Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	commandment_n	keep_v	know_v	4,797	5	5.4171	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A57310	A standard of righteousness lifted up unto the nations, and an ensigne of grace unto the people, but the flagge of defiance against Antichrist, and all his messengers and ministers, who are under his power and pleading for it, for terme of life all of which are held forth in a plain answer unto Leonard Letchford's quaery concerning perfection and keeping of Gods law and Commandments, which may serve the universal good, and satisfaction of all people who are yet unsatisfied in these weighty matters in this book inserted : with a testimony concerning the natural man who cannot keep the law nor commands of God ... / given forth this 13th day of the 8th moneth, 1663, by a follower of the Lamb thorow [sic] many tribulations, whose name is Ambrose Rigge.	Rigge, Ambrose, 1635?-1705.	1663 (1663)	Wing R1492; ESTC R6133	30,605	38

of Aurst-Pierpoint a metamorphosed Minister in the County of Sussex hath lately given under his hand by way of Quaery The Paper is as followeth September 6. 1663. WHether to do good and not to commit sin be a perfection that any man dares challenge whilest he lives on Earth or whether it be possible for any man so keep Gods Commandements and to observe his righteous Law as to say any day I have not offended I have no need to say forgive me in any thing wherein I have done amiss This was the Question By which I have struck the Devil dumb in the Quakers Oracle at Hersham known to the World by the Name of Ambrose Rigge Lord open his lippes that his mouth may shew forth thy prayse in saying plainly it cannot be done L. L. Now Moses and Abraham which I have before asserted to whom the Law and Commandements was given forth did so keep them and observe them that the breach of them was never charged to them but was blessed in the keeping and doing of them as I have before spoken And David turned not aside from any of the Commandments of God all his dayes save in the matter of Vriah and many more who kept Gods Law and Commandments all the dayes of their lives and was blessed and their posterity after them and praised God with an upright heart in their obedience to the Law and Commandments of God and none of them did ever say Lord open my mouth that my lips may shew forth thy praise in saying plainly thy Commandments cannot be done as L. L. doth If they did shew when or where ever such a doctrine was preached by any either in the first Covenant or the second or else let those faithful servants of God afore-mentioned who kept Gods Law and Commandments and did live with God in them be as a thousand witnesses against Leo. Letchford who would have people believe it cannot be done Here followeth divers instances of Christ and his Apostles under the second Covenant concerning his Commandments which I shall here lay down from plain Scripture proof in order to the further discovery of this damnable doctrine 1. Christ saith after he had given forth many Commandments unto the people He that breaketh one of these least Commandments and shall teach men so he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven but whosoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the kingdome of heaven Matth. 5. 19. 2. Christ said to his Disciples If ye love me keep my commandments Iohn 14. 15. 3. He that hath my commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and manifest my self to him Iohn 14. 21. 4. A new commandment I give unto you that you love one another Iohn 13. 34. 5. If you keep my commandments you shall abide in my love even as I kept my Fathers commandments and abide in his love Iohn 15. 10. Verily verily I say unto you If a man keep my sayings he shall never see death Iohn 8. 51. 7. All which promises was made unto his Disciples upon this condition That they kept his commandments and not otherwise 8. To which the Disciples answered not as Leonard Letchford doth in saying it cannot be done and count this praise to God but they said Hereby we know that we know him if we keep his commandments 1 Iohn 2. 3. 9. Again they spoke in reproof of those who should say they knew God and kept not his commandments and said such were lyars and the truth was not in them 1 Iohn 2. 4. 10. Furthermore they testified that whatsoever they asked they received of him because they kept his commandments 1 Ioh. 3 22. 11. He that keepth his Commandments dwelleth in him and he in him and hereby they knew that he did abide in them by the Spirit which he gave them this was their proof of him in the dayes of old which is now so much condemned and cryed against by Leonard Lechford and men of his coat who saith none can exactly keep the commands of God 1 Iohn 3. 24. 12. And by this they knew they loved the children of God when they loved God and kept his commandments 1 Iohn 5. 2. 13. Again they said This is the love of God that they kept his Commandments and his Commandments were not grievous 1 Iohn 5. 3. Harken Leon. Letchford Art not thou of another minde who would have people say it cannot be done May not all these rise up in judgement against thee 14. And this is love that we walk after his Commandments 2 Iohn 6. All these gave testimony how they kept his Commandments thorow which their love was manifested to him and for so doing had no cause to repent any day nor to ask forgiveness of the Lord but yet Christ in their infancy taught them to say Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us Matth. 6. 12. but this was before Christ was offered up who purged their Consciences from dead works by the blood of his Cross through the eternal Spirit by which he cleansed them from all sin and sanctified them in body soul and spirit which as they grew up unto God in stature they bare witness unto as hereafter I shall make appear in answer to Leonard Letchfords great Query concerning perfection which may serve for the universal good and satisfaction of all reasonable people for which end I was moved to make it and my answer to it publick Priest Letchfords Query Whether to do good and not to commit sin be a perfection that any man dares challenge while he is upon the earth Which plainly demonstrates that he is against doing of good and for committing of sin and denies perfectien while people are upon the earth which is absolutely contrary both to the doctrine of Christ and his Apostles and makes the coming suffering and blood of Christ of none effect 1. It is contrary to the doctrine of Christ Matth. 5. 48. who said to his disciples Be ye perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect which was a perfection of holiness and freedome from sin for otherwise they could not be perfect as their heavenly father was perfect 2. Christ said unto the young man who had kept the Commandments from his youth If thou wilt be perfect sell that thou hast and give to the poor and thou shalt have treasure in heaven and come and follow me Matth. 19. 21. 3. It is contrary to Christs prayer Iohn 17. 23. who desired that they whom God had given him might be one as he and his father was one He in them and they in him that they might be made perfect in one c. which could never be till sin and transgression was finished which was the first cause of separation 4. To say that none can be perfect while he is upon the earth is contrary to Christs words who said

before to all who with a spiritual eye discerneth the things of God by which they are only known 1 Cor. 2. 11. but they are foolishness and madness to such sons of Belial as Leo. Letchford hath manifested himself to be whos 's Query is Whether to do good and not to commit sin be a perfection that any man dares challenge while he is upon the earth c. By which it manifestly appears that he hath made a strong Covenant with death and an agreement with hell who dares challenge no perfection but to do evil and commit sin and that for term of life and would perswade others so to do and make them believe this is praise to God which is the highest disgrace he can possibly bring to his Name and the most for the promoting of that antichristian doctrine of the Church of Rome that the devil can lead any of his servants to give forth For it is wholly raked out of that kennel and filthy puddle of iniquity and never once mentioned in the Scriptures of truth but condemned thereby root and branch as I have shewed above By which let all sober-hearted men judge whether Iohn or he is to be believed who said He that committeth sin is of the Devil c. I Iohn 3. 8. And whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his seed remaines in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God then said In this is the children of God manifested and the children of the Devil Whosoever doth not righteousness is not of God neither he that loveth not his brother I Iohn 3. 9 10. and by this they will soon see whether L. L. be a childe of God or of the Devil who would perswade others that to do good and not to commit sin is that which none dares challenge upon the earth and that it would be praise to God to say his Commandements cannot be done without sinning or offending this cannot be parallel'd in all the Scripture if it can I leave it to Leo. Letchford to produce if it cannot I leave him naked to all the world to judge of him in truth equity and righteousness whether this doctrine of sin and imperfection doth not overthrow all the works and sufferings of Christ the Son of God and establish the work of the Devil for term of life yea or nay Therefore oh thou begotten of God who art born again of the water and of the spirit give in thy evidence who ever thou art against this unheard of Heresie which God will confound with the breath of his mouth and with the brightness of his shining glory Which is arisen and arising to expell all these foggs mists and vapours which the man of sin hath overspred the earth withall in this long night of darkness and apostacy from the life of God wherein the great Whore that hath sitten upon many waters hath made all Nations drunk with the wine of her fornication Rev. 17. 1 2. 18. 3. and hath sitten a a Queen and seen no sorrow and all her ministers hath pampered themselves like fat horses in the sulness of the earth and hath made merchandise of many through covetousness and feigned words 2 Pet. 2. 3. this sixteen hundred years and upward ever since the Antichrists went out into the world who hath continued in the world to this day I Iohn 2. 18. deceiving the Nations with the multitude of their Inchantments but now is the day of the Lord broken forth in clearness again in this latter age which hath discovered her skirts with all her merchants who is worse then Balaam the son of Bosor who though he loved the wages of unrighteousness durst not take it Num. 22. 18. and 24. 13. but they love and take it and persecute all those who will not give it to them as we have a cloud of witnesses standing upon record against them at this day their actions hath been more cruel then ever was any of their sore-fathers the Pope excepted as thou who art spiritual has clearly seen I question not but their end shall be according to their works Cor 11. 15. what ever their words are the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Here is the way which leadeth to the Kingdome of God in short held forth to all who are willing to enter therein AS Satan by sin and transgression hath opened a way into eternal misery and condemnation from God for all who followes and obeyes him So God in his infinite love and mercy by Jesus Christ hath opened a gate of mercy unto all mankinde and hath prepared a way of life peace and eternal salvation that all who are willing to walk therein may attain thereunto This way is called the way of Holiness which the unclean shall not pass over the wayfareing man though a fool shall not err therein Isa 35. 8 This way is a mystery to all the Sons of Adam and is strait and narrow and few there be that finde it Matth. 7. 14. but the way which leads to destruction is wide and broad and all the unclean yea all the workers of Iniquity can walk therein Matth. 7. 13. So there is but these two wayes for all mankinde to walk in the one leads to life eternal and the other to eternal death Now the Lord hath opened my heart a little to shew unto every one the way of life which is Christ Jesus Iohn 14. 6. And that by which they may be brought into this way according as the Spirit of God shall give me utterance It is written in the Scriptures of truth of a Woman having ten pieces of silver if she loose one doth light a candle and sweepeth her house and seek diligently till the finde it and when she hath found it calleth in her friends and neighbours together saying Rejoyce with me for I have found the piece which I had lost Luke 15. 8 9. This was a Parable of the way of Life which was to be found within when the candle was lighted thy house swept Which is thy heart which is soul and corrupted by the enemy of thy soul who hath led thee from mountain to hill like a lost sheep I mean from one High Priest to another so that thou hast sorgotten thy resting place Isa 50. 6. Therefore hath the good Shepherd left the ninety and nine in the Wilderness and is gone after thee which is lost in the mountains and will lay thee upon his shoulders till he bring thee home and rejoyce over thee Luke 15. 4 5. And when thou art come in thou shall be sed in a good pasture by the rivers of water where thou shalt not want Ezek. 34 14. and thy soul shall delight it self in fatness and shall live Isa 55. 2. For the Lord will be thy Shepherd and thou shalt be established in Righteousness and great shall be thy peace Isa 54. 13. and thou shalt not need to say Who shall ascend into heaven to setch Christ from above

thee to that lasting rest which he prepar'd for thee Before he formed East or West in his heavenly decree Therefore I warn thee to return unto the Lord that he May all his promises confirm that happy thou mayst be Which he will make thee in the end if thou his law regard And learn thy way for to amend by cleaving to his word This is written from a true lover of thy soul whose name is AMBROSE RIGGE The difference between the true Gospel and the false truly stated and clearly demonstrated that all people may see and read which Gospel they have received and obeyed this many years whether the true Gospel or the false THe true and everlasting Gospel of Iesus Christ the Son of God is glad tidings of good things which is remission of sins and reconciliation to God by Iesus Christ Luke 1. 19. Luke 8. 1. which was preached to give the knowledge of falvation unto all people by the remission of sins Luke 1. 77. So here it manifestly appears that this Gospell was preached to give the knowledge of salvation to all people which knowledge was onely received by the remission of sins The false Gospel of Antichrist the man of sin is sad tidings of bad things wherein there is no remission of sins but a continual slavery unto sin and Satan all mans dayes according as it is and hath been taught by the teachers of this generation which is as contrary to the true Gospel as light is to darkness The true Gospel its message is to turn people from darkness to the light and from the power of Satan unto God that they might receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance amongst them that are sanctified by faith in the Son Acts 26. 18. The message of the false Gospel is that people can never come from under the power of Satan but must have a body of sin as long as they live which is sad tidings and not glad tidings for he that hath been under a tyrants power from his mothers womb for another to pretend freedom to him and take his money as though he would bring him to Christ who would free him and yet in the end tell him he must remain under the power of this tyrant all his dayes this is sad tidings to him who hath both spent his money and is neither redeemed nor now hath any hopes ever to be while he lives and such is the false Gospel at this day The message of the true Gospel is a proclamation of liberty and freedom to all Captives who hath been imprisoned in sin and transgression wherein the blood of Christ is freely held forth for the remission of sins Mat. 26. 28. The message of the false Gospel is continual captivity in sin and never liberty nor freedom from it as we have seen by many years sad experience The true Captain of salvation saith Follow me and thou shalt finde rest to thy soul Mat. 11. 29. The false Leader saith Thou shalt never overcome but be in a continual warfare and shall never come to peace nor rest here which is sad news indeed The Messengers of the true Gospel saith They were circumcised with the Circumcision made without hands in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the Circumcision of Christ Col. 2. 11. The Messengers of the false Gospel saith This can never be done but men must have a body of sin as long as they live which is far different from the other The Messengers of the true Gospel saith Christ shall save his people from their sins The Messengers of the false Gospel saith Christ shall save from the punishment due to sin but not from committing sin which doctrine overthrows the Iustice of God who giveth to every one according to their deeds Here followeth a few Queries put to Leonard Letchford either to be answered by plain Scripture according as I have answered his before cited or else to acknowledge that I have struck the Devil dumb in his minister at Hurst at last though I have long suffered him to boast himself as though he were a Minister of Christ even till his fruits are grown so foul and odious that every one is ready to bring in their verdict to the contrary Query 1. VVHat is that Image in which man was created in the beginning by God was that Image perfect or imperfect 2. What was the forbidden fruit of which he eat through which he lost this Image and where is it now and how is it to be known now 3. What was the Tree of Life from which man was driven and where is it and how must he come to it again 4. Whether man can be saved or come to life with God for ever unless he come to this Tree and feed thereof yea or nay 5. What are the Cherubims and the flaming Sword which turned every way to keep the way of the Tree of Life 6. What is that death which passed over all men in transgression 7. What is the feed of the Woman which should bruise the Serpents head and what did God promise therein to all the Families of the earth 8. How must man be restored into that Image in which he was created and whether he can come from under the power of that death which passed over him till he be thus resored yea or nay 9. Whether can man be so restored in this life yea or nay If yea by what way and means If nay Whether at death or the day of judgement or betwixt both Answer by plain Scripture seeing the Scripture saith no unclean thing nor any thing that defileth or worketh abomination shall in any wise enter therein 10. What is the wall of partition which stands between God and Man And whether man can be brought into unity with God again out of the unity before this wall be broken down and this enmity slain yea or nay 11. What is the valley of Achor and where is it in which God will plead with man by his sword and by fire because of that death which hath passed over him by transgression 12. For what end was the Commandments and Law of God given forth by Moses Was they given forth to be broken or to be kept yea or nay 13. Whether did God give them power to keep his Laws and Precepts when he commanded them to observe and do them yea or nay 14. Why was this Law said to be weak and in what was this Covenant faulty and to what was this Covenant weak and in what was this Covenant faulty 15. For what end was this Covenant and the Priesthood therein changed And why was there of necessity made a change of the Law 16. What was that death which was the cause that Aarons Priesthood could not continue 17. VVhat was Aarons Office and what was the Office of Christ and what was the end of both their Offices 18. For what end was Christ manifested and said to be an everlasting high Priest Was it that sin might remain or be destroyed 19. For what end did he lay down his life Was it to ransome man from sin or no 20. VVhether can man be truly said to be ransomed or saved while he lives under the power of Satan yea or no 21. VVhether hath man any benefit by the death or blood of Christ whilehe lives in sin and transgression yea or nay 22. Can man truly say he is redeemed while he is in his vain conversation or can he truly say Christ is his Saviour while he is not saved from his sin yea or nay 23. VVhat is that death which Paul spake of when he said I thank God I dye dayly because his body was alive years after 24. Doth God look upon any one to be in Christ while he is in sin Or doth he justifie the ungodly while in ungodliness 25. VVhether is any justified by Christ who is not sanctified by the blood of his Cross throughout in body soul and spirit yea or nay 26. VVhether any doth know the truth as it is in Iesus who is in the bondage of corruption seeing Christ said to his Disciples if you obey my word you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free 27. VVhat was the work of Christ in the world which his father gave him to do and what was the difference between his works and the works of the Law by which no flesh could be justified 28. VVhether is man freed from the guilt of sin while he remains in the act of it Or whether is he freed from the punishment due for sin which is death and separation from God for ever while he remains in either yea or nay If yea shew how and by what way if thou can 29. VVhat is the vertue of Christs resurrection and whether hath man any benefit thereby while he lyes in the grave of corruption yea or nay 30. VVhat is the difference between the righteousness of the Law and the righteousness of faith And whether any can have this righteousness imputed to him as to be made his for ever until he come to cast off the old man with his deeds which is sin and trangression yea or nay 31. VVhat is the old leaven which was to be purged out that they might become a new lump And whether he who commanded this thing did not give them power to do it yea or nay 32. VVhat is that death and hell which was to be cast into the lake of fire And where is that lake And how may it now be known 33. VVhat is that victory of which death should be swallowed up and how and when may it now be gained or known 34. VVhether it was not a perfection of holiness and righteousness and freedome from sin and imperfection that Christ and his Apostles held forth and witnessed while they lived on earth through the power of him whom God had raised from the dead If yea why is this Doctrine now condemned If nay where or how were they made perfect shew by plain Scripture All these plain Scripture Queries are left to Leonard Letchsord to answer if he can or else consess himself a Minister not sent of God whose Doctrine is contrary to Christ and his Apostles Written by him who hath suffered under Leonard Letchfords cruelty this fifteen moneths and upward in the County Goal in Horsham for the testimony of a good Conscience whose name is Ambrose Rigge

they may now come forth Of that great bondage unto sin in which their souls doth mourn And that you all may now begin unto the Lord to turn That he may save your souls alive for his own mercy sake Of which he will not now deprive all them that do awake And follow him whom God hath sent his Law for to fulfil Which perfectly cannot present compleatly in his will Nor by its works cannot mankinde be justifi'd with him Until he come this Christ to finde with whom I did begin And his own righteousness obtain which he for them hath wrought In bearing of that mortal pain when he the reto was brought By which he fully ransomed all those who did believe And death he then abandoned and raised from the grave Him hath God raised now again in this the latter day Who must for ever now remain as Moses once did say Even Israels Shepherd and their Rock to save them from their sin Who now doth ope unto his knock and him receive within He 'll give them power his sons to be his danghters eke also And give them perfect victory over their internal foe But first he ll purifie their hearts by his own precious blood And quench the enemies fiery darts when they come as a stood He 'll ope to them his fountain sweet that they thereof may drink And when they pass the Lake so deep therein they shall not sink The waters he 'll divide that they way pass through without harm And Pharaoh and his host destroy That they his fear may learn And bring them through the wildenress wherein he 'll try their faith That they may know his righteousness and see his saving health He 'll bring his royal chosen flock thorow many tribulations And suffer many them to mock to exercise their patience And many other tryals great he 'll suffer them to bear Too many now for to repent that they his Crown may wear Thorow which he 'll purge away their dross their Tynne also consume And nothing in them shall be lost that with him must have room And when he thus hath brought them nigh unto his habitation He 'll fill their mouths with praises high and shew them his salvation That they may ever with him dwell in joy and lasting rest And tryumph over death and hell by which they were opprest In that strait path of righteousness in which he did them bring To see his truth and faithfulness that they his praise might sing Therefore ye people great and small unto the Lord return Incline your ears to hear his call that he may now confirm His promise made to Israel if they his face did seek Their enemies for to expel for his own mercy sake A Testimony concerning the spiritual man who is begotten of God through the spirit by the Immortal Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever and hath received the spirit of Adoption whereby he cries Abba Father AS there is a natural man who is corrupted after the deceitful lusts so there is a spiritual man who is born of the Spirit and hath the promise of Eternal Life thorow the Adoption viz. the redemption of the body he is made an habitation of God thorow the Spirit in whom God dwells and walks according to his promise of old 2 Cor. 6 16. he walketh in the Spirit and doth not fulfill the lusts of the Flesh in him hath God great delight and giveth him wisdom power strength and ability to do whatsoever he commands him and he can do all things thorow him whom is his strength Phil. 4. 13. The Commandements of God are not grievous but joyous to him nay they are his onely delight and this keeps him in love and favour with God so that he with-holds no good thing from him Psal 84. 11. but gives him of the abundance of his heavenly treasure He seeds him with the Heritage of Iacob even with the finest of the wheat and with honey out of the Rock Psal 81. 16. he opens his Brests of Consolation to him out of which delight some refreshment comes whereby he grows in the beauty of holinesse in his mouth is the high praises of the as a two-edged sword in his hand thorow which he executes vengeance upon the heathen and punishment upon the people Psal 149. 7. As the natural man is wife to do evil He is wife to resist evil so that it doth not come nigh unto his honse yea though evil pursue the wicked yet to him there is a Tree of Life Prov. 13. 21. upon which he seeds and lives for ever He is stout and valorous even as bold as a Lion Prov. 28. 1. he fears not the swelling of the Sea he is not afraid of the terrour of the night nor of the arrow that flieth by day Psal 9● 5. the Law of Truth is in his mouth Mal. 2. 6. so that his steps cannot slide he calls no man Father upon Earth nor no man Master below the Sun Mat. 23. 9 10. for he is born of God and receiveth his Law from his mouth he is Created again in Christ Jesus unto good works that he may live in them He lives by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God Mat. 4. 4. over him death nor darnknesse hath not power but he stands in the glorious liberty of the Sons of God a free born son and heir of God a joynt Heir with Christ Jesus Rom. 8. 17. he grows up in the measure of the stature and of the fullnesse of Christ unto a perfect man as it is written of him Eph. 4. 13. but this is a mistery to the natural man even as the winde blows where it listeth and he hears the sound thereof but knows not whence it comes nor whither it goes Iohn 3. 8. even so is every one that is born of the Spirit Therefore they who are of the flesh they minde the things of the flesh and they who are of the Spirit the things of the Spirit And as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God Rom. 8. 14. but the natural man perceiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishnesse to him 1 Cor. 2. 14. but the spiritual man judgeth all things and he himself is judged of no man 2 Cor. 2. 15. And this is that noble birth which God hath brought forth in many at this day unto whom we preach perfection and freedome from the law of sin and death which is the same wisdome which Paul said he preached among them that was perfect 1 Cor. 2. 6 7. But this the carnal man cannot endure to hear of who receives not the things of the spirit of God as it is written of him 1 Cor. 2. 14. Therefore it is no marvel why Leonard Letchford cannot receive this doctrine of perfection which the holy men of God held forth unto the spiritual man so plentifully throughout the Scripture of truth as I have shewed