Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	believe_v	faith_n	reveal_v	5,457	5	8.8529	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A42050	A modest plea for the due regulation of the press in answer to several reasons lately printed against it, humbly submitted to the judgment of authority / by Francis Gregory, D.D. and rector of Hambleden in the county of Bucks.	Gregory, Francis, 1625?-1707.	1698 (1698)	Wing G1896; ESTC R40036	38,836	57

unhappy_a as_o not_o to_o apprehend_v the_o mystery_n of_o religion_n doubtless_o the_o reason_n must_v needs_o be_v this_o their_o own_o understanding_n though_o exercise_v to_o their_o utmost_a ability_n can_v not_o inform_v they_o better_o for_o want_n of_o some_o other_o and_o clear_a light_n and_o what_o be_v their_o case_n will_v have_v be_v we_o have_v not_o god_n enlighten_v and_o bless_v the_o christian_a church_n with_o divine_a revelation_n but_o withal_o this_o great_a blessing_n of_o divine_a revelation_n do_v not_o exclude_v but_o require_v the_o very_a utmost_a exercise_n of_o human_a reason_n for_o we_o must_v employ_v not_o only_o our_o eye_n or_o tongue_n but_o our_o understanding_n in_o read_v the_o word_n of_o god_n it_o must_v be_v our_o great_a endeavour_n by_o the_o use_n of_o all_o proper_a mean_n to_o find_v out_o the_o true_a mean_v of_o what_o we_o read_v and_o when_o upon_o good_a ground_n we_o be_v satisfy_v that_o the_o right_a sense_n of_o such_o or_o such_o a_o text_n be_v this_o or_o that_o though_o the_o matter_n therein_o deliver_v be_v above_o the_o reach_n of_o our_o reason_n yet_o the_o same_o reason_n will_v oblige_v we_o to_o believe_v it_o as_o a_o undoubted_a truth_n because_o that_o god_n who_o can_v lie_v have_v so_o reveal_v it_o and_o this_o i_o think_v be_v all_o which_o humane_a reason_n have_v to_o do_v in_o matter_n of_o faith_n and_o worship_n unless_o it_o be_v to_o oblige_v we_o to_o the_o practice_n of_o what_o we_o know_v and_o believe_v 12._o to_o conclude_v this_o subject_a our_o lord_n say_v of_o himself_o i_o be_o the_o light_n of_o the_o world_n the_o same_o thing_n he_o say_v to_o his_o apostle_n too_o you_o be_v the_o light_n of_o the_o world_n so_o they_o be_v not_o only_o by_o their_o 14._o holy_a example_n but_o by_o their_o holy_a doctrine_n too_o why_o else_o do_v the_o apostle_n mention_v the_o glorious_a light_n of_o the_o gospel_n the_o light_n of_o reason_n be_v but_o as_o the_o light_n of_o a_o glow_n worm_n the_o light_n of_o the_o law_n be_v but_o as_o the_o light_n of_o a_o star_n but_o the_o light_n of_o the_o gospel_n be_v as_o the_o light_n of_o the_o sun_n a_o very_a glorious_a light_n indeed_o now_o if_o this_o be_v true_a if_o christ_n himself_o if_o the_o apostle_n of_o christ_n if_o the_o gospel_n of_o christ_n be_v so_o many_o light_n differ_v in_o number_n have_v not_o this_o author_n strange_o forget_v himself_o and_o his_o bible_n when_o he_o tell_v the_o world_n in_o his_o print_a paper_n that_o the_o reason_n of_o man_n be_v the_o light_n nay_o the_o only_a light_n which_o god_n have_v give_v he_o to_o distinguish_v the_o true_a religion_n from_o the_o false_a one_o and_o again_o that_o god_n have_v give_v to_o man_n no_o other_o guide_n but_o their_o reason_n to_o bring_v they_o to_o happiness_n and_o yet_o a_o three_o time_n that_o the_o people_n common_a notion_n be_v the_o test_n and_o standard_n of_o all_o truth_n if_o these_o three_o proposition_n be_v true_a or_o any_o one_o of_o they_o i_o do_v confess_v that_o the_o small_a light_n of_o my_o own_o reason_n have_v not_o yet_o enable_v i_o to_o discern_v any_o difference_n betwixt_o the_o clear_a truth_n and_o the_o gross_a error_n and_o very_o the_o expose_v such_o notorious_a falsehood_n to_o the_o view_n of_o the_o world_n by_o the_o help_n of_o the_o press_n be_v a_o very_a strong_a argument_n why_o its_o liberty_n shall_v be_v restrain_v but_o to_o go_v on_o sect_n ii_o the_o main_a argument_n which_o this_o author_n plead_v for_o a_o universal_a freedom_n of_o the_o press_n be_v draw_v from_o these_o two_o topic_n first_o from_o the_o great_a usefulness_n of_o printing_n which_o have_v be_v so_o very_o beneficial_a to_o the_o christian_a church_n second_o from_o several_a great_a inconvenience_n which_o as_o he_o say_v will_v follow_v be_v the_o press_n once_o more_o restrain_v and_o limit_v i._o this_o author_n plead_v the_o great_a usefulness_n of_o printing_n as_o a_o argument_n that_o the_o press_n shall_v be_v unlimited_a to_o which_o i_o answer_v two_o way_n 1._o by_o way_n of_o concession_n we_o do_v easy_o grant_v that_o the_o invention_n of_o printing_n have_v prove_v very_o beneficial_a to_o the_o christian_a church_n it_o be_v this_o which_o have_v diffuse_v the_o knowledge_n of_o useful_a art_n and_o science_n and_o all_o sort_n of_o humane_a learning_n it_o be_v this_o which_o have_v furnish_v our_o library_n with_o vast_a number_n of_o excellent_a book_n it_o be_v this_o which_o have_v furnish_v our_o church_n and_o our_o family_n with_o great_a store_n of_o bibles_n and_o we_o easy_o grant_v what_o this_o author_n assert_n that_o to_o this_o art_n of_o print_v we_o owe_v under_o god_n the_o happy_a and_o quick_a progress_n of_o the_o reformation_n but_o 2._o by_o way_n of_o denial_n we_o can_v grant_v that_o the_o usefulness_n of_o the_o press_n be_v a_o good_a argument_n that_o its_o liberty_n shall_v be_v unlimited_a for_o notwithstanding_o these_o great_a advantage_n which_o both_o religion_n and_o learning_n have_v reap_v from_o this_o curious_a art_n of_o printing_n may_v not_o it_o as_o well_o as_o many_o other_o thing_n very_o useful_a in_o their_o own_o nature_n be_v so_o abuse_v and_o pervert_v as_o to_o become_v instrumental_a to_o the_o great_a detriment_n of_o mankind_n it_o be_v a_o old_a rule_n corruptio_fw-la optimi_fw-la pessima_fw-la the_o better_a thing_n be_v when_o well_o use_v the_o worse_o they_o grow_v when_o corrupt_v the_o sword_n be_v a_o excellent_a instrument_n when_o it_o defend_v the_o guiltless_a but_o it_o prove_v a_o unhappy_a tool_n when_o it_o murder_v the_o innocent_a physic_n due_o administer_v by_o a_o learned_a physician_n may_v preserve_v a_o life_n but_o be_v misapply_v by_o a_o ignorant_a mountebank_n it_o tend_v to_o destroy_v it_o it_o be_v certain_a that_o the_o art_n of_o printing_n have_v do_v a_o great_a deal_n of_o good_a and_o we_o be_v to_o bless_v god_n for_o it_o but_o withal_o it_o be_v as_o certain_a that_o it_o have_v do_v and_o still_o may_v do_v a_o great_a deal_n of_o mischief_n and_o we_o be_v to_o lament_v it_o when_o the_o press_n tend_v to_o promote_v religion_n and_o virtue_n it_o be_v well_o employ_v and_o aught_o to_o be_v encourage_v but_o when_o the_o press_n tend_v to_o promote_v vice_n and_o irreligion_n it_o ought_v to_o be_v discountenance_v and_o restrain_v it_o be_v evident_a that_o the_o press_n have_v be_v use_v to_o publish_v a_o great_a number_n of_o such_o paper_n as_o tend_v to_o debauch_v the_o life_n and_o corrupt_v the_o judgement_n of_o man_n such_o be_v our_o obscene_a poem_n our_o profane_a and_o wanton_a stage-plays_a where_o vice_n be_v not_o only_o represent_v but_o so_o promote_v that_o we_o may_v just_o fear_v that_o as_o all_o their_o spectator_n lose_v their_o time_n so_o many_o of_o they_o may_v lose_v their_o innocence_n too_o for_o since_o the_o heart_n of_o man_n be_v so_o prone_a to_o evil_n and_o become_v so_o like_a to_o tinder_n apt_a to_o take_v fire_n from_o every_o little_a spark_n it_o be_v hard_a to_o see_v those_o vice_n which_o be_v please_v to_o flesh_n and_o blood_n represent_v upon_o a_o public_a stage_n and_o yet_o not_o be_v infect_v by_o they_o and_o as_o these_o be_v very_o like_a to_o debauch_v their_o spectator_n moral_n so_o be_v there_o many_o other_o print_v paper_n as_o like_a to_o corrupt_v their_o reader_n be_v judgement_n such_o be_v those_o many_o volume_n print_v in_o defence_n of_o popery_n and_o which_o be_v worse_o such_o be_v those_o book_n print_v in_o the_o defence_n of_o arianism_n socinianism_n and_o other_o heresy_n just_o condemn_v by_o the_o catholic_n church_n in_o the_o first_o and_o pure_a age_n of_o christianity_n it_o be_v report_v that_o our_o modern_a socinian_n have_v already_o pervert_v a_o considerable_a number_n of_o man_n not_o only_o by_o their_o personal_a insinuation_n but_o by_o their_o print_a paper_n and_o it_o be_v very_o probable_a that_o they_o may_v yet_o make_v many_o more_o proselyte_n to_o their_o dangerous_a opinion_n if_o the_o press_n be_v still_o permit_v to_o publish_v whatever_o they_o think_v fit_a to_o write_v for_o their_o book_n contain_v argument_n so_o plausible_a so_o seem_o strong_a that_o they_o may_v pass_v for_o clear_a evidence_n and_o demonstration_n among_o the_o unlearned_a multitude_n who_o be_v in_o no_o capacity_n to_o discover_v the_o fallacy_n that_o lie_v in_o they_o now_o since_o the_o press_n may_v as_o well_o do_v harm_n as_o good_a it_o be_v very_o reasonable_a that_o it_o shall_v be_v well_o regulate_v to_o promote_v that_o good_a and_o prevent_v that_o harm_n it_o be_v very_o fit_a that_o no_o new_a book_n shall_v be_v publish_v till_o they_o have_v be_v first_o supervise_v and_o allow_v

be_v this_o there_o be_v no_o medium_n between_o man_n judge_v for_o themselves_o and_o give_v up_o their_o judgement_n to_o other_o we_o grant_v it_o but_o what_o then_o his_o inference_n be_v this_o if_o the_o first_o be_v their_o duty_n the_o press_n ought_v not_o to_o be_v restrain_v but_o why_o not_o his_o reason_n be_v again_o the_o same_o because_o it_o debar_v man_n from_o see_v those_o allegation_n by_o which_o they_o be_v to_o inform_v their_o judgement_n that_o be_v his_o argument_n to_o which_o i_o answer_v thus_o we_o must_v distinguish_v betwixt_o man_n and_o man_n betwixt_o such_o as_o can_v judge_v for_o themselves_o and_o such_o as_o can_v where_o the_o scripture_n be_v express_v the_o word_n plain_a and_o the_o sense_n easy_a every_o man_n who_o have_v a_o competent_a use_n of_o reason_n and_o can_v read_v his_o bible_n may_v judge_v for_o himself_o but_o when_o several_a interpretation_n be_v give_v of_o any_o text_n when_o doubt_n be_v raise_v when_o argument_n be_v produce_v to_o defend_v both_o part_n of_o a_o contradiction_n there_o be_v a_o vast_a number_n of_o man_n who_o be_v no_o more_o able_a to_o judge_v which_o be_v true_a and_o which_o be_v false_a than_o a_o blind_a man_n be_v to_o distinguish_v betwixt_o a_o good_a colour_n and_o a_o bad_a one_o it_o be_v the_o great_a unhappiness_n of_o such_o person_n that_o in_o matter_n of_o controversy_n they_o can_v rely_v upon_o their_o own_o weak_a reason_n but_o must_v either_o suspend_v their_o judgement_n or_o else_o give_v it_o up_o to_o the_o conduct_n of_o some_o other_o person_n and_o who_o be_v so_o fit_a to_o be_v trust_v with_o it_o as_o their_o own_o minister_n provide_v they_o be_v as_o every_o minister_n shall_v be_v man_n of_o piety_n and_o part_n able_a to_o satisfy_v doubt_n remove_v scruple_n and_o convince_v gainsayer_n but_o if_o man_n give_v up_o their_o reason_n to_o the_o clergy_n this_o author_n who_o vilifi_v our_o clergy_n as_o much_o as_o possible_a he_o can_v gives_z our_o people_n a_o intimation_n that_o by_o so_o do_v they_o make_v we_o the_o lord_n of_o their_o faith_n but_o how_o do_v that_o follow_v suppose_v two_o person_n be_v engage_v in_o a_o doubtful_a controversy_n about_o a_o estate_n claim_v by_o both_o these_o person_n be_v of_o themselves_o unable_a to_o determine_v the_o case_n appeal_v to_o the_o king_n judge_n but_o do_v they_o thereby_o make_v those_o judge_n the_o lord_n of_o that_o estate_n which_o be_v contend_v for_o sure_o no_o the_o judge_n do_v no_o more_o than_o according_a to_o evidence_n and_o law_n declare_v to_o which_o person_n that_o estate_n do_v just_o belong_v so_o it_o be_v in_o our_o present_a case_n several_a party_n of_o man_n lay_v claim_n to_o truth_n as_o they_o and_o produce_v evidence_n for_o it_o now_o a_o man_n unable_a to_o satisfy_v himself_o which_o side_n truth_n be_v to_o be_v find_v consult_v his_o minister_n who_o by_o evidence_n of_o scripture_n which_o in_o this_o case_n be_v the_o only_a law_n assure_v his_o neighbour_n the_o truth_n lie_v here_o or_o there_o and_o indeed_o that_o the_o minister_n be_v the_o most_o proper_a judge_n in_o controversy_n relate_v to_o religion_n we_o can_v doubt_v if_o we_o dare_v believe_v the_o prophet_n who_o say_v the_o priest_n lip_n shall_v preserve_v 7._o knowledge_n and_o they_o shall_v seek_v the_o law_n at_o his_o mouth_n for_o he_o be_v the_o messenger_n of_o the_o lord_n of_o host_n this_o text_n do_v not_o constitute_v we_o nor_o do_v we_o pretend_v to_o be_v lord_n of_o our_o people_n faith_n but_o as_o the_o apostle_n speak_v helper_n to_o the_o truth_n we_o do_v not_o require_v any_o weak_a believer_n assent_n to_o any_o one_o article_n of_o faith_n whereunto_o god_n require_v it_o not_o though_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n do_v so_o and_o how_o unjust_o then_o without_o modesty_n or_o truth_n do_v this_o man_n stigmatize_v we_o as_o lord_n of_o our_o people_n faith_n but_o beside_o those_o weak_a christian_n who_o in_o controvert_v point_n can_v judge_v for_o themselves_o there_o be_v some_o other_o of_o clear_a head_n and_o more_o improve_v understanding_n that_o can_v and_o for_o their_o sake_n this_o author_n say_v that_o the_o press_n ought_v not_o to_o be_v restrain_v and_o his_o reason_n be_v this_o because_o the_o restraint_n of_o the_o press_n debar_v they_o from_o see_v those_o allegation_n by_o which_o they_o be_v to_o confirm_v their_o judgement_n this_o argument_n in_o effect_n have_v already_o be_v offer_v once_o and_o again_o and_o have_v as_o often_o be_v reply_v to_o but_o for_o the_o great_a satisfaction_n of_o my_o reader_n i_o shall_v again_o consider_v and_o enlarge_v my_o answer_n to_o it_o and_o this_o it_o be_v not_o know_v and_o intelligent_a christian_a who_o be_v well_o able_a to_o judge_v for_o himself_o can_v want_v any_o new_a allegation_n from_o the_o press_n to_o confirm_v his_o judgement_n in_o any_o dispute_v point_n of_o faith_n or_o worship_n because_o we_o have_v already_o sufficient_a rule_n to_o judge_v by_o for_o 1._o we_o have_v the_o scripture_n preach_v in_o our_o public_a church_n and_o if_o we_o please_v we_o may_v read_v and_o consider_v they_o in_o our_o private_a family_n and_o closet_n and_o here_o i_o do_v again_o affirm_v that_o all_o matter_n of_o reveal_v religion_n must_v be_v examine_v prove_v and_o determine_v by_o the_o write_a word_n of_o god_n this_o be_v the_o only_a sure_a balance_n to_o weigh_v and_o touch_v stone_n to_o try_v all_o matter_n of_o faith_n and_o worship_n to_o 39_o this_o our_o lord_n send_v his_o hearer_n search_v the_o scripture_n and_o again_o how_o read_v thou_o and_o which_o be_v remarkable_a the_o ignorance_n 29._o of_o scripture_n do_v he_o make_v the_o only_a occasion_n and_o ground_n of_o error_n in_o point_n of_o faith_n so_o he_o tell_v the_o sadducee_n you_o err_v but_o why_o not_o know_v the_o scripture_n by_o which_o our_o lord_n himself_o prove_v that_o great_a doctrine_n of_o the_o resurrection_n which_o they_o deny_v and_o when_o our_o lord_n will_v prove_v himself_o to_o be_v a_o great_a person_n than_o david_n he_o do_v it_o by_o that_o 1._o text_n the_o lord_n say_v unto_o my_o lord_n etc._n etc._n this_o course_n take_v our_o bless_a saviour_n and_o so_o do_v his_o apostle_n too_o and_o so_o must_v we_o we_o must_v take_v the_o scripture_n for_o our_o guide_n in_o matter_n of_o religion_n for_o that_o be_v the_o only_a and_o infallible_a rule_n and_o unalterable_a standard_n to_o measure_v all_o the_o doctrine_n and_o practice_n which_o such_o or_o such_o a_o church_n do_v teach_v recommend_v or_o require_v from_o we_o but_o if_o it_o shall_v be_v again_o demand_v who_o must_v be_v the_o judge_n whether_o among_o different_a interpretation_n of_o holy_a writ_n this_o or_o that_o be_v the_o true_a one_o whether_o in_o controvert_v point_n such_o or_o such_o a_o text_n do_v certain_o warrant_v such_o or_o such_o a_o doctrine_n as_o be_v ground_v thereon_o i_o answer_v again_o 2._o we_o have_v the_o unite_a judgement_n and_o decree_n of_o several_a council_n those_o i_o mean_v that_o be_v convene_v in_o the_o first_o and_o pure_a time_n before_o the_o superstition_n and_o idolatry_n of_o rome_n have_v creep_v in_o by_o degree_n through_o carelessness_n vice_n and_o ignorance_n and_o overspread_v the_o church_n the_o grand_a controversy_n now_o on_o foot_n among_o we_o concern_v the_o divinity_n of_o christ_n the_o personality_n and_o deity_n of_o the_o holy_a ghost_n that_o christ_n in_o the_o most_o strict_a and_o proper_a sense_n of_o that_o notion_n be_v true_o god_n that_o the_o holy_a ghost_n be_v a_o person_n and_o a_o divine_a person_n we_o affirm_v but_o our_o socinian_n who_o be_v the_o spawn_n of_o old_a arius_n make_v bold_a to_o deny_v to_o justify_v our_o doctrine_n we_o cite_v such_o and_o such_o text_n and_o to_o establish_v their_o opinion_n as_o well_o as_o they_o can_v they_o do_v the_o same_o thing_n as_o for_o the_o scripture_n which_o we_o produce_v to_o prove_v the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o trinity_n because_o humane_a reason_n can_v comprehend_v it_o they_o do_v either_o question_v the_o authority_n of_o such_o text_n or_o else_o they_o wrest_v they_o to_o such_o a_o intolerable_a sense_n as_o every_o sober_a man_n reason_n may_v just_o abhor_v now_o the_o question_n be_v who_o must_v judge_v betwixt_o we_o and_o they_o who_o must_v determine_v whether_o the_o scripture_n be_v on_o their_o side_n or_o we_o i_o answer_v that_o heterodox_n opinion_n now_o much_o contend_v for_o which_o we_o call_v socinian_n do_v appear_v under_o some_o other_o name_n very_o early_o in_o the_o christian_a church_n in_o the_o first_o age_n the_o godhead_n of_o christ_n be_v deny_v by_o the_o jew_n and_o particular_o by_o ebion_n in_o the_o three_o century_n by_o