Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A70324
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To all our friends and brethren at the severall monthly an[d] particular meetings in and throughout the County of York
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Hammond, Thomas, 17th cent.
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1690
(1690)
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Wing H625A; ESTC R23759
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7,586
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8
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To all our Friends and Brethren at the severall Monthly and particular Meetings in and throughout the County of York GREETING WEE your Friends and Brethren who are Assembled togethâ—â— in the fear of God to consider of the affaires of the truth in â—â—lation to our Christian Society in the County afforesaid havâ— under our tender and Christian Consideration the great Loâ—â— Mercy and Favour of our God in making known unto with many more the way of Life and Salvation in and the Blessed Appearance of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who by the diâ—â—â—veries of his Light Grace and Holy Spirit hath not only given us to see vanitys and wickedness of this present World but also through Faith in him aâ—â— by the Glorious power and vertue of his spirit and goodness he hath in a gâ—â—â—â— measure gathered a Remnant out of those vanities defilements and pollutioâ—â— wherein the World lyes to walk with him in that Divine light and Heavâ—â—ly way which has alwayes been the Path of the Just and wherein the Faith to God do find great peace comfort and satisfaction in him having been â—â—â—cretly touch't and inwardly wrought upon by his power and spirit not onlâ— the mortifying of Sin and evill but also to the Quickning and raising up of soules of many unto newness of Life and so are thereby brought into a capaâ—â—â— of worshiping and serving God not in the oldness of the Letter but in the â—â—â—ness of that Spirit and Life wherein acceptance with the Father is known whereby we are brought into a spirituall fellowship and Communion with in the Son of his Love and are made liveing members of that Spirituall boâ—â— whereof Christ our Lord is the head who is to have the Rule and preheminâ—â— in the Church that so every member therein may be acted and govern'd by power and spirit to the praise and glory of God and mutuall comfort oâ— another Yet in as much as we have all one common Enemy to watch against whâ— his temptations does endeavour to ensnare the weak and if possible by his â—â—tillty and allurements to overcome many whom the Lord by his grace and 〈◊〉 has been at work withall and draw them back again into those vanities defilements which they have formerly been subject to and which the Lord his spirit doth testifie against therefore it is very necessary for every one 〈◊〉 â—ath known and experienced the goodness of the Lord in order to call and gaâ—â—er them out of the ways of the World and his heavenly hand to be stretched 〈◊〉 for their help and deliverance that they be very carefull and watchfull in â—â—eir ways that the enemy prevaile not again upon any of them to darken â—â—eir mindes and bring them back into folly and vanity and make them subâ—â—ct to that power and spirit of darkness whereby their minds may become alienated from God and their understandings vailed so that its possible they â—ay return again into the practise of those things which they have formerly â—een addicted to and which once they have been sensible the Lord by his Spirit â—ath testified against and reproved them for as also its possible that such may 〈◊〉 too prone to admit of or otherwise Indulge such things not only in themâ—â—â—ves but also amongst their Children and Families which in the time of their â—st Convincement they durst not allow of nor are they to be allowed of in our â—hristian society Therefore we being thus sensible of the great love and kindness of our God â—â—wards his people on the one hand and of the wiles of the Enemy of the other â—â—nd and being Jealous that but too many especially in a time of outward ease â—â—d Liberty who have proffest the truth of our God and have outwardly walkâ—â—â— in society with us both have been and still may be not so Cautious diligent â—â—d circumspect as they ought to be upon diverse accounts And also having â—â—der our Consideration the many Living sound wholesom and Christian testimonies Cautions Admonitions and directions which have formerly been â—â—â—m time to time and upon severall occasions given forth by our ancient Friends â—â—d Brethren who have Labour'd amongst Us in the word and Doctrine As â—o the Counsell and advice of our Friends and Brethren Recommended unto 〈◊〉 at sundry times and in divers Letters and Epistles from the Yearly Meeting at â—â—â—don desiring Friends care in the matters and things hereafter mentioned As â—evivall of the former testimonies cautious advice and directions as aforesaid â—â—d in order to stir up Friends in their severall and respective monthly and parâ—â—â—â—lar meetings unto a holy care and diligence in these respects We have â—â—nd it to be our place and duty at this time in the love of God and under the â—â—â—y exercise of his divine Grace and Goodness wherein the Lord is pleased to â—â—cerne us with many more of his Children and People to recommend the â—â—â—â—owing particulars unto all our Friends and Brethren at their severall Monthâ—â— and particular meetings in the County aforesaid and by way of caution and â—â—otherly advice in the same Love we do tenderly lay these things before you Questioning your Concurrance therewith in this our holy and Christian â—â—ncern for the Glory of God and comfort of his People First It is desired that all such as proffess the truth of Our God and themâ—â—â—es to be members of that body whereof Christ our Lord is head Be very Carefull and diligent in their severall places at seasonable and convenient time to meet and Assemble together in the Name and fear of God to wait upon anâ— worship him in Spirit and truth according to Divine Institution and that nonâ— grow careless or negligent therein so as to forbear to meet together as aforesaid unless they have some urgent occasion to hinder them and that Friends in theiâ— comeing together have regard to meet in due time and as near all together aâ— well can be and when so met that every one Waite to be gathered in mind anâ— Spirit near unto the Lord that so they may be exercised in that which Hevenly and pure to the praise and Glory of God and mutuall comfort onâ— of another and in their severall exercises that they be very carefull to keep oâ—â— of all form'd and Affected notes and sounds that do not purely spring and arise from that life and birth which has acceptance with the Father and where any such persons as profess the truth are found to be either negligent in meetinâ— together or in comeing in due time or otherwise do give any just occasion 〈◊〉 any in the matters aforesaid that such be carefully spoken to and dealt wiâ—â— by way of Caution Advice and Admonition and other such Christian aâ—â— regular proceedings as in the wisdom of God may be seen convenient Secondly That all such Friends as have any publick Testimony or Serviâ—â— in the Meetings or Assemblies of Friends Be very carefull and watchfull thâ—â— their Ministry and service
stand in that Divine wisdom Spirit and Power which truly reaches and Informes the minds and understandings of people in heaveâ—ly and Spirituall things as also in that which edifies builds up and confirmâ— the heritage of the Lord in that which is Pure and Holy that so such as speâ—â—â—â— may speak as the oracles of God And those that minister may do it as of the â—bility that God giveth that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ and as it is both a High and holy calling so to Minister from God to 〈◊〉 people it is absolutely necessary and we do advise that all such as be exerciâ—â—â— or concerned therein be very cautious in their Words and Testimonies aâ—â— that they speak the things which becomes sound Doctrine in gravitie and sinâ—â—rity recomending their Testimonies to every mans Conscience in the sight 〈◊〉 God as also that they be watchfull and carefull in their wayes and practiâ—â—â— that their Lives and Conversations may answere their Testimonies And such as becomes the Gospell and in all things shewing themselves patterns of gâ—â—â— works in Doctrine Incorruptness Gravity Sincerity Sound speech that cannot 〈◊〉 condemned That those who are of the contrary part may be ashamed havâ— no evill thing justly to say of them and that none be found to concerne thâ—â—selves in publick Testimonies amongst Friends acting in their own will or wâ—â—dom and not in a Holy Subjection to the power and wisdom of God nor pâ—â—ceeding in a forward unqualified manner speaking words without true knâ—â—ledge or not becoming sound Doctrine nor medling with things they unâ—â—â—stand not to the griefe and trouble of Friends but that all such as are or may â—e concern'd in the Work and service of the Gospell may in all things endeavour 〈◊〉 shew themselves approved unto God and his People in that which is pure and Holy to the praise and Glory of him that has called them unto that excellent work and also to the help comfort and edification of his People Thirdly That all such as professe the truth be carefull to keep to the â—â—ain and single Language unto all people And that parents do not by any â—eans Indulge their Children in speaking to either of them in the plurall â—â—mber not in any other matter contrary to truths Testimony nor allow â—â—em the Liberty of those sports and plays which viciate their mindes and â—â—rrupt their manners but traine them up in the fear of God Restraining â—â—em from evill folly and vanitie and as much as in them Lyes cause them â—hilst in their minoritys to read the holy Scriptures of truth And such books are profitable And to frequent the Assemblies of God's People and bring â—â—em up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord That so they may grow as a Generation to serve the Lord in their day And that none go into â—r be found in the Vain and Gaudy Habits Dresses Attires nor Foolish â—atick Modes and Fashions of the World either in Apparell Furniture or â—ther superfluities whatsoever nor Joyne with any in observing and keeping the Feasts Feast-dayes banquets or vain customs of the World but that all â—â—ep both in Habit and Practise every way unto that Decency plainness verâ—â— and moderation which becoms the Truth and as People professing the â—â—spell of our blessed Lord And where any fault defect or misdimenour 〈◊〉 appear and is manifest amongst such as profess the truth in these respects â—any other It is desired that such Persons be duly Cautioned Warned Adâ—â—nished and dealt with by honest Friends in such manner as in the wisdom 〈◊〉 God and according to Truth 's order may be seen convenient Fourthly That all such as proffesse the truth be carefull in their dealings â—â—d concerns amongst men that they be not forward or Lavish in praising 〈◊〉 commending their wares and merchandizes beyond the reall and true deâ—â—â— That they be cautious in their words and expressions upon every acâ—â—â—nt And that they be punctuall in performing their promisses And that 〈◊〉 yea be yea and nay nay in all their Conversations That they endeaâ—â—â—â— both in their discourses and conversations to dwell inoffensively under the â—â—vernement and as much as in them lies labour to live peaceably with all men And if any differrances happen to fall out one amongst another that care be â—â—â—en to lay the matter before freinds in due time in order to be heard and â—â—â—â—rmind by them And that none do forwardly engage themselves in suites or â—â—â—troversies at Law with any others But upon Just and Righteous grounds 〈◊〉 with good advice and deliberation And none Lanch forth or go into greater matters bargaines dealings and concernes in the world then they are able to mannage well and honourably go through with good crediâ— and reputation Nor contract such debts As they are not capable to make good and punctuall payment of in due time But that in all things friends may so endeavour to keep in such a holy Just Righteous And self denying way and method in all their dealings and concernes whatsoever as may tend to truths praise and their comfort And wherein any thing of the contrary iâ— found in any of these cases or any other where truths reputation is or may be concerned It is desired that freinds have a watchfull and carefull eye in due time towards such to advise caution admonish reprove and deal with then in a regular and Christian way That so if possible a stop may be put to all such proceedings as may in the least be hurtfull or of an ill report And if any have already gone too far in contracting further or greater debts theâ— they are capable of discharging That such be advised by no means to absenâ— themselves nor flee from Justice But yeild up what estate they have to thâ— creditors towards payment of their just debts as also offer up their bodies to the Creditors unlesse they will be pleased to give them leave to be at liberty to labour for more towards their releif and further Satisfaction or payment of their debts And if any person that proffesses the truth do refuse or neglect to take the advice and counsell of freinds herein or in any other matter 〈◊〉 this or the like nature or tendency that such may be dealt with in due time â—ven as the nature of the fact may require in order to clear the truth of sucâ— aspersions as may arise through such persons acting contrary to Justice reasoâ— and equity and the advise of freinds in those cases Fiftly That all such as professe the truth be very cautious in their proceedings relating to Marriage that their eye be not so much to the world and worldlâ— ends as unto the Lord and the concurrence of his grace and goodness 〈◊〉 all those concernes that they be not hasty or forward in making such proposalls to any but with good advise caution and deliberation and when 〈◊〉 after such proposalls be made and are not Imbraced that there