Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	true_a	truth_n	word_n	7,456	5	4.2077	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A54244	Truth rescued from imposture, or, A brief reply to a meer rapsodie of lies, folly, and slander but a pretended answer to the tryal of W. Penn and W. Meade &c. writ and subscribed S.S. / by a profest enemy to oppression, W.P.	Penn, William, 1644-1718.; Rudyard, Thomas, d. 1692. An appendix, wherein the fourth section of S.S. his pamphlet ... examined.	1670 (1670)	Wing P1392; ESTC R36662	46,879	75

the old Saying true viz. That one Renegado is worse then three Turks To which I answer not as W.P. but as one they call a Quaker His application of the first Scripture will be this If Michael did not bring a railing Accusation against the Devil then the Author of the Tryal should not have brought one against him It is so plain what he has said of him that we need not further blacken him But this latter part he grosly mis-understands and mis-applies for t is deny'd that any part of this Scripture affords one just Reproof of that so much abused Author We know how frequently the Devil himself has taken to the Scriptures for a Refuge and after this mans strange construction it will be railing to tell a man his Faults And truly when I seriously consider how gross and numerous his are as by his very Book appears methinks he was hard put to it for a Covert A railing Accusation is a false as well as wrathful one which he proves pag. 5. therefore a true though sharp reproof is none I know it is the humor of such who would live unrebukt to render it more criminal to reprehend then to commit a Fault that they may save their heads from the knock of just censure But who the Railer was we shall take leave to mention in its place However what has this to do with W.P. The second Verse we are equally unconcerned in Could he have found a Text that says But these speak well of those things they know not he might have more approacht the matter by excluding our science in the Law in owning our great Good-will unto it Of the latter our Tryal as by him represented is a demonstration but I could wish he were no worse then those concerned in that Scripture which was to speak evil of things they know not For I am perswaded he spoke malignantly evil of things he knew did not deserve it We do not only tell the World the tendency of our Doctrine is to incline mankind to Meekness and Patience c. but we bless the God of Heaven and Earth many ten thousands do believe the same and that on better Evidence then hear-say or bare report But whether S.S. or his Juncto can with any tollerable shew of modesty condemn the Quakers as destitute of Meekness and Patience who have so much wanted both as they Instrumentally have given the clearest evidence of the contrary by their inhumane Persecutions as well as we have done it by Suffering the same I am sure will be the Question He begins his Appology thus An high Charge against Sr. Samuel Starling then Lord Mayor if true Cujus contrarium verum and therefore a railing Accusation and that Light which is as they say within them by which they are acted and speak as they pretend is the spirit of the Devil the Father of Lyes These words both deny and give a Charge but with how much Truth and Reason I shall examine and begin with the latter I take this Expression to be the most venomous of all his Libel and seems to come hot from a Blaspheming Gnashing Spirit through a vexed Consciousness of Guilt The Light we profess to be guided by is so far from being the spirit of the Devil the Father of Lyes that its of God the Father of Truth Here may be read the Text inserted in the Period of his Title Page For he speaks evil of Divine Dignities who speaks against the Light for God is Light And he that says he hath Fellowship with God and walks not in the Light he lyes and deceives himself And if this scurrilous Libeller had ever known what it was to obey this holy Light he would have forborn so impudent an Assertion But 't is an evident sign of a feared Conscience as well as great ignorance to publish to the World that Light is the spirit of the Devil and not of God How many times do the Scriptures commemorate God and Christ by this Epethite Christ was promised by that very Name I will give him for a Light to lighten the Gentiles And John said of him That he was the true Light that enlightneth every man And Christ gives this Testimony of himself I am the Light of the World Also the Apostle Paul What ever is reproved is made manifest by the Light And John thus God is Light c. If you walk in the Light as Christ is Light c. And in the Revelations The Lamb shall be thy Light c. And of God it s said He dwells in Light God is Light and in him is no Darkness at all c. But in this man there is the very blackness of Darkness who calls Light Darkness and Darkness Light Evil Good and Good Evil. Next I cannot chose but observe how abruptly he falls from the matter of his Chapter to blaspheme our holy Light A high Charge the contrary whereof is true And that Light which is in them is the spirit of the Devil Behold the Confusion and Incharity of the man nay a rude pulling upon his own head the Vengeance of the God of Light Did he or any else ever hear us pretend to own another Light then in the Phrases and from the Scriptures before mentioned I am assured they did not And though I deny his Imputation yet what if I or any Quaker on Earth or all of them had acted injuriously to him or any man must that blessed Light we say is given of God and more then pretend we are guided by be villified for our Failings Nor is it less then wretched Blasphemy for any to say That because S.S. is a most horrible Imposter therefore the Grace or Light which God has given him is the Spirit of the Devil But this proves to me his Impiety beyond all other Demonstrations for nothing's more common then where men with wilful obstienacy have lived a rebellious and wicked life against Gods Light and Spirit in their Consciences there to spurn with gnashing Teeth and scalded Tongues in blasphemous Expressions against God and his Tabernable and those that dwell in Heaven But besides his very words carry such Weakness and Confusion with them that I will easily from thence inferr a Vindication of our Light and Friends And that Light which is as they say then he does not say it which implies that he thinks we lye at least are mistaken within them by which they are acted and speak as they pretend which supposes that he believes we are not really so acted nor do we speak by it only that we make it our pretence is the spirit of the Devil the Father of Lyes If I understand him or his words this is the genuine and true construction of them That Light that is in them is the spirit of the Devil the Father of Lyes yet I wont say it and I believe it s but their pretence to say they act or speak by it If this been't the very sense of the

words none can be and if this sense doth not vindicate our Light in his own Thoughts from being Diabolical and Vs from being led by such a lying spirit let the understanding Reader judge In short this I must and will say by the knowledge of that Light and for it That as it gives man the true Discerning Weight and measure of Spiritual things with their differences so can no man have access to God in any Duty or Action of his life nor feel true Peace with him or the cleansing benefit of the Blood of Jesus Christ who is God over all blessed for evermore but as he comes to be directed and guided by it to keep the Commands of God and himself unspotted from the World But trouble and remorse of spirit ever was and ever will be the Portion of such as rebel against it In him was Life and his Life the Light of men If ye walk in the Light as he is in the Light ye shall have fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus shall cleanse you from all Sin More might be said of this Particular but I am perswaded here is enough to satisfie the Consciences of all unbyast Readers The former part relating to his denial of the Charge of Disloyalty and Temporizing against him they call Sr. S. Starling I shall so far take into my consideration in defence of the aspersed Author of the Tryal as to tell this Parisite Libeller only what the World says of him and particularly the City of London which if not true it s both little to the purpose and he is the more belyed but first we will hear the Defence I think it necessary says this Apologist in his Vindication to desire the Curteous Reader to enquire of Sr. Ed. Deering Dr. Whitcock Mr. Christopher Flower and Francis Pemberton Esquires of the Middle-Temple who can bear witness of his Loyalty at Cambridge in the years 1643 1644 1645. And in the years 46 47 48 49. he apply'd himself to the study of the Laws and could not be admitted to the Bar because he utterly refused to subscribe the cursed Ingagement Witness Cornelius Hooker Esquire Nicho. Jacob Esquire both Barristers of Greys-Inn and his Contemporaries We want the Consequence What Was he therefore no Temporizer Nothing less Not that the reputation of the Persons named must therefore be impeacht or lessened But some are ready to ask why S.S. should think it fit to name so many Persons in his Defence and yet omit to insert a Certificate from any one of them Their Testimonies are at best but in Embrio Vnborn to us nor is it possible they should be Witnesses of all the Actions of his Life But granting what is said to be true Was he accused of Temporizing when a Boy at Cambridge Although methinks t is indiscreetly urged that we should ask of Dr. Whitoock if he were not compelled to leave the Vniversity Loyalty being out of fashion who remained a Master of a Colledge there I do not mention it to spot that Doctor for I know none of that Coat of a more universal Temper and worthy of being esteemed learned but to detect this ridiculous Sribler of Inadvertency I must confess the first he refers to I have an experienced knowledge of and to whom I esteem my self oblieg'd by many high Instances of Kindness which not so much as his own evenness of Temper would make me entertain more favourable Thoughts but as he is cited to determine a Case not tim'd to the charge so is he wholly silent in the matter And though his Name with me gives the most of reputation to his whole Paragraph yet Quod non Lego non Credo Nor is the Instance of being at Grays-Inn esteemed material to the purpose it being of later times to which the Reflection quarrelled with has no relation and therefore overlookt as frivolous to this Occasion though some say they talk as if there were no such matter But he hopes to supply this defect with this general and dubious Addition From 1650. until his Majesties Restauration he was a Trader in the City and how he demeaned himself in those Crumwellian times all that knew him will witness he walkt Antipodes to the genious of that Age to the endangering of his Life and Estate pag. 6. Answ That this is a general reference is manifest and of whom to enquire he does not tell us Would he have us send to enquire who knew him then in order to know what he was then some think it might have been as cheap for S.S. to particularize one in those ten years time of Loyalty which was to the Purpose who Instanc'd so many before to no purpose This leaves a stronger Jealousie then before but with none less then the Quakers because none are less concerned in the matter But that he was this invincible Royalist he gives us this Instance His Majesty being by Gods Providence restored he was esteemed for his Loyalty a fit person to be of the Jury upon the Kings Judges and passed a Juror upon no less then Eighteen of those Assassinating Traytors But how unwise if not disloyal this expression is some think it may concern the King at least his Justices to consider as if that those Persons had not been condemned by indifferent men sway'd by the only force and sence of Law But such as were therefore esteemed fit to be of the Jury because aversly principled in point of Judgment and Affection I boldly affirm it a reflection so indiscreet malignant that it deserves a check severer then any Expression in the Discourse entituled The Peoples ancient and just Liberties Asserted and that not more from the Kings Justices then the Person he would be thought to vindicate After all that he has said the Apologist thinks it needless further to vindicate his Loyalty since never questioned by any but those sceptical Quakers whose business is to asperse our Religion Laws and all men that are not of their cursed Principles Therefore he makes this offer that if W.P. can make out that the● late Lord Mayor ever wronged any of the Kings Friends either in Body Goods or good name one penny that he shall restore to the Gentleman whosoever he be a thousand pounds for every penny worth of wrong But as I do assure this Libeller that some of eminent Rank and no Quakers as he is pleased to term them were the first that took occasion to speak of that Persons temporizing and therefore question'd by others so is it an Aspertion wickedly groundless that we defame Laws Religion and all men that are not of our Principles since we have ever been on the suffering hand and still proclaim it as one of our fundamental Points of Doctrine to live peaceably and inoffensively which we have not onely done notwithstanding all provocations but resolve in Gods strength to continue the same passive People we have ever been Besides I would fain know why above others this offer should

These words do no wayes justifie the Papists if these Libellers had but the least grain of Charity they would have construed the words cum grano salis as the Rule of Charity directs all words to be come strued And they will admit of no other construction but this viz. That if the Papists be so pollitick and prudent by their Inquisitian to maintain their false Religion surely it will be the Protestants prudence to find wayes for the preservation of their true Religion pag. 9. I have been very faithfull and patient in the recital of this poor Defence of which I can give no better Character then that t is like the rest 'T is manifest the words are granted I now hope they will not be longer dis-believed when confirmed by the hands of two Witnesses the Author of the Tryal and this priviledged S.S. But he says it ought to be construed cum grano salis with allowances and in the best sense which Counsel had been tollerable from any but from him that has shown himself so void of any and that which is the Master-piece of all his foolery is his ridiculous Construction he makes of it Himself as if that could be a good Way of preserving the Protestant Religion that is an Hellish ONE in the Papists But why an Hellish One Because it intends to force to an Hetrodox Religion and not rather by reason of the coercive barbarous Nature of the Punishment it self And can any think that an Inquisition to inforce Men to Confess to the Protestant FAITH is not equally Cruel with that of the Papists The Protestants would be so far from having any Advantage upon the Papists for the Inhumanity of his Inquisition that his own Practice would seem but The Second Edition of the Papists Cruelty It is not either of those Names that renders it more or less lawful but the Nature of the thing it self And had this Libeller but ever read the ancient Protestant Apollogies he might have better informed his peevish Mind of their Opinions The true Religion took ever Sanctuary to its own Innocency and Verity and not to the Dumb Materials of External Force But this Expression would make one think that under a Protestant Profession there lodgeth a Popish Spirit and that the same Interest which urged Spain to erect an Inquisition in the Recorders sence should obliege England to employ the same Hellish Tyranny to torture her poor Dissenters though Free-born Natives But if that were his Meaning and such Counsel should be taken it were endless to consider the unexpressible Miseries that would attend us All Law would be subjected to the zealous Anathemas of Ecclesiastical Officers and Religion speak no other Language then that of INQUISITION We have hitherto boasted much in the Self-evidencing verity of the Protestant Faith but this were to bring it justly into jealousie with all that having so long decryed Coercive Power should vehemently employ it to its own-promotion The Papists would not only have cause to believe the ground of primative Seperation was single Interest but an Example to their hand what measure they ought to meet to the Pootestants abroad which reduceth all Religion in a way of subserviency to the Government and Conscience to its Conveniency But this had been forgotten as well as it is forgiven had not the Inadvertency of S.S. brought it the second time upon the Stage Part III. A Vindication of my Deceased Fathers Reputation from the False and Unworthy Reflections of this Scandalous Libeller SInce to Disturb the Grave and Rake into the Ashes of the Dead was ever held detestable with Infidels we may on easie tearms inform our selves to what an ebb of Vertue this man has brought himself who is so dry of all Christianity that there remains not the least Drop of that vulgar Decency eminently in vogue with very Heathens For as with them such might justly be accus'd as were not disabled from answering for themselves so Death having dislodged the Persons of any their Charity esteemed it a protection to their Names from whence came that common Saying De mortuis nil nisi bonum Let us speak no ill thing of the Dead But though this be urg'd yet that it s as ill observ'd by S.S. I shall proceed to shew He takes occasion in the close of his defence of S. Starling to fall thus heavily upon me and my Father as if he could not do the one without the other But I suppose this wild rambling Colt W. Penn mistakes when he chargeth these things upon the late Lord Mayor he means his SEIR deceis'd Doubtless the Man was toucht What course Similitudes are these Did ever man so Brute himself in Print But I dispise his Drayish Terms and apply my self to scan the matter leaving him to wipe himself of that Dirt he thought to cast on others I had so little reason to doubt my Fathers constancy that in the sense debated I know few of greater 'T is true He was actually ingaged both under the Parliament and King but not as an Actor in our late Domestick Troubles his Compass alwayes steering him to eye a National Concern and not Intestine Wars and therefore not so aptly theirs in a way of opposition as the Nations His Service therefore being wholly Forrain He may be truly said to serve his Country rather then either of those Interests so far as they were distinct to each other and for this Evil I hope he may be held excusable But the Rayler proceeds Who from a Captain was made Oliver's High Admiral for his great Service in promoting that new Instrument Which is a Lye so impudent as both his Commission and Men of note can prove That First he made no such extempory leap as is suggested to have been his Recompence for promoting Crumwells Interest but past through many known Offices as of Rere-Admiral Vice-Admiral and Admiral of Ireland and Vice-Admiral of England before he had the General ship conferred on him And Secondly That Oliver was but then General himself and not proclaim'd Protector till several Moneths if not above a Year after the death of General Dean whom my Father immediately succeeded And therefore a very Forgery that for promoting that new Instrument he first was advanced to the Office of High-Admiral I would that this Libeller should know that from a Lieutenant he had past through all the eminent Offices of Sea-Imployme●t and arrived to that of General about the Thirtieth Ye●r of his Age in a time full of the biggest Sea-Action that any Story mentions and when neither Bribes nor Alliance Favour nor Affection but Ability only could Promote I write not this to Vaunt it is below my Principle and Practise but to defend an abused Relation I could say no less He adds Who afterwards did eminent service for the English Nation at Hispaniola when he delivered the Flower of the English-Souldiery a Sacrifice to the Cow-killers This is an Untruth so manifest that no man making Conscience