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	faith_n	know_v	8,213	5	4.2899	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A84892	VIII. problems propounded to the Cavaliers: for conviction of their consciences; with a discovery of certain plots and conspiracies. Declared by Captain Francis Freeman. With an answer thereunto returned by Colonell Francis Windham. And a reply to the said answer. These are printed by the originall papers, and published according to order of Parliament.	Freeman, Francis.; Windham, Francis.; England and Wales. Parliament.	1646 (1646)	Wing F2128; Thomason E343_6; ESTC R200943	20,583	25

trifle I thus and wonder at nothing The spirit we know is at your command the flesh your hand-maid and you love copulation hugely surely you were at some conventicle when you thought on this but did not you do the Divels drudgery then too Speak tru●h and shame the Divel and never wrest any text of Scripture so prophanely to put your bastards on him but father them your selves a Gods name they may prove babes of grace ten to one but some of your holy sisters were their mothers however to the pure all things are pure and your faith is strong and can easily conceit what you would have bee as though it were even as easily as his that first I know not what to call it turnd Quadrata rotundis But heark Sir should we be so bold with you as to ask you the same question What profession are you of what would you answer a a a or as you do for us a Gentleman and a Souldier Good truth we can hardly beleeve you not that our charity is pinion'd but out of reverence to the truth speaking much otherwise in their actions for truly for all your late Bug-beares you have shewd very little of the one but farre lesse of the other since your sitting down before us we could instance your incivill inhumane and treacherous dealing with you know whom contrary to faith given contrary to all Law of Arms. But let that passe the Generall no doubt in due time wil thank you for it and we our selves may ere long peradventure make you requitall Your second question is Of what Religion are you and you answer for us more then you can for your selves The Protestant Well we acquiesce therewith and seeing you have nothing to say against us therein which may be well scor'd up too wee 'l passe on in quiet and not make an enemy where we find none as you doe Yet we cannot chuse here but smile at your weaknesse or rather wilfulnesse in going about hence so absurdly to countenance your rebellious covenant and your quoting of the Prophet Esra 10.3.8 to prove God knows what Brother brother this was a great oversight and confirms clearly what upon good ground we gues'd before that you pin your faith more closely on other mens quotations and marginall notes then on the Text it self But to let these things and the like passe and to come to the grand question between us viz. Whether yee be Rebels or no We confidently a verre ye are and ye can but faintly and as it were with blushes deny it for if ye be so ye say ye are confident your rebellion is lawfull the case standing as now it doth And why so confident forsooth Why because Ezechiah rebelled against the King of Assyria ye say and prospered O ridiculous Did ever any understanding man produce examples as rules or proofs of the lawfulnesse or unlawfulnesse of a thing in controversie let me tell you Sir I think none but your self Examples may illustrate indeed but proue nothing at all But because you adde As the case now standeth pray let us examine how it stands and what compare or disparity there is between yours and Ezechia's rebellion as you call it Ye were or should have been subjects so were ye born I am sure and enjoyd such wholsome lawes such large priviledges liberties and immunities as few subjects in any neighbouring Kingdome can boast the like His Majestie your onely and undoubted Soveraign such a Prince as Envy herselfe could not till shee borrowed your tongues tax with any personally addicted vice humane infirmity the best may have such a one as went not about any way to alter either law or religion to infringe your priviledges or debar ye of any the least your just claim'd immunities but endeavoured onely to preserve his own regall authority defend his loyall subjects and rule all accodring to the common and known lawes of the Kingdome and yet ye because ye might not have your own wayes to innovate and turn upside down all things both in Church State must needs rebell rob him of his shipping Ports Castles Cities Towns Lands Revenues and all driving him out of doors leaving him not so much as one of his own houses to put his head in nay and worse yet persecuting him from place to place endeavouring still as much as in ye lies not only to take the crown from his hea● but even his head from his shoulders too And thus stands the case with you Let us look upon Ezechiah good Ezechia a t●ow sincere worshipper of the immortall God not likely then to run into so horrid a sin a free absolute King himself a condition somwhat incompatible with rebellion legally succeeding his fore fathers in the throne and no way subject for ought I can find to Senacharib that hethenish hellish tyrant otherwise then the Lamb is to the Lion or the weaker to the stronger Yea but he rebelled say you against him the text is down-right and seems plainly to imply that he was his subject He rebelled But stay Sir all is not gold that glisters you 'l play at small game I see rather then sit out when you c●nnot explisitly prove you wil implicitly beleeve and as one ready to sink catch at any thing though never so weak ●hat may but seem to uphold your accursed rebellion But tell me friend are you so wel acquainted with the original or have you so thoroughly conversed with the 72. and the learned train of orthodoxal expositers that you can of your self or from any joynt consent of theirs assure me that this word must needs be tied up so strictly and rendred precisely thus and no otherwise I presume you wil not say so for Sir I can assurre you that language was free-born and cannot endure such strict restrain it will it must have its libertie and this word may be nay and is I have been informed elswhere somewhat otherwise rendred Me thinks you being so great a Marginalist might have observed some such thing your charity have taught you the rule in such cases to make the best construction especially when so good a man is concerned in it Surely the holy Penman hereof meant nothing lesse then to appeach his good King of that bewitched sinne here for it is plain enough he was not in the least kind guilty thereof However let this be taken notice of to your shame that he guilty or not guilty policy so requiring acknowledgeth a fault and submits to the tyrants pleasure 2 Kings 18 14. your good King could never find ye yet guilty of so much ingenuity or grace but I observe withall that though he acknowledge an offence now offence may be taken when not justly given yet he will not acknowledge himselfe a rebell he saith indeed I have offended but addes not in rebelling against thee which he would assuredly have done had he known himselfe guilty therein fear may make him do much but not so much not acknowledge himselfe

22. Now is not this a foolish madnesse for you to rage vent your malice against Gods people and all in vain for sayes the Prophet DAVID in the 2 Psal 1. Why do the heathen so furiously rage and the people imagine a vaine thing and in the next verse he saith the Kings of the earth stand up and the Rulers take counsell together against God and against Christ and although they stand up and take counsell together and rage and rent their malice against the people of God yet the Lord shall speake to them in his wrath and vex them in his sore displeasure as in the 5 verse and in the 10 verse there the Prophet gives them wholesome instructions and exhorteth them to repentance Be wise now therefore O ye Kings be instructed ye Judges of the earth serue the Lord with feare c. and thus you may see plainly that all you Cavaliers do fight against the King and the King against himself his Kingdoms now I shal shew you who you fight for you fight for the Divel the Pope Goring his soldiers are of the Divels Life-guard as his soldiers say themselvs Goring is Captain and the Divel is their General over that black Regiment whose foul sins are as black as Hell it self for you strive to set up Popery Superstition Idolatry and Tyrannie the Kingdom of Antichrist above Christs Kingdom you joyn with all the Papists in the Kingdome both English Dutch French Walloons nay Irish Rebels too who have had their hands imbrued in the blood of many thousand poor Protestants there and yet these cursed Rebels must be called his Maj. Catholike Subjects and must fight for him against his best Subjects for the Protestant Religion too O monstrous horrid and prodigeous prodegie is there any man can be so sottishly ignorant as to believe it I shall endeavour to cleer it by the testimony of many wicked Plots Trecheries and Conspiracies which the Popish faction those wicked Enemies of God have used conspired and contrived against the Church and People of God in K. Iames his time and ever since the beginning of this Kings Reign to bring their wicked designs to passe First in K. Iames his Reign that desperate Powder-plot never to be forgotten wherof many of the Contrivers suffered for it as traytors and yet not many yeares after the Papists prevailed so farre with the King as to grant them a toleration of Religion he being a timerous fearfull man granted their desires it being done they might the better contrive and work some other mischiefe but that tolleration did not long continue the King was better advised by his Councell yet notwithstanding they would not leave their design so naked without hopes but that they went again to the King prevailed so farre with him as to grant a tolleration for all manner of Sports and Pastimes on the Sabbath day dancing at May-poles and the like fooleries this continued till his dying day and since revived by K. Charles and thus came the sluce and fludgate to be opened to all manner of licentiousnesse and liberty together with a strange wife as if they were twins born at a birth then the Bishops rotten Clergie saw which way the King and Queen and the young gallant Lords and Courtiers were inclined then they began presently to fawn upon them like so many puppie Dogs and some pillowes under their elbowes and make such flattering Sermons with so much quaintnesse of wit and flashes as they termed it that you should have them so hum'd up as if they had been at the Black-Fryers or the Cockpit at a St●ge-Play but I must tell them that such fawning Spannels are far worse then dumb Dogs but yet they grew more more in favour at Court insomuch that godly and painfull conscientious Ministers were disfavoured discountenanced many of them put to s●…lence that could not endure their foolish superstitious sopperies then there must be new Canons imposed on them for a Church-Government the Communion Table must be turned Altar-wise forsooth where you might see so much bowings curchings and cringings as if they were going to dance an Antick but yet they endeavoured to make the people believe that Gods speciall pre●ents was there and these actions were a part of Gods Worship w●en alas they worshipt they knew not what like unto the woman of Samaria Iohn 4. where she told our Saviour Christ that our Fathers worshipped in this Mountain and Ierusalem is the place where men ought to worship but our Saviour Christ saith unto her woman believe me the hour cometh when ye shall neither in this Mountain nor at Ierusalem worship the Father ye worship ye know not what but the houre cometh and now is when the true Worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and Truth then after this they must have the new Oath c that men should swear to that they know not or if they refused it at their own perill be it and so many an honest man suffered deeply for it then after this began all the Monopolies that could be devised To back Pattents and Soap Pattents and the like and by this time the Court was grown to a mighty height of pride Superstition and Idolatry sometimes you might find the Bishop of Canterbury at White Hall to see a Masque or a Stage-Play on the Sabbath Day in the Afternoon insomuch that it was a great griefe to the godly to see Popery so countenanced creep in by degrees yet durst not speak against it for fear of punishment in the high Commission Court either by silencing or by suspention But then it pleased God after a little while our Brethren the Scots had a fellow-feeling of our miseries somwhat sensible of their own what would follow after then they began with their own Bishops and presently took them off of their Episcopall Dignities then our Bishops began to stir wince and presently must labor with the King to call a Parliament in all post-hast certain Articles of Church-government must be propounded unto them and a new book of Prayer sent but the Scots refusing their Popish kind of Discipline would not condiscend thereunto then presently a Proclamation of Rebellion must go forth against them the Parl. must be dissolved an Army must be raised to stop this Rebellion all manner of unjust taxes imposition must be laid upon the poor Subjects as Coat and conduct money and the like the unjust pressing of Train Souldiers and buying and selling them by Deputy Lieutenants and Popish Commanders like horses in Smithfield then the King must go himselfe in Person into Scotland the Nobility and Gentry must wait on him the Bishops and rotten Clergy whose war it was must contribute large sums of mony to uphold their Hierarchy hence it came to passe that it was called Bellum Episcopale but howsoever they found the Scots a stout and sturdy Nation their cause being good they met us

rebell contrary to all truth But when I pray you doth his supposed rebellion appear to you by what circumstances is it manifested For my part I know not and I think he must be wiser then you that can tell me T is true indeed that Ahaz his Father being vexed by Israel and Aram on the North the Edomites and Philistines on the South and so in soore distresse intreated ayd of Tiglat Phileser the Assirian and to the end he might the more readily obtaine it sent him the silver and gold both of the Temple and his Exchequer the Assyrian came destroyed Rezin at Damascus and so rid him of some of his feare but his other enemies were not strong so that Ahaz was little the better for what he did nay far the worse for besides those his former enemies the Assyrian himselfe being become a new one distresseth him 2 Chron. 28.20 and helped him not verse the 21. yet must p●ore Ahaz say nothing but for feare of displeasing the Tyrant give him more gold Bu● what of all this nay suppose further that the Lion saing he had done him a curtysie and he not daring to den ieit out of feare promise to give him a yeerly tribute in requitall which yet neither the text nor anie ancient historian I have met with acknowledge is Ezechia bound to performe it would not you if you had been in his case have endeavoured to have shaken off such a Yoake and yet have thought your selfe free enough from any the least blemish of rebellion especially he being neither your native nor any way lawfull Prince I believe you would and why then do you call it rebellion in him But lets observe Ezechi●as proceedings did he do as ye do surely no far otherwise he confesseth an offence submitteth himselfe and payeth the fine imposed on him but the proud Tyrant not contented therewith proceeds further sends a great hoast against Ierusal●m and under colour of demanding hostages endeavours to insnare him and swallow up all and what does Ezechia then why he betakes himselfe in the first place to the weapons of the Church Prayers and Teares then prepares himselfe against the siege and lastly that he might be sure to go in a right path sends to the Prophet for his advice and being incouraged by him sets up his resolution to stand upon his just defence and expect the Salvation of the Lord O that your party had but done thus then had ye bin blamelesse and neither Church nor State groan'd under the heavy pressures they now doe but your Spirits were of another temper as impatient of delay as any the least thwarting yee must have all after your own wayward minds and in your own time too And if heaven smile not you are confident hell will hy for Acheren in all post the Witch of Endor must be consulted with Rebellion and Witchcraft are neer a-kin and that under a religious pretence of speaking with the Prophet to know the will of the Lord. But what will the father of lies tell truth Yes sometimes when he is forc'd to it what comfort thence then Small God wot for yee let Iezabel speak else and cast forth her Probleme Had Zimri peace that killed his master O Sir Rebell think on this and tremble take heed of a worse fire then he conscious of his own demerits fired himselfe in 1 King 16.18 How can ye be thus wilfully thus affectedly stupid and blinde but Surdis Canimus ye have set up your resolution and it must stand let the Charmer charme never so wisely ye like the Adder stop your eares yea though wisedome her selfe cry aloud ye are resolved ye will not heare 't is bootlesse therefore for me to use any more words and the truth is my patience wil hardly give me leave if I would wee 'l but review then the strength of your Argument and conclude it stands thus Ezechiah rebelled and prosper'd therefore we may lawfully rebell therefore we shall assuredly prosper O weaknesse produce nothing but an example to prove the lawfulnesse of an act flatly forbidden and that but one singly grounded upon one word ambiguous admitting a more candide interpretation which in such cases is alwayes to be admitted an example no way consonant to the businesse you aime at but even di●-dia-paesôn differing and making more against ye then for ye and can this make you so confident that your rebellion is lawfull fie on 't fie on 't God open your eyes and turne your hearts surely if your hands prove as weake as your heads you 'l gaine but little here but I forget my selfe yet nondum manuum de tabula for taking notice of your kind expectative conclusion I can not chuse but meet you in the same tract of Charity Let me intreat you therefore in the Name of God to lay aside all prejudicacie to weigh things with a single heart not to dote so much upon examples and presidents but to make the divine precept the rule of your actions you cannot but know and acknowledge that Kings though wicked as Saul though heathen as Cyrus Esa 45.1 are the Lords annointed by him they raigne Prov. 8.15 In his hand are their hearts and he turneth them as he pleaseth Prov. 21.1 Take not too much then upon you meddle not with Gods Prerogative think on Abishai and Davids neperdas to him 1 Sam. 26.9 together with his reason Though that Saul were his and the Churches enemy though he had a faire opportunity and as good a culler as could be imagined to cut him of and though Abishai were importunate to have it done yet David who best knew the will of the Lord herein forbids it with a neperdas destroy him not the Lords annointed must not be destroyed no nor touched 1 Chron 16.22 not a hand not a finger to be moved against him no nor a foote neither Prov. 30.31 no rising no stirring a foote against him 't is dangerously wicked 't is wickedly dangerous so to do the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse that doth so think on Ioab 1 Kings 2.28 the 2. Traytors Ester 2.23 Absolon 2 Sam. 18.14 Sheba 2 Sam. 20.22 and the like and tell me did these prosper in their rebellion surely no but came all of them to untimely though merited ends no doubt so shall all such as tread in their steps beware then in time and take example now by others least ye be made your selves hereafter examples unto others 't is high time for ye to returne into the right way ye have stragled too long already Salius è dimedia via c. 't is better late then never be not ashamed to acknowledge an errour when ye perceive your selves in it 't is no dishonour St. Aug. got more credit by his retractations then any other piece he wrote and let not any by or wordly respect hinder ye for what will it profit a man to gayne the whole World with the glory thereof and lose his owne Soule as all such as go on in this accursedly cursed rebellion are likely without Gods great mercy to do thinke upon these things seriously consider them and it will not repent thee God in his mercy dirvert his judgements from us and guide all our feete in the way of Peace Your Servant Fran Windham To the Governour of Dunster Castle these present SIR I Have received a Letter as I suppose signed with your owne hand but composed by those two scandalous malignant priests of Baal Adrie and King pretending it to be an answer to that which I formerly sent you when indeede there was no answer at all but a most lamentable frothy peice of non-sence as if your heads had been gvilly of a cup of muddy ale a bundell of stuffe bumbasted together with three or fowre mouth-fulls of Lattin taken upon trust by you without due examination subscribed with your own hand for which I shall hereafter chide you and shall advise you to take better councell and not to follow such blinde guides that shall build with one hand and destroy with the other which argues abundance of imbecillity and weaknesse in you I shall therefore set it forth in print that the world may but judge of your folly and the title of it shall be Three in print but what shall I say but use the very same words of our Saviour Christ in the 15. of Matthew 14. And if the blind leade the blinde they both shall fall into the ditch Truly you may justly be compared unto the false Prophets spoken of in the 5. of Ieremiah and the last verse the Prophets Prophecy falsly and the Priests beare rule by their meanes and my people love to have it so and what will ye do in the end thereof surely your end will be miserable unlesse it please God to give you grace speedily to repent and amend your life for you wrest the Scriptures to your own perdition not knowing the waies of God because they are spiritually discern'd therefore let me advise you to cast those wicked scandalous Priests ' over the walles it may be a meanes to avert Gods judgements and somewhat abate the rage and furie of him that may yet prove to be Your friend Francis Freeman Post-script There is no newes worth the vvriting but that Hereford and Westchester are taken and Colonell Birch made Governour of Hereford but I cannot as yet rightly inform you vvho is Governour of VVestchester if I could I should gladly impart it unto you I have sent also a Catalogue of all those Parliament Rebels and Traytors as you call them vvhich are to be made Dukes Northumberland Essex Pembroke VVarwick Marquesses Salsbury Manchester Earles Say Seale Fairfax VVharton Roberts Howard VVillowby Viscount Densi● Hollis Barons Generall Fairfax Lieutenant Generall Cromwel Sir VVilliam VValler Sir Henry Vane Senior There is some other newes flying but how true it is I know not and that is that Goring Hopton and Miller are gone into France But the next newes God willing I shall bring my selfe and vve vvill have it all in a Diurnall FINIS