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Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
truth_n believe_v church_n infallible_a 2,836 5 9.7883 5 true
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A66427 A short discourse concerning the churches authority in matters of faith shewing that the pretenses of the Church of Rome are weak and precarious in the resolution of it. Williams, John, 1636?-1709. 1687 (1687) Wing W2734; ESTC R7663 18,741 33

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shall_v be_v give_v to_o all_o of_o the_o communion_n see_v that_o our_o saviour_n institute_v and_o give_v that_o as_o well_o as_o the_o bread._n and_o after_o his_o institution_n the_o same_o night_n that_o he_o be_v betray_v i_o can_v find_v that_o he_o make_v the_o least_o alteration_n to_o say_v our_o saviour_n have_v no_o mind_n that_o shall_v be_v do_v which_o he_o appoint_v will_v be_v very_o absurd_a therefore_o what_o he_o once_o institute_v must_v continue_v in_o force_n as_o his_o mind_n still_o unless_o they_o can_v show_v that_o he_o alter_v it_o and_o this_o will_v be_v another_o good_a step_n towards_o our_o union_n they_o have_v now_o reduce_v their_o pray_v to_o saint_n depart_v to_o a_o desire_n only_o that_o the_o bless_a will_v assist_v they_o with_o their_o prayer_n to_o god_n as_o we_o desire_v good_a
will_n of_o god_n or_o rather_o whether_o god_n have_v discover_v it_o to_o be_v his_o will._n for_o though_o the_o will_n of_o god_n be_v the_o fountain_n of_o all_o duty_n and_o obligation_n yet_o it_o can_v be_v a_o bind_a law_n to_o any_o body_n till_o it_o be_v make_v know_v to_o he_o or_o sufficient_a mean_n give_v for_o he_o to_o know_v it_o that_o god_n can_v make_v his_o will_n know_v to_o any_o man_n be_v too_o certain_a to_o be_v doubt_v but_o that_o his_o will_n shall_v be_v know_v before_o he_o have_v discover_v it_o can_v never_o be_v pretend_v and_o because_o every_o man_n consider_v as_o a_o creature_n and_o more_o especial_o every_o christian_n be_v bind_v to_o obey_v the_o will_n of_o god_n therefore_o every_o man_n be_v bind_v to_o inform_v himself_o of_o so_o much_o as_o god_n have_v make_v necessary_a to_o be_v know_v for_o his_o salvation_n i_o have_v add_v this_o to_o show_v that_o implicit_a faith_n be_v a_o dangerous_a bottom_n for_o any_o body_n to_o rest_v upon_o for_o to_o believe_v as_o another_o believe_v unless_o a_o man_n know_v what_o it_o be_v he_o believe_v and_o upon_o what_o account_n be_v very_o absurd_a as_o may_v be_v make_v out_o anon_o so_o much_o of_o the_o will_n of_o god_n as_o may_v be_v discover_v by_o the_o light_n of_o nature_n be_v beside_o my_o present_a business_n because_o there_o be_v little_a difference_n among_o we_o about_o it_o but_o that_o part_n of_o the_o will_n of_o god_n which_o we_o be_v bind_v to_o know_v and_o adhere_v to_o as_o we_o be_v christian_n by_o profession_n distinguish_v from_o the_o rest_n of_o mankind_n as_o be_v in_o covenant_n with_o god_n be_v the_o subject_a of_o this_o ensue_a discourse_n now_o this_o part_n of_o the_o will_n of_o god_n be_v either_o reveal_v to_o the_o mind_n of_o every_o individual_a christian_a by_o particular_a and_o immediate_a inspiration_n from_o god_n or_o it_o be_v make_v know_v to_o some_o particular_a select_a person_n who_o be_v to_o instruct_v the_o rest_n the_o first_o of_o these_o way_n be_v not_o pretend_v or_o allow_v either_o by_o protestant_n or_o papist_n but_o the_o second_o be_v viz._n that_o god_n do_v discover_v his_o will_n to_o some_o that_o they_o may_v publish_v it_o to_o the_o rest_n and_o thus_o far_o i_o take_v it_o to_o be_v agree_v betwixt_o we_o before_o we_o advance_v another_o step_n we_o will_v lay_v it_o down_o 11._o as_o a_o ground_n that_o no_o man_n know_v the_o mind_n of_o a_o man_n save_v the_o spirit_n of_o a_o man_n that_o be_v in_o he_o no_o man_n can_v know_v the_o mind_n of_o another_o far_a than_o it_o be_v discover_v to_o he_o and_o by_o consequence_n no_o man_n can_v know_v revelation_n from_o god_n make_v to_o the_o mind_n and_o understanding_n of_o another_o but_o by_o one_o of_o these_o two_o way_n in_o the_o first_o place_n either_o god_n by_o inspiration_n must_v assure_v he_o that_o he_o have_v make_v such_o revelation_n to_o the_o other_o as_o when_o god_n send_v st._n paul_n at_o his_o conversion_n to_o damascus_n to_o be_v instruct_v by_o ananias_n which_o be_v a_o extraordinary_a case_n not_o fit_a to_o be_v draw_v into_o precedent_n and_o so_o neither_o pretend_v to_o nor_o to_o be_v expect_v since_o stance_n of_o it_o hitherto_o be_v so_o rare_a or_o in_o the_o second_o place_n he_o to_o who_o the_o revelation_n be_v make_v must_v bring_v such_o testimony_n and_o evidence_n as_o may_v convince_v man_n that_o it_o be_v real_o divine_a his_o bare_a word_n for_o it_o will_v not_o be_v a_o competent_a proof_n nor_o will_v the_o testimony_n of_o other_o man_n satisfy_v the_o mind_n of_o reasonable_a enquirer_n in_o this_o case_n for_o those_o other_o must_v have_v some_o to_o witness_v for_o they_o too_o and_o so_o on_o without_o end._n which_o plain_o evince_v that_o this_o be_v not_o a_o basis_n for_o faith_n to_o rest_v upon_o let_v we_o see_v then_o what_o will_v do_v for_o we_o can_v forget_v what_o our_o saviour_n confess_v of_o himself_o to_o the_o jew_n viz._n 31._o that_o if_o he_o bear_v witness_n of_o himself_o his_o witness_n be_v not_o true_a that_o be_v it_o be_v not_o of_o force_n to_o convince_v but_o then_o he_o tell_v the_o jew_n 11_o they_o ought_v to_o believe_v he_o for_o his_o work_n sake_n and_o according_o he_o appeal_v to_o his_o hearer_n that_o the_o work_n which_o he_o do_v in_o his_o father_n name_n bear_v witness_n of_o he_o 3._o the_o miracle_n which_o he_o wrought_v among_o they_o be_v sufficient_a to_o prove_v his_o authority_n to_o be_v divine_a and_o his_o doctrine_n to_o be_v from_o god._n nicodemus_n free_o confess_v as_o much_o when_o he_o own_v he_o a_o teacher_n come_v from_o god_n because_o no_o man_n can_v do_v the_o miracle_n which_o he_o do_v except_o god_n be_v with_o he_o and_o as_o our_o saviour_n do_v demonstrate_v his_o divinity_n by_o his_o work_n so_o when_o he_o send_v his_o apostle_n to_o publish_v his_o doctrine_n to_o the_o world_n he_o seal_v their_o commission_n by_o give_v they_o a_o power_n to_o work_v miracle_n which_o may_v convince_v their_o hearer_n of_o its_o truth_n and_o they_o the_o apostle_n go_v 20._o forth_o and_o preach_v every_o where_o the_o lord_n work_v with_o they_o and_o confirm_v the_o word_n with_o sign_n follow_v so_o that_o it_o be_v not_o to_o be_v doubt_v but_o that_o the_o doctrine_n which_o the_o apostle_n preach_v be_v divine_a and_o the_o miracle_n which_o they_o wrought_v be_v our_o assurance_n that_o it_o be_v so_o and_o hitherto_o all_o christian_n proceed_v with_o little_a or_o no_o difference_n have_v thus_o lay_v down_o miracle_n as_o a_o foundation_n upon_o which_o we_o be_v in_o some_o manner_n to_o ensure_v our_o faith_n it_o seem_v necessary_a before_o we_o proceed_v in_o few_o word_n to_o set_v down_o 1._o what_o we_o mean_v by_o miracle_n and_o 2._o how_o far_o this_o testimony_n of_o miracle_n may_v extend_v so_o as_o to_o authorise_v our_o belief_n first_o by_o miracle_n we_o must_v understand_v such_o work_n as_o be_v not_o only_o without_o the_o line_n of_o ordinary_a course_n and_o measure_n of_o nature_n for_o of_o this_o kind_a many_o thing_n happen_v which_o may_v be_v call_v wonder_n but_o not_o miracle_n but_o such_o as_o be_v above_o the_o power_n of_o nature_n to_o effect_v but_o because_o many_o such_o work_n have_v in_o appearance_n be_v wrought_v for_o very_o different_a purpose_n we_o must_v in_o the_o second_o place_n look_v what_o judgement_n must_v be_v make_v of_o all_o such_o thing_n and_o certain_o some_o way_n there_o be_v to_o distinguish_v or_o else_o the_o mind_n of_o man_n will_v be_v involve_v in_o most_o perplex_v and_o inextricable_a difficulty_n by_o such_o contradiction_n as_o have_v be_v abet_v with_o sign_n and_o wonder_n let_v we_o see_v then_o by_o what_o rule_v we_o must_v examine_v and_o judge_v miracle_n themselves_o or_o such_o doctrine_n as_o be_v advance_v upon_o they_o for_o to_o receive_v all_o without_o distinction_n will_v come_v to_o the_o same_o thing_n as_o to_o allow_v none_o because_o that_o can_v never_o prove_v any_o one_o point_n which_o may_v be_v allege_v or_o colourable_o pretend_v in_o favour_n of_o another_o unless_o there_o be_v some_o way_n to_o appropriate_v it_o to_o one_o side_n as_o by_o the_o rule_n follow_v it_o may_v whatsoever_o doctrine_n be_v propose_v that_o be_v contrary_a to_o right_a reason_n or_o the_o fundamental_a law_n of_o nature_n can_v be_v divine_a or_o such_o as_o we_o ought_v to_o believe_v though_o never_o so_o many_o sign_n shall_v be_v show_v to_o confirm_v it_o for_o right_a reason_n be_v only_o a_o judgement_n make_v according_a to_o that_o law_n and_o standard_n of_o justice_n and_o truth_n which_o god_n our_o creator_n have_v stamp_v upon_o the_o mind_n of_o men._n and_o the_o fundamental_o of_o reason_n issue_v from_o god_n as_o light_n flow_v from_o its_o fountain_n the_o sun_n must_v always_o remain_v unchangeable_o the_o same_o because_o he_o himself_o from_o who_o they_o spring_v have_v no_o variation_n and_o if_o the_o principle_n of_o reason_n be_v not_o so_o fix_v we_o shall_v be_v expose_v to_o all_o manner_n of_o illusion_n and_o shall_v never_o be_v able_a to_o believe_v any_o thing_n because_o we_o can_v be_v certain_a of_o nothing_o 2._o upon_o this_o ground_n god_n direct_v the_o jew_n to_o try_v their_o prophet_n who_o if_o they_o preach_v up_o other_o god_n be_v not_o to_o be_v hearken_v to_o though_o they_o work_v miracle_n nothing_o be_v more_o absurd_a or_o inconsistent_a with_o right_a reason_n than_o allow_v many_o gods._n yet_o further_o god_n when_o he_o create_v man_n according_a to_o the_o exact_a law_n of_o eternal_a justice_n implant_v in_o our_o nature_n the_o seed_n of_o it_o and_o the_o sense_n
of_o honesty_n insomuch_o that_o whatever_o miracle_n tend_v to_o the_o damage_n of_o mankind_n or_o the_o corruption_n of_o manner_n they_o can_v be_v from_o god_n nor_o can_v they_o authorise_v any_o doctrine_n as_o divine_a that_o be_v inconsistent_a with_o the_o forementioned_a standard_n of_o justice_n and_o reason_n and_o this_o make_v a_o real_a distinction_n and_o cant._n sensible_a difference_n betwixt_o the_o miracle_n wrought_v by_o christ_n or_o his_o apostle_n and_o those_o by_o heathen_a magician_n on_o the_o one_o hand_n the_o miracle_n always_o tend_v to_o good_a and_o be_v such_o as_o may_v invite_v love_n as_o well_o as_o admiration_n on_o the_o other_o hand_n they_o be_v for_o the_o most_o part_n hurtful_a to_o man_n person_n and_o estate_n unless_o it_o be_v sometime_o that_o the_o devil_n cure_v the_o disease_n they_o have_v cause_v but_o it_o be_v still_o to_o establish_v a_o great_a tyranny_n when_o the_o jew_n tax_v our_o saviour_n 24._o with_o cast_v out_o devil_n by_o beelzebub_n the_o prince_n of_o the_o devil_n he_o answer_v to_o this_o effect_n that_o the_o devil_n be_v too_o wise_a a_o creature_n to_o destroy_v his_o own_o kingdom_n by_o cast_v out_o devil_n especial_o when_o sometime_o they_o be_v make_v to_o own_v themselves_o to_o be_v devil_n and_o to_o confess_v christ_n to_o be_v the_o son_n of_o god_n but_o say_v he_o 28._o if_o i_o cast_v out_o devil_n by_o the_o spirit_n of_o god_n than_o the_o kingdom_n of_o god_n be_v come_v unto_o you_o and_o this_o be_v frequent_a in_o the_o primitive_a church_n that_o the_o christian_n by_o a_o divine_a alibi_fw-la power_n overrule_v all_o the_o power_n of_o darkness_n employ_v by_o the_o magician_n of_o those_o time_n for_o as_o to_o do_v work_n above_o nature_n speak_v a_o power_n above_o she_o so_o when_o those_o work_n tend_v to_o the_o good_a of_o man_n by_o promote_a virtue_n and_o establish_v true_a piety_n they_o must_v reasonable_o be_v conclude_v to_o be_v from_o a_o divine_a author_n let_v this_o then_o be_v the_o first_o step_v or_o the_o ground_n of_o all_o that_o whatsoever_o doctrine_n or_o pretend_a revelation_n destroy_v justice_n or_o contradict_v reason_n can_v come_v from_o heaven_n and_o ought_v not_o to_o be_v believe_v in_o the_o next_o place_n when_o once_o a_o law_n be_v establish_v as_o divine_a upon_o a_o sufficient_a testimony_n of_o miracle_n no_o other_o revelation_n that_o be_v contrary_a to_o it_o may_v be_v allow_v until_o it_o be_v repeal_v and_o no_o repeal_n can_v be_v but_o from_o the_o same_o authority_n that_o enact_v it_o and_o therefore_o the_o repeal_n can_v be_v of_o force_n till_o the_o authority_n upon_o which_o it_o stand_v make_v itself_o manifest_a by_o as_o great_a if_o not_o great_a miracle_n than_o be_v wrought_v at_o the_o promulgation_n in_o this_o point_n be_v the_o prophet_n miscarriage_n that_o go_v to_o cry_v against_o the_o altar_n in_o bethel_n who_o suffer_v himself_o to_o be_v overcome_v by_o the_o pretence_n of_o the_o 18._o old_a prophet_n contrary_a to_o his_o own_o commission_n but_o without_o pursue_v this_o far_a at_o present_a it_o be_v manifest_a and_o by_o all_o christian_n acknowledge_v as_o such_o that_o the_o gospel_n which_o our_o saviour_n and_o his_o apostle_n publish_v to_o the_o world_n be_v neither_o contradictious_a to_o reason_n nor_o destructive_a of_o virtue_n or_o good_a manner_n or_o inconsistent_a with_o former_a revelation_n but_o that_o on_o the_o contrary_a it_o propose_v the_o noble_a end_n viz._n eternal_a life_n and_o direct_v to_o the_o fit_a and_o most_o agreeable_a method_n for_o attain_v it_o and_o therefore_o must_v be_v account_v divine_a this_o be_v grant_v it_o follow_v that_o no_o doctrine_n or_o revelation_n which_o be_v not_o reconcilable_a to_o this_o gospel_n can_v be_v from_o heaven_n or_o have_v power_n to_o bind_v we_o if_o a_o angel_n from_o heaven_n preach_v any_o other_o gospel_n let_v he_o be_v accurse_v gal._n 1._o 8._o my_o present_a business_n be_v not_o with_o heathen_n but_o with_o christian_n i_o will_v take_v it_o for_o grant_v till_o i_o see_v more_o occasion_n to_o prove_v it_o that_o the_o apostle_n and_o evangelist_n who_o be_v divine_o inspire_v commit_v to_o write_v that_o gospel_n which_o they_o have_v receive_v that_o be_v 2._o as_o much_o of_o the_o will_n of_o god_n as_o may_v be_v necessary_a for_o man_n to_o know_v and_o believe_v in_o order_n to_o their_o salvation_n 13._o the_o late_a representer_n of_o popery_n seem_v to_o allow_v as_o much_o when_o they_o own_o the_o scripture_n to_o be_v the_o word_n of_o god_n of_o the_o great_a authority_n upon_o earth_n and_o capable_a of_o lead_v a_o man_n to_o all_o truth_n it_o must_v also_o be_v grant_v that_o these_o scripture_n be_v no_o otherwise_o the_o word_n of_o god_n than_o they_o be_v right_o understand_v and_o interpret_v and_o here_o the_o controversy_n begin_v about_o the_o sense_n of_o scripture_n for_o the_o gentleman_n of_o the_o communion_n of_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n 19_o tell_v we_o we_o must_v receive_v the_o canon_n of_o the_o scripture_n and_o the_o sense_n and_o interpretation_n of_o scripture_n upon_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o church_n for_o so_o the_o matter_n be_v state_v even_o by_o their_o late_a writer_n and_o this_o be_v of_o great_a importance_n we_o will_v consider_v it_o careful_o and_o proceed_v with_o as_o much_o clearness_n as_o may_v be_v a_o sufficient_a though_o short_a discussion_n of_o the_o point_n if_o we_o be_v to_o receive_v the_o canon_n and_o sense_n of_o the_o scripture_n upon_o the_o church_n authority_n than_o the_o church_n authority_n be_v the_o ground_n upon_o which_o the_o canon_n and_o sense_n of_o scripture_n depend_v as_o to_o we_o and_o if_o the_o canon_n and_o sense_n of_o scripture_n depend_v as_o to_o we_o upon_o the_o church_n than_o the_o church_n have_v authority_n to_o engage_v and_o determine_v our_o faith_n in_o these_o two_o question_n 1._o what_o book_n be_v canonical_a and_o 2._o what_o the_o sense_n of_o they_o must_v be_v for_o if_o i_o know_v not_o the_o sense_n of_o they_o i_o know_v not_o the_o will_n of_o god_n without_o which_o it_o signify_v nothing_o to_o have_v the_o book_n although_o they_o have_v be_v write_v with_o god_n own_o finger_n and_o if_o the_o church_n have_v authority_n to_o declare_v what_o book_n and_o what_o sense_n of_o those_o book_n be_v divine_a then_o the_o church_n have_v a_o power_n to_o make_v i_o believe_v its_o declaration_n i_o say_v the_o church_n must_v have_v a_o power_n if_o it_o have_v authority_n to_o make_v i_o believe_v because_o no_o man_n can_v believe_v more_o than_o he_o can_v believe_v nor_o help_v believe_v what_o for_o the_o time_n he_o do_v believe_v if_o the_o church_n have_v a_o power_n to_o make_v i_o believe_v it_o either_o have_v it_o of_o itself_o as_o it_o be_v by_o nature_n or_o it_o have_v it_o from_o god_n but_o of_o itself_o the_o church_n can_v have_v no_o such_o power_n because_o god_n only_o have_v a_o dominion_n over_o the_o mind_n of_o man_n and_o be_v therefore_o to_o be_v believe_v by_o virtue_n of_o his_o own_o authority_n if_o therefore_o the_o church_n as_o it_o consist_v of_o man_n who_o in_o their_o private_a capacity_n that_o be_v as_o they_o be_v man_n may_v err_v have_v no_o authority_n of_o itself_o to_o determine_v my_o faith_n then_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o church_n if_o it_o have_v any_o to_o make_v i_o believe_v must_v be_v supernatural_a and_o divine_a which_o i_o think_v be_v grant_v by_o the_o author_n of_o tradition_n the_o papist_n misrepresented_a and_o represent_v when_o he_o say_v he_o believe_v no_o divine_a faith_n ought_v to_o be_v give_v to_o any_o thing_n but_o what_o be_v of_o divine_a revelation_n it_o be_v then_o a_o establish_a point_n that_o the_o church_n authority_n be_v not_o to_o be_v believe_v as_o natural_a but_o as_o supernatural_a and_o divine_a and_o if_o it_o be_v supernatural_a it_o can_v be_v prove_v out_o of_o natural_a principle_n this_o the_o papist_n see_v very_o well_o lay_v down_o infallibility_n for_o the_o ground_n of_o the_o church_n authority_n so_o that_o the_o church_n authority_n arise_v from_o its_o infallibility_n no_o man_n can_v be_v bind_v in_o matter_n of_o faith_n to_o submit_v to_o the_o one_o far_o than_o he_o can_v be_v convince_v of_o the_o other_o and_o the_o church_n can_v no_o long_o have_v a_o power_n over_o man_n faith_n than_o she_o be_v infallible_a the_o infallibility_n then_o of_o the_o church_n be_v the_o ground_n of_o her_o authority_n the_o papist_n expect_v we_o shall_v resolve_v our_o faith_n into_o it_o and_o we_o will_v consider_v how_o reasonable_a their_o expectation_n be_v in_o this_o case_n but_o first_o let_v we_o remember_v that_o all_o this_o authority_n and_o infallability_n be_v