Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	abandon_v	church_n	falsehood_n	19	3	9.7631	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A72059	The confession and publike recantation of thirteene learned personages, lately conuerted in France, Germanie, and the Lowe-Countreys, from poperie, to the Churches reformed wherein they haue zealously and learnedly set dovvne the reasons that moued them therevnto. The names and degrees of the conuerts. 1. Godefrid Rabin ... 2. Simon Palory ... 3. Iohn Colleij ... 4. Melchior Roman ... 5. Iohn Norman ... 6. Father Abraham ... 7. Antony Ginestet ... 8. Signeur Lewis ... 9. Father Edmon ... 10. Leonard Theuenot ... 11. Sir Francis ... 12. Francis Goupil Angeuin ... 13. Lewys du Boys ... Translated out of the French and Dutch printed copies, by I.M.; Eight learned personages lately converted (in the realme of France) from papistrie, to the Churches reformed.	W. B., fl. 1601.; J. M., fl. 1602.	1602 (1602)	STC 1074.5; STC 20598; ESTC S115544	99,696	118

heere to speake of ignorant Priests that are not capeable of their pretended mysteries and haue yet much lesse the purpose or intention to consecrate yet for all that there is nothing so much worshipped of the ignorant people nor with such horrible Idolatrie as the bread and Wine Of Monks and Monastaries Wee will not likewise spend time in vnfolding the detestable conuersation of Monkes in Monasteries their whoredomes impieties seditions murders and bloudshed wee will onely propose one example set downe in his Maiesties letters yeauen this yeare 1600. at the entreatie of Frier Lewes Casteh borne in the towne of Condon within the prouince of Gascoigne elected Prouinciall and Vicar generall for the Prouince of Thoulouse against the Religious people of Saint Mary-port and others c. I neede not say any more hereof for it is still fresh in the memory of euery one So that the religious who haue but any sparke of a good consciēce yea the learnedst amongst thē are by such palpable errors of doctrine and through their scandalous life and manners stirred vp and prouoked to forsake this broad way that leadeth into prison and lamentable captiuity and with all the powers of their minde endeauour to seeke and lay hand-fast on the discipline which is in trueth sinceritie among those of the reformed religion and not in apparance onely as it is in the kingdome of Poperye without realtye Oh how it were to be wished and how exceedingly do we desire that this house of Popery might be cleansed puryfied and restored to the trueth It is now shaken wether-beaten and fallen into decaye it is now filled with corruption and filthinesse defiled with abuses and vncleanenesse darkened with the smoake of errour stuffed with Cob-webbes and dangerous venome of mans inuentions But they will not listen herevnto We be now in the latter dayes wherein according to the Reuelation there shall be no faith no lawe no godlinesse no charitie yea the remnant of the elect themselues shall be seduced were it possible to ouerthrowe them Hence it comes and for many more considerations most iust and reasonable which we passe ouer with silence for breuities sake that we haue renounced the world wherein we were daintily fed well apparelled acquainted with pleasures where no carnall delights were wanting and doe wholy renounce and abandon papisticall errors namly the intollerable abuses and superstions of the Masse to be entertained taken especially in these times of the free libertie of conscience vnder the most puisant and famous Monarche Henry the fourth into the domesticall number of Gods celestial kingdom embracing the truth of the Church reformed and partaking of her excellent and most wholesome benefits And we do heere protest to liue and dye in this resolution and assured hope to the ende that hauing fought a good fight in the Church militant against the worlde the diuell falshood and sinne without sparing this mortall life which the Lorde hath bestowed vpon vs for his honour we may with three other vertuous religious personages lately conuerted in this towne passe with the faithfull into the Church triumphant So be it Amen A Declaration of Father Edmund of Beauval sometimes a Iesuite a Doctor of Diuinitie and Preacher in Bourbon publickly by him made viua voce in the reformed Church of S. Amand in the said Prouince the 16. of Iuly 1600. VVherein he briefely giues a reason of the most notable causes that haue induced him to leaue the Romaine Church and ioyne himselfe to the reformed Churches of this kingdome MAN hath in himselfe a continuall sting and desire to become happy and to seeke a meane for the attaining of the Soueraigne good albeit many haue missed of the right way searching after the necessary meane thereunto in their owne proper abilities and in that which only consists in a mortall man Others there are who haue sought for it in his proper essence without any accesse vnto it But if there bee no other meane to attaine thereunto then by the proper abilitie of man pretending the accesse in himselfe or that the degrees and steps thereunto be not before prepared for vs wee shall neuer come neare the fruition thereof Now forasmuch as man is created to the ende he might haue the possession of that eternall felicitie his Creator would not leaue him destitute of fit and effectuall meanes wherby to withdraw him from himselfe and from his owne abilities to giue him recourse to another by whose good meanes as by an accessor and Mediator he might be brought to the enioying and possession of so excellent a good And this Mediatour is Christ himselfe our Soueraigne Lorde the true sonne of God Who being made like to man hauing taken vpon him humanitie conioyned to his Diuinitie Iohn 14. Iohn 5. Iohn 5. hath performed our reconciliation hath prepared the waye hath offered vp himselfe for a gate and way to the end that whosoeuer shall beleeue in him shall haue life euerlasting which is the true end and scope of the Soueraigne good But to make vse of this fit and happy accesse it is verie requisite that we ioyne our selues and with all our force embrace the Aduocate and Mediator in such sort as he is giuen vnto vs of his Father not taking from him any of his offices and dignities For many Sectaries do chalenge to themselues not onely possession but also in incorporation in this aduocate and Mediator and yet neuerthelesse do rob and despoile him of his due honours and essentiall titles of Aduocate or Mediator to the Soueraigne good Now the faith doctrine of the pretēded Romane Catholick Church ariseth hereof in that they acknowledge and confesse one Iesus Christ to be their Sauiour yet notwithstanding that which is necessarie for such an office they take away and imagine him to be but a naked Sauiour and vnfurnished of all honour although exceeding and vnspeakeable honors are giuen vnto him in his annointing from his father as by that which followeth may plainly apeare For it must needs be that a Mediator betweene God and men should be a Soueraigne and an eternall Sacrificer as the Apostle Heb. 7.24.28 heareth recorde because that euerie reconcilation requireth satisfaction in the parties that haue offended and Satisfaction is according to the qualitie of the offence as also the Sacrifice is by death in regarde of the deadly mortall crime But the Romane Church vnapparreleth Christs sacrifice of eternity Priest reiterateth Christs sacrifice Heb. 9.24 in affirming that the propertie and vertue of it alone cānot continue to the worlds end vnlesse it be many times reiterated And yet in the new Testament we learne that Christ entred once into the Holy place obtaining eternall redemption for vs and that the word of eternitie signifieth his eternall vertue and efficacie in all perfection Moreouer it is cleare that euery sacrifice is respected in regard of the sacrificer the Sacrificer first thē the sacrifice and consequentlie that

God how they depraue the Sacraments by their filthy inuensions Sacramēts depraued how they annoint their belles with Oyle and creame as they call it with the assistance of God fathers and God mothers imposing names vpon them how this Antichrist that weareth the three Crownes Popestriple Crowne with others of the like stampe doe chalenge to themselues the power and authoritye of Iesus Christ both in heauen and earth though to none other but onely vnto Christ it doth appertaine and belong as being giuen vnto him of God the Father To be short I will omitte very many superstitions and heresies that haue caused me to flye from this pretended Catholick Church to settle my selfe with al maner of humility in the church reformed by Gods grace in this kingdome I make no doubt but there are many the very instruments of Sathan who enuying my holy resolution and saluation will drawe out of hell a sea of slaunders intending thereby the decay of my good fame and to bring mee into an euill opinion of the faithfull I knowe they will endeuour to spotte my coate of innocencye with a thousand lyes but time that reuealeth all things shall shew the contrary One thing comforteth me which is that if our head Iesus Christ hath receiued many opprobious speeches the faithfull who are his elected members shoulde not desire to bee exempt from the same seeing it is the meane to attaine to heauen Let them say what they will let them doe what they can neither promises nor threats neither iniuries nor persecutions nor the sword can through Gods grace with-drawe me from my holy resolution which is to imbrace the true and liuely faith of the reformed Churches assuring my selfe that GOD who hath euer care of his poore faithfull will be a sufficient buckler to defend me against all their assaults It remaineth now that with all humility I do beseech the congregation of the faithful to receiue me into their number with whom I desire to finish the residue of my dayes to the end with them I may freely serue my God and walke according to the sincerity of his Gospell Amen So Signed IOHN NORMAN We the Ministers and Elders of the Church of Tours do certifie vnder our hands that the said Norman hath made and signed his Christian profession and abiuration of Papisticall religion all the people being assembled at the said Church of Tours the 17. of September beeing Sunday with praises and thanksgiuing of al the faithfull 1600. So signed B. Rousseau Minister L. hommo Martin P. Mercier Doucet D. Mercier Elders for all the rest And the 24. day following of the same moneth the saide Norman being in a place at Fraisneau in the presence of all the congregation hath againe made the abouesaid declaration with promise to continue in the true profession and holinesse of a Christian life So signed B. Rosseau Minister L' hommè I. Bazin Mesgrier Bourrand all Elders A christian declaration made by Father Abraham sometimes Prior of Carmes in the towne of Arles publiquely in the reformed Church of Vzez THAT great excellent Philosopher who in respect of those vertues wherewith the heauēs adorned him was surnamed the Diuine viz. Plato gaue thanks to God for three things for that he was borne a man and not a beast a Grecian not a Barbarian but aboue all for that he had receiued the benefit of life in the time of Socrates from whose mouth he had learned many goodly and vertuous instructions If this Heathenish Philosopher hath esteemed it and that by good reason for a happy benefit to be borne in the Olympiads of Socrates of whom he might learne certaine humaine sciences but not the knowledge of his saluation alas with what a strict bond are we bound to praise and glorifie the name of our blessed Sauiour who hath caused vs to be borne in this age which is dyed red in the bloud of so many faithfull witnesses of his veritie and also by the brightnesse of his gospell shining through the clouds and mistes that are thickned by the malice of Sathan intending to hide from me the sweet sunne of iustice and knowledge of truth But among all those that are bound to this dutie of giuing of thankes I doe acknowledge and confesse my selfe this day the greatest debter do place among all the benefits receiued from Gods hand this of my conuersion and entrance into his Church to be the first and chiefest Without which alas what could haue profited me all the fauour receiued from his sacred hand but on lye to haue turned to my condemnation ruine and confusion What would it haue auailed mee to haue beene stamped in the stampe of Gods face if I bare the marke and character of the beast What good had it beene for mine eyes to haue beene lightned with this corporall light if my soule had been enclosed in the darkenesse of infidelitie What health had it beene for me to haue breathed in an ayre agreeable to my body which beeing infected with such impieties had beene contagious to my soule What honour to beare the name of a Doctor and to teach a lye to destroy instead of instructing to ruinate and bring to decaye that which I should haue built and repayred The Lord therefore be praised who hath vnmasked my eyes and caused me to see the light of his Gospell wherein my sight hath beene so long dazeled and blinded Blessed be that happy day wherein this good God hath caused to appeare the effects of his eternall election in me and hath acknowledged mee for his adopted childe and lawfull heyre of that great and eternall kingdome which his sonne Iesus Christ hath purchased for his elect through the merite of his perfect obedience Beholde me now come into the house of God betweene the armes and in the bosome of Christ his espouse as farre from impieties and sacriledges of that shamelesse Babell as the truth from falshood and light from darkenesse Beholde now I am come into the sweete libertie of my conscience which hath so often summoned mee to leaue and depart from the Seminarie abuses of papistrie from those horrible sinkes and vautes of impietie where the Lordes holy name is so villainously prophaned and the honour of the eternall who is infinitely iealous of his glorye shamefully prostituted to idols and marmosets where the bloud of Christ serueth for a traffique where his onely sacrifice which is the expiation of our offences is held incapable and insufficient to blotte them out and deface them Mans merits where mans merites go cheeke by ioule with those of Iesus Christs where the sonne of God our Redeemer is robbed of his greatest and most worthy titles of office where coadiutors are giuen him for intercession and Sacrificing Prayers to Saints where the pastorall staffe is taken out of his hands wherewith hee ruleth and gouerneth his flocke where the Empire of the world and conduct of his Church is shared in halfe with him

thy good pleasure alwaies rather to vse mercy then iustice to be gratious in shewing fauour not furye stretch forth thy hand draw them vnto thee teach them sith it is thy will that all may come to the knowledge of saluation Imprint in their mindes a desire to sound the depth of thy holy Scriptures Let the discretion of thy alsearching spirit guide them to gather in these gardens the flowers of that Soueraigne good the foode of their soules the fit and effectual hearbs for the phisicke of their spirituall infirmities the plants that are a Soueraigne Antidote against death the Sacrament of eternitie the certaine pledge of felicity Let them touch no more the tree of knowing good and euill although his outwarde beautie doth cloake his inwarde poyson And as thy sacred word diuinely inspired shall be an assured guide to all people desirous to reiect an vntruth beeing the Organe of perdition for to receiue the Euangelicall truth the power of God for the saluation of all beleeuers manifesting in her brightnesse the splendour of thy incorruptible heritage by the selfe same reason let it make known vnto thē that there is essentiall conformitie between the doctrine of the Church reformed and thy true church a substantiall discord betweene thine and that which is announced by the Roman Bishoppe or his adherents and consequently that this leadeth to damnation and the other to permanent happynesse And certainely as the glory of our Sauiour is vnseparably conioyned with the saluation of his elected and chosen creatures honouring and crowning with inesteemable benefits those that honour him So likewise that is the true and sincere Religion opening the waye to saluation which addresseth all her documents and exercises purely and simply to the glory of the almighty and contrarywise that religion is false and ruinous which seeketh the glory of creatures honoring them with that which onely belongeth to the liuing God who giues not his glory to any other By this rule the knowledge of the wise on earth is condemned and accused of vanity Rom. 1.21.25 for that hauing knowne God they haue not glorified him as God and haue not yeelded him due thankes but are become vaine in their discourses and their hart voyde of vnderstanding hath beene filled with darkenesse and tearming themselues wise are become fooles and haue changed the glory of God immortall into the likenesse and image of man By reason whereof they haue beene giuen vp to their owne harts lustes to filthinesse and the defyling of their owne bodies as hauing changed the truth of God into falshoode worshipped and serued the creature and haue forsaken the Creator who is blessed and praysed both now and for euer Amen By this rule and generall Maxime our Sauiour in Saint Iohn Chap. 5. vers 39. and after confirmes the will of his act wherof see vers 16.17.30 against the deceipts fallacies of the Iewes Search the Scriptures diligently for in them yee thinke to haue eternall life and they are they which testifie of me But yee will not come to me that yee may haue life I seeke not glory of men I am come in my fathers name and yee receiue me not if another shall come in his owne name him wil yee receiue How can yee beleeue which receiue honour one of another and seeke not the honour that commeth from God alone And againe in the 12. Chap. vers 43. They haue loued the glory of men more then the praise of God By this rule the Apostle Gal. 1. vers 10. proueth that his preaching came down frō heauē to the confusiō of vaine discourses and false Apostles Doe I preach mans doctrine or Gods For if I should yet please men I were not the seruant of Christ To bee short this principle is so cleere so true so authorised that it needeth not any more witnesses out of the scriptures it being more cleare and transparent then the Noone-day that the true and perfect religion is marked and knowne by this that shee seeketh absolutelie the glory of the creator of heauen and earth and that religion is false and abhominable that doth the contrarie And that the religion reformed is of the first degree and that of the Roman Church of the second the conference ensuing doth briefely set down And to tell the truth who is so blind that seeth not that the true Christians doe professe that first one onely God must bee called vpon Secondly that from him alone all maner of saluation and deliuerance must be expected Thirdly that his mercy defaceth all our sinnes Fourthly that the sacrifice of the vndefiled Lambe offered vpon the crosse taketh away condemnation Fiftly that his iustice redeemeth vs from the second death and his resurrection leadeth his Saintes into the right waye of eternall life Sixtly that his most blessed worde contayneth all manner of secrets necessarye for our welfare and happinesse Seauenthlye that workes cannot merrite euerlasting felicitye Eightlie that the most righteous and perfectest men cannot produce workes of supererogation as if it were in their power not onely to accomplish all iustice commaunded but also more than is required Ninthly that God must be worshipped in spirite and trueth Tenthly that the glorious body of Christ sits at the right hand of his father Brieflie all those that stedfastly beleeue this doctrine do they not rightly attribute all glorie to his Soueraigne maiestie Prayer to ●ai●● And contrariwise the Papists dishonour him who first call vpon Angels Saints and Ladies Secondly they hope from them succours and helpe in their perils and necessities Thirdlie they promise to themselues remission of sinnes through the indulgences from the Bishop of Rome Fourthly they mingle the bloud of Martires with the bloud of Christ thinking his not sufficient Fiftlie they trust more in the merits of Saints or mortall creatures then in the obedience of the sonne of the eternall Sixtly they are not contented with the sacred letters of reconcilation but to supplie their want as they fondly imagine they adde the vaine sufficiencie of their vnwritten traditions Vnwritten Traditions Iustificatiō by workes Seauenthly they presume of their workes for their iustification before the throane of Gods supreame iustice and doe further commit manie things repugnant to Gods heauenly will which notwithstanding is the onely rule of righteousnesse Eightly Workes of supererogation they thinke to be more wise than the Master of Masters when they doe more and aboue his commandements in their actions of supererogation Ninthly Worshiping of Images they encline and bowe themselues to the images of Creatures contrary to the lawe and they serue God after a sensuall and carnall manner prohibited by his worde without whose warrant euery worke is done without faith by consequence a most abhominable sinne Tenthly Transubstantiation they fasten the pretious body of Christ to bread and wine subiect after their consecration to a thousand corruptions and abuses and altogether farre from his excellencie We omit

meane while dooth feede them onely with humaine traditions with prohibitions that nothing may be saide to the contrarye neither may be enquired for the truth out of the saide Scriptures confounding the trueth of Gods worde with his decrees and statutes The which things teach vs manifestly the loue and kindnesse of such a sheepheard towards his flocke that insteed of feeding it with the wholsome doctrine propounded in Gods worde and refreshing it with the sweete waters of Gods graces the which are conueyed into our hearts by the pure and sincere preaching of his worde doth rather cast it downe into the pit of errors and superstitions depriuing the common people most vniustly from the reading of the holy scriptures and keeping them thereby in ignorance The peoples ignorance whereby they cannot be resolued of their saluation prescribing vnto them an infinite number of traditions as if the scriptures were not sufficient to saluation yea accusing them most blasphemously of imperfection and of obscuritie against the plaine testimonie of S. Paul 2. Tim. 3. vers 16. 2. Tim. 3.16 For the whole Scripture is giuen by inspiration of God and is profitable to teach to conuince to correct and to instruct in righteousnesse that the man of God may be absolute being made perfect vnto all good workes This it is that opened our eyes that mooued our heart and setled vs vpon the right way from the which we erred by our corrupt nature The profit of God his worde and this doth manifest vnto vs the mysteries of saluation For as Chrysostome an olde Father very well teacheth Wee must onely beleeue the holy scriptures by this doore enter both sheepheard and sheepe who enters not through it is a theefe for it is a propertie of the diuell to adde somewhat to the commandements of God and beholde therefore how clearely God commands Deut. 4. ver 2. Deut. 4.2 to content our selues with this rule for to discerne by it the truth from falsehood Yee shall put nothing vnto the worde which I commande you neither shall yee take ought there-from that yee may keepe the commandements of the Lord your God which I commaund you Shall we desire a more expresse charge The Romish doctors part in this play But why doe our doctors of the Romish Synagogue notwithstanding all this They take their refuge to traditions of men without yea against the worde of God adding vnto it and detracting from it according to their pleasure They say the holye Scripture is not perfect enough she is obscure and hard to be vnderstood but we must explicate and cleere her with our traditions but I pray you what other perfection can they finde for vs to come to saluation Let vs here what the Apostle saies 2. Tim. 3. vers 15. Thou hast knowne the holy scriptures of a childe which are able to make thee wise vnto saluation through the faith which is in Christ Iesus And in the Gospell of Saint Iohn chap. 20. vers 31. we are set twise to the scriptures But these things saith he are written that yee might beleeue that Iesus is that Christ that Sonne of God and that in beleeuing yee might haue life through his Name Dauid the Prophet considering the same Psal 119. verse 103. and 105. saith How sweete are thy promises vnto my mouth yea more then Honie And againe Thy worde is a Lantherne vnto my feete and a light vnto my path Yea but is it not say they a commendable thing to serue God according to the institutions of our Fathers and to keepe vs by them Is it not a thing agreeable vnto GOD to worship his Saints to goe in Pilgrimage to fast whole Lent to confesse to heare Masse c. But I pray you vpon what ground is this built and who requires such at your hands if wee will serue GOD let vs serue him according to his worde let vs enquire for his holye will and hauing found it let vs follow it obediently for truelye there was neuer so base a maister but hee would be serued according to his will prescribed vnto his seruants or disciples concerning their duty Wherefore shall we then deteine from God his right who hath reuealed his holy will vnto vs in his worde and the meanes how he will bee serued by vs. If then we will be obedient vnto him let vs seeke nothing in our selues to please him nor also the institutions of the Fathers to followe them according to the commaundement of GOD giuen to the Israelites Ezech. 20. verse 31. Walke yee not in the ordinances of your Fathers neither obserue their manners nor defile your selues with their Idols I am the Lord your God walke in my statutes and keepe my iudgements and doe them For as God saith in the 55. Chapter of the Prophet Esay verse 8.9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your wayes my wayes saieth the Lorde For as the Heauens are higher then the Earth so are my wayes higher then your wayes and my thoughts aboue your thoughts And in the 15. Chapter of Mathew the 9. verse But in vaine they worship me teaching for doctrines mens precepts But let vs turne our selues to him seeing hee dooth inuite vs so kindely by his worde and as Cyprian an olde Father saith Cypr. Epist 3. lib. 2. Let vs not beholde those thinges that haue beene done and teacht before our times if so be wee will followe Iesus Christ but let vs before all things cast our eyes on those thinges which Christ who was before all men hath commanded to be done by vs following rather the trueth then custome And although an Angell from heauen should Preache you an other Gospell then I preache vnto you let him bee saith the Apostle an Anatheme Gallathians 1. Our Doctors holde to the contrarie by Popely authoritie that all those are execrable that doe not holde for good their institutions and humaine traditions But is this so wonderfull deere bretheren that such men shewe themselues so haynous enemies against the trueth and the holye Scriptures seeing they bee so bolde as to come thus farre that besides all their blasphemies against the worde of GOD Robbing of Iesus Christ to vnder-creepe and to robbe from Christ his office and honour that onely appertayneth vnto him before God his heauenly Father to accomplishe the worke of our gracious redemption stealing awaye a parte of his sacrifice by their merites and indulgences drawne out of the treasure of the Romish synagogue which as they saye is full of the merites of the Apostles and holye Martyres and of their workes of supererogation this they make the poore ignorante people beleeue Those now that haue great store of money and goods for that is it that maketh their chimney to smoake the spit to broache their roast meat buy of the same thinking to get therby saluatiō and thus according to their pleasure doe distribute for money the bloud of Iesus Christ wherein they are like