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of_o the_o doctrine_n of_o such_o a_o teacher_n by_o sense_n and_o reason_n which_o be_v the_o natural_a principle_n of_o knowledge_n for_o let_v a_o man_n pretend_v never_o so_o much_o to_o a_o divine_a authority_n if_o he_o preach_v any_o thing_n contrary_a to_o the_o sense_n and_o reason_n of_o mankind_n we_o be_v not_o to_o believe_v he_o no_o not_o though_o he_o shall_v work_v miracle_n for_o we_o must_v believe_v nothing_o come_v from_o god_n which_o be_v contrary_a to_o sense_n and_o reason_n which_o be_v the_o natural_a notice_n god_n have_v give_v we_o of_o thing_n and_o as_o god_n can_v contradict_v himself_o so_o we_o can_v never_o be_v sure_a that_o any_o man_n speak_v from_o god_n than_o we_o be_v of_o what_o sense_n and_o reason_n teach_v and_o if_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n will_v but_o suffer_v we_o to_o judge_v thus_o far_o we_o shall_v have_v a_o infallible_a demonstration_n
against_o her_o infallibility_n however_o this_o show_n that_o the_o most_o infallible_a teacher_n can_v destroy_v our_o natural_a liberty_n of_o judge_v for_o we_o must_v judge_v of_o his_o doctrine_n by_o sense_n and_o reason_n and_o see_v that_o it_o contradict_v neither_o which_o be_v the_o only_a natural_a principle_n of_o knowledge_n we_o have_v which_o be_v therefore_o to_o exercise_v all_o the_o reason_n and_o judgement_n which_o god_n have_v give_v we_o and_o three_o though_o we_o must_v receive_v all_o divine_a and_o supernatural_a truth_n upon_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o revealer_n yet_o we_o must_v own_v our_o own_o reason_n and_o judgement_n to_o understand_v the_o revelation_n which_o can_v possible_o be_v otherwise_o for_o whoever_o it_o be_v that_o speak_v to_o we_o whether_o god_n by_o a_o immediate_a voice_n from_o heaven_n or_o a_o prophet_n inspire_v by_o god_n we_o have_v no_o way_n to_o understand_v what_o be_v say_v but_o by_o our_o own_o natural_a faculty_n and_o therefore_o must_v judge_v of_o the_o sense_n of_o what_o be_v say_v just_a as_o we_o do_v at_o other_o time_n when_o any_o man_n speak_v to_o we_o and_o if_o we_o be_v not_o present_a to_o hear_v the_o prophet_n speak_v but_o have_v his_o revelation_n deliver_v to_o we_o in_o writing_n we_o must_v take_v the_o same_o course_n to_o understand_v such_o a_o divine_a book_n as_o we_o do_v any_o other_o human_a write_n if_o there_o be_v any_o difficulty_n in_o it_o we_o must_v seek_v for_o some_o body_n to_o help_v we_o to_o understand_v it_o but_o still_o we_o must_v understand_v for_o ourselves_o for_o no_o body_n else_o can_v understand_v for_o we_o and_o if_o we_o must_v understand_v we_o must_v judge_v for_o ourselves_o too_o this_o be_v all_o that_o we_o demand_v or_o desire_n a_o liberty_n to_o understand_v and_o judge_v what_o god_n will_v have_v we_o believe_v and_o do_v and_o this_o the_o most_o infallible_a teacher_n can_v deprive_v we_o of_o no_o more_o than_o he_o can_v oblige_v we_o to_o see_v and_o hear_v with_o other_o man_n eye_n and_o ear_n when_o god_n have_v give_v we_o eye_n and_o ear_n of_o our_o own_o and_o four_o where_o there_o be_v a_o stand_a revelation_n we_o must_v then_o judge_v of_o the_o doctrine_n of_o all_o succeed_a prophet_n how_o infallible_a soever_o they_o be_v by_o its_o conformity_n to_o the_o precede_a revelation_n we_o must_v never_o suppose_v that_o god_n can_v contradict_v himself_o and_o therefore_o though_o he_o may_v improve_v a_o former_a revelation_n by_o new_a and_o more_o perfect_a discovery_n yet_o he_o can_v never_o contradict_v it_o and_o hence_o it_o follow_v that_o no_o true_a prophet_n can_v contradict_v a_o true_a revelation_n but_o though_o a_o power_n of_o miracle_n may_v give_v authority_n to_o a_o new_a prophet_n to_o expound_v a_o former_a revelation_n and_o to_o improve_v it_o yet_o we_o must_v be_v well_o satisfy_v that_o the_o doctrine_n of_o this_o new_a prophet_n be_v agreeable_a to_o the_o old_a revelation_n which_o make_v we_o judge_n of_o the_o sense_n both_o of_o the_o old_a and_o the_o new_a revelation_n for_o it_o be_v impossible_a we_o can_v understand_v their_o agreement_n unless_o we_o can_v judge_v of_o the_o sense_n of_o both_o this_o be_v the_o case_n of_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n when_o they_o appear_v in_o the_o world_n the_o law_n of_o moses_n and_o the_o write_n of_o the_o prophet_n be_v the_o stand_a revelation_n which_o god_n have_v give_v to_o the_o jewish_a nation_n whereby_o they_o be_v to_o try_v all_o prophet_n to_o the_o law_n and_o to_o the_o testimony_n if_o they_o speak_v not_o according_a to_o this_o word_n it_o be_v because_o there_o be_v no_o light_n in_o they_o isaiah_n 8._o 20._o and_o therefore_o though_o christ_n wrought_v more_o and_o great_a miracle_n than_o ever_o moses_n do_v this_o alone_o have_v not_o be_v a_o sufficient_a reason_n to_o believe_v he_o have_v not_o his_o person_n answer_v the_o type_n and_o prediction_n of_o the_o law_n and_o his_o doctrine_n be_v not_o the_o destruction_n but_o the_o improvement_n and_o perfection_n of_o the_o moysaicall_a dispensation_n to_o this_o trial_n he_o submit_v himself_o and_o his_o doctrine_n appeal_v to_o moses_n and_o the_o prophet_n require_v they_o to_o search_v the_o scripture_n for_o they_o be_v they_o which_o testify_v of_o i_o john_n 5._o 39_o and_o after_o his_o resurrection_n from_o the_o dead_a which_o one_o will_v have_v think_v have_v be_v sufficient_a of_o itself_o to_o have_v confirm_v his_o divine_a authority_n yet_o he_o prove_v from_o scripture_n that_o thus_o christ_n ought_v to_o suffer_v and_o to_o enter_v into_o his_o glory_n and_o beginning_n at_o moses_n and_o all_o the_o prophet_n he_o expound_v unto_o they_o the_o two_o disciple_n go_v to_o emaus_n the_o thing_n concern_v himself_o luke_n 24._o 26_o 27._o and_o this_o course_n the_o apostle_n take_v in_o their_o sermon_n st._n peter_n do_v not_o only_o testify_v to_o the_o jew_n as_o a_o eye-witness_n that_o christ_n be_v rise_v from_o the_o dead_a but_o prove_v that_o david_n himself_o have_v prophesy_v of_o this_o act_v 2._o 22_o etc._n etc._n thus_o st._n paul_n dispute_v with_o the_o jew_n at_o rome_n to_o who_o he_o expound_v and_o testify_v the_o kingdom_n of_o god_n persuade_v they_o concern_v jesus_n both_o out_o of_o the_o law_n of_o moses_n and_o out_o of_o the_o prophet_n from_o morning_n till_o evening_n act_v 28._o 23._o thus_o his_o epistle_n to_o the_o roman_n be_v one_o entire_a dispute_n about_o the_o obligation_n of_o the_o law_n and_o justification_n by_o faith_n in_o christ_n from_o the_o type_n and_o prediction_n of_o the_o law_n itself_o so_o that_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n be_v certain_o as_o infallible_a teacher_n as_o everwere_v in_o the_o world_n yet_o they_o do_v not_o bear_v man_n down_o mere_o by_o their_o infallible_a authority_n but_o appeal_v to_o the_o scripture_n and_o to_o every_o man_n own_o judgement_n of_o they_o and_o god_n have_v order_v it_o so_o that_o it_o can_v not_o be_v otherwise_o for_o he_o have_v give_v they_o a_o stand_a revelation_n whereby_o they_o be_v to_o judge_v of_o all_o new_a prophet_n whatever_o they_o be_v but_o if_o they_o must_v have_v rely_v on_o the_o bare_a word_n of_o such_o prophet_n who_o they_o be_v to_o try_v by_o this_o revelation_n for_o the_o sense_n and_o interpretation_n of_o it_o this_o have_v be_v the_o same_o thing_n as_o to_o take_v their_o own_o word_n without_o any_o trial_n now_o if_o christ_n himself_o never_o pretend_v to_o any_o such_o authority_n that_o all_o man_n shall_v believe_v he_o upon_o his_o own_o word_n without_o examine_v his_o doctrine_n by_o the_o scripture_n or_o exercise_v their_o own_o reason_n and_o judgement_n can_v we_o think_v that_o he_o shall_v give_v any_o such_o authority_n to_o st._n peter_n nay_o when_o it_o be_v evident_a that_o st._n peter_n never_o have_v any_o such_o authority_n and_o never_o can_v exercise_v it_o how_o can_v 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the_o multitude_n of_o differ_v opinion_n which_o be_v maintain_v with_o equal_a confidence_n on_o all_o side_n now_o that_o this_o be_v no_o plain_a and_o convince_a argument_n against_o certainty_n be_v evident_a from_o the_o argument_n itself_o which_o confess_v that_o notwithstanding_o all_o this_o diversity_n of_o opinion_n all_o man_n be_v very_o confident_a of_o their_o own_o which_o i_o think_v prove_v that_o every_o man_n believe_v that_o he_o may_v be_v certain_a nay_o do_v actual_o think_v himself_o certain_a though_o he_o know_v that_o other_o man_n differ_v from_o he_o and_o that_o i_o think_v prove_v that_o they_o do_v not_o believe_v that_o no_o man_n can_v be_v certain_a because_o some_o man_n be_v confident_a and_o yet_o mistake_v and_o it_o be_v equal_o strange_a to_o i_o both_o that_o if_o this_o be_v such_o a_o convince_a argument_n as_o be_v pretend_v no_o man_n shall_v believe_v it_o and_o that_o the_o advocate_n of_o infallibility_n shall_v think_v to_o impose_v 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teach_v they_o which_o be_v the_o reason_n st._n paul_n assign_v for_o those_o different_a order_n of_o man_n in_o the_o church_n he_o give_v some_o apostle_n and_o some_o prophet_n and_o some_o evangelist_n and_o some_o pastor_n and_o teacher_n for_o the_o perfect_a of_o the_o saint_n for_o the_o work_n of_o the_o ministry_n for_o the_o edify_n of_o the_o body_n of_o christ_n till_o we_o all_o come_v in_o the_o unity_n of_o the_o faith_n and_o of_o the_o knowledge_n of_o the_o son_n of_o god_n to_o a_o perfect_a man_n unto_o the_o measure_n of_o the_o stature_n of_o the_o fullness_n of_o christ_n ephes._n 4._o 11_o 12_o 13._o here_o be_v no_o judge_n of_o controversy_n mention_v among_o all_o these_o though_o he_o have_v be_v worth_a they_o all_o and_o indeed_o have_v make_v all_o the_o other_o useless_a if_o there_o have_v be_v any_o such_o office_n but_o that_o which_o i_o observe_v be_v that_o the_o work_n of_o a_o apostle_n be_v to_o instruct_v man_n in_o the_o faith_n to_o 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apostle_n even_o st._n peter_n himself_o have_v no_o other_o commission_n but_o to_o teach_v than_o their_o authority_n can_v not_o extend_v far_o than_o their_o teach_v that_o be_v they_o can_v not_o oblige_v man_n to_o believe_v more_o than_o they_o can_v make_v they_o understand_v the_o reason_n of_o well_o but_o if_o christ_n have_v not_o appoint_v a_o judge_n of_o controversy_n what_o certainty_n can_v we_o have_v of_o our_o religion_n and_o what_o care_n have_v christ_n take_v of_o the_o unity_n of_o the_o church_n these_o be_v two_o point_n which_o must_v be_v consider_v and_o if_o we_o can_v give_v a_o fair_a account_n of_o they_o without_o a_o judge_n of_o controversy_n there_o will_v be_v so_o little_a need_n of_o such_o a_o judge_n that_o there_o will_v be_v no_o great_a reason_n to_o contend_v about_o he_o first_o as_o for_o certainty_n why_o can_v we_o be_v certain_a of_o our_o religion_n as_o well_o as_o of_o other_o matter_n without_o a_o infallible_a judge_n do_v any_o 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evidence_n as_o be_v sufficient_a to_o satisfy_v a_o honest_a man_n but_o not_o to_o compel_v a_o obstinate_a infidel_n or_o heretic_n to_o believe_v of_o this_o nature_n be_v that_o evidence_n we_o have_v for_o the_o truth_n of_o christianity_n miracle_n alone_o as_o i_o observe_v before_o do_v not_o prove_v jesus_n to_o be_v the_o messiah_n or_o christ_n for_o then_o all_o man_n who_o see_v his_o miracle_n must_v have_v believe_v he_o as_o they_o do_v moses_n but_o beside_o this_o they_o be_v to_o inquire_v whether_o his_o person_n answer_v the_o character_n the_o prophet_n have_v give_v of_o the_o messiah_n and_o whether_o his_o doctrine_n be_v reconcileable_a with_o their_o law_n and_o here_o the_o passion_n and_o prejudices_fw-la and_o lust_n and_o interest_n of_o man_n may_v interpose_v and_o corrupt_v and_o bias_n their_o judgement_n and_o whether_o they_o will_v believe_v or_o will_v not_o believe_v do_v very_o much_o depend_v upon_o the_o temper_n and_o disposition_n of_o their_o mind_n hence_o our_o saviour_n attribute_n the_o infidelity_n of_o the_o scribe_n and_o pharisee_n to_o their_o pride_n and_o covetousness_n and_o such_o like_a evil_a cause_n and_o require_v a_o honest_a and_o teachable_a mind_n to_o prepare_v and_o dispose_v man_n to_o receive_v the_o gospel_n such_o he_o call_v his_o sheep_n you_o believe_v not_o because_o you_o be_v not_o of_o my_o sheep_n as_o i_o say_v unto_o you_o my_o sheep_n hear_v my_o voice_n and_o i_o know_v they_o and_o they_o follow_v i_o john_n 10._o 26_o 27._o now_o if_o this_o be_v all_o the_o evidence_n he_o have_v afford_v the_o world_n of_o his_o own_o be_v the_o messiah_n which_o be_v the_o very_a foundation_n of_o the_o christian_a religion_n the_o superstructure_n can_v be_v more_o firm_a and_o certain_a than_o the_o foundation_n be_v and_o therefore_o the_o same_o kind_n of_o evidence_n which_o christ_n think_v sufficient_a to_o prove_v himself_o to_o be_v the_o messiah_n must_v be_v sufficient_a also_o for_o all_o the_o end_n of_o religion_n christ_n have_v no_o disciple_n but_o sincere_a honest_a man_n and_o therefore_o have_v give_v we_o such_o a_o degree_n of_o evidence_n and_o certainty_n as_o may_v be_v a_o trial_n of_o our_o honesty_n it_o be_v of_o no_o concernment_n whether_o bad_a man_n be_v infidel_n or_o heretic_n and_o than_o if_o there_o be_v sufficient_a evidence_n and_o certainty_n to_o satisfy_v honest_a man_n it_o be_v enough_o and_o there_o be_v abundant_a evidence_n for_o this_o purpose_n without_o a_o infallible_a judge_n and_o therefore_o there_o can_v be_v no_o need_n of_o he_o and_o beside_o this_o our_o saviour_n have_v promise_v the_o assistance_n of_o his_o spirit_n not_o only_o to_o work_v faith_n in_o all_o well_o dispose_v mind_n but_o to_o enlighten_v their_o understanding_n and_o to_o guide_v they_o in_o the_o diligent_a use_n of_o those_o mean_n he_o have_v prescribe_v to_o find_v out_o truth_n which_o though_o it_o do_v not_o make_v they_o absolute_o 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herself_o have_v make_v in_o contradiction_n to_o the_o primitive_a faith_n of_o christian_n and_o therefore_o i_o can_v but_o commend_v her_o policy_n that_o she_o will_v allow_v no_o body_n to_o be_v judge_n of_o these_o dispute_n but_o herself_o will_v all_o man_n submit_v to_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n it_o will_v certain_o restore_v peace_n and_o unity_n to_o the_o church_n but_o to_o the_o great_a prejudice_n of_o truth_n and_o hazard_v of_o man_n soul_n and_o we_o must_v not_o purchase_v a_o mere_a external_a unity_n at_o this_o rate_n those_o man_n overvalue_v unity_n who_o part_n with_o truth_n for_o it_o for_o certain_o the_o unity_n of_o the_o church_n be_v not_o more_o considerable_a than_o the_o purity_n of_o its_o faith_n and_o worship_n the_o paper_n these_o reason_n make_v i_o think_v a_o visible_a judge_n absolute_o necessary_a answer_n what_o i_o have_v already_o discourse_v i_o hope_v may_v occasion_v some_o new_a and_o different_a thought_n of_o this_o matter_n but_o since_o certainty_n be_v the_o great_a and_o prevail_a argument_n let_v we_o turn_v the_o table_n and_o see_v what_o certainty_n a_o roman_n catholic_n have_v his_o faith_n be_v resolve_v into_o the_o authority_n of_o a_o visible_a and_o infallible_a judge_n this_o i_o confess_v bid_v very_o fair_a for_o he_o that_o follow_v a_o infallible_a guide_n can_v err_v but_o whoever_o consider_v this_o matter_n careful_o will_v find_v all_o this_o talk_n of_o infallibility_n dwindle_v into_o nothing_o for_o first_o suppose_v there_o be_v a_o infallible_a judge_n before_o we_o can_v with_o certainty_n and_o assurance_n rely_v on_o he_o we_o must_v certain_o know_v who_o he_o be_v for_o it_o be_v the_o same_o thing_n to_o have_v no_o infallible_a judge_n and_o not_o to_o know_v where_o to_o find_v he_o and_o this_o be_v a_o difficulty_n which_o those_o person_n little_o consider_v who_o please_v themselves_o so_o much_o with_o the_o fancy_n of_o infallibility_n for_o 1._o papist_n themselves_o be_v not_o agree_v about_o this_o matter_n some_o will_v have_v the_o pope_n to_o be_v infallible_a as_o peter_n successor_n and_o in_o his_o right_n other_o the_o church_n assemble_v in_o a_o general_n council_n other_o neither_o pope_n nor_o council_n distinct_o and_o separately_z consider_v but_o a_o council_n confirm_v by_o the_o pope_n other_o none_o of_o all_o this_o but_o tradition_n be_v infallible_a infallibility_n they_o all_o agree_v to_o but_o know_v not_o where_o this_o infallibility_n be_v seat_v now_o what_o shall_v a_o doubt_a protestant_n do_v who_o have_v a_o mind_n to_o be_v as_o infallible_a as_o any_o of_o they_o do_v he_o know_v where_o to_o find_v this_o infallibility_n may_v he_o not_o as_o easy_o choose_v his_o own_o religion_n and_o what_o church_n he_o will_v live_v in_o communion_n with_o as_o which_o of_o these_o infallible_a judge_n to_o follow_v which_o soever_o of_o these_o he_o reject_v he_o have_v a_o considerable_a party_n of_o the_o 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