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he_o please_v and_o at_o last_o in_o their_o presence_n ascend_v up_o into_o heaven_n the_o matter_n we_o find_v in_o the_o gospel_n foretell_v by_o jesus_n christ_n be_v his_o own_o passion_n death_n resurrection_n ascension_n and_o mission_n of_o the_o holy_a spirit_n or_o comforter_n with_o several_a particular_a circumstance_n of_o they_o the_o persecution_n and_o suffering_n of_o his_o disciple_n the_o death_n of_o some_o of_o they_o and_o the_o manner_n in_o which_o they_o be_v to_o die_v as_o also_o their_o future_a glory_n and_o office_n at_o the_o end_n of_o the_o world_n the_o rejection_n of_o the_o jew_n vocation_n of_o the_o gentile_n success_n and_o continuance_n of_o the_o gospel_n or_o christian_a religion_n the_o appearance_n of_o false_a prophet_n and_o teacher_n and_o false_a christ_n the_o spring_v up_o of_o heresy_n and_o fall_v away_o of_o professor_n the_o destruction_n of_o the_o jewish_a temple_n and_o constitution_n and_o dispersion_n of_o that_o whole_a people_n with_o many_o strange_a and_o terrible_a sign_n forego_v and_o last_o the_o second_o appearance_n of_o himself_o in_o glory_n to_o judge_v the_o world_n which_o be_v set_v forth_o in_o a_o very_a large_a and_o pompous_a description_n of_o the_o whole_a scene_n as_o to_o his_o suffering_n death_n and_o burial_n and_o what_o follow_v afterward_o which_o be_v the_o next_o thing_n that_o challenge_v our_o consideration_n we_o read_v that_o he_o be_v betray_v by_o one_o of_o his_o disciple_n deny_v by_o another_o and_o desert_v by_o all_o the_o rest_n that_o he_o be_v take_v and_o carry_v first_o before_o the_o high_a priest_n of_o the_o jew_n and_o afterward_o before_o pilate_n and_o herod_n that_o he_o be_v scourge_v mock_v spit_v upon_o revile_v and_o at_o last_o upon_o false_a and_o frivolous_a accusation_n condemn_v by_o pilate_n contrary_a to_o his_o conscience_n only_o to_o please_v the_o jew_n and_o then_o crucify_v between_o two_o common_a malefactor_n one_o of_o which_o 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which_o choice_n the_o twelve_o be_v all_o with_o one_o accord_n in_o one_o place_n they_o be_v fill_v with_o the_o holy_a ghost_n and_o speak_v with_o other_o tongue_n as_o the_o spirit_n give_v they_o utterance_n which_o wonderful_a gift_n of_o divers_a language_n be_v confer_v upon_o they_o with_o very_o strange_a amaze_a sign_n and_o appearance_n viz._n a_o sound_n from_o heaven_n as_o of_o a_o rush_v mighty_a wind_n cleave_a tongue_n like_o as_o of_o fire_n etc._n etc._n have_v receive_v this_o extraordinary_a assistance_n we_o find_v they_o whole_o employ_v in_o preach_v the_o thing_n concern_v jesus_n interpret_n the_o scripture_n of_o the_o old_a testament_n with_o relation_n to_o he_o baptise_v in_o his_o name_n convert_v people_n to_o the_o belief_n of_o those_o fact_n record_v in_o the_o gospel_n and_o the_o doctrine_n build_v upon_o they_o
exhort_v man_n to_o the_o practice_n of_o the_o several_a duty_n enjoin_v they_o by_o god_n and_o deliver_v to_o they_o by_o the_o minister_n of_o the_o gospel_n of_o christ_n and_o bid_v they_o expect_v salvation_n by_o christ_n only_o ordain_v several_a person_n under_o different_a character_n to_o assist_v in_o the_o ministry_n heal_v all_o manner_n of_o disease_n raise_v the_o dead_a and_o do_v many_o other_o sign_n and_o wonder_n wherever_o they_o come_v and_o convey_v the_o same_o power_n and_o gift_n to_o other_o they_o have_v receive_v themselves_o by_o which_o mean_n we_o read_v that_o the_o gospel_n be_v spread_v and_o the_o number_n of_o believer_n increase_v many_o church_n or_o congregation_n be_v every_o where_o establish_v and_o the_o member_n of_o they_o keep_v so_o unite_v by_o those_o that_o be_v set_v over_o they_o first_o in_o judea_n and_o samaria_n then_o in_o remote_a part_n abroad_o where_o the_o jew_n be_v scatter_v afterward_o in_o several_a city_n island_n 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not_o meet_v with_o in_o those_o book_n the_o truth_n and_o obligation_n of_o all_o which_o be_v frequent_o enforce_v by_o argument_n most_o of_o the_o principal_a matter_n of_o fact_n record_v in_o the_o gospel_n and_o act_n be_v reser_v to_o in_o the_o epistle_n and_o allege_v as_o proof_n of_o the_o truth_n of_o the_o doctrine_n there_o teach_v and_o of_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o teacher_n here_o be_v likewise_o several_a new_a matter_n of_o fact_n incidental_o mention_v which_o we_o do_v not_o find_v in_o those_o former_a book_n and_o some_o of_o the_o fact_n there_o relate_v be_v repeat_v here_o with_o new_a circumstance_n all_o the_o epistle_n do_v abound_v throughout_o with_o exhortation_n to_o a_o steady_a belief_n of_o those_o wonderful_a thing_n say_v and_o do_v by_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n and_o to_o a_o constant_a practice_n of_o the_o duty_n enjoin_v by_o they_o in_o several_a of_o they_o there_o be_v some_o prophecy_n too_o intermix_v with_o these_o other_o matter_n before_o take_v notice_n of_o and_o the_o last_o epistle_n direct_v to_o the_o seven_o church_n in_o asia_n which_o be_v by_o a_o peculiar_a title_n style_v the_o revelation_n be_v almost_o whole_o prophetical_a some_o of_o they_o also_o conclude_v with_o salutation_n to_o and_o from_o several_a particular_a person_n therein_o name_v these_o be_v the_o most_o remarkable_a thing_n that_o occur_v to_o a_o man_n upon_o read_v the_o epistle_n thus_o have_v i_o run_v through_o all_o the_o variety_n of_o particular_n treat_v of_o in_o the_o new_a testament_n but_o in_o order_n to_o form_v a_o just_a and_o full_a idea_n of_o the_o subject_a of_o this_o book_n it_o be_v necessary_a to_o add_v some_o far_a consideration_n not_o formal_o express_v in_o any_o one_o particular_a volume_n or_o chapter_n but_o fair_o and_o evident_o collect_v from_o the_o whole_a composure_n or_o from_o several_a plain_a passage_n here_o and_o there_o disperse_v through_o the_o several_a part_n of_o it_o such_o as_o be_v the_o character_n of_o jesus_n christ_n and_o his_o doctrine_n of_o those_o that_o believe_v in_o he_o and_o that_o assist_v he_o in_o the_o publish_n and_o propagate_a his_o gospel_n and_o of_o those_o that_o persecute_v he_o and_o all_o that_o bear_v testimony_n to_o he_o and_o oppose_v the_o establishment_n of_o his_o religion_n as_o to_o the_o character_n of_o jesus_n christ_n so_o far_o as_o it_o can_v be_v collect_v from_o the_o several_a write_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n it_o be_v in_o short_a this_o his_o birth_n life_n and_o death_n be_v attend_v with_o extraordinary_a circumstance_n of_o different_a kind_n those_o who_o be_v call_v in_o scripture_n his_o parent_n be_v say_v to_o be_v descend_v from_o the_o family_n of_o david_n the_o great_a king_n that_o ever_o reign_v over_o judah_n and_o israel_n but_o their_o present_a condition_n when_o this_o child_n be_v bear_v be_v set_v forth_o as_o very_o low_a and_o the_o employment_n that_o maintain_v they_o then_o and_o afterward_o very_o mean_v but_o they_o be_v person_n that_o fear_v god_n and_o live_v very_o conformable_o to_o the_o law_n of_o moses_n the_o first_o appearance_n of_o christ_n in_o the_o world_n be_v prepare_v accompany_v and_o follow_v by_o prophecy_n vision_n sign_n and_o wonder_n ministry_n of_o angel_n adoration_n of_o wise_a man_n jealousy_n and_o fear_n of_o a_o great_a king_n together_o with_o the_o doubt_n ignorance_n amazement_n necessity_n and_o flight_n of_o his_o father_n and_o mother_n his_o education_n be_v fuitable_a to_o the_o meanness_n of_o his_o birth_n thirty_o year_n be_v spend_v at_o home_n in_o obscurity_n and_o retirement_n where_o he_o be_v subject_a and_o obedient_a to_o his_o parent_n but_o at_o the_o same_o time_n he_o wax_v strong_a in_o spirit_n and_o increase_v in_o wisdom_n and_o the_o grace_n of_o god_n be_v upon_o he_o to_o the_o astonishment_n of_o all_o his_o kindred_n and_o countryman_n who_o can_v not_o imagine_v whence_o he_o have_v that_o wisdom_n his_o whole_a life_n afterward_o be_v take_v up_o in_o preach_v and_o instruct_v and_o confirm_v his_o doctrine_n and_o authority_n by_o sign_n and_o mighty_a work_n and_o by_o argument_n draw_v chief_o from_o the_o prophecy_n and_o other_o passage_n of_o the_o old_a testament_n he_o go_v about_o every_o where_o teach_v and_o do_v good_a he_o teach_v in_o the_o temple_n and_o other_o public_a place_n of_o jerusalem_n he_o pass_v through_o all_o the_o city_n and_o village_n of_o judah_n and_o samaria_n and_o the_o neighbour_a coast_n preach_v and_o expound_v the_o scripture_n to_o the_o people_n in_o their_o synagogue_n in_o the_o field_n the_o desert_n and_o upon_o the_o seashore_n we_o find_v he_o attend_v with_o great_a multitude_n who_o hear_v he_o glad_o thus_o be_v he_o constant_o employ_v from_o the_o first_o discovery_n of_o himself_o and_o his_o gospel_n to_o the_o world_n till_o by_o treachery_n and_o malice_n he_o be_v apprehend_v and_o put_v to_o death_n in_o all_o which_o time_n that_o he_o public_o converse_v with_o man_n we_o have_v a_o great_a many_o surprise_v thing_n relate_v of_o he_o which_o do_v very_o much_o distinguish_v his_o character_n from_o that_o of_o any_o other_o person_n he_o be_v represent_v as_o sensible_a of_o human_a passion_n appetite_n and_o infirmity_n and_o yet_o free_a from_o all_o sin_n and_o endue_v with_o a_o power_n of_o not_o feel_v and_o relieve_v those_o very_a want_n he_o suffer_v he_o love_v grieve_a and_o be_v angry_a but_o these_o affection_n be_v occasion_v in_o he_o by_o a_o just_a concern_v for_o the_o glory_n of_o god_n and_o the_o success_n of_o that_o great_a work_n he_o come_v about_o the_o salvation_n of_o mankind_n and_o they_o never_o exceed_v their_o due_a bound_n he_o feel_v hunger_n and_o weariness_n yet_o fast_v forty_o day_n and_o forty_o night_n together_o feed_v vast_a multitude_n and_o
among_o they_o may_v as_o easy_o and_o sure_o have_v be_v trace_v to_o the_o country_n or_o province_n from_o whence_o it_o be_v derive_v to_o they_o and_o the_o manner_n and_o occasion_n of_o the_o conveyance_n as_o certain_o remember_v as_o the_o continue_a tradition_n of_o the_o same_o state_n of_o thing_n can_v have_v be_v and_o than_o the_o enquiry_n may_v be_v make_v in_o those_o church_n and_o province_n which_o do_v not_o derive_v their_o religion_n from_o any_o other_o within_o the_o time_n before_o set_v of_o 150_o year_n and_o so_o far_o the_o argument_n from_o tradition_n will_v most_o undoubted_o hold_v according_a to_o the_o former_a supposition_n lay_v down_o but_o however_o this_o be_v whether_o we_o suppose_v that_o all_o the_o country_n and_o province_n from_o whence_o the_o nicene_n bishop_n come_v have_v profess_v the_o christian_a religion_n for_o 150_o year_n before_o this_o council_n meet_v or_o that_o some_o of_o they_o have_v receive_v it_o late_a the_o 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be_v derive_v to_o they_o the_o succession_n of_o the_o person_n convey_v such_o a_o tradition_n be_v so_o very_o short_a that_o no_o change_n of_o place_n be_v sufficient_a to_o disturb_v or_o interrupt_v the_o conveyance_n and_o therefore_o no_o person_n that_o give_v himself_o the_o trouble_n of_o a_o faithful_a enquiry_n can_v be_v mistake_v in_o it_o and_o it_o must_v be_v allow_v to_o have_v be_v the_o concern_n of_o all_o to_o inquire_v and_o since_o it_o be_v plain_a that_o all_o the_o bishop_n do_v acknowledge_v these_o thing_n to_o be_v of_o great_a antiquity_n and_o of_o uninterrupted_a continuance_n as_o all_o pretence_n to_o the_o christian_a religion_n do_v necessary_o infer_v it_o must_v also_o be_v suppose_v that_o several_a of_o they_o have_v take_v particular_a care_n to_o satisfy_v themselves_o of_o the_o truth_n of_o these_o matter_n and_o that_o none_o of_o they_o have_v meet_v with_o any_o contrary_a account_n that_o shock_a their_n faith_n thus_o do_v it_o 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first_o publish_v in_o we_o must_v allow_v some_o time_n for_o its_o spread_n through_o that_o country_n and_o be_v afterward_o propagate_v and_o fix_v in_o so_o many_o other_o nation_n of_o different_a manner_n temper_n and_o language_n as_o the_o several_a province_n of_o the_o roman_a empire_n be_v in_o which_o the_o christian_a religion_n be_v 150_o year_n before_o the_o council_n of_o nice_a establish_v and_o flourish_v notwithstanding_o all_o the_o opposition_n a_o new_a religion_n unsupported_a by_o civil_a power_n must_v meet_v with_o now_o if_o we_o allow_v about_o threescore_o year_n for_o all_o this_o and_o according_a to_o the_o natural_a progress_n of_o thing_n it_o be_v incredible_a the_o christian_a religion_n shall_v from_o any_o one_o city_n or_o province_n of_o the_o roman_a empire_n in_o so_o short_a a_o time_n be_v diffuse_v so_o far_o be_v embrace_v by_o so_o many_o and_o be_v establish_v so_o sare_z under_o all_o the_o disavantage_n that_o such_o a_o religion_n must_v be_v attend_v with_o yet_o allow_v but_o threescore_o year_n or_o thereabouts_o for_o so_o wonderful_a a_o event_n this_o add_v to_o the_o 150_o before_o account_v for_o bring_v we_o to_o the_o time_n of_o trajan_n we_o be_v sure_o therefore_o that_o the_o christian_a religion_n can_v not_o have_v a_o late_a original_a than_o under_o the_o reign_n of_o trajan_n pliny_n pliny_n but_o it_o be_v plain_a from_o a_o eminent_a minister_n of_o his_o court_n that_o there_o be_v then_o vast_a number_n of_o christian_n in_o the_o roman_a empire_n and_o in_o province_n very_o remote_a from_o rome_n as_o well_o as_o within_o the_o district_n of_o rome_n itself_o and_o the_o account_n he_o give_v of_o that_o religion_n manifest_o show_v that_o it_o be_v so_o far_o the_o same_o with_o what_o be_v find_v in_o the_o scripture_n and_o profess_v by_o all_o christian_n at_o the_o time_n of_o the_o council_n of_o nice_a since_o therefore_o as_o have_v before_o be_v prove_v the_o christian_a 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