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these_o two_o exception_n with_o
people_n nay_o it_o be_v evident_o no_o public_a service_n of_o god_n when_o the_o priest_n only_o understand_v it_o for_o how_o can_v they_o be_v say_v to_o be_v public_a prayer_n if_o the_o people_n do_v not_o join_v in_o they_o and_o how_o can_v they_o join_v in_o that_o they_o do_v not_o understand_v and_o to_o what_o purpose_n be_v lesson_n of_o scripture_n read_v if_o people_n be_v to_o learn_v nothing_o by_o they_o and_o how_o shall_v they_o learn_v when_o they_o do_v not_o understand_v this_o be_v as_o if_o one_o shall_v pretend_v to_o teach_v a_o man_n greek_n by_o read_v he_o lecture_n every_o day_n out_o of_o a_o arabic_a and_o persian_a book_n of_o which_o he_o understand_v not_o one_o syllable_n ii_o as_o to_o their_o deprive_v rhe_n people_n of_o the_o use_n of_o the_o holy_a scripture_n our_o bless_a saviour_n exhort_v the_o jew_n to_o search_v the_o scripture_n and_o st._n paul_n charge_v the_o christian_n that_o the_o word_n of_o god_n shall_v dwell_v rich_o in_o 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justification_n of_o so_o contumelious_a a_o affront_n to_o mankind_n so_o great_a a_o tyranny_n and_o cruelty_n to_o the_o soul_n of_o man_n have_v god_n forbid_v the_o people_n to_o look_v into_o the_o scripture_n no_o quite_o contrary_a be_v it_o the_o practice_n of_o the_o ancient_a church_n to_o lay_v this_o restraint_n upon_o man_n or_o to_o celebrate_v the_o service_n of_o god_n in_o a_o unknown_a tongue_n our_o adversary_n themselves_o have_v not_o the_o face_n to_o pretend_v this_o i_o shall_v true_o represent_v the_o substance_n of_o what_o they_o say_v in_o these_o two_o point_n i._o as_o to_o the_o service_n of_o god_n in_o a_o unknown_a tongue_n they_o say_v these_o four_o thing_n for_o themselves_o 1._o that_o the_o people_n do_v exercise_v a_o general_a devotion_n and_o come_v with_o a_o intention_n to_o serve_v god_n and_o that_o be_v accept_v though_o they_o do_v not_o particular_o understand_v the_o prayer_n rhat_o be_v make_v and_o the_o lesson_n that_o be_v read_v but_o be_v this_o all_o that_o be_v intend_v in_o the_o service_n of_o god_n do_v not_o st._n paul_n express_o require_v more_o that_o the_o understanding_n of_o the_o people_n shall_v be_v edify_v by_o the_o particular_a service_n that_o be_v perform_v and_o if_o what_o be_v do_v be_v not_o particular_o understand_v he_o tell_v we_o the_o people_n be_v not_o edify_v nor_o can_v say_v amen_o to_o the_o prayer_n and_o thanksgiving_n that_o be_v put_v up_o to_o god_n and_o that_o any_o man_n that_o shall_v come_v in_o and_o find_v people_n serve_v of_o god_n in_o this_o unprofitable_a and_o unreasonable_a manner_n will_v conclude_v that_o they_o be_v mad_a and_o if_o there_o be_v any_o general_a devotion_n in_o the_o people_n it_o be_v because_o in_o general_a they_o understand_v what_o they_o be_v about_o and_o why_o may_v they_o not_o as_o well_o understand_v the_o particular_a service_n that_o be_v perform_v that_o so_o they_o may_v exercise_v a_o particular_a devotion_n so_o that_o they_o be_v devout_a no_o far_o than_o they_o understand_v and_o consequent_o as_o to_o what_o they_o do_v not_o understand_v have_v every_o whit_n as_o good_a be_v absent_a 2._o they_o say_v the_o prayer_n be_v to_o god_n and_o he_o understand_v they_o and_o that_o be_v enough_o but_o what_o harm_n be_v it_o if_o all_o they_o that_o pray_v understand_v they_o also_o or_o indeed_o how_o can_v man_n pray_v to_o god_n without_o understanding_n what_o they_o ask_v of_o he_o be_v not_o prayer_n a_o part_n of_o the_o christian_a worship_n and_o be_v not_o that_o a_o reasonable_a service_n and_o be_v any_o service_n reasonable_a that_o be_v not_o direct_v by_o our_o understanding_n and_o accompany_v with_o our_o heart_n and_o affection_n but_o then_o what_o say_v they_o to_o the_o lesson_n and_o
be_v of_o some_o religion_n and_o then_o offer_v it_o to_o their_o consideration_n which_o they_o will_v pitch_v upon_o choose_v you_o this_o day_n who_o you_o will_v serve_v whether_o the_o god_n which_o your_o father_n serve_v etc._n etc._n religion_n be_v a_o thing_n to_o which_o man_n be_v not_o only_o form_v by_o education_n and_o custom_n but_o as_o tully_n say_v quo_fw-la omnes_fw-la deuce_fw-la naturâ_fw-la vehimur_fw-la it_o be_v that_o to_o which_o we_o be_v all_o carry_v by_o a_o natural_a inclination_n which_o be_v the_o true_a reason_n why_o some_o religion_n or_o other_o have_v so_o universal_o prevail_v in_o all_o age_n and_o place_n of_o the_o world_n the_o temporal_a felicity_n of_o man_n and_o the_o end_n of_o government_n can_v very_o hardly_o if_o at_o all_o be_v attain_v without_o religion_n take_v away_o this_o and_o all_o obligation_n of_o conscience_n cease_v and_o where_o there_o be_v no_o obligation_n of_o conscience_n all_o security_n of_o truth_n and_o 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and_o force_n of_o law_n for_o by_o declare_v themselves_o free_a from_o all_o other_o obligation_n they_o give_v we_o fair_a warning_n what_o we_o be_v to_o expect_v at_o their_o hand_n and_o how_o far_o we_o may_v trust_v they_o religion_n be_v the_o strong_a band_n of_o humane_a society_n and_o god_n so_o necessary_a to_o the_o welfare_n and_o happiness_n of_o mankind_n as_o it_o can_v not_o have_v be_v more_o if_o we_o can_v suppose_v the_o be_v of_o god_n himself_o to_o have_v be_v purposely_o design_v and_o contrive_v for_o the_o benefit_n and_o advantage_n of_o man_n so_o that_o very_o well_o may_v it_o be_v take_v for_o grant_v that_o a_o nation_n must_v be_v of_o some_o religion_n or_o other_o second_o though_o religion_n be_v a_o matter_n of_o our_o choice_n yet_o it_o be_v neither_o a_o thing_n indifferent_a in_o itself_o nor_o to_o a_o good_a governor_n what_o religion_n his_o people_n be_v of_o notwithstanding_o the_o supposition_n of_o the_o text_n joshua_n do_v not_o leave_v they_o at_o liberty_n whether_o they_o will_v serve_v god_n or_o idol_n but_o by_o a_o very_a rhetorical_a scheme_n of_o speech_n endeavour_n to_o engage_v they_o more_o firm_o to_o the_o worship_n of_o the_o true_a god_n to_o countenance_n and_o support_v the_o true_a religion_n and_o to_o take_v care_n that_o the_o people_n be_v instruct_v in_o it_o and_o that_o none_o be_v permit_v to_o debauch_v and_o seduce_v man_n from_o it_o proper_o belong_v to_o the_o civil_a magistrate_n this_o power_n the_o king_n of_o israel_n always_o exercise_v not_o only_o with_o allowance_n but_o with_o great_a approbation_n and_o commendation_n from_o god_n himself_o and_o the_o case_n be_v not_o alter_v since_o christianity_n the_o better_a the_o religion_n be_v the_o better_a it_o deserve_v the_o countenance_n and_o support_v of_o the_o civil_a authority_n and_o this_o power_n of_o the_o civil_a magistrate_n in_o matter_n of_o religion_n be_v never_o call_v in_o question_n but_o by_o the_o enthusiast_n of_o these_o late_a time_n and_o yet_o among_o these_o every_o father_n and_o master_n of_o a_o family_n claim_v this_o power_n over_o his_o child_n and_o servant_n at_o the_o same_o time_n that_o they_o deny_v it_o to_o the_o magistrate_n over_o his_o subject_n but_o i_o will_v fain_o know_v where_o the_o difference_n lie_v have_v a_o master_n of_o a_o family_n more_o power_n over_o those_o under_o his_o government_n than_o the_o magistrate_n have_v no_o man_n ever_o pretend_v it_o nay_o so_o far_o be_v it_o from_o that_o that_o the_o natural_a authority_n of_o a_o father_n may_v be_v and_o often_o be_v limit_v and_o restrain_v by_o the_o law_n of_o the_o civil_a magistrate_n and_o why_o then_o may_v not_o a_o magistrate_n exercise_v the_o same_o power_n over_o his_o subject_n in_o matter_n of_o religion_n which_o every_o master_n challenge_v to_o himself_o in_o his_o own_o family_n that_o be_v to_o establish_v the_o true_a worship_n of_o god_n in_o such_o manner_n and_o with_o such_o circumstance_n as_o he_o think_v best_o and_o to_o permit_v none_o to_o affront_v it_o or_o to_o seduce_v from_o it_o those_o that_o be_v under_o his_o care_n and_o to_o prevent_v all_o misunderstanding_n in_o this_o matter_n i_o do_v not_o hereby_o ascribe_v any_o thing_n to_o the_o magistrate_n that_o can_v possible_o give_v he_o any_o pretence_n of_o right_a to_o reject_v god_n true_a religion_n or_o to_o declare_v what_o he_o please_v to_o be_v so_o and_o what_o book_n he_o please_v to_o be_v canonical_a and_o the_o word_n of_o god_n and_o consequent_o to_o make_v a_o false_a religion_n so_o currant_n by_o the_o stamp_n of_o his_o authority_n as_o to_o oblige_v his_o subject_n to_o the_o profession_n of_o it_o because_o he_o who_o acknowledge_v himself_o to_o derive_v all_o his_o authority_n from_o god_n can_v pretend_v to_o none_o against_o he_o but_o if_o a_o false_a religion_n be_v establish_v by_o law_n the_o case_n here_o be_v the_o same_o as_o in_o all_o other_o law_n that_o be_v sinful_a in_o the_o matter_n of_o they_o but_o yet_o make_v by_o a_o lawful_a authority_n in_o this_o case_n the_o subject_n be_v not_o bind_v to_o profess_v a_o false_a religion_n but_o patient_o to_o suffer_v for_o the_o constant_a profession_n of_o the_o true_a and_o to_o speak_v free_o in_o this_o matter_n i_o can_v think_v till_o i_o be_v better_o inform_v which_o i_o be_o always_o ready_a to_o be_v that_o any_o pretence_n of_o conscience_n warrant_v any_o man_n that_o be_v not_o extraordinary_o commission_v as_o the_o apostle_n and_o first_o publisher_n of_o the_o gospel_n be_v and_o can_v justify_v that_o commission_n by_o miracle_n as_o they_o do_v to_o affront_v the_o establish_a religion_n of_o a_o nation_n though_o it_o be_v false_a and_o open_o to_o draw_v man_n off_o from_o the_o profession_n of_o it_o in_o contempt_n of_o the_o magistrate_n and_o the_o law_n all_o that_o person_n of_o a_o different_a religion_n can_v in_o such_o a_o case_n reasonable_o pretend_v to_o be_v to_o enjoy_v the_o private_a liberty_n and_o exercise_n of_o their_o own_o conscience_n and_o religion_n for_o which_o they_o ought_v to_o be_v very_o thankful_a and_o to_o forbear_v the_o open_a make_n of_o proselyte_n to_o their_o own_o religion_n though_o they_o be_v never_o so_o sure_a that_o they_o be_v in_o the_o right_a till_o they_o have_v either_o a_o extraordinary_a commission_n from_o god_n to_o that_o purpose_n or_o the_o providence_n of_o god_n make_v way_n for_o it_o by_o the_o permission_n or_o connivance_n of_o the_o magistrate_n not_o but_o that_o every_o man_n have_v a_o right_a to_o publish_v and_o propagate_v the_o true_a religion_n and_o to_o declare_v it_o against_o a_o false_a one_o but_o there_o be_v no_o obligation_n upon_o any_o man_n to_o attempt_v this_o to_o no_o purpose_n and_o when_o without_o a_o miracle_n it_o can_v have_v no_o other_o effect_n but_o the_o loss_n of_o his_o own_o life_n unless_o he_o have_v a_o immediate_a command_n and_o commission_n from_o god_n to_o this_o purpose_n and_o be_v endue_v with_o a_o power_n of_o miracle_n as_o a_o public_a seal_n and_o testimony_n of_o that_o commission_n which_o be_v the_o case_n of_o the_o apostle_n who_o after_o they_o have_v receive_v a_o immediate_a commission_n be_v not_o to_o enter_v upon_o the_o execution_n of_o it_o but_o to_o stay_v at_o jerusalem_n till_o they_o be_v endue_v with_o power_n from_o on_o high_a in_o this_o case_n a_o man_n be_v to_o abide_v all_o hazard_n and_o may_v reasonable_o expect_v both_o extraordinary_a assistance_n and_o success_n as_o the_o apostle_n have_v and_o even_o a_o miraculous_a protection_n till_o his_o work_n be_v do_v and_o after_o that_o if_o he_o be_v call_v do_v to_o suffer_v martyrdom_n a_o supernatural_a support_n under_o those_o suffering_n and_o that_o they_o be_v guilty_a however_o
be_v the_o great_a doctor_n among_o the_o jew_n the_o teacher_n and_o interpreter_n of_o the_o law_n of_o god_n and_o because_o many_o of_o they_o be_v of_o the_o sect_n of_o the_o pharisee_n which_o above_o all_o other_o pretend_v to_o skill_n and_o knowledge_n in_o the_o law_n therefore_o it_o be_v that_o our_o bless_a saviour_n do_v so_o often_o put_v the_o scribe_n and_o pharisee_n together_o and_o these_o be_v the_o man_n of_o chief_a authority_n in_o the_o jewish_a church_n who_o equal_v their_o own_o unwritten_a word_n and_o tradition_n with_o the_o law_n of_o god_n nay_o our_o saviour_n tell_v we_o they_o make_v the_o commandment_n of_o god_n of_o none_o effect_v by_o their_o tradition_n they_o do_v in_o effect_n assume_v to_o themselves_o infallibility_n and_o all_o that_o oppose_a and_o contradict_v they_o they_o brand_v with_o the_o odious_a name_n of_o heretic_n against_o these_o our_o saviour_n denounce_v this_o woe_n here_o in_o the_o text_n woe_n unto_o you_o scribe_n and_o pharisee_n hypocrite_n for_o you_o shut_v up_o the_o kingdom_n of_o heaven_n against_o man_n etc._n etc._n all_o the_o difficulty_n in_o the_o word_n be_v what_o be_v here_o mean_v by_o shut_v up_o the_o kingdom_n of_o heaven_n against_o man_n st._n luke_n express_v it_o more_o plain_o you_o have_v take_v away_o the_o key_n of_o knowledge_n you_o enter_v not_o in_o yourselves_o and_o they_o that_o be_v enter_v in_o you_o hinder_v by_o put_v these_o two_o expression_n together_o we_o shall_v the_o more_o easy_o come_v at_o the_o meaning_n of_o the_o text._n you_o have_v take_v away_o the_o key_n of_o knowledge_n and_o have_v shut_v up_o the_o kingdom_n of_o heaven_n against_o men._n this_o metaphor_n of_o the_o key_n of_o knowledge_n be_v undoubted_o a_o allusion_n to_o that_o know_a custom_n among_o the_o jew_n in_o the_o admission_n of_o their_o doctor_n for_o to_o whosoever_o they_o give_v authority_n to_o interpret_v the_o law_n and_o the_o prophet_n they_o be_v solemn_o 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the_o scribe_n and_o teacher_n of_o the_o law_n under_o a_o pretence_n of_o interpret_n the_o scripture_n have_v pervert_v they_o and_o keep_v the_o true_a knowledge_n of_o they_o from_o the_o people_n especial_o those_o prophecy_n of_o the_o old_a testament_n which_o concern_v the_o messiah_n and_o by_o this_o mean_v the_o kingdom_n of_o heaven_n be_v shut_v against_o man_n and_o they_o not_o only_o reject_v the_o truth_n themselves_o but_o by_o keep_v man_n in_o ignorance_n of_o the_o true_a meaning_n of_o the_o scripture_n they_o hinder_v many_o from_o embrace_v our_o saviour_n doctrine_n and_o enter_v into_o the_o kingdom_n of_o heaven_n who_o be_v otherwise_o well_o enough_o dispose_v for_o it_o have_v thus_o explain_v the_o word_n i_o shall_v from_o the_o main_a scope_n and_o design_n of_o they_o observe_v to_o you_o these_o two_o thing_n 1._o the_o necessity_n of_o the_o knowledge_n of_o the_o holy_a scripture_n in_o order_n to_o our_o eternal_a salvation_n it_o be_v call_v by_o our_o saviour_n the_o key_n of_o knowledge_n that_o which_o let_v man_n into_o the_o kingdom_n of_o heaven_n 2._o the_o great_a and_o inexcusable_a fault_n of_o those_o who_o deprive_v the_o people_n of_o the_o knowledge_n of_o the_o holy_a scripture_n they_o but_o the_o kingdom_n of_o heaven_n against_o man_n and_o do_v what_o in_o they_o lie_v to_o hinder_v their_o eternal_a salvation_n and_o therefore_o our_o saviour_n denounce_v so_o heavy_a a_o woe_n against_o they_o i_o shall_v speak_v brief_o to_o these_o two_o observation_n and_o then_o apply_v they_o to_o those_o who_o be_v principal_o concern_v in_o they_o i._n first_o i_o observe_v hence_o the_o necessity_n of_o the_o knowledge_n of_o the_o holy_a scripture_n in_o order_n to_o our_o eternal_a salvation_n this_o be_v by_o our_o saviour_n call_v the_o key_n of_o knowledge_n that_o which_o let_v man_n into_o the_o kingdom_n of_o heaven_n knowledge_n be_v necessary_a to_o religion_n it_o be_v necessary_a to_o the_o be_v of_o it_o and_o necessary_a to_o the_o life_n and_o practice_n of_o it_o without_o faith_n say_v the_o apostle_n it_o be_v impossible_a to_o please_v god_n because_o faith_n be_v a_o act_n of_o the_o understanding_n and_o do_v necessary_o suppose_v some_o knowledge_n and_o apprehension_n of_o what_o we_o believe_v to_o all_o act_n of_o religion_n there_o be_v necessary_o require_v some_o act_n of_o the_o understanding_n so_o that_o without_o knowledge_n there_o can_v be_v no_o devotion_n in_o the_o service_n of_o god_n no_o obedience_n to_o his_o law_n religion_n begin_v in_o the_o understanding_n and_o from_o thence_o descend_v upon_o the_o heart_n and_o life_n if_o you_o know_v these_o thing_n say_v our_o saviour_n happy_a be_v you_o if_o you_o do_v they_o we_o must_v first_o know_v god_n before_o we_o can_v worship_v he_o and_o understand_v what_o be_v his_o will_n before_o we_o can_v do_v it_o this_o be_v so_o very_o evident_a that_o one_o will_v think_v there_o need_v no_o discourse_n about_o it_o and_o yet_o there_o be_v some_o in_o the_o world_n that_o cry_v up_o ignorance_n as_o the_o mother_n of_o devotion_n and_o to_o show_v that_o we_o do_v not_o wrong_v they_o in_o this_o matter_n mr._n rushworth_n in_o his_o dialogue_n a_o book_n in_o great_a vogue_n among_o the_o papist_n here_o in_o england_n do_v express_o reckon_v up_o ignorance_n among_o the_o parent_n of_o religion_n and_o can_v any_o thing_n be_v say_v more_o absurd_o and_o more_o to_o the_o disparagement_n of_o religion_n than_o to_o derive_v the_o pedigree_n of_o the_o most_o excellent_a thing_n in_o the_o world_n from_o so_o obscure_a and_o ignoble_a a_o original_a and_o to_o make_v that_o which_o the_o scripture_n call_v the_o beginning_n of_o wisdom_n and_o the_o excellency_n of_o knowledge_n to_o be_v the_o offspring_n of_o ignorance_n and_o a_o child_n of_o darkness_n ignorance_n indeed_o may_v be_v the_o cause_n of_o wonder_n and_o admiration_n and_o the_o mother_n of_o folly_n and_o superstition_n but_o sure_o religion_n be_v of_o a_o noble_a extraction_n and_o be_v the_o issue_n and_o result_v of_o the_o best_a wisdom_n and_o knowledge_n and_o descend_v from_o above_o from_o the_o giver_n of_o every_o good_a and_o perfect_a gift_n even_o the_o father_n of_o light_n and_o as_o knowledge_n in_o general_n be_v necessary_a to_o religion_n so_o more_o particular_o the_o knowledge_n of_o the_o holy_a scripture_n be_v necessary_a to_o our_o eternal_a salvation_n because_o these_o be_v the_o great_a and_o stand_a revelation_n of_o god_n to_o mankind_n wherein_o the_o nature_n of_o god_n and_o his_o will_n concern_v our_o duty_n and_o the_o term_n and_o condition_n of_o our_o eternal_a happiness_n in_o another_o world_n be_v full_o and_o plain_o declare_v to_o we_o the_o scripture_n be_v the_o word_n of_o god_n and_o from_o whence_o can_v we_o learn_v the_o will_n of_o god_n so_o well_o as_o from_o his_o own_o mouth_n they_o be_v the_o great_a instrument_n of_o our_o salvation_n and_o shall_v not_o every_o man_n be_v acquaint_v with_o that_o which_o alone_o can_v perfect_o instruct_v he_o what_o he_o must_v believe_v and_o what_o he_o must_v do_v that_o he_o may_v be_v save_v this_o be_v the_o testimony_n which_o the_o scripture_n give_v of_o itself_o that_o it_o be_v able_a to_o make_v man_n wise_a unto_o salvation_n and_o be_v it_o not_o very_o fit_a that_o every_o man_n shall_v have_v this_o wisdom_n and_o in_o order_n thereunto_o the_o free_a use_n of_o that_o book_n from_o whence_o this_o wisdom_n be_v to_o be_v learn_v ii_o second_o i_o observe_v the_o great_a and_o inexcusable_a fault_n of_o those_o who_o keep_v man_n in_o ignorance_n of_o religion_n and_o take_v away_o from_o they_o so_o excellent_a and_o necessary_a a_o mean_n of_o divine_a knowledge_n as_o the_o h._n scripture_n be_v this_o our_o saviour_n call_v take_v away_o the_o