miracle_n be_v work_n which_o exceed_v mere_a natural_a power_n or_o ordinary_a course_n of_o nature_n it_o be_v furnish_v with_o faculty_n which_o can_v discern_v what_o be_v natural_a and_o what_o not_o but_o be_v at_o a_o loss_n in_o high_a mystery_n this_o assertion_n perhaps_o may_v be_v check_v by_o a_o instance_n in_o conciliary_a proceed_n in_o discern_a canonical_a book_n of_o holy_a scripture_n from_o apocryphal_a or_o any_o false_o so_o call_v in_o which_o judgement_n be_v pass_v by_o mere_a rational_a evidence_n whilst_o it_o distinguish_v the_o one_o from_o the_o other_o by_o their_o content_n this_o must_v not_o be_v grant_v for_o though_o the_o content_n of_o holy_a scripture_n be_v a_o good_a argument_n of_o their_o truth_n yet_o they_o be_v not_o the_o only_a characteristic_n to_o distinguish_v they_o from_o other_o which_o be_v not_o canonical_a when_o there_o be_v any_o debate_n in_o a_o council_n concern_v any_o part_n of_o scripture_n to_o be_v admit_v into_o 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posterity_n upon_o peril_n of_o his_o own_o ruin_n in_o case_n some_o cunning_a and_o political_a invention_n be_v interweave_v in_o they_o like_o some_o of_o the_o history_n which_o zenophon_n write_v which_o seem_v more_o like_o a_o romance_n than_o a_o impartial_a relation_n of_o cyrus_n his_o life_n and_o education_n and_o those_o who_o give_v precept_n to_o other_o man_n sometime_o have_v a_o reserve_v of_o immunity_n and_o exemption_n from_o they_o to_o themselves_o but_o holy_a council_n have_v no_o such_o equivocation_n which_o though_o it_o may_v seem_v pious_a deceit_n can_v sit_v safe_o in_o sacred_a assembly_n neither_o may_v any_o member_n of_o they_o as_o a_o arian_n profess_v one_o and_o carry_v another_o creed_n in_o his_o bosom_n be_v it_o possible_a that_o any_o member_n of_o a_o true_a council_n may_v do_v this_o safe_o and_o without_o peril_n of_o his_o own_o ruin_n conciliary_a definition_n may_v be_v render_v more_o suspicious_a but_o the_o case_n be_v otherwise_o 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the_o natural_a fanatic_a or_o reason_n consider_v in_o its_o extravagancy_n in_o religion_n and_o in_o some_o late_a treatise_n usurp_a the_o authority_n of_o the_o church_n and_o council_n by_o john_n warly_n b.d._n late_a fellow_n of_o clare-hall_n in_o cambridg_n sic_fw-la si_fw-la homines_fw-la rationem_fw-la bono_fw-mi consilio_fw-la a_o diis_fw-la immortalibus_fw-la datam_fw-la in_o fraud_n m_o malitiamque_fw-la convertunt_fw-la non_fw-la dari_fw-la illam_fw-la quam_fw-la dari_fw-la humano_fw-la generi_fw-la melius_fw-la fuit_fw-la cicer._n the_o nat_n deor._n lib._n 3._o satius_fw-la fuerit_fw-la nullam_fw-la omnino_fw-la nobis_fw-la a_o dijs_fw-la immortalibus_fw-la datam_fw-la esse_fw-la rationem_fw-la quam_fw-la tantam_fw-la cum_fw-la pernicie_fw-la datam_fw-la ibidem_fw-la london_n print_v and_o be_v to_o be_v sell_v by_o thomas_n basset_n at_o the_o george_n in_o fleetstreet_n 1676._o imprimatur_fw-la 2._o novemb_n 1675._o geo._n hooper_n r_o mo_z d_o no._n arch._n cant._n à _fw-fr sacr._n domesticis_fw-la to_o the_o right_n honourable_a heneage_n lord_n finch_n baron_n of_o daventry_n and_o lord_n high_a chancellor_n of_o england_n may_v it_o please_v your_o lordship_n though_o dedication_n as_o much_o as_o preface_n may_v seem_v formal_a impertinency_n yet_o they_o cease_v to_o be_v such_o when_o the_o patronage_n it_o as_o the_o broad_a seal_n of_o england_n to_o authorize_v and_o licence_v the_o examination_n of_o the_o libertine_n though_o in_o such_o method_n as_o may_v seem_v unkind_a and_o unnatural_a to_o humanity_n in_o the_o discovery_n of_o reason_n defect_n and_o expose_v it_o to_o the_o public_a vieu_fw-fr naked_a and_o intoxicated_a this_o way_n of_o argue_v be_v so_o far_o justifiable_a as_o it_o be_v more_o necessary_a at_o some_o time_n to_o declare_v that_o man_n be_v mad_a sool_n and_o bewitch_v in_o their_o search_n for_o religion_n than_o to_o flatter_v they_o with_o soft_a compellation_n of_o man_n of_o sober_a mind_n dispose_v 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state_n be_v like_o one_o intoxicated_a who_o we_o knee_n multiply_v a_o single_a object_n wherefore_o it_o be_v necessary_a that_o israel_n even_o to_o improvement_n of_o knowledge_n as_o well_o as_o religion_n shall_v know_v there_o be_v but_o one_o god_n let_v this_o also_o be_v consider_v that_o in_o pagan_a divinity_n we_o find_v no_o such_o distinguish_a worship_n or_o character_n give_v to_o jupiter_n to_o show_v that_o he_o be_v god_n be_v the_o other_o deity_n but_o deputy_n as_o some_o learned_a man_n say_v or_o so_o repute_v for_o they_o be_v all_o adore_v now_o in_o scripture_n there_o be_v not_o the_o least_o favour_n or_o disspensation_n grant_v to_o adore_v any_o be_v but_o god_n no_o not_o so_o much_o as_o his_o representator_n prophet_n and_o apostle_n work_v wonder_n this_o be_v enough_o to_o justify_v the_o expression_n of_o god_n by_o a_o plural_a number_n in_o scripture_n though_o not_o in_o pagan_a writing_n beside_o the_o grammatical_a help_n of_o a_o singular_a number_n with_o a_o plural_a without_o false_a syntax_n or_o false_a sense_n the_o heathen_n do_v apprehend_v god_n in_o such_o a_o manner_n as_o a_o plural_a number_n best_o suit_v with_o their_o thought_n see_v the_o universe_n be_v their_o god_n as_o appear_v by_o their_o deify_v pan_n of_o who_o there_o be_v this_o account_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d orpheus_n in_o hymn_n this_o may_v be_v further_o prove_v by_o a_o testimony_n of_o lactantius_n lib._n 9_o de_fw-fr false_a religione_fw-la who_o when_o he_o bring_v in_o trismegist_n speak_v most_o divine_o concern_v the_o unity_n of_o the_o godhead_n say_v 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d which_o he_o translate_v or_o paraphrase_n on_o it_o ignitur_fw-la deo_fw-la nomen_fw-la non_fw-la est_fw-la nec_fw-la opus_fw-la est_fw-la proprio_fw-la vocabulo_fw-la nisi_fw-la cum_fw-la discrimen_fw-la exigit_fw-la multitudo_fw-la whence_o it_o be_v plain_a that_o the_o multitude_n sometime_o apprehend_v god_n as_o the_o general_a power_n 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the_o compellation_n suppose_v a_o novice_n who_o have_v be_v only_o in_o the_o porch_n of_o a_o geometrical_a school_n and_o learn_v all_o kind_n of_o line_n in_o their_o several_a variety_n of_o which_o the_o most_o accurate_a draught_n must_v consist_v shall_v he_o be_v think_v worthy_a of_o the_o name_n of_o a_o painter_n who_o know_v no_o proportion_n of_o the_o single_a line_n this_o instance_n i_o presume_v be_v so_o apposite_a that_o it_o will_v need_v no_o comment_n on_o it_o and_o it_o give_v i_o occasion_n of_o a_o digression_n from_o the_o metaphysical_a method_n of_o frame_v a_o notion_n of_o one_o god_n to_o one_o more_o suit_v to_o all_o apprehension_n by_o similitude_n as_o vives_z grotius_n morney_n and_o other_o who_o have_v illustrate_v the_o unity_n of_o the_o godhead_n by_o analogy_n viz._n the_o heaven_n one_o sun_n one_o primum_fw-la mobile_a and_o other_o instance_n of_o monarchy_n as_o it_o appear_v in_o the_o world_n how_o little_a impression_n such_o instance_n be_v like_a to_o make_v on_o some_o who_o in_o their_o philosophical_a certainty_n conclude_v that_o there_o be_v no_o such_o primum_fw-la mobile_a in_o the_o same_o author_n sense_n neither_o dare_v affirm_v there_o be_v no_o more_o light_n of_o like_a nature_n and_o influence_n may_v be_v guest_n at_o by_o the_o reception_n and_o entertainment_n which_o late_a hypothesis_n have_v find_v so_o he_o who_o endeavour_v to_o demonstrate_v the_o unity_n and_o trinity_n in_o the_o godhead_n by_o the_o three_o power_n which_o be_v in_o one_o soul_n may_v expect_v his_o argument_n shall_v be_v as_o little_a prevalent_a for_o that_o method_n which_o oblige_v a_o peripatetic_a to_o the_o belief_n of_o a_o trinity_n may_v persuade_v the_o platonic_a to_o believe_v a_o quaternion_n for_o he_o as_o zealous_o contend_v for_o that_o as_o accommodate_v to_o its_o several_a degree_n of_o knowledge_n as_o the_o other_o be_v for_o his_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d or_o three_o power_n in_o the_o rational_a soul_n and_o sure_o the_o platonic_n do_v admire_v the_o number_n 4._o else_o it_o have_v not_o be_v so_o solemn_o use_v in_o their_o oath_n let_v it_o be_v urge_v that_o god_n may_v be_v know_v by_o similitude_n &_o although_o there_o be_v but_o imperfect_a and_o small_a footstep_n of_o his_o be_v to_o be_v trace_v by_o the_o reasoner_n yet_o according_a to_o proportion_n by_o one_o attribute_n there_o may_v be_v discovery_n of_o all_o as_o the_o proverbial_a speech_n of_o a_o herculean_a draught_n from_o a_o foot_n and_o if_o i_o may_v stretch_v the_o letter_n of_o the_o proverb_n a_o little_a finger_n if_o such_o objection_n appear_v to_o the_o reader_n thought_n i_o only_o desire_v he_o to_o recollect_v or_o look_v back_o to_o the_o former_a part_n of_o the_o disquisition_n in_o which_o it_o be_v never_o grant_v that_o man_n by_o reason_v can_v have_v any_o such_o knowledge_n of_o any_o attribute_n so_o as_o it_o shall_v be_v a_o rule_n to_o he_o infallible_o to_o judge_n of_o the_o nature_n of_o god_n without_o revelation_n and_o the_o last_o appeal_v make_v to_o it_o i_o be_o not_o ignorant_a that_o the_o primitive_a father_n to_o instance_n in_o one_o minutius_n foelix_fw-la make_v use_v of_o similitude_n to_o convince_v the_o world_n of_o the_o unity_n of_o the_o godhead_n dux_n unus_fw-la apibus_fw-la dux_n unus_fw-la in_o gregibus_fw-la yet_o this_o be_v intend_v rather_o for_o illustration_n than_o strict_a proof_n neither_o be_v there_o violence_n do_v to_o the_o divine_a example_n whilst_o the_o reasoner_n disow_v similitude_n in_o case_n that_o demonstration_n be_v just_o expect_v for_o although_o god_n be_v please_v to_o discover_v himself_o by_o similitude_n he_o expect_v not_o that_o his_o be_v shall_v be_v prove_v by_o that_o method_n the_o reconciler_n who_o suppose_v the_o be_v of_o god_n and_o providence_n page_n 4._o of_o his_o preface_n caution_n we_o to_o beware_v of_o similitude_n whilst_o we_o will_v have_v a_o true_a conception_n of_o he_o page_n 12._o attribute_n which_o we_o can_v possible_o know_v except_o he_o tell_v we_o and_o then_o say_v we_o shall_v not_o conclude_v or_o guess_v about_o they_o by_o analogy_n to_o thing_n of_o a_o nature_n infinite_o distant_a from_o he_o or_o by_o maxim_n frame_v according_a to_o the_o nature_n of_o inferior_a be_v let_v not_o this_o argument_n which_o seem_v to_o have_v its_o foundation_n in_o practice_n prejudice_v the_o reasoner_n for_o i_o shall_v no_o further_o make_v use_n of_o it_o than_o reason_n must_v allow_v and_o the_o authority_n cite_v shall_v have_v another_o ratification_n of_o its_o strength_n by_o a_o appeal_n to_o the_o reasoner_n who_o help_v his_o thought_n by_o art_n and_o impartial_a and_o unbiased_a industry_n who_o by_o the_o conduct_n of_o his_o own_o reason_n will_v scarce_o find_v out_o that_o narrow_a path_n which_o will_v lead_v he_o to_o the_o
infallible_a knowledge_n of_o one_o god_n for_o after_o the_o utmost_a perusal_n of_o his_o own_o argument_n concern_v he_o he_o will_v be_v oblige_v to_o describe_v himself_o by_o a_o name_n suitable_a to_o his_o thought_n which_o if_o he_o do_v he_o will_v be_v in_o suspense_n whether_o he_o ought_v to_o be_v call_v theist_n or_o polytheist_n this_o bold_a presumption_n be_v found_v on_o the_o former_a position_n viz._n that_o the_o reasoner_n have_v only_o a_o general_a knowledge_n of_o power_n undistinguished_a in_o the_o world_n that_o a_o gross_a and_o imperfect_a knowledge_n in_o a_o loose_a and_o common_a way_n of_o speech_n be_v enough_o to_o justify_v the_o language_n which_o call_v a_o be_v one_o which_o in_o strictness_n be_v not_o so_o as_o a_o late_a author_n instance_n in_o rome_n which_o retain_v its_o name_n although_o the_o city_n be_v not_o the_o same_o which_o first_o take_v that_o name_n and_o there_o be_v protean_a body_n which_o each_o moment_n change_v yet_o retain_v the_o same_o name_n such_o comparison_n or_o such_o expression_n may_v serve_v to_o express_v thing_n finite_a word_n be_v as_o coin_n or_o rather_o the_o stamp_n upon_o it_o which_o oftentimes_o be_v so_o far_o from_o represent_v the_o person_n of_o a_o king_n that_o there_o be_v much_o necessity_n of_o a_o motto_n to_o tell_v who_o image_n it_o be_v as_o painter_n in_o the_o infancy_n of_o their_o art_n be_v force_v to_o supply_v the_o defect_n of_o their_o pencil_n by_o their_o pen_n and_o make_v man_n reader_n not_o spectator_n of_o picture_n but_o the_o strict_a reasoner_n as_o he_o be_v careful_a in_o frame_a notion_n of_o thing_n so_o he_o will_v be_v careful_a in_o give_v name_n or_o say_v any_o thing_n concern_v number_n or_o nature_n of_o that_o be_v which_o he_o can_v comprehend_v infinite_a as_o infinite_a be_v beyond_o the_o reach_n of_o our_o understanding_n whence_o it_o be_v apparent_a that_o when_o any_o thing_n be_v affirm_v of_o a_o object_n as_o infinite_a so_o far_o the_o affirmation_n will_v be_v doubt_v of_o as_o uncertain_a that_o assent_n which_o pass_v apprehension_n must_v pass_v for_o ignorance_n and_o can_v only_o be_v adjust_v by_o a_o implicit_a faith_n infinite_a will_v not_o be_v infinite_a can_v it_o be_v apprehend_v as_o a_o adequate_a object_n of_o humane_a knowledge_n though_o it_o be_v as_o nigh_o as_o possible_a the_o french_a philosopher_n modest_o take_v the_o liberty_n to_o make_v a_o term_n of_o art_n a_o give_v the_o old_a world_n a_o name_n more_o suitable_a to_o man_n apprehension_n than_o that_o which_o it_o have_v be_v know_v by_o in_o several_a age_n for_o finite_a call_v it_o indefinite_a which_o be_v something_o in_o its_o own_o nature_n which_o have_v bound_n therefore_o its_o dimension_n possible_a to_o be_v know_v but_o no_o man_n can_v determine_v any_o thing_n concern_v infinity_n either_o as_o to_o number_v or_o quality_n see_v the_o object_n he_o judge_n of_o be_v beyond_o his_o reach_n he_o who_o attribute_n any_o property_n to_o a_o subject_a be_v suppose_v to_o understand_v the_o nature_n or_o form_n of_o it_o otherwise_o he_o like_v the_o man_n in_o the_o gospel_n who_o have_v not_o full_o his_o sight_n recover_v may_v call_v man_n tree_n or_o fasten_v impossibility_n on_o the_o subject_a lest_o qualify_v it_o by_o the_o notion_n he_o frame_v of_o it_o with_o a_o power_n to_o make_v impossibility_n not_o to_o be_v so_o as_o the_o reconciler_n of_o reason_n and_o religion_n instance_n in_o the_o french_a virtuoso_fw-la who_o conclude_v the_o possibility_n of_o a_o hill_n without_o a_o valley_n not_o consider_v that_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d alex._n aphrodis_fw-la de_fw-fr fato_fw-it p._n 135._o to_o make_v such_o assertion_n appear_v plausible_a all_o that_o can_v be_v say_v be_v that_o impossibility_n cease_v to_o be_v such_o when_o they_o have_v relation_n to_o god_n as_o the_o vast_a bulk_n of_o the_o earth_n appear_v as_o a_o point_n or_o as_o nothing_o when_o 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god_n as_o one_o i_o be_o apt_a to_o think_v they_o speak_v in_o the_o language_n of_o jeweller_n who_o call_v one_o kind_n of_o margarite_n union_n because_o first_o they_o be_v find_v single_a when_o daily_o experience_n show_v many_o be_v hatch_v in_o the_o same_o shell_n here_o i_o may_v make_v a_o stop_n and_o pity_v the_o ethnic_n and_o the_o secular_a reasoner_n who_o like_o apodes_n bird_n on_o the_o wing_n hover_v in_o contemplation_n without_o foot_n to_o rest_n on_o for_o who_o support_n though_o nature_n have_v make_v provision_n yet_o with_o great_a difficulty_n and_o danger_n than_o for_o other_o familiar_a work_n of_o nature_n for_o though_o it_o must_v be_v confess_v as_o a_o father_n eminent_a both_o for_o christian_a and_o pagan_a oratory_n say_v in_o his_o octavia_n that_o the_o heathen_n do_v always_o own_o one_o god_n and_o providence_n but_o know_v not_o how_o to_o point_v it_o out_o this_o confess_v help_v the_o heathen_a or_o reasoner_n very_o little_a for_o as_o it_o be_v say_v in_o the_o begin_n of_o this_o disquisition_n that_o he_o who_o have_v such_o a_o rove_a fancy_n as_o not_o to_o distinguish_v god_n from_o other_o being_n deserve_v not_o the_o name_n of_o a_o theist_n if_o it_o be_v again_o object_v that_o the_o unity_n of_o the_o godhead_n have_v be_v know_v to_o those_o who_o have_v no_o opportunity_n or_o ability_n to_o read_v holy_a scripture_n yet_o speak_v sentence_n which_o be_v matter_n of_o christian_a faith_n to_o instance_n in_o one_o famous_a verse_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d this_o can_v help_v the_o reasoner_n in_o this_o article_n of_o belief_n for_o it_o be_v the_o say_n of_o a_o sibyl_n it_o can_v be_v call_v the_o dictate_v of_o pure_a reason_n for_o though_o we_o know_v not_o how_o yet_o it_o must_v be_v acknowledge_v that_o so_o much_o as_o they_o speak_v true_o of_o god_n and_o christ_n come_v from_o revelation_n in_o such_o a_o way_n as_o none_o can_v determine_v thus_o far_o i_o have_v endeavour_v to_o show_v reason_n defect_n in_o its_o first_o and_o chief_a discovery_n when_o it_o put_v itself_o on_o the_o rack_n stretch_v only_o to_o a_o sceptical_a uncertainty_n it_o now_o remain_v that_o i_o meet_v with_o another_o objection_n which_o may_v seem_v so_o considerable_a that_o i_o may_v not_o pass_v it_o by_o without_o take_v notice_n that_o it_o may_v be_v retort_v from_o the_o former_a part_n of_o the_o disquisition_n that_o i_o conclude_v the_o gentile_n or_o ethnic_n have_v not_o the_o true_a knowledge_n of_o a_o deity_n neither_o can_v proper_o be_v call_v theist_n which_o assertion_n seem_v too_o cruel_a and_o unreasonable_a for_o some_o eminent_a in_o learning_n allow_v that_o the_o heathen_n in_o their_o theory_n and_o practice_n if_o not_o save_v in_o some_o sense_n may_v be_v exempt_a from_o damnation_n because_o they_o have_v a_o law_n from_o god_n and_o by_o that_o law_n be_v to_o be_v judge_v add_v to_o this_o that_o the_o heathen_n be_v allow_v to_o be_v judge_n of_o action_n moral_o good_a and_o evil_n just_a and_o unjust_a and_o justice_n in_o man_n be_v the_o same_o with_o that_o which_o be_v in_o god_n though_o in_o a_o inferior_a degree_n let_v this_o be_v grant_v it_o will_v not_o help_v the_o reasoner_n in_o set_v out_o his_o guide_n for_o although_o the_o rule_n of_o justice_n be_v the_o same_o in_o the_o ethnic_a and_o the_o christian_a and_o some_o of_o the_o commandment_n be_v reason_n dictate_v promulge_v and_o make_v law_n by_o another_o legislation_n yet_o they_o shall_v not_o be_v judge_v in_o the_o same_o way_n and_o manner_n suppose_v the_o heathen_a exact_o observe_v his_o legem_fw-la talionis_fw-la and_o demand_v a_o eye_n for_o a_o eye_n or_o a_o tooth_n for_o a_o tooth_n as_o the_o holy_a scripture_n express_v it_o or_o to_o speak_v in_o the_o poetical_a say_n which_o