Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
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A50949
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The reason of church-government urg'd against prelaty by Mr. John Milton ; in two books.
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Milton, John, 1608-1674.
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1641
(1641)
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Wing M2175; ESTC R3223
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58,920
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68
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that_o i_o do_v not_o fear_v his_o win_n of_o many_o to_o his_o cause_n but_o such_o as_o dote_v upon_o great_a name_n be_v either_o over-weak_a or_o over_o sudden_a of_o faith_n i_o shall_v not_o refuse_v therefore_o to_o leaâ—_z ne_fw-la so_o much_o prudence_n as_o i_o find_v in_o the_o roman_a soldier_n that_o attend_v the_o cross_n not_o to_o stand_v break_v of_o leg_n when_o the_o breath_n be_v quite_o out_o of_o the_o body_n but_o pass_v to_o that_o which_o follow_v the_o primate_n of_o armagh_n at_o the_o beginning_n of_o his_o tractat_fw-la seek_v to_o avail_v himself_o of_o that_o place_n in_o the_o 66_o of_o esaiah_n i_o will_v take_v of_o they_o for_o priest_n and_o levite_n say_v the_o lord_n to_o uphold_v hereby_o such_o a_o form_n of_o superiority_n among_o the_o minister_n of_o the_o gospel_n succeed_v those_o in_o the_o law_n as_o the_o lord_n day_n do_v the_o sabbath_n but_o certain_a if_o this_o method_n may_v be_v admit_v of_o interpret_n those_o prophetical_a passage_n concerning_o christian_a time_n in_o a_o punctual_a correspondence_n it_o may_v with_o equal_a probability_n be_v urge_v upon_o we_o that_o we_o be_v bind_v to_o observe_v some_o monthly_a solemnity_n answerable_a to_o the_o new_a moon_n as_o well_o as_o the_o lord_n day_n which_o we_o keep_v in_o lieu_n of_o the_o sabbath_n for_o in_o the_o 23_o v._n the_o prophet_n join_v they_o in_o the_o same_o manner_n together_o as_o before_o he_o do_v the_o priest_n and_o levite_n thus_o and_o it_o shall_v come_v to_o pass_v that_o from_o one_o new_a moon_n to_o another_o and_o from_o one_o sabbath_n to_o another_o shall_v all_o flesh_n come_v to_o worship_v before_o i_o say_v the_o lord_n undoubted_o with_o as_o good_a consequence_n may_v it_o be_v allege_v from_o hence_o that_o we_o be_v to_o solemnize_v some_o religious_a monthly_a meeting_n different_a from_o the_o sabbath_n as_o from_o the_o other_o any_o distinct_a formality_n of_o ecclesiastical_a order_n may_v be_v infer_v this_o rather_o will_v appear_v to_o be_v the_o lawful_a and_o unconstrained_a sense_n of_o the_o text_n that_o god_n in_o take_v of_o they_o for_o priest_n and_o levite_n will_v not_o esteem_v they_o unworthy_a though_o gentile_n to_o undergo_v any_o function_n in_o the_o church_n but_o will_v make_v of_o they_o a_o full_a and_o perfect_a ministry_n as_o be_v that_o of_o the_o priest_n and_o levite_n in_o their_o kind_n and_o bishop_n anâ—_z row_v himself_o to_o end_v the_o controversy_n send_v we_o a_o candid_a exposition_n of_o this_o quote_a verse_n from_o the_o 24_o page_n of_o his_o say_a book_n plain_o decide_v that_o god_n by_o those_o legal_a name_n there_o of_o priest_n and_o levite_n mean_n our_o presbyter_n and_o deacon_n for_o which_o either_o ingenuous_a confession_n or_o slip_v of_o his_o pen_n we_o give_v he_o thanks_o and_o withal_o to_o he_o that_o bring_v these_o treatise_n into_o one_o volume_n who_o set_v the_o contradiction_n of_o two_o learned_a man_n so_o near_o together_o do_v not_o foresee_v what_o other_o deducement_n or_o analogy_n be_v cite_v out_o of_o s._n paul_n to_o proâ—_z e_fw-la a_o likeness_n between_o the_o minister_n of_o the_o old_a and_o new_a testament_n have_v try_v their_o sinew_n i_o judge_v they_o may_v pass_v without_o harm_n do_v to_o our_o cause_n we_o may_v remember_v then_o that_o prelaty_n neither_o have_v nor_o can_v have_v foundation_n in_o the_o law_n nor_o yet_o in_o the_o gospel_n which_o assertion_n as_o be_v for_o the_o plainness_n thereof_o a_o matter_n of_o eye_n sight_n rather_o than_o of_o disquisition_n i_o voluntary_o omit_v not_o forget_v to_o specify_v this_o note_n again_o that_o the_o earnest_n desâ—_z e_fw-it which_o the_o prelate_n have_v to_o build_v their_o hierarchy_n upon_o the_o sandy_a bottom_n of_o the_o law_n give_v we_o to_o see_v abundant_o the_o little_a assurance_n which_o they_o find_v to_o rear_v up_o their_o high_a roof_n by_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o gospel_n repulse_v as_o it_o be_v from_o the_o writing_n of_o the_o apostle_n and_o drive_v to_o take_v sanctuary_n among_o the_o jew_n hence_o that_o open_a confession_n of_o the_o primate_n before_o mention_v episcopacy_n be_v fetch_v partly_o from_o the_o pattern_n of_o the_o old_a testament_n and_o partly_o from_o the_o new_a as_o a_o imitation_n of_o the_o old_a though_o nothing_o caâ—_n be_v more_o rot_v in_o divinity_n than_o such_o a_o position_n as_o this_o and_o be_v all_o one_o as_o to_o say_v episcopacy_n be_v partly_o of_o divine_a institution_n and_o partly_o of_o man_n own_o carve_n for_o who_o give_v the_o authority_n to_o fetch_v more_o from_o the_o pattern_n of_o the_o law_n then_o what_o the_o apostle_n have_v already_o fetch_v if_o they_o fetch_v any_o thing_n at_o aâ—_n l_o as_o have_v be_v prove_v they_o do_v not_o so_o be_v jerâ—_n oam_v episcopacy_n partly_o from_o the_o pattern_n of_o the_o law_n and_o partly_o from_o the_o pattern_n of_o his_o own_o carnality_n a_o particoloured_a and_o a_o parti-membered_a episcopacy_n and_o what_o can_v this_o be_v less_o than_o a_o monstrous_a other_o therefore_o among_o the_o prelate_n perhaps_o not_o so_o well_o able_a to_o brook_v or_o rather_o to_o justify_v this_o foul_a relapse_n to_o the_o old_a law_n have_v condescend_v at_o last_o to_o a_o plain_a confess_v that_o both_o the_o name_n and_o office_n of_o bishop_n and_o presbyter_n at_o first_o be_v the_o same_o and_o in_o the_o scripture_n nowhere_o distinguish_v this_o grant_v the_o remonstrant_a in_o the_o five_o section_n of_o his_o descâ—_z e_fw-la and_o in_o the_o preface_n to_o his_o last_o short_a answer_n but_o what_o need_n respect_v he_o have_v whether_o he_o grant_v or_o grant_v it_o not_o when_o as_o through_o all_o antiquity_n and_o even_o in_o the_o loâ—_z jest_n time_n of_o prelaty_n we_o find_v it_o grant_v jerome_n the_o learned_a of_o the_o father_n hide_v not_o his_o opinion_n that_o custom_n only_o which_o the_o proverb_n call_v a_o tyrant_n be_v the_o maker_n of_o prelaty_n before_o his_o audacious_a workmanâ—_z p_o the_o church_n be_v rule_v in_o common_a by_o the_o presbyter_n and_o such_o a_o certain_a truth_n this_o be_v esteem_v that_o it_o become_v a_o decree_n among_o the_o papal_a canon_n compile_v by_o gratian_n ansâ—_n i_o be_o also_o of_o canturbury_n who_o to_o uphold_v the_o point_n of_o his_o prelatism_n make_v himself_o a_o traitor_n to_o his_o country_n yet_o comment_v the_o epistle_n to_o titus_n and_o the_o philippian_n acknowledge_v from_o the_o clearness_n of_o the_o text_n what_o jerome_n and_o the_o church_n rubric_n have_v before_o acknowledge_v he_o little_o dream_v then_o that_o the_o weeding-hook_n of_o reformation_n will_v after_o two_o age_n pluck_v up_o his_o glorious_a poppy_n from_o insult_v over_o the_o good_a corn_n though_o since_o some_o of_o our_o british_a prelate_n see_v themselves_o press_v to_o produce_v scripture_n try_v all_o their_o cunning_n if_o the_o new_a testament_n will_v not_o help_v they_o to_o frame_v of_o their_o own_o head_n as_o it_o be_v with_o wax_n a_o kind_n of_o mimic_n bishop_n limn_v out_o to_o the_o life_n of_o a_o dead_a priesthood_n or_o else_o they_o will_v strain_v we_o out_o a_o certain_a figurative_a prelate_n by_o wring_v the_o collective_a allegory_n of_o those_o seven_o angel_n into_o seven_o single_a rochet_n howsoever_o since_o it_o thus_o appear_v that_o custom_n be_v the_o creator_n of_o prelaty_n be_v less_o ancient_a than_o the_o government_n of_o presbyter_n it_o be_v a_o extreme_a folly_n to_o give_v they_o the_o hear_v that_o tell_v we_o of_o bishop_n through_o so_o many_o age_n and_o if_o against_o their_o tedious_a muster_n of_o citation_n see_n and_o succession_n it_o be_v reply_v that_o wager_n and_o church_n antiquity_n such_o as_o be_v repugnant_a to_o the_o plain_a dictat_fw-la of_o scripture_n be_v both_o alike_o the_o argument_n of_o fool_n they_o have_v their_o answer_n we_o rather_o be_v to_o cite_v all_o those_o age_n to_o a_o arraignment_n before_o the_o word_n of_o god_n wherefore_o and_o what_o pretend_v how_o presume_v they_o dare_v alter_v that_o divine_a institution_n of_o presbyterâ—_n which_o the_o apostle_n who_o be_v no_o various_a and_o inconstant_a man_n sure_o have_v set_v up_o in_o the_o church_n and_o why_o they_o choose_v to_o live_v by_o custom_n and_o catalogue_n or_o as_o s._n paul_n say_v by_o sight_n and_o visibility_n rather_o than_o by_o faith_n but_o first_o i_o conclude_v from_o their_o own_o mouth_n that_o god_n command_n in_o scripture_n which_o doubtless_o aught_o to_o be_v the_o first_o and_o great_a reason_n of_o church-government_n be_v want_v to_o prelaty_n and_o certain_o we_o have_v plenteous_a warrant_n in_o the_o doctrine_n of_o christ_n to_o determine_v that_o the_o want_n of_o this_o reason_n be_v of_o itself_o sufficient_a to_o confute_v all_o other_o
do_v to_o your_o soul_n they_o will_v sell_v your_o body_n your_o wife_n your_o child_n your_o liberty_n your_o parliament_n all_o these_o thing_n and_o if_o there_o be_v aught_o else_o dear_a than_o these_o they_o will_v sell_v at_o a_o outcry_n in_o their_o pulpit_n to_o the_o arbitrary_a and_o illegal_a dispose_n of_o any_o one_o that_o may_v hereafter_o be_v call_v a_o king_n who_o mind_n shall_v serve_v he_o to_o listen_v to_o their_o bargain_n and_o by_o their_o corrupt_a and_o servile_a doctrine_n bore_v our_o ear_n to_o a_o everlasting_a slavery_n as_o they_o have_v do_v hitherto_o so_o will_v they_o yet_o do_v their_o best_a to_o repeal_v and_o erase_n every_o line_n and_o clause_n of_o both_o our_o great_a charterâ—_n noâ—_z be_v this_o only_a what_o they_o will_v do_v but_o what_o they_o hold_v as_o the_o mainâ—_z reason_n and_o mystery_n of_o their_o advancement_n that_o they_o must_v do_v â—_z e_o the_o prince_n never_o so_o just_a and_o equal_a to_o his_o subject_n yet_o such_o be_v their_o malicious_a and_o deprave_a eye_n that_o they_o so_o look_v on_o he_o and_o so_o understand_v he_o as_o if_o he_o require_v no_o other_o gratitude_n or_o piece_n of_o service_n siâ—_z they_o then_o this_o and_o indeed_o they_o stand_v so_o opportun_o for_o the_o disturb_v or_o the_o destroy_n of_o a_o state_n be_v a_o knot_n of_o creature_n who_o dignity_n mean_n and_o preferment_n have_v no_o foundation_n in_o the_o gospel_n as_o they_o themselves_o acknowledge_v but_o only_o in_o the_o prince_n favour_n and_o to_o continue_v so_o long_o to_o they_o as_o by_o please_v he_o they_o shall_v deserve_v whence_o it_o must_v needs_o be_v they_o shall_v bend_v all_o their_o intention_n and_o service_n to_o no_o other_o end_n but_o to_o his_o that_o if_o it_o shall_v happen_v that_o a_o tyrant_n god_n turn_v such_o a_o scourge_n from_o we_o to_o our_o enemy_n shall_v come_v to_o grasp_v the_o sceptre_n here_o be_v his_o spear_n man_n and_o his_o lance_n here_o be_v his_o firelock_n ready_a he_o shall_v need_v no_o other_o praetorian_a band_n nor_o pensionry_n then_o these_o if_o they_o can_v once_o with_o their_o perfidious_a preachment_n awe_n the_o people_n for_o although_o the_o prelate_n in_o time_n of_o popery_n be_v sometime_o friendly_a enough_o to_o magnacharta_fw-la it_o be_v because_o they_o stand_v upon_o their_o own_o bottom_n without_o their_o main_a dependence_n on_o the_o royal_a nod_n but_o now_o be_v well_o acquaint_v that_o the_o protestant_a religion_n if_o she_o will_v reform_v herself_o right_o by_o the_o scripture_n must_v undress_v they_o of_o all_o their_o guild_a vanity_n and_o reduce_v they_o as_o they_o be_v at_o first_o to_o the_o lowly_a and_o equal_a order_n of_o presbyter_n they_o know_v it_o concern_v they_o near_o to_o study_v the_o time_n more_o than_o the_o text_n and_o to_o lift_v up_o their_o eye_n to_o the_o hill_n of_o the_o court_n from_o whence_o only_o come_v their_o help_n but_o if_o their_o pride_n grow_v weary_a of_o this_o crouch_v and_o observance_n as_o ere_o long_o it_o will_v and_o that_o yet_o their_o mind_n climb_v still_o to_o a_o high_a ascent_n of_o worldly_a honour_n this_o only_a refuge_n can_v remain_v to_o they_o that_o they_o must_v of_o necessity_n contrive_v to_o bring_v themselves_o and_o we_o back_o again_o to_o the_o pope_n supremacy_n and_o this_o we_o see_v they_o have_v by_o fair_a degree_n of_o late_a be_v do_v these_o be_v the_o two_o fair_a supporter_n between_o which_o the_o strength_n of_o prelaty_n be_v bear_v up_o either_o of_o induce_v tyranny_n or_o of_o reduce_v popery_n hence_o also_o we_o may_v judge_v that_o prelaty_n be_v mere_a falsehood_n for_o the_o property_n of_o truth_n be_v where_o she_o be_v public_o teach_v to_o unyoke_v and_o set_v free_a the_o mind_n and_o spirit_n of_o a_o nation_n first_o from_o the_o thraldom_n of_o sin_n and_o superstition_n after_o which_o all_o honest_a and_o legal_a freedom_n of_o civil_a life_n can_v be_v long_o absent_a but_o prelaty_n who_o the_o tyrant_n custom_n beget_v a_o natural_a tyrant_n in_o religion_n and_o in_o state_n the_o agent_n and_o minister_n of_o tyranny_n seem_v to_o have_v have_v this_o fatal_a gift_n in_o her_o nativity_n like_o another_o midas_n that_o whatsoever_o she_o shall_v touch_v or_o come_v neâ—_n r_o either_o in_o ecclesial_a or_o political_a government_n it_o shall_v turn_v not_o to_o gold_n though_o she_o for_o her_o part_n can_v wish_v it_o but_o to_o the_o dross_n and_o scum_n of_o slavery_n breed_v and_o settle_v both_o in_o the_o body_n and_o the_o soul_n of_o all_o such_o as_o do_v not_o in_o time_n with_o the_o sovereign_a trâ—_z le_fw-fr of_o sound_a doctrine_n provide_v to_o fortify_v their_o heart_n against_o her_o hierarchy_n the_o service_n of_o god_n who_o be_v truth_n her_o liturgy_n confess_v to_o be_v perfect_a freedom_n but_o her_o work_n and_o her_o opinion_n declare_v that_o the_o service_n of_o prelaty_n be_v pâ—_z rfect_a slavery_n and_o by_o consequence_n perfect_a falsehood_n which_o make_v i_o wonder_n much_o that_o many_o of_o the_o gentry_n studious_a man_n as_o i_o hear_v shall_v engage_v themselves_o to_o write_v and_o speak_v 〈◊〉_d in_o her_o â—fence_n but_o that_o i_o believe_v their_o honest_a and_o ingenuous_a nature_n come_v to_o the_o university_n to_o store_n themselves_o with_o good_a and_o solid_a learning_n and_o there_o unfortunate_o feed_v with_o nothing_o else_o but_o the_o sâ—_z gged_a and_o thorny_a lecture_n of_o monkish_a and_o miserable_a sophistry_n wâ—_z re_fw-la send_v home_n again_o with_o such_o a_o scholastical_a burr_n in_o their_o throat_n as_o have_v stop_v and_o hinder_v all_o true_a and_o generous_a philosophy_n from_o enter_v crack_v their_o voice_n for_o ever_o with_o metaphysical_a gargarism_n and_o have_v make_v they_o admire_v a_o sort_n of_o formal_a outside_n man_n prelatical_o addict_v who_o unchast'nd_a and_o unwrought_a mind_n never_o yet_o initiate_v or_o subdue_v under_o the_o true_a lore_n of_o religion_n or_o moral_a virtue_n which_o two_o be_v the_o best_a and_o great_a point_n of_o learning_n but_o either_o slight_o train_v up_o in_o a_o kind_n of_o hypocritical_a and_o hackney_n course_n of_o literature_n to_o get_v their_o live_n by_o and_o dazzle_v the_o ignorant_a or_o else_o fond_o overstudied_a in_o useless_a controversy_n except_o those_o which_o they_o use_v with_o all_o the_o specious_a and_o delusive_a suttlety_n they_o be_v able_a to_o defend_v their_o prelatical_a sparta_n have_v a_o gospel_n and_o church-government_n set_v before_o their_o eye_n as_o a_o fair_a field_n wherein_o they_o may_v exercise_v the_o great_a virtue_n and_o the_o great_a deed_n of_o christian_a authority_n in_o mean_a fortune_n and_o little_a furniture_n of_o this_o world_n which_o even_o the_o sage_a heathen_a writer_n and_o those_o old_a fabritii_n and_o curii_fw-la well_o know_v to_o be_v a_o manner_n of_o work_v than_o which_o nothing_o can_v lik'n_v a_o mortal_a man_n more_o to_o god_n who_o delight_v most_o to_o work_v from_o within_o himself_o and_o not_o by_o the_o heavy_a luggage_n of_o corporeal_a instrument_n they_o understand_v it_o not_o and_o think_v no_o such_o matter_n but_o admire_v and_o dote_v upon_o worldly_a riches_n and_o honour_n with_o a_o easy_a and_o intemperate_a life_n to_o the_o bane_n of_o christianity_n yea_o they_o and_o their_o seminary_n shame_v not_o to_o profess_v to_o petition_n and_o never_o lin_z peal_n our_o ear_n that_o unless_o we_o fat_v they_o like_o boor_n and_o cram_v they_o as_o they_o list_v with_o wealth_n with_o deanery_n and_o plurality_n with_o barony_n and_o stately_a preferment_n all_o learning_n and_o religion_n will_v go_v underfoot_o which_o be_v such_o a_o shameless_a such_o a_o bestial_a plea_n and_o of_o that_o odious_a impudence_n in_o churchman_n who_o shall_v be_v to_o â—_z be_v a_o pattern_n of_o temperance_n and_o frugal_a mediocrity_n who_o shall_v teach_v we_o to_o contemn_v this_o world_n and_o the_o gaudy_a thing_n thereof_o according_a to_o the_o promise_n which_o they_o themselves_o require_v from_o we_o in_o baptism_n that_o shall_v the_o scripture_n stand_v by_o and_o be_v mute_a there_o be_v not_o that_o sect_n of_o philosopher_n among_o the_o heathen_a so_o dissolute_a no_o not_o epicurus_n nor_o aristippus_n with_o all_o his_o cyrenaic_a rout_n but_o will_v shut_v his_o school_n door_n against_o such_o greasy_a sophister_n not_o any_o college_n of_o mountebank_n but_o will_v think_v scorn_n to_o discover_v in_o themselves_o with_o such_o a_o brazen_a forehead_n the_o outrageous_a desire_n of_o filthy_a lucre_n which_o the_o prelate_n make_v so_o little_a conscience_n of_o that_o they_o be_v ready_a to_o fight_v and_o if_o it_o lay_v in_o their_o power_n to_o massacre_v all_o good_a christian_n under_o the_o name_n of_o horrible_a schismatic_n for_o only_o find_v fault_n with_o their_o temporal_a