Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	according_a	call_v	word_n	1,705	5	3.8890	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A75464	The anti-covenant, or a sad complaint concerning the new Oath or Covenant: presented in a letter to a dear and intimate friend, with earnest request for his advice and prayers. By a true loyall subject, and lover of the Parliament.	True loyall subject and lover of the Parliament.	1643 (1643)	Wing A3489; Thomason E60_10; ESTC R23546	44,797	58

little lesse then a premunire for that it was by them decreed to be tendred to the Subject without any act passed in Parliament for the same We beseech them therefore that that which was thought reason and Law then may not be so soone not only thought none but the flat contrary thought fit and practised by the same persons It followes in the inference That all that are true hearted and lovers of their Country should binde themselves c These are conjuring words to the Country people and of very large compasse had they declared that all that are true hearted and lovers of the true Protestant Reformed Religion should binde themselves c. it might have made Papists Anabaptists Brownists and such like to have startled at it whereas this calling upon all that are true hearted and lovers of their Country may chance to fetch them and all in and the truth is let each part of this oath bee throughly scanned there will be very little or nothing found in it but what all Papists Anabaptists and Brownists that thinke themselves in their owne sense true hearted and lovers of their Country and have not taken the oath of Allegiance Supremancy and the last Protestation may more safely sweare vow or covenant then they that are true hearted Protestants and reall lovers of the Reformed Protestant Religion established in the Church of England All that I can see which may cause them to scruple it is this They must sweare that they do in their consciences beleeve That the forces raised and continued by the two Houses of Parliament are raised and continued for the defence of the true Protestant Religion c. and that they will assist those forces against the forces raised by the King And I beseech you why may not Papists Anabaptists and Brownists both beleeve this in their consciences and yeeld this assistance as well or better then any true hearted Protestant that loves the true Reformed Protestant Religion established And it must needs be thought very fit that such a sacred vow and covenant be made and taken by us true hearted Subjects and lovers of the true Protestant Religion for the defence of our Religion and Liberties which such professed enemies to our Religion and Liberties may with more safety of conscience make or take then we But not to dwell any longer upon the Introduction In the last place it will not be amisse to observe under what Names this new Oath is recommended unto us viz Under the names of a sacred vow and covenant I doe not use to boggle at Names but these are the times of Jealousies and Feares and it cannot bee expected but some will be fearefull and jealous of the Declarations and Actions of the Lords and Commons now assembled in Parliament as well as they have beene and still are of others and therefore I trust it is a pardonable sinne if any to say I like this Oath somwhat the worse for its appearing to us under that borrowed name of sacred vow and covenant and not under its owne proper name An Oath I ever suspected the shifting of Names and I would faine know some reason if it might be imparted to such a one as I am why it should not being an attestation or calling God to witnes for the confirmation of what is asserted or promised which is as full compleate and formall an Oath as can be taken be tendred unto us under the name of an oath rather then under the name of a sacred vow and covenant Is it to facilitate the taking of it there being many thousands of the ordinary sort of people that feare the taking of an oath especially a solemne publike oath having beene often taught the perill of it who will never startle at the making a vow or covenant being lesse instructed if not altogether ignorant of the nature of it Or are not these borrowed names used to hold the people more fully and firmly to this oath when t is once taken So that if the people after this oath taken should begin to doubt whether it bee not flatly contrary to their oath of Allegiance to their oath of Supremacy and to their late Protestation as without doubt it is and thereupon either thinke this oath absolutely void or question whether this or the former oathes were the more obliging it would be an advantage which the Time-serving-Preachers would not let slip to tell the people That this their last oath is to be held to before all their former because it is not only an oath as they were but also a sacred vow and covenant I am sure lesse advantages have beene made use of by those new Teachers But no more of the Name wishing from my soule that it had never beene named amongst Christians Come we to the Oath it selfe Concerning which for the satisfying of my owne conscience and the consciences of as many as you shall please to acquaint therewith I desire that one rule for the right taking of an oath may be throughly considered and each part of this present Oath examined according to that Rule The Rule is that of Gods own prescribing by his Prophet Jeremiah 4.2 Thou shalt sweare The Lord liveth in Truth in Iudgement and in Righteousnesse that is in few words Thou shalt sweare to nothing calling God who liveth for ever as a witnesse thereunto but what is True and what thou knowest and art sure of and what is just and righteous These three qualifications ought to bee the boundaries and limits of every oath and hee sinneth highly against the expresse Command of God and so hazards his Soule in a most perillous maner that fayleth in any one of these According unto these then let us in the Name of God examine the severall parts of this new Oath First every man that taketh this Oath is required to declare and that in reverence and humility to the Divine Majesty and as t is in the close of the oath in the presence of Almighty God the searcher of all hearts as he will answer at the great day when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed his hearty sorrow for his owne sinnes and the sinnes of this Nation c. and that his true intention is by Gods grace to endevour the amendment of his owne wayes Concerning which I propound these two Quaeres 1. Quaer How thousands and ten thousands in this Nation can swear this in Truth when as poore souls if all should take this oath that are by this Ordinance required t is to be feared there would be no fewer whose very hearts would give their mouthes the lie and whose very immediat actions would testifie against them to the contrary for alas how few are there who attaine to that height of grace and goodnes as to be heartily sorry either for their owne sins or the sinnes of the Nation Oh that there were such an heart in them sayd God once of Israel when they all promised that they would heare whatsoever