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some_o send_v by_o he_o of_o who_o epaphras_n be_v most_o take_v notice_n of_o but_o he_o be_v present_a with_o they_o in_o spirit_n v_o 5._o i._n e._n he_o be_v deep_o affect_v with_o their_o condition_n for_o he_o understand_v the_o design_n and_o artifices_fw-la of_o the_o seducer_n among_o they_o he_o know_v what_o fair_a and_o plausible_a pretence_n they_o have_v viz._n that_o they_o go_v about_o not_o to_o undermine_v christianity_n but_o to_o advance_v it_o by_o take_v in_o some_o jewish_a custom_n and_o some_o gentile_a observance_n and_o modes_n of_o worship_n which_o may_v easy_o be_v accommodate_v to_o the_o christian_a doctrine_n and_o so_o a_o great_a deal_n of_o the_o ammosity_n both_o of_o the_o jew_n and_o heathen_n will_v be_v remove_v and_o christianity_n will_v thereby_o gain_v more_o friend_n and_o meet_v with_o few_o enemy_n the_o apostle_n find_v how_o necessary_a it_o be_v at_o this_o time_n if_o possible_a to_o keep_v they_o steadfast_a in_o the_o faith_n 1._o he_o assure_v they_o that_o the_o christian_a doctrine_n be_v of_o itself_o so_o sufficient_a for_o the_o good_a of_o mankind_n that_o it_o need_v no_o addition_n either_o from_o the_o law_n of_o moses_n or_o the_o philosophy_n of_o the_o gentile_n which_o may_v introduce_v several_a thing_n with_o a_o specious_a appearance_n of_o wisdom_n humility_n and_o mortification_n but_o they_o ought_v to_o be_v assure_v that_o from_o christ_n they_o have_v all_o that_o be_v necessary_a or_o useful_a for_o salvation_n 3._o for_o in_o he_o be_v hide_v all_o the_o treasure_n of_o wisdom_n and_o knowledge_n 2._o that_o this_o doctrine_n be_v at_o first_o true_o deliver_v to_o they_o and_o they_o ought_v to_o be_v steadfast_a in_o it_o which_o be_v the_o design_n of_o the_o text._n but_o they_o may_v object_v that_o epaphras_n be_v no_o apostle_n of_o christ_n himself_o and_o if_o he_o be_v yet_o there_o be_v many_o apostle_n and_o the_o false_a apostle_n pretend_v to_o be_v true_a one_o and_o although_o st._n paul_n interpose_v his_o authority_n yet_o he_o be_v but_o one_o and_o the_o judaizer_n will_v not_o yield_v to_o it_o but_o be_v ready_a to_o suggest_v that_o the_o other_o apostle_n be_v more_o favourable_a to_o the_o jewish_a custom_n than_o he_o and_o therefore_o it_o be_v necessary_a some_o more_o general_a and_o common_a rule_n be_v find_v out_o whereby_o to_o distinguish_v the_o original_a and_o genuine_a doctrine_n of_o christ_n from_o that_o of_o pretender_n and_o seducer_n the_o clear_n of_o this_o be_v in_o itself_o a_o matter_n of_o great_a consequence_n and_o not_o only_o be_v to_o those_o of_o that_o age_n but_o be_v so_o in_o every_o age_n of_o the_o christian_a church_n where_o the_o same_o question_n may_v be_v put_v what_o be_v the_o true_a primitive_a doctrine_n of_o christ_n and_o by_o what_o mean_n may_v we_o come_v to_o it_o which_o concern_v we_o this_o day_n as_o well_o as_o they_o and_o the_o answer_n lie_v in_o two_o particular_n which_o i_o shall_v endeavour_v to_o clear_v 1._o 〈…〉_z the_o apostle_n do_v in_o common_a deliver_v to_o 〈…〉_z by_o they_o be_v the_o genuine_a doctrine_n 〈…〉_z 2._o that_o which_o they_o have_v leave_v in_o their_o write_n after_o it_o come_v to_o be_v contest_v which_o be_v the_o true_a doctrine_n of_o christ._n 3._o that_o which_o the_o apostle_n do_v in_o common_a deliver_v to_o the_o church_n plant_v by_o they_o for_o we_o have_v all_o the_o reason_n in_o the_o world_n to_o believe_v that_o the_o apostle_n deliver_v one_o and_o the_o same_o faith_n to_o all_o the_o church_n have_v the_o same_o infallible_a spirit_n to_o direct_v they_o there_o be_v no_o need_n for_o they_o to_o meet_v together_o before_o their_o dispersion_n and_o to_o agree_v upon_o some_o common_a article_n of_o faith_n symbol_n as_o russinus_n imagine_v lest_o they_o shall_v differ_v from_o each_o other_o for_o how_o can_v they_o differ_v 13._o who_o have_v the_o same_o spirit_n of_o truth_n to_o lead_v they_o into_o all_o truth_n and_o we_o find_v nothing_o like_o a_o combination_n among_o the_o apostle_n as_o to_o matter_n of_o doctrine_n and_o if_o there_o have_v be_v it_o will_v have_v render_v the_o faith_n they_o deliver_v more_o suspicious_a in_o that_o they_o dare_v not_o trust_v particular_a person_n with_o delivery_n of_o it_o without_o a_o antecedent_n confederacy_n among_o themselves_o which_o will_v have_v cern_v he_o and_o the_o disciple_n when_o they_o first_o hear_v he_o be_v amaze_v 21._o after_o this_o he_o take_v a_o course_n by_o himself_o and_o do_v not_o go_v up_o to_o jerusalem_n to_o the_o college_n of_o apostle_n there_o resident_a 17._o but_o go_v into_o arabia_n so_o that_o if_o any_o one_o may_v be_v think_v to_o set_v up_o another_o doctrine_n it_o be_v he_o but_o he_o be_v so_o far_o from_o it_o that_o he_o establish_v and_o confirm_v the_o truth_n of_o what_o they_o deliver_v and_o be_v very_o successful_a in_o his_o apostleship_n in_o all_o place_n and_o when_o there_o have_v be_v some_o whisper_n concern_v he_o as_o though_o he_o proceed_v not_o in_o the_o same_o way_n with_o the_o rest_n he_o go_v up_o to_o jerusalem_n and_o there_o upon_o full_a examination_n james_n and_o cephas_n 9_o and_o john_n who_o be_v the_o lead_a apostle_n give_v he_o the_o right_a hand_n of_o fellowship_n in_o token_n of_o their_o full_a consent_n in_o the_o same_o faith._n 2._o the_o truth_n of_o the_o gospel_n be_v the_o more_o plain_o discover_v all_o this_o while_n the_o apostle_n only_o preach_v and_o deliver_v their_o doctrine_n to_o the_o several_a church_n by_o verbal_a instruction_n but_o after_o these_o have_v be_v receive_v in_o the_o heart_n of_o such_o multitude_n that_o there_o can_v be_v no_o suspicion_n that_o a_o false_a representation_n of_o christ_n doctrine_n or_o action_n can_v be_v receive_v by_o those_o church_n than_o the_o wise_a providence_n of_o god_n take_v care_n for_o posterity_n and_o employ_v several_a person_n in_o distant_a place_n and_o time_n to_o write_v the_o history_n of_o our_o saviour_n and_o there_o be_v this_o advantage_n to_o the_o church_n that_o the_o gospel_n be_v write_v no_o soon_o for_o all_o the_o church_n plant_v by_o the_o apostle_n be_v then_o make_v judge_n whether_o the_o gospel_n write_v be_v agreeable_a to_o the_o doctrine_n which_o the_o apostle_n have_v teach_v and_o if_o not_o there_o will_v have_v be_v just_a reason_n to_o have_v question_v either_o the_o truth_n of_o what_o have_v be_v teach_v they_o or_o what_o be_v deliver_v in_o the_o gospel_n but_o when_o they_o find_v the_o main_a to_o be_v full_o consonant_a to_o what_o they_o have_v be_v teach_v the_o testimony_n of_o every_o one_o of_o these_o church_n do_v show_v the_o concurrence_n of_o all_o the_o apostle_n as_o to_o the_o doctrine_n
it_o necessary_a then_o that_o those_o thing_n which_o concern_v the_o life_n and_o doctrine_n of_o christ_n shall_v be_v put_v into_o write_v that_o they_o may_v be_v more_o certain_o convey_v and_o that_o while_o they_o have_v the_o testimony_n of_o those_o who_o be_v eye-witness_n and_o minister_n of_o the_o word_n 2._o and_o so_o i_o come_v to_o the_o second_o rule_n of_o discern_v the_o primitive_a doctrine_n of_o christ_n viz._n the_o write_n of_o the_o apostle_n when_o matter_n of_o doctrine_n come_v to_o be_v contest_v be_v the_o infallible_a rule_n whereby_o they_o be_v to_o judge_v which_o be_v the_o true_a and_o genuine_a doctrine_n of_o christ._n there_o be_v some_o who_o pretend_v that_o the_o apostle_n write_n be_v mere_o accidental_a and_o occasional_a thing_n but_o that_o the_o main_a design_n be_v to_o lodge_v the_o great_a assurance_n of_o the_o doctrine_n of_o christ_n in_o tradition_n from_o one_o to_o another_o and_o what_o they_o write_v be_v not_o to_o make_v any_o rule_n of_o faith_n but_o only_o to_o give_v some_o good_a advice_n to_o those_o church_n they_o write_v to_o but_o i_o shall_v now_o prove_v that_o the_o write_n of_o the_o apostle_n be_v intend_v by_o the_o holy_a ghost_n to_o be_v a_o stand_a rule_n whereby_o the_o church_n be_v to_o judge_v which_o be_v the_o true_a and_o genuine_a doctrine_n of_o christ._n 1._o from_o the_o reason_n and_o occasion_n of_o write_v the_o book_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n 1._o as_o to_o the_o gospel_n we_o must_v distinguish_v the_o general_n reason_n of_o write_v they_o from_o the_o particular_a occasion_n as_o to_o the_o several_a gospel_n the_o general_a reason_n be_v to_o be_v draw_v from_o the_o divine_a wisdom_n which_o inspire_v and_o guide_v they_o the_o particular_a occasion_n relate_v to_o the_o circumstance_n of_o write_v they_o the_o general_a reason_n be_v that_o which_o irenaeus_n give_v 1._o viz._n that_o the_o gospel_n which_o they_o have_v first_o preach_v be_v by_o the_o 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because_o go_v into_o other_o part_n he_o will_v supply_v the_o want_n of_o his_o presence_n among_o they_o by_o his_o write_n what_o need_v this_o if_o tradition_n be_v a_o certain_a and_o infallible_a way_n of_o convey_v the_o doctrine_n of_o christ_n st._n chrysostom_n say_v 〈…〉_z the_o jewish_a christian_n desire_v he_o to_o put_v into_o write_v what_o they_o have_v hear_v he_o preach_v do_v not_o they_o understand_v the_o force_n of_o tradition_n better_o or_o why_o shall_v st._n matthew_n put_v they_o out_o of_o a_o infallible_a way_n the_o authority_n of_o the_o imperfect_a work_n on_o st._n matthew_n say_v prâ—â—ogo_n they_o desire_v he_o to_o write_v his_o gospel_n that_o where_o ever_o they_o go_v they_o may_v carry_v a_o account_n of_o their_o faith_n with_o they_o clemens_n alexandrinus_n say_v the_o occasion_n of_o writing_n st._n mark_v gospel_n be_v 15._o that_o the_o people_n be_v not_o satisfy_v with_o a_o unwritten_a delivery_n of_o the_o holy_a doctrine_n and_o therefore_o importune_v mark_n who_o be_v the_o disciple_n of_o st._n peter_n that_o he_o will_v leave_v a_o monument_n of_o his_o doctrine_n in_o write_v which_o st._n peter_n understand_v by_o revelation_n approve_v and_o confirm_v his_o gospel_n for_o the_o use_n of_o the_o church_n origen_n say_v he_o write_v it_o according_a to_o st._n peter_n direction_n 25._o epiphanius_n say_v by_o his_o authority_n athanasius_n say_v it_o be_v dictate_v by_o he_o at_o rome_n 155._o it_o seem_v that_o peter_n himself_o do_v not_o think_v fit_a to_o leave_v the_o doctrine_n of_o christ_n to_o a_o oral_a tradition_n even_o at_o rome_n but_o irenaeus_n think_v it_o be_v write_v after_o st._n peter_n decease_n 5._o who_o therein_o differ_v from_o the_o rest_n and_o show_v how_o uncertain_a mere_a tradition_n be_v eccles_n tertullian_n say_v st._n mark_v gospel_n be_v attribute_v to_o st._n peter_n and_o st._n luke_n to_o st._n paul._n st._n jerom_n mention_n the_o opinion_n of_o some_o that_o when_o st._n paul_n say_v according_a to_o my_o gospel_n he_o mean_v that_o of_o st._n luke_n but_o st._n luke_n himself_o plain_o give_v a_o account_n of_o the_o occasion_n of_o his_o write_n luc._n st._n ambrose_n think_v by_o those_o who_o have_v take_v in_o hand_n to_o write_v of_o those_o thing_n which_o be_v firm_o believe_v among_o we_o 1._o he_o mean_v the_o author_n of_o the_o counterfeit_a gospel_n as_o that_o of_o the_o twelve_o apostle_n and_o st._n mathias_n but_o we_o have_v no_o evidence_n that_o these_o be_v old_a than_o st._n luke_n his_o meaning_n be_v that_o in_o those_o part_n where_o he_o be_v there_o be_v some_o who_o do_v undertake_v to_o give_v a_o account_n of_o the_o life_n and_o action_n of_o christ_n who_o want_v the_o advantage_n which_o he_o have_v have_v have_v great_a opportunity_n of_o know_a circumstance_n from_o the_o eye-witness_n and_o therefore_o he_o set_v himself_o to_o give_v a_o exact_a relation_n of_o they_o that_o not_o only_a theophilus_n 51._o but_o every_o one_o that_o answer_v his_o name_n may_v know_v the_o certainty_n of_o those_o thing_n wherein_o they_o have_v be_v instruct_v but_o do_v not_o they_o know_v the_o certainty_n of_o these_o thing_n by_o the_o apostle_n preach_v yes_o but_o the_o thing_n they_o hear_v may_v slip_v out_o of_o their_o memory_n and_o to_o prevent_v this_o say_v theophylact_v st._n luke_n write_v his_o gospel_n luc._n that_o they_o may_v retain_v these_o thing_n with_o great_a certainty_n and_o word_n that_o be_v only_o speak_v be_v more_o easy_o misunderstand_v prol_n which_o maldonat_a assign_v as_o one_o great_a reason_n of_o the_o evangelist_n write_v their_o several_a gospel_n st._n john_n likewise_o give_v a_o account_n himself_o of_o the_o reason_n of_o his_o write_n and_o that_o the_o great_a imaginable_a but_o these_o be_v write_v that_o you_o may_v believe_v that_o jesus_n be_v the_o christ_n 31._o the_o son_n of_o god_n and_o that_o believe_v you_o may_v have_v life_n through_o his_o name_n why_o write_v that_o you_o may_v believe_v do_v the_o apostle_n in_o his_o old_a age_n mistrust_v the_o understanding_n or_o the_o memory_n of_o christian_n be_v not_o the_o apostle_n teach_v sufficient_a to_o keep_v up_o the_o principle_n of_o the_o christian_a faith_n in_o the_o heart_n of_o the_o people_n no_o not_o while_n st._n john_n himself_o be_v yet_o live_v he_o have_v certain_o a_o very_a mean_a opinion_n of_o tradition_n that_o think_v it_o necessary_a for_o he_o to_o write_v that_o they_o may_v believe_v that_o jesus_n be_v the_o son_n of_o god._n for_o there_o be_v no_o point_n of_o faith_n more_o necessary_a than_o this_o which_o be_v require_v of_o all_o person_n to_o be_v own_v before_o baptism_n yet_o for_o all_o this_o and_o whatever_o else_o can_v be_v say_v st._n john_n think_v it_o necessary_a that_o these_o thing_n be_v write_v that_o they_o may_v believe_v he_o live_v the_o long_a of_o any_o of_o the_o apostle_n and_o therefore_o see_v how_o 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scripture_n and_o tradition_n compare_v in_o a_o sermon_n preach_v at_o guild-hall_n chapel_n novemb_n 27._o 1687._o by_o edward_n stillingfleet_n d._n d._n and_o dean_n of_o st._n paul_n london_n print_v for_o henry_n mortlock_n at_o the_o phoenix_n in_o st._n paul_n churchyard_n 1688._o imprimatur_fw-la guil._n needham_n rmo_n in_o christo_fw-la ac_fw-la d._n d._n wilhelmo_n archiep._n cant._n a_o sacris_fw-la dome_v nou._n 28._o 1687._o the_o preface_n i_o intend_v god_n willing_a to_o publish_v in_o a_o little_a time_n a_o full_a answer_n to_o j.s._n his_o catholic_n letter_n so_o far_o as_o i_o be_o concern_v in_o they_o in_o the_o mean_a while_n i_o think_v it_o not_o unfit_a to_o print_v this_o sermon_n i_o late_o preach_v that_o i_o may_v give_v a_o general_n view_v of_o scripture_n and_o tradition_n as_o to_o the_o way_n of_o convey_v matter_n of_o faith_n before_o i_o come_v to_o the_o particular_a debate_n with_o j.s._n wherein_o i_o do_v not_o doubt_v but_o i_o shall_v be_v 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