Selected quad for the lemma: nature_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
nature_n	distinct_a	person_n	unity_n	2,409	5	9.8000	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A23823	A Defence of the Brief history of the Unitarians, against Dr. Sherlock's answer in his Vindication of the Holy Trinity	Allix, Pierre, 1641-1717.	1691 (1691)	Wing A1219; ESTC R211860	74,853	56

of_o natural_a reason_n do_v it_o contradict_v reason_n tell_v we_o that_o three_o god_n can_v be_v one_o god_n but_o do_v reason_n tell_v we_o that_o three_o divine_a person_n can_v be_v one_o god_n if_o my_o reason_n be_v like_o other_o man_n i_o be_o sure_a my_o reason_n say_v nothing_o at_o all_o about_o it_o do_v neither_o affirm_v nor_o deny_v it_o be_v not_o this_o a_o admirable_a argument_n which_o consist_v only_o in_o a_o interrogation_n and_o in_o a_o mere_a denial_n of_o the_o difficulty_n propose_v in_o the_o objection_n what_o principle_n of_o natural_a reason_n do_v it_o contradict_v do_v reason_n tell_v we_o that_o three_o divine_a person_n can_v be_v one_o god_n here_o be_v the_o interrogation_n or_o query_n to_o which_o i_o answer_v yes_o it_o do_v contradict_v a_o plain_a principle_n of_o natural_a reason_n even_o this_o that_o three_o can_v be_v one_o if_o my_o reason_n be_v like_o other_o man_n i_o be_o sure_a my_o reason_n say_v nothing_o at_o all_o about_o it_o do_v neither_o affirm_v nor_o deny_v it_o here_o be_v a_o mere_a denial_n of_o the_o difficulty_n i_o judge_v the_o author_n reason_n must_v needs_o be_v very_o weak_a and_o corrupt_a see_v it_o like_v well_o this_o falsehood_n that_o three_o be_v one_o and_o find_v no_o fault_n with_o it_o those_o unquestionable_o have_v a_o better_a sight_n and_o a_o more_o sound_a reason_n who_o discern_v it_o imply_v a_o contradiction_n that_o three_o be_v but_o one_o because_o they_o perceive_v and_o acknowledge_v that_o three_o be_v three_o time_n one_o and_o therefore_o can_v be_v only_o once_o one._n well_o say_v the_o doctor_n plead_v for_o his_o adversary_n if_o we_o believe_v three_o distinct_a divine_a person_n each_o of_o which_o be_v god_n we_o must_v believe_v three_o distinct_a go_n i_o hope_v not_o when_o we_o profess_v to_o believe_v but_o one_o god_n yes_o whatever_o we_o profess_v to_o believe_v three_o such_o distinct_a person_n must_v be_v three_o go_n now_o this_o we_o deny_v and_o challenge_v they_o to_o produce_v any_o plain_a principle_n of_o reason_n to_o prove_v that_o it_o must_v be_v so_o natural_a reason_n teach_v nothing_o about_o the_o personality_n of_o the_o godhead_n it_o teach_v one_o god_n but_o whether_o this_o one_o god_n be_v one_o or_o three_o person_n it_o say_v not_o and_o therefore_o he_o may_v be_v either_o without_o contradict_v the_o natural_a notion_n we_o have_v of_o one_o god_n and_o then_o there_o be_v free_a scope_n for_o revelation_n and_o if_o revelation_n teach_v there_o be_v but_o one_o god_n and_o that_o there_o be_v three_o divine_a person_n each_o of_o which_o have_v in_o scripture_n not_o only_o the_o title_n but_o the_o nature_n and_o attribute_n of_o god_n ascribe_v to_o he_o than_o we_o must_v of_o necessity_n believe_v a_o trinity_n in_o unity_n three_o person_n and_o one_o god_n for_o what_o the_o scripture_n affirm_v and_o reason_n do_v not_o deny_v be_v a_o proper_a object_n of_o our_o faith_n and_o then_o this_o objection_n against_o this_o faith_n that_o three_o distinct_a divine_a person_n must_v be_v three_o distinct_a god_n if_o each_o of_o they_o be_v god_n be_v senseless_a and_o ridiculous_a i_o have_v transcribe_v this_o whole_a paragraph_n because_o it_o deserve_v some_o particular_a reflection_n 1._o i_o observe_v that_o it_o contain_v no_o positive_a proof_n but_o a_o mere_a denial_n the_o author_n be_v extreme_o confident_a and_o bold_a and_o yet_o all_o his_o reason_n may_v be_v resolve_v into_o i_o hope_v not_o and_o this_o we_o deny_v indeed_o this_o be_v a_o very_a short_a way_n of_o answer_v objection_n and_o as_o easy_a as_o to_o burn_v book_n that_o be_v unanswerable_a there_o lie_v a_o objection_n cross_v in_o his_o way_n that_o if_o we_o believe_v three_o distinct_a divine_a person_n we_o must_v believe_v three_o distinct_a go_n to_o this_o he_o answer_v i_o hope_v not_o when_o we_o profess_v to_o believe_v but_o one_o god_n be_v this_o a_o direct_a confutation_n must_v we_o be_v satisfy_v with_o such_o a_o answer_n because_o trinitarian_n profess_v that_o three_o divine_a person_n be_v but_o one_o god_n do_v it_o follow_v that_o it_o be_v true_a and_o can_v be_v doubt_v of_o he_o hope_v not_o and_o he_o deny_v it_o therein_o lie_v the_o strength_n of_o his_o argument_n and_o answer_n 2._o i_o shall_v have_v add_v he_o challenge_v for_o this_o be_v his_o three_o way_n of_o confute_v objection_n he_o challenge_v we_o to_o produce_v any_o plain_a principle_n of_o reason_n to_o prove_v that_o three_o distinct_a divine_a person_n must_v be_v three_o go_n but_o we_o have_v a_o plain_a principle_n of_o reason_n at_o hand_n to_o answer_v his_o challenge_n to_o wit_n that_o it_o imply_v a_o contradiction_n that_o three_o be_v but_o one._n 3._o here_o be_v a_o most_o absurd_a and_o ridiculous_a paradox_n as_o i_o ever_o hear_v of_o natural_a reason_n teach_v nothing_o about_o the_o personality_n of_o god_n or_o the_o godhead_n it_o teach_v one_o god_n but_o whether_o this_o one_o god_n be_v one_o or_o three_o person_n it_o say_v not_o what_o if_o reason_n tell_v we_o that_o there_o be_v one_o god_n he_o must_v be_v one_o intelligent_a be_v now_o according_a to_o reason_n we_o have_v no_o other_o idea_n of_o unity_n but_o such_o as_o we_o have_v of_o a_o man_n a_o beast_n and_o a_o tree_n therefore_o as_o reason_n teach_v that_o a_o man_n be_v one_o person_n because_o he_o be_v one_o intelligent_a be_v so_o it_o follow_v that_o according_a to_o human_a reason_n god_n be_v but_o one_o person_n be_v but_o one_o intelligent_a be_v reason_n do_v not_o tell_v we_o that_o the_o unity_n of_o god_n be_v different_a from_o the_o unity_n of_o a_o man_n it_o produce_v in_o our_o mind_n the_o same_o idea_n of_o both_o which_o be_v apply_v to_o god_n as_o well_o as_o to_o man_n must_v needs_o denote_v one_o person_n or_o intelligent_a be_v in_o opposition_n to_o two_o or_o three_o nay_o if_o reason_n teach_v nothing_o about_o the_o personality_n of_o the_o godhead_n which_o the_o author_n do_v not_o think_v fit_a to_o prove_v what_o idea_n can_v we_o have_v of_o the_o unity_n of_o god_n by_o reason_n as_o long_o as_o we_o be_v ignorant_a whether_o god_n be_v one_o or_o three_o person_n our_o idea_n of_o he_o must_v needs_o be_v more_o imperfect_a than_o of_o any_o other_o be_v in_o that_o very_a notion_n which_o be_v so_o familiar_a to_o we_o and_o which_o god_n himself_o have_v so_o much_o urge_v viz._n his_o unity_n this_o be_v so_o false_a a_o principle_n and_o so_o contrary_a to_o the_o dictate_v of_o reason_n that_o there_o never_o be_v any_o man_n teach_v by_o reason_n that_o there_o be_v but_o one_o god_n but_o do_v believe_v at_o the_o same_o time_n that_o he_o be_v but_o one_o person_n the_o author_n shall_v not_o have_v venture_v abroad_o such_o a_o philosophy_n contrary_a to_o the_o reason_n of_o all_o mankind_n but_o aught_o to_o have_v keep_v it_o for_o himself_o now_o i_o find_v that_o the_o scripture_n do_v perfect_o agree_v with_o reason_n this_o tell_v i_o that_o there_o be_v but_o one_o god_n who_o be_v but_o one_o person_n that_o teach_v i_o the_o same_o and_o also_o that_o the_o father_n of_o our_o lord_n christ_n be_v that_o one_o god_n both_o of_o they_o contrary_a to_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o trinity_n 4._o he_o say_v that_o there_o be_v three_o divine_a person_n each_o of_o which_o have_v in_o scripture_n not_o only_o the_o title_n but_o the_o nature_n and_o attribute_n of_o god_n ascribe_v to_o they_o but_o where_o be_v the_o holy_a ghost_n call_v god_n in_o scripture_n he_o be_v indeed_o call_v the_o spirit_n of_o god_n but_o never_o god_n himself_o and_o be_v the_o power_n of_o god_n it_o be_v no_o wonder_n that_o such_o thing_n be_v ascribe_v to_o he_o as_o be_v ascribe_v to_o god_n himself_o thus_o it_o be_v ordinary_a to_o ascribe_v to_o a_o man_n courage_n what_o he_o have_v do_v himself_o and_o yet_o his_o courage_n be_v no_o person_n nor_o distinct_a from_o he_o this_o i_o say_v only_o by_o the_o way_n to_o show_v the_o strangeness_n of_o his_o consequence_n but_o i_o shall_v say_v nothing_o here_o of_o the_o son_n and_o indeed_o see_v he_o bring_v no_o particular_a instance_n of_o what_o he_o advance_v there_o be_v no_o need_n to_o insist_v any_o long_o upon_o it_o chap._n iii_o i_o come_v now_o to_o examine_v his_o answer_n to_o the_o objection_n against_o the_o trinity_n in_o the_o brief_a history_n of_o the_o unitarian_n the_o first_o objection_n p._n 154._o if_o our_o lord_n christ_n be_v himself_o god_n there_o can_v be_v no_o person_n great_a than_o he_o none_o that_o may_v be_v call_v his_o head_n or_o god_n none_o that_o can_v in_o any_o respect_n command_v he_o let_v we_o hear_v how_o the_o

if_o he_o be_v but_o sincere_a that_o those_o father_n follow_v the_o idea_n of_o plato_n concern_v the_o three_o principle_n and_o therefore_o speak_v rather_o like_o arian_n than_o orthodox_n they_o tell_v we_o that_o the_o son_n and_o holy_a ghost_n have_v each_o of_o they_o his_o own_o nature_n and_o essence_n whereby_o they_o be_v distinguish_v from_o each_o other_o and_o that_o the_o son_n be_v subordinate_a and_o inferior_a to_o the_o father_n both_o in_o nature_n and_o power_n as_o likewise_o the_o holy_a ghost_n be_v subordinate_a to_o the_o son_n if_o any_o one_o desire_n to_o see_v some_o undeniable_a proof_n of_o what_o i_o assert_v i_o refer_v he_o to_o the_o quaternio_fw-la of_o curcellaeus_n whereby_o he_o will_v be_v full_o satisfy_v the_o succeed_a father_n find_v fault_n with_o this_o notion_n bring_v into_o the_o world_n a_o new_a interpretation_n of_o the_o three_o principle_n they_o will_v have_v they_o to_o be_v subordinate_a but_o equal_a both_o in_o nature_n and_o power_n however_o they_o acknowledge_v they_o to_o be_v three_o essence_n or_o collateral_a being_n if_o you_o ask_v they_o how_o they_o can_v avoid_v admit_v a_o plurality_n of_o god_n they_o will_v answer_v that_o those_o three_o being_n be_v but_o one_o god_n as_o peter_n james_n and_o john_n be_v but_o one_o man._n if_o you_o deny_v that_o peter_n james_n and_o john_n be_v but_o one_o man_n they_o will_v tell_v you_o that_o you_o be_v mistake_v because_o in_o propriety_n of_o speech_n this_o term_n man_n ought_v not_o to_o signify_v a_o individual_a as_o peter_n or_o james_n or_o john_n but_o a_o specifical_a nature_n common_a to_o they_o all_o so_o that_o tho'_o they_o be_v three_o individual_n or_o three_o person_n yet_o they_o be_v but_o one_o man_n be_v partaker_n of_o the_o same_o specifical_a common_a nature_n this_o they_o apply_v to_o their_o three_o principle_n they_o be_v indeed_o say_v they_o three_o hypostasis_n or_o person_n yet_o they_o be_v but_o one_o god_n this_o term_n god_n denote_v not_o a_o individual_a hypostasis_fw-la but_o a_o nature_n common_a to_o the_o three_o person_n of_o the_o trinity_n whereby_o tho'_o they_o be_v three_o yet_o they_o be_v say_v to_o be_v but_o one_o god_n thus_o they_o make_v shift_v as_o well_o as_o they_o can_v it_o be_v indeed_o a_o very_a unsufficient_a way_n of_o explain_v the_o unity_n of_o god_n and_o do_v by_o no_o mean_n resolve_v the_o difficulty_n they_o make_v a_o abstract_n specifical_a god_n as_o the_o heathen_n may_v equal_o have_v do_v but_o there_o be_v still_o three_o individual_a or_o numerical_a god_n as_o peter_n james_n and_o john_n may_v be_v say_v to_o be_v by_o abstraction_n one_o specifical_a man_n because_o they_o have_v the_o same_o specifical_a nature_n but_o however_o they_o be_v still_o three_o individual_a numerical_a men._n therefore_o the_o schoolman_n dislike_a this_o notion_n as_o favour_v polytheism_n find_v out_o a_o new_a one_o more_o agreeable_a as_o they_o think_v to_o the_o unity_n of_o god_n they_o will_v have_v the_o three_o person_n of_o the_o trinity_n to_o have_v each_o of_o they_o his_o own_o essence_n and_o nature_n no_o this_o too_o plain_o destroy_v the_o unity_n of_o god_n there_o be_v say_v they_o but_o one_o divine_a essence_n right_n but_o than_o they_o must_v not_o part_v with_o three_o person_n of_o the_o trinity_n therefore_o what_o be_v those_o three_o person_n they_o be_v three_o subsistence_n three_o modes_n three_o relation_n three_o i_o know_v not_o what_o be_v this_o be_v mere_a nonsense_n for_o a_o person_n be_v a_o intelligent_a be_v and_o three_o person_n must_v needs_o be_v three_o intelligent_a being_n so_o true_a it_o be_v that_o whosoever_o acknowledge_v three_o person_n in_o the_o godhead_n if_o he_o take_v the_o word_n in_o its_o proper_a sense_n must_v admit_v three_o god_n which_o the_o learned_a doctor_n can_v avoid_v who_o say_v they_o be_v three_o distinct_a mind_n three_o substantial_a being_n three_o intelligent_a being_n therefore_o unavoidable_o three_o go_n now_o be_v it_o fair_a to_o boast_v so_o much_o of_o the_o tradition_n concern_v the_o trinity_n as_o if_o it_o have_v be_v constant_a and_o unalterable_a in_o all_o the_o age_n of_o the_o church_n when_o the_o contrary_a appear_v to_o any_o sincere_a reader_n the_o father_n who_o live_v before_o the_o council_n of_o nice_a speak_v like_o platonic_a philosopher_n and_o arian_n the_o nicene_n father_n like_o tritheist_n and_o the_o schoolman_n like_o madman_n where_o now_o be_v that_o unchangeable_a tradition_n so_o much_o cry_v up_o consider_v the_o ridiculousness_n of_o those_o man_n who_o in_o their_o respective_a age_n set_v up_o new_a notion_n of_o the_o trinity_n i_o be_o apt_a to_o say_v contrary_a to_o averro_n his_o wish_n let_v not_o my_o soul_n be_v with_o the_o philosopher_n to_o conclude_v this_o chapter_n those_o great_a boaster_n of_o the_o pretend_v tradition_n shall_v do_v well_o to_o apply_v themselves_o to_o the_o confute_v the_o quaternio_fw-la of_o curcellaeus_n before_o mention_v which_o when_o they_o have_v full_o and_o true_o perform_v we_o may_v perhaps_o begin_v to_o think_v of_o part_v with_o tradition_n which_o indeed_o be_v not_o the_o foundation_n whereon_o we_o build_v our_o faith_n know_v only_o the_o scripture_n which_o be_v able_a to_o make_v wise_a unto_o salvation_n chap._n ii_o contain_v a_o examination_n of_o the_o doctor_n be_v answer_n to_o the_o argument_n against_o the_o trinity_n in_o the_o history_n of_o the_o unitarian_n have_v premise_v this_o general_a observation_n i_o come_v to_o examine_v what_o answer_v the_o doctor_n return_v to_o the_o argument_n allege_v against_o the_o trinity_n by_o the_o author_n of_o the_o brief_a history_n of_o the_o unitarian_n but_o i_o must_v first_o consider_v his_o reflection_n concern_v the_o use_n of_o reason_n in_o expound_v scripture_n this_o be_v say_v he_o a_o impudent_a argument_n which_o bring_v revelation_n down_o in_o such_o sublime_a mystery_n to_o the_o level_n of_o our_o understanding_n to_o say_v such_o a_o doctrine_n can_v be_v contain_v in_o scripture_n because_o it_o imply_v a_o contradiction_n whereas_o a_o modest_a man_n will_v first_o inquire_v whether_o it_o be_v in_o scripture_n or_o not_o and_o if_o it_o he_o plain_o contain_v there_o he_o will_v conclude_v how_o vnintelligible_a soever_o it_o appear_v to_o he_o that_o yet_o there_o be_v no_o contradiction_n in_o it_o because_o it_o be_v teach_v in_o scripture_n p._n 141._o but_o be_v this_o impudence_n to_o say_v transubstantiation_n can_v be_v contain_v in_o scripture_n because_o it_o imply_v a_o contradiction_n i_o hope_v not_o well_o then_o if_o the_o trinity_n imply_v no_o less_o contradiction_n than_o transubstantiation_n why_o can_v we_o say_v that_o it_o can_v be_v contain_v in_o scripture_n we_o say_v transubstantiation_n can_v be_v find_v in_o scripture_n because_o it_o be_v a_o plain_a contradiction_n to_o our_o reason_n but_o if_o the_o trinity_n be_v also_o a_o plain_a contradiction_n to_o our_o reason_n why_o shall_v we_o be_v allow_v to_o say_v that_o it_o can_v be_v contain_v in_o scripture_n i_o think_v both_o consequence_n be_v right_a but_o say_v the_o author_n a_o modest_a man_n will_v first_o inquire_v whether_o it_o be_v in_o scripture_n or_o not_o but_o we_o have_v already_o make_v such_o a_o inquiry_n and_o can_v find_v the_o trinity_n in_o scripture_n we_o never_o can_v read_v there_o that_o there_o be_v three_o person_n in_o one_o numerical_a god_n indeed_o how_o can_v we_o we_o may_v as_o well_o find_v there_o that_o the_o bread_n of_o the_o sacrament_n be_v transubstantiate_v into_o christ_n body_n but_o he_o go_v on_o and_o if_o it_o be_v plain_o contain_v there_o he_o shall_v conclude_v how_o vnintelligible_a soever_o it_o appear_v to_o he_o that_o yet_o there_o be_v no_o contradiction_n in_o it_o because_o it_o be_v teach_v in_o scripture_n i_o beg_v the_o author_n pardon_n there_o be_v a_o vast_a difference_n between_o vnintelligible_a and_o contradiction_n he_o shall_v not_o have_v say_v how_o unintelligible_a soever_o but_o how_o contradiction_n soever_o and_o thus_o his_o word_n ought_v to_o run_v he_o shall_v conclude_v how_o contradiction_n soever_o it_o appear_v to_o he_o that_o yet_o there_o be_v no_o contradiction_n in_o it_o because_o it_o be_v teach_v by_o scripture_n i_o perceive_v the_o author_n find_v it_o too_o harsh_a to_o say_v that_o how_o contradiction_n soever_o a_o thing_n appear_v to_o be_v that_o yet_o there_o be_v no_o contradiction_n in_o it_o because_o it_o be_v teach_v by_o scripture_n and_o therefore_o he_o put_v the_o word_n vnintelligible_a instead_o of_o the_o word_n contradiction_n in_o effect_n we_o do_v not_o say_v that_o every_o unintelligible_a thing_n contain_v in_o scripture_n be_v a_o contradiction_n we_o acknowledge_v the_o resurrection_n plain_o set_v down_o in_o scripture_n do_v imply_v no_o contradiction_n