which_o be_v not_o like_o a_o river_n which_o grow_v great_a by_o run_v but_o like_o a_o mineral_n water_n which_o lose_v its_o strength_n by_o be_v carry_v too_o far_o we_o find_v in_o the_o time_n of_o papias_n who_o live_v but_o in_o the_o second_o century_n the_o authority_n of_o bare_a tradition_n be_v mighty_o sink_v for_o eusebius_n say_v he_o converse_v 39â—_n with_o the_o disciple_n of_o our_o lord_n and_o his_o apostle_n he_o say_v of_o himself_o that_o he_o go_v up_o and_o down_o to_o they_o to_o get_v what_o he_o can_v from_o they_o have_v a_o great_a esteem_n of_o what_o he_o can_v learn_v from_o they_o than_o of_o what_o be_v write_v and_o what_o advantage_n do_v this_o bring_v to_o the_o church_n it_o bring_v some_o idle_a opinion_n into_o reputation_n say_v eusebius_n for_o afterward_o they_o think_v it_o enough_o to_o fix_v they_o upon_o papias_n but_o how_o be_v it_o possible_a for_o he_o to_o mistake_v eusebius_n say_v that_o be_v a_o man_n of_o mean_a capacity_n 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tradition_n but_o that_o it_o seem_v want_v something_o to_o strengthen_v and_o confirm_v it_o and_o that_o be_v by_o st._n luke_n writing_n his_o gospel_n how_o can_v they_o add_v any_o assurance_n to_o he_o if_o all_o the_o ground_n of_o his_o certainty_n be_v to_o be_v take_v from_o tradition_n st._n luke_n think_v it_o necessary_a then_o that_o those_o thing_n which_o concern_v the_o life_n and_o doctrine_n of_o christ_n shall_v be_v put_v into_o write_v that_o they_o may_v be_v more_o certain_o convey_v and_o that_o while_o they_o have_v the_o testimony_n of_o those_o who_o be_v eye-witness_n and_o minister_n of_o the_o word_n 2._o and_o so_o i_o come_v to_o the_o second_o rule_n of_o discern_v the_o primitive_a doctrine_n of_o christ_n viz._n the_o write_n of_o the_o apostle_n when_o matter_n of_o doctrine_n come_v to_o be_v contest_v be_v the_o infallible_a rule_n whereby_o they_o be_v to_o judge_v which_o be_v the_o true_a and_o genuine_a doctrine_n of_o christ._n there_o be_v some_o who_o pretend_v that_o the_o apostle_n write_n be_v mere_o accidental_a and_o occasional_a thing_n but_o that_o the_o main_a design_n be_v to_o lodge_v the_o great_a assurance_n of_o thâ—_n doctrine_n of_o christ_n in_o tradition_n from_o one_o to_o another_o and_o what_o they_o write_v be_v not_o to_o make_v any_o rule_n of_o faith_n but_o only_o to_o give_v some_o good_a advice_n to_o those_o church_n they_o write_v to_o but_o i_o shall_v now_o prove_v that_o the_o write_n of_o the_o apostle_n be_v intend_v by_o the_o holy_a ghost_n to_o be_v a_o stand_a rule_n whereby_o the_o church_n be_v to_o judge_v which_o be_v the_o true_a and_o genuine_a doctrine_n of_o christ._n 1._o from_o the_o reason_n and_o occasion_n of_o write_v the_o book_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n 1._o as_o to_o the_o gospel_n we_o must_v distinguish_v the_o general_n reason_n of_o write_v they_o from_o the_o particular_a occasion_n as_o to_o the_o several_a gospel_n the_o general_a reason_n be_v to_o be_v draw_v from_o the_o divine_a wisdom_n which_o inspire_v and_o guide_v they_o the_o particular_a occasion_n relate_v to_o the_o circumstance_n of_o write_v they_o the_o general_a reason_n be_v that_o which_o irenoeus_n give_v viz._n that_o the_o gospel_n which_o 1._o they_o have_v first_o preach_v be_v by_o the_o will_n of_o god_n put_v into_o write_v that_o it_o may_v be_v a_o foundation_n and_o pillar_n of_o our_o faith_n not_o mere_o to_o keep_v up_o the_o remembranee_n of_o it_o which_o fevardentius_n yield_v and_o thereby_o overthrow_v the_o infallibility_n of_o oral_a tradition_n but_o that_o so_o it_o may_v be_v a_o certain_a rule_n of_o faith_n to_o all_o age_n the_o evangelist_n say_v st._n augustin_n be_v but_o christ_n 54._o hand_n which_o himself_o as_o the_o head_n direct_v in_o write_v the_o gospel_n and_o therefore_o we_o be_v to_o look_v on_o the_o gospel_n as_o his_o own_o handwriting_n the_o holy_a ghost_n 53._o say_v he_o direct_v the_o mind_n of_o the_o evangelist_n as_o to_o the_o order_n and_o manner_n of_o their_o write_n which_o vary_v according_o to_o the_o particular_a occasion_n but_o yet_o be_v all_o subservient_fw-fr to_o the_o general_n reason_n st._n matthew_n write_v the_o first_o gospel_n say_v eusebius_n to_o the_o jew_n to_o who_o he_o have_v 24._o preach_v because_o go_v into_o other_o part_n he_o will_v supply_v the_o want_n of_o his_o presence_n among_o they_o by_o his_o write_n what_o need_v this_o if_o tradition_n be_v a_o certain_a and_o infallible_a way_n of_o convey_v the_o doctrine_n of_o christ_n st._n chrysostom_n say_v the_o jewish_a christian_n desire_v he_o to_o put_v into_o write_v matth_n what_o they_o have_v hear_v he_o preach_v do_v not_o they_o understand_v the_o force_n of_o tradition_n better_o or_o why_o shall_v st._n matthew_n put_v they_o out_o of_o a_o infallible_a way_n the_o author_n of_o the_o imperfect_a work_n on_o st._n matthew_n say_v they_o desire_v he_o to_o prologo_fw-la write_v his_o gospel_n that_o wherever_o they_o go_v they_o may_v carry_v a_o account_n of_o their_o faith_n with_o they_o clemens_n alexandrinus_n say_v the_o occasion_n of_o writing_n st._n mark_n be_v 15._o gospel_n be_v that_o the_o people_n be_v not_o satisfy_v with_o a_o unwritten_a delivery_n of_o the_o holy_a doctrine_n and_o therefore_o importune_v mark_n who_o be_v the_o disciple_n of_o st._n peter_n that_o he_o will_v leave_v a_o monument_n of_o his_o doctrine_n in_o write_v which_o st._n peter_n understand_v by_o revelation_n approve_v and_o confirm_v his_o gospel_n for_o the_o use_n of_o the_o church_n origen_n say_v he_o write_v it_o according_a to_o st._n peter_n direction_n epiphanius_n 155._o say_v by_o his_o authority_n athanasius_n say_v it_o be_v dictate_v by_o he_o at_o rome_n it_o seem_v that_o peter_n himself_o do_v not_o think_v fit_a to_o leave_v the_o doctrine_n of_o christ_n to_o a_o oral_a tradition_n even_o at_o rome_n but_o irenoeus_n think_v it_o be_v write_v after_o st._n peter_n decease_n who_o therein_o differ_v from_o the_o rest_n and_o show_v how_o uncertain_a mere_a tradition_n be_v tertullian_n say_v st._n mark_n be_v eccles_n gospel_n be_v attribute_v to_o st._n peter_n and_o st._n luke_n be_v to_o st._n paul_n st._n jerom_n mention_n the_o opinion_n of_o some_o that_o when_o st._n paul_n say_v according_a to_o my_o gospel_n he_o mean_v that_o of_o st._n luke_n but_o st._n luke_n himself_o plain_o give_v a_o account_n of_o the_o occasion_n of_o his_o writing_n st._n ambrose_n think_v by_o those_o who_o have_v take_v 1._o in_o hand_n to_o write_v of_o those_o thing_n which_o be_v firm_o believe_v among_o we_o he_o mean_v the_o author_n of_o the_o counterfeit_a gospel_n as_o that_o of_o the_o twelve_o apostle_n and_o st._n mathias_n but_o we_o have_v no_o evidence_n that_o these_o be_v old_a than_o st._n luke_n his_o meaning_n be_v that_o in_o those_o part_n where_o he_o be_v there_o be_v some_o who_o do_v undertake_v to_o give_v a_o account_n of_o the_o life_n and_o action_n of_o christ_n who_o want_v the_o advantage_n which_o he_o have_v have_v have_v great_a opportunity_n of_o know_a circumstance_n from_o the_o eye-witness_n and_o therefore_o he_o set_v himself_o to_o give_v a_o exact_a relation_n of_o they_o that_o not_o only_a theophilus_n 51._o but_o every_o one_o that_o answer_v his_o name_n may_v know_v the_o certainty_n of_o those_o thing_n wherein_o they_o have_v be_v instruct_v but_o do_v not_o they_o know_v the_o certainty_n of_o these_o thing_n by_o the_o apostle_n preach_v yes_o but_o the_o thing_n they_o hear_v may_v slip_v out_o of_o their_o memory_n and_o to_o prevent_v this_o say_v theophylact_v st._n luke_n luc._n write_v his_o gospel_n that_o they_o may_v retain_v these_o thing_n with_o great_a certainty_n and_o word_n that_o be_v
first_o hear_v he_o be_v amaze_v after_o this_o he_o take_v a_o 17._o course_n by_o himself_o and_o do_v not_o go_v up_o to_o jerusalem_n to_o the_o college_n of_o apostle_n there_o resident_a but_o go_v into_o arabia_n so_o that_o if_o any_o one_o may_v be_v think_v to_o set_v up_o another_o doctrine_n it_o be_v he_o but_o he_o be_v so_o far_o from_o it_o that_o he_o establish_v and_o confirm_v the_o truth_n of_o what_o they_o deliver_v and_o be_v very_o successful_a in_o his_o apostleship_n in_o all_o place_n and_o when_o there_o have_v be_v some_o whisper_v concern_v he_o as_o though_o he_o proceed_v not_o in_o the_o same_o way_n with_o the_o rest_n he_o go_v up_o to_o jerusalem_n and_o there_o upon_o full_a examination_n james_n and_o cephas_n and_o john_n who_o be_v the_o lead_a apostle_n 9_o give_v he_o the_o right-hand_a of_o fellowship_n in_o token_n of_o their_o full_a consent_n in_o the_o same_o faith_n 2._o the_o truth_n of_o the_o gospel_n be_v the_o more_o plain_o discover_v all_o this_o while_n the_o apostle_n only_o preach_v and_o deliver_v their_o doctrine_n to_o the_o several_a church_n by_o verbal_a instruction_n but_o after_o these_o have_v be_v receive_v in_o the_o heart_n of_o such_o multitude_n that_o there_o can_v be_v no_o suspicion_n that_o a_o false_a representation_n of_o christ_n doctrine_n or_o action_n can_v be_v receive_v by_o those_o church_n than_o the_o wise_a providence_n of_o god_n take_v care_n for_o posterity_n and_o employ_v several_a person_n in_o distant_a place_n and_o time_n to_o write_v the_o history_n of_o our_o saviour_n and_o there_o be_v this_o advantage_n to_o the_o church_n that_o the_o gospel_n be_v write_v no_o soon_o for_o all_o the_o church_n plant_v by_o the_o apostle_n be_v then_o make_v judge_n whether_o the_o gospel_n write_v be_v agreeable_a to_o the_o doctrine_n which_o the_o apostle_n have_v teach_v and_o if_o not_o there_o will_v have_v be_v just_a reason_n to_o have_v question_v either_o the_o truth_n of_o what_o have_v be_v teach_v they_o or_o what_o be_v deliver_v in_o the_o gospel_n but_o when_o they_o find_v the_o main_a to_o be_v full_o consonant_a to_o what_o they_o have_v be_v teach_v the_o testimony_n of_o every_o one_o of_o these_o church_n do_v show_v the_o concurrence_n of_o all_o the_o apostle_n as_o to_o the_o doctrine_n contain_v in_o the_o several_a gospel_n and_o that_o which_o add_v to_o the_o strength_n of_o this_o proof_n be_v that_o when_o the_o true_a gospel_n be_v write_v there_o be_v several_a false_a and_o counterfeit_a gospel_n disperse_v abroad_o under_o the_o name_n of_o the_o apostle_n themselves_o as_o of_o st._n peter_n st._n thomas_n st._n mathias_n and_o other_o as_o eusebius_n inform_v we_o and_o as_o we_o have_v 25._o the_o genuine_a act_n of_o the_o apostle_n so_o there_o be_v the_o pretend_a act_n of_o paul_n of_o andrew_n and_o john_n and_o the_o other_o apostle_n how_o come_v these_o to_o be_v reject_v and_o the_o other_o to_o be_v careful_o receive_v here_o lie_v the_o true_a advantage_n of_o original_a tradition_n before_o the_o write_a gospel_n that_o by_o it_o the_o several_a church_n be_v enable_v to_o pass_v a_o true_a judgement_n concern_v they_o when_o they_o come_v to_o be_v disperse_v among_o they_o for_o they_o can_v present_o tell_v whether_o what_o they_o read_v be_v agreeable_a to_o what_o they_o have_v hear_v and_o receive_v from_o the_o apostle_n as_o suppose_v the_o gospel_n of_o st._n matthew_n be_v publish_v in_o judoea_n be_v carry_v into_o mesopotamia_n or_o persia_n where_o many_o christian_a church_n be_v very_o early_o plant_v these_o be_v thorough_o instruct_v by_o the_o apostle_n in_o all_o thing_n relate_v to_o the_o life_n death_n resurrection_n and_o doctrine_n of_o christ_n can_v present_o judge_v whether_o st._n matthew'_v gospel_n agree_v with_o what_o they_o have_v hear_v or_o not_o and_o the_o like_a hold_v as_o to_o all_o the_o church_n in_o the_o roman_a empire_n so_o that_o 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they_o have_v be_v by_o degree_n alter_v from_o their_o first_o apprehension_n by_o the_o cunning_a craftiness_n of_o those_o who_o lie_v in_o wait_n to_o deceive_v they_o after_o the_o decease_n of_o the_o apostle_n the_o common_a tradition_n of_o the_o apostolical_a church_n be_v useful_a in_o these_o case_n 1._o to_o convey_v down_o the_o authentic_a write_n of_o the_o apostle_n or_o evangelist_n which_o be_v deliver_v to_o any_o of_o they_o 2._o to_o bear_v testimony_n against_o any_o pretend_a write_n which_o be_v not_o first_o receive_v by_o the_o apostolical_a church_n to_o which_o they_o be_v say_v to_o be_v write_v for_o there_o can_v be_v no_o negative_a testimony_n of_o more_o force_n than_o that_o it_o be_v improbable_a to_o the_o utmost_a degree_n that_o such_o a_o church_n shall_v not_o know_v or_o not_o make_v know_v any_o true_a apostolical_a write_n 3._o to_o overthrow_v any_o pretence_n to_o a_o secret_a tradition_n from_o the_o apostle_n different_a from_o what_o be_v see_v in_o the_o apostolical_a write_n and_o to_o this_o purpose_n irenoeus_n haer._n and_o tertullian_n make_v very_o good_a use_n of_o the_o tradition_n of_o the_o apostolical_a church_n against_o the_o pretender_n to_o such_o a_o tradition_n which_o those_o church_n be_v not_o acquaint_v with_o but_o they_o agree_v that_o the_o apostle_n commit_v the_o same_o doctrine_n to_o write_v which_o they_o preach_v and_o that_o it_o may_v be_v a_o foundation_n and_o pillar_n of_o faith_n that_o this_o doctrine_n be_v contain_v in_o the_o four_o gospel_n and_o that_o the_o apostolical_a church_n do_v receive_v they_o from_o those_o who_o first_o write_v they_o and_o that_o within_o the_o compass_n of_o the_o apostolical_a age._n it_o be_v therefore_o most_o agreeable_a to_o the_o infinite_a wisdom_n of_o god_n in_o provide_v for_o a_o constant_a establishment_n of_o the_o faith_n of_o his_o church_n in_o all_o age_n neither_o to_o permit_v the_o gospel_n to_o be_v write_v till_o the_o church_n be_v plant_v nor_o to_o be_v put_v off_o to_o another_o generation_n for_o than_o it_o will_v have_v be_v plausible_o object_v if_o these_o thing_n be_v true_a why_o be_v they_o not_o record_v when_o there_o be_v person_n live_v who_o be_v best_a able_a to_o have_v either_o prove_v or_o confute_v they_o then_o we_o may_v have_v be_v satisfy_v one_o way_n or_o other_o but_o now_o the_o jew_n be_v dead_a and_o the_o apostle_n be_v dead_a and_o although_o there_o be_v many_o leave_v who_o believe_v their_o doctrine_n yet_o this_o can_v never_o reach_v to_o the_o testimony_n of_o those_o who_o see_v and_o hear_v the_o thing_n themselves_o or_o who_o doctrine_n be_v attest_v by_o those_o who_o do_v so_o and_o this_o be_v now_o the_o mighty_a advantage_n of_o the_o church_n ever_o since_o that_o the_o thing_n concern_v christ_n be_v write_v by_o such_o person_n with_o what_o another_o kind_n of_o authority_n do_v those_o word_n command_v our_o assent_n that_o which_o be_v from_o 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the_o union_n of_o the_o divine_a and_o humane_a nature_n therefore_o our_o business_n be_v to_o consider_v whether_o any_o such_o thing_n be_v contain_v in_o that_o revelation_n which_o we_o all_o own_o and_o if_o they_o be_v we_o be_v bind_v to_o believe_v they_o although_o we_o be_v not_o able_a to_o comprehend_v they_o now_o here_o be_v two_o remarkable_a character_n in_o these_o word_n by_o which_o we_o may_v examine_v these_o different_a hypothesis_n concern_v the_o way_n of_o salvation_n by_o jesus_n christ._n i._o it_o be_v a_o faithful_a say_n and_o therefore_o must_v be_v contain_v in_o that_o revelation_n which_o god_n have_v make_v concern_v our_o salvation_n by_o christ._n ii_o it_o be_v worthy_a of_o all_o acceptation_n i._n e._n most_o useful_a and_o beneficial_a to_o mankind_n now_o by_o these_o two_o i_o shall_v proceed_v in_o the_o examination_n of_o they_o i._o which_o be_v most_o agreeable_a to_o the_o reveal_v will_n of_o god_n ii_o which_o do_v offer_v fair_o 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