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book_n call_v concern_v write_v 2,138 5 5.3129 4 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A41173 The interest of reason in religion with the import & use of scripture-metaphors, and the nature of the union betwixt Christ & believers : (with reflections on several late writings, especially Mr. Sherlocks Discourse concerning the knowledg of Jesus Christ, &c.) modestly enquired into and stated / by Robert Ferguson. Ferguson, Robert, d. 1714. 1675 (1675) Wing F740; ESTC R20488 279,521 698

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do_v not_o alter_v their_o opinion_n as_o a_o supernatural_a revelation_n than_o be_v necessary_a in_o order_n to_o the_o regulation_n of_o mankind_n in_o religious_a concernment_n so_o it_o be_v also_o needful_a that_o it_o shall_v be_v somewhere_o or_o other_o consign_v to_o writing_n and_o that_o by_o person_n immediate_o inspire_v there_o be_v no_o other_o medium_n that_o we_o can_v imagine_v but_o it_o will_v be_v obnoxious_a to_o fallibility_n nor_o be_v there_o any_o way_n beside_o a_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d or_o divine_a inspiration_n of_o such_o record_n by_o which_o we_o can_v rational_o justify_v our_o reception_n of_o they_o or_o attain_v to_o a_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d security_n in_o the_o thing_n that_o be_v so_o record_v i_o have_v discourse_v the_o two_o forego_v particular_n in_o way_n of_o surplusage_n the_o theme_n i_o be_o upon_o not_o require_v they_o for_o if_o we_o can_v but_o demonstrate_v the_o matter_n of_o fact_n viz._n that_o god_n have_v 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one_o of_o these_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d i_o have_v allege_v by_o which_o i_o be_o not_o able_a to_o demonstrate_v the_o divine_a inspiration_n both_o of_o the_o bible_n in_o general_n and_o of_o most_o of_o the_o particular_a book_n in_o it_o so_o if_o there_o be_v any_o book_n receive_v into_o the_o canon_n where_o any_o of_o these_o be_v want_v they_o be_v such_o as_o be_v narrative_n of_o thing_n do_v among_o man_n and_o most_o of_o those_o be_v bear_v witness_v to_o in_o such_o other_o book_n as_o have_v all_o the_o foregoing_a character_n and_o if_o there_o be_v any_o of_o they_o that_o be_v not_o testify_v to_o yet_o we_o have_v all_o desirable_a evidence_n that_o they_o be_v write_v by_o person_n divine_o inspire_v and_o though_o all_o the_o precede_a signature_n do_v not_o occur_v in_o they_o yet_o some_o one_o or_o more_o by_o which_o they_o manifest_v themselves_o to_o be_v of_o god_n do_v and_o in_o none_o of_o they_o be_v there_o any_o thing_n inconsistent_a with_o the_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d we_o have_v produce_v upon_o the_o other_o hand_n it_o be_v easy_a by_o the_o precede_a mark_n to_o discharge_v from_o all_o interest_n in_o divine_a inspiration_n a_o vast_a number_n of_o book_n that_o pretend_v to_o a_o share_n in_o it_o by_o such_o i_o mean_v not_o only_o the_o sibylline_a write_n the_o prophecy_n of_o enoch_n the_o epistle_n of_o christ_n to_o abgarus_n the_o gospel_n of_o nicodemus_n james_n and_o andrew_n the_o canon_n of_o the_o apostle_n the_o revelation_n of_o paul_n his_o epistle_n to_o seneca_n and_o the_o laodicean_n the_o missal_n of_o matthew_n mark_n peter_n etc._n etc._n but_o all_o those_o book_n which_o be_v common_o style_v apocryphal_a §_o 7._o beside_o the_o character_n impress_v on_o the_o scripture_n by_o which_o the_o divine_a inspiration_n of_o it_o be_v plain_o evidence_v there_o be_v many_o external_n motive_n by_o which_o the_o same_o may_v be_v further_o demonstrate_v and_o here_o may_v be_v plead_v the_o quality_n of_o the_o penman_n their_o candour_n sincerity_n inability_n of_o be_v the_o immediate_a author_n of_o such_o a_o contrivance_n that_o they_o have_v no_o base_a nor_o secular_a end_n that_o they_o be_v impartial_a in_o lay_v open_a their_o fail_n and_o that_o they_o always_o father_n the_o whole_a upon_o god_n 2_o the_o antiquity_n of_o scripture_n record_v at_o least_o some_o part_n of_o they_o to_o which_o all_o the_o rest_n be_v consonant_a and_o upon_o which_o they_o superstruct_v 3_o the_o preservation_n of_o the_o bible_n through_o so_o many_o age_n when_o so_o many_o of_o wit_n power_n and_o interest_n in_o the_o world_n have_v set_v themselves_o against_o it_o 4_o it_o be_v spread_v success_n and_o entertainment_n in_o the_o world_n with_o the_o manner_n of_o its_o propagation_n without_o force_n of_o arm_n or_o aft_n of_o eloquence_n 5_o the_o effect_n it_o have_v wrought_v in_o great_a sudden_a &_o last_a change_n that_o it_o have_v produce_v in_o man_n principled_a in_o their_o judgement_n prepossess_v with_o education_n and_o prejudice_v by_o lust_n against_o it_o 6_o the_o attestation_n of_o miracle_n which_o be_v god_n seal_v to_o authorise_v the_o person_n in_o who_o behalf_n they_o be_v wrought_v and_o doctrine_n to_o which_o they_o be_v annex_v for_o a_o miracle_n be_v a_o extraordinary_a work_n transcendent_a to_o the_o power_n and_o capacity_n of_o natural_a agent_n it_o be_v either_o the_o alter_n and_o stop_v the_o course_n of_o nature_n or_o the_o produce_v some_o effect_n above_o its_o law_n and_o power_n a_o miracle_n be_v a_o operation_n of_o god_n in_o nature_n either_o without_o interposure_n of_o a_o second_o cause_n or_o above_o its_o ability_n in_o a_o word_n it_o be_v the_o production_n of_o something_o out_o of_o nothing_o either_o as_o to_o matter_n or_o manner_n of_o production_n now_o such_o work_n be_v the_o immediate_a effect_n of_o almighty_a power_n it_o be_v the_o peculiar_a title_n of_o god_n to_o do_v wonder_n and_o he_o only_o can_v do_v wonderful_a thing_n be_v there_o not_o some_o thing_n impossible_a to_o natural_a agent_n there_o be_v no_o room_n for_o a_o real_a miracle_n and_o be_v there_o not_o other_o thing_n which_o we_o only_o think_v to_o be_v impossibles_fw-fr in_o nature_n we_o be_v not_o capable_a of_o be_v delude_v by_o a_o appear_a one_o effect_n exceed_v the_o line_n of_o ordinary_a operation_n may_v be_v produce_v by_o a_o combination_n of_o material_a agent_n and_o satan_n may_v wonderful_o ape_n a_o miracle_n by_o the_o impression_n he_o be_v able_a to_o make_v upon_o matter_n but_o every_o true_a miracle_n be_v the_o product_n of_o a_o power_n that_o be_v infinite_a as_o god_n alone_o can_v work_v miracle_n so_o he_o never_o exert_v his_o power_n in_o the_o production_n of_o any_o but_o in_o order_n to_o humane_a instruction_n the_o devil_n love_v to_o be_v act_v his_o power_n to_o fill_v man_n with_o amazement_n and_o to_o make_v they_o wonder_n but_o god_n reserve_v his_o power_n to_o seal_v some_o portant_fw-la truth_n to_o relieve_v man_n in_o some_o urgent_a straight_a or_o to_o affright_v they_o from_o some_o destructive_a practice_n miraculous_a work_n be_v one_o of_o the_o great_a attestation_n that_o god_n can_v give_v either_o to_o person_n or_o thing_n and_o be_v usual_o his_o seal_n to_o some_o great_a truth_n god_n be_v a_o spirit_n &_o can_v be_v see_v to_o give_v testimony_n yea_o shall_v he_o assume_v a_o shape_n and_o in_o that_o declare_v himself_o there_o will_v be_v still_o a_o great_a deal_n of_o lyableness_n to_o exception_n and_o therefore_o one_o of_o the_o most_o convince_a evidence_n that_o god_n can_v give_v to_o person_n doctrine_n or_o cause_n be_v by_o the_o effect_n of_o some_o such_o work_n as_o be_v only_o possible_a for_o a_o almighty_a power_n to_o produce_v hence_o those_o ancient_a impostor_n that_o usurp_v the_o title_n of_o prophet_n either_o among_o the_o jew_n christian_n or_o heathen_n pretend_v to_o miracle_n and_o sign_n know_v that_o without_o that_o counterfeit_a seal_n their_o doctrine_n will_v never_o have_v be_v receive_v by_o the_o people_n and_o the_o better_a to_o ape_n a_o miracle_n the_o great_a part_n of_o pretender_n to_o enthusiasm_n be_v in_o all_o age_n magician_n true_a miracle_n be_v the_o effect_n of_o god_n immediate_a power_n the_o notion_n which_o we_o have_v of_o his_o wisdom_n and_o goodness_n do_v not_o admit_v we_o to_o suppose_v that_o he_o shall_v lend_v his_o omnipotency_n to_o confirm_v a_o falsehood_n for_o this_o be_v the_o way_n to_o induce_v man_n into_o error_n in_o a_o matter_n of_o the_o great_a moment_n and_o therefore_o while_o i_o believe_v god_n to_o be_v true_a and_o good_a i_o will_v never_o believe_v that_o he_o will_v lend_v his_o power_n to_o impostor_n to_o cheat_v and_o abuse_v mankind_n yea_o be_v it_o consistent_a with_o divine_a truth_n and_o justice_n so_o to_o do_v yet_o it_o be_v repugnant_a to_o his_o wisdom_n in_o that_o he_o shall_v hereby_o not_o only_o weaken_v but_o whole_o take_v off_o all_o the_o evidence_n that_o himself_o can_v give_v to_o truth_n by_o miraculous_a operation_n for_o if_o god_n can_v exert_v his_o power_n in_o the_o confirmation_n of_o a_o falsity_n in_o one_o case_n what_o security_n can_v we_o have_v that_o he_o may_v not_o do_v so_o in_o another_o to_o say_v that_o god_n do_v never_o work_v a_o miracle_n for_o our_o trial_n in_o reference_n to_o a_o false_a doctrine_n till_o he_o have_v unquestionable_o confirm_v his_o own_o truth_n before_o and_o that_o the_o have_v a_o establish_a rule_n to_o examine_v after_o doctrine_n by_o be_v enough_o to_o preserve_v we_o from_o be_v impose_v upon_o by_o error_n though_o it_o shall_v come_v back_v with_o the_o attestation_n of_o miraculous_a work_n i_o affirm_v that_o this_o plea_n be_v not_o sufficient_a and_o and_o that_o there_o be_v objection_n to_o the_o contrary_n which_o it_o do_v not_o resolve_v for_o first_o as_o primitive_a revelation_n be_v not_o capable_a of_o receive_v confirmation_n from_o its_o consonancy_n to_o any_o revelation_n former_o acknowledge_v it_o be_v itself_o the_o first_o so_o after_o revelation_n that_o be_v either_o real_o or_o according_a to_o the_o best_a judgement_n that_o we_o can_v make_v new_a be_v as_o little_a tryable_a by_o their_o congruency_n to_o what_o go_v before_o and_o if_o we_o allow_v miracle_n to_o be_v a_o authentic_a attestation_n in_o such_o case_n i_o see_v not_o how_o we_o can_v admit_v they_o to_o be_v fallacious_a in_o any_o second_o the_o ancient_a portion_n of_o scripture_n be_v the_o mosaic_a write_n now_o antecedent_o to_o the_o give_v forth_o of_o these_o as_o the_o standard_n of_o after_o doctrine_n idolatry_n superstition_n and_o error_n have_v great_o overspread_v the_o world_n i_o will_v therefore_o ask_v if_o god_n
in_o a_o book_n or_o a_o few_o unsense_v character_n and_o yet_o at_o this_o rate_n do_v the_o papist_n frequent_o talk_v it_o be_v of_o the_o essence_n of_o word_n proper_o take_v to_o be_v significative_a for_o this_o end_n be_v they_o invent_v and_o appoint_v and_o it_o be_v this_o that_o give_v they_o their_o form_n brute_n animal_n though_o they_o may_v be_v teach_v to_o utter_v many_o word_n yet_o because_o they_o understand_v not_o true_o &_o real_o any_o thing_n they_o say_v therefore_o they_o can_v be_v say_v be_v say_v proper_o to_o speak_v to_o affirm_v that_o by_o the_o scripture_n we_o can_v mean_v the_o sense_n of_o they_o but_o only_o a_o book_n of_o such_o and_o such_o unsense_v character_n be_v to_o degrade_v god_n below_o a_o man_n and_o to_o treat_v a_o writing_n indict_v by_o he_o more_o opprobrious_o than_o we_o will_v allow_v our_o own_o scribe_n to_o be_v deal_v withal_o do_v we_o not_o judge_n and_o account_v other_o book_n to_o be_v interpreter_n of_o their_o thought_n and_o judgement_n that_o write_v they_o and_o shall_v this_o be_v deny_v to_o god_n if_o there_o be_v not_o a_o sense_n intrinsical_o include_v in_o every_o word_n and_o sentence_n of_o the_o scripture_n he_o be_v ill_o employ_v that_o give_v it_o forth_o in_o brief_a if_o word_n be_v devoid_a of_o sense_n when_o they_o be_v write_v they_o be_v also_o devoid_a of_o it_o when_o they_o be_v speak_v speech_n &_o write_v no_o otherwise_o differ_v but_o that_o the_o one_o be_v the_o register_n substitute_n and_o vicarious_a of_o the_o other_o if_o the_o scripture_n have_v not_o a_o sense_n original_o in_o itself_o and_o essential_o belong_v to_o it_o it_o can_v never_o have_v any_o see_v for_o the_o church_n to_o affix_v a_o sense_n to_o it_o be_v only_o to_o declare_v she_o own_o sense_n not_o it_o and_o indeed_o to_o impose_v both_o upon_o god_n and_o man._n now_o god_n in_o give_v forth_o the_o revelation_n of_o his_o will_n not_o only_o inspire_v the_o penman_n of_o the_o bible_n as_o to_o the_o doctrine_n and_o thing_n they_o deliver_v but_o as_o to_o the_o word_n term_n and_o expression_n in_o which_o they_o declare_v they_o it_o be_v god_n himself_o that_o speak_v in_o the_o prophet_n heb._n 1.1_o the_o very_a word_n they_o use_v be_v 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d word_n which_o the_o holy_a ghost_n put_v into_o their_o heart_n and_o mouth_n 1_o cor._n 2.13_o the_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d be_v 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d the_o write_n or_o word_n write_v be_v by_o inspiration_n from_o god_n 2_o tim._n 3.16_o and_o sure_o god_n if_o he_o please_v can_v speak_v in_o as_o plain_a word_n as_o any_o of_o h●s_a creature_n can_v do_v man_n many_o time_n through_o some_o defect_n in_o their_o judgement_n or_o through_o a_o penury_n of_o word_n or_o through_o a_o incongruous_a disposition_n and_o texture_n of_o they_o be_v at_o a_o loss_n to_o express_v themselves_o intelligible_o but_o to_o none_o of_o these_o imperfection_n be_v god_n incident_a and_o therefore_o if_o he_o please_v he_o may_v declare_v himself_o so_o as_o that_o man_n may_v understand_v he_o now_o word_n that_o be_v intelligible_a when_o they_o be_v speak_v be_v as_o intelligible_a when_o they_o be_v write_v yea_o there_o be_v advantage_n of_o understand_v they_o better_o in_o the_o one_o case_n than_o in_o the_o other_o we_o can_v better_o observe_v the_o restriction_n and_o ampliation_n of_o term_n the_o quality_n of_o every_o particular_a proposition_n the_o connexion_n of_o a_o enunciation_n that_o be_v obscure_a with_o what_o be_v more_o clear_a go_v before_o and_o follow_v after_o the_o light_n that_o it_o receive_n from_o expression_n to_o the_o same_o purpose_n in_o other_o part_n of_o the_o book_n the_o genius_n of_o the_o style_n in_o general_a the_o nature_n of_o the_o several_a period_n the_o manner_n and_o form_n of_o argumentation_n and_o a_o hundred_o thing_n more_o which_o we_o can_v better_o search_v into_o in_o the_o perusal_n of_o a_o write_a book_n than_o we_o can_v do_v by_o the_o swift_a &_o transitory_a hear_n of_o a_o oral_a discourse_n now_o as_o god_n can_v speak_v as_o plain_o as_o any_o of_o his_o creature_n can_v and_o as_o word_n be_v at_o least_o as_o easy_a to_o be_v understand_v when_o they_o be_v write_v as_o when_o they_o be_v speak_v so_o we_o have_v no_o reason_n to_o think_v that_o god_n affect_v obscurity_n or_o envy_v that_o man_n shall_v understand_v he_o man_n be_v influence_v by_o pride_n may_v endeavour_v not_o to_o be_v understand_v that_o they_o may_v be_v admire_v &_o may_v seek_v estimation_n by_o study_v to_o be_v obscure_a and_o many_o of_o the_o ancient_a philosopher_n be_v just_o arraign_v upon_o this_o account_n heraclitus_n grow_v famous_a by_o the_o only_a obscurity_n of_o his_o writing_n the_o platonic_a and_o pythagorick_a number_n grow_v into_o a_o proverb_n for_o their_o darkness_n it_o be_v say_v even_o of_o aristotle_n that_o be_v reprove_v by_o alexander_n for_o publish_v his_o acroamaticks_n he_o shall_v make_v this_o reply_n that_o though_o they_o be_v 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d make_v public_a yet_o they_o be_v 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d not_o publish_v there_o be_v nothing_o more_o notorious_a than_o that_o there_o have_v be_v some_o writer_n in_o all_o age_n who_o have_v endeavour_v not_o to_o be_v understand_v but_o this_o be_v every_o way_n as_o much_o repugnant_a to_o the_o nature_n of_o god_n as_o pride_n or_o envy_n be_v it_o be_v inconsistent_a with_o his_o wisdom_n to_o give_v out_o the_o bible_n for_o the_o end_n which_o he_o do_v and_o yet_o to_o do_v it_o in_o such_o a_o manner_n as_o that_o it_o can_v be_v understand_v nor_o be_v it_o agreeable_a to_o his_o holiness_n justice_n or_o goodness_n to_o leave_v the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o bible_n unintelligible_a when_o he_o have_v make_v it_o our_o duty_n to_o know_v they_o have_v make_v appear_v that_o the_o scripture_n have_v a_o sense_n and_o that_o this_o sense_n may_v be_v know_v &_o that_o it_o be_v the_o main_a thing_n which_o we_o be_v to_o look_v after_o it_o be_v now_o time_n that_o we_o shall_v intimate_v what_o we_o mean_v by_o the_o sense_n of_o the_o scripture_n by_o the_o sense_n of_o the_o scripture_n then_o we_o understand_v that_o which_o the_o word_n according_a to_o the_o intention_n of_o the_o holy_a ghost_n do_v signify_v we_o be_v not_o to_o bring_v sense_n to_o the_o scripture_n but_o to_o receive_v they_o from_o it_o it_o be_v his_o mind_n and_o will_v we_o be_v to_o learn_v who_o indict_v the_o bible_n and_o therefore_o be_v not_o to_o impose_v mind_n and_o thought_n upon_o it_o and_o when_o i_o speak_v of_o scripture_n word_n i_o do_v not_o mean_a letter_n nor_o syllable_n nay_o nor_o word_n apart_o but_o entire_a proposition_n sentence_n enunciation_n paragraph_n yea_o chapter_n and_o book_n nor_o can_v we_o judge_v right_o of_o the_o sense_n of_o word_n but_o by_o consider_v they_o as_o they_o lie_v in_o proposition_n nor_o ought_v we_o to_o determine_v of_o the_o sense_n of_o a_o proposition_n but_o in_o relation_n to_o the_o verse_n chapter_n and_o book_n where_o it_o occur_v yea_o nor_o without_o have_v a_o respect_n to_o the_o whole_a and_o entire_a systeme_n of_o the_o bible_n there_o be_v but_o one_o sense_n of_o scripture_n which_o we_o may_v call_v literal_a dogmatical_a or_o historical_a i_o call_v that_o sense_n literal_a which_o god_n do_v intend_v in_o the_o word_n whether_o the_o word_n be_v take_v proper_o or_o tropical_o that_o which_o arise_v from_o a_o figurative_a acceptation_n of_o the_o word_n 34_o be_v as_o true_o a_o literal_a sense_n as_o that_o which_o flow_v from_o their_o proper_a acceptation_n in_o text_n of_o scripture_n where_o type_n be_v lay_v down_o in_o which_o other_o thing_n typify_v be_v intend_v there_o be_v not_o a_o twofold_a sense_n of_o the_o word_n but_o there_o be_v one_o only_o of_o the_o word_n and_o the_o other_o be_v of_o the_o type_n themselves_o which_o be_v design_v to_o prefigure_v other_o thing_n do_v according_o carry_v a_o key_n along_o with_o they_o by_o which_o they_o may_v be_v unlock_v i_o do_v not_o deny_v but_o that_o of_o one_o sense_n of_o a_o text_n there_o maybe_o two_o part_n namely_o when_o those_o thing_n which_o be_v immediate_o signify_v do_v denote_v or_o at_o least_o lead_v we_o to_o something_o more_o sublime_a though_o even_o in_o this_o case_n there_o be_v but_o one_o proper_a sense_n of_o the_o word_n namely_o the_o literal_a the_o mystical_a being_n not_o so_o much_o the_o sense_n of_o the_o word_n as_o occasion_v by_o and_o build_v upon_o the_o thing_n signify_v or_o if_o you_o will_v there_o be_v that_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d and_o habitude_n between_o the_o literal_a