in_o sleep_n nor_o do_v it_o proceed_v from_o the_o same_o cause_n for_o in_o sleep_v this_o cessation_n proceed_v from_o natural_a cause_n from_o whence_o it_o usual_o come_v but_o in_o a_o ecstasy_n it_o be_v cause_v by_o the_o extraordinary_a and_o miraculous_a power_n of_o the_o spirit_n of_o god_n which_o draw_v a_o way_n the_o soul_n of_o his_o servant_n from_o the_o organ_n of_o their_o external_n sense_n and_o hinder_v it_o from_o display_v its_o power_n and_o efficacy_n as_o to_o the_o understanding_n the_o spirit_n of_o god_n in_o this_o case_n act_v in_o these_o two_o way_n upon_o it_o 1._o that_o whereas_o ordinary_o the_o knowledge_n which_o we_o have_v in_o the_o understanding_n enter_v by_o the_o ministry_n of_o the_o sense_n which_o convey_v the_o image_n of_o sensible_a thing_n and_o by_o these_o sensible_a object_n furnish_v we_o with_o the_o occasion_n of_o ratiocination_n yet_o here_o god_n do_v immediate_o imprint_v in_o the_o spirit_n of_o his_o prophet_n the_o 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of_o all_o these_o mean_n to_o reveal_v himself_o to_o the_o prophet_n and_o by_o they_o to_o other_o also_o there_o be_v no_o reason_n why_o he_o shall_v have_v exclude_v that_o of_o dream_n and_o indeed_o there_o be_v yet_o this_o further_a reason_n in_o particular_a for_o they_o above_o other_o that_o although_o there_o be_v a_o great_a deal_n of_o vanity_n in_o ordinary_a dream_n and_o that_o those_o which_o proceed_v from_o angel_n have_v very_o often_o much_o of_o uncertainty_n and_o ambiguity_n and_o that_o some_o philosopher_n as_o aristotle_n among_o other_o do_v suppose_v that_o there_o ought_v to_o be_v no_o regard_n have_v to_o that_o way_n of_o divination_n yet_o it_o have_v always_o be_v almost_o the_o universal_a opinion_n of_o all_o nation_n that_o the_o divinity_n do_v principal_o communicate_v itself_o to_o man_n by_o dream_n homer_n have_v attribute_v some_o to_o his_o jupiter_n the_o stoic_n hold_v that_o there_o be_v some_o altogether_o divine_a plato_n say_v the_o same_o in_o some_o respect_n and_o general_o in_o the_o eastern_a nation_n this_o opinion_n have_v a_o very_a great_a reputation_n so_o that_o it_o be_v principal_o in_o those_o nation_n that_o they_o have_v reduce_v the_o interpretation_n of_o dream_n into_o a_o art_n and_o have_v lay_v down_o rule_n concern_v it_o and_o now_o because_o the_o people_n of_o israel_n be_v also_o of_o the_o same_o opinion_n god_n therefore_o choose_v to_o send_v they_o such_o dream_n as_o be_v true_o divine_a thus_o firm_o to_o fix_v they_o to_o these_o and_o to_o divert_v they_o from_o that_o vanity_n to_o which_o other_o nation_n suffer_v themselves_o to_o be_v carry_v by_o those_o other_o and_o further_o it_o be_v true_a that_o the_o most_o natural_a way_n of_o convey_v the_o knowledge_n of_o any_o thing_n whatever_o even_o of_o the_o deity_n itself_o to_o man_n be_v either_o by_o the_o presentation_n of_o some_o visible_a thing_n which_o furnish_v they_o with_o the_o mean_n and_o occasion_n of_o 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enquiry_n must_v limit_v the_o exercise_n of_o our_o reason_n thus_o must_v we_o not_o indulge_v either_o a_o extravagant_a curiosity_n on_o the_o one_o hand_n nor_o a_o idle_a supine_n negligence_n on_o the_o other_o for_o it_o will_v argue_v presumption_n in_o we_o to_o pry_v into_o those_o hide_a thing_n which_o god_n have_v reserve_v to_o himself_o as_o it_o will_v sloth_n and_o ingratitude_n not_o make_v use_n of_o our_o faculty_n for_o those_o purpose_n that_o god_n design_v they_o for_o and_o there_o have_v not_o be_v want_v those_o who_o have_v err_v in_o both_o extreme_n first_o the_o pelagian_n and_o socinian_o who_o make_v reason_n the_o great_a rule_n of_o faith_n and_o manner_n who_o scarce_o acknowledge_v any_o other_o authority_n or_o ground_n of_o their_o belief_n or_o high_a principle_n of_o action_n other_o there_o have_v be_v who_o too_o much_o undervalue_v it_o and_o ascribe_v not_o only_o too_o little_a to_o it_o but_o look_v upon_o it_o as_o a_o dangerous_a and_o 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to_o our_o saviour_n and_o his_o religion_n be_v not_o only_o grant_v but_o attest_v by_o all_o party_n not_o only_o friend_n but_o enemy_n when_o both_o the_o jew_n and_o heathen_n do_v grant_v his_o miracle_n whereas_o those_o that_o other_o religion_n pretend_v unto_o be_v both_o in_o their_o own_o nature_n more_o sleight_n and_o frivolous_a more_o fantastic_a and_o aâ—ry_a then_o solid_a and_o substantial_a and_o real_o serviceable_a to_o the_o glory_n of_o god_n and_o the_o good_a of_o man_n in_o this_o respect_n they_o be_v less_o worthy_a of_o god_n and_o less_o agreeable_a to_o the_o nature_n of_o miracle_n and_o also_o want_v the_o universality_n of_o attestation_n they_o be_v more_o liable_a to_o cheat_v and_o imposture_n and_o here_o the_o certain_a evidence_n of_o humane_a testimony_n be_v of_o more_o force_n to_o convince_v a_o man_n than_o the_o pretence_n of_o divine_a authority_n i_o say_v than_o the_o pretence_n for_o in_o many_o it_o be_v only_o so_o and_o that_o which_o be_v real_a be_v to_o he_o no_o more_o for_o as_o yet_o be_v do_v not_o believe_v any_o of_o they_o to_o be_v divine_a but_o from_o the_o strength_n of_o their_o respective_a reason_n and_o argument_n must_v conclude_v they_o so_o and_o here_o the_o use_n of_o reason_n will_v be_v more_o particular_o necessary_a to_o distinguish_v betwixt_o true_a and_o false_a miracle_n now_o a_o miracle_n be_v something_o above_o the_o power_n of_o natural_a cause_n to_o perform_v it_o will_v be_v very_o difficult_a right_o to_o assign_v the_o just_a limit_n of_o the_o power_n of_o nature_n to_o be_v able_a to_o say_v thus_o far_o can_v it_o extend_v and_o no_o further_o and_o that_o which_o still_o augment_v the_o difficulty_n be_v right_o to_o know_v how_o far_o the_o devil_n power_n may_v extend_v in_o thing_n of_o this_o nature_n whether_o first_o he_o can_v by_o his_o own_o native_a power_n work_v miracle_n which_o seem_v not_o so_o reasonable_a to_o believe_v he_o can_v for_o then_o mankind_n will_v almost_o have_v lay_v under_o a_o fatal_a necessity_n of_o be_v impose_v upon_o by_o his_o power_n and_o malice_n miracle_n be_v as_o it_o be_v the_o great_a seal_n of_o heaven_n which_o god_n make_v use_v of_o to_o confirm_v the_o truth_n of_o doctrine_n but_o then_o nothing_o hinder_v but_o that_o the_o devil_n may_v by_o his_o knowledge_n of_o nature_n either_o so_o fit_o apply_v natural_a agent_n to_o the_o produce_v of_o such_o effect_n as_o may_v require_v a_o good_a degree_n of_o reason_n and_o philosophy_n to_o distinguish_v they_o from_o real_a miracle_n or_o may_v by_o god_n for_o reason_n best_o know_v to_o himself_o be_v permit_v sometime_o to_o work_v true_a one_o yet_o not_o so_o but_o that_o upon_o a_o strict_a and_o due_a consideration_n of_o the_o circumstance_n of_o the_o action_n or_o the_o end_n and_o design_n of_o the_o thing_n there_o will_v something_o appear_v whereby_o to_o distinguish_v such_o a_o miracle_n from_o those_o which_o be_v the_o more_o genuine_a and_o immediate_a result_v of_o the_o divine_a power_n to_o this_o we_o may_v further_o add_v that_o the_o divine_a providence_n be_v particular_o concern_v where_o there_o seem_v as_o it_o be_v a_o competition_n betwixt_o the_o power_n of_o god_n and_o the_o power_n of_o the_o devil_n as_o in_o the_o case_n of_o moses_n and_o the_o magician_n of_o egypt_n and_o in_o other_o proportionable_o there_o some_o way_n to_o appear_v in_o confirmation_n and_o approbation_n of_o the_o one_o and_o in_o discover_v either_o the_o absolute_a cheat_n and_o imposture_n or_o the_o comparative_a weakness_n and_o imperfection_n of_o the_o other_o the_o sum_n of_o what_o i_o here_o intend_v be_v this_o that_o by_o use_v our_o reason_n and_o the_o rule_n thereby_o afford_v we_o we_o may_v distinguish_v betwixt_o the_o delusion_n of_o satan_n and_o divine_a miracle_n but_o without_o this_o it_o will_v be_v impossible_a to_o do_v it_o 2._o we_o shall_v continue_v christian_n upon_o the_o same_o ground_n and_o reason_n that_o other_o first_o become_v such_o that_o be_v upon_o a_o due_a consider_v and_o understand_v of_o our_o religion_n so_o that_o we_o may_v both_o be_v the_o more_o confirm_v in_o the_o belief_n of_o it_o ourselves_o and_o may_v be_v the_o better_o enable_v to_o give_v a_o account_n of_o it_o to_o other_o thus_o shall_v we_o be_v christian_n upon_o choice_n and_o consideration_n and_o not_o only_o because_o it_o be_v the_o religion_n of_o our_o country_n it_o be_v not_o sufficient_a for_o we_o mere_o to_o be_v baptize_v into_o the_o christian_a faith_n but_o we_o must_v ourselves_o understand_v and_o undertake_v what_o the_o happiness_n of_o our_o birth_n and_o education_n first_o entitle_v we_o to_o yet_o this_o be_v not_o so_o to_o be_v understand_v as_o if_o christian_n be_v sceptical_o to_o doubt_v of_o their_o religion_n or_o so_o far_o to_o indulge_v the_o extravagancy_n of_o their_o inquiry_n as_o for_o the_o present_a to_o suspend_v the_o 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these_o very_a mystery_n so_o far_o as_o necessary_a to_o be_v believe_v in_o order_n to_o salvation_n sufficient_o intelligible_a be_v so_o far_o clear_o lay_v down_o in_o scripture_n but_o then_o we_o must_v not_o place_v our_o own_o private_a fancy_n or_o the_o doubtful_a and_o controvert_v opinion_n of_o particular_a man_n in_o the_o number_n and_o rank_n of_o divine_a mystery_n thus_o coin_v more_o out_o of_o our_o own_o brain_n than_o god_n and_o scripture_n ever_o make_v thus_o a_o late_a author_n have_v rank_v reprobation_n and_o absolute_a decree_n in_o a_o equal_a order_n with_o the_o trinity_n and_o incarnation_n but_o if_o all_o the_o unintelligble_a opinion_n which_o have_v be_v broach_v of_o late_a year_n must_v be_v receive_v as_o divine_a mystery_n what_o a_o monstrous_a thing_n will_v religion_n by_o this_o mean_n soon_o appear_v nor_o do_v the_o belief_n of_o this_o particular_a hinder_v we_o from_o make_v the_o mystery_n of_o our_o religion_n as_o reasonable_a and_o 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and_o nevertheless_o it_o appear_v by_o the_o history_n that_o he_o do_v not_o at_o all_o hesitate_n upon_o it_o which_o show_v that_o he_o have_v a_o powerful_a persuasion_n of_o the_o truth_n of_o the_o dream_n now_o though_o we_o can_v at_o present_v certain_o know_v wherein_o this_o full_a persuasion_n do_v consist_v and_o upon_o what_o it_o do_v depend_v yet_o notwithstanding_o we_o ought_v not_o at_o all_o to_o question_v but_o that_o this_o and_o the_o like_a persuasion_n be_v found_v on_o something_o that_o be_v both_o in_o itself_o sufficient_a and_o to_o they_o a_o sufficient_o evident_a ground_n of_o their_o assent_n but_o we_o must_v inquire_v what_o that_o be_v and_o this_o be_v the_o proper_a subject_n of_o this_o meditation_n since_o there_o be_v but_o three_o sort_n of_o dream_n those_o which_o be_v produce_v by_o natural_a cause_n those_o which_o proceed_v from_o the_o operation_n of_o angel_n and_o those_o which_o i_o call_v divine_a the_o ready_a way_n to_o come_v 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