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Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
reason_n authority_n believe_v divine_a 2,462 5 6.5297 4 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A30400 A rational method for proving the truth of the Christian religion, as it is professed in the Church of England in answer to A rational compendious way to convince without dispute all persons whatsoever dissenting from the true religion, by J.K. / by Gilbert Burnet. Burnet, Gilbert, 1643-1715. 1675 (1675) Wing B5846; ESTC R32583 48,508 114

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roman_a religion_n be_v propagate_v in_o the_o same_o manner_n and_o shall_v first_o examine_v his_o ground_n his_o first_o branch_n of_o the_o comparison_n be_v that_o as_o the_o christian_a religion_n contain_v some_o high_a mystery_n in_o it_o above_o the_o reach_n of_o humane_a reason_n so_o do_v the_o roman_a religion_n in_o hold_v transubstantiation_n he_o do_v well_o to_o distinguish_v this_o from_o the_o mystery_n of_o the_o christian_a religion_n for_o it_o be_v indeed_o none_o of_o they_o nor_o be_v it_o above_o humane_a reason_n as_o he_o call_v it_o but_o contrary_a to_o it_o and_o not_o at_o all_o to_o be_v compare_v to_o the_o mystery_n of_o christian_a religion_n as_o the_o trinity_n the_o incarnation_n and_o the_o resurrection_n the_o last_o of_o these_o contain_v nothing_o in_o it_o that_o may_v not_o be_v rational_o enough_o conceive_v as_o very_o possible_a and_o easy_a to_o divine_a omnipotence_n for_o the_o other_o mystery_n that_o concern_v god_n it_o be_v no_o wonder_n those_o be_v above_o our_o understanding_n since_o the_o divine_a nature_n be_v so_o vast_o exalt_v above_o all_o our_o depress_a notion_n of_o thing_n and_o therefore_o be_v not_o a_o proper_a object_n for_o our_o faculty_n so_o no_o wonder_n we_o can_v frame_v such_o clear_a conception_n of_o his_o nature_n as_o to_o give_v a_o distinct_a account_n of_o it_o to_o our_o reason_n but_o a_o material_a object_n propose_v to_o our_o sense_n be_v proportion_v to_o our_o faculty_n and_o therefore_o we_o must_v either_o believe_v the_o clear_a evidence_n our_o faculty_n give_v we_o of_o the_o bread_n and_o of_o the_o wine_n after_o the_o consecration_n or_o turn_v sceptic_n for_o ever_o since_o full_a evidence_n to_o our_o faculty_n be_v all_o can_v possible_o be_v offer_v for_o our_o conviction_n and_o if_o that_o in_o any_o case_n fail_v it_o be_v in_o no_o case_n certain_a so_o that_o if_o our_o sense_n fail_v in_o this_o we_o have_v no_o reason_n to_o receive_v any_o thing_n upon_o their_o testimony_n for_o a_o note_a liar_n in_o one_o thing_n be_v to_o be_v believe_v in_o nothing_o even_o though_o his_o lie_n have_v be_v discover_v by_o a_o divine_a revelation_n now_o if_o we_o weaken_v the_o evidence_n of_o sense_n all_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o christian_a religion_n which_o it_o receive_v from_o the_o miracle_n will_v be_v weaken_v for_o these_o be_v only_o know_v by_o the_o sense_n of_o the_o spectator_n and_o so_o far_o of_o the_o first_o branch_n of_o the_o parallel_n the_o second_o branch_n of_o the_o parallel_n be_v that_o as_o the_o christian_a religion_n enjoin_v diverse_a severity_n to_o embrace_v cross_n to_o love_v our_o enemy_n and_o to_o mortify_v our_o passion_n so_o also_o the_o roman_a teach_v very_o hard_a precept_n and_o counsel_n as_o vow_n fast_n confession_n prohibition_n for_o priest_n to_o marry_o to_o which_o i._o k._n add_v a_o etc._n etc._n the_o christian_a religion_n do_v indeed_o command_v diverse_a duty_n contrary_a to_o our_o natural_a appetite_n but_o those_o be_v thing_n of_o themselves_o moral_o good_a and_o such_o as_o do_v high_o perfect_v our_o nature_n but_o the_o roman_a religion_n have_v make_v a_o shift_n to_o find_v mean_n for_o void_v all_o these_o sacred_a obligation_n and_o to_o set_v a_o great_a many_o little_a trifle_a performance_n instead_o of_o they_o which_o have_v no_o tendency_n to_o the_o purify_n of_o our_o nature_n or_o the_o better_n of_o mankind_n how_o much_o they_o have_v detract_v from_o the_o obligation_n to_o all_o the_o severe_a and_o unalterable_o moral_a duty_n of_o christianity_n have_v be_v already_o and_o shall_v be_v more_o full_o lay_v open_a if_o it_o be_v call_v for_o though_o that_o be_v needless_a it_o be_v so_o clear_o do_v by_o many_o better_a pen_n but_o for_o those_o they_o have_v substitute_v in_o their_o room_n let_v we_o a_o little_a consider_v these_o i._o k._n mention_n and_o to_o begin_v with_o vow_n we_o do_v not_o deny_v that_o the_o first_o 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we_o be_v assure_v of_o the_o aid_n of_o the_o divine_a grace_n to_o assist_v we_o in_o the_o performance_n but_o to_o vow_v thing_n which_o we_o be_v not_o sure_a to_o perform_v our_o temper_n be_v so_o liable_a to_o change_v that_o what_o agree_v with_o they_o at_o one_o time_n become_v a_o intolerable_a burden_n and_o snare_n at_o another_o be_v certain_o to_o cast_v ourselves_o headlong_o into_o many_o temptation_n and_o what_o unnatural_a and_o brutal_a lust_n have_v abound_v in_o these_o house_n we_o read_v a_o great_a deal_n more_o than_o i_o be_o willing_a to_o repeat_v what_o a_o cheat_n be_v the_o pretence_n to_o poverty_n in_o those_o order_n which_o have_v get_v such_o vast_a riches_n that_o they_o be_v become_v the_o envy_n of_o the_o world_n as_o the_o benedictine_n the_o ca●●husians_n and_o the_o jesuit_n and_o for_o the_o beg_a order_n it_o be_v both_o against_o the_o rule_n of_o chris●i●n_a religion_n and_o all_o good_a government_n to_o allow_v much_o more_o to_o 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or_o other_o since_o therefore_o it_o be_v not_o in_o this_o life_n it_o must_v be_v in_o another_o therefore_o we_o must_v believe_v our_o soul_n shall_v outlive_v this_o state_n when_o likewise_o we_o consider_v that_o matter_n in_o all_o its_o subtle_a refining_n and_o nimble_a motion_n give_v no_o discovery_n of_o sense_n or_o cogitation_n and_o yet_o we_o feel_v a_o think_v be_v within_o we_o which_o we_o plain_o perceive_v to_o be_v a_o be_v different_a from_o matter_n both_o in_o its_o act_n and_o nature_n we_o conclude_v there_o be_v a_o principle_n in_o we_o that_o must_v not_o necessary_o die_v at_o the_o dissolution_n of_o this_o life_n which_o be_v confirm_v from_o innumerable_a story_n of_o the_o apparition_n of_o some_o rational_a being_n separate_v from_o body_n which_o in_o all_o age_n and_o place_n of_o the_o world_n have_v abound_v and_o be_v as_o certain_o attest_v as_o ever_o any_o matter_n of_o fact_n have_v be_v which_o show_v that_o there_o be_v being_n 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despise_v the_o first_o preach_n of_o christianity_n in_o which_o as_o there_o be_v none_o of_o their_o metaphysical_a cant_v so_o poor_a illiterate_a man_n deliver_v it_o they_o who_o value_v themselves_o on_o their_o learning_n and_o their_o noble_a generous_a temper_n reject_v it_o with_o scorn_n which_o be_v feed_v with_o the_o contempt_n they_o have_v for_o the_o first_o convert_v who_o be_v either_o such_o as_o they_o call_v barbarian_n or_o man_n of_o mean_a education_n and_o employment_n but_o after_o a_o age_n or_o two_o many_o of_o those_o be_v by_o the_o prevail_a progress_n of_o christianity_n convert_v to_o the_o faith_n and_o do_v for_o some_o age_n very_o good_a service_n to_o it_o but_o diverse_a of_o their_o successor_n retain_v the_o old_a temper_n of_o the_o philosopher_n the_o debate_n about_o religion_n begin_v to_o be_v manage_v with_o a_o unyield_a ambition_n and_o anathema_n be_v the_o common_a sanction_n with_o which_o they_o impose_v their_o opinion_n and_o at_o length_n one_o of_o the_o bishop_n assume_v to_o himself_o and_o successor_n the_o absolute_a authority_n of_o judge_v and_o decide_v all_o controversy_n which_o though_o the_o most_o unreasonable_a opinion_n in_o the_o world_n and_o that_o which_o destroy_v the_o free_a and_o right_a use_n of_o reason_n yet_o be_v bring_v in_o on_o the_o high_a pretence_n of_o reason_n as_o the_o only_a mean_a to_o end_v all_o dispute_n and_o when_o a_o great_a many_o error_n be_v visible_o get_v into_o their_o church_n and_o some_o rose_n who_o with_o all_o the_o evidence_n of_o reason_n imaginable_a lay_v open_v these_o and_o press_v they_o to_o disown_n and_o reform_v they_o they_o continue_v in_o their_o stubborness_n multiply_v their_o anathema_n and_o wreathe_v all_o their_o error_n in_o one_o chain_n as_o s._n james_n have_v do_v the_o law_n of_o god_n and_o impose_v all_o without_o mercy_n and_o for_o do_v this_o they_o bring_v their_o janissary_n who_o they_o have_v educate_v in_o 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true_a book_n which_o the_o apostle_n do_v deliver_v to_o the_o church_n and_o the_o jew_n agree_v with_o we_o as_o to_o the_o old_a testament_n be_v the_o same_o evidence_n to_o he_o that_o we_o have_v those_o very_a book_n which_o be_v hold_v sacred_a by_o the_o jew_n in_o our_o saviour_n time_n and_o thus_o by_o i._o k_n leave_v a_o man_n may_v be_v satisfy_v what_o be_v the_o true_a book_n without_o be_v assure_v which_o be_v the_o true_a church_n or_o the_o true_a religion_n be_v then_o assure_v about_o the_o book_n and_o study_v they_o in_o the_o method_n already_o set_v down_o he_o shall_v be_v certain_o direct_v by_o god_n to_o find_v out_o every_o thing_n necessary_a to_o salvation_n and_o this_o be_v far_o from_o set_v up_o a_o private_a spirit_n to_o lead_v we_o enthusiastical_o but_o be_v a_o appeal_n to_o the_o reason_n and_o ingenuity_n that_o be_v common_a to_o all_o man_n for_o let_v i_o ask_v i._o k._n how_o the_o decree_n and_o canon_n of_o the_o council_n of_o trent_n be_v to_o be_v understand_v he_o himself_o say_v the_o meaning_n of_o those_o be_v plain_o and_o certain_o to_o be_v know_v yet_o every_o reader_n must_v expound_v they_o to_o himself_o in_o that_o easy_a and_o clear_a sense_n which_o best_o agree_v with_o the_o word_n be_v this_o therefore_o to_o set_v up_o a_o private_a spirit_n to_o interpret_v these_o canon_n i_o know_v he_o will_v say_v and_o with_o good_a reason_n too_o that_o it_o be_v far_o from_o it_o and_o with_o the_o same_o warrant_n do_v i_o assert_v that_o the_o consider_v of_o scripture_n according_a to_o the_o method_n propose_v be_v not_o to_o interpret_v it_o by_o a_o private_a spirit_n but_o by_o the_o clear_a conduct_n of_o our_o understanding_n direct_v by_o the_o divine_a grace_n which_o be_v free_o give_v to_o all_o that_o ask_v it_o if_o after_o all_o this_o it_o be_v reply_v how_o be_v it_o then_o that_o there_o be_v such_o different_a expositor_n and_o exposition_n of_o scripture_n the_o answer_n be_v plain_a by_o send_v back_o the_o reader_n to_o what_o have_v be_v say_v of_o the_o corruption_n of_o man_n mind_n and_o as_o long_o as_o man_n live_v so_o ill_a as_o they_o do_v it_o be_v to_o no_o purpose_n to_o expect_v they_o shall_v think_v or_o understand_v aright_o beside_o there_o be_v a_o great_a many_o thing_n in_o the_o scripture_n which_o be_v not_o article_n of_o faith_n which_o every_o man_n be_v not_o bind_v to_o know_v and_o conceive_v aright_o under_o the_o hazard_n of_o damnation_n and_o about_o which_o there_o may_v be_v dispute_n and_o different_a opinion_n without_o any_o hazard_n if_o any_o set_v up_o particular_a opinion_n in_o matter_n just_o controvertible_a and_o of_o less_o moment_n and_o impose_v these_o on_o all_o with_o severe_a sanction_n and_o if_o he_o have_v authority_n to_o cast_v all_o out_o of_o the_o church_n society_n that_o do_v not_o agree_v with_o he_o or_o if_o he_o have_v not_o that_o authority_n if_o he_o do_v separate_v from_o the_o communion_n of_o the_o church_n because_o they_o will_v not_o receive_v or_o hearken_v to_o his_o conceit_n he_o be_v a_o schismatic_a for_o a_o dogmatize_v and_o dictate_v spirit_n if_o strengthen_v with_o power_n do_v always_o lead_v to_o persecution_n and_o if_o it_o want_v it_o to_o separation_n and_o thus_o i_o think_v enough_o be_v say_v for_o prove_v that_o the_o way_n to_o salvation_n be_v not_o at_o all_o uncertain_a in_o our_o church_n since_o it_o be_v no_o other_o but_o that_o new_a and_o live_a way_n which_o our_o saviour_n do_v consecrate_v through_o his_o flesh_n but_o in_o this_o we_o be_v strong_o confirm_v when_o we_o find_v the_o ancient_a martyr_n father_n and_o doctor_n of_o the_o church_n go_v in_o the_o same_o method_n and_o by_o it_o convert_v the_o nation_n endure_v martyrdom_n and_o give_v glory_n to_o their_o most_o holy_a faith_n and_o to_o its_o most_o holy_a author_n who_o decree_n when_o meet_v in_o council_n and_o doctrine_n deliver_v in_o their_o write_n do_v so_o agree_v with_o we_o in_o all_o matter_n of_o faith_n that_o we_o decline_v not_o to_o put_v the_o whole_a debate_n between_o we_o and_o they_o to_o this_o trial_n i._o k._n think_v we_o can_v know_v what_o father_n or_o what_o council_n to_o receive_v but_o by_o first_o acknowledge_v a_o true_a church_n which_o must_v tell_v what_o father_n and_o council_n to_o receive_v but_o this_o be_v a_o matter_n of_o fact_n we_o be_v to_o judge_v of_o it_o as_o of_o all_o matter_n of_o fact_n that_o be_v transact_v some_o age_n ago_o and_o by_o the_o evidence_n of_o testimony_n be_v to_o find_v out_o the_o truth_n concern_v the_o father_n and_o council_n and_o their_o write_n and_o decree_n we_o have_v good_a reason_n to_o decline_v the_o writer_n of_o the_o latter_a age_n since_o we_o plain_o see_v that_o upon_o the_o overthrow_n of_o the_o western_a empire_n by_o the_o goth_n and_o vandal_n and_o other_o northern_a nation_n and_o of_o the_o eastern_a empire_n by_o the_o saracen_n and_o other_o mahometan_n religion_n and_o learning_n be_v quick_o bring_v under_o sad_a and_o last_a decay_n which_o be_v confess_v by_o writer_n on_o all_o side_n and_o what_o 1_n k._n say_v that_o we_o may_v as_o well_o expect_v the_o whole_a gospel_n in_o the_o first_o chapter_n of_o s._n matthew_n as_o all_o faith_n of_o the_o church_n in_o the_o first_o four_o general_n council_n be_v very_o impertinent_o allege_v do_v we_o ask_v for_o all_o the_o definition_n of_o the_o church_n in_o the_o first_o canon_n of_o nice_a his_o comparison_n may_v well_o take_v place_n but_o it_o can_v be_v fit_o use_v in_o our_o case_n who_o say_v we_o be_v the_o true_a catholic_n apostolic_a christian_n because_o we_o in_o all_o thing_n agree_v with_o the_o church_n of_o god_n as_o they_o be_v during_o their_o great_a purity_n both_o in_o the_o persecution_n and_o after_o those_o for_o two_o age_n certain_o if_o we_o hold_v all_o that_o faith_n they_o then_o hold_v and_o if_o they_o be_v save_v we_o may_v be_v so_o too_o and_o you_o can_v pass_v a_o severe_a sentence_n on_o we_o which_o will_v not_o likewise_o take_v hold_v of_o they_o i._o k._n can_v deny_v but_o they_o state_v the_o christian_a faith_n in_o very_o formal_a creed_n and_o one_o of_o they_o express_o decree_v that_o no_o new_a addition_n shall_v be_v make_v to_o the_o creed_n and_o so_o we_o who_o receive_v that_o creed_n though_o at_o all_o this_o distance_n from_o they_o be_v real_o in_o communion_n with_o they_o from_o which_o those_o have_v depart_v who_o have_v make_v such_o vast_a addition_n to_o the_o creed_n and_o thus_o it_o appear_v we_o be_v in_o the_o same_o way_n which_o our_o saviour_n first_o open_v and_o in_o which_o that_o glorious_a cloud_n of_o witness_n follow_v he_o and_o be_v still_o in_o communion_n with_o rome_n as_o she_o be_v when_o her_o faith_n be_v speak_v of_o through_o the_o whole_a world_n and_o therefore_o we_o be_v in_o a_o safe_a way_n to_o salvation_n but_o because_o 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