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be_v probable_a that_o the_o common_a sort_n among_o they_o look_v no_o further_a than_o the_o letter_n of_o the_o law_n expect_v no_o other_o reward_n of_o their_o obedience_n than_o the_o enjoyment_n of_o a_o land_n flow_v with_o milk_n and_o honey_n it_o be_v the_o great_a prerogative_n of_o the_o gospel_n that_o it_o bring_v life_n and_o immortality_n to_o light_n that_o be_v make_v a_o more_o full_a and_o clear_a discovery_n of_o it_o 2._o we_o have_v a_o more_o plentiful_a effusion_n of_o the_o spirit_n and_o divine_a assistance_n now_o under_o the_o gospel_n than_o ever_o be_v know_v under_o the_o law_n this_o be_v the_o time_n of_o which_o it_o be_v prophefy_v that_o god_n will_v power_n out_o his_o spirit_n upon_o all_o flesh_n and_o that_o all_o from_o the_o high_a to_o the_o low_a shall_v be_v 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d teach_v of_o god_n but_o this_o be_v not_o so_o to_o be_v understand_v as_o some_o of_o our_o late_a enthusiast_n do_v interpret_v it_o as_o if_o we_o shall_v now_o expect_v any_o new_a revelation_n either_o above_o or_o beside_o the_o will_n of_o god_n make_v know_v to_o we_o in_o scripture_n but_o this_o prophecy_n be_v then_o fignal_o fulfil_v when_o god_n pour_v out_o his_o spirit_n upon_o the_o apostle_n on_o the_o day_n of_o pentecost_n thereby_o furnish_v they_o with_o gift_n and_o grace_n for_o the_o plant_n of_o his_o church_n and_o promulge_v the_o gospel_n and_o it_o be_v also_o this_o day_n fulfil_v in_o the_o heart_n of_o all_o good_a christian_n as_o god_n by_o his_o prevent_n and_o assist_v grace_n do_v accompany_v particular_a person_n and_o assist_v they_o to_o work_v out_o their_o own_o salvation_n with_o fear_n and_o tremble_v and_o thus_o much_o for_o the_o first_o particular_a to_o show_v in_o general_a that_o the_o jew_n have_v no_o just_a reason_n to_o be_v offend_v at_o christ_n and_o his_o doctrine_n and_o that_o it_o be_v rather_o malice_n and_o envy_n against_o his_o religion_n that_o it_o have_v so_o much_o of_o truth_n and_o reason_n on_o its_o side_n rather_o than_o contempt_n for_o the_o want_n of_o either_o that_o move_v they_o to_o a_o dislike_n of_o it_o 2._o i_o shall_v show_v the_o particular_a ground_n and_o reason_n upon_o which_o the_o jew_n be_v offen_v at_o the_o gospel_n which_o more_o especial_o be_v these_o two_o 1._o they_o think_v the_o christian_a religion_n not_o sufficient_o confirm_v with_o sign_n and_o wonder_n 2._o they_o be_v offend_v at_o the_o meanness_n of_o christ_n life_n and_o the_o dishonour_n of_o his_o death_n 1._o they_o be_v affend_v at_o the_o christian_a religion_n as_o suppose_v it_o not_o sufficient_o confirm_v by_o miracle_n verse_n 22._o the_o jew_n require_v a_o sign_n but_o in_o answer_n to_o this_o it_o will_v be_v sufficient_a only_o to_o remind_v you_o that_o christ_n do_v confirm_v his_o doctrine_n and_o the_o truth_n of_o his_o mission_n with_o sufficient_a sign_n and_o miracle_n beyond_o the_o possibility_n of_o any_o reasonable_a exception_n if_o we_o consider_v either_o the_o number_n or_o quality_n or_o manner_n of_o performance_n or_o the_o end_n and_o design_n of_o they_o which_o be_v always_o either_o for_o the_o necessary_a confirmation_n of_o his_o doctrine_n or_o in_o compassion_n to_o the_o soul_n and_o body_n of_o man_n never_o to_o gratify_v curiosity_n in_o other_o or_o vain_a glory_n or_o ostentation_n in_o himself_o so_o that_o the_o manner_n of_o their_o performance_n sometime_o only_o by_o a_o word_n together_o with_o the_o end_n and_o design_n of_o they_o the_o promote_a the_o great_a design_n of_o truth_n and_o charity_n those_o seem_v still_o to_o add_v more_o divinity_n to_o his_o miracle_n and_o far_o our_o saviour_n at_o his_o have_v the_o world_n do_v invest_v his_o apostle_n with_o the_o same_o power_n of_o work_v miracle_n so_o far_o and_o so_o
long_o as_o be_v necessary_a for_o the_o plant_n of_o his_o church_n which_o thing_n also_o be_v a_o argument_n of_o the_o truth_n and_o certainty_n of_o our_o saviour_n be_v a_o true_a prophet_n for_o that_o impostor_n common_o be_v neither_o able_a nor_o willing_a to_o convey_v and_o communicate_v that_o art_n to_o other_o which_o they_o pretend_v to_o themselves_o this_o be_v premise_v the_o unreasonableness_n of_o the_o jew_n require_v still_o further_a sign_n will_v appear_v upon_o these_o follow_a account_n 1._o the_o too_o great_a frequency_n of_o miracle_n though_o it_o will_v not_o destroy_v the_o nature_n of_o they_o yet_o will_v it_o make_v they_o less_o solemn_a and_o venerable_a less_o cogent_n and_o argumentative_a and_o more_o liable_a to_o the_o cavil_n and_o contempt_n of_o ill_n dispose_v man_n for_o by_o how_o much_o any_o thing_n be_v more_o frequent_a and_o usual_a the_o near_a it_o come_v to_o common_a and_o natural_a at_o least_o in_o the_o apprehension_n of_o some_o man_n and_o familiarity_n even_o of_o miracle_n as_o well_o as_o of_o other_o thing_n will_v in_o time_n breed_v contempt_n this_o will_v give_v too_o just_a a_o occasion_n to_o that_o which_o yet_o the_o more_o improve_v atheism_n of_o our_o age_n assert_v notwithstanding_o that_o there_o be_v no_o such_o thing_n as_o miracle_n in_o the_o world_n but_o that_o all_o thing_n of_o this_o kind_a be_v to_o be_v resolve_v into_o the_o fix_a course_n of_o nature_n in_o short_a if_o man_n shall_v once_o come_v to_o this_o to_o desire_v one_o miracle_n for_o the_o confirmation_n of_o another_o thus_o they_o may_v run_v on_o in_o infinitum_fw-la and_o end_n in_o scepticism_n 2._o the_o jew_n require_v sign_n in_o that_o manner_n as_o they_o do_v be_v not_o only_o saucy_a and_o impudent_a but_o also_o will_v have_v be_v if_o grant_v a_o lessen_v of_o that_o evidence_n which_o otherwise_o our_o saviour_n give_v by_o deny_v they_o nothing_o will_v satisfy_v they_o but_o sign_n suit_v to_o their_o own_o humour_n and_o fancy_n they_o must_v have_v 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d sign_n from_o heaven_n those_o they_o have_v too_o though_o those_o be_v more_o liable_a to_o exception_n than_o these_o near_a and_o more_o palpable_a sign_n which_o he_o more_o common_o show_v they_o the_o chief_a priest_n and_o scribe_n tell_v our_o saviour_n when_o he_o hang_v upon_o the_o cross_n that_o if_o he_o will_v come_v down_o that_o be_v save_v himself_o from_o death_n they_o will_v believe_v now_o what_o a_o unreasonable_a request_n be_v this_o they_o will_v dissuade_v our_o saviour_n from_o do_v that_o upon_o which_o they_o and_o all_o mankind_n salvation_n do_v depend_v but_o what_o if_o upon_o grant_v their_o request_n they_o will_v not_o yet_o have_v be_v as_o good_a as_o their_o word_n they_o can_v not_o give_v our_o saviour_n any_o good_a security_n for_o performance_n yet_o further_o they_o do_v hereby_o indeed_o and_o in_o truth_n contradict_v their_o own_o pretence_n for_o if_o he_o have_v so_o come_v down_o from_o the_o cross_n as_o to_o save_v himself_o from_o death_n they_o can_v not_o upon_o just_a ground_n have_v believe_v he_o to_o be_v the_o true_a messiah_n in_o short_a if_o he_o have_v thus_o gratify_v they_o in_o their_o request_n he_o can_v not_o have_v give_v they_o that_o which_o be_v indeed_o a_o great_a sign_n than_o that_o which_o they_o demand_v that_o be_v the_o raise_n himself_o from_o the_o dead_a thus_o can_v he_o not_o have_v be_v true_a to_o his_o own_o word_n whereby_o he_o promise_v to_o give_v they_o the_o sign_n of_o the_o prophet_n ionas_n mat._n 12._o 38._o 3._o suppose_v what_o yet_o we_o can_v reasonable_o suppose_v that_o the_o jew_n who_o live_v at_o the_o write_n of_o this_o epistle_n have_v not_o be_v eye-witness_n of_o several_a miracle_n do_v by_o the_o apostle_n in_o their_o day_n yet_o they_o have_v a_o constant_a universal_a and_o undoubted_a tradition_n of_o these_o thing_n deliver_v down_o to_o they_o from_o the_o former_a age_n and_o they_o who_o will_v not_o believe_v such_o a_o tradition_n as_o this_o that_o be_v when_o they_o have_v all_o the_o evidence_n that_o a_o thing_n of_o that_o nature_n be_v capable_a of_o neither_o will_v they_o believe_v but_o either_o find_v or_o make_v some_o occasion_n of_o cavil_v at_o that_o which_o they_o see_v do_v before_o their_o eye_n our_o saviour_n prefer_v the_o faith_n of_o those_o who_o believe_v and_o yet_o have_v not_o see_v before_o those_o who_o have_v and_o it_o be_v not_o to_o be_v suppose_v that_o he_o will_v commend_v a_o groundless_a faith_n or_o vain_a credulity_n if_o we_o shall_v believe_v nothing_o now_o but_o what_o we_o see_v this_o will_v destroy_v the_o end_n and_o use_v of_o all_o history_n and_o needless_o take_v up_o the_o great_a part_n of_o the_o time_n of_o one_o age_n to_o act_v over_o again_o the_o thing_n of_o another_o thus_o much_o in_o answer_n to_o the_o first_o offence_n that_o the_o jew_n take_v at_o the_o gospel_n that_o they_o think_v it_o not_o sufficient_o confirm_v by_o miracle_n but_o still_o require_v a_o sign_n 2._o the_o jew_n be_v offend_v at_o the_o meanness_n of_o christ_n life_n and_o the_o dishonour_n of_o his_o death_n in_o answer_n to_o this_o in_o general_a christ_n appearance_n in_o the_o world_n together_o with_o all_o the_o circumstance_n of_o it_o according_a to_o a_o true_a estimate_n of_o thing_n be_v as_o far_o above_o any_o thing_n that_o be_v mean_a and_o vulgar_a as_o it_o be_v below_o that_o fantastic_a pomp_n and_o splendour_n which_o the_o jew_n unreasonable_o expect_v here_o i_o may_v instance_n in_o thatgloriousquire_n of_o angel_n which_o first_o usher_v he_o into_o the_o world_n and_o that_o extraordinary_a star_n that_o direct_v the_o wise_a man_n to_o the_o place_n of_o his_o residence_n both_o which_o speak_v he_o to_o be_v no_o common_a or_o ordinary_a person_n those_o several_a attestation_n of_o the_o divine_a love_n and_o approbation_n from_o heaven_n and_o the_o force_a acknowledgement_n that_o thedevil_n themselves_o make_v of_o he_o his_o transfiguration_n in_o the_o mount_n and_o tion_n into_o heaven_n all_o these_o speak_v he_o to_o be_v more_o than_o man_n by_o all_o which_o and_o several_a other_o instance_n of_o his_o power_n this_o sun_n of_o righteousness_n though_o cloud_v in_o the_o veil_n of_o flesh_n by_o such_o vigorous_a eradiation_n give_v undeniable_a testimony_n to_o the_o world_n of_o his_o divinity_n but_o more_o particular_o the_o way_n and_o method_n of_o christ_n appearance_n in_o the_o world_n be_v the_o most_o proper_a and_o effectual_a mean_n to_o prove_v himself_o to_o be_v what_o indeed_o he_o be_v the_o power_n of_o god_n and_o this_o will_v appear_v upon_o these_o follow_a account_n 1._o the_o way_n wherein_o christ_n appear_v in_o the_o world_n be_v the_o most_o proper_a mean_n for_o the_o accomplishment_n of_o those_o end_n for_o which_o he_o come_v into_o it_o which_o be_v 1._o to_o offer_v himself_o a_o sacrifice_n for_o sin_n and_o so_o to_o reconcile_v man_n to_o his_o offend_a father_n 2._o to_o leave_v we_o the_o most_o powerful_a example_n of_o a_o holy_a life_n now_o in_o order_n to_o the_o first_o he_o become_v man_n that_o so_o he_o may_v put_v himself_o into_o a_o capacity_n of_o die_v for_o we_o and_o in_o order_n to_o the_o second_o he_o choose_v this_o mean_a condition_n thereby_o to_o make_v his_o virtue_n and_o grace_n appear_v more_o eminent_o divine_a thus_o by_o his_o example_n encourage_v and_o recommend_v those_o more_o weighty_a and_o difficult_a duty_n of_o christianity_n humility_n patience_n and_o self-denial_n christ_n very_o well_o know_v that_o the_o whole_a malice_n of_o man_n and_o devil_n will_v be_v vigorous_o employ_v to_o traduce_v his_o action_n and_o scandalize_v his_o religion_n he_o therefore_o choose_v this_o valley_n of_o a_o mean_a fortune_n wherein_o he_o may_v if_o possible_a not_o only_o be_v safe_a from_o but_o from_o whence_o also_o he_o may_v more_o easy_o repel_v they_o it_o he_o have_v appear_v in_o the_o pomp_n and_o glory_n of_o a_o earthly_a kingdom_n and_o so_o prevail_v upon_o the_o easy_a world_n than_o have_v he_o want_v that_o argument_n of_o divinity_n which_o now_o his_o religion_n have_v that_o be_v a_o prevail_a over_o all_o opposition_n without_o the_o help_n of_o any_o outward_a assistance_n beside_o it_o will_v have_v be_v count_v policy_n rather_o than_o devotion_n that_o join_v man_n prosylites_n to_o a_o flourish_a religion_n but_o now_o thestricktness_v of_o our_o saviour_n precept_n the_o severity_n of_o his_o discipline_n the_o great_a contrariety_n his_o doctrine_n bear_v to_o the_o corrupt_a custom_n and_o vicious_a inclination_n of_o the_o world_n all_o these_o show_n that_o it_o be_v nothing_o less_o than_o a_o divine_a power_n accompany_v it_o that_o make_v it_o successful_a