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	reprove_v	2,125	5	10.3012	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A39163	A vindication of the ministers of Christ from the slander cast on them that they are house-creepers, because they sometimes preach in private houses : also proving by the Scripture who are house-creepers, and the evil they do where their corrupt doctrine is received / held forth in two sermons on 2 Tim. 3. 6., by W.E.	W. E.	1673 (1673)	Wing E44; ESTC R36132	30,217	55

his Apostles not only in the Temple and Synagogue but in divers other places to preach the Word It was justified by Christ himself Mat. 5. he preached on a Mountain Mat. 13.2 in a ship and at another time he preached by the high-way side and by Jacobs-w●ll to the Samaritane woman John 4. and afterwards to the Samaritans v. 40.41 42. And this was not only the practice of Christ but of the Apostles afterwards John 20.19.26 so that at both these times they were met together in a house So Acts 1.12.13 14. where it appears also that they met together about the Ordinances of God for it is said they continued with one accord in prayer and supplication And so Acts 10. Peter preached at Cornelius's house Acts 16.13 Paul preached at the Rivers side where God opened the heart of Lydia And again at Athens on the midst of Mars-hill Acts 17.17.22 So you see that it was the practice of Christ and his Apostles to preach in several places wheresoever Providence cast them Hence we may safely conclude That which was the Practice of Christ and his Apostles afterwards cannot be rationally supposed to be condemned by this expression of the Apostle nor was it the Apostles intent that persons should fall under the denomination of house-creepers because they taught in private places since it was use both by Christ and his Apostles Nay it is very remarkable and worthy of our observation that the Pharisees as captious as they were did not as we read lay this as a slaunder on Christ and his Apostles for teaching in such places 2. That those indeed are the persons whom the Apostle means who putting on an outward show and forme of holyness under that deceive and lead from the truth Now this will evidently appear if you view the words that we read unto you in which the Apostle doth discover them 1. That they were such that had a forme of godliness Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof For of this sort c. 2. They were such that under the forme did deceive by drawing from the truth So that when men do purposely and out of choice take such places wherein they may carry on their pernicious designs and lead persons from the truth these in the Scripture sence and the Apostles judgment are rightly termed house-creepers as the Lord Jesus Christ saith John 3.20 For every one that doth evil hateth the light neither cometh he to the light lest his deeds should be reproved Such then may be said to be creepers when they get to secret places on purpose to avoid the light that their deeds of darkness may not be discovered It is beyond all doubt that the Apostle meaneth not of such that were forced and constrained to take such places but doubtless the Apostle speaketh of those false teachers that had diffused their errours and spread themselves abroad amongst the Churches of God thinking privately to undermine them there were some of them in Corinth some in Galatia some in Philippi and Coloss also and at several other places and Jude speaketh of it to those to whom he wrote Such were ready to say after this manner What will ye not observe the Commandments of God Hath not the Lord expresly Commanded Circumcision and the forbearance of such and such meates Is not this the will of God and so by such fair words many were seduced and drawn away not being able to discover the bottom of their designs You may see how notably the Apostle speaketh to the Colossians Col. 2.16.17 18. these men pretended much to holyness and humility that they yeilded obedience to God and had his law amongst them but see what the Apostle saith v. 20. If then ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world if ye are partakers of the death of Christ what have you to do with these things You may see how the Apostle takes them off from these arguments they reasoned thus This the Law commandeth therefore we ought to do it Admit it did so saith the Apostle but now by the Death of Christ ye are free from these things you are not commanded to forbear such and such meats but of every creature you may receive the abstinence from meates was typicall and figurative but now you are taken of from these things So that the argument hath a double force If they plead the Law saith the Apostle ye are dead unto the law If they plead the practice of some that are wise men saith the Apostle Yea are dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world and then surely the traditions of men cannot bind you You are freed from the Doctrines of men i.e. such Doctrines that are not grounded upon the Word of God So that there may be fair pretences and specious shews of holyness when indeed there is no such thing Now then it appears that since this is not spoken of those that do on some occasion or other preach in private places for indeed it was the practice of Christ and his Apostles it must be spoken of those that do out of voluntary choise take such places for the furtherance of their wicked designs to entrap such that cannot discern their wiles As for instance when they urge such words as these What will you not be ruled by the Church will ye not be reconciled to the Church this availeth much with such not considering that the Church is ruled by Gods Word and what is not according to this Word there is no truth in it that whatsoever is not grounded on the Word and commanded by God is will-worship that every plant that God hath not planted shall be plucked up that things though done with never so much zeale yet is not warranted by Gods Word are unacceptable to God as you may see Zach. 7. The Jews bad observed a Fast in their 70 years captivity and now upon their return they sent Sharezer and Regemmelech to the house of God to know whether they should continue it yea or no. But see what followeth v 5.6 7. when ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month even those 70 years did ye at all fast to me even to me c. It was such a service that God had not appointed them and they going to press it on people God owned it not So that those that under a pretence of holyness do endeavour to draw souls from the truth they are those that are the house creepers yea though they preach in never so publick places For what difference is there between a Mountebanck that mounteth on a stage and by some tricks of Legerdemain deceiveth the people and one that doth it in a private place for it is deceit in both nay it is greater impudence in him that doth it publickly then in him that doth it privately So is it here I shall illustrate it by another similitude As when one cometh into another mans house with a vizard he is judged by