rule_n of_o faith_n dr._n stillingfl_fw-mi defence_n of_o a._n b._n laud._n dr._n sherlock_n protestant_n resolution_n of_o faith_n learned_a defender_n of_o the_o protestant_a resolution_n of_o faith_n against_o those_o popish_a writer_n that_o set_v up_o tradition_n in_o opposition_n to_o it_o and_o the_o absurdity_n of_o the_o latter_a be_v evident_a at_o first_o sight_n and_o none_o but_o mere_a enthusiast_n ever_o make_v any_o pretence_n to_o it_o but_o on_o the_o other_o side_n for_o god_n to_o communicate_v his_o will_n by_o write_v imply_v nothing_o in_o it_o but_o what_o be_v natural_a and_o easy_a there_o be_v nothing_o requisite_a to_o continue_v this_o to_o posterity_n but_o god_n preserve_v the_o write_n themselves_o by_o the_o ordinary_a method_n of_o providence_n and_o then_o man_n may_v as_o well_o learn_v his_o will_n from_o thence_o as_o they_o can_v know_v the_o history_n of_o former_a age_n the_o opinion_n of_o philosopher_n the_o law_n of_o their_o own_o and_o 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the_o protestant_a cause_n against_o popery_n that_o without_o further_o insist_v upon_o this_o point_n i_o shall_v refer_v to_o they_o for_o further_a satisfaction_n and_o proceed_v to_o the_o v._o proposition_n that_o the_o apostle_n themselves_o design_v their_o write_n for_o the_o perpetual_a use_n of_o the_o church_n and_o look_v upon_o they_o of_o equal_a authority_n with_o the_o write_n of_o the_o old_a testament_n the_o supernatural_a assistance_n which_o attend_v the_o apostle_n in_o every_o thing_n of_o moment_n and_o tend_v to_o the_o edification_n of_o the_o church_n be_v so_o extraordinary_a and_o even_o their_o private_a judgement_n as_o man_n be_v so_o upright_a and_o void_a of_o all_o self-interest_n and_o corruption_n that_o it_o will_v very_o much_o illustrate_v this_o matter_n to_o consider_v what_o judgement_n and_o opinion_n they_o themselves_o have_v of_o their_o own_o write_n the_o very_a design_n of_o the_o
order_n of_o minister_n and_o church-governor_n who_o have_v the_o power_n of_o dispense_v they_o the_o necessity_n of_o be_v incorporate_v into_o the_o church_n as_o a_o society_n found_v upon_o a_o divine_a charter_n and_o to_o who_o member_n alone_o belong_v the_o privilege_n of_o the_o new_a covenant_n the_o meritorious_a efficacy_n of_o christ_n sacrifice_n and_o intercession_n towards_o the_o procure_a man_n salvation_n these_o doctrine_n i_o say_v they_o will_v by_o no_o mean_n admit_v to_o be_v true_a because_o as_o they_o pretend_v they_o can_v see_v what_o natural_a force_n there_o be_v in_o these_o thing_n towards_o their_o produce_v their_o intend_a effect_n and_o when_o they_o have_v deprive_v christ_n of_o his_o title_n of_o saviour_n and_o highpriest_n though_o perhaps_o they_o may_v still_o be_v content_v to_o acknowledge_v he_o a_o prophet_n and_o a_o teacher_n come_v from_o god_n yet_o they_o look_v upon_o his_o come_v into_o the_o world_n as_o a_o matter_n of_o no_o 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theologo-politicus_a be_v the_o chief_a of_o that_o party_n who_o have_v engage_v in_o this_o controversy_n though_o indeed_o they_o ought_v to_o pass_v but_o for_o one_o writer_n since_o the_o latter_a have_v take_v the_o substance_n of_o what_o he_o say_v from_o the_o former_a and_o seem_v to_o have_v little_a of_o his_o own_o invention_n unless_o it_o be_v the_o quote_v of_o a_o text_n now_o and_o then_o in_o hebrew_n which_o he_o do_v i_o suppose_v to_o raise_v in_o his_o unlearned_a reader_n a_o admiration_n of_o his_o profound_a read_n and_o scholarship_n and_o this_o design_n of_o he_o have_v in_o some_o measure_n take_v effect_n for_o his_o atheistical_a admirer_n be_v general_o ignorant_a enough_o to_o take_v he_o for_o a_o writer_n of_o sense_n and_o learning_n but_o to_o pass_v by_o these_o profess_v advocate_n of_o atheism_n and_o irreligion_n the_o most_o considerable_a writer_n that_o have_v be_v concern_v in_o the_o controversy_n about_o the_o integrity_n and_o 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much_o in_o behalf_n of_o mr._n simon_n that_o many_o to_o show_v their_o good_a will_n to_o the_o bible_n make_v he_o say_v much_o worse_a thing_n than_o he_o real_o do_v and_o such_o as_o they_o will_v fain_o have_v he_o say_v and_o will_v be_v glad_a if_o they_o can_v vouch_v his_o authority_n for_o they_o be_v industrious_a to_o make_v the_o world_n believe_v that_o if_o we_o will_v take_v his_o judgement_n there_o have_v be_v so_o many_o corruption_n and_o alteration_n make_v in_o the_o text_n of_o the_o bible_n that_o it_o be_v impossible_a to_o tell_v which_o be_v the_o true_a and_o which_o be_v the_o false_a read_n mr._n dryden_n particular_o in_o his_o religio_fw-la laici_fw-la make_v this_o comment_n upon_o mr._n simon_n be_v critic_n and_o tell_v we_o as_o deliver_v that_o author_n sense_n that_o the_o jew_n have_v let_v in_o gross_a error_n to_o corrupt_v the_o text_n omit_v paragrahs_n and_o with_o vain_a tradition_n stop_v the_o gape_v fence_n now_o one_o will_v think_v 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text._n so_o that_o in_o this_o case_n mr._n d._n have_v misrepresent_v mr._n simon_n be_v text_n aswell_o as_o that_o of_o the_o bible_n and_o put_v such_o a_o gloss_n upon_o it_o as_o it_o do_v not_o appear_v that_o he_o ever_o intend_v as_o far_o as_o can_v be_v gather_v from_o his_o word_n but_o i_o shall_v pursue_v this_o matter_n no_o further_o because_o mr._n d._n may_v think_v it_o hard_a measure_n to_o urge_v any_o thing_n say_v in_o his_o religio_fw-la laici_fw-la against_o he_o at_o this_o time_n of_o day_n when_o he_o have_v alter_v his_o mind_n in_o so_o many_o particular_n since_o the_o write_n of_o that_o poem_n and_o have_v make_v amends_o for_o his_o former_a incredulity_n by_o turn_v advocate_n for_o implicit_a faith_n one_o of_o mr._n simon_n be_v antagonist_n who_o he_o and_o the_o rest_n of_o the_o world_n take_v to_o
as_o plain_o foretell_v who_o be_v to_o be_v actor_n in_o wickedness_n will_v without_o suppose_v manifest_a violence_n offer_v to_o man_n inclination_n in_o many_o case_n hinder_v some_o of_o they_o from_o be_v instrumental_a in_o bring_v about_o god_n design_n so_o perhaps_o it_o will_v be_v a_o new_a temptation_n to_o other_o and_o make_v they_o more_o furious_o bend_v upon_o evil_a just_a as_o the_o mention_v wickedness_n stir_v up_o some_o man_n ill_a inclination_n and_o make_v they_o eager_a to_o commit_v it_o especial_o since_o the_o foretell_v it_o as_o certain_o to_o come_v to_o pass_v afford_v a_o plea_n for_o man_n wickedness_n for_o man_n that_o be_v bend_v upon_o evil_a and_o be_v glad_a of_o any_o colour_n to_o justify_v their_o sin_n will_v conclude_v from_o thence_o that_o it_o can_v be_v no_o sin_n to_o be_v subservient_fw-fr to_z god_n providence_n and_o assist_v in_o the_o accomplishment_n of_o his_o will_n and_o purpose_n or_o if_o it_o be_v a_o sin_n it_o must_v lie_v at_o his_o door_n so_o that_o if_o prophecy_n be_v too_o plain_o deliver_v this_o will_v often_o be_v the_o consequence_n that_o the_o bring_v the_o event_n to_o pass_v will_v be_v whole_o impute_v to_o the_o clearness_n of_o the_o prediction_n just_a as_o public_a commotion_n do_v often_o take_v their_o rise_n from_o the_o spread_a about_o of_o prophecy_n concern_v the_o death_n of_o the_o prince_n or_o the_o change_n of_o the_o government_n now_o this_o be_v contrary_n to_o god_n method_n of_o deal_n with_o man_n for_o though_o we_o can_v comprehend_v after_o what_o manner_n he_o foresee_v how_o free_a agent_n will_v determine_v themselves_o yet_o we_o have_v all_o the_o reason_n in_o the_o world_n to_o believe_v that_o god_n prescience_n do_v not_o interfere_v with_o man_n freewill_n and_o therefore_o as_o we_o believe_v that_o thing_n do_v not_o come_v to_o pass_v mere_o because_o god_n foresee_v they_o but_o rather_o that_o he_o foresee_v they_o because_o their_o own_o proper_a cause_n will_v bring_v they_o to_o pass_v so_o it_o be_v agreeable_a to_o the_o method_n of_o providence_n that_o prophecy_n shall_v be_v so_o word_v as_o not_o to_o have_v any_o influence_n upon_o the_o party_n concern_v in_o bring_v they_o about_o that_o it_o may_v not_o be_v say_v the_o thing_n come_v to_o pass_v because_o it_o be_v foretell_v but_o it_o be_v foretell_v because_o it_o will_v come_v to_o pass_v as_o a_o ordinary_a effect_n of_o a_o natural_a cause_n it_o be_v true_a indeed_o we_o may_v observe_v that_o some_o scripture_n prophecy_n by_o be_v too_o plain_o deliver_v have_v make_v the_o heart_n of_o wicked_a man_n whole_o set_v in_o they_o to_o bring_v to_o pass_v the_o evil_n foretell_v 10.10_o foretell_v see_v 1_o king_n 11.31_o 32._o 2_o king_n 8.12_o 13_o 15_o 10.10_o but_o perhaps_o god_n may_v do_v this_o on_o purpose_n to_o take_v off_o the_o mind_n of_o the_o jew_n from_o that_o greedy_a desire_n they_o have_v to_o search_v into_o futurity_n when_o they_o see_v what_o ill_a consequence_n do_v sometime_o attend_v that_o knowledge_n the_o sum_n of_o the_o argument_n be_v this_o that_o the_o evil_n which_o if_o foretell_v dark_o and_o obscure_o need_v nothing_o to_o bring_v it_o to_o pass_v but_o only_o god_n suffering_n man_n wickedness_n to_o break_v out_o and_o permit_v they_o to_o act_v according_a as_o their_o ill_a inclination_n prompt_v they_o if_o it_o be_v foretell_v plain_o and_o clear_o can_v not_o be_v effect_v without_o suppose_v he_o to_o offer_v violence_n to_o humane_a nature_n and_o make_v he_o a_o party_n concern_v and_o a_o tempter_n of_o man_n to_o wickedness_n from_o all_o that_o have_v be_v say_v upon_o this_o head_n it_o appear_v that_o whether_o the_o thing_n foretell_v be_v good_a or_o evil_a the_o foretell_v it_o too_o punctual_o and_o distinct_o will_v make_v prophecy_n a_o felo_fw-la de_fw-fr se_fw-la and_o be_v a_o effectual_a way_n to_o defeat_v its_o accomplishment_n for_o than_o it_o can_v not_o be_v bring_v to_o pass_v in_o a_o way_n that_o be_v suitable_a to_o the_o divine_a purity_n and_o wisdom_n for_o this_o be_v one_o of_o the_o masterpiece_n of_o the_o divine_a wisdom_n to_o bring_v about_o its_o design_n in_o such_o a_o manner_n as_o never_o to_o put_v any_o force_n upon_o the_o freedom_n of_o man_n will_n so_o that_o the_o event_n may_v rather_o seem_v the_o natural_a effect_n of_o free_a agent_n than_o the_o work_n of_o a_o overrule_a providence_n to_o this_o purpose_n speak_v the_o author_n of_o the_o book_n of_o wisdom_n 8.1_o wisdom_n wisd_v 8.1_o thy_o wisdom_n o_o lord_n reach_v from_o one_o end_n to_o another_o mighty_o and_o sweet_o do_v she_o order_v all_o thing_n god_n see_v every_o link_n of_o that_o vast_a chain_n of_o cause_n and_o know_v how_o they_o depend_v upon_o each_o other_o what_o force_v each_o circumstance_n have_v in_o determine_v man_n resolution_n and_o what_o it_o be_v that_o turn_v the_o balance_n of_o the_o mind_n one_o way_n or_o tother_o and_o therefore_o though_o he_o bring_v to_o pass_v all_o his_o purpose_n in_o a_o irresistible_a manner_n yet_o he_o do_v it_o withal_o in_o so_o easy_a and_o gentle_a a_o one_o that_o the_o event_n look_v like_o the_o result_n of_o man_n own_o free_a determination_n and_o one_o will_v think_v that_o the_o natural_a agent_n let_v alone_o to_o themselves_o will_v have_v produce_v the_o same_o effect_n these_o two_o reason_n full_o justify_v the_o obscurity_n of_o prophecy_n and_o show_v we_o the_o use_n of_o they_o that_o we_o be_v not_o to_o look_v upon_o they_o as_o deliver_v mere_o to_o gratify_v the_o curiosity_n man_n have_v to_o pry_v into_o what_o be_v future_a but_o to_o be_v a_o argument_n to_o we_o of_o god_n overrule_a providence_n which_o extend_v itself_o to_o the_o most_o minute_n action_n and_o very_o often_o make_v such_o accident_n as_o seem_v to_o we_o to_o be_v trivial_a and_o insignificant_a instrumental_a in_o bring_v to_o pass_v the_o great_a and_o most_o surprise_v event_n and_o especial_o to_o show_v we_o that_o nothing_o befall_v his_o church_n but_o by_o his_o determinate_a counsel_n and_o foreknowledge_n i_o will_v conclude_v this_o head_n with_o a_o brief_a caution_n to_o those_o who_o do_v not_o think_v the_o prophecy_n concern_v christ_n and_o the_o gospel_n clear_a enough_o to_o be_v a_o argument_n for_o our_o belief_n and_o that_o be_v this_o that_o they_o ought_v not_o to_o expect_v that_o the_o prophecy_n shall_v give_v as_o distinct_a a_o account_n of_o christ_n as_o the_o gospel_n do_v nor_o because_o they_o do_v not_o shall_v they_o slight_v they_o as_o insignificant_a but_o they_o shall_v first_o of_o all_o consider_v the_o evidence_n of_o truth_n which_o the_o gospel_n bring_v along_o with_o it_o and_o then_o compare_v it_o with_o the_o prophecy_n and_o thus_o though_o the_o prophecy_n be_v obscure_a in_o themselves_o yet_o when_o they_o be_v compare_v with_o the_o event_n as_o they_o will_v receive_v light_n from_o it_o so_o they_o will_v add_v light_a to_o it_o just_o as_o that_o obscure_a say_v of_o our_o saviour_n 2.19_o saviour_n joh._n 2.19_o destroy_v this_o temple_n and_o in_o three_o day_n i_o will_v raise_v it_o up_o be_v not_o understand_v by_o his_o disciple_n when_o he_o speak_v it_o but_o afterward_o when_o they_o compare_v it_o with_o the_o event_n which_o it_o foretell_v it_o be_v a_o new_a argument_n to_o they_o that_o he_o come_v forth_o from_o god_n 22._o god_n ver._n 22._o ii_o another_o difficulty_n concern_v prophecy_n the_o resolve_v of_o which_o will_v tend_v to_o establish_v the_o authority_n of_o the_o prophet_n be_v concern_v the_o sign_n whereby_o true_a prophet_n be_v distinguish_v from_o false_a one_o it_o be_v plain_a by_o the_o prophetic_a write_n that_o there_o be_v false_a prophet_n that_o oppose_v themselves_o to_o the_o true_a one_o and_o utter_v quite_o contrary_a prophecy_n to_o they_o but_o though_o the_o true_a prophet_n warn_v the_o people_n often_o not_o to_o be_v seduce_v by_o these_o false_a pretender_n yet_o we_o can_v discover_v but_o little_a out_o of_o their_o write_n concern_v the_o mark_n whereby_o the_o true_a prophet_n be_v to_o be_v distinguish_v from_o the_o false_a one_o those_o which_o i_o can_v gather_v from_o the_o holy_a write_n be_v these_o follow_v 1._o if_o a_o prophet_n endeavour_v to_o persuade_v the_o people_n to_o idolatry_n this_o be_v a_o certain_a mark_n that_o he_o be_v a_o false_a prophet_n though_o he_o shall_v confirm_v what_o he_o say_v by_o a_o sign_n this_o rule_n be_v lay_v down_o by_o moses_n 13.1_o moses_n deut._n 13.1_o and_o be_v ground_v upon_o very_o good_a reason_n for_o since_o god_n have_v manifest_v his_o power_n to_o the_o israelite_n by_o so_o many_o undeniable_a miracle_n and_o proof_n it_o be_v not_o reasonable_a that_o work_v a_o single_a