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and_o this_o he_o himself_o urge_v as_o a_o reason_n why_o his_o testimony_n ought_v to_o be_v credit_v joh._n viij_o 46._o which_o of_o you_o convince_v i_o of_o sin_n and_o if_o i_o say_v the_o truth_n why_o do_v you_o not_o believe_v i_o and_o a_o very_a good_a reason_n it_o be_v for_o it_o can_v not_o just_o be_v suspect_v that_o a_o person_n of_o who_o no_o other_o ill_a thing_n can_v be_v say_v be_v yet_o indeed_o in_o the_o whole_a course_n of_o his_o life_n guilty_a of_o a_o crime_n of_o the_o great_a magnitude_n viz._n of_o lie_v in_o the_o name_n of_o god_n of_o say_v that_o the_o lord_n have_v send_v he_o when_o indeed_o the_o lord_n have_v not_o send_v he_o nor_o speak_v by_o he_o 2._o it_o may_v be_v also_o consider_v that_o this_o testimony_n of_o our_o lord_n though_o it_o be_v concern_v himself_o yet_o be_v not_o for_o himself_o i_o mean_v it_o be_v not_o for_o his_o own_o worldly_a advantage_n and_o this_o consideration_n he_o himself_o likewise_o offer_v to_o the_o jew_n as_o a_o argument_n of_o the_o truth_n of_o his_o testimony_n joh._n seven_o 18._o he_o that_o speak_v of_o himself_o seek_v his_o own_o glory_n but_o he_o that_o seek_v his_o glory_n that_o send_v he_o the_o same_o be_v true_a and_o no_o unrighteousness_n be_v in_o he_o have_v the_o doctrine_n of_o our_o lord_n which_o he_o pretend_v be_v what_o god_n have_v command_v he_o to_o teach_v be_v contrive_v to_o advance_v the_o worldly_a honour_n and_o greatness_n of_o himself_o or_o his_o follower_n this_o will_v have_v be_v a_o just_a prejudice_n against_o it_o and_o a_o reasonable_a ground_n of_o suspect_v that_o he_o speak_v of_o himself_o but_o when_o it_o be_v evident_a to_o all_o that_o hear_v his_o discourse_n and_o be_v no_o less_o so_o to_o we_o that_o read_v they_o that_o he_o seek_v not_o his_o own_o glory_n in_o any_o thing_n but_o the_o glory_n of_o he_o that_o send_v he_o and_o that_o his_o whole_a doctrine_n tend_v to_o advance_v the_o honour_n of_o god_n and_o to_o 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against_o his_o own_o interest_n if_o he_o himself_o be_v a_o great_a loser_n or_o sufferer_n by_o what_o he_o testify_v for_o it_o can_v be_v imagine_v what_o else_o but_o only_o the_o evidence_n of_o truth_n and_o a_o obligation_n to_o declare_v it_o shall_v ever_o induce_v a_o man_n to_o say_v such_o thing_n concern_v himself_o as_o will_v procure_v his_o own_o mischief_n and_o i_o know_v not_o what_o can_v be_v say_v to_o avoid_v the_o force_n of_o this_o argument_n for_o the_o truth_n of_o our_o saviour_n testimony_n that_o he_o be_v send_v from_o god_n and_o that_o he_o be_v the_o messiah_n unless_o it_o be_v that_o he_o be_v disappoint_v in_o his_o expectation_n and_o that_o he_o hope_v to_o make_v himself_o rich_a and_o great_a in_o the_o world_n by_o these_o glorious_a pretence_n though_o in_o the_o event_n it_o prove_v otherwise_o but_o the_o gospel-history_n furnish_v we_o with_o a_o very_a clear_a and_o full_a answer_n to_o this_o objection_n in_o those_o many_o prediction_n of_o our_o lord_n therein_o record_v concern_v his_o own_o suffering_n 16.31.20.17_o mat._n 16.31.20.17_o whereby_o it_o clear_o appear_v that_o the_o suffering_n which_o befall_v he_o for_o give_v this_o testimony_n concern_v himself_o do_v not_o happen_v to_o he_o unexpected_o but_o that_o he_o know_v long_o before_o all_o that_o afterward_o come_v to_o pass_v and_o therefore_o i_o say_v again_o that_o no_o reason_n can_v be_v imagine_v why_o he_o shall_v say_v that_o he_o be_v send_v from_o god_n but_o only_o because_o he_o know_v it_o be_v true_a and_o have_v receive_v a_o command_n from_o his_o father_n to_o declare_v this_o truth_n to_o the_o world_n especial_o if_o it_o be_v consider_v further_o 4._o last_o that_o he_o continue_v to_o testify_v the_o same_o at_o his_o death_n which_o he_o have_v do_v before_o in_o his_o life_n give_v thereby_o the_o best_a assurance_n that_o a_o man_n can_v give_v of_o the_o truth_n of_o his_o testimony_n for_o the_o main_a matter_n of_o his_o accusation_n to_o pilate_n be_v that_o he_o have_v give_v out_o himself_o to_o be_v the_o messiah_n and_o the_o messiah_n be_v according_a to_o the_o expectation_n of_o the_o jew_n to_o be_v a_o great_a temporal_a king_n have_v our_o lord_n therefore_o but_o deny_v this_o charge_n have_v he_o but_o grant_v that_o he_o be_v not_o the_o messiah_n he_o may_v have_v save_v his_o life_n but_o this_o he_o will_v not_o do_v he_o disown_v indeed_o the_o false_a notion_n that_o the_o jew_n have_v of_o the_o messiah_n my_o kingdom_n 62._o john_n 18.26_o mat._n 27.11_o joh._n 18.37_o mat._n 26.63_o 64._o mar._n 14.61_o 62._o say_v he_o be_v not_o of_o this_o world_n but_o that_o he_o be_v a_o king_n and_o that_o he_o be_v the_o messiah_n he_o bold_o own_v as_o well_o when_o the_o question_n be_v put_v to_o he_o by_o the_o roman_a governor_n who_o have_v power_n of_o life_n and_o death_n as_o when_o it_o have_v be_v put_v to_o he_o before_o by_o the_o highpriest_n this_o therefore_o be_v a_o strong_a confirmation_n of_o the_o truth_n of_o this_o testimony_n of_o our_o lord_n and_o be_v alone_o sufficient_a to_o make_v it_o credible_a that_o he_o witness_v the_o same_o good_a confession_n before_o pontius_n pilate_n 6.13_o 1_o tim._n 6.13_o which_o he_o have_v do_v before_o his_o own_o nation_n and_o seal_v his_o witness_n with_o his_o blood_n for_o it_o be_v not_o to_o be_v suppose_v that_o any_o man_n tell_v a_o know_a lie_n for_o nothing_o and_o it_o be_v plain_o then_o too_o late_o for_o he_o to_o hope_v for_o any_o good_a to_o himself_o in_o this_o world_n by_o persist_v in_o this_o testimony_n his_o only_a hope_n have_v be_v in_o retract_v it_o and_o it_o be_v not_o credible_a that_o any_o man_n shall_v be_v so_o foolish_a as_o to_o expect_v to_o better_v himself_o in_o the_o other_o world_n by_o die_v with_o a_o lie_n in_o his_o mouth_n thus_o i_o hope_v it_o appear_v that_o the_o testimony_n of_o our_o lord_n concern_v his_o own_o divine_a mission_n be_v 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way_n 1._o god_n bear_v he_o witness_v by_o the_o testimony_n of_o ancient_a prophet_n and_o to_o this_o our_o saviour_n frequent_o appeal_v joh._n v._n 39_o search_v the_o scripture_n for_o in_o they_o you_o think_v you_o have_v eternal_a life_n and_o they_o be_v they_o which_o testify_v of_o i_o and_o again_o v._o 46._o have_v you_o believe_v moses_n you_o will_v have_v believe_v i_o for_o he_o write_v of_o i_o and_o this_o st._n peter_n compare_v it_o with_o that_o voice_n from_o heaven_n testify_v he_o to_o be_v the_o son_n of_o god_n 19_o 2_o pet._n 1.18_o 19_o of_o which_o he_o himself_o have_v be_v a_o earwitness_n call_v a_o more_o sure_a word_n of_o
stand_v revelation_n of_o the_o gospel_n will_v be_v persuade_v by_o this_o mean_n if_o they_o hear_v not_o moses_n and_o the_o prophet_n i_o add_v nor_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n neither_o will_v they_o be_v persuade_v though_o one_o rise_v from_o the_o dead_a and_o the_o truth_n of_o this_o will_n i_o suppose_v sufficient_o appear_v if_o these_o follow_a thing_n be_v consider_v 1._o that_o we_o can_v have_v better_a or_o strong_a motive_n to_o obedience_n and_o a_o holy_a life_n than_o be_v already_o offer_v in_o the_o holy_a scripture_n to_o persuade_v we_o 2._o that_o the_o proof_n and_o evidence_n already_o give_v we_o of_o the_o truth_n of_o religion_n be_v such_o as_o can_v be_v fair_o except_v against_o and_o that_o there_o be_v no_o proof_n thereof_o that_o can_v be_v offer_v but_o what_o be_v liable_a to_o cavil_n and_o unreasonable_a exception_n 3._o that_o if_o god_n shall_v gratify_v all_o man_n in_o this_o request_n the_o abundance_n and_o commonness_n of_o the_o 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to_o we_o or_o indeed_o to_o what_o purpose_n shall_v there_o be_v any_o new_a revelation_n at_o all_o for_o these_o thing_n be_v already_o promise_v and_o threaten_v clear_o enough_o in_o the_o holy_a scripture_n life_n and_o immortality_n be_v already_o full_o bring_v to_o light_n by_o the_o gospel_n and_o if_o the_o hope_n of_o eternal_a life_n and_o happiness_n and_o if_o the_o dread_a of_o everlasting_a and_o intolerable_a torment_n will_v not_o persuade_v we_o nothing_o certain_o will_n or_o can_v persuade_v we_o all_o that_o i_o think_v can_v in_o any_o new_a revelation_n be_v add_v to_o that_o encouragement_n that_o be_v already_o give_v we_o in_o scripture_n to_o virtue_n and_o godliness_n or_o to_o that_o discouragement_n that_o be_v therein_o give_v as_o to_o vice_n and_o wickedness_n will_v be_v a_o assurance_n that_o there_o shall_v be_v always_o as_o remarkable_a a_o difference_n make_v by_o the_o providence_n of_o god_n between_o good_a and_o bad_a man_n in_o this_o world_n as_o we_o be_v tell_v in_o scripture_n there_o will_v be_v by_o his_o righteous_a judgement_n in_o that_o which_o be_v to_o come_v and_o a_o good_a assurance_n give_v we_o of_o this_o by_o some_o new_a revelation_n confirm_v by_o our_o own_o constant_a observation_n that_o it_o be_v always_o well_o with_o the_o righteous_a and_o ill_a with_o the_o wicked_a in_o this_o world_n we_o may_v think_v perhaps_o will_v do_v much_o more_o towards_o the_o reformation_n of_o mankind_n than_o only_o those_o promise_n and_o threaten_n of_o future_a happiness_n or_o misery_n that_o we_o meet_v with_o in_o the_o scripture_n have_v do_v or_o be_v ever_o like_a to_o do_v and_o this_o indeed_o may_v be_v but_o then_o it_o be_v to_o be_v consider_v that_o a_o new_a revelation_n to_o this_o effect_n will_v be_v inconsistent_a with_o the_o nature_n of_o religion_n and_o will_v frustrate_v the_o design_n of_o god_n in_o send_v we_o into_o this_o world_n which_o be_v to_o prove_v and_o try_v we_o to_o see_v whether_o we_o love_v the_o lord_n with_o all_o our_o heart_n whether_o we_o can_v believe_v he_o for_o those_o thing_n which_o we_o do_v not_o see_v and_o whether_o we_o be_v so_o wise_a as_o to_o prefer_v a_o great_a future_a good_n before_o a_o less_o that_o be_v present_a a_o bless_a and_o glorious_a immortality_n after_o this_o life_n before_o the_o pleasure_n of_o sin_n which_o be_v but_o for_o a_o season_n for_o if_o the_o reward_n of_o virtue_n and_o the_o punishment_n of_o vice_n be_v always_o visible_a and_o present_a there_o will_v be_v no_o room_n leave_v for_o faith_n in_o god_n which_o be_v a_o firm_a belief_n of_o the_o truth_n of_o his_o promise_n and_o threaten_n though_o we_o do_v not_o see_v a_o present_a performance_n of_o they_o 11.1_o heb._n 11.1_o faith_n as_o the_o apostle_n define_v it_o be_v the_o substance_n or_o loc._n or_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d hom._n in_o loc._n confident_a expectation_n of_o thing_n hope_v for_o the_o evidence_n or_o 〈◊〉_d or_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d conviction_n of_o thing_n not_o see_v and_o if_o all_o the_o good_a thing_n both_o of_o this_o life_n and_o of_o the_o next_o be_v the_o certain_a portion_n of_o virtue_n and_o all_o the_o evil_a thing_n that_o can_v be_v suffer_v both_o in_o this_o world_n and_o in_o the_o other_o be_v the_o certain_a and_o never-failing_a consequence_n of_o sin_n there_o will_v be_v no_o room_n leave_v for_o a_o virtuous_a and_o wise_a choice_n nay_o indeed_o there_o will_v be_v hardly_o matter_n for_o choice_n at_o all_o for_o it_o can_v be_v conceive_v that_o a_o creature_n that_o have_v understanding_n and_o a_o power_n of_o choose_v and_o refuse_v shall_v know_o choose_v all_o misery_n rather_o than_o all_o happiness_n such_o a_o revelation_n as_o this_o be_v therefore_o so_o evident_o inconsistent_a with_o the_o nature_n of_o faith_n and_o religion_n and_o with_o the_o design_n of_o god_n in_o send_v we_o into_o this_o world_n can_v be_v expect_v and_o i_o say_v that_o bate_v this_o there_o can_v be_v nothing_o add_v to_o the_o matter_n of_o the_o scripture_n revelation_n from_o whence_o therefore_o it_o plain_o follow_v that_o such_o as_o be_v not_o persuade_v by_o the_o gospel_n motive_n to_o repentance_n be_v not_o capable_a of_o be_v persuade_v by_o any_o such_o motive_n as_o consistent_o with_o the_o nature_n of_o faith_n and_o religion_n and_o virtue_n can_v be_v offer_v to_o they_o and_o it_o can_v be_v suppose_v that_o any_o true_a divine_a revelation_n shall_v ever_o offer_v any_o motive_n to_o persuade_v we_o that_o be_v not_o such_o but_o it_o may_v be_v say_v perhaps_o that_o though_o better_a or_o strong_a motive_n to_o repentance_n can_v be_v offer_v by_o any_o new_a revelation_n than_o be_v offer_v already_o in_o holy_a scripture_n yet_o we_o may_v by_o a_o new_a revelation_n have_v better_a assurance_n give_v we_o of_o the_o truth_n of_o the_o gospel_n motive_n and_o that_o if_o we_o have_v it_o be_v very_o like_a they_o will_v be_v then_o more_o prevail_a than_o they_o now_o be_v and_o this_o likewise_o i_o believe_v must_v be_v grant_v but_o then_o it_o be_v to_o be_v consider_v that_o the_o nature_n of_o faith_n and_o religion_n and_o of_o that_o state_n of_o trial_n which_o we_o be_v now_o in_o require_v that_o there_o shall_v be_v a_o reasonable_a boundary_a set_v to_o the_o clearness_n of_o that_o evidence_n that_o be_v give_v to_o man_n of_o the_o truth_n of_o those_o motive_n whereby_o they_o be_v to_o be_v persuade_v as_o well_o as_o to_o the_o force_n and_o strength_n of_o the_o motive_n themselves_o because_o as_o i_o note_v in_o my_o last_o discourse_n such_o very_a clear_a and_o strong_a evidence_n of_o the_o truth_n of_o religion_n as_o leave_v no_o room_n for_o a_o possibility_n of_o doubt_v will_v destroy_v