not_o innovate_v any_o thing_n in_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o church_n but_o it_o be_v plain_a these_o they_o bring_v only_o as_o a_o confirmation_n of_o their_o argument_n and_o not_o as_o the_o chief_a strength_n of_o their_o cause_n for_o as_o they_o do_v not_o drive_v up_o the_o tradition_n to_o the_o apostle_n day_n set_v only_o down_o some_o late_a testimony_n so_o they_o make_v no_o inference_n from_o they_o but_o bare_o set_v they_o down_o by_o which_o it_o be_v evident_a all_o the_o use_n they_o make_v of_o these_o be_v only_o to_o show_v that_o the_o â—aith_n of_o the_o age_n that_o precede_v they_o be_v conform_v to_o the_o proof_n they_o bring_v from_o scripture_n but_o do_v not_o at_o all_o find_v the_o strength_n of_o their_o argument_n from_o scripture_n upon_o the_o sense_n of_o the_o father_n that_o go_v before_o they_o and_o if_o the_o council_n of_o nice_a have_v pass_v the_o decree_n of_o add_v the_o consubstantial_o to_o the_o creed_n upon_o evidence_n bring_v 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abundance_n of_o his_o grace_n on_o your_o ladyship_n to_o make_v you_o still_o continue_v in_o the_o love_n and_o obedience_n of_o the_o truth_n be_v the_o earnest_a prayer_n of_o madam_n london_n apr._n 15._o 1676._o your_o ladyship_n be_v most_o humble_a servant_n edward_z stillingfleet_n gilbert_n burnet_n a_o discourse_n to_o show_v how_o unreasonable_a it_o be_v to_o ask_v for_o express_a word_n of_o scripture_n in_o prove_v all_o article_n of_o faith_n and_o that_o a_o just_a and_o good_a consequence_n from_o scripture_n be_v sufficient_a it_o will_v seem_v a_o very_a needless_a labour_n to_o all_o consider_v person_n to_o go_v about_o the_o expose_v and_o baffle_v so_o unreasonable_a and_o ill-grounded_a a_o pretence_n that_o whatever_o be_v not_o read_v in_o scripture_n be_v not_o to_o be_v hold_v a_o article_n of_o faith_n for_o in_o make_v good_a this_o assertion_n they_o must_v either_o fasten_v their_o proof_n on_o some_o other_o ground_n or_o on_o the_o word_n of_o our_o 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doctrine_n or_o article_n of_o our_o church_n but_o to_o give_v this_o their_o plea_n its_o full_a strength_n and_o advantage_n that_o upon_o a_o fair_a hear_v all_o may_v just_o conclude_v its_o unreasonableness_n we_o shall_v first_o set_v down_o all_o can_v be_v say_v for_o it_o in_o the_o principle_n of_o protestant_n the_o scripture_n be_v the_o rule_n by_o which_o all_o controversy_n must_v be_v judge_v now_o they_o have_v no_o certain_a way_n to_o direct_v they_o in_o the_o exposition_n of_o they_o neither_o tradition_n nor_o the_o definition_n of_o the_o curch_n either_o they_o must_v pretend_v they_o be_v infallible_a in_o their_o deduction_n or_o we_o have_v no_o reason_n to_o make_v any_o account_n of_o they_o as_o be_v fallible_a and_o uncertain_a and_o so_o they_o can_v never_o secure_v we_o from_o error_n nor_o be_v a_o just_a ground_n to_o found_v our_o faith_n of_o any_o proposition_n so_o prove_v upon_o therefore_o no_o proposition_n thus_o prove_v can_v be_v acknowledge_v a_o article_n of_o faith_n this_o be_v the_o breadth_n and_o length_n of_o their_o plea_n which_o we_o shall_v now_o examine_v and_o first_o if_o there_o be_v any_o strength_n in_o this_o plea_n it_o will_v conclude_v against_o our_o submit_v to_o the_o express_a word_n of_o scripture_n as_o forcible_o since_o all_o word_n how_o formal_a soever_o be_v capable_a of_o several_a exposition_n either_o they_o be_v to_o be_v understand_v literal_o or_o figurative_o either_o they_o be_v to_o be_v understand_v positive_o or_o interrogative_o with_o a_o great_a many_o other_o variety_n of_o which_o all_o expression_n be_v capable_a so_o that_o if_o the_o former_a argument_n have_v any_o force_n since_o every_o place_n be_v capable_a of_o several_a meaning_n except_o we_o be_v infallible_o sure_a which_o be_v the_o true_a meaning_n we_o ought_v by_o the_o same_o parity_n of_o reason_n to_o make_v no_o account_n of_o the_o most_o express_a and_o formal_a word_n of_o scripture_n from_o which_o it_o be_v apparent_a that_o what_o noise_n soever_o these_o man_n make_v of_o express_a word_n of_o scripture_n yet_o if_o they_o be_v true_a to_o their_o own_o argument_n they_o will_v as_o little_o submit_v to_o these_o as_o to_o deduction_n from_o scripture_n since_o they_o have_v the_o same_o reason_n to_o question_v the_o true_a meaning_n of_o a_o place_n that_o they_o have_v to_o reject_v a_o inference_n and_o deduction_n from_o it_o and_o this_o alone_o may_v serve_v to_o satisfy_v every_o body_n that_o this_o be_v a_o trick_n under_o which_o there_o lie_v no_o fair_a deal_n at_o all_o but_o to_o answer_v the_o argument_n to_o all_o man_n satisfaction_n we_o must_v consider_v the_o nature_n of_o the_o soul_n which_o be_v a_o reasonable_a be_v who_o chief_a faculty_n be_v to_o discern_v the_o connexion_n of_o thing_n and_o to_o draw_v
out_o such_o inference_n as_o flow_v from_o that_o connexion_n now_o though_o we_o be_v liable_a to_o great_a abuse_n both_o in_o our_o judgement_n and_o inference_n yet_o if_o we_o apply_v these_o faculty_n with_o due_a care_n we_o must_v certain_o acquiesce_v in_o the_o result_n of_o such_o reason_n otherwise_o this_o be_v god_n image_n in_o we_o and_o the_o standard_n by_o which_o we_o be_v to_o try_v thing_n god_n have_v give_v we_o a_o false_a standard_n which_o when_o we_o have_v with_o all_o possible_a care_n manage_v yet_o we_o be_v still_o expose_v to_o fallacy_n and_o error_n this_o must_v needs_o reflect_v on_o the_o veracity_n of_o that_o god_n that_o have_v make_v we_o of_o such_o a_o nature_n that_o we_o can_v never_o be_v reasonable_o assure_v of_o any_o thing_n therefore_o it_o must_v be_v acknowledge_v that_o when_o our_o reason_n be_v well_o prepare_v according_a to_o those_o eternal_a rule_n of_o purity_n and_o virtue_n by_o which_o we_o be_v fit_v to_o consider_v 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to_o the_o understanding_n of_o other_o now_o every_o man_n that_o speak_v pertinent_o as_o he_o design_n to_o be_v understand_v so_o he_o choose_v such_o expression_n and_o argument_n as_o be_v most_o proper_a to_o make_v himself_o understand_v by_o those_o he_o speak_v to_o and_o the_o clear_a he_o speak_v he_o speak_v so_o much_o the_o better_o and_o every_o one_o that_o wrap_v up_o his_o meaning_n in_o obscure_a word_n he_o either_o do_v not_o distinct_o apprehend_v that_o about_o which_o he_o discourse_v or_o do_v not_o design_n that_o those_o to_o who_o he_o speak_v shall_v understand_v he_o mean_v only_o to_o amuse_v they_o if_o likewise_o he_o say_v any_o thing_n from_o which_o some_o absurd_a inference_n will_v easy_o be_v apprehend_v he_o give_v all_o that_o hear_v he_o a_o sufficient_a ground_n of_o prejudice_n against_o what_o he_o say_v for_o he_o must_v expect_v that_o as_o his_o hearer_n sense_n receive_v his_o word_n or_o character_n so_o necessary_o some_o figure_n or_o notion_n must_v be_v at_o the_o same_o time_n imprint_v on_o their_o imagination_n or_o present_v to_o their_o reason_n this_o be_v the_o end_n for_o which_o he_o speak_v and_o the_o more_o genuine_o that_o his_o word_n express_v his_o meaning_n the_o more_o certain_o and_o clear_o they_o to_o who_o he_o direct_v they_o apprehend_v it_o it_o must_v also_o be_v acknowledge_v that_o all_o hearer_n must_v necessary_o pass_v judgement_n on_o what_o they_o hear_v if_o they_o do_v think_v it_o of_o that_o importance_n as_o to_o examine_v it_o and_o this_o they_o must_v do_v by_o that_o natural_a faculty_n of_o make_v judgement_n and_o deduction_n the_o certainty_n whereof_o we_o have_v prove_v to_o be_v the_o foundation_n of_o all_o faith_n and_o knowledge_n now_o the_o chief_a rule_n of_o make_v true_a judgement_n be_v to_o see_v what_o consequence_n certain_o follow_v on_o what_o be_v lay_v before_o we_o if_o these_o be_v find_v absurd_a or_o impossible_a we_o must_v reject_v that_o 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other_o way_n than_o any_o honest_a man_n speak_v to_o another_o that_o be_v plain_o and_o distinct_o there_o be_v particular_a reason_n why_o prophetical_a vision_n must_v needs_o be_v obscure_a but_o when_o christ_n appear_v on_o earth_n though_o many_o thing_n be_v not_o to_o be_v full_o open_v till_o he_o have_v triumph_v over_o death_n and_o the_o power_n of_o darkness_n yet_o his_o design_n be_v to_o bring_v man_n to_o god_n what_o he_o speak_v in_o order_n to_o that_o we_o must_v think_v he_o intend_v that_o they_o to_o who_o he_o speak_v it_o may_v understand_v it_o otherwise_o why_o shall_v he_o have_v speak_v it_o to_o they_o and_o if_o he_o do_v intend_v they_o shall_v understand_v he_o than_o he_o must_v have_v use_v such_o expression_n as_o be_v most_o proper_a for_o convey_v this_o to_o their_o understanding_n
unworthy_o that_o be_v guilty_a of_o the_o body_n and_o blood_n of_o the_o lord_n and_o eat_v and_o drink_v judgement_n against_o themselves_o therefore_o it_o be_v only_o the_o internal_a receive_n of_o christ_n by_o faith_n that_o give_v eternal_a life_n from_o which_o another_o necessary_a inference_n direct_v we_o also_o to_o conclude_v that_o since_o all_o that_o eat_v his_o flesh_n and_o drink_v his_o blood_n have_v eternal_a life_n and_o since_o it_o be_v only_o by_o the_o internal_a communicate_v that_o we_o have_v eternal_a life_n therefore_o these_o word_n of_o eat_v his_o flesh_n and_o drink_v his_o blood_n can_v only_o be_v understand_v of_o internal_a communicate_v therefore_o they_o must_v be_v spiritual_o understand_v but_o all_o this_o while_n the_o reader_n may_v be_v just_o weary_a of_o so_o much_o time_n and_o pain_n spend_v to_o prove_v a_o thing_n which_o carry_v its_o own_o evidence_n so_o with_o it_o that_o it_o seem_v one_o of_o the_o first_o principle_n and_o 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when_o any_o person_n divine_o assist_v have_v sufficient_o prove_v his_o inspiration_n declare_v any_o thing_n in_o the_o name_n of_o god_n we_o be_v bind_v to_o submit_v to_o it_o or_o if_o such_o a_o person_n by_o that_o same_o authority_n offer_v any_o exposition_n of_o scripture_n he_o be_v to_o be_v believe_v without_o further_a dispute_n but_o when_o a_o inspire_a person_n argue_v with_o any_o that_o do_v not_o acknowledge_v his_o inspiration_n but_o be_v inquire_v into_o it_o not_o be_v yet_o satisfy_v about_o it_o then_o he_o speak_v no_o more_o as_o a_o inspire_a person_n in_o which_o case_n the_o argument_n offer_v be_v to_o be_v examine_v by_o the_o force_n that_o be_v in_o it_o and_o not_o by_o the_o authority_n of_o he_o that_o use_v it_o for_o his_o authority_n be_v the_o thing_n question_v if_o he_o offer_v a_o argument_n from_o any_o thing_n already_o agree_v to_o and_o if_o the_o argument_n be_v not_o good_a it_o be_v so_o far_o from_o be_v the_o better_a by_o the_o authority_n of_o he_o that_o use_v it_o that_o it_o rather_o give_v just_a ground_n to_o lessen_v or_o suspect_v his_o authority_n that_o understand_v a_o consequence_n so_o ill_o as_o to_o use_v a_o bad_a argument_n to_o use_v it_o by_o this_o be_v premise_v when_o our_o saviour_n be_v to_o prove_v against_o the_o sadducee_n the_o truth_n of_o the_o resurrection_n from_o the_o scripture_n he_o cite_v out_o of_o the_o law_n that_o god_n be_v the_o god_n of_o abraham_n isaac_n and_o jacob_n since_o then_o god_n be_v not_o god_n of_o the_o dead_a but_o of_o the_o live_n therefore_o abraham_n isaac_n and_o jacob_n do_v live_v unto_o god_n from_o which_o he_o prove_v the_o soul_n have_v a_o be_v distinct_a from_o the_o body_n and_o live_v after_o its_o separation_n from_o the_o body_n which_o be_v the_o principal_a point_n in_o controversy_n now_o if_o these_o new_a maxim_n be_v of_o any_o force_n so_o that_o we_o must_v only_o submit_v to_o the_o express_a word_n of_o scripture_n 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instance_n if_o i_o see_v a_o man_n pretend_v that_o he_o sit_v in_o a_o infallible_a chair_n and_o prove_v what_o he_o deliver_v by_o the_o most_o impertinent_a allegation_n of_o scripture_n possible_a as_o if_o he_o attempt_v to_o prove_v the_o pope_n must_v be_v the_o head_n of_o all_o power_n civil_a and_o spiritual_a from_o the_o first_o word_n of_o genesis_n spiritual_a where_o it_o be_v say_v in_o the_o beginning_n and_o not_o in_o the_o beginning_n in_o the_o plural_a from_o which_o he_o conclude_v there_o must_v be_v but_o one_o beginning_n and_o head_n of_o all_o power_n to_o wit_n the_o pope_n i_o be_o so_o far_o from_o be_v put_v to_o silence_n with_o this_o that_o i_o be_o only_o astonish_v how_o any_o man_n of_o common_a sense_n though_o he_o pretend_v not_o to_o infallibility_n can_v fall_v into_o such_o error_n for_o a_o ill_a argument_n when_o its_o fallacy_n be_v so_o apparent_a must_v needs_o heap_v contempt_n on_o he_o that_o use_v it_o have_v find_v our_o saviour_n 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he_o speak_v of_o the_o resurrection_n of_o christ._n if_o here_o be_v not_o consequence_n and_o deduction_n let_v every_o one_o judge_n now_o these_o be_v speak_v to_o those_o who_o do_v not_o then_o believe_v in_o christ_n there_o be_v either_o sufficient_a force_n in_o that_o argument_n to_o convince_v the_o jew_n otherwise_o these_o that_o speak_v they_o be_v very_o much_o both_o to_o be_v blame_v and_o despise_v for_o offer_v to_o prove_v a_o matter_n of_o such_o importance_n by_o a_o consequence_n but_o this_o be_v a_o degree_n of_o blasphemy_n against_o the_o holy_a ghost_n we_o must_v acknowledge_v there_o be_v strength_n in_o their_o argument_n and_o therefore_o article_n of_o faith_n whereof_o this_o be_v the_o fundamental_a may_v be_v prove_v from_o scripture_n by_o a_o consequence_n we_o may_v add_v to_o this_o all_o