Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	prove_v	sense_n	true_a	4,551	5	6.4241	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A33459	A treatise of humane reason	Clifford, M. (Martin), d. 1677.	1674 (1674)	Wing C4707; ESTC R21053	22,005	94

shall_v direct_v you_o to_o forsake_v your_o christian-belief_n for_o which_o the_o devil_n do_v not_o want_v such_o pleasant_a colour_n and_o specious_a fallacy_n as_o may_v possible_o deceive_v even_o a_o good_a understanding_n before_o i_o answer_v this_o objection_n i_o desire_v to_o know_v of_o he_o that_o make_v it_o what_o it_o be_v for_o something_o it_o must_v be_v which_o he_o place_n in_o the_o same_o ecclesiastical_a superiority_n that_o i_o do_v reason_n the_o private_a spirit_n what_o if_o that_o shall_v persuade_v he_o to_o this_o apostasy_n it_o can_v not_o indeed_o if_o it_o be_v true_a but_o the_o same_o condition_n will_v make_v reason_n as_o infallible_a as_o that_o and_o i_o may_v as_o well_o judge_v of_o the_o truth_n of_o the_o one_o as_o you_o of_o the_o other_o what_o be_v it_o then_o you_o will_v trust_v your_o soul_n with_o in_o this_o important_a business_n be_v it_o the_o authority_n of_o man_n these_o very_o may_v lead_v you_o into_o error_n and_o it_o be_v not_o impossible_a into_o the_o great_a and_o worst_a of_o all_o which_o be_v the_o desertion_n of_o christ_n himself_n not_o that_o this_o be_v likely_a to_o happen_v neither_o more_o probable_a be_v it_o that_o our_o reason_n shall_v so_o far_o misguide_v we_o but_o alas_o in_o this_o affair_n of_o so_o vast_a and_o so_o eternal_a consequence_n what_o security_n can_v we_o assume_v whilst_o there_o remain_v a_o possibility_n of_o miscarriage_n and_o this_o possibility_n be_v evident_a for_o let_v we_o consider_v it_o in_o a_o council_n which_o if_o there_o be_v any_o assurance_n in_o the_o number_n of_o man_n be_v that_o where_o most_o probable_o it_o may_v be_v find_v i_o will_v not_o here_o reckon_v up_o the_o many_o error_n which_o great_a and_o famous_a council_n have_v fall_v into_o themselves_o and_o labour_v to_o establish_v in_o other_o they_o be_v many_o and_o notorious_a but_o certain_o if_o a_o council_n can_v take_v away_o the_o satisfaction_n of_o christ_n death_n and_o divinity_n of_o his_o person_n as_o be_v do_v by_o that_o great_a one_o of_o the_o arrian_n which_o condemn_v athanasius_n not_o without_o the_o approbation_n of_o the_o pope_n and_o the_o whole_a world_n beside_o a_o council_n have_v already_o do_v that_o thing_n which_o you_o affirm_v impossible_a for_o it_o to_o do_v for_o they_o who_o believe_v christ_n to_o come_v into_o the_o world_n as_o a_o example_n and_o pattern_n only_o of_o holiness_n be_v no_o more_o to_o be_v call_v christian_n than_o abrahamist_n or_o davidists_n if_o you_o will_v here_o contend_v that_o even_o these_o man_n desert_v not_o whole_o christianity_n as_o a_o man_n may_v do_v by_o the_o impulsion_n of_o his_o own_o private_a reason_n yet_o certain_o you_o will_v confess_v that_o they_o who_o fall_v so_o far_o into_o error_n may_v as_o well_o have_v sink_v deep_a and_o exalt_v some_o other_o prophet_n above_o christ_n as_o well_o as_o make_v christ_n to_o be_v but_o a_o prophet_n and_o this_o possibility_n of_o error_n even_o in_o so_o high_a a_o degree_n we_o shall_v find_v in_o the_o nature_n and_o very_a element_n of_o a_o council_n for_o if_o any_o one_o member_n of_o it_o may_v be_v a_o heathen_a or_o atheist_n in_o opinion_n as_o the_o life_n of_o many_o pope_n and_o the_o speech_n of_o some_o declare_v that_o they_o themselves_o have_v be_v why_o not_o two_o not_o three_o not_o more_o not_o the_o major_a part_n that_o be_v the_o whole_a council_n from_o the_o sanction_n of_o the_o 2_o ●_o nicene_n council_n which_o establish_v the_o worship_n of_o image_n how_o easy_a a_o step_n be_v there_o make_v for_o the_o next_o to_o the_o introduction_n of_o a_o full_a undisguised_a and_o heathenish_a idolatry_n which_o we_o must_v not_o say_v can_v not_o because_o by_o the_o mercy_n of_o god_n it_o do_v not_o happen_v and_o i_o very_o believe_v if_o god_n have_v not_o stir_v up_o some_o person_n of_o excellent_a ability_n and_o worthy_a spirit_n for_o such_o sure_a they_o be_v though_o not_o exempt_v from_o humane_a weakness_n to_o examine_v by_o the_o rule_n of_o their_o own_o reason_n those_o folly_n and_o dangerous_a error_n in_o religion_n which_o partly_o by_o the_o interest_n partly_o by_o the_o ignorance_n of_o man_n and_o insensible_a advance_n of_o ill_a custom_n be_v blind_o embrace_v by_o the_o whole_a world_n if_o these_o man_n i_o say_v have_v not_o discover_v the_o past_a error_n and_o by_o that_o mean_v make_v their_o adversary_n more_o cautious_a not_o to_o fall_v into_o any_o new_a one_o the_o world_n through_o the_o adoration_n of_o saint_n and_o image_n and_o the_o boundless_a increase_n of_o vain_a and_o superstitious_a ceremony_n will_v have_v pass_v before_o this_o time_n to_o its_o old_a and_o abominable_a worship_n of_o several_a deity_n and_o to_o a_o religion_n overwhelm_v if_o not_o with_o the_o same_o yet_o with_o as_o many_o and_o as_o vain_a impiety_n it_o remain_v therefore_o that_o you_o put_v your_o confidence_n rather_o in_o the_o tradition_n of_o the_o former_a than_o the_o command_v of_o the_o present_a church_n but_o what_o those_o be_v you_o must_v either_o trust_v some_o number_n of_o man_n present_a which_o be_v not_o without_o the_o possibility_n of_o be_v misguide_v or_o your_o own_o search_n and_o diligence_n which_o be_v to_o fall_v into_o that_o opinion_n which_o you_o condemn_v in_o i_o and_o true_o they_o who_o build_v their_o belief_n whole_o upon_o the_o authority_n of_o past_a or_o present_a age_n if_o they_o look_v upon_o all_o the_o consequence_n of_o that_o opinion_n be_v in_o much_o great_a danger_n of_o be_v draw_v from_o the_o christian_a faith_n than_o those_o who_o remit_v the_o judgement_n of_o these_o thing_n to_o their_o own_o reason_n for_o ever_o since_o the_o begin_n of_o the_o christian_a belief_n there_o have_v be_v the_o authority_n of_o above_o a_o hundred_o to_o one_o against_o it_o and_o this_o authority_n back_v and_o strengthen_v with_o the_o universal_a agreement_n of_o more_o than_o three_o thousand_o year_n before_o it_o but_o on_o the_o contrary_a if_o we_o weigh_v impartial_o the_o motive_n and_o argument_n which_o every_o religion_n can_v produce_v in_o its_o own_o defence_n reason_n itself_o will_v find_v more_o and_o much_o great_a for_o the_o christian_a than_o it_o can_v for_o any_o other_o belief_n whatsoever_o and_o i_o be_o very_o confident_a that_o no_o man_n ever_o from_o a_o christian_a become_v a_o turk_n or_o a_o jew_n because_o his_o reason_n tell_v he_o that_o be_v a_o better_a religion_n but_o because_o either_o fear_n of_o punishment_n or_o hope_n of_o reward_n or_o some_o other_o sinister_a cause_n persuade_v his_o reason_n that_o the_o worst_a religion_n in_o itself_o will_v be_v the_o better_a to_o he_o upon_o those_o condition_n now_o all_o those_o argument_n by_o which_o some_o man_n have_v labour_v to_o prove_v that_o our_o guide_n in_o spiritual_a matter_n ought_v to_o be_v infallible_a will_n though_o they_o be_v grant_v for_o true_a as_o i_o believe_v in_o some_o sense_n they_o be_v will_v not_o at_o all_o dispossess_v reason_n of_o this_o authority_n which_o we_o have_v declare_v to_o be_v her_o due_a for_o the_o infallibility_n of_o a_o guide_n i_o conceive_v to_o be_v only_o this_o that_o it_o can_v fail_v to_o bring_v we_o to_o that_o end_n for_o which_o we_o choose_v to_o be_v guide_v by_o it_o and_o if_o to_o this_o end_n there_o happen_v to_o be_v a_o thousand_o several_a way_n it_o be_v a_o guide_n no_o less_o infallible_a as_o to_o the_o end_n if_o it_o lead_v we_o through_o a_o long_a a_o unpleasant_a and_o obscure_a tract_n than_o if_o it_o conduct_v we_o by_o a_o short_a a_o delightful_a and_o a_o open_a road_n for_o not_o the_o goodness_n of_o the_o passage_n but_o certainty_n of_o not_o miss_v the_o end_n be_v that_o which_o constitute_v this_o kind_n of_o infallibility_n and_o true_o every_o man_n particular_a reason_n if_o well_o follow_v for_o whatsoever_o guide_v you_o pitch_n upon_o whether_o scripture_n spirit_n church_n past_a or_o present_a or_o any_o thing_n else_o imaginable_a must_v have_v that_o condition_n annex_v or_o else_o it_o will_v become_v unprofitable_a will_v infallible_o carry_v he_o at_o last_o though_o perhaps_o through_o many_o tedious_a and_o troublesome_a wander_n to_o his_o eternal_a happiness_n if_o it_o be_v follow_v for_o that_o condition_n can_v be_v repeat_v too_o often_o with_o constancy_n diligence_n and_o sobriety_n this_o doctrine_n set_v the_o great_a gate_n of_o heaven_n so_o wide_o open_a that_o it_o will_v displease_v those_o man_n who_o with_o a_o envious_a kind_n of_o pride_n think_v it_o more_o honour_n to_o enter_v in_o with_o a_o few_o at_o a_o narrow_a wicket_n but_o i_o true_o out_o of_o a_o humble_a consideration_n of_o my_o own_o weakness_n and_o the_o general_a imbecility_n of_o humane_a

have_v no_o mean_n of_o repent_v of_o it_o now_o god_n enjoin_v man_n repentance_n and_o promise_a pardon_n thereupon_o for_o all_o sin_n whatsoever_o prescribe_v such_o a_o physic_n as_o be_v impossible_a to_o be_v take_v for_o repentance_n presuppose_v knowledge_n of_o the_o fault_n and_o knowledge_n of_o a_o fault_n do_v not_o consist_v with_o a_o error_n of_o the_o understanding_n for_o we_o can_v apprehend_v the_o thing_n so_o and_o yet_o be_v sorry_a that_o we_o be_v mistake_v six_o the_o great_a probability_n and_o appearance_n of_o truth_n on_o all_o side_n even_o the_o err_a one_o ought_v to_o make_v we_o believe_v that_o god_n will_v not_o punish_v those_o who_o err_v if_o that_o be_v probable_a which_o all_o or_o most_o man_n or_o many_o or_o the_o most_o wise_a or_o some_o wise_a man_n receive_v for_o truth_n what_o doctrine_n be_v there_o which_o in_o the_o whole_a compass_n of_o religion_n may_v not_o pass_v for_o probable_a and_o what_o cause_n have_v we_o to_o condemn_v the_o understanding_n of_o any_o man_n in_o a_o thing_n which_o he_o be_v draw_v by_o probability_n to_o assent_v to_o i_o can_v possible_o conceive_v it_o agreeable_a to_o the_o goodness_n of_o the_o divine_a nature_n so_o to_o have_v hide_v and_o involve_v and_o almost_o disguise_v the_o truth_n from_o we_o if_o he_o have_v intend_v to_o have_v censure_v the_o miss_n of_o it_o with_o so_o heavy_a a_o sentence_n as_o that_o of_o eternal_a ruin_n especial_o see_v there_o be_v but_o one_o true_a way_n for_o one_o hundred_o false_a one_o and_o no_o certain_a mark_n set_v upon_o the_o entry_n of_o that_o one_o to_o distinguish_v it_o from_o the_o other_o and_o let_v this_o suffice_v to_o be_v say_v upon_o the_o first_o argument_n to_o induce_v we_o to_o commit_v ourselves_o whole_o to_o our_o reason_n in_o the_o search_n of_o divine_a and_o religious_a verity_n which_o be_v draw_v from_o the_o certainty_n of_o safety_n this_o way_n and_o the_o great_a hazard_n of_o it_o any_o other_o second_o as_o in_o visible_a object_n we_o receive_v confident_o and_o rest_n in_o the_o report_n of_o the_o sight_n because_o nature_n have_v ordain_v and_o accommodate_v it_o according_o for_o that_o purpose_n without_o appeal_n from_o it_o either_o to_o other_o sense_n or_o to_o revelation_n or_o the_o eye_n of_o other_o man_n and_o as_o we_o do_v the_o like_a in_o all_o other_o operation_n of_o the_o sense_n and_o all_o other_o faculty_n of_o the_o soul_n so_o ought_v we_o as_o entire_o and_o absolute_o to_o resign_v our_o belief_n to_o the_o dictate_v of_o our_o own_o understanding_n in_o thing_n intelligible_a which_o be_v as_o proper_o and_o natural_o the_o object_n thereof_o as_o thing_n visible_a be_v of_o the_o eyesight_n and_o we_o may_v as_o well_o say_v we_o will_v trust_v our_o eye_n in_o green_a and_o white_a and_o black_a but_o not_o in_o red_a or_o yellow_a colour_n as_o affirm_v that_o our_o reason_n must_v guide_v we_o in_o the_o contemplation_n of_o nature_n the_o search_n of_o art_n the_o government_n of_o public_a society_n and_o the_o regulation_n of_o man_n life_n as_o far_o as_o the_o bound_n of_o morality_n but_o that_o it_o be_v not_o at_o all_o to_o be_v follow_v or_o obey_v in_o matter_n that_o concern_v religion_n those_o too_o be_v intelligible_a truth_n yea_o the_o chief_a and_o therefore_o most_o to_o be_v search_v and_o a_o part_n of_o the_o understanding_n object_n as_o much_o or_o rather_o more_o than_o any_o other_o now_o as_o the_o credit_n of_o the_o sight_n be_v not_o at_o all_o to_o be_v disparage_v because_o some_o man_n have_v the_o jaundice_n which_o paint_v every_o thing_n yellow_a some_o look_n through_o blue_a spectacle_n which_o represent_v all_o thing_n to_o they_o under_o the_o same_o colour_n and_o some_o through_o divers_a medium_n which_o make_v the_o straight_a staff_n appear_v crooked_a some_o be_v shortsighted_a and_o take_v man_n for_o tree_n at_o a_o distance_n so_o i_o say_v the_o mistake_n which_o reason_n by_o accidental_a disturbance_n lead_v some_o man_n into_o be_v not_o a_o sufficient_a argument_n for_o other_o to_o refuse_v to_o be_v guide_v by_o it_o if_o it_o be_v object_v that_o the_o sight_n though_o it_o be_v subject_a to_o some_o particular_a impediment_n yet_o be_v general_o by_o its_o own_o nature_n much_o more_o certain_a and_o exact_a in_o the_o judgement_n of_o colour_n than_o the_o understanding_n can_v ever_o be_v make_v even_o without_o accidental_a hindrance_n in_o the_o knowledge_n of_o thing_n spiritual_a i_o answer_v that_o if_o such_o thing_n be_v the_o proper_a object_n of_o such_o a_o faculty_n we_o be_v herein_o to_o be_v govern_v by_o the_o dictate_v of_o it_o without_o consider_v whether_o that_o faculty_n be_v as_o quick_a and_o perfect_a as_o god_n can_v make_v it_o in_o apprehension_n of_o its_o object_n neither_o ought_v we_o to_o give_v less_o trust_n to_o our_o understanding_n in_o supernatural_a truth_n because_o it_o be_v so_o much_o inferior_a to_o that_o of_o angel_n than_o we_o do_v to_o our_o eyesight_n in_o thing_n visible_a though_o it_o be_v so_o far_o short_a of_o that_o of_o eagle_n certain_o they_o who_o remove_v the_o cognizance_n of_o divine_a truth_n out_o of_o the_o court_n of_o reason_n take_v away_o that_o which_o most_o proper_o and_o natural_o fall_v under_o its_o determination_n for_o when_o god_n have_v create_v all_o thing_n else_o he_o think_v the_o world_n imperfect_a as_o yet_o whilst_o there_o be_v nothing_o make_v that_o can_v contemplate_v thank_v and_o worship_v the_o maker_n of_o it_o and_o therefore_o he_o create_v man_n and_o this_o be_v the_o chief_a end_n of_o the_o production_n of_o a_o rational_a soul_n that_o by_o it_o they_o may_v consider_v the_o thing_n which_o they_o see_v and_o discourse_n and_o collect_v out_o of_o they_o the_o thing_n which_o they_o see_v not_o and_o both_o praise_n and_o love_v the_o maker_n for_o and_o in_o they_o both_o which_o be_v the_o whole_a substance_n of_o religion_n for_o the_o manner_n and_o kind_n of_o do_v it_o be_v accidental_a so_o then_o religion_n appear_v to_o be_v the_o principal_a end_n of_o man_n creation_n and_o therefore_o as_o if_o horse_n be_v make_v for_o burden_n they_o have_v a_o natural_a ability_n give_v they_o wherewith_o to_o do_v it_o if_o bird_n to_o fly_v they_o have_v a_o faculty_n and_o wing_n give_v they_o for_o that_o purpose_n because_o where_o a_o end_n be_v natural_a the_o mean_n be_v so_o too_o so_o if_o religion_n be_v the_o end_n of_o man_n as_o he_o be_v partaker_n of_o a_o rational_a soul_n that_o reasonable_a soul_n have_v some_o power_n natural_o place_v in_o it_o for_o the_o exercise_n judgement_n and_o choice_n of_o religion_n as_o far_o forth_o as_o be_v necessary_a to_o his_o own_o happiness_n that_o be_v to_o the_o attain_v the_o end_n for_o which_o he_o be_v create_v in_o the_o three_o place_n this_o opinion_n be_v not_o only_o most_o safe_a and_o most_o natural_a for_o every_o man_n in_o particular_a but_o likewise_o most_o agreeable_a to_o the_o good_a and_o interest_n of_o humane_a society_n for_o all_o war_n of_o late_a age_n have_v be_v either_o real_o for_o religion_n or_o at_o least_o that_o have_v be_v one_o of_o the_o chief_a pretence_n which_o if_o it_o be_v quite_o take_v away_o it_o will_v be_v difficult_a for_o those_o man_n who_o disguise_n their_o ambition_n with_o it_o to_o draw_v the_o people_n into_o the_o misery_n and_o uncertainty_n either_o of_o a_o civil_a or_o foreign_a war._n now_o if_o this_o doctrine_n be_v general_o plant_v in_o the_o mind_n of_o man_n both_o the_o reality_n and_o pretence_n of_o fight_v for_o religion_n be_v utter_o cancel_v and_o though_o turbulent_a mind_n will_v then_o either_o find_v or_o make_v some_o other_o occasion_n to_o disturb_v their_o neighbour_n yet_o the_o ill_n will_v neither_o be_v so_o frequent_a nor_o so_o cruel_a as_o it_o be_v at_o present_a for_o who_o will_v quarrel_v for_o religion_n when_o this_o be_v make_v the_o main_a and_o general_a ground_n of_o all_o religion_n that_o every_o man_n ought_v quiet_o to_o enjoy_v his_o own_o true_a it_o be_v that_o unity_n in_o religion_n will_v produce_v the_o same_o effect_n but_o alas_o both_o reason_n and_o experience_n teach_v we_o that_o the_o hope_n of_o that_o be_v vain_a and_o impossible_a and_o though_o a_o state_n may_v sometime_o force_v all_o its_o subject_n to_o submit_v to_o a_o outward_a uniformity_n in_o all_o thing_n that_o concern_v divine_a worship_n yet_o they_o must_v know_v that_o every_o public_a disturbance_n in_o the_o commonwealth_n break_v all_o those_o bond_n asunder_o of_o dissemble_a obedience_n and_o that_o such_o compulsion_n both_o beget_v and_o ripen_v all_o disorder_n much_o may_v be_v speak_v in_o this_o matter_n but_o not_o necessary_o here_o both_o because_o