Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A41501
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A quære concerning the church-covenant practised in the separate congregations sent with a letter thereunto annexed, from J.G. to T.G., wherein is proved that there is much evill and manifold inconveniences in the exacting and urging such a covenant.
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Goodwin, John, 1594?-1665.; T. G.
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1643
(1643)
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Wing G1195; ESTC R1173
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11,880
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16
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to be lamented that he by whom God hath reconciled the world to himselfe should be made a meanes of dividing this reconciled world between themselves The heavens I doubt not will accord us yet were it our greater comfort and glory if they might be prevented herein by the earth I verily beleeve it would strike a great stroake in compremising this contention if the great men and chiefe leaders on both sides could be perswaded but to take fast hold upon this free and noble resolution which yet I suppose we all intend to doe {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} rather to do sacrifice to the truth then to be in bondage to suppostions I know not how to open my mouth wide enough to shew you the inlargement of my heart unto you if wee saw the truth clearely with you you should not raigne alone wee would doubtlesse at once divide such a kingdome with you Many indeed of your partie are ready to say in effect that as it is heaven that separated you from us so it is the world that separates us from you But if you have the truth with you which indeed if you have at least in many of your beloved Maximes woe to my wits reason and understanding never poore man so strangely misused by such friends in this world it would never bee a debtor to such interpretors or agents for it As for the world if it be as little on that side the Sea as it is on this it will never be so much as a moate in your eye to hinder you from seeing any truth of God clearely But as little as it is with us we thinke it too great and too good to be sacrificed upon the service of an errour at any time Otherwise I doubt not but the Saints of God in England tread as light upon the earth as you doe in Holland and are as ready to buy the truth and give as good rates for it as the best Merchants among you but howsoever I knew that this left-handed spirit rules much in men of your way who not ontent to make our standing naught labour much to make us worse then our standings yet I make no question but your anointing teacheth you better and more Christian thoughts concerning us And if wee judged it any advantage to the truth and cause we maintaine against you wee durst view morall imputations with you and are confident that wee could assigne and suggest against you both as many and as likely indirect and fleshly grounds for your departure from us as you can against us for keeping our first standing and profession But the truth will never be made great by such demonstrations or arguments as these on either side sometimes the truth is there where a man for many reasons would thinke there were least hope to find it and againe many times faire overtures and many pleasing inducements will but deceive and disappoint men in this kind And as for that kind of truth which wee inquire after and toyle in the fire of contention to find out viz. spirituall and divine there is no substantiall and satisfying meanes for the discovery of it but by a holy humble and unpartiall consultation with the oracles of God yea if it be of that species or especiall kind of truth which is not spread like the Mannah upon the face of the Scriptures but lyeth low amongst the deepe things of God 1 Cor. 2 10. as it seemeth your truth in those questions depending betweene us in part doth now it is not sufficient simply to consult or aske as it were the Scriptures concerning them but they must be examined and re-examined againe and againe both solitary and in consort they must bee put home to it and urged and pressed close together before they will speake their mind plainely in this case or deliver out any of this treasure yea in many cases a man must be content to goe to one end of the Scripture to know what they meane in the other yea that which is much considerable and I feare wants that which belongs to it they may seeme to deliver many pleasing and plausible answers under the shadow whereof the judgements and consciences of men be much refreshed for a season so that they may be ready to shoute for joy and congratulate themselves with his acclamation that said {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} he had found he had found and yet none of these answers neither be the {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the true direct and bottome meaning of them As Sampson gave Dalilah answer upon answer to her question or demand which pleased her for a time carrying a semblance of realitie and truth in them but still her experience discovered the insufficiency of them and then she rejected them and would not give over till shee had the true answer indeed Judg. 16. 7. 8. so doubtlesse the Scriptures may in many places to our apprehensions affirme many things and deliver out many notions of choyse approbation to us for a time the weakenesse and effects whereof notwithstanding farther time experience and a clearer light may discover yea there may from the same Scripture rise up many meanings and interpretations before us one after another that may bee in our eyes as Eliah Jesses eldest sonne was in Samuels when hee was sent to annoynt one of his sonnes for King surely so he looking on Eliab the Lords annointed is before him but he was yet a great way off from the Lords annointed there was Elihah Abinabad and Shannuah and more then as many more presented before him before David came in sight who was the Lords annointed indeed he was behind and a great way off in the field and must be sent for before he comes so the annointed sense and meaning of the Scriptures may yet bee farre off when we perswade our selves with the greatest confidence it is before us And as he said of benefits Multa perdenda sunt ut semel ponas bene A man must bestow many amisse that he may bestow one well so many times a man must cast away many interpretations of Scripture and those sometimes such as otherwise he would not wittingly part with that he may interpret at last as he ought to doe I make no question but you have had experience hereof in your selfe more then once for my part I confesse it hath beene a very frequent thing with me in the course of my studies and meditations to meet with both from the pens or mouthes of others and by mine owne conceptions also some interpretations which have much affected me upon the first greeting yea which for a time I have nourished in my bosome and have treasure of and yet afterward have apparently seene that {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} my rejoycing was not good and by a strong hand of superior conviction have beene compelled to call that darkenesse and so to east it from me which sometimes I called
light kept close unto Wherefore I beseech you by the tender mercies of Jesus Christ and by the glory of those many talents given unto you the strength wherof methinkes should so worke as to breake through a napkin and disdaine so weake and contemptible an inclosure once more to survey with a single unpartiall and disingaged eye your present thoughts and apprehensions concerning these things which have removed you from off an English Table and put you under a Holland Bushell Confident I am that there is a light beyond your light in these matters and which you are very capable of if your eye by your long slumber be not over heavy to open I professe in the sight of God in as great singlenesse and simplicity of heart as ever man in this world spake word unto you that I doe as clearely apprehend error and mistake throughout the greatest part of your way as I doe in this conclusion that twice two makes foure The necessity of your Covenant Prolix confession of faith putting men to deliver their judgements in points of doubtfâ—â—â— disputations upon and before their admission into your Churches the power of the Keyes and of ordination of Pastors to be the right and inheritance of the whole body of the Congregation and of every member indifferently and promiscuously the divine institution or peremptory necessity of your ruling Elders the necessity of widowes as Officers in the Church the absolute necessity of one and the same government or discipline in all particulars whatsoever for all Churches in all times and places a full and peremptory determination of all things whatsoever appertaining to the worship of God with divers such like positions which are the very life soule and substance of your way I am at perfect peace in my thoughts that you will never be able to demonstrate or prove from the Scriptures to any sober minded or considering man I am loath to overcharge you with words or writings To desire you to returne and to repaire the breach you have made upon us I confesse were a hard mention and of slender hope to be obtained were it not made to a truely great and noble spirit and Caeteris paribus the request were more reasonable from you to me and others with mee to goe over to you then that wee should desire you to returne back unto us because you have suffered already at least in the thoughts of many under the disparagement of some inconstancy and equall it is when there is not some over-ruling reason to the contrary that burdens should not be doubled but rather divided But herein I beseech you consider your advantage is the greater you have by this meanes {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a greater and better sacrifice to offer upon the service of the truth and Gospell of Jesus Christ then wee if you can apprehend the truth with us and deny your selfe the second time in comming over to us And yet give me leave to say this unto you though your restitution to us be one of the first borne of my joy in this worlds wishes the dayther of would be unto me above the dayes of the yeare yet had I rather mourne over your absence still then bring you hither any other wayes then by an Angell of light I relish no satisfaction to any my requests from any but what I purchase more by reasoning then by requesting and for your part I know that innovations of this nature a friend and a feather are alike except reason make the difference I have made upon some words of encouragement from your mouth related unto me by D. P. and propound a Quere unto you concerning the head of your way your Church Covenant with some reasons hereof If you be willing to treat with your old friend in a way of this commerce I shall hereafter God willing as health and liberty agree desire like satisfaction of you in some other particulars of your way if the motion dislike you neither have I any further pleasure in it if you shall suspend your answer give mee leave so farre to please my selfe as to interpret your silence a ground of hope that your owne comming is not farre off or otherwise if your answer bee too strong for me and able to remove my mountaines out of my way they are not Seas that shall keepe friends asunder any longer I am yours if you care to owne me send mee over the silver and bright shining wings of truth and upon these I come flying over to you out of hand I would be as glad of a bargaine of truth at any rate whatsoever as another God having taught me how to drowne the world in the least drop of the water of life onely this I desire may be the Law of dispute betweene us that since the strength of the confidence of your way is such as to breake out into a departure from us and I conceive double light is required for separation in any kind whereas single light sufficeth for any man continuing in his standing you will goe to worke as a Prince and not as a begger and command the truth which you hold and practise in opposition to us by a high hand of pregnant and expresse Scriptures and not beg any thing by any loose or faint interpretation or supposition wee looke for letter for letter word for word and little for little to the proofe of all you maintaine against us and judge it somewhat hard to be forsaken in such a manner onely because our logique is more dull and lesse piercing then yours I have used the more libertie of speech unto you because I know you are able to beare it and pity it is but a good paire of shoulders should now and then bee ballanced The mightie God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ teach us how to make something out of nothing and by the use of a miserable distracted and broken world how we may compasse and setch in the dayes of Eternitie Grace Peace and Truth be multiplyed unto you and yours from the great fountaine of these heavenly treasures Yours in the Lord for the greatest services of Christian love and acquaintance J. G. FINIS