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	true_a	1,952	5	4.9061	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A41563	Spiritual order and Christian liberty proved to be consistent in the Churches of Christ and impositions upon the consciences of believers in religious practices found to be antichristian and destructive to both / by R.G. a protestant.	Gordon, Robert, fl. 1669-1675.	1675 (1675)	Wing G1291; ESTC R29926	14,410	15

further_a this_o spiritual_a government_n and_o christian_a liberty_n be_v not_o only_o consistent_a and_o be_v according_o practise_v in_o the_o first_o church_n but_o i●_n be_v also_o necessary_a that_o it_o shall_v be_v so_o because_o thereby_o the_o spiritual_a unity_n and_o peace_n of_o the_o church_n be_v preserve_v on_o the_o one_o hand_n from_o confusion_n on_o the_o other_o hand_n from_o tyranny_n all_o thing_n be_v do_v decent_o and_o in_o order_n and_o yet_o in_o charity_n and_o to_o edification_n therefore_o the_o apostle_n paul_n find_v division_n to_o be_v enter_v into_o the_o church_n at_o corinth_n and_o to_o prevent_v the_o like_a at_o the_o church_n at_o rome_n in_o his_o epistle_n to_o those_o church_n he_o lead_v they_o to_o the_o practice_n of_o this_o spiritual_a government_n and_o christian_a liberty_n as_o the_o most_o proper_a remedy_n to_o recover_v and_o preserve_v they_o in_o the_o peace_n and_o unity_n of_o the_o gospel_n which_o he_o that_o will_v be_v at_o the_o pain_n to_o read_v may_v perceive_v indeed_o under_o the_o old_a covenant_n the_o service_n thereof_o stand_v in_o meat_n and_o drink_n and_o divers_a wash_n observe_v time_n and_o day_n and_o carnal_a ordinance_n until_o the_o time_n of_o the_o reformation_n but_o now_o that_o time_n be_v come_v under_o the_o new-covenant_n wherein_o the_o lord_n say_v i_o will_v write_v my_o law_n in_o their_o heart_n in_o the_o exercise_n of_o church-government_n among_o a_o people_n under_o that_o dispensation_n christian_a liberty_n be_v of_o absolute_a necessity_n the_o law_n require_v obedience_n be_v not_o in_o table_n of_o stone_n but_o in_o their_o heart_n they_o be_v to_o walk_v in_o the_o order_n of_o the_o gospel_n through_o the_o convincement_n of_o that_o law_n in_o their_o heart_n they_o be_v under_o and_o the_o necessity_n of_o the_o continuation_n of_o both_o these_o conjoin_v together_o be_v also_o manifest_a by_o the_o sad_a consequence_n which_o have_v follow_v there_o where_o church_n government_n have_v be_v exalt_v on_o the_o ruin_n of_o christian_a liberty_n at_o this_o door_n this_o dark_a night_n of_o apostasy_n enter_v into_o the_o church_n at_o the_o first_o a_o mystery_n of_o iniquity_n that_o begin_v to_o work_v in_o the_o day_n of_o the_o apostle_n not_o by_o a_o demas_n that_o forsake_v they_o but_o by_o a_o deotrephes_n that_o seek_v pre-eminence_n among_o they_o for_o in_o the_o exercise_n of_o church-government_n in_o christian_a society_n have_v the_o apostle_n rule_n of_o expediency_n edification_n peace_n and_o charity_n the_o best_a and_o only_o preservative_n of_o gospel_n order_n and_o unity_n be_v observe_v in_o all_o age_n by_o church_n ruler_n the_o many_o schism_n that_o have_v rend_v and_o divide_v the_o churchos_n of_o christ_n have_v not_o enter_v and_o when_o contrary_a to_o christian_a liberty_n innovation_n be_v impose_v by_o church-authority_n the_o dissenter_n can_v in_o truth_n be_v repute_v the_o breaker_n of_o the_o church_n unity_n though_o account_v such_o by_o the_o imposer_n but_o the_o many_o schism_n and_o the_o sad_a consequence_n of_o they_o in_o any_o christian_a society_n be_v then_o most_o just_o lay_v to_o their_o charge_n who_o be_v church_n governor_n under_o the_o name_n of_o comely_a order_n impose_v vnscriptural_a tradition_n of_o the_o elder_n as_o necessary_a condition_n of_o church-communion_n upon_o the_o conscience_n of_o the_o disciple_n unto_o which_o they_o be_v require_v to_o submit_v though_o unclear_a or_o unconvince_v as_o they_o will_v not_o be_v account_v breaker_n of_o the_o unity_n of_o the_o body_n and_o as_o such_o be_v refuse_v the_o spiritual_a fellowshig_n of_o the_o church_n which_o kind_n of_o imposition_n as_o it_o be_v manifest_a by_o what_o be_v say_v already_o to_o be_v contrary_a to_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o new-testament_n and_o tenor_n of_o the_o new-covenant_n so_o it_o make_v void_a the_o foundation_n principle_n of_o protestancy_n be_v contrary_a to_o right_o reason_n real_o destructive_a both_o to_o the_o spiritual_a order_n and_o christian_a liberty_n of_o the_o gospel_n and_o last_o of_o all_o be_v a_o direct_a contradiction_n to_o a_o immediate_a inward_a revelation_n of_o the_o spirit_n as_o be_v a_o rule_n to_o every_o particular_a christian_a for_o his_o conduct_n in_o all_o religious_a practice_n and_o to_o that_o end_n implant_v in_o every_o man_n as_o he_o come_v into_o the_o world_n first_o let_v the_o serious_a protestant_n examine_v the_o first_o and_o great_a foundation_n principle_n on_o which_o they_o found_v their_o separation_n from_o those_o of_o rome_n and_o they_o will_v find_v that_o to_o assert_v the_o divine_a authority_n of_o the_o holy_a scripture_n without_o we_o and_o of_o the_o illumination_n of_o the_o holy_a spirit_n within_o we_o they_o protest_v that_o neither_o tradition_n council_n pope_n nor_o cannon_n of_o any_o visible_a church_n but_o the_o scripture_n only_o interpret_v by_o the_o holy_a spirit_n gives_z final_a determination_n in_o matter_n of_o religion_n which_o be_v so_o whole_o at_o once_o make_v void_a by_o this_o kind_n of_o church-imposition_n if_o allow_v that_o their_o protestation_n become_v quite_o insignificant_a thereby_o second_o it_o be_v contrary_a to_o right_o reason_n to_o allow_v of_o such_o a_o imposition_n in_o a_o christian_a society_n because_o all_o in_o such_o a_o society_n be_v of_o one_o joint_a voluntary_a communion_n it_o be_v therefore_o most_o unreasonable_a for_o one_o or_o more_o of_o that_o society_n to_o impose_v their_o final_a determination_n in_o matter_n controvert_v on_o their_o brethren_n unconvince_v and_o not_o refer_v to_o they_o in_o respect_n such_o society_n be_v to_o be_v govern_v according_a to_o their_o first_o principle_n of_o union_n which_o be_v inward_a persuasion_n and_o therefore_o be_v to_o be_v uphold_v by_o that_o same_o principle_n lest_o it_o degenerate_a into_o tyranny_n uniform_a outward_a practice_n they_o may_v be_v drive_v into_o but_o they_o can_v be_v the_o bond_n of_o their_o spiritual_a union_n that_o be_v ever_o one_o and_o the_o same_o while_o outward_a practice_n be_v alterable_a so_o never_o to_o be_v impose_v as_o necessary_a but_o to_o be_v persuade_v into_o as_o they_o be_v find_v agreeable_a to_o the_o rule_n of_o conveniency_n edification_n peace_n and_o charity_n it_o be_v man_n glory_n that_o he_o be_v not_o religious_a by_o any_o kind_n of_o outward_a force_n but_o that_o in_o his_o worship_a god_n he_o offer_v up_o to_o he_o a_o free_a and_o reasonable_a sacrifice_n whereas_o this_o kind_n of_o church_n power_n once_o admit_v deprive_v person_n of_o the_o use_n of_o their_o reason_n who_o by_o submit_v unconvince_v do_v give_v the_o lie_n to_o their_o understanding_n in_o a_o word_n it_o leave_v a_o man_n neither_o the_o use_n of_o his_o reason_n as_o a_o man_n nor_o of_o his_o spiritual_a understanding_n as_o a_o christian_a and_o therefore_o can_v be_v of_o the_o god_n of_o truth_n that_o have_v endue_v every_o man_n with_o a_o reasonable_a soul_n and_o every_o christian_a with_o a_o spiritual_a understanding_n three_o it_o be_v also_o destructive_a both_o to_o the_o spiritual_a order_n and_o christian_a liberty_n of_o the_o gospel_n this_o be_v sufficient_o prove_v in_o the_o sad_a example_n of_o those_o of_o rome_n where_o the_o many_o unnecessary_a and_o unscriptural_a tradition_n rite_n and_o ceremony_n impose_v have_v whole_o extinguish_v the_o spiritual_a order_n of_o the_o gospel_n mention_v in_o the_o new_a testament_n and_o where_o the_o bloody_a inquisition_n have_v bury_v christian_a liberty_n and_o will_v infallible_o produce_v the_o same_o event_n where_o it_o be_v receive_v last_o the_o contradiction_n betwixt_o this_o kind_n of_o imposition_n and_o a_o immediate_a revelation_n of_o the_o light_n and_o spirit_n of_o god_n in_o every_o individual_a as_o his_o unerring_a rule_n and_o conduct_v in_o every_o thing_n of_o religion_n be_v manifest_a in_o this_o that_o this_o inward_a revelation_n be_v assert_v to_o be_v therefore_o give_v to_o every_o man_n as_o he_o come_v into_o the_o world_n as_o be_v of_o itself_o sufficient_a if_o obey_v to_o lead_v he_o into_o all_o truth_n without_o any_o necessity_n of_o harken_v unto_o any_o outward_a write_n or_o instruction_n whatsoever_o but_o as_o this_o light_n lead_v thereunto_o which_o if_o it_o be_v so_o and_o that_o a_o society_n be_v unite_v upon_o that_o principle_n in_o one_o joint_a communion_n the_o uselessness_n of_o one_o or_o more_o in_o the_o church_n have_v such_o a_o power_n or_o of_o general_a or_o particular_a outward_a law_n and_o instruction_n to_o order_n matter_n in_o that_o society_n require_v obedience_n thereunto_o and_o of_o the_o fore_n appoint_v stand_v meeting_n weekly_n monthly_a and_o quarterly_o and_o the_o frequent_v the_o set_a time_n and_o place_n of_o those_o meeting_n further_o than_o it_o become_v necessary_a to_o every_o individual_a person_n of_o the_o society_n through_o the_o inward_a

immediate_a revelation_n of_o the_o light_n in_o his_o own_o particular_a then_o receive_v which_o he_o be_v to_o abide_v in_o harken_v unto_o and_o obey_v be_v so_o very_o manifest_a that_o indeed_o it_o be_v a_o desert_v the_o cause_n of_o immediate_a revelation_n once_o so_o fierce_o contend_v for_o to_o be_v in_o every_o man_n to_o lead_v he_o into_o all_o truth_n and_o on_o 〈◊〉_d acknowledgement_n of_o the_o insufficiency_n of_o that_o light_n within_o of_o itself_o so_o to_o lead_v they_o in_o who_o it_o be_v or_o to_o preserve_v they_o therein_o it_o remain_v in_o order_n to_o the_o close_n of_o this_o discourse_n to_o examine_v some_o of_o the_o argument_n of_o old_a muster_v up_o by_o those_o of_o the_o roman_a church_n against_o the_o protestant_n and_o long_o since_o refute_v by_o they_o and_o manifest_v in_o their_o conscience_n to_o have_v no_o force_n in_o they_o against_o this_o doctrine_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n treat_v of_o in_o this_o discourse_n yet_o now_o again_o raise_v out_o of_o that_o rubbish_n to_o uphold_v this_o little_a new_a erect_a papacy_n be_v the_o body_n to_o be_v without_o government_n and_o if_o so_o will_v it_o not_o turn_v into_o the_o confusion_n of_o the_o ranter_n every_o one_o have_v liberty_n to_o do_v what_o he_o please_v be_v not_o this_o rather_o a_o carnal_a licentiousness_n than_o christian_a liberty_n i_o answer_v it_o be_v not_o plead_v for_o here_o that_o every_o one_o or_o indeed_o any_o one_o shall_v do_v what_o he_o please_v but_o that_o none_o shall_v be_v constrain_v or_o impose_v upon_o to_o do_v what_o other_o please_v but_o they_o shall_v be_v leave_v free_a to_o do_v what_o god_n please_v they_o that_o be_v christ_n be_v lead_v by_o his_o spirit_n who_o conduct_n can_v introduce_v confusion_n or_o licentiousness_n in_o they_o especial_o who_o own_o the_o divine_a authority_n of_o the_o holy_a scripture_n as_o their_o outward_a rule_n indeed_o such_o thing_n may_v enter_v into_o a_o christian_a society_n but_o its_o only_a then_o when_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n and_o the_o leading_n of_o god_n spirit_n according_a to_o they_o be_v depart_v from_o but_o be_v we_o not_o to_o believe_v as_o the_o true_a church_n believe_v be_v not_o the_o infallible_a spirit_n of_o god_n in_o his_o church_n if_o so_o what_o will_v you_o believe_v if_o not_o as_o the_o true_a church_n do_v believe_v i_o answer_v this_o be_v the_o old_a reason_n of_o carnal_a wisdom_n whereby_o christ_n be_v justle_v out_o of_o his_o office_n and_o the_o divine_a authority_n of_o the_o holy_a scripture_n trample_v upon_o to_o introduce_v a_o implicit_a blind_a obedience_n the_o strength_n of_o which_o argument_n be_v at_o large_a solid_o refute_v and_o the_o deceit_n lurk_v under_o that_o cover_v clear_o lay_v open_a by_o w._n pen_n a_o protestant_n in_o his_o book_n entitle_v a_o address_n to_o protestant_n the_o perusal_n whereof_o be_v recommend_v to_o the_o people_n call_v quaker_n for_o their_o information_n herein_o i_o be_o say_v he_o to_o believe_v as_o the_o true_a church_n believe_v but_o not_o because_o she_o so_o believe_v but_o because_o i_o be_o convince_v in_o my_o conscience_n of_o the_o truth_n of_o what_o she_o believe_v otherwise_o my_o faith_n may_v be_v false_a though_o she_o be_v true_a we_o have_v the_o same_o rule_n for_o our_o faith_n the_o true_a church_n have_v and_o the_o same_o reason_n to_o induce_v we_o to_o believe_v that_o she_o have_v the_o whole_a multitude_n of_o the_o believer_n who_o make_v up_o the_o whole_a church_n have_v the_o same_o rule_n of_o faith_n with_o i_o in_o particular_a therefore_o i_o believe_v as_o the_o whole_a church_n believe_v but_o upon_o the_o same_o principle_n and_o motive_n upon_o which_o every_o one_o in_o particular_a believe_v who_o first_o make_v up_o a_o christian_a church_n which_o be_v conviction_n and_o choice_n and_o though_o i_o ought_v thus_o to_o believe_v as_o the_o holy_a catholic_n church_n believe_v and_o that_o the_o spirit_n of_o god_n rest_v in_o his_o catholic_n church_n yet_o i_o be_o not_o therefore_o blind_o without_o examination_n and_o convincement_n to_o give_v up_o my_o whole_a concern_v temporal_a and_o spiritual_a unto_o any_o particular_a society_n of_o christian_n even_o though_o i_o be_v engage_v as_o one_o among_o they_o in_o church-fellowship_n as_o unto_o the_o judgement_n of_o the_o spirit_n of_o god_n in_o the_o man_n or_o womens-meeting_n the_o generality_n among_o who_o may_v be_v in_o a_o decay_n and_o the_o dissenter_n may_v be_v the_o few_o who_o keep_v their_o garment_n undefiled_a as_o most_o ordinary_o in_o age_n past_o it_o have_v happen_v actual_o to_o be_v in_o other_o christian_a society_n obj._n but_o be_v there_o not_o a_o government_n in_o the_o church_n in_o the_o apostle_n day_n and_o be_v there_o not_o governor_n and_o govern_v and_o shall_v it_o not_o be_v so_o still_o be_v not_o the_o elder_n to_o seed_v the_o flock_n and_o rule_v over_o they_o and_o be_v not_o the_o flock_n to_o submit_v themselves_o to_o they_o and_o to_o follow_v their_o faith_n as_o they_o that_o must_v give_v a_o account_n of_o their_o soul_n and_o it_o be_v not_o tyranny_n then_o to_o exercise_v this_o authority_n in_o the_o church_n how_o come_v it_o to_o be_v so_o now_o i_o answer_v church-government_n be_v spiritual_a and_o only_o to_o be_v exercise_v spiritual_o in_o the_o conscience_n of_o the_o govern_v not_o as_o lording_n it_o over_o their_o conscience_n by_o a_o ecclesiastic_a jurisdiction_n but_o by_o persuasion_n and_o conviction_n to_o become_v manifest_a in_o their_o conscience_n wait_v till_o the_o lord_n shall_v reveal_v it_o to_o they_o thus_o be_v spiritual_a government_n exercise_v in_o the_o first_o church_n by_o their_o governor_n according_a to_o the_o rule_n of_o expediency_n edification_n peace_n and_o charity_n and_o thus_o do_v the_o govern_v submit_v themselves_o in_o the_o lord_n whereby_o they_o be_v preserve_v in_o the_o unity_n of_o the_o spirit_n in_o different_a outward_a practice_n which_o be_v depart_v from_o the_o government_n become_v tyrannous_a obj._n but_o the_o infallible_a judgement_n in_o reference_n to_o difference_n in_o the_o church_n though_o it_o be_v fix_v in_o the_o spirit_n of_o god_n according_a to_o the_o testimony_n of_o the_o scripture_n ought_v it_o not_o to_o be_v exercise_v by_o one_o or_o more_o certain_a person_n or_o person_n in_o the_o general_a meeting_n of_o the_o elder_n of_o the_o body_n so_o long_o as_o he_o or_o they_o abide_v in_o the_o conduct_n of_o that_o spirit_n and_o be_v not_o in_o a_o decay_n and_o what_o can_v be_v the_o hazard_n to_o say_v that_o in_o such_o a_o church_n there_o be_v still_o a_o infallible_a judgement_n in_o one_o or_o more_o so_o guide_v to_o who_o all_o be_v to_o submit_v in_o respect_n we_o be_v not_o to_o imagine_v that_o in_o a_o christian_a society_n there_o must_v be_v no_o order_n make_v or_o execute_v for_o the_o better_a regulate_v of_o the_o society_n or_o that_o among_o they_o matter_n controvert_v shall_v never_o be_v final_o determine_v i_o answer_v in_o such_o a_o society_n matter_n controvert_v may_v and_o aught_o to_o be_v final_o determine_v by_o person_n of_o the_o society_n to_o who_o they_o shall_v be_v refer_v and_o it_o rest_v in_o the_o power_n of_o any_o one_o particular_a church_n to_o make_v order_n for_o the_o better_a govern_v of_o the_o church_n the_o exercise_n whereof_o may_v be_v commit_v by_o the_o church_n to_o particular_a elder_n and_o overseer_n to_o who_o in_o their_o act_n of_o government_n they_o be_v accountable_a but_o in_o the_o frame_n such_o order_n and_o in_o the_o exercise_n of_o church-government_n the_o rule_n of_o expediency_n edification_n peace_n and_o charity_n be_v ever_o to_o be_v observe_v that_o the_o conscience_n of_o the_o desciple_n may_v be_v preserve_v tender_a under_o the_o feel_n of_o christ_n government_n within_o they_o that_o obedience_n be_v never_o impose_v as_o necessary_a upon_o they_o but_o as_o the_o lord_n shall_v clear_v the_o matter_n to_o they_o for_o this_o be_v depart_v from_o it_o cease_v to_o be_v the_o spiritual_a government_n of_o christ_n exercise_v in_o his_o church_n according_a to_o the_o new_a testament_n and_o become_v a_o ecclesiastical_a jurisdiction_n usurp_v and_o tyrannous_o exercise_v over_o the_o conscience_n of_o the_o disciple_n so_o that_o in_o any_o particular_a church_n there_o be_v no_o necessity_n of_o any_o person_n or_o person_n one_o or_o more_o pope_n or_o general_n council_n have_v such_o a_o power_n though_o builder_n in_o babylon_n will_v make_v it_o necessary_a for_o preserve_v in_o themselves_o a_o ecclesiastical_a supremacy_n over_o the_o scripture_n and_o the_o conscience_n of_o all_o in_o the_o church_n the_o hazard_n of_o which_o doctrine_n be_v manifest_a in_o the_o apostasy_n of_o those_o