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	jesus_n	lord_n	1,817	5	3.2256	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A35134	A true and faithful testimony concerning John Samm the servant of the Lord who finished his course by laying down his life in Northampton Goal for the truth of Jesus, the 26th of the 1st month, 1664 ... / written by John Crook.	Crook, John, 1617-1699.; Greene, Thomas, 1634?-1699.	1664 (1664)	Wing C7215; ESTC R27612	10,327	18

prisoner in Northampton by me who for some years have had a right knowledge of him and his integrity and faithfulness to Gods eternal Truth of which he was made partaker He was a man of a sound mind and of an upright heart a lover of righteousness and hating iniquity Him the Lord was pleased to choose with the first in the County of Bedford who made him sensible of the living word in his heart by which the Lord brought him to know the work of Redemption who Redeemed him out of the worlds wayes and worships and brought him to Truth in the inward parts which truth he knew to be powerful which set him free from much which did entangle him and feeling the power of it the Lord chose him to bear testimony in words unto it which he received not of man nor by man but of the free gift from the Lord and when he had received it to wit the Truth in the inward parts and his mind to it turned then did he feel the sweet streams of the Lords love to his thirsty soul by which his heart was often filled with joy and great rejoycing and also the Lord in the strength of his Love and in the sense of the living vertue of his life did open his mouth in praises to the Lord to the great refreshment and comfort of his children who were begotten by the same word of power unto the feeling of the life by which he was filled many times as a Cup that overflowes and a good understanding had the Lord given him of the mysteries of his Kingdom and of those things which he had heard learned and received of the Lord in the light of his Son that did he faithfully communicate unto others in the demonstration of the Spi●it of God in season and out of season without respect of time place or person yea prosperous was he made in the hand of the Lord to the convincing of many in the Counties where he travel●ed and to the turning of many from darkness to light from Sathans power to God and a good instrument he was of comfort to the tempted ones and a refresher of the weak ones and a confirmer of the tender hearted in that present Truth which they had received and these words would run through him often saying on this wise As every one hath received Christ the Light so let him walk in it And he was also a man full of love and very zealous for the Lord but not without knowledge for a living sense he had of the heavenly power of God by which he was filled many times as with new Wine and would often say Who is able to containe of this heavenly Vertue and not praise the Name of the Lord And the Lord his Truth and People was dear unto him for whose sakes he often suffered Imprisonment and spoyling of his goods and did rather choose to suffer affliction upon Truths account with the people of the Lord then to enjoy the pleasures of this life for a season or sinne against the light of Christ Jesus which did shine in his heart and give him the knowledge of the Glory that 's Eternal for the enjoyment of which this world and it's glory was of little value to him and both in prison and out of prison the Lord did accompany him with his heavenly presence and many times fill him with the vertue of his life by which his heart was engaged to the Lord. These things I can boldly speak of him having a right knowledge of him being once cast into prison with him because we could not break the command of Christ in sinning against his Ligat which sayed in us Swear not at all according as is recorded in the Scriptures of Truth for which at that time we suffered eighteen weeks Imprisonment with many more of the servants of the Lord who kept the Commandments of God and had the Testimony of Jesus and our hearts was knit together even as Jonathans was to David and as Iron sharpeneth Iron so did the Lord by the manifestation of his love and life in our hearts cause us often to refresh each other Well what might I speak my Friends in Truth of our deceased Brother who fainted not unto the end who hath now finished his Course and made not Shipwrack of Faith and a good Conscience but hath kept the Faith and in it is fallen asleep and now his bodily presence we here no more shall see bu● his life is amongst us and is felt with the faithful for while it was conteined in that narrow compass he would often say There 's no straitness in the Lord but the straitness is of man And he would say How doth one drop from the presence of the Lord cause the Cup to overflow saying Who is able to containe of the exellent streams of Life and not praise the living God On Friends amongst whom he traveled feel his life among you and remember his labour of love for the labour of the Righteous tendeth to life and for this end did he travail labour and suffer to death as a valiant in Israel that many might be made partakers of the like precious faith which he knew to overcome and to give victory and to preserve him to the Lord that so being made partake●s of the riches of Gods grace rejoycing in themselves they might witness this was the earnest desire of his Soul surely the memorial of the Righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance but the name of the wicked shall ●ot So this is my testimony on the behalf of that valiant man who counted not his life dear to himself that he might finish his course with joy And now dear Friends and Brethren whom the Lord hath called in this the day of his mighty Power and hath made you partakers of his Divine nature and hath caused the windowes of Heaven to open and hath shoured down of the ●ertue of his life upon you and ye who have often se●t the ●weet influences of the Fathers love unto your souls be not over much troubled at this our loss but feel his life among you for affliction cometh not out of the dust neither doth trouble spring out of the ground yet man is born to trouble as the spark fly upward as saith Job but the Lord is the support and deliverer of the Righteous and he is their present help in the needful time who brings them to their expected end in peace as he hath this our friend in a good age like as a shock of Corn cometh in in it's sea on And now ye children of the Lord born of the same birth wait ye for the streamings forth of the Lords love into all your souls that you may be as channels or as water courses through which the Lord causeth the water of life to run that you may not only be comforted in your selves but may have wherewithal to comfort others keep in the tenderness and love one to another as children of one Father all sucking at the same brests of Consolation by which the Lords people in all a●e were consolated that ye may grow up together as trees of Righteousness the planting of the Lord that a blessing in his hand ye may be and by his living power to the end ye may be preserved to the glory and to the praise of the Lord This as a testimony for that servant of the Lord J. S. whom I dearly loved with a short Salutation of love to the children of the first born The 7th of the 2d Month 1664. By one who suffers for the same Testimony for which our Brother layed down his life P●is●ner in the Town Goal of Ipswich in Suffolk your Friend THOMAS GREEN FINIS

A True and Faithful TESTIMONY CONCERNING John Samm The Servant of the LORD Who finished his Course by laying down his life in NORTHAMPTON GOAL FOR THE TRUTH of JESVS The 26th of the 1st Month 1664. Written by John Crook who had perfect knowledge of him from the beginning With an Exhortation unto all the Righteous to be watchful to take due notice of all the dealings of the Lord especially of his taking away of late so many faithful Labourers in his Work and to you principally in the Counties of Bedfordshire where his outward dwelling was Bucks Hertford Cambridge Huntington Ely and Northampton is this Testimony sent who have partaked of his Ministry and been refreshed with the streams of Life that often run through him among you to whom my Soul sendeth Greeting and wisheth unto you all Love Life Mercy and Peace Amen LONDON Printed in the Year 1664. A True and Faithful Testimony concerning John Samm the Servant of the Lord who finished his Course by laying down his life in Northampton Goal for the Truth of Jesus the 26. of the 1st Month 1664. DEarly Beloved of the Lord although many of you are not ignorant of the departure of John Samm out of the body and for what cause he was in outward bonds which was for meeting with the servants of the Lord and what his Life and Conversation was together with the Ministry committed to him by the Lord as well as his faithful discharge thereof is well known unto you and I might be silent if this were the only end to tell you of these things for is there such a stranger in Israel among you all as knows them not But notwithstanding I have a Testimony in my heart from the Lord on this behalf and do desire it may find acceptance with you to stirre up your pure minds to be sensible of all the Lords dealings with you in your own particulars and also of his providences and disposings of those that are near and dear unto you all as I know this Servant of the Lord J. S. was unto all that throughly knew him and had inward acquaintance with him For his Education it is well known in Bedfordshire where he dwelt as also his Conversation which was just and honest among men before he was convinced of the Truth for the sake of which he suffered five or six times Imprisonment several times together for bearing testimony to the same Truth which at last he sealed with his life in Northampton Goal where he first suffered Imprisonment about the year 1656. in which prison he ended his dayes as he foretold saying Northampton was the first and will be the last For his Life and Conversation I can speak to it for I was perfectly acquainted with him both outwardly as a man and inwardly as a Christian as a man he was endowed with a competent measure of understanding and did improve it unto that end in the managing of the Creation for which it was given him being discrete sober and of good report among men and his carriage courteous and loving unto all much more might be said of this nature which I omit And as a Christian he was holy and harmless patient and meek valiant and bold contending earnestly for the faith which was once delivered to the Saints and in which he himself as a Saint did walk live and dye Christianity to him was not a talk but a life for rather then he would deny it he suffered loss of Estate Liberty and Life it self as he did Witness his often Imprisonment and his laying down his life at last for the same Cause As a Minister he had a dispensation of the Gospel committed unto him in which he was a faithful labourer in the work thereof with great zeal and fervency of Spirit taking all opportunities and occasions in the wisdom of the Lord as moved by him to deliver his message unto all people of all estates and degrees that he might be free from the blood of all men His gift was large his utterance plain to be understood his words savoury and powerful not painted with mans wisdom but as given him of the Lord being often spoken with great Majesty and in much Authority cutting deep to the wounding of the wicked one in man and easing of the poor and needy prisoner being often mindful of the Captive Daughter of Sion as of the pure Seed in deep Captivity that he might reach it help and when his words began to reach it he was as one transported with joy and when it was once raised and come forth of the prison house the Song of Moses and of the Lamb was in his mouth with much joy and great gladness of heart unto the astonishment of the wicked and filling the hearts of the righteous with great joy through the overflowings of his Cup and superaboundings of Gods love in his heart sometimes as one taken out of the body in which state his eyes would sparkle and his face be full of dread as one having authority and not as the Scribes Besides the melody of his voice sometimes sounding out the high praises of the God of Isr●el and at other times the blessed state of the righteous as they stood in Union with the living God and one with another Oh how have I seen him make the earth to tremble and the hearts of the upright to overflow with joy and gladness through that abundance of life that hath run through his Vessel unto the forcing of water out of the Rocks and tears out of the eyes of the Saints unto great abundance His Hymnes and Sounds sometimes were as flames of fire consuming the drossy matter and at other times as Swords and Spears cutting down and thrusting through the tall Cedars and lofty Oaks and wild Beasts of the wilderness Procuring an Eccho to the true Seed in the living babes which often made sweet melody in their Assemblies when but few words were spoken by him Methinks I hear his Instrument still sound Making the hearts of the just to abound With living praises to the God of Heaven Without one jarring string or voice un-even Though this seems strange to those that dwell below Yet what I speak I feel and well do know And look for more to be brought forth ere long In those that yet are learning the Lambs song An Exhortation unto all the Righteous especially those that were partakers of John Samms Ministry DId Joseph seek a place where to weep over Benjamin his Brother though yet alive And can ye Oh ye Sons and Daughters of Joseph refrain from mourning for the loss of a Father to many children whom he had begotten in the Lord And is there a time when the true Embassador of Peace may weep bitterly Oh can it be more seasonable at any time then when the Lord takes away the Righteous from the evil to come And hath he not done so to many Valiants of late whose Trumpets Alarm'd the World and made many

dead to arise at the sound thereof What was the cause and wherefore the Lord hath done it becomes every one to make enquiery in their own hearts and the rather because there is need yea great need of Valiants in this day the Harvest being great and the Labourers few And why the Lord should lessen the number seems to challenge a diligent enquiery at every ones hand to find out the cause thereof And let me stir ye up oh all ye that love the Lord to search every own his own heart with the light of Jesus And for this let my Harp also be turned to mournings and my Organ into the voice of them that weep For indeed I will tell you oh ye Children of my Father my Soul hath deeply considered this matter And I have this Answer the Lord will do what pleaseth him with the Instruments of his choosing and who hath been his Counsellor He will raise up and lay a side at pleasure for he will have no Idols of jealousie in this his day least it come to pass as when he made the brazen Serpent a Nehushtan Neither will he have his work neglected nor his Servants slighted whom he sends forth in Life and Power He would have his People to wait upon him in their own measures every one as they have received in it to keep close unto him that they all may be taught of him and have the rejoycings in themselves and not in another And the Lord will yet raise up Instruments to fulfil his purpose for his work shall prosper and by all these wayes and dealings of his he would have his Childrens Hearts made loose to all things under the Sun with their Lamps burning and lights shining having the loyns of their minds girt about with the Girdle of Truth keeping close unto the Lord with a pure heart that he may yet further make known unto them his mind and will for although you are now become the Sons of God it doth not yet appear what ye shall be but this know the more and oftner ye see him the liker to him ye shall be and let this be your care that he may be alwayes before you that you may not be moved And my dear friends keep low in your minds and delight to be often in the deeps with God Oh watch I even beseech you all as dear Brethren that by the Lords taking away of his Servants of late that have been blessed Instruments in his hands you may come the nearer unto that Teacher and hear his voice daily which cannot be removed into a corner that ye may all say in truth of heart we are come unto that Ministry which cannot be taken away by reason of death Oh that you may all feel more of this Ministry in your Assemblies daily and keep in that seed of life where you live with the spirits of those just men whose bodies are removed from you Indeed I feel I feel the Lord mightily at work in this his day be but still and you will see his wonders in the dayes past Let love abound among you as at the beginning and be pure and clean in heart and you will see by all Gods dealings what he aims at which is certainly to raise up his own life in you all over all the world unto his own praise and your joy for ever And all you that are sensible of the taking away of dear J. S. as being often refreshed by his life and comforted through his Ministry sink ye down sink ye down into the fountaine from whence he hath all his supplies and drink ye of the same blessing the Lord that the fountaine is in Christ the promised Seed unto whom feel your daily access Oh ye beloved of the Lord and say in your hearts with my soul O God it is enough that we have thy self to go unto and that we can in thy life enjoy communion with the spirits of the just ones And lift up your heads over all the world and be not dismayed with any amazement either inward or outward for your Redeemer lives and your Ransomer will not tarry and you that are full of sorrow by reason of your temptations and tryals which are many and that your own strength is so small I say unto you all lift up your heads For you that cannot live without Christ but feel your daily need of him He will not not not leave you nor forsake you for thou art the true heir of him that cannot live without him to thee he will come and will not tarry and in the mean time as a good Souldier endure the hardship It is but yet a little while and he will appear without sin unto thy souls Salvation For I ●eel thee and do travail for thee Oh thou well beloved how are my cries unto my God for thee who laments in thy spirit for want of the Lord and can hardly be perswaded of his love to thee thou art so uncomely in thine own eyes and thou lookest upon his dealings both within in thy Spirit and without in his taking away those instruments whom thou lovest and by whom thou wast refreshed as being in wrath against thee and for thy sake Well I know thee and am to testifie unto thee in mine and thy Fathers Name that he doth behold thee and his eyes do pity thee and he is waiting to be gratious unto thee that in an acceptable time he may commend his love unto thee and thy Salvation is sure Oh thou traveling Soul and I could even put my Soul in thy Souls stead to ease thee a little Well my cries are for thee and it is prayed that thy faith fail not So unto our God give up and when thou art sinking as to the bottome of sorrow there is a hand to support thee and thou wilt feel it in the lowest dungeon and darkest deep Be thou still and my God will be thy Interpreter to let the see know and understand thy state and condition with whom I leave thee in that bosome where Lazarus dwels safely and at rest when Dives is tormented and hath not one drop of that mercy with which thou art filled to the praise of our God for ever Amen The free flowings forth of my pure soul to J. S. whose Decease I do condole as followeth OH thou Valiant was thy time so bounded That death had no power till thou had sounded To stop thy voice or hinder thy sweet life From throughly conquering black envyes strife Well well It is enough what thou hast done Who in thy day with patience did runne The race of the nobly descended And would not be stopt till life was ended What Shall I speak thy commendation Or tell thy loss by lamentation To neglect the first seems to injure thee And to pass by the last is so to me As well as to many brethren more Who for thee can scarse refraine to weep sore So then I must speak something to thy fame Who as