Selected quad for the lemma: faith_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
faith_n	rule_n	scripture_n	tradition_n	12,255	5	9.8749	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A59955	The true Christian's faith and experience briefly declared, concerning God, Christ, the Spirit, the Holy Scriptures, the Gospel, and the doctrines thereof also, the titular Christian's faith and profession try'd, examin'd, and judg'd : written for the confirmation, and consolation of the one, and for the information in order to the restoration and salvation of the other : also, a few words to such who are newly turned in their minds to the light within, & are believers in it / by William Shewen.	Shewen, William, 1631?-1695.	1675 (1675)	Wing S3424; ESTC R24530	87,397	208

Glory and Power which is Terrible to the Worker of Iniquity is pleasant and desirable by those that witness Sion's Redemption by the Spirit of Judgment and Burning from Iniquity these things are known now as in former Ages The same Ark whose Presence troubled and plagued the Philistians was the Glory of Israel the same Hand and Power that smites and destroyeth the Egyptian saves and delivers the Israelite the same Spirit of Truth that reproveth the World of Sin is the Comforter of those that are made free by it from Sin the same Breath that breathed Life in the beginning before Sin entred kind'eth the Fire that tormenteth the Wicked He that can understand let him ●mnipresent in Be●●g incomprehensi●●e and Almighty in Power And he demonstrateth his Faith and Experience after this manner He has received a Manifestation of him in his own Heart Mind and Spirit and so is come to know him pore Omni-present by his Work and Operation therein he can say that God is pure of a Truth because he findeth his Appearance so pure and holy in his Heart that it will not allow nor suffer so much as a vain Thought to lodge there nor no unclean thing to be touched And this True Christian is a true witness of the Truth of those Scriptures Hab. 1.13 Jer. 17.10 15.19 which saith that God is of purer Eyes then to behold Iniquity and that He searcheth the Heart and tryeth the Reins and divideth betwixt the Precious and the Vile betwixt Thought Thought Word and Word Work and Work And further He is a True Witness that God is Almighty in Power because he hath by his mighty Power broaken down those Strong Holds formerly builded in his Heart by the Enemy of his Soul Cast down Imaginations and every High Thing that exalted 〈◊〉 self against the Knowledge of God ●inging into Captivity very Thought into the ●bedience of Christ And he knoweth the ●rk Mountains at ●●ich his Feet stumbled removed the Rocks rended the Raging Waves stilled and that Tongue and Nature bridled which no Man could tame But before this be witnessed he hath known him to sit as a Refiners Fire Mal. 3.3 and as Fullers Sope and as a Spirit of Judgment and Burning and so became a living Witness of what he hath seen felt heard understood by the mighty Working of his Holy Spirit in his Mortal Body The Titular Christian he saith he believeth in one God who is pure omnipresent and Almighty take his Word and there is no Difference But how doth he demonstrate his Faith that to him there is but one God why he hath heard a Relation of him his Oneness his Purity and Almightiness in the Holy Scriptures and he hath been educated and trained up in the Traditions of his Fore-fathers and so his Knowledge of God he professeth is acquired therefrom he hath read in some Book or some Body hath told him that God is One Pure Omnipresent and Almighty and he grounds his Faith and Knowledge upon this Tradition and History and sorofesseth God and his Attributes in Words but is not a living Witness of the same within himself And so notwithstanding he professeth one God he liveth in the World which hath many Gods and worships and falls down before them every beloved Lust obeyed is a God Let the Titular Christian profess what he will he that committeth Sin is the Servant of it and therein is no Believer Worshipper nor Knower of the True God his Purity nor Almightiness because his Heart remaineth Corrupt and Rocky and the Mountains of Darkness Ignorance remain unremoved and the strong Holds of Satan unbroaken down his Thoughts and Imaginations unsubjected to the Obedience of Christ his Will Tongue and Nature unbridled the Dross Tin and Rubbage remains and is as a Grave to the pure Mettal this Titular Christian contents himself to hear or read of God as a Refiner's Fire and as Fuller's Sope and as a Spirit of Judgment and Burning and of his cleansing and purifying some in former Generations but loves not nor cares not to know him so in himself but rather despiseth and hateth his pure Appearance in him whose first Work is to convince him of Sin Righteousnes Judgment which is compared to a little Silver amongst much Dross a little Seed amongst many great ones to a little Leaven hid in three Measures of Meal which Silver can't be parted separated enjoy'd but by the Appearance of God within as a Refiners Fire to purge away the Dross take away the Tin also which is somewhat like the Silver whereby indeed the Titular Christian is deceived neither can the little Seed grow up till the Rubbish be taken away and the Ground that is Cursed removed and the Heart made honest which is the good Ground wherein the Seed of the Kingdom grows to Perfection neither can the little Leaven work through and leaven the three Measures of Meal till that be taken away which lets and hinders viz. Unbelief and Hardness of Heart Now this Day of small Things this Day of Jacob's Troubles wherein he goes through the Refiners Fire this little Seed this little Leaven is overlook'd despised and flighted by the Titular Christian who in his own Conceit is exalted and puffed up above the pure Appearance of God in his Heart which to know and obey is the Gate of all true Wisdom and Knowledge and is grown so tall great and Wise in his own Thoughts and Imaginations that he cannot walk in the straight Way nor go in at the Door of the Sheepfold but would climb up some other Way and so contents himself with a Traditional Historical Profession of God in Words and deny him in Works And all the Knowledge and Experience he hath of God his Purity Oneness and Almightiness is but as some Body hath told him or as he hath in an Unsanctified and Unprepared Heart read in the Holy Scriptures which Knowledge avails nothing except accompanied with a living Expe●ience of the same Power working after the same Manner as it did in others in Times past who have left their Testimonies thereof upon Record II. The True Christian's Faith and Experience concerning the Lord Jesus Christ THE True Christian believes in one Lord Jesus Christ who came from the Bosom of the Father who is the Son of the true God by whom he made the World and that this Lord Jesus Christ is his Saviour Redeemer Sanctifier and Cleanser by his precious Blood and is to him as a King Priest and Prophet c. And he demonstrateth his Faith in this Manner in being Obedient to him as he is Lord in being saved by him from Sin as he is Jesus and by his learning of him and being taught by him as he is Christ or the Anointing So he can call him Lord Jesus Christ in Truth and Righteousness having truly learned his Name and Nature through Obedience to his Cross and a Cleansing by his

Ignorance will advance them with Lip-Honour beyond what they testifie of themselves and above what they are for they are not the Word of God but proceeded from it and bear witness thereof which Word is sharp powerful sharper then any Two edged Sword dividing in the inward Parts this Word is in the Mouth and in the Heart to be heard there and obeyed there And they call Christ the Word of God which Word was in the beginning before the Scriptures were written And all that understand not the Voice of this Word this inward and spiritual Speaking Word are wholely ignorant of the Words of God and Good Men recorded in the holy Scriptures and is no true Honourer nor Believer of them notwithstanding his Verbal Traditional Notional Profession and high Titles he gives them he only therein shews his Blindness and Folly in taking the History and Description or Declaration of a thing for the thing it self They are not the Everlasting Rule Touch-stone and Tryer of Spirits but declare and testifie of him that is as Christ said to the Jews speaking of the Scriptures They are they that testifie of me but you will not come to me that you may have Life IIII. The True Christian's Faith and Experience concerning the Doctrine of Repentance THE True Christian believeth the Doctrines and Teachings of Christ and his Apostels recorded in the Holy Scriptures and that it is not only his Duty but his Practice to obey them and live according to them As first the Doctrine of Repentance from Dead Works or a turning from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan to the Power of God this is the Gate of the Kingdom or the first Step towards Christianity this is the Door at which the True Christian entereth if any miss this Way they strive to enter in vain without Repenting which is changing or turning from Evil to Good from the Way of Death to the Way of Life from Darkness it self to Light it self from the Power and Service of Sin and Satan to the Power Service of God Righteousness This is the Nature and Effect of true Repentance and without this no Man hath a true Title in Christ nor Christianity let his Profession of it be never so high for Death reigned over all Men from the Fall of Adam till Moses and all Men have therein come short of the Glory of God and in that faln Nature are the Children of Wrath dead in Sins and Trespasses and God hath concluded all in Unbelief Rom. 11.32 that he might have Mercy upon all And now the Call of God is to all Men every where to Repent Acts 17.30 and none but those that answer this Call finds the Mercy this Call of God is more universally inward and immediate then outward and mediate the which if People slight disregard and neglect to obey the outward Instruments and Means avail not Now the true Christian gives Testimony that he believes and obeys the Doctrine of Repentance in manner following First-Whereas his Mind and Heart was running after and captivated with the Sight of the Eye the Lust of the Flesh and the Pride of Life that are in that World which lies in Wickedness now his Mind and Heart is not only stopped but also turned from them and weaned from the Delight and Pleasure he had in them and not only so but by the Shining of the Light in his Heart is made to see the exceeding Sinfulness of them and to feel the Weight and Burthen thereof which while he was dead in Sins and Trespasses he could not feel nor be sensible of but now being quickned by the Voice of God which calls to Repentance he cryes out with Paul O wretched Man who shall deliver me c and this is the Cry which the Lord is ready to hear and to answer with the Manifestation of his Love and Power and with the Joy of his Salvation and now is his Face Sion-ward and his Travail towards the Holy City is begun and this True Christian right wel knows that his Repentance or turning from and out of the broad Way of Sin Satan and setting his Foot into the strait and narrow Way was not of himself nor effected in his own Will and Power but by the Virtue of the free Gift of God and Operation of his free-Grace and that he daily and momentarily needs the Divine Assistance of the same to lead guide and assist him every Step of his Journey to the End of the same And now he is a living Witness of the Truth of Christ's Saying when he said Verely verely I say unto you John 5.25 the Hour is coming and now is when the Dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live This is the first distinguishing Work of the powerful Voice of God and the true hearing of it the World hears its convincing Voice but not regarding nor obeying it are not made alive nor converted by it nothing is able nor sufficient nor appointed of God to give Repentance unto Life but the hearing of this Voice of the Son he hath formerly or in Times past heard many Voices Lo here and lo there and hath made many Repentances and Turnings from one Way and Opinion to another but till he heard and obeyed the Voice of the Son of God never knew that Repentance which is never to be repented of And then 2dly when this Christian hath heard and obeyed this Voice and is turned out of the broad Way and begins to walk in the straight and narrow Way and to have no Fellowship with the Unfruitful Works of Darkness but rather reprove them then he became a Wonder a By-Word and a Taunt and his former Companions who thought it strange that he run not with them into the same Excess of Riot but makes strait Steps to his Feet and measured all his Goings by the Line of Righteousness Rom. 2.4 which the Goodness of God that leadeth to Repentance hath brought him to now he appeared like an Owl in the Desart and like a Pelican in the Wilderness and like a Sparrow upon the House-Top Now his great Tryals Temptations and Exercises begin both within and without here he sees his Enemies about him like Bees when they swarm which till now he had no Sight nor Sense of the strong Man keeping the House all his Goods were at Peace and the House being Dark and his Eye Dim did not perceive nor discover the Enemies of his Soul that lodged therein nor could not judge nor discern the Nature of the Goods with which his House was furnished that old Deceiver having Power to transform himself like unto an Angel of God and to imitate the Furniture of his Temple but now he having heard the Voice of the Son of God and being quickned by his mighty Power and the Eye of his Mind opened fastened upon the same then the Devil rageth knowing he hath but a

a being led by the Spirit in the Way of Holiness and so cannot fulfil the Lust of the Flesh but by the same doth mortifie them and gain Victory over them and is sanctified and cleansed from them and is taught by the Spirit the true Knowledge of God how to worship him aright in Spirit Truth and so prayes in the Spirit and with the Understanding and sings in the Spirit and praiseth God in the Spirit and the Law of the Spirit is in his Heart and this Law of the Spirit of Life makes him free from the Law of Sin and Death and the Spirit of God which raised up Jesus from the Dead dwelleth in him and quickneth his Mortal Body And this True Christian is the Spiritual Man which discerneth all Things but is not discerned by another out of the same Spirit which searcheth all Things yea the deep Things of God and he is led by the Spirit from under the Law and through the Law to him which was before the Law and so is under Grace and brings forth the Fruits thereof which is Love Peace Joy Long-Suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance against this Christian there is no Law The Titular Christian he saith he believeth in the Holy Spirit c. But how doth he demonstrate his Faith and Belief he is ready to make a Mock of receiving the Spirit and being led by the Spirit mov'd taught by the Spirit this seems strange Doctrine to him that he should know his Lusts mortified by the Spirit and that he should walk in the Spirit and be sanctified by the Spirit from all Sin and Uncleaness and that he should attend the Motion and Guidance of the Spirit and in all his Conversation to do nothing but what will stand justified by this Holy Spirit and that he should pray in the Spirit and sing with the Spirit and worship in the Spirit c. These are new Doctrines to the Titular Christian he knows not what to make of them except it be to brand them with despicable Names And the Law of the Spirit of Life which should free him from the Law of Sin and Death he is a Stranger to and wholy ignorant of the Indwelling of that Spirit which raised Jesus from the Dead to quicken his mortal Body this he counts Fanatick Doctrine c. And instead of being a spiritual Man which discerneth all Things he is Carnal and seeth not far off the Vail being over his Heart cannot see nor regard the Glory of God when it appeareth in the Inward Temple but opposeth slighteth the Appearance of that Holy Spirit which searcheth his Heart and all Things and so is not led by it from under the Law which Law was added because of Transgression and this Titular Christian which liveth in the Nature and Act of Transgression and that knows not the Cursed Ground removed which bringeth forth Bryars and Thorns from whence all Evil Thoughts Words and Works proceed and is a Stranger to the Mortification of them by the Spirit he is under the Law and liable to the Punishment thereof and not under Grace let him profess what he will if he brings not forth the Fruit of the Spirit in his Life and Conversation he clearly sheweth he doth not believe in it nor walk in it neither hath received it nor come to any true Knowledge of it by its Work and Operation in his Heart he only talks of it with his Tongue as some Book or Body hath told him this is the Property and State of a Titular Christian IIII. The True Christian's Faith and Experience concerning the Holy Scriptures THE True Christian truly honoureth the Holy Scriptures in their Places and believeth and receiveth their Testimony and is a living Witness of the Truth thereof and he domonstrateth it as followeth By believing receiving and obeying him viz. Christ Jesus of whom they testifie whereby he receives Power to order his Conversation according to them and the True Christian believeth that they were spoaken and written by the Motion and inspiration of the Spirit of God in Holy Men Prophets and Apostles and that it is his Duty to Wait upon God to receive the Spirit of Grace and Glory and the Gifts thereof of whom they testifie that thereby be may be enabled to read them with Understanding and to receive the Comfort of them and to be made wise through Faith in Christ unto Salvation by them And this Christian knows rightwell That all the Vniversity or Acad mi●al Learning in the World is not able to give the true Knowledge of the Mind of the Spirit in the holy Scriptures they are as a seal'd Book to all the Wit Reason Comprehension and Acquired Parts of all Mankind in the Fall Learned and Unlearned And until man comes to receive regard and improve the Manifestation of the Spirit which is given to every man to profit withal as the Scriptures witness he is wholy ignorant and a Stranger to the Key of true Knowledge and the Treasures of Life and Wisdom are hid from him and secured as with seven Seals and the Cherubim● with a Flaming Sword that turns every Way and guards the Tree of Life with the Fruits thereof from the faln Wisdom of Man And this the True Christian knows by Experience having tryed what the Wisdom of this World in all its Perfection can do and hath seen it confounded and brought to nought in himself being discovered to be no part of the Key of true everlasting Knowledge but rather that which hides it makes the Vail the thicker and shuts the Door of the Kingdom the faster and those that abound in it neither enter themselves nor suffer those that would and this the Holy Scriptures testifie The Titular Christian he saith He honoureth the Scriptures and believeth the Testimony of them c. But how doth he demonstrate his Honour to them and Belief of them Doth he order his Conversation according to them They exhort To abstain from every Appearance of Evil and from every fleshly Lust which wars against the Soul and to put on the whole Armour of God and thereby resist the Devil and make him flee The Titular Christian doth not obey this Exhortation neither doth he believe that it 's possible that any should obey it on this side the Grave So while he pretends to honour them he gives them the Lye for what 's more ridiculous and unreasonablethen to profess a Belief that the Spirit of God in Holy Men hath left Holy Precepts and Exhortations upon Record in the Scriptures which are unpossible to be obeyed Yet this is the Language of the Titular Christian who honoureth them with his Lips and cryes them up with his Tongue but in Works denyes them Sometimes he will give them more Titles of Honour then to them is due as when he calls them The Word of God The Touch-stone and Tryer of all Spirits The Everlasting Rule of Faith and Practice so in his