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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	good_a	lord_n	sin_n	3,005	5	4.4939	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A26821	Truth's vindication, or, A gentle stroke to wipe off the foul aspersions, false accusations, and misrepresentations cast upon the people of God called Quakers, both with respect to their principle and their way of proselyting people over to them also An epistle to such of the Friends of Christ that have lately been convinced of the truth as it is in Jesus.	Bathurst, Elizabeth, d. 1691.	1679 (1679)	Wing B1137; ESTC R2590	87,826	120

the one Prophet promised to Israel Deut 18. 18. which Promise the Apostle repeateth Acts 3. 22. saying And it shall come to pass that every Soul that will not hear this Prophet shall be destroyed from amongst the people Vers. 23. Thus do they commend themselves to every man's Conscience in the sight of God by turning them to the Light of Jesus the Power of God manifest within which as 't is yielded to and obeyed maketh free from Sin which still is that one thing that I am writing concerning viz. A Principle of Divine Light and Life in Christ Jesus according to the Apostle's record Iohn 1. 4. In him was Life and the Life was the Light of Men And this Light I say however it may be called 't is the shining of the Son of Righteousness in men's Consciences 'T is not Conscience which some have described to be a reflect Act of the mind whereby men view their past Actions the which accuses them for what they have done ill and approveth of what they have done well Though this be more then some there are will allow in this matter yet is this too short to express its noble Nature For this Principle doth as well shew men the Sin of their future Evil Purposes and Intentions as set before them the Iniquity of their former Actions Therefore I say 't is not Conscience for that is but a created Faculty But that of God placed in the Conscience hath its being from all Eternity For he that shewth unto man his Thoughts is the same that Formed the Mountains Created the Winds whose Name is the Lord of Hosts as saith the Prophet Amos Chap. 4. 13. And this is he who is without beginning of Dayes or end of Life The Alpha and the Omega the First and the Last the beginning of the Creation of God the Image of the Invisible God the first Born of every Creature the faithful Witness and the first begotten of the Dead and the Prince of the Kings of the Earth This is he who is the Resurrection and the Life in all that do believe in his Light as 't is Recorded concerning him Heb. 7. 3. Rev. 1. 11. Col. 1. 15. Rev. 1. 5. Iohn 11. 25. Therefore whilst ye have the Light believe in the Light saith Christ that ye may become Children of the Light John 12. 36. And this Light is elsewhere called the Seed even that Incorruptible Seed by which we are begotten to God and Born again by his Eternal Word which liveth and abideth forever see 1 Pet. 1. 23. This is the promised Seed yea that Seed of the Woman spoken of Gen. 3. 15. where the Lord said to the Serpent I will put Enmity between thee and the Woman and between thy Seed and her Seed it shall bruise thy Head and thou shalt bruise his Heel This is the Seed of the Kingdom of Heaven for Heaven's Kingdom is within as Christ said Luke 17. 20. Wherefore this Seed is sown in the Hearts of the Children of men as was set forth by the Parable of the sower Mat. 13. and the beginning He spake many things to them in Parables Behold a sower went forth to Sow and when he sowed some Seed fell by the Way-side c. some fell among Stoney places c. and some fell among Thorns Verse 18 19. Hear ye therefore the Parable of the Sower saith Christ When any one heareth the Word of the Kingdom and understandeth it not then cometh the wicked One and catcheth away that which was sown in his Heart This is he that received Seed by the Way-side c. And in the 31 32. Verses Christ saith The Kingdom of Heaven is like to a Grain of Mustard-Seed which a man took and sowed in his Field which indeed is the least of all Seeds but when 't is grown 't is the greatest among Herbs c. 'T is truly so indeed The Seed or Grace of God is small in its first appearance even as the Morning Light but as it is given heed to and obeyed it will encrease in Brightness till it shine in the Soul like the Sun in the Firmament at its Noon-day height But if People will despise the Day of small things and will not believe in this low Appearance of the Light of Jesus in their Hearts which though it discover to them their Sins and reproves for them yet because its Reproofs are soft and mild and its Voice small and still they out-clamour the sound thereof in their Consciences whereby they reject the Son of God in Spirit as the Iews did in Flesh because he came to them in so mean a manner they would not have him to be their Saviour Will it not be just for Christ to say to these as he did to them Iohn 8 24. If ye believe not that I am he ye shall dye in your Sins and then whither I go ye cannot come For the Lord hath said his Spirit shall not alwayes strive with man Gen. 6. 3. He is a gracious and long-suffering God but though he be Forbearing yet he will not alwayes bear though his Spirit doth strive with some for a long season yet if they continue to resist the same the time will come when it will cease striving with them and then Wo will be unto them but right blessed are they that are prevailed upon by the strivings of the good Spirit of the Lord in the Day of their Visitation to know and mind the things that concern their everlasting Peace before they are hid from their Eyes But if People will shut their Eyes against the Light how just is it for the Lord to withdraw its shinings from them and to cause Darkness to overtake them Wherefore hear ye and give Ear be not Proud for the Lord hath spoken give Glory to the Lord before he cause Darkness and before your Feet stumble upon the dark Mountains and while you look for Light he turn it into the shadow of Death and make it gross Darkness according to the advise of the Prophet Ieremiah Chap. 13. 15 16. For though a measure of this Divine Light is or hath been in every Man in order to save them yet it will not alwayes abide with them I mean as to its saving Efficacy it will continue no longer then during the Day of their Visitation Therefore saith Christ Yet a little while is the Light with you walk while ye have the Light lest Darkness come upon you John 12. 35. Again he limitteth a certain Day saying in David to Day after so long a time as it is said to Day if ye will hear his Voice harden not your Hearts Heb. 4.7 True indeed there is a Day wherein People may know the things that concern their Souls everlasting Peace But if they Sin out this Day afterwards those things will be hid from their Eyes as Christ said when he came near the City Ierusalem he beheld it and wept over it saying If thou hadst known at least in

Wonder since the Wicked have not spared to fling the same Reflection upon their Lord and Master Christ Jesus himself when he was on Earth was sensured to work his Miracles by Magick Art for when he cast out a Devil out of one possest some said He did it by Belzebub their Prince And now these having received Power from Christ by their Ministry to effect the like in another kind because the Effect thereof hath brought some into Fear and Trembling therefore they are judged to deal with Familiar Spirits and to work by Conjuration But how unjust this judgment is and how groundless the Surmise I shall not need to answer let the Reader but search the Scriptures and they will give it in on this peoples side Psalm 2. 10 11. the Prophet David instructs Kings and Iudges of the Earth to serve the Lord with Fear and Rejoyce with Trembling Philip. 2. 12. the Apostle exhorts them to work out their own Salvation with the like frame Nor was this only their Advice but also the Saints Practice For Moses confesseth himself a QVAKER Hebrews 12. 21. Habakkuk likewise acknowledges that at the Voice of God his Belley did Tremble and his Lips did Quiver Hab. 3. 16. Neither was this their Case alone for we find the Prophet Ezra meeting with a whole Assembly of them Ezra 9. 4. saith he Then were asssembled unto me every one that Trembled at the Words of the God of Israel And the Prophet Isaiah points at such as the Lord 's Peculiar People Chap. 66. 5. Hear the Word of the Lord saith he ye that Tremble at his Word your Brethren that hated you that cast you out for my Name sake said Let the Lord be Glorifyed but he shall appear to your Ioy and they shall be ashamed And in the second Verse of the same Chapter the Lord expresly promises But to this man will I look even to him that is poor and of a contrite Spirit and Trembleth at my Word And in Ier. 5. 21. the Lord calleth by the Prophet saying Hear now this O foolish People and without Understanding which have Eyes and see not which have Ears and hear not Fear ye not me saith the Lord will ye not Tremble at my Presence and so he goeth on expostulating the Matter with them till at last he threatneth to visit them and be avenged on their Nation Vers. ●9 And sure something of this King Darius was afraid of when he made a Decree That all under his Dominion should Fear and Tremble before the God of Daniel Dan. 6. 26. Certainly Quakers had a better esteem with him then they have with this Generation the Name being given them in Derision and Scorn notwithstanding the Posture is that in which the Servants of the Lord backward from Moses through the Prophets and Apostles Days till this very time have been found Thus it appears by Scripture that Christians were exercised in Fear and Trembling together with Humility Patience and Self denyal and that not from the Procurement of any Evil Art but by the Living Sence of the Dealings of the Lord For proof of which see what God himself speaketh of his Church by his Prophet Ieremiah Chap. 33. 9. And it shall be to me a Name of Ioy a Praise and an Honour before all the Nations of the Earth which shall hear all the good that I do unto them and they shall Fear and Tremble for all the Goodness and for all the Prosperity that I procure unto it Thus 't is manifest how the matter hath been Mis-represented to wit that the Quakers are Inchanters but this being mostly the charge of the Rash and Inconsiderate I shall say no more to take it off but only add the words of Christ Mat. 10 24,25 The Disciple is not above his Master nor the Servant above his Lord 't is enough that the Disciple be as his Master and the Servant as his Lord if they have called the Master of the House Belzebub how much more shall they call them of his Houshould But there are others in many things more Sober and Juditious who yet have not been sparing in their Censures Some of whom have given out That 't is through Craft and Cunning Collusion by which these People the Quakers gain over Proselites to their Religion They are Wise they are Subtil say they they have reaching Brains and so they can but Propagate their own Party they will be at any Pains In Answer to whom my Reply is What Crastiness they mean I must confess I cannot tell but what Craft I have ever found amongst them is no other than that of which the Apostle writes to the Corinthians 2 Cor. 12. 16. Nevertheless being Crafty saith he I caught you with Guile Which holy Craft and godly Guile hath appeared in them as they have been careful to keep a Conscience void of Offence towards God and towards all Men taking the Apostle's Advice Iames 3. 13. Who is a Wise Man and endewed with Knowledge amongst you saith he let him shew out of a good Conversation his Works with Meekness of Wisdom So likewise have they been careful to observe Christ's Counsel Luke 10. 3. who there saith Behold I send you forth as Sheep in the midst of Wolves be ye therefore Wise as Serpents and Harmless as Doves And thus sanctifying the Lord God in their Hearts having a good Conscience whilst falsly accused it hath pleased the Lord many times to plead their Righteous Cause even in their very Adversaries Breasts whereby he hath made their own words to become their Burden and that that they have intended to fix upon his People by which to render them Guilty of Deceit and Fraud hath returned back upon their own Heads whilst Integrity and Innocency hath been the others Armour of Defence untill such time that God hath wrought their more Full Deliverance But I must bring the matter a little nearer that so I may write of that which relateth to my own Particular This having occasioned some to wonder viz. That I should be Decoy'd as they call it after this Manner for so some have bespoke me by shewing a seeming pity towards my Person whilst they have manifested Enmity against my Principle and therefore that they might not bear too hard upon me they have laid the heaviest Load upon those about me as if for fear of one and to please another I had hereby prudently provided to serve my Superiours Humor And so from them my Friends have born the greatest blame whilest I in part have been excused considering the many Tryals Temptations and Snares whereunto they reckon I have been expos'd which Consideration of theirs hath procured me some Allowance from such as are any whit Tender-hearted amongst my former Acquaintance therefore I hope they will not blame me if I make use of this Allowance as well to shew them their Mistakes herein as to take off the Unjust Aspersions that have been cast upon my Friends

Truth 's Vindication OR A Gentle Stroke to wipe off the Foul Aspersions False Accusations and Misrepresentations cast upon the People of God called QUAKERS Both with respect to their Principle and their way of Proselyting People over to them Prov. 4. 18 19. The Path of the Iust is as the shining Light that shineth more and more unto the perfect Day The Way of the Wicked is as Darkness they know not at what they stumble Isa. 51.7 41. 14. Hearken unto me ye that know Righteousness the People in whose Heart is my Law Fear ye not the Reproach of Men neither be ye afraid of their Revilings Fear not thou Worm Jacob and ye Men of Israel I will help thee saith the Lord and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel Also An EPISTLE to such of the Friends of Christ that have lately been convinced of the TRUTH as it is in JESUS Hosea 6. 3. Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord his going forth is prepared as the Morning and he will come unto us as the Rain as the latter and former Rain unto the Earth Job 8. 7. Though thy Beginning was small yet thy Latter-end shall greatly increase Printed in the Year 1679. AN EPISTLE TO You Five in particular viz. A.W. E.T. M.I. B.P. E.F. unto whom this is more especially intended to be delivered FRIENDS NOT in Affectation to be Popular for that I do not desire but in Obedience to Christ Iesus my Lord and Master have I pen'd this matter that so the Innocency of his Truth and People may more conspicuously appear Neither have I fondly desired to get my Name in Print for 't is not Inky Character can make a Saint such must be sanctified and cleansed in Body Soul and Spirit through which they come to be prepared God's Kingdom to inherit Wherefore I write unto you my Friends That you may not content your selves barely in an outward Separation whilst not wholely separated from that within which is the Cause of Transgression to wit that Adulterate Spirit of the Man of Sin that 's got not only into the Pontificial Chair at Rome whence so many corrupt Customs both in Worship and Practice are come abroad into the World but doth also sit upon the Throne in the Hearts of many People even in this our Native Land And this Spirit hath led Man into many False Wayes and Forms in his fallen Condition whereby he hath strayed from the Right Way of Restoration which Way being made known to a Remnant whose Minds are turned to Christ's Light within God's saving Power these cannot but call to their Friends and Acquaintance to turn in hither and therefore have I been made to send this Friendly Invitation abroad into the World That People may be invited to that Feast of Fat Things which the Lord hath prepared for them that turn in unto him But more especially doth it lie upon me for you Five to whom I write this Epistle Dedicatory to let you know his Oxen and his Fatlings are ready only come away do not tarry For I well know this is the time of the Lord's Love towards you because of the sounding of his Bowels which I have heard within me I know they are not restrained from you because of the constraint that he hath laid upon me which hath been so powerful that my Heart hath been pained in me and my Soul hath been distressed for you and often have I been bowed down in Spirit yea till I could hardly stand upon my Feet until the Lord who bowed me down raised me up and set before me a Door of Hope whereat his Prisoner in you may be brought forth which is that for which God's Seed in me hath travailed through many Tribulations and now having delivered me from that cruel Bondage of Corruption which once I groaned under this makes me restless in my Spirit that others may believe in that inward Power that 's able to rescue from the Eury of their Soul's Oppressor Yet I write not this by way of Complaint as though I thought it a Weariness to serve the Lord in answering his Requirings no that I cannot think for I must acknowledge so gracious is he in his Condescension that he hath made this my Exercise become also my Divertion yea though I was his Prisoner by Indisposition of Body occasion'd through the Pressure of my Mind whilst the Weight of this Matter lay upon me yet I wished for no Walks of Pleasure nor was I weary of my Pain the Reward given into my Bosome in returns of Peace and sweet Security that my Soul enjoys amidst the disturbing Fears and Perplexities that are abroad is sufficient Recompence for all these light Afflictions What the subject Matter hereof is read and you will find wherein I have first endeavoured to remove the Stumbling-blocks from before you and then to cast up the Way of Truth for you and that by Scripture Road as you may read in those cited Texts which here have been brought unto my Hands without the Help of Humane Concordance Read in Charity what I have written in Humility knowing you are my Elders in years I would address my self unto you in all Christian Manners but I dare not Flatter you nor can I complementally crave Excuses of you accept it therefore from me who can truly say For some time I have not been my own the Lord having made me your Servant in this thing but now the Truth hath in measure set me free which also made me willing to serve you as it gave me Ability that God might have the Glory and you the Profit of these my Spiritual Labours Who am Your Faithful Friend Elizabeth Bathurst AN INTRODUCTION By way of PREFACE TO THE Ensuing Treatise MY former Friends and Acquaintance for whose sakes this is written it is to rectifie your Mistakes about and to inform you in that which some stick not to call A New Religion But though the old Enemy of all Righteousness has found this new opprobrious Term to asperse and undermine the Truth with blessed be the Captain of our Salvation he hath defeated him of his Design and out of the Mouthes of Babes and Sucklings hath ordained Praise to his own Name For let me tell you my Friends True Religion is of great Antiquity 't is as old as Abel who by Faith offered up a more excellent Sacrifice than Cain by which he obtained Witness That he was Righteous God testifying of his Gift and by it he being dead yet speaketh as you may read Hebr. 11. 4. And now I appeal to you What Faith was this by which Abel pleased God Was it not a living Faith which God had wrought in him and not a dead Faith received by Tradition of Man's teaching yet such was the Nature and kind of it that he did not only believe in the true God his Creator but also in Jesus Christ his Redeemer although he was not come in the Flesh then yet