world_n and_o if_o so_o how_o can_v the_o trial_n of_o religion_n depend_v upon_o the_o press_n in_o those_o early_a day_n when_o as_o yet_o it_o have_v no_o be_v and_o because_o the_o true_a christian_a faith_n be_v the_o same_o in_o all_o the_o age_n of_o the_o church_n since_o the_o apostle_n day_n we_o must_v measure_v our_o own_o religion_n by_o the_o same_o rule_n by_o which_o the_o primitive_a saint_n measure_v they_o and_o what_o be_v they_o not_o the_o voluminous_a write_n of_o man_n which_o the_o press_n have_v now_o bring_v forth_o but_o the_o sacred_a oracle_n of_o god_n this_o be_v the_o course_n to_o which_o the_o prophet_n direct_v we_o to_o the_o law_n and_o to_o the_o testimony_n this_o course_n do_v the_o berean_o take_v when_o to_o examine_v the_o doctrine_n even_o of_o the_o apostle_n themselves_o they_o search_v the_o scripture_n daily_o whether_o those_o thing_n be_v so_o and_o for_o their_o do_v so_o they_o be_v high_o commend_v and_o indeed_o the_o scripture_n be_v the_o lapis_fw-la lydius_n the_o touchstone_n the_o canon_n the_o only_a authentic_a rule_n of_o manner_n faith_n and_o religious_a worship_n a_o rule_n so_o plain_a and_o easy_a in_o all_o necessary_a point_n that_o in_o order_n to_o the_o trial_n of_o our_o religion_n we_o have_v no_o absolute_a need_n of_o any_o book_n but_o god_n though_o other_o good_a book_n do_v well_o towards_o the_o better_a understanding_n of_o some_o passage_n in_o this_o it_o be_v the_o great_a privilege_n of_o our_o church_n that_o we_o have_v this_o rule_n of_o scripture_n in_o such_o great_a quantity_n that_o every_o man_n who_o can_v and_o will_v may_v at_o a_o easy_a rate_n have_v it_o in_o his_o custody_n and_o thereby_o examine_v his_o religion_n when_o he_o please_v nor_o can_v we_o just_o blame_v the_o restraint_n of_o the_o press_n so_o long_o as_o it_o be_v permit_v to_o print_v our_o bibles_n and_o prohibit_v to_o publish_v no_o man_n book_n but_o such_o only_a as_o be_v contrary_a to_o go_n indeed_o be_v the_o press_n in_o england_n restrain_v as_o it_o be_v in_o popish_a kingdom_n from_o print_v the_o bible_n in_o our_o vulgar_a tongue_n this_o author_n argument_n will_v have_v have_v much_o strength_n in_o it_o but_o since_o it_o be_v otherwise_o since_o we_o have_v the_o scripture_n those_o test_n and_o standard_n of_o our_o religion_n preach_v in_o our_o public_a church_n and_o easy_o to_o be_v have_v and_o read_v as_o oft_o as_o we_o please_v in_o our_o private_a family_n this_o author_n argument_n against_o the_o restraint_n of_o the_o press_n be_v invalid_a and_o unconclude_a for_o it_o do_v not_o prove_v that_o for_o which_o he_o plead_v it_o but_o to_o proceed_v sect_n iv._o ii_o the_o second_o allegation_n which_o this_o author_n urge_v as_o a_o grand_a inconvenience_n against_o the_o restraint_n of_o the_o press_n be_v this_o such_o a_o restraint_n say_v he_o deprive_v man_n of_o the_o most_o proper_a and_o best_a mean_n to_o discover_v truth_n to_o which_o i_o answer_v thus_o there_o be_v a_o very_a close_a connexion_n betwixt_o this_o argument_n and_o the_o former_a a_o connexion_n as_o between_o a_o antecedent_n and_o a_o consequent_a or_o between_o the_o premise_n and_o the_o conclusion_n in_o the_o former_a argument_n he_o mention_n the_o examination_n of_o religion_n and_o in_o this_o as_o the_o end_n and_o consequence_n of_o that_o the_o discovery_n of_o truth_n for_o to_o what_o purpose_n shall_v any_o religion_n be_v impartial_o examine_v be_v it_o not_o to_o discover_v whether_o it_o be_v true_a or_o false_a and_o for_o this_o reason_n the_o same_o answer_n which_o i_o have_v give_v to_o the_o former_a argument_n may_v serve_v well_o enough_o for_o this_o for_o since_o the_o restraint_n of_o the_o press_n do_v not_o as_o i_o have_v there_o prove_v prevent_v the_o due_a examination_n of_o religion_n it_o can_v prevent_v the_o discovery_n of_o truth_n but_o that_o so_o it_o do_v our_o author_n be_v very_o positive_a yea_o and_o he_o tell_v we_o by_o what_o mean_v it_o do_v so_o namely_o by_o hinder_v man_n from_o see_v and_o examine_v the_o different_a opinion_n and_o the_o argument_n allege_v for_o they_o but_o let_v this_o author_n tell_v we_o how_o this_o can_v be_v true_a can_v a_o restraint_n of_o the_o press_n for_o time_n to_o come_v hinder_v any_o man_n from_o see_v and_o examine_v the_o different_a opinion_n of_o man_n and_o their_o argument_n for_o they_o be_v there_o not_o already_o great_a number_n of_o print_a book_n expose_v to_o common_a sale_n wherein_o the_o different_a opinion_n of_o man_n about_o matter_n of_o religion_n be_v thorough_o discuss_v may_v not_o every_o man_n that_o will_v and_o can_v sufficient_o inform_v himself_o by_o book_n already_o extant_a what_o argument_n have_v be_v plead_v by_o all_o sect_n of_o christian_n in_o the_o defence_n of_o their_o respective_a profession_n and_o since_o the_o press_n have_v already_o bring_v forth_o such_o a_o numerous_a issue_n of_o this_o kind_n methinks_v every_o future_a birth_n of_o the_o same_o sort_n will_v be_v but_o a_o superfetation_n i_o be_o persuade_v that_o shall_v all_o the_o press_v in_o the_o christian_a world_n be_v absolute_o forbid_v to_o print_v any_o more_o new_a book_n of_o controversy_n and_o polemic_a divinity_n it_o will_v be_v no_o injury_n to_o the_o catholic_n church_n nor_o to_o any_o one_o member_n of_o it_o for_o nihil_fw-la dici_fw-la potest_fw-la quod_fw-la non_fw-la dictum_fw-la est_fw-la priùs_fw-la print_v indeed_o may_v be_v new_a but_o argument_n either_o for_o old_a truth_n or_o against_o old_a error_n can_v hardly_o be_v so_o but_o when_o all_o be_v do_v religious_a truth_n can_v be_v discover_v by_o humane_a argument_n any_o further_a than_o those_o argument_n be_v ground_v upon_o the_o infallible_a word_n of_o god_n it_o be_v a_o rule_n in_o mathematics_n rectum_fw-la est_fw-la index_n svi_fw-la &_o obliqui_fw-la he_o that_o will_v discover_v the_o rectitude_n or_o obliquity_n of_o a_o line_n must_v bring_v it_o to_o and_o compare_v it_o with_o such_o a_o rule_n as_o be_v already_o find_v to_o be_v exact_o straight_a so_o in_o our_o present_a case_n he_o who_o will_v discover_v the_o truth_n or_o falsehood_n of_o any_o opinion_n in_o matter_n of_o religion_n must_v apply_v they_o to_o and_o judge_v they_o by_o that_o infallible_a rule_n which_o st._n james_n very_o deserve_o styles_n the_o 18._o word_n of_o truth_n and_o this_o rule_n in_o all_o point_n necessary_a to_o salvation_n be_v so_o plain_a and_o easy_a that_o every_o man_n who_o have_v not_o lose_v the_o use_n of_o common_a reason_n may_v thereby_o judge_v for_o himself_o there_o be_v indeed_o in_o the_o word_n of_o god_n as_o the_o apostle_n say_v some_o thing_n 1_o hard_a to_o be_v understand_v but_o in_o what_o text_n do_v these_o difficulty_n lie_v st._n austin_n answer_v non_fw-la quoad_fw-la ea_fw-la quae_fw-la sunt_fw-la necessaria_fw-la saluti_fw-la â—_o etc._n etc._n the_o scripture_n be_v not_o difficult_a in_o any_o of_o those_o point_n which_o be_v necessary_a to_o man_n salvation_n so_o think_v st._n chrysostom_n who_o thus_o demand_v 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 244_o what_o man_n be_v there_o to_o who_o all_o the_o necessary_a truth_n of_o the_o gospel_n be_v not_o clear_a and_o manifest_v he_o say_v elsewhere_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 5._o the_o husbandman_n the_o servant_n the_o widow_n the_o boy_n person_n of_o very_a mean_a capacity_n may_v easy_o understand_v what_o the_o scripture_n teach_v about_o such_o point_n as_o be_v fundamental_a that_o this_o be_v the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o primitive_a church_n before_o st._n chrysostom_n time_n be_v evident_a from_o that_o testimony_n of_o irenaeus_n â—_o universae_fw-la scripturae_fw-la &_o propheticae_fw-la &_o evangelicae_fw-la in_o aperto_fw-la &_o sine_fw-la ambiguitate_fw-la &_o similiter_fw-la ab_fw-la omnibus_fw-la audiri_fw-la possunt_fw-la the_o whole_a scripture_n the_o prophet_n the_o evangelist_n in_o such_o point_n as_o most_o concern_v we_o be_v so_o plain_a express_a and_o open_a that_o all_o sort_n of_o man_n may_v equal_o apprehend_v they_o now_o if_o a_o man_n may_v discover_v the_o truth_n of_o all_o those_o doctrine_n which_o be_v necessary_a to_o salvation_n by_o scripture_n rule_n if_o his_o faith_n be_v ground_v on_o they_o and_o his_o practice_n be_v suitable_a to_o they_o what_o hazard_n will_v that_o man_n run_v shall_v he_o never_o see_v the_o different_a opinion_n of_o man_n about_o they_o nor_o weigh_v their_o argument_n against_o they_o suppose_v a_o man_n be_v well_o inform_v by_o the_o express_a word_n of_o god_n do_v steadfast_o believe_v the_o resurrection_n of_o the_o dead_a what_o be_v this_o man_n the_o worse_o shall_v he_o never_o see_v nor_o examine_v the_o reason_n of_o pagan_n and_o sadducee_n against_o this_o great_a article_n of_o our_o creed_n suppose_v a_o man_n be_v
but_o to_o who_o ought_v the_o care_n of_o this_o be_v commit_v doubtless_o to_o man_n of_o integrity_n learning_n and_o judgement_n to_o man_n who_o be_v able_a at_o first_o view_n to_o distinguish_v vice_n from_o virtue_n and_o truth_n from_o error_n and_o with_o such_o man_n be_v the_o church_n of_o england_n store_v man_n of_o such_o part_n and_o piety_n that_o we_o can_v without_o breach_n of_o charity_n so_o much_o as_o once_o suspect_v that_o they_o will_v to_o gratify_v any_o party_n stifle_v any_o book_n which_o may_v tend_v to_o the_o advantage_n of_o the_o christian_a church_n or_o the_o common_a benefit_n of_o mankind_n notwithstanding_o this_o our_o author_n think_v fit_a to_o tell_v his_o friend_n the_o parliament-man_n that_o of_o all_o other_o person_n the_o clergyman_n of_o our_o church_n be_v the_o most_o unfit_a to_o be_v trust_v with_o the_o regulation_n of_o the_o press_n and_o for_o that_o he_o give_v this_o reason_n namely_o because_o they_o will_v allow_v no_o book_n to_o be_v publish_v save_v only_o such_o as_o tend_v to_o establish_v their_o own_o opinion_n that_o be_v in_o plain_a english_a they_o will_v permit_v no_o book_n to_o be_v print_v which_o tend_v to_o subvert_v the_o fundamental_a article_n of_o the_o christian_a faith_n and_o for_o that_o who_o can_v just_o blame_v they_o that_o the_o article_n of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n be_v sound_a and_o orthodox_n have_v be_v prove_v over_o and_o over_o by_o such_o scripture_n argument_n as_o priest_n and_o jesuit_n arian_n and_o socinian_o or_o any_o other_o heretic_n never_o yet_o can_v nor_o ever_o can_v overthrow_v and_o if_o any_o book_n which_o contradict_v they_o be_v offer_v to_o the_o press_n it_o be_v fit_a they_o shall_v be_v stifle_v in_o the_o birth_n and_o if_o they_o chance_v to_o be_v bring_v forth_o by_o stealth_n it_o be_v fit_a they_o shall_v immediate_o be_v cast_v into_o the_o flame_n that_o be_v the_o quick_a way_n to_o cleanse_v they_o from_o that_o dross_n that_o be_v in_o they_o but_o however_o to_o prevent_v as_o much_o as_o may_v be_v the_o further_a increase_n of_o dangerous_a book_n which_o by_o good_a word_n fair_a speech_n and_o seem_a argument_n may_v do_v much_o mischief_n among_o the_o illiterate_a vulgar_a it_o be_v very_o necessary_a that_o all_o write_n offer_v to_o the_o press_n about_o matter_n of_o religion_n shall_v careful_o be_v examine_v by_o conscientious_a and_o judicious_a divine_n and_o that_o no_o general_a liberty_n shall_v be_v allow_v to_o man_n of_o all_o sect_n to_o write_v and_o to_o printer_n to_o publish_v whatever_o they_o please_v there_o be_v among_o we_o in_o this_o unhappy_a age_n heretic_n of_o 11._o several_a denomination_n of_o who_o st._n paul_n say_v their_o mouth_n must_v be_v stop_v and_o for_o that_o he_o give_v a_o very_a just_a reason_n when_o he_o tell_v we_o they_o subvert_v whole_a house_n teach_v thing_n which_o they_o ought_v not_o now_o if_o there_o ought_v to_o be_v a_o muzzle_n clap_v upon_o the_o heretic_n mouth_n there_o be_v far_o great_a reason_n that_o there_o shall_v be_v a_o restraint_n upon_o his_o pen_n and_o press_n for_o it_o be_v impossible_a that_o any_o heretic_n shall_v do_v so_o much_o mischief_n with_o his_o tongue_n as_o he_o may_v by_o his_o write_n word_n only_o speak_v and_o hear_v be_v transient_a but_o word_n write_v and_o print_v be_v permanent_a a_o heretical_a tongue_n can_v do_v no_o harm_n but_o by_o a_o personal_a conference_n but_o a_o heretical_a pen_n may_v do_v much_o mischief_n to_o man_n at_o a_o distance_n the_o wrong_n that_o may_v be_v do_v by_o heretical_a discourse_n alone_o can_v reach_v but_o the_o present_a age_n but_o heretical_a book_n may_v injure_v and_o poison_v the_o soul_n of_o man_n in_o after_o age_n and_o since_o there_o be_v too_o many_o such_o book_n publish_v among_o we_o it_o be_v the_o great_a concern_v and_o shall_v be_v the_o great_a care_n of_o our_o governor_n to_o see_v that_o there_o be_v no_o more_o lest_o if_o their_o number_n increase_v without_o control_n they_o may_v by_o degree_n consider_v the_o ignorance_n instability_n and_o credulity_n of_o man_n subvert_v the_o faith_n of_o the_o son_n of_o god_n and_o endanger_v the_o soul_n of_o men._n but_o sect_n iii_o 2._o this_o author_n argue_v for_o a_o unlimited_a liberty_n of_o the_o press_n not_o only_o for_o its_o own_o great_a usefulness_n but_o from_o the_o consideration_n of_o several_a grand_a inconvenience_n which_o as_o he_o say_v will_v follow_v shall_v the_o press_n chance_n to_o be_v restrain_v and_o the_o first_o which_o he_o name_v be_v this_o first_o the_o restraint_n of_o the_o press_n tend_v to_o make_v man_n blind_o submit_v to_o the_o religion_n they_o chance_v to_o be_v educate_v in_o and_o to_o take_v it_o up_o without_o any_o trial_n to_o this_o i_o answer_v thus_o this_o argument_n may_v hold_v in_o popish_a kingdom_n where_o the_o people_n for_o want_v of_o mean_n can_v and_o for_o fear_n of_o their_o inquisitor_n dare_v not_o examine_v the_o principle_n and_o practice_n of_o the_o roman_a religion_n but_o the_o same_o argument_n plead_v in_o and_o against_o the_o church_n of_o england_n be_v of_o no_o force_n for_o it_o proceed_v upon_o a_o false_a ground_n and_o have_v a_o fallacy_n in_o it_o for_o here_o be_v non_fw-la causa_fw-la pro_fw-la causa_fw-la the_o restraint_n of_o the_o press_n be_v here_o assign_v as_o the_o cause_n or_o at_o least_o the_o great_a occasion_n that_o man_n take_v up_o their_o religion_n upon_o trust_n though_o indeed_o it_o be_v not_o so_o the_o matter_n of_o this_o charge_n be_v true_a and_o as_o it_o can_v be_v deny_v so_o it_o be_v much_o to_o be_v lament_v that_o great_a number_n of_o man_n even_o among_o we_o do_v indeed_o take_v up_o their_o religion_n bare_o on_o trust_n protestant_n they_o be_v but_o why_o be_v they_o such_o only_o because_o it_o be_v the_o religion_n of_o their_o parent_n that_o wherein_o they_o be_v train_v up_o from_o their_o childhood_n it_o be_v the_o religion_n establish_v by_o our_o law_n general_o profess_v in_o our_o nation_n and_o preach_v in_o our_o church_n these_o i_o fear_v be_v the_o only_a motive_n upon_o which_o the_o far_o great_a part_n of_o man_n do_v by_o a_o blind_a and_o implicit_a faith_n take_v up_o their_o religion_n there_o be_v a_o vast_a multitude_n of_o man_n who_o be_v constrain_v thus_o to_o take_v up_o their_o religion_n upon_o trust_n by_o a_o invincible_a necessity_n man_n who_o be_v never_o blessed_v with_o a_o liberal_a education_n never_o teach_v to_o read_v man_n so_o dull_a and_o stupid_a that_o they_o can_v apprehend_v much_o less_o remember_v the_o strength_n of_o a_o argument_n and_o sure_o person_n under_o such_o ill_a circumstance_n be_v in_o no_o capacity_n to_o judge_v for_o themselves_o but_o must_v rely_v upon_o the_o judgement_n of_o their_o teacher_n and_o upon_o their_o credit_n and_o authority_n take_v up_o some_o religion_n or_o other_o or_o else_o they_o can_v take_v up_o none_o at_o all_o and_o this_o be_v the_o great_a unhappiness_n of_o many_o thousand_o i_o fear_v even_o in_o the_o church_n of_o england_n but_o beside_o these_o there_o be_v another_o sort_n of_o man_n breed_v up_o in_o the_o principle_n of_o learning_n man_n of_o complete_a knowledge_n and_o good_a ability_n to_o judge_v betwixt_o vice_n and_o virtue_n truth_n and_o falsehood_n and_o how_o frequent_o how_o earnest_o do_v we_o 1._o exhort_v such_o man_n from_o our_o pulpit_n to_o prove_v all_o thing_n to_o try_v the_o spirit_n but_o alas_o it_o be_v much_o to_o be_v fear_v that_o we_o lose_v our_o labour_n that_o man_n will_v not_o spare_v any_o time_n nor_o take_v any_o pain_n to_o examine_v their_o religion_n but_o rather_o take_v it_o up_o at_o a_o venture_n just_a as_o they_o find_v it_o now_o if_o a_o man_n take_v up_o his_o religion_n upon_o trust_n when_o he_o need_v not_o do_v so_o he_o run_v himself_o both_o into_o sin_n and_o danger_n a_o sin_n it_o certain_o be_v because_o a_o breach_n of_o those_o fore_n name_n command_v and_o a_o great_a danger_n it_o be_v because_o instead_o of_o a_o juno_n he_o may_v embrace_v a_o cloud_n instead_o of_o a_o true_a religion_n he_o may_v close_v with_o a_o false_a one_o but_o where_o lie_v the_o fault_n upon_o who_o or_o what_o must_v this_o sin_n be_v charge_v sure_o i_o be_o that_o in_o this_o case_n a_o restraint_n upon_o the_o press_n be_v innocent_a and_o can_v be_v just_o blame_v for_o be_v not_o man_n oblige_v to_o examine_v the_o matter_n of_o their_o religion_n long_o before_o the_o art_n of_o printing_n be_v invent_v and_o be_v not_o the_o neglect_n of_o this_o duty_n a_o sin_n in_o former_a age_n when_o there_o be_v not_o so_o much_o as_o one_o press_n in_o all_o the_o
convince_v as_o well_o he_o may_v be_v by_o such_o text_n of_o scripture_n as_o can_v with_o any_o tolerable_a sense_n be_v otherwise_o interpete_v that_o our_o bless_a saviour_n be_v true_o god_n and_o true_o man_n what_o need_v such_o a_o person_n to_o see_v the_o opinion_n and_o weigh_v the_o argument_n of_o arian_n and_o socinian_o against_o this_o fundamental_a point_n of_o our_o christian_a faith_n to_o he_o who_o belief_n be_v already_o ground_v upon_o the_o infallible_a word_n of_o god_n be_v right_o understand_v the_o sight_n of_o different_a opinion_n and_o the_o argument_n for_o they_o signify_v nothing_o such_o a_o man_n do_v not_o need_v the_o confutation_n of_o heretical_a cavil_n to_o confirm_v that_o faith_n of_o he_o which_o be_v already_o bottom_v upon_o a_o rock_n which_o be_v immovable_a and_o as_o the_o sight_n of_o different_a opinion_n and_o the_o examination_n of_o argument_n plead_v for_o they_o be_v not_o needful_a to_o confirm_v a_o strong_a and_o well_o 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