Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	apostle_n	doctrine_n	speak_v	2,014	5	4.4482	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A31907	A full and final proof of the plot from the Revelations whereby the testimony of Dr. Titus Oates and Mr. Will. Bedloe is demonstrated to be jure divino, and all colours and pretences taken away that might hinder the obstinate from assenting to the truth and sincerity of their evidence : dedicated to all Roman-Catholicks and infidels / by E.C., Doctor of the civil law.	E. C., Doctor of the civil law.	1680 (1680)	Wing C23; ESTC R9091	13,342	20

as much of the Plot as is positively sworn nor does it become us to question or stagger at any thing that they with so much courage and assurance have asserted 'T is impossible in this case to be impos'd upon or allured into the snare of Falshood for if John were inspir'd which we believe as certainly as the Miracle of Cloven Tongues we are sure to be grounded upon a firm Faith His Prophecy being a secret of Divinity imparted to Illustrate the Attribute of Gods Goodness we have no more reason to boggle at the Truth of the two Witnesses than the Doctrine of an Apostle 'T is impossible for them upon this Basis to speak a Falshood they are Engines the Diviner says actuated by Him Witnesses He has chosen to lay open the Destruction our Enemies design'd us And as it is from hence both irrational and highly irreligious to deny the Being of a Plot in general so to clip and pare part of it off and believing it by halves is no less impious for owning the Discovery of the whole to Inspiration 't were to imply a Contradiction in Divinity to condemn part and approve of the rest We must therefore acknowledge every tittle of it or it will be to no purpose to believe it mincingly 'T is not my design here to discourse of the Probabilities of Mens Innocence or Guilt by weighing Circumstances and Matters in a Humane Method and in the Scale of Partial Reason mine is a shorter and more compendious way and not liable to fundamental Errors Heaven has revealed the Plot and 't is needless for me to make wrangling scrutiny into it for after I have done my best in such a search I must whether I will or no acquiesce in a Supine Judgment of its truth because Holy John hath said it and I told you before whence he had it But if we should stoop a little to the Cavils of the Contentious what would this avail or signifie What if you alledge you have good reasons to doubt of the Truth of some Particulars laid to the charge of the late Malefactors Why suppose you have the main of the Accusations and that which hang'd them was High Treason the throng of such important business in a Witnesses Head may easily be conceived to justle out trivial Circumstances of Time and Place and trapan him unawares into a false Computation The Witness believes it was so and so there done and in such an order of time and then punctually swears to it this is no Crime in Conscience if he errs 't is only a fault in memory and so not a Lie but a mistake which a Court of Justice readily passes by and pardons This Maxime being in vogue with us as well as the Romish Casuists Nemo peccat nisi actu voluntario So this bubble of an Objection vanishes But to humour the Captious a little further Granting these are Lies couch'd under and mix'd with the Truth of the Evidence and supposing the Witnesses Knaves which is the utmost Malice can do yet cannot I think there is any reason to separate our selves from a total Belief of every thing they say since the main of the Plot in spight of the most sear'd obstinacy in Nature will compel us to acknowledge a great part of it And though we wholly depend upon them for our information and pin our Faith upon their sleeves yet ought we not to be so uncharitable as to bring a suspicion of Imposture upon the whole 'T is true in this case we are liable to abuse and if they will deceive us in some things they may but for as much as we want a certain Criterion to judge of and winnow Truth from Falshood and that if I choose to be my own Conductor 't is an even Wager but I embrace a Lie and reject a saving Truth therefore if there were a hundred times more of the Plot sworn than there now is I think it prudence to swallow all and disgorge none nay I affirm if there were ten Millions of Lies I am obliged by the Law of Nature slightly to believe them all rather than earnestly dissent from one precious Truth which unespous'd would prove my utter ruine for otherwise the bloody Machinators have as fair play at our Throats as ever and the Discovery will be as ineffectual to frustrate their Designs as looking upon a Train of Powder with a lighted Match laid to it will hinder it from taking fire The Sum is then seeing we cannot distinguish between Truth and Falshood it behoves us passionately to embrace both together for our own safety and preservation And pray let this be a Bug-bear to no body for what is there in all this Shall I keep a clutter and ado about Assent and Dissent and in the interim have my Throat cut for my Curiosity Shall I grin and have an ill opinion of the Evidence because the Plot is not contriv'd as I would have form'd it had I been a Conspirator This is such Nonsense as nothing but a pragmatical conceited Asse would be guilty of We thank them very heartily for their Critical Wisdom and Skill in Plots I am rather perswaded they are angry and peevish because it was not rightly projected and would be though to storm at the folly of the Design when they secretly blame the ill fortune and success of the Undertakers But it may very materially be urg'd That in this mist of Evidence innocent Men may be condemned wrongfully their Estates forfeited and their Lives taken away to the great scandal of Government and the impious abuse of the Sword of Justice To this 't is answer'd That in Cases of this moment and weight relating to the Body-Politick 't is better that now and then an Innocent suffer than that all Malefactors escape for as in the Body-natural labouring under a Fever the Chyrurgeon to preserve the whole Mass from dissolution draws from it both good and bad Blood together there being so subtil and close a union between the corrupted and sound part of it that no Art or Skill of his can free the Body of one without taking a Portion of the other So in matters of Justice 't is impossible for any Magistrate to make such nice discriminations between Innocence and Guilt as he shall be sure always to punish one and acquit the other bare Innocence being no vindication of it self must bring proofs and violent presumptions to plead for it when these are wanting the Law devests her of that Title and sets her in the rank of Criminals But above all the Witnesses that are upon their Oaths are to be heard and believ'd notwithstanding any contrary conjectures and surmises an Oath being to be esteemed and valued with all reverence as the most Sacred Engagement in the World And for as much as a Witness is oblig'd to stake his Soul a thing of inestimable price to the Body of every Man to be Arraigned and Tryed I think a Judge and Jury are bound in