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	speak_v	2,197	5	4.5369	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85173	A faithful discovery of a treacherous design of mystical Antichrist displaying Christs banners, but attempting to lay waste Scriptures, churches, Christ, faith, hope, &c. and establish paganism in England. Seasonably given in a letter to the faithful in and near to Beverley. Containing an examination of many doctrines of the people called Quakers in Yorkshire, together with a censure of their way, and several items concerning the designs of God, Satan, and men, in these things, recommended to the consideration of them who are in good earnest for Christ.	Pomroy, John.; Feake, Christopher, fl. 1645-1660.; Glisson, Paul.; Kellet, Joseph.	1653 (1653)	Wing F568; Thomason E699_13; ESTC R202092	45,783	67

Spirit should accompany the word in the mouth of the seeds seed or successive Saints from age to age We confesse that though reading the Scriptures or Scripture Truths in books may be a means of Faith through the Holy Ghost working therewith yet this may be fitly comprehended under hearing of the Apostles and Prophets by their writings by which they being dead yet speak and doth still confesse the Gospel administred by Man and not by any other Creatures or by secret communication of light to the mind by God immediately which these Assertors affirm and we shall have further occasion to examine We contend not herein for any particular sort of Men or them who do most readily call themselves the Ministers of the word of God though we shall alway acknowledge the Order and Offices of the Church of God but our chief contention is for the Gospel as administred by Man whether in word or writing as not knowing how any should believe unlesse they hear the Testimony of the Apostles John 17. 20. or their Word For truly we should bear more easily the laying aside of Man or his Ministration though none may adventure to do it but Christ who hath declared his mind as we have observed and shall if these that advance themselves above him who is the true Christ did not aim to beguile you of the Scriptures themselves even while you are looking on and think not so Wherefore while they say this Light or Gospel is within you they proceed to say it is the sure word of Prophecy Is then a Prophetick light in all men or what doth it prophecy of life and righteousnesse for sinners in a Mediator or of Death because of disobedience or if this be the light that shines in a dark place what is the day-star and the Sun of righteousnesse if this be Christ as was before affirmed by them But as the legs of the lame are not equal no more are these parables but that we may shew their distance from the truth rather than from themselves we beseech you to consider that by this means Either first The Scriptures are laid aside not onely as not useful but as not true Scripture to you nor truth to you if they be not particularly dictated in your hearts after the same manner as to them that wrote them Thus they call it a dead letter which word was applied to the Law whereas though the ink and paper be dead yet the Truth or meaning of those words is called the Power of God and hath a Majesty Authority and Grace above the words of man stamped upon it and is said to convert comfort quicken and make wise the soul which is done no otherwise than by the conjunction of the Word with the Power of God Psalm 119. 50. 105. Surely the Scriptures were written for our learning and are able to make wise unto Salvation through Faith in Christ and may be used for Doctrine Reproof Correction and Instruction in righteousnesse that the Man of God or a man who from God or for God is to attend upon the work of the Ministry * may be perfect throughly furnished to every good work As for the expected dictating the Scriptures by the Spirit to us as to the writers it is groundless but we shall touch on that afterward Secondly But if the evidence of Truth constrain them to return to the word of the Scriptures as binding in it self and useful yet by their Doctrine the Scriptures are turned into Allegories and so their frothie conceipts and catches of wit are established as the sure Word of Prophecy Thus doth the deceiver suck the Eggs and lay them in the nest again and while they allow the Scripture a nominal authority yet it must not be heard but as their conceivings put a sense upon it and in short thus is the Scripture judged but is not admitted to judge spirits and apprehensions but if they speak it must be an oracle and as the Pure testimony of Jesus or the light in them which must be credited but not disputed of this more in the sequel This calls to mind a sentence in one of Luthers Letters verily saith he God must incessantly be implored with fear humility and earnest supplication that we may have his assistance and protection otherwise truly it may soon come to pass that the Devil will present before our eyes such a Phantasm that we should swear it were the true Holy Ghost it self as not only those antient Heretiques but in our time also examples which have been and still are great and dreadful do forewarn This he wrote concerning this Generation that we contend against which began to his Time Some dare not quite lay aside the Scriptures neither turn it into Allegories yet do not look in them to learn because they think it is to build up themselves in Carnal knowledge which darkens the workings of the Spirit and again because they judge that none can open its seals but the Lamb and therefore they 'l not meddle at least not to search for understanding therein until the Spirit in them open it to them But let us consider 1. Jesus Christ spake many things to his disciples which they understood not at that time untill after his resurrection and the fulfilling of them which doubtlesse he would not have done if his wisdome had not judged it meet to treasure up knowledge in their memories for hereafter though they had not the present understanding of them or present benefit by them 2. Our blessed Saviour calleth them fooles and slow of heart because they did not believe All that the Prophets have spoken which taxeth them for negligence non attendance and willful ignorance of the Scriptures though the seals were not opened to them and beginning at Moses he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself v. 27. which was a teaching of knowledge from the letter of the word and he opened their understandings that they might understand the Scriptures which they had surely as they ought read before Likewise it is observable that the Lord seeing the Eunuch Acts 8. 32 c. reading a Scripture in a conscientious way for he was a worshipper of God v. 27. though he understood it not v. 30. sent unto him Philip to open that Scripture and from that to preach unto him Jesus so will God do with others in the like condition 3. Instruction of children in the Scriptures 2 Tim. 3. 14 15. was commended as a way blessed of God In this way seeds are sown which spring up it may be by way of remembrance long after for conversion or further increase in knowledge which they sooner make when they have the spirit if they keep in memory what they read or heard in the time of their ignorance Most true we find it it s not having but eating the Book doth us good and the word doth not profit us without faith neverthelesse searching

Antichrist rather than of Christ 4. And signes being not for them that do believe but for them that believe not 1 Cor. 14. 22. 4. If the Saints have now as much need of those appointments as then nay more if we may say so then why should any seek to be loosed from their own Mercies We confess we have read and heard of seen and through Grace humbly despised the vain boastings of them who said they were perfect and were above hearing praying believing hoping speaking Great swelling words of vanity who have turned aside first from the holy Commandement and after that from the pretence of it which should awaken us to edifie one another on our most holy Faith praying in the Holy Ghost that we might not be led away with the Error of the wicked and so fall from our stedfastness It is most freely confessed that when things come to practise in this time which is neither dark nor day many doubts and questions do arise among many yet as some of us have tasted of the goodness of God in this way so we may not but acknowledge it and farther Pray until the day break and shadows flee away Turn O beloved and be as a roe or young hart on the Mountains of Divisions Surely the Doctrines of these Men which we oppose are levelled to subvert all Order Churches in whatsoever is done outwardly For they say its Babylon and all the worship and Teachers without are of the Beast and Anti-christ Judge us O Lord for why should Men in thy name rise up against thy Sonne and us for his sake 1. Rejecting thy care 2. Condemning thy Wisedom 3. And the Generation of the Just in all ages 4. To establish themselves and prepare a high-way to Paganism It is not a Pleasure to us Beloved in the Lord to open these painted Sepulcres but since we have begun we will proceed to shew yet more that you may see and wonder and beware They bid you Speak no more than you have experience of and than you live in VVE confesse it is and shall be to us for a Lamentation that the religion of very many consisteth in talking of God and Christ and Scriptures and Churches and is but a sound of words without knowledge and faith and so do rather darken than make manifest the Truth and because it is without obedience their conversations destroy their confessions And did these sayings aim at the reformation of this we should not dare to cross them but we have grounds from certain discourses personally had with some of this way to declare 1. That this is to silence you from ever mentioning the histories and prophecies of the Scripture Creation of the world Garden of Eden Adam Eve Flood Historie of the Church coming of Christ into the world the Day of Judgement Resurrection of the Body and such like which being Past or to come we can have no present experience of And some of us speaking of these Scripture Records have been blamed for speaking without experience 2. Or Secondly by this means all the Scriptures must be construed as Metaphorical in an Allegorie making the Creation an Allegorie and so the world without beginning Adam Eve the Serpent Paradise Cain Abel Seth Noah Ark Abraham Isaac Jacob Aegypt Wilderness Canaan Kings Prophets Records to be meer allegories Nay Christ his flesh and blood his life and death his Cross and Crown Scribes and Pharisees Jerusalem Herod Pilate Churches Elders Anti-christ called Babylon and Egypt c. and what not to be fulfilled in the Allegoricall construction of particular experiences But concerning Experience we are satisfied 1. That to speak without Experience in experimental affairs is to darken counsel as they do that speak onely from the hearing of the Ear Iob 38. 2. 2. But Faith is the Evidence of things not seen and a subsistence of things hoped for though its evidence be not of the nature of Sense Science Opinion or Experience being of things unseen by the sense not known from the search and rationall comprehension of Causes nor intertained from the Probable testimony of wise and holy Men nor tasted in the Presence thereof yet after a spiritual manner seen known and experienced by Faith in the Divine Testimony Wherefore having believed we also will speak of the sacred Records and gracious Prophecies which are delivered to us in the holy Scriptures of which and in which God hath caused us to trust giving us also the Earnest of the Spirit which as Josephs wagons to Iacob doth ascertain us of the Truth of the tidings And the gracious operations of the holy Spirit in our hearts from and by Scripture Truths gives us to believe the Histories and Prophecies interwoven to be also of Divine Authority 3. We do also judge the Word of Faith which is Divine Testimony to be more safe Certain and Constant ground to speak of and from than experience In this we are not for a dead Faith which is the fruit of freewill closing with the Word from the testimony of Man which leaves the mind wavering through carnal reasonings which cannot be satisfied But for a lovely Faith even the work of the Spirit with Power setling the mind on the Divine Testimony as such As for speaking no more than we live in if it intend not to stop the mouths of all those who dare not pretend to perfection and blamelessnesse but those who speak from Notion and yield not up their souls to the things which they deliver to others we testifie the same thing As for Allegories 1. We allow very many in the old Testament beside the Ceremonial Law which was a shadow of good things to come Persons Offices Places Actions Things which the Ecchoings of phrases wisely and warily observed give hints of and puts the beginning of every Allegorie into our hands as the Apostle took it in Gal. 4. from the 54. of Is 1. verse which yet must be wisely followed as Scripture Ecchos proceed to encourage yet not to impair the truth or use of the Letter and History Allegories being but accidentall thereto and a fruit of the incomprehensible wisdom of God that sets one thing to answer to another But in the New Testament although Jesus Christ spake many parables and used similitudes which he opened to his Disciples yet the Gospel Ministration properly so called not onely in the language thereof but in the Actions persons things thereof is in much plainnesse and not as Moses who had a veil upon his face but the Messias discovered himself by speaking plainly and without a Parable John 16. 29. his parables in his publique preaching being chiefly for judgement to the willfull Jews that seeing they might not see Matth. 13. 13. We gladly own Christ in us by his Spirit to crucify our flesh and raise us up in our hearts in this world and at his second comming our bodies in the resurrection to a new and spiritual life and

check chide and call home the wandrings of his people to make his grace exceeding glorious Thirdly Neverthelesse though we are tyed to all Means yet hath the Lord tyed himself to none so as that he may not in his Soveraignty withhold mercy untill his own time But if power alway go with light what shall we think of Paul who found the Law of his Members warring and leading him captive against his Will though he gave up himself to the Law of his inward man Rom. 7. 14. unto the end Surely the topstone of the whole frame of Spiritual graces and privileges is not laid untill the resurrection and second coming of Jesus Christ which is cleared in the Scriptures calling it our Adoption as it was written of Christ and of the day of his resurrection Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee also making our Life to be hidden untill then stating the life of a Christian now to be in Faith and hope which looks beyond death and charactering a true Saint by his waiting looking for and loving the appearing of Christ Heb. 10. 37 38. 1 Thess. 1. 10. Heb. 9. 28. Blessed are they who are the children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus though all their life time they be found groaning under the burden of sin buffetings of Satan and are in heavinesse if need be through various Temptations which are to make them vile and little in their own eyes knowing what maketh them to differ And that Jesus might perfect his strength in their weaknesse and his Grace in their guiltinesse And might trie their faith which shall be found unto praise and glory at the appearing of Christ the hope of which is as an Anchor to their souls which Saves them from sinking under their pressures and perishing in their stormes Then shall they that now die not having received the Promises which are sure to all the seed receive them and the Crown of righteousnesse at that day who fight the good fight finish their course and keep the faith This putteth not the day of the Lord far from us as some charge us no more than did Abraham Isaac and Jacob who saw the Promises a farre off and because they apprehended themselves not likely to inherit them in this life on earth therefore they confessed themselves Pilgrims and strangers whose portion was not in this life Heb. 11. 16. Neverthelesse as we look for compleat victory over all and the last of enemies Death at the resurrection so we are to hasten to it 2 Pet. 3. 12. in all holy conversations and godlinesses if by any means we might attain unto the resurrection Phil. 3. 10 11. by being as like Christ as may be who in that he died he died unto sin and the world and in that he liveth he liveth unto God though for the changing our vile corruptible mortal natural bodies like unto his glorified body the Apostle looked not for it nor his Crown until the coming of Christ Phil. 3. 21. But that we may take the foxes and the little foxes that spoil our vines which began to have tender grapes let 's yet make search and see how for the driving on the great design of overthrowing the Gospel as administred by Man and weakning the Authority of the holy Scriptures they seek to perswade all Men that that light in them is the Gospel and the sure Word of Prophecy to which they would do well to take heed until the day dawn and the day-star arise in their hearts It may be the Accuser of the Brethren will say we are zealous in our own cause though our Consciences tell us we ought to be angry yet without sinne when we see the way of life stopped up from the children of men which we doubt not to demonstrate to the seeing eye in reference to the Gospel it self and its ministration First then to manifest that this assertion puts men quite beside the way of Salvation We pray you to consider that if it be not the voice of the Gospel but of the Law mans heart who hath no more light than the eternal Word enlightens him with as every one that cometh into the world then who so bids him seek righteousness peace and life in attendance and obedience thereto puts man beside the way of life Rom. 9. 32. Rom. 4. 5 14. Gal. 2. 16 21. But that it is the voice of the Law and not the Gospel hath been proved before by sundry couched Arguments as that Scripture and experience makes the moral Law the Counterpane of the Law ingraven in every mans Conscience Also that Man naturally establisheth his own self-righteousnesse which is of the Law Beside the book of Natural Conscience is the Creation and Providence which administer in themselves to the discursive faculty the knowledge of the Godhead as binding Man to glorifie God as God not as Father Saviour or Redeemer Should we here grant that he that walks up to the Law or light of Nature shall have the light of Grace or Gospel revealed to him although we never read nor knew the Gospel bestowed on any Person or People upon that account or the Spirit received by the works of the Law yet we do more than doubt whether ever there stood before the throne of Glory or shall any such who without Gospel-light and grace did obey the Law please God or rightly approach unto him for we know that faith in Jesus as dying for us and rising for our justification is the first stone in the spiritual building and the Fountain of Love Man loving God because he is first beloved of God without which mans specious works most upright worships are abhominations threapt on the Lord Wherefore the Lord builds not on the first Adams foundations or Covenant of works on which the higher man builds the more losse he suffers when he is brought to Christ but layes a Foundation in Sion even Christ in the Law of Faith or Covenant of Grace and thereupon builds all things new Secondly Moreover we add that if this Position take away the true and proper ministration of the Gospel it must needs shut up the Kingdom of God from Men For what are good tidings if they be not told But to the best of our understandings by this Assertion is the ministration of the Gospel taken away For we do not know that ever the gospel was published or promised to be made known without the ministration of man or without hearing But rather as Jesus Christ said I am with you in teaching to the end of the world so intended he teaching to be to the end also it was the Apostles care that the truth might be committed from one to another from age to age 2 Tim. 2 2. likewise the promise is Isa. 59. the last verse that the Word should not depart from the mouth of Jesus Christ and his seed and his seeds seed for ever and that the

the 2●… comming of the Sonne of Man who is not yet come though these false prophets and false Christs say Lo here As for the Scriptures by them mentioned they make out nothing peculiarly for this age more than they did signify at the time of their writing which far exceeded these times in abundance of teaching which though it was better than ours yet differed not in substance from what is in some measure practised by many godly in the nation But when you see any O ye people when you see any teaching of another Christ or not as the anointing teacheth when you see any denying the new Covenant and speaking to a Brother saying Know the Lord making him a Brother though altogether ignorant of God when you see any drawing people from looking after Gods teaching them to Believe Love do his will Profit and the lively impressions of truth stamped on the Affections as well as Conscience Then speak and spare not to apply those Scriptures Moreover when you see a Shepheard that comes not in at the door of the fold and that feeds not but scatters the flock when you find them that strengthen the hands of the wicked by promising him life in his evil wais and sadding the hearts of the righteous by their lies and false applications and lightnesse and profannesse that stand up in the name of the Lord and he hath not sent them Then if you be full of power by the Spirit of the Lord and of Judgement and of might to declare unto them their transgression go on and prosper but forbear those railing accusations wherwith you load as well the precious as the vile boldly denying That ever one gat good by outward Teachers We should write more fully unto you that fear the Lord if we thought the matter stuck upon those circumstantial allegations which these preaching Anti-preachers make hand-over-head against all that mention the name of God in the publick Assemblies of the Nation Briefly to clear them who are Godly from the pretended guilt of certain Matters For whereas their enemies say They are not Ministers of Christ Because They take wages which the Apostles and Prophets did not And Have their particular houses to preach in Are called Masters Study for their Sermons in which they use Method And Expound which they call adding to the Scriptures Also because they hold the use of Learning in and about Divine things We answer to the first concerning wages 1. It is one thing to take a supply of necessaries yea unto conveniency for ones self and family if you call it wages while they administer to the people spiritual things and another thing to be a hireling though we fear there are many such 2. As for the practise of the Apostles and 70 disciples in the ninth and tenth chapters of Luke we read of their comming in as well as going out in the same chapters They were not to go to the Gentiles but whither Christ himself would come their message required hast two Coats would cumber to salute any by the way might occasion diversion or delay And for their going without money t was to encourage them whom he intended to send into the Nations far off to trust him by an experiment of his Providence in their own nation as you read Luke 22. 36. So that that restraint was taken away they did forbear working went not at their own costs and yet had wherewith to lead about a sister a wife 1 Cor. 9. 4 5 6. in which when they straightned Paul and Barnabas who contended with the false Apostles who boasted of their preaching freely Paul insisted on and by many undeniable Arguments asserted his liberty in the rest of that chapter 3. We know some that own not themselves as Pastors of Parish Churches but gifted Brethren approved and called by the Saints called and countenanced by the Magistrate to instruct his People and for the Maintenance the State allows they know not by any solid reason to deny it but accompt it a mercy if Providence give them all their time for the word and prayer taking care otherwise for their subsistence To the second Allegation concerning Particular Houses which they say Apostles and Prophets had not We answer 1. Apostles were itinerant preachers or travelling Messengers of Christ for the planting of Churches Prophets were transient or for some particular service and so neither Apostles nor Prophets needed any constant meeting-places to which they were bound but the ordinary and settled Ministery of the old and new Testament had constant meeting-places as t will appear to him that readeth so far as persecution in the Apostles time allowed 2. It is used by some but as the place which is most convenient for the peoples assembling who have liberty and gladly use it to meet with the upright which was in the times of David of distinct consideration Psal. 111. 1. Those great houses being most convenient for great and mixed Assemblies being also pure to him whose conscience is pure To the third exception we answer 1. Should they be called Masters as Christ is Master it were high indignity to the chief Shepheard but they have it but as a civill respect to their publick employment who can and do own the meanest Saint as a Brother and fellowdisciple of Christ Their Pulpits are but convenient stands and for the better hearing of the people as Ezra used Their chief Seats at Feasts is but the respect which the Master of the Feast may give to any Guest whom he judgeth more honourable according to Christs rule of good manners Concerning this point impartially weigh 1 Tim. 5. 17. Heb. 13. 17. Phil. 2. 29. 1 Thess. 5. 13. which speak of the Ministers of the Gospel and Servants of the Churches But them that honour God God will honour To the fourth fifth and sixth objection against them for studying using Method and Exposition We answer 1. Timothy the Evangelist was exhorted to use such means as are here blamed 1 Tim. 4. 15 18. 2 Tim. 2. 15. and chap. 3. 14 15. 2. Salomon the Preacher saith The Words of the Wise even Words of Truth are as nailes and goads when mannaged as himself used Eccles. 12. 9 10 11. He gave good heed sought out and set in order many Parables and because he was wise he still taught the People knowledge For want of these meditation and method men speak in a circle with wearisome repetitions and not like the good housholders variety as Christ exhorts 3. The Scripture is not bare words but sense Philip opened the words of Isaiah to the Eunuch Christ expounded to his Disciples Paul to the Jews at Rome from morning till evening Ezra read the Law distinctly and gave the sense There is also in the Church a word by interpretation and how is this adding to the Testimony of the Scriptures their fancies because they expound while their expositions agree with the sense of the words and the