understanding_n for_o when_o hypocrite_n have_v for_o their_o worldly_a interest_n debauch_a religion_n in_o this_o manner_n they_o know_v that_o the_o mean_a people_n will_v never_o swallow_v their_o gross_a absurdity_n unless_o they_o can_v first_o prevail_v with_o they_o to_o believe_v that_o it_o be_v a_o dangerous_a thing_n to_o trust_v their_o own_o eye_n or_o to_o hearken_v to_o any_o discourse_n from_o principle_n of_o reason_n though_o it_o be_v never_o so_o clear_a and_o strong_a and_o that_o it_o be_v a_o kind_n of_o merit_n to_o believe_v thing_n incredible_a and_o to_o stick_v to_o a_o conclusion_n the_o fast_o the_o more_o impossible_a it_o seem_v to_o be_v true_a but_o by_o the_o way_n if_o reason_n be_v one_o and_o that_o the_o first_o mean_n by_o which_o we_o be_v to_o judge_v for_o ourselves_o in_o matter_n of_o religion_n as_o i_o shall_v make_v bold_a to_o say_v it_o be_v i_o shall_v vehement_o suspect_v without_o far_a examination_n that_o they_o know_v their_o 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meaning_n be_v most_o plain_a and_o evident_a but_o this_o caution_n will_v be_v of_o great_a use_n if_o we_o take_v the_o next_o along_o with_o we_o and_o that_o be_v this_o 4._o in_o try_v opinion_n by_o scripture_n we_o must_v be_v something_o careful_a lest_o we_o mistake_v those_o place_n for_o plain_a which_o indeed_o be_v not_o so_o but_o more_o or_o less_o obscure_a and_o here_o i_o think_v it_o needful_a to_o show_v what_o i_o mean_v by_o the_o plainness_n or_o by_o the_o difficulty_n of_o a_o text._n a_o text_n be_v then_o plain_a when_o that_o be_v the_o true_a and_o intend_a meaning_n of_o it_o which_o the_o first_o read_v or_o hear_v of_o the_o word_n do_v suggest_v to_o a_o man_n mind_n and_o the_o scripture_n be_v thus_o plain_a in_o necessary_a point_n especial_o in_o the_o precept_n and_o exhortation_n thereof_o which_o though_o in_o some_o place_n they_o be_v couch_v under_o more_o obscure_a term_n yet_o in_o other_o they_o be_v deliver_v with_o this_o plainness_n a_o 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latter_a sort_n which_o have_v be_v mistake_v for_o plain_a that_o be_v erroneous_o take_v to_o have_v such_o a_o meaning_n as_o they_o appear_v to_o have_v upon_o the_o first_o read_v in_o the_o nine_o chapter_n of_o the_o epistle_n to_o the_o roman_n we_o have_v these_o word_n that_o it_o may_v not_o be_v of_o work_n but_o of_o he_o that_o call_v some_o take_v this_o for_o a_o plain_a place_n and_o therefore_o think_v it_o a_o clear_a scriptural_a truth_n that_o our_o salvation_n be_v not_o at_o all_o of_o our_o work_n but_o only_o proceed_v from_o a_o absolute_a decree_n of_o heaven_n so_o again_o we_o have_v it_o affirm_v by_o the_o apostle_n in_o the_o same_o chapter_n it_o be_v not_o of_o he_o that_o will_v nor_o of_o he_o that_o run_v but_o of_o god_n that_o show_v mercy_n hence_o some_o think_v it_o be_v plain_a in_o scripture_n that_o what_o we_o do_v signify_v little_a all_o be_v from_o a_o arbitrary_a favour_n of_o god_n again_o in_o the_o 1_o cor._n 4._o 7._o we_o find_v these_o word_n who_o make_v thou_o to_o differ_v from_o another_o from_o the_o sound_n of_o which_o word_n some_o gather_v that_o we_o be_v not_o free_a agent_n in_o our_o own_o conversion_n but_o that_o if_o we_o be_v better_a than_o our_o neighbour_n it_o be_v a_o almighty_a power_n have_v make_v we_o so_o and_o not_o any_o free_a choice_n or_o care_n of_o our_o own_o now_o certain_a it_o be_v that_o we_o mistake_v the_o meaning_n of_o a_o text_n of_o scripture_n if_o we_o look_v upon_o it_o as_o plain_v when_o it_o be_v not_o so_o and_o consequent_o in_o this_o case_n we_o can_v be_v able_a to_o judge_v what_o be_v orthodox_n or_o erroneous_a by_o have_v recourse_n to_o any_o scripture_n so_o misapprehend_v but_o how_o can_v i_o know_v when_o a_o place_n be_v but_o seem_o plain_a and_o not_o real_o so_o i._n e._n when_o i_o be_o not_o to_o take_v that_o to_o be_v the_o meaning_n of_o the_o place_n which_o i_o may_v apprehend_v upon_o the_o first_o run_v of_o the_o word_n and_o sound_n of_o the_o phrase_n this_o be_v to_o be_v know_v by_o compare_v place_n together_o and_o go_v by_o this_o rule_n a_o place_n seem_v only_o to_o be_v plain_a but_o be_v not_o when_o it_o be_v uppermost_a sense_n and_o what_o it_o offer_v to_o we_o do_v not_o agree_v with_o the_o sense_n of_o a_o place_n undoubted_o plain_a for_o instance_n the_o text_n now_o mention_v may_v seem_v plain_a to_o those_o who_o will_v prove_v their_o erroneous_a persuasion_n to_o be_v scriptural_a truth_n by_o they_o yet_o if_o we_o suppose_v they_o plain_a i._n e._n if_o we_o think_v they_o be_v to_o be_v take_v in_o that_o sense_n which_o they_o will_v bear_v at_o the_o first_o read_v than_o they_o be_v text_n undeniable_o repugnant_a to_o such_o place_n of_o st._n paul_n as_o all_o must_v believe_v and_o acknowledge_v to_o be_v plain_a for_o whereas_o he_o say_v that_o it_o may_v not_o be_v of_o work_n etc._n etc._n in_o another_o place_n he_o give_v we_o this_o plain_a precept_n work_v out_o your_o salvation_n be_v not_o salvation_n of_o work_n and_o 12._o yet_o must_v we_o work_v it_o out_o either_o therefore_o it_o be_v not_o true_a in_o the_o sense_n some_o take_v the_o word_n that_o salvation_n be_v not_o of_o work_n or_o it_o be_v not_o proper_a to_o bid_v we_o work_v it_o out_o wherefore_o by_o this_o plain_a place_n work_n out_o your_o salvation_n we_o must_v conclude_v that_o the_o other_o place_n that_o it_o may_v not_o be_v of_o work_n whatsoever_o the_o sense_n of_o it_o may_v be_v it_o can_v have_v this_o meaning_n that_o our_o salvation_n do_v not_o depend_v upon_o our_o work_n or_o do_n in_o like_a manner_n whereas_o the_o apostle_n say_v it_o be_v not_o of_o he_o that_o will_v nor_o of_o he_o that_o run_v etc._n etc._n do_v he_o not_o in_o a_o plain_a practical_a discourse_n wherein_o he_o compare_v the_o christian_a life_n to_o a_o race_n exhort_v we_o so_o to_o run_v that_o we_o 24._o may_v obtain_v now_o be_v it_o not_o of_o run_v that_o we_o obtain_v and_o yet_o do_v he_o bid_v we_o so_o run_v that_o we_o may_v obtain_v wherefore_o the_o plain_a precept_n to_o run_v etc._n etc._n evident_o show_v that_o it_o can_v be_v the_o meaning_n of_o the_o other_o place_n that_o it_o be_v not_o by_o run_v or_o by_o diligence_n in_o a_o christian_a life_n that_o we_o obtain_v salvation_n 7._o again_o whereas_o he_o ask_v in_o one_o place_n who_o make_v thou_o to_o differ_v from_o another_o he_o also_o exhort_v in_o another_o 2._o be_v not_o conform_v to_o the_o world_n and_o therefore_o the_o meaning_n of_o the_o former_a clause_n can_v be_v that_o the_o righteous_a man_n who_o be_v more_o excellent_a than_o his_o neighbour_n do_v nothing_o towards_o the_o make_n of_o that_o difference_n for_o than_o it_o will_v be_v very_o improper_a to_o exhort_v a_o man_n to_o make_v that_o difference_n by_o not_o conform_v to_o the_o world_n final_o it_o be_v evident_a that_o these_o place_n of_o st._n paul_n which_o i_o have_v now_o compare_v can_v be_v 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their_o opinion_n who_o person_n they_o admire_v and_o most_o to_o that_o degree_n as_o not_o to_o hear_v with_o any_o patience_n a_o argument_n against_o they_o such_o a_o precious_a man_n say_v this_o or_o that_o and_o therefore_o no_o body_n must_v say_v otherwise_o but_o it_o be_v at_o once_o disingenuous_a and_o silly_a to_o entertain_v such_o a_o opinion_n of_o any_o man_n as_o to_o take_v all_o that_o he_o say_v for_o gospel_n for_o the_o best_a man_n be_v fallible_a and_o it_o be_v easy_a for_o a_o hypocrite_n to_o make_v himself_o pass_v for_o a_o saint_n in_o the_o opinion_n of_o ordinary_a people_n and_o therefore_o man_n may_v be_v lead_v into_o great_a error_n who_o judgement_n be_v captivate_v in_o this_o manner_n to_o this_o we_o may_v add_v that_o prejudice_n which_o arise_v from_o conceive_v hard_a thing_n of_o man_n person_n which_o a_o ingenuous_a man_n will_v by_o no_o mean_n yield_v to_o but_o will_v consider_v what_o another_o say_v though_o he_o do_v not_o 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truth_n of_o that_o doctrine_n by_o which_o he_o stand_v condemn_v the_o belief_n of_o it_o be_v uneasy_a to_o he_o it_o be_v not_o for_o his_o interest_n that_o it_o shall_v be_v true_a this_o be_v the_o reason_n why_o the_o fool_n say_v in_o his_o heart_n there_o be_v no_o god_n the_o worldly_a interest_n of_o man_n do_v strange_o bias_n and_o fashion_n their_o judgement_n it_o be_v a_o thing_n never_o enough_o to_o be_v admire_v that_o so_o many_o man_n of_o part_n and_o learning_n shall_v not_o be_v ashamed_a of_o those_o pitiful_a ground_n upon_o which_o they_o maintain_v the_o supremacy_n of_o the_o pope_n the_o doctrine_n of_o purgatory_n the_o half_a communion_n the_o sacrifice_n of_o the_o mass_n the_o invocation_n of_o saint_n and_o the_o like_a but_o that_o those_o thing_n do_v notorious_o serve_v the_o wealth_n and_o grandeur_n of_o the_o roman_a church_n if_o it_o be_v needful_a to_o go_v to_o a_o conventicle_n for_o the_o get_n of_o a_o rich_a fortune_n or_o the_o 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we_o to_o buy_v the_o truth_n intimate_v thereby_o that_o we_o must_v quit_v all_o our_o sinful_a lust_n and_o affection_n and_o our_o carnal_a interest_n in_o prosecute_a of_o it_o in_o a_o word_n we_o must_v be_v in_o mind_n prepare_v to_o believe_v all_o truth_n by_o be_v resolve_v to_o do_v whatsoever_o appear_v to_o be_v the_o will_n of_o god_n let_v what_o will_v come_v of_o it_o in_o this_o world_n have_v our_o heart_n evermore_o fix_v upon_o the_o great_a concernment_n of_o eternal_a life_n and_o this_o be_v more_o necessary_a for_o the_o best_a knowledge_n than_o vastness_n of_o part_n and_o learning_n where_o the_o mind_n be_v thus_o prepare_v there_o will_v be_v little_a need_n to_o press_v the_o two_o remain_a disposition_n whereof_o the_o former_a be_v 2._o competent_a diligence_n error_n be_v sometime_o make_v to_o look_v so_o like_o the_o truth_n that_o a_o superficial_a examination_n will_v not_o serve_v to_o distinguish_v one_o from_o the_o other_o sometime_o the_o 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in_o search_v for_o truth_n we_o must_v implore_v his_o help_n who_o be_v the_o god_n of_o truth_n who_o word_n be_v the_o word_n of_o truth_n and_o who_o spirit_n be_v the_o guide_n into_o truth_n that_o he_o will_v free_v our_o mind_n from_o all_o prejudices_fw-la and_o corrupt_a affection_n and_o from_o every_o thing_n which_o obstruct_v a_o right_a understanding_n if_o we_o lack_v wisdom_n we_o must_v ask_v it_o of_o god_n who_o give_v his_o holy_a spirit_n to_o they_o that_o ask_v he_o and_o now_o i_o dare_v appeal_n to_o all_o that_o read_v these_o paper_n if_o it_o have_v not_o be_v to_o the_o unspeakable_a advantage_n of_o god_n church_n and_o the_o soul_n of_o man_n if_o all_o that_o profess_v christianity_n have_v inquire_v into_o the_o controversy_n of_o religion_n so_o far_o as_o they_o be_v concern_v in_o they_o with_o these_o disposition_n that_o i_o have_v recommend_v and_o therefore_o i_o do_v the_o more_o earnest_o desire_v they_o to_o lay_v their_o hand_n upon_o 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to_o we_o and_o we_o shall_v have_v a_o more_o clear_a and_o distinct_a apprehension_n of_o they_o which_o will_v reward_v our_o endeavour_n with_o great_a pleasure_n and_o satisfaction_n for_o next_o to_o the_o delight_n of_o a_o good_a conscience_n gain_v by_o do_v what_o we_o know_v to_o be_v our_o duty_n there_o be_v no_o pleasure_n more_o pure_a and_o agreeable_a to_o the_o best_a part_n of_o our_o nature_n than_o that_o which_o arise_v from_o a_o improve_a knowledge_n in_o the_o thing_n of_o god_n and_o have_v well_o weigh_v and_o consider_v the_o ground_n of_o our_o persuasion_n we_o shall_v adhere_v more_o steadfast_o to_o that_o truth_n which_o we_o have_v learn_v and_o not_o be_v easy_o unsettle_a by_o the_o sophistry_n or_o the_o confidence_n of_o ill_a man_n be_v prepare_v to_o show_v that_o there_o be_v no_o sound_a reason_n in_o the_o former_a and_o no_o just_a cause_n for_o the_o latter_a and_o when_o seducer_n perceive_v that_o we_o have_v inquire_v too_o far_o into_o thing_n to_o be_v bear_v down_o with_o peremptoriness_n or_o to_o be_v delude_v with_o colour_n they_o will_v be_v discourage_v from_o attempt_v to_o draw_v we_o into_o their_o net_n moreover_o it_o will_v be_v no_o little_a satisfaction_n to_o we_o when_o we_o be_v go_v out_o of_o the_o world_n that_o we_o have_v all_o along_o take_v due_a pain_n to_o inform_v ourselves_o in_o thing_n of_o the_o great_a concernment_n to_o we_o viz._n those_o which_o regard_v our_o everlasting_a salvation_n and_o that_o the_o error_n into_o which_o we_o may_v have_v fall_v be_v not_o to_o be_v impute_v to_o want_v of_o honest_a diligence_n in_o inquire_v after_o the_o truth_n but_o only_o to_o humane_a infirmity_n in_o the_o mean_a time_n we_o can_v have_v the_o conscience_n of_o sincerity_n upon_o good_a ground_n if_o we_o do_v not_o with_o diligence_n apply_v ourselves_o to_o know_v all_o our_o duty_n and_o consequent_o all_o that_o divine_a truth_n which_o be_v the_o rule_n of_o it_o or_o which_o 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