consider_v the_o three_o or_o four_o first_o verse_n of_o the_o 13_o the_o chapter_n of_o deuteronomy_n where_o god_n by_o moses_n say_v thus_o to_o the_o child_n of_o israel_n if_o there_o arise_v among_o you_o a_o prophet_n or_o a_o dreamer_n of_o dream_n and_o give_v thou_o a_o sign_n or_o a_o wonder_n and_o the_o sign_n or_o the_o wonder_n come_v to_o pass_v whereof_o he_o speak_v unto_o thou_o say_v let_v we_o go_v after_o other_o god_n and_o let_v we_o serve_v they_o thou_o shall_v not_o hearken_v unto_o the_o word_n of_o that_o prophet_n or_o that_o dreamer_n of_o dream_n for_o the_o lord_n your_o god_n prove_v you_o to_o know_v whether_o you_o love_v the_o lord_n your_o god_n with_o all_o your_o heart_n and_o with_o all_o your_o soul_n etc._n etc._n theoph._n that_o place_n be_v to_o very_o good_a purpose_n quote_v by_o you_o and_o these_o two_o thing_n be_v plain_o to_o be_v gather_v from_o it_o first_o that_o we_o be_v to_o consider_v the_o doctrine_n itself_o before_o we_o believe_v it_o to_o be_v of_o god_n as_o well_o as_o the_o mean_n of_o its_o confirmation_n second_o that_o god_n for_o certain_a reason_n may_v suffer_v wonder_n to_o be_v wrought_v that_o be_v such_o thing_n as_o no_o man_n can_v give_v account_n how_o they_o shall_v be_v effect_v by_o natural_a mean_n for_o the_o confirmation_n of_o a_o false_a doctrine_n and_o you_o have_v from_o thence_o rational_o conclude_v what_o i_o now_o say_v viz._n that_o the_o goodness_n of_o the_o doctrine_n be_v necessary_a to_o go_v along_o with_o the_o consideration_n of_o the_o miracle_n whereby_o it_o be_v confirm_v to_o make_v they_o such_o a_o argument_n as_o we_o may_v reasonable_o desire_v to_o induce_v we_o to_o entertain_v it_o as_o come_v from_o god_n and_o to_o receive_v he_o as_o god_n son_n that_o bring_v it_o by_o the_o goodness_n of_o the_o doctrine_n i_o mean_v at_o least_o its_o negative_a goodness_n and_o say_v that_o we_o ought_v to_o see_v that_o there_o be_v nothing_o in_o it_o that_o be_v plain_o unworthy_a of_o god_n to_o revele_v or_o that_o contain_v a_o manifest_a contradiction_n to_o any_o of_o his_o attribute_n but_o when_o positive_a goodness_n be_v also_o therein_o observable_a that_o be_v a_o high_a congruity_n and_o agreeableness_n with_o the_o divine_a perfection_n such_o doctrine_n make_v miracle_n a_o more_o abundant_o strong_a argument_n that_o the_o preacher_n of_o they_o be_v no_o impostor_n but_o that_o he_o come_v from_o heaven_n upon_o god_n message_n philal._n but_o there_o be_v learned_a man_n that_o distinguish_v betwixt_o miracle_n and_o wonder_n assert_v that_o the_o former_a be_v sufficient_a motive_n of_o credibility_n though_o not_o the_o latter_a theoph._n though_o these_o two_o ought_v to_o be_v distinguish_v yet_o i_o conceive_v that_o distinction_n will_v signify_v very_o little_a when_o apply_v to_o this_o matter_n for_o i_o can_v question_v but_o that_o it_o may_v lie_v within_o the_o compass_n of_o evil_a spirit_n power_n 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doctrine_n and_o be_v hear_v to_o cry_v up_o only_o the_o testimony_n of_o the_o spirit_n as_o a_o argument_n of_o the_o truth_n of_o christianity_n scripture_n and_o of_o the_o divine_a authority_n of_o those_o book_n that_o contain_v it_o theoph._n there_o be_v so_o philalethes_n but_o why_o do_v they_o distinguish_v between_o miracle_n and_o the_o testimony_n of_o the_o spirit_n they_o be_v one_o and_o the_o same_o without_o all_o doubt_n for_o be_v they_o not_o perform_v by_o the_o power_n of_o the_o holy_a ghost_n and_o therefore_o they_o be_v his_o testimony_n or_o attestation_n to_o the_o truth_n of_o the_o gospel_n philal._n but_o they_o mean_v a_o internal_a testimony_n or_o a_o secret_a powerful_a persuasion_n wrought_v immediate_o in_o the_o soul_n of_o man_n by_o the_o holy_a ghost_n theoph._n but_o those_o that_o say_v that_o credit_n can_v be_v give_v to_o the_o truth_n of_o the_o gospel_n without_o this_o make_v the_o devil_n great_a unbeliever_n than_o we_o be_v from_o scripture_n assure_v they_o be_v and_o moreover_o they_o seem_v to_o i_o to_o assert_v that_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n may_v have_v spare_v their_o mighty_a work_n for_o who_o will_v deny_v that_o the_o spirit_n immediate_a testimony_n be_v alone_o abundant_o sufficient_a for_o that_o purpose_n but_o beside_o those_o that_o talk_v thus_o do_v apparent_o run_v in_o as_o gross_a a_o circle_n as_o that_o we_o accuse_v the_o papist_n of_o for_o as_o they_o prove_v the_o scripture_n by_o their_o church_n and_o their_o church_n by_o the_o scripture_n so_o these_o prove_v the_o scripture_n by_o this_o testimony_n of_o the_o holy_a ghost_n but_o then_o can_v prove_v so_o much_o as_o that_o there_o be_v any_o such_o person_n but_o by_o the_o scripture_n and_o once_o more_o if_o there_o be_v any_o truth_n in_o this_o opinion_n there_o be_v nothing_o to_o be_v do_v for_o the_o conviction_n of_o infidel_n for_o this_o internal_a testimony_n can_v be_v a_o argument_n to_o none_o but_o those_o that_o have_v it_o philal._n this_o i_o once_o urge_v to_o a_o certain_a divine_a who_o stiff_o maintain_v that_o conceit_n and_o be_v angry_a with_o those_o that_o go_v about_o to_o prove_v the_o authority_n of_o the_o scripture_n the_o other_o way_n and_o he_o ready_o reply_v that_o he_o know_v no_o mean_n to_o be_v use_v for_o the_o conviction_n of_o unbeliever_n but_o pray_v for_o they_o theoph._n i_o commend_v that_o gentleman_n ingenuity_n in_o that_o concession_n but_o nothing_o can_v be_v say_v more_o dishonourable_a to_o our_o excellent_a religion_n or_o that_o tend_v more_o to_o expose_v it_o to_o the_o scorn_n and_o contempt_n of_o those_o that_o bear_v no_o goodwill_n to_o it_o philal._n but_o theophilus_n do_v you_o think_v then_o that_o there_o be_v no_o such_o thing_n as_o this_o inward_a testimony_n theoph._n all_o i_o think_v as_o to_o this_o matter_n spirit_n i_o will_v brief_o tell_v you_o i_o say_v that_o the_o external_a and_o rational_a motive_n of_o credibility_n 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immediate_a manner_n but_o by_o blessing_n the_o use_n of_o mean_n i._n e._n the_o consideration_n of_o the_o motive_n he_o have_v give_v we_o to_o believe_v and_o that_o he_o confirm_v our_o faith_n by_o give_v we_o to_o see_v such_o strongly-convincing_a demonstration_n in_o those_o argument_n and_o by_o so_o close_o apply_v the_o evidence_n of_o they_o to_o our_o understanding_n as_o that_o they_o come_v to_o be_v even_o perfect_o overpower_a and_o against_o all_o opposition_n to_o have_v full_a assent_n and_o such_o as_o have_v a_o powerful_a influence_n upon_o our_o practice_n as_o it_o be_v even_o force_v from_o they_o but_o if_o all_o the_o external_a motive_n will_v not_o make_v one_o sufficient_a argument_n to_o persuade_v to_o assent_v how_o can_v they_o render_v the_o unbelieving_a jew_n inexcusable_a as_o our_o saviour_n several_a time_n assure_v they_o they_o will_v
jot_n as_o high_a a_o favour_n esteem_v and_o as_o great_a a_o expression_n of_o the_o divine_a grace_n to_o be_v deal_v with_o as_o if_o we_o be_v perfect_o righteous_a as_o to_o be_v so_o judge_v and_o esteem_v philal._n i_o shall_v think_v he_o as_o blind_a as_o a_o beetle_n that_o do_v not_o see_v it_o be_v but_o though_o i_o say_v the_o antinomian_a notion_n of_o impute_a righteousness_n be_v of_o dangerous_a consequence_n yet_o now_o i_o remember_v i_o the_o defender_n thereof_o have_v a_o way_n to_o evade_v it_o for_o they_o say_v that_o though_o a_o real_a inward_a righteousness_n be_v no_o qualification_n require_v to_o this_o imputation_n of_o christ_n righteousness_n and_o so_o to_o our_o justification_n yet_o it_o will_v follow_v of_o itself_o by_o way_n of_o gratitude_n and_o therefore_o will_v be_v find_v in_o man_n before_o their_o salvation_n theoph._n i_o will_v answer_v you_o to_o this_o in_o the_o word_n of_o a_o excellent_a doctor_n inn_n this_o be_v like_a to_o prove_v but_o a_o slippery_a hold_n when_o it_o be_v believe_v that_o gratitude_n itself_o as_o well_o as_o all_o other_o grace_n be_v in_o they_o already_o by_o imputation_n what_o reply_v they_o can_v make_v hereunto_o i_o be_o not_o able_a to_o imagine_v philal._n i_o be_o not_o like_a to_o help_v you_o to_o say_v the_o truth_n it_o be_v a_o most_o sottish_a and_o mischievous_a doctrine_n and_o must_v needs_o do_v a_o world_n of_o hurt_n among_o people_n that_o be_v glad_a of_o any_o pretence_n for_o their_o carnality_n and_o disobedience_n theoph._n i_o know_v too_o many_o that_o make_v use_v of_o it_o to_o patronize_v their_o ungodly_a practice_n and_o no_o question_n it_o be_v the_o grand_a support_n of_o most_o if_o not_o of_o all_o hypocrite_n a_o very_a worthy_a person_n preach_v some_o time_n since_o upon_o the_o word_n of_o zacheus_n the_o necessity_n of_o restitution_n where_o there_o be_v ability_n in_o case_n of_o fraud_n one_o of_o his_o auditor_n be_v hear_v to_o say_v as_o he_o be_v go_v out_o of_o the_o church_n if_o the_o doctrine_n now_o teach_v we_o be_v true_a how_o be_v we_o behold_v to_o jesus_n christ_n and_o multitude_n i_o fear_v of_o our_o mere_o imputatively-righteous_a man_n think_v what_o that_o gentleman_n have_v the_o face_n to_o speak_v philal._n you_o may_v well_o fear_v it_o righteousness_n for_o there_o be_v no_o consequence_n more_o natural_a from_o any_o doctrine_n than_o be_v this_o from_o those_o man_n viz._n that_o real_a righteousness_n or_o inherent_a holiness_n be_v a_o needless_a thing_n in_o order_n to_o eternal_a happiness_n theoph._n the_o light_n at_o noonday_n be_v not_o clear_a than_o be_v that_o inference_n for_o if_o a_o person_n may_v have_v in_o his_o unregenerate_a or_o sinful_a state_n christ_n righteousness_n make_v he_o and_o so_o be_v esteem_v by_o god_n as_o perfect_o righteous_a what_o shall_v hinder_v but_o that_o in_o the_o same_o state_n he_o may_v be_v admit_v to_o enjoy_v the_o reward_n of_o a_o righteous_a man_n if_o a_o ungodly_a man_n may_v be_v justify_v and_o declare_v righteous_a why_o may_v he_o not_o also_o be_v save_v and_o make_v happy_a philal._n but_o they_o will_v tell_v you_o that_o it_o be_v express_o assert_v by_o s._n paul_n that_o god_n justify_v the_o ungodly_a theoph._n i_o can_v conceive_v why_o it_o may_v not_o be_v admit_v 5._o that_o the_o word_n that_o signify_v to_o justify_v be_v in_o divers_a place_n to_o be_v understand_v for_o make_v real_o just_a or_o sanctify_v for_o because_o it_o be_v sometime_o to_o be_v take_v in_o a_o forensick_a sense_n it_o do_v not_o therefore_o follow_v that_o it_o must_v always_o be_v so_o but_o i_o will_v willing_o grant_v that_o it_o be_v to_o be_v so_o understand_v here_o if_o that_o by_o the_o ungodly_a may_v be_v mean_v those_o that_o be_v once_o so_o that_o be_v before_z not_o at_o the_o same_o time_n when_o they_o be_v justify_v for_o to_o say_v that_o god_n can_v pronounce_v a_o person_n just_a &_o righteous_a that_o be_v unjust_a and_o unrighteous_a be_v the_o great_a contradiction_n imaginable_a to_o his_o own_o justice_n his_o own_o righteousness_n this_o make_v he_o to_o pronounce_v a_o perfect_o false_a sentence_n and_o to_o do_v that_o which_o prov._n 17._o 5._o he_o himself_o have_v declare_v a_o abomination_n nor_o can_v we_o entertain_v a_o more_o unworthy_a thought_n of_o the_o holy_a god_n than_o to_o conceive_v that_o he_o have_v no_o great_a antipathy_n against_o sin_n than_o to_o make_v he_o that_o allow_v and_o live_v in_o it_o a_o object_n of_o his_o complacential_a love_n philal._n but_o theophilus_n to_o say_v the_o truth_n i_o have_v observe_v that_o those_o man_n make_v such_o a_o thing_n of_o sin_n as_o that_o it_o may_v become_v god_n well_o enough_o to_o reconcile_v himself_o thereunto_o as_o well_o as_o to_o he_o that_o live_v in_o it_o sin_n for_o they_o make_v it_o a_o mere_a indifferent_a thing_n in_o itself_o and_o to_o depend_v only_o upon_o arbitrary_a law_n the_o evil_a of_o which_o be_v found_v upon_o the_o alone_a will_n of_o god_n as_o you_o give_v i_o a_o intimation_n at_o our_o entrance_n on_o this_o discourse_n which_o account_n of_o sin_n do_v plain_o as_o you_o say_v undermine_v all_o religion_n and_o therefore_o the_o antinomian_a opinion_n of_o impute_a righteousness_n as_o absurd_a and_o of_o as_o wretched_a consequence_n as_o it_o be_v may_v if_o that_o be_v so_o very_o well_o be_v true_a theoph._n it_o may_v with_o as_o great_a show_n of_o reason_n be_v question_v whether_o god_n be_v essential_o good_a as_o whether_o sin_n be_v intrinsical_o evil_a and_o i_o admire_v what_o those_o man_n have_v do_v to_o themselves_o to_o enable_v they_o once_o to_o doubt_v the_o late_a more_o than_o the_o former_a philal._n i_o hope_v they_o will_v call_v it_o blasphemy_n to_o deny_v god_n essential_a goodness_n yet_o in_o acknowledge_v no_o virtue_n or_o vice_n independent_a upon_o all_o will_n they_o dwindle_v it_o away_o to_o a_o perfect_a nothing_o theoph._n i_o have_v not_o a_o more_o undoubted_a assurance_n of_o my_o own_o be_v than_o of_o the_o truth_n of_o what_o you_o say_v well_o philalethes_n those_o who_o stomach_n can_v digest_v such_o filthy_a stuff_n and_o such_o as_o i_o can_v show_v you_o even_o heathen_n do_v nauseate_a need_v not_o stick_v at_o swallow_v the_o fancy_n of_o impute_a righteousness_n in_o that_o gross_a sense_n as_o absurd_a and_o dangerous_a as_o it_o be_v but_o we_o that_o know_v how_o contrary_a sin_n be_v to_o the_o nature_n as_o well_o as_o the_o will_n of_o god_n can_v question_v that_o no_o man_n that_o be_v in_o love_n with_o it_o can_v by_o virtue_n of_o another_o righteousness_n be_v esteem_v or_o deal_v with_o by_o god_n as_o righteous_a philal._n when_o i_o can_v once_o see_v a_o disease_a or_o lame_a man_n make_v well_o and_o sound_a by_o another_o impute_a health_n and_o soundness_n i_o may_v imagine_v a_o wicked_a man_n make_v righteous_a by_o the_o imputation_n of_o another_o righteousness_n but_o before_o i_o can_v as_o well_o know_v that_o wickedness_n be_v as_o real_o a_o moral_a as_o sickness_n or_o lameness_n be_v a_o natural_a evil_n theoph._n if_o you_o do_v fancy_v it_o till_o then_o to_o be_v sure_a you_o never_o will_n philal._n they_o be_v both_o alike_a contradiction_n but_o i_o pray_v theophilus_n now_o i_o think_v on_o it_o how_o can_v those_o that_o hug_v and_o be_v so_o fond_a of_o this_o ill-favoured_a notion_n have_v any_o opinion_n of_o christ_n expiatory_a sacrifice_n for_o the_o forgiveness_n of_o sin_n for_o how_o can_v there_o be_v any_o sin_n to_o be_v pardon_v where_o a_o perfect_a and_o most_o complete_a righteousness_n be_v impute_v theoph._n that_o question_n be_v put_v by_o the_o last_o mention_v doctor_n but_o i_o believe_v he_o will_v wait_v long_o enough_o for_o a_o satisfactory_a answer_n to_o it_o philal._n be_v it_o possible_a think_v you_o that_o there_o shall_v be_v any_o good_a man_n of_o this_o persuasion_n theoph._n as_o apt_a as_o i_o be_o to_o censure_v and_o condemn_v some_o doctrine_n antinomian_o i_o will_v be_v as_o backward_o to_o pass_v sentence_n on_o the_o person_n of_o those_o that_o hold_v they_o and_o i_o must_v tell_v you_o i_o very_o hope_v that_o there_o be_v pious_a man_n of_o that_o opinion_n we_o be_v now_o perstr_v but_o know_v too_o that_o those_o of_o they_o that_o be_v so_o be_v so_o weak_a as_o not_o to_o understand_v the_o true_a consequence_n of_o their_o doctrine_n and_o so_o honest_a as_o at_o first_o hear_v to_o abhor_v they_o and_o be_v lead_v to_o like_v well_o of_o it_o not_o out_o of_o a_o design_n to_o gratify_v any_o base_a lust_n but_o because_o it_o seem_v to_o they_o to_o have_v a_o show_n of_o humility_n and_o self-denial_n and_o to_o advance_v god_n grace_n philal._n
to_o affect_v to_o be_v man_n of_o great_a power_n and_o knowledge_n but_o to_o be_v most_o holy_a and_o righteous_a love_a and_o merciful_a in_o a_o word_n the_o new_a testament_n i_o be_o sure_a give_v the_o most_o amiable_a account_n imaginable_a of_o the_o divine_a nature_n and_o so_o do_v the_o old_a too_o even_o when_o god_n appear_v in_o the_o most_o frightful_a form_n do_v he_o proclaim_v himself_o the_o lord_n the_o lord_n god_n gracious_a and_o merciful_a pardon_v iniquity_n transgression_n and_o sin_n and_o though_o it_o follow_v that_o he_o will_v in_o no_o wise_a clear_a the_o guilty_a i._n e._n the_o impenitent_a yet_o that_o be_v so_o far_o from_o be_v a_o contradiction_n to_o his_o goodness_n that_o it_o be_v a_o far_a declaration_n of_o it_o for_o otherwise_o he_o will_v not_o have_v that_o part_n thereof_o that_o be_v call_v righteousness_n he_o be_v there_o represent_v as_o a_o god_n good_a to_o all_o and_o who_o mercy_n be_v over_o all_o his_o work_n as_o a_o god_n 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