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to_o see_v a_o atheist_n tell_v fortune_n a_o deist_n in_o quest_n of_o the_o philosopher_n stone_n and_o a_o libertine_n venture_v all_o his_o present_a pleasure_n and_o enjoyment_n in_o a_o rebellion_n for_o the_o good_a of_o his_o posterity_n and_o yet_o such_o be_v general_o the_o conduct_n of_o the_o irreligious_a and_o it_o be_v a_o just_a judgement_n from_o god_n upon_o they_o that_o they_o shall_v be_v give_v up_o to_o believe_v lie_n and_o to_o act_v against_o their_o own_o interest_n to_o throw_v off_o the_o principle_n of_o truth_n and_o not_o make_v the_o best_a of_o their_o error_n upon_o which_o account_n i_o think_v if_o the_o enemy_n of_o god_n and_o his_o christ_n be_v so_o far_o resolve_v upon_o the_o way_n of_o vnrighteousness_n that_o they_o will_v not_o consider_v the_o proof_n of_o their_o duty_n in_o order_n to_o be_v reform_v they_o will_v do_v well_o to_o betake_v themselves_o for_o refuge_n to_o ignorance_n and_o amusement_n rather_o than_o learning_n and_o 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their_o objection_n they_o will_v be_v sure_a to_o meet_v with_o something_o or_o other_o to_o puzzle_v and_o startle_v they_o and_o this_o may_v awaken_v their_o fear_n and_o raise_v new_a disquiet_n in_o their_o mind_n which_o may_v at_o last_o end_n in_o a_o just_a despair_n when_o they_o will_v be_v able_a to_o repent_v of_o nothing_o but_o this_o that_o they_o be_v not_o content_a to_o enjoy_v the_o fruit_n of_o irreligion_n without_o offer_v to_o defend_v it_o i_o hearty_o wish_v such_o advice_n as_o this_o to_o vnbeliver_v be_v needless_a and_o that_o they_o be_v serious_o dispose_v to_o embrace_v a_o more_o reasonable_a and_o last_a satisfaction_n by_o enter_v upon_o a_o humble_a and_o impartial_a examination_n of_o the_o proof_n of_o the_o christian_a religion_n but_o this_o be_v to_o be_v look_v upon_o as_o a_o effect_n of_o extraordinary_a grace_n all_o that_o can_v be_v expect_v from_o the_o endeavour_n of_o those_o that_o undertake_v to_o set_v these_o proof_n in_o the_o best_a light_n they_o can_v be_v to_o stop_v the_o mouth_n of_o gainsayer_n and_o to_o prevent_v the_o mischief_n of_o infidelity_n from_o spread_v further_o than_o it_o have_v do_v and_o it_o be_v my_o sincere_a prayer_n to_o god_n that_o the_o follow_a discourse_n may_v have_v a_o share_n with_o many_o other_o upon_o the_o same_o subject_a in_o contribute_v to_o so_o good_a a_o effect_n all_o that_o i_o have_v to_o warn_v my_o reader_n of_o be_v that_o if_o any_o of_o they_o shall_v be_v incline_v to_o judge_v that_o the_o abstract_n i_o have_v give_v of_o the_o new_a testament_n and_o the_o proof_n of_o the_o common_a matter_n of_o fact_n there_o relate_v either_o unnecessary_a or_o too_o long_o they_o will_v pass_v over_o these_o part_n and_o leave_v they_o to_o be_v read_v by_o those_o for_o who_o this_o discourse_n be_v principal_o design_v most_o of_o which_o i_o believe_v will_v know_v more_o of_o the_o christian_a religion_n from_o that_o abstract_n of_o it_o i_o have_v draw_v 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l._n 27._o he_o r._n him_z p._n 44._o l._n 5._o discourse_n r._n discovery_n p._n 53._o l._n 19_o as_o r._n a._n p._n 59_o l._n 10._o too_o true_a r._n to_o be_v true_a p._n 62._o l._n 24._o happen_v d._n p._n 67._o l._n 26._o of_o r._n as_o p._n 76._o l._n 12._o year_n r._n year_n p._n 79._o l._n 9_o r._n country_n p._n 99_o l._n 13._o r._n must_v be_v p._n 106._o instance_a in_o d._n p._n 107._o l._n 6._o word_n r._n record_n p._n 109._o l._n 14._o r._n diocletian_a p._n 110._o l._n 24._o sense_n r._n force_n p._n 112._o l._n last_o then_o r._n there_o p._n 115._o l._n 23._o design_n r._n design_n p._n 140._o l._n 22._o r._n according_a to_o p._n 160._o l._n 22._o relation_n r._n relator_n p._n 163._o l._n 26._o r._n perception_n p._n 174._o l._n 12._o r._n truth_n of_o p._n 192._o l._n 2._o execute_v r._n excite_v p._n 211._o l._n 14._o r._n some_o such_o p._n 228._o l._n 3._o ever_o r._n never_o p._n 240._o l._n 6._o then_o r._n than_o p._n 287._o l._n 10._o r._n p._n 293_o l._n 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exhort_v man_n to_o the_o practice_n of_o the_o several_a duty_n enjoin_v they_o by_o god_n and_o deliver_v to_o they_o by_o the_o minister_n of_o the_o gospel_n of_o christ_n and_o bid_v they_o expect_v salvation_n by_o christ_n only_o ordain_v several_a person_n under_o different_a character_n to_o assist_v in_o the_o ministry_n heal_v all_o manner_n of_o disease_n raise_v the_o dead_a and_o do_v many_o other_o sign_n and_o wonder_n wherever_o they_o come_v and_o convey_v the_o same_o power_n and_o gift_n to_o other_o they_o have_v receive_v themselves_o by_o which_o mean_n we_o read_v that_o the_o gospel_n be_v spread_v and_o the_o number_n of_o believer_n increase_v many_o church_n or_o congregation_n be_v every_o where_o establish_v and_o the_o member_n of_o they_o keep_v so_o unite_v by_o those_o that_o be_v set_v over_o they_o first_o in_o judea_n and_o samaria_n then_o in_o remote_a part_n abroad_o where_o the_o jew_n be_v scatter_v afterward_o in_o several_a city_n island_n 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such_o as_o be_v the_o character_n of_o jesus_n christ_n and_o his_o doctrine_n of_o those_o that_o believe_v in_o he_o and_o that_o assist_v he_o in_o the_o publish_n and_o propagate_a his_o gospel_n and_o of_o those_o that_o persecute_v he_o and_o all_o that_o bear_v testimony_n to_o he_o and_o oppose_v the_o establishment_n of_o his_o religion_n as_o to_o the_o character_n of_o jesus_n christ_n so_o far_o as_o it_o can_v be_v collect_v from_o the_o several_a write_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n it_o be_v in_o short_a this_o his_o birth_n life_n and_o death_n be_v attend_v with_o extraordinary_a circumstance_n of_o different_a kind_n those_o who_o be_v call_v in_o scripture_n his_o parent_n be_v say_v to_o be_v descend_v from_o the_o family_n of_o david_n the_o great_a king_n that_o ever_o reign_v over_o judah_n and_o israel_n but_o their_o present_a condition_n when_o this_o child_n be_v bear_v be_v set_v forth_o as_o very_o low_a and_o the_o employment_n that_o maintain_v they_o then_o and_o afterward_o very_o mean_v but_o they_o be_v person_n that_o fear_v god_n and_o live_v very_o conformable_o to_o the_o law_n of_o moses_n the_o first_o appearance_n of_o christ_n in_o the_o world_n be_v prepare_v accompany_v and_o follow_v by_o prophecy_n vision_n sign_n and_o wonder_n ministry_n of_o angel_n adoration_n of_o wise_a man_n jealousy_n and_o fear_n of_o a_o great_a king_n together_o with_o the_o doubt_n ignorance_n amazement_n necessity_n and_o flight_n of_o his_o father_n and_o mother_n his_o education_n be_v fuitable_a to_o the_o meanness_n of_o his_o birth_n thirty_o year_n be_v spend_v at_o home_n in_o obscurity_n and_o retirement_n where_o he_o be_v subject_a and_o obedient_a to_o his_o parent_n but_o at_o the_o same_o time_n he_o wax_v strong_a in_o spirit_n and_o increase_v in_o wisdom_n and_o the_o grace_n of_o god_n be_v upon_o he_o to_o the_o astonishment_n of_o all_o his_o kindred_n and_o countryman_n who_o can_v not_o imagine_v whence_o he_o have_v that_o wisdom_n his_o whole_a life_n afterward_o be_v take_v up_o in_o preach_v and_o instruct_v and_o confirm_v his_o doctrine_n and_o authority_n by_o sign_n and_o mighty_a work_n and_o by_o argument_n draw_v chief_o from_o the_o prophecy_n and_o other_o passage_n of_o the_o old_a testament_n he_o go_v about_o every_o where_o teach_v and_o do_v good_a he_o teach_v in_o the_o temple_n and_o other_o public_a place_n of_o jerusalem_n he_o pass_v through_o all_o the_o city_n and_o village_n of_o judah_n and_o samaria_n and_o the_o neighbour_a coast_n preach_v and_o expound_v the_o scripture_n to_o the_o people_n in_o their_o synagogue_n in_o the_o field_n the_o desert_n and_o upon_o the_o seashore_n we_o find_v he_o attend_v with_o great_a multitude_n who_o hear_v he_o glad_o thus_o be_v he_o constant_o employ_v from_o the_o first_o discovery_n of_o himself_o and_o his_o gospel_n to_o the_o world_n till_o by_o treachery_n and_o malice_n he_o be_v apprehend_v and_o put_v to_o death_n in_o all_o which_o time_n that_o he_o public_o converse_v with_o man_n we_o have_v a_o great_a many_o surprise_v thing_n relate_v of_o he_o which_o do_v very_o much_o distinguish_v his_o character_n from_o that_o of_o any_o other_o person_n he_o be_v represent_v as_o sensible_a of_o human_a passion_n appetite_n and_o infirmity_n and_o yet_o free_a from_o all_o sin_n and_o endue_v with_o a_o power_n of_o not_o feel_v and_o relieve_v those_o very_a want_n he_o suffer_v he_o love_v grieve_a and_o be_v angry_a but_o these_o affection_n be_v occasion_v in_o he_o by_o a_o just_a concern_v for_o the_o glory_n of_o god_n and_o the_o success_n of_o that_o great_a work_n he_o come_v about_o the_o salvation_n of_o mankind_n and_o they_o never_o exceed_v their_o due_a bound_n he_o feel_v hunger_n and_o weariness_n yet_o fast_v forty_o day_n and_o forty_o night_n together_o feed_v vast_a multitude_n and_o
christ_n the_o first_o author_n of_o this_o sect_n of_o man_n call_v christian_n begin_v to_o publish_v his_o doctrine_n to_o the_o world_n be_v very_o particular_o and_o circumstantial_o set_v down_o by_o st._n luke_n in_o the_o three_o chapter_n of_o his_o gospel_n to_o be_v the_o fifteen_o year_n of_o the_o reign_n of_o tiberius_n cesar_n pontius_n pilate_n be_v governor_n of_o judea_n and_o herod_n be_v tetrarch_n of_o galilee_n and_o his_o brother_n philip_n tetrarch_n of_o iturea_n and_o of_o the_o region_n of_o trachonitis_n and_o lysanias_n the_o tetrarch_n of_o abilene_n annas_n and_o caiaphas_n be_v the_o high_a priest_n of_o the_o jew_n and_o in_o the_o book_n call_v the_o act_n of_o the_o apostle_n say_v to_o be_v write_v by_o the_o same_o st._n luke_n it_o be_v affirm_v that_o the_o disciple_n by_o which_o word_n be_v there_o mean_v all_o those_o that_o believe_v in_o christ_n and_o embrace_v the_o doctrine_n teach_v by_o he_o be_v call_v christian_n first_o at_o antioch_n which_o matter_n of_o fact_n be_v by_o the_o consent_n of_o all_o christian_a historian_n record_v to_o have_v happen_v at_o the_o latter_a end_n of_o the_o reign_n of_o caligula_n who_o be_v the_o next_o that_o succeed_v tiberius_n in_o the_o empire_n of_o rome_n and_o that_o this_o be_v the_o low_a point_n of_o time_n it_o can_v be_v fix_v at_o appear_v from_o the_o same_o place_n of_o st._n luke_n where_o immediate_o after_o the_o word_n before_o cite_v it_o follow_v and_o in_o these_o day_n come_v prophet_n from_o jerusalem_n unto_o antioch_n and_o there_o stand_v up_o one_o of_o they_o name_v agabus_n and_o signify_v by_o the_o spirit_n that_o there_o shall_v be_v great_a dearth_n throughout_o all_o the_o world_n which_o come_v to_o pass_v in_o the_o day_n of_o claudius_n cesar_n from_o whence_o i_o infer_v that_o this_o relation_n of_o agabus_n concur_v in_o time_n with_o that_o other_o account_n of_o the_o disciple_n be_v first_o call_v christian_n and_o it_o be_v plain_a from_o what_o be_v say_v concern_v the_o completion_n of_o agabus_n prophecy_n in_o the_o day_n of_o claudius_n cesar_n that_o he_o first_o utter_v his_o prophecy_n some_o time_n before_o the_o day_n of_o claudius_n cesar_n the_o time_n when_o the_o disciple_n be_v first_o call_v christian_n must_v likewise_o be_v soon_o or_o late_a before_o the_o reign_n of_o claudius_n which_o claudius_n be_v the_o immediate_a successor_n of_o caligula_n in_o the_o empire_n the_o matter_n of_o fact_n in_o question_n must_v happen_v in_o the_o latter_a end_n of_o the_o reign_n of_o caligula_n or_o at_o some_o time_n before_o now_o from_o the_o fifteen_o year_n of_o tiberius_n when_o christ_n first_o publish_v his_o doctrine_n at_o jerusalem_n to_o the_o last_o of_o caligula_n when_o his_o disciple_n be_v first_o call_v christian_n at_o antioch_n be_v about_o twelve_o year_n from_o whence_o to_o the_o ten_o year_n of_o nero_n when_o the_o christian_n be_v first_o persecute_v at_o rome_n be_v a_o little_a above_o twenty_o year_n within_o five_o year_n after_o which_o jerusalem_n be_v destroy_v and_o a_o end_n be_v put_v to_o the_o jewish_a government_n and_o policy_n so_o that_o from_o the_o fifteen_o of_o tiberius_n when_o it_o be_v pretend_v that_o christ_n first_o publish_v his_o gospel_n at_o jerusalem_n to_o the_o first_o of_o vespasian_n when_o jerusalem_n be_v destroy_v be_v about_o forty_o year_n and_o no_o more_o if_o therefore_o these_o matter_n of_o fact_n concern_v the_o neronian_a persecution_n and_o the_o destruction_n of_o jerusalem_n be_v true_a as_o be_v constant_o attest_v by_o heathen_a and_o jewish_a as_o well_o as_o christian_a writer_n it_o be_v more_o than_o probable_a that_o those_o mention_v by_o st._n luke_n be_v so_o too_o for_o before_o the_o fifteen_o of_o tiberius_n no_o sign_n or_o footstep_n of_o christianity_n be_v to_o be_v find_v in_o the_o world_n neither_o be_v it_o pretend_v by_o any_o of_o the_o adversary_n of_o this_o religion_n that_o it_o be_v 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christian_a religion_n be_v profess_v at_o rome_n in_o the_o time_n of_o nero_n and_o be_v derive_v from_o one_o christ_n who_o be_v the_o first_o author_n of_o it_o and_o suffer_v death_n at_o jerusalem_n upon_o that_o account_n towards_o the_o latter_a end_n of_o tiberius_n reign_n as_o i_o find_v it_o record_v by_o st._n luke_n and_o the_o other_o writer_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n the_o next_o view_n i_o shall_v take_v of_o the_o christian_a religion_n shall_v be_v under_o constantine_n another_o emperor_n of_o rome_n who_o upon_o some_o occasion_n or_o other_o be_v dispose_v to_o embrace_v this_o religion_n about_o 300_o year_n after_o the_o first_o publication_n of_o it_o by_o christ_n at_o which_o time_n it_o be_v very_o notorious_a that_o christianity_n be_v the_o prevail_a religion_n in_o all_o the_o part_n of_o the_o roman_a empire_n the_o extent_n of_o which_o be_v then_o very_o great_a this_o manifest_o appear_v from_o all_o the_o account_n we_o have_v of_o the_o history_n of_o this_o famous_a emperor_n and_o the_o state_n of_o the_o world_n under_o his_o reign_n in_o the_o twenty_o year_n of_o which_o be_v hold_v a_o general_n council_n which_o be_v a_o meeting_n or_o assembly_n of_o a_o great_a number_n of_o bishop_n who_o come_v from_o all_o the_o different_a province_n and_o city_n both_o of_o the_o eastern_a and_o western_a empire_n and_o be_v person_n that_o in_o their_o several_a district_n govern_v and_o direct_v in_o religion_n affair_n the_o chief_a design_n of_o that_o meeting_n be_v by_o constantine_n who_o call_v they_o together_o declare_v to_o be_v for_o the_o decision_n of_o a_o controversy_n that_o have_v happen_v between_o certain_a christian_a professor_n concern_v a_o particular_a article_n or_o doctrine_n of_o their_o religion_n which_o some_o affirm_v aught_o to_o be_v believe_v in_o one_o sense_n and_o some_o in_o another_o these_o bishop_n do_v meet_v according_o to_o the_o number_n of_o about_o 300_o decide_v the_o 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