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	know_v	word_n	2,215	5	4.1186	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A45331	Comarum akosmia the loathsomnesse of long haire, or, A treatise wherein you have the question stated, many arguments against it produc'd, and the most materiall arguguments [sic] for it refell'd and answer'd : with the concurrent judgement of divines both old and new against it : with an appendix against painting, spots, naked breasts, &c. / by Thomas Hall ...	Hall, Thomas, 1610-1665.	1654 (1654)	Wing H429; ESTC R13863	61,394	134

Ministers who are by office the Lords Seers and Watchmen to observe the sinnes of the times they live in and to warn their people that they shun those Nationall sins which without amendment will bring Nationall plagues Amongst other Vices I observe that Pride is very predominant in this licentious age Pride in Heart Pride in Habit Pride in Long-haire Pride in the Clergy Pride in Profession c. Had it raigned onely in the under-sort I had been silent but when I saw Gods owne people by profession yea and many Ministers who should be patterns of Gravity and Modesty to their Inferiours to be tainted appearing like Ruffians in the Pulpit I could no longer forbeare especially considering how few have appeared against this sin either in the Pulpit or the Presse Master Pryn is the onely man that I know who hath appeared in our language in a set Treatise against it and yet his bent is principally against Love-locks I shall give one clip neerer will see what may be said against the Long-locks especially of Ministers and Professors who have of late exceeded in this kind they draw neerer unto God and so their sins are more displeasing unto him and should be more grievous unto us Besides their example is more infectious wicked men rejoyce when they have such a Plea such a Minister weares his haire as long as we doe and such a great Professor would not goe in such a guise if it were sinful c. Hence the Lord complaines Jer. 23. 15. that from the Prophets of Jerusalem profanenesse was gone forth into all the land their loosenesse had leavened others Diogenes seeing a child doe amisse ran and beat the father We Ministers are to be blamed for many of the exorbitances of our people either we reprove them not or else by our evill example we harden them in their sinne Neither is this my observation onely for I finde Reverend Master Gipps lamenting and complaining of it in a Sermon before the Honourable House of Commons When I came to London saith he was shewed such such Divines of note I had much adoe to believe it and still it lyeth as lead upon my heart to consider what Ruffianly haire what Cavalerian garbe of cloathes with answerable diet we are falne upon even in these sad times as easie and loose herein as rigid and strict in what is both of smaller evidence and consequence c. Certainely saith he it was not so within these few yeares when the poore fugitives posted to New-England in another cut of hair and cloathing Thus he I know this age is subtill to finde out distinctions to patronize any errour and when the Word hath convinced them yet that old Serpent joyning with our corruption hath taught men many sleights and devices to shun the dint of truth but all in vaine for t is not frivilous distinctions that will help us at Gods Barre all this painting will off when it 's brought to the fire of that great day God expects that we should practice and not question his commands a good soule saith with the Martyr Though I cannot dispute yet I can die for the truth so say thou though I cannot answer all the cavills of the flesh and the Devill yet I can doe what Gods Word commands mee and his faithfull servants have practised The Lord hee knowes that I have no by-ends or aimes in this Worke I do it not out of any Pharisaicall selfe-conceited humour nor in opposition to the persons of any whatsoever but solely and singly out of love to the Land of my Nativity that the Lord whose eyes are ten thousand times brighter then the Sun may see nothing to displease him And lest any should thinke mee singular I have produced Scripture Nature Reason with the concurring practice of Gods Church and people and the judgement of such as have beene famous in their Generations both for Prudence and Piety And that it might win if possibly upon all and exasperate none I have made it as inoffensively pleasant as I could Onely I wish that some able Pen and some one that could spare more time then I can well for such imployment had undertaken the Worke the path being somewhat obscure and unbeaten they are numero paucissimi but two that have directly treated on this subject and one of these I could never attaine for love nor money till of late I borrowed it of that learned laborious Gentleman Col. Leigh At first I intended it onely as a little Appendix to a Treatise already extant but having since obtained more light and helpe I shall proceed more fully and methodically To this end I shall I state the Question 2. confirme it with Arguments 3. Answer all Objections I expect not to please all Jupiter himselfe could not do it I know that one ship cannot carry all passengers and the French man tells me Who builds i th' way where all passe by Shall build his house too low or high But I shall submit all to the judgement of the Grave and godly wise desiring a candid construction of all without carping at any Punctillo's or failings in expression where the matter for substance shall be found right being ready to do the like for thee Hanc veniam petimúsque damúsque vicissim Now for the clearer and better discussing of the point I shall lay it down in this Thesis viz. That it is unlawfull for any man ordinarily to weare Long Haire I shall observe the usuall method 1. I will briefly explaine the Termes as they lie in order I shall have occasion to enlarge upon them in the Answers to the Objections 2. I will confirme the Thesis with Arguments drawn from the Word of God c. 3. I shall answer all the cavills of any weight which are made against it 1. I say it is unlawfull and that not onely by mans Law for some Nations have made Decrees against it but by the Law of God 't is his word that condemnes the wearing of Long-haire as I shall prove in the Arguments 2. It s contrary to that order which God hath set in nature hence the Apostle blaming the Corinthians for this sinne appeal●… to their own consciences and to the voyce of God in nature 1 Cor. 11. 14. Doth not even nature it selfe teach you that if a man have long Haire it is a shame unto him The Apostles Interrogation is a strong affirmation q. d. this sin of wearing Long Haire is so evident that even nature it selfe much more Grace doth condemne it But of this more in its proper place 2. For any man Be hee high or low rich or poore King or Kesar be hee a Northern or Southern man c. hee may not transgresse the commands of God in wearing Long Haire especially since God himselfe by the voyce of nature hath told us that 't is a shame for a man whoever he be for the indefinite is equivalent

forbeare all that is good for they will take offence at your praying in your family at your exact walking c. It is one signe that short haire is the best guise beause the wicked of the world are so apt to jeere at it and abhorre it as they doe all things else which are good and therefore Tertull. well observes that none but evill men will take offence at that which is good if wicked men will be offended at us for doing our duty and will take offence when none is given them this is scandalum passivum non datum sed acceptum a scandall not given by us but taken by themselves and is lightly to be regarded Christ himselfe was a rock of offence to the Pharisees not actively but passively they took offence at his poverty and mean condition and see how he slights them Math. 15. 14. Let them alone sith they are desperate they are blinde leaders of the blinde 'T is true we may seeke to please our neighbour in that which is good but not in that which is evill Rom. 15. 2. What God forbids may never be done though we should displease all the world by shunning it No man may sin to avoid scandall Their damnation is just who say Let us doe evill that good may come Rom. 3. 8. The fourth OBJECTION I am not alone in this guise for I find that when this Land was over spread with Heathenisme and Barbarisme long haire was their custome and now of late that we are in some things worse than Heathens we are fallen to it againe Yea in these times of Liberty it s become a Nationall sinne many Great men Lords Knights Esquires Gentlemen goe in this guise c. Ans. Christ is Truth not Custome that custome which hath no ground nor foundation in the Word of God may not be followed by the people of God who must to the Law and to the Testimony and not to Customes Esay 8. 20. A sinfull custome is better broken than kept else if any sinfull custome were sufficient ground for our Practice then Polygamy and the worshipping of Devils would be lawfull because that was an ancient custome But you must know that long haire is contrary to the civill laudable custome of our land since the Reformation for though formerly when the nation worshipped Devils had community of Wives and was over-spread with Heathenisme c. then the ancient Brittains wore excessive long haire yet since the Reformation came amongst us this abuse was reformed and all the days of Queene Elizabeth King James and King Charles a modest Tonsure hath been used which still continues amongst some and the notion abides in most for if the people see a man come up to preach with excessive long haire it is an offence unto them 2. If it be a nationall sin it is so much the worse for when sinne growes generall it brings generall judgements when all the Old World and all Sodome had corrupted their wayes then the judgement of the Lord came on them Genes 6. 5. 7. and 19. 4. 24 25. when all Jerusalem from the least to the greatest from the Prophet to the Priest is given to lewdnesse then it is time for God to resist Jer. 6. 12 13. be the multitude never so great if they walk in an evill way we must not follow it Exod. 23. 2. but oppose it it is a signe of sincerity to be good in bad times with Lot to be good in Sodom with Job in an heathenish Uz and with Noah to be righteous in unrighteous generations Genes 6. 9. and with the Church of Pergamus to be constant in professing Gods truth in a place where Satan reignes and in time when Heresie Supestition and all wickednesse doth abound Rev. 2. 12 13. This is high commendation indeed The vilest will seeme good amongst good company Let a Saul come amongst the Prophets and he will prophesie but to be good in a bad place and not to be ashamed in the midst of an adulterous generation There 's the triall Mark 8. ult 3. It is too true that in these times of liberty we are turned ●…centious a great cause of our unhappiness is our too much happinesse that which makes many so luxuriant in habit haire c. is the want of the golden reines of government It is a hard thing to be good in loose times and to use prosperity well How many have we seen that in times of persecution and adversity which being raised to a greater estate or to some higher condition are become other men like Tuva in the Poet. Vis dicam malè sit cur tibi Tuva benè est Martial l. 10. 13. 4. Whereas you say you have many great men on your side I answer We must live by Rule not by Example or if we will follow examples follow the best and not the worst another mans pride though he be never so great is no rule for me to walk by because such a great man is a drunkard an oppressor c. it doth not follow that therefore we must imitate him we may not partake with great men in their sinnes unless we meane to partake with them in their plagues The more they be and the greater they be that walke in a wicked path the more God is provoked the neerer to judgement and the more suspitious is the way for the most are usually the worst the greatest number go the way to hell Math. 7. 13 14. The whole world lyes in wickednesse John 5. 19. nil mundum in mundo 'T was the complaint of Seneca against the men of his time amongst the causes of our evils saith he this is one that we live by Example neither are we governed by reason but led away by custome That which we would not imitate if few men did it when many men have begun to doe it we follow as if it were more honest because it is more frequent and errour with us supplyeth the place of that which is right when it is made publick Consider there are many base and beggarly b●…ats that weare long locks as well as some great ones Are not the drosse and dregges of men companions with thee in this sinne Look abroad into the world and see whether the vilest man do not usually weare the longest locks Tell me whether ragged Rascalls nasty Varlets Raggamuffi●…n Souldiers Tinkers Crate-carriers Jayle-birds c. are not partakes with thee in this Ruffianly guise And if so I should thinke one neede not bid thee change thy fashion The fifth OBJECTION I have not onely many Great men but also many Good men on my side I see many Ministers and many Professors of Religion in my guise and therefore I hope I may use it still without offence Answ. Ministers and Professors are men and so subject to infirmities yea to enormities when left to themselves as well as others We must therefore follow no Man