Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n
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A35667
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Truth outweighing error, or, An ansvver to a treatise lately published by J.B. entituled, A confession of his faith and a reason of his practice, or, With who he can, and with who he cannot hold church-fellowship ... by John Denne ...
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J. D. (John Denne)
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1673
(1673)
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Wing D1027; ESTC R11873
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57,462
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128
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Truth outweighing Error Or An ANSVVER TO A Treatise lately published by J. B. Entituled A Confession of his Faith AND A Reason of his Practice OR With who he can and with who he cannot hold Church-Fellowship or the Communion of Saints By John Denne a Servant of the Church He that is first in his own Cause seemeth just but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him Prov. 18.17 For it was not an Enemy that reproached me then I could have born it Psal 55.12 Sed nullum est Atrocius vulnus quam defectio amici Sophocles London Printed for the Author and are to be sold by F. Smith at the Elephant and Castle near the Royal-Exchange in Cornhil and at the same sign the first shop without Temple-Bar 1673. To the Church of God in God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ especially to my well beloved Brethren in the Counties of Huntington and Cambridge Grace Mercy and Peace be multiplied unto you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of the Father in Truth and Love Dearly Beloved IT is once yea twice declared in the Book of Job That when the Sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord Satan came also amongst them surely not only to espy what miscarriage might give him advantage against them but also to endeavour their subversion by the crafty insinuations of himself and ministers stirred up to that end and no marvel for if he durst presume to practise the same against our blessed Saviour we may more assuredly expect his subtilty and puissance to be bent against us wherefore Diligence and Sobriety is required 1 Pet. 5.8 that by the one you may avoid giving him occasion against you and by the other discover his crafty devices although carried on by fair pretences like a Wolf in Sheeps-cloathing making use therefore of some of your own selves according to the words of the Apostle Paul Acts 20.29 which as heretofore is this day apparently verified and that amongst others particularly in that Book presented to the World by J. Bunyan entituled A Confession of his Faith and the reason of his practice touching Church-fellowship wherein amongst other things he endeavours the vilifying the ready way for the extirpation of the Ordinance of Water-Baptism and that under the specious pretences of Charity Church-edification c. that his Design might be so masked as to be received by many conscientious Christians who cannot through his crafty vail discover his intentions in reference to the aforesaid Ordinance which he would not have us at all respect in the matter of Church-Communion Which I no sooner saw but I was filled with displeasure apprehending my self obliged as once Phineas was in a matter whereunto this is not inferiour if the spiritual concern be respected to manifest an holy indignation against the same and according to my ability to vindicate the Truth therein degraded whereupon I resolved to send abroad the ensuing Treatise which I now commend to you what is well done expects your Approbation and what is amiss your gentle Correction withal entreating you to look to your selves that you may not be ensnared hold fast the form of sound words lest that otherwise you be unawares beguiled retain alwayes a reverent esteem of God's Ordinances Which if you do not you will suddenly be surprized by that Adversary who goeth about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour keep close to the Holy Scriptures continue instant in Prayer and that for me also that Wisdom Boldness and Patience may be given me that I may not cease to speak the things I have believed Brethren farewel the God of Peace fill you with all Joy and Peace in believing Amen Your unworthy Brother in the Lord Jesus Christ John Denne The Epistle to the Reader READER IF Solomon had cause to say in his time Eccles 12.12 in making many Books there is no end what may be said in our dayes when the World is so replenished with Books and those pro contra even in matters of Christianity insomuch as the question propounded by Paul 1 Cor. 1.13 Is Christ divided may now seem justly to be answered on the affirmative or which is rather to be consented unto that the prediction of Christ Jesus Matth. 24.24 That there shall arise false Christs many coming in his Name saying Lo here and lo there is Christ is now accomplished for the discovery of whom and demonstration of the Truth that one Book viz. the Holy Scripture is only necessary which of it self is able to make a man wise unto Salvation through Faith which is in Christ Jesus who therefore adviseth the Sons of Men to search the Scriptures Joh. 5.39 because they are they which do testifie of him The consideration wherof hath hitherto obstructed my presenting any thing to publick view although divers times thereto incited as well by the perswasion of some Friends as the apprehension of the want of some assistance in the vindication of the Truth as it is in Jesus which as formerly hath required my hand at this time induceth me to step forth particularly upon the perusal of a Treatise subscribed by J.B. entituled A Confession of his Faith and the reason of his Practice touching Church-Fellowship Which although sometime published came lately to my view wherein an apparent wrong and publick abuse being offered to God and his Son Christ Jesus in his endeavouring the explosion of the Holy Ordinance of Baptism it took such impression within me that I could not now forbear the presenting the ensuing Treatise to the view of the World in answer thereunto whereof it may perhaps be said as Paul of himself 1 Cor. 15.8 It is born out of due time but if so I presume wise Persons will allow that an Abortive birth wherein there is life must not be rejected wherefore although peradventure there may be others which I know not of that may precede this upon the same account whereto the priority must be granted Touching this let me say as Abigail to David Accept it as a Servant to the Servants of the Servants of our God whereby perhaps some although mean Service may be rendred which may be advantagious in the discovery of Truth from the disguised face of Error Wherefore in the Name of our Lord Jesus let me entreat thee to read impartially and try diligently by the Scriptures of Truth what thou findest in this following Treatise declared and the Lord give thee therein the Spirit of discerning which shall be the earnest Prayer of Thine in the Lord Jesus Christ John Denne Truth outweighing Error c. WHen the Woman clothed with the Sun and the Moon under her feet Rev. 12.1 and upon her Head a Crown of twelve Stars was with Child and cried travelling in birth and pained to be delivered then there appeared vers 3. a great Wonder in Heaven viz. a great red Dragon having seven Heads and ten Horns and seven Crowns upon his Heads who with his
5.11 They shall speak all manner of evil against you falsly for my Name 's sake Which to effect he is bold to affirm That Christians have been the cause of all the Judgments we have felt and do groan under It is no new thing the Heathens of old were of the same mind and thereby raised the Primitive persecutions and we see the Devil playeth the same Game now whereto I shall only say in the words of Michael Jud. 9. The Lord rebuke thee I come now to his 10th and last Reason pag. 128. Which is grounded partly upon the thoughts of the World and partly upon a supposed Condescention so far as to commit our Souls to the Ministry of unbaptized persons Whereto I shall answer As to the first We ought to obey God rather than to please men Act. 4.19 And as to the second I say whâ—â— we commit our Souls to such persons we 〈◊〉 then have Communion with them But at present I shall offer John Bunyan's own words pag. 133. It must be the prudence of every Community to preserve its own unity in peace and truth and not to suffer such confounded Doctrines as eat out the bowels of a Church Wherefore John Bunyan and his Doctrine ought to be exploded as a detected Gangrene encreasing unto more ungodliness 2 Tim. 2.18 For which purpose let us observe the Apostles advice 1 Thess 5.21 Try all things and hold fast that which is good The God of Heaven teach us by his Holy Spirit to try those things that differ and to approve what is most excellent Amen FINIS ERRATA Page 12. line 1. for the read that line 10 11. f. Author saith r. Author's faith P. 16. l. 4. r. of Christ P. 19. in the 2 last lines from pass to ought all to be left out until thou comest to line 18 of pag. 20. the Articles about Justification c. P. 20. l. 19. r. concerning P. 27. l. 24. f. obstinay r. obstinacy P. 43. l. 5. f therein I readily c. r. wherein I c. P. 44. the quotations p. 122 123. in l. 17. are to be applied to l. 13 14. P. 56. l. 13. r. instructiâ—â— l. ult f. 1. Luke P. 63. l. 3. r. cannot but wonder Books Printed for Francis Smith at the Elephant and Castle near the Royal Exchange in Cornhil A New and Useful Concordance to the Bible with the chief Acceptations and various Significations contained therein Also marks to distinguish the Commands Promises and Threatnings with a Collection of those Scripture-Prophesies which relate to the Call of the Jews and the Glory that shall be in the latter dayes To which is now added near Nine Thousand Scriptures omitted in the former Edition with the Addition also of the Scripture-Similies and Synonimous Phrases Alphabetically digested With the Collection of the Names and Titles given to Jesus Christ and the Appellation given to the Church of God in the Scriptures Recommended to the studious Christian by Dr. Owen A Treatise of Baptism wherein that of Believers and that of Infants is examined by the Scriptures with the History of both out of Antiquity making it appear That Infants-baptism was not practised for 300 years nor enjoyned as necessary by the Popes Canons 400 years after Christ with the fabulous Traditions and Erroneous Grounds upon which it with Gossips Chrisoms Exorcisms Consignations Baptizing of Churches Bells and other Popish Rites are founded and that the famous Waldensian and old Brittish Churches and Christians witnessed against it with the Examination of the stories of Thomas Munster and John of Leyden Symptoms of Growth and Decay in Godliness in 80 signs of a Living and Dying Christian with the Causes of Decay and Remedies for Recovery The Schollar's Companion Or a little Library containing all the Interpretations of Hebrew and Greek words in the Bible both in Latine and English in great variety by means whereof the unlearned may easily attain unto the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures in their Original Tongues a Work very useful for every useful Christian Truth 's Champion wherein are made plain these particulars First That Christ died for all Of his Power given out to all Of Election Of Predestination Of Baptism c. The Copy of which Book was found hid in an old Wall near Colchester in Essex Scripture-Redemption freed from Men's Restriction being the substance of several Conferences about the Death of our Dear Redeemer and the Controversies which are the Constant Concomitants of it The Mystery of Astronomy made plain to the meanest Capacity by an Arithmetical Description of the Coelestial and Terrestrial Globes by way of Questions and Answers The Wonderful Works of God from the Earth his Footstool to the Throne of Heaven with Divine Observations on every part The Popish Labyrinth wherein is made manifest that the Papists are intangled in the Fundamental Articles of their Faith that the Church cannot Err Written in Dutch by that Holy and Learned man Dr. Simon Episcopius To which is added The Life and Death of the Author