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Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
doctrine_n apostle_n church_n primitive_a 4,139 5 9.1134 5 true
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A59239 Of devotion By J. S. Sergeant, John, 1622-1707. 1678 (1678) Wing S2585A; ESTC R220098 48,774 178

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in_o they_o than_o in_o myself_o which_o i_o be_o sure_a it_o do_v not_o it_o be_v evident_a then_o that_o right_a nature_n or_o true_a reason_n oblige_v both_o they_o and_o i_o to_o assent_v that_o such_o thing_n be_v true_a and_o therefore_o that_o such_o a_o authority_n attest_v such_o matter_n of_o fact_n can_v deceive_v we_o wherefore_o by_o the_o same_o and_o far_o better_a reason_n i_o be_o to_o believe_v this_o vast_a authority_n of_o the_o church_n attest_v to_o i_o that_o such_o and_o such_o doctrine_n be_v teach_v by_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n §_o 7._o far_o consider_v the_o circumstance_n in_o which_o this_o universal_a persuasion_n of_o mankind_n that_o this_o doctrine_n be_v divine_a be_v introduce_v i_o find_v the_o effect_n absolute_o impossible_a to_o nature_n the_o man_n who_o first_o begin_v to_o work_v it_o be_v inconsiderable_a in_o all_o respect_n of_o which_o the_o world_n take_v notice_n of_o mean_a birth_n of_o mean_a calling_n fisherman_n of_o no_o power_n no_o extraordinary_a natural_a endowment_n and_o where_o there_o be_v a_o primitive_a christian_a as_o there_o be_v many_o famous_a for_o part_n or_o quality_n he_o must_v first_o be_v wrought_v upon_o by_o man_n inferior_a to_o himself_o in_o all_o such_o kind_n of_o respect_n this_o be_v at_o a_o time_n when_o the_o whole_a world_n be_v possess_v with_o idolatry_n that_o be_v utter_a enemy_n to_o christianity_n except_v one_o poor_a corner_n of_o it_o judea_n where_o the_o change_n begin_v and_o where_o those_o who_o remain_v unchanged_a be_v great_a enemy_n to_o the_o business_n than_o the_o heathen_n themselves_o the_o temper_n of_o the_o world_n at_o this_o time_n be_v so_o far_o from_o simple_a or_o foolish_a that_o wit_n be_v rather_o at_o the_o high_a pitch_n all_o the_o learning_n of_o athens_n and_o greece_n be_v transfer_v to_o the_o roman_n and_o there_o improve_v and_o heighten_v yet_o this_o world_n by_o these_o man_n in_o such_o circumstance_n be_v prevail_v with_o to_o cast_v off_o all_o their_o long-settled_n persuasion_n in_o religion_n and_o instead_o of_o they_o to_o entertain_v and_o that_o with_o a_o most_o unshakable_a firmness_n the_o belief_n of_o mystery_n inconceivable_a such_o at_o which_o nature_n can_v not_o choose_v but_o boggle_v extreme_o and_o not_o admit_v without_o absolute_a conviction_n for_o no_o interest_n can_v move_v they_o all_o preferment_n of_o honour_n or_o trust_v or_o profit_n be_v in_o the_o hand_n of_o those_o who_o oppose_v this_o new_a doctrine_n and_o to_o embrace_v it_o be_v to_o forfeit_n whatever_o they_o possess_v or_o hope_v in_o this_o kind_n nay_o to_o change_v it_o for_o poverty_n and_o contempt_n and_o torment_n and_o death_n force_v there_o neither_o be_v nor_o can_v be_v for_o all_o power_n be_v in_o those_o who_o be_v against_o christianity_n and_o be_v employ_v and_o strain_v to_o suppress_v it_o in_o learning_n and_o wit_n and_o eloquence_n and_o all_o natural_a part_n they_o have_v the_o advantage_n and_o the_o thing_n propose_v to_o their_o belief_n a_o trinity_n a_o god_n make_v man_n and_o live_v in_o obscurity_n and_o die_v in_o torment_n and_o infamy_n a_o virgin-mother_n etc._n etc._n be_v inconceivable_a and_o to_o nature_n unsolvable_a riddle_n §_o 8._o he_o that_o shall_v consider_v these_o thing_n and_o the_o rest_n of_o what_o may_v occur_v as_o they_o deserve_v will_v be_v convince_v that_o the_o effect_n viz._n a_o persuasion_n of_o such_o multitude_n of_o man_n so_o qualify_v to_o believe_v such_o strange_a thing_n so_o strong_o that_o no_o hope_n or_o fear_n can_v hinder_v they_o from_o stand_v firm_o to_o they_o even_o to_o death_n can_v not_o be_v compass_v by_o natural_a cause_n and_o thence_o conclude_v with_o absolute_a certainty_n the_o doctrine_n can_v be_v no_o other_o than_o divine_a dictate_v by_o god_n the_o author_n of_o nature_n and_o by_o his_o power_n over_o it_o introduce_v and_o settle_v in_o the_o world_n §_o 9_o again_o among_o other_o supernatural_a mean_n miracle_n be_v one_o which_o the_o christian_a party_n unanimous_o pretend_v to_o have_v be_v do_v by_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n it_o be_v impossible_a have_v they_o be_v false_a they_o shall_v not_o have_v be_v discover_v and_o the_o pretender_n and_o actor_n manifest_o show_v to_o be_v a_o company_n of_o cheat_n unless_o there_o want_v wit_n or_o power_n or_o will_v in_o the_o opposite_a party_n to_o examine_v and_o detect_v they_o for_o that_o which_o we_o know_v how_o to_o do_v and_o can_v and_o will_v do_v manifest_o be_v do_v wit_n to_o detect_v they_o there_o be_v in_o abundance_n the_o world_n be_v then_o both_o acute_a and_o withal_o sceptical_a a_o quality_n too_o which_o hinder_v they_o from_o believe_v rash_o will_v there_o want_v not_o the_o honour_n and_o interest_n of_o all_o overseer_n of_o religion_n or_o priest_n both_o jew_n and_o gentile_n engage_v they_o against_o it_o and_o the_o civil_a policy_n be_v high_o concern_v to_o look_v to_o innovation_n and_o doctrine_n contrary_a to_o the_o religion_n in_o vogue_n and_o establish_v among_o they_o beside_o it_o be_v plain_a they_o have_v a_o will_n to_o do_v what_o they_o do_v and_o they_o do_v make_v all_o the_o opposition_n they_o can_v neither_o be_v there_o any_o want_n of_o power_n which_o till_o constantin_n time_n three_o hundred_o year_n after_o christ_n be_v all_o whether_o secular_a or_o religious_a in_o the_o hand_n of_o the_o enemy_n of_o christianity_n and_o often_o fruitless_o employ_v to_o the_o uttermost_a both_o by_o policy_n and_o persecution_n to_o root_v it_o out_o there_o be_v no_o possibility_n of_o over-bearing_a they_o by_o noise_n for_o that_o be_v one_o kind_a of_o power_n and_o silence_v those_o who_o cry_v down_o the_o miracle_n by_o the_o loud_a clamour_n of_o great_a multitude_n who_o cry_v they_o up_o for_o though_o christianity_n have_v make_v a_o considerable_a progress_n in_o the_o world_n during_o the_o time_n of_o persecution_n yet_o in_o comparison_n of_o heathen_n christian_n be_v but_o few_o and_o very_o unable_a to_o contend_v with_o they_o in_o noise_n it_o remain_v then_o that_o the_o pretend_a miracle_n be_v true_a miracle_n and_o too_o evident_o such_o for_o any_o wit_n or_o power_n of_o man_n to_o show_v they_o otherwise_o and_o that_o those_o and_o the_o other_o mean_n use_v in_o the_o conversion_n of_o the_o world_n be_v true_o above_o nature_n since_o they_o overcome_v all_o human_a and_o natural_a mean_n conspire_v and_o bend_v to_o oppose_v they_o and_o have_v they_o not_o be_v such_o the_o persuasion_n nay_o steadfast_a belief_n of_o such_o incomprehensible_a mystery_n and_o stand_v fast_o against_o such_o a_o violent_a torrent_n nay_o turn_v the_o stream_n so_o strange_o and_o prevail_v on_o such_o vast_a portion_n of_o the_o world_n to_o embrace_v christianity_n will_v be_v a_o effect_n without_o a_o cause_n or_o which_o be_v all_o one_o without_o a_o proportionable_a cause_n or_o a_o cause_n able_a to_o produce_v it_o wherefore_o as_o certain_a as_o it_o be_v that_o no_o effect_n can_v be_v produce_v without_o a_o cause_n and_o that_o a_o proportionable_a cause_n or_o a_o cause_n able_a to_o produce_v it_o and_o that_o be_v so_o certain_a that_o to_o deny_v it_o be_v to_o affirm_v manifest_a contradiction_n viz._n that_o a_o thing_n can_v do_v what_o it_o can_v do_v so_o sure_o it_o be_v that_o this_o first-taught_a doctrine_n be_v both_o true_o divine_a and_o right_o derive_v from_o the_o primitive_a time_n to_o we_o therefore_o i_o be_o as_o sure_a as_o i_o live_v my_o faith_n be_v true_a and_o the_o doctrine_n i_o believe_v reveal_v to_o mankind_n by_o god_n himself_o §_o 10._o hence_o a_o rationally-pious_a soul_n will_v discourse_v on_o this_o or_o the_o like_a manner_n when_o i_o certain_o know_v any_o thing_n that_o real_o and_o high_o concern_v i_o for_o example_n that_o such_o a_o precipice_n if_o i_o leap_v into_o it_o will_v certain_o kill_v i_o such_o a_o action_n will_v certain_o ruin_v my_o estate_n such_o another_o will_v secure_v it_o and_o settle_v i_o in_o plenty_n &_o content_a and_o security_n it_o be_v plain_a madness_n not_o to_o act_v according_a to_o this_o knowledge_n and_o beware_v of_o that_o precipice_n and_o avoid_v one_o action_n and_o do_v the_o other_o but_o it_o be_v infinite_o great_a madness_n not_o to_o avoid_v such_o thing_n as_o my_o faith_n with_o much_o great_a certainty_n assure_v i_o will_v bring_v upon_o i_o infinite_o great_a mischief_n and_o not_o lay_v hold_n of_o such_o thing_n as_o it_o likewise_o assure_v i_o will_v put_v i_o into_o possession_n of_o infinite_o great_a good_n no_o less_o than_o true_a and_o perfect_a and_o never_o end_v happiness_n i_o will_v therefore_o endeavour_v by_o the_o best_a and_o all_o mean_n i_o possible_o can_v to_o avoid_v sin_n correct_v my_o passion_n and_o inordinate_a