Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	deed_n	light_n	manifest_a	2,272	5	9.7572	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A42064	The triall of religions with cautions to the members of the Reformed Church against defection to the Roman / by Fran. Gregory ...	Gregory, Francis, 1625?-1707.	1674 (1674)	Wing G1907; ESTC R20206	37,229	70

to continue the Defender of that Faith which past all per adventure is truly Ancient and Apostolicall II. Consider what abundant cause we have to be jealous of that Religion which will by no means submit to this great Command in the Text which fears to be examined and dares not stand the Test Certainly we have all the reason in the world to suspect that Religion which doth so manifestly suspect it self 'T is a great Argument that a man doth doubt his Cause and question its merit when he sheweth himself exceeding loath to come to a Trial and 't is a shrewd sign that Wares are corrupt and naught when they are produced and shewed onely in the dark What our Blessed Saviour Joh. 3.21 saith of Persons may fitly be said of Religions too He that doeth truth cometh to the light that his deeds may be made manifest The man that is honest vertuous and learned doth rather hope then fear to be searched into but he that constantly lurks in corners and walks under a disguise doth give the world sufficient ground to suspect that he is some broken Bankrupt or Knave 'T is thus with Religions too That Religion which dares appeal to the Tribunal of God and man that Religion which desires to be examined by Scriptures Councils and Fathers that Religion which doth publickly expose all its Doctrines and doth not onely allow all its friends but provokes its utmost enemies to fift and try them 't is easie to think that such a Religion is sound right and true 't is full weight that fears not the Scales and right metall that doth not dread the Touchstone But now if there be such a Religion found within the Church that is jealous of it self that fears its own Proselytes that dares not endure the Scrutiny no not of its own friends have we not a sufficient reason to suspect it Now shall I tell you such is the Religion of the Roman Church which dares not suffer its own Members so much as once to peep into the Bible lest perhaps that clear and Sacred Glass should immediately represent even to vulgar eyes those foul and by them as yet undiscerned Spots which that corrupt and scabby Religion hath upon its Face I remember Chemnitius who hath somewhat narrowly enquired into the Council of Trent and discovered to the world the nakedness of their Decrees is for that very Reason styled not a Saucy fellow but a down-right Heretick and so for making some considerable Inquisition into their Religion was thought to deserve at least their Great one As for the Religion of the Reformed Church 't is otherwise with us the examination of our Doctrines is not onely allowed but required too we put the Scales into your hands and bid you weigh them we set the Touchstone before your eye and bid you try them we translate we print we put the Bible into your bosom and bid you thence examine what our Church doth hold what our Ministers do preach and what you your selves must believe and doe I can tell you this fair dealing is not to be found at Rome no there the Holy Bible that dangerous Book must be withheld And the truth is though there be Sin and Sacrilege in their so doing yet there is a great deal of Craft and Policy too for where the Cause is naught if there be some material Witness whose Testimony will certainly overthrow it if he cannot be bribed 't is great Prudence to remove him out of the way And this course takes the Roman Church 't is that miserable Shift which a bad Cause drives them to what ever comes of it the Scriptures must be withdrawn for should they permit their people to peruse them they have just cause to fear that at first sight they would dislike such and such gainfull Doctrines and upon a serious review abjure them quite And upon this score do they find themselves necessitated as to withdraw the Bible so likewise basely to corrupt the most Ancient Councils and Fathers acting methinks like some knavish Merchant who sells bad Wares and that by false Weights and Measures and therefore is concerned to see that there be no Standard near him What is the great Axiome of the Roman Church Estius a Friend Champion and Son of theirs doth thus inform us 2. Thes 5.21 Tenendum quod tenet Ecclesia What the Church believes what the Church requires i. e. whatever the Pope and his Council thinks fit that and onely that without more adoe must be believed and done 'T is evident that they require little more of their Proselytes then a bare implicit Faith and a blind Obedience And that they ground upon this fond Presumption and rotten Principle That their Councils at least if confirmed by the Pope cannot erre how vicious soever the Pope may be in his Conversation yet when he sits in Cathedra in his Chair he must be Infallible in his Judgment still as if the Golden Mitre and triple Crown which adorn his Head must needs inspire it too But if these things be so indeed what need they fear the severest Trial If Councils cannot erre what need they fear the strictest Search If the Pope be really Infallible what need he dread the closest Scrutiny Search the Scriptures saith Christ himself to all his Hearers Search not the Scriptures saith his pretended Vicar and yet Infallible Try the spirits saith the Apostle Try not the spirits saith the Roman Bishop and yet Infallible Prove all things saith Saint Paul Prove nothing saith the Successour of Saint Peter and yet Infallible No they manage a bad Cause that are afraid to see it opened 'T is not Religion and Conscience but Craft Guilt and Fear that make them withdraw the Bible and so decline a Trial for had but the poor people that live under the Tyranny of Rome liberty means and knowledge to examine those Doctrines which now they are constrained to take up upon Trust and were but the Princes of Europe whom the Pope hath sometimes used and still accounts as his Slaves and Vassals were they but once at leisure to mind the things of God and the Concerns of his Church would they but once impartially and throughly examine matters of Religion and bring them to the Rule we should quickly see the Pope unmasked Kings undeceived and the whole Christian world become Protestant And as this should be the subject of our earnest Prayers so must the Duty required in the Text be the matter of our Obedience too what the Protestant asserts what the Papist pretends examine both The Grand difference betwixt us and them lieth in their affirming and our denying the Doctrines of Infallibility Transubstantiation Purgatory Indulgencies Invocation of Saints Adoration of Images works of Merit and Supererogation c. Now if any of these or the like Doctrines shall be commended to you by the plausible Insinuations of some subtle Jesuit O remember what my Text commands Prove all things bring them to your Bibles