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	scripture_n	spirit_n	3,143	5	5.2045	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A65902	A manifestation of truth ... writ in answer to a book which a nameless author hath written against the people called Quakers : wherein is contained divers untruths and hard speeches tending to beget jealousies and evil thoughts of them who are known to be harmless and innocent ... : also the truth of those things which they believe and practice ... is declared / by John Whitehead.	Whitehead, John, 1630-1696.	1662 (1662)	Wing W1979; ESTC R26356	14,009	17

and others but we see they are most degenerate from true Nobility and Christian saith and so least deserve it which do so eagerly seek honour one of another Joh 5.44 for to such Christ said how can ye believe rendring that as the reason of their unbebelief And further a King we can call by that title and a Father by that title and those that are our Masters according to the flesh by that title and every one in their place by such titles as are neither false flattering nor blasphemous but such titles as are so we cannot give to any Job 32 21 22. for in so doing God would soon take us away And for curteousness to all both to Superiors and to Equals where is the man or woman among all our neighbours that have been conversant with us that can justly accuse us and shew wherein we have not been curteous and amiable to them unless they count it discurtesie to be reproved for evil or not to have their persons worshipped and adored as God with uncovering the head and bowing the knee which is usual when we approach to him in prayer and if withholding that from men be esteemed discurtesie let them shew where God commanded it or the antient Christians gave it Hester 3.5 6. seeing Mordica denyed to give it when required by a King to Hamnan a person of great place though thereby he did not only endanger his own life but the life of all the Jews throughout the Provinces of Babylon And further if any do judge us not curteous for speaking to them in that language which God and nature hath appointed for distinction betwixt singular and plural numbers viz. Thou to a single person whether Superior or Inferior and You to many then let them come forth and shew the contrary to be a curtesie commanded or commended by God or any of his Saints And for not using divers other vain customs and manners of the Nation in which we live I know we are accused of discurtesie and unmannerliness as for not using the drunkards custom and manner in drinking one to another and pledging those that drink to us and for not using the ignorant peoples custom and manner in saying god even and god-morrow when we meet them and other things wherein people will not be held guiltless for taking Gods Name in vain and using such words as corrupt good manners Ex. 20.7 and therefore we cannot be conformable to them though for it we suffer reproach and sure if the Author of that writing with whom I now deal had met some of Christs antient Disciples he would have said they had gone by men like a Hog or a Cow as he saith we do when they were obedient to Christs command who said salute no man by the high-way and the Prophet said if any salute thee Luk. 10.4 2 King 4.29 answer them not again But in all other things wherein we may do any service to God or our neighbours where is the man that can say we refuse or are discurteous or unneighbourly and from whom have we withholden either rents debts or other customs as he accuseth us which in righteous reason and conscience is due but sure our blameless conversation in these things may by this time have stoped the evil surmizings and gainsayings of our adversaries and therefore I shall commit our cause to the Lord who I am perswaded will yet more and more plead it and clear the innocency of those that love him by the rising of his light which is a faithful witness in all consciences to which we desire more and more to be made manifest And therefore we desire that all sober people may take heed of receiving false informations against us whereby both they and we may be wronged but rather first hear what we declare and hold for and then judge of it and us according to the Light of the Spirit which God gives them and according to the Scriptures of Truth and if by true tryal they finde us hold forth or practice that which is contrary to either let them avoid it 2 Cor. 4.2 for on no mans conscience would we impose any thing which he cannot freely receive no more then we would be imposed upon for it is our principle to do unto all men even as we would be done unto Writ the 24th day of the second Month 1662. THE END

A MANIFESTATION OF TRVTH 1 Concerning the Scriptures and concerning the Word Light and Spirit within 2. Concerning trial of Spirits 3. Concerning Perfection 4. Concerning Salvation by Christ 5. Concerning Swearing 6. Concerning the Worship of God and why we separate from those that worship in Temples made with hands 7. Concerning Ministers and Maintenance 8. Concerning womens speaking in the Church 9. Concerning Superiours and Inferiours and the honour that is due from the one to the other wherein something is said concerning Title Courtesies and Salutation by the highway WRIT IN ANSVVER To a BOOK which a Nameless Author hath written against the People called QUAKERS WHEREIN Is contained divers Untruths and hard Speeches tending to beget jealousies and evil thoughts of them who are known to be Harmless and Innocent in the Authors Tennants and Neighbours to whom he hath sent this Book which is here detected and the Innocency of Gods servants cleared Also the Truth of those things which they believe and practice in these particulars aforesaid is declared By John Whitehead who hath no pleasure in stirring up strife and contention about things of his nature And therefore hath laboured rather to manifest the Truth to the unbiassed Reader than particularly to traduce his Adversary desiring that he and those to whom he directed his Book may have a sight of this if peradventure it may be in instrumental to remove from them all prejudice that they may receive the naked Truth as it is in Jesus Friendly Reader I Have lately received in manuscript a small Book which in the fear of the Lord I have read over and seriously pondered which I was the more induced to because I had some ground to suspect if not to conclude that it was writ by Lord Say who hath been famous for the profession that he hath made of Christianity And therefore I should admire Isa 29.14 but that I know the pleasure of the Lord is to confound the wisdom of the wise and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent from whom he hides that which he reveals to babes that no flesh might glory in his sight I say but that I know and do consider these things I should admire that he who hath read the Scriptures Mat. 11.25 and so long professed Christ who said that men would say all manner of evil of his blessed and peculiar people should be so far degenerated both from Christian Charity and true Nobility Ch. 5.10 as to harbour so many evil thoughts and groundless jealousies of an Innocent harmless people and my soul mourns that he is so far given up to believe lies and report such palpable untruths against us amongst which I shall only instance these few as none of the least viz That George Fox desired a Gentlewoman to wear a Bracelet for his sake and thereby enchanted her to follow him from which George Fox hath approved himself innocent as a child and so shall I ever look upon him till the spreaders of that slander bring forth their Author That James Nailor made himself or said of himself that he was Christ is another lie though it be true that some foolish women which both he and we reproved said so of him And it hath often been proved and printed to the shame of the first raisers of that slander that he never said of himself that he was as holy just and good as God Therefore till the contrary be made manifest by some known Author we must conclude that another lie A fourth is That Jesuites and Priests are known to mingle themselves amongst us and be our Teachers and Instructers which thing I know to be false and the grievous sufferings of divers of my dear friends for testifying against their bloody persecuting principles and Idolatrous worship may sufficiently evince that we mingle not with them nor they with us And my hearts desire is that English men might beware lest while they look for Jesuites and Popish Priests amongst us they be not led by them themselves into such snares as they cannot easily break and till the parties be named which see one of our friends go with a rope about his middle to hang a Minister I shall conclude that another lie because I know it is contrary to our very nature and principle who are born from above which is to save mens lives and not to destroy as also all whoredom and uncleanness is an abomination to us therefore do we both warn and testifie against the practisers of it which is sufficient to demonstrate that he who solicites to filthiness and she who said she was commanded of the Father to go to bed to a man being none of her husband if any such there were are not of us therefore do I conclude those reports slanderous Divers other hard speeches and groundless suggestions I find which I shall not particularize being satisfied they are not grounded upon any just cause given by us either in doctrine or practice also hoping that the Author may be sensible say this time wherein truth is risen above slanders that he hath overshot himself in writing such grievous things against us whom I am perswaded he doth not sully know and therefore I cannot wonder if he do persecute which yet I will not positively affirm though I do certainly know that his principle leads to it which saith that a Blasphemer may justly be put to death in Gospel times though Christ Jesus who is far more excellent then Moses gave no such command but rather held forth the contrary in the whole course of his doctrine and practice Read Mat. 13. But if he with whom I now deal have had his hand against any which for conscience sake could not respect his person so as to imprison their persons or spoil their goods for things done in obedience to the Light of Christ in their consciences though contrary to his judgement that will be found in Gods day persecuting their persons under the pretence of persecting the Devil and their sin which narrow cover the most bloody persecutors ever had but howsoever Jer. 20.10 this I say and do desire that he may know it if he be yet alive that he is at least guilty of their sin who said Come let us smite him with the tongue report ye and we will report it But surely the Lord sees how we are set as a mark for every one to shoot at Isa 25.8 and I am perswaded that when he hath fully tryed us he will rowl away the reproach from us for ever And their eyes that wait to see us slumble and fall into foul enormities as divers professors but not professors of the fame Life have done shall certainly fail for hitherto hath the Lord helped us and blessed us and made us to stand in the sufficiency of his grace in the sight of our enemies and I know that his presence is yet with us and we are of him and not of that Spirit