Selected quad for the lemma: ground_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
ground_n	faith_n	scripture_n	spirit_n	3,116	5	6.3634	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A40455	The polititians catechisme for his instruction in divine faith and morall honesty / written by N.N.	N. N.; French, Nicholas, 1604-1678.; Talbot, Peter, 1620-1680.	1658 (1658)	Wing F2181; ESTC R35689	105,901	208

cap._n 7._o sect_n 2._o petenda_fw-la est_fw-la haec_fw-la per_fw-la suasio_fw-la ab_fw-la arcano_fw-la spiritus_fw-la testimonto_fw-la &c_n &c_n sect_n 2._o non_fw-la aliud_fw-la loquor_fw-la quàm_fw-la quod_fw-la apud_fw-la se_fw-la expetitur_fw-la fideltum_fw-la unusquisque_fw-la etc._n etc._n sect_n 5._o for_o our_o instruction_n i_o can_v deny_v there_o be_v great_a difficulty_n in_o believe_v that_o every_o thing_n which_o the_o church_n propose_v as_o reveal_v be_v god_n revelation_n yet_o this_o pill_n must_v be_v swallow_v if_o we_o resolve_v to_o believe_v god_n who_o can_v be_v believe_v if_o he_o speak_v in_o his_o own_o voice_n and_o tone_n because_o it_o be_v evident_o inseparable_a from_o truth_n and_o we_o can_v believe_v what_o by_o force_n of_o clear_a evidence_n we_o can_v deny_v hence_o by_o the_o way_n it_o follow_v that_o no_o protestant_n or_o puritan_n do_v believe_v god_n if_o they_o ground_n their_o faith_n upon_o the_o evidence_n they_o pretend_v to_o have_v of_o scripture_n be_v god_n word_n or_o upon_o that_o of_o their_o private_a spirit_n both_o which_o say_v calvin_n be_v discern_v as_o clear_o by_o himself_o and_o his_o brethren_n to_o be_v divine_a evidence_n and_o not_o diabolical_a as_o white_a be_v discern_v from_o black_a sweet_a from_o sour_a and_o light_n from_o darkness_n it_o be_v very_o improbable_a that_o god_n deprive_v himself_o of_o his_o right_n and_o be_v content_v not_o to_o be_v believe_v that_o calvin_n and_o his_o protestant_a crew_n may_v be_v ease_v of_o a_o duty_n which_o they_o exact_a and_o receive_v from_o every_o person_n that_o have_v a_o good_a opinion_n of_o their_o honesty_n 3_o suppose_v it_o be_v as_o evident_a that_o there_o be_v a_o church_n of_o god_n upon_o earth_n as_o it_o be_v reasonable_a he_o ought_v to_o be_v believe_v by_o man_n we_o must_v endeavour_v to_o find_v it_o our_o the_o church_n be_v a_o infallible_a guide_n to_o lead_v we_o to_o god_n but_o who_o be_v the_o infallible_a guide_n to_o have_v we_o to_o the_o church_n reason_n but_o reason_n in_o obscurity_n may_v be_v mistake_v and_o what_o be_v more_o obscure_a than_o the_o way_n to_o the_o true_a church_n environ_v with_o so_o many_o false_a sect_n if_o our_o bell_n efe_z be_v limit_v to_o natural_a verity_n reason_n may_v make_v some_o shift_n every_o man_n may_v pretend_v that_o his_o own_o wit_n will_v be_v a_o sufficient_a guide_n for_o himself_o but_o see_v christian_a faith_n must_v stretch_v further_a than_o humane_a capacity_n there_o must_v be_v some_o supernatural_a help_n in_o obscure_a matter_n say_v aristotle_n with_o all_o wise_a man_n reason_n must_v be_v content_v with_o clear_a sign_n and_o not_o expect_v evidence_n of_o the_o truth_n and_o because_o the_o church_n or_o god_n do_v propose_v supernatural_a truth_n the_o sign_n must_v be_v also_o supernatural_a and_o because_o there_o be_v so_o great_a difference_n between_o humane_a understanding_n god_n have_v be_v please_v to_o make_v his_o church_n discernible_a by_o sensible_a and_o visible_a supernatural_a sign_n that_o they_o who_o have_v least_o understanding_n may_v not_o have_v less_o faith_n than_o the_o most_o witty_a and_o learned_a if_o they_o will_v but_o open_v their_o eye_n and_o reflect_v upon_o what_o they_o see_v this_o be_v the_o reason_n why_o so_o few_o can_v pretend_v ignorance_n of_o the_o true_a church_n if_o they_o have_v any_o sense_n in_o they_o they_o may_v easy_o distinguish_v it_o from_o all_o heretical_a congregation_n the_o evident_a sign_n therefore_o whereby_o the_o true_a and_o catholic_n church_n be_v know_v consist_v not_o in_o exterior_a formality_n that_o may_v take_v their_o beginning_n from_o humane_a policy_n or_o from_o a_o natural_a inclination_n to_o decency_n and_o good_a order_n the_o protestant_a church_n of_o england_n have_v as_o few_o sign_n of_o supernatural_a grace_n as_o any_o other_o pretend_v reformation_n yet_o in_o the_o eye_n of_o some_o it_o look_v pretty_o and_o be_v more_o decent_a in_o the_o service_n than_o other_o northern_a church_n of_o lutheran_n and_o some_o of_o their_o nags-bead_n minister_n affect_v a_o certain_a ecclesiastical_a gravity_n in_o their_o garb_n and_o habit_n notwithstanding_o in_o my_o opinion_n a_o secular_a dress_n will_v better_o become_v their_o mere_a secularity_n and_o want_v of_o ordination_n the_o minister_n in_o germany_n look_v more_o protestantlike_a in_o their_o short_a cloak_n spade_n beard_n and_o blow_v starch_a ruff_n than_o our_o english_a common-prayer_n minister_n do_v in_o their_o long_a cloak_n and_o surplise_n which_o they_o wear_v more_o for_o policy_n than_o religion_n 4_o see_v reason_n must_v be_v content_v with_o clear_a sign_n when_o the_o truth_n be_v not_o evident_a and_o that_o no_o evident_a or_o clear_a supernatural_a sign_n appear_v in_o any_o congregation_n of_o man_n but_o in_o the_o roman_n catholic_n it_o must_v be_v conclude_v that_o the_o true_a church_n be_v that_o only_a congregation_n of_o man_n which_o profess_v the_o roman_n catholic_n faith_n that_o no_o sign_n of_o grace_n do_v appear_v in_o any_o church_n pretend_v reformation_n be_v as_o clear_v as_o it_o be_v that_o all_o the_o world_n be_v not_o blind_a for_o as_o yet_o neither_o themselves_o nor_o any_o other_o can_v see_v in_o any_o of_o their_o sect_n one_o miracle_n or_o any_o other_o thing_n that_o look_v like_o supernatural_a though_o they_o tell_v we_o of_o some_o divine_a motion_n and_o impulse_n of_o the_o private_a spirit_n they_o be_v as_o incredible_a as_o it_o be_v impossible_a that_o god_n shall_v oblige_v any_o man_n to_o take_v a_o protestant_n bare_a word_n against_o the_o tradition_n and_o testimony_n of_o the_o christian_a world_n informer_n age_n confirm_v with_o undeniable_a miracle_n and_o sanctity_n of_o life_n but_o some_o see_v the_o private_a spirit_n be_v ridiculous_a will_v fain_o persuade_v we_o that_o we_o may_v read_v their_o reformation_n in_o scripture_n so_o evident_o declare_v that_o they_o wonder_v how_o we_o can_v have_v the_o least_o doubt_n against_o it_o we_o catholic_n have_v be_v above_o a_o hundred_o year_n turn_v and_o toss_v the_o bible_n with_o as_o great_a care_n and_o study_v as_o the_o matter_n require_v and_o yet_o we_o can_v never_o hit_v upon_o one_o protestant_a tenet●n_n ●n_z scripture_n though_o we_o have_v reason_n to_o think_v that_o we_o understand_v it_o as_o well_o as_o our_o neighbour_n which_o be_v very_o strange_a if_o their_o doctrine_n be_v evident_o contain_v in_o it_o but_o there_o be_v nothing_o more_o obscure_a the_o evidence_n wherein_o man_n equal_o learn_v and_o honest_a do_v not_o agree_v nothing_o can_v make_v they_o disagree_v in_o the_o interprettation_n and_o sense_n of_o scripture_n but_o the_o obscurity_n thereof_o or_o obstinacy_n or_o ignorance_n if_o they_o be_v obstinate_a they_o be_v not_o honest_a if_o ignorant_a th●y_o be_v not_o as_o learned_a as_o their_o adversary_n and_o its_o certain_a we_o do_v pro_n estant_n a_o favour_n in_o compare_v or_o make_v they_o equal_a with_o the_o catholic_n doctor_n in_o either_o but_o when_o man_n dispute_v he_o that_o have_v evident_a truth_n on_o his_o side_n may_v grace_v his_o adversary_n with_o any_o advantage_n as_o i_o do_v at_o the_o present_a suppose_v not_o grant_v that_o protestant_a minister_n be_v equal_a with_o catholic_n doctor_n in_o learning_n and_o virtue_n that_o thereby_o it_o may_v appear_v how_o obscure_a the_o scripture_n be_v wh_z re_fw-mi protestant_n pretend_v it_o to_o be_v clear_a and_o the_o sense_n most_o manifest_a 5_o i_o will_v not_o make_v a_o long_a litany_n of_o the_o supernatural_a and_o visible_a sign_n which_o app_z be_v in_o the_o roman_n catholic_n church_n miracle_n have_v be_v in_o all_o age_n and_o be_v now_o so_o frequent_a among_o we_o that_o there_o be_v not_o a_o country_n or_o province_n wherein_o the_o roman_a religion_n be_v profess_v which_o do_v not_o produce_v testimony_n so_o prudent_o credible_a of_o true_a and_o supernatural_a miracle_n that_o to_o deny_v they_o be_v to_o destroy_v all_o human_a faith_n and_o reduce_v man_n to_o credit_v nothing_o that_o be_v affirm_v by_o man_n however_o so_o well_o qualify_v with_o sound_a judgement_n great_a learning_n and_o know_v integrity_n yet_o protestant_n object_v its_o strange_a themselves_o never_o see_v any_o miracle_n be_v so_o desirous_a and_o miracle_n so_o frequent_a as_o we_o pretend_v herod_n be_v also_o very_o desirous_a to_o see_v a_o miracle_n but_o his_o curiosity_n exclude_v he_o from_o that_o favour_n man_n who_o believe_v nothing_o but_o what_o they_o see_v deserve_v not_o to_o see_v miracle_n because_o they_o be_v obstinate_a yet_o there_o be_v few_o protestant_n who_o do_v not_o see_v miracle_n what_o great_a miracle_n then_o that_o all_o catholic_n turn_v not_o protestant_n if_o t●e_v continual_a victory_n over_o natural_a and_o vehement_a inclination_n do_v require_v a_o miracle_n of_o supernatural_a grace_n we_o be_v

establish_v their_o perfidious_a reformation_n &_o bring_v up_o king_n james_n in_o their_o error_n the_o first_o protestant_a king_n or_o prince_n that_o by_o heresy_n stain_v the_o royal_a blood_n and_o name_n of_o the_o steward_n there_o be_v not_o a_o family_n in_o the_o world_n that_o aught_o to_o hate_v heresy_n and_o love_v catholic_n religion_n more_o than_o his_o posterity_n none_o be_v so_o much_o persecute_v by_o our_o pretend_a reformer_n and_o in_o particular_a by_o the_o english_a church_n as_o they_o and_o no_o subject_n be_v more_o faithful_a to_o their_o sovereign_n than_o the_o catholic_n of_o scotland_n be_v to_o their_o queen_n mary_n steward_n but_o the_o education_n of_o few_o and_o tender_a year_n do_v destroy_v the_o obligation_n of_o many_o age_n and_o blot_v out_o of_o prince_n mind_n the_o memory_n of_o their_o most_o famous_a ancestor_n chap._n vi_o that_o no_o policy_n can_v heretofore_o or_o can_v for_o the_o future_a give_v any_o supernatural_a appearance_n to_o the_o reform_a church_n whereby_o any_o rational_a person_n may_v be_v mistake_v in_o their_o way_n to_o heaven_n by_o confound_v they_o with_o the_o true_a catholic_n church_n 1_o what_o a_o great_a hand_n policy_n have_v in_o destroy_v religion_n and_o set_v up_o reformation_n have_v be_v demonstrate_v in_o the_o former_a chapter_n and_o section_n i_o doubt_v not_o but_o the_o most_o vulgar_a apprehension_n that_o do_v see_v the_o change_n may_v easy_o perceive_v the_o difference_n which_o be_v between_o the_o old_a and_o new_a religion_n i_o be_o also_o confident_a all_o sober_a man_n of_o the_o last_o age_n do_v look_v upon_o luther_n calvin_n cranmer_n knox_n and_o all_o their_o reformado_n just_a as_o we_o do_v upon_o james_n naylor_n and_o his_o quaker_n though_o now_o many_o silly_a soul_n do_v reverence_n their_o memory_n because_o distance_n of_o time_n make_v thing_n look_v as_o unlike_o themselves_o as_o distance_n of_o place_n a_o brute_n beast_n at_o a_o distance_n may_v be_v take_v for_o a_o rational_a creature_n and_o a_o beastly_a reformation_n may_v by_o the_o help_n of_o time_n and_o policy_n gain_v the_o credit_n of_o a_o rational_a religion_n among_o misinform_a and_o weak_a understanding_n but_o it_o can_v never_o look_v like_o supernatural_a faith_n to_o any_o rational_a person_n that_o will_v examine_v the_o ground_n and_o fundation_n of_o it_o notwithstanding_o that_o wicked_a clergy_n and_o politician_n have_v endeavour_v to_o dabe_n it_o over_o with_o the_o private_a spirit_n and_o their_o own_o interpretation_n of_o scripture_n 2_o there_o be_v the_o same_o proportion_n between_o catholic_n religion_n and_o reformation_n as_o be_v between_o ancient_a gentry_n and_o upstart_n king_n out_o of_o policy_n or_o favour_n may_v bestow_v title_n of_o honour_n but_o all_o the_o policy_n upon_o earth_n can_v make_v a_o man_n a_o ancient_a gentleman_n if_o he_o be_v not_o one_o by_o descent_n a_o nobleman_n that_o derive_v his_o pedigree_n from_o citizen_n can_v compare_v in_o quality_n with_o man_n who_o ancestor_n have_v be_v time_n out_o of_o memory_n know_v gentleman_n it_o be_v just_a so_o in_o religion_n man_n may_v give_v to_o their_o reformation_n very_o glorious_a title_n as_o mount_n zion_n assembly_n of_o saint_n beauteous_a discipline_n and_o what_o they_o please_v but_o all_o will_v not_o do_v the_o ancient_a name_n of_o catholic_n come_v by_o descent_n and_o continual_a succession_n not_o by_o policy_n to_o the_o roman_a church_n and_o not_o to_o any_o other_o pretend_v reformation_n these_o new_a religion_n may_v well_o become_v upstart_n and_o new_a family_n raise_v by_o heresy_n but_o methinks_v the_o ancient_a nobility_n and_o gentry_n look_v odd_o in_o this_o new_a fashion_a faith_n and_o seem_v to_o stain_v their_o blood_n by_o renounce_v and_o persecute_v that_o religion_n which_o their_o noble_a progenitor_n for_o so_o many_o age_n do_v constant_o profess_v and_o glorious_o maintain_v both_o at_o home_n and_o abroad_o 3_o catholic_n religion_n do_v not_o only_o sympathize_v with_o ancient_a gentry_n in_o descent_n and_o succession_n but_o also_o in_o their_o coat_n of_o arm_n the_o arm_n of_o the_o catholic_n religion_n be_v the_o supernatural_a sign_n of_o the_o true_a church_n visible_a to_o the_o world_n put_v case_n that_o a_o cheat_n or_o mountebank_n disguise_v like_o a_o gentleman_n shall_v intrude_v himself_o into_o the_o company_n of_o person_n of_o quality_n in_o whitehall_n and_o brag_n much_o of_o his_o gentry_n but_o when_o he_o be_v desire_v to_o prove_v it_o he_o shall_v ingenuous_o confess_v that_o he_o have_v no_o other_o evidence_n for_o his_o extraction_n but_o certain_a interior_a motion_n and_o impulse_n to_o heroic_a action_n questionless_a this_o mountebank_n will_v be_v laugh_v at_o by_o the_o whole_a company_n this_o be_v the_o case_n of_o all_o reform_a church_n that_o pretend_v to_o be_v the_o true_a one_o or_o part_v thereof_o without_o any_o further_a proof_n or_o evidence_n for_o their_o religion_n and_o interpretation_n of_o scripture_n than_o their_o own_o word_n for_o a_o private_a spirit_n as_o invisible_a in_o itself_o as_o in_o any_o effect_n that_o look_v like_o supernatural_a it_o be_v true_a that_o many_o noble_a family_n who_o ancestor_n have_v be_v lion_n as_o their_o coat_n of_o arm_n testify_v even_o to_o this_o day_n have_v by_o degree_n degenerate_v into_o lamb_n yet_o they_o prove_v by_o tradition_n and_o record_n that_o they_o descend_v from_o warlike_a lion_n though_o the_o roman_n catholic_n church_n have_v no_o miracle_n nor_o person_n of_o eminent_a sanctity_n of_o life_n at_o the_o present_a to_o show_v for_o their_o religion_n that_o only_o of_o their_o ancestor_n in_o former_a age_n will_v be_v proof_n enough_o that_o they_o profess_v the_o right_a faith_n because_o they_o have_v evidence_n of_o tradition_n and_o record_n that_o it_o be_v the_o same_o with_o the_o faith_n of_o those_o who_o work_v miracle_n and_o be_v saint_n but_o reform_v church_n want_v all_o such_o evidence_n and_o though_o record_n may_v be_v forge_v by_o master_n mason_n and_o other_o of_o the_o english_a church_n neither_o they_o nor_o any_o private_a spirit_n can_v by_o all_o their_o politic_a devise_n counterfeit_a tradition_n which_o must_v go_v further_o up_o into_o antiquity_n than_o they_o can_v reach_v by_o all_o humane_a industry_n but_o the_o lord_n be_v praise_v for_o it_o the_o roman_a catholic_n church_n have_v now_o and_o have_v in_o every_o age_n evident_a miracle_n and_o eminent_a sanctity_n of_o life_n much_o resemble_v that_o of_o the_o apostle_n and_o our_o primitive_a father_n whereby_o our_o spirit_n and_o faith_n be_v confirm_v to_o be_v true_o catholic_n these_o arm_n and_o sign_n of_o god_n church_n can_v be_v counterfeit_v by_o reformer_n because_o they_o be_v supernatural_a and_o above_o the_o sphere_n of_o hypocrisy_n and_o policy_n a_o puritan_n may_v show_v the_o white_a of_o his_o eye_n by_o lift_v they_o up_o to_o the_o lord_n and_o look_v very_o demure_o and_o devout_o a_o nagshead_n minister_n may_v walk_v in_o roba_fw-la long_fw-mi and_o wear_v his_o suplise_n black_a scarf_n and_o square_a cap_n but_o none_o of_o they_o can_v attain_v to_o a_o eminent_a degree_n of_o supernatural_a sanctity_n or_o work_v a_o miracle_n until_o they_o forsake_v the_o reformation_n and_o become_v roman_a catholic_n 4_o the_o pretend_a evidence_n of_o scripture_n in_o favour_n of_o reformation_n be_v not_o less_o ridiculous_a than_o the_o private_a spirit_n let_v we_o tract_n our_o mountebank_n gentleman_n and_o follow_v he_o to_o the_o court_n of_o westminster_n after_o his_o be_v repulse_v and_o laugh_v at_o in_o whitehall_n for_o prove_v his_o nobility_n only_o by_o interior_a impulse_n suppose_v he_o shall_v in_o the_o open_a court_n lie_v claim_v to_o some_o ancient_a gentleman_n inheritance_n descend_v from_o father_n to_o son_n for_o many_o age_n and_o shall_v produce_v no_o other_o evidence_n or_o proof_n for_o this_o pretend_a right_n but_o his_o adversary_n own_o patent_n in_o virtue_n whereof_o the_o ancient_a gentleman_n ancestor_n and_o himself_o possess_v the_o estate_n but_o because_o some_o word_n in_o the_o patent_n may_v be_v interpret_v by_o the_o mountebank_n ambition_n and_o coveteousnesse_n in_o a_o different_a sense_n than_o ever_o they_o be_v before_o that_o time_n understand_v by_o the_o learned_a judge_n of_o the_o land_n our_o mountebank_n must_v needs_o be_v the_o right_a heir_n and_o dispossess_v the_o gentleman_n of_o his_o ancient_a inheritance_n by_o misinterpret_v the_o word_n of_o the_o patent_n absurd_o and_o contrary_a to_o their_o know_a sense_n and_o to_o sentence_n and_o practice_n of_o the_o court_n since_o ever_o law_n be_v of_o force_n in_o england_n this_o be_v the_o case_n of_o all_o protestant_n who_o pretend_v that_o there_o be_v clear_a text_n of_o scripture_n against_o catholic_n tenet_n and_o practice_n the_o sense_n of_o scripture_n which_o