wisdom_n of_o the_o greek_n if_o thâ—_n christian_n religion_n have_v be_v a_o meeâ—_n design_n of_o the_o apostle_n to_o makâ—_n themselves_o head_n of_o a_o new_a sect_n what_o have_v this_o be_v but_o to_o hauâ—_n set_v the_o cunning_a of_o twelve_o oâ—_n thirteen_o man_n of_o no_o interest_n or_o reputation_n against_o the_o wisdom_n and_o power_n of_o the_o wholâ—_n world_n if_o they_o have_v any_o wisdom_n they_o will_v never_o have_v undeâ—_n take_v such_o a_o impossible_a desigâ—_n as_o this_o must_v appear_v to_o they_o â—_o first_o view_n and_o if_o they_o haâ—_n none_o how_o can_v they_o ever_o hopâ—_n to_o manage_v it_o if_o their_o aim_n werâ—_n only_o at_o reputation_n they_o may_v have_v think_v of_o thousand_o â—_o way_n more_o probable_a and_o morâ—_n advantageous_a than_o this_o if_o wâ—_n suppose_v man_n shall_v be_v willing_a to_o hazard_v their_o life_n for_o theâ—_n reputation_n we_o may_v suppose_v withal_o such_o man_n to_o have_v so_o much_o cunning_a as_o not_o to_o do_v it_o till_o they_o can_v help_v it_o but_o if_o they_o can_v have_v reputation_n and_o ease_n together_o they_o have_v rather_o have_v it_o i_o will_v therefore_o put_v the_o case_n concern_v the_o only_a person_n that_o have_v the_o advantage_n of_o a_o learned_a education_n among_o the_o apostle_n viz._n st._n paul_n and_o who_o you_o seem_v to_o strike_v at_o more_o than_o the_o rest_n be_v it_o reasonable_a to_o believe_v that_o when_o he_o be_v in_o favour_n with_o the_o sanhedrin_n and_o be_v likely_a to_o advance_v himself_o by_o his_o opposition_n to_o christianity_n and_o have_v a_o fair_a prospect_n of_o ease_n and_o honour_n together_o he_o shall_v quit_v all_o this_o to_o join_v with_o such_o a_o inconsiderable_a and_o hate_a company_n as_o the_o christian_n be_v only_o to_o be_v one_o of_o the_o head_n of_o a_o very_a small_a number_n of_o man_n and_o to_o purchase_v it_o at_o so_o dear_a a_o rate_n as_o thâ—_n loss_n of_o his_o friend_n and_o interest_n and_o run_v on_o continual_a trouble_n and_o persecution_n to_o the_o hazard_n of_o his_o life_n it_o be_v possiblâ—_n for_o man_n that_o be_v deceive_v anâ—_n mean_v honest_o to_o do_v this_o buâ—_n it_o be_v scarce_o supposable_a of_o a_o maâ—_n in_o his_o sense_n that_o shall_v knoâ—_n and_o believe_v all_o this_o to_o be_v a_o cheat_n and_o yet_o own_o and_o embrace_v it_o to_o sâ—_n great_a disadvantage_n to_o himself_o when_o he_o can_v not_o make_v himself_o so_o considerable_a by_o it_o as_o he_o may_v have_v be_v without_o it_o meâ—_n must_v love_v cheat_v the_o world_n at_o strange_a rate_n that_o will_v let_v go_v faiâ—_n hope_n of_o preferment_n and_o ease_n and_o lead_v a_o life_n of_o perpetual_a trouble_n and_o expose_v themselves_o to_o the_o utmost_a hazard_n only_o for_o the_o sake_n of_o delude_v other_o if_o the_o apostle_n know_v all_o they_o say_v to_o be_v false_a and_o make_v it_o so_o necessary_a for_o all_o man_n to_o believe_v what_o they_o say_v to_o be_v true_a they_o be_v some_o of_o the_o great_a deceiver_n which_o the_o world_n have_v ever_o know_v but_o man_n that_o take_v pleasure_n in_o deceive_v make_v use_n of_o many_o artifices_fw-la on_o purpose_n to_o catch_v the_o silly_a multitude_n they_o have_v all_o the_o art_n of_o insinuation_n and_o fawn_v speech_n fit_a to_o draw_v in_o the_o weak_a and_o such_o as_o love_v to_o be_v flatter_v but_o what_o be_v there_o tend_v this_o way_n in_o all_o the_o apostle_n write_n how_o sharp_o do_v they_o speak_v to_o the_o jewish_a sanhedrin_n upon_o the_o murder_n of_o christ_n with_o what_o plainness_n and_o simplicity_n do_v they_o go_v about_o to_o persuade_v man_n to_o be_v christian_n they_o bare_o tell_v the_o matter_n of_o fact_n concern_v the_o resurrection_n of_o christ_n and_o say_v they_o be_v eye-witness_n of_o it_o and_o upon_o the_o credit_n of_o this_o testimony_n of_o they_o they_o preach_v faith_n and_o repentance_n to_o jew_n and_o gentile_n be_v ever_o any_o thing_n far_o from_o the_o appearance_n of_o artifice_n than_o this_o be_v so_o that_o if_o they_o be_v deceiver_n they_o be_v some_o of_o the_o subtle_a that_o ever_o be_v in_o the_o world_n because_o there_o seem_v to_o be_v so_o little_a ground_n for_o any_o suspicion_n of_o fraud_n and_o we_o can_v easy_o imagine_v person_n of_o their_o education_n capable_a of_o so_o profound_a dissimulation_n and_o so_o artificial_a a_o cheat._n beside_o all_o this_o we_o be_v to_o consider_v how_o far_o such_o person_n do_v allow_v the_o liberty_n of_o dissimulation_n and_o artificial_a juggle_n especial_o in_o religion_n we_o see_v the_o papist_n can_v not_o practise_v these_o thing_n without_o be_v force_v to_o defend_v they_o by_o show_v how_o convenient_a it_o be_v for_o the_o people_n to_o be_v tell_v strange_a story_n of_o saint_n on_o purpose_n to_o nourish_v devotion_n in_o they_o to_o which_o end_n they_o say_v it_o signify_v not_o much_o whether_o they_o be_v true_a or_o no_o and_o withal_o they_o assert_v the_o lawfulness_n of_o equivocation_n and_o mental_a reservation_n and_o do_v thing_n not_o otherwise_o justifiable_a for_o the_o honour_n of_o their_o church_n and_o religion_n and_o i_o shall_v free_o confess_v to_o you_o if_o i_o find_v any_o countenance_n to_o such_o thing_n as_o these_o from_o the_o doctrine_n or_o practice_n of_o the_o apostle_n it_o will_v give_v i_o too_o just_a a_o ground_n for_o suspicion_n as_o to_o what_o they_o deliver_v for_o if_o they_o allow_v equivocation_n or_o mental_a reservation_n how_o can_v i_o possible_o know_v what_o they_o mean_v by_o any_o thing_n they_o say_v for_o that_o which_o be_v necessary_a to_o make_v the_o proposition_n true_a lay_v without_o my_o reach_n in_o the_o mind_n of_o another_o and_o while_o they_o so_o firm_o attest_v that_o christ_n be_v rise_v from_o the_o dead_a they_o may_v understand_v it_o of_o a_o spiritual_a or_o mystical_a resurrection_n but_o if_o they_o shall_v be_v find_v to_o allow_v lie_v or_o cheat_v for_o the_o cause_n of_o religion_n their_o credit_n will_v be_v go_v with_o i_o for_o how_o can_v i_o be_v any_o long_a sure_a of_o the_o truth_n of_o one_o word_n they_o say_v i_o shall_v be_v so_o far_o from_o think_v they_o infallible_a that_o i_o can_v not_o but_o suspect_v they_o to_o have_v a_o design_n to_o deceive_v i_o the_o first_o thing_n therefore_o we_o be_v to_o look_v at_o in_o person_n who_o require_v our_o belief_n be_v the_o strict_a veracity_n if_o they_o falter_v in_o this_o they_o expose_v themselves_o to_o the_o suspicion_n of_o all_o but_o credulous_a fool_n but_o we_o no_o where_o find_v great_a plainness_n and_o sincerity_n require_v no_o where_o more_o strict_a and_o severe_a prohibition_n of_o dissimulation_n in_o religion_n nor_o more_o general_a precept_n about_o speak_a truth_n than_o in_o the_o write_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n but_o may_v not_o all_o this_o be_v do_v with_o the_o great_a artifice_n to_o prevent_v suspicion_n suspicion_n be_v a_o thing_n which_o he_o that_o set_v bound_n to_o the_o sea_n can_v set_v no_o bound_n to_o if_o man_n will_v give_v way_n to_o it_o without_o reason_n there_o can_v be_v no_o end_n of_o it_o for_o the_o most_o effectual_a way_n to_o prevent_v it_o will_v still_o afford_v new_a matter_n and_o occasion_n for_o it_o if_o man_n do_v use_v the_o utmost_a mean_n that_o be_v possible_a to_o assure_v other_o of_o their_o sincerity_n and_o they_o will_v not_o believe_v they_o but_o still_o suspect_v the_o design_n to_o be_v so_o much_o deep_o lay_v there_o be_v no_o way_n leave_v possible_a to_o satisfy_v such_o man_n their_o suspicion_n be_v a_o disease_n incurable_a by_o rational_a mean_n and_o such_o person_n deserve_v to_o be_v give_v over_o as_o past_a all_o remedy_n if_o man_n act_n like_o prudent_a man_n they_o will_v judge_v according_a to_o the_o reason_n of_o thing_n but_o if_o they_o entertain_v a_o jealousy_n of_o all_o mankind_n and_o the_o most_o of_o those_o who_o give_v they_o the_o great_a assurance_n they_o have_v no_o intention_n to_o deceive_v they_o it_o be_v to_o no_o purpose_n to_o go_v about_o to_o satisfy_v such_o person_n for_o that_o very_a undertake_n make_v they_o more_o suspicious_a if_o the_o apostle_n therefore_o give_v as_o much_o ground_n as_o ever_o any_o person_n do_v or_o can_v do_v that_o they_o have_v no_o design_n to_o impose_v upon_o the_o world_n but_o proceed_v with_o all_o the_o fairness_n and_o openness_n with_o the_o great_a evidence_n of_o their_o sincerity_n there_o can_v be_v no_o reason_n to_o fasten_v upon_o they_o the_o imputation_n of_o cunning_a man_n who_o make_v it_o their_o business_n to_o deceive_v other_o 2._o this_o will_v more_o appear_v if_o we_o consider_v the_o matter_n deliver_v by_o they_o and_o the_o nature_n of_o their_o doctrine_n
but_o to_o my_o apprehension_n very_o plain_a and_o easy_a if_o we_o attend_v to_o the_o main_a scope_n and_o design_n of_o they_o which_o be_v to_o acquaint_v abraham_n how_o long_o it_o will_v be_v before_o the_o prophecy_n be_v accomplish_v and_o what_o the_o condition_n of_o his_o seed_n shall_v be_v the_o mean_a time_n viz._n that_o they_o shall_v have_v no_o land_n which_o they_o shall_v call_v their_o own_o by_o inheritance_n all_o that_o time_n but_o they_o shall_v be_v expose_v to_o great_a hardship_n yea_o even_o to_o servitude_n but_o that_o nation_n who_o they_o shall_v serve_v shall_v at_o last_o suffer_v for_o their_o ill_a usage_n of_o they_o and_o they_o shall_v come_v out_o of_o that_o captivity_n with_o great_a substance_n and_o all_o this_o to_o be_v do_v in_o the_o four_o generation_n of_o the_o amorites_n when_o their_o iniquity_n shall_v be_v arrive_v at_o the_o full_a height_n all_o which_o particular_n be_v so_o remarkable_o accomplish_v at_o such_o a_o distance_n of_o time_n and_o under_o such_o improbable_a circumstance_n that_o that_o this_o very_a prophecy_n be_v enough_o to_o convince_v a_o unprejudiced_a mind_n that_o it_o come_v from_o divine_a inspiration_n for_o where_o do_v we_o meet_v with_o any_o thing_n like_o this_o in_o the_o history_n of_o other_o nation_n viz._n a_o prophecy_n to_o be_v accomplish_v 400_o year_n after_o and_o the_o very_a manner_n foretell_v which_o no_o humane_a conjecture_n can_v reach_v to_o since_o the_o manner_n of_o deliverance_n of_o the_o people_n of_o israel_n out_o of_o their_o captivity_n in_o egypt_n be_v to_o all_o humane_a appearance_n so_o impossible_a a_o thing_n especial_o at_o such_o a_o time_n when_o the_o spirit_n of_o the_o people_n be_v sink_v and_o break_v by_o so_o long_a a_o slavery_n and_o not_o only_o the_o manner_n foretell_v but_o the_o accomplishment_n happen_v to_o a_o day_n according_a to_o exodus_fw-la 12._o 41._o and_o it_o come_v to_o pass_v at_o the_o end_n of_o the_o 430_o year_n even_o the_o selfsame_o day_n it_o come_v to_o pass_v that_o all_o the_o host_n of_o the_o lord_n go_v out_o from_o the_o land_n of_o egypt_n but_o against_o this_o you_o object_n that_o the_o sojourn_v be_v speak_v of_o the_o child_n of_o israel_n in_o egypt_n for_o 430_o year_n which_o can_v hold_v good_a any_o way_n since_o to_o make_v it_o up_o the_o time_n of_o abraham_n isaac_n and_o jacob_n must_v be_v take_v in_o who_o can_v not_o be_v call_v the_o child_n of_o israel_n answ._n for_o the_o 430_o year_n i_o grant_v that_o according_a to_o st._n paul_n they_o do_v commence_v from_o the_o covenant_n make_v to_o abraham_n gal._n 3._o 17._o and_o that_o the_o 400_o year_n begin_v from_o isaac_n be_v own_v for_o the_o promise_a seed_n between_o which_o time_n the_o 30_o year_n be_v pass_v and_o all_o appearance_n of_o difficulty_n be_v avoid_v if_o we_o admit_v the_o read_n of_o the_o best_a copy_n of_o the_o lxx_o which_o be_v in_o these_o word_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d now_o the_o sojourn_v of_o the_o child_n of_o israel_n who_o dwell_v in_o egypt_n and_o canaan_n they_o and_o their_o father_n be_v 430_o year_n this_o be_v the_o read_n of_o our_o alexandrian_a copy_n and_o the_o complutensian_a and_o that_o of_o aldus_fw-la and_o of_o eusebius_n in_o his_o chronicon_fw-la and_o of_o st._n hierome_n in_o his_o translation_n of_o it_o and_o of_o the_o church_n in_o st._n augustins_n time_n and_o afterward_o and_o lest_o any_o shall_v reject_v this_o as_o a_o late_a interpolation_n or_o gloss_n receive_v into_o the_o text_n beside_o these_o testimony_n of_o the_o antiquity_n of_o it_o we_o find_v the_o very_a same_o in_o the_o samaritan_n copy_n which_o the_o enemy_n of_o it_o do_v allow_v to_o be_v as_o ancient_a as_o our_o saviour_n time_n and_o that_o which_o very_o much_o confirm_v the_o truth_n of_o this_o read_n be_v that_o the_o jew_n themselves_o follow_v the_o sense_n of_o it_o who_o be_v the_o most_o eager_a contender_n for_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o hebrew_n copy_n who_o all_o agree_v that_o the_o begin_n of_o the_o computation_n of_o the_o 430_o year_n be_v to_o be_v take_v before_o the_o child_n of_o israel_n go_v into_o egypt_n and_o menasseh_n ben_n israel_n contend_v with_o many_o other_o that_o the_o 430_o year_n do_v begin_v from_o the_o promise_v make_v to_o abraham_n and_o the_o 400_o from_o the_o time_n of_o isaac_n to_o which_o their_o most_o ancient_a book_n of_o chronology_n do_v agree_v and_o to_o the_o same_o purpose_n speak_v both_o philo_n judaeus_n and_o josephus_n who_o although_o in_o one_o place_n he_o seem_v to_o make_v the_o israelite_n affliction_n in_o egypt_n to_o have_v be_v 400_o year_n yet_o when_o he_o speak_v more_o particular_o of_o it_o he_o make_v the_o time_n of_o their_o abode_n in_o egypt_n to_o have_v be_v only_o 215_o and_o the_o 430_o to_o begin_v from_o abraham_n entrance_n into_o canaan_n the_o targum_fw-la of_o jonathan_n begin_v the_o 430_o from_o the_o vision_n of_o abraham_n and_o the_o 400_o from_o the_o birth_n of_o isaac_n all_o which_o i_o mention_v to_o let_v you_o see_v that_o the_o jew_n themselves_o do_v in_o sense_n concur_v with_o the_o samaritan_n and_o greek_a copy_n and_o therefore_o we_o have_v more_o reason_n to_o suspect_v something_o leave_v out_o in_o the_o present_a hebrew_n than_o any_o thing_n add_v in_o those_o copy_n but_o do_v not_o this_o take_v off_o from_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o scripture_n not_o at_o all_o for_o the_o only_a question_n be_v about_o the_o true_a read_n and_o have_v the_o consent_n of_o the_o samaritan_n alexandrian_n and_o other_o copy_n of_o the_o lxx_o and_o of_o the_o ancient_a church_n and_o of_o the_o jew_n themselves_o as_o to_o the_o sense_n of_o it_o we_o have_v reason_n to_o look_v on_o this_o as_o the_o true_a read_v which_o be_v make_v no_o addition_n to_o the_o scripture_n either_o as_o to_o person_n or_o place_n but_o only_o produce_v the_o more_o authentic_a copy_n much_o less_o be_v this_o add_v or_o change_a as_o we_o please_v for_o if_o we_o do_v this_o without_o so_o much_o authority_n as_o we_o have_v for_o it_o you_o may_v as_o easy_o reject_v it_o as_o we_o produce_v it_o 3._o after_o all_o this_o i_o do_v not_o see_v the_o mighty_a force_n of_o your_o reason_n to_o charge_v the_o scripture_n with_o contradiction_n suppose_v the_o 400_o year_n be_v to_o be_v spend_v in_o the_o servitude_n of_o the_o child_n of_o israel_n in_o egypt_n i_o confess_v when_o i_o find_v the_o scripture_n so_o bold_o so_o frequent_o charge_v with_o no_o less_o than_o contradiction_n i_o expect_v something_o like_o demonstration_n in_o the_o case_n especial_o in_o this_o place_n which_o you_o choose_v to_o put_v in_o the_o front_n of_o all_o but_o i_o do_v not_o find_v any_o thing_n like_o such_o a_o proof_n of_o a_o contradiction_n suppose_v we_o shall_v allow_v the_o 400_o year_n to_o be_v spend_v in_o egypt_n yes_o say_v you_o coath_n be_v 5_o year_n old_a when_o he_o come_v down_o into_o egypt_n and_o when_o he_o have_v live_v there_o 65_o year_n he_o beget_v amram_n and_o amram_n be_v 70_o year_n old_a beget_v moses_n to_o which_o moses_n his_o 80_o year_n be_v add_v we_o have_v only_o 215_o year_n but_o since_o the_o scripture_n do_v not_o assign_v the_o particular_a age_n of_o any_o of_o these_o when_o they_o beget_v their_o child_n i_o see_v no_o impossibility_n or_o repugnancy_n in_o the_o supposition_n that_o 400_o year_n shall_v pass_v from_o levi's_fw-la go_v into_o egypt_n to_o the_o eighti_v of_o moses_n any_o more_o than_o from_o salmon_n entrance_n into_o canaan_n to_o the_o time_n of_o david_n for_o no_o more_o be_v reckon_v in_o scripture_n than_o boaz_n the_o son_n of_o salmon_n by_o raab_n and_o obed_n and_o jesse_n so_o that_o by_o the_o same_o way_n this_o latter_a may_v be_v explain_v the_o former_a may_v be_v so_o too_o if_o it_o be_v say_v that_o either_o they_o beget_v their_o child_n at_o a_o great_a age_n or_o that_o the_o scripture_n in_o genealogy_n do_v not_o set_v down_o all_o the_o intermediate_v parent_n but_o only_o the_o most_o eminent_a as_o caleb_n be_v call_v the_o son_n of_o esron_n 1_o chron._n 2._o 9_o 18._o although_o there_o be_v at_o least_o one_o between_o they_o the_o very_a same_o answer_n will_v serve_v to_o clear_v this_o part_n of_o the_o chronology_n of_o scripture_n from_o any_o appearance_n of_o contradiction_n these_o thing_n you_o may_v have_v find_v more_o large_o deduce_v and_o full_o handle_v by_o those_o learned_a person_n who_o have_v undertake_v to_o clear_v the_o chronology_n of_o scripture_n who_o be_v man_n of_o more_o judgement_n than_o from_o any_o difficulty_n of_o this_o nature_n to_o call_v in_o question_n the_o truth_n and_o
authority_n of_o the_o sacred_a scripture_n and_o although_o the_o opinion_n of_o chronologer_n be_v like_o the_o city_n clock_n which_o seldom_o agree_v yet_o some_o come_v near_o the_o time_n of_o the_o day_n than_o other_o do_v and_o therefore_o you_o ought_v to_o examine_v and_o compare_v they_o before_o you_o pronounce_v so_o peremptory_o about_o contradiction_n in_o scripture_n which_o you_o have_v no_o reason_n to_o do_v till_o you_o find_v that_o no_o one_o hypothesis_n among_o they_o will_v serve_v to_o free_v the_o scripture_n from_o contradiction_n for_o otherwise_o you_o do_v but_o blame_v the_o sun_n because_o you_o can_v make_v the_o clock_n agree_v this_o be_v all_o i_o can_v find_v in_o your_o paper_n under_o the_o head_n of_o contradiction_n and_o i_o leave_v you_o now_o sober_o to_o consider_v whether_o this_o place_n do_v afford_v you_o sufficient_a ground_n for_o so_o heavy_a a_o charge_n but_o if_o you_o say_v you_o have_v a_o great_a many_o more_o by_o you_o but_o 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do_v in_o china_n make_v man_n have_v a_o better_a opinion_n of_o the_o religion_n they_o bring_v for_o their_o skill_n in_o mathematics_n and_o astronomy_n but_o as_o much_o as_o it_o be_v possible_a to_o let_v the_o world_n see_v it_o be_v no_o contrivance_n of_o humane_a wisdom_n they_o shun_v all_o the_o way_n of_o show_v it_o in_o the_o manner_n of_o its_o propagation_n nay_o when_o the_o people_n will_v have_v give_v the_o apostle_n divine_a worship_n never_o be_v vain_a man_n more_o concern_v to_o have_v it_o than_o they_o to_o oppose_v it_o and_o do_v these_o thing_n look_v like_o the_o action_n of_o man_n that_o design_v only_o to_o make_v themselves_o great_a by_o be_v the_o head_n of_o a_o new_a sect_n of_o religion_n 3._o man_n that_o make_v it_o their_o design_n to_o deceive_v the_o world_n if_o they_o have_v think_v it_o necessary_a to_o bring_v in_o any_o matter_n of_o story_n concern_v the_o author_n of_o their_o religion_n will_v have_v place_v it_o at_o such_o a_o 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