Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	christian_a	church_n	true_a	4,006	5	4.8519	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47994	A letter from a gentleman in the city to a clergy-man in the country	Gentleman in the city.	1688 (1688)	Wing L1387; ESTC R9507	23,794	42

shame_n past_o so_o current_a then_o that_o it_o have_v be_v practise_v ever_o since_o be_v there_o any_o one_o law_n make_v against_o our_o late_a nonconformist_n who_o preamble_n do_v not_o run_v upon_o this_o topick_n the_o breach_n of_o the_o peace_n and_o the_o undermine_a the_o very_a foundation_n of_o the_o government_n and_o all_o for_o desert_v the_o church_n of_o england_n and_o meet_v in_o their_o own_o religious_a assembly_n to_o offer_v up_o their_o prayer_n and_o devotion_n to_o god_n according_a to_o their_o conscience_n be_v there_o ever_o a_o late_a conventicle_n disturb_v with_o any_o other_o warrant_n than_o as_o riotous_o and_o routous_o assemble_v and_o thereupon_o punish_v with_o fines_n imprisonment_n and_o sequestration_n sometime_o even_o to_o the_o ruin_n of_o whole_a family_n do_v not_o the_o same_o masquerade_n run_v through_o all_o the_o penal_a law_n and_o the_o very_a mere_a meeting_n to_o worship_n god_n charge_v with_o no_o less_o than_o sedition_n and_o tumult_n but_o wherein_o lie_v the_o sedition_n and_o tumult_n be_v it_o in_o their_o so_o meet_v no_o sure_a for_o as_o the_o intention_n make_v the_o gild_n the_o intention_n be_v only_o a_o religious_a worship_n and_o not_o a_o state-disturbance_n be_v the_o sedition_n then_o in_o the_o doctrine_n they_o preach_v if_o so_o why_o be_v it_o not_o prove_v against_o they_o their_o meetinghouse_n door_n stand_v open_a and_o their_o enemy_n be_v both_o potent_a and_o numerous_a enough_o to_o hear_v and_o detect_v any_o seditious_a design_n or_o doctrine_n against_o the_o crown_n or_o state._n and_o the_o law_n be_v furnish_v both_o with_o rod_n and_o axe_n to_o punish_v any_o crime_n of_o that_o kind_n according_a to_o its_o demerit_n before_o the_o penal_a law_n be_v so_o much_o as_o think_v on_o no_o though_o that_o be_v the_o pretence_n it_o pinch_v not_o there_o the_o dissenter_n grow_v too_o numerous_a and_o the_o church_n of_o england_n begin_v to_o see_v her_o grandeur_n shrink_v and_o her_o dominion_n lessen_v and_o therefore_o her_o old_a art_n must_v once_o more_o be_v she_o refuge_n the_o nonconformist_n must_v be_v crush_v and_o suppress_v and_o to_o avoid_v all_o imputation_n of_o oppression_n and_o cruelty_n sedition_n and_o riot_n must_v be_v the_o charge_n against_o they_o and_o the_o law_n gild_v over_o with_o that_o fair_a title_n to_o make_v it_o swallowable_a it_o be_v true_a indeed_o the_o law_n here_o do_v not_o reach_v to_o death_n however_o it_o take_v care_n to_o make_v their_o purse_n if_o not_o their_o vein_n bleed_v for_o it_o and_o that_o too_o sometime_o with_o so_o total_a a_o drein_n that_o whole_a family_n have_v be_v reduce_v to_o the_o condition_n of_o starve_v which_o be_v the_o very_a next_o door_n to_o it_o and_o all_o thing_n consider_v liberty_n next_o to_o life_n be_v so_o dear_a that_o whole_a year_n of_o noisome_a imprisonment_n have_v be_v very_o little_a the_o easy_a punishment_n have_v give_v you_o this_o true_a portrait_n of_o our_o penal_a law_n i_o shall_v only_o add_v some_o few_o lineament_n more_o and_o so_o finish_v the_o piece_n and_o to_o make_v a_o far_a balance_n betwixt_o ourselves_o and_o rome_n in_o that_o point_n how_o unchristian_a or_o unwarrantable_a soever_o all_o such_o penal_a infliction_n for_o mere_a conscience_n may_v be_v the_o church_n of_o rome_n have_v or_o at_o least_o fancy_n she_o have_v some_o little_a pretext_n for_o such_o law_n for_o under_o her_o famous_a tenent_n of_o extra_n ecclesiam_fw-la nulla_fw-la salus_fw-la and_o her_o confinement_n of_o salvation_n only_o within_o she_o own_o boundary_n she_o may_v have_v sometime_o consent_v to_o the_o practice_n of_o now_o and_o then_o cut_v off_o a_o stray_n sheep_n to_o terrify_v the_o rest_n of_o the_o flock_n from_o leap_v the_o fold_n as_o imagine_v to_o herself_o in_o so_o do_v and_o in_o now_o and_o then_o sacrifice_v one_o or_o two_o lose_a son_n of_o perdition_n for_o such_o she_o account_v they_o and_o thereby_o lop_n off_o some_o corrupt_a member_n already_o past_a hope_n of_o redemption_n she_o only_o secure_v possible_o the_o whole_a body_n as_o she_o think_v from_o apostasy_n and_o damnation_n and_o consequent_o such_o exemplary_a act_n though_o of_o the_o great_a rigour_n be_v only_o intend_v as_o absolute_o necessary_a for_o that_o great_a end_n universal_a salvation_n but_o alas_o our_o more_o charitable_a church_n that_o pretend_v not_o to_o bound_v the_o grace_n of_o god_n but_o by_o a_o large_a latitude_n and_o more_o extend_a operation_n of_o the_o blood_n of_o christ_n equal_o allow_v salvation_n to_o true_a zeal_n and_o piety_n in_o both_o church_n and_o indeed_o in_o all_o christian_a profession_n under_o all_o this_o concession_n i_o say_v our_o protestant_a church_n utter_o want_v this_o loophole_n and_o upon_o true_a examination_n will_v be_v find_v whole_o inexcusable_a if_o not_o impardonable_a for_o in_o execute_v of_o her_o sanguinary_a law_n in_o punishment_n of_o mere_a matter_n of_o conscience_n she_o cut_v off_o not_o like_o rome_n the_o suppose_a member_n of_o perdition_n but_o even_o those_o professor_n of_o christianity_n which_o by_o she_o own_o confession_n may_v be_v equal_o with_o herself_o the_o son_n of_o grace_n and_o coheir_n of_o salvation_n nay_o i_o will_v venture_v to_o add_v one_o bold_a word_n more_o because_o a_o true_a one_o the_o church_n of_o england_n in_o she_o once_o execute_v of_o her_o sanguinary_a law_n be_v undoubted_o guilty_a of_o more_o barbarity_n than_o the_o ten_o primitive_a heathen_a persecution_n for_o in_o all_o case_n of_o suffer_v for_o religion_n it_o be_v a_o undeniable_a maxim_n that_o he_o that_o make_v the_o martyr_n lest_o think_v he_o make_v he_o the_o bloody_a pagan_a tyrant_n in_o all_o their_o study_a art_n of_o blood_n and_o christian_a massacre_n do_v not_o believe_v that_o they_o butcher_v the_o then_o only_a professor_n of_o truth_n and_o heir_n of_o heaven_n but_o on_o the_o contrary_a in_o devotion_n to_o their_o own_o suppose_a true_a deity_n they_o think_v they_o only_o execute_v apostate_n blasphemer_n and_o infidel_n for_o such_o they_o account_v the_o christian_n as_o profess_a deserter_n of_o their_o heathen_a god_n and_o sacrifice_n nor_o be_v the_o foremention_v romish_a case_n much_o different_a as_o lie_v under_o the_o unhappy_a belief_n of_o heretic_n irreparable_a state_n of_o damnation_n but_o all_o this_o while_n our_o church_n of_o england_n i_o be_o sorry_a to_o her_o shame_n it_o must_v be_v speak_v out-do's_a the_o very_a heathen_n themselves_o in_o enact_v and_o execute_v those_o penal_a law_n by_o which_o she_o cut_v off_o those_o very_a member_n of_o christianity_n who_o if_o true_a zealot_n in_o their_o profession_n she_o own_v be_v in_o the_o number_n of_o the_o elect_a of_o god_n and_o if_o any_o true_a zealot_n among_o they_o those_o certain_o that_o have_v courage_n and_o constancy_n to_o die_v for_o their_o religion_n be_v not_o the_o least_o of_o they_o and_o consequent_o she_o can_v deny_v but_o in_o execute_v those_o law_n she_o both_o make_v the_o martyr_n and_o know_v she_o make_v he_o too_o and_o if_o she_o be_v so_o unblamable_a in_o her_o severity_n against_o the_o romanist_n much_o more_o criminal_a must_v her_o rigour_n against_o the_o dissenter_n be_v who_o she_o own_v to_o differ_v from_o herself_o in_o little_a more_o than_o ceremony_n and_o punctilio_n nay_o the_o ferment_n have_v sometime_o boil_v so_o high_a that_o our_o protestant_a church_n have_v put_v her_o zeal_n upon_o the_o stretch_n to_o find_v mean_n to_o vent_v her_o indignation_n when_o some_o of_o those_o very_a law_n against_o recusancy_n have_v be_v extend_v against_o the_o protestant_a dissenter_n and_o the_o great_a part_n of_o their_o suffering_n receive_v from_o the_o lash_n of_o those_o law_n i_o shall_v not_o pretend_v to_o dive_v so_o far_o as_o to_o ascertain_v whether_o that_o comprehension_n be_v original_o design_v by_o those_o law_n or_o otherwise_o a_o artificial_a superstructure_n to_o serve_v a_o state_n turn_v but_o either_o way_n the_o severity_n of_o those_o law_n be_v not_o a_o little_a notorious_a where_o so_o trivial_a matter_n of_o dissent_n in_o religion_n as_o have_v be_v say_v before_o have_v be_v so_o cruel_o treat_v but_o if_o our_o protestant_a church_n can_v possible_o be_v reconcile_v to_o liberty_n of_o conscience_n and_o therefore_o these_o law_n be_v her_o weapon_n against_o it_o her_o more_o generous_a way_n at_o least_o more_o agreeable_a to_o a_o christian_a profession_n have_v be_v first_o fair_o to_o have_v overthrow_v it_o by_o dint_n of_o argument_n before_o she_o have_v make_v use_n of_o dint_n of_o steel_n to_o do_v it_o by_o and_o for_o that_o purpose_n i_o wonder_v how_o that_o famous_a bishop_n taylor_n have_v pass_v for_o so_o great_a a_o doctor_n of_o the_o church_n all_o this_o while_n and_o his_o treatise_n upon_o that_o subject_n

call_v liberty_n of_o prophesy_v not_o yet_o answer_v or_o at_o least_o the_o author_n under_o no_o small_a ecclesiastic_a fulmination_n if_o no_o other_o way_n to_o answer_v it_o for_o so_o terrible_a a_o blow_n against_o the_o church_n long_o main_a favourite_n bulwark_n her_o penal_a law_n it_o be_v true_a some_o people_n will_v object_v what_o be_v all_o these_o law_n to_o the_o church_n when_o enact_v only_o by_o the_o civil_a power_n as_o a_o expedient_a for_o its_o own_o security_n and_o defence_n and_o therefore_o warrantable_a and_o lawful_a nor_o in_o any_o respect_n be_v chargeable_a upon_o the_o ecclesiastic_n alas_o this_o be_v such_o a_o feeble_a objection_n that_o it_o be_v scarce_a to_o be_v name_v without_o blush_v as_o if_o the_o clergy_n do_v not_o act_v in_o parliament_n by_o their_o representative_n nay_o the_o very_a bishop_n sit_v there_o in_o person_n assent_v to_o and_o undoubted_o little_a less_o than_o original_a founder_n of_o those_o law_n but_o grant_v it_o as_o they_o say_v the_o mere_a establishment_n of_o the_o civil_a power_n the_o clergy_n by_o own_v the_o justice_n and_o assert_v the_o necessity_n of_o such_o law_n for_o defence_n of_o their_o church_n the_o lay-power_n in_o this_o case_n be_v little_o more_o than_o the_o cat_n paw_n to_o rake_v out_o the_o chestnut_n nor_o be_v the_o civil_a ruler_n and_o temporal_a power_n of_o a_o christian_a government_n any_o way_n more_o authorise_v to_o outgo_v the_o gospel_n moderation_n and_o clemency_n for_o any_o politic_a consideration_n whatever_o than_o the_o more_o immediate_a oracle_n of_o truth_n the_o preacher_n themselves_o and_o this_o the_o great_a legislator_n of_o those_o penal_a statute_n very_o well_o know_v and_o therefore_o as_o i_o tell_v you_o before_o they_o cunning_o convert_v recusancy_n into_o high_a treason_n and_o nonconformity_n into_o riot_n and_o rout_n to_o find_v something_o though_o but_o seem_o justifiable_a for_o he_o fang_n of_o their_o law_n to_o lay_v hold_n of_o and_o so_o boulster_v up_o their_o penal_a statute_n to_o make_v they_o able_a to_o walk_v upright_o i_o will_v only_o put_v this_o one_o question_n to_o all_o the_o doctor_n of_o our_o church_n with_o what_o conscience_n can_v a_o church_n that_o own_v itself_o fallible_a establish_v law_n to_o punish_v dissenter_n in_o religion_n when_o by_o she_o own_o concession_n of_o fallibility_n she_o neither_o have_v nor_o can_n have_v any_o certainty_n or_o assurance_n how_o strong_a soever_o she_o think_v or_o hope_v she_o own_o foundation_n but_o that_o she_o punish_v those_o that_o possible_o may_v be_v more_o in_o the_o right_n than_o herself_o more_o especial_o in_o those_o profession_n that_o find_v their_o dissent_v doctrine_n on_o her_o own_o basis_n the_o scripture_n i_o can_v tell_v what_o equity_n wise_a head_n may_v find_v out_o for_o the_o ordination_n of_o penal_a law_n but_o true_o in_o my_o opinion_n the_o great_a prince_n of_o peace_n that_o reprimand_v the_o draw_v of_o that_o sword_n that_o cut_v off_o but_o the_o ear_n of_o the_o high_a priest_n servant_n though_o in_o his_o own_o immediate_a cause_n very_o little_o intend_v the_o raise_v his_o church_n or_o the_o propagation_n of_o his_o gospel_n by_o either_o axe_n or_o gibbet_n or_o gaol_n or_o dungeon_n and_o he_o that_o leave_v we_o the_o standard_n of_o christianity_n in_o the_o innocence_n of_o dove_n never_o commission_v we_o the_o rapine_n of_o vulture_n and_o though_o we_o be_v concede_v the_o subtlety_n of_o serpent_n i_o know_v no_o warrant_n that_o he_o give_v we_o either_o for_o the_o sting_n or_o the_o poison_n of_o they_o and_o though_o my_o zeal_n for_o truth_n make_v i_o thus_o plain_a in_o detect_v the_o only_a shame_n and_o frailty_n of_o the_o reform_a church_n i_o hope_v she_o have_v goodness_n enough_o to_o forgive_v the_o boldness_n of_o a_o blush_v son_n who_o be_v no_o otherwise_o solicitous_a than_o for_o she_o cover_v she_o own_o nakedness_n and_o that_o i_o may_v true_o term_v it_o such_o the_o reformation_n that_o otherwise_o may_v boast_v her_o purity_n and_o principle_n only_o found_v on_o holy_a writ_n and_o all_o the_o rest_n of_o her_o doctrine_n and_o practice_n derive_v from_o those_o sacred_a oracle_n will_v be_v only_o find_v trip_v here_o and_o in_o all_o her_o support_n of_o scriptural_a record_n in_o all_o other_o point_n i_o be_o afraid_a must_v have_v recourse_n even_o to_o the_o explode_a authority_n of_o tradition_n only_o for_o her_o penal_a law_n for_o i_o shrewd_o suspect_v that_o lollard_n tower_v and_o inquisition_n house_n let_v she_o mince_v it_o as_o she_o will_v will_v be_v find_v the_o only_a precedent_n for_o the_o estate_n she_o have_v confiscate_v the_o family_n she_o have_v beggar_a the_o gaol_n she_o have_v fill_v beside_o she_o sometime_o load_v of_o gibbet_n and_o rip_v up_o the_o bowel_n even_o of_o she_o own_o co-disciple_n because_o dissent_v professor_n of_o christ_n and_o all_o by_o her_o penal_a law_n nor_o will_v it_o suffice_v for_o a_o excuse_v to_o insinuate_v that_o the_o establishment_n of_o religion_n and_o conformity_n of_o worship_n on_o one_o side_n and_o the_o preservation_n of_o peace_n and_o tranquillity_n of_o the_o state_n on_o the_o other_o side_n exact_v the_o necessity_n of_o such_o rigid_a law_n though_o by_o the_o by_o the_o peace_n of_o state_n be_v rather_o destroy_v then_o uphold_v by_o such_o law_n for_o what_o civil_a war_n in_o almost_o all_o the_o christian_a world_n that_o direct_o or_o indirect_o have_v not_o have_v the_o oppression_n of_o some_o religious_a party_n its_o great_a if_o not_o only_a incendiary_n no_o to_o gain_v the_o first_o of_o these_o great_a end_n let_v the_o teacher_n and_o professor_n of_o our_o establish_v church_n live_v up_o to_o the_o height_n of_o their_o profession_n and_o recall_n the_o wanderer_n and_o reduce_v the_o stray_n into_o the_o fold_n by_o their_o own_o convince_a example_n of_o christian_a piety_n a_o much_o more_o commendable_a way_n of_o make_v proselyte_n than_o the_o forementioned_a rigid_a art_n of_o conversion_n and_o for_o the_o second_o great_a end_n the_o government_n security_n if_o her_o temporal_a fence_n be_v not_o strong_a enough_o let_v she_o make_v strong_a and_o if_o any_o of_o her_o dissenter_n be_v the_o disturber_n of_o her_o peace_n let_v she_o single_a out_o the_o guilty_a from_o the_o innocent_a and_o wreak_v her_o just_a vengeance_n where_o it_o be_v deserve_v and_o not_o punish_v the_o dissent_n itself_o which_o as_o be_v mere_a matter_n of_o religion_n be_v whole_o uncapable_a of_o such_o crime_n for_o the_o sake_n of_o any_o corrupt_a member_n that_o either_o be_v of_o or_o herd_n under_o the_o covert_a of_o such_o or_o such_o a_o congregation_n of_o christian_n for_o to_o do_v that_o work_n by_o the_o undistinguish_a merciless_a hand_n of_o her_o penal_a statute_n be_v so_o little_a conformable_a to_o the_o evangelical_n precept_n that_o i_o be_o afraid_a the_o do_v such_o notorious_a ill_n that_o good_a may_v come_v of_o it_o whatever_o religious_a security_n or_o gospel_n propagation_n may_v be_v intend_v by_o they_o these_o penal_a law_n i_o say_v that_o can_v swallow_v the_o estate_n fortune_n liberty_n and_o life_n of_o their_o weak_a brethren_n and_o fellow_n christian_n instead_o of_o be_v either_o christian_n or_o just_n or_o any_o way_n relate_v to_o they_o will_v at_o last_o appear_v much_o near_a of_o kin_n to_o that_o famous_a rover_n that_o wander_v round_o the_o world_n to_o seek_v who_o he_o may_v devour_v insomuch_o that_o their_o ordination_n will_v be_v find_v little_o less_o than_o borrow_a engine_n from_o hell_n to_o help_v to_o set_v up_o heaven_n now_o to_o the_o case_n of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n if_o these_o be_v she_o penal_a law_n for_o i_o shall_v not_o trouble_v myself_o with_o a_o tedious_a recital_n of_o the_o several_a statute_n of_o that_o nature_n as_o be_v all_o but_o stion_n from_o the_o same_o root_n i_o shall_v glad_o know_v what_o beauty_n or_o rather_o invisible_a charm_n the_o church_n of_o england_n can_v find_v in_o these_o statute_n to_o be_v in_o the_o least_o solicitous_a for_o their_o preservation_n for_o alas_o maugre_o all_o her_o volume_n write_v upon_o the_o unreasonableness_n of_o separation_n from_o her_o communion_n and_o her_o justification_n of_o her_o zealous_a endeavour_n for_o conformity_n unless_o the_o mean_n and_o method_n use_v to_o obtain_v it_o as_o these_o law_n be_v intend_v for_o such_o be_v equal_o justifiable_a her_o whole_a pretension_n fall_v to_o the_o ground_n nor_o will_v it_o excuse_v she_o to_o say_v that_o they_o be_v chies_o enact_v in_o terrorem_fw-la as_o be_v but_o seldom_o put_v in_o execution_n as_o if_o a_o study_a ill_a deed_n be_v therefore_o more_o excusable_a because_o commit_v suppose_v but_o once_o in_o a_o age_n when_o a_o foul_a act_n for_o that_o very_a cause_n