Selected quad for the lemma: sense_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
sense_n	church_n	scripture_n	way_n	3,397	5	5.4178	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A26001	Some generall observations upon Dr. Stillingfleet's book, and way of wrighting with a vindication of St. Ignatius Loyola, and his followers the Iesuits, from the foul aspersions he has lately cast upon them, in his discourse concerning the idolatry, &c. : in four letters, written to A.B.	Ashby, Richard, 1614-1680.	1672 (1672)	Wing A3942; ESTC R7040	65,474	73

by the latter Decree● of the same Congregation under Alexander the 7th 1656. Sect. 11. His last Objection is about the Jesuits differences in matter of Doctrine for he saies truly they not only dissent from the Jansenists in the five known Propositions but also differ from the Dominicans in two man ●oints the immaculate conception of our blessed Lady and Physical Predeterminations Sir this Objection concerns other Catholick Drs. as well as the Jesuits for they all agree with the Jesuits that the five Iansenian Propositions condemned by his Holiness are heretical and many of them side also with the Jesuits against the Dominicans in the other two Controversies yet under debate However because the Jesuits are particularly named by the Dr. as the chief Dissenters you may expect a word or two from me in their justification It is their glory to have so stoutly opposed the Iansenists Doctrine which has been since blasted by the definitive Sentence of the Supream Pastors of the Church The Dr. might as well have objected their dissenting from the Calvinists for since his Holiness his censure has been generally received by Catholicks all over Christendom there can be no question but Iansenisme is condemned by the Church as well as Calvinisme and are both equally to be esteemed Heresie for I suppose we all agree that the whole Church cannot erre in condemning Heresie and when we say so our meaning must be not to include the opposite Party or to require that they submit and declare that they believe contrary to what they beleived before as the Dr. seems to require pag. 447. otherwise we may justify the Arians and all other Hereticks who were rarely known to have submited to the judgment of the Church that condemn'd them though assembled in general Councils It is clear then that such divisions as these between the Church and those that seperate themselves from her are not prejudicial to the Church's Unity which is entirely preserved by a due submission of all her members unto what the Church thinks fit to determine It were easy here to answer the Drs. question let them name one controversy that has been ended in their Church meerly by the Pope's decrees for to go no farther this very controversy of the Jansenists has been ended by the Popes decrees and so ended that the Jansenists themselves have submitted to them as is evident to all those that are not ignorant in those affairs for did they not the Bishops as well as others that had stood out so long at last submit and sign the Formulaire by which they not only acknowledged the 5 condemned Propositions to be Heretical but to be the very propositions of Iansenius and did not his Holiness upon the French Kings declaration of this their submission by a particular Breve restore peace to the Gallican Church How shamefully then does the Dr. cry out that there never was a fairer occasion given to the Pope to shew his authority for preservation of the Church's vnity then this of the sive propositions And yet that he could never be prevailed with to suffer the main controversy to be touch't and that there are so many wayes to avade his deffinitions that his Authority signifies nothing for you see for all the Jansenists ways and tricks to evade the Pope shewed his authority to preserve the Churches unity and was prevail'd with to define the main controversy so far that no body now dare call it in question or pro●es● himself a Iansenist whatsoever he may be in his heart But why says he does not the Pope or at least general Concils put an end to all controversies amongst Catholicks For example why does he not determine the differences about the Immaculate Conception and Predetermination which have made so great a noise in the world Let him first tell me why did not our Blessed Saviour leave all matters of Faith so clearly exprest in holy Scriptures as to prevent all disputes amongst Christians or why did not the first four general Councils whose Authority the Dr. allows give us a clear Comment upon all difficult places which are found in the sacred Text or why does not Dr. St. himself undertake out of Scripture to reconcile all the dissenting members of his Church for since all parties agree the Scripture to be Infallible it is his own rule there can be no more certain way for Unity Why I say does he not then make use of this most certain way to keep unity in his Church where we see they condemn one another of damnable errours I will not take upon me to enter into the secret Counsels of Christ and his holy Spouse the Church or to give you the reasons why they thought fit to leave things as they are But I may venture to guess why the Dr. with all his writing and preaching has not yet nor never will void all controversies out of Scripture for where the difficulty lyes in the sence of Scripture it self as it is our case let it be never so infallible there cannot be a less certain way to Unity or more endless way of taking up disputes then the Scripture unless it would speak for it self and declare its own meaning which will never be It is not so with Catholicks for the Pope or a General Council can declare their own meaning if there be any doubt of it as it happened in the case of the five Propsitions which the Jansenists would have drawn into different senses for his Holiness found a way to make them clearly understand his meaning And I think there never was Heretick condemned in a general Concil that doubted whether he were condemn'd or no as Protestants doubt whether Infants may be Baptized whether Bishops are de jure Divino c. For all their infallible Scriptures To maintain Scripture to be a better way to decide controversies then the living Voice of the Church is just as if a man should contend that the Law it self or God Almighty is a better means to end Suits at Law then the Judges upon the Bench for while the Law and God Almighty are silent unless the Judge pronounce sentence the Suite must of necessity be endless and so must all controversies in Religions for all the infallibility of Scripture so long as it does not explicate its own meaning and answer all difficulties As for the disputes between the Iesuits and the Dominicans about predetermination and the Immaculate Conception it is strange such School disputes should be still objected against the unity of our Church I say School disputes for so I must call them till the Church please to determin them for the Dr. must know that though these contentions are about matters of Faith in reality yet are they not matters of Faith quo ad nos till they be proposed unto us as such and therefore although we contend about them and are at variance among our selves yet our unity is still preserved by this that both parties are ready to