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inability_n of_o the_o dulness_n of_o their_o understanding_n of_o the_o slowness_n of_o their_o heart_n to_o believe_v of_o their_o infirmity_n and_o fault_n and_o particular_o of_o the_o treachery_n of_o one_o apostle_n and_o of_o the_o shameful_a lapse_n of_o another_o there_o be_v none_o of_o those_o thing_n conceal_v which_o man_n of_o art_n and_o partiality_n will_v hardly_o have_v make_v know_v nay_o it_o be_v observable_a of_o mark_n that_o though_o he_o be_v peter_n great_a attondant_n in_o the_o execution_n of_o his_o ministry_n yet_o in_o relate_v the_o story_n of_o peter_n deny_v his_o master_n he_o tell_v it_o as_o plain_o as_o matthew_n do_v with_o this_o little_a difference_n that_o he_o do_v not_o take_v such_o affect_a notice_n of_o his_o repentance_n as_o the_o other_o do_v for_o whereas_o st._n matthew_n say_v that_o he_o weep_v bitter_o st._n mark_n say_v only_o he_o weep_v as_o if_o he_o lessen_v his_o sorrow_n after_o a_o humble_a modest_a manner_n in_o respect_n 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will_v keep_v the_o oath_n which_o he_o have_v swear_v unto_o their_o father_n 2._o to_o demonstrate_v yet_o further_o the_o integrity_n of_o moses_n and_o the_o evangelist_n who_o speak_v of_o such_o miracle_n do_v let_v we_o consider_v second_o their_o great_a simplicity_n of_o mind_n without_o any_o mixture_n of_o sinister_a or_o self-design_n man_n be_v not_o wont_a to_o tell_v tale_n for_o nothing_o it_o be_v either_o vanity_n or_o some_o private_a interest_n which_o be_v the_o end_n and_o drift_n of_o impostor_n and_o what_o can_v moses_n propose_v to_o himself_o by_o tell_v story_n which_o the_o egyptian_n and_o jew_n be_v so_o easy_o able_a to_o contradict_v if_o those_o miracle_n have_v not_o be_v do_v among_o they_o or_o what_o advantage_n can_v man_n think_v he_o aim_v at_o when_o at_o the_o same_o time_n he_o speak_v so_o hardly_o of_o those_o
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
may_v with_o infinite_a satisfaction_n find_v how_o exact_o these_o prediction_n be_v fulfil_v 1._o by_o cyrus_n get_v the_o power_n out_o of_o the_o hand_n of_o the_o babylonian_n then_o by_o alexander_n get_v it_o out_o of_o the_o hand_n of_o the_o persian_n and_o then_o by_o the_o roman_n wrest_v it_o out_o of_o the_o hand_n of_o alexander_n successor_n and_o yet_o between_o the_o deliver_n and_o the_o fulfil_n of_o daniel_n prophecy_n there_o pass_v a_o flux_n of_o about_o five_o hundred_o year_n which_o do_v manifest_o argue_v the_o existence_n of_o god_n who_o alone_o can_v at_o such_o a_o distance_n of_o time_n so_o infallible_o and_o particular_o foresee_v and_o predict_v event_n that_o be_v in_o themselves_o so_o contingent_a and_o uncertan_a that_o it_o look_v like_o a_o history_n rather_o than_o a_o prediction_n to_o which_o purpose_n st._n jerome_n tell_v we_o of_o that_o great_a blasphemer_n of_o christ_n and_o his_o religion_n porphyry_n that_o read_v the_o dan._n proem_n in_o dan._n book_n of_o daniel_n and_o find_v how_o exact_o consonant_a the_o event_n be_v to_o the_o prophecy_n he_o can_v not_o but_o acknowledge_v the_o truth_n of_o the_o account_n but_o to_o evade_v the_o force_n of_o those_o argument_n which_o the_o christian_n draw_v thence_o he_o betake_v himself_o to_o this_o senseless_a and_o absurd_a pretence_n that_o the_o book_n be_v not_o a_o prediction_n write_v by_o daniel_n but_o rather_o a_o narrative_a of_o thing_n that_o be_v do_v long_o after_o daniel_n time_n and_o write_v by_o some_o body_n else_o in_o the_o day_n of_o antiochus_n epiphanes_n 2._o there_o be_v another_o sort_n of_o prediction_n which_o relate_v peculiarly_a to_o jesus_n christ_n who_o daniel_n call_v beforehand_o messiah_n the_o prince_n dan._n 9_o 25._o whereupon_o a_o very_a 861._o mr._n mead_n b._n 3._o p._n 861._o learned_a writer_n observe_v that_o there_o be_v no_o other_o place_n of_o scripture_n whence_o the_o church_n of_o israel_n do_v or_o can_v ascribe_v the_o name_n of_o christ_n and_o messiah_n unto_o he_o they_o look_v for_o but_o only_o this_o of_o daniel_n for_o there_o be_v no_o other_o prophecy_n in_o all_o the_o old_a testament_n beside_o this_o where_o that_o name_n be_v direct_o give_v he_o but_o only_o by_o way_n of_o type_n which_o make_v it_o unquestionable_a that_o the_o jew_n understand_v this_o prophecy_n of_o that_o great_a and_o eminent_a person_n who_o come_v into_o the_o world_n together_o with_o all_o the_o remarkable_a circumstance_n which_o attend_v his_o life_n and_o death_n be_v long_o before_o so_o particular_o foretell_v by_o several_a prophet_n that_o those_o prediction_n be_v not_o capable_a of_o be_v fair_o apply_v to_o any_o other_o person_n what_o art_n soever_o some_o jew_n and_o other_o misguide_a man_n have_v use_v to_o wrest_v they_o another_o way_n that_o he_o be_v to_o be_v of_o the_o seed_n of_o a_o woman_n or_o that_o he_o be_v to_o appear_v in_o the_o nature_n not_o of_o angel_n but_o men._n that_o of_o all_o mankind_n he_o be_v to_o spring_v from_o the_o loin_n of_o abraham_n that_o of_o abraham_n posterity_n he_o be_v to_o descend_v only_o from_o isaac_n that_o of_o all_o isaac_n generation_n he_o be_v to_o be_v of_o the_o tribe_n of_o judah_n that_o of_o all_o that_o tribe_n he_o be_v to_o be_v of_o the_o house_n and_o lineage_n of_o david_n that_o a_o virgin_n of_o david_n lineage_n be_v to_o conceive_v and_o bear_v he_o that_o bethlehem_n be_v to_o be_v the_o place_n of_o his_o nativity_n that_o he_o be_v to_o be_v a_o prophet_n like_o unto_o moses_n yet_o much_o above_o he_o that_o he_o be_v to_o do_v miracle_n that_o he_o be_v to_o preach_v good_a tiding_n to_o the_o meek_a and_o to_o bind_v up_o the_o brokenhearted_a that_o he_o be_v to_o be_v a_o man_n of_o sorrow_n and_o acquaint_v with_o grief_n that_o he_o be_v to_o be_v despise_v and_o reject_v of_o men._n that_o one_o of_o his_o own_o familiar_n who_o shall_v eat_v of_o his_o bread_n will_v lift_v up_o his_o heel_n against_o he_o that_o he_o shall_v be_v sell_v for_o thirty_o piece_n of_o silver_n that_o he_o shall_v be_v lead_v to_o the_o slaughter_n like_o a_o lamb._n that_o he_o shall_v be_v number_v with_o the_o transgressor_n that_o his_o garment_n shall_v be_v divide_v and_o lot_n cast_v upon_o his_o vesture_n that_o vinegar_n shall_v be_v give_v he_o to_o drink_v that_o in_o the_o midst_n of_o his_o suffering_n he_o shall_v be_v scoff_v at_o and_o revile_v that_o he_o shall_v make_v intercession_n for_o trangressor_n that_o for_o the_o sin_n of_o people_n he_o shall_v be_v smite_v that_o he_o shall_v make_v his_o grave_n with_o the_o rich._n that_o not_o one_o of_o his_o bone_n shall_v be_v break_v and_o that_o his_o soul_n shall_v not_o be_v leave_v in_o hell_n nor_o his_o body_n suffer_v to_o see_v corruption_n these_o thing_n be_v foretell_v of_o jesus_n christ_n and_o take_v they_o altogether_o in_o a_o sum_n it_o be_v impossible_a for_o a_o insidel_n with_o any_o colour_n of_o reason_n to_o apply_v they_o to_o any_o other_o but_o jesus_n christ_n only_o but_o one_o of_o the_o most_o remarkable_a thing_n be_v that_o the_o time_n of_o christ_n appear_v in_o the_o world_n be_v so_o plain_o foretell_v by_o some_o of_o the_o prophet_n that_o the_o learned_a jew_n find_v by_o their_o calculation_n that_o about_o the_o time_n when_o jesus_n christ_n be_v bear_v the_o promise_a messiah_n be_v to_o come_v and_o hence_o it_o be_v that_o at_o that_o juncture_n they_o be_v all_o full_a of_o expectation_n of_o he_o nor_o be_v it_o at_o all_o questionable_a but_o the_o time_n so_o agree_v with_o the_o prediction_n they_o will_v joyful_o and_o unanimous_o have_v receive_v jesus_n christ_n as_o the_o messiah_n have_v not_o his_o come_n be_v in_o that_o mean_a and_o obscure_a condition_n which_o be_v so_o great_a a_o surprise_n to_o those_o people_n who_o expect_v the_o messiah_n will_v have_v be_v like_o a_o david_n or_o solomon_n to_o have_v go_v in_o and_o out_o 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house_n see_v the_o foundation_n of_o the_o second_o they_o weep_v with_o a_o loud_a voice_n as_o ezra_n tell_v we_o ezra_n 3._o 12._o and_o beside_o the_o jewish_a rabbin_n confess_v that_o five_o thing_n be_v want_v to_o this_o temple_n which_o the_o former_a be_v honour_v with_o as_o so_o many_o sign_n of_o the_o peculiar_a presence_n of_o god_n majesty_n at_o it_o 1._o the_o urim_n and_o thummim_n or_o those_o stone_n upon_o the_o breastplate_n of_o the_o high_a priest_n whereby_o god_n be_v wont_a to_o reveal_v his_o mind_n 2._o the_o ark_n of_o the_o covenant_n from_o which_o the_o king_n and_o the_o high_a priest_n do_v sometime_o receive_v answer_n from_o god_n by_o a_o clear_a and_o audible_a voice_n 3._o the_o fire_n that_o be_v wont_a to_o fall_v from_o heaven_n to_o devour_v the_o sacrifice_n upon_o the_o altar_n 4._o the_o shekinah_n or_o divine_a power_n that_o be_v signify_v sometime_o by_o the_o pillar_n of_o a_o cloud_n and_o by_o the_o holy_a oil_n wherewith_o the_o king_n and_o high_a priest_n be_v wont_a to_o be_v anoint_v and_o 5._o the_o spirit_n of_o prophecy_n these_o glorious_a thing_n be_v want_v at_o the_o second_o temple_n whence_o can_v that_o great_a glory_n predict_v by_o haggai_n proceed_v but_o from_o the_o presence_n of_o jesus_n christ_n one_o that_o be_v the_o brightness_n of_o his_o father_n glory_n and_o the_o glory_n of_o his_o people_n israel_n one_o that_o be_v the_o true_a urim_n and_o thummim_n that_o reveal_v his_o father_n will_n plain_o to_o the_o world_n one_o that_o be_v the_o typify_v ark_n of_o the_o covenant_n the_o propitiatory_a by_o his_o own_o blood_n one_o that_o baptise_a with_o the_o holy_a ghost_n and_o with_o fire_n the_o true_a fire_n from_o heaven_n where_o of_o the_o other_o be_v