Selected quad for the lemma: father_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
father_n	ghost_n	holy_a	trinity_n	34,129	5	10.2134	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A46721	The third letter from W.J. to the Reverend Doctor Wallis, professor of geometry in Oxford upon the subject of two former letters to him, concerning the Sacred Trinity.	W. J.	1693 (1693)	Wing J53; ESTC R39010	9,224	19

be_v permit_v only_o to_o the_o high_a priest_n and_o but_o once_o a_o year_n when_o he_o enter_v into_o the_o sanctum_fw-la sanctorum_fw-la this_o name_n which_o to_o they_o be_v so_o sacred_a be_v think_v to_o express_v the_o absolute_a simple_a nature_n of_o god_n as_o he_o be_v in_o himself_o without_o respect_n or_o antecedent_o to_o the_o whole_a creation_n this_o they_o just_o account_v very_o holy_a and_o sacred_a and_o place_v it_o as_o it_o be_v in_o a_o inaccessible_a light_n now_o the_o notion_n of_o the_o trinity_n do_v not_o only_o contain_v this_o but_o exhibit_v also_o to_o we_o the_o great_a arcanum_n of_o the_o godhead_n if_o i_o may_v so_o say_v a_o most_o mysterious_a triunity_n in_o the_o divine_a nature_n which_o be_v never_o before_o reveal_v to_o mankind_n nor_o ever_o be_v or_o will_v be_v comprehend_v by_o any_o mortal_a ought_v we_o not_o then_o to_o place_v this_o in_o the_o sanctum_fw-la sanctorum_fw-la in_o the_o adytum_fw-la of_o the_o temple_n and_o cover_v it_o with_o the_o wing_n of_o cherubim_n as_o a_o glory_n too_o great_a for_o our_o eye_n to_o bear_v at_o least_o we_o ought_v to_o be_v reserve_v modest_a and_o tender_a in_o this_o point_n more_o than_o in_o any_o other_o part_n of_o theology_n of_o add_v or_o innovate_a any_o thing_n beyond_o the_o plain_a word_n and_o plain_a sense_n of_o scripture_n sir_n these_o instance_n and_o consideration_n i_o have_v propose_v to_o persuade_v we_o as_o i_o say_v at_o first_o to_o moderation_n and_o scripture-proof_n in_o all_o thing_n that_o we_o assert_v and_o impose_v in_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o trinity_n but_o now_o it_o will_v be_v ask_v i_o what_o be_v good_a scripture-proof_n see_v we_o do_v not_o allow_v in_o this_o case_n of_o deduction_n and_o consequence_n or_o to_o be_v short_a what_o creed_n may_v we_o with_o safety_n propose_v concern_v the_o everblessed_n trinity_n according_a to_o the_o plain_a word_n and_o plain_a sense_n of_o scripture_n it_o be_v not_o for_o private_a person_n to_o prescribe_v or_o pretend_v to_o authority_n against_o establish_a order_n but_o if_o you_o will_v give_v i_o leave_v to_o put_v the_o case_n in_o a_o new-found_a world_n or_o in_o a_o nation_n new_o convert_v and_o to_o be_v far_o instruct_v in_o the_o christian_a faith_n to_o such_o a_o people_n i_o will_v not_o propose_v the_o athanasian_n creed_n but_o something_o more_o plain_a and_o simple_a as_o also_o more_o scriptural_a that_o shall_v be_v manifest_o ground_v upon_o divine_a authority_n in_o all_o the_o part_n of_o it_o as_o suppose_v you_o shall_v take_v so_o much_o of_o the_o apostle_n creed_n as_o relate_v to_o the_o trinity_n and_o incarnation_n and_o add_v to_o it_o some_o article_n more_o explicit_a and_o distinct_a to_o express_v our_o belief_n in_o some_o such_o plain_a form_n as_o this_o i_o believe_v in_o god_n the_o father_n almighty_n maker_n of_o heaven_n and_o earth_n and_o in_o jesus_n christ_n his_o only_a son_n our_o lord_n who_o be_v conceive_v by_o the_o holy_a ghost_n and_o bear_v of_o the_o virgin_n mary_n be_v crucify_v by_o the_o jew_n rise_v from_o the_o dead_a ascend_v into_o heaven_n from_o whence_o he_o will_v come_v in_o glory_n to_o judge_n the_o world_n i_o believe_v the_o holy_a trinity_n as_o it_o be_v reveal_v to_o we_o in_o scripture_n according_o i_o believe_v the_o father_n son_n and_o holy_a ghost_n as_o my_o creator_n redeemer_n and_o sanctifier_n three_o after_o a_o mysterious_a and_o incomprehensible_a manner_n but_o one_o eternal_a ever_o bless_a lord_n god_n by_o who_o mercy_n power_n and_o faithfulness_n i_o hope_v for_o a_o resurrection_n from_o the_o dead_a and_o eternal_a life_n thus_o much_o i_o think_v be_v unquestionable_o scriptural_a and_o i_o have_v leave_v out_o the_o word_n person_n not_o that_o i_o shall_v scruple_n it_o myself_o in_o that_o large_a sense_n wherein_o we_o understand_v it_o but_o because_o i_o think_v it_o will_v raise_v scruple_n and_o difficulty_n in_o the_o mind_n of_o other_o or_o of_o these_o new_a convert_v whereof_o we_o be_v speak_v they_o will_v be_v apt_a to_o reason_n with_o themselves_o can_v three_o person_n be_v one_o thing_n or_o can_v our_o god_n who_o be_v one_o only_a god_n be_v three_o distinct_a person_n be_v not_o three_o distinct_a person_n each_o be_v infinite_o perfect_a plain_o three_o god_n these_o and_o such_o like_a doubt_n will_v natural_o rise_v in_o their_o mind_n and_o from_o these_o as_o from_o seed_n will_v grow_v up_o many_o more_o which_o by_o degree_n will_v corrupt_v the_o simplicity_n of_o their_o religion_n and_o turn_v it_o into_o opinion_n and_o dispute_n but_o this_o plain_a scripture-form_n as_o it_o will_v prevent_v dispute_n and_o controversy_n so_o it_o will_v render_v all_o dissenter_n from_o it_o if_o there_o can_v be_v any_o inexcusable_a i_o mean_v all_o christian_a dissenter_n for_o as_o to_o jew_n and_o mahometan_n i_o do_v not_o suppose_v that_o it_o will_v satisfy_v they_o yet_o i_o think_v it_o will_v very_o much_o lessen_v that_o offence_n which_o they_o take_v at_o the_o christian_a trinity_n as_o it_o be_v represent_v by_o schoolman_n and_o polemical_a divine_n and_o as_o it_o be_v dress_v up_o in_o one_o of_o our_o creed_n with_o all_o the_o pomp_n and_o affectation_n of_o contrariety_n and_o seem_a contradiction_n neither_o i_o think_v be_v this_o form_n defective_a though_o short_a and_o plain_a for_o distinguish_v father_n son_n and_o holy_a ghost_n as_o our_o creator_n redeemer_n and_o sanctifier_n it_o thereby_o display_v and_o cast_v a_o light_n upon_o the_o whole_a christian_a oeconomy_n and_o be_v a_o support_n to_o our_o faith_n and_o prayer_n whereas_o those_o metaphysical_a subtlety_n that_o be_v superad_v to_o this_o scripture-creed_n have_v no_o influence_n that_o i_o know_v either_o upon_o a_o good_a life_n or_o any_o christian_a duty_n in_o religion_n all_o superfluity_n be_v noxious_a and_o what_o do_v not_o good_a do_v hurt_v there_o amuse_n the_o mind_n to_o no_o purpose_n and_o turn_v off_o our_o thought_n from_o their_o principal_a object_n and_o concern_v whether_o in_o matter_n of_o belief_n or_o in_o matter_n of_o practice_n but_o why_o do_v i_o continue_v so_o long_o in_o this_o digression_n i_o do_v not_o intend_v at_o first_o to_o propose_v or_o mention_v any_o thing_n but_o such_o argument_n as_o may_v incline_v we_o to_o moderation_n in_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o trinity_n and_o proportionable_o in_o all_o other_o mystical_a doctrine_n and_o in_o general_a not_o to_o lay_v much_o stress_n upon_o opinion_n in_o comparison_n of_o a_o good_a life_n and_o the_o true_o christian_a disposition_n of_o mind_n those_o who_o least_o use_v their_o understanding_n can_v the_o easy_a comply_v with_o any_o opinion_n their_o superior_n impose_v upon_o they_o but_o those_o who_o use_v reflection_n and_o meditation_n find_v it_o impossible_a to_o believe_v what_o they_o listen_v or_o what_o be_v dictate_v to_o they_o by_o humane_a authority_n without_o reason_n to_o convince_v they_o now_o this_o use_n of_o our_o understanding_n which_o be_v the_o candle_n of_o the_o lord_n can_v be_v matter_n of_o demerit_n and_o condemnation_n to_o we_o provide_v it_o be_v sincere_a and_o accompany_v with_o piety_n and_o probity_n and_o therefore_o this_o ought_v not_o to_o be_v make_v a_o snare_n or_o of_o penal_a consequence_n to_o those_o that_o in_o all_o other_o respect_n be_v good_a christian_n who_o can_v look_v upon_o the_o state_n of_o christendom_n without_o grief_n and_o trouble_n when_o he_o observe_v which_o be_v too_o obvious_a that_o a_o certain_a zeal_n for_o opinion_n and_o ceremony_n have_v eat_v out_o the_o heart_n of_o our_o religion_n i_o mean_v the_o vital_a and_o practical_a part_n of_o it_o a_o good_a life_n and_o a_o good_a temper_n of_o mind_n whereas_o it_o be_v this_o only_a that_o will_v stick_v to_o we_o after_o death_n and_o conduct_v we_o to_o heaven_n and_o bliss_n when_o all_o our_o opinion_n and_o external_a righteousness_n will_v fall_v off_o like_o rot_a rag_n to_o conclude_v let_v we_o be_v content_a to_o prove_v well_o from_o scripture_n the_o divinity_n of_o our_o saviour_n and_o of_o the_o holy_a ghost_n and_o to_o leave_v the_o modality_n of_o those_o doctrine_n to_o another_o state_n and_o dispensation_n neither_o can_v this_o advice_n seem_v unreasonable_a if_o we_o consider_v what_o difference_n there_o be_v about_o the_o explication_n of_o the_o trinity_n and_o how_o difficult_a it_o be_v to_o make_v any_o one_o explication_n unexceptionable_a all_o party_n agree_v in_o this_o solemn_a maxim_n that_o there_o be_v but_o one_o god_n and_o not_o only_a christian_n of_o all_o sort_n but_o also_o jew_n and_o mahometan_n join_v with_o we_o in_o this_o as_o the_o common_a barriere_n betwixt_o we_o and_o paganism_n or_o polytheism_n now_o this_o be_v a_o conclusion_n agree_v on_o and_o

consent_v to_o by_o all_o party_n concern_v in_o the_o controversy_n if_o we_o say_v this_o one_o god_n be_v three_o than_o we_o be_v bind_v say_v the_o antitrinitarian_n to_o prove_v it_o and_o to_o make_v it_o intelligible_a for_o he_o that_o affirm_v more_o than_o other_o will_v grant_v must_v first_o make_v his_o proposition_n intelligible_a and_o then_o bring_v reason_n to_o prove_v the_o truth_n of_o it_o the_o orthodox_n say_v this_o one_o god_n be_v three_o three_o what_o say_v the_o other_o three_o god_n no._n three_o creature_n no._n three_o substance_n no._n three_o accident_n neither_o three_o name_n only_o more_o than_o that_o three_o attribute_n or_o power_n more_o than_o that_o also_o what_o manner_n or_o what_o sort_n of_o three_o be_v they_o then_o three_o person_n say_v you_o but_o this_o give_v no_o satisfaction_n for_o the_o question_n return_v still_o whether_o be_v these_o three_o person_n three_o god_n or_o three_o creature_n three_o substance_n or_o accident_n etc._n etc._n for_o a_o person_n be_v a_o complete_a particular_a be_v and_o must_v fall_v under_o some_o more_o simple_a and_o general_a order_n of_o being_n or_o notion_n such_o as_o we_o have_v mention_v to_o which_o of_o those_o head_n therefore_o do_v those_o three_o person_n belong_v it_o be_v not_o easy_a you_o see_v to_o make_v one_o step_v forward_o when_o we_o once_o recede_v from_o the_o unity_n of_o the_o godhead_n yet_o i_o think_v we_o may_v without_o full_o decide_v this_o point_n advance_v a_o little_a far_o by_o common_a consent_n all_o party_n will_v acknowledge_v that_o there_o be_v in_o the_o godhead_n first_o infinite_a power_n and_o be_v second_o infinite_a wisdom_n and_o knowledge_n three_o infinite_a love_n and_o bounty_n and_o these_o three_o thing_n be_v the_o ground_n and_o material_n if_o i_o may_v so_o say_v of_o what_o in_o one_o word_n we_o call_v the_o trinity_n the_o son_n we_o say_v be_v the_o essential_a wisdom_n of_o the_o father_n and_o the_o holy_a ghost_n essential_a love_n but_o the_o question_n be_v concern_v the_o name_n that_o be_v to_o be_v give_v to_o these_o three_o thing_n and_o about_o the_o mode_n of_o their_o unity_n and_o diversity_n as_o to_o the_o name_n some_o will_v have_v they_o call_v three_o substance_n other_o three_o person_n and_o other_o three_o property_n and_o herein_o consist_v the_o three_o great_a difference_n concern_v the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o trinity_n the_o platonist_n say_v they_o be_v three_o substance_n the_o orthodox_n make_v they_o three_o person_n the_o unitarian_n three_o property_n only_o but_o methinks_v however_o it_o shall_v not_o be_v matter_n of_o salvation_n and_o damnation_n to_o hit_v right_a or_o be_v mistake_v in_o the_o name_n or_o precise_a notion_n of_o these_o three_o thing_n whatsoever_o it_o be_v for_o every_o ingenuous_a and_o unbiased_a person_n must_v acknowledge_v that_o there_o be_v great_a difficulty_n in_o every_o one_o of_o the_o three_o way_n mention_v that_o hypothesis_n which_o have_v be_v propose_v to_o we_o of_o late_a for_o the_o explication_n of_o the_o trinity_n suit_n best_o with_o the_o platonical_a triad_n for_o the_o platonist_n suppose_v their_o three_o divine_a substance_n to_o be_v in_o such_o a_o relation_n to_o one_o another_o of_o influence_n and_o dependence_n of_o mutual_a activity_n and_o sympathy_n that_o they_o still_o retain_v a_o character_n of_o unity_n and_o may_v be_v call_v one_o god_n or_o one_o godhead_n this_o i_o say_v seem_v to_o be_v very_o well_o illustrate_v by_o the_o late_a hypothesis_n which_o first_o allow_v three_o divine_a substance_n three_o infinite_a mind_n three_o holy_a spirit_n and_o then_o unite_v they_o by_o mutual_a consciousness_n which_o be_v the_o great_a character_n of_o union_n that_o we_o know_v yet_o notwithstanding_o this_o union_n it_o preserve_v a_o distinction_n by_o a_o particular_a self-consciousness_n in_o every_o one_o of_o the_o three_o spirit_n so_o that_o you_o see_v at_o once_o by_o this_o representation_n the_o ground_n of_o their_o be_v one_o and_o of_o their_o be_v three_o upon_o the_o whole_a matter_n i_o be_o of_o opinion_n but_o with_o all_o submission_n to_o better_a judgement_n that_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o trinity_n can_v be_v make_v out_o in_o a_o rational_a way_n according_a to_o the_o present_a light_n of_o our_o faculty_n i_o do_v not_o doubt_v but_o it_o be_v the_o high_a reason_n to_o those_o being_n that_n be_v capable_a of_o it_o but_o to_o we_o in_o this_o present_a state_n it_o be_v matter_n of_o faith_n and_o we_o take_v it_o upon_o the_o authority_n of_o a_o revelation_n and_o must_v acquiesce_v in_o that_o without_o addition_n of_o our_o own_o if_o we_o will_v be_v secure_a from_o error_n and_o mistake_n and_o when_o i_o say_v this_o doctrine_n do_v not_o fall_v under_o our_o comprehension_n in_o this_o present_a state_n i_o mean_v chief_o as_o to_o these_o three_o degree_n or_o part_n of_o it_o 1._o to_o reconcile_v the_o distinction_n of_o the_o person_n to_o the_o unity_n of_o the_o godhead_n according_a to_o all_o the_o character_n give_v of_o that_o unity_n and_o simplicity_n that_o be_v in_o god_n and_o of_o that_o multiplicity_n and_o distinction_n that_o be_v give_v to_o the_o person_n 2._o to_o conceive_v the_o equality_n of_o the_o three_o person_n notwithstanding_o their_o derivation_n from_o one_o another_o 3._o to_o give_v a_o reason_n why_o there_o be_v three_o person_n and_o no_o more_o or_o why_o those_o divine_a emanation_n or_o production_n or_o whatsoever_o they_o be_v to_o be_v call_v be_v limit_v to_o three_o i_o have_v in_o a_o former_a letter_n speak_v something_o to_o the_o two_o first_o particular_n and_o as_o to_o the_o last_o i_o will_v only_o make_v one_o short_a remark_n upon_o a_o principle_n lay_v down_o by_o this_o learned_a author_n he_o say_v p._n 103._o §_o 2_o 3_o 4_o 5._o that_o the_o thought_n of_o the_o father_n or_o reflex_n knowledge_n of_o himself_o beget_v the_o son_n or_o be_v the_o son_n now_o the_o holy_a ghost_n be_v also_o a_o think_v be_v and_o have_v a_o reflex_n knowledge_n of_o himself_o and_o if_o he_o be_v equal_a to_o the_o father_n his_o thought_n or_o his_o reflex_n knowledge_n of_o himself_o be_v of_o equal_a perfection_n and_o equal_o substantial_a with_o the_o father_n and_o consequent_o must_v make_v a_o four_o divine_a subsist_v person_n and_o that_o four_o by_o the_o same_o reason_n a_o five_o and_o so_o forward_o so_o long_o as_o they_o continue_v in_o equality_n but_o i_o must_v break_v off_o abrupt_o for_o i_o see_v this_o letter_n be_v too_o long_o already_o i_o do_v sincere_o and_o hearty_o believe_v the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o trinity_n as_o to_o the_o matter_n of_o it_o and_o as_o to_o the_o form_n and_o modus_fw-la of_o it_o i_o think_v it_o be_v not_o reveal_v to_o we_o in_o scripture_n nor_o attainable_a by_o the_o light_n of_o nature_n so_o much_o as_o be_v reveal_v and_o no_o more_o be_v the_o rule_n of_o faith_n pardon_v this_o trouble_n sir_n from_o a_o stranger_n who_o will_v always_o remain_v sir_n your_o oblige_a humble_a servant_n w._n j._n finis_fw-la