least_o honour_n upon_o nor_o contribute_v the_o least_o advantage_n to_o all_o that_o i_o can_v add_v be_v that_o as_o it_o be_v my_o fortune_n to_o serve_v this_o noble_a seat_n of_o learning_n for_o many_o year_n as_o her_o public_a though_o unworthy_a orator_n so_o upon_o that_o and_o innumerable_a other_o account_n i_o ought_v for_o ever_o to_o be_v and_o to_o acknowledge_v myself_o her_o most_o faithful_a obedient_a and_o devote_a servant_n robert_n south_n westminster_n abbey_n novemb_n 17._o 1693._o the_o content_n of_o the_o sermon_n sermon_n i._n prov._n x._o 9_o he_o that_o walk_v upright_o walk_v sure_o page_n 1_o sermon_n ii_o john_n xv._n 15._o henceforth_o i_o call_v you_o not_o servant_n for_o the_o servant_n know_v not_o what_o his_o lord_n do_v but_o i_o have_v call_v you_o friend_n for_o all_o thing_n that_o i_o have_v hear_v of_o my_o father_n have_v i_o make_v know_v unto_o you_o p._n 59_o sermon_n iii_o iu_o eccles._n v._n 2._o be_v not_o rash_a with_o thy_o mouth_n and_o let_v not_o thy_o heart_n be_v hasty_a to_o utter_v any_o thing_n before_o god_n for_o god_n be_v in_o heaven_n and_o thou_o upon_o earth_n therefore_o let_v thy_o word_n be_v few_o p._n 111_o sermon_n v._o vi_o rom._n i._n 32._o who_o know_v the_o judgement_n of_o god_n that_o they_o which_o commit_v such_o thing_n be_v worthy_a of_o death_n not_o only_o do_v the_o same_o but_o have_v pleasure_n in_o they_o that_o do_v they_o p._n 223_o sermon_n vii_o rom._n i._n 20._o latter_a part._n so_o that_o they_o be_v without_o excuse_n p._n 323_o sermon_n viii_o matth._n xxii_o 12._o and_o he_o say_v unto_o he_o friend_n how_o come_v thou_o in_o hither_o not_o have_v a_o wedding-garment_n p._n 373_o sermon_n ix_o isa._n v._o 20._o wo_n unto_o they_o that_o call_v evil_a good_a and_o good_a evil_n etc._n etc._n p._n 427_o sermon_n x._o 1._o sam._n xxv_o 32_o 33._o and_o david_n say_v to_o abigail_n blessed_n be_v the_o lord_n god_n of_o israel_n who_o send_v thou_o this_o day_n to_o meet_v i_o and_o bless_v be_v thy_o advice_n and_o bless_v be_v thou_o who_o have_v keep_v i_o this_o day_n from_o come_v to_o shed_v blood_n and_o from_o avenge_a myself_o with_o my_o own_o hand_n p._n 485_o sermon_n xi_o xii_o 1_o john_n iii_o 21._o belove_a if_o our_o heart_n condemn_v we_o not_o than_o we_o have_v confidence_n towards_o god_n p._n 531_o some_o of_o the_o chief_a error_n of_o the_o press_n be_v thus_o to_o be_v correct_v page_n 9_o line_n 15._o for_o right_a aim_v read_v the_o right_n aim_v p._n 116._o l._n 2._o after_o the_o word_n therefore_o a_o break._n p._n 153._o line_n the_o last_o for_o invention_n read_v invention_n p._n 157._o l._n 6._o for_o design_n read_v design_n p._n 183._o l._n 9_o for_o receive_v read_v receive_v p._n 267._o l._n 20_o for_o outrageous_o read_v outrageous_o p._n 283._o l._n 19_o for_o of_o a_o presumption_n read_v of_o presumption_n p._n 284._o line_n after_o world_n deal_n the_o semicolon_n p._n 342._o l._n 18._o for_o those_o read_v these_o p._n 348._o l._n 20._o for_o artist_n read_v artist_n p._n 349._o l._n 18._o for_o come_n read_v come_v p._n 350._o l._n 4._o for_o vice_n read_v vice_n p._n 414._o l._n 11._o for_o the_o table_n read_v their_o table_n p._n 493._o l._n 9_o for_o object_n read_v object_n p._n 508._o l._n 5._o for_o preferrible_a read_v preferible_a p._n 613._o l._n 21._o for_o second_v next_o read_z second_o and_o next_o the_o practice_n of_o religion_n enforce_v by_o reason_n in_o a_o sermon_n preach_v upon_o prov_n x._o 9_o at_o westminster-abbey_n 1667._o prov_n x._o 9_o he_o that_o walk_v upright_o walk_v sure_o as_o it_o be_v easy_a to_o evince_v both_o from_o reason_n and_o experience_n that_o there_o be_v a_o strange_a restless_a activity_n in_o the_o soul_n of_o man_n continual_o dispose_v it_o to_o operate_v and_o exert_v its_o faculty_n so_o the_o phrase_n of_o scripture_n still_o express_v the_o life_n of_o man_n by_o walk_v that_o be_v it_o represent_v a_o active_a principle_n in_o a_o active_a posture_n and_o because_o the_o nature_n of_o man_n carry_v he_o thus_o out_o to_o action_n it_o be_v no_o wonder_n if_o the_o same_o nature_n equal_o render_v he_o solicitous_a about_o the_o â—â—ue_n and_o event_n of_o his_o action_n for_o every_o one_o by_o reflect_v upon_o the_o way_n and_o method_n of_o his_o own_o work_n will_v find_v that_o he_o be_v still_o determine_v in_o they_o by_o a_o respect_n to_o the_o consequence_n of_o what_o he_o do_v always_o proceed_v upon_o this_o argumentation_n if_o i_o do_v such_o a_o thing_n such_o a_o advantage_n will_v follow_v from_o it_o and_o therefore_o i_o will_v do_v it_o and_o if_o i_o do_v this_o such_o a_o mischief_n will_v ensue_v thereupon_o and_o therefore_o i_o will_v forbear_v every_o one_o i_o say_v be_v conclude_v by_o this_o practical_a discourse_n and_o for_o a_o man_n to_o bring_v his_o action_n to_o the_o event_n propose_v and_o design_v by_o he_o be_v to_o walk_v sure_o but_o since_o the_o event_n of_o a_o action_n usual_o follow_v the_o nature_n or_o quality_n of_o it_o and_o the_o quality_n follow_v the_o rule_n direct_v it_o it_o concern_v a_o man_n by_o all_o mean_n in_o the_o frame_n of_o his_o action_n not_o to_o be_v deceive_v in_o the_o rule_n which_o he_o propose_v for_o the_o measure_n of_o they_o which_o without_o great_a and_o exact_a caution_n he_o may_v be_v these_o two_o way_n 1._o by_o lay_v false_a and_o deceitful_a principle_n 2._o in_o case_n he_o lay_v right_a principle_n yet_o by_o mistake_v in_o the_o consequence_n which_o he_o draw_v from_o they_o a_o error_n in_o either_o of_o which_o be_v equal_o dangerous_a for_o if_o a_o man_n be_v to_o draw_v a_o line_n it_o be_v all_o one_o whether_o he_o do_v it_o by_o a_o crooked_a rule_n or_o by_o a_o straight_a one_o misapply_v he_o who_o fix_v upon_o false_a principle_n tread_v upon_o infirm_a ground_n and_o so_o sink_v and_o he_o who_o fail_v in_o his_o deduction_n from_o right_a principle_n stumble_v upon_o firm_a ground_n and_o so_o fall_v the_o disaster_n be_v not_o of_o the_o same_o kind_a but_o of_o the_o same_o mischief_n in_o both_o it_o must_v be_v confess_v that_o it_o be_v sometime_o very_o hard_o to_o judge_v of_o the_o truth_n or_o goodness_n of_o principle_n consider_v bare_o in_o themselves_o and_o abstract_v from_o their_o consequence_n but_o certain_o he_o act_v upon_o the_o sure_a and_o most_o prudential_n ground_n in_o the_o world_n who_o whether_o the_o principle_n which_o he_o act_v upon_o prove_v true_a or_o false_a yet_o secure_v a_o happy_a issue_n to_o his_o action_n now_o he_o who_o guide_v his_o action_n by_o the_o rule_n of_o piety_n and_o religion_n lay_v these_o two_o principle_n as_o the_o great_a ground_n of_o all_o that_o he_o do_v 1._o that_o there_o be_v a_o infinite_a eternal_a alwise_a mind_n govern_v the_o affair_n of_o the_o world_n and_o take_v such_o a_o account_n of_o the_o action_n of_o man_n as_o according_a to_o the_o quality_n of_o they_o to_o punish_v or_o reward_v they_o 2_o lie_n that_o there_o be_v a_o estate_n of_o happiness_n or_o misery_n after_o this_o life_n allot_v to_o every_o man_n according_a to_o the_o quality_n of_o his_o action_n here_o these_o i_o say_v be_v the_o principle_n which_o every_o religious_a man_n propose_v to_o himself_o and_o the_o deduction_n which_o he_o make_v from_o they_o be_v this_o that_o it_o be_v his_o grand_a interest_n and_o concern_v so_o to_o act_v and_o behave_v himself_o in_o this_o world_n as_o to_o secure_v himself_o from_o a_o estate_n of_o misery_n in_o the_o other_o and_o thus_o to_o act_v be_v in_o the_o phrase_n of_o scripture_n to_o walk_v upright_o and_o it_o be_v my_o business_n to_o prove_v that_o he_o who_o act_v in_o the_o strength_n of_o this_o conclusion_n draw_v from_o the_o two_o forementioned_a principle_n walk_v sure_o or_o secure_v a_o happy_a event_n to_o his_o action_n against_o all_o contingency_n whatsoever_o and_o to_o demonstrate_v this_o i_o shall_v consider_v the_o say_a principle_n under_o a_o threefold_a supposition_n 1._o as_o certain_o true_a 2_o lie_n as_o probable_a and_o 3_o lie_n as_o false_a and_o if_o the_o pious_a man_n bring_v his_o action_n to_o a_o happy_a end_n which_o soever_o of_o these_o supposition_n his_o principle_n fall_v under_o then_o certain_o there_o be_v none_o who_o walk_v so_o sure_o and_o upon_o such_o irrefragable_a ground_n of_o prudence_n as_o he_o who_o be_v religious_a 1._o first_o of_o all_o therefore_o we_o will_v take_v these_o principle_n as_o we_o may_v very_o well_o do_v under_o the_o hypothesis_n of_o certain_o true_a where_o though_o the_o method_n of_o the_o ratiocination_n which_o i_o have_v cast_v the_o present_a
will_v condemn_v he_o in_o the_o other_o and_o consequent_o he_o who_o place_n his_o salvation_n upon_o this_o ground_n will_v find_v himself_o like_o a_o imprison_a and_o condemn_a malefactor_n who_o in_o the_o night_n dream_n that_o he_o be_v release_v but_o in_o the_o morning_n find_v himself_o lead_v to_o the_o gallow_n 4_o lie_n and_o last_o no_o advantage_n from_o external_n church-membership_n or_o profession_n of_o the_o true_a religion_n can_v of_o themselves_o give_v a_o man_n confidence_n towards_o god_n and_o yet_o perhaps_o there_o be_v hardly_o any_o one_o thing_n in_o the_o world_n which_o man_n in_o all_o age_n have_v general_o more_o cheat_v themselves_o with_o the_o jew_n be_v a_o eminent_a instance_n of_o this_o who_o because_o they_o be_v the_o son_n of_o abraham_n as_o it_o be_v ready_o acknowledge_v by_o our_o saviour_n john_n 8._o 37._o and_o because_o they_o be_v entrust_v with_o the_o oracle_n of_o god_n rom._n 3._o 2._o together_o with_o the_o covenant_n and_o the_o promise_n rom._n 9_o 4._o that_o be_v in_o other_o word_n because_o they_o be_v the_o true_a church_n and_o professor_n of_o the_o true_a religion_n while_o all_o the_o world_n about_o they_o lay_v wallow_v in_o ignorance_n heathenism_n and_o idolatry_n they_o conclude_v from_o hence_o that_o god_n be_v so_o fond_a of_o they_o that_o notwithstanding_o all_o their_o villainy_n and_o immorality_n they_o be_v still_o the_o darling_n of_o heaven_n and_o the_o only_a heir_n apparent_a of_o salvation_n they_o think_v it_o seem_v god_n and_o themselves_o link_v together_o in_o so_o fast_o but_o withal_o so_o strange_a a_o covenant_n that_o although_o they_o never_o perform_v their_o part_n of_o it_o god_n be_v yet_o bind_v to_o make_v good_a every_o tittle_n of_o he_o and_o this_o make_v john_n the_o baptist_n set_v himself_o with_o so_o much_o acrimony_n and_o indignation_n to_o baffle_v this_o senseless_a arrogant_a conceit_n of_o they_o which_o make_v they_o huff_v at_o the_o doctrine_n of_o repentance_n as_o a_o thing_n below_o they_o and_o not_o at_o all_o belong_v to_o they_o in_o matth._n 3._o v._n 9_o think_v not_o say_v he_o to_o say_v within_o yourselves_o we_o have_v abraham_n to_o our_o father_n this_o he_o know_v lay_v deep_a in_o their_o heart_n and_o be_v still_o in_o their_o mouth_n and_o keep_v they_o insolent_a and_o impenitent_a under_o sin_n of_o the_o high_a and_o most_o clamorous_a gild_n though_o our_o saviour_n himself_o also_o not_o long_o after_o this_o assure_v they_o that_o they_o be_v of_o a_o very_a different_a stock_n and_o parentage_n from_o that_o which_o they_o boast_v of_o and_o that_o whosoever_o be_v their_o father_n upon_o the_o natural_a account_n the_o devil_n be_v certain_o so_o upon_o a_o moral_a in_o like_a manner_n how_o vain_o do_v the_o romanist_n pride_n and_o value_v themselves_o upon_o the_o name_n of_o catholic_n of_o the_o catholic_n religion_n and_o of_o the_o catholic_n church_n though_o a_o title_n no_o more_o applicable_a to_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n than_o a_o man_n finger_n when_o it_o be_v swell_v and_o putrefy_a can_v be_v call_v his_o whole_a body_n a_o church_n which_o allow_v salvation_n to_o none_o without_o it_o nor_o award_v damnation_n to_o almost_o any_o within_o it_o and_o therefore_o as_o the_o former_a empty_a plea_n serve_v the_o sottish_a jew_n so_o no_o wonder_n if_o this_o equal_o serve_v these_o to_o put_v they_o into_o a_o fool_n paradise_n by_o feed_v their_o hope_n without_o change_v their_o life_n and_o as_o a_o excellent_a expedient_a first_o to_o assure_v they_o of_o heaven_n and_o then_o to_o bring_v they_o easy_o to_o it_o and_o so_o in_o a_o word_n to_o save_v both_o their_o soul_n and_o their_o sin_n too_o and_o to_o show_v how_o the_o same_o cheat_n run_v through_o all_o profession_n though_o not_o in_o the_o same_o dress_n none_o be_v more_o powerful_o and_o gross_o under_o it_o than_o another_o sort_n of_o man_n who_o on_o the_o contrary_a place_v their_o whole_a acceptance_n with_o god_n and_o indeed_o their_o whole_a religion_n upon_o a_o mighty_a zeal_n or_o rather_o outcry_n against_o popery_n and_o superstition_n verbal_o indeed_o utter_v against_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n but_o real_o mean_v against_o the_o church_n of_o england_n to_o which_o sort_v of_o person_n i_o shall_v say_v no_o more_o but_o this_o and_o that_o in_o the_o spirit_n of_o truth_n and_o meekness_n namely_o that_o zeal_n and_o noise_n against_o popery_n and_o real_a service_n for_o it_o be_v no_o such_o inconsistent_a thing_n as_o some_o may_v imagine_v indeed_o no_o more_o than_o invective_n against_o papist_n and_o solemn_a address_n of_o thanks_o to_o they_o for_o that_o very_a thing_n by_o which_o they_o will_v have_v bring_v in_o popery_n upon_o we_o and_o if_o those_o of_o the_o separation_n do_v not_o yet_o know_v so_o much_o thanks_o to_o they_o for_o it_o we_o of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n do_v and_o so_o may_v they_o themselves_o too_o in_o due_a time_n i_o speak_v not_o this_o by_o way_n of_o sarcasm_n to_o reproach_v they_o i_o leave_v that_o to_o their_o own_o conscience_n which_o will_v do_v it_o more_o effectual_o but_o by_o way_n of_o charity_n to_o warn_v they_o for_o let_v they_o be_v assure_v that_o this_o whole_a scene_n and_o practice_n of_o they_o be_v as_o real_o superstition_n and_o as_o false_a a_o bottom_n to_o rest_v their_o soul_n upon_o as_o either_o the_o jew_n allege_v abraham_n for_o their_o father_n while_o the_o devil_n claim_v they_o for_o his_o child_n or_o the_o papist_n rely_v upon_o their_o indulgence_n their_o saint_n merit_n and_o supererogation_n and_o such_o other_o foppery_n as_o can_v never_o settle_v nor_o indeed_o so_o much_o as_o reach_v the_o conscience_n and_o much_o less_o recommend_v it_o to_o that_o judge_n who_o be_v not_o to_o be_v flam_v off_o with_o word_n and_o phrase_n and_o name_n though_o take_v out_o of_o the_o scripture_n itself_o nay_o and_o i_o shall_v proceed_v yet_o further_o it_o be_v not_o a_o man_n be_v of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n itself_o though_o undoubted_o the_o pure_a and_o best_a reform_a church_n in_o the_o world_n indeed_o so_o well_o reform_v that_o it_o will_v be_v find_v a_o much_o easy_a work_n to_o alter_v than_o to_o better_v its_o constitution_n i_o say_v it_o be_v not_o a_o man_n be_v even_o of_o this_o excellent_a church_n which_o can_v of_o itself_o clear_a account_n between_o god_n and_o his_o conscience_n since_o bare_a communion_n with_o a_o good_a church_n can_v never_o alone_o make_v a_o good_a man_n for_o if_o it_o can_v i_o be_o sure_a we_o shall_v have_v no_o bad_a one_o in_o we_o and_o much_o less_o such_o as_o will_v betray_v it_o so_o that_o we_o see_v here_o that_o it_o be_v but_o too_o manifest_a that_o man_n of_o all_o church_n sect_n and_o persuasion_n be_v strange_o apt_a to_o flatter_v and_o deceive_v themselves_o with_o what_o they_o believe_v and_o what_o they_o profess_v and_o if_o we_o thorough_o consider_v the_o matter_n we_o shall_v find_v the_o fallacy_n to_o lie_v in_o this_o that_o those_o religious_a institution_n which_o god_n design_v only_o for_o mean_n help_n and_o advantage_n to_o promote_v and_o further_a man_n in_o the_o practice_n of_o holiness_n they_o look_v upon_o rather_o as_o a_o privilege_n to_o serve_v they_o instead_o of_o it_o and_o real_o to_o commute_v for_o it_o this_o be_v the_o very_a case_n and_o a_o fatal_a self-imposture_n it_o be_v certain_o and_o such_o a_o one_o as_o defeat_v the_o design_n and_o destroy_v the_o force_n of_o all_o religion_n and_o thus_o i_o have_v show_v four_o several_a uncertain_a and_o deceitful_a rule_n which_o man_n be_v prone_a to_o judge_v of_o their_o spiritual_a estate_n by_o but_o now_o have_v we_o any_o better_a or_o more_o certain_a to_o substitute_n and_o recommend_v in_o the_o room_n of_o they_o why_o yes_o if_o we_o believe_v the_o apostle_n a_o man_n be_v own_o heart_n or_o conscience_n be_v that_o which_o above_o all_o other_o thing_n be_v able_a to_o give_v he_o confidence_n towards_o god_n and_o the_o reason_n be_v because_o the_o heart_n know_v that_o by_o itself_o which_o nothing_o in_o the_o world_n beside_o can_v give_v it_o any_o knowledge_n of_o and_o without_o the_o knowledge_n of_o which_o it_o can_v have_v no_o foundation_n to_o build_v any_o true_a confidence_n upon_o conscience_n under_o god_n be_v the_o only_a competent_a judge_n of_o what_o the_o soul_n have_v do_v and_o what_o it_o have_v not_o do_v what_o gild_n it_o have_v contract_v and_o what_o it_o have_v not_o as_o it_o be_v in_o 1_o corinth_n 2._o 11._o what_o man_n know_v the_o thing_n of_o a_o man_n save_v the_o spirit_n of_o man_n which_o be_v in_o he_o conscience_n be_v its_o own_o counsellor_n the_o sole_a master_n of_o its_o own_o
have_v be_v make_v good_a in_o the_o premise_n that_o religion_n be_v at_o least_o a_o very_a high_a probability_n and_o this_o be_v that_o which_o i_o here_o contend_v for_o that_o it_o be_v not_o necessary_a to_o the_o oblige_a man_n to_o believe_v religion_n to_o be_v true_a that_o this_o truth_n be_v make_v out_o to_o their_o reason_n by_o argument_n demonstrative_o certain_a but_o that_o it_o be_v sufficient_a to_o render_v their_o unbelief_n unexcusable_a even_o upon_o the_o account_n of_o bare_a reason_n if_o so_o be_v the_o truth_n of_o religion_n carry_v in_o it_o a_o much_o great_a probability_n than_o any_o of_o those_o ratiocination_n that_o pretend_v the_o contrary_a and_o this_o i_o prove_v in_o the_o strength_n of_o these_o two_o consideration_n 1_o sy_n that_o no_o man_n in_o matter_n of_o this_o life_n require_v a_o assurance_n either_o of_o the_o good_a which_o he_o design_n or_o of_o the_o evil_a which_o he_o avoid_v from_o argument_n demonstrative_o certain_a but_o 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