Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	bear_v	spirit_n	witness_v	1,996	5	9.3129	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A57303	The good old way and truth which the ancient Christians many ages and generations ago witnessed unto in the world from age to age, even from the dayes of Christ unto this very time, wherein the same doctrine, life and practice is witnessed unto by us who are in contempt called Quakers, through many tribulations, which our ancestors, the most ancient and true Christians that ever were upon the earth, sealed unto, with the loss of their lives and liberties, by which, in short, is fully manifested, in what is treated of herein, that the doctrine of the Quakers, in denying to swear any oath, and their refusing to pay tythes, and many other things they practise, was the doctrine and practise of the most famous and renowned Christians, both testified of in the Scriptures of truth, and the books of martyrs : also, a brief discovery of the ground and rise and tythes, manifesting them no Gospel-maintenance, but was testified against by the best and most ancient Christians many ages ago / written by ... Ambros Rigge.	Rigge, Ambrose, 1635?-1705.; R. T. (Rebecca Travers), 1609-1688.	1669 (1669)	Wing R1483; ESTC R17133	29,214	42

THE Good old VVay AND TRUTH Which the Ancient Christians many Ages and Generations ago witnessed unto in the World from Age to Age even from the dayes of Christ unto this very time wherein the same Doctrine Life and Practice is witnessed unto by us who are in contempt called Quakers through many Tribulations Which our Ancestors the most ancient and true Christians that ever were upon the Earth sealed unto with the loss of their Lives and Liberties By which in short is fully manifested in what is treated of herein that the Doctrine of the Quakers in denying to Swear any Oath and their refusing to pay Tythes and many other things they practise was the Doctrine and practise of the most Famous and renowned Christians both testified of in the Scriptures of Truth and the Books of Martyrs Also A brief Discovery of the Ground and Rise of Tythes manifesting them no Gospel-Maintenance but was testified against by the Best and most Ancient Christians many Ages ago Written by a Branch sprung from the Ancient Stock of David which hath long been compassed about with wild Beasts but thorow the tender Mercies of the Lord yet remains alive whose earthly name is Ambros Rigge Printed in the Year 1669. TO THE READER OH Let not prejudice possess thy mind in reading this small Treatise for then thou wilt reap no benefit thereby but let thy eye be single to the Truth herein expressed and thy whole body shall be full of Light for God never respected mens persons in manifesting his firm and ancient Truth and Mysteries of Life which were ever hid from the wise and prudent of the World as it is at this day yet not so hid but that it is universally tendred to all without respect of persons even from the King upon the Throne unto the Begger upon the Dunghil and therefore is mans destruction of himself as God said to Israel because man hath so much dependancy upon his own wisdom and natural gifts and parts that the things of the Spirit of God are foolishness unto him as they were to the Rulers and chief Priests of the Jews in the dayes of old whom Christ called Blind-Guides though they had natural learning enough as Pilate who crucified Christ had Latine Greek and Hebrew which any natural man may have who doth not know the things of the Spirit of God because they are spiritually discerned Oh therefore lean not upon thy natural wisdom for it will prove a broken Reed in the Day of the Lord which hasteneth but receive and obey the Manifestatiof the Spirit of God which he in infinite Love hath given thee to profit withal for that is the Talent that he will assuredly require of thee with advantage and happy for ever are they who can give an account of the improvement thereof A. R. The Good Old Way c. IN every Age and Generation of the World since man had a being upon the Earth God had a Seed either invisible in being or visible in manifestation by and thorow which he manifested himself in his own way time and manner according to the good pleasure of his Heavenly Will which Way and manner in every Age of the World since sin entred into the World was contrary to the will and way of Mankind in the Fall and therefore were they in whom God brought forth his Seed in all Ages to give testimony in the World unto his Eternal Name and Truth persecuted and made a prey upon by the earthly powers who was not acquainted with these secrets of the Lord which was ever hid from the wise and prudent of the World and therefore did the Jews and chief Priests with the Scribes agree together to Crucifie the Lord of Life and after them many Heathen Emperors rose up against his Members and destroyed many thousands of them for the Testimony of Jesus and Word of God as both the Scriptures of Truth and the Histories of the Ancient Christians which immediately succeeded the Apostles doth largely and plentifully witness testifie and declare so that since Mans Fall He that was born after the Flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit Gal. 4. 29. even as it is manifest at this day for the Enmity yet remaineth between the Seed of the Serpent and the Seed of the Woman Gen. 3. 15. and so will continue until the desolution of all things Now in the 11th Moneth in the Year 1668 9 did the Word of the Lord come unto me Saying Write and give a Testimony for my Name thereby and spread it amongst those who have multiplied thine and many others Sufferings for my Name and Testimony these several years last past that they may all be left without excuse when I call them before my Judgement Seat to give an account of the deeds done in their Bodies who have not yet repented of their evil but in secret have vindicated themselves as that they have done me service in persecuting them whom I have sent to be Witnesses for my Name and Truth in the Earth These Words lay upon my spirit the most part of the aforesaid Moneth being willing to wait upon the Lord that he might further manifest his Will and Mind unto me what I should write rather chusing to continue in silence many years then to set Pen to Paper to declare any thing which the Spirit of Truth would not seal unto which burden of the Word of the Lord continued still upon me till I gave up thereunto And upon the 21st day of the same Moneth in the year aforesaid I begun to write and the matter that was first laid upon me to write was concerning Swearing at all for the denial of which in obedience to the Command of Christ I had suffered strait and close imprisonment well nigh seven years besides other great afflictions that have been added to my bonds by the hands of wicked men in the said time all which I have been both made able and willing to bear for the Testimony of Jesus and Word of God not counting my liberty not life dear unto me that I might finish my Testimony with joy being counted worthy not onely to believe but also to suffer for that ancient Doctrine Faith and Practice which the best and most ancient Christians sufsered the loss of their Liberties and most of them their lives for as hereafter I shall make appear And furthermore it is upon my spirit to give some Testimony against that abominable Oppression of Tythes under which many groan at this day it being never any institution of Christ to his Ministers under the Gospel nor ever owned by the ancient Christians succeeding them nor ever claimed as any Gospel right for a thousand years after Christ's dayes till the midnight of Popery came over the Earth in the which the several Popes ordered Tythes to be paid to the Mother Church To the first that the Opposers of Gods present Manifestation of this Way and Truth in this our day who have magnified

and follow Christ and learn of him down goes their Merchandize by which they maintain their Pride and Pomp for the preserving of which they will cry up any thing that will promote their trade as hath been manifest in England within these late years but God hath shaken his hand at their dishonest gain and is bringing contempt and misery upon them Ezek. 22. 12 13. and they will become a by-word to many in Ages to come and the Arm of Flesh which they have so long trusted in shall wither before them and the Lord will more and more gather his Sheep from their mouthes that they shall not alwayes prey upon them Ezek. 34. 10. the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it and all their rage and madness shall but heap Coals of fire upon their own heads for they have over-passed the deeds of the wicked in Drunkenness Swearing Whoring Lying Couzening Cheating Pride Luxury Wantonness Covetousness which is Idolatry a Generation of Vipers stinging and most grievously persecuting all who will not put into their mouthes I might fill a Volumn of their multiplied iniquities which ever were the certain tokens and fore-runners of desolation and destruction and the people thorow their evil example are overwhelmed in all manner of debauchery and uncleanness even drinking in iniquity as the Ox doth water Oh was ever Sodom or Nineveh so over-grown with iniquity as England now is what will be the end of all these Abominations under which this Land mourns Oh that my head were as water and mine eyes a Fountain to tears that I might thorowly bemoan the Calamity of this people for all flesh hath corrupted his way before the Lord their thoughts are the thoughts of vanity and their works the works of iniquity destruction and misery is in their wayes and the way of peace they know not Rom. 3. 16 17. Oh repent repent and amend your wayes for the Kingdom of God is at hand Matth. 4. 17. the Sword of the Almighty is drawn it is fitted and furbished for a mighty slaughter and it shall wound the hairy scalp of every one that goeth in iniquity Plalm 68. 21. Oh therefore return return unto the Lord while he is near and seek his face while he may be found for he willeth not the death of a Sinner therefore if ye perish your destruction is of your selves A Brief Discovery of the entering in of Antichrists and false Prophets with their Marks and Fruits who instituted Swearing contrary to Christ's Command and many other things which now are and for a long time have been upheld contrary to the Scripture and practice of the Saints of old NOw you who call your selves Christians open your eyes and see from whom you have derived Swearing upon a Book which now you are so zealous for that most of you calls it an Ordinance of God let both Christ and the Apostles Testimonies be Witnesses against you herein and not onely them but the Testimony of the best and most ancient Christians since their dayes who under-went most grievous Sufferings both from the hands of many Heathen Emperors several hundred years before there was a Pope and after that Beast arose out of the Sea which then had flowed over the Earth under whom many faithfull Martyrs suffered for their obedience to the Faith and Doctrine of Christ who testified against Swearing and many other abominable Idols which that Beast had derived from the Heathens against Christ's Command all whose Testimonies stands as a Cloud of Witnesses against you at this day who are swearing upon Books and laying your hands upon them saying So help me God which at the best was but invented by Justinian the Heathen Emperor and after him by the Pope from whom it is derived at furthest and so condemns the Quakers to lose all their Goods and Lands and to lie in Prison during the Kings pleasure onely because they cannot deny Christ nor his Commands nor the practice of the Ancient Christians many hundred years ago though there is a witness in many of you that the people of God whom you thus cruelly persecute never plotted any mischief against the King or any man nor ever countenanced any who would so that there is not any people in England Scotland or Ireland that the King may more conside in then in the true born Quakers who cannot betray the Lord nor the King but they who are not faithfull to God and his Truth can never be faithfull to the King Here follows several instances of the Priests practices for which they have no Scripture but were instituted by the Papists and Bishops of Rome 1. CLaudius Espontius a Popish Bishop at a Council held at Pysoy in France in the year One thousand five hundred ordained that Infant Baptism should be received by tradition because it could not be proved by Scripture 2. Ignatius Bishop of Rome was the first that ordained that Infants should be Baptised and have Godfathers and Godmothers oh what blaspemous words hath Antichrist brought in against God how can these be God and Father or God and Mother to the Child and how can they promise and vow that the Child shall forsake the Devil and all his Works and keep Gods holy Will and Commandments and walk in the same all his dayes when as the same men and women do believe before hand that neither they themselves nor the child can ever perform these things Is this Scriptural or Papistical answer Priests 3. Pius Bishop of Rome built the first Temple after the Apostacy in honour to the Virgin Prudentia and since the Papists have built thousands and consecrated them for which they have no Scripture or example from Christ or any of the ancient Christians 4. Dionysius in the year Two hundred sixty seven divided both Rome and all their Places into Parishes and Diocesses for Bishops 5. Silvester Bishop of Rome ordained that all Churches should be Christened and anointed with Oyl and called them St Peter St Paul St Katherine St Maudlen St Hellen St Dunston St Anthony St Gregory St Clement St Giles c. which superstitious names are upheld to this day by those who say they deny the Pope 6. Clement Bishop ordained Confirmation of Children and said none was perfect that wanted that he also ordained that Children should be smore on the cheek and signed with the sign the Cross 7. At Lyons in France they appointed holy dayes to encrease their Religion viz. Christmas Candlemas Lammas which was never ordained nor consecrated of Christ nor any of his Servants who neither went to Mass nor observed any Mass-Dayes but kept Gods Command who said Six dayes shalt thou labour and do all that thou hast to do c. Exod. 20. 8. Boniface the fourth ordained Stephen Innocent Lawrence Michael Martin John Baptist and all the Saints dayes to be kept holy against Gods command before cited and the Apostle testified against such Observations Gal. 4. 10. 9. Gregory ordained that Mass or short prayer