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	spirit_n	true_a	2,352	5	4.6188	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A31459	The life and death of that holy and reverend man of God, Mr. Thomas Cawton ... with severall of his speeches and letters, while in exile, for his loyalty to the Kings Most Excellent Majesty : to which is annexed a sermon preach'd by him at Mercers Chappel, Febr. 25. 1648 ... : published with the approbation of several of his brethren, ministers of the Word in London.	Cawton, Thomas, 1637-1677.	1662 (1662)	Wing C1653; ESTC R36292	43,772	96

be related in its place forsook the Land of his Nativity not fearing the wrath of the Usurper by faith he sojourned in a strange Country where in faith he died faith as the Italian Ecclesiastes observes e un lume si chiuro et alto che offuscando gl' altri ci fa vedere le richezze nella poverta la gloria nelle confusioni la securta ne pericoli la pace nelle persecutioni la quiete ne travagli la felicita nelle miserie et la vita nella morte It s a radiant and high light set up in the firmament of the Soul which like the noonday sun darkening all other lights makes u● see riches in poverty glory in confusions security in dangers peace in persecutions rest in labors felicity in miseries yea life in death I am sure he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief but was strong in faith giving glory to God and would often say none but believers make God to be God 3. He was a Patron and pattern of self deniall he durst not look after great matters in the world either for himself or children but would often say to his dear Wife I would have thee to rejoyce more at a little grace in thy childrens hearts than if I had thousands to leave them Self denyall it was one of his speeches it in many mens mouths but hardly to be found in any mans practise It is a rare thing to see self deniall take place of self love yet he could say to God minus te amat qui tecum aliquid amat quod propter te non amat he loves God but little that loves any thing with God which he does not love for God All things in the world are but little and yet to despise that little is a great matter non est minimum in humana vita negligere minima but this man of God was no man for the world because he esteemed all the greatness of the world unable to make him great otherwise than by his contempt of it He would often say I do observe some professors give a great deal of scope to the flesh which they of all men should not do but should tye up their affections shorter and if God be God live as those that believe it It was as one observes Erasmus his speech that since men could not bring the world to christianity they have brought christianity to the world those precepts that have been too strict to give us liberty to follow the worlds vanity we have found vain distinctions and expositions of them to make those precepts signifie no more than we practise but we that make a good profession should make good our profession For his own particular he was one that could not take a breadth in Gods narrow or look for much elbow room in the pinching way that leads to Heaven He could strip himself of his posse and possidere all his abilities and enjoyments and lay himself and them down at the foot of his Saviour he was so much above himself that all things were below him and thought he was never perfectly himself till he had perfectly put off himself his interest his judgment his will his affections his relations his all went at a word from Christ he denyed himself and denyed all now judge whether this were not true self-deny-all 4. His patience was singular which was shewn not only in bearing but in willing bearing any burden laid on his shoulders Tolerare est patientia necessitatis amare tolerare est patientia virtutis to bear is the patience of necessity to love to bear is the patience of virtue he was not so unhappy in his afflictions as he was happy in his patience When at any time he was told of his patience and that God could not have picked out such another to suffer for him he would reply I thank God I never am so much impatient as to see religion abused to base and private ends All the while he was in Prison and afterwards in all the tribulations he went through he never charged God foolishly not discovering the least discontent or distast but when his visitants wished his releasment he would say he that believeth makes no hast and in our afflictions we should neither faint nor fret read the 37th Psalm he fainted not by dispair knowing that God was alsufficient he fretted not by passion kuowing that Gods cause might often need his patience never his passion This his patience was boiled up into joy and triumphing in tribulation he expressed more joy in parting with the world than ever he did for the enjoyment of it He was ever contented with a little of the creature but when God called him to it he cared not for any thing of it thinking those wants well supplyed that were supplyed with contentedness It 's not abundance that contenteth and enricheth but want to wit the want of desire for he that is poor in desires is rich in content summae opes inopia cupiditatum He that desires nothing is in some sort like God and those that are already blessed who are happy not because they have all but because they desire nothing comparing the 6th verse of the 4th of Phil. with the 7th he noted that our peace of contentation makes way for Gods peace of consolation and at another time speaking of Pauls being buffeted he said God somtimes did supply his Peoples wants by wants Thus in the worst condition he studied arguments to cause thankfulness and being thankfull he could not but be joyfull and being joyfull he could not be miserable This was patience and more than patience 5. For resolution and execution of his resolutions none went ever beyond him he was almost to a Proverb called THE RESOLVED MAN he chose with Athauasius rather to lose his whole See than one syllable of truth and was observed by many to act more according to the willingness of his spirit than according to the strength rather weakness of his body he would say I am confident God will have me to do as well as say true it is Q' on ne peut point trouuer de harnois pour asseurer la peur et pour la rendre hardie et que s'il se trouvoit des armuriers qui en sceussent et peussent faire ils auroyent grand presse None can find out an harness sufficient to make fear fearless and if there were any Armourors that could and would make such an harness they would have great custom but God had steeled his breast with undaunted fortitude and through the power of his might he could defie every thing besides and below God the joy of the Lord was his strength he had not only his armour on him but in him Resolution as one speaks as a strong stream carries down all before it little good is done in Religion without it and with it all is as good as done his christian generosity and

his University to teach him more of God so the University was his adversity for teaching the waies of God for he was an early Champion for Holiness and could better bear the reproaches of men for his holiness than the wrath of God for his unholiness behaving himself so that none could speak truly and reproachfully of him at the same time He was naturally inclined to solitude and having through desire separated himself he intermedled with all wisdom he loved to withdraw and retire from the world giving himself much to meditation and prayer thinking he had studied well when he had prayed well in this solitude he entertained his Saviour and by his refreshing society was more and more in love with his solitary as I may say society he could say with Cyprian Solus non est cui Christus comes est he wants no company that hath Christ for his Companion and indeed though solitude ●e to some hatefull to others hurtfull yet ●e that knows not how to be alone knows not how to be in company with profit this ● know that the less wisdom a man has the more he complains of the want of company The society he conversed with was of those that were painful and pious he kept no company with bad company such as loved God were his friends such as would come together to pray and confer about religion and strengthen one anothers hands against profaneness and ungodliness such were his delight and with such he would be very familiar and open-hearted If there be a Dalilah under Heaven it is evill society this as one says will bind us betray us blind us and undo us but the Lord being mercifull to him preserved him blamless and spotless in the midst of a wicked generaton of Schollars his righteous soul being vexed for the unlawfull deeds of those amongst which he dwelt The stream of example was never strong enough to make him stirr along with it when a gale of custom would carry others with full sails to the port of endless and easless misery alienis perimus exemplis we mostly borrow our own ruine and perish upon credit non ad rationem sed ad similitudinem vivimus unde ista tanta coacer●atio aliorum super alios cadentium we more aim at being like others than like men that are rationall and thence we see what great heaps stumble one upon another but he took up no imployment followed no company but what he had the broad seal of Heaven to confirm and what the narrow way to Heaven did warrant as usefull to travel with up the hill to happiness As he was carefull of himself lest he should at any time fall into bad company so he was very desirous and laborious to keep others out of it and reclaim those that were inveigled in it Particular and especiall notice was taken of one thing for which he was eminent and exemplary which was this that when any young youths came to the University either from his own Country or else where such as he knew or was informed were well educated under godly Parents or a godly Ministry he would be sure to get acquaintance with them at their first coming to the University before they were ingaged intangled or infected with bad company and would bring them into the society of some pious Schollars of which he himself was he was so pious as to lead them from the snare and so prudent as to take them at their first coming shewing them the danger before they fell into it and thereby disingaging them from the company and acquaintance of vain and debauched Schollars of which that Colledge was then full and who were as so many Factors for the Devil venting the wares which that grand Malefactor had to sell to young Schollars severall there were in the Colledge at that time who drew away new-come Students from their books and studies to their ungodly company and so made them debauched like themselves they were not content to go to Hell alone but they must force others to go many miles in the broad way who of themselves would not have gone one yet though this might seem to discourage him to see what Merchandize was made of souls he conscienciously and constantly laboured to counterwork these Factors of Hel and drove a trade for God in bestirring himself to insinuate into any lad that was ingenious and was very succesfull therein to the astonishment and confusion of his opposers many had great cause to bless God for him and their first acquaintance with him for his bringing them to Dr. Prestons and Dr. Sibbs his Lectures in those times and some to the knowledge of a Reverend and learned Divine his intimate friend at the University from whom I have this part of the narrative that are yet alive have blessed God for their acquaintance with him this his unwearied diligence in trafficking for God in his younger years was so generally observed in the Colledge that it grew almost into a proverb among the lewd and profane Schollars that such and such a youth was poison'd by Cawton's faction and was become a Cawtonist which nevertheless could not in the least deterr him from prosecuting the work of the Lord or from abiding and abounding in it but rather rooted and grounded him especially when he considered his labour was not in vain in the Lord and that God did graciously let him see of the travell of his Soul in the welfare of those Souls which he had been a means to deliver from being taken captive at Satans will He remained faithful in this good imployment as also in following his private studies in the University till he took his degree of Master of Arts seldom absenting and having served an apprenticeship of seven years to humane learning he found it prov'd but a blear-ey'd Leah as an ingenious Author loves to speak and not so amiable as was expected therefore now he resolves to serve for Rachel that is Divinity which is more beautiful and quick-sighted In order to his study of Divinity he removed for a time from the University to a place called Ashwell twelve miles from Cambridge to live in the house of that Reverend and holy man of God Mr. Herbert Palmer then Minister of that place from whom as he himself would often say he reaped no small benefit in his first setting upon the study of Theology both Theoretical and Practical ●e followed his business closely and with much delight and which is most and best ●e studied Theological Truths with a Theological Heart and indeed they are divine affections and a divine conversation which make the Divine Impii quidam homines egregiè videntur callere 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 revera tamen illa cognitio rerum Theologicarum est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quia fieri non potest ut cognitio verè Theologica babitet in corde non Theologo Many wicked wretches seem to be excellently skil'd ●n Divinity but the truth is such

a knowledge of Divinity is no Divine knowledge for it is impossible that true Divine knowledge should dwell in an heart that is not Divine Having grafted his Divinity knowledge upon a Divine heart and watered it with his tears in his frequent and fervent addresses to the Fountain of saving Wisdom God speedily gave an encrease with the encreases of God so that he in that place began his Ministry somtimes assisting Mr. Palmer in Preaching alwaies exercisi●● himself unto Godliness giving attendance to reading to exhortation and to doctrine not neglecting but stirring up the gift of God that was in him and in studying to approve himself to God a Workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the Wor● of Truth After he had thus prepared and furnishe● himself for the Ministry though he were fit yet he apprehended it not so safe to ente● upon a Pastoral Charge for his singula● modesty made him suspect his own abilitie and strength he was so little in his ow● eyes that he could not be less in the eyes o● others than he was in his own wherefore h● still continued assistant to Mr. Palmer till a● length by the means of the Reverend Mr Thomas Down Minister of Exeter he was called to live in the house of Sir William Armi● of Orton in Huntington-shire to which plac● he had a free and clear call by a special providence of God the circumstances of which would be too long to insist on in this brief Relation While he was there he was well beloved both in the Family and Countrey for his abilities faithfulness and plain dealing with that Family from the highest to the lowest A Papist could say that few rich mens Confessors should be saved that is that few great mens Chaplains should go to Heaven 〈◊〉 because they were so apt to flatter their M●●●ers but he could neither smother faults nor smooth them over in the greatest but would so sweetly reprove and admonish all sorts according to their qualities that though he were so honest as to be plain yet he was so discreet as to be pleasing in his reprehensions this his faithfulness joyned with a grave familiarity gained him the affe●●ions of all He was ever taking occasion to do good in at Family more especially in his solid ●●und and plain Exposition of Scripture in ●●s profitable and clear way of principling ●●techising and building them up in their ●●ost holy faith and in his Family and pri●●te prayers with and for them thus he ●●ent and was spent for God laying himself ●●t for his Lord and Master and imitating ●●m in his readiness to instruct the meanest ●● lowest capacities suiting himself to them ●●d becoming all things to all that he might ●●n some by which means backed with a ●●●rious godly conversation he so effectually ●●rought upon that Family that many have ●●use to be thankfull they ever were of that ●amily for his sake Not to let the gift of preaching rest and 〈◊〉 rust he often preached for the godly Mi●●sters round about him in that Country which Province he so zealously piously and ●●arnedly performed that he generally gain●● the hearts of all the godly in that Coun●●y especially of the Ministers witness that ●●rge testimonial given him under the hands 〈◊〉 the chiefest Ministers in that County at his ●●parture in which they much bewail their ●●eat loss in parting with him He was with ●●r William Armin four years painfully following his private studies family duties and often publick Preaching and now he was perswaded to venture into the World and to serve God more publickly in his Church to which by the advice of some able Divines he was perswaded resolving that when God should make way for him he would cheerfully embrace the offer of a Living About this time his worthy Moecenas never to be mentioned without a Preface of honour Sir Roger Townsend being very sick unto death sent for him but he could not come though he made all possible hast soon enough to see him living yet Sir Roger had not forgot him for just before his death he sealed a presentation of him to living in Essex called Wivenbo not far from Colchester that being then void Much lamenting the death of his worthy now glorious Moecenas and leaving the place he had at Sir William Armins he entred into his Ministeriall charge at Wivenho he found the Town notorious for all manner of vice and wickedness drunkenness and swearing abounded among them but especially Sabbath-breaking it was their common practise it being a sea Town to bring up their fish and sell it on the Lords day almost at the Church doors they would excuse themselvs that if they kept their fish they should spoil Gods creatures poor wretches 〈◊〉 as if it were worse to spoil Gods creatures than to disobey God the Creator He was instant in season and out of season preaching against that sin reproving them with much zeal meekness and compassion to their Souls perswading them not to go to sea on Saturday which they mostly didin regard of a Market near by kept on Munday which they said was the best market thereabouts for their profit such and the like cavils he easily removed shewing the weakness of them and bringing arguments against their ungodly courses to confute their specious pretences which Satan suggested to them to defend their sins withall and to defeat the reasons that were brought on Gods side for their eternall welfare Notwithstanding his publick preaching and his private admonishing he found it a very difficult work to bring them off from that sinful practice sea-men of all men being most obstinate yet he gave not over he was not short breath'd in the work of the Lord but still was importunate with them to look to Soul-work and eternity work and proceeded to sharp and cutting rebukes plainly stating their case here and their case hereafter Many of his Parish would send him fish in the evening of the Lords day but he never would receive any he would not be bribed to stop his mouth but more vehemently declaimed against their fin and gave them no rest till there was such a reformation wrought in the place as caused the admiration of such as knew that people Thus it pleased God to give a blessing to his unwearied labours amongst them in a plentifull Harvest of converts many coming in to him and seeing the evil of their sins were savingly wrought upon and given in to him as the seals of his Ministry others were restrained to an astonishment the power of godliness did so shine in his Doctrine and life that it had a commanding authority over the consciences of those with whom he conversed It was well said of one that a good Minister will reform a Parish better than a Justice of peace he spits fire into mens consciences and binds them over to the great Assizes I am sure the change that by his means was made in the People of Wivenbo was so