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Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
ground_n church_n true_a truth_n 4,857 5 6.5820 4 true
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A62570 Of sincerity and constancy in the faith and profession of the true religion, in several sermons by the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson ... ; published from the originals, by Ralph Barker. ... Tillotson, John, 1630-1694.; Barker, Ralph, 1648-1708. 1695 (1695) Wing T1204; ESTC R17209 175,121 492

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they_o under_o a_o inconvenience_n when_o they_o shall_v come_v at_o age._n and_o can_v we_o think_v they_o of_o discretion_n sufficient_a at_o that_o time_n to_o do_v a_o thing_n of_o the_o great_a moment_n and_o consequence_n of_o all_o other_o and_o which_o will_v concern_v they_o to_o all_o eternity_n namely_o to_o choose_v their_o religion_n there_o be_v indeed_o one_o part_n of_o one_o religion_n which_o we_o all_o know_v which_o child_n at_o seven_o year_n of_o age_n be_v fit_a i_o do_v not_o say_v to_o judge_v of_o but_o to_o be_v as_o fond_a of_o and_o to_o practice_v to_o as_o good_a purpose_n as_o those_o of_o ripe_a year_n and_o that_o be_v to_o worship_v image_n to_o tell_v their_o bead_n to_o say_v their_o prayer_n and_o to_o be_v present_a at_o the_o service_n of_o god_n in_o a_o unknown_a tongue_n and_o this_o they_o be_v more_o likely_a to_o choose_v at_o that_o age_n than_o those_o who_o be_v of_o ripe_a and_o more_o improve_v understanding_n and_o if_o they_o do_v 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be_v discover_v 3._o the_o decretal_a epistle_n of_o the_o ancient_a pope_n a_o large_a volume_n of_o forgery_n compile_v by_o isidore_n mercator_n to_o countenance_v the_o usurpation_n of_o the_o bishop_n of_o rome_n and_o of_o which_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n make_v great_a use_n for_o several_a age_n and_o pertinacious_o defend_v the_o authority_n of_o they_o till_o the_o learned_a man_n of_o their_o own_o church_n have_v at_o last_o be_v force_v for_o very_a shame_n to_o disclaim_v they_o and_o to_o confess_v the_o imposture_n of_o they_o a_o like_a instance_n whereto_o be_v not_o i_o hope_v to_o be_v show_v in_o any_o christian_a church_n this_o be_v that_o which_o st._n paul_n call_v 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d the_o slight_a of_o man_n such_o as_o gamester_n use_v at_o dice_n for_o to_o allege_v false_a and_o forge_a author_n in_o this_o case_n be_v to_o play_v with_o false_a dice_n when_o the_o salvation_n of_o man_n soul_n lie_v at_o stake_n 11._o our_o religion_n have_v 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distrust_n of_o the_o goodness_n of_o our_o cause_n and_o religion_n to_o be_v afraid_a to_o hear_v what_o can_v be_v say_v against_o it_o as_o if_o truth_n be_v so_o weak_a that_o in_o every_o conflict_n it_o be_v in_o danger_n to_o be_v baffle_v and_o run_v down_o and_o go_v by_o the_o worst_a and_o as_o if_o the_o reason_n that_o can_v be_v bring_v against_o it_o be_v too_o hard_o for_o it_o and_o not_o to_o be_v encounter_v by_o those_o force_n which_o truth_n have_v on_o its_o side_n we_o have_v that_o honest_a confidence_n of_o the_o goodness_n of_o our_o cause_n and_o religion_n that_o we_o do_v not_o fear_v what_o can_v be_v say_v against_o it_o and_o therefore_o we_o do_v not_o forbid_v our_o people_n to_o examine_v the_o objection_n of_o our_o adversary_n and_o to_o read_v the_o best_a book_n they_o can_v write_v against_o it_o but_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n be_v so_o wise_a in_o their_o generation_n that_o they_o will_v not_o permit_v those_o of_o their_o communion_n to_o 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have_v not_o truth_n on_o their_o side_n or_o that_o truth_n be_v a_o weak_a and_o pitiful_a and_o sneak_a thing_n and_o not_o able_a to_o make_v its_o party_n good_a against_o error_n i_o shall_v now_o have_v proceed_v in_o the_o second_o place_n to_o show_v positive_o what_o be_v imply_v in_o hold_v fast_o the_o profession_n of_o our_o faith_n without_o waver_v and_o then_o to_o have_v consider_v the_o argument_n and_o encouragement_n hereto_o because_o he_o be_v faithful_a that_o promise_v but_o i_o shall_v proceed_v no_o far_o at_o this_o time_n a_o sermon_n on_o heb._n x._o 23._o let_v we_o hold_v fast_o the_o profession_n of_o our_o faith_n without_o waver_v for_o he_o
in_o this_o kind_n ought_v not_o to_o move_v we_o when_o their_o pretence_n to_o infallibility_n be_v destitute_a of_o the_o proper_a proof_n and_o evidence_n of_o it_o which_o be_v a_o power_n of_o miracle_n and_o when_o their_o doctrine_n and_o practice_n have_v neither_o the_o evidence_n of_o reason_n or_o scripture_n on_o their_o side_n for_o instance_n that_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n be_v the_o mother_n and_o mistress_n of_o all_o church_n which_o be_v one_o of_o the_o new_a article_n of_o pope_n pius_n the_o ivth_n creed_n and_o yet_o there_o be_v not_o one_o syllable_n in_o scripture_n tend_v to_o this_o purpose_n and_o in_o reason_n it_o can_v be_v that_o any_o but_o that_o which_o be_v the_o first_o christian_n church_n shall_v be_v the_o mother_n of_o all_o church_n and_o that_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n certain_o be_v not_o and_o the_o church_n of_o jerusalem_n undoubted_o be_v and_o then_o that_o the_o bishop_n of_o rome_n as_o successor_n of_o st._n peter_n there_o be_v the_o supreme_a and_o universal_a pastor_n of_o christ_n church_n by_o divine_a appointment_n as_o he_o assume_v to_o himself_o and_o that_o it_o be_v necessary_a to_o salvation_n for_o every_o humane_a creature_n to_o be_v subject_a to_o the_o bishop_n of_o rome_n as_o be_v declare_v in_o their_o canon-law_n by_o a_o constitution_n of_o pope_n boniface_n the_o viiith_o which_o constitution_n be_v confirm_v in_o the_o last_o lateran_n council_n of_o all_o which_o there_o be_v not_o the_o least_o mention_n in_o scripture_n nor_o any_o divine_a appointment_n to_o that_o purpose_n to_o be_v find_v there_o and_o it_o be_v against_o reason_n that_o all_o the_o world_n shall_v be_v oblige_v to_o trudge_v to_o rome_n for_o the_o decision_n of_o cause_n and_o difference_n which_o in_o many_o and_o the_o most_o weighty_a matter_n be_v reserve_v to_o the_o decision_n of_o that_o see_v and_o can_v be_v determine_v nowhere_o else_o and_o against_o reason_n likewise_o it_o be_v to_o find_v this_o 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all_o scripture-warrant_a or_o example_n and_o confess_v by_o themselves_o not_o to_o have_v be_v own_v or_o practise_v in_o the_o three_o first_o age_n of_o the_o church_n because_o it_o look_v too_o like_o the_o heathen_a idolatry_n which_o deserve_v to_o be_v well_o consider_v by_o those_o who_o pretend_v to_o derive_v their_o whole_a religion_n from_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n by_o a_o continue_a and_o uninterrupted_a succession_n and_o this_o practice_n be_v likewise_o destitute_a of_o all_o colour_n of_o reason_n unless_o we_o be_v assure_v that_o they_o hear_v our_o prayer_n in_o all_o place_n which_o we_o can_v be_v unless_o they_o be_v present_a in_o all_o place_n which_o they_o themselves_o do_v not_o believe_v or_o that_o god_n do_v some_o way_n or_o other_o reveal_v and_o make_v know_v to_o they_o the_o prayer_n which_o be_v make_v to_o they_o which_o we_o can_v possible_o be_v assure_v of_o but_o by_o some_o revelation_n of_o god_n to_o that_o purpose_n which_o we_o nowhere_o find_v nor_o do_v the_o church_n of_o rome_n pretend_v to_o it_o but_o i_o proceed_v to_o the_o 2_o d_o thing_n namely_o that_o we_o shall_v much_o more_o hold_v fast_o the_o profession_n of_o our_o faith_n and_o religion_n against_o the_o confidence_n of_o man_n contrary_a to_o scripture_n and_o reason_n and_o the_o common_a sense_n of_o mankind_n for_o these_o be_v the_o chief_a ground_n of_o certainty_n which_o we_o can_v have_v for_o or_o against_o any_o thing_n and_o if_o these_o be_v clear_o on_o our_o side_n we_o ought_v not_o to_o be_v much_o move_v by_o the_o confidence_n of_o man_n concern_v any_o doctrine_n or_o practice_n of_o religion_n which_o be_v plain_o contrary_a to_o these_o if_o in_o point_n wherein_o we_o have_v this_o advantage_n on_o our_o side_n we_o do_v not_o hold_v fast_o the_o profession_n of_o our_o religion_n our_o error_n and_o folly_n be_v capable_a of_o no_o excuse_n and_o this_o advantage_n we_o plain_o have_v in_o several_a point_n and_o controversy_n betwixt_o we_o and_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n as_o in_o the_o worship_n of_o image_n which_o be_v as_o express_o and_o clear_o forbid_v in_o the_o second_o commandment_n and_o that_o without_o any_o distinction_n as_o any_o other_o thing_n be_v forbid_v in_o the_o whole_a bible_n and_o that_o it_o be_v so_o forbid_a in_o this_o commandment_n and_o that_o this_o commandment_n be_v still_o in_o force_n among_o christian_n be_v the_o universal_a sense_n of_o the_o ancient_a christian_a church_n prayer_n and_o the_o service_n of_o god_n in_o a_o unknown_a tongue_n be_v direct_o contrary_a to_o the_o very_a nature_n and_o end_n of_o religious_a worship_n which_o ought_v to_o be_v a_o reasonable_a service_n which_o it_o can_v be_v if_o it_o be_v not_o direct_v by_o our_o understanding_n and_o accompany_v with_o our_o heart_n and_o affection_n but_o if_o it_o be_v perform_v in_o a_o unknown_a tongue_n our_o understanding_n can_v have_v no_o part_n in_o it_o and_o if_o we_o do_v not_o understand_v it_o it_o can_v move_v our_o affection_n and_o this_o likewise_o be_v plain_o contrary_a to_o scripture_n namely_o to_o a_o large_a discourse_n of_o st._n paul_n almost_o throughout_o a_o whole_a chapter_n where_o he_o purp_v silly_a set_v himself_o to_o show_v the_o unprofitableness_n and_o gross_a absurdity_n of_o pray_v or_o celebrate_v any_o other_o part_n of_o religious_a worship_n in_o a_o unknown_a tongue_n if_o any_o part_n of_o our_o religion_n have_v be_v half_a so_o clear_o condemn_v in_o scripture_n as_o this_o be_v which_o yet_o be_v the_o constant_a and_o general_a practice_n of_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n we_o must_v have_v lie_v down_o in_o our_o shame_n and_o confusion_n will_v have_v cover_v we_o and_o we_o must_v either_o have_v reject_v the_o authority_n of_o the_o bible_n or_o have_v renounce_v that_o point_n of_o our_o religion_n whatever_o it_o have_v be_v though_o it_o have_v be_v dear_a to_o we_o as_o our_o right_a hand_n and_o our_o right_a eye_n we_o must_v upon_o such_o plain_a evidence_n of_o scripture_n against_o it_o have_v cut_v it_o off_o and_o pluck_v it_o out_o and_o cast_v it_o from_o we_o the_o like_a may_v be_v say_v of_o lock_v up_o the_o scripture_n from_o the_o people_n in_o a_o unknown_a tongue_n contrary_a to_o the_o command_n of_o the_o scripture_n themselves_o and_o to_o the_o great_a end_n and_o design_n of_o almighty_a god_n in_o the_o write_n and_o publish_v of_o they_o and_o contrary_a to_o the_o perpetual_a exhortation_n and_o counsel_n of_o all_o the_o ancient_a father_n of_o the_o christian_a church_n for_o a_o great_a many_o age_n not_o one_o except_v they_o be_v hardly_o more_o frequent_a and_o copious_a and_o earnest_n in_o any_o argument_n than_o in_o persuade_v people_n of_o all_o rank_n and_o condition_n to_o the_o constant_a and_o careful_a rea_n of_o the_o holy_a scripture_n and_o contrary_a to_o the_o common_a reason_n and_o sense_n of_o mankind_n for_o what_o shall_v man_n be_v persuade_v to_o be_v acquaint_v withal_o if_o not_o with_o that_o which_o be_v the_o great_a instrument_n of_o our_o salvation_n that_o book_n which_o be_v write_v on_o purpose_n to_o reveal_v and_o convey_v to_o man_n the_o knowledge_n of_o god_n and_o of_o his_o will_n and_o their_o duty_n what_o shall_v man_n be_v allow_v to_o know_v if_o not_o that_o which_o be_v the_o best_a and_o most_o effectual_a mean_n to_o direct_v and_o bring_v they_o to_o heaven_n or_o turn_v they_o from_o sin_n and_o to_o preserve_v they_o from_o eternal_a misery_n when_o our_o saviour_n will_v represent_v the_o best_a and_o most_o effectual_a mean_n of_o bring_v man_n to_o happiness_n and_o save_v they_o from_o the_o eternal_a torment_n of_o hell_n in_o the_o parable_n of_o the_o rich_a man_n and_o lazarus_n he_o bring_v in_o abraham_n give_v the_o best_a advice_n he_o