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over_o the_o conscience_n of_o man_n and_o that_o they_o have_v time_n enough_o to_o make_v a_o considerable_a interest_n before_o the_o persecution_n begin_v this_o be_v the_o force_n of_o all_o i_o can_v find_v out_o in_o the_o several_a part_n of_o your_o paper_n towards_o the_o invalidating_a the_o testimony_n concern_v the_o matter_n of_o fact_n report_v in_o the_o write_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n in_o answer_n to_o all_o these_o thing_n i_o shall_v show_v 1._o that_o matter_n of_o fact_n do_v at_o such_o a_o distance_n of_o time_n may_v have_v sufficient_a evidence_n to_o oblige_v man_n to_o believe_v they_o 2._o that_o there_o be_v no_o reason_n to_o suspect_v the_o truth_n of_o those_o matter_n of_o fact_n which_o be_v contain_v in_o the_o history_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n 3._o that_o the_o apostle_n
the_o law_n allow_v so_o severe_a a_o trial_n in_o case_n the_o wife_n after_o admonition_n do_v not_o forbear_v such_o suspect_a familiarity_n but_o if_o you_o have_v look_v on_o the_o law_n as_o it_o be_v num._n 5._o 12_o 13._o etc._n etc._n you_o will_v have_v find_v that_o the_o design_n of_o it_o be_v to_o keep_v woman_n from_o commit_v secret_a adultery_n by_o so_o severe_a a_o penalty_n yet_o withal_o allow_v so_o much_o to_o a_o reasonable_a suspicion_n for_o so_o the_o jew_n understand_v it_o with_o many_o caution_n and_o limitation_n that_o rather_o then_o marry_a person_n shall_v live_v under_o perpetual_a jealousy_n he_o appoint_v this_o extraordinary_a way_n of_o trial_n whereby_o adultery_n be_v most_o severe_o punish_v and_o the_o honour_n of_o innocency_n public_o vindicate_v which_o certain_o be_v not_o end_n at_o all_o unbecoming_a due_a conception_n of_o god_n the_o last_o of_o the_o jewish_a law_n which_o you_o quarrel_n with_o be_v the_o prohibition_n of_o usury_n in_o several_a place_n of_o moses_n his_o law_n and_o the_o psalm_n and_o from_o hence_o you_o fall_v into_o a_o long_a discourse_n to_o prove_v the_o lawfulness_n of_o usury_n but_o to_o what_o purpose_n i_o beseech_v you_o for_o you_o be_v to_o prove_v that_o god_n can_v never_o forbid_v it_o you_o may_v have_v spare_v your_o pity_n for_o man_n as_o you_o think_v blind_v with_o superstition_n and_o cheat_v with_o new_a and_o aery_a notion_n for_o by_o all_o that_o i_o can_v see_v by_o these_o paper_n some_o pretend_a enemy_n to_o superstition_n have_v no_o better_a eye_n than_o their_o neighbour_n and_o be_v as_o easy_o cheat_v with_o groundless_a fancy_n and_o aery_a imagination_n the_o only_a thing_n to_o the_o business_n in_o that_o long_a discourse_n be_v this_o that_o you_o can_v imagine_v that_o god_n shall_v make_v a_o law_n so_o much_o to_o man_n inconvenience_n and_o forbid_v he_o so_o nice_a and_o indifferent_a a_o thing_n as_o moderate_a increase_n of_o profit_n by_o let_v out_o of_o money_n when_o it_o be_v allow_v upon_o land_n house_n and_o trade_n etc._n etc._n to_o this_o i_o answer_v that_o the_o prohibition_n of_o usury_n to_o the_o jewish_a nation_n be_v upon_o political_a ground_n peculiar_a to_o the_o constitution_n of_o that_o people_n as_o appear_v by_o the_o word_n of_o the_o law_n deut._n 23._o 19_o 20._o thou_o shall_v not_o lend_v to_o usury_n unto_o thy_o brother_n unto_o a_o stranger_n thou_o may_v lend_v upon_o usury_n but_o none_o of_o the_o law_n which_o be_v found_v upon_o common_a and_o moral_a reason_n have_v such_o limitation_n as_o this_o for_o god_n will_v never_o have_v say_v thou_o shall_v not_o commit_v adultery_n with_o thy_o brother_n wife_n but_o with_o the_o wife_n of_o a_o stranger_n thou_o may_v but_o there_o be_v this_o particular_a reason_n for_o the_o prohibition_n of_o usury_n to_o the_o jewish_a nation_n it_o please_v god_n to_o fix_v their_o habitation_n not_o upon_o the_o seaside_n as_o tyre_n and_o sidon_n stand_v but_o within_o land_n where_o they_o have_v no_o conveniency_n of_o trading_n but_o the_o riches_n of_o the_o nation_n lie_v in_o agriculture_n and_o pasturage_n in_o which_o the_o return_v of_o money_n be_v neither_o so_o quick_a nor_o so_o advantageous_a to_o make_v sufficient_a compensation_n for_o the_o interest_n of_o the_o money_n in_o the_o time_n they_o have_v it_o for_o the_o main_a thing_n valuable_a in_o money_n be_v the_o advantage_n the_o borrower_n make_v of_o it_o and_o where_o that_o be_v great_a it_o seem_v reasonable_a that_o the_o person_n who_o the_o money_n be_v shall_v have_v a_o proportionable_a share_n of_o the_o advantage_n make_v by_o it_o but_o where_o person_n borrow_v only_o for_o present_a occasion_n to_o supply_v their_o necessity_n there_o it_o be_v only_o a_o act_n of_o kindness_n to_o lend_v and_o it_o will_v be_v unreasonable_a to_o press_v upon_o or_o take_v advantage_n by_o another_o necessity_n and_o this_o seem_v to_o have_v be_v the_o case_n among_o the_o jew_n they_o be_v only_o the_o poor_a that_o want_v money_n for_o present_a necessity_n the_o rich_a have_v no_o way_n to_o employ_v it_o in_o trading_n unless_o that_o they_o lend_v to_o the_o tyrian_a merchant_n which_o it_o be_v lawful_a by_o their_o law_n to_o do_v now_o if_o they_o take_v usury_n of_o their_o own_o people_n it_o must_v be_v of_o those_o who_o urgent_a necessity_n and_o not_o hope_n of_o a_o mighty_a increase_n by_o it_o make_v they_o borrow_v and_o therefore_o it_o be_v a_o very_a just_a and_o reasonable_a law_n to_o forbid_v usury_n among_o they_o which_o i_o believe_v he_o will_v never_o have_v do_v if_o he_o have_v place_v the_o jew_n upon_o the_o coast_n of_o phoenicia_n where_o trading_n be_v so_o much_o in_o request_n these_o be_v all_o the_o law_n which_o you_o have_v pick_v out_o of_o the_o whole_a body_n of_o the_o jewish_a law_n to_o represent_v it_o unbecoming_a the_o wisdom_n of_o god_n and_o now_o i_o pray_v sir_n look_v back_o again_o upon_o they_o see_v how_o few_o how_o small_a how_o weak_a your_o objection_n be_v and_o compare_v they_o with_o the_o weight_n and_o justice_n and_o prudence_n and_o piety_n express_v in_o all_o the_o rest_n and_o i_o hope_v you_o will_v find_v cause_n to_o be_v ashamed_a of_o speak_v so_o harsh_o of_o those_o law_n so_o well_o accommodate_v to_o those_o age_n of_o the_o world_n and_o the_o condition_n of_o that_o people_n for_o who_o they_o be_v appoint_v 2._o i_o now_o consider_v what_o you_o object_n against_o the_o story_n of_o the_o bible_n 1._o that_o passage_n of_o moses_n exod._n 32._o 32._o blot_v i_o out_o of_o thy_o book_n which_o thou_o have_v write_v where_o your_o design_n be_v to_o show_v that_o moses_n pray_v to_o be_v damn_v and_o that_o this_o be_v a_o very_a irrational_a thing_n and_o savour_v more_o of_o passion_n than_o of_o the_o spirit_n of_o god_n but_o what_o if_o moses_n mean_v no_o such_o thing_n as_o damnation_n as_o there_o be_v not_o any_o word_n in_o the_o context_n relate_v that_o way_n but_o all_o the_o design_n of_o that_o chapter_n be_v about_o a_o temporal_a punishment_n which_o be_v a_o present_a destruction_n of_o the_o people_n for_o their_o sin_n and_o the_o book_n out_o of_o which_o he_o pray_v god_n to_o blot_v he_o seem_v to_o i_o to_o be_v no_o other_o than_o the_o roll_n of_o god_n choose_a people_n who_o be_v to_o possess_v the_o land_n of_o canaan_n for_o so_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d proper_o signify_v a_o roll_n or_o register_n psalm_n 69._o 28._o we_o meet_v with_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d the_o roll_n of_o the_o live_n or_o the_o book_n of_o the_o live_n we_o render_v it_o because_o all_o ancient_a book_n be_v in_o the_o fashion_n of_o roll_n in_o that_o chapter_n moses_n intercede_v with_o god_n on_o behalf_n of_o the_o people_n that_o he_o will_v make_v good_a his_o promise_n to_o they_o of_o bring_v they_o into_o the_o land_n of_o canaan_n v_o 13._o and_o v_o 30._o he_o go_v up_o to_o make_v a_o atonement_n for_o the_o people_n i._n e._n as_o to_o the_o cut_v they_o off_o in_o the_o wilderness_n and_o therefore_o he_o desire_v rather_o than_o the_o people_n shall_v be_v destroy_v that_o god_n will_v strike_v he_o out_o of_o the_o roll_n that_o he_o may_v die_v in_o the_o wilderness_n rather_o than_o the_o people_n and_o god_n give_v that_o answer_n to_o this_o purpose_n v_o 33._o whoever_o have_v sin_v against_o i_o will_v i_o blot_v out_o of_o my_o book_n the_o sense_n of_o which_o be_v the_o same_o with_o those_o word_n of_o the_o psalmist_n he_o swear_v in_o his_o wrath_n that_o they_o shall_v not_o enter_v into_o his_o rest._n psal._n 95_o 11._o and_o according_a to_o this_o interpretation_n which_o be_v most_o natural_a and_o easy_a all_o your_o long_a discourse_n against_o pray_v to_o be_v damn_v come_v to_o just_a nothing_o there_o be_v no_o pretence_n for_o it_o either_o in_o the_o text_n or_o context_n 2._o the_o story_n of_o ruth_n do_v not_o please_v you_o as_o savour_v in_o your_o opinion_n of_o a_o great_a deal_n of_o immodesty_n but_o you_o will_v have_v a_o better_a opinion_n of_o it_o if_o you_o consider_v that_o the_o reason_n of_o her_o carriage_n towards_o boaz_n in_o such_o a_o manner_n be_v upon_o naomies_n tell_v she_o that_o he_o be_v one_o to_o who_o the_o right_a of_o redemption_n do_v belong_v and_o by_o consequence_n by_o their_o law_n be_v to_o marry_v she_o ruth_n 2._o 20._o and_o this_o ruth_n plead_v to_o boaz_n ruth_n 3._o 9_o by_o which_o it_o appear_v that_o she_o very_o believe_v that_o he_o be_v legal_o her_o husband_n and_o boaz_n we_o see_v speak_v of_o she_o as_o one_o that_o be_v a_o virtuous_a woman_n and_o know_v to_o be_v such_o in_o the_o whole_a
imprimatur_fw-la hic_fw-la libre_fw-la cui_fw-la titulus_fw-la a_o letter_n to_o a_o deist_n feb._n 8._o 1676._o guil._n jane_n r._n p._n d._n henr._n episc._n lond._n a_o sacris_fw-la dome_v a_o letter_n to_o a_o deist_n in_o answer_n to_o several_a objection_n against_o the_o truth_n and_o authority_n of_o the_o scripture_n london_n print_v by_o w._n g._n and_o be_v to_o be_v sell_v by_o m._n pitt_n at_o the_o angel_n in_o st._n paul_n churchyard_n 1677._o the_o preface_n this_o follow_a discourse_n be_v write_v for_o the_o satisfaction_n of_o a_o particular_a person_n who_o own_v the_o be_v and_o providence_n of_o god_n but_o express_v a_o mean_a esteem_n of_o the_o scripture_n and_o the_o christian_a religion_n which_o be_v become_v so_o common_a a_o theme_n among_o the_o sceptic_n of_o this_o age_n that_o the_o author_n of_o this_o discourse_n think_v it_o worth_a his_o time_n and_o care_n to_o consider_v the_o force_n of_o the_o objection_n that_o be_v make_v against_o they_o especial_o be_v write_v in_o a_o grave_n and_o serious_a manner_n and_o not_o with_o that_o raillery_n and_o buffoonery_n which_o the_o rude_a person_n of_o this_o age_n common_o bestow_v upon_o religion_n it_o may_v be_v just_o expect_v from_o such_o who_o pretend_v to_o breed_n and_o civility_n that_o they_o will_v at_o least_o show_v more_o respect_n to_o a_o thing_n which_o have_v prevail_v so_o much_o among_o man_n of_o the_o best_a understanding_n and_o education_n and_o who_o have_v have_v no_o interest_n to_o carry_v on_o by_o it_o for_o it_o be_v against_o the_o ordinary_a rule_n of_o conversation_n to_o affront_v that_o which_o other_o think_v they_o have_v great_a reason_n to_o esteem_v and_o love_n and_o they_o will_v not_o endure_v that_o scorn_n and_o contempt_n of_o their_o mean_a servant_n which_o they_o too_o often_o show_v towards_o religion_n and_o the_o thing_n belong_v to_o it_o if_o they_o be_v not_o in_o earnest_n when_o they_o scoff_v and_o mock_v at_o sacred_a 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he_o may_v be_v trust_v or_o no_o and_o for_o this_o he_o can_v expect_v no_o better_a satisfaction_n than_o that_o his_o history_n have_v be_v in_o great_a reputation_n for_o its_o integrity_n among_o the_o most_o know_a person_n but_o how_o shall_v he_o be_v sure_a this_o be_v the_o history_n write_v by_o thucydides_n since_o there_o have_v be_v many_o counterfeit_a write_n obtrude_v upon_o the_o world_n beside_o the_o consent_n of_o learned_a man_n in_o all_o age_n since_o we_o may_v compare_v the_o testimony_n cite_v out_o of_o it_o with_o the_o history_n we_o have_v and_o the_o style_n with_o the_o character_n give_v of_o thucydides_n and_o the_o narration_n with_o other_o credible_a history_n of_o those_o time_n and_o if_o all_o these_o agree_v what_o reason_n can_v there_o be_v not_o to_o rely_v upon_o the_o history_n of_o thucydides_n all_o learned_a man_n do_v acknowledge_v that_o there_o have_v be_v multitude_n of_o fictitious_a write_n but_o do_v they_o therefore_o 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person_n such_o whâ—_n go_v about_o to_o deceive_v other_o musâ—_n be_v man_n that_o be_v verse_v in_o business_n and_o know_v how_o to_o deal_v with_o man_n and_o that_o have_v some_o interest_n already_o that_o they_o have_v gain_v by_o other_o mean_n before_o they_o can_v carry_v on_o such_o a_o design_n as_o to_o abuse_v mankind_n by_o lie_n and_o imposture_n in_o religion_n therefore_o the_o atheist_n lay_v the_o deceive_a the_o world_n by_o religion_n to_o the_o charge_n of_o politician_n and_o lawgiver_n to_o man_n verse_v in_o the_o practice_n of_o fraud_n such_o as_o numa_n or_o lycurgus_n or_o xaca_n or_o mahomet_n such_o as_o understand_v the_o way_n of_o cajol_v the_o people_n or_o to_o subtle_a priest_n that_o know_v how_o to_o suit_v the_o hope_n and_o fear_n of_o the_o superstitious_a multitude_n whence_o come_v the_o multitude_n of_o fraud_n in_o the_o heathen_a temple_n and_o oracle_n but_o will_v any_o man_n in_o the_o world_n have_v pitch_v upon_o a_o few_o 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city_n v_o 11._o and_o he_o confess_v he_o be_v her_o near_a kinsman_n only_o he_o say_v there_o be_v one_o near_o v_o 12._o by_o which_o it_o seem_v if_o there_o have_v not_o boaz_n have_v make_v no_o scruple_n of_o the_o matter_n and_o the_o jew_n say_v in_o such_o marriage_n very_o little_a ceremony_n be_v require_v if_o the_o next_o of_o kin_n do_v not_o renounce_v his_o right_n because_o the_o law_n have_v determine_v the_o marriage_n before_o hand_n if_o you_o have_v but_o consider_v this_o one_o thing_n you_o will_v have_v spare_v the_o many_o observation_n you_o make_v on_o this_o story_n 3._o you_o object_n against_o 2_o sam._n 12._o 8._o as_o too_o much_o countenance_v either_o incest_n or_o adultery_n because_o it_o be_v say_v that_o god_n give_v to_o david_n his_o master_n wife_n into_o his_o bosom_n but_o 1._o it_o be_v very_o strange_a to_o bring_v this_o place_n as_o a_o countenance_n to_o adultery_n which_o be_v purposely_o design_v to_o upbraid_v david_n with_o the_o sin_n of_o adultery_n and_o you_o will_v find_v it_o no_o easy_a matter_n by_o the_o constitution_n of_o the_o moysaicall_a law_n to_o prove_v polygamy_n to_o be_v adultery_n 2._o the_o jew_n give_v a_o fair_a interpretation_n of_o this_o place_n for_o they_o say_v that_o the_o wife_n of_o a_o king_n can_v never_o marry_v after_o her_o husband_n decease_n as_o the_o gemara_n on_o the_o title_n sanhedrim_n express_o say_v although_o some_o among_o they_o follow_v the_o opinion_n of_o r._n jehuda_n that_o she_o may_v marry_v the_o succeed_a king_n but_o that_o be_v build_v chief_o on_o this_o place_n of_o which_o the_o rest_n give_v a_o better_a account_n viz._n that_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d do_v not_o 19_o imply_v saul_n wife_n but_o the_o maid_n of_o honour_n or_o attendant_n on_o the_o court_n of_o saul_n which_o all_o fell_a into_o david_n power_n and_o out_o of_o who_o he_o may_v choose_v wife_n without_o danger_n of_o incest_n and_o even_o some_o of_o those_o who_o assert_v it_o lawful_a for_o one_o king_n to_o marry_v his_o predecessor_n wife_n yet_o say_v in_o this_o case_n of_o david_n that_o the_o word_n only_o imply_v that_o they_o be_v of_o saul_n family_n as_o merab_n and_o michal_n be_v but_o not_o saul_n wife_n so_o that_o all_o the_o difficulty_n here_o arise_v only_o from_o the_o interpretation_n of_o a_o unusual_a word_n in_o which_o we_o have_v much_o more_o reason_n to_o trust_v the_o jew_n than_o other_o writer_n 4._o you_o be_v much_o offend_v at_o hosea_n marry_v a_o adulteress_n but_o all_o the_o formidable_a difficulty_n of_o that_o place_n will_v present_o vanish_v if_o you_o allow_v the_o prophetical_a scheme_n wherein_o those_o thing_n be_v say_v to_o be_v do_v which_o be_v intend_v only_o to_o represent_v in_o a_o more_o lively_a manner_n the_o thing_n signify_v by_o they_o and_o so_o you_o may_v see_v the_o chaldee_n paraphrase_n full_o explain_v this_o place_n of_o hosea_n and_o maimonides_n purposely_o discourse_v on_o the_o prophetic_a parable_n and_o 46._o bring_v this_o as_o one_o of_o the_o instance_n of_o they_o and_o with_o he_o the_o rest_n of_o the_o jewish_a interpreter_n agree_v but_o you_o object_n against_o such_o a_o way_n of_o teach_v as_o tend_v to_o the_o encouragement_n of_o vice_n which_o it_o be_v very_o far_o from_o be_v design_v to_o represent_v the_o odiousness_n of_o it_o for_o the_o whole_a scope_n of_o the_o prophet_n be_v to_o let_v the_o people_n understand_v that_o their_o idolatry_n be_v as_o hateful_a to_o god_n as_o the_o sin_n of_o adultery_n and_o that_o the_o consequence_n of_o it_o will_v be_v their_o misery_n and_o ruin_n and_o yet_o that_o god_n express_v as_o much_o tenderness_n to_o they_o as_o a_o man_n that_o be_v very_o fond_a of_o a_o woman_n will_v do_v in_o be_v unwilling_a to_o put_v she_o away_o although_o he_o know_v she_o be_v false_a to_o his_o bed_n the_o former_a be_v intend_v in_o the_o first_o chapter_n and_o the_o latter_a in_o the_o three_o and_o what_o be_v there_o tend_v to_o immorality_n in_o all_o this_o may_v not_o god_n make_v use_n of_o one_o vice_n who_o evil_a be_v more_o notorious_a to_o represent_v another_o by_o who_o evil_a they_o be_v more_o hardly_o convince_v of_o may_v not_o he_o set_v forth_o a_o degenerate_a people_n by_o the_o son_n of_o a_o adulteress_n and_o by_o the_o name_n give_v to_o they_o express_v his_o detestation_n of_o their_o wickedness_n especial_o when_o the_o parabolical_a term_n be_v so_o clear_o explain_v as_o they_o be_v in_o the_o second_o chapter_n but_o you_o will_v say_v these_o thing_n be_v relate_v as_o plain_a matter_n of_o fact_n with_o the_o several_a circumstance_n belong_v to_o they_o it_o be_v true_a they_o be_v so_o but_o so_o parable_n use_v to_o be_v so_o be_v nathan_n to_o david_n so_o be_v that_o of_o the_o rich_a man_n and_o lazarus_n in_o the_o new_a testament_n so_o be_v jeremies_n go_v to_o euphrates_n to_o hide_v 5._o his_o girdle_n for_o it_o be_v not_o very_o likely_a the_o prophet_n shall_v be_v send_v 18_o or_o 20_o day_n journey_n into_o a_o enemy_n country_n for_o no_o other_o end_n so_o be_v ezekiel_n lie_v on_o one_o side_n for_o 390_o 6._o day_n and_o have_v his_o head_n and_o beard_n contrary_a to_o the_o law_n as_o maimonides_n observe_v and_o his_o 1._o dig_v in_o the_o wall_n of_o the_o temple_n at_o jerusalem_n while_o he_o be_v in_o 8._o babylon_n and_o many_o other_o thing_n of_o a_o like_a nature_n which_o be_v set_v forth_o with_o as_o punctual_a a_o narration_n of_o circumstance_n as_o this_o of_o hosea_n and_o yet_o they_o be_v only_o figurative_a expression_n we_o that_o be_v accustom_v to_o another_o way_n of_o learning_n think_v these_o thing_n strange_a but_o this_o be_v a_o very_a common_a way_n in_o the_o elder_a time_n and_o it_o be_v to_o this_o day_n much_o use_v in_o the_o eastern_a country_n to_o represent_v duty_n to_o some_o under_o the_o parable_n of_o thing_n as_o real_o do_v by_o other_o as_o may_v be_v 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leave_v yourself_o to_o consider_v of_o it_o and_o of_o all_o that_o i_o have_v write_v in_o order_n to_o your_o satisfaction_n if_o you_o think_v fit_a to_o return_v a_o answer_n i_o pray_v do_v it_o clear_o and_o short_o and_o with_o that_o freedom_n from_o passion_n which_o become_v so_o weighty_a a_o matter_n and_o i_o beseech_v god_n to_o give_v you_o a_o right_a understanding_n in_o all_o thing_n i_o be_o sir_n your_o faithful_a servant_n june_n 11._o 1675._o finis_fw-la book_n sell_v by_o moses_n pitt_n at_o the_o angel_n in_o st._n paul_n churchyard_n folio_n thesis_n theologicae_fw-la variis_fw-la temporibus_fw-la in_o academia_n sedanensi_fw-la editae_fw-la &_o ad_fw-la disputandum_fw-la propositae_fw-la authore_fw-la ludovico_n le_fw-fr blanc_n verbi_fw-la divini_fw-la ministro_fw-la &_o theologiae_n