Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A66484
|
An address to those of the Roman communion in England occasioned by the late act of Parliament, for the further preventing the growth of popery.
|
Willis, Richard, 1664-1734.
|
1700
(1700)
|
Wing W2815; ESTC R7811
|
45,628
|
170
|
very_a proper_a occasion_n to_o mention_v st._n peter_n authority_n if_o he_o have_v any_o such_o as_o they_o boast_v of_o as_o you_o may_v see_v 1_o eph._n chap._n 1._o now_o this_o i_o say_v that_o every_o one_o of_o you_o say_v i_o be_o of_o paul_n and_o i_o of_o apollo_n and_o i_o of_o cephas_n or_o peter_n and_o i_o of_o christ_n be_v christ_n divide_v or_o be_v paul_n crucify_a for_o you_o etc._n etc._n those_o people_n certain_o know_v nothing_o of_o st._n peter_n supremacy_n nor_o st._n paul_n neither_o otherwise_o he_o will_v hardly_o have_v omit_v to_o tell_v they_o of_o such_o a_o infallible_a cure_n for_o their_o division_n in_o the_o epistle_n of_o st._n paul_n to_o the_o galatian_n we_o have_v many_o argument_n against_o st._n peter_n pretend_a supremacy_n st._n paul_n tell_v we_o there_o that_o he_o have_v no_o superior_a that_o he_o have_v his_o authority_n from_o none_o but_o christ_n ch._n 1.17_o he_o compare_v himself_o with_o st._n peter_n and_o say_v that_o the_o ministry_n of_o the_o uncircumcision_n be_v commit_v to_o he_o as_o the_o ministry_n of_o the_o circumcision_n be_v unto_o peter_n ch._n 2._o v._n 7._o he_o mention_n st._n peter_n as_o of_o the_o same_o authority_n with_o james_n and_o john_n when_o james_n cephas_n and_o john_n who_o seem_v to_o be_v pillar_n verse_n the_o 9th_o and_o a_o little_a further_o he_o tell_v we_o how_o he_o open_o withstand_v peter_n to_o the_o face_n because_o he_o be_v to_o be_v blame_v all_o these_o thing_n may_v be_v urge_v at_o large_a but_o i_o content_v myself_o only_o tomention_v they_o but_o from_o all_o together_o i_o think_v i_o may_v well_o conclude_v that_o this_o promise_n of_o our_o saviour_n do_v not_o intend_v st._n peter_n any_o power_n over_o the_o rest_n of_o the_o apostle_n and_o consequent_o not_o any_o to_o his_o successor_n if_o he_o have_v any_o over_o the_o bishop_n of_o the_o christian_a church_n who_o be_v successor_n of_o the_o apostle_n in_o general_a though_o we_o do_v not_o deny_v but_o st._n peter_n have_v a_o power_n over_o the_o whole_a church_n but_o only_o as_o the_o rest_n of_o the_o apostle_n have_v who_o care_n and_o consequent_o authority_n be_v not_o consign_v to_o particular_a church_n as_o it_o be_v think_v fit_a in_o order_n to_o the_o better_a government_n of_o the_o church_n that_o the_o authority_n of_o bishop_n shall_v be_v since_o but_o be_v leave_v at_o large_a and_o unconfined_a as_o to_o any_o certain_a limit_n either_o of_o person_n or_o place_n but_o suppose_v it_o shall_v be_v grant_v that_o st._n peter_n have_v such_o power_n as_o they_o affirm_v he_o have_v yet_o there_o be_v not_o one_o word_n in_o scripture_n about_o a_o successor_n or_o about_o the_o vast_a privilege_n of_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n in_o this_o point_n and_o in_o truth_n there_o be_v as_o little_a evidence_n in_o the_o history_n of_o the_o church_n for_o many_o age_n of_o this_o pretend_a authority_n of_o the_o bishop_n of_o rome_n as_o there_o be_v in_o the_o scripture_n rome_n be_v at_o the_o time_n of_o the_o plant_v the_o christian_a religion_n a_o vast_a city_n and_o the_o head_n of_o a_o very_a great_a empire_n this_o must_v of_o itself_o give_v the_o bishop_n of_o it_o a_o great_a influence_n in_o the_o affair_n of_o the_o church_n which_o be_v almost_o all_o within_o the_o roman_a empire_n this_o make_v all_o sort_n of_o communication_n with_o he_o easy_a by_o mean_n of_o the_o mighty_a refort_n that_o be_v make_v from_o all_o part_n to_o the_o tall_a city_n and_o greatness_n of_o his_o see_n do_v in_o course_n of_o time_n bring_v great_a riches_n to_o it_o and_o if_o we_o add_v to_o this_o that_o it_o be_v honour_v by_o the_o preach_a and_o martyrdom_n of_o two_o great_a apostle_n st._n peter_n and_o st._n paul_n we_o see_v plain_a reason_n why_o the_o bishop_n of_o rome_n be_v likely_a to_o make_v a_o great_a figure_n in_o the_o church_n but_o as_o for_o real_a authority_n such_o as_o be_v now_o pretend_a there_o do_v not_o appear_v any_o footstep_n of_o it_o for_o several_a age_n as_o for_o speculative_a opinion_n we_o may_v not_o perhaps_o have_v so_o certain_a a_o account_n of_o they_o so_o long_o after_o unless_o of_o those_o which_o by_o some_o accident_n or_o other_o come_v to_o be_v dispute_v but_o government_n be_v a_o practical_a thing_n and_o there_o happen_v every_o day_n occasion_n to_o exercise_v it_o especial_o the_o government_n of_o the_o whole_a church_n and_o if_o the_o pope_n have_v be_v from_o the_o beginning_n what_o he_o pretend_v to_o be_v and_o what_o he_o now_o make_v himself_o his_o power_n can_v have_v be_v no_o more_o a_o matter_n of_o controversy_n than_o it_o can_v be_v make_v a_o controversy_n whether_o there_o be_v any_o christian_a church_n for_o the_o same_o history_n that_o clear_v the_o one_o must_v at_o the_o same_o time_n clear_a the_o other_o the_o old_a body_n of_o history_n of_o the_o christian_a church_n be_v that_o of_o eusebius_n which_o contain_v a_o account_n of_o the_o affair_n of_o it_o for_o above_o 300_o year_n now_o if_o the_o pope_n be_v monarch_n of_o the_o church_n for_o those_o 300_o year_n we_o can_v no_o more_o miss_v to_o see_v it_o in_o that_o history_n than_o we_o can_v read_v any_o history_n of_o england_n for_o such_o a_o number_n of_o year_n and_o be_v uncertain_a whether_o we_o have_v here_o any_o king_n or_o no_o for_o so_o long_a a_o time_n no_o history_n hardly_o can_v be_v conceive_v so_o faulty_a or_o imperfect_a as_o to_o leave_v such_o a_o matter_n a_o secret_a or_o uncertain_a and_o yet_o i_o will_v challenge_v any_o indifferent_a person_n to_o read_v that_o history_n over_o and_o to_o show_v i_o but_o any_o one_o thing_n in_o it_o from_o which_o it_o can_v be_v probable_o infer_v that_o the_o bishop_n of_o rome_n be_v the_o governor_n of_o the_o whole_a church_n whereas_o be_v it_o true_o so_o there_o must_v have_v be_v something_o of_o it_o in_o almost_o every_o page_n because_o all_o the_o business_n of_o the_o church_n must_v in_o a_o manner_n roll_n upon_o he_o he_o must_v be_v the_o person_n appeal_v to_o in_o almost_o all_o difficulty_n we_o must_v have_v find_v his_o decree_n in_o all_o the_o great_a affair_n that_o pass_v his_o decretal_a epistle_n must_v have_v be_v intersperse_v up_o and_o down_o in_o the_o whole_a work_n his_o authority_n must_v have_v put_v a_o end_n to_o all_o schism_n and_o heresy_n or_o at_o least_o their_o rebellion_n against_o he_o must_v have_v be_v reckon_v as_o one_o great_a part_n of_o their_o crime_n in_o a_o word_n as_o i_o say_v before_o the_o thing_n must_v have_v appear_v as_o plain_a as_o that_o there_o be_v any_o king_n in_o england_n for_o these_o last_o 300_o year_n next_o to_o that_o history_n the_o most_o likely_a place_n to_o find_v his_o authority_n if_o he_o have_v any_o be_v in_o the_o work_v of_o st._n cyprian_n which_o contain_v more_o of_o the_o ancient_a discipline_n and_o government_n of_o the_o church_n than_o be_v to_o be_v find_v in_o any_o other_o old_a author_n especial_o if_o we_o add_v further_o that_o a_o great_a part_n of_o his_o work_n be_v only_a letter_n to_o or_o from_o bishop_n of_o rome_n we_o can_v not_o but_o see_v in_o such_o a_o number_n of_o letter_n whether_o he_o write_v to_o his_o sovereign_n or_o not_o we_o shall_v see_v it_o in_o the_o title_n which_o he_o give_v he_o in_o his_o style_n in_o the_o deference_n which_o he_o pay_v he_o in_o short_a the_o whole_a will_v some_o how_o or_o other_o show_n that_o it_o be_v his_o superior_a he_o be_v write_v to_o but_o now_o the_o contrary_a to_o this_o be_v true_a he_o never_o speak_v to_o he_o or_o of_o he_o in_o his_o letter_n to_o other_o people_n but_o by_o the_o name_n of_o brother_n he_o free_o censure_v he_o and_o his_o opinion_n just_a as_o he_o will_v do_v by_o any_o other_o man_n and_o with_o as_o little_a deference_n or_o respect_n and_o he_o final_o differ_v from_o he_o in_o a_o matter_n of_o great_a consequence_n that_o of_o rebaptising_a heretic_n and_o call_v council_n of_o the_o clergy_n and_o raise_v a_o great_a party_n against_o he_o in_o it_o and_o yet_o be_v never_o that_o i_o have_v hear_v of_o charge_v either_o with_o rebellion_n or_o schism_n or_o heresy_n upon_o that_o account_n but_o be_v to_o this_o day_n repute_v a_o saint_n in_o heaven_n to_o conclude_v this_o matter_n the_o whole_a discipline_n of_o the_o ancient_a universal_a church_n plain_o show_v that_o the_o government_n of_o it_o be_v a_o aristocracy_n especial_o that_o strict_a account_n that_o bishop_n be_v to_o give_v to_o their_o fellow_n bishop_n up_o and_o down_o the_o world_n of_o their_o ordination_n and_o their_o faith_n and_o other_o matter_n in_o
of_o the_o former_a for_o it_o will_v be_v very_o difficult_a to_o show_v how_o the_o church_n can_v exert_v its_o infallibility_n so_o as_o to_o be_v a_o guide_n but_o either_o by_o mean_n of_o its_o head_n which_o you_o make_v the_o pope_n or_o else_o by_o the_o way_n of_o a_o general_n council_n there_o be_v no_o other_o way_n whereby_o those_o of_o your_o communion_n can_v be_v certain_a what_o be_v the_o doctrine_n and_o what_o be_v the_o tradition_n of_o your_o church_n but_o one_o of_o these_o and_o therefore_o have_v consider_v both_o of_o they_o already_o i_o shall_v proceed_v to_o consider_v the_o way_n of_o reason_v your_o divine_n common_o make_v use_v of_o to_o prove_v that_o there_o either_o be_v or_o aught_o to_o be_v such_o a_o infallible_a judge_n as_o for_o what_o they_o say_v from_o scripture_n it_o be_v common_o urge_v so_o cold_o and_o with_o so_o much_o diffidence_n that_o we_o may_v see_v they_o do_v not_o lay_v any_o great_a stress_n upon_o it_o but_o that_o you_o may_v not_o be_v amuse_v only_o with_o some_o general_a word_n in_o truth_n nothing_o to_o the_o purpose_n i_o desire_v you_o will_v consider_v that_o there_o be_v no_o infallibility_n which_o can_v serve_v to_o be_v your_o guide_n but_o only_o that_o of_o the_o pope_n or_o a_o general_n council_n nothing_o from_o scripture_n can_v be_v pertinent_a but_o that_o which_o prove_v either_o the_o one_o or_o the_o other_o no_o man_n or_o number_n of_o man_n can_v be_v infallible_a without_o a_o particular_a assistance_n and_o we_o can_v be_v sure_a they_o be_v so_o without_o a_o particular_a promise_n and_o therefore_o when_o you_o hear_v any_o thing_n allege_v from_o scripture_n only_o ask_v yourselves_o what_o do_v this_o prove_v do_v it_o prove_v the_o pope_n to_o be_v infallible_a or_o do_v it_o prove_v a_o general_n council_n to_o be_v so_o if_o it_o do_v not_o prove_v one_o of_o they_o it_o prove_v nothing_o in_o this_o matter_n for_o you_o be_v never_o the_o near_a your_o guide_n for_o any_o thing_n else_o now_o as_o to_o general_a council_n i_o have_v show_v already_o that_o there_o be_v not_o the_o least_o hint_n of_o they_o in_o scripture_n and_o as_o for_o the_o title_n of_o the_o pope_n to_o it_o i_o shall_v consider_v it_o present_o in_o examine_v his_o supremacy_n and_o in_o the_o mean_a time_n shall_v take_v notice_n a_o little_a what_o they_o urge_v from_o reason_n to_o prove_v that_o there_o ought_v to_o be_v such_o a_o judge_n aught_o to_o be_v i_o say_v for_o all_o the_o reason_n in_o the_o world_n without_o a_o revelation_n from_o god_n can_v never_o prove_v that_o there_o be_v one_o it_o be_v a_o thing_n that_o depend_v mere_o upon_o the_o appoinment_n and_o good-pleasure_n of_o god_n the_o writer_n of_o the_o romish_a church_n it_o must_v be_v confess_v talk_v plausible_o enough_o when_o they_o expose_v the_o weakness_n of_o human_a understanding_n and_o the_o infirmity_n of_o human_a nature_n and_o i_o must_v say_v that_o in_o read_v of_o they_o i_o can_v hardly_o forbear_v at_o least_o to_o wish_v that_o if_o it_o have_v please_v god_n some_o effectual_a remedy_n have_v be_v provide_v to_o secure_a man_n from_o error_n but_o this_o do_v not_o at_o all_o influence_n i_o to_o think_v that_o god_n have_v do_v so_o and_o that_o upon_o these_o three_o account_n 1._o because_o we_o see_v in_o fact_n that_o neither_o mankind_n in_o general_n nor_o christian_n in_o particular_a have_v be_v secure_v from_o error_n that_o there_o have_v be_v as_o many_o contest_v and_o difference_n among_o christian_n as_o we_o can_v suppose_v there_o will_v have_v be_v take_v it_o for_o grant_v that_o they_o be_v leave_v in_o the_o state_n we_o say_v they_o be_v without_o any_o infallible_a guide_n to_o direct_v they_o and_o therefore_o whatever_o force_n such_o a_o consideration_n from_o the_o necessity_n of_o end_v controversy_n may_v have_v have_v in_o the_o first_o time_n of_o our_o religion_n the_o matter_n of_o fact_n do_v now_o in_o a_o great_a measure_n take_v it_o off_o because_o in_o 1700_o year_n the_o church_n have_v not_o be_v free_v from_o they_o from_o whence_o as_o i_o say_v before_o we_o may_v infer_v either_o that_o it_o be_v not_o the_o will_n of_o god_n that_o controversy_n shall_v be_v end_v or_o that_o a_o infallible_a judge_n will_v not_o end_v they_o or_o that_o there_o be_v no_o infallible_a judge_n either_o of_o which_o take_v away_o the_o force_n of_o this_o argument_n 2._o because_o this_o whole_a way_n of_o argue_v from_o the_o weakness_n of_o our_o understanding_n and_o proness_n to_o error_n and_o the_o like_a prove_v nothing_o in_o particular_a and_o consequent_o do_v not_o bring_v we_o at_o all_o near_a satisfaction_n than_o we_o be_v before_o the_o most_o natural_a inference_n from_o it_o be_v that_o every_o man_n be_v to_o be_v of_o the_o religion_n of_o his_o country_n for_o that_o make_v through_o work_n and_o excuse_n we_o from_o use_v our_o fallible_a reason_n at_o all_o in_o the_o matter_n whereas_o in_o your_o way_n however_o you_o may_v cry_v out_o of_o the_o uncertainty_n of_o our_o own_o reason_n yet_o you_o must_v use_v it_o in_o a_o great_a many_o material_a point_n and_o indeed_o find_v all_o the_o certainty_n you_o have_v upon_o it_o you_o must_v for_o instance_n judge_n by_o your_o own_o reason_n whether_o the_o christian_a religion_n be_v true_a or_o not_o whether_o among_o all_o the_o professor_n of_o christianity_n you_o be_v the_o true_a church_n whether_o there_o be_v any_o infallible_a judge_n or_o no_o and_o who_o he_o be_v and_o what_o his_o determination_n be_v these_o be_v thing_n of_o great_a weight_n and_o of_o a_o great_a latitude_n and_o indeed_o take_v in_o the_o chief_a point_n of_o religion_n and_o yet_o these_o thing_n must_v be_v judge_v of_o by_o that_o reason_n which_o god_n have_v give_v every_o man_n or_o they_o can_v be_v judge_v of_o at_o all_o whereas_o your_o whole_a way_n of_o argue_v from_o the_o fallibility_n of_o our_o understanding_n either_o prove_v that_o we_o can_v judge_v with_o certainty_n of_o these_o matter_n or_o it_o prove_v nothing_o 3._o this_o whole_a way_n of_o talk_v be_v to_o i_o a_o strong_a prejudice_n against_o what_o you_o will_v prove_v by_o it_o for_o if_o you_o have_v a_o plain_a institution_n or_o a_o promise_n of_o such_o a_o judge_n to_o show_v there_o will_v be_v no_o need_n of_o this_o argue_n that_o will_v be_v sufficient_a and_o without_o that_o no_o man_n can_v be_v infallible_a and_o we_o may_v be_v sure_a that_o man_n have_v no_o such_o commission_n or_o promise_n to_o show_v when_o they_o be_v force_v to_o use_v so_o much_o cavil_v and_o dispute_v about_o the_o matter_n which_o be_v indeed_o nothing_o to_o the_o purpose_n without_o the_o other_o we_o do_v with_o much_o more_o reason_n infer_v that_o since_o god_n have_v not_o think_v fit_a to_o give_v any_o such_o commission_n that_o therefore_o we_o must_v make_v the_o best_a of_o those_o other_o mean_n which_o he_o be_v please_v to_o allow_v we_o to_o search_v the_o scripture_n and_o endeavour_v to_o understand_v they_o as_o well_o as_o we_o can_v and_o this_o be_v the_o method_n that_o our_o saviour_n direct_v search_v the_o scripture_n for_o in_o they_o you_o think_v you_o have_v eternal_a life_n and_o they_o testify_v of_o i_o from_o which_o word_n we_o may_v plain_o infer_v these_o follow_a thing_n 1._o that_o the_o jew_n have_v at_o that_o time_n no_o infallible_a guide_n in_o matter_n of_o religion_n for_o if_o they_o have_v our_o saviour_n will_v have_v direct_v they_o thither_o but_o we_o see_v he_o direct_v they_o to_o the_o scripture_n 2._o we_o may_v infer_v that_o the_o person_n our_o saviour_n speak_v to_o have_v without_o a_o infallible_a guide_n sufficient_a ability_n to_o understand_v the_o scripture_n and_o to_o have_v true_a faith_n otherwise_o we_o may_v be_v sure_o he_o will_v not_o have_v send_v they_o thither_o and_o if_o they_o can_v understand_v the_o old_a testament_n without_o such_o a_o guide_n much_o more_o may_v christian_n understand_v the_o new_a which_o be_v much_o easy_a 3._o we_o may_v infer_v that_o private_a person_n for_o such_o our_o saviour_n speak_v to_o may_v have_v sufficient_a assurance_n of_o divine_a truth_n from_o examine_v the_o scripture_n though_o they_o go_v against_o the_o governor_n of_o the_o church_n for_o our_o saviour_n tell_v they_o that_o they_o may_v find_v in_o the_o scripture_n that_o he_o be_v the_o true_a messiah_n though_o the_o chief_a priest_n do_v at_o that_o time_n reject_v he_o and_o be_v afterward_o the_o author_n of_o his_o crucifixion_n all_o which_o do_v absolute_o overthrow_v the_o necessity_n of_o a_o infallible_a judge_n in_o order_n to_o true_a faith_n and_o there_o can_v be_v one_o thing_n say_v against_o