Selected quad for the lemma: tradition_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
tradition_n	unwritten_a	word_n	write_a	2,864	5	10.7236	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A03304	The preachers plea: or, A treatise in forme of a plain dialogue making known the worth and necessary vse of preaching: shewing also how a man may profit by it, both for the informing of his iudgement, and the reforming of his life. By Samuel Hieron minister of the gospell at Modbury in the countie of Deuon.	Hieron, Samuel, 1576?-1617.	1604 (1604)	STC 13419; ESTC S116029	122,151	274

standeth with some reason that we should trie the doctrine which we heare before we credit it for otherwise we may soone be drawne into many errors we haue a Prouerbe that a man must tell mony euē after his own father not in distrustfulnesse as though we thought he would deceiue but in wisdom because vnwittingly he may be deceiued No doubt we ought to be much more circumspect in matters of doctrine because euen the best that teach in that they are men may erre and because also in matters of that nature to be deceiued is so exceeding dangerous But all the matter is how to iudge and by what meanes to be able to know truth from falshood wholesome from vnwholesome doctrine Epaph. Know this therefore for a truth that in all cases and controuersies of religion the Scripture onely must be admitted as vmpire and euery thing must stand or fall at the determining thereof for therefore hath the Lord commanded it to be written and to be made common to all that by it all controuersies might be decided all doubts resolued all heresies confuted all truth confirmed euery conscience guided euery mans life framed Nothing is sound that is disagreeing frō it nothing vnsound that is consonant thereunto We are well contented to let that absurditie dwell with the parents of it the Papists namely that the Scripture is rather to be tearmed an admonisher then a Iudge let it be their glorie to thinke basely of the written word and to ascribe the authoritie of iudging to vnwritten verities and traditions rather then to it we haue learned that the Law which is come foorth of Sion and the word of the Lord that hath issued from Ierusalem must be iudge amongst the nations and we are commanded to appeale still to the Law and to the testimonie assuring our selues that there is no light in them which speake not according to this word We find that our Sauiour himself stood to the iudgement and triall of the Scripture Paul submitted his doctrine to the same rule We read the learned in former ages to giue the priuiledge of iudging onely to the Scripture Augustin disputing with a chief Arrian saith thus Let vs dispute by the authoritie of the Scriptures which are indifferent witnesses to vs both And in another place The Epistles of Bishops giue place one to another and Councels are amended one by another but the canonicall Scripture that is the rule of all and must correct all Basill the Great demandeth that against all heretiques the Scripture only be the vmpire Cyprian saith that the rules of all doctrines haue flowen from the Scripture Chrysostome willeth his hearers to fetch all things from the Scripture But what shold we stand vpon the testimonies of men when the fore-alleaged places out of the written text are so apparant Therefore to prepare you to the trying of the doctrines which you heare hold this firme ground that all points must receiue their allowance from the Scripture Nymp. I could easily agree to you in this that you haue said but that there is this difficultie therin namely how to make vse of the Scripture and to apply it to this worthy purpose of finding out the truth thereby You that are scholers and haue the helpes of learning and of the Artes and tongues may make better shift in these cases then we plaine men of the country can There is no man that preacheth but he alleageth the Scripture and so carieth it that it may seeme to be absolutely for him in that which he auoucheth so that vnlesse we be taught how to iudge by the Scripture we shall still be in suspense Epaph. You haue made a very néedfull motion and therefore if you will listen to it I will acquaint you with that course whereof my selfe both in my priuate studies and in hearing others publikely haue had very comfortable experience First of all when you haue occasion and oportunitie to heare you must remember Salomons aduice to take heede to your foote to vse some preparation before hand praying the Lord to open your eyes that you may see the wonders of his law and that his spirit of truth may be with you to leade you into all truth Secondly you must labor by all meanes to subdue suppresse the seeming wisedome of your owne heart resoluing to yeeld vp your self to whatsoeuer the Lord reueales though it be altogether crossing to your owne reason and displeasing to nature For as God resisteth the proud and maketh them which professe themselues wise to become fooles so he will guide the meeke in iudgement and teach the humble his way and reueale his secret to them that feare him Thirdly when you haue thus framed and fitted your self by prayer and humilitie be sure to remember this rule especially namely that that doctrine is the truest which maketh most for Gods glorie most for the comfort reliefe of a wounded conscience most for the restraining and curbing of our corrupt nature and fleshly affections Mark a litle and I will shew you the reason of this rule First of all the end why God made all things was the glorie of his owne name the thing especially aymed at by him in that great and admirable worke the redemption of mankind and in all the particulars of it euen from the first foundation of it his eternall election vnto the last end hereof our glorification in heauen is That no flesh might glorie in his presence but that he that glorieth might glorie in the Lord. This being then the maine end of all Gods courses to kéepe the glorie of al things entire vnto himselfe it must needes be that that doctrine is the most sound which doth not admit the least empeachment of Gods glorie Secondly one chiefe end of the Scripture is as to beate down man and to cleane strippe him of all goodnesse and inclination thereunto for the kéeping of Gods glorie whole vnto himself so also to put gladnesse into all distressed hearts and to bring the ioy of saluation to all afflicted spirits Dauid saith it is one propertie of the word of God to reioyce the heart and Paul affirmeth that the drift of all the Scripture is that we through patience and comfort thereof might haue hope So that looke what doctrine bringeth the fullest comfort to a poore soule when it is euen at the depth of sorrow that must néedes be wholesome doctrine séeing it concurreth with the whole scope of the Scripture Thirdly one thing principally intended in the discouerie of that grace of God which bringeth saluation vnto all men was that vngodlinesse and worldly lusts should be denyed that the flesh with the affections and lustes shold be crucified that the body of sinne should be destroyed and that mortifying our members which are on the earth we should serue the Lord all the