Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	authority_n	church_n	interpretation_n	4,397	5	10.0901	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A51828	Two discourses the first, shewing how the chief criterions of philosophical truth, invented by speculative men, more eminently serve divine revelation, than either philosophy or natural religion. The second, manifesting how all the foundations of the intellectual world, viz. reason, morality, civil government, and religion, have been undermin'd by popish doctrine and policies. By Tho. Mannyngham, M.A fellow of New Colledge in Oxford, and Rector of East-Tysted in Hant-Shire.	Manningham, Thomas, 1651?-1722.	1681 (1681)	Wing M510; ESTC R216239	26,124	193

to make his Council still wiser by the experience of his Dangers and all Posterity amazed with the History of his protections The last Pillar and Foundation of the Intellectual World which the Romanists have disordered is Religion Having already manifested how the Romanists have corrupted Reason defaced Morality and undermined Government our last Topic Religion of which these three are no inconsiderable Branches may seem in a great measure to have been already handled but however there is a peculiar consideration reserved for this head which consists in charging them with those impious and intolerable Abuses which they have offered to Divine Revelation and the Holy Scriptures in general For what Difficulties Obscurities and uncertainties have they ascribed to that Easie Perspicuous and Infallible Rule that they might deter the Protestants from making it their Canon and advance their own unwritten Traditions into its place they esteem our Translated Bible to be only an Asylum for Hereticks and Schismaticks a Refuge for the Disobedient and Runagate where they may shelter themselves under doubtful Texts grow obstinate in their own Interpretations and revile the Authority of the Catholick Church It is reported that there was once held a Consult in Rome whether they should expunge all St. Pauls Epistles as being the noted Mint of Seperating Doctrines nay they account the whole Body of the Scriptures the most pernitious Engines that men could ever have been intrusted with and he who seriously considers those Indignities and Invectives which they have cast upon those Sacred Volumns will be apt to believe that some of them at least are scarce agreed among themselves whether their Original was from Heaven or from Hell What Provocations what Warrants are such hints as these to a vitious Age What confidence and security will the Anti-Scripturist assume when he shall reflect how those who pretend to have had the sole Custody of the Scripture-Canon and to have been the great Guardians of Revelation ever since the Apostles times shall be found to slight Contemn and Blaspheme those reverend Truths what havock of Christian Religion must that Man make in whom Original Sin shall chance to be improved and made bold by Education Custom Habit and the applause of Vice be made powerful and Eloquent by the advantages of Wit and Parts and especially when he shall have his Argument recommended to him by the Learning and Merits of a Cardinal by the Authority of the Romans See! If we now look back and take a Survey of those Ruines which I have only pointed at what a Landskip of Deformity will the Intellectual World appear such a Confusion such a Chaos as nothing but an Almighty Wisdom can bring it to the beauty of Order again nothing but a Civil Creation can re-establish it and altho we cannot but acknowledg it a just Judgment of God upon us yet I hope I have demonstrated how the Papists have been the immediate Executioners as the Devil himself is said to be subservient to the ends of Providence in those very Actions wherein he intends nothing but his own Malice and if ever we hope to settle the Foundations of the Intellectual World amongst us we must with true Courage and Zeal with Heart and Soul renounce all manner of Popery not only that which is openly professed in their known and Common Doctrines but also that which is secretly disguiz'd in Sects and Factions Yet let this dismal Survey which I have now given be no objection to the goodness of God and the Promises of Christ for suffering the little Remnant of his Religion to be almost devoured and undermin'd by the Tyranny and Craft of Anti-Christ whilst by the Coutroversies of the Church our Saviour only examines the soundness of our Faith and by the Afflictions of it the Sincerity of our Love For God be praised we have still some amongst us who can and dare assert the just Prerogative of Reason and maintain its ample subserviency to Religion both to make void the necessity of an Infallible Chair and to curb the extravagancies of Enthusiasm the Clamors and Noises of Sceptical men have only taught their Reason its surest guard brought it out of its Eclipse and awakened it into a fuller Orb of Evidence Also the pure and immaculate Rules of Moral Righteousness still shine in our practical Divinity where the Precepts of Christ are faithfully interpreted to their utmost Perfection and their utmost perfection is made our Rule and Duty Government has its peculiar Royalty in the Doctrines our Church it has a Title in other Places but a true Empire here in our Constitutions tho not in our Practices Religion and Loyalty go hand in hand Righteousness and Peace embrace each other Here the true Church of Christ is our Established Center and Oh that the Civil Power were its just Circle of Defence Here lastly Divine Revelation enjoys its full Splendor and Reverence in its translated Form 't is a Pillar of Fire a Cloud without any Darkness the Immediate Presence of the Lord both to conduct us and secure us Victory by this alone we can hope to withstand the Fury of the Nations the Gates of Hell and Plots of Papists FINIS Books Printed for and sold by Wil. Cadman at the Popes Head in the lower walk of the New-Exchange in the Strand Folio AN Institution of General History or the history of the World by Wil. Howel L L. D. in two Volumns Historical Collections or an exact Account of the Proceedings of the four last Parliaments of Queen Elizabeth of famous Memory Pharamond a Romance compleat in English Clelia a Romance in English Parthenissa a Romance in English An Historical Heroick Poem on the Life of the right Honourable Thomas Earl of Ossery with his Picture neatly engraven on a Copper plate written by Elkana Settle Quarto An Historical Relation of the first Discovery of the Isle of Madera The Protestant Religion is a sure Foundation c. by the Right honourable Charles Earl of Denby The Jesuits Policy to suppress Monarchy by a Person of Honour A Warning-piece for the unruly in two Visitation Sermons at Preston by Seth Bushel D. D. The great efficacy and necessity of good example especially in the Clergy in a Visitation Sermon at Guilford by Tho Duncomb D. D. A Sermon Preached before the King by Miles Barns Chaplain in Ordinary to his Majesty A Sermon Preached at the Assizes at Lancaster by Henry Pigott B. D. Two Discourses the first shewing how the chief Criterions of Philosophical Truth invented by speculative men more eminently serve Divine Revelation than either Philosophy or Natural Religion The Second manifesting how all the Foundations of the Intellectual World viz. Reason Morality Civil Government and Religion have been undermin'd by Popish Doctrines and Policies The Temple of Death with other Poems by a Person of Honour