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Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
religion_n church_n england_n reform_a 4,212 5 9.5265 5 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A43454 Piety the best rule of orthodoxy, or, An essay upon this proposition, that the conduciveness of doctrines to holiness or vice is the best rule for private Christians to judge the truth or falshood of them by in a letter to his honoured friend H.M. / by Hen. Hesketh. Hesketh, Henry, 1637?-1710. 1680 (1680) Wing H1613; ESTC R27424 45,058 144

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christian_a religion_n 3._o the_o three_o from_o the_o inconvenience_n of_o substitute_v any_o other_o rule_n beside_o this_o in_o this_o case_n 4._o from_o the_o manifest_a advantage_n of_o this_o above_o any_o other_o that_o can_v be_v so_o substitute_v these_o four_o thing_n will_v give_v assurance_n enough_o to_o this_o truth_n and_o make_v it_o very_o evident_a 1._o i_o begin_v with_o the_o first_o which_o be_v take_v from_o the_o consideration_n of_o the_o design_n that_o these_o two_o spirit_n have_v in_o the_o world_n the_o strength_n of_o which_o argument_n to_o our_o present_a purpose_n will_v discover_v itself_o in_o these_o two_o or_o three_o consequential_a notice_n 1._o first_o as_o these_o be_v direct_o contrary_a to_o each_o other_o so_o they_o must_v needs_o be_v suppose_v to_o intend_v and_o drive_v on_o different_a aim_n and_o design_n in_o the_o world_n the_o spirit_n of_o truth_n be_v the_o spirit_n of_o god_n the_o spirit_n of_o error_n be_v the_o spirit_n of_o the_o devil_n and_o when_o light_n and_o darkness_n be_v reconcile_v each_o to_o other_o when_o christ_n and_o belial_n become_v friend_n then_o may_v we_o suppose_v these_o two_o spirit_n to_o consent_n and_o agree_v together_o in_o the_o fame_n design_n but_o not_o before_o there_o be_v no_o communion_n say_v the_o apostle_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 6.14_o 2_o cor._n 6.14_o nothing_o that_o be_v in_o common_a nothing_o that_o be_v mutual_o share_v betwixt_o light_n and_o darkness_n but_o as_o soon_o as_o one_o appear_v the_o other_o present_o fly_v away_o as_o when_o the_o ray_n of_o the_o morning_n discover_v themselves_o the_o dark_a shade_n run_v away_o and_o hide_v themselves_o on_o the_o other_o side_n of_o this_o globe_n and_o so_o it_o be_v with_o these_o two_o spirit_n they_o be_v inconsistent_o opposite_a and_o contrary_a each_o to_o other_o and_o can_v never_o be_v any_o more_o reconcile_v in_o their_o design_n than_o they_o be_v in_o their_o nature_n but_o those_o will_v still_o be_v as_o different_a as_o these_o be_v as_o we_o see_v it_o still_o to_o be_v in_o all_o other_o thing_n who_o nature_n be_v contrary_a each_o to_o other_o 2._o second_o all_o the_o doctrine_n that_o issue_n from_o or_o be_v suggest_v to_o man_n by_o these_o two_o spirit_n must_v needs_o be_v suppose_v to_o be_v direct_v to_o these_o different_a end_n and_o design_v on_o purpose_n to_o promote_v the_o same_o to_o suppose_v otherwise_o be_v to_o imagine_v they_o false_a to_o their_o own_o interest_n and_o neglectful_a of_o they_o or_o at_o least_o dull_a and_o shortsighted_a and_o unable_a to_o choose_v or_o pitch_v upon_o proper_a mean_n for_o the_o promote_a of_o the_o same_o when_o no_o man_n have_v any_o reason_n to_o imagine_v either_o of_o these_o thing_n for_o the_o spirit_n of_o god_n be_v both_o
pretence_n of_o knowledge_n bring_v they_o to_o the_o law_n and_o to_o the_o testimony_n and_o if_o in_o any_o thing_n they_o differ_v from_o that_o than_o there_o be_v no_o morning_n or_o light_n in_o they_o but_o they_o arise_v out_o of_o the_o infernal_a specus_fw-la and_o be_v suggest_v by_o the_o spirit_n and_o prince_n of_o darkness_n this_o seem_v to_o i_o to_o be_v very_o clear_a and_o yet_o i_o shall_v add_v something_o more_o that_o this_o be_v not_o only_o appoint_v to_o be_v the_o rule_n of_o judge_v in_o all_o ordinary_a difference_n about_o doctrine_n but_o in_o the_o most_o extraordinary_a also_o that_o can_v possible_o happen_v i_o shall_v instance_n in_o two_o that_o be_v the_o chief_a of_o all_o pretension_n to_o prophecy_n and_o work_n of_o miracle_n these_o be_v indeed_o extraordinary_a case_n and_o therefore_o though_o the_o judge_n of_o they_o do_v not_o belong_v to_o every_o private_a man_n but_o only_o to_o the_o great_a sanhedrim_n as_o learned_a man_n have_v clear_o prove_v yet_o it_o will_v be_v very_o much_o to_o our_o purpose_n if_o we_o can_v prove_v that_o even_o this_o great_a consistory_n be_v to_o judge_v by_o this_o rule_n of_o the_o truth_n or_o falsehood_n of_o both_o of_o they_o and_o first_o for_o prophet_n i_o think_v the_o case_n be_v sufficient_o clear_a from_o that_o place_n of_o moses_n deut._n 13._o from_o verse_n 1_o to_o 6._o from_o which_o if_o you_o read_v and_o consider_v it_o well_o you_o will_v be_v able_a to_o make_v this_o collection_n that_o neither_o the_o predict_v of_o a_o future_a event_n no_o nor_o the_o come_n of_o that_o to_o pass_v according_a to_o the_o prediction_n be_v safe_a and_o warrantable_a thing_n to_o judge_v a_o prophet_n by_o for_o if_o that_o prophet_n entice_v any_o way_n to_o idolatry_n or_o deliver_v any_o thing_n that_o may_v draw_v they_o away_o from_o their_o duty_n in_o walk_v after_o the_o lord_n and_o fear_v he_o and_o keep_v his_o commandment_n and_o obey_v his_o voice_n he_o be_v to_o be_v reject_v yea_o to_o be_v stone_v as_o a_o impostor_n and_o a_o deceiver_n so_o that_o the_o truth_n of_o the_o prophet_n and_o the_o divinity_n of_o his_o prophecy_n be_v to_o be_v judge_v only_o or_o at_o least_o chief_o by_o the_o consonancy_n thereof_o to_o the_o law_n of_o god_n this_o be_v a_o thing_n that_o i_o judge_v worth_a our_o take_a notice_n of_o at_o this_o time_n alas_o if_o the_o bold_a pretender_n to_o prophecy_n in_o this_o age_n can_v make_v this_o plea_n for_o themselves_o that_o thing_n fall_v out_o exact_o according_a to_o their_o prediction_n what_o a_o great_a noise_n will_v they_o soon_o make_v how_o mighty_o will_v they_o boast_v and_o plead_v and_o perhaps_o believe_v too_o themselves_o to_o be_v true_a prophet_n and_o yet_o god_n himself_o tell_v we_o this_o be_v no_o safe_a and_o sure_a rule_n to_o judge_v man_n true_a prophet_n by_o for_o the_o spirit_n of_o error_n may_v possible_o predict_v many_o thing_n and_o the_o event_n answer_v the_o prediction_n and_o many_o time_n we_o know_v it_o have_v be_v thus_o and_o we_o do_v not_o know_v how_o far_o the_o skill_n of_o the_o devil_n may_v extend_v in_o this_o matter_n beside_o god_n have_v tell_v we_o that_o he_o many_o time_n permit_v such_o thing_n to_o come_v to_o pass_v that_o he_o may_v thereby_o try_v the_o love_n and_o fidelity_n of_o man_n cause_v these_o to_o be_v a_o punishment_n unto_o all_o those_o that_o be_v unreasonable_o fickle_a and_o unconstant_a and_o on_o the_o other_o hand_n that_o as_o the_o apostle_n speak_v in_o case_n of_o heresy_n those_o that_o be_v cordial_a and_o approve_a may_v be_v make_v know_v 11.19_o 1_o cor._n 11.19_o i_o know_v there_o be_v many_o rule_v lay_v down_o by_o the_o jewish_a rabbi_n and_o other_o after_o they_o for_o the_o trial_n of_o prophet_n and_o a_o great_a stir_n make_v about_o they_o but_o he_o that_o will_v considerate_o read_v they_o over_o as_o he_o will_v find_v this_o always_o mention_v as_o one_o rule_n so_o he_o will_v find_v that_o it_o be_v the_o chief_a and_o safe_a and_o that_o to_o which_o all_o at_o last_o be_v force_v to_o flee_v the_o second_o case_n that_o i_o choose_v to_o instance_n in_o be_v the_o case_n of_o miracle_n for_o that_o there_o be_v true_a and_o lie_a wonder_n the_o scripture_n clear_o assure_v we_o but_o how_o to_o distinguish_v betwixt_o these_o be_v real_o a_o very_a great_a and_o perplex_v difficulty_n and_o some_o man_n have_v take_v a_o great_a deal_n of_o pain_n to_o give_v direction_n herein_o and_o indeed_o must_v do_v so_o still_o until_o they_o come_v to_o fix_v and_o rest_v upon_o this_o for_o when_o all_o be_v do_v this_o certain_o be_v the_o easy_a and_o safe_a too_o namely_o to_o consider_v what_o the_o effect_n and_o design_n of_o they_o be_v if_o they_o have_v divine_a effect_n upon_o man_n especial_o if_o they_o only_o design_v to_o make_v man_n holy_a and_o good_a or_o to_o attest_v a_o doctrine_n that_o teach_v man_n how_o to_o be_v so_o then_o they_o carry_v the_o clear_a stamp_n of_o divinity_n upon_o they_o that_o can_v be_v but_o if_o they_o tend_v in_o any_o measure_n to_o the_o contrary_a either_o to_o encourage_v man_n in_o sin_n or_o attest_v any_o doctrine_n that_o teach_v any_o thing_n contrary_a to_o the_o holy_a law_n and_o precept_n of_o god_n than_o they_o be_v to_o be_v suspect_v and_o reject_v as_o immediate_a effect_n of_o the_o spirit_n of_o delusion_n chap._n v._o a_o further_a discourse_n of_o miracle_n and_o of_o their_o evidence_n and_o how_o to_o know_v which_o be_v divine_a and_o which_o not_o a_o addition_n to_o all_o from_o the_o nature_n of_o heresy_n and_o wherein_o the_o notion_n of_o it_o do_v chief_o consist_v but_o this_o sir_n may_v perhaps_o by_o you_o be_v think_v too_o little_a to_o be_v say_v on_o this_o great_a subject_n of_o miracle_n for_o the_o whole_a world_n do_v look_v upon_o they_o to_o be_v divine_a testimony_n sufficient_a evidence_n of_o truth_n and_o able_a to_o assure_v the_o verity_n gain_v assent_n to_o and_o entertainment_n of_o any_o doctrine_n that_o they_o be_v intend_v to_o attest_v the_o christian_a church_n in_o all_o age_n have_v speak_v great_a thing_n of_o they_o and_o glory_v in_o they_o and_o argue_v with_o great_a assurance_n the_o divinity_n and_o truth_n of_o the_o christian_a religion_n from_o they_o and_o he_o will_v certain_o do_v a_o great_a disservice_n to_o christianity_n that_o shall_v go_v about_o in_o any_o measure_n to_o weaken_v the_o testimony_n of_o they_o and_o therefore_o sir_n that_o i_o may_v not_o suffer_v under_o any_o of_o these_o prejudices_fw-la i_o shall_v a_o little_a further_o enlarge_v this_o discourse_n of_o they_o and_o what_o i_o have_v to_o say_v that_o it_o may_v be_v distinct_a and_o plain_a shall_v be_v contain_v in_o these_o subsequent_a proposition_n 1._o i_o do_v most_o ready_o grant_v and_o cordial_o believe_v that_o divine_a miracle_n be_v certain_a evidence_n of_o truth_n for_o it_o be_v no_o way_n reasonable_a to_o suppose_v that_o god_n shall_v annex_v his_o seal_n to_o attest_v any_o thing_n that_o be_v untrue_a whatever_o god_n assert_n must_v needs_o for_o that_o very_a reason_n be_v true_a be_v there_o none_o else_o and_o all_o the_o world_n be_v agree_v in_o their_o belief_n of_o this_o so_o that_o i_o take_v it_o miracle_n be_v not_o add_v to_o confirm_v the_o truth_n of_o what_o god_n have_v declare_v but_o rather_o to_o convince_v man_n that_o he_o do_v declare_v such_o thing_n or_o to_o attest_v the_o divine_a commission_n of_o those_o that_o be_v his_o instrument_n therein_o 2._o but_o than_o second_o i_o do_v as_o assure_o believe_v that_o they_o be_v not_o the_o only_a evidence_n of_o truth_n a_o divine_a doctrine_n may_v carry_v in_o it_o many_o thing_n that_o may_v be_v as_o clear_a signature_n and_o aught_o to_o be_v as_o convince_a character_n of_o truth_n as_o immediate_a miracle_n be_v this_o may_v in_o some_o measure_n be_v collect_v from_o that_o parabolical_a discourse_n of_o abraham_n to_o the_o rich_a man_n in_o hell_n 16.31_o luke_n 16.31_o if_o they_o believe_v not_o moses_n and_o the_o prophet_n neither_o will_v they_o believe_v though_o one_o rise_v from_o the_o dead_a intimate_v that_o those_o doctrine_n in_o moses_n and_o the_o prophetic_a writing_n have_v as_o much_o evidence_n of_o truth_n and_o as_o clear_a conviction_n thereof_o in_o they_o as_o the_o miraculous_a appearance_n of_o one_o from_o the_o dead_a can_v give_v to_o they_o but_o there_o be_v a_o clear_a place_n in_o the_o gospel_n to_o assure_v this_o upon_o for_o our_o saviour_n do_v in_o one_o place_n viz._n john_n 15.22_o as_o much_o aggravate_v the_o guilt_n of_o the_o jew_n infidelity_n in_o not_o believe_v his_o heavenly_a pure_a doctrine_n