its_o ground_n every_o one_o that_o be_v convince_v whether_o upon_o solid_a or_o slight_a ground_n god_n have_v say_v a_o thing_n be_v bind_v to_o believe_v it_o else_o he_o sin_v mortal_o in_o disbelieve_v god_n who_o be_v essential_a truth_n much_o less_o do_v i_o absolute_o require_v this_o of_o they_o but_o upon_o supposition_n that_o their_o own_o speculative_a and_o acute_a genius_n make_v themselves_o require_v it_o i_o exhort_v they_o to_o it_o as_o to_o that_o which_o be_v to_o such_o soul_n a_o mean_n to_o increase_v their_o devotion_n and_o can_v no_o way_n shock_v they_o if_o they_o be_v not_o passionate_a and_o precipitate_a lest_o of_o all_o do_v i_o tell_v they_o that_o in_o look_v into_o their_o ground_n they_o ought_v to_o go_v to_o work_v like_o doubter_n or_o seeker_n but_o quite_o contrary_a suppose_v they_o firm_a in_o faith_n by_o their_o rely_v on_o the_o sure_a rock_n of_o the_o church_n and_o strengthen_v in_o that_o reliance_n by_o the_o practical_a evidence_n that_o the_o virtue_n she_o exhort_v we_o to_o be_v agreeable_a to_o right_o practical_a reason_n or_o conscience_n and_o that_o the_o mean_n she_o propose_v and_o enjoin_v to_o attain_v they_o be_v effectual_a towards_o that_o end_n i_o bid_v they_o rest_v secure_a that_o if_o god_n together_o with_o a_o earnest_a desire_n to_o advance_v in_o devotion_n have_v also_o give_v they_o a_o pierce_a eye_n to_o discern_v truth_n as_o he_o have_v to_o many_o many_o thousand_o in_o the_o vast_a extent_n of_o the_o church_n god_n goodness_n have_v provide_v such_o ground_n proportion_v and_o penetrable_a by_o every_o capacity_n and_o they_o among_o the_o rest_n as_o will_v if_o look_v into_o render_v their_o faith_n more_o lively_a and_o their_o devotion_n more_o fervent_a and_o solid_a but_o who_o be_v of_o this_o pitch_n and_o so_o to_o make_v use_n of_o this_o method_n lest_o the_o overween_n of_o their_o own_o private_a and_o perhaps_o partial_a fancy_n shall_v make_v they_o 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of_o devotion_n by_o j._n s._n print_a in_o the_o year_n 1678._o to_o the_o right_n honourable_a the_o countess_z of_o kinnoul_n madam_n it_o be_v the_o press_a desire_n of_o your_o pious_a heart_n which_o inspire_v i_o with_o a_o will_v to_o satisfy_v your_o christian_a enquiry_n what_o true_a devotion_n be_v and_o to_o write_v this_o piece_n a_o laudable_a ambition_n to_o dress_v up_o your_o soul_n in_o such_o a_o manner_n as_o it_o may_v look_v beautiful_o in_o the_o eye_n of_o heaven_n make_v you_o strain_v towards_o the_o attainment_n of_o it_o but_o your_o acute_a understanding_n do_v not_o so_o easy_o find_v out_o its_o certain_a idea_n nor_o discover_v clear_o what_o be_v its_o proper_a nature_n you_o be_v too_o wise_a to_o think_v it_o consist_v in_o light_a bigottery_n and_o those_o affection_n which_o be_v build_v up_o from_o solid_a truth_n be_v apt_a to_o seem_v too_o learned_a and_o too_o rigid_a for_o that_o flexible_a and_o soul-melting_a disposition_n manly_a thought_n 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pierce_v and_o want_v nothing_o but_o the_o ramble_a part_n of_o it_o which_o shoot_v bolt_n at_o rover_n nor_o be_v his_o judgement_n less_o solid_a though_o he_o have_v not_o the_o vanity_n to_o blaze_v either_o or_o discover_v they_o without_o precise_a necessity_n and_o i_o can_v speak_v by_o experience_n not_o very_o many_o even_o of_o those_o who_o make_v a_o profession_n of_o knowledge_n understand_v better_o either_o the_o ground_n of_o our_o faith_n or_o the_o reason_n why_o we_o ought_v to_o be_v virtuous_a i_o mean_v the_o proportion_n the_o mean_n have_v to_o the_o end_n grace_n to_o glory_n or_o a_o well-led_n life_n here_o to_o the_o attainment_n of_o eternal_a bliss_n hereafter_o no_o wonder_n then_o he_o close_v so_o pious_a a_o race_n with_o so_o happy_a a_o end_n and_o look_v upon_o death_n as_o the_o treshold_n to_o heaven_n may_v we_o not_o say_v madam_n that_o the_o remembrance_n of_o his_o life_n and_o death_n as_o from_o some_o luminary_n place_v in_o a_o high_a 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it_o to_o the_o world_n to_o return_v then_o to_o my_o matter_n your_o ladyship_n may_v i_o say_v have_v find_v a_o live_a character_n of_o devotion_n near_a hand_n and_o have_v save_v i_o all_o this_o labour_n and_o you_o already_o see_v all_o be_v virtuous_a all_o be_v saintly_o throughout_o the_o whole_a course_n of_o his_o life_n but_o it_o be_v the_o exact_a knowledge_n of_o what_o devotion_n be_v as_o distinguish_v it_o from_o the_o common_a nature_n of_o virtue_n and_o goodness_n which_o you_o aim_v at_o for_o you_o have_v observe_v that_o many_o be_v hold_v virtuous_a and_o good_a person_n who_o be_v not_o esteem_v devout_a and_o that_o this_o word_n devotion_n have_v something_o in_o its_o notion_n particular_o excellent_a not_o find_v in_o the_o other_o this_o excellency_n your_o ladyship_n aspire_v to_o and_o therefore_o you_o wise_o desire_v in_o the_o first_o place_n to_o gain_v a_o clear_a discernment_n of_o what_o it_o be_v and_o in_o what_o it_o consist_v as_o single_v from_o other_o common_a consideration_n belong_v to_o goodness_n which_o often_o run_v mix_v with_o it_o hence_o i_o become_v oblige_v both_o to_o decipher_v devotion_n and_o dissect_v she_o and_o not_o only_o so_o to_o delineate_v her_o nature_n that_o it_o may_v be_v particular_o know_v but_o by_o divide_v she_o into_o her_o several_a kind_n and_o treat_v at_o large_a of_o her_o chief_a act_n prayer_n to_o acquaint_v you_o more_o perfect_o with_o her_o composition_n in_o a_o word_n you_o have_v here_o at_o once_o my_o obedience_n and_o your_o own_o duty_n and_o that_o it_o may_v benefit_v your_o soul_n towards_o its_o improvement_n in_o know_v virtue_n shall_v be_v the_o daily_a prayer_n of_o madam_n your_o ladyship_n be_v most_o devote_v and_o most_o obedient_a servant_n i._o s._n the_o preface_n to_o the_o reader_n though_o this_o treatise_n bear_v the_o title_n of_o devotion_n yet_o i_o hope_v it_o will_v not_o be_v expect_v it_o shall_v be_v either_o make_v up_o of_o set-form_n 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hearty_o wish_v they_o be_v and_o endeavour_v as_o well_o as_o i_o can_v they_o shall_v be_v so_o by_o yield_v to_o the_o solicitation_n of_o friend_n to_o expose_v this_o treatise_n to_o be_v print_v no_o small_a kindness_n from_o i_o consider_v the_o common_a apprehension_n that_o a_o resolution_n be_v already_o take_v and_o fix_v by_o some_o to_o find_v fault_n with_o all_o i_o have_v write_v or_o shall_v write_v i_o beseech_v god_n to_o send_v they_o more_o charity_n and_o i_o patience_n it_o may_v be_v ask_v why_o such_o high_a subject_n shall_v be_v write_v in_o english_a i_o answer_v because_o very_o many_o who_o understand_v not_o latin_a may_v be_v capable_a of_o comprehend_v good_a sense_n and_o concern_v too_o to_o receive_v thorow-information_n in_o such_o subject_n nor_o do_v i_o think_v any_o thing_n here_o unintelligible_a by_o the_o
frequent_a use_n of_o they_o bring_v we_o to_o a_o careless_a indifference_n in_o perform_v they_o and_o take_v off_o our_o conceit_n of_o they_o they_o will_v become_v little_a beneficial_a and_o perhaps_o harmful_a §_o 2._o but_o these_o inconvenience_n avoid_v these_o devotee_n be_v to_o be_v advise_v to_o pray_v as_o often_o and_o as_o long_o as_o they_o can_v and_o such_o prayer_n as_o they_o please_v to_o frequent_v the_o sacrament_n the_o often_o the_o better_a so_o it_o be_v with_o serious_a preparation_n and_o such_o as_o may_v preserve_v the_o reverence_n due_a to_o they_o to_o be_v present_a at_o all_o solemnity_n of_o the_o church_n and_o there_o where_o thing_n be_v perform_v with_o most_o majesty_n and_o becomingness_n if_o any_o extraordinary_a occasion_n of_o devotion_n happen_v as_o in_o jubilee_n and_o the_o like_a by_o all_o mean_n to_o lay_v hold_n of_o it_o often_o to_o read_v good_a book_n of_o which_o the_o affective_a be_v more_o for_o their_o purpose_n than_o the_o instructive_a and_o in_o a_o word_n to_o omit_v nothing_o proper_a to_o strengthen_v and_o increase_v the_o habit_n of_o devotion_n in_o general_n the_o conceit_n they_o frame_v in_o common_a and_o confuse_o of_o the_o benefit_n of_o these_o thing_n shall_v be_v keep_v up_o at_o the_o height_n and_o increase_v if_o it_o may_v be_v and_o for_o particular_n because_o they_o penetrate_v not_o into_o the_o nature_n of_o thing_n nor_o consider_v which_o way_n they_o work_v it_o matter_n not_o much_o what_o they_o be_v so_o they_o be_v good_a and_o apt_a to_o move_v they_o for_o this_o reason_n and_o because_o they_o be_v through_o their_o weakness_n easy_o scandalize_v peo_fw-la ple_fw-fr shall_v in_o charity_n be_v wary_a of_o maintain_v and_o even_o discover_v contrary_a sentiment_n before_o they_o for_o these_o way_n whatever_o they_o be_v in_o themselves_o the_o best_a or_o no_o be_v best_a for_o they_o and_o will_v make_v they_o saint_n if_o they_o pursue_v they_o sincere_o and_o faithful_o and_o we_o must_v beware_v nè_fw-la pereat_fw-la in_o scientiâ_fw-la tuâ_fw-la infirmus_fw-la frater_fw-la lest_o a_o weak_a brother_n perish_v by_o thy_o knowledge_n §_o 3._o the_o way_n of_o knowledge_n must_v needs_o be_v pursue_v by_o such_o mean_n as_o improve_v knowledge_n and_o he_o advance_v in_o it_o best_o who_o most_o deep_o penetrate_v into_o christian_a duty_n and_o most_o clear_o see_v their_o agreeableness_n to_o right_a reason_n i_o do_v not_o mean_v with_o such_o a_o sight_n as_o be_v mere_o speculative_a nor_o such_o a_o sight_n as_o can_v pierce_v into_o the_o mystery_n themselves_o and_o look_v upon_o they_o with_o that_o kind_n of_o evidence_n which_o we_o have_v of_o other_o truth_n who_o term_n we_o see_v connect_v for_o this_o will_v take_v away_o faith_n and_o be_v impossible_a here_o and_o only_o to_o be_v hope_v in_o the_o country_n of_o blissful_a light_n where_o we_o shall_v see_v face_n to_o face_n but_o i_o mean_v such_o a_o sight_n as_o presuppose_v faith_n and_o render_v it_o lively_a or_o operative_a which_o if_o once_o we_o can_v attain_v it_o be_v impossible_a not_o to_o be_v devout_a for_o knowledge_n of_o any_o good_a when_o it_o be_v express_a and_o lively_a become_v a_o principle_n of_o act_v for_o it_o or_o to_o obtain_v it_o that_o be_v will_n as_o by_o reflection_n we_o may_v easy_o discover_v in_o the_o whole_a course_n of_o our_o life_n and_o experience_n of_o our_o daily_a action_n §_o 4._o now_o this_o knowledge_n be_v render_v express_v and_o faith_n by_o consequence_n lively_a two_o manner_n of_o way_n by_o supernatural_a and_o by_o natural_a mean_n supernatural_a mean_n be_v either_o apt_a to_o affect_v all_o mankind_n or_o some_o few_o choose_v by_o god_n providence_n and_o design_v and_o fit_v for_o great_a end_n of_o the_o first_o sort_n be_v miracle_n in_o general_a for_o the_o common_a course_n of_o nature_n be_v practical_o evident_a to_o all_o and_o so_o what_o ever_o evident_o cross_v it_o must_v needs_o be_v conceive_v to_o spring_v from_o the_o author_n of_o nature_n who_o can_v control_v it_o as_o he_o please_v wherefore_o as_o on_o the_o one_o side_n this_o evidence_n make_v it_o stick_v firm_o in_o the_o soul_n that_o god_n have_v a_o hand_n in_o it_o so_o on_o the_o other_o side_n the_o astonishment_n by_o reason_n of_o the_o unusualness_n of_o the_o effect_n make_v it_o sink_v deep_a and_o both_o together_o render_v faith_n as_o to_o the_o point_n it_o testify_v exceed_v lively_a and_o prompt_a to_o action_n of_o the_o other_o sort_n be_v the_o rush_a wind_n the_o fiery_a tongue_n and_o other_o concomitant_a cause_n which_o produce_v that_o prodigious_a liveliness_n of_o faith_n and_o sublime_a height_n of_o ardent_a devotion_n in_o the_o first_o planter_n of_o the_o church_n by_o which_o they_o be_v render_v so_o strong_o and_o ready_o dispose_v for_o those_o duty_n which_o christ_n have_v order_v they_o that_o they_o cheerful_o embrace_v all_o inconvenience_n torment_n nay_o death_n itself_o to_o perform_v they_o these_o cause_n be_v not_o apt_a to_o affect_v all_o mankind_n as_o they_o do_v those_o few_o particular_o fit_v by_o long_a conversation_n with_o christ_n himself_o and_o expectation_n of_o the_o effect_n of_o the_o promise_n he_o make_v they_o at_o his_o departure_n which_o be_v still_o work_v in_o their_o mind_n and_o raise_v they_o to_o look_v for_o some_o strange_a supernatural_a effect_n of_o it_o these_o be_v the_o two_o manner_n of_o external_n and_o more_o ordinary_a supernatural_a mean_n for_o of_o the_o inward_a work_n of_o god_n spirit_n which_o blow_v where_o it_o list_v and_o who_o operation_n and_o the_o circumstance_n of_o it_o depend_v upon_o a_o series_n of_o cause_n unknowable_a by_o we_o it_o be_v not_o my_o intention_n to_o speak_v in_o this_o discourse_n §_o 5._o natural_a and_o ordinary_a mean_n to_o make_v this_o knowledge_n express_v and_o faith_n lively_a be_v also_o twofold_a viz._n penetrate_v well_o either_o the_o ground_n on_o which_o faith_n be_v build_v that_o be_v the_o certainty_n of_o the_o authority_n which_o recommend_v it_o or_o else_o the_o agreeableness_n of_o the_o thing_n to_o be_v believe_v and_o of_o the_o action_n to_o be_v practise_v to_o the_o maxim_n of_o true_a reason_n it_o be_v the_o proper_a business_n of_o controversy_n to_o teach_v the_o one_o and_o scholastic_a divinity_n the_o other_o and_o it_o be_v by_o read_v and_o attentive_o consider_v the_o discourse_n make_v by_o master_n in_o both_o kind_n that_o we_o may_v attain_v the_o knowledge_n we_o desire_v in_o these_o matmatter_n only_o let_v we_o provide_v the_o author_n we_o choose_v be_v true_o solid_a for_o every_o one_o who_o write_v be_v not_o so_o and_o that_o the_o point_v we_o choose_v be_v to_o our_o purpose_n it_o be_v neither_o necessary_a always_o nor_o convenient_a that_o every_o one_o who_o be_v capable_a of_o knowledge_n shall_v read_v all_o the_o controversy_n that_o concern_v each_o point_n of_o faith_n even_o though_o they_o be_v good_a and_o solid_a much_o less_o amuse_v himself_o with_o solve_v all_o objection_n raise_v and_o raisable_v without_o end_n by_o adversary_n it_o will_v be_v sufficient_a to_o peruse_v and_o understand_v one_o or_o two_o good_a book_n which_o solid_o treat_v and_o firm_o establish_v the_o ground_n of_o faith_n or_o if_o leisure_n and_o opportunity_n serve_v to_o hear_v some_o oral_a discourse_n of_o that_o subject_n in_o fine_a by_o any_o way_n we_o can_v to_o weigh_v attentive_o the_o nature_n of_o the_o authority_n on_o which_o faith_n be_v build_v and_o what_o perfect_a certainty_n the_o same_o and_o less_o authority_n beget_v in_o we_o on_o other_o occasion_n this_o do_v with_o that_o care_n and_o concern_v which_o the_o thing_n require_v it_o will_v natural_o breed_v in_o a_o soul_n these_o and_o the_o like_a reflection_n §_o 6._o i_o believe_v and_o that_o with_o a_o most_o firm_a assurance_n that_o there_o be_v a_o king_n henry_n 8_o a_o william_n the_o conqueror_n a_o julius_n caesar_n and_o many_o action_n perform_v by_o they_o as_o alter_v religion_n in_o england_n conquer_a this_o nation_n gain_v many_o victory_n and_o the_o like_a the_o same_o i_o believe_v of_o less_o man_n and_o less_o universally-known_a action_n provide_v they_o be_v sufficient_o notorious_a to_o great_a multitude_n and_o by_o these_o multitude_n open_o and_o serious_o attest_v and_o without_o any_o imaginable_a ground_n of_o suspicion_n of_o fear_n or_o hope_n or_o any_o interest_n which_o may_v move_v they_o to_o lie_v in_o the_o case_n i_o find_v this_o writ_n in_o my_o heart_n in_o such_o character_n that_o i_o can_v as_o well_o doubt_v whither_o i_o be_o as_o whither_o such_o thing_n be_v i_o find_v all_o mankind_n judge_v the_o same_o and_o i_o can_v no_o more_o think_v it_o possible_a that_o humour_n or_o interest_n shall_v beget_v this_o perswaon_n