Selected quad for the lemma: faith_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
faith_n	church_n	divine_a	revelation_n	4,794	5	9.6714	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A26588	A discourse of wit by David Abercromby ...	Abercromby, David, d. 1701 or 2.	1686 (1686)	Wing A82; ESTC R32691	73,733	250

we_o run_v yet_o much_o more_o counter_a to_o reason_n and_o the_o subordination_n that_o god_n have_v establish_v in_o this_o world_n when_o we_o presume_v to_o set_v up_o for_o judge_n of_o our_o sovereign_n or_o dare_v to_o question_v upon_o what_o account_n he_o do_v this_o or_o that_o issue_n out_o this_o or_o that_o order_n as_o if_o we_o understand_v better_a than_o he_o the_o public_a interest_n which_o god_n have_v entrust_v to_o he_o not_o to_o we_o we_o shall_v never_o then_o be_v useful_a member_n to_o the_o commonwealth_n we_o make_v a_o part_n of_o unless_o we_o keep_v within_o the_o bound_n of_o our_o respective_a station_n it_o be_v then_o safe_a and_o a_o great_a piece_n of_o wit_n in_o a_o tradesman_n for_o instance_n to_o mind_v his_o business_n and_o domestic_a concern_v rather_o than_o to_o asperse_v th●_n government_n by_o his_o malicious_a reflection_n or_o which_o be_v yet_o worse_o to_o write_v seditious_a pamphlet_n and_o calumniatory_a libel_n in_o opposition_n to_o his_o superior_n such_o man_n have_v a_o great_a account_n to_o render_v one_o day_n to_o god_n for_o this_o disorderly_a use_n of_o their_o wit._n i_o conceive_v the_o devil_n himself_o with_o his_o hellish_a tribe_n to_o be_v but_o in_o one_o point_n worse_o than_o those_o troublesome_a spirit_n that_o he_o be_v not_o capable_a of_o repentance_n but_o i_o need_v not_o enlarge_v on_o this_o subject_a since_o to_o the_o great_a advantage_n of_o the_o establish_a government_n it_o be_v daily_o handle_v with_o so_o much_o accuracy_n by_o that_o very_a ingenious_a and_o true_o loyal_a gentleman_n sir_n roger_n l'_fw-mi estrange_v sect_n xi_o the_o use_n of_o wit._n 1._o that_o wit_n be_v sometime_o the_o occasion_n of_o great_a disorder_n 2._o that_o a_o witty_a man_n may_v live_v happy_o in_o a_o solitude_n 3._o that_o the_o common_a word_n man_n be_v a_o sociable_a animal_n be_v only_o to_o be_v understand_v of_o the_o dull_a sort_n 4._o the_o duty_n of_o a_o christian_n 5._o that_o the_o clear_a light_n of_o reason_n may_v contribute_v somewhat_o towards_o the_o increase_n of_o the_o dark_a light_n of_o faith_n 6._o divine_a revelation_n to_o be_v propose_v by_o and_o receive_v from_o the_o universal_a church_n 7._o the_o vulgar_a error_n that_o of_o three_o physician_n two_o be_v atheist_n confute_v 8._o the_o foresay_a reproach_n press_v home_o to_o some_o divine_n especial_o to_o those_o of_o the_o romish_a church_n with_o a_o great_a appearance_n of_o truth_n 9_o the_o usefulness_n of_o natural_a philosophy_n and_o the_o best_a method_n of_o learning_n 10._o that_o we_o must_v conform_v our_o discourse_n to_o those_o we_o converse_v with_o and_o not_o make_v a_o affect_a show_n of_o wit_n before_o the_o dull_a sort._n 1._o it_o may_v be_v a_o paradox_n though_o no_o untruth_n that_o wit_n be_v the_o worst_a of_o god_n gift_n bestow_v upon_o mankind_n if_o we_o judge_v a_o thing_n bad_a that_o either_o be_v the_o occasion_n or_o cause_n of_o evil_n and_o mischief_n for_o it_o be_v not_o only_o the_o headwel_n of_o rebellion_n sedition_n and_o heresy_n which_o we_o may_v easy_o discover_v whether_o we_o reflect_v upon_o our_o time_n or_o by_o a_o start_n backward_o take_v a_o view_n of_o the_o forego_n age_n but_o it_o be_v also_o the_o inventor_n of_o those_o innumerable_a engine_n make_v use_v of_o by_o man_n for_o the_o ruin_n of_o mankind_n under_o pretence_n either_o of_o a_o necessary_a defence_n or_o just_o attack_v yet_o as_o by_o malice_n or_o misapplication_n it_o may_v be_v a_o fit_a instrument_n for_o evil_a so_o if_o we_o turn_v it_o once_o the_o right_a way_n it_o may_v prove_v the_o most_o useful_a as_o undoubted_o it_o be_v the_o most_o shine_a participation_n of_o the_o divine_a nature_n and_o i_o know_v not_o why_o aristotle_n say_v that_o a_o man_n who_o can_v live_v in_o a_o retire_a solitude_n must_v be_v either_o a_o god_n or_o a_o beast_n since_o for_o this_o i_o conceive_v nothing_o else_o requisite_a but_o a_o not_o too_o narrow_a wit_n for_o spiritualis_fw-la homo_fw-la omne_fw-la judicat_fw-la the_o spiritual_a man_n that_o be_v the_o witty_a discern_v and_o make_v use_v of_o every_o thing_n of_o such_o a_o one_o be_v true_o say_v nunquam_fw-la minus_fw-la solus_fw-la quam_fw-la cum_fw-la solus_fw-la that_o he_o be_v never_o in_o better_a company_n than_o when_o he_o be_v with_o no_o body_n for_o then_o in_o his_o retire_a thought_n he_o call_v himself_o to_o a_o account_n and_o examine_v severe_o all_o his_o own_o action_n thought_n and_o word_n i_o know_v not_o then_o whereupon_o it_o be_v ground_v that_o a_o man_n be_v a_o sociable_a animal_n and_o love_v to_o live_v together_o with_o his_o like_a in_o nature_n and_o shape_n for_o i_o have_v always_o observe_v the_o witty_a sort_n of_o man_n to_o delight_v more_o in_o their_o retire_a solitude_n than_o in_o the_o great_a crowd_n if_o this_o common_a maxim_n be_v not_o a_o vulgar_a error_n as_o i_o believe_v it_o be_v none_o it_o can_v be_v understand_v but_o of_o the_o dull_a sort_n who_o be_v once_o alone_o be_v in_o all_o sense_n alone_o and_o with_o no_o body_n because_o they_o be_v no_o company_n to_o themselves_o i_o mean_v they_o know_v not_o how_o to_o play_v the_o time_n away_o with_o what_o either_o be_v within_o or_o without_o themselves_o but_o such_o as_o can_v act_v the_o philosopher_n part_n with_o whatever_o they_o see_v feel_v or_o touch_v do_v neither_o need_n or_o incline_v much_o to_o converse_v except_o perhaps_o those_o that_o be_v of_o a_o no_o less_o or_o rather_o of_o great_a ability_n than_o themselves_o nay_o book_n to_o such_o man_n be_v not_o necessary_a companion_n in_o their_o retirement_n for_o they_o can_v want_v their_o company_n too_o though_o not_o so_o well_o as_o that_o of_o men._n one_o of_o these_o three_o they_o be_v always_o conversant_a with_o themselves_z god_n or_o the_o obvious_a work_n of_o his_o power_n that_o be_v without_o we_o i_o conceive_v not_o it_o be_v true_a what_o god_n be_v for_o how_o shall_v he_o be_v what_o he_o be_v if_o i_o can_v comprehend_v he_o yet_o i_o may_v apprehend_v he_o to_o be_v a_o be_v infinite_o perfect_a that_o be_v to_o say_v who_o perfection_n be_v numberless_a i_o need_v not_o then_o if_o i_o please_v want_v a_o subject_a to_o think_v on_o when_o alone_o if_o consider_v apart_o those_o perfection_n one_o after_o another_o i_o measure_v as_o far_o as_o i_o can_v reach_v their_o dimension_n their_o length_n their_o breadth_n and_o their_o depth_n so_o i_o shall_v now_o meditate_v upon_o his_o power_n and_o then_o contemplate_v the_o strange_a effect_n thereof_o in_o the_o work_n of_o the_o creation_n which_o i_o shall_v always_o conceive_v infinite_o below_o what_o he_o can_v have_v do_v or_o may_v yet_o do_v i_o shall_v again_o represent_v to_o myself_o though_o very_o imperfect_o the_o brightness_n of_o his_o glory_n in_o the_o sun_n moon_n and_o star_n his_o constancy_n in_o the_o earth_n his_o activity_n in_o the_o fire_n the_o depth_n of_o his_o essence_n in_o the_o bottomless_a sea_n and_o the_o least_o of_o his_o creature_n shall_v be_v unto_o i_o a_o fair_a copy_n of_o his_o wisdom_n goodness_n and_o other_o perfection_n 2._o but_o if_o i_o make_v no_o other_o use_n of_o my_o wit_n than_o this_o i_o be_o but_o a_o mere_a moralist_n and_o not_o a_o christian_a for_o as_o such_o i_o must_v lay_v aside_o my_o philosophy_n and_o believe_v what_o i_o conceive_v not_o upon_o the_o infallible_a authority_n of_o a_o obscure_a revelation_n nevertheless_o though_o my_o religion_n forbid_v i_o to_o play_v the_o philosopher_n yet_o if_o i_o pretend_v to_o a_o rational_a belief_n i_o presume_v nothing_o against_o its_o true_a maxim_n as_o i_o look_v then_o upon_o the_o mere_a light_n of_o faith_n to_o be_v somewhat_o dark_a so_o i_o know_v the_o light_n of_o reason_n to_o be_v somewhat_o clear_a may_v not_o i_o then_o join_v those_o two_o light_n together_o and_o make_v perhaps_o a_o great_a one_o of_o they_o both_o i_o believe_v the_o mystery_n of_o the_o trinity_n though_o i_o comprehend_v it_o not_o i_o think_v it_o not_o unlawful_a to_o slatter_v my_o own_o weakness_n with_o the_o discovery_n of_o some_o rudiment_n thereof_o in_o my_o soul_n as_o be_v one_o in_o nature_n and_o threefold_a in_o operation_n i_o mean_v as_o have_v three_o distinct_a faculty_n the_o memory_n understanding_n and_o will._n the_o incarnation_n be_v above_o the_o reach_n of_o a_o angelical_a understanding_n the_o angel_n themselves_o by_o the_o mere_a light_n of_o nature_n can_v not_o but_o judge_v it_o impossible_a it_o be_v a_o strange_a metamorphosis_n that_o faith_n only_o teach_v i_o to_o be_v real_a style_v i_o not_o nevertheless_o quite_o impertinent_a if_o for_o my_o own_o satisfaction_n i_o endeavour_v to_o persuade_v to_o myself_o the_o

possibility_n thereof_o by_o what_o i_o see_v daily_o in_o nature_n in_o the_o graft_n of_o one_o tree_n upon_o another_o so_o that_o two_o nature_n become_v now_o but_o one_o by_o union_n and_o one_o almost_o individual_a principle_n of_o their_o common_a production_n the_o resurrection_n of_o our_o body_n or_o that_o after_o so_o many_o change_n and_o different_a shape_v of_o worm_n serpent_n bird_n fish_n or_o whatever_o may_v feed_v upon_o we_o we_o shall_v be_v at_o length_n our_o numerical_a self_n again_o be_v a_o thing_n that_o i_o incline_v to_o believe_v upon_o experience_n when_o i_o observe_v some_o liquor_n or_o water_n perfect_o corrupt_v to_o recover_v themselves_o though_o neither_o this_o nor_o the_o forego_n motive_n can_v ever_o make_v i_o a_o christian_n without_o the_o authority_n of_o divine_a revelation_n which_o i_o neither_o take_v from_o the_o romish_a english_a nor_o greek_a but_o from_o the_o catholic_n and_o universal_a church_n conceive_v by_o the_o unbiased_a and_o understanding_n sort_n to_o be_v compound_v of_o all_o such_o and_o the_o like_a particular_a true_a christian_a assembly_n thus_o what_o all_o true_a christian_n grant_v and_o never_o debate_v this_o and_o no_o other_o i_o take_v to_o be_v a_o article_n of_o divine_a faith_n necessary_a to_o salvation_n if_o sufficient_o propose_v i_o look_v upon_o the_o rest_n as_o supernumerary_n or_o at_o the_o utmost_a as_o probable_a opinion_n that_o may_v be_v dispute_v to_o and_o fro_o among_o schoolman_n but_o ought_v not_o to_o be_v impose_v upon_o christian_n as_o article_n of_o divine_a faith_n without_o the_o belief_n of_o which_o their_o name_n be_v raze_v out_o of_o the_o book_n of_o life_n i_o believe_v then_o not_o only_o that_o there_o be_v a_o catholic_n church_n credo_fw-la ecclesiam_fw-la catholicam_fw-la but_o likewise_o credo_fw-la ecclesiae_fw-la catholicae_fw-la i_o believe_v whatever_o it_o unamious_o decide_v for_o audi_fw-la ecclesiam_fw-la harken_v to_o the_o church_n be_v a_o true_a obligation_n but_o the_o romanist_n be_v extreme_o prejudice_v when_o he_o mean_v always_o the_o romish_a church_n as_o if_o it_o be_v as_o it_o now_o stand_v true_o universal_a whereas_o it_o be_v but_o a_o member_n and_o a_o very_a unsound_a one_o too_o of_o that_o great_a body_n we_o must_v all_o submit_v to_o i_o have_v observe_v another_o common_a mistake_n of_o the_o less_o discern_a sort_n of_o romanist_n which_o be_v this_o they_o pretend_v to_o a_o considerable_a advantage_n over_o protestant_n from_o antiquity_n but_o reflect_v not_o that_o their_o church_n be_v no_o otherwise_o distinguish_v from_o the_o reform_a part_n of_o the_o world_n than_o by_o mere_a novelty_n and_o mystery_n unheard_a of_o in_o the_o first_o three_o century_n for_o i_o know_v no_o other_o material_a difference_n between_o a_o protestant_n and_o a_o romanist_n but_o that_o the_o former_a adhere_v close_o to_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o primitive_a time_n whereas_o the_o latter_a take_v for_o a_o articie_n of_o divine_a faith_n not_o only_o what_o the_o universal_a church_n hold_v from_o all_o time_n but_o whatever_o the_o particular_a church_n of_o rome_n have_v declare_v since_o to_o be_v reveal_v yet_o because_o i_o be_v ever_o of_o opinion_n that_o every_o man_n must_v stand_v or_o fall_v by_o the_o verdict_n of_o his_o own_o conscience_n i_o think_v it_o neither_o fit_a nor_o a_o good_a use_n of_o wit_n to_o quarrel_v with_o any_o man_n upon_o the_o account_n of_o his_o religion_n 3._o i_o shall_v therefore_o do_v better_a perhaps_o to_o clear_v in_o this_o point_n those_o of_o my_o own_o profession_n i_o mean_v the_o physician_n from_o a_o foul_a and_o too_o general_a aspersion_n of_o the_o vulgar_a sort_n allege_v that_o they_o be_v not_o much_o concern_v with_o what_o we_o call_v religion_n for_o it_o be_v common_o to_o our_o great_a scandal_n say_v exit_fw-la tribus_fw-la medicis_fw-la duo_fw-la athei_fw-la that_o of_o three_o physician_n there_o be_v but_o two_o atheist_n i_o be_o without_o prejudice_n of_o a_o quite_o contrary_a opinion_n and_o think_v it_o no_o paradox_n to_o say_v that_o none_o be_v so_o religious_a as_o physician_n or_o at_o least_o that_o none_o have_v great_a opportunity_n to_o raise_v their_o soul_n to_o the_o high_a degree_n of_o perfection_n which_o if_o i_o prove_v to_o conviction_n nothing_o more_o can_v rational_o be_v require_v for_o the_o take_v away_o this_o general_a scandal_n of_o our_o profession_n what_o i_o shall_v say_v of_o physician_n must_v needs_o be_v understand_v of_o their_o near_a relation_n the_o natural_a philosopher_n who_o likewise_o if_o we_o credit_v the_o bigoted_a part_n of_o mankind_n be_v no_o great_a patron_n of_o either_o virtue_n or_o religion_n will_v one_o think_v that_o two_o contrary_a cause_n can_v have_v the_o same_o influence_n or_o the_o same_o effect_n yet_o nothing_o more_o conformable_a to_o truth_n thus_o i_o hold_v that_o as_o ignorance_n be_v common_o the_o mother_n of_o devotion_n in_o most_o man_n i_o mean_v in_o the_o dull_a sort_n of_o mankind_n so_o knowledge_n the_o opposite_a extreme_a beget_v undoubted_o piety_n and_o religion_n in_o such_o as_o have_v eye_n to_o discover_v god_n in_o the_o work_v of_o his_o power_n but_o who_o have_v a_o great_a conveniency_n for_o make_v of_o such_o useful_a discovery_n than_o physician_n whether_o we_o consider_v the_o object_n of_o their_o art_n or_o the_o subject_a thereof_o the_o former_a i_o take_v to_o be_v whatever_o be_v contain_v in_o the_o three_o kingdom_n as_o they_o speak_v in_o the_o animal_n vegetative_a and_o mineral_n where_o they_o can_v but_o admire_v that_o sovereign_n be_v fatherly_a providence_n over_o mankind_n in_o the_o production_n of_o whatever_o may_v prove_v instrumental_a to_o the_o conservation_n of_o our_o health_n and_o life_n the_o latter_a i_o apprehend_v to_o be_v no_o other_o than_o that_o wonderful_a engine_n of_o our_o body_n who_o wonderful_a structure_n may_v furnish_v they_o with_o high_a sentiment_n of_o god_n than_o that_o of_o the_o universe_n itself_o thus_o a_o physician_n consider_v this_o most_o ingenious_a fabric_n can_v but_o raise_v his_o thought_n towards_o the_o maker_n thereof_o for_o no_o man_n in_o his_o wit_n will_v take_v the_o coition_n or_o rather_o cohalition_n of_o all_o the_o part_n of_o our_o body_n into_o such_o a_o comely_a and_o proportionable_a texture_n to_o be_v mere_a fortuitous_a and_o not_o the_o real_a effect_n of_o art_n and_o wisdom_n i_o know_v not_o then_o whereon_o be_v ground_v the_o general_a prejudice_n against_o this_o noble_a and_o necessary_a science_n which_o the_o divine_v themselves_o especial_o those_o of_o the_o romish_a persuasion_n seem_v to_o be_v more_o concern_v in_o than_o physician_n for_o he_o be_v not_o perhaps_o guilty_a of_o a_o very_a flat_a untruth_n who_o invert_v thus_o the_o common_a word_n say_v exit_fw-la tribus_fw-la theologici_fw-la duo_fw-la athei_fw-la that_o of_o three_o divine_n its_o odds_o but_o two_o be_v atheist_n or_o in_o my_o less_o severe_a judgement_n perhaps_o mere_a deist_n because_o pretend_v sometime_o to_o circumscribe_v our_o mystery_n within_o the_o circumference_n of_o their_o narrow_a understanding_n they_o often_o fall_v from_o believe_v what_o by_o their_o weak_a reason_n they_o can_v reach_v and_o so_o turn_v christianism_n into_o deism_n they_o cease_v to_o be_v in_o their_o heart_n what_o for_o interest_n sake_n they_o make_v a_o outward_a profession_n of_o the_o romish_a divine_n to_o the_o great_a scandal_n of_o the_o world_n busy_a themselves_o in_o their_o school_n in_o lay_v open_a the_o argument_n that_o humane_a acuteness_n may_v frame_v against_o the_o possibility_n of_o christ_n incarnation_n as_o if_o their_o answer_n ground_v upon_o these_o obscure_a principle_n of_o faith_n can_v prove_v evident_a confutation_n of_o such_o objection_n as_o seem_v to_o we_o to_o rely_v upon_o evidence_n i_o know_v no_o short_a way_n than_o this_o to_o deism_n and_o thence_o by_o degree_n to_o atheism_n when_o they_o teach_v that_o the_o most_o illuminate_v angel_n can_v not_o by_o the_o mere_a light_n of_o nature_n fall_v into_o the_o least_o suspicion_n of_o the_o possibility_n of_o a_o hypostatical_a union_n do_v they_o not_o give_v occasion_n to_o the_o weak_a sort_n to_o think_v that_o this_o mystery_n be_v not_o only_o above_o but_o against_o reason_n yet_o i_o be_v scandalize_v at_o nothing_o more_o than_o neither_o to_o hear_v nor_o propose_v any_o demonstration_n of_o the_o existency_n of_o god_n which_o they_o pretend_v not_o to_o confute_v with_o a_o show_n of_o probability_n as_o if_o atheism_n be_v a_o probable_a opinion_n which_o seem_v to_o be_v the_o consequence_n of_o their_o doctrine_n for_o though_o each_o one_o claim_v to_o a_o demonstration_n of_o god_n be_v actual_o in_o nature_n yet_o not_o two_o do_v ever_o agree_v upon_o the_o same_o what_o the_o one_o affirm_v the_o other_o deny_v with_o equal_a ground_n as_o