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a_o answer_n to_o a_o book_n entitle_v tractatus_fw-la theologico_fw-la politicus_fw-la london_n print_v for_o charles_n brome_n at_o the_o gun_n at_o the_o west_n end_v of_o st._n paul_n 1697._o to_o the_o right_n honourable_a charles_n earl_n of_o winchelsea_n viscount_n maidstone_n baron_n fitz-herbert_n of_o eastwell_n etc._n etc._n my_o lord_n this_o treatise_n be_v by_o i_o design_v for_o the_o vindication_n of_o reveal_v religion_n against_o those_o deistical_a and_o sceptical_a notion_n which_o be_v too_o frequent_a in_o this_o age_n have_v there_o be_v no_o singular_a obligation_n to_o induce_v i_o yet_o can_v i_o not_o have_v find_v a_o more_o proper_a patron_n than_o your_o lordship_n who_o all_o must_v acknowledge_v to_o be_v a_o favourer_n and_o protector_n of_o religion_n virtue_n and_o whatsoever_o be_v praiseworthy_a among_o man_n i_o be_o very_o sensible_a that_o my_o small_a station_n in_o the_o church_n may_v very_o well_o have_v excuse_v i_o from_o engage_v in_o a_o 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will_v add_v but_o one_o word_n more_o and_o that_o be_v to_o acquaint_v thou_o that_o my_o design_n be_v only_o to_o answer_v this_o author_n i_o have_v follow_v he_o exact_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d to_o the_o end_n of_o the_o seven_o chapter_n and_o there_o leave_v he_o as_o be_v weary_a of_o go_v further_o after_o a_o false_a light_n to_o no_o purpose_n for_o have_v consider_v all_o his_o cavil_n against_o the_o prophet_n prophecy_n divine_a law_n miracle_n and_o interpretation_n of_o scripture_n i_o think_v it_o altogether_o needless_a to_o proceed_v any_o further_a and_o thus_o have_v give_v thou_o a_o account_n of_o my_o design_n i_o must_v leave_v the_o performance_n to_o thy_o favourable_a censure_n and_o wish_v thou_o a_o hearty_a farewell_o a_o answer_n to_o the_o preface_n of_o tractatus_fw-la theologico_fw-la politicus_fw-la there_o be_v not_o long_o since_o a_o young_a gentleman_n who_o name_n be_v scepticus_n who_o be_v please_v to_o retire_v from_o the_o noise_n 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from_o popular_a error_n that_o i_o embrace_v it_o as_o my_o deliverer_n from_o the_o darkness_n under_o which_o i_o be_v breed_v by_o ignorant_a nurse_n tutor_n and_o master_n and_o as_o such_o i_o recommend_v it_o to_o the_o perusal_n of_o all_o those_o who_o rather_o desire_v to_o be_v man_n betimes_o than_o live_v long_o till_o they_o be_v overgrow_v child_n with_o long_a beard_n and_o shallow_a brain_n tremble_v at_o the_o thought_n of_o invisible_a power_n logic._n i_o suppose_v than_o you_o be_v feed_v upon_o a_o limb_n of_o hobbs_n leviathan_n and_o be_v just_a now_o return_v thanks_o to_o the_o lord_n know_v what_o for_o the_o plentiful_a collation_n scept_v hobbs_n be_v indeed_o a_o very_a pretty_a fellow_n and_o not_o easy_o scare_v with_o religious_a bugbear_n but_o this_o author_n deserve_v rather_o to_o be_v esteem_v his_o tutor_n than_o his_o scholar_n he_o have_v such_o a_o knack_n of_o expose_v all_o the_o defect_n of_o those_o book_n you_o call_v the_o scripture_n 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faith_n or_o credulity_n may_v know_v as_o well_o as_o themselves_o t._n this_o only_o show_v with_o how_o much_o confidence_n and_o stupidity_n your_o infallible_a author_n contradict_v himself_o for_o p._n 1._o he_o assert_n exit_fw-la traditâ_fw-la definitione_n sequitur_fw-la cognitionem_fw-la naturalem_fw-la prophetiam_fw-la vocari_fw-la posse_fw-la what_o more_o evident_a than_o that_o he_o may_v be_v call_v a_o prophet_n who_o be_v endow_v with_o natural_a knowledge_n if_o natural_a knowledge_n may_v be_v call_v prophecy_n a._n that_o be_v but_o a_o small_a mistake_n his_o true_a meaning_n be_v that_o reason_n be_v not_o less_o certain_a and_o divine_a than_o revelation_n its_o self_n t._n natural_a thing_n be_v call_v divine_a upon_o a_o threefold_a account_n as_o they_o be_v the_o workmanship_n of_o god_n and_o in_o this_o sense_n all_o thing_n that_o have_v a_o real_a subsistance_n may_v be_v call_v divine_a as_o they_o be_v the_o work_n of_o god_n but_o the_o word_n divine_a 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punish_v the_o bad_a in_o more_o proper_a term_n than_o those_o of_o love_n and_o anger_n etc._n etc._n though_o therefore_o those_o expression_n be_v figurative_a when_o apply_v to_o god_n yet_o since_o they_o be_v the_o most_o proper_a that_o we_o can_v find_v for_o what_o we_o can_v full_o understand_v it_o be_v plain_a that_o moses_n have_v right_a conception_n of_o god_n when_o in_o word_n he_o ascribe_v those_o passion_n to_o he_o s._n then_o you_o interpret_v scripture_n by_o reason_n l._n i_o do_v not_o make_v my_o reason_n the_o standard_n of_o divine_a revelation_n but_o i_o hope_v that_o i_o may_v make_v the_o same_o use_n of_o my_o reason_n in_o interpret_n scripture_n as_o you_o or_o any_o sensible_a man_n will_v do_v in_o read_v any_o humane_a author_n s._n it_o will_v be_v hard_a to_o deny_v you_o that_o liberty_n beside_o i_o be_o so_o much_o a_o friend_n to_o truth_n that_o i_o must_v ingenuous_o confess_v that_o it_o be_v not_o plain_a to_o i_o that_o job_n in_o that_o place_n by_o fire_n do_v either_o understand_v jealousy_n 31._o vid._n job_n 31._o or_o anger_n but_o rather_o the_o crime_n of_o adultery_n or_o fornication_n for_o thus_o he_o speak_v v._o 9_o if_o my_o heart_n have_v be_v deceive_v by_o a_o woman_n or_o if_o i_o have_v lay_v wait_v at_o my_o neighhour_n door_n then_o let_v my_o wife_n grind_v unto_o a_o other_o and_o let_v other_o bow_v down_o upon_o she_o for_o this_o be_v a_o heinous_a crime_n yea_o it_o be_v a_o iniquity_n to_o be_v punish_v by_o the_o judge_n for_o it_o be_v a_o fire_n that_o consume_v to_o destruction_n and_o will_v root_v out_o all_o my_o increase_n now_o it_o seem_v to_o i_o that_o it_o be_v not_o jealousy_n which_o be_v no_o very_o expensive_a passion_n but_o the_o be_v deceive_v by_o a_o woman_n and_o the_o guilt_n of_o lie_v in_o wait_n at_o his_o neighbour_n door_n which_o job_n call_v here_o a_o consume_a fire_n that_o will_v soon_o bring_v destruction_n upon_o his_o body_n and_o estate_n l._n 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which_o my_o author_n very_o learned_o reckon_v up_o in_o the_o 93._o pag._n and_o the_o great_a want_n we_o have_v of_o a_o certain_a history_n of_o the_o book_n themselves_o and_o the_o life_n of_o the_o author_n you_o will_v easy_o perceive_v that_o we_o know_v little_a or_o nothing_o of_o the_o true_a sense_n of_o scripture_n unless_o it_o be_v in_o those_o place_n which_o treat_v of_o moral_a precept_n for_o they_o be_v so_o plain_o intelligible_a that_o they_o retain_v the_o same_o perspicuity_n in_o all_o language_n l._n we_o know_v that_o the_o hebrew_n as_o well_o as_o all_o other_o language_n be_v subject_a to_o some_o ambiguity_n which_o may_v create_v error_n but_o we_o do_v not_o see_v that_o these_o ambiguity_n be_v so_o frequent_a or_o of_o such_o consequence_n as_o to_o shake_v our_o belief_n of_o any_o one_o fundamental_a article_n of_o reveal_v religion_n but_o with_o what_o gygantick_a confidence_n will_v your_o aurhor_n raise_v a_o stupendous_a structure_n upon_o this_o narrow_a and_o rot_a foundation_n there_o be_v some_o ambiguity_n in_o some_o place_n that_o may_v sometime_o arise_v concern_v the_o true_a meaning_n of_o some_o few_o text_n of_o scripture_n therefore_o we_o can_v never_o be_v certain_a of_o the_o true_a meaning_n of_o any_o one_o text_n therein_o those_o only_o except_v which_o contain_v moral_a precept_n for_o of_o those_o we_o be_v certain_a before_o hand_n but_o we_o can_v never_o understand_v from_o thence_o that_o there_o be_v such_o a_o people_n as_o the_o jew_n or_o such_o a_o man_n as_o moses_n or_o such_o a_o person_n as_o our_o saviour_n who_o do_v wonderful_a thing_n in_o judea_n nor_o any_o apostle_n send_v out_o by_o he_o for_o these_o be_v all_o speculative_a matter_n which_o though_o the_o new_a testament_n be_v write_v in_o greek_a yet_o be_v altogether_o obscure_v by_o the_o ambiguity_n of_o the_o hebrew_n language_n can_v you_o think_v your_o author_n will_v have_v descend_v to_o this_o absurd_a way_n of_o argue_v if_o his_o cause_n will_v have_v bear_v a_o better_a be_v not_o our_o faith_n on_o our_o saviour_n ground_v upon_o plain_a narration_n of_o such_o matter_n of_o fact_n as_o be_v as_o easy_o intelligible_a in_o one_o language_n as_o another_o and_o will_v not_o history_n as_o well_o bear_v a_o translation_n as_o the_o problem_n of_o euclid_n do_v not_o he_o pretend_v to_o expound_v scripture_n by_o some_o hebrew_n history_n if_o he_o can_v get_v one_o for_o his_o purpose_n and_o yet_o be_v all_o history_n so_o obscure_a that_o it_o be_v impossible_a to_o be_v expound_v s._n you_o can_v deny_v but_o that_o a_o history_n of_o the_o life_n of_o the_o prophet_n will_v much_o conduce_v towards_o the_o better_a understanding_n of_o prophetical_a write_n l._n it_o may_v give_v light_a to_o some_o few_o place_n but_o be_v far_o from_o be_v absolute_o necessary_a to_o expound_v all_o why_o may_v we_o not_o as_o well_o understand_v the_o scripture_n without_o such_o a_o history_n as_o 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turpitude_n or_o meaness_n deserve_v not_o to_o be_v record_v and_o this_o be_v a_o defect_n which_o can_v no_o other_o way_n be_v supply_v than_o by_o a_o total_a abolition_n of_o those_o trifle_a author_n s._n what_o be_v it_o you_o will_v infer_v from_o hence_o l._n that_o faith_n ground_v upon_o true_a and_o useful_a history_n may_v give_v we_o a_o right_a knowledge_n and_o due_a love_n of_o god_n s._n how_o can_v faith_n that_o rest_v upon_o humane_a authority_n contend_v for_o certainty_n with_o reason_n that_o proceed_v by_o such_o common_a notion_n which_o be_v admit_v as_o true_a by_o all_o man_n l._n natural_a reason_n do_v enable_v man_n to_o understand_v that_o god_n ought_v to_o be_v love_v as_o the_o first_o cause_n of_o all_o those_o good_a thing_n which_o his_o creature_n man_n do_v enjoy_v but_o then_o there_o be_v a_o certainty_n in_o sense_n as_o well_o as_o in_o reason_n though_o after_o another_o manner_n and_o therefore_o if_o the_o sense_n of_o some_o man_n have_v be_v rational_o convince_v that_o god_n have_v bestow_v other_o benefit_n upon_o they_o than_o those_o that_o be_v bestow_v at_o their_o creation_n or_o convey_v by_o the_o invisible_a hand_n of_o his_o providence_n why_o shall_v not_o such_o a_o knowledge_n excite_v they_o to_o all_o imaginable_a love_n and_o gratitude_n to_o their_o great_a benefactor_n the_o certainty_n of_o a_o benefit_n receive_v be_v all_o that_o every_o good_a man_n require_v in_o order_n to_o be_v grateful_a and_o whether_o that_o certainty_n be_v ground_v upon_o abstract_a reason_n or_o a_o true_a faithful_a narrative_n of_o a_o matter_n of_o fact_n be_v not_o much_o to_o the_o purpose_n so_o absurd_o do_v your_o a_o assert_n nec_fw-la fides_fw-la historiarum_fw-la quantumvis_fw-la certa_fw-la dei_fw-la cognitionem_fw-la &_o consequenter_fw-la nec_fw-la etiam_fw-la dei_fw-la amorem_fw-la vobis_fw-la daâ—e_n potest_fw-la s._n he_o do_v not_o deny_v that_o it_o can_v give_v we_o motive_n to_o love_n god_n but_o it_o can_v work_v in_o we_o the_o love_n of_o god_n whether_o we_o will_v or_o no._n l._n no_o more_o can_v his_o adore_a reason_n for_o many_o of_o the_o great_a pretender_n to_o reason_n have_v be_v the_o most_o impious_a man_n in_o the_o world_n s._n you_o divine_v represent_v god_n to_o the_o vulgar_a as_o a_o lawgiver_n and_o his_o command_n you_o call_v his_o law_n but_o alas_o you_o mistake_v the_o point_n for_o eternal_a verity_n be_v the_o only_a law_n of_o god_n who_o act_v by_o the_o necessity_n of_o his_o own_o nature_n for_o the_o affirmation_n and_o negation_n of_o god_n do_v always_o involve_v a_o eternal_a verity_n and_o necessity_n in_o themselves_o if_o god_n have_v say_v to_o adam_n thou_o shall_v not_o eat_v of_o the_o tree_n of_o the_o knowledge_n of_o good_a and_o evil_a it_o will_v imply_v a_o
be_v a_o foolish_a thing_n to_o limit_v the_o power_n of_o nature_n and_o to_o say_v her_o law_n extend_v to_o some_o thing_n only_o and_o not_o to_o all_o l._n your_o author_n speak_v herein_o as_o little_a like_o a_o good_a philosopher_n as_o a_o good_a jew_n or_o a_o good_a christian_n if_o the_o law_n of_o nature_n be_v fix_v and_o immovable_a they_o may_v be_v observe_v and_o the_o observation_n of_o they_o we_o call_v the_o study_n of_o natural_a philosophy_n to_o say_v therefore_o with_o your_o author_n that_o the_o course_n of_o nature_n be_v fix_v and_o immutable_a and_o yet_o that_o her_o power_n extend_v to_o all_o thing_n est_fw-la potentiam_fw-la naturae_fw-la infinitam_fw-la esse_fw-la omnino_fw-la credendum_fw-la est_fw-la be_v a_o contradiction_n in_o the_o very_a term_n for_o if_o she_o can_v do_v all_o thing_n she_o can_v alter_v her_o settle_a course_n and_o move_v in_o a_o order_n quite_o contrary_a to_o what_o now_o she_o steer_v nor_o do_v he_o mend_v the_o 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that_o we_o be_v sure_o be_v repugnant_a to_o those_o fix_a rule_n which_o she_o be_v bind_v to_o observe_v in_o all_o other_o case_n s._n prithee_o what_o be_v those_o rule_n how_o do_v you_o know_v that_o they_o have_v ever_o be_v break_v l._n the_o first_o rule_n exit_fw-la nihilo_fw-la nihil_fw-la fit_n out_o of_o nothing_o there_o can_v come_v nothing_o be_v as_o clear_v by_o its_o own_o light_n as_o any_o one_o proposition_n we_o can_v easy_o frame_v unto_o ourselves_o either_o therefore_o matter_n make_v itself_o that_o be_v it_o be_v a_o cause_n before_o it_o do_v exist_v which_o be_v a_o wild_a absurdity_n or_o it_o be_v make_v by_o a_o superior_a be_v and_o its_o very_a production_n the_o beginning_n of_o miracle_n we_o all_o know_v that_o mutation_n of_o body_n may_v be_v make_v by_o the_o regular_a law_n of_o motion_n but_o that_o matter_n shall_v make_v itself_o or_o be_v produce_v out_o of_o nothing_o by_o she_o own_o law_n of_o motion_n be_v repugnant_a to_o the_o common_a sense_n of_o mankind_n if_o matter_n therefore_o be_v make_v there_o be_v a_o time_n when_o it_o do_v not_o exist_v and_o therefore_o its_o motion_n from_o non_fw-fr existence_n to_o existence_n can_v not_o be_v according_a to_o any_o fix_a rule_n of_o nature_n which_o have_v then_o no_o be_v and_o consequent_o god_n do_v not_o always_o work_v by_o fix_a and_o unalterable_a rule_n to_o which_o the_o very_a notion_n of_o creation_n be_v direct_o repugnant_a s._n you_o ramble_v too_o wide_a from_o our_o present_a purpose_n can_v you_o prove_v that_o any_o thing_n yet_o be_v ever_o do_v since_o the_o creation_n that_o be_v certain_o repugnant_a to_o any_o one_o fix_a law_n of_o nature_n which_o may_v be_v a_o sufficient_a testimonial_a to_o a_o man_n that_o he_o be_v send_v from_o god_n l._n it_o be_v a_o maxim_n in_o reason_n that_o one_o body_n act_n upon_o another_o by_o contaction_n or_o protrusion_n only_o if_o two_o body_n be_v place_v never_o so_o near_o and_o no_o contiguous_a body_n between_o they_o may_v remain_v to_o all_o eternity_n in_o that_o posture_n without_o affect_v each_o other_o or_o produce_v any_o alteration_n in_o they_o if_o therefore_o any_o man_n can_v produce_v a_o alteration_n in_o body_n by_o the_o sole_a word_n of_o his_o mouth_n all_o man_n will_v conclude_v this_o man_n do_v act_n by_o virtue_n of_o a_o supernatural_a power_n when_o therefore_o the_o child_n of_o israel_n see_v moses_n turn_v water_n into_o blood_n or_o bring_v louse_n and_o frog_n etc._n etc._n upon_o the_o land_n of_o egypt_n by_o the_o lift_n up_o his_o rod_n or_o our_o saviour_n cure_v disease_n by_o the_o word_n of_o his_o mouth_n or_o raise_v man_n from_o the_o dead_a etc._n etc._n they_o must_v conclude_v that_o this_o be_v do_v by_o a_o spiritual_a and_o not_o by_o a_o material_a power_n which_o can_v cause_v no_o alteration_n on_o another_o body_n but_o by_o contraction_n or_o emission_n of_o minute_n particle_n the_o secret_a operation_n of_o 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our_o religion_n be_v ground_v shall_v be_v try_v by_o the_o most_o know_a axiom_n of_o natural_a philosophy_n and_o challenge_v the_o whole_a race_n of_o epicurean_a atomist_n to_o show_v how_o they_o can_v be_v do_v according_a to_o any_o hypothesis_n that_o ever_o yet_o be_v frame_v of_o the_o mechanical_a law_n of_o motion_n s._n do_v not_o my_o author_n clear_o demonstrate_v that_o the_o sun_n be_v stop_v his_o course_n of_o which_o we_o read_v in_o the_o book_n of_o joshua_n be_v nothing_o else_o but_o a_o refraction_n of_o light_n the_o sky_n be_v then_o full_a of_o hail_n and_o the_o like_a may_v be_v say_v of_o the_o dial_n of_o ahaz_n l._n your_o author_n bold_o say_v much_o but_o he_o prove_v nothing_o the_o stand_v still_o of_o the_o sun_n or_o the_o prolongation_n of_o light_n by_o any_o other_o mean_n whether_o natural_a or_o miracu_fw-la lous_a will_v have_v be_v equal_o beneficial_a to_o the_o israelite_n in_o afford_v they_o time_n to_o slay_v their_o enemy_n but_o because_o it_o will_v be_v great_a encouragement_n to_o the_o israelite_n to_o see_v god_n himself_o assist_v they_o in_o a_o miraculous_a manner_n and_o the_o scripture_n do_v relate_v this_o as_o a_o miracle_n and_o since_o no_o sufficient_a reason_n can_v be_v give_v why_o the_o sun_n shall_v stop_v his_o course_n or_o the_o earth_n stand_v still_o which_o in_o the_o effect_n be_v the_o same_o thing_n unless_o by_o the_o immediate_a power_n of_o god_n we_o have_v more_o reason_n to_o believe_v the_o scripture-narrative_a than_o the_o improbable_a conjecture_n of_o your_o dare_a author_n for_o why_o must_v we_o needs_o conclude_v that_o because_o it_o be_v possible_a the_o child_n of_o israel_n may_v be_v deceive_v that_o therefore_o they_o certain_o be_v so_o or_o how_o be_v it_o probable_a that_o the_o air_n