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imprimatur_fw-la hic_fw-la libre_fw-la cui_fw-la titulus_fw-la a_o letter_n to_o a_o deist_n feb._n 8._o 1676._o guil._n jane_n r._n p._n d._n henr._n episc._n lond._n a_o sacris_fw-la dome_v a_o letter_n to_o a_o deist_n in_o answer_n to_o several_a objection_n against_o the_o truth_n and_o authority_n of_o the_o scripture_n london_n print_v by_o w._n g._n and_o be_v to_o be_v sell_v by_o m._n pitt_n at_o the_o angel_n in_o st._n paul_n churchyard_n 1677._o the_o preface_n this_o follow_a discourse_n be_v write_v for_o the_o satisfaction_n of_o a_o particular_a person_n who_o own_v the_o be_v and_o providence_n of_o god_n but_o express_v a_o mean_a esteem_n of_o the_o scripture_n and_o the_o christian_a religion_n which_o be_v become_v so_o common_a a_o theme_n among_o the_o sceptic_n of_o this_o age_n that_o the_o author_n of_o this_o discourse_n think_v it_o worth_a his_o time_n and_o care_n to_o consider_v the_o force_n of_o the_o objection_n that_o be_v make_v against_o they_o 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these_o in_o a_o more_o plentiful_a manner_n than_o be_v to_o be_v find_v in_o any_o other_o profession_n of_o religion_n public_o know_v the_o question_n then_o remain_v be_v 1_o whether_o the_o matter_n of_o fact_n be_v true_a which_o be_v report_v in_o the_o write_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n 2_o suppose_v they_o true_a whether_o they_o do_v sufficient_o prove_v the_o doctrine_n to_o have_v be_v from_o god_n 1._o whether_o the_o matter_n of_o fact_n be_v true_a or_o no_o and_o as_o to_o this_o point_n i_o wish_v you_o have_v set_v down_o the_o reason_n of_o your_o doubt_n more_o clear_o and_o distinct_o than_o you_o have_v do_v what_o i_o can_v pick_v up_o amount_v to_o these_o thing_n 1._o that_o there_o can_v be_v no_o certainty_n of_o a_o matter_n do_v at_o such_o a_o distance_n of_o time_n there_o have_v be_v many_o fictitious_a history_n in_o the_o world_n 2._o that_o it_o be_v probable_a that_o these_o thing_n may_v be_v write_v when_o there_o be_v no_o one_o live_v to_o 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give_v the_o great_a testimony_n of_o their_o sincerity_n that_o can_v be_v expect_v from_o they_o and_o that_o no_o matter_n of_o fact_n be_v ever_o better_o attest_v than_o those_o which_o be_v report_v by_o they_o from_o whence_o it_o will_v follow_v that_o it_o be_v not_o reason_n but_o unreasonable_a suspicion_n and_o scepticism_n if_o not_o wilfulness_n and_o obstinacy_n which_o make_v man_n to_o continue_v to_o doubt_v after_o so_o great_a evidence_n 1._o that_o we_o may_v have_v such_o evidence_n of_o matter_n of_o fact_n do_v at_o such_o a_o distance_n of_o time_n as_o may_v oblige_v we_o to_o believe_v the_o truth_n of_o they_o this_o we_o be_v first_o to_o make_v out_o because_o several_a of_o your_o objection_n seem_v to_o imply_v that_o we_o can_v have_v no_o certainty_n of_o such_o thing_n because_o we_o can_v know_v what_o trick_n may_v have_v be_v play_v in_o former_a time_n when_o it_o be_v far_o more_o easy_a to_o deceive_v and_o that_o it_o be_v confess_v there_o 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humane_a faith_n will_v be_v destroy_v i_o be_o by_o no_o mean_n a_o friend_n to_o unreasonable_a credulity_n but_o i_o be_o as_o little_a to_o unreasonable_a distrust_n and_o suspicion_n if_o the_o one_o be_v folly_n the_o other_o be_v madness_n no_o prudent_a man_n believe_v any_o thing_n because_o it_o be_v possible_a to_o be_v true_a nor_o reject_v any_o thing_n mere_o because_o it_o be_v possible_a to_o be_v false_a but_o it_o be_v the_o prudence_n of_o every_o man_n to_o weigh_v and_o consider_v all_o circumstance_n and_o according_a to_o they_o to_o assent_v or_o dissent_v we_o all_o know_v it_o be_v possible_a for_o man_n to_o deceive_v or_o to_o be_v deceive_v but_o we_o know_v there_o be_v no_o necessity_n of_o either_o and_o that_o there_o be_v such_o a_o thing_n as_o truth_n in_o the_o world_n and_o though_o man_n may_v deceive_v yet_o they_o do_v not_o always_o so_o and_o that_o man_n may_v know_v they_o be_v not_o deceive_v for_o else_o there_o can_v be_v no_o such_o 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you_o will_v give_v a_o assent_n of_o the_o same_o nature_n to_o the_o history_n of_o the_o gospel_n that_o you_o do_v to_o caesar_n or_o livy_n or_o tacitus_n or_o any_o other_o ancient_a historian_n 2._o as_o to_o the_o great_a obligation_n to_o assent_v â—_o say_v it_o depend_v upon_o the_o evidence_n of_o divine_a revelation_n which_o iâ—_n give_v by_o the_o matter_n of_o facâ—_n which_o be_v deliver_v to_o we_o anâ—_n here_o give_v i_o leave_v to_o ask_v you_o 1._o whether_o it_o be_v any_o way_n repugnant_a to_o any_o conception_n you_o have_v of_o god_n for_o he_o to_o make_v use_n of_o fallible_a man_n to_o make_v know_v his_o will_n to_o the_o world_n 2._o whether_o those_o man_n though_o suppose_v to_o be_v in_o themselves_o fallible_a can_v either_o deceive_v or_o be_v deceive_v when_o god_n makeâ—_n know_v his_o mind_n to_o they_o 3._o whether_o on_o supposition_n that_o god_n have_v make_v use_n of_o such_o person_n for_o this_o end_n those_o be_v not_o oblige_v to_o 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the_o matter_n of_o fact_n report_v by_o they_o and_o the_o just_a ground_n of_o suspicion_n be_v these_o 1._o if_o the_o person_n be_v otherwise_o know_v to_o be_v man_n of_o artifice_n anâ—_n cunning_a full_a of_o trick_n and_o dissimulation_n and_o that_o make_v nâ—_n conscience_n of_o speak_a truth_n so_o a_o lie_n tend_v to_o their_o great_a advantage_n which_o be_v too_o mucâ—_n the_o papist_n case_n in_o their_o legend_n and_o story_n of_o miracle_n 2._o â—_o they_o temper_n and_o suit_v their_o storâ—_n and_o doctrine_n to_o the_o humour_n anâ—_n genius_n of_o the_o people_n they_o hopâ—_n to_o prevail_v upon_o as_o mahomet_n do_v in_o encourage_v war_n and_o lasciviousness_n 3._o if_o they_o lay_v the_o scene_n oâ—_n their_o story_n at_o a_o mighty_a distance_n from_o themselves_o at_o such_o a_o age_n wherein_o it_o be_v impossible_a either_o to_o prove_v or_o disprove_v which_o be_v the_o case_n of_o the_o brahmin_n as_o to_o their_o brahmà _fw-la and_o their_o veda_n and_o be_v of_o the_o heathen_n as_o to_o their_o fabulous_a deity_n 4._o if_o there_o be_v any_o thing_n contain_v in_o the_o story_n which_o be_v repugnant_a to_o the_o most_o authentic_a history_n of_o those_o time_n by_o which_o mean_v the_o imposture_n of_o annius_n have_v be_v discover_v 5._o if_o there_o be_v evident_a contradiction_n in_o the_o story_n itself_o or_o any_o thing_n repugnant_a to_o or_o unbecoming_a the_o majesty_n holiness_n sincerity_n and_o consistency_n of_o a_o divine_a revelation_n on_o which_o account_n we_o reject_v fanatic_a pretence_n to_o revelation_n if_o there_o be_v any_o thing_n of_o this_o nature_n in_o the_o write_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n we_o may_v then_o allow_v there_o be_v some_o ground_n to_o suspect_v the_o truth_n of_o what_o be_v contain_v therein_o but_o i_o shall_v undertake_v by_o the_o grace_n of_o god_n to_o defend_v that_o there_o be_v not_o any_o foundation_n for_o suspicion_n as_o to_o any_o one_o of_o these_o 1._o as_o to_o the_o person_n such_o whâ—_n go_v about_o to_o deceive_v other_o musâ—_n be_v man_n that_o be_v verse_v in_o business_n and_o know_v how_o to_o deal_v with_o man_n and_o that_o have_v some_o interest_n already_o that_o they_o have_v gain_v by_o other_o mean_n before_o they_o can_v carry_v on_o such_o a_o design_n as_o to_o abuse_v mankind_n by_o lie_n and_o imposture_n in_o religion_n therefore_o the_o atheist_n lay_v the_o deceive_a the_o world_n by_o religion_n to_o the_o charge_n of_o politician_n and_o lawgiver_n to_o man_n verse_v in_o the_o practice_n of_o fraud_n such_o as_o numa_n or_o lycurgus_n or_o xaca_n or_o mahomet_n such_o as_o understand_v the_o way_n of_o cajol_v the_o people_n or_o to_o subtle_a priest_n that_o know_v how_o to_o suit_v the_o hope_n and_o fear_n of_o the_o superstitious_a multitude_n whence_o come_v the_o multitude_n of_o fraud_n in_o the_o heathen_a temple_n and_o oracle_n but_o will_v any_o man_n in_o the_o world_n have_v pitch_v upon_o a_o few_o 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for_o if_o the_o christian_a religion_n be_v only_o a_o contrivance_n of_o the_o first_o preacher_n of_o it_o it_o must_v by_o the_o event_n be_v suppose_v that_o they_o be_v very_o subtle_a man_n who_o in_o so_o little_a time_n and_o against_o so_o great_a opposition_n can_v prevail_v over_o both_o jew_n and_o gentile_n but_o if_o we_o reflect_v on_o the_o nature_n of_o their_o doctrine_n we_o can_v never_o imagine_v that_o these_o man_n do_v proceed_v by_o the_o same_o method_n that_o man_n of_o subtlety_n do_v make_v use_n of_o if_o it_o be_v there_o own_o contrivance_n it_o be_v in_o their_o power_n to_o have_v frame_v it_o as_o they_o think_v fit_v themselves_o and_o in_o all_o probability_n they_o will_v have_v do_v it_o in_o a_o way_n most_o likely_a to_o be_v successful_a but_o the_o christian_a religion_n be_v so_o far_o from_o it_o as_o though_o they_o have_v industrious_o design_v to_o advance_v a_o religion_n against_o the_o genius_n and_o inclination_n of_o all_o mankind_n for_o it_o neither_o gratify_v the_o voluptuous_a in_o their_o pleasure_n nor_o the_o ambitious_a in_o their_o desire_n of_o external_n pomp_n and_o greatness_n nor_o the_o covetous_a in_o their_o thirst_n after_o riches_n but_o lay_v a_o severe_a restraint_n on_o all_o those_o common_a and_o prevail_a passion_n of_o mankind_n which_o mahomet_n well_o understand_v when_o he_o suit_v his_o religion_n to_o they_o christianity_n be_v neither_o accommodate_v to_o the_o temper_n and_o genius_n either_o of_o jew_n or_o gentile_n the_o jew_n be_v in_o great_a expectation_n of_o a_o temporal_a prince_n at_o that_o time_n to_o deliver_v they_o from_o the_o roman_a slavery_n and_o every_o one_o that_o will_v have_v set_v up_o for_o such_o a_o messiah_n may_v have_v have_v follower_n enough_o among_o they_o as_o we_o find_v afterward_o by_o the_o attempt_n of_o barchocebas_n and_o other_o but_o the_o messiah_n of_o the_o christian_n be_v so_o direct_o contrary_a to_o their_o hope_n and_o 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most_o plausible_a manner_n and_o leave_v out_o all_o thing_n thar_z be_v most_o liable_a to_o reproach_n and_o infamy_n but_o this_o they_o be_v so_o far_o from_o that_o the_o most_o contemptible_a part_n of_o the_o christian_a religion_n viz._n a_o crucify_a saviour_n they_o insist_v the_o most_o upon_o and_o preach_v it_o on_o all_o occasion_n and_o in_o comparison_n of_o it_o strange_o despise_v all_o the_o wisdom_n and_o philosophy_n of_o the_o greek_n what_o do_v these_o man_n mean_v if_o christianity_n have_v be_v only_o a_o contrivance_n of_o they_o if_o they_o have_v but_o leave_v out_o this_o one_o circumstance_n in_o all_o human_a probability_n the_o excellent_a moral_a precept_n in_o christianity_n will_v have_v be_v high_o magnify_v among_o all_o those_o who_o have_v be_v breed_v up_o under_o the_o instruction_n of_o philosopher_n nay_o they_o will_v not_o make_v use_n of_o the_o most_o commendable_a method_n of_o humane_a wisdom_n nor_o do_v as_o the_o jesuit_n have_v do_v in_o china_n make_v man_n have_v a_o better_a opinion_n of_o the_o religion_n they_o bring_v for_o their_o skill_n in_o mathematics_n and_o astronomy_n but_o as_o much_o as_o it_o be_v possible_a to_o let_v the_o world_n see_v it_o be_v no_o contrivance_n of_o humane_a wisdom_n they_o shun_v all_o the_o way_n of_o show_v it_o in_o the_o manner_n of_o its_o propagation_n nay_o when_o the_o people_n will_v have_v give_v the_o apostle_n divine_a worship_n never_o be_v vain_a man_n more_o concern_v to_o have_v it_o than_o they_o to_o oppose_v it_o and_o do_v these_o thing_n look_v like_o the_o action_n of_o man_n that_o design_v only_o to_o make_v themselves_o great_a by_o be_v the_o head_n of_o a_o new_a sect_n of_o religion_n 3._o man_n that_o make_v it_o their_o design_n to_o deceive_v the_o world_n if_o they_o have_v think_v it_o necessary_a to_o bring_v in_o any_o matter_n of_o story_n concern_v the_o author_n of_o their_o religion_n will_v have_v place_v it_o at_o such_o a_o distance_n of_o time_n that_o it_o be_v not_o capable_a of_o be_v disprove_v as_o it_o be_v apparent_a in_o the_o heathen_a mythology_n for_o the_o story_n be_v such_o as_o no_o person_n can_v ever_o pretend_v to_o confute_v they_o otherwise_o than_o by_o the_o inconsistency_n of_o they_o with_o the_o common_a principle_n of_o religion_n but_o if_o we_o suppose_v christianity_n to_o have_v be_v a_o mere_a device_n will_v the_o apostle_n have_v be_v so_o senseless_a to_o have_v lay_v the_o main_a proof_n of_o their_o religion_n on_o a_o thing_n which_o be_v but_o new_o act_v and_o which_o they_o be_v very_o capable_a of_o inquire_v into_o all_o the_o circumstance_n that_o relate_v to_o it_o viz._n the_o resurrection_n of_o christ_n from_o the_o dead_a we_o may_v see_v by_o the_o whole_a design_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n the_o great_a stress_n of_o christianity_n be_v lay_v upon_o the_o truth_n of_o this_o to_o this_o christ_n himself_o appeal_v before_o hand_n to_o this_o all_o 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