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the_o fulfil_v of_o the_o scripture_n or_o a_o essay_n show_v the_o exact_a accomplishment_n of_o the_o word_n of_o god_n in_o his_o work_n of_o providence_n perform_v and_o to_o be_v perform_v for_o confirm_v the_o believer_n and_o convince_v the_o atheist_n of_o the_o present_a time_n contain_v in_o the_o end_n a_o few_o rare_a history_n of_o the_o work_n and_o servant_n of_o god_n in_o the_o church_n of_o scotland_n isai_n xlvi_o v._n x._o my_o counsel_n shall_v stand_v and_o i_o will_v do_v all_o my_o pleasure_n john_n x_o v._n xxxv_o and_o the_o scripture_n can_v be_v break_v act._n 1_o v._o xvi_o man_n and_o brethren_n this_o scripture_n must_v needs_o have_v be_v fulfil_v print_v in_o the_o year_n 1669._o the_o epistle_n to_o the_o reader_n reader_n it_o be_v like_o you_o mâ—_n expect_v some_o account_n anent_o the_o rise_n and_o occasion_n of_o this_o discourse_n that_o on_o so_o great_a and_o weighty_a a_o subject_n so_o small_a a_o essay_n shall_v venture_v abroad_o 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to_o find_v such_o as_o will_v dip_v their_o pen_n in_o gall_n against_o a_o tender_a and_o strict_a walk_n in_o religion_n and_o revile_v it_o in_o the_o power_n thereof_o while_o they_o do_v not_o deny_v these_o truth_n and_o principle_n that_o necessary_o oblige_v to_o such_o a_o tender_a practice_n who_o in_o the_o most_o grave_a concern_v duty_n of_o christianity_n think_v it_o enough_o to_o charge_v their_o brethren_n with_o pharisaical_a ostentation_n and_o hypocrisy_n while_o they_o must_v confess_v these_o duty_n to_o be_v unquestionable_o bind_v and_o that_o they_o can_v be_v no_o competent_a judge_n of_o such_o a_o challenge_n which_o the_o great_a witness_n of_o the_o heart_n and_o inward_a part_n of_o man_n can_v only_o determine_v 2._o it_o be_v a_o sad_a remark_n also_o of_o the_o time_n that_o protestant_a writer_n profess_v the_o reform_a religion_n shall_v state_n themselves_o in_o opposition_n to_o the_o most_o concern_v ground_n thereof_o such_o as_o impute_a righteousness_n and_o justification_n by_o faith_n which_o be_v well_o call_v articulus_fw-la stantis_fw-la &_o cadentis_fw-la ecelesiâ—_n i_o can_v have_v that_o charity_n that_o it_o be_v from_o ignorance_n but_o from_o a_o height_n of_o malice_n that_o some_o of_o late_a reproach_n the_o protestant_a doctrine_n in_o this_o great_a fundamental_a of_o justification_n as_o if_o it_o press_v believe_v and_o rest_v upon_o christ_n without_o respect_n to_o work_n and_o holiness_n i_o confess_v we_o put_v not_o inherent_a righteousness_n in_o the_o room_n of_o impute_a though_o we_o assert_v each_o be_v necessary_a in_o their_o own_o place_n the_o one_o in_o order_n to_o ouâ—_n right_v the_o other_o in_o order_n to_o the_o actual_a participation_n of_o that_o right_n yea_o that_o holiness_n be_v absolute_o necessary_a not_o only_a necessitate_v praecepti_fw-la sed_fw-la medii_fw-la and_o justify_v faith_n do_v necessary_o require_v work_n sed_fw-la non_fw-la qua_fw-la &_o quatenus_fw-la 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profess_v these_o what_o ever_o they_o pretend_v i_o must_v look_v on_o as_o adversary_n to_o the_o reform_a church_n and_o there_o be_v nothing_o more_o dangerous_a than_o a_o pirate_n go_v forth_o under_o a_o counterfut_o flag_n 3._o be_v it_o not_o likewise_o sad_a yea_o astonish_v to_o see_v minister_n now_o in_o these_o time_n who_o be_v the_o express_a ambassador_n of_o christ_n give_v to_o the_o church_n for_o her_o edification_n stand_v so_o direct_o cross_v to_o the_o very_a end_n of_o their_o work_n and_o ministry_n many_o of_o who_o may_v be_v say_v that_o know_o and_o deliberate_o they_o oppose_v piety_n that_o such_o shall_v persecute_v who_o work_n be_v to_o feed_v and_o wound_n in_o stead_n of_o heal_a grieve_v the_o spirit_n of_o the_o godly_a who_o shall_v be_v helper_n of_o their_o joy_n that_o none_o be_v a_o great_a plague_n to_o corrupt_v the_o church_n and_o cause_v the_o
enchantment_n have_v fall_v on_o man_n what_o that_o can_v be_v which_o the_o more_o they_o seek_v to_o bear_v down_o the_o more_o it_o increase_v that_o make_v the_o rich_a choose_v poverty_n and_o these_o who_o dwell_v in_o palace_n take_v themselves_o with_o chearfulnes_n to_o the_o den_n and_o cave_n of_o the_o earth_n but_o beside_o this_o it_o be_v very_o manifest_a that_o in_o a_o large_a measure_n the_o spirit_n have_v be_v let_v forth_o to_o the_o church_n in_o after_o age_n yea_o there_o be_v no_o particular_a church_n where_o the_o light_n have_v shine_v but_o have_v have_v its_o special_a time_n some_o solemn_a day_n of_o the_o pour_v out_o of_o the_o spirit_n before_o the_o sun_n go_v down_o which_o may_v be_v observe_v either_o at_o the_o first_o break_v up_o of_o the_o gospel_n or_o at_o some_o other_o remarkable_a time_n and_o change_v of_o her_o condition_n whence_o a_o great_a tack_n of_o soul_n to_o christ_n have_v follow_v in_o a_o day_n wherein_o a_o effectual_a 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the_o truth_n which_o otherways_o they_o hate_v yea_o make_v they_o for_o the_o time_n wonder_v they_o shall_v not_o have_v be_v more_o serious_a in_o the_o way_n of_o god_n yea_o it_o do_v often_o put_v a_o thorn_n in_o the_o bed_n of_o their_o security_n for_o indeed_o the_o word_n and_o the_o light_n thereof_o do_v torment_v these_o who_o dwell_v in_o the_o earth_n and_o true_o this_o be_v a_o marvellous_a thing_n which_o win_v in_o uponm_fw-la mens_fw-la secret_a design_n and_o counsel_n do_v reveal_v to_o they_o the_o most_o close_o thought_n of_o their_o heart_n which_o they_o be_v sure_a man_n eye_n can_v not_o reach_v take_v they_o down_o through_o themselves_o and_o yet_o that_o the_o world_n know_v not_o whence_o it_o be_v yea_o be_v they_o not_o force_v to_o confess_v what_o a_o great_a difference_n they_o find_v betwixt_o the_o word_n from_o the_o mouth_n of_o some_o who_o be_v holy_a and_o serious_a though_o hold_v out_o in_o great_a simplicity_n then_o from_o other_o 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that_o this_o be_v a_o deed_n know_v and_o public_a in_o the_o time_n which_o be_v not_o do_v in_o a_o corner_n but_o in_o the_o view_v of_o the_o world_n and_o before_o all_o the_o child_n of_o israel_n and_o by_o they_o attest_v and_o with_o great_a carefulness_n transmit_v to_o their_o child_n and_o by_o these_o to_o the_o follow_a generation_n as_o a_o thing_n never_o to_o be_v forget_v 2._o be_v testify_v by_o moses_n so_o great_a a_o person_n and_o eye-witness_a thereof_o one_o who_o even_o the_o most_o ancient_a of_o heathen_a writer_n do_v mention_n with_o much_o respect_n and_o in_o this_o do_v never_o challenge_v his_o testimony_n though_o a_o matter_n of_o fact_n and_o of_o that_o moment_n which_o all_o the_o nation_n about_o can_v not_o but_o know_v and_o both_o in_o the_o present_a and_o after_o age_n have_v the_o remembrance_n thereof_o keep_v up_o so_o that_o they_o may_v easy_o refute_v such_o a_o thing_n if_o false_a and_o we_o may_v judge_v the_o egyptian_n and_o 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anent_o the_o captivity_n be_v not_o its_o accomplishment_n put_v on_o record_n in_o a_o book_n of_o the_o church_n lamentation_n where_o this_o truth_n may_v be_v read_v in_o her_o tear_n and_o true_o such_o as_o ever_o know_v grief_n in_o a_o high_a measure_n may_v easy_o know_v what_o be_v there_o express_v to_o be_v sad_a earnest_n and_o read_v the_o lively_a motion_n of_o a_o afflict_a case_n therein_o and_o beside_o have_v not_o this_o be_v witness_v to_o after_o age_n by_o a_o visible_a monument_n even_o the_o destruction_n of_o the_o temple_n that_o great_a and_o excellent_a work_n which_o though_o after_o rebuilt_a do_v never_o attain_v its_o former_a splendour_n 2._o this_o be_v a_o matter_n of_o fact_n of_o great_a note_n and_o famous_a in_o the_o time_n do_v in_o the_o view_n of_o all_o the_o nation_n a_o considerable_a piece_n of_o the_o babylonish_n conquest_n yea_o that_o testimony_n the_o scripture_n bear_v to_o the_o same_o be_v it_o not_o a_o few_o age_n after_o 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can_v challenge_v yea_o be_v it_o not_o clear_a that_o josephus_n not_o only_o from_o sacred_a history_n but_o from_o these_o old_a record_n and_o fragment_n of_o former_a time_n which_o be_v then_o extant_a though_o since_o have_v be_v much_o lose_v compose_v his_o jewish_a antiquitye_n which_o give_v so_o particular_a a_o relatiou_n of_o this_o truth_n v._o what_o be_v foretell_v by_o daniel_n concern_v the_o rise_n and_o fall_v of_o the_o monarchy_n and_o change_v of_o these_o great_a empire_n who_o have_v be_v so_o sore_a a_o rod_n upon_o the_o church_n have_v it_o not_o many_o age_n past_a have_v a_o most_o punctual_a performance_n it_o be_v now_o long_o since_o that_o great_a image_n show_v to_o the_o prophet_n in_o a_o vision_n have_v be_v bring_v down_o and_o break_v so_o that_o scarce_o the_o toe_n thereof_o do_v now_o remain_v which_o beside_o the_o witness_n of_o the_o scripture_n may_v be_v clear_o demonstrat_fw-la upon_o other_o rational_a ground_n 1._o it_o be_v grant_v 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undeniable_a that_o in_o these_o great_a revolution_n of_o the_o monarchy_n there_o be_v a_o discernible_a consent_n and_o harmony_n betwixt_o the_o scripture_n and_o these_o ancient_a record_n which_o we_o yet_o have_v of_o these_o time_n so_o that_o not_o only_o the_o thing_n themselves_o but_o some_o of_o the_o most_o observable_a circumstance_n thereof_o which_o be_v particular_o mention_v by_o daniel_n we_o may_v read_v in_o xenophon_n herodot_n and_o diodorus_n siculus_n 3._o it_o must_v also_o be_v grant_v that_o something_n which_o in_o daniel_n prophesy_v will_v seem_v most_o strange_a and_o improbable_a such_o as_o belshazars_n death_n in_o that_o very_a night_n the_o hand_n writing_n be_v show_v to_o he_o may_v be_v particular_o understand_v in_o xenophons_n history_n how_o cyrus_n take_v the_o advantage_n of_o the_o babylonian_a security_n while_o they_o be_v in_o the_o midst_n of_o a_o solemn_a feast_n and_o by_o divert_v the_o channel_n of_o euphrates_n do_v enter_v the_o city_n without_o opposition_n also_o how_o that_o great_a horn_n of_o the_o high_a goat_n be_v so_o sudden_o break_v and_o the_o come_n up_o of_o four_o in_o his_o room_n which_o by_o daniel_n be_v expound_v of_o the_o grecian_a monarchy_n and_o the_o devide_v of_o that_o empire_n after_o alexander_n death_n be_v it_o not_o punctuallie_o hold_v forth_o by_o all_o the_o history_n of_o that_o time_n 4._o be_v there_o not_o a_o very_a convince_a appearance_n of_o a_o divine_a hand_n both_o in_o the_o rise_n and_o fall_v of_o these_o monarchy_n and_o a_o extraordinary_a providence_n which_o we_o can_v but_o see_v when_o we_o read_v these_o history_n that_o sure_o something_o above_o ordinary_a mean_n and_o second_o cause_n be_v both_o in_o cyrus_n conquest_n against_o the_o babylonian_n and_o the_o marvellous_a swift_a progress_n and_o success_n of_o alexander_n against_o the_o persian_n vi_o that_o which_o be_v the_o great_a scope_n of_o all_o prophecy_n under_o the_o old_a testament_n the_o come_n of_o the_o messiah_n be_v sure_o verify_v and_o now_o many_o age_n past_a have_v have_v a_o accomplishment_n the_o lord_n be_v come_v unto_o his_o temple_n even_o he_o who_o day_n abraham_n and_o the_o saint_n under_o the_o law_n do_v long_o after_o this_o be_v the_o most_o happy_a and_o notable_a crisis_n that_o ever_o the_o church_n be_v under_o the_o great_a epocha_n and_o period_n of_o time_n from_o which_o she_o do_v now_o reckon_v which_o we_o know_v be_v no_o fable_n or_o cunning_a device_n of_o man_n that_o god_n be_v manifest_v in_o the_o flesh_n do_v make_v his_o abode_n for_o some_o time_n in_o the_o earth_n suffer_v at_o jerusalem_n in_o the_o view_n of_o the_o world_n before_o many_o witness_n do_v arise_v from_o death_n on_o the_o three_o day_n be_v see_v and_o know_v by_o his_o disciple_n thereafter_o and_o have_v finish_v the_o work_n for_o which_o he_o come_v be_v receive_v up_o again_o into_o glory_n this_o be_v indeed_o a_o great_a truth_n which_o 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prophecy_n they_o have_v in_o holy_a writ_n that_o from_o judea_n shall_v about_o that_o time_n come_v who_o be_v to_o be_v emperor_n of_o the_o world_n 3._o it_o be_v also_o sure_a there_o be_v such_o a_o one_o who_o in_o the_o day_n of_o tiberius_n and_o under_o the_o reign_n of_o herod_n be_v make_v manifest_a to_o israel_n and_o come_v with_o no_o outward_a show_n and_o observation_n but_o do_v great_a and_o marvellous_a thing_n before_o all_o the_o people_n be_v crucify_v at_o jerusalem_n under_o pontius_n pilate_n and_o notwithstanding_o the_o ignominy_n of_o his_o death_n be_v after_o adore_v and_o follow_v both_o by_o many_o of_o the_o jew_n and_o the_o gentiles_n who_o doctrine_n do_v also_o in_o a_o short_a time_n spread_v through_o the_o world_n a_o truth_n which_o the_o great_a adversary_n of_o the_o gospel_n have_v ever_o confess_v and_o do_v attest_v the_o history_n thereof_o de_fw-la facto_fw-la to_o be_v a_o faithful_a relation_n not_o only_a jew_n but_o the_o heathen_a 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