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	true_a	word_n	3,792	5	4.8466	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A59228	A letter from the authour of Sure-footing, to his answerer	Sergeant, John, 1622-1707.	1665 (1665)	Wing S2574A; ESTC R221073	12,076	25

if_o you_o advance_v this_o civil_a piece_n of_o atheistry_n you_o must_v pardon_v i_o if_o i_o be_v smart_n with_o you_o in_o opposition_n to_o so_o damnable_a and_o fundamental_a a_o error_n i_o love_v christianity_n and_o mankind_n too_o well_o to_o suffer_v that_o position_n which_o destroy_v effectual_o the_o root_n of_o all_o their_o eternal_a happiness_n and_o the_o substance_n of_o all_o their_o hope_n to_o pass_v unstigmatize_v as_o it_o deserve_v nor_o think_v to_o avail_v yourself_o by_o some_o discourser_n in_o our_o school_n it_o will_v be_v show_v when_o press_v that_o they_o be_v still_o preserve_v good_a christian_n through_o the_o virtue_n of_o tradition_n which_o they_o all_o hold_v to_o notwithstanding_o their_o private_a speculation_n but_o you_o not_o because_o of_o your_o want_n of_o certain_a ground_n to_o make_v you_o rational_o hold_v christ_n faith_n they_o only_o mistake_v a_o word_n whereas_o you_o will_v be_v find_v to_o err_v in_o the_o whole_a thing_n or_o the_o ordinary_a mean_n to_o true_a christianity_n again_o if_o such_o cause_n be_v fit_v to_o be_v lay_v by_o god_n providence_n it_o be_v impossible_a to_o avoid_v the_o doctrine_n propose_v in_o sure-footing_a because_o it_o be_v absolute_o impossible_a to_o invent_v any_o thing_n that_o look_v like_o such_o cause_n but_o those_o which_o be_v deliver_v there_o nor_o do_v any_o other_o way_n ever_o attempt_v to_o show_v any_o such_o whence_o i_o foresee_v your_o cause_n will_v force_v you_o to_o fly_v for_o refuge_n to_o the_o actual_a uncertainty_n or_o possible_a falsehood_n of_o all_o our_o faith_n for_o any_o thing_n any_o man_n live_v know_v by_o ordinary_a mean_n a_o sad_a consequence_n of_o a_o erroneous_a tenet_n but_o it_o be_v connatural_a and_o so_o to_o be_v expect_v such_o effect_n shall_v follow_v the_o renounce_n the_o rule_n of_o faith_n 5._o three_o i_o conceive_v it_o very_o reasonable_a that_o you_o will_v please_v to_o declare_v whether_o controversy_n ought_v to_o have_v any_o first_o principle_n or_o no_o if_o none_o then_o to_o speak_v candid_o out_o and_o confess_v that_o controvertist_n be_v certain_a of_o nothing_o they_o say_v since_o their_o discourse_n have_v no_o ground_n or_o first_o principle_n to_o rely_v on_o if_o any_o whether_o tradition_n be_v it_o or_o if_o it_o be_v not_o what_o else_o be_v and_o then_o vouch_v as_o plain_a reason_n tell_v we_o you_o ought_v that_o what_o you_o assign_v have_v true_o in_o it_o the_o nature_n of_o a_o first_o principle_n which_o common_a reason_n give_v to_o be_v self-evidence_n or_o last_o to_o profess_v if_o you_o judge_v it_o your_o best_a play_n that_o what_o you_o substitute_n in_o stead_n of_o tradition_n though_o it_o be_v a_o first_o principle_n yet_o it_o need_v not_o be_v at_o all_o self-evident_a any_o thing_n shall_v content_v i_o so_o you_o will_v but_o please_v to_o speak_v out_o and_o to_o the_o point_n 6._o again_o since_o it_o be_v evident_o your_o task_n to_o argue_v against_o tradition_n certainty_n it_o be_v as_o evident_a that_o while_n you_o argue_v against_o it_o you_o must_v bear_v yourself_o as_o hold_v it_o uncertain_a i_o conceive_v then_o plain_a reason_n oblige_v you_o not_o to_o produce_v any_o thing_n against_o tradition_n which_o depend_v upon_o tradition_n for_o its_o certainty_n for_o in_o do_v so_o you_o will_v invalidate_v and_o even_o nullify_v all_o your_o own_o proof_n since_o if_o tradition_n be_v hold_v by_o you_o uncertain_a and_o they_o have_v no_o certainty_n but_o by_o mean_n of_o it_o they_o must_v be_v confess_v uncertain_a too_o and_o so_o they_o will_v be_v incompetent_a to_o be_v produce_v as_o proof_n and_o yourself_o very_o disingenuous_a to_o produce_v they_o i_o add_v self-contradicting_a too_o and_o unskilful_a nature_n and_o aristotle_n teach_v we_o that_o a_o discourser_n ought_v not_o sustain_v contrary_a to_o himself_o hence_o plain_a reason_n exclude_v you_o from_o allege_v any_o kind_n of_o testimony_n either_o from_o scripture_n council_n father_n or_o history_n till_o you_o answer_v my_o corollary_n 12_o 15_o 16._o which_o pretend_v to_o demonstrate_v the_o certainty_n of_o all_o these_o dependent_a on_o tradition_n and_o the_o only_a way_n to_o show_v my_o discourse_n there_o to_o be_v weak_a be_v to_o manifest_v my_o mistake_n by_o declare_v into_o what_o other_o thing_n your_o certainty_n of_o those_o testimony_n be_v final_o resolvable_a which_o be_v not_o coincident_a with_o tradition_n when_o you_o produce_v such_o a_o principle_n and_o prove_v it_o such_o you_o have_v right_a to_o allege_v the_o foresay_a testimony_n for_o than_o you_o can_v make_v good_a their_o authority_n till_o then_o you_o can_v have_v no_o right_n in_o true_a reason_n to_o do_v it_o not_o only_o because_o till_o then_o you_o be_v to_o be_v hold_v a_o renouncer_n of_o that_o thing_n be_v certainty_n upon_o which_o there_o be_v pretend_v demonstratious_a against_o you_o they_o be_v build_v and_o those_o presume_v true_a one_o because_o you_o let_v such_o strong_a attempt_n pass_v unanswered_a but_o very_o particular_o for_o this_o consideration_n that_o our_o present_a matter_n restrain_v you_o from_o it_o for_o our_o discourse_n be_v about_o the_o ground_n of_o that_o authority_n which_o ascertain_v to_o we_o faith_n which_o therefore_o be_v antecedent_n to_o the_o notion_n of_o faith_n faithful_a church_n council_n father_n nay_o and_o creditable_a history-book_n too_o since_o those_o rely_v on_o tradition_n take_v at_o large_a for_o their_o certainty_n as_o be_v evident_a by_o plain_a reason_n coral_n 16_o 24._o which_o devolve_v into_o this_o that_o tradition_n be_v first_o authority_n and_o so_o not_o proovable_a or_o disproovable_a by_o any_o other_o secondary_a authority_n but_o aught_o to_o be_v impugned_a by_o pure_a reason_n but_o if_o you_o think_v fit_a to_o grant_v this_o certainty_n to_o tradition_n take_v at_o large_a yet_o deny_v it_o to_o christian_a tradition_n which_o have_v beside_o its_o human_a force_n most_o powerful_a divine_a motive_n also_o to_o strengthen_v it_o please_v to_o speak_v it_o out_o and_o the_o strange_a unreasonableness_n of_o the_o position_n will_v quick_o be_v make_v appear_v or_o if_o you_o grant_v christian_a tradition_n certain_a in_o bring_v down_o those_o common_a point_n in_o which_o we_o agree_v yet_o fallible_a nay_o actual_o err_a in_o bring_v down_o to_o we_o those_o other_o point_n which_o we_o be_v find_v hold_v upon_o tradition_n when_o you_o leave_v we_o and_o for_o which_o as_o grievous_a error_n you_o pretend_v to_o leave_v we_o please_v to_o declare_v in_o what_o you_o hold_v the_o virtue_n of_o tradition_n consist_v ascertain_v to_o we_o both_o those_o common_a point_n and_o how_o we_o come_v to_o know_v tradition_n be_v engage_v for_o they_o which_o do_v it_o will_v quick_o appear_v whether_o its_o ascertain_a virtue_n have_v its_o effect_n upon_o some_o and_o not_o other_o or_o on_o all_o unless_o you_o do_v this_o your_o very_a admittance_n of_o tradition_n certainty_n in_o some_o overthrow_v you_o without_o more_o ado_n for_o to_o acknowledge_v it_o argumentative_a for_o the_o certainty_n of_o some_o grant_v it_o a_o virtue_n of_o ascertain_v which_o therefore_o you_o be_v oblige_v to_o grant_v in_o all_o unless_o you_o give_v the_o reason_n of_o your_o exception_n otherwise_o to_o admit_v it_o when_o your_o interest_n be_v not_o touch_v and_o reject_v it_o when_o it_o oppose_v you_o be_v plain_o to_o confess_v that_o tradition_n be_v able_a to_o certify_v yet_o that_o you_o admit_v it_o when_o you_o list_v and_o reject_v it_o when_o you_o list_v 7._o be_v inform_v then_o by_o evident_a reason_n that_o no_o kind_n of_o authority_n but_o only_o the_o way_n of_o reason_n be_v a_o competent_a weapon_n to_o fight_v against_o tradition_n with_o i_o have_v three_o thing_n to_o propose_v to_o your_o thought_n on_o this_o occasion_n which_o i_o hope_v will_v sound_v reasonable_a to_o any_o intelligent_a man_n by_o the_o very_o mention_v first_o that_o you_o will_v not_o allege_v such_o argumment_n as_o strike_v as_o well_o at_o the_o constancy_n of_o every_o species_n in_o nature_n especial_o rational_a nature_n that_o be_v such_o natural_a medium_n as_o tend_v to_o destroy_v all_o natural_a certainty_n second_o that_o your_o objection_n be_v not_o foreign_a or_o fetch_v it_o from_o afar_o of_o for_o these_o be_v multipliable_a without_o end_n and_o apt_a to_o be_v suggest_v by_o fancy_n upon_o every_o notseeing_a the_o coherence_n of_o some_o other_o remote_a whether_o real_a or_o conceit_a truth_n with_o the_o tenet_n we_o aim_v to_o impugn_v but_o that_o they_o be_v immediate_a and_o close_a that_o be_v take_v out_o of_o the_o intrinsecal_n nature_n of_o the_o thing_n for_o so_o they_o will_v be_v more_o forcible_a and_o by_o consequence_n be_v apt_a to_o do_v your_o cause_n much_o service_n and_o unless_o they_o be_v such_o they_o will_v do_v it_o none_o

so_o instead_o of_o disgrace_v we_o you_o most_o high_o commend_v our_o reason_n for_o draw_v consequence_n far_o than_o other_o have_v do_v before_o we_o again_o if_o it_o be_v only_o a_o far_a explication_n it_o be_v for_o that_o very_a reason_n not-new_a since_o the_o sense_n of_o the_o explication_n be_v the_o same_o with_o the_o thing_n explicate_v as_o it_o be_v only_o a_o explication_n then_o it_o be_v not-new_a as_o far_o it_o be_v indeed_o new_a but_o withal_o innocent_a nay_o commendable_a but_o there_o be_v three_o thing_n more_o to_o be_v say_v on_o occasion_n of_o this_o object_v catholic_a divine_n one_o be_v that_o take_v tradition_n for_o the_o live_a voice_n of_o the_o present_a church_n as_o i_o constant_o declare_v myself_o to_o do_v not_o one_o catholic_n do_v or_o can_v deny_v it_o for_o he_o will_v eo_fw-la ipso_fw-la become_v no-catholick_n but_o a_o arch-heretick_n and_o this_o all_o acknowledge_v in_o the_o thing_n explicate_v then_o that_o be_v in_o the_o notion_n of_o tradition_n all_o agree_v with_o i_o and_o consequent_o in_o the_o substance_n of_o my_o explication_n nor_o can_v any_o do_v otherwise_o except_o they_o be_v equivocate_v in_o the_o word_n tradition_n and_o mistake_v my_o meaning_n which_o i_o conceive_v none_o will_v do_v wilful_o after_o they_o have_v read_v here_o my_o declaration_n of_o it_o so_o unmistakable_o lay_v down_o the_o second_o thing_n be_v that_o a_o alledger_n of_o those_o divine_n will_v only_o quote_v their_o word_n as_o speculater_n not_o those_o in_o which_o they_o deliver_v themselves_o natural_o as_o christian_n or_o believer_n which_o saying_n be_v they_o collect_v we_o shall_v find_v they_o unanimous_o sound_v to_o my_o advantage_n and_o not_o one_o of_o they_o opposite_o and_o last_o speak_v of_o our_o explication_n as_o to_o its_o manner_n divine_v contradict_v one_o another_o in_o other_o kind_n of_o explication_n but_o not_o one_o author_n can_v be_v allege_v that_o express_o contradict●_n this_o which_o i_o follow_v 10._o my_o six_o request_n be_v that_o you_o will_v speak_v to_o the_o main_a of_o my_o book_n and_o not_o catch_v at_o some_o odd_a word_n on_o the_o by_o as_o it_o be_v otherwise_o understand_v reader_n will_v see_v this_o be_v not_o to_o answer_v but_o to_o cavil_v 11._o and_o because_o we_o be_v i_o hope_v both_o of_o u●_n endeavour_v to_o clear_a truth_n i_o be_o sure_a we_o aught_v to_o be_v so_o therefore_o to_o acquit_v yourself_o to_o you●_n reader_n that_o you_o ingenuous_o aim_v at_o it_o i_o conceive_v you_o will_v do_v yourself_o a_o great_a deal_n of_o right_n and_o i_o but_o reason_n nay_o which_o be_v yet_o weighty_a do_v the_o common_a cause_n best_a service_n if_o you_o wil●_n join_v with_o i_o to_o retrench_v our_o controversy_n a●_n much_o as_o we_o can_v let_v we_o then_o avoid_v all_o rhetorical_a digression_n and_o affectation_n of_o witty_a and_o fine_a language_n which_o i_o have_v decline_v in_o my_o whole_a book_n and_o choose_v a_o plain_a downright_a manner_n of_o expression_n as_o most_o suitable_a and_o connatutural_a to_o express_v truth_n likewise_o all_o repetition_n of_o what_o particular_n other_o have_v say_v or_o answer_v before_o we_o such_o as_o be_v the_o objection_n make_v by_o that_o ingenious_a person_n the_o l._n faukland_n and_o the_o answer_v give_v they_o in_o the_o apology_n for_o tradition_n unless_o it_o be_v conceive_v those_o solution_n be_v insufficient_a and_o reason_n be_v offer_v why_o they_o be_v judge_v so_o for_o i_o conceive_v it_o a_o endless_a folly_n to_o transcribe_v and_o reprint_v any_o thing_n other_o have_v do_v before_o we_o except_o it_o be_v ground_n which_o ought_v to_o be_v oft_o inculcate_v and_o stick_v to_o and_o those_o particular_n which_o we_o show_v to_o be_v not_o yet_o invalidate_v but_o to_o preserve_v still_o their_o strength_n much_o less_o do_v i_o suspect_v it_o can_v fall_v under_o the_o thought_n of_o one_o who_o aim_v to_o discourse_v rational_o such_o my_o answerer_n ought_v to_o be_v to_o rake_v together_o all_o the_o filth_n and_o froth_n of_o the_o unwarrantable_a action_n or_o opinion_n of_o some_o in_o the_o church_n or_o to_o run_v on_o endless_o with_o multitude_n of_o invective_n &_o invidious_a say_n on_o his_o own_o head_n without_o proof_n &_o then_o apply_v they_o to_o the_o church_n as_o do_v the_o dissuader_n it_o will_v also_o very_o much_o conduce_v to_o the_o bring_v our_o difference_n to_o a_o narrow_a compass_n if_o you_o will_v candid_o take_v my_o book_n endwayes_o and_o declare_v what_o in_o it_o be_v evident_a and_o so_o to_o be_v allow_v what_o not_o what_o principle_n be_v well_o lay_v or_o consequence_n right_o draw_v and_o what_o be_v otherwise_o to_o requite_v which_o favour_n i_o promise_v the_o same_o carriage_n in_o my_o reply_n to_o you_o by_o this_o mean_v it_o will_v be_v quick_o discover_v whether_o or_o no_o you_o have_v overthrow_v my_o discourse_n by_o show_v it_o ill_o coherent_a and_o how_o far_o it_o be_v faulty_a that_o if_o i_o can_v clear_v it_o to_o be_v connect_v i_o may_v confess_v my_o fault_n and_o endeavour_n to_o amend_v it_o for_o however_o i_o see_v my_o ground_n evident_a yet_o i_o be_o far_o from_o judge_v myself_o infallible_a in_o draw_v my_o consequence_n though_o i_o see_v withal_o the_o method_n i_o take_v will_v not_o let_v i_o err_v much_o or_o if_o i_o do_v my_o error_n will_v be_v easy_o discoverable_a because_o i_o go_v not_o about_o to_o cloud_v myself_o in_o word_n but_o to_o speak_v out_o as_o plain_a as_o i_o can_v from_o the_o nature_n of_o the_o thing_n 12._o in_o the_o next_o place_n i_o earnest_o request_v you_o as_o you_o love_v truth_n not_o to_o shuffle_v of_o the_o give_v i_o a_o full_a answer_n nor_o to_o desist_v from_o your_o enterprise_n as_o i_o hear_v a_o certain_a person_n of_o great_a esteem_n for_o his_o learning_n and_o prudence_n have_v already_o do_v though_o you_o find_v some_o difficulty_n where_o to_o fasten_v upon_o the_o substantial_a part_n of_o my_o discourse_n there_o be_v perhaps_o many_o difficult_a passage_n which_o my_o shortness_n force_v i_o to_o leave_v obscure_a these_o will_v natural_o occasion_v mistake_n and_o mistake_v will_v breed_v objection_n to_o impugn_v i_o with_o please_v if_o other_o fail_v to_o make_v use_n of_o those_o at_o least_o it_o be_v no_o discredit_n in_o you_o to_o mistake_v what_o be_v obscure_a rather_o it_o argue_v a_o fault_n in_o i_o do_v not_o my_o circumstance_n of_o write_a ground_n &_o only_o to_o scholar_n excuse_v i_o that_o i_o leave_v it_o so_o to_o make_v amends_o for_o which_o i_o promise_v you_o to_o render_v it_o clear_v when_o i_o see_v where_o it_o pinch_v you_o or_o other_o and_o on_o this_o score_n i_o owe_v very_o particular_a thanks_o to_o mr_n stilling-fleet_n that_o by_o speak_v clear_o out_o his_o thought_n he_o give_v i_o a_o fair_a occasion_n to_o open_v that_o point_n he_o impugned_a i_o think_v upon_o mistake_n of_o our_o tenet_n 13._o if_o you_o think_v fit_a sometime_o to_o argue_v ad_fw-la hominem_fw-la be_v sure_o what_o you_o build_v on_o be_v either_o our_o church_n tenet_n or_o i_o for_o i_o be_o bind_v to_o defend_v nothing_o else_o if_o then_o you_o quote_v father_n first_o see_v they_o speak_v as_o father_n that_o be_v as_o believer_n and_o witnesser_n for_o so_o it_o be_v evident_a our_o church_n mean_v they_o by_o her_o expression_n in_o the_o council_n of_o trent_n as_o also_o do_v antiquity_n for_o both_o of_o they_o constant_o allege_v and_o stand_v upon_o traditio_fw-la patrum_fw-la not_o opinio_fw-la patrum_fw-la next_o see_v you_o bring_v consensus_fw-la patrum_fw-la or_o a_o agreement_n at_o least_o of_o very_a many_o of_o they_o speak_v as_o witness_n otherwise_o you_o will_v not_o touch_v i_o nor_o our_o church_n for_o she_o never_o abet_v they_o further_o in_o case_n you_o bring_v council_n it_o will_v be_v very_o efficacious_a you_o will_v choose_v such_o testimony_n if_o you_o can_v find_v they_o as_o i_o bring_v from_o the_o council_n of_o trent_n that_o be_v such_o in_o which_o they_o declare_v themselves_o or_o the_o circumstance_n give_v it_o they_o proceed_v upon_o their_o rule_n of_o faith_n for_o otherwise_o every_o one_o know_v that_o bishop_n in_o a_o council_n have_v in_o they_o beside_o the_o quality_n of_o faith_n definer_n those_o also_o of_o governor_n and_o of_o the_o most_o eminent_a and_o solid_a divine_n in_o god_n church_n if_o scripture_n you_o must_v make_v evident_a the_o certainty_n of_o your_o way_n of_o argue_v from_o it_o ere_o i_o or_o our_o church_n shall_v allow_v it_o argumenative_a thus_o much_o for_o authority_n if_o you_o oppose_v i_o by_o my_o own_o principle_n or_o discourse_n of_o my_o reason_n i_o must_v defend_v myself_o as_o well_o as_o i_o can_v one_o thing_n