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doctrine_n which_o have_v be_v handle_v at_o large_a in_o other_o english_a treatise_n of_o the_o christian_a faith_n and_o especial_o in_o that_o incomparable_a one_o of_o our_o most_o learned_a bishop_n of_o chester_n on_o the_o creed_n a_o book_n which_o next_o to_o the_o bible_n i_o thankful_o acknowledge_v myself_o more_o beholden_a to_o for_o my_o instruction_n in_o the_o doctrine_n of_o religion_n than_o to_o any_o one_o i_o ever_o read_v i_o have_v contract_v myself_o into_o as_o narrow_a a_o compass_n as_o the_o bare_o necessary_a explication_n of_o they_o will_v permit_v i_o but_o where_o that_o renown_a pen_n have_v insist_v more_o cursory_o as_o for_o instance_n on_o the_o particular_a office_n of_o our_o bless_a mediator_n i_o have_v most_o enlarge_v myself_o though_o even_o there_o i_o have_v for_o brevity_n sake_n pretermit_v some_o thing_n i_o intend_v less_o immediate_a and_o necessary_a appertain_v to_o the_o argument_n upon_o the_o whole_a i_o can_v true_o say_v that_o to_o the_o best_a of_o my_o understanding_n i_o have_v herein_o deliver_v nothing_o but_o what_o be_v agreeable_a to_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o primitive_a church_n which_o as_o the_o most_o faithful_a comment_n on_o the_o holy_a write_n of_o our_o saviour_n and_o his_o apostle_n i_o have_v all_o along_o careful_o consult_v in_o doubtful_a and_o difficult_a case_n and_o this_o be_v the_o reason_n why_o it_o have_v stick_v so_o long_o in_o hand_n the_o pain_n i_o have_v take_v in_o consult_v the_o ancient_a monument_n of_o christianity_n about_o it_o be_v as_o i_o may_v true_o say_v at_o least_o double_a to_o that_o of_o compose_v it_o and_o in_o follow_v the_o primitive_a doctrine_n i_o have_v follow_v the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n which_o in_o its_o faith_n government_n and_o discipline_n i_o believe_v in_o my_o conscience_n be_v the_o most_o primitive_a church_n in_o the_o world_n as_o for_o the_o method_n i_o have_v choose_v which_o be_v to_o deduce_v all_o the_o doctrine_n of_o christianity_n from_o one_o general_a head_n viz._n the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o mediator_n it_o be_v the_o most_o convenient_a i_o can_v think_v of_o for_o my_o purpose_n which_o be_v to_o represent_v at_o once_o to_o the_o reader_n view_v all_o the_o part_n of_o our_o holy_a religion_n in_o their_o natural_a connexion_n with_o and_o dependence_n on_o one_o another_o that_o so_o he_o may_v be_v the_o better_a able_a to_o judge_v of_o the_o beautiful_a contexture_n and_o admirable_a contrivance_n of_o the_o whole_a and_o that_o by_o see_v how_o regular_o all_o the_o part_n of_o it_o proceed_v out_o of_o one_o common_a principle_n and_o conspire_v in_o one_o common_a end_n he_o may_v be_v the_o better_o satisfy_v that_o christianity_n be_v so_o far_o from_o be_v a_o heap_n of_o incoherency_n as_o some_o have_v injurious_o represent_v it_o that_o consider_v it_o mere_o as_o a_o hypothesis_n abstract_v from_o all_o that_o external_a evidence_n that_o accompany_v it_o the_o very_a art_n and_o contrivance_n of_o it_o the_o proportion_n symmetry_n and_o correspondence_n of_o its_o part_n their_o subserviency_n to_o each_o other_o and_o the_o concurrence_n and_o tendency_n of_o they_o all_o together_o to_o the_o common_a end_n of_o religion_n be_v such_o as_o do_v apparent_o exceed_v all_o humane_a invention_n and_o argue_v it_o to_o be_v the_o product_n of_o a_o divine_a mind_n for_o as_o he_o who_o will_v form_v a_o true_a idea_n of_o the_o beauty_n of_o a_o picture_n must_v not_o contemplate_v the_o part_n of_o it_o separately_z but_o survey_v they_o all_o together_o and_o consider_v they_o in_o their_o proportion_n and_o correspondency_n with_o each_o other_o so_o he_o who_o will_v frame_v a_o right_a notion_n of_o religion_n must_v not_o look_v upon_o it_o as_o it_o lie_v scatter_v and_o divide_v into_o single_a part_n and_o proposition_n but_o consider_v they_o in_o contexture_n and_o as_o they_o be_v connect_v all_o together_o into_o one_o body_n or_o hypothesis_n for_o it_o be_v in_o their_o apt_a juncture_n their_o mutual_a dependency_n and_o admirable_a coherency_n with_o one_o another_o that_o the_o beauty_n and_o harmony_n of_o the_o whole_a consist_v and_o therefore_o to_o do_v right_a to_o christianity_n and_o enable_v the_o reader_n to_o contemplate_v it_o with_o the_o great_a advantage_n i_o have_v endeavour_v to_o represent_v to_o he_o the_o whole_a in_o a_o view_n and_o to_o give_v he_o a_o prospect_n of_o all_o the_o part_n of_o it_o together_o in_o a_o harmonious_a union_n and_o connexion_n with_o each_o other_o for_o i_o very_o believe_v that_o the_o mean_a opinion_n which_o some_o witty_a man_n have_v entertain_v of_o christianity_n proceed_v in_o a_o great_a measure_n from_o their_o break_a and_o imperfect_a apprehension_n of_o it_o they_o understand_v it_o piecemeal_o and_o take_v it_o asunder_o into_o single_a proposition_n which_o they_o consider_v separately_z and_o apart_o by_o themselves_o without_o ever_o put_v they_o together_o into_o one_o regular_a system_n and_o present_v they_o to_o their_o thought_n in_o that_o orderly_a connexion_n wherein_o the_o holy_a oracle_n have_v deliver_v they_o to_o we_o for_o i_o can_v scarce_o imagine_v how_o any_o man_n of_o sense_n shall_v contemplate_v christianity_n all_o together_o and_o thorough_o consider_v the_o harmonious_a coherence_n of_o all_o its_o part_n and_o the_o wonderful_a contrivance_n of_o the_o whole_a without_o be_v captivate_v with_o the_o beauty_n and_o elegancy_n of_o it_o and_o now_o i_o have_v nothing_o further_a to_o add_v concern_v this_o treatise_n but_o only_o to_o entreat_v the_o reader_n not_o to_o be_v too_o severe_a in_o the_o perusal_n of_o it_o for_o though_o as_o for_o the_o doctrine_n of_o it_o i_o see_v no_o reason_n at_o all_o to_o apologise_v for_o it_o because_o i_o be_o full_o persuade_v of_o the_o truth_n of_o it_o yet_o be_v force_v as_o i_o be_v to_o compose_v it_o by_o snatch_n and_o in_o the_o more_o quiet_a interval_n of_o a_o busy_a and_o uneasy_a life_n i_o very_o much_o suspect_v the_o exactness_n both_o of_o the_o style_n and_o method_n of_o it_o and_o therefore_o all_o the_o favour_n i_o desire_n be_v this_o that_o where_o i_o have_v improper_o or_o obscure_o express_v myself_o i_o may_v be_v construe_v in_o the_o most_o favourable_a sense_n and_o that_o wherever_o i_o may_v seem_v to_o be_v confuse_v or_o immethodical_a it_o may_v be_v attribute_v to_o those_o frequent_a interruption_n which_o the_o disorder_n of_o my_o body_n have_v give_v to_o my_o thought_n and_o these_o be_v request_n so_o very_o just_a and_o reasonable_a that_o i_o be_o confident_a none_o will_v be_v so_o peevish_a as_o to_o deny_v i_o but_o they_o who_o read_v book_n only_o to_o carp_v and_o find_v fault_n and_o without_o any_o design_n to_o edify_v their_o own_o understanding_n but_o i_o hope_v the_o reader_n will_v consider_v that_o the_o argument_n here_o treat_v of_o be_v of_o too_o great_a moment_n to_o he_o to_o be_v so_o wretched_o trifle_v with_o and_o that_o therefore_o he_o will_v not_o be_v either_o so_o disingenuous_a to_o i_o or_o uncharitable_a to_o himself_o as_o to_o peruse_v with_o such_o a_o spiteful_a design_n that_o which_o i_o sincere_o intend_v for_o his_o good_a and_o which_o he_o i_o be_o sure_a if_o he_o please_v may_v be_v the_o better_a for_o for_o ever_o the_o content_n chapter_n i._n humane_a action_n of_o three_o sort_n page_n 1_o necessary_a and_o sinful_a action_n be_v either_o such_o as_o be_v good_a or_o evil_n in_o themselves_o which_o be_v those_o we_o call_v moral_a action_n or_o such_o as_o be_v command_v and_o forbid_v by_o positive_a law_n p._n 2_o 3_o 4_o 5_o 6_o 7._o the_o nature_n of_o moral_a good_a explain_v sect._n 1._o p._n 8_o 9_o 10_o 11._o that_o there_o be_v such_o a_o thing_n as_o moral_a good_a in_o humane_a action_n prove_v in_o five_o proposition_n p._n 11_o 12_o 13_o 14_o 15_o 16_o 17_o 18_o 19_o 20_o 21_o 22_o 23_o 24_o 25_o 26_o 27._o the_o various_a way_n by_o which_o god_n have_v discover_v to_o we_o what_o be_v moral_o good_a in_o six_o particular_n sect._n 2._o p._n 28_o to_o p._n 53._o action_n moral_o good_a be_v the_o principal_a part_n of_o religion_n sect._n 3._o p._n 53_o 54_o 55._o this_o demonstrate_v by_o six_o argument_n from_o scripture_n p._n 55_o to_o p._n 71._o four_o reason_n why_o god_n principal_o require_v what_o be_v moral_o good_a p._n 71_o to_o p._n 91._o chap._n ii_o of_o the_o nature_n of_o religion_n in_o general_n and_o of_o natural_a religion_n what_o it_o be_v p._n 92_o 93_o 94_o 95_o 96._o and_o of_o reveal_v religion_n p._n 97_o 98_o 99_o 100_o a_o definition_n of_o natural_a and_o reveal_v religion_n consider_v as_o they_o be_v now_o in_o conjunction_n p._n 101_o 102._o from_o the_o nature_n of_o religion_n thus_o define_v the_o
yourself_o by_o retire_v from_o the_o glory_n and_o pleasure_n of_o this_o life_n suppose_v now_o that_o after_o all_o your_o religious_a severity_n there_o shall_v be_v neither_o a_o god_n nor_o a_o future_a world_n to_o reward_v you_o will_v it_o not_o be_v egregious_a folly_n in_o you_o thus_o to_o throw_v away_o present_a enjoyment_n for_o future_a nothing_o to_o which_o the_o good_a man_n present_o return_v this_o answer_n but_o sir_n suppose_v there_o shall_v be_v a_o god_n and_o a_o future_a world_n to_o punish_v you_o will_v it_o not_o be_v egregious_a folly_n in_o you_o to_o run_v such_o a_o desperate_a venture_n as_o you_o do_v of_o be_v everlasting_o miserable_a for_o the_o sake_n of_o a_o few_o momentary_a honour_n and_o advancement_n upon_o which_o as_o the_o story_n say_v the_o cardinal_n be_v convince_v go_v away_o very_o pensive_a and_o herein_o doubtless_o the_o honest_a hermit_n be_v very_o much_o in_o the_o right_n for_o be_v it_o a_o moot-point_n whether_o there_o be_v a_o god_n or_o no_o one_o will_v think_v in_o a_o matter_n of_o such_o unspeakable_a moment_n and_o where_o the_o hazard_n on_o each_o side_n be_v so_o infinite_o unequal_a there_o be_v no_o man_n in_o his_o wit_n but_o will_v choose_v the_o safe_a side_n and_o make_v that_o his_o rule_n and_o principle_n to_o live_v by_o in_o this_o therefore_o the_o atheist_n be_v just_o chargeable_a with_o the_o most_o desperate_a folly_n that_o whereas_o at_o least_o he_o may_v be_v safe_a if_o not_o eternal_o happy_a by_o believe_v that_o there_o be_v a_o god_n and_o act_v according_o he_o rather_o choose_v to_o venture_v be_v eternal_o miserable_a by_o believe_v there_o be_v none_o and_o act_v as_o if_o there_o be_v none_o in_o short_a this_o be_v the_o plain_a state_n of_o the_o case_n if_o i_o believe_v that_o god_n be_v and_o act_v consonant_o i_o shall_v be_v safe_a if_o he_o be_v not_o and_o eternal_o happy_a if_o he_o be_v whereas_o if_o i_o believe_v that_o he_o be_v not_o i_o be_o sure_a to_o be_v miserable_a for_o ever_o if_o he_o be_v and_o be_o only_o safe_a from_o be_v miserable_a for_o ever_o if_o he_o be_v not_o and_o this_o be_v the_o case_n i_o leave_v any_o man_n to_o judge_v which_o of_o the_o two_o be_v in_o prudence_n more_o eligible_a the_o peradventure_o of_o be_v happy_a for_o ever_o or_o of_o be_v miserable_a for_o ever_o suppose_v both_o to_o be_v equal_o probable_a but_o v._o the_o atheist_n conclude_v for_o the_o unsafe_v side_n of_o the_o question_n upon_o the_o great_a uncertainty_n in_o the_o world_n one_o will_v think_v before_o a_o man_n assent_v to_o a_o conclusion_n the_o consequence_n of_o which_o if_o he_o shall_v be_v mistake_v will_v be_v for_o ever_o fatal_a to_o he_o he_o shall_v be_v so_o wise_a at_o least_o as_o to_o look_v before_o he_o leap_v and_o satisfy_v himself_o of_o the_o ground_n he_o conclude_v on_o and_o not_o to_o give_v up_o his_o assent_n upon_o every_o doubtful_a and_o uncertain_a appearance_n now_o that_o part_n of_o the_o question_n which_o the_o atheist_n assent_v to_o be_v of_o such_o mighty_a consequence_n as_o that_o shall_v it_o prove_v false_a he_o be_v lose_v for_o ever_o and_o therefore_o one_o will_v think_v it_o concern_v he_o to_o be_v very_o sure_a of_o his_o hand_n and_o take_v care_n that_o his_o assent_n be_v found_v upon_o very_o strong_a and_o undeniable_a evidence_n instead_o of_o which_o he_o assent_v at_o a_o venture_n and_o ground_n his_o belief_n upon_o the_o most_o sandy_a foundation_n for_o 1._o he_o conclude_v for_o a_o pure_a negative_a 2._o he_o conclude_v for_o it_o upon_o a_o bare_a possibility_n 3._o he_o conclude_v for_o it_o against_o the_o best_a evidence_n that_o the_o contrary_a will_v admit_v i._o he_o conclude_v for_o a_o pure_a negative_a all_o man_n be_v agree_v that_o it_o be_v a_o very_a hard_a thing_n to_o prove_v a_o negative_a but_o to_o prove_v a_o pure_a negative_a be_v impossible_a unless_o the_o existence_n of_o the_o thing_n which_o it_o deny_v imply_v a_o express_a contradiction_n it_o be_v true_a where_o a_o thing_n visible_o exist_v so_o that_o we_o can_v perceive_v as_o well_o how_o it_o do_v not_o exist_v as_o how_o it_o do_v we_o may_v with_o as_o good_a evidence_n deny_v as_o affirm_v but_o as_o for_o pure_a negative_n which_o deny_v the_o very_a existence_n of_o such_o thing_n as_o may_v possible_o exist_v it_o be_v impossible_a to_o be_v certain_a of_o they_o without_o a_o infinite_a understanding_n for_o before_o we_o can_v be_v sure_a that_o what_o be_v not_o in_o our_o understanding_n be_v not_o in_o nature_n we_o must_v be_v sure_a that_o whatsoever_o be_v in_o nature_n be_v in_o our_o understanding_n otherwise_o a_o thousand_o thing_n may_v be_v though_o we_o do_v not_o understand_v they_o as_o for_o instance_n unless_o i_o be_v sure_a that_o i_o have_v the_o perfect_a map_n or_o geography_n of_o such_o a_o country_n in_o my_o head_n it_o be_v impossible_a i_o shall_v be_v sure_a that_o there_o be_v no_o such_o town_n or_o city_n or_o region_n belong_v thereunto_o and_o so_o unless_o i_o be_v sure_a that_o the_o cosmography_n or_o universal_a map_n of_o nature_n be_v perfect_o delineate_v on_o my_o understanding_n i_o can_v positive_o affirm_v that_o such_o or_o such_o a_o be_v do_v not_o actual_o exist_v so_o that_o as_o a_o great_a divine_a of_o our_o own_o have_v well_o observe_v upon_o this_o very_a argument_n after_o all_o that_o can_v be_v say_v against_o a_o thing_n this_o will_n still_o be_v true_a that_o many_o thing_n possible_o be_v which_o we_o know_v not_o of_o and_o that_o many_o thing_n more_o may_v be_v than_o be_v for_o unless_o our_o understanding_n be_v extend_v to_o the_o whole_a compass_n of_o nature_n there_o may_v be_v for_o all_o we_o know_v ten_o thousand_o thing_n in_o nature_n which_o be_v not_o in_o our_o understanding_n so_o that_o concern_v pure_a negative_n we_o can_v never_o be_v certain_a unless_o the_o thing_n which_o they_o deny_v be_v absolute_o impossible_a and_o imply_v in_o the_o very_a notion_n of_o their_o existence_n a_o plain_a contradiction_n which_o can_v be_v say_v of_o the_o existence_n of_o god_n for_o by_o god_n we_o mean_v nothing_o but_o a_o be_v endow_v with_o all_o possible_a perfection_n and_o to_o say_v that_o it_o be_v impossible_a that_o there_o shall_v be_v any_o such_o be_v as_o be_v endow_v with_o all_o the_o perfection_n that_o it_o be_v possible_a for_o a_o be_v to_o be_v endow_v with_o be_v to_o assert_v possibility_n impossible_a which_o be_v a_o contradiction_n in_o term_n since_o therefore_o this_o negative_a that_o there_o be_v no_o god_n deny_v that_o which_o be_v possible_a in_o its_o nature_n and_o which_o imply_v not_o the_o least_o shadow_n of_o contradiction_n it_o be_v impossible_a suppose_v it_o be_v true_a for_o any_o finite_a understanding_n to_o be_v certain_a of_o it_o what_o man_n in_o his_o wit_n then_o will_v ever_o presume_v to_o deny_v the_o be_v of_o god_n and_o to_o stake_v his_o everlasting_a fate_n on_o it_o when_o he_o know_v beforehand_o that_o he_o can_v be_v sure_a that_o his_o denial_n be_v true_a and_o that_o if_o it_o prove_v false_a he_o be_v lose_v for_o ever_o alas_o what_o be_v this_o but_o to_o throw_v dice_n for_o our_o soul_n and_o to_o venture_v our_o salvation_n on_o a_o wild_a uncertainty_n ii_o the_o atheist_n conclude_v for_o a_o pure_a negative_a upon_o a_o bare_a possibility_n one_o will_v think_v in_o a_o matter_n of_o such_o infinite_a moment_n man_n shall_v at_o least_o be_v so_o wise_a as_o not_o to_o conclude_v without_o strong_a probability_n where_o they_o can_v find_v no_o certainty_n to_o rely_v on_o but_o so_o desperate_o foolhardy_a be_v the_o atheist_n as_o to_o suspend_v his_o faith_n and_o with_o that_o his_o salvation_n upon_o the_o bare_a possibility_n that_o there_o may_v be_v no_o god_n for_o when_o he_o be_v urge_v with_o those_o argument_n of_o god_n be_v that_o be_v draw_v from_o the_o beautiful_a contrivance_n of_o the_o world_n he_o have_v no_o other_o way_n to_o evade_v they_o but_o by_o endeavour_v to_o demonstrate_v how_o by_o the_o necessary_a law_n of_o matter_n and_o motion_n thing_n may_v possible_o be_v shuffle_v together_o as_o they_o be_v without_o the_o agency_n and_o direction_n of_o a_o god_n and_o yet_o even_o in_o this_o attempt_n so_o many_o inextricable_a difficulty_n present_v themselves_o as_o have_v puzzle_v and_o confound_v the_o acute_a wit_n that_o be_v ever_o engage_v in_o it_o and_o while_o with_o all_o their_o art_n and_o contrivance_n they_o have_v be_v frame_v their_o hypothesis_n of_o the_o existence_n of_o this_o world_n without_o a_o god_n they_o have_v be_v force_v not_o only_o to_o beg_v some_o principle_n but_o also_o to_o assert_v other_o