in_o search_v for_o truth_n we_o must_v implore_v his_o help_n who_o be_v the_o god_n of_o truth_n who_o word_n be_v the_o word_n of_o truth_n and_o who_o spirit_n be_v the_o guide_n into_o truth_n that_o he_o will_v free_v our_o mind_n from_o all_o prejudices_fw-la and_o corrupt_a affection_n and_o from_o every_o thing_n which_o obstruct_v a_o right_a understanding_n if_o we_o lack_v wisdom_n we_o must_v ask_v it_o of_o god_n who_o give_v his_o holy_a spirit_n to_o they_o that_o ask_v he_o and_o now_o i_o dare_v appeal_n to_o all_o that_o read_v these_o paper_n if_o it_o have_v not_o be_v to_o the_o unspeakable_a advantage_n of_o god_n church_n and_o the_o soul_n of_o man_n if_o all_o that_o profess_v christianity_n have_v inquire_v into_o the_o controversy_n of_o religion_n so_o far_o as_o they_o be_v concern_v in_o they_o with_o these_o disposition_n that_o i_o have_v recommend_v and_o therefore_o i_o do_v the_o more_o earnest_o desire_v they_o to_o lay_v their_o hand_n upon_o 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thing_n to_o be_v bear_v down_o with_o peremptoriness_n or_o to_o be_v delude_v with_o colour_n they_o will_v be_v discourage_v from_o attempt_v to_o draw_v we_o into_o their_o net_n moreover_o it_o will_v be_v no_o little_a satisfaction_n to_o we_o when_o we_o be_v go_v out_o of_o the_o world_n that_o we_o have_v all_o along_o take_v due_a pain_n to_o inform_v ourselves_o in_o thing_n of_o the_o great_a concernment_n to_o we_o viz._n those_o which_o regard_v our_o everlasting_a salvation_n and_o that_o the_o error_n into_o which_o we_o may_v have_v fall_v be_v not_o to_o be_v impute_v to_o want_v of_o honest_a diligence_n in_o inquire_v after_o the_o truth_n but_o only_o to_o humane_a infirmity_n in_o the_o mean_a time_n we_o can_v have_v the_o conscience_n of_o sincerity_n upon_o good_a ground_n if_o we_o do_v not_o with_o diligence_n apply_v ourselves_o to_o know_v all_o our_o duty_n and_o consequent_o all_o that_o divine_a truth_n which_o be_v the_o rule_n of_o it_o or_o which_o 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world_n about_o religion_n to_o throw_v off_o all_o pretence_n to_o religion_n itself_o there_o must_v be_v heresy_n among_o you_o say_v st._n paul_n that_o they_o which_o be_v approve_v may_v be_v make_v manifest_a to_o which_o we_o may_v add_v that_o by_o honest_a endeavour_n to_o be_v right_o inform_v in_o matter_n of_o religion_n we_o do_v in_o some_o measure_n qualify_v ourselves_o for_o the_o happiness_n of_o another_o life_n and_o show_v that_o we_o be_v dispose_v heavenwards_o and_o desirous_a of_o that_o infinitely-bet_a state_n of_o thing_n where_o darkness_n and_o error_n shall_v be_v do_v away_o for_o one_o great_a part_n of_o the_o reward_n promise_v in_o a_o better_a life_n be_v that_o we_o shall_v know_v divine_a thing_n more_o perfect_o there_o than_o we_o can_v do_v in_o this_o world_n but_o this_o can_v be_v
wrong_a way_n while_o they_o never_o use_v that_o liberty_n of_o examine_v the_o ground_n of_o their_o persuasion_n to_o which_o the_o church_n so_o vehement_o persuade_v they_o by_o her_o minister_n if_o it_o be_v urge_v that_o when_o a_o man_n set_v himself_o with_o honesty_n and_o diligence_n to_o examine_v the_o case_n of_o communion_n with_o the_o church_n and_o do_v all_o that_o he_o can_v to_o inform_v himself_o aright_o in_o this_o matter_n but_o can_v be_v satisfy_v that_o he_o may_v lawful_o conform_v and_o this_o through_o mere_a weakness_n of_o understanding_n it_o be_v not_o reasonable_a that_o he_o shall_v suffer_v any_o thing_n for_o that_o it_o may_v be_v say_v on_o the_o other_o side_n that_o there_o be_v many_o more_o who_o fail_v of_o understand_v their_o duty_n in_o this_o kind_n for_o want_v of_o examination_n and_o inquiry_n and_o through_o the_o prevalency_n of_o prejudice_n and_o passion_n than_o there_o be_v of_o those_o who_o continue_v erroneous_o persuade_v through_o mere_a weakness_n of_o understanding_n but_o as_o for_o those_o who_o in_o perfect_a weakness_n remain_v unconvince_v if_o i_o may_v suppose_v any_o such_o i_o wish_v the_o law_n can_v distinguish_v they_o from_o the_o rest_n and_o that_o they_o can_v be_v know_v by_o some_o visible_a character_n that_o they_o may_v be_v exempt_v from_o undergo_a any_o penalty_n but_o since_o this_o can_v be_v it_o must_v be_v endure_v that_o a_o few_o or_o none_o in_o comparison_n come_v to_o have_v hard_a measure_n by_o mean_n of_o that_o which_o be_v necessary_a for_o the_o common_a and_o public_a good_a §_o 4._o have_v premise_v thus_o much_o concern_v this_o subject_n i_o shall_v proceed_v in_o this_o method_n follow_v i._o to_o consider_v in_o what_o case_n we_o be_v to_o inquire_v most_o of_o all_o into_o the_o truth_n ii_o to_o show_v how_o or_o by_o what_o rule_n or_o test_n we_o be_v to_o try_v and_o examine_v opinion_n in_o religion_n iii_o how_o we_o ought_v to_o be_v dispose_v and_o qualify_v that_o our_o inquiry_n may_v be_v profitable_a and_o successful_a iv._o to_o lay_v down_o some_o motive_n whereby_o to_o persuade_v man_n to_o such_o inquiry_n and_o examination_n v._o to_o consider_v what_o become_v we_o and_o be_v our_o duty_n after_o the_o discovery_n and_o knowledge_n of_o the_o truth_n i._o i_o shall_v consider_v in_o what_o case_n we_o ought_v to_o be_v most_o careful_a in_o make_v inquiry_n after_o the_o truth_n lest_o we_o be_v impose_v upon_o or_o mistake_v all_o inquiry_n about_o religion_n be_v either_o concern_v the_o truth_n of_o religion_n in_o the_o general_a or_o suppose_v the_o existence_n and_o providence_n of_o god_n which_o be_v the_o true_a religion_n whether_o the_o pagan_a or_o the_o jewish_a or_o the_o mahometan_a or_o the_o christian_a or_o the_o truth_n of_o the_o christian_a religion_n be_v grant_v what_o communion_n of_o man_n profess_v christianity_n be_v to_o be_v choose_v for_o instance_n whether_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n or_o the_o church_n of_o england_n or_o the_o communion_n of_o the_o dissenter_n who_o separate_v from_o this_o church_n but_o now_o all_o thing_n be_v not_o alike_o needful_a to_o be_v prove_v or_o be_v equal_o proper_a matter_n of_o inqniry_n for_o 1._o every_o man_n be_v not_o bind_v to_o know_v all_o the_o false_a way_n of_o religion_n that_o be_v in_o the_o world_n and_o therefore_o not_o to_o try_v and_o examine_v every_o one_o of_o they_o it_o be_v sufficient_a for_o most_o man_n that_o they_o well_o consider_v the_o faith_n and_o profession_n to_o which_o they_o have_v be_v educate_v that_o if_o it_o be_v the_o truth_n they_o may_v be_v wellgrounded_n in_o it_o if_o it_o be_v false_a that_o they_o may_v upon_o good_a reason_n depart_v from_o it_o 2._o thing_n that_o be_v self-evident_a need_v not_o to_o be_v examine_v for_o no_o argument_n can_v make_v they_o plain_o to_o we_o than_o they_o be_v already_o we_o may_v without_o any_o hesitation_n assent_v to_o such_o principle_n as_o these_o that_o god_n can_v lie_v that_o man_n ought_v to_o observe_v fidelity_n and_o justice_n to_o one_o another_o and_o the_o like_a if_o there_o be_v not_o some_o principle_n that_o need_v no_o prove_v it_o be_v impossible_a to_o prove_v any_o thing_n and_o the_o more_o plain_a any_o thing_n be_v in_o itself_o the_o less_o need_n there_o be_v to_o examine_v it_o if_o i_o be_o tell_v that_o white_a be_v black_a i_o shall_v not_o go_v about_o to_o disprove_v it_o because_o the_o thing_n be_v evident_o false_a of_o itself_o and_o i_o can_v use_v no_o argument_n that_o can_v make_v the_o matter_n plain_o than_o it_o be_v at_o first_o in_o like_a manner_n if_o any_o man_n pretend_v that_o there_o be_v no_o difference_n between_o vice_n and_o virtue_n but_o in_o name_n and_o that_o all_o thing_n be_v equal_o lawful_a this_o shall_v not_o put_v i_o to_o the_o trouble_n of_o examine_v the_o thing_n because_o it_o be_v contrary_a to_o the_o common_a sense_n of_o mankind_n and_o for_o this_o reason_n any_o man_n be_v to_o be_v excuse_v that_o dismiss_v the_o doctrine_n of_o transubstantiation_n without_o take_v much_o pain_n about_o it_o because_o upon_o a_o very_a little_a consideration_n there_o appear_v so_o many_o gross_a contradiction_n and_o inconsistency_n in_o it_o that_o i_o can_v have_v no_o great_a reason_n to_o believe_v any_o thing_n be_v true_a than_o i_o have_v to_o believe_v that_o be_v false_a 3._o some_o thing_n be_v hardly_o worth_a the_o examine_n and_o it_o signify_v little_a or_o nothing_o to_o understand_v the_o right_a side_n of_o the_o question_n if_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o immaculate_a conception_n of_o the_o virgin_n mary_n be_v true_a yet_o it_o be_v not_o worth_a a_o quarter_n of_o the_o pain_n they_o have_v take_v about_o it_o in_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n it_o be_v by_o no_o mean_n true_a that_o a_o infallible_a live_a judge_n be_v necessary_a upon_o earth_n and_o that_o for_o the_o decide_n of_o all_o controversy_n in_o religion_n since_o all_o such_o controversy_n be_v not_o necessary_a to_o be_v decide_v some_o of_o they_o be_v of_o so_o little_o concern_v to_o we_o that_o it_o be_v no_o great_a matter_n if_o they_o remain_v controversy_n to_o the_o world_n end_n but_o we_o ought_v to_o use_v our_o reason_n as_o well_o as_o we_o can_v to_o find_v out_o the_o truth_n in_o all_o those_o case_n wherein_o it_o will_v be_v dangerous_a to_o be_v deceive_v and_o therefore_o in_o these_o four_o first_o when_o any_o man_n or_o company_n of_o man_n will_v gain_v we_o over_o to_o their_o way_n by_o lofty_a and_o extraordinary_a pretence_n second_o when_o doctrine_n be_v propound_v to_o we_o with_o considerable_a authority_n which_o seem_v to_o encourage_v licentiousness_n and_o to_o render_v all_o care_n of_o live_v well_o needless_a three_o when_o we_o be_v tempt_v to_o separate_v from_o the_o communion_n of_o the_o establish_a church_n where_o we_o live_v or_o if_o we_o be_v in_o a_o state_n of_o 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thing_n into_o question_n which_o be_v set_v off_o with_o such_o highflown_a pretence_n for_o from_o hence_o it_o have_v come_v to_o pass_v that_o superstition_n and_o idolatry_n enthusiasm_n and_o imposture_n have_v prevail_v so_o much_o in_o the_o world_n it_o be_v somewhat_o strange_a that_o we_o shall_v believe_v man_n the_o more_o for_o that_o very_a reason_n upon_o which_o we_o shall_v believe_v they_o less_o that_o be_v for_o magnify_v themselves_o and_o yet_o if_o this_o have_v not_o be_v common_a mahomet_n have_v not_o impose_v upon_o so_o great_a a_o part_n of_o the_o world_n nor_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n upon_o so_o great_a a_o part_n of_o christendom_n nor_o our_o enthusiast_n upon_o so_o many_o people_n in_o england_n as_o they_o have_v i_o will_v not_o be_v backward_o to_o give_v that_o man_n a_o hear_n that_o
understanding_n for_o when_o hypocrite_n have_v for_o their_o worldly_a interest_n debauch_a religion_n in_o this_o manner_n they_o know_v that_o the_o mean_a people_n will_v never_o swallow_v their_o gross_a absurdity_n unless_o they_o can_v first_o prevail_v with_o they_o to_o believe_v that_o it_o be_v a_o dangerous_a thing_n to_o trust_v their_o own_o eye_n or_o to_o hearken_v to_o any_o discourse_n from_o principle_n of_o reason_n though_o it_o be_v never_o so_o clear_a and_o strong_a and_o that_o it_o be_v a_o kind_n of_o merit_n to_o believe_v thing_n incredible_a and_o to_o stick_v to_o a_o conclusion_n the_o fast_o the_o more_o impossible_a it_o seem_v to_o be_v true_a but_o by_o the_o way_n if_o reason_n be_v one_o and_o that_o the_o first_o mean_n by_o which_o we_o be_v to_o judge_v for_o ourselves_o in_o matter_n of_o religion_n as_o i_o shall_v make_v bold_a to_o say_v it_o be_v i_o shall_v vehement_o suspect_v without_o far_a examination_n that_o they_o know_v their_o 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it_o require_v nothing_o more_o than_o common_a sense_n and_o common_a honesty_n to_o understand_v it_o and_o it_o be_v very_o reasonable_a to_o suppose_v that_o god_n have_v reveal_v all_o point_n necessary_a to_o salvation_n so_o clear_o and_o plain_o that_o it_o be_v not_o difficult_a for_o a_o honest_a man_n to_o understand_v what_o they_o be_v but_o because_o there_o be_v many_o obscure_a place_n in_o the_o scripture_n we_o must_v be_v very_o careful_a not_o to_o ground_v any_o doctrine_n upon_o they_o till_o we_o have_v well_o weigh_v and_o examine_v the_o meaning_n of_o those_o place_n and_o the_o way_n to_o be_v secure_a from_o any_o dangerous_a mistake_n in_o conclude_v from_o place_n of_o scripture_n that_o be_v more_o or_o less_o hard_a to_o be_v understand_v be_v to_o observe_v such_o caution_n as_o these_o be_v which_o i_o think_v all_o christian_n must_v allow_v to_o be_v reasonable_a 1._o that_o we_o take_v no_o text_n in_o a_o sense_n which_o be_v repugnant_a to_o 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