Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	body_n	spirit_n	worship_v	2,550	5	9.5500	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A77227	The Quakers quaking principles examined and refuted in a briefe answer to some erroneous tenets held forth by James Naylor in his answers unto Mr Baxter, and some others that have publikely opposed that blacke spirit in the deluded Quakers. Wherein is also included a serious admonition, how wee ought to behave our selves towards the ministers of the gospell, in respect of communicating unto them; and for giving to the poore, so as the Gospell requires: and to beware of covetousnesse, and the effects thereof, least wee be left of God, and delivered up unto strong delusions, and a blasphemous spirit instead of the spirit of God. The heads of the whole discourse are also premised. / Written by Ellis Bradshavve.	Bradshaw, Ellis.	1656 (1656)	Wing B4147; Thomason E869_1; ESTC R207737	57,239	71

one that cometh into the world with what light they have of understanding and rationalitie And who knoweth not that Jesus Christ is in us except wee be Reprobates by his blessed Spirit in lesser or greater measure And who knoweth not that the word is nigh us even in our heart and in our mouth to wit the essentiall word which is Christ by his blessed Spirit if wee be his Elect And who knowath not that the ministration of the Spirit is not by the workes of the Law by which no flesh can be justified but by the hearing of faith preached because the letter of the Law killeth spiritually but the Spirit giveth life through faith and love which are in Christ Jesus And who knoweth not that God is a Spirit and will be worshipped in spirit and in truth or not accept it But hee will be worshipped with the body also And who knoweth not that men should sing with the Spirit and with the understanding But what singing or praising of God is that which is not with the mouth I never heard such nor shall doe I thinke unlesse I heare the Angells which have not any proper mouthes And what Church is that which is in the heart our bodyes indeed are the Temples of the holy Ghost and I reade of the Church of the first-borne written in heaven but are these the Churches of the Saints spoken of in Scripture which yet some of them had their failings And who knoweth not that all that are without God and his Righteousnesse are in the world and strangers as yet to the Covenant of grace And who will not deny that faith and worship which God denyes And who knoweth not that those who have an unction from the holy One and know all things have no need that any man should teach them but as the same Anointing teacheth them of all things see 1 John 2.20.27 But those who have this unction will not follow James Naylor nor his crooked and perverse doctrines for those that goe out from us are not of us see vers 19. For a stranger will they not follow for they know not the voyce of strangers Joh 10.5 But James Naylor is sent with strong delusiens to some that they might beleeve a lye that they all may be damned that receive not the truth in love but have pleasure in unrighteousnesse Qu But how is hee sent may wee Imagine Ans Not properly of God nor by his Spirit but Satan hath got commission to be a lying spirit in his mouth and in the mouthes of all his complices as hee was in the mouth of all Ahabs Prophets to deceive those who receive not the truth in love but have pleasure in unrighteousnesse If hee had a paire of hornes of Iron such as Zedekiah the sonne of Chenana made that hee might bring them to Fox and tell him that with those hee should push downe all the Ministers of God till hee had destroyed them It is very likely that Fox would beleeve him yet so doth not any Micaiah any true Prophet of the Lord though James Naylor himselfe hath prophesied so much concerning all the Ministers of God in England and elsewhere yea even all the generation of them who ever they be that will not receive and beleeve his lyes Which truly are so palpably grosse that I verily beleeve that not one Minister that is sent of God in all the world will owne for truthes though hee shuffle them up never so closely amongst the truthes of God as in that art hee is extreame cunning and it is no marvaile if that old lying spirit hath skill to teach him and be in his mouth for hee hath long used that very art and of all the arts that hee hath yet learned it is the most deceivable and therefore he hath used it longest hee deceived Eve with it when shee was pure from sinne and perfectly wise no marvaile then if hee deceive so many now that are laden with sinne and lead with divers lusts and not so wise as shee But I hope it is his last and cheifest Refuge I cannot but rejoyce to see him play this carde to transsorme himselfe into an Angell of light and his Ministers into Ministers of Righteousnesse I hope it will be to his losse in the end If the Ranters doctrine would have taken amongst us hee would never have owned so many truthes and good things but that not taking hee was glad to transforme himselfe and his Ministers in new suits of apparrell not all out of course but finer wooll and smoothly woven and drest yet the designe and doctrines against the Scriptures being not owned as the word of God and in respect of disowning the teachings of men as utterly needlesse they being taught of God as they say to love one another They are just the same which the Ranters used Their designe being clearely the same with the Ranters to wit to preach downe all preachings and teachings of men though never so holy and spirituall teachings And why forsooth but because there is a promise that they shall be all taught of God using the very same Scripture-grounds which the Quakers doe and quite perverting them for the same use as the Ranters did which any spirituall understanding knoweth for certaine that they were never given forth by the holy Ghost for any such ends or uses but quite the contrary which were easie to demonstrate if it were needfull But let mee fall to question James Naylor a little as hee hath done us First Where the Scripture giveth any such directories for attaining unto life and power c. To wit That wee should onely give heed to that light within us and utterly desert all teachings of men save onely of themselves who onely direct us unto that light though it be but darknesse in comparison of what wee may learne from Scripture and from men likewise who teach us from thence by the Spirit of God Secondly Where doth the Scripture tell us that hee that is the light of the world and that inlighteneth every one that comuteth into the world doth inlighten all sufficiently and so as to guide them insallibly or that hee inlighteneth all alike and that immediately without the knowledge of the Scriptures or the teachings of men so as that they need not to teach one another saying know the Lord because all doe know him from the greatest of them even to the least of them Is the case so now that all know him what need is there then of the teachings of James Naylor and his complices if their light within them be sufficient it can teach them all that hee doth and all that he knoweth and how to eye it onely and to looke within for light and to desert and despise the teachings of men as so he doth and what else doth hee teach which is not taught by men from sacred Scripture and with more spirit and power then hee teacheth any thing and farre more rationally and convincingly in

the cleare evidence and demonstration of the Spirit And doth hee not herein teach men to despise his teachings also Have all a like measure of the Spirit and of power and of understanding But such who have more both can and ought to communicate it and to administer it what in them lyeth to such who want it or have the lesse But they that have it not cannot possibly administer it nor obtaine it neither but as it pleaseth God to give it forth unto them mediately or immediately And have all the people a like measure of light or are they alike capable or comprehensive of it though it be taught them precept upon precept and line upon line here a little and there a little as it were by drops distilled into them let wise men judge Are there not some people spoken of in Scripture that were a people of no understanding therefore hee that made them would have no mercy on them and hee that formed them would have no compassion on them And are there not some spoken of in Scripture that are sensuall having not the Spirit Jude And is not the manifestation of the Spirit given to every man to whom it is given to profit withall and whom shall they profit if all be alike qualified and need no teaching And is there not diversities of gifts of that selfe same Spirit and all for edifying of the body of Christ till wee all grow up to a full stature which is not yet attained no not by Naylor himselfe for all his boastings of his infallibilitie and purenesse from sinne And I doe beleeve that he keepeth within compasse and as free from any notorious sinne in the sight of men as hee possibly can and that for credit of his doctrine And so without all question Satan is willing to cloake them with any externall righteousnesse and with good words and doctrines and faire speeches to deceive the hearts of the simple and especially on this condition that hee may but stablish their doctrine and draw men off from the use of meanes and ordinances and from the teachings of men and to neglect the Scriptures For this would still continue and increase his kingdome unto all generations for where the Scriptures are not knowne nor the ordinances administred in power and puritie his kingdome is in peace and hee ruleth at pleasure in the children of disobedience and persecuteth the Elect and keepeth them in ignorance as is well knowne to all that know any thing What blindnesse and darknesse and sottish ignorance is in all places where the Word is not preached nor the Scriptures minded and searched and knowne So that give him but the reception of this doctrine and it is the best foundation for his kingdome that can be laid It is just suitable to that doctrine of the Papists to wit that ignorance is the mother of devotion and upon that they forbid that lay-people should meddle with the Scriptures in their own mother tongue which hath been a meanes to keepe them in such ignorance that their Priests have lead them and kept them so long in such grosse Idolatry and superstition to their utter destruction both of their soules and bodyes doe but paralle the cases and they are just the same and from the same spirit and principles which is a blacke author Hee well knoweth that where the Scripture is knowne and accounted of as the word of God his kingdome must downe in the hearts of the Elect and therefore it is that hee would have it sleighted as but a dead letter and as unusefull unto them till they have the Spirit But the Scripture would teach them how to obtaine the Spirit and how to obtaine wisdome if any man lacke namely to aske it of God which is none of Naylors directions but quite the contrary I never heard nor saw it in any of his bookes that ever hee advised men that lacke wisdome to aske is of God Jam 1.5 6. nor men that lacke the Spirit or desire greater measures of it to aske it of God though it is promised to them that aske him c. if they seeke him with all their heart hee will be found of them Luk. 11.13 1 Cor 28.9 And this is the directory of the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive But hee adviseth them to seeke it within before they have it and to follow and love that light within them which yet for the present is but grosse darknesse for ought hee knoweth A most grosse directory hee might as well bid some men follow and observe and obey the Devill for he ruleth Thirdly And againe in what part of Scripture is the Gospell called the Letter or the preaching of the faith the preaching of the letter answer if you can how much more is it not called a dead Letter Fourthly And where is it said in Scripture that God is not to be worshipped with reverent gestures of the body as well as in spirit and truth Fifthly And where doth the Scripture forbid praying praising and singing with the mouth and voyce as well as with the heart and with the understanding and Spirit Sixthly And where doth the Scripture forbid the assembling together of the Saints and faithfull for worshipping of God and for spirituall ministration in his sacred name of the Word and Sacraments which Christ hath appointed for their edification as the Churches of the Saints did in the primitive times and were so enjoyned by the holy Apostles Seventhly And where saith the Scripture that every one that commeth into the world hath an unction from the holy One and knoweth all things and needeth not that any man teach him but is the same anoynting teacheth him of all things Nay where saith the Scripture that all the Elect have it now for the present or at their comming first into the world But if none of these things be asserted in Scripture how shall James Naylor make his doctrines feizible amongst rationall creatures much more amongst the Elect For hee is not sent to deceive the Elect but such onely as have not received the truth in love but had pleasure in unrighteousnesse as hath been said before For it is not possible to deceive the Elect totally and finally though they may for a time be lead away with the errour of the wicked and fall from their owne steadfastnesse Eightly And let mee inquire further did not the Saints that were at Ephesus and the faithfull in Christ Jesus that were the Elect of God chosen in Christ before the foundations of the world In times then past to wit before they were quickned I say did they not walke according to the Prince of the power of the ayre the spirit that worketh in the Children of disobedience Ar But if this be true that the Elect of God before conversion be under the power and government of Satan as the most predominant and ruling spirit then within them Qu What a directorie is this to them to eye and

Ingrossing of all the Ministers of God under the name of Antichristian Ministers if they owne a Law without and a light without and a word without and a Church without a Baptisme without Praises and singing without and a Christ without and righteousnesse without as well as within as so they ought is from the Spirit of God but they doe at presumptuously Nor doe I thinke it any lesse then under a degree of blasphemie against Christ so to vilifie and reproach his Ministers for so hee accounteth it Hee that despiseth you despiseth mee and hee that despiseth mee despiseth him that sent mee c. And all such poore ignorant people as by their example and ministration are perswaded to speake and act against the Ministers of God in such an opprobrious blasphemous manner it is great marvaile if the Justice of God doe not deliver them up to the power of Satan to be acted by him and to be led captive by him at his will and pleasure who like a roaring Lyon walketh about seeking whom hee may devoure or whom hee may possesse for the destruction of their bodyes or their soules or both as the Lord in Justice shall give him leave And if I be not deceived it is so with some their countenances bewray them that they are acted and mooved by an evill and malicious Spirit which is not of God Those darke and stolen spirits that looke through their eyes I meane of some of them that I have seene are at the greatest distance from the spirit of love which is the Spirit of God of any spirits that ever I discernd through the eyes of men where they are to be discernd or not at all for spirits are invisible unlesse they assume a shape of some thing that is visible yet they are discernable through the eyes of men if well considered And the discerning of spirits is one of those gifts of the Spirit of God that are given unto men to profit withall see 1 Cor 12.8 9 10. But their rancorous and bitter carping and catching at every misplaced word or syllable and following it so close and vehemently to the disparagement of mens persons and professions what in them lyeth by giving them hatefull and reproachfull language in stead of clearing up the truth by dint of argument And the vilifying of those whom I know to be Saints and servants of God doth fully confirme mee in this opinion that they are not acted by the Spirit of God but by a wicked malicious and lying spirit For the Spirit of God reproacheth not his Saints But especially and above all their under-valuing of the Scriptures calling them but the letter as if they were not spirituall and denying to owne them as the word of God as so the Devill and the prophane Ranters have done before them who were the first that ever I heard doe it Which cannot possibly have any other end or tendency but to perswade the people to slight and neglect them and to eye onely what light they have already within them that so if any be possessed with a false and lying corrupt spirit or if the Prince of the ayre who ruleth in the children of disobedience be there already hee might still continue and not be cast out but keepe his credit and power and dominion which the knowledge of the Scriptures would discover and dissipate if they should attend and listen thereunto For what other tendency can it have to direct them so much to a light within but to make men beleeve that what ever motion cometh into their mindes is of the Spirit of God and ought to be obeyed that so they may follow the wayes of their owne hearts and the vanities of their owne mindes and so run headlong to destruction without trying of the spirits whether they be of God as the Scriptures injoyne them and will direct them also for how should they try them but by such Rules as are held forth in the Scripture which was written for our learning and not to be slighted and laid aside as a dead letter or as uselesse and unvaluable or like a nose of wax pervertible at pleasure for though it is true that some doe pervert it and wrest it for their own ends and purposes yet it is saith the Apostle to their owne destruction As so doe but marke the successe of James Naylor and all his complices unlesse they repent and humble themselves greatly before the Lord if it doth not bring them to destruction at last 2 Pet 3.16 It is as dangerous to the soule to wrest or pervert or disparage the Scriptures as kicking against prickes is to the body hee that undervalueth and disparageth the Scriptures doth it to the Lord himselfe whose word it is as hath been clearely prooved But I looke for no other but like Jannes and Jambres they should resist the truth yet the promise I expect to be fullfilled against them that their madnesse and folly shall be discovered and made manifest unto all men even as theirs also was see 2 Tim 3.8 9. Their wrestings and turnings of devices shall be but as the potters clay their bed is too short and their covering too narrow they cannot wrap themselves See also 2 Pet. 2.1 the end of such ●●e teachers who deny the Lord that bought them whether they shall not bring upon themselves swift destruction As so it is manifest James Naylor doth for hee utterly denyeth the manhood of Christ who dyed for us and who was in all things like unto us sinne onely excepted and therefore hee maketh no account of a Christ without us and at a distance nor one that is visible having a visible body which the heavens must containe till all things be restored And hee shall appeare againe the second time without sinne unto salvation The Scripture is cleare that the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us saith the Apostle and they saw his shape as the shape of the onely begotten Sonne of God full of grace and truth But great is the mystery of godlinesse God was manifest in the flesh justified in the Spirit seene of Angels beleeved on in the world and received up into glorie It is indeed such a mysterie as James Naylor understands not else hee durst not sleight it and so undervalue the person of Christ or of his words either as now hee doth But this is so grosse and palpable a doctrine that hee dareth scarce expresly owne it when men of understanding are present there being thousands of Scriptures make it so clearely manifest both in the old and new Testament which makes him dumbe and silent when questioned in that point And yet he will needs be accounted infallible and as some great Prophet and as though he had some extraordinary Revelations that no man else had knowne before him And yet he teacheth us nothing except lyes but what wee knew before Who that is versd in Scripture but he knoweth that Christ is the true light who lighteneth every