Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	dear_a	friend_n	page_n	3,380	5	12.5022	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A41955	A brief account of Mr. Valentine Greatraks, and divers of the strange cures by him lately performed written by himself in a letter addressed to the Honourable Robert Boyle, Esq. ; whereunto are annexed the testimonials of several eminent and worthy persons of the chief matters of fact therein related.	Greatrakes, Valentine, 1629-1683.; Boyle, Robert, 1627-1691.	1666 (1666)	Wing G1789; ESTC R6820	52,956	98

I could mine and with great acclamations gave thanks to God I forbear to acquaint you with any more for if I should relate all I have seen several sheets would not contain it I have declared what I was an Eye-witness too but whether the persons that have received that immediate relief continue well I cannot inform you at present but perhaps hereafter I may tell you my thoughts why many as it is reported relapse Having oft had the opportunity of being in his company with some persons of no ordinary quality I am the better able to give a Character of him I find him to be a person of a brave gentile humour of a free carriage and disposition one as being not over-precise to be termed a Zelot so not of so large a latitude as to deserve that of a debauched person which some in the world have undeservedly given him for I have dined several times where he hath been and I never observed other but great moderation both as to eating and drinking nor did I ever hear him swear or see him passionate although cause sufficient hath been given in my hearing to move a person not indued with a more than ordinary patience I hope Dear Friend you are so assured of my reality that nothing could induce me to this were I not so great an Assertor and Vindicator of Truth let it tend never so much to my disadvantage I take leave and subscribe SIR Your affectionate real Friend c. Jer. Astel March 10. 1666. A Postscript to Mr. Boyle's Letter SIR NOt knowing whether I may have the happiness to see you again before I return for Ireland I thought fit to let you know That I have left the Original Testimonials in the hands of Mr. Starkey the Stationer to be delivered unto you that you may see others that are any wise scrupulous may be satisfied that the Printed Certificates are verbatim the same with them For your many and great Civilities I heartily thank you and do desire you to give my humble service to those Honourable Gentlemen of Gresham Colledge who were pleased to afford me the Honour of their Company at Lincolns-Inn-fields and elsewhere I know both your self and they have so much Candour Nobleness and Ingenuity as not to Condemne or Censure me as others have done for that Liberty and Freedom in my Carriage void of Offence I hope which I use having not been acquainted with that severe and morose manner of Converse unto which some tye up themselves I thank God I carry about me an open clear and harmless Breast free from base Designs Hypocrisie or Fraud so that I need not a cover pretence or colour and I hope the Divine Goodness will in great mercy over-look my Failings and Imperfections and of his own Grace regard the simplicity and integrity of my heart which rejoyceth in nothing more than in doing of good and imploying my self as God shall enable me in helping persons in misery towards whom I find in my self tenderness of mind a hearty compassion and a ready disposition to try the utmost of my Endeavours for their ease and relief in which service as I have my recompence so in the good effects of it my satisfaction judging it better than my being in the world to be instrumental for good and to be serviceable to mankind I shall add no more but my hearty Prayers for your eternal happiness who am faithfully devoted Most Honoured and Worthy Sir Your most affectionate and humble servant Valentine Greatrak's May 5. 1666. FINIS

Cestriens Next as to my Education in the ensuing part of my Letter you shall receive a Refutation sufficient to convince you of the untruth which this stranger to my Breeding charges me with Then passing by many other of his Assertions not worth the taking notice of nor having the least colour of truth in them I come to page 17. wherein he charges me with swearing by my Maker at Mr. Cressets house in Charter-house-yard an Oath which never was heard to come out of my mouth But if you observe the Author of that Report is as nameless as his Book and Mr. Cresset who with several others was present all the while I was in his House hearing of that falshood fastened on me hath herewith also sent you his Testimonial to the contrary writ with his own hand in the following words Whereas in a Pamphlet lately Printed Entituled Wonders no Miracles the Author thereof charges Mr. Valentine Greatrak's to have sworn at my House in Charter-house-yard by his Maker I do hereby Testifie That I was continually by him whilst he was in my House vnless when he was in his Bed and went with him from my House to the Old-baily that day that the Author alledgeth he did swear the said Oath and I did never hear him swear the same Oath nor any other whatsoever either on that said day or in my House nor at any other time or in any other place whatsoever Witness my Hand this 5th of May 1666. John Cressett Then he charges me in pag. ibid. with being a Good Fellow according to his sense and having converse with Women notoriously scandalous and also with many fallacies put upon poor people as to the place of my abode and several other Things as true as these To which my Answer is That there is no Person that knows me but will acquit me of being excessive either in Eating or Drinking neither was I ever charged or suspected till by this Gentleman who puts his Name to nothing nor seems to care what he says of Man Woman or Child to be incontinent with Women or to have to do with any but my Wife in all my Life-time Then as to the fallacies put upon poor people as to the place of my abode you your Self can acquit me of that calumny who have been pleas'd oftentimes to do me the Honour with several other Honourable Reverend and Worthy Persons to come to Lincolns-Inn-Fields whither for several Weeks I repaired five days in the Week where I laid my Hands on all that came without regard of Persons that People might not be disappointed in hunting me up and down And farther to shew you the dis-ingenuity of this Person I went to him who was reported the Author of that Pamphlet with Dr. Whitchcot and Dr. Cudworth my honoured Friends who were pleas'd to afford me the favour of their Company and reason'd with the Gentleman about several Things he charged me with being guilty of in his Book and desired before them to know whether he knew me that he gave such a Character of me or whether this practise of his in slandering of a Stranger and an innocent person for ought he knew were according to the rule of the Gospel or that of Moral Honesty And also I told him that his carriage in this Affair could not but subject him to the censure of wise men who would lie inveying in his Closet by judging and condemning what he knew not and denying the verity of what was obvious to all persons that had the curiosity of coming when as he might purchase the knowledge of truth by an occular Testimony in repairing to the house which I frequented in Lincolns-Inn-fields where I promised to make way for him and to accommodate him with a convenient place and afterwards when he had informed himself he might be able to relate the truth of things to others since he had such an itching desire to Write At length the honest Gent. promised that he would come but never did fearing that by the glass of truth there he might discover the deformity of his carriage and be forced to a recantation But to proceed further In Page 20. he useth these words He takes nothing in publick himself but it hath cost some good round sums of money to his Followers who are observed to be noted Projectors Jo. Terrill Gent. expending 100 l. to come at him James Birion 40 l. and William Fettyplace 60 l. c. To this I Answer That he speaks Truth in saying that I take nothing in Publick but in saying That it hath cost some good round sums of money to his Followers who are observed to be noted Projectors he says an unhandsome untruth known to many thousands for I never suffered nor would keep any Servant that I knew would take a farthing of any one that comes to me Nor have I any Follower but a simple Youth whom I never suffered to be a Door-keeper to avoid scandal And as for Jo Terrill Ja. Birion and William Fettyplace I say I know them not by their Names nor did I ever hear of them but in his Book who is their Godfather I believe Then in the same page he saith I borrow money of my Patients though I take none in answer to which I call God of Heaven to witness I never borrowed so much as one farthing to the best of my remembrance in my life nor does he instance in one nor can any man living Then in the same page you may further observe how like a Deceiver he speaks What if it be proved that such as he have those that maintain them and hire them Patients and in the 21 page he chargeth me in these Terms And the dullest nose may smell the matter when he heareth this tradition of him That being a Member of an Independent Church He was excommunicated thence for pretending to the gift of Heaven and thereupon his Gift left him untill being absolved he was re-admitted at once to his Church-priviledge and his gift To which I answer That I never was a Member of an Independent Church in my life and so could not be excommunicated by them neither do I acknowledge any such Power in such a Church But passing by many of his Invectives which his own conscience if he has any cannot but smite him for being guilty of so many groundless and simple untruths I come to that of the 22. page where he says That its evident that this whole Affair is but a Cheat and that there is not a Man Woman or Child that may be trusted and are well known that is the better for him Which Reproach your Honour I am sure as well as thousands else knows to be otherwise and therefore I think it needless to say any thing more to this particular than to refer the Reader to the undeniable Testimonials following Then in Page 23. on which single Instance this Architect builds so large a Structure he says I Launced a poor man troubled with a