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joh._n xvi_o 2._o all_o this_o they_o know_v and_o expect_v they_o go_v forth_o to_o preach_v a_o doctrine_n which_o by_o the_o wiseman_n of_o the_o world_n will_v be_v account_v foolishness_n 1_o cor._n i._n 23._o and_o look_v on_o themselves_o as_o man_n set_v forth_o of_o god_n as_o it_o be_v appoint_v to_o death_n and_o make_v a_o spectacle_n to_o the_o world_n 1_o cor._n iu_o 9_o they_o hunger_v and_o thirst_v be_v naked_a and_o have_v no_o certain_a dwelling-place_n be_v revile_v they_o bless_v be_v persecute_v they_o suffer_v it_o be_v defame_v they_o entreat_v they_o be_v make_v the_o filth_n of_o the_o world_n and_o the_o offscouring_a of_o all_o thing_n 1_o cor._n iu_o 11._o 2_o cor._n iu._n 8._o they_o constant_o and_o stout_o endure_v all_o that_o befall_v they_o rejoice_v
in_o the_o world_n than_o now_o it_o do_v and_o therefore_o there_o never_o be_v more_o need_n of_o a_o reformation_n of_o man_n life_n and_o manner_n than_o now_o there_o be_v but_o in_o vain_a be_v all_o endeavour_n to_o that_o purpose_n so_o long_o as_o man_n do_v not_o believe_v that_o there_o be_v a_o god_n over_o they_o to_o who_o they_o owe_v a_o duty_n and_o be_v accountable_a for_o their_o whole_a behaviour_n till_o man_n be_v convince_v of_o this_o though_o they_o may_v possible_o by_o force_n be_v keep_v from_o do_v some_o sort_n of_o evil_a they_o can_v never_o be_v reform_v or_o persuade_v to_o be_v good_a but_o if_o they_o may_v once_o be_v thorough_o convince_v of_o this_o it_o may_v also_o be_v hope_v that_o they_o may_v be_v persuade_v to_o account_v it_o both_o their_o duty_n and_o their_o interest_n to_o live_v a_o godly_a life_n and_o as_o st._n paul_n speak_v col._n i._n 10._o to_o walk_v worthy_a of_o god_n unto_o all_o please_a be_v fruitful_a in_o every_o good_a work_n but_o suppose_v such_o discourse_n needful_a you_o will_n some_o say_v what_o need_n be_v there_o of_o this_o sce_v there_o be_v already_o so_o many_o both_o large_a and_o learnede_a on_o the_o same_o subject_n in_o answer_n to_o this_o i_o have_v no_o more_o to_o say_v but_o these_o thing_n first_o i_o do_v very_o ready_o and_o with_o all_o due_a thankfulness_n both_o to_o god_n and_o the_o learned_a author_n acknowledge_v that_o there_o be_v many_o both_o large_a and_o learnede_a discourse_n on_o this_o subject_n than_o this_o be_v but_o second_o even_o for_o this_o very_a reason_n that_o they_o be_v so_o large_a and_o learned_a they_o be_v the_o less_o serviceable_a to_o that_o sort_n of_o people_n for_o who_o use_n this_o be_v principal_o design_v as_o man_n of_o strong_a reason_n and_o good_a learning_n can_v make_v good_a use_n of_o long_a and_o learned_a discourse_n and_o receive_v much_o benefit_n by_o they_o so_o man_n of_o weak_a understanding_n and_o of_o little_a 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soever_o it_o may_v be_v to_o make_v such_o a_o fool_n understand_v or_o acknowledge_v his_o own_o name_n we_o be_v very_o sure_o he_o deserve_v it_o because_o the_o spirit_n of_o truth_n as_o the_o holy_a ghost_n be_v call_v joh._n 16._o 13._o have_v give_v it_o he_o the_o man_n of_o a_o wicked_a life_n if_o he_o have_v any_o thought_n at_o all_o of_o god_n must_v think_v either_o that_o there_o be_v a_o god_n or_o that_o there_o be_v none_o if_o he_o think_v that_o there_o be_v a_o god_n he_o must_v needs_o be_v a_o fool_n for_o live_v wicked_o and_o wilful_o provoke_v god_n wrath_n and_o indignation_n against_o himself_o which_o he_o know_v himself_o unable_a either_o to_o withstand_v or_o endure_v if_o he_o think_v that_o thire_n be_v no_o god_n the_o holy_a ghost_n by_o the_o mouth_n of_o david_n have_v tell_v we_o twice_o over_o for_o our_o better_a assurance_n that_o he_o be_v a_o fool_n for_o that_o the_o fool_n say_v he_o have_v say_v in_o his_o heart_n there_o be_v no_o god_n psal._n 14._o 1._o 53._o 1_o and_o indeed_o the_o truth_n of_o what_o he_o have_v tell_v we_o be_v as_o clear_v to_o every_o one_o who_o have_v reason_n and_o will_v use_v it_o to_o any_o good_a purpose_n as_o the_o light_n itself_o can_v be_v to_o he_o who_o have_v and_o will_v make_v use_n of_o his_o sight_n to_o make_v this_o plain_a to_o the_o mean_a capacity_n be_v my_o present_a business_n and_o to_o this_o end_n in_o the_o first_o place_n i_o desire_v that_o these_o three_o thing_n may_v be_v consider_v in_o the_o word_n of_o the_o holy_a ghost_n which_o i_o say_v contain_v so_o clear_a a_o truth_n 1._o what_o be_v say_v there_o be_v no_o god._n 2._o how_o it_o be_v say_v in_o his_o heart_n 3._o who_o have_v say_v it_o the_o fool_n have_v say_v 1._o that_o which_o be_v say_v be_v this_o there_o be_v no_o god._n do_v he_o who_o say_v this_o understand_v what_o he_o say_v if_o he_o do_v not_o he_o be_v a_o fool_n for_o say_v he_o know_v not_o what_o do_v he_o know_v what_o the_o 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become_v invisible_a but_o so_o soon_o as_o man_n arrive_v at_o the_o use_n of_o reason_n and_o make_v use_n of_o it_o as_o they_o ought_v they_o can_v but_o see_v it_o then_o whosoever_o say_v that_o there_o be_v no_o god_n must_v needs_o be_v a_o fool._n for_o he_o must_v needs_o be_v a_o fool_n who_o persuade_v or_o endeavour_n to_o persuade_v himself_o a_o thing_n be_v not_o which_o it_o be_v natural_a to_o he_o to_o discern_v and_o which_o he_o can_v no_o soon_o open_v and_o use_v as_o he_o ought_v the_o eye_n of_o his_o soul_n to_o look_v after_o but_o he_o must_v needs_o see_v it_o if_o then_o it_o be_v natural_a to_o man_n by_o the_o use_n of_o reason_n to_o discern_v the_o be_v of_o a_o god_n and_o if_o this_o be_v the_o reason_n why_o man_n general_o notwithstanding_o all_o their_o other_o disagreement_n be_v agree_v in_o this_o belief_n then_o be_v it_o both_o reasonable_a and_o natural_a for_o man_n to_o believe_v it_o and_o if_o any_o one_o believe_v it_o not_o it_o be_v 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without_o a_o god_n than_o they_o dâ—_n in_o believe_v that_o there_o be_v a_o god._n he_o have_v sometime_o one_o thing_n to_o say_v and_o sometime_o another_o as_o his_o invention_n serve_v he_o sometime_o the_o world_n may_v have_v be_v eternal_o without_o any_o beginning_n and_o sometime_o there_o may_v have_v be_v eternal_a matter_n which_o form_v itself_o he_o know_v not_o how_o into_o that_o variety_n of_o thing_n which_o we_o now_o see_v sometime_o there_o may_v have_v be_v eternal_o a_o infinite_a multitude_n of_o small_a atom_n or_o mote_n dance_v to_o and_o fro_o till_o at_o last_o they_o hit_v and_o jumble_v by_o chance_n into_o so_o many_o body_n as_o the_o world_n now_o contain_v and_o with_o such_o like_a imagination_n as_o these_o he_o labour_v to_o confound_v man_n thought_n and_o to_o divert_v they_o from_o listen_v to_o that_o rational_a and_o satisfactory_a account_n which_o the_o holy_a scripture_n have_v give_v we_o of_o the_o original_a of_o all_o thing_n but_o 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we_o think_v it_o hard_o to_o believe_v there_o shall_v be_v one_o if_o they_o have_v a_o beginning_n than_o as_o have_v be_v say_v they_o have_v it_o of_o themselves_o or_o from_o some_o other_o they_o have_v it_o not_o of_o themselves_o for_o before_o they_o begin_v to_o be_v they_o be_v not_o and_o what_o be_v not_o can_v do_v nothing_o they_o must_v have_v it_o therefore_o from_o some_o other_o and_o that_o other_o must_v be_v before_o they_o and_o must_v be_v eternal_a without_o beginning_n the_o sum_n of_o all_o that_o have_v be_v say_v be_v this_o the_o atheist_n be_v confident_a that_o there_o be_v no_o god_n be_v confident_a in_o a_o matter_n whereof_o he_o can_v have_v no_o reason_n to_o be_v confident_a and_o whereof_o he_o can_v pretend_v to_o have_v the_o least_o measure_n of_o assurance_n he_o be_v confident_a without_o any_o reason_n or_o degree_n of_o assurance_n where_o his_o confidence_n be_v the_o most_o dangerous_a thing_n that_o can_v be_v to_o himself_o and_o 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in_o religion_n he_o that_o come_v to_o god_n must_v believe_v that_o he_o be_v and_o that_o he_o be_v a_o rewarder_n of_o they_o that_o diligent_o seek_v he_o heb._n xi_o 6._o therefore_o in_o the_o first_o place_n let_v no_o one_o think_v himself_o excusable_a if_o he_o be_v not_o thorough_o convince_v that_o there_o be_v a_o god._n for_o no_o man_n live_v that_o have_v the_o right_a use_n of_o reason_n can_v be_v ignorant_a of_o this_o and_o be_v hold_v guiltless_a god_n have_v so_o many_o way_n manifest_v himself_o unto_o we_o that_o the_o blind_a heathen_a can_v say_v that_o he_o have_v not_o have_v mean_n enough_o of_o know_v that_o he_o be_v and_o if_o a_o heathen_a can_v have_v no_o excuse_n for_o his_o be_v ignorant_a of_o this_o who_o have_v but_o at_o most_o one_o half_a of_o the_o mean_n of_o knowledge_n which_o every_o the_o most_o unlearned_a christian_a have_v how_o shall_v any_o ignorant_a christian_a be_v excuse_v though_o it_o be_v therefore_o too_o common_a a_o thing_n to_o hear_v both_o man_n and_o woman_n among_o we_o who_o both_o be_v of_o considerable_a age_n and_o also_o understanding_n and_o wise_a enough_o for_o the_o business_n of_o their_o worldly_a calling_n excuse_v their_o ignorance_n of_o god_n by_o their_o want_n of_o learning_n yet_o in_o truth_n they_o can_v have_v no_o excuse_n at_o all_o for_o this_o ignorance_n it_o be_v their_o negligence_n and_o sloth_n and_o unwillingness_n to_o learn_v that_o keep_v they_o ignorant_a and_o for_o these_o there_o can_v be_v no_o excuse_n can_v any_o one_o live_v in_o a_o christian_a church_n and_o not_o have_v hear_v enough_o if_o he_o will_v have_v mind_v it_o though_o he_o can_v read_v to_o convince_v he_o that_o there_o be_v a_o god_n who_o he_o be_v bind_v to_o serve_v nay_o can_v any_o one_o live_v in_o the_o world_n and_o not_o see_v enough_o every_o where_o to_o teach_v he_o this_o first_o and_o fundamental_a truth_n he_o that_o can_v read_v god_n word_n may_v yet_o if_o he_o live_v in_o a_o christian_a church_n hear_v it_o and_o god_n himself_o speak_v to_o he_o in_o it_o and_o he_o that_o live_v abroad_o in_o the_o world_n though_o he_o can_v see_v god_n himself_o yet_o he_o may_v every_o where_o see_v his_o work_n and_o in_o they_o all_o the_o be_v the_o power_n the_o wisdom_n and_o the_o goodness_n of_o god._n nay_o if_o he_o can_v but_o eat_v and_o drink_v he_o may_v know_v there_o be_v a_o god_n that_o feed_v he_o for_o he_o know_v very_o well_o that_o it_o be_v not_o in_o his_o own_o power_n nor_o of_o any_o other_o creature_n to_o provide_v his_o food_n for_o he_o or_o to_o enable_v he_o to_o receive_v good_a by_o his_o food_n yet_o more_o no_o man_n how_o unlearned_a so_o ever_o he_o be_v can_v think_v serious_o of_o himself_o and_o consider_v what_o he_o be_v or_o how_o he_o live_v but_o he_o may_v easy_o discover_v a_o god_n that_o make_v he_o to_o be_v what_o he_o be_v and_o preserve_v he_o in_o be_v and_o life_n how_o inexcusable_a then_o must_v every_o one_o be_v for_o not_o learn_v that_o which_o every_o thing_n teach_v he_o and_o which_o he_o can_v but_o learn_v when_o he_o do_v but_o consider_v that_o he_o himself_o be_v something_o in_o the_o next_o place_n let_v none_o of_o we_o think_v it_o a_o needless_a thing_n very_o often_o and_o serious_o to_o consider_v that_o there_o be_v a_o god._n if_o we_o do_v not_o much_o consider_v it_o it_o will_v be_v but_o a_o vain_a thing_n for_o we_o to_o know_v it_o we_o shall_v so_o lose_v the_o benefit_n of_o god_n manifest_v himself_o so_o full_o and_o so_o various_o to_o we_o consideration_n must_v make_v our_o knowledge_n useful_a to_o we_o if_o there_o be_v a_o god_n it_o be_v certain_a that_o we_o depend_v whole_o upon_o he_o and_o must_v needs_o owe_v a_o duty_n to_o he_o yet_o though_o we_o may_v know_v there_o be_v a_o god_n if_o we_o keep_v it_o not_o in_o mind_n and_o think_v but_o little_a of_o it_o our_o knowledge_n can_v have_v little_a influence_n on_o our_o life_n and_o behaviour_n but_o we_o shall_v demean_v ourselves_o as_o careless_o and_o be_v every_o whit_n as_o secure_v and_o unconcern_v how_o we_o live_v as_o though_o we_o have_v never_o hear_v or_o think_v of_o any_o such_o thing_n as_o a_o god._n yea_o not_o to_o consider_v and_o have_v this_o much_o in_o our_o thought_n seem_v to_o be_v more_o inexcusable_a in_o we_o than_o not_o to_o know_v it_o at_o all_o as_o he_o who_o know_v his_o lord_n will_n and_o do_v it_o not_o deserve_v to_o be_v beat_v with_o more_o stripe_n than_o he_o that_o do_v not_o his_o will_n mere_o because_o he_o know_v it_o not_o luke_n xii_o 47._o so_o he_o that_o consider_v not_o much_o that_o there_o be_v a_o god_n when_o he_o know_v it_o seem_v more_o blame-worthy_a than_o he_o who_o do_v not_o know_v it_o and_o therefore_o can_v consider_v it_o both_o be_v faulty_a and_o can_v have_v nothing_o at_o all_o to_o plead_v for_o themselves_o but_o he_o that_o know_v and_o consider_v not_o seem_v to_o be_v more_o faulty_a and_o a_o great_a deal_n more_o may_v be_v plead_v against_o he_o the_o one_o be_v ignorant_a of_o god_n when_o he_o may_v know_v he_o the_o other_o set_v light_a by_o god_n when_o he_o know_v he_o the_o one_o not_o know_v god_n know_v not_o how_o much_o he_o deserve_v his_o thought_n the_o other_o though_o he_o know_v he_o yet_o carry_v himself_o so_o towards_o he_o as_o if_o he_o think_v he_o not_o worthy_a to_o be_v think_v upon_o he_o like_v not_o to_o retain_v god_n in_o his_o knowledge_n as_o it_o be_v say_v of_o some_o rom._n i._n 28._o as_o then_o if_o there_o be_v a_o god_n it_o be_v altogether_o necessary_a that_o we_o shall_v know_v and_o believe_v it_o that_o so_o we_o understand_v how_o much_o it_o concern_v we_o not_o to_o live_v as_o we_o list_v have_v one_o over_o we_o to_o who_o we_o must_v be_v accountable_a even_o for_o every_o idle_a word_n mat._n xii_o 36._o so_o when_o we_o know_v this_o it_o be_v altogether_o as_o necessary_a we_o shall_v much_o consider_v and_o think_v of_o it_o that_o we_o may_v walk_v worthy_a of_o god_n unto_o all_o please_a col._n i._n 10._o and_o not_o wilful_o or_o giddy_o run_v upon_o our_o own_o destruction_n by_o disregard_v he_o it_o will_v be_v a_o very_a terrible_a thing_n to_o the_o ignorant_a person_n at_o the_o last_o day_n to_o meet_v with_o a_o god_n of_o who_o he_o never_o know_v and_o then_o to_o reflect_v thus_o upon_o himself_o have_v i_o be_v any_o thing_n but_o a_o fool_n i_o may_v have_v know_v this_o god_n to_o my_o eternal_a comfort_n who_o now_o i_o find_v to_o my_o