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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	know_v	lord_n	see_v	3,997	5	3.2299	3	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A39764	A survey of Quakerism, as it is stated in the professed doctrine and principles of that party with a serious reflection on the dreadful import thereof, to subvert the very being and reality of the Christian religion / by a lover of the truth.	Fleming, Robert, 1630-1694.	1677 (1677)	Wing F1274; ESTC R20984	35,868	86

But we know this way is the purpose of God made effectual concerning all he hath from Eternity predestinate to life as is express from Scripture 2 Thes 2. 13. That they are chosen to Salvation through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth though the evidence of this recovery in some where it hath been in Truth may be but little discernable to others The Lord so disposing in his infinite Wisdom that his People may be taught an alone recumbence on the Word even when his Works seems to justle therewith 2. We know no such length in profession of the Truth from which any have fallen through the prevalence of Error can go beyond those who after they have escaped the pollutions of the World through the Knowledg of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ are yet again intangled therein and overcome 2 Pet. 2. 20. or beyond those degrees of Conviction and common Illumination that may even have some transient taste of the good Word of God and of the Powers of the World to come Heb. 6. 5 6. To which the Apostle shews some may come even that length by a temporary Work of the Spirit who have yet fallen into a most dreadful Apostacy from the Truth and opposition thereto with the greatest hight of malice in both which Scriptures may be seen that it is such an Apostacy there meant as follows upon the prevalence of Error and Delusion 3. With what marvelous plainness doth the Holy Ghost in the Word speak to this Case that we may know what it means and have no cause for stumbling when it shall become the Churches Tryal as we see Mat. 13. 5. in that seed which fell upon stony places where it had not much earth and forthwith sprung up because it had no depthness of earth but when the Sun was up was scorched and because they had no root withered a Truth I may say is not more express in the Scripture when we read it with our eyes than its ratification in after-times in the Church hath oft been on many a sad instance such as after their being enlightned have sprung up yea forthwith with a hasty growth and too early appearance but no solid growing to the root yet such as for a time have most remarkably seemed to out-run those who had in Truth received the ingrafted word by a more forward profession than whom none have been a sadder sight to the generation they lived in and by as remarkable a withering have too visibly witnessed the want of root in which I must say and with some confidence appeal to any serious discerners of the time about this remark if in such who have most observably fallen from the Truth and plunged into that gulf of Error some precious evidence hath not been of such springing up forthwith and hasty appearance in profession of the Truth that hath taken the growth more to the blossom than to any sure founding under the sense of their sinful and lost estate by Nature 6. This also seems strange and may be shaking to some How tenacious and violent such usually are found in this way even when silenced with the clearest discoveries of the Truth so as it is rare almost in an age to find an instance of one who after some observable Hight of Illumination beyond others hath ever found a recovery or shown their returning by repentance after he hath thus fallen into damnable Heresies as the Apostle terms them But is not here also a convincing and marvelous seal to the Scripture if men will but seriously read what is so clear 2 Pet. 2. 20. and that Heb. 6. How dreadful an arrest thus in the Holy Judgment of God is put on this kind of Apostacy even beyond the most gross falling away from the Truth in practice which should cause fear to all that stand and do yet retain their stedfastness Yea is not the reason of this there also held forth that it is a putting the Son of God to open shame and so direct a doing despite to the Holy Ghost in counteracting his Workings and Discoveries once put forth in the soul For my self I must confess nothing in those times I have found more shaking who before a higher Judg than Men have some confidence to say The greatest joy I have upon Earth is to know that assuredly the Lord is God and the certainty of his Truth But I must here also profess how in this I have found cause for being more confirmed yea with admiration to consider How many ages past such things have been foretold what sore assaults the spirit of Error and Delusion should give the Church with so express circumstantiating of this Tryal in its whole frame conveyance and manner of appearance as hath been seen in the Event and at this day before our eyes which by the Holy Ghost only could be revealed to the Church and could never have been supposed or entred into mens thoughts at a distance SECT V. A Fourth particular that calleth for some serious enquiry upon this subject is what should be the grounds of so strange and prodigious a contagion of this way of the Quakers as is at this day in the Church whose Doctrine and Principles are such as the very recital thereof might be judged a sufficient antidote against its own poyson yea this after such clear and bright times of the Gospel but here none needs be in the dark if these things were seriously considered 1. That where a form of Knowledg and mens receiving of the Truth but not in Love comes some great length in the Church there is then cause to fear and foresee some remarkable flood of Error and Delusion to follow for in this the Scripture is express 2 Tim. 2. 10. and lets us see how nothing does more ripen the harvest to make the field white for the spirit of Error 's putting in his Sickle than most solemn times of the brightness of the Gospel if no suitable fruit be found thereof Light is one of the greatest Talents of the Church that must bring either some remarkable gain or loss with it nor need any wonder seduction from the Truth bear some blacker dye now in those days and have a more singular addition of grossness even beyond all former times since thus the Stroke and Judgment must keep proportion to a further degree of the Churches Exaltation and more clear discoveries of the Truth than former ages have known 2. As the formentioned culpable and provoking cause may at this day be discernable to all should the Holy Judgment of the Lord inflicted thereupon be strange to us in a visible Tradition and giving up such a Party unto strong Delusion with a withholding of the very exercise of their Reason and Judgment that they do not see the Light when it is most clearly shining forth before them since this a convincing seal also to that Scripture 2 Thes 2. 10. I confess it is one of the marvelous things of God

and of the greatest depths of his Judgment whereby he makes himself known in the Earth yea such as may enforce on Atheists the conviction of a Deity and that Dominion which the Holy God exercises over the soul but such as none can pretend cause for stumbling where his unspotted righteousness doth so clearly shine forth on these grounds 1. That so immediate a stroke and judicial arrest in delivering one over to the Power of this Plague is not inflicted but where some choice and consent hath gone before and is the very execution of that sentence from the Lord Rev. 22. 21. He which is unjust let him be unjust still and he which is filthy let him be filthy still 2. Since the greatest contempt of God which any can witness is a not receiving the Truth when clearly offered should it be strange if that which is certainly one of the greatest strokes of God upon men answer thereto by giving up their Reason and Judgment to such strong delusion 3. If the Heathen who did not glorifie God with the Light of Nature were in his Righteousness given up to a reprobate mind to do that which was inconvenient and morally absurd Rom. 1. 26. Need we then be in the dark if those who dishonour God under the revealed Light of the Scripture be given up to such spiritual wickedness as to believe Error and lies for the Truth 4. Nor should any wonder to see what confidence this Party now pretends to in their way and though under so sad a stroke of obduration that may be seen by all others yet how little it is felt by themselves since the want of Light and feeling is a part of that disease and is a Judgment which walks in the dark and gives the sorest wound when the pain is least felt Men being thus judicially bound over as under chains in the prison that they cannot once stir until the last stroke be given 3. When a previous disposition and tendence amongst many to stumble at the way of the Lord is so manifest this day through the Church should their be cause to wonder though it quickly Land here These things being considered 1. That the motion is then down the hill where it is not easie to stand and instead of a humble serious enquiry after the Truth under an awful Impression of God whose word it is such are upon another sent how to oppose the Truth against it self and have it made subservient to their Byass 2. The ground then needs not be prepared for this seed there is so much within to make its entry and acceptance easie for a snare enters not without a call but where such an impoisoned Nature is it must needs seek to strengthen it self by bringing in things suitable yea can suck that poyson of Error out of those Truths that would seem the most proper antidote against it 3. It is then men do insensibly wear at a distance from under these former Impressions which once they had of duty and of the way of the Lord so as ere they be aware then Judgment is determined by a judicial stroke to what was before their desire things representing themselves suitably to that predominant humor which is within yea it may be too clear as a disposition to stumble takes root in the soul How passion and sensual lusts get ground which as the Apostle shews cannot endure sound Doctrine or a being searched by the word 2 Tim. 4. 3. But thus are unawares sucked up into this gulf and whirle-pit of some predominant lust that leads them captive at its pleasure 4. A not keeping that distance from this contagion which the Holy Ghost expresly requires hath given too visible a rise to the falling off of many to this horrid way of the Quakers nor should this be strange to any Why thus the Lord is provoked to desert and leave such to themselves who do so far adventure out of his way when it is so clear 1. How express the command is not to receive such into their house or give them a friendly salute as they would not be partakers of their evil deeds Tit. 3. 10. 2 Joh. 10. but should be rejected as men void of and enemies to the Truth whose words eat like a gangrene 2. That this is a peculiar mean of the Lord appointed for their reclaiming to keep such a distance as may witness that abhorrence and holy indignation which the Zeal of God should have at such a Party so as they may be ashamed for it is sure Error and Heresies would soon dye of themselves if they got not free vent and too favourable a countenance from others 3. Where men will pass over those bounds the Lord hath set in his holy Word by an unnecessary converse with seducers from the Truth Is it strange though the Devil have them at such advantage since he finds them on his own ground And I doubt not upon serious enquiry but it might be easie to find the first rise and occasion of most that are infected with this plague hath been upon a familiar and 〈◊〉 converse with such a Party as one sad 〈◊〉 I may here mention of a young man in this Countrey who would adventure on going abroad by Sea in a Ship when the Master of it was a Quaker having then no respect to that way but upon some familiar converse when he had so far put himself out of Gods Protection was quickly drawn first to a listening and then a liking of those Principles until he had fully drunk in that poyson which was the account he himself gave of the first rise of such a change 5. A fifth ground why Quakerism should in so strange a manner be at this day contagious is its discernable suiting to the Principles of the World and that inbred Enmity that is by Nature in men against the way of God When thus they are taught that all days are alike and no need of outward Teaching but by the Light within yea to cry down the Ministers of Jesus Christ as hirelings with most of the weigty duties of a Christian which to them are as an abomination and when it is thus can it be strange How many gross and visibly profane are carried with this stream or why the greatest adversaries of godliness are sound to pursue those with less heat and aversion of their way and have more easie suiting therewith than with the way of the Lord 6. I must further add to those forementioned grounds that except men shut their eyes a most visible discovery of the immediate power and influence of the Devil and his actual concurrence may be convincing to all who look seriously thereon when it is so clear 1. How this change they are under who once turn that way hath a rage and fury therewith in their opposition to the Truth beyond the ordinary rate of mens natural Enmity thereto yea that without the least shadow of provocation they are driven by some violent