Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	confirm_v	doctrine_n	miracle_n	2,757	5	8.8552	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

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

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

let_v it_o alone_o though_o to_o say_v the_o truth_n if_o i_o have_v be_v tell_v the_o contrary_a the_o error_n which_o some_o pope_n have_v fall_v into_o will_v have_v hinder_v i_o in_o despite_n of_o any_o good_a will_n from_o own_v he_o so_o be_v this_o infallibility_n share_v among_o they_o so_o that_o every_o one_o have_v some_o for_o infallibility_n they_o must_v have_v or_o their_o authority_n be_v lose_v no_o this_o can_v be_v neither_o for_o infallibility_n be_v a_o quality_n that_o can_v be_v divide_v or_o enjoy_v to_o the_o half_n and_o if_o it_o can_v it_o will_v not_o do_v the_o business_n for_o than_o they_o will_v be_v fallible_a in_o part_n as_o well_o as_o infallible_a in_o part_n and_o so_o we_o shall_v be_v as_o hard_o put_v to_o it_o to_o find_v which_o part_n their_o infallibility_n reach_v to_o as_o we_o be_v to_o find_v that_o they_o have_v any_o at_o all_o here_o peradventure_o it_o may_v be_v think_v because_o it_o have_v be_v say_v heretofore_o that_o though_o the_o pope_n and_o his_o council_n may_v be_v fallible_a in_o their_o argument_n and_o discourse_n yet_o in_o the_o result_n of_o they_o viz._n their_o definition_n which_o only_o concern_v the_o church_n they_o be_v infallible_a this_o indeed_o be_v to_o the_o purpose_n if_o it_o can_v be_v as_o easy_o prove_v as_o say_v but_o since_o neither_o art_n nor_o nature_n do_v allow_v a_o infallible_a conclusion_n to_o issue_n from_o fallible_a mean_n it_o must_v be_v whole_o supernatural_a and_o divine_a and_o so_o we_o be_v come_v in_o the_o three_o place_n to_o ask_v how_o they_o come_v by_o a_o power_n to_o make_v the_o conclusion_n divine_a the_o mean_n be_v humane_a or_o how_o they_o will_v make_v it_o appear_v to_o i_o or_o any_o man_n else_o that_o they_o be_v endue_v with_o such_o a_o power_n certain_o a_o claim_n so_o bold_a as_o this_o aught_o to_o be_v very_o well_o make_v out_o but_o here_o alas_o we_o be_v turn_v over_o to_o motive_n of_o credibility_n which_o be_v sometime_o call_v the_o mark_n of_o the_o church_n however_o we_o will_v see_v what_o can_v be_v make_v of_o they_o by_o motive_n of_o credibility_n must_v be_v mean_v such_o as_o may_v work_v upon_o my_o reason_n and_o so_o incline_v my_o mind_n to_o believe_v or_o assent_v to_o any_o thing_n for_o a_o truth_n and_o so_o i_o can_v be_v induce_v to_o believe_v no_o far_o than_o the_o point_n be_v make_v credible_a to_o i_o well_o but_o whatever_o be_v supernatural_a can_v never_o work_v upon_o my_o reason_n as_o be_v quite_o above_o it_o without_o some_o divine_a evidence_n and_o testimony_n and_o that_o must_v either_o be_v miracle_n or_o scripture_n for_o miracle_n they_o have_v of_o late_o be_v little_o pretend_v to_o but_o from_o scripture_n they_o tell_v we_o christ_n have_v promise_v to_o his_o church_n a_o perpetual_a assistance_n of_o his_o grace_n yea_o such_o a_o measure_n of_o the_o spirit_n as_o make_v caiaphas_n prophesy_v truth_n almost_o whether_o he_o will_v or_o no._n but_o how_o can_v they_o pretend_v scripture_n in_o this_o case_n 15._o who_o have_v tell_v we_o we_o must_v receive_v the_o sense_n and_o interpretation_n of_o scripture_n from_o the_o infallible_a authority_n of_o the_o church_n and_o that_o not_o in_o a_o few_o point_n but_o in_o every_o doubt_n and_o never_o presume_v upon_o our_o own_o private_a sentiment_n howsoever_o seem_o ground_v on_o reason_n and_o scripture_n if_o we_o must_v thus_o absolute_o depend_v upon_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o church_n for_o the_o interpretation_n of_o scripture_n than_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o church_n must_v be_v better_a know_v to_o we_o than_o the_o sense_n of_o the_o scripture_n and_o if_o it_o be_v better_o know_v it_o can_v be_v prove_v by_o scripture_n for_o every_o thing_n that_o prove_v another_o must_v itself_o be_v more_o evident_a and_o if_o the_o church_n authority_n can_v be_v prove_v by_o scripture_n it_o can_v never_o be_v prove_v without_o miracle_n and_o by_o consequence_n can_v never_o be_v believe_v but_o if_o christian_n must_v read_v and_o judge_v of_o scripture_n and_o believe_v it_o in_o this_o point_n i_o can_v see_v no_o reason_n why_o they_o may_v not_o in_o every_o one_o else_o that_o concern_v religion_n since_o there_o be_v few_o point_n in_o it_o that_o be_v not_o much_o more_o cleary_a express_v here_o tradition_n will_v put_v in_o to_o help_v out_o but_o to_o spoil_v all_o we_o be_v tell_v we_o must_v receive_v they_o too_o upon_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o church_n for_o it_o will_v be_v as_o dangerous_a to_o trust_v the_o world_n with_o a_o liberty_n of_o judge_a tradition_n as_o of_o judge_a scripture_n and_o more_o contest_v there_o be_v and_o will_v be_v about_o they_o and_o yet_o which_o be_v a_o insuperable_a difficulty_n tradition_n be_v silent_a in_o many_o point_n of_o the_o romish_a faith_n nay_o in_o all_o whereabout_o any_o difference_n be_v i_o mean_v as_o to_o the_o primitive_a church_n and_o sure_a tradition_n can_v be_v produce_v where_o there_o be_v none_o if_o tradition_n can_v be_v produce_v still_o the_o difficulty_n return_v that_o tradition_n will_v be_v more_o manifest_a and_o therefore_o above_o the_o church_n authority_n and_o how_o acceptable_a a_o point_n that_o be_v at_o rome_n mr._n white_a blaclo_n and_o mr._n serjeant_n can_v have_v tell_v at_o their_o own_o cost_n but_o though_o scripture_n and_o tradition_n be_v insufficient_a perhaps_o succession_n may_v make_v out_o this_o matter_n or_o else_o why_o be_v we_o so_o often_o tell_v of_o it_o and_o true_o i_o must_v needs_o say_v i_o do_v not_o know_v why_o we_o be_v for_o if_o they_o mean_v a_o succession_n of_o bishop_n that_o can_v prove_v nothing_o to_o rome_n because_o it_o be_v common_a to_o other_o church_n who_o have_v as_o undoubted_a a_o succession_n as_o they_o if_o they_o mean_v a_o succession_n of_o doctrine_n from_o the_o apostle_n to_o we_o it_o be_v wat_fw-mi we_o allow_v and_o for_o want_v of_o it_o refuse_v those_o other_o doctrine_n they_o will_v impose_v there_o be_v behind_o a_o very_a forcible_a argument_n to_o prove_v that_o the_o pope_n and_o his_o council_n together_o be_v not_o infallible_a or_o that_o the_o papist_n themselves_o do_v not_o think_v they_o so_o i_o instance_n in_o the_o lateran_n council_n under_o pope_n innocent_a the_o iii_o where_o it_o be_v decree_v that_o prince_n may_v be_v depose_v he_o that_o represent_v a_o papist_n 20._o answer_n that_o this_o be_v no_o article_n of_o faith_n and_o that_o they_o be_v not_o bind_v to_o believe_v it_o but_o if_o this_o be_v not_o to_o be_v believe_v it_o be_v because_o the_o truth_n of_o it_o be_v not_o evident_a enough_o and_o if_o it_o be_v not_o evident_a enough_o it_o must_v be_v because_o the_o church_n propose_v or_o decree_a be_v not_o sufficient_a to_o make_v it_o evident_a which_o be_v the_o point_n i_o aim_v at_o if_o he_o will_v as_o some_o have_v acknowledge_v the_o depose_n doctrine_n to_o be_v true_a let_v the_o world_n consider_v what_o kind_n of_o subject_n those_o must_v be_v that_o be_v in_o such_o a_o communion_n and_o if_o he_o disavow_v it_o he_o make_v it_o appear_v that_o he_o do_v not_o think_v their_o church_n infallible_a nor_o can_v i_o think_v that_o church_n have_v sufficient_o clear_v itself_o from_o the_o charge_n of_o this_o doctrine_n which_o some_o of_o they_o call_v a_o calumny_n till_o it_o be_v as_o public_o and_o authoritative_o repeal_v as_o it_o be_v decree_v nor_o can_v i_o imagine_v how_o that_o author_n can_v tell_v we_o in_o the_o fourteen_o chapter_n of_o his_o book_n that_o he_o think_v himself_o oblige_v not_o to_o rely_v on_o his_o own_o private_a judgement_n but_o upon_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o church_n in_o any_o doubt_n and_o yet_o in_o the_o twenty_o chapter_n of_o the_o same_o book_n tell_v we_o in_o consequence_n what_o the_o church_n have_v peremptory_o decree_v be_v not_o to_o be_v believe_v i_o be_o sorry_a when_o that_o decree_n pass_v such_o a_o powerful_a measure_n of_o the_o spirit_n which_o make_v caiaphas_n prophecy_n be_v absent_a and_o since_o it_o be_v so_o then_o i_o do_v not_o see_v how_o they_o can_v reasonable_o presume_v he_o be_v not_o absent_a in_o other_o point_n too_o damnation_n be_v so_o particular_o denounce_v against_o rebellion_n we_o can_v think_v that_o a_o point_n so_o inconsiderable_a as_o to_o be_v pass_v by_o in_o advertency_n it_o now_o plain_o appear_v that_o this_o challenge_n of_o infallibility_n be_v very_o unaccountable_a and_o to_o show_v its_o absurdity_n yet_o more_o you_o shall_v see_v that_o though_o we_o shall_v grant_v as_o we_o do_v not_o that_o they_o have_v infallibility_n some_o where_o yet_o in_o the_o resolution_n of_o faith_n it_o will_v be_v useless_a the_o church_n at_o this_o day_n be_v vex_v