Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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ID |
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Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
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A70303
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A rational discourse concerning transubstantiation in a letter to a person of honor from a Master of Arts of the University of Cambridge.
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Hutchinson, William, fl. 1676-1679.
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1676
(1676)
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Wing H3838; ESTC R2970
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42,356
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50
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they_o be_v almost_o all_o able_a to_o dispute_v of_o dogm_n to_o who_o when_o their_o gather_n together_o in_o one_o seem_v to_o add_v a_o confidence_n of_o dare_v and_o decree_a something_o from_o themselves_o yet_o notwithstanding_o they_o will_v presume_v nothing_o arrogate_v nothing_o at_o all_o to_o themselves_o but_o take_v all_o possible_a heed_n lest_o they_o shall_v deliver_v to_o their_o posterity_n what_o themselves_o have_v not_o receive_v from_o their_o father_n and_o not_o only_o well_o dispose_v the_o matter_n for_o the_o present_a but_o also_o give_v example_n to_o they_o that_o be_v to_o come_v after_o they_o to_o wit_n that_o they_o shall_v reverence_v the_o dogm_n of_o sacred_a antiquity_n and_o condemn_v adinventa_fw-la the_o additional_a invention_n of_o profane_a novelty_n this_o than_o be_v not_o a_o age_n wherein_o to_o introduce_v new_a doctrine_n into_o the_o church_n nor_o any_o other_o before_o s._n vincent_n for_o he_o tell_v we_o chap._n 9_o mos_fw-la iste_fw-la etc._n etc._n that_o custom_n have_v always_o flourish_v in_o the_o church_n and_o by_o how_o much_o any_o one_o have_v be_v more_o religious_a the_o more_o ready_o have_v he_o oppose_v new_a invention_n we_o have_v hereof_o plenty_n of_o example_n every_o where_o the_o same_o s._n vincent_n witness_n that_o in_o the_o three_o age_n the_o assertor_n of_o rebaptization_n want_v neither_o wit_n nor_o eloquence_n nor_o number_n nor_o verisimilitude_n of_o truth_n nor_o oracle_n of_o the_o divine_a law_n but_o understand_v in_o a_o bad_a and_o new_a manner_n chap._n 9_o and_o 10._o how_o come_v they_o then_o to_o lose_v their_o cause_n s._n stephen_n and_o his_o colleague_n reclaim_v nihil_fw-la novandum_fw-la etc._n etc._n nothing_o be_v to_o be_v innovate_v beside_o what_o have_v be_v deliver_v to_o we_o agrippinus_n bishop_n of_o carthage_n hold_v rebaptisation_n against_o the_o rule_n of_o the_o universal_a church_n against_o the_o sense_n of_o all_o his_o fellow_n priest_n against_o the_o custom_n and_o institution_n of_o his_o ancestor_n and_o hereby_o as_o s._n vincent_n observe_v give_v a_o form_n of_o sacrilege_n to_o all_o heretic_n this_o overthrow_v he_o have_v now_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o real_a presence_n be_v a_o idolatrous_a novelty_n its_o manifest_a no_o introducer_n of_o it_o can_v have_v persuade_v it_o to_o a_o christian_a church_n thus_o principled_a as_o the_o doctor_n of_o these_o time_n be_v they_o will_v all_o unanimous_o have_v reclaim_v nothing_o must_v be_v innovate_v beside_o what_o have_v be_v deliver_v to_o we_o by_o our_o ancestor_n moreover_o that_o the_o christian_a doctrine_n remain_v pure_a and_o incorrupt_a for_o some_o century_n of_o year_n after_o its_o first_o plant_n be_v further_a evince_v by_o consider_v the_o state_n of_o the_o christian_a church_n for_o the_o first_o 300._o year_n to_o wit_n that_o it_o be_v severe_o persecute_v all_o the_o world_n over_o now_o can_v any_o reasonable_a man_n imagine_v that_o they_o who_o be_v continual_o expose_v their_o life_n for_o their_o religion_n will_v if_o they_o can_v agree_v together_o so_o notorious_o to_o change_v it_o as_o to_o make_v themselves_o most_o gross_a idolater_n by_o adore_a bread_n and_o wine_n as_o the_o true_a body_n and_o blood_n of_o their_o creator_n and_o god_n nor_o can_v it_o be_v imagine_v when_o the_o century_n of_o the_o persecute_a state_n of_o the_o church_n be_v end_v that_o the_o christian_n now_o in_o a_o full_a liberty_n of_o profess_v and_o practise_v their_o faith_n will_v all_o on_o the_o sudden_a so_o notorious_o change_v that_o faith_n which_o have_v be_v deliver_v they_o by_o their_o forefather_n who_o have_v seal_v it_o with_o their_o blood_n and_o this_o none_o can_v doubt_v of_o who_o reflect_v how_o tenacious_a all_o man_n kind_n be_v of_o that_o religion_n they_o be_v breed_v up_o in_o in_o so_o much_o as_o let_v any_o one_o consult_v the_o whole_a world_n and_o he_o shall_v never_o find_v so_o much_o as_o one_o nation_n or_o country_n to_o have_v change_v their_o religion_n without_o a_o great_a deal_n of_o â—oise_n and_o difficulty_n and_o a_o considerable_a length_n of_o time_n and_o so_o as_o posterity_n can_v for_o many_o age_n give_v a_o account_n of_o such_o a_o change_n how_o and_o by_o what_o mean_v it_o happen_v so_o as_o to_o satisfy_v any_o rational_a demander_n of_o a_o account_n of_o such_o a_o change_n without_o fly_v to_o imperceptible_a mutation_n by_o little_a and_o little_a but_o when_o or_o by_o who_o no_o account_n be_v to_o be_v give_v the_o usual_a refuge_n of_o our_o adversary_n when_o we_o demand_v of_o they_o how_o not_o one_o country_n but_o all_o the_o christian_a country_n in_o the_o world_n come_v to_o believe_v so_o universal_o this_o strange_a doctrine_n of_o the_o change_n of_o bread_n and_o wine_n into_o our_o b._n saviour_n body_n and_o blood_n the_o whole_a world_n former_o in_o a_o manner_n pagan_a except_o a_o handful_n of_o jew_n be_v now_o become_v christian_n we_o give_v a_o account_n of_o it_o twelve_o man_n divide_v the_o world_n among_o they_o by_o stupendous_a miracle_n a_o holy_a life_n and_o glorious_a death_n convert_v great_a number_n of_o several_a nation_n to_o the_o christian_a faith_n and_o these_o teach_v it_o their_o child_n under_o sharp_a persecution_n for_o some_o three_o hundred_o year_n and_o after_o that_o through_o the_o favour_n of_o emperor_n and_o king_n convert_v to_o be_v christian_n it_o make_v that_o spread_v we_o now_o see_v arrianism_n overran_a a_o great_a part_n of_o the_o christian_a world_n and_o we_o be_v able_a to_o give_v a_o account_n how_o and_o by_o what_o mean_n without_o recur_v to_o imperceptible_a grow_v by_o little_a and_o little_a arrius_n first_o broach_v that_o heresy_n and_o by_o the_o favour_n of_o emperor_n it_o get_v a_o great_a foot_n in_o christendom_n in_o like_a manner_n have_v the_o strange_a doctrine_n of_o transubstantiation_n be_v a_o novel_a invention_n it_o be_v not_o possible_a but_o at_o first_o teach_v it_o must_v needs_o have_v be_v oppose_v and_o can_v not_o have_v so_o overspread_v the_o christian_a world_n in_o the_o nine_o century_n as_o its_o evident_a to_o any_o one_o verse_v in_o ecclesiastical_a history_n it_o do_v without_o great_a preach_v of_o its_o first_o abettor_n and_o strange_a favour_n of_o christian_a prince_n that_o the_o whole_a christian_a world_n for_o the_o first_o six_o hundred_o year_n shall_v be_v whole_o ignorant_a of_o this_o strange_a mysterious_a doctrine_n and_o so_o hard_a to_o be_v believe_v and_o that_o in_o the_o nine_o century_n it_o shall_v be_v general_o believe_v and_o not_o as_o a_o new_a doctrine_n neither_o which_o be_v pretend_v by_o that_o age_n to_o have_v be_v find_v out_o by_o virtue_n of_o great_a light_n by_o read_v the_o holy_a scripture_n etc._n etc._n but_o as_o a_o doctrine_n they_o have_v be_v teach_v from_o their_o forefather_n by_o a_o immemorable_a tradition_n be_v hard_a to_o believe_v than_o the_o mystery_n itself_o to_o any_o judicious_a considerer_n how_o difficult_o as_o i_o hint_v above_o we_o be_v persuade_v to_o leave_v the_o doctrine_n we_o have_v be_v teach_v by_o our_o parent_n from_o our_o childhood_n in_o confirmation_n of_o this_o let_v but_o any_o one_o consider_v the_o state_n of_o our_o own_o country_n about_o the_o year_n 1500_o we_o general_o believe_v and_o adore_v the_o bread_n and_o wine_n in_o the_o h._n eucharist_n as_o our_o b._n saviour_n true_a body_n and_o blood_n now_o it_o be_v confess_v we_o a_o hundred_o for_o one_o believe_v the_o contrary_n but_o how_o be_v this_o new_a faith_n breed_v in_o we_o by_o stop_v the_o mouth_n of_o all_o the_o preacher_n of_o the_o ancient_a mysterious_a doctrine_n and_o by_o persecute_v with_o severe_a law_n all_o professor_n of_o that_o ancient_a faith_n and_o yet_o you_o see_v even_o all_o this_o diligence_n have_v not_o be_v able_a to_o root_v out_o the_o ancient_a belief_n universal_o neither_o much-less_a be_v what_o have_v be_v do_v be_v effect_v so_o without_o noise_n but_o all_o our_o chronicle_n mention_v how_o our_o new_a belief_n be_v wrought_v and_o can_v any_o one_o think_v that_o not_o one_o kingdom_n but_o all_o the_o kingdom_n of_o the_o christian_a world_n can_v be_v bring_v so_o universal_o to_o change_v their_o faith_n without_o any_o mention_n in_o any_o history_n how_o and_o by_o who_o this_o strange_a change_n be_v wrought_v especial_o if_o he_o reflect_v how_o hardly_o human_a nature_n do_v believe_v strange_a thing_n which_o neither_o sense_n nor_o reason_n can_v give_v any_o evidence_n of_o and_o on_o the_o contrary_a how_o easy_o and_o glad_o we_o relinquish_v belief_n which_o have_v be_v impose_v upon_o we_o when_o we_o have_v as_o we_o think_v the_o evidence_n both_o of_o sense_n and_o reason_n for_o our_o change_n all_o which_o notwithstanding_o you_o see_v how_o that_o after_o a_o 150_o
and_o yet_o we_o can_v give_v no_o assure_a credit_n to_o history_n or_o immemorial_n testimony_n of_o whole_a country_n moreover_o we_o find_v by_o the_o experience_n of_o the_o age_n we_o live_v in_o that_o though_o fabulous_a story_n be_v tell_v and_o print_v too_o yet_o we_o easy_o distingnish_v betwixt_o they_o and_o true_a history_n of_o the_o present_a time_n for_o that_o true_a history_n gain_v a_o universal_a credit_n among_o person_n of_o the_o best_a understanding_n and_o the_o historigrapher_n that_o write_v they_o be_v commend_v to_o posterity_n as_o faithful_a witness_n of_o truth_n whereas_o fable_n and_o fiction_n every_o one_o of_o ordinary_a capacity_n look_v upon_o they_o as_o such_o nor_o do_v we_o give_v any_o other_o recommendation_n of_o they_o to_o posterity_n then_o as_o of_o fabulons_a romance_n this_o we_o experience_v in_o the_o present_a age_n person_n of_o humility_n and_o solid_a judgement_n deem_v the_o like_a to_o have_v happen_v in_o the_o day_n of_o their_o forefather_n and_o consequent_o give_v another_o kind_n of_o credit_n to_o story_n how_o strange_a so_o ever_o recount_v by_o a_o s._n bernard_n a_o venerable_a bede_n or_o a_o s._n bonaventure_n than_o they_o do_v to_o the_o fiction_n of_o a_o don_n quixot_n a_o guy_n of_o warwick_n etc._n etc._n and_o he_o that_o will_v consult_v what_o have_v happen_v in_o the_o world_n will_v find_v man_n eye_n and_o other_o sense_n to_o have_v be_v as_o often_o mistake_v as_o he_o will_v find_v whole_a town_n and_o country_n to_o have_v confident_o tell_v a_o lie_n to_o their_o posterity_n which_o they_o evident_o know_v to_o be_v a_o lye_n and_o this_o the_o atheist_n of_o our_o day_n will_v do_v well_o to_o reflect_v on_o when_o they_o so_o senseless_o call_v in_o question_n the_o history_n of_o moses_n or_o book_n of_o exodus_fw-la concern_v the_o wonder_n wrought_v by_o almighty_a god_n in_o egypt_n and_o dr._n n._n n._n too_o must_v one_o day_n give_v a_o sad_a account_n for_o all_o his_o drollery_n as_o merry_a as_o he_o make_v himself_o with_o the_o history_n of_o loretto_n and_o other_o story_n register_v by_o person_n of_o note_a sanctity_n and_o integrity_n and_o will_v he_o reflect_v a_o little_a on_o the_o difficulty_n of_o make_v whole_a country_n believe_v a_o lie_n contrary_a to_o the_o evidence_n of_o their_o sense_n he_o will_v find_v it_o a_o great_a miracle_n that_o the_o whole_a territory_n of_o loretto_n shall_v so_o immemorial_o believe_v so_o great_a a_o lie_n as_o he_o will_v make_v his_o reader_n think_v they_o do_v than_o the_o wonder_n itself_o he_o sacrilegious_o scoff_v at_o to_o wit_n the_o translation_n of_o the_o house_n in_o which_o our_o b._n lord_n be_v conceive_v by_o his_o holy_a mother_n at_o nazareth_n out_o of_o the_o holy_a land_n first_o into_o dalmatia_n and_o then_o afterward_o into_o italy_n let_v the_o dr._n cause_n a_o house_n to_o be_v build_v in_o a_o night_n in_o s._n james_n park_n and_o then_o tell_v the_o citizen_n of_o london_n it_o be_v bring_v thither_o by_o angel_n out_o of_o a_o foreign_a country_n and_o see_v if_o he_o can_v make_v they_o so_o universal_o to_o believe_v it_o as_o they_o shall_v no_o body_n contradict_v make_v their_o posterity_n believe_v as_o much_o and_o i_o persuade_v myself_o he_o may_v with_o the_o same_o ease_n bring_v such_o a_o house_n from_o geneva_n or_o new-england_n in_o a_o night_n as_o make_v the_o numerous_a multitude_n believe_v such_o a_o notorious_a lye_n o_o england_n england_n dear_a native_a soil_n at_o length_n open_v thy_o eye_n and_o acknowledge_v the_o illimited_a goodness_n of_o the_o divine_a majesty_n to_o be_v such_o that_o not_o content_v himself_o with_o give_v we_o prodigy_n of_o sanctity_n for_o the_o first_o planter_n of_o christianity_n and_o with_o confirm_v their_o sublime_a and_o holy_a doctrine_n with_o evident_a sign_n and_o wonder_n he_o be_v ever_o now_o and_o then_o awaken_n the_o drowsy_a world_n with_o a_o s._n dominick_n a_o s._n francis_n or_o a_o s._n xaverius_n and_o cease_v not_o by_o undeniable_a miracle_n to_o confirm_v the_o languish_a faith_n of_o tepid_a christian_n the_o sight_n of_o present_a miracle_n strange_o strengthen_v our_o faith_n of_o wonder_n past_a and_o do_v long_o since_o and_o believe_v it_o it_o be_v a_o next_o disposition_n to_o antichristianism_n and_o atheism_n free_o to_o give_v ourselves_o the_o liberty_n to_o scoff_n at_o all_o miracle_n though_o attest_v by_o never_o so_o grave_a author_n except_o such_o as_o be_v record_v in_o the_o four_o gospel_n and_o to_o laugh_v at_o all_o life_n of_o christian_a saint_n as_o ridiculous_a but_o those_o of_o the_o twelve_o apostle_n though_o to_o a_o impartial_a considerer_n one_o egg_n do_v not_o more_o resemble_v another_o then_o do_v the_o person_n we_o so_o free_o deride_v express_v the_o first_o follower_n of_o our_o dear_a redeemer_n in_o their_o holy_a and_o divine_a conversation_n 4._o consider_v the_o force_n of_o s._n augustine_n argument_n to_o prove_v the_o truth_n of_o christianity_n the_o world_n have_v actual_o submit_v to_o christianity_n as_o to_o a_o religion_n teach_v from_o heaven_n from_o whence_o the_o saint_n argue_v thus_o the_o world_n believe_v the_o high_a mysterious_a doctrine_n of_o christianity_n either_o upon_o miracle_n wrought_v by_o the_o first_o teacher_n of_o they_o or_o without_o miracle_n if_o upon_o miracle_n than_o you_o who_o doubt_n have_v reason_n also_o to_o believe_v they_o or_o if_o the_o world_n submit_v their_o faith_n to_o believe_v such_o strange_a mystery_n without_o any_o miracle_n this_o be_v the_o great_a miracle_n of_o all_o that_o such_o vast_a multitude_n and_o innumerable_a of_o these_o of_o ripe_a judgement_n and_o quick_a understanding_n shall_v believe_v such_o strange_a thing_n upon_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o proposer_n without_o a_o miracle_n apply_v this_o to_o our_o present_a mystery_n two_o hundred_o year_n ago_o the_o whole_a christian_a world_n believe_v the_o h._n eucharist_n to_o be_v our_o b._n saviour_n body_n and_o adore_v it_o as_o such_o hereupon_o i_o argue_v these_o vast_a multitude_n and_o many_o of_o they_o of_o great_a learning_n and_o judgement_n begin_v to_o believe_v this_o strange_a mystery_n either_o for_o miracle_n wrought_v by_o the_o first_o teacher_n of_o it_o or_o without_o miracle_n if_o upon_o miracle_n than_o you_o ought_v to_o believe_v it_o also_o if_o without_o miracle_n this_o be_v the_o great_a miracle_n of_o all_o that_o such_o vast_a multitude_n and_o these_o innumerable_a of_o they_o well_o cultivate_v with_o learning_n beside_o their_o natural_a ripeness_n of_o judgement_n and_o sharpness_n of_o wit_n shall_v believe_v so_o strange_a a_o mystery_n without_o any_o miracle_n wrought_v by_o those_o who_o first_o demand_v their_o belief_n of_o it_o final_o consider_v with_o yourself_o how_o many_o million_o there_o be_v who_o believe_v this_o mystery_n and_o will_v soon_o part_v with_o their_o life_n then_o their_o faith_n of_o it_o and_o these_o if_o you_o have_v the_o least_o grain_n of_o humility_n such_o as_o you_o have_v reason_n to_o think_v they_o of_o as_o good_a learning_n wit_n and_o judgement_n as_o yourself_o add_v as_o good_a christian_n as_o yourself_o for_o either_o piety_n to_o god_n or_o charity_n to_o their_o indigent_a neighbour_n or_o mortification_n to_o themselves_o imagine_v you_o see_v all_o these_o as_o holy_a and_o as_o wise_a as_o yourself_o in_o the_o several_a christian_a country_n of_o the_o whole_a world_n all_o upon_o their_o knee_n adore_v a_o seem_a wafer-cake_n as_o their_o creator_n and_o god_n bishop_n priest_n doctor_n of_o divinity_n in_o vast_a number_n king_n and_o prince_n man_n and_o woman_n of_o all_o degree_n and_o condition_n and_o can_v you_o now_o think_v all_o these_o people_n to_o be_v in_o their_o wit_n and_o not_o have_v some_o strong_a reason_n and_o argument_n which_o induce_v they_o to_o such_o a_o faith_n and_o such_o a_o practice_n have_v you_o and_o i_o be_v in_o the_o stable_a of_o bethlehem_n in_o the_o night_n of_o our_o lord_n nativity_n and_o s._n joseph_n shall_v have_v tell_v we_o that_o the_o little_a infant_n we_o see_v there_o suck_v his_o mother_n breast_n be_v the_o maker_n of_o heaven_n and_o earth_n we_o shall_v no_o doubt_n have_v find_v great_a difficulty_n to_o believe_v he_o but_o shall_v we_o have_v stay_v there_o a_o while_n and_o have_v see_v the_o shepherd_n come_v in_o and_o fall_v down_o upon_o their_o knee_n before_o he_o by_o the_o admonition_n as_o they_o pretend_v of_o a_o angel_n that_o have_v appear_v to_o they_o as_o they_o be_v keep_v watch_n over_o their_o flock_n this_o doubtless_o will_v a_o little_a have_v incline_v we_o to_o think_v that_o at_o least_o there_o be_v something_o extraordinary_a in_o the_o new_a bear_v babe_n but_o have_v we_o stay_v till_o the_o come_n of_o the_o three_o king_n