the_o wisdom_n of_o be_v religious_a a_o sermon_n preach_v at_o st._n paul_n by_o john_n tillotson_n preacher_n to_o the_o honourable_a society_n of_o lincolns-inn_n bateman_n maior_n martis_n quinto_fw-la decimo_fw-la die_fw-la martii_fw-la 1663._o annoque_fw-la caroli_n secundi_fw-la angliae_fw-la etc._n etc._n sexto_fw-la decimo_fw-la it_o be_v order_v that_o mr._n tillotson_n be_v desire_v to_o print_v his_o sermon_n late_o preach_v at_o st._n paul_n church_n before_o the_o lord_n maior_n and_o alderman_n of_o this_o city_n weld_n perlegi_fw-la hanc_fw-la concionem_fw-la in_fw-la ecclesiâ_fw-la sancti_fw-la pauli_n habitam_fw-la cui_fw-la titulus_fw-la the_o wisdom_n of_o be_v religious_a in_o quâ_fw-la nihil_fw-la reperio_fw-la doctrinae_fw-la disciplinaeve_fw-la ecclesiae_fw-la anglicanae_n aut_fw-la bonis_fw-la moribus_fw-la contrarium_fw-la plurima_fw-la tamen_fw-la quae_fw-la ad_fw-la praecipuum_fw-la religionis_fw-la fundamentum_fw-la tutandum_fw-la et_fw-la ad_fw-la prodigiosam_fw-la atheorum_fw-la huius_fw-la seculi_fw-la vanitatem_fw-la redar_fw-mi guendam_fw-la egregiè_fw-la sunt_fw-la accommodata_fw-la quapropter_fw-la dignissimam_fw-la censeo_fw-la quae_fw-la in_o utilitatem_fw-la publicam_fw-la typis_fw-la mandetur_fw-la joh._n hall_n rev._n in_o christo_n pat._n humfredo_n episc_n lond._n â_fw-la sac_fw-la dome_a maij._fw-la 13._o 1664._o london_n print_v for_o sa_n gellibrand_n 1664._o to_o the_o right_n honourable_a sir_n anthony_n bateman_n lord_n mayor_n of_o the_o city_n of_o london_n and_o the_o honourable_a court_n of_o alderman_n there_o right_o honourable_a in_o obedience_n to_o your_o order_n i_o here_o present_v you_o with_o a_o sermon_n which_o you_o former_o hear_v i_o know_v not_o how_o acceptable_a discourse_n of_o this_o nature_n may_v be_v i_o be_o sure_a they_o be_v very_o seasonable_a in_o this_o degenerate_a age_n in_o which_o atheism_n and_o profaneness_n be_v grow_v so_o impudent_a and_o notwithstanding_o the_o 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i_o and_o the_o sea_n say_v it_o be_v not_o in_o i_o etc._n etc._n therefore_o he_o put_v the_o question_n again_o ver_fw-la 20._o whence_o then_o come_v wisdom_n and_o where_o be_v the_o place_n of_o understanding_n see_v it_o be_v hide_v from_o the_o eye_n of_o all_o live_n to_o which_o he_o return_v a_o answer_n ver_fw-la 23._o god_n understand_v the_o way_n thereof_o and_o he_o know_v the_o place_n thereof_o for_o he_o look_v to_o the_o end_n of_o the_o earth_n and_o see_v under_o the_o whole_a heaven_n to_o make_v the_o weight_n for_o the_o wind_n etc._n etc._n the_o result_n of_o which_o discourse_n be_v that_o a_o perfect_a knowledge_n of_o nature_n be_v no_o where_o to_o be_v find_v but_o in_o the_o author_n of_o it_o no_o less_o wisdom_n and_o understanding_n then_o that_o which_o make_v the_o world_n and_o contrive_v this_o vast_a and_o regular_a frame_n of_o nature_n can_v thorough_o understand_v the_o philosophy_n of_o it_o and_o give_v a_o perfect_a account_n of_o all_o 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day_n of_o thy_o
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imputation_n be_v that_o religion_n be_v a_o foolish_a bargain_n because_o they_o who_o be_v religious_a hazard_n the_o part_n with_o a_o present_a and_o certain_a happiness_n for_o that_o which_o be_v future_a and_o uncertain_a to_o this_o i_o answer_v 1._o let_v it_o be_v grant_v that_o the_o assurance_n which_o we_o have_v of_o future_a reward_n fall_v short_a of_o the_o evidence_n of_o sense_n for_o i_o doubt_v not_o but_o that_o that_o say_n of_o our_o saviour_n blessed_n be_v he_o who_o have_v believe_v and_o not_o see_v and_o those_o expression_n of_o the_o apostle_n we_o walk_v by_o faith_n and_o not_o by_o sight_n and_o faith_n be_v the_o evidence_n of_o thing_n not_o see_v be_v intend_v by_o way_n of_o abatement_n and_o diminution_n to_o the_o evidence_n of_o faith_n and_o do_v
signify_v that_o the_o report_n and_o testimony_n of_o other_o be_v not_o so_o great_a evidence_n as_o that_o of_o our_o own_o sense_n and_o though_o we_o have_v sufficient_a assurance_n of_o another_o state_n yet_o not_o so_o great_a evidence_n as_o if_o we_o ourselves_o have_v be_v in_o the_o other_o world_n and_o see_v how_o all_o thing_n be_v there_o 2._o we_o have_v sufficient_a assurance_n of_o these_o thing_n and_o such_o as_o may_v beget_v in_o we_o a_o well_o ground_a confidence_n and_o free_v we_o from_o all_o doubt_n of_o the_o contrary_a and_o persuade_v a_o reasonable_a man_n to_o venture_v his_o great_a interest_n in_o this_o world_n upon_o the_o security_n that_o we_o have_v of_o another_o world_n for_o 1._o we_o have_v as_o much_o assurance_n of_o these_o thing_n as_o thing_n future_a and_o at_o a_o distance_n be_v capable_a of_o and_o he_o be_v a_o very_a unreasonable_a man_n that_o will_v desire_v more_o future_a and_o invisible_a thing_n be_v not_o capable_a of_o the_o evidence_n of_o sense_n but_o we_o have_v the_o great_a rational_a evidence_n for_o they_o and_o in_o this_o every_o reasonable_a man_n ought_v to_o acquiesce_v 2._o we_o have_v as_o much_o as_o be_v abundant_o sufficient_a to_o justify_v every_o man_n discretion_n who_o for_o the_o great_a and_o eternal_a thing_n of_o another_o world_n hazard_n or_o part_n with_o the_o poor_a and_o transitory_a thing_n of_o this_o life_n and_o for_o the_o clear_n of_o this_o it_o will_v be_v worth_a our_o consider_v that_o the_o great_a affair_n of_o this_o world_n and_o the_o most_o important_a concernment_n of_o this_o life_n be_v all_o conduct_v only_o by_o moral_a demonstration_n man_n every_o day_n venture_v their_o life_n and_o estate_n only_o upon_o moral_a assurance_n for_o instance_n man_n who_o never_o be_v at_o the_o east_n or_o west_n indies_n or_o in_o turkey_n or_o spain_n yet_o do_v venture_v their_o whole_a estate_n in_o traffic_n thither_o though_o they_o have_v no_o mathematical_a demonstration_n only_o moral_a assurance_n that_o there_o be_v such_o place_n nay_o which_o be_v more_o man_n every_o day_n eat_v and_o drink_v though_o i_o think_v no_o man_n can_v demonstrate_v out_o of_o euclid_n or_o apollonius_n that_o his_o baker_n or_o brewer_n or_o cook_n have_v not_o convey_v poison_n into_o his_o meat_n or_o drink_n and_o that_o man_n that_o will_v be_v so_o wise_a and_o cautious_a as_o not_o to_o eat_v or_o drink_v till_o he_o can_v demonstrate_v this_o to_o himself_o i_o know_v no_o other_o remedy_n for_o he_o but_o that_o in_o great_a gravity_n and_o wisdom_n he_o must_v die_v for_o fear_n of_o death_n and_o for_o any_o man_n to_o urge_v that_o though_o man_n in_o temporal_a affair_n proceed_v upon_o moral_a assurance_n yet_o there_o be_v great_a assurance_n require_v to_o make_v man_n seek_v heaven_n and_o avoid_v hell_n seem_v to_o i_o to_o be_v high_o unreasonable_a for_o such_o a_o assurance_n of_o thing_n as_o will_v make_v man_n circumspect_a and_o careful_a to_o avoid_v a_o lesser_a danger_n aught_o in_o all_o reason_n to_o awaken_v man_n much_o more_o to_o the_o avoid_n of_o a_o great_a such_o a_o assurance_n as_o will_v sharpen_v man_n desire_n and_o quicken_v their_o endeavour_n for_o the_o obtain_n of_o a_o lesser_a good_a aught_o in_o all_o reason_n to_o animate_v man_n more_o powerful_o and_o to_o inspire_v they_o with_o a_o great_a vigour_n and_o industry_n in_o the_o pursuit_n of_o that_o which_o be_v infinite_o great_a for_o why_o the_o same_o assurance_n shall_v not_o operate_v as_o well_o in_o a_o great_a danger_n as_o in_o a_o less_o in_o a_o great_a good_a as_o in_o a_o small_a and_o inconsiderable_a one_o i_o can_v see_v no_o reason_n unless_o man_n will_v say_v that_o the_o greatness_n of_o a_o evil_a and_o danger_n be_v a_o encouragement_n to_o man_n to_o run_v upon_o it_o and_o that_o the_o greatness_n of_o any_o good_a and_o happiness_n ought_v in_o reason_n to_o dishearten_v man_n from_o the_o pursuit_n of_o it_o use_v i._o the_o use_n that_o i_o shall_v make_v of_o this_o shall_v be_v 1._o to_o put_v man_n out_o of_o conceit_n with_o sin_n 2._o to_o persuade_v man_n to_o be_v true_o religious_a first_o if_o religion_n be_v the_o best_a knowledge_n and_o wisdom_n this_o challenge_v wicked_a man_n for_o their_o folly_n and_o ignorance_n this_o conviction_n of_o the_o great_a imprudence_n and_o unreasonableness_n of_o a_o wicked_a course_n shall_v shame_v man_n out_o of_o irreligion_n wicked_a man_n be_v in_o scripture_n describe_v by_o this_o character_n they_o be_v those_o that_o know_v not_o god_n which_o argue_v monstrous_a ignorance_n and_o stupidity_n for_o to_o have_v a_o understanding_n and_o not_o to_o know_v god_n be_v in_o intellectual_a thing_n just_a such_o a_o absurdity_n as_o it_o be_v in_o natural_a thing_n to_o have_v eye_n and_o not_o to_o discern_v the_o light_n for_o as_o light_n be_v primum_fw-la visibile_fw-la the_o first_o object_n of_o our_o sight_n so_o god_n be_v primum_fw-la intelligibile_fw-la the_o plain_a and_o most_o obvious_a object_n of_o our_o understanding_n he_o fill_v heaven_n and_o earth_n every_o thing_n represent_v he_o to_o we_o which_o way_n soever_o we_o turn_v ourselves_o we_o be_v encounter_v with_o clear_a evidence_n and_o demonstration_n of_o a_o deity_n for_o the_o invisible_a thing_n of_o he_o from_o the_o creation_n of_o the_o world_n be_v clear_o see_v be_v understand_v by_o the_o thing_n make_v even_o his_o eternal_a power_n and_o godhead_n so_o that_o man_n be_v without_o excuse_n as_o the_o apostle_n speak_v rom._n 1._o 20._o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d such_o man_n as_o know_v not_o god_n can_v have_v no_o apology_n to_o make_v for_o themselves_o their_o ignorance_n be_v utter_o inexcusable_a or_o if_o man_n do_v understand_v or_o believe_v there_o be_v such_o a_o be_v as_o god_n not_o to_o consider_v this_o not_o to_o attend_v to_o the_o proper_a consequence_n of_o such_o a_o principle_n not_o to_o know_v our_o relation_n to_o he_o and_o dependence_n upon_o he_o and_o obnoxiousness_n to_o his_o power_n and_o justice_n in_o case_n we_o neglect_v contemn_v and_o disobey_v he_o not_o to_o know_v the_o duty_n that_o we_o owe_v to_o he_o who_o have_v make_v we_o and_o have_v a_o unquestionable_a right_n in_o we_o and_o title_n to_o we_o and_o authority_n over_o we_o and_o be_v therefore_o our_o supreme_a lawgiver_n because_o he_o have_v power_n to_o make_v we_o happy_a or_o miserable_a for_o ever_o to_o save_v or_o to_o destroy_v we_o and_o consequent_o that_o it_o be_v our_o high_a interest_n to_o please_v he_o to_o know_v his_o will_n and_o to_o do_v it_o this_o be_v gross_a ignorance_n and_o inconsiderateness_n and_o stupidity_n as_o can_v be_v imagine_v he_o that_o observe_v the_o life_n and_o action_n of_o the_o great_a part_n of_o man_n will_v very_o think_v that_o they_o understand_v nothing_o of_o all_o this_o therefore_o we_o find_v in_o scripture_n that_o when_o god_n look_v down_o upon_o the_o wickedness_n of_o man_n he_o pronounce_v they_o to_o be_v without_o understanding_n deut._n 32._o 28._o when_o god_n have_v reckon_v up_o the_o rebellion_n and_o perversness_n of_o the_o child_n of_o israel_n he_o conclude_v it_o be_v a_o nation_n void_a of_o counsel_n neither_o be_v there_o any_o understanding_n in_o they_o in_o the_o 14_o psalm_n at_o the_o beginning_n the_o psalmist_n represent_v god_n as_o look_v down_o from_o heaven_n upon_o the_o child_n of_o man_n and_o when_o he_o see_v how_o they_o have_v corrupt_v themselves_o and_o what_o abominable_a work_n they_o do_v cry_v out_o have_v all_o the_o worker_n of_o iniquity_n no_o knowledge_n not_o that_o wicked_a man_n be_v destitute_a of_o the_o natural_a faculty_n of_o understanding_n but_o they_o have_v it_o as_o if_o they_o have_v it_o not_o they_o have_v understanding_n but_o they_o do_v not_o use_v they_o which_o in_o effect_n and_o by_o interpretation_n be_v all_o one_o as_o if_o they_o have_v none_o nay_o happy_a be_v it_o for_o they_o if_o they_o have_v they_o not_o for_o than_o they_o will_v not_o be_v liable_a to_o the_o judgement_n of_o god_n nor_o accountable_a to_o he_o as_o reasonable_a creature_n but_o this_o ignorance_n be_v wilful_a and_o affect_v man_n be_v not_o blind_a but_o they_o wink_v and_o shut_v their_o eye_n they_o can_v understand_v and_o will_v not_o or_o if_o they_o do_v understand_v any_o thing_n they_o imprison_v the_o truth_n of_o god_n and_o detain_v they_o in_o unrighteousness_n they_o thrust_v light_a into_o a_o dungeon_n and_o hide_v the_o candle_n of_o the_o lord_n that_o be_v in_o they_o under_o a_o bushel_n they_o do_v not_o suffer_v those_o thing_n that_o they_o know_v to_o have_v a_o due_a power_n and_o influence_n upon_o their_o heart_n and_o life_n and_o this_o be_v a_o ignorance_n that_o will_v be_v