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Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
truth_n believe_v great_a think_v 1,702 5 3.7841 3 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A66485 Reflexions upon a pamphlet intituled, An account of the growth of deism in England together with some considerations about the Christian religion. Willis, Richard, 1664-1734. 1696 (1696) Wing W2816; ESTC R38311 32,108 81

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as_o this_o and_o nothing_o but_o the_o mighty_a power_n of_o god_n concur_v with_o they_o can_v ever_o have_v bring_v it_o to_o effect_v the_o less_o internal_a credibility_n there_o be_v in_o the_o nature_n of_o the_o thing_n themselves_o the_o more_o external_a evidence_n be_v necessary_a to_o gain_v they_o belief_n especial_o if_o for_o the_o belief_n of_o these_o man_n must_v go_v against_o their_o former_a prejudices_fw-la and_o hazard_v the_o loss_n of_o all_o they_o have_v i_o have_v now_o consider_v the_o chief_a cause_n of_o deism_n assign_v by_o our_o author_n there_o be_v some_o other_o matter_n still_o behind_o but_o it_o be_v not_o my_o intent_n to_o take_v notice_n of_o every_o thing_n that_o may_v be_v find_v fault_n with_o in_o his_o pamphlet_n but_o only_o to_o make_v some_o reflection_n upon_o those_o calumny_n or_o mistake_v in_o it_o that_o be_v like_a to_o do_v the_o great_a mischief_n as_o for_o those_o thing_n that_o remain_v they_o be_v either_o only_a 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our_o sin_n pardon_v but_o to_o repent_v and_o forsake_v they_o the_o ceremony_n enjoin_v in_o our_o church_n be_v very_o few_o design_v only_o for_o the_o decency_n of_o public_a worship_n with_o a_o express_a declaration_n of_o their_o be_v in_o themselves_o thing_n indifferent_a no_o otherwise_o good_a but_o as_o they_o be_v expression_n of_o our_o reverence_n or_o tend_v to_o public_a order_n now_o it_o be_v possible_a that_o though_o man_n look_v upon_o thing_n to_o be_v never_o so_o indifferent_a yet_o by_o a_o unreasonable_a opposition_n they_o may_v be_v force_v to_o make_v a_o great_a noise_n about_o they_o and_o a_o great_a than_o they_o do_v about_o many_o other_o thing_n which_o they_o judge_v much_o more_o necessary_a but_o which_o no_o body_n gainsay_v or_o contradict_v and_o this_o be_v what_o common_o happen_v in_o a_o thousand_o other_o case_n beside_o this_o that_o man_n be_v force_v in_o their_o own_o defence_n to_o make_v a_o stir_n about_o what_o they_o shall_v 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church_n of_o god_n we_o ever_o hear_v or_o read_v of_o and_o from_o all_o that_o be_v ever_o like_a to_o be_v and_o if_o peace_n and_o love_n and_o unity_n be_v desirable_a thing_n and_o christian_a duty_n these_o be_v not_o indifferent_a matter_n to_o name_v but_o this_o one_o among_o many_o other_o of_o their_o principle_n of_o the_o like_a nature_n that_o thing_n in_o themselves_o indifferent_a become_v unlawful_a by_o be_v command_v now_o if_o this_o be_v true_a there_o must_v be_v a_o end_n of_o all_o christian_a society_n which_o never_o will_v be_v able_a to_o subsist_v without_o some_o rule_n and_o order_n not_o immediate_o command_v by_o god_n but_o such_o as_o in_o discretion_n they_o see_v proper_a therefore_o such_o a_o point_n as_o that_o be_v of_o consequence_n and_o must_v not_o be_v give_v up_o unless_o we_o will_v give_v up_o all_o peace_n and_o quiet_v and_o order_n in_o the_o church_n 3._o i_o desire_v he_o will_v consider_v that_o though_o ceremony_n be_v thing_n 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enemy_n of_o soul_n and_o disgrace_v their_o religion_n under_o pretence_n of_o zeal_n for_o it_o one_o thing_n i_o will_v only_o observe_v before_o i_o leave_v this_o matter_n the_o great_a partiality_n of_o this_o author_n who_o when_o a_o controversy_n be_v as_o he_o say_v betwixt_o two_o party_n about_o indifferent_a matter_n blame_v only_o one_o side_n and_o that_o side_n too_o which_o must_v be_v confess_v to_o be_v upon_o the_o defence_n and_o let_v that_o go_v which_o certain_o begin_v the_o fray_n and_o must_v be_v at_o least_o as_o guilty_a in_o make_v a_o great_a stir_n against_o indifferent_a matter_n as_o the_o church_n be_v in_o make_v it_o for_o they_o but_o i_o now_o come_v to_o the_o charge_n which_o he_o lay_v more_o direct_o upon_o the_o church_n itself_o and_o that_o be_v that_o three_o of_o the_o thirty_o nine_o article_n be_v whole_o design_v to_o uphold_v the_o power_n of_o the_o clergy_n over_o the_o people_n but_o i_o hope_v there_o be_v no_o harm_n in_o that_o 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our_o author_n think_v the_o whole_a matter_n may_v be_v blow_v away_o by_o a_o hard_a word_n and_o that_o it_o be_v sufficient_a to_o dash_v any_o thing_n if_o he_o can_v but_o call_v it_o priest-craft_n and_o indeed_o that_o be_v so_o hard_a a_o word_n that_o a_o person_n who_o make_v conscience_n of_o what_o he_o speak_v shall_v consider_v well_o before_o he_o pass_v such_o a_o censure_n and_o have_v examine_v well_o whether_o the_o power_n claim_v be_v reasonable_a and_o fit_a and_o such_o as_o the_o nature_n of_o that_o holy_a office_n require_v he_o shall_v have_v look_v into_o the_o holy_a scripture_n and_o the_o history_n of_o the_o first_o age_n of_o the_o church_n when_o man_n can_v propose_v no_o other_o interest_n by_o be_v bishop_n and_o minister_n but_o only_o have_v a_o great_a crown_n of_o glory_n in_o the_o other_o world_n as_o be_v person_n that_o common_o do_v and_o suffer_v most_o for_o christ_n in_o this_o he_o shall_v have_v a_o little_a consider_v what_o be_v then_o the_o power_n of_o churchman_n which_o whosoever_o know_v will_v hardly_o after_o that_o accuse_v the_o church_n of_o england_n of_o priest-craft_n in_o that_o respect_n he_o do_v not_o name_n which_o the_o three_o article_n be_v he_o find_v fault_n with_o so_o that_o i_o be_o leave_v only_o to_o guess_v and_o in_o truth_n i_o can_v think_v but_o of_o two_o which_o seem_v any_o way_n liable_a to_o the_o censure_n he_o pass_v upon_o they_o it_o be_v like_a he_o may_v mean_v the_o three_o article_n which_o our_o dissenter_n have_v sometime_o find_v fault_n with_o and_o which_o they_o be_v excuse_v from_o subscribe_v in_o the_o act_n of_o toleration_n but_o this_o show_v that_o our_o author_n never_o read_v they_o for_o only_o one_o of_o they_o the_o thirty-fourth_a be_v about_o
the_o power_n of_o the_o clergy_n the_o other_o two_o be_v about_o the_o homily_n and_o the_o book_n of_o consecration_n of_o archbishop_n and_o bishop_n etc._n etc._n i_o shall_v therefore_o take_v notice_n only_o of_o those_o two_o and_o wait_v for_o the_o three_o till_o he_o explain_v his_o mind_n more_o full_o the_o first_o article_n i_o believe_v that_o he_o drive_v at_o be_v the_o twenty_o the_o word_n of_o which_o be_v these_o the_o church_n have_v power_n to_o decree_v rite_n or_o ceremony_n and_o authority_n in_o controversy_n of_o faith_n and_o yet_o it_o be_v not_o lawful_a for_o the_o church_n to_o ordain_v any_o thing_n that_o be_v contrary_a to_o god_n word_n write_v neither_o may_v it_o so_o expound_v one_o place_n of_o scripture_n that_o it_o be_v repugnant_a to_o another_o wherefore_o although_o the_o church_n be_v a_o witness_n and_o a_o keeper_n of_o holy_a writ_n yet_o as_o it_o ought_v not_o to_o decree_v any_o thing_n against_o the_o same_o so_o beside_o the_o same_o it_o ought_v not_o to_o enforce_v any_o thing_n to_o be_v believe_v for_o necessity_n of_o salvation_n the_o other_o article_n i_o believe_v may_v be_v the_o thirty_o four_o which_o i_o shall_v here_o repeat_v at_o large_a too_o it_o be_v not_o necessary_a that_o tradition_n and_o ceremony_n be_v in_o all_o place_n one_o or_o utter_o like_a for_o at_o all_o time_n they_o have_v be_v divers_a and_o may_v be_v change_v according_a to_o the_o diversity_n of_o country_n and_o man_n manner_n so_o that_o nothing_o be_v ordain_v against_o god_n word_n whosoever_o through_o his_o private_a judgement_n willing_o and_o purposely_o do_v open_o break_v the_o tradition_n and_o ceremony_n of_o the_o church_n which_o be_v not_o repugnant_a to_o the_o word_n of_o god_n and_o be_v ordain_v and_o approve_v by_o common_a authority_n aught_o to_o be_v rebuke_v open_o that_o other_o may_v fear_v to_o do_v the_o like_a as_o one_o that_o offend_v against_o the_o common_a order_n of_o the_o church_n and_o burt_v the_o authority_n of_o the_o magistrate_n and_o wound_v the_o conscience_n of_o weak_a brethren_n every_o particular_a or_o national_a church_n have_v authority_n to_o ordain_v change_n and_o abolish_v ceremony_n or_o rite_n of_o the_o church_n ordain_v only_o by_o man_n authority_n so_o that_o all_o thing_n be_v do_v to_o edisy_v this_o be_v not_o indeed_o the_o first_o time_n that_o these_o article_n have_v be_v censure_v but_o if_o right_o understand_v i_o can_v see_v that_o they_o contain_v any_o thing_n more_o than_o what_o all_o establish_a church_n i_o ever_o hear_v of_o do_v either_o claim_v express_o or_o at_o least_o in_o their_o practice_n and_o no_o more_o than_o what_o be_v high_o reasonable_a to_o begin_v with_o the_o first_o that_o the_o church_n have_v power_n to_o decree_v rite_n and_o ceremony_n and_o authority_n in_o controversy_n of_o faith_n as_o for_o the_o first_o part_n of_o it_o the_o power_n of_o the_o church_n in_o rite_n and_o ceremony_n it_o will_v come_v in_o under_o the_o other_o article_n and_o therefore_o i_o shall_v pass_v it_o here_o but_o as_o to_o the_o other_o part_n her_o authority_n in_o controversy_n of_o faith_n i_o desire_v to_o observe_v first_o that_o the_o church_n do_v not_o here_o claim_v any_o infallibility_n to_o herself_o in_o determine_v such_o controversy_n she_o be_v so_o far_o from_o that_o that_o in_o the_o very_a next_o article_n she_o say_v 21._o art_n 21._o that_o even_o general_a council_n may_v err_v and_o be_v deceive_v 2._o i_o will_v observe_v that_o the_o church_n do_v not_o here_o decree_v that_o private_a christian_n be_v bind_v to_o believe_v any_o thing_n as_o matter_n of_o faith_n mere_o upon_o her_o authority_n but_o the_o church_n must_v bring_v the_o authority_n of_o god_n word_n for_o what_o she_o say_v when_o and_o not_o before_o she_o ought_v to_o be_v believe_v this_o she_o declare_v in_o the_o same_o article_n even_o of_o general_n council_n 21._o art_n 21._o wherefore_o thing_n ordain_v by_o they_o as_o necessary_a to_o salvation_n have_v neither_o strength_n nor_o authority_n unless_o it_o may_v be_v declare_v that_o they_o be_v take_v out_o of_o holy_a scripture_n and_o therefore_o 3._o our_o church_n allow_v all_o her_o member_n to_o examine_v the_o truth_n of_o what_o she_o teach_v by_o the_o holy_a scripture_n nay_o more_o encourage_v they_o to_o do_v it_o only_o advise_v that_o this_o be_v do_v with_o modesty_n and_o humility_n to_o this_o end_n the_o holy_a scripture_n be_v translate_v into_o our_o mother-tongue_n and_o read_v in_o our_o church_n and_o every_o body_n may_v have_v they_o at_o home_o and_o read_v they_o as_o much_o as_o they_o please_v and_o i_o be_o sure_a they_o be_v in_o our_o church_n frequent_o exhort_v to_o do_v so_o and_o that_o not_o only_o as_o a_o thing_n which_o they_o may_v do_v but_o as_o a_o thing_n which_o they_o ought_v to_o do_v 4._o i_o will_v observe_v that_o though_o our_o church_n have_v for_o the_o instruction_n and_o edification_n of_o her_o member_n draw_v up_o her_o opinion_n of_o the_o chief_a point_n of_o the_o christian_a religion_n in_o the_o thirty_o nine_o article_n yet_o she_o no_o where_n require_v the_o profession_n of_o the_o belief_n of_o they_o from_o the_o people_n that_o join_v in_o communion_n with_o she_o neither_o do_v she_o excommunicate_v every_o body_n that_o do_v not_o believe_v just_a as_o she_o believe_v if_o man_n will_v but_o be_v modest_a and_o not_o open_o oppose_v though_o she_o take_v care_n to_o instruct_v they_o in_o what_o be_v the_o truth_n yet_o they_o may_v enjoy_v a_o great_a liberty_n in_o their_o opinion_n and_o still_o live_v in_o her_o communion_n so_o that_o the_o mean_v of_o the_o church_n in_o this_o article_n seem_v to_o be_v no_o more_o than_o this_o that_o god_n have_v give_v the_o bishop_n and_o other_o minister_n of_o the_o word_n authority_n to_o preach_v the_o gospel_n and_o by_o this_o make_v it_o their_o duty_n to_o instruct_v those_o under_o their_o care_n in_o the_o true_a faith_n and_o that_o if_o any_o controversy_n happen_v about_o the_o faith_n they_o have_v by_o this_o their_o commission_n authority_n and_o by_o it_o god_n have_v make_v it_o their_o duty_n to_o declare_v their_o judgement_n in_o the_o case_n which_o may_v be_v do_v either_o by_o preach_v or_o by_o write_v either_o single_a or_o in_o a_o body_n as_o in_o discretion_n they_o see_v fit_a to_o be_v do_v that_o when_o they_o have_v thus_o declare_v their_o judgement_n especial_o if_o this_o be_v do_v by_o the_o whole_a body_n of_o the_o clergy_n of_o any_o place_n their_o determination_n be_v to_o be_v receive_v with_o reverence_n and_o respect_n by_o the_o people_n under_o their_o care_n not_o that_o they_o be_v for_o that_o reason_n bind_v to_o believe_v it_o true_a but_o they_o be_v to_o carry_v themselves_o modest_o and_o humble_o to_o examine_v the_o matter_n sedate_o first_o whether_o it_o be_v true_a or_o no_o and_o if_o they_o shall_v be_v convince_v in_o their_o conscience_n that_o the_o determination_n of_o the_o church_n be_v wrong_a and_o find_v such_o reason_n as_o put_v the_o matter_n past_o doubt_n with_o they_o yet_o even_o than_o not_o to_o oppose_v or_o contradict_v the_o public_a determination_n with_o their_o private_a opinion_n but_o to_o keep_v their_o thought_n to_o themselves_o unless_o they_o be_v withal_o full_o convince_v that_o the_o matter_n be_v of_o such_o importance_n that_o they_o ought_v not_o to_o be_v silent_a or_o that_o the_o profession_n of_o this_o error_n be_v require_v of_o they_o as_o a_o term_n of_o communion_n in_o short_a they_o ought_v to_o have_v as_o great_a a_o regard_n as_o possible_a to_o the_o peace_n and_o quiet_a of_o the_o church_n and_o the_o authority_n of_o those_o who_o god_n have_v set_v over_o they_o this_o seem_v to_o i_o to_o be_v the_o mean_v of_o this_o article_n in_o which_o there_o do_v not_o appear_v any_o very_a dreadful_a power_n the_o 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tell_v we_o that_o there_o be_v but_o one_o god_n and_o yet_o give_v the_o name_n and_o the_o attribute_n of_o god_n to_o the_o father_n to_o jesus_n christ_n the_o son_n and_o the_o holy_a ghost_n how_o far_o each_o of_o these_o be_v distinct_a from_o the_o other_o it_o no_o where_o tell_v we_o only_o that_o each_o of_o they_o be_v god_n and_o yet_o there_o be_v but_o one_o god_n here_o then_o we_o must_v stick_v that_o the_o father_n be_v god_n the_o son_n be_v god_n and_o the_o holy_a ghost_n god_n and_o yet_o there_o be_v not_o three_o god_n but_o one_o god_n and_o must_v conclude_v with_o ourselves_o that_o there_o be_v some_o way_n which_o god_n have_v not_o think_v fit_a to_o reveal_v to_o we_o perhaps_o because_o we_o be_v not_o now_o capable_a of_o understand_v it_o whereby_o these_o three_o be_v one_o now_o in_o all_o this_o there_o be_v no_o absurdity_n or_o contradiction_n but_o the_o only_a difficulty_n be_v whether_o this_o be_v sufficient_a but_o if_o god_n have_v reveal_v this_o and_o reveal_v no_o more_o that_o aught_o to_o be_v no_o difficulty_n this_o be_v not_o sufficient_a to_o gratify_v man_n curiosity_n or_o to_o answer_v all_o those_o question_n that_o we_o will_v indeed_o be_v glad_a to_o hear_v resolve_v but_o without_o go_v far_o here_o be_v sufficient_a in_o this_o to_o answer_v those_o end_n which_o we_o may_v suppose_v god_n have_v in_o reveal_v it_o for_o 1._o if_o the_o father_n son_n and_o holy_a ghost_n be_v god_n here_o be_v sufficient_a foundation_n for_o divine_a worship_n to_o be_v pay_v to_o each_o of_o them_o so_o that_o this_o doctrine_n of_o the_o trinity_n be_v not_o as_o our_o author_n represent_v it_o a_o doctrine_n of_o mere_a speculation_n but_o be_v a_o foundation_n of_o one_o of_o the_o great_a religious_a duty_n the_o worship_n of_o god_n if_o jesus_n christ_n be_v represent_v to_o i_o in_o scripture_n as_o god_n as_o god_n bless_v for_o ever_o i_o ought_v then_o to_o worship_v he_o though_o i_o do_v know_v 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