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Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
ground_n prove_v religion_n true_a 5,057 5 6.8388 4 true
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A66875 The reasonablenes of scripture-beleif a discourse giving some account of those rational grounds upon which the Bible is received as the word of God / written by Sir Charles Wolseley ... Wolseley, Charles, Sir, 1630?-1714. 1672 (1672) Wing W3313; ESTC R235829 198,284 556

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mouth_n of_o most_o man_n concern_v those_o passage_n there_o express_v paulus_n fagius_n who_o seem_v to_o give_v the_o right_a account_n of_o it_o differ_v not_o much_o from_o this_o of_o junius_n only_o read_v it_o in_o the_o futuretense_n and_o suppose_v it_o to_o intend_v a_o future_a relation_n his_o word_n be_v ideo_fw-la dicetur_fw-la est_fw-la enim_fw-la verbum_fw-la hebraicum_fw-la 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d futuri_fw-la temporis_fw-la in_o commemoratione_n bellorum_fw-la hoc_fw-la est_fw-la cum_fw-la bella_fw-la deicommemorabuntur_fw-la recensebuntur_fw-la a_o posteris_fw-la quae_fw-la bella_fw-la pro_fw-la israel_n in_o mari_fw-fr rubro_fw-la gesscrit_fw-fr &_o quae_fw-la ad_fw-la hos_fw-la torrentes_fw-la quasi_fw-la dicat_fw-la hi_o avo_fw-la locitanquam_fw-la memorabiles_fw-la ab_fw-la omni_fw-la posteritate_fw-la repetentur_fw-la in_o quibus_fw-la deus_fw-la pro_fw-la israel_n dimicavit_fw-la ubi_fw-la prodigia_fw-la coeleslia_n ost●nsa_fw-la sunt_fw-la that_o be_v 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the_o great_a ruin_n to_o mankind_n delude_v they_o with_o false_a information_n about_o their_o chief_a concern_v shall_v be_v able_a to_o produce_v in_o their_o justification_n the_o most_o eminent_a miracle_n and_o all_o the_o great_a evidence_n that_o rational_o can_v be_v expect_v to_o ascertain_v the_o world_n in_o the_o publication_n of_o the_o high_a supernatural_a truth_n in_o a_o word_n who_o can_v believe_v a_o book_n so_o circumstance_v as_o we_o find_v the_o bible_n to_o be_v shall_v be_v compose_v by_o the_o worst_a instrument_n and_o with_o the_o worst_a of_o design_n no_o such_o thing_n can_v ever_o be_v credit_v while_o we_o suppose_v there_o be_v a_o god_n rule_v above_o and_o man_n live_v in_o the_o exercise_n of_o reason_n below_o it_o be_v most_o absurd_a to_o suppose_v that_o any_o book_n false_o pretend_v to_o god_n name_n and_o authority_n design_v his_o dishonour_n and_o man_n destruction_n shall_v be_v capable_a of_o such_o a_o proof_n as_o have_v be_v bring_v 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it_o divers_a contradiction_n several_a strange_a and_o incredible_a story_n and_o other_o thing_n great_o liable_a to_o exception_n in_o answer_v the_o first_o question_n this_o aught_o to_o be_v previous_o consider_v that_o there_o be_v advantage_n peculiar_a to_o the_o belief_n of_o those_o who_o first_o receive_v the_o bible_n or_o any_o part_n of_o it_o and_o live_v in_o those_o time_n wherein_o it_o be_v first_o deliver_v that_o we_o have_v not_o and_o we_o have_v likewise_o some_o advantage_n and_o those_o very_a considerable_a to_o our_o belief_n which_o they_o have_v not_o they_o converse_v with_o the_o penman_n themselves_o the_o name_n of_o many_o of_o who_o be_v to_o we_o whole_o unknown_a the_o holy_a ghost_n not_o judge_v it_o necessary_a to_o record_v they_o foresee_v the_o scripture_n will_v descend_v to_o we_o upon_o other_o sufficient_a evidence_n they_o be_v able_a to_o judge_v of_o their_o personal_a integrity_n and_o the_o account_n they_o give_v of_o their_o 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this_o question_n there_o can_v be_v but_o two_o way_n to_o ascertain_v man_n in_o their_o reception_n of_o any_o part_n of_o the_o bible_n when_o it_o first_o become_v public_a first_o by_o some_o outward_a visible_a justification_n of_o the_o person_n employ_v in_o that_o service_n to_o assure_v we_o that_o they_o be_v send_v and_o commissionated_a from_o god_n or_o second_o from_o the_o matter_n and_o the_o nature_n of_o such_o write_n themselves_o and_o herein_o a_o due_a consideration_n of_o those_o time_n and_o season_n in_o which_o the_o several_a part_n of_o the_o bible_n be_v write_v and_o the_o then_o present_a state_n of_o thing_n and_o the_o order_n of_o write_v it_o will_v much_o inform_v we_o moses_n who_o lay_v the_o first_o and_o great_a foundation_n of_o the_o whole_a fabric_n in_o the_o five_o book_n that_o he_o write_v he_o have_v a_o justification_n personal_n beyond_o all_o question_n his_o commission_n and_o authority_n to_o do_v what_o he_o do_v be_v sufficient_o evident_a to_o all_o that_o converse_v with_o he_o there_o be_v all_o that_o can_v be_v expect_v to_o assure_v those_o that_o then_o live_v that_o god_n have_v employ_v he_o for_o god_n admit_v he_o open_o to_o a_o personal_a converse_n with_o himself_o we_o read_v in_o the_o nineteenth_o of_o exodus_fw-la that_o the_o lord_n say_v unto_o moses_n loe_o i_o come_v to_o thou_o in_o a_o thick_a cloud_n that_o the_o people_n may_v bear_v when_o i_o speak_v with_o thou_o and_o believe_v thou_o for_o ever_o etc._n etc._n he_o impower_v he_o upon_o many_o occasion_n to_o work_v the_o great_a miracle_n that_o since_o the_o world_n have_v a_o be_v have_v ever_o be_v wrought_v and_o open_o to_o shame_n and_o outdo_v all_o his_o opposer_n and_o all_o pretender_n that_o way_n and_o whensoever_o there_o be_v a_o doubt_n make_v about_o this_o divine_a authority_n or_o any_o contest_v with_o he_o upon_o that_o account_n as_o in_o the_o case_n of_o korah_n and_o at_o other_o time_n god_n plain_o and_o open_o from_o heaven_n in_o the_o sight_n of_o all_o the_o people_n decide_v the_o matter_n to_o assure_v they_o and_o all_o generation_n to_o come_v that_o moses_n be_v no_o impostor_n but_o act_v by_o a_o divine_a commission_n in_o what_o he_o then_o do_v and_o indeed_o it_o be_v the_o first_o time_n that_o god_n reveal_v himself_o to_o the_o world_n in_o a_o write_a way_n and_o publish_v those_o law_n which_o be_v to_o be_v a_o standard_n to_o all_o that_o succeed_v and_o the_o great_a cornerstone_n of_o all_o that_o revelation_n that_o he_o will_v at_o any_o time_n after_o make_v to_o mankind_n it_o be_v but_o necessary_a it_o shall_v be_v fix_v and_o establish_v upon_o certain_a and_o unquestionable_a ground_n so_o that_o such_o who_o live_v in_o moses_n his_o time_n can_v have_v no_o good_a reason_n at_o all_o to_o doubt_v in_o the_o least_o of_o his_o sincerity_n for_o all_o be_v do_v that_o can_v be_v do_v to_o put_v that_o matter_n out_o of_o question_n and_o god_n visible_o show_v himself_o as_o we_o find_v in_o the_o four_o and_o twenty_o of_o exodus_fw-la and_o his_o own_o glory_n among_o they_o for_o it_o be_v say_v they_o see_v the_o lord_n god_n of_o israel_n and_o there_o be_v under_o his_o foot_n as_o it_o be_v a_o pave_a work_n of_o a_o saphire-stone_n and_o as_o it_o be_v the_o body_n of_o heaven_n in_o its_o clearness_n nor_o can_v there_o be_v any_o doubt_n raise_v whether_o the_o law_n and_o precept_n of_o moses_n be_v right_o record_v and_o as_o he_o intend_v they_o shall_v for_o before_o his_o death_n he_o himself_o by_o god_n special_a command_n in_o a_o public_a assembly_n deliver_v over_o his_o five_o book_n to_o the_o levite_n to_o be_v lay_v up_o in_o the_o side_n of_o the_o ark._n after_o moses_n his_o time_n
same_o term_n must_v i_o believe_v all_o thing_n divine_a and_o supernatural_a unless_o god_n give_v i_o new_a faculty_n or_o some_o way_n extraordinary_o assist_v i_o and_o make_v i_o somewhat_o more_o than_o i_o be_v nor_o do_v any_o man_n that_o be_v not_o himself_o divine_a and_o infallible_a as_o the_o apostle_n be_v and_o inspire_v infallible_o to_o know_v that_o he_o be_v so_o ever_o receive_v any_o revelation_n upon_o any_o high_a term_n then_o that_o we_o call_v moral_a assurance_n and_o humane_a credibility_n for_o first_o if_o i_o receive_v a_o revelation_n upon_o motive_n external_n and_o foreign_a to_o itself_o such_o motive_n be_v all_o grant_v to_o be_v in_o themselves_o of_o a_o humane_a and_o fallible_a nature_n if_o i_o receive_v it_o upon_o any_o motive_n internal_a any_o testimony_n result_v from_o such_o revelation_n itself_o to_o justify_v its_o own_o divinity_n to_o i_o yet_o i_o must_v of_o necessity_n without_o extraordinary_a inspiration_n judge_v of_o such_o internal_a testimony_n by_o moral_a consideration_n and_o from_o humane_a and_o rational_a argumentation_n with_o myself_o come_v at_o last_o to_o make_v a_o judgement_n about_o it_o those_o that_o live_v in_o the_o first_o time_n that_o see_v the_o miracle_n and_o hear_v the_o doctrine_n deliver_v from_o the_o mouth_n of_o the_o apostle_n themselves_o be_v yet_o without_o inspiration_n but_o upon_o humane_a and_o fallible_a term_n of_o judge_v and_o believe_v because_o those_o medium_n by_o which_o they_o do_v judge_v and_o believe_v be_v in_o their_o own_o nature_n so_o for_o it_o be_v not_o a_o thing_n in_o itself_o infallible_o certain_a but_o that_o any_o man_n may_v be_v mistake_v in_o the_o judgement_n he_o make_v of_o a_o miracle_n or_o in_o that_o faith_n whereby_o he_o embrace_v any_o doctrine_n as_o divine_a first_o this_o objection_n as_o it_o be_v urge_v by_o those_o of_o the_o roman_a church_n do_v not_o disturb_v we_o at_o all_o indeed_o return_v direct_o upon_o themselves_o nor_o do_v the_o remedy_n they_o provide_v any_o way_n cure_v that_o inconveniency_n which_o they_o suppose_v will_v otherwise_o accrue_v to_o religion_n by_o it_o they_o tell_v we_o god_n have_v place_v a_o unerring_a judgement_n a_o faculty_n of_o make_v a_o infallible_a determination_n in_o the_o church_n and_o from_o thence_o this_o objection_n be_v answer_v by_o that_o mean_v we_o be_v perfect_o at_o a_o end_n of_o all_o doubt_n about_o this_o matter_n for_o if_o the_o church_n that_o be_v in_o itself_o infallible_a tell_v we_o that_o this_o be_v the_o word_n of_o god_n and_o as_o it_o be_v at_o first_o deliver_v we_o come_v upon_o that_o account_n to_o a_o divine_a and_o infallible_a faith_n as_o build_v upon_o a_o divine_a and_o infallible_a testimony_n and_o be_v infallible_o assure_v about_o it_o but_o this_o kind_n of_o reason_v bring_v we_o but_o just_o where_o we_o be_v and_o be_v indeed_o in_o itself_o but_o a_o very_a mean_a sort_n of_o trifle_a for_o it_o be_v to_o erect_v another_o infallibility_n to_o be_v assure_v of_o which_o there_o be_v ten_o time_n great_a difficulty_n then_o in_o the_o former_a case_n the_o scripture_n we_o say_v be_v in_o themselves_o divine_a and_o infallible_a as_o come_v from_o god_n the_o question_n be_v about_z out_z way_n of_o come_v to_o know_v this_o that_o they_o be_v so_o it_o be_v confess_v by_o we_o it_o must_v be_v without_o inspiration_n by_o mean_n in_o themselves_o humane_a and_o fallible_a and_o from_o thence_o result_v the_o strength_n of_o this_o objection_n that_o suppose_v the_o scripture_n to_o be_v in_o themselves_o divine_a yet_o we_o come_v in_o a_o humane_a way_n to_o the_o knowledge_n that_o they_o be_v so_o and_o to_o solve_v all_o objection_n against_o they_o our_o belief_n of_o they_o be_v still_o resolve_v into_o no_o more_o than_o that_o we_o call_v a_o humane_a and_o rational_a credibility_n and_o do_v we_o not_o come_v to_o the_o very_a same_o point_n in_o the_o other_o case_n the_o church_n say_v they_o be_v divine_o inspire_v but_o how_o come_v i_o to_o know_v it_o to_o say_v by_o the_o scripture_n be_v in_o this_o case_n ridiculous_a if_o upon_o providential_a and_o probable_a motive_n as_o themselves_o do_v acknowledge_v we_o be_v thereby_o pitch_v upon_o a_o fallible_a bottom_n still_o be_v we_o not_o upon_o the_o same_o humane_a and_o fallible_a mean_n of_o judge_v it_o be_v not_o enough_o in_o this_o case_n to_o make_v the_o pope_n or_o any_o else_o infallible_a but_o before_o we_o can_v that_o way_n perfect_o enervate_a this_o objection_n we_o must_v make_v every_o man_n infallible_o to_o know_v that_o they_o be_v so_o infallible_a can_v any_o man_n more_o infallible_o judge_v of_o the_o church_n infallibility_n then_o of_o the_o bibles_n be_v there_o not_o as_o many_o nay_o more_o question_n that_o must_v necessary_o be_v determine_v by_o fallible_o and_o humane_o judge_v in_o the_o one_o case_n then_o in_o the_o other_o as_o first_o whether_o there_o actual_o be_v any_o such_o thing_n as_o a_o infallible_a church_n extant_a or_o no_o second_o if_o there_o be_v what_o church_n it_o be_v that_o be_v so_o and_o three_o whether_o that_o church_n be_v universal_o infallible_a or_o only_o in_o some_o thing_n and_o under_o what_o sort_n of_o constitution_n it_o must_v be_v when_o it_o so_o infallible_o act_n so_o that_o admit_v the_o church_n infallibility_n in_o itself_o yet_o it_o be_v utter_o impossible_a that_o a_o man_n shall_v believe_v any_o thing_n upon_o its_o infallible_a determination_n with_o any_o other_o than_o a_o humane_a and_o fallible_a faith_n because_o it_o be_v upon_o humane_a and_o fallible_a motive_n upon_o which_o man_n primary_o and_o previous_o come_v to_o a_o assurance_n of_o such_o infallibility_n and_o therefore_o whatsoever_o faith_n in_o the_o roman_a church_n be_v ground_v upon_o the_o church_n infallible_a judgement_n it_o must_v unavoidable_o be_v ultimate_o resolve_v into_o such_o ground_n as_o be_v in_o themselves_o of_o a_o humane_a and_o fallible_a nature_n so_o that_o the_o roman_a infallibility_n as_o it_o be_v in_o itself_o a_o absurd_a and_o fictitious_a pretention_n so_o be_v it_o admit_v it_o be_v to_o no_o purpose_n at_o all_o for_o that_o end_n for_o which_o it_o be_v intend_v so_o far_o as_o it_o be_v urge_v in_o this_o matter_n second_o a_o rational_a belief_n of_o the_o bible_n and_o a_o rational_a satisfaction_n about_o it_o found_v in_o a_o moral_a assurance_n be_v all_o we_o can_v have_v and_o all_o that_o in_o this_o case_n we_o ought_v to_o expect_v i_o demand_v of_o all_o such_o objector_n by_o what_o mean_v they_o come_v to_o any_o assurance_n in_o any_o point_n of_o religion_n to_o one_o of_o these_o three_o thing_n they_o will_v be_v unavoidable_o force_v either_o to_o deny_v that_o there_o be_v any_o certainty_n at_o all_o in_o religion_n and_o thereby_o to_o subvert_v all_o religion_n to_o pretend_v to_o extraordinary_a inspiration_n or_o else_o to_o acknowledge_v they_o come_v to_o it_o in_o a_o moral_a way_n and_o indeed_o the_o sound_n our_o belief_n of_o revelation_n upon_o moral_a and_o rational_a assurance_n be_v so_o far_o from_o subvert_v the_o certainty_n of_o our_o religion_n that_o the_o grand_a fundamental_o of_o all_o religion_n must_v of_o necessity_n be_v original_o establish_v upon_o that_o bottom_n and_o can_v be_v upon_o no_o other_o for_o we_o come_v to_o a_o assurance_n of_o the_o be_v of_o god_n and_o the_o future_a state_n of_o man_n soul_n upon_o no_o other_o ground_n then_o moral_a and_o rational_a conclusion_n from_o whence_o there_o can_v possible_o result_v no_o more_o than_o a_o moral_a assurance_n whoever_o attempt_n a_o rational_a proof_n of_o the_o be_v of_o god_n be_v oblige_v to_o disclaim_v all_o pretence_n to_o infallibility_n in_o the_o way_n of_o his_o proof_n because_o infallibility_n be_v whole_o relative_a to_o god_n himself_o the_o notion_n of_o it_o can_v exist_v without_o the_o admission_n of_o such_o a_o be_v and_o therefore_o to_o talk_v of_o a_o infalible_a way_n of_o prove_v his_o be_v will_v be_v gross_o absurd_a for_o it_o be_v open_o to_o beg_v the_o question_n and_o take_v that_o for_o grant_v which_o we_o oblige_v ourselves_o to_o prove_v so_o that_o whoever_o upon_o rational_a term_n and_o the_o ground_n of_o moral_a assurance_n believe_v the_o bible_n to_o be_v send_v we_o from_o god_n believe_v it_o upon_o the_o same_o ground_n upon_o which_o he_o must_v necessary_o believe_v the_o first_o principle_n of_o all_o religion_n and_o believe_v it_o upon_o the_o high_a term_n god_n either_o require_v or_o enable_v he_o without_o inspiration_n to_o believe_v it_o upon_o such_o as_o ought_v sufficient_o to_o fix_v he_o in_o his_o belief_n and_o upon_o such_o as_o if_o due_o pursue_v will_v certain_o produce_v all_o those_o excellent_a end_n god_n intend_v by_o this_o book_n this_o