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credit_n of_o the_o precede_a be_v still_o successive_o secure_v in_o the_o subsequent_a church_n thus_o be_v once_o persuade_v of_o the_o prudence_n and_o honesty_n of_o the_o present_a church_n namely_o that_o she_o be_v so_o wise_a and_o prudent_a as_o not_o to_o have_v be_v deceive_v by_o the_o next_o precede_v from_o who_o she_o receive_v the_o scripture_n and_o so_o honest_a and_o ingenuous_a as_o not_o to_o deceive_v the_o reader_n or_o myself_o or_o the_o next_o ensue_v we_o be_v according_o assure_v of_o the_o same_o both_o prudence_n and_o honesty_n and_o consequent_o rational_a infallibility_n in_o the_o former_a and_o so_o in_o the_o next_o to_o that_o and_o so_o on_o to_o the_o very_a apostle_n and_o first_o witness_n now_o then_o let_v the_o intellectual_n and_o moral_n the_o wisdom_n prudence_n and_o discretion_n the_o honesty_n fidelity_n and_o integrity_n of_o the_o present_a witness_n of_o the_o divinity_n of_o the_o scripture_n be_v impartial_o scan_v and_o all_o compare_v with_o the_o multitude_n of_o
dignity_n pre-engaged_n be_v perfect_v and_o ripen_v into_o a_o firm_a persuasion_n by_o the_o concurrent_a certificative_a testimony_n of_o the_o holy_a ghost_n as_o the_o efficient_a cause_n thereof_o exert_v in_o if_o distinct_a from_o the_o admirable_a efficacy_n of_o the_o doctrine_n itself_o upon_o the_o mind_n and_o judgement_n the_o heart_n will_n and_o affection_n etc._n etc._n namely_o that_o the_o revelation_n that_o be_v the_o doctrine_n confirm_v by_o miracle_n both_o co-attested_n canonical_o in_o the_o scripture_n and_o ministerial_o by_o the_o church_n contain_v in_o the_o book_n of_o the_o old_a and_o new_a testament_n as_o they_o be_v approve_v and_o receive_v throughout_o the_o reform_a church_n be_v of_o a_o truth_n the_o word_n of_o god_n etc._n etc._n there_o be_v several_a other_o secondary_a and_o collateral_a argument_n of_o the_o divinity_n of_o of_o the_o scripture_n as_o the_o cessation_n of_o gentile-oracle_n the_o subversion_n of_o pagan-idol_n by_o 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be_v considerable_a in_o reference_n to_o the_o case_n in_o hand_n but_o two_o way_n namely_o as_o either_o matter_n of_o divine_a testimony_n co-attested_n together_o with_o the_o doctrine_n by_o they_o confirm_v canonical_o in_o the_o scripture_n or_o else_o as_o matter_n of_o humane_a testimony_n co-attested_n together_o with_o the_o say_a doctrine_n ministerial_o in_o &_o by_o the_o church_n as_o have_v be_v preassert_v now_o in_o short_a sir_n under_o neither_o consideration_n be_v miracle_n or_o can_v they_o rational_o be_v suppose_v to_o be_v the_o argument_n of_o our_o faith_n but_o only_o the_o partial_a object_n thereof_o as_o matter_n of_o divine_a testimony_n as_o have_v be_v say_v in_o the_o scripture_n and_o matter_n of_o humane_a testimony_n in_o the_o church_n and_o therefore_o require_v a_o correspondent_a assent_n to_o both_o where_o for_o a_o further_a account_n of_o myself_o i_o crave_v leave_n to_o remonstrate_v against_o a_o very_a eminent_a and_o worthy_a divine_a of_o the_o quorum_n of_o the_o clergy_n by_o you_o contemn_v now_o live_v who_o in_o a_o book_n as_o note_v as_o himself_o hold_v this_o of_o miracle_n for_o the_o main_a convictive_a argument_n of_o the_o divine_a authority_n of_o the_o scripture_n as_o though_o best_a now_o because_o such_o of_o old_a which_o be_v a_o mere_a fallacy_n a_o non_fw-la causa_fw-la pro_fw-la causa_fw-la partly_o and_o partly_o ab_fw-la accident_n for_o first_o to_o argue_v ab_fw-la absurdo_fw-la from_o his_o own_o hypothesis_n namely_o this_o that_o which_o christ_n himself_o in_o his_o time_n use_v as_o the_o best_a argument_n to_o prove_v the_o divine_a authority_n of_o his_o doctrine_n be_v the_o best_a still_o to_o which_o i_o subsume_v but_o so_o it_o be_v that_o that_o of_o visible_a miracle_n be_v the_o best_a argument_n which_o christ_n use_v to_o prove_v the_o divine_a authority_n of_o his_o doctrine_n make_v the_o ear-witness_n of_o the_o one_o eye-witness_n of_o the_o other_o as_o infallible_o demonstrative_a sign_n and_o seal_n of_o divinity_n and_o then_o the_o conclusion_n follow_v full_a of_o absurdity_n viz._n that_o that_o of_o visible_a miracle_n obvious_a to_o our_o eye_n as_o those_o be_v which_o he_o wrought_v in_o the_o day_n of_o his_o flesh_n to_o he_o then-proselyte_n be_v the_o best_a argument_n that_o can_v be_v use_v still_o to_o prove_v the_o divinity_n of_o his_o doctrine_n the_o scripture_n or_o which_o be_v all_o one_o christ_n must_v re-descend_a into_o the_o world_n and_o work_v new_a miracle_n visible_a as_o his_o first_o before_o he_o can_v have_v new_a convert_n absurd_a again_o if_o that_o which_o christ_n himself_o use_v as_o the_o best_a argument_n to_o prove_v the_o divinity_n of_o his_o doctrine_n which_o be_v know_v to_o have_v be_v visible_a miracle_n be_v the_o best_a still_o then_o be_v we_o under_o a_o unavoidable_a necessity_n of_o incur_v the_o same_o guilt_n to_o wit_n non-conviction_n and_o positive_a unbelief_n or_o in_o the_o same_o author_n opinion_n which_o i_o do_v not_o here_o dispute_v the_o sin_n against_o the_o holy_a ghost_n with_o those_o reprobated_a infidel_n in_o the_o day_n of_o christ_n through_o our_o be_v destitute_a of_o the_o same_o provision_n against_o it_o namely_o visible_a miracle_n nay_o more_o we_o be_v under_o a_o necessity_n of_o incur_v sin_n without_o possibility_n of_o remedy_n a_o necessity_n of_o sin_v through_o want_n of_o the_o preventive_a visible_a miracle_n without_o possibility_n of_o remedy_n because_o the_o positive_a unbelief_n mention_v and_o sin_n against_o the_o holy_a ghost_n if_o those_o be_v distinct_a be_v know_v by_o scripture-verdict_n to_o be_v unpardonable_a this_o gross_a absurdity_n follow_v by_o necessary_a consequence_n &_o how_o injurious_a nay_o blasphemous_a against_o the_o wisdom_n goodness_n holiness_n and_o justice_n of_o god_n the_o assert_v of_o such_o a_o thing_n be_v be_v easy_a to_o determine_v three_o dilemmatical_o that_o reverend_a author_n must_v necessary_o consider_v miracle_n either_o as_o record_v in_o the_o scripture_n or_o as_o report_a by_o the_o church_n for_o as_o visible_a they_o be_v peculiar_a to_o christ_n contemporary_n and_o eye-witness_n if_o as_o record_v in_o the_o scripture_n as_o such_o they_o be_v part_n of_o the_o divine_a testimony_n which_o be_v this_o complex_fw-la the_o doctrine_n of_o christ_n confirm_v by_o miracle_n they_o be_v not_o the_o argument_n but_o the_o object_n of_o our_o faith_n and_o we_o believe_v not_o the_o scripture_n for_o the_o miracle_n but_o the_o miracle_n for_o the_o scripture_n as_o part_v of_o the_o sacred_a narrative_a and_o together_o with_o the_o doctrine_n by_o they_o confirm_v and_o joint_o with_o they_o therein_o record_v the_o collateral_a object_n of_o our_o belief_n if_o again_o as_o report_a by_o the_o church_n then_o by_o my_o author_n divinity_n the_o testimony_n of_o the_o church_n be_v the_o main_a or_o best_a argument_n that_o can_v be_v use_v to_o prove_v the_o divine_a authority_n of_o the_o scripture_n a_o train_n of_o absurdity_n and_o if_o we_o abstract_a from_o the_o testimony_n of_o both_o scripture_n and_o church_n let_v any_o tell_v i_o what_o significancy_n miracle_n be_v of_o in_o the_o case_n the_o author_n i_o assure_v you_o be_v a_o person_n approve_v for_o eminent_a both_o learning_n and_o piety_n and_o indemnify_v from_o your_o two_o extenuative_a character_n of_o which_o in_o their_o due_a place_n but_o personal_a respect_n must_v vail_v to_o the_o interest_n of_o the_o truth_n i_o can_v easy_o declare_v with_o he_o that_o i_o believe_v that_o doctrine_n to_o be_v of_o god_n which_o be_v confirm_v by_o undeniable_a miracle_n i_o can_v as_o easy_o declare_v that_o i_o believe_v all_o true_a miracle_n to_o be_v of_o god_n because_o they_o exceed_v all_o create_a power_n but_o the_o critical_a query_n in_o the_o case_n by_o he_o omit_v be_v how_o shall_v one_o be_v assure_v that_o such_o miracle_n be_v ever_o wrought_v as_o christ_n turn_v of_o water_n into_o wine_n for_o instance_n his_o raise_v of_o
mean_n method_n help_n etc._n etc._n conduce_v hereunto_o with_o due_a explication_n and_o application_n of_o the_o same_o accoâ—â—â—ng_v to_o the_o acroamatic_a rule_n of_o that_o divine_a art_n must_v needs_o be_v in_o foro_fw-la ecclesiae_fw-la save_v preacher_n at_o leastwise_o no_o hinderer_n of_o salvation_n as_o that_o the_o condition_n of_o all_o mankind_n by_o nature_n be_v a_o state_n of_o sin_n and_o misery_n consist_v in_o the_o loss_n of_o beatific_a friendly_a union_n and_o communion_n with_o god_n the_o sum_n of_o all_o create_a happiness_n and_o the_o incursion_n of_o his_o wrath_n curse_n and_o all_o the_o accumulative_a misery_n attend_v his_o violate_a law_n both_o in_o this_o world_n and_o that_o which_o be_v to_o come_v that_o there_o be_v no_o possible_a way_n of_o escape_n or_o recovery_n out_o of_o this_o condition_n without_o a_o mediator_n or_o redeemer_n interpose_v as_o a_o three_o person_n between_o god_n and_o the_o delinquent_n partly_o by_o reason_n of_o 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save_n preach_v as_o well_o as_o her_o preacher_n both_o her_o first_o refromer_n and_o their_o successor_n infinite_o emprove_v 25._o answ_n pag._n 25._o since_o the_o high-sheriff_n sermon_n in_o st._n mary_n pulpit_n at_o oxford_n in_o point_n of_o order_n and_o office_n sufficient_o authorise_v and_o the_o religion_n by_o they_o purge_v and_o preach_v and_o in_o community_n with_o the_o people_n joint_o profess_v and_o practise_v true_o catholick-apostolick_a she_o sir_n be_v very_o well_o satisfy_v and_o like_a to_o be_v daily_o more_o and_o more_o confirm_v in_o it_o i_o hope_v unless_o better_a authority_n be_v offer_v for_o a_o innovation_n in_o either_o creed_n or_o clergy_n than_o what_o have_v ever_o as_o yet_o appear_v on_o this_o side_n the_o sea_n or_o to_o some_o of_o we_o beyond_o it_o from_o the_o learned_a either_o man_n or_o book_n but_o i_o will_v assure_v you_o for_o your_o comfort_n you_o have_v little_a reason_n to_o hope_v ever_o to_o see_v such_o day_n of_o virtue_n what!_o and_o yet_o our_o usual_a preach_a folly_n and_o a_o hindrance_n of_o salvation_n god_n forbid_v sir_n if_o i_o have_v fail_v in_o the_o premise_n disprove_v they_o if_o not_o pray_v deny_v not_o the_o conclusion_n but_o this_o be_v antiquate_a game_n it_o be_v ordinary_a with_o the_o old_a serpent_n to_o act_v the_o diabolus_fw-la where_o he_o can_v be_v apolyon_n accuse_v what_o he_o can_v destroy_v when_o as_o after_o a_o great_a expense_n of_o venom_n and_o subtlety_n he_o can_v thanks_o be_v to_o god_n either_o vnminister_v our_o clergy_n nor_o vnchurch_n our_o laity_n to_o the_o ruin_n of_o the_o whole_a he_o cunning_o play_v his_o aftergame_n in_o traduce_v all_o our_o church_n as_o apostate_n our_o religion_n as_o heresy_n our_o discipline_n as_o schism_n our_o usual_a preach_v as_o folly_n and_o a_o hindrance_n of_o salvation_n and_o sir_n suppose_v i_o grant_v part_n of_o your_o charge_n that_o the_o preach_v of_o the_o first_o reformer_n of_o our_o church_n 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english_a instead_o of_o greek_a and_o that_o in_o a_o cornute_n and_o thereby_o indeed_o he_o push_v you_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d but_o foolhardy_a take_v no_o warning_n 80._o answ_n pag._n 80._o either_o you_o expect_v say_v he_o that_o your_o reader_n shall_v believe_v nothing_o of_o what_o you_o say_v throughout_o your_o letter_n and_o then_o you_o play_v the_o fool_n and_o write_v to_o no_o purpose_n or_o you_o will_v have_v he_o believe_v all_o and_o then_o you_o do_v little_o better_o than_o be_v almost_o actionable_a have_v i_o not_o a_o precedent_n for_o it_o play_v the_o knave_n and_o now_o sir_n by_o way_n of_o reflection_n upon_o the_o whole_a in_o order_n to_o a_o conclusion_n of_o this_o general_a what_o reader_n that_o be_v not_o either_o prepossess_v with_o your_o poisonous_a principle_n and_o prejudice_v or_o else_o whole_o stupefy_v and_o insatuate_v when_o he_o shall_v recollect_v within_o himself_o and_o due_o weigh_v the_o premise_n what_o reader_n i_o say_v thus_o qualify_v and_o considerate_a will_v not_o ready_o join_v issue_n with_o i_o in_o this_o conclusion_n viz._n that_o the_o scope_n project_n and_o design_n of_o your_o letter_n of_o enquity_n can_v be_v no_o other_o than_o instead_o of_o the_o pretend_a redress_n of_o the_o contempt_n of_o the_o reform_a religion_n and_o clergy_n to_o expose_v and_o betray_v both_o to_o it_o and_o by_o mean_n thereof_o propagate_v what_o your_o rhapsody_n abound_v withal_o most_o pestilent_a and_o licentious_a principle_n and_o practice_n atheism_n libertinism_n preparative_n to_o popery_n sensuality_n and_o what_o not_o to_o the_o utter_a subversion_n of_o both_o though_o you_o have_v politician-like_a for_o cautelous_a guard_n to_o the_o design_n observable_a throughout_o your_o epistle_n which_o i_o here_o note_v once_o for_o all_o cunning_o interweave_v sly_a insinuation_n with_o dextrous_a retrieves_z prologue_n from_o pilate_n and_o epilogue_n from_o the_o harlot_n wash_v your_o hand_n with_o the_o one_o as_o if_o
to_o understand_v that_o sacred_a truth_n may_v have_v be_v easy_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d by_o tradition_n from_o father_n to_o son_n convey_v &_o preserve_v all_o that_o time_n pure_a entire_a and_o incorrupt_a free_a from_o the_o abovenamed_a inconvenience_n yea_o one_o single_a trinmvirate_n may_v have_v perform_v this_o for_o the_o whole_a two_o thousand_o year_n mention_v namely_o adam_n methuselah_n and_o shem_n methuselah_n live_v above_o two_o hundred_o year_n with_o adam_n and_o shem_n who_o live_v to_o the_o fifty_o of_o isaack_n age_n which_o be_v about_o the_o two_o thousand_o one_o hundred_o and_o fifty_o of_o the_o age_n of_o the_o world_n about_o a_o hundred_o with_o methuselah_n but_o now_o be_v that_o the_o church-line_n have_v be_v since_o far_o extend_v her_o constitution_n advance_v from_o domestical_a to_o national_a and_o from_o that_o to_o oecumenick_n and_o universal_a japhet_n persuade_v to_o co-tabernacle_n with_o shem_n and_o moreover_o the_o life_n 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own_o interest_n to_o do_v it_o or_o else_o in_o case_n of_o both_o skill_n and_o will_n yet_o not_o able_a or_o sufficient_a enough_o hereunto_o but_o now_o be_v that_o god_n as_o be_v evident_a by_o the_o very_a light_n of_o nature_n be_v infinite_o wise_a infinite_o good_a and_o all-sufficient_a it_o be_v desperate_a treasonable_a blaspemy_n commit_v against_o heaven_n to_o assert_v any_o of_o those_o defect_n and_o therefore_o in_o fine_a by_o the_o best_a of_o consequence_n as_o a_o special_a supernatural_a revelation_n of_o the_o divine_a mind_n and_o will_n and_o rule_n of_o faith_n and_o life_n be_v to_o the_o creature_n absolute_o necessary_a and_o a_o scriptural_a and_o write_a one_o most_o convenient_a so_o it_o be_v most_o congruous_a and_o suitable_a to_o the_o divine_a both_o nature_n and_o honour_n to_o afford_v and_o indulge_v his_o creature_n this_o most_o needful_a useful_a scriptural_a rule_n and_o revelation_n last_o sir_n that_o this_o necessary-expedient_a revelation_n of_o god_n and_o his_o will_n this_o canon_n rule_n and_o directory_n of_o divine_a doctrine_n and_o worship_n and_o christian_a faith_n and_o life_n etc._n etc._n be_v no_o other_o than_o what_o be_v contain_v in_o that_o system_fw-la of_o sacred_a truth_n the_o volume_n of_o the_o scripture_n of_o the_o old_a and_o new_a testament_n as_o approve_v and_o receive_v throughout_o the_o reform_a church_n be_v as_o rational_o demonstrable_a as_o either_o of_o the_o former_a this_o be_v that_o only_a revelation_n to_o which_o the_o necessary_a property_n and_o condition_n of_o such_o a_o canon_n do_v appertain_v which_o be_v summary_o these_o two_o namely_o divine_a authority_n in_o respect_n of_o the_o original_a and_o universal_a sufficiency_n in_o respect_n of_o the_o end_n it_o be_v absolute_o requisite_a that_o such_o a_o rule_n shall_v both_o proceed_v from_o not_o man_n church_n or_o angel_n but_o god_n himself_o as_o its_o author_n and_o also_o by_o due_a proportion_n correspond_v to_o the_o end_n and_o intendment_n specify_v as_o a_o plain_a and_o plenary_a description_n of_o and_o direction_n to_o the_o true_a god_n true_a worship_n true_a happiness_n and_o the_o appropriate_v mean_n of_o the_o acceptable_a performance_n of_o that_o worship_n and_o infallible_a attainment_n of_o that_o happiness_n what_o more_o rational_a and_o may_v that_o instrument_n method_n and_o model_n of_o revelation_n be_v for_o ever_o explode_v the_o church_n of_o god_n as_o apocryphal_a which_o be_v devoid_a of_o either_o property_n the_o one_o be_v a_o compound_n of_o infallible_a veracity_n and_o authoritative_a power_n express_v in_o the_o revelation_n as_o be_v by_o its_o sacred_a author_n who_o essential_a property_n those_o be_v both_o inspire_v and_o institute_v for_o the_o only_a authentic_a and_o unalterable_a canon_n of_o his_o church_n the_o former_a require_v our_o faith_n the_o latter_a our_o obedience_n both_o in_o their_o respective_a analysis_n ultimate_o resolvable_a into_o the_o same_o as_o their_o very_a formal_a and_o fundamental_a reason_n a_o principle_n of_o natural_a conscience_n as_o well_o as_o that_o of_o the_o author_n eternal_a power_n and_o god_n head_n so_o that_o the_o christian_a religion_n frame_v by_o this_o canon_n be_v of_o all_o other_o the_o most_o rational_a as_o be_v found_v partly_o upon_o the_o veracity_n of_o that_o god_n who_o can_v neither_o deceive_v nor_o be_v deceive_v partly_o upon_o his_o supremacy_n or_o potestative_a right_n by_o virtue_n whereof_o quicquid_fw-la libet_fw-la licet_fw-la he_o may_v as_o the_o creature_n be_v sovereign_a proprietary_n enjoin_v and_o exact_v of_o he_o whatsoever_o worship_n or_o service_n his_o own_o absolute_a but_o righteous_a will_n shall_v dictate_v or_o direct_v and_o if_o any_o of_o the_o english_a clergy_n offer_v to_o court_v your_o assent_n or_o obedience_n hereunto_o as_o other_o let_v they_o for_o ever_o inherit_v your_o contempt_n the_o other_o property_n again_o by_o i_o consider_v as_o relate_v to_o both_o matter_n and_o manner_n of_o revelation_n be_v the_o absolute_a perfection_n of_o the_o canon_n whereby_o it_o be_v conceive_v as_o a_o sacred_a pandect_a or_o ecyclopoedy_n express_o or_o implicit_o direct_o or_o consequential_o to_o comprehend_v the_o whole_a counsel_n of_o god_n concern_v all_o thing_n necessary_a to_o be_v either_o know_v and_o believe_v or_o observe_v and_o practise_v in_o order_n to_o god_n glory_n and_o man_n happiness_n with_o so_o much_o clearness_n and_o perspicuity_n as_o that_o all_o both_o literate_a and_o illiterate_a may_v in_o a_o due_a and_o diligent_a perusal_n of_o the_o same_o attain_v to_o a_o competent_a skill_n and_o knowledge_n therein_o so_o that_o that_o only_a revelation_n must_v necessary_o be_v the_o authentic_a organ_n and_o instrument_n canon_n and_o rule_n of_o divine_a doctrine_n and_o worship_n christian_a faith_n and_o obedience_n to_o which_o those_o two_o canonical_a property_n and_o condition_n agree_v viz._n that_o authority_n in_o respect_n both_o of_o inspiration_n and_o institution_n and_o that_o all-sufficiency_n in_o respect_n both_o of_o matter_n and_o manner_n of_o discovery_n so_o as_o that_o all_o faith_n and_o obedience_n yield_v to_o the_o revelation_n must_v be_v resolve_v into_o the_o veracity_n and_o supremacy_n of_o its_o author_n express_v therein_o as_o the_o formal_a object_n or_o objective_a reason_n of_o both_o aswell_o as_o into_o the_o universal_o perfect_a and_o all-sufficient_a testimony_n itself_o as_o the_o material_a one_o and_o not_o into_o the_o testimony_n either_o of_o church_n with_o the_o papist_n or_o of_o spirit_n with_o the_o enthysiast_n both_o commit_v a_o most_o absurd_a and_o putid_v circle_n in_o give_v the_o reason_n of_o their_o hope_n assert_v the_o truth_n and_o authority_n of_o the_o canon_n by_o those_o respective_a testimony_n and_o again_o in_o a_o reverse_a method_n the_o truth_n of_o those_o 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