Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	apostle_n	believe_v	spirit_n	1,750	5	4.9390	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A60506	The Quakers spiritual court proclaim'd Being an exact narrative of two several tryals had before that new-high-court of justice, at the Peele in St. John's Street; together with the names of the judges that sate in judgment, and of the parties concern'd in the said tryals: also sundry errors and corruptions, in principle and practice among the Quakers, which were never till now made known to the world. Also a direction to attain to be a Quaker, and profit by it. All which, with many new matters and things of remark among those men, are faithfully declared and testified. By Nathaniel Smith student in physick, who was himself a Quaker, and conversant among them for the space of about XIV. years.	Smith, Nathaniel, d. 1668?; Yearwood, Randolph, d. 1689.	1668 (1668)	Wing S4135; ESTC R219636	40,156	50

the Earth to be round and that when it was day with us it was night in other places he was then desi●ous to convince me of this my Errour as he thought and to make me Relinq●ish all such Tenents I being come to the Castle where he was he came to me and Jo. Stubs told him of my Principle concerning the Earth and its roundness whereupon Geo. told me that it was fl●t and brought Arguments for it that let a M●● travel never so far he shall not see the Earth to bend round he also affirmed that when it was 12. of the Clock with us that then it was 12. of the Clock all the World over Then I asked him whether there was a new Sun every day he answered No there was but one Sun then said I what becomes of it in the Night or does it give light or not or doth it go down into the Sea to cool it self he said it went cross back again some way But when he could not hold his Discourse then he began to father all this his Errours upon his Spi●it of Revelation and said that it was revealed to him that it was so and therefore it must stand for Truth ●e thinking that I would submit to that as many others do which believe all that he and some others say is a Divine Truth and must not be contradicted by any but at the last reason did over-power these Divine Revelations This was in the Great Room or Hall in Lancaster Castle At another time I spake of Spirits and said that there were Spiritual bodies and Angels but he denied all and said that the●e was Light and Darkness and the one was of God and the other of the Devil meaning rather that the one was God and the other the Devil and that there was no distinct Spirits nor Angels for he could never see them in the Divine Light And further did affi●m that if there were any he should have seen them but he never saw any therefore there was none This and the like words he spoke and held forth to me to have me to believe and become an Atheist or Ranter for they both hold the same and it is their Principle and whosoever holdeth the same is of the like Principle This was spoken in Margaret Fell's room in the aforesaid Castle Then I Discoursed with him about the Soul and I affirmed that it had a Spiritual body after this ●ife He answered that it was the breath of God and that in wicked men it was oppressed with sin but it should be redeemed and return to God that gave it that is that all Souls shall return to Glory Peace and Happiness and not to answer for any sin after this Life After this Jo. Stubs and I being together in my Chamber we did Discourse about the Soul of man after this Life He said that he did believe that there was no Punishment after this Life and that which was in this Life was for Disobedience to the Light and further he said That as all dyed in Adam so in the second Adam that is Christ all were made alive and that all should go one and the same way when they were dead and that they should not have any Punishment for sin hereafter but what was it was in this Life and that the Soul should go to God that gave it And further he said It was not his Principle alone for Geo. Fox did hold the same and Geo. said That those that did believe any other ways were of the Old Opinion But this must be kept secret lest it should cast a Stumbling-block before the Weak but as they came to grow up in the Truth they would come to see it in the Light But I was altogether against him and brought this Scripture of the Apostles against them which said If we have Hope but in this Life only we are of all men most miserable But let me say what I could I could not perswade him from it because Geo. Fox held the same which I found too true by Discoursing with him A●er this I discoursed with George Fox about the Beasts of the Field and creeping things he did affirm that they had Reason as well as Man and that all the differences betwixt man and them was only that man was fallen from his first estate and that the beast were not that man was worse than the beast I asked him what difference there was betwixt the Soul of a man and of a beast he said That God breathed into man the breath of Life and so he did into all Creatures and that all the Vertue in all things were of the Light and when they were at an end they did return to God again For he looked upon God not as being a Spirit but a great Light as the Light of the Day and the Night as the Devil and that these are two great beings of themselves and are without any cause as the day hath for the Sun is the cause of the Light and it's absence the cause of the Night But this he did not understand I wish he may understand that there is a God which is the first moving Cause of that Divine Light and also that there are Angels or Devils all which he and others that believe not the same may come to know the Truth of it too soon for if there were nothing else but what he believeth then what need men learn any thing and certainly if this be true as he saith then it must needs be true that that is a new Light which he hath for it is not like that which the Prophets and Apostle● had for they believe that there were Angels which are Spirits and also Devils that are Spirits But how any such an one can truly know God and teach his Truth and all the Truths which belong to that great Divine Power I know not but leave it for others to Judge After this when I understood that this was taking Root amongst some of the Chief of them I was resolved that where-ever I found them holding these Tenents or the like to it I would use my best endeavour to over-turn if possible I could lest in time it might grow and so bring them into Arantism this I resolved in my self and in part put it forward for meeting with some that were already Infected with it by such Arguments as I brought against it were something convinced that there was Spirits and that Man should have a beeing after this Life Then these things put me to a stand whether I should come amongst them or not seeing they we●e ●alling from the Scripture and from Truth it self for this would lead into all Errors but then again I thought that it might be possible that I might over-turn this grand Error and by that means might do much good but there were many of the Chief of them which held the same and when I would discourse with them then I must submit to them and also must repent for

ingage thy Servant Nathaniel Smith Student in Physick CHAP. I. Wherein are Discovered my Inducements to follow this Sect of People called QUAKERS HAving from my Youth an earnest Desire after those things that were Just Honest and Good I set my self to find out those means that might Conduce thereunto if by any means I might Satisfie my Doubting Soul Notwithstanding I found no Satisfaction for some Years At last came a People which were called Quakers declaring That the Kingdom of Heaven was in Man and that there was a Light or Vnderstanding in every man which did shew 〈◊〉 Good and Evil and that this was a Divine Light or measure which was given to all men to Rule Guide and Govern themselves by it and sufficient to bring them to the Knowledge of God and the Myste●●es of Godliness These things I pondering in my Heart and cons●dering that swift Witness in my Breast which did condemn me when I did what was Unjust and Justifie me when I did that which was Good these things wrought in me a strong Belief that what they spake was Truth Further they declared that we were the Sons of ADAM made of the same Mold and ●●at it was only the Pride and Ambition of Men that they sought to bear Rule over one another and to bring their Fellow-Servants into Subjection by Oppression and Cruelty if they resus●● to submit affirming that all ought to live Soberly and Righteously without Opposing or Oppressing o●e another For as we were all the Sons of Adam so there ought to be no respect of Persons amongst us but that we should live soberly one among another as Brethren and Children of the same Parent That we ought not to look upon one another as Lord or master but to be of one Heart and Mind Worshiping God in singleness of hear● without Lordship or Dominion one over another That none should bear Rule over anothers Conscience that all should live together in Lo●● without B●ck●iting or speaking Evil one of another that Love and Vnity might ab●●●d amongst us and we become a Choice People to God These and the like Doctrines did so exceedingly work upon me being at that time about 19 Years of Age that I resolved to acquaint my self farther with them and with their Doct●in and in order hereunto I did frequent their Meetings where I heard them declare That man ought to doe unto all ●●en as he would that they should do unto him also that they ought to fear the Lord refraining from Evil and all Vngodly actions and as I said before that men should not Lord it over one another by reason of their great Estates for all Kings Princes and Nobles of the Earth are no more in the eye of the Lord than the Beggar on the Dung●il that God did delight as much in the meanest Person if they walk Righteously before him as he did in the greatest Potentates So that all Worshiping and Preferring of one before another was contrary to Truth All these things I considered in my self and finding nothing in them then but what was consistent with their Teaching I joyned with them and with much fervency of Spirit did endeavour to instruct others in the same that they might walk uprightly and soberly before their Creator that so they might find rest to their Souls when Time shall be no more but for this Time of this Terrestial being they could not expect but to have Trouble and Tribulation but this was but for a time and this time was soon past and then they should have Rest for their Souls for ever This is the whole scope of that which I did intend by it that is to say That man was composed of Soul Body and Spirit and at the Dissolution of this Body that the Soul should stil remain a Spiritual body which should be capable of joy or of Sorrow This Resolution Faith and Belief I was resolved to stand to and that none should move it As also all that man could do in Speaking and Teaching was but to direct them to Christ and that he alone was the only Help and Way to Salvation and by him the Soul should be redeemed from sin and that he was the Rock of Ages and all Generations that put their Trust in him and fall down before the greatness of his Majesty with humble and contrite submission of our sins and true Repentance which was not to be repented of Further de●laring that there was none able to give a Remission for sin but Christ and that all those that did pretend to forgive sins were out of the Truth and that all Laws made or holden upon that account were Erroneous false and out of the Truth and all those that did pretend to remit any Sins or Transgressions were out of the Truth and were of Antichrist and that old Serpent the Devil for they had no power to call any to an account for sin and to remit at their pleasure Of the Quakers Self-contradictions Abuses Backbitings and false Accusing one another as also of their Active Persecution NOw after some time I had spent upon this account being not burthensome to any for I never took money nor moneys-worth of any Person whereas there were some that did take both Silver and Gold with other things but I laboured with my own hands for my bread and money that I spent and was not beholding to any Now after a short time there crept in amongst them some who lookt after their Interest and whereas some of them were poor before now begin to thrive in the World and then they went on with their Ministery with more courage and if they were cast into Prison then they had all their business done for them better than others could have done for their moneys and all things were provided for them as well as if they had been at home by this means their Ministery was no burthen to them for the Rich would help them with Money Horses and Waynes and the Poor with Labour so that there was nothing wanting But this in a short time did beget some Heart-burnings amongst them for those that did do the most most for them those were the only men in their Eyes and were the most esteemed by them Here one may see how Gifts blind the Eyes of the Wise But this turned to Heart-burning in some seeing others to be so much esteemed not that their Righteousness did exceed others but that their Gifts did purchase Favour and Affection the other not able to do the like did speak privately one to another about it and said This thing ought not to be Some as amongst all others were too ready to carry Tales whch is better taken with these Persons than if they had brought them a present according to their Ability the others seeing also that the back-biters and tale-bearers did come in favour did stumble at it but they might as well keep ●ilence for if they did complain they told them that they had lost

was already done After this at another time he and I went to the Cooks Shop in Smithfield to Dinner and being at Dinner he was still pressing me to this party but withall told me that she was covetous but if I would ●ake his advice he would do well enough for that but I must keep his counsel and do as he would tell me I askt him what it was and he said that I must buy four or five Hundred Pound Bags and go to Hackney High-way and fill them with little Pibbles I askt him what that was and he told me they were little Sto●es and bring them home to my Lodging and set them in my Closet then I must invite him to my Chamber and when he came I must open the Closet Door and let him see them and he would pretend to her that they were money but I abhor●ing all such deceit in my heart did not condescend to it After this another time at the same House we being at Dinner he blamed me that I went no of●ner to the party and said that he would teach me and it was this That he that would Wooe a Maid mu●t ●ain lye and flatter but he that would Wooe a Widdow must rehearsing these words several times down with his Britches and at her After this with many other perswasions which he used and perceiving that I would not do as he would have me he began to exclaim against me and call me all he could devise and also inform'd thee against me as thou knowest G. F. Hast thou any more to say against him Answ Yes but I would have him to answer to this first and leave the other for another part this is enough at once for him to answer to and when he hath so done he shall hear the other G. F. I would have thee to say all thou hast to say first Answ No I will not he shall answer to this first G. F. But there is another thing thou didst at his House thou wast uncivil there and offeredst some abuse to his Kinswoman or Sister Answ I know not his Kinswoman or Sister any more than him whom I never saw in my life nor I know not that I did any thing to them that was uncivil that I remember and if I did salute one or both of them it is more than I can remember but it may be I did and that was all To this Hilkiah Bedford made no reply to say whether it were so or no and so it was let alone G. F. Come Hilkiah make answer to what he hath said against thee is it true or not H. B. That is the Devil or it come of him for he is the Father of all such and looking upon me lyes for that which he hath said is false and there is no Truth in it G. F. Speak to the first is that true or not H. B. It was not as he said but it is true that I came there and found them together and said what you want one to joyn your hands together so I took their hands and in a light vain manner put them together and I blame my self for it G. F. That 's well said thou dost well to confess the Truth and to be sorry for it but what dost thou say to the other concerning the Stones H. B. The truth is that I could never see any thing in him but lightness and vanity I thought it was no matter of Conscience in him because he was so bad and so I said to him Canst thou not do so but for the rest it is false G. F. Thou dost well to confess the Truth but what sayst thou to the last H. B. There was some idle Discourse stir'd up by his vain mind which made me speak some vain words but what he saith is false and he lies G. F. Thou dost well to confess thy faults and not to stand in them I commend thee for it But yet for all his well-doing and saying and for this commendation of George's he did but praise a lyar for he spoke not the truth in any thing as it was done at the first Then I said to him that he had not spoken the Truth but did lye H. B. If they were the last word that I should speak they are true but he spoke after that therefore he did lie I answered if there be any Truth in Heaven above or in the Earth beneath that which he hath spoken is false then they blam'd me for bringing that in question upon such light occ●sion and spoke well of him for yielding to the truth whereas it was but to his own lyes that he yields to This being ended as you have heard then he was to accuse me of things that I am not sure whether ever I spoke them to him however I shall place them as they were spoken to me G. F. Hilkiah Hast not thou something to d●●use him of about James Sparkes H. B. Yes he said he had proved James Sparkes Ministry false and he a lyar and he said that George Fox took his part also and called James Sparkes a raw Boy G. F. But there is something concerning Jo. Bo●lton H. B. Yes he boasted and said that he disputed him and rou●ed him and put him in such amaze that he could not finde the way to the Meeting and further said that if the Ministers were in any dispute they must be beholding to him to help them out G. F. What do●t thou say to this what art thou sorry for abusing him Answ George I desire to have leave to speak how it was this which he speaketh of was done at Lancaster upon a time when he came from Bristol I having liv'd there formerly desired to know how friends did there they told me they were well I asked also for George ●ishop and whether he were in Prison or not they said yes I enquired in what Prison he was in they answered in none but in Thomas Gouldney's new House then said I Thomas Gouldney's new House is his Prison then they thundered Plagues and Damnation on me for saying Thomas Gouldney a very good friend should build Houses for Prisons for friends I told them again that I did n●t say that Thomas Gouldney did build it for a Prison but if George Bishop were Prisoner the place that did contain him by vertue of the Law was his Prison but they told me there was no vertue nor li●e in me nor in any thing that I did then I told them they did lye and that I would prove vertue in a Post then they said that the Plagues and veng●ance of God was for me and hang'd over my head and with many speeches of exclamation against me they went to their Chamber and I likewise went to mine and when I was entered into it I wept bitter●y to think how long a time they had professed the truth and p●e●end that they had the Divine teac●ing of the Spirit and ye● should ●e so ●oolish as not to understand reason

be Good in it self yet it is the out-side that must be Fare Neat and Clean. For some of them that keep the Court constantly and observe what is done and do help you themselves yet for all that when I have laid this close to them they have said they did believe that they did cast some out that were better than some amongst themselves but in that they did car●y it fair to the World they could not meddle with them Now see whether yours be not a making clean of the out side and a plucking up of the Wheat But by ●eason I am cast out from amongst men by you and that I understand that you can well dispence with Hippori●es give me leave to Write to the World and ●eradventure they will furnish you with good Store now they know your minds and that you will advance their Fortunes as you would have done mine If you will be willing to observe them in all things and give way to such as Hilkiah Bedford and Jo. Boulton and to Ex●●l Boulton to be a man more perfect than David was for David might be reproved by a Prophet but Jo. Boulton by no manner of person must be spoke against but I leave him to answer for himself and proceed A few Words of Instruction to all those that are d●sirous to come into the Society of the Quakers and to be Received of them I mean not them only that comes out of Conscience but all Sorts whether it be them or not they shall all be Received although it be only for Preferment and in time be taken for the Faithful therefore I desire you to come near and Understand what I shall Write to you IN the first place thou must become Acquainted with some one of them that goeth constantly to Meetings and speak Lovingly to him not Theeing or Thouing of him at the first but speak well of them in General then it may be that he will Invite thee to go with him Do so and when all is done then Praise him that Spoke although he Spoke nothing else but Nonesence then the other Good Friend that went with thee will say Yes he is a Precious man or a Good Friend or such like Words then thou must be desirous to Hear him again the next Meeting and he will tell thee thou mayst Hear him or another So be sure the next Sunday to call upon him before he go to the Meeting and go along with him and there perchance thou mayst light upon one that was a greater Dance than the first And that was bad enough then be sure to keep close to thy Neighbour and go with him back again to his House and there begin to admire him that Spoke and Praise him as highly as thou canst and then thou shalt see how the other man will admire him also and then thou must be more Desirous than ever to go to the next and Speak and Act as aforesaid and per●aps that some Woman may ●e the Teacher or else some one that hath as little Reason as a Woman but however thou must take it in good part and say That without all Doubt this is the Truth for now there is this Scripture fulfilled which God said should come to pass That he would pour forth his Spirit upon all Flesh and his Sons and his Daughters should Prophecy Then the other will say Blessed be the Goodness of the Lord that he hath been pleased to hide those things from the Wise and to deliver them to the Foolish of this World But if thou dost but observe a while thou shalt find them Cunning enough if not too Cunning for thee except thou hast a care and thou must bless God for opening thine Eyes to see the Truth Now by the next Meeting thou mayst begin to Thee and Thou but be sure thou move not thy Hat if thou shouldest meet the chiefest man in the City for if thou dost all thy Labour is lost thus far What they are to Observe and how to carry themselves before the rest of their Brethren FIrst as I told thee before be sure to watch the Door of thy Lips that there proceed not forth Yes but Yea nor No but Nay nor You but Thou nor Yours but Thine to any single Person these must be truly Learn'd and Practised for in them there is wrapt up a great Min● or a great Mystery of Godliness therefore be sure that thou have this little Knack or else thou dost nothing but if thou hast i● then thou shalt see what Wonders there may be done by it Now when thou hast done this then thou must be very Curteous to them but not with the Hat neither must thou Salute them with a Kiss if they be Women although at the first it was Common amongst them both men and women but in a short time it did some hurt to some of the Women for they got great-Bellies by the bargain and therefore it was left off by both Men and Women Now when thou hast attained to this great Perfection thou must go amongst them at other times and in the Week-dayes but if thou chance to ask me what great Perfections these were that I spoke of I answer Thou knowest as well as I but if thou hast not these thou canst not be look't upon as a Good Practick or a Faithful Freind But to proceed After thou hast been a constant Goer to the Meeting about a Quarter of a Year then some of the Heads will come to Visit thee they being come thou must get the best things the House can afford and if thou hast not such things as thou wouldest desire then send for it presently and give them more kind Entertainment then thou wouldest do to thy Father and Mother or the dearest Friend thou hast then after they have Eat and Drank with thee they will depart and report thee to be a very loving Friend and that there is abundance of Love raised in thee in a short time but thou must be sure to observe the Rules which before I have given thee Then they will Report it to their Minister what a good Friend there is lately come into the Truth and then in a short time thou ●●alt have him come and give thee a Visit especially if thou be a Rich man for of others they have too many already and now thou must shew forth thy parts and make much of him and if thou hast no Wine in thy House be sure to send for some with other things agreeable to it and to thy Estate it may be he will seemingly blame thee for sending for the Wine but at last he will take it in good part and if it be good Wine he will like it very well but thou must be sure to have a care that if thou shouldest meet them in any place not to invite them into any publike House as Tavern Inn or Al●-house for then they will look upon thee as one that is Prophane but behave thy self as