Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	church_n	ground_n	infallible_a	3,162	5	9.6287	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A59231	The method to arrive at satisfaction in religion.	Sergeant, John, 1622-1707.; N. N.	1671 (1671)	Wing S2578; ESTC R214763	9,307	46

from_o the_o beginning_n and_o yet_o at_o the_o same_o time_n acknowledge_v that_o all_o they_o then_o hold_v be_v not_o so_o descend_v but_o receive_v by_o another_o rule_n this_o of_o tradition_n or_o uninterrupted_a delivery_n be_v then_o new_o take_v up_o which_o be_v so_o palpable_a a_o contradiction_n that_o as_o humane_a nature_n can_v not_o fall_v into_o it_o so_o if_o it_o can_v the_o very_a pretence_n will_v have_v overthrow_v itself_o and_o need_v no_o other_o confutation_n 19_o add_v to_o this_o that_o none_o of_o those_o many_o sect_n who_o from_o time_n to_o time_n have_v desert_v our_o church_n faith_n and_o discipline_n and_o so_o become_v her_o adversary_n ever_o yet_o pretend_v to_o assign_v the_o time_n when_o we_o take_v up_o this_o rule_n of_o tradition_n and_o yet_o a_o change_n in_o that_o on_o which_o we_o profess_v to_o build_v all_o the_o rest_n must_v needs_o be_v of_o all_o change_v the_o most_o visible_a and_o most_o apt_a to_o justify_v the_o carriage_n of_o those_o revolter_n wherefore_o it_o be_v demonstrable_o evident_a on_o all_o side_n that_o as_o this_o present_a body_n of_o man_n call_v the_o roman-catholick_n church_n do_v now_o hold_v to_o tradition_n so_o their_o predecessor_n uninterrupted_o from_o the_o apostle_n day_n do_v the_o same_o that_o be_v do_v hold_v to_o it_o ever_o and_o since_o it_o be_v show_v before_o §_o 11._o that_o this_o rule_n if_o hold_v to_o will_v certain_o convey_v down_o the_o true_a faith_n unchanged_a to_o all_o after_o age_n it_o be_v likewise_o demonstrable_a that_o they_o have_v the_o true_a faith_n and_o be_v the_o true_o faithful_a or_o true_a church_n 20._o and_o hence_o by_o the_o way_n be_v clear_o see_v what_o be_v mean_v by_o universal_a tradition_n and_o where_o it_o be_v to_o be_v look_v for_o and_o find_v which_o puzzle_v many_o man_n otherwise_o very_o judicious_a and_o sincere_a who_o profess_v a_o readiness_n nay_o a_o duty_n to_o follow_v universal_a tradition_n but_o they_o be_v at_o a_o loss_n how_o we_o may_v certain_o know_v which_o be_v it._n for_o since_o it_o be_v evident_a that_o to_o complete_a the_o notion_n of_o the_o universality_n of_o mankind_n for_o example_n it_o be_v absurd_a to_o think_v we_o must_v take_v in_o brute_n too_o which_o be_v of_o a_o opposite_a nature_n to_o mankind_n but_o it_o be_v sufficient_a to_o include_v all_o in_o who_o the_o nature_n of_o mankind_n be_v find_v so_o to_o make_v up_o the_o notion_n of_o universal_a tradition_n it_o be_v equal_o absurd_a to_o think_v we_o ought_v to_o take_v in_o those_o in_o who_o the_o nature_n of_o tradition_n be_v not_o find_v but_o its_o opposite_a that_o be_v deserter_n of_o tradition_n or_o their_o follower_n but_o it_o be_v sufficient_a to_o include_v those_o in_o who_o tradition_n be_v find_v as_o in_o its_o subject_a that_o be_v adherer_n to_o tradition_n or_o traditionary_a christian_n all_o therefore_o that_o have_v at_o any_o time_n desert_v the_o teach_v and_o practice_n of_o the_o immediate_o forego_v church_n how_o numerous_a and_o of_o what_o name_n soever_o they_o be_v have_v no_o show_n of_o title_n to_o be_v part_n of_o universal_a tradition_n and_o only_o they_o who_o themselves_o do_v and_o who_o ancestor_n do_v ever_o adhere_v to_o it_o how_o few_o soever_o they_o seem_v be_v the_o only_a person_n who_o can_v with_o any_o sense_n pretend_v to_o be_v those_o of_o who_o as_o part_n universal_a tradition_n consist_v 21._o these_o man_n therefore_o by_o apply_v this_o their_o rule_n can_v certain_o know_v who_o have_v true_a faith_n and_o which_o body_n of_o man_n be_v the_o true_a church_n likewise_o that_o a_o representative_a of_o that_o body_n be_v a_o true_a council_n and_o that_o a_o eminent_a member_n of_o it_o deliver_v down_o to_o the_o next_o age_n the_o doctrine_n believe_v in_o his_o whether_o by_o express_o avouch_v it_o the_o church_n sense_n or_o confute_v heretic_n be_v a_o true_a father_n last_o they_o can_v have_v infallible_a certainty_n both_o of_o the_o letter_n and_o sense_n of_o scripture_n as_o far_o as_o concern_v faith_n for_o if_o any_o fault_n which_o shock_n their_o faith_n whether_o of_o translator_n or_o transcriber_n creep_v into_o any_o passage_n or_o if_o the_o text_n be_v indeed_o right_a but_o yet_o ambiguous_a they_o can_v rectify_v the_o letter_n according_a to_o the_o law_n of_o god_n write_v in_o their_o heart_n and_o assign_v it_o a_o sense_n agreeable_a to_o the_o faith_n which_o they_o find_v there_o between_o which_o and_o that_o of_o the_o holy_a writer_n they_o be_v sure_o there_o can_v be_v no_o disagreement_n as_o be_v both_o inspire_v by_o the_o same_o unerring_a light_n 22._o contrariwise_o those_o that_o follow_v not_o this_o rule_n and_o so_o be_v out_o of_o this_o church_n of_o what_o denomination_n soever_o first_o can_v have_v no_o true_a faith_n themselves_o it_o be_v possible_a indeed_o and_o usual_a that_o some_o and_o not_o seldom_o many_o of_o the_o point_n to_o which_o they_o assent_n be_v true_a and_o the_o same_o the_o true_o faithful_a assent_n to_o yet_o their_o assent_n tothem_n be_v not_o faith_n for_o faith_n speak_v of_o christian_a faith_n be_v a_o assent_n which_o can_v possible_o be_v false_a and_o not_o only_o the_o point_n assent_v to_o but_o the_o assent_n itself_o must_v have_v that_o distance_n from_o falsehood_n as_o be_v prove_v at_o large_a in_o faith_n vindicated_n else_o it_o be_v not_o faith_n but_o degenerate_v into_o a_o low_a act_n and_o be_v call_v opinion_n now_o the_o strength_n of_o a_o assent_n rational_o make_v depend_v upon_o the_o strength_n of_o its_o ground_n and_o all_o ground_n of_o that_o assent_n call_v faith_n i_o mean_v such_o ground_n as_o tell_v we_o what_o christ_n teach_v beside_o tradition_n be_v prove_v §_o 10._o weak_a and_o none_o without_o it_o therefore_o there_o can_v be_v no_o true_a faith_n next_o for_o want_v of_o that_o only_a infallible_a ground_n they_o can_v have_v certainty_n which_o be_v true_a faith_n who_o true_o faithful_a which_o the_o true_a church_n which_o a_o true_a council_n who_o a_o true_a father_n nor_o last_o which_o be_v either_o the_o letter_n or_o sense_n of_o scripture_n in_o dogmatical_a passage_n that_o concern_v faith_n and_o since_o they_o have_v no_o certainty_n of_o these_o thing_n they_o have_v no_o right_a nor_o aught_o in_o a_o discourse_n about_o faith_n be_v admit_v to_o quote_v any_o of_o they_o but_o be_v themselves_o and_o the_o whole_a cause_n conclude_v in_o this_o single_a inquiry_n who_o have_v a_o competent_a that_o be_v a_o impossible_a to_o be_v false_a or_o infallible_a rule_n to_o arrive_v at_o faith_n 23._o the_o solid_a satisfaction_n therefore_o of_o those_o who_o inquire_v after_o true_a faith_n be_v only_o to_o be_v gain_v by_o examine_v who_o have_v or_o who_o have_v not_o such_o a_o rule_n this_o method_n be_v short_a and_o easy_a and_o yet_o alone_o go_v to_o the_o bottom_n all_o other_o till_o this_o be_v have_v be_v superficial_a tedious_a and_o for_o want_v of_o ground_n insignificant_a finis_fw-la errata_fw-la ep._n ded._n p._n 5._o l._n 5._o r._n of_o what_o other_o p._n 8._o l._n 18._o r._n thing_n which_o p._n 10._o l._n ult_n r._n infallibility_n in_o its_o notion_n

the_o method_n to_o arrive_v at_o satisfaction_n in_o religion_n to_o the_o true_o virtuous_a the_o lady_n t._n e._n that_o a_o discourse_n of_o this_o nature_n shall_v be_v address_v to_o your_o ladyship_n if_o it_o seem_v extraordinary_a it_o ought_v to_o argue_v a_o judgement_n more_o than_o common_a in_o she_o who_o be_v chief_o entitle_v to_o the_o perusal_n of_o it_o the_o generality_n of_o your_o sex_n through_o the_o unlucky_a disadvantage_n of_o their_o education_n use_v to_o relish_v nothing_o of_o a_o hard_a digestion_n than_o be_v the_o delicacy_n of_o a_o romance_n or_o at_o best_o a_o piece_n of_o history_n nay_o many_o of_o the_o more_o know_a sex_n who_o wear_v the_o repute_n of_o learned_a do_v hardly_o even_o in_o this_o improove_v age_n so_o advance_v above_o the_o sophister_n and_o the_o pedant_n as_o to_o fancy_v any_o thing_n exceed_v a_o pretty_a probability_n trick_v up_o with_o flower_n of_o rhetoric_n and_o gay_a language_n and_o many_o of_o the_o great_a wit_n if_o those_o may_v be_v just_o call_v so_o who_o profess_v they_o know_v nothing_o have_v so_o unman_v themselves_o by_o scepticism_n that_o the_o solid_a principle_n in_o matter_n of_o this_o kind_n seem_v to_o they_o mere_a air_n and_o the_o close_a consequence_n only_o worth_a answer_v by_o loose_a drollery_n as_o if_o the_o author_n of_o nature_n i_o fear_v i_o do_v these_o man_n too_o much_o right_n in_o think_v they_o hold_v any_o such_o have_v intend_v indeed_o to_o permit_v we_o the_o exercise_n of_o our_o manhood_n in_o line_n and_o number_n but_o in_o thing_n of_o infinite_o high_a concern_v have_v order_v we_o to_o be_v 〈…〉_z that_o be_v as_o if_o christ_n have_v erect_v a_o 〈◊〉_d to_o educate_v and_o dispose_v mankind_n towards_o eternal_a happiness_n and_o 〈…〉_z do_v will_v not_o so_o much_o as_o 〈…〉_z know_v the_o way_n to_o it_o now_o 〈…〉_z yourself_o shall_v be_v hold_v 〈◊〉_d to_o penetrate_v and_o comprehend_v discourse_n which_o pretend_v to_o a_o severity_n of_o reason_n rescue_v thus_o your_o own_o sex_n from_o the_o imputation_n of_o inability_n for_o such_o performance_n and_o condemn_v the_o great_a part_n of_o we_o be_v indeed_o a_o wonder_n if_o we_o consider_v the_o generality_n of_o the_o world_n but_o none_o at_o all_o if_o we_o consider_v yourself_o blush_v not_o madam_n you_o be_v not_o singular_a in_o this_o many_o other_o excellent_a heroinae_n begin_v to_o get_v above_o their_o dull_a circumstance_n and_o the_o vogue_n of_o the_o world_n and_o own_o the_o glorious_a reproach_n of_o entertain_v their_o best_a faculty_n reason_n about_o the_o most_o noble_a and_o most_o profitable_a subject_n the_o high_a value_n you_o have_v for_o the_o sacred_a inviolableness_n of_o catholic_n faith_n your_o earnest_a desire_n to_o render_v faith_n lively_a and_o efficacious_a in_o yourself_o by_o make_v out_o more_o and_o more_o to_o your_o thought_n how_o absolute_o certain_a the_o ground_n of_o it_o be_v the_o confidence_n you_o have_v in_o god_n goodness_n not_o to_o deny_v we_o a_o clear_a easy_a and_o short_a way_n to_o make_v manifest_a this_o certainty_n to_o ourselves_o and_o other_o these_o good_a disposition_n of_o your_o will_n give_v your_o excellent_a understanding_n such_o a_o attentiveness_n to_o the_o proof_n faith_n stand_v under_o that_o i_o have_v fail_v your_o expectation_n and_o write_v in_o a_o way_n much_o below_o you_o have_v i_o take_v any_o other_o than_o i_o have_v here_o do_v that_o be_v to_o begin_v with_o the_o bottom-principle_n and_o derive_v thence_o by_o a_o continue_a line_n of_o consequence_n my_o main_a conclusion_n have_v i_o produce_v scripture-proof_n or_o quotation_n from_o any_o authority_n of_o father_n or_o council_n to_o evince_v the_o point_n in_o hand_n your_o pierce_a wit_n will_v have_v make_v this_o smart_a demand_n in_o behalf_n of_o my_o reader_n that_o since_o none_o of_o those_o be_v a_o first_o principle_n and_o so_o evident_a to_o all_o that_o heat_n they_o allege_v i_o ought_v for_o their_o satisfaction_n make_v out_o by_o evident_a reason_n that_o my_o interpretation_n of_o scripture_n can_v not_o fail_v to_o hit_v upon_o the_o right_a sense_n or_o those_o authority_n possible_o mistake_v or_o mislead_v since_o no_o authority_n deserve_v any_o assent_n far_o than_o reason_n give_v it_o to_o deserve_v so_o that_o still_o i_o be_v force_v if_o i_o will_v appear_v before_o you_o to_o take_v this_o very_a method_n i_o have_v here_o pursue_v that_o be_v to_o suppose_v nothing_o but_o prove_v all_o thing_n that_o can_v possible_o be_v question_v in_o this_o affair_n as_o for_o the_o follow_a discourse_n i_o only_o say_v that_o i_o can_v hearty_o wish_v learned_a writer_n of_o what_o judgement_n soever_o will_v think_v fit_a to_o take_v the_o same_o short_a conclude_a method_n and_o go_v about_o to_o settle_v some_o other_o ground_n or_o rule_n of_o faith_n and_o thence_o by_o show_v who_o adhere_v to_o who_o reject_v that_o rule_n conclude_v evident_o who_o be_v true_o faithful_a who_o not_o the_o very_a attempt_v this_o will_v perhaps_o more_o ready_o discover_v on_o who_o side_n truth_n stand_v than_o many_o book_n write_v controver_n sial_o by_o way_n of_o mutual_a opposition_n where_o a_o obstinate_a adversary_n may_v at_o pleasure_n still_o mistake_v wilful_o every_o passage_n to_o make_v his_o impugnation_n the_o easy_a the_o maintainer_n of_o all_o error_n be_v as_o experience_n teach_v very_o free_a of_o opposition_n but_o only_o they_o who_o have_v certain_a truth_n on_o their_o side_n will_v think_v fit_a to_o settle_v it_o will_v be_v wonder_v at_o madam_n that_o i_o make_v no_o far_o discovery_n of_o your_o person_n and_o quality_n but_o you_o have_v will_v the_o contrary_n the_o obedience_n to_o which_o command_n oblige_v i_o by_o consequence_n to_o conceal_v my_o own_o name_n and_o only_o to_o put_v instead_o of_o it_o the_o title_n of_o my_o be_v madam_n your_o ladyship_n most_o devote_v honourer_n n._n n._n the_o method_n to_o arrive_v at_o satisfaction_n in_o religion_n 1._o since_o all_o superstructure_n must_v needs_o be_v weak_a who_o foundation_n be_v not_o sure_o lay_v he_o who_o desire_v to_o be_v satisfy_v in_o religion_n aught_o to_o begin_v with_o search_v out_o and_o establish_v the_o ground_n on_o which_o religion_n be_v build_v that_o be_v the_o first_o principle_n into_o which_o the_o several_a point_n of_o faith_n be_v resolve_v and_o on_o which_o their_o certainty_n as_o to_o we_o depend_v 2._o to_o do_v this_o it_o be_v to_o be_v consider_v that_o a_o church_n be_v a_o congregation_n of_o faithful_a and_o faithful_a be_v those_o who_o have_v true_a faith_n wherefore_o till_o it_o be_v know_v which_o be_v the_o true_a faith_n it_o can_v be_v know_v which_o be_v the_o true_a church_n again_o a_o council_n be_v a_o representative_a a_o father_n a_o eminent_a member_n of_o the_o church_n and_o a_o witness_n of_o her_o doctrine_n wherefore_o till_o it_o be_v know_v which_o be_v the_o true_a church_n it_o can_v be_v know_v which_o be_v a_o council_n or_o who_o a_o father_n last_o since_o we_o can_v know_v which_o be_v scripture_n but_o by_o the_o testimony_n of_o those_o who_o recommend_v it_o and_o of_o heretic_n we_o can_v have_v no_o security_n that_o they_o have_v not_o corrupt_v it_o in_o favour_n of_o their_o false_a tenet_n neither_o can_v we_o be_v secure_a which_o be_v scripture_n till_o we_o be_v satisfy_v who_o be_v the_o true_o faithful_a on_o who_o testimony_n we_o may_v safe_o rely_v in_o this_o affair_n 3._o wherefore_o he_o who_o sincere_o aim_v at_o satisfaction_n in_o religion_n ought_v first_o of_o all_o to_o find_v out_o and_o establish_v some_o assure_a mean_n or_o rule_n by_o which_o he_o may_v be_v secure_v which_o be_v true_a faith_n for_o till_o this_o be_v do_v he_o can_v be_v secure_a either_o of_o scripture_n church_n council_n or_o father_n but_o have_v once_o do_v this_o be_v in_o a_o ready_a way_n to_o judge_v certain_o of_o all_o whereas_o if_o he_o begin_v with_o any_o of_o the_o other_o orindeed_o argue_v from_o they_o at_o all_o till_o the_o rule_n of_o faith_n be_v first_o settle_v he_o take_v a_o wrong_a method_n and_o break_v the_o law_n of_o discourse_n by_o beginning_n with_o what_o be_v less_o certain_a and_o indeed_o to_o he_o as_o yet_o uncertain_a and_o in_o effect_n put_v the_o conclusion_n before_o the_o premise_n unless_o he_o argue_v ad_fw-la hominem_fw-la or_o against_o the_o personal_a tenet_n of_o his_o adversary_n which_o be_v a_o good_a way_n to_o confute_v but_o not_o to_o satisfy_v 4._o and_o because_o the_o rule_n of_o faith_n must_v be_v know_v before_o faith_n can_v be_v know_v and_o faith_n before_o scripture_n church_n council_n and_o father_n it_o appear_v that_o to_o the_o find_v out_o this_o rule_n no_o assistance_n of_o book_n will_v be_v requisite_a for_o