Selected quad for the lemma: knowledge_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
knowledge_n	jesus_n	light_n	shine_v	5,880	5	9.7269	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A35134	A true and faithful testimony concerning John Samm the servant of the Lord who finished his course by laying down his life in Northampton Goal for the truth of Jesus, the 26th of the 1st month, 1664 ... / written by John Crook.	Crook, John, 1617-1699.; Greene, Thomas, 1634?-1699.	1664 (1664)	Wing C7215; ESTC R27612	10,327	18

prisoner in Northampton by me who for some years have had a right knowledge of him and his integrity and faithfulness to Gods eternal Truth of which he was made partaker He was a man of a sound mind and of an upright heart a lover of righteousness and hating iniquity Him the Lord was pleased to choose with the first in the County of Bedford who made him sensible of the living word in his heart by which the Lord brought him to know the work of Redemption who Redeemed him out of the worlds wayes and worships and brought him to Truth in the inward parts which truth he knew to be powerful which set him free from much which did entangle him and feeling the power of it the Lord chose him to bear testimony in words unto it which he received not of man nor by man but of the free gift from the Lord and when he had received it to wit the Truth in the inward parts and his mind to it turned then did he feel the sweet streams of the Lords love to his thirsty soul by which his heart was often filled with joy and great rejoycing and also the Lord in the strength of his Love and in the sense of the living vertue of his life did open his mouth in praises to the Lord to the great refreshment and comfort of his children who were begotten by the same word of power unto the feeling of the life by which he was filled many times as a Cup that overflowes and a good understanding had the Lord given him of the mysteries of his Kingdom and of those things which he had heard learned and received of the Lord in the light of his Son that did he faithfully communicate unto others in the demonstration of the Spi●it of God in season and out of season without respect of time place or person yea prosperous was he made in the hand of the Lord to the convincing of many in the Counties where he travel●ed and to the turning of many from darkness to light from Sathans power to God and a good instrument he was of comfort to the tempted ones and a refresher of the weak ones and a confirmer of the tender hearted in that present Truth which they had received and these words would run through him often saying on this wise As every one hath received Christ the Light so let him walk in it And he was also a man full of love and very zealous for the Lord but not without knowledge for a living sense he had of the heavenly power of God by which he was filled many times as with new Wine and would often say Who is able to containe of this heavenly Vertue and not praise the Name of the Lord And the Lord his Truth and People was dear unto him for whose sakes he often suffered Imprisonment and spoyling of his goods and did rather choose to suffer affliction upon Truths account with the people of the Lord then to enjoy the pleasures of this life for a season or sinne against the light of Christ Jesus which did shine in his heart and give him the knowledge of the Glory that 's Eternal for the enjoyment of which this world and it's glory was of little value to him and both in prison and out of prison the Lord did accompany him with his heavenly presence and many times fill him with the vertue of his life by which his heart was engaged to the Lord. These things I can boldly speak of him having a right knowledge of him being once cast into prison with him because we could not break the command of Christ in sinning against his Ligat which sayed in us Swear not at all according as is recorded in the Scriptures of Truth for which at that time we suffered eighteen weeks Imprisonment with many more of the servants of the Lord who kept the Commandments of God and had the Testimony of Jesus and our hearts was knit together even as Jonathans was to David and as Iron sharpeneth Iron so did the Lord by the manifestation of his love and life in our hearts cause us often to refresh each other Well what might I speak my Friends in Truth of our deceased Brother who fainted not unto the end who hath now finished his Course and made not Shipwrack of Faith and a good Conscience but hath kept the Faith and in it is fallen asleep and now his bodily presence we here no more shall see bu● his life is amongst us and is felt with the faithful for while it was conteined in that narrow compass he would often say There 's no straitness in the Lord but the straitness is of man And he would say How doth one drop from the presence of the Lord cause the Cup to overflow saying Who is able to containe of the exellent streams of Life and not praise the living God On Friends amongst whom he traveled feel his life among you and remember his labour of love for the labour of the Righteous tendeth to life and for this end did he travail labour and suffer to death as a valiant in Israel that many might be made partakers of the like precious faith which he knew to overcome and to give victory and to preserve him to the Lord that so being made partake●s of the riches of Gods grace rejoycing in themselves they might witness this was the earnest desire of his Soul surely the memorial of the Righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance but the name of the wicked shall ●ot So this is my testimony on the behalf of that valiant man who counted not his life dear to himself that he might finish his course with joy And now dear Friends and Brethren whom the Lord hath called in this the day of his mighty Power and hath made you partakers of his Divine nature and hath caused the windowes of Heaven to open and hath shoured down of the ●ertue of his life upon you and ye who have often se●t the ●weet influences of the Fathers love unto your souls be not over much troubled at this our loss but feel his life among you for affliction cometh not out of the dust neither doth trouble spring out of the ground yet man is born to trouble as the spark fly upward as saith Job but the Lord is the support and deliverer of the Righteous and he is their present help in the needful time who brings them to their expected end in peace as he hath this our friend in a good age like as a shock of Corn cometh in in it's sea on And now ye children of the Lord born of the same birth wait ye for the streamings forth of the Lords love into all your souls that you may be as channels or as water courses through which the Lord causeth the water of life to run that you may not only be comforted in your selves but may have wherewithal to comfort others keep in the tenderness and love one to another as children of one Father all sucking at the same brests of Consolation by which the Lords people in all a●e were consolated that ye may grow up together as trees of Righteousness the planting of the Lord that a blessing in his hand ye may be and by his living power to the end ye may be preserved to the glory and to the praise of the Lord This as a testimony for that servant of the Lord J. S. whom I dearly loved with a short Salutation of love to the children of the first born The 7th of the 2d Month 1664. By one who suffers for the same Testimony for which our Brother layed down his life P●is●ner in the Town Goal of Ipswich in Suffolk your Friend THOMAS GREEN FINIS

A True and Faithful TESTIMONY CONCERNING John Samm The Servant of the LORD Who finished his Course by laying down his life in NORTHAMPTON GOAL FOR THE TRUTH of JESVS The 26th of the 1st Month 1664. Written by John Crook who had perfect knowledge of him from the beginning With an Exhortation unto all the Righteous to be watchful to take due notice of all the dealings of the Lord especially of his taking away of late so many faithful Labourers in his Work and to you principally in the Counties of Bedfordshire where his outward dwelling was Bucks Hertford Cambridge Huntington Ely and Northampton is this Testimony sent who have partaked of his Ministry and been refreshed with the streams of Life that often run through him among you to whom my Soul sendeth Greeting and wisheth unto you all Love Life Mercy and Peace Amen LONDON Printed in the Year 1664. A True and Faithful Testimony concerning John Samm the Servant of the Lord who finished his Course by laying down his life in Northampton Goal for the Truth of Jesus the 26. of the 1st Month 1664. DEarly Beloved of the Lord although many of you are not ignorant of the departure of John Samm out of the body and for what cause he was in outward bonds which was for meeting with the servants of the Lord and what his Life and Conversation was together with the Ministry committed to him by the Lord as well as his faithful discharge thereof is well known unto you and I might be silent if this were the only end to tell you of these things for is there such a stranger in Israel among you all as knows them not But notwithstanding I have a Testimony in my heart from the Lord on this behalf and do desire it may find acceptance with you to stirre up your pure minds to be sensible of all the Lords dealings with you in your own particulars and also of his providences and disposings of those that are near and dear unto you all as I know this Servant of the Lord J. S. was unto all that throughly knew him and had inward acquaintance with him For his Education it is well known in Bedfordshire where he dwelt as also his Conversation which was just and honest among men before he was convinced of the Truth for the sake of which he suffered five or six times Imprisonment several times together for bearing testimony to the same Truth which at last he sealed with his life in Northampton Goal where he first suffered Imprisonment about the year 1656. in which prison he ended his dayes as he foretold saying Northampton was the first and will be the last For his Life and Conversation I can speak to it for I was perfectly acquainted with him both outwardly as a man and inwardly as a Christian as a man he was endowed with a competent measure of understanding and did improve it unto that end in the managing of the Creation for which it was given him being discrete sober and of good report among men and his carriage courteous and loving unto all much more might be said of this nature which I omit And as a Christian he was holy and harmless patient and meek valiant and bold contending earnestly for the faith which was once delivered to the Saints and in which he himself as a Saint did walk live and dye Christianity to him was not a talk but a life for rather then he would deny it he suffered loss of Estate Liberty and Life it self as he did Witness his often Imprisonment and his laying down his life at last for the same Cause As a Minister he had a dispensation of the Gospel committed unto him in which he was a faithful labourer in the work thereof with great zeal and fervency of Spirit taking all opportunities and occasions in the wisdom of the Lord as moved by him to deliver his message unto all people of all estates and degrees that he might be free from the blood of all men His gift was large his utterance plain to be understood his words savoury and powerful not painted with mans wisdom but as given him of the Lord being often spoken with great Majesty and in much Authority cutting deep to the wounding of the wicked one in man and easing of the poor and needy prisoner being often mindful of the Captive Daughter of Sion as of the pure Seed in deep Captivity that he might reach it help and when his words began to reach it he was as one transported with joy and when it was once raised and come forth of the prison house the Song of Moses and of the Lamb was in his mouth with much joy and great gladness of heart unto the astonishment of the wicked and filling the hearts of the righteous with great joy through the overflowings of his Cup and superaboundings of Gods love in his heart sometimes as one taken out of the body in which state his eyes would sparkle and his face be full of dread as one having authority and not as the Scribes Besides the melody of his voice sometimes sounding out the high praises of the God of Isr●el and at other times the blessed state of the righteous as they stood in Union with the living God and one with another Oh how have I seen him make the earth to tremble and the hearts of the upright to overflow with joy and gladness through that abundance of life that hath run through his Vessel unto the forcing of water out of the Rocks and tears out of the eyes of the Saints unto great abundance His Hymnes and Sounds sometimes were as flames of fire consuming the drossy matter and at other times as Swords and Spears cutting down and thrusting through the tall Cedars and lofty Oaks and wild Beasts of the wilderness Procuring an Eccho to the true Seed in the living babes which often made sweet melody in their Assemblies when but few words were spoken by him Methinks I hear his Instrument still sound Making the hearts of the just to abound With living praises to the God of Heaven Without one jarring string or voice un-even Though this seems strange to those that dwell below Yet what I speak I feel and well do know And look for more to be brought forth ere long In those that yet are learning the Lambs song An Exhortation unto all the Righteous especially those that were partakers of John Samms Ministry DId Joseph seek a place where to weep over Benjamin his Brother though yet alive And can ye Oh ye Sons and Daughters of Joseph refrain from mourning for the loss of a Father to many children whom he had begotten in the Lord And is there a time when the true Embassador of Peace may weep bitterly Oh can it be more seasonable at any time then when the Lord takes away the Righteous from the evil to come And hath he not done so to many Valiants of late whose Trumpets Alarm'd the World and made many

a Minister wast made a flame To kindle the sparke that in Ember lay Rak't up all night in dark until the day Whose light shin'd clearly in thy holy brest As all that knew thee well must needs attest As I my self for one can truly say That light in thee shin'd clear as perfect day To the enlightning many with thy sunne Whose feet before in darkness fast had runne For who could withstand thy life Oh dear John And not to thy words bow or else be gone So powerful at times was thy sweet voice That to be in thy presence was my choice And besides thy comforting of them that mourn'd Many from darkness to day-light was turn'd All sorts of men by thee received good For thou wast wash't from sinne with Jesus blood Which made thy Journy Peace and thy end gaine In despight of death and all outward paine Which was not a little in that noysome place But that life over all did thee embrace While thou liv'd thy life made many tremble And in thy death who can thee resemble Both for the patience which in thee dwelt As also for those sounds which many felt Flow from thee like sweet streams of quickning life Which often in others have ceased strife And made great Babylon to tremble sore As well as the Scarlet and painted Whore Against whom he warr'd as a valiant man And did not cease till his strength was gone Which lasted till his breath began to faile For while he had any he would not vaile But kept his ground and stoutly made it good And seal'd at last the conquest with his blood In that prison where he at first was cast For the same cause for which he breath'd his last Oh dear John while I 'm speaking of thy praise I am as one dazled with the bright rayes Of that heavenly glory which Crowns thy soul From whence I cannot get thee to condole But a voice within me cryes Be thou gone Out of thy vessel and wear the same Crowne Well I come O God with what speed I may Help me to finish the work of my day For haste I do with all my strength and might Out of this house of clay to take my flight I come I come my work is almost done It 's finisht so soon as this storm is gone Let the winds blow loud and rain fall hard And the Seas roar and waters swell a pace But thy great works O God do not retard Till thou become thy peoples dwelling place Let Judas do with speed what he 's to doe That true friends may be known from deadly foe And thy Jewels made up in sight of all And that they which four thee no more may fall But that the holy may be holy still And no destroyer on all thy holy Hill But whither am I going in such haste Is th' blessed day at hand for this great feast Methinks my heart is silled with great joy To behold this good day so very nigh While many like the Prophets servant say With us it's night but with the enemies day That 's because the eyes not opened to see Jehovahs strength which is greater for me Then all the world or death and hell beside Which to them is known that in light abide Times and seasons are in the Fathers hand And let them fear who build upon the sand But my soul sees the work already done Which is the throwing down of Babylon The great into woe grief and constant paine There to lye and never to rise again How can I now any longer withhold From condoling for him that was so bold To bear his testimony for the Lord Against Babylons wayes by him abhorr'd Who like Davids worthies brake through the host To refresh the thirsty and find the lost And such a one was he of whom I speak Let the sence of Truths great loss your hearts break For many such Souldiers are not behind Whose ease estate and life could not him bind From ventring all in Gods righteous cause Vnto the end for which he valiant was In liberty in bonds in life in death Oh how faithful was he until last breath He stood fast ' gainst all that did gainsay None being able to turn his mind away Saying often from his heart in true love And zeal unto Gods wayes and pretious dove Meaning the Seed alone without a mate Mind the poor and needy in all your brests Which mourns alone while crafty souls have nests And foxes have their holes to hide their heads It often wak't when others slept in beds His care was still that it might live and raign That nothing might it's Fathers love restrain Was not this that love the Lambs ought to have From true Pastors who seek their sheep to save Yes yes and such are after Gods own heart That to save the sheep they would feel the smart Methinks I feel his life and hear his hymne Heark heark doth it not make the babe to singe In those that remember his dwelling place Wast not in great peace over all disgrace Heeding nothing more then to be with God As his dwelling place from all stroke and rod Well hast ye thither all ye chosen Flock That ye may dwell with him on Sions Rock In the dear Seed where still he lives with you In that union where they are no more two But one with him and me and all in life And so your loss is gain and end of strife Vnto which life with him God bring us all Where the loss is repair'd to great and small Well dear John with thee is my soul at rest For now I feel thou dwellest within my brest Feel ye the same ye dearest Lambs of love For he 's a mate to thee thou loansome Dove And ye sweet children of your father dear Both inward and outward be of good chear Your Father lives and so shall do for aye Let his Counsel be embrac't and obey So shall all be made up in safety and peace With sweet gaine to your souls and good encrease Where our home is who dwell and rest in life Far from all sorrow out of all bate and strife In one house where we all have our bread sure Feed seed ye babes for it will still endure Farewel dear babes and with our Father dwell At home in God with us in spight of hell And thus to him and you I have paid my debt And to all the upright that with us met I take my leave and rest in that Amen After whom the just cryes how long when when By John Crook now Prisoner in Ipswich Town-Goal for the same cause for which dear J. S. layed down his life written the 7th of the 2d Month 1664. FRiends in the Counties before-mentioned or where this may come This is my Testimony which I had in my heart to bear for that faithful man John Samm who was a Minister and sufferer for the Truth of Jesus who hath now finished his Testimony in faithfulness a