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they_o take_v up_o by_o the_o deist_n to_o destroy_v all_o the_o whole_a frame_n of_o reveal_v religion_n but_o the_o scripture_n be_v neither_o so_o obscure_a as_o the_o romanist_n pretend_v nor_o so_o absurd_a as_o you_o deist_n do_v make_v it_o and_o first_o i_o think_v it_o will_v be_v very_o much_o to_o the_o purpose_n to_o reduce_v scripture_n to_o those_o several_a head_n of_o the_o subject_a matter_n that_o be_v contain_v in_o they_o for_o first_o for_o some_o thing_n be_v the_o pure_a and_o proper_a object_n of_o humane_a reason_n in_o which_o natural_a religion_n and_o revelation_n be_v not_o at_o all_o concern_v such_o as_o be_v the_o motion_n of_o the_o earth_n or_o heaven_n and_o other_o phaenomena_n of_o the_o work_n of_o nature_n of_o these_o it_o be_v not_o necessary_a that_o the_o scripture_n shall_v speak_v in_o the_o most_o proper_a and_o the_o most_o philosophical_a term_n it_o be_v enough_o that_o it_o excite_v we_o to_o our_o duty_n by_o the_o contemplation_n of_o 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those_o which_o seem_v to_o be_v most_o repugnant_a but_o 86._o with_fw-mi p._n 86._o then_o i_o do_v not_o infer_v from_o thence_o that_o the_o opinion_n of_o the_o sacred_a writer_n be_v real_o repugnant_a because_o then_o some_o of_o they_o must_v have_v be_v false_a and_o to_o ascribe_v falsehood_n to_o inspire_a writer_n be_v the_o same_o thing_n as_o to_o ascribe_v it_o to_o god_n himself_o and_o because_o i_o find_v no_o seem_a opposition_n in_o those_o write_n which_o may_v not_o be_v reconcile_v by_o a_o exact_a knowledge_n of_o the_o language_n comparison_n with_o the_o context_n and_o attention_n to_o the_o true_a scope_n and_o design_n of_o holy_a person_n as_o for_o what_o your_o author_n say_v that_o we_o be_v not_o to_o reject_v the_o literal_a sense_n of_o any_o inspire_a pen_n man_n because_o it_o be_v absurd_a since_o in_o speculative_a matter_n they_o be_v guilty_a of_o great_a absurdity_n it_o be_v not_o to_o be_v admit_v by_o a_o rational_a man._n in_o those_o 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notion_n of_o the_o usual_a effect_n of_o good_a and_o of_o evil_a spirit_n the_o jew_n be_v very_o sensible_a that_o one_o evil_a spirit_n may_v by_o collusion_n give_v place_n or_o at_o least_o seem_v to_o give_v place_n to_o another_o and_o thence_o malicious_o conclude_v that_o our_o saviour_n cast_v out_o devil_n by_o belzebub_n the_o prince_n of_o devil_n but_o our_o saviour_n answer_n be_v sufficient_a viz._n if_o satan_n be_v divide_v against_o himself_o how_o shall_v 4._o mat._n 4._o his_o kingdom_n stand_v because_o you_o say_v that_o i_o cast_v out_o devil_n by_o belzebub_n i._o e._n if_o i_o who_o teach_v the_o true_a worship_n of_o the_o true_a god_n cast_v out_o devil_n by_o satan_n than_o satan_n be_v his_o own_o enemy_n and_o industrious_o destroy_v his_o own_o idolatrous_a kingdom_n which_o with_o so_o much_o pain_n he_o have_v plant_v in_o the_o world_n s._n if_o there_o be_v so_o much_o force_n in_o miracle_n 73._o p._n 73._o as_o you_o do_v pretend_v methinks_v 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exod._n 9_o v._o 10._o moses_n can_v not_o bring_v boil_v upon_o the_o egyptian_n without_o first_o throw_v up_o ash_n in_o the_o air._n and_o exod._n 14._o 21._o we_o read_v that_o the_o red_a sea_n be_v divide_v by_o a_o strong_a east_n wind._n elisha_n lay_v upon_o the_o child_n that_o be_v suppose_v to_o be_v dead_a and_o so_o revive_v he_o by_o the_o heat_n of_o his_o body_n in_o short_a if_o any_o thing_n be_v report_v in_o scripture_n that_o be_v direct_o repugnant_a to_o the_o law_n of_o nature_n or_o can_v follow_v from_o they_o my_o author_n opinion_n be_v that_o it_o be_v add_v by_o some_o sacrilegious_a person_n who_o design_v to_o impose_v a_o fable_n upon_o the_o world_n l._n a_o tedious_a relation_n of_o impertinent_a circumstance_n be_v avoid_v by_o all_o judicious_a and_o faithful_a historian_n but_o to_o omit_v circumstance_n that_o be_v material_a and_o the_o knowledge_n of_o which_o alter_v the_o very_a nature_n and_o denomination_n of_o a_o action_n be_v a_o 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many_o false_a revelation_n public_a in_o the_o sight_n of_o the_o whole_a nation_n and_o why_o shall_v they_o be_v such_o fool_n as_o to_o erect_v a_o government_n in_o church_n and_o state_n upon_o a_o foundation_n which_o they_o of_o that_o age_n must_v needs_o have_v know_v to_o be_v too_o weak_a to_o support_v it_o with_o what_o face_n can_v our_o saviour_n tell_v the_o jew_n of_o his_o age_n that_o his_o work_n testify_v of_o he_o if_o there_o be_v nothing_o in_o they_o miraculous_a but_o what_o be_v make_v so_o to_o appear_v by_o the_o partial_a and_o the_o unfaithful_a relation_n of_o his_o own_o friend_n and_o disciple_n it_o be_v a_o false_a insinuation_n of_o your_o author_n that_o miracle_n be_v for_o the_o most_o part_n sing_v in_o a_o poetic_a manner_n for_o they_o be_v historical_o relate_v as_o motive_n to_o the_o credibility_n of_o reveal_v religion_n and_o though_o some_o of_o they_o be_v recite_v in_o the_o psalm_n yet_o the_o very_a poetic_a style_n of_o david_n do_v not_o render_v they_o more_o wonderful_a than_o the_o plain_a historical_a account_n of_o moses_n but_o with_o what_o impudence_n if_o not_o affect_v ignorance_n do_v your_o author_n affirm_v that_o the_o circumstance_n of_o some_o action_n record_v as_o miracle_n in_o scripture_n do_v show_v that_o they_o be_v effect_v by_o natural_a cause_n when_o moses_n bring_v a_o boyl_n upon_o the_o egyptian_n by_o throw_v up_o ash_n into_o the_o air_n the_o action_n be_v as_o miraculous_a as_o if_o without_o throw_v up_o the_o ash_n he_o have_v only_o in_o the_o name_n of_o god_n command_v the_o boyl_n to_o seize_v upon_o the_o body_n of_o the_o egyptian_n v._n exod._n 9_o 10._o v._n unless_o your_o author_n can_v philosophical_o prove_v that_o according_a to_o the_o
man_n must_v needs_o be_v that_o hold_v the_o infinity_n and_o immutability_n of_o the_o power_n of_o nature_n as_o also_o by_o his_o partial_a distorture_n of_o scripture_n by_o deny_v it_o the_o same_o liberty_n of_o use_v word_n in_o a_o translate_v sense_n which_o be_v give_v to_o all_o other_o write_n as_o for_o clearness_n of_o judgement_n which_o be_v the_o second_o commendation_n of_o a_o historian_n i_o can_v see_v how_o your_o author_n can_v pretend_v to_o that_o who_o i_o have_v show_v to_o have_v lay_v down_o so_o many_o false_a proposition_n draw_v so_o many_o false_a conclusion_n and_o so_o frequent_o to_o have_v contradict_v himself_o and_o as_o for_o his_o opportunity_n of_o know_v the_o matter_n of_o fact_n of_o the_o most_o grand_a importance_n of_o those_o age_n we_o all_o know_v that_o he_o be_v as_o ignorant_a of_o they_o as_o ourselves_o and_o therefore_o we_o have_v rather_o believe_v those_o who_o live_v in_o ancient_a time_n and_o be_v eye-witness_n of_o what_o our_o saviour_n do_v or_o suffer_v for_o our_o sake_n than_o a_o modern_a upstart_n who_o we_o be_v sure_o can_v understand_v at_o most_o no_o more_o than_o ourselves_o of_o the_o matter_n s._n but_o though_o you_o slight_a his_o authority_n yet_o if_o he_o can_v prove_v by_o solid_a reason_n as_o he_o attempt_v in_o his_o 8_o chapter_n that_o the_o pentateuch_n be_v not_o write_v by_o moses_n etc._n etc._n you_o be_v bind_v to_o yield_v to_o they_o and_o to_o deny_v its_o divine_a authority_n l._n but_o if_o his_o reason_n be_v fallacious_a and_o conjectural_a as_o i_o can_v easy_o demonstrate_v have_v we_o book_n and_o leisure_n in_o this_o place_n to_o go_v through_o the_o argument_n which_o yet_o at_o best_a will_v be_v but_o loss_n of_o time_n than_o you_o can_v blame_v i_o if_o i_o withdraw_v my_o assent_n from_o his_o pernicious_a doctrine_n but_o to_o bring_v matter_n to_o a_o short_a issue_n do_v you_o believe_v that_o the_o account_v the_o evangelist_n give_v of_o the_o life_n of_o our_o saviour_n and_o the_o act_n of_o his_o apostle_n be_v altogether_o unintelligible_a by_o the_o hebriasm_n and_o various_a lection_n s._n no_o i_o think_v no_o man_n of_o common_a sense_n or_o modesty_n will_v pretend_v to_o say_v so_o l._n do_v you_o think_v that_o all_o therein_o record_v of_o they_o can_v be_v do_v by_o any_o natural_a or_o diabolical_a power_n s._n you_o have_v already_o demonstrate_v the_o impossibility_n of_o the_o first_o and_o the_o absurdity_n of_o the_o second_o assertion_n l._n then_o if_o our_o s._n and_o his_o apostle_n who_o prove_v their_o own_o divine_a mission_n do_v bear_v testimony_n to_o the_o write_n of_o moses_n and_o the_o other_o prophet_n all_o your_o author_n criticism_n or_o conjectural_a fancy_n of_o esaras_n vanish_v into_o nothing_o for_o with_o what_o truth_n can_v our_o saviour_n have_v say_v mat._n the_o 19_o and_o the_o seven_o that_o moses_n command_v to_o give_v a_o bill_n of_o divorcement_n and_o that_o moses_n for_o the_o hardness_n of_o their_o heart_n suffer_v they_o to_o put_v away_o their_o wife_n or_o st._n john_n 19_o 17._o that_o the_o law_n be_v give_v by_o moses_n if_o the_o whole_a pentateuch_n have_v be_v a_o fiction_n of_o esdras_n our_o saviour_n therefore_o have_v confirm_v the_o law_n of_o moses_n and_o the_o divine_a authority_n of_o the_o old_a testament_n by_o a_o new_a addition_n of_o sign_n and_o wonder_n impossible_a to_o be_v gainsay_v by_o the_o cunning_a or_o malice_n of_o man._n s._n you_o have_v now_o give_v i_o full_a satisfaction_n concern_v the_o divine_a authority_n of_o the_o scripture_n into_o a_o dislike_n of_o which_o i_o be_v lead_v by_o the_o sophistry_n of_o this_o intriegue_a author_n for_o it_o mighty_o please_v i_o to_o hear_v his_o project_n to_o deduce_v all_o knowledge_n from_o natural_a reason_n which_o as_o he_o teach_v p._n 98._o proceed_v from_o plain_a and_o obvious_a notion_n to_o the_o most_o obscure_a and_o remote_a object_n l._n let_v natural_a reason_n proceed_v never_o so_o cautious_o yet_o she_o can_v never_o ascend_v so_o high_a as_o to_o understand_v clear_o those_o supernatural_a thing_n which_o concern_v a_o future_a state_n of_o which_o she_o have_v here_o no_o complete_a idea_n and_o beside_o if_o god_n be_v a_o free_a agent_n it_o follow_v he_o can_v prescribe_v what_o condition_n of_o salvation_n do_v best_a please_v he_o and_o natural_a reason_n can_v never_o ascend_v to_o the_o knowledge_n of_o what_o a_o free_a agent_n will_v have_v do_v from_o any_o know_v or_o obvious_a maxim_n in_o nature_n s._n no_o more_o than_o one_o man_n by_o reason_n alone_o can_v tell_v what_o be_v the_o will_n and_o pleasure_n of_o another_o but_o i_o will_v ask_v you_o one_o question_n more_o viz._n who_o ought_v to_o be_v the_o interpreter_n of_o scripture_n etc._n scripture_n p._n 103._o penes_fw-la unumquemque_fw-la snmmum_fw-la jus_o summaque_fw-la authoritas_fw-la de_fw-la religione_fw-la libere_fw-la judicandi_fw-la etc._n etc._n for_o spinosa_n give_v away_o that_o authority_n to_o every_o private_a man._n l._n the_o ambiguous_a use_n of_o the_o word_n interpretation_n have_v be_v the_o cause_n of_o much_o error_n and_o much_o mischief_n in_o the_o world_n it_o be_v a_o multiply_a idea_n which_o will_v breed_v confusion_n in_o the_o understanding_n if_o it_o be_v not_o careful_o resolve_v into_o its_o first_o principle_n for_o first_o sometime_o to_o interpret_v scripture_n be_v put_v to_o signify_v only_o a_o right_a apprehension_n of_o what_o be_v the_o true_a sense_n of_o scripture_n and_o a_o expression_n of_o that_o true_a sense_n in_o plain_a and_o proper_a term_n and_o this_o belong_v to_o every_o individual_a man_n to_o who_o the_o gospel_n be_v preach_v for_o every_o man_n have_v a_o right_a to_o understand_v those_o truth_n that_o be_v alike_o beneficial_a to_o all_o mankind_n and_o which_o be_v therefore_o promulge_v that_o they_o may_v be_v make_v know_v unto_o all_o and_o as_o every_o man_n have_v a_o right_a to_o understand_v as_o much_o as_o he_o can_v of_o divine_a truth_n so_o also_o may_v be_v communicate_v that_o knowledge_n by_o speech_n to_o other_o though_o the_o public_a exercise_n of_o that_o office_n do_v most_o proper_o belong_v to_o the_o minister_n of_o god_n but_o other_o by_o the_o word_n interpret_v do_v understand_v the_o power_n of_o affix_v what_o sense_n they_o please_v upon_o the_o scripture_n and_o constrain_a other_o to_o admit_v the_o same_o be_v it_o what_o it_o will_v as_o true_a and_o genuine_a but_o such_o a_o authority_n as_o this_o can_v neither_o belong_v to_o every_o private_a man_n nor_o to_o any_o humane_a power_n whatsoever_o for_o no_o man_n can_v have_v authority_n from_o the_o god_n of_o truth_n to_o oppose_v truth_n itself_o and_o it_o be_v gross_a nonsense_n to_o call_v contradiction_n of_o scripture_n a_o interpretation_n of_o it_o there_o be_v no_o room_n for_o interpretation_n but_o in_o place_n that_o be_v obscure_a and_o dubious_a but_o plain_a text_n expound_v themselves_o and_o to_o pretend_v that_o every_o man_n have_v a_o right_a of_o affix_v a_o contradictory_n sense_n to_o the_o most_o easy_a express_a and_o intelligible_a text_n of_o scripture_n be_v as_o much_o as_o to_o say_v every_o man_n authoritas_fw-la summum_fw-la jus_o summa_fw-la authoritas_fw-la have_v a_o right_a to_o be_v a_o fool_n and_o to_o deceive_v himself_o and_o to_o live_v in_o error_n and_o be_v nurse_v up_o in_o the_o ignorance_n of_o those_o thing_n that_o most_o concern_v his_o happiness_n and_o to_o give_v the_o lie_n to_o his_o great_a creator_n instead_o of_o believe_v the_o scripture_n to_o be_v the_o word_n of_o god_n every_o private_a man_n according_a to_o your_o author_n hypothesis_n may_v believe_v they_o lawful_o to_o be_v the_o invention_n of_o satan_n or_o the_o dictate_v of_o madman_n or_o the_o invention_n of_o some_o cunning_a politician_n what_o be_v more_o plain_a than_o our_o saviour_n word_n mat._n 16._o 17._o verse_n go_v you_o into_o all_o the_o world_n and_o preach_v the_o gospel_n unto_o every_o creature_n he_o that_o believe_v and_o be_v baptize_v shall_v be_v save_v but_o he_o that_o believe_v not_o shall_v be_v damn_v suppose_v a_o man_n discourse_v upon_o these_o word_n shall_v pretend_v to_o teach_v from_o hence_o that_o no_o gospel_n either_o be_v be_v or_o ever_o aught_o to_o be_v preach_v to_o the_o world_n that_o no_o man_n ought_v to_o believe_v that_o jesus_n be_v the_o messiah_n and_o that_o there_o be_v no_o condemnation_n to_o unbeliever_n either_o in_o this_o world_n or_o in_o the_o world_n to_o come_v will_v you_o call_v this_o a_o interpretation_n of_o that_o text_n of_o scripture_n s._n not_o if_o i_o be_v in_o my_o right_a sense_n l._n and_o yet_o your_o prodigal_a author_n give_v this_o large_a authority_n to_o every_o private_a man_n of_o interpret_n scripture_n after_o