Selected quad for the lemma: england_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
england_n	divine_a	germany_n	great_a	22	3	2.1061	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A56584	A letter to some divines, concerning the question, whether God since Christ's ascension, doth any more reveal himself to mankind by the means of divine apparitions? With an exact account of what God hath bestowed upon a noble maid, from her seventh year, until now, MDCXCI. Written originally in High-Dutch, and now set forth in English by the editor of the Laws of paradise, newly published.	J. W. P.	1695 (1695)	Wing P72; ESTC R222652	66,368	174

find And I do sincerely assure every Christian Soul that reads this that if it were possible to have found any Real or Material Objection in any one Point I would certainly have shewn it I am not Ignorant of most or all the Objections which the most Jealous and Subtle Spirit can here form yet after all am still more and more through the Grace bestow'd on me confirm'd in the Belief hereof Some Arguments for which both External and Internal I shall briefly hint and leave to the Censure of the Judicious and Sober Among the External Proofs for the Truth of this Matter I place first the Agreement of the Line of Time or the Prophetical Measure Which is not altogether to be despis'd notwithstanding it is so very intricate and perplex'd and that so many have hitherto fail'd in it For allowing it to be true which is not perhaps yet altogether so clear that all have yet been out in it to say thence that none can ever know it is no more than to say That because Multitudes have been mistaken in a Thing 't is not possible that any one should be in the Right Or because we have seen none that have hit the White 't is not possible that any should come near it which would be as if a Naturalist should deny the possibility of making Salt-water Fresh because many have not succeeded in the Attempt But not to lay any greater stress upon this than it will bear it will not be amiss that the Inquisitive Christian look a little into the Face of the Times and consider the present Tendencies which he can perceive towards some Grand Revolution in the Church Of this not some few as of the former but every one is capable and this likewise every one is oblig'd to that believes the Gospel of Christ who for that end gives us at large the Marks and Signs which shall forerun the Coming of the Son of Man to destroy the Wicked Worldly Jerusalem Typify'd under that Bloody City which was raz'd by the Romans under Titus Vespasianus giving at the same time to those who omit to do so the terrible Name of Hypocrites ranking 'em among those who say They are Jews but are not Another Consideration that might incline every serious Person to give a more than ordinary Attention at this time and to take the Pains to try the Spirits whether they be of God or not is that Universal Expectation in all Places of something New that is to break forth upon the Stage of this Lower World Germany is not the only Place France according to all Credible Relations is little less Tinctur'd the Severity of that Monarch and of the Governing Clergy of that Kingdom is not able to put a stop to the Growth of that Mustard-seed which is encreasing into a Tree that is to overshadow the whole Earth Neither has God left himself without a Seed in Italy and what I have found there after the most sincere and impartial search that I have been able to make is enough to satisfie me that it is design'd by God to be the Scene of some very Extraordinary Thing within a little space of time and that there will be such a glorious Manifestation of his Judgment and Mercy as never has been yet there Neither are these great Expectations accompany'd with extraordinary Motions of the Divine Spirit in several Persons only among Christians but even among the Turks and that too among the most Eminently Dignify'd and the Chief Ministers of the Port several of whom as I am inform'd by such as have nearly Convers'd with 'em and whose Integrity as well as Ability I can confide in expect only a Door to be open'd for 'em that they may profess what they are in their Hearts Convinc'd of That there is also something moving at this Day in the Spirits of the very Jews beyond what has hitherto been and in quite another manner is well known to several who have intimately Discours'd 'em upon Divine Matters and the Fulfilling of Scripture Prophesies Some in Holland Germany Italy and even here in England have been found to give some Testimony to some of the Great Things contain'd in this Letter some one way some another some by Interpretation of the Old Scriptures others by immediate Illumination of whom even those who have not understood it have appear'd to themselves to have been surrounded with a Bright Cloud and to behold the Vail drop from them But I forbear considering that many things relating to them and to the rest of the Tribes of Israel are to be kept secret till the Appointed Day For the same Reason also what relates to the Preparation and Disposition which is at this time in the Heathens themselves both in the East and West Indies and how that among these last in like manner as before the coming of the Spaniard there are Expectations and Predictions of another sort of Revolution to be in those Parts than the former one was As also for that I love not to speak of any thing that is at a distance without the Authority I have it from be sufficient to make amends for the same and to put me even beyond almost the possibility of being my self deceiv'd or of deceiving others I shall not insist on but leave this with many other things of a Particular Nature that might be said upon this Head till the Truth shall Powerfully manifest it self Another Consideration to incline us to a serious Weighing at least of the Matter of Fact contain'd in this Letter may be the several Miraculous Appearances that according to the Belief of many have lately been and yet are amongst us here in England Now tho' I would not lay a greater stress upon these than they are able to bear as being sensible that one False or Suspicious Miracle is of greater disadvantage to Reveal'd Religion than all the Real Ones of our Blessed Saviour and his Apostles are of advantage to it in the Minds of many Gentlemen who value themselves above others for what they call Thinking Freely notwithstanding this I am not afraid to assert that be they what they will they are however Alarms to Awaken us to Try the Spirits Which is all that I desire in order to the giving a Verdict upon the Life of this dear Blessed Lady as to that part of it which is here Recorded Neither is that Great Inundation of Atheism and Deism at this present a Sign slightly to be pass'd over of the Breaking forth of the Heavenly Powers For were not the Spirit of God very Active at this time in the Spirits of his Saints the Spirit of the Prince of this World would never be so busie either to Deny him barefacedly or to Oppose at least his Return to Universal Nature to restore it to its Primitive and Paradisiacal State And as there never was more Sadducism in the World than when the Son of God was first Manifested in it and did so many Miracles so is

Confirmation and we cannot without the highest Affront to that Reason which we pretend so much to but give it to that side which has all the real Characters of Truth and Sincerity when the other has only Phansies and Suspicions to support its Credit But if besides all this God himself has been pleas'd by his Immediate Finger to set his Seal to the Truth of these Revelations and to confirm 'em in a Miraculous Manner as will in part appear by the Account of some Matters of Fact nakedly related in This Letter that are evidently above the Power of Nature then one would think there could be no longer any room for standing out against or even for not surrendring one self up to the Belief of their Divine Original And if all the Marks of True Inspiration be Applicable to These and no Objection has been made to 'em which has not been made to those of the Acknowledg'd Prophets in the Times wherein they liv'd as might be instanc'd at large I know not what more can be desir'd This is left to the Spirits of the Prophets and to the Consideration of all those who profess to believe that sure Word of Prophesie which is the Testimony of JESVS Many Testimonies relating to this Matter might easily be brought were it either Needful or Convenient under the present Circumstances so to do Whence it is thought fit to Publish only One that has been Communicated by an Eye and Ear-witness who made it his Business to be perfectly acquainted with this Matter By all which and by a mighty Cloud who daily bear Testimony hereto and especially by the Two Witnesses of the Old and New Testament there are some who for their own parts dare say that they are fully Convinc'd both as to the Revelations consider'd apart and as to the Blessed Lady whom God has chosen to be the Instrument of ' em Who is not in the decrease at all but still gloriously proceeds as is well known to many in the Increase of this Marvellous Illumination The Sun-beams of the Divine Light and Glory do every day more Throughly and more Intimately Enlighten the Bright Wounds of Jesus do daily more and more purifie Her and in short she is in such a manner prepar'd that if She be call'd out hereafter of the Solitude in which she is at present and be Crown'd with Glory Wisdom and Power it will be no more than what we may reasonably expect It is not to be doubted but that the Spirit will bear Witness that this is Truth to all that will listen to it in the pure stilness of Holy Silence And I am well assur'd that here in England in like manner as it has done in Germany and Holland it must work with great Power on the Souls of many and that God will do something in a little time to awaken the Slumbering Nations But granting there should be nothing at all Divine in this Matter I can't see any Hurt that the Publishing of it to this Nation would be For here is no Encouragement to any Frantick Zeal to set up it self in the Name of the Lord nothing to promote Seditions Strifes and Dissentions but the quite contrary nothing for the Establishing a Sect or Party but frequent and powerful Incitements to Peace Unity and Love of every one Nothing taught but what is highly Agreeable to the Doctrine of Christ and nothing Foretold which a Good Man may not wish for or which as to the Main is not publickly Pray'd for in Most or All the Congregations of Any that are call'd Christians In some of 'em Occasionally in others Constantly As the Conversion of the Jews the Fulness of the Gentiles the Destruction of all Idolatry Superstition Heresie and Schism the Settlement of Peace Truth and Righteousness over the whole Earth that so all that will may come to be Enlighten'd and those that will not but obstinately refuse the Light may be cast out into the outward Darkness the Kingdoms of this World being made the Kingdom of our God and of his Christ and there being One Fold under One Shepherd If then these things be in themselves desirable and to be Pray'd for and have been Pray'd for above these Sixteen Hundred Years we must needs allow that there can't be any Hurt in the Belief of 'em to be near at hand And consequently let this Matter of Fact be never so contestible it can have no Bad Influence either upon the Lives and Actions of Any or upon Publick Affairs But if this Matter be indeed of God God will go along with it Here and those that Fight against it will be found to Fight against God So that if it be of Him it shall stand and Triumph and if it be not of Him none can more Earnestly desire that it may come to Nothing than He who sends it Now abroad to the English Nation for this End that God alone may be Glorify'd and that Truth and Righteousnes may Prevail to the Confusion of Errour and Impiety To which let all the Earth say Amen Hallelujah Come Holy Ghost our Souls inspire And lighten with Celestial Fire Thou the Anointing Spirit c. Form of Ordering of Priests 1 Thes v. 19 20 21. Quench not the Spirit Despise not Prophesyings Prove all things hold fast that which is Good Acts xxii 14 15. The God of our Fathers hath chosen Thee that thou shouldest know his Will and see that Just One and shouldest hear the Voice of his Mouth for thou shalt be his Witness unto all Men of what thou hast Seen and Heard John xiv 21. He that loveth me shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and will manifest my self to him 1 Cor. ii 10 11 12 13. God hath Revealed them to us by his Spirit for the Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God For who knows the things of a Man save the Spirit of a Man even so the things of God knows none but the Spirit of God Now we have received not the Spirit of the World or of Man but the Spirit of God that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God Which also we speak not in the words which Man's wisdom teacheth but which the Holy Ghost teacheth comparing Spiritual things with Spiritual And afterward v. 14 15. But the Natural the Animal or Soulish Man receives not the things of the Spirit of God For they are foolishness to him neither can ye know them because they are spiritually discerned But he that is Spiritual discerneth all things yet he himself is discerned of no Man John i. 46. Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth Come and see The Testimony which is referr'd to in the Preface EST illa Virgo singularibus maxime supernaturalibus a Deo ornata donis Spiritus ita ut externus ipsius faciei habitus cum intima animae Spiritus qualitate suaviter respondeat Gaudet mirabili summe extraordinaria a