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scripture_n article_n church_n tradition_n 2,712 5 8.9857 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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contradict_v plain_a reason_n for_o truth_n can_v never_o contradict_v itself_o what_o be_v true_a in_o revelation_n can_v never_o be_v false_a in_o reason_n and_o what_o be_v true_a by_o natural_a reason_n can_v never_o be_v false_a in_o revelation_n but_o then_o as_o i_o observe_v before_o we_o must_v be_v sure_a that_o there_o be_v such_o a_o contradiction_n it_o must_v be_v evident_a and_o express_a and_o not_o make_v out_o of_o uncertain_a consequence_n which_o many_o time_n be_v not_o owe_v to_o the_o nature_n of_o thing_n but_o to_o the_o imperfection_n of_o our_o own_o knowledge_n as_o to_o keep_v to_o the_o matter_n of_o our_o present_a dispute_n natural_a reason_n tell_v we_o that_o there_o be_v and_o can_v be_v but_o one_o supreme_a god_n the_o sovereign_a lord_n of_o the_o world_n and_o shall_v any_o man_n pretend_v to_o prove_v from_o scripture_n that_o there_o be_v three_o god_n this_o will_v be_v a_o express_a contradiction_n to_o the_o natural_a belief_n of_o one_o 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hold_v the_o true_a catholic_n faith_n and_o that_o the_o faith_n of_o the_o athanasian_n creed_n be_v that_o catholic_n faith_n which_o be_v necessary_a to_o salvation_n 1._o as_o for_o the_o first_o of_o these_o i_o will_v desire_v he_o to_o consider_v that_o though_o without_o holiness_n no_o man_n shall_v see_v god_n yet_o no_o man_n be_v save_v by_o his_o good_a work_n but_o by_o faith_n in_o christ_n to_o say_v that_o we_o shall_v be_v save_v by_o holiness_n and_o good_a work_n without_o faith_n in_o christ_n be_v to_o assert_v the_o merit_n of_o good_a work_n ten_o thousand_o time_n more_o than_o ever_o papist_n themselves_o do_v the_o meritorious_a work_n of_o popery_n serve_v only_o instead_o of_o penance_n to_o keep_v they_o out_o of_o purgatory_n or_o to_o shorten_v their_o time_n there_o they_o serve_v instead_o of_o that_o temporal_a punishment_n which_o absolve_v and_o penitent_a sinner_n must_v undergo_v for_o those_o sin_n the_o eternal_a punishment_n of_o which_o be_v remit_v not_o for_o their_o own_o meritorious_a work_n but_o for_o the_o merit_n and_o expiation_n of_o christ_n but_o he_o who_o expect_v to_o be_v save_v for_o his_o good_a work_n without_o faith_n in_o christ_n attribute_n such_o a_o merit_n to_o good_a work_n as_o redeem_v he_o from_o the_o wrath_n of_o god_n and_o the_o eternal_a punishment_n due_a to_o sin_n and_o purchase_v eternal_a reward_n for_o he_o which_o be_v somewhat_o more_o than_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n pretend_v to_o especial_o since_o whatever_o merit_n they_o attribute_v to_o good_a work_n they_o ascribe_v whole_o to_o the_o merit_n of_o christ_n who_o merit_n alone_o have_v make_v our_o good_a work_n meritorious_a which_o be_v very_o honourable_a to_o our_o saviour_n and_o very_a orthodox_n divinity_n in_o comparison_n with_o those_o who_o think_v good_a work_v such_o meritorious_a thing_n whatever_o their_o faith_n be_v and_o if_o he_o consider_v this_o twice_o i_o suppose_v he_o will_v confess_v that_o faith_n in_o christ_n the_o true_a catholic_n faith_n be_v necessary_a to_o salvation_n 2._o nay_o it_o be_v necessary_a before_o all_o other_o thing_n to_o our_o salvation_n because_o it_o be_v necessary_a to_o baptism_n which_o alone_o put_v we_o into_o a_o state_n of_o salvation_n for_o he_o that_o believe_v and_o be_v baptize_v shall_v be_v save_v but_o he_o that_o believe_v not_o shall_v be_v damn_v all_o christian_n must_v confess_v that_o there_o be_v no_o other_o name_n give_v under_o heaven_n whereby_o man_n can_v be_v save_v but_o only_o the_o name_n of_o christ_n that_o faith_n in_o christ_n in_o adult_a person_n be_v necessary_a to_o baptism_n that_o baptism_n alone_o incorporate_v we_o into_o the_o body_n of_o christ_n and_o put_v we_o into_o a_o state_n of_o salvation_n and_o therefore_o that_o neither_o jew_n nor_o turk_n nor_o heathen_n none_o but_o believe_v and_o baptize_v christian_n be_v in_o a_o state_n of_o salvation_n how_o moral_o virtuous_a soever_o their_o life_n may_v be_v whoever_o do_v not_o confess_v this_o make_v nothing_o of_o the_o covenant_n of_o grace_n in_o jesus_n christ_n nothing_o of_o his_o sacrifice_n priesthood_n and_o intercession_n make_v the_o christian_a religion_n nothing_o but_o a_o new_a and_o more_o perfect_a sect_n of_o philosophy_n than_o either_o jew_n or_o heathen_n teach_v before_o who_o condition_n yet_o be_v as_o safe_a as_o the_o condition_n of_o christian_n if_o they_o live_v according_a to_o the_o knowledge_n they_o have_v our_o author_n then_o must_v either_o renounce_v the_o christian_a religion_n or_o confess_v the_o true_a catholic_n faith_n or_o a_o true_a faith_n in_o christ_n be_v before_o all_o other_o thing_n necessary_a to_o salvation_n because_o this_o be_v that_o which_o put_v we_o into_o a_o state_n of_o salvation_n by_o christ_n without_o which_o no_o man_n can_v be_v save_v according_a to_o the_o term_n of_o the_o gospel_n 3._o if_o faith_n in_o christ_n be_v necessary_a to_o salvation_n i_o suppose_v all_o man_n will_v grant_v it_o must_v be_v the_o true_a faith_n in_o christ_n not_o a_o false_a and_o heretical_a faith_n for_o that_o be_v equivalent_a to_o infidelity_n there_o seem_v to_o be_v little_a difference_n between_o not_o believe_v in_o christ_n at_o all_o and_o not_o believe_v what_o we_o ought_v to_o believe_v of_o he_o and_o the_o belief_n of_o which_o be_v necessary_a to_o salvation_n for_o if_o we_o do_v not_o believe_v that_o of_o christ_n which_o be_v necessary_a to_o salvation_n we_o may_v as_o well_o believe_v nothing_o and_o then_o to_o be_v sure_a it_o concern_v we_o to_o hold_v the_o catholic_n faith_n whatever_o that_o be_v 4._o that_o the_o faith_n of_o the_o holy_a trinity_n be_v that_o true_a christian_a faith_n which_o be_v necessary_a to_o salvation_n appear_v from_o the_o form_n of_o baptism_n itself_o for_o we_o be_v baptize_v in_o the_o name_n of_o the_o father_n and_o of_o the_o son_n and_o of_o the_o holy_a ghost_n that_o be_v into_o the_o faith_n and_o worship_n of_o the_o trinity_n in_o unity_n and_o unity_n in_o trinity_n which_o be_v the_o substance_n of_o the_o athanasian_n creed_n this_o be_v the_o baptismal_a faith_n and_o that_o certain_o be_v necessary_a to_o salvation_n if_o any_o faith_n be_v now_o when_o we_o consider_v that_o baptism_n be_v our_o solemn_a dedication_n to_o god_n and_o admission_n into_o covenant_n with_o he_o to_o be_v dedicate_v to_o the_o son_n and_o holy_a ghost_n in_o the_o same_o manner_n in_o the_o very_a same_o act_n and_o same_o form_n of_o word_n whereby_o we_o be_v dedicate_v to_o the_o father_n be_v they_o not_o one_o supreme_a and_o sovereign_a god_n with_o the_o father_n will_v make_v any_o consider_a man_n abhor_v the_o christian_a religion_n as_o the_o most_o open_a and_o bare-faced_n idolatry_n as_o join_v creature_n with_o god_n in_o the_o most_o solemn_a act_n of_o religion_n that_o of_o dedicate_a man_n to_o his_o worship_n and_o service_n but_o not_o to_o insist_v on_o that_o now_o our_o author_n may_v hence_o learn_v that_o to_o believe_v in_o father_n son_n and_o holy_a ghost_n be_v necessary_a to_o salvation_n because_o it_o be_v the_o faith_n of_o baptism_n and_o if_o that_o exposition_n which_o the_o athanasian_n creed_n have_v give_v of_o this_o faith_n be_v the_o true_a catholic_n doctrine_n then_o that_o be_v necessary_a to_o salvation_n and_o therefore_o the_o creed_n begin_v very_o proper_o with_o assert_v the_o necessity_n of_o hold_v the_o catholic_n faith_n if_o we_o will_v be_v save_v which_o must_v be_v as_o necessary_a to_o salvation_n as_o it_o be_v to_o be_v christian_n which_o faith_n except_o a_o man_n keep_v whole_a and_o undefiled_a without_o doubt_n he_o shall_v perish_v everlasting_o by_o keep_v this_o faith_n whole_a and_o undefiled_a must_v be_v mean_v note_n if_o any_o thing_n be_v mean_v that_o a_o man_n shall_v believe_v and_o profess_v it_o without_o add_v to_o it_o or_o take_v from_o it_o if_o we_o take_v from_o it_o we_o do_v not_o keep_v it_o whole_a if_o we_o add_v aught_o to_o it_o we_o do_v not_o keep_v it_o undefiled_a and_o either_o way_n we_o shall_v perish_v everlasting_o a_o man_n of_o ordinary_a sense_n and_o candour_n will_v have_v say_v answer_n that_o to_o keep_v this_o faith_n whole_a and_o undefiled_a signify_v not_o to_o corrupt_v the_o faith_n either_o by_o add_v to_o it_o or_o take_v from_o it_o for_o whatever_o we_o add_v or_o whatever_o we_o take_v away_o which_o do_v not_o alter_v the_o essential_o of_o our_o faith_n the_o faith_n remain_v whole_a and_o undefiled_a still_o but_o this_o will_v have_v spoil_v his_o notable_a remark_n both_o as_o to_o add_v and_o take_v away_o first_o for_o add_v what_o if_o a_o honest_a plain_a man_n because_o he_o be_v a_o christian_n and_o a_o protestant_n note_n shall_v think_v it_o necessary_a to_o add_v this_o article_n to_o the_o athanasian_n creed_n i_o believe_v the_o holy_a scripture_n of_o the_o old_a and_o new_a testament_n to_o be_v a_o divine_a infallible_a and_o complete_a rule_n both_o for_o faith_n and_o manner_n i_o hope_v no_o protestant_n will_v think_v a_o man_n damn_v for_o such_o addition_n and_o if_o so_o than_o this_o creed_n of_o athanasius_n be_v at_o least_o a_o unnecessary_a rule_n of_o faith_n that_o be_v to_o say_v it_o be_v a_o addition_n to_o the_o catholic_n faith_n answer_n to_o own_o the_o scripture_n to_o be_v the_o rule_n of_o faith_n as_o if_o it_o be_v a_o addition_n to_o the_o law_n of_o england_n to_o own_o the_o original_a record_n of_o they_o in_o the_o tower_n for_o the_o catholic_n faith_n be_v what_o we_o be_v to_o believe_v the_o rule_n of_o faith_n be_v that_o book_n or_o write_v wherein_o this_o catholic_n faith_n be_v to_o be_v find_v and_o upon_o the_o authority_n of_o which_o we_o must_v believe_v it_o and_o therefore_o what_o the_o catholic_n faith_n be_v