Selected quad for the lemma: opinion_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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ID |
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Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
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A97103
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The povver of love.
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Walwyn, William, 1600-1681.
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1643
(1643)
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Wing W690A; Thomason E1206_2; ESTC R208782
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16,819
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65
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THE POWER OF LOVE LONDON Printed by R. C. for John Sweeting at the signe of the Angell in Popes-head Alley 1643. To every Reader FOr there is no respect of persons with God and whosoever is possest with love judgeth no longer as a man but god-like as a true Christian What 's here towards sayes one sure one of the Family of love very well pray stand still and consider what family are you of I pray are you of Gods family no doubt you are why God is love and if you bee one of Gods children be not ashamed of your Father nor his family and bee assured that in his family he regards neither finâ— clothes nor gold rings nor stately houses nor abundance of wealth nor dignities and titles of honour nor any mans birth or calling indeed he regards nothing among his children but love Consider our Saviour saith He that hath this worlds goods and seeth his brother lack how dwelleth the love of God in him Judge then by this rule who are of Gods family looke about and you will finde in these woefull dayes thousands of miserable distressed starved imprisoned Christians see how pale and wan they looke how coldly raggedly unwholsomely they are cloathed live one weeke with them in their poore houses lodge as they lodge eate as they eate and no oftner and bee at the same passe to get that wretched food for a sickly wife and hunger-starved children if you dare doe this for feare of death or diseases then walke abroad and observe the generall plenty of all necessaries observe the gallant bravery of multitudes of men and women abounding in all things that can be imagined observe likewise the innumerable numbers of those that have more then sufficeth Neither will I limit you to observe the inconsiderate people of the world but the whole body of religious people themselves and in the very Churches and upon solemne dayes view them well and see whether they have not this worlds goods their silkes their beavers their rings and other divises will testifie they have I and the wants and distresses of the poore will testifie that the love of God they have not What is here aimed at sayes another would you have all things common for love seeketh not her owne good but the good of others You say very true it is the Apostles doctrine and you may remember the multitude of beleevers had all things common that was another of their opinions which many good people are afraid of But sayes another what would you have would you have no distinct on of men nor no government feare it not nor flye the truth because it suites not with your corrupt opinions or courses on Gods name distinguish of men and women too as you see the love of God abound in them towards their brethren but no otherwise And for that great mountaine in your understanding government 't is but a mole-hill if you would handle it familiarly and bee bold with it It is common agreement to bee so governed and by common agreement men chuse for governours such as their vertue and wisedome make sit to governe what a huge thing this matter of trust is made of and what cause is there that men that are chosen should keepe at such distance or those that have chosen them bee so sheepish in their presence Come you are mightily afraid of opinions is there no other that you feare not the Anabaptists Brownists or Antinomians Why doe you start man have a little patience would you truly understand what kinde of people these are and what opinions they hold If you would bee advised by some learned man and with him consult what hath learnedly beene written of the most weake and and vitious amongst any of them that could bee found and make your conclusion according to custome that they are all such but if you would free your selves from common mistakes concerning those your brethren then acquaint your selves with them observe their wayes and enquire into their doctrines your selfe and so make your conclusion or judge not of them visit them heare them out stand cleare from all prejudging and then see what dangerous people they are that are generally so called particulars being absurd rules of judging for so the Turke is misled in his judgment of Christianity and no marvaile since hee judgeth thereof by the doctrine and life of the most superstitious Idolatrous and vitious amongst them Well what next are you afraid of for some men take delight to be under the spirit of bondage and doe not think themselves in good estate except they be in feare but come feare nothing you are advised by the Apostle to try all things and to hold fast that which is good to prove the Spirits whether they bee of God or not 't is your selfe must doe it you are not to trust to the authority of any man or to any mans relation you will finde upon tryall that scarcely any opinion hath beene reported truly to you and though in every one of them you may finde some things that you cannot agree unto you will yet be a gainer by discovering many excellent things that you as yet may be unsatisfied in and by due consideration of them all perfect your owne judgement Reade the ensuing discourse impartially and you will finde the minde of him that hateth no man for his opinion nor would have any man troubled for any opinion except such as make the bloud of Christ ineffectuall or such as would destroy all that will not submit to their opinions hee seemes to bee of the Apostles minde that considered all other things in love and that in matters of moment too even where some observed a day unto the Lord others not observed He bids you walke in love as Christ hath loved you and gave himselfe for you an offering and a Sacrifice you that love your brother so poorely as that you cannot allow him the peaceable enjoyment of his mind and judgment would hardly lay downe your life for him let brotherly love continue and let every one freely speake his minde without molestation and so there may be hope that truth may come to light that otherwise may be obscured for particular ends plaine truth will prove all sufficient for vanquishing of the most artificiall sophisticall errour that ever was in the world give her but due and patient audience and her perswasions are ten thousand times more powerfull to worke upon the most dull refractory minde then all the adulterate allurements and deceivings of art What is here publisht is out of fervent love to the Communion of Christians that they might tast and see how good the Lord is In whose presence there is fulnesse of joy and at whose right hand there are pleasures for evermore Wherefore rejoyce in the Lord alwayes and againe I say rejoyce and let your song bee alwayes Glory be to God on high in earth peace good will towards men Let truth have her free