Selected quad for the lemma: ground_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
ground_n divine_a faith_n revelation_n 2,617 5 10.5414 5 true
View all documents for the selected quad

Text snippets containing the quad

ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A61594 A reply to Mr. J.S. his 3d. appendix containing some animadversions on the book entituled, A rational account of the grounds of Protestant religion. By Ed. Stillingfleet B.D. Stillingfleet, Edward, 1635-1699. 1666 (1666) Wing S5630; ESTC R34612 48,337 128

There are 3 snippets containing the selected quad. | View original text

of_o the_o opinion_n of_o their_o own_o writer_n or_o notorious_o dissemble_v it_o for_o this_o infallibility_n be_v not_o attribute_v to_o the_o ruler_n of_o the_o church_n mere_o as_o doctor_n or_o scholar_n but_o as_o the_o representative_a church_n who_o office_n it_o be_v to_o deliver_v all_o matter_n of_o faith_n by_o way_n of_o a_o infallible_a testimony_n to_o every_o age_n and_o thereby_o to_o afford_v a_o sufficient_a foundation_n for_o divine_a faith_n but_o mr._n s._n attribute_n no_o such_o infallibility_n to_o the_o representative_a church_n as_o teach_v the_o rest_n but_o derive_v their_o infallibility_n from_o such_o ground_n as_o be_v common_a to_o all_o part_n of_o the_o essential_a church_n wherein_o he_o apparent_o oppose_v himself_o to_o the_o whole_a current_n of_o their_o own_o author_n when_o resolve_v all_o faith_n into_o the_o immediate_a assistance_n of_o the_o holy_a ghost_n without_o which_o they_o assert_v there_o can_v be_v no_o infallibility_n at_o all_o in_o tradition_n or_o any_o thing_n else_o and_o therefore_o these_o opinion_n be_v as_o opposite_a to_o each_o other_o as_o may_v be_v for_o such_o a_o infallibility_n be_v not_o attribute_v by_o they_o to_o the_o teacher_n of_o the_o church_n mere_o on_o some_o signal_n occasion_n as_o mr._n s._n seem_v to_o suppose_v when_o they_o be_v to_o explain_v new_a matter_n of_o faith_n but_o it_o be_v make_v by_o they_o to_o be_v as_o necessary_a as_o believe_v itself_o because_o thereby_o the_o only_a sure_a foundation_n of_o faith_n be_v lay_v and_o therefore_o it_o be_v very_o evident_a they_o make_v it_o proper_a to_o the_o church_n in_o all_o age_n or_o else_o in_o some_o age_n of_o the_o church_n man_n be_v destitute_a of_o sufficient_a ground_n of_o faith_n for_o they_o by_o no_o mean_n think_v it_o a_o sufficient_a foundation_n for_o faith_n that_o one_o age_n of_o the_o church_n can_v not_o conspire_v to_o deceive_v another_o for_o this_o they_o will_v tell_v he_o at_o most_o be_v but_o a_o humane_a faith_n but_o that_o christ_n by_o his_o promise_n have_v assure_v the_o church_n that_o there_o shall_v never_o be_v want_v in_o it_o the_o infallible_a assistance_n of_o his_o holy_a spirit_n whereby_o they_o shall_v infallible_o teach_v &_o deliver_v all_o matter_n of_o faith_n and_o if_o this_o be_v not_o their_o opinion_n let_v they_o speak_v to_o the_o contrary_a which_o if_o they_o do_v i_o be_o sure_a they_o must_v retract_v their_o most_o elaborate_a discourse_n about_o the_o resolution_n of_o faith_n write_v by_o the_o great_a artist_n among_o they_o let_v mr._n s._n then_o judge_n who_o it_o be_v that_o stumble_v at_o the_o threshold_n but_o of_o this_o difference_n among_o they_o more_o afterward_o by_o this_o it_o appear_v it_o be_v not_o on_o any_o mistake_n that_o i_o remain_v unsatisfied_a in_o the_o question_n i_o ask_v whether_o be_o i_o bind_v to_o believe_v what_o the_o present_a church_n deliver_v to_o be_v infallible_a to_o which_o mr._n s._n answer_n i_o understand_v he_o not_o my_o reply_n shall_v be_v only_o that_o of_o a_o great_a lawyer_n in_o a_o like_a case_n i_o can_v help_v that_o i_o be_o sure_a my_o word_n be_v intelligible_a enough_o for_o i_o take_v infallible_a there_o as_o he_o take_v it_o himself_o for_o infallible_o true_a although_o i_o deny_v not_o the_o word_n to_o be_v improper_o use_v in_o reference_n to_o thing_n and_o that_o for_o the_o reason_n give_v by_o he_o because_o fallibility_n and_o infallibility_n belong_v to_o the_o know_a power_n or_o the_o person_n that_o 204._o have_v it_o and_o not_o to_o the_o object_n but_o we_o be_v often_o put_v to_o the_o use_n of_o that_o word_n in_o a_o sense_n we_o acknowledge_v improper_a mere_o in_o compliance_n with_o our_o adversary_n who_o otherwise_o be_v apt_a to_o charge_v we_o with_o have_v only_a uncertainty_n and_o probability_n for_o our_o faith_n if_o we_o do_v not_o use_v the_o term_n infallible_a as_o apply_v to_o the_o truth_n of_o the_o thing_n i_o be_o content_a therefore_o wherever_o in_o what_o i_o have_v write_v he_o meet_v that_o term_n so_o apply_v that_o he_o take_v it_o only_o in_o his_o own_o sense_n for_o that_o which_o be_v certain_o true_a for_o i_o mean_v no_o more_o by_o it_o and_o in_o this_o sense_n mr._n s._n answer_v affirmative_o and_o give_v this_o account_n of_o it_o not_o only_o because_o the_o present_a church_n can_v be_v deceive_v in_o what_o the_o church_n of_o the_o former_a age_n believe_v but_o because_o the_o church_n in_o no_o age_n can_v conspire_v against_o her_o knowledge_n to_o deceive_v that_o age_n immediate_o follow_v in_o matter_n of_o fact_n evident_a in_o a_o manner_n to_o the_o whole_a world_n the_o question_n than_o be_v whether_o this_o be_v a_o sufficient_a account_n for_o i_o to_o believe_v that_o to_o be_v certain_o true_a or_o to_o be_v the_o doctrine_n of_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n which_o the_o present_a church_n deliver_v and_o consequent_o whether_o the_o resolution_n of_o faith_n be_v bare_o into_o oral_a tradition_n thus_o we_o see_v the_o clear_a state_n of_o the_o 3._o question_n between_o we_o i_o come_v therefore_o to_o the_o vindication_n of_o those_o thing_n which_o i_o have_v object_v against_o this_o way_n of_o resolve_v faith_n into_o oral_a tradition_n three_o thing_n i_o especial_o insist_v on_o 1._o that_o it_o be_v inconsistent_a with_o the_o pretension_n of_o the_o present_a roman_a church_n 2._o that_o it_o have_v not_o be_v the_o way_n own_v in_o all_o age_n of_o the_o christian_a church_n 3._o that_o it_o be_v repugnant_a to_o common_a sense_n and_o experience_n and_o that_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n have_v apparent_o alter_v from_o what_o be_v the_o belief_n of_o former_a age_n if_o these_o three_o be_v make_v good_a there_o will_v be_v no_o cause_n to_o glory_n in_o this_o last_o invention_n to_o support_v the_o sink_a fabric_n of_o that_o church_n these_o three_o than_o i_o undertake_v to_o defend_v against_o what_o mr._n sergeant_n have_v object_v against_o they_o 1._o that_o it_o be_v contrary_a to_o the_o pretension_n of_o the_o present_a roman_a church_n and_o if_o it_o be_v so_o there_o can_v be_v no_o reason_n for_o those_o who_o be_v of_o it_o to_o rely_v upon_o it_o for_o if_o so_o be_v that_o church_n pretend_v that_o the_o obligation_n to_o faith_n arise_v from_o a_o quite_o different_a ground_n from_o this_o how_o can_v they_o who_o believe_v that_o church_n infallible_a venture_v their_o faith_n upon_o any_o other_o principle_n than_o what_o be_v public_o own_a by_o she_o and_o whosoever_o think_v himself_o bind_v to_o believe_v by_o virtue_n of_o a_o infallible_a assistance_n of_o the_o present_a church_n do_v thereby_o show_v that_o his_o obligation_n do_v not_o depend_v upon_o what_o be_v deliver_v by_o the_o former_a age_n of_o the_o church_n as_o those_o who_o believe_v the_o apostle_n be_v infallible_a in_o their_o doctrine_n can_v not_o resolve_v their_o faith_n into_o the_o infallibility_n of_o oral_a tradition_n but_o into_o that_o immediate_a assistance_n by_o which_o the_o apostle_n speak_v and_o where_o there_o be_v a_o belief_n of_o a_o like_a assistance_n the_o foundation_n of_o faith_n can_v lie_v in_o the_o indefectibility_n of_o tradition_n but_o in_o that_o infallible_a spirit_n which_o they_o suppose_v the_o church_n to_o be_v assist_v by_o for_o suppose_v this_o oral_a tradition_n shall_v fail_v and_o that_o man_n may_v believe_v that_o it_o have_v actual_o fail_v yet_o if_o the_o former_a supposition_n be_v true_a there_o be_v sufficient_a ground_n for_o faith_n remain_v still_o and_o what_o assurance_n can_v any_o one_o have_v that_o the_o present_a church_n deliver_v nothing_o for_o matter_n of_o faith_n but_o what_o have_v be_v derive_v in_o every_o age_n from_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n if_o such_o a_o infallible_a spirit_n be_v suppose_v in_o the_o present_a church_n which_o be_v in_o the_o apostle_n themselves_o for_o on_o the_o same_o reason_n that_o those_o who_o hear_v the_o apostle_n be_v not_o bind_v to_o trouble_v themselves_o with_o the_o tradition_n of_o the_o former_a age_n no_o more_o ought_v they_o who_o believe_v the_o present_a roman_a church_n to_o have_v the_o same_o infallible_a assistance_n they_o need_v not_o then_o inquire_v whether_o this_o age_n know_v the_o meaning_n of_o the_o former_a or_o whether_o one_o age_n can_v conspire_v to_o deceive_v another_o or_o whether_o notwithstanding_o both_o these_o error_n may_v not_o come_v into_o the_o church_n it_o be_v sufficient_a for_o they_o that_o the_o definition_n of_o the_o present_a church_n be_v infallible_a in_o all_o matter_n of_o faith_n therefore_o my_o demand_n be_v build_v on_o very_o good_a reason_n how_o can_v you_o assure_v i_o the_o present_a church_n oblige_v i_o to_o believe_v nothing_o but_o only_a what_o and_o so_o far_o as_o it_o
receive_v from_o the_o former_a church_n and_o mr._n s_n answer_n be_v far_o from_o be_v satisfactory_a that_o this_o appear_v by_o her_o manifect_a practice_n never_o refuse_v communion_n to_o any_o man_n that_o can_v approve_v himself_o to_o believe_v all_o the_o former_a age_n do_v for_o this_o may_v be_v resolve_v into_o a_o principle_n far_o different_a from_o this_o which_o be_v the_o belief_n of_o the_o infallibility_n of_o the_o present_a church_n for_o suppose_v that_o they_o be_v not_o bind_v to_o inquire_v themselves_o into_o the_o reason_n why_o the_o tradition_n can_v not_o fail_v in_o any_o age_n it_o be_v sufficient_a for_o they_o to_o believe_v the_o church_n infallible_a and_o if_o it_o be_v so_o in_o propose_v matter_n of_o faith_n it_o must_v be_v so_o in_o declare_v what_o the_o belief_n of_o the_o former_a age_n be_v but_o my_o demand_n go_v on_o what_o evidence_n can_v you_o bring_v to_o convince_v i_o both_o that_o the_o church_n always_o observe_v this_o rule_n and_o can_v never_o be_v deceive_v in_o it_o which_o question_n be_v build_v on_o these_o two_o principle_n which_o the_o infallibility_n of_o oral_a tradition_n stand_v on_o 1._o that_o the_o church_n must_v always_o go_v upon_o this_o ground_n 2._o that_o if_o it_o do_v so_o it_o be_v impossible_a she_o shall_v be_v deceive_v both_o which_o be_v so_o far_o from_o that_o self-evidence_n which_o mr._n sergeant_n still_o pretend_v to_o in_o this_o way_n that_o the_o jesuit_n principle_n seem_v much_o more_o rational_a and_o consistent_a than_o these_o do_v for_o grant_v they_o but_o that_o one_o postulatum_fw-la that_o there_o must_v be_v a_o inherent_a infallibility_n in_o the_o testimony_n of_o the_o present_a church_n to_o afford_v sufficient_a foundation_n for_o divine_a faith_n all_o the_o rest_n of_o their_o doctrine_n follow_v natural_o from_o it_o whereas_o this_o new_a way_n of_o resolve_v faith_n be_v build_v on_o such_o supposition_n which_o no_o man_n well_o in_o his_o wit_n will_v be_v ready_a to_o grant_v for_o unless_o it_o be_v self-evident_a that_o the_o church_n do_v always_o proceed_v on_o this_o ground_n it_o can_v be_v self-evident_a that_o oral_a tradition_n be_v infallible_a because_o the_o self-evidence_n of_o this_o principle_n depend_v on_o this_o that_o in_o all_o age_n of_o the_o church_n the_o only_a rule_n and_o measure_n of_o faith_n be_v what_o be_v deliver_v by_o oral_a tradition_n from_o the_o age_n forego_v now_o if_o it_o be_v possible_a that_o matter_n of_o faith_n may_v be_v convey_v in_o way_n quite_o different_a from_o this_o what_o self-evidence_n can_v there_o be_v that_o the_o church_n must_v always_o proceed_v upon_o this_o mr._n s._n then_o must_v demonstrate_v it_o impossible_a for_o matter_n of_o faith_n to_o be_v convey_v to_o posterity_n in_o any_o other_o way_n than_o oral_a tradition_n and_o not_o only_o that_o the_o thing_n be_v impossible_a but_o that_o the_o church_n in_o all_o age_n judge_v it_o to_o be_v so_o or_o else_o he_o can_v never_o make_v it_o at_o all_o evident_a that_o the_o church_n always_o make_v this_o her_o rule_n of_o faith_n but_o if_o either_o there_o may_v be_v a_o certain_a conveyance_n of_o the_o doctrine_n of_o faith_n another_o way_n viz._n by_o writing_n or_o that_o the_o church_n may_v judge_v that_o way_n more_o certain_a whether_o it_o be_v so_o or_o not_o either_o way_n it_o will_v appear_v far_o enough_o from_o self-evidence_n that_o she_o always_o judge_v of_o doctrine_n of_o faith_n mere_o by_o the_o tradition_n of_o the_o precede_a age_n if_o another_o way_n be_v grant_v possible_a there_o must_v be_v clear_a demonstration_n that_o the_o church_n notwithstanding_o this_o do_v never_o make_v use_n of_o it_o for_o if_o it_o do_v make_v use_n of_o another_o way_n of_o resolve_v faith_n in_o any_o age_n of_o the_o church_n then_o in_o that_o age_n of_o the_o church_n oral_a tradition_n be_v not_o look_v on_o as_o the_o ground_n of_o faith_n and_o if_o so_o notwithstanding_o what_o ever_o mr._n s._n can_v demonstrate_v to_o the_o contrary_a that_o age_n may_v have_v believe_v otherwise_o that_o the_o immediate_o precede_v do_v for_o let_v we_o but_o suppose_v tha●_n all_o necessary_a doctrine_n of_o faith_n be_v betimes_o record_v in_o the_o church_n in_o book_n universal_o receive_v by_o the_o christian_n of_o the_o first_o age_n be_v it_o no●_n possible_a that_o age_n which_o first_o embrace●_n these_o book_n may_v deliver_v they_o to_o posterity_n as_o the_o rule_n of_o their_o faith_n and_o so_o down_o from_o one_o age_n to_o another_o and_o do_v it_o not_o hence_o follow_v that_o the_o rule_n of_o say_v be_v quite_o different_a from_o ●_o mere_a oral_a tradition_n let_v mr._n s._n the●_n either_o show_v it_o impossible_a that_o the_o doctrine_n of_o faith_n shall_v be_v write_v or_o that_o be_v write_v they_o shall_v be_v universal_o receive_v or_o that_o be_v universal_o receive_v in_o one_o age_n they_o ●hould_v not_o be_v deliver_v to_o the_o next_o ●r_o be_v deliver_v to_o the_o next_o those_o ●ooks_n shall_v not_o be_v look_v on_o as_o contain_v the_o rule_n of_o faith_n in_o they_o or_o ●hough_o they_o be_v so_o yet_o that_o still_o oral_a ●adition_n be_v whole_o rely_v on_o as_o the_o ●ule_n of_o faith_n &_o then_o i_o shall_v free_o grant_v ●●at_a mr._n s._n have_v attempt_v something_o ●●wards_o the_o proof_n of_o this_o new_a hypothe●_fw-la but_o as_o thing_n now_o stand_v it_o be_v so_o far_o ●om_n be_v self-evident_a that_o the_o church_n ●ath_v always_o go_v upon_o this_o princi●e_fw-la that_o we_o find_v it_o look_v on_o as_o a_o great_a novelty_n among_o they_o in_o their_o own_o church_n and_o it_o will_v be_v a_o rare_a thing_n ●r_o a_o new_a invention_n to_o have_v be_v the_o ●nse_n of_o the_o church_n in_o all_o age_n which_o it_o have_v not_o be_v the_o strength_n of_o it_o be_v ●ereby_o take_v away_o but_o let_v we_o suppose_v that_o the_o church_n ●d_a proceed_v upon_o this_o principle_n that_o 4._o the_v be_v to_o be_v embrace_v but_o what_o 〈◊〉_d derive_v by_o tradition_n from_o the_o a●tles_n how_o do_v it_o thence_o follow_v that_o nothing_o can_v be_v admit_v into_o th●_n church_n but_o what_o be_v real_o so_o derive●_n from_o they_o do_v we_o not_o see_v in_o th●_n world_n at_o this_o day_n that_o among_o tho●_n who_o own_o this_o principle_n contradictor_n proposition_n be_v believe_v and_o bo●_n side_n tell_v we_o it_o be_v on_o this_o account_n b●_n cause_n their_o doctrine_n be_v deliver_v ●_o the_o apostle_n do_v not_o the_o greek_a chur●_n profess_v to_o believe_v on_o the_o account_n tradition_n from_o the_o apostle_n as_o well_o the_o latin_a if_o that_o tradition_n fail_v the_o greek_a church_n which_o be_v preseru_v in_o the_o latin_a either_o mr._n s._n must_v instance_n on_o his_o own_o principle_n in_o th●_n age_n which_o conspire_v to_o deceive_v t●_n next_o or_o he_o must_v acknowledge_v t●_n while_o man_n own_o tradition_n they_o may_v deceive_v in_o what_o the_o forego_n ●_o teach_v they_o and_o consequent_o th●_n thing_n may_v be_v admit_v as_o doctri●_fw-la come_v from_o the_o apostle_n which_o w●_n not_o so_o and_o some_o which_o do_v may_n lose_v and_o yet_o the_o pretence_n of_o tradit●_n remain_v still_o what_o self-evidence_n t●_n can_v there_o be_v in_o this_o principle_n w●_n two_o part_n of_o the_o church_n may_v b●_n own_v it_o and_o yet_o believe_v contradicti●_n on_o the_o account_n of_o it_o it_o be_v then_o wo●_n our_o inquire_v what_o self-evidence_n this_o be_v which_o mr._n s._n speak_v so_o much_o of_o which_o be_v neither_o more_o nor_o less_o but_o that_o man_n in_o all_o age_n have_v eye_n ear_n and_o other_o 205._o ●enses_n also_o common_a reason_n and_o as_o much_o memory_n as_o to_o remember_v their_o own_o name_n and_o frequent_o inculcate_v action_n which_o ●s_v so_o very_o reasonable_a a_o postulatum_fw-la that_o suppose_v none_o who_o enjoy_v any_o of_o these_o will_v deny_v it_o let_v we_o therefore_o see_v how_o ●he_n proceed_v upon_o it_o if_o you_o disprove_v ●his_fw-la i_o doubt_v we_o have_v lose_v mankind_n the_o ●bject_n we_o speak_v of_o and_o till_o you_o disprove_v ●t_a neither_o i_o nor_o any_o man_n in_o his_o wit_n can_v doubt_v that_o this_o rule_n depend_v on_o testify_v that_o be_v sense_n on_o experience_n can_v possible_o ●ermit_v man_n to_o be_v deceivable_a big_a word_n indeed_o but_o such_o as_o evidence_n that_o all_o man_n who_o be_v in_o their_o wit_n do_v not_o constant_o 〈◊〉_d they_o for_o i_o pray_v sir_n what_o do_v mr._n s._n think_v of_o the_o greek_a church_n ●ad_v not_o those_o in_o it_o eye_n ear_n and_o other_o ●●ses_n as_o well_o as_o in_o the_o latin_a do_v not_o they_o pretond_v and_o appeal_v to_o what_o they_o ●eceived_v from_o their_o forefather_n as_o well_o ●s_v
the_o latin_n it_o seem_v then_o a_o decepti●_n be_v possible_a in_o the_o case_n of_o testify_v 〈◊〉_d therefore_o this_o do_v more_o than_o per●●●_n man_n to_o be_v decievable_a for_o here_o have_v be_v a_o actual_a deception_n on_o one_o side_n or_o other_o but_o we_o need_v not_o fear_v lose_v mankind_n in_o this_o for_o the_o possibility_n o●_n error_n suppose_v mankind_n to_o continue_v still_o and_o if_o we_o take_v away_o that_o we_o m●●_n soon_o lose_v it_o than_o by_o the_o contrary_n but_o what_o repugnancy_n can_v we_o imagine_v to_o humane_a nature_n that_o me●_n suppose_v doctrine_n of_o faith_n to_o come_v down_o from_o christ_n or_o his_o apostle_n shall_v yet_o mistake_v in_o judge_v what_o those_o doctrine_n be_v have_v not_o man_n eye_n and_o ear_n and_o common_a sense_n in_o christ_n and_o the_o apostle_n time_n and_o yet_o we_o see_v eve●_n then_o the_o doctrine_n of_o christ_n be_v mistake_v and_o be_v it_o such_o a_o wonder_n it_o shall_v be_v in_o succeed_a age_n do_v not_o the_o nazarenes_n mistake_v in_o point_n of_o circumcision_n the_o corinthian_n as_o to_o the_o resurrection_n and_o yet_o the_o mean_a time_n agree_v i●_n this_o that_o christ_n doctrine_n be_v the_o rule_n of_o faith_n or_o that_o they_o ought_v to_o believe_v nothing_o but_o what_o come_v from_o he_o di●_n not_o the_o disciple_n themselves_o err_v eve●_n while_o they_o be_v with_o christ_n and_o certain_o have_v eye_n and_o ear_n an●_n 〈◊〉_d sense_n as_o other_o man_n have_v concern●●●me_v great_a article_n of_o christian_a faith_n christ_n passion_n resurrection_n and_o the_o nat●_n of_o his_o kingdom_n if_o then_o such_o who_o have_v the_o great_a opportunity_n imaginable_a and_o the_o high_a apprehension_n of_o christ_n may_v so_o easy_o mistake_v in_o point_n of_o such_o moment_n what_o ground_n have_v we_o to_o believe_v that_o succeed_a age_n shall_v not_o be_v liable_a to_o such_o misapprehension_n and_o it_o be_v not_o mere_o the_o want_n of_o clear_a divine_a revelation_n which_o be_v the_o cause_n of_o their_o mistake_n for_o these_o thing_n be_v plain_a enough_o to_o person_n not_o possess_v with_o prejudices_fw-la but_o those_o be_v so_o strong_a as_o to_o make_v they_o apprehend_v thing_n quite_o another_o way_n than_o they_o ought_v to_o do_v so_o it_o be_v then_o and_o so_o it_o be_v in_o succeed_a age_n for_o ●et_a parent_n teach_v what_o they_o please_v for_o matter_n of_o faith_n yet_o prejudice_n and_o ●yableness_n to_o mistake_v in_o child_n may_v easy_o make_v they_o misapprehend_v either_o the_o nature_n or_o weight_n of_o the_o doctrine_n deliver_v to_o they_o so_o that_o set_v aside_o a_o certain_a way_n of_o record_v the_o matter_n of_o faith_n in_o the_o book_n of_o scripture_n and_o these_o preserve_v entire_a in_o every_o age_n it_o be_v a_o easy_a matter_n to_o conceive_v how_o in_o a_o short_a time_n christian_n religion_n will_v have_v be_v corrupt_v as_o much_o as_o ever_o any_o be_v in_o the_o world_n for_o when_o we_o consider_v how_o much_o notwithstanding_o scripture_n the_o pride_n passion_n and_o interest_n of_o man_n have_v endeavour_v to_o deface_v christian_a religion_n in_o the_o world_n what_o will_v not_o these_o have_v do_v if_o there_o have_v be_v no_o such_o certain_a rule_n to_o judge_v of_o it_o by_o mr._n s._n imagin●_n himself_o in_o repub_fw-la platonis_fw-la but_o it_o appear●_n he_o be_v still_o in_o faece_fw-la romuli_n he_o fancy_v there_o never_o be_v nor_o can_v be_v any_o difference_n among_o christian_n and_o that_o all_o christian_n make_v it_o their_o whole_a business_n to_o teach_v their_o posterity_n matter_n o●_n faith_n and_o that_o they_o mind_v nothing_o in_o the_o world_n but_o the_o imprint_n tha●_n on_o their_o mind_n that_o they_o may_v have_v i●_n ready_a for_o their_o child_n and_o that_o al●_n parent_n have_v equal_a skill_n and_o sidelit●_n in_o deliver_v matter_n of_o religion_n t●_n their_o posterity_n whereas_o in_o truth_n w●_n find_v in_o the_o early_a age_n of_o the_o christia●_n church_n several_a difference_n about_o matter_n of_o faith_n and_o these_o difference_n continue_v to_o posterity_n but_o all_o party_n stil●_n plead_v that_o their_o doctrine_n come_v fro●_n the_o apostle_n &_o it_o fall_v out_o unhappy_o for_o mr._n s._n that_o those_o be_v common_o most_o gross_o deceive_v who_o pretend_v the_o most_o to_o oral_a tradition_n from_o the_o apostle_n still_o we_o find_v the_o grand_a debate_n be_v what_o come_v from_o the_o apostle_n and_o what_o not_o whereas_o have_v tradition_n be_v so_o infallible_a a_o way_n of_o convey_v how_o can_v this_o ever_o have_v come_v into_o debate_n among_o they_o what_o do_v not_o they_o know_v what_o their_o parent_n teach_v they_o it_o seem_v they_o do_v not_o or_o their_o parent_n be_v no_o more_o agree_v than_o themselves_o for_o their_o difference_n can_v never_o be_v end_v this_o way_n afterward_o come_v in_o for_o many_o age_n such_o a_o succession_n of_o ignorance_n and_o barbarism_n that_o christian_a religion_n be_v little_o mind_v either_o by_o parent_n or_o child_n as_o it_o ought_v to_o have_v be_v instead_o of_o that_o some_o foppery_n and_o superstition_n be_v huge_o in_o request_n and_o the_o man_n who_o foment_v these_o thing_n be_v cry_v up_o as_o great_a saint_n and_o worker_n of_o miracle_n so_o that_o the_o miracle_n of_o s._n francis_n and_o s._n dominick_n be_v as_o much_o if_o not_o more_o careful_o convey_v from_o parent_n to_o child_n in_o that_o age_n than_o those_o of_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n and_o on_o this_o account_n posterity_n must_v be_v equal_o bind_v to_o believe_v they_o and_o have_v their_o person_n in_o equal_a veneration_n if_o man_n at_o last_o be_v grow_v wise_a it_o be_v because_o they_o do_v not_o believe_v mr._n s_n principle_n that_o they_o ought_v to_o receive_v what_o be_v deliver_v by_o their_o parent_n but_o they_o begin_v to_o search_v and_o inquire_v into_o the_o write_n of_o former_a age_n and_o to_o examine_v the_o opinion_n and_o practice_n of_o the_o present_a with_o those_o of_o the_o primitive_a church_n and_o by_o this_o mean_n there_o come_v a_o restauration_n of_o learning_n and_o religion_n together_o but_o though_o matter_n of_o fact_n be_v plain_a and_o evident_a in_o this_o case_n yet_o m._n s._n will_v 5._o prove_v it_o impossible_a there_o shall_v any_o error_n come_v into_o the_o christian_a church_n and_o his_o main_a argument_n be_v this_o because_o no_o age_n of_o the_o church_n can_v conspire_v against_o her_o knowledge_n to_o deceive_v that_o age_n immediate_o follow_v in_o matter_n of_o fact_n evident_a in_o a_o manner_n to_o the_o whole_a world_n but_o before_o i_o come_v more_o particular_o to_o show_v the_o weakness_n of_o this_o argument_n by_o manifest_v how_o error_n may_v come_v into_o the_o church_n without_o such_o a_o conspiracy_n as_o this_o be_v i_o shall_v propound_v some_o query_n to_o he_o 1._o what_o age_n of_o the_o church_n he_o will_v instance_n in_o wherein_o all_o person_n who_o be_v not_o cast_v out_o of_o the_o church_n have_v the_o same_o apprehension_n concern_v all_o point_n of_o faith_n i._o e._n that_o none_o among_o they_o do_v believe_v more_o thing_n deliver_v by_o christ_n or_o the_o apostle_n than_o other_o do_v i_o be_o sure_a he_o can_v neither_o instance_n in_o the_o age_n of_o the_o apostle_n themselves_o nor_o in_o those_o immediate_o succeed_v they_o unless_o mr._n s._n the_o better_a to_o defend_v his_o hypothesis_n will_v question_v all_o write_a record_n because_o they_o consist_v of_o dead_a letter_n and_o unsence_v character_n and_o wordish_a testimony_n never_o consider_v that_o while_o he_o utter_v this_o he_o write_v himself_o unless_o he_o imagine_v there_o be_v more_o of_o life_n sense_n and_o certainty_n in_o his_o book_n than_o in_o the_o scripture_n or_o any_o other_o write_v whatsoever_o 2._o where_o there_o be_v different_a apprehension_n in_o one_o age_n of_o the_o church_n whether_o there_o must_v not_o be_v different_a tradition_n in_o the_o next_o for_o as_o he_o look_v on_o all_o parent_n as_o bound_v to_o teach_v their_o child_n so_o on_o child_n as_o bound_v to_o believe_v what_o their_o parent_n teach_v they_o on_o which_o supposition_n different_a tradition_n in_o the_o succeed_a age_n must_v needs_o follow_v different_a apprehension_n in_o the_o precedent_n 3._o whether_o person_n agree_v in_o the_o substance_n of_o doctrine_n may_v not_o differ_v in_o their_o apprehension_n of_o the_o necessity_n of_o they_o as_o for_o instance_n all_o may_v agree_v in_o the_o article_n of_o christ_n descent_n into_o hell_n but_o yet_o may_v differ_v in_o the_o explication_n of_o it_o and_o in_o the_o apprehension_n of_o the_o necessity_n of_o it_o in_o order_n to_o salvation_n so_o that_o we_o must_v not_o only_o in_o tradition_n about_o matter_n of_o faith_n inquire_v