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	doctrine_n	prophet_n	1,605	5	6.3263	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A60453	The true and everlasting rule from God discovered and that which proveth all things, published from the spirit of truth, to the which rule the Scriptures also beareth testimony, that all the simple and honest-hearted may see what rule they are to walk by to come to perfect peace and rest with God for evermore : with an addition (to the former) wherein is also shewed, what that is in man which is not to be his guide nor rule : also, a testimony of the true prophet ... / by a servant of the Lord, & sufferer for his truth ... called Humphrey Smith.	Smith, Humphrey, d. 1663.; W. B.	1658 (1658)	Wing S4083; ESTC R37219	39,970	50

The true and everlasting RULE From GOD discovered AND That which proveth all things published from the spirit of truth to the which Rule the Scriptures also beareth testimony that all the simple and honest-hearted may see what Rule they are to walk by to come to perfect peace and rest with God for evermore With an addition to the former wherein is also shewed what that is in man which is not to be his Guid nor Rule Also a Testimony of the true Prophet who was to come and is come and there was not another his work witnessed and truth declared from a feeling sence and experience according to Scripture Wherein is also shewed that the Prophets of God and Ministers of Christ did preach the light and so those who preach the Light now do therein preach the same doctrine as the Prophets Christ and his Apostles did With an Invitation from the Spirit of Christ The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee of thy Brethren like unto me unto him shall ye hearken Deut. 18. 15. By a servant of the Lord a sufferer for his truth in the house of correction at Winchester in Hampshire called Humphrey Smith LONDON Printed for Thomas Simmons at the Bull and Mouth near Aldersgate 1658. The true and everlasting RVLE received from God discovered c. that all the simple and honest-hearted may see what Rule they are to walk by to come to perfect peace and rest with God for evermore THE Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life man became a living soul So man was formed of that which was earthly and into that which was earthly that which was living was breathed and that which is living comes from God which is to keep and lead men unto God but man going from that which is living into that which is earthly is thereby led from God and being led from that which is living he is also pleading for another thing then that which is the life to be his Rule and Guide and so comes not to be guided by that which is manifest of God in him Gen. 2. 7. Rom. 1. 19. Now the letter without is not living but the breath of life within is the which living breath man not knowing goeth forth from it to be guided by the letter which killeth 2 Cor. 3. 6. But the holy men of God who walked with God and were obedient to his will and spake forth and writ scriptures from that which was holy in them and were perfect in their generation they were such who came to be guided by that which was living in them and from that men in the dayes of old called upon the Name of the Lord Gen. 6. 28. and they had not a scripture without them to guide them thereunto And Enoch walked with God and so he walked with that which is living and not with that which is earthly neither had he a Scripture without him to be his Rule and so he walking with him who is the life came to be translated that he should not see death Gen. 5. 24 Heb. 11. 5. And Noah who was perfect in his generation found grace in the sight of the Lord consider this he found that by which man comes to be saved for by grace man is saved which grace to all men hath appeared and so Noah found that which bringeth salvation which is the Grace of God in the heart thereby hee came to do Gods will and not by any thing that was earthly nor from a scripture without Ge● 6 8 ● Eph. 2. 5. 8. Col. 3. 15 16. And Noah who found that by which man is saved him God blessed and his Seed and said the fear of you and the dread of you shal be upon every beast of the field and they were to multiply and bring forth abundantly from the living that was within the earth for by that comes the increase of God and with them God established his Covenant so Gods Covenant came to be established with him who found that in the heart by which man is saved Gen. 9. 1 2. 7 8 9. And the Lord who is the one spirit was Abrahams Leader from his Kindred and Fathers house and so Abraham heard that which was living obeyed that which was spiritual who had not a scripture to be his Rule and unto him the Lord appeared and blessed and in the time of grievous Famines he and his Seed was fed Gen. 1● 1 2. and 7 1 9 1● and he that is led by the spirit comes thereby to receive feedings when the Famine comes upon them who are led by another thing and Abraham who followed the Lord was called the Friend of God and he through believing became the Father of many Nations and he saw the day of Christ the light and obeyed the Word which liveth and abideth for ever 1 Pe● 1. 23. and being led by that which is living from his Fathers House and out of his Countrey so by that which is living was he preserved and him God loved and to him afterward the Word of the Lord did come saying Fear not Abraham I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward And Abraham answered the Lord and the seed which God blessed came forth of his Loins who was led by the spirit Gen. 15. 1. Heb. 11. 8 9. And on the contrary Nimrod who began to be a mighty one in the earth he went hunting before the Lord who is the one spirit and now there is that first which is earthly and much earthly wisdom whereby man goeth hunting before the spirit comes the which should not be but man should stand stil and not hunt and see the salvation of God and so receive the spirit to lead or go before him and not to run or hunt before the spirit but let it lead man as it is written As many as are led by the spirit of God are the Sons of God ●om 8. 14. but Nimrod hunted before God who is a spirit he was one of the seed of Ham who was the Father of ●ana●r whom Noah cursed And the beginning of this m●ghty hunters Kingdom was Babel where the Lord whom he hunted before followed after and confounded the language of all the that belonged to this mighty Hunter who was a mighty one in the earth and out of this land of Babel went forth them that built many cities afterwards there was a people whose gods were according to the number of their cities and so see what followeth when man is not led by the spirit of God as Noah was and so preserved but hunts mightily before him being mighty in that which is earthly first he is mighty in the earth then a mighty Hunter then builds a mighty Tower whereby he that is earthly would climb up to heaven this a figure then God confounded the Language and afterwards those that were in

against thee and so that which keepeth from sin is hid in the heart and that word David said was a lamp to his feet and a light unto his pathe● Which word he kept and loved the Law of the Lord which is written in the heart and so was made wiser then his Enemies and had more understanding then the ancient and all his Teachers Ps 19. ●0 11. v 4● 43. ● 5● v 67. v. 81. v. 97 98 99 10● 101 102 1●3 104 105. And all the Prophets of the Lord were led guided directed by the Spirit of Christ which was in them both in their actions which sometimes were as foolishness and madness in the eyes of the professing Jewes also in their words which sometimes were as thunder against the ungodly though they were the Rulers of the people and their words were so terrible against them that professed godliness and lived in unrighteousness that Amaziah the High Priest said of one of the Prophers who speak in the dread of the Lord That the whole land was not able to bear his-words Amos 7. 1● And Amaziah the Priest of Bethuel being not able to bear the Word of the Lord therefore he falsly accused Amos of conspiring against the King Amos 7. from the spirit in them did the Prophets with boldness declare against the wickednes of the Rulers of the people saying to the poluted City Thy Princes are rebelli us and companions of thieves they love gi●●s and rewards and judge not the fatherlesse nor the cause of the widow and such as these are the adversaries and enemies of the Lord upon whom he will be avenged and all them that trouble his servants Isa 1. 23 24. 2 Thess 1. 6. and it is just and right for the Friends of Christ to declare against the enemies of the Lord and those that decree unrighteous Decrees and write grievousness which they have prescribed and turn aside the needy from judgement and take away the the right of the people that they may rob the fatherles against these is the hand of the Lord stretched out and they are to bow down under the prisoners and fall under the slain Isa 10. 1 2 3. 4 and saith the Prophet Wo to the filthy and polluted City her Princes are roaring Lions her Judges are evening wolves her Prophets are light and treacherous her priests have polluted the Sanctuary Zeph. 3 1 2 3 4. and many more such expressions they used which was not rayling but sound words in the fear and dread of the Lord Read Amos the first and second Chapters And from the spirit of truth in them did they also declare even against such as were the teachers leaders of the people and were made Ministers by a law of God which law was then in force those Ministers departing out of the way and corrupting the Covenant like the Priests of England therefore the Lord made them as he will these who deny the way the light base and contemptible in the eyes of all the people because they also have been partial in the Law Mal 2 8 9. and against such did do the servants of the Lord declare they being such shepherds that cannot understand but are blind ignorant dumb greedy dogs these are the worst of dogs Isa 56. 10 11. and by such is the horrible thing committed Jer. 5. 30 31. and the Pastors are become bruitish Jer. 10. 21. therefore hearken not unto them Jer. 27. 13 15 16. also read Jer. 23. and Ezek. 34. for as troops of robbers wait for a man so the company of Priests murther in the way by consent Hos 6. 9. and one of the chief of that number is John Hodder Priest of the Parish called Ha●church in the county of Dorset for he said if the Protector would raise an Army to cut off all the Quakers he would be the first MAN in it and there was a people the heads thereof judged for reward the priests teached for hire and the prophets divined for money is it not so in England Mich. 3. 11. and saith the prophet O ye Priests this commandment is for you I will send a curse upon you and corrupt your seed and spread dung upon your faces even the dung of your solemn Feasts hearken ye Priests of England Mal. 2. 1 2 3. And this was and is sound doctrine which the itching eares of the false teachers of your daies cannot endure to heare being found themselves such cursed children that cannot cease from sin that were to come in the latter daies 2. Pet. 2 14. And those words and many more to the same effect were they guided by the spirit of Christ the light in them to speake and from that spirit they declared against the Rulers Priests and people who had the law or letter and Moses writings with out them yet were enemies to the Spirit of truth within-But the prophets searched diligently to see what and what manner of time the spirit of Christ which was in them did signifie 1 Pet. 1. 11. so that the spirit of Christ was in the Prophets which testified unto them and was their rule and guide And when Christ came who is the end of the prophets and the Law he also declared against the same generation as the Prophets did and wee do and he said They were of their father the Devil who did his works notwithstanding they had the Scriptures and the Oracles of God and were of the place of the holy worship and were zealous and strict therein even against them did Christ proclaim many Woes Matth. 23. For the word of God had no place in them neither could they heare it Job 8. 37. 43. but in Christ the light did all the fulnesse of God dwell Co● ● 19. and 2. 9. and so he that had the fulnesse of God within him was counted a deceiver a blasphemer denyed and crucified by them that had the Oracles of God without them and read the Prophets every sabbath-day yet knew not their voices Acts. 13. 27. which prophesied of him whom they knew not when he was come who is the light And now we do bare Witnesse that the light is come as did Isaiah 6● 1 2 3. though darknesse covereth the earth and grosse darknesse the people yet in him that is the light doth the fulnesse of God abide and no man cometh to the Father or fulnesse of God but by the Son who is light And now those that have the Scriptures and call that their rule in the which they read of Christ the light yet the light they deny and so deny him of whom the Scripture speakes and him unto whom all power in heaven and earth is committed and so long as they deny him who is the light unto whom all power is committed they cannot receive power from him to become the Sons of God but they who do receive and believe in him who is the light to them he gives power to become the sons of God Ioh.

let any man or woman be so mistaken as to think that we in scorne called Quakers are any of that number which cries loe here and loe there for I doe not bid any man goe forth from that which is manifest of God in him to any place or outward forme or image or invention of man or command without or any thing done in private neither indeed do I somuch as bid them come forth from the light of Christ in them to follow my writings and take that to be their rule guid or Leader but that by my writings words example and sufferings they might be informed even by this without them of that which God hath freely given into them by that to be guided and that to be to them a Rule of life and by it to be led into all truth for its the spirit received within which leads into all truth even into the truth it selfe of which I declare and so people being come to be guided by that which is of God in them this will abide with them for ever and that in them may be with them when they have neither my writings words nor person without them as at that present by them therefore I say unto all as Christ did go not forth And to this very end were the scriptures written that men might come to receive and attain to the knowledge of the Son of God and his mighty power manifest in them to destroy sin and reconcile unto God and to be led by him as a shepherd who sheweth unto his all things plainly of the Father and so to be taught of the Lord and come to be guided by him and need not any man teach them A short discovery of that in man which is not to be his guide nor Rule ANd now seeing man is gone so far forth from the life of God that was first breathed into him and that by his rebellion against the light and transgression of the command of that power whereof man was made by his degeneration from the holy life of that breathing spirit which at the first in him gave an eternal life unto the soul and that by the continuall receiving in following of that which at first led man forth from the life of God which was breathed into him and that by mans continuall grieving of that spirit which giveth life and being to all things living and also by reason of the multiplyings and increasing o● that mistery of iniquity in fallen man which hath ever since the fall ruled over and guided him in that which is contrary to the upright innocent life of God whereby man is become brutish in his knowledge Jer 10. 14. and the minds wholly darkned and the understanding shut up in the womb of obscurity from receiving that which comes from God and is freely tendred unto man to Rule lead guid and direct man in the way of uprightnesse and in the plaine simplicity and fool●shnesse of God into which the wisdome of the World can never enter And seeing that by reason of these things there are many things which have gotten enterance into the heart minde of man so that man being in the many things cannot but all offend and seeing those many things in men doth draw forth their minds whereby they are exercised in many and various things proceeding from the power of darknesse whereby even the simplicity in many have been betrayed and deceived sometimes by following of that which in them hath appeared as an Angel of light the which some receiving and becoming subject unto it in them hath wrought in all manner of deceiveablenesse and lying wonders the fruits whereof hath been even brought forth in open view not onely in former ages but also in this your daies even in this nation among them called Ranters and divers others that might be named and such who once professed the living truth but abode not in it who also have gone forth from the meek thing in which Gods wisdome and feare is placed to follow the evill motions of the Prince of the ayr who worketh in the vain ayry light minds And that none may believe a Lye and so foll●w something in them which moves in the darke minde and take that to be the ture guid or rule and that none may be deceived through a mistake of what I have here intended neither yet through ignorance by reason of the want of the true knowledge of that which is of God in man which in him is perfect and there is placed not onely to be his Rule guid and leader in the way of life but also with it to rule and have dominion over all other creatures of God and to rule and order them to the glory and praise of him who at first made man honourable in dominion over all these things by that which was the breath of the God of life in him Therefore first let all people take heed of following their owne spirits for their owne spirits are also in them the which I doe not bid them follow for they were false prophets who followed their own spirits and had seen nothing Ezek 13. 3. and these that followed their own spirits though they spoke never so great and many words and as in the name of the Lord as some doe at this day by whom the living truth of God doth suffer yet against such as these did and doe the prophets declare who were and truly are guided by the eternall spirit of truth which was and is in them and guideth them in faithfulnesse to testifie against those who say thus saith the Lord and the Lord had not spoken unto them but they had seen a false vision Secondly I doe not bid any man follow the thoughts of his own heart for there is a heart which is hard even hardned in sin the workes of darknesse and receives not the light neither yet loves it which is the old heart that remaineth in all them in whom the old man is yet alive and not put off and the thoughts of that heart is vaine and out of the abundance of that heart the mouth speaketh folly and the lips uttereth perversnes and all manner of fruits of disobedience is brought forth and that is the heart which yet remaineth in all them who have not received the spirit of of God to become his sons and obey his Will Jer. 23. 16 17. Thirdly I doe not bid any man follow his own imaginations though they also arise from within him for I have found by experience that the imaginations of the thoughts of the hearts of the Sons of men are evill continually Gen. 6. 5. and much most desperate wickednesse blasphemy heresie and the like have been brought forth by many in these Nations who have followed their own imaginations speaking great swelling words pretending great ayry things which indeed are without substance which that transsforming prince of the ayre hath suggested into their darke minds who then follow their owne devices

Jer. 18. 12. Fourthly I do not bid any man follow the spirit of the world for we who have believed and obeyed him who said I am the light and follow me for we have not the spirit of the world but the spirit which is of God that we might know the things that are freely given unto us of God 1 Cor. 2. 12. and so that spirit of the world which in words seemeth to professe God but in works deny him having a large cloak of religion but continue in sin and unrighteousnesse making long prayers like the Pharisees having sin lye at their door like Cair talking much of God and Christ and the scriptures and yet have mens persons in admiration because of advantage whose faith is vaine having a forme of Godlinesse but denying that power which saveth from sin and so deny Christ yet intruding into those things he hath not seen being vainely puft up with the fleshly mind that spirit in man which so guideth him I deny for ever And that man may the better understand what that is which he is to love and wait to receive by it after received to be his rule guide and leader and leading him in the narrow good old way of life unity peace and love which all the holy men of God walked in which is a pure way of holinesse then not of hypocricy and sin where the ransomed of the Lord doth walk and where the waifairing men though fools shall not ere therefore I declare that man is to be silent and quiet and wait to receive the spirit of meekenesse patience gentilnesse and long suffering and so come to know somthing borne of the water and of that spirit which truly calls God Father and in which no evill standeth and out of which doth not arise any perversnesse impatience distrust envy nor prejudice towards the person of any man but is pure lamb like harmlesse undefiled and thinketh no evil the which being received obeyed and abode in it guideth unto keepeth man in perfect peace out of the reach of the devouring nature of the wild beast● of the field so that unity peace passing understanding eternall felicity joy in the holy Ghost and love unchangable is injoyed for ever and there is no boasting nor exaiting above or beyond the measure received from God And they that have received this measure and dwell in the spirit of the Lamb which cometh from God who is love it thinketh no evill neither is it easily provoked and this is that which was in Esaiah and so ruled him and in him Ruled over all his natural passion that he could give his back to the smiters and his cheek to them that plucked off the hare and hid not his face from shame and spitting and this is that which comes from the God of love which can bear all things hope all things endure all things And that man may come to receive this spirit and have it alwaies in him to the end of the world ruling him in the feare of God and leading him to the eternall dominion of the God of order and that man may know the true and infalable thing which is most assuredly given into man to lead him to the injoyment of the God of the spirits of all flesh Therefore let all people in what formes or state soever have their minds turned to that in them which lets them see their sins and every evill thought and evill motions of the enemy in the darke minde before it be brought forth into the act of sin by word or action that in them which lets them see this which is evill before it be acted as they love it believe in it and obey it it will keep them from the acting of that which they are tempted to and that in them which letteth them see the evill and that they should not sin is the onely thing which God hath plased in man to keep him from acting the evill and from sin and by it may all mankind receive power to withstand sin and stay the first appearance of that which is evill and the nature and property of it being loved is to destroy sin where it is and to keep out of it and kill that from whence the motions to sin would arise this is that which led me out of sin when no other waies helps or meanes could be found and that which sheweth man his sin and leadeth out of sin and gives power over it is a certain rule to follow and walke by for it doth never lead into sin and that which letteth see the motions of sin and leadeth out of all sin is absolutely that which commeth from him in which there is no sin and certainly as true as the Lord God liveth this is that which leadeth up even to the Lord God of life and this is his free love who gave his son to them that asked not for him and his Son is the light which is the gift of the Fathers Love given to the Rebellious that he might be manifest to them that asked no for him and that he might be found of them who sought him not that he might dwell in them who did rebell and gather them nere who were afar off this is Gods eternall love and the gift of his grace unto all mankind who willeth not that they should dye in their sins and these are the true and faithfull sayings of God and that which will stand for ever and in the presence of the Lord God of life and of his holy Angels I doe declare that this is that which God hath placed in man to rule him in his feare that by it he may come to rest eternall and in the face of men and devils who oppose the truth of God I doe affirme that there is no other Rule waies meanes or name by which man shall ever come to walke with God but by that which is manifest of God in him even the light of Christ Jesus the Son of the living God according to the Scriptures But we boast not of things without our measure but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us A measure to reach even unto you who have not known the Rule according to 2 Cor. 10. 13. The true Prophet who was to come is come and there is not an other his worke witnessed truth declared from a feeling sence and experience according to Scripture THe true Prophet is come of whom Moses the servant of the Lord did write who is raised up in the midst and hath rent the vaile and from under death is risen in his unlimited power Dominion and authority even him that death nor the grave can not hold who through death hath conquered death for ever and though death had power over him before the way into the holyest of all was made manifest yet death now hath no more dominion over him but he is risen through death who was made a curse and hath borne