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Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
ground_n authority_n church_n true_a 2,292 5 5.6438 4 true
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A48243 The letter writ by the last Assembly General of the Clergy of France to the Protestants, inviting them to return to their communion together with the methods proposed by them for their conviction / translated into English, and examined by Gilbert Burnet. Burnet, Gilbert, 1643-1715.; Catholic Church. Assemblée générale du clergé de France. 1683 (1683) Wing L1759; ESTC R2185 82,200 210

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plea_n of_o those_o persecute_a man_n so_o full_o that_o it_o may_v be_v well_o conclude_v that_o the_o spirit_n that_o act_v in_o hilary_n be_v not_o the_o same_o with_o that_o which_o now_o inspire_v the_o reverend_a prelate_n of_o that_o church_n to_o this_o i_o may_v add_v the_o know_a history_n of_o the_o priscillianist_n that_o fall_v out_o not_o long_o after_o martini_n i_o shall_v not_o presume_v to_o make_v a_o parallel_n between_o any_o of_o the_o gallican_n church_n and_o ithacius_n who_o persecute_v they_o of_o who_o the_o historian_n give_v this_o character_n that_o he_o be_v a_o vain_a sumptuous_a sensual_a and_o impudent_a man_n and_o that_o he_o grow_v to_o that_o pitch_n in_o vice_n that_o he_o suspect_v all_o man_n that_o lead_v strict_a life_n as_o if_o they_o have_v be_v incline_v to_o heresy_n and_o it_o be_v also_o to_o be_v hope_v that_o none_o will_v be_v so_o uncharitable_a as_o to_o compare_v the_o priscillianist_n with_o those_o they_o now_o call_v heretic_n in_o france_n whether_o we_o consider_v their_o opinion_n that_o be_v a_o revival_n of_o the_o blasphemy_n of_o the_o gnostic_n or_o their_o moral_n that_o be_v brutal_a and_o obscene_a even_o by_o priscillian_n own_o confession_n now_o ithacius_n prosecute_v those_o in_o the_o emperor_n court_n and_o go_v on_o in_o the_o pursuit_n though_o the_o great_a apostle_n of_o that_o age_n martin_n warn_v he_o often_o to_o give_v it_o over_o in_o conclusion_n when_o ithacius_n have_v set_v it_o on_o so_o far_o that_o a_o sentence_n be_v sure_a to_o pass_v against_o they_o he_o then_o withdraw_v from_o it_o sentence_n be_v give_v and_o some_o of_o they_o be_v put_v to_o death_n upon_o which_o some_o bishop_n excommunicate_v ithacius_n yet_o s._n martin_n be_v wrought_v on_o to_o communicate_v with_o he_o very_o much_o against_o his_o mind_n be_v threaten_v by_o the_o emperor_n maximus_n that_o if_o he_o will_v not_o do_v it_o troop_n shall_v be_v order_v to_o march_v into_o spain_n to_o 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evidence_n of_o those_o place_n of_o scripture_n from_o which_o they_o deduce_v they_o 5._o since_o those_o of_o that_o communion_n object_n a_o national_a synod_n to_o the_o protestant_n this_o may_v be_v turn_v back_o on_o they_o with_o great_a advantage_n in_o some_o point_n establish_v by_o council_n which_o they_o esteem_v not_o only_a general_n but_o infallible_a in_o the_o three_o council_n of_o the_o lateran_n it_o be_v decree_v that_o all_o prince_n who_o favour_a heretic_n do_v forfeit_v their_o right_n and_o a_o plenary_a indulgence_n be_v grant_v to_o all_o that_o fight_v against_o they_o in_o the_o four_o council_n at_o the_o same_o place_n it_o be_v decree_v that_o the_o pope_n may_v not_o only_o declare_v this_o forfeiture_n but_o absolve_v the_o subject_n from_o their_o oath_n of_o obedience_n and_o transfer_v their_o dominion_n upon_o other_o in_o the_o first_o council_n at_o lion_n they_o join_v with_o the_o pope_n in_o thunder_v the_o sentence_n of_o deposition_n 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be_v that_o of_o which_o s._n austin_n make_v most_o frequent_a use_n against_o the_o donatist_n and_o chief_o in_o his_o book_n of_o the_o unity_n of_o the_o church_n and_o in_o his_o epistle_n of_o which_o the_o most_o remarkable_a passage_n relate_v to_o this_o matter_n be_v gather_v together_o by_o the_o late_a archbishop_n of_o roven_n in_o the_o first_o book_n of_o his_o apology_n for_o the_o gospel_n in_o which_o he_o handle_v this_o matter_n excellent_o well_o one_o may_v add_v to_o this_o method_n the_o maxim_n of_o which_o tertullian_n make_v use_v in_o his_o treatise_n of_o prescription_n against_o the_o heretic_n and_o also_o vincentius_n lyrinensis_n in_o his_o advice_n it_o be_v enough_o to_o say_v on_o this_o occasion_n that_o those_o two_o treatise_n may_v satisfy_v any_o that_o will_v read_v they_o without_o prepossession_n in_o order_n to_o their_o form_v a_o just_a judgement_n of_o the_o true_a church_n of_o jesus_n christ_n and_o of_o all_o those_o society_n that_o 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as_o that_o without_o which_o we_o can_v never_o be_v certain_a of_o the_o faith_n but_o if_o this_o be_v true_a then_o into_o what_o desperate_a scruple_n must_v all_o man_n fall_v for_o the_o resolution_n of_o their_o faith_n turn_v to_o that_o which_o can_v never_o be_v so_o much_o as_o make_v probable_a much_o less_o certain_a the_o efficacy_n of_o the_o sacrament_n depend_v on_o the_o intention_n of_o the_o priest_n none_o can_v know_v who_o be_v true_o baptise_a or_o ordain_v and_o who_o be_v not_o and_o it_o be_v not_o to_o be_v much_o doubt_v but_o that_o many_o profane_a priest_n may_v have_v in_o a_o sort_n of_o wanton_a malice_n put_v their_o intention_n on_o purpose_n cross_v to_o the_o sacrament_n for_o the_o impiety_n of_o a_o atheistical_a churchman_n be_v the_o most_o extravagant_a thing_n in_o the_o world_n beside_o this_o what_o evidence_n can_v they_o give_v of_o the_o canonical_a ordination_n of_o all_o the_o bishop_n of_o rome_n the_o first_o link_n of_o that_o 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and_o caiaphas_n in_o the_o year_n of_o his_o high_a priesthood_n prophesy_v so_o that_o how_o great_a soever_o the_o sin_n of_o the_o high_a priest_n be_v the_o people_n be_v still_o safe_a in_o he_o that_o be_v actual_o in_o that_o office_n and_o if_o this_o be_v observe_v in_o a_o dispensation_n that_o be_v chief_o make_v up_o of_o positive_a precept_n and_o carnal_a ordinance_n it_o be_v much_o more_o reasonable_a to_o expect_v it_o in_o a_o religion_n that_o be_v more_o free_a from_o such_o observance_n and_o be_v more_o spiritual_a and_o internal_a 2._o another_o ground_n on_o which_o those_o of_o the_o roman_a church_n build_v be_v this_o that_o a_o true_a church_n must_v hold_v the_o truth_n in_o all_o thing_n which_o be_v so_o sophistical_a a_o thing_n that_o it_o may_v have_v be_v expect_v wise_a and_o ingenious_a man_n shall_v have_v be_v long_o ago_o ashamed_a of_o it_o it_o be_v certain_a the_o jewish_a church_n be_v the_o true_a church_n of_o god_n in_o our_o saviour_n 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their_o church_n the_o sanhedrim_n that_o have_v much_o more_o to_o show_v for_o its_o authority_n 14._o than_o a_o general_n council_n can_v show_v in_o the_o new_a testament_n err_v in_o this_o fundamental_a point_n and_o condemn_v christ_n as_o a_o blasphemer_n and_o declare_v he_o guilty_a of_o death_n so_o that_o while_o they_o continue_v to_o be_v the_o true_a church_n of_o god_n yet_o they_o err_v in_o the_o point_n which_o be_v of_o all_o other_o the_o most_o important_a upon_o which_o it_o be_v evident_a that_o it_o be_v no_o good_a inference_n to_o conclude_v that_o because_o a_o church_n be_v a_o true_a church_n therefore_o it_o can_v be_v in_o a_o error_n 3._o another_o pretence_n in_o that_o church_n on_o which_o they_o build_v much_o and_o which_o make_v great_a impression_n on_o many_o weak_a mind_n be_v the_o church_n infallibility_n in_o decide_v controversy_n by_o which_o all_o dispute_n can_v be_v soon_o end_v and_o they_o conclude_v that_o christ_n have_v deal_v 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have_v with_o a_o very_a commendable_a zeal_n and_o sincerity_n make_v discovery_n themselves_o in_o several_a particular_n into_o which_o the_o other_o have_v not_o such_o advantage_n to_o penetrate_v there_o be_v upon_o all_o these_o ground_n good_a cause_n give_v to_o mistrust_v they_o in_o other_o thing_n and_o it_o be_v very_o reasonable_a to_o examine_v the_o assertion_n of_o that_o church_n with_o the_o severe_a rigour_n since_o a_o imposture_n once_o discover_v aught_o to_o bring_v a_o suspicion_n on_o all_o concern_v in_o it_o even_o as_o to_o all_o other_o thing_n 5._o there_o be_v likewise_o great_a reason_n to_o suspect_v all_o that_o be_v extreme_a fierce_a and_o violent_a that_o can_v endure_v the_o least_o contradiction_n but_o endeavour_v the_o ruin_n of_o all_o that_o oppose_v they_o truth_n make_v man_n both_o confident_a of_o its_o force_n and_o merciful_a towards_o such_o as_o do_v not_o yet_o receive_v it_o whereas_o error_n be_v jealous_a and_o cruel_a if_o then_o a_o church_n have_v decree_v that_o all_o heretic_n that_o be_v such_o as_o do_v not_o submit_v to_o all_o her_o decision_n be_v to_o be_v extirpate_v if_o she_o have_v bind_v all_o her_o bishop_n by_o oath_n at_o their_o ordination_n to_o persecute_v they_o to_o the_o utmost_a of_o their_o power_n rom._n if_o prince_n that_o do_v not_o extirpate_v they_o be_v first_o to_o be_v excommunicate_v by_o their_o bishop_n and_o after_o a_o year_n contumacy_n be_v to_o be_v depose_v by_o the_o pope_n and_o their_o kingdom_n to_o be_v give_v away_o if_o all_o heretic_n upon_o obstinacy_n or_o relapse_n be_v to_o be_v burn_v and_o if_o they_o endeavour_v in_o all_o place_n as_o much_o as_o they_o can_v to_o erect_v court_n of_o inquisition_n with_o a_o absolute_a authority_n in_o which_o churchman_n forget_v their_o character_n have_v vie_v in_o invention_n of_o torture_n and_o cruelty_n with_o the_o bloody_a tyrant_n that_o have_v ever_o be_v then_o it_o must_v be_v confess_v that_o all_o these_o set_v together_o present_a the_o church_n that_o authorise_v and_o practise_v they_o with_o so_o dreadful_a a_o aspect_n so_o contrary_a to_o those_o bowel_n and_o tenderness_n that_o be_v in_o the_o nature_n of_o man_n not_o to_o mention_v the_o merciful_a idea_n of_o god_n and_o the_o wonderful_a meekness_n of_o the_o author_n of_o our_o holy_a religion_n that_o we_o must_v conclude_v that_o under_o what_o form_n soever_o of_o religion_n such_o thing_n be_v set_v on_o foot_n in_o the_o world_n such_o a_o doctrine_n be_v so_o far_o from_o improve_n and_o exalt_v the_o nature_n of_o man_n that_o real_o it_o make_v he_o worse_o than_o he_o will_v otherwise_o be_v if_o he_o be_v leave_v to_o the_o softness_n of_o his_o own_o nature_n and_o certain_o it_o be_v better_o there_o be_v no_o reveal_v religion_n in_o the_o world_n than_o that_o mankind_n shall_v become_v worse_o more_o cruel_a and_o more_o barbarous_a by_o its_o mean_n than_o it_o will_v be_v if_o it_o be_v govern_v by_o nature_n or_o a_o little_a philosophy_n upon_o all_o these_o ground_n lay_v together_o it_o be_v no_o unreasonable_a thing_n to_o conclude_v that_o a_o church_n liable_a to_o such_o imputation_n ought_v just_o to_o be_v suspect_v and_o that_o every_o one_o in_o it_o ought_v to_o examine_v well_o on_o what_o ground_n he_o continue_v in_o the_o communion_n of_o a_o society_n of_o man_n against_o which_o such_o strong_a prejudices_fw-la lie_v so_o fair_o without_o the_o least_o strain_v or_o aggravate_v matter_n too_o much_o i_o proceed_v now_o to_o the_o second_o part_n of_o my_o undertake_n which_o be_v to_o show_v that_o the_o ground_n upon_o which_o that_o church_n build_v be_v certain_o weak_a if_o not_o false_a and_o 1._o they_o boast_v much_o of_o a_o constant_a succession_n as_o the_o only_a infallible_a mark_n to_o judge_v of_o a_o church_n and_o