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now_o perfect_o insignificant_a i_o think_v it_o make_v they_o to_o be_v so_o as_o to_o the_o church_n representative_a for_o she_o pretend_v to_o her_o infallibility_n and_o consequent_o to_o her_o infallible_a assurance_n of_o the_o truth_n of_o christianity_n as_o a_o immediate_a gift_n of_o the_o holy_a ghost_n therefore_o what_o need_n have_v she_o of_o the_o testimony_n of_o miracle_n but_o as_o to_o private_a christian_n i_o can_v by_o no_o mean_n understand_v in_o what_o stead_n they_o stand_v they_o for_o if_o the_o church_n authority_n be_v necessary_a to_o their_o believe_v the_o truth_n of_o the_o scripture_n and_o therefore_o to_o their_o believe_v that_o there_o be_v those_o miracle_n real_o wrought_v which_o the_o write_n of_o the_o apostle_n tell_v we_o of_o then_o why_o may_v they_o not_o without_o any_o more_o ado_n make_v her_o authority_n the_o immediate_a ground_n of_o their_o assent_n to_o the_o truth_n of_o christianity_n it_o be_v say_v that_o the_o truth_n of_o 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it_o appear_v that_o the_o testimony_n of_o the_o church_n be_v true_a they_o reply_v it_o appear_v from_o the_o scripture_n and_o so_o they_o prove_v the_o authority_n of_o the_o scripture_n by_o the_o testimony_n of_o the_o church_n and_o then_o wheel_n about_o again_o and_o prove_v the_o authority_n of_o the_o church_n by_o the_o testimony_n of_o the_o scripture_n but_o again_o we_o can_v either_o be_v certain_a of_o the_o truth_n of_o these_o word_n of_o s._n paul_n set_v aside_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o church_n or_o we_o can_v be_v certain_a if_o we_o can_v be_v certain_a why_o then_o not_o of_o the_o truth_n of_o the_o whole_a scripture_n as_o well_o as_o of_o this_o single_a text_n if_o we_o can_v be_v certain_a of_o the_o truth_n of_o this_o text_n without_o the_o consideration_n of_o the_o church_n authority_n what_o folly_n or_o rather_o knavery_n be_v it_o to_o make_v this_o text_n a_o argument_n to_o prove_v the_o thing_n
to_o the_o will_n of_o god_n to_o have_v grant_v or_o deny_v to_o we_o as_o shall_v seem_v most_o agreeable_a to_o his_o infinite_a wisdom_n the_o good_a thing_n of_o this_o present_a life_n and_o hunger_a and_o thirst_a desire_n after_o righteousness_n after_o those_o divine_a disposition_n and_o qualification_n which_o be_v necessary_a to_o our_o be_v make_v meet_v for_o the_o kingdom_n of_o heaven_n in_o such_o thing_n as_o these_o do_v consist_v the_o soul_n and_o spirit_n of_o prayer_n these_o be_v the_o absolute_o necessary_a and_o essential_a ingredient_n thereof_o but_o four_o as_o for_o word_n they_o be_v but_o a_o circumstantial_a part_n of_o prayer_n and_o no_o far_o necessary_a than_o as_o they_o tend_v to_o the_o more_o quicken_a our_o affection_n exciting_a our_o desire_n inlve_a our_o sense_n of_o the_o forementioned_a object_n and_o keep_v our_o mind_n fix_v and_o intent_n and_o in_o public_a prayer_n or_o prayer_n with_o other_o they_o be_v necessary_a to_o enable_v 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the_o confession_n petition_n and_o thanksgiving_n of_o the_o congregation_n and_o to_o perform_v all_o the_o office_n in_o their_o own_o arbitrary_a and_o extemporary_a expression_n for_o though_o some_o minister_n who_o take_v this_o liberty_n may_v pray_v excellent_o well_o when_o their_o head_n be_v clear_a and_o they_o be_v in_o a_o good_a temper_n yet_o i_o doubt_v there_o be_v very_o few_o who_o have_v always_o that_o presence_n of_o mind_n that_o composedness_n of_o thought_n and_o constancy_n of_o temper_n as_o not_o to_o be_v force_v sometime_o to_o use_v many_o tautology_n and_o indecent_a expression_n but_o however_o the_o church_n be_v never_o like_a to_o be_v provide_v with_o such_o minister_n as_o shall_v be_v able_a for_o the_o most_o part_n of_o they_o to_o keep_v themselves_o from_o great_a confusion_n in_o their_o conceive_a prayer_n from_o bald_a and_o absurd_a phrase_n and_o from_o nauseat_v their_o auditory_a with_o repetition_n of_o the_o same_o thing_n fulsome_a say_n or_o lamentable_a misapplication_n of_o text_n of_o scripture_n through_o overmuch_o modesty_n or_o other_o infelicity_n of_o temper_n in_o some_o and_o in_o other_o through_o ignorance_n or_o weakness_n of_o natural_a part_n either_o slowness_n of_o invention_n or_o want_n of_o judgement_n and_o beside_o there_o be_v this_o necessity_n of_o have_v a_o liturgy_n that_o without_o one_o there_o be_v no_o rational_a way_n of_o persuade_v stranger_n to_o hold_v communion_n with_o we_o except_o we_o can_v show_v they_o something_o which_o be_v acknowledge_v by_o common_a agreement_n for_o a_o form_n and_o method_n of_o divine_a worship_n we_o can_v satisfy_v they_o what_o public_a service_n we_o perform_v to_o god_n it_o will_v then_o be_v so_o various_a that_o be_v as_o not_o alike_o in_o all_o place_n so_o neither_o at_o all_o time_n in_o the_o same_o place_n but_o to_o complete_a my_o answer_n to_o the_o question_n in_o hand_n five_o the_o affect_v we_o with_o a_o profound_a 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increase_n of_o these_o all_o good_a christian_n do_v daily_o crave_v the_o spirit_n assistance_n now_o i_o need_v not_o say_v that_o to_o endeavour_v to_o put_v a_o restraint_n upon_o the_o exercise_n of_o such_o gift_n as_o these_o be_v a_o most_o wicked_a invasion_n and_o violation_n of_o our_o christian_a liberty_n according_a to_o our_o own_o notion_n of_o it_o but_o what_o we_o have_v discourse_v concern_v prayer_n give_v i_o occasion_n to_o add_v something_o of_o preach_v too_o and_o to_o show_v also_o how_o far_o a_o ability_n for_o that_o performance_n be_v to_o be_v ascribe_v to_o the_o holy_a spirit_n or_o call_v one_o of_o his_o gift_n and_o consequent_o we_o may_v from_o hence_o be_v satisfy_v whether_o a_o preacher_n of_o the_o gospel_n be_v entitle_v to_o such_o a_o liberty_n in_o reference_n to_o preach_v as_o may_v not_o be_v limit_v by_o authority_n or_o upon_o no_o account_n take_v wholâ—_n from_o he_o without_o put_v a_o affront_n upon_o the_o holy_a spirit_n first_o it_o be_v out_o of_o doubt_n that_o no_o man_n 〈◊〉_d have_v the_o gift_n of_o preach_v in_o the_o demonstration_n of_o the_o spirit_n and_o of_o power_n in_o the_o sense_n that_o s._n paul_n and_o his_o fellow-apostle_n have_v it_o 4._o for_o by_o the_o demonstration_n of_o the_o spirit_n and_o of_o power_n be_v mean_v those_o extraordinary_a gift_n of_o speak_v with_o tongue_n prophecy_n and_o miracle_n accompany_v their_o preach_a whereby_o they_o demonstrate_v the_o truth_n of_o the_o doctrine_n preach_v by_o they_o spenceri_fw-la and_o so_o origen_n understand_v it_o in_o his_o book_n against_o celâ—us_n second_o there_o be_v not_o the_o least_o ground_n to_o believe_v that_o any_o man_n have_v now_o the_o gift_n of_o preach_v by_o inspiration_n or_o from_o the_o immediate_a revelation_n of_o the_o spirit_n nor_o do_v any_o serious_o pretend_v to_o it_o but_o wild_a enthusiast_n brainsick_a melancholy_a and_o hotheaded_a people_n who_o take_v their_o own_o fancy_n and_o whim_n and_o the_o product_n of_o a_o ungoverned_a imagination_n for_o inspiration_n i_o say_v none_o but_o those_o who_o plain_o discover_v themselves_o to_o be_v such_o do_v serious_o pretend_v to_o this_o gift_n because_o there_o have_v be_v and_o still_o be_v a_o company_n of_o knave_n in_o the_o world_n as_o be_v manifest_a by_o their_o act_n who_o for_o the_o carry_v on_o their_o corrupt_a and_o naughty_a design_n pretend_v to_o that_o which_o they_o be_v conscious_a to_o themselves_o they_o have_v nothing_o of_o but_o sober_a and_o honest_a preacher_n of_o the_o gospel_n do_v profess_v to_o deliver_v nothing_o to_o their_o people_n but_o what_o they_o conceive_v to_o be_v long_o ago_o reveal_v but_o what_o they_o acknowledge_v they_o have_v with_o study_n and_o pain_n gather_v from_o the_o holy_a scripture_n either_o immediate_o or_o by_o plain_a consequence_n wherein_o be_v contain_v all_o thing_n necessary_a
to_o be_v believe_v and_o practise_v by_o we_o in_o order_n to_o salvation_n and_o which_o without_o any_o addition_n be_v able_a to_o make_v we_o wise_a to_o salvation_n as_o s._n paul_n assure_v we_o and_o be_v a_o complete_a rule_n of_o faith_n and_o practice_n and_o that_o preacher_n who_o shall_v offer_v to_o require_v his_o auditor_n assent_v to_o any_o thing_n not_o deliver_v either_o in_o express_a term_n or_o by_o plain_a consequence_n in_o the_o write_n of_o the_o old_a or_o new_a testament_n do_v impudent_o impose_v upon_o their_o belief_n except_o he_o be_v able_a to_o work_v real_a miracle_n for_o the_o convince_a of_o they_o he_o take_v more_o upon_o he_o than_o either_o the_o apostle_n or_o our_o saviour_n himself_o who_o do_v still_o appeal_v to_o the_o work_n the_o supernatural_a work_n he_o do_v to_o attest_v the_o truth_n of_o the_o doctrine_n he_o deliver_v i_o will_v such_o impudent_a imposer_n be_v only_o to_o be_v find_v among_o the_o romanist_n who_o be_v all_o so_o and_o the_o most_o impudent_a that_o ever_o appear_v upon_o the_o stage_n of_o the_o world_n but_o alas_o they_o be_v too_o too_o common_a also_o among_o profess_a hater_n of_o popery_n three_o and_o as_o to_o the_o sense_n of_o the_o more_o difficult_a place_n of_o scripture_n no_o sober_a preacher_n pretend_v to_o come_v to_o the_o knowledge_n thereof_o by_o the_o immediate_a illumination_n of_o the_o spirit_n but_o such_o a_o one_o acknowledge_v he_o do_v it_o in_o the_o general_a by_o the_o exercise_n of_o his_o reason_n and_o particular_o by_o consider_v the_o proper_a signification_n of_o word_n and_o phrase_n in_o the_o original_a language_n by_o compare_v scripture_n with_o scripture_n by_o search_v into_o the_o ancient_a custom_n which_o give_v great_a light_n to_o a_o great_a number_n of_o text_n and_o without_o the_o knowledge_n of_o which_o they_o be_v not_o to_o be_v understand_v by_o inquire_v after_o the_o judgement_n of_o those_o who_o live_v near_a to_o the_o time_n of_o the_o apostle_n etc._n etc._n and_o after_o all_o they_o submit_v their_o exposition_n of_o such_o text_n to_o the_o judgement_n of_o their_o hearer_n i_o mean_v such_o of_o they_o as_o be_v capable_a of_o judge_v as_o for_o other_o oportet_fw-la discentes_fw-la credere_fw-la it_o become_v learner_n to_o give_v credit_n to_o their_o teacher_n and_o credendum_fw-la est_fw-la peritis_fw-la in_o suâ_fw-la arte._n but_o four_o we_o do_v pious_o and_o by_o the_o authority_n of_o scripture_n believe_v that_o the_o spirit_n be_v ready_a to_o assist_v we_o in_o our_o reason_n and_o inquiry_n and_o whatsoever_o particular_a good_a mean_n we_o use_v for_o the_o understanding_n of_o scripture_n when_o he_o be_v humble_o and_o devout_o seek_v to_o by_o we_o and_o when_o without_o the_o least_o prejudice_n partiality_n ill_a design_n or_o sinister_a respect_n but_o for_o the_o best_a of_o end_n and_o from_o the_o pure_a love_n of_o truth_n we_o make_v enquiry_n thus_o even_o private_a christian_n be_v assist_v in_o the_o search_n and_o inquiry_n which_o they_o be_v able_a to_o make_v for_o god_n have_v promise_v that_o the_o meek_a he_o will_v guide_v in_o judgement_n and_o the_o meek_a he_o will_v teach_v his_o way_n five_o in_o compose_v also_o of_o profitable_a discourse_n as_o we_o implore_v so_o we_o have_v the_o divine_a assistance_n but_o we_o see_v no_o ground_n to_o believe_v that_o we_o have_v it_o in_o any_o other_o manner_n than_o in_o other_o good_a work_n of_o what_o nature_n soever_o but_o as_o for_o the_o ready_a faculty_n of_o discourse_v from_o a_o pulpit_n and_o popular_a speak_v to_o a_o congregation_n we_o have_v no_o reason_n to_o believe_v it_o a_o gift_n of_o the_o spirit_n any_o more_o than_o the_o lawyer_n strange_a readiness_n in_o plead_v at_o the_o bar._n and_o a_o volubility_n of_o speech_n upon_o any_o subject_n whatsoever_o heat_n of_o fancy_n and_o nimbleness_n of_o wit_n and_o invention_n be_v as_o much_o to_o be_v attribute_v to_o the_o holy_a spirit_n as_o such_o a_o faculty_n and_o hence_o we_o may_v gather_v that_o a_o preacher_n of_o the_o gospel_n can_v plead_v no_o such_o liberty_n as_o be_v whole_o exempt_v from_o restraint_n by_o authority_n but_o one_o that_o be_v know_v to_o have_v never_o so_o good_a a_o talon_n at_o preach_a may_v be_v forbid_v the_o exercise_n of_o it_o till_o he_o have_v submit_v to_o a_o lawful_a ordination_n such_o as_o be_v in_o use_n in_o the_o church_n of_o christ_n for_o fifteen_o hundred_o year_n together_o and_o when_o ordain_v he_o may_v lawful_o have_v bound_n set_v he_o as_o to_o the_o place_n where_o he_o shall_v exercise_v his_o ministry_n in_o public_a and_o as_o to_o the_o time_n when_o and_o he_o may_v be_v forbid_v to_o meddle_v with_o such_o argument_n as_o be_v above_o the_o reach_n of_o his_o people_n understanding_n or_o be_v not_o like_a to_o conduce_v to_o their_o edification_n and_o much_o more_o to_o broach_v dangerous_a doctrine_n that_o be_v such_o as_o be_v so_o in_o the_o judgement_n of_o his_o governor_n and_o for_o his_o disobedience_n and_o other_o misdemeanour_n he_o be_v as_o liable_a to_o be_v suspend_v or_o total_o deprive_v of_o his_o ministerial_a office_n as_o be_v any_o other_o officer_n i_o do_v but_o touch_v upon_o and_o give_v light_a glance_n at_o these_o thing_n because_o my_o present_a subject_n will_v not_o give_v i_o leave_v to_o discourse_v large_o upon_o they_o which_o will_v be_v too_o great_a a_o digression_n from_o its_o proper_a business_n chap._n xv._n a_o three_o false_a notion_n of_o christian_a liberty_n viz._n that_o which_o make_v liberty_n of_o conscience_n a_o branch_n of_o it_o two_o thing_n premise_v 1._o that_o conscience_n be_v not_o so_o sacred_a a_o thing_n as_o to_o be_v uncapable_a of_o be_v oblige_v by_o humane_a law_n 2._o that_o no_o man_n can_v proper_o be_v deprive_v of_o the_o true_a liberty_n of_o his_o conscience_n by_o any_o power_n on_o earth_n that_o what_o be_v contend_v for_o be_v more_o proper_o liberty_n of_o practice_n than_o of_o conscience_n the_o author_n opinion_n in_o reference_n to_o this_o liberty_n deliver_v in_o ten_o proposition_n that_o whatsoever_o liberty_n of_o this_o nature_n may_v be_v insist_v on_o as_o our_o right_n it_o be_v not_o christian_a liberty_n but_o natural_a liberty_n three_o and_o last_o i_o proceed_v to_o that_o notion_n of_o christian_a liberty_n which_o make_v liberty_n of_o conscience_n a_o branch_n of_o it_o but_o before_o i_o deliver_v my_o opinion_n about_o this_o weighty_a point_n which_o have_v occasion_v as_o great_a feud_n and_o sharp_a contest_v as_o any_o whatsoever_o i_o shall_v premise_v two_o thing_n first_o that_o conscience_n be_v not_o so_o sacred_a a_o thing_n as_o to_o be_v uncapable_a of_o be_v oblige_v by_o humane_a law_n second_o that_o no_o man_n can_v proper_o be_v deprive_v of_o the_o true_a liberty_n of_o his_o conscience_n by_o any_o power_n on_o earth_n first_o that_o conscience_n be_v not_o so_o sacred_a a_o thing_n as_o to_o be_v uncapable_a of_o be_v oblige_v by_o humane_a law_n this_o be_v sufficient_o clear_a from_o what_o be_v discourse_v in_o the_o thirteen_o chapter_n but_o it_o be_v say_v by_o many_o that_o god_n be_v the_o only_a lord_n of_o conscience_n and_o therefore_o it_o be_v the_o high_a presumption_n for_o man_n to_o go_v about_o to_o bind_v it_o by_o their_o law_n it_o be_v the_o sole_a prerogative_n of_o the_o deity_n to_o search_v the_o heart_n 10._o and_o try_v the_o reins_o of_o the_o child_n of_o man_n conscience_n be_v too_o inward_a and_o secret_a a_o thing_n to_o fall_v under_o man_n cognizance_n and_o therefore_o what_o have_v any_o of_o our_o fellow-creature_n to_o do_v to_o give_v law_n to_o our_o conscience_n in_o answer_n hereunto_o we_o have_v already_o see_v what_o s._n paul_n sense_n be_v about_o this_o matter_n that_o he_o say_v we_o must_v needs_o be_v subject_a 5._o or_o obedient_a and_o that_o not_o only_o for_o wrath_n but_o also_o for_o conscience_n sake_n so_o that_o the_o apostle_n be_v far_o from_o think_v that_o the_o obligation_n of_o humane_a authority_n be_v found_v in_o mere_a prudence_n not_o at_o all_o in_o conscience_n but_o no_o man_n in_o his_o wit_n will_v say_v that_o the_o law_n of_o man_n do_v oblige_v conscience_n as_o the_o law_n of_o god_n do_v those_o can_v do_v it_o immediate_o as_o these_o do_v but_o only_o by_o virtue_n of_o the_o divine_a authority_n s._n paul_n say_v rom._n 13._o 1._o let_v every_o soul_n be_v subject_a to_o the_o high_a power_n i_o think_v i_o shall_v not_o be_v over-critical_a in_o say_v that_o be_v every_o conscience_n for_o what_o follow_v prove_v the_o obligation_n of_o conscience_n to_o subjection_n and_o be_v a_o answer_n to_o the_o foresay_a objection_n against_o it_o viz._n for_o there_o be_v no_o power_n but_o