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this_o man_n do_v himself_o a_o great_a prejudice_n than_o by_o thus_o confess_v that_o he_o hold_v not_o christian_a faith_n absolute_o speak_v true_a or_o can_v he_o lay_v a_o great_a scandal_n on_o christian_a faith_n itself_o than_o to_o quarrel_v at_o a_o position_n that_o can_v give_v he_o no_o displeasure_n but_o by_o assert_v its_o perfect_a truth_n if_o this_o do_v not_o like_o his_o new-fashioned_a christian_a principle_n i_o suppose_v he_o will_v own_v the_o contrary_a position_n and_o affirm_v that_o true_a faith_n by_o reason_n of_o its_o movable_a or_o uncertain_a ground_n can_v bear_v a_o assert_v the_o absolute_a impossibility_n of_o its_o falsehood_n and_o this_o be_v in_o plain_a term_n to_o assert_v that_o absolute_o speak_v true_a faith_n may_v all_o be_v false_a which_o be_v both_o unchristian_a and_o strong_a nonsense_n to_o boot_v he_o shall_v have_v preach_v this_o to_o his_o auditory_a at_o guildhall_n and_o then_o he_o shall_v have_v see_v how_o every_o 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therefore_o whatever_o often_o happen_v through_o the_o imperfection_n of_o creature_n such_o a_o irrational_a assent_n can_v never_o have_v be_v intend_v by_o god._n whence_o as_o it_o belong_v to_o infinite_a goodness_n to_o give_v those_o who_o sincere_o seek_v for_o truth_n the_o grace_n to_o embrace_v it_o so_o it_o belong_v to_o infinite_a wisdom_n to_o lay_v such_o mean_n to_o arrive_v at_o truth_n that_o be_v in_o our_o case_n such_o a_o rule_n of_o faith_n as_o both_o evince_n it_o be_v truth_n to_o those_o who_o be_v capable_a according_a to_o the_o most_o exact_a method_n of_o true_a reason_n and_o withal_o perfect_o 135._o secure_v those_o from_o error_n who_o follow_v that_o rule_n let_v they_o be_v as_o weak_a as_o they_o will._n if_o then_o we_o be_v bind_v to_o embrace_v christian_a faith_n as_o a_o truth_n and_o profess_v it_o to_o be_v so_o it_o must_v be_v indeed_o such_o and_o therefore_o the_o ground_n leave_v we_o by_o god_n must_v be_v of_o that_o nature_n as_o 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only_o that_o the_o gospel_n be_v to_o be_v look_v upon_o as_o christ_n own_o handwriting_n and_o that_o he_o direct_v the_o order_n and_o manner_n of_o the_o evangelist_n write_v which_o only_o signify_v they_o be_v divine_o inspire_v in_o both_o which_o none_o deny_v nor_o have_v this_o any_o influence_n upon_o the_o point_n in_o hand_n he_o can_v have_v quote_v you_o other_o place_n out_o of_o he_o if_o he_o have_v please_v which_o come_v up_o to_o it_o full_o and_o i_o shall_v supply_v his_o backwardness_n with_o do_v it_o myself_o quaerendi_fw-la dubitatio_fw-la etc._n etc._n 1._o say_v that_o learned_a and_o holy_a father_n the_o doubt_n of_o enquiry_n ought_v not_o to_o exceed_v the_o bound_n of_o catholic_n faith._n and_o because_o many_o heretic_n use_v to_o draw_v the_o exposition_n of_o the_o divine_a scripture_n to_o their_o own_o opinion_n which_o be_v against_o the_o faith_n of_o the_o catholic_n discipline_n therefore_o ante_fw-la tractationem_fw-la huius_fw-la 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with_o his_o own_o hand_n and_o seal_v with_o his_o archiepiscopall_a seal_n in_o these_o word_n 55._o infrascripti_fw-la testamur_fw-la etc._n etc._n we_o underwritten_a do_v attest_v that_o we_o have_v read_v through_o diligent_o and_o accurate_o and_o that_o with_o both_o profit_n and_o pleasure_n three_o book_n write_v in_o the_o english_a dialect_n publish_a by_o that_o learned_a person_n mr._n john_n sergeant_n who_o title_n and_o argument_n be_v these_o surefoot_v in_o christianity_n faith_n vindicate_v and_o reason_n against_o raillery_n in_o which_o i_o have_v not_o only_o find_v nothing_o against_o the_o integrity_n of_o the_o true_a faith_n and_o of_o good_a manner_n but_o moreover_o clear_a and_o solid_a principle_n which_o admirable_o conspire_v to_o the_o estabish_n and_o confirm_v the_o catholic_n doctrine_n for_o both_o by_o reason_n and_o authority_n they_o excellent_o impugn_v the_o protestant_n affirm_v the_o holy_a scripture_n be_v the_o only_a rule_n of_o faith_n 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overwhelm_v those_o who_o defend_v only_o moral_a certainty_n in_o faith_n with_o so_o great_a confusion_n that_o they_o can_v no_o way_n clear_v themselves_o from_o the_o blemish_n of_o atheism_n to_o which_o their_o principle_n and_o mere_a probability_n of_o faith_n lead_v of_o which_o crime_n the_o foresay_a author_n prove_v they_o guilty_a beyond_o all_o possibility_n of_o reply_n and_o a_o little_a after_o 29.30_o he_o acknowledge_v that_o the_o rule_n of_o faith_n viz._n in_o our_o controversy_n be_v the_o humane_a authority_n of_o the_o church_n and_o that_o it_o must_v be_v a_o infallible_a directress_n otherwise_o it_o may_v lead_v we_o out_o of_o the_o way_n unfortunate_a dr._n st._n to_o quote_v a_o authority_n against_o i_o which_o so_o high_o approve_v my_o doctrine_n and_o condemn_v he_o as_o lead_v to_o atheism_n the_o reader_n may_v hence_o discern_v how_o likely_a it_o be_v the_o archbishop_n of_o dublin_n shall_v be_v the_o author_n of_o lominus_fw-la his_o book_n 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paris_n i_o translate_v into_o latin_a and_o show_v it_o to_o that_o excellent_a prelate_n the_o bishop_n of_o condom_n my_o singular_a friend_n and_o patron_n desire_v his_o judgement_n of_o it_o he_o read_v it_o and_o at_o my_o request_n make_v his_o exception_n which_o be_v clear_v by_o i_o he_o ask_v i_o why_o i_o do_v not_o print_v it_o i_o reply_v i_o will_v so_o his_o grandeur_n will_v please_v to_o give_v i_o leave_v to_o dedicate_v it_o to_o himself_o which_o obtain_v it_o be_v propose_v to_o the_o sorbon_n for_o their_o approbation_n of_o it_o the_o former_a of_o they_o monsieur_n pirot_n testify_v it_o contain_v nothing_o against_o faith_n or_o good_a manner_n &_o the_o late_a of_o they_o dr_n gage_n add_v that_o the_o most_o certain_a rule_n of_o faith_n be_v in_o that_o treatise_n exact_o settle_v and_o invincible_o defend_v but_o still_o obscure_a lominus_fw-la be_v worth_a twenty_o sorbons_n in_o dr._n st_n learned_a judgement_n though_o it_o be_v here_o to_o be_v 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then_o if_o any_o after_o all_o this_o can_v make_v good_a any_o far_a
genuine_a effect_n of_o some_o kind_n of_o evidence_n and_o therefore_o absolute_a or_o perfect_a certainty_n ought_v to_o be_v the_o effect_n of_o perfect_a evidence_n nor_o be_v any_o evidence_n a_o perfect_a one_o unless_o it_o conclude_v now_o he_o do_v not_o like_o conclusive_a evidence_n and_o so_o he_o ought_v to_o renounce_v absolute_a certainty_n it_o be_v as_o difficult_a to_o guess_v what_o he_o mean_v here_o by_o those_o word_n in_o point_n of_o reason_n true_a reason_n know_v no_o method_n but_o this_o to_o assent_v if_o the_o thing_n be_v clear_a and_o to_o suspend_v if_o it_o be_v not_o and_o to_o conclude_v or_o argue_v be_v the_o proper_a act_n of_o reason_n strain_v after_o truth_n what_o be_v not_o conclude_v be_v not_o clear_a and_o therefore_o not_o to_o be_v accept_v for_o a_o absolute_a truth_n or_o assent_v to_o as_o such_o the_o sum_n then_o to_o come_v close_o to_o our_o present_a question_n be_v that_o absolute_a certainty_n of_o such_o a_o doctrine_n have_v 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concern_v certainty_n for_o he_o be_v in_o a_o miserable_a ross_n about_o it_o be_v drive_v now_o to_o declare_v whether_o he_o will_v deny_v first_o principle_n or_o renounce_v his_o vnprincipled_a doctrine_n the_o best_a way_n i_o can_v invent_v to_o end_v all_o controversy_n be_v this_o that_o since_o controvertist_n be_v disputant_n and_o be_v to_o produce_v their_o argument_n which_o be_v good_a for_o nothing_o nor_o can_v ever_o end_v controversy_n unless_o they_o conclude_v those_o who_o renounce_v conclusive_a evidence_n and_o instead_o of_o it_o bring_v invisible_a motive_n &_o qualification_n may_v be_v expose_v and_o turn_v out_o of_o the_o list_n as_o be_v even_o by_o their_o own_o confession_n insignificant_a talker_n and_o endless_a brabbler_n his_o wrangle_n about_o light_n and_o darkness_n 73.74_o christ_n and_o belial_n be_v speak_v to_o in_o my_o second_o catholic_a letter_n let_v he_o show_v that_o his_o rule_n scripture_n interpret_v by_o private_a judgement_n do_v not_o patronize_v heresy_n as_o well_o as_o faith_n which_o he_o will_v never_o do_v and_o we_o will_v be_v content_a to_o acquit_v he_o from_o that_o horrid_a blasphemy_n of_o make_v light_n and_o darkness_n very_o consistent_a and_o christ_n the_o author_n of_o our_o holy_a faith_n and_o belial_n the_o father_n of_o heresy_n and_o lie_v very_o good_a friend_n of_o which_o wicked_a doctrine_n till_o he_o do_v this_o he_o stand_v indict_v 49._o i_o allege_v that_o scripture_n be_v the_o common_a rule_n to_o he_o and_o all_o heretic_n 53._o the_o particular_a or_o distinguish_a rule_n must_v be_v their_o own_o private_a judgement_n interpret_n scripture_n do_v he_o deny_v this_o or_o show_v my_o discourse_n faulty_a by_o assign_v any_o other_o that_o particularize_v or_o distinguish_v they_o no_o neither_o what_o do_v he_o then_o why_o he_o send_v i_o to_o the_o old_a philosopher_n to_o learn_v logic_n and_o i_o tell_v he_o with_o many_o thanks_o i_o know_v none_o except_o aristotle_n a_o competent_a master_n for_o me._n next_o he_o make_v sense_n to_o be_v a_o rule_n of_o judge_v that_o be_v a_o intellectual_a rule_n which_o i_o deny_v for_o the_o rule_n to_o any_o thing_n be_v the_o immediate_a light_n to_o judge_v of_o any_o thing_n and_o multitude_n of_o intervening_a knowledge_n be_v requisite_a to_o inform_v we_o when_o the_o advertisement_n of_o our_o sense_n be_v right_a as_o be_v evident_a in_o the_o fallaciousness_n of_o sense_n in_o a_o stick_n seem_v crooked_a in_o water_n the_o bigness_n of_o thing_n see_v at_o distance_n and_o innumerable_a other_o particular_n but_o i_o ought_v to_o distinguish_v between_o the_o rule_n of_o judgement_n 53.54_o and_o the_o judgement_n make_v according_a to_o that_o rule_n and_o so_o i_o do_v if_o that_o be_v all_o for_o the_o rule_n be_v the_o informer_n &_o my_o judgement_n the_o thing_n inform_v but_o yet_o if_o my_o judgement_n follow_v the_o information_n and_o still_o go_v wrong_n my_o informer_n be_v no_o good_a informer_n the_o evidence_n of_o this_o and_o the_o propension_n of_o uncorrupted_a nature_n to_o believe_v pastor_n father_n and_o teacher_n and_o those_o who_o be_v wise_a than_o themselves_o in_o thing_n they_o be_v ignorant_a of_o do_v i_o tell_v he_o make_v the_o generality_n of_o those_o out_o of_o the_o church_n follow_v the_o way_n of_o tradition_n of_o their_o own_o church_n and_o not_o regulate_v themselves_o in_o the_o choice_n of_o their_o tenet_n by_o their_o private_a judgement_n of_o discretion_n work_v upon_o scripture_n letter_n as_o be_v evident_a in_o whole_a nation_n as_o denmark_n meet_v in_o one_o particular_a belief_n and_o whole_a sect_n agree_v in_o the_o very_a judgement_n of_o their_o respective_a leader_n whence_o the_o sense_n they_o make_v of_o scripture_n as_o themselves_o understand_v it_o be_v not_o their_o rule_n first_o he_o quote_v a_o decree_n of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n that_o nothing_o be_v to_o be_v require_v of_o any_o man_n to_o be_v believe_v as_o faith_n but_o what_o be_v read_v in_o scripture_n or_o may_v be_v prove_v by_o it_o but_o this_o make_v against_o himself_o unless_o he_o think_v the_o generality_n that_o be_v the_o laity_n of_o that_o church_n esteem_v themselves_o more_o able_a to_o judge_v of_o the_o sense_n of_o what_o be_v read_v in_o scripture_n or_o to_o prove_v all_o the_o high_a point_n of_o faith_n by_o it_o than_o their_o pastor_n and_o church-governor_n be_v for_o otherwise_o nature_n will_v and_o aught_o to_o incline_v they_o to_o believe_v their_o judgement_n rather_o than_o their_o own_o in_o that_o affair_n which_o be_v to_o follow_v the_o way_n of_o tradition_n indeed_o i_o must_v confess_v that_o by_o the_o doctor_n be_v principle_n every_o one_o of_o his_o sober_a enquirer_n ought_v to_o prefer_v his_o own_o judgement_n of_o discretion_n above_o the_o church_n but_o what_o he_o say_v be_v one_o thing_n what_o the_o dictate_v of_o honest_a nature_n teach_v mankind_n be_v another_o it_o be_v confess_v the_o laity_n of_o each_o congregation_n judge_v the_o sentiment_n of_o their_o leader_n to_o be_v agreeable_a to_o scripture_n but_o i_o affirm_v withal_o that_o not_o one_o in_o ten_o thousand_o when_o he_o come_v at_o age_n lay_v aside_o prejudice_n and_o set_v himself_o to_o consider_v anew_o by_o his_o scan_v the_o letter_n whether_o his_o leader_n tell_v he_o right_n or_o presume_v of_o the_o competency_n of_o his_o own_o knowledge_n to_o judge_v or_o determine_v whether_o they_o understand_v scripture_n in_o the_o right_a sense_n or_o no._n he_o talk_v to_o we_o indeed_o of_o help_n 55.56_o and_o how_o they_o call_v in_o the_o old_a interpreter_n of_o the_o church_n and_o desire_v they_o to_o use_v their_o own_o reason_n etc._n etc._n but_o every_o man_n see_v that_o few_o or_o none_o stand_v indifferent_a till_o they_o have_v use_v all_o these_o help_n but_o undoubting_o accept_v that_o very_a faith_n in_o which_o they_o be_v educate_v and_o so_o they_o 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to_o direct_v passenger_n in_o their_o way_n and_o leave_v man_n much_o at_o like_a liberty_n to_o regard_n either_o more_o be_v just_o and_o prudent_o require_v viz._n a_o power_n to_o make_v her_o declaration_n law_n and_o this_o as_o to_o matter_n of_o faith_n ibid._n &_o not_o only_o in_o thing_n belong_v to_o order_n and_o decency_n otherwise_o the_o late_a without_o the_o former_a make_v as_o he_o argue_v very_o well_o some_o kind_n of_o fence_n about_o the_o church_n against_o schismatic_n but_o lay_v her_o open_a to_o all_o manner_n of_o heretic_n 57_o this_o just_a censure_n of_o i_o upon_o the_o drs._n principle_n be_v such_o a_o choak-pear_n to_o he_o that_o it_o be_v no_o wonder_n he_o keck_v at_o it_o so_o vehement_o the_o great_a credit_n he_o have_v get_v whether_o for_o defend_v christian_a faith_n or_o no_o the_o reader_n be_v to_o judge_v make_v he_o scorn_n to_o bring_v it_o up_o again_o and_o retract_v it_o but_o he_o use_v all_o the_o art_n imaginable_a to_o palliate_v and_o excuse_v it_o and_o those_o such_o wretched_a one_o that_o it_o be_v a_o shame_n to_o mention_v they_o and_o certain_o never_o be_v so_o heavy_a a_o charge_n so_o miserable_o refute_v he_o say_v confident_o this_o doctrine_n of_o he_o be_v own_a by_o all_o man_n of_o understanding_n in_o both_o church_n whereas_o 70._o if_o he_o can_v show_v i_o any_o one_o catholic_n who_o maintain_v that_o he_o can_v have_v any_o faith_n at_o all_o or_o ground_n such_o a_o firm_a &_o sacred_a assent_n upon_o his_o own_o private_a interpretation_n of_o scripture_n without_o the_o church_n help_v in_o those_o most_o sublime_a and_o necessary_a article_n which_o have_v be_v dubious_a and_o contest_v between_o the_o church_n and_o any_o heretic_n of_o which_o only_o we_o speak_v he_o will_v do_v more_o than_o miracle_n but_o i_o be_o mighty_o mistake_v he_o will_v name_v one_o and_o who_o shall_v that_o be_v but_o i._o s._n himself_o what_o a_o boldness_n be_v this_o to_o make_v i_o 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