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seem_v to_o have_v be_v pen_v by_o so_o many_o different_a author_n as_o appear_v not_o only_o from_o several_a way_n and_o manner_n of_o expression_n observable_a in_o each_o of_o they_o but_o also_o from_o the_o subject_a which_o be_v the_o same_o in_o all_o and_o most_o of_o the_o same_o matter_n of_o fact_n be_v repeat_v in_o each_o gospel_n some_o of_o which_o be_v tell_v with_o such_o a_o diversity_n of_o circumstance_n as_o occasion_n some_o difficulty_n to_o reconcile_v together_o it_o can_v be_v imagine_v that_o any_o one_o man_n will_v write_v so_o many_o account_n of_o the_o same_o story_n so_o little_a different_a from_o one_o another_o in_o the_o main_a branch_n and_o so_o much_o in_o some_o lesser_a particular_n the_o narration_n in_o all_o the_o historical_a part_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n be_v very_o short_a naked_a and_o simple_a nothing_o but_o bare_a matter_n of_o fact_n be_v relate_v just_a as_o they_o happen_v without_o any_o interposition_n of_o the_o author_n 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matter_n of_o fact_n relate_v of_o christ_n and_o most_o of_o the_o doctrine_n deliver_v by_o he_o to_o have_v be_v know_v and_o believe_v by_o a_o great_a many_o at_o the_o the_o time_n when_o these_o gospel_n be_v write_v and_o in_o the_o place_n where_o they_o be_v publish_v the_o manner_n of_o begin_v each_o gospel_n be_v a_o very_a good_a proof_n of_o this_o truth_n st._n luke_n plain_o in_o express_a word_n affirm_v that_o the_o person_n for_o who_o he_o more_o particular_o write_v his_o gospel_n have_v be_v before_o instruct_v in_o those_o thing_n he_o be_v about_o to_o give_v he_o a_o account_n of_o in_o order_n and_o that_o those_o thing_n which_o other_o have_v before_o he_o set_v forth_o a_o declaration_n of_o be_v such_o as_o be_v most_o sure_o believe_v among_o they_o even_o as_o they_o deliver_v they_o unto_o they_o which_o from_o the_o beginning_n be_v eye-witness_n and_o minister_n of_o the_o word_n and_o the_o writer_n of_o the_o other_o gospel_n begin_v so_o abrupt_o 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and_o that_o his_o father_n and_o he_o will_v come_v and_o make_v their_o abode_n with_o they_o whosoever_o drink_v of_o the_o water_n that_o he_o shall_v give_v he_o he_o say_v shall_v never_o thirst_v but_o that_o water_n shall_v be_v in_o he_o a_o well_o of_o water_n spring_v up_o into_o everlasting_a life_n and_o whoso_o eat_v his_o flesh_n and_o drink_v his_o blood_n have_v eternal_a life_n and_o he_o will_v raise_v he_o up_o at_o the_o last_o day_n he_o tell_v one_o of_o the_o thief_n upon_o the_o cross_n that_o he_o shall_v be_v with_o he_o that_o day_n in_o paradise_n and_o in_o general_a to_o all_o those_o that_o believe_v in_o he_o and_o obey_v his_o word_n and_o commandment_n he_o give_v assurance_n of_o salvation_n and_o eternal_a happiness_n in_o another_o world_n beside_o many_o other_o occasional_a blessing_n and_o assistance_n in_o this_o and_o those_o that_o will_v not_o believe_v in_o he_o and_o obey_v his_o gospel_n he_o threaten_v with_o eternal_a punishment_n in_o another_o life_n and_o with_o many_o trouble_n and_o calamity_n while_o they_o continue_v here_o agreeable_a to_o which_o declaration_n make_v by_o himself_o be_v the_o language_n and_o practice_n of_o his_o disciple_n to_o he_o and_o of_o he_o in_o his_o life_n time_n and_o after_o his_o death_n they_o call_v he_o lord_n and_o god_n preach_v baptise_v and_o bless_v in_o his_o name_n and_o attribute_v a_o great_a many_o glorious_a thing_n to_o he_o which_o be_v in_o other_o place_n in_o the_o same_o manner_n and_o expression_n attribute_v to_o the_o one_o only_o supreme_a god_n they_o worship_v he_o when_o alive_a with_o all_o the_o external_a sign_n of_o divine_a adoration_n and_o pray_v to_o he_o after_o his_o death_n and_o expect_v all_o manner_n of_o grace_n assistance_n and_o spiritual_a strength_n from_o he_o here_o and_o a_o eternal_a reward_n of_o their_o labour_n suffering_n and_o obedience_n from_o he_o hereafter_o and_o as_o these_o be_v all_o evident_a mark_n and_o token_n of_o a_o amaze_a greatness_n and_o power_n in_o jesus_n christ_n so_o be_v all_o his_o sermon_n and_o discourse_n his_o manner_n of_o preach_v and_o converse_v and_o the_o whole_a scheme_n both_o of_o his_o life_n and_o doctrine_n manifest_a proof_n of_o a_o extraordinary_a kind_n of_o wisdom_n it_o do_v not_o appear_v from_o the_o history_n of_o the_o gospel_n or_o any_o other_o part_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n that_o christ_n have_v read_v any_o other_o book_n but_o the_o old_a testament_n or_o that_o he_o have_v have_v the_o advantage_n of_o be_v instruct_v in_o the_o meaning_n and_o sense_n of_o that_o by_o any_o master_n or_o teacher_n whatsoever_o yet_o we_o find_v he_o teach_v reason_v answer_v question_n that_o be_v put_v
tradition_n another_o set_a of_o testimony_n which_o eusebius_n furnish_v we_o with_o in_o behalf_n of_o the_o christian_a tradition_n be_v relic_n building_n and_o other_o such_o like_a monument_n several_a of_o which_o be_v remain_v in_o his_o time_n and_o see_v by_o he_o himself_o such_o be_v christian_a burying-place_n and_o sepulcher_n with_o the_o name_n of_o christian_n upon_o they_o particular_o those_o of_o peter_n and_o paul_n statue_n and_o picture_n particular_o the_o statue_n of_o the_o woman_n cure_v by_o christ_n of_o the_o bloody_a flux_n picture_n of_o christ_n peter_n and_o paul_n in_o colour_n these_o be_v all_o see_v by_o eusebius_n himself_o as_o be_v likewise_o the_o episcopal_a chair_n of_o james_n at_o jerusalem_n several_a christian_a library_n and_o several_a christian_a temple_n before_o they_o be_v pull_v down_o and_o destroy_v by_o the_o order_n of_o dieclesian_n these_o and_o many_o other_o such_o like_a monument_n remain_v in_o eusebius_n time_n whether_o 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that_o the_o christian_a religion_n have_v its_o original_a in_o judea_n at_o the_o time_n assign_v it_o which_o be_v less_o than_o 300_o year_n before_o eusebius_n and_o the_o book_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n which_o give_v a_o account_n of_o the_o christian_a religion_n and_o plain_o suppose_v a_o antecedent_n propagation_n and_o establishment_n of_o it_o in_o a_o great_a part_n of_o the_o world_n be_v write_v some_o time_n after_o the_o first_o publication_n eusebius_n or_o any_o other_o person_n of_o his_o age_n who_o thorough_o examine_v the_o matter_n concern_v the_o copy_n of_o the_o scripture_n then_o receive_v must_v needs_o be_v satisfy_v from_o this_o consideration_n only_o that_o the_o book_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n have_v as_o early_o a_o publication_n in_o the_o world_n as_o be_v now_o ascribe_v to_o they_o and_o consequent_o that_o the_o christian_a faith_n be_v somewhat_o early_o and_o the_o same_o then_o as_o it_o be_v in_o these_o book_n represent_v to_o have_v be_v this_o will_v further_o be_v make_v out_o from_o the_o next_o sort_n of_o write_n to_o be_v consider_v viz._n public_a act_n and_o record_n belong_v proper_o to_o society_n and_o not_o to_o particular_a author_n such_o be_v catalogue_n of_o bishop_n decree_n of_o synod_n letter_n from_o church_n and_o society_n of_o man_n general_a record_n of_o remarkable_a matter_n particular_a act_n and_o monument_n of_o martyr_n psalm_n hymn_n creed_n and_o form_n of_o prayer_n the_o most_o famous_a church_n especial_o those_o constitute_v by_o apostle_n keep_v the_o succession_n of_o their_o bishop_n with_o great_a care_n lay_v up_o in_o their_o archive_v record_v their_o name_n and_o day_n of_o their_o death_n in_o a_o pair_n of_o write_v table_n this_o eusebius_n tell_v we_o be_v the_o custom_n of_o the_o primitive_a christian_n and_o these_o table_n he_o assure_v we_o he_o diligent_o examine_v and_o he_o be_v very_o exact_a in_o the_o account_n he_o take_v of_o they_o as_o particular_o appear_v from_o what_o he_o say_v concern_v the_o church_n of_o jerusalem_n viz._n that_o he_o find_v from_o old_a record_n fifteen_o bishop_n with_o their_o name_n who_o have_v succeed_v in_o that_o church_n from_o the_o apostle_n to_o the_o siege_n of_o the_o jew_n in_o adrian_n be_v time_n but_o can_v not_o find_v preserve_v in_o write_v the_o space_n of_o time_n each_o bishop_n spend_v in_o his_o presidency_n over_o that_o see_n the_o like_a diligence_n and_o exactness_n be_v observable_a in_o the_o account_n he_o give_v of_o the_o succession_n of_o bishop_n in_o several_a other_o church_n most_o of_o their_o name_n be_v set_v down_o and_o the_o time_n of_o their_o several_a succession_n presidency_n and_o death_n punctual_o determine_v and_o reason_n give_v why_o he_o can_v not_o speak_v with_o the_o same_o certainty_n of_o the_o rest_n omit_v there_o be_v likewise_o extant_a in_o his_o time_n a_o great_a many_o canon_n and_o decree_n make_v by_o several_a council_n and_o
prognostic_n ground_v upon_o the_o necessary_a connexion_n and_o dependence_n of_o natural_a cause_n and_o effect_n which_o be_v all_o the_o way_n of_o foretell_v thing_n that_o man_n be_v capable_a of_o it_o be_v true_a indeed_o some_o general_a common_a event_n may_v sometime_o by_o a_o lucky_o turn_v of_o imagination_n be_v foretell_v such_o as_o life_n or_o death_n peace_n or_o war_n prosperity_n or_o adversity_n and_o the_o like_a and_o therefore_o have_v christ_n speak_v no_o other_o prophecy_n but_o such_o as_o these_o that_o peter_n shall_v be_v crucify_a and_o john_n shall_v out_o live_v the_o rest_n of_o the_o apostle_n there_o may_v have_v be_v some_o ground_n to_o think_v they_o casual_a conjectural_a prediction_n though_o a_o great_a many_o true_a prediction_n even_o of_o this_o nature_n without_o one_o mistake_v guess_n can_v not_o with_o any_o colour_n of_o reason_n or_o probability_n have_v be_v attribute_v to_o chance_v several_a other_o event_n likewise_o there_o be_v which_o by_o a_o skill_n in_o this_o or_o that_o part_n of_o knowledge_n and_o by_o a_o immediate_a information_n concern_v several_a antecedent_n circumstance_n may_v be_v foretell_v thus_o do_v a_o astronomer_n foretell_v a_o eclipse_n a_o physician_n the_o death_n of_o some_o particular_a person_n a_o politician_n a_o national_a calamity_n or_o advantage_n and_o thus_o do_v a_o wise_a man_n understand_v how_o such_o a_o person_n who_o temper_n and_o principle_n he_o be_v well_o acquaint_v with_o will_v behave_v himself_o upon_o such_o a_o occasion_n and_o many_o other_o the_o like_a instance_n may_v be_v give_v but_o the_o prophecy_n of_o christ_n and_o other_o ancient_a prophet_n before_o he_o concern_v the_o whole_a dispensation_n of_o the_o gospel_n can_v not_o possible_o be_v mere_a guess_n and_o conjecture_n because_o the_o thing_n foretell_v be_v most_o of_o they_o such_o as_o the_o person_n who_o foretell_v they_o have_v never_o see_v or_o hear_v of_o any_o instance_n of_o 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effectual_a if_o a_o man_n be_v never_o so_o well_o acquaint_v with_o the_o motion_n and_o revolution_n of_o the_o heavenly_a body_n he_o can_v tell_v that_o a_o eclipse_n will_v happen_v at_o such_o a_o time_n without_o know_v the_o particular_a position_n of_o the_o body_n contribute_v to_o a_o eclipse_n at_o that_o time_n nor_o can_v a_o physician_n by_o all_o his_o skill_n in_o the_o frame_n and_o structure_n of_o humane_a body_n foretell_v that_o such_o a_o particular_a man_n who_o constitution_n and_o circumstance_n of_o health_n he_o know_v nothing_o of_o shall_v at_o such_o a_o determinate_a time_n die_v or_o recover_v of_o such_o a_o disease_n but_o suppose_v a_o man_n know_v the_o whole_a oeconomy_n of_o the_o corporeal_a world_n be_v acquaint_v with_o all_o the_o law_n of_o motion_n and_o see_v the_o necessary_a dependence_n of_o all_o the_o part_n of_o matter_n upon_o one_o another_o he_o can_v not_o be_v enable_v from_o hence_o to_o foretell_v such_o thing_n which_o depend_v upon_o the_o free_a resolution_n and_o determination_n of_o intellectual_a being_n nor_o be_v it_o possible_a for_o we_o by_o what_o we_o know_v of_o the_o temper_n and_o disposition_n of_o all_o the_o person_n we_o converse_v with_o to_o foretell_v what_o man_n will_v live_v and_o what_o particular_a action_n will_v be_v do_v by_o they_o at_o a_o great_a distance_n from_o we_o the_o connexion_n of_o all_o humane_a action_n be_v nor_o discoverable_a from_o the_o clear_a view_n we_o can_v have_v of_o humane_a nature_n and_o all_o the_o principle_n and_o motive_n man_n act_v upon_o now_o for_o all_o these_o reason_n it_o be_v impossible_a that_o those_o great_a and_o wonderful_a event_n foretell_v by_o christ_n and_o the_o ancient_a prophet_n which_o we_o find_v mention_v in_o the_o new_a testament_n can_v be_v foretell_v by_o any_o humane_a skill_n or_o learning_n the_o same_o way_n that_o we_o have_v see_v other_o natural_a truth_n predict_v for_o several_a of_o they_o it_o be_v plain_a be_v such_o as_o the_o prophet_n have_v never_o see_v or_o hear_v of_o any_o instance_n of_o before_o as_o for_o example_n that_o a_o person_n shall_v come_v down_o from_o heaven_n to_o save_v mankind_n from_o their_o sin_n that_o a_o virgin_n shall_v conceive_v &_o bear_v a_o son_n etc._n etc._n and_o indeed_o all_o those_o fact_n we_o call_v miraculous_a may_v be_v refer_v to_o this_o head_n 〈◊〉_d though_o some_o of_o the_o same_o or_o alike_o kind_a be_v know_v to_o have_v happen_v before_o yet_o the_o prophet_n who_o know_v and_o believe_v they_o look_v upon_o they_o as_o exceed_v all_o humane_a power_n and_o cognizance_n and_o therefore_o can_v not_o foresee_v the_o like_a by_o any_o ordinary_a natural_a way_n of_o knowledge_n because_o they_o have_v never_o have_v any_o experience_n of_o such_o thing_n happen_v according_a to_o the_o ordinary_a course_n of_o thing_n several_a of_o the_o matter_n prophesy_v of_o if_o they_o have_v depend_v upon_o certain_a necessary_a cause_n and_o that_o dependence_n have_v be_v very_o well_o know_v to_o the_o prophet_n yet_o they_o can_v not_o have_v be_v foretell_v by_o they_o for_o want_v of_o know_v some_o particular_a circumstance_n which_o must_v concur_v to_o their_o existence_n thus_o for_o instance_n suppose_v a_o man_n be_v able_a by_o his_o extraordinary_a skill_n in_o nature_n to_o explain_v how_o a_o virgin_n may_v conceive_v or_o the_o dead_a rise_n the_o lame_a be_v make_v to_o walk_v and_o the_o sick_a be_v cure_v he_o can_v not_o by_o the_o mean_n of_o this_o knowledge_n foretell_v that_o at_o such_o a_o certain_a time_n hereafter_o such_o fact_n as_o these_o shall_v happen_v because_o he_o can_v not_o understand_v when_o there_o the_o state_n and_o disposition_n of_o thing_n at_o that_o time_n will_v certain_o be_v such_o that_o those_o fact_n must_v ensue_v but_o these_o reason_n chief_o concern_v corporeal_a agent_n whereas_o beside_o the_o difficulty_n arise_v from_o hence_o all_o the_o 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