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
A49773	Concerning marriage a letter sent to G.F. and with it a copy of an answer to a friends letter concerning marriage, and some queries and his reply to the answer and queries and an additional to G.F.s reply containing 13 queries concerning marriage, also the manner how the parties intending marriage are to go together / published by Benjamin Lawrence by the consent and advice of friends.	Lawrence, Thomas, 1645?-1714.; Lawrence, Benjamin.	1663 (1663)	Wing L684; ESTC R31690	11,646	18

place of waiting for Gods stirring and manifestation Gods stirring is the time for faith to act in what the light doth manifest whether to be kept secret or declared Hester shewed it not to her people nor her kindred for Mordecai had charged her she should not tell it hast thou faith have it with thy self before God Paul had revelations not lawful to utter and things to utter that some could not bear but when a word came to the Prophets from the Lord they did declare infallibly This saith the Lord and in the New Testament as the spirit gave them utterance and no otherways But Preachers and Professors since Antichrists rise and reign say Revelation is ceased and none now can know and speak infallibly as the Prophets and Primitive Saints did but learned men declare truths according to Scripture which is not true neither for all the learned men in the World with all their Libraries and learning cannot know one line of Scripture but by revelation of the same spirit that gave it forth and all that I have put this question to confess the same Note Now this Querie is ended let none question a year after whether particular absolute infallible assurance be but whether Do I live in it and am I diligent to attain and keep it to my comfort These Queries and Answers are to expel the confusion that may arise in many why some have assurance of faith in particulars and not others and not finding it ordinary by experience have denied infallible assurance wholly and that all who have had stirrings to seek God and wait for his Counsel might be certain and to stop the hasty proceedings of some not rightly qualified who though they profess truth yet endeavour to marry as the World do also to denote unto others who are tender their lawful liberty to marry in the Lord. Admonition 1. To the unmarried that they shut out all motions to marriage that are not of God 2. To the married that they be helps to put away all sin and witness the bed undefiled 3. To them that would have married and have had many offers but failed to consider whether they have not been ignorant or negligent of Gods stirrings and have followed carnal desires and self-ends the usual provocations to the Worlds marriages but to some that God will shew his loving kindness and favour there are two ends of such long delays in mercy 1 To break down and utterly destroy the body of sin and death from whence carnal lusts and self-ends arise 2. To qualifie them to receive his blessing to be married in the Lord to know Gods call Gods stirrings and Gods will concerning marriage by an absolute and infallible knowledge and assurance and so come out of the defilement and come to enjoy the honourable marriage But the Worlds marriages can never be happy though they have their carnal desires and self-ends in riches honours and pleasures c. Cain Cham Esau had riches honors pleasures Nations Cities Dukedoms and Musick Tubal-Cain the first inventer of Organs but Cain was a Vagabond out from the presence of the Lord C ham accursed and Esau lost the blessing and all of them and their seed enemies to Gods people to this day though they may abound in worldly wealth pomp and pleasures If any object in mans wisdom concerning this writing first witness in life what is here declared in words and try if that may not answer all objections The manner how parties intending marriage are to go together Concerning the manner see G.F. in his book concerning marriage whereof here are some particulars inserted First After the thing is known between the parties themselves before any thing is concluded let it be declared unto friends who are able in the wisdom and power of God to see and feel into it if they see the thing in the light and power of God to stand Then 2. Declare it in the meeting or meetings to which the parties do belong towards the end of the meeting by the parties themselves or some friend or friends as they are moved both parties being present 3 If any have to object against it then the matter be laid before friends the next general meeting appointed to consider of things relating to friends to see into it and end it 4 About twelve friends met together they may declare their testimony how the Lord hath joyned them there was a marriage in Canaan and Christ and his Disciples were called to it not married in a corner by one called a Minister for mony 5 A Certificate by friends may be then given of the day moneth and year that it may be recorded Rebecca's friends blessed her so the people and Elders blessed Ruth and so may friends do by words or silence as moved of the Lord. 6 As any is moved they may declare it to the Magistrate or in the midst of the Market to such parties outward dwelling if moved or they may not 7 The things that cannot be owned by all friends and have unity within the power and spirit of God may not be recorded Who comes together as it was in the beginning comes over the Jews Gentiles and Apostate Christians the honourable marriage and the bed that is undefiled T. L. THE END

though not so clear at first it is a growing condition but in long tryal a false faith from imagination or a true Faith not continued in may fail This Query and Answer may charge such who blame others for not answering God's witness in them according to their perswasion when as the perswasion was from imagination only or if they had stirrings of God have not continued in the truth and waited for God's counsel and Gods time Note this one thing is to be noted especially although this doctrine of absolute and infallible assurance is here occasionally applyed to marriage it is also true in all other things prophesies promises and revelations things spiritual and temporal and all conditions prosperity and affliction Abraham had faith for a seed David for a Kingdom Jehosaphat for Victory the Centution for his sick servant the poor woman for cure of her issue and many the like in Scripture and have been of excellent use to many of God's servants when he hath called them forth to sufferings and tryals of any kind though they might not have so clear and distinct knowledge of it what it was at the present Surely said Jacob the Lord was in this place and I was not aware Qu. 8. How may one come to know this infallible assurance in himself and not be deceived Ans How may one come to know infallibly the Sun shineth but by his own light The state of the Christians and the Gentiles there might be something stirring from the Lord as particularly Hester lin 13. and this is the most infallible and deepest ground of knowledge the stirrings of God the light in every conscience in which while any abide they may be certain If ye abide in me saith Christ Joh. 15. read it But if any love to shut their eyes against what they know by affected ignorance through indulgence to several lusts such may say they have seen the sun shine and others tell them so but they may be deceived He that believes hath his witness in himself The Jews after they came out of Egypt did go together and hardness of heart got up l. 7. there might be something stirring of God at first lin 13. the time of discerning God's stirring to marriage clearly is after the coming out of Egypt out of darknes into light and they have put away the sin if any be perswaded in their minds that such a person is appointed of God to be a fit help then signifie so much to the partie who at present may feel no such thing nor it may be not in a long time after yet take it off and lay it there if after denials there be yet stirrings of God wait in that of God which stirs believe and submit a great mystery let go yet hold fast submission and assurance may stand together nay without submission assurance cannot stand Abraham submitted and offered up his only Son yet he was fully assured that he who had promised was also able to do it Note Although this doctrine concerning assurance of faith since the Apostacie have been denied by Preachers and Professors in the time of the beast and false Prophet yet it will stand over all their heads a truth according to Scripture Witness the examples of Abraham David the Centurion and many more who all received according to their faith the Lord may try and exercise his servants whom and when he pleaseth and when he gives such a faith he gives exercise Gods promises are ever true but oftentimes of long date 9 Querie Whether freedom from all sin and infallible assurance of Gods will be of absolute necessity to every particular that joyns in marriage Answ He that believes hath passed from death to life and so from the sin and overcomes the sin lin 23. 24. to have infallible assurance there is freedom from all sin to hunger and thirst and press after it to witness a growth to be sincere in heart and faithful to God in measure is of absolute necessity to marriage in the Lord. Who comes short of this are like Cain he went out from the presence of the Lord and knew his wife Secondly For the parties to have infallible assurance they are in Gods covenant do believe and are qualified as aforesaid to see in the light the thing is well-pleasing to God and to have unity with friends in the truth is of absolute necessity to Gods joyning in every particular but to have assurance that such a person is appointed of God to be a fit help is not of absolute necessity to every particular but to such only to whom God reveals the thing Note Let none wrest truth to their own and others hurt It hath not been said that every true believer hath such a particular faith of assurance in every particular thing nor are they condemned for not having such assurance but if any have the gift of faith and faint in the way he is condemned for his unbelief Matth. 14.31 O thou of little faith why didst thou doubt But if any being stirred of the Lord do desire such a blessing as Abraham did an Heir What wilt thou give me seeing I go childless or desire a deliverance as Jehosaphat did O God we know not what to do but our eyes are towards thee Or to desire longer life as Hezekiah did or that Christ's power might be manifest as Peter did God that stirred up such a prayer and hath given such a faith in his Word that is in the heart being continued in will most certasnly perform the thing Obj. Abraham had an Angel to tell him Sarah his Wife should have a son so have we Christ Jesus the Angel of the Covenant he sends forth Ministring spirits for the good of the heirs of salvation it were well mankind did better know the guard assistance communion and fellowship of good Angels Jehosaphat had a Prophet to tell him of the deliverance so have we a prophet of our brethren that God hath raised according to his promise by Moses the servant of the Lord and whosoever will not hear that prophet in such a case he shall be cut off from that enjoyment Hezekiah had a promise that fifteen yeers should be added to his life so have we a promise yea the same promise if the same spirit of the Lord open and apply it even for longer life God made a promise to Joshua I will not leave thee nor forsake thee the Authot to the Hebrews applyes it to all believers Heb 13.5 and all promises in Scripture are made good to every believer as God in wisdom gives them out of his treary If a man have the Bible in his house nay if he had all the promises in Scripture drawn up into a Catalogue if he have not the same spirit that gave them forth to open and apply them or any particular of them he is never the better for them all Peter had Christ present with him and Christ spoke to him to come on the water so