement_n in_o the_o first_o case_n the_o providence_n of_o god_n in_o our_o birth_n and_o education_n will_v make_v some_o apology_n for_o our_o involuntary_a mistake_v but_o if_o we_o wanton_o leave_v one_o church_n and_o go_v to_o another_o without_o be_v able_a to_o judge_v of_o either_o the_o act_n be_v whole_o our_o own_o choice_n and_o if_o we_o leave_v a_o better_a for_o a_o worse_o we_o must_v take_v what_o follow_v and_o therefore_o this_o be_v the_o most_o improper_a argument_n in_o the_o world_n to_o be_v use_v by_o one_o who_o be_v waver_v between_o two_o church_n for_o if_o he_o must_v not_o use_v his_o own_o private_a judgement_n i_o can_v guess_v how_o he_o shall_v either_o choose_v or_o refuse_v those_o who_o challenge_v a_o liberty_n of_o judge_v for_o themselves_o which_o be_v the_o undoubted_a right_n of_o all_o reasonable_a creature_n may_v change_v as_o they_o see_v reason_n and_o at_o their_o own_o peril_n if_o they_o choose_v wrong_v but_o those_o who_o disclaim_v all_o right_a and_o capacity_n of_o judge_v must_v continue_v as_o they_o be_v and_o take_v their_o chance_n for_o they_o may_v as_o well_o choose_v their_o faith_n as_o their_o guide_n who_o they_o will_v in_o all_o thing_n believe_v but_o still_o the_o force_n of_o the_o objection_n be_v not_o answer_v that_o he_o who_o will_v judge_v must_v judge_v upon_o the_o whole_a matter_n and_o therefore_o must_v be_v able_a to_o know_v and_o answer_v whatever_o be_v say_v to_o the_o contrary_a which_o the_o great_a number_n of_o man_n as_o well_o as_o woman_n be_v not_o able_a to_o do_v but_o if_o this_o be_v true_a the_o great_a number_n of_o man_n as_o well_o as_o woman_n must_v never_o believe_v there_o be_v a_o god_n or_o that_o christ_n come_v from_o god_n to_o declare_v his_o will_n to_o the_o world_n for_o there_o be_v very_o few_o of_o they_o that_o ever_o hear_v or_o be_v able_a to_o answer_v the_o ten_o part_n of_o the_o argument_n of_o atheist_n and_o infidel_n against_o the_o be_v of_o a_o god_n and_o the_o christian_a religion_n and_o yet_o it_o be_v ridiculous_a to_o talk_v of_o authority_n or_o a_o judge_n of_o controversy_n in_o these_o matter_n for_o we_o must_v first_o believe_v there_o be_v a_o god_n and_o that_o christ_n come_v from_o god_n before_o we_o can_v believe_v that_o they_o have_v appoint_v a_o judge_n of_o controversy_n so_o that_o
can_v communicate_v with_o they_o for_o there_o be_v nothing_o sinful_a in_o our_o communion_n and_o whatever_o they_o pretend_v they_o can_v never_o prove_v that_o there_o be_v any_o thing_n want_v in_o it_o necessary_a to_o salvation_n and_o when_o we_o deny_v communion_n to_o no_o church_n that_o will_v communicate_v with_o we_o and_o require_v no_o sinful_a term_n of_o communion_n which_o can_v justify_v a_o separation_n from_o we_o let_v they_o tell_v i_o wherein_o our_o schism_n consist_v the_o paper_n i_o can_v think_v those_o glorious_a promise_n sufficient_o fulfil_v of_o the_o holy_a spirit_n lead_v they_o into_o all_o truth_n and_o abide_v with_o they_o and_o that_o for_o ever_o answer_n pray_v why_o not_o that_o promise_n of_o lead_v they_o into_o all_o truth_n be_v make_v to_o the_o apostle_n and_o be_v fulfil_v in_o they_o and_o extend_v to_o no_o other_o in_o that_o degree_n of_o infallibility_n as_o be_v evident_a from_o the_o manner_n how_o the_o spirit_n be_v to_o lead_v they_o into_o all_o truth_n viz._n by_o bring_v to_o their_o remembrance_n all_o thing_n which_o christ_n have_v say_v to_o they_o which_o can_v belong_v only_o to_o those_o person_n who_o hear_v the_o sermon_n and_o discourse_n of_o christ_n himself_o for_o though_o a_o man_n may_v be_v teach_v what_o he_o never_o know_v before_o yet_o he_o can_v be_v say_v to_o remember_v what_o he_o never_o hear_v before_o but_o when_o it_o be_v add_v that_o this_o spirit_n of_o truth_n shall_v abide_v with_o they_o for_o ever_o that_o for_o ever_o must_v be_v appropriate_v to_o the_o apostle_n as_o it_o relate_v to_o a_o infallible_a direction_n and_o their_o for_o ever_o signify_v no_o long_a than_o they_o live_v for_o if_o it_o must_v be_v extend_v to_o all_o the_o successor_n of_o the_o apostle_n than_o there_o must_v be_v as_o many_o infallible_a judge_n as_o there_o be_v successor_n to_o all_o the_o apostle_n in_o the_o several_a church_n found_v by_o they_o which_o will_v not_o serve_v 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their_o religion_n what_o i_o have_v now_o discourse_v in_o answer_n to_o these_o paper_n seem_v to_o i_o so_o very_o clear_a and_o plain_a that_o i_o shall_v not_o much_o question_n its_o good_a effect_n even_o upon_o honest_a papist_n will_v they_o impartial_o read_v and_o consider_v it_o much_o more_o upon_o waver_a protestant_n if_o it_o be_v only_o some_o scruple_n not_o interest_n which_o sway_v they_o but_o the_o better_a to_o fix_v such_o people_n and_o that_o in_o the_o modern_a fashionable_a way_n without_o dispute_v all_o the_o point_n in_o controversy_n i_o shall_v desire_v they_o to_o consider_v how_o much_o more_o certainty_n and_o safety_n they_o have_v in_o communion_n with_o the_o church_n of_o england_n than_o they_o can_v have_v by_o go_v over_o to_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n and_o i_o think_v this_o be_v home_n to_o the_o purpose_n it_o be_v the_o same_o argument_n wherewith_o the_o roman_a priest_n endeavour_v to_o pervert_v our_o people_n and_o which_o be_v the_o principal_a design_n of_o these_o paper_n 1._o first_o then_o i_o observe_v that_o all_o the_o positive_a article_n of_o the_o protestant_a faith_n be_v own_v and_o believe_v in_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n we_o do_v not_o believe_v all_o that_o they_o believe_v but_o yet_o they_o believe_v all_o that_o we_o do_v for_o our_o faith_n be_v contain_v in_o the_o ancient_a creed_n the_o apostle_n the_o nicene_n and_o the_o athanasian_n creed_n which_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n own_v as_o well_o as_o we_o and_o though_o we_o do_v not_o build_v our_o certainty_n on_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n but_o on_o the_o express_a revelation_n of_o scripture_n which_o contain_v all_o the_o article_n of_o our_o faith_n and_o be_v as_o much_o certainty_n as_o we_o desire_v yet_o methinks_v even_o a_o modest_a romanist_n shall_v blush_v to_o charge_v our_o faith_n with_o uncertainty_n when_o our_o faith_n as_o far_o as_o it_o reach_v be_v the_o same_o with_o they_o sure_o they_o must_v grant_v that_o in_o these_o matter_n which_o we_o all_o consent_n in_o our_o faith_n be_v true_a and_o orthodox_n they_o must_v grant_v that_o the_o last_o resolution_n of_o our_o faith_n into_o the_o authority_n of_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n be_v sound_a and_o orthodox_n also_o for_o thus_o they_o resolve_v their_o own_o faith_n they_o must_v grant_v that_o the_o universal_a consent_n of_o the_o church_n in_o all_o age_n not_o exclude_v the_o church_n of_o rome_n itself_o as_o a_o part_n of_o the_o catholic_n church_n be_v the_o best_a external_n testimony_n of_o the_o christian_a faith_n now_o when_o we_o believe_v the_o same_o thing_n which_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n do_v upon_o the_o authority_n of_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n who_o doctrine_n be_v contain_v in_o the_o write_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n and_o expound_v by_o the_o general_n faith_n of_o the_o christian_a church_n in_o all_o age_n what_o appearance_n of_o uncertainty_n can_v be_v charge_v on_o such_o a_o faith_n we_o reject_v indeed_o the_o infallible_a authority_n of_o the_o present_a church_n of_o rome_n but_o what_o then_o will_v not_o a_o true_a orthodox_n faith_n save_v we_o unless_o we_o believe_v in_o christ_n upon_o the_o authority_n of_o a_o particular_a church_n which_o have_v no_o be_v when_o christianity_n be_v first_o plant_v in_o the_o world_n but_o i_o think_v i_o need_v not_o insist_v on_o this_o for_o i_o can_v believe_v that_o any_o member_n of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n go_v over_o to_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n because_o he_o can_v believe_v his_o creed_n in_o the_o church_n of_o england_n but_o then_o i_o will_v desire_v they_o to_o consider_v what_o that_o uncertainty_n be_v which_o they_o complain_v of_o in_o the_o church_n of_o england_n for_o if_o the_o positive_a faith_n of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n be_v certain_a as_o it_o must_v be_v if_o the_o faith_n of_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n as_o to_o these_o matter_n be_v certain_a why_o do_v 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