Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	age_n	church_n	holy_a	3,425	5	4.7165	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A36673	Religio laici, or, A laymans faith a poem.	Dryden, John, 1631-1700.	1682 (1682)	Wing D2342; ESTC R71	17,325	45

in_o the_o page_n or_o whether_o more_o abstract_o we_o look_v or_o on_o the_o writer_n or_o the_o write_a book_n whence_o but_o from_o heaven_n can_v man_n unskilled_a in_o art_n in_o several_a age_n bear_v in_o several_a part_n weave_v such_o agree_a truth_n or_o how_o or_o why_o shall_v all_o conspire_v to_o cheat_v we_o with_o a_o lie_n unasked_a their_o pain_n ungrateful_a their_o advice_n starve_v their_o gain_n and_o martyrdom_n their_o price_n if_o on_o the_o book_n itself_o we_o cast_v our_o view_n concurrent_a heathen_n prove_v the_o story_n true_a the_o doctrine_n miracle_n which_o must_v convince_v for_o heaven_n in_o they_o appeal_v to_o humane_a sense_n and_o though_o they_o prove_v not_o they_o confirm_v the_o cause_n when_o what_o be_v teach_v agree_v with_o nature_n law_n then_o for_o the_o style_n majestic_a and_o divine_a it_o speak_v no_o less_o than_o god_n in_o every_o line_n command_v word_n who_o force_n be_v still_o the_o same_o as_o the_o first_o fiat_n that_o produce_v our_o frame_n all_o faith_n beside_o or_o do_v by_o arm_n ascend_v or_o sense_n indulge_v have_v make_v mankind_n their_o friend_n this_o only_a doctrine_n do_v our_o lust_n oppose_v unfed_a by_o nature_n soil_n in_o which_o it_o grow_v cross_n to_o our_o interest_n curb_v sense_n and_o sin_n oppress_v without_o and_o undermine_v within_o it_o thrive_v through_o pain_n it_o be_v own_o tormentor_n tire_n and_o with_o a_o stubborn_a patience_n still_o aspire_v to_o what_o can_v reason_v such_o effect_n assign_v transcend_v nature_n but_o to_o law_n divine_a which_o in_o that_o sacred_a volume_n be_v contain_v sufficient_a clear_a and_o for_o that_o use_n ordain_v but_o stay_v the_o deist_n deist_n here_o will_v urge_v anew_o no_o supernatural_a worship_n can_v be_v true_a because_o a_o general_a law_n be_v that_o alone_a which_o must_v to_o all_o and_o every_o where_o be_v know_v a_o style_n so_o large_a as_o not_o this_o book_n can_v claim_v nor_o aught_o that_o bear_v 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more_o may_v stranger_n who_o never_o hear_v his_o name_n and_o though_o no_o name_n be_v for_o salvation_n know_v but_o that_o of_o his_o eternal_a son_n alone_o who_o know_v how_o far_o transcend_v goodness_n can_v extend_v the_o merit_n of_o that_o son_n to_o man_n who_o know_v what_o reason_n may_v his_o mercy_n lead_v or_o ignorance_n invincible_a may_v plead_v not_o only_o charity_n bid_v hope_v the_o best_a but_o more_o the_o great_a apostle_n have_v express_v that_o if_o the_o gentile_n who_o no_o law_n inspire_v by_o nature_n do_v what_o be_v by_o law_n require_v they_o who_o the_o write_a rule_n have_v never_o know_v be_v to_o themselves_o both_o rule_n and_o law_n alone_o to_o nature_n plain_a indictment_n they_o shall_v plead_v and_o by_o their_o conscience_n be_v condemn_v or_o free_v most_o righteous_a doom_n because_o a_o rule_n reveal_v be_v none_o to_o those_o from_o who_o it_o be_v conceal_v then_o those_o who_o follow_v reason_n dictate_v right_a live_v up_o and_o lift_v high_a their_o natural_a light_n with_o socrates_n may_v see_v their_o maker_n face_n while_o thousand_o rubrick-martyr_n want_v a_o place_n nor_o do_v it_o balk_v my_o charity_n to_o find_v the_o egyptian_a bishop_n of_o another_o mind_n for_o though_o his_o creed_n eternal_a truth_n contain_v it_o be_v hard_a for_o man_n to_o doom_n to_o endless_a pain_n all_o who_o believe_v not_o all_o his_o zeal_n require_v unless_o he_o first_o can_v prove_v he_o be_v inspire_v then_o let_v we_o either_o think_v he_o mean_v to_o say_v this_o faith_n where_o publish_v be_v the_o only_a way_n or_o else_o conclude_v that_o arius_n to_o confute_v the_o good_a old_a man_n too_o eager_a in_o dispute_n fly_v high_a and_o as_o his_o christian_a fury_n rise_v damn_a all_o for_o heretic_n who_o dare_v oppose_v thus_o far_o my_o charity_n this_o path_n have_v try_v testament_n a_o much_o unskilful_a but_o well_o mean_v guide_n yet_o what_o they_o be_v even_o these_o crude_a thought_n be_v breed_v 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nice_o ponder_v yet_o so_o strong_o wrought_v as_o nature_n height_n and_o art_n last_o hand_n require_v as_o much_o as_o man_n can_v compass_v uninspired_a where_o we_o may_v see_v what_o error_n have_v be_v make_v both_o in_o the_o copier_n and_o translator_n trade_n how_o jewish_a popish_a interest_n have_v prevail_v and_o where_o infallibility_n have_v fail_v for_o some_o who_o have_v his_o secret_a meaning_n ghese_v have_v find_v our_o author_n not_o too_o much_o a_o priest_n for_o fashion-sake_n he_o seem_v to_o have_v recourse_n to_o pope_n and_o council_n and_o tradition_n force_v but_o he_o that_o old_a tradition_n can_v subdue_v can_v not_o but_o find_v the_o weakness_n of_o the_o new_a if_o scripture_n though_o derive_v from_o heavenly_a birth_n have_v be_v but_o careless_o preserve_v on_o earth_n if_o god_n own_o people_n who_o of_o god_n before_o know_v what_o we_o know_v and_o have_v be_v promise_v more_o in_o full_a term_n of_o heaven_n assist_v care_n and_o who_o do_v neither_o time_n nor_o study_v spare_v to_o keep_v this_o book_n untainted_a unperplext_v let_v in_o gross_a error_n to_o corrupt_v the_o text_n omit_v paragraph_n embroil_v the_o sense_n with_o vain_a tradition_n stop_v the_o gape_a fence_n which_o every_o common_a hand_n pull_v up_o with_o ease_n what_o safety_n from_o such_o brushwood-helps_a as_o these_o if_o write_a word_n from_o time_n be_v not_o secure_v how_o can_v we_o think_v have_v oral_a sound_v endure_v which_o thus_o transmit_v if_o one_o mouth_n have_v fail_v immortal_a lie_n on_o age_n be_v entail_v and_o that_o some_o such_o have_v be_v be_v prove_v too_o plain_a if_o we_o consider_v interest_n church_n and_o gain_n oh_o but_o say_v one_o tradition_n general_n set_v aside_o where_o can_v we_o hope_v for_o a_o unerring_a guide_n for_o since_o the_o original_a scripture_n have_v be_v lose_v all_o copy_n disagree_v maim_v the_o most_o or_o christian_a faith_n can_v have_v no_o certain_a ground_n or_o truth_n in_o church_n tradition_n must_v be_v find_v such_o a_o omniscient_a church_n we_o wish_v indeed_o it_o be_v worth_n both_o testament_n and_o cast_v in_o the_o creed_n but_o if_o this_o mother_n be_v a_o guide_n so_o sure_a as_o can_v all_o doubt_n resolve_v all_o truth_n secure_a then_o her_o infallibility_n as_o well_o where_o copy_n be_v corrupt_a or_o lame_a can_v tell_v restore_v lose_v canon_n with_o as_o little_a pain_n as_o true_o explicate_v what_o still_o remain_v which_o yet_o no_o council_n dare_v pretend_v to_o do_v unless_o like_o esdras_n they_o can_v write_v it_o new_a strange_a confidence_n still_o to_o interpret_v true_a yet_o not_o be_v sure_a that_o all_o they_o have_v explain_v be_v in_o the_o bless_a original_a contain_v more_o safe_a and_o much_o more_o modest_a it_o be_v to_o say_v god_n will_v not_o leave_v mankind_n without_o a_o way_n and_o that_o the_o scripture_n though_o

his_o own_o material_n reason_n be_v always_o strive_v and_o always_o at_o a_o loss_n and_o of_o necessity_n it_o must_v so_o come_v to_o pass_v while_o it_o be_v exercise_v about_o that_o which_o be_v not_o its_o proper_a object_n let_v we_o be_v content_a at_o last_o to_o know_v god_n by_o his_o own_o method_n at_o least_o so_o much_o of_o he_o as_o he_o be_v please_v to_o reveal_v to_o we_o in_o the_o sacred_a scripture_n to_o apprehend_v they_o to_o be_v the_o word_n of_o god_n be_v all_o our_o reason_n have_v to_o do_v for_o all_o beyond_o it_o be_v the_o work_n of_o faith_n which_o be_v the_o seal_n of_o heaven_n impress_v upon_o our_o humane_a understanding_n and_o now_o for_o what_o concern_v the_o holy_a bishop_n athanasius_n the_o preface_n of_o who_o creed_n seem_v inconsistent_a with_o my_o opinion_n which_o be_v that_o heathen_n may_v possible_o be_v save_v in_o the_o first_o place_n i_o desire_v it_o may_v be_v consider_v that_o it_o be_v the_o preface_n only_o not_o the_o creed_n itself_o which_o till_o i_o be_o better_a inform_v be_v of_o too_o hard_a a_o digestion_n for_o my_o charity_n it_o be_v not_o that_o i_o be_o ignorant_a how_o many_o several_a text_n of_o scripture_n seem_o support_v that_o cause_n but_o neither_o be_o i_o ignorant_a how_o all_o those_o text_n may_v receive_v a_o kind_a and_o more_o mollify_v interpretation_n every_o man_n who_o be_v read_v in_o church_n history_n know_v that_o belief_n be_v draw_v up_o after_o a_o long_a contestation_n with_o arrius_n concern_v the_o divinity_n of_o our_o bless_a saviour_n and_o his_o be_v one_o substance_n with_o the_o father_n and_o that_o thus_o compild_a it_o be_v send_v abroad_o among_o the_o christian_a church_n as_o a_o kind_n of_o test_n which_o whosoever_o take_v be_v look_v on_o as_o a_o orthodox_n believer_n it_o be_v manifest_a from_o hence_o that_o the_o heathen_a part_n of_o the_o empire_n be_v not_o concern_v in_o it_o for_o its_o business_n be_v not_o to_o distinguish_v betwixt_o pagan_n and_o christian_n but_o betwixt_o heritick_n and_o true_a believer_n this_o well_o consider_v take_v off_o the_o heavy_a weight_n of_o censure_n which_o i_o will_v willing_o avoid_v from_o so_o venerable_a a_o man_n for_o if_o this_o proportion_n whosoever_o will_v be_v save_v be_v restrain_v only_o to_o those_o to_o who_o it_o be_v intend_v and_o for_o who_o it_o be_v compose_v i_o mean_v the_o christian_n then_o the_o anathema_n reach_v not_o the_o heathen_n who_o have_v never_o hear_v of_o christ_n and_o be_v nothing_o interest_v in_o that_o dispute_n after_o all_o i_o be_o far_o from_o blame_v even_o that_o prefatory_a addition_n to_o the_o creed_n and_o as_o far_o from_o cavil_v at_o the_o continuation_n of_o it_o in_o the_o liturgy_n of_o the_o church_n where_o on_o the_o day_n appoint_v it_o be_v public_o read_v for_o i_o suppose_v there_o be_v the_o same_o reason_n for_o it_o now_o in_o opposition_n to_o the_o socinian_o as_o there_o be_v then_o against_o the_o arrian_n the_o one_o be_v a_o heresy_n which_o seem_v to_o have_v be_v refine_v out_o of_o the_o other_o and_o with_o how_o much_o more_o plausibility_n of_o reason_n it_o combat_v our_o religion_n with_o so_o much_o more_o caution_n to_o be_v avoid_v and_o therefore_o the_o prudence_n of_o our_o church_n be_v to_o be_v commend_v which_o have_v interpose_v her_o authority_n for_o the_o recommendation_n of_o this_o creed_n yet_o to_o such_o as_o be_v ground_v in_o the_o true_a belief_n those_o explanatory_a creed_n the_o nicene_n and_o this_o of_o athanasius_n may_v perhaps_o be_v spare_v for_o what_o be_v supernatural_a will_v always_o be_v a_o mystery_n in_o spite_n of_o exposition_n and_o for_o my_o own_o part_n the_o plain_a apostle_n creed_n be_v most_o suitable_a to_o my_o weak_a understanding_n as_o the_o simple_a diet_n be_v the_o most_o easy_a of_o digestion_n i_o have_v dwell_v long_o on_o this_o subject_a than_o i_o intend_v and_o long_o than_o perhaps_o i_o ought_v for_o have_v lay_v down_o as_o my_o foundation_n that_o the_o scripture_n be_v a_o rule_n that_o in_o all_o thing_n needful_a to_o salvation_n it_o be_v clear_a sufficient_a and_o ordain_v by_o god_n almighty_a for_o that_o purpose_n i_o have_v leave_v myself_o no_o right_a to_o interpret_v obscure_a place_n such_o as_o concern_v the_o possibility_n of_o eternal_a happiness_n to_o heathen_n because_o whatsoever_o be_v obscure_a be_v conclude_v not_o necessary_a to_o be_v know_v but_o by_o assert_v the_o scripture_n to_o be_v the_o canon_n of_o our_o faith_n i_o have_v unavoidable_o create_v to_o myself_o two_o sort_n of_o enemy_n the_o papist_n indeed_o more_o direct_o because_o they_o have_v keep_v the_o scripture_n from_o we_o what_o they_o can_v and_o have_v reserve_v to_o themselves_o a_o right_n of_o interpret_n what_o they_o have_v deliver_v under_o the_o pretence_n of_o infallibility_n and_o the_o fanatic_n more_o collateral_o because_o they_o have_v assume_v what_o amount_v to_o a_o infallibility_n in_o the_o private_a spirit_n and_o have_v detort_v those_o text_n of_o scripture_n which_o be_v not_o necessary_a to_o salvation_n to_o the_o damnable_a use_n of_o sedition_n disturbance_n and_o destruction_n of_o the_o civil_a government_n to_o begin_v with_o the_o papist_n and_o to_o speak_v free_o i_o think_v they_o the_o less_o dangerous_a at_o least_o in_o appearance_n to_o our_o present_a state_n for_o not_o only_o the_o penal_a law_n be_v in_o force_n against_o they_o and_o their_o number_n be_v contemptible_a but_o also_o their_o peerage_n and_o commons_o be_v exclude_v from_o parliament_n and_o consequent_o those_o law_n in_o no_o probability_n of_o be_v repeal_v a_o general_n and_o uninterrupted_a plot_n of_o their_o clergy_n ever_o since_o the_o reformation_n i_o suppose_v all_o protestant_n believe_v for_o it_o be_v not_o reasonable_a to_o think_v but_o that_o so_o many_o of_o their_o order_n as_o be_v out_v from_o their_o fat_a possession_n will_v endeavour_v a_o reentrance_n against_o those_o who_o they_o account_v heretic_n as_o for_o the_o late_a design_n mr._n colemans_n letter_n for_o aught_o i_o know_v be_v the_o best_a evidence_n and_o what_o they_o discover_v without_o wyre-drawing_a their_o sense_n or_o malicious_a gloss_n all_o man_n of_o reason_n conclude_v credible_a if_o there_o be_v any_o thing_n more_o than_o this_o require_v of_o i_o i_o must_v believe_v it_o as_o well_o as_o i_o be_o able_a in_o spite_n of_o the_o witness_n and_o out_o of_o a_o decent_a conformity_n to_o the_o vote_n of_o parliament_n for_o i_o suppose_v the_o fanatic_n will_v not_o allow_v the_o private_a spirit_n in_o this_o case_n here_o the_o infallibility_n be_v at_o least_o in_o one_o part_n of_o the_o government_n and_o our_o understanding_n as_o well_o as_o our_o will_n be_v represent_v but_o to_o return_v to_o the_o roman_a catholic_n how_o can_v we_o be_v secure_a from_o the_o practice_n of_o jesuited_a papist_n in_o that_o religion_n for_o not_o two_o or_o three_o of_o that_o order_n as_o some_o of_o they_o will_v impose_v upon_o we_o but_o almost_o the_o whole_a body_n of_o they_o be_v of_o opinion_n that_o their_o infallible_a master_n have_v a_o right_a over_o king_n not_o only_o in_o spiritual_n but_o temporal_n not_o to_o name_n mariana_n bellarmine_n emanuel_n sa_o molina_n santarel_n simancha_n and_o at_o the_o least_o twenty_o other_o of_o foreign_a country_n we_o can_v produce_v of_o our_o own_o nation_n campian_n and_o doleman_n or_o parson_n beside_o many_o be_v name_v who_o i_o have_v not_o read_v who_o all_o of_o they_o attest_v this_o doctrine_n that_o the_o pope_n can_v depose_v and_o give_v away_o the_o right_n of_o any_o sovereign_a prince_n si_fw-la vel_fw-la paulum_fw-la deflexerit_fw-la if_o he_o shall_v never_o so_o little_a warp_n but_o if_o he_o once_o come_v to_o be_v excommunicate_v than_o the_o bond_n of_o obedience_n be_v take_v off_o from_o subject_n and_o they_o may_v and_o aught_o to_o drive_v he_o like_o another_o nabuchadnezzar_n ex_fw-la hominum_fw-la christianorum_fw-la dominatu_fw-la from_o exercise_v dominion_n over_o christian_n and_o to_o this_o they_o be_v bind_v by_o virtue_n of_o divine_a precept_n and_o by_o all_o the_o tie_n of_o conscience_n under_o no_o less_o penalty_n than_o damnation_n if_o they_o answer_v i_o as_o a_o learned_a priest_n have_v late_o write_v that_o this_o doctrine_n of_o the_o jesuit_n be_v not_o the_o fide_fw-la and_o that_o consequent_o they_o be_v not_o oblige_v by_o it_o they_o must_v pardon_v i_o if_o i_o think_v they_o have_v say_v nothing_o to_o the_o purpose_n for_o it_o be_v a_o maxim_n in_o their_o church_n where_o point_n of_o faith_n be_v not_o decide_v and_o that_o doctor_n be_v of_o contrary_a opinion_n they_o may_v follow_v which_o part_n they_o please_v but_o more_o safe_o the_o most_o receive_a and_o most_o authorize_v and_o