Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	authority_n	scripture_n	true_a	1,595	5	4.7953	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A41233	The lawfull preacher, or, A short discourse proving that they only ought to preach who are ordained ministers occasionally delivered in some lectures at Epping by John Ferriby, minister of Thoydon-Garnon in Essex ; now printed upon the anti-preaching of some against it in the same pulpit about the latter end of November last : as also the pulpit-guard-relieved, in a short appendix in answer to a late book called the pulpit-guard-relieved / written by Tho. Collier.	Ferriby, John, b. 1613 or 14.	1653 (1653)	Wing F819A; ESTC R32027	69,768	96

own making and to put out their own eyes by the dust they themselves have raised they that flie so high in their affected although confused notions frequently leave the Truth behind when through the coldness of the second region they are so frozen in their affections that if ever they return they seldom pursue Truth with much love after This is to lay up a mans Religion in a Castle built in the Air when every winde of Doctrine may tosse it to and fro It is an unhappy thing that some men are guilty of to delight in expressions they understand not and to be lost in the pursuit of those cloudy notions they cannot reach when they are alwaies pointing at what they have but small ken of themselves although they cannot discover them to others By this the growth of true Religion is much hindered in them and the profit of Christian conference much prevented in their meetings when much is proposed a great deal talked of but little gotten nothing agreed on There is more advantage to be gotten in one hours conference with him who understands and will speak of a Fundamentall in Religion then in many dayes with those for although there lesse may be talked of there is more discovered I would have you much in the study of faith repentance Justification c. To that end reade much of the Scripture and of those other good Books written by godly men which God hath holpen this age withall I could wish besides others you would be all well versed in that little Carechisme I use among the younger people which although small in bulk is as full stuffed with sound Truths as ever I saw any so closely comprized Enquire after the good old way and walk in it The most of our new lights are but old darknesses which are caused rather by the privation then the encrease of true Light most of our new truths are but old errours rising afresh out of the bottomless pit the hand of liberty having rouled away that stone which the arm of Government had before laid to stop the mouth of it Beware of controversies that are either above your reach or lesse necessary to Religion the former may puzzle and perplex you the later but disturb and unquiet you the former often ends in defection from the Truth the later only in difference and contention among seeming brethren By both men are frequently so forced or perswaded from the Truth that if they are not hurried into one they are cheated into another errour When Peter would prevent peoples falling from their stedfastness he presses them to grow in Grace 1 Pet. 3. 18. A low house setled upon a good foundation will stand longer then an high tottering edifice upon a weak basis Not that I would have you contented with small measures low statures in Grace build as high as you will as you can only let the foundation be firm and proportionable 3. I would beg you to measure all the Doctrines you hear by the line of Gods word seeing there are false spirits gone forth into the world it is good to try the spirits whether they are of God or not 1 John 4. 1 2. It is an evil thing in this to have mens persons in admiration If the best of men on earth if an Angel from Heaven should bring any other Doctrine then what is left by Christ for your direction let him be Anathema Gal. 1. 18. Charron in his book of wisdom tels us that every humane proposition is of equal Authority unless reason make the difference No Religious doctrine is of any reputation further then the Scripture speaks it true When mens words are only taken it 's no hard thing to be deceived when men beleeve only with a probable Faith they are easily mislead The Apostle bids the Thessalonians try all things because they should {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} hold fast as by violence what was good 1 Thes. 5. 18. What weapon or beast a man hath well proved he will carefully preserve when what may be as good if he know it not may be more easily parted withall It is a great advantage the Devil hath given him when men hold Truth upon too slender grounds Gold and silver is not valued if not known to be such Children may have gold in their hands when if children whom you may perswade it is brasse it is no hard matter to cheat them out of it They were Children that were tossed to and fro Ephes. 4. If a stone be loose although upon a good foundation it is no difficult thing to remove it that will most probably continue which is well fastened When men pin their faith upon others sleeves whithersoever those sleeves are stretched out their Faith must follow when doctrines are judged of by the men that bring them be it what it will it can only be so prevalent as the man that vents it is of Authority with them that hear it The Corinth vvere accused as carnal that they pretend some to Paul others to Apollo 1 Cor. 3. 4. when yet they were both Ministers v. 5. Good God! vvhat are they who are some for this others for that gifted brother who are no Ministers only intrude into that Office intrusted unto others Thus men best like and most cry up those Preachers who are of that party they most affect and then the Doctrine they bring whether true or false This is to judge of things by the men that do them a false rule and not of men by the things they do Hence the Prevailing party hath alwaies most followers such Powerfull Preachers can command Audience It is the practice of our late Astrologers to gaze only on those Stars which are ascendant and still speak best of those Constellations which have the strongest influence especially if they have but a favourable aspect towards them whose Prognosticks are calculated for the Meridians of strength and weakness of power and impotency I vvish it vvere not too much the fault of our new-fashioned hearers vvho love not the light of the brightest Star if not of their party But I shall hope and ask better things of you let truth and falsehood be the cause of your esteem or disrespect of what you hear let that have best reception with you which hath most Authority from Scripture although least of the power of men vvith it When false coyn is abroad all men will look to the money they receive Seeing it hath been foretold that in the last daies vvhich are these there should come seducers and our experience tels us it is fulfilled let us try before vve trust and examine the Doctrine vve hear before vve believe it 4. I vvould have you suspect and be shy of whatsoever doctrines please the flesh of vvhatsoever it is that indulgeth corrupt nature Flesh and bloud are no more apt to love then they are able to enter into the Kingdom of God the flesh lusteth against the spirit