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as_o for_o instance_n that_o a_o certain_a saint_n behead_v shall_v afterward_o carry_v his_o head_n in_o his_o mouth_n for_o some_o mile_n or_o that_o the_o body_n of_o christ_n shall_v be_v in_o divers_a place_n at_o the_o same_o time_n nor_o can_v the_o almighty_a power_n of_o god_n be_v any_o pretence_n for_o the_o belief_n of_o such_o absurdies_n for_o thing_n or_o truth_n be_v the_o product_n and_o subject_n of_o divine_a power_n and_o not_o contradiction_n again_o a_o miracle_n be_v not_o a_o fallacy_n or_o deception_n of_o man_n sense_n or_o understanding_n for_o a_o deceit_n have_v the_o nature_n of_o a_o lie_n and_o be_v not_o likely_a to_o come_v from_o the_o god_n of_o truth_n nor_o be_v a_o miracle_n a_o thing_n do_v by_o the_o power_n or_o art_n of_o the_o man_n howsoever_o great_a or_o strange_a any_o man_n power_n or_o art_n may_v be_v to_o other_o that_o be_v weak_a or_o ignorant_a nor_o be_v a_o miracle_n any_o more_o in_o the_o will_n of_o man_n than_o in_o his_o 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good_a no_o less_o than_o to_o persuade_v sinner_n to_o repent_v or_o will_v as_o god_n will_v or_o to_o confirm_v they_o that_o so_o do_v in_o their_o well-willing_a and_o wherever_o there_o be_v say_v to_o be_v a_o miracle_n that_o tend_v not_o to_o this_o end_n it_o ought_v to_o be_v suspect_v and_o will_v be_v find_v upon_o serious_a examination_n to_o be_v but_o a_o pretence_n and_o no_o real_a miracle_n but_o now_o to_o come_v a_o little_a near_o to_o matter_n of_o fact_n that_o we_o may_v be_v persuade_v that_o there_o have_v indeed_o be_v divine_a revelation_n and_o some_o person_n send_v to_o declare_v the_o will_n of_o god_n to_o other_o and_o the_o truth_n of_o their_o mission_n and_o of_o the_o thing_n declare_v confirm_v by_o miracle_n we_o need_v no_o more_o but_o serious_o read_v and_o consider_v the_o book_n of_o moses_n and_o the_o prophet_n and_o especial_o the_o write_n of_o the_o apostle_n and_o disciple_n of_o jesus_n christ_n in_o the_o read_n and_o consideration_n of_o which_o book_n if_o these_o two_o thing_n appear_v i_o think_v there_o be_v enough_o to_o satisfy_v any_o rational_a man_n in_o this_o matter_n first_o that_o the_o thing_n relate_v as_o teach_v persuade_v and_o do_v agree_v with_o the_o most_o rational_a and_o crittical_a account_n of_o divine_a revelation_n and_o miracle_n second_o that_o the_o history_n itself_o be_v undoubted_o true_a let_v we_o consider_v both_o these_o as_o brief_o as_o we_o can_v in_o the_o first_o place_n there_o be_v to_o be_v consider_v in_o the_o scripture_n the_o doctrinal_a or_o instructive_a part_n which_o teach_v for_o a_o foundation_n that_o there_o be_v one_o most_o high_a sufficient_a be_v or_o god_n and_o that_o he_o be_v the_o author_n and_o continuer_n and_o consequent_o sovereign_a
lord_n of_o all_o other_o being_n that_o at_o his_o word_n the_o heaven_n and_o the_o earth_n and_o all_o thing_n in_o they_o be_v make_v and_o be_v uphold_v that_o he_o be_v good_a wise_a just_a true_a benign_a or_o merciful_a etc._n etc._n beside_o this_o instruction_n what_o god_n be_v it_o teach_v we_o what_o we_o be_v viz._n sinful_a wretched_a fall_v creature_n that_o can_v have_v no_o good_a or_o happiness_n in_o our_o self_n it_o inform_v we_o how_o we_o shall_v behave_v ourselves_o towards_o god_n viz._n as_o dependent_a thing_n and_o that_o we_o shall_v love_v he_o obey_v he_o fear_v to_o do_v any_o thing_n contrary_a to_o his_o will_n trust_v he_o or_o believe_v he_o etc._n etc._n and_o how_o we_o shall_v carry_v it_o to_o one_o another_o viz._n to_o do_v as_o we_o will_v be_v do_v by_o that_o be_v every_o one_o to_o confer_v as_o he_o be_v capable_a towards_o another_o happiness_n have_v propose_v thing_n to_o the_o understanding_n second_o it_o add_v the_o persuasive_a part_n to_o the_o will_n move_v we_o to_o behave_v ourselves_o suitable_o in_o the_o act_n of_o our_o will_n to_o such_o truth_n know_v by_o set_v before_o we_o good_a or_o evil_a profit_n or_o disprofit_v pleasure_n or_o displeasure_n seemliness_n or_o unseemliness_n accompany_v or_o consequent_a on_o our_o orderly_a or_o disorderly_a behaviour_n now_o these_o thing_n propose_v and_o urge_v in_o these_o book_n as_o the_o main_a scope_n and_o design_n of_o they_o appear_v to_o be_v of_o god_n as_o they_o come_v with_o evidence_n of_o truth_n and_o goodness_n such_o as_o be_v agreeable_a to_o the_o reason_n of_o a_o considerate_a man_n and_o be_v see_v proper_a and_o convenient_a for_o the_o creature_n will_v to_o comply_v with_o thing_n beseem_v the_o all-perfect_a be_v to_o teach_v and_o command_v convenient_a and_o profitable_a for_o the_o creature_n to_o learn_v and_o obey_v which_o if_o we_o consider_v with_o ourselves_o and_o compare_v with_o what_o have_v be_v say_v in_o the_o former_a part_n of_o this_o book_n will_v appear_v to_o be_v the_o very_a same_o principle_n and_o practice_n of_o that_o we_o call_v natural_a or_o rational_a religion_n which_o be_v knowable_a by_o the_o light_n of_o nature_n to_o all_o mankind_n but_o that_o these_o same_o thing_n may_v and_o how_o far_o they_o may_v be_v call_v revelation_n will_v appear_v by_o consider_v the_o time_n and_o circumstance_n and_o manner_n of_o their_o delivery_n thus_o if_o when_o man_n have_v give_v up_o themselves_o chief_o to_o the_o consideration_n of_o sensual_a object_n and_o bend_v their_o will_n to_o the_o disorderly_a satisfaction_n of_o their_o bodily_a appetite_n neglect_v the_o due_a consideration_n of_o their_o author_n and_o the_o end_n of_o their_o be_v begin_v to_o fancy_n god_n too_o much_o like_o themselves_o have_v low_o mean_a gross_a conception_n of_o he_o and_o too_o high_a conceit_n of_o creature_n confound_v the_o property_n of_o god_n with_o those_o of_o his_o work_n give_v divine_a honour_n to_o man_n or_o any_o thing_n they_o fancy_v excellent_a or_o useful_a make_v bodily_a representation_n of_o god_n and_o as_o some_o represent_v he_o by_o one_o thing_n some_o by_o another_o their_o various_a and_o disagree_a image_n can_v not_o be_v reconcile_v so_o as_o to_o be_v take_v all_o so_o different_a for_o image_n of_o one_o and_o the_o same_o be_v but_o they_o begin_v to_o fancy_v as_o many_o god_n as_o their_o differ_a conceit_n have_v make_v image_n so_o that_o divine_a nature_n be_v mistake_v even_o as_o to_o number_v uncertain_a without_o end_n and_o even_o those_o who_o by_o long_a instruction_n have_v be_v bring_v again_o to_o the_o belief_n and_o worship_n of_o but_o one_o god_n have_v so_o far_o mistake_v his_o will_n as_o to_o fancy_v their_o good_a behaviour_n to_o he_o consist_v in_o external_a ceremony_n suppose_v that_o he_o will_v be_v affect_v with_o the_o slay_v of_o beast_n and_o please_v with_o a_o custom_n of_o little_a observance_n as_o wear_v of_o odd_a fashion_a garment_n keep_v of_o certain_a day_n use_v divers_a gesture_n etc._n etc._n when_o at_o the_o same_o time_n they_o neglect_v justice_n judgement_n mercy_n truth_n goodness_n etc._n etc._n grow_v corrupt_a and_o unreasonable_a in_o their_o action_n even_o to_o one_o another_o have_v bring_v themselves_o into_o divers_a present_a misery_n and_o lay_v a_o foundation_n for_o future_a unhappiness_n to_o themselves_o after_o this_o life_n and_o to_o their_o posterity_n yea_o live_v as_o if_o they_o believe_v there_o be_v no_o future_a life_n if_o then_o in_o such_o time_n of_o ignorance_n and_o corruption_n god_n send_v or_o particular_o instruct_v and_o send_v some_o one_o or_o more_o to_o the_o rest_n express_o to_o teach_v the_o truth_n and_o command_v his_o will_n here_o be_v a_o revelation_n and_o a_o time_n for_o the_o goodness_n of_o god_n to_o show_v itself_o in_o supply_v the_o necessity_n of_o blind_a miserable_a sinner_n when_o nothing_o can_v be_v more_o profitable_a for_o man_n or_o become_v god_n than_o such_o gracious_a discovery_n but_o if_o these_o man_n also_o declare_v some_o thing_n that_o can_v not_o be_v otherwise_o know_v to_o they_o than_o by_o divine_a inspiration_n as_o certain_a future_a event_n if_o there_o accompany_v they_o a_o supernatural_a power_n effect_v thing_n can_v not_o otherwise_o at_o least_o by_o they_o be_v effect_v here_o be_v enough_o to_o be_v call_v divine_a revelation_n and_o miracle_n and_o there_o can_v no_o more_o scruple_n remain_v if_o we_o can_v but_o be_v persuade_v to_o believe_v that_o the_o history_n of_o the_o bible_n itself_o be_v true_a which_o be_v the_o second_o thing_n to_o be_v consisider_v and_o in_o order_n to_o which_o i_o think_v it_o not_o unnecessary_a to_o lay_v down_o some_o general_a consideration_n about_o faith_n as_o follow_v faith_n be_v a_o assent_n to_o a_o thing_n as_o a_o truth_n on_o the_o word_n of_o another_o which_o we_o ourselves_o do_v it_o know_v or_o see_v according_a to_o that_o complete_a definition_n thereof_o heb._n 11.1_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d the_o evidence_n of_o thing_n not_o see_v or_o know_v for_o knowledge_n leave_v no_o room_n for_o faith_n any_o more_o than_o it_o do_v for_o hope_n which_o be_v the_o desire_n of_o what_o we_o only_o believe_v will_v be_v faith_n be_v its_o only_a basis_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d faith_n be_v the_o foundation_n or_o ground_n of_o thing_n hope_v for_o for_o where_o we_o have_v no_o faith_n of_o the_o real_a futurity_n of_o a_o thing_n there_o hope_n have_v no_o ground_n but_o faith_n if_o it_o have_v its_o due_a circumstance_n it_o be_v 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d a_o convictive_a argument_n and_o though_o faith_n and_o knowledge_n be_v so_o different_a that_o we_o can_v no_o long_o proper_o say_v we_o believe_v a_o thing_n when_o once_o we_o can_v say_v we_o know_v it_o yet_o faith_n if_o right_o be_v as_o near_o to_o knowledge_n as_o that_o which_o be_v not_o knowledge_n can_v be_v and_o far_o from_o that_o doubtful_a supposition_n call_v opinion_n that_o which_o be_v to_o be_v believe_v or_o assent_v to_o as_o a_o truth_n on_o another_o word_n be_v either_o first_o a_o assertion_n or_o affirmation_n that_o such_o or_o such_o a_o thing_n be_v be_v or_o will_v be_v or_o second_o a_o promise_n when_o the_o person_n on_o who_o word_n we_o rely_v for_o the_o real_a futurity_n of_o the_o thing_n make_v we_o expect_v it_o from_o he_o as_o the_o cause_n now_o that_o faith_n may_v be_v as_o it_o ought_v a_o assent_n indeed_o to_o a_o truth_n though_o we_o do_v know_v it_o and_o not_o the_o believe_v a_o lie_n these_o thing_n we_o ought_v to_o be_v certain_a in_o first_o that_o the_o person_n that_o have_v assert_v or_o promise_v the_o thing_n we_o be_v to_o take_v for_o a_o truth_n can_v know_v it_o or_o be_v not_o liable_a himself_o to_o be_v deceive_v or_o can_v or_o will_v be_v able_a to_o do_v it_o it_o be_v in_o his_o power_n second_o that_o he_o be_v trusty_a or_o one_o that_o will_v not_o deceive_v we_o as_o to_o the_o knowledge_n and_o power_n of_o the_o person_n that_o we_o may_v be_v sure_o he_o can_v or_o may_v know_v the_o thing_n or_o can_v or_o will_v be_v able_a to_o do_v it_o we_o must_v see_v that_o the_o thing_n be_v in_o itself_o knowable_a or_o that_o it_o may_v possible_o be_v a_o truth_n for_o that_o which_o i_o see_v absurd_a contradictory_n or_o absolute_o impossible_a to_o be_v suppose_v i_o can_v never_o well_o believe_v on_o any_o one_o word_n nor_o can_v i_o do_v so_o will_v it_o be_v of_o any_o use_n to_o i_o whatever_o i_o be_o to_o believe_v must_v at_o least_o seem_v possible_a to_o be_v a_o truth_n for_o nothing_o else_o can_v challenge_v my_o faith_n or_o be_v 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d