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the_o false_a for_o no_o other_o end_n but_o to_o enable_v he_o to_o choose_v once_o for_o all_o to_o who_o he_o shall_v resign_v and_o enslave_v his_o judgement_n for_o ever_o which_o be_v just_a as_o reasonable_a as_o if_o one_o shall_v say_v that_o god_n have_v give_v a_o man_n eye_n for_o no_o other_o end_n but_o to_o look_v out_o once_o for_o all_o and_o to_o pitch_v upon_o a_o discreet_a person_n to_o lead_v he_o about_o blindfold_a all_o the_o day_n of_o his_o life_n i_o come_v now_o to_o the_o iii_o thing_n i_o propound_v which_o be_v to_o answer_v the_o main_a objection_n of_o our_o adversary_n against_o this_o principle_n and_o likewise_o to_o show_v that_o there_o be_v no_o such_o reason_n and_o necessity_n for_o a_o universal_a infallible_a judge_n as_o
they_o pretend_v now_o their_o great_a objection_n be_v this_o if_o every_o man_n may_v judge_v for_o himself_o there_o will_v be_v nothing_o but_o confusion_n in_o religion_n there_o will_v be_v no_o end_n of_o controversy_n so_o that_o a_o universal_a infallible_a judge_n be_v necessary_a and_o without_o this_o god_n have_v not_o make_v sufficient_a provision_n for_o the_o assurance_n of_o man_n faith_n and_o for_o the_o peace_n and_o unity_n of_o his_o church_n or_o as_o it_o be_v express_v in_o the_o canon_n law_n a_o litter_n dominus_fw-la non_fw-la videretur_fw-la fuisse_fw-la discretus_fw-la otherwise_o our_o lord_n have_v not_o seem_v to_o be_v discreet_a how_o plausible_a soever_o this_o objection_n may_v appear_v i_o do_v not_o despair_v but_o if_o man_n will_v lay_v aside_o prejudice_n and_o impartial_o consider_v thing_n to_o make_v it_o abundant_o evident_a that_o this_o ground_n be_v not_o sufficient_a to_o found_v a_o infallible_a judge_n upon_o and_o therefore_o in_o 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as_o in_o matter_n of_o religion_n and_o their_o aliter_fw-la dominus_fw-la non_fw-la videretur_fw-la fuisse_fw-la discretus_fw-la otherwise_o god_n have_v not_o seem_v to_o be_v discreet_a be_v every_o whit_n as_o cogent_n and_o as_o civil_a in_o the_o one_o case_n as_o the_o other_o three_o there_o be_v no_o need_n of_o such_o a_o judge_n to_o assure_v man_n in_o matter_n of_o religion_n because_o man_n be_v sufficient_o certain_a without_o he_o i_o hope_v it_o may_v be_v certain_a and_o clear_a enough_o that_o there_o be_v a_o god_n and_o that_o his_o providence_n govern_v the_o world_n and_o that_o there_o be_v another_o life_n after_o this_o though_o neither_o pope_n nor_o council_n have_v ever_o declare_v any_o thing_n about_o these_o matter_n and_o for_o reveal_v doctrine_n we_o may_v be_v certain_a enough_o of_o all_o that_o be_v necessary_a if_o it_o be_v true_a which_o the_o father_n tell_v we_o that_o all_o thing_n necessary_a be_v plain_o reveal_v in_o the_o holy_a scripture_n four_o a_o infallible_a judge_n if_o there_o be_v one_o be_v no_o certain_a way_n to_o end_v controversy_n and_o to_o preserve_v the_o unity_n of_o the_o church_n unless_o it_o be_v likewise_o infallible_o certain_a that_o there_o be_v such_o a_o judge_n and_o who_o he_o be_v for_o till_o man_n be_v sure_a of_o both_o these_o there_o will_v still_o be_v a_o controversy_n whether_o there_o be_v a_o infallible_a judge_n and_o who_o he_o be_v and_o if_o it_o be_v true_a which_o they_o tell_v we_o that_o without_o a_o infallible_a judge_n controversy_n can_v be_v end_v than_o a_o controversy_n concern_v a_o infallible_a judge_n can_v never_o be_v end_v and_o there_o be_v two_o controversy_n actual_o on_o foot_n about_o a_o infallible_a judge_n one_o whether_o there_o be_v a_o infallible_a judge_n or_o not_o which_o be_v a_o controversy_n between_o we_o and_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n and_o the_o other_o who_o this_o infallible_a judge_n be_v which_o be_v a_o controversy_n among_o themselves_o which_o can_v never_o yet_o be_v decide_v and_o yet_o till_o it_o be_v decide_v infallibility_n if_o they_o have_v it_o will_v be_v of_o no_o use_n to_o they_o for_o the_o end_n of_o controversy_n five_o there_o be_v no_o such_o absolute_a need_n as_o be_v pretend_v of_o determine_v all_o controversy_n in_o religion_n if_o man_n will_v divest_v themselves_o of_o prejudice_n and_o interest_n as_o they_o ought_v in_o matter_n of_o religion_n the_o necessary_a thing_n of_o religion_n be_v plain_a enough_o and_o man_n will_v general_o agree_v well_o enough_o about_o they_o but_o if_o man_n will_v suffer_v themselves_o to_o be_v bias_v by_o these_o they_o will_v not_o hearken_v to_o a_o infallible_a judge_n if_o there_o be_v one_o or_o they_o will_v find_v out_o some_o way_n or_o other_o to_o call_v his_o infallibility_n into_o question_n and_o as_o for_o doubtful_a and_o lesser_a matter_n in_o religion_n charity_n and_o mutual_a forbearance_n among_o christian_n will_v make_v the_o church_n as_o peaceable_a and_o happy_a as_o perhaps_o it_o be_v ever_o design_v to_o be_v in_o this_o world_n without_o absolute_a unity_n in_o opinion_n six_o and_o last_o whatever_o may_v be_v the_o inconvenience_n of_o man_n judge_v for_o themselves_o in_o religion_n yet_o take_v this_o principle_n with_o the_o caution_n i_o have_v give_v i_o doubt_v not_o to_o make_v it_o appear_v that_o the_o inconvenience_n be_v far_o the_o least_o on_o that_o side_n the_o present_a condition_n of_o humane_a nature_n do_v not_o admit_v of_o any_o constitution_n of_o thing_n whether_o in_o religion_n or_o civil_a matter_n which_o be_v free_a from_o all_o kind_n of_o exception_n and_o inconvenience_n that_o be_v the_o best_a state_n of_o thing_n which_o be_v liable_a to_o the_o least_o and_o few_o if_o man_n be_v modest_a and_o humble_a and_o willing_a to_o learn_v god_n have_v do_v that_o which_o be_v sufficient_a for_o the_o assurance_n of_o our_o faith_n and_o for_o the_o peace_n of_o his_o church_n without_o a_o infallible_a judge_n and_o if_o man_n will_v not_o be_v so_o i_o can_v tell_v what_o will_v be_v sufficient_a i_o be_o sure_a there_o be_v heresy_n and_o schism_n in_o the_o apostle_n time_n when_o those_o who_o govern_v the_o church_n be_v certain_o guide_v by_o a_o infallible_a spirit_n god_n have_v appoint_v guide_n and_o teacher_n for_o we_o in_o matter_n of_o religion_n and_o if_o we_o will_v be_v content_v to_o be_v instruct_v by_o they_o in_o those_o necessary_a article_n and_o duty_n of_o religion_n which_o be_v plain_o contain_v in_o scripture_n and_o to_o be_v counsel_v and_o direct_v by_o they_o in_o thing_n that_o be_v more_o doubtful_a and_o difficult_a i_o do_v not_o see_v why_o we_o may_v not_o do_v well_o enough_o without_o any_o infallible_a judge_n or_o guide_n but_o still_o it_o will_v be_v say_v who_o shall_v judge_v what_o thing_n be_v plain_a and_o what_o doubtful_a the_o answer_n to_o this_o in_o my_o opinion_n be_v not_o difficult_a for_o if_o there_o be_v any_o thing_n plain_a in_o religion_n every_o man_n that_o have_v be_v due_o instruct_v in_o the_o principle_n of_o religion_n can_v judge_v of_o it_o or_o else_o it_o be_v not_o plain_a but_o there_o be_v some_o thing_n in_o religion_n so_o very_o plain_a that_o no_o guide_n or_o judge_n can_v in_o reason_n claim_v that_o authority_n over_o man_n as_o to_o oblige_v they_o to_o believe_v or_o do_v the_o contrary_a no_o though_o he_o pretend_v to_o infallibility_n no_o though_o he_o be_v a_o apostle_n though_o he_o be_v a_o angel_n from_o heaven_n s._n paul_n put_v the_o case_n so_o high_a gal._n 1.8_o though_o we_o or_o a_o angel_n from_o heaven_n preach_v any_o other_o gospel_n unto_o you_o than_o what_o you_o have_v receive_v let_v he_o be_v accurse_v which_o plain_o suppose_v that_o christian_n may_v and_o can_v judge_v when_o
a_o sermon_n preach_v at_o white-hall_n april_n the_o four_o 1679._o by_o john_n tillotson_n d._n d._n dean_n of_o canterbury_n and_o chaplain_n in_o ordinary_a to_o his_o majesty_n publish_a by_o his_o majesty_n special_a command_n london_n print_v for_o brabazon_n aylmer_n at_o the_o three_o pigeon_n over_o against_o the_o royal_a exchange_n in_o cornhill_n and_o william_n rogers_n at_o the_o maidenhead_n over_o against_o st._n dunstan_n church_n in_o fleetstreet_n mdclxxix_o a_o sermon_n preach_v at_o whitehall_n april_n the_o four_o 1679._o i_o john_n iu.i._n belove_a believe_v not_o every_o spirit_n but_o try_v the_o spirit_n whether_o they_o be_v of_o god_n because_o many_o false_a prophet_n be_v go_v out_o into_o the_o world_n this_o caution_n and_o counsel_n be_v give_v upon_o occasion_n of_o the_o false_a prophet_n and_o teacher_n that_o be_v rise_v up_o in_o the_o church_n who_o endeavour_v to_o seduce_v man_n from_o the_o true_a doctrine_n of_o the_o gospel_n deliver_v by_o the_o apostle_n of_o our_o lord_n and_o saviour_n and_o these_o teach_n contrary_a thing_n can_v not_o both_o be_v from_o god_n and_o therefore_o st._n john_n call_v upon_o christian_n to_o examine_v the_o doctrine_n and_o pretence_n of_o those_o new_a teacher_n whether_o they_o be_v from_o god_n or_o not_o believe_v not_o every_o spirit_n that_o be_v not_o every_o one_o that_o take_v upon_o he_o to_o be_v inspire_v and_o to_o be_v a_o teacher_n come_v from_o god_n but_o try_v the_o spirit_n that_o be_v examine_v those_o that_o make_v this_o pretence_n whether_o it_o be_v real_a or_o not_o and_o examine_v the_o doctrine_n which_o they_o bring_v because_o there_o be_v many_o impostor_n abroad_o in_o the_o world_n this_o be_v the_o plain_a sense_n of_o the_o word_n in_o which_o there_o be_v contain_v these_o four_o proposition_n first_o that_o man_n may_v and_o often_o do_v false_o pretend_v to_o inspiration_n and_o this_o be_v the_o reason_n upon_o which_o the_o apostle_n ground_n this_o exhortation_n because_o many_o false_a prophet_n be_v go_v out_o into_o the_o world_n therefore_o we_o shall_v try_v who_o be_v true_a and_o who_o be_v false_a second_o we_o be_v not_o to_o believe_v every_o one_o that_o pretend_v to_o be_v inspire_v and_o to_o teach_v a_o divine_a doctrine_n this_o follow_v upon_o the_o former_a because_o man_n may_v false_o pretend_v to_o inspiration_n therefore_o we_o be_v not_o to_o believe_v every_o one_o that_o make_v this_o pretence_n for_o any_o man_n that_o have_v but_o confidence_n enough_o and_o conscience_n little_a enough_o may_v pretend_v to_o come_v from_o god_n and_o if_o we_o admit_v all_o pretence_n of_o this_o kind_n we_o lie_v at_o the_o mercy_n of_o every_o crafty_a and_o confident_a man_n to_o be_v lead_v by_o he_o into_o what_o delusion_n he_o please_v three_o neither_o be_v we_o to_o reject_v all_o that_o pretend_v to_o come_v from_o god_n this_o be_v sufficient_o imply_v in_o the_o text_n for_o where_o the_o apostle_n say_v believe_v not_o every_o spirit_n he_o suppose_v we_o be_v to_o believe_v some_o and_o when_o he_o say_v try_v the_o spirit_n whether_o they_o be_v of_o god_n he_o suppose_v some_o to_o be_v of_o god_n and_o that_o those_o which_o be_v so_o be_v to_o be_v believe_v these_o three_o observation_n be_v so_o plain_a that_o i_o need_v only_o to_o name_v they_o to_o make_v way_n for_o the_o four_o which_o i_o principal_o design_v to_o insist_v upon_o from_o these_o word_n and_o that_o be_v this_o that_o there_o be_v some_o way_n to_o discern_v mere_a pretender_n to_o inspiration_n from_o those_o who_o be_v true_o and_o divine_o inspire_v and_o this_o be_v necessary_o imply_v in_o the_o apostle_n bid_v we_o to_o try_v the_o spirit_n whether_o they_o be_v of_o god_n for_o it_o be_v in_o vain_a to_o make_v any_o trial_n if_o there_o be_v no_o way_n to_o discern_v between_o pretend_a and_o real_a inspiration_n now_o the_o handle_n of_o this_o will_v give_v occasion_n to_o two_o very_a material_a inquiry_n and_o useful_a to_o be_v resolve_v i._o how_o we_o may_v discern_v between_o true_a and_o counterfeit_a doctrine_n those_o which_o real_o be_v from_o god_n and_o those_o which_o only_o pretend_v to_o be_v so_o ii_o to_o who_o this_o judgement_n of_o discern_v do_v appertain_v i._o how_o we_o may_v discern_v between_o true_a and_o counterfeit_a doctrine_n and_o revelation_n for_o the_o clear_n of_o this_o i_o shall_v lay_v down_o these_o follow_a proposition_n 1._o that_o reason_n be_v the_o faculty_n whereby_o revelation_n be_v to_o be_v discern_v or_o to_o use_v the_o phrase_n in_o the_o text_n it_o be_v that_o whereby_o we_o be_v to_o judge_n what_o spirit_n be_v of_o god_n and_o what_o not_o for_o all_o revelation_n from_o god_n suppose_v we_o to_o be_v man_n and_o to_o be_v endue_v with_o reason_n and_o therefore_o it_o do_v not_o create_v new_a faculty_n in_o we_o but_o propound_v new_a object_n to_o that_o faculty_n which_o be_v in_o we_o before_o whatever_o doctrine_n god_n reveal_v to_o man_n be_v propound_v to_o their_o understanding_n and_o by_o this_o faculty_n we_o be_v to_o examine_v all_o doctrine_n which_o pretend_v to_o be_v from_o god_n and_o upon_o examination_n to_o judge_n whether_o there_o be_v reason_n to_o receive_v they_o as_o divine_a or_o to_o reject_v they_o as_o imposture_n 2._o all_o supernatural_a revelation_n suppose_v the_o truth_n of_o the_o principle_n of_o natural_a religion_n we_o must_v first_o be_v assure_v that_o there_o be_v a_o god_n before_o we_o can_v know_v that_o he_o have_v make_v any_o revelation_n of_o himself_o and_o we_o must_v know_v that_o all_o his_o word_n be_v true_a otherwise_o there_o be_v no_o sufficient_a reason_n to_o believe_v the_o revelation_n which_o he_o make_v to_o we_o and_o we_o must_v believe_v his_o authority_n over_o we_o and_o that_o he_o will_v reward_v our_o obedience_n to_o his_o law_n and_o punish_v our_o breach_n of_o they_o otherwise_o there_o will_v neither_o be_v sufficient_a obligation_n nor_o encouragement_n to_o obedience_n these_o and_o many_o other_o thing_n be_v suppose_v to_o be_v true_a and_o natural_o know_v to_o we_o antecedent_o to_o all_o supernatural_a revelation_n otherwise_o the_o revelation_n of_o god_n will_v signify_v nothing_o to_o we_o nor_o be_v of_o any_o force_n with_o we_o 3._o all_o reason_v about_o divine_a revelation_n must_v necessary_o be_v govern_v by_o the_o principle_n of_o natural_a religion_n that_o be_v by_o those_o apprehension_n which_o man_n natural_o have_v of_o the_o divine_a perfection_n and_o by_o the_o clear_a notion_n of_o good_a and_o evil_n which_o be_v imprint_v upon_o our_o nature_n because_o we_o have_v no_o other_o way_n to_o judge_n what_o be_v worthy_a of_o god_n and_o credible_a to_o be_v believe_v by_o he_o and_o what_o not_o but_o by_o the_o natural_a notion_n which_o we_o have_v of_o god_n and_o of_o his_o essential_a perfection_n which_o because_o we_o know_v he_o to_o be_v immutable_a we_o have_v reason_n to_o believe_v he_o will_v never_o contradict_v and_o by_o these_o principle_n likewise_o we_o be_v to_o interpret_v what_o god_n have_v reveal_v and_o when_o any_o doubt_n arise_v concern_v the_o meaning_n of_o any_o divine_a revelation_n as_o that_o of_o the_o holy_a scripture_n we_o be_v to_o govern_v ourselves_o in_o the_o interpretation_n of_o it_o by_o what_o be_v most_o agreeable_a to_o those_o natural_a notion_n which_o we_o have_v of_o god_n and_o we_o have_v all_o the_o reason_n in_o the_o world_n to_o reject_v that_o sense_n which_o be_v contrary_a thereto_o for_o instance_n when_o god_n be_v represent_v in_o scripture_n as_o have_v a_o humane_a shape_n eye_n ear_n and_o hand_n the_o notion_n which_o man_n natural_o have_v of_o the_o divine_a nature_n and_o perfection_n do_v sufficient_o direct_v we_o to_o interpret_v these_o expression_n in_o a_o sense_n worthy_a of_o god_n and_o agreeable_a to_o his_o perfection_n and_o therefore_o it_o be_v reasonable_a to_o understand_v they_o as_o rather_o speak_v to_o our_o capacity_n and_o in_o a_o figure_n than_o to_o be_v literal_o intend_v and_o this_o will_v proportionable_o hold_v in_o many_o other_o case_n 4._o nothing_o ought_v to_o be_v receive_v as_o a_o revelation_n from_o god_n which_o plain_o contradict_v the_o principle_n of_o natural_a religion_n or_o overthrow_v the_o certainty_n of_o they_o for_o instance_n it_o be_v in_o vain_a to_o pretend_v a_o revelation_n from_o god_n that_o there_o be_v no_o god_n because_o this_o be_v a_o contradiction_n in_o term_n so_o likewise_o to_o pretend_v a_o command_n from_o god_n that_o we_o be_v to_o hate_v and_o despise_v he_o because_o it_o be_v not_o credible_a that_o god_n shall_v require_v any_o thing_n of_o reasonable_a creature_n so_o unsuitable_a to_o their_o nature_n and_o to_o their_o obligation_n to_o he_o beside_o that_o such_o a_o law_n