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
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

because Christ Jesus the great Law-giver in the New Testament hath by plain and express precept wholly forbidden it against which precept no argument conclusion or interpretation whether of Council Synod or private man is good though grounded upon the Law of Moses the words of the Prophets or practice of Gods Servants Saints or Angels for their words and practises are to be reduced to an harmony with his and not his to theirs he being given to be head over all things to his Church which is his body the fulness of him that filleth all in all and therefore cannot the example of Saints or Angels and much less the practice of men in strife justifie us in the breach of his command had we no other ground for our denyal to swear but to swear at all is against the Law of the Spirit of Truth that dweleth in us and derogates from the glory of his verity who hath made our yea yea and our nay nay in all things but the Apostle James who writ to the twelve Tribes scattered abroad as if he had foreseen that because of former precepts and customs they would have stood to justifie some swearing contrary to Christs command was very positive and expresly did forbid it above or before all things saith he my brethren swear not Jam. 5 12. neither by heaven nor by earth Mark nor any other oath but let your yea be yea and your nay nay lest ye fall into condemnation Therefore we cannot swear by heaven nor the things therein nor by earth nor the things therein nor by any other oath though by such Christians as be in the Apostacy from the Spirit and Life of Christ it be accounted lawful for if we did swear at all we should justly fall with them into the same condemnation Concerning the worship of God and why we separate from them that worship in Temples made with hands First Because we do thus believe and declare that God is a Spirit and dwells not in Temples made with hands Acts 7.48 Chap. 17.24 25. neither is rightly worshipped there and therefore we cannot joyn with them in worship that be erred from the Spirit and from the Truth Mat. 15.8 9. and do in their wills worship in vain having their fear towards God taught by mens precepts and their worship consists not of Gods Ordinances but in divers observations inventions and traditions which are not the Commandments of the Lord from heaven Read Is 2. but rather a loathing to his soul and a grief to his spirit because in matter and manner they are contrary to the Primitive Christians worship For first they did not sprinkle Infants and call that baptisme into the Church that we can finde in the Scripture nor in History for near the first three hundred years neither was it a part of their worship to sing Davids Psalms in rime and meeter as in these dayes men do which are far enough from the condition that David was in when he gave forth the Psalms and besides the Ministers that were allowed among the Primitive Christians did not read Prayers for money nor study Sermons to last an hour and preach them for money neither did the Primitive Christians love to have it so as the titular Christians now do who by their divisions envying and persecuting about worship do make it manifest that they are neither in the same Spirit nor worship in the same manner as the Primitive Christians did and therefore we separate from them which we have sufficient ground to do 2 Cor. 6.17 18. 2 Tim 3.5 though they had the very form of godliness which yet they have not seeing they are out of the power which should crucifie them to the world and the world to them and are conformed like to the world and for the generality of them do live in sensual lusts if not in open Prophaneness but although we cannot for conscience sake joyn with them in their worship because we do in heart believe it is not right yet do we not as he saith Joh 21. to the 24. cast off all worship and Ordinances of God for we are sought out by the Father to worship him in Spirit and in Truth where we have found aceeptance with God at what time soever and wheresoever we have been gathered together to wait upon him whether by day or in the evening as the true Christians were when Paul continued his speech till midnight and sometimes we meet in a believers house upper-chamber field or barn Acts 20.7 8. as the ancient Christians did who were gathered out of the world and separated from the Jews worldly Sanctuary and Heathens Temples and yet were not of those that did creep into houses and separate themselves sensual not having the Spirit no more then we are though by such as accused them and persecuted them we have all manner of evil said against us falsly and are persecuted as they were because for conscience sake we cannot forsake the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is but must meet together in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ Heb. 10.25 Mat. 18.20 that we may enjoy his presence and comfort and edifie one another in love Concerning Ministers and maintenance We do say how shall they preach and declare unto us the minde of God except they be chosen and sent of God Rom. 10.14 15. and therefore we do deny to hear such as run and are not sent of God but for lucre and honours sake take upon them to Preach and speak of those things which by wisdom humane learning 1 Pet. 5.2 3 Job 38.2 and natural parts they can never understand but do darken counsel by words without knowledge for the generality of them say that revelation is ceased and that they have no vision in these dayes therefore we wonder not that they and their people are so ignorant of God Mat. 11 27 for none knows the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son reveals him neither do we wonder why so many perish for want of true knowledge though we greatly pity to see it so for we know that when the Teachers have no vision as by their own confession they have not the people perish Prov. 29.18 therefore we dare not trust our souls with them though people that have itching ears do chuse them for their Pastors or such Bishops as exercise Lordship and Dominion over peoples consciences impose them upon us for the Lord Jesus Christ is the Bishop of our souls 1 Pet. 2.19 Jer. 3.15 and he hath given us Pastours according to his own heart that feed us with knovvledge and understanding and leads us to living springs and a fold of rest Mar. 10 8 9 10. and them vve do dearly ovvn and esteem for their vvorks sake that be Christ true Ministers vvhom he hath sent and doth furnish and enable by the gift of his Spirit for the vvork of the