Selected quad for the lemma: nature_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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ID |
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Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
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A59811
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A defence of the Dean of St. Paul's Apology for writing against the Socinians in answer to the antapologist.
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Sherlock, William, 1641?-1707.
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1694
(1694)
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Wing S3283; ESTC R8168
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44,628
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72
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sense_n which_o we_o have_v prove_v to_o be_v the_o true_a sense_n and_o than_o it_o must_v be_v in_o other_o word_n for_o though_o we_o have_v show_v to_o all_o reasonable_a man_n what_o be_v the_o true_a meaning_n of_o they_o and_o so_o make_v the_o sense_n of_o the_o word_n plain_a yet_o the_o word_n be_v the_o same_o that_o they_o be_v and_o therefore_o every_o one_o who_o take_v they_o in_o a_o perverse_a sense_n before_o may_v do_v so_o still_o if_o he_o will_n beside_o why_o may_v not_o any_o man_n who_o believe_v that_o to_o be_v the_o true_a sense_n which_o have_v be_v show_v so_o to_o be_v profess_v his_o belief_n in_o those_o term_n when_o require_v by_o the_o church_n as_o well_o as_o in_o scripture_n word_n which_o he_o take_v in_o the_o same_o sense_n the_o dean_n urge_v they_o i.e._n scripture-word_n may_v be_v undetermined_a and_o it_o be_v necessary_a to_o fix_v their_o true_a sense_n but_o this_o say_v our_o author_n be_v the_o difficulty_n 23._o they_o may_v rational_o at_o least_o probable_o admit_v of_o more_o sense_n than_o one_o etc._n etc._n he_o give_v a_o example_n of_o this_o which_o be_v not_o very_o much_o for_o his_o reputation_n because_o it_o can_v serve_v no_o other_o end_n but_o to_o overthrow_v the_o personality_n of_o the_o holy_a ghost_n and_o his_o intimate_v conscious_a knowledge_n of_o god_n and_o be_v my_o design_n at_o present_a to_o dispute_v the_o sense_n of_o particular_a text_n it_o be_v easy_a to_o show_v that_o it_o be_v not_o the_o obscurity_n of_o the_o text_n but_o his_o own_o inclination_n which_o make_v he_o fancy_v his_o latitude_n of_o sense_n but_o it_o be_v a_o vain_a thing_n in_o such_o a_o cause_n as_o this_o to_o infer_v a_o general_a rule_n from_o a_o particular_a instance_n for_o how_o many_o instance_n soever_o of_o this_o nature_n he_o can_v give_v if_o he_o will_v allow_v that_o there_o be_v any_o express_a text_n for_o the_o divinity_n of_o the_o son_n and_o of_o the_o holy_a ghost_n which_o will_v not_o admit_v such_o a_o latitude_n of_o sense_n as_o he_o must_v acknowledge_v if_o he_o will_v allow_v the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o trinity_n to_o be_v a_o scripture-doctrine_n there_o can_v be_v no_o pretence_n then_o to_o leave_v such_o a_o fundamental_a article_n in_o such_o a_o latitude_n of_o sense_n that_o man_n may_v either_o own_v or_o deny_v a_o trinity_n as_o they_o please_v further_o 25._o he_o will_v be_v clear_o for_o express_v some_o fix_a true_a sense_n of_o all_o controvert_v texâ—s_n in_o such_o word_n as_o heretic_n can_v pervert_v but_o for_o two_o or_o three_o reason_n which_o be_v worth_a hear_n his_o first_o reason_n be_v because_o he_o can_v always_o be_v sure_a which_o sense_n be_v most_o true_o affix_v but_o can_v he_o never_o be_v sure_a of_o this_o in_o any_o text_n that_o have_v be_v controvert_v if_o he_o can_v than_o this_o be_v no_o reason_n why_o it_o shall_v not_o be_v do_v in_o they_o his_o second_o reason_n depend_v upon_o the_o first_o and_o so_o must_v stand_v or_o fall_v with_o that_o for_o where_o we_o can_v be_v sure_a which_o be_v the_o true_a sense_n of_o scripture_n there_o be_v no_o such_o danger_n of_o change_a faith_n and_o change_a scripture_n by_o fix_v the_o sense_n but_o the_o great_a fear_n be_v of_o have_v no_o scripture_n if_o you_o have_v no_o determine_a sense_n of_o it_o his_o last_o reason_n as_o urgent_a as_o all_o the_o rest_n be_v that_o we_o can_v tell_v where_o to_o find_v such_o word_n as_o heretic_n can_v pervert_v i_o grant_v some_o heretic_n be_v so_o perverse_a as_o to_o wrest_v almost_o any_o word_n to_o their_o own_o sense_n or_o else_o the_o socinian_o can_v never_o have_v wrest_v such_o plain_a text_n of_o scripture_n and_o force_v they_o to_o comply_v with_o their_o notion_n but_o that_o some_o word_n have_v be_v find_v that_o heretic_n can_v not_o pervert_v be_v i_o think_v undeniable_a since_o they_o have_v and_o do_v frequent_o refuse_v to_o subscribe_v to_o they_o and_o raise_v such_o opposition_n against_o they_o as_o for_o instance_n the_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d which_o the_o arian_n always_o oppose_v now_o if_o these_o word_n do_v not_o plain_o contain_v such_o a_o sense_n as_o do_v express_o contradict_v their_o opinion_n why_o shall_v they_o not_o profess_v their_o faith_n in_o such_o word_n he_o can_v assign_v many_o word_n pitch_v upon_o from_o time_n to_o time_n to_o guard_v the_o faith_n and_o prick_v the_o finger_n of_o heretic_n etc._n etc._n what_o then_o this_o be_v no_o proof_n that_o all_o word_n can_v be_v pervert_v or_o that_o none_o be_v ever_o pitch_v upon_o that_o can_v not_o as_o to_o the_o two_o word_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d and_o personae_fw-la pitch_v upon_o by_o he_o and_o so_o learned_o criticise_v upon_o i_o shall_v only_o say_v in_o short_a that_o these_o and_o such_o other_o word_n as_o the_o church_n of_o england_n deliver_v her_o doctrine_n in_o have_v prick_v the_o finger_n of_o some_o man_n or_o else_o what_o make_v the_o socinian_o cry_v out_o so_o there_o be_v something_o plain_o signify_v by_o they_o which_o the_o antitrinitarian_n think_v not_o so_o easy_o reconcilable_a to_o their_o opinion_n as_o the_o word_n of_o scripture_n be_v though_o it_o be_v indeed_o no_o more_o than_o we_o say_v and_o prove_v to_o be_v contain_v in_o scripture_n or_o else_o why_o do_v they_o not_o rest_v content_v with_o they_o as_o well_o as_o with_o the_o word_n of_o scripture_n suppose_v there_o be_v some_o homonymy_n as_o our_o author_n complain_v in_o some_o word_n use_v in_o this_o controversy_n will_v these_o word_n admit_v the_o heresy_n against_o which_o they_o be_v direct_v will_v they_o admit_v socinian_n opinion_n or_o do_v they_o contradict_v they_o if_o they_o do_v than_o they_o serve_v the_o end_n for_o which_o they_o be_v design_v notwithstanding_o these_o homonymy_n our_o author_n seem_v to_o think_v that_o word_n can_v be_v find_v to_o fix_v the_o sense_n of_o scripture_n unless_o the_o same_o word_n will_v exclude_v all_o heresy_n concern_v the_o subject_a to_o which_o they_o be_v apply_v which_o be_v manifest_o absurd_a for_o if_o i_o confess_v that_o god_n be_v almighty_a in_o the_o most_o express_a term_n that_o can_v be_v imagine_v may_v i_o not_o for_o all_o that_o affirm_v that_o he_o be_v not_o just_a or_o good_a and_o must_v the_o word_n almighty_n be_v reject_v because_o it_o do_v nâ—â—_n exclude_v all_o heresy_n concern_v the_o divine_a nature_n though_o it_o sufficient_o exclude_v all_o such_o blasphemous_a notion_n as_o make_v god_n a_o weak_a and_o impotent_a be_v now_o though_o i_o confess_v three_o person_n in_o the_o godhead_n it_o be_v no_o wonder_n that_o i_o may_v nevertheless_o hold_v heresy_n and_o blasphemy_n and_o assert_v three_o god_n too_o but_o can_v i_o under_o these_o word_n mean_v that_o there_o be_v not_o a_o trinity_n of_o person_n as_o socinian_n affirm_v but_o heretic_n may_v here_o conceal_v themselves_o under_o a_o large_a latitude_n of_o expression_n 27._o and_o spread_v their_o heresy_n with_o a_o traditionary_a sense_n and_o comment_n of_o their_o own_o more_o exact_o and_o more_o poisonous_o than_o the_o purity_n of_o the_o holy_a text_n will_v have_v permit_v how_o shall_v we_o be_v able_a to_o deal_v with_o this_o man_n who_o be_v so_o well_o skill_v in_o the_o versatile_a wit_n of_o heretic_n that_o neither_o scripture-word_n nor_o all_o the_o word_n make_v use_v of_o by_o the_o ancient_a father_n with_o great_a caution_n and_o judgement_n be_v able_a to_o hold_v he_o i_o wonder_v how_o he_o know_v what_o either_o heresy_n or_o orthodoxy_n be_v as_o to_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o trinity_n when_o if_o we_o may_v believe_v he_o there_o be_v no_o word_n that_o do_v determinate_o signify_v either_o but_o both_o the_o word_n of_o scripture_n and_o father_n will_v equal_o serve_v both_o but_o now_o we_o must_v return_v to_o the_o latitude_n of_o faith_n which_o the_o dean_n tragical_o complain_v of_o he_o for_o plead_v for_o 27._o etc._n etc._n here_o our_o author_n be_v much_o out_o of_o humour_n at_o some_o question_n which_o the_o dean_n put_v to_o he_o and_o i_o do_v not_o wonder_v that_o it_o go_v against_o his_o stomach_n to_o answer_v they_o brief_o and_o plain_o though_o he_o say_v he_o will_n for_o upon_o read_v his_o answer_n they_o appear_v neither_o brief_a nor_o plain_a nor_o can_v i_o well_o tell_v what_o to_o make_v of_o his_o tedious_a harangue_n for_o some_o page_n together_o the_o dean_n ask_v he_o if_o there_o be_v any_o more_o faith_n than_o one_o to_o this_o indeed_o he_o answer_v plain_o that_o faith_n as_o truth_n can_v be_v but_o one_o but_o then_o in_o what_o follow_v he_o make_v it_o neither_o brief_a nor_o plain_a for_o though_o he_o
at_o and_o yet_o i_o fear_v the_o dean_n and_o he_o will_v not_o be_v at_o the_o same_o thing_n the_o dean_n will_v have_v it_o and_o have_v prove_v it_o that_o the_o doctrine_n of_o three_o person_n and_o one_o god_n be_v contain_v in_o scripture_n now_o if_o i_o can_v guess_v at_o the_o meaning_n of_o the_o standerâ—y_n this_o very_a attempt_n put_v he_o into_o a_o melancholy_a fit_a and_o therefore_o he_o desire_v no_o man_n will_v meddle_v with_o this_o controversy_n this_o be_v the_o design_n of_o his_o book_n to_o persuade_v we_o not_o to_o meddle_v with_o this_o controversy_n but_o to_o leave_v every_o man_n to_o take_v the_o word_n of_o scripture_n in_o what_o sense_n he_o please_v and_o this_o i_o take_v to_o be_v different_a from_o the_o dean_n design_n of_o prove_v this_o doctrine_n to_o be_v contain_v in_o scripture_n and_o so_o the_o dean_n own_o profession_n though_o he_o stand_v to_o it_o will_v not_o bring_v the_o business_n so_o near_o a_o compromise_n for_o i_o doubt_v that_o if_o we_o shall_v grant_v our_o author_n what_o he_o say_v 43._o that_o three_o such_o person_n as_o the_o deâ—n_n have_v define_v be_v not_o assert_v in_o scripture_n yet_o he_o will_v not_o be_v so_o kind_a to_o the_o church_n of_o england_n as_o to_o grant_v that_o three_o real_a person_n be_v there_o assert_v which_o we_o know_v the_o socinian_o deny_v and_o put_v strain_v and_o unnatural_a sense_n on_o scripture_n to_o reconcile_v it_o to_o their_o principle_n of_o reason_n and_o do_v so_o long_o before_o the_o dean_n give_v any_o definition_n of_o a_o person_n or_o say_v one_o word_n in_o the_o controversy_n but_o after_o all_o he_o have_v not_o fair_o represent_v the_o dean_n word_n but_o have_v stop_v where_o he_o think_v fit_a as_o if_o the_o dean_n have_v only_o say_v that_o all_o any_o man_n pretend_v to_o be_v to_o prove_v that_o this_o faith_n be_v teach_v in_o scripture_n whereas_o he_o go_v far_o and_o add_v and_o that_o it_o contain_v no_o such_o absurdity_n and_o contradiction_n as_o shall_v force_v a_o wise_a man_n to_o reject_v it_o &c_n &c_n this_o i_o doubt_v the_o stander-by_n do_v not_o love_n to_o hear_v of_o that_o there_o be_v no_o absurdity_n no_o contradiction_n in_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o trinity_n in_o the_o next_o page_n he_o proceed_v to_o account_v for_o his_o last_o reason_n he_o assign_v for_o the_o present_a vnreasonableness_n of_o some_o man_n agitate_v this_o controversy_n 44._o he_o shall_v have_v clear_v his_o account_n as_o he_o go_v along_o and_o say_v something_o more_o to_o the_o purpose_n in_o justification_n of_o his_o other_o reason_n before_o he_o come_v to_o the_o last_o but_o it_o may_v be_v he_o have_v a_o good_a excuse_n and_o therefore_o we_o will_v be_v content_v to_o attend_v his_o motion_n here_o than_o he_o tell_v we_o that_o the_o dean_n calumniate_v he_o when_o he_o affirm_v this_o to_o be_v the_o sum_n of_o his_o argument_n that_o to_o vindicate_v the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o trinity_n against_o socinian_o will_v make_v man_n atheist_n now_o i_o desire_v any_o man_n to_o look_v upon_o his_o word_n and_o see_v if_o it_o be_v not_o so_o for_o he_o address_v his_o suit_n to_o all_o who_o write_v in_o vindication_n of_o the_o trinity_n to_o forbear_v write_v and_o to_o this_o purpose_n he_o tell_v they_o it_o be_v unreasonable_a to_o controvert_v this_o point_n and_o the_o reason_n he_o bring_v to_o prove_v his_o assertion_n 7._o be_v that_o hereby_o our_o church_n at_o present_a be_v and_o the_o common_a christianity_n it_o may_v be_v fear_v will_v be_v more_o and_o more_o daily_o expose_v to_o atheistical_a man_n by_o what_o i_o pray_v by_o vindicate_v the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o trinity_n this_o be_v the_o plain_a sense_n of_o his_o word_n though_o now_o he_o be_v ashamed_a of_o it_o and_o will_v have_v we_o believe_v the_o sum_n of_o all_o be_v only_o this_o such_o vindication_n as_o that_o writ_n by_o dr._n sherlock_n 44._o he_o shall_v have_v add_v or_o by_o any_o other_o learned_a writer_n of_o controversy_n at_o present_a at_o least_o dr._n wallis_n tend_v rather_o to_o make_v man_n atheist_n than_o to_o convert_v socinian_n if_o this_o be_v allâ—he_v mean_v it_o be_v to_o be_v wish_v he_o will_v learn_v to_o speak_v plain_a why_o do_v he_o not_o plain_o say_v he_o be_v not_o against_o man_n writing_n in_o vindication_n of_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o trinity_n but_o that_o he_o only_o dislike_v dr_n sherlock_n '_o s_o vindication_n but_o whatever_o the_o doctor_n be_v vindication_n will_v do_v i_o be_o sure_a our_o antapologist_n politic_a method_n for_o man_n to_o agree_v in_o the_o bare_a sound_n of_o word_n and_o no_o body_n to_o know_v what_o they_o mean_v by_o they_o or_o to_o take_v they_o in_o opposite_a and_o contradictory_n sense_n will_v expose_v we_o and_o our_o faith_n to_o the_o just_a scorn_n of_o atheist_n and_o sceptic_n who_o by_o the_o same_o art_n may_v subscribe_v all_o the_o article_n of_o the_o christian_a creed_n and_o yet_o believe_v never_o a_o word_n of_o the_o gospel_n in_o the_o next_o section_n he_o come_v to_o the_o secret_a which_o the_o dean_n tell_v he_o 45._o that_o atheist_n and_o deist_n man_n who_o be_v for_o no_o religion_n be_v of_o late_a very_o zealous_a socinian_o and_o which_o the_o dean_n urge_v as_o a_o good_a reason_n why_o we_o shall_v at_o present_a be_v zealous_a against_o socinanism_n and_o so_o undoubted_o it_o be_v and_o a_o far_o better_a than_o any_o he_o have_v urge_v to_o the_o contrary_n for_o the_o truth_n of_o the_o matter_n of_o fact_n it_o be_v notorious_o know_v and_o needs_o no_o proof_n to_o invalidate_v this_o argument_n i_o can_v find_v that_o he_o have_v say_v one_o word_n but_o instead_o of_o this_o according_a to_o his_o usual_a way_n of_o digression_n he_o put_v off_o the_o reader_n with_o a_o account_n of_o his_o friendship_n and_o acquaintance_n which_o he_o hold_v with_o no_o atheist_n nor_o deist_n but_o only_o with_o some_o virtuous_a rationalist_n and_o that_o his_o virtuous_a rationalist_n do_v not_o ridicule_n this_o faith_n this_o virtuous_a rationalist_n be_v a_o new_a name_n and_o i_o be_o afraid_a signify_v either_o a_o deist_n or_o a_o socinian_n for_o other_o man_n be_v not_o ashamed_a of_o their_o know_a character_n and_o if_o they_o do_v not_o ridicule_n the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o trinity_n no_o thanks_o to_o their_o good_a nature_n nor_o to_o their_o good_a manner_n they_o do_v their_o best_a as_o he_o have_v do_v to_o ridicule_n it_o but_o it_o be_v a_o doctrine_n that_o will_v be_v ridicule_v thus_o much_o for_o the_o unreasonableness_n of_o this_o controversy_n about_o the_o holy_a trinity_n in_o the_o next_o place_n he_o object_n the_o danger_n of_o it_o and_o his_o argument_n for_o that_o be_v that_o it_o be_v a_o fundamental_a of_o our_o religion_n now_o to_o litigate_v concern_v a_o fundamental_a be_v to_o turn_v it_o into_o a_o controversy_n that_o be_v to_o unsettle_v at_o least_o endanger_v the_o unsettle_v the_o whole_a superstructure_n now_o in_o answer_n to_o this_o the_o dean_n have_v prove_v that_o there_o be_v very_o great_a reason_n to_o dispute_v and_o settle_v fundamental_o when_o heretic_n endeavour_v to_o unsettle_v they_o and_o ask_v this_o author_n whether_o the_o be_v of_o a_o god_n be_v not_o a_o fundamental_a and_o whether_o that_o be_v a_o good_a reason_n not_o to_o dispute_v for_o the_o be_v of_o a_o god_n because_o atheist_n deny_v it_o this_o make_v he_o ashamed_a to_o own_o his_o argument_n and_o therefore_o he_o charge_v the_o dean_n with_o misrepresent_v it_o his_o pretend_a misrepresentation_n be_v that_o he_o do_v not_o say_v that_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o trinity_n be_v a_o fundamental_a in_o general_n but_o only_o if_o due_o state_v and_o therefore_o not_o a_o fundamental_a as_o undue_o state_v by_o the_o dean_n this_o be_v so_o trifle_v a_o evasion_n that_o it_o be_v hardly_o worth_a the_o while_n to_o expose_v it_o be_v the_o dispute_n whether_o the_o dean_n shall_v write_v in_o defence_n of_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o trinity_n or_o whether_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o trinity_n shall_v be_v defend_v be_v his_o argument_n urge_v to_o prove_v that_o it_o be_v dangerous_a for_o the_o dean_n who_o he_o never_o name_v before_o to_o defend_v the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o trinity_n by_o his_o mistake_a notion_n of_o it_o or_o that_o it_o be_v dangerous_a to_o dispute_v a_o fundamental_a to_o show_v the_o folâ—y_n of_o this_o pretence_n let_v we_o put_v his_o argument_n into_o mode_n and_o figure_n wherein_o his_o fundamental_a doctrine_n of_o the_o trinity_n as_o due_o state_v can_v be_v only_o the_o minor_a proposition_n it_o be_v dangerous_a to_o litigate_v touch_v a_o fundamental_a or_o to_o turn_v a_o fundamental_a into_o a_o