Selected quad for the lemma: ground_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
ground_n	apostle_n	faith_n	scripture_n	1,714	5	6.0562	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A86667	The rebukes of a reviler fallen upon his own head, in an answer to a book put forth by one Iohn Stelham, called a minister at Terlin in Essex. Wherein is shewed unto all spiritual men, that he himself is justly proved to be a contradictor of the scriptures, while he falsly accuses others thereof, that are clear, and the saying is fulfilled upon him, he is fallen into the pit, which he digged for others, for even that way which he calls heresie, do we worship the God of our fathers. By R.H.	Hubberthorn, Richard, 1628-1662.; Burrough, Edward, 1634-1662.	1657 (1657)	Wing H3229; Thomason E919_7; ESTC R207520	62,017	83

unrighteousness and taking them and such have the letter in their mouths but knows not the Word of God which who comes to know it restrains them from all such practises Again I. S. from his blindness and root of Errour and lying heart wherein dwells no truth but much confusion saith that the letter i. e. the Scriptures is the true ground of the believers Faith and again in the same page saith That Christ in the Scriptures is the true Ground of Faith And to prove the former he brings Prov. 22. 19. 20 21. That thy trust may be in the Lord I have made known to thee this day even to thee have not I written to thee excellent things in Counsels and Knowledge that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee Answ. By this Scripture the Lord is made the ground of Faith and not the Letter And therefore did the Prophet make known excellent things in writing in counsel and knowledge and for this end did the Apostles both preach and write that the Faith of those which heard them and read their writtings might not stand in the wisdom of words nor in the letter as its ground but in Christ the Power of God and Christ who preached the true doctrine that in it every one might believe said to the World and to the pharisees While ye have the light believe in the light that ye may be the Children of light and these had the letter but did not believe in the light which light is Christ and which light is the foundation of Faith and is the foundation of many generations in which many did believe before this letter which declares of it was written And that Faith which stands in the light and in the power of God is the ground of the Scripture letter from whence it did proceed after they believed they spoke and wrote that which is now declared in Chapters And every one which come to the true ground of Faith must come to the light to believe in it that they may be the Children of it and then the Scriptures will be profitable unto them they with the light having the understanding opened to see for what end they were given forth and how they come to be fulfilled and witnessed in that which gave them forth for the ground of Faith to believers is but one both before and since the Scriptures was written which is Christ in whom whosoever believeth shall be saved let Christ be in what he will for he was the ground of Faith when the letter was not and he is the ground of Faith when it is and no other foundation for Faith can any man lay than that which is laid Jesus Christ who is the true light and enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world that all men in him might believe and they that believe not that he is so shall die in their sins as Christ saith Joh. 8. 24. But John Stelham going on in his own devised Fables would pervert the words of truth both in our writings and in the Apostles as it is manifest in his writing of this reviling Rebuke concerning R. F. and I. N. E. B. and F. H. and others which whosoever read their words and his they may discern truth from devised fables without much Reply unto it as in some places he is mingling his own words with theirs joyning a lye to the truth that he may contradict it as false as every one that reads with understanding will see which when they have spoken plain truths which he himself hath often in his Book confessed unto to be truth will afterwards give his meanings to their words as he hath done unto the Apostles words saying If they mean thus c. then he goes about to contradict his own meaning and when he hath contradicted his own meaning then he saith he hath contradicted their words though he have before confessed the truth of their words so he hath not contradicted the words as they were spoken but because they spoke not his meaning with the words therefore the true words must be false in his judgement and bear his rebuke as his Book doth make manifest and adding his lye to the words of truth these two things are his greatest proofs to resist the truth in page 77. he hath mingled his own words with the words of R. F. in which page he acknowledgeth a former addition and yet reneweth another R. F. having been speaking of the light which enlighteneth every man which cometh into the world he adds which where it is and it is in every man it reneweth the judgment c he here adding his own and then rebuking it would make people believe lyes that all might be damned who believe not the truth But on the contrary for we never have said that every mans judgement is renewed with the light though they be enlightened for they are enlightened who hate it and who are void of true judgement because they hate the light which they be enlightened withal And also the Apostles words he perverts and gives meanings unto which if he did not they would be a plain testimony with that which he hath set himself to oppose so giving meanings both to their words and our words his meanings must be the ground of his Believers Faith and not the Scriptures as he said before The Apostle Peter speaking of a more sure Word of Prophesie wherein they did well to take heed as unto a light that shined in a dark place until the day dawn and the day-star arise in their hearts 2 Pet. 1. 19. Knowing this first that no Prophesie of the Scripture is of any private interpretation for the Prophesie came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved of the holy Ghost to this I. S. adds not heart-prophesie no breast-prophesie but written down in Books c. which is contrary to the Apostles words for he doth not exclude heart-prophesie for there was never any prophesie but did proceed out of the heart before it was written in any Book And the Apostle saith Until the day dawn and the day-star arise in your hearts and that holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the holy Ghost and that which moved them to speak Prophesies was in their hearts and the Apostle did not bid them wait till the day-star did arise in the Scriptures but till it did arise in their hearts and then he told them how the Prophesies of the Scriptures came Peter saying Until the day dawn and the day-star arise in our hearts I. S. saith That is until by the study of the Scriptures more light be cleared up c. Now let all them of understanding read and compare his words and the Apostles and they may well conclude with his confession that he hath an old lying heart and flesh in

clear are the more ready to bear his Lyes with Patience and doth not pray for fire to devour him though he be our enemy and the Lords but rather wishes his returning from his ungodliness than a destruction upon him in his ungodliness and whereas the substance of his matter invented in his mind and brought forth into view is a going about to prove that in twenty two particulars mentioned by him we do contradict the Scriptures but his ground is false from whence his whole work proceeds for not in any particular of what is mentioned do we contradict the Scriptures though his whole work be founded upon this thing of our contradiction to Scripture and while we be approved in the sight of the Lord we reckon his s●●nders to be rather a testimony to us that we are of God than a discouraging of us in the wayes of God and we do not allow that I. S. be our Interpreter and the Expositor upon our words for then no question but he will judge out of his prejudicial mind false Judgement and pervert the innocent words into contradiction of Scripture and of our selves but to the single mind and witness of God in every man we appeal for judgment and doth in the sight of God commend our selves to every mans Conscience and begs not belief of any but knows all that be in the light of the Son of God witnesseth to us and feels our Doctrine to be the Doctrine of Godliness reaching to the witness of God in every one whereby we are a good savour to God in all and though I. S. judge our doctrine to be Scripture contradictions yet his judgement is but out of his old lying heart which can bring forth no better than it self even false judgement and lying words which out of it hath plentifully abounded in his false Rebukes therefore let the Reader first search into the ground from whence his work and judgement doth spring and try if an old Lying heart and sinful wretch as he confesses he is can bring forth good fruit no we matter not what his judgement of us be when as we know the heart is corrupt from whence it doth spring not in the light of the spirit of God do we in any one particular insisted upon by him Contradict the Scriptures though by his dark minde so he wickedly judgeth of us even as the Pharisees his forefathers did judge of Christ to be a Blasphemer and a Contradictor of Moses and the Prophets who did fulfil them and put them to an end and not destroy them nor contradict them not in the sight of his Father though to their corrupt judgement and Christ tells them that they erred not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God who had old lying hearts were sinful wretches even such as John Stelham hath confessed himself to be and therefore his words and judgment and theirs is like to be all of one nature judging truth to be error and the way of God to be Heresie and Blasphemy this the Pharisees did of old and even thus doth John Stelham and his Companions do at this day but why should any be troubled hereat seeing herein Christs words are fulfilled upon us who said they shall speak all manner of evil falsly against you for my names sake and so hath this man done with his light scornful spirit and fulfilled Christs words who because he hath not known the Father nor the Son hath spoken evil falsly against them that follow Christ and this were sufficient answer to his whole Book yet let us see what follows and let the Reader try with all moderation that he may be edified and may know the true spirit from the false and the doctrine of the Gospel from lying visions and may cleave to the truth and escape the error and let none believe hastily things uttered without knowledge out of I. S. deceitful heart FOrasmuch as many of the Servants of the Lord have been moved of the Lord to set forth in order several Declarations of those things which the light of the glorious Gospel shining in their hearts hath given them the knowledge of and for this end are they published that others also may know the certainty and truth of those things which are believed known and enjoyed amongst us not that they can be known by reading the letter in which they are delared but through their diligence and obedience to the light wherewith Christ hath enlightened them though not for it which is the same light which shined in our hearts and gave us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ by which light of the glorious Gospel who are faithful in it to the Lord their understandings come to be opened that they stumble not at those things which are testified in the truth neither at that which is declared in other Scriptures but it being that in this our day it hath pleased the f●ther to bring forth in life and power that mercy and truth which the Scripture speaks of by which iniquity is purged out and as it is become a savour of life unto life in those that receive and believe in it so it is also become a savour of death unto that death which rema●ns in both Priests and People in this age who hates the light who can scarce hear it named or that people should be turned unto it as the Apostle did turn them from darkness to the light and from the power of Satan unto God that they might receive the remission of their sins and be partakers of the inheritance amongst them that are sanctified but when they hear that Preached or Printed which they may do and out of which they cannot receive the remission of their sins then envie riseth up in them and a perverse mind and ungodly Speeches and false Accusations saying that we speak of a natural light and of a natural conscience when as we speak of the true light which hath enlightened every one that cometh into the world and in which Christs doctrine stood which said to the people and to the Pharisees again and again I am the light of the world as Joh. 8. 12 Joh. 12. 46. but now because the light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon us and we declare it freely as we have received it therefore is flouds of ungodliness risen up against us but it is impossible that the seed which the Lord is manifesting his light and power to bring forth should be kept alwayes under the power of death which seed is now terrible in the Lords power and will yet be more terrible as his power encreaseth which is now going forth as an Army with banners for the torment of the wicked is already begun because the righteousness of God is now spreading over the Nations and neither the rulers of the darkness of this world nor all the Printings and Preachings of those who be out of the life of

which dwells no truth but the root of errour and gainsaying of the truth and as for many other of his devised fables and false meanings though I let them pass here unanswered yet they may be seen with the mind informed in the truth and all who are of God and of the truth may know that it is a small matter for us to be rebuked or judged to be in confusion who so evidently hath confounded both our words and the Apostles into his own false meanings and so contradicts them both but that remaineth sure which gave forth the Scriptures and abideth in us and we know that they cannot be broken but must be fulfilled as they were given forth by the Word which they were given forth from by taking heed unto which the young mans way is cleansed and by which the old lying heart is reproved that which was given forth from the Spirit cannot be by it denyed but that which would darken words without knowledge is denyed that which would set up devised fables above Christ the Spirit and Scriptures that by the Spirit is denyed without contradiction and as we shall by the Spirit and by the Scriptures try John Stelhams Doctrine which if he deny them both then by his own Argument we shall prove him and see whether he will own himself to be judged by that with which he would judg others whether they be Messengers sent by Gods Spirit His Assertion laid down Page 60 to try withal is ●his Such Messengers as speak more than is in the Scripture are not sent by Gods Spirit nor guided by him to what they say By this then is all that of him before mentioned cast out being both more and contrary to what is in the Scripture as also that which is to be declared as followeth in his second head as he calls it of Scripture Contradiction he is speaking concerning a Trinity and three Persons which words a●e not spoken in the Scriptures he naming the Father Son and Spirit by such names as the Scripture never did and so about words and names which the Scripture doth not mention arising out of the Devination of his heart doth he multiply words to hide the truth and shut the kingdom from men and so hath no ground for the word three Persons from the Scripture but the Scripture in one translation speaking of Christ being the express Image of the Fathers Person and in another translation saith that he is the express Figure of the Fathers substance as he is witnessed to be by those that know him and so till he find the word three Persons and Trinity in the Scriptures let him own his own rule to judge him to be no Messenger sent by Gods Spirit because he speaks more than is in the Scripture who saith The holy Ghost is a Person and this person dwells in Saints though not personally mark this A Person dwell in the Saints not personally all this confusion is as tares which men gather which must be bound in bundles and cast into the fi●e for what is the Chaff to the Wheat or what is a I such invented words to the knowledge of the Father Son and Spirit which are one which bear record in heaven and there are three that bear witness in earth the Spirit the Water and the Blood and these three agree in one and when these are known in their witness in man what they witness unto and what they witness against within and without such will give them names according to their works and according to the Scriptures The Third Head of John Stelhams Scripture Contradiction is concerning the light which every man is enlightened withal which of all things is most hated by all such whose wayes words and works are contrary to it for it being risen in the hearts of the Children of men to give the knowledge of the truth hath in this day made many wiser than their Teachers and now they which have caused people to err are by the light seen and by the children of light are denyed and they being denyed their envie is up against the light which hath made them manifest and they walk not by the light nor according to the Scriptures but there is a line of confusion comes over them by which now they walk and from which their Writings doth proceed as John Stelham in page 52 saith they may affirm agreeable to the Scripture and yet contradict the Scriptures in saying that Christ is in every man or that the light in every man leads to the Father And saith Christ God or as God is in every man and a spark of his godhead light is in every man but there is not in every man that redemption light which leads to the Father That Light which Christ hath enlightned every man withal leads to the Father all who are led by it and believe in it and condemns all from the Father which do not obey it but hate it and speak dispitefully against it who are turned out from God who is light and truth into the confusion saying that the God-head-light is not the Redemption-light but with the light that Lye and confusion is judged for ever and in affirming that the Godhead light is in every man and then calling it common and old Creation-light and Scripture-light page 61 and the light of Nature page 74 75. a legal light page 76. and a created light page 78. and an universal light unto which I say as God is so is his light and so is his godhead not created nor natural and as every one comes to know the light which by I. S. is so reviled they shall neither follow nor believe his Doctrine till he can prove when the light of the Godhead was created and how it became natural or legal or where he had those names for the Scriptures doth give no such names to the light and so by his own rule he speaking more than is in the Scripture is not a Messenger sent by Gods Spirit nor guided by it in what he saith As also in other things as in Page 64. saying That light without Scripture is no light Then Enoch's light in which he walked with God was no light nor Jacobs light nor Isaacs nor Abrahams for they were without these Writings and this letter which he calls the Scriptures but they were not without light And thousands have so much light whether they have the Scriptures or not as to see this darkness as to say light though saving light without Scripture is no light did the Scriptures make the light to be light and was the saving light made by that which was written let all take notice and turn away from such in another place he calls the Scriptures but the Declaration that Christ is the Word and calleth them a Vessel that the light is put into in page 43. and 44. Now let them of understanding consider and judge whether the vessel be the maker of that which is put into