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	church_n	error_n	1,964	5	7.1034	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93642	Groanes for liberty· Presented from the Presbyterian (formerly non-conforming) brethren, reputed the ablest and most learned among them, in some treatises called Smectymnuus, to the high and Honorable Court of Parliament in the yeare 1641, by reason of the prelates tyranny. Now awakened and presented to themselves in the behalf of their now non-conforming brethren. With a beam of light, discovering a way to peace. Also some quæres for the better understanding of Mr Edwards last book called Gangræna. With a parallel betweene the prelacy and presbytery. / By Iohn Saltmarsh preacher of the Gospel.	Saltmarsh, John, d. 1647.; Smectymnuus.	1646 (1646)	Wing S489; Thomason E327_20; ESTC R200661	20,628	47

were once your task-masters What Ioseph said in his affliction wee shall say to you Think on us I pray you when it shall be well with you and shew kindnesse for it may be as Mordecai said yee are come to the Kingdom for such a time as this if not enlargement and deliverance shall arise from another place IOHN SALTMARSH GROANES FOR LIBERTY 1 Divisions ought to be no prejudice to the Truth BVt he upbraids us with our Divisions and Subdivisions and so doe the Papists upbraid the Protestants with their Lutheranisme Calvinisme and Zuinglianisme and this is that the Heathens objected to the Christians their fractures were so many they knew not which Religion to chuse if they should turne Christians And can it be expected that the Church in any age should be free from Divisions when the times of the Apostles were not free and the Apostle tels us it must needs be that there be Divisions In Greg. Nazian. his dayes there were six hundred errours in the Church doe these any wayes derogate from the Truth and worth of Christian Religion Quaere 1 Whether are not Divisions and Subdivisions objected now to all that are dissenting Brethren from the present way of Church-government and whether are Divisions any more scandall to Religion now then before 2 Whether is Independency Anabaptism Brownism Seekers of more evill report now then Lutheranism Calvinism Zuinglianism formerly 3 Whether is an hundred and eighty opinions as some would reckon them more to be cast in the face of Religion now then six hundred in the dayes of Nazianzen 4 Whether is this faire dealing for Brethren to make Apologies for divisions and severall opinions when they are oppressed and to turne back in accusations upon their Brethren when the oppression is off from themselves 2 Stinted formes not to be imposed The validity of which plea your Honours are best able to judge and therefore we leave it at your Barre yet these two things we know first that this forme viz. of Liturgy was never established to be so punctually observed so rigorously pressed to the casting out of all that scruple it or any thing in it Quaere 1. If former Liturgies were never established to be so punctually observed why is there such pressing now for establishment of Formes now to be observed in Worship and Discipline seeing the former Divines walkt as they thought by as true a light then as the Divines of this age doe now 2. If Synods did not formerly establish things for such punctuall observations why are there any penalties fines imprisonments called for now upon non-conformity to things established by them 3. Why are the formes composed now so rigorously pressed Uniformity so urged when such practises and designs were condemned but a few yeares since and they who urge it now would scarce then seem to believe it to be the minde of former Synods and Parliaments 4. If things were not to be rigorously pressed then to the casting out of any that scruple why now 3 No formes of particular men to be imposed on all the rest But if by Liturgy he understand prescribed and stinted formes of administration composed by some particular men in the Church and imposed upon all the rest as this we must understand or else all he saith is nothing we desire and expect that those formes which he saith are yet extant and ready to be produced might once appeare Quaere 1. If Formes composed by particular men be not to be imposed on all the rest why do the Brethren now urge upon us all and upon all the Kingdome their own Uniformity and Formes since theirs is no more a Truth to others then others Formes were formerly a Truth to them 2. Whether one Synod of Divines is not as well a few 1 compared with all the rest of the Kingdom as another Synod and the same that were but a few 2 six years since or sixty years since but a few 3 still unlesse the same numbers and accounts alter by yeares and seasons and if so what reason is there for ones imposing more then anothers since Truth is no more to be reckoned by multitudes and Synods in one age then in another 4 No binding to the use of Composed Formes All other Reformed Churches though they use Liturgies yet do not binde Ministers to the use of them Quaere 1. Why doe any Reformed Churches now undertake to binde any to the use of their Formes seeing the Churches formerly durst not usurp it and why under penalties now more then before 2. Whether is that lawfull now which was not foure years since and for these Brethren to doe which was unlawfull for their Predecessors 5 Severe imposing a sinne and a snare That which makes many refuse to be present at our Church service is not only the Liturgy it selfe but the imposing it upon Ministers Quaere 1 If imposing of Forms was a snare before how comes it to be none now 2 If Ministers were not to be compelled then why are they to be compelled now 6 Liberty in use of Formes breeds no disturbance Obj. If it be objected that this will breed divisions and disturbances in the Churches Ans. It hath not bred any disturbance in other Reformed Churches Why should the free liberty of using or not using breed more confusion then the free liberty of reading or not reading Homilies especially when Ministers shall teach people not to condemne one another in things indifferent Quaere 1 How comes it to passe that liberty in the use of Formes bred no disturbances before and yet now all is pretended to be undone if uniformity be not preserved 2 Why are Divines more jealous of conscientious and inoffensive liberty now that the Government is comming into their own hands then when it was in their predecessors 3 If Brethren are not to condemn one another in things indifferent why do they teach now a Persecution to all that conform not to things indifferent only but unlawfull as all parts in Worship and Government are which are Devices of men 7 No set Formes for the first 300 years For Christian Liturgies which the Remonstrant had affirmed to have beene the best improvement of the peace and happinesse of the Evangelicall Church ever since the Apostles times we chalenged the Remonstrant setting aside those that are confessedly spurious to produce any Liturgy that was the issue of the first 300 yeares Quaere 1. If solemne and set-formes and Directories were excepted against and accused then as no friend to the peace and happinesse of Churches why are they made now the choicest meanes of peace and unity and all those Churches condemned as erroneous that are without them 2. If no set-formes can be produced as the issue of the first 300 yeers why are they continued still * which have neither precept from Scriptures nor president from Apostles or Primitive practise to warrant them why are the crimes and will-worship

conveyed over from one of them to the other Did not the Pope whip the Protestant with fines imprisonments and the Prelate take the rod our of his hand and whip the Non-conformist and the Non-conformist or Presbyter take the same rod out of the Prelates hand and scourge those that are Non-conformists to him Consid. 7. Let it be well considered whether the design of the Nationall Ministery ever since the first working of it upon the Magi●●rates hath not a design for strengthening their owne interest by the Magistracy of the Kingdomes and how have Kingdomes been embroiled for the serving of this designe and whether is not this guilded with the glorious name of Reformation Consid. 8. Let it be considered from the severall wayes and formes of proceeding in which the beleevers of severall opinions have gone in these times to support themselves which stands most on a pure Gospel spirituall bottome supported by its owne innate congeniall and proper strength clasping about no stones no pillars of the world or humane strength Consid. 9. Let it be considered whether the whole cry of the Divines of the other party as in the late booke is not all to the Magistrate Help us Parliament help us City or we are undone the Heresies and Sects will undoe us What said Ezra I was ashamed saith he to require of the King an army and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way because we had said the hand of our God is upon all them that seek him Consid. 10. Let it be considered whether they whom he calls Hereticks and Schismaticks make it one of their choicest Principles to desire the Magistrate to help their opinions with their prisons fines pillories but rather that they would let them alone to stand and fall by the power or weaknesse of their Gospell principles and that they may have liberty to pray for them pay to them and possesse the Gospell Each Opinion stated briefly respectively to Toleration Let it be considered to what each pretended Heresie will amount to Independency INdependents beleive that since the Parishes are so generally corrupted the Churches ought to consist of those of them onely that professe more purely as they finde Scripture Rule and Practice and as the Presbyteriant themselves many of them practice in some Ordinances as that of Baptisme●nd the Supper giving them onely to the purest Beleivers They also beleive that they ought not by a few Ministers and Elders of the Churches to bring all the Churches and Congregations under their power and dominion but rather under their advice and consultation Quaere Becaus● then they practice to meet more purely and to rule lesse one over another whether is this enough that they should be fined imprisoned banished The Anabaptists THe Anabaptists so called they hold that Beleivers ought only to be baptized and that Baptisme ought to be so for the manner as may set forth Christs death buriall and resurrection by water as the Greek word and Apostles practice seems to imply and some of the ablest Divines both of England and the great Adversaries the Papists themselves deny not and for children they reade of none the Apostles Baptized and they see not any Scripture cleare enough to warrant and they therefore forbeare Quaere Because they will not practice then what is not cleare in command and confessed by all to be but in hidden consequence because they baptize as they finde the clearest rule and practice and as none can deny but it was the Apostles generall practice to baptize Believers therefore whither is this enough that they should be Fined Imprisoned Banished The Seekers SEekers some of them Question only the way of Church and Ordinances as of Baptisme c. because they finde that the power was at first given to the Apostles with gifts and from them to others and they dare not take it from Antichrist and the Bishops as the Reformed Kingdomes generally take it nor from the Churches because they finde no such power begun from the Churches but only of choyce or consent not of power nor Churches begun before Apostles or Disciples with gifts Quaere Whither then is this enough because they conceive they dare not take Ordinances but from such and in such a manner as was given at first to fine Imprison or Banish them A Modell or Short Draught of the whole difference betwixt the Divines for the Presbytery and them of the other way respectively to the Magistrate or State drawn from the late Books and Practice of both parties in a Petitionary way They of the Presbytery to the Magistrates or State WE humbly Petition ye that Hereticks and Schismaticks wee believing all that differ from us to be so may have your power inflicted upon them whither to fines imprisonment or Banishment and upon this condition ye shall have what we can doe or preach c. The Independents to the Magistrates or State VVEe humbly Petition that ye will not hazard nor endanger your civill power of the State to help our opinions against our Brethren for we are not Infallible nor Apostolicall we see but in part and that ye will not punish any of our Brethren Presbyterials or others for what they believe or differ from us in things of outward order in the Gospel and that we may have leave to pray for ye to pay tribute to ye to fight for ye and to worship the Lord among our selves peaceably as we believe and to punish us when we disturbe ye by Tumults or trouble your peace in our way of worshiping SOME QUAERES FOR The better understanding OF Mr EDWARDS last BOOK Called in Latine Gangrena But in English a Book of Scandals AGAINST The Honourable Houses of Parliament the Army the Saints and Churches of Christ that differ from him Quaere 1. VVHether this be not a new way and work of Providence to bring forth some Gospel light to the world by presenting some truth under the name and notion of errours and heresies which can scarce obtain from the Presse and Pulpit any other way of appearing abroad and if this be not to take the wise in their own craftiness and to make Mr Cranford the Licenser and Mr Edwards the Publisher of some such Truths which the world had else never known so publikely but under the form of heresie and from their two pens but under this disguise 2. Whether that Story which Mr Edwards tels of Brasteed in Kent where he sayes a woman preaches which is known to my selfe and all in that place to be a meere untruth be not a way to judge of most of his Stories Letters Relations 3. Whether this late Book called Gangrena where there are so many Letters writ to the Reverend Mr Edwards to the Worthy Mr Edwards to the Good Mr Edwards to the Father Mr Edwards to the Worthy Reverend good Mr Edwards with divers other insinuations of his own worth be not a way of seeking glory and praise from men

be a friend be such an enemy to the State as to cut off like Nero the Tyrants wish so many thousand of their faithfull servants at a blow in such a juncture of time when they need so many Ought ye to work off so many choyce ones from this Cause till you have as many more of your way for their places and till as many Battels yeares experiments prove them as gloriously faithfull as these are is this faire dealing with the State You have brought forth before Israel and the Sunne many pretended sinnes and crimes of your Brethren Suppose they should write by your copy and bring forth the Assembly sins the crimes of all those of your way of all the Divines and others that you take in and rake back into the ashes of their unregenerate condition keep Almanacks for the yeares and dayes of their faylings watch their haltings in all things they say or do tell all the Stories of them they heare what would the next generation think of their Book and yours At this rate of writing they would not read one honest man of all their forefathers yet this is your course and method I have done for this time and I hope all that are not enchanted with the Gorgons head of Hereticks and Schismaticks and Church of England as your own Smectymnians say will read and judge I had said more to ye had you printed us more Reason and lesse Reviling and something more then Stories and Winter Tales And for our Licenser whom you so rayl at he is so much a friend to all the world of Beleevers as to give them the Scripture liberty of proving and trying all things and not to silence the Presse as some would and as the Prelates did silence the Pulpit And now let any age weighing all the differences excepting the Blasphemies c. and the nature of them nakedly without aggravations and fallacy of words bring forth a Book printed in such Letters of Blood as this Gangrena binde up all the Oxford Aulicusses the Mountagues the Pocklingtons and see if this Gangrena do not exceed them all this is Persecution and Prelacy sublimate And yet for all this I would not have the Civill power drawn against you if we had all the Magistrates on our side but rather that you may in the flowings of a more hevenly spirit with your head of waters and your eyes a fountain of teares write against your own Book and let the world see that Men in these times are not Infallible as you all conclude but may mistake their Brethren for Enemies some Truths for Errours and Zeal for Persecution as the very Iewes did when they crucified Christ as they thought for Blasphemy And some shall kill ye sayth Christ and think they do God good service A Parallel between the Prelacy and the Presbytery Quaere VVHether if we should reply to Mr Edwards in his own words and as Solomon saith answer him according to his c. we might not compare things as followeth and trace up their proceedings into the very mystery of Prelacy 1. The Prelates were ordained Ministers by the Bishops Quere Whether may it not be said the Divines that sit now are Ordained by the same power of Bishops to be Ministers and so by that power ordaine others 2. The Prelates when they had made Canons procured the power of the State to impose them upon all the Kingdome Quaere Whether may it not said the Divines now get the same power to what they decree and accordingly impose them upon the Kingdom 3. The Prelates composed one great Service-Book for direction to uniformity of worship according as they had ordered under penalties yet without the least word of Scripture to prove the truth of any thing in it Quaere Whether may it not be said Divines have composed one great book accordingly now for the like uniformity viz. the Directory to be observed under fines and penalties and yet without the least word or title of Scripture to prove the truth of any thing in it 4. The Prelates ordered that from that Book Prayers should be read to the people Quaere Whether may it not be said the Divines now have not east the Prayers of the Spirit into such Formes and Methods that a little invention will make them as stinted currant and legible Formes as before and accordingly read in divers places 5. The Prelates counted all that would not conforme to them Schismaticall and Hereticall Quaere Whether may it not be said the Divines now count not all so that will not be uniforme with them 6. The Prelates forbade all to Preach and Print that did not Preach and Print for their way of worship and Government Quaere Whether may it not be said the Divines now would not have all hindred from Pulpit and Presse that will not be of way of Worship and Government with them 7. The Prelates possessed themselves of the States power and favour Quere Whether may it not be said the Divines now wholly labour after the same interest both in Parliament and other Counsels 8. The Prelates had their Licensers to stop all that write against their power and pompe Quaere Whether may it not be said the Divines now labour to engrosse the power of licensing only to themselves 9. The Prelates had for part of their Government Fines Pillories Whips Imprisonment Quaere Whether may it not be said the Divines now have those very things for part of theirs 10. The Prelates had Parishes for their Churches and Tythes for their maintenance Quere Whether may it not be said the Divines now have the same Parishes now for Churches the same Tithes for maintenance 11. The Prelates called all other meetings but their Parish-meetings Conventicles Quere Whether may it not be said the Divines now call the Churches and people that meet now together apart from them Conventicles as formerly 12. The Prelates called the Non-conformists factious troublers of the State Quere Whether may it not be said the Divines now do accordingly call any that write or oppose their Presbytery factious and State-troublers 13. The Prelates ever accused their Non-conforming Brethren to the King and Councell Quere Whether may it not be said the Divines now accordingly accuse their Non-conforming Brethren to the Parliament and other Councels 14. The Prelates had a designe to send all their Non-conforming brethren to strange Kingdomes as New England Quere Whether may it not be said the Divines now endeavour to send their Non-conforming Brethren to other places out of the Kingdome 15. The Prelates ingrossed all the Preaching and preferring Divines to all places of honour and popularity in the Kingdom to themselves Quere Whether may it not be said the Divines now do accordingly preferre to all places of publique trust honour and employment as Vniversities Navy Armies Garrison-Towns Counties Cities c 16. The Prelates would not suffer men whom they called Lay-men to speak of the Scriptures Quere Whether may it not be

said the Divines now do forbid and contemne all Lay-mens gifts in the same manner 17. The Prelates would not suffer any to goe from the Parish Minister Quere Whether may it not be said the Divines now accordingly labour to have all keep to heir Parishes 18. The Prelates called Truths which they received not New Lights Errours Quere Whether may it not be said the Divines now accordingly call all things they receive not New Lights Whimsies Errors 19. The Prelates laboured to scandalize their Non-conforming Brethren with Nick-names c. Quere Whether may it not be said the Divines now accordingly labour to make their Non-conforming brethren vile and scandalous to the Kingdom Ezek. 18. 2. Thus the fathers have eaten soure grapes and the childrens teeth are set on edge Thus if we would compare crimes and times we might write and speake Quere Whether Mr. Edwards in reckoning up divers things for Errors hath not much aspersed his own Brethren Doctor Twisse Mr. Gattaker and many others in many Doctrinall points they hold The Testimony of Mr. Samuel Ruthorford one of the Scotch Commissioners in the last Page of his Epistle to the Reader in his Book Intituled The Divine Right of Church Government and Excommunication No incroaching on Christs Prerogative BUt it is a controversie say some whether the Government of the Church of the New Testament belong to the Magistrate or to the Church To which I say 1. It was a controversie created by men willing to please Princes with more power in the courts of Christ then ever the Lawgiver and Apostles gave them and that against the mind of glorious Lights the first Reformers and the whole Troop of Protestant Divines who studied the controversie against the usurped Monarchy of the man of sin more exactly then one Phy●●tian who in a cursory way diverted off his Road of Medicine of which he wrote learnedly and broke in on the by upon the deepest Polemicks of divinity and reached a riders blow unawares to his Friends 2. In things doubtfull conscience hath refuge to the surest side Now it s granted by all and not controverted by any that in the Apostolique Church the government of the Church of the New Testament was in the hands of Apostles Pastors Teachers and therefore Conscience would sway to that in which there can be no Error except on supposall of abuse and Christian Rulers would not do well to venture upon Eternity wrath the judgement to come confiding on the poor plea of an Erastian distinction to incroach upon the Prerogative royall of Iesus Christ FINIS See the Ministers Book called Smectymnuus presented to the Parliament sect. 18. printed 1641. Mr Edwards See the same Smect. sect. 2. See Smect. sect. 2. 1 A some 2 Or some 3 Or some See Smect. Quaere 2. See the same Quaere 2. See the same Quaere unlesse there be a uniformity Smect. sect. 2. * Viz. in the worship now See Smect. sect. 2. See Smect. sect. 2. See Smect. sect. 2. See Smect sect. 7 8. See Smect. sect. 13. Sect. 11. The same Smect. sect. 16. Smect. in Quaere about Episc. See Smect. Ep●st See Smect. Epist. Smect. sect. 3. See Sect. 28. Sect. the {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Smect. sect. 17. Sect. the same Sect. the same See Sect. the same See Smect. sect. 13. Sect. the same Mr Marshals serm. Novemb. 17 1640. M● Case Sermon Gods waiting p. 62. Rev. 17. 12 13. Mr. Edw his Gangrena Ezra 8. 22. Mr. Perkins Aquinas sum