Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	better_a	doubt_v	great_a	88	3	2.0647	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A07683	A demonstration of God in his workes Against all such as eyther in word or life deny there is a God. By George More Esquire.	More, George, Sir, 1553?-1632.; More, George, Esquire, attributed name.	1597 (1597)	STC 18071.5; ESTC S112856	95,106	174

vnarmed and altogether vnprouided 1. Sam ●7 they saide to Samuell Cease not to crie vnto the Lord our God for vs that he may saue vs out of the hands of the Philistines They then comming to fight against Israell and hauing full assuraunce of victorie not seeing a man to draw a weapon or to lift vp his hand against them as Samuell offered the burnt offering vnto the Lorde the Lord thundred with a great thunder out of heauen vpon thē and scattered them so as they were pursued and slaine before Israel 2 Chr 20. Ichosophat in like sort the children of Moab and Ammon comming with a great multitude to battaile against him was dismaied for hee saw nothing in him and his able to withstand so mightie and many enemies He thersore sought the Lord and set his eyes toward him who laying ambushments against the children of Ammon Moab and Mount Seir which were comming against Iudah caused them to slay and destroy one another So by the strange working and mighty power of the Almightie the enemies of Iudah were kylled of themselues theyr owne hands seruing nay striuing 2. Chr 32. to cut theyr owne throates Senacharib inuading Iudah and besieging the strong Citties and thinking to winne them for him selfe proudlie vaunted what Nations he had ouercome and spared not blasphemously both to speake and write against the Lord God of Israell But Hesechias the King and the Prophet Isaiah praying against him and crying to heauen the Lord sent an Angell which destroyed all his valiant men and the Princes and Captaines of the Hoast so as he returned with shame into his land and being come into the house of his God they that came forth of his owne bowels slew him there with the sword Infinite it were to rehearse the notable examples of Gods wonderfull workes remembred throughout the whole volume of holy Scripture both in the confusion of the rich and mighty being wicked and preseruation of the poore and weake being godly they are euery where to be reade in the History of the Prophets Iudges and Kings and as well in the time as before the comming of Christ VVherfore leauing the same to the view of all which of all lye open to be seene I will of much remember some-what that of prophane men hath beene recorded wherein the strength of Gods hand is to be admired when it pleaseth him for the secrecie of his iudgement to put it forth and to execute his will vpon the Sonnes of men which being of lesse credite and of no worth in comparison of the assured testimony of the word of truth it may serue for better vse to some as ill foode doth best agree with bad stomacks and dimme light with sore eyes It is not to be doubted but that the burthen of pouerty is great The burden of pouerty great that by the strength not of the body but of the mind it is to be borne out VVherof it hath been truly sayed Menander 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to endure pouerty is not euery mans case but his that is wise and accordingly it hath beene seene to fall out in the example of Socrates Diogenes Anaxagoras and other Philosophers whose minds being fortified with wisedome by no force of pouerty could be ouerthrowne wheras the common sort being led by the present sence of outward things admire riches in others and finding want in them selues are deiected in mind and carried on to foule actions or vnseemely complaints to whom I may say as Paulus Aemilius did to Persius lying downe at his feete and vttering base words and requests vnmeete for a King Plutarch in Aemilius though a Captiue at that time they seeke to amend their ill hap with a worse fault and shew them selues both worthie their meane condition and vnfit for better fortune But how and whatsoeuer the wickednes of man is such hath God euermore shewed his power to be in giuing honour to the poorest of estate and raysing the basest to the highest place that men beholding and considering the same how so euer they are weake cannot but acknowledge his strength Pouerty exalted and therein repose their comfort Plutarch in Pho. 1. and their hope Phocion of a poore man became the Generall and Commaunder of the Athenians by the space of twenty years wherewith his wife thought her selfe more graced and honoured then she could be with all the riches and iewels of the world Doubtfull whether Phocion or Alexander the greater He contemned the guifts of Alexander and there-vpon it was doubted whether was the greater man because it was doubtfull whether had the greater minde Poore Aristides was a principall actour Herodo vraria Calliope and had not the least honor in the seruice at Salamis and at Plateas was the chiefe leader of all the Athenian forces vvhom vertue did put forward pouerty could not hold back nor daunt nor dismay in any sort Eutrop. 1. The meane estate of Cincinuatus did not stop his passage to preferment from the plough he was called to be Dictator which was to be the greatest ruler in the common wealth VVhich office hauing discharged to the good of his Countrey and his owne glory to his former course of life with no lesse contentment then comendation hee returned againe Fabritius being in pouerty Eutrop. 2 3. was sent in embassage amongst other Romanes to Pyrrhus of whom Pyrrhus conceaued such lyking that to win him to be his he offered him the fourth part of his kingdom which offer he contemning Pyrrhus admiring the greatnes of his mind and esteeming the Romanes according to him was ready to accept most reasonable conditions of peace which being not accorded on and Fabritius disclosing the treason of his Phisition vnto him he sayed with admiration Ille est Fabritius qui difficilius ab honestaten quam sola cursea suo auerti potest This is that Fabritius whom it is harder to draw from honesty then to turne the Sun from his course So doth God make vertue often to shine through the cloud of pouertie causing it to be graced rather by the shew then ouercomed by the shadow thereof And as it pleased Alexander the great to preferre before many of noble birth Iust 2. Abdolminus a man of no parentage and base condition to a kingdome because that his benefite should seeme rather to be giuen freely then deserued by nobility and that his owne greatnes therein might the more be seene So is it to be obserued that the Lord God hath raysed manie from the lowest step to the highest seate from vnknowne houses to the greatest honours as well to shew his power as that the glory might be wholie his August de ciuita dei 18 no worth or desert being theirs Ptolemey a man of base birth of a common Souldier grew to be King of all Egipt Liui. decad 1 lib. 5. Iust 2. Ioui elo 1. Pompo Laetus So it happened to Seruius Tullius

in the foode of wormes is truly sayed to be a man though in truth he is not halfe a man For that he wanteth the inward that is the heauenlie man which being much the better part is much to be esteemed the greater halfe And yet must it be confessed that in respect of that lesser and worser halfe hee doth beare the name of the whole And for as much as that part doth onely appeare and without that the other can haue no being in the world nor can exercise his power but by means thereof therefore it commeth to passe in regard of that secresie and neere coniunction betweene them that the open shew of the outward man causeth all a like to be taken for men because the better sort are apt to thinke the best of that which is doubtfull and the worser will not suspect others least they should condemne them selues But when it happeneth that a shamelesse mouth bewrayeth a a godlesse heart and that the follie of a sencelesse braine breaketh out into the forehead euidently to be seene then boldly because truly that mouth and that forehead may be iudged not to be of a man sith manifestly it doth appeare that the inward man is extinguished and gone But wherof then should they be thought to be The proportion remaineth and the lyuing body of man True but the minde wanteth which is the breath of life whereby not the body but the soule of Adam was sayed to become aliue before which breathed into him hee was a dead body and without which breathing within vs we are though not dead bodies because our flesh lyueth yet dead in soule for as much as the soule onely of a brute beast doth liue within vs and so being we are inwardly beasts and men onlie in outward appearance and therefore to be named rather beasts then men for that it is the life and not the shape the nature and not the picture that causeth true things to be discerned from counterfaite and truly giueth the denomination to euerie thing VVherefore it hath pleased God who alone is truth and knoweth all things as they are in his word to call him by the name of a man which is according to the likenes and image of him selfe and all those wretched sinners in whom that image is defaced and that likenes blotted out according to their brutish nature by the name of some brute beast or other Math. 7. The corrupt and vncleane he calleth doggs and swine forbidding that which is holie to be giuen vnto them Math. 23. and pearles to be cast before them the mischeeuous and hurtfull Serpents and vipers the subtill Foxes the cruell Lyons Luke 13. Psal 5 6 32. and those which haue no vnderstanding Horses and Mules So doth God name and note them to be beasts which in wickednes or folly degenerate from the nature of man and not onely them selues but euen their workes he marketh with the same brand saying that they hatch Cockatrice egges Isai 59. and weaue the Spiders web and he that eateth of their eggs dyeth and their web shall be no garment whereby it is to be gathered that theyr wickednes bringeth forth poyson and their folly that which serueth to no vse And to shew to the world that amongst all the wicked and foolish children of men such wicked fooles as in the pride of their hart dare stand at defiance with God as if his name were a vaine thing and his power of no force are least to be accounted men and that they are brute beasts in very deede Daniel 4. it pleased him to make Nabuchodonozer being a King an example very notable therof in causing him to be driuen from men and to eate grasse as the Oxen His fashion not his shape was altered for he retayned the shape of a man lyuing without vnderstanding after the fashion of a beast his body to be wet with the dewe of heauen till his haires were growne like Eagles feathers and his nayles like birds clawes So was he transformed into the fashion and liued the life of a beast by the space of seauen yeares which dayes being ended he lifted vp his eyes to heauen his vnderstanding was restored hee gaue thankes vnto the most high and praysed and honoured him that liueth for euer VVherefore that all fooles which deny God be denied to be men and be taken for brute beasts which haue no vnderstanding let it not be greeuous to them selues nor seeme strange vnto others for that the Lord God hath proued it to be true whose power is an euerlasting power whose kingdome is from generation to generation but rather by remembring Nabuchodonozer they may learne to know them selues both what they are and what they should endeuour to be VVhen his hart was puffed vp with pride and his minde voide of reason then he sayed to Shidrach Misach and Abednego VVho is that God that can deliuer you out of mine hands But after being humbled by the mighty hand of that same God and his vnderstanding restored I Nabuchadnezer prayse and extoll and magnifie the King of heauen whose workes are all truth and his wayes iudgement and those that walke in pride he is able to abase VVhich example teacheth what they are and ought to seeme who think with them selues and say with their mouthes there is no God God shewing by the outward shew of him what inwardly he was and such like are beeing blinded with ignorance of the Almighty a beast he continued and was not restored to the fashion of a man vntill he returned to the knowledge of his God Happy were it for all Atheists if in like sort God would lay his rod of correction vppon them whereby at the length though after many yeares they might be brought to know both God and them selues that heere they might see the end of their miseries which heereafter will be endlesse if they continue in their wickednes But if they enioy the societie and take the foode of men yet let not the sufferance of the Almighty cause them to glory and to thinke that God is not which is and them selues not to be that which they are For assuredly the Lord God will poure out his wrath vpon those heathen which haue not known him whereby they shall perrish in their folly and he tryumph ouer them in the end Because lyuing they were dead in sinne dying they shall liue in torment being iustly rewarded with punishment of continuance VVhat they are which continue in Atheisme for continuing in deadly ignorance without repentance VVherefore in a word to say what they are men they are without the nature of men men of chiefe imperfection borne to vtter destruction better neuer to haue beene then such to be Chap. 3. That out of the works of God to sence and reason it is euident that there is a God DArknes and light sight and blindnes are not more contrary then wisedom and folly then ignorance and vnderstanding which

subiect to all danger and easily ouerthrowne Our neighbour Countries haue seene the sodaine fall of their Princes by the bloody hands of cruell murtherers euen of late in these last dayes of the world dayes of disobedience of treason of vnnaturall affection and of all sinne and iniquitie vnworthy to be graced with the light of heauen whose purenes if it were possible would be defiled with the noysome vapours of wickednes arising daily from the face of the earth The great power and goodnes of God in the preseruation of her Maiestie But yet notwithstanding all malitious conspiracies trayterous practises and dangerous attempts against the annoyted of the Lord our most excellent Soueraigne Queene Elizabeth she liueth and raigneth in safety and in glory to the glory of him by whose goodnes no lesse carefully then by his power miraculously she hath beene preserued her wicked enemies by the feruencie of his displeasure as stinking mists by the burning beames of the Sunne being dispersed consumed All Princes may seeme to haue meanes sufficient by their owne strength of their owne defence being furnished with strong guardes euer attending and many eyes still watching to fore-see what is intended against them so as nothing can be thought so subtill or secret which is not like to be discouered and preuented but all will not serue where GOD is vnwilling to preserue All meanes of mē without the help of God are vaine Psalm 127. If GOD doe not keepe the Cittie they labour in vaine that watch it their eyes are dimme and their eares deafe manifest daungers passe by their sight and neuer come to their vnderstanding So many are the deuises of mischiefe and so cunningly disguised vnder the colour of loue and pretence of friendship God onely searcheth and seeth the hart I●ue Saetyr 1 that God alone who searcheth the hart and seeth the inward thought is able to discerne the malitious minde of a wicked man It was not said without cause fronti nulla fides no trust to the outward countenance and in animis hominum multae latebrae multi recessus in the minds of men there are many darke corners and secret places for there are not by many so many furrowes and wrinkles in the forehead to be seene as vnder the scull neere the braine there be priuy corners and close angles which the eyes of an Eagle are vnable to pearce into VVherefore when man through the corruption of his nature inclining more to ill then to good is not so ingenious in the deuise nor so industrious in the practise of good as of ill no meruaile it is if euill conspiracies ouercome good counsailes Faythfull counsellors the surest defence of the King and designes of mischiefe goe beyond all meanes of defence Faithfull counsailers louing truth and hating couetcousnes are the surest strength of the Kings life and best instruments of his safety for not being delighted with lyes they are not deluded by flatterers To loue truth be liberall fit for Counsailers to Kings nor by gifts or rewards are they blinded which are not coueteously disposed But truth possessing their harts and their hands being full of liberallity they aduise faithfully without feare and wisely without error and so cleere are their eyes that they see farre and neere For mony which often dazeleth The force of money and darkneth the eyes of the taker as often bringeth light sight to the giuer many secrets are made known many practises layd open from euery quarter aduertisements are giuen to such as will drawe theyr purses and are not sparing of rewards Doores and locks are easily had to keepe money in but to hold it out hardly can a locke or a doore strong enough be found Precium si grandefer as custodia victa est Tib. 2. Eleg 4. Nec prohibent claueis et canis ipse tacet Bring mony store the keepe is ouercome The keyes let in the barking dog is dombe VVherefore right happy is that Prince whose counsailers and seruants loue truth and hate couetousnes As without such it is impossible for a King to sit safe in his kingdome so by the meanes of such as great safetie is had as by the help of man can bee obtained for they are friends that flatter not and watchmen that sleepe not and such alone as for friends watchmen are to be esteemed But be they in all as they ought to be yet are they but men doe they what they can without the help of him that sitteth in heauen all is in vaine If God be not their guide they runne astray following theyr owne wayes they easily misse the path of truth fall into the pitte of error though greedilie they seeke and hunt after truth as a most precious iewel Yet truth being buried in the deepe Truth buried in the deepe and couered ouer with many pleasing vaines of right shewe but counterfaite substance they stick in the shallow fall in liking with the deceitful shadow of that they desire For by nature being slow to conceaue and dull to vnderstand we soone turne away from matter of difficultie lay easily holde on easie and ready things which euer-more are the worst both in respect of themselues in respect of the hurt they bring to the possessors of them Lyes errors vices are the smyling baytes whereby wee are quicklie caught and willingly carried away to mischiefe myserie The baites of mischiefe misery Lyes are ill tolde but well heard errors dangerous guests but entertained as deere friends vices the bane of al our happines but vsed fostered and delighted in as the only pleasure comfort of our liues All which being the seed of the Serpent our auncient and first enemy creepe into vs as hee dyd into our old beginning Parents whose posteritie we are and are deceiued as they were by the alluring face of ease and glory Men drawn to il by ease and glory An easie thing to eate an Apple and what more glorious then to be as God in the knowledge of good and euill But it was a lye that first was told and beeing beleeued ignoraunce was our vnderstanding and our knowledge error then vice gotte the possession of our harts and rule of our mindes so were wee of our selues not Gods but deuils in the world and so are we still if by the spirit of God we be not lightened and guided in the wayes of truth wisedom vertue wherewith who so is endued is in some measure enabled to discerne truth frō falshood knowledge from ignoraunce vertue from vice and by meanes thereof not beeing deceiued is deliuered from the malice of sathan and from all the practises of his wicked ministers be they neuer so secret subtile and mischiuous VVherfore it is the goodnesse of God which onely can and assuredly doth saue and protect as well Princes as others out of the hands of theyr enemies so as he which sayed Seneca Thebais