Selected quad for the lemma: doctrine_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
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A53931
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A treatise proving Scripture to be the rule of faith writ by Reginald Peacock ... before the Reformation, about the year MCDL.
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Pecock, Reginald, 1395?-1460?; Wharton, Henry, 1664-1695.
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1688
(1688)
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Wing P1043; ESTC R1772
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67,273
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88
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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 tradition_n will_v fail_v but_o even_o the_o article_n itself_o will_v appear_v to_o be_v evident_o false_a for_o it_o be_v not_o possible_a that_o tradition_n shall_v be_v the_o rule_n of_o faith_n if_o that_o very_a article_n that_o tradition_n be_v the_o rule_n of_o faith_n be_v not_o deliver_v down_o by_o a_o uninterrupted_a succession_n of_o belief_n for_o than_o it_o will_v not_o be_v the_o rule_n of_o that_o very_a article_n beside_o it_o be_v absurd_a that_o the_o church_n of_o any_o age_n shall_v have_v power_n of_o declare_v what_o the_o tradition_n of_o faith_n be_v and_o consequent_o of_o fix_v the_o rule_n of_o faith_n and_o yet_o be_v so_o far_o from_o be_v conscious_a of_o any_o such_o power_n inherent_a in_o she_o that_o she_o disbelieved_a it_o not_o to_o say_v that_o if_o at_o any_o time_n tradition_n be_v not_o believe_v by_o the_o church_n to_o be_v the_o rule_n of_o faith_n and_o yet_o at_o the_o same_o time_n divers_a article_n of_o faith_n be_v define_v by_o 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
the_o least_o and_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o church_n itself_o as_o to_o the_o ground_n and_o foundation_n of_o it_o be_v chief_o deduce_v from_o the_o gospel_n nay_o the_o very_a institution_n power_n and_o edification_n of_o the_o church_n can_v no_o way_n so_o express_o and_o certain_o be_v know_v as_o from_o the_o gospel_n but_o as_o i_o imagine_v it_o can_v by_o no_o method_n be_v so_o certain_o determine_v whether_o the_o church_n or_o the_o gospel_n be_v of_o great_a authority_n as_o by_o suppose_v this_o case_n when_o the_o church_n define_v any_o thing_n contrary_a to_o the_o gospel_n i_o know_v indeed_o that_o this_o can_v be_v this_o be_v to_o be_v understand_v of_o the_o belief_n and_o receive_v doctrine_n of_o the_o universal_a church_n not_o of_o the_o decree_n of_o the_o representative_a church_n otherwise_o clemangis_n will_v most_o foolish_o contradict_v himself_o however_o that_o we_o may_v the_o better_o find_v out_o the_o truth_n let_v we_o put_v this_o case_n do_v you_o imagine_v that_o in_o that_o case_n s._n augustin_n will_v have_v reject_v the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o gospel_n and_o adhere_v to_o the_o definition_n of_o the_o church_n no_o sure_o where_o he_o proceed_v at_o large_a to_o urge_v this_o argument_n and_o thereby_o to_o assert_v the_o superiority_n of_o the_o scripture_n authority_n to_o that_o of_o the_o church_n before_o the_o middle_n of_o this_o century_n flourish_v thomas_n waldensis_n provincial_a of_o the_o carmelites_n and_o confessor_n to_o two_o king_n of_o england_n henry_n v._o and_o henry_n vi_o successive_o general_o account_v the_o most_o learned_a english_a man_n of_o his_o age_n and_o the_o great_a champion_n of_o the_o papal_a cause_n against_o the_o lollard_n and_o other_o suppose_a heretic_n of_o his_o time_n against_o who_o he_o write_v a_o large_a and_o elaborate_a work_n which_o be_v in_o a_o particular_a manner_n confirm_v and_o approve_v by_o a_o special_a bull_n of_o pope_n martin_n v._o therein_o propose_v a_o entire_a system_n of_o divinity_n he_o lay_v down_o the_o sufficiency_n of_o scripture_n as_o a_o most_o certain_a principle_n in_o three_o whole_a chapter_n 22._o out_o of_o which_o i_o will_v produce_v some_o few_o passage_n dispute_v therefore_o of_o all_o article_n necessary_a to_o be_v believe_v and_o the_o complete_a system_n of_o christian_a faith_n he_o use_v these_o word_n they_o who_o 21._o yet_o believe_v the_o canon_n of_o scripture_n to_o be_v imperfect_a and_o that_o it_o may_v yet_o be_v augment_v by_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o church_n do_v yet_o with_o the_o jew_n expect_v the_o fullness_n of_o time_n perhaps_o under_o a_o jewish_a messiah_n he_o than_o take_v notice_n of_o that_o famous_a passage_n of_o s._n augustin_n i_o will_v not_o believe_v the_o gospel_n unless_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o catholic_n church_n persuade_v i_o and_o give_v this_o answer_n to_o it_o i_o do_v not_o approve_v the_o arrogance_n of_o some_o writer_n who_o upon_o occasion_n of_o this_o place_n maintain_v the_o decree_n of_o bishop_n in_o the_o church_n to_o be_v of_o great_a weight_n authority_n and_o dignity_n than_o be_v the_o authority_n of_o the_o scripture_n which_o indeed_o seem_v not_o so_o foolish_a as_o mad_a unless_o such_o a_o one_o will_v say_v philip_n be_v great_a than_o christ_n when_o he_o induce_v nathanael_n to_o believe_v that_o christ_n be_v he_o of_o who_o moses_n write_v in_o the_o law_n and_o the_o prophet_n although_o without_o his_o authority_n or_o admonition_n he_o will_v not_o have_v at_o that_o time_n perceive_v it_o all_o ecclesiastical_a authority_n since_o it_o serve_v only_o to_o bear_v testimony_n of_o christ_n and_o of_o his_o law_n be_v of_o less_o dignity_n than_o the_o law_n of_o christ_n and_o must_v necessary_o submit_v to_o the_o holy_a scripture_n well_o therefore_o do_v s._n thomas_n aquinas_n allegorise_v when_o he_o introduce_v the_o samaritan_n woman_n to_o represent_v the_o universal_a church_n which_o woman_n when_o the_o citizen_n of_o samaria_n hear_v preach_v christ_n they_o be_v induce_v to_o believe_v on_o he_o etc._n etc._n this_o passage_n clear_o represent_v to_o we_o the_o opinion_n of_o waldensis_n to_o have_v be_v that_o by_o the_o attestation_n of_o the_o church_n the_o divine_a authority_n of_o the_o scripture_n be_v know_v which_o be_v once_o know_v all_o matter_n of_o belief_n and_o article_n of_o faith_n be_v to_o be_v learn_v from_o the_o scripture_n just_a as_o philip_n induce_v nathanael_n and_o the_o samaritan_n woman_n her_o neighbour_n to_o believe_v christ_n to_o be_v a_o divine_a person_n of_o the_o truth_n of_o which_o when_o once_o satisfy_v they_o learn_v not_o the_o rule_n of_o life_n or_o article_n of_o faith_n from_o philip_n or_o the_o woman_n but_o receive_v both_o from_o christ_n himself_o and_o therefore_o waldensis_n subjoin_v that_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o scripture_n be_v far_o superior_a to_o the_o authority_n of_o all_o doctor_n even_o of_o the_o whole_a catholic_n church_n and_o that_o although_o the_o catholic_n church_n shall_v attest_v and_o confirm_v their_o authority_n that_o the_o authority_n of_o all_o latter_a man_n follow_v the_o apostle_n and_o church_n ought_v to_o be_v submit_v to_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o holy_a canon_n even_o to_o its_o footstool_n that_o ibid._n the_o former_a be_v subject_v to_o the_o latter_a as_o a_o witness_n to_o a_o judge_n and_o a_o testimony_n to_o the_o truth_n as_o a_o promulgation_n to_o a_o law_n and_o as_o a_o herald_n to_o a_o king._n as_o a_o testimony_n therefore_o be_v no_o far_a to_o be_v regard_v than_o as_o it_o be_v true_a a_o promulgation_n invalid_a when_o it_o either_o increase_v or_o mutilate_v the_o law_n and_o a_o herald_n not_o to_o be_v obey_v when_o he_o exceed_v the_o commission_n of_o the_o king_n so_o the_o decree_n definition_n and_o doctrine_n of_o the_o church_n be_v no_o long_o to_o be_v respect_v than_o as_o they_o be_v exact_o conformable_a to_o the_o scripture_n and_o deduce_v from_o it_o upon_o this_o account_n waldensis_n teach_v in_o the_o next_o chapter_n 22._o that_o the_o church_n can_v superadd_n any_o new_a article_n of_o faith_n to_o the_o scripture_n and_o that_o the_o faith_n from_o the_o time_n of_o john_n the_o evangelist_n who_o write_v the_o last_o book_n of_o scripture_n receive_v no_o increase_n and_o therefore_o apply_v to_o the_o book_n of_o canonical_a scripture_n the_o measure_n of_o the_o new_a city_n of_o god_n make_v by_o the_o angel_n in_o the_o xxi_o chapter_n of_o the_o revelation_n that_o as_o the_o circuit_n of_o that_o city_n consist_v of_o so_o many_o mile_n neither_o more_o nor_o less_o so_o the_o whole_a system_n of_o christian_a faith_n and_o divine_a revelation_n be_v complete_v and_o contain_v in_o so_o many_o book_n of_o scripture_n and_o can_v receive_v no_o far_o addition_n last_o show_v how_o many_o way_n the_o knowledge_n of_o the_o catholic_n truth_n may_v be_v attain_v he_o say_v ibid._n it_o may_v be_v obtain_v best_a of_o all_o and_o most_o certain_o from_o the_o canonical_a scripture_n he_o proceed_v to_o prove_v this_o from_o the_o authority_n of_o s._n augustin_n and_o then_o conclude_v see_v four_o way_n of_o come_v to_o the_o undoubted_a truth_n but_o more_o or_o less_o certain_a of_o which_o the_o first_o and_o most_o certain_a be_v by_o the_o holy_a scripture_n the_o rest_n beget_v only_o a_o historical_a and_o uncertain_a knowledge_n of_o the_o article_n of_o religion_n however_o these_o doctor_n already_o mention_v be_v of_o great_a authority_n and_o sufficient_o declare_v the_o common_a doctrine_n of_o the_o church_n in_o their_o time_n yet_o the_o practice_n and_o judgement_n of_o general_n council_n will_v give_v we_o great_a assurance_n of_o it_o two_o general_n council_n be_v hold_v at_o the_o same_o time_n in_o this_o age_n the_o one_o at_o basil_n the_o other_o at_o florence_n in_o both_o together_o the_o whole_a western_a church_n be_v present_a by_o its_o representative_n and_o in_o that_o of_o florence_n the_o eastern_a also_o these_o two_o council_n indeed_o thunder_v out_o excommunication_n one_o against_o the_o other_o yet_o both_o agree_v in_o use_v scripture_n as_o the_o rule_n of_o their_o definition_n and_o in_o all_o disputation_n lay_v that_o down_o as_o a_o common_a uncontroverted_a principle_n i_o begin_v with_o the_o council_n of_o basil_n wherein_o johannes_n de_fw-fr ragusio_n a_o learned_a dominican_n by_o the_o appointment_n of_o the_o bishop_n dispute_v public_o in_o the_o year_n 1433._o against_o the_o bohemian_n about_o communion_n under_o both_o kind_n here_o magnify_v the_o authority_n of_o the_o church_n he_o urge_v this_o argument_n chief_o that_o without_o the_o attestation_n of_o the_o church_n the_o divine_a authority_n of_o the_o scripture_n can_v be_v know_v and_o consequent_o that_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o church_n be_v antecedent_n to_o the_o knowledge_n even_o