natural_a credulity_n of_o child_n to_o their_o parent_n and_o teacher_n yet_o i_o do_v not_o hereby_o exclude_v but_o that_o as_o ripe_a year_n come_v on_o so_o they_o ought_v to_o gain_v strong_a ground_n and_o maxim_n to_o confirm_v what_o they_o first_o accept_v of_o in_o a_o more_o simple_a manner_n but_o here_o peradventure_o it_o will_v be_v expect_v that_o since_o we_o say_v we_o mean_v not_o in_o this_o discourse_n by_o the_o term_n religion_n the_o virtue_n so_o name_v by_o divine_n but_o the_o skill_n of_o attain_v to_o eternal_a bliss_n we_o shall_v give_v the_o reason_n why_o we_o call_v this_o religion_n the_o answer_n hereunto_o be_v not_o difficult_a for_o since_o the_o end_n we_o ought_v to_o aim_v at_o in_o this_o life_n belong_v to_o the_o next_o and_o since_o we_o know_v so_o very_o little_a of_o that_o even_o the_o great_a clerk_n much_o less_o the_o ordinary_a sort_n of_o christian_n who_o chief_a endeavour_n be_v bestow_v upon_o their_o temporal_a concernment_n 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table_n so_o in_o all_o other_o trade_n and_o art_n it_o be_v not_o enough_o to_o do_v our_o endeavour_n but_o the_o thing_n themselves_o must_v be_v real_o perform_v or_o else_o the_o desire_a effect_n will_v not_o follow_v then_o assure_o those_o who_o content_v themselves_o with_o this_o cold_a comfort_n that_o god_n be_v merciful_a do_v make_v less_o account_n of_o that_o so_o important_a business_n of_o their_o salvation_n than_o they_o do_v of_o those_o mean_a profit_n which_o arise_v out_o of_o vulgar_a art_n and_o occupation_n these_o two_o then_o do_v stand_v very_o well_o together_o that_o the_o same_o thing_n may_v be_v a_o command_n and_o withal_o a_o natural_a action_n towards_o the_o end_n for_o which_o it_o be_v command_v nay_o ordinary_o and_o regular_o it_o be_v always_o so_o and_o no_o command_n be_v otherwise_o unless_o where_o there_o be_v some_o fault_n either_o in_o the_o commander_n or_o in_o the_o subject_n the_o general_n command_n be_v of_o do_v such_o thing_n 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there_o have_v be_v no_o place_n for_o that_o disjunctive_a syllable_n i_o easy_o believe_v that_o many_o a_o pert_a bachelor_n will_v be_v ready_a to_o tell_v we_o that_o he_o can_v find_v way_n to_o salve_v all_o these_o place_n of_o scripture_n and_o many_o more_o if_o they_o be_v urge_v but_o that_o concern_v not_o i_o i_o inquire_v only_o what_o the_o outward_a face_n of_o scripture_n be_v and_o to_o what_o belief_n it_o will_v lead_v a_o honest_a heart_n leave_v to_o its_o own_o strength_n for_o if_o those_o queinte_v disputant_n do_v encounter_v with_o a_o person_n that_o be_v not_o enure_v to_o the_o sophistry_n they_o will_v turn_v black_a into_o white_a make_v two_o egg_n three_o as_o the_o tale_n go_v of_o the_o impertinent_a forward_a scholar_n and_o bring_v to_o pass_v whatsoever_o they_o undertake_v therefore_o it_o be_v necessary_a to_o impose_v among_o the_o condition_n of_o read_v the_o bible_n this_o for_o a_o principal_a one_o that_o they_o who_o by_o scripture_n aim_v at_o come_v to_o the_o truth_n shall_v admit_v of_o no_o interpreter_n and_o this_o because_o of_o the_o danger_n in_o light_v upon_o a_o false_a one_o instead_o of_o a_o true_a one_o before_o one_o have_v ground_n to_o discern_v which_o be_v a_o false_a one_o and_o which_o a_o true_a one_o for_o the_o case_n be_v very_o indifferent_a between_o a_o catholic_a interpreter_n and_o any_o other_o the_o catholic_a know_v the_o doctrine_n of_o christ_n that_o be_v to_o say_v the_o sense_n of_o the_o scripture_n independent_o from_o the_o word_n of_o the_o scripture_n and_o therefore_o in_o substantial_a point_n which_o concern_v christ_n doctrine_n he_o can_v teach_v or_o interpret_v amiss_o without_o swerve_v from_o his_o own_o faith_n but_o it_o be_v evident_a that_o every_o other_o who_o have_v no_o rule_n for_o his_o belief_n beside_o the_o bare_a letter_n and_o word_n of_o scripture_n be_v subject_a to_o error_n through_o every_o passion_n and_o prejudice_n which_o hide_o sway_v his_o heart_n awry_o and_o corrupt_v his_o judgement_n by_o pride_n or_o other_o affection_n so_o that_o he_o may_v be_v right_o compare_v to_o a_o rot_a cane_n that_o be_v lean_v upon_o will_v break_v and_o with_o its_o splinter_n wound_n and_o gore_v he_o that_o expect_v support_v from_o it_o the_o seven_o reflection_n that_o the_o read_n of_o the_o father_n will_v bring_v a_o man_n to_o the_o truth_n of_o religion_n and_o that_o natural_a reason_n will_v great_o advance_v a_o man_n thereunto_o it_o seem_v strange_a to_o i_o that_o any_o man_n who_o acknowledge_v scripture_n shall_v reject_v the_o father_n since_o he_o can_v not_o renounce_v they_o without_o profess_v at_o the_o same_o time_n by_o so_o do_v that_o he_o believe_v himself_o to_o be_v able_a with_o his_o little_a wit_n and_o general_o less_o study_n and_o learning_n to_o penetrate_v deep_a into_o the_o intelligence_n of_o scripture_n than_o so_o many_o age_n eminent_a for_o industry_n science_n and_o holiness_n can_v reach_v unto_o and_o all_o this_o upon_o no_o other_o pretence_n but_o because_o they_o be_v man_n and_o consequent_o liable_a to_o err_a as_o if_o himself_o be_v not_o a_o man_n but_o something_o else_o so_o far_o beyond_o comparison_n with_o all_o other_o man_n that_o we_o ought_v rather_o to_o confide_v in_o his_o ability_n and_o honesty_n then_o in_o all_o mankind_n that_o go_v before_o he_o which_o be_v so_o unworthy_a and_o so_o intolerable_a a_o pride_n that_o i_o admire_v how_o any_o auditory_a can_v endure_v it_o but_o to_o come_v more_o close_o to_o the_o point_n i_o say_v that_o see_v the_o holy_a father_n do_v both_o receive_v the_o prevach_n of_o the_o apostle_n near_a hand_n than_o we_o do_v and_o do_v hold_v the_o truth_n of_o scripture_n as_o strong_o as_o we_o do_v and_o do_v spend_v much_o time_n in_o the_o earnest_a study_n of_o it_o and_o proceed_v therein_o with_o as_o sincere_a heart_n as_o we_o can_v it_o may_v in_o no_o wise_a be_v doubt_v but_o that_o they_o have_v the_o mean_n and_o the_o will_n of_o have_v the_o true_a faith_n and_o consequent_o that_o they_o have_v it_o therefore_o what_o be_v their_o universal_a tenet_n in_o matter_n of_o faith_n can_v not_o be_v false_a nor_o aught_o to_o be_v reject_v or_o with_o any_o colour_n of_o reason_n be_v question_v by_o we_o as_o disagree_v with_o scripture_n beside_o their_o writing_n be_v large_a and_o numerous_a in_o which_o upon_o several_a occasion_n and_o in_o differ_v circumstance_n they_o repeat_v and_o inculcate_v the_o same_o thing_n by_o different_a word_n and_o expression_n it_o must_v needs_o thence_o follow_v that_o their_o sense_n and_o meaning_n in_o most_o thing_n of_o importance_n can_v not_o choose_v but_o be_v sufficient_o explicate_v so_o as_o who_o ever_o shall_v read_v they_o with_o candour_n ingenuity_n and_o judgement_n can_v not_o possible_o doubt_v of_o it_o and_o according_o experience_n have_v show_v we_o that_o the_o judicious_a protestant_n who_o give_v themselves_o to_o the_o read_n of_o the_o father_n be_v in_o judgement_n near_o unto_o catholic_n in_o most_o of_o their_o opinion_n and_o that_o which_o detain_v they_o from_o be_v absolute_o catholic_n be_v beside_o the_o chain_n of_o interest_n nothing_o but_o a_o secret_a pride_n of_o not_o submit_v themselves_o to_o the_o tradition_n of_o the_o church_n in_o some_o particular_a point_n in_o which_o tradition_n be_v not_o so_o clear_a to_o they_o though_o withal_o i_o deny_v not_o but_o that_o a_o wrong_a apprehension_n of_o some_o catholic_a tenet_n presume_v upon_o the_o explication_n of_o some_o particular_a doctor_n may_v unhappy_o contribute_v to_o this_o their_o obstinacy_n no_o doubt_n then_o but_o if_o any_o indifferent_a person_n not_o preimbibe_v with_o any_o wrong_a maxim_n shall_v bestow_v competent_a pain_n in_o read_v the_o father_n he_o will_v infallible_o become_v catholic_a especial_o if_o he_o take_v this_o rule_n along_o with_o he_o to_o compare_v the_o practice_n of_o protestant_n with_o the_o practice_n of_o the_o father_n and_o of_o the_o former_a church_n by_o which_o he_o will_v see_v that_o this_o which_o they_o call_v reformation_n have_v cut_v away_o under_o pretence_n of_o abuse_n not_o the_o abuse_n but_o the_o very_a thing_n themselves_o in_o which_o the_o abuse_n be_v like_o unskillful_a chirurgeon_n that_o cut_v of_o a_o leg_n to_o cure_v a_o small_a sore_n in_o it_o or_o like_o mahomet_n who_o take_v away_o all_o use_n of_o wine_n to_o cure_v drunkenness_n and_o in_o the_o mean_a while_n they_o cavil_v at_o petty_a question_n in_o which_o they_o strive_v to_o show_v that_o the_o church_n have_v err_v as_o for_o natural_a reason_n no_o man_n will_v expect_v that_o it_o shall_v be_v a_o entire_a mean_n of_o attain_v to_o the_o knowledge_n of_o the_o supernatural_a truth_n which_o be_v contain_v in_o christian_a religion_n but_o only_o that_o it_o may_v be_v a_o help_n thereunto_o by_o show_v that_o they_o be_v so_o far_o from_o contradict_v reason_n as_o indeed_o nothing_o can_v be_v more_o conformable_a to_o true_a reason_n than_o the_o whole_a economy_n of_o they_o be_v and_o i_o dare_v promise_v whosoever_o shall_v seek_v this_o that_o if_o he_o come_v unto_o it_o arm_v with_o true_a and_o sound_a philosophy_n he_o may_v arrive_v to_o a_o full_a contentment_n of_o his_o understanding_n and_o heart_n in_o all_o that_o concern_v so_o noble_a a_o enquiry_n now_o since_o catholic_a religion_n have_v be_v so_o intelligible_o divulge_v in_o the_o world_n st._n augustin_n make_v mention_v that_o he_o find_v the_o mystery_n of_o the_o trinity_n in_o the_o platonist_n book_n now_o if_o you_o ask_v i_o how_o this_o come_v to_o pass_v i_o answer_v that_o god_n provide_v in_o alexandria_n a_o city_n much_o addict_v to_o learning_n one_o ammonius_n hermias_n a_o great_a philosopher_n and_o a_o christian_n he_o to_o make_v christian_a religion_n more_o acceptable_a seek_v to_o join_v it_o with_o platonic_a philosophy_n which_o be_v no_o hard_a matter_n to_o do_v plato_n have_v be_v be_v as_o numenius_n say_v of_o he_o moses_n speak_v greek_a that_o be_v to_o say_v one_o who_o have_v light_v upon_o the_o hebrew_n learning_n have_v suck_v much_o out_o of_o it_o now_o this_o ammonius_n find_v in_o plato_n the_o idea_n of_o be_v and_o of_o unity_n and_o of_o life_n and_o such_o other_o airy_a notion_n easy_a to_o be_v wrought_v upon_o to_o what_o he_o design_v endeavour_v by_o these_o to_o instill_v into_o his_o scholar_n the_o mystery_n of_o the_o trinity_n which_o he_o do_v with_o such_o happy_a success_n that_o of_o the_o three_o prime_a wit_n of_o his_o school_n the_o one_o origen_n become_v so_o great_a and_o eminent_a a_o doctor_n of_o the_o church_n as_o antiquity_n have_v acknowledge_v he_o the_o other_o two_o amelius_n and_o plotinus_n prove_v two_o conductor_n of_o the_o
controversy_n logic_n or_o the_o method_n to_o come_v to_o truth_n in_o debate_n of_o religion_n write_a by_o thomas_n white_n gentleman_n anno_fw-la 1659._o the_o introduction_n mr._n john_n biddle_n who_o be_v represent_v to_o i_o as_o one_o of_o the_o most_o learned_a and_o most_o rational_a among_o the_o enemy_n of_o the_o roman_a church_n write_v a_o book_n wherein_o he_o declare_v what_o opinion_n he_o have_v frame_v to_o himself_o out_o of_o scripture_n concerning_o the_o bless_a trinity_n and_o that_o not_o out_o of_o scripture_n alone_o but_o also_o out_o of_o the_o father_n of_o the_o first_o three_o century_n smooth_o skip_v over_o according_a to_o the_o usual_a activity_n of_o a_o protestant_a doctor_n above_o a_o thousand_o year_n at_o a_o leave_n by_o which_o proceed_v he_o pretend_v that_o neither_o the_o caluinist_n nor_o any_o other_o who_o stick_v to_o pure_a scripture_n nay_o not_o the_o protestant_a himself_o who_o extend_v his_o authority_n to_o the_o father_n of_o 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not_o afford_v the_o discreet_a part_n even_o of_o their_o own_o follower_n the_o content_a they_o expect_v from_o they_o and_o that_o other_o have_v attempt_v to_o do_v the_o like_a but_o have_v be_v so_o discreet_a as_o to_o suppress_v their_o endeavour_n upon_o their_o find_v the_o success_n do_v not_o correspond_v to_o their_o wish_n this_o have_v make_v the_o book_n be_v esteem_v exceed_o dangerous_a to_o christian_a religion_n by_o those_o who_o think_v they_o have_v no_o rule_n to_o know_v what_o be_v solid_a and_o what_o be_v not_o in_o matter_n of_o religion_n yet_o be_v by_o the_o force_n of_o custom_n and_o consent_n of_o the_o great_a part_n of_o the_o christian_a name_n detain_v from_o renounce_v the_o godhead_n of_o the_o whole_a trynity_n as_o esteem_v it_o the_o main_a foundation_n for_o a_o material_a point_n of_o christian_a belief_n and_o that_o which_o have_v bring_v forth_o during_o to_o many_o age_n those_o heroyke_a action_n and_o noble_a effect_n wherewith_o 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because_o it_o be_v common_a to_o he_o and_o to_o the_o protestant_n and_o ever_o to_o the_o learned_a calvinist_n as_o may_v be_v see_v in_o the_o work_n of_o chamier_n and_o daille_n true_o to_o my_o think_n it_o be_v a_o most_o ridiculous_a and_o unreasonable_a proposition_n for_o i_o will_v fain_o know_v how_o it_o can_v fall_v into_o the_o brain_n of_o any_o indifferent_o discoursine_v man_n to_o doubt_v white_a the_o father_n of_o the_o four_o age_n do_v not_o know_v what_o the_o father_n of_o the_o former_a age_n hold_v better_o than_o we_o can_v discover_v it_o out_o of_o their_o writing_n that_o remain_v to_o we_o then_o more_o of_o they_o be_v extant_a neither_o be_v there_o any_o cavil_n or_o at_o lest_o very_o few_o which_o of_o they_o be_v true_a which_o supposition_n the_o stile_n the_o phrase_n the_o circumstance_n the_o practice_n of_o the_o time_n wherein_o those_o father_n write_v be_v then_o better_o understand_v and_o which_o be_v the_o chief_a o_o fall_n there_o 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our_o enquiry_n if_o we_o examine_v their_o writing_n i_o will_v give_v you_o for_o a_o example_n this_o book_n of_o master_n biddle_n that_o have_v occasion_v the_o follow_a discourse_n read_v the_o testimomye_n he_o allege_v they_o will_v seem_v to_o you_o the_o very_a contexture_n of_o the_o treatise_n out_o of_o which_o he_o have_v draw_v they_o so_o large_a in_o some_o place_n so_o continue_o page_n after_o page_n whereas_o general_o our_o protestant_a citation_n be_v burr_n of_o a_o line_n or_o two_o speak_v upon_o the_o by_o while_o the_o author_n discourse_n concern_v a_o other_o business_n and_o yet_o never_o the_o less_o nothing_o can_v be_v more_o manifest_a then_o that_o the_o doctrine_n he_o pretend_v to_o abet_v by_o those_o testimony_n be_v not_o the_o opinion_n of_o the_o father_n he_o allege_v for_o it_o the_o council_n of_o nice_a call_v the_o great_a that_o be_v the_o universal_a christian_a world_n with_o open_a mouth_n and_o one_o consent_n condemn_v the_o arrian_n of_o novelty_n and_o st._n athanasius_n so_o many_o time_n upbraid_v they_o to_o their_o face_n that_o their_o progenitor_n be_v only_a caïphas_n and_o artemas_n and_o such_o like_a and_o that_o their_o clergy_n man_n be_v fain_o to_o learn_v how_o to_o profess_v their_o faith_n and_o how_o to_o speak_v a_o certain_a token_n of_o their_o have_v be_v former_o teach_v the_o contrary_a the_o like_a in_o effect_n be_v in_o all_o other_o controversy_n between_o protestant_n and_o we_o for_o in_o any_o of_o they_o the_o 4_o age_n do_v testify_v that_o the_o doctrine_n it_o hold_v be_v descend_v from_o their_o forefather_n and_o be_v in_o quiet_a possession_n of_o belief_n in_o the_o church_n and_o that_o the_o opinion_n they_o dispute_v against_o be_v a_o nowelty_n they_o do_v thereby_o declare_v the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o precedent_a age_n more_o efficacious_o than_o any_o testimony_n
vicious_a be_v a_o quality_n common_a to_o all_o sort_n of_o action_n not_o a_o special_a kind_n of_o action_n and_o yet_o a_o action_n be_v say_v to_o proceed_v from_o man_n as_o man_n as_o far_o as_o it_o be_v virtuous_a or_o vicious_a neither_o be_v there_o any_o action_n so_o proper_a to_o virtue_n and_o vice_n as_o not_o to_o include_v some_o other_o nature_n within_o itself_o fortitude_n require_v some_o action_n or_o passion_n to_o gouverne_v and_o wherein_o to_o exercise_v courage_n and_o stoutness_n temperance_n have_v pleasure_n to_o moderate_v as_o in_o meat_n and_o drink_v which_o belong_v so_o a_o other_o faculty_n justice_n have_v civil_a action_n to_o regulate_v which_o be_v determine_v by_o law_n and_o by_o custom_n and_o prudence_n be_v a_o common_a eye_n over_o all_o yet_o possible_n though_o the_o action_n be_v the_o same_o the_o science_n wherein_o they_o be_v concern_v may_v never_o the_o less_o be_v divers_a as_o the_o skill_n of_o music_n or_o of_o logic_n be_v 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principle_n of_o nature_n no_o less_o be_v evident_a out_o of_o the_o former_a part_n of_o our_o discourse_n for_o if_o religion_n be_v the_o skill_n of_o obtain_v beatitude_n or_o heavenly_a glory_n and_o if_o this_o be_v the_o end_n of_o our_o birth_n and_o of_o our_o live_n in_o this_o world_n it_o follow_v that_o our_o very_a life_n here_o can_v not_o be_v so_o direct_v as_o it_o ought_v to_o be_v unless_o we_o have_v the_o science_n and_o rule_n of_o religion_n and_o because_o the_o right_a direction_n of_o our_o life_n to_o eternal_a beatitude_n be_v of_o great_a value_n and_o worth_n than_o our_o continuation_n in_o this_o world_n it_o be_v evident_a that_o the_o science_n of_o attain_v beatitude_n aught_o to_o be_v more_o clear_a unto_o we_o than_o the_o skill_n of_o guide_v ourselves_o in_o our_o corporal_a life_n wherefore_o see_v that_o we_o find_v religion_n be_v not_o now_o so_o clear_a and_o certain_a unto_o we_o as_o be_v the_o principle_n of_o our_o natural_a and_o civil_a life_n we_o may_v easy_o gather_v that_o we_o be_v not_o in_o the_o right_a temper_n which_o human_a nature_n require_v and_o from_o hence_o one_o may_v argue_v that_o if_o the_o happy_a state_n in_o which_o our_o first_o parent_n be_v create_v have_v continue_v till_o their_o multiplication_n have_v fill_v the_o earth_n the_o knowledge_n of_o god_n and_o other_o principle_n for_o gain_v so_o celestial_a bliss_n will_v have_v be_v as_o natural_a to_o they_o as_o the_o provide_n of_o meat_n clothes_n house_n and_o such_o natural_a accommodation_n be_v to_o we_o now_o and_o will_v have_v be_v derive_v from_o parent_n to_o child_n with_o the_o same_o connaturallnes_n and_o will_v have_v be_v embrace_v by_o the_o child_n with_o a_o like_a or_o great_a heat_n of_o affection_n and_o that_o the_o unhappy_a apple_n be_v the_o cause_n it_o be_v not_o now_o so_o as_o it_o likewise_o be_v of_o all_o other_o disorder_n in_o mankind_n whereof_o this_o be_v not_o the_o least_o if_o not_o the_o source_n of_o most_o of_o they_o as_o they_o who_o look_v into_o the_o matter_n will_v easy_o discern_v the_o due_a way_n therefore_o to_o attain_v the_o knowledge_n of_o religion_n be_v by_o nature_n such_o nature_n i_o mean_v as_o we_o may_v obscure_v to_o work_v in_o child_n when_o they_o learn_v their_o first_o language_n which_o as_o it_o be_v not_o effect_v without_o the_o deliver_n of_o they_o by_o their_o mother_n and_o nurse_n so_o neither_o be_v it_o without_o the_o endeavour_n of_o the_o little_a soul_n labour_v to_o express_v their_o thought_n and_o mind_n and_o nature_n have_v in_o she_o such_o principle_n that_o neither_o the_o one_o party_n nor_o the_o other_o can_v give_v over_o the_o pain_n till_o they_o have_v bring_v the_o effect_n to_o pass_v after_o the_o same_o manner_n in_o that_o happy_a state_n of_o innocency_n child_n will_v have_v be_v train_v up_o in_o godliness_n as_o perfect_o as_o in_o natural_a quality_n without_o any_o violent_a strain_n of_o 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