Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	word_n	world_n	worst_a	61	3	7.7028	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A61565	A letter to a deist, in answer to several objections against the truth and authority of the scriptures	Stillingfleet, Edward, 1635-1699.	1677 (1677)	Wing S5600; ESTC R21879	39,694	152

alone_o for_o any_o long_a time_n the_o jew_n will_v have_v ask_v they_o present_o if_o these_o thing_n be_v true_a why_o do_v we_o not_o hear_v of_o they_o as_o soon_o as_o they_o be_v do_v therefore_o we_o see_v the_o apostle_n on_o the_o very_a day_n of_o pentecost_n a_o little_a after_o christ_n ascension_n to_o heaven_n open_o and_o bold_o declare_v the_o truth_n of_o these_o thing_n not_o in_o private_a corner_n among_o a_o few_o friend_n but_o in_o the_o most_o solemn_a meeting_n of_o their_o nation_n from_o all_o part_n which_o be_v the_o worst_a time_n can_v have_v be_v choose_v if_o they_o have_v any_o intention_n to_o deceive_v 3._o they_o testify_v it_o in_o as_o plain_a a_o manner_n as_o be_v possible_a on_o purpose_n to_o prevent_v all_o mistake_n of_o their_o meaning_n this_o jesus_n have_v god_n 36._o raise_v up_o whereof_o we_o all_o be_v witness_n therefore_o let_v all_o the_o house_n of_o israel_n know_v assure_o that_o god_n have_v make_v that_o same_o jesus_n who_o you_o have_v crucify_v both_o lord_n and_o christ._n man_n that_o have_v a_o mind_n to_o deceive_v will_v have_v use_v some_o more_o general_a and_o doubtful_a word_n than_o these_o be_v 4._o if_o this_o have_v be_v testify_v by_o one_o single_a witness_n the_o world_n will_v have_v suspect_v the_o truth_n of_o his_o testimony_n for_o according_a to_o the_o rule_n in_o the_o civil_a law_n in_o the_o case_n of_o testimony_n vox_fw-la unius_fw-la vox_fw-la nullius_fw-la est_fw-la but_o this_o be_v testify_v by_o very_a many_o not_o mere_o by_o the_o twelve_o apostle_n but_o by_o 500_o at_o once_o among_o who_o some_o may_v be_v suppose_v to_o have_v so_o much_o honesty_n or_o at_o least_o capable_a of_o be_v persuade_v to_o have_v discover_v the_o imposture_n if_o they_o have_v in_o the_o least_o suspect_v any_o 5._o but_o that_o which_o add_v the_o great_a weight_n to_o all_o this_o be_v that_o there_o be_v not_o one_o of_o all_o the_o apostle_n and_o scarce_o any_o one_o of_o the_o rest_n but_o expose_v themselves_o to_o the_o utmost_a hazard_n and_o danger_n rather_o than_o deny_v or_o retract_v the_o truth_n of_o what_o they_o witness_v if_o the_o people_n have_v be_v careless_a and_o indifferent_a about_o religion_n it_o be_v possible_a man_n may_v have_v go_v on_o in_o a_o lie_n so_o long_o till_o they_o have_v get_v interest_n enough_o to_o maintain_v it_o but_o no_o soon_o do_v the_o apostle_n appear_v witness_v these_o thing_n but_o they_o meet_v with_o a_o early_a and_o vigorous_a opposition_n and_o that_o from_o the_o chief_a man_n in_o power_n who_o make_v it_o their_o business_n to_o suppress_v they_o now_o in_o this_o case_n they_o be_v put_v to_o this_o choice_n if_o they_o will_v renounce_v or_o conceal_v the_o truth_n of_o what_o they_o testify_v they_o may_v present_o enjoy_v ease_n and_o it_o may_v be_v reward_v too_o but_o if_o they_o go_v on_o they_o must_v look_v for_o nothing_o but_o the_o sharp_a persecution_n and_o this_o they_o meet_v with_o almost_o in_o all_o place_n and_o be_v it_o conceivable_a that_o man_n shall_v be_v so_o fond_a of_o a_o lie_n to_o forsake_v all_o and_o follow_v it_o and_o at_o last_o to_o take_v up_o their_o cross_n for_o it_o if_o credit_n and_o interest_n in_o the_o heart_n of_o people_n may_v carry_v a_o man_n on_o a_o great_a way_n in_o the_o delusion_n yet_o he_o will_v be_v loath_a to_o die_v for_o it_o and_o yet_o there_o be_v never_o a_o one_o of_o the_o apostle_n but_o venture_v his_o life_n for_o the_o truth_n of_o this_o and_o all_o but_o one_o they_o tell_v we_o do_v suffer_v martyrdom_n for_o it_o i_o pray_v sir_n consider_v where_o you_o ever_o meet_v with_o any_o thing_n like_o this_o that_o so_o many_o man_n shall_v so_o resolute_o die_v for_o what_o themselves_o at_o the_o same_o time_n know_v to_o be_v a_o lie_n and_o that_o they_o must_v certain_o do_v if_o it_o be_v all_o a_o contrivance_n of_o their_o own_o head_n 2._o but_o although_o in_o these_o thing_n they_o go_v as_o high_a as_o it_o be_v possible_a for_o humane_a testimony_n to_o go_v yet_o they_o have_v something_o beyond_o all_o this_o which_o be_v a_o concurrence_n of_o a_o divine_a testimony_n in_o the_o miraculous_a gift_n and_o operation_n of_o the_o holy_a ghost_n and_o this_o we_o assert_v to_o be_v the_o high_a testimony_n can_v be_v give_v in_o the_o world_n of_o a_o truth_n of_o any_o thing_n because_o god_n will_v not_o employ_v his_o power_n to_o deceive_v the_o world_n and_o as_o all_o other_o truth_n have_v a_o criterion_n proper_a to_o it_o so_o this_o seem_v to_o be_v the_o proper_a criterion_n of_o a_o divine_a testimony_n that_o it_o have_v the_o power_n of_o miracle_n go_v along_o with_o it_o for_o if_o we_o do_v suppose_v god_n to_o make_v know_v his_o mind_n to_o the_o world_n it_o be_v very_o reasonable_a to_o believe_v there_o shall_v be_v some_o distinguish_a note_n of_o what_o be_v immediate_o from_o god_n and_o what_o come_v only_o from_o the_o invention_n of_o man_n and_o what_o can_v be_v more_o proper_a to_o distinguish_v what_o come_v from_o god_n and_o what_o from_o man_n than_o to_o see_v those_o thing_n do_v which_o none_o but_o god_n can_v do_v but_o against_o this_o you_o object_n several_a thing_n which_o i_o shall_v easy_o and_o brief_o answer_v 1._o you_o can_v tell_v what_o it_o be_v that_o miracle_n do_v attest_v not_o all_o their_o doctrine_n since_o paul_n say_v some_o be_v not_o from_o the_o lord._n answ._n miracle_n do_v attest_v the_o veracity_n of_o the_o speaker_n and_o by_o consequence_n the_o truth_n of_o the_o doctrine_n not_o that_o you_o shall_v believe_v that_o to_o be_v from_o the_o lord_n which_o he_o say_v be_v not_o but_o that_o which_o he_o say_v be_v from_o the_o lord_n but_o when_o he_o make_v such_o a_o distinction_n himself_o it_o be_v very_o unreasonable_a to_o urge_v that_o as_o a_o argument_n that_o he_o have_v nothing_o from_o the_o lord_n it_o be_v much_o rather_o a_o argument_n of_o his_o candour_n and_o ingenuity_n that_o he_o will_v not_o pretend_v to_o divine_a revelation_n when_o he_o have_v it_o not_o 2._o you_o will_v have_v it_o signify_v what_o doctrine_n it_o be_v which_o be_v attest_v by_o miracle_n since_o the_o doctrine_n of_o scripture_n lie_v in_o heap_n and_o confusion_n answ._n to_o what_o purpose_n shall_v any_o doctrine_n be_v single_v out_o to_o have_v the_o seal_n of_o miracle_n set_v to_o they_o since_o it_o be_v their_o divine_a commission_n to_o teach_v and_o declare_v the_o will_n of_o god_n which_o be_v seal_v by_o it_o and_o what_o they_o do_v so_o teach_v and_o declare_v be_v easy_o know_v by_o their_o write_n 3._o but_o why_o do_v not_o miracle_n still_o continue_v answ._n because_o there_o be_v no_o person_n employ_v to_o teach_v any_o new_a doctrine_n and_o no_o promise_n of_o scripture_n do_v imply_v any_o more_o for_o the_o sign_n which_o be_v to_o follow_v they_o that_o believe_v be_v such_o as_o tend_v to_o the_o first_o confirmation_n of_o the_o christian_a faith_n which_o be_v effect_v their_o use_n cease_v and_o so_o to_o ask_v why_o god_n do_v not_o continue_v a_o gift_n of_o miracle_n to_o convince_v man_n that_o the_o former_a be_v true_a be_v to_o the_o same_o purpose_n as_o to_o ask_v why_o god_n do_v not_o make_v a_o new_a sun_n to_o satisfy_v atheist_n that_o he_o make_v the_o old_a 4._o but_o do_v not_o the_o scripture_n say_v that_o wonder_n be_v not_o always_o to_o be_v take_v as_o confirmation_n of_o the_o truth_n of_o doctrine_n since_o false_a prophet_n may_v work_v wonder_n deuteron_n 13._o 1._o answ._n that_o signify_v no_o more_o than_o that_o wonder_n be_v not_o to_o be_v believe_v against_o the_o principle_n of_o natural_a religion_n or_o reveal_v religion_n already_o confirm_v by_o great_a miracle_n and_o that_o those_o who_o will_v value_v such_o a_o particular_a sign_n above_o all_o the_o series_n of_o miracle_n their_o religion_n be_v first_o establish_v by_o may_v be_v just_o leave_v to_o their_o own_o delusion_n you_o may_v as_o well_o object_v the_o lie_a wonder_n of_o the_o man_n of_o sin_n against_o all_o the_o miracle_n of_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n if_o god_n have_v once_o do_v enough_o to_o convince_v man_n he_o may_v afterward_o just_o leave_v they_o to_o the_o trial_n of_o their_o ingenuity_n as_o a_o father_n that_o have_v use_v great_a care_n to_o make_v his_o son_n understand_v true_a coin_n may_v afterward_o suffer_v false_a to_o be_v lay_v before_o he_o to_o try_v whether_o he_o will_v mind_v his_o be_v cheat_v or_o no_o 5._o but_o you_o may_v yet_o far_o demand_n what_o the_o testimony_n of_o miracle_n do_v signisie_n to_o the_o write_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n answ._n 1._o the_o

give_v the_o great_a testimony_n of_o their_o sincerity_n that_o can_v be_v expect_v from_o they_o and_o that_o no_o matter_n of_o fact_n be_v ever_o better_o attest_v than_o those_o which_o be_v report_v by_o they_o from_o whence_o it_o will_v follow_v that_o it_o be_v not_o reason_n but_o unreasonable_a suspicion_n and_o scepticism_n if_o not_o wilfulness_n and_o obstinacy_n which_o make_v man_n to_o continue_v to_o doubt_v after_o so_o great_a evidence_n 1._o that_o we_o may_v have_v such_o evidence_n of_o matter_n of_o fact_n do_v at_o such_o a_o distance_n of_o time_n as_o may_v oblige_v we_o to_o believe_v the_o truth_n of_o they_o this_o we_o be_v first_o to_o make_v out_o because_o several_a of_o your_o objection_n seem_v to_o imply_v that_o we_o can_v have_v no_o certainty_n of_o such_o thing_n because_o we_o can_v know_v what_o trick_n may_v have_v be_v play_v in_o former_a time_n when_o it_o be_v far_o more_o easy_a to_o deceive_v and_o that_o it_o be_v confess_v there_o have_v be_v several_a fraud_n of_o this_o kind_n which_o have_v a_o long_a time_n prevail_v in_o the_o world_n but_o have_v not_o the_o very_a same_o argument_n be_v use_v against_o all_o religion_n by_o atheist_n and_o if_o the_o cheat_n that_o have_v be_v in_o religion_n have_v no_o force_n against_o the_o be_v of_o god_n why_o shall_v they_o have_v any_o against_o the_o christian_a religion_n and_o if_o the_o common_a consent_n of_o mankind_n signify_v any_o thing_n as_o to_o the_o acknowledgement_n of_o a_o deity_n why_o shall_v not_o the_o testimony_n of_o the_o christian_a church_n so_o circumstantiate_v as_o it_o be_v be_v of_o sufficient_a strength_n to_o receive_v the_o matter_n of_o fact_n deliver_v by_o it_o which_o be_v all_o i_o at_o present_a desire_n do_v we_o question_v any_o of_o the_o story_n deliver_v by_o the_o common_a consent_n of_o greek_a or_o latin_a historian_n although_o we_o have_v only_o the_o bare_a testimony_n of_o those_o historian_n for_o they_o and_o yet_o your_o objection_n will_v lie_v against_o every_o one_o of_o they_o how_o do_v we_o know_v the_o great_a prevalency_n of_o the_o roman_a empire_n be_v it_o not_o deliver_v by_o those_o who_o belong_v to_o it_o and_o be_v concern_v to_o make_v the_o best_a of_o it_o what_o know_v we_o but_o thousand_o of_o history_n have_v be_v lose_v that_o confute_v all_o that_o we_o now_o have_v concern_v the_o greatness_n of_o rome_n what_o know_v we_o but_o that_o rome_n be_v destroy_v by_o carthage_n or_o that_o hanniba●_n quite_o overthrow_v the_o roman_a empire_n or_o that_o catiline_n be_v one_o o●_n the_o best_a man_n in_o the_o world_n because_o all_o our_o present_a historie●_n be_v write_v by_o man_n of_o the_o other_o side_n how_o can_v we_o tell_v bu●_n that_o the_o persian_n destroy_v th●_n macedonian_n because_o all_o our_o account_n of_o alexander_n expedition_n be_v original_o from_o the_o greek_n and_o why_o may_v not_o we_o suspect_v great_a partiality_n in_o all_o these_o case_n when_o the_o writer_n do_v not_o giu_v a_o thousand_o part_n of_o that_o evidenc●_n for_o their_o fidelity_n that_o the_o firs●_o christian_n do_v and_o yet_o wha●_n shall_v we_o think_v of_o such_o a_o person_n who_o shall_v call_v in_o question_n th●_n best_a history_n of_o all_o nation_n because_o they_o be_v write_v by_o thos●_n of_o the_o same_o country_n by_o whic●_n it_o seem_v you_o will_v never_o allow_v any_o competent_a testimony_n at_o all_o for_o if_o such_o thing_n be_v write_v by_o enemy_n and_o stranger_n we_o have_v reason_n to_o suspect_v both_o their_o knowledge_n and_o integrity_n if_o write_v by_o friend_n then_o though_o they_o may_v know_v the_o truth_n yet_o they_o will_v write_v partial_o of_o their_o own_o side_n so_o that_o upon_o this_o principle_n no_o history_n at_o all_o ancient_a or_o modern_a be_v to_o be_v believe_v for_o they_o be_v all_o report_v either_o by_o friend_n or_o enemy_n and_o so_o not_o only_o divine_a but_o all_o humane_a faith_n will_v be_v destroy_v i_o be_o by_o no_o mean_n a_o friend_n to_o unreasonable_a credulity_n but_o i_o be_o as_o little_a to_o unreasonable_a distrust_n and_o suspicion_n if_o the_o one_o be_v folly_n the_o other_o be_v madness_n no_o prudent_a man_n believe_v any_o thing_n because_o it_o be_v possible_a to_o be_v true_a nor_o reject_v any_o thing_n mere_o because_o it_o be_v possible_a to_o be_v false_a but_o it_o be_v the_o prudence_n of_o every_o man_n to_o weigh_v and_o consider_v all_o circumstance_n and_o according_a to_o they_o to_o assent_v or_o dissent_v we_o all_o know_v it_o be_v possible_a for_o man_n to_o deceive_v or_o to_o be_v deceive_v but_o we_o know_v there_o be_v no_o necessity_n of_o either_o and_o that_o there_o be_v such_o a_o thing_n as_o truth_n in_o the_o world_n and_o though_o man_n may_v deceive_v yet_o they_o do_v not_o always_o so_o and_o that_o man_n may_v know_v they_o be_v not_o deceive_v for_o else_o there_o can_v be_v no_o such_o thing_n as_o society_n among_o mankind_n no_o friendship_n or_o trust_v or_o confidence_n in_o the_o word_n of_o another_o person_n because_o it_o be_v possible_a that_o the_o best_a friend_n i_o have_v may_v deceive_v i_o and_o the_o world_n be_v full_a of_o dissimulation_n must_v i_o therefore_o believe_v no_o body_n this_o be_v the_o just_a consequence_n of_o this_o way_n of_o argue_v that_o we_o have_v reason_n to_o suspect_v the_o truth_n of_o these_o matter_n of_o fact_n because_o there_o have_v be_v many_o fraud_n in_o the_o world_n and_o may_v have_v be_v many_o more_o than_o we_o can_v now_o discover_v for_o if_o this_o principle_n be_v pursue_v it_o will_v destroy_v all_o society_n among_o man_n which_o be_v build_v on_o the_o supposition_n of_o mutual_a trust_n and_o confidence_n that_o man_n have_v in_o each_o other_o and_o although_o it_o be_v possible_a for_o all_o man_n to_o deceive_v because_o we_o can_v know_v one_o another_o heart_n yet_o there_o be_v such_o character_n of_o honesty_n and_o fidelity_n in_o some_o person_n that_o other_o dare_v venture_v their_o life_n and_o fortune_n upon_o their_o word_n and_o be_v any_o man_n think_v a_o fool_n for_o do_v so_o nay_o have_v not_o the_o most_o prudent_a and_o sagacious_a man_n repose_v a_o mighty_a confidence_n in_o the_o integrity_n of_o other_o and_o without_o this_o no_o great_a affair_n can_v be_v carry_v on_o in_o the_o world_n for_o since_o the_o great_a person_n need_v the_o help_n of_o other_o to_o manage_v their_o business_n they_o must_v trust_v other_o man_n continual_o and_o every_o man_n put_v his_o life_n into_o the_o hand_n of_o other_o to_o who_o he_o give_v any_o freedom_n of_o access_n and_o especial_o his_o servant_n must_v a_o man_n therefore_o live_v in_o continual_a suspicion_n and_o jealousy_n because_o it_o be_v possible_a he_o may_v be_v deceive_v but_o if_o this_o be_v think_v unreasonable_a than_o we_o gain_v thus_o much_o that_o notwithstanding_o the_o possibility_n of_o deception_n man_n may_v be_v trust_v in_o some_o case_n and_o their_o fidelity_n safe_o rely_v upon_o this_o be_v grant_v we_o be_v to_o inquire_v what_o that_o assurance_n be_v which_o make_v we_o trust_v any_o one_o and_o wherever_o we_o find_v a_o concurrence_n of_o the_o same_o circumstance_n or_o equal_a evidence_n of_o fidelity_n we_o may_v repose_v the_o same_o trust_n or_o confidence_n in_o they_o and_o we_o may_v soon_o find_v that_o it_o be_v not_o any_o one_o bare_a word_n that_o make_v we_o trust_v he_o but_o either_o the_o reputation_n of_o his_o integrity_n among_o discern_a man_n or_o our_o long_a experience_n and_o observation_n of_o he_o this_o latter_a be_v only_o confine_v to_o our_o own_o trial_n but_o the_o former_a be_v more_o general_a and_o reach_n beyond_o our_o own_o age_n since_o we_o may_v have_v the_o testimony_n of_o discern_a person_n convey_v down_o to_o we_o in_o as_o certain_a a_o manner_n as_o we_o can_v know_v the_o mind_n of_o a_o friend_n at_o a_o 100_o miles_n distance_n viz._n by_o write_v and_o in_o this_o case_n we_o desire_v no_o more_o than_o to_o be_v satisfy_v that_o those_o thing_n be_v write_v by_o they_o and_o that_o they_o deserve_v to_o be_v believe_v in_o what_o they_o write_v thus_o if_o any_o one_o will_v be_v satisfy_v about_o the_o passage_n of_o the_o peloponnesian_a war_n and_o have_v hear_v that_o thucydides_n have_v accurate_o write_v it_o he_o have_v no_o more_o to_o do_v than_o to_o inquire_v whether_o this_o thucydides_n be_v capable_a of_o give_v a_o good_a account_n of_o it_o and_o for_o that_o he_o hear_v that_o he_o be_v a_o great_a and_o inquisitive_a person_n that_o live_v in_o that_o age_n and_o know_v all_o the_o occurrence_n of_o it_o and_o when_o he_o be_v satisfy_v of_o that_o his_o next_o enquiry_n be_v whether_o