Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	answer_v	church_n	true_a	2,713	5	5.4919	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A41790	A sigh for peace, or, The cause of division discovered wherein the great Gospel promise of the Holy Ghost, and the doctrine of prayer with imposition of hands, as the way ordained of God to seek for it, is asserted and vindicated, as the interest and duty of Christs disciples in general : in answer to a book intituled A search for schism / by Tho. Grantham ...	Grantham, Thomas, 1634-1692.	1671 (1671)	Wing G1548; ESTC R39437	69,616	172

Heb. 6. 2. ought now to be practised by the servants of Christ The Antecedent cannot be denied without manifest danger to all the principles of Christs Doctrine for if one be abolished then why not the rest So then the consequence must not be denied The third branch of my position proved Viz. That the Laying on of Hands Heb. 6. 2. is a part of the foundation there mentioned But first for explication of the word Foundation it is to be considered That when it is applied to Christianity or the Church of God It may be considered first originally and in the main and so Christ our Lord is only the foundation Or secondly demonstratively or in the mean and so his doctrine may be said to be the foundation by an usual manner of speech when the thing containing or holding forth is taken for the thing contained or held forth For whatsoever Christ is in himself certain it is he is not a foundation TO VS But as he is held forth in his doctrine Heb. 6. 1 2 c. Hence I argue Argument 1. The word Foundation Heb. 6. 1. cannot be refer'd to Christ as the foundation of his Church originally or in the main or in the highest or most sublime consideration Ergo The word Foundation is refer'd to the doctrine of Christ in the first or most easie demonstration to wit the first rudiments or principles of Religion even such as Babes in Christ may know them The Antecedent is true otherwise what shall we think of Paul Would he not teach the Christians concerning the knowledge of Christ in the more sublime points of Christianity Surely he professes to do this at the time he wrote to them and indeed how else could he lead them on to perfection Heb. 5. 11. and 6. 3. So that our consequence is very rational Argument 2. The word Foundation Heb. 6. 1. is comprehensive of all these particulars to wit Faith Repentance c. Ergo the word Foundation Heb. 6. 1. is comprehensive of Laying on of Hands Heb. 6. 2. as well as any of the rest That the Antecedent is true may in part be perceived by the Searchers themselves For they were more rational than to deny the word Foundation to be meant of this or that particular only and grant it to be meant of the rest Therefore they would have none of the said particulars to be understood by or comprehended in the word Foundation but restrain it only to Christ which yet is contrary to their own opinion sith they have since granted Laying on of Hands Heb 6. 2. to be a part of the Foundation The consequence is good because no reason can be assigned why the doctrine of Baptism should be a part of the foundation there meant rather than the promise of the Holy Spirit with the way of God to seek for it Argument 3. The Apostle in Heb. 6. 12. describes the foundation in its several parts But it is irrational in such a description to intermix two purticulars in the midst of four th● two first and two last being Fundamental an● the two middlemost Circumstantial or what els● would you have them And yet give us no intimation of any such unsuitable commixtion Ergo Laying on of Hands is one part of th● Foundation which is mentioned Heb. 6. 1 2. T. G. The Second part Of the Constitution of a true CHURCH NEither are the demands of our Brethren about what truths the knowledge whereof are necessary to the Constitution of a true Church so difficult but that we shall give them a direct answer at least to a larger degree than what they in that case have assigned for they only set down Faith Repentance and Baptism with a holy life c. omitting not only the fourth principle of Christs Doctrine though they confess laying on of Hands Heb. 6. 2. to be a part of the foundation but also they omit the Belief of the Resurrection and the eternal Judgment If it should be said that they comprehend the two last principles in that of Faith towards God we must tell them they had better by far have expressed them for certainly in this case we cannot be too express if we express nothing but the truth But to be plain it 's justly suspected that they do not make the Knowledge or Belief of the Resurrection and eternal judgment necessary to the Essence of a true Church for if they had they would some where or other have asserted these truths to be necessary in that behalf which they have not done but rather argued to the contrary whiles they reason from the state of the Church before Christs Ascension to the state of the Church after it as we shall see more anon These things premised I answer directly to their demands in this case That the belief and practice so far as they are practical of all these principles or truths Heb. 6. 1 2. Are necessary to the right or perfect Constitution of a true Church which I thus demonstrate All the first principles of Gods Oracles from the time they were in being are necessary to be known believed c. in the Constitution of a true Church Ergo all those trutbs Heb. 6. 1 2. Are necessary to be known believed c. in the constitution of a true Church The Antecedent I prove because first principles are either necessary in the constitution of a true Church or not at all But first principles are necessary Ergo they are necessary in the constitution of a true Church This will yet further appear by considering every principle apart after this manner 1. If Repentance from dead works be not necessary to the constitution or beginning of a true Church no man can shew a reason why it should be necessary at all 2. If Faith towards God be not necessary to the constitution of a true Church then not at all 3. If Baptisms be not necessary to be taught c. in the constitution of a true Church then not at all 4. If Laying on of Hands for the promised and Sealing Spirit be not necessary in the constitution of a true Church then not necessary at all 5,6 If the Knowledge that the dead shall rise again and be judged be not necessary in the constitution of a true Church then not necessary at all And therefore I argue further Milk is necessary for Babes or mankind in his first estate Ergo all th●se principles Heb. 6. 1 2. Are necessary to Churches in their beginning or constitution The antecedent is evident by sense the consequence is true because all the principles Heb. 6. 1 2. Are called Milk Heb. 5. 12. And that which pertains to Babes in Christ and consequently to the constitution of Churches Again If the Principles of Religion be not to be taught in the beginning of our Christian State no man can tell the time when these things ought to be taught For pass but the time of the beginning Plantation or founding of Churches and let our

lie in this question we answer further And first By granting that those that are rightly baptized have thereupon a general right to all the priviledges and holy Ordinances in the Church of God and so to the Lords Table among the rest But then secondly we must distinguish between this general right and a regular capacity for the immediate participation of these priviledges The children of Ephraim c. 2. Chron. 30. 18 19 20. had a right to the Passeover in general with the rest of the Israelites because they were Circumcised c. yet sith they were not cleansed according to the Purisication of the Sanctuary they were not in a regular capacity to eat the Passeover with the rest of the Israelites therefore Hezekiah made supplication for them and it was permitted in that strait for they could not do what they would because of the shortness of the time that they should eat the Passeover otherwise then as it was written in the Law but this was an extraordinary case as we have shewed before Again suppose I know that my Brother hath something against me when I am going to the Lords Table this doth not take away my right from the Table of the Lord which I have in general with other Christians only now I am not in a regular capacity to participate And what though those that are baptized according to Christs command have right to the Lords Table as aforesaid yet may they not be preposterous in taking their right for there is an orderly way to partake of our priviledges And we say and have proved that the next step or principle in Christianity to holy Baptism is that we wait upon God in prayer with the Imposition of Hands for the holy Spirit of promise This our Brethren do not only neglect but they oppose it as an humane innovation Upon this not a brother only but the Church hath something against them they refuse to be reconciled unless we allow them in their disobedience at least so far as to leave undone that which is their duty to do hence it appeareth that whatsoever our Brethren may say for themselves in respect of their right to the Lords Table yet we find that in them which ●uts them into an incapacity for their imme●iate participation at least with those Congregations who religiously observe that order ●herein the truths of God are proposed to be ●bserved But here peradventure our Brethren will ●y they do not remember that we have ought a●ai●st them in this case To which it may be ●●swered that makes the case never the bet●●r in respect of them that do know their er●our no more then my Brothers justifying ●imself in his trespass against me doth lessen his ●espass which is so far from that that in truth makes it greater and there is now a necessity ●●at these two be reconciled before they sit ●●●wn at the Lords Table together If yet it should be said we take for granted the ●●ief thing denyed viz. That our Brethren are ●●fenders in the case depending The answer first this objection will help those that 〈◊〉 the Baptism of Repentance against our ●●ethren for denying them communion in ●●eir Congregations as much as it will help 〈◊〉 Brethren against us for though our Bre●●ren say they offend in omitting that part of ●hrists Doctrine yet they deny it 2. Though 〈◊〉 Brethren will needs suppose the case to be doubtful whether what we hold in the case d●●pending be true or no it is out of doubt wit● us and so much the more as by how much ou● Brethren labour to raise new doubts and scruples about it according to that true saying When Black is rightly posited with White Then black 's most dark and white doth shi●● most bright The Searchers insist much upon their offer in order to the accommodating the differen● depending To which I answer had they pe●sisted in that candour and condescending temper which lately some of them pretende● to It is not doubed but the end might ha●● been happy provided that their hearts were 〈◊〉 right according to those pretensions But to 〈◊〉 plain by all that we can as yet understand som● of them were more politick than pious in su●● their endeavours of which let this their Sear●● be an evidence to Pesterity For even when 〈◊〉 were busily endeavouring to answer their co●● descending proposals with the greatest co●plyance which with a good conscience 〈◊〉 could even then comes our Brethren forth wi●● a fire-brand of Schism and Sedition and claps on the backs of our Congregations 〈◊〉 therewithall arms themselves with the 〈◊〉 Clandestine and subtil opposition against the principle under consideration wherewith they have at any time so far as I know as yet advanced themselves against it which yet will make as little for their Credit or the Churches Comfort as their former attempts of this kind have done unless God whose wisdom can bring good out of evil turn it to our advantage for no weap●n formed against the truth shall prosper And though it is true there was some unhappy obstructions of our peace before they Printed their Search so it is as true that the hypocrisie of some of the Searchers was the cause thereof Nor need they make so much of their permitting the Countrey Elders to preach up Laying on of Hands among them when they consider the hot opposition which some of them met with as soon as they had done And it s known from some of the most plain-hearted among them that though we have been desired to preach the Doctrine of Laying on of Hands among them yet it is more to please our humours which our souls abhor then that they have any expectation to see the truth by such preaching Neither is the complaint of our Brethren just at this time how that they or many of them would have submitted to Laying on of Hands did we not prohibit them communion with those with whom they formerly walked For they know that what ever hath been when contention was in the highest about this matter yet there hath been as much forbearance that way of late as could reasonably be desired and this condescention perhaps might still have encreased had you as you promised seaced your opposition against the truth by us professed But now you have revived the whole Controversie in most of the Congregations in England And therefore as the cause of our division at the first was much on their part who divided the principles of Christianity and themselves from a principle there of so the revival and aggravation with the prevention of our concurrance at least in many things will be found at the door of the Searcher when he searcheth well his own Habitation When we consider Pau●s charge to Timothy to withdraw from such as had a form of Godliness denying the power thereof And his command to the Church at Thessalonica to withdraw from every Brother that walketh disorderly we cannot but dislike the

of its chief Patriot was certainly from a mind filled with perturbation and it s to be feared with no small emulation against some for no other cause then for their confidence and constancy in that which by the Vision of Truth is made known for the good of the Church For how is it credible that a pure fountain or mind filled with Love and Peace should ever send forth such dreadful streams of slanders against the Church of God as can hardly be paralelled in any Author As if the Congregations of Christians under imposition of hands were invaders and usurpers of the Lords peculiar Prerogative such as would irrevocably throw their fellow servants into Hell and death Such as lock heaven-gate against the strictest piety of a dissenting Brother and open it wide to those that are defective in Morals Such as heat the Furnace seven times for those which bow not to their dictates Such as make Conscience a make bate Such as kindle flames in Gods House by Fire taken from the Altar and bring the fattest Oblations to maintain that fire of Contention Such as will rather fire the house of God than dye without doing somewhat which may perpetuate their names yea such as are Sathans ●urveyers to bring prey to his den And to make the measure run over and over such as if they could execute all that they condemn few or none could be saved It is true after all this and much more of the same nature you stroke us on the head and tell us though you thus speak yet you are perswaded better things of ●he most of us a narrow Plaister for so great a wound being no more then must ●e said if Charity bear any sway of the manifold Sects which now profess Christianity among whom there are many ● who according to their Light are pious peaceable and serious But alas who will believe that many among us are good Christians if it be true that one part of our Churches consist of such as are notoriously known to be such as you have Characterized But what shall we say shall we render railing for railing God forbid for we are taught of God to overcome evil with good nor will we revenge our selves by recriminations And as we are confident that our innocency will in these things greatly plead against you so we trust there are no such impieties and execrable doers among you if this your Search have not tinctured you The Lord knoweth and Israel shall know that if we knew any such evil workers in our Congregations they should either reform or go to their place and if you know any such you might have done well to have singled them out that we might have known them by name and not have thus sold us into the hands of Scorners to be a derision to the foolish Prov. 12. 18. There is that speaketh like the piercings of a Sword but the tongue of the wise is health Nor do we doubt but that many of you are meerly ensnared in the publication of your Epistle and it is strange you should imply his pen in this matter whom you knew to be too much entangled in the folly of his own wayes at that time to be truly serviceable to God and his People whatever he hath been in time past What is here written now offers it self to your consideration as a thing compelled from us at this time by your high provocation well knowing it to be more suitable to the time and the state of the Church in general to be studying for terms of reconciliation then Arguments for Disputation and therefore we could wish that Christians would not thus put one another to business seeing they do bear and are like to bear in their body the Marks of the Lord Jesus according to that saying Gal. 6. 17. Nor was it needful to set down your demands in this our Answer partly for that the substance may be understood by what we have said and partly for that you have made your Book so publick as that it is as it were in every Brothers hand who therefore when he sees this Answer may compare it with your Search for his own satisfaction Your Brother Tho. Grantham A Sigh for Peace OR The cause of Division discovered c. IT is certainly an easie thing though very pernicious to fill the Church of Christ with Questions and such too as may carry a shew of strength against the most important Articles of our Faith But it is not so easie for those who are sick of Questions or demands to receive satisfaction by any endeavour whatsoever And as in other points of faith the Questions of some have been endless even so now that humour hath been and is much at work against that solemn service of prayer with the imposition of hands for the promised Spirit of God as a gift pertaining to the members of the body of our Lord Jesus Christ As is too apparent by sundry papers extant and among the rest one entituled A Search for Schism containing no less than an hundred Demands though 40. only be the number set down by the Demandants which are the more prodigeous for that divers of them have been answered by divers hands and no reply made by the enquirers What the reason hereof should be is doubtful unless the opposers of this truth intend to state the Controversie anew for I was told that this Book of Demands is but a preparatory to a greater work and thereby become more effectually the disturbers and obstructers of that measure of unity remaining and peace pretended But as in this we shall be too solicitous so neither in our Answer shall we need to be ovluminous by tracing their demands one by one For though the number thereof be many yet they are reducible to three Heads touching which the truth being evinced the whole Body of their demands are answered Now the Heads to which their demands may be reduced are these The first concerns the constitution of those Congregations of Baptized Disciples who reject that solemn service of prayer with imposition of hands for the promised Spirit viz. Whether they be true Churches of Christ or not The second respecteth the matter of Communion between those Christians who religiously observe prayer with the imposition of hands as a principle of Christs Doctrine pertaining to the beginning of Christian men and these who reject and oppose it The third is touching the service it self in respect of its grounds and ends as also in respect of the persons concerned in the practice thereof at this day That I may with the more facility and clearness proceed in the consideration of these particulars I shall begin with the last first touching which particular I shall endeavour to make good this proposttion viz. That as God hath promised to give the Spirit of his Son or his holy Spirit to all that are the called of the Lord So he hath appointed a solemn way wherein his Servants and Handmaids