Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	ancient_a	doctrine_n	father_n	2,828	5	4.7388	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A67621	The natural fanatick, or, Reason consider'd in its extravagancy in religion and (in some late treatises) usurping the authority of the Church and councils by John Warly ...	Warly, John, d. 1679.	1676 (1676)	Wing W876; ESTC R15139	52,674	234

of_o one_o part_n of_o the_o creation_n or_o another_o as_o he_o must_v be_v except_o nature_n be_v supply_v with_o great_a assistance_n than_o that_o of_o telescope_n or_o of_o any_o device_n which_o invention_n have_v yet_o find_v his_o knowledge_n must_v be_v say_v to_o be_v so_o imperfect_a that_o it_o be_v not_o probable_a the_o argument_n draw_v from_o the_o world_n harmony_n shall_v be_v prevalent_a when_o it_o meet_v with_o so_o much_o ignorance_n to_o speak_v all_o the_o little_a and_o uncertain_a knowledge_n of_o nature_n work_n rather_o dispose_v man_n for_o admiration_n than_o full_a satisfaction_n of_o all_o doubt_n but_o that_o i_o may_v not_o seem_v to_o detract_v from_o humanity_n suppose_v the_o harmonious_a subordination_n of_o cause_n be_v understand_v this_o only_a imply_v that_o there_o be_v a_o power_n which_o restrain_v they_o from_o destroy_v or_o fall_v foul_a one_o on_o the_o other_o or_o make_v they_o subservient_fw-fr to_o some_o end_n of_o which_o the_o reasoner_n be_v and_o must_v be_v ignorant_a if_o this_o assertion_n seem_v too_o rigid_a which_o suppose_v man_n in_o the_o world_n as_o in_o cimmercan_a darkness_n let_v it_o be_v grant_v that_o the_o mere_a reasoner_n have_v a_o partial_a knowledge_n of_o god_n if_o he_o will_v be_v content_a with_o the_o name_n of_o a_o partial_a theist_n let_v it_o be_v also_o consider_v that_o it_o be_v possible_a that_o the_o same_o contrivance_n may_v seem_v harmonious_a to_o one_o and_o appear_v not_o to_o be_v so_o to_o another_o the_o inhabitant_n of_o the_o northern_a climate_n may_v admire_v and_o adore_v the_o sun_n for_o its_o warm_a influence_n whilst_o those_o between_o the_o tropic_n breathe_v imprecation_n because_o it_o scorch_v by_o more_o direct_a ray_n let_v more_o be_v grant_v by_o say_v that_o the_o fabric_n of_o the_o world_n be_v such_o if_o understand_v that_o it_o must_v be_v conclude_v to_o be_v a_o divine_a work_n yet_o see_v there_o be_v a_o possibility_n that_o matter_n 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more_o a_o theist_n than_o the_o idiot_n in_o the_o former_a instance_n the_o examination_n of_o this_o argument_n may_v end_v by_o the_o citation_n of_o a_o poetical_a say_n cite_v by_o st._n paul_n by_o he_o we_o live_v we_o move_v and_o have_v our_o be_v which_o motion_n i_o presume_v intend_v to_o be_v confine_v to_o the_o motion_n of_o the_o part_n of_o man_n body_n be_v equal_o if_o not_o more_o valid_a to_o prove_v the_o existence_n of_o god_n than_o that_o argument_n which_o be_v draw_v from_o a_o more_o distant_a topick_n viz._n the_o first_o impress_n on_o matter_n but_o before_o i_o pass_v to_o another_o natural_a evidence_n of_o the_o be_v of_o god_n i_o can_v but_o confess_v that_o the_o harmonious_a fabric_n of_o the_o world_n be_v use_v in_o holy_a scripture_n and_o by_o the_o ancient_a father_n as_o a_o confirmation_n of_o their_o doctrine_n and_o faith_n which_o may_v be_v examine_v and_o confirm_v by_o such_o contemplation_n yet_o i_o presume_v i_o shall_v not_o be_v injurious_a to_o scripture_n or_o father_n if_o i_o say_v that_o method_n be_v use_v because_o it_o be_v more_o universal_a and_o agreeable_a to_o imagination_n and_o common_a reason_n than_o other_o argument_n which_o be_v more_o artificial_a not_o that_o it_o be_v think_v to_o be_v more_o cogent_a beside_o it_o be_v a_o easy_a conjecture_n which_o suppose_v that_o such_o argument_n be_v intend_v for_o believer_n or_o at_o least_o those_o who_o be_v dispose_v to_o entertain_v their_o doctrine_n not_o for_o sceptical_a reasoner_n if_o it_o be_v further_o urge_v that_o the_o holy_a father_n have_v make_v convert_v and_o confute_v atheism_n by_o this_o method_n yet_o it_o be_v not_o sure_a to_o find_v success_n with_o all_o person_n especial_o such_o reasoner_n as_o allow_v nothing_o to_o be_v certain_a which_o can_v recommend_v itself_o with_o a_o undoubted_a evidence_n or_o impossibility_n of_o be_v otherwise_o suppose_v this_o pertinent_a question_n be_v propose_v to_o the_o atheistical_a reasoner_n if_o a_o man_n shall_v find_v a_o statue_n or_o a_o altar_n with_o a_o inscription_n whether_o he_o will_v conclude_v it_o be_v possible_a some_o liquid_a substance_n like_o aqua_fw-la fortis_fw-la corrode_a iron_n may_v casual_o effect_v that_o which_o art_n shall_v do_v and_o by_o the_o same_o reason_n press_v to_o give_v his_o answer_n determine_v whether_o the_o world_n wrought_v itself_o into_o its_o lovely_a frame_n if_o the_o affirmative_a be_v answer_v it_o be_v true_a that_o his_o conclusion_n be_v enough_o to_o denominate_v he_o a_o madman_n but_o he_o will_v not_o value_v or_o think_v himself_o injure_v by_o such_o compellation_n who_o sceptical_o dispute_v for_o he_o will_v be_v so_o bold_a as_o to_o say_v that_o as_o religion_n and_o true_a faith_n be_v once_o preserve_v by_o one_o athanasius_n so_o may_v truth_n be_v find_v only_o in_o one_o single_a person_n to_o give_v the_o reasoner_n a_o fair_a trial_n of_o his_o knowledge_n let_v the_o former_a instance_n be_v reveiw_v with_o a_o large_a concession_n viz._n that_o the_o idiot_n who_o acknowledge_v the_o building_n to_o have_v some_o cause_n though_o the_o manner_n of_o expression_n be_v rude_a yet_o imply_v the_o be_v of_o a_o builder_n as_o the_o say_n the_o world_n be_v not_o its_o own_o cause_n do_v assert_v the_o existence_n of_o god_n this_o be_v grant_v his_o ignorance_n will_v appear_v for_o it_o be_v possible_a and_o common_o observe_v that_o man_n may_v speak_v sentence_n and_o not_o understand_v what_o they_o imply_v or_o what_o may_v be_v infer_v from_o they_o how_o many_o say_n which_o fall_v sudden_o from_o some_o person_n who_o sense_n be_v measure_v by_o the_o bare_a interpretation_n of_o the_o word_n be_v but_o trivial_a or_o ordinary_a but_o by_o deduction_n will_v bear_v a_o high_a meaning_n whence_o it_o must_v be_v infer_v that_o those_o conclusion_n which_o be_v gather_v as_o consequence_n of_o the_o word_n which_o seem_v not_o to_o import_v so_o much_o can_v be_v proper_o call_v his_o who_o speak_v the_o word_n but_o must_v be_v own_a by_o he_o who_o advance_v they_o to_o a_o high_a sense_n idiot_n sometime_o be_v like_o oracle_n and_o prophet_n who_o high_a effusion_n be_v not_o understand_v by_o those_o who_o speak_v such_o be_v the_o sentence_n of_o some_o philosopher_n and_o poetical_a rapture_n which_o according_a to_o the_o author_n word_n or_o sense_n savour_v of_o a_o low_a and_o mean_a degree_n of_o wisdom_n till_o some_o christian_n read_v their_o book_n consecrate_a they_o by_o comment_n and_o conclusion_n of_o which_o they_o can_v never_o have_v think_v hence_o it_o be_v that_o the_o book_n of_o some_o ancient_a philosopher_n be_v now_o like_o the_o fame_a ship_n which_o be_v so_o oft_o repair_v till_o no_o old_a plank_n remain_v many_o wise_a conclusion_n appear_v in_o heathenish_a writing_n but_o be_v as_o mysterious_a character_n and_o cipher_n which_o only_o the_o religious_a by_o compare_v they_o with_o revelation_n can_v understand_v these_o effata_fw-la or_o say_n be_v like_o sign_n which_o deaf_a and_o dumb_a man_n make_v who_o neither_o have_v advantage_n of_o nature_n to_o understand_v or_o speak_v who_o interpreter_n be_v as_o mouth_n and_o understanding_n too_o whilst_o they_o stretch_v their_o interpretation_n beyond_o that_o which_o the_o significator_n design_v or_o can_v declare_v hence_o it_o appear_v that_o the_o reasoner_n in_o this_o particular_a quest_n whilst_o he_o utter_v divine_a sentence_n not_o understand_v by_o himself_o but_o to_o be_v consecrate_a by_o the_o commentator_n may_v not_o be_v put_v in_o the_o catalogue_n of_o theist_n except_o it_o can_v be_v imagine_v implicit_a reason_n may_v be_v allow_v as_o much_o as_o implicit_a faith_n hitherto_o it_o be_v consider_v what_o degree_n of_o knowledge_n may_v be_v acquire_v by_o the_o idiot_n for_o in_o this_o quest_n the_o reasoner_n must_v be_v content_a to_o be_v so_o

own_o principle_n and_o when_o it_o submit_v to_o the_o divine_a testimony_n it_o be_v because_o reason_n be_v inform_v by_o revelation_n that_o it_o be_v not_o a_o competent_a judge_n of_o religious_a mystery_n yet_o that_o assent_n be_v guide_v by_o the_o divine_a testimony_n instead_o of_o evidence_n divert_v the_o faculty_n of_o the_o soul_n from_o their_o usual_a method_n be_v enough_o to_o assert_v reason_n be_v lay_v aside_o yet_o this_o will_v not_o make_v way_n for_o a_o cavil_v complaint_n that_o the_o divine_a determination_n do_v violence_n to_o the_o faculty_n whilst_o thus_o divert_v from_o their_o usual_a method_n for_o the_o divine_a concourse_n which_o determine_v they_o can_v no_o more_o be_v say_v to_o do_v violence_n than_o the_o mathematician_n information_n of_o the_o judge_n in_o the_o former_a case_n can_v be_v call_v compulsion_n when_o he_o prevail_v with_o he_o to_o pass_v true_a sentence_n which_o he_o without_o the_o artist_n can_v not_o have_v pronounce_v it_o be_v not_o necessary_a that_o matter_n of_o belief_n be_v clear_o and_o distinct_o understand_v for_o faith_n take_v its_o name_n from_o persuasion_n which_o be_v not_o always_o beget_v by_o demonstration_n and_o from_o assent_n more_o than_o from_o the_o manner_n how_o it_o be_v wrought_v for_o the_o divine_a method_n have_v several_a way_n to_o command_v belief_n sometime_o it_o make_v a_o extempore_o convert_v grace_n work_v effectual_o in_o a_o moment_n sometime_o it_o operate_v through_o the_o whole_a course_n of_o man_n life_n to_o perfect_v the_o work_n it_o be_v enough_o that_o man_n be_v assure_v that_o their_o assent_n be_v terminate_v in_o truth_n because_o of_o the_o divine_a determination_n which_o make_v the_o will_n like_o the_o loadstone_n which_o instance_n be_v much_o use_v by_o the_o reconciler_n which_o will_v certain_o conduct_v the_o mariner_n though_o he_o know_v not_o how_o it_o be_v direct_v whether_o by_o a_o materia_fw-la subtilis_fw-la pass_v through_o the_o pole_n of_o this_o low_a vortex_n or_o any_o other_o mysterious_a way_n of_o nature_n to_o speak_v all_o if_o sail_v have_v be_v lay_v aside_o till_o the_o pilot_n can_v demonstrate_v its_o infallible_a direction_n from_o its_o cause_n the_o great_a part_n of_o the_o world_n will_v have_v be_v unknown_a and_o the_o terra_fw-la incognita_fw-la will_v take_v more_o room_n in_o the_o map_n than_o the_o know_a part_n of_o the_o world_n the_o same_o may_v be_v conclude_v of_o faith_n for_o if_o all_o belief_n be_v to_o be_v suspend_v until_o the_o manner_n how_o it_o be_v wrought_v be_v explain_v a_o great_a part_n of_o the_o world_n will_v pass_v as_o infidel_n thus_o far_o the_o infirmity_n of_o the_o mere_a natural_a sight_n have_v be_v discover_v it_o now_o remain_v that_o i_o inquire_v in_o what_o sense_n the_o reconciler_n who_o urge_v belief_n as_o a_o act_n of_o prudence_n by_o which_o if_o he_o only_o understand_v a_o rational_a choice_n exclude_v grace_n the_o former_a discourse_n will_v equal_o conclude_v against_o he_o and_o the_o reasoner_n for_o if_o a_o man_n endue_v with_o natural_a prudence_n must_v necessary_o embrace_v the_o christian_a religion_n because_o its_o content_n be_v such_o as_o will_v command_v assent_n from_o the_o reasonable_a man_n he_o shut_v out_o grace_n in_o the_o act_n of_o faith_n and_o make_v the_o holy_a scripture_n more_o sufficient_a and_o in_o another_o sense_n than_o ever_o they_o be_v say_v to_o be_v for_o which_o they_o be_v say_v to_o be_v so_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d by_o athanasius_n cyril_n and_o other_o holy_a father_n it_o be_v to_o show_v they_o be_v self-sufficient_a without_o the_o subsidy_n of_o tradition_n not_o in_o any_o other_o sense_n for_o although_o it_o must_v be_v grant_v that_o the_o proposal_n of_o scripture_n be_v enough_o to_o condemn_v the_o infidel_n as_o imprudent_a yet_o this_o condemnation_n may_v not_o be_v justify_v only_o because_o the_o evidence_n of_o scripture_n be_v not_o allow_v for_o it_o be_v more_o than_o probable_a that_o the_o neglect_n of_o petition_v for_o grace_n and_o oppose_v it_o when_o offer_v to_o help_v unbelief_n do_v adjust_a the_o severity_n of_o that_o say_n he_o who_o believe_v not_o shall_v be_v damn_v natural_a prudence_n be_v not_o a_o sufficient_a qualification_n for_o the_o embrace_a christian_a religion_n if_o we_o take_v it_o in_o aristotle_n sense_n who_o define_v it_o a_o habitual_a knowledge_n which_o can_v discern_v what_o be_v good_a and_o what_o be_v evil_a as_o they_o have_v relation_n to_o practice_n lib._n sexto_fw-la ethicor._fw-la ad_fw-la nicom_fw-la 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d prudence_n thus_o define_v can_v have_v no_o place_n as_o antecedent_n to_o belief_n because_o that_o mere_a reason_n in_o several_a case_n can_v judge_v what_o be_v good_a for_o man_n and_o what_o evil_n and_o therefore_o will_v demur_v at_o some_o duty_n absolute_o necessary_a for_o the_o attain_n of_o happiness_n such_o as_o be_v self-denial_n and_o other_o injunction_n which_o natural_a prudence_n will_v not_o choose_v if_o leave_v to_o its_o own_o evidence_n and_o if_o it_o be_v consider_v as_o subsequent_a to_o belief_n there_o be_v no_o need_n of_o it_o in_o discern_v what_o be_v good_a in_o practice_n and_o what_o be_v evil_a for_o duty_n in_o religion_n be_v indispensable_o enjoin_v which_o destroy_v consultation_n which_o denominate_v a_o man_n prudent_a i_o shall_v conclude_v this_o particular_a with_o christ_n decide_v the_o controversy_n by_o rank_v the_o prudent_a man_n in_o this_o sense_n not_o so_o wise_a as_o a_o babe_n without_o divine_a assistance_n and_o when_o it_o be_v take_v in_o a_o better_a sense_n divine_a direction_n and_o concourse_n be_v suppose_v as_o necessary_a to_o supply_v the_o defect_n of_o the_o mind_n and_o therefore_o may_v challenge_v the_o etymology_n which_o aristotle_n give_v of_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d whilst_o he_o call_v it_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d which_o god_n alone_o be_v able_a to_o do_v and_o make_v man_n wise_a unto_o salvation_n add_v to_o this_o another_o consideration_n that_o a_o prudential_n choice_n of_o religion_n suppose_v it_o and_o its_o reward_n too_o to_o be_v expose_v as_o a_o prize_n not_o in_o the_o apostlical_a sense_n so_o that_o he_o who_o have_v the_o great_a stock_n of_o prudence_n must_v pass_v as_o most_o religious_a when_o he_o who_o have_v the_o least_o be_v esteem_v a_o reprobate_n from_o all_o that_o be_v say_v i_o shall_v only_o infer_v this_o conclusion_n see_v our_o eyesight_n need_v alteration_n and_o itself_o be_v indispose_v the_o believer_n do_v safe_o resign_v himself_o to_o the_o conduct_n of_o the_o all-seeing-eye_n according_a to_o the_o rule_n of_o a_o severe_a philosopher_n who_o will_v not_o admit_v any_o truth_n but_o upon_o the_o evidence_n of_o reason_n who_o say_v we_o may_v in_o some_o case_n as_o safe_o trust_v other_o as_o ourselves_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d arist_n lib._n sext._n ethic._n ad_fw-la nicom_fw-la so_o far_o as_o man_n follow_v a_o unerring_a conduct_n so_o far_o they_o be_v infallible_a though_o they_o be_v not_o their_o own_o leader_n hitherto_o reason_n have_v be_v consider_v as_o it_o be_v in_o a_o single_a person_n but_o the_o follow_a disquisition_n consider_v it_o in_o a_o multitude_n or_o a_o assembly_n as_o it_o attend_v their_o sacred_a vote_n by_o which_o it_o be_v make_v more_o infallible_a than_o when_o as_o a_o monarch_n it_o assert_v its_o seem_a privilege_n by_o renounce_v all_o manner_n of_o assistance_n in_o draw_v conclusion_n but_o only_o that_o which_o be_v nature_n afford_v rely_v on_o private_a evidence_n which_o also_o be_v suppose_v in_o every_o particular_a member_n of_o a_o council_n therefore_o it_o be_v proper_a to_o examine_v whether_o reason_n only_o enlighten_v by_o apprehend_v the_o story_n and_o content_n of_o the_o old_a and_o new_a testament_n be_v capable_a of_o appeal_n make_v to_o it_o as_o judge_n and_o the_o last_o determiner_n of_o controversy_n so_o as_o it_o can_v pass_v infallible_a judgement_n on_o proposition_n offer_v as_o revelation_n and_o whether_o the_o fallibility_n of_o some_o council_n render_v all_o so_o suspicious_a that_o the_o christian_a can_v safe_o rely_v on_o conciliary_a definition_n the_o first_o branch_n of_o this_o inquiry_n be_v affirm_v by_o the_o reasoner_n and_o the_o other_o he_o will_v not_o have_v deny_v because_o it_o make_v way_n for_o the_o proof_n of_o the_o former_a for_o by_o infinuate_v that_o all_o council_n be_v fallible_a he_o presume_v he_o may_v as_o well_o appeal_v to_o a_o fallible_a self_n as_o a_o fallible_a multitude_n but_o this_o assertion_n may_v be_v check_v from_o this_o consideration_n that_o there_o be_v much_o difference_n between_o these_o proposition_n general_a council_n may_v err_v and_o all_o have_v be_v and_o be_v liable_a to_o error_n if_o the_o latter_a be_v grant_v it_o will_v destroy_v the_o certainty_n