Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	age_n	church_n	time_n	2,142	5	3.6322	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A87123	The harmonious consent of the ministers of the province within the county palatine of Lancaster, with their reverend brethren the ministers of the province of London, in their late testimonie to the trueth of Jesus Christ, and to our Solemn League and Covenant : as also against the errours, heresies, and blasphemies of these times, and the toleration of them.	Heyrick, Richard, 1600-1667.	1648 (1648)	Wing H800A; Thomason E434_7; ESTC R7597	26,660	31

under an adulterous Church Government the trust reposed in us by Jesus Christ as his messengers embassadors and steward of the mysteries of the Gospel of whom it is required that they should be faithful r 1 Cor. 4.1 2 the duty we ow to our several flocks as being watchmen s Ezek 33.7 8.9 c. to give them warning and that as standard-bearers we may encourage them earnestly t lude 3. to contend for the faith once delivered to the Saints the care over their immortal souls redecmed u 1 Pet 1 18 19. with the precious blood of Christ the conscience of our Solemn League and Covenant binding us in our places to endeavour the Reformation of Religion and the Extirpation of the contrary our fears lest the Reformation so earnestly longed for so joyfully covenanted so much suffered for and of late times so much bled for should after so many sharp throws and such hard labor prove an abortive birth the worthy renowned and much encouraging example of our reverend brethren the Ministers of the Province of London going before us and whom to follow in witness bearing to the truth and so far as they follow Christ w 1 Cor. 11.1 we count it but our duty The multitude of them that in these days do oppose the truth by whose great numbers it is in danger to be born down if contrary endevors to the utmost be not used by the united strength of all that love it to hold it up and lastly that we may wash our hands from the guilt of betraying by our sinful silence so precious treasure as truth is and may not judg our posterity unworthy thereof for our sakes if we should not own it plead for it and hold it fast These things we say in this juncture of affairs do draw us forth publikely to declare our selves in those main things witnessed to by our brethren in their late Testimony to the Truth of Jesus Christ and to our Solemn League and Covenant As also against the Errors Heresies and Blasphemies of these times and the Toleration of them I. As touching the necessity of a platform of Doctrine of Confession of Faith we shal need to say nothing it having been found so useful for the Church in all Ages from the primitive times even until now not only that the ignorant might thereby be informed concerning the main points needful to be known and beleeved by them unto salvation but also for the better preserving of the truth detecting and discovery of Hereticks and Seducers and to testifie consent and agreement in that one Faith Here only we think it needful to declare that we do highly approve of the humble Advice of the reverend and learned Assembly of Divines concerning a Confession of Faith judging it not only to be orthodox sound solid substantial and pious but also to be veryful and in especial maner useful for these times as that which doth obviate those many dangerous Errors that do swarm in this Age and therefore as we do assent unto the whole so we also do concur with the reverend Assembly and our x See the Teto the truth of Jesus Christ page 3. reverend brethren the Ministers of the Province of London in our humble and hearty desires that it may receive the approbation and sanction of authority as the joynt Confession of Faith for these three Kingdoms in pursuance of our Covenant II. In the next place we do hereby openly profess before God and the world that we cannot but tremble and be amazed to consider that in a Land engaged in such a Covenant professing so much for Reformation made partakers of so many special mercies as England hath been such blasphemous execrable and horrid doctrines should ever be publikely broached printed maintained and defended as are at these times We shal not need to recite them particularly because that work is so fully done already to our hands by our brethren in their late Testimony y See the Catalogue of Errors in the Testimony to the Truth of Jesus Christ page 5 to 23. although to the great grief and wounding of our hearts we may declare that as they only there intended to give a smal taste of their wormwood and gal z Ibid. p 23. so we are assured their Catalogue of Errors might be much augmented if there were any necessity to rake any further into the dunghil-books whence they might be gathered and that many more authors might be quoted to make it more fully evident that there are indeed such Errors and Heresies amongst us as are by them recited But here we cannot but blush wonder and be astonished at our strange revolt We remember the times when under the Prelatical tyranny Arminianism Antinomianism and the Innovations that were introduced into the worship of God were generally cryed out against by all that party which was then esteemed truly religious but now as though Errors and Heresies had changed their natures and were grown better because the persons professing patronizing and countenancing them in these days pretend to more piety and holiness then was to be found in the Fautors of them heretofore such kind of Errors as would then have been abhorred by every one truly conscientious to the great dishonor of God scandal of Religion and shame of our Church and Nation do now take sanctuary and shroud themselves under the shadow of many of those that challenge to themselves the name of the godly party And as we cannot but take notice of the just hand of God out against us in seting open the flood-gates to let in this sea of Errour wherewith this Church is in danger to be overflown thereby to punish our former lukewarmness and coldness in defence of the truth unprofitablenes under the means of grace disesteem slighting of the truth our not valuing as we ought the inestimable benefit of the Gospel our not labouring for the purity and power thereof and not endevouring to receive Christ in our hearts nor to walk Worthy of him in our lives which are the causes of other sias and transgressions so much abounding amongst us so we cannot but express our deepest sence hereof and sorrow for the same this alone being sufficient to move us to roul our selves in the dust to rent our hearts and not our garments as the Honorable Houses of Parliament hereupon saw cause both for themselves and the whole Kingdom to be humbled for the growth of Errours a See the Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament concerning the growth and spreading of Errors Heresies and Blasphemles seting apart a day of publikel lumili●tion to seek Gods asustance for the sappresting and preventing the same and which was ordered by the Lords to ba pr●med Die Jovis Feb 4.1646 and to becamed down by the Sherists and under Sheriff and delivered to the several Ministers of very parisn Church Chappel within this Kingdom who were required to take notice of

THE Harmonious Consent OF THE MINISTERS OF THE Province within the County Palatine OF LANCASTER With their Reverend Brethren the Ministers of the Province of London in their late Testimonie to the Trueth of Jesus Christ and to our Solemn League and Covenant As also against the Errours Heresies and Blasphemies of these times and the Toleration of them LONDON Printed by J. Macock for Luke Fawne at the sign of the Parrot in Pauls Church-yard MDCXLVIII THE Harmonious Consent OF THE Ministers of the Province WITHIN THE County Palatine of Lancaster c. IT is a saying of Solomon worthy to be writen in letters of gold That a friend loveth at all times and a brother is born for adversity a Prov. 17 17 And therefore though God need not the witness of men nor truth our testimony yet when his name is blasphemed the truth contradicted and opposed the faithful friends of God and the sincere lovers of the truth will as in all ages they have done stand up in his cause which they then see in such apparant hazard In the Scriptures we read of a cloud of witnesses b Heb. 12. 1. that appeared for God and bare witness to his truth though for so doing some of them had tryal of cruel mockings and scourgings yea moreover of bonds and imprisonments c Heb. 11 36 37 38. c. In the Apostasie of the ten tribes Elijah and Elesha were zealous for God against the false Prophets of Baal Jeremy at Jerusalem and Ezekiel in Captivity bore witness against the whoredoms of the house of Judah as is most evident throughout their whole Prophesies Peter and the other Apostles though commanded not to teach any more in the name of Christ yet did not therefore forbear resolving rather to obey God then men d Acts 5.28 The two witnesses prophesied one thousand two hundred threescore days all the while the Gentiles did tread under-foot the holy City e Rov 11.2 3. Arrius met with great Athanasius and when the whole world wondered at it self that it was become Arrian the general Councel Of Nice f Concentrate a●tem pratie in un●●lles d●●●llus de p●●lyi●●ose phupt united li●e●●ll it 〈◊〉 di●●n ●in●●●i●sani●●●ale miru●●● it ●●vi●a●●●um ●●npin●●●l●m s●●tntiaplane admyab●les c. Binius vol. 1. Pay 262 met and laid an anatheme on that pernicious Heresie In latter times God had many in this Land who loved not their lives unto the death g Rev. 12 11. and gave testimony to the truth not in ink but in blood and who though they be dead yet speak h Heb. 11.4 as their names wil live for ever When the Complices of Arminius grew many some from the several reformed Churches convened in the general Synod of Dort and accursed his pestilentious Errours And yet more lately The i See the Pre. face to the Protestation May 5.1641 designs of Priests and Jesuites and other adherents to the Sea of Rome against the true reforuted Protestant Religion in his Majesties Dominions established the introducing of divers innovations and superstitions into the Church together with the driving out of multitudes out of his Majesties Dominions amongst other reasons brought forth the Protestation for the defence as of other things so also of the true reformed Protestant Religion expressed in the Doctrine of the Church of England against all Popery and Popish innovations within this Realm wherein not only the Parliament it self was engaged but according to the k See the Order of the House of Commons May 5.1641 concerning the printing of the Preamble the Protestar'en and sending down the Copies printed by the Knights and Burgesses who were to intimate with what willingness all the Members of the House made the Protestation and further to sign fie that as they jutisie the taking of it in themselves so they cannot but approve it in all such as shal take it Order and l See the Voce of the House July 30.1641 wherein they declare that what person soever shal n●●t●ke the Protestation is unsit to hear Other in the Chuch or Common wealth Vote of the House of Commons the generality of the Kingdom were engaged too The m The Preface of the solenm League and Covenant published Sept. 27.1643 calling to mind the treacherous and bloody plots conspiracies attempts and practises of the enemies of God against the true Religion and professors therof in all places especially in these Kingdoms ever since the Reformation of Religion and how much their rage power and presumption had been of late and were at that time increased and exercised did in a great tryal of affliction n Cor. 8.2 induce these Kingdoms to enter into asolemn League and Covenant as for other thing so also for the defence and Reformation of Religion and Extirpation of Popery Prelacy Superstition Heresie Schism and Profaness c. by which so the Protestation and Covenant as there was care taken for the better defence of the truth so there was also a glorious confession of it made before God Angels and men And now when men of perverse spirits and corrupt minds reprobate concerning the faith had resisted the truth o 2 Tim. 3.8 this stirred up the zeal of our reverend and godly brethren the Ministers of the Province of London to give testimony to the truth of Jesus Christ And therefore that we the Ministers of Christ within the Province of the testimony of them that have gone before us considering that we cannot but be sensible of the strange and woful Apostasie of sundry from the Faith the great opposition made against the Government and Discipline of Jesus Christ the sad Divisions and Rents in this tattered and torn Church that an universal Toleration of all even the most execrable doctrines that ever were hatcht in hel or broached in the world is earnestly labored after by many and that the solemn League and Covenant sworn with hands lifted up to the most high God is with many buried in oblivion as it is not only neglected and slighted but also contemned scorned derided and most palpably voilated and trampled on by not a few and that its manifest that God is hereby shamefully dishonored most highly provoked neighbor Churches justly scandalized all fundamental and saving truths in danger to be plucked up by the roots and our several slocks to be poysoned with the spreading Errors of the times The claim that is laid to truth by the three glorious persons in the blessed Trinity p The Father is called The God of truth Deut. 32.4 the Son the truth Jo 14 6 the holy Ghost the Spirit of truth Jo. 14.17 the high price and account that is worthy to be set upon it being to be bought q Prov. 23 23 though at never so dear a rate how ever now a days esteemed of with many as a refuse commodity the high thankfulness we ow to God for keeping trueth so chaste and pure so long

and keep it not expecting the blessing of God any longer on these Kingdoms then in the remembrance of it and adherence to it And as with the Reverend Alsembly of Divines ſ See the humble Advice of the Assembly of Divines concerning a Confession of Faith Chap. 22. Sect. 4. page 40. we are assured that an oath is to be taken in the plain and common sence of the words without equivocation or mental reservation adjudging the contrary opinion to lay a certain foundation for the cluding all or the as such a salve as this that the Covenant may be taken in mens own sence hath given occasion to some to except against the taking of it t See the Reasons of the present judgment in the University of Oxford concerning the Covenant c. page 22.23 so what ever any others may conceive to the contrary with our Reverend Brethren then Ministers of the Province of London u See a Testimony to the Tinen of Jesus Christ page 28. we do firmly beleeve That neither this nor any other oath is otherwise to be interpreted then according to the common plain and true grammatical sence of it accounting it a most absurd and wicked perverting of it when it is so interpreted as to engage to defend and maintain any kind of Religion whatsoever without any inquiry at all how orthodox it is if established by them who have all the authority that is visible to choose for themselves which is the construction that is put upon it by some that profess to have taken w Secondly what would it do were it renewed and made perpetuall thus much it saith in my opinion and no more whensoever you shall be violently hindred in the execution of that Religion you had amongst you at the time of the engagoment and shal require out assistance we must afford it you for the removall of that violence In like manner when we shal be hindred in the excreise of that Religion which we according to the Covenant shall establish here upon request to you made for that effect you are tyed to assist us and so throughtout all the other clauses respectively and equally carrying this along with you we are hereby obliged to the reciprocall defenco of one another according to the declaration of the party wronged in any of the particulars there comprised without being cavilled at or scrupled by the party involied whather your Religion be the same it was or ours the same it should be whether the bounds of your liberties or ours be not enlarged beyond their then line whether your delinquents or ours be justly so or no for the native Rights of both people being the principal it not the only thing we looked on when we swore we do not keep our oath in preserving those rights if we do not allow 〈◊〉 master-right to each several people 〈◊〉 by to be sole judges within themselves what ●●●●gion they will set up what kind of laws they will have what size what number of Magistrates they hold fit to execute those laws and what offendors to be tryed by them Hereupon you know we did not enquire at all how orthodox your religion was before we towed to maintain you in it that is in the quiet possession of it not in the theological trueth of it a business for an University perhaps not for a Kingdom being well assured it was established by them who had all the authority that is visible to chase for themselves and could not without apparent breach of order and in jury to fundamentals be disturbed in the exercise of what they had to chosen See the Independen●y of England edeavoured to be maintained by Henry Marten a Member of the Parliament there c. page 11 12. it God having never given such an absolute power to any men on earth to establish what religion they please and to require from any sort of persons in any Kingdom whatsoever who are all to render an account to God for themselves that they should maintain and defend it upon such establishment without any inquiry at all whether it be according to the Word of God or no as also because the Covenant according to this interperation might be made the bond of iniquity to maintain defend such Religions as are flat contrary to the Word of God as Judaism Turcism and even Paganism yea Popery it self although by Covenant we be expresly bound to endeavour to extirpate it if established by them who have all the authority that is visible choose for themselves And therefore we are sure this can be none of those native rights of the people of any of these Kingdoms which we looked on when we sware and which by this Oath or Covenant we are obliged to preserve Thus fearing lest if we had altogether held our peace at this time x Esther 4.14 God might have sufficiently vindicated his truth by other instruments but for our baseness judged us unworthy to be intrusted any longer with so precious a treasure as trueth is we have therefore chosen rather to approve our selves faithful to God by joyning hands with our brethren who have witnessed such a good confession in giving such a publike and open Testimony to the trueth of Jesus Christ to our Solemn League and Covenant and against the Errours Heresies and Blasphemies of these times and the Toleration of them though for so doing we should be never so much persecuted by men then by our sinful silence seem to be ashamed either of Christ his Trueth or faithful servants boldly standing up in the cause of our great master although thereby we might be assured to gain the whole world And now having discharged our consciences how ever our actions may be misconstrued by some yet we knowing our witness is in heaven and that God is the righteous judg we do not doubt but the testimony of our consciences that herein we have aimed at nothing but the glory of God the defence of his Trueth the health and recovery of this bleeding Church the casting some discountenance upon the raging Errours of these times and testifie our adherence to our Solemn League and Covenant wil abundantly support us against the worst of evils that can befal us for witness-bearing to the Trueth Subscribed the 3d of March 1647. by us Richard Heyrick Warden of Christ-Colledg in Manchester Richard Hollinworth Fellow of Christ-Colledg in Manchester Alexander Horrocks Minister of the Gospel at Deane John Tilsley Pastor of Dean John Harper Pastor of Bolton Richard Goodwin Minister of the Gospel at Bolton Richard Benson Minister of Chollerton William Alt Min of Bury Robert Bath Pastor of Rachdal William Assheton Pastor of Midleton John Harrison Pastor of Asshton-underline Thomas Pyke Pastor of Radcliff John Angier Pastor of Denton William Walker Minister of the Gospel at Newton-heath Chappel Toby Furnesse Min. of the Gospel John Joanes Min. of Eccles. Edward Woolmer Min. of Flixton Robert Gilbody Preacher at Holcome Jonathan Scholefield Min. at Heywood Thomas Holland Min. of Ringley Thomas Clayton Min. of Diasbury Robert Constantine Min. of Ouldham Peter Bradshaw Min. of Cockey John Brierley Preacher at Salford Thomas Johnson Min. of the Gospel at Halsal William Bell Pastor of Hyton William Dun Min. of the Gospel at Ormeskirk James Worrall Pastor of Aughton William Aspinwal Preacher of Gods Word at Mayhall John Mallinson Min. of Gods Word at Melling Robert Seddon Min. of Gods Word at Alker Will Norcot Minister of West-Derby Will. Ward Min. of the Gospel at Walton Nevil Kay Pastor at VValton Henry Boulton Preacher at Hale John Fogge Pastor of Liverpoole Joseph Tompson Min. of Sephton Jo. Kyd Min. of Much-Crosby James Bradshaw Pastor of the Church at Wigan James Starkey Pastor of North meoles James Wood Preacher of the VVord at Assheton in Makersield Robert Yates Pastor of the Church at Warrington Bradbey Hayhurst Preacher of the VVord at Leigh Thomas Norman pastor of Newton Timothy Smith preacher of the VVord at Rainforth John Wright pastor of Billinge Henry Shaw pastor at Holland Thomas Crompton Min. of the Gospel at Aslley William Bagaley Min. of the Gospel at Burtonwood William Leight Preacher of the Word at Newchurch Richard Mawdesley pastor of Ellins James Hyet pastor of Croston Thomas Cranage pastor of Brindle Edward Gee Minister of the Gospel at Eccleston Paul Latham pastor of Standish Samuel Joanes pastor of Hoole Henry Welch Min. at Chorley Wil Brownsword preacher at Dugglas James Crichley preacher at Penwortham Edward Fleetwood pastor at Kirkham Isaac Ambrose pastor of Preston William Addison Lecturer at Preston William ●ngham Minist at Goosenarghe Matthew Moore minister at Broughton Christopher Edmundson pastor at Garstang Thomas Smith preacher at Garstang Chappel John Breres minister at Padiam Richard Jackson pastor at Whittington Nicolas Smith pastor of Tatham Robert Shaw pastor at Cokeram James Scholecroft minister at Caton Thomas Whitehead pastor at Halton Peter Atkinson minister of Ellel John Jaques minister of Bolton Richard VValker minister of VVarton Phillip Bennet minister of Vlverston VVilliam Smith minister of over-Kellet Brian VVillan Minister of Coulton Peter Smith minister of Shireshead Edward Aston minister of Claughton Thomas Demy minister of VViresdalle Thomas Fawcet minister at Overton VVill. Garner Preacher of the Gospel John Smith Minister of Melling Errata Page 4. line 10. for accursed read condemned FINIS