Selected quad for the lemma: faith_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
faith_n	rule_n	scripture_n	tradition_n	12,255	5	9.8749	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A69762	A perswasive to an ingenuous tryal of opinions in religion	Clagett, Nicholas, 1654-1727.	1685 (1685)	Wing C4370; ESTC R927	37,500	66

scripture_n that_o belong_v to_o a_o discourse_n be_v agreeable_a to_o the_o design_n and_o scope_n of_o that_o discourse_n to_o which_o it_o belong_v this_o rule_n as_o it_o be_v necessary_a for_o all_o to_o observe_v so_o it_o be_v especial_o to_o be_v urge_v upon_o man_n that_o be_v apt_a to_o interpret_v place_n that_o be_v not_o of_o themselves_o plain_a by_o those_o opinion_n that_o they_o be_v already_o possess_v with_o a_o belief_n of_o but_o for_o which_o they_o have_v little_a ground_n beside_o the_o mere_a sound_n of_o some_o text_n which_o at_o first_o hear_v seem_v to_o be_v of_o their_o side_n but_o which_o if_o they_o be_v compare_v with_o the_o design_n of_o the_o holy_a writer_n in_o that_o chapter_n or_o book_n will_v be_v find_v to_o mean_v quite_o another_o thing_n all_o that_o i_o shall_v say_v beside_o of_o this_o rule_n be_v that_o the_o difficulty_n of_o many_o place_n that_o be_v not_o of_o themselves_o plain_a will_v be_v remove_v by_o observe_v it_o for_o instance_n by_o this_o way_n we_o shall_v easy_o be_v satisfy_v that_o that_o forementioned_a place_n of_o st._n paul_n who_o make_v thou_o to_o differ_v from_o another_o be_v chief_o mean_v of_o those_o extraordinary_a gift_n which_o be_v distribute_v among_o believer_n in_o the_o first_o age_n of_o the_o church_n and_o therefore_o though_o in_o a_o qualify_a sense_n this_o be_v true_a of_o all_o save_a grace_n it_o be_v very_o consistent_a with_o all_o those_o scripture_n that_o suppose_v the_o difference_n between_o the_o righteous_a and_o the_o wicked_a to_o depend_v upon_o something_o which_o be_v in_o the_o power_n of_o the_o righteous_a if_o we_o mangle_v coherent_a discourse_n and_o take_v a_o shred_n or_o a_o phrase_n of_o scripture_n by_o itself_o without_o regard_n to_o the_o main_a scope_n of_o the_o place_n and_o this_o to_o prove_v what_o what_o we_o will_v have_v we_o do_v not_o try_v our_o opinion_n by_o scripture_n but_o we_o interpret_v scripture_n by_o our_o own_o opinion_n thus_o i_o have_v show_v what_o caution_n be_v to_o be_v observe_v in_o judge_v by_o scripture_n i_o doubt_v not_o but_o all_o will_v acknowledge_v they_o to_o be_v very_o reasonable_a and_o equal_a and_o if_o all_o man_n have_v observe_v they_o who_o have_v a_o just_a veneration_n for_o the_o scripture_n the_o word_n of_o god_n have_v be_v better_o understand_v and_o less_o wrest_v unsound_a divinity_n have_v not_o easy_o pass_v for_o scriptural_a truth_n and_o all_o occasion_n of_o those_o unjust_a reproach_n have_v be_v take_v away_o which_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n throw_v upon_o we_o for_o allow_v to_o all_o christian_n the_o free_a use_n of_o god_n holy_a book_n and_o thus_o much_o for_o the_o rule_n of_o reason_n and_o scripture_n 3._o the_o three_o i_o mention_v be_v antiquity_n and_o catholic_n tradition_n now_o if_o this_o rule_n as_o i_o say_v at_o first_o be_v of_o excellent_a use_n than_o they_o be_v in_o the_o best_a way_n to_o find_v out_o what_o be_v the_o true_a christian_a religion_n by_o it_o who_o stick_v to_o the_o holy_a scripture_n though_o they_o be_v not_o capable_a of_o use_v it_o otherwise_o for_o if_o that_o be_v true_a which_o be_v most_o ancient_o teach_v and_o believe_v in_o the_o church_n and_o which_o be_v receive_v all_o along_o in_o the_o best_a age_n of_o the_o church_n then_o he_o that_o can_v prove_v his_o faith_n by_o scripture_n have_v the_o argument_n of_o antiquity_n and_o catholic_n tradition_n unquestionable_o on_o his_o side_n because_o the_o scripture_n be_v the_o most_o ancient_a record_n of_o our_o religion_n and_o they_o have_v be_v deliver_v down_o to_o we_o as_o such_o from_o the_o begin_n through_o all_o age_n to_o our_o present_a time_n but_o we_o acknowledge_v also_o the_o testimony_n of_o antiquity_n of_o something_o of_o a_o late_a date_n that_o be_v of_o the_o ancient_a father_n of_o the_o church_n to_o be_v of_o very_o good_a use_n for_o the_o clear_n of_o some_o place_n in_o scripture_n for_o show_v what_o order_n and_o discipline_n be_v leave_v in_o the_o church_n by_o the_o apostle_n for_o confirm_v we_o in_o point_n of_o faith_n ground_v upon_o the_o scripture_n but_o which_o have_v be_v dispute_v and_o oppose_v by_o heretic_n and_o likewise_o for_o confute_v those_o gross_a error_n in_o belief_n or_o practice_n which_o of_o late_a day_n have_v be_v bring_v in_o among_o christian_n especial_o those_o of_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n but_o how_o thing_n be_v to_o be_v examine_v by_o this_o rule_n i_o shall_v not_o etc._n here_o direct_v because_o this_o be_v the_o subject_n of_o a_o excellent_a discourse_n already_o publish_v and_o thus_o much_o concern_v rule_n whereby_o to_o try_v opinion_n in_o religion_n §_o 7._o iii_o the_o disposition_n wherewith_o we_o be_v to_o search_v for_o the_o truth_n by_o these_o mean_n be_v also_o of_o necessary_a consideration_n for_o whatever_o other_o advantage_n we_o have_v if_o we_o be_v great_o defective_a in_o these_o we_o shall_v very_o often_o lose_v our_o labour_n and_o fall_v into_o mistake_n of_o dangerous_a consequence_n to_o qualify_v a_o man_n for_o receive_v truth_n when_o propound_v with_o sufficient_a evidence_n or_o to_o find_v it_o out_o by_o his_o own_o search_n there_o must_v be_v these_o three_o thing_n 1._o a_o prepare_a mind_n 2._o competent_a diligence_n 3._o prayer_n to_o god_n for_o his_o blessing_n upon_o that_o diligence_n 1._o a_o prepare_a mind_n which_o our_o saviour_n call_v a_o good_a and_o honest_a heart_n now_o this_o consist_v in_o humility_n ingenuity_n and_o sincerity_n humility_n be_v necessary_a because_o overween_v and_o self-concit_a make_v a_o man_n apt_a to_o despise_v what_o those_o of_o a_o different_a persuasion_n can_v say_v for_o themselves_o before_o their_o argument_n be_v consider_v and_o in_o general_a to_o neglect_v that_o help_n which_o may_v be_v have_v by_o the_o advice_n and_o reason_n of_o other_o so_o likewise_o vainglory_n fix_v a_o man_n in_o a_o error_n he_o have_v once_o defend_v and_o while_o he_o be_v unwilling_a to_o acknowledge_v a_o mistake_n he_o strain_v all_o his_o wit_n to_o delude_v himself_o into_o a_o strong_a belief_n of_o it_o and_o of_o his_o ability_n to_o defend_v it_o in_o controversy_n he_o be_v desirous_a of_o victory_n and_o will_v fain_o be_v think_v somebody_o and_o therefore_o he_o study_v more_o to_o expose_v a_o adversary_n than_o to_o inform_v himself_o and_o if_o he_o be_v yet_o to_o choose_v his_o side_n of_o a_o question_n he_o take_v the_o wrong_a one_o if_o it_o be_v more_o fashionable_a than_o the_o right_n therefore_o say_v our_o saviour_n whosoever_o do_v not_o receive_v the_o kingdom_n of_o god_n as_o a_o little_a child_n i._n e._n with_o a_o meek_a and_o pliable_a spirit_n shall_v not_o enter_v therein_o again_o say_v he_o my_o sheep_n hear_v my_o voice_n intimate_v that_o they_o will_v be_v easy_o convince_v who_o be_v of_o tractable_a and_o humble_a mind_n and_o therefore_o he_o add_v concern_v the_o pharisee_n that_o they_o reject_v he_o because_o they_o be_v not_o of_o his_o sheep_n i._n e._n because_o of_o their_o haughty_a and_o inflexible_a disposition_n prejudice_n be_v apt_a to_o bar_v the_o mind_n against_o conviction_n as_o well_o as_o pride_n and_o therefore_o to_o humility_n we_o must_v add_v ingenuity_n and_o sincerity_n by_o which_o a_o man_n be_v qualify_v to_o distinguish_v between_o the_o suggestion_n of_o prejudice_n on_o the_o one_o side_n and_o the_o force_n of_o good_a reason_n on_o the_o other_o ingenuity_n be_v oppose_v to_o those_o prejudices_fw-la that_o be_v either_o unavoidable_o contract_v or_o take_v up_o through_o weakness_n of_o understanding_n of_o the_o former_a sort_n be_v the_o prejudices_fw-la of_o education_n or_o converse_v altogether_o with_o our_o own_o party_n man_n be_v general_o prepossess_v with_o great_a favour_n to_o those_o opinion_n in_o which_o they_o have_v be_v all_o along_o train_v up_o and_o which_o have_v be_v instill_v into_o they_o by_o all_o that_o they_o have_v converse_v with_o and_o therefore_o we_o can_v be_v meet_a inquirer_n after_o truth_n if_o we_o want_v the_o ingenuity_n of_o suspect_v ourselves_o on_o this_o side_n and_o try_v those_o persuasion_n in_o which_o we_o have_v be_v breed_v up_o with_o the_o great_a impartiality_n and_o severity_n some_o man_n be_v prejudice_v by_o a_o unaccountable_a inclination_n towards_o a_o opinion_n or_o a_o antipathy_n against_o it_o and_o these_o aught_o the_o more_o careful_o to_o distinguish_v between_o the_o warmth_n of_o their_o imagination_n on_o the_o one_o side_n and_o the_o force_n of_o argument_n on_o the_o other_o and_o not_o to_o take_v a_o passionate_a fondness_n for_o a_o conclusion_n or_o a_o aversion_n from_o it_o to_o be_v a_o reason_n one_o way_n or_o other_o it_o be_v very_o incident_a to_o weak_a mind_n to_o prejudg_v in_o favour_n of_o

understanding_n for_o when_o hypocrite_n have_v for_o their_o worldly_a interest_n debauch_a religion_n in_o this_o manner_n they_o know_v that_o the_o mean_a people_n will_v never_o swallow_v their_o gross_a absurdity_n unless_o they_o can_v first_o prevail_v with_o they_o to_o believe_v that_o it_o be_v a_o dangerous_a thing_n to_o trust_v their_o own_o eye_n or_o to_o hearken_v to_o any_o discourse_n from_o principle_n of_o reason_n though_o it_o be_v never_o so_o clear_a and_o strong_a and_o that_o it_o be_v a_o kind_n of_o merit_n to_o believe_v thing_n incredible_a and_o to_o stick_v to_o a_o conclusion_n the_o fast_o the_o more_o impossible_a it_o seem_v to_o be_v true_a but_o by_o the_o way_n if_o reason_n be_v one_o and_o that_o the_o first_o mean_n by_o which_o we_o be_v to_o judge_v for_o ourselves_o in_o matter_n of_o religion_n as_o i_o shall_v make_v bold_a to_o say_v it_o be_v i_o shall_v vehement_o suspect_v without_o far_a examination_n that_o they_o know_v their_o opinion_n to_o be_v very_o foolish_a who_o at_o first_o dash_n renounce_v the_o most_o general_a and_o necessary_a rule_n by_o which_o they_o be_v to_o be_v try_v i_o shall_v only_o add_v that_o because_o the_o fundamental_a principle_n of_o reason_n be_v the_o same_o all_o the_o world_n over_o reason_n be_v therefore_o the_o most_o public_a rule_n and_o test_n whereby_o to_o judge_v between_o truth_n and_o error_n and_o therefore_o if_o a_o council_n define_v thing_n in_o that_o manner_n that_o i_o must_v forsake_v right_a reason_n to_o follow_v its_o definition_n when_o i_o make_v this_o plain_a this_o be_v not_o oppose_v a_o private_a spirit_n to_o a_o public_a judgement_n but_o appeal_n from_o a_o less_o public_a judgement_n to_o the_o most_o public_a sense_n and_o judgement_n of_o mankind_n §_o 6._o 2._o as_o reason_n be_v a_o rule_n to_o all_o man_n so_o be_v scripture_n a_o rule_n to_o all_o christian_n at_o least_o it_o ought_v to_o be_v so_o and_o all_o pretend_v to_o make_v it_o a_o rule_n for_o their_o judgement_n by_o appeal_n to_o it_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n indeed_o allow_v it_o to_o be_v but_o part_n of_o the_o rule_n of_o faith_n we_o say_v it_o be_v a_o entire_a and_o perfect_a rule_n thereof_o however_o so_o long_o as_o she_o acknowledge_v the_o scripture_n to_o be_v a_o rule_n though_o she_o pretend_v there_o be_v another_o rule_n beside_o that_o she_o be_v to_o be_v conclude_v by_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o scripture_n and_o so_o we_o be_v to_o be_v acquit_v by_o she_o in_o not_o believe_v she_o against_o the_o scripture_n now_o every_o body_n must_v grant_v that_o we_o do_v not_o judge_v right_o by_o the_o scripture_n where_o we_o mistake_v the_o meaning_n of_o the_o text._n and_o we_o ought_v to_o be_v sure_a that_o the_o sense_n wherein_o we_o take_v any_o place_n be_v the_o true_a sense_n before_o we_o make_v our_o interpretation_n of_o it_o a_o rule_n whereby_o to_o examine_v other_o thing_n where_o the_o sense_n be_v very_o plain_a it_o require_v nothing_o more_o than_o common_a sense_n and_o common_a honesty_n to_o understand_v it_o and_o it_o be_v very_o reasonable_a to_o suppose_v that_o god_n have_v reveal_v all_o point_n necessary_a to_o salvation_n so_o clear_o and_o plain_o that_o it_o be_v not_o difficult_a for_o a_o honest_a man_n to_o understand_v what_o they_o be_v but_o because_o there_o be_v many_o obscure_a place_n in_o the_o scripture_n we_o must_v be_v very_o careful_a not_o to_o ground_v any_o doctrine_n upon_o they_o till_o we_o have_v well_o weigh_v and_o examine_v the_o meaning_n of_o those_o place_n and_o the_o way_n to_o be_v secure_a from_o any_o dangerous_a mistake_n in_o conclude_v from_o place_n of_o scripture_n that_o be_v more_o or_o less_o hard_a to_o be_v understand_v be_v to_o observe_v such_o caution_n as_o these_o be_v which_o i_o think_v all_o christian_n must_v allow_v to_o be_v reasonable_a 1._o that_o we_o take_v no_o text_n in_o a_o sense_n which_o be_v repugnant_a to_o common_a sense_n and_o natural_a reason_n 2._o that_o we_o put_v no_o sense_n upon_o a_o place_n of_o scripture_n that_o be_v repugnant_a to_o the_o general_a scope_n and_o design_n of_o the_o whole_a word_n of_o god_n 3._o that_o we_o understand_v no_o difficult_a place_n in_o a_o sense_n that_o be_v contrary_a to_o to_o those_o place_n who_o meaning_n be_v plain_a and_o manifest_a to_o all_o man_n 4._o that_o we_o mistake_v not_o those_o place_n for_o plain_a which_o be_v not_o so_o 5._o that_o we_o put_v no_o other_o sense_n upon_o a_o text_n than_o what_o agree_v with_o the_o scope_n and_o design_n of_o that_o particular_a discourse_n wherein_o we_o find_v it_o 1._o before_o we_o conclude_v upon_o the_o sense_n of_o a_o text_n so_o as_o to_o prove_v any_o thing_n by_o it_o we_o must_v be_v sure_a that_o sense_n be_v not_o repugnant_a to_o natural_a reason_n for_o if_o it_o be_v it_o can_v be_v the_o true_a meaning_n of_o the_o scripture_n for_o god_n be_v the_o original_a of_o natural_a truth_n as_o well_o as_o of_o that_o which_o come_v by_o particular_a revelation_n and_o as_o hierocles_n say_v to_o believe_v and_o obey_v right_a reason_n and_o to_o follow_v god_n be_v the_o same_o thing_n and_o therefore_o no_o proposition_n that_o be_v repugnant_a to_o the_o fundamental_a principle_n of_o reason_n can_v be_v the_o sense_n of_o any_o part_n of_o god_n book_n and_o that_o which_o be_v false_a and_o contrary_a to_o reason_n can_v no_o more_o be_v true_a and_o agreeable_a to_o the_o revelation_n of_o scripture_n than_o god_n who_o be_v the_o author_n of_o one_o as_o well_o as_o the_o other_o can_v contradict_v himself_o from_o hence_o it_o be_v evident_a that_o these_o word_n this_o be_v my_o body_n be_v not_o to_o be_v understand_v in_o that_o sense_n which_o make_v for_o the_o doctrine_n of_o transubstantiation_n because_o it_o be_v impossible_a that_o contradiction_n shall_v be_v true_a and_o we_o can_v be_v more_o certain_a that_o any_o thing_n be_v true_a than_o we_o be_v that_o that_o doctrine_n be_v false_a there_o be_v some_o other_o doctrine_n maintain_v by_o man_n of_o name_n in_o the_o world_n that_o they_o have_v no_o better_a ground_n for_o than_o obscure_a text_n interpret_v contrary_a to_o the_o principle_n of_o natural_a reason_n and_o religion_n this_o caution_n therefore_o be_v to_o be_v mind_v in_o the_o first_o place_n 2._o we_o must_v put_v no_o sense_n upon_o a_o difficult_a place_n which_o contradict_v the_o great_a end_n and_o drift_n of_o the_o whole_a bible_n now_o that_o be_v to_o work_v faith_n in_o man_n and_o thereby_o to_o bring_v they_o to_o repentance_n and_o to_o a_o holy_a life_n and_o therefore_o whatsoever_o doctrine_n do_v natural_o tend_v to_o take_v man_n off_o from_o the_o care_n of_o holy_a live_n by_o nourish_v they_o in_o foolish_a presumption_n or_o drive_v they_o to_o miserable_a despair_n can_v be_v the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o scripture_n and_o therefore_o such_o a_o doctrine_n can_v be_v prove_v from_o any_o obscure_a text_n of_o the_o bible_n and_o by_o consequence_n that_o sense_n of_o a_o obsure_n text_n from_o which_o it_o may_v be_v prove_v be_v not_o the_o true_a sense_n unless_o we_o can_v believe_v that_o some_o part_n of_o the_o holy_a book_n teach_v something_o that_o undermine_v the_o great_a end_n of_o the_o whole_a there_o be_v too_o many_o opinion_n among_o some_o christian_n that_o have_v no_o other_o colour_n for_o they_o than_o scripture_n interpret_v without_o this_o necessary_a caution_n which_o must_v therefore_o be_v add_v to_o the_o former_a 3._o we_o must_v not_o understand_v a_o difficult_a place_n in_o a_o sense_n that_o be_v contrary_a to_o those_o place_n who_o meaning_n be_v plain_a and_o manifest_a to_o all_o man_n for_o the_o scripture_n can_v teach_v one_o thing_n plain_o in_o one_o place_n and_o the_o quite_o contrary_a obscure_o in_o another_o it_o be_v but_o reasonable_a therefore_o in_o try_v to_o understand_v a_o difficult_a place_n or_o in_o go_v about_o to_o prove_v any_o thing_n from_o it_o that_o we_o shall_v compare_v scripture_n with_o scripture_n and_o the_o obscure_a place_n with_o those_o that_o be_v plain_a not_o to_o interpret_v the_o plain_a by_o the_o obscure_a which_o be_v contrary_a to_o all_o rule_n of_o discourse_n but_o the_o obscure_a by_o the_o plain_a especial_o because_o the_o plain_a place_n contain_v thing_n that_o be_v most_o necessary_a to_o be_v understand_v and_o believe_v by_o we_o and_o therefore_o we_o can_v without_o great_a danger_n forsake_v the_o doctrine_n which_o they_o teach_v as_o every_o man_n in_o effect_n do_v who_o take_v a_o difficult_a place_n in_o a_o sense_n contrary_a to_o that_o doctrine_n in_o a_o word_n the_o scripture_n be_v our_o rule_n principal_o where_o it_o be_v easy_a to_o be_v understand_v and_o the_o