Selected quad for the lemma: friend_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
friend_n	best_a	know_v	think_v	986	5	3.7728	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A34077	The plausible arguments of a Romish priest answered by an English Protestant seasonable and useful for all Protestant families.	Comber, Thomas, 1645-1699.	1686 (1686)	Wing C5481; ESTC R16555	28,548	65

to_o be_v sufficient_a to_o add_v so_o many_o other_o mediator_n to_o he_o yea_o it_o seem_v you_o believe_v they_o have_v more_o power_n with_o god_n or_o love_n for_o we_o than_o christ_n have_v otherwise_o you_o will_v not_o think_v it_o necessary_a to_o join_v their_o prayer_n to_o he_o nor_o make_v more_o address_n to_o these_o servant_n than_o to_o the_o son_n we_o know_v as_o christ_n be_v god_n he_o be_v most_o able_a and_o as_o man_n most_o willing_a to_o help_v we_o hebr._fw-la two_o 18._o and_o be_v assure_v he_o be_v able_a to_o serve_v to_o the_o uttermost_a all_o that_o come_v unto_o god_n by_o he_o hebr._n seven_o 25._o and_o when_o the_o father_n have_v provide_v so_o all-sufficient_a a_o mediator_n to_o fly_v to_o other_o and_o desire_v they_o to_o add_v their_o interest_n to_o he_o be_v both_o ingratitude_n to_o the_o father_n and_o a_o disparagement_n to_o the_o son_n when_o you_o have_v lay_v all_o the_o fine_a colour_n on_o it_o you_o can_v po._n i_o will_v convince_v you_o by_o a_o practice_n of_o your_o own_o that_o herein_o you_o censure_v we_o unjust_o do_v not_o you_o desire_v the_o saint_n on_o earth_n to_o pray_v for_o you_o though_o christ_n be_v your_o mediator_n and_o be_v this_o any_o injury_n to_o christ_n why_o then_o may_v we_o not_o as_o well_o desire_v those_o in_o heaven_n to_o do_v it_o prot._n we_o have_v many_o precept_n and_o example_n in_o scripture_n to_o desire_v holy_a man_n on_o earth_n to_o pray_v with_o we_o and_o for_o we_o which_o show_v that_o be_v according_a to_o god_n will_v 1_o joh._n v_o 14._o but_o you_o have_v not_o one_o word_n to_o direct_v you_o to_o desire_v this_o of_o the_o saint_n in_o heaven_n beside_o we_o do_v not_o kneel_v to_o good_a man_n and_o put_v their_o name_n into_o the_o same_o litany_n and_o prayer_n with_o god_n almighty_a nor_o desire_v to_o be_v hear_v by_o their_o merit_n they_o pray_v with_o we_o and_o for_o we_o as_o our_o fellow-sufferer_n who_o see_v and_o hear_v our_o want_n in_o particular_a and_o pray_v only_o in_o christ_n name_n and_o through_o his_o merit_n and_o so_o be_v joint_a petitioner_n with_o we_o not_o joint_a mediator_n with_o christ_n and_o withal_o every_o particular_a man_n go_v to_o they_o and_o tell_v they_o his_o case_n and_o then_o he_o be_v sure_a they_o know_v his_o want_n but_o scripture_n be_v very_o clear_a that_o those_o who_o be_v dead_a even_o the_o best_a man_n know_v not_o the_o particular_a want_n of_o their_o dear_a friend_n 2_o king_n xxii_o 20._o job_n fourteen_o 2._o eccles_n ix_o 5._o isai_n lxiii_o 16._o nor_o be_v it_o possible_a for_o any_o creature_n to_o hear_v the_o petition_n of_o many_o thousand_o at_o one_o time_n in_o divers_a place_n and_o if_o they_o can_v hear_v you_o what_o be_v you_o better_o for_o pray_v to_o they_o po._n this_o be_v easy_o answer_v for_o since_o god_n know_v all_o thing_n and_o they_o be_v with_o he_o always_o can_v he_o without_o any_o difficulty_n make_v our_o prayer_n know_v to_o they_o prot._n we_o question_v not_o god_n power_n but_o why_o shall_v he_o do_v this_o since_o you_o pray_v to_o they_o without_o his_o direction_n and_o by_o do_v so_o accuse_v the_o way_n which_o he_o prescribe_v of_o be_v insufficient_a nor_o have_v you_o any_o promise_n that_o god_n will_v acquaint_v they_o with_o your_o prayer_n beside_o you_o can_v but_o think_v it_o absurd_a if_o not_o ridiculous_a to_o pray_v to_o the_o saint_n to_o pray_v to_o god_n for_o you_o and_o yet_o till_o god_n tell_v they_o first_o they_o can_v tell_v he_o what_o it_o be_v they_o be_v to_o desire_v of_o he_o this_o be_v to_o employ_v god_n to_o inform_v the_o saint_n of_o our_o want_n and_o look_n like_o writing_n to_o a_o courtier_n which_o can_v read_v to_o desire_v he_o to_o beg_v a_o favour_n of_o the_o king_n for_o we_o because_o we_o be_v unworthy_a to_o write_v immediate_o to_o the_o king_n and_o yet_o know_v before_o hand_n this_o courtier_n must_v go_v to_o the_o king_n himself_o to_o read_v the_o letter_n po._n we_o value_v not_o your_o idle_a comparison_n our_o church_n tell_v we_o the_o saint_n do_v hear_v we_o and_o it_o be_v no_o matter_n whether_o or_o no_o we_o know_v how_o they_o do_v hear_v we_o prot._n the_o scripture_n tell_v you_o they_o do_v not_o hear_v you_o and_o reason_n tell_v you_o they_o can_v and_o will_v you_o believe_v your_o church_n against_o both_o your_o church_n never_o dare_v define_v the_o way_n how_o they_o come_v to_o hear_v you_o because_o many_o absurdity_n follow_v upon_o all_o method_n that_o ever_o yet_o be_v devise_v and_o a_o wary_a man_n will_v scarce_o credit_v a_o thing_n of_o this_o consequence_n that_o can_v be_v prove_v or_o make_v out_o much_o less_o will_v he_o go_v to_o mediator_n of_o who_o hear_v he_o he_o can_v have_v no_o other_o assurance_n than_o the_o bare_a word_n of_o those_o man_n who_o gain_v by_o the_o doctrine_n when_o he_o have_v a_o all-sufficient_a mediator_n who_o he_o be_v sure_o can_v always_o hear_v and_o help_v he_o and_o to_o who_o he_o may_v pray_v without_o any_o doubt_n to_o damp_n his_o devotion_n po._n do_v not_o the_o virgin_n mary_n prophecy_n virgin_n that_o all_o generation_n shall_v call_v her_o bless_a luke_n i_o 48._o and_o have_v we_o not_o reason_n to_o believe_v that_o the_o mother_n of_o god_n have_v great_a power_n in_o heaven_n prot._n we_o call_v her_o bless_a and_o bless_v god_n for_o she_o but_o she_o never_o say_v all_o generation_n shall_v pray_v to_o she_o or_o impertinent_o repeat_v that_o salutation_n which_o be_v proper_a to_o the_o occasion_n of_o her_o conception_n of_o christ_n as_o if_o it_o be_v a_o formal_a prayer_n to_o she_o now_o nor_o be_v there_o one_o word_n in_o scripture_n to_o direct_v we_o to_o pray_v to_o she_o at_o all_o much_o less_o to_o say_v more_o ave_n to_o she_o than_o pater_fw-la noster_n to_o god_n and_o to_o make_v large_a offering_n to_o she_o than_o to_o jesus_n who_o declare_v he_o have_v all_o power_n in_o heaven_n and_o earth_n so_o that_o all_o your_o worship_n of_o she_o be_v a_o invention_n of_o your_o own_o and_o mere_a superstition_n po._n we_o find_v it_o make_v the_o people_n more_o devout_a to_o propose_v so_o many_o glorify_a saint_n to_o they_o to_o be_v adore_v than_o if_o we_o confine_v they_o to_o adore_v only_o one_o invisible_a god_n prot._n you_o may_v observe_v if_o you_o will_v own_v the_o truth_n that_o this_o impious_a device_n make_v the_o worship_n of_o god_n to_o be_v neglect_v incline_v your_o people_n to_o rely_v more_o on_o the_o saint_n help_v than_o on_o god_n and_o to_o give_v they_o the_o honour_n due_a to_o he_o for_o those_o blessing_n which_o he_o alone_o bestow_v on_o they_o and_o since_o god_n have_v confine_v we_o only_o to_o worship_n and_o serve_v he_o math._n four_o 10._o it_o be_v superstition_n and_o idolatry_n not_o devotion_n for_o to_o make_v any_o other_o being_n the_o object_n of_o your_o worship_n po._n well_o relic_n but_o since_o god_n have_v wrought_v so_o many_o miracle_n by_o the_o relic_n of_o the_o saint_n doubtless_o he_o be_v well_o please_v with_o our_o adore_v they_o and_o their_o relic_n prot._n there_o have_v be_v many_o false_a relic_n propose_v for_o true_a one_o and_o many_o forge_a miracle_n invent_v by_o cunning_a priest_n for_o gain_n as_o have_v be_v undeniable_o prove_v and_o if_o there_o be_v any_o true_a relic_n of_o real_a saint_n and_o any_o certain_a miracle_n it_o be_v not_o the_o saint_n or_o his_o relic_n but_o god_n by_o who_o power_n the_o miracle_n be_v wrought_v as_o s._n peter_n tell_v we_o act_v three_o 12._o who_o be_v to_o have_v the_o glory_n and_o though_o we_o find_v in_o scripture_n that_o miracle_n be_v wrought_v by_o moses_n rod_n elijah_n mantle_n the_o hem_v of_o christ_n garment_n s._n peter_n shadow_n and_o s._n paul_n handkerchief_n we_o never_o read_v that_o any_o of_o the_o faithful_a adore_v these_o thing_n po._n perhaps_o you_o have_v be_v tell_v we_o whole_o neglect_v make_v prayer_n to_o god_n by_o christ_n jesus_n whereas_o we_o have_v many_o prayer_n in_o our_o public_a office_n like_o you_o direct_v to_o god_n in_o christ_n name_n and_o i_o hope_v you_o have_v no_o objection_n against_o these_o prot._n you_o ought_v to_o have_v no_o other_o prayer_n but_o such_o and_o yet_o though_o these_o prayer_n be_v right_a as_o to_o their_o matter_n there_o be_v one_o intolerable_a fault_n in_o they_o all_o that_o they_o be_v make_v in_o latin_a tongue_n which_o the_o people_n do_v not_o understand_v po._n be_v not_o the_o church_n to_o direct_v in_o what_o manner_n public_a prayer_n shall_v be_v make_v and_o be_v we_o not_o to_o obey_v her_o order_n prot._n

1._o it_o be_v evident_a it_o huge_o derogate_v from_o god_n mercy_n and_o christ_n merit_n to_o teach_v man_n that_o after_o all_o god_n promise_v to_o justify_v we_o free_o by_o his_o grace_n rom._n iii._o 24._o and_o after_o christ_n blot_n out_o the_o handwriting_n of_o ordinance_n that_o be_v against_o we_o coloss_n two_o 14._o they_o must_v still_o smart_v so_o long_o and_o so_o severe_o and_o be_v leave_v to_o pay_v so_o great_a a_o part_n of_o it_o themselves_o po._n you_o be_v mistake_v again_o for_o we_o hold_v that_o because_o of_o the_o communion_n of_o saint_n one_o man_n may_v satisfy_v for_o another_o and_o that_o the_o alm_n and_o prayer_n of_o the_o live_n and_o especial_o of_o holy_a friar_n and_o nun_n will_v avail_v for_o the_o deliver_v the_o dead_a out_o of_o purgatory_n prot._n you_o may_v hold_v what_o you_o please_v but_o scripture_n tell_v we_o every_o one_o shall_v bear_v his_o own_o burden_n galat._n vi_fw-la 5._o and_o that_o no_o man_n can_v redeem_v his_o brother_n nor_o make_v agreement_n to_o god_n for_o he_o because_o it_o cost_v more_o to_o redeem_v their_o soul_n so_o that_o he_o must_v let_v that_o alone_a for_o ever_o psal_n xlix_o 7_o 8._o and_o that_o all_o the_o good_a work_n of_o the_o best_a man_n be_v little_a enough_o for_o themselves_o math._n twenty-five_o 9_o so_o that_o we_o wonder_v the_o wise_a layman_n will_v be_v delude_v by_o a_o doctrine_n which_o be_v so_o ill_o prove_v and_o tend_v so_o apparent_o to_o make_v the_o people_n put_v off_o their_o repentance_n till_o their_o death_n and_o to_o give_v the_o monk_n a_o opportunity_n to_o draw_v legacy_n from_o the_o die_a and_o large_a gift_n from_o their_o live_a friend_n that_o be_v to_o make_v the_o laity_n wicked_a and_o the_o clergy_n rich_a and_o to_o hazard_v the_o salvation_n of_o both_o po._n we_o do_v not_o think_v the_o money_n ill_o bestow_v which_o we_o give_v to_o our_o priest_n and_o friar_n 〈◊〉_d who_o prayer_n be_v more_o pure_a and_o prevalent_a than_o those_o of_o your_o clergy_n because_o they_o be_v under_o those_o three_o holy_a vow_n of_o chastity_n poverty_n and_o obedience_n prot._n vow_n without_o observe_v they_o be_v but_o a_o snare_n and_o a_o aggravation_n of_o the_o sin_n when_o they_o be_v break_v as_o two_o of_o these_o most_o notorious_o be_v by_o your_o priest_n and_o religious_a order_n who_o be_v infamous_a in_o all_o country_n for_o those_o artifices_fw-la they_o use_v to_o get_v wealth_n and_o for_o their_o unnatural_a and_o scandalous_a lust_n and_o your_o church_n be_v just_o tax_v with_o all_o the_o infamous_a consequence_n of_o the_o vow_n of_o chastity_n because_o she_o impose_v it_o on_o young_a person_n before_o they_o know_v their_o own_o strength_n and_o connive_n at_o fornication_n in_o they_o rather_o than_o she_o will_v allow_v they_o to_o marry_o that_o the_o church_n may_v be_v their_o heir_n and_o that_o they_o may_v have_v less_o dependence_n on_o king_n and_o state_n as_o be_v single_a person_n po._n you_o will_v fain_o make_v this_o a_o piece_n of_o policy_n whereas_o it_o be_v religion_n for_o s._n paul_n declare_v single_a person_n be_v fit_a to_o wait_v upon_o the_o lord_n without_o distraction_n 1_o cor._n seven_o 35._o and_o on_o that_o account_n it_o be_v most_o proper_a for_o the_o religious_a and_o priest_n prot._n the_o apostle_n advise_v all_o christian_n and_o not_o priest_n only_o to_o continue_v single_a if_o they_o be_v so_o as_o best_a for_o those_o time_n of_o persecution_n and_o provide_v they_o find_v they_o can_v live_v chaste_o unmarried_a otherwise_o to_o avoid_v fornication_n he_o command_v they_o even_o then_o to_o marry_o 1_o cor._n seven_o 2._o whereas_o you_o forbid_v it_o to_o all_o your_o religious_a in_o all_o time_n and_o all_o case_n beside_o he_o lay_v no_o vow_n upon_o they_o ver._n 35._o nor_o be_v he_o himself_o under_o any_o vow_n but_o be_v free_a to_o marry_v if_o he_o have_v please_v 1_o cor._n ix_o 5._o and_o he_o allow_v a_o bishop_n to_o be_v the_o husband_n of_o one_o wife_n 1._o tim._n iii._o 2._o and_o suppose_n deacon_n then_o have_v wife_n ver._n 11._o nor_o do_v he_o count_v marriage_n impurity_n in_o any_o but_o affirm_v it_o be_v honourable_a in_o all_o and_o the_o bed_n undefiled_a hebr._n xiii_o 4._o he_o except_v not_o the_o clergy_n so_o that_o we_o doubt_v not_o our_o marry_a clergy_n prayer_n who_o live_v sober_o according_a to_o god_n ordinance_n be_v more_o pure_a and_o prevalent_a than_o you_o most_o of_o which_o live_v in_o perjury_n burn_v desire_n and_o fornication_n po._n but_o your_o priest_n have_v not_o power_n by_o their_o prayer_n to_o cast_v out_o evil_a spirit_n spirit_n as_o we_o have_v which_o show_v that_o we_o not_o you_o be_v the_o true_a successor_n of_o the_o apostle_n to_o who_o christ_n give_v power_n over_o unclean_a spirit_n mark_v xuj_o 17._o prot._n christ_n give_v his_o apostle_n power_n then_o to_o drink_v poison_n and_o take_v up_o serpent_n without_o harm_n as_o also_o afterward_o to_o speak_v with_o tongue_n heal_n the_o sick_a by_o a_o touch_n and_o raise_v the_o dead_a yet_o your_o priest_n dare_v not_o pretend_v to_o any_o of_o these_o miracle_n which_o be_v all_o cease_v long_o since_o 1_o cor._n twelve_o 8._o only_o they_o keep_v up_o the_o pretence_n to_o cast_v out_o evil_a spirit_n because_o that_o be_v more_o easy_o counterfeit_v than_o any_o of_o the_o rest_n and_o if_o this_o alone_a will_v serve_v it_o be_v likely_a conjurer_n may_v prove_v themselves_o the_o apostle_n successor_n as_o well_o as_o your_o priest_n for_o they_o can_v cast_v out_o evil_a spirit_n better_a than_o the_o romish_a priest_n who_o as_o may_v be_v note_v do_v cast_v out_o the_o devil_n as_o often_o out_o of_o the_o same_o party_n in_o divers_a place_n as_o there_o be_v occasion_n to_o make_v a_o proselyte_n or_o work_v upon_o the_o superstitious_a now_o this_o must_v be_v do_v either_o by_o compact_n with_o the_o devil_n or_o the_o party_n pretend_v to_o be_v possess_v and_o either_o way_n it_o be_v little_a to_o their_o honour_n beside_o i_o have_v know_v a_o good_a physician_n by_o natural_a mean_n cure_v those_o who_o these_o priest_n pretend_v be_v possess_v which_o show_v they_o often_o cast_v the_o devil_n out_o when_o he_o be_v never_o in_o po._n well_o conclusion_n i_o can_v but_o pity_v your_o obstinacy_n and_o pray_v for_o you_o who_o wilful_o shut_v your_o eye_n against_o the_o plain_a argument_n for_o catholic_a truth_n prot._n there_o be_v more_o reason_n for_o i_o to_o pity_n and_o pray_v for_o you_o who_o in_o all_o these_o point_n do_v contradict_v holy_a scripture_n which_o can_v deceive_v we_o and_o believe_v false_a and_o feign_a tradition_n invent_v by_o design_v man_n for_o evil_a end_n and_o for_o my_o part_n i_o count_v it_o a_o wise_a resolution_n and_o no_o obstinacy_n to_o give_v credit_n to_o god_n rather_o than_o men._n po._n you_o flatter_v yourself_o with_o scripture_n take_v in_o your_o own_o sense_n but_o you_o do_v own_o the_o catholic_a church_n be_v the_o best_a interpreter_n of_o scripture_n and_o i_o assure_v you_o the_o holy_a father_n who_o in_o all_o age_n have_v deliver_v down_o to_o we_o the_o sense_n of_o the_o catholic_a church_n agree_v exact_o with_o we_o in_o all_o these_o opinion_n and_o practice_n which_o you_o protestant_n reject_v and_o can_v you_o think_v all_o these_o holy_a ancient_a doctor_n be_v deceive_v and_o that_o a_o few_o obscure_a modern_a reformer_n be_v in_o the_o right_a prot._n true_o i_o have_v but_o little_a skill_n in_o these_o write_n of_o the_o father_n but_o i_o have_v hear_v our_o clergy_n who_o be_v as_o well_o read_v in_o they_o as_o any_o of_o you_o declare_v that_o all_o these_o father_n condemn_v your_o opinion_n as_o much_o as_o holy_a scripture_n do_v and_o that_o these_o opinion_n and_o practice_n be_v late_a invention_n of_o your_o church_n and_o be_v set_v up_o in_o time_n of_o ignorance_n and_o superstition_n mere_o to_o gain_v power_n and_o wealth_n by_o they_o and_o though_o i_o be_o not_o able_a to_o make_v this_o out_o i_o promise_v you_o whenever_o you_o please_v to_o bring_v one_o of_o our_o churchman_n that_o shall_v prove_v what_o i_o say_v in_o the_o mean_a time_n because_o the_o scripture_n be_v before_o the_o father_n i_o be_o well_o satisfy_v that_o i_o be_v the_o old_a and_o the_o best_a religion_n and_o be_o resolve_v therefore_o by_o god_n grace_n never_o to_o forsake_v it_o and_o if_o you_o love_v your_o own_o soul_n above_o your_o worldly_a interest_n you_o will_v embrace_v it_o also_o which_o i_o hearty_o pray_v you_o may_v and_o so_o bid_v you_o farewell_o book_n new_o publish_v print_v for_o robert_n clavell_n at_o the_o peacock_n in_o st._n paul_n churchyard_n 1686._o the_o