Selected quad for the lemma: doctrine_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
doctrine_n church_n faith_n primitive_a 4,175 5 9.2280 5 true
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A59241 Reason against raillery, or, A full answer to Dr. Tillotson's preface against J.S. with a further examination of his grounds of religion. Sergeant, John, 1622-1707. 1672 (1672) Wing S2587; ESTC R10318 153,451 304

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say_v that_o it_o be_v the_o high_a degree_n of_o humane_a certitude_n of_o which_o it_o may_v simple_o or_o absolute_o be_v say_v non_fw-la posse_fw-la illi_fw-la falsum_fw-la subesse_fw-la that_o it_o be_v impossible_a it_o shall_v be_v false_a can_v any_o thing_n be_v produce_v more_o express_o abet_v my_o way_n of_o discourse_v the_o ground_n of_o faith_n nothing_o certain_o unless_o it_o be_v that_o which_o immediate_o follow_v contain_v the_o reason_n why_o tradition_n be_v by_o the_o very_a nature_n of_o it_o simple_o infallible_a for_o say_v he_o tradition_n be_v full_a report_n about_o what_o be_v evident_a unto_o sense_n to_o wit_n what_o doctrine_n and_o scripture_n the_o apostle_n public_o deliver_v unto_o the_o world_n it_o be_v impossible_a it_o shall_v be_v false_a world_n of_o man_n can_v be_v uniform_o mistake_v and_o deceive_v about_o a_o matter_n evident_a to_o sense_n and_o not_o be_v deceive_v be_v so_o many_o in_o number_n so_o divide_v in_o place_n of_o so_o 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and_o divine_o assist_v be_v no_o christian_n in_o a_o word_n this_o way_n of_o divinity_n or_o resolution_n of_o faith_n which_o i_o take_v make_v every_o man_n both_o those_o in_o the_o church_n and_o those_o out_o of_o it_o rely_v on_o the_o church_n authority_n or_o testimony_n diverse_o consider_v in_o order_n to_o their_o respective_a capacity_n and_o so_o still_o make_v the_o church_n the_o pillar_n and_o ground_n of_o truth_n which_o all_o catholic_n in_o the_o world_n not_o so_o much_o as_o any_o one_o school-divine_a except_v hold_v the_o secure_a way_n that_o can_v be_v imagine_v and_o shall_v any_o one_o dislike_v it_o i_o see_v not_o what_o he_o can_v with_o any_o show_n pretend_v he_o must_v allow_v some_o natural_a motive_n antecedent_n to_o faith_n and_o what_o be_v know_v by_o mean_n of_o it_o that_o be_v he_o must_v grant_v some_o motive_n antecedent_n to_o the_o knowledge_n of_o supernatural_a assistance_n and_o where_o he_o will_v find_v in_o the_o whole_a world_n any_o such_o motive_n strong_a than_o be_v the_o humane_a authority_n of_o the_o church_n as_o to_o matter_n of_o faith_n i_o profess_v i_o know_v not_o nor_o i_o be_o confident_a can_v any_o man_n live_v imagine_v if_o this_o than_o be_v absolute_o speak_v the_o secure_a way_n that_o be_v it_o be_v secure_a or_o firm_a than_o be_v the_o way_n of_o proceed_v upon_o motive_n of_o credibility_n and_o incomparable_o more_o secure_a than_o be_v that_o of_o resolve_v faith_n into_o motive_n only_a prudential_n though_o indeed_o thing_n right_o state_v and_o understand_v the_o motive_n of_o credibility_n be_v some_o of_o they_o coincident_a with_o tradition_n and_o the_o rest_n which_o can_v lay_v just_a claim_n to_o certainty_n depend_v on_o it_o take_v at_o large_a as_o their_o ground_n as_o have_v be_v prove_v in_o the_o corollary_n to_o sure-footing_a it_o may_v be_v ask_v why_o since_o tradition_n and_o church_n be_v one_o and_o the_o same_o thing_n i_o do_v not_o choose_v to_o say_v that_o the_o church_n give_v we_o knowledge_n of_o the_o first_o deliver_v faith_n rather_o than_o that_o tradition_n do_v so_o see_v none_o can_v have_v scruple_v or_o except_v against_o the_o former_a manner_n of_o expression_n whereas_o this_o give_v occasion_n of_o misapprehension_n to_o some_o unattentive_a reader_n i_o answer_v i_o use_v on_o that_o occasion_n the_o word_n tradition_n rather_o than_o the_o word_n church_n for_o the_o same_o reason_n the_o geometrician_n use_v the_o word_n line_n or_o surface_n when_o they_o have_v a_o mind_n to_o express_v body_n as_o long_o or_o broad_a for_o these_o be_v in_o reality_n the_o same_o thing_n with_o body_n but_o in_o regard_n body_n be_v the_o subject_a of_o many_o other_o consideration_n as_o well_o as_o these_o and_o these_o speak_v body_n precise_o according_a to_o the_o consideration_n of_o length_n and_o breadth_n to_o which_o only_o it_o be_v intend_v to_o speak_v hence_o it_o be_v better_o both_o for_o succinctness_n of_o expression_n and_o exactness_n of_o science_n which_o be_v build_v on_o the_o perfect_a distinction_n of_o our_o conception_n to_o use_v the_o abstract_n or_o distinguish_a word_n line_n and_o surface_n rather_o than_o the_o concrete_a or_o confuse_a word_n body_n which_o involve_v much_o more_o than_o the_o discourser_n in_o that_o circumstance_n intend_v to_o consider_v or_o speak_v to_o now_o this_o be_v the_o very_a method_n observe_v in_o that_o science_n which_o bear_v the_o name_n for_o the_o great_a exactness_n in_o discourse_n i_o much_o fear_v the_o objecter_n mistake_n proceed_v from_o not_o reflect_v that_o whoever_o pretend_v to_o a_o accurate_a and_o connected_a way_n of_o discourse_n and_o rigorous_o to_o conclude_v what_o he_o intend_v must_v either_o follow_v that_o best_a of_o method_n or_o he_o fall_v short_a of_o his_o duty_n and_o wrong_v his_o cause_n §_o 9_o to_o clear_v this_o a_o little_a better_o and_o withal_o to_o apply_v it_o i_o shall_v make_v choice_n of_o another_o familiar_a instance_n we_o use_v to_o say_v in_o common_a speech_n that_o the_o countenance_n or_o carriage_n of_o a_o man_n make_v know_v his_o genius_n now_o all_o these_o three_o viz._n countenance_n carriage_n and_o genius_n be_v in_o reality_n most_o evident_o the_o same_o thing_n with_o the_o man_n himself_o only_o they_o differ_v from_o it_o in_o the_o manner_n of_o expression_n the_o word_n man_n nominate_v the_o whole_a or_o entire_a thing_n which_o be_v the_o subject_a of_o all_o these_o and_o innumerable_a other_o considerability_n confuse_o imply_v in_o that_o word_n the_o other_o three_o be_v more_o distinct_a indeed_o in_o their_o manner_n of_o signify_v but_o they_o fall_v exceed_o short_a of_o the_o other_o vast_a extent_n and_o express_v man_n but_o in_o part_n or_o only_o a_o few_o respect_n find_v in_o that_o subject_a whereof_o some_o be_v less_o know_v some_o more_o and_o so_o a_o mean_n to_o know_v other_o whence_o it_o come_v to_o pass_v that_o countenance_n signify_v man_n as_o look_v or_o according_a to_o the_o outward_a appearance_n of_o that_o part_n in_o he_o call_v the_o face_n also_o carriage_n signify_v he_o as_o bear_v or_o demeaning_a himself_o and_o last_o genius_n as_o have_v such_o a_o peculiarity_n of_o humour_n or_o nature_n in_o he_o hence_o these_o word_n the_o speech_n countenance_n and_o carriage_n of_o a_o man_n discover_v his_o genius_n amount_v to_o this_o the_o man_n according_a to_o his_o speech_n countenance_n or_o carriage_n which_o be_v visible_a and_o more_o intelligible_a consideration_n belong_v to_o he_o be_v a_o mean_n to_o notify_v himself_o to_o we_o according_a to_o something_o in_o he_o which_o be_v latent_fw-la and_o less_o manifest_a viz._n his_o genius_n this_o i_o say_v be_v the_o plain_a sense_n of_o the_o other_o word_n only_o this_o late_a manner_n of_o speak_v be_v prolix_a and_o troublesome_a the_o other_o short_a and_o yet_o full_o expressive_a of_o the_o speaker_n intention_n again_o the_o other_o manner_n of_o expression_n be_v proper_a and_o apt_a whereas_o shall_v one_o put_v it_o thus_o the_o man_n make_v know_v the_o man_n beside_o the_o confusedness_n of_o the_o expression_n since_o man_n signify_v the_o whole_a entire_a thing_n without_o distinguish_v any_o particular_a respect_n it_o will_v make_v the_o whole_a or_o the_o selfsame_a thing_n abstract_v from_o all_o different_a respect_n to_o be_v before_o and_o after_o more_o know_v and_o less_o know_v than_o it_o sel●_n which_o be_v a_o direct_a contradiction_n §_o 10._o apply_v then_o this_o discourse_n the_o word_n church_n be_v a_o congregation_n of_o man_n answer_n in_o its_o way_n of_o express_v to_o the_o word_n man_n in_o the_o example_n now_o give_v and_o involve_v confuse_o in_o its_o notion_n innumerable_a consideration_n belong_v to_o that_o body_n of_o which_o true_a faith_n which_o be_v as_o it_o be_v the_o genius_n or_o nature_n of_o the_o true_a church_n be_v of_o itself_o latent_fw-la unknown_a and_o far_o from_o self-discoverable_a other_o such_o as_o be_v the_o humane_a testimony_n of_o the_o church_n mean_v in_o those_o circumstance_n by_o the_o word_n tradition_n in_o regard_n it_o depend_v on_o testify_a authority_n be_v more_o know_v and_o be_v oral_a and_o practical_a fit_o correspond_v to_o speech_n countenance_n carriage_n and_o suchlike_a it_o be_v know_v then_o by_o this_o mean_n that_o such_o a_o body_n have_v in_o it_o the_o first-delivered_a or_o true_a faith_n it_o be_v know_v immediate_o that_o have_v in_o it_o the_o genius_n or_o nature_n of_o a_o true_a church_n it_o be_v indeed_o the_o true_a church_n again_o it_o be_v know_v likewise_o and_o conceive_v by_o all_o who_o understand_v what_o be_v mean_v by_o that_o word_n that_o true_a faith_n be_v a_o firm_a adhesion_n to_o christ_n doctrine_n also_o it_o be_v apprehend_v by_o those_o against_o who_o we_o dispute_v nay_o demonstrable_a out_o of_o the_o nature_n of_o that_o doctrine_n that_o it_o be_v a_o mean_n to_o love_n god_n above_o all_o thing_n hence_o it_o be_v just_o conclude_v that_o there_o be_v in_o the_o generality_n or_o in_o great_a multitude_n of_o this_o body_n a_o due_a love_n of_o heaven_n call_v sanctity_n or_o charity_n which_o be_v the_o gift_n peculiar_o attribute_v to_o the_o h._n ghost_n and_o it_o be_v know_v and_o experience_v by_o those_o already_o in_o the_o church_n that_o this_o love_n of_o heaven_n or_o sanctity_n give_v the_o faithful_a a_o particular_a strength_n and_o power_n to_o perform_v all_o good_a duty_n and_o this_o of_o preserve_v uncorrupted_a the_o deliver_v faith_n be_v one_o and_o that_o a_o most_o concern_v one_o hence_o they_o come_v to_o know_v that_o the_o church_n be_v assist_v by_o the_o h._n ghost_n as_o in_o all_o other_o good_a duty_n so_o especial_o in_o this_o of_o deliver_v and_o continual_o propose_v right_a faith_n so_o that_o as_o reason_n require_v
discover_v to_o i_o that_o i_o can_v not_o bestow_v my_o pain_n better_a on_o any_o subject_n than_o in_o make_v know_v what_o be_v the_o right_a rule_n of_o faith_n and_o evidence_v to_o man_n capable_a of_o evidence_n out_o of_o the_o nature_n of_o the_o thing_n in_o hand_n that_o it_o have_v indeed_o the_o quality_n proper_a to_o a_o rule_n of_o faith_n that_o be_v virtue_n or_o power_n to_o acquaint_v we_o that_o live_v now_o without_o the_o least_o danger_n of_o error_n what_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n teach_v at_o first_o to_o this_o end_n i_o show_v first_o in_o sure-footing_a that_o the_o letter_n of_o scripture_n have_v not_o this_o virtue_n and_o by_o consequence_n can_v not_o be_v the_o rule_n intend_v and_o leave_v we_o by_o christ._n many_o argument_n i_o use_v from_o p._n 1._o to_o p._n 41._o though_o these_o two_o short_a discourse_n be_v sufficient_a to_o evince_v the_o point_n to_o any_o who_o be_v not_o beforehand_o resolve_v he_o will_v not_o be_v convince_v first_o that_o that_o can_v never_o be_v a_o rule_n or_o way_n to_o faith_n which_o many_o follow_v to_o their_o power_n yet_o be_v mislead_v and_o this_o in_o most_o fundamental_a point_n as_o we_o experience_n in_o the_o socinian_o and_o other_o for_o i_o see_v not_o how_o it_o can_v consist_v with_o charity_n or_o even_o with_o humanity_n to_o think_v that_o none_o among_o the_o socinian_o or_o other_o err_a sect_n endeavour_v to_o find_v out_o the_o true_a sense_n of_o scripture_n as_o far_o as_o they_o be_v able_a nor_o how_o it_o can_v be_v make_v out_o that_o all_o without_o exception_n either_o wilful_o or_o negligent_o pervert_v it_o and_o yet_o unless_o it_o be_v show_v rational_a to_o believe_v this_o it_o can_v never_o be_v rational_a to_o believe_v that_o the_o letter_n of_o scripture_n as_o useful_a and_o as_o excellent_a as_o it_o be_v in_o other_o respect_n be_v the_o rule_n of_o faith_n for_o if_o they_o be_v not_o all_o want_v to_o themselves_o and_o their_o rule_n it_o be_v unavoidable_a that_o their_o rule_n be_v want_v to_o they_o next_o they_o who_o affirm_v the_o letter_n be_v the_o rule_n must_v either_o say_v that_o the_o bare_a letter_n as_o it_o lie_v antecedent_o to_o and_o abstract_n from_o all_o interpretation_n whatsoever_o be_v the_o rule_n and_o this_o can_v be_v with_o any_o sense_n maintain_v for_o so_o god_n must_v be_v hold_v to_o have_v hand_n foot_n passion_n etc._n etc._n or_o else_o that_o the_o letter_n alone_o be_v not_o sufficient_a to_o give_v as_o assurance_n of_o god_n sense_n in_o dogmatical_a point_n of_o high_a concern_v as_o the_o trinity_n incarnation_n etc._n etc._n without_o the_o assistance_n of_o some_o interpretation_n and_o to_o say_v this_o be_v to_o say_v as_o express_o as_o can_v be_v say_v that_o the_o letter_n of_o scripture_n alone_o be_v not_o the_o rule_n of_o faith_n since_o it_o give_v not_o the_o certain_a sense_n of_o christ_n without_o that_o interpretation_n adjoin_v nay_o more_o since_o it_o be_v the_o nature_n of_o interpretation_n to_o give_v the_o sense_n of_o word_n and_o the_o nature_n of_o the_o rule_n of_o faith_n to_o give_v we_o the_o sense_n of_o christ_n this_o interpretation_n manifest_o be_v the_o rule_n of_o faith_n and_o the_o revelation_n to_o we_o who_o live_v now_o of_o what_o be_v christ_n doctrine_n i_o know_v it_o be_v sometime_o say_v that_o the_o letter_n may_v be_v interpret_v by_o itself_o a_o clear_a place_n afford_v light_n to_o one_o more_o obscure_a but_o take_v the_o letter_n as_o antecedent_n to_o all_o interpretation_n as_o in_o this_o case_n it_o ought_v i_o can_v see_v no_o reason_n for_o this_o pretence_n for_o let_v we_o take_v two_o such_o place_n e._n g._n it_o repent_v god_n that_o he_o have_v make_v man_n and_o god_n be_v not_o as_o man_n that_o he_o shall_v repent_v abstract_a from_o all_o interpretation_n and_o let_v he_o tell_v i_o that_o can_v of_o the_o two_o place_n take_v alone_o which_o be_v the_o clear_a and_o which_o be_v the_o obscure_a one_o atheist_n will_v be_v apt_a to_o take_v such_o pretence_n to_o reject_v the_o scripture_n and_o impious_o accuse_v it_o of_o contradiction_n but_o how_o that_o method_n can_v assist_v a_o sincere_a man_n who_o hope_v by_o the_o mere_a letter_n to_o find_v his_o faith_n and_o hinder_v the_o obscure_a place_n from_o darken_n the_o clear_a place_n as_o much_o as_o the_o clear_a one_o enlighten_v the_o obscure_a one_o i_o understand_v not_o in_o fine_a it_o expose_v a_o man_n to_o the_o scandal_n and_o temptation_n of_o think_v there_o be_v no_o truth_n in_o scripture_n but_o absolute_a assurance_n of_o truth_n it_o give_v no_o man_n beside_o the_o former_a of_o the_o reason_n late_o give_v return_v again_o for_o the_o socinian_o compare_v place_n to_o place_n as_o well_o as_o other_o other_o sect_n do_v so_o too_o and_o yet_o all_o err_v and_o some_o in_o most_o fundamental_a point_n wherefore_o it_o must_v be_v either_o presume_v they_o all_o err_v wilful_o or_o the_o way_n can_v be_v presume_v a_o right_a way_n far_o it_o may_v be_v ask_v when_o one_o pitch_v upon_o a_o determinate_a sense_n of_o any_o place_n beyond_o what_o the_o letter_n enforce_v by_o what_o light_n he_o guide_v himself_o in_o that_o determination_n and_o then_o show_v that_o that_o light_n whatever_o it_o be_v and_o not_o the_o letter_n be_v indeed_o the_o formal_a revealer_n or_o rule_n of_o faith_n much_o more_o may_v be_v say_v on_o this_o occasion_n but_o my_o business_n now_o be_v to_o state_n my_o case_n not_o to_o plead_v it_o the_o letter_n rule_v seclude_v i_o advance_v to_o prove_v that_o tradition_n or_o that_o body_n call_v the_o church_n which_o christ_n by_o himself_o and_o his_o apostle_n constitute_v take_v as_o deliver_v her_o thought_n by_o a_o constant_a tenor_n of_o live_a voice_n and_o practise_v visible_a to_o the_o whole_a world_n be_v the_o absolutely-certain_a way_n of_o convey_v down_o the_o doctrine_n teach_v at_o first_o from_o age_n to_o age_n nay_o year_n to_o year_n and_o so_o to_o our_o time_n which_o be_v in_o other_o term_n to_o say_v that_o pastor_n and_o father_n and_o the_o conversant_a faithful_a by_o discourse_v preach_v teach_v and_o catechise_v and_o live_v and_o practise_v can_v from_o the_o very_a first_o and_o so_o all_o along_o better_a and_o more_o certain_o make_v their_o thought_n or_o christ_n doctrine_n be_v understand_v by_o those_o who_o they_o instruct_v than_o a_o book_n which_o lie_v before_o they_o and_o can_v accommodate_v itself_o to_o the_o arise_v difficulty_n of_o the_o reader_n i_o be_o not_o here_o to_o repeat_v my_o reason_n they_o be_v contain_v in_o my_o book_n which_o i_o call_v sure_a foot_n in_o christianity_n and_o because_o i_o observe_v our_o improve_n age_n have_v in_o this_o last_o half_a century_n exceed_o ripen_v and_o advance_v in_o manly_a reason_n strain_v towards_o perfect_a satisfaction_n and_o unwilling_o rest_v on_o any_o thing_n in_o which_o appear_v a_o possibility_n to_o be_v otherwise_o or_o to_o express_v the_o same_o in_o other_o word_n bend_v their_o thought_n and_o hopeful_a endeavour_n to_o perfect_a science_n i_o endeavour_v in_o that_o treatise_n rigorous_o to_o pursue_v the_o way_n of_o science_n both_o in_o disprove_v the_o letter-rule_n and_o prove_v the_o live_a rule_n of_o faith_n beginning_n with_o some_o plain_a attribute_n belong_v to_o the_o nature_n of_o rule_n and_o faith_n and_o build_v my_o whole_a discourse_n upon_o they_o with_o care_v not_o to_o swerve_v from_o they_o in_o the_o least_o and_o be_v conscious_a to_o myself_o that_o i_o have_v as_o i_o propose_v to_o do_v close_o hold_v to_o the_o nature_n of_o the_o thing_n in_o hand_n i_o have_v good_a reason_n to_o hold_v my_o first_o five_o discourse_n demonstrative_a which_o be_v all_o i_o need_v have_v do_v as_o appear_v p._n 57_o and_o 58._o the_o rest_n that_o follow_v be_v add_v ex_fw-la abundanti_fw-la and_o express_v by_o i_o a_o endeavour_n to_o demonstrate_v as_o by_o the_o title_n of_o the_o six_o and_o eight_o discourse_n be_v manifest_a though_o i_o do_v not_o perceive_v by_o the_o opposition_n of_o my_o answerer_n why_o i_o shall_v not_o have_v better_a thought_n of_o they_o than_o at_o first_o i_o pretend_v this_o be_v the_o matter_n of_o fact_n concern_v that_o book_n as_o far_o as_o it_o relate_v to_o i_o and_o a_o true_a account_n why_o i_o write_v on_o that_o subject_a and_o in_o that_o manner_n what_o thought_n i_o have_v of_o its_o usefulness_n and_o hope_v it_o may_v prove_v serviceable_a towards_o compose_v the_o difference_n in_o religion_n of_o which_o the_o world_n have_v so_o long_o complain_v though_o from_o the_o long_a and_o deep_a meditation_n i_o must_v necessary_o have_v make_v upon_o those_o principle_n i_o may_v reasonable_o be_v judge_v to_o