Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A48010
|
A letter from a gentleman to his friend Concerning the second edition of the declaration against Antinomian errors, &c. lately published by Geo. Griffith, Matthew Mead, Stev. Lobb, Richard Taylor, John Nesbitt.
|
Gentleman in the city.
|
1699
(1699)
|
Wing L1402; ESTC R219242
|
7,970
|
17
|
has done in one of the Fathers which he delights so much to quote tho' with as little Pertinency as ever was sung the Ballad of Chevy Chace But I shall not spend my time in discovering that to you concerning the two last mention'd which you are no Stranger to since the Spirit with which they were acted will be best seen when you understand the Methods they took to perswade the World that the publishing their Declaration was by the unanimous Consent of all the Congregational Ministers in and about this City I will not question but the Conclave at Pinners Hall had sounded the Minds of their Brethren of the same Denomination as they call it with themselves how far they would join with them in the Publication of their elaborate Piece what Resentment the Majority had of it shall not now be told tho' 't is reported Dr. Chauncy Mr. Ness Dr. Singleton Mr. Short Mr. Harris Mr. Meidell c. car'd not to intermeddle in a Case that concern'd them not This Last was formerly a Lutheran but some Years agoe brought over to the knowledge of the Truth and is now Pastor to a Congregational Church his Assent therefore they most earnestly desir'd he being a faithful Confessor of Jesus Christ and a great Sufferer for him to obtain which Mr. L. the Scribe by order of Mr. N. the Dictator writes him a Letter which whether more full of Pride or Ignorance is difficult to define wherein he tells him how Harmonious the Ministers all were to usher the second Edition of their Declaration into the World with an Attestatation to it under their hands that there was but One more besides himself of whose Consent they at all doubted and that One had been spoke to and therefore in trust as he says requested him not to obstruct so good a Work lest they should be oblig'd to let the World know by exposing Mr. Meidell's Name in Print that he was the only Man amongst them who refus'd to join with them But perhaps you are as tyred as I am in tracing the hidden By-ways of these assuming 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I shall therefore sum up all I am minded at this time to communicate in a few Queries which I leave to your serious Consideration Query 1. Whether by publishing a shameless half-side to vindicate the Reputation of their former title Page and Preface which they say met with a manifest Contradiction these men do not at the same time discover an overweening conceit of their own title Page and Preface and a measure of Insolence beyond what is common when they take it in such Dudgeon that the Authority of a nameless title Page and Preface is call'd into Question Que. 2. Whether these Men by insinuating that all to whom they thought fit to communicate their Declaration approv'd of it become not Guilty at least of a very gross fallacy since Mr. Meidell to whom they did think fit to communicate it if S. L and J. N may be credited openly declared his dislike of it to them at Pinners-Hall Surely such sly and untrue Insinuations ill become Ministers of Christ who should renounce all hidden things of dishonesty not walking in craftiness c. Que. 3. Whether by saying that their Declaration was approved by all the Congregational Ministers in and about London but by two or three to whom they thought not fit to communicate it these Men do not manifestly contradict what S. L. wrote Mr. C. M. when he tells him that all had approved of it but One and that One had been spake to about it How these things can hang together they should best tell but 'till I better understand their minds in this matter I must apply our old Proverb to them Liars need good Memories Que. 4. Whether S. L. when he wrote to Mr. C. M. and assur'd him that what he did communicate to him was in trust emplying his being intrusted by all the Ministers when indeed but one or two could be found to have set him on work did therein act the part of a trusty Scribe to his Masters all or like an upright Christian and faithful Minister fit to be put in trust with the Gospel This Query I leave with the Conscience of that busy Emperick Que. 5. Whether these Men have not evidently run beyond the tedder of Independent Principles in publishing this Declaration without the Knowledge of their respective Churches and in unwarrantably concerning themselves with Pastors of other Churches But alas it is to be feared many that go under the name of Independents affect and exercise as much Tyranny and Usurpation over their own Churches and fellow Servants as any of other denominations that pretend to no such purity Witness their counterfeit Agreement first clandestinely patcht up by Clubbs of Preachers without the Knowledge of their Churches and afterward as arbitrarily imposed upon them Que. 6. Whether by mustering up a Cargo of Antinomian Errors espous'd by no Party of Men or single Preacher in England at this day these Men have discover'd most of a vain Itch of Pride to shew their reading or of an angry humour of contention to be quarrelling tho' they know not at what or of a weak air of impertinence to bring somewhat on the Stage nothing to the purpose or of a malicious Design against Souls to infect our air with some German Antinomianism which they have rak'd out of the Grave of Oblivion where they have lain now this hundred years as a Poet of their own said and against the venom of which their poor Antidotes scrap'd from Dr. c. are much too weak Que. 7. Whether the insolent Methods these Preachers have taken to terrify men more conscientious than themselves into a compliance with their base proceedings do not discover them to be acted rather by the Spirit of Belial then of Jesus Certainly it is not according to Christ's rule to Stigmatize others with the Title of Antinomians c. that cannot run our length nor does it savor of true Christian humility for any to be perking above their Brethren with such a Phrase of contempt as We thought them not fit It is to be feared these Men that think others not fit for their notice in a way of respect would think them very fit to be degraded and deliver'd over to the Secular Power why else should one of their number say we want a little more of the Magistrate on our side And what other meaning can be given of that passage wherein they tell us they Judge themselves oblig'd to bear with and exercise compassion and tenderness to their fellow Servants chiefly because our Governors have by a Law tollerated us and partly because the Savoy Confession hath taught them so to do But for any Scripture or Grace produc'd by them for Lenity Quere Where it is Que. 8. Lastly Whether upon the whole to set the Saddle upon the right Horse this Stratagem was not contrived and promoted principally by one or two wily Men that stand convâ—ct of Demy Arminianism in Principle and true Antinomianism and Intrusion in Practice in order to the raising a Dust of forg'd Antinomianism and Intrusion on others so to hinder the persuit of themselves for their Scandalous Lives Ignorance of the Gospel Invasions c. And here Sir you must needs take notice how craftily they labour to bring into black Suspicion by base Innuendoes the Persons and Ministry of such whom they most dread treating them in Print as the Chieftain at Stepney formerly serv'd good old Mr. Lawrence in the Pulpit endeavouring to load them with Calumnies sufficient that some may stick upon them and themselves may be accounteâ— Innocent A true Resolution of this Query would serve at once to clear up the Reputation of several that in all appearance were decoy'd into this Subscription by the Craft of others and that followed theâ— Steps as the innocent Men did Absolom in their Simplicity not knowing any thing and at the same time hereby we should see a little of that great Guilt that lyes on some Men's Consciences who tho' they would be thought Reverend Men are ever afraid of having themselves laid open But let such consider that the Secrets of their Hearts will one Day be discovered then it will be known with what Spirit and Aims this scandalous Pamphlet was published In the mean time I profess to you Sir and you that know my Disposition will believe me whatever others think that nothing but the highest concern for abused Truth would have drawn me to say all this and thus to have exposed Men whom but for the undeceiving of the World I would rather have been unconcern'd with as well knowing he that touches upon the failings of the Priest is like to have the barking of all the Dogs in the Parish But I must be of the same Mind with Luther quoted in their Preface To think Truth to be of so inestimable a Value that it 's better Heaven and Earth be blended together in Confusion than that the least Dust thereof should perish FINIS