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religion_n to_o be_v true_a we_o will_v prove_v
against_o her_o infallibility_n however_o this_o show_n that_o the_o most_o infallible_a teacher_n can_v destroy_v our_o natural_a liberty_n of_o judge_v for_o we_o must_v judge_v of_o his_o doctrine_n by_o sense_n and_o reason_n and_o see_v that_o it_o contradict_v neither_o which_o be_v the_o only_a natural_a principle_n of_o knowledge_n we_o have_v which_o be_v therefore_o to_o exercise_v all_o the_o reason_n and_o judgement_n which_o god_n have_v give_v we_o and_o three_o though_o we_o must_v receive_v all_o divine_a and_o supernatural_a truth_n upon_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o revealer_n yet_o we_o must_v own_v our_o own_o reason_n and_o judgement_n to_o understand_v the_o revelation_n which_o can_v possible_o be_v otherwise_o for_o whoever_o it_o be_v that_o speak_v to_o we_o whether_o god_n by_o a_o immediate_a voice_n from_o heaven_n or_o a_o prophet_n inspire_v by_o god_n we_o have_v no_o way_n to_o understand_v what_o be_v say_v but_o by_o our_o own_o natural_a faculty_n 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law_n and_o his_o doctrine_n be_v not_o the_o destruction_n but_o the_o improvement_n and_o perfection_n of_o the_o moysaicall_a dispensation_n to_o this_o trial_n he_o submit_v himself_o and_o his_o doctrine_n appeal_v to_o moses_n and_o the_o prophet_n require_v they_o to_o search_v the_o scripture_n for_o they_o be_v they_o which_o testify_v of_o i_o john_n 5._o 39_o and_o after_o his_o resurrection_n from_o the_o dead_a which_o one_o will_v have_v think_v have_v be_v sufficient_a of_o itself_o to_o have_v confirm_v his_o divine_a authority_n yet_o he_o prove_v from_o scripture_n that_o thus_o christ_n ought_v to_o suffer_v and_o to_o enter_v into_o his_o glory_n and_o beginning_n at_o moses_n and_o all_o the_o prophet_n he_o expound_v unto_o they_o the_o two_o disciple_n go_v to_o emaus_n the_o thing_n concern_v himself_o luke_n 24._o 26_o 27._o and_o this_o course_n the_o apostle_n take_v in_o their_o sermon_n st._n peter_n do_v not_o only_o testify_v to_o the_o jew_n as_o a_o 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be_v certain_a what_o shall_v make_v i_o uncertain_a quest._n do_v you_o not_o see_v that_o reason_n itself_o be_v uncertain_a how_o do_v man_n differ_v in_o their_o reason_n what_o contrary_a exposition_n of_o scripture_n do_v they_o give_v and_o what_o certainty_n then_o in_o this_o way_n answ._n i_o hope_v sir_n you_o will_v not_o say_v that_o there_o be_v no_o such_o thing_n as_o true_a reason_n or_o that_o true_a reason_n be_v uncertain_a or_o that_o scripture_n true_o expound_v be_v a_o uncertain_a rule_n now_o though_o other_o man_n reason_v foolish_o and_o interpret_v scripture_n perverse_o what_o be_v that_o to_o i_o if_o i_o reason_v right_a and_o expound_v scripture_n true_o as_o i_o believe_v i_o do_v and_o shall_v believe_v so_o till_o you_o can_v prove_v that_o i_o do_v my_o certainty_n i_o tell_v you_o be_v found_v upon_o certain_a evidence_n and_o you_o can_v never_o shake_v my_o certainty_n till_o you_o can_v shake_v that_o it_o will_v be_v great_a and_o contemptible_a weakness_n in_o i_o to_o distrust_v the_o most_o plain_a and_o convince_a reason_n because_o you_o tell_v i_o that_o other_o man_n be_v of_o another_o mind_n if_o you_o can_v prove_v that_o their_o reason_n be_v better_a than_o i_o i_o will_v yield_v to_o the_o best_a reason_n but_o i_o can_v renounce_v my_o reason_n while_o i_o believe_v it_o true_a nor_o suspect_v it_o while_o i_o believe_v it_o certain_a quest._n when_o two_o man_n differ_v in_o their_o opinion_n and_o oppose_v reason_n to_o reason_n must_v not_o one_o of_o they_o be_v mistake_v answ._n yes_o it_o may_v be_v both_o but_o neither_o of_o they_o think_v themselves_o mistake_v mere_o because_o they_o differ_v from_o each_o other_o for_o that_o will_v end_v the_o dispute_n if_o the_o difference_n in_o religion_n be_v a_o argument_n against_o the_o certainty_n of_o all_o religion_n there_o be_v a_o end_n of_o religion_n for_o infallibility_n itself_o can_v not_o escape_v which_o be_v deny_v by_o more_o christian_n than_o 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certainty_n which_o result_v from_o a_o clear_a and_o distinct_a knowledge_n of_o thing_n in_o comparison_n with_o infallibility_n let_v we_o brief_o consider_v what_o the_o true_a notion_n of_o infallibility_n be_v and_o how_o much_o it_o excel_v a_o certainty_n of_o knowledge_n 1._o first_o then_o i_o observe_v that_o infallibility_n belong_v to_o person_n not_o to_o thing_n a_o proposition_n can_v be_v fallible_a or_o infallible_a but_o true_a or_o false_a for_o fallible_a signify_v that_o which_o can_v be_v deceive_v infallible_a that_o which_o can_v be_v deceive_v and_o therefore_o can_v be_v apply_v only_o to_o intelligent_a being_n who_o be_v capable_a of_o either_o so_o that_o to_o say_v that_o any_o proposition_n be_v injallible_o true_a beside_o the_o impropriety_n of_o the_o expression_n add_v nothing_o to_o truth_n for_o that_o which_o be_v true_a be_v true_a and_o can_v neither_o be_v more_o nor_o less_o true_a second_o perfect_a infallibility_n be_v nothing_o else_o but_o 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certainty_n and_o such_o a_o certainty_n as_o result_v from_o the_o most_o perfect_a knowledge_n of_o the_o reason_n and_o nature_n of_o thing_n as_o it_o be_v in_o god_n which_o be_v only_o true_a infallibility_n there_o be_v no_o difference_n between_o certainty_n and_o infallibility_n in_o god_n and_o the_o difference_n between_o the_o certainty_n of_o creature_n and_o the_o infallibility_n of_o god_n be_v this_o that_o the_o one_o be_v a_o finite_a and_o the_o other_o a_o infinite_a knowledge_n for_o nothing_o can_v be_v by_o nature_n infallible_a but_o infinite_a knowledge_n but_o a_o finite_a knowledge_n which_o do_v not_o extend_v to_o every_o thing_n may_v in_o some_o thing_n be_v deceive_v but_o as_o far_o as_o it_o reach_v it_o may_v be_v certain_a and_o that_o be_v a_o kind_n of_o a_o finite_a infallibility_n a_o fallible_a creature_n do_v not_o signify_v a_o be_v which_o can_v never_o be_v certain_a but_o a_o be_v which_o have_v not_o a_o natural_a knowledge_n of_o all_o thing_n and_o therefore_o may_v be_v deceive_v in_o those_o thing_n which_o be_v without_o the_o sphere_n of_o its_o knowledge_n and_o therefore_o it_o be_v as_o absurd_a to_o say_v that_o we_o can_v be_v certain_a of_o any_o thing_n because_o we_o be_v not_o infallible_a as_o to_o say_v that_o we_o can_v know_v nothing_o because_o we_o do_v not_o know_v all_o thing_n four_o and_o therefore_o fallibility_n or_o infallibility_n do_v not_o alter_v the_o nature_n of_o certainty_n what_o be_v the_o certainty_n of_o god_n but_o those_o clear_a and_o bright_a idea_n of_o truth_n in_o the_o divine_a mind_n for_o he_o be_v not_o certain_a because_o he_o be_v infallible_a but_o he_o be_v infallible_a because_o he_o be_v certain_a and_o thus_o in_o proportion_n to_o that_o distance_n which_o be_v between_o god_n and_o creature_n our_o certainty_n be_v nothing_o else_o but_o a_o clear_a and_o distinct_a knowledge_n and_o perception_n of_o the_o reason_n and_o nature_n of_o thing_n and_o wherever_o this_o be_v how_o fallible_a soever_o the_o person_n be_v in_o other_o matter_n he_o be_v certain_a so_o far_o and_o to_o demand_v any_o far_a reason_n of_o certainty_n than_o the_o clear_a and_o distinct_a knowledge_n of_o thing_n be_v to_o demand_v some_o other_o reason_n of_o certainty_n than_o knowledge_n and_o thus_o we_o may_v doubt_v of_o the_o certainty_n of_o god_n as_o well_o as_o of_o man_n if_o we_o do_v not_o allow_v a_o clear_a and_o distinct_a knowledge_n to_o be_v certainty_n for_o there_o be_v nothing_o beyond_o this_o five_o and_o hence_o it_o follow_v that_o as_o to_o thing_n which_o be_v knowable_a by_o the_o light_n of_o nature_n our_o certainty_n result_v from_o the_o clear_a and_o distinct_a perception_n of_o our_o own_o mind_n and_o depend_v on_o the_o truth_n and_o certainty_n of_o our_o natural_a faculty_n as_o for_o instance_n those_o impression_n which_o our_o sense_n make_v on_o we_o and_o those_o perception_n they_o awaken_v in_o our_o mind_n be_v so_o strong_a and_o forcible_a that_o they_o create_v a_o natural_a certainty_n and_o we_o can_v doubt_v whether_o what_o we_o see_v and_o feel_v and_o hear_v be_v real_a or_o not_o those_o natural_a idea_n and_o notion_n we_o have_v in_o our_o mind_n those_o first_o principle_n of_o reason_n and_o discourse_n appear_v so_o plain_a and_o self-evident_a to_o we_o that_o we_o can_v no_o more_o question_v they_o than_o our_o own_o be_v and_o seek_v for_o no_o other_o proof_n of_o they_o but_o their_o own_o natural_a evidence_n as_o that_o both_o part_n of_o a_o contradiction_n can_v be_v true_a that_o nothing_o can_v be_v and_o not_o be_v at_o the_o same_o time_n that_o no_o power_n can_v make_v that_o never_o to_o have_v be_v which_o once_o be_v that_o nothing_o that_o ever_o be_v not_o can_v be_v without_o a_o cause_n these_o proposition_n be_v so_o self-evident_a that_o the_o mind_n assent_v to_o they_o without_o demand_v any_o other_o
as_o well_o as_o bishop_n from_o the_o apostle_n that_o they_o believe_v and_o practise_v neither_o more_o nor_o less_o through_o all_o the_o several_a age_n of_o the_o church_n to_o this_o day_n than_o what_o st._n peter_n teach_v they_o though_o this_o will_v not_o make_v they_o the_o judge_n of_o controversy_n yet_o they_o will_v be_v good_a witness_n of_o the_o apostolical_a faith_n and_o there_o will_v be_v great_a reason_n to_o inquire_v what_o their_o faith_n and_o worship_n be_v but_o their_o mere_a succession_n to_o the_o apostle_n do_v not_o prove_v that_o they_o have_v neither_o diminish_v nor_o add_v to_o the_o faith_n of_o the_o apostle_n for_o there_o be_v no_o natural_a necessity_n that_o those_o who_o succeed_v shall_v always_o be_v of_o the_o mind_n of_o their_o predecessor_n and_o we_o have_v plain_a evidence_n that_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n have_v in_o several_a age_n make_v new_a and_o strange_a addition_n to_o the_o christian_a faith_n and_o their_o succession_n of_o bishop_n without_o a_o succession_n of_o faith_n and_o worship_n be_v little_a worth_n and_o yet_o it_o be_v much_o stranger_n still_o that_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n pretence_n to_o the_o authority_n of_o a_o judge_n shall_v be_v make_v a_o reason_n to_o believe_v that_o she_o have_v this_o authority_n what_o advantage_n have_v confidence_n above_o modesty_n over_o weak_a mind_n the_o church_n of_o england_n may_v pretend_v this_o with_o as_o much_o reason_n as_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n but_o she_o disow_v infallibility_n lose_v all_o claim_n to_o it_o and_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n pretend_v to_o infallibility_n it_o seem_v gain_v a_o right_a to_o it_o by_o possession_n and_o usurpation_n but_o the_o argument_n such_o as_o it_o be_v seem_v to_o be_v this_o that_o the_o divine_n of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n wish_v in_o this_o confusion_n of_o thing_n that_o there_o be_v a_o judge_n of_o controversy_n and_o therefore_o by_o their_o own_o confession_n a_o judge_n be_v very_o useful_a and_o necessary_a and_o therefore_o there_o be_v such_o a_o judge_n and_o no_o other_o church_n pretend_v to_o that_o authority_n but_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n therefore_o she_o alone_o be_v that_o judge_n which_o be_v such_o a_o chain_n of_o consequence_n as_o hang_v together_o by_o magic_n for_o they_o have_v no_o natural_a connexion_n if_o we_o do_v think_v a_o judge_n of_o controversy_n useful_a do_v it_o hence_o follow_v that_o god_n have_v appoint_v such_o a_o judge_n when_o there_o be_v no_o appearance_n of_o any_o such_o thing_n or_o if_o god_n have_v appoint_v such_o a_o judge_n do_v the_o church_n of_o rome_n pretend_v to_o be_v that_o judge_n when_o she_o can_v show_v no_o commission_n for_o it_o prove_v that_o she_o be_v so_o but_o the_o truth_n be_v whatever_o divine_v they_o be_v if_o there_o be_v any_o such_o who_o wish_v for_o such_o a_o judge_n to_o unite_v the_o whole_a christian_a church_n in_o faith_n and_o worship_n take_v very_o wrong_a measure_n of_o thing_n and_o because_o the_o true_a understanding_n of_o this_o be_v the_o most_o effectual_a way_n to_o end_v this_o controversy_n i_o shall_v discourse_v particular_o of_o it_o 1._o first_o then_o i_o observe_v that_o a_o infallible_a judge_n of_o controversy_n who_o we_o be_v bind_v in_o all_o case_n to_o believe_v be_v inconsistent_a with_o the_o constitution_n of_o human_a nature_n man_n be_v a_o reasonable_a creature_n and_o it_o be_v natural_a to_o a_o reasonable_a creature_n to_o understand_v and_o judge_v for_o himself_o and_o therefore_o to_o submit_v to_o any_o man_n judgement_n how_o infallible_a soever_o he_o be_v presume_v to_o be_v without_o understanding_n and_o judge_v for_o ourselves_o be_v a_o unnatural_a imposition_n upon_o mankind_n this_o destroy_v human_a nature_n and_o transform_v a_o man_n who_o be_v a_o know_v and_o intelligent_a creature_n into_o a_o senseless_a though_o infallible_a machine_n which_o move_v by_o external_a direction_n not_o from_o a_o inward_a principle_n of_o knowledge_n and_o life_n to_o know_v and_o to_o follow_v a_o guide_n without_o any_o knowledge_n or_o judgement_n of_o our_o own_o be_v two_o very_a different_a thing_n the_o first_o be_v the_o understanding_n of_o a_o man_n the_o other_o a_o sort_n of_o knowledge_n without_o understanding_n for_o though_o i_o have_v a_o entire_a system_n of_o true_a proposition_n which_o i_o must_v exercise_v no_o act_n of_o reason_n and_o judgement_n about_o but_o only_o receive_v they_o as_o the_o dictate_v of_o a_o infallible_a judge_n this_o be_v not_o human_a knowledge_n this_o be_v no_o perfection_n of_o human_a understanding_n no_o man_n be_v a_o jot_n the_o wise_a or_o more_o know_v for_o all_o this_o no_o more_o than_o he_o will_v be_v who_o can_v repeat_v all_o the_o proposition_n in_o euclid_n and_o believe_v they_o to_o be_v all_o true_a upon_o the_o authority_n of_o his_o master_n but_o know_v not_o how_o to_o demonstrate_v any_o one_o of_o they_o which_o be_v to_o understand_v nothing_o about_o they_o now_o i_o can_v never_o believe_v that_o god_n will_v destroy_v human_a nature_n by_o suspend_v all_o the_o act_n of_o reason_n and_o judgement_n to_o make_v man_n infallible_a which_o be_v a_o certain_a way_n indeed_o to_o prevent_v error_n to_o let_v man_n know_v and_o judge_v of_o nothing_o that_o they_o may_v not_o mistake_v but_o for_o my_o part_n i_o value_v knowledge_n so_o much_o that_o i_o have_v rather_o venture_v some_o mistake_v than_o forfeit_v my_o understanding_n if_o my_o faith_n must_v be_v resolve_v whole_o into_o the_o authority_n of_o a_o infallible_a judge_n though_o i_o may_v think_v i_o understand_v some_o thing_n yet_o i_o must_v not_o believe_v for_o that_o reason_n for_o than_o i_o must_v believe_v nothing_o but_o what_o i_o do_v understand_v and_o see_v a_o reason_n for_o which_o make_v every_o man_n his_o own_o judge_n but_o i_o must_v believe_v my_o judge_n with_o or_o without_o understanding_n without_o the_o exercise_n of_o my_o own_o reason_n and_o judgement_n which_o may_v make_v we_o good_a catholic_n but_o do_v also_o unman_v we_o but_o you_o will_v say_v be_v we_o not_o bind_v to_o believe_v infallible_a teacher_n who_o we_o know_v to_o be_v infallible_a and_o have_v not_o god_n in_o several_a age_n give_v such_o teacher_n to_o the_o world_n moses_n and_o the_o prophet_n christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n and_o must_v we_o not_o resign_v up_o our_o understanding_n to_o they_o and_o do_v this_o unman_v we_o why_o then_o may_v we_o not_o resign_v up_o our_o understanding_n to_o a_o infallible_a judge_n now_o as_o we_o ought_v to_o have_v do_v have_v we_o live_v in_o the_o day_n of_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n and_o any_o other_o infallible_a teacher_n now_o for_o answer_n to_o this_o consider_v second_o that_o no_o infallible_a teacher_n can_v whole_o supersede_n the_o exercise_n of_o our_o own_o reason_n and_o judgement_n for_o though_o the_o immediate_a authority_n of_o god_n must_v and_o aught_o in_o all_o case_n to_o over-rule_v we_o and_o be_v the_o best_a and_o most_o rational_a account_n of_o our_o faith_n for_o nothing_o be_v more_o reasonable_a than_o to_o believe_v god_n who_o be_v eternal_a truth_n yet_o when_o any_o man_n pretend_v to_o teach_v by_o god_n authority_n we_o must_v in_o the_o first_o place_n judge_n of_o his_o authority_n and_o not_o believe_v every_o one_o who_o pretend_v to_o come_v from_o god_n which_o resolve_v the_o very_a reason_n of_o our_o faith_n into_o our_o own_o private_a judgement_n and_o therefore_o by_o this_o rule_n we_o must_v at_o least_o use_v our_o own_o judgement_n in_o the_o choice_n of_o our_o judge_n which_o in_o our_o present_a case_n will_v infer_v the_o use_n of_o our_o own_o reason_n and_o judgement_n as_o to_o all_o the_o material_a dispute_n in_o religion_n and_o make_v such_o a_o judge_n needless_a when_o we_o have_v find_v he_o of_o which_o more_o present_o nay_o second_o we_o must_v judge_v of_o the_o doctrine_n of_o such_o a_o teacher_n by_o sense_n and_o reason_n which_o be_v the_o natural_a principle_n of_o knowledge_n for_o let_v a_o man_n pretend_v never_o so_o much_o to_o a_o divine_a authority_n if_o he_o preach_v any_o thing_n contrary_a to_o the_o sense_n and_o reason_n of_o mankind_n we_o be_v not_o to_o believe_v he_o no_o not_o though_o he_o shall_v work_v miracle_n for_o we_o must_v believe_v nothing_o come_v from_o god_n which_o be_v contrary_a to_o sense_n and_o reason_n which_o be_v the_o natural_a notice_n god_n have_v give_v we_o of_o thing_n and_o as_o god_n can_v contradict_v himself_o so_o we_o can_v never_o be_v sure_a that_o any_o man_n speak_v from_o god_n than_o we_o be_v of_o what_o sense_n and_o reason_n teach_v and_o if_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n will_v but_o suffer_v we_o to_o judge_v thus_o far_o we_o shall_v have_v a_o infallible_a demonstration_n