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
it_o be_v make_v to_o serve_v man_n passion_n against_o each_o other_o 3._o when_o they_o seek_v for_o no_o accommodation_n of_o their_o difference_n in_o a_o fair_a and_o amicable_a manner_n the_o necessity_n of_o some_o case_n be_v such_o that_o they_o be_v fit_a to_o be_v refer_v to_o such_o wise_a arbitration_n as_o the_o law_n provide_v but_o if_o man_n be_v restless_a and_o litigious_a who_o love_v difference_n and_o delight_n in_o vex_v their_o neighbour_n with_o law_n suit_n it_o be_v certain_a they_o have_v not_o the_o spirit_n and_o temper_n of_o christian_n who_o be_v to_o live_v peaceable_o with_o all_o men._n 2._o how_o this_o prove_v so_o mischievous_a to_o men._n 1._o it_o make_v such_o man_n life_n very_o unquiet_a and_o troublesome_a to_o themselves_o and_o other_o for_o it_o be_v impossible_a for_o some_o to_o disturb_v other_o but_o they_o must_v expect_v a_o retaliation_n many_o man_n will_v have_v their_o passion_n lie_v more_o quiet_a if_o they_o be_v not_o 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these_o word_n 1._o not_o to_o think_v every_o thing_n too_o much_o in_o religion_n and_o virtue_n because_o some_o be_v here_o say_v to_o be_v righteous_a overmuch_o the_o far_o great_a part_n of_o mankind_n err_v the_o other_o way_n they_o care_v not_o how_o little_a of_o religion_n they_o have_v and_o they_o desire_v no_o more_o than_o just_a to_o carry_v they_o to_o heaven_n which_o show_v they_o neither_o know_v what_o heaven_n or_o religion_n mean_n for_o than_o they_o will_v be_v convince_v their_o mind_n can_v never_o be_v too_o much_o prepare_v for_o it_o 2._o to_o understand_v the_o difference_n between_o true_a wisdom_n and_o righteousness_n and_o that_o which_o be_v not_o for_o upon_o that_o depend_v the_o just_a measure_n of_o they_o both_o we_o can_v be_v too_o wise_a in_o that_o which_o be_v real_a wisdom_n but_o we_o may_v be_v too_o easy_o conceit_v of_o our_o wisdom_n and_o cry_v up_o that_o for_o righteousness_n which_o be_v not_o but_o a_o sort_n of_o busy_a impertinency_n about_o little_a matter_n in_o religion_n and_o make_v a_o great_a noise_n about_o they_o which_o signify_v very_o little_a as_o to_o true_a wisdom_n 3._o be_v not_o too_o curious_a in_o search_v nor_o too_o hard_a in_o censure_v the_o â—_z of_o other_o it_o be_v a_o very_a unpleasant_a curiosity_n to_o find_v out_o the_o fault_n of_o other_o like_o that_o of_o some_o creature_n which_o delight_n in_o dunghill_n and_o those_o who_o consider_v the_o frailty_n of_o human_a nature_n will_v not_o be_v too_o severe_a upon_o the_o miscarriage_n of_o other_o 4._o live_v as_o easy_o with_o other_o as_o you_o can_v for_o that_o tend_v much_o to_o the_o sweeten_v and_o prolong_v life_n it_o be_v not_o possible_a to_o live_v without_o injury_n take_v as_o little_a notice_n of_o they_o as_o may_v be_v and_o that_o may_v be_v the_o smart_a revenge_n if_o you_o be_v force_v to_o right_v yourselves_o do_v it_o with_o that_o gentleness_n and_o fairness_n that_o they_o may_v see_v you_o delight_v not_o in_o it_o 5._o avoid_v a_o needless_a scrupulosity_n of_o conscience_n as_o a_o thing_n which_o keep_v our_o mind_n always_o uneasy_a a_o scrupulous_a man_n be_v always_o in_o the_o dark_a and_o therefore_o full_a of_o fear_n and_o melancholy_a apprehension_n he_o that_o give_v way_n to_o scruple_n be_v the_o great_a enemy_n to_o his_o own_o peace_n but_o then_o let_v not_o the_o fear_n of_o scrupulosity_n make_v you_o afraid_a of_o keep_v a_o good_a conscience_n for_o that_o be_v the_o wise_a and_o best_a and_o safe_a companion_n in_o the_o world_n finis_fw-la book_n write_v by_o the_o right_n reverend_a father_n in_o god_n edw._n l._n bishop_n of_o worcester_n and_o sell_v by_o h._n mortlock_n at_o the_o phoenix_n in_o st._n paul_n be_v churchyard_n a_o rational_a account_n of_o the_o ground_n of_o the_o protestant_a religion_n be_v a_o vindication_n of_o the_o lord_n archbishop_n of_o canterbury_n relation_n of_o a_o conference_n etc._n etc._n from_o the_o pretend_a answer_n of_o t._n c._n 2d_o edit_fw-la fol._n origines_fw-la britannicae_n or_o the_o antiquity_n of_o the_o british_a church_n with_o a_o preface_n concern_v some_o pretend_a antiquity_n relate_v to_o britain_n in_o vindication_n of_o the_o bishop_n of_o st._n asaph_n folio_n irenicum_fw-la a_o weapon-salve_n for_o the_o church_n wound_n quarto_fw-la origines_fw-la sacrae_fw-la or_o a_o rational_a account_n of_o the_o ground_n of_o christian_a faith_n as_o to_o the_o truth_n and_o divine_a authority_n of_o the_o script_n and_o the_o matter_n therein_o contain_v 4_o to_z a_o discourse_n concern_v the_o idolatry_n practise_v in_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n and_o the_o hazard_n of_o salvation_n in_o the_o communion_n of_o it_o octavo_fw-la a_o answer_n to_o several_a late_a treatise_n occasion_v by_o a_o book_n entitle_v a_o discourse_n concern_v the_o idolatry_n practise_v in_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n and_o the_o hazard_n of_o salvation_n in_o the_o communion_n of_o it_o part_v i._o octavo_n a_o second_o discourse_n in_o vindication_n of_o the_o protestant_a ground_n of_o faith_n against_o the_o pretence_n of_o infallibility_n in_o the_o roman_a church_n in_o answer_n to_o the_o guide_n in_o controversy_n by_o r._n h._n protestancy_n without_o principle_n and_o reason_n and_o religion_n or_o the_o certain_a rule_n of_o faith_n by_o e._n w._n with_o a_o particular_a enquiry_n into_o the_o miracle_n of_o the_o roman_a church_n octavo_fw-la a_o answer_n to_o mr._n cressy_n epistle_n apologetical_a to_o a_o person_n of_o honour_n touch_v his_o vindication_n of_o dr_n stillingfleet_n octavo_fw-la a_o defence_n of_o the_o discourse_n concern_v the_o idolatry_n practise_v in_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n in_o answer_n to_o a_o book_n entitle_v catholic_n no_o idolater_n octavo_fw-la several_a conference_n between_o a_o roman_a priest_n a_o fanatic_a chaplain_n and_o a_o divine_a of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n be_v a_o full_a answer_n to_o the_o late_a dialogue_n of_o t._n g_o octavo_n the_o unreasonableness_n of_o separation_n or_o and_o impartialaccount_v of_o the_o history_n nature_n and_o plea_n of_o the_o present_a separation_n from_o the_o communion_n of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n quarto_fw-la a_o â—ourse_n concern_v the_o doctrine_n of_o christ_n satisfaction_n or_o the_o true_a reason_n of_o his_o suffering_n with_o a_o answer_n to_o the_o socinian_n objection_n to_o which_o be_v add_v a_o sermon_n concern_v the_o mystery_n of_o the_o christian_a faith_n preach_v april_n 7._o 1691._o with_o a_o preface_n concern_v the_o true_a state_n of_o the_o controversy_n about_o christ_n satisfaction_n the_o second_o edit_fw-la octavo_fw-la sermon_n preach_v upon_o several_a occasion_n in_o 3_o volume_n octavo_fw-la a_o discourse_n in_o vindication_n of_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o trinity_n with_o a_o answer_n to_o the_o late_a socinian_n objection_n against_o it_o from_o scripture_n antiquity_n and_o reason_n and_o a_o preface_n concern_v the_o 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deliver_v by_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n but_o here_o be_v a_o great_a difficulty_n to_o be_v remove_v as_o to_o the_o write_a word_n how_o can_v we_o be_v certain_a we_o have_v it_o if_o not_o by_o tradition_n and_o if_o tradition_n be_v so_o uncertain_a how_o can_v we_o be_v make_v certain_a by_o it_o that_o we_o have_v that_o write_v word_n which_o the_o apostle_n deliver_v for_o may_v not_o that_o fail_n in_o this_o as_o well_o as_o the_o creed_n and_o then_o what_o security_n can_v we_o have_v for_o our_o faith_n in_o answer_n to_o this_o i_o shall_v show_v 1._o what_o advantage_n thing_n that_o be_v write_v have_v as_o to_o the_o certainty_n of_o conveyance_n above_o thing_n mere_o commit_v to_o memory_n and_o tradition_n 2._o what_o advantage_n the_o scripture_n have_v above_o any_o other_o thing_n commit_v to_o write_v as_o to_o the_o certainty_n of_o their_o conveyance_n 1._o as_o to_o the_o advantage_n thing_n write_v have_v above_o those_o commit_v to_o memory_n and_o 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