Selected quad for the lemma: faith_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
faith_n	church_n	true_a	visible_a	19,269	5	9.3685	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A86651	A lamentation for the scattered tribes, who are exiled into captivity, and are now mingled among the heathen, and are joyned to the oppressor, and refuses to return. Presented unto all the separated congregations, under what name or form soever, in love to the lost. Shewing, the difference betwixt them that were separated by the word of faith, and them who have separated themselves, in imitation from the letter: ... / By a servant of truth, and a friend to righteousness, who suffers with the seed, which is held in oppression, waiting and labouring for its return; called Francis Howgill.	Howgill, Francis, 1618-1669.	1656 (1656)	Wing H3170; Thomason E885_1; ESTC R204835	28,211	39

A LAMENTATION FOR THE SCATTERED TRIBES Who are exiled into Captivity and are now mingled among the Heathen and are joyned to the Oppressor and refuses to return Presented unto all the separated Congregations under what Name or Form soever in love to the Lost SHEWING The difference betwixt them that were separated by the Word of Faith and them who have separated themselves in imitation from the letter And how they differ both in Doctrine in Matter in Form and so not the same with the Churches of Christ in the Unity The difference between the true and false Ministery The difference betwixt the Faith which is feigned and the Saints Faith The difference betwixt true and false Hope A few words to the Ministery in all Sects and to all the mingled people who dwell in the Land of Darkness and are tossed up and down and knows not where the power is which is of God which gives Victory A few words for your Information Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee and they have not discovered thine iniquity to turn away thy captivity but have seen for thee false burthens and causes of banishment Lament. 2. 14. By a Servant of Truth and a Friend to Righteousness who suffers with the Seed which is held in oppression waiting and labouring for its return called FRANCIS HOWGILL London Printed for Giles Calvert at the Black-spread-Eagle at the West end of Pauls 1656. The Contents Concerning the word of Christ which the Apostles and Ministers preached who had it in them revealed which did gather them into One that believed in it and its effect and operation that it had And the difference shewed betwixt that M●nistery and the Ministery of them that preach the Letter for the Word The difference between them that were separated by the Word and them who have separated themselves The difference shewn betwixt them that are taught of Christ and them that follow the principles of Darkness that leads into Error The difference betwixt the Faith which is feigned which is the worlds and the Saints Faith Concerning Hope and the difference betwixt true and false Hope True Faith how it s wrought and what it is and its operation A word to all the Ministers of the world in all Sects and to all People in every Sect. A few words to all you who put out the eye through long accustoming unto sin who are near utter darkness With some Information to them who are tossed and findes no rest nor knows not where the Power of God is that gives dominion over sin the Power declared and the way to Peace TO all you who profess the name of our Lord Jesus in words and makes mention of his words and of his Ministers words who had the everlasting Gospel and the word of reconciliation and of those practises which the Churches of Christ had in their day committed unto them after they were gathered out of the world and had denied it and its nature and were not conformable to it but were changed in their inward man fruits of righteousness were brought forth and they were as lights in the world and did bear witness against the world that they were evill and said they were of God and had the witness in themselves and were bold to say the whole world lay in wickedness To you who are called separated Churches and fellowships under this or that name to you I write my soul pities you above the rest of the world and in love to those desires which was once among you I write that so if it be possible you may come to see your selves and the foundation on which you stand that those desires which was after God begotten may not wholly be slayn extinguished and betrayed through the subtiltie of the serpent whose wayes are crooked and whose subtiltie is great to keep man under his power This I have to say unto you There was and is a zeale in you but not according to knowledge bear my words and judge that in your selves which would be angry There was that which shewed you the Nationall way of worship under Episcopacie and Prelacy and Presbyterie which is one in the ground and nature that this was the broad way and not according to the mind of the Lord neither was it according to precept nor the practises of the Churches of Christ which is cleare from the Scripture Now you seeing this was not according to Christ nor his Ministers nor the Churches you began to separate from them into this or that body under this or that name as a body separate from the world and their worship because you found in the writings of that which is called the Gospel people be gathered out of the world now your eyes being still without you conformed to their practises as you judged both in matter and manner and practising those things which you read in the Scripture that the Churches practised and so some zealous did go forth and gather people together in this or that forme and here was your beginning and so here you set up your rest that you walk according to the most exact patern that is visible or written yet since this you do not agree but are divided in your selves one sets up this and another that thing which you in your reason judge right Now many things I might write unto you which you cannot bear but rather in love a few words that you may see the vast difference betwixt your assemblies and Churches and the Churches which you say is your example And first of all I will show in the ground how far you fall short although it may be you may hate my instruction yet I say Suffer me a little for I am one who have obtained mercy after a long and a sore travel and tossed up and downe in great tempests but at last entered into the everlasting rest and do not desire to contend with you for out of debates carnal I am brought but rather in love to the honesty in you all which is not of this world I speake First they received power from on high and commission given to preach the Gospel to all nations I speak of the Ministers of Christ and those things which they had heard and seen and felt and tasted of and had handled of the word of life which life was manifest in them this they preached and were sent to turne people from darkness to light and from Satan's power unto God's power and as many as received and believed the word which they preached which was the word of faith and faith was begotten by the preaching of it and they heard and learned of the word of life fayth came by hearing that word and this word which they preached unto them was nigh them in their mouth and in their heart which as people turned to it and received it and believed so a change was wrought in the hearers of it and they were turned from dead workes unto the measure

of the living God and they separated from the temple and left Circumcision and all those things of the first Priesthood which were commanded by God and out of the worlds ways fashion custom worships and came to see the worshipping in spirit and truth was that worship God required and the ground of their separation was not from any literal command or precept for all that was written there was flat against it but they which were Ministers of Christ which had believed in him preached him the substance and the measure of him and of his grace which was in them unto whom they preached and this was the Apostles witness in their hearts unto which they did commend themselves in the sight of God which is a great mystery and they are not Ministers of the letter but of the spirit Now in these few words before written with much more I could write compare your Ministry and your members gathered and you will see you differ in the ground in the first for your command you take from the letter and so are ministers of the letter and not of the spirit 2. Ye preach the letter for the word of faith which they did not as is playne in their own writings without adding 3. Them whom you gather it s but into conformity to the letter and to that which is visible which all this may be done in the will of man which is fallen from God and see if it be not so with you both Pastors and Members not witnesses of that word which they preached which did beget faith in them that received it and believed in it which faith was in them wrought by the power of God which gave them assurance and their assurance was in them and their hope in them brought in and wrought by the operation of the Spirit which the preaching of the letter sound or declaration only of that which was in them never workes assurance nor true faith nor hope And now consider where had your ground of the knowledge of God been and your Gospel and your faith and hope if you had not had the letter I speak not to upbraid you but to the light of Christ Jesus I speake which will let you see how far short you are and that you must come backe againe to the first principle and now you may see if it had been the same word or command it would have the same effects as it had and Change into it's own nature all that received it now see what Change is in you or not some of you yea many running back after the foot-steps of the priests preaching for hire and upholding the Idols Temple if you can get into them and in the costomes of the world nay most of you not come to yea and nay in your communication but one with the world in all or most of things differ only in words and names and your Gospel you have preached hath nor begotten such a faith as was in them that had the Gospel not to respect persons nor none dare own cleansing from sin in the body but calls that a delusion but the word and faith which they preached and received gave them victory over the world sin and death and by it's power made them more then conquerors and their hope purified their hearts but you cannot believe that ever you shall be made free from sin nor hath not hope in that and therefore are ignorant of the body of Christ you so much talk on which made them clean and free from sin Secondly your Doctrine is the same with the world your hope your faith your justification is all at a distance grounded upon the report of Christ dying at Ierusalem and of their report that knew him and believing this you call it faith and so are one with the faith and hope which the world hath for the report of Christs righteousness what he did suffer and wrought in the Saints if this be the ground of salvation then why have you separated from the world If you say Because the world hath not right to the Ordinances I say Doth not faith in Christ give Interest to all his ordinances And if this be onely your faith the world hath as good an Interest as you so why do you separate from them And so you shall see the matter is the same with the world of which your fellowships consists and the name of Christ is a great mystery which they were sent to baptize in who knew his name his name is not letters and syllables and using these this with the lips speaking over is not to baptize into his name And so friends in love I speak unto you There was such as separated themselves and were sensual and had not the spirit and so there was no difference betwixt them and the world for they are clouds without rayn appeared wells but had no water in them seemed something but were but a show Freinds your foot-steps I know your ground I know and your compass and your measure yet I shall not glory over you nor boast my selfe against you but rather to informe your minde that you may not build upon a foundation which will moulder away and now boast not your selves in your Ordinances as water bread and wine which is but elementarie and was never but a signe and in the day of appearance of Christ the elements shall melt with fervent heat and while you stand here and have confidence in these things your sun will set in obscuritie and you shall know the old heavens and earth will pass away with a noyse which when you come to know and heare your hearts will fayle for fear for this I say to the highest of you If you build upon any thing or have confidence in any thing which stands in time and is on this side Eternity and the Being of beings your foundation will be swept away and night will come upon you and all your gathered in things and taken on and imitated will all fayle you Many more things I might write time would fayle me to utter but these few among many I have written that you may compare your selves with the Ministers of Christ then and the Gospel which they preached which were separate from the world in the ground and nature and if you see your selves in the light of Christ in your consciences not to be the same neither in matter nor maner let not a deceived heart lead you aside any longer Further I say they were sent out for the gathering in of the Saints some Apostles some Prophets some Pastors teachers yet all was by the spirit Now if you denie the command of the Spirit or cannot witness it but from the letter takes it up and talks of because the Scripture speakes of it then you are not that Ministry Again this end was the Ministry sent forth for for the perfecting of the Saints which it did which not one of you dare own not dare say your Ministry shall