i_o have_v first_o observe_v that_o several_a great_a man_n and_o who_o have_v pass_v for_o good_a christian_n have_v hold_v this_o opinion_n without_o lose_v the_o reputation_n they_o have_v of_o piety_n there_o be_v not_o a_o man_n of_o worth_n and_o honour_n among_o the_o protestant_n who_o will_v dare_v to_o say_v that_o erasmus_n and_o grotius_n be_v libertine_n and_o yet_o both_o of_o they_o defend_v open_o this_o same_o opinion_n but_o because_o there_o be_v some_o divine_n who_o esteem_v none_o but_o those_o that_o have_v be_v of_o the_o society_n they_o live_v in_o i_o will_v repeat_v some_o reremarkable_a word_n of_o a_o divine_a famous_a among_o the_o presbyterian_o in_o england_n and_o even_o among_o those_o on_o this_o side_n the_o water_n it_o be_v mr._n richard_n baxter_n who_o speak_v thus_o in_o a_o english_a book_n translate_v not_o long_o since_o into_o dutch_a and_o entitle_v the_o saint_n everlasting_a rest._n 22._o 210._o though_o all_o scripture_n be_v of_o 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at_o it_o that_o the_o knowledge_n thereof_o will_v produce_v more_o hurt_n than_o good_a on_o such_o occasion_n christian_a prudence_n indispensable_o oblige_v we_o to_o the_o contrary_n the_o question_n be_v not_o then_o whether_o the_o maxim_n of_o these_o gentleman_n be_v true_a or_o not_o in_o that_o we_o be_v agree_v but_o my_o opinion_n be_v that_o this_o write_n of_o mr._n n._n will_v do_v infinite_o more_o good_a than_o hurt_n and_o i_o dare_v yet_o maintain_v that_o in_o the_o time_n wherein_o we_o live_v it_o be_v very_o fit_a that_o such_o matter_n as_o these_o be_v thorough_o examine_v without_o conceal_v from_o the_o public_a any_o of_o the_o difficulty_n that_o attend_v they_o you_o know_v sir_n that_o most_o of_o the_o science_n be_v arrive_v in_o this_o our_o age_n to_o a_o great_a degree_n of_o perfection_n than_o former_o though_o from_o thence_o it_o may_v be_v expect_v that_o such_o improvement_n shall_v have_v render_v christian_n so_o much_o the_o more_o wise_a and_o more_o judicious_a yet_o on_o the_o contrary_a libertinism_n and_o impiety_n have_v prevail_v more_o scandalous_o than_o ever_o the_o libertine_n of_o former_a age_n profess_v their_o opinion_n only_o in_o some_o extravagant_a sally_n of_o wit_n or_o debauchery_n and_o oppose_v the_o christian_a religion_n only_o by_o some_o insipid_a railleries_n which_o can_v have_v no_o weight_n with_o any_o person_n of_o sound_a judgement_n and_o unbiased_a affection_n but_o the_o libertine_n of_o our_o time_n make_v use_v of_o their_o philosophy_n and_o criticism_n to_o overthrow_v the_o most_o sacred_a and_o most_o solid_a doctrine_n of_o our_o religion_n divers_a impious_a book_n have_v be_v publish_v not_o only_o in_o latin_a but_o also_o in_o french_a in_o english_a and_o in_o dutch_a which_o many_o unlearned_a person_n read_v with_o much_o greediness_n abundance_n of_o people_n be_v fond_a of_o spinoza_n opinion_n because_o they_o have_v read_v his_o book_n in_o french_a in_o english_a and_o in_o dutch_a though_o they_o never_o study_v philosophy_n nor_o criticism_n we_o be_v in_o time_n wherein_o every_o body_n pretend_v to_o depth_n of_o learning_n freedom_n of_o thought_n and_o strength_n of_o judgement_n and_o this_o reputation_n be_v easy_o acquire_v by_o read_v those_o book_n but_o that_o which_o render_v this_o yet_o more_o deplorable_a be_v that_o it_o be_v not_o a_o disease_n of_o youth_n that_o man_n grow_v out_o of_o as_o they_o advance_v in_o year_n they_o who_o mind_n be_v once_o taint_v with_o these_o unhappy_a opinion_n do_v very_o seldom_o get_v quit_v of_o they_o this_o be_v undoubted_o a_o great_a mischief_n and_o to_o which_o those_o who_o be_v any_o way_n able_a to_o bring_v remedy_n be_v oblige_v to_o do_v it_o it_o have_v be_v endeavour_v to_o overthrow_v the_o authority_n of_o the_o holy_a scripture_n by_o make_v appear_v that_o the_o style_n of_o the_o sacred_a writer_n be_v not_o inspire_v and_o that_o they_o do_v not_o receive_v every_o thing_n they_o say_v from_o immediate_a inspiration_n and_o in_o effect_n it_o have_v happen_v that_o many_o people_n have_v hereupon_o believe_v that_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o scripture_n be_v entire_o ruin_v and_o imagine_v that_o the_o reason_n bring_v by_o spinoza_n to_o prove_v this_o opinion_n be_v unanswerable_a they_o have_v fall_v into_o deism_n or_o into_o atheism_n what_o remedy_n sir_n for_o this_o for_o my_o part_n i_o confess_v i_o see_v but_o one_o of_o these_o three_o either_o a_o way_n must_v be_v find_v to_o burn_v all_o the_o copy_n of_o these_o impious_a book_n that_o have_v corrupt_v so_o many_o man_n and_o to_o blot_v out_o of_o man_n memory_n the_o argument_n of_o these_o libertine_n or_o else_o there_o must_v solid_a demonstration_n be_v make_v of_o the_o falsity_n of_o the_o argument_n they_o make_v use_v of_o to_o maintain_v their_o opinion_n or_o last_o in_o grant_v to_o they_o that_o the_o sacred_a penman_n be_v not_o inspire_v neither_o as_o to_o the_o style_n nor_o as_o to_o those_o thing_n which_o they_o may_v know_v otherwise_o than_o by_o revelation_n it_o must_v be_v yet_o demonstrate_v that_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o scripture_n ought_v not_o for_o all_o that_o to_o be_v esteem_v less_o considerable_a it_o be_v plain_a that_o the_o first_o of_o these_o three_o be_v absolute_o impossible_a and_o that_o though_o a_o inquisition_n shall_v now_o be_v settle_v in_o france_n in_o england_n and_o in_o holland_n it_o will_v already_o be_v too_o late_o there_o be_v then_o no_o other_o mean_n leave_v to_o cure_v this_o libertinism_n that_o be_v spread_v so_o wide_a but_o one_o of_o the_o two_o last_o propose_v remedy_n for_o my_o part_n i_o can_v wish_v with_o all_o my_o heart_n that_o some_o body_n will_v try_v the_o second_o and_o will_v make_v it_o evident_a that_o god_n have_v inspire_v the_o sacred_a author_n not_o only_o with_o the_o matter_n they_o have_v speak_v about_o but_o also_o with_o the_o very_a expression_n but_o since_o no_o body_n have_v yet_o do_v nor_o that_o i_o know_v undertake_v to_o do_v it_o why_o shall_v it_o be_v ill_o take_v that_o mr._n n._n have_v make_v use_n of_o the_o three_o method_n or_o that_o i_o have_v publish_v his_o write_n it_o be_v true_a there_o be_v some_o who_o believe_v that_o it_o be_v better_a to_o hold_v one_o peace_n in_o a_o matter_n so_o delicate_a than_o to_o run_v the_o hazard_n of_o give_v scandal_n to_o other_o by_o contradict_v the_o opinion_n which_o they_o think_v most_o reasonable_a this_o indeed_o will_v be_v very_o well_o if_o libertine_n also_o forbear_v write_v or_o if_o no_o body_n read_v their_o book_n but_o since_o it_o be_v otherwise_o such_o silence_n be_v not_o at_o all_o seasonable_a if_o any_o weak_a mind_n take_v offence_n without_o reason_n at_o what_o be_v offer_v there_o be_v a_o
they_o have_v take_v much_o pain_n to_o correct_v in_o themselves_o the_o fault_n which_o other_o commit_v they_o have_v apply_v themselves_o to_o read_v or_o they_o have_v travel_v in_o france_n these_o jew_n bear_v in_o the_o country_n where_o nothing_o but_o greek_a be_v speak_v understand_v not_o the_o ancient_a hebrew_n nor_o the_o hebrew_n then_o speak_v in_o judaea_n they_o make_v use_v in_o their_o synagogue_n of_o the_o version_n of_o the_o septuagint_n and_o because_o they_o speak_v nothing_o but_o greek_a they_o be_v call_v the_o hellenist_n jew_n salmasius_n in_o his_o book_n of_o the_o hellenist_n tongue_n against_o heinsius_n show_v that_o these_o jew_n speak_v very_o good_a greek_a and_o that_o it_o be_v very_o absurd_a in_o some_o learned_a man_n to_o imagine_v there_o be_v a_o hellenish_v tongue_n as_o if_o the_o hebrew_n that_o know_v not_o their_o own_o language_n have_v a_o particular_a one_o different_a from_o that_o of_o the_o place_n where_o they_o dwell_v and_o that_o this_o language_n be_v that_o of_o the_o septuagint_n and_o of_o the_o new_a testament_n if_o a_o name_n be_v to_o be_v give_v to_o this_o corrupt_a greek_a it_o shall_v rather_o be_v call_v hebraistic_a because_o it_o be_v full_a of_o hebraism_n or_o chaldaism_n but_o as_o the_o language_n of_o the_o walloon_n or_o of_o some_o of_o the_o province_n of_o france_n can_v pass_v for_o a_o particular_a language_n be_v nothing_o but_o a_o corrupt_a french_a so_o neither_o aught_o the_o barbarous_a greek_a of_o judaea_n to_o pass_v for_o a_o language_n by_o itself_o different_a from_o the_o greek_a language_n it_o be_v no_o wonder_n then_o if_o the_o apostle_n who_o have_v live_v a_o good_a part_n of_o their_o life_n in_o judaea_n or_o who_o be_v bear_v there_o and_o have_v not_o apply_v themselves_o to_o learn_v perfect_o the_o greek_a tongue_n nor_o to_o speak_v it_o in_o purity_n use_v it_o so_o improper_o in_o their_o write_n st._n paul_n himself_o bear_v in_o a_o town_n that_o speak_v nothing_o but_o greek_a have_v so_o corrupt_v his_o speech_n by_o his_o long_a dwell_n in_o judaea_n that_o he_o confess_v he_o be_v ignorant_a in_o the_o language_n 2_o cor._n xi_o 6._o as_o sufficient_o appear_v by_o all_o his_o epistle_n the_o greek_a whereof_o be_v very_o different_a from_o that_o of_o josephus_n and_o therefore_o the_o greek_a father_n have_v complain_v of_o the_o obscurity_n of_o his_o style_n of_o the_o barbarous_a phrase_n that_o be_v therein_o and_o of_o apparent_a confusion_n in_o the_o order_n of_o his_o discourse_n and_o those_o who_o very_o ready_o understand_v plato_n and_o demosthenes_n be_v oblige_v as_o erasum_n judicious_o observe_v to_o take_v great_a pain_n to_o understand_v st._n paul_n we_o need_v but_o compare_v his_o style_n with_o that_o of_o some_o greek_a author_n to_o find_v that_o this_o apostle_n apply_v himself_o not_o much_o to_o the_o greek_a eloquence_n it_o be_v plain_a then_o that_o the_o holy_a spirit_n inspire_v not_o the_o apostle_n with_o the_o expression_n they_o be_v to_o use_v if_o it_o have_v be_v so_o st._n paul_n can_v not_o have_v say_v he_o be_v ignorant_a in_o the_o language_n he_o shall_v have_v say_v that_o the_o holy_a spirit_n inspire_v he_o with_o a_o language_n such_o as_o be_v that_o of_o the_o people_n and_o all_o the_o greek_a father_n will_v have_v blaspheme_v against_o the_o holy_a spirit_n when_o they_o observe_v the_o little_a eloquence_n of_o st._n paul_n for_o according_a to_o this_o supposition_n that_o will_v not_o have_v proceed_v from_o st._n paul_n but_o from_o the_o holy_a spirit_n if_o any_o one_o doubt_n of_o this_o he_o need_v but_o read_v erasmus_n in_o the_o place_n i_o have_v cite_v it_o be_v true_a that_o a_o famous_a protestant_n divine_a have_v undertake_v to_o confute_v he_o in_o his_o annotation_n upon_o the_o 10_o the_o chapter_n of_o the_o act_n but_o he_o do_v nothing_o but_o declaim_v as_o he_o be_v use_v to_o do_v against_o a_o author_n more_o learned_a and_o more_o judicious_a than_o himself_o without_o bring_v any_o solid_a reason_n we_o must_v now_o speak_v a_o word_n of_o some_o book_n of_o the_o old_a testament_n that_o contain_v neither_o history_n nor_o prophecy_n such_o be_v the_o book_n of_o proverb_n ecclesiaste_n the_o song_n of_o solomon_n and_o job_n which_o last_o be_v apparent_o a_o dramatic_a piece_n whereof_o nothing_o but_o the_o subject_n be_v true_a as_o be_v the_o tragedy_n of_o the_o greek_a poet_n there_o be_v no_o proof_n that_o what_o be_v contain_v in_o the_o proverb_n be_v inspire_v to_o solomon_n by_o god_n after_o a_o prophetic_a manner_n they_o be_v moral_a sentence_n which_o a_o good_a man_n may_v well_o pronounce_v without_o inspiration_n as_o be_v those_o contain_v in_o ecclesiastious_a there_o be_v very_o many_o of_o they_o that_o be_v but_o vulgar_a proverb_n which_o carry_v indeed_o a_o good_a sense_n but_o have_v nothing_o in_o they_o of_o divine_a there_o be_v a_o great_a many_o direction_n about_o oeconomy_n which_o woman_n and_o countrypeople_n everywhere_o know_v without_o revelation_n see_v chap._n xxiv_o 27._o and_o xxvii_o 23._o and_o the_o description_n of_o a_o virtuous_a woman_n at_o the_o latter_a end_n of_o the_o book_n the_o name_n of_o prophet_n be_v very_o liberal_o bestow_v on_o agur_n the_o son_n of_o jakeh_n for_o some_o morality_n that_o be_v find_v under_o his_o name_n prov._n xxx_o whereas_o i_o dare_v be_v bold_a to_o say_v better_a thing_n may_v have_v be_v say_v without_o the_o spirit_n of_o prophecy_n three_o thing_n say_v he_o for_o example_n be_v too_o marvellouss_n for_o i_o and_o even_o four_o which_o i_o know_v not_o the_o way_n of_o a_o eagle_n in_o the_o air_n the_o way_n of_o a_o serpent_n on_o a_o rock_n the_o way_n of_o a_o ship_n in_o the_o midst_n of_o the_o sea_n and_o the_o way_n of_o a_o man_n with_o a_o maid_n one_o must_v have_v a_o mean_a opinion_n of_o the_o spirit_n of_o prophecy_n to_o believe_v that_o it_o dictate_v such_o thing_n as_o these_o and_o indeed_o neither_o do_v the_o author_n pretend_v to_o that_o eminency_n but_o say_v modest_o concern_v himself_o that_o he_o be_v more_o brutish_a than_o any_o man_n and_o have_v not_o the_o understanding_n of_o a_o man._n but_o there_o be_v particular_o one_o precept_n of_o good_a husbandry_n that_o be_v often_o repeat_v which_o our_o merchant_n now_o adays_o know_v as_o well_o as_o the_o israelite_n that_o live_v in_o solomon_n time_n it_o be_v that_o which_o express_o forbid_v they_o to_o be_v surety_n for_o any_o body_n chap._n vi_o 1._o xvii_o 18._o xx._n 16._o xxii_o 26._o xxvii_o 13._o it_o be_v true_a by_o the_o rule_n of_o good_a husbandry_n a_o man_n shall_v never_o be_v surety_n but_o there_o happen_v oftentimes_o case_n wherein_o charity_n ought_v to_o be_v prefer_v before_o good_a husbandry_n as_o appear_v by_o the_o parable_n of_o the_o samaritan_n who_o become_v surety_n for_o the_o expense_n of_o the_o jew_n that_o be_v find_v hurt_v on_o the_o road._n there_o be_v methinks_v no_o great_a need_n that_o god_n shall_v send_v prophet_n to_o teach_v man_n good_a husbandry_n on_o the_o contrary_a it_o be_v very_o necessary_a that_o christ_n shall_v preach_v liberality_n some_o learned_a man_n have_v believe_v that_o ecclesiastes_n be_v a_o dialogue_n where_o a_o pious_a man_n dispute_v with_o a_o impious_a one_o who_o be_v of_o the_o opinion_n of_o the_o sadducee_n and_o in_o effect_n there_o be_v thing_n direct_o oppose_v one_o to_o another_o which_o it_o can_v be_v suppose_v the_o same_o person_n speak_v the_o epicurean_a conclusion_n to_o eat_v drink_v and_o be_v merry_a because_o a_o man_n have_v nothing_o else_o which_o be_v up_o and_o down_o in_o many_o place_n of_o this_o book_n be_v altogether_o contrary_a to_o that_o conclusion_n at_o the_o end_n of_o the_o work_n fear_v god_n and_o keep_v his_o commandment_n etc._n etc._n but_o it_o be_v extreme_o difficult_a to_o distinguish_v the_o person_n or_o to_o find_v out_o exact_o in_o the_o name_n of_o what_o person_n the_o author_n speak_v in_o every_o passage_n however_o it_o be_v there_o appear_v in_o it_o nothing_o of_o prophetic_a and_o there_o be_v little_a likelihood_n that_o the_o spirit_n of_o god_n will_v set_v out_o with_o so_o great_a strength_n the_o argument_n of_o sadducee_n or_o perhaps_o of_o worse_a man_n to_o answer_v they_o but_o in_o two_o or_o three_o word_n read_v the_o beginning_n of_o the_o nine_o chapter_n and_o make_v reflection_n on_o these_o word_n the_o live_a know_v that_o they_o shall_v die_v but_o the_o dead_a know_v not_o any_o thing_n neither_o have_v they_o any_o more_o a_o reward_n for_o the_o memory_n of_o they_o be_v forget_v also_o their_o love_n and_o their_o hatred_n and_o their_o envy_n be_v now_o perish_a neither_o have_v they_o any_o more_o a_o portion_n for_o ever_o
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the_o sacred_a penman_n and_o it_o be_v herein_o precise_o that_o i_o differ_v from_o the_o common_a opinion_n of_o divine_n you_o see_v how_o much_o these_o principle_n be_v contrary_a to_o those_o of_o the_o deist_n who_o reject_v all_o sort_n of_o inspiration_n and_o who_o look_v upon_o the_o holy_a scripture_n as_o a_o work_n full_a of_o falsity_n and_o wherein_o there_o be_v nothing_o but_o what_o be_v pure_o human_a the_o divine_n that_o have_v accuse_v i_o of_o deism_n on_o account_n of_o this_o write_n certain_o either_o never_o take_v the_o pain_n to_o read_v it_o or_o do_v not_o understand_v it_o for_o i_o can_v believe_v that_o they_o will_v accuse_v i_o of_o so_o detestable_a a_o opinion_n out_o of_o pure_a malice_n and_o against_o their_o own_o conscience_n they_o be_v undoubted_o in_o some_o measure_n mislead_v by_o a_o false_a zeal_n that_o render_v they_o little_a attentive_a to_o what_o they_o read_v or_o make_v they_o suspect_v that_o the_o author_n have_v not_o 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not_o you_o that_o speak_v it_o be_v the_o spirit_n of_o your_o father_n that_o speak_v in_o you_o have_v receive_v as_o mr._n simon_n give_v we_o to_o understand_v only_o the_o inward_a grace_n which_o god_n spread_v abroad_o daily_o in_o the_o heart_n of_o the_o faithful_a the_o inspiration_n of_o the_o apostle_n be_v not_o different_a from_o those_o of_o the_o faithful_a now_o a_o day_n objection_n 10._o whereas_o it_o be_v say_v 48._o that_o the_o apostle_n speak_v many_o thing_n at_o their_o trial_n which_o may_v have_v be_v speak_v without_o inspiration_n and_o from_o thence_o be_v infer_v that_o it_o be_v not_o necessary_a to_o believe_v that_o they_o be_v inspire_v with_o those_o thing_n this_o way_n of_o argue_v may_v be_v apply_v to_o the_o prophet_n who_o nevertheless_o we_o acknowledge_v to_o have_v be_v true_o inspire_v mr._n simon_n resp._n 131._o answer_n mr._n simon_n who_o see_v nothing_o in_o book_n but_o what_o his_o passion_n show_v he_o may_v have_v take_v notice_n 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