of_o faith_n and_o have_v he_o find_v out_o the_o church_n authority_n too_o without_o the_o church_n help_v and_o yet_o do_v he_o want_v some_o necessary_a point_n of_o faith_n then_o it_o follow_v that_o after_o the_o submit_v to_o the_o church_n authority_n there_o be_v still_o necessary_a point_n of_o faith_n which_o may_v be_v want_v and_o then_o a_o absolute_a submission_n be_v not_o all_o that_o be_v require_v of_o one_o that_o have_v find_v out_o the_o church_n authority_n but_o my_o whole_a argument_n there_o proceed_v upon_o a_o supposition_n viz._n that_o if_o one_o may_v without_o the_o church_n help_v find_v out_o the_o church_n authority_n in_o scripture_n then_o why_o not_o all_o necessary_a point_n of_o faith_n so_o that_o it_o go_v upon_o a_o parity_n of_o reason_n and_o i_o see_v no_o answer_n at_o all_o give_v or_o pretend_v but_o only_o he_o endeavour_v to_o stop_v my_o mouth_n with_o a_o handful_n of_o dirt._n thus_o i_o have_v dispatch_v this_o long_a argument_n 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main_a of_o his_o defence_n but_o why_o then_o do_v he_o urge_v we_o to_o produce_v our_o ground_n of_o certainty_n as_o to_o particular_a point_n if_o himself_o do_v not_o if_o he_o pretend_v no_o more_o than_o to_o prove_v they_o in_o general_a why_o may_v not_o we_o be_v allow_v to_o do_v the_o same_o he_o that_o call_v upon_o other_o to_o do_v it_o in_o such_o a_o insult_a manner_n be_v presume_v to_o do_v it_o himself_o and_o if_o he_o do_v not_o he_o only_a banter_n and_o abuse_n his_o reader_n and_o after_o all_o this_o mighty_a pretence_n to_o demonstration_n and_o infallibility_n the_o whole_a dispute_n come_v to_o this_o whether_o man_n may_v attain_v to_o great_a certainty_n of_o christ_n doctrine_n by_o oral_n and_o practical_a tradition_n than_o we_o can_v do_v by_o scripture_n reason_n and_o tradition_n but_o this_o be_v against_o his_o word_n where_o he_o say_v see_v then_o christian_n be_v bind_v to_o profess_v their_o faith_n true_a as_o to_o those_o point_n of_o a_o trinity_n for_o example_n or_o incarnation_n etc._n etc._n it_o follow_v that_o it_o must_v be_v affirm_v and_o hold_v that_o a_o trinity_n or_o incarnation_n absolute_o be_v and_o consequent_o that_o it_o be_v impossible_a not_o to_o be_v vii_o about_o moral_a certainty_n his_o whole_a book_n call_v faith_n vindicate_v be_v write_v against_o it_o and_o in_o the_o preface_n to_o it_o p._n 3._o he_o oppose_v absolute_a certainty_n to_o moral_a and_o he_o say_v those_o who_o have_v it_o not_o have_v no_o true_a faith._n page_n 17._o true_a faith_n by_o reason_n of_o its_o immovable_a ground_n can_v bear_v a_o assert_v the_o absolute_a impossibility_n of_o its_o falsehood_n and_o without_o this_o he_o make_v faith_n absurd_a preternatural_a and_o irrational_a page_n 34._o moral_a certainty_n be_v in_o reality_n uncertainty_n and_o the_o high_a degree_n of_o moral_a certainty_n be_v the_o low_a degree_n of_o uncertainty_n true_o so_o call_v the_o same_o he_o assert_n pag._n 36_o 86_o 93._o error_n nonplus_v pag._n 195._o fallible_a certainty_n destroy_v all_o efficacy_n all_o defence_n and_o even_o essence_n of_o faith._n when_o i_o read_v in_o lominus_fw-la pag._n 43._o that_o i._o s._n in_o his_o vindication_n plead_v that_o he_o require_v no_o more_o than_o moral_a evidence_n for_o the_o assent_n and_o profession_n of_o faith_n i_o can_v hardly_o believe_v he_o and_o therefore_o i_o be_v earnest_a to_o see_v what_o he_o will_v say_v in_o answer_n to_o this_o but_o even_o there_o pag._n 23._o he_o own_v it_o and_o say_v express_o that_o moral_a evidence_n be_v absolute_o sufficient_a to_o faith_n but_o withal_o he_o say_v there_o be_v more_o than_o moral_a evidence_n in_o tradition_n let_v now_o any_o indifferent_a person_n compare_v those_o assertion_n together_o if_o moral_a certainty_n be_v uncertainty_n and_o destroy_v the_o essence_n of_o faith_n how_o can_v it_o be_v absolute_o sufficient_a to_o faith_n but_o beside_o the_o contradiction_n he_o have_v by_o this_o one_o assertion_n overthrow_v the_o whole_a design_n of_o his_o catholic_n letter_n for_o if_o true_a faith_n may_v be_v have_v without_o infallible_a certainty_n what_o need_v any_o such_o contend_v about_o it_o for_o the_o ground_n of_o the_o dispute_n be_v about_o such_o faith_n as_o be_v necessary_a to_o salvation_n and_o if_o true_a faith_n as_o j._n s._n grant_v which_o be_v necessary_a to_o salvation_n may_v be_v have_v without_o their_o pretend_a infallibility_n there_o be_v no_o colour_n leave_v for_o press_v person_n of_o our_o communion_n to_o forsake_v our_o church_n because_o we_o can_v have_v infallible_a certainty_n of_o faith_n when_o themselves_o grant_v that_o we_o may_v be_v save_v without_o it_o and_o what_o sincerity_n be_v to_o be_v expect_v from_o such_o a_o man_n who_o make_v such_o out-cry_n upon_o we_o for_o want_v of_o infallible_a certainty_n for_o faith_n when_o himself_o confess_v that_o moral_a certainty_n be_v sufficient_a to_o faith_n what_o ever_o 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to_o see_v better_a but_o strike_v they_o down_o with_o horror_n and_o astonishment_n and_o here_o i_o may_v fair_o stop_v and_o send_v the_o reader_n to_o j._n s._n for_o a_o effectual_a answer_n to_o his_o own_o letter_n or_o at_o least_o to_o show_v how_o very_o unfit_a he_o be_v after_o such_o go_v forward_o and_o backward_o in_o this_o matter_n to_o undertake_v this_o cause_n 2._o but_o lest_o i_o shall_v seem_v to_o decline_v any_o thing_n which_o may_v seem_v material_a i_o shall_v now_o proceed_v to_o state_n the_o controversy_n as_o it_o lie_v between_o mr._n s._n and_o i_o for_o what_o concern_v another_o person_n i_o shall_v leave_v it_o to_o himself_o as_o not_o stand_v in_o need_n of_o any_o assistance_n from_o i_o the_o occasion_n of_o the_o conference_n be_v set_v down_o by_o mr._n m._n to_o have_v be_v that_o mr._n g._n affirm_v in_o some_o company_n that_o no_o protestant_n can_v show_v any_o ground_n of_o absolute_a certainty_n for_o their_o faith_n and_o that_o mr._n s._n have_v promise_v he_o that_o if_o i_o be_v not_o able_a to_o manifest_v the_o contrary_a he_o will_v forsake_v our_o communion_n so_o that_o mr._n g._n be_v the_o aggressor_n by_o lay_v this_o charge_n upon_o we_o that_o we_o can_v show_v no_o ground_n of_o absolute_a certainty_n for_o our_o faith._n and_o therefore_o when_o in_o the_o conference_n i_o assign_v the_o scripture_n for_o the_o ground_n and_o rule_n of_o our_o faith_n and_o universal_a tradition_n for_o the_o proof_n of_o the_o book_n of_o scripture_n i_o have_v reason_n in_o my_o expostulatory_a letter_n to_o mr._n g._n to_o desire_n of_o he_o to_o show_v that_o we_o have_v no_o absolute_a certainty_n of_o the_o rule_n of_o our_o faith_n viz._n the_o scripture_n although_o we_o have_v a_o large_a and_o firm_a tradition_n for_o it_o than_o you_o can_v have_v for_o the_o point_n in_o difference_n between_o we_o this_o plain_o relate_v to_o the_o conference_n wherein_o scripture_n be_v own_a to_o be_v our_o rule_n and_o universal_a tradition_n the_o evidence_n on_o which_o we_o receive_v the_o book_n and_o to_o any_o man_n of_o sense_n this_o be_v not_o shift_a and_o trick_v off_o the_o proof_n to_o mr._n g._n as_o mr._n g._n often_o call_v it_o 6._o but_o it_o be_v a_o plain_a and_o evident_a proof_n of_o our_o certainty_n upon_o their_o own_o ground_n for_o if_o tradition_n be_v such_o a_o ground_n of_o absolute_a certainty_n as_o they_o assert_v and_o we_o have_v a_o large_a and_o firm_a tradition_n for_o scripture_n than_o they_o can_v produce_v for_o the_o point_n of_o faith_n in_o difference_n between_o we_o than_o it_o be_v evident_a we_o must_v have_v upon_o their_o own_o principle_n a_o ground_n of_o absolute_a certainty_n for_o our_o faith_n which_o be_v the_o main_a point_n of_o the_o conference_n if_o he_o will_v answer_v the_o argument_n he_o must_v either_o deny_v that_o we_o have_v universal_a tradition_n for_o the_o book_n of_o scripture_n or_o that_o universal_a tradition_n be_v a_o 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that_o none_o be_v save_v but_o metaphysical_a speculator_n that_o perch_n upon_o the_o specific_a nature_n of_o thing_n and_o dig_v into_o the_o intrinsical_a ground_n of_o truth_n if_o this_o be_v his_o opinion_n how_o few_o can_v be_v save_v but_o if_o salvation_n be_v the_o end_n the_o mean_n must_v be_v suitable_a to_o the_o capacity_n of_o mankind_n and_o i_o do_v not_o think_v the_o intrinsical_a ground_n of_o truth_n be_v so_o but_o aftey_v all_o he_o say_v that_o i_o stifle_v any_o further_a talk_n of_o the_o certainty_n of_o protestent_fw-la faith._n how_o can_v that_o be_v when_o i_o own_v no_o protestant_n faith_n but_o what_o be_v contain_v in_o scripture_n or_o may_v be_v deduce_v from_o it_o according_a to_o the_o six_o article_n of_o our_o church_n i_o be_o not_o conscious_a to_o myself_o of_o any_o art_n in_o the_o matter_n which_o he_o charge_v i_o with_o and_o he_o say_v i_o avoid_v what_o can_v be_v perform_v what_o be_v that_o to_o make_v out_o that_o protestant_n 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a_o firm_a and_o establish_a faith_n in_o he_o and_o of_o these_o point_n of_o faith_n the_o church_n have_v give_v a_o summary_n in_o the_o creed_n which_o be_v propose_v to_o those_o who_o be_v to_o be_v baptise_a and_o not_o only_a st._n augustin_n but_o aquinas_n say_v these_o be_v take_v out_o of_o scripture_n 1._o and_o the_o certainty_n of_o they_o to_o we_o do_v depend_v not_o upon_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o church_n propose_v they_o but_o the_o evidence_n of_o scripture_n for_o they_o which_o be_v very_o much_o confirm_v to_o we_o by_o the_o concurrent_a testimony_n of_o the_o christian_a church_n in_o all_o age_n from_o the_o apostle_n time_n i._n e._n as_o to_o the_o main_a article_n for_o that_o there_o
suspect_v any_o fraud_n or_o design_n in_o the_o alteration_n that_o appear_v in_o the_o manuscript_n copies_n and_o as_o to_o translation_n that_o have_v be_v make_v among_o we_o the_o people_n who_o be_v not_o able_a to_o examine_v they_o by_o the_o original_n have_v no_o reason_n to_o suspect_v they_o as_o to_o any_o matter_n of_o faith._n not_o mere_o from_o the_o skill_n and_o integrity_n of_o the_o person_n and_o the_o care_n that_o have_v be_v take_v but_o because_o it_o be_v so_o much_o the_o concernment_n of_o some_o man_n to_o have_v lessen_v the_o credit_n of_o our_o translation_n as_o much_o as_o be_v possible_a and_o they_o have_v not_o be_v able_a to_o produce_v any_o thing_n that_o may_v shake_v the_o faith_n of_o a_o consider_v man._n if_o it_o be_v say_v after_o all_o this_o be_v but_o human_a faith_n and_o not_o divine_a i_o answer_v iu._n we_o must_v be_v careful_a to_o distinguish_v the_o certainty_n of_o human_a and_o divine_a faith_n in_o this_o matter_n we_o do_v 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a_o faith_n may_v have_v absolute_a certainty_n of_o its_o kind_n and_o although_o in_o regard_n of_o its_o testimony_n it_o be_v human_a faith_n yet_o in_o regard_n both_o of_o its_o object_n its_o inward_a cause_n and_o its_o effect_n it_o may_v be_v true_o call_v divine_a ix_o the_o last_o objection_n be_v concern_v the_o number_n of_o canonical_a book_n 58._o pray_v satisfy_v we_o say_v mr._n s._n about_o this_o exact_a number_n of_o book_n and_o how_o many_o will_v just_o serve_v turn_n one_o will_v think_v by_o his_o objection_n j._n s._n be_v prepare_v matter_n for_o the_o critical_a history_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n he_o seem_v so_o concern_v to_o lessen_v the_o authority_n of_o it_o but_o i_o shall_v answer_v the_o objection_n he_o offer_v 56._o 1._o there_o may_v have_v be_v book_n lose_v that_o be_v write_v by_o person_n divine_o inspire_v and_o we_o have_v no_o unanimous_a consent_n of_o the_o christian_a church_n that_o there_o be_v none_o lose_v and_o those_o book_n 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and_o the_o more_o such_o a_o book_n be_v disperse_v the_o argument_n be_v still_o strong_a against_o tradition_n beside_o this_o show_v the_o great_a insufficiency_n of_o oral_a tradition_n if_o these_o point_n of_o faith_n be_v lose_v because_o such_o a_o book_n be_v lose_v wherein_o they_o be_v contain_v if_o tradition_n have_v be_v so_o effectual_a a_o mean_n of_o convey_v matter_n of_o faith_n it_o shall_v have_v appear_v in_o such_o a_o case_n viz._n in_o preserve_v such_o matter_n of_o faith_n though_o the_o book_n be_v lose_v but_o we_o find_v nothing_o like_o this_o so_o much_o as_o pretend_v although_o it_o be_v much_o easy_o pretend_v than_o prove_v iii_o this_o be_v to_o suppose_v the_o providence_n of_o god_n not_o to_o be_v immediate_o concern_v in_o preserve_a book_n write_v by_o divine_a inspiration_n mr._n s._n do_v real_o suppose_v that_o book_n write_v by_o divine_a inspiration_n may_v have_v be_v lose_v or_o at_o least_o that_o we_o can_v prove_v that_o they_o be_v not_o but_o we_o think_v it_o a_o considerable_a proof_n that_o they_o can_v not_o because_o the_o divine_a providence_n do_v so_o immediate_o concern_v itself_o in_o preserve_v that_o which_o tend_v so_o much_o to_o the_o good_a of_o his_o church_n if_o a_o hair_n do_v not_o fall_v from_o our_o head_n nor_o a_o sparrow_n fall_v on_o the_o ground_n without_o the_o providence_n of_o god_n as_o our_o saviour_n affirm_v be_v it_o not_o very_o unreasonable_a to_o suppose_v that_o a_o divine_a book_n 30._o write_v for_o the_o benefit_n of_o the_o christian_a church_n shall_v be_v whole_o lose_v especial_o consider_v the_o extraordinary_a care_n the_o first_o christian_n take_v in_o time_n of_o the_o great_a persecution_n to_o preserve_v the_o scripture_n and_o no_o force_n or_o violence_n can_v extort_v they_o out_o of_o their_o hand_n on_o mr._n s_n supposition_n it_o be_v no_o hard_a matter_n for_o a_o book_n of_o scripture_n to_o be_v lose_v viz._n if_o the_o several_a book_n have_v be_v commit_v to_o the_o custody_n of_o some_o man_n in_o trust_n for_o the_o whole_a church_n but_o if_o we_o consider_v the_o thing_n as_o they_o real_o be_v it_o will_v appear_v hardly_o possible_a for_o the_o book_n be_v not_o keep_v up_o at_o first_o in_o a_o few_o hand_n but_o disperse_v abroad_o in_o multitude_n of_o copy_n and_o receive_v with_o mighty_a veneration_n both_o on_o the_o account_n of_o the_o author_n of_o they_o and_o the_o matter_n contain_v in_o they_o they_o be_v read_v both_o in_o public_a and_o in_o private_a they_o hear_v they_o in_o their_o assembly_n and_o they_o make_v they_o their_o constant_a employment_n at_o home_n they_o be_v their_o rule_n of_o life_n as_o well_o as_o of_o faith._n and_o how_o be_v it_o possible_a to_o suppose_v any_o book_n so_o receive_v so_o