Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
truth_n christian_a good_a great_a 1,012 4 2.0712 3 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A59812 A discourse concerning a judge of controversies in matters of religion being an answer to some papers asserting the necessity of such a judge : with an address to wavering protestants, shewing what little reason they have to think of any change of their religion : written for the private satisfaction of some scrupulous persons, and now published for common use : with a preface concerning the nature of certainty and infallibility. Sherlock, William, 1641?-1707. 1686 (1686) Wing S3285; ESTC R8167 73,491 104

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council_n convene_v about_o the_o arian_n controversy_n after_o the_o decision_n of_o the_o nicene_n father_n if_o that_o have_v put_v a_o end_n to_o all_o far_a dispute_n and_o appeal_v which_o be_v a_o good_a argument_n that_o the_o christian_n do_v not_o then_o think_v that_o the_o authority_n of_o a_o council_n be_v so_o sacred_a that_o no_o man_n must_v question_v it_o when_o succeed_a council_n examine_v and_o many_o time_n reverse_v the_o decree_n of_o former_a council_n nay_o that_o council_n which_o be_v not_o general_a shall_v make_v bold_a with_o the_o decree_n of_o general_a council_n which_o be_v but_o a_o degree_n remove_v from_o every_o man_n private_a reason_n but_o the_o council_n anathematise_v all_o those_o that_o do_v not_o receive_v their_o decree_n and_o do_v this_o prove_v that_o they_o deny_v all_o christian_n a_o liberty_n of_o examine_v after_o they_o may_v they_o not_o declare_v such_o doctrine_n to_o be_v damnable_a heresy_n and_o reject_v such_o man_n out_o 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against_o her_o infallibility_n however_o this_o show_n that_o the_o most_o infallible_a teacher_n can_v destroy_v our_o natural_a liberty_n of_o judge_v for_o we_o must_v judge_v of_o his_o doctrine_n by_o sense_n and_o reason_n and_o see_v that_o it_o contradict_v neither_o which_o be_v the_o only_a natural_a principle_n of_o knowledge_n we_o have_v which_o be_v therefore_o to_o exercise_v all_o the_o reason_n and_o judgement_n which_o god_n have_v give_v we_o and_o three_o though_o we_o must_v receive_v all_o divine_a and_o supernatural_a truth_n upon_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o revealer_n yet_o we_o must_v own_v our_o own_o reason_n and_o judgement_n to_o understand_v the_o revelation_n which_o can_v possible_o be_v otherwise_o for_o whoever_o it_o be_v that_o speak_v to_o we_o whether_o god_n by_o a_o immediate_a voice_n from_o heaven_n or_o a_o prophet_n inspire_v by_o god_n we_o have_v no_o way_n to_o understand_v what_o be_v say_v but_o by_o our_o own_o natural_a faculty_n and_o therefore_o must_v judge_v of_o the_o sense_n of_o what_o be_v say_v just_a as_o we_o do_v at_o other_o time_n when_o any_o man_n speak_v to_o we_o and_o if_o we_o be_v not_o present_a to_o hear_v the_o prophet_n speak_v but_o have_v his_o revelation_n deliver_v to_o we_o in_o writing_n we_o must_v take_v the_o same_o course_n to_o understand_v such_o a_o divine_a book_n as_o we_o do_v any_o other_o human_a write_n if_o there_o be_v any_o difficulty_n in_o it_o we_o must_v seek_v for_o some_o body_n to_o help_v we_o to_o understand_v it_o but_o still_o we_o must_v understand_v for_o ourselves_o for_o no_o body_n else_o can_v understand_v for_o we_o and_o if_o we_o must_v understand_v we_o must_v judge_v for_o ourselves_o too_o this_o be_v all_o that_o we_o demand_v or_o desire_n a_o liberty_n to_o understand_v and_o judge_v what_o god_n will_v have_v we_o believe_v and_o do_v and_o this_o the_o most_o infallible_a teacher_n can_v deprive_v we_o of_o no_o more_o than_o he_o can_v oblige_v we_o to_o see_v and_o hear_v with_o other_o man_n eye_n and_o ear_n when_o god_n have_v give_v we_o eye_n and_o ear_n of_o our_o own_o and_o four_o where_o there_o be_v a_o stand_a revelation_n we_o must_v then_o judge_v of_o the_o doctrine_n of_o all_o succeed_a prophet_n how_o infallible_a soever_o they_o be_v by_o its_o conformity_n to_o the_o precede_a revelation_n we_o must_v never_o suppose_v that_o god_n can_v contradict_v himself_o and_o therefore_o though_o he_o may_v improve_v a_o former_a revelation_n by_o new_a and_o more_o perfect_a discovery_n yet_o he_o can_v never_o contradict_v it_o and_o hence_o it_o follow_v that_o no_o true_a prophet_n can_v contradict_v a_o true_a revelation_n but_o though_o a_o power_n of_o miracle_n may_v give_v authority_n to_o a_o new_a prophet_n to_o expound_v a_o former_a revelation_n and_o to_o improve_v it_o yet_o we_o must_v be_v well_o satisfy_v that_o the_o doctrine_n of_o this_o new_a prophet_n be_v agreeable_a to_o the_o old_a revelation_n which_o make_v we_o judge_n of_o the_o sense_n both_o of_o the_o old_a and_o the_o new_a revelation_n for_o it_o be_v impossible_a we_o can_v understand_v their_o agreement_n unless_o we_o can_v judge_v of_o the_o sense_n of_o both_o this_o be_v the_o case_n of_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n when_o they_o appear_v in_o the_o world_n the_o law_n of_o moses_n and_o the_o write_n of_o the_o prophet_n be_v the_o stand_a revelation_n which_o god_n have_v give_v to_o the_o jewish_a nation_n whereby_o they_o be_v to_o try_v all_o prophet_n to_o the_o law_n and_o to_o the_o testimony_n if_o they_o speak_v not_o according_a to_o this_o word_n it_o be_v because_o there_o be_v no_o light_n in_o they_o isaiah_n 8._o 20._o and_o therefore_o though_o christ_n wrought_v more_o and_o great_a miracle_n than_o ever_o moses_n do_v this_o alone_o have_v not_o be_v a_o sufficient_a reason_n to_o believe_v he_o have_v not_o his_o person_n answer_v the_o type_n and_o prediction_n of_o the_o law_n and_o his_o doctrine_n be_v not_o the_o destruction_n but_o the_o improvement_n and_o perfection_n of_o the_o moysaicall_a dispensation_n to_o this_o trial_n he_o submit_v himself_o and_o his_o doctrine_n appeal_v to_o moses_n and_o the_o prophet_n require_v they_o to_o search_v the_o scripture_n for_o they_o be_v they_o which_o testify_v of_o i_o john_n 5._o 39_o and_o after_o his_o resurrection_n from_o the_o dead_a which_o one_o will_v have_v think_v have_v be_v sufficient_a of_o itself_o to_o have_v confirm_v his_o divine_a authority_n yet_o he_o prove_v from_o scripture_n that_o thus_o christ_n ought_v to_o suffer_v and_o to_o enter_v into_o his_o glory_n and_o beginning_n at_o moses_n and_o all_o the_o prophet_n he_o expound_v unto_o they_o the_o two_o disciple_n go_v to_o emaus_n the_o thing_n concern_v himself_o luke_n 24._o 26_o 27._o and_o this_o course_n the_o apostle_n take_v in_o their_o sermon_n st._n peter_n do_v not_o only_o testify_v to_o the_o jew_n as_o a_o eye-witness_n that_o christ_n be_v rise_v from_o the_o dead_a but_o prove_v that_o david_n himself_o have_v prophesy_v of_o this_o act_v 2._o 22_o etc._n etc._n thus_o st._n paul_n dispute_v with_o the_o jew_n at_o rome_n to_o who_o he_o expound_v and_o testify_v the_o kingdom_n of_o god_n persuade_v they_o concern_v jesus_n both_o out_o of_o the_o law_n of_o moses_n and_o out_o of_o the_o prophet_n from_o morning_n till_o evening_n act_v 28._o 23._o thus_o his_o epistle_n to_o the_o roman_n be_v one_o entire_a dispute_n about_o the_o obligation_n of_o the_o law_n and_o justification_n by_o faith_n in_o christ_n from_o the_o type_n and_o prediction_n of_o the_o law_n itself_o so_o that_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n be_v certain_o as_o infallible_a teacher_n as_o everwere_v in_o the_o world_n yet_o they_o do_v not_o bear_v man_n down_o mere_o by_o their_o infallible_a authority_n but_o appeal_v to_o the_o scripture_n and_o to_o every_o man_n own_o judgement_n of_o they_o and_o god_n have_v order_v it_o so_o that_o it_o can_v not_o be_v otherwise_o for_o he_o have_v give_v they_o a_o stand_a revelation_n whereby_o they_o be_v to_o judge_v of_o all_o new_a prophet_n whatever_o they_o be_v but_o if_o they_o must_v have_v rely_v on_o the_o bare_a word_n of_o such_o prophet_n who_o they_o be_v to_o try_v by_o this_o revelation_n for_o the_o sense_n and_o interpretation_n of_o it_o this_o have_v be_v the_o same_o thing_n as_o to_o take_v their_o own_o word_n without_o any_o trial_n now_o if_o christ_n himself_o never_o pretend_v to_o any_o such_o authority_n that_o all_o man_n shall_v believe_v he_o upon_o his_o own_o word_n without_o examine_v his_o doctrine_n by_o the_o scripture_n or_o exercise_v their_o own_o reason_n and_o judgement_n can_v we_o think_v that_o he_o shall_v give_v any_o such_o authority_n to_o st._n peter_n nay_o when_o it_o be_v evident_a that_o st._n peter_n never_o have_v any_o such_o authority_n and_o never_o can_v exercise_v it_o how_o can_v st._n peter_n successor_n have_v that_o in_o his_o right_n which_o he_o never_o have_v nor_o can_v have_v himself_o for_o though_o he_o be_v a_o infallible_a teacher_n yet_o every_o man_n have_v a_o liberty_n to_o examine_v what_o he_o teach_v and_o to_o judge_v of_o it_o by_o its_o conformity_n to_o the_o law_n and_o the_o prophet_n but_o you_o i_o say_v can_v not_o christ_n appoint_v a_o infallible_a judge_n of_o controversy_n in_o his_o church_n to_o decide_v all_o dispute_n and_o to_o prevent_v heresy_n and_o schism_n that_o christ_n have_v not_o do_v this_o i_o shall_v take_v for_o grant_v till_o i_o see_v some_o better_a proof_n of_o it_o than_o i_o have_v yet_o meet_v with_o and_o i_o have_v some_o reason_n to_o think_v such_o a_o judge_n can_v not_o be_v appoint_v who_o we_o shall_v be_v oblige_v to_o rely_v on_o with_o a_o implicit_a faith_n without_o examination_n or_o any_o use_n of_o our_o own_o reason_n and_o judgement_n and_o that_o be_v because_o it_o be_v impracticable_a to_o appoint_v a_o judge_n upon_o who_o bare_a authority_n we_o be_v bind_v to_o believe_v the_o truth_n of_o christianity_n itself_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n do_v not_o assume_v to_o themselves_o to_o be_v such_o judge_n in_o their_o day_n for_o there_o lay_v a_o appeal_n from_o they_o to_o moses_n and_o the_o prophet_n as_o you_o have_v already_o hear_v and_o so_o there_o do_v to_o this_o day_n and_o if_o i_o must_v not_o take_v any_o man_n word_n for_o the_o truth_n of_o the_o christian_a religion_n i_o must_v not_o take_v his_o word_n neither_o for_o the_o truth_n of_o any_o doctrine_n in_o christianity_n if_o i_o may_v to_o this_o day_n examine_v the_o gospel_n by_o the_o law_n and_o the_o prophet_n as_o the_o jew_n do_v in_o our_o saviour_n day_n than_o i_o must_v judge_v for_o myself_o too_o
other_o give_v of_o a_o true_a church_n there_o be_v one_o mark_v without_o which_o it_o be_v impossible_a we_o shall_v be_v certain_a which_o be_v the_o true_a church_n and_o that_o be_v that_o she_o profess_v the_o true_a faith_n and_o worship_n of_o christ._n for_o this_o be_v essential_a to_o the_o church_n and_o there_o can_v be_v no_o church_n without_o it_o all_o other_o mark_n may_v deceive_v we_o for_o whatever_o other_o mark_n there_o be_v if_o there_o be_v not_o the_o true_a faith_n and_o worship_n of_o christ_n there_o can_v be_v the_o true_a church_n and_o therefore_o when_o the_o state_n of_o the_o church_n as_o it_o be_v at_o this_o day_n be_v break_v and_o divide_v into_o different_a and_o opposite_a communion_n whoever_o will_v find_v out_o the_o true_a church_n must_v examine_v her_o doctrine_n and_o worship_n bellarmine_n himself_o make_v the_o holiness_n of_o doctrine_n one_o essential_a mark_n of_o the_o true_a church_n and_o yet_o truth_n be_v antecedent_n to_o 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to_o deliver_v they_o from_o those_o uncertain_a dispute_n that_o be_v in_o the_o world_n we_o can_v be_v certain_a which_o the_o true_a church_n be_v on_o who_o authority_n we_o must_v rely_v till_o we_o have_v examine_v that_o diversity_n of_o opinion_n which_o divide_v the_o christian_a church_n and_o have_v satisfy_v ourselves_o on_o which_o side_n the_o truth_n lie_v and_o when_o we_o have_v do_v this_o it_o be_v too_o late_o to_o appeal_v to_o a_o judge_n unless_o we_o will_v undo_v all_o we_o have_v do_v before_o and_o then_o we_o shall_v be_v to_o seek_v again_o which_o be_v the_o true_a church_n and_o what_o advantage_n then_o have_v the_o papist_n above_o the_o protestant_n in_o the_o point_n of_o certainty_n when_o they_o can_v know_v which_o be_v that_o church_n which_o they_o may_v safe_o trust_v without_o examine_v the_o truth_n of_o her_o religion_n and_o judge_v for_o themselves_o just_a as_o we_o do_v we_o be_v concern_v indeed_o to_o know_v which_o be_v the_o true_a catholic_n church_n not_o that_o we_o must_v receive_v our_o faith_n upon_o her_o authority_n for_o in_o order_n of_o nature_n we_o must_v know_v the_o true_a faith_n before_o we_o can_v know_v the_o true_a church_n but_o because_o we_o be_v bind_v to_o live_v in_o communion_n with_o the_o true_a catholic_n church_n of_o christ._n five_o and_o yet_o if_o they_o can_v find_v the_o church_n without_o all_o this_o trouble_n and_o protestant_a uncertainty_n wherever_o they_o place_v their_o infallibility_n whether_o in_o the_o pope_n or_o council_n according_a to_o their_o own_o principle_n they_o can_v have_v so_o much_o as_o a_o moral_a certainty_n of_o it_o as_o for_o the_o pope_n though_o for_o argument_n sake_n we_o shall_v grant_v a_o true_a pope_n to_o be_v infallible_a yet_o it_o be_v impossible_a that_o any_o man_n can_v be_v certain_a that_o there_o be_v a_o true_a pope_n for_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n teach_v that_o the_o intention_n of_o the_o priest_n be_v necessary_a to_o the_o sacrament_n that_o though_o he_o perform_v all_o the_o external_a part_n of_o it_o yet_o if_o he_o do_v not_o intend_v to_o apply_v the_o sacrament_n to_o such_o person_n it_o be_v not_o apply_v now_o according_a to_o these_o principle_n who_o can_v tell_v whether_o this_o present_a pope_n be_v ever_o baptise_a or_o ordain_v priest_n or_o bishop_n for_o if_o the_o priest_n or_o bishop_n that_o do_v this_o do_v not_o intend_v to_o do_v it_o he_o be_v so_o far_o from_o be_v a_o true_a pope_n that_o he_o be_v no_o christian._n nay_o if_o the_o priest_n and_o bishop_n which_o baptise_a and_o ordain_v he_o do_v intend_v to_o apply_v the_o sacrament_n to_o he_o yet_o if_o those_o who_o baptise_a and_o ordain_v they_o do_v not_o intend_v to_o do_v it_o than_o they_o be_v no_o christian_n nor_o bishop_n themselves_o and_o therefore_o can_v not_o confer_v order_n on_o he_o and_o so_o upward_o still_o which_o reduce_v the_o matter_n to_o the_o great_a uncertainty_n in_o the_o world_n for_o how_o be_v it_o possible_a to_o know_v any_o man_n private_a intention_n when_o neither_o word_n nor_o action_n shall_v be_v allow_v a_o sufficient_a declaration_n of_o it_o and_o beside_o this_o if_o a_o pope_n be_v simoniacal_o promote_v or_o ordain_v by_o a_o simoniacal_a pope_n here_o be_v a_o invalidity_n in_o his_o order_n and_o then_o what_o become_v of_o his_o infallibility_n nay_o what_o shall_v we_o say_v of_o that_o long_a papal_a schism_n when_o there_o be_v three_o pope_n together_o john_n 23._o gregory_n 12._o and_o benedict_n 13._o who_o be_v all_o depose_v by_o the_o council_n of_o constance_n and_o martin_n 5._o choose_v be_v there_o never_o a_o true_a pope_n among_o all_o the_o three_o if_o there_o be_v what_o authority_n then_o have_v the_o council_n to_o depose_v they_o all_o and_o choose_v a_o four_o and_o who_o know_v to_o this_o day_n from_o whence_o the_o succeed_a pope_n have_v derive_v their_o succession_n which_o may_v very_o much_o call_v the_o popedom_n 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