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scripture_n apostle_n church_n infallible_a 3,288 5 9.6976 5 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A29214 A sermon preached at the opening of the lecture at Maldon in Essex, lately established by the Lord Bishop of London in vindication of the antiquity of the doctrine of the Church of England / by William Bramston ... Bramston, William, d. 1735. 1697 (1697) Wing B4243; ESTC R18304 16,131 26

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though_o the_o church_n of_o england_n may_v be_v late_a than_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n in_o such_o respect_n as_o these_o either_o because_o our_o conversion_n to_o the_o faith_n may_v possible_o have_v be_v after_o they_o or_o again_o because_o our_o particular_a establishment_n as_o it_o now_o stand_v be_v enact_v many_o age_n since_o the_o first_o settlement_n of_o a_o christian_a church_n at_o rome_n yet_o our_o religion_n now_o may_v be_v ancient_a still_o than_o they_o at_o present_a if_o they_o be_v now_o changged_a and_o degenerate_v as_o it_o be_v demonstrable_a they_o be_v from_o that_o christian_a purity_n which_o ancient_o denominate_v they_o a_o uncorrupted_a part_n of_o the_o catholic_n church_n and_o we_o now_o faithful_o adhere_v with_o all_o uprightness_n and_o integrity_n which_o we_o be_v ready_a to_o make_v appear_v we_o do_v to_o that_o faith_n of_o christ_n which_o be_v once_o deliver_v to_o the_o saint_n and_o as_o by_o many_o other_o church_n so_o ancient_o 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way_n to_o our_o embracement_n of_o they_o but_o this_o no_o way_n weaken_v the_o force_n of_o our_o argument_n for_o these_o mystery_n surpass_v indeed_o the_o comprehension_n of_o our_o reason_n yet_o the_o authority_n upon_o which_o we_o receive_v they_o into_o our_o creed_n lie_v open_a to_o our_o reason_n such_o as_o be_v the_o voice_n of_o the_o scripture_n and_o the_o example_n of_o the_o pure_a age_n of_o the_o church_n of_o christ_n which_o reason_n recommend_v to_o we_o as_o the_o sure_a guide_n to_o direct_v we_o in_o all_o matter_n of_o religion_n and_o though_o indeed_o reason_n can_v demonstrate_v to_o we_o the_o ineffable_a way_n and_o explication_n of_o these_o truth_n yet_o reason_n furnish_v we_o with_o this_o demonstration_n that_o they_o ought_v to_o be_v receive_v for_o the_o truth_n of_o christ_n upon_o this_o account_n because_o whatever_o be_v propose_v to_o our_o belief_n upon_o such_o infallible_a evidence_n as_o the_o revelation_n of_o god_n word_n and_o the_o uninterrupted_a authority_n of_o his_o primitive_a church_n in_o all_o age_n aught_o in_o reason_n to_o be_v believe_v as_o true_a i_o acknowledge_v be_v not_o these_o article_n of_o our_o creed_n manifest_o contain_v either_o in_o the_o express_a word_n or_o in_o the_o necessary_a conclusion_n of_o scripture_n or_o in_o the_o explication_n of_o the_o pure_a age_n of_o our_o religion_n the_o belief_n of_o they_o will_v be_v irrational_a and_o these_o unwarrantable_o crowd_v upon_o the_o belief_n of_o a_o christian_a and_o therefore_o even_o in_o those_o very_a article_n which_o exceed_v our_o reason_n it_o be_v still_o reason_n which_o must_v justify_v our_o faith_n what_o be_v our_o reason_n give_v we_o for_o no_o other_o end_n than_o to_o consult_v for_o the_o ease_n and_o satisfaction_n of_o our_o body_n or_o must_v that_o most_o sublime_a faculty_n of_o our_o soul_n be_v no_o way_n interest_v or_o engage_v for_o its_o own_o happiness_n and_o salvation_n again_o can_v we_o 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none_o of_o we_o who_o be_v able_a to_o convert_v three_o thousand_o with_o a_o sermon_n nor_o indeed_o can_v we_o pretend_v to_o enforce_v any_o thing_n worthy_a of_o belief_n in_o you_o that_o hear_v we_o but_o what_o we_o ourselves_o fetch_v from_o that_o fountain_n of_o heavenly_a wisdom_n which_o be_v the_o write_a word_n of_o god_n and_o then_o why_o every_o man_n may_v not_o as_o well_o read_v as_o hear_v the_o gospel_n read_v to_o he_o i_o leave_v to_o that_o bless_a spirit_n to_o determine_v which_o exhort_v all_o man_n to_o search_v the_o scripture_n no_o doubt_n as_o god_n have_v give_v we_o reason_n to_o make_v we_o capable_a of_o understanding_n and_o glorify_v his_o divine_a majesty_n so_o have_v he_o give_v we_o his_o scripture_n also_o on_o purpose_n to_o exalt_v and_o enlighten_v our_o reason_n and_o convince_v we_o all_o of_o the_o reasonableness_n of_o our_o religious_a service_n and_o i_o confess_v i_o see_v not_o how_o that_o man_n can_v be_v able_a to_o pay_v his_o reasonable_a service_n to_o god_n who_o have_v take_v up_o a_o belief_n in_o he_o without_o reason_n for_o let_v the_o religion_n profess_v by_o such_o a_o man_n be_v never_o so_o holy_a and_o pure_a and_o true_a in_o its_o self_n still_o in_o respect_n of_o such_o a_o professor_n this_o must_v be_v own_a rather_o to_o chance_n and_o fortune_n than_o such_o a_o choice_n and_o wisdom_n as_o may_v affirm_v with_o the_o bless_a jesus_n we_o know_v what_o we_o worship_n for_o without_o knowledge_n there_o can_v be_v no_o belief_n and_o without_o belief_n no_o true_a come_n unto_o god_n but_o further_a what_o reasonable_a satisfaction_n can_v this_o be_v to_o any_o man_n to_o encourage_v he_o in_o his_o perseverance_n in_o his_o religion_n in_o time_n of_o trial_n and_o temptation_n to_o consider_v he_o have_v take_v up_o his_o religion_n by_o chance_n and_o though_o he_o know_v not_o why_o yet_o