only_o as_o a_o trial_n and_o exercise_n of_o our_o faith_n and_o the_o more_o implicit_a that_o be_v the_o full_a do_v we_o express_v our_o trust_n and_o reliance_n upon_o god_n nay_o far_o there_o be_v those_o who_o do_v not_o scruple_n to_o say_v the_o more_o contradiction_n the_o better_a the_o great_a the_n struggle_v and_o opposition_n of_o reason_n the_o great_a be_v the_o triumph_n and_o merit_n of_o our_o faith_n but_o there_o be_v no_o likelihood_n of_o suppress_v any_o of_o our_o doubt_n or_o dispute_v in_o religion_n this_o way_n for_o beside_o the_o natural_a propension_n of_o the_o soul_n to_o the_o search_n of_o truth_n and_o the_o strong_a and_o impatient_a desire_n we_o have_v to_o know_v as_o much_o as_o ever_o we_o can_v of_o what_o immediate_o concern_v we_o it_o be_v general_o and_o very_o just_o look_v upon_o both_o as_o the_o privilege_n and_o duty_n of_o man_n to_o inquire_v and_o examine_v before_o he_o believe_v or_o judge_n and_o never_o give_v up_o his_o 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as_o well_o as_o a_o unjust_a restraint_n 2._o there_o be_v other_o who_o call_v the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o trinity_n a_o incomprehensible_a mystery_n and_o yet_o be_v at_o a_o great_a deal_n of_o pain_n to_o bring_v it_o down_o to_o a_o level_n with_o humane_a understanding_n and_o be_v all_o very_a earnest_n to_o have_v their_o own_o particular_a explication_n acknowledge_v as_o necessary_a article_n of_o faith_n but_o the_o number_n and_o disagreement_n of_o the_o expositor_n plain_o discover_v the_o vanity_n of_o such_o pretence_n this_o have_v prove_v so_o unsuccessful_a a_o way_n that_o instead_o of_o unite_n the_o different_a judgement_n of_o christian_n in_o one_o point_n it_o have_v break_v the_o controversy_n into_o a_o thousand_o more_o for_o zeal_n and_o opposition_n raise_v up_o a_o great_a many_o assertor_n of_o the_o common_a belief_n and_o every_o one_o look_v out_o for_o some_o new_a term_n and_o mode_n of_o speech_n which_o shall_v be_v full_a and_o more_o 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infer_v their_o denial_n of_o any_o late_a erroneous_a invention_n set_v up_o against_o it_o 3._o there_o be_v a_o three_o sort_n of_o man_n in_o the_o world_n who_o pretend_v that_o there_o be_v no_o mystery_n propose_v to_o we_o as_o a_o object_n of_o faith_n and_o in_o order_n to_o make_v this_o of_o the_o trinity_n appear_v to_o be_v none_o they_o bring_v a_o cloud_n over_o the_o whole_a bible_n and_o with_o strange_a force_a criticism_n and_o allegory_n give_v the_o very_o plain_a text_n such_o a_o unusual_a mysterious_a turn_n as_o neither_o the_o language_n will_v bear_v nor_o be_v any_o way_n consistent_a with_o the_o design_n or_o character_n of_o the_o holy_a writer_n but_o this_o be_v a_o very_a odd_a preposterous_a method_n of_o explain_v scripture_n by_o darken_v a_o great_a part_n of_o it_o to_o illustrate_v the_o rest_n and_o as_o ridiculous_a a_o project_n of_o heal_a division_n as_o pull_v down_o a_o whole_a side_n of_o stand_a wall_n to_o mend_v a_o breach_n and_o after_o all_o the_o socinian_n hypothesis_n seem_v to_o i_o to_o have_v more_o of_o mystery_n and_o contradiction_n to_o natural_a reason_n in_o it_o than_o what_o be_v object_v to_o the_o catholic_n doctrine_n i_o be_o not_o for_o clog_a the_o faith_n nor_o multiply_a mystery_n yet_o we_o ought_v not_o present_o to_o deny_v what_o we_o do_v not_o understand_v but_o sober_o and_o impartial_o consider_v how_o much_o we_o be_v able_a to_o comprehend_v and_o how_o far_o we_o be_v oblige_v to_o believe_v what_o we_o do_v not_o the_o method_n therefore_o i_o design_v to_o observe_v in_o the_o follow_a discourse_n shall_v be_v different_a from_o any_o of_o those_o now_o mention_v i_o shall_v not_o go_v about_o to_o press_v man_n to_o a_o blind_a veneration_n or_o presumptuous_a belief_n of_o any_o thing_n without_o examination_n or_o in_o defiance_n to_o reason_n i_o shall_v not_o offer_v to_o impose_v any_o new_a arbitrary_a explication_n of_o my_o own_o upon_o other_o man_n conscience_n but_o confine_v myself_o whole_o to_o the_o usual_a warrant_a form_n of_o expression_n i_o will_v not_o wrest_v and_o strain_v scripture_n to_o help_v out_o a_o private_a notion_n nor_o do_v any_o thing_n to_o betray_v the_o just_a right_n and_o privilege_n of_o our_o common_a reason_n but_o careful_o endeavour_v to_o distinguish_v how_o far_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o trinity_n be_v a_o mystery_n and_o how_o far_o a_o mystery_n may_v become_v a_o object_n of_o faith_n from_o whence_o i_o hope_v to_o make_v it_o appear_v that_o nothing_o hard_a or_o unreasonable_a be_v require_v of_o we_o by_o our_o church_n for_o the_o belief_n of_o this_o article_n in_o order_n to_o which_o i_o shall_v rank_v all_o my_o reflection_n upon_o this_o subject_a under_o these_o three_o head_n of_o enquiry_n i._o what_o it_o be_v that_o perplex_v and_o obscure_v our_o faith_n in_o the_o trinity_n ii_o what_o be_v sufficient_a for_o
full_o in_o the_o follow_a discourse_n we_o be_v therefore_o in_o the_o first_o place_n to_o consider_v how_o far_o it_o be_v possible_a to_o believe_v a_o trinity_n and_o next_o to_o examine_v what_o the_o scripture_n require_v we_o to_o believe_v in_o this_o matter_n now_o there_o be_v two_o condition_n requisite_a to_o make_v it_o possible_a for_o we_o to_o believe_v a_o thing_n 1._o that_o we_o know_v the_o term_n of_o what_o we_o be_v to_o assent_v to_o 2._o that_o it_o imply_v no_o contradiction_n to_o our_o former_a knowledge_n such_o knowledge_n i_o mean_v which_o be_v accompany_v with_o certainty_n and_o evidence_n first_o then_o we_o can_v believe_v a_o thing_n no_o further_o than_o we_o understand_v the_o term_n in_o which_o it_o be_v propose_v to_o we_o for_o faith_n concern_v only_o the_o truth_n and_o falsehood_n of_o proposition_n and_o the_o term_n of_o which_o a_o proposition_n consist_v must_v be_v first_o understand_v before_o we_o can_v pronounce_v any_o thing_n concern_v the_o truth_n or_o falsehood_n of_o it_o which_o be_v nothing_o else_o but_o the_o agreement_n or_o disagreement_n of_o its_o term_n or_o the_o idea_n express_v by_o they_o if_o i_o have_v no_o knowledge_n at_o all_o of_o the_o meaning_n of_o the_o term_n use_v in_o a_o proposition_n i_o can_v exercise_v any_o act_n of_o my_o understanding_n about_o it_o i_o can_v say_v i_o believe_v or_o disbelieve_v any_o thing_n my_o soul_n be_v perfect_o in_o the_o same_o state_n it_o be_v before_o without_o receive_v any_o new_a determination_n if_o i_o have_v but_o a_o general_a confuse_a notion_n of_o the_o term_n i_o can_v give_v only_o a_o general_a confuse_a assent_n to_o the_o proposition_n so_o my_o faith_n will_v always_o bear_v the_o same_o proportion_n to_o my_o knowledge_n of_o the_o subject-matter_n to_o be_v believe_v to_o make_v this_o plain_a by_o a_o instance_n suppose_v i_o be_o require_v to_o believe_v that_o a._n be_v equal_a to_o b._n if_o i_o do_v know_v either_o what_o a._n or_o b._n stand_v for_o or_o have_v no_o notion_n of_o equality_n i_o believe_v nothing_o more_o than_o i_o do_v before_o this_o be_v propose_v to_o i_o i_o be_o not_o capable_a of_o any_o new_a determinate_a act_n of_o faith_n all_o that_o i_o can_v believe_v in_o this_o case_n can_v amount_v to_o no_o more_o than_o this_o that_o something_o have_v some_o respect_n to_o something_o else_o that_o the_o matter_n i_o be_o require_v to_o believe_v be_v affirm_v by_o a_o person_n of_o great_a knowledge_n and_o integrity_n who_o ought_v to_o be_v credit_v in_o what_o he_o say_v and_o therefore_o the_o proposition_n here_o lay_v down_o be_v probable_o true_a in_o that_o sense_n the_o author_n mean_v and_o what_o be_o i_o the_o wise_a for_o all_o this_o what_o addition_n be_v there_o make_v to_o my_o faith_n or_o knowledge_n by_o such_o a_o proposition_n but_o far_o suppose_v i_o know_v that_o a._n and_o b._n stand_v for_o two_o line_n and_o that_o by_o equal_a line_n be_v mean_v line_n of_o the_o same_o length_n such_o knowledge_n can_v produce_v only_o a_o general_a confuse_a belief_n that_o there_o be_v some_o certain_a line_n imaginable_a just_a of_o the_o same_o length_n with_o some_o other_o line_n but_o if_o by_o a._n and_o b._n be_v mean_v two_o right_a line_n which_o be_v the_o side_n of_o a_o give_v triangle_n and_o i_o take_v a_o mathematician_n word_n for_o it_o without_o demonstration_n that_o they_o be_v equal_a or_o of_o the_o same_o length_n this_o be_v a_o particular_a distinct_a act_n of_o faith_n by_o which_o i_o be_o satisfy_v of_o the_o truth_n of_o something_o which_o i_o do_v not_o believe_v or_o know_v before_o from_o whence_o it_o follow_v that_o term_n and_o simple_a idea_n must_v be_v clear_o and_o distinct_o understand_v first_o before_o we_o can_v believe_v any_o thing_n particular_a of_o the_o respect_n and_o relation_n they_o bear_v to_o one_o another_o which_o be_v the_o only_a proper_a object_n of_o faith_n another_o condition_n necessary_a to_o render_v a_o thing_n capable_a of_o be_v believe_v be_v that_o it_o imply_v no_o contradiction_n to_o our_o former_a knowledge_n i_o can_v conceive_v how_o it_o be_v possible_a to_o give_v our_o assent_n to_o any_o thing_n that_o contradict_v the_o plain_n dictate_v of_o our_o reason_n and_o those_o evident_a principle_n from_o whence_o we_o derive_v all_o our_o other_o knowledge_n as_o for_o example_n i_o do_v not_o see_v how_o any_o authority_n of_o revelation_n can_v overthrow_v the_o truth_n of_o this_o proposition_n that_o the_o whole_a be_v big_a than_o any_o of_o its_o part_n for_o first_o i_o can_v more_o clear_o and_o distinct_o perceive_v any_o external_a impression_n make_v upon_o my_o soul_n nor_o be_v more_o certain_a that_o such_o impression_n proceed_v from_o god_n than_o i_o can_v perceive_v and_o be_v assure_v that_o the_o idea_n i_o have_v of_o whole_a and_o part_n bear_v this_o relation_n to_o one_o another_o second_o the_o nature_n and_o constitution_n of_o thing_n make_v it_o impossible_a that_o this_o proposition_n shall_v be_v false_a for_o such_o and_o such_o thing_n or_o notion_n be_v suppose_v such_o and_o such_o habitude_n and_o respect_n must_v necessary_o result_v from_o they_o so_o long_o therefore_o as_o i_o have_v the_o same_o idea_n of_o whole_a and_o part_n and_o the_o same_o faculty_n of_o perception_n i_o shall_v always_o perceive_v the_o same_o relation_n betwixt_o they_o and_o if_o my_o idea_n of_o whole_a and_o part_n be_v change_v or_o a_o new_a texture_n and_o frame_n of_o soul_n give_v i_o i_o shall_v indeed_o perceive_v different_a relation_n betwixt_o these_o new_a idea_n but_o this_o will_v by_o no_o mean_n destroy_v the_o truth_n of_o my_o former_a conception_n it_o will_v still_o be_v certain_a according_a to_o the_o idea_n i_o have_v before_o of_o whole_a and_o part_n that_o the_o whole_a be_v big_a than_o any_o of_o its_o part_n which_o idea_n will_v always_o unalterable_o have_v the_o same_o relation_n to_o one_o another_o but_o three_o be_v it_o possible_a this_o proposition_n can_v be_v false_a consider_v only_o the_o nature_n of_o the_o thing_n themselves_o the_o nature_n of_o god_n furnish_v we_o with_o other_o argument_n of_o the_o truth_n and_o certainty_n of_o it_o and_o one_a it_o be_v not_o consistent_a with_o the_o justice_n wisdom_n or_o goodness_n of_o god_n to_o require_v we_o to_o believe_v that_o which_o according_a to_o the_o frame_n and_o make_v he_o have_v give_v we_o it_o be_v impossible_a for_o we_o to_o believe_v for_o however_o some_o man_n have_v advance_v this_o absurd_a paradox_n that_o god_n can_v make_v contradiction_n true_a i_o be_o very_o certain_a that_o upon_o a_o impartial_a trial_n of_o their_o faculty_n they_o will_v find_v it_o be_v perfect_o out_o of_o their_o power_n to_o believe_v explicit_o and_o in_o the_o common_a sense_n of_o the_o term_n that_o a_o part_n can_v be_v big_a than_o the_o whole_a it_o be_v a_o part_n of_o but_o two_o admit_v it_o possible_a for_o we_o to_o be_v deceive_v in_o such_o proposition_n which_o have_v a_o constant_a uniform_a and_o universal_a appearance_n of_o truth_n and_o evidence_n this_o will_v destroy_v all_o manner_n of_o certainty_n and_o knowledge_n and_o leave_v we_o whole_o in_o darkness_n ignorance_n and_o despair_n or_o which_o be_v more_o injurious_a to_o the_o divine_a goodness_n to_o imagine_v under_o a_o absolute_a necessity_n of_o be_v deceive_v for_o it_o be_v not_o only_o impossible_a for_o i_o to_o believe_v that_o such_o a_o proposition_n as_o this_o that_o the_o whole_a be_v big_a than_o any_o of_o its_o part_n be_v false_a but_o i_o can_v deny_v my_o positive_a express_a assent_n to_o it_o as_o true_a the_o light_n and_o evidence_n in_o this_o case_n be_v so_o clear_a and_o strong_a that_o i_o be_o not_o at_o liberty_n so_o much_o as_o to_o suspend_v my_o judgement_n three_o it_o be_v blasphemy_n to_o think_v that_o god_n can_v contradict_v himself_o 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this_o to_o be_v wonder_v at_o that_o we_o shall_v have_v confuse_v notion_n of_o thing_n which_o no_o particular_a idea_n our_o mind_n be_v furnish_v with_o can_v render_v clear_a to_o we_o for_o if_o we_o consider_v the_o degree_n and_o limit_n of_o our_o knowledge_n and_o take_v a_o strict_a survey_n of_o our_o whole_a stock_n of_o thought_n we_o shall_v find_v there_o be_v very_o few_o thing_n that_o we_o know_v full_o and_o distinct_o most_o of_o our_o notion_n differ_v only_o as_o more_o or_o less_o confuse_a more_o or_o less_o general_a there_o be_v a_o certain_a scale_n of_o knowledge_n wherein_o every_o thing_n be_v so_o fit_v and_o proportion_v to_o our_o faculty_n that_o we_o can_v descend_v below_o such_o a_o determinate_a pitch_n in_o our_o conception_n or_o explication_n of_o any_o object_n propose_v to_o we_o as_o for_o instance_n suppose_v a_o blindman_n have_v a_o desire_n to_o know_v what_o colour_n be_v it_o be_v certain_a he_o can_v never_o form_v a_o true_a 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