Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
truth_n authority_n church_n scripture_n 9,317 5 6.6427 4 true
View all documents for the selected quad

Text snippets containing the quad

ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A39260 A letter to a friend reflecting on some passages in A letter to the D. of P., in answer to the arguing part of his first letter to Mr. G. Ellis, Clement, 1630-1700. 1687 (1687) Wing E565; ESTC R18718 18,279 34

There are 2 snippets containing the selected quad. | View original text

that_o we_o can_v with_o reason_n hold_v any_o thing_n for_o a_o truth_n namely_o because_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n have_v determine_v it_o for_o her_o determination_n be_v no_o intrinsical_a ground_n of_o the_o truth_n but_o only_o a_o outward_a testimony_n or_o declaration_n of_o it_o and_o then_o what_o be_v become_v either_o of_o her_o infallibility_n or_o of_o her_o authority_n to_o command_v our_o faith_n second_o that_o the_o common_a people_n must_v be_v allow_v their_o judgement_n of_o discretion_n for_o how_o without_o the_o free_a use_n of_o that_o they_o shall_v discern_v the_o intrinsecal_n ground_n of_o truth_n when_o produce_v and_o so_o with_o reason_n hold_v it_o i_o fear_v our_o author_n can_v easy_o demonstrate_v which_o yet_o if_o he_o can_v do_v he_o must_v by_o his_o own_o principle_n be_v force_v to_o grant_v that_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n have_v no_o more_o infallibility_n or_o authority_n than_o the_o church_n of_o england_n have_v she_o be_v to_o be_v believe_v only_o when_o she_o produce_v the_o intrinsecal_n ground_n of_o truth_n and_o not_o otherwise_o unless_o we_o must_v believe_v she_o without_o reason_n and_o so_o far_o be_v the_o church_n of_o england_n to_o be_v believe_v or_o any_o church_n whatsoever_o and_o so_o this_o author_n have_v unawares_o i_o suppose_v set_v we_o all_o on_o even_a ground_n and_o i_o hope_v we_o may_v be_v able_a to_o maintain_v our_o ground_n against_o all_o that_o he_o say_v hereafter_o for_o himself_o or_o against_o we_o to_o gain_v the_o advantage_n of_o we_o again_o first_o he_o falls_z upon_o the_o certainty_n of_o the_o protestant_a faith_n which_o he_o hope_v very_o easy_o to_o overthrow_v and_o it_o will_v be_v as_o easy_o do_v if_o it_o stand_v upon_o no_o sure_a ground_n than_o he_o will_v have_v it_o suppose_v say_v he_o mr._n g._n can_v not_o prove_v protestant_n be_v not_o certain_a be_v they_o therefore_o certain_a pag._n 4._o this_o he_o first_o imagine_v that_o all_o the_o certainty_n of_o our_o faith_n be_v this_o that_o papist_n can_v prove_v it_o to_o be_v uncertain_a and_o then_o it_o be_v pretty_a to_o see_v what_o sport_n he_o make_v with_o his_o own_o imagination_n but_o let_v he_o play_v on_o it_o seem_v time_n for_o we_o to_o be_v in_o earnest_n and_o more_o serious_a when_o the_o certainty_n of_o our_o faith_n be_v strike_v at_o it_o be_v too_o weighty_a a_o matter_n to_o be_v play_v away_o at_o a_o game_n of_o card_n which_o be_v all_o he_o be_v commission_v to_o yet_o will_v he_o make_v the_o world_n believe_v that_o we_o have_v throw_v it_o away_o already_o nay_o he_o will_v needs_o make_v we_o believe_v it_o too_o you_o know_v well_o enough_o say_v he_o that_o to_o prove_v protestant_n have_v no_o absolute_a certainty_n of_o their_o faith_n be_v no_o hard_a task_n for_o a_o weak_a man._n i_o say_v nothing_o yet_o of_o the_o word_n absolute_a but_o ask_v how_o know_v we_o this_o why_o we_o know_v any_o man_n may_v find_v it_o confess_v to_o his_o hand_n by_o protestant_n pag._n 6._o who_o i_o pray_v be_v these_o protestant_n dr._n tillotson_n in_o his_o rule_n of_o faith_n pag._n 117_o 118._o i_o have_v so_o great_a a_o reverence_n for_o that_o very_a excellent_a man_n that_o i_o be_o not_o unwilling_a though_o he_o be_v but_o one_o protestant_n that_o he_o shall_v pass_v for_o many_o and_o too_o many_o for_o all_o the_o traditionary_a catholic_n to_o answer_v his_o rule_n of_o faith_n but_o his_o confession_n that_o protestant_n have_v no_o certainty_n of_o their_o faith_n i_o must_v desire_v some_o good_a catholic_n to_o show_v i_o in_o those_o two_o page_n or_o in_o any_o other_o part_n of_o his_o book_n when_o he_o can_v answer_v it_o for_o till_o then_o i_o despair_v of_o find_v it_o we_o do_v not_o yet_o therefore_o see_v this_o confession_n no_o nor_o he_o neither_o if_o he_o may_v be_v believe_v against_o himself_o some_o people_n have_v need_n of_o good_a memory_n to_o save_v their_o credit_n for_o pag._n 23._o he_o tell_v we_o we_o seem_v to_o grant_v we_o be_v thus_o absolute_o certain_a or_o infallible_a by_o virtue_n of_o tradition_n how_o confess_v we_o have_v no_o certainty_n and_o yet_o seem_v to_o grant_v we_o be_v infallible_a and_o that_o too_o by_o virtue_n of_o tradition_n this_o be_v to_o make_v we_o right_a traditionary_a papist_n indeed_o whether_o we_o will_v or_o no_o such_o as_o rushworth_n dr._n holden_n mr._n cressy_n and_o mr._n white_a all_o contend_v for_o the_o infallilbility_n of_o tradition_n and_o yet_o confess_v that_o what_o the_o great_a part_n of_o mankind_n must_v be_v satisfy_v with_o be_v probability_n and_o conjecture_n as_o he_o may_v find_v in_o the_o 120_o the_o and_o follow_v page_n of_o dr._n tillotson_n rule_n of_o faith_n where_o if_o he_o find_v they_o wrong_v he_o have_v the_o liberty_n to_o vindicate_v they_o if_o he_o can_v only_o i_o will_v here_o give_v he_o and_o his_o friend_n a_o seasonable_a warning_n that_o if_o any_o protestant_n shall_v be_v now_o mind_v of_o it_o by_o he_o begin_v to_o plead_v infallibility_n by_o virtue_n of_o tradition_n it_o will_v behoove_v they_o in_o time_n after_o their_o many_o shift_n from_o post_n to_o post_n to_o seek_v they_o out_o yet_o a_o new_a one_o for_o when_o both_o party_n pretend_v a_o like_a to_o infallibility_n and_o tradition_n neither_o of_o these_o can_v be_v any_o long_o a_o sit_v medium_fw-la whereby_o to_o prove_v which_o be_v in_o the_o right_n it_o be_v agree_v as_o he_o say_v well_o on_o all_o hand_n man_n be_v save_v by_o believe_v and_o practise_v what_o christ_n teach_v not_o bare_o by_o believe_v scripture_n be_v scripture_n page_n 7._o and_o it_o be_v as_o true_a which_o he_o tell_v we_o page_n 8._o where_o church_n differ_v in_o faith_n infallible_a faith_n in_o one_o can_v stand_v with_o certain_a faith_n in_o the_o other_o whence_o he_o may_v do_v well_o to_o take_v notice_n that_o when_o our_o certainty_n be_v once_o prove_v no_o more_o be_v needful_a to_o confute_v their_o infallibility_n now_o the_o question_n be_v say_v he_o whether_o protestant_n be_v absolute_o certain_a that_o they_o hold_v now_o the_o same_o tenet_n in_o faith_n and_o all_o that_o our_o saviour_n teach_v his_o apostle_n page_n 6._o which_o question_n in_o that_o challenge_n of_o he_o page_n 22._o be_v thus_o explain_v make_v manifest_a that_o protestant_n have_v absolute_a certainty_n not_o only_o of_o the_o scripture_n which_o they_o call_v their_o rule_n but_o of_o the_o faith_n which_o they_o pretend_v to_o have_v from_o that_o rule_n or_o else_o suffer_v another_o thing_n to_o be_v manifest_a viz._n that_o you_o can_v do_v it_o and_o thither_o i_o be_o sure_a it_o will_v come_v the_o proof_n he_o often_o tell_v we_o be_v our_o part_n and_o though_o he_o be_v so_o confident_a that_o we_o can_v make_v it_o good_a yet_o be_v we_o not_o afraid_a to_o undertake_v it_o even_o all_o that_o he_o here_o call_v upon_o we_o to_o prove_v leave_v out_o the_o word_n absolute_o till_o he_o tell_v we_o what_o be_v mean_v by_o it_o as_o he_o will_v do_v anon_o the_o certainty_n that_o we_o have_v of_o the_o holy_a scripture_n which_o we_o acknowledge_v to_o be_v our_o rule_n of_o faith_n we_o manifest_a after_o the_o same_o manner_n as_o they_o do_v they_o except_o only_o that_o we_o ground_n it_o not_o on_o the_o infallibility_n of_o their_o church_n and_o yet_o if_o that_o will_v do_v we_o any_o good_a we_o have_v it_o too_o confirm_v our_o certainty_n but_o so_o much_o certainty_n he_o yield_v we_o only_o he_o ask_v do_v our_o saviour_n teach_v and_o do_v protestant_n believe_v no_o more_o than_o that_o the_o book_n so_o call_v be_v scripture_n page_n 6._o yes_o though_o i_o do_v not_o find_v that_o our_o saviour_n ever_o teach_v that_o the_o book_n so_o call_v be_v scripture_n one_o great_a part_n whereof_o be_v not_o write_v when_o he_o teach_v yet_o do_v we_o believe_v that_o it_o be_v scripture_n and_o divine_a scripture_n scripture_n the_o word_n of_o god_n contain_v in_o it_o all_o thing_n necessary_a to_o salvation_n and_o that_o all_o thing_n therein_o contain_v be_v true_a now_o this_o be_v grant_v we_o that_o our_o scripture_n be_v god_n word_n we_o think_v that_o we_o do_v sufficient_o prove_v the_o certainty_n of_o every_o article_n of_o our_o faith_n when_o we_o show_v it_o to_o be_v solid_o ground_v on_o that_o word_n and_o this_o be_v show_v our_o faith_n be_v either_o certain_a or_o they_o who_o deny_v it_o to_o be_v so_o must_v affirm_v the_o word_n of_o god_n on_o which_o it_o be_v whole_o ground_v to_o be_v no_o good_a ground_n of_o certainty_n neither_o indeed_o can_v these_o man_n deny_v the_o certainty_n of_o our_o faith_n without_o deny_v that_o of_o their_o own_o too_o so_o
imprimatur_fw-la gvil_n needham_n july_n 18._o 1687._o a_o letter_n to_o a_o friend_n reflect_v on_o some_o passage_n in_o a_o letter_n to_o the_o d._n of_o p._n in_o answer_n to_o the_o argue_n part_n of_o his_o first_o letter_n to_o mr._n g._n london_n print_v for_o william_n rogers_n at_o the_o sun_n over-against_o st._n dunstan_n church_n in_o fleetstreet_n 1687._o a_o letter_n to_o a_o friend_n etc._n etc._n sir_n have_v by_o your_o favour_n have_v a_o sight_n of_o the_o late_a letter_n in_o answer_n to_o the_o argue_v part_n of_o the_o d._n of_o p_o p_o s._n first_o letter_n to_o mr._n g._n i_o now_o return_v you_o it_o with_o my_o thanks_o and_o some_o reflection_n on_o so_o much_o of_o it_o as_o attempt_n to_o demonstrate_v the_o infallibility_n of_o the_o romish_a faith_n and_o deny_v the_o certainty_n of_o we_o for_o whatever_o become_v of_o the_o conference_n which_o give_v occasion_n to_o this_o letter_n the_o content_n of_o it_o thus_o far_o be_v of_o as_o much_o concernment_n to_o you_o and_o i_o and_o indeed_o to_o all_o protestant_n as_o to_o that_o worthy_a person_n to_o who_o he_o write_v it_o the_o man_n be_v you_o see_v a_o great_a pretender_n to_o logic_n but_o you_o find_v he_o make_v much_o more_o use_n of_o his_o rhetoric_n and_o indeed_o it_o be_v to_o this_o if_o to_o any_o thing_n that_o he_o be_v behold_v for_o so_o much_o as_o a_o pretence_n to_o the_o other_o and_o if_o we_o feel_v no_o harm_n from_o this_o we_o need_v not_o fear_v that_o the_o other_o can_v hurt_v we_o you_o may_v be_v sure_o he_o want_v no_o wit_n who_o mr._n g._n entrust_v to_o hold_v his_o card_n and_o play_v his_o game_n too_o with_o so_o well_o know_v a_o gamester_n pardon_v i_o for_o use_v his_o own_o language_n in_o a_o matter_n so_o serious_a i_o say_v not_o as_o his_o letter_n but_o as_o the_o subject_a of_o it_o his_o style_n be_v pleasant_a and_o take_v enough_o his_o way_n of_o argue_v mere_o popular_a and_o his_o art_n accommodate_v to_o the_o design_n he_o be_v upon_o of_o delude_v the_o less_o think_v last_o his_o confidence_n be_v such_o as_o we_o ought_v to_o expect_v in_o man_n that_o talk_v of_o nothing_o low_a than_o self-evidence_n absolute_a certainty_n and_o infallibility_n i_o wish_v with_o all_o my_o heart_n that_o his_o value_n for_o soul_n so_o precious_a to_o god_n be_v real_o as_o great_a as_o he_o will_v have_v we_o think_v they_o be_v little_a who_o as_o he_o deride_o speak_v set_v up_o for_o minister_n of_o the_o gospel_n if_o he_o find_v any_o of_o they_o so_o regardless_o of_o their_o duty_n as_o he_o faith_n they_o be_v let_v he_o free_o for_o i_o spend_v all_o his_o rhetoric_n in_o exclamation_n against_o they_o as_o he_o have_v begin_v to_o do_v page_z 5._o but_o when_o he_o talk_v of_o every_o body_n speak_v for_o himself_o one_o day_n and_o bring_v in_o his_o own_o account_n and_o ask_v if_o the_o happiness_n or_o misery_n of_o their_o soul_n will_v not_o depend_v on_o that_o account_n and_o then_o expostulate_v with_o our_o minister_n in_o this_o manner_n can_v you_o suffer_v they_o to_o run_v that_o terrible_a hazard_n without_o make_v they_o able_a to_o justify_v their_o account_n themselves_o and_o furnish_v they_o with_o assurance_n that_o they_o can_v and_o with_o no_o more_o to_o say_v but_o that_o they_o hope_v dr._n st._n will_v make_v his_o party_n good_a with_o mr._n g._n ibid._n i_o be_o apt_a to_o think_v he_o some_o convert_n who_o know_v not_o what_o to_o say_v either_o for_o the_o church_n he_o have_v choose_v or_o against_o that_o he_o have_v forsake_v he_o have_v hear_v it_o may_v be_v something_o to_o this_o purpose_n say_v against_o the_o priest_n of_o that_o church_n whereof_o he_o now_o be_v and_o not_o know_v what_o else_o to_o say_v nor_o yet_o how_o to_o be_v silent_a he_o say_v the_o same_o against_o the_o minister_n of_o we_o because_o our_o minister_n know_v that_o every_o one_o of_o we_o must_v give_v account_n of_o himself_o to_o god_n therefore_o they_o not_o only_o give_v we_o leave_v but_o earnest_o exhort_v we_o to_o read_v and_o study_v the_o gospel_n of_o christ_n whereby_o we_o must_v be_v judge_v which_o be_v a_o liberty_n very_o rare_o grant_v in_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n and_o because_o they_o know_v also_o our_o happiness_n or_o misery_n depend_v on_o this_o account_n we_o shall_v be_v able_a to_o give_v of_o ourselves_o therefore_o they_o will_v not_o have_v we_o depend_v upon_o their_o word_n only_o who_o be_v not_o able_a to_o acquit_v we_o in_o the_o day_n of_o judgement_n as_o the_o romanist_n must_v do_v upon_o the_o word_n of_o their_o priest_n or_o upon_o nothing_o at_o all_o that_o i_o know_v of_o but_o in_o preach_v they_o explain_v the_o scripture_n to_o we_o be_v importunate_a with_o we_o to_o search_v it_o they_o catechise_v we_o exhort_v we_o to_o confer_v often_o with_o they_o commend_v good_a book_n of_o instruction_n to_o we_o use_v all_o way_n they_o can_v to_o make_v we_o grow_v in_o grace_n and_o knowledge_n and_o to_o enable_v we_o to_o give_v our_o account_n with_o joyfulness_n but_o how_o come_v this_o man_n if_o he_o be_v a_o roman_n catholic_n to_o talk_v of_o furnish_v they_o with_o assurance_n that_o they_o can_v if_o they_o may_v be_v assure_v that_o they_o can_v give_v up_o a_o good_a account_n may_v they_o not_o be_v assure_v that_o they_o have_v the_o grace_n of_o god_n and_o of_o their_o justitisfication_n and_o salvation_n and_o if_o so_o then_o what_o be_v become_v of_o that_o decree_n of_o the_o council_n of_o trent_n we_o must_v not_o affirm_v that_o they_o who_o be_v true_o justify_v aught_o to_o conclude_v with_o themselves_o without_o any_o doubt_n at_o all_o that_o they_o be_v justify_v see_v no_o man_n can_v know_v by_o a_o certainty_n of_o faith_n under_o which_o there_o can_v be_v no_o falsehood_n that_o he_o have_v obtain_v the_o grace_n of_o god_n if_o no_o man_n ought_v or_o can_v be_v assure_v that_o he_o have_v the_o grace_n of_o god_n how_o be_v our_o minister_n bind_v to_o furnish_v we_o with_o assurance_n that_o we_o can_v justify_v our_o account_n ourselves_o can_v a_o man_n justify_v his_o account_n that_o be_v not_o sure_o he_o have_v the_o grace_n of_o god_n possible_o his_o meaning_n may_v be_v no_o more_o but_o that_o our_o minister_n give_v we_o not_o sufficient_a assurance_n of_o the_o truth_n of_o our_o faith_n and_o for_o want_v of_o that_o we_o can_v justify_v our_o account_n but_o if_o this_o be_v his_o meaning_n it_o be_v very_o untoward_o express_v and_o after_o all_o it_o will_v be_v a_o little_a hard_a to_o conceive_v how_o the_o bare_a assurance_n of_o the_o truth_n of_o what_o be_v teach_v shall_v enable_v a_o man_n to_o justify_v his_o account_n without_o a_o assurance_n of_o grace_n too_o which_o the_o council_n deny_v that_o any_o man_n can_v have_v he_o tell_v we_o next_o that_o truth_n be_v truth_n because_o it_o be_v build_v on_o intrinsical_v ground_n and_o not_o on_o private_a man_n ability_n or_o their_o say_n this_o or_o that_o and_o hence_o infer_v that_o till_o those_o ground_n be_v produce_v it_o can_v be_v with_o reason_n hold_v truth_n ibid._n he_o may_v as_o well_o have_v say_v more_o plain_o what_o any_o thing_n be_v that_o it_o be_v whatever_o be_v the_o reason_n why_o it_o be_v so_o or_o whoever_o say_v it_o be_v or_o it_o be_v not_o yet_o can_v no_o man_n with_o reason_n believe_v it_o till_o he_o have_v a_o reason_n to_o believe_v it_o all_o this_o be_v true_a and_o i_o think_v every_o body_n know_v it_o before_o he_o tell_v we_o it_o nor_o be_v it_o the_o true_a because_o he_o have_v say_v it_o and_o therefore_o we_o have_v no_o more_o reason_n to_o believe_v it_o than_o we_o have_v before_o but_o see_v truth_n be_v truth_n whatever_o private_a man_n say_v we_o think_v it_o can_v depend_v no_o more_o upon_o the_o say_n of_o a_o romish_a priest_n than_o of_o a_o english_a minister_n and_o therefore_o we_o think_v also_o that_o the_o vulgar_a papist_n at_o best_a have_v less_o certainty_n of_o the_o truth_n they_o hold_v than_o the_o vulgar_a protestant_n of_o the_o truth_n we_o hold_v whilst_o beside_o the_o word_n of_o the_o priest_n the_o former_a have_v no_o ground_n at_o all_o to_o build_v his_o faith_n upon_o but_o the_o late_a have_v beside_o the_o word_n of_o the_o minister_n the_o word_n of_o god_n in_o the_o scripture_n which_o he_o may_v consult_v when_o he_o will._n moreover_o if_o we_o can_v with_o reason_n hold_v a_o truth_n till_o the_o intrinsical_a ground_n of_o it_o be_v produce_v than_o two_o thing_n more_o must_v be_v true_a which_o i_o fear_v this_o roman_a catholic_n will_v not_o grant_v we_o first_o