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
A59230	A letter to the D. of P in answer to the argueing part of his first letter to Mr. G[ooden].	Sergeant, John, 1622-1707.	1687 (1687)	Wing S2577; ESTC R8628	21,639	37

biddle_n do_v against_o the_o minister_n of_o his_o parish_n and_o the_o whole_a church_n of_o england_n to_o boot_v it_o be_v plain_a you_o ought_v to_o cherish_v and_o commend_v he_o for_o stand_v firm_a to_o his_o rule_n but_o i_o be_o much_o afraid_a you_o will_v be_v out_o of_o humour_n with_o he_o and_o esteem_v yourself_o affront_v you_o may_v pretend_v what_o you_o please_v of_o high_a expression_n give_v by_o antiquity_n of_o scripture_n incomparable_a excellency_n and_o sufficiency_n for_o the_o end_v it_o be_v intend_v for_o which_o we_o do_v not_o deny_v to_o it_o but_o i_o dare_v say_v even_o yourself_o do_v not_o think_v that_o either_o the_o ancient_a faithful_a or_o the_o modern_a reformer_n mean_v that_o any_o of_o the_o ecclesia_fw-la credens_fw-fr or_o believe_v church_n shall_v have_v the_o liberty_n to_o interpret_v scripture_n against_o the_o ecclesia_fw-la docens_fw-la or_o teach_v church_n i._n e._n pastor_n or_o coin_n a_o faith_n out_o of_o it_o contrary_a to_o the_o present_a or_o former_a congregation_n of_o which_o he_o be_v a_o member_n 26._o the_o sum_n be_v it_o be_v evident_a hence_o that_o tradition_n of_o your_o father_n and_o teacher_n and_o not_o scripture_n letter_n be_v indeed_o your_o rule_n that_o by_o it_o you_o interpret_v scripture_n which_o then_o only_o be_v call_v your_o rule_n and_o make_v use_v of_o as_o such_o when_o you_o be_v dispute_v against_o we_o because_o have_v thus_o set_v it_o up_o to_o avoid_v and_o counterbalance_v the_o authority_n of_o the_o former_a church_n you_o leave_v you_o make_v account_v your_o own_o private_a interpretation_n of_o it_o may_v come_v to_o be_v think_v argumentative_a against_o the_o great_a body_n of_o those_o church_n from_o who_o communion_n you_o depart_v and_o yet_o you_o judge_v no_o private_a parishioner_n shall_v claim_v the_o same_o privilege_n against_o you_o without_o affront_a your_o great_a learning_n and_o pastoral_a authority_n but_o i_o much_o wonder_v you_o shall_v still_o venture_v to_o call_v scripture_n letter_n a_o rule_n of_o faith_n have_v be_v beat_v from_o that_o tenet_n so_o pitiful_o in_o error_n nonplus_v from_o pag._n 59_o to_o pag._n 72._o where_o i_o believe_v you_o may_v observe_v divers_a particular_n requisite_a to_o be_v clear_v ere_o the_o letter_n can_v be_v in_o all_o regard_v absolute_o certain_a which_o the_o consent_n of_o all_o christian_a church_n will_v never_o reach_v to_o by_o their_o mere_a authority_n unless_o you_o will_v allow_v the_o sense_n of_o christ_n doctrine_n descend_v by_o tradition_n do_v preserve_v the_o copy_n substantial_o right_a and_o entire_a 27._o your_o pretend_a rule_n of_o faith_n then_o be_v in_o reality_n the_o same_o that_o be_v challenge_v by_o all_o the_o heretic_n in_o the_o world_n viz._n scripture_n letter_n interpret_v by_o yourselves_o i_o will_v let_v you_o see_v in_o this_o follow_a short_a discourse_n how_o far_o it_o be_v from_o be_v absolute_o certain_a i._o god_n have_v leave_v we_o some_o way_n to_o know_v sure_o what_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n teach_v ii_o therefore_o this_o way_n must_v be_v such_o that_o they_o who_o take_v it_o shall_v arrive_v by_o it_o at_o the_o end_v it_o be_v intend_v for_o that_o be_v know_v sure_o what_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n teach_v iii_o scripture_n letter_n interpretable_a by_o private_a judgement_n be_v not_o that_o way_n for_o we_o experience_v presbyterian_o and_o socinian_o for_o example_n both_o take_v that_o way_n yet_o differ_v in_o such_o high_a fundamental_o as_o the_o trinity_n and_o the_o godhead_n of_o christ._n iv._o therefore_o scripture_n letter_n interpretable_a by_o private_a judgement_n be_v not_o the_o way_n leave_v by_o god_n to_o know_v sure_o what_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n teach_v or_o sure_o to_o arrive_v at_o right_a faith._n v._o therefore_o they_o who_o take_v only_o that_o way_n can_v by_v it_o arrive_v sure_o at_o right_a faith_n since_o it_o be_v impossible_a to_o arrive_v at_o the_o end_n without_o the_o mean_n or_o way_n that_o lead_v to_o it_o 28._o i_o do_v not_o expect_v any_o answer_n to_o this_o discourse_n as_o short_a as_o it_o be_v and_o as_o plain_a and_o as_o near_o as_o it_o touch_v your_o copyhold_n it_o may_v be_v serve_v as_o mr._n g_n argument_n be_v turn_v off_o so_o so_o with_o a_o instance_n if_o there_o be_v one_o at_o hand_n or_o with_o what_o always_o be_v at_o hand_n a_o irony_n or_o scornful_a jest_n your_o ready_a and_o in_o truth_n most_o useful_a servant_n but_o you_o must_v be_v excuse_v from_o find_v any_o proposition_n or_o inference_n to_o deny_v or_o any_o thing_n save_o the_o conclusion_n itself_o which_o though_o it_o will_v not_o be_v fair_o avoid_v i_o can_v hope_v shall_v be_v fair_o admit_v unless_o i_o can_v hope_v that_o man_n will_v be_v more_o in_o love_n with_o truth_n than_o their_o credit_n till_o truth_n be_v take_v a_o little_a more_o to_o heart_n catholic_a argument_n will_v and_o must_v always_o be_v faulty_a but_o they_o be_v the_o most_o unlucky_o and_o cross_o faulty_a of_o any_o in_o the_o world_n faulty_a still_o in_o the_o wrong_a place_n when_o fault_n be_v find_v in_o other_o argument_n it_o be_v always_o find_v in_o the_o premise_n in_o these_o it_o be_v find_v in_o the_o conclusion_n in_o which_o notwithstanding_o all_o who_o know_v any_o thing_n of_o a_o conclusion_n know_v there_o can_v be_v no_o fault_n if_o there_o be_v none_o in_o the_o premise_n indeed_o they_o show_v that_o to_o be_v true_a which_o man_n can_v endure_v shall_v be_v true_a and_o that_o be_v their_o great_a and_o unpardonable_a fault_n that_o you_o may_v not_o think_v i_o talk_v in_o the_o air_n i_o declare_v open_o that_o you_o can_v answer_v this_o discourse_n unless_o you_o will_v call_v some_o unconcern_v return_v a_o answer_n and_o i_o engage_v myself_o to_o show_v the_o proposition_n true_a and_o the_o inference_n good_a which_o you_o shall_v pitch_v upon_o to_o deny_v and_o the_o distinction_n if_o you_o will_v make_v any_o not_o to_o purpose_n the_o truth_n be_v i_o engage_v for_o no_o great_a matter_n for_o i_o know_v beforehand_o you_o can_v no_o more_o answer_n now_o than_o you_o can_v to_o error_n nonplus_v or_o can_v prove_v a_o absolute_a certainty_n in_o protestant_a faith._n 29._o to_o return_v now_o to_o mr._n g._n the_o second_o thing_n which_o you_o desire_v he_o to_o make_v good_a be_v that_o the_o tradition_n from_o father_n to_o son_n be_v a_o infallible_a conveyance_n of_o matter_n of_o faith_n notwithstanding_o the_o greek_a church_n be_v charge_v by_o he_o with_o error_n which_o adhere_v to_o tradition_n that_o be_v you_o desire_v he_o to_o prove_v over_o again_o what_o you_o tell_v we_o yourself_o he_o have_v prove_v once_o already_o for_o you_o tell_v we_o p._n 5_o he_o prove_v that_o they_o traditionary_a christian_n can_v not_o innovate_v in_o faith_n unless_o they_o do_v forget_v what_o they_o hold_v the_o day_n before_o or_o out_o of_o malice_n alter_v it_o pray_v when_o it_o be_v prove_v that_o the_o conveyance_n of_o faith_n by_o tradition_n exclude_v the_o possibility_n of_o change_n in_o faith_n save_v by_o forgetfulness_n or_o malice_n be_v it_o not_o prove_v that_o where_o there_o can_v be_v neither_o forgetfulness_n nor_o malice_n there_o can_v be_v no_o change_n in_o faith_n you_o do_v not_o i_o suppose_v desire_v he_o shall_v prove_v that_o man_n have_v always_o memory_n or_o that_o christian_n be_v never_o malicious_a enough_o to_o damn_v themselves_o and_o posterity_n witting_o and_o yet_o it_o can_v stick_v no_o where_o else_o if_o it_o can_v say_v mr._n g._n assign_v where_o now_o you_o know_v very_o well_o that_o a_o conveyance_n which_o make_v it_o impossible_a that_o faith_n shall_v ever_o be_v change_v be_v a_o infallible_a conveyance_n and_o the_o very_a thing_n be_v prove_v which_o you_o desire_v shall_v be_v prove_v what_o reason_n have_v mr._n g._n to_o prove_v it_o a_o second_o time_n and_o what_o reason_n have_v you_o to_o desire_v it_o if_o proof_n will_v content_v you_o you_o have_v it_o already_o but_o a_o second_o can_v hope_v to_o content_v you_o better_o than_o the_o first_o unless_o it_o be_v worse_o 30._o yes_o but_o you_o will_v have_v he_o prove_v notwithstanding_o the_o greek_a church_n &c._n &c._n p._n 7._o notwithstanding_o why_o do_v you_o think_v it_o be_v with_o argument_n as_o with_o writ_n where_o the_o want_n of_o a_o non_fw-la obstante_fw-la spoil_v all_o when_o a_o truth_n be_v once_o prove_v be_v it_o not_o prove_v notwithstanding_o all_o objection_n and_o will_v any_o notwithstanding_o unprove_v it_o again_o will_v your_o notwithstanding_o show_v we_o there_o be_v a_o time_n in_o which_o man_n be_v not_o man_n nor_o act_v like_o man_n will_v it_o show_v we_o that_o a_o thing_n which_o can_v possible_o be_v change_v may_v yet_o

absolute_a certainty_n you_o will_v assign_v for_o your_o that_o be_v protestant_a faith_n and_o you_o give_v he_o only_o a_o generical_a latitudinarian_a rule_n common_a to_o all_o the_o heresy_n in_o the_o world._n the_o project_n of_o the_o comprehension_n bill_n be_v a_o trifle_n to_o this_o it_o bring_v into_o one_o fold_n all_o the_o most_o enormous_a straggler_n that_o have_v be_v since_o christ_n time_n nay_o wolf_n and_o sheep_n and_o all_o it_o blend_v into_o one_o mass_n the_o most_o heterogeneous_a and_o hitherto_o irreconcilable_a sect_n nay_o it_o miraculous_o make_v light_n and_o darkness_n very_o consistent_a and_o christ_n and_o belial_n very_o good_a friend_n for_o your_o own_o credit_n sake_n then_o distinguish_v your_o kind_n of_o protestant_n if_o you_o be_v indeed_o one_o of_o that_o church_n from_o that_o infamous_a rabble_n of_o stigmatise_v heretic_n and_o let_v we_o know_v what_o be_v the_o proper_a difference_n that_o restrain_v that_o notion_n of_o a_o common_a rule_n to_o your_o particular_a as_o such_o a_o kind_n of_o protestant_n and_o show_v we_o that_o specifical_a rule_n to_o be_v absolute_o certain_a i_o say_v such_o a_o kind_n for_o even_o the_o word_n protestant_n too_o be_v a_o subaltern_n genus_fw-la and_o have_v divers_a species_n and_o it_o be_v doubt_v by_o many_o who_o be_v no_o papist_n under_o which_o species_n you_o be_v to_o be_v rank_v but_o why_o shall_v i_o vex_v you_o with_o put_v you_o upon_o manifest_a impossibility_n for_o the_o letter_n be_v the_o common_a rule_n to_o they_o all_o and_o as_o daily_a experience_n show_v we_o various_o explicable_a that_o which_o particularize_v it_o to_o belong_v special_o to_o this_o or_o that_o sect_n as_o its_o proper_a rule_n can_v be_v only_o this_o according_a as_o myself_o and_o those_o of_o my_o judgement_n understand_v or_o interpret_v it_o the_o difference_n then_o constitute_v your_o protestant_a rule_n as_o distinguish_v from_o that_o of_o those_o most_o abominable_a heresy_n can_v only_o be_v as_o my_o own_o judgement_n or_o other_o of_o my_o side_n thus_o or_o thus_o interpret_v scripture_n letter_n and_o wriggle_v which_o way_n you_o please_v there_o it_o will_v and_o must_v end_v at_o last_o go_v to_o work_v then_o distinguish_v yourself_o by_o your_o ground_n of_o faith_n and_o then_o make_v out_o this_o your_o proper_a rule_n to_o be_v absolute_o certain_a or_o infallible_a and_o then_o who_o will_v not_o laugh_v at_o you_o for_o attempt_v it_o and_o assume_v that_o to_o yourself_o which_o you_o deny_v to_o god_n church_n and_o prefer_v yourself_o as_o to_o the_o gift_n of_o understanding_n scripture_n right_a before_o the_o whole_a body_n of_o those_o many_o and_o learned_a church_n in_o communion_n with_o rome_n nay_o and_o before_o the_o socinian_o too_o without_o so_o much_o as_o pretend_v to_o make_v out_o to_o the_o world_n that_o you_o have_v better_a mean_n either_o natural_a or_o supernatural_a to_o interpret_v those_o sacred_a oracle_n than_o have_v the_o other_o 25._o my_o last_o exception_n be_v that_o you_o pretend_v the_o letter_n of_o scripture_n be_v a_o rule_n of_o faith_n for_o your_o people_n which_o not_o one_o in_o a_o million_o even_o of_o your_o own_a protestant_n rely_v on_o or_o ever_o think_v of_o rely_v on_o in_o order_n to_o make_v choice_n of_o their_o faith_n or_o determine_v what_o to_o hold_v this_o pretence_n of_o you_o look_v so_o like_o a_o mere_a jest_n that_o i_o can_v persuade_v myself_o you_o be_v in_o earnest_n when_o you_o advance_v such_o a_o paradox_n for_o it_o be_v manifest_a that_o while_o your_o protestant_n be_v under_o age_n and_o not_o yet_o at_o year_n of_o discretion_n to_o judge_v they_o simple_o believe_v their_o father_n and_o teacher_n that_o be_v they_o follow_v the_o way_n of_o tradition_n however_o misplace_v and_o when_o they_o come_v to_o maturity_n pray_v tell_v we_o true_o how_o many_o of_o your_o sober_a enquirer_n have_v you_o meet_v with_o in_o your_o life_n who_o endeavour_n to_o abstract_n from_o all_o the_o prejudices_fw-la they_o have_v imbibe_v in_o their_o minoriy_n and_o reduce_v their_o incline_v thought_n to_o a_o equal_a balance_n of_o indifferency_n do_v with_o a_o wise_a jealousy_n lest_o this_o popish_a way_n of_o believe_v immediate_a father_n and_o pastor_n shall_v delude_v they_o as_o it_o have_v do_v the_o whole_a world_n former_o resolve_v to_o examine_v the_o book_n of_o scripture_n itself_o read_v it_o attentive_o pray_v daily_o and_o fervent_o that_o god_n spirit_n will_v discover_v to_o they_o whether_o what_o they_o have_v learn_v hither_o to_o be_v true_a or_o no_o and_o what_o be_v and_o in_o a_o word_n use_v all_o the_o fallible_a mean_n for_o you_o allow_v they_o no_o other_o which_o your_o sober_a enquirer_n be_v to_o make_v use_n of_o to_o find_v out_o their_o faith_n i_o doubt_v if_o you_o will_v please_v to_o answer_v sincere_o you_o will_v serious_o confess_v you_o scarce_o ever_o meet_v with_o such_o a_o one_o in_o your_o life_n that_o be_v never_o meet_v with_o any_o one_o who_o rely_v upon_o scripture_n letter_n practical_o for_o his_o rule_n of_o faith_n whatever_o you_o may_v have_v teach_v they_o to_o talk_v by_o rote_n can_v any_o man_n of_o reason_n imagine_v that_o all_o the_o reform_a in_o denmark_n or_o sueden_n to_o omit_v other_o do_v light_a to_o be_v so_o unanimous_o of_o one_o religion_n mere_o by_o mean_n of_o read_v your_o letter-rule_n and_o your_o sober_a enquiry_n or_o can_v any_o be_v so_o blind_a as_o not_o to_o see_v that_o it_o be_v the_o follow_a the_o natural_a way_n of_o tradition_n or_o child_n believe_a father_n that_o be_v indeed_o of_o education_n that_o such_o multitude_n in_o several_a place_n continue_v still_o of_o the_o same_o persuasion_n and_o that_o you_o consequent_o owe_v to_o this_o way_n which_o you_o so_o decry_v in_o catholic_n that_o any_o considerable_a number_n of_o you_o do_v voluntary_o hang_v together_o at_o all_o and_o that_o those_o principle_n of_o you_o which_o you_o take_v up_o sore_a a_o show_n when_o you_o write_v against_o catholic_n will_v if_o put_v in_o practice_n in_o a_o short_a time_n crumble_v to_o atom_n all_o the_o church_n in_o the_o world_n perhaps_o indeed_o when_o your_o protestant_n come_v at_o age_n they_o may_v receive_v some_o confirmation_n from_o their_o father_n and_o preacher_n quote_v scripture-place_n against_o what_o catholic_n hold_v or_o what_o they_o shall_v please_v to_o say_v they_o hold_v and_o by_o the_o same_o mean_n come_v to_o believe_v a_o trinity_n the_o godhead_n of_o christ_n christ_n body_n be_v absent_a in_o the_o sacrament_n and_o such_o like_a but_o do_v the_o hearer_n and_o learner_n make_v it_o their_o business_n to_o use_v all_o careful_a disquisition_n for_o a_o slubber_v superficial_a diligence_n will_v not_o serve_v the_o turn_n in_o matter_n of_o such_o high_a concern_v whether_o the_o catholic_n and_o those_o great_a scripturist_n who_o deny_v those_o other_o point_n do_v not_o give_v more_o congruous_a explication_n of_o those_o place_n than_o their_o own_o preacher_n do_v unless_o they_o do_v this_o or_o something_o equivalent_a it_o be_v manifest_a the_o letter_n of_o scripture_n be_v not_o their_o rule_n but_o honest_a tradition_n and_o that_o they_o do_v no_o such_o thing_n be_v hence_o very_o apparent_a that_o they_o rest_v easy_o satisfy_v and_o well_o apay_v with_o their_o parson_n interpretation_n of_o scripture_n they_o present_o accept_v it_o for_o right_a and_o good_a and_o ready_o swallow_v that_o sense_n which_o some_o learned_a man_n of_o their_o own_o judgement_n assign_v it_o without_o think_v themselves_o oblige_v to_o observe_v your_o method_n of_o sober_a enquiry_n you_o may_v rail_v against_o the_o council_n of_o trent_n as_o you_o will_v for_o forbid_v any_o to_o interpret_v scripture_n against_o the_o sense_n which_o the_o church_n hold_v but_o it_o be_v no_o more_o than_o what_o your_o hearer_n perpetual_o practice_v and_o the_o preacher_n too_o for_o all_o their_o fair_a word_n expect_v from_o they_o and_o i_o much_o doubt_v even_o yourself_o though_o your_o principle_n be_v the_o most_o pernicious_a for_o take_v matter_n out_o of_o the_o church_n and_o put_v they_o into_o private_a hand_n of_o any_o protestant_n i_o ever_o yet_o read_v will_v not_o take_v it_o very_o well_o if_o some_o parishioner_n of_o you_o presume_v upon_o his_o prayer_n for_o direction_n etc._n etc._n shall_v tell_v you_o that_o you_o err_v in_o interpret_n scripture_n and_o that_o the_o sense_n he_o give_v it_o be_v sound_a and_o right_a faith_n your_o wrong_n and_o heretical_a and_o i_o will_v be_v glad_a to_o know_v what_o you_o will_v say_v to_o he_o according_a to_o your_o principle_n if_o he_o shall_v hap_v to_o stand_v out_o against_o you_o that_o he_o understand_v scripture_n to_o be_v plain_o against_o a_o trinity_n and_o christ_n divinity_n as_o john_n