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the_o series_n of_o cause_n which_o produce_v such_o event_n especial_o if_o he_o define_v also_o the_o precise_a time_n and_o other_o circumstance_n of_o the_o accomplishment_n but_o above_o all_o whoseover_o shall_v declare_v beforehand_o not_o only_o what_o shall_v come_v to_o pass_v according_a to_o the_o course_n of_o natural_a and_o necessary_a cause_n but_o also_o such_o thing_n as_o be_v casual_a and_o contingent_a or_o subject_n to_o the_o choice_n and_o indifferency_n of_o free_a and_o voluntary_a agent_n must_v have_v a_o mighty_a reach_n with_o he_o and_o make_v a_o very_a curious_a and_o accurate_a inspection_n into_o the_o conjunction_n and_o conspiracy_n of_o all_o thing_n as_o well_o as_o into_o their_o particular_a nature_n tendency_n and_o inclination_n for_o as_o every_o effect_n must_v have_v its_o cause_n before_o it_o can_v be_v so_o the_o prediction_n of_o such_o effect_n must_v depend_v upon_o a_o certain_a knowledge_n of_o those_o respective_a cause_n which_o be_v pregnant_a of_o it_o therefore_o if_o there_o ever_o have_v be_v such_o a_o thing_n as_o prophecy_n there_o be_v a_o providence_n now_o for_o the_o matter_n of_o fact_n or_o that_o there_o have_v be_v certain_a and_o punctual_a prediction_n of_o thing_n long_o before_o they_o come_v to_o pass_v be_v the_o constant_a belief_n of_o all_o nation_n and_o he_o that_o deny_v it_o must_v give_v the_o lie_n to_o the_o great_a and_o best_a part_n of_o mankind_n you_o may_v remember_v that_o tully_n pursue_v this_o argument_n in_o his_o book_n de_fw-fr divinatione_fw-la and_o he_o there_o give_v too_o many_o and_o too_o remarkable_a instance_n of_o it_o to_o be_v deny_v or_o elude_v but_o i_o shall_v choose_v to_o set_v before_o you_o only_o two_o passage_n out_o of_o the_o holy_a scripture_n to_o this_o purpose_n for_o though_o i_o perceive_v you_o
of_o our_o education_n and_o the_o imperious_a dictate_v of_o other_o what_o by_o the_o authority_n of_o unaccountable_a tradition_n and_o public_a fame_n and_o what_o by_o the_o design_n of_o politician_n it_o be_v a_o hard_a matter_n to_o know_v what_o else_o to_o believe_v phil._n indeed_o biophilus_n i_o be_o both_o sorry_a and_o ashamed_a to_o hear_v you_o talk_v at_o this_o rate_n and_o i_o do_v not_o wonder_v now_o that_o you_o be_v so_o desirous_a to_o decline_v this_o kind_n of_o discourse_n when_o we_o fall_v upon_o it_o i_o hope_v you_o take_v i_o for_o your_o friend_n as_o well_o as_o your_o neighbour_n and_o sebastian_n here_o for_o a_o discreet_a and_o worthy_a gentleman_n suffer_v yourself_o to_o be_v persuade_v by_o we_o to_o think_v and_o speak_v more_o sober_o and_o become_v yourself_o in_o these_o great_a matter_n or_o if_o you_o will_v not_o think_v like_o a_o christian_a yet_o talk_v like_o a_o man_n for_o let_v i_o tell_v you_o you_o seem_v not_o only_o to_o 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sincerity_n in_o his_o friendship_n what_o safety_n in_o his_o neighbourhood_n for_o all_o these_o depend_v upon_o the_o reverence_n of_o religion_n which_o he_o that_o be_v whole_o destitute_a of_o must_v needs_o become_v devotum_fw-la caput_fw-la a_o wolf_n head_n the_o pest_n and_o vermin_n of_o humane_a society_n do_v not_o therefore_o dear_a biophilus_n at_o once_o both_o stifle_v your_o own_o conscience_n and_o affront_v the_o common_a sense_n and_o reason_n of_o mankind_n do_v not_o under_o the_o pretence_n of_o be_v more_o witty_a and_o sagacious_a than_o other_o man_n reason_n yourself_o into_o brutality_n and_o whilst_o you_o grow_v over-wise_a in_o your_o own_o eye_n be_v the_o most_o fatal_o mistake_v and_o lose_v for_o ever_o why_o shall_v you_o abandon_v yourself_o to_o desperation_n and_o leave_v yourself_o without_o any_o refuge_n in_o adversity_n we_o be_v well_o and_o cheerful_a here_o at_o present_a god_n be_v thank_v but_o the_o time_n will_v come_v when_o god_n will_v stand_v we_o in_o stead_n when_o we_o shall_v have_v need_n of_o the_o retreat_n and_o comfort_n of_o religion_n above_o all_o thing_n in_o the_o world_n leave_v not_o yourself_o without_o hope_n in_o your_o latter_a end_n do_v as_o become_v a_o man_n of_o your_o part_n and_o discretion_n suspect_v your_o own_o suspicion_n and_o let_v not_o the_o opinion_n you_o have_v that_o other_o man_n be_v under_o prejudices_fw-la prejudice_n you_o against_o the_o argument_n for_o believe_v come_v deal_v ingenuous_o and_o open_v your_o breast_n propound_v the_o ground_n of_o your_o suspicion_n the_o objection_n you_o have_v against_o religion_n and_o though_o i_o can_v promise_v you_o that_o i_o will_v answer_v they_o all_o to_o your_o satisfaction_n yet_o i_o doubt_v not_o but_o here_o be_v one_o that_o will_n bioph._n look_v you_o gentlemen_z you_o put_v i_o into_o a_o great_a strait_n for_o if_o upon_o this_o invitation_n of_o you_o i_o do_v not_o disclose_v my_o mind_n to_o you_o i_o shall_v seem_v disingenuous_a and_o you_o will_v think_v worse_o of_o i_o than_o perhaps_o i_o deserve_v and_o on_o the_o other_o side_n if_o i_o do_v discover_v my_o sentiment_n it_o be_v probable_a that_o my_o creed_n will_v fall_v so_o many_o article_n short_a of_o you_o that_o we_o shall_v break_v out_o into_o some_o heat_n and_o endanger_v the_o continuance_n of_o our_o neighbourly_a conversation_n however_o since_o it_o seem_v to_o be_v your_o desire_n i_o will_v be_v plain_a with_o you_o in_o confidence_n that_o as_o you_o be_v gentleman_n you_o will_v deal_v ingenuous_o with_o i_o and_o if_o you_o can_v do_v i_o no_o good_a you_o will_v do_v i_o no_o hurt_n my_o meaning_n be_v that_o if_o it_o shall_v happen_v you_o do_v not_o convince_v my_o reason_n i_o hope_v you_o will_v not_o defame_v my_o person_n nor_o expose_v i_o to_o the_o insolence_n of_o the_o rabble_n who_o believe_v in_o gross_a and_o by_o whole_a sale_n and_o throw_v dirt_n upon_o all_o that_o chew_v what_o they_o swallow_v now_o in_o the_o first_o place_n creed_n that_o you_o may_v not_o think_v i_o a_o perfect_a sceptic_a i_o declare_v to_o you_o that_o i_o acknowledge_v the_o be_v of_o a_o god_n and_o that_o not_o only_o because_o the_o generality_n of_o mankind_n and_o even_o epicurus_n himself_o own_v so_o much_o but_o because_o it_o be_v not_o conceivable_a how_o the_o world_n shall_v be_v without_o one_o for_o no_o wit_n or_o reason_n of_o man_n can_v evince_v to_o i_o how_o any_o thing_n shall_v begin_v to_o be_v without_o some_o necessary_a and_o eternal_a existent_n to_o begin_v the_o motion_n and_o to_o bring_v it_o into_o be_v or_o which_o be_v the_o same_o thing_n in_o effect_n there_o can_v be_v no_o second_o cause_n if_o there_o be_v no_o first_o but_o then_o beyond_o this_o you_o must_v pardon_v i_o for_o to_o deal_v sincere_o with_o you_o i_o do_v not_o think_v that_o this_o god_n mind_n or_o trouble_v himself_o about_o the_o world_n after_o he_o have_v make_v it_o much_o less_o do_v i_o see_v any_o sufficient_a ground_n for_o that_o which_o philander_n have_v be_v talk_v so_o warm_o about_o namely_o a_o world_n to_o come_v and_o for_o eternal_a life_n which_o man_n speak_v such_o great_a thing_n of_o i_o profess_v i_o look_v upon_o it_o as_o a_o flat_a impossibility_n for_o as_o much_o as_o i_o see_v man_n die_v but_o see_v no_o foundation_n for_o a_o belief_n that_o there_o be_v any_o life_n or_o existence_n out_o of_o a_o body_n there_o be_v some_o other_o point_n of_o affinity_n with_o these_o that_o i_o withhold_v my_o assent_n from_o but_o because_o you_o have_v challenge_v i_o to_o a_o rational_a debate_n therefore_o to_o give_v fair_a play_n and_o to_o put_v the_o business_n between_o we_o to_o a_o issue_n i_o will_v insist_v but_o upon_o one_o point_n and_o that_o shall_v be_v the_o same_o which_o we_o fall_v into_o by_o chance_n at_o our_o first_o come_v together_o namely_o whether_o there_o be_v such_o a_o thing_n as_o a_o public_a tribunal_n or_o general_a judgement_n where_o man_n action_n shall_v be_v review_v and_o censure_v after_o this_o life_n prove_v i_o but_o this_o one_o point_n sufficient_o and_o plain_o and_o i_o will_v grant_v you_o all_o the_o rest_n sebast_n now_o you_o show_v yourself_o a_o man_n and_o a_o shrewd_a one_o too_o though_o not_o a_o christian_n judgement_n for_o i_o must_v acknowledge_v that_o you_o have_v with_o great_a judgement_n pitch_v upon_o the_o very_a cardinal_n point_n of_o religion_n and_o which_o if_o it_o be_v prove_v as_o i_o do_v not_o doubt_v but_o it_o shall_v be_v will_v infer_v all_o the_o rest_n but_o if_o it_o miscarry_v all_o fall_v with_o it_o the_o persuasion_n of_o a_o judgement_n to_o come_v be_v the_o great_a awe_n upon_o man_n conscience_n the_o principal_a motive_n of_o virtue_n and_o piety_n the_o restraint_n and_o check_n upon_o vice_n and_o wickedness_n and_o indeed_o the_o sinew_n of_o civil_a government_n and_o bond_n of_o humane_a society_n this_o both_o suppose_v the_o be_v of_o a_o god_n which_o you_o grant_v and_o of_o a_o providence_n also_o which_o you_o deny_v for_o if_o there_o be_v not_o a_o god_n it_o be_v evident_a there_o can_v be_v no_o providence_n in_o this_o world_n nor_o judgement_n in_o another_o and_o this_o if_o it_o be_v grant_v or_o prove_v necessary_o draw_v after_o it_o reward_v and_o punishment_n in_o the_o life_n to_o come_v for_o otherwise_o a_o judgement_n will_v be_v but_o a_o matter_n of_o curiosity_n and_o a_o trouble_n to_o no_o purpose_n you_o have_v therefore_o in_o make_v choice_n of_o this_o for_o the_o critical_a or_o decisive_a point_n give_v great_a proof_n of_o your_o own_o sagacity_n and_o put_v the_o matter_n upon_o a_o right_a issue_n bioph._n well_o prove_v it_o then_o sebast_n what_o proof_n do_v you_o require_v of_o
have_v not_o such_o a_o reverence_n for_o those_o book_n as_o they_o deserve_v yet_o such_o palpable_a matter_n of_o fact_n as_o i_o shall_v instance_n in_o and_o which_o be_v of_o so_o public_a a_o concern_n and_o general_a notice_n as_o whereupon_o the_o revolution_n of_o whole_a nation_n depend_v can_v afford_v no_o ground_n for_o call_v in_o question_n the_o historical_a truth_n of_o they_o and_o let_v i_o tell_v you_o i_o make_v choice_n of_o these_o instance_n out_o of_o those_o write_n for_o no_o other_o cause_n but_o for_o the_o notoriety_n of_o the_o fact_n and_o the_o easiness_n of_o confutation_n if_o it_o have_v be_v otherwise_o than_o true_a the_o former_a of_o the_o two_o passage_n be_v the_o prediction_n of_o the_o slavery_n of_o the_o child_n of_o israel_n in_o the_o land_n of_o egypt_n and_o their_o miraculous_a deliverance_n thence_o above_o four_o hundred_o year_n before_o it_o come_v to_o pass_v and_o the_o accomplishment_n when_o the_o time_n come_v answer_v the_o prediction_n precise_o to_o a_o very_a day_n so_o as_o to_o be_v observe_v by_o the_o whole_a body_n of_o the_o people_n and_o the_o remembrance_n of_o it_o perpetuate_v by_o a_o anniversary_n solemnity_n ever_o after_o as_o you_o may_v see_v exod._a 12._o 41._o the_o other_o instance_n be_v the_o babylonish_n captivity_n which_o be_v foretell_v above_o seventy_o year_n before_o it_o come_v to_o pass_v and_o that_o in_o a_o time_n of_o the_o great_a unlikelihood_n that_o any_o such_o calamity_n shall_v befall_v namely_o it_o be_v prophesy_v of_o when_o the_o jew_n be_v in_o the_o great_a peace_n and_o prosperity_n and_o then_o for_o the_o term_n of_o this_o captivity_n that_o be_v foretell_v to_o last_v 70_o year_n neither_o more_o nor_o less_o and_o both_o these_o period_n as_o well_o as_o other_o circumstance_n be_v exact_o and_o to_o admiration_n hit_v in_o the_o event_n of_o thing_n now_o in_o both_o these_o instance_n the_o thing_n be_v prophesy_v of_o so_o long_o beforehand_o there_o be_v so_o many_o obstacle_n in_o the_o way_n of_o their_o accomplishment_n and_o so_o much_o of_o the_o will_n of_o man_n also_o interest_v in_o both_o the_o case_n and_o yet_o notwithstanding_o such_o punctual_a exactness_n be_v to_o be_v see_v in_o the_o event_n that_o it_o be_v plain_o impossible_a that_o humane_a wit_n shall_v so_o much_o as_o guess_v probable_o at_o they_o therefore_o the_o prediction_n must_v be_v ground_v upon_o divine_a intimation_n and_o then_o god_n be_v so_o far_o from_o be_v a_o necessary_a agent_n that_o it_o be_v apparent_a he_o mind_v the_o world_n and_o look_v narrow_o into_o all_o the_o part_n of_o it_o from_o one_o end_n to_o another_o and_o govern_v and_o manage_n inferior_a cause_n 2._o providence_n my_o second_o proof_n of_o a_o actual_a providence_n in_o this_o world_n be_v from_o miracle_n by_o a_o miracle_n i_o mean_v any_o thing_n come_v to_o pass_v which_o be_v either_o for_o the_o matter_n or_o manner_n of_o it_o above_o the_o power_n of_o natural_a cause_n or_o at_o least_o contrary_a to_o their_o establish_a course_n and_o order_n whether_o it_o be_v effect_v by_o heighten_v they_o above_o their_o ordinary_a pitch_n or_o accelerate_v their_o motion_n or_o by_o sudden_o bring_v those_o cause_n together_o which_o lie_v at_o a_o distance_n or_o whether_o it_o be_v by_o depress_v suspend_v or_o supersede_v any_o of_o they_o and_o i_o reason_n thus_o if_o any_o thing_n have_v ever_o be_v bring_v to_o pass_v above_o the_o capacity_n or_o out_o of_o the_o method_n of_o the_o natural_a and_o common_a cause_n than_o there_o be_v a_o active_a deity_n which_o exert_v his_o power_n in_o that_o case_n or_o if_o ever_o the_o course_n of_o nature_n have_v be_v interrupt_v it_o must_v be_v by_o the_o interposition_n of_o the_o supreme_a cause_n for_o it_o be_v neither_o intelligible_a that_o nature_n shall_v go_v out_o of_o course_n of_o itself_o without_o its_o own_o decay_n and_o failure_n nor_o possible_a that_o be_v once_o so_o out_o of_o course_n it_o shall_v ever_o be_v able_a to_o recover_v itself_o into_o its_o former_a order_n without_o the_o help_n of_o omnipotency_n therefore_o if_o ever_o there_o have_v be_v a_o miracle_n in_o the_o world_n there_o be_v proof_n of_o a_o providence_n now_o that_o such_o extraordinary_a thing_n as_o we_o here_o suppose_v have_v happen_v can_v be_v doubt_v without_o great_a ignorance_n or_o deny_v without_o impudence_n i_o know_v there_o be_v a_o sort_n of_o witty_a man_n in_o their_o way_n who_o endeavour_n to_o put_v a_o slight_a upon_o miracle_n and_o therefore_o be_v very_o captious_a and_o critical_a in_o such_o case_n as_o this_o but_o if_o they_o can_v elude_v some_o occurrence_n that_o have_v be_v believe_v or_o pretend_a miraculous_a yet_o they_o will_v never_o be_v able_a to_o evade_v they_o all_o and_o if_o there_o have_v be_v but_o one_o acknowledge_v miracle_n in_o all_o the_o time_n of_o this_o world_n it_o will_v be_v sufficient_a to_o prove_v a_o providence_n they_o will_v perhaps_o impute_v some_o cure_n that_o have_v be_v say_v to_o be_v do_v by_o miracle_n to_o the_o efficacy_n of_o some_o medicine_n although_o they_o can_v neither_o tell_v we_o what_o that_o specific_a remedy_n be_v nor_o much_o less_o tell_v we_o how_o the_o symptom_n shall_v so_o sudden_o cease_v upon_o the_o use_n of_o it_o it_o may_v be_v they_o will_v tell_v you_o in_o the_o general_n with_o confidence_n enough_o that_o the_o strange_a thing_n do_v in_o egypt_n and_o in_o the_o wilderness_n be_v effect_v by_o the_o sudden_a application_n of_o active_n to_o passive_n but_o can_v so_o much_o as_o pretend_v to_o satisfy_v any_o man_n how_o such_o remote_a cause_n be_v bring_v together_o and_o exalt_v to_o such_o a_o extraordinary_a degree_n of_o efficacy_n as_o to_o produce_v such_o admirable_a effect_n on_o the_o sudden_a as_o those_o case_n import_v or_o if_o they_o can_v speak_v tolerable_a sense_n in_o some_o of_o those_o particular_n yet_o what_o natural_a account_n can_v be_v give_v of_o the_o raise_n of_o the_o dead_a or_o of_o unlearned_a man_n speak_v all_o kind_n of_o language_n in_o a_o instant_n what_o natural_a cause_n will_v they_o assign_v of_o the_o sun_n stand_v still_o in_o joshua_n time_n or_o of_o that_o preternatural_a eclipse_n at_o our_o saviour_n passion_n what_o can_v intercept_v the_o sun_n light_n when_o the_o two_o luminary_n be_v in_o opposition_n or_o what_o restore_v it_o to_o its_o motion_n again_o when_o it_o be_v interrupt_v as_o in_o the_o former_a instance_n or_o to_o its_o light_n again_o when_o it_o intermit_v as_o in_o the_o latter_a instance_n to_o endeavour_v to_o give_v natural_a account_n of_o these_o thing_n will_v prove_v as_o absurd_a and_o ridiculous_a to_o reason_n as_o to_o deny_v the_o matter_n of_o fact_n be_v void_a of_o faith_n and_o religion_n but_o if_o any_o of_o these_o instance_n will_v not_o pass_v with_o such_o man_n because_o they_o be_v over_o long_o before_o our_o time_n or_o because_o the_o truth_n of_o they_o depend_v upon_o the_o authority_n of_o scripture_n there_o be_v other_o innumerable_a passage_n in_o all_o age_n not_o liable_a to_o that_o exception_n that_o can_v be_v resolve_v into_o any_o cause_n less_o than_o a_o supreme_a and_o omnipotent_a among_o which_o what_o will_v they_o say_v to_o this_o which_o happen_v almost_o every_o year_n namely_o that_o after_o a_o long_a wet_a season_n it_o shall_v sudden_o clear_v up_o and_o be_v fair_a weather_n again_o and_o contrariwise_o after_o a_o long_a dry_a season_n it_o shall_v unexpected_o be_v wet_a and_o rainy_a whereas_o if_o they_o look_v only_o to_o natural_a cause_n the_o quite_o contrary_a must_v happen_v forasmuch_o as_o the_o more_o rain_n have_v be_v at_o any_o time_n the_o more_o may_v be_v still_o because_o there_o be_v the_o more_o vapour_n from_o whence_o cloud_n be_v raise_v and_o the_o long_o a_o dry_a season_n have_v last_v there_o be_v every_o day_n the_o less_o reason_n to_o expect_v rain_n because_o there_o want_v vapour_n out_o of_o which_o it_o shall_v be_v raise_v now_o to_o impute_v this_o sudden_a and_o admirable_a change_n only_o to_o the_o wind_n be_v to_o beg_v the_o question_n for_o it_o be_v well_o enough_o know_v that_o the_o wind_n depend_v upon_o vapour_n as_o well_o as_o rain_v and_o to_o ascribe_v it_o to_o the_o star_n be_v to_o confess_v a_o humorsom_a resolution_n that_o right_a or_o wrong_n we_o will_v shut_v god_n out_o of_o the_o world_n but_o this_o lead_v i_o to_o my_o 3._o three_o proof_n of_o a_o present_a providence_n world_n viz._n from_o the_o more_o frequent_a and_o ordinary_a instance_n of_o a_o divine_a influence_n upon_o the_o affair_n of_o the_o world_n the_o effect_n of_o which_o though_o they_o be_v not_o account_v miraculous_a because_o they_o be_v common_a yet_o they_o give_v