miracle_n be_v work_n which_o exceed_v mere_a natural_a power_n or_o ordinary_a course_n of_o nature_n it_o be_v furnish_v with_o faculty_n which_o can_v discern_v what_o be_v natural_a and_o what_o not_o but_o be_v at_o a_o loss_n in_o high_a mystery_n this_o assertion_n perhaps_o may_v be_v check_v by_o a_o instance_n in_o conciliary_a proceed_n in_o discern_a canonical_a book_n of_o holy_a scripture_n from_o apocryphal_a or_o any_o false_o so_o call_v in_o which_o judgement_n be_v pass_v by_o mere_a rational_a evidence_n whilst_o it_o distinguish_v the_o one_o from_o the_o other_o by_o their_o content_n this_o must_v not_o be_v grant_v for_o though_o the_o content_n of_o holy_a scripture_n be_v a_o good_a argument_n of_o their_o truth_n yet_o they_o be_v not_o the_o only_a characteristic_n to_o distinguish_v they_o from_o other_o which_o be_v not_o canonical_a when_o there_o be_v any_o debate_n in_o a_o council_n concern_v any_o part_n of_o scripture_n to_o be_v admit_v into_o 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also_o consider_v if_o the_o will_n and_o understanding_n be_v the_o element_n of_o faith_n that_o a_o ethnic_n lay_v aside_o the_o divine_a testimony_n and_o retire_n to_o his_o reason_n will_v be_v more_o confirm_v in_o his_o persuasion_n as_o a_o chemist_n assert_n his_o principle_n and_o practical_a knowledge_n above_o that_o which_o theory_n teach_v whilst_o he_o analyses_n or_o dissolve_v a_o body_n by_o which_o he_o make_v sense_n a_o witness_n of_o his_o reason_n and_o give_v evidence_n of_o the_o truth_n by_o both_o or_o as_o the_o mathematical_a knowledge_n challenge_v great_a certainty_n than_o that_o in_o other_o science_n which_o take_v a_o scheme_n asunder_o by_o demonstration_n and_o rebuilding_n it_o on_o the_o same_o principle_n confident_o and_o just_o call_v it_o true_a but_o the_o success_n be_v different_a in_o religious_a case_n as_o in_o some_o curious_a contexture_n which_o be_v defective_a by_o its_o too_o fine_a thread_n and_o not_o far_o remove_v from_o 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christian_a posterity_n give_v assent_v to_o the_o whole_a sacred_a volume_n of_o scripture_n by_o the_o same_o method_n and_o mean_n by_o which_o adam_n assent_v to_o and_o believe_v that_o synopsis_n of_o the_o whole_a gospel_n the_o seed_n of_o the_o woman_n shall_v bruise_v the_o serpent_n head_n if_o it_o be_v say_v that_o adam_n posterity_n have_v a_o measure_n of_o knowledge_n as_o much_o great_a than_o that_o of_o their_o first_o forefather_n as_o the_o second_o adam_n be_v just_o exalt_v above_o the_o first_o yet_o this_o advance_n of_o knowledge_n owe_v not_o its_o original_a to_o mere_a natural_a power_n for_o though_o the_o christian_a believer_n without_o breach_n of_o modesty_n may_v be_v say_v to_o know_v more_o than_o his_o first_o forefather_n yet_o that_o high_a degree_n of_o knowledge_n do_v not_o only_o owe_v its_o improvement_n to_o a_o full_a declaration_n of_o god_n will_n in_o the_o latter_a than_o in_o the_o first_o gospel_n preach_v to_o adam_n by_o god_n himself_o but_o also_o to_o the_o divine_a supply_n which_o be_v proportion_v to_o the_o extent_n of_o the_o revelation_n otherwise_o the_o christian_n can_v no_o more_o believe_v his_o large_a creed_n than_o it_o can_v be_v imagine_v adam_n can_v have_v comprehend_v the_o sum_n of_o it_o declare_v to_o he_o in_o few_o word_n without_o divine_a interpretation_n or_o assistance_n if_o this_o instance_n seem_v not_o close_o to_o the_o question_n let_v the_o will_n and_o the_o understanding_n be_v two_o eye_n of_o faith_n though_o by_o some_o one_o be_v call_v blind_a caeca_n potestas_fw-la which_o error_n be_v correct_v by_o late_a philosophy_n be_v examine_v and_o they_o will_v in_o their_o pure_a natural_n be_v find_v defective_a for_o as_o in_o natural_n it_o be_v not_o enough_o that_o the_o eye_n be_v well_o dispose_v but_o a_o certain_a position_n of_o the_o object_n and_o direction_n of_o the_o eye_n be_v necessary_a for_o some_o discovery_n so_o although_o it_o be_v allow_v that_o 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better_a apprehend_v by_o be_v compare_v to_o some_o thin_a air_n which_o have_v power_n though_o invisible_a beside_o it_o be_v beyond_o dispute_n that_o some_o supernatural_a power_n infuse_v notion_n in_o dream_n which_o the_o soul_n itself_o can_v not_o excite_v i_o dispute_v not_o whether_o there_o be_v any_o such_o in_o these_o day_n it_o be_v enough_o to_o show_v that_o the_o divine_a method_n without_o violence_n to_o reason_n have_v make_v such_o discovery_n in_o some_o age_n of_o the_o church_n and_o may_v continue_v his_o assistance_n though_o not_o in_o the_o same_o manner_n for_o that_o will_v not_o appear_v consistent_a with_o the_o settle_a and_o more_o perfect_a state_n of_o the_o church_n to_o help_v reason_n in_o give_v its_o assent_n to_o divine_a truth_n i_o need_v add_v no_o more_o for_o the_o confutation_n of_o the_o reasoner_n position_n than_o the_o proposal_n of_o the_o discourse_n in_o the_o former_a disqusition_n which_o show_v that_o there_o be_v a_o beam_n in_o the_o eye_n of_o reason_n which_o if_o not_o remove_v render_v it_o so_o dim-sighted_a that_o it_o can_v discern_v the_o element_n and_o first_o principle_n of_o religion_n which_o be_v rude_o in_o man_n mind_n and_o need_v some_o assistance_n for_o the_o due_a composure_n of_o the_o thought_n concern_v god_n and_o his_o worship_n wherefore_o let_v the_o reasoner_n consider_v grace_n but_o as_o a_o chirurgeon_n hand_n which_o couch_v a_o pearl_n on_o the_o eye_n or_o take_v away_o the_o gutta_n serena_fw-la yet_o by_o this_o act_n the_o sight_n be_v better_a and_o this_o can_v be_v without_o alteration_n add_v to_o this_o the_o proposal_n of_o object_n and_o the_o disposition_n of_o the_o eye_n and_o media_fw-la which_o the_o eye_n itself_o can_v dispose_v be_v enough_o to_o show_v that_o grace_n by_o such_o act_n may_v be_v say_v to_o have_v alter_v the_o sight_n which_o may_v be_v render_v obscure_a and_o confuse_a by_o default_n of_o the_o medium_n or_o organ_n for_o as_o the_o soul_n look_v through_o the_o eye_n as_o a_o glass_n which_o if_o sully_v or_o discolour_a by_o any_o disease_n the_o judgement_n be_v pass_v according_a to_o the_o tincture_n which_o be_v in_o the_o eye_n not_o in_o the_o object_n and_o consequent_o be_v as_o ill_a a_o judge_n of_o colour_n as_o he_o who_o view_v object_n with_o colour_a prospective_n or_o any_o catoptrical_a device_n to_o deceive_v the_o eye_n so_o in_o spiritual_a vision_n the_o soul_n look_v with_o the_o eye_n which_o have_v the_o disease_n therefore_o it_o be_v not_o probable_a it_o shall_v discern_v its_o own_o malady_n much_o less_o discover_v truth_n to_o conclude_v this_o part_n of_o the_o disquisition_n it_o may_v be_v confident_o affirm_v that_o grace_n alter_v the_o sight_n though_o it_o do_v but_o take_v off_o a_o film_n or_o scale_n as_o from_o st._n paul_n eye_n which_o the_o natural_a man_n by_o his_o own_o power_n be_v no_o more_o able_a to_o remove_v than_o the_o eye_n by_o drop_a tear_n a_o way_n to_o put_v out_o eye_n rather_o than_o restore_v they_o can_v do_v as_o much_o as_o any_o eye-water_n which_o the_o oculist_n can_v prepare_v from_o what_o be_v here_o say_v there_o be_v a_o easy_a digression_n to_o the_o other_o part_n of_o the_o disquisition_n how_o reason_n be_v lay_v aside_o in_o some_o act_n of_o faith_n a_o question_n which_o much_o exercise_v the_o reconciler_n whilst_o it_o do_v not_o follow_v the_o dictate_v of_o its_o own_o understanding_n but_o give_v itself_o up_o to_o the_o guidance_n of_o another_o the_o divine_a knowledge_n which_o advantageous_o supply_v nature_n defect_n which_o make_v way_n for_o this_o conclusion_n viz._n reason_n in_o some_o case_n be_v as_o much_o and_o may_v as_o proper_o be_v say_v to_o be_v lay_v aside_o as_o a_o judge_n who_o be_v limit_v by_o his_o monarch_n that_o he_o may_v not_o pass_v sentence_n in_o all_o case_n on_o his_o own_o judgement_n but_o in_o some_o must_v consult_v and_o follow_v the_o direction_n of_o the_o supreme_a magistrate_n by_o do_v of_o which_o he_o be_v so_o far_o lay_v aside_o that_o as_o to_o that_o particular_a case_n he_o may_v not_o so_o proper_o be_v call_v judge_n as_o a_o proclaimer_n of_o justice_n determine_v by_o his_o superior_a and_o for_o the_o illustration_n i_o can_v but_o insert_v a_o story_n which_o i_o borrow_v from_o a_o eminent_a mathematician_n who_o say_v a_o judge_n puzzle_v with_o a_o case_n of_o two_o person_n who_o have_v make_v exchange_n of_o field_n which_o be_v isoperimeter_n or_o of_o equal_a side_n but_o different_a figure_n one_o a_o rombus_n or_o oblique_a angle_a the_o other_o a_o square_n or_o right_o angle_a parallelogram_n be_v necessitate_v to_o call_v a_o geometrician_n to_o discover_v the_o cheat_n which_o discovery_n in_o strictness_n be_v enough_o to_o call_v the_o mathematician_n judge_n though_o the_o sentence_n be_v pronounce_v by_o another_o this_o be_v applicable_a to_o the_o spiritual_a method_n of_o improve_n the_o understanding_n and_o determine_v the_o will_n in_o matter_n of_o faith_n if_o god_n be_v consider_v as_o the_o ãâã_d ãâã_d ãâã_d ãâã_d ãâã_d to_o inform_v reason_n which_o be_v defective_a and_o as_o ignorant_a as_o the_o judge_n in_o the_o former_a case_n from_o this_o instance_n it_o be_v plain_a and_o easy_a to_o imagine_v how_o advantageous_o reason_n be_v lay_v aside_o be_v divert_v from_o its_o usual_a method_n in_o give_v assent_n to_o proposition_n which_o be_v true_a yet_o in_o themselves_o not_o sufficient_o evident_a now_o evidence_n of_o the_o truth_n to_o the_o soul_n in_o its_o pure_a natural_n be_v so_o necessary_a that_o there_o be_v no_o assent_n certain_a without_o it_o but_o it_o be_v otherwise_o in_o the_o act_n of_o say_v when_o divine_a testimony_n supply_v the_o place_n of_o natural_a evidence_n if_o it_o be_v urge_v that_o reason_n proceed_v according_a to_o its_o
own_o principle_n and_o when_o it_o submit_v to_o the_o divine_a testimony_n it_o be_v because_o reason_n be_v inform_v by_o revelation_n that_o it_o be_v not_o a_o competent_a judge_n of_o religious_a mystery_n yet_o that_o assent_n be_v guide_v by_o the_o divine_a testimony_n instead_o of_o evidence_n divert_v the_o faculty_n of_o the_o soul_n from_o their_o usual_a method_n be_v enough_o to_o assert_v reason_n be_v lay_v aside_o yet_o this_o will_v not_o make_v way_n for_o a_o cavil_v complaint_n that_o the_o divine_a determination_n do_v violence_n to_o the_o faculty_n whilst_o thus_o divert_v from_o their_o usual_a method_n for_o the_o divine_a concourse_n which_o determine_v they_o can_v no_o more_o be_v say_v to_o do_v violence_n than_o the_o mathematician_n information_n of_o the_o judge_n in_o the_o former_a case_n can_v be_v call_v compulsion_n when_o he_o prevail_v with_o he_o to_o pass_v true_a sentence_n which_o he_o without_o the_o artist_n can_v not_o have_v pronounce_v it_o be_v not_o necessary_a that_o matter_n of_o belief_n be_v clear_o and_o distinct_o understand_v for_o faith_n take_v its_o name_n from_o persuasion_n which_o be_v not_o always_o beget_v by_o demonstration_n and_o from_o assent_n more_o than_o from_o the_o manner_n how_o it_o be_v wrought_v for_o the_o divine_a method_n have_v several_a way_n to_o command_v belief_n sometime_o it_o make_v a_o extempore_o convert_v grace_n work_v effectual_o in_o a_o moment_n sometime_o it_o operate_v through_o the_o whole_a course_n of_o man_n life_n to_o perfect_v the_o work_n it_o be_v enough_o that_o man_n be_v assure_v that_o their_o assent_n be_v terminate_v in_o truth_n because_o of_o the_o divine_a determination_n which_o make_v the_o will_n like_o the_o loadstone_n which_o instance_n be_v much_o use_v by_o the_o reconciler_n which_o will_v certain_o conduct_v the_o mariner_n though_o he_o know_v not_o how_o it_o be_v direct_v whether_o by_o a_o materia_fw-la subtilis_fw-la pass_v through_o the_o pole_n of_o this_o low_a vortex_n or_o any_o other_o mysterious_a way_n of_o nature_n to_o speak_v all_o if_o sail_v have_v be_v lay_v aside_o till_o the_o pilot_n can_v demonstrate_v its_o infallible_a direction_n from_o its_o cause_n the_o great_a part_n of_o the_o world_n will_v have_v be_v unknown_a and_o the_o terra_fw-la incognita_fw-la will_v take_v more_o room_n in_o the_o map_n than_o the_o know_a part_n of_o the_o world_n the_o same_o may_v be_v conclude_v of_o faith_n for_o if_o all_o belief_n be_v to_o be_v suspend_v until_o the_o manner_n how_o it_o be_v wrought_v be_v explain_v a_o great_a part_n of_o the_o world_n will_v pass_v as_o infidel_n thus_o far_o the_o infirmity_n of_o the_o mere_a natural_a sight_n have_v be_v discover_v it_o now_o remain_v that_o i_o inquire_v in_o what_o sense_n the_o reconciler_n who_o urge_v belief_n as_o a_o act_n of_o prudence_n by_o which_o if_o he_o only_o understand_v a_o rational_a choice_n exclude_v grace_n the_o former_a discourse_n will_v equal_o conclude_v against_o he_o and_o the_o reasoner_n for_o if_o a_o man_n endue_v with_o natural_a prudence_n must_v necessary_o embrace_v the_o christian_a religion_n because_o its_o content_n be_v such_o as_o will_v command_v assent_n from_o the_o reasonable_a man_n he_o shut_v out_o grace_n in_o the_o act_n of_o faith_n and_o make_v the_o holy_a scripture_n more_o sufficient_a and_o in_o another_o sense_n than_o ever_o they_o be_v say_v to_o be_v for_o which_o they_o be_v say_v to_o be_v so_o ãâã_d ãâã_d ãâã_d ãâã_d ãâã_d by_o athanasius_n cyril_n and_o other_o holy_a father_n it_o be_v to_o show_v they_o be_v self-sufficient_a without_o the_o subsidy_n of_o tradition_n not_o in_o any_o other_o sense_n for_o although_o it_o must_v be_v grant_v that_o the_o proposal_n of_o scripture_n be_v enough_o to_o condemn_v the_o infidel_n as_o imprudent_a yet_o this_o condemnation_n may_v not_o be_v justify_v only_o because_o the_o evidence_n of_o scripture_n be_v not_o allow_v for_o it_o be_v more_o than_o probable_a that_o the_o neglect_n of_o petition_v for_o grace_n and_o oppose_v it_o when_o offer_v to_o help_v unbelief_n do_v adjust_a the_o severity_n of_o that_o say_n he_o who_o believe_v not_o shall_v be_v damn_v natural_a prudence_n be_v not_o a_o sufficient_a qualification_n for_o the_o embrace_a christian_a religion_n if_o we_o take_v it_o in_o aristotle_n sense_n who_o define_v it_o a_o habitual_a knowledge_n which_o can_v discern_v what_o be_v good_a and_o what_o be_v evil_a as_o they_o have_v relation_n to_o practice_n lib._n sexto_fw-la ethicor._fw-la ad_fw-la nicom_fw-la ãâã_d ãâã_d ãâã_d ãâã_d ãâã_d prudence_n thus_o define_v can_v have_v no_o place_n as_o antecedent_n to_o belief_n because_o that_o mere_a reason_n in_o several_a case_n can_v judge_v what_o be_v good_a for_o man_n and_o what_o evil_n and_o therefore_o will_v demur_v at_o some_o duty_n absolute_o necessary_a for_o the_o attain_n of_o happiness_n such_o as_o be_v self-denial_n and_o other_o injunction_n which_o natural_a prudence_n will_v not_o choose_v if_o leave_v to_o its_o own_o evidence_n and_o if_o it_o be_v consider_v as_o subsequent_a to_o belief_n there_o be_v no_o need_n of_o it_o in_o discern_v what_o be_v good_a in_o practice_n and_o what_o be_v evil_a for_o duty_n in_o religion_n be_v indispensable_o enjoin_v which_o destroy_v consultation_n which_o denominate_v a_o man_n prudent_a i_o shall_v conclude_v this_o particular_a with_o christ_n decide_v the_o controversy_n by_o rank_v the_o prudent_a man_n in_o this_o sense_n not_o so_o wise_a as_o a_o babe_n without_o divine_a assistance_n and_o when_o it_o be_v take_v in_o a_o better_a sense_n divine_a direction_n and_o concourse_n be_v suppose_v as_o necessary_a to_o supply_v the_o defect_n of_o the_o mind_n and_o therefore_o may_v challenge_v the_o etymology_n which_o aristotle_n give_v of_o ãâã_d ãâã_d ãâã_d ãâã_d ãâã_d whilst_o he_o call_v it_o ãâã_d ãâã_d ãâã_d ãâã_d ãâã_d which_o god_n alone_o be_v able_a to_o do_v and_o make_v man_n wise_a unto_o salvation_n add_v to_o this_o another_o consideration_n that_o a_o prudential_n choice_n of_o religion_n suppose_v it_o and_o its_o reward_n too_o to_o be_v expose_v as_o a_o prize_n not_o in_o the_o apostlical_a sense_n so_o that_o he_o who_o have_v the_o great_a stock_n of_o prudence_n must_v pass_v as_o most_o religious_a when_o he_o who_o have_v the_o least_o be_v esteem_v a_o reprobate_n from_o all_o that_o be_v say_v i_o shall_v only_o infer_v this_o conclusion_n see_v our_o eyesight_n need_v alteration_n and_o itself_o be_v indispose_v the_o believer_n do_v safe_o resign_v himself_o to_o the_o conduct_n of_o the_o all-seeing-eye_n according_a to_o the_o rule_n of_o a_o severe_a philosopher_n who_o will_v not_o admit_v any_o truth_n but_o upon_o the_o evidence_n of_o reason_n who_o say_v we_o may_v in_o some_o case_n as_o safe_o trust_v other_o as_o ourselves_o ãâã_d ãâã_d ãâã_d ãâã_d ãâã_d arist_n lib._n sext._n ethic._n ad_fw-la nicom_fw-la so_o far_o as_o man_n follow_v a_o unerring_a conduct_n so_o far_o they_o be_v infallible_a though_o they_o be_v not_o their_o own_o leader_n hitherto_o reason_n have_v be_v consider_v as_o it_o be_v in_o a_o single_a person_n but_o the_o follow_a disquisition_n consider_v it_o in_o a_o multitude_n or_o a_o assembly_n as_o it_o attend_v their_o sacred_a vote_n by_o which_o it_o be_v make_v more_o infallible_a than_o when_o as_o a_o monarch_n it_o assert_v its_o seem_a privilege_n by_o renounce_v all_o manner_n of_o assistance_n in_o draw_v conclusion_n but_o only_o that_o which_o be_v nature_n afford_v rely_v on_o private_a evidence_n which_o also_o be_v suppose_v in_o every_o particular_a member_n of_o a_o council_n therefore_o it_o be_v proper_a to_o examine_v whether_o reason_n only_o enlighten_v by_o apprehend_v the_o story_n and_o content_n of_o the_o old_a and_o new_a testament_n be_v capable_a of_o appeal_n make_v to_o it_o as_o 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certainty_n
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