A sermon against the anti-Scripturists also another concerning the sinfulness, danger, and remedies of infidelity, preached at White-Hall / by Seth Lord Bishop of Sarum.
         Ward, Seth, 1617-1689.
      
       
         
           1670
        
      
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             A sermon against the anti-Scripturists also another concerning the sinfulness, danger, and remedies of infidelity, preached at White-Hall / by Seth Lord Bishop of Sarum.
             Ward, Seth, 1617-1689.
          
           70, [4], 52, [1] p.
           
             Printed by J.M. for James Collins ...,
             London :
             1670.
          
           
             Each sermon has special t.p. and separate paging.
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             Wing W827 (A sermon against the anti-Scripturists) and W819 (Concerning the sinfulness) appear bound together at reels 402:31 and 905:4.
             Reproduction of original in Huntington Library.
             On reel 905:3, W827 incorrectly called W812.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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           Bible. -- N.T. -- Timothy, 2nd, III, 16 -- Sermons.
           Bible. -- O.T. -- Hebrews III, 12 -- Sermons.
           Sermons, English -- 17th century.
        
      
    
     
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           A
           SERMON
           Against
           the
           ANTI-SCRIPTURISTS
           .
           ALSO
           Another
           concerning
           the
           Sinfulness
           ,
           Danger
           ,
           and
           Remedies
           OF
           INFIDELITY
           .
           Preached
           at
           WHITE-HALL
           .
           BY
           SETH
           Lord
           Bishop
           of
           Sarum
           .
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           Printed
           by
           
             J.
             M.
          
           for
           
             James
             Collins
          
           ,
           at
           the
           Kings-Head
           in
           Westminster-Hall
           ,
           MDCLXX
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
           
             
             
             
               Against
               the
               ANTI-SCRIPTURISTS
               .
               A
               SERMON
               Preached
               at
               WHITE-HALL
               ,
               February
               20.
               1669
               
               /
               70.
               
               BY
               SETH
               Lord
               Bishop
               of
               Sarum
               .
            
             
               Printed
               by
               His
               Majesties
               Special
               Command
               .
            
             
               LONDON
               ,
               Printed
               by
               
                 J.
                 M.
              
               for
               
                 James
                 Collins
              
               ,
               at
               the
               Kings-Head
               in
               Westminster-Hall
               ,
               MDCLXX
               .
            
          
        
         
           
             
             
             
               
                 2
                 Tim.
                 3.16
                 .
              
               
                 All
                 Scripture
                 is
                 given
                 by
                 Inspiration
                 of
                 God.
                 
              
            
             
               IN
               the
               verse
               preceding
               ,
               it
               is
               said
               concerning
               the
               Scriptures
               of
               the
               
                 Old
                 Testament
              
               ,
               that
               they
               are
               able
               to
               make
               a
               man
               wise
               unto
               salvation
               ,
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               (
               by
               the
               faith
               which
               is
               in
               Jesus
               Christ
               )
               :
               And
               it
               follows
               immediately
               ,
               
                 All
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 &c.
              
               
            
             
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               (
               the
               Faith
               )
               is
               often
               by
               a
               Metonymy
               taken
               for
               the
               Gospel
               ,
               which
               is
               the
               Object
               of
               the
               Faith
               of
               Christians
               .
               We
               read
               often
               of
               the
               a
               Preaching
               ,
               and
               b
               Hearing
               of
               Faith
               ;
               of
               the
               c
               Analogie
               of
               Faith
               ,
               d
               the
               
                 common
                 Faith
              
               e
               
                 which
                 was
                 once
                 delivered
                 to
                 the
                 Saints
              
               (
               in
               the
               preaching
               of
               Christ
               ,
               and
               the
               Writings
               of
               his
               Evangelists
               and
               Apostles
               )
               and
               so
               I
               conceive
               it
               is
               to
               be
               taken
               in
               this
               place
               .
               
               So
               that
               the
               meaning
               of
               the
               whole
               is
               this
               ,
               The
               
                 Old
                 Testament
                 understood
              
               and
               expounded
               according
               to
               the
               Analogy
               of
               the
               New
               ,
               is
               able
               to
               make
               a
               man
               wise
               .
               And
               the
               Pen-men
               of
               the
               Canonical
               Books
               of
               the
               
                 Old
                 Testament
              
               (
               wherein
               Timothy
               had
               been
               instructed
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               )
               and
               
                 of
                 the
                 Books
              
               of
               the
               
                 New
                 Testament
              
               (
               which
               except
               those
               of
               S.
               John
               were
               extant
               before
               the
               writing
               of
               this
               Epistle
               )
               were
               inspired
               and
               directed
               by
               the
               Spirit
               of
               God.
               
            
             
               The
               words
               of
               the
               Text
               are
               an
               
                 entire
                 Proposition
                 ,
                 asserting
              
               the
               Divine
               Authority
               of
               
                 the
                 Canon
              
               of
               Scripture
               ;
               and
               my
               endeavour
               shall
               be
               at
               this
               time
               to
               prove
               the
               truth
               of
               that
               Proposition
               .
               Wherein
               ,
               that
               I
               may
               proceed
               with
               all
               plainness
               and
               clearness
               ,
               I
               shall
               premise
               two
               words
               by
               way
               of
               Petition
               ,
               Precaution
               .
            
             
               1.
               
               
                 By
                 way
                 of
                 Petition
              
               ,
               I
               suppose
               and
               take
               for
               granted
               ;
               
                 
                   1.
                   
                   The
                   great
                   principle
                   of
                   the
                   power
                   of
                   God
                   ,
                   and
                   his
                   providence
                   in
                   governing
                   the
                   world
                   .
                
                 
                   2.
                   
                   That
                   
                     our
                     Body
                     of
                     Canonical
                     
                     Books
                  
                   of
                   the
                   
                     Old
                     Testament
                  
                   ,
                   is
                   the
                   same
                   with
                   that
                   which
                   was
                   in
                   Vse
                   in
                   the
                   time
                   of
                   Christ
                   and
                   his
                   Apostles
                   ,
                   And
                   
                     our
                     body
                  
                   of
                   the
                   New
                   Testament
                   the
                   same
                   which
                   was
                   
                     anciently
                     received
                  
                   in
                   the
                   Church
                   .
                   So
                   that
                   what
                   shall
                   be
                   
                     proved
                     of
                     those
                  
                   ,
                   is
                   applicable
                   to
                   the
                   Original
                   Scripture
                   used
                   in
                   our
                   time
                   .
                
                 
                   3.
                   
                   That
                   
                     those
                     Books
                     of
                     New
                     Testament
                  
                   whose
                   Authors
                   were
                   not
                   
                     anciently
                     questioned
                  
                   ,
                   were
                   Written
                   by
                   those
                   Authors
                   whose
                   Name
                   they
                   bear
                   .
                   And
                   
                     that
                     those
                  
                   few
                   others
                   which
                   were
                   sometimes
                   questioned
                   by
                   some
                   particular
                   Churches
                   ,
                   and
                   afterward
                   
                     Vniversally
                     received
                  
                   ,
                   contain
                   in
                   them
                   no
                   
                     one
                     point
                  
                   of
                   Faith
                   or
                   Manners
                   dissentient
                   from
                   the
                   Contents
                   of
                   those
                   Books
                   which
                   were
                   never
                   questioned
                   .
                
              
            
             
               2.
               
               By
               way
               of
               Precaution
               and
               Admonition
               I
               must
               intreat
               you
               to
               
                 take
                 notice
              
               ,
               that
               I
               shall
               not
               now
               meddle
               with
               
               the
               Controversies
               concerning
               
                 Apocrypha
                 ,
                 Translations
                 ,
                 Keri
              
               and
               
                 Chetib
                 ,
                 Hebrew
                 points
                 ,
                 various
                 Lections
                 ,
                 dubious
                 Authors
              
               or
               
                 parts
                 of
                 Scripture
              
               .
            
             
               But
               my
               endeavour
               at
               this
               time
               shall
               be
               to
               Assert
               the
               Divine
               Authority
               of
               the
               body
               and
               substance
               of
               the
               Original
               Books
               of
               the
               Canon
               of
               the
               Old
               and
               New
               Testament
               :
               And
               this
               not
               in
               the
               way
               of
               
                 common
                 place
              
               ,
               but
               in
               a
               particular
               Examination
               or
               Refutation
               of
               the
               most
               dangerous
               Opinions
               of
               the
               Anti-scripturists
               ,
               which
               are
               these
               .
            
             
               I.
               Of
               those
               who
               pretend
               to
               believe
               the
               truth
               of
               the
               
                 New
                 Testament
              
               ,
               and
               yet
               they
               deny
               the
               
                 Divine
                 Authority
              
               of
               the
               Old.
               
            
             
               II.
               Of
               those
               who
               pretend
               to
               believe
               the
               truth
               ,
               but
               deny
               the
               
                 divine
                 Authority
              
               of
               the
               
                 New
                 Testament
              
               .
            
             
               III.
               Of
               such
               as
               pretend
               to
               believe
               matters
               of
               fact
               to
               have
               been
               truly
               related
               in
               the
               
                 New
                 Testament
              
               ,
               but
               do
               not
               believe
               the
               truth
               of
               the
               Doctrinal
               parts
               relating
               to
               Faith
               and
               Manners
               .
            
             
               IV.
               Such
               as
               deny
               the
               truth
               of
               the
               Relation
               of
               matters
               of
               Fact
               in
               the
               
               New
               Testament
               ,
               and
               in
               
                 consequence
                 reject
              
               the
               whole
               Body
               of
               Scripture
               .
               Of
               these
               as
               briefly
               and
               plainly
               as
               I
               can
               .
            
             
               I.
               The
               first
               Opinion
               is
               of
               those
               ,
               who
               pretending
               to
               believe
               the
               Truth
               of
               the
               
                 New
                 Testament
                 ,
                 deny
              
               the
               
                 Divine
                 Authority
              
               of
               the
               
                 Old
                 Testament
              
               .
               The
               Severians
               ,
               and
               the
               
                 Manichees
                 ,
                 Basilides
              
               ,
               and
               Carpocrates
               of
               old
               :
               The
               Catabaptists
               of
               later
               times
               ,
               some
               
                 Anabaptists
                 ,
                 Antinomians
              
               ,
               and
               other
               Fanatical
               Sectaries
               amongst
               our selves
               .
            
             
               In
               opposition
               to
               these
               ,
               I
               shall
               shew
               ,
               that
               supposing
               the
               truth
               of
               the
               
                 New
                 Testament
              
               ,
               the
               
                 Divine
                 Authority
              
               of
               the
               
                 Old
                 Testament
              
               is
               to
               be
               acknowledged
               :
               Because
               the
               
                 Divine
                 Authority
              
               of
               the
               
                 Old
                 Testament
              
               is
               asserted
               by
               Christ
               and
               his
               Evangelists
               and
               Apostles
               in
               the
               New.
               
            
             
               1.
               
               Next
               to
               the
               Redemption
               of
               the
               world
               ,
               the
               great
               business
               which
               Christ
               had
               to
               do
               upon
               Earth
               ,
               was
               to
               Convince
               men
               that
               he
               was
               the
               Messias
               ,
               and
               so
               to
               assert
               his
               
                 Legislative
                 Authority
              
               .
               And
               the
               great
               Argument
               which
               he
               
               used
               for
               the
               conviction
               of
               the
               world
               was
               this
               .
            
             
               All
               the
               Marks
               and
               the
               entire
               Character
               of
               the
               Messiah
               ,
               and
               of
               his
               Actions
               and
               Passions
               ,
               were
               prefigured
               and
               foretold
               by
               the
               Law
               and
               the
               Prophets
               ,
               and
               the
               
                 Psalms
                 ,
                 i.
                 e.
              
               in
               the
               Volume
               of
               the
               
                 Old
                 Testament
              
               .
            
             
               And
               
                 all
                 things
              
               foretold
               or
               prefigured
               concerning
               the
               Messiah
               ,
               were
               accomplished
               by
               himself
               .
            
             
               So
               that
               though
               the
               
                 great
                 Works
              
               of
               Christ
               ,
               and
               the
               purity
               and
               excellency
               of
               his
               Doctrine
               ,
               and
               of
               his
               Life
               were
               of
               themselves
               sufficient
               to
               justifie
               the
               Introduction
               of
               his
               Law
               into
               the
               World
               ,
               yet
               he
               was
               pleased
               to
               resolve
               (
               as
               it
               were
               )
               his
               own
               Authority
               into
               the
               
                 Divine
                 Authority
              
               of
               the
               Old
               Testament
               ,
               and
               to
               make
               use
               of
               those
               other
               manifestations
               of
               himself
               ,
               in
               a
               co-ordination
               with
               that
               principle
               .
            
             
               And
               therefore
               we
               find
               him
               still
               pressing
               the
               Jews
               with
               this
               ,
               that
               if
               they
               did
               believe
               the
               Writings
               of
               Moses
               ,
               and
               their
               other
               Scriptures
               ,
               they
               must
               of
               necessity
               believe
               him
               also
               .
            
             
               
               Moses
               wrote
               of
               me
               (
               saith
               he
               )
               
               wherefore
               ,
               did
               ye
               believe
               Moses
               ,
               ye
               would
               believe
               me
               .
               The
               
                 Scriptures
                 testifie
              
               of
               me
               ,
               therefore
               search
               them
               diligently
               ,
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               .
               
               For
               the
               attaining
               of
               
                 everlasting
                 life
              
               he
               refers
               the
               Lawyer
               to
               the
               Law
               ,
               
               
                 What
                 is
                 written
                 in
                 the
                 Law
                 ?
                 how
                 readest
                 thou
              
               ?
               For
               the
               avoiding
               of
               the
               
                 place
                 of
                 torments
              
               ,
               
               he
               makes
               Abraham
               refer
               the
               Relations
               of
               Dives
               to
               Moses
               and
               the
               Prophets
               .
            
             
               In
               all
               his
               Disputations
               with
               the
               Pharisees
               and
               Sadduces
               ,
               the
               Lawyers
               and
               the
               Scribes
               ,
               he
               makes
               his
               appeal
               to
               the
               Scriptures
               of
               the
               Old
               Testament
               .
               And
               lest
               any
               one
               should
               think
               that
               in
               all
               this
               he
               did
               only
               argue
               
                 ad
                 homines
              
               (
               that
               disputing
               with
               the
               Jews
               he
               only
               proceeded
               upon
               their
               own
               Hypothesis
               )
               we
               find
               him
               in
               the
               course
               of
               his
               Ministration
               positively
               asserting
               ,
               
               that
               the
               Scriptures
               must
               be
               fulfilled
               ;
               
               that
               they
               cannot
               be
               broken
               ;
               that
               he
               
                 came
                 not
              
               to
               destroy
               the
               Law
               and
               the
               Prophets
               ,
               
               but
               to
               fullfil
               them
               ;
               and
               that
               Heaven
               and
               Earth
               shall
               pass
               away
               ,
               before
               one
               jot
               or
               tittle
               of
               these
               should
               perish
               ,
               until
               all
               
               was
               fulfilled
               .
               Thus
               he
               asserted
               the
               Authority
               of
               the
               Old
               Testament
               before
               his
               death
               .
            
             
               And
               after
               his
               Resurrection
               he
               made
               a
               real
               demonstration
               that
               the
               Old
               Testament
               was
               given
               by
               inspiration
               of
               God
               ;
               for
               
                 on
                 the
                 day
              
               of
               his
               Resurrection
               ,
               falling
               into
               company
               of
               two
               of
               his
               Disciples
               ,
               going
               to
               Emmaus
               :
               
               He
               began
               at
               Moses
               and
               all
               the
               Prophets
               ,
               and
               expounded
               to
               them
               
                 in
                 all
                 the
                 Scriptures
              
               the
               things
               concerning
               himself
               .
            
             
               And
               afterward
               when
               the
               Eleven
               were
               come
               together
               ,
               as
               a
               
                 recapitulation
                 of
                 this
              
               his
               method
               ,
               and
               that
               he
               might
               instruct
               his
               Disciples
               in
               it
               ,
               he
               said
               unto
               them
               ,
               
               
                 These
                 were
                 the
                 words
                 which
                 I
                 spake
                 unto
                 you
                 ,
                 while
                 I
                 was
                 yet
                 with
                 you
                 ,
                 that
                 all
                 things
                 must
                 be
                 fulfilled
                 ,
              
               which
               were
               written
               in
               the
               
                 Law
                 of
                 Moses
              
               ,
               and
               in
               the
               Prophets
               ,
               and
               in
               the
               
                 Psalms
                 (
                 in
                 the
                 Volume
                 of
                 Old
                 Testament
                 )
              
               concerning
               me
               .
               He
               opened
               their
               understandings
               ,
               and
               said
               ,
               thus
               it
               is
               written
               ,
               and
               thus
               it
               behoved
               :
               And
               as
               a
               short
               Idea
               of
               wh●t
               they
               were
               to
               do
               ,
               he
               tells
               them
               ,
               
               and
               
                 ye
                 are
                 Witnesses
              
               of
               these
               things
               .
            
             
               2.
               
               
                 In
                 pursuance
              
               of
               this
               method
               we
               find
               the
               Evangelists
               very
               curious
               ,
               and
               very
               frequent
               in
               observing
               the
               accomplishment
               of
               the
               Prescriptions
               of
               the
               Old
               Testament
               ,
               reciting
               sometimes
               the
               speeches
               of
               Christ
               ,
               saying
               ,
               that
               he
               did
               such
               ,
               or
               such
               a
               thing
               ,
               to
               the
               end
               that
               the
               Scriptures
               might
               be
               fulfilled
               :
               
                 I
                 will
                 not
                 eat
                 of
                 the
                 fruit
                 of
                 the
                 Vine
                 till
                 all
                 things
                 be
                 fulfilled
                 .
              
            
             
               Sometimes
               in
               their
               
                 own
                 Persons
              
               observing
               the
               accomplishment
               of
               particulars
               ,
               and
               noting
               either
               
                 particular
                 portions
              
               of
               Scriptures
               which
               were
               fulfilled
               ,
               or
               the
               fulfilling
               of
               the
               
                 Scriptures
                 cited
                 at
                 large
              
               ,
               without
               any
               particular
               Quotation
               .
               Thus
               the
               Evangelists
               writing
               of
               the
               a
               Conception
               ,
               b
               Nativity
               ,
               c
               Name
               of
               Christ
               ,
               d
               of
               his
               coming
               out
               of
               Egypt
               ,
               e
               dwelling
               at
               Nazareth
               ,
               f
               migration
               to
               Capernaum
               ,
               g
               riding
               to
               Jerusalem
               :
               Say
               that
               these
               things
               were
               done
               that
               the
               Scriptures
               (
               or
               the
               saying
               of
               the
               Prophet
               )
               
                 at
                 large
              
               might
               be
               fulfilled
               :
               So
               likewise
               for
               the
               circumstances
               of
               his
               Passion
               ,
               
               the
               h
               flight
               of
               his
               Disciples
               ,
               i
               casting
               lots
               upon
               his
               Garments
               ,
               k
               Vinegar
               given
               him
               to
               drink
               ,
               l
               piercing
               his
               side
               ,
               m
               bones
               remaining
               unbroken
               ,
               &c.
               
            
             
               
                 Other
                 times
              
               they
               note
               the
               
                 particular
                 Prophet
              
               ,
               Christ
               n
               healed
               Diseases
               ,
               o
               spoke
               in
               Parables
               ,
               and
               that
               the
               saying
               of
               Isaiah
               the
               Prophet
               might
               be
               fulfilled
               .
               p
               When
               Herod
               slew
               the
               Children
               ,
               then
               was
               fulfilled
               that
               which
               was
               spoken
               by
               Jeremy
               the
               Prophet
               ,
               
                 Rachel
                 weeping
                 for
                 her
                 Children
                 ,
                 &c.
              
               and
               once
               we
               find
               a
               quotation
               of
               the
               second
               Psalm
               ,
               and
               the
               like
               :
               
                 This
                 for
                 the
                 Evangelists
              
               .
            
             
               3.
               
               Lastly
               ,
               the
               Divine
               Authority
               of
               the
               Old
               Testament
               is
               asserted
               by
               the
               Apostles
               :
               Whom
               we
               find
               every
               where
               in
               their
               Writings
               ,
               citing
               the
               Testimonies
               of
               the
               q
               Law
               and
               the
               r
               Prophets
               ,
               and
               the
               s
               
                 Psalms
                 ;
                 appealing
              
               to
               them
               ,
               u
               what
               saith
               the
               Scripture
               ?
               x
               the
               Scripture
               hath
               concluded
               so
               or
               
                 so
                 :
                 A●guing
              
               out
               of
               them
               ,
               oft
               times
               directly
               ;
               thus
               not
               only
               the
               Apostles
               but
               y
               Apollos
               mightily
               convinced
               the
               Jews
               ,
               sometimes
               
                 ab
                 absurdo
              
               ,
               z
               do
               ye
               think
               the
               Scripture
               speaks
               in
               vain
               ?
            
             
             
               In
               a
               word
               ,
               the
               Apostles
               followed
               the
               way
               and
               method
               which
               their
               
                 Master
                 taught
              
               them
               ;
               they
               asserted
               that
               the
               Gospel
               was
               a
               promised
               by
               the
               Prophets
               ,
               b
               witnessed
               by
               the
               Law
               and
               the
               Prophets
               :
               c
               by
               all
               the
               Prophets
               .
               Affirming
               of
               themselves
               ,
               that
               they
               believed
               d
               all
               things
               written
               in
               the
               Law
               and
               in
               the
               Prophets
               :
               and
               that
               they
               continued
               testifying
               and
               saying
               e
               
                 no
                 other
              
               things
               than
               the
               Prophets
               and
               Moses
               did
               say
               should
               come
               .
            
             
               Finally
               ,
               lest
               any
               place
               should
               be
               left
               for
               doubting
               concerning
               
                 any
                 part
              
               of
               the
               Old
               Testament
               ,
               the
               Apostles
               have
               expresly
               asserted
               concerning
               the
               f
               Law
               ,
               that
               it
               is
               holy
               ,
               just
               ,
               and
               good
               ;
               g
               that
               the
               Prophets
               are
               holy
               ,
               and
               h
               the
               Scriptures
               holy
               ;
               that
               they
               are
               the
               i
               Oracles
               of
               God
               ,
               k
               
                 lively
                 Oracles
              
               ;
               that
               l
               God
               spake
               by
               the
               Prophets
               ;
               m
               that
               
                 holy
                 men
              
               of
               God
               spake
               as
               they
               were
               moved
               by
               the
               
                 Holy
                 Ghost
                 .
                 Lastly
              
               ,
               (
               in
               the
               Text
               )
               that
               the
               n
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               ,
               wherein
               Timothy
               had
               been
               instituted
               by
               his
               Mother
               ,
               were
               given
               by
               inspiration
               of
               God.
               
            
             
               This
               is
               the
               sense
               of
               the
               
                 New
                 Testament
              
               
               concerning
               the
               
                 Old
                 Testament
                 ;
                 supposing
              
               therefore
               the
               Truth
               of
               the
               
                 New
                 Testament
              
               ,
               the
               
                 Divine
                 Authority
              
               of
               the
               
                 Old
                 Testament
                 is
                 to
                 be
                 acknowledged
                 ,
              
               contrary
               to
               the
               first
               Opinion
               of
               the
               Anti-scripturists
               .
            
             
               II.
               The
               Second
               Anti-scriptural
               Opinion
               is
               of
               those
               who
               pretend
               to
               believe
               the
               Truth
               ,
               but
               they
               deny
               or
               doubt
               the
               
                 Divine
                 Authority
              
               of
               the
               
                 New
                 Testament
                 ,
                 either
              
               of
               the
               
                 whole
                 body
              
               of
               the
               New
               Testament
               ,
               or
               at
               least
               of
               
                 that
                 part
                 which
                 delivers
                 the
                 Speeches
                 and
                 Writings
                 of
                 the
                 Apostles
                 .
              
            
             
               Of
               this
               sort
               there
               are
               said
               to
               be
               many
               ,
               who
               by
               the
               power
               and
               influence
               of
               their
               Education
               are
               restrained
               from
               denying
               or
               dis-believing
               the
               Truth
               of
               the
               New
               Testament
               ,
               and
               yet
               through
               the
               infelicity
               of
               
                 corrupt
                 conversation
              
               are
               fallen
               from
               that
               Veneration
               which
               is
               due
               to
               writings
               supposed
               to
               be
               of
               
                 Divine
                 Authority
              
               .
            
             
               For
               the
               History
               of
               the
               New
               Testament
               they
               have
               the
               same
               respect
               which
               they
               have
               for
               Tacitus
               or
               Salust
               ,
               or
               some
               such
               
                 other
                 History
              
               ;
               for
               the
               Mystery
               
               of
               the
               Gospel
               ,
               the
               same
               which
               they
               have
               for
               some
               parts
               of
               Plato
               ,
               or
               remnants
               of
               Pythagoras
               .
               For
               the
               
                 practical
                 parts
              
               ,
               the
               same
               which
               they
               have
               for
               some
               parts
               of
               Cicero
               or
               Seneca
               ,
               or
               Epictetus
               .
               All
               which
               writings
               they
               believe
               to
               be
               true
               ,
               but
               no
               man
               believes
               them
               to
               be
               
                 Divine
                 .
                 And
                 some
                 there
                 are
              
               who
               pretend
               a
               great
               veneration
               for
               the
               speeches
               of
               Christ
               ,
               but
               have
               a
               
                 meaner
                 esteem
              
               for
               the
               words
               ,
               and
               writings
               of
               the
               Apostles
               .
            
             
               In
               opposition
               to
               these
               Opinions
               ,
               I
               shall
               shew
               ,
               that
               supposing
               the
               words
               of
               Christ
               and
               the
               Apostles
               to
               be
               True
               ,
               it
               will
               follow
               ,
               that
               they
               are
               to
               be
               esteemed
               to
               be
               of
               
                 Divine
                 Authority
              
               .
            
             
               
                 Because
                 Christ
                 and
                 the
                 Apostles
              
               did
               profess
               and
               declare
               ,
               that
               what
               they
               delivered
               to
               the
               world
               ,
               was
               of
               
                 Divine
                 Authority
              
               .
            
             
               And
               
                 because
                 our
                 Lord
                 Christ
              
               did
               undertake
               not
               only
               for
               himself
               ,
               but
               for
               the
               Inspiration
               of
               his
               Apostles
               also
               .
            
             
               1.
               
               In
               the
               examination
               of
               the
               next
               Opinion
               ,
               I
               shall
               be
               obliged
               to
               lay
               before
               you
               some
               of
               the
               evidences
               of
               
                 Divine
                 Authority
              
               in
               Christ
               and
               his
               
               Apostles
               ,
               here
               it
               is
               sufficient
               to
               produce
               their
               assertions
               of
               it
               .
            
             
               The
               time
               of
               our
               Lord
               Christs
               ministration
               (
               betwixt
               three
               and
               four
               years
               )
               was
               spent
               in
               preaching
               and
               working
               ,
               and
               his
               Authority
               was
               often
               questioned
               .
            
             
               In
               Luke
               20.1
               .
               and
               in
               the
               *
               parallel
               places
               ,
               
                 While
                 he
                 was
                 in
                 the
                 Temple
                 teaching
              
               the
               People
               ,
               and
               preaching
               the
               Gospel
               ,
               the
               
                 Chief
                 Priests
              
               and
               the
               Scribes
               and
               the
               
                 Elders
                 came
                 upon
                 him
              
               ,
               saying
               ,
               tell
               us
               by
               
                 what
                 Authority
              
               thou
               dost
               these
               things
               (
               preachest
               to
               the
               people
               )
               and
               who
               gave
               thee
               that
               Authority
               ?
            
             
               Knowing
               the
               perversness
               of
               their
               minds
               ,
               he
               was
               not
               pleased
               to
               gratifie
               them
               at
               that
               time
               with
               a
               direct
               answer
               ,
               but
               confounded
               them
               with
               a
               question
               concerning
               the
               Baptism
               of
               John.
               
            
             
               
                 But
                 at
                 Other
                 times
              
               ,
               upon
               Other
               occasions
               ,
               we
               find
               the
               Divine
               Authority
               of
               his
               teaching
               abundantly
               declared
               and
               asserted
               by
               him
               .
            
             
               a
               
                 I
                 am
              
               the
               way
               ,
               the
               truth
               and
               the
               life
               :
               b
               
                 The
                 words
              
               which
               I
               speak
               unto
               
               you
               they
               are
               spirit
               ,
               and
               they
               are
               life
               .
               c
               
                 The
                 words
              
               which
               I
               speak
               I
               speak
               not
               of
               my
               self
               ,
               but
               of
               the
               Father
               which
               dwelleth
               in
               me
               .
               d
               
                 My
                 Doctrine
              
               is
               not
               mine
               ,
               but
               his
               that
               sent
               me
               .
               e
               
                 I
                 do
                 nothing
              
               of
               my
               self
               ,
               but
               as
               my
               Father
               hath
               taught
               me
               so
               I
               speak
               .
               f
               
                 I
                 have
              
               not
               spoken
               of
               my
               self
               ,
               but
               the
               Father
               that
               sent
               me
               ,
               he
               gave
               me
               a
               Commandment
               what
               I
               should
               say
               ,
               and
               what
               I
               should
               speak
               .
               g
               Whatsoever
               I
               speak
               therefore
               ,
               even
               as
               the
               Father
               said
               unto
               me
               ,
               so
               I
               speak
               .
               h
               Heaven
               and
               Earth
               shall
               pass
               away
               ,
               
                 but
                 my
                 words
              
               shall
               not
               pass
               away
               .
            
             
               Thus
               did
               our
               Saviour
               assert
               the
               Divine
               Authority
               of
               his
               Words
               .
            
             
               2.
               
               
                 And
                 so
                 likewise
                 the
                 Apostles
              
               are
               very
               frequent
               in
               asserting
               the
               Divine
               Authority
               of
               the
               things
               which
               they
               delivered
               .
            
             
               
                 In
                 the
              
               15.
               of
               the
               Acts
               ,
               we
               find
               them
               assembled
               about
               the
               question
               of
               Circumcision
               ;
               and
               they
               accounted
               it
               
                 no
                 robbery
              
               to
               entitle
               their
               Decrees
               to
               the
               Holy
               Ghost
               ,
               
                 It
                 seemed
                 good
                 to
                 the
                 Holy
                 Ghost
                 ,
                 and
                 to
                 us
                 ,
                 v.
              
               18.
               
            
             
               
                 Nor
                 do
                 they
              
               pretend
               to
               revelation
               
               when
               gathered
               in
               
                 Council
                 only
              
               ,
               but
               each
               one
               severally
               for
               himself
               .
            
             
               
                 S.
                 Peter
              
               professes
               of
               himself
               ,
               that
               he
               was
               a
               a
               partaker
               of
               the
               glory
               which
               was
               revealed
               :
               And
               of
               his
               Gospel
               ,
               that
               it
               was
               b
               revealed
               from
               Heaven
               .
            
             
               
                 S.
                 John
                 declares
              
               that
               he
               had
               c
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               with
               the
               Father
               and
               the
               
                 Son
                 ;
                 as
                 for
                 his
              
               other
               writings
               ,
               that
               they
               contained
               the
               things
               d
               which
               he
               had
               heard
               and
               seen
               with
               his
               eyes
               ,
               which
               he
               had
               looked
               on
               ,
               and
               his
               hands
               had
               handled
               of
               the
               Word
               of
               life
               .
            
             
               
                 As
                 for
                 the
                 Apocalypse
              
               ,
               he
               professes
               ,
               that
               being
               in
               the
               Spirit
               in
               the
               
                 Isle
                 of
                 Patmos
              
               he
               received
               it
               ,
               e
               and
               was
               commanded
               to
               write
               it
               in
               a
               Book
               .
               f
            
             
               
                 The
                 greatest
                 writer
              
               among
               the
               Apostles
               was
               S.
               Paul
               ,
               and
               the
               
                 greatest
                 Question
              
               hath
               always
               been
               (
               amongst
               Unbelievers
               )
               concerning
               his
               Calling
               and
               the
               Authority
               of
               his
               Gospel
               .
            
             
               
                 He
                 knew
                 this
                 very
                 well
              
               ,
               and
               therefore
               we
               find
               him
               asserting
               both
               his
               Calling
               and
               his
               Gospel
               with
               abundant
               care
               and
               diligence
               .
            
             
               
                 He
                 affirms
              
               himself
               to
               have
               been
               
               
                 an
                 Apostle
              
               not
               a
               
                 of
                 man
              
               ,
               neither
               
                 by
                 man
                 ,
                 but
              
               by
               
                 Jesus
                 Christ
              
               ,
               and
               God
               the
               
                 Father
                 ;
                 That
                 by
              
               b
               God
               himself
               he
               was
               separated
               to
               preach
               ,
               constituted
               a
               Preacher
               ,
               an
               Apostle
               ,
               and
               a
               Defender
               of
               the
               
                 Gospel
                 .
                 As
                 concerning
                 his
                 Gospel
                 ,
              
               he
               professes
               to
               have
               c
               received
               it
               by
               Revelation
               of
               God.
               
            
             
               
                 As
                 for
                 the
                 Spirit
              
               wherewith
               he
               wrote
               and
               preached
               ,
               he
               professed
               himself
               d
               ready
               to
               give
               a
               
                 proof
                 of
                 Christ
                 speaking
              
               in
               him
               .
               He
               appealed
               to
               the
               Prophetick
               Spirit
               then
               in
               the
               Church
               ,
               e
               
                 If
                 any
                 man
                 think
                 himself
                 a
                 Prophet
                 or
                 Spiritual
                 ,
                 let
                 him
                 acknowledge
                 the
                 things
                 which
                 I
                 write
                 to
                 be
                 the
                 Commandments
                 of
                 God.
                 
              
            
             
               
                 Out
                 of
                 this
                 assurance
              
               it
               was
               that
               he
               enjoined
               his
               Epistles
               to
               be
               read
               in
               the
               Churches
               of
               f
               Coloss
               ,
               g
               Laodicea
               ,
               h
               Thessalonica
               ,
               and
               i
               excommunicates
               such
               as
               should
               be
               disobedient
               in
               that
               particular
               .
            
             
               
                 And
                 lest
                 any
              
               one
               should
               here
               repeat
               the
               Objection
               made
               against
               our
               Saviour
               ,
               
                 Thou
                 bearest
                 witness
                 of
                 thy self
                 ,
                 thy
                 witness
                 is
                 not
                 true
                 .
              
            
             
             
               S.
               Paul
               speaking
               of
               
                 all
                 the
                 Apostles
              
               ,
               affirms
               that
               
                 God
                 had
              
               a
               
                 set
                 them
                 in
                 the
                 Church
                 ,
                 and
              
               that
               b
               the
               
                 Mystery
                 of
                 the
                 Gospel
              
               was
               revealed
               to
               the
               
                 holy
                 Apostles
              
               by
               the
               Spirit
               .
            
             
               Particularly
               ,
               notwithstanding
               that
               dispute
               betwixt
               S.
               Peter
               and
               S.
               Paul
               (
               from
               the
               *
               first
               Ages
               of
               the
               Church
               to
               our
               own
               Times
               ,
               objected
               by
               Unbelievers
               to
               the
               prejudice
               of
               Religion
               )
               it
               is
               remarkable
               ,
               that
               ,
               
                 in
                 the
                 same
                 place
              
               where
               S.
               Paul
               gives
               an
               account
               how
               c
               Peter
               was
               to
               be
               blamed
               ,
               and
               how
               and
               wherefore
               he
               withstood
               him
               to
               his
               face
               at
               Antioch
               ,
               he
               doth
               expresly
               affirm
               ,
               that
               the
               
                 Gospel
                 of
                 the
                 Circumcision
              
               was
               committed
               to
               Peter
               ,
               and
               that
               
                 God
                 wrought
              
               effectually
               in
               Peter
               to
               the
               Apostleship
               of
               the
               Circumcision
               .
            
             
               
                 On
                 the
              
               other
               side
               S.
               
                 Peter
                 ,
                 in
                 that
                 very
                 place
                 ,
              
               where
               he
               may
               seem
               to
               complain
               of
               the
               d
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               of
               S.
               
                 Paul
                 ,
                 yet
                 even
                 there
              
               he
               owns
               him
               as
               his
               
                 beloved
                 Brother
                 ,
                 acknowledges
              
               his
               Wisdom
               to
               have
               been
               given
               him
               of
               God
               ,
               and
               numbers
               
                 all
                 his
                 Epistles
                 ,
                 inter
              
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               ,
               amongst
               the
               other
               Scriptures
               .
            
             
             
               3.
               
               Lastly
               ,
               for
               such
               as
               would
               put
               a
               difference
               of
               degrees
               betwixt
               the
               Authority
               of
               the
               words
               of
               Christ
               ,
               and
               the
               
                 writings
                 and
                 Sermons
                 of
                 the
                 Apostles
                 ,
              
               they
               may
               take
               notice
               ,
               that
               the
               Authority
               of
               
                 these
                 ,
                 resolves
              
               it self
               into
               the
               veracity
               of
               Christ
               himself
               .
            
             
               
                 He
                 it
                 was
                 who
              
               being
               to
               leave
               the
               World
               ,
               promised
               his
               Disciples
               again
               and
               again
               ,
               that
               he
               would
               a
               send
               down
               upon
               them
               the
               
                 Holy
                 Spirit
              
               ,
               that
               should
               b
               instruct
               them
               and
               teach
               them
               all
               things
               ,
               that
               should
               c
               
                 Lead
                 them
                 into
                 all
                 truth
              
               ,
               d
               Bring
               to
               their
               remembrance
               all
               things
               which
               he
               himself
               had
               spoken
               ,
               that
               should
               e
               
                 shew
                 them
              
               things
               
                 to
                 come
                 ,
                 that
                 with
              
               this
               Spirit
               they
               should
               not
               be
               lightly
               dash'd
               ,
               or
               sprinkled
               ,
               but
               that
               they
               should
               be
               f
               Baptized
               ,
               and
               as
               it
               were
               plunged
               into
               it
               .
            
             
               How
               all
               these
               Promises
               were
               performed
               ,
               and
               how
               the
               Assertions
               of
               the
               Divine
               Authority
               of
               the
               Words
               of
               Christ
               ,
               and
               the
               Apostles
               were
               proved
               to
               be
               true
               ,
               I
               am
               next
               to
               
                 shew
                 .
                 In
                 the
                 interim
                 I
                 conclude
                 ,
                 that
                 supposing
                 the
                 truth
                 of
                 the
                 words
                 of
                 Christ
                 and
                 his
                 Apostles
                 ,
                 they
                 are
                 to
                 be
                 esteemed
                 of
                 Divine
                 Authority
                 .
              
            
             
             
               III.
               The
               third
               Opinion
               is
               of
               such
               as
               pretend
               to
               believe
               
                 matters
                 of
                 fact
              
               to
               have
               been
               
                 truly
                 related
              
               in
               the
               
                 New
                 Testament
              
               ,
               but
               they
               do
               not
               believe
               the
               
                 truth
                 of
                 the
                 Doctrinal
              
               parts
               relating
               to
               Faith
               or
               Manners
               .
            
             
               Of
               these
               there
               have
               always
               been
               too
               great
               a
               number
               ,
               not
               only
               pretenders
               ,
               who
               under
               a
               form
               of
               Christianity
               deny
               the
               power
               thereof
               ,
               but
               generally
               all
               sorts
               of
               Hereticks
               .
               When
               Porphyrius
               had
               revolted
               from
               Christianity
               to
               Platonism
               ,
               and
               had
               bent
               all
               his
               Forces
               against
               the
               Scripture-History
               ,
               he
               was
               refuted
               not
               only
               by
               Lactantius
               ,
               and
               Methodius
               ,
               men
               Orthodox
               in
               Doctrine
               ,
               but
               by
               Eusebius
               and
               Apollinaris
               ;
               and
               of
               late
               days
               ,
               Socinus
               and
               others
               have
               well
               asserted
               the
               truth
               of
               the
               Scripture-History
               who
               yet
               have
               been
               offended
               at
               the
               dogmatical
               parts
               of
               the
               Gospel
               ,
               and
               concerning
               the
               Faith
               have
               made
               shipwrack
               .
            
             
               In
               Opposition
               to
               these
               I
               shall
               endeavour
               to
               demonstrate
               ,
               that
               ,
               
                 Supposing
                 Matters
                 of
                 Fact
                 to
                 be
                 truly
                 related
              
               in
               the
               
                 New
                 Testament
              
               ,
               it
               is
               unreasonable
               
               to
               suspect
               the
               truth
               of
               any
               of
               the
               Doctrines
               delivered
               by
               Christ
               or
               his
               Apostles
               .
            
             
               Amongst
               the
               various
               fancies
               concerning
               Religion
               ,
               wherewith
               the
               whole
               world
               hath
               been
               always
               embroiled
               :
               
                 Two
                 things
              
               there
               are
               wherein
               all
               the
               Sons
               of
               Adam
               have
               agreed
               ;
               namely
               ,
               1.
               
               That
               that
               is
               to
               be
               believed
               which
               hath
               received
               the
               testimony
               of
               God.
               And
               2.
               
               That
               this
               testimony
               is
               to
               be
               gathered
               from
               instances
               of
               supernatural
               Wisdom
               and
               Power
               .
            
             
               
                 In
                 the
                 study
              
               of
               natural
               and
               Philosophical
               Theologie
               ,
               the
               Speculativi
               amongst
               the
               Greeks
               and
               Romans
               ,
               and
               other
               Nations
               ,
               sought
               after
               Wisdom
               ,
               (
               Reason
               ,
               and
               
                 Demonstration
                 .
                 But
              
               )
               
                 to
                 reduce
              
               the
               People
               to
               the
               forms
               of
               
                 religious
                 Rites
              
               and
               Sacrifices
               prescribed
               them
               ,
               they
               were
               made
               to
               believe
               the
               Epiphanies
               of
               the
               Gods
               ,
               and
               the
               manifestations
               of
               their
               Wisdom
               ,
               and
               Power
               ,
               by
               Oracles
               and
               
                 Works
                 supernatural
              
               .
            
             
               To
               these
               even
               Mahomet
               pre●●●●ded
               though
               his
               great
               Argume●●
               〈…〉
               
               the
               Sword
               :
               and
               of
               
                 the
                 Jews
              
               I
               need
               not
               speak
               .
            
             
               For
               a
               Foundation
               of
               Religion
               ,
               and
               in
               our
               inquisition
               after
               
                 that
                 ,
                 short
              
               of
               this
               Testimony
               we
               ought
               not
               to
               
                 stay
                 ;
                 further
              
               we
               cannot
               go
               :
               And
               herein
               is
               the
               utmost
               of
               humane
               wisdom
               to
               consider
               well
               those
               Evidences
               upon
               which
               we
               adventure
               the
               interest
               of
               our
               eternity
               .
            
             
               
                 To
                 this
                 evidence
              
               therefore
               we
               appeal
               in
               asserting
               the
               Doctrine
               of
               our
               Lord
               Christ
               ,
               and
               his
               
                 Apostles
                 ;
                 Namely
              
               to
               the
               instances
               of
               
                 Supernatural
                 Knowledge
              
               and
               
                 Supernatural
                 Power
              
               ,
               whereby
               their
               Doctrine
               was
               attested
               .
            
             
               
                 I
                 shall
                 not
                 here
                 wave
              
               the
               force
               ,
               but
               I
               shall
               decline
               the
               repetition
               of
               what
               I
               have
               formerly
               spoken
               concerning
               the
               attestations
               given
               to
               it
               by
               
                 Visible
                 Signs
                 ,
                 Audible
                 Voices
                 ,
                 Apparitions
                 of
                 Angels
                 ,
                 Fulfilling
                 the
                 Prophecies
                 ,
                 Evidences
                 of
                 Christs
                 Resurrection
                 ,
                 Mission
              
               of
               the
               
                 Holy
                 Ghost
              
               .
            
             
               In
               Joh.
               7.15
               .
               the
               
                 Jews
                 wondred
              
               at
               Christ
               that
               he
               
                 knew
                 any
              
               thing
               :
               How
               
               knoweth
               this
               man
               Letters
               ,
               seeing
               he
               never
               learned
               them
               ?
               but
               if
               we
               mark
               the
               Scriptures
               ,
               we
               shall
               find
               that
               he
               
                 knew
                 all
                 things
              
               ,
               and
               that
               nothing
               was
               withdrawn
               from
               the
               reach
               of
               his
               understanding
               .
            
             
               
                 He
                 knew
              
               the
               a
               sickness
               and
               death
               of
               Lazarus
               ,
               though
               absent
               and
               at
               a
               distance
               ;
               b
               He
               saw
               Nathaniel
               under
               
                 the
                 Fig-tree
              
               ,
               and
               convinced
               him
               that
               he
               was
               the
               Son
               of
               God
               ,
               and
               the
               King
               of
               Israel
               :
               c
               
                 Come
                 see
                 a
                 man
              
               (
               said
               the
               Woman
               of
               Samaria
               )
               which
               told
               me
               
                 all
                 things
              
               that
               ever
               I
               did
               ,
               
                 is
                 not
                 this
                 the
                 Christ
              
               ?
            
             
               
                 He
                 was
              
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               :
               The
               secret
               d
               murmurs
               at
               his
               hard
               sayings
               ,
               the
               inward
               e
               desires
               to
               ask
               him
               Questions
               ;
               the
               f
               Reasonings
               and
               Dialogisms
               of
               the
               hearts
               of
               his
               Disciples
               ;
               g
               the
               
                 secret
                 Councils
              
               of
               the
               Scribes
               and
               Pharisees
               ,
               h
               their
               
                 evil
                 surmisings
              
               ,
               i
               their
               
                 treacherous
                 intentions
              
               to
               intrap
               him
               ,
               k
               their
               
                 mental
                 Blasphemy
              
               ,
               were
               all
               naked
               and
               manifest
               before
               him
               .
            
             
               
                 He
                 knew
                 what
                 was
                 in
                 man
                 ,
              
               l
               and
               needed
               not
               that
               any
               one
               should
               tell
               
               him
               ;
               a
               
                 He
                 knew
              
               the
               various
               Kinds
               of
               Devils
               ,
               and
               how
               they
               were
               to
               be
               ejected
               :
               
               
                 This
                 Kind
              
               cometh
               not
               out
               but
               by
               Prayer
               and
               Fasting
               .
               
                 He
                 knew
              
               the
               Fishes
               of
               the
               Sea
               ,
               
               and
               where
               they
               were
               ,
               and
               what
               was
               in
               them
               .
            
             
               
                 He
                 knew
              
               not
               only
               things
               past
               and
               present
               ,
               but
               
                 to
                 come
              
               ;
               b
               He
               foresaw
               
                 all
                 things
              
               that
               were
               to
               come
               upon
               him
               ,
               c
               
                 who
                 it
                 was
              
               that
               should
               betray
               him
               ,
               he
               foretold
               his
               Disciples
               
                 all
                 the
              
               circumstances
               of
               his
               Passion
               ,
               d
               how
               he
               was
               to
               be
               Betrayed
               ,
               e
               Condemned
               ,
               f
               delivered
               to
               the
               Gentiles
               ,
               g
               
                 mocked
                 ,
                 scourged
                 ,
                 spit
              
               on
               ,
               kill'd
               and
               Crucified
               at
               Jerusalem
               .
            
             
               Behold
               ,
               saith
               he
               ,
               
                 I
                 tell
                 you
                 before
              
               ;
               h
               
                 Let
                 this
                 saying
                 sink
                 into
                 your
                 hearts
                 .
              
               He
               i
               forewarned
               Peter
               of
               his
               denial
               ,
               k
               and
               the
               Disciples
               of
               their
               flight
               .
            
             
               l
               
                 He
                 foretold
              
               things
               to
               come
               
                 after
                 his
                 death
              
               ,
               the
               time
               and
               manner
               of
               the
               destruction
               of
               Jerusalem
               :
               The
               success
               of
               his
               Gospel
               ,
               the
               Effect
               (
               unlikely
               )
               of
               his
               Crucifixion
               ,
               m
               that
               it
               should
               draw
               all
               men
               after
               him
               ,
               n
               that
               it
               should
               be
               preached
               and
               believed
               in
               the
               whole
               
               world
               a
               spreading
               it self
               like
               Leaven
               ,
               and
               like
               a
               grain
               of
               Mustard-seed
               ,
               b
               that
               Satans
               Kingdom
               should
               be
               destroyed
               suddenly
               like
               lightning
               ;
               notwithstanding
               the
               c
               
                 false
                 Christs
              
               and
               
                 false
                 Prophets
              
               which
               should
               arise
               .
            
             
               These
               and
               many
               more
               were
               instances
               of
               the
               supernatural
               knowledge
               of
               Christ
               :
               And
               for
               his
               power
               ,
               the
               time
               would
               fail
               me
               to
               insist
               upon
               the
               many
               and
               various
               instances
               mentioned
               in
               the
               Gospels
               .
            
             
               I
               shall
               omit
               the
               exercise
               of
               his
               dominion
               over
               the
               Sun
               ,
               Moon
               ,
               and
               Stars
               ,
               Plants
               ,
               and
               Animals
               ,
               Earth
               ,
               and
               Water
               ,
               the
               Wind
               and
               the
               Sea
               ,
               and
               briefly
               mind
               you
               of
               those
               which
               concerned
               the
               bodies
               of
               men
               ;
               how
               he
               1.
               
               Fed
               their
               hunger
               ,
               2.
               
               Healed
               their
               distempers
               ,
               3.
               
               Raised
               their
               dead
               ,
               and
               4.
               
               Cast
               out
               Devils
               .
            
             
               He
               fed
               a
               4000
               at
               one
               time
               ,
               and
               b
               5000
               at
               another
               ,
               with
               5
               or
               7
               Loaves
               ,
               and
               a
               few
               little
               Fishes
               .
            
             
               He
               healed
               the
               c
               blind
               ,
               d
               lame
               ,
               e
               deaf
               ,
               f
               dumb
               ,
               g
               maimed
               ,
               h
               feaverish
               ,
               i
               hydropical
               ,
               k
               paralitic
               ,
               l
               leprous
               ,
               and
               m
               lunatick
               
               persons
               .
               He
               cured
               not
               a
               green
               wounds
               only
               ,
               but
               ancient
               inveterate
               Maladies
               of
               b
               12
               ,
               of
               c
               38
               years
               continuance
               ,
               one
               that
               was
               
                 born
                 blind
              
               .
            
             
               He
               used
               no
               Plasters
               nor
               Potions
               ,
               no
               Telesmans
               or
               other
               Charms
               ,
               but
               performed
               all
               these
               things
               by
               a
               d
               touch
               of
               his
               Hand
               or
               of
               his
               e
               Garment
               .
               He
               healed
               f
               absent
               persons
               as
               well
               as
               present
               ,
               g
               he
               spoke
               the
               word
               only
               and
               they
               were
               healed
               .
            
             
               He
               raised
               to
               life
               the
               Daughter
               of
               h
               Jayrus
               ,
               the
               i
               Widows
               Son
               at
               Naim
               ,
               his
               Friend
               k
               Lazarus
               ,
               and
               l
               many
               bodies
               of
               the
               Saints
               .
               Many
               of
               which
               healed
               and
               raised
               persons
               lived
               till
               about
               
               Trajan's
               time
               ,
               
               as
               Quadratus
               a
               Disciple
               of
               the
               Apostles
               affirmed
               in
               his
               Apology
               to
               Hadrian
               the
               Emperour
               .
               
            
             
               Like
               a
               
                 strong
                 man
                 armed
              
               he
               cast
               out
               Devils
               ,
               whatever
               kind
               they
               were
               of
               he
               quickly
               dislodged
               them
               ;
               m
               that
               foaming
               and
               tearing
               Devil
               which
               withstood
               the
               power
               of
               his
               Disciples
               ,
               and
               threw
               down
               and
               tore
               the
               possessed
               person
               ,
               even
               as
               he
               was
               
                 yet
                 
                 coming
              
               to
               Christ
               himself
               ;
               he
               presently
               rebuked
               ,
               and
               healed
               the
               child
               ,
               and
               delivered
               him
               to
               his
               Father
               .
            
             
               Neither
               their
               
                 long
                 possession
              
               ,
               nor
               their
               numbers
               could
               secure
               them
               ,
               he
               cast
               a
               
                 seven
                 at
                 once
              
               out
               of
               
                 Mary
                 Magdalen
              
               ,
               and
               an
               b
               whole
               Legion
               out
               of
               a
               certain
               man
               of
               the
               Country
               of
               the
               Gadarens
               ,
               who
               
                 had
                 been
                 possessed
              
               by
               them
               a
               long
               time
               .
            
             
               Moreover
               ,
               for
               attestation
               to
               the
               truth
               of
               his
               Gospel
               ,
               he
               delegated
               all
               this
               power
               to
               others
               ,
               to
               the
               c
               12
               Apostles
               ,
               to
               the
               d
               70
               Disciples
               :
               e
               He
               bequeathed
               it
               to
               Believers
               at
               his
               death
               ,
               and
               they
               also
               received
               and
               exercised
               this
               supernatural
               power
               .
            
             
               
                 I
                 have
                 given
                 a
                 few
                 instances
              
               of
               the
               Supernatural
               Wisdom
               and
               Power
               of
               Christ
               solitarily
               considered
               :
               The
               History
               of
               the
               Gospel
               affords
               us
               many
               Examples
               wherein
               they
               were
               gloriously
               combined
               .
            
             
               
                 By
                 his
                 Knowledge
              
               f
               he
               foretold
               his
               Resurrection
               ,
               he
               g
               performed
               it
               by
               his
               Power
               .
               By
               his
               
                 Divine
                 Vnderstanding
              
               he
               h
               foresaw
               his
               Ascension
               ,
               and
               by
               
               the
               Power
               of
               his
               Divinity
               he
               g
               ascended
               .
            
             
               
                 He
                 ascended
              
               ,
               and
               by
               his
               Power
               he
               fulfilled
               the
               Predictions
               and
               Promises
               which
               he
               had
               made
               .
               He
               h
               sent
               down
               the
               
                 Holy
                 Spirit
              
               ,
               and
               
                 shed
                 forth
                 the
                 gifts
                 of
                 supernatural
              
               Wisdom
               and
               Power
               
                 upon
                 his
                 Apostles
              
               .
            
             
               Not
               to
               mention
               the
               Apparition
               of
               Angels
               ,
               and
               of
               Christ
               himself
               ,
               the
               b
               
                 Bath
                 .
                 Kol
              
               .
               the
               c
               Extasies
               ,
               d
               
                 Dreams
                 ,
                 Visions
              
               ,
               and
               e
               Impulses
               which
               were
               given
               them
               for
               their
               own
               assurance
               :
               That
               they
               might
               be
               enabled
               to
               preach
               the
               Gospel
               to
               all
               Nations
               ,
               and
               deliver
               to
               the
               world
               those
               Scriptures
               whereof
               we
               are
               speaking
               ,
               they
               had
               f
               the
               word
               of
               Knowledge
               and
               of
               Wisdom
               and
               of
               Faith
               ,
               and
               the
               gift
               of
               divers
               Tongues
               ,
               and
               interpretation
               of
               Tongues
               bestowed
               upon
               them
               .
            
             
               And
               to
               justifie
               their
               Doctrine
               to
               the
               
                 Ages
                 present
              
               and
               to
               come
               ,
               they
               had
               the
               Gifts
               of
               Prophesie
               ,
               and
               of
               Healing
               ,
               and
               of
               Miracles
               .
            
             
               i
               
                 John
                 (
                 the
                 beloved
                 Disciple
              
               )
               heard
               a
               voice
               as
               it
               were
               of
               a
               Trumpet
               ,
               talking
               with
               him
               ,
               which
               said
               ,
               Come
               up
               
               hither
               ,
               and
               I
               will
               shew
               thee
               
                 things
                 which
                 shall
                 be
                 hereafter
              
               ;
               and
               immediately
               he
               was
               in
               the
               Spirit
               ,
               and
               received
               the
               Revelation
               .
            
             
               a
               
                 Paul
                 an
                 Apostle
              
               (
               though
               born
               out
               of
               due
               time
               )
               came
               to
               Visions
               and
               Revelations
               ,
               he
               
                 twice
                 foretold
              
               what
               should
               happen
               to
               the
               Ship
               wherein
               he
               was
               carried
               Prisoner
               to
               Rome
               .
               He
               foretold
               the
               b
               Apostacy
               of
               the
               
                 latter
                 times
              
               ,
               the
               rising
               of
               Antichrist
               ,
               c
               the
               
                 perillous
                 times
              
               which
               should
               come
               upon
               the
               world
               in
               the
               last
               days
               .
               d
               
                 Agabus
                 a
                 Believer
              
               at
               large
               foretold
               the
               Famine
               which
               was
               to
               come
               upon
               all
               the
               world
               ,
               e
               f
               and
               the
               binding
               of
               Paul
               at
               
                 Jerusalem
                 ,
                 &c.
              
               
            
             
               
                 But
                 the
                 Instances
              
               of
               
                 supernatural
                 Power
              
               exercised
               in
               
                 healing
                 of
                 Diseases
                 ,
                 raising
              
               the
               dead
               ,
               g
               
                 confounding
                 the
                 Opposers
              
               of
               their
               Doctrine
               ,
               and
               in
               several
               other
               kinds
               by
               the
               Apostles
               ,
               and
               their
               Companions
               and
               Adherents
               ,
               the
               Preachers
               and
               Writers
               of
               the
               Doctrine
               of
               the
               Gospel
               ,
               are
               so
               abundantly
               delivered
               in
               the
               New
               Testament
               ,
               that
               I
               shall
               not
               offer
               at
               particulars
               .
            
             
             
               
                 In
                 the
              
               4.
               
                 of
                 the
                 Acts
              
               we
               find
               all
               the
               Apostles
               praying
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               ,
               that
               God
               would
               stretch
               forth
               his
               hand
               to
               heal
               ,
               &
               that
               signs
               and
               wonders
               might
               be
               done
               by
               the
               Name
               of
               his
               
                 holy
                 Child
                 Jesus
                 .
                 And
                 immediately
              
               the
               
                 place
                 was
                 shaken
              
               ,
               and
               they
               were
               all
               filled
               with
               the
               
                 Holy
                 Ghost
              
               ,
               and
               
                 with
                 Power
              
               .
            
             
               The
               particular
               Miracles
               of
               particular
               persons
               are
               recorded
               .
               In
               one
               word
               ,
               they
               went
               and
               
                 preached
                 every
                 where
              
               the
               Doctrines
               which
               are
               written
               in
               the
               Gospel
               ;
               the
               
                 Lord
                 working
                 with
                 them
              
               ,
               and
               
                 confirming
                 their
                 words
              
               by
               
                 mighty
                 signs
              
               and
               wonders
               ,
               and
               
                 gifts
                 of
                 the
                 Holy
                 Ghost
              
               .
            
             
               
                 This
                 is
                 the
                 state
              
               of
               the
               matter
               of
               Fact
               ,
               as
               it
               is
               propounded
               in
               the
               
                 New
                 Testament
              
               :
               I
               conclude
               therefore
               ,
               that
               supposing
               matters
               of
               Fact
               to
               be
               
                 truly
                 delivered
              
               in
               the
               New
               Testament
               ▪
               there
               
                 is
                 no
                 reason
              
               to
               doubt
               
                 of
                 the
                 Doctrines
              
               delivered
               by
               Christ
               or
               his
               Apostles
               ,
               relating
               
                 to
                 faith
              
               or
               manners
               ▪
               And
               I
               come
               to
               the
               consideration
               o●
               the
               last
               and
               extreme
               Opinion
               of
               the
               Anti-scripturists
               .
            
             
             
               IV.
               
                 The
                 last
                 Opinion
                 ,
                 is
                 of
                 those
                 who
                 deny
                 the
                 truth
                 of
                 the
                 Relation
                 of
                 matters
                 of
                 Fact
                 delivered
                 in
                 the
                 New
                 Testament
                 ,
                 and
                 in
                 consequence
                 reject
                 the
                 whole
                 body
                 of
                 the
                 Scriptures
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 I
                 could
                 wish
              
               there
               were
               no
               such
               as
               these
               ,
               and
               that
               what
               I
               have
               yet
               to
               say
               were
               altogether
               needless
               for
               that
               reason
               .
            
             
               But
               what
               means
               then
               the
               publick
               Rumors
               which
               we
               hear
               ?
               and
               whence
               is
               an
               Opinion
               gone
               into
               the
               world
               ,
               
                 that
                 some
                 great
                 Philosophers
              
               and
               men
               
                 of
                 generous
                 reason
              
               are
               dissatisfied
               concerning
               the
               truth
               of
               Scripture
               ,
               and
               believe
               the
               Authority
               of
               it
               to
               be
               wholly
               derived
               from
               
                 the
                 Magistrate
              
               .
            
             
               
                 In
                 reference
              
               to
               these
               I
               shall
               endeavour
               ,
            
             
               1.
               
               Briefly
               ,
               to
               shew
               that
               the
               ground
               upon
               which
               these
               Wisemen
               and
               
                 Philosophers
                 reject
              
               the
               Scriptures
               ,
               is
               contrary
               to
               the
               Reason
               of
               mankind
               .
            
             
               2.
               
               
                 To
                 evince
              
               ,
               that
               the
               belief
               of
               the
               
                 Divine
                 Authority
              
               of
               the
               Scriptures
               is
               most
               agreeable
               to
               Reason
               .
            
             
             
               1.
               
               
                 As
                 for
                 the
                 Argument
              
               and
               ground
               of
               those
               (
               amongst
               us
               Christians
               )
               that
               reject
               the
               
                 body
                 of
                 the
                 Scriptures
              
               ,
               I
               do
               not
               remember
               to
               have
               heard
               of
               other
               than
               this
               .
            
             
               
                 They
                 have
                 often
              
               called
               upon
               
                 Believers
                 ,
                 Pastors
              
               perhaps
               ,
               or
               Doctors
               in
               the
               Church
               ,
               for
               a
               clear
               and
               
                 undeniable
                 evidence
              
               of
               the
               truth
               of
               the
               story
               of
               the
               Gospel
               ,
               and
               they
               have
               not
               afforded
               it
               :
               therefore
               they
               conclude
               ,
               the
               Scriptures
               are
               to
               be
               rejected
               .
            
             
               
                 But
                 is
                 this
              
               the
               reasoning
               of
               
                 generous
                 Wits
              
               ?
               and
               men
               of
               mighty
               deeds
               in
               Disputation
               ,
               of
               men
               pretending
               to
               the
               depths
               of
               Reason
               and
               Philosophy
               ?
            
             
               To
               give
               a
               man
               a
               clear
               and
               
                 undeniable
                 evidence
              
               of
               any
               thing
               ,
               there
               are
               but
               
                 two
                 ways
                 ,
                 viz.
              
               To
               convince
               either
               his
               Senses
               or
               his
               Vnderstanding
               ;
               the
               former
               whereof
               is
               to
               be
               done
               by
               Experiment
               ,
               the
               later
               by
               Demonstration
               .
            
             
               
                 Would
                 they
              
               have
               now
               an
               Experiment
               whether
               such
               or
               such
               a
               thing
               were
               done
               16
               or
               1700
               years
               ago
               ?
               Would
               they
               have
               a
               demonstration
               of
               
               particulars
               ,
               in
               their
               nature
               indifferent
               to
               be
               done
               or
               not
               to
               be
               
                 done
                 ,
                 depending
                 upon
              
               the
               liberty
               of
               Causes
               ?
            
             
               
                 Well
                 were
                 it
              
               for
               the
               world
               ,
               if
               these
               
                 Beaux
                 Esprits
              
               would
               have
               the
               patience
               ,
               and
               endure
               the
               fatigue
               of
               acquainting
               themselves
               with
               the
               
                 ways
                 of
                 knowledge
                 (
                 Experiment
              
               and
               
                 Demonstration
                 )
                 it
                 would
              
               not
               then
               be
               troubled
               with
               the
               dangerous
               Impertinency
               of
               such
               Pretenders
               .
            
             
               
                 Then
                 these
                 men
              
               would
               not
               call
               for
               Experiment
               in
               a
               subject
               uncapable
               of
               it
               ,
               and
               (
               being
               instructed
               that
               Demonstration
               is
               only
               of
               Vniversal
               Propositions
               in
               
                 materia
                 necessaria
              
               ,
               whose
               contrary
               Positions
               imply
               a
               contradiction
               )
               they
               would
               know
               ,
               that
               to
               demand
               
                 this
                 kind
              
               of
               evidence
               of
               the
               truth
               of
               the
               story
               of
               the
               Gospel
               ,
               is
               to
               be
               absurdly
               injudicious
               ,
               and
               to
               act
               contrary
               to
               the
               Reason
               of
               mankind
               .
            
             
               For
               seeing
               we
               may
               not
               with
               civility
               suppose
               this
               principle
               to
               be
               advanced
               only
               for
               the
               destruction
               of
               Religion
               ,
               and
               the
               ruine
               (
               or
               at
               least
               undeniable
               hazard
               )
               of
               the
               
               Souls
               of
               men
               ;
               
                 We
                 ought
                 to
                 believe
              
               that
               these
               Philosophers
               intend
               this
               as
               a
               
                 general
                 Maxim
              
               ;
               
                 that
                 (
                 in
                 matters
                 at
                 least
                 of
                 moment
                 )
                 men
                 ought
                 not
                 to
                 adventure
                 to
                 act
                 ,
                 but
                 upon
                 clear
                 and
                 undeniable
                 evidence
                 ,
                 and
                 (
                 
                   speaking
                   properly
                
                 )
                 that
                 wise
                 men
                 ought
                 to
                 believe
                 nothing
                 at
                 all
                 .
              
               Wherefore
               
                 let
                 us
                 suppose
                 this
              
               for
               a
               
                 general
                 principle
              
               ,
               and
               consider
               what
               will
               follow
               .
            
             
               
                 Setting
                 aside
              
               the
               knowledge
               of
               the
               Affections
               of
               a
               few
               Lines
               and
               Numbers
               ,
               is
               not
               all
               learning
               to
               be
               cast
               away
               ?
               
                 Must
                 not
                 the
                 Civil
              
               World
               of
               mankind
               be
               brought
               to
               swift
               confusion
               ?
               must
               not
               mankind
               it self
               ,
               in
               a
               
                 few
                 days
              
               come
               to
               an
               end
               ?
            
             
               Suppose
               a
               Subject
               should
               not
               yield
               his
               Obedience
               ,
               or
               a
               Tenant
               his
               Rent
               ,
               till
               Titles
               be
               made
               out
               by
               Experiment
               or
               Demonstration
               .
               Suppose
               the
               Husband-man
               and
               the
               Merchant
               ,
               the
               Artificer
               ,
               the
               Souldier
               ,
               
               the
               Banker
               ,
               and
               the
               Judge
               should
               not
               adventure
               ,
               but
               stay
               for
               the
               assurance
               of
               Experiment
               or
               Demonstration
               ,
               would
               not
               the
               
                 whole
                 world
              
               be
               confounded
               ?
            
             
             
               Suppose
               men
               should
               not
               marry
               ,
               nor
               take
               Physick
               ,
               nor
               eat
               or
               drink
               till
               they
               should
               have
               clear
               and
               
                 undeniable
                 evidence
              
               ,
               that
               all
               these
               things
               are
               what
               they
               suppose
               ,
               and
               shall
               succeed
               according
               to
               expectation
               ,
               would
               not
               
                 mankind
                 quickly
              
               be
               spent
               ,
               and
               brought
               to
               an
               end
               ?
            
             
               If
               the
               management
               of
               all
               humane
               concernments
               ,
               
                 Political
                 ,
                 Oeconomical
                 ,
                 Personal
              
               ,
               proceed
               upon
               the
               grounds
               of
               Belief
               and
               Hope
               ,
               and
               rational
               (
               but
               not
               demonstrative
               )
               inference
               .
               
                 If
                 neither
                 these
                 Philosophers
              
               (
               if
               they
               would
               consider
               )
               nor
               
                 any
                 other
                 Person
              
               ,
               either
               
                 ever
                 did
              
               ,
               or
               
                 possibly
                 could
              
               ,
               perform
               
                 any
                 one
                 action
              
               ,
               upon
               such
               evidence
               ,
               as
               these
               men
               require
               concerning
               the
               truth
               of
               the
               stories
               of
               the
               Scripture
               ;
               then
               to
               
                 reject
                 them
              
               for
               want
               of
               
                 such
                 evidence
              
               ,
               is
               repugnant
               to
               the
               Reason
               of
               mankind
               .
            
             
               
                 I
                 proceed
              
               therefore
               to
               my
               
                 second
                 assertion
              
               ,
               that
               the
               Belief
               of
               the
               
                 Divine
                 Authority
              
               of
               the
               Scriptures
               is
               
                 most
                 agreeable
              
               to
               reason
               .
            
             
               That
               the
               
                 Divine
                 Authority
              
               of
               all
               the
               
               Scriptures
               of
               the
               Old
               and
               New
               Testament
               ,
               are
               
                 undeniably
                 concluded
              
               from
               supposition
               of
               the
               truth
               of
               the
               Relation
               or
               History
               of
               matters
               of
               fact
               in
               the
               
                 New
                 Testament
              
               ,
               I
               have
               already
               shewn
               .
               And
               that
               the
               rejection
               of
               all
               History
               is
               against
               the
               Reason
               of
               mankind
               is
               evident
               ,
               because
               all
               mankind
               receive
               some
               History
               or
               other
               :
               wherefore
               I
               shall
               briefly
               shew
               ,
            
             
               1.
               
               That
               the
               History
               of
               the
               
                 New
                 Testament
              
               hath
               all
               those
               advantages
               whereof
               
                 any
                 History
              
               is
               capable
               .
            
             
               2.
               
               That
               it
               hath
               greater
               advantages
               than
               any
               other
               History
               .
            
             
               1.
               
               The
               Arguments
               inducing
               men
               to
               the
               belief
               of
               any
               historical
               Relation
               ,
               are
               all
               of
               them
            
             
               Either
               
                 
                   
                     Ab
                     intra
                     ,
                     Internal
                  
                   ,
                   from
                   the
                   1.
                   
                   Credibility
                   and
                   Scibility
                   of
                   the
                   Object
                   .
                   2.
                   
                   The
                   Knowledge
                   and
                   Integrity
                   of
                   the
                   Writers
                   .
                   3.
                   
                   The
                   way
                   and
                   manner
                   of
                   writing
                   .
                
                 
                   
                     Ab
                     extra
                     ,
                     External
                  
                   ,
                   The
                   1.
                   
                   Reception
                   of
                   it
                   in
                   the
                   world
                   .
                   2.
                   
                   Concurrent
                   testimonies
                   of
                   strangers
                   .
                   3.
                   
                   The
                   Concessions
                   of
                   Adversaries
                   ,
                   and
                   the
                   like
                   .
                
              
            
             
             
               In
               all
               which
               
                 particulars
                 ,
                 no
                 History
              
               in
               the
               world
               can
               justly
               pretend
               any
               advantage
               above
               that
               of
               the
               New
               Testament
               .
            
             
               1.
               
               For
               the
               Credibility
               ,
               Object
               ,
               and
               Cognoscibility
               of
               it
               .
            
             
               1.
               
               To
               say
               that
               instances
               of
               
                 supernatural
                 Power
              
               and
               Wisdom
               are
               impossible
               ,
               
               is
               to
               deny
               the
               
                 power
                 of
                 God
              
               and
               his
               providence
               in
               governing
               the
               world
               :
               And
               to
               say
               that
               such
               things
               are
               incredible
               ,
               as
               are
               and
               have
               been
               actually
               believed
               ,
               in
               
                 all
                 times
              
               ,
               and
               by
               
                 all
                 sorts
                 of
                 persons
                 ,
                 Jews
              
               and
               
                 Gentiles
                 ,
                 Christians
              
               and
               Mahometans
               (
               a
               few
               Atheistical
               persons
               only
               excepted
               )
               is
               an
               absurdity
               .
            
             
               
                 The
                 History
              
               that
               we
               speak
               of
               ,
               pretends
               to
               no
               Intrigues
               or
               Cabalistick
               Counsels
               ,
               or
               Mysteries
               of
               State
               ,
               but
               conteins
               it self
               within
               the
               limits
               of
               things
               Visible
               and
               
                 Audible
                 ,
                 things
              
               that
               were
               done
               or
               spoken
               ;
               so
               that
               
                 no
                 History
              
               can
               have
               advantage
               over
               it
               ,
               
                 respectu
                 Objecti
              
               .
            
             
               2.
               
               As
               for
               Knowledge
               in
               the
               deliverers
               ,
               I
               shall
               shew
               it
               by
               a
               
                 brief
                 Induction
              
               .
            
             
             
               The
               whole
               
                 New
                 Testament
              
               consists
               of
               the
               Books
               of
               the
               
                 Revelation
                 ,
                 Epistles
                 ,
                 Acts
                 of
                 the
                 Apostles
                 ,
              
               and
               the
               Gospels
               .
            
             
               The
               Authors
               of
               the
               Epistles
               and
               the
               Revelation
               ,
               in
               the
               
                 Narrative
                 parts
              
               of
               them
               ,
               deliver
               the
               things
               done
               or
               
                 spoken
                 to
              
               or
               
                 by
                 themselves
              
               ,
               and
               could
               not
               be
               ignorant
               of
               their
               own
               experiences
               .
            
             
               The
               Book
               of
               the
               Acts
               contains
               some
               things
               
                 done
                 by
              
               or
               to
               the
               rest
               of
               the
               Apostles
               ,
               but
               chiefly
               the
               concernments
               of
               Paul
               ;
               and
               it
               was
               written
               by
               Luke
               ,
               who
               was
               an
               
                 individual
                 Companion
              
               of
               Paul
               ,
               and
               intimately
               conversant
               with
               the
               rest
               of
               the
               Apostles
               .
            
             
               For
               the
               things
               Related
               in
               the
               Gospel
               of
               S.
               Luke
               ,
               he
               saith
               they
               were
               delivered
               to
               him
               by
               those
               who
               from
               the
               beginning
               were
               Eye-witnesses
               of
               the
               works
               ,
               and
               Ministers
               of
               the
               Word
               ,
               and
               
                 his
                 History
                 agrees
              
               with
               the
               other
               Evangelists
               .
            
             
               The
               Gospel
               of
               S.
               Mark
               hath
               nothing
               which
               is
               not
               in
               S.
               Matthew
               or
               S.
               John
               ,
               and
               was
               dictated
               by
               S.
               Peter
               ,
               the
               Head
               of
               the
               Apostles
               .
            
             
               S.
               Matthew
               was
               an
               Apostle
               ,
               and
               S.
               
               John
               the
               
                 Bosom
                 Apostle
              
               of
               Christ.
               The
               Apostles
               were
               chosen
               by
               him
               for
               Witnesses
               of
               his
               Words
               and
               Actions
               ,
               they
               were
               with
               him
               from
               the
               beginning
               of
               his
               
                 Ministry
                 ,
                 continued
              
               with
               him
               till
               his
               
                 death
                 ,
                 conversed
              
               with
               him
               till
               his
               
                 Ascension
                 ;
                 That
                 which
                 they
                 had
                 heard
                 ,
                 which
                 they
                 had
                 seen
                 with
                 their
                 Eyes
                 ,
                 which
                 they
                 had
                 looked
                 on
                 ,
                 which
                 their
                 hands
                 had
                 handled
                 of
                 the
                 word
                 of
                 life
                 ,
                 that
              
               they
               delivered
               in
               writing
               to
               the
               World
               :
               
                 And
                 more
              
               than
               this
               no
               Writer
               or
               Relater
               of
               History
               can
               pretend
               to
               .
            
             
               2.
               
               For
               Arguments
               of
               their
               sincerity
               ,
               they
               have
               left
               a
               
                 Precepts
                 of
                 Veracity
              
               ,
               
               and
               b
               prohibitions
               of
               lying
               ,
               under
               pain
               of
               
                 Hell
                 torments
              
               ,
               
               the
               Lake
               that
               burneth
               with
               fire
               and
               brimstone
               :
               
               
                 They
                 have
              
               c
               protested
               that
               they
               did
               not
               
                 follow
                 cunningly
                 devised
                 Fables
              
               ;
               that
               they
               
                 did
                 things
                 sincerely
              
               as
               in
               the
               sight
               of
               God.
               
            
             
               They
               
                 have
                 appealed
              
               to
               the
               
                 searcher
                 of
                 hearts
                 :
                 The
                 God
                 and
                 Father
                 of
                 our
                 Lord
                 Jesus
                 Christ
                 knoweth
                 that
                 I
                 lie
                 not
                 .
                 The
                 things
                 which
                 I
                 write
                 unto
                 you
                 ,
                 behold
                 ,
                 before
                 God
                 I
                 lye
                 not
                 ,
                 Gal.
              
               1.20
               .
               saith
               S.
               Paul.
               
            
             
             
               
               They
               have
               
                 left
                 behind
              
               them
               various
               instances
               of
               their
               simplicity
               and
               godly
               sincerity
               in
               representing
               their
               failings
               to
               the
               world
               ,
               and
               of
               candour
               and
               ingenuity
               in
               distinguishing
               the
               dictates
               of
               their
               own
               Reason
               from
               the
               inspirations
               of
               the
               
                 Holy
                 Spirit
              
               :
               I
               
                 speak
                 by
                 permission
              
               ,
               not
               
                 by
                 commandment
              
               of
               the
               
                 Lord
                 :
                 This
                 say
                 I
              
               ,
               not
               
                 the
                 Lord
                 ;
                 Thus
              
               it
               is
               according
               to
               
                 my
                 judgment
                 ,
                 &c.
              
               
               1
               Cor.
               7.
               
            
             
               But
               
                 besides
                 all
                 this
              
               ,
               let
               the
               matter
               be
               estimated
               acccording
               to
               
                 common
                 reason
                 :
                 If
                 these
              
               men
               did
               devise
               a
               Fable
               and
               impose
               it
               upon
               the
               world
               ,
               
                 what
                 end
              
               could
               they
               propound
               to
               themselves
               in
               so
               doing
               ?
               was
               there
               any
               profit
               in
               being
               destitute
               of
               all
               things
               ?
               or
               pleasure
               in
               being
               
                 persecuted
                 ,
                 afflicted
              
               ,
               and
               tormented
               ?
               or
               honour
               in
               being
               counted
               Fools
               and
               Mad-men
               .
            
             
               Before
               they
               began
               to
               publish
               the
               Stories
               whereof
               we
               speak
               ,
               their
               
                 Master
                 was
                 gone
              
               ,
               and
               all
               
                 worldly
                 hopes
              
               were
               gone
               away
               with
               him
               :
               
                 If
                 they
              
               were
               not
               bound
               in
               Conscience
               ,
               and
               in
               Spirit
               ,
               
               what
               obligation
               had
               he
               laid
               upon
               them
               to
               labour
               and
               suffer
               for
               his
               honour
               as
               they
               did
               ?
            
             
               To
               omit
               the
               severity
               of
               his
               behaviour
               to
               them
               ,
               
                 He
                 called
              
               them
               off
               from
               their
               
                 Vocations
                 ;
                 Peter
              
               ,
               and
               
                 Andrew
                 ,
                 James
              
               ,
               and
               John
               from
               their
               Fishing
               ,
               
               Matthew
               from
               his
               Customers
               place
               ,
               the
               rest
               accordingly
               .
            
             
               They
               forsook
               their
               Nets
               ,
               
               their
               *
               Ships
               ,
               their
               Relations
               ,
               and
               all
               their
               interests
               ,
               and
               followed
               him
               .
            
             
               And
               this
               they
               did
               (
               clearly
               and
               plainly
               )
               believing
               that
               he
               was
               to
               be
               a
               
                 Great
                 Temporal
              
               Prince
               ,
               and
               in
               hopes
               of
               Preferment
               under
               him
               .
               In
               this
               Expectation
               they
               continued
               to
               the
               last
               minute
               of
               his
               conversation
               with
               them
               upon
               Earth
               ,
               and
               he
               permitted
               them
               so
               to
               do
               .
            
             
               Their
               last
               words
               to
               him
               were
               delivered
               in
               this
               question
               ,
               
               
                 Lord
                 wilt
                 thou
                 at
                 this
                 time
                 restore
                 the
                 Kingdom
                 unto
                 Israel
              
               ?
               Of
               the
               thing
               it self
               they
               never
               doubted
               ,
               they
               only
               desire
               to
               be
               informed
               of
               the
               time
               ,
            
             
               
                 Now
                 after
                 so
                 long
                 expectation
              
               ?
               Consider
               his
               Answer
               .
            
             
             
               His
               Answer
               was
               this
               ,
               
                 It
                 is
                 not
                 for
                 you
                 to
                 know
                 the
                 times
                 ,
              
               &c.
               
                 but
                 ye
                 shall
                 receive
                 power
                 when
                 the
                 Holy
                 Ghost
                 is
                 come
                 upon
                 you
                 ,
                 and
                 ye
                 shall
                 be
                 witnesses
                 of
                 me
                 unto
                 the
                 utmost
                 parts
                 of
                 the
                 earth
              
               ;
               and
               immediately
               he
               vanished
               away
               .
            
             
               
                 Was
                 this
                 an
                 answer
                 to
                 their
                 Question
              
               ?
               or
               a
               satisfaction
               to
               their
               expectation
               ?
               Was
               this
               an
               Obligation
               laid
               upon
               them
               ?
               If
               he
               had
               not
               sent
               down
               the
               
                 Holy
                 Ghost
              
               ,
               this
               would
               have
               moved
               them
               indeed
               ,
               but
               it
               would
               have
               been
               to
               rage
               and
               indignation
               ;
               this
               would
               have
               obliged
               them
               indeed
               ,
               but
               it
               would
               have
               been
               to
               detest
               and
               abhor
               the
               name
               and
               memory
               of
               him
               that
               had
               abused
               them
               .
               But
               for
               the
               honour
               of
               
                 his
                 name
              
               ,
               not
               their
               own
               ,
               they
               did
               and
               
                 suffered
                 all
                 things
              
               ,
               and
               gloried
               in
               it
               .
               
                 An
                 irrefragable
                 argument
                 of
                 their
                 sincerity
                 in
                 the
                 things
                 which
                 they
                 delivered
                 .
              
            
             
               3.
               
               
                 Of
                 the
                 internal
              
               Arguments
               for
               the
               belief
               of
               History
               ,
               there
               remains
               only
               the
               Consideration
               of
               the
               way
               and
               manner
               of
               writing
               .
            
             
               
                 Histories
                 then
                 carry
              
               their
               own
               credentials
               
               in
               them
               ,
               when
               the
               
                 principal
                 parts
              
               of
               them
               are
               delivered
               with
               such
               circumstances
               of
               
                 times
                 ,
                 places
              
               ,
               and
               persons
               ,
               as
               may
               render
               them
               liable
               to
               Examination
               ,
               and
               Refutation
               ,
               if
               they
               contain
               any
               falshood
               in
               them
               .
            
             
               
                 And
                 in
                 this
                 particular
              
               ,
               no
               History
               hath
               any
               advantage
               over
               that
               History
               whereof
               we
               are
               speaking
               ,
               as
               will
               be
               evident
               to
               him
               that
               considers
               it
               thorowout
               .
            
             
               
                 Concerning
                 John
              
               the
               Baptist
               ,
               it
               is
               recorded
               ,
               that
               he
               was
               born
               some
               few
               Months
               before
               Christ
               ,
               
               that
               his
               Mother
               was
               Elizabeth
               ,
               that
               his
               Father
               was
               Zachariah
               ,
               a
               Priest
               of
               the
               Course
               of
               Abia
               ,
               that
               they
               lived
               in
               the
               Hill-Country
               .
            
             
               
                 He
                 began
                 to
                 preach
              
               in
               the
               15.
               of
               
                 Tyberius
                 ,
                 Pilat
              
               being
               Governour
               of
               
                 Judaea
                 ,
                 Herod
              
               Tetrarch
               of
               Galilee
               ,
               
               his
               Brother
               Philip
               Tetrarch
               of
               Iturea
               ,
               and
               of
               the
               Region
               of
               Trachonitis
               ,
               and
               Lysanias
               Tetrarch
               of
               Abilene
               .
               Punctual
               and
               particular
               .
            
             
               
                 Soon
                 after
              
               this
               he
               was
               Imprisoned
               and
               Beheaded
               by
               Herod
               ,
               
               for
               reprehending
               him
               
                 about
                 Herodias
              
               ,
               all
               which
               were
               matters
               of
               Fact
               ,
               very
               easie
               ,
               
               if
               
               false
               ,
               to
               have
               been
               refuted
               .
            
             
               
                 Concerning
                 Christ
              
               ,
               his
               birth
               is
               stated
               to
               have
               been
               at
               a
               time
               the
               
                 most
                 remarkable
              
               that
               ever
               was
               ,
               when
               the
               
                 whole
                 world
              
               was
               taxed
               by
               Augustus
               ,
               in
               the
               days
               of
               Herod
               ,
               when
               Cyrenius
               was
               Governour
               of
               Syria
               ;
               the
               
                 place
                 easie
              
               to
               be
               enquired
               of
               ,
               it
               was
               in
               a
               Manger
               ,
               
               in
               an
               Inne
               ,
               in
               a
               Town
               that
               was
               a
               little
               one
               among
               the
               thousands
               of
               Juda
               ,
               
               easie
               to
               be
               examined
               .
            
             
               When
               he
               was
               about
               30
               years
               old
               ,
               he
               was
               Baptized
               of
               John
               ,
               
               &
               within
               a
               few
               days
               after
               he
               called
               his
               Apostles
               ;
               and
               in
               less
               than
               
                 four
                 years
              
               space
               he
               performed
               all
               his
               
                 mighty
                 Works
              
               ,
               whereof
               I
               shall
               mention
               only
               some
               few
               particulars
               .
            
             
               At
               Cana
               in
               Galilee
               he
               turned
               Water
               into
               Wine
               ,
               
               at
               a
               Wedding
               ,
               where
               was
               much
               company
               .
               He
               raised
               the
               Daughter
               of
               Jayrus
               ,
               
               the
               Ruler
               of
               the
               Synagogue
               ,
               there
               was
               but
               one
               in
               that
               place
               ,
               she
               was
               
                 his
                 only
                 Daughter
              
               ,
               and
               about
               12
               years
               Old.
               
               He
               healed
               the
               Servant
               of
               that
               Centurion
               that
               had
               built
               a
               Synagogue
               .
               Can
               any
               thing
               be
               more
               particular
               ?
            
             
               
               
                 At
                 Bethany
              
               ,
               15
               
                 Furlongs
                 from
                 Jerusalem
              
               ,
               
               a
               few
               days
               before
               his
               death
               ,
               he
               raised
               Lazarus
               after
               he
               had
               been
               dead
               
                 four
                 days
              
               .
               Could
               any
               thing
               be
               more
               examinable
               ?
            
             
               
                 His
                 death
              
               was
               at
               Jerusalem
               ,
               at
               the
               time
               of
               the
               Passeover
               ,
               a
               time
               of
               greatest
               annual
               concourse
               in
               the
               world
               ,
               and
               
                 then
                 it
                 is
                 said
              
               ,
               that
               the
               Sun
               was
               darkened
               ,
               the
               Veil
               rent
               ,
               the
               Rocks
               torn
               apieces
               ,
               the
               Graves
               opened
               .
               Can
               any
               thing
               be
               more
               refutable
               than
               these
               things
               ,
               if
               they
               had
               been
               false
               ?
            
             
               
                 So
                 likewise
                 for
                 the
                 Apostles
              
               .
               
               The
               healing
               of
               Aeneas
               at
               
                 Lydda
                 ,
                 raising
              
               of
               Dorcas
               at
               Joppe
               ,
               the
               passages
               with
               Cornelius
               Captain
               of
               the
               Band
               called
               the
               
                 Italian
                 Band
              
               at
               Caesarea
               ,
               and
               many
               other
               acts
               of
               
                 Peter
                 .
                 The
                 increpation
              
               of
               Barjesus
               at
               Paphos
               ,
               
               in
               the
               presence
               of
               
                 Sergius
                 Paulus
              
               the
               Governour
               .
               
               The
               healing
               of
               a
               Cripple
               at
               Lystra
               ,
               in
               the
               presence
               of
               the
               Priest
               of
               Jupiter
               ,
               besides
               many
               other
               acts
               of
               Paul
               ,
               and
               the
               rest
               of
               the
               Apostles
               ,
               are
               so
               circumstantiated
               in
               the
               History
               ,
               that
               if
               false
               they
               might
               have
               been
               very
               easily
               contradicted
               .
            
             
             
               But
               besides
               all
               these
               ,
               this
               History
               contains
               a
               Narration
               of
               
                 things
                 done
              
               and
               said
               ,
               not
               only
               by
               persons
               well
               affected
               ,
               but
               by
               Herod
               and
               
                 Pontius
                 Pilate
              
               ,
               and
               the
               
                 Roman
                 Governours
              
               ,
               by
               the
               Pharisees
               ,
               the
               Scribes
               ,
               the
               
                 High
                 Priests
              
               ,
               and
               the
               Sanhedrim
               ;
               all
               of
               them
               Enemies
               both
               to
               the
               Historians
               and
               the
               History
               ;
               and
               
                 if
                 any
              
               of
               these
               things
               had
               been
               convicted
               of
               falshood
               ,
               would
               not
               the
               credit
               of
               the
               whole
               Gospel
               have
               (
               at
               once
               )
               been
               
                 utterly
                 overthrown
              
               ?
            
             
               
                 I
                 conclude
                 therefore
                 ,
                 that
                 in
                 respect
                 of
                 internal
                 Arguments
                 for
                 belief
                 ,
                 no
                 History
                 hath
                 ,
                 or
                 indeed
                 can
                 have
                 any
                 advantage
                 above
                 the
                 History
                 of
                 the
                 New
                 Testament
                 .
              
            
             
               2.
               
               
                 As
                 for
                 External
                 Arguments
              
               ,
               I
               can
               but
               name
               them
               .
               Though
               the
               whole
               world
               interessed
               themselves
               against
               the
               story
               (
               so
               examinable
               as
               you
               have
               heard
               )
               though
               the
               
                 Books
                 were
                 extant
              
               ,
               while
               the
               memory
               of
               things
               was
               
                 recent
                 ,
                 Matthew
              
               within
               seven
               years
               ,
               Mark
               within
               
                 eleven
                 ,
                 Luke
              
               about
               
                 twenty
                 four
                 ,
                 post
                 mortem
                 Christi
              
               ;
               the
               Epistles
               of
               
               Peter
               and
               Paul
               within
               thirty
               years
               ,
               all
               the
               rest
               ,
               
                 intra
                 unius
                 hominis
                 aetatem
              
               ,
               yet
               no
               man
               could
               ever
               convince
               them
               of
               falshood
               .
            
             
               The
               stories
               were
               received
               by
               men
               of
               the
               
                 greatest
                 Wisdom
                 ,
                 Learning
              
               ,
               and
               Virtue
               amongst
               the
               Greeks
               and
               Latines
               .
               Many
               of
               the
               
                 hardest
                 passages
              
               were
               attested
               and
               confessed
               by
               Enemies
               and
               Vnbelievers
               .
            
             
               The
               a
               
                 Authors
                 owned
              
               by
               Julian
               :
               the
               b
               
                 Miracles
                 confessed
              
               by
               Celsus
               :
               the
               c
               checking
               of
               the
               operation
               of
               the
               Devil
               by
               Porphyrius
               :
               d
               the
               Darkness
               and
               Earthquake
               at
               the
               death
               of
               Christ
               by
               Thallus
               and
               
                 Phlegon
                 Trallianus
              
               :
               e
               the
               Crucifixion
               of
               Christ
               (
               by
               Pilat
               under
               Tiberius
               )
               by
               Tacitus
               :
               And
               in
               one
               word
               ,
               
                 The
                 entire
                 Volume
                 of
                 the
                 Scriptures
                 ,
                 the
                 very
                 same
                 which
                 our
                 Church
                 receives
                 (
                 by
                 virtue
                 of
                 the
                 belief
                 of
                 the
                 History
                 of
                 the
                 Gospel
                 )
              
               f
               
                 before
                 any
                 general
                 Council
                 ,
                 or
                 the
                 time
                 of
              
               Constantine
               ,
               g
               
                 without
                 any
                 Convocation
                 of
                 the
                 Clergy
                 ,
                 or
                 imperial
                 Edict
                 for
                 that
                 purpose
                 ,
                 was
              
               instinctu
               quodam
               Christiano
               ,
               
                 generally
                 received
                 by
                 all
                 Christians
                 ,
                 
                 and
                 the
                 world
                 made
                 Christians
                 .
              
            
             
               In
               respect
               of
               all
               these
               
                 Arguments
                 ,
                 internal
              
               and
               external
               ,
               I
               might
               have
               justly
               said
               ,
               that
               the
               History
               of
               the
               Gospel
               hath
               the
               advantage
               of
               any
               
                 other
                 History
              
               ;
               but
               seeing
               there
               are
               some
               particulars
               wherein
               the
               advantages
               are
               super-eminent
               ,
               I
               shall
               speak
               a
               little
               of
               
                 that
                 distinctly
              
               by
               it self
               ,
               and
               so
               conclude
               .
            
             
               2.
               
               These
               advantages
               I
               shall
               reduce
               to
               
                 two
                 heads
              
               ,
               
                 
                   
                     Testimonium
                     Rei
                  
                   .
                
                 
                   
                     Testimonium
                     Dei.
                  
                   
                
              
            
             
               1.
               
               For
               the
               
                 Testimonium
                 Rei
              
               ,
               consider
               ,
               
                 
                   1.
                   
                   Opposition
                   to
                   the
                   Gospel
                   .
                
                 
                   2.
                   
                   Prevailing
                   of
                   the
                   Gospel
                   .
                
              
            
             
               1.
               
               Never
               
                 any
                 story
              
               was
               so
               much
               opposed
               as
               the
               Books
               and
               History
               of
               the
               
                 New
                 Testament
              
               ,
               by
               Jews
               and
               Gentiles
               ,
               by
               the
               World
               and
               by
               the
               Devil
               .
            
             
               The
               beginnings
               and
               propagation
               of
               the
               Gospel
               was
               by
               the
               
                 Jews
                 maliciously
              
               and
               strenuously
               opposed
               in
               the
               times
               of
               Christ
               and
               his
               Apostles
               ,
               and
               in
               all
               
                 succeeding
                 Generations
              
               .
            
             
             
               
                 Lest
                 all
                 men
                 should
                 believe
              
               in
               Christ
               (
               because
               of
               his
               Miracles
               )
               the
               Rulers
               took
               counsel
               to
               destroy
               him
               ,
               
               the
               People
               cryed
               out
               to
               have
               him
               Crucified
               .
            
             
               
                 Lest
                 the
                 last
                 errour
              
               (
               as
               they
               called
               it
               )
               should
               be
               worse
               than
               the
               first
               ,
               
               they
               sealed
               up
               his
               Sepulchre
               ,
               and
               set
               a
               watch
               upon
               it
               ;
               and
               lastly
               ,
               suborned
               the
               Souldiers
               to
               say
               ,
               that
               his
               Disciples
               came
               by
               night
               while
               they
               were
               sleeping
               (
               how
               could
               they
               know
               this
               ?
               )
               and
               stole
               him
               away
               .
            
             
               
                 That
                 the
                 first
                 Miracle
              
               wrought
               by
               Peter
               and
               John
               might
               not
               spread
               among
               the
               People
               ,
               
               the
               Rulers
               and
               Elders
               and
               
                 Scribes
                 ,
                 Annas
              
               and
               Caiaphas
               ,
               and
               John
               and
               Alexander
               ,
               and
               all
               the
               Kindred
               of
               the
               
                 High
                 Priest
              
               ,
               laid
               hands
               upon
               them
               ,
               and
               put
               them
               in
               hold
               ,
               and
               threatned
               and
               commanded
               them
               not
               to
               speak
               at
               all
               in
               the
               Name
               of
               Jesus
               .
            
             
               
                 When
                 Stephen
              
               had
               uttered
               his
               testimony
               ,
               
               the
               
                 people
                 cried
              
               with
               a
               loud
               voice
               ,
               and
               stopped
               their
               Ears
               ,
               and
               ran
               upon
               him
               with
               one
               accord
               ,
               and
               
               cast
               him
               out
               of
               the
               City
               ,
               and
               stoned
               him
               .
            
             
               
               Wherever
               they
               met
               with
               
                 Believers
                 ,
                 Men
              
               or
               Women
               ,
               they
               haled
               them
               into
               Prison
               ,
               breathing
               out
               threatnings
               and
               slaughter
               .
               Wherever
               they
               met
               with
               the
               Preachers
               ,
               they
               opposed
               and
               blasphemed
               ,
               
               they
               tumultuated
               ,
               they
               stirred
               the
               Gentiles
               ,
               they
               enraged
               the
               chief
               men
               of
               the
               Cities
               and
               the
               
                 honourable
                 women
              
               against
               them
               .
            
             
               The
               instances
               of
               their
               
                 malicious
                 opposition
              
               ,
               in
               all
               ages
               of
               the
               Church
               ,
               are
               so
               many
               as
               are
               not
               to
               be
               numbred
               in
               a
               few
               Minutes
               ,
               but
               would
               require
               many
               days
               only
               to
               name
               them
               .
            
             
               They
               first
               stirred
               up
               Nero
               to
               persecute
               the
               Christians
               ,
               
               they
               contrived
               the
               death
               of
               Polycarpus
               ,
               they
               stood
               by
               ,
               and
               insulted
               over
               the
               
                 dying
                 Martyrs
              
               ;
               in
               a
               word
               ,
               whoever
               shall
               read
               the
               stories
               of
               primitive
               times
               ,
               he
               will
               find
               that
               the
               Jews
               were
               generally
               the
               Setters
               and
               Informers
               against
               the
               Martyrs
               ,
               and
               the
               Brokers
               for
               their
               Goods
               after
               Execution
               :
               And
               the
               Histories
               of
               
               our
               own
               and
               other
               Nations
               will
               shew
               us
               the
               height
               of
               their
               malice
               ,
               and
               the
               continuance
               of
               it
               .
            
             
               Now
               ,
               
                 beside
                 the
                 little
                 Nation
              
               of
               the
               Jews
               ,
               the
               rest
               of
               the
               
                 whole
                 world
              
               ,
               when
               this
               History
               began
               to
               be
               published
               ,
               and
               the
               
                 Books
                 written
              
               ,
               were
               
                 Heathen
                 ,
                 universally
                 devoted
                 to
                 the
                 Devil
                 ,
              
               whom
               therefore
               our
               Saviour
               stiles
               ,
               the
               Prince
               of
               this
               world
               .
            
             
               And
               now
               that
               feud
               which
               had
               depended
               betwixt
               the
               seed
               of
               the
               Serpent
               and
               the
               seed
               of
               the
               woman
               4000
               years
               ,
               was
               by
               the
               preaching
               and
               writing
               of
               these
               things
               brought
               to
               a
               Crisis
               .
            
             
               
                 The
                 professed
              
               and
               declared
               design
               of
               the
               Gospel
               ,
               was
               to
               drive
               the
               Devil
               out
               of
               his
               
                 Dominion
                 ;
                 Notwithstanding
              
               the
               antiquity
               of
               his
               possession
               ,
               the
               universality
               of
               his
               Church
               ,
               and
               the
               consent
               of
               
                 all
                 Nations
              
               ,
               whereby
               he
               held
               his
               
                 title
                 .
                 Notwithstanding
              
               his
               Empire
               was
               supported
               by
               Governour
               ;
               and
               Laws
               ,
               and
               fortified
               by
               the
               Arms
               and
               actual
               strength
               of
               all
               the
               world
               ,
               he
               saw
               ,
               that
               if
               the
               Gospel
               were
               not
               suppressed
               ,
               
               a
               little
               time
               would
               spoil
               the
               pride
               of
               all
               his
               glory
               ,
               that
               in
               a
               moment
               he
               should
               fall
               like
               lightning
               from
               Heaven
               .
            
             
               
                 That
                 he
                 should
                 be
                 exorcised
              
               out
               of
               the
               bodies
               which
               he
               possessed
               :
               That
               his
               
                 famous
                 Oracles
              
               should
               soon
               be
               put
               to
               silence
               :
               
               his
               
                 gorgeous
                 Temples
              
               and
               Images
               should
               be
               torn
               down
               ,
               his
               Mysteries
               and
               
                 lying
                 wonders
              
               set
               at
               nought
               :
               That
               Prayers
               and
               Vows
               would
               be
               made
               to
               him
               no
               more
               ,
               and
               he
               should
               cease
               to
               be
               celebrated
               in
               the
               Songs
               of
               his
               Poets
               ,
               and
               Hymns
               of
               his
               Hierophantae
               .
            
             
               That
               
                 his
                 revelling
                 Festivals
              
               would
               be
               turned
               to
               mourning
               ,
               no
               more
               gifts
               would
               be
               presented
               ,
               no
               beasts
               ,
               nor
               
                 children
                 ,
                 women
              
               or
               men
               sacrificed
               upon
               his
               Altars
               .
            
             
               The
               Contention
               was
               
                 de
                 rerum
                 summa
                 (
                 pro
                 aris
                 &
                 focis
                 )
              
               and
               his
               rage
               was
               kindled
               accordingly
               :
               
                 He
                 summons
              
               together
               all
               his
               wiles
               and
               stratagems
               ,
               he
               musters
               all
               his
               forces
               ,
               he
               sounds
               an
               Allarm
               to
               the
               world
               ,
               stirs
               up
               young
               and
               
                 old
                 ,
                 rich
              
               and
               poor
               ,
               all
               
               
                 ages
                 ,
                 sexes
                 ,
                 conditions
              
               ,
               the
               people
               wise
               and
               unwise
               ,
               the
               
                 Common
                 Souldiers
              
               and
               Commanders
               ,
               
               Counsellors
               and
               
                 Judges
                 ,
                 Senate
              
               and
               Emperours
               ,
               by
               suppressing
               these
               Books
               ,
               and
               destroying
               the
               Believers
               of
               them
               ,
               to
               erase
               the
               memory
               of
               the
               Gospel
               ,
               and
               abolish
               it
               for
               ever
               .
            
             
               The
               people
               were
               enraged
               against
               the
               Believers
               ,
               as
               against
               the
               
                 common
                 Enemy
              
               of
               mankind
               ,
               and
               
                 pro
                 solenni
                 suo
              
               ,
               they
               slandered
               them
               with
               unthought
               of
               wickedness
               ,
               they
               imputed
               to
               them
               all
               the
               calamities
               of
               the
               world
               :
               And
               required
               them
               to
               
                 death
                 :
                 Si
                 Tiberis
                 ascendit
                 in
                 moenia
                 —
                 Christianos
                 ad
                 Leones
                 —
              
            
             
               
                 Against
                 these
                 Books
              
               ,
               the
               Learned
               employed
               their
               Learning
               ,
               and
               the
               Witty
               employed
               their
               
                 Wit.
                 Celsus
                 ,
                 Porphyrius
                 ,
                 Jamblichus
                 ,
                 Hierocles
                 ,
              
               and
               other
               Philosophers
               ,
               endeavoured
               to
               dispute
               them
               out
               of
               the
               
                 world
                 .
                 Symmachus
              
               and
               Libanius
               ,
               and
               other
               Rhetors
               to
               declaim
               them
               away
               .
               Julian
               and
               Lucian
               and
               other
               
                 Scoptick
                 wits
              
               ,
               endeavoured
               to
               jeer
               and
               droll
               away
               the
               credit
               of
               them
               .
            
             
             
               Mean
               while
               the
               Senators
               and
               Lawyers
               employ
               themselves
               to
               destroy
               the
               Books
               ,
               by
               stretching
               against
               them
               the
               
                 ancient
                 Laws
              
               against
               bringing
               in
               Foreign
               Religions
               ,
               and
               against
               Magical
               and
               
                 Fatidical
                 Books
              
               :
               And
               to
               
                 destroy
                 Books
              
               and
               Believers
               by
               
                 New
                 Laws
              
               made
               for
               that
               purpose
               ,
               against
               b
               
                 Combinations
                 (
                 Heteriae
                 )
                 Sacriledge
                 ,
                 Treason
                 ,
              
               the
               Law
               that
               none
               should
               buy
               or
               sell
               ,
               or
               
                 draw
                 water
              
               without
               Thurification
               to
               the
               Gods
               ,
               and
               the
               like
               .
            
             
               
                 By
                 force
                 of
                 these
              
               they
               persecute
               the
               Believers
               ,
               as
               Enemies
               to
               the
               Common-wealth
               ,
               and
               Traytors
               to
               the
               Emperour
               ,
               as
               sacrilegious
               persons
               ,
               and
               contemners
               of
               Religion
               .
            
             
               The
               people
               sometimes
               rising
               upon
               them
               without
               any
               Edict
               ,
               sometimes
               by
               virtue
               of
               
                 Edicts
                 Imperial
              
               or
               Proconsular
               .
            
             
               
                 From
                 the
                 beginning
              
               of
               the
               Gospel
               to
               the
               end
               of
               Dioclesian
               and
               Maximian
               ,
               this
               was
               the
               state
               of
               Believers
               .
            
             
               Their
               Scriptures
               were
               forbidden
               to
               be
               read
               ,
               and
               required
               to
               be
               burned
               ;
               
               their
               Oratories
               and
               (
               obscure
               )
               Churches
               were
               pulled
               in
               pieces
               ;
               their
               Estates
               were
               plundered
               and
               confiscate
               ;
               their
               bodies
               were
               imprisoned
               and
               
                 tormented
                 ;
                 Fire
              
               and
               Sword
               ,
               hot
               
                 Iron
                 Chairs
              
               and
               
                 Coffins
                 ,
                 Gridirons
              
               ,
               and
               
                 Cauldrons
                 ,
                 Hooks
                 ,
                 Stakes
              
               ,
               and
               Gibbets
               ,
               the
               Teeth
               of
               Lions
               ,
               and
               
                 Tygers
                 ,
                 &c.
              
               were
               their
               portion
               .
            
             
               
                 It
                 cannot
                 be
                 shewed
                 ,
                 that
                 ever
                 any
                 Book
                 or
                 Story
                 met
                 with
                 equal
                 Opposition
                 .
              
            
             
               2.
               
               Consider
               then
               how
               it
               prevailed
               ,
               how
               quickly
               and
               largely
               ,
               how
               deeply
               and
               effectually
               ,
               although
               the
               Precepts
               were
               not
               contrived
               to
               sollicit
               the
               Affections
               ,
               nor
               the
               Doctrines
               to
               court
               the
               Reason
               of
               men
               .
            
             
               
                 At
                 one
                 Sermon
              
               of
               Peter
               3000
               ,
               
               at
               another
               5000
               were
               converted
               :
               Within
               a
               few
               years
               after
               the
               death
               of
               Christ
               we
               find
               by
               S.
               Peter
               ,
               
               that
               the
               Gospel
               was
               preached
               throughout
               
                 Pontus
                 ,
                 Galatia
                 ,
                 Cappadocia
                 ,
                 Asia
                 ,
                 Bithynia
              
               ;
               and
               Paul
               had
               planted
               it
               from
               Jerusalem
               round
               about
               to
               Ilyricum
               :
               Besides
               what
               was
               done
               by
               other
               Apostles
               ,
               
               in
               the
               Provinces
               assigned
               them
               at
               the
               Council
               of
               Jerusalem
               .
            
             
             
               Within
               66
               years
               this
               
                 grane
                 of
                 Mustard
                 seed
              
               was
               become
               a
               Tree
               ,
               
               Pliny
               Proconsul
               of
               Bithynia
               (
               to
               whom
               the
               care
               of
               Religion
               ,
               
               
                 ex
                 officio
              
               ,
               did
               appertein
               )
               appointed
               by
               Trajan
               to
               suppress
               the
               Christians
               ,
               he
               writes
               to
               him
               ,
               that
               this
               Belief
               was
               
                 Longè
                 latéque
                 diffusa
                 Civitates
                 ,
                 Vicos
                 ,
                 Agros
                 ,
                 impletos
                 Christi
                 cultoribus
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 During
                 the
                 second
                 Century
              
               ,
               it
               had
               shot
               out
               great
               branches
               ,
               the
               boughs
               of
               this
               Tree
               were
               stretched
               out
               ,
               
                 Hesterni
                 sumus
                 &
                 vestra
                 omnia
                 implevimus
                 .
                 Tertullian
              
               reckons
               up
               the
               known
               parts
               of
               the
               World
               ,
               
               
                 in
                 quibus
                 omnibus
                 Christi
                 nomen
                 regnat
                 ,
              
               and
               concludes
               ,
               
                 ubique
                 porrigitur
                 ,
                 creditur
                 ,
                 colitur
                 ,
                 regnat
                 ,
                 adoratur
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 And
                 lastly
              
               ,
               During
               the
               third
               (
               
                 à
                 morte
                 Christi
              
               )
               the
               
                 Fowls
                 of
                 the
                 air
              
               ,
               and
               
                 Beasts
                 of
                 the
                 field
                 lodged
                 under
                 the
                 shadow
                 of
                 it
              
               :
               The
               Net
               drew
               good
               and
               bad
               to
               shore
               ;
               the
               
                 Roman
                 Emperour
              
               and
               Empire
               declared
               themselves
               Christians
               ,
               i.e.
               Believers
               and
               Assertors
               of
               these
               Books
               :
               So
               mightily
               grew
               the
               word
               of
               God
               and
               prevailed
               .
            
             
             
               
                 It
                 went
                 on
                 conquering
                 and
                 to
                 conquer
                 ,
              
               not
               by
               the
               
                 Spirit
                 of
                 the
                 Sword
              
               ,
               but
               by
               the
               
                 sword
                 of
                 the
                 Spirit
              
               ;
               the
               
                 powers
                 of
                 the
                 Earth
              
               ,
               and
               
                 the
                 gates
                 of
                 Hell
                 could
                 not
                 withstand
                 it
              
               ;
               it
               drove
               the
               Devil
               away
               with
               all
               his
               
                 Temples
                 ,
                 Idols
                 ,
                 Oracles
                 ,
                 Priests
                 ,
                 Sacrifices
                 ,
                 Services
                 ,
              
               like
               lightning
               :
               So
               
                 fell
                 the
                 Dragon
                 ,
                 the
                 old
                 Serpent
              
               that
               deceived
               the
               World
               ,
               he
               was
               
                 cast
                 out
              
               with
               all
               his
               train
               .
            
             
               
                 So
                 fell
                 Lucifer
              
               the
               Son
               of
               the
               morn
               ,
               his
               Friends
               and
               his
               Followers
               lamenting
               .
            
             
               
                 How
                 art
                 thou
                 fallen
                 from
                 Heaven
                 ,
                 O
                 Lucifer
                 the
                 Son
                 of
                 the
                 morning
                 !
                 Desolata
                 Templa
                 rarissimus
                 Victimarum
                 emptor
                 !
              
               Some
               complain
               of
               people
               forsaking
               of
               the
               Gods
               ,
               
               others
               of
               the
               Gods
               forsaking
               their
               Oracles
               and
               Temples
               ,
               
               and
               becoming
               useless
               to
               the
               
                 World
                 :
                 He
                 said
                 I
                 will
                 ascend
                 into
                 Heaven
                 ,
                 and
                 exalt
                 my
                 Throne
                 above
                 the
                 Stars
                 ,
                 but
                 he
                 was
                 soon
                 brought
                 down
                 to
                 Hell.
                 
              
            
             
               For
               the
               Gospel
               like
               Leaven
               or
               Fire
               from
               
                 Heaven
                 ,
                 seized
              
               upon
               all
               that
               stood
               before
               it
               ;
               it
               leaven'd
               Cities
               ,
               Islands
               ,
               
               Castles
               ,
               
               Councils
               ,
               Camps
               ,
               the
               Tribes
               and
               Decuries
               ,
               the
               Palaces
               ,
               Senate
               ,
               Pleading-places
               .
            
             
               
                 It
                 took
                 possession
              
               of
               the
               Learned
               ,
               and
               the
               Wise
               ,
               the
               greatest
               and
               
                 noblest
                 Wits
              
               of
               the
               Eastern
               and
               
                 Western
                 Nations
              
               :
               It
               raised
               up
               Philosophers
               to
               confound
               the
               Philosophy
               ,
               and
               
                 noble
                 Orators
              
               to
               confound
               the
               Rhetorick
               wherewith
               it
               was
               opposed
               .
            
             
               Against
               Celsus
               it
               excited
               Origen
               ,
               against
               
                 Porphyrie
                 ,
                 Apollinarius
              
               ,
               &
               Methodius
               ;
               against
               Porphyrie
               and
               
                 Hierocles
                 ,
                 Lactantius
              
               and
               Eusebius
               (
               besides
               what
               was
               written
               sparsim
               by
               
                 Jerom
                 ,
                 Augustine
                 ,
                 Cyril
                 ,
                 &c.
              
               )
               It
               set
               up
               Chrysostom
               against
               
                 Libanius
                 ,
                 Prudentius
              
               against
               Symmachus
               and
               the
               Rhetoricians
               .
            
             
               
                 And
                 as
                 it
                 spread
              
               it self
               large
               and
               high
               ,
               so
               where
               it
               took
               possession
               ,
               it
               took
               a
               deep
               possession
               ,
               
                 Quantum
                 vertice
                 —
                 tantum
                 radice
              
               :
               Those
               that
               received
               it
               truly
               ,
               received
               it
               in
               the
               love
               thereof
               ,
               it
               took
               possession
               of
               their
               hearts
               :
               it
               penetrated
               their
               spirits
               ,
               and
               took
               its
               lodging
               in
               the
               inmost
               recesses
               
               of
               the
               soul.
               The
               
                 Contents
                 of
                 these
                 Books
              
               was
               their
               most
               
                 precious
                 Pearl
              
               ,
               and
               they
               hid
               it
               in
               their
               heart
               .
               The
               
                 Books
                 themselves
              
               were
               their
               greatest
               
                 worldly
                 treasure
              
               ,
               and
               rather
               than
               they
               would
               deliver
               them
               to
               be
               burned
               ,
               they
               chose
               to
               suffer
               the
               
                 loss
                 of
                 honour
                 ,
                 liberty
                 ,
                 estate
                 ,
                 Wives
                 ,
              
               and
               Children
               ,
               nay
               even
               life
               it self
               .
               When
               Dioclesian
               required
               the
               Scriptures
               that
               they
               might
               be
               burned
               ,
               In
               one
               Province
               (
               Egypt
               )
               in
               
                 one
                 Month
              
               ,
               17000
               persons
               chose
               rather
               to
               dye
               than
               to
               deliver
               them
               :
               
               In
               comparison
               of
               these
               they
               counted
               not
               their
               lives
               dear
               to
               them
               ;
               the
               love
               of
               them
               was
               stronger
               than
               Death
               ,
               many
               waters
               could
               not
               quench
               it
               ,
               neither
               could
               the
               
                 flouds
                 drown
              
               it
               .
               
                 This
                 was
              
               Testimonium
               Rei
               ,
               
                 and
                 an
                 advantage
                 above
                 all
                 other
                 Histories
                 ,
                 or
                 Writings
                 in
                 the
                 World.
                 
              
            
             
               2.
               
               Moreover
               they
               had
               
                 Testimonium
                 Dei.
              
               Indeed
               all
               that
               is
               already
               spoken
               is
               an
               evidence
               of
               a
               
                 Divine
                 assistance
              
               :
               But
               more
               
                 particularly
                 ,
                 God
              
               gave
               Testimony
               to
               these
               Books
               ,
               by
            
             
             
               1.
               
               
                 Their
                 operation
                 upon
                 Believers
              
               of
               them
               .
            
             
               2.
               
               
                 His
                 co-operation
                 with
                 Believers
              
               of
               them
               .
            
             
               1.
               
               
                 The
                 Gospel
              
               which
               they
               contein
               ,
               was
               the
               
                 power
                 of
                 God
              
               to
               every
               
                 true
                 Believer
              
               .
               That
               which
               
                 no
                 Institution
              
               in
               Philosophy
               ,
               nor
               Initiation
               in
               the
               Mysteries
               of
               any
               of
               the
               Gods
               ,
               was
               ever
               able
               to
               accomplish
               ,
               
               that
               was
               
                 every
                 where
                 atchieved
              
               by
               the
               belief
               of
               the
               Gospel
               ,
               in
               a
               moment
               .
               Like
               a
               charm
               from
               Heaven
               ,
               it
               stilled
               the
               passions
               ,
               and
               mortified
               the
               lusts
               of
               men
               .
               What
               a
               Beadroll
               doth
               Paul
               reckon
               up
               in
               the
               Corinthians
               :
               
               
                 But
                 ye
                 are
                 washed
              
               (
               saith
               he
               )
               
                 but
                 ye
                 are
                 sanctified
                 ,
                 but
                 ye
                 are
                 justified
                 ,
                 in
                 the
                 Name
                 of
                 the
                 Lord
                 Jesus
                 ,
                 and
                 by
                 the
                 spirit
                 of
                 our
                 God.
                 
              
            
             
               Notwithstanding
               all
               the
               calumnies
               thrown
               upon
               Believers
               ,
               
               and
               the
               prejudice
               wherewith
               they
               were
               loaded
               ,
               the
               unpropitious
               and
               
                 relucting
                 world
              
               were
               
                 forcibly
                 convinced
              
               that
               the
               Believers
               of
               
                 these
                 Books
              
               were
               effectually
               taught
               to
               
                 deny
                 ungodliness
              
               and
               
                 worldly
                 lusts
              
               ,
               and
               to
               
                 live
                 soberly
                 ,
                 righteously
              
               ,
               
               and
               godly
               in
               this
               
                 present
                 world
              
               :
               through
               the
               cloud
               of
               ignominy
               wherewith
               they
               were
               encompassed
               ,
               their
               innocency
               broke
               forth
               as
               the
               light
               ,
               and
               their
               
                 just
                 dealing
              
               as
               the
               
                 noon
                 day
              
               ;
               the
               
                 piety
                 ,
                 loyalty
                 ,
                 justice
                 ,
                 charity
                 ,
                 magnanimity
                 ,
                 patience
                 ,
                 meekness
                 ,
              
               and
               purity
               of
               Believers
               of
               these
               Books
               ,
               convinced
               the
               
                 unbelieving
                 world
              
               ,
               that
               
                 God
                 was
                 in
                 them
                 of
                 a
                 truth
              
               :
               for
               they
               teach
               as
               
                 having
                 Authority
              
               and
               Power
               ,
               and
               not
               as
               the
               writings
               of
               other
               Scribes
               .
            
             
               2.
               
               But
               beside
               the
               operation
               of
               these
               
                 Books
                 upon
              
               the
               Believers
               ,
               God
               was
               pleased
               to
               
                 give
                 testimony
              
               to
               them
               by
               his
               co-operation
               with
               them
               in
               signs
               and
               wonders
               ,
               and
               
                 mighty
                 deeds
              
               .
            
             
               
                 The
                 History
                 of
                 the
                 Gospel
              
               tells
               us
               ,
               that
               when
               Christ
               was
               even
               now
               leaving
               the
               world
               ,
               he
               left
               this
               Legacy
               to
               Believers
               for
               confirmation
               of
               the
               truth
               of
               the
               
                 Gospel
                 ;
                 These
                 signs
              
               (
               said
               he
               )
               
                 shall
                 follow
                 them
                 that
                 believe
                 ;
                 In
                 my
                 name
                 they
                 shall
                 cast
                 out
                 Devils
              
               ;
               
               
                 Speak
                 with
                 new
                 tongues
                 ;
                 Take
                 up
                 Serpents
                 ;
                 If
                 they
                 drink
                 any
                 deadly
                 thing
                 ,
                 
                 it
                 shall
                 not
                 hurt
                 them
                 ;
                 They
                 shall
                 lay
                 hands
                 on
                 the
                 Sick
                 ,
                 and
                 they
                 shall
                 recover
                 .
              
            
             
               Now
               that
               this
               was
               
                 made
                 good
              
               ,
               and
               that
               
                 these
                 signs
              
               (
               so
               long
               as
               there
               was
               need
               )
               were
               continued
               among
               Believers
               ,
               we
               have
               as
               
                 good
                 assurance
              
               as
               we
               can
               have
               of
               any
               thing
               beyond
               our
               own
               memory
               or
               experience
               .
            
             
               
                 They
                 have
                 been
                 delivered
              
               to
               us
               by
               a
               Cloud
               of
               Witnesses
               ;
               by
               men
               of
               the
               
                 greatest
                 Wisdom
              
               and
               Learning
               in
               their
               Generations
               ,
               by
               persons
               of
               such
               integrity
               ,
               that
               they
               laid
               down
               their
               lives
               in
               testimony
               of
               their
               
                 veracity
                 ;
                 delivered
              
               not
               by
               hear-say
               ,
               but
               upon
               their
               
                 certain
                 knowledge
                 ;
                 delivered
              
               in
               their
               Disputations
               with
               ,
               and
               Apologies
               to
               the
               Adversaries
               of
               Christianity
               ,
               with
               a
               challenge
               to
               the
               examination
               of
               the
               truth
               ,
               or
               a
               conviction
               of
               the
               falshood
               of
               them
               .
               Instances
               are
               very
               numerous
               ,
               I
               shall
               produce
               only
               a
               
                 very
                 few
              
               .
            
             
               Justin
               the
               Martyr
               (
               who
               suffered
               Anno
               165
               )
               affirms
               to
               Trypho
               the
               Jew
               ,
               
               that
               
                 these
                 supernatural
                 gifts
              
               were
               found
               in
               his
               time
               among
               Christians
               .
            
             
             
               Irenaeus
               an
               Auditor
               of
               Polycarp
               ,
               who
               was
               a
               Disciple
               of
               S.
               John
               (
               suffered
               circa
               206
               )
               affirms
               upon
               his
               
                 own
                 knowledge
              
               ,
               that
               the
               
                 gift
                 of
                 Prophesie
              
               was
               then
               frequent
               in
               the
               Church
               ,
               
               that
               many
               had
               the
               gift
               of
               
                 tongues
                 ,
                 ipsi
                 audivimus
              
               ;
               Others
               
                 cast
                 out
                 Devils
              
               ,
               Others
               
                 healed
                 Diseases
              
               ,
               Others
               
                 raised
                 the
                 dead
              
               ;
               and
               those
               
                 raised
                 persons
              
               continued
               many
               years
               amongst
               them
               ,
               
                 pro
                 certo
              
               .
            
             
               Tertullian
               in
               his
               
                 Apologetica
                 adversus
                 Gentes
              
               ,
               affirms
               that
               
                 Jam
                 de
                 vobis
                 Daemonas
                 ejiciunt
              
               .
            
             
               Origen
               against
               Celsus
               ,
               saith
               ,
               
               that
               he
               himself
               had
               seen
               by
               invocation
               of
               God
               ,
               and
               the
               Name
               of
               Jesus
               very
               many
               that
               were
               delivered
               from
               grievous
               maladies
               ,
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               (
               
                 alienatione
                 mentis
              
               )
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               .
            
             
               Not
               to
               mention
               others
               ,
               S.
               Augustine
               in
               his
               
                 Book
                 de
                 Civitate
                 Dei
              
               (
               begun
               about
               410
               ,
               but
               many
               years
               in
               writing
               )
               l.
               22.
               c.
               8.
               gives
               an
               account
               of
               very
               many
               Miracles
               done
               at
               
                 Hippo
                 ,
                 Carthage
              
               ,
               and
               other
               places
               ,
               of
               no
               great
               distance
               ,
               noting
               
                 times
                 ,
                 places
                 ,
                 persons
                 ,
                 
                 occasions
                 ,
                 appealing
              
               to
               the
               
                 Country
                 ,
                 delivering
              
               them
               under
               terms
               of
               the
               
                 greatest
                 assurance
                 ;
                 Scio
                 ego
                 ;
                 cognosco
                 ego
                 ;
                 nos
                 interfuimus
                 ,
                 &
                 oculis
                 nostris
                 aspeximus
                 :
              
               And
               in
               his
               Retractations
               ,
               
                 Ea
                 quae
                 cognoscimus
                 neque
                 referre
                 neque
                 enumerare
                 possumus
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 Other
                 Histories
                 and
                 Writings
              
               ,
               and
               
                 the
                 Authors
                 and
                 Believers
                 of
                 them
                 can
                 pretend
                 no
                 higher
                 than
                 to
                 the
                 testimony
                 of
                 men
                 ,
              
               these
               
                 have
                 the
                 testimony
                 of
                 God
                 also
                 :
              
               If
               we
               believe
               the
               testimony
               of
               men
               ,
               the
               testimony
               of
               God
               is
               greater
               .
               
                 I
                 conclude
                 therefore
                 ,
                 that
                 there
                 is
                 greater
                 Reason
                 to
                 believe
                 the
                 History
                 of
                 the
                 New
                 Testament
                 than
                 any
                 other
                 History
                 in
                 the
                 world
                 .
              
            
             
               The
               sum
               of
               all
               is
               this
               ,
               The
               
                 Divine
                 Authority
              
               of
               the
               Scriptures
               is
               the
               great
               fundamental
               and
               comprehensive
               Principle
               of
               Christianity
               ,
               which
               being
               admitted
               it
               stands
               ,
               and
               being
               removed
               it
               presently
               falls
               to
               the
               ground
               .
            
             
               Against
               this
               therefore
               the
               
                 great
                 Enemy
              
               of
               Religion
               in
               these
               later
               days
               (
               under
               pretence
               of
               Reason
               and
               Philosophy
               )
               directs
               his
               Forces
               ,
               and
               is
               said
               
               to
               have
               found
               a
               success
               very
               pernicious
               and
               deplorable
               .
            
             
               I
               humbly
               conceive
               that
               the
               Resolution
               of
               the
               
                 belief
                 of
                 the
                 Divine
                 Authority
              
               of
               the
               Scriptures
               into
               the
               Decrees
               of
               Popes
               ,
               or
               Determinations
               of
               Councils
               with
               those
               who
               call
               themselves
               Roman-Catholicks
               ,
               into
               
                 private
                 impulses
              
               and
               dictates
               of
               the
               Spirit
               with
               the
               Enthusiasts
               ,
               and
               into
               the
               Laws
               and
               Edicts
               of
               Princes
               and
               Magistrates
               with
               our
               new
               pretenders
               to
               Reason
               and
               Philosophy
               ,
               is
               that
               engine
               whereby
               the
               Devil
               
                 hath
                 prevailed
              
               to
               scandalize
               the
               world
               and
               cast
               it
               into
               Antiscriptural
               infidelity
               .
            
             
               It
               is
               for
               this
               cause
               that
               I
               have
               conceived
               it
               requisite
               (
               after
               many
               others
               who
               have
               
                 done
                 worthily
              
               )
               to
               have
               recourse
               (
               once
               more
               )
               to
               the
               
                 Original
                 Reason
              
               of
               things
               ,
               
               and
               the
               common
               grounds
               whereupon
               mankind
               doth
               proceed
               in
               matters
               of
               this
               nature
               .
            
             
               Where
               (
               hoping
               that
               I
               have
               escaped
               the
               absurdity
               of
               begging
               the
               matter
               in
               
                 Question
                 ,
                 discoursing
              
               in
               a
               circle
               ,
               and
               the
               inconveniences
               of
               some
               other
               methods
               )
               
               I
               have
               endeavoured
               to
               demonstrate
               :
               That
               supposing
               the
               truth
               of
               the
               
                 New
                 Testament
              
               ,
               both
               1.
               
               The
               
                 Old
                 Testament
              
               ,
               and
               2.
               
               The
               
                 New
                 Testament
              
               are
               to
               be
               received
               as
               of
               
                 Divine
                 Authority
              
               .
            
             
               3.
               
               And
               supposing
               
                 matters
                 of
                 fact
              
               to
               be
               truly
               related
               ,
               the
               
                 Doctrinal
                 parts
              
               are
               to
               be
               believed
               .
            
             
               4.
               
               For
               the
               
                 Historical
                 Relation
              
               of
               
                 matters
                 of
                 fact
              
               ,
               that
               there
               is
               no
               ground
               to
               dis-believe
               it
               .
            
             
               That
               for
               the
               Reception
               of
               it
               ,
               it
               hath
               1.
               
               All
               the
               advantages
               whereof
               an
               History
               is
               capable
               .
            
             
               2.
               
               Far
               
                 greater
                 advantages
              
               than
               any
               other
               History
               .
            
             
               Wherefore
               I
               conclude
               ,
               that
               
                 All
                 the
                 Scriptures
              
               (
               i.
               e.
               
                 the
                 Canonical
                 Books
                 of
                 the
                 Old
                 Testament
                 and
                 the
                 Books
                 of
                 the
                 New
                 Testament
                 )
                 were
                 given
                 by
                 inspiration
                 of
                 God.
              
               Quod
               erat
               demonstrandum
               .
            
             
               FINIS
               .
            
          
        
      
       
         
           
             
             
             
             
               CONCERNING
               THE
               
                 
                   Sinfulness
                
                 
                   Danger
                
                 
                   Remedies
                
              
               of
               Infidelity
               .
               A
               SERMON
               Preached
               at
               
                 Whitehall
                 ,
                 Feb.
              
               16.
               1667
               
               /
               68.
               
               BY
               SETH
               
                 Lord
                 Bishop
                 of
              
               Sarum
               .
            
             
               LONDON
               ,
               Printed
               for
               
                 James
                 Collins
              
               ,
               at
               the
               Kings-head
               in
               
               Westminster-hall
               .
               1670.
               
            
          
        
         
           
             
             
             
               THE
               SINFULNESS
               OF
               INFIDELITY
               .
            
             
               
                 Heb.
                 III.
                 12.
                 
              
               
                 Take
                 heed
                 brethren
                 ,
                 lest
                 there
                 be
                 in
                 any
                 of
                 you
                 ,
                 an
                 evil
                 heart
                 of
                 unbelief
                 ,
                 in
                 departing
                 from
                 the
                 living
                 God.
                 —
                 Exhort
                 one
                 another
                 daily
                 .
                 —
              
            
             
               I
               Shall
               not
               spend
               time
               in
               a
               disputation
               concerning
               the
               Author
               of
               this
               Epistle
               ,
               viz.
               whether
               it
               were
               Paul
               ,
               or
               Barnabas
               ,
               or
               Luke
               ,
               or
               Clemens
               ,
               or
               Apollos
               ,
               &c.
               but
               shall
               with
               the
               Church
               of
               England
               ,
               suppose
               S.
               Paul
               to
               have
               been
               the
               Author
               of
               it
               .
            
             
             
               If
               the
               Author
               of
               it
               be
               not
               infallibly
               knowen
               ,
               this
               ought
               not
               to
               detract
               from
               its
               Authority
               .
            
             
               Most
               of
               the
               other
               Epistles
               have
               been
               acknowledg'd
               to
               be
               of
               divine
               Authority
               ,
               because
               they
               were
               known
               to
               have
               proceeded
               from
               
                 Apostolical
                 writers
              
               .
            
             
               This
               (
               on
               the
               contrary
               )
               hath
               been
               concluded
               to
               be
               an
               Apostolical
               Epistle
               ,
               propter
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               Characterem
               ,
               by
               reason
               of
               that
               divine
               and
               Apostolical
               Spirit
               ,
               which
               to
               those
               who
               have
               had
               their
               Senses
               exercised
               ,
               hath
               manifestly
               appeared
               in
               it
               .
            
             
               If
               it
               were
               lawful
               (
               in
               this
               sense
               )
               to
               
                 compare
                 spiritual
              
               things
               with
               spiritual
               ;
               I
               should
               not
               fear
               to
               affirm
               ,
               that
               this
               Epistle
               hath
               in
               it
               some
               
                 peculiar
                 advantages
              
               ;
               Compared
               with
               some
               other
               of
               the
               Epistles
               .
               (
               Advantages
               ,
               I
               mean
               ,
               of
               usefulness
               ,
               not
               of
               Authority
               ,
               seeing
               all
               of
               them
               issued
               from
               the
               same
               Spirit
               .
               )
            
             
               The
               design
               of
               it
               is
               
                 General
                 ,
                 Fundamental
                 ,
                 Comprehensive
              
               ,
               not
               
                 Private
                 ,
                 Circumstantial
                 ,
                 Occasional
              
               ;
               And
               it
               hath
               peculiarly
               conveyed
               to
               the
               Church
               two
               great
               treasures
               .
               1.
               
               A
               
                 Compleat
                 Model
              
               ,
               
               or
               System
               ,
               of
               
                 Christian
                 Divinity
              
               .
               And
               2.
               the
               Way
               of
               that
               Analogy
               ,
               and
               manner
               of
               ratiocination
               ,
               whereby
               the
               
                 true
                 Spirit
              
               ,
               and
               meaning
               of
               the
               Types
               and
               Prophesies
               of
               the
               
                 Old
                 Testament
              
               is
               to
               be
               found
               out
               and
               applied
               .
            
             
               It
               was
               directed
               to
               the
               Hebrews
               ;
               That
               is
               ,
               to
               those
               of
               the
               Jewish
               Nation
               ,
               who
               had
               received
               the
               Gospel
               ,
               and
               made
               a
               Profession
               of
               Christianity
               .
               And
               the
               main
               Scope
               and
               design
               of
               it
               ,
               is
               to
               preserve
               the
               Professors
               of
               Christianity
               from
               Apostacy
               and
               Infidelity
               .
            
             
               The
               means
               used
               to
               this
               purpose
               ;
               are
               partly
               Didactical
               ,
               and
               partly
               
                 Protreptical
                 ;
                 Demonstrating
              
               the
               truths
               of
               the
               Gospel
               ,
               and
               then
               urging
               the
               Professors
               of
               those
               truths
               ,
               to
               be
               stedfast
               in
               the
               faith
               ,
               and
               to
               beware
               of
               Infidelity
               .
            
             
               The
               Method
               here
               used
               is
               a
               
                 mixt
                 method
              
               of
               Doctrine
               and
               
                 Application
                 ;
                 Dogmatical
              
               ,
               truths
               and
               
                 pathetical
                 Exhortations
              
               continually
               interwoven
               .
            
             
               He
               begins
               with
               the
               
                 Great
                 foundation
              
               of
               our
               
                 faith
                 .
                 Christ
              
               is
               the
               Son
               of
               God
               ,
               
               the
               brightness
               of
               his
               glory
               ;
               better
               then
               the
               Angels
               .
               
               Wherefore
               if
               the
               Word
               spoken
               by
               Angels
               was
               stedfast
               ,
               how
               
               shall
               we
               escape
               if
               we
               neglect
               so
               great
               salvation
               ?
            
             
               
               From
               the
               Comparison
               of
               Christ
               with
               Moses
               ,
               he
               concludes
               against
               Hardness
               of
               Heart
               and
               Infidelity
               .
            
             
               
               He
               demonstrates
               the
               Priesthood
               of
               Christ
               to
               be
               more
               Excellent
               then
               that
               of
               Aaron
               ;
               and
               in
               the
               midst
               of
               his
               argument
               ,
               
               he
               falls
               into
               an
               Application
               ,
               or
               Corollary
               ,
               concerning
               the
               dreadful
               Condition
               of
               them
               that
               fall
               away
               .
            
             
               This
               is
               his
               design
               ,
               and
               method
               ,
               thorowout
               the
               Epistle
               ;
               
                 Whatever
                 Doctrine
              
               he
               is
               upon
               ,
               this
               is
               still
               the
               drift
               and
               aim
               of
               all
               his
               Applications
               ,
               namely
               to
               preserve
               the
               Professors
               of
               Christianity
               ,
               from
               Apostacy
               and
               Infidelity
               .
            
             
               The
               words
               ,
               which
               I
               have
               chosen
               ,
               are
               a
               Reiteration
               or
               Reinforcement
               of
               an
               Application
               ,
               or
               Corollary
               ,
               arising
               from
               the
               Consideration
               of
               the
               Excellency
               of
               Christ
               above
               Moses
               .
               
               Moses
               was
               faithful
               in
               the
               house
               as
               a
               Servant
               ;
               Christ
               as
               a
               Son
               ,
               over
               his
               own
               house
               .
               This
               house
               are
               we
               if
               we
               hold
               fast
               
                 our
                 faith
              
               .
            
             
               Wherefore
               as
               the
               Holy
               Ghost
               saith
               ,
            
             
               Harden
               not
               your
               hearts
               —
            
             
               
               Take
               heed
               brethren
               ,
               lest
               —
            
             
               I
               say
               ,
               the
               words
               are
               an
               
                 Use
                 of
                 Exhortation
              
               ,
               and
               in
               them
               are
               considerable
               ,
            
             
               1.
               
               The
               Persons
               to
               whom
               directed
               :
               Professors
               of
               Christianity
               ,
               expressed
               in
               the
               Word
               Brethren
               .
            
             
               2.
               
               Matter
               or
               Object
               about
               which
               it
               is
               conversant
               ,
               Unbelief
               :
               heart
               unbelief
               .
            
             
               3.
               
               Form
               of
               Exhortation
               
                 by
                 way
                 of
                 Caveat
              
               .
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               take
               heed
               .
            
             
               Now
               every
               Caveat
               implies
               ,
            
             
               1.
               
               Evil
               in
               the
               thing
               .
            
             
               2.
               
               Danger
               of
               the
               thing
               .
            
             
               3.
               
               That
               there
               are
               wayes
               and
               means
               to
               prevent
               it
               .
               This
               is
               implyed
               in
               the
               Caveat
               ,
               and
               expressed
               in
               words
               following
               .
            
             
               My
               design
               ,
               at
               this
               time
               ,
               will
               be
               to
               enforce
               the
               Exhortation
               of
               the
               Text
               :
               And
               seing
               that
               every
               Application
               is
               a
               Consequence
               or
               Corollary
               arising
               from
               some
               Antecedent
               Proposition
               ,
               and
               the
               force
               of
               it
               is
               finally
               resolved
               into
               the
               truth
               and
               evidence
               and
               concernment
               of
               that
               Antecedent
               :
               Therefore
               it
               will
               be
               necessary
               to
               draw
               out
               that
               Antecedent
               by
               reflecting
               briefly
               upon
               the
               Text
               as
               it
               lies
               in
               the
               Series
               of
               the
               Epistle
               .
            
             
             
               I.
               Then
               ,
               ●or
               the
               Persons
               .
               They
               are
               here
               
                 styled
                 Brethren
              
               ,
               and
               elsewhere
               ,
               
                 Holy
                 Brethren
              
               ,
               
               
                 Partakers
                 of
              
               the
               heavenly
               Calling
               .
               ●hey
               were
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               ,
               baptized
               into
               the
               Profession
               of
               the
               Gospel
               ,
               they
               had
               tasted
               of
               the
               
                 Word
                 of
                 God
              
               ,
               and
               the
               power
               of
               the
               world
               to
               come
               .
            
             
               II.
               The
               Matter
               .
               Unbelief
               ,
               or
               rather
               Disbelief
               ,
               (
               not
               Negative
               Infidelity
               ,
               but
               a
               positive
               Revolting
               from
               the
               faith
               which
               they
               had
               professed
               )
               Generally
               ,
               a
               Disbelief
               of
               the
               Word
               of
               God
               ;
               Particularly
               ,
               a
               Disbelief
               of
               the
               Gospel
               ,
               as
               to
               the
               Doctrines
               ,
               or
               Promises
               ,
               or
               Threatnings
               thereof
               .
            
             
               III.
               For
               the
               Form
               that
               which
               is
               here
               expressed
               by
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               (
               look
               to
               it
               )
               is
               in
               the
               other
               forms
               of
               Exhortation
               ,
               thorowout
               the
               Epistle
               ,
               expressed
               by
               termes
               of
               the
               
                 greatest
                 Emphasis
              
               and
               earnestness
               imaginable
               ,
               Let
               us
               Fear
               lest
               we
               fall
               short
               ,
               4.1
               .
            
             
               Labour
               to
               enter
               ,
               4.11
               .
            
             
               Use
               diligence
               ,
               not
               be
               slothful
               ,
               6.11
               ,
               12.
               
            
             
               Press
               earnestly
               ,
               draw
               near
               ,
               hold
               fast
               ,
               10.22
               .
            
             
             
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               .
               Let
               us
               
                 give
                 more
                 diligent
                 heed
                 lest
                 by
                 any
                 means
              
               we
               should
               let
               it
               slip
               ,
               2.1
               .
            
             
               So
               that
               the
               Summe
               of
               the
               Apostles
               Argumentation
               is
               this
               :
               
                 The
                 last
                 resolution
              
               of
               all
               the
               Obligation
               of
               men
               ,
               is
               into
               reasons
               of
               Duty
               and
               of
               Interest
               .
            
             
               If
               there
               be
               Wickedness
               in
               Infidelity
               ,
               it
               is
               matter
               of
               Duty
               ,
               if
               there
               be
               
                 Danger
                 in
              
               it
               ,
               and
               
                 Danger
                 of
              
               it
               ,
               it
               is
               matter
               of
               Interest
               and
               Concernment
               to
               Beware
               of
               it
               .
            
             
               This
               Heart
               of
               Unbelief
               is
               an
               Evil
               heart
               (
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               )
               there
               is
               Wickedness
               in
               it
               .
               It
               grieves
               the
               Spirit
               of
               God
               ;
               It
               provoked
               him
               So
               ,
               that
               he
               sware
               in
               his
               wrath
               ,
               that
               he
               would
               take
               Vengeance
               for
               it
               :
               there
               is
               
                 Danger
                 in
                 it
                 .
                 Yet
              
               it
               was
               a
               thing
               Ordinary
               and
               common
               amongst
               the
               Fathers
               of
               these
               Hebrews
               ,
               it
               was
               neque
               Novum
               ,
               neque
               
                 Rarum
                 ,
                 There
                 is
                 Danger
                 of
                 it
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 It
                 is
                 the
                 Duty
                 and
                 Concernment
                 of
                 every
                 one
                 Professing
                 Christianity
                 to
                 take
                 heed
                 lest
                 there
                 be
                 in
                 them
                 an
                 heart
                 of
                 Unbelief
                 ;
                 and
                 to
                 use
                 all
                 means
                 to
                 prevent
                 it
                 .
                 This
                 is
                 the
                 Antecedent
                 .
              
            
             
             
               
                 Wherefore
                 take
                 heed
                 brethren
              
               ,
               &c.
               —
               (
               which
               is
               the
               Exhortation
               by
               way
               of
               Caveat
               ;
               —
               
                 Exhort
                 one
                 another
                 dayly
              
               ,
               &c.
               which
               is
               the
               way
               to
               prevent
               it
               .
            
             
               So
               then
               for
               the
               enforcement
               of
               the
               exhortation
               upon
               the
               whole
               matter
               ,
               I
               am
               to
               speak
               
                 
                   I.
                   
                     Of
                     the
                     Evil
                     of
                     Infidelity
                  
                   .
                
                 
                   II.
                   
                     Of
                     the
                     Danger
                     of
                     falling
                     into
                     it
                     .
                  
                
                 
                   III.
                   
                     Of
                     the
                     meanes
                     of
                     preventing
                     it
                     .
                  
                   And
                   then
                   to
                   conclude
                   with
                
                 
                   IV.
                   
                     The
                     Exhortation
                     of
                     the
                     Text.
                  
                   
                
              
            
             
               
               In
               speaking
               of
               the
               Evil
               of
               Infidelity
               ,
               I
               shall
               not
               discourse
               at
               large
               ,
               but
               confine
               my self
               to
               an
               enquiry
               into
               
                 two
                 pretenses
              
               (
               Which
               having
               been
               broached
               in
               the
               late
               times
               of
               
                 Infidelity
                 towards
                 the
                 King
              
               ,
               are
               said
               to
               have
               operated
               very
               far
               towards
               a
               general
               Apostacy
               from
               the
               faith
               ,
               and
               the
               production
               of
               
                 Infidelity
                 towards
              
               God
               )
               both
               which
               appealing
               to
               the
               tenor
               of
               the
               Scriptures
               ;
               must
               be
               examined
               by
               them
               .
            
             
               
               The
               first
               is
               of
               a
               famous
               Author
               ,
               and
               it
               is
               this
               ,
               That
               the
               Scriptures
               do
               not
               make
               Infidelity
               to
               be
               a
               Sin
               ,
               at
               the
               time
               of
               the
               delivery
               of
               the
               Scriptures
               .
            
             
             
               The
               second
               is
               of
               a
               
                 Writer
                 more
                 obscure
              
               ,
               but
               in
               it self
               ,
               
               so
               agreeable
               to
               the
               disposition
               of
               the
               present
               generation
               ,
               that
               it
               hath
               possessed
               the
               minds
               of
               many
               ;
               it
               is
               this
               ,
               that
            
             
               
                 Although
                 Infidelity
              
               (
               according
               to
               the
               Scriptures
               )
               in
               the
               times
               of
               
                 Christ
                 and
                 his
                 Apostles
              
               ,
               were
               sinful
               ,
               and
               inexcusable
               ;
               yet
               in
               our
               times
               ,
               it
               is
               excusable
               .
               These
               are
               the
               pretences
               to
               be
               examined
               .
            
             
               The
               Substance
               of
               the
               Gospel
               ,
               as
               it
               immediately
               relates
               to
               Christian
               duty
               ,
               is
               summarily
               reduced
               to
               the
               Doctrines
               and
               Injunctions
               of
               our
               Lord
               Christ
               ,
               and
               his
               Apostles
               .
            
             
               The
               Author
               of
               Leviathan
               (
               cap.
               42.
               pag.
               286.
               )
               tells
               us
               in
               plain
               terms
               ,
               that
               
                 
                   We
                   do
                   not
                
                 read
                 any
                 where
                 (
                 in
                 the
                 Scriptures
                 )
                 that
                 they
                 which
                 received
                 not
                 the
                 Doctrine
                 of
                 Christ
                 ,
                 did
                 therein
                 Sin.
                 
              
            
             
               And
               again
               ,
               
                 that
                 the
                 Injunctions
                 of
                 Christ
                 ,
                 and
                 his
                 Apostles
                 ,
                 men
                 might
                 refuse
                 without
                 sin
                 .
              
            
             
               Now
               concerning
               this
               assertion
               ▪
               I
               cannot
               chuse
               but
               say
               ,
               that
               had
               I
               not
               been
               acquainted
               with
               the
               works
               of
               that
               authour
               
               (
               especially
               those
               relating
               to
               religion
               )
               I
               should
               exceedingly
               wonder
               at
               it
               ,
               because
               it
               supposes
               men
               never
               to
               look
               into
               their
               Bibles
               ,
               which
               is
               the
               thing
               it
               would
               perswade
               .
            
             
               
               In
               the
               21.
               of
               Matth.
               Our
               Saviour
               askes
               the
               Jewes
               this
               question
               ,
               
                 Did
                 ye
                 never
                 read
                 in
                 the
                 Scriptures
              
               such
               a
               thing
               ?
               a
               question
               which
               I
               must
               repeat
               to
               the
               Assertors
               of
               this
               doctrine
               .
               Did
               they
               
                 never
                 read
              
               in
               the
               Scriptures
               the
               Sinfulness
               ,
               the
               Danger
               ,
               the
               Heynousness
               of
               Infidelility
               ?
               
               Surely
               he
               that
               runs
               may
               read
               it
               .
            
             
               
               Our
               Saviour
               Christ
               ,
               
                 before
                 his
              
               death
               ,
               did
               oftentimes
               vehemently
               rebuke
               his
               Disciples
               ,
               for
               Infidelity
               ,
               "
               O
               faithless
               and
               perverse
               generation
               ,
               how
               long
               shall
               I
               endure
               you
               ?
               (
               Quousque
               tandem
               abutemini
               patientiâ
               nostrâ
               )
               And
               
                 after
                 his
                 Resurrection
              
               ,
               
               he
               calls
               them
               fools
               and
               
                 slow
                 of
              
               heart
               ,
               for
               unbelieving
               :
               Did
               they
               never
               read
               these
               Increpations
               ?
            
             
               
               The
               Author
               of
               this
               Epistle
               ,
               and
               the
               rest
               of
               the
               Apostles
               ,
               do
               every
               where
               vehemently
               and
               earnestly
               dehort
               from
               Unbelief
               .
               Did
               they
               never
               read
               these
               Dehortations
               ?
            
             
               
               In
               the
               8
               of
               John
               ,
               Christ
               tells
               the
               
               Jews
               ,
               that
               if
               they
               believe
               not
               ,
               
               they
               
                 shall
                 dy
                 in
                 their
              
               Sins
               .
               That
               the
               wrath
               of
               God
               abideth
               on
               them
               ,
               that
               
                 he
                 that
              
               believeth
               not
               ,
               is
               damned
               already
               .
               Did
               they
               never
               read
               these
               Denunciations
               ?
            
             
               Yes
               !
               these
               last
               ,
               it
               seems
               this
               Author
               had
               read
               ,
               &
               as
               his
               manner
               is
               ,
               thinking
               he
               could
               accommodate
               an
               answer
               to
               these
               ,
               he
               hath
               pronounced
               securely
               of
               all
               the
               rest
               :
               
                 To
                 these
              
               he
               saith
               that
               they
               import
               onely
               a
               
               non-remission
               of
               the
               
                 sins
                 committed
                 aganst
                 the
                 laws
                 of
                 their
                 Country
              
               ;
               (
               that
               they
               should
               dy
               in
               them
               ;
               )
               but
               that
               they
               do
               not
               evince
               ,
               any
               sinfulness
               to
               be
               in
               Infidelity
               ;
               Wherefore
               I
               must
               crave
               licence
               to
               proceed
               .
            
             
               
               The
               Apostle
               in
               the
               21
               of
               the
               Revelations
               ,
               
               give
               a
               Catalogue
               of
               such
               sinners
               as
               are
               of
               the
               bigest
               rank
               ,
               Such
               as
               are
               most
               abominable
               in
               the
               eyes
               of
               God
               ,
               Such
               as
               are
               to
               have
               their
               portion
               in
               that
               lake
               which
               burneth
               with
               fire
               and
               brimstone
               ,
               and
               he
               puts
               Unbelievers
               in
               the
               head
               of
               this
               Regiment
               
                 The
                 fearful
                 and
                 Unbelievers
                 ,
                 and
                 Abominable
                 ,
                 and
                 Murtherers
                 ,
                 and
                 Whoremongers
                 ,
                 and
                 Sorcerers
                 ,
                 and
                 Lyars
                 shall
                 have
                 their
                 portion
                 in
                 that
                 lake
                 .
              
            
             
             
               
               But
               it
               may
               be
               ,
               perhaps
               ;
               that
               the
               Scripture
               doth
               not
               in
               plain
               and
               
                 express
                 termes
              
               ,
               affirm
               Infidelity
               to
               be
               Sinful
               !
            
             
               
               The
               Text
               tells
               us
               plainly
               and
               expresly
               ,
               that
               an
               heart
               of
               unbelief
               is
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               (
               not
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               but
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               ,
               not
               incommodious
               but
               wicked
               .
               )
            
             
               
               But
               Philosophers
               and
               Mathematicians
               ;
               (
               pretending
               Strictness
               &
               demonstration
               in
               discourse
               )
               regard
               
                 not
                 general
              
               words
               ;
               but
               have
               recourse
               to
               the
               
                 Definitions
                 of
                 things
              
               ,
               and
               from
               thence
               proceed
               to
               affirm
               or
               deny
               the
               Attribution
               which
               is
               under
               question
               .
               
               Let
               us
               therefore
               have
               recourse
               to
               the
               definition
               of
               Sin.
               
            
             
               Those
               who
               have
               spoken
               most
               accurately
               concerning
               the
               nature
               of
               Sin
               ,
               they
               have
               resolved
               ,
               that
               the
               
                 formal
                 notion
              
               of
               it
               ,
               consists
               in
               a
               
                 departure
                 from
                 God.
              
               it
               is
               Aversio
               à
               
                 Deo
                 ,
                 &
                 Conversio
              
               ad
               creaturam
               .
            
             
               
               In
               the
               second
               of
               Jeremy
               ,
               and
               12.
               we
               find
               the
               Prophet
               as
               it
               were
               in
               
                 furore
                 sacro
              
               (
               in
               a
               prophetic
               rage
               )
               breaking
               forth
               into
               this
               Exclamation
               .
               
                 
                   Be
                   astonished
                   ,
                   O
                   ye
                   heavens
                   ,
                
                 be
                 ye
                 horribly
                 afraid
                 ,
                 be
                 very
                 desolate
                 saith
                 the
                 Lord
                 !
                 What
                 ailes
                 the
                 Prophet
                 to
                 cry
                 so
                 loud
                 ?
                 
                 to
                 make
                 the
                 
                   heavens
                   resound
                
                 his
                 Exclamation
                 ?
                 my
                 people
                 (
                 saith
                 he
                 )
                 have
                 committed
                 two
                 Great
                 evils
                 ,
                 they
                 have
                 Forsaken
                 me
                 ,
                 that
                 's
                 the
                 first
                 .
                 An
                 heart
                 of
                 unbelief
                 ,
                 is
                 
                   an
                   evil
                   heart
                   ,
                   in
                   departing
                   from
                   the
                   living
                   God.
                   
                
              
            
             
               It
               is
               true
               that
               the
               Spirit
               of
               God
               in
               the
               Scriptures
               ,
               doth
               not
               usually
               descend
               to
               Logical
               accuracy
               ,
               to
               the
               quatenus
               ,
               or
               Causality
               ,
               to
               the
               observation
               of
               the
               rules
               of
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               .
            
             
               And
               this
               makes
               it
               oft-times
               ,
               harder
               to
               deal
               with
               men
               of
               perverse
               minds
               ,
               then
               many
               do
               imagine
               .
               But
               the
               more
               rare
               this
               is
               ,
               the
               more
               you
               will
               take
               notice
               of
               the
               Providence
               ,
               when
               you
               shall
               consider
               ,
               how
               accurately
               ,
               and
               how
               fully
               ,
               the
               Scripture
               hath
               determined
               that
               which
               is
               in
               Question
               .
            
             
               In
               the
               16.
               of
               Joh.
               8.
               our
               Saviour
               tells
               them
               ,
               
               that
               the
               Spirit
               shall
               rebuke
               the
               world
               of
               Sin
               ,
               of
               righteousness
               ,
               of
               judgement
               :
               Of
               
                 Sin
                 ,
                 Because
              
               they
               
                 believe
                 not
              
               on
               him
               .
               Joh.
               3.18
               .
               he
               that
               
                 believeth
                 not
              
               is
               
                 Condemned
                 ,
                 because
              
               he
               believeth
               not
               .
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               ,
               the
               rejection
               of
               the
               Gospel
               is
               said
               to
               be
               
               the
               very
               Condemnation
               ,
               So
               expressly
               is
               ,
               the
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               ,
               delivered
               to
               us
               ,
               (
               by
               Causal
               and
               Identical
               propositions
               )
               in
               the
               Scripture
               ;
               Who
               is
               it
               now
               ,
               that
               can
               perswade
               us
               ,
               that
               the
               Scriptures
               do
               not
               affirm
               ,
               any
               Sinfulness
               to
               be
               in
               Infidelity
               ?
            
             
               Yes
               verily
               !
               the
               
                 Scriptures
                 not
                 onely
                 teach
                 us
              
               ,
               that
               
                 unbelief
                 is
                 a
                 sin
              
               ,
               but
               they
               teach
               us
               likewise
            
             
               6.
               
               The
               Heinousness
               and
               Aggravation
               ,
               the
               Sinfulness
               and
               Punishment
               of
               this
               Sin.
               
            
             
               It
               was
               this
               that
               brought
               all
               other
               sin
               into
               the
               
                 World
                 ;
                 and
              
               every
               
                 Premeditated
                 sin
              
               arises
               from
               it
               .
               It
               hardens
               the
               heart
               ,
               and
               sears
               the
               Conscience
               ,
               and
               makes
               it
               bid
               defiance
               to
               the
               Lord
               of
               Glory
               .
            
             
               Concerning
               David
               we
               read
               in
               the
               Psalms
               ,
               that
               once
               he
               said
               in
               his
               Hast
               that
               all
               men
               are
               liars
               ,
               did
               he
               revoke
               it
               when
               he
               was
               at
               leisure
               ?
               No
               ,
               the
               more
               he
               thought
               of
               it
               ,
               the
               higher
               he
               proceeds
               ,
               and
               becomes
               the
               more
               assured
               in
               this
               charge
               ;
               Surely
               (
               saith
               he
               )
               Men
               of
               low
               degree
               are
               Vanity
               ,
               and
               men
               of
               
                 high
                 degree
              
               are
               (
               not
               liars
               but
               )
               a
               Lie.
               
               Yet
               if
               
               one
               gives
               the
               lie
               to
               one
               of
               these
               lyars
               ,
               it
               is
               the
               utmost
               provocation
               ;
               it
               is
               the
               
                 stated
                 word
                 of
                 defiance
              
               ,
               
               concluded
               fit
               to
               justifie
               the
               Duel
               or
               the
               Stab
               .
               On
               the
               other
               side
               ,
               God
               glories
               in
               this
               ,
               that
               he
               is
               not
               a
               man
               that
               he
               should
               lie
               ,
               that
               the
               strength
               of
               Israel
               will
               not
               lie
               ,
               yet
               infidelity
               gives
               him
               the
               lye
               .
               
                 
                   He
                   that
                   believeth
                   not
                   God
                   makes
                   him
                   a
                   Liar
                   .
                
              
               
                 (
                 1
                 Joh.
                 5.10
                 .
                 )
              
            
             
               7.
               
               I
               desire
               to
               know
               what
               is
               that
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               ,
               whereby
               the
               Heinousness
               of
               any
               sin
               is
               to
               be
               estimated
               .
            
             
               Is
               it
               the
               denunciation
               of
               Future
               Vengeance
               ?
               
               
                 The
                 Lord
                 Jesus
                 shall
                 be
                 revealed
                 from
                 heaven
                 with
                 
                   his
                   mighty
                   Angels
                
                 ,
                 in
                 
                   flaming
                   fire
                   ,
                   taking
                   Vengeance
                
                 upon
                 Unbelievers
                 ,
                 and
                 they
                 shall
                 be
                 punished
                 with
                 everlasting
                 destruction
                 ,
                 from
                 the
                 presence
                 of
                 the
                 Lord
                 and
                 from
                 the
                 presence
                 of
                 his
                 power
                 .
              
            
             
               Is
               it
               Old
               or
               
                 New
                 ,
                 Past
              
               ,
               or
               
                 present
                 Instances
              
               of
               Vengeance
               ?
               
               Were
               not
               the
               body
               of
               this
               
                 people
                 newly
              
               cut
               off
               for
               unbelief
               ?
               And
               of
               ancient
               dayes
               ,
               whose
               were
               the
               Carcasses
               that
               fell
               in
               the
               Wilderness
               ;
               and
               to
               whom
               
                 did
                 God
                 swear
              
               in
               his
               
               wrath
               ,
               that
               they
               should
               
                 not
                 enter
              
               into
               his
               rest
               ,
               
               but
               to
               them
               that
               
                 believed
                 not
              
               ?
            
             
               Consider
               but
               the
               story
               ,
               from
               whence
               the
               Exhortation
               of
               the
               Text
               arises
               .
               
                 How
                 God
                 was
                 provoked
                 through
                 unbelief
                 .
                 The
                 text
              
               tells
               us
               ▪
               that
               
                 he
                 was
                 Moved
                 ,
                 he
                 was
                 Tempted
                 ,
                 he
                 was
                 Grived
                 ,
                 he
                 was
                 Provoeked
                 ,
                 till
                 he
                 sware
                 in
                 his
                 wrath
                 —
              
            
             
               The
               words
               are
               taken
               out
               of
               the
               95
               Psalm
               ,
               
               to
               which
               the
               78.
               is
               parallel
               .
               
                 
                   They
                   were
                
                 (
                 saith
                 the
                 Psalmist
                 )
                 a
                 stubborn
                 and
                 rebellious
                 Generation
                 ;
                 They
                 
                   tempted
                   God
                
                 ,
                 and
                 
                   spoke
                   against
                
                 him
                 ,
                 Therefore
                 the
                 Lord
                 heard
                 this
                 and
                 was
                 wroth
                 :
                 So
                 a
                 fire
                 was
                 kindled
                 against
                 Jacob
                 and
                 anger
                 against
                 Israel
                 ;
                 
                   Because
                   they
                   believed
                   not
                   in
                   God
                   ,
                   and
                   trusted
                   not
                   in
                   his
                
                 Salvation
                 —
                 When
                 God
                 heard
                 this
                 ,
                 he
                 was
                 wroth
                 ,
                 and
                 greatly
                 abhorred
                 Israel
                 ,
                 he
                 gave
                 way
                 to
                 his
                 
                   Indignation
                   ,
                   wrath
                   ,
                   anger
                   ,
                   displeasure
                
                 and
                 Jealousy
                 .
              
            
             
               I
               conceive
               ,
               now
               the
               first
               Question
               to
               be
               stated
               ,
               viz.
               Whether
               (
               according
               to
               the
               tenor
               of
               the
               Scripture
               )
               Infidelity
               were
               sinful
               and
               dangerous
               ,
               in
               the
               time
               
               of
               the
               delivery
               of
               the
               Scriptures
               :
               I
               proceed
               to
               the
               second
               Question
               ,
               viz.
               (
               
                 However
                 it
                 was
                 in
                 antient
                 times
                 .
              
               )
            
             
               2.
               
               Whether
               Infidelity
               ,
               be
               not
               in
               such
               times
               as
               ours
               Excusable
               ?
            
             
               My
               meaning
               is
               this
               :
               Whether
               (
               speaking
               according
               to
               Scriptural
               grounds
               ,
               and
               reason
               )
               Now
               that
               
                 Miracles
                 ,
                 extraordinary
                 gifts
              
               and
               Prophesies
               are
               
                 ceased
                 ,
                 Infidelity
              
               be
               not
               become
               Excusable
               (
               however
               it
               might
               be
               Sinful
               and
               inexcusable
               during
               the
               time
               when
               Prophesies
               and
               Miracles
               were
               in
               use
               ?
               )
            
             
               The
               first
               verse
               of
               this
               Epistle
               (
               to
               the
               Hebrews
               )
               tells
               us
               what
               powerful
               and
               
                 noble
                 motives
              
               to
               believe
               ,
               God
               had
               afforded
               to
               the
               Fathers
               .
            
             
               God
               himself
               was
               pleased
               to
               speak
               to
               them
               ,
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               ,
               at
               sundry
               times
               ,
               and
               in
               divers
               manners
               .
            
             
               In
               the
               Times
               of
               the
               
                 Patriarchs
                 ,
                 Judges
                 ,
                 Kings
              
               ,
               and
               Prophets
               by
               the
               Wayes
               of
               
                 Visions
                 ,
                 Dreams
                 ,
                 Voices
                 ,
                 ●imilitudes
                 ,
                 Vrim
                 ,
              
               and
               by
               divers
               miracles
               and
               wonders
               .
            
             
               
                 So
                 likewise
              
               ,
               for
               those
               
                 that
                 are
                 here
                 exhorted
              
               ;
               About
               the
               time
               of
               the
               Writing
               of
               
                 this
                 Epistle
                 ;
                 God
              
               had
               spoken
               
               to
               them
               by
               his
               Son
               (
               the
               brightness
               of
               his
               Glory
               ,
               the
               image
               of
               his
               person
               )
               And
               by
               the
               Apostles
               ,
               to
               whom
               also
               he
               bare
               Witness
               ,
               by
               mighty
               signes
               and
               wonders
               ,
               by
               divers
               miracles
               and
               gifts
               of
               the
               Holy
               Ghost
               .
            
             
               Now
               that
               Such
               men
               as
               
                 these
                 ,
                 who
                 had
              
               so
               great
               advantages
               to
               bring
               them
               to
               believe
               ,
               should
               be
               
                 severely
                 punished
              
               for
               Infidelity
               ,
               I
               am
               perswaded
               there
               is
               hardly
               any
               man
               ,
               but
               thinks
               it
               very
               just
               and
               reasonable
               .
            
             
               
                 That
                 such
              
               as
               had
               seen
               the
               wonders
               of
               God
               ,
               in
               Egypt
               and
               the
               Wilderness
               ,
               so
               
                 manifestly
                 miraculous
              
               ,
               so
               
                 often
                 repeated
              
               ,
               and
               yet
               for
               
                 all
                 this
              
               would
               not
               believe
               ,
               that
               
                 their
                 Carcasses
              
               should
               fall
               in
               the
               Wilderness
               .
            
             
               That
               Ananias
               and
               Sapphira
               who
               had
               known
               the
               miracles
               which
               had
               been
               done
               by
               the
               Apostles
               ,
               should
               think
               to
               Cousen
               the
               Apostles
               :
               it
               deserved
               the
               Judgment
               that
               befell
               them
               .
            
             
               As
               for
               our selves
               had
               we
               lived
               in
               the
               times
               of
               Miracles
               or
               Prophesies
               ,
               we
               doubt
               not
               but
               we
               should
               have
               believed
               .
               Or
               ,
               as
               Philip
               said
               ,
               shew
               us
               the
               father
               ,
               and
               it
               sufficeth
               .
               Could
               we
               but
               once
               
                 see
                 a
                 miracle
              
               ,
               
               or
               talk
               with
               one
               returning
               from
               the
               dead
               ;
               it
               
                 should
                 suffice
              
               ,
               we
               would
               believe
               .
            
             
               But
               seing
               it
               is
               now
               
                 many
                 hundreds
              
               of
               yeares
               ,
               Since
               these
               things
               are
               ceased
               ,
               and
               we
               have
               nothing
               left
               us
               ,
               
                 Praeter
                 miraculorum
                 famam
              
               ;
               If
               we
               shall
               
                 not
                 believe
              
               the
               
                 Gospel
                 ;
                 by
                 some
              
               it
               is
               
                 openly
                 pretended
              
               ,
               and
               by
               
                 many
                 it
              
               is
               
                 secretly
                 iamgined
              
               ,
               that
               ,
               
                 in
                 this
                 case
              
               we
               may
               be
               Excused
               .
            
             
               I
               could
               wish
               that
               the
               time
               would
               serve
               ,
               
                 Clearly
                 to
                 rid
              
               away
               this
               phantasm
               ;
               In
               order
               to
               it
               ,
               I
               shall
               briefly
               doe
               three
               things
               .
            
             
               1.
               
               Shew
               that
               this
               Phantastical
               imagination
               is
               no
               new
               invention
               but
               that
               it
               hath
               of
               old
               ,
               
               been
               the
               conceit
               of
               Abominable
               Hypocrites
               .
            
             
               2
               ly
               .
               I
               shall
               inquire
               a
               little
               into
               the
               grounds
               of
               this
               Conceit
               ,
               
               and
               shew
               the
               mistake
               of
               those
               suppositions
               ,
               into
               which
               it
               is
               resolved
               .
            
             
               3
               ly
               .
               I
               shall
               shew
               ,
               that
               our
               Saviour
               (
               Knowing
               the
               thoughts
               of
               men
               )
               hath
               taken
               particular
               care
               to
               prevent
               this
               Imagination
               ;
               
               and
               hath
               clearly
               decided
               the
               matter
               in
               Question
               .
            
             
             
               I.
               Though
               the
               present
               age
               be
               fruitful
               in
               inventions
               tending
               this
               way
               ,
               yet
               this
               hath
               been
               Anticipated
               by
               the
               Wits
               of
               former
               times
               .
            
             
               
               In
               the
               11
               of
               Luke
               47.
               
               We
               finde
               the
               Scribes
               and
               
                 Pharisees
                 ,
                 building
              
               the
               Sepulchers
               of
               the
               Prophets
               ,
               whom
               their
               fathers
               had
               killed
               .
            
             
               If
               we
               would
               know
               ,
               what
               they
               pretend●d
               ,
               
               in
               so
               doing
               ,
               we
               shall
               find
               it
               in
               the
               parallel
               place
               of
               Matthew
               .
               They
               said
               ,
               if
               we
               ha●
               been
               in
               the
               dayes
               of
               our
               f●thers
               ,
               
                 we
                 would
                 not
              
               have
               been
               partakers
               with
               them
               ,
               in
               the
               blood
               of
               the
               Prophets
               .
            
             
               That
               these
               men
               ,
               did
               not
               believe
               the
               Prophets
               ,
               it
               is
               
                 manifest
                 ;
                 Christ
              
               tells
               them
               ,
               if
               they
               had
               believed
               the
               Prophets
               ,
               they
               would
               have
               believed
               him
               :
               for
               they
               wrote
               of
               him
               ,
            
             
               But
               that
               they
               would
               have
               beleived
               the
               Prophets
               ,
               (
               and
               not
               have
               murthered
               them
               )
               had
               they
               lived
               in
               their
               times
               ,
               
                 this
                 they
                 pretend
                 :
                 and
              
               it
               is
               very
               probable
               they
               had
               that
               opinion
               .
            
             
               
                 Yes
                 Verily
              
               !
               had
               they
               lived
               in
               the
               dayes
               of
               Miracles
               and
               Prophesies
               ,
               they
               would
               have
               believed
               ,
               
                 the
                 very
                 conceit
              
               
               wnich
               is
               now
               Pretended
               !
            
             
               But
               the
               Truth
               is
               ,
               these
               men
               were
               
                 abominable
                 Hypocrites
              
               ,
               and
               the
               cause
               of
               their
               Unbelief
               ,
               was
               not
               the
               
                 want
                 of
                 miracles
              
               and
               Prophesies
               but
               
                 Carnal
                 prejudice
              
               ,
               and
               interest
               ,
               and
               the
               
                 Vile
                 affections
              
               of
               their
               hearts
               .
               Did
               not
               Christ
               work
               miracles
               ?
               Was
               not
               he
               that
               Prophet
               which
               was
               to
               come
               ?
               Yet
               they
               took
               him
               ,
               and
               with
               wicked
               hands
               they
               
                 slew
                 him
              
               ,
               and
               brought
               upon
               themselves
               the
               bloud
               of
               
                 all
                 the
                 Prophets
              
               .
            
             
               But
               2
               ly
               .
               If
               we
               shall
               examine
               the
               bottom
               of
               this
               fancy
               ,
               and
               resolve
               it
               into
               its
               Principles
               ,
               we
               shall
               finde
               that
               it
               supposes
               these
               things
               .
            
             
               1.
               
               That
               the
               
                 want
                 of
              
               the
               sight
               of
               miracles
               ,
               is
               sufficient
               to
               
                 Justifie
                 unbelief
              
               .
            
             
               2.
               
               That
               to
               live
               in
               the
               
                 very
                 age
              
               of
               miracles
               ,
               is
               apter
               to
               create
               beleif
               ,
               then
               to
               be
               born
               and
               educated
               ,
               in
               a
               believing
               nation
               ,
               after
               the
               world
               hath
               been
               convinced
               by
               the
               miracles
               of
               former
               times
               (
               which
               is
               our
               Case
               .
               )
            
             
               3.
               
               That
               the
               
                 bare
                 sight
              
               of
               miracles
               ,
               is
               of
               it self
               alone
               ,
               sufficient
               to
               create
               belief
               ,
               
               in
               every
               person
               that
               should
               see
               them
               .
            
             
               Of
               which
               suppositions
               ,
               the
               first
               is
               contrary
               to
               
                 common
                 Reason
              
               ,
               and
               the
               two
               later
               are
               contrary
               to
               
                 Scriptural
                 Reason
              
               ,
               and
               to
               the
               experience
               of
               the
               world
               .
            
             
               1.
               
               
                 If
                 the
                 want
                 of
              
               the
               sight
               of
               miracles
               were
               enough
               to
               justifie
               Infidelity
               ,
               then
               for
               
                 every
                 Dogma
              
               to
               be
               believed
               ,
               Every
               
                 Individual
                 person
              
               ,
               were
               to
               expect
               the
               sight
               of
               
                 miracles
                 ;
                 which
              
               if
               it
               should
               happen
               ,
               the
               wonder
               would
               cease
               ,
               and
               
                 miracles
                 become
                 No
                 miracles
              
               ,
               by
               the
               frequency
               of
               the
               performances
               of
               them
               ,
               and
               so
               they
               would
               be
               inept
               to
               
                 create
                 belief
              
               .
            
             
               
                 Every
                 work
              
               of
               nature
               ,
               is
               in
               it self
               a
               
                 miracle
                 ;
                 Who
              
               would
               not
               think
               it
               easier
               to
               recover
               a
               man
               ,
               (
               who
               had
               all
               his
               parts
               and
               humours
               already
               formed
               ,
               )
               
                 from
                 the
                 dead
              
               ,
               then
               from
               that
               liquid
               principle
               whereof
               Job
               speakes
               ,
               to
               raise
               up
               flesh
               and
               skin
               ,
               
               bones
               and
               sinews
               :
               to
               Advance
               an
               understanding
               creature
               ,
               capable
               of
               Adoring
               or
               blaspheming
               the
               maker
               of
               him
               ?
               Yet
               
                 that
                 is
              
               a
               miracle
               ,
               and
               this
               is
               none
               ,
               onely
               through
               the
               rarity
               of
               one
               ,
               and
               frequency
               of
               the
               other
               .
            
             
             
               
                 Again
                 ,
                 if
                 every
                 one
                 were
                 to
                 see
                 miracles
                 ,
              
               
               the
               merit
               of
               faith
               would
               be
               taken
               away
               .
               
                 
                   Jesus
                   said
                
                 unto
                 Thomas
                 ,
                 because
                 thou
                 hast
                 seen
                 —
                 thou
                 hast
                 believed
                 ,
                 B●essed
                 are
                 they
                 that
                 have
                 not
                 seen
                 ,
                 yet
                 have
                 believed
                 .
              
               This
               for
               the
               first
               supposition
               .
            
             
               2.
               
               The
               second
               is
               this
               ,
               that
               
                 to
                 live
              
               in
               the
               
                 very
                 age
              
               of
               miracles
               ,
               is
               apter
               to
               create
               a
               belief
               ,
               then
               to
               live
               in
               a
               
                 believing
                 nation
              
               a
               good
               time
               after
               the
               times
               of
               Miracles
               .
            
             
               But
               ,
               contrary
               to
               this
               ,
               we
               have
               instances
               both
               in
               Jews
               and
               Gentiles
               .
               After
               near
               4000
               years
               .
               How
               pertinaciously
               doe
               the
               Jews
               adhere
               to
               Moses
               ,
               against
               whom
               their
               fathers
               
                 Murmured
                 ▪
              
               and
               rebelled
               ,
               notwithstanding
               the
               sight
               of
               all
               his
               miracles
               ;
               and
               when
               he
               had
               wrought
               that
               
                 great
                 miracle
              
               upon
               Corah
               and
               for
               his
               rebellion
               ,
               the
               next
               day
               they
               
                 rebelled
                 again
              
               .
            
             
               And
               we
               find
               now
               the
               whole
               world
               ,
               (
               especially
               the
               wiser
               part
               )
               Converted
               to
               Christianity
               ,
               whereas
               the
               Apostles
               complain
               of
               the
               paucity
               of
               professors
               ,
               and
               the
               Infidelity
               of
               the
               Jews
               ,
               in
               the
               Age
               of
               Christ
               and
               his
               Apostles
               ,
               was
               so
               
               great
               and
               resolute
               that
               it
               hath
               a
               
                 fatal
                 operation
              
               upon
               that
               nation
               unto
               this
               day
               .
            
             
               I
               am
               sensible
               ,
               that
               in
               the
               Comparison
               of
               
                 later
                 ages
              
               with
               the
               dayes
               of
               miracles
               ,
               I
               may
               be
               thought
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               ,
               and
               to
               advance
               a
               paradox
               ,
               where
               that
               I
               may
               not
               lean
               on
               my
               own
               understanding
               ,
               I
               beseech
               you
               to
               Consider
               ,
               our
               
                 Saviours
                 decision
              
               of
               the
               Question
               which
               we
               have
               in
               hand
               .
            
             
               I
               suppose
               ,
               I
               
                 may
                 take
              
               it
               for
               granted
               ,
               that
               the
               Condition
               of
               the
               Jews
               in
               our
               Saviours
               time
               ,
               was
               in
               respect
               of
               Moses
               ,
               the
               same
               (
               as
               to
               the
               matter
               in
               Question
               )
               with
               
                 our
                 Condition
              
               in
               respect
               of
               Christ.
               
            
             
               The
               tradition
               of
               the
               law
               ,
               was
               accompanied
               w●th
               mighty
               Signes
               and
               wonders
               .
               And
               so
               was
               ●ikewise
               the
               tradition
               of
               the
               Gospel
               .
            
             
               In
               the
               times
               succeeding
               Moses
               ,
               God
               for
               a
               Season
               continued
               the
               sensible
               manifestation
               of
               his
               presence
               ,
               by
               
                 miracles
                 .
                 So
              
               he
               did
               likewise
               in
               the
               
                 times
                 succeeding
              
               Christ.
               
            
             
               
                 But
                 before
              
               the
               time
               of
               our
               Saviour
               both
               miracles
               and
               Prophesies
               had
               a
               long
               
               time
               ceased
               .
               
               We
               see
               not
               our
               Tokens
               (
               saith
               the
               Psalmist
               )
               there
               is
               not
               one
               Prophet
               left
               ;
               
                 as
                 it
                 is
                 with
                 us
                 at
                 this
                 day
                 .
              
            
             
               Onely
               ,
               they
               had
               the
               books
               of
               Moses
               and
               the
               
                 Prophets
                 ,
                 Just
              
               so
               Conveighed
               and
               propounded
               to
               them
               ,
               as
               our
               Scriptures
               have
               been
               to
               us
               .
            
             
               
                 So
                 that
                 ,
                 if
                 the
                 Question
              
               be
               proposed
               concerning
               
                 those
                 J●ws
                 ;
                 whether
              
               the
               
                 present
                 miracles
                 of
                 Christ
              
               ,
               or
               the
               
                 complexion
                 of
                 Motives
              
               which
               
                 they
                 had
              
               ,
               to
               induce
               them
               to
               
                 believe
                 the
                 writings
                 of
                 Moses
              
               ,
               were
               apter
               to
               
                 create
                 belief
                 ,
                 It
              
               is
               the
               same
               with
               our
               Question
               ,
               Whether
               the
               
                 liveing
                 in
                 The
                 time
              
               of
               Miracles
               ,
               or
               our
               Motives
               ;
               are
               more
               powerful
               to
               believing
               .
               
                 To
                 determine
              
               which
               Question
               ;
               we
               may
               observe
               ;
               That
               the
               Apostles
               after
               the
               sight
               of
               
                 all
                 our
                 Saviours
                 miracles
              
               ,
               Continued
               in
               unbelief
               ,
               till
               he
               had
               opened
               unto
               them
               the
               Scriptures
               ,
               of
               Moses
               and
               the
               Prophets
               .
               That
               
                 after
                 many
                 miracles
              
               ,
               he
               refers
               the
               Jews
               to
               the
               searching
               of
               the
               Scriptures
               ;
               (
               bringing
               them
               
                 a
                 notiori
                 ad
                 ignotius
              
               .
               )
               
                 And
                 in
                 the
              
               the
               5
               of
               John
               and
               the
               47.
               he
               decides
               this
               Question
               by
               another
               ,
               
               
                 
                 if
                 ye
                 
                   do
                   not
                
                 believe
                 the
                 writings
                 of
                 
                   Moses
                   ,
                   how
                   shall
                   ye
                   believe
                   my
                   Words
                   ?
                
              
            
             
               Thus
               much
               concerning
               the
               2
               supposition
               .
            
             
               3.
               
               The
               3
               is
               this
               ,
               that
               the
               sight
               of
               miracles
               ,
               is
               of
               it
               
                 self
                 alone
                 ,
                 sufficient
              
               to
               
                 bring
                 every
                 person
              
               to
               believing
               .
            
             
               
                 We
                 ought
                 indeed
              
               to
               owne
               it
               ,
               to
               the
               eternal
               Glory
               of
               our
               
                 Blessed
                 Redeemer
              
               ,
               that
               the
               Faith
               of
               Christians
               is
               founded
               upon
               his
               Miracles
               as
               well
               as
               on
               his
               Doctrine
               ,
               and
               example
               .
               And
               he
               himself
               tells
               the
               Jews
               ,
               that
               if
               he
               had
               not
               done
               miracles
               they
               should
               not
               have
               had
               sin
               (
               
                 i.
                 e.
              
               the
               Sin
               of
               Infidelity
               .
               )
               But
               Now
               to
               dream
               of
               miracles
               ,
               and
               hanker
               after
               them
               ;
               or
               to
               think
               to
               Excuse
               our
               Infidelity
               ,
               for
               want
               of
               the
               sight
               of
               them
               ,
               (
               
                 as
                 if
                 that
                 alone
              
               would
               certainly
               make
               believers
               of
               us
               all
               ,
               )
               it
               argues
               that
               we
               have
               been
               sloathful
               readers
               of
               the
               Scriptures
               .
            
             
               It
               hapned
               to
               our
               Saviours
               miracles
               as
               it
               did
               to
               his
               Preaching
               ;
               according
               to
               his
               parable
               of
               the
               
                 sower
                 .
                 Some
              
               of
               them
               lighted
               upon
               hearts
               that
               were
               
                 honest
                 and
                 good
              
               ,
               and
               brought
               forth
               the
               fruit
               of
               
                 believing
                 .
                 Others
              
               fell
               by
               the
               
                 way
                 side
              
               ,
               
               or
               upon
               
                 stony
                 places
              
               ,
               or
               
                 among
                 the
                 Thornes
              
               .
            
             
               The
               prepossession
               of
               their
               minds
               ,
               by
               an
               expectation
               of
               a
               temporal
               Messiah
               ,
               in
               
                 the
                 Rulers
              
               ;
               The
               
                 fear
                 of
                 persecution
              
               by
               them
               in
               
                 the
                 People
                 ;
                 The
                 Cares
                 of
              
               the
               World
               ,
               and
               deceitfulness
               of
               riches
               ,
               
                 The
                 pleasures
              
               and
               lusts
               ,
               to
               which
               the
               Austerities
               of
               the
               Gospel-rules
               ,
               were
               opposit
               ;
               and
               
                 Many
                 other
                 prejudices
              
               ,
               deeply
               rooted
               in
               the
               hearts
               of
               a
               pervers
               and
               froward
               
                 Generation
                 ,
                 prevailed
                 against
              
               the
               
                 sight
                 of
                 miracles
              
               ;
               and
               None
               were
               more
               pervers
               and
               
                 resolute
                 unbeleivers
              
               ,
               then
               some
               of
               those
               ,
               who
               had
               the
               Advantage
               of
               this
               
                 great
                 argument
              
               for
               believing
               .
            
             
               If
               the
               sight
               of
               Miracles
               alone
               ,
               were
               sufficient
               to
               produce
               belief
               ,
               in
               
                 all
                 kinds
                 of
                 Spectators
              
               ,
               certainly
               the
               
                 Scribes
                 and
                 Pharisees
              
               ,
               (
               who
               by
               their
               learning
               were
               able
               to
               Judge
               of
               a
               miracle
               ,
               )
               
                 the
                 Countrymen
              
               and
               Kinsmen
               of
               Christ
               (
               
                 with
                 whom
              
               he
               was
               
                 most
                 Conversant
              
               ,
               )
               should
               have
               been
               most
               Eminent
               in
               believing
               .
            
             
               But
               
                 behold
                 the
                 inchantment
              
               of
               prejudice
               and
               Carnal
               Interest
               !
               
               In
               the
               5.
               of
               Luke
               21.
               
               The
               Pharisees
               and
               
                 Doctors
                 
                 saw
              
               the
               miracles
               of
               Christ
               ,
               and
               yet
               they
               concluded
               him
               a
               
                 Blasphemer
                 .
                 And
              
               when
               he
               had
               healed
               ,
               him
               that
               was
               borne
               blind
               ;
               they
               (
               hypocritically
               )
               bad
               the
               man
               give
               Glory
               to
               God
               ,
               and
               said
               
                 they
                 knew
                 that
                 Jesus
                 was
                 a
                 sinner
                 .
              
            
             
               
               
                 They
                 turn'd
              
               his
               miracles
               into
               wantonness
               ,
               fain'd
               themselves
               Just
               men
               ,
               that
               they
               might
               tempt
               him
               ,
               
                 i.
                 e.
              
               put
               a
               trick
               upon
               him
               .
               demanding
               a
               sign
               for
               a
               sight
               ,
               
               onely
               to
               satisfy
               their
               wanton
               Curiosity
               .
            
             
               As
               for
               his
               
                 Country
                 men
              
               ,
               this
               Prophet
               had
               
                 no
                 honour
              
               there
               ,
               he
               did
               
                 not
                 many
                 miracles
              
               ,
               
               among
               them
               ,
               because
               of
               their
               unbeleef
               .
               
               His
               friends
               said
               he
               ,
               was
               beside
               himself
               ,
               and
               went
               to
               lay
               hold
               on
               him
               .
            
             
               As
               for
               the
               People
               ,
               In
               the
               6
               of
               John
               we
               find
               ,
               
               that
               Christ
               fed
               5000
               men
               with
               5
               loavs
               and
               2
               small
               fishes
               ,
               
                 so
                 that
                 they
                 said
              
               this
               
                 is
                 of
                 a
                 truth
                 that
                 Prophet
                 .
              
               But
               the
               
                 Very
                 next
              
               day
               (
               ver
               .
               22.
               )
               the
               Very
               men
               that
               had
               eaten
               of
               the
               loaves
               (
               26
               )
               Said
               unto
               him
               what
               sign
               shewest
               thou
               that
               we
               may
               beleive
               ?
               what
               dost
               thou
               work
               !
               (
               30.
               )
               as
               if
               a
               miracle
               had
               not
               been
               a
               Signe
               !
            
             
             
               He
               wrought
               a
               miracle
               among
               the
               Gadarens
               ,
               
               and
               they
               besought
               him
               to
               be
               gone
               .
               Others
               were
               offended
               at
               him
               ,
               and
               cast
               him
               out
               of
               their
               City
               .
               
                 The
                 issue
              
               of
               
                 all
                 his
                 miracles
              
               ,
               was
               this
               ;
               
               Some
               said
               he
               was
               a
               good
               man
               ,
               
                 Others
                 Nay
              
               !
               
               but
               he
               deceiveth
               the
               people
               .
               And
               many
               said
               he
               had
               a
               Devil
               and
               was
               mad
               .
            
             
               
                 Nay
                 !
                 when
                 he
                 hung
                 upon
              
               the
               cross
               they
               acknowledged
               his
               miracles
               ,
               and
               jeered
               him
               with
               them
               ;
               
                 He
                 saved
                 others
                 ,
                 himself
                 he
                 cannot
                 save
              
               ;
               let
               him
               do
               one
               more
               miracle
               ,
               let
               him
               come
               down
               from
               the
               Cross
               ,
               and
               we
               will
               beleive
               him
               :
               
                 So
                 Vain
                 is
                 the
                 pretence
                 of
                 those
                 ,
                 who
                 think
                 to
                 excuse
                 their
                 Infidelity
                 ,
                 because
                 they
                 cannot
                 see
                 a
                 miracle
              
               !
               So
               false
               are
               the
               Grounds
               of
               that
               opinion
               .
            
             
               3.
               
               Briefly
               !
               
               to
               bring
               this
               Argument
               to
               an
               issue
               .
            
             
               If
               it
               were
               granted
               to
               these
               persons
               ,
               to
               see
               a
               
                 miracle
                 ,
                 what
                 kind
                 of
                 miracle
              
               would
               they
               chuse
               ,
               to
               convince
               their
               understandings
               ,
               and
               settel
               them
               in
               religion
               ?
               We
               are
               here
               I
               confess
               
                 in
                 loco
                 Conjecturali
              
               ,
               and
               no
               man
               can
               tell
               what
               miracle
               another
               man
               would
               chuse
               ,
               but
               I
               am
               perswaded
               ,
               that
               
               which
               most
               men
               would
               agree
               upon
               ,
               as
               most
               conducing
               to
               that
               purpose
               whereof
               we
               are
               speaking
               would
               be
               this
               ;
               that
               to
               assure
               them
               of
               the
               
                 Immortality
                 of
              
               the
               Soul
               and
               of
               the
               rewards
               and
               punishments
               of
               the
               world
               to
               come
               ,
               and
               to
               satisfy
               their
               Curiosity
               in
               some
               other
               doubts
               and
               scruples
               ;
               They
               might
               once
               be
               allowed
               to
               see
               and
               converse
               with
               some
               one
               ,
               that
               might
               rise
               from
               the
               dead
               who
               might
               resolve
               their
               Questions
               ,
               concerning
               the
               condition
               of
               those
               that
               are
               in
               Hades
               .
            
             
               3.
               
               
                 I
                 say
                 then
              
               ,
               that
               our
               Saviour
               who
               knew
               ,
               what
               was
               in
               man
               ,
               and
               needed
               not
               that
               any
               one
               should
               tell
               him
               foreseeing
               this
               Phantastical
               conceit
               ,
               hath
               shewed
               the
               folly
               of
               it
               ,
               and
               preoccupated
               this
               vain
               resort
               .
            
             
               
               In
               the
               16
               of
               Luke
               27.
               
               Dives
               makes
               it
               his
               request
               to
               Abraham
               ;
               that
               he
               would
               send
               Lazarus
               from
               the
               dead
               ;
               to
               testify
               to
               his
               brethren
               ,
               those
               things
               which
               these
               men
               dream
               of
               .
            
             
               Abraham
               refers
               them
               to
               the
               Scriptures
               ,
               which
               were
               in
               the
               same
               manner
               recommended
               to
               them
               as
               our
               Scriptures
               
               are
               to
               us
               .
               
                 
                   They
                   have
                   Moses
                
                 and
                 the
                 Prophets
                 ,
                 &c.
                 let
                 them
                 hear
                 them
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 
                   He
                   saith
                
                 unto
                 him
                 ,
                 Nay
                 father
                 Abraham
                 ,
                 but
                 if
                 one
                 went
                 to
                 them
                 from
                 the
                 dead
                 ,
                 they
                 would
                 believe
                 .
              
            
             
               And
               
                 he
                 (
                 Abraham
                 )
                 said
              
               
                 If
                 they
                 hear
                 not
                 Moses
                 and
                 the
                 
                   Prophets
                   ,
                   neither
                   will
                   they
                   be
                   perswaded
                   though
                   one
                   rose
                
                 from
                 the
                 dead
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 This
                 I
                 take
                 to
                 be
                 a
                 clear
              
               and
               a
               
                 full
                 determination
              
               of
               the
               matter
               in
               Question
               ;
               And
               
                 if
                 any
              
               one
               should
               imagine
               ,
               that
               this
               determination
               was
               but
               Conjectural
               ,
               
               Our
               Saviour
               afterward
               tries
               the
               Experiment
               ,
               and
               
                 raises
                 another
                 Lazarus
              
               from
               the
               dead
               .
            
             
               What
               was
               the
               effect
               of
               this
               mans
               
                 coming
                 from
                 the
                 dead
              
               ,
               did
               it
               Convert
               the
               High
               Priest
               or
               the
               Scribes
               the
               rulers
               or
               the
               people
               ;
               nay
               ,
               but
               
                 from
                 that
                 very
                 day
              
               they
               took
               counsel
               together
               how
               they
               might
               put
               Jesus
               to
               death
               .
               
               And
               the
               
                 Chief
                 Priests
                 Consulted
              
               ,
               how
               they
               might
               put
               Lazarus
               to
               death
               Also
               .
            
             
               
                 Upon
                 these
                 Considerations
              
               ;
               we
               may
               
                 infallibly
                 Conclude
              
               ,
               that
               Infidelity
               in
               
                 Such
                 times
              
               as
               ours
               ,
               is
               
                 no
                 more
                 excusable
                 ,
                 
                 then
              
               it
               was
               in
               the
               dayes
               of
               Christ
               or
               his
               Apostles
               ;
               the
               times
               of
               miracles
               and
               phrophesies
               .
            
             
               So
               much
               of
               the
               
                 first
                 Supposition
              
               ,
               in
               the
               Caveat
               of
               the
               text
               ,
               the
               Sinfulness
               of
               Infidelity
               ,
               in
               
                 General
                 at
                 all
                 times
              
               ,
               And
               the
               Inexcusableness
               in
               
                 our
                 times
              
               ,
               which
               makes
               it
               our
               Duty
               to
               take
               heed
               of
               it
               ;
            
             
               
               I
               pass
               to
               the
               
                 second
                 supposition
              
               ,
               concerning
               the
               
                 Danger
                 of
                 falling
                 into
                 it
              
               ,
               which
               makes
               it
               our
               concernment
               and
               Interest
               to
               beware
               of
               it
               .
               For
               if
               this
               be
               clear
               ,
               the
               Exhortation
               will
               be
               powerful
               ,
               
                 take
                 heed
                 brethren
              
               ,
               &c.
               
            
             
               Now
               ,
               the
               Danger
               of
               
                 falling
                 into
                 infidelity
              
               ,
               is
               in
               it self
               so
               conspicuous
               ,
               and
               made
               so
               sensible
               by
               every
               day
               '
               
                 s
                 experience
              
               ,
               that
               
                 I
                 wish
              
               the
               proof
               of
               it
               were
               difficult
               ,
               so
               as
               to
               Justify
               a
               studious
               &
               laborious
               demonstration
               of
               it
               .
            
             
               At
               once
               ,
               to
               
                 shorten
                 my
                 discourse
              
               ,
               and
               to
               remove
               the
               suspicion
               of
               any
               Satyrical
               reflexion
               upon
               those
               that
               hear
               me
               ;
               
                 I
                 shall
                 shew
              
               ,
               that
               the
               
                 Greatest
                 Advantages
              
               ,
               have
               
                 not
                 preserved
              
               the
               
                 best
                 of
                 men
              
               ,
               from
               sometimes
               falling
               into
               
                 Infidelity
                 .
                 Take
                 heed
                 therefore
                 brethren
                 .
              
            
             
             
               The
               greatest
               Helps
               and
               
                 Advantages
                 against
              
               unbelief
               .
               I
               conceive
               to
               be
               these
               ensueing
               .
            
             
               1.
               
               
                 Evidences
                 of
                 Gods
                 Presence
              
               .
               2.
               
               
                 Or
                 these
                 lighting
                 on
                 a
                 good
                 understanding
                 .
              
               3.
               
               
                 At
                 least
                 upon
                 the
                 Ablest
                 of
              
               men
               .
               4.
               
               
                 Such
                 as
                 have
                 held
                 Communion
              
               with
               God.
               5.
               
               
                 Or
                 have
                 been
                 eminent
              
               for
               the
               habit
               and
               exercise
               of
               faith
               .
               6.
               or
               these
               
                 with
                 warnings
              
               to
               prevent
               the
               Danger
               of
               falling
               .
               7.
               
               And
               
                 those
                 reiterated
                 .
                 Yet
              
               all
               these
               ,
               have
               not
               preserved
               good
               men
               from
               sometimes
               falling
               ,
               A
               word
               of
               each
               .
            
             
               1.
               
               First
               then
               ,
               to
               begin
               with
               the
               persons
               in
               the
               Context
               ,
               What
               
                 greater
                 Evidences
              
               of
               the
               Presence
               of
               God
               can
               be
               Imagined
               ,
               then
               they
               enjoyed
               ;
               In
               Egypt
               in
               their
               passage
               over
               the
               red
               Sea
               ,
               in
               the
               Wilderness
               ,
               
                 
                   my
                   presence
                
                 ,
                 saith
                 God
                 ,
                 
                   shall
                   go
                   along
                
                 with
                 you
                 ,
              
               They
               were
               conducted
               by
               a
               Pillar
               of
               a
               Cloud
               ,
               &c.
               they
               were
               Supported
               ,
               and
               Corrected
               by
               
                 Visible
                 and
                 palpable
                 instances
              
               of
               Gods
               power
               and
               presence
               .
               Yet
               they
               tempted
               and
               grieved
               the
               Spirit
               of
               God
               ,
               by
               their
               Infidelity
               ,
               for
               
                 
                   they
                   believed
                   not
                   for
                   all
                   his
                   Wondrous
                   Works
                   .
                
              
            
             
             
               2.
               
               But
               these
               Jewes
               were
               a
               
                 dull
                 and
                 stupid
              
               people
               .
               If
               God
               should
               once
               manifest
               himself
               ,
               to
               a
               wise
               and
               understanding
               person
               (
               Such
               as
               we
               take
               our selves
               to
               be
               )
               We
               may
               think
               it
               impossible
               to
               fall
               into
               unbelief
               .
            
             
               I
               suppose
               it
               will
               be
               
                 no
                 disparagement
              
               to
               these
               Objectors
               ,
               to
               say
               ,
               that
               Solomon
               might
               be
               as
               Wise
               and
               Knowing
               ,
               as
               Wary
               and
               Philosophical
               as
               they
               .
               And
               as
               for
               the
               manifestation
               of
               Gods
               presence
               ,
               the
               Scripture
               tells
               us
               Expressly
               ,
               
               that
               
                 God
                 appeared
              
               to
               him
               at
               Gibeon
               .
               Where
               he
               made
               a
               promise
               to
               him
               which
               he
               performed
               .
            
             
               Yet
               Solomon
               fell
               into
               the
               
                 grossest
                 Infidelity
              
               :
               to
               think
               there
               were
               Gods
               and
               Goddesses
               ,
               
               To
               worship
               Asteroth
               ,
               the
               Goddess
               of
               the
               Sidonians
               ,
               and
               Milcom
               the
               Abomination
               of
               the
               Ammonites
               .
            
             
               3.
               
               But
               it
               may
               be
               yet
               Objected
               ,
               that
               Solomon
               did
               this
               in
               the
               Dotage
               of
               his
               years
               ,
               and
               his
               Dotage
               upon
               his
               Idolatrous
               wives
               ,
               which
               turned
               away
               his
               heart
               ,
               but
               that
               it
               
                 could
                 not
              
               have
               preceeded
               from
               him
               ,
               before
               his
               understanding
               was
               empayred
               .
            
             
             
               Behold
               then
               a
               greater
               then
               Solomon
               !
               even
               Adam
               in
               his
               
                 full
                 strength
              
               when
               he
               was
               newly
               made
               after
               the
               similitude
               of
               God
               ,
               a
               little
               lower
               then
               the
               Angels
               .
               God
               several
               times
               appeared
               to
               him
               in
               the
               Garden
               ;
               Yet
               he
               fell
               through
               unbeleif
               ,
               and
               drew
               all
               his
               posterity
               into
               his
               ruine
               .
            
             
               4.
               
               But
               Adam
               though
               he
               had
               perfection
               of
               Nature
               yet
               he
               wanted
               Grace
               ,
               whereby
               he
               might
               have
               held
               Communion
               with
               God
               ,
               which
               having
               been
               once
               enjoyed
               ,
               would
               for
               ever
               have
               kept
               him
               from
               infidelity
               ,
               or
               
                 deliberate
                 sin
              
               ,
               which
               alwayes
               proceeds
               from
               it
               .
            
             
               Consider
               then
               the
               case
               of
               David
               !
               
               of
               whom
               it
               is
               said
               ,
               that
               the
               Spirit
               of
               
                 the
                 Lord
                 God
                 came
                 upon
                 him
              
               ;
               That
               God
               himself
               made
               a
               Covenant
               with
               him
               ,
               and
               Sware
               unto
               him
               by
               his
               holiness
               ,
               that
               he
               
                 would
                 not
                 fail
                 him
              
               .
            
             
               And
               as
               for
               
                 David
                 who
              
               was
               like
               unto
               him
               ,
               for
               Devotion
               and
               Zeal
               ,
               for
               
                 spiritual
                 Communion
              
               and
               intercourse
               with
               God
               ?
               He
               was
               the
               
                 sweet
                 singer
              
               of
               Israel
               ;
               and
               how
               often
               do
               we
               find
               ,
               his
               
                 Spirit
                 inebriated
              
               ,
               and
               transported
               ,
               in
               the
               
               Celebration
               of
               his
               divine
               and
               
                 ravishing
                 enjoyments
              
               .
            
             
               
                 Yet
                 we
                 find
              
               him
               falling
               from
               all
               this
               height
               ;
               and
               great
               and
               terrible
               was
               his
               fall
               ;
               he
               went
               mourning
               for
               it
               
                 all
                 his
                 days
              
               ,
               and
               bowed
               down
               his
               head
               continually
               .
            
             
               5.
               
               But
               perhaps
               it
               may
               be
               thought
               ,
               that
               though
               David
               was
               an
               Excellent
               man
               ,
               yet
               seeing
               his
               Eminency
               lay
               not
               in
               the
               gift
               of
               Faith
               ,
               but
               in
               Zeal
               ,
               or
               in
               some
               other
               Grace
               ,
               the
               danger
               may
               not
               yet
               be
               so
               very
               considerable
               .
            
             
               Behold
               then
               even
               Abraham
               :
               the
               Darling
               of
               the
               almighty
               ,
               who
               conversed
               with
               God
               as
               a
               
                 man
                 converseth
              
               with
               his
               Friend
               :
               to
               whom
               God
               communicated
               his
               presence
               in
               Dreams
               ,
               in
               Visions
               ,
               in
               Apparitions
               ,
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               .
            
             
               He
               was
               imbued
               with
               the
               Habit
               of
               Faith
               ▪
               he
               exerted
               it
               in
               the
               noblest
               exercise
               ;
               he
               manifested
               it
               in
               the
               
                 heroical
                 degree
              
               ;
               so
               that
               he
               became
               the
               Father
               of
               the
               Faithful
               .
            
             
               Yet
               once
               we
               find
               him
               offending
               (
               tripping
               )
               at
               this
               stone
               of
               
                 stumbling
                 ;
                 Aequivocating
              
               through
               unbelief
               .
            
             
             
               6.
               
               But
               all
               these
               instances
               were
               during
               the
               
                 Ancient
                 Dispensation
              
               ,
               when
               the
               Communication
               of
               the
               
                 presence
                 of
                 God
              
               was
               
                 more
                 Obscure
              
               ;
               before
               the
               fulness
               of
               time
               was
               come
               ,
               when
               the
               word
               was
               
                 made
                 flesh
              
               and
               
                 dwelt
                 amongst
              
               men
               ;
               and
               
                 they
                 saw
                 his
              
               glory
               as
               the
               glory
               of
               the
               only
               begotten
               Son
               of
               God.
               
            
             
               Besides
               !
               we
               do
               
                 not
                 find
              
               that
               they
               were
               particularly
               and
               
                 distinctly
                 warned
              
               of
               their
               danger
               ,
               which
               may
               lessen
               the
               Wonder
               of
               the
               fall
               .
            
             
               Consider
               then
               the
               Case
               ,
               of
               Peter
               ,
               the
               first
               of
               the
               Apostles
               .
               He
               had
               been
               closely
               conversant
               with
               Christ
               during
               all
               the
               time
               of
               
                 his
                 Ministry
                 .
                 Was
                 a
              
               witness
               of
               his
               
                 miracles
                 ,
                 saw
                 his
                 Transfiguration
                 ,
                 Heard
              
               the
               Voice
               which
               came
               to
               him
               from
               the
               
                 Excellent
                 glory
              
               ,
               
               saying
               
                 this
                 is
                 my
                 beloved
                 Son
              
               —
            
             
               As
               for
               his
               faith
               ,
               he
               it
               was
               ,
               that
               made
               that
               Confession
               ,
               upon
               which
               the
               the
               
                 Christian
                 Church
              
               is
               founded
               .
               And
               Christ
               had
               prayed
               for
               him
               that
               his
               
                 faith
                 should
                 not
                 fail
              
               .
            
             
               He
               was
               a
               
                 Valiant
                 man
              
               ;
               and
               he
               Undertook
               that
               though
               he
               died
               ,
               he
               would
               neither
               forsake
               ,
               nor
               deny
               ,
               his
               Master
               .
            
             
             
               When
               Christ
               forewarns
               him
               ,
               plainly
               and
               punctually
               ,
               that
               his
               faith
               would
               fail
               him
               .
               That
               
                 very
                 night
              
               ,
               before
               a
               
                 certain
                 hour
              
               ;
               So
               that
               it
               was
               impossible
               he
               
                 should
                 be
                 surprised
              
               .
            
             
               You
               
                 know
                 his
                 Undertakings
              
               and
               of
               his
               Failings
               it
               is
               unnecessary
               to
               speak
               .
            
             
               7.
               
               I
               know
               nothing
               now
               that
               can
               be
               alledged
               ,
               against
               the
               general
               propensity
               of
               all
               men
               to
               Unbeleif
               ,
               but
               this
               ,
               that
               Peter
               was
               now
               
                 single
                 and
                 alone
              
               ,
               that
               he
               failed
               onely
               
                 this
                 time
              
               ;
               when
               he
               was
               environd
               with
               Bills
               and
               Staves
               and
               in
               Danger
               of
               his
               Life
               .
            
             
               Wherefore
               let
               us
               call
               to
               mind
               the
               Case
               of
               all
               the
               Apostles
               ,
               in
               the
               great
               Foundation
               of
               our
               Faith
               the
               Article
               of
               
                 Christs
                 Resurrection
              
               .
               When
               these
               temptations
               were
               away
               .
            
             
               The
               resurrection
               of
               the
               dead
               was
               in
               
                 those
                 times
              
               so
               commonly
               believed
               ,
               that
               it
               was
               conceived
               of
               Christ
               ,
               that
               he
               was
               one
               of
               the
               Old
               
                 Prophets
                 risen
              
               from
               the
               Dead
               ,
               and
               Herod
               said
               he
               was
               John
               the
               Baptist
               risen
               from
               the
               dead
               .
            
             
               Of
               the
               resurrection
               ,
               the
               Apostles
               had
               seen
               Experiments
               ,
               in
               Lazarus
               ,
               and
               in
               
               the
               bodies
               of
               the
               Saints
               which
               arose
               .
            
             
               Concerning
               Christs
               resurrectio●
               ,
               how
               plainly
               and
               often
               were
               they
               
                 forewarned
                 ,
                 After
              
               he
               was
               risen
               ,
               how
               often
               were
               they
               told
               of
               it
               .
               Yet
               how
               grosely
               and
               often
               did
               they
               fail
               .
            
             
               In
               the
               8
               of
               Mark
               31
               Christ
               tells
               his
               Disciples
               ,
               
                 that
                 he
                 should
                 be
                 killed
                 ,
                 
                 and
                 the
                 3
                 day
                 he
                 
                   would
                   rise
                   again
                
                 .
                 
                 He
                 spake
                 this
                 
                   saying
                   Openly
                
                 ;
                 
              
               So
               Openly
               that
               the
               Jews
               took
               notice
               of
               it
               (
               
                 this
                 deceiver
                 said
                 that
                 the
                 third
                 day
                 he
                 would
                 rise
                 again
              
               )
               moreover
               he
               promised
               them
               plainly
               that
               after
               he
               was
               risen
               ,
               
               he
               would
               go
               before
               them
               into
               Galelie
               ,
               
               and
               appointed
               them
               a
               certain
               Mountain
               where
               they
               should
               
                 see
                 him
              
               .
            
             
               Yet
               after
               he
               was
               risen
               ;
               
                 Mary
                 Magdalen
                 told
              
               them
               that
               he
               had
               
                 appeared
                 to
                 her
              
               .
               But
               
                 they
                 believed
                 not
                 Mary
                 Magd.
                 Joanna
                 ,
              
               and
               
                 Mary
                 the
                 Mother
                 of
                 James
              
               ,
               told
               them
               the
               same
               ,
               But
               their
               Speech
               seemed
               to
               them
               as
               Idle
               tales
               .
            
             
               The
               2
               Disciples
               told
               the
               rest
               ,
               that
               he
               had
               appeared
               to
               them
               going
               to
               Emmaus
               ,
               but
               they
               
                 believed
                 them
                 not
              
               .
            
             
               He
               appeared
               in
               the
               midst
               of
               ten
               of
               them
               at
               once
               ,
               shewed
               them
               
                 his
                 hands
              
               
               and
               
                 his
                 side
              
               ,
               But
               they
               
                 believed
                 not
              
               for
               joy
               .
            
             
               
               Christ
               when
               appeared
               to
               the
               Women
               ,
               bade
               them
               tell
               the
               Disciples
               and
               Peter
               ,
               that
               according
               to
               his
               promise
               ,
               they
               should
               see
               him
               in
               Galilie
               .
            
             
               
               And
               the
               11.
               
               Disciples
               went
               into
               Galilie
               ,
               to
               a
               mountain
               which
               
                 Jesus
                 had
                 appointed
              
               them
               ,
               
                 And
                 when
                 they
                 saw
                 him
              
               ,
               they
               Worshiped
               ,
               
                 But
                 some
                 doubted
              
               .
            
             
               
               So
               that
               Christ
               ,
               almost
               in
               his
               last
               words
               ,
               Upbraided
               them
               with
               their
               
                 Unbelief
                 —
                 because
                 they
                 believed
                 not
              
               them
               who
               
                 had
                 seen
              
               him
               ,
               after
               he
               was
               risen
               .
            
             
               So
               prone
               are
               even
               the
               
                 best
                 of
                 men
              
               ,
               after
               their
               highest
               atteinments
               ,
               under
               the
               
                 best
                 advantages
              
               ,
               to
               fall
               sometime
               into
               Infidelity
               !
               
                 So
                 great
                 is
                 the
                 danger
                 of
                 Unbelief
              
               !
            
             
               It
               is
               true
               indeed
               ,
               that
               
                 all
                 these
                 ,
                 might
                 say
              
               with
               the
               Prophet
               ,
               
               Rejoyce
               not
               against
               me
               O
               mine
               enemy
               ,
               for
               though
               I
               fall
               ,
               I
               shall
               arise
               again
               .
               Yet
               "
               
                 all
                 these
              
               things
               are
               
                 written
                 for
                 our
                 learning
              
               ,
               that
               he
               that
               thinketh
               he
               standeth
               ,
               may
               
                 take
                 heed
              
               least
               he
               fall
               .
               
                 If
                 these
              
               things
               have
               been
               done
               to
               the
               green
               
               tree
               ,
               what
               may
               be
               done
               to
               the
               dry
               ?
               If
               the
               worthies
               and
               the
               mighty
               have
               fallen
               (
               how
               have
               the
               mighty
               fallen
               ?
               )
               ought
               not
               the
               feeble
               to
               take
               care
               ?
               Yes
               certainly
               they
               ought
               .
            
             
               And
               to
               use
               all
               means
               to
               
                 prevent
                 their
              
               falling
               ,
               which
               is
               the
               
                 third
                 thing
              
               ,
               
               supposed
               in
               the
               Caveat
               ,
               and
               expressed
               in
               the
               
                 words
                 following
                 "
                 Take
                 heed
                 brethren
                 least
                 ,
              
               &c.
               
               
                 Exhort
                 one
                 another
                 daily
              
               —
            
             
               Now
               the
               Meanes
               to
               prevent
               the
               falling
               into
               Infidelity
               are
               the
               Arguments
               evincing
               the
               truth
               of
               the
               Gospel
               which
               are
               very
               numerous
               .
               Whereof
               I
               cannot
               now
               speak
               particularly
               .
            
             
               The
               Apostle
               in
               this
               Epistle
               makes
               use
               of
               2.
               sorts
               viz.
               
               
                 
                   1.
                   
                   From
                   Scriptures
                   of
                   the
                   Old
                   Testament
                   .
                
                 
                   2.
                   
                   From
                   Common
                   Reason
                   whereof
                   I
                   shall
                   speak
                   a
                   little
                   .
                
              
            
             
               The
               Argument
               from
               Reason
               is
               delivered
               in
               the
               2.
               
               Chap.
               v.
               3.4
               .
               
                 The
                 Gospel
                 was
                 delivered
                 by
                 the
                 Lord
                 ,
                 
                 and
                 confirmed
                 (
                 
                   to
                   us
                
                 )
                 by
                 them
                 that
                 heard
                 him
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 
                   God
                   also
                   bearing
                
                 them
                 
                   Witness
                   with
                
                 Signs
                 and
                 wonders
                 ,
                 and
                 divers
                 miracles
                 and
                 gifts
                 of
                 the
                 Holy
                 Ghost
                 ,
              
            
             
               God
               bare
               witness
               to
               Christ
               the
               Author
               of
               the
               Gospel
               :
               And
               to
               the
               Apostles
               ,
               the
               Promulgers
               of
               the
               Gospel
               .
               Wherefore
               it
               is
               to
               be
               believed
               .
            
             
               The
               Antecedent
               of
               this
               Enthymem
               is
               
                 the
                 sum
              
               of
               what
               I
               shall
               deliver
               .
            
             
               
                 
                 When
                 the
                 Pharisees
                 said
                 unto
                 Christ
                 ,
                 thy
                 Record
                 is
                 
                   not
                   true
                
                 ,
                 because
                 thou
                 
                   bearest
                   record
                
                 of
                 thy self
                 .
                 I
                 
                   am
                   one
                
                 (
                 saith
                 Christ
                 )
                 that
                 
                   bear
                   record
                
                 of
                 my
                 self
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Father
                 that
                 sent
                 me
                 ,
                 
                   beareth
                   witness
                
                 of
                 me
                 .
              
            
             
               
               Moreover
               he
               tells
               the
               Disciples
               that
               the
               Comforter
               should
               testify
               of
               him
               .
               And
               
                 ye
                 also
                 shall
                 bear
                 witness
              
               ,
               because
               ye
               have
               been
               with
               
                 me
                 from
              
               the
               beginning
               .
            
             
               So
               that
               beside
               the
               Witness
               of
               the
               Apostles
               ,
               the
               Gospel
               had
               the
               Attestation
               of
               all
               the
               persons
               of
               the
               Trinity
               :
               viz.
               
               
                 
                   1.
                   
                   Of
                   the
                   Father
                   ,
                
                 
                   2.
                   
                   Of
                   the
                   Son
                   ,
                
                 
                   3.
                   
                   Of
                   the
                   Holy
                   Ghost
                   .
                
              
            
             
             
               1.
               
               God
               the
               Father
               bore
               witness
               to
               his
               Son
               ;
               and
               that
               he
               did
               ,
               by
               1.
               
               
                 Visible
                 Signes
              
               ,
               and
               2.
               
               
                 Audible
                 Voices
              
               ,
               3.
               
                 by
                 Mission
                 of
                 Angels
              
               ,
               4.
               by
               
                 Cooperating
                 in
                 his
                 Miracles
              
               ,
               &c.
               
            
             
               1.
               
               At
               his
               Nativity
               ,
               a
               new
               Star
               appeared
               .
               At
               his
               Baptism
               they
               saw
               the
               heaven
               opened
               ,
               and
               the
               
                 Spirit
                 sent
              
               from
               the
               Father
               in
               the
               
                 visible
                 shape
              
               of
               a
               Dove
               and
               lighting
               upon
               him
               .
               
                 Before
                 his
                 Passion
              
               ,
               he
               was
               transfigured
               in
               their
               sight
               .
               And
               
                 At
                 it
              
               the
               
                 Sunne
                 was
                 eclipsed
              
               when
               the
               Moon
               was
               full
               ,
               the
               Vail
               ,
               the
               Rocks
               ,
               rent
               ,
               So
               that
               the
               Centurion
               said
               ,
               Surely
               this
               
                 man
                 was
                 the
                 Son
              
               of
               
                 God
                 ,
                 Bodies
              
               of
               Saints
               were
               seen
               of
               many
               ,
               all
               these
               were
               
                 visible
                 signes
              
               .
            
             
               2.
               
               
                 As
                 for
                 the
              
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               (
               the
               daughter
               of
               the
               Voice
               )
               In
               his
               Baptism
               Lo
               !
               
               
                 a
                 voice
              
               from
               heaven
               ,
               Saying
               ,
               
                 This
                 is
                 my
                 beloved
                 Son
                 —
                 At
                 his
                 Transfiguration
              
               a
               Voice
               came
               out
               of
               a
               cloud
               ,
               which
               said
               ,
               
                 This
                 is
                 my
                 beloved
                 Son
              
               —
               hear
               him
               .
               
                 A
                 little
                 before
              
               his
               death
               ,
               as
               he
               was
               
                 Praying
                 "
                 Father
                 ,
                 glorifie
                 thy
                 Name
                 ,
              
               
               There
               came
               a
               voice
               from
               heaven
               ,
               Saying
               ,
               "
               I
               
                 have
                 both
                 glorified
              
               it
               ,
               and
               will
               glorify
               it
               again
               .
            
             
             
               3.
               
               
                 For
                 mission
                 of
                 Angels
              
               by
               the
               Father
               ,
               We
               find
               them
               still
               ready
               upon
               all
               occasions
               
                 from
                 before
              
               his
               Coming
               down
               ,
               to
               
                 the
                 time
              
               of
               his
               Ascension
               into
               Heaven
               .
            
             
               Before
               his
               Conception
               ,
               
               the
               Angel
               Gabriel
               appeared
               to
               Zachary
               and
               to
               Mary
               ,
               before
               his
               Nativity
               to
               Joseph
               saying
               
                 fear
                 not
                 Joseph
              
               .
               
               
                 At
                 the
              
               time
               of
               his
               Nativity
               a
               
                 whole
                 Chorus
              
               appeared
               to
               the
               Sheapheards
               .
               
                 In
                 his
                 Infancy
              
               an
               Angel
               appeared
               twice
               to
               Joseph
               ,
               admonishnig
               him
               of
               his
               going
               to
               Egypt
               and
               his
               return
               from
               thence
               .
            
             
               
               In
               his
               
                 Adult
                 age
              
               they
               ministred
               to
               him
               in
               his
               hunger
               ;
               
               
                 Before
                 his
                 death
              
               ,
               they
               strengthned
               him
               in
               his
               Agony
               
               ;
               After
               it
               ,
               
               they
               rolled
               away
               the
               stone
               from
               his
               Sepulcher
               ;
               
                 They
                 declared
                 his
                 resurrection
              
               ;
               
               And
               in
               his
               Ascension
               ,
               they
               
                 stood
                 by
              
               ,
               and
               foretold
               his
               coming
               again
               to
               Judgement
               .
               Ye
               men
               of
               Galalie
               why
               stand
               ye
               gazing
               ?
               This
               
                 same
                 Jesus
              
               —
            
             
               4.
               
               The
               Father
               cooperated
               with
               him
               ,
               according
               to
               that
               of
               
                 our
                 Saviour
              
               the
               
                 father
                 worketh
                 hitherto
                 and
                 I
                 work
                 .
              
               —
               &c.
               
            
             
             
               These
               are
               some
               of
               the
               Attestations
               of
               the
               Father
               .
            
             
               2.
               
               
                 Christ
                 bore
                 witness
                 of
                 himself
              
               .
               
               And
               this
               he
               did
               ,
               by
               proveing
               himself
               to
               be
               the
               
                 Messiah
                 ;
                 viz.
              
               by
               fulfilling
               all
               the
               Prophesies
               relating
               to
               the
               Person
               or
               Offices
               ;
               The
               Life
               ,
               and
               the
               Death
               of
               the
               Messiah
               .
            
             
               His
               Generation
               was
               such
               
                 as
                 cannot
                 be
                 declared
              
               ,
               he
               was
               born
               at
               Bethlem
               ,
               of
               the
               tribe
               
                 of
                 Juda
              
               ,
               of
               the
               
                 Family
                 of
                 David
              
               ,
               about
               490.
               years
               after
               the
               return
               from
               Captivity
               .
               When
               the
               Scepter
               was
               just
               now
               departed
               from
               Juda.
               
            
             
               
                 He
                 performed
                 not
                 only
                 the
                 Substance
                 of
                 the
                 Prophesies
                 but
                 all
                 the
                 Circumstances
                 foretold
                 ,
                 Concerning
                 the
                 Life
                 and
                 Death
                 of
                 the
                 Messiah
                 .
              
            
             
               He
               was
               to
               be
               a
               Prophet
               ,
               and
               
                 So
                 he
              
               was
               .
               The
               Spirit
               of
               the
               
                 Lord
                 anointed
              
               him
               to
               preach
               ,
               and
               he
               spake
               as
               never
               man
               spake
               .
               He
               foretold
               many
               
                 things
                 to
                 come
              
               ,
               they
               all
               bare
               him
               witness
               .
            
             
               2.
               
               He
               was
               to
               be
               a
               King
               and
               so
               he
               was
               .
               His
               Name
               was
               Wonderful
               ;
               his
               Power
               was
               shewen
               througout
               the
               
                 vniversal
                 System
              
               of
               the
               World
               ,
               the
               Angels
               
               good
               and
               evil
               ,
               the
               
                 Heavens
                 ,
                 Elements
                 ,
                 Plants
                 ,
                 Fishes
                 ,
                 Brutes
                 ,
                 Health
                 and
                 Sickness
                 ,
                 Life
                 and
                 Death
                 ,
              
               were
               all
               obedient
               unto
               his
               Word
               .
            
             
               3.
               
               He
               was
               to
               be
               a
               Priest
               and
               so
               he
               was
               .
               He
               made
               an
               Attonement
               by
               his
               Obedience
               ,
               and
               by
               his
               sufferings
               to
               the
               least
               punctilio
               (
               to
               the
               taking
               of
               
                 a
                 little
                 Vinegar
              
               )
               and
               when
               
                 all
                 things
              
               were
               fulfilled
               ,
               He
               cryed
               with
               a
               loud
               voice
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               it
               is
               finished
               ,
               and
               he
               
                 bowed
                 his
                 head
                 and
                 gave
                 up
                 the
                 Ghost
                 .
              
            
             
               Moreover
               ,
               for
               the
               Justification
               of
               his
               Gospel
               (
               
                 and
                 that
                 he
                 might
                 leave
                 no
                 place
                 for
                 Infidelity
              
               ;
               )
               he
               rose
               again
               from
               the
               dead
               ,
               appeared
               to
               many
               
                 Convinced
                 them
                 by
              
               all
               their
               senses
               ;
               
                 They
                 saw
              
               him
               ,
               They
               
                 heard
                 him
              
               ,
               they
               
                 felt
                 his
                 hands
              
               and
               his
               side
               ,
               They
               Eat
               and
               Drank
               with
               him
               ;
               They
               Conversed
               with
               him
               40.
               dayes
               ;
               He
               was
               seen
               by
               
                 more
                 then
              
               500.
               at
               once
               ;
               and
               (
               lastly
               ,
               )
               in
               the
               sight
               of
               Many
               of
               them
               ,
               he
               
                 Ascended
                 Visibly
              
               into
               Heaven
               .
            
             
               These
               were
               some
               of
               the
               Testimonies
               ,
               which
               our
               
                 Lord
                 Christ
              
               bore
               to
               himself
               .
            
             
               3.
               
               The
               time
               would
               fail
               me
               ,
               if
               I
               should
               
               speak
               of
               all
               the
               Testimonies
               given
               by
               the
               
                 Holy
                 Spirit
              
               .
            
             
               In
               his
               Conception
               ,
               to
               Mary
               ,
               fulfilling
               the
               Promise
               of
               Gabriel
               .
            
             
               Before
               his
               Nativity
               to
               Zachary
               and
               Elizabeth
               ,
               in
               his
               Infancy
               to
               Simeon
               and
               Hanna
               ,
               In
               his
               Baptism
               to
               John.
               
               
                 I
                 knew
                 him
                 not
                 ,
                 saith
                 John
                 ,
                 but
                 he
                 that
                 sent
                 me
                 to
                 baptize
                 ,
                 said
                 unto
                 me
                 ,
                 upon
                 whom
                 thou
                 shalt
                 see
                 the
                 Spirit
                 descending
                 and
                 resting
                 on
                 him
                 ,
                 
                   that
                   is
                
                 he
                 :
              
               and
               I
               saw
               the
               Spirit
               descending
               :
               Throughout
               his
               whole
               Ministry
               ,
               till
               his
               Death
               ,
               the
               Spirit
               gave
               witness
               to
               him
               .
            
             
               Moreover
               ,
               In
               his
               Resurrection
               he
               was
               declared
               the
               Son
               of
               God
               ,
               
               with
               power
               by
               the
               
                 Holy
                 Ghost
              
               .
               After
               his
               Ascention
               ,
               the
               
                 Holy
                 Ghost
              
               fulfilled
               all
               his
               undertakings
               ,
               
                 In
                 that
                 Grand
                 Manifestation
              
               at
               Pentecost
               ;
               at
               the
               time
               and
               place
               which
               Christ
               had
               undertaken
               for
               ;
               A
               manifestation
               made
               to
               all
               the
               Senses
               ,
               and
               to
               men
               of
               every
               nation
               under
               heaven
               ,
               
               Parthians
               —
               besides
               a
               Multitude
               of
               other
               Instances
               .
            
             
               
                 Such
                 were
              
               the
               Attestations
               given
               to
               Christ
               (
               the
               Author
               and
               finisher
               of
               our
               faith
               )
               .
            
             
             
               2.
               
               
                 And
                 for
              
               the
               Apostles
               (
               the
               Promulgers
               of
               it
               )
               
                 Besides
                 the
                 Change
                 of
                 their
                 Spirits
                 from
                 darkness
                 to
                 light
                 ,
                 Whereby
                 they
                 were
                 led
                 out
                 of
                 Ignorance
                 and
                 Infidelity
                 ,
                 into
                 all
                 Truth
                 .
                 And
                 from
                 torpid
                 and
                 pusillanimous
                 persons
                 ,
                 during
                 the
                 life
                 of
                 their
                 Master
                 ,
                 they
                 became
                 ,
                 when
                 he
                 was
                 dead
                 ,
                 the
                 most
                 active
                 and
                 magnanimous
                 in
                 the
                 world
                 .
              
               (
               
                 I
                 say
                 ,
                 besides
                 this
                 Change
              
               )
               They
               had
               bestowed
               upon
               them
               ,
               All
               things
               necessary
               (
               either
               for
               their
               ,
               1.
               
               
                 Own
                 Assurance
              
               ,
               Or
               for
               the
               2.
               
               
                 Conviction
                 of
                 the
                 World.
              
               (
               
                 Concerning
                 the
                 truth
                 of
                 the
                 Gospel
                 which
                 they
                 delivered
                 .
              
               )
            
             
               I.
               As
               for
               themselves
               ,
               Besides
               the
               Conversation
               with
               their
               Master
               before
               and
               after
               his
               Resurrection
               ;
               they
               had
               1.
               
               Apparitions
               of
               Angels
               .
               And
               to
               one
               of
               them
               
                 Christ
                 himself
              
               appeared
               after
               he
               was
               ascended
               to
               his
               father
               .
            
             
               2.
               
               They
               had
               the
               
                 Bath
                 Kol
              
               .
               (
               Voices
               from
               Heaven
               )
               In
               the
               9
               of
               the
               Acts
               ,
               We
               finde
               a
               Voice
               from
               Heaven
               maintaining
               a
               Dialogue
               with
               Paul
               ;
               and
               at
               another
               time
               ,
               a
               voice
               saying
               to
               
                 Peter
                 ,
                 Arise
                 Peter
                 ,
                 Kill
                 and
                 Eat
                 .
              
            
             
               3.
               
               
                 They
                 had
                 extatical
                 Visions
                 .
                 
                 Peter
              
               was
               in
               a
               trance
               (
               Act.
               10.10
               ,
               19.
               )
               Paul
               rapt
               up
               to
               the
               third
               heaven
               .
               
            
             
               4.
               
               
                 They
                 had
                 monitory
                 Dreames
                 ,
                 Paul
              
               saw
               a
               man
               in
               a
               Dream
               ,
               saying
               unto
               him
               ,
               Come
               into
               Macedonia
               and
               help
               us
               .
            
             
               5.
               
               
                 They
                 had
                 Impulses
              
               of
               the
               Spirit
               ;
               
               So
               Paul
               was
               forbid
               by
               the
               Spirit
               ▪
               to
               preach
               the
               Word
               in
               Asia
               :
            
             
               II.
               And
               for
               the
               Conviction
               of
               the
               unbelieving
               World
            
             
               They
               had
               diversities
               of
               gifts
               and
               
                 Different
                 Administrations
              
               .
               
               
                 To
                 one
              
               was
               given
               the
               Word
               of
               Wisdom
               ,
               to
               another
               the
               
                 Word
                 of
                 Knowledg
              
               ,
               to
               another
               Faith
               ,
               to
               another
               the
               gift
               of
               Healing
               ,
               to
               another
               
                 Miracles
                 ,
                 Prophesies
                 ,
                 Discerning
                 of
                 Spirits
                 ,
              
               The
               gift
               of
               Tongues
               .
            
             
               As
               it
               is
               in
               the
               words
               which
               I
               quoted
               ,
               
                 
                   God
                   bare
                
                 them
                 witness
                 with
                 gifts
                 of
                 the
                 Holy
                 Ghost
                 ,
                 and
                 with
                 Signes
                 and
                 Wonders
                 ;
              
               and
               that
               he
               did
               ,
               
                 so
                 far
              
               ,
               that
               I
               shall
               be
               justified
               by
               Christ
               himself
               ,
               if
               I
               shall
               affirm
               ,
               that
               the
               
                 Apostles
                 after
              
               his
               
                 death
                 ▪
              
               did
               greater
               miracles
               then
               
                 he
                 himself
              
               did
               in
               his
               life
               .
            
             
               Of
               the
               
                 same
                 kind
              
               with
               our
               Saviours
               ,
               some
               they
               performed
               ,
               by
               means
               ,
               having
               an
               appearance
               of
               greater
               strangeness
               ,
               
               (
               Christ
               healed
               by
               his
               
                 touch
                 ,
                 his
                 word
                 his
                 spittle
                 ,
                 Peter
              
               by
               his
               
                 shadow
                 ,
                 Paul
              
               by
               Handkerchiefs
               taken
               from
               his
               body
               .
               )
               
                 But
                 one
                 great
                 thing
              
               there
               was
               ,
               wherein
               they
               exceeded
               ;
               The
               Great
               and
               
                 Manifest
                 ,
                 and
                 frequent
                 Effusions
              
               of
               the
               Spirit
               ,
               The
               Reception
               of
               it
               upon
               themselves
               ,
               the
               communication
               of
               it
               to
               others
               ,
               by
               
                 Prayer
                 ,
                 Preaching
                 ,
                 Laying
                 on
                 of
                 Hands
                 ;
                 By
                 these
              
               it
               was
               that
               the
               unbelieving
               world
               was
               conv●nced
               ,
               and
               even
               Simon
               Magus
               himself
               ,
               
                 It
                 is
                 by
              
               the
               power
               and
               Vertue
               of
               those
               effusions
               that
               we
               are
               here
               met
               together
               at
               this
               time
               ,
               that
               the
               World
               continues
               Christian
               at
               this
               day
               .
               And
               these
               are
               some
               of
               those
               standing
               means
               and
               Arguments
               ,
               whereby
               the
               Proneness
               of
               
                 our
                 hearts
              
               to
               Infidelity
               may
               be
               overcome
               ;
               and
               faith
               may
               be
               
                 begotten
                 ,
                 confirmed
                 ,
                 recovered
              
               at
               this
               day
               :
               These
               are
               therefore
               to
               be
               revolved
               ,
               
                 Exho●t
                 one
                 another
                 dayly
              
               .
               To
               come
               therefore
               to
               a
               Conclusion
               .
            
             
               My
               text
               it self
               is
               an
               Application
               ,
               by
               way
               of
               
                 Exhortation
                 ,
                 Exhortations
              
               are
               enforced
               by
               Reasons
               of
               Duty
               and
               Concernment
               ,
               and
               these
               I
               have
               ●itherto
               endeavoured
               to
               lay
               before
               you
               .
            
             
             
               If
               
                 indeed
                 there
                 were
                 no
                 Sinfulness
              
               in
               Infidelity
               ,
               
                 Or
                 ,
                 If
                 in
                 such
                 times
                 as
                 ours
                 ,
              
               it
               were
               
                 excusable
                 .
                 If
                 there
                 were
              
               no
               danger
               of
               falling
               into
               it
               ,
               or
               
                 no
                 means
              
               left
               to
               remedy
               or
               prevent
               it
               ;
               
                 It
                 would
              
               then
               indeed
               be
               to
               little
               purpose
               to
               Exhort
               men
               to
               beware
               .
            
             
               But
               if
               the
               state
               of
               all
               these
               things
               is
               otherwise
               ,
               if
               that
               be
               plain
               and
               evident
               ;
               agreeable
               to
               Scripture
               ,
               to
               Reason
               and
               to
               
                 Experience
                 ;
                 If
                 the
                 Speaker
                 hath
                 not
                 beaten
                 the
                 Air
                 ,
                 nor
                 the
                 hearers
                 been
                 careless
                 and
                 inattentive
                 ,
              
               I
               know
               not
               what
               can
               be
               required
               ,
               to
               enforce
               and
               sharpen
               the
               exhortation
               .
            
             
               If
               the
               time
               would
               suffer
               it
               ,
               and
               I
               were
               speaking
               to
               a
               Common
               or
               Injudicious
               Auditory
               ,
               I
               might
               think
               my self
               concerned
               ,
               
                 after
                 all
                 that
                 hath
                 been
                 spoken
                 to
                 the
                 understanding
                 ,
              
               to
               Apply
               my
               discourse
               to
               your
               affections
               ,
               I
               should
               take
               unto
               me
               the
               various
               forms
               of
               Application
               used
               in
               this
               Epistle
               .
               I
               would
               
                 Reprove
                 ,
                 Rebuke
                 ,
                 Exhort
              
               ;
               I
               would
               
                 cry
                 aloud
              
               ,
               and
               would
               not
               spare
               .
               I
               would
               lift
               up
               my
               voice
               like
               a
               
                 Watchmans
                 trumpet
              
               ,
               warning
               you
               from
               the
               Lord
               ,
               concerning
               that
               Spirit
               of
               irreligion
               and
               infidelity
               
               which
               is
               said
               to
               have
               overspread
               the
               land
               .
            
             
               I
               would
               take
               to
               my self
               a
               Lamentation
               ,
               yea
               it
               should
               be
               for
               a
               Lamentation
               ,
               for
               the
               Professors
               of
               Infidelity
               ,
               and
               the
               Infidelity
               of
               Professors
               ,
               every
               where
               .
               But
               I
               may
               not
               now
               be
               permitted
               to
               enlarge
               upon
               these
               things
               .
               I
               may
               onely
               pray
               to
               God
               to
               give
               you
               understanding
               in
               all
               things
               ,
               and
               beseech
               you
               earnestly
               to
               consider
               what
               hath
               been
               spoken
               ,
               Concluding
               in
               the
               words
               of
               the
               Text
               ,
               
                 Take
                 heed
                 brethren
                 ,
                 lest
                 there
                 be
                 in
                 any
                 of
                 you
                 ,
                 an
                 evil
                 heart
                 of
                 unbelief
                 ,
                 in
                 departing
                 from
                 the
                 living
                 God.
                 Exhort
                 one
                 another
                 dayly
                 —
              
            
             
               FINIS
               .
            
          
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
           Two
           Books
           newly
           printed
           for
           James
           Collins
           .
        
         
           A
           seasonable
           Recommendation
           and
           defence
           of
           Reason
           in
           the
           Affairs
           of
           Religion
           .
           Against
           
             Infidelity
             ,
             Scepticism
          
           and
           Fanaticism
           of
           all
           sorts
           ,
           4
           o
        
         
           A
           Discourse
           of
           the
           Forbearance
           of
           Penalties
           which
           a
           due
           Reformation
           Requires
           ,
           by
           
             Herbert
             Thorndike
          
           ,
           one
           of
           the
           Prebendaries
           of
           Westminster
           ,
           8o.
        
      
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A71301-e240
           
             a
             Gal.
             1.23
             
          
           
             b
             3.25
             .
          
           
             c
             Rom.
             12.6
             .
          
           
             d
             Tit.
             1.4
             .
          
           
             e
             Jud.
             3.
             
          
           
             Joh.
             5.46
             .
          
           
             Joh.
             5.39
             .
          
           
             Luk.
             10.26
             
          
           
             Luk.
             16.29
             
          
           
             Mar.
             14.49
             Joh.
             10.35
             
          
           
             Mat.
             3.31
             .
          
           
             Mar.
             5.18
             .
          
           
             Luk.
             24.27
             
          
           
             44.
             
          
           
             a
             Mat.
             1.22
             .
          
           
             b
             Mat.
             1.22
             .
          
           
             c
             Mat.
             1.22
             .
          
           
             d
             Mat.
             2.15
             
          
           
             e
             Mat.
             2.23
             
          
           
             f
             4.14
             .
          
           
             g
             21.4
             .
          
           
             h
             Mat.
             26.56
             .
          
           
             i
             27.35
             .
             Joh.
             19.24
             
          
           
             k
             Joh.
             19.29
             .
          
           
             l
             Joh.
             37.
             
          
           
             m
             Joh.
             36.
             
          
           
             n
             Mat.
             8.17
             
          
           
             o
             Mat.
             13.15
             .
          
           
             p
             Mat.
             2.17
             
          
           
             q
             Gal.
             3.10
             
          
           
             r
             ●ct
             .
             7.42
             .
          
           
             s
             Act
             1
             .
             2●
             .
             &
             13
             33.
             
          
           
             u
             Rom.
             4.3
             .
          
           
             x
             Gal.
             3.22
             .
          
           
             y
             Acts
             18.24.28
             .
          
           
             z
             Jam.
             4.5
             .
          
           
             a
             Rom.
             1.12
             
          
           
             b
             Rom.
             3.21
             
          
           
             c
             Act.
             13.18
             .
             &
             10.43
             .
          
           
             d
             Act.
             24.14
             .
          
           
             e
             Act.
             26.
             
             ●●
             .
          
           
             f
             Rom.
             7.12
             .
          
           
             g
             Act.
             3.21
             .
          
           
             h
             Tim.
             3.15
             
          
           
             i
             Rom.
             3.2
             ▪
             
          
           
             k
             Act.
             7.38
             
          
           
             l
             Act.
             3.21
             ▪
             
          
           
             m
             2
             Pet.
             1.21
             ▪
             
          
           
             n
             2
             Tim
             3.15
             .
          
           
             *
             Mat.
             21.23
             .
             Mar.
             11.27
             
          
           
             a
             Joh.
             14.6
             
          
           
             b
             Joh.
             6.63
             
          
           
             c
             Joh.
             14.10
             ▪
             
          
           
             d
             Joh.
             7.16
             
          
           
             e
             Joh.
             8
             .
             2●
             
          
           
             f
             Joh.
             12.49
             .
          
           
             g
             Joh.
             12.50
             .
          
           
             h
             Mat.
             24.35
             .
          
           
             a
             1
             Pet.
             5.1
             
          
           
             b
             1
             Pet.
             1.5
             .
          
           
             c
             1
             Joh.
             1.3
             .
          
           
             d
             1
             Joh.
             1.1
             .
          
           
             e
             Apoc.
             1.9
             ,
             10.
             
          
           
             f
             Ib.
             19.
             
          
           
             a
             Gal.
             1.1
             .
          
           
             b
             Rom.
             1.1
             .
             2
             Tim.
             1.11
             Phil.
             1.17
             .
          
           
             c
             Eph.
             3.1
             .
          
           
             d
             2
             Cor.
             13.3
             .
          
           
             e
             1
             Cor.
             14.37
             .
          
           
             f
             Col.
             4.16
             .
          
           
             g
             Ibid.
             
          
           
             h
             2
             Thes.
             3.14
             .
          
           
             a
             Eph
             4.11
             
          
           
             b
             3.5
             .
          
           
             *
             
               Porphyr
               .
               Hier.
               Prooem
               .
               Galat.
               &
               in
               c.
            
             2.
             
             Celsus
             .
          
           
             c
             Gal.
             2.
             
          
           
             d
             2
             Pet.
             3.15
             
          
           
             a
             Joh.
             15.26
             .
          
           
             b
             14.26
             .
          
           
             c
             16.13
             .
          
           
             d
             14.26
             .
          
           
             e
             16.13
             .
          
           
             f
             Act.
             1.5
             .
          
           
             a
             Joh.
             11.11
             .
          
           
             b
             4.17
             .
          
           
             c
             Joh.
             4.29
             
          
           
             d
             Joh.
             6
             .
             6●
             64.
             
          
           
             e
             16.19
             .
          
           
             f
             Luk.
             9.47
             
          
           
             g
             Mat.
             12.15
             ,
             25.
             
          
           
             h
             Mar.
             2.8
             .
          
           
             i
             Luk.
             6.8
             .
          
           
             k
             Luk.
             11.17
             .
          
           
             l
             Joh.
             2.24
             25.
             
          
           
             a
             Mat.
             17.21
             .
          
           
             Mat.
             17.21
             
          
           
             Mat.
             17.27
             
          
           
             b
             Joh.
             18.4
             
          
           
             c
             11.11.13.11
             .
          
           
             d
             Mat.
             20.18
             .
          
           
             e
             Mar.
             10.23
             .
          
           
             f
             Mat.
             16.21
             .
          
           
             g
             Joh.
             14.28
             .
          
           
             h
             Luk.
             19.44
             .
          
           
             i
             Mat.
             26.34
             .
          
           
             k
             Mat.
             31.
             
          
           
             l
             Luk.
             21.20
             .
          
           
             m
             Joh.
             12.32
             .
          
           
             n
             Mat.
             24.14
             .
          
           
             a
             Mat.
             13.31
             .
          
           
             b
             Luk.
             10.18
             .
          
           
             c
             Mat.
             24.25
             .
          
           
             a
             Mat.
             14.19
             .
          
           
             b
             Mat.
             15.36
             .
          
           
             c
             Mat.
             15.30.9.27.4.23
             .
          
           
             h
             Mat.
             8.14
             
          
           
             i
             Mat.
             14.4
             
          
           
             k
             Mat.
             4.13
             
          
           
             l
             Mat.
             17.12
             .
          
           
             m
             Mat
             4.23
             
          
           
             a
             Luk.
             22.51
             .
          
           
             b
             Mat.
             9.20
             
          
           
             c
             Joh.
             5.5
             .
          
           
             d
             Multos
             .
          
           
             e
             Mat.
             9.20
             
          
           
             f
             Mat.
             8.6
             .
          
           
             g
             Joh.
             5.5
             .
          
           
             h
             Mar.
             5.41
             
          
           
             i
             Luk.
             7.11
             
          
           
             k
             Joh.
             11.39
             .
          
           
             l
             Mat.
             27.52
             .
          
           
             
               Eus.
               Eccl.
               H.
               l.
            
             4.
             c.
             3.3.37
             .
          
           
             
               Annot.
               p.
            
             81
             
          
           
             m
             Mat.
             17.18
             .
          
           
             a
             Mar.
             16.9
             
          
           
             b
             Luk.
             8.27
             
          
           
             c
             Mat.
             10.7
             Luk.
             9.3
             .
          
           
             d
             Luk.
             10.1
             .
             —
             9.
             
          
           
             e
             Mat.
             16.17
             .
          
           
             f
             Mat.
             16.21
             .
          
           
             g
             Mat.
             28.2
             .
          
           
             h
             Joh.
             16.16
             ,
             28.20.17
             .
          
           
             g
             Luk.
             24.57
             .
          
           
             h
             Act.
             2.4
             .
          
           
             b
             Acts
             9
             ▪
             
          
           
             c
             Acts
             10.10.22.17
             .
          
           
             d
             Acts
             16.9
             
          
           
             e
             16.6
             ,
             7.
             
          
           
             f
             Cor.
             1●
             .
             9
             
          
           
             i
             Ap.
             4.1
             .
          
           
             a
             Act.
             27.10
             ,
             22.
             
          
           
             b
             2
             Thes.
             2.
             
          
           
             c
             2
             Tim.
             3
             1
             
          
           
             d
             Act.
             11.8
             .
          
           
             e
             Act.
             21.10
             .
          
           
             f
             Act.
             5.13
             .
          
           
             Arist.
             polit
             .
             l.
             7.
             c.
             8.
             
          
           
             Ob.
             sol
             .
          
           
             a
             Cor.
             5.8.6.4.8
             .
          
           
             Phil.
             4.8
             .
          
           
             b
             Jam
             3.14
             
          
           
             Eph.
             4.25
             .
          
           
             Apoc.
             21.8.27.22.15
             .
          
           
             c
             2
             Pet.
             1.16
             2
             Cor.
             2.17
             
          
           
             1
             Thes.
             2.3.4
             .
          
           
             Mat.
             9.9
             .
          
           
             Mat.
             4.20.22
             .
          
           
             Act.
             1.6
             .
          
           
             Luk.
             1.5
             .
          
           
             Luk.
             3.1
             .
          
           
             Mat.
             14.3
             .
             
               Vide
               Joseph
               .
               Ant.
            
             18.
             c.
             9.10
             .
          
           
             Luk.
             2.1
             .
          
           
             Mat.
             4.6
             .
          
           
             Mic.
             5.2
             .
          
           
             Luk.
             3.23
             .
          
           
             Joh.
             2.1.11
             .
             Mat.
             9.18
             .
          
           
             Mat.
             8.6
             .
          
           
             Luk.
             7.
             
             ●
             .
          
           
             Joh.
             11.18
             
          
           
             Acts
             9.33.40.10.1
             .
          
           
             13.6
             .
          
           
             14.13
             .
          
           
             a
             
               Cyrill
               c.
            
             10.
             
               c.
               Jul.
            
             
          
           
             b
             Orig.
             c.
             C.
             
          
           
             c
             Euseb.
             
          
           
             d
             
               Tertio
               Historiarum
               ,
               Citat
               .
               à
               Julio
               Afr.
            
             3.
             
             
               Chronograe
               Orig.
               c.
               c.
               l
            
             3.
             
          
           
             e
             15.44
             .
             Annalium
             .
          
           
             f
             Athanas.
             Synops.
             
          
           
             g
             
               Const.
               ad
               p.p.
               Niceae
               ,
               Vide
               Theodoret
               .
               l.
            
             1.
             c.
             6.
             
             
               Gr-Lat
               .
               Pan.
            
             
          
           
             Joh.
             11.48
             
          
           
             Mat.
             27.64
             
          
           
             Act.
             4.6
             .
          
           
             Act.
             7.57
             .
          
           
             Act.
             9.2
             .
          
           
             Act.
             13.45
             14.2
             .
             13.50
             .
          
           
             
               Eus.
               l.
            
             4.15
             .
          
           
             Deut.
             7.
             
          
           
             
               Orig.
               c.
            
             C.
             l.
             1.
             
          
           
             b
             
               Plin.
               Ep.
            
             10.97
             .
          
           
             Act.
             2.41
             .
          
           
             1
             Pet.
             1.1
             .
          
           
             Act.
             15.
             
          
           
             Lib.
             10.
             
          
           
             Epist.
             97.
             
          
           
             
               Adv.
               Judaeos
               ,
               c.
            
             7
             ,
             8.
             
          
           
             Pliny
             .
          
           
             Porphyr
             .
          
           
             
               Tert.
               Ap.
            
             37
             
          
           
             
               Eus
               l.
            
             8.
             c.
             3
             
          
           
             
               Vide
               Orig.
               C.
               Cels.
               l.
            
             3.
             
          
           
             1
             Cor.
             6.9
             .
          
           
             
               Lact.
               de
               fals
               .
               sap
               .
               l.
            
             3.
             c.
             26.
             
          
           
             Mar.
             16.19
             
          
           
             Dial.
             cum
             Tryphone
             .
          
           
             
               Iren.
               l.
            
             22.
             c.
             56.
             
             
               Eus.
               b.
            
             5.
             c.
             7
             
               item
               c.
            
             20.
             
          
           
             L.
             3.
             
          
           
             Vide
             Philos
             .
             Essay
             .
          
        
         
           Notes for div A71301-e28790
           
             Chap.
             1.
             
          
           
             Chap.
             2.
             
          
           
             Chap.
             3.
             
          
           
             5.6.7
             8.
             
          
           
             ●●
             6.
             
          
           
             3.5
             .
          
           
             3.1
             .
             5
             4.
             
          
           
             1.
             
          
           
             3.
             
          
           
             2.
             
             C.W.
             
          
           
             Mat.
             21.42
             .
          
           
             Luc.
             9.41
             .
          
           
             24.25
             .
          
           
             Jo.
             8.24.3.36
             .
          
           
             R.
             21.8
             .
          
           
             Obj.
             1.
             
          
           
             Res.
             1.
             
          
           
             Obj.
             2.
             
          
           
             Res.
             2.
             
          
           
             Jer.
             2.12
             .
          
           
             Ioh.
             16.8.3.18.19
             .
          
           
             Ps.
             62.9
             .
          
           
             Neh.
             23
             .
             1●
             .
          
           
             Th.
             1.7
             .
          
           
             Ro.
             11.20
             .
          
           
             Heb.
             3.
             
          
           
             Ps.
             95.
             
          
           
             1.
             
          
           
             2.
             
          
           
             3.
             
          
           
             Luc.
             11.47
             .
          
           
             Mat.
             23.30
             
          
           
             Iob.
             10
             .
             1●
             .
          
           
             Io.
             20.29
             .
          
           
             Psalm
             74
             ,
             9.
             
          
           
             Jo.
             5.47
             .
          
           
             Luc.
             5.21
             .
          
           
             Joh.
             9
             .
             2●
             .
          
           
             Luc.
             20.20
             .
          
           
             Ma.
             13.58
             .
          
           
             Mar.
             3.21
             .
             Jo.
             7.5
             .
          
           
             Jo.
             6.10
             .
          
           
             Ma.
             5.17
             .
          
           
             Jo.
             7.12
             .
          
           
             Jo.
             10.20
             .
          
           
             3.
             
          
           
             Luc.
             16.23
             .
          
           
             Ioh.
             12.
             
          
           
             53.
             
          
           
             II.
             
          
           
             Kin.
             3.3
             .
          
           
             Kin.
             11.5
             .
          
           
             Sam.
             16.13
             .
             Psal.
             89.4
             .
          
           
             Psal
             1
             ,
             19.
             
          
           
             Mar.
             8.31
             .
          
           
             32.
             
             Mar.
             2.7.62
             
          
           
             Mat.
             26.31
             .
          
           
             Mar.
             16.11
             
          
           
             13.
             
          
           
             Luc.
             24.41
             .
             Mat.
             28.7
             .
          
           
             17
             
          
           
             Mar.
             16.14
             
          
           
             Mic.
             7.8
             .
          
           
             III.
             
          
           
             Io.
             8.13
             .
          
           
             18.15.26.27
             .
          
           
             Mar.
             3.17.17.5
             .
          
           
             Io.
             12
             .
             2●
             
          
           
             Luc.
             1.16.19
             .
             Mar.
             1.20
             .
          
           
             Luc.
             2.9
             31.
             
             Mar.
             2.13
             1.9.20
             .
          
           
             4
             11.
             
          
           
             Luc.
             22.43
             Mar.
             28.2
             .
          
           
             Mar.
             16.6
             .
          
           
             Io
             '
             20.12
             ,
          
           
             Ac.
             1.16
             .
          
           
             2.
             
          
           
             Rom.
             1.
             
          
           
             Act.
             2.5
             ▪
             
          
           
             Act.
             22
             ▪
             17
             
          
           
             Act.
             16
             9.
             
          
           
             Cor.
             1.2
             .