infer_v that_o reason_n be_v in_o a_o sense_n the_o word_n of_o god_n viz._n that_o which_o he_o have_v write_v upon_o our_o mind_n and_o heart_n as_o scripture_n be_v that_o which_o be_v write_v in_o a_o book_n the_o former_a be_v the_o word_n whereby_o he_o have_v speak_v to_o all_o mankind_n the_o latter_a be_v that_o whereby_o he_o have_v declare_v his_o will_n to_o the_o church_n and_o his_o peculiar_a people_n reason_n be_v that_o candle_n of_o the_o lord_n of_o which_o solomon_n speak_v prov._n 20.27_o that_o light_n whereby_o christ_n have_v enlighten_v every_o one_o that_o come_v into_o the_o world_n john_n 1.9_o and_o that_o law_n whereby_o the_o conscience_n of_o the_o heathen_a either_o accuse_v or_o excuse_v one_o another_o rom._n 2.15_o so_o that_o hierocles_n speak_v well_o when_o he_o say_v 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d to_o be_v persuade_v by_o god_n and_o right_a reason_n be_v one_o and_o the_o same_o thing_n and_o luther_n call_v philosophy_n within_o its_o own_o bound_n the_o truth_n of_o god_n 3._o the_o belief_n of_o our_o reason_n be_v a_o exercise_n of_o faith_n and_o faith_n be_v a_o act_n of_o reason_n the_o former_a part_n be_v clear_a from_o the_o last_o particular_a and_o we_o believe_v our_o reason_n because_o we_o have_v they_o from_o god_n who_o can_v mistake_v and_o will_v not_o deceive_v so_o that_o rely_v on_o they_o in_o thing_n clear_o perceive_v be_v trust_v in_o god_n veracity_n and_o goodness_n and_o that_o be_v a_o exercise_n of_o faith_n thus_o luke_n 12._o the_o not_o belief_n of_o reason_n that_o suggest_v from_o god_n clothing_n the_o lily_n that_o he_o will_v provide_v for_o we_o be_v make_v by_o our_o saviour_n a_o defect_n of_o faith_n ver_fw-la 28._o o_o you_o of_o little_a faith_n and_o for_o the_o other_o part_n that_o faith_n be_v a_o act_n of_o reason_n that_o be_v evident_a also_o for_o it_o be_v the_o high_a reason_n to_o believe_v in_o god_n reveal_v 4._o no_o principle_n of_o reason_n contradict_v any_o article_n of_o faith_n this_o follow_v upon_o the_o whole_a faith_n befriend_v reason_n and_o reason_n serve_v religion_n and_o therefore_o they_o can_v clash_v they_o be_v both_o certain_a both_o the_o truth_n of_o god_n and_o one_o truth_n do_v not_o interfere_v with_o another_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d say_v aristotle_n truth_n agree_v with_o all_o thing_n that_o be_v whatsoever_o contradict_v faith_n be_v opposite_a to_o reason_n for_o it_o be_v a_o fundamental_a principle_n of_o that_o that_o god_n be_v to_o be_v believe_v indeed_o sometime_o there_o be_v a_o seem_a contradiction_n between_o they_o but_o then_o either_o something_o be_v take_v for_o faith_n that_o be_v but_o fancy_n or_o something_o for_o reason_n that_o be_v but_o sophistry_n or_o the_o suppose_a contradiction_n be_v a_o error_n and_o mistake_v 5._o when_o any_o thing_n be_v pretend_v from_o reason_n against_o any_o article_n of_o faith_n we_o ought_v not_o to_o cut_v the_o knot_n by_o deny_v reason_n but_o endeavour_v to_o untie_v it_o by_o answer_v the_o argument_n and_o it_o be_v certain_a it_o may_v be_v fair_o answer_v for_o all_o heretic_n argue_v either_o from_o false_a principle_n or_o fallacious_o conclude_v from_o true_a one_o so_o that_o our_o faith_n be_v to_o be_v defend_v not_o by_o declaim_v against_o reason_n in_o such_o a_o case_n which_o strengthen_v the_o enemy_n and_o to_o the_o great_a prejudice_n of_o religion_n allow_v reason_n on_o his_o side_n but_o we_o must_v endeavour_v to_o defend_v it_o either_o by_o discover_v the_o falsehood_n of_o the_o principle_n he_o use_v in_o the_o name_n of_o reason_n or_o the_o ill_a consequence_n which_o he_o call_v proof_n 6._o when_o any_o thing_n be_v offer_v we_o for_o a_o article_n of_o faith_n that_o seem_v to_o contradict_v reason_n we_o ought_v to_o see_v that_o there_o be_v good_a cause_n to_o believe_v that_o this_o be_v divine_o reveal_v and_o in_o the_o sense_n propound_v if_o it_o be_v we_o may_v be_v assure_v from_o the_o former_a aphorism_n that_o the_o contradiction_n be_v but_o a_o appearance_n and_o it_o may_v be_v discover_v to_o be_v so_o but_o if_o the_o contradiction_n be_v real_a this_o can_v be_v no_o article_n of_o revelation_n or_o the_o revelation_n have_v not_o this_o sense_n for_o god_n can_v be_v the_o author_n of_o contradiction_n and_o we_o have_v see_v that_o reason_n as_o well_o as_o faith_n be_v he_o i_o mean_v the_o principle_n of_o natural_a truth_n as_o well_o as_o those_o of_o revelation_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d say_v aristotle_n truth_n be_v throughout_o contrary_a to_o falsehood_n and_o what_o be_v true_a in_o divinity_n can_v be_v false_a in_o reason_n it_o be_v say_v indeed_o in_o the_o talmud_n if_o two_o rabbin_n differ_v in_o contradictory_n yet_o both_o have_v their_o opinion_n from_o moses_n and_o from_o god_n but_o we_o be_v not_o oblige_v to_o such_o a_o nonsensical_a kind_n of_o faith_n and_o ought_v not_o to_o receive_v any_o thing_n as_o a_o article_n in_o a_o sense_n that_o palpable_o contradict_v reason_n no_o more_o than_o we_o may_v receive_v any_o in_o a_o sense_n that_o contradict_v other_o scripture_n i'faith_o and_o reason_n accord_v as_o well_o as_o the_o old_a testament_n and_o the_o new_a and_o the_o analogy_n of_o reason_n be_v to_o be_v heed_v also_o because_o even_o that_o be_v divine_a and_o sacred_a 7._o there_o be_v nothing_o that_o god_n have_v reveal_v to_o oblige_v our_o faith_n but_o he_o have_v give_v we_o reason_n to_o believe_v that_o he_o have_v reveal_v it_o for_o though_o the_o thing_n be_v never_o so_o clear_o tell_v i_o if_o i_o have_v not_o reason_n to_o think_v that_o god_n be_v the_o revealer_n of_o what_o be_v so_o declare_v i_o be_o not_o bind_v to_o believe_v except_o there_o be_v evidence_n in_o the_o thing_n itself_o for_o it_o be_v not_o faith_n but_o vain_a credulity_n to_o believe_v every_o thing_n that_o pretend_v to_o be_v from_o god_n so_o that_o we_o ought_v to_o ask_v ourselves_o a_o reason_n why_o we_o believe_v the_o scripture_n to_o be_v the_o revelation_n of_o god_n will_n and_o ought_v not_o to_o assent_v to_o any_o sense_n put_v upon_o it_o till_o we_o have_v ground_n to_o think_v that_o that_o sense_n be_v his_o mind_n i_o say_v we_o must_v have_v ground_n either_o from_o our_o particular_a reason_n or_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o church_n otherwise_o our_o faith_n be_v vain_a credulity_n and_o not_o faith_n in_o god_n 8._o a_o man_n may_v hold_v a_o erroneous_a opinion_n from_o a_o mistake_a sense_n of_o scripture_n and_o deny_v what_o be_v the_o truth_n of_o the_o proposition_n and_o what_o be_v the_o right_a meaning_n of_o the_o text_n and_o yet_o not_o err_v in_o faith_n for_o faith_n be_v belief_n of_o god_n reveal_v and_o if_o god_n have_v not_o so_o reveal_v this_o or_o that_o as_o to_o give_v we_o certain_a ground_n to_o believe_v this_o to_o be_v his_o sense_n he_o have_v not_o sufficient_o reveal_v it_o to_o oblige_v our_o faith_n so_o that_o though_o i_o deny_v such_o or_o such_o a_o sense_n while_o i_o believe_v it_o be_v not_o from_o god_n his_o veracity_n and_o authority_n be_v not_o concern_v since_o i_o be_o ready_a however_o to_o give_v a_o cheerful_a assent_n to_o whatever_o be_v clear_o and_o sufficient_o reveal_v this_o proposition_n follow_v from_o the_o former_a and_o must_v be_v understand_v only_o of_o those_o doctrine_n that_o be_v difficult_a and_o obscure_o deliver_v and_o that_o many_o thing_n be_v so_o deliver_v in_o scripture_n be_v certain_a for_o some_o be_v only_o hint_v and_o speak_v occasional_o some_o figurative_o and_o by_o way_n of_o parable_n and_o allegory_n some_o according_a to_o man_n conception_n and_o some_o in_o ambiguous_a and_o enigmatical_a phrase_n which_o obscurity_n may_v occasion_n mistake_v in_o those_o who_o be_v very_o ready_a to_o believe_v what_o ever_o god_n say_v and_o when_o they_o do_v i_o shall_v be_v loath_a to_o say_v that_o such_o err_v in_o faith_n though_o those_o that_o wrest_v plain_a text_n to_o a_o compliance_n with_o their_o interest_n and_o their_o lust_n though_o their_o affection_n may_v bring_v their_o judgement_n to_o vote_n with_o they_o yet_o they_o be_v error_n in_o faith_n with_o a_o witness_n and_o capable_a of_o no_o benefit_n from_o this_o proposition_n 9_o in_o search_v after_o the_o sense_n of_o scripture_n we_o ought_v to_o consult_v the_o principle_n of_o reason_n as_o we_o do_v other_o scripture_n for_o we_o have_v show_v that_o reason_n be_v another_o part_n of_o god_n word_n and_o though_o the_o scripture_n be_v sufficient_a to_o its_o end_n yet_o reason_n must_v be_v presuppose_v unto_o it_o for_o without_o this_o scripture_n can_v be_v use_v nor_o compare_v nor_o apply_v nor_o understand_v 10._o the_o essential_o of_o religion_n be_v so_o plain_o
reveal_v that_o no_o man_n can_v miss_v they_o that_o have_v not_o a_o mighty_a corrupt_a bias_n in_o his_o will_n and_o affection_n to_o infatuate_a and_o blind_a his_o understanding_n those_o essential_o be_v contain_v in_o the_o decalogue_n and_o the_o creed_n many_o speculative_a remote_a doctrine_n may_v be_v true_a but_o not_o fundamental_a for_o it_o be_v not_o agreeable_a to_o the_o goodness_n or_o justice_n of_o god_n that_o man_n eternal_a interest_n shall_v depend_v upon_o thing_n that_o be_v difficult_a to_o be_v understand_v and_o easy_o mistake_v if_o they_o do_v no_o man_n can_v be_v secure_a but_o that_o do_v what_o he_o can_v he_o shall_v perish_v everlasting_o for_o not_o believe_v or_o believe_v amiss_o some_o of_o those_o difficult_a point_n that_o be_v suppose_v necessary_a to_o salvation_n and_o all_o those_o that_o be_v ignorant_a and_o of_o weak_a understanding_n must_v perish_v without_o help_n or_o they_o must_v be_v save_v by_o implicit_a faith_n in_o unknown_a fundamental_o these_o be_v some_o proposition_n that_o follow_v from_o my_o discourse_n and_o from_o one_o another_o the_o better_a they_o be_v consider_v the_o more_o their_o force_n will_v be_v perceive_v and_o i_o think_v they_o may_v serve_v for_o many_o very_a considerable_a purpose_n of_o religion_n charity_n and_o the_o peace_n of_o mankind_n and_o now_o give_v i_o leave_v to_o speak_v a_o word_n to_o you_o my_o brethren_n of_o the_o clergy_n those_o i_o mean_v of_o the_o young_a sort_n for_o i_o shall_v not_o presume_v to_o teach_v my_o elder_n you_o have_v hear_v no_o doubt_n frequent_a and_o earnest_a declamation_n against_o reason_n during_o the_o year_n of_o your_o education_n and_o youth_n we_o know_v receive_v impression_n easy_o and_o i_o shall_v not_o wonder_v if_o you_o have_v be_v possess_v with_o very_o hard_a thought_n of_o this_o pretend_a terrible_a enemy_n of_o faith_n and_o religion_n but_o do_v you_o ever_o consider_v deep_o since_o what_o end_v of_o religion_n or_o sobriety_n such_o vehement_a defamation_n of_o our_o faculty_n can_v serve_v and_o what_o end_v of_o a_o party_n they_o do_v i_o hope_v these_o thing_n you_o have_v ponder_v as_o you_o ought_v and_o discern_v the_o consequent_a mischief_n but_o yet_o i_o shall_v beg_v leave_n to_o refresh_v your_o thought_n with_o some_o consideration_n of_o the_o dangerous_a tendency_n and_o issue_n of_o such_o preachment_n 1._o to_o disclaim_v reason_n as_o a_o enemy_n to_o religion_n tend_v to_o the_o introduction_n of_o atheism_n infidelity_n and_o scepticism_n and_o have_v already_o bring_v in_o a_o flood_n of_o these_o upon_o we_o for_o what_o advantage_n can_v the_o atheist_n and_o infidel_n expect_v great_a than_o this_o that_o reason_n be_v against_o religion_n what_o do_v they_o pretend_v what_o can_v they_o propose_v more_o if_o so_o there_o will_v be_v no_o prove_v that_o there_o be_v a_o god_n or_o that_o the_o scripture_n be_v his_o word_n and_o then_o we_o believe_v gratis_o and_o our_o faith_n hang_v upon_o humour_n and_o imagination_n and_o that_o religion_n that_o depend_v upon_o a_o warm_a fancy_n a_o ungrounded_a belief_n stand_v but_o till_o a_o disease_n or_o a_o new_a conceit_n alter_v the_o scene_n of_o imagination_n and_o then_o down_o fall_v the_o castle_n who_o foundation_n be_v in_o the_o air._n it_o be_v the_o charge_n of_o julian_n the_o apostate_n against_o the_o primitive_a christian_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d that_o their_o only_a wisdom_n be_v to_o believe_v as_o if_o they_o have_v no_o ground_n for_o their_o faith_n and_o those_o that_o renounce_v and_o decry_v reason_n justify_v julian_n in_o his_o charge_n thus_o religion_n will_v have_v no_o bottom_n but_o the_o fancy_n of_o every_o one_o that_o profess_v it_o and_o how_o various_a and_o inconstant_a a_o thing_n imagination_n be_v every_o man_n know_v these_o be_v the_o consequence_n of_o the_o defamation_n of_o reason_n on_o the_o pretend_a account_n of_o religion_n and_o we_o have_v see_v in_o multitude_n of_o deplorable_a instance_n that_o they_o follow_v in_o practice_n as_o well_o as_o reason_n man_n of_o corrupt_a inclination_n suspect_v that_o there_o be_v no_o reason_n for_o our_o faith_n and_o religion_n and_o so_o be_v upon_o the_o border_n of_o quit_v it_o and_o the_o enthusiast_n that_o pretend_v to_o know_v religion_n best_o tell_v they_o that_o these_o suspicion_n be_v very_o true_a and_o thence_o the_o debauchee_n glad_o make_v the_o desperate_a conclusion_n and_o when_o other_o also_o hear_v reason_n disparage_v as_o uncertain_a various_a and_o fallacious_a they_o deny_v all_o credit_n to_o their_o faculty_n and_o become_v confound_v sceptic_n that_o settle_v in_o nothing_o this_o i_o take_v to_o have_v be_v one_o of_o the_o great_a and_o most_o deadly_a occasion_n of_o the_o atheism_n of_o our_o day_n and_o he_o that_o have_v reject_v reason_n may_v be_v one_o when_o he_o please_v and_o can_v reprehend_v or_o reduce_v any_o one_o that_o be_v so_o already_o 2._o the_o denial_n of_o reason_n in_o religion_n have_v be_v the_o principal_a engine_n that_o heretic_n and_o enthusiast_n have_v use_v against_o the_o faith_n and_o that_o which_o lay_v we_o open_a to_o infinite_a folly_n and_o imposture_n thus_o the_o arrian_n quarrel_v with_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d because_o it_o be_v deduce_v by_o consequence_n but_o not_o express_v in_o scripture_n the_o apollinarist_n will_v by_o no_o mean_n allow_v of_o reason_n and_o st._n austin_n say_v of_o the_o donatist_n that_o they_o do_v calumniate_v and_o decry_v it_o to_o raise_v prejudice_n against_o the_o catholic_n faith_n and_o elsewhere_o doctores_fw-la vestri_fw-la hominem_fw-la dialecticum_fw-la fugiendum_fw-la potius_fw-la &_o cavendum_fw-la quam_fw-la refellendum_fw-la censuerunt_fw-la the_o ubiquitarian_n defend_v their_o error_n by_o deny_v the_o judgement_n of_o reason_n and_o the_o macedonian_n will_v not_o have_v the_o deity_n of_o the_o holy_a ghost_n prove_v by_o consequence_n the_o late_a enthusiast_n in_o germany_n and_o other_o place_n set_v up_o loud_o and_o vehement_a out_o cry_v against_o reason_n and_o the_o lunatic_n among_o we_o that_o agree_v in_o nothing_o else_o do_v yet_o sweet_o accord_v in_o oppose_v this_o carnal_a reason_n and_o this_o indeed_o be_v their_o common_a interest_n the_o imposture_n of_o man_n fancy_n must_v not_o be_v see_v in_o too_o much_o light_n and_o we_o can_v dream_v with_o our_o eye_n open_a reason_n will_v discover_v the_o nakedness_n of_o sacred_a whimsy_n and_o the_o vanity_n of_o mysterious_a nonsense_n this_o will_v disparage_v the_o darling_n of_o the_o brain_n and_o cool_v the_o pleasant_a heat_n of_o kindle_a imagination_n and_o therefore_o reason_n must_v be_v decry_v because_o a_o enemy_n to_o madness_n and_o fancy_n set_v up_o under_o the_o notion_n of_o faith_n and_o inspiration_n hence_o man_n have_v get_v the_o trick_n to_o call_v every_o thing_n that_o be_v consequent_a and_o reasonable_a vain_a philosophy_n and_o every_o thing_n that_o be_v sober_a carnal_a reason_v religion_n be_v set_v so_o far_o above_o reason_n that_o at_o length_n it_o be_v put_v beyond_o sobriety_n and_o sense_n and_o than_o it_o be_v fit_a to_o be_v believe_v when_o it_o be_v impossible_a to_o be_v prove_v or_o understand_v the_o way_n to_o be_v a_o christian_n be_v first_o to_o be_v a_o brute_n and_o to_o be_v a_o true_a believer_n in_o this_o divinity_n be_v to_o be_v fit_a for_o bedlam_n man_n have_v be_v teach_v to_o put_v out_o their_o eye_n that_o they_o may_v see_v and_o to_o hoodwink_v themselves_o that_o they_o may_v avoid_v the_o precipice_n thus_o have_v all_o extravagancy_n be_v bring_v into_o religion_n beyond_o the_o imagination_n of_o a_o fever_n and_o the_o conceit_n of_o midnight_n whatever_o be_v phancy_v be_v certain_a and_o whatever_o be_v vehement_a be_v sacred_a every_o thing_n must_v be_v believe_v that_o be_v dream_v and_o every_o thing_n that_o be_v absurd_a be_v a_o mystery_n and_o by_o this_o way_n man_n in_o our_o day_n have_v be_v prepare_v to_o swallow_v every_o thing_n but_o what_o be_v sober_a whatever_o be_v wild_a will_v be_v suck_v in_o like_o the_o air_n but_o what_o be_v reasonable_a will_v be_v flee_v like_o infection_n so_o that_o if_o a_o man_n will_v recommend_v any_o thing_n for_o his_o life_n to_o those_o enemy_n of_o reason_n it_o must_v be_v some_o odd_a nonsense_n in_o the_o clothing_n of_o imagination_n and_o he_o that_o can_v be_v the_o author_n of_o a_o new_a kind_n of_o madness_n shall_v lead_v a_o party_n thus_o have_v religion_n by_o the_o disparagement_n of_o reason_n be_v make_v a_o medley_n of_o fantastic_a trash_n spiritualise_v into_o a_o heap_n of_o vapour_n and_o form_v into_o a_o castle_n of_o cloud_n and_o expose_v to_o every_o wind_n of_o humour_n and_o imagination_n 3._o by_o the_o same_o way_n great_a advantage_n be_v give_v to_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n which_o those_o
be_v do_v by_o show_v 2._o that_o it_o ought_v to_o be_v believe_v though_o the_o manner_n of_o it_o be_v not_o know_v for_o instance_n if_o any_o one_o deny_v all_o sort_n of_o creature_n be_v in_o the_o ark_n under_o pretence_n that_o it_o be_v impossible_a they_o shall_v be_v contain_v within_o such_o a_o space_n he_o that_o can_v show_v how_o this_o may_v be_v by_o a_o distinct_a enumeration_n of_o the_o kind_n of_o animal_n with_o due_a allowance_n for_o the_o unknown_a species_n and_o a_o computation_n of_o the_o particular_a capacity_n of_o the_o ark_n he_o defend_v the_o sacred_a history_n the_o first_o way_n but_o if_o another_o deny_v the_o conversion_n of_o aaron_n rod_n into_o a_o serpent_n upon_o the_o same_o account_n of_o the_o unconceivableness_n of_o the_o manner_n how_o it_o be_v do_v this_o can_v indeed_o be_v defend_v the_o former_a way_n but_o than_o it_o may_v by_o represent_v that_o the_o power_n of_o god_n be_v infinite_a and_o can_v easy_o do_v what_o we_o 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