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also_o consider_v if_o the_o will_n and_o understanding_n be_v the_o element_n of_o faith_n that_o a_o ethnic_n lay_v aside_o the_o divine_a testimony_n and_o retire_n to_o his_o reason_n will_v be_v more_o confirm_v in_o his_o persuasion_n as_o a_o chemist_n assert_n his_o principle_n and_o practical_a knowledge_n above_o that_o which_o theory_n teach_v whilst_o he_o analyses_n or_o dissolve_v a_o body_n by_o which_o he_o make_v sense_n a_o witness_n of_o his_o reason_n and_o give_v evidence_n of_o the_o truth_n by_o both_o or_o as_o the_o mathematical_a knowledge_n challenge_v great_a certainty_n than_o that_o in_o other_o science_n which_o take_v a_o scheme_n asunder_o by_o demonstration_n and_o rebuilding_n it_o on_o the_o same_o principle_n confident_o and_o just_o call_v it_o true_a but_o the_o success_n be_v different_a in_o religious_a case_n as_o in_o some_o curious_a contexture_n which_o be_v defective_a by_o its_o too_o fine_a thread_n and_o not_o far_o remove_v from_o 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command_v to_o be_v use_v deserve_v not_o
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lib._n sext._n ethic._n ad_fw-la nicom_fw-la so_o far_o as_o man_n follow_v a_o unerring_a conduct_n so_o far_o they_o be_v infallible_a though_o they_o be_v not_o their_o own_o leader_n hitherto_o reason_n have_v be_v consider_v as_o it_o be_v in_o a_o single_a person_n but_o the_o follow_a disquisition_n consider_v it_o in_o a_o multitude_n or_o a_o assembly_n as_o it_o attend_v their_o sacred_a vote_n by_o which_o it_o be_v make_v more_o infallible_a than_o when_o as_o a_o monarch_n it_o assert_v its_o seem_a privilege_n by_o renounce_v all_o manner_n of_o assistance_n in_o draw_v conclusion_n but_o only_o that_o which_o be_v nature_n afford_v rely_v on_o private_a evidence_n which_o also_o be_v suppose_v in_o every_o particular_a member_n of_o a_o council_n therefore_o it_o be_v proper_a to_o examine_v whether_o reason_n only_o enlighten_v by_o apprehend_v the_o story_n and_o content_n of_o the_o old_a and_o new_a testament_n be_v capable_a of_o appeal_n make_v to_o it_o as_o 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certainty_n
the_o natural_a fanatic_a or_o reason_n consider_v in_o its_o extravagancy_n in_o religion_n and_o in_o some_o late_a treatise_n usurp_a the_o authority_n of_o the_o church_n and_o council_n by_o john_n warly_n b.d._n late_a fellow_n of_o clare-hall_n in_o cambridg_n sic_fw-la si_fw-la homines_fw-la rationem_fw-la bono_fw-mi consilio_fw-la a_o diis_fw-la immortalibus_fw-la datam_fw-la in_o fraud_n m_o malitiamque_fw-la convertunt_fw-la non_fw-la dari_fw-la illam_fw-la quam_fw-la dari_fw-la humano_fw-la generi_fw-la melius_fw-la fuit_fw-la cicer._n the_o nat_n deor._n lib._n 3._o satius_fw-la fuerit_fw-la nullam_fw-la omnino_fw-la nobis_fw-la a_o dijs_fw-la immortalibus_fw-la datam_fw-la esse_fw-la rationem_fw-la quam_fw-la tantam_fw-la cum_fw-la pernicie_fw-la datam_fw-la ibidem_fw-la london_n print_v and_o be_v to_o be_v sell_v by_o thomas_n basset_n at_o the_o george_n in_o fleetstreet_n 1676._o imprimatur_fw-la 2._o novemb_n 1675._o geo._n hooper_n r_o mo_z d_o no._n arch._n cant._n à _fw-fr sacr._n domesticis_fw-la to_o the_o right_n honourable_a heneage_n lord_n finch_n baron_n of_o daventry_n and_o lord_n high_a chancellor_n of_o england_n may_v it_o please_v your_o lordship_n though_o dedication_n as_o much_o as_o preface_n may_v seem_v formal_a impertinency_n yet_o they_o cease_v to_o be_v such_o when_o the_o patronage_n it_o as_o the_o broad_a seal_n of_o england_n to_o authorize_v and_o licence_v the_o examination_n of_o the_o libertine_n though_o in_o such_o method_n as_o may_v seem_v unkind_a and_o unnatural_a to_o humanity_n in_o the_o discovery_n of_o reason_n defect_n and_o expose_v it_o to_o the_o public_a vieu_fw-fr naked_a and_o intoxicated_a this_o way_n of_o argue_v be_v so_o far_o justifiable_a as_o it_o be_v more_o necessary_a at_o some_o time_n to_o declare_v that_o man_n be_v mad_a sool_n and_o bewitch_v in_o their_o search_n for_o religion_n than_o to_o flatter_v they_o with_o soft_a compellation_n of_o man_n of_o sober_a mind_n dispose_v 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the_o composition_n of_o that_o leaven_n with_o which_o faction_n swell_v and_o turbulent_o serment_n i_o be_v also_o more_o confident_a in_o this_o address_n to_o your_o lordship_n whilst_o i_o consider_v that_o some_o of_o the_o matter_n of_o these_o paper_n when_o speak_v as_o duty_n call_v i_o as_o well_o as_o write_v find_a encouragement_n from_o the_o right_n honourable_a heneage_n earl_n of_o winchilsea_n my_o very_a good_a lord_n presume_v they_o may_v find_v the_o same_o favourable_a entertainment_n whilst_o they_o apply_v themselves_o to_o the_o same_o name_n which_o be_v now_o famous_a both_o for_o foreign_a and_o domestic_a administration_n of_o the_o affair_n of_o the_o kingdom_n for_o it_o be_v no_o contradiction_n in_o my_o hope_n to_o conclude_v that_o soul_n may_v be_v ally_v as_o well_o as_o body_n and_o that_o there_o may_v be_v affinity_n of_o opinion_n as_o well_o as_o person_n and_o the_o same_o singular_a candour_n and_o humanity_n may_v run_v in_o the_o same_o 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your_o lordship_n mind_n that_o such_o extravagant_a liberty_n will_v exceed_v all_o former_a her_o esie_n and_o schism_n which_o seem_v more_o modest_a for_o they_o be_v never_o contract_v into_o a_o more_o narrow_a compass_n than_o a_o assembly_n or_o congregation_n but_o this_o make_v in_o its_o ecclesiastical_a anarchy_n each_o zealot_n a_o independent-church_n but_o i_o be_v not_o only_o lead_v to_o this_o task_n by_o the_o wild_a project_n of_o extravagant_a brain_n but_o by_o the_o practice_n of_o man_n of_o more_o sober_a mind_n who_o perhaps_o observe_v the_o predominant_a humour_n and_o prevail_a prejudices_fw-la of_o some_o against_o ecclesiastical_a authority_n as_o tyrannical_a over_o conscience_n out_o of_o their_o great_a zeal_n for_o the_o church_n and_o christian_a resolution_n like_o commander_n disarm_v in_o sight_n snatch_v a_o sword_n from_o their_o enemy_n hand_n when_o ill_a success_n deprive_v they_o of_o their_o own_o dispute_v with_o the_o atheist_n upon_o 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and_o subjugate_v his_o unruly_a mind_n play_v like_o a_o fish_n which_o be_v weary_v with_o the_o line_n of_o his_o
of_o one_o part_n of_o the_o creation_n or_o another_o as_o he_o must_v be_v except_o nature_n be_v supply_v with_o great_a assistance_n than_o that_o of_o telescope_n or_o of_o any_o device_n which_o invention_n have_v yet_o find_v his_o knowledge_n must_v be_v say_v to_o be_v so_o imperfect_a that_o it_o be_v not_o probable_a the_o argument_n draw_v from_o the_o world_n harmony_n shall_v be_v prevalent_a when_o it_o meet_v with_o so_o much_o ignorance_n to_o speak_v all_o the_o little_a and_o uncertain_a knowledge_n of_o nature_n work_n rather_o dispose_v man_n for_o admiration_n than_o full_a satisfaction_n of_o all_o doubt_n but_o that_o i_o may_v not_o seem_v to_o detract_v from_o humanity_n suppose_v the_o harmonious_a subordination_n of_o cause_n be_v understand_v this_o only_a imply_v that_o there_o be_v a_o power_n which_o restrain_v they_o from_o destroy_v or_o fall_v foul_a one_o on_o the_o other_o or_o make_v they_o subservient_fw-fr to_o some_o end_n of_o which_o the_o 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much_o can_v be_v proper_o call_v his_o who_o speak_v the_o word_n but_o must_v be_v own_a by_o he_o who_o advance_v they_o to_o a_o high_a sense_n idiot_n sometime_o be_v like_o oracle_n and_o prophet_n who_o high_a effusion_n be_v not_o understand_v by_o those_o who_o speak_v such_o be_v the_o sentence_n of_o some_o philosopher_n and_o poetical_a rapture_n which_o according_a to_o the_o author_n word_n or_o sense_n savour_v of_o a_o low_a and_o mean_a degree_n of_o wisdom_n till_o some_o christian_n read_v their_o book_n consecrate_a they_o by_o comment_n and_o conclusion_n of_o which_o they_o can_v never_o have_v think_v hence_o it_o be_v that_o the_o book_n of_o some_o ancient_a philosopher_n be_v now_o like_o the_o fame_a ship_n which_o be_v so_o oft_o repair_v till_o no_o old_a plank_n remain_v many_o wise_a conclusion_n appear_v in_o heathenish_a writing_n but_o be_v as_o mysterious_a character_n and_o cipher_n which_o only_o the_o religious_a by_o compare_v they_o with_o revelation_n can_v understand_v these_o effata_fw-la or_o say_n be_v like_o sign_n which_o deaf_a and_o dumb_a man_n make_v who_o neither_o have_v advantage_n of_o nature_n to_o understand_v or_o speak_v who_o interpreter_n be_v as_o mouth_n and_o understanding_n too_o whilst_o they_o stretch_v their_o interpretation_n beyond_o that_o which_o the_o significator_n design_v or_o can_v declare_v hence_o it_o appear_v that_o the_o reasoner_n in_o this_o particular_a quest_n whilst_o he_o utter_v divine_a sentence_n not_o understand_v by_o himself_o but_o to_o be_v consecrate_a by_o the_o commentator_n may_v not_o be_v put_v in_o the_o catalogue_n of_o theist_n except_o it_o can_v be_v imagine_v implicit_a reason_n may_v be_v allow_v as_o much_o as_o implicit_a faith_n hitherto_o it_o be_v consider_v what_o degree_n of_o knowledge_n may_v be_v acquire_v by_o the_o idiot_n for_o in_o this_o quest_n the_o reasoner_n must_v be_v content_a to_o be_v so_o
miracle_n be_v work_n which_o exceed_v mere_a natural_a power_n or_o ordinary_a course_n of_o nature_n it_o be_v furnish_v with_o faculty_n which_o can_v discern_v what_o be_v natural_a and_o what_o not_o but_o be_v at_o a_o loss_n in_o high_a mystery_n this_o assertion_n perhaps_o may_v be_v check_v by_o a_o instance_n in_o conciliary_a proceed_n in_o discern_a canonical_a book_n of_o holy_a scripture_n from_o apocryphal_a or_o any_o false_o so_o call_v in_o which_o judgement_n be_v pass_v by_o mere_a rational_a evidence_n whilst_o it_o distinguish_v the_o one_o from_o the_o other_o by_o their_o content_n this_o must_v not_o be_v grant_v for_o though_o the_o content_n of_o holy_a scripture_n be_v a_o good_a argument_n of_o their_o truth_n yet_o they_o be_v not_o the_o only_a characteristic_n to_o distinguish_v they_o from_o other_o which_o be_v not_o canonical_a when_o there_o be_v any_o debate_n in_o a_o council_n concern_v any_o part_n of_o scripture_n to_o be_v admit_v into_o canon_n appeal_n be_v not_o make_v to_o mere_a reason_n to_o judge_n of_o its_o content_n any_o further_a than_o by_o comparison_n of_o they_o with_o those_o of_o other_o book_n which_o be_v receive_v without_o any_o controversy_n it_o be_v the_o council_n business_n to_o argue_v as_o the_o apostolical_a canon_n say_v 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d and_o the_o church_n of_o england_n conclude_v the_o definition_n of_o council_n deduction_n of_o reason_n artic._n 21_o which_o admit_v of_o this_o limitation_n or_o rather_o interpretation_n that_o though_o reason_n draw_v the_o conclussion_n yet_o their_o truth_n be_v not_o measure_v by_o a_o bare_a congruity_n to_o it_o but_o the_o reception_n of_o it_o in_o the_o primitive_a church_n or_o the_o most_o free_a and_o unbiased_a council_n and_o so_o much_o of_o its_o as_o belong_v to_o the_o old_a testament_n by_o the_o jewish_a catalogue_n and_o by_o several_a other_o rule_n which_o be_v as_o a_o touchstone_n to_o discover_v gold_n and_o distinguish_v it_o from_o base_a metal_n to_o speak_v all_o conciliary_a discussion_n in_o this_o case_n do_v not_o inquire_v how_o revelation_n be_v agreeable_a to_o reason_n but_o what_o be_v to_o be_v admit_v as_o revelation_n and_o what_o to_o be_v reject_v and_o when_o that_o be_v do_v compare_v one_o text_n with_o another_o till_o they_o agree_v which_o consent_n be_v the_o most_o infallible_a evidence_n of_o truth_n however_o it_o be_v scarce_o probable_a that_o the_o reasoner_n will_v be_v persuade_v or_o argue_v out_o of_o his_o pretend_a private_a infallibility_n whilst_o he_o conclude_v every_o individual_a man_n may_v proceed_v on_o the_o same_o ground_n which_o council_n do_v because_o each_o rational_a man_n be_v in_o some_o degree_n more_o or_o less_o able_a to_o draw_v conclusion_n by_o analogy_n or_o compare_v the_o several_a content_n of_o holy_a scripture_n wherefore_o let_v it_o be_v suppose_v that_o each_o reasonable_a man_n be_v natural_o qualify_v to_o find_v truth_n yet_o see_v the_o promise_n of_o divine_a assistance_n which_o be_v the_o most_o sure_a foundation_n on_o which_o infallibility_n can_v rest_v be_v not_o to_o a_o single_a person_n those_o natural_a qualification_n can_v assure_v they_o of_o find_v it_o i_o be_o sensible_a that_o the_o reasoner_n may_v take_v occasion_n from_o what_o be_v say_v of_o urge_v a_o question_n whether_o the_o former_a assertion_n do_v take_v the_o privilege_n from_o every_o private_a person_n so_o that_o in_o any_o case_n he_o can_v interpret_v scripture_n the_o affirmative_a of_o this_o question_n may_v be_v safe_o maintain_v as_o it_o have_v respect_n to_o private_a person_n who_o be_v know_v member_n of_o the_o church_n and_o have_v opportunity_n of_o be_v acquaint_v with_o and_o to_o be_v inform_v what_o be_v the_o interpretation_n and_o sense_n of_o the_o church_n in_o general_n which_o must_v be_v a_o direction_n to_o those_o who_o pass_v judgement_n in_o particular_a case_n for_o they_o may_v 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be_v necessary_a though_o not_o at_o all_o time_n for_o some_o age_n pass_v without_o they_o for_o the_o exigency_n of_o the_o church_n require_v such_o supply_n to_o imagine_v it_o can_v always_o be_v without_o they_o be_v to_o conclude_v it_o exempt_a from_o all_o possibility_n of_o err_a and_o independent_a as_o to_o the_o divine_a conduct_n which_o be_v promise_v to_o lead_v it_o and_o continue_v it_o in_o the_o way_n of_o truth_n the_o former_a can_v be_v grant_v for_o heresy_n must_v be_v and_o then_o there_o be_v as_o great_a necessity_n of_o their_o condemnation_n the_o latter_a can_v be_v allow_v for_o as_o it_o intrenche_n on_o the_o divine_a dominion_n so_o it_o do_v equalise_v the_o church_n militant_a with_o the_o triumphant_a who_o great_a trimuph_n be_v our_o error_n this_o necessity_n of_o council_n be_v confirm_v from_o the_o consideration_n of_o different_a opinion_n concern_v matter_n of_o faith_n which_o equal_o commend_v themselves_o to_o the_o christian_a and_o render_v his_o will_n so_o indifferent_a that_o he_o know_v not_o to_o which_o part_n to_o incline_v till_o determine_v by_o authority_n it_o be_v no_o strange_a thing_n to_o meet_v with_o two_o opinion_n in_o other_o case_n which_o plead_v for_o themselves_o with_o such_o equal_a probability_n that_o the_o most_o accurate_a judgement_n will_v rather_o suspend_v its_o belief_n than_o give_v assent_v to_o either_o neither_o let_v it_o appear_v a_o prodigy_n if_o religion_n afford_v such_o case_n as_o will_v render_v its_o proselyte_n or_o professor_n sceptical_o puzzle_v without_o a_o more_o infallible_a guide_n than_o their_o own_o reason_n but_o it_o may_v be_v say_v that_o in_o other_o case_n the_o wise_a man_n do_v not_o give_v themselves_o up_o to_o a_o sect_n or_o council_n of_o philosopher_n to_o be_v vmpire_n in_o dubious_a matter_n this_o be_v grant_v for_o it_o be_v unreasonable_a that_o they_o shall_v deliver_v up_o their_o reason_n to_o the_o most_o fame_a sophy_n but_o the_o reason_n be_v not_o the_o same_o in_o religious_a debate_n for_o a_o single_a person_n may_v be_v qualify_v for_o find_v truth_n in_o philosophy_n with_o such_o certainty_n as_o may_v vie_v with_o the_o numerous_a sect_n but_o no_o private_a member_n of_o the_o church_n may_v pretend_v to_o that_o cretainty_n which_o must_v be_v allow_v in_o council_n it_o be_v possible_a that_o one_o man_n may_v be_v master_n of_o more_o reason_n and_o philosophy_n than_o be_v to_o be_v find_v in_o all_o the_o world_n at_o that_o time_n and_o one_o walk_v library_n more_o valuable_a than_o a_o vatican_n but_o religious_a knowledge_n be_v not_o design_v to_o be_v so_o monastical_a as_o to_o live_v in_o solitude_n or_o a_o single_a person_n beside_o if_o it_o can_v be_v prove_v that_o the_o philosopher_n have_v the_o same_o assurance_n of_o a_o true_a conduct_n in_o their_o doubt_n by_o reason_n which_o the_o council_n have_v by_o divine_a supply_n he_o will_v be_v unreasonable_a