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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	church_n	old_a	testament_n	6,574	5	8.1314	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A54151	The guide mistaken, and temporizing rebuked, or, A brief reply to Jonathan Clapham's book intituled, A guide to the true religion in which his religion is confuted, his hypocrisie is detected, his aspersions are reprehended, his contradictions are compared / by W.P., a friend to the true religion.	Penn, William, 1644-1718.	1668 (1668)	Wing P1301; ESTC R15309	49,937	66

he hits not on the true one What 's this more than to say it's necessary man should do somewhat though he be dam'd for it And if it 's a dream to expect Salvation in being true to some Religion is it not a lethargy of impertinency that it 's necessary to be of some Religion and to live and die in it There are many false Religions in the world p. 15. It 's a mistake to think that there is such a multitude of Religious in the world p. 27. There being such diversities of Religions you had need to have your eyes about you p. 26. There are to speak properly but four Religions p. 28. These cross sayings must needs be manifest to the weakest capacity for if he speaks properly on one side he speaks very improperly on the other Sect. 2. It s not sufficient that it be delivered to you by tradition from Ancestors by education from Godly-Parents commended by the practice of wise and pious persons but make a wise choice for your selves p. 25. Man must discern the verity and certainty of these doctrins that he may venture his soul upon them for which end it s exceeding necessary to be conversant in those treatises which prove the verity of the Christian Religion p. 10. Those that take up Religion because it 's profest in the Country and commended by example how slight are they therein p. 19. I add one Rule of Caution more against a common but dangerous mistake Take heed of setting up your own apprehensions of the sense of Scripture though Fundamentals are plainly laid down yet points controverted are hidden from ordinary understandings that know not the Languages and proper Idioms of Scripture and other advantages of Learning p. 109. In one side this Guide is for every individuals chusing from a reason in himself in the other that he should accept things from the apprehensions and greater skill of others But it 's unseasonable to be contending about things not so clearly revealed in Scripture p. 44. Search the Scriptures and look well to them they are your Chard and Compass to steer your Course by try all things by them p. 47. But darkly laid down p. 47.   Take heed of that great mistake that nothing is to be admitted in and about the Administrations of the Church of Christ but what is held forth in Scripture p. 99 100.   O strange confusion A Rule and no Rule revealed and not revealed Is it not unreasonable to suppose that Christ instead of rendring his Church more glorious infallible than ever should leave her destitute of information in those things which concern her peace since contrary apprehensions about them have been the ground of all Division and Persecution through Ages and will be yet with most notwithstanding this Guide's directions Can the Scriptures be clear in deep and not in shallow matters God hath committed the care of Religion and the settlement of it to those in Authority in their Dominions in such a way as they judg most agreeable to the Rule of the Word p. 68. It 's not sufficient that 't is commanded by the Laws of the Land but make a wise choice for your selves p. 25. Let every one be fully perswaded in his own mind p. 53. They are to see all be administred according to the same and in the particular circumstances undetermined by God they have a power to order and settle things according to the general Rules laid down in the Word p. 104. And men that act according to Reason will look into the Oracles of God himself wherein God hath revealed his Will concerning Faith and VVorship p. 9. If God has invested Magistrates with the power of Interpretation and settlement of Religious matters accordingly is it not absurd to bid men chuse for themselves since they are to be concluded by anothers choice and how the Oracles of God should be perspicuous to all understandings and yet need an Interpreter I mean the Magistrate I would fain understand Sect. 3. The Christian Religion was confirm'd by many signs by the means of propagation of it by weak and unlearned men by whose preaching it overspread the world p. 31. The Quakers in respect of their want of learning and outward accomplishments are contemptible P. 62. The Fundamentals of Christianity are so plainly laid down in Scripture that the weakest Christians may understand them pag. 110. Controverted points are hidden from ordinary understandings that know not the Languages and proper Idioms of Scripture and customs of the Church and other advantages of Learning that its ordinarily impossible they should find out the mind of God therein p. 111. What Contradiction is here that what he designs to have been proof or argument to have recommended the more unquestionably the belief of the Christian Religion in old times to the primitive Christians he here should make the reason why he rejects and reviles the Quakers and their Testimony and that he should tell us the Spirit they received perfectly inform'd them and yet that Learning is to be the only means of knowing God's mind in these dayes whilst he confesses at the same time the weakest Christian may understand the Fundamentals of Religion God is to be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth p. 70. The essence of Prayer lies in lifting up true desires to God in the Name of Christ p. 71. For who is there that knows not that forms of Prayer have been of exceediag long continuance in the Christian Church p. 91. To pray is part of God's Worship but whether it be in a Book or out of it is no part at all pag. 109. Set-forms are not only used and prescribed in the Old Testament but also in the New p. 94. How Worship in Spirit and yet by words of man's prescription Can any man bring the Spirit to so many words to begin with I and end with R or who knows the Spirit 's mind so punctually as to prescribe for Generations to come the words it will use for all persons and conditions that may be in the world who can pretend to know all states that he may write prayers for each Why not forms of sighs and groans Was it not a Spiritual-Worship Christ Jesus set up above sixteen hundred years ago in opposition to the Jewish one and all other particular Worships in the World which are known to have been forms and such as this Guide pleads for at least the Jewish and produce me a Form put forth and establish't by any of the Apostles who were faithful in God's House But did not Forms creep up when the primitive Power and Spirit was lost imitating Prayer but not Praying And did not Tertullian in his Apology who is generally rank't in the beginning of the third Century write that the Christians prayed not by Book but as they were moved by the Spirit of God or to that purpose And I challenge this Guide or any living to make appear

Resurrection of the just and unjust Last Judgment Heaven and Hell as future rewards they believe and confess And as my faithful Testimony both to their Life and Doctrine I am necessitated to declare and be it known to all that ever knew me that when the unspeakable Riches of God's eternal Love visited me by the call of his glorious Light from the dark practices wandring notions and vain conversations of this polluted world and that my heart was influenced thereby and consequently disposed for the more intimate and sincere reception of it those very habits which once I judg'd impossible whilst here to have relinquish'd as well as I was unwilling and did allow my self a liberty therein because not openly gross or scandalous I thought my self excusable became not only burdensome and by that Light manifested to be of another nature than that which I was call'd to the participation of but in my faithful adherence to its holy counsel and instructions I was immediately endued with that power and authority as gave dominion over them and being in measure redeemed from that to which the Curse is pronounc'd I sensibly enjoy'd the Blessings that attend a Reconciliation And never since I have been conversant with their Principles thus odiously describ'd by him have I found one Article that did not receive a full and satisfactory assent from that very Grace Spirit or Light of God which first called me from the gross impieties vain entertainments tempting glories and will-worships of this generation And as I have the seal of God's eternal Spirit of Love upon my soul as an infallible Assurance so since my first frequenting of them and their Assemblies I have observ'd that holy innocent and righteous conversation which harmonizes with the severity circumspection and self-denying life of the Gospel and testifie as revealed from God that since those Centuries in which the Apostasie eclipst the beauty of the primitive Light there has not been so glorious a discovery of Spiritual Pure and Evangelical Worship Life and Doctrine as God hath in his Loving-kindness rais'd the so much despised Quakers to own practise and declare amongst the Nations as the good old way of Holiness that leads from Intemperance Vanity Pride Oppression and the love of this World 's perishing glories to that everlasting Joy and Rest which is reserv'd for the People of the Most High God In short they are found in Principles zealous for God devout in Worship earnest in Prayer constant in Profession harmless and exemplary in their Lives patient in Sufferings orderly in their Affairs few in Words punctual in Dealings merciful to Enemies Self-denying as to this Worlds Delights and Enjoyments and to sum up all Standards for the God of Heaven against the Pride Cruelty Lust Avarice c. of this Godless Generation whom the unborn shall call Blessed when their Testimonies be finish'd and they gathered into the unspeakable Solace and possession of God's eternal Presence yet are they concluded by this uncharitable Guide not company for Christians but I am perswaded that the more discreet will not relax their good Opinion for his slanderous reflexions but rather thence renew occasions of further expressing their Candor and Humanity And I hope their discreet and inoffensive deportment will perswade all people they are not as deserving their ill thoughts as envious and self-interessed Priests have endeavoured to insinuate CHAP. III. His Hypocrisie Detected Sect. 1. THough manifold are the Stratagems of Satan that old Serpent by which he does surprize the immortal Souls of men with most deplorable woes and everlasting misery yet is there none that proves so generally effectual as Hypocrisie It s his Mysterium Maximum A study and employment fit for none below the form of his Arch-Angels such make his Archest Emissaries and most subtile Meanders Sublime Devils masqu'd with the vizard of Sincerity palliating themselves from what they really are by seeming what as really they are not outside wash'd Platters Wolves in Sheeps cloathing Inside rotten but outside whited-Sepulchres In short the muddy Sensualist refin'd to a counterfeit Fidelity and imitation of the form of Godliness the more unquestionably to deceive and securely to insinuate candid apprehensions of his purpose who is the most impudent dispiser of God destroyer of Souls contemner of Laws perverter of Truth and treacherous to the end against whom the sharpest woes are denounc'd and punishments reserv'd to eternity How far this Guide has rendred himself obnoxious to the character of a Hypocrite it is our business mainly in this Chapter to discourse But lest his dissimulated Condescension and pretended Christian Instructions as inducements to Conformity should so far prevail upon the unacquaintance of any with his spirit and notorious practice through all Revolutions as to believe they may deserve my observation and reply since 't is irrational to argue the unsoundness of a Principle from the confest imperfections of its Defendants I shall a little hint at the chiefest of his Reasons as well to manifest 't was not so much a general as an individual concern that interested him in this undertaking as to prevent if possible his ingratiating his Motives to Conformity with the minds of such as are inclinable to temporizing he states his Question thus Sect. 2. VVhether it be a duty for Christians to hold communion with the Church of England according to her present Administrations Had this Guide the least honesty it should not be a question with him now although I fear he is scarce so honest as to make it one my Paradox is Orthodox or been conscientious in his former perswasions but having ever forfeited the reputation of a sincere person and not being esteem'd other than a gross Temporizer I easily shall grant it very requisit for him whose belly is his god and that minds earthly things to commune with the Church of England in her present Administrations but as for Christians I shall not ask his leave to dissent unless he can produce better Arguments to warrant his confident Assertions his first runs thus It will not be denied by all dissenters that have understanding and sobriety in them but that here is a clear profession of all those fundamental points of Faith which are accounted amongst Christians necessary unto Salvation yea such a pure confession of other points of a secondary nature that there 's scarce any other Church in the World that God hath blest with a greater purity What strange confusion and unusual impertinency is this would not half-witted people blush to venture abroad in print with such expressions Surely this Guide was grosly fond of writing Books that rather than be quiet should with such greediness expose his ignorance to vulgar censure for if the Dissenters he writes against confess the Church they separate from to be greatly pure in Fundamentals and things of a secondary nature how is it possible according to good sense they can be termed Dissenters in Religious matters I shall

Trencher-Chaplin Tutor c did he traverse the Country Sprinkling Marrying Churching Burying the common trade of those ejected Priests And can he say that whilst the King and Bishops were incapacitated by Exile to act as Officers in the Church and State he own'd the one for Supream in matters Civil and Ecclesiastical and the others for so many Apostolical heads in Christ's Church Did he protest against the Cruelty of those Powers in the clear subversion of both What Prison was he in what Bonds did he endure what Loss sustain Testimony bear and Loyalty express on the behalf of his Episcopal Faith and its Defender Alas But was he not in all those strange occurrences of times and variety of changes to be found Priest of Wramplingam in Norfolk At the beginning of the Wars a most precise Stickler for a Reformation extolling the great Necessity aswel as Righteousness of the Solemn League and Covenant encouraging others thereunto both by his example and doctrine Bold for the Directory and busie at chusing Elders and so went under the notion of a Presbyterian But 't was not long before the Independents through their greater Courage and Policy had undermin'd and vanquisht t'others Interest and when possest of the Authority he saw 't was folly to expect a Sallery as Guide in that way the Governing-Party of the Nations had rejected and therefore was obliged to list himself a Volunteer in Jo. Munny's Independent Congregation t was then the beheaded King was by this Guide both preach't printed as a Toe of that Image the little Stone cut out of the Mountain without hands was to smite and therefore says the fall of the ten Kingdoms was begun the Lord is risen out of his habitation gainsay not for who seeth not the alteration is of the Lord And in his Answer to an Objection that this Prophecy was accomplisht when this Nation fell from Popery sayes he Doctrinally it was but not Politically the Government hath continued the same yea and hard enough to the Saints alias NONCONFORMISTS none can deny it Now the Change this Prophecy speaks of respests the Government In another place sayes he There can be no clearer evidence that God is about this work of breaking down this great IMAGE and smiting the very Feet and Toes thereof than this present Victory over the Scottish Forces at Dunbar which we are now to render Thanksgiving to God for the cause of this War being Whether this IMAGE shall be upheld or the Feet and Toes be broken In short O ye Honoured Worthies whom the Lord hath raised up to effect these great Changes carry on the Lord's Work That your People may not have cause to say We have changed our TYRANTS not our TYRANNY Although Providence seems to put an Impossibility of setling Government in the Former way But time hath proved him both a Temporizer and a false Prophet 'T was also then he sought if possible to ingratiate himself with the Powers and People of the Land by his most invective and false discourse against the harmless Quakers with a large Dedicatory Epistle to O. Cromwel allow'd by him of England Scotland Ireland c. Protector to whom amongst other extraordinary Complements I cannot let pass these expressions where he invites him as God's Delegate in honour to Jesus Christ and out of love to the Churches of Christ for whose welfare you have this Great Power committed to You to stop these Seducers c. concluding thus The Lord of Heaven and Earth bless your Highness with the continuance of his gracious Presence with you that as you have done valiantly in the high places of the Field that is fought against King and Bishops so you govern as righteously and happily in the Gates of the City O gross dissimulation Now 't is he turns Engagement-man and is employ'd by the several Churches in Norfolk to R. Cromwel on the Death of Oliver as their Representative about that Petition or Address made by the Priests in general which terms the Father Moses and the Son the Joshua that should conduct them to the Holy-Land But he being by the Projections and angry resentments of the Long-Parliament divested of his usurped Authority this Guide finds out a very honourable Epithite for it which had not long tasted of Power before another Revolution took its place but I must needs confess that when 't was noised A King was coming in and the Church of England to be restored to all her ancient Emoluments so called this Guide grew seemingly dejected and very forward in expressing his dislike against their Spiritual Lordships and not less contumeliously as he now would think both of her Worship and Discipline hoping the Presbyterians Testimony of Allegiance in their zealously assisting to facilitate the King's Return would so far interest him in their concerns as not wholly to be excluded from the exercise of their Religion in the Land But when 't was manifest that nothing under an open Conformity would purchase the enjoyment of their Parishes whatever becomes of them this Guide slinks from his Independant Church and Presbyterian hopes reads the common-prayer-Common-Prayer-Book subscribes the Articles changes Oliver Richard or Parliament for Charles once a Toe of the Beast that the little Stone was to smite of England Scotland Ireland c. And in the place of Christs Churches the Church of England with the whole Tribe how ever dignified or distinguished the beheaded King once the first broken Toe of the Image now he commemorates with an Anniversary Sermon and as the top of all boldly renounces his so solemnly-taken League and Covenant What temporizing's this O what unheard-of Hypocrisie is here But Reader what 's thy opinion of the matter Can Oliver be Moses Richard Joshua and Charles Defender of the Faith altogether whose Interests were so opposite as the last to be exiled and kept so by both With whom was God's presence in all these times the Church of England If so then not with those that turn'd her out where Clapham had his Parish How plainly have his actions unmaskt the gross dissimulation of his heart and these corrupt fruits explain'd the poisonous nature of the tree that brought them forth But lest I may be thought to wrong him as if it were impossible for one who pretends himself a Christian Minister to be guilty of such abominable time-serving Reader peruse these passages where he confidently affirms such to have been the best wisest and most judicious Christians who under all those great Changes and Revolutions amongst us of latter times have endeavoured the maintaining the Fundamental Doctrines of the Gospel even to a degree of complyance in things of a lower nature in which he positively concludes all persons from Canterbury to the meanest Curat in the Nation as also Seculars in their respective places have been to blame both as to their understanding and wisdom in not yeelding with Clapham in those smaller matters viz. an expulsion of the