Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	believe_v	divine_a	revelation_n	2,369	5	9.5965	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A60506	The Quakers spiritual court proclaim'd Being an exact narrative of two several tryals had before that new-high-court of justice, at the Peele in St. John's Street; together with the names of the judges that sate in judgment, and of the parties concern'd in the said tryals: also sundry errors and corruptions, in principle and practice among the Quakers, which were never till now made known to the world. Also a direction to attain to be a Quaker, and profit by it. All which, with many new matters and things of remark among those men, are faithfully declared and testified. By Nathaniel Smith student in physick, who was himself a Quaker, and conversant among them for the space of about XIV. years.	Smith, Nathaniel, d. 1668?; Yearwood, Randolph, d. 1689.	1668 (1668)	Wing S4135; ESTC R219636	40,156	50

the Earth to be round and that when it was day with us it was night in other places he was then desi●ous to convince me of this my Errour as he thought and to make me Relinq●ish all such Tenents I being come to the Castle where he was he came to me and Jo. Stubs told him of my Principle concerning the Earth and its roundness whereupon Geo. told me that it was fl●t and brought Arguments for it that let a M●● travel never so far he shall not see the Earth to bend round he also affirmed that when it was 12. of the Clock with us that then it was 12. of the Clock all the World over Then I asked him whether there was a new Sun every day he answered No there was but one Sun then said I what becomes of it in the Night or does it give light or not or doth it go down into the Sea to cool it self he said it went cross back again some way But when he could not hold his Discourse then he began to father all this his Errours upon his Spi●it of Revelation and said that it was revealed to him that it was so and therefore it must stand for Truth ●e thinking that I would submit to that as many others do which believe all that he and some others say is a Divine Truth and must not be contradicted by any but at the last reason did over-power these Divine Revelations This was in the Great Room or Hall in Lancaster Castle At another time I spake of Spirits and said that there were Spiritual bodies and Angels but he denied all and said that the●e was Light and Darkness and the one was of God and the other of the Devil meaning rather that the one was God and the other the Devil and that there was no distinct Spirits nor Angels for he could never see them in the Divine Light And further did affi●m that if there were any he should have seen them but he never saw any therefore there was none This and the like words he spoke and held forth to me to have me to believe and become an Atheist or Ranter for they both hold the same and it is their Principle and whosoever holdeth the same is of the like Principle This was spoken in Margaret Fell's room in the aforesaid Castle Then I Discoursed with him about the Soul and I affirmed that it had a Spiritual body after this ●ife He answered that it was the breath of God and that in wicked men it was oppressed with sin but it should be redeemed and return to God that gave it that is that all Souls shall return to Glory Peace and Happiness and not to answer for any sin after this Life After this Jo. Stubs and I being together in my Chamber we did Discourse about the Soul of man after this Life He said that he did believe that there was no Punishment after this Life and that which was in this Life was for Disobedience to the Light and further he said That as all dyed in Adam so in the second Adam that is Christ all were made alive and that all should go one and the same way when they were dead and that they should not have any Punishment for sin hereafter but what was it was in this Life and that the Soul should go to God that gave it And further he said It was not his Principle alone for Geo. Fox did hold the same and Geo. said That those that did believe any other ways were of the Old Opinion But this must be kept secret lest it should cast a Stumbling-block before the Weak but as they came to grow up in the Truth they would come to see it in the Light But I was altogether against him and brought this Scripture of the Apostles against them which said If we have Hope but in this Life only we are of all men most miserable But let me say what I could I could not perswade him from it because Geo. Fox held the same which I found too true by Discoursing with him A●er this I discoursed with George Fox about the Beasts of the Field and creeping things he did affirm that they had Reason as well as Man and that all the differences betwixt man and them was only that man was fallen from his first estate and that the beast were not that man was worse than the beast I asked him what difference there was betwixt the Soul of a man and of a beast he said That God breathed into man the breath of Life and so he did into all Creatures and that all the Vertue in all things were of the Light and when they were at an end they did return to God again For he looked upon God not as being a Spirit but a great Light as the Light of the Day and the Night as the Devil and that these are two great beings of themselves and are without any cause as the day hath for the Sun is the cause of the Light and it's absence the cause of the Night But this he did not understand I wish he may understand that there is a God which is the first moving Cause of that Divine Light and also that there are Angels or Devils all which he and others that believe not the same may come to know the Truth of it too soon for if there were nothing else but what he believeth then what need men learn any thing and certainly if this be true as he saith then it must needs be true that that is a new Light which he hath for it is not like that which the Prophets and Apostle● had for they believe that there were Angels which are Spirits and also Devils that are Spirits But how any such an one can truly know God and teach his Truth and all the Truths which belong to that great Divine Power I know not but leave it for others to Judge After this when I understood that this was taking Root amongst some of the Chief of them I was resolved that where-ever I found them holding these Tenents or the like to it I would use my best endeavour to over-turn if possible I could lest in time it might grow and so bring them into Arantism this I resolved in my self and in part put it forward for meeting with some that were already Infected with it by such Arguments as I brought against it were something convinced that there was Spirits and that Man should have a beeing after this Life Then these things put me to a stand whether I should come amongst them or not seeing they we●e ●alling from the Scripture and from Truth it self for this would lead into all Errors but then again I thought that it might be possible that I might over-turn this grand Error and by that means might do much good but there were many of the Chief of them which held the same and when I would discourse with them then I must submit to them and also must repent for

it before them If I should speak of it again to any of them by reason they thought I should set them one against another for there are some amongst them that do believe that there are Spirits and Angels and that there is an Immortal Soul which shall be received either into Joy and Glory or into Woe and Misery but they thought if this should come forth that they would question them about it and then they must either maintain themselves by Lyes or the other would declare against them Yet for all this I was resolved to keep this rapt up in the close Garment of Secrecy and not to declare it to others lest at last it should come forth to the Eares of all Men and so turn a reproach to me I being one of them but still this false deluding Fancy did more and more work in them by reason that they had fallen from the Truth into these Errours as aforesaid and as you shall see further In the Year 1665 when that Great Affliction or Judgment with which God was pleas'd by his hand to afflict this great City did begin having sent his Messenger the Plague and Pestilence then when the Lord first stretched forth his hand to touch some that so the rest might prepare themselves for him at that time there being many of the Quakers in this City the Lord spared them at the first and struck not the first Strock at them at which time they boasted themselves and would undertake to Prophesie all the Kingdom over and to declare unto all people That the hand of the Lord was against this City for their Persecuting them And as I have heard they were so bold as to give it forth in Print That they were the servants of the Lord and that he would cover their Heads in this His day of judgment and that it was only for the wicked And that the Saints of the most High should have their Heads covered in that day and that those that were Faithful unto the Lord should be k●pt sa●e And that now the Lord was Appearing to streth for●●●●●●s mi●hty Arme and would destroy the wicked Pers●cutors And that there should not any Friends dye for now the Lord would shew who were His in preserving them that were Vnspotted and Blan●l●ss that this his judgments should not come near their Dwelling place They appropriated this to themselves and pretended the Revelation of the Spirit for it But let all judge whether God himself seemed not A●gry with them for their Boasting of themselves for in a short time after their dyed more of them than of any other People considering the number of them and the number of others but thi● it is man is too much prone to boast of himself and his own Righteousness but it is a very sad thing When he pretends to speak by the Spirit of Prophecy and doth Lye against the Lord. At this time I was at Lancaster where the same Spirit of Prophesie was in the most Friends as they are called perswading others of them to the same whereupon they declared the same that is That no Friend● should have the Plague but that the Lord would would preserve them And this was generally believed amongst them but I for mine own part was resolved to speak my Judgment not pretending that I had it from the Spirit as they did I told them that as they were Corruptible bodies they were as subject to change as well as others that if the Sickness did Increase as I heard it did that they should not be free from it any more than others But some of them said my Opinion was like me but however it was most like to the Truth for within a month after it proved as I said and what they said of it was false then whereas they would scarce look upon me because they thought that I did it to cross what they had said and they did believe what they had said would come to pass and that I was out of the Truth then when it came to pass I was received into Favour again But for all this I was neither Exalted nor cast down but did desire with all my heart to reform these Absurdities and false Visions and counter●eit Sights by which they did pretend to see and discern but I for my part did desire to hide these things under the Coverlid of Love and to rap them up in the secret Corner of my Heart hoping that in time they would understand better and that then they would esteem those that had been constant Lovers of that which was Just and look upon them as their best Friends for what I said was out of the simplicity of my heart and not for Favour or for Envy CHAP. II. IN April 1667 I came to London and within Ten dayes after I became acquainted with Hilkiah Bed●ord at the Angel in Hosi●r-Lane a Mathematical Instrument Maker of whom I had heard so much Fame in the North and what Service he did here for Friends in London and not only for those that were in London but also in other Parts of the Kingdom for he was a man of a bold Spirit and could go to the King at any time when others could not possible come to speak with Him and that he was ready at all times to go to the King to deliver either Letter or any Message according as he had Orders or Directions whereby he became very serviceable to all Friends and he was a Faithful good Friend himself then I thought my self in no small Happiness for coming to visit him I often found George Fox with him and sometimes while I stood or sat by him George Fox would come and enquire of him about business that he had done at the Court then I thought my self more happy than ever that at the first I should light with so good an Aquaintance And understanding that George was great with him I thought by this means I might get some Pre●erment and come to great Credit by which means I might get Patients which fell out even as I thought in my self for in a few Dayes after by this means I had two or three Patients But alas many times when a Man thinks himself mo●t happy than is he most miserable And when a Man thinks himself the best befriended then many times i●●e most abused Now I thought my self happy and in very Great Bliss and Felicity and how sweet it was to me in this City to have Acquaintance how pleasant it was to me that was a stranger to get such Acquaintance But alas how soon did all turn to my Ruine and Destruction as they think not only to the loss of my Friends new Acquaintance and Patients But at the last cast out from amongst Men and to become one that is not fit to keep company with Men as will appear by this Discourse Now I must come to speak of these my New Friends in this City of London First of their Abuses and Carriage towards

World and only make the true God a stalking-Horse to cover themselves withall but I leave them to the true God to be ●udged at the last Day although many of them believe it not as I shewed you before There is one thing more that I have known to be carried on with security and never mistrusted if thou hast a report it 's no matter any further for if thou shouldest buy a parcel of Goods then thou mayest take out about a fifth or a sixth part and convert it to thy own use and when a Chapman cometh to buy the other then thou mayst declare to him that thou wilt tell him to a penny what it cost thee and he shall know that thou wilt deal fairly and plainly with him and that thou wilt not cheat any Man but thou must have profit and that shall be very reasonable thou wilt refer thy self to him This Man seeing thy fair dealing as he judgeth gives thee good profit and here thou gainest on both hands also for that which thou tookest forth was sufficient for thee to get and the other that thy Chapman gave thee was clear gains Thus have I known a very good friend do and if ever thou thinkest to be a good friend thou must imitate the best I have two or three Rules more to instruct thee in and I will leave thee to thy new way of Conformity hoping that if at any time I have occasion to request thee to deliver me a message to the Church thou wilt do it and by this means thou dost ingage one to instruct thee further First thou must know that he that is a Man must be so in all parts for if any thing be wanting he is not esteemed for if a Man want his A●parel he is not taken for such a Person of honour as he is therefore thou must have a special care that thou art well provided or else all that thou hast done is but in vain therefore thou must observe that thou must cross the World in their fashions of Cloaths for in this there is a weighty matter and no small sin in the shape of Garments although in the mat●er thereof there is none save only in the forme for if it be ●ade like the Worlds it is judgable and not fit to come amongst ●●iends although the Prophets and Apostles and Saints in old ●●me stood not upon this but went like them of their own Nation yet th●● is nothing to thee for these are a People that comprehends all the Prophets and other Saints yea and God himself only they could never comprehend an Angel nor any other ●pirit yet they could Prophesie without either Angel or Spirit but which way soever it was done it was strange to me But to proceed first when this way came first up there was long-toed ●hooes and high-crown'd Hats then they must wear short Shooes ●●t for their Feet and low-crown'd Hats which were more fit for their Heads But now when others come to wear these then thou must leave them of and betake thy self to a great-crown'd Hat big enough for an Asses Head and broad-toed Shooes contrary to the World and then thou dost right and if thou didst wear thy Cloak without a Cape it would be the more out of the Worlds fashion and so the better accepted with them although it would be worse for thy shoulders but thou must not regard that if it be according to the truth The second thing is that thou have no Ribbons nor Lace about thee for if thou hast Lucifer the Prince of Pride will keep his Court there in the sight of the whole World and if thou hast any affection for him thou mayst set open the door of thy heart and let him sit there and that will please him and friends also for he will cause thee to carry thy mind very high and to conceit thy self to be some extraordinary Creature and more pure and sublime than any other that thou mayst stand in Authority and Rule to trample and tread all others that saith and doth not as thou sayst and doest under thy Feet and by this means purchase to thy self great fame I would have thee take a pattern of Dr. Gray for he is as perfect in that as any I know as also of his discourse and carriage but thou must pretend to some extraordinary Revelation as he did when he was ●ast into Prison that through the everlasting goodness of God he had reveal'd to him the secrets of Physick and now 〈◊〉 was able to cure all Di●eases for which he was 〈◊〉 esteem'd of all friends not only for what he could do but 〈◊〉 that it was reveal'd to him of God when he was in Prison 〈◊〉 as the truth of all is that this God of his was an old Gentlew●man in Islington Mistri●s Slack by name who I believe 〈◊〉 counted for no better than a Devil when she Su'd him for 〈◊〉 bargain and cast him and made him pay for his Revelations also for his Doctorship which he learn'd of her The last thing I have to instruct thee in is that thou dost no● question any of their Ministers about any principle in Religion 〈◊〉 for if thou dost they will tell thee there is no questioner in th● truth and that thou must wait to understand in thy self an● they which seeks out to others are wandering mindes and no● to be satisfied but thou must believe them as they speak in publick for in private many of them can give but a small account 〈◊〉 their faith FINIS