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a_o hard_a thing_n to_o prove_v a_o negative_a it_o be_v not_o so_o here_o because_o the_o proof_n lie_v all_o on_o the_o positive_a side_n for_o those_o who_o will_v teach_v such_o doctrine_n and_o practice_n ought_v to_o prove_v they_o for_o without_o such_o a_o proof_n they_o be_v to_o be_v reject_v on_o course_n and_o therefore_o if_o we_o can_v confute_v their_o proof_n we_o need_v do_v no_o more_o and_o this_o be_v a_o very_a easy_a task_n especial_o with_o reference_n to_o the_o first_o three_o century_n for_o since_o they_o themselves_o be_v now_o ashamed_a of_o the_o counterfeit_a dionysius_n their_o decretal_a epistle_n and_o such_o like_a spurious_a write_n the_o wise_a of_o they_o pretend_v to_o very_o few_o testimony_n from_o the_o first_o writer_n and_o those_o which_o they_o do_v allege_v be_v such_o lame_a one_o as_o need_v very_o little_a confutation_n these_o be_v the_o protestant_a ground_n of_o faith_n as_o it_o be_v
profess_v in_o the_o church_n of_o england_n and_o there_o be_v but_o one_o material_a objection_n against_o the_o certainty_n of_o this_o way_n that_o our_o dissenter_n pretend_v to_o scripture_n as_o well_o as_o we_o and_o so_o most_o heretic_n have_v always_o do_v and_o as_o for_o antiquity_n the_o church_n of_o rome_n make_v a_o great_a noise_n with_o it_o than_o we_o do_v and_o how_o then_o can_v a_o plain_a and_o unlearned_a man_n choose_v safe_o in_o such_o variety_n of_o judgement_n and_o opinion_n now_o the_o force_n of_o this_o argument_n consist_v in_o this_o that_o because_o some_o man_n mistake_v no_o man_n can_v be_v in_o the_o right_a or_o because_o some_o man_n may_v confident_o believe_v they_o be_v in_o the_o right_n when_o they_o be_v in_o the_o wrong_n therefore_o no_o man_n can_v be_v sure_a that_o he_o be_v in_o the_o right_a which_o pretence_n will_v be_v laugh_v at_o in_o all_o other_o case_n except_v religion_n and_o here_o i_o be_o sure_a it_o deserve_v to_o be_v so_o there_o be_v a_o vast_a difference_n between_o confidence_n of_o persuasion_n and_o certainty_n of_o knowledge_n the_o prejudices_fw-la of_o education_n the_o authority_n of_o guide_n the_o bias_n of_o interest_n and_o such_o like_a fallacious_a principle_n may_v make_v man_n very_o confident_a when_o they_o know_v little_a or_o nothing_o about_o the_o matter_n or_o man_n may_v reason_v false_o and_o think_v themselves_o very_o confident_a as_o a_o man_n in_o a_o dream_n do_v but_o can_v no_o man_n be_v certain_a he_o be_v awake_a because_o some_o man_n very_o confident_o think_v themselves_o awake_a when_o they_o be_v in_o a_o dream_n the_o great_a part_n of_o the_o world_n pronounce_v a_o hasty_a judgement_n before_o they_o be_v well_o awake_a before_o they_o have_v consider_v the_o matter_n thorough_o and_o weigh_v every_o circumstance_n of_o it_o and_o a_o man_n who_o have_v but_o half_o consider_v a_o thing_n may_v with_o very_o good_a reason_n think_v himself_o certain_a so_o far_o and_o yet_o may_v be_v gross_o mistake_v because_o there_o be_v another_o half_n which_o he_o have_v not_o consider_v every_o man_n be_v sensible_a of_o this_o when_o he_o correct_v a_o mistake_n for_o he_o discover_v something_o which_o he_o have_v not_o think_v on_o before_o which_o make_v he_o alter_v his_o judgement_n about_o it_o and_o therefore_o though_o some_o man_n be_v confident_a and_o yet_o mistake_v it_o do_v not_o hence_o follow_v that_o no_o man_n can_v be_v certain_a when_o he_o reason_n right_a for_o truth_n lie_v so_o easy_a in_o a_o man_n mind_n who_o have_v thorough_o consider_v thing_n and_o have_v such_o a_o native_a brightness_n and_o lustre_n in_o it_o that_o he_o can_v no_o more_o doubt_n of_o it_o than_o whether_o the_o sun_n be_v up_o when_o he_o see_v its_o light_n but_o let_v we_o consider_v this_o objection_n particular_o with_o reference_n both_o to_o scripture_n and_o antiquity_n 1._o it_o be_v object_v that_o heretic_n pretend_v the_o authority_n of_o scripture_n as_o well_o as_o the_o orthodox_n and_o our_o dissenter_n as_o well_o as_o the_o church_n of_o england_n but_o what_o then_o be_v the_o scripture_n of_o no_o use_n because_o some_o man_n use_v it_o ill_a be_v it_o not_o possible_a to_o find_v out_o the_o true_a sense_n of_o scripture_n because_o some_o man_n put_v a_o false_a sense_n on_o it_o can_v these_o heretic_n be_v confute_v out_o of_o the_o scripture_n or_o not_o if_o not_o why_o do_v we_o charge_v they_o with_o heresy_n if_o they_o may_v how_o be_v such_o heresy_n be_v father_v on_o the_o scripture_n a_o argument_n against_o study_v the_o scripture_n and_o rely_v on_o their_o authority_n for_o we_o can_v confute_v heresy_n by_o the_o scripture_n unless_o we_o can_v understand_v the_o scripture_n and_o if_o we_o may_v find_v out_o the_o true_a sense_n of_o scripture_n notwithstanding_o that_o heretic_n put_v a_o wrong_a sense_n on_o it_o than_o we_o may_v be_v as_o certain_a that_o we_o understand_v the_o scripture_n aright_o as_o we_o be_v that_o other_o do_v misunderstand_v they_o but_o beside_o this_o though_o heretic_n pretend_v to_o expound_v scripture_n yet_o they_o contradict_v the_o faith_n of_o the_o primitive_a church_n and_o therefore_o their_o case_n differ_v vast_o from_o the_o case_n of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n who_o faith_n be_v found_v both_o on_o scripture_n and_o apostolic_a tradition_n as_o i_o observe_v before_o and_o as_o for_o our_o dissenter_n our_o dispute_n with_o they_o be_v not_o about_o article_n of_o faith_n but_o the_o external_a mode_n and_o circumstance_n of_o worship_n or_o the_o government_n and_o discipline_n of_o the_o church_n and_o the_o question_n between_o we_o be_v whether_o we_o must_v use_v no_o external_a circumstance_n of_o worship_n but_o what_o be_v prescribe_v in_o scripture_n or_o whether_o the_o constant_a practice_n of_o the_o church_n from_o the_o day_n of_o the_o apostle_n be_v not_o the_o best_a comment_n on_o scripture_n as_o to_o the_o external_a government_n of_o it_o and_o this_o i_o think_v be_v so_o baffle_v a_o cause_n that_o the_o romanist_n be_v hard_o put_v to_o it_o when_o they_o use_v that_o argument_n second_o as_o for_o antiquity_n the_o church_n of_o rome_n make_v great_a boast_n of_o it_o but_o they_o be_v very_o vain_a one_o and_o who_o can_v help_v man_n pretend_v to_o antiquity_n when_o it_o be_v apparent_o against_o they_o no_o man_n indeed_o can_v be_v a_o competent_a judge_n of_o this_o but_o those_o who_o be_v skill_v in_o antiquity_n and_o have_v examine_v their_o pretence_n but_o there_o be_v some_o consideration_n which_o lie_v obvious_a to_o every_o man_n and_o may_v serve_v to_o direct_v the_o unlearned_a what_o judgement_n to_o make_v in_o this_o matter_n 1._o for_o have_v true_a antiquity_n be_v on_o their_o side_n what_o need_n have_v they_o of_o spurious_a and_o counterfeit_a author_n to_o make_v some_o appearance_n of_o antiquity_n with_o this_o have_v be_v the_o great_a artifice_n of_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n though_o they_o begin_v now_o to_o be_v ashamed_a of_o it_o since_o the_o learned_a reformer_n have_v discover_v the_o cheat._n who_o please_v may_v see_v some_o account_n of_o this_o in_o a_o english_a book_n entitle_v roman_a forgery_n and_o this_o be_v reason_n enough_o to_o suspect_v their_o pretence_n to_o antiquity_n for_o no_o man_n take_v sanctuary_n in_o falsehood_n who_o have_v truth_n on_o his_o side_n 2._o another_o evidence_n of_o this_o be_v their_o corrupt_a ancient_n author_n and_o because_o they_o can_v find_v nothing_o in_o they_o to_o their_o purpose_n to_o insert_v something_o which_o be_v but_o the_o plain_a and_o honest_a confession_n of_o this_o matter_n be_v their_o index_n expurgatorius_fw-la which_o correct_v the_o father_n and_o order_n the_o leave_v out_o of_o such_o passage_n as_o make_v against_o they_o now_o when_o they_o be_v force_v to_o leave_v out_o and_o put_v into_o the_o father_n it_o be_v very_o suspicious_a that_o they_o be_v convince_v the_o father_n be_v not_o on_o their_o side_n 3._o where_o they_o make_v the_o loud_a cry_n of_o antiquity_n the_o scripture_n be_v either_o against_o they_o or_o say_v nothing_o for_o they_o and_o though_o we_o allow_v the_o ancient_a practice_n of_o the_o church_n in_o matter_n of_o discipline_n and_o government_n to_o be_v a_o good_a pattern_n for_o we_o to_o follow_v in_o such_o particular_n as_o be_v not_o express_v in_o scripture_n if_o they_o comply_v with_o the_o general_a rule_n and_o direction_n of_o scripture_n yet_o we_o do_v not_o think_v antiquity_n itself_o to_o be_v a_o sufficient_a justification_n of_o any_o doctrine_n of_o faith_n or_o new_a act_n of_o worship_n which_o either_o the_o scripture_n condemn_v or_o do_v not_o teach_v and_o this_o be_v a_o manifest_a difference_n between_o the_o pretence_n of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n and_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n to_o antiquity_n the_o church_n of_o england_n justify_v her_o doctrine_n and_o practice_n both_o from_o scripture_n and_o antiquity_n which_o be_v as_o sure_a a_o foundation_n as_o we_o can_v possible_o have_v the_o church_n of_o rome_n allege_v antiquity_n such_o as_o it_o be_v to_o prove_v such_o doctrine_n and_o practice_n as_o the_o scripture_n either_o condemn_v or_o know_v nothing_o of_o now_o we_o think_v the_o scripture_n have_v the_o great_a antiquity_n and_o be_v a_o perfect_a rule_n of_o faith_n and_o manner_n and_o that_o no_o other_o antiquity_n can_v control_v the_o authority_n of_o the_o scripture_n as_o for_o instance_n suppose_v the_o church_n of_o rome_n can_v prove_v the_o worship_n of_o image_n pray_v to_o saint_n and_o angel_n prayer_n in_o a_o unknown_a tongue_n and_o cummunion_n in_o one_o kind_n etc._n etc._n to_o have_v be_v ancient_o practise_v in_o the_o church_n though_o this_o they_o be_v never_o able_a to_o prove_v yet_o what_o be_v
other_o give_v of_o a_o true_a church_n there_o be_v one_o mark_v without_o which_o it_o be_v impossible_a we_o shall_v be_v certain_a which_o be_v the_o true_a church_n and_o that_o be_v that_o she_o profess_v the_o true_a faith_n and_o worship_n of_o christ._n for_o this_o be_v essential_a to_o the_o church_n and_o there_o can_v be_v no_o church_n without_o it_o all_o other_o mark_n may_v deceive_v we_o for_o whatever_o other_o mark_n there_o be_v if_o there_o be_v not_o the_o true_a faith_n and_o worship_n of_o christ_n there_o can_v be_v the_o true_a church_n and_o therefore_o when_o the_o state_n of_o the_o church_n as_o it_o be_v at_o this_o day_n be_v break_v and_o divide_v into_o different_a and_o opposite_a communion_n whoever_o will_v find_v out_o the_o true_a church_n must_v examine_v her_o doctrine_n and_o worship_n bellarmine_n himself_o make_v the_o holiness_n of_o doctrine_n one_o essential_a mark_n of_o the_o true_a church_n and_o yet_o truth_n be_v antecedent_n to_o holiness_n and_o equal_o essential_a now_o this_o be_v such_o a_o mark_n of_o a_o infallible_a church_n as_o make_v her_o infallibility_n useless_a when_o we_o have_v find_v she_o for_o we_o must_v understand_v the_o true_a religion_n before_o we_o can_v know_v the_o true_a church_n and_o can_v be_v no_o more_o certain_a which_o be_v the_o true_a church_n than_o we_o be_v which_o be_v the_o true_a religion_n and_o therefore_o can_v resolve_v our_o faith_n into_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o church_n because_o we_o can_v know_v the_o true_a church_n only_o by_o the_o true_a faith_n and_o therefore_o must_v have_v some_o other_o mean_n of_o find_v out_o the_o true_a faith_n antecedent_n to_o the_o church_n authority_n for_o that_o which_o be_v a_o mark_n to_o know_v something_o else_o by_o must_v be_v first_o know_v itself_o so_o that_o whereas_o the_o church_n authority_n be_v think_v so_o compendious_a a_o way_n to_o make_v man_n infallible_o certain_a of_o their_o religion_n and_o to_o deliver_v they_o from_o those_o uncertain_a dispute_n that_o be_v in_o the_o world_n we_o can_v be_v certain_a which_o the_o true_a church_n be_v on_o who_o authority_n we_o must_v rely_v till_o we_o have_v examine_v that_o diversity_n of_o opinion_n which_o divide_v the_o christian_a church_n and_o have_v satisfy_v ourselves_o on_o which_o side_n the_o truth_n lie_v and_o when_o we_o have_v do_v this_o it_o be_v too_o late_o to_o appeal_v to_o a_o judge_n unless_o we_o will_v undo_v all_o we_o have_v do_v before_o and_o then_o we_o shall_v be_v to_o seek_v again_o which_o be_v the_o true_a church_n and_o what_o advantage_n then_o have_v the_o papist_n above_o the_o protestant_n in_o the_o point_n of_o certainty_n when_o they_o can_v know_v which_o be_v that_o church_n which_o they_o may_v safe_o trust_v without_o examine_v the_o truth_n of_o her_o religion_n and_o judge_v for_o themselves_o just_a as_o we_o do_v we_o be_v concern_v indeed_o to_o know_v which_o be_v the_o true_a catholic_n church_n not_o that_o we_o must_v receive_v our_o faith_n upon_o her_o authority_n for_o in_o order_n of_o nature_n we_o must_v know_v the_o true_a faith_n before_o we_o can_v know_v the_o true_a church_n but_o because_o we_o be_v bind_v to_o live_v in_o communion_n with_o the_o true_a catholic_n church_n of_o christ._n five_o and_o yet_o if_o they_o can_v find_v the_o church_n without_o all_o this_o trouble_n and_o protestant_a uncertainty_n wherever_o they_o place_v their_o infallibility_n whether_o in_o the_o pope_n or_o council_n according_a to_o their_o own_o principle_n they_o can_v have_v so_o much_o as_o a_o moral_a certainty_n of_o it_o as_o for_o the_o pope_n though_o for_o argument_n sake_n we_o shall_v grant_v a_o true_a pope_n to_o be_v infallible_a yet_o it_o be_v impossible_a that_o any_o man_n can_v be_v certain_a that_o there_o be_v a_o true_a pope_n for_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n teach_v that_o the_o intention_n of_o the_o priest_n be_v necessary_a to_o the_o sacrament_n that_o though_o he_o perform_v all_o the_o external_a part_n of_o it_o yet_o if_o he_o do_v not_o intend_v to_o apply_v the_o sacrament_n to_o such_o person_n it_o be_v not_o apply_v now_o according_a to_o these_o principle_n who_o can_v tell_v whether_o this_o present_a pope_n be_v ever_o baptise_a or_o ordain_v priest_n or_o bishop_n for_o if_o the_o priest_n or_o bishop_n that_o do_v this_o do_v not_o intend_v to_o do_v it_o he_o be_v so_o far_o from_o be_v a_o true_a pope_n that_o he_o be_v no_o christian._n nay_o if_o the_o priest_n and_o bishop_n which_o baptise_a and_o ordain_v he_o do_v intend_v to_o apply_v the_o sacrament_n to_o he_o yet_o if_o those_o who_o baptise_a and_o ordain_v they_o do_v not_o intend_v to_o do_v it_o than_o they_o be_v no_o christian_n nor_o bishop_n themselves_o and_o therefore_o can_v not_o confer_v order_n on_o he_o and_o so_o upward_o still_o which_o reduce_v the_o matter_n to_o the_o great_a uncertainty_n in_o the_o world_n for_o how_o be_v it_o possible_a to_o know_v any_o man_n private_a intention_n when_o neither_o word_n nor_o action_n shall_v be_v allow_v a_o sufficient_a declaration_n of_o it_o and_o beside_o this_o if_o a_o pope_n be_v simoniacal_o promote_v or_o ordain_v by_o a_o simoniacal_a pope_n here_o be_v a_o invalidity_n in_o his_o order_n and_o then_o what_o become_v of_o his_o infallibility_n nay_o what_o shall_v we_o say_v of_o that_o long_a papal_a schism_n when_o there_o be_v three_o pope_n together_o john_n 23._o gregory_n 12._o and_o benedict_n 13._o who_o be_v all_o depose_v by_o the_o council_n of_o constance_n and_o martin_n 5._o choose_v be_v there_o never_o a_o true_a pope_n among_o all_o the_o three_o if_o there_o be_v what_o authority_n then_o have_v the_o council_n to_o depose_v they_o all_o and_o choose_v a_o four_o and_o who_o know_v to_o this_o day_n from_o whence_o the_o succeed_a pope_n have_v derive_v their_o succession_n which_o may_v very_o much_o call_v the_o popedom_n and_o infallibility_n into_o question_n and_o then_o as_o for_o council_n which_o consist_v of_o bishop_n there_o be_v the_o same_o incertainty_n about_o they_o whether_o they_o be_v true_a bishop_n or_o not_o as_o there_o be_v about_o the_o pope_n and_o beside_o this_o there_o be_v so_o many_o dispute_n what_o make_v a_o general_n council_n when_o it_o be_v regular_o call_v and_o when_o they_o act_n conciliaritèr_fw-la in_o such_o a_o manner_n as_o a_o council_n ought_v to_o act_v to_o procure_v the_o infallible_a direction_n of_o the_o spirit_n and_o to_o give_v authority_n to_o their_o decree_n that_o if_o woman_n and_o busy_a people_n can_v understand_v the_o scripture_n and_o the_o reason_n of_o their_o faith_n i_o be_o sure_a they_o be_v much_o less_o able_a to_o understand_v what_o council_n they_o may_v safe_o rely_v on_o but_o suppose_v we_o do_v know_v who_o this_o infallible_a judge_n be_v whether_o pope_n or_o council_n and_o this_o judge_n shall_v give_v we_o a_o infallible_a interpretation_n of_o scripture_n and_o a_o infallible_a decision_n of_o all_o controversy_n in_o religion_n which_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n never_o can_v be_v persuade_v to_o do_v yet_o and_o i_o believe_v never_o will_v witness_v those_o many_o fierce_a dispute_n which_o be_v among_o man_n of_o their_o own_o communion_n and_o i_o think_v no_o man_n be_v ever_o the_o more_o infallible_a for_o a_o judge_n who_o will_v not_o exercise_v his_o infallibility_n yet_o if_o this_o judge_n shall_v infallible_o determine_v all_o the_o controversy_n in_o religion_n we_o must_v either_o hear_v it_o from_o his_o own_o mouth_n or_o receive_v it_o in_o write_v or_o take_v it_o upon_o the_o report_n of_o other_o as_o for_o the_o first_o of_o these_o there_o be_v not_o one_o in_o the_o world_n at_o this_o day_n that_o be_v present_a at_o the_o debate_n of_o any_o general_a council_n or_o hear_v they_o pronounce_v their_o decree_n and_o definition_n and_o i_o believe_v as_o few_o ever_o hear_v the_o pope_n determine_v any_o question_n ex_fw-la cathedrâ_fw-la which_o what_o it_o mean_v either_o they_o do_v not_o well_o understand_v or_o have_v no_o mind_n to_o tell_v we_o as_o for_o write_v when_o we_o see_v the_o decree_n of_o a_o council_n write_v we_o can_v have_v only_o a_o moral_a assurance_n that_o these_o be_v the_o decree_n of_o the_o council_n and_o when_o we_o have_v they_o it_o may_v be_v they_o be_v much_o more_o obscure_a and_o subject_a to_o as_o many_o different_a interpretation_n as_o the_o scripture_n be_v that_o we_o can_v have_v no_o better_a assurance_n what_o the_o sense_n of_o the_o council_n than_o what_o the_o sense_n of_o the_o scripture_n be_v as_o experience_n tell_v we_o it_o be_v in_o the_o council_n of_o trent_n which_o the_o roman_a doctor_n differ_v as_o much_o about_o as_o protestant_n do_v about_o the_o