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and_o thereby_o render_v its_o apprehension_n of_o thing_n more_o quick_a and_o pierce_v and_o sagacious_a thus_o do_v the_o holy_a spirit_n more_o or_o less_o assist_v we_o in_o the_o true_a understanding_n of_o divine_a thing_n as_o he_o find_v we_o more_o or_o less_o compliant_a with_o his_o heavenly_a pleasure_n and_o though_o he_o stand_v no_o more_o oblige_v to_o render_v our_o mind_n infallible_a than_o our_o will_n impeccable_a yet_o so_o long_o as_o by_o our_o sincere_a obedience_n to_o his_o holy_a suggestion_n we_o keep_v ourselves_o under_o his_o conduct_n and_o direction_n we_o may_v depend_v upon_o it_o he_o will_v either_o preserve_v we_o from_o all_o dangerous_a error_n or_o if_o for_o just_a reason_n he_o shall_v permit_v we_o to_o fall_v into_o any_o such_o they_o shall_v not_o prove_v dangerous_a to_o we_o but_o either_o we_o shall_v be_v convince_v of_o they_o while_o we_o live_v or_o obtain_v pity_n and_o pardon_v for_o they_o when_o we_o die_v but_o whilst_o we_o 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thess._n 2._o 10_o 11_o 12._o and_o god_n grant_v that_o this_o at_o last_o prove_v not_o our_o fate_n that_o because_o we_o have_v sin_v against_o the_o clear_a light_n and_o go_v astray_o in_o all_o unrighteousness_n under_o the_o best_a and_o pure_a religion_n in_o the_o world_n we_o be_v not_o at_o length_n give_v up_o by_o god_n to_o follow_v the_o wild_a delusion_n of_o antichrist_n and_o to_o believe_v all_o those_o fulsome_a lie_n and_o imposture_n which_o he_o from_o age_n to_o age_n have_v be_v impose_v upon_o the_o world_n but_o whether_o it_o prove_v thus_o or_o no_o this_o i_o be_o sure_a of_o that_o by_o persist_v in_o any_o vicious_a course_n against_o the_o light_n and_o conviction_n of_o our_o conscience_n we_o high_o provoke_v almighty_a god_n to_o withdraw_v his_o grace_n from_o we_o and_o give_v we_o up_o to_o our_o own_o heart_n lust_n and_o when_o this_o be_v do_v our_o own_o heart_n lust_n will_v soon_o betray_v and_o give_v up_o our_o faith_n to_o false_a and_o 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a_o mind_n to_o steer_v and_o manage_v it_o it_o will_v be_v a_o equal_a chance_n whether_o we_o do_v well_o or_o ill_o with_o it_o so_o that_o unless_o there_o be_v some_o understanding_n either_o within_o or_o without_o we_o to_o conduct_v our_o active_a power_n and_o determine_v they_o to_o our_o good_a we_o be_v as_o good_a be_v altogether_o without_o they_o because_o while_o they_o act_v by_o chance_n it_o be_v at_o least_o a_o equal_a lay_v whether_o they_o will_v injure_v or_o advantage_v we_o since_o therefore_o understanding_n be_v the_o rule_n and_o measure_n of_o all_o our_o other_o power_n it_o necessary_o follow_v that_o itself_o be_v the_o great_a and_o noble_a of_o they_o all_o what_o a_o excellent_a be_v therefore_o must_v a_o soul_n be_v in_o which_o this_o great_a and_o sovereign_a power_n reside_v a_o power_n that_o can_v collect_v into_o itself_o such_o prodigious_a number_n of_o simple_a apprehension_n and_o by_o compare_v one_o with_o the_o other_o can_v connect_v 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acquaintance_n with_o god_n who_o be_v the_o author_n and_o pattern_n of_o all_o perfection_n the_o sight_n of_o who_o ravish_a beauty_n will_v inflame_v it_o with_o a_o most_o ardent_a love_n to_o he_o and_o excite_v it_o to_o a_o most_o vigorous_a imitation_n of_o he_o all_o which_o consider_v it_o be_v not_o to_o be_v imagine_v how_o much_o the_o state_n of_o heaven_n will_v immediate_o improve_v those_o happy_a soul_n that_o be_v prepare_v and_o dispose_v for_o it_o but_o then_o consider_v that_o moral_a perfection_n be_v as_o infinite_a as_o the_o nature_n of_o god_n in_o which_o there_o be_v a_o infinity_o of_o holiness_n and_o justice_n and_o goodness_n within_o this_o boundless_a subject_n there_o will_v be_v room_n enough_o for_o soul_n to_o make_v far_o and_o far_a improvement_n in_o even_o to_o eternity_n and_o then_o when_o they_o shall_v still_o be_v grow_v on_o so_o fast_o and_o yet_o be_v still_o forever_o improve_n to_o what_o a_o transcendent_a height_n of_o glory_n and_o perfection_n will_v they_o at_o last_o arrive_v for_o though_o no_o finite_a soul_n can_v ever_o arrive_v to_o a_o infinite_a perfection_n yet_o still_o it_o may_v be_v grow_v on_o to_o it_o because_o there_o will_v still_o be_v possible_a degree_n of_o it_o beyond_o its_o present_a attainment_n and_o when_o it_o be_v arrive_v to_o the_o far_a imaginable_a degree_n yet_o still_o it_o will_v be_v capable_a of_o far_a and_o so_o far_o and_o far_o to_o all_o eternity_n and_o if_o so_o o_o bless_a god_n of_o what_o a_o capacious_a nature_n have_v thou_o make_v these_o soul_n of_o we_o which_o though_o they_o will_v doubtless_o improve_v in_o goodness_n as_o fast_o in_o the_o other_o life_n as_o be_v possible_a for_o they_o with_o all_o the_o advantage_n of_o a_o heavenly_a state_n yet_o will_v never_o attain_v to_o a_o utmost_a period_n but_o still_o be_v grow_v perfect_a and_o perfect_a forever_o 3._o the_o soul_n of_o man_n be_v of_o vast_a worth_n in_o respect_n of_o its_o immense_a capacity_n of_o pleasure_n and_o delight_n for_o its_o capacity_n of_o pleasure_n must_v necessary_o be_v as_o large_a and_o extensive_a as_o its_o capacity_n of_o understanding_n and_o of_o moral_a perfection_n because_o the_o proper_a pleasure_n of_o a_o soul_n result_v from_o its_o own_o knowledge_n and_o goodness_n from_o its_o far_a discovery_n of_o truth_n and_o far_a proficiency_n in_o inward_a rectitude_n and_o virtue_n and_o consequent_o as_o as_o it_o improve_v far_a and_o far_o in_o understanding_n and_o in_o moral_a perfection_n it_o must_v still_o gather_v more_o and_o more_o fuel_n to_o feed_v and_o increase_v its_o own_o joy_n and_o pleasure_n for_o the_o pleasure_n of_o every_o be_v consist_v in_o the_o vigorous_a exercise_n of_o its_o faculty_n about_o convenient_a and_o agreeable_a object_n but_o the_o faculty_n of_o a_o soul_n be_v understanding_n and_o will_n to_o which_o
there_o of_o the_o word_n in_o he_o say_v he_o be_v life_n and_o the_o life_n be_v the_o light_n of_o men._n now_o i_o think_v it_o will_v be_v hard_a to_o give_v any_o natural_a account_n how_o that_o life_n that_o be_v in_o the_o word_n shall_v enlighten_v man_n unless_o we_o suppose_v his_o very_a life_n and_o be_v to_o consist_v in_o knowledge_n and_o understanding_n for_o by_o the_o light_n of_o man_n here_o be_v plain_o mean_v that_o divine_a knowledge_n which_o be_v reveal_v to_o the_o world_n by_o christ_n and_o this_o divine_a knowledge_n he_o tell_v we_o be_v the_o very_a life_n of_o the_o word_n or_o the_o life_n that_o be_v in_o the_o word_n and_o afterward_o he_o express_o call_v the_o word_n the_o light_n itself_o from_o whence_o all_o our_o knowledge_n of_o god_n and_o goodness_n be_v derive_v v_o 9_o which_o be_v exact_o the_o same_o with_o what_o philo_n say_v of_o the_o word_n viz._n that_o he_o be_v the_o intellectual_a sun_n that_o be_v altogether_o light_a and_o with_o what_o plotin_n say_v of_o the_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d or_o divine_a mind_n 1._o that_o he_o be_v a_o light_n shed_v forth_o every_o where_o stream_v from_o god_n and_o beget_v of_o he_o which_o be_v a_o plain_a evidence_n of_o christ_n be_v the_o substantial_a light_n knowledge_n or_o idea_n of_o all_o thing_n which_o god_n from_o everlasting_a form_v in_o his_o own_o mind_n and_o of_o his_o be_v therefore_o call_v the_o word_n of_o god_n because_o he_o be_v the_o offspring_n of_o god_n understanding_n even_o as_o our_o reason_n be_v the_o offspring_n of_o we_o 2_o he_o be_v call_v the_o word_n of_o god_n because_o he_o be_v the_o perfect_a image_n of_o god_n even_o as_o the_o word_n be_v the_o image_n of_o the_o mind_n for_o thus_o as_o i_o have_v already_o tell_v you_o the_o eternal_a word_n be_v very_o frequent_o call_v the_o image_n of_o god_n both_o by_o the_o jew_n and_o gentile_n for_o so_o plotin_n 6._o that_o this_o divine_a understanding_n be_v the_o very_a word_n of_o god_n and_o image_n of_o god_n everlasting_o behold_v god_n and_o can_v be_v separate_v from_o he_o and_o 2._o that_o it_o be_v the_o beget_v issue_n word_n and_o image_n of_o the_o sovereign_n god_n and_o plato_n himself_o call_v he_o 478_o the_o beget_v son_n of_o the_o good_a and_o most_o like_a unto_o he_o in_o all_o thing_n the_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d and_o afterward_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d that_o be_v the_o begotten_a son_n of_o the_o good_a who_o be_v most_o like_a unto_o himself_o and_o rab._n moses_n the_o son_n of_o neheman_n as_o he_o be_v quote_v by_o masius_n prove_v that_o that_o angel_n of_o god_n presence_n which_o go_v before_o the_o camp_n of_o israel_n be_v the_o messiah_n or_o eternal_a word_n tell_v we_o that_o he_o be_v therefore_o call_v the_o angel_n of_o god_n presence_n nimirum_fw-la quia_fw-la ille_fw-la angelus_n est_fw-la facies_fw-la dei_fw-la because_o he_o be_v the_o face_n of_o god_n in_o who_o god_n face_n be_v to_o be_v sâ—en_o and_o so_o philo_n the_o jew_n also_o do_v very_o frequent_o call_v the_o word_n 60._o the_o image_n and_o resemblance_n of_o god_n and_o the_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d the_o most_o perfect_a and_o exact_a representation_n of_o god_n for_o they_o suppose_v that_o god_n be_v omniscient_a he_o must_v necessary_o know_v himself_o and_o that_o know_v himself_o necessary_o he_o must_v act_v ad_fw-la extremum_fw-la virium_fw-la to_o the_o utmost_a of_o his_o power_n even_o as_o all_o other_o necessary_a agent_n do_v that_o act_v to_o the_o utmost_a of_o his_o power_n he_o must_v by_o know_v himself_o produce_v as_o perfect_v a_o image_n idea_n or_o notion_n of_o himself_o in_o his_o own_o understanding_n as_o it_o be_v possible_a for_o he_o to_o do_v that_o it_o be_v possible_a for_o he_o to_o produce_v such_o a_o vital_a and_o substantial_a idea_n of_o himself_o as_o be_v vest_v with_o all_o the_o infinite_a perfection_n of_o his_o nature_n and_o consequent_o that_o such_o a_o idea_n he_o have_v produce_v and_o that_o this_o idea_n be_v the_o eternal_a word_n for_o god_n can_v do_v whatsoever_o do_v not_o imply_v a_o contradiction_n now_o there_o be_v nothing_o in_o god_n but_o what_o he_o can_v communicate_v without_o a_o contradiction_n but_o only_a self-existence_n that_o imply_v a_o contradiction_n indeed_o for_o god_n to_o cause_v another_o thing_n to_o be_v without_o any_o cause_n and_o to_o exist_v of_o itself_o but_o as_o for_o all_o his_o other_o perfection_n he_o may_v communicate_v they_o and_o when_o he_o act_v necessary_o as_o he_o be_v suppose_v to_o do_v in_o the_o generation_n of_o the_o word_n he_o must_v because_o than_o he_o act_v to_o his_o utmost_a possibility_n so_o then_o the_o word_n must_v have_v the_o same_o nature_n essence_n and_o perfection_n with_o the_o father_n and_o the_o only_a imaginable_a difference_n between_o they_o must_v be_v this_o that_o whereas_o the_o father_n exist_v of_o himself_o the_o word_n exist_v of_o the_o father_n which_o be_v exact_o agreeable_a to_o the_o catholic_n notion_n of_o christian_n and_o indeed_o if_o it_o be_v grant_v that_o god_n who_o be_v infinite_o know_v must_v necessary_o know_v himself_o perfect_o than_o it_o will_v seem_v to_o follow_v that_o there_o must_v be_v the_o same_o perfection_n in_o that_o idea_n or_o notion_n by_o which_o he_o know_v himself_o that_o there_o be_v in_o himself_o for_o else_o it_o be_v not_o one_o perfect_a idea_n of_o he_o and_o hence_o it_o be_v that_o our_o notion_n do_v so_o imperfect_o resemble_v thing_n because_o we_o can_v communicate_v to_o they_o that_o life_n and_o substance_n that_o be_v in_o the_o thing_n themselves_o and_o therefore_o if_o god_n know_v himself_o perfect_o as_o he_o must_v needs_o do_v be_v infinite_o know_v he_o must_v communicate_v life_n and_o substance_n to_o the_o notion_n of_o himself_o or_o else_o it_o will_v be_v no_o perfect_a notion_n of_o his_o life_n and_o substance_n and_o he_o must_v communicate_v to_o it_o all_o the_o iâ—mense_a perfection_n of_o his_o own_o nature_n or_o else_o it_o will_v be_v no_o perfect_a notion_n of_o his_o own_o perfection_n so_o then_o the_o eternal_a word_n which_o be_v here_o suppose_a to_o be_v the_o most_o perfect_a notion_n of_o the_o father_n must_v be_v a_o vital_a and_o substantial_a idea_n endue_v with_o all_o the_o perfection_n of_o the_o divine_a nature_n which_o be_v also_o very_o agreeable_a with_o the_o christian_a notion_n of_o the_o divine_a word_n for_o he_o be_v describe_v to_o be_v the_o image_n of_o god_n 2_o cor._n 4._o 4._o the_o brightness_n of_o his_o glory_n and_o the_o express_a character_n of_o his_o person_n heb._n 1._o 3._o and_o be_v so_o he_o must_v necessary_o be_v what_o god_n be_v i._n e._n god_n essential_a or_o else_o he_o can_v be_v the_o perfect_a image_n and_o express_v character_n of_o god_n and_o according_o in_o the_o new_a testament_n he_o be_v call_v god_n over_o all_o bless_v for_o ever_o rom._n 9_o 5._o and_o the_o perfection_n of_o the_o divine_a nature_n be_v very_o frequent_o attribute_v to_o he_o as_o particular_o omniscience_n john_n 16._o 30._o eternity_n heb._n 1._o 12._o and_o rev._n 22._o 13._o i_o be_o alpha_n and_o omega_n the_o beginning_n and_o the_o end_n the_o first_o and_o the_o last_o so_o that_o upon_o this_o account_n also_o he_o may_v very_o proper_o be_v call_v the_o word_n of_o god_n because_o as_o our_o word_n be_v the_o image_n of_o our_o mind_n so_o he_o be_v the_o most_o perfect_a image_n of_o god_n 3_o he_o be_v call_v the_o word_n because_o he_o be_v the_o interpreter_n of_o the_o father_n mind_n even_o as_o our_o word_n also_o be_v the_o interpreter_n of_o our_o mind_n to_o other_o and_o this_o philo_n the_o jew_n do_v also_o take_v notice_n of_o as_o the_o proper_a work_n and_o office_n of_o the_o word_n to_o be_v 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 397._o the_o ambassador_n of_o the_o great_a king_n to_o his_o subject_n to_o communicate_v his_o mind_n and_o will_n to_o they_o and_o also_o the_o angel_n and_o messenger_n of_o god_n to_o man_n to_o declare_v his_o will_n and_o pleasure_n to_o they_o and_o that_o in_o the_o execution_n of_o this_o office_n he_o do_v 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d &_o â—_o 461._o some_o as_o a_o king_n he_o command_v what_o they_o shall_v do_v other_o as_o a_o schoolmaster_n he_o profitable_o instruct_v other_o as_o a_o counsellor_n he_o faithful_o admonish_v all_o which_o he_o perform_v as_o the_o interpreter_n of_o the_o mind_n of_o god_n and_o elsewhere_o he_o call_v he_o the_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 552._o the_o divine_a sun_n that_o enlighten_v the_o soul_n of_o man_n and_o elsewhere_o he_o express_o call_v he_o the_o interpreter_n of_o the_o