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	religion_n	true_a	7,548	5	5.1593	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A04323	A supplication to the Kings most excellent Maiestie wherein, seuerall reasons of state and religion are briefely touched: not vnworthie to be read, and pondered by the lords, knights, and burgeses of the present Parliament, and other of all estates. Prostrated at his Highnes feete by true affected subiects.	Colleton, John, 1548-1635.; England and Wales. Sovereign (1603-1625 : James I)	1604 (1604)	STC 14432; ESTC S107663	42,852	54

in Esay Thy gates speaking to the future church of Christians Esa 60. 11. shall be open continually neyther day nor night shall they be shutte that the strength of the Gentiles and their Kings may bee Ca. 61. 8. brought vnto thee And in another place I the Lord will make an euerlasting couenant with them and their seede shall be knowne among the Gentiles and their branches in the midst of people All that see them shall know them that they are the seede which our Lord hath blessed What could be plainer spoken for proofe either of the visibilitie or perpetuitie of Christes Church her gates saith he shall be open continually shut neyther by day nor night and that God hath made an euerlasting couenant with her and that all that see her children shal know them and know that our Lorde hath blessed them The Apostles because S. Paul writing to Timothie teacheth him how he ought to conuerse in the 1. Tim. 3. 15. house of God so tearming the Church of God nowe if the Church were inuisible the instruction must needes bee vayne and absurd for none can conuerse in an inuisible house Againe S. Luke writeth that the holy Ghost placed Bishops in the Acts 20. 28 Church of God to rule the same but who can rule a flocke that is either inuisible or vnknowne Christ himselfe because he promised his Apostles to remayne with them all dayes to the consummation Matth. 28. 20. of the world Which promise being made to the Apostles was made to a visible Church and for that they were not being mortall to liue to the worldes ende the promise was vndoubtedly made to them and their Successors in their persons and therefore the Church neither euer to cease or become inuisible Neither can the reasons and places precedent be auoyded by the ignorant distinction of a visible and inuisible Church A fantasticall apprehension of Wicliffe and his followers Waldens to 1. lib. 2. ca. 8. 9. vnderstanding by the latter the hidde and vnknowne congregation of the Predestinate because the Church beeing a societie of men as all writers affirme and euery societie requiring of necessitie some visible signe badge ceremonie bond rite profession inrollement or some other like ma●ke whereby the members of the same may bee knowne one to the other and also from others which essentiall point failing in the company of the predestinate they can no way possibly make vp the realitie name or nature of a Church For as S. Austen Contra Faust lib. 19. cap. 11. truely writeth In nullum nomen religionis seu verum seu falsum coagulari homines possunt nisi aliquo signaculorum vel Sacramentorum visibilium consortio colligentur Men cannot be incorporate in any one name of Religion eyther false or true vnlesse they be combyned together by some communitie or participation of visible seales or Sacraments Againe this hidde and vnknowne predestinate company which must bee thought to constitute an inuisible Church doe eyther refuse or not refuse to communicate with the false and adulterous church in ecclesiasticall subiection seruice sacraments and externall worshippe If they doe refuse then is their company and church not inuisible but most visible and markable and of the other side if they doe not refuse then sith the false Church is by testimonie of the holy Ghost the Apoc. 2. 9. Synogogue of Sathan and her doctrine b 1. Tim. 4. 1. the doctrine of diuels they must needes bee guiltie of damnable sinne by such their partaking with her And therefore their company not Gods Church because that multitude cannot possibly bee Gods church wherein there are none c Ephes 5. 27. Aug. contr Donatist post Col. cap. 20. de doctr Chr●sti lib. 3. cap. 34. Retract lib. 2. cap. 18. epist 48. ad Vincentium good but all wicked dissemblers and clokers of their faith With the heart d Rom. 10. 10 saith S. Paul wee beleeue vnto iustice but with the mouth vnderstanding thereby all external actions confession is made to saluation And the same Apostle biddeth all men e Rom. 16. 17. Tit. 3. 10. to auoyde false teachers and f 2. Cor. 6. 17. separate themselues from them yea g Ioh 10. 5. not to follow them but to flee from them is a marke which our Sauiour himselfe giueth of distinguishing his true sheepe from others Wee would say by that is sayde that perpetuall visiblenesse being an essentiall qualitie and note of Gods church and euer really existing with vs and in our religion as all sortes of testimonies in the world doe witnesse and in no other company or congregation soeuer it followeth that our church is the sole true church and spouse of Christ 32. A religion in whose largenesse and spreading amplitude ouer the whole world the predictions and promise of our Sauiour are verified nor can take their trueth and verification in any other sect or doctrine that euer was or is at this day on earth h Mat. 24. 14. This Gospell of the kingdome saith our Sauiour shall be preached in the whole world for a testimonie to all nations And by the penne of another Euangelist i Luke 24. 47. That penance should be preached in his Name and remission of sinnes vnto all Nations And our Lord also compared this his Gospell to k Mat. 13. 31. Mark 4. 32. a Mustard seede one of the least of all seedes in the beginning but when it is growen it maketh great boughes so that the byrds of the ayre that is as Expositors interprete the greatest Powers and the most wise of the world come and dwell vnder the shadowe thereof making their residence happinesse and rest therein A resemblance and predictions which cannot agree or fall in with any other religion saue onely with the catholike Romane religion and with this very fully as the particulars precedent and subsequent doe cleerely demonstrate 33. A religion that hath alwayes had as the Apostle assureth Gods Church should euer haue yeelding also foure weightie causes of the same a perpetuall visible continuance of knowne Pastors and Doctors to the consummation of the Ephes 4. 11. Saincts the first cause vnto the worke of the ministery the second cause vnto the edifying of the body of Christ the third cause that now we be not children wauering and caried about with euery winde of doctrine the fourth cause and this vntill we meete all into the vnitie of faith that is to the worlds end Which successiue and euer continuing duration of Pastors and Doctors the same being also promised before to the true christian Church by seuerall a Psal 88. 31. sequ Esa 59 20. 21. Ierem. 31. 31. sequ Ezech. 37. 25. Prophets and so greatly materiall in it selfe as without it there can be no Church as both b Lib. 4. epist 9. S. Ciprian and c Lib. contr Luciferian S. Hierome do absolutely affirme hath

of the Prophet is verified Thy friendes ô God Psal 138. 17. are very much honoured of mee Likewise that saying of Ecclesiasticus fulfilled Nations shall declare his wisedome and the Ca. 39. 14. Church speake forth his praise and also the rites of friendship and true loue obserued which is to loue our friends friend for our friendes sake and incomparably more the Saintes of God for their and our loue towards God 17. A religion whose refuse and reuolted priestes are deemed lawefull and sufficiently ordered to preach the worde of God to minister Sacraments and to exercise all spirituall iurisdiction in the protestant and Puritane Congregation A proofe which seemeth vnanswerable that our Church is the true Church for were her doctrine false she teaching in many pointes as she doth it must needes followe that shee is the synagogue if not the arch-synagogue of Sathan and consequently ●e hath nor can possibly haue God and the diuell being so contrary authoritie to initiate and make lawfull and compleate Ministers for exercising spirituall faculties in the true Church Neither is the Protestant Minister or Bishop comming to our Catholike fraternitie as many come of the first sorte reputed other then for meere lay men without orders 18. A religion to whose antiquitie and veritie of most parte of her doctrine controuersed the fashion of euery Church Chappell and Chancell the recordes of euery Hospitall Colledge and Abbey decayed yea euery auncient sepulchre church-window and graue-stone do bring and giue apparant euidence as thinges all wearing her badges and contestifying her elder childrens faith deuotion and pietie 19. A religion whose groundes and foundation are so rockie and sure and the proofes and testimonies alike infinite ample aboundant and vnanswerable as the Protestant himselfe assayled by the Puritane and other sects knowes not how to defend positions encountred but by flying to the strengths and impregnable arguments of the catholike Romane church and her doctors 20. A religion that teacheth not a Mat. 7. 13. the broade and large but the narrow and straite way such as holy writte affirmeth the way to heauen to be as annuall b Ioh. 20. 23. confession to a Priest c Psal 6. 7. Matth. 32. and 11. 21. Mar. 1. 15. Luk. 13. 3. 2. Cor. 12. 21. Act. 1. 38. and 26. 20. pennance d Leuit. 5. 16. Luk. 19. 8. restitution e Ezech. 8. 30. Ioel. 2. 12. Matth. 3 8. Luk. 3. 8. 1. Cor. 11. 32. satisfaction prescript fasting dayes set times of abstinence f Leui. 23. 21. Psal 75. 12. Eccles 5. 3. 1. Tim. 5. 12. performance of vowes g Ephes 4 5. one vniforme stinte of faith h Rom. 8. 13. Colos 3. 5. mortification of the old man and the like Iniunctions neyther obserued nor imposed by other Religions but rather libertie in their stead and yet all of them directly and plainely prescribed in holy Scripture except onely the appointment of prescript time for confession fasting and abstinence a power and prerogatiue left to the wisedome and ordering of the Catholike Church of whose Prelats our Sauior himself saith i Luke 10. 16. He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me Which authoritie also was giuen to the Bishops of the olde Lawe and of consequence more to the chiefe Prelates of the new Law He that Deut. 17. 12. shall waxe proude refusing to obey the commandement of the Priest shall die by the decree of the Iudge 21. A religion for whose defence the Title of Defender of the Faith was first giuen to the Kinges of our Nation the Title of Most Christian to the kings of Fraunce of Most Catholike to the kings of Spayne the still retayning of which Titles doth argue the allowance of her iurisdiction And there is no one of the auncient Fathers who doth not vnderstand these wordes of the Prophet to be onely meant of this Church The Nation and Kingdome that will not serue thee shall Esa 60. 12. perish 22. A religion into whose societie and profession whosoeuer truely entreth by and by liueth in more awe of God and feare of sinne and changeth his former life to the better and of the other side whosoeuer leapeth out and departeth from her fellowship and communion beginneth incontinent to leade a worse life then whiles he liued her childe and frequented her Sacramentes Of both which there bee store of examples and of the latter too many verifying what is sayd and not vnknowne to thousands yea the case is so familiar as it is now growen into a Prouerbe with many That the Protestant religion is good to liue in but the Papist religion good to die in 23. A religion which now hath and had in all ages the most famous men for wit learning reading iudgement vertue and true pietie qualities of all other likeliest to discerne and abandon error to her Teachers and Doctors and euer enioyed the like store of such lights as our Oppositors had neuer reason to compare with or if they do the extant monuments in schoole positiue mysticall diuinitie and in all other literature will quickly shewe the inequalitie and disproportion of the comparison 24. A Religion whose publike and Church seruice is executed with that maiestie honorable grauitie and reuerence and the seuerall parts and ceremonies thereof so aptly and admirablie composed and ordred for annuall commemoration and representing of our Sauiours incarnation birth life passion buriall resurrection ascension of the comming downe of the Holy Ghost of the mysterie of the Trinitie and of other passages as well of Christ our head as of his members the Saincts as it begetteth feedeth and reneweth singular deuotion in the actors and hearers and is also so comfortable in her Sacraments especiallie so easing and acquieting soules in the Sacrament of Penance as no testimonie or demōstration vnder heauen is or can be of like feeling proofe for the real goodnes and veritie of that Sacrament as is the supernaturall sweetest and diuine consolation tasted therein and in the Sacrament of the Eucharist 25. A Religion whose secular and religious Cleargie liue without wiues free from care of prouiding for children and the later sort no way distracted with the affaires and encumbrances of the world but encloistered passe their whole time in prayer watching fastin in continuall studie of scriptures and in daily exercise and dispute for full and perfect vnderstanding of them Helps that do most further the attaining of truth and such as are not found in the aduerse partie and which in common reason Catholick Diuines being not inferior to other Diuines in wit or other talents shew that our teachers God being no acceptor of persons are more likely to haue vsing fitter meanes for the same the true intelligence and vnderstanding of scripture then are our aduersaries or contradictors 26. A religion of which the foure acknowledged Doctors of holie Church were both professors and stout defenders as their owne works

also from the places they most infestuously haunted haue bin euen newly wrought in both the Indies where no other religion professing Christ is knowne but the catholike Romane religion onely Petrus Martyr Gonzalus Ouetanus in their histories of the Indies and Gonzalus Mendoza in his historie of China doe giue most ample testimonie 38. Finally a religion that we descend to no more particulars which by more meanes and stronger then any other kinde of religion keepeth by the nature of her doctrine and holy ordinances the subiectes in due allegeance to their temporall Lordes teaching that a D. Tho. 1. 2. q. 96. art 4. Concil Ephes to 4. ca. 16. P●ltano interpr the iust lawes of Princes do binde in conscience and some kindes also of vniust lawes vpon feare of scandall and likewise decreeing b Concil Tolet 5. ca. 1. Concil Meldense ca. 14. 15. that all such as moue sedition against their Soueraigne or obstinately impugne or disobey his lawfull commandements should be p●esently excommunicated and all the faithfull debarred to keepe them companie And a religion which hath euermore blessed the kings that were her louers and children with more peace with more loue of their subiectes with more prosperitie with moe victories with more true glory with more temporall and eternall renowne then other Princes who were her enemies or aliens at any time attained to as the registers of former ages and the memorials of the present are most cleere and vndeniable witnesses Nor are these ô most gratious Soueraigne the onely respectes that thus embolden vs to become humble suiters at your Highnesse foote for toleration of catholike religion but our manifolde dangers vnder-gone our seuerall losses and indignities sustained and the store of catholike blood that hath beene shedde for affecting your mothers Rightes and Title and for seeking how to succour her piteous distresses and person the worthiest Queene that many ages enioyed liuing a long imprisoned Confessor dying a most glorious Martir serue also to pleade and crie to your Maiestie for commiseration of our case and graunt of the Petition we make And as our true loue zeale and tribute of seruice did not then dilate and extend it selfe onely towardes your Highnesse deare mother but in and through her reached also to your sacred Maiestie so since the time of her happie Crowne of Martyrdome our wishes indeuours and actions haue euer leuelled as much as lay in our power to the most aduancing of your Maiesties Title Yea the pressures and afflictions loaded on vs for this cause were in a sorte comfortable or not discomfortable vnto vs in hope of the relaxation and ease wee assuredly expected by your Highnesse actuall arriuall to the Crowne So that now if your excellent Maiestie may not be moued to permit the free exercise of the catholike Religion Oh our hopes fedde on are not onely frustrate and our long expectations vaine but our temporall lottes by reestablishing of penall lawes against vs become more abiect seruile desperate and forlorne then euer before Puritanisme differing from Protestancie in 32. articles of doctrine as their owne bookes and writings doe witnesse looketh vp spreadeth and is neither suppressed with penalties nor oppressed with indignities but her professors receiue grace and holde high authoritie in the gouernement onely the catholike religion whose professors suffred most for your good Mothers sake and euer least offended your Maiestie is despised troden vnder foote maligned punished and must be alas by all violence abolished without regard of her venerable antiquitie or respect of the large dominions shee otherwhere hath to her dowery or of the innumerable conquests shee hath made ouer all other Sectes from Christes time hitherto or of the multitude and impregnablenesse of her proofes which her professors are ready yea presse and doe most earnestly long to bring in publike Dispute for testimonie of the doctrine she teacheth And that which mooueth not the least admiration herein is for that neither the inward beleefe of the catholike Romane faith nor the outward profession or defence thereof in wordes seeme to bee the transgressions which are so sharpely animaduerted but rather the onely fault which is punished and neuer sufficiently as some thinke punished in vs is the vndissembled profession of our inward faith in refusing to goe to the Protestant church A necessitie which vnder guilt of deadly sinne and breach of our churches vnitie all are bound vnto that beleeue the veritie of the catholike religion and purpose still to keepe themselues her children bicause the vnity therof consisteth in the a Aug. de doctr Christian lib. 3. cap. 6. epist. 118. cap. 1. Basil in exhort ad baptism connexion of the members together by an externall reuerence and vse of the same seruice and sacraments and is broken by hauing communion in either with any other contrary religion And it is an axiome among all Diuines that b Aug. de vnit Eccles cont Petil. ep cap 2. contr lit Peti lib. 2. cap. 38 in Euangel Ioan. tract 118. in ser sup gest cum Emerito vltra med epist 152. Cypr. de Simplic Praelatorum extra ecclesiam non est salus there is no hope of saluation out of the church To which Lactantius most plainely subscribeth saying c Lib. 4. cap. vlt. diui Instit Sola ecclesia catholica est templum dei quo si quis non intrauerit vel à quo si quis exierit à spe vitae ac salutis aeternae alienus est The catholike church is onely the temple of God into which if any shall not enter or out of which if any shall depart he is an alien from hope of life and eternall saluation Neither do●h the Apostle affirme lesse in sense where he saith that d Ephes 5. 23. Christ is the Sauiour of his bodie and that e Ephes 1. 23. Ephes 4 5. Cantic 6. 8. the Church is his bodie Nor is it possible to be conceiued in any vnderstanding that two such repugnant and contradictorie manners of seruing God there being but one Lord one trueth one faith one Church as the Catholike and Protestant obserue in their churches can be both good or not one of them very vngodly and in no case to be communicated with vnder paine of eternall damnation By the little which is saide your princely Wisedome may easily perceiue that our abstayning from Church is in vs no formall act of disobedience much lesse of selfe-wilfulnesse or contempt of your Maiesties lawes aspersions with which many would distaine our refusall but a true ●eall obligation of meere conscience especially for so long as wee holde the inward perswasion we doe in respect an erroneous conscience Rom. 14. 14. 23. Chrisost hom 26. in ep ad R●m est sententia com●●nis omnium Thelogorum in 2 Dist 30. D Tho. 1. 2. qu. 10. art 5. bindeth as strongly and vnder equall payne as doth the conscience