Selected quad for the lemma: ground_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
ground_n	believe_v	faith_n	foundation_n	1,927	5	8.7886	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A59812	A discourse concerning a judge of controversies in matters of religion being an answer to some papers asserting the necessity of such a judge : with an address to wavering protestants, shewing what little reason they have to think of any change of their religion : written for the private satisfaction of some scrupulous persons, and now published for common use : with a preface concerning the nature of certainty and infallibility.	Sherlock, William, 1641?-1707.	1686 (1686)	Wing S3285; ESTC R8167	73,491	104

be_v certain_a what_o shall_v make_v i_o uncertain_a quest._n do_v you_o not_o see_v that_o reason_n itself_o be_v uncertain_a how_o do_v man_n differ_v in_o their_o reason_n what_o contrary_a exposition_n of_o scripture_n do_v they_o give_v and_o what_o certainty_n then_o in_o this_o way_n answ._n i_o hope_v sir_n you_o will_v not_o say_v that_o there_o be_v no_o such_o thing_n as_o true_a reason_n or_o that_o true_a reason_n be_v uncertain_a or_o that_o scripture_n true_o expound_v be_v a_o uncertain_a rule_n now_o though_o other_o man_n reason_v foolish_o and_o interpret_v scripture_n perverse_o what_o be_v that_o to_o i_o if_o i_o reason_v right_a and_o expound_v scripture_n true_o as_o i_o believe_v i_o do_v and_o shall_v believe_v so_o till_o you_o can_v prove_v that_o i_o do_v my_o certainty_n i_o tell_v you_o be_v found_v upon_o certain_a evidence_n and_o you_o can_v never_o shake_v my_o certainty_n till_o you_o can_v shake_v that_o it_o will_v be_v great_a and_o contemptible_a weakness_n in_o i_o to_o distrust_v the_o most_o plain_a and_o convince_a reason_n because_o you_o tell_v i_o that_o other_o man_n be_v of_o another_o mind_n if_o you_o can_v prove_v that_o their_o reason_n be_v better_a than_o i_o i_o will_v yield_v to_o the_o best_a reason_n but_o i_o can_v renounce_v my_o reason_n while_o i_o believe_v it_o true_a nor_o suspect_v it_o while_o i_o believe_v it_o certain_a quest._n when_o two_o man_n differ_v in_o their_o opinion_n and_o oppose_v reason_n to_o reason_n must_v not_o one_o of_o they_o be_v mistake_v answ._n yes_o it_o may_v be_v both_o but_o neither_o of_o they_o think_v themselves_o mistake_v mere_o because_o they_o differ_v from_o each_o other_o for_o that_o will_v end_v the_o dispute_n if_o the_o difference_n in_o religion_n be_v a_o argument_n against_o the_o certainty_n of_o all_o religion_n there_o be_v a_o end_n of_o religion_n for_o infallibility_n itself_o can_v not_o escape_v which_o be_v deny_v by_o more_o christian_n than_o believe_v it_o and_o therefore_o those_o who_o will_v be_v certain_a must_v look_v well_o to_o the_o reason_n of_o their_o faith_n and_o those_o who_o will_v prove_v my_o faith_n to_o be_v uncertain_a must_v prove_v that_o the_o reason_n on_o which_o i_o believe_v be_v either_o false_a or_o uncertain_a and_o those_o who_o be_v not_o content_v with_o this_o quarrel_n with_o the_o state_n of_o human_a nature_n and_o may_v help_v themselves_o as_o they_o can_v this_o i_o think_v be_v sufficient_a for_o a_o preface_n to_o this_o discourse_n let_v but_o protestant_n maintain_v their_o ground_n and_o not_o be_v persuade_v that_o they_o have_v no_o certain_a foundation_n for_o their_o faith_n till_o papist_n have_v confute_v the_o particular_a reason_n of_o their_o faith_n and_o i_o dare_v undertake_v they_o will_v never_o see_v any_o reason_n to_o question_v their_o faith_n nor_o find_v any_o want_n of_o a_o infallible_a judge_n but_o yet_o since_o some_o man_n so_o despise_v that_o certainty_n which_o result_v from_o a_o clear_a and_o distinct_a knowledge_n of_o thing_n in_o comparison_n with_o infallibility_n let_v we_o brief_o consider_v what_o the_o true_a notion_n of_o infallibility_n be_v and_o how_o much_o it_o excel_v a_o certainty_n of_o knowledge_n 1._o first_o then_o i_o observe_v that_o infallibility_n belong_v to_o person_n not_o to_o thing_n a_o proposition_n can_v be_v fallible_a or_o infallible_a but_o true_a or_o false_a for_o fallible_a signify_v that_o which_o can_v be_v deceive_v infallible_a that_o which_o can_v be_v deceive_v and_o therefore_o can_v be_v apply_v only_o to_o intelligent_a being_n who_o be_v capable_a of_o either_o so_o that_o to_o say_v that_o any_o proposition_n be_v injallible_o true_a beside_o the_o impropriety_n of_o the_o expression_n add_v nothing_o to_o truth_n for_o that_o which_o be_v true_a be_v true_a and_o can_v neither_o be_v more_o nor_o less_o true_a second_o perfect_a infallibility_n be_v nothing_o else_o but_o a_o universal_a certainty_n of_o knowledge_n as_o for_o instance_n god_n only_o be_v infallible_a by_o nature_n but_o infallibility_n be_v a_o negative_a and_o there_o be_v no_o negative_n in_o the_o divine_a nature_n and_o therefore_o if_o we_o will_v understand_v what_o god_n infallibility_n be_v we_o must_v reduce_v it_o to_o some_o positive_a perfection_n and_o that_o can_v be_v nothing_o else_o but_o infinite_a knowledge_n for_o this_o reason_n we_o say_v that_o god_n be_v infallible_a because_o he_o know_v all_o thing_n and_o he_o who_o know_v all_o thing_n can_v never_o mistake_v so_o that_o it_o be_v knowledge_n which_o be_v the_o perfection_n infallibility_n be_v only_o a_o mode_n of_o speech_n to_o signify_v the_o most_o perfect_a certainty_n of_o knowledge_n three_o and_o therefore_o infallibility_n be_v not_o oppose_v to_o certainty_n of_o knowledge_n with_o respect_n to_o the_o evidence_n and_o certainty_n of_o perception_n for_o infallibility_n be_v nothing_o else_o but_o certainty_n and_o such_o a_o certainty_n as_o result_v from_o the_o most_o perfect_a knowledge_n of_o the_o reason_n and_o nature_n of_o thing_n as_o it_o be_v in_o god_n which_o be_v only_o true_a infallibility_n there_o be_v no_o difference_n between_o certainty_n and_o infallibility_n in_o god_n and_o the_o difference_n between_o the_o certainty_n of_o creature_n and_o the_o infallibility_n of_o god_n be_v this_o that_o the_o one_o be_v a_o finite_a and_o the_o other_o a_o infinite_a knowledge_n for_o nothing_o can_v be_v by_o nature_n infallible_a but_o infinite_a knowledge_n but_o a_o finite_a knowledge_n which_o do_v not_o extend_v to_o every_o thing_n may_v in_o some_o thing_n be_v deceive_v but_o as_o far_o as_o it_o reach_v it_o may_v be_v certain_a and_o that_o be_v a_o kind_n of_o a_o finite_a infallibility_n a_o fallible_a creature_n do_v not_o signify_v a_o be_v which_o can_v never_o be_v certain_a but_o a_o be_v which_o have_v not_o a_o natural_a knowledge_n of_o all_o thing_n and_o therefore_o may_v be_v deceive_v in_o those_o thing_n which_o be_v without_o the_o sphere_n of_o its_o knowledge_n and_o therefore_o it_o be_v as_o absurd_a to_o say_v that_o we_o can_v be_v certain_a of_o any_o thing_n because_o we_o be_v not_o infallible_a as_o to_o say_v that_o we_o can_v know_v nothing_o because_o we_o do_v not_o know_v all_o thing_n four_o and_o therefore_o fallibility_n or_o infallibility_n do_v not_o alter_v the_o nature_n of_o certainty_n what_o be_v the_o certainty_n of_o god_n but_o those_o clear_a and_o bright_a idea_n of_o truth_n in_o the_o divine_a mind_n for_o he_o be_v not_o certain_a because_o he_o be_v infallible_a but_o he_o be_v infallible_a because_o he_o be_v certain_a and_o thus_o in_o proportion_n to_o that_o distance_n which_o be_v between_o god_n and_o creature_n our_o certainty_n be_v nothing_o else_o but_o a_o clear_a and_o distinct_a knowledge_n and_o perception_n of_o the_o reason_n and_o nature_n of_o thing_n and_o wherever_o this_o be_v how_o fallible_a soever_o the_o person_n be_v in_o other_o matter_n he_o be_v certain_a so_o far_o and_o to_o demand_v any_o far_a reason_n of_o certainty_n than_o the_o clear_a and_o distinct_a knowledge_n of_o thing_n be_v to_o demand_v some_o other_o reason_n of_o certainty_n than_o knowledge_n and_o thus_o we_o may_v doubt_v of_o the_o certainty_n of_o god_n as_o well_o as_o of_o man_n if_o we_o do_v not_o allow_v a_o clear_a and_o distinct_a knowledge_n to_o be_v certainty_n for_o there_o be_v nothing_o beyond_o this_o five_o and_o hence_o it_o follow_v that_o as_o to_o thing_n which_o be_v knowable_a by_o the_o light_n of_o nature_n our_o certainty_n result_v from_o the_o clear_a and_o distinct_a perception_n of_o our_o own_o mind_n and_o depend_v on_o the_o truth_n and_o certainty_n of_o our_o natural_a faculty_n as_o for_o instance_n those_o impression_n which_o our_o sense_n make_v on_o we_o and_o those_o perception_n they_o awaken_v in_o our_o mind_n be_v so_o strong_a and_o forcible_a that_o they_o create_v a_o natural_a certainty_n and_o we_o can_v doubt_v whether_o what_o we_o see_v and_o feel_v and_o hear_v be_v real_a or_o not_o those_o natural_a idea_n and_o notion_n we_o have_v in_o our_o mind_n those_o first_o principle_n of_o reason_n and_o discourse_n appear_v so_o plain_a and_o self-evident_a to_o we_o that_o we_o can_v no_o more_o question_v they_o than_o our_o own_o be_v and_o seek_v for_o no_o other_o proof_n of_o they_o but_o their_o own_o natural_a evidence_n as_o that_o both_o part_n of_o a_o contradiction_n can_v be_v true_a that_o nothing_o can_v be_v and_o not_o be_v at_o the_o same_o time_n that_o no_o power_n can_v make_v that_o never_o to_o have_v be_v which_o once_o be_v that_o nothing_o that_o ever_o be_v not_o can_v be_v without_o a_o cause_n these_o proposition_n be_v so_o self-evident_a that_o the_o mind_n assent_v to_o they_o without_o demand_v any_o other_o

we_o shall_v have_v have_v no_o dispute_n about_o it_o at_o this_o day_n and_o therefore_o they_o must_v be_v out_o in_o one_o either_o christ_n have_v appoint_v no_o such_o judge_n or_o this_o can_v prevent_v schism_n in_o the_o church_n 4._o four_o there_o be_v a_o easy_a and_o effectual_a way_n of_o cure_v church_n division_n without_o a_o judge_n of_o controversy_n nay_o without_o make_v all_o man_n of_o a_o mind_n in_o every_o thing_n which_o must_v never_o be_v expect_v in_o this_o world_n and_o that_o be_v not_o to_o make_v the_o necessary_a term_n of_o communion_n straight_a and_o narrow_a than_o christ_n have_v make_v they_o nothing_o but_o what_o be_v plain_o reveal_v in_o scripture_n and_o be_v essential_a to_o christian_a faith_n and_o worship_n for_o such_o matter_n most_o christian_n agree_v in_o and_o though_o they_o may_v have_v some_o private_a opinion_n of_o their_o own_o this_o ought_v not_o to_o divide_v communion_n while_o they_o do_v not_o impose_v they_o upon_o the_o faith_n of_o other_o nor_o introduce_v any_o new_a and_o strange_a worship_n into_o the_o christian_a church_n as_o for_o example_n the_o church_n of_o england_n believe_v and_o practice_n whatever_o be_v think_v necessary_a in_o the_o apostle_n day_n and_o for_o some_o age_n after_o and_o there_o be_v little_a or_o no_o dispute_n about_o these_o matter_n between_o we_o and_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n so_o that_o we_o can_v to_o this_o day_n without_o a_o judge_n of_o controversy_n maintain_v communion_n with_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n upon_o the_o same_o term_n that_o the_o apostolic_a church_n maintain_v communion_n with_o each_o other_o for_o we_o both_o agree_v in_o all_o thing_n which_o be_v necessary_a and_o essential_a to_o church_n communion_n so_o that_o the_o schism_n between_o we_o and_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n be_v not_o for_o want_v of_o a_o judge_n of_o controversy_n for_o without_o own_v such_o a_o judge_n we_o agree_v in_o all_o that_o be_v necessary_a in_o all_o that_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n require_v to_o make_v we_o member_n of_o the_o christian_a church_n but_o this_o will_v not_o satisfy_v the_o church_n of_o rome_n which_o will_v receive_v no_o other_o church_n into_o her_o communion_n without_o own_v her_o sovereign_n and_o supreme_a authority_n nor_o without_o believe_v many_o doctrine_n manifest_o absurd_a in_o themselves_o and_o never_o teach_v in_o the_o best_a and_o pure_a age_n of_o the_o church_n nor_o without_o join_v in_o such_o a_o worship_n which_o they_o themselves_o dare_v not_o say_v be_v necessary_a for_o they_o do_v not_o pretend_v that_o for_o their_o pray_v to_o saint_n and_o worship_v image_n and_o prayer_n in_o a_o unknown_a tongue_n and_o which_o we_o think_v be_v sinful_a if_o these_o thing_n be_v remove_v we_o can_v glad_o communicate_v with_o they_o upon_o true_a catholic_n principle_n there_o be_v no_o need_n of_o a_o judge_n but_o only_o to_o determine_v those_o controversy_n which_o she_o herself_o have_v make_v in_o contradiction_n to_o the_o primitive_a faith_n of_o christian_n and_o therefore_o i_o can_v but_o commend_v her_o policy_n that_o she_o will_v allow_v no_o body_n to_o be_v judge_n of_o these_o dispute_n but_o herself_o will_v all_o man_n submit_v to_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n it_o will_v certain_o restore_v peace_n and_o unity_n to_o the_o church_n but_o to_o the_o great_a prejudice_n of_o truth_n and_o hazard_v of_o man_n soul_n and_o we_o must_v not_o purchase_v a_o mere_a external_a unity_n at_o this_o rate_n those_o man_n overvalue_v unity_n who_o part_n with_o truth_n for_o it_o for_o certain_o the_o unity_n of_o the_o church_n be_v not_o more_o considerable_a than_o the_o purity_n of_o its_o faith_n and_o worship_n the_o paper_n these_o reason_n make_v i_o think_v a_o visible_a judge_n absolute_o necessary_a answer_n what_o i_o have_v already_o discourse_v i_o hope_v may_v occasion_v some_o new_a and_o different_a thought_n of_o this_o matter_n but_o since_o certainty_n be_v the_o great_a and_o prevail_a argument_n let_v we_o turn_v the_o table_n and_o see_v what_o certainty_n a_o roman_n catholic_n have_v his_o faith_n be_v resolve_v into_o the_o authority_n of_o a_o visible_a and_o infallible_a judge_n this_o i_o confess_v bid_v very_o fair_a for_o he_o that_o follow_v a_o infallible_a guide_n can_v err_v but_o whoever_o consider_v this_o matter_n careful_o will_v find_v all_o this_o talk_n of_o infallibility_n dwindle_v into_o nothing_o for_o first_o suppose_v there_o be_v a_o infallible_a judge_n before_o we_o can_v with_o certainty_n and_o assurance_n rely_v on_o he_o we_o must_v certain_o know_v who_o he_o be_v for_o it_o be_v the_o same_o thing_n to_o have_v no_o infallible_a judge_n and_o not_o to_o know_v where_o to_o find_v he_o and_o this_o be_v a_o difficulty_n which_o those_o person_n little_o consider_v who_o please_v themselves_o so_o much_o with_o the_o fancy_n of_o infallibility_n for_o 1._o papist_n themselves_o be_v not_o agree_v about_o this_o matter_n some_o will_v have_v the_o pope_n to_o be_v infallible_a as_o peter_n successor_n and_o in_o his_o right_n other_o the_o church_n assemble_v in_o a_o general_n council_n other_o neither_o pope_n nor_o council_n distinct_o and_o separately_z consider_v but_o a_o council_n confirm_v by_o the_o pope_n other_o none_o of_o all_o this_o but_o tradition_n be_v infallible_a infallibility_n they_o all_o agree_v to_o but_o know_v not_o where_o this_o infallibility_n be_v seat_v now_o what_o shall_v a_o doubt_a protestant_n do_v who_o have_v a_o mind_n to_o be_v as_o infallible_a as_o any_o of_o they_o do_v he_o know_v where_o to_o find_v this_o infallibility_n may_v he_o not_o as_o easy_o choose_v his_o own_o religion_n and_o what_o church_n he_o will_v live_v in_o communion_n with_o as_o which_o of_o these_o infallible_a judge_n to_o follow_v which_o soever_o of_o these_o he_o reject_v he_o have_v a_o considerable_a party_n of_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n on_o his_o side_n the_o only_a difference_n be_v that_o he_o be_v so_o far_o satisfy_v with_o their_o reason_n against_o each_o other_o that_o he_o reject_v they_o all_o and_o he_o have_v good_a reason_n for_o it_o for_o if_o god_n have_v intend_v to_o appoint_v a_o judge_n to_o end_v all_o dispute_n certain_o he_o will_v have_v do_v this_o so_o manifest_o that_o there_o shall_v have_v be_v no_o dispute_n who_o this_o judge_n be_v for_o methinks_v a_o doubtful_a and_o disputable_a judge_n be_v not_o a_o very_a proper_a person_n to_o end_v all_o dispute_n 2._o nay_o according_a to_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o roman_a divine_n it_o be_v not_o possible_a to_o prove_v either_o that_o there_o be_v such_o a_o judge_n or_o who_o this_o judge_n be_v for_o if_o there_o be_v such_o a_o judge_n he_o must_v be_v appoint_v by_o christ_n and_o then_o we_o must_v look_v for_o his_o commission_n in_o the_o gospel_n and_o yet_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n will_v not_o allow_v we_o to_o know_v what_o the_o gospel_n be_v or_o what_o be_v the_o sense_n and_o interpretation_n of_o it_o but_o from_o the_o infallible_a judge_n and_o thus_o it_o be_v impossible_a to_o find_v out_o either_o the_o judge_n or_o the_o scripture_n because_o we_o have_v no_o place_n to_o begin_v at_o if_o we_o begin_v with_o the_o judge_n we_o be_v a_o little_a too_o hasty_a because_o we_o have_v not_o yet_o find_v he_o and_o if_o we_o begin_v with_o the_o scripture_n that_o be_v as_o bad_a because_o we_o can_v understand_v they_o before_o we_o have_v find_v the_o judge_n so_o that_o we_o must_v take_v one_o of_o they_o for_o grant_v without_o any_o proof_n and_o by_o that_o find_v out_o the_o other_o and_o that_o be_v neither_o better_o nor_o worse_o than_o to_o take_v they_o both_o for_o grant_v which_o be_v a_o admirable_a foundation_n for_o infallibility_n at_o all_o adventure_n to_o choose_v a_o infallible_a judge_n and_o then_o to_o believe_v he_o at_o all_o adventure_n so_o that_o though_o man_n who_o have_v always_o be_v bring_v up_o in_o the_o belief_n of_o a_o infallible_a judge_n may_v in_o time_n grow_v very_o confident_a of_o it_o and_o take_v it_o for_o a_o first_o principle_n which_o need_v no_o proof_n yet_o i_o wonder_v how_o any_o protestant_n who_o have_v be_v teach_v otherwise_o and_o if_o he_o act_v wise_o and_o like_o a_o honest_a man_n can_v believe_v it_o till_o it_o be_v prove_v to_o he_o can_v ever_o entertain_v such_o a_o thought_n for_o let_v his_o adversary_n be_v never_o so_o subtle_a if_o he_o resolve_v to_o believe_v nothing_o but_o what_o he_o see_v prove_v he_o may_v maintain_v his_o ground_n against_o he_o as_o to_o represent_v this_o brief_o in_o a_o dialogue_n between_o a_o papist_n and_o a_o protestant_n papist_n i_o pity_v your_o condition_n sir_n to_o see_v you_o live_v at_o such_o uncertainty_n for_o your_o religion_n and_o