the_o dean_n of_o st._n pavl_n sermon_n before_o the_o lord_n mayor_n and_o alderman_n on_o april_n 25._o 1697._o clerk_n mayor_n martis_n quarto_fw-la die_fw-la maij_fw-la 1697._o annoque_fw-la r._n rs._n wilhelmi_n tertii_fw-la angliae_fw-la etc._n etc._n nono_fw-la this_o court_n do_v desire_n mr._n dean_n of_o st._n paul_n to_o print_v his_o sermon_n preach_v before_o the_o lord_n mayor_n and_o alderman_n of_o this_o city_n on_o sunday_n the_o 25_o day_n of_o april_n last_o goodfellow_n the_o danger_n of_o corrupt_v the_o faith_n by_o philosophy_n a_o sermon_n preach_v before_o the_o right_a hon_fw-fr ble_a the_o lord-mayor_n and_o court_n of_o alderman_n at_o guildhall-chappel_n on_o sunday_n april_n 25._o 1697._o by_o william_n sherlock_n d._n d._n dean_n of_o st._n paul_n master_n of_o the_o temple_n and_o chaplain_n in_o ordinary_a to_o his_o majesty_n london_n print_v for_o w._n rogers_n at_o the_o sun_n against_o st._n dunstan_n church_n in_o fleetstreet_n mdcxcvii_o colos._n ii_o 8._o beware_v lest_o any_o man_n spoil_v you_o through_o philosophy_n and_o vain_a deceit_n after_o the_o tradition_n of_o man_n after_o the_o rudiment_n of_o the_o world_n and_o not_o after_o christ._n have_v st._n paul_n live_v in_o our_o age_n it_o will_v have_v require_v little_o less_o than_o the_o courage_n and_o bravery_n of_o the_o spirit_n of_o martyrdom_n to_o have_v say_v this_o and_o nothing_o but_o the_o authority_n of_o so_o great_a a_o apostle_n which_o though_o some_o man_n do_v not_o much_o value_n yet_o they_o dare_v not_o open_o despise_v can_v screen_n those_o who_o venture_v to_o say_v it_o after_o he_o what_o some_o man_n call_v philosophy_n and_o reason_n and_o there_o be_v nothing_o so_o foolish_a and_o absurd_a which_o some_o man_n will_v not_o call_v so_o be_v the_o only_a thing_n which_o those_o man_n adore_v who_o will_v either_o have_v no_o god_n or_o a_o god_n and_o a_o religion_n of_o their_o own_o make_n and_o what_o attempt_v some_o have_v make_v to_o undermine_v all_o religion_n and_o other_o to_o corrupt_v and_o transform_v the_o whole_a frame_n of_o the_o christian_a religion_n upon_o a_o pretence_n of_o its_o contradict_a natural_a reason_n and_o philosophy_n be_v too_o well_o know_v to_o need_v a_o proof_n that_o thus_o it_o be_v in_o his_o day_n and_o that_o thus_o it_o be_v likely_a to_o be_v in_o future_a age_n st._n paul_n be_v very_o sensible_a when_o he_o give_v this_o caution_n to_o his_o colossian_n and_o i_o be_o sure_a it_o be_v as_o proper_a a_o caution_n for_o we_o as_o ever_o it_o be_v for_o any_o age_n since_o the_o write_n of_o this_o epistle_n for_o this_o vain_a pretence_n to_o reason_n and_o philosophy_n never_o more_o prevail_v and_o never_o do_v more_o mischief_n to_o the_o world_n it_o be_v a_o endless_a and_o fruitless_a task_n to_o go_v about_o to_o confute_v all_o the_o absurd_a hypothesis_n and_o wild_a inconsistent_a reason_n wherewith_o man_n abuse_v themselves_o and_o other_o the_o experience_n of_o so_o many_o age_n wherein_o philosophy_n be_v in_o all_o its_o glory_n and_o the_o several_a sect_n dispute_v and_o wrangle_v eternal_o without_o end_v any_o one_o controversy_n give_v no_o great_a encouragement_n to_o hope_v for_o much_o this_o way_n at_o least_o it_o can_v never_o be_v expect_v that_o ordinary_a christian_n shall_v be_v better_o instruct_v and_o confirm_v in_o the_o faith_n by_o philosophical_a dispute_n the_o christian_a religion_n have_v from_o the_o very_a beginning_n be_v corrupt_v by_o a_o mixture_n of_o philosophy_n thus_o it_o be_v in_o the_o apostle_n day_n and_o thus_o it_o have_v be_v more_o or_o less_o in_o all_o age_n of_o the_o church_n to_o this_o day_n and_o the_o direction_n the_o apostle_n give_v for_o the_o security_n of_o the_o christian_a faith_n be_v not_o to_o dispute_v such_o matter_n but_o to_o distinguish_v between_o philosophical_a dispute_n and_o matter_n of_o revelation_n and_o to_o reject_v all_o the_o pretence_n of_o philosophy_n when_o it_o do_v or_o seem_v to_o contradict_v the_o faith_n of_o christ_n or_o will_v make_v any_o corrupt_a addition_n to_o it_o beware_v lest_o any_o man_n spoil_v you_o through_o philosophy_n and_o vain_a deceit_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d be_v to_o make_v a_o prey_n or_o to_o carry_v away_o as_o a_o prey_n that_o be_v to_o seduce_v they_o from_o the_o christian_a faith_n or_o from_o the_o purity_n and_o simplicity_n of_o it_o through_o philosophy_n and_o vain_a deceit_n that_o be_v through_o the_o vain_a deceit_n of_o philosophy_n which_o cheat_v man_n with_o a_o flatter_a but_o empty_a appearance_n may_v unsettle_v weak_a mind_n but_o can_v lay_v a_o sure_a and_o solid_a foundation_n of_o faith_n may_v cheat_v man_n out_o of_o their_o faith_n but_o when_o that_o be_v do_v can_v give_v they_o nothing_o certain_a in_o the_o room_n of_o it_o for_o it_o be_v but_o after_o the_o tradition_n of_o man_n and_o after_o the_o rudiment_n of_o this_o world_n some_o of_o these_o doctrine_n may_v possible_o plead_v prescription_n as_o have_v be_v so_o long_o receive_v that_o no_o man_n know_v their_o original_a or_o if_o they_o have_v the_o authority_n of_o some_o great_a name_n yet_o it_o be_v but_o a_o human_a authority_n and_o they_o be_v but_o the_o tradition_n of_o man_n and_o of_o man_n who_o at_o best_o have_v no_o better_a information_n than_o from_o the_o visible_a appearance_n of_o nature_n and_o their_o own_o imperfect_a observation_n and_o corrupt_v or_o defective_a reason_n after_o the_o rudiment_n of_o this_o world_n and_o be_v this_o a_o authority_n to_o oppose_v against_o the_o faith_n of_o christ_n which_o both_o want_v that_o divine_a confirmation_n which_o he_o give_v to_o his_o doctrine_n and_o contradict_v they_o for_o they_o be_v not_o after_o christ_n neither_o teach_v by_o christ_n nor_o consonant_n to_o what_o he_o teach_v these_o word_n may_v afford_v great_a variety_n of_o discourse_n but_o i_o shall_v confine_v myself_o to_o what_o be_v most_o useful_a and_o reduce_v that_o into_o as_o narrow_a a_o compass_n as_o i_o can_v by_o show_v i._n what_o great_a need_n there_o be_v of_o this_o caution_n to_o beware_v lest_o any_o man_n spoil_v we_o through_o philosophy_n and_o vain_a deceit_n ii_o what_o great_a reason_n we_o have_v to_o reject_v all_o these_o vain_a pretence_n to_o philosophy_n when_o they_o be_v oppose_v to_o the_o authority_n of_o a_o divine_a revelation_n i._o as_o for_o the_o first_o of_o these_o whoever_o consider_v what_o a_o enemy_n these_o vain_a pretence_n to_o philosophy_n have_v always_o be_v to_o religion_n will_v see_v need_n enough_o for_o this_o caution_n true_a reason_n and_o the_o true_a knowledge_n of_o nature_n which_o be_v true_a philosophy_n will_v certain_o direct_v we_o to_o the_o acknowledgement_n and_o worship_n of_o that_o supreme_a be_v who_o make_v the_o world_n and_o yet_o we_o know_v that_o there_o never_o be_v a_o atheist_n without_o some_o pretence_n to_o philosophy_n and_o general_o such_o loud_a noisy_a pretence_n too_o as_o make_v ignorant_a people_n think_v they_o very_o notable_a philosopher_n and_o that_o tempt_v some_o vain_a empty_a person_n to_o affect_v atheism_n that_o they_o may_v be_v think_v philosopher_n that_o this_o be_v vain_a deceit_n all_o man_n must_v own_v who_o believe_v there_o be_v a_o god_n and_o if_o it_o be_v possible_a to_o pretend_v philosophy_n for_o atheism_n itself_o it_o be_v no_o great_a wonder_n if_o it_o be_v make_v to_o patronize_v infidelity_n and_o heresy_n but_o this_o plain_o show_v of_o what_o dangerous_a consequence_n it_o be_v to_o admit_v philosophical_a dispute_n into_o religion_n which_o if_o at_o any_o time_n they_o may_v do_v any_o service_n to_o religion_n much_o often_o great_o corrupt_v it_o and_o shake_v the_o very_a foundation_n of_o it_o of_o which_o more_o anon_o at_o present_a i_o shall_v only_o show_v you_o how_o the_o matter_n of_o fact_n stand_v that_o most_o of_o the_o dispute_n in_o religion_n be_v nothing_o else_o but_o the_o dispute_n of_o philosophy_n and_o therefore_o according_a to_o the_o apostolical_a command_n to_o be_v whole_o fling_v out_o of_o religion_n and_o not_o suffer_v to_o affect_v our_o faith_n one_o way_n or_o other_o to_o be_v a_o philosopher_n and_o a_o christian_a to_o dispute_v and_o to_o believe_v be_v two_o very_a different_a thing_n and_o yet_o it_o be_v very_o evident_a that_o most_o of_o the_o argument_n against_o revelation_n in_o general_n and_o most_o of_o the_o dispute_n about_o the_o particular_a doctrine_n of_o christianity_n be_v no_o better_o than_o this_o vain_a deceit_n of_o philosophy_n that_o be_v the_o matter_n of_o faith_n and_o the_o dispute_n of_o philosophy_n true_o distinguish_v this_o alone_a will_v be_v sufficient_a to_o settle_v the_o faith_n of_o christian_n and_o restore_v peace_n and_o unity_n at_o least_o in_o the_o great_a fundamental_o of_o religion_n to_o the_o
christian_a world_n 1._o as_o to_o begin_v with_o revelation_n in_o general_n the_o book_n of_o moses_n be_v the_o most_o ancient_a and_o that_o consider_v the_o best_a attest_v history_n in_o the_o world_n the_o whole_a nation_n of_o the_o jew_n who_o history_n he_o write_v pay_v the_o great_a veneration_n to_o he_o and_o if_o we_o believe_v the_o matter_n of_o fact_n which_o he_o relate_v he_o be_v certain_o a_o inspire_a man_n who_o can_v neither_o deceive_v nor_o be_v deceive_v and_o it_o be_v impossible_a to_o have_v great_a evidence_n for_o the_o truth_n and_o authenticalness_n of_o any_o write_n at_o such_o a_o distance_n of_o time_n than_o we_o have_v for_o the_o write_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n and_o indeed_o the_o infidel_n of_o our_o age_n have_v very_o little_a to_o say_v pure_o against_o the_o credibility_n of_o the_o history_n and_o than_o one_o will_v think_v that_o all_o their_o other_o objection_n shall_v come_v too_o late_o unless_o they_o will_v justify_v pharaoh_n in_o disbelieve_v moses_n and_o the_o scribe_n and_o pharisee_n in_o disbelieve_v our_o saviour_n after_o all_o the_o miracle_n they_o do_v for_o if_o they_o will_v disbelieve_v moses_n and_o christ_n though_o they_o have_v nothing_o material_a to_o object_v against_o the_o truth_n of_o these_o history_n nothing_o which_o they_o will_v allow_v to_o be_v good_a objection_n against_o any_o other_o history_n they_o must_v by_o the_o same_o reason_n have_v disbelieved_a they_o though_o they_o have_v see_v they_o do_v all_o those_o great_a work_n which_o be_v report_v of_o they_o in_o such_o credible_a history_n but_o whatever_o the_o authority_n of_o these_o book_n be_v they_o think_v they_o may_v secure_o reject_v they_o if_o they_o contain_v any_o thing_n which_o contradict_v their_o reason_n and_o philosophy_n and_o they_o find_v a_o great_a many_o such_o thing_n to_o quarrel_n with_o they_o think_v moses_n history_n of_o the_o creation_n very_o unphilosophical_a that_o the_o story_n of_o eve_n and_o the_o serpent_n be_v a_o incredible_a fiction_n that_o the_o universal_a deluge_n be_v absolute_o impossible_a and_o irreconcilable_a with_o the_o principle_n of_o philosophy_n and_o it_o do_v not_o become_v philosopher_n to_o have_v recourse_n to_o miracle_n that_o what_o we_o call_v miracle_n be_v not_o the_o effect_n of_o a_o divine_a power_n but_o may_v be_v resolve_v into_o natural_a cause_n that_o inspiration_n and_o prophecy_n be_v nothing_o but_o natural_a enthusiasm_n and_o all_o the_o pretence_n to_o revelation_n a_o cheat_n and_o imposture_n that_o nature_n teach_v we_o all_o that_o we_o need_v to_o know_v that_o there_o be_v no_o other_o certain_a knowledge_n but_o this_o that_o we_o be_v not_o bind_v to_o believe_v any_o thing_n which_o our_o own_o reason_n can_v grasp_v and_o comprehend_v and_o therefore_o revelation_n be_v perfect_o useless_a and_o god_n himself_o can_v oblige_v we_o to_o believe_v any_o thing_n which_o do_v not_o agree_v with_o the_o reason_n of_o our_o own_o mind_n and_o the_o philosophy_n of_o nature_n those_o who_o understand_v the_o mystery_n of_o modern_a infidelity_n know_v that_o these_o and_o such_o like_a be_v the_o wise_a reason_n for_o which_o they_o reject_v and_o ridicule_n all_o reveal_v religion_n and_o endeavour_v to_o rob_v and_o spoil_v man_n of_o one_o of_o the_o great_a blessing_n in_o the_o world_n a_o divine_a revelation_n so_o that_o infidelity_n be_v resolve_v into_o these_o vain_a pretence_n to_o philosophy_n that_o man_n will_v understand_v how_o to_o make_v destroy_v and_o govern_v the_o world_n better_o than_o god_n 2._o as_o these_o man_n oppose_v reason_n and_o philosophy_n to_o revelation_n so_o other_o either_o deny_v the_o fundamental_a article_n of_o christianity_n for_o the_o sake_n of_o some_o philosophical_a difficulty_n or_o corrupt_v the_o doctrine_n of_o christianity_n by_o a_o mixture_n of_o philosophy_n the_o gospel_n of_o our_o saviour_n be_v the_o plain_a revelation_n of_o the_o will_n of_o god_n that_o ever_o be_v make_v to_o the_o world_n all_o its_o doctrine_n be_v easy_o understand_v without_o art_n and_o subtilty_n and_o yet_o there_o be_v not_o a_o more_o nice_a intricate_a perplex_a thing_n in_o the_o world_n than_o what_o some_o man_n have_v make_v the_o christian_a faith_n all_o the_o subtle_a dispute_n of_o philosophy_n be_v bring_v into_o the_o church_n and_o plato_n and_o aristotle_n be_v become_v as_o great_a apostle_n as_o st._n peter_n or_o st._n paul_n as_o to_o give_v some_o few_o instance_n of_o it_o for_o time_n will_v not_o permit_v i_o to_o discourse_v it_o at_o large_a what_o be_v the_o arian_n socinian_n pelagian_a controversy_n but_o mere_a philosophical_a dispute_n with_o which_o these_o heretic_n corrupt_v the_o catholic_n faith_n there_o be_v nothing_o more_o plain_a and_o express_v in_o scripture_n than_o the_o faith_n of_o father_n son_n and_o holy_a ghost_n or_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o trinity_n in_o unity_n and_o that_o great_a art_n and_o subtlety_n which_o have_v be_v use_v and_o to_o so_o little_a purpose_n to_o pervert_v those_o text_n of_o scripture_n wherein_o this_o doctrine_n be_v contain_v be_v a_o evident_a proof_n that_o this_o be_v the_o plain_a natural_a obvious_a sense_n of_o those_o text_n since_o it_o require_v so_o much_o art_n and_o criticism_n to_o put_v any_o other_o sense_n on_o they_o and_o that_o will_v not_o do_v neither_o till_o man_n be_v resolve_v rather_o to_o make_v any_o thing_n of_o scripture_n than_o to_o find_v a_o real_a trinity_n there_o if_o then_o this_o faith_n be_v so_o plain_o contain_v in_o scripture_n what_o make_v all_o this_o dispute_n about_o it_o what_o make_v those_o who_o profess_v to_o believe_v the_o scripture_n so_o obstinate_a against_o this_o faith_n true_o that_o which_o make_v some_o man_n infidel_n make_v other_o heretic_n that_o be_v a_o vain_a pretence_n to_o philosophy_n the_o first_o philosophical_a dispute_n be_v about_o the_o divine_a unity_n we_o all_o own_o with_o the_o scripture_n that_o there_o be_v but_o one_o god_n but_o we_o say_v further_o as_o the_o scripture_n teach_v we_o that_o there_o be_v three_o father_n son_n and_o holy_a ghost_n each_o of_o which_o be_v true_a and_o perfect_a god_n this_o they_o say_v be_v a_o contradiction_n and_o if_o it_o be_v so_o there_o be_v a_o end_n of_o this_o faith_n for_o both_o part_n of_o a_o contradiction_n can_v be_v true_a but_o to_o be_v three_o and_o one_o upon_o different_a account_n and_o in_o different_a sense_n be_v no_o contradiction_n for_o thus_o three_o may_v be_v one_o and_o one_o three_o and_o this_o be_v all_o the_o scripture_n teach_v or_o that_o we_o profess_v to_o believe_v whatever_o the_o mystery_n of_o this_o distinction_n and_o unity_n be_v but_o this_o will_v not_o satisfy_v these_o philosophical_a wit_n unless_o they_o can_v comprehend_v how_o father_n son_n and_o holy_a ghost_n be_v real_o and_o distinct_o three_o and_o essential_o one_o the_o manner_n of_o which_o the_o scripture_n give_v no_o account_n of_o and_o therefore_o this_o be_v no_o dispute_n in_o faith_n but_o only_o in_o philosophy_n another_o objection_n concern_v the_o divine_a generation_n how_o god_n can_v beget_v a_o son_n of_o his_o own_o substance_n which_o the_o arian_n think_v infer_v a_o division_n of_o the_o divine_a substance_n and_o a_o three_o objection_n concern_v a_o eternal_a generation_n how_o it_o be_v possible_a that_o the_o father_n shall_v beget_v a_o eternal_a son_n that_o the_o son_n shall_v be_v beget_v without_o any_o begin_n of_o be_v and_o that_o the_o father_n shall_v not_o be_v at_o least_o some_o few_o moment_n before_o the_o son_n and_o consequent_o the_o son_n not_o eternal_a now_o we_o all_o grant_v that_o we_o can_v give_v no_o philosophical_a account_n of_o this_o no_o more_o than_o we_o can_v of_o the_o simple_a divine_a essence_n or_o of_o eternity_n itself_o but_o we_o may_v believe_v that_o god_n 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which_o indeed_o destroy_v the_o article_n of_o the_o incarnation_n for_o the_o word_n be_v not_o make_v flesh_n unless_o the_o same_o person_n who_o be_v god_n be_v man_n too_o and_o continue_v perfect_a god_n and_o perfect_a man_n after_o this_o union_n but_o all_o these_o dispute_v concern_v the_o philosophy_n of_o the_o union_n of_o the_o divine_a and_o human_a nature_n in_o christ_n and_o if_o we_o will_v separate_v between_o faith_n and_o philosophy_n such_o dispute_n may_v soon_o be_v end_v thus_o most_o of_o the_o difficulty_n in_o the_o pelagian_a and_o quinquarticular_a controversy_n be_v ultimate_o resolve_v into_o mere_a philosophical_a dispute_n about_o fate_n and_o prescience_n liberty_n and_o necessity_n and_o god_n concourse_n with_o creature_n or_o the_o power_n of_o nature_n and_o grace_n and_o will_v time_n permit_v it_o be_v easy_a to_o show_v this_o in_o most_o of_o the_o controversy_n of_o religion_n that_o it_o be_v not_o what_o god_n have_v reveal_v and_o what_o 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