Selected quad for the lemma: nature_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
nature_n	contain_v	law_n	write_v	4,780	5	7.2022	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A54131	A discourse of the general rule of faith and practice and judge of controversie greatly importing all those who desire to take right measures of faith and to determine (at least to themselves) the numerous controversies now on foot in the world / by W. Penn.	Penn, William, 1644-1718.	1699 (1699)	Wing P1277; ESTC R1708	28,457	59

a_o discourse_n of_o the_o general_a rule_n of_o faith_n and_o practice_n and_o judge_n of_o controversy_n great_o import_v all_o those_o who_o desire_v to_o take_v right_a measure_n of_o faith_n and_o to_o determine_v at_o least_o to_o themselves_o the_o numerous_a controversy_n now_o on_o foot_n in_o the_o world_n by_o w._n penn._n for_o in_o christ_n jesus_n neither_o circumcision_n avail_v any_o thing_n nor_o uncircumcision_n but_o a_o new_a creature_n and_o as_o many_o as_o walk_v according_a to_o this_o rule_n peace_n be_v on_o they_o and_o mercy_n and_o upon_o the_o whole_a israel_n of_o god_n gal._n 6._o 16._o but_o god_n have_v reveal_v they_o unto_o we_o by_o his_o spirit_n for_o the_o spirit_n search_v all_o thing_n yea_o the_o deep_a thing_n of_o god_n the_o thing_n of_o god_n know_v no_o man_n save_o the_o spirit_n of_o god_n he_o that_o be_v spiritual_a judge_v all_o thing_n 1_o cor._n 2._o 10_o 11_o 15._o but_o you_o have_v a_o unction_n from_o the_o holy_a one_o and_o you_o know_v all_o thing_n 1_o john_n 2._o 20._o london_n print_v and_o sell_v by_o t._n sowle_n in_o white-hart-court_n in_o gracious-street_n and_o at_o the_o bible_n in_o leaden-hall-street_n near_o the_o market_n 1699._o of_o the_o general_a rule_n of_o faith_n and_o practice_n since_o there_o be_v so_o many_o faith_n in_o the_o world_n and_o perplex_v controversy_n about_o they_o and_o that_o it_o great_o behove_v every_o man_n if_o to_o contend_v for_o than_o first_o to_o know_v the_o true_a faith_n that_o overcome_v the_o world_n it_o may_v not_o be_v unnecessary_a to_o say_v something_o of_o the_o general_n rule_n of_o faith_n and_o life_n and_o judge_n of_o controversy_n at_o this_o time_n and_o indeed_o i_o be_o press_v from_o this_o weighty_a consideration_n that_o man_n perish_v for_o want_v of_o it_o and_o can_v no_o more_o arrive_v at_o truth_n without_o it_o than_o the_o distress_a mariner_n can_v gain_v his_o port_n who_o sail_n without_o either_o star_n or_o compass_n i_o shall_v begin_v with_o a_o explanation_n of_o the_o term_n rule_n and_o faith_n of_o which_o we_o shall_v first_o treat_v that_o we_o may_v as_o well_o express_v what_o we_o intend_v by_o the_o one_o as_o what_o we_o mean_v by_o the_o other_o which_o will_v be_v a_o proper_a introduction_n to_o the_o whole_a discourse_n by_o general_n rule_n etc._n etc._n we_o understand_v that_o constant_a measure_n or_o standard_n by_o which_o man_n in_o all_o age_n have_v be_v enable_v to_o judge_n of_o the_o truth_n or_o error_n of_o doctrine_n and_o the_o good_a or_o evil_a of_o thought_n word_n and_o action_n by_o faith_n we_o understand_v a_o assent_n of_o the_o mind_n in_o such_o manner_n to_o the_o discovery_n make_v of_o god_n thereto_o as_o to_o resign_v up_o to_o god_n and_o have_v dependence_n upon_o he_o as_o the_o great_a creator_n and_o saviour_n of_o his_o people_n which_o be_v inseparable_a from_o good_a work_n that_o man_n in_o all_o age_n have_v have_v a_o belief_n of_o god_n and_o some_o knowledge_n of_o he_o though_o not_o upon_o equal_a discovery_n must_v be_v grant_v from_o that_o account_n that_o all_o story_n give_v of_o mankind_n in_o matter_n of_o religion_n several_a have_v full_o perform_v this_o of_o old_a justin_n martyr_n clemens_n alexandrinus_n augustine_n and_o other_o of_o latter_a time_n du_n plessy_n grotius_n amiraldus_n l._n herbert_n and_o above_o all_o dr._n cudworth_n and_o indeed_o the_o relic_n we_o have_v of_o the_o most_o ancient_a historian_n and_o author_n be_v a_o demonstration_n in_o the_o point_n now_o the_o scripture_n tell_v we_o ●7_n that_o no_o man_n know_v the_o father_n but_o the_o son_n and_o he_o to_o who_o the_o son_n reveal_v he_o 1._o and_o as_o none_o know_v the_o thing_n of_o man_n save_o the_o spirit_n of_o man_n so_o the_o thing_n of_o god_n know_v no_o man_n but_o the_o spirit_n of_o god_n hence_o we_o may_v safe_o conclude_v that_o the_o create_a word_n that_o be_v with_o god_n and_o be_v god_n in_o who_o 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thou_o 58_o o_o man_n what_o be_v good_a and_o what_o god_n require_v of_o thou_o etc._n etc._n which_o can_v not_o be_v without_o the_o light_n of_o his_o son_n shine_v in_o man_n conscience_n therefore_o the_o light_n of_o christ_n in_o the_o conscience_n must_v needs_o have_v be_v the_o general_n rule_n etc._n etc._n it_o be_v by_o this_o law_n that_o encch_n noah_n abraham_n melchizedeck_v abimilech_n job_n jethro_n 184._o etc._n etc._n walk_v and_o be_v accept_v as_o say_v irenaeus_n and_o tertullian_n they_o be_v just_o by_o the_o law_n write_v in_o their_o heart_n then_o be_v it_o their_o rule_n to_o and_o in_o that_o just_a state_n obj._n it_o seem_v than_o you_o deny_v the_o scripture_n to_o be_v the_o general_n rule_n etc._n etc._n answ_n how_o can_v they_o be_v the_o general_n rule_n 40._o that_o have_v not_o be_v general_n that_o which_o be_v both_o before_o and_o since_o they_o be_v in_o be_v must_v needs_o be_v more_o general_n than_o they_o but_o that_o be_v this_o light_n in_o the_o conscience_n the_o law_n and_o guide_n of_o those_o patriarch_n for_o the_o scripture_n begin_v long_o after_o in_o the_o time_n of_o moses_n consequent_o that_o must_v be_v the_o general_n rule_n etc._n etc._n obj._n but_o grant_v that_o the_o light_n within_o be_v so_o before_o scripture_n be_v extant_a yet_o since_o the_o write_n of_o holy_a scripture_n the_o scripture_n and_o not_o the_o light_n have_v be_v the_o general_n rule_n answ_n that_o can_v be_v unless_o palestina_n or_o canaan_n a_o little_a province_n of_o asia_n be_v the_o whole_a world_n and_o that_o the_o jew_n a_o particular_a people_n be_v all_o mankind_n for_o at_o what_o time_n those_o write_n be_v among_o the_o jew_n other_o nation_n be_v only_o leave_v to_o the_o law_n and_o light_n within_o this_o the_o apostle_n confirm_v in_o that_o passage_n 15._o for_o the_o gentile_n which_o have_v not_o the_o law_n that_o be_v the_o outward_a law_n or_o law_n write_v upon_o stone_n do_v by_o nature_n 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for_o christian-man_n though_o manifest_o short_a of_o heathen_n thus_o be_v it_o evident_a that_o the_o scripture_n be_v 〈◊〉_d the_o general_n rule_n after_o it_o be_v give_v forth_o obj._n but_o have_v it_o not_o be_v since_o and_o be_v it_o not_o 〈◊〉_d the_o general_n rule_n &_o c_o answ_n there_o have_v be_v since_o and_o be_v now_o 〈◊〉_d same_o impediment_n for_o before_o christ_n ●●●ing_n in_o the_o flesh_n and_o since_o where_o the_o ●●●●ptures_n never_o reach_v there_o have_v be_v the_o 〈◊〉_d light_n and_o though_o nation_n by_o not_o ●●●rifying_v god_n as_o god_n when_o they_o have_v ●●wn_v he_o have_v be_v give_v up_o to_o all_o man●●●●_n of_o impiety_n insomuch_o as_o their_o understanding_n have_v be_v great_o veil_v yet_o do_v 〈◊〉_d the_o light_n within_o so_o entire_o

lose_v its_o ru●●●●_n exercise_n among_o they_o as_o that_o they_o live_v ●●●hout_n any_o sense_n of_o such_o a_o thing_n therefore_o 〈◊〉_d the_o scripture_n have_v not_o be_v neither_o be_v 〈◊〉_d general_n rule_n no_o not_o so_o much_o as_o of_o any_o 〈◊〉_d since_o in_o no_o age_n can_v it_o be_v prove_v that_o 〈◊〉_d whole_a or_o great_a part_n of_o the_o world_n 〈◊〉_d they_o but_o have_v they_o be_v so_o for_o some_o 〈◊〉_d or_o two_o age_n as_o they_o never_o be_v yet_o 〈◊〉_d grant_v it_o will_v not_o reach_v our_o question_n ●●ere_o the_o word_n general_n imply_v the_o na●●●e_n of_o the_o thing_n itself_o respect_v man●●d_v from_o the_o beginning_n of_o the_o world_n to_o 〈◊〉_d day_n and_o so_o to_o the_o end_n obj._n but_o be_v not_o the_o scripture_n the_o rule_n etc._n etc._n our_o day_n answ_n if_o the_o rule_n than_o the_o general_n rule_n 〈◊〉_d whatsoever_o be_v the_o rule_n of_o 〈◊〉_d and_o life_n exclude_v all_o other_o from_o be_v general_n 〈◊〉_d be_v but_o particular_a in_o respect_n of_o it_o 〈◊〉_d therefore_o not_o the_o though_o a_o rule_n of_o faith_n and_o life_n but_o beside_o their_o not_o be_v general_n i_o 〈◊〉_d several_a reason_n to_o offer_v why_o they_o can_v the_o rule_n of_o faith_n and_o life_n etc._n etc._n 1._o if_o now_o the_o rule_n than_o ever_o the_o ru●●_n but_o they_o be_v not_o ever_o the_o rule_n and_o therefore_o they_o can_v 〈◊〉_d be_v the_o rule_n christian_n that_o 〈◊〉_d be_v not_o ever_o the_o 〈◊〉_d be_v grant_v but_o 〈◊〉_d they_o be_v not_o there●●●_n now_o the_o rule_n may_v 〈◊〉_d by_o some_o deny_v 〈◊〉_d i_o shall_v prove_v thus_o the_o faith_n of_o 〈◊〉_d people_n in_o all_o age_n of_o one_o nature_n he_o 〈◊〉_d the_o rule_n but_o of_o 〈◊〉_d nature_n but_o cle●●●_n be_v heb._n 11._o the_o 〈◊〉_d have_v be_v but_o of_o 〈◊〉_d nature_n conseque●●●_n the_o rule_n but_o of_o 〈◊〉_d nature_n in_o short_a the_o holy_a ancient_n 〈◊〉_d faith_n before_o they_o 〈◊〉_d or_o write_v scriptu●●_n they_o have_v a_o rule_n ●●●●fore_o they_o have_v or_o 〈◊〉_d scripture_n it_o for_o 〈◊〉_d faith_n be_v there_o be_v 〈◊〉_d for_o that_o faith_n 〈◊〉_d if_o the_o faith_n be_v one_o nature_n the_o 〈◊〉_d be_v of_o one_o nature_n 〈◊〉_d and_o since_o the_o 〈◊〉_d be_v inward_a spiri●●●●_n beget_v of_o the_o ●●●ortal_a word_n in_o 〈◊〉_d be_v life_n and_o that_o the_o light_n of_o man_n that_o this_o word_n of_o 〈◊〉_d and_o light_n be_v the_o 〈◊〉_d then_o no_o book_n ●●●ing_n or_o engrave_v visible_a and_o perish_a matter_n can_v be_v the_o 〈◊〉_d now_o ●gain_o such_o as_o the_o 〈◊〉_d be_v such_o must_v the_o 〈◊〉_d be_v but_o the_o faith_n 〈◊〉_d before_o inward_a 〈◊〉_d spiritual_a there●●●●_n the_o rule_n must_v be_v 〈◊〉_d and_o spiritual_a 〈◊〉_d no_o mere_a book_n 〈◊〉_d be_v if_o the_o scripture_n be_v the_o general_n rule_n 〈◊〉_d must_v have_v always_o be_v a_o perfect_a rule_n 〈◊〉_d since_o they_o be_v a_o rule_n but_o this_o be_v possible_a since_o they_o be_v many_o hundred_o year_n write_v and_o be_v now_o imperfect_a also_o as_o number_v how_o then_o be_v they_o the_o perfect_a 〈◊〉_d that_o they_o be_v not_o the_o perfect_a rule●●fore_o ●●fore_z they_o be_v write_v must_v be_v grante●_n and_o that_o they_o be_v many_o hundred_o ye●_n writing_n must_v also_o be_v allow_v and_o that_o 〈◊〉_d be_v imperfect_a now_o as_o to_o number_n i_o prove●●_n first_o enoch_n prophecy_n be_v mention_v 〈◊〉_d judas_n but_o not_o extant_a in_o the_o bible_n the_o bo●●_n of_o the_o war_n of_o the_o lord_n numb_a 21._o 14._o 〈◊〉_d book_n of_o jasher_n josh_n 10._o 13._o 2_o sam._n 1._o 〈◊〉_d the_o book_n of_o nathan_n 2_o chron._n 9_o 29._o 〈◊〉_d book_n of_o shemaiah_n 2_o chron._n 12._o 15._o 〈◊〉_d book_n of_o jehu_n the_o epistle_n of_o the_o ap●●●_n paul_n to_o the_o laodicean_n collos_n 4._o 16._o 〈◊〉_d several_a other_o mention_v in_o the_o script●●●_n not_o now_o extant_a and_o last_o luke_n say_v 〈◊〉_d many_o take_v in_o hand_n to_o relate_v from_o eye-wit●●_a the_o thing_n most_o sure_o believe_v etc._n etc._n now_o it_o be_v take_v for_o grant_v that_o 〈◊〉_d write_v many_o year_n after_o luke_n some_o 〈◊〉_d luke_n write_v before_o mark_n however_o m●●thew_n and_o mark_n be_v not_o many_o and_o to_o 〈◊〉_d day_n we_o see_v no_o more_o than_o those_o four_o in_o 〈◊〉_d bibles_n and_o therefore_o many_o such_o write_n be_v lose_v and_o if_o lose_v than_o the_o scripture_n aforesaid_a not_o perfect_a and_o if_o imperfect_a 〈◊〉_d can_v they_o be_v the_o rule_n of_o faith_n since_o the_o 〈◊〉_d of_o faith_n must_v be_v perfect_a 3._o my_o three_o reason_n be_v this_o the_o scripture_n however_o useful_a to_o edification_n 〈◊〉_d comfort_n seem_v not_o in_o their_o own_o nature_n 〈◊〉_d frame_n to_o have_v be_v compile_v and_o deliver●_n as_o the_o general_n rule_n and_o entire_a body_n of_o fa●●●_n but_o rather_o write_v upon_o particular_a occasi●●_n and_o emergency_n the_o doctrine_n be_v 〈◊〉_d ●●ered_v throughout_o the_o scripture_n insomuch_o ●hat_n those_o society_n who_o have_v give_v forth_o verbal_a confession_n of_o their_o faith_n have_v be_v necessitate_v to_o toss_v they_o to_o and_o fro_o search_z ●ere_z and_o search_v there_o to_o lay_v down_o this_o or_o ●he_v other_o principle_n and_o then_o as_o like_v the_o original_a text_n as_o their_o apprehension_n can_v render_v ●t_a whereas_o be_v it_o as_o plain_a and_o distinct_a as_o ●he_v nature_n of_o a_o rule_n require_v they_o need_v only_o to_o have_v give_v their_o subscription_n for_o a_o confession_n beside_o here_o they_o be_v proper_a ●here_o metaphorical_a in_o one_o place_n literal_o in_o ●nother_n mystical_o to_o be_v accept_v most_o time_n point_n be_v to_o be_v prove_v by_o compare_v and_o weigh_v place_n coherent_a where_o to_o allude_v apt_o and_o not_o wrong_v the_o sense_n be_v difficult_a ●nd_n require_v a_o clear_a and_o certain_a discern_v notwithstanding_o the_o clamour_n upon_o we_o about_o infallibility_n now_o from_o all_o this_o with_o abundance_n more_o that_o may_v be_v say_v plain_a it_o be_v ●hat_n the_o scripture_n be_v not_o plain_a but_o to_o the_o spiritual_a man_n thus_o peter_n say_v of_o paul_n write_n that_o in_o many_o thing_n they_o be_v hard_a to_o be_v understand_v therefore_o not_o such_o a_o rule_n which_o ought_v to_o be_v plain_a proper_a and_o intelligible_a 4._o again_o the_o scripture_n can_v be_v the_o rule_n of_o faith_n because_o it_o can_v give_v faith_n for_o faith_n be_v the_o gift_n of_o god_n which_o overcome_v the_o world_n 8._o neither_o of_o practice_n because_o it_o can_v distinguish_v of_o itself_o in_o all_o case_n what_o ought_v to_o be_v practise_v and_o what_o not_o 4._o since_o ●t_a contain_v as_o well_o what_o ought_v not_o to_o be_v practise_v as_o what_o ought_v this_o be_v the_o case_n of_o christ_n disciple_n who_o have_v no_o particular_a rule_n in_o the_o old_a testament_n write_n for_o the_o abolish_n of_o some_o part_n of_o the_o old_a testament_n religion_n on_o the_o contrary_n they_o may_v have_v plead_v for_o the_o perpetuity_n of_o it_o because_o christ_n say_v unto_o they_o do_v as_o they_o say_v that_o sit_v in_o moses_n be_v chair_n more_o reasonable_o than_o many_o who_o make_v that_o a_o plea_n now_o a-days_o for_o their_o invent_a worship_n what_o then_o guide_v they_o in_o their_o declare_v void_a and_o relinquish_a those_o thing_n for_o instance_n 17._o god_n give_v circumcision_n as_o 〈◊〉_d sign_n for_o ever_o and_o paul_n tell_v the_o galatian_n that_o if_o they_o be_v circumcise_v 2._o christ_n shall_v pro●●●_n they_o nothing_o be_v not_o this_o the_o spirit_n of_o truth_n that_o lead_v into_o all_o truth_n that_o the_o apostle_n make_v the_o judge_n and_o rule_n of_o their_o doctrine_n and_o practice_n so_o say_v james_n and_o the_o assembly_n of_o the_o apostle_n when_o they_o tell_v the_o believer_n 26._o it_o seem_v good_a to_o the_o holy_a ghost_n and_o to_o we_o etc._n etc._n 5._o these_o very_a man_n that_o say_v it_o be_v the_o rule_n of_o faith_n and_o life_n diviate_v in_o their_o proof_n from_o their_o assertion_n for_o the_o scripture_n no_o where_o say_v so_o of_o themselves_o here_o they_o fly_v to_o meaning_n and_o interpretation_n the_o question_n arise_v not_o about_o the_o truth_n of_o the_o text_n for_o that_o be_v agree_v on_o all_o hand_n but_o the_o exposition_n of_o it_o if_o then_o i_o yield_v to_o that_o man_n do_v i_o bow_v to_o the_o letter_n of_o the_o text_n or_o to_o his_o interpretation_n if_o the_o latter_a as_o manifest_o i_o do_v be_v the_o scripture_n o●_n that_o man_n sense_n of_o it_o my_o rule_n nay_o the_o person_n so_o interpret_n make_v not_o the_o scripture_n his_o rule_n but_o his_o own_o apprehension_n whatever_o he_o may_v say_v to_o gain_v credit_n to_o his_o conception_n with_o other_o