to_o say_v that_o the_o great_a part_n of_o the_o world_n have_v be_v all_o along_o so_o many_o stark_a fool_n a_o character_n which_o we_o think_v more_o peculiar_o belong_v to_o those_o who_o say_v in_o their_o heart_n there_o be_v no_o god_n consider_v what_o a_o difficult_a and_o hazardous_a office_n the_o first_o preacher_n of_o christianity_n have_v to_o discharge_v how_o think_v you_o be_v it_o possible_a for_o they_o to_o undertake_v it_o with_o such_o readiness_n to_o perform_v it_o with_o such_o vigour_n and_o to_o go_v through_o it_o with_o such_o constancy_n and_o cheerfulness_n notwithstanding_o so_o much_o opposition_n have_v they_o not_o be_v abundant_o convince_v of_o the_o truth_n of_o their_o religion_n by_o miracle_n which_o they_o see_v with_o their_o own_o eye_n and_o consider_v what_o vast_a importance_n the_o christian_a religion_n be_v declare_v to_o be_v of_o and_o how_o direct_o opposite_a it_o be_v to_o the_o natural_a inclination_n of_o corrupt_a mankind_n 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what_o the_o magician_n do_v in_o egypt_n beâ—ore_o his_o own_o face_n jesus_n christ_n tell_v his_o disciple_n that_o many_o false_a teacher_n will_v come_v in_o a_o little_a time_n with_o sign_n and_o wonder_n to_o deceive_v if_o it_o have_v be_v possible_a the_o very_a elect._n to_o verify_v that_o prediction_n divers_a ecclesiastical_a writer_n tell_v we_o of_o the_o wonder_v do_v by_o simon_n magus_n and_o his_o follower_n soon_o after_o the_o lord_n '_o be_v ascension_n into_o heaven_n other_o tell_v we_o of_o the_o blind_a and_o the_o lame_a be_v cure_v by_o the_o heathen_a emperor_n vespasian_n and_o of_o a_o whetstone_n be_v divide_v into_o two_o by_o a_o razor_n at_o the_o command_n of_o accius_n navius_n and_o of_o several_a prodigious_a thing_n do_v by_o apollmius_n tyanaeus_n who_o the_o pagan_n match_v with_o jesus_n christ_n for_o do_v miracle_n and_o every_o body_n know_v what_o account_n of_o miracle_n have_v be_v give_v by_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n in_o deâ—ence_n of_o that_o part_n of_o their_o religion_n wherein_o they_o have_v most_o scandalous_o depart_v from_o true_a primitive_a christianity_n consider_v therefore_o what_o a_o heap_n of_o story_n there_o be_v whereof_o some_o be_v relate_v by_o sacred_a writer_n and_o some_o other_o by_o man_n of_o probity_n and_o temper_v though_o abundance_n of_o fiction_n have_v be_v vend_v among_o they_o it_o must_v be_v allow_v that_o many_o wonderful_a work_n have_v be_v do_v by_o idolater_n but_o then_o second_o this_o can_v be_v no_o plea_n for_o the_o truth_n of_o idolatry_n because_o how_o wonderful_a soever_o those_o work_n have_v seem_v they_o be_v not_o in_o themselves_o divine_a miracle_n we_o must_v distinguish_v between_o miracle_n in_o appearance_n and_o miracle_n in_o reality_n by_o miracle_n in_o appearance_n which_o shall_v rather_o be_v call_v wonder_n and_o sign_n i_o understand_v not_o mere_a imposture_n or_o delusion_n of_o man_n outward_n sense_n but_o such_o real_a effect_n as_o 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commandment_n and_o obey_v his_o voice_n and_o you_o shall_v serve_v he_o and_o cleave_v unto_o he_o and_o that_o prophet_n or_o dreamer_n of_o dream_n shall_v be_v put_v to_o death_n we_o can_v conceive_v that_o when_o god_n have_v any_o where_o establish_v his_o true_a worship_n he_o will_v lift_v up_o his_o own_o hand_n to_o draw_v people_n away_o from_o it_o to_o idolatry_n and_o therefore_o when_o sign_n or_o wonder_n be_v show_v to_o that_o end_n we_o may_v be_v sure_a they_o be_v not_o divine_a miracle_n or_o effect_n that_o be_v altogether_o supernatural_a and_o yet_o it_o be_v manifest_a that_o such_o thing_n may_v be_v do_v as_o be_v counterfeiting_n of_o god_n hand_n and_o seem_v to_o carry_v the_o signature_n of_o his_o power_n for_o otherwise_o there_o will_v have_v be_v no_o reason_n for_o that_o charge_n give_v to_o the_o jew_n that_o
truth_n of_o god_n existence_n because_o than_o it_o will_v prove_v too_o the_o truth_n of_o idolatry_n forasmuch_o as_o all_o nation_n be_v once_o idolater_n and_o consent_v in_o the_o worship_n of_o a_o great_a many_o deity_n to_o this_o two_o thing_n may_v be_v easy_o return_v first_o that_o there_o be_v no_o such_o universal_a consent_n as_o to_o that_o no_o not_o among_o the_o pagan_n themselves_o for_o though_o they_o worship_v a_o plurality_n of_o object_n and_o the_o vulgar_a people_n pay_v their_o devotion_n to_o they_o as_o to_o so_o many_o real_a and_o distinct_a deity_n yet_o as_o i_o show_v before_o they_o own_a one_o supreme_a god_n and_o look_v upon_o the_o rest_n as_o inferior_a being_n deity_n that_o have_v be_v generate_v or_o make_v by_o the_o great_a cause_n of_o all_o thing_n and_o they_o they_o adore_v for_o his_o sake_n and_o upon_o his_o account_n as_o deputy_n and_o administrator_n under_o he_o and_z as_o mediator_n for_o man_n to_o he_o so_o that_o they_o 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all_o their_o deity_n because_o they_o be_v not_o general_o agree_v as_o to_o that_o as_o they_o be_v in_o this_o common_a principle_n that_o there_o be_v one_o god_n over_o all_o thing_n 2._o second_o how_o gross_a soever_o the_o conceit_n of_o the_o heathen_n be_v the_o whole_a account_n of_o the_o matter_n show_v that_o they_o be_v incline_v and_o willing_a to_o worship_v the_o true_a god_n if_o they_o can_v but_o have_v certain_o know_v where_n or_o how_o to_o have_v find_v he_o in_o place_n of_o the_o thick_a darkness_n and_o in_o time_n of_o the_o great_a ignorance_n there_o be_v in_o all_o man_n a_o propensity_n to_o some_o religion_n or_o other_o so_o that_o rather_o than_o people_n will_v have_v no_o god_n at_o all_o they_o will_v adore_v many_o which_o still_o serve_v to_o confirm_v the_o point_n in_o hand_n that_o the_o belief_n of_o a_o deity_n be_v radicate_v in_o humane_a nature_n how_o hard_o soever_o some_o few_o odd_a man_n have_v labour_v and_o strain_v to_o tear_v it_o out_o see_v a_o belief_n so_o universal_a can_v be_v found_v on_o mere_a tradition_n or_o fear_v or_o policy_n or_o any_o advise_a agreement_n and_o institution_n among_o mankind_n if_o we_o will_v inquire_v sober_o into_o the_o reason_n of_o it_o no_o other_o rational_a account_n can_v be_v give_v but_o that_o the_o faculty_n of_o our_o nature_n be_v so_o frame_v by_o the_o excellent_a wisdom_n and_o power_n of_o god_n that_o upon_o the_o due_a exercise_n of_o our_o understanding_n and_o reason_n a_o idea_n of_o god_n arise_v in_o every_o one_o mind_n which_o be_v therefore_o right_o call_v a_o natural_a idea_n because_o it_o may_v be_v form_v by_o the_o use_n of_o our_o natural_a faculty_n without_o the_o assistance_n of_o special_a revelation_n and_o because_o our_o nature_n be_v so_o order_v by_o the_o father_n of_o spirit_n divine_v right_o say_v that_o the_o idea_n of_o god_n be_v imprint_v on_o all_o man_n mind_n by_o the_o finger_n of_o god_n and_o be_v a_o mark_n of_o himself_o and_o of_o his_o own_o set_n to_o let_v we_o know_v that_o we_o be_v all_o his_o and_o to_o draw_v from_o we_o all_o possible_a return_n of_o praise_n and_o reverence_n of_o admiration_n and_o love_n of_o imitation_n and_o obedience_n and_o universal_a submission_n to_o his_o divine_a will_n and_o pleasure_n chap._n iu._n have_v full_o consider_v this_o argument_n of_o god_n existence_n take_v from_o the_o universal_a consent_n of_o mankind_n and_o the_o common_a principle_n which_o be_v in_o humane_a nature_n i_o proceed_v now_o to_o that_o which_o be_v propose_v as_o the_o three_o head_n viz._n the_o consideration_n of_o some_o extraordinary_a occurrence_n in_o the_o world_n which_o further_o argue_v the_o be_v of_o a_o god_n and_o here_o many_o thing_n may_v be_v take_v notice_n of_o be_v i_o mind_v to_o let_v this_o discourse_n swell_v into_o a_o great_a bulk_n as_o the_o strange_a discovery_n which_o have_v be_v make_v of_o many_o the_o most_o secret_a villainy_n the_o 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insist_v only_o upon_o two_o thing_n which_o the_o most_o judicious_a man_n be_v common_o wont_a to_o urge_v and_o which_o indeed_o be_v past_o all_o contradiction_n if_o matter_n of_o fact_n can_v be_v make_v appear_v and_o they_o be_v 1._o first_o such_o miraculous_a work_n as_o can_v never_o have_v be_v do_v but_o by_o a_o almighty_a power_n and_o 2._o second_o such_o prediction_n and_o prophecy_n as_o can_v never_o have_v be_v deliver_v without_o the_o foreknowledge_n of_o a_o omniscient_a be_v 1._o first_o for_o those_o miraculous_a work_n which_o can_v never_o have_v be_v do_v without_o a_o almighty_a power_n by_o miracle_n i_o mean_v such_o as_o be_v true_a miracle_n or_o such_o effect_n as_o no_o second_a subordinate_a cause_n can_v possible_o work_v of_o itself_o no_o finite_a natural_a agent_n can_v do_v by_o any_o causality_n or_o virtue_n of_o its_o own_o and_o of_o such_o miracle_n there_o seem_v to_o be_v these_o three_o sort_n which_o most_o of_o all_o relate_v to_o the_o matter_n in_o hand_n 1._o first_o such_o as_o have_v be_v do_v without_o any_o concurrence_n or_o instrumentality_n of_o second_o cause_n nay_o such_o as_o can_v never_o have_v be_v do_v by_o any_o limit_a power_n as_o the_o give_a sight_n to_o those_o who_o be_v bear_v without_o eye_n the_o make_v the_o sun_n to_o go_v back_o or_o to_o stand_v still_o the_o raise_v of_o the_o dead_a to_o life_n again_o and_o the_o multiply_a a_o few_o loaf_n and_o fish_n to_o satisfy_v five_o thousand_o people_n 2._o such_o effect_n as_o perhaps_o may_v have_v be_v do_v in_o time_n by_o the_o help_n of_o natural_a mean_n but_o yet_o never_o be_v nor_o can_v be_v wrought_v on_o a_o sudden_a by_o their_o use_n and_o application_n as_o the_o heal_n of_o the_o leprosy_n in_o a_o moment_n the_o instantaneous_a remove_n
people_n from_o who_o alone_o those_o advantage_n be_v to_o be_v expect_v if_o any_o advantage_n at_o all_o have_v be_v seek_v for_o nay_o when_o he_o let_v those_o advantage_n go_v which_o he_o have_v already_o in_o his_o hand_n whereas_o man_n in_o power_n endeavour_v to_o keep_v their_o authority_n up_o and_o to_o transmit_v it_o to_o their_o posterity_n moses_n be_v content_a to_o let_v all_o that_o power_n die_v with_o he_o wherewith_o he_o be_v vest_v when_o he_o govern_v the_o whole_a jewish_a nation_n he_o appoint_v joshua_n to_o succeed_v he_o in_o his_o civil_a authority_n the_o great_a dignity_n and_o advantage_n of_o the_o priesthood_n he_o dispose_v of_o to_o his_o brother_n aaron_n and_o his_o son_n as_o for_o his_o own_o child_n he_o leave_v they_o in_o subjection_n to_o the_o priest_n to_o officiate_v under_o they_o in_o the_o ordinary_a and_o mean_a ministration_n of_o the_o tabernacle_n not_o allot_v they_o one_o foot_n of_o land_n among_o all_o their_o kindred_n all_o which_o show_v that_o from_o the_o begin_n to_o the_o end_n moses_n design_v nothing_o but_o the_o honour_n of_o god_n and_o the_o common_a good_a of_o his_o people_n and_o that_o no_o honour_n or_o interest_n of_o his_o own_o can_v possible_o sway_v or_o tempt_v he_o to_o violate_v his_o integrity_n and_o what_o can_v the_o four_o evangelist_n propose_v to_o themselves_o that_o shall_v move_v they_o to_o deceive_v the_o world_n and_o make_v their_o relation_n incredible_a or_o suspect_v honour_n they_o can_v not_o aim_v at_o unless_o man_n think_v it_o a_o honour_n to_o be_v dishonest_a nor_o can_v interest_n tempt_v they_o to_o impose_v fiction_n on_o man_n belief_n when_o they_o be_v sure_a beforehand_o to_o receive_v nothing_o in_o this_o world_n but_o hardship_n persecution_n and_o death_n for_o their_o reward_n very_o poor_a encouragement_n for_o man_n to_o invent_v and_o spread_v abroad_o idle_a story_n or_o if_o it_o be_v say_v that_o it_o be_v for_o the_o credit_n and_o propagation_n of_o their_o religion_n they_o must_v be_v think_v the_o odd_a man_n in_o nature_n that_o will_v coin_v fiction_n for_o the_o sake_n of_o a_o religion_n they_o believe_v to_o be_v false_a and_o yet_o they_o can_v not_o have_v believe_v otherwise_o of_o it_o if_o they_o have_v not_o know_v it_o to_o have_v be_v confirm_v by_o miracle_n for_o they_o be_v the_o only_a thing_n that_o can_v give_v evidence_n of_o its_o truth_n beyond_o all_o contradiction_n 3._o this_o i_o have_v say_v to_o show_v that_o however_o some_o irreligious_a man_n have_v the_o confidence_n to_o despise_v the_o scripture-account_n of_o divine_a miracle_n to_o common_a human_a reason_n it_o appear_v sufficient_o credible_a from_o the_o certain_a knowledge_n and_o manifest_a probity_n of_o the_o writer_n and_o consequent_o that_o we_o have_v as_o fair_a evidence_n of_o the_o reality_n of_o miracle_n in_o that_o respect_n as_o can_v be_v have_v of_o any_o other_o matter_n of_o fact_n that_o have_v be_v do_v in_o former_a age_n to_o which_o let_v we_o add_v in_o the_o next_o place_n this_o three_o ground_n of_o credibility_n viz._n that_o other_o who_o have_v reason_n to_o know_v and_o be_v able_a to_o know_v the_o truth_n of_o the_o matter_n be_v sufficient_o satisfy_v of_o the_o certainty_n of_o it_o here_o again_o we_o must_v return_v to_o moses_n and_o first_o it_o be_v observable_a that_o the_o account_n he_o give_v of_o miracle_n do_v by_o he_o have_v continual_o pass_v through_o a_o long_a succession_n of_o age_n uncontradict_v which_o be_v a_o argument_n that_o the_o inquisitive_a and_o know_v man_n in_o most_o nation_n be_v well_o satisfy_v of_o the_o reality_n of_o the_o matter_n for_o as_o the_o mosaic_a write_n contain_v the_o most_o ancient_a record_n that_o be_v extant_a in_o the_o world_n so_o they_o seem_v to_o have_v be_v peruse_v by_o the_o most_o ancient_a philosopher_n and_o historian_n because_o the_o thing_n relate_v in_o they_o be_v speak_v of_o and_o own_a general_o by_o the_o whole_a heathen_a world_n though_o sometime_o not_o without_o a_o mixture_n of_o poetical_a fable_n as_o the_o creation_n of_o the_o universe_n the_o sanctity_n of_o the_o sabbath_n the_o story_n of_o the_o deluge_n and_o of_o the_o ark_n the_o right_n of_o circumcision_n and_o the_o like_a as_o the_o learned_a grotius_n have_v particular_o show_v in_o his_o first_o book_n of_o the_o truth_n of_o christianity_n it_o be_v very_o probable_a that_o the_o general_a belief_n of_o these_o thing_n spring_v from_o the_o general_a persuasion_n which_o prevail_v in_o the_o world_n of_o those_o sign_n and_o wonder_n that_o moses_n have_v show_v that_o make_v he_o so_o great_a a_o person_n in_o the_o esteem_n of_o mankind_n there_o be_v thousand_o ready_a to_o have_v disprove_v the_o relation_n if_o the_o work_n have_v not_o be_v do_v nor_o be_v it_o in_o the_o least_o likely_a that_o of_o so_o many_o neighbour_a nation_n round_o about_o the_o jew_n which_o mortal_o hate_v the_o jew_n and_o their_o religion_n none_o will_v have_v discover_v the_o imposture_n have_v they_o not_o be_v satisfy_v that_o what_o moses_n have_v write_v be_v true_a the_o honour_n of_o have_v such_o great_a thing_n do_v for_o they_o in_o the_o eye_n of_o the_o world_n will_v have_v be_v think_v too_o much_o for_o a_o despise_a hate_a people_n to_o have_v go_v away_o with_o 2._o but_o second_o instead_o of_o contradict_v moses_n history_n the_o most_o ancient_a writer_n among_o the_o egyptian_n and_o greek_n do_v own_o his_o greatness_n insomuch_o that_o the_o old_a egyptian_n will_v have_v appropriate_v he_o to_o themselves_o pretend_v that_o he_o be_v of_o egyptian_a parentage_n and_o a_o priest_n of_o heliopolis_n by_o name_n ozarsiph_n change_v his_o name_n afterward_o to_o moses_n some_o indeed_o of_o the_o other_o heathen_n as_o apuleius_n and_o numenius_n the_o pythagorean_n reckon_v he_o among_o the_o old_a magician_n and_o in_o particular_a among_o janne_n and_o jambres_n the_o famous_a magician_n of_o pharaoh_n but_o all_o look_v upon_o he_o as_o a_o very_a wonderful_a person_n by_o reason_n of_o the_o plague_n he_o bring_v upon_o egypt_n 3._o and_o then_o three_o as_o for_o the_o jew_n nothing_o can_v be_v more_o clear_a than_o that_o their_o whole_a nation_n have_v all_o along_o acknowledge_v the_o truth_n of_o the_o miracle_n do_v by_o moses_n for_o their_o whole_a constitution_n be_v found_v upon_o the_o credit_n of_o his_o divine_a authority_n and_o that_o depend_v upon_o the_o credit_n of_o his_o miracle_n and_o have_v any_o of_o they_o be_v unsatisfied_a in_o that_o point_n those_o rebel_n who_o rise_v up_o against_o moses_n and_o aaron_n allege_v that_o they_o take_v too_o much_o upon_o they_o will_v have_v allege_v that_o they_o pretend_v too_o much_o also_o a_o great_a deal_n more_o than_o what_o be_v true_a nor_o can_v those_o people_n who_o time_n after_o time_n revolt_a from_o moses_n law_n have_v have_v such_o another_o plea_n for_o their_o apostasy_n as_o this_o will_v have_v be_v that_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o law_n giver_n be_v not_o confirm_v by_o miracle_n as_o it_o be_v believe_v i_o have_v say_v thus_o much_o of_o moses_n to_o confront_v some_o in_o our_o day_n who_o have_v take_v the_o confidence_n to_o deride_v the_o write_n which_o go_v under_o moses_n name_n and_o the_o miracle_n say_v to_o have_v be_v wrought_v by_o he_o that_o thereby_o they_o may_v with_o the_o great_a boldness_n deny_v the_o existence_n of_o god_n though_o if_o man_n will_v take_v the_o evidence_n give_v of_o any_o matter_n of_o fact_n do_v at_o a_o great_a distance_n of_o time_n from_o they_o it_o be_v impossible_a to_o find_v better_a evidence_n of_o any_o matter_n than_o there_o be_v of_o these_o of_o the_o certainty_n whereof_o those_o who_o have_v reason_n to_o know_v and_o be_v able_a to_o know_v be_v full_o satisfy_v i_o go_v on_o now_o in_o the_o next_o place_n from_o the_o same_o consideration_n to_o prove_v the_o reality_n of_o those_o miracle_n which_o the_o evangelist_n ascribe_v to_o jesus_n christ_n and_o who_o can_v think_v themselves_o more_o concern_v to_o inquire_v into_o the_o truth_n of_o they_o than_o those_o great_a man_n who_o make_v it_o their_o business_n to_o oppose_v his_o religion_n and_o yet_o that_o many_o notable_a miracle_n have_v be_v do_v by_o he_o and_o by_o his_o apostle_n after_o he_o be_v manifest_a to_o all_o that_o dwell_v at_o jerusalem_n and_o they_o can_v not_o deny_v it_o all_o that_o they_o have_v to_o say_v for_o their_o infidelity_n be_v that_o christ_n do_v those_o wonderful_a work_n by_o the_o help_n of_o the_o devil_n but_o matter_n of_o fact_n they_o own_a hence_o it_o be_v that_o soon_o after_o the_o lord_n go_v out_o of_o the_o world_n divers_a pretend_a to_o a_o power_n of_o miracle_n such_o as_o simon_n magus_n