Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	church_n	know_v	true_a	8,326	5	5.4606	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A52727	The right way to promote reformation in a sermon preached at Warrington upon the 18th of Octob. 1698, at the appointment of the ministers there met, and at the request of some, published for the use of others / by James Naylor.	Naylor, James, 1617?-1660.	1699 (1699)	Wing N333; ESTC R31711	24,280	60

who have the Sword of Justice are either reformed or removed With what face and courage can a prophane Magistrate execute the Laws or the Penalties of the Laws against prophaneness * Rom 2 1 Therefore thou art inexcusable O man whosoever thou art that Judgest for wherein thou Judgest another thou condemnest thy self for thou that Judgest dost the same things Read also verse the 21 22 23. of the same Chap. Thou therefore that Teachest another Teachest thou not thy self Thou who sayest a man should not commit adultery dost thou commit Adultery Magistrates whose Office is to Punish others for their Violations of the Law should look to observe the Law themselves They should be of holy unblameable Lives and conversations 2 This self Reformation is the work of all Ministers They of all Persons should look after this work and approve their works to the Lord. Thus the Apostle Exhorts 1 Tim 4 13 Timothy Till I come give attendance to Reading Exhortation and Doctrine and verse the 16. Take heed unto thy self and unto thy Doctrine continue in them For in so doing thou shalt both save thy self and them that hear thee Aarons bells Hung at his Feet What an uncomely thing it is for a Prophane Minister to Preach against Prophaneness A Minister given to Swearing Preach against it or a Minister given to Intemperance Preach against it Turpe est Doctori cum culpa redarguit ipsum How harsh and unpleasing is it to hear Vice correcting Sin Clodius accusat Moechos The Sins of a Minister are very Dangerous how fine soever his Preaching be for his Practice will goe further then his Preaching and they who Forget his Sermon will remember his Example If a Minister be but a little leavened it is much if most of his Auditory be not Sowred thereby If the Nurse be Sick the Child that Sucks the Breast is in Danger to Suck the disease from her O how much doth it concern Ministers to lead holy and Heavenly Lives † Rom. 2. 21. Thou who Preachest a man should not Steal dost thou Steal dost thou commit Adultery Art thou covetous and contentious Art thou unclean and Intemperate And Preachest against all these things Ministers should Especially be of inoffensive Lives because it is their work and Office to Preach this up to others They should as much as possible be free from all Sin because they Preach against all Sin and are to reprove with an holy boldness every Sin be it in who it will Poor or Rich Small or great It is said of Tacitues that he took the same Liberty to write the Emperous lives that they took in leading them Thus should the Ministers doe in reproving of Sinners But how can a Minister do thus unless he be unblameable himself The Sharpest Sermons of a wicked Prophane Minister against Gross Sins and Immoralities are but like a Smooth File or a Saw whose Teeth are broken or a Knife that hath lost it's edge 3 This self Reformation is the work of all private Persons of all who would draw the Motes out of their Brothers eyes They should begin her● First and reform themselves The conversations of all men even of private Persons as well as Magistrates and Ministers should correspond and comport with that holy profession which they make What have we to doe with any base and sordid Practice who lie under the Sacred vows of the Christian Religion I know indeed it is a most Lamentable thing to see men call themselves Sons of the Church by a Subscrption to her Articles assume to themselves the Title of Orthodox and yet be the greatest Blemishes of it and forfeit that worthy appellation by holding the Truth in unrighteousness Liveing as if the commandments had no Relation to the Creed or as if by the Beliefe of what is true they could Satisfie for what is Evil. Pudet haec opprobria Nobis c. We may Blush at this so great wickedness It was a charge long ago laid upon Christianity That it was better known in the Leaves of Books then in the lives of Christians and hence it is that many are hardened in their wickedness It is the purity of Christians lives that is the best attractive to winn others to the Love of Religion This is the Gold that should overlay the Temple of Christs Church and would make others in Love with i'ts Beauty This was one Happy means for the incredible increase of converts in the Primitive times even the holy and examplary Lives of Christians But converts came in Slower when those who professed Religion began to cool in their Zeal and Slacken in the Strictness of their Lives Thus you see all are to Set upon this work of self reformation not only Magistrates and Ministers but also private Persons all who take upon them the Office of reformers 2 I come now to Shew you of what we all must reform ouy selves And that I may not be tedious in Numbering particulars I 'll onely say in the Generall we are to Reform of all Sins We are to abandon every evil way we must not onely take care to avoid those Sins whereof we accuse and condemn our Brother but we should free our selves from Sin in every kind Tho' we be no Swearers no Drunkards or Whoremasters or prophaners of the Sabbath tho' we be free from those Sins which bring us under the lash of the Law yet we may be very unfit to reform others There may be Beams in our own eyes that should First be cast out before we attempt the Reformation of our Brethern There are indeed a Sort of Persons who if they do not live in Whoredom and Gross Intemperance open Prophaneness and Brutish sensuality think all is well with them and they cry out with the Pharisee that they are not as other men are Extortioners unjust Adulterers whereas they may be free from these more Gross Practices and yet need to be reformed as well as others O! be not deceived you are not Possibly so and so Vitious in your outward conversation but if there be within of the Heart malice hatred envy uncharitableness self exalting Inordinate affections to the world Covetousness c. These are enough to discourage a man from his Duty of reforming others and may deservedly bring him under the denomination of a wicked Person that needs to be reformed You will grant the Devils are bad-enough it is because of their Pride envy c. For the Gross Sins of the Flesh they are not lyable to them Sirs do we see one living a Bruitish Sensual life wallowing in his filthy lusts laying the reins upon the Neck of his Impetuous corruptions such a one is to be reformed I but would you Set about this work comfortably and ef●ectually you must not onely free your selves from the Sins of which you would reform your Brother but also from all Sins in every kind If you be worldly proud Haughty and be under the Power of earthly affections