Selected quad for the lemma: love_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
love_n	john_n	richard_n	william_n	3,312	5	9.5642	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A37263	Truth and innocency vindicated against falshood & malice exprest in a late virulent pamphlet intituled, (A true account of a most horrid and dismal plague began at Rothwell, &c.) without printer's licenser's or author's name thereunto) : together with an account of the Kettering visitation / by R. Davis ... ; to which is added, Mr. Rob. Betson's answer to so much as concerns him in the said libel.	Davis, Richard, 1658-1714.; Betson, Robert. Answer to some part of that pamphlet called, A plain and just account of a plague being at Rothwell.	1692 (1692)	Wing D435; ESTC R10047	98,027	94

Reports are groundless and false In witness whereof we subscribe our Names John Tooley Deputy of the Ward of Queenhithe Charles Milson Common-Councel-Man of the Ward of Queenhithe Nathaniel Mason John Hughes Thomas Piggot Richard Haley Samuel Richards Christo Merriweather William Brice James Steward Samuel Ratcliff Francis Clare There came at the same time a Letter from Mr. Thomas Cooper then Common-Councel-Man of the same Ward who was born in the Town of Rowel and is now a Citizen of great Note in London and it is as followeth Mr. Ralph Mun Mr. Robert Tebbat Mr. Jonathan Wells Mr. Mansel or any of the Town of Rothwel to whose hand this cometh THis may certify That I have been intimately acquainted this 10 or 12 years last past with Mr. Richard Davis who has-lived so long and longer in our Neighbourhood near Queenhithe in London And I am very confident he hath lived a very sober and religious life and I never heard Man or Woman blame him or speak an ill word of him in my life He hath to my knowledge been very industrious in his way and demeaned himself so well that I believe that there are none tho' Enemies to Goodness but will say the same I write If any say otherwise than I write it is malicious and false Wishing you and all my Country-men health and happiness I subscribe this the 4th of January 1689. Thomas Cooper Besides these two my Neighbours I lived amongst at London so long have sent another Letter Testimonial lately in these words THese are to certify all whom it may concern that we whose Names are here-under subscribed the Deputy Common-Councel-Men and other principal Inhabitants of the Ward of Queenhithe in the City of London do know that Mr. Richard Davis for the space of 10 or 12 years or thereabouts had his Residence in the said Ward and during all the time of his Residence there was very diligent and industrious in the teaching and instructing of Youth and was very successful therein By which means togethor with his sober well-ordered and exemplary Life and Conversation he gained a very great respect and love from the Inhabitants of the said Ward Given under our Hands this 17th day of September 1692. John Tooley Deputy John Truelock Richard Wilkinson George Fish Henry Ambrose Peter Hagar Charles Milson Common-Councel-Men Thomas Cooper Thomas Piggot Francis Clare Samuel Richards James Steward William Richalds Thomas Parsons The Recommendatory Letter of the Church of Christ at London to the Church of Christ at Rowell To the Church of Christ at Rowel in Northamptonshire We the Pastors Elders and Brethren of that Church whereof Mr. Richard Davis hath been for several Years to this present Instant a Member send Greeting SInce it hath pleased Almighty God to stir up and incline our beloved Brother Richard Davis to become a Labourer in Christ's Vineyard and give him as we hope an inward Call to the Work which for his more orderly entrance into the Ministry is seconded with an outward Call from your selves to sit down among you as your Pastor We much rejoice in the good hand of God towards him and you that he is so well satisfy'd in his Work and hath found so good Acceptance with you The Lord prosper his Labours among you for your further Edification and for the bringing in of such unconverted Ones as are ordained to eternal life We do by these Presents according to his and your desire transmit unto you that particular watch and care of this our beloved Brother which was a Duty incumbent on us towards him whilst he walked with us So recommending him to your holy Fellowship as a Brother in the Lord whose orderly Walking and exemplary Conversation among us have been as becometh the Gospel Thus wishing both to him and you much of the Spirit of God in all your holy Administrations We take leave and rest Your loving Brethren in the Fellowship of the Gospel Thomas Coles Pastor John Skinner Thomas Rapier Richard Sadler Thomas Singleton Henry Casewell James Lapley John Player Thomas Dunn Elders Mat. Rapier Samuel Clark Christopher Gould By vertue of which I was admitted Member of the Church at Rowel Febr. 3. 1689. was chosen into the Pastoral Office Febr. 20. and accepted thereof March 7. I was set apart thereunto by Fasting and Prayer So that hence People may see how they have been imposed upon by those Reports contrary hereunto raised at Bedford and Wellemborough But our Pamphleteers are resolved it seems to leave no means unattempted to overthrow me therefore having done what they could to stir up the Country they make the last Essay upon the Members of the Church and try if they can by bitter Raillery against them terrify them to be Instruments of their Revenge upon me and our gifted Brethren Hence it is they conclude with an Expostulation and Advice to the People at Rowel for it seems they will not vouchsafe to call them the Church at Rowel I confess there indeed they should have begun if they had any thing to charge me with as to Errors in Faith or wickedness in Practice And I can assure them that if yet they come to the Church and not only give in their Names but personally appear to prosecute their Charge if they have any Truth and Honesty on their sides and can make it out by good Proof I question not but it will be attended to But as yet the Church of Rowel knows not whom to thank for their Advice nor how to come at them to consult with them further about prosecuting their directions And now you Libellers and all your Abettors it is now come to my turn to expostulate with you suffer me therefore in a spirit of meekness to propose unto you these following serious Considerations 1. Is it not lamentable that you stumble the Neighborhoods where you live with your vain and frothy Lives and Conversations Is it not think you a great stumbling to your ignorant Neighbours that you discover so much fulsom Froth in your Discourses such delight both within and without doors in Gaming Pleasures Chambering Wantonness unwarrantable Recreation and Provisions made for the flesh to fulfil the lusts and pleasures thereof Rom. 13. 14. studying how to be witty in your Jests and Reproofs whereas you are expresly forbid Ephes 5. 4. such foolish jesting which is not convenient And you are exhorted Ephes 4. 29. That your speech should be always seasoned with salt administring grace to the hearers Is it not a shame that you declare your selves to be so much every one for his own gain from his quarter and do not witness that Self-denial that becomes your Places and Functions And why do not you declare plainly you seek not the Fleece but the welfare of the Flock 2. Consider whether your whole Discourse for almost these three years being lavished out in Raillery Reproaches Lyes and Slanders and that in most places where you come tends to the Edification or the

very Men yet I shall lay such Considerations afore the Reader as will bring him very near the Covey 1. The Witnesses at Kettrin proclaim themselves so near akin to those in the Libel and consequently to the Authors thereof that it will be very hard to separate them 2. A certain Gentleman on the South-side of us hath boasted of this Book some months afore it came out and promised to shew it to some and to another promised a Book as soon as it was printed besides that the same Gentleman has made it his Business for a long while to ride up and down the Country to gather Accusations together 3. The same Gentleman hath sent a libellous Copy of Verses to one of Vpp written with his own hand very obscene and scurrilous tho' he dasht out the most fulsom Obscenity with his Pen which came to the view of a worthy and judicious Person who declared the Author whoever he was deserved the Lash Perhaps these Verses were intended to adorn the Libel but probably upon more mature Consideration they were omitted 4. It is notoriously evident that the Venders of these Libels were Professors and Church-Members witness Bedford Northampton Wellingborough Darrington and Mr. Pain of Oundle who wrote to Mr. King for 50 of those Goods as I have his Letter still to shew And this they did when Church of England Men abhorred to receive them when brought to them to sell by unknown hands Besides it was such a sort of People justify'd them One at Spaldock said it was nothing but Truth Another at Wellingborough spake to the same purpose Another at Olney desended the Ribaldry of it by the example of the Prophet Elijah insulting over Baal's Priests So that People must put out their Eyes that will not see what sort of People were the Authors thereof We need go no further than the Libel itself to manifest the Church of England had no hand in it There is another sort of Shibboleth runs through every Page of it tho' mixt with a great deal of Impiety I shall give the Reader a taste thereof in some few Instances 1. Page 4. Wherein they acquaint the Reader That we have been with all Love admonished by some or other of their Number almost weekly and daily c. 2. It is plain from their way and manner of mentioning the London and Country dissenting Ministers with Mr. Holcraft 3. From the Form and Style of the Expostulation to the People at Rowel throughout especially that towards the Close thereof where they advise them to get a Pastor amongst them sound in the Faith and in the mean while to invite their neighbouring dissenting Ministers to take their Turns to preach amongst them till they can get such an one 4. They write Page 3. That they adore and live daily upon the rich Grace of God in Christ c. Tho' this Libel be but a poor Testimony of it never did Fountain send forth such bitter and sweet Water as this Pamphlet does And is it thus they live upon Grace And is it thus they adore it And does this nasty Book make for the honour of God's Grace O Antinomians with a witness Is this the effect of their zealous Cry for Holiness against Antinomianism Holiness stands in no need of ungodly Spirits and Practices to defend it I may well say to these as the Apostle did to the Jews of old Thou that makest thy boast of the Law through breaking the Law dishonourest thou God While the Name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you as it is written Rom. 2. 23 24. 5. It is remarkable that when any of the sober sort of the Church of England have written in such a Style there has a vein of strong and sinewy Wit run thro' their Burlesque But I must needs say of the Author of this Drollery that he is so far from being fit for the Pulpit that he would be hiss'd off a Stage and would never be accepted at Bartholomew Fair nor earn his Bread there with all his Buffoonry I must here enter this Caution tho' I charge this Libel on a certain Number who are the Warts and Moles of our holy Profession yet far be it from me to think or persuade others to think that the dissenting Party in general is guilty thereof for I am persuaded they abhor so vile a thing and can scarce be induced to believe that any naming the Name of Jesus should wallow in such Iniquity tho' it be so I also declare that I think holy and grave Mr. Medwell would abominate having an hand in the base Stuff The same I think of worthy Mr. Clark who as I am informed generously proffer'd to testify his abhorrence of the Libel under his own hand when none present would second him I shall now proceed slightly to answer their Libel tho' I hope in another manner of Style than theirs First They charge me with perverting of Scriptures These are instanced Mat. 1. 12 39. Whence I alledged That the Person of Christ is the great sign Faith lays hold on This I shall assert and am ready to defend 2 Rom. 9 8. Where God speaking of the former and latter calling of the Jews shews the suddenness of the work upon them This is true It appeared so de facto in their former Call if we consult the Scriptural Account of their Conversions instance the three thousand Acts 2. called and added to the Church the same day and I question not but it will be more eminently so in the latter day of Glory when a Nation shall be born in a day Mat. 10. 34. I shall speak to hereafter I know not what they mean by John 7. 37. therefore I shall leave it alone till they explain their meaning 1 John 4. 18. Perfect Love casteth out Fear That Fear I expounded to be slavish sinful unbelieving Fear and no other In their prefatory Charge in matters of Fact they stumble at the very Threshold For First The dissenting Ministers of London in their Letter did not censure but enquired of me Whether such and such things were true I returned my Answer according to their Questions denying what was false affirming what was true and gave my Reasons for my Judgment and Practice This their Letter of which I have a Copy can testify The Reports as to my last meeting with them are likewise untrue For 1. I went voluntary to them they did not fetch me before them as is alledg'd 2. Let the Elders themselves speak whether it was their design authoritatively to silence me 3. I appeal to them as Evidences for me whether any such thing was concluded as bringing in Witnesses against their next Meeting 4. I did not go out of London until I had finished my Business I came about there and then what should I tarry there any longer One would think the Reverend Ministers themselves being Witnesses of the falshood of these first Reports might justly suspect all their After-Testimonies

Scripture when Moses had set before the Jews divers of Mount Sinai's Statutes he intermingles this Caution Lev. 18. 5. Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments which if a man do he shall live in them I am the Lord. I suppose few think Life eternal is meant here and I suppose not Life temporal only for it was not present death to break any of these Statutes only some of them therefore a spiritual Life must be also included The same is quoted and to the same purpose Nehem. 9. 29. so also Ezek. 20. 11. And no less does the Apostle opposing the Life of Faith now to that Life they had from Mount Sinai's Covenant insinuate that then it was He that doth these things shall live in them but now the just shall live by faith Gal. 3. 11 12. Rom. 10. 5 c. 3 dly It plainly follows that so long as they obeyed and sacrificed so long they were quiet in their Consciences 4 thly I do not deny but they had Faith upon God in the Promise but in most of them it was weak dark and uncertain so as little Peace of Conscience could accrue only from thence 5 thly This is verified in the Experiences of many Christians especially them that walk legally who have too much a tang of that Covenant still in their spirits If the Question was asked them Whether they have their Peace of Conscience always from Faith in exercise on the Person and Righteousness of Christ or from their Vows Resolutions and Obedience with other marks they set up to themselves which are meerly legal I am certain if they speak the truth they must answer the latter for this I have experienced my self many years 6 thly Suppose it at the worst where is the dangerous Error of it now a days since we are not under that but another Dispensation And this Assertion only comes in to illustrate and magnify the Glory of this New Testament Dispensation Then I added in Discourse that Isaiah did not understand his own Prophesies as well as the Apostle Paul which I cannot but judge to be very true tho' my words were then wrested and trumpeted abroad according to the usual manner Let this also suffice as an Answer to the 11 th Charge in their order 17. Sinners must come to Christ and be united to him in all their sin and filth That the Gospel invites Sinners as Sinners to come to Christ and not as Saints nor as little and reformed Sinners is evident from the whole current of the Gospel's invitation Consider Isa 55. 1. 43. 22. to 26. Isa 65. 1. compared with Rom. 10. 20. Rev. 22. 17. All sorts are invited to come heavy-laden Sinners Mat. 11. 28. The like invitation Luke 14. the maimed the halt and the blind were to be brought in ver 21. and the high-way Sinners compelled to come in ver 23. I would fain know where and when People must leave their Sins before they come to Christ 'T is true instantly upon their closing with Christ they are no longer under the dominion of sin for they are under grace Rom. 6. 14. Therefore all the Scriptures quoted for the Confutation of this are not to the purpose not one of them proving that Sin can be mortified in a state of Nature before a Soul comes to Christ But this Objection shews its Teeth and discovers who the Objectors are and what their design is viz. To maintain a power in Man's will to believe repent and turn himself antecedent to Christ's coming to the Soul by his Spirit 18. 'T is great comfort to us when we were weak in the Faith that Christ is strongly believing in Heaven for us Answ The Writer that came at the latter end took this false also For these Assertions were then laid down 1. That Christ believed and exercised other Graces of the Spirit whilst on Earth as appears from the Word of the Lord proved by Dr. Goodwyn in his Triumph of Faith 2. That thus his fulfilling of all was for the Elect as their Mediator and that the holy Graces of the Spirit he exercised as Man came within the compass of imputed Righteousness This is undeniably proved in the aforementioned place 3. That his meritorious Righteousness in all its parts tho' compleated on Earth is now in Heaven where the person of Christ is who presents it to the Father on Believers behalf and he presents Believers in it And how Prejudice hath wrested this is evident from the Pamphlet But I add No doubt tho' the Lord Jesus has all power committed to him for bringing his Sons and Daughters to Glory yet he trusts his Father for bringing them also which redounds to our benefit This Assertion is grounded on his Intercession to his Father John 17. 11. And now I am no more in the world but these are in the world and I come to thee Holy Father keep through thine own Name those whom thou hast given me c. 19. God the Father and God the Son are at strife who shall love Man best Answ I remember well it was thus exprest There seemed to be an holy Contention between God the Father and the Son who should love the Elect best grounded upon those words John 10. 17 with other Scriptures compared They were Dr. Goodwyn's own words or very like them And I know not why we may not use holy strains of Rhetorick to set forth that unfathomable and ineffable Love of the Father and the Son in the Election and Redemption of Sinners without being an offence to any Ears but those that are stuft with Prejudice As for that Expression said to be used as the language of Christ to the Father I will throw up my work of Redemption if you will not give me these I remember nothing of it nor believe any thing of it to be true 20. Persons may sincerely desire Christ to be their Prophet Priest and King and yet be Hypocrites still Answ This is a notorious Falshood whoever it is that affirms it No Man of Reason not blinded by Malice can think me so void of common Sense as to express my self thus WE the Members of the Church of Christ at Wellingborough having formerly attended Mr. David ' s Preaching do upon the best Recollection of what we heard testify and declare He has been much wronged and that his Preaching amongst us has been to advance Grace and Holiness and the Doctrine that is according to Godliness Robert Berson Thomas Barker William Hensman Maximilian Grindon John Fox William Smith Thomas Tutel Samuel Tecar William Hall William Marshall Francis Mee Samuel Conquest Thomas Falknor Thomas Wells William Martin The following false Stories came from Cambridge which I have already answer'd to the London Ministers I shall prove how I am abused therein by divers substantial persons And I have here this advantage that the mistaken Objectors were speedy in these Charges whilst matters were fresh in the memories of the Hearers so that they then

Corinth 12. 12. His Friends John 15. 15. His Brethren John 20. 17. His Bride and Spouse and Wife Revel 21. 2. ch 19. 7. His Love his Sister Cantic 4. 7. And by Vertue of this Union what properly is attributed to Christ is in the Scriptures attributed to his Members with this Difference It must be understood of him properly and inherently but of them only imputatively Yet it is exprest of them in the Word of God after such a manner as rendreth the Act of Imputation very Admirable The Name that is peculiarly given to him in Gospel-Days to wit The Lord our Righteousness is also given to his Jerem. 33. 16. And this is the Name wherewith she shall be called The Lord our Righteousness As a Wife by Virtue of the Marriage-Union taketh the Husband's Name So also of the Description given to his Vesture Revel 1. 13. One like the Son of Man cloathed with a Garment down to his Feet and girt about the Papps with a Golden Girdle Which Garment was of Fine Linnen Dan. 5. 5. The same is affirmed concerning the Garment of Believers Rev. 15. 6. And the Seven Angels came out of the Temple having the Seven Plagues cloathed in pure and white Linnen and having their Breasts girded with Golden Girdles so also Revel 19. 8. Of him it is said Esa 53. 9. Neither was deceit found in his mouth The same is said of them Rev. 14. 5. And in their mouth was found no guile Of him it is written Hebr. 7. 26. That he is Holy Harmless and Undefiled and separate from Sinners The like concerning them is asserted They are all fair and there is no spot in them Cant. 4. 7. Nay He presenteth them to himself a Glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but Holy and without blemish Ephes 5. 7. He presenteth them to the Father no less Glorious In like manner they are said to be compleat in him as Head over all Principality and Power Col. 2. 10. And as they are wrapt round with this Righteousness God is said to behold no Perversness nor see any Iniquity in them Numb 25. 21. And concerning their Transgressions also thus it is written That their Sins upon the exactest search of Justice are not to be found c. Jerem. 50. 20. I cannot but from hence conclude how vain it is for Men to pretend with the Line of Reason to sound this imputed Righteousness or to judge how far it reacheth and how far not such full-blown Discoveries thereof are reserved for the Glory of the Latter-Day or rather for Heaven it self In the mean while it is safer for us to keep close to Scriptural Expressions and believe and admire what we cannot comprehend I wonder therefore that Saucy Earth-worms dare cast this imputed Righteousnessinto the Fire of their own Fancies that thence it may come out a Golden Calf for them to Dance about or cast it into the Mold of their own carnal Reason that from thence they may lift up a dead Image for themselves to fall down before But vain Man would be wise tho Man be born like a wild Asses Colt Job 11. 12. Yet this their Wisdom is their Folly being Enmity against God and the way of Salvation by Jesus Christ Thus I have briefly vindicated the Righteousness of God which is by Faith now I pass on to the remaining Fragments of Accusations There are five times of Christ's especial Intercession c. Christ saith I cannot so heartily pray for my People when they sneak from their Profession Answ To this purpose I Preached That tho Christ's Intercession be Unchangeable in it self yet eventually as to us there are special Times of Intercession As for instance Christ interceedeth for his Elect afore called yet it is eventually an especial time when they are Called Again he interceedeth for his Children when under Babylonish Captivity yea he is represented in the Scripture especially interceeding when they are coming out of their Captivity see Zech. 1. 12 12. compar'd with vers 16 17. That Babylonish Captivity Deliverance and Intercession were but Typical a greater Man than many now alive to wit Mr. Bridge of Yarmouth was of the same Judgment What was said as to Christ's interceeding for Believers when sneaking from their Profession was to this effect That Christ did not interceed for his own Children that they might be kept from particular Apostacy for if he had they should never have fallen thereinto nor doth he own them unto his Father in relation to their Act of their Apostacy tho he doth as to their State This is plain to me from Mat. 10. 33. As also from the instance of Peter who tho the Lord Jesus pray'd for him that his Faith fail'd him not yet it is not recorded that he pray'd for him that he should not deny his Master nor did the Lord own him then before his Father as doing well in that Act of denying him confirming it with Cursing and Swearing Christ and Believers are one in Intercession That that I said was this as many are ready to attest that we are one with him who is our Intercessor and that I judge is no Error I abhor putting any into Co-partnership with the Lord Jesus as much as others Believers that take comfort in Promises mistake the way but we must fly to Christ They that take Comfort out of the Letter of the Promise without meeting Christ in it by Faith may be mistaken for it is Christ in the Promise maketh the Promise precious and the Promise without Christ is but a dead and insignificant Promise And if to bid Persons fly to Christ and not to rest on any Promise short of Christ be to be vile I 'll be more vile still Whatever is Supernatural is saving Grace 'T was thus exprest in Discourse All saving Grace is Supernatual as was testified to their Faces then tho they had the Confidence to wrest the words first and then to Charge them on me The offers of Grace must be made to none but the Elect. I remember very well this I said to Mr. Chandler in private Dicourse that God designeth his offer'd Grace only to the Elect This I think none but a Free-willer will deny ANIMADVERSIONS THE design of this Charge if I am not mistaken may be to Countenance the New-minted Principle that others might be Saved besides the Elect. Again this Principle I shall offer a few Reasons and so conclude my Defence as to Matter or Doctrin 1. This sort of Doctrin fixeth two sorts of Eternal Decrees upon the holy God both respective and irrespective which is more absurd than the Arminian Tenent for it constituteth a two-fold Will in God in respect of those that are to beSaved to wit that his Eternal Will was to save some absolutely and others upon Conditions than which there cannot be a greater Injury offer'd to his holy perfect and intire Will which cannot be resisted 2. It rendreth the Death of Christ ineffectual