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then_o all_o company_n of_o man_n that_o lodge_v themselves_o in_o any_o authority_n and_o more_o particular_o those_o who_o manage_n man_n conscience_n and_o the_o concern_v of_o religion_n have_v be_v too_o often_o observe_v to_o enlarge_v their_o power_n and_o to_o make_v the_o most_o of_o they_o they_o can_v and_o that_o by_o their_o mean_n religion_n have_v be_v often_o and_o much_o corrupt_v the_o world_n have_v from_o hence_o a_o right_a to_o exact_v very_o full_a proof_n before_o they_o can_v be_v bind_v to_o believe_v any_o such_o body_n of_o man_n to_o be_v exempt_v from_o error_n this_o will_v yet_o appear_v the_o more_o evident_a if_o that_o very_a body_n in_o which_o this_o infallibility_n be_v suppose_v to_o dwell_v have_v manifest_o corrupt_v the_o moral_n and_o the_o order_n or_o discipline_n of_o this_o religion_n if_o they_o have_v fill_v the_o world_n with_o fable_n if_o they_o have_v fall_v under_o gross_a ignorance_n and_o have_v be_v overrun_v with_o vice_n and_o 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be_v sure_o there_o be_v a_o infallibility_n in_o the_o church_n but_o be_v not_o sure_a to_o who_o it_o be_v trust_v we_o may_v be_v resist_v this_o infallibility_n by_o oppose_v those_o who_o indeed_o have_v it_o while_o we_o address_v ourselves_o for_o it_o to_o other_o who_o have_v it_o not_o though_o we_o fancy_v it_o belong_v to_o they_o in_o all_o constitution_n among_o man_n the_o most_o evident_a thing_n be_v this_o where_o rest_v the_o supreme_a authority_n of_o that_o constitution_n and_o if_o this_o be_v necessary_a for_o the_o order_n and_o policy_n of_o the_o world_n it_o be_v much_o more_o necessary_a that_o if_o god_n have_v devolve_v so_o main_a a_o part_n of_o his_o own_o authority_n and_o indeed_o the_o dispense_n of_o one_o of_o his_o own_o attribute_n this_o shall_v be_v so_o describe_v and_o circumstantiate_v that_o there_o shall_v be_v no_o danger_n of_o mistake_v and_o that_o there_o shall_v have_v be_v such_o character_n give_v by_o which_o all_o the_o world_n 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a_o vain_a thing_n to_o prove_v that_o this_o must_v be_v in_o the_o church_n because_o otherwise_o a_o great_a many_o absurdity_n must_v needs_o follow_v if_o it_o be_v not_o in_o it_o when_o it_o be_v once_o prove_v that_o god_n have_v give_v it_o to_o his_o church_n we_o shall_v very_o willing_o yield_v that_o he_o have_v very_o good_a reason_n for_o it_o since_o so_o extraordinary_a a_o power_n which_o may_v be_v easy_o employ_v to_o very_o bad_a purpose_n certain_o be_v not_o to_o be_v give_v but_o for_o very_o good_a one_o but_o it_o be_v a_o very_a preposterous_a way_n to_o argue_v that_o god_n must_v have_v do_v such_o a_o thing_n because_o we_o fancy_v that_o it_o be_v necessary_a to_o prevent_v some_o great_a evil_n or_o to_o procure_v some_o very_a great_a good_n for_o this_o be_v only_o to_o pretend_v to_o prove_v that_o god_n ought_v to_o have_v do_v somewhat_o that_o he_o have_v not_o do_v unless_o they_o can_v at_o the_o same_o time_n prove_v that_o god_n have_v do_v 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church_n but_o indeed_o if_o we_o will_v give_v ourselves_o scope_n upon_o this_o argument_n to_o fancy_v that_o god_n must_v do_v every_o thing_n which_o we_o imagine_v will_v be_v very_o convenient_a we_o shall_v soon_o frame_v a_o idea_n both_o of_o his_o creation_n and_o his_o providence_n that_o be_v whole_o different_a from_o what_o we_o perceive_v it_o to_o be_v we_o be_v not_o capable_a of_o so_o vast_a a_o thought_n as_o to_o take_v in_o a_o scheme_n of_o those_o great_a design_n that_o lie_v in_o the_o eternal_a mind_n and_o that_o be_v scatter_v in_o a_o seem_a confusion_n through_o his_o work_n and_o way_n but_o be_v beautiful_a and_o orderly_a as_o they_o be_v gather_v together_o in_o his_o idea_n we_o can_v say_v what_o be_v good_a or_o evil_n with_o relation_n to_o the_o whole_a nor_o what_o be_v the_o proper_a method_n of_o bring_v about_o the_o one_o or_o of_o divert_v the_o other_o so_o to_o conclude_v the_o argue_v that_o christ_n have_v deal_v ill_o with_o his_o 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wilderness_n be_v every_o whit_n as_o extraordinary_a instance_n of_o the_o depravation_n of_o humane_a nature_n as_o these_o we_o now_o consider_v be_v but_o indeed_o we_o need_v not_o go_v so_o far_o to_o seek_v for_o amaze_a character_n and_o instance_n of_o the_o madness_n of_o mankind_n no_o law_n no_o reward_n no_o punishment_n no_o experience_n nor_o observation_n can_v make_v man_n wise_a or_o good_a when_o man_n be_v once_o engage_v in_o ill_a course_n they_o quick_o contract_v habit_n and_o be_v soon_o harden_v in_o they_o and_o when_o pride_n and_o interest_n be_v get_v on_o the_o side_n of_o that_o which_o of_o itself_o be_v strong_a enough_o to_o overcome_v they_o than_o they_o become_v intractable_a and_o fierce_a against_o every_o opposition_n and_o become_v real_o the_o worse_a the_o more_o they_o be_v pursue_v and_o deal_v with_o another_o objection_n be_v why_o do_v not_o some_o of_o those_o miracle_n that_o seem_v to_o have_v be_v with_o a_o sort_n of_o profusion_n throw_v out_o abundant_o at_o first_o now_o appear_v to_o convince_v the_o world_n for_o these_o will_v certain_o have_v a_o great_a effect_n what_o be_v say_v to_o the_o first_o objection_n belong_v in_o a_o great_a measure_n to_o this_o we_o be_v not_o to_o ask_v of_o god_n a_o account_n of_o his_o way_n if_o he_o have_v lay_v enough_o before_o we_o for_o our_o conviction_n and_o if_o that_o be_v reject_v by_o we_o we_o have_v no_o reason_n to_o expect_v that_o he_o shall_v disturb_v the_o order_n that_o he_o have_v settle_v in_o the_o creation_n to_o gratify_v our_o humour_n it_o be_v not_o suitable_a to_o that_o order_n that_o he_o have_v so_o wise_o and_o useful_o establish_v that_o it_o shall_v be_v too_o often_o put_v out_o of_o its_o channel_n it_o be_v enough_o that_o at_o the_o first_o open_n of_o the_o two_o reveal_v religion_n that_o he_o deliver_v to_o the_o world_n he_o give_v evident_a sign_n both_o of_o his_o dominion_n over_o the_o work_v of_o his_o hand_n and_o of_o his_o have_v authorise_v those_o who_o he_o send_v to_o speak_v in_o his_o name_n that_o be_v then_o full_o do_v and_o the_o precept_n of_o this_o religion_n bear_v such_o a_o apparent_a suitableness_n to_o our_o nature_n and_o to_o the_o interest_n of_o all_o humane_a society_n there_o be_v no_o sort_n of_o reason_n for_o we_o to_o demand_v more_o proof_n than_o that_o which_o god_n be_v please_v to_o give_v at_o first_o beside_o that_o all_o age_n and_o nation_n have_v the_o same_o pretend_a claim_n to_o miracle_n for_o they_o be_v equal_o his_o creature_n and_o we_o can_v fancy_v no_o reason_n why_o he_o shall_v be_v partial_a to_o some_o more_o than_o to_o other_o now_o if_o there_o be_v such_o a_o constant_a return_n of_o miracle_n the_o whole_a
the_o work_n of_o the_o law_n and_o by_o the_o tenor_n of_o the_o whole_a discourse_n it_o be_v plain_a that_o by_o the_o work_n of_o the_o law_n 12._o be_v mean_v the_o moysaicall_a precept_n and_o not_o the_o work_v of_o moral_a virtue_n for_o st._n paul_n have_v divide_v mankind_n into_o those_o who_o be_v in_o or_o under_o the_o law_n and_o those_o who_o be_v without_o law_n that_o be_v into_o jew_n and_o gentile_n the_o design_n of_o the_o epistle_n be_v not_o to_o give_v we_o metaphysical_a abstraction_n and_o distinction_n between_o faith_n as_o it_o be_v a_o special_a grace_n and_o work_n or_o obedience_n to_o the_o law_n of_o god_n but_o by_o faith_n he_o mean_v the_o entire_a receive_n of_o the_o whole_a gospel_n in_o its_o command_n as_o well_o as_o promise_n for_o so_o he_o reckon_v abraham_n readiness_n to_o offer_v up_o his_o son_n isaac_n as_o a_o act_n of_o his_o faith_n so_o that_o faith_n stand_v for_o the_o complex_fw-la of_o all_o the_o duty_n of_o christianity_n and_o therefore_o his_o assertion_n of_o our_o be_v justify_v by_o faith_n without_o the_o work_n of_o the_o law_n signify_v no_o more_o than_o that_o those_o who_o receive_v the_o gospel_n who_o believe_v it_o 28._o and_o live_v according_a to_o it_o be_v put_v in_o the_o favour_n of_o god_n by_o it_o without_o be_v bring_v under_o the_o obligation_n of_o the_o moysaicall_a precept_n the_o same_o argument_n be_v handle_v by_o he_o upon_o the_o same_o ground_n in_o his_o epistle_n to_o the_o galatian_n 6._o only_o there_o he_o give_v a_o more_o explicit_a notion_n of_o that_o faith_n which_o justify_v that_o it_o be_v a_o faith_n that_o wrought_v by_o love_n so_o that_o in_o all_o st._n paul_n epistle_n he_o understand_v by_o faith_n the_o complete_a receive_v the_o gospel_n in_o all_o its_o part_n but_o whether_o these_o expression_n be_v any_o of_o those_o that_o st._n peter_n say_v the_o unstable_a wrest_v to_o their_o own_o perdition_n or_o not_o we_o see_v plain_o by_o st._n james_n epistle_n that_o some_o begin_v to_o set_v up_o the_o notion_n of_o a_o bare_a believe_v the_o gospel_n as_o that_o which_o justify_v as_o if_o the_o mere_a profession_n of_o christianity_n or_o the_o persuasion_n of_o its_o truth_n without_o a_o suitable_a conversation_n justify_v for_o st._n james_n speak_v not_o of_o the_o work_n of_o law_n but_o of_o work_n simple_o and_o as_o he_o have_v just_a reason_n to_o condemn_v a_o doctrine_n that_o tend_v to_o the_o total_a corruption_n of_o our_o faith_n so_o he_o plain_o show_v that_o he_o do_v not_o differ_v from_o st._n paul_n since_o he_o take_v his_o chief_a instance_n from_o abraham_n faith_n end_n which_o make_v he_o offer_v up_o his_o son_n isaac_n upon_o the_o altar_n by_o which_o he_o be_v justify_v so_o that_o faith_n wrought_v in_o his_o work_n and_o by_o work_n faith_n be_v make_v perfect_a and_o he_o conclude_v all_o that_o as_o the_o body_n without_o the_o spirit_n be_v dead_a so_o faith_n without_o work_n be_v dead_a also_o from_o whence_o it_o be_v plain_a that_o faith_n in_o st._n james_n stand_v strict_o for_o a_o believe_v the_o truth_n of_o the_o christian_a religion_n and_o not_o for_o a_o entire_a receive_v the_o gospel_n which_o be_v the_o faith_n that_o st._n paul_n have_v treat_v of_o these_o thing_n will_v appear_v so_o clear_a to_o any_o one_o who_o will_v attentive_o read_v and_o consider_v the_o scope_n of_o st._n paul_n epistle_n to_o the_o roman_n and_o galatian_n and_o the_o discourse_n in_o st._n james_n epistle_n that_o i_o be_o confident_a no_o scruple_n can_v remain_v in_o man_n that_o be_v not_o possess_v with_o prejudices_fw-la or_o overrun_v with_o a_o nice_a sort_n of_o metaphysic_n that_o some_o have_v bring_v into_o these_o matter_n by_o which_o they_o have_v instead_o of_o clear_v they_o render_v they_o very_o intricate_a and_o unintelligible_a their_o state_v the_o instrumentality_n of_o faith_n in_o justification_n their_o distinguish_v it_o from_o obedience_n in_o this_o but_o join_v it_o with_o it_o in_o sanctification_n be_v nicety_n not_o only_o without_o any_o ground_n in_o scripture_n but_o real_o very_o hurtful_a by_o the_o disquiet_n they_o may_v give_v good_a mind_n for_o if_o the_o christian_a doctrine_n be_v plain_a in_o any_o one_o thing_n it_o must_v be_v in_o this_o which_o be_v the_o foundation_n of_o our_o quiet_n and_o of_o our_o hope_n it_o will_v make_v a_o long_a article_n to_o reckon_v up_o all_o the_o different_a subtlety_n with_o which_o this_o matter_n have_v be_v perplex_v as_o whether_o justification_n be_v a_o immanent_a or_o transient_a act_n whether_o it_o be_v a_o sentence_n pronounce_v in_o heaven_n or_o in_o the_o conscience_n or_o whether_o it_o be_v only_o a_o relation_n and_o what_o constitute_v it_o what_o be_v the_o efficient_a the_o instrument_n and_o the_o condition_n of_o it_o these_o with_o much_o more_o of_o the_o like_a nature_n fill_v many_o book_n some_o year_n ago_o the_o strict_a sense_n of_o justification_n as_o it_o be_v a_o legal_a term_n and_o opposite_a to_o condemnation_n be_v the_o absolution_n of_o a_o sinner_n which_o be_v not_o to_o be_v solemn_o do_v till_o the_o final_a sentence_n be_v pronounce_v after_o death_n or_o at_o the_o day_n of_o judgement_n but_o as_o man_n come_v to_o be_v in_o the_o state_n to_o which_o those_o sentence_n do_v belong_v they_o in_o a_o free_a form_n of_o speech_n be_v say_v to_o be_v justify_v or_o condemn_v and_o as_o they_o who_o do_v not_o believe_v 18._o be_v under_o condemnation_n and_o say_v to_o be_v condemn_v already_o that_o be_v they_o be_v liable_a to_o that_o sentence_n and_o under_o those_o character_n that_o belong_v to_o it_o blindness_n obduration_n of_o heart_n and_o the_o wrath_n and_o judgement_n of_o god_n so_o such_o believer_n to_o who_o the_o promise_v of_o the_o gospel_n belong_v and_o on_o who_o the_o final_a sentence_n shall_v be_v pronounce_v justify_v they_o be_v say_v now_o to_o be_v justify_v since_o they_o be_v now_o in_o the_o state_n to_o which_o that_o belong_v they_o have_v the_o character_n of_o it_o upon_o they_o faith_n repentance_n and_o renovation_n of_o heart_n and_o life_n by_o which_o they_o come_v to_o be_v in_o the_o favour_n and_o under_o the_o protection_n of_o god_n the_o gospel_n be_v of_o the_o nature_n of_o a_o public_a amnesty_n in_o which_o a_o pardon_n be_v offer_v to_o all_o rebel_n who_o return_v to_o their_o duty_n and_o live_v peaceable_o in_o obedience_n to_o the_o law_n and_o a_o day_n be_v prefix_v to_o examine_v who_o have_v come_v in_o upon_o it_o and_o who_o have_v stand_v out_o upon_o which_o final_a act_n of_o grace_n or_o severity_n be_v to_o pass_v it_o be_v then_o plain_a that_o though_o every_o man_n be_v pardon_v in_o the_o strictness_n of_o law_n only_o by_o the_o final_a sentence_n yet_o he_o be_v real_o in_o the_o construction_n of_o law_n pardon_v upon_o his_o come_n within_o the_o term_n on_o which_o it_o be_v offer_v and_o thus_o man_n be_v justify_v who_o do_v true_o repent_v of_o and_o forsake_v their_o sin_n who_o do_v sincere_o believe_v not_o only_o the_o truth_n of_o the_o gospel_n in_o general_n but_o do_v so_o firm_o believe_v every_o part_n of_o it_o that_o act_v proportion_v to_o that_o belief_n arise_v out_o of_o it_o when_o they_o depend_v so_o much_o on_o the_o promise_n that_o they_o venture_v all_o thing_n in_o hope_n of_o they_o and_o do_v so_o receive_v the_o rule_n and_o law_n give_v in_o it_o that_o they_o set_v themselves_o on_o obey_v they_o in_o the_o course_n of_o their_o whole_a life_n and_o in_o a_o most_o particular_a manner_n when_o they_o lie_v claim_v to_o the_o death_n of_o christ_n as_o their_o sacrifice_n and_o the_o mean_n of_o their_o reconciliation_n with_o such_o a_o repentance_n as_o change_v their_o inward_a nature_n and_o principle_n and_o such_o a_o faith_n as_o purify_v their_o heart_n and_o make_v they_o become_v new_a creature_n these_o be_v the_o condition_n of_o this_o covenant_n and_o they_o be_v such_o condition_n that_o upon_o low_a than_o these_o it_o become_v not_o the_o infinite_a purity_n and_o holiness_n of_o god_n to_o offer_v we_o pardon_v or_o to_o receive_v we_o into_o his_o favour_n for_o without_o these_o the_o mercy_n and_o favour_n of_o the_o gospel_n have_v be_v but_o the_o open_n a_o sanctuary_n to_o criminal_n and_o the_o give_a encouragement_n to_o sin_n if_o a_o few_o howl_n to_o god_n for_o mercy_n and_o the_o earnest_n implore_v it_o for_o the_o sake_n of_o christ_n and_o on_o the_o account_n of_o his_o death_n will_v serve_v turn_n this_o every_o man_n under_o the_o least_o agony_n of_o thought_n will_v be_v apt_a to_o do_v especial_o when_o death_n seem_v to_o be_v near_o he_o and_o yet_o be_v still_o in_o all_o