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which_o prove_v his_o integrity_n to_o have_v be_v equal_a to_o his_o zeal_n and_o neither_o inferior_a to_o his_o learning_n the_o authority_n of_o the_o church_n and_o infallibility_n of_o her_o definition_n have_v of_o late_o be_v set_v up_o as_o the_o most_o successful_a engine_n against_o the_o prevail_a growth_n of_o suppose_a heretic_n to_o refute_v the_o argument_n of_o wicleff_n and_o convince_v his_o follower_n with_o solid_a reason_n neither_o the_o ignorance_n of_o the_o clergy_n nor_o the_o badness_n of_o their_o cause_n do_v then_o permit_v it_o be_v account_v too_o great_a a_o condescension_n in_o the_o governor_n of_o the_o church_n to_o confute_v the_o mistake_v and_o inform_v the_o judgement_n of_o their_o seduce_a people_n yet_o somewhat_o at_o least_o be_v necessary_a to_o dazzle_v the_o eye_n of_o the_o unthinking_a multitude_n and_o at_o once_o convict_v all_o their_o adversary_n of_o the_o charge_n of_o heresy_n nothing_o can_v be_v more_o effectual_a to_o this_o end_n than_o the_o pretence_n of_o infallibility_n which_o alone_o may_v satisfy_v the_o scruple_n and_o command_v the_o assent_n of_o credulous_a person_n for_o this_o reason_n ever_o since_o heresy_n begin_v to_o be_v punish_v with_o death_n it_o be_v think_v sufficient_a to_o oppose_v the_o infallibility_n of_o the_o church_n to_o the_o argument_n and_o reason_n of_o condemn_a heretic_n and_o the_o maintenance_n of_o this_o pretence_n be_v esteem_v the_o great_a bulwark_n of_o the_o church_n however_o our_o bishop_n easy_o discover_v the_o vanity_n of_o these_o pretence_n and_o in_o this_o follow_v the_o opinion_n of_o the_o most_o learned_a writer_n of_o his_o age_n that_o the_o representative_a church_n or_o general_a council_n be_v not_o only_o fallible_a but_o have_v sometime_o actual_o err_v that_o the_o decree_n and_o definition_n of_o the_o church_n ought_v to_o be_v submit_v to_o the_o examination_n of_o every_o private_a person_n that_o no_o article_n of_o faith_n be_v to_o be_v receive_v which_o be_v repugnant_a to_o the_o principle_n of_o reason_n and_o that_o not_o the_o belief_n and_o acceptation_n of_o the_o church_n cause_v any_o doctrine_n to_o be_v account_v true_a and_o a_o article_n of_o faith_n but_o the_o presuppose_a truth_n of_o the_o doctrine_n render_v the_o belief_n of_o it_o rational_a and_o justifiable_a indeed_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o church_n infallibility_n have_v by_o some_o man_n in_o this_o age_n be_v advance_v so_o far_o that_o nothing_o less_o than_o a_o fatal_a credulity_n or_o no_o less_o fatal_a ignorance_n can_v excuse_v the_o admission_n of_o it_o our_o author_n assure_v we_o in_o the_o first_o part_n of_o this_o book_n of_o faith_n that_o many_o divine_n in_o his_o time_n argue_v from_o those_o word_n of_o s._n paul_n if_o we_o or_o a_o angel_n from_o heaven_n shall_v teach_v any_o other_o doctrine_n than_o that_o which_o you_o have_v receive_v let_v he_o be_v anathema_n that_o if_o it_o shall_v happen_v that_o the_o church_n militant_a and_o the_o church_n triumphant_a disagree_v in_o a_o article_n of_o faith_n the_o determination_n of_o the_o church_n militant_a be_v rather_o to_o be_v follow_v such_o crude_a position_n may_v raise_v the_o admiration_n of_o fool_n but_o deserve_v the_o indignation_n of_o wise_a men._n our_o author_n choose_v to_o do_v justice_n unto_o truth_n in_o own_v and_o assert_v the_o fallibility_n of_o church_n and_o council_n and_o yet_o not_o to_o quit_v the_o specious_a pretence_n of_o the_o church_n authority_n in_o plead_v her_o cause_n and_o confute_v the_o lollard_n this_o therefore_o he_o propose_v in_o a_o more_o plausible_a way_n confess_v the_o church_n may_v err_v and_o that_o even_o in_o matter_n of_o the_o great_a moment_n however_o that_o it_o will_v be_v most_o safe_a and_o rational_a for_o ignorant_a layman_n entire_o to_o submit_v their_o judgement_n to_o the_o direction_n of_o the_o clergy_n that_o by_o this_o submission_n indeed_o they_o may_v 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condemn_v her_o practice_n of_o burn_a heretic_n he_o desire_v rather_o to_o win_v they_o to_o her_o obedience_n by_o gentle_a method_n and_o think_v it_o more_o noble_a to_o convince_v they_o by_o reason_n and_o argument_n than_o by_o rack_n and_o fire_n this_o moderation_n can_v not_o but_o displease_v his_o fellow_n bishop_n who_o choose_v rather_o at_o that_o time_n to_o satisfy_v their_o malice_n by_o the_o punishment_n than_o serve_v the_o church_n by_o the_o conviction_n of_o suppose_a heretic_n but_o our_o author_n be_v act_v with_o more_o noble_a and_o generous_a principle_n he_o endeavour_v to_o remove_v their_o error_n but_o refuse_v to_o practice_v upon_o their_o life_n and_o which_o perhaps_o be_v no_o small_a part_n of_o his_o crime_n neglect_v to_o thunder_n out_o his_o curse_n against_o they_o and_o scorn_v to_o treat_v they_o with_o opprobrious_a title_n rather_o in_o the_o first_o part_n of_o this_o work_n he_o give_v to_o they_o a_o honourable_a character_n and_o 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proclaim_v their_o falseness_n and_o
imprimatur_fw-la libre_fw-la cui_fw-la titulus_fw-la a_o treatise_n of_o reginald_n peacock_n etc._n etc._n guil._n needham_n r._n r._n in_o christo_n p._n ac_fw-la d._n d._n wilhelm_n archiep._n à _fw-fr sac._n dom._n etc._n etc._n jan._n 12_o 1687._o a_o treatise_n prove_v scripture_n to_o be_v the_o rule_n of_o faith._n write_v by_o reginald_n peacock_n bishop_n of_o chichester_n before_o the_o reformation_n about_o the_o year_n mcdl_o london_n print_v for_o james_n adamson_n at_o the_o angel_n and_o crown_n in_o s._n paul_n churchyard_n 1688._o preface_n if_o in_o any_o part_n of_o the_o christian_a religion_n a_o undoubted_a certainty_n and_o most_o firm_a assurance_n may_v just_o be_v require_v if_o a_o scrupulous_a examination_n and_o curious_a enquiry_n may_v ever_o be_v allow_v in_o matter_n of_o religion_n certain_o a_o exact_a knowledge_n of_o the_o rule_n of_o faith_n will_v deserve_v as_o our_o first_o so_o our_o chief_n consideration_n for_o since_o the_o article_n of_o 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true_a church_n if_o the_o first_o way_n than_o it_o must_v first_o be_v know_v what_o be_v the_o true_a and_o genuine_a doctrine_n of_o christianity_n the_o steadfast_a belief_n of_o which_o cause_v this_o society_n to_o become_v the_o true_a church_n but_o if_o the_o true_a church_n be_v know_v only_o from_o some_o external_a note_n these_o note_n be_v either_o teach_v by_o scripture_n or_o find_v out_o by_o the_o light_n of_o reason_n if_o teach_v by_o scripture_n than_o the_o knowledge_n of_o the_o divine_a authority_n of_o scripture_n be_v antecedent_n to_o the_o knowledge_n of_o the_o true_a church_n and_o consequent_o independent_a on_o it_o for_o otherwise_o scripture_n will_v be_v believe_v for_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o church_n and_o the_o church_n for_o the_o authority_n of_o scripture_n which_o be_v a_o manifest_a circle_n beside_o in_o this_o case_n that_o grand_a article_n of_o belief_n in_o the_o holy_a catholic_n church_n will_v be_v receive_v not_o from_o 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the_o most_o absurd_a and_o contrary_a opinion_n since_o to_o effect_v that_o design_n no_o more_o be_v require_v than_o the_o confidence_n or_o mistake_n of_o heretic_n pretend_v to_o have_v receive_v their_o own_o dream_n and_o error_n as_o necessary_a article_n of_o faith_n from_o their_o forefather_n thus_o all_o the_o heretic_n of_o the_o three_o first_o century_n when_o the_o true_a and_o genuine_a tradition_n of_o the_o church_n may_v much_o more_o easy_o be_v know_v than_o it_o can_v be_v at_o this_o day_n propose_v their_o heresy_n under_o the_o venerable_a name_n of_o apostolic_a tradition_n which_o pretence_n they_o carry_v on_o so_o far_o that_o they_o publish_v the_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d or_o tradition_n of_o almost_o every_o apostle_n and_o apostolic_a man_n wherein_o they_o commit_v to_o write_v those_o reveal_v truth_n which_o they_o believe_v the_o apostle_n to_o have_v preach_v and_o have_v leave_v unwritten_a in_o vain_a shall_v the_o father_n and_o writer_n 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clemens_n alexandrinus_n passim_fw-la complain_v of_o the_o heretic_n of_o their_o time_n tertullian_n haeres_fw-la assure_v we_o it_o be_v the_o usual_a evasion_n of_o heretic_n to_o decline_v the_o scripture_n and_o flee_v to_o tradition_n pretend_v that_o the_o apostle_n publish_v not_o the_o gospel_n to_o all_o people_n nor_o commit_v all_o reveal_v truth_n to_o write_v but_o deliver_v many_o article_n of_o faith_n secret_o to_o approve_a man_n which_o article_n be_v no_o other_o than_o their_o own_o heresy_n in_o the_o same_o manner_n the_o heretic_n oppose_v by_o s._n irenaeus_n 3._o be_v wont_a when_o urge_v with_o the_o authority_n of_o scripture_n and_o their_o perfect_a silence_n as_o to_o those_o article_n which_o they_o obtrude_v upon_o the_o world_n to_o plead_v the_o imperfection_n of_o the_o holy_a scripture_n that_o they_o be_v not_o intend_v by_o god_n as_o a_o rule_n of_o faith_n ibid._n because_o the_o truth_n can_v not_o be_v learn_v from_o they_o by_o those_o who_o 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father_n and_o receive_v it_o from_o they_o we_o believe_v etc._n etc._n this_o than_o be_v the_o artifice_n and_o practice_n of_o the_o ancient_a heretic_n what_o the_o practice_n of_o the_o catholic_n father_n be_v in_o oppose_v these_o heretic_n or_o establish_v any_o necessary_a article_n of_o faith_n that_o they_o account_v scripture_n to_o be_v the_o only_a adequate_a rule_n of_o faith_n and_o to_o contain_v in_o express_a and_o plain_a word_n all_o thing_n necessary_a to_o be_v believe_v that_o they_o reject_v all_o article_n which_o can_v not_o be_v thence_o deduce_v as_o spurious_a and_o false_a or_o at_o least_o uncertain_a and_o unnecessary_a and_o always_o assert_v the_o sufficiency_n of_o scripture_n i_o will_v not_o here_o insist_v to_o prove_v since_o that_o point_n have_v be_v so_o often_o handle_v and_o clear_v by_o the_o writer_n of_o our_o church_n more_o particular_o by_o bishop_n taylor_n 2._o to_o who_o i_o remit_v the_o reader_n my_o design_n and_o the_o age_n of_o that_o
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intimate_v
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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 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of_o the_o rule_n of_o faith_n and_o therefore_o the_o first_o principle_n of_o the_o christian_a religion_n for_o thus_o he_o argue_v 1025._o but_o that_o the_o aforesaid_a article_n the_o existence_n of_o one_o holy_a catholic_n church_n be_v the_o first_o of_o all_o other_o into_o which_o all_o other_o be_v resolve_v be_v manifest_a for_o if_o any_o doubt_n arise_v concern_v any_o other_o article_n recourse_n be_v immediate_o make_v by_o common_a consent_n to_o the_o holy_a scripture_n as_o to_o a_o most_o certain_a and_o invariable_a rule_n and_o according_a to_o the_o testimony_n of_o scripture_n the_o truth_n be_v clear_v and_o all_o doubt_n remove_v for_o unless_o the_o existence_n of_o the_o church_n be_v know_v scripture_n have_v no_o authority_n whether_o this_o argument_n be_v valid_a and_o conclusive_a concern_v not_o my_o present_a purpose_n it_o be_v sufficient_a that_o he_o assume_v this_o proposition_n scripture_n be_v the_o rule_n of_o faith_n as_o a_o undoubted_a 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who_o be_v the_o holy_a ghost_n as_o be_v before_o say_v to_o who_o omnipotence_n it_o agree_v that_o he_o give_v we_o a_o system_fw-la of_o wisdom_n neither_o deficient_a nor_o superfluous_a and_o that_o he_o shall_v deliver_v it_o in_o a_o method_n agreeable_a to_o our_o necessity_n of_o salvation_n in_o the_o council_n of_o florence_n however_o the_o greek_n and_o latin_n differ_v in_o all_o other_o thing_n till_o the_o former_a be_v force_v into_o a_o compliance_n by_o the_o command_v and_o threat_n of_o their_o emperor_n yet_o in_o this_o they_o agree_v in_o lay_v down_o scripture_n to_o be_v the_o only_a rule_n and_o principle_n of_o faith_n although_o they_o dissent_v in_o determine_v how_o far_o it_o may_v be_v explain_v by_o the_o church_n the_o controversy_n be_v occasion_v by_o the_o addition_n of_o filioqve_n to_o the_o nicene_n creed_n this_o the_o greek_n maintain_v to_o be_v unlawful_a because_o the_o procession_n of_o the_o holy_a ghost_n from_o the_o son_n be_v not_o in_o express_a term_n teach_v in_o scripture_n which_o they_o hold_v to_o be_v the_o only_a rule_n of_o faith._n the_o latin_n deny_v not_o this_o but_o only_o assert_v that_o it_o be_v sufficient_a this_o procession_n be_v teach_v in_o the_o scripture_n in_o implicit_a term_n the_o church_n have_v authority_n by_o explanation_n of_o those_o obscure_a passage_n to_o constitute_v article_n necessary_a to_o be_v believe_v and_o add_v they_o to_o the_o creed_n although_o but_o implicit_o contain_v in_o holy_a scripture_n the_o rule_n of_o faith_n and_o consequent_o that_o to_o insert_v filioqve_n in_o the_o creed_n be_v no_o addition_n to_o the_o faith_n since_o that_o article_n be_v implicit_o contain_v in_o holy_a scripture_n the_o opinion_n of_o the_o greek_n be_v thus_o represent_v by_o bessarion_n archbishop_n of_o nice_a who_o be_v choose_v by_o the_o greek_n to_o manage_v and_o defend_v their_o cause_n 14â—_n we_o derive_v and_o receive_v all_o article_n of_o faith_n from_o the_o 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maintain_v by_o occant_fw-la 25._o peter_n de_fw-it alliaco_fw-it cardinal_n of_o cambray_n 3._o thomas_n waldensis_n 19_o panormitan_n cit_fw-la antoninus_n 4._o cardinal_n cusanus_fw-la conc._n clemangis_fw-la 11._o and_o many_o other_o in_o this_o age._n last_o the_o ten_o article_n may_v be_v defend_v from_o peter_n lombard_n 11._o peter_n de_fw-it alliaco_fw-it 4._o scotus_n 3._o tonstal_n bishop_n of_o durham_n 1._o and_o other_o who_o believe_v indeed_o the_o truth_n of_o the_o article_n but_o deny_v it_o to_o be_v necessary_a to_o be_v believe_v that_o treatise_n which_o i_o here_o publish_v and_o which_o give_v occasion_n to_o the_o present_a discourse_n be_v by_o i_o transcribe_v out_o of_o a_o manuscript_n extant_a in_o trinity_n college_n in_o cambridge_n which_o seem_v to_o have_v be_v write_v with_o bishop_n peacock_n own_o hand_n as_o may_v be_v conjecture_v from_o the_o frequent_a emendation_n and_o addition_n insert_v in_o the_o margin_n and_o bottom_n of_o the_o 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by_o probable_a argument_n this_o dispute_n be_v manage_v in_o a_o scholastic_a way_n full_a of_o subtlety_n and_o nicety_n of_o philosophy_n and_o school_n divinity_n and_o very_o obscure_a which_o therefore_o i_o think_v not_o worthy_a either_o my_o transcribe_v or_o the_o reader_n perusal_n however_o i_o transcribe_v some_o considerable_a fragment_n or_o excerpta_fw-la which_o seem_v to_o i_o more_o remarkable_a and_o worthy_a of_o notice_n which_o i_o here_o present_a to_o the_o reader_n the_o second_o book_n or_o treatise_n of_o the_o rule_n of_o faith_n i_o have_v publish_v entire_a as_o far_o as_o the_o manuscript_n copy_n permit_v i_o for_o which_o be_v much_o to_o be_v lament_v some_o few_o leave_n be_v want_v in_o the_o end_n beside_o what_o i_o have_v already_o mention_v many_o thing_n may_v be_v here_o find_v worthy_a a_o particular_a observation_n as_o with_o how_o great_a ardour_n he_o impugn_v the_o refusal_n of_o