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	holy_a	prophet_n	1,854	5	6.2449	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A46867	The friendly enquirer's doubts and objections answered concerning the light within, the word of God, the church of Christ, gospel ministers, ordinances in general and in particular, water baptism, and the Lord's supper : together with a brief testimony against oaths and swearing / first intended and written for the satisfaction of some particular acquaintance and now published for more general service by James Jackson.	Jackson, James, fl. 1674-1708.	1698 (1698)	Wing J73; ESTC R34952	26,741	110

THE Friendly Enquirer's Doubts and Objections ANSWERED Concerning The Light within The Word of God The Church of Christ Gospel Ministers Ordinances in General and in Particular Water Baptism and The Lord's Supper TOGETHER With a Brief Testimony against OATHS and SWEARING First Intended and Written for the Satisfaction of some particular Acquaintance And now published for more General Service By Iames Iackson London Printed and Sold by T. Sowle next door to the Meeting-House in White-Hart-Court in Gracious-Street 1698. THE Friendly Enquirer's Doubts and Objections ANSWERED c. THat which was from the beginning even that good Word of Life which is the Light of Men that which we have seen and heard and tasted of is here declared unto you that ye also may have Fellowship with us And truly our Fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ and for this and no other end write I unto you but that your joy may be full This then is the Message that God is Light and in him is no darkness at all and if we say that we have Fellowship with him and walk in darkness we Lie and do not the Truth But if we walk in the Light as he is in the Light we have Fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin If we say we have no Sin we deceive our selves and the Truth is not in us but if we confess our Sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins and to cleanse us from all our Unrighteousness 1 John 1.1.2.3 to the 9th Whoever therefore would attain unto the blessed Work of Sanctification to be cleansed from all Sin by the Blood of Jesus Christ and so come to enjoy the comfortable fellowship of the Holy Ghost which proceeds from the Father and the Son Must turn from Darkness to Light Acts 26.18 must Believe in the Light John 12.36 And walk in the Light even as he is in the Light and will know that this Turning is an Inward Turning from the Darkness which is within unto the Light within where the Day dawneth his Star ariseth and the day spring from on high doth visit us even in our Hearts 2. Pet. 1.19 Wherefore blessed are they who are not offended in the Light but turn to it believe in it and obey it in all things 1. Objection But we are afraid of being deceived This is a new and strange Doctrine did ever Christ or his Apostles bid Men believe and obey the Light within Answer 1. Are you not already deceived Consider and faithfully examine your own conditions if you are delivered out of the deceived State wherein the greatest part of the World yet remain are you not in a sinful Trasgressing State For 't is said The Woman being deceived was in the Transgression 1 Tim. 2.14 2. They who believe and abide in the Light know that they are not deceived seek not to deceive any nor fear any deceiving them tho' whilst we walk in the imaginations of our own Hearts and warmed our selves with the sparks of our own kindling that then as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty so our Minds were corrupted from the Simplicity that is in Jesus in which State we see many yet to stand whom the Lord will undeceive in his own time But evil Men and seducers will wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived And never fear deceit in those that turn you to the Light unto which they that do the Truth bring all their works Verily you ought cautiously to be aware of and suspect all those who pretend safe conduct but reject and hate the Light 3. Search and Prove this Doctrine freely without prejudice or partiality judge nor condemn it unheard speak not evil of any thing unknown for so we may unhappily condemn the Innocent and make our selves Guilty We should rightly understand what another holds before we contend against him least for want of this Wisdom and Patience we oppose not so much his Judgment as our own Conceit Better it is to hear a Mans mind with meekness and candor than hastily to guess at it 4. Be not wedded I beseech you to any Opinion nor wise in your own Conceits so as to build upon your own or other Mens Judgments and rest satisfied therein because it is strengthned by Multitude Custom Authority and Antiquity for undoubtedly many have erred grosly in those things they have thought themselves infallible Better it is to cleave to the clear and naked Truth 's of God alone than to follow the Doctrines and Examples of the most learned and Eminent Professors in the World when they hold not the Truth as it is in Jesus 5. Reproach not this Doctrine saying it is new and strange or that ye never heard it so before for this discovers your ignorance more than my Error for this which to you may seem to be a new Error being rightly examined by the Scriptures will evidently prove an old Truth and if you will needs reject whatsoever to you savours of Novelty how shall the Truths we yet know not be brought in and the Ignorance and Error which yet remain be purged out 6. This is the same Doctrine which was preached by our blessed Saviour and his holy Prophets and Apostles which was believed and obeyed by all the Faithful Saints and Servants of God since the Creation the same which the Lord gave in charge to the Israelites by the mouth of Moses saying Behold I send my Angel before thee to keep thee in the way and to bring thee to the place I have prepared Beware of him and obey his Voice Exod. 23.20 But the Soul that doeth ought presumptuously reproacheth the Lord and shall be cut off from his People because he hath despised the Word of the Lord Numb 15.30 what is here meant by the Word of the Lord Answer Nothing less than the Light of Christ in their Hearts For saith Moses It is not hidden from thee neither is it far off but the Word is very nigh even in thy Heart and in thy Mouth that thou shouldest hear it and do it Deut. 30.11 to 14. to which the Apostle gives his Testimony that this Word or Light within is not Diabolical nor Natural nor Legal but Evangelical and affirms that obedience thereunto is of the Righteousness of Faith Rom. 10. from the 5th to the 8th David calls it a Lamp to his feet and a Light to his paths and prays that the Light and the Truth may be his Leader and Guide Solomon says The reproof of instruction is the way of Life And the Prophet Isaiah testifies thou shalt hear a Word behind thee saying this is the Way walk in it Isa 30.21 John the Baptist preached Christ the Light which was the Word which was in the beginning of the World and He was sent to bear witness of this Light which is not a false Light or a natural Light but the true Light which lighteth

and have been yet are and while in their carnal Sinful State will be Persecutors of the true Church Gal. 4.29 but in the true Church they are all Righteous Isaiah 60. from the 1st to the 20th and hereof it may be tru●y said Who is like thee O People saved by the Lord the Shield of thy help and the Sword of thine Excellency Thine Enemies shall be found Liars unto thee and thou shalt tread upon their high-places yea this poor despised persecuted Flock are the Temples of the Holy Ghost 2 Cor. 6.16 And the Body of Christ Eph. 4.4 in which Body 1st there is but one Head 2ly there is not one dead Member 1 Pet. 2.4.5 3ly there is no Law of force but every Member acteth by the Law of Love 4ly all Members united into this Body sympathize one with another both in Comfort and Afflictions please therefore to see 1 Cor 12.25 This One Body is unite● by one Spirit into one Hope 〈◊〉 one Lord and hath but one Fai●● and one Baptism Eph. 4. 〈◊〉 which one Baptism leads me 〈◊〉 Answer the third Branch of the last Objection Answ 3. As concerning Ordinances in General 1st The Scripture calls nothing Sin or any thing Practical but that which is prohibited or expresly commanded by the great Legislator neither shall any be saved or are to be judged in Spiritual matters by any Law but by the Law of God or by any Lawgiver but by Jesus Christ He that speaketh evil of his Brother and judgeth his Brother speaketh evil of the Law and judgeth the Law thou art not a doer of the Law but a judgé James 4.12 There is one Law-giver who is able to save and to destroy and Isa 33.22 The Lord is our Judge the Lord is our Lawgiver the Lord is our King he will save us Col. 2. 16. let no Man therefore judge you in meat or drink c. which were a shadow of things to come but the Body is of Christ wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the Rudiments of the World why as tho' living in the World are ye subject to Ordinances Touch not Taste not Handle not which all perish with the using after the commandments and doctrines of Men Touch not Taste not Handle not which things indeed have a shew of wisdom in will-Worship c. all which perish in the using 2ly the Scriptures reject all Religious performances that are done without warrant from Heaven Isa 1.12 When ye come to appear before me who hath requir'd this at your hands to tre●● my Courts Bring no more va●● Oblations Incense is an Abom●nation to me c. and Micah 6.6 7 8 3ly the Scriptures declare that all outward Ordinances are Temporary only till the time of Reformation and to be abolished by Christ Heb. 9.1 to 14. Col. 2.6 to the end Eph. 2.15 4ly the Scriptures shew us that the outward abolished Ordinances and the Traditions of Men hinder and prevent Obedience to Christ and Submission to the will and commands of God This is the will of God even your Sanctification 1 Thes 4.3 this is the work of God or the work he requires saith Christ that ye believe on him whom he hath sent John 6.28 And this is the commandment saith John that we should believe in the Name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another as he hath given us command But alas how is the work of God laid aside his will and commands neglected and the beggerly Rudiments and Elements of this World pleaded for and maintained and mostly by such who reject the command of God and Christ that for secular ends keep and observe their pretended Ordinances and make the Word of God of none effect by their Traditions Mark 7.5 to 13. Mat. 23.23 5ly as Man cannot be polluted or defiled by that which is without him no more doth any thing be it what it can Bread or Wine or Water from without cleanse or comfort the inward Man according to Mark 7.14 to 23. 6ly nor yet in matters of Faith and Worship are we to receive our Measures or Rules from Councils or Synods or the best of Men further than the express command of the Lord for their warrant Moses had no Authority to institute any Laws or Ordinances but to teach the People Obedience to those God had prescribed Exodus 24.12 and Christ's Commission to the Apostles was go Teach them to observe whatsoever I have commanded you and Lo I am with you to the end of the Word Mat. 28.20 And now more particularly concerning the two Sacraments so called and first touching Baptism or rather Baptisms for there be many we read of divers sorts of Washings or Baptizings as the Baptizing of Pots and Cups for so it is in the Greek Mark 7.8 and we read of the Doctrine of Baptisms Heb. 6.2 and now concerning John's Baptism which in its time was not only New but mighty Famous insomuch that the People mused and were all in expectation whether John were not the Christ but he confessed that he was but a fore-runner and that his Baptism was weak and imperfect and temporary an elementary Figure and Shadow of Christ's Powerful Spiritual and Saving Baptism from hence its evident that the Baptism of John and the Baptism of Christ are and ever was two distinct Baptisms and as the Heavens are high above the Earth so vast a difference is betwixt them 1. They are two in Name Apollos an Eloqent Man and mighty in the Scriptures knew only the Baptism of John to whom Aquilla and Priscilla expounded the way more perfectly Acts 18.25 2. They differ in time He that comes after me shall Baptize you with the Holy Ghost Mat. 3.11 and said Christ John Baptized with Water but ye shall be Baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence 3. They are two in Nature the one a created visible Element the other an holy invisible quickening Spirit 4. They differ in their Effects John's reacheth only to the outside the Spirit 's Baptism cleanseth the Soul and Conscience 5. John's Baptism was but a Sign a Shadow and a Legal Ceremony but the Baptism of the Spirit is the Substance and the Truth of that which Water typified 6. John's Water Baptism was Temporary of short duration and continuance as all Legal Signs and Ceremonies had an end so this being nearer the Truth and Substance and to the day of Christ than they was of less continuance and being a shadow must fly away by the glorious rising and brightness of his Son And so John's Baptism was of use a little before Christ's manifestation in the Flesh and was to continue till his Ascension and then when Christ's Baptism began the shadow must by degrees decrease and vanish and give way to the Substance the Sign abolished and the Truth exalted the Letter resigns to the Spirit the Servant to the Son So that Christ's Fire Baptism put an end to John's Water Baptism for as all the Prophets were