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and_o
receive_v from_o a_o constant_a repetition_n of_o the_o same_o appearance_n but_o it_o be_v not_o to_o prove_v a_o god_n or_o providence_n or_o the_o first_o general_n principles_n of_o natural_a religion_n that_o miracle_n be_v urge_v these_o thing_n be_v all_o so_o plain_a and_o easy_a without_o such_o a_o confirmation_n that_o they_o be_v altogether_o without_o excuse_n who_o do_v not_o believe_v they_o or_o act_v contrary_a to_o their_o belief_n but_o when_o man_n be_v lose_v and_o go_v out_o of_o the_o way_n and_o be_v become_v altogether_o corrupt_a when_o through_o blindness_n and_o ignorance_n they_o know_v not_o how_o to_o serve_v god_n aright_o and_o when_o those_o who_o use_v their_o endeavour_n to_o do_v it_o can_v have_v no_o assurance_n of_o be_v accept_v if_o in_o compassion_n to_o this_o sad_a and_o distress_a estate_n of_o mankind_n god_n be_v please_v to_o reveal_v himself_o to_o they_o and_o acquaint_v they_o with_o a_o true_a and_o certain_a way_n to_o happiness_n which_o they_o be_v not_o able_a to_o find_v out_o of_o themselves_o what_o perfection_n of_o god_n be_v it_o contrary_a to_o to_o make_v such_o a_o discovery_n to_o his_o creature_n and_o how_o can_v he_o take_v a_o more_o effectual_a way_n to_o convince_v they_o of_o the_o truth_n of_o the_o revelation_n than_o by_o miracle_n which_o be_v real_a effect_n of_o divine_a power_n and_o which_o man_n be_v ready_o dispose_v to_o acknowledge_v as_o infallible_a sign_n and_o indication_n of_o it_o if_o these_o be_v the_o work_n of_o god_n and_o may_v certain_o be_v know_v to_o be_v so_o as_o have_v already_o be_v prove_v in_o the_o former_a part_n of_o this_o discourse_n than_o be_v they_o very_o fit_a and_o proper_a proof_n that_o the_o doctrine_n they_o be_v intend_v to_o comfirm_v come_v from_o god_n though_o they_o be_v not_o bring_v about_o by_o a_o immediate_a interposition_n but_o be_v part_n of_o the_o general_n scheme_n of_o nature_n and_o therefore_o though_o it_o shall_v be_v allow_v to_o be_v a_o derogation_n to_o god_n to_o make_v he_o the_o author_n of_o those_o work_v we_o call_v miracle_n by_o a_o present_a and_o immediate_a exercise_n of_o his_o power_n yet_o it_o can_v be_v no_o diminution_n to_o any_o of_o his_o perfection_n to_o affirm_v that_o original_o at_o the_o begin_n of_o the_o world_n he_o order_v such_o effect_n to_o proceed_v from_o the_o general_a law_n of_o nature_n at_o such_o a_o time_n that_o they_o may_v be_v for_o sign_n and_o token_n to_o mankind_n that_o the_o revelation_n which_o shall_v then_o be_v give_v they_o come_v from_o he_o another_o objection_n make_v to_o the_o argument_n of_o miracle_n be_v that_o miracle_n have_v be_v wrought_v by_o other_o man_n as_o well_o as_o moses_n and_o christ_n and_o as_o great_a as_o those_o that_o be_v record_v of_o they_o from_o whence_o it_o be_v infer_v that_o the_o doctrine_n they_o teach_v be_v never_o the_o true_a for_o their_o work_a miracle_n to_o which_o i_o answer_v that_o the_o matter_n of_o fact_n be_v none_o of_o it_o sufficient_o attest_v a_o great_a deal_n or_o it_o manifest_o false_a and_o be_v it_o all_o true_a the_o inference_n draw_v from_o it_o do_v not_o hold_v to_o make_v good_a this_o charge_n i_o shall_v instance_n in_o the_o miracle_n attribute_v to_o vespasian_n and_o apollonius_n tyanaeus_n which_o have_v be_v particular_o make_v use_n of_o by_o the_o enemy_n of_o our_o religion_n to_o lessen_v the_o credit_n and_o authority_n of_o it_o of_o vespasian_n it_o be_v record_v that_o he_o once_o cure_v two_o blind_a man_n but_o the_o strange_a and_o wonderful_a work_n of_o apollonius_n fill_v a_o book_n write_v on_o purpose_n to_o give_v a_o account_n of_o they_o now_o as_o to_o vespasian_n cure_n of_o the_o blind_a it_o be_v but_o one_o single_a miracle_n and_o therefore_o be_v very_o unjust_o compare_v with_o that_o multitude_n of_o mighty_a work_n that_o be_v wrought_v by_o the_o hand_n of_o christ_n neither_o be_v it_o so_o well_o attest_v but_o reason_n may_v be_v give_v why_o it_o shall_v be_v false_a notwithstanding_o the_o reality_n of_o all_o the_o appear_a circumstance_n of_o it_o several_a inducement_n may_v be_v allege_v that_o very_o probable_o dispose_v this_o emperor_n to_o pretend_v to_o such_o a_o miracle_n it_o be_v very_o easy_a to_o conceive_v how_o his_o design_n may_v be_v bring_v about_o in_o the_o presence_n of_o a_o great_a many_o people_n without_o their_o discover_v the_o cheat_n and_o shall_v any_o have_v find_v it_o out_o it_o be_v very_o obvious_a to_o imagine_v why_o they_o do_v not_o publish_v it_o but_o nothing_o of_o all_o this_o will_v hold_v when_o apply_v to_o christ_n have_v he_o pretend_v to_o no_o more_o than_o the_o cure_n of_o two_o blind_a man_n a_o man_n of_o his_o character_n and_o condition_n in_o the_o world_n can_v not_o promise_v himself_o any_o honour_n respect_n or_o advantage_n from_o such_o a_o pretence_n and_o shall_v he_o have_v make_v this_o use_n of_o it_o he_o will_v very_o probable_o have_v raise_v the_o envy_n of_o all_o the_o people_n of_o the_o same_o rank_n and_o the_o jealousy_n of_o his_o superior_n upon_o these_o and_o other_o motive_n as_o well_o as_o natural_a curiosity_n a_o great_a many_o will_v have_v be_v very_o industrious_a and_o inquisitive_a in_o search_v into_o the_o truth_n of_o the_o fact_n and_o who_o can_v we_o imagine_v so_o far_o concern_v for_o such_o a_o pretender_n as_o to_o be_v privy_a or_o assist_v to_o his_o cheat_n at_o the_o first_o or_o to_o conceal_v his_o shame_n after_o they_o have_v find_v it_o out_o but_o suppose_v a_o account_n can_v be_v give_v in_o one_o or_o two_o instance_n how_o it_o be_v possible_a for_o christ_n to_o pretend_v to_o such_o work_v as_o be_v never_o do_v there_o be_v abundance_n still_o remain_v upon_o record_n that_o be_v manifest_o incapable_a of_o such_o a_o solution_n which_o put_v a_o unanswerable_a difference_n betwixt_o the_o miracle_n of_o christ_n and_o the_o pretence_n of_o other_o men._n as_o to_o the_o story_n of_o apollonius_n the_o whole_a credit_n of_o it_o depend_v upon_o the_o testimony_n of_o one_o single_a author_n who_o live_v too_o long_o after_o he_o to_o be_v a_o competent_a witness_n of_o the_o truth_n of_o what_o he_o relate_v and_o be_v too_o credulous_a and_o partial_a to_o be_v believe_v if_o he_o have_v live_v at_o the_o same_o time_n with_o he_o the_o strange_a unusual_a thing_n relate_v to_o have_v be_v do_v by_o this_o apollonius_n bear_v no_o proportion_n to_o the_o miracle_n of_o christ_n either_o as_o to_o the_o number_n of_o the_o fact_n and_o person_n concern_v in_o they_o the_o wonderful_a and_o extraordinary_a nature_n of_o they_o the_o beneficial_a design_n of_o they_o or_o the_o public_a and_o hazardous_a manner_n in_o which_o they_o be_v do_v and_o a_o great_a many_o of_o these_o have_v be_v prove_v to_o be_v false_a upon_o examination_n from_o the_o manifest_a inconsistency_n and_o contradiction_n in_o the_o relation_n of_o they_o but_o suppose_v the_o miracle_n attribute_v to_o vespasian_n and_o apollonius_n be_v true_a in_o fact_n what_o reason_n can_v we_o allege_v either_o from_o the_o character_n of_o the_o pretend_a author_n the_o end_n and_o design_n they_o act_v upon_o the_o consequence_n and_o effect_n of_o the_o pretence_n or_o from_o any_o other_o circumstance_n of_o their_o story_n that_o the_o strange_a thing_n record_v of_o they_o be_v not_o do_v by_o the_o ministry_n of_o evil_a spirit_n let_v we_o suppose_v far_o that_o the_o fact_n be_v not_o only_o real_a but_o true_a and_o proper_a miracle_n perform_v by_o the_o express_a and_o immediate_a assistance_n of_o god_n what_o can_v be_v infer_v from_o thence_o not_o that_o the_o heathen_a religion_n be_v true_a because_o these_o miracle_n be_v not_o design_v or_o intend_v for_o a_o confirmation_n of_o it_o not_o that_o the_o christian_a religion_n be_v pure_o humane_a because_o the_o whole_a end_n of_o christ_n work_a miracle_n be_v to_o prove_v that_o his_o doctrine_n come_v from_o god_n there_o may_v be_v several_a reason_n give_v why_o it_o may_v please_v god_n sometime_o to_o work_v miracle_n indifferent_o by_o the_o hand_n of_o good_a or_o ill_a man_n man_n of_o a_o true_a or_o false_a religion_n but_o it_o can_v possible_o be_v suppose_v of_o god_n that_o he_o shall_v employ_v good_a man_n or_o concur_v with_o the_o wicked_a in_o work_a miracle_n in_o order_n to_o their_o deceive_a mankind_n and_o establish_v a_o lie_n by_o such_o evidence_n as_o can_v be_v disprove_v and_o no_o instance_n can_v be_v give_v where_o any_o one_o true_a miracle_n be_v wrought_v by_o a_o person_n that_o make_v use_v of_o it_o to_o prove_v any_o other_o doctrine_n by_o than_o what_o we_o have_v deliver_v in_o the_o scripture_n by_o a_o true_a miracle_n
deliver_v in_o the_o old_a and_o new_a testament_n be_v obligatory_a to_o we_o so_o far_o as_o they_o be_v there_o declare_v to_o be_v so_o that_o be_v they_o be_v to_o be_v believe_v and_o observe_v in_o the_o way_n and_o manner_n and_o upon_o the_o reason_n and_o motive_n there_o propose_v and_o consequent_o that_o at_o present_a the_o true_a and_o adequate_a rule_n of_o human_a life_n be_v what_o we_o call_v the_o christian_a religion_n but_o because_o as_o it_o be_v plain_a from_o the_o nature_n of_o all_o revelation_n the_o truth_n of_o what_o be_v pretend_v to_o be_v reveal_v must_v depend_v upon_o the_o proof_n of_o matter_n of_o fact_n i_o shall_v take_v this_o method_n of_o establish_v the_o certainty_n of_o the_o christian_a revelation_n 1._o have_v premise_v some_o thing_n concern_v those_o particular_a fact_n i_o design_v to_o insist_v upon_o i_o shall_v give_v a_o short_a abstract_n or_o summary_n of_o the_o christian_a scheme_n as_o we_o find_v it_o deliver_v in_o the_o new_a testament_n 2._o i_o shall_v prove_v by_o such_o direct_a argument_n as_o matter_n of_o fact_n be_v provable_a by_o that_o all_o the_o principal_a matter_n of_o fact_n relate_v in_o the_o new_a testament_n be_v true_a 3._o i_o shall_v endeavour_v to_o make_v good_a the_o same_o proposition_n indirect_o by_o show_v the_o absurdity_n of_o a_o contrary_a supposition_n and_o the_o weakness_n of_o all_o the_o difficulty_n and_o objection_n raise_v against_o the_o truth_n of_o those_o fact_n or_o of_o revelation_n in_o general_n 4._o i_o shall_v show_v the_o sufficiency_n of_o such_o a_o proof_n as_o shall_v be_v give_v under_o the_o former_a head_n to_o induce_v we_o to_o believe_v the_o christian_a religion_n and_o to_o render_v we_o inexcusable_a if_o we_o do_v not_o as_o to_o what_o concern_v those_o particular_a fact_n i_o design_v to_o insist_v upon_o for_o the_o proof_n of_o the_o christian_a religion_n there_o be_v these_o three_o thing_n necessary_a to_o be_v observe_v first_o i_o take_v all_o this_o for_o grant_v viz._n that_o there_o be_v such_o book_n as_o those_o i_o call_v the_o old_a and_o new_a testament_n that_o they_o be_v in_o the_o hand_n of_o a_o great_a number_n of_o people_n of_o different_a country_n in_o the_o world_n and_o be_v with_o a_o very_a little_a variation_n the_o same_o every_o where_n that_o the_o great_a part_n of_o those_o in_o who_o hand_n they_o be_v who_o be_v call_v christian_n profess_v to_o believe_v that_o the_o matter_n of_o fact_n there_o record_v be_v true_a and_o that_o the_o doctrine_n come_v from_o god_n and_o be_v appoint_v by_o he_o as_o the_o rule_n and_o measure_n of_o their_o action_n but_o more_o especial_o those_o deliver_v in_o the_o new_a testament_n which_o they_o look_v upon_o to_o contain_v a_o full_a scheme_n of_o their_o duty_n that_o a_o large_a sect_n of_o man_n call_v jew_n profess_v to_o believe_v the_o same_o of_o the_o old_a testament_n as_o the_o christian_n do_v but_o reject_v the_o new_a and_o 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establishment_n of_o the_o former_a beside_o many_o of_o the_o same_o argument_n that_o i_o shall_v make_v use_n of_o to_o support_v the_o christian_a revelation_n be_v in_o like_a manner_n applicable_a to_o the_o jewish_a and_o therefore_o i_o shall_v only_o consider_v the_o old_a testament_n as_o a_o book_n that_o be_v extant_a long_o before_o the_o christian_a religion_n appear_v in_o the_o world_n and_o which_o be_v then_o and_o have_v be_v long_o before_o esteem_v by_o the_o whole_a people_n of_o the_o jew_n as_o a_o book_n that_o contain_v the_o revelation_n of_o god_n and_o i_o shall_v concern_v myself_o no_o far_o in_o the_o proof_n of_o these_o ancient_a write_n than_o to_o defend_v they_o from_o the_o little_a cavil_n and_o objection_n raise_v against_o they_o by_o modern_a unbeliever_n with_o a_o design_n to_o weaken_v the_o certainty_n of_o divine_a revelation_n in_o general_n and_o consequent_o to_o invalidate_v the_o proof_n of_o the_o christian_a religion_n three_o i_o 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assistance_n and_o revelation_n and_o thus_o i_o shall_v endeavour_v to_o establish_v the_o certainty_n of_o the_o christian_a religion_n by_o prove_v the_o truth_n of_o all_o the_o principal_a matter_n of_o fact_n contain_v in_o the_o new_a testament_n according_a to_o the_o order_n and_o distinction_n of_o they_o before_o mention_v viz._n common_a historical_a fact_n prophecy_n and_o miracle_n divine_a assistance_n and_o revelation_n i._n but_o for_o a_o better_a and_o clear_a prosecution_n of_o my_o design_n i_o shall_v in_o the_o first_o place_n before_o i_o enter_v upon_o this_o proof_n give_v a_o short_a abstract_n or_o summary_n of_o the_o christian_a scheme_n as_o we_o find_v it_o deliver_v in_o the_o book_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n wherein_o i_o shall_v consider_v the_o matter_n and_o subject_n of_o these_o book_n and_o the_o manner_n in_o which_o they_o be_v write_v with_o all_o the_o important_a circumstance_n belong_v to_o they_o that_o offer_v themselves_o upon_o a_o 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