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	holy_a	scripture_n	2,400	5	5.5262	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A90786	The way to the peace and settlement of these nations, fully discovered in two letters, delivered to his late Highnesse, and one to the present Parliament, as also one to his Highnesse Richard Lord Protector, of England, Scotland, and Ireland, &c. Wherein the liberty of speaking ... is opposed against Antichrist, for the procuring of his downfall, who will not grant the same to others; and now published to awaken the publick spirits in England, and to raise up an universal magistrate in Christendome, that will suffer all sorts of people, (of what religion soever they are) in any one countrey, as God (the great magistrate) suffers the same in all countreys of the world. By Peter Cornelius, Van Zurick-Zee, a lover of truth and peace.	Plockhoy, Pieter Corneliszoon, fl. 1659.; Cromwell, Oliver, 1599-1658.; Cromwell, Richard, 1626-1712.	1659 (1659)	Wing P2581E; Thomason E972_6; ESTC R203156	15,982	32

soon attempted to hold forth the authority of the Scriptures according to their own sense upon which when they have introduced matters contrary to reason and people have refused to receive them for authentick they have by their acquired authority kindred the people from so much as to speak or whisper against it constraining them to believe what they say and also to rely upon them and their absolution and to take away all scruple from the people have given out that they will answer for them at the day of judgement Yea moreover which is far more terrible will undertake to pawn their souls for theirs By which perswasions the people being in anxiety fal into their bosomes as in former times in their grosse darkness oppugning the holy Scriptures and the consciences of some with greater earnestnesse are resisted and rejected Yet these men being driven out by Tyranny and seperated from Popery have commonly something of that sower-leaven remaining in them to bind others to their opinions making as a foundation of their fellowship new forms over and besides the holy Scriptures whereby they have not exalted Christ but themselves they have not held close to that only name which was given for men to be saved by but many names as heads of parties according to the different forms they have brought into the world Whence great strangenesse making of parties yea sometimes war and horrible blood-sheddings have ensued which have been managed not for the sake of the holy Scriptures which they all held for truth but to keep up their own opinions till again some more understanding men perceiving the various differences of the forms and wayes and the mischief and wicked disturbance which this strife and variance in writings of disputations and controversie hath produced have justly rejected all names and rules besides the name and rule of Jesus Christ living among them as men full of love and forbearance whose understandings and life clash not against the holy Scriptures and found reason although they differ among themselves in apprehensions upon some places of the Scripture but do continue in brotherly love and unity by which forbearance they do not only set others in the right way so farre as they are in the truth but are also by others brought out of the way wherein they themselves did erre a thing which ought to bear sway with all men according to the words of Christ As you would that men should do unto you so do you unto them also that they should bear with one anothers opinions and conceptions as they would themselves be born withall in theirs For it hath more the resemblance and appearance of compelling the Consciences and of Tyranny then of Reason to press any one to come up to anothers apprehension as necessary before he can apprehend it with his own understanding to be good and necessary This hath been in former ages the policy of Persecutors and makers of Sects and Schismes who not only have cast out by their power such whose understanding they could not bring to agree with theirs but being unable to do it have made great broils rents and divisions in the world whereas every one since God is so long suffering ought with constant persevering love without despairing in the work to labour according to their power to enlighten others that are in darknesse For if those that have the light reject others or depart from them then the blind having no good leaders must needs go astray and being led by the blind fall into a deep abysse of Ignorance On the contrary all true lovers of the common good do labour not only to take out of the world Factions but also all humane inventions as much as in them lieth that so the Lord Jesus may alone remain Lord and Master whose sayings they bear great honour and respect unto although they possibly cannot understand the meaning of some particulars yet being confirmed by signes and wonders do hold the same for good and true In which thing as to the salvation of man they will put no trust or affiance in any besides Jesus Christ nor yet receive any thing as truth but that which they themselves can apprehend to be good and agreeable to his doctrine therefore do they themselves not set up or own any authority whereby men should rely upon it nor yet should give any others Authority whereby to draw men into their party but should bind all men unto Jesus Christ whom they acknowledge only for Head and Saviour We desire from the bottome of our hearts that all men might be gathered together under that one name and that your Highness from whom almost every one expects some speciall work will help to cleanse the Christian Religion and worship of God from all prevailing exorbitances and to that end would institute as an eternall memoriall and example to all Dominions and Governments in the world in every City and in every County throughout England Scotland and Ireland one generall Christian assembling or meeting-place in such a form that all people may see one another round-about by the help of seats rising by steps having before them convenient leaning-places to read and write upon also one desk aloft on one side or end to hear the holy Scriptures read at a set time giving freedome after that reading to all people orderly to confer together concerning the Doctrine and Instruction of their Lord and Master Christ That all Lording over Consciences being prevented all people might come together without receiving any obstruction by any human forms or contrivances even as the Jews being divided into several Sects as Pharisees Saduces Esseens and Herodians c. met together in one Temple so we would not deny any particular Congregations of their freedome of peaceable meeting among themselves about the Ordinances of Jesus Christ as the Orders or Synagogues of the Jews were not at all infringed nor bereave the Ministers or Teachers of their benefit which they receive of their own people for their maintainance for they having a fit opportunity may the better bring in their sense with others into this generall Church-meeting That so the truth getting enlargement the honest party may be resolved into unity and the bad that cannot indure the light may be discovered and made known who only seeking Dominion and rule should not by any means be imployed in high places in matters civil or spiritual that so the seat of Government may not be usurped by their Adherents when things go contrary to their minds being cruell Wolves who in seeking of their advantage wil not spare the flock over which the Rulers who should be placed to keep the people in order ought especially to take care that they do not hinder them from the liberty of speaking freely as it happeneth commonly in particular assemblies or congregations contrary to the laudable practice of the Jews Acts 13.15 who themselves after the reading of the Scriptures did invite and stir up Paul and Barnabas

evidently then formerly and the more because the common assembling place may be instituted for drawing of the people from the Ministers in all places without compulsion of any man bringing all Sects without giving wages to any as brethren to equal priviledges But if those that are of one and the same opinion will have particular Congregations and Set-Ministers let themselves pay them as a Master doth his servant For it s no reason that a man should help to maintain anothers servants especially if they be such as in his judgement are soul-destroyers who being in his senses would assist such enemies as do countermine him Is it not to be wondred at that the Ministers who would be esteemed more then the Magistrates should to the shame of their Church or Congregations desire wages of them for whom they have not laboured Neither is it the mark of a true Church where the Members thereof are so covetous and unmercifull that they will not maintain or provide for their own Ministers and the Teachers loving the wages of unrighteousnesse do contrary to the 10th Commandement covet the goods of others whereof the Apostles and their Congregations would have been ashamed to think much lesse would do it Yet I hope that once the Conscience-burthening-law of constraining to pay Tithes to the Ministers who seek rather after Lucre then the Truth for the rest of these Nations will be made null and void Some course being taken to supply the necessities of the Ministers who by such Act that none shall be forced to pay Tithes to them may be brought to a want of a subsistance and yet that this may be so done only for those that are now made destitute but no encouragement for any others in time to come And by this the Magistrates while every Sect maintain their own Ministers will be freed from laying such intollerable burthens on their Subjects having to provide for none else but those who are appointed in the generall Assemblies or meeting-places to read the holy Scriptures and keep the people in order to shew that they are no maintainers of Sects but of the Christian Religion being as Fathers and Mediators to bring the good together out of all Sects to unite under the name of Jesus to the end that his Kingdome and Government may be enlarged for an example to Holland Denmark Sweden France and other Kingdomes who seeing there is no force nor constraint used will easily be brought to a firm bond of Unity This being the only means by forsaking all Men and human-Forms to be blessed by Christ whose honour only is sought against the Antichrist contrary to the way of other Kings and Princes who being separated from Popery have made themselves unworthy of the blessing of Christ by giving honour to the bare name of Luther Calvin and others instead of giving it to Christ having been deceived by the little Antichrists their followers who as well as the great one seek their own glory ease and idlenesse and as if they had no fellowship with the great Antichrist have put the holy Scriptures into the common peoples hands which was before was prohibited to be read only seeking that we should agree with them in their Forms applying and fitting themselves such is their subtilties to the temper of the times as a Fowler gives scope to a Bird he hath already in a string that so at length it may be content to live in a Cage Now against these little Antichrists who under the name of giving liberty would bind the people to their opinions the Magistrates being taught by experience should as wel counter-work as against the great that they may come to the very root bringing the holy Scripture which was formerly prohibited to be read with great Triumph into the generall Assembly or meeting-place and set it on high to the end that the found or report of this to wit that Christ alone must rule by his word in the hearts of men among all Nations according to the great work done in England may be heard giving liberty to every one after the reading of the Scripture contrary to the little Antichrist who wil have it understood only according to their own Forms and Expositions to set forth his own apprehension without being bound to any ones opinion That spirituall matters being applyed to spiritual Antichrist may be stormed with two Armies viz. the Truth against Error and the materiall sword against oppressors who by their arrogating disposition and exclusion of others do seek to restrain the liberty of speaking which discovers the errors of the understanding for the cure thereof Whereas by stopping the mouths of people as heretofore they make men incureable Now to further this that the weaknesse or Ignorance of some may be remedied by the knowledge of others without disturbance or Confusion it will be necessary that the Authority of the Magistrate interpose in this generall Assemby or meeting-place that every one may speak in their order staying their time and those that break order may after due warning be ejected till they are better disposed without oppressing them by Imprisonment or otherwise This would be glad tiding yea a true year of Jubilee for those that lye in prison only for asserting their opinions in matters of Religion that now they may together with others bring in their understandings into this generall Assembly to receive or give light And to the end that Antichrist or he that exalts himself above others may be continually shut out it is exactly to be observed that no preheminence or sole priviledge be granted to any of offering any thing or of speaking first that so every one being at liberty and unhindered may bring forth that which is most conducing to the Common welfare according to the words of Paul 1 Cor. 14.16 All of them sitting still so long after the reading of the Scriptures as being swift to hear and slow to speak till any one think it fit in his judicious and humble mind to propose somewhat for mutuall edification endeavouring withall to make his discourse short that another may have his turn likewise contrary to the custome of the common Teachers who only or solely speaking do lengthen out their discourse to the wearinesse of their Auditory for which end the Moderators who ought to be meek and understanding men are to observe that there be due order kept This seeing no Forms or Articles are made in it besides the holy Scripture will be a Councel and Synod standing alwayes open to all rational people without imposing any mans conclusions contrary to the former Assemblies who have excluded all Nations and Posterity by their self conceitednesse dividing people as by a wall of separation one from another by their Forms whereupon great estrangement hath ensued as if they were different Nations And the better to set up their Antichristian Kingdom and dominion have so contrived their Catechismes that they have bound up and so spoiled the understandings of their

may not longer make a trade merchandize of the things of God Granting an equall liberty to all peaceable people as being but reason that such as have ventured their lives and estates in the time of warres should in the time of peace enjoy a like liberty with others which may soon be if you seriously consider the things all along propounded not that I am come unto England to be your instructer but to bring to your Honours remembrance those very things which have been upon your own hearts in order to the establishing of such a generall liberty as hath been for many years of late pretended unto being the only way wherein you may expect the blessing of God upon you and your posterity against all oppressors to the taking away of that shamefull reproach that the Magistrates and Ministers in England have brought down the King and Bishops rather to succeed in their places then to bring the people to peace and happinesse If the power to defend the good against the evill in all Countreys be ordained of God Romans 13. then reason requires that all sorts of people of what Nations soever being in one Countrey together should be protected as wel as if any of them severally was in his own which cannot be except there be a good publick-minded and godly Magistrate that will suffer all sorts of people in any one Countrey as God suffers the same in all Countreys of the world which I expect first in England and so from thence to break forth as a light to all other Countreys and Nations as having long enough walked as in the night by the glimps of particular lights It is time that the universal work of God as the Sun do out-shine all that is particular to which end I implore the presence of the most high God to be in your Assembly to guide and direct your hearts in all those things that may be acceptable unto him and most agreeable to his good will and pleasure Your Honours and all mens humble servant Peter Cornelius V. Z. London the 24. of Jan. 1659. Hollands stile Give ear to the poor for the cry of them is exceeding great in these Nations Peter Cornelius V. Z. together with some other lovers of the common good to the Mighty Potent Farre-renowned yet mortal Lord Oliver Cromwell Protector of England Scotland and Ireland c. For the promoting of good Governement wisheth long life wisdome and foreseeing Councellors of State to the end that his actions may tend not onely to the convincing of all that envy him but that also he may be a light and an example to all Dominions and Governments in the world WOrthy and as I hope favourable Lord being come into England during the time of your free government I have with much chearfulnesse beheld the great freedome which this Nation since the putting down the authority of Bishops doth enjoy which I hope by degrees will more and more prevaile in the world to the taking away of all force upon Consciences that men may be led and governed by reason as men and not as beasts by compulsive power And that those who are once delivered from the Antichristian Captivity may not be taken Captive again by others who together with the great Antichrist seek their own greatnesse It is most highly necessary that the Example of Christ to reconcile all into one should be followed for those that force the Conscience being not able to bring all under them by worldly power do commonly manifest their own inclination to be void of Christian love and forbearance by gathering into Sects and Schismes so that besides the great Antichrist there are many little Antichrists that endeavour to rise up None of which being able to endure any opposition or gainsaying do seek to gain and draw a part of Christendome under their jurisdiction On the contrary the Lord Jesus Christ hath taken captivity captive That is put those to shame that held others Captive by his Ascention into heaven and gave gifts unto men that they should not be led astray again viz. he gave as means to salvation Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors and Teachers whose doctrine alone while it is yet through Gods mercy as a measuring line or clue of thred in the world we should set that on the Throne treading under foot all meer humane traditions as Idolatry That so all Christendome being divided into divers Sects as formerly the Jews were a generall way of Church-meeting may be instituted for the hearing of Gods word read unaltered and unsophisticated leaving a freedome for all Sects as well the one as the other to assert their owne apprehensions and understandings upon the Lessons of their Master Christ without being tyed to one anothers opinions ☞ For it belongs only to God and Christ to have dominion over Consciences and to Magistrates to prevent any from exercising Lordship over the Consciences of others in so doing they would be true maintainers and defenders of Liberty when they use not their power against those that assert their own meanings but against those that would compel others to be of their opinions For this viz. to deal equally in matters of Religion towards subjects is not only good and pious but is also the foundation of a good Government Whereas otherwise when one Sect shall be encouraged and commended to the Church and the other excluded then jealousie and envy will spoil all so that the Magistrate in stead of being beloved may often fear that their State will be undermined and at length totally destroyed especially when that one party is become numerous or do joyn with a forraign or homebred enemy Wherefore though they should want the fear of God yet for their own peace-sake they should give freedome to all and the rather seeing thereby the noblest and best of understanding are from all places invited and convened in for whose wisdome sake as of Josephs in Aegypt without respect of persons they ought to be suffered to come in by the Magistrate for the common good and welfare So that there may not only be a refining in Civil or Politick but chiefly in spirituall matters For as formerly amongst the Jews when men began to believe that the Priests under the Law could not erre as to their Institutions and Traditions Gods commands were made void or of no effect After the same manner also hath it been since the time of the Apostles in Christendom that instead of the holy Scriptures only having been confirmed by Miracles which should be held a rule of Faith yet some being lovers of themselves have taken upon them a dominion jointly with Christ giving out that men must believe and hold for true what ever the Church viz. the Bishops or other superintendents thereof do declare as truth The common people not perceiving by reason of the great respect which they bear to those that are set over them that some of them seek to make themselves great they have