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Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
reason_n interpret_v interpretation_n use_v 2,613 5 9.5757 5 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A59905 A vindication of the doctrine of the holy and ever blessed Trinity and the Incarnation of the Son of God occasioned by the Brief notes on the Creed of St. Athanasius and the Brief history of the Unitarians or Socinians and containing an answer to both / by William Sherlock. Sherlock, William, 1641?-1707. 1691 (1691) Wing S3377; ESTC R25751 172,284 293

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and_o whoever_o reject_v they_o whatever_o name_n he_o go_v by_o can_v be_v no_o better_o than_o a_o socinian_n in_o disguise_n but_o however_o there_o be_v no_o text_n allege_v by_o learned_a trinitarian_n but_o be_v acknowledge_v by_o some_o or_o other_o of_o his_o learned_a trinitarian_n and_o thus_o it_o be_v as_o broad_a as_o long_o but_o it_o be_v not_o the_o authority_n of_o any_o modern_a expositor_n which_o we_o rely_v on_o but_o their_o reason_n and_o if_o a_o learned_a trinitarian_n shall_v reject_v any_o text_n without_o reason_n or_o learning_n it_o signify_v no_o more_o to_o we_o than_o the_o exposition_n of_o a_o learned_a socinian_n when_o we_o seek_v for_o authority_n we_o go_v high_o to_o the_o primitive_a father_n of_o the_o catholic_n church_n and_o there_o we_o find_v it_o they_o not_o only_o deliver_v to_o we_o the_o traditionary_a doctrine_n of_o a_o trinity_n which_o have_v always_o be_v teach_v in_o the_o catholic_n church_n but_o the_o traditionary_a 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again_o to_o make_v all_o thing_n of_o nothing_o and_o to_o reduce_v all_o thing_n to_o nothing_o again_o to_o know_v all_o thing_n past_a present_a and_o to_o come_v especial_o the_o most_o contingent_a futurity_n the_o free_a thought_n and_o counsel_n of_o man_n before_o they_o think_v they_o or_o some_o age_n before_o they_o themselves_o be_v in_o be_v without_o impose_v a_o fatal_a necessity_n on_o humane_a action_n i_o say_v the_o notion_n of_o such_o a_o be_v be_v very_o much_o above_o our_o conception_n and_o to_o a_o atheist_n who_o be_v for_o believe_v nothing_o but_o what_o he_o can_v full_o comprehend_v seem_v very_o absurd_a and_o contradictious_a this_o show_v that_o man_n may_v easy_o mistake_v in_o charge_v the_o nature_n and_o notion_n of_o thing_n with_o contradiction_n and_o therefore_o we_o must_v inquire_v how_o we_o may_v discover_v when_o such_o a_o appear_a contradiction_n be_v not_o real_a but_o be_v whole_o owe_v to_o our_o imperfect_a conception_n of_o thing_n i._o now_o in_o the_o first_o place_n we_o have_v great_a reason_n to_o suspect_v this_o when_o it_o relate_v to_o such_o thing_n as_o all_o mankind_n agree_v we_o do_v not_o and_o can_v full_o understand_v or_o comprehend_v for_o it_o be_v a_o vain_a and_o arrogant_a presumption_n to_o say_v what_o be_v or_o what_o be_v not_o a_o contradiction_n when_o we_o confess_v we_o do_v not_o understand_v or_o comprehend_v the_o thing_n we_o speak_v of_o a_o contradiction_n in_o the_o nature_n of_o thing_n be_v what_o be_v contrary_a to_o the_o nature_n of_o that_o be_v of_o which_o we_o speak_v now_o so_o far_o as_o we_o understand_v the_o nature_n of_o any_o be_v we_o can_v certain_o tell_v what_o be_v contrary_a and_o contradiction_n to_o its_o nature_n as_o that_o accident_n shall_v subsist_v without_o their_o subject_n that_o a_o body_n shall_v be_v without_o extension_n or_o a_o organise_v body_n without_o any_o distinction_n of_o part_n that_o the_o same_o individual_a body_n shall_v be_v in_o heaven_n and_o on_o earth_n and_o in_o a_o thousand_o distant_a place_n at_o the_o same_o time_n that_o flesh_n and_o blood_n shall_v lie_v invisible_a under_o the_o species_n of_o bread_n and_o wine_n that_o a_o body_n suppose_v of_o five_o or_o six_o foot_n long_o shall_v be_v conceal_v under_o the_o least_o crumb_n of_o bread_n these_o and_o such_o like_a be_v the_o manifest_a absurdity_n and_o contradiction_n of_o transubstantiation_n and_o we_o know_v that_o they_o be_v so_o because_o we_o know_v the_o nature_n of_o a_o body_n and_o know_v that_o such_o thing_n be_v a_o contradiction_n to_o the_o essential_a property_n of_o a_o body_n but_o now_o all_o man_n must_v confess_v that_o they_o have_v not_o a_o clear_a and_o comprehensive_a notion_n of_o the_o nature_n and_o essential_a property_n of_o a_o spirit_n especial_o of_o a_o infinite_a spirit_n as_o god_n be_v and_o it_o be_v impossible_a to_o know_v what_o be_v contrary_a to_o the_o nature_n of_o a_o spirit_n if_o we_o know_v not_o what_o the_o nature_n of_o a_o spirit_n be_v and_o that_o man_n who_o shall_v pretend_v to_o comprehend_v all_o that_o be_v possible_a in_o a_o infinite_a nature_n be_v as_o contemptible_o ridiculous_a as_o if_o he_o shall_v challenge_v to_o himself_o infinite_a knowledge_n for_o without_o that_o no_o man_n can_v comprehend_v what_o be_v infinite_a ii_o it_o be_v a_o sufficient_a proof_n that_o such_o seem_a contradiction_n be_v not_o in_o the_o nature_n of_o thing_n but_o in_o our_o imperfect_a manner_n of_o conceive_v they_o when_o we_o have_v other_o evident_a proof_n that_o the_o thing_n be_v though_o we_o can_v comprehend_v it_o for_o nothing_o can_v be_v which_o involve_v a_o contradiction_n in_o its_o nature_n and_o therefore_o if_o it_o be_v the_o contradiction_n be_v not_o real_a but_o imaginary_a as_o for_o instance_n as_o unconceivable_a as_o the_o notion_n of_o eternity_n be_v yet_o all_o mankind_n even_o atheist_n themselves_o must_v confess_v that_o something_o be_v from_o eternity_n for_o if_o ever_o there_o be_v nothing_o it_o be_v impossible_a there_o ever_o shall_v have_v be_v any_o thing_n for_o that_o which_o once_o be_v not_o can_v never_o be_v without_o a_o cause_n and_o therefore_o whatever_o difficulty_n there_o may_v be_v in_o the_o notion_n of_o a_o eternal_a be_v we_o must_v acknowledge_v something_o eternal_a and_o that_o be_v proof_n enough_o that_o there_o be_v nothing_o absurd_a or_o contradictious_a in_o the_o notion_n though_o we_o can_v comprehend_v it_o and_o i_o be_o sure_a the_o notion_n of_o a_o first_o eternal_a cause_n be_v much_o more_o easy_a and_o natural_a than_o to_o make_v either_o matter_n or_o the_o world_n and_o all_o the_o creature_n in_o it_o eternal_a whatever_o we_o can_v certain_o prove_v to_o be_v either_o by_o sense_n reason_n or_o revelation_n if_o there_o be_v any_o difficulty_n in_o conceive_v it_o we_o must_v attribute_v that_o to_o the_o imperfection_n of_o our_o own_o knowledge_n not_o to_o any_o absurdity_n or_o contradiction_n in_o the_o thing_n itself_o this_o show_v how_o unreasonable_a that_o method_n be_v which_o be_v take_v by_o atheist_n infidel_n and_o heretic_n to_o dispute_v against_o the_o be_v of_o any_o thing_n from_o the_o difficulty_n of_o conceive_v it_o and_o some_o pretend_a absurdity_n and_o contradiction_n in_o it_o when_o there_o be_v very_o plain_a proof_n that_o the_o thing_n be_v and_o such_o as_o it_o be_v impossible_a for_o they_o fair_o to_o answer_v this_o be_v the_o fundamental_a miscarriage_n which_o be_v not_o owe_v to_o a_o prudent_a caution_n as_o be_v pretend_v but_o to_o wilfulness_n and_o obstinacy_n and_o pride_n of_o understanding_n or_o to_o a_o fix_a prejudice_n and_o aversion_n to_o the_o belief_n of_o such_o matter_n and_o therefore_o i_o shall_v not_o only_o observe_v but_o particular_o prove_v the_o unreasonableness_n of_o it_o the_o proof_n of_o this_o come_v to_o this_o one_o point_n that_o we_o may_v have_v sufficient_a evidence_n of_o the_o be_v of_o a_o thing_n who_o nature_n we_o can_v conceive_v and_o comprehend_v he_o who_o will_v not_o own_o this_o contradict_v the_o sense_n and_o experience_n of_o mankind_n and_o he_o who_o confess_v this_o and_o yet_o reject_v the_o belief_n of_o that_o which_o he_o have_v good_a evidence_n for_o mere_o because_o he_o can_v conceive_v it_o be_v a_o very_a absurd_a and_o senseless_a infidel_n and_o the_o reason_n of_o this_o be_v very_o plain_a because_o all_o the_o way_n whereby_o the_o be_v of_o any_o thing_n can_v be_v prove_v be_v obvious_a and_o intelligible_a to_o all_o mankind_n but_o the_o nature_n of_o most_o thing_n be_v very_o dark_a and_o obscure_a and_o such_o as_o the_o wise_a man_n know_v little_a or_o nothing_o of_o and_o therefore_o we_o may_v certain_o know_v that_o a_o great_a many_o thing_n be_v who_o nature_n and_o essential_a property_n we_o can_v conceive_v as_o to_o show_v this_o particular_o 1._o the_o proof_n that_o any_o thing_n be_v be_v either_o from_o sense_n from_o reason_n or_o from_o revelation_n what_o be_v evident_a to_o sense_n be_v evident_a to_o all_o man_n who_o have_v their_o sense_n what_o be_v plain_o prove_v by_o reason_n and_o it_o be_v not_o a_o sufficient_a proof_n if_o it_o be_v not_o plain_a be_v plain_a to_o all_o man_n who_o can_v use_v their_o reason_n and_o what_o be_v plain_o reveal_v every_o man_n may_v know_v who_o can_v read_v and_o understand_v the_o scripture_n the_o be_v and_o nature_n of_o thing_n be_v know_v very_o different_a way_n and_o the_o be_v of_o thing_n not_o only_o may_v but_o most_o common_o be_v know_v without_o know_v their_o nature_n any_o man_n may_v know_v the_o first_o but_o few_o man_n in_o any_o measure_n can_v know_v the_o second_o whoever_o have_v his_o sense_n about_o he_o know_v that_o there_o be_v such_o thing_n as_o he_o see_v hear_v or_o feel_v but_o the_o philosophy_n of_o nature_n be_v not_o learn_v by_o sense_n reason_n will_v convince_v 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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 and_o therefore_o when_o the_o scripture_n assure_v we_o that_o there_o be_v but_o one_o god_n as_o natural_a reason_n teach_v and_o that_o this_o one_o god_n be_v three_o divine_a person_n father_n son_n and_o holy_a ghost_n this_o contradict_v nothing_o which_o reason_n teach_v but_o add_v something_o which_o natural_a reason_n can_v not_o discover_v which_o be_v the_o proper_a use_n of_o revelation_n scripture_n teach_v that_o there_o be_v but_o one_o god_n and_o that_o there_o be_v three_o divine_a person_n who_o be_v this_o one_o god_n reason_n teach_v that_o there_o be_v but_o one_o god_n but_o do_v not_o teach_v that_o there_o be_v three_o divine_a person_n in_o the_o unity_n of_o the_o godhead_n nor_o do_v it_o teach_v that_o there_o be_v not_o and_o therefore_o though_o the_o scripture_n teach_v more_o than_o natural_a reason_n do_v which_o i_o suppose_v may_v be_v allow_v by_o these_o adorer_n of_o reason_n yet_o it_o teach_v nothing_o contrary_a to_o what_o natural_a reason_n teach_v nay_o these_o man_n can_v not_o graft_v any_o contradiction_n upon_o it_o without_o pervert_v the_o faith_n of_o the_o ever_o bless_a trinity_n as_o it_o be_v teach_v in_o scripture_n and_o have_v always_o be_v teach_v in_o the_o catholic_n church_n that_o be_v to_o find_v a_o contradiction_n their_o business_n be_v to_o prove_v that_o these_o three_o divine_a person_n each_o of_o which_o be_v god_n must_v be_v three_o distinct_a god_n and_o then_o three_o distinct_a god_n can_v be_v one_o god_n this_o i_o grant_v and_o their_o argument_n be_v unanswerable_a to_o those_o who_o own_o these_o three_o divine_a person_n to_o be_v three_o distinct_a god_n but_o what_o be_v that_o to_o we_o who_o teach_v that_o they_o be_v not_o three_o distinct_a 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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 it_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 here_o be_v free_a scope_n for_o revelation_n and_o if_o revelation_n teach_v that_o 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 in_o scripture_n have_v 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 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 their_o objection_n against_o this_o faith_n that_o these_o three_o 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 for_o it_o be_v demonstrable_a that_o if_o there_o be_v three_o person_n and_o one_o god_n each_o person_n must_v be_v god_n and_o yet_o there_o can_v be_v three_o distinct_a god_n but_o one._n for_o if_o each_o person_n be_v not_o god_n all_o three_o can_v be_v god_n unless_o the_o godhead_n have_v person_n in_o it_o which_o be_v not_o god_n and_o if_o all_o three_o be_v but_o one_o god_n they_o can_v be_v three_o distinct_a god_n so_o that_o whoever_o believe_v the_o three_o divine_a person_n to_o be_v three_o distinct_a god_n do_v not_o believe_v a_o trinity_n in_o unity_n and_o whoever_o believe_v a_o trinity_n in_o unity_n can_v believe_v three_o distinct_a god_n and_o if_o there_o be_v a_o trinity_n in_o unity_n each_o person_n must_v be_v god_n and_o yet_o there_o can_v be_v three_o god_n but_o one_o god_n and_o now_o let_v he_o go_v look_n for_o his_o contradiction_n in_o the_o belief_n of_o three_o person_n and_o one_o god_n and_o when_o he_o have_v find_v it_o let_v i_o hear_v from_o he_o again_o so_o that_o all_o his_o absurdity_n and_o contradiction_n be_v vanish_v only_o into_o nicodemus_n his_o question_n how_o can_v these_o thing_n be_v and_o if_o i_o can_v give_v he_o no_o other_o answer_n i_o shall_v think_v it_o a_o very_a good_a one_o to_o say_v god_n know_v must_v we_o deny_v every_o thing_n that_o we_o can_v conceive_v and_o comprehend_v though_o it_o be_v express_o teach_v by_o god_n himself_o must_v we_o deny_v what_o we_o read_v in_o the_o bible_n to_o be_v there_o because_o reason_n do_v not_o teach_v it_o and_o can_v frame_v a_o adequate_a idea_n of_o it_o but_o i_o have_v not_o do_v with_o our_o author_n thus_o but_o must_v give_v he_o a_o little_a more_o about_o expound_v scripture_n according_a to_o reason_n for_o i_o affirm_v that_o natural_a reason_n be_v not_o the_o rule_n and_o measure_n of_o expound_v scripture_n no_o more_o than_o it_o be_v of_o expound_v any_o other_o write_v the_o true_a and_o only_a way_n to_o interpret_v any_o write_n even_o the_o scripture_n themselves_o be_v to_o examine_v the_o use_n and_o propriety_n of_o word_n and_o phrase_n the_o connexion_n scope_n and_o design_n of_o the_o text_n its_o allusion_n to_o ancient_a custom_n and_o usage_n or_o dispute_n etc._n etc._n for_o there_o be_v no_o other_o good_a reason_n to_o be_v give_v for_o any_o exposition_n but_o that_o the_o word_n signify_v so_o and_o the_o circumstance_n of_o the_o place_n and_o the_o apparent_a scope_n of_o the_o writer_n require_v it_o but_o our_o author_n as_o many_o other_o do_v seem_v to_o confound_v the_o reason_n of_o believe_v any_o doctrine_n with_o the_o rule_n of_o expound_v a_o write_n we_o must_v believe_v nothing_o that_o contradict_v the_o plain_a and_o express_v dictate_v of_o natural_a reason_n which_o all_o mankind_n agree_v in_o whatever_o pretence_n of_o revelation_n there_o be_v for_o it_o well_o say_v they_o than_o you_o must_v expound_v scripture_n so_o as_o to_o make_v it_o agree_v with_o the_o necessary_a principle_n and_o dictate_v of_o reason_n no_o say_v i_o that_o do_v not_o follow_v i_o must_v expound_v scripture_n according_a to_o the_o use_n and_o signification_n of_o the_o word_n and_o must_v not_o force_v my_o own_o sense_n on_o it_o if_o it_o will_v not_o bear_v it_o but_o suppose_v then_o that_o the_o natural_a construction_n of_o the_o word_n import_v such_o a_o sense_n as_o be_v contrary_n to_o some_o evident_a principle_n of_o reason_n then_o i_o will_v believe_v it_o how_o not_o believe_v scripture_n no_o no_o i_o will_v believe_v no_o pretend_a revelation_n which_o contradict_v the_o plain_n dictate_v of_o reason_n which_o all_o mankind_n agree_v in_o and_o be_v i_o persuade_v that_o those_o book_n which_o we_o call_v the_o holy_a scripture_n do_v so_o i_o will_v not_o believe_v they_o and_o this_o be_v a_o fair_a and_o honest_a way_n than_o to_o force_v they_o to_o speak_v what_o they_o never_o intend_v and_o what_o every_o impartial_a man_n who_o read_v they_o must_v think_v be_v never_o intend_v that_o we_o may_v believe_v they_o to_o put_v our_o own_o sense_n on_o scripture_n without_o respect_n to_o the_o use_n of_o word_n and_o to_o the_o reason_n and_o scope_n of_o the_o text_n be_v not_o to_o believe_v scripture_n but_o to_o make_v it_o be_v not_o to_o learn_v from_o scripture_n but_o to_o teach_v it_o to_o speak_v our_o language_n be_v not_o to_o submit_v to_o the_o authority_n of_o scripture_n but_o to_o make_v scripture_n submit_v to_o our_o reason_n even_o in_o such_o matter_n as_o be_v confess_o above_o reason_n as_o the_o infinite_a nature_n and_o essence_n of_o god_n be_v though_o i_o be_o never_o so_o well_o assure_v of_o the_o divine_a authority_n of_o any_o book_n yet_o i_o must_v expound_v it_o as_o i_o do_v other_o write_n for_o