Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	faith_n	spirit_n	word_n	6,961	5	4.2967	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A86486	The true guide: or, A short treatise wherein is shewed how the weakest Christian may be able to discerne the true way of the spirit of God, from all false and erroneous ways. Very usefull and necessary for weake Christians, that are willing to know and be led in the truth, in these distracted times, wherein so many errours and divisions abound. / By a lover of the truth, R.H. Viewed and approved by diverse worthy ministers of the city of London. Printed according to order.	Hollingworth, Richard, 1607-1656.	1646 (1646)	Wing H2499; Thomason E344_8; Thomason E375_2; ESTC R200956	13,028	21

THE TRUE GUIDE OR A short Treatise wherein is shewed how the weakest Christian may be able to discerne the true way of the Spirit of God from all false and erroneous ways Very usefull and necessary for weake Christians that are willing to know and be led in the truth in these distracted times wherein so many Errours and Divisions abound By a lover of the Truth R.H. Viewed and approved by diverse worthy Ministers of the City of LONDON Psal 119.128 I esteemed thy precepts concerning all things to be right and I hate every false way Printed according to Order LONDON Printed for Henry Shephard at the signe of the Bible in Tower-Street 1646. To THE READER Christian Reader THe causes of errour in Religion are many and various some there are who being possessed with a giddinesse of spirit will not rest satisfied with necessary and saving truths others are misled by Enthusiasms and their own private spirits Some erre by reason of the weaknesse of their judgements and not attending to them that can better informe them but above all what Christ once said to the Jews was and ever will be true Men erre not knowing the Scripture Never was there better opportunity never more plentiful powerfull means then at this day in many places to acquire saving knowledge and never did private opinion or strange Heterodoxie more prevail The custome is every where now to contend and quarrel about every part of Divinity and he is no body that cannot carp at wrangle against almost every truth So that all our Practicall Divinity is turnd into Polemicall the power of godlines runs out into disputes and those truths which formerly seemed most Orthodox plain and unquestionable are now by the crotchets of mens brains spun but into such divisions and become so knotty and prickly that a man knows not where to fasten on them or how to hold them but he is in danger to prick his fingers with one thorny objection other It is therefore high time for all that are the sincere lovers of peace and truth and that have any ability to manage Gods Cause to gird up their loines to put on their Arms and to appear in the defence of truth by word or writing by conference or calling on the name of God by one means or other according as occasions and opportunities invite least Satans vigilancie rest in judgement against us for our negligence There must be Heresies saith the Apostle that those which are approved may be made manifest among you 1 Cor. 11.19 Hence Christs caveat Mat. 7.15 16. Beware of false Prophets c. And St. John saith believe not every spirit but try the spirits whether they be of God because many false Prophets are gone out into the world 1 Joh. 4.1 For the Devill is Gods ape and will counterfeit very cunningly and therefore where God hath his Church the Devill hath his Chappel as saith the Proverb Now amongst all other Heresies and errors those seem to be most dangerous which are most plausible and pleasing to flesh and bloud if withall they have some neer allyance or sem●lance with saving truth and passe under specious titles for they are like unto sweet poysons which are easily taken down or Anodynes which bring men asleep and keep them from feeling their misery but cannot heal they remove the pain but not the disease such ●●…e the errours that are here encountered in this small Treatise vented and broach'd under pretence of greater light and opposing the ways of Anti-Christ and crying down his limbs advancing Free-grace setting up Christ alone c. specious pretences Wheras upon due enquiry it will be found that the authors and abetters of these Novall opinions have not received a clearer light but having forsaken the true light of Gods Word are miserably misled by the Ignis fatuus of their own brain And whilst they would seem to exalt Christ alone and magnifie Free-grace they shew themselves enemies unto grace and strong abetters of carnall liberty and so whilst they would seem to be the onely Gospellers they are indeed apparant Gospel-spillers And under a pretence of crying down Anti-Christ and eradicating his limbs they disable disgrace and as much as in them lies labour to root out the most faithfull and powerfull Ministers of the Gospel whose labours and lives have always advanced the Kingdom of Christ and as so many valiant Davids laid the Goliah of Rome groveling on the ground and now ready to expire The truth of this this small Enchiridion will in part manifest to those that contend for truth not victory who are wise to sobriety not ambitious of contention All that I crave of thee Good Reader is this Read without prejudice examine each matter throughly and judge impartially I say no more but prove and approve and the Lord direct all our hearts into the knowledge and love of the truth So prayes he that is an unfained lover of peace and truth G. D. ROM 8.14 For as many as are led by the spirit of God they are the sons of God FOr explanation of these words we will shew 1 What is meant by the Sons of God 2 What is meant by the Spirit of God 3 What it is to be lead by the Spirit of God First By sons are meant sons of grace that have received Christ by faith John 1.12 Gal. 3.26 Yet are all the children of God by faith in Christ Secondly by the Spirit of God is meant the Holy Ghost the third person in Trinity that spirit of truth that leads into-all truth John 16.13 That Spirit that enlightneth that sanctifieth that enableth us in all duties Thirdly to be led by the Spirit is to yield to the motions rules directions and persuasions of the spirit either inward or outward and ministeriall Now the observations from those words might be many First that we are naturally blind and cannot see much lesse are we able to walk in the ways of God without a Guide o● Leader Secondly that there be many false guides or leaders as sence and carnall reason and nor these only but there are erroneous false and seducing spirits they have been and now are especially in this last age of the World as is manifest in Scripture as in Mat. 24.5 Christ saith Many shal come in my name saying I am Christ and shall deceive many V. 11.23 24. Then if any shall say unto you Lo here is Christ or there Believe it not For there shall arise false christs and false prophets and shall shew great signes and wonders insomuch that if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect Behold I have told you before Wherefore if they shall say unto you Behold he is in the Desert go not forth Behold he is in the secret chambers believe it not Ver. 25 26. So in 2 Pet. 1 2. As there were false teachers among them So there shall be false teachers among you which shall bring in damnable heresies c.

and many shall follow their pernitious ways by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evill spoken of so in 1 Tim. 4.1 The spirit speaketh expresly that in the later times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of Devils So in 2 Tim. 4.3.4 The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine but after their own lusts they shall heap unto themselves teachers having itching eares and they shall turn away their eares front the truth and shall be turned to sablés So Acts 20.30 Of your own s●●ves shall 〈◊〉 arise speaking perverse things to draw Disciples after them 1 Cir. 11.10 For their must be heresies among you that they that are approved may be made manifest among you So that yee may see by these and other Scriptures its manifest there be false leaders seducing spirits now among us therefore it is good to be carefull by whom we are led but as many as are led by she spirit of God they are the sons of God Thirdly but the thing mainly intended is this That they and they onely that are the sons of God are led by the spirit of God as in this Chapter and 4 Verses Gal. 5.18 If yee be be led by the spirit of God ye are not under the law but under grace for they only have the promise Esay 30.21 Thou shalt heare a word behind thee saying This is the way walk in it So John 16.13 I will send you the spirit of truth and he shall lead you into all truth 1 John 2. 27. That anointing shall teach you all things c. We would all be counted the sons of God but who is our guide what spirit are we led by Now the most are led by an erroneous spirit the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience Ephes 2.2 That old Serpent the Devil that deceiveth the whole world Revel 12.9 he is called somtimes the spirit of errour sometimes a seducing spirit somtimes the spirit of Antichrist and such like but they all proceed from that old serpent the Devill Consider further what instruments these spirits work by not only by hypocrites such as can transform themselves into Angels of light and the Apostles of Christ as you may see 2 Cor. 11.13 14. but they can through Gods permission make use of Gods people of Prophets and Apostles the more to seduce and deceive others by and by this meanes they do marvellously prevail So the old Prophet deceived the young Prophet which all the world before could not remove from the Word of the Lord till the old Prophet came under the colour of a new light or revelation from heaven and thereby hee prevailed with the Prophet and drew him from the commandement of the Lord but it cost the good man his life as you may see 1 Kings 13.18 24. So Satan makes use of Peter to tempt Christ Matth. 16.22 See how this spirit prevailed by Peters example to draw many to seperate Gal. 2.12 insomuch that Barnabas a man full of the holy Ghost was led away with them even so this spirit prevails now by the example of some eminent men to seperate from the publike Ministery and other Ordinances of God but as many as are the sons of God they are led by the spirit of God Well you heare what spirits and Leaders there be and what instruments they make use of and how they have prevaild deceived and misled many Loving friends it marvellously behoves us to look to our selves and not to believe every spirit but to try the spirits whether they be of God or no. Q. How may one know the spirit of truth from the spirit of errour A. By the fruits of the spirit Gal. 5.20 and they are these love joy peace long-suffering gentlenesse goodnesse faith meeknesse temperance now where the spirit of God is there are these fruits in some measure But if you see men given to hatred variance emulation wrath strife sedition heresies and envyings you may know such are led by the flesh the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience therefore be not led by such spirits but reject them for as many as are the sons of God they are led by the spirit of God But seeing the Devill makes use not only of Hypocrites but of Gods own people and that of the most eminent in the Church of God to seduce and deceive others by as we have proved before then the main question will be Q. How we may know the motions or perswasions of the spirit of God from the m●tions or perswasions of the spirit of Satan A. 1. The motions and perswasions of the spirit of God are always from the Word of God or agreeable thereunto Ezek. 36.27 I will put my spirit within you and will cause you to walk in my statutes c. there is such an agreement betwixt them that they are put oft times one for another What the Word speaks the Holy Ghost speaks Heb. 3.7 Chap. 10.15 Wherefore the Holy Ghost saith Today if you will he are his voice c. 1 Tim. 4.1 Now the Spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits c. The spirit speaketh that the Word speaketh for the spirit of God endicted the Scriptures 2 Pet. 1.21 Ephes 6.17 Then try all motions or perswasions by the Word Esay 8.20 To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them Therefore when Peter would have perswaded Christ from suffering Christ would not be led by that spirit but saith Get thee behind me Satan because it was contrary to the Scripture So the when the Disciples would command fire from Heaven to consume the Samaritans Christ rejects their motion and told them they knew not what spirit they were led by because it was contrary to the Word of God which bids Avenge not your selves but give place unto wrath Therefore if any shall perswade you to seperate from the people of God or the Ordinances of God know this perswasion comes not from him that calleth you as Paul told the Galathians when they were seduced from the truth they had formerly walked in Gal. 5.1 8. therefore to be rejected because it is contrary to the Scriptures Heb. 10.25 Not forsaking the assembling your selves together as the manner of some is 1 John 2.9 They went out from us because they were not of us c. If any shall perswade you from the publike and faithfull Ministery of the Word reject it for it is a spirit of errour 1 Joh. 4.6 We are of God he that knoweth God heareth us hee that is not of God heareth us not hereby wee know the spirit of truth and the spirit of errour So if any shall perswade you from the Sacrament it is not from the spirit of God but of errour for Christ commands me to do this in

remembrance of him So if any shall perswade you from praying telling you God hath decreed what he will do and you cannot change the mind of God not alter his decree by your prayers and so from craving a blessing on the creatures or from giving thanks after meat know this is not Gods spirit but from Satan Therefore say to such as Christ to Peter Get thee behinde me Satan thou art an offence to me for these motions are contrary to these Scriptures 1 Thess 5.17 James 1.5 Matth. 7.7 to 12. 1 Tim 4.4 5. Deut. 8.10 When thou hast eaten and filled thyself thou shalt blesse the Lord thy God c. Q. 3. Then may I be led with every one that brings Scripture A. No not always for none are readier to produce Scriptures then seducers Q. How then shall I know the difference A. Observe these two rules to know deceivers by First those that are deceivers they wil practise many things they have no rule from Scripture for as the old Prophet 1 Kings 13. had no rule from Scripture to cause the young Prophet to eat and drink but a pretended revelation So what warrant out of Scripture have some to deny the children of believers Baptisme So what Scripture have any for crying down the publike Ministery of the Word of God to cry down praying and singing of Psalms in the publick what Scripture have any to raile against the Parliament and Synod whereas Michael the Archangell durst not raile against the Devill but said The Lord rebuke thee Jude 9. What Scripture have any to cry downe Superiority and Inferiority that neither Magistrates Masters nor Fathers shall command those that are under them to serve the Lord contrary to these Scriptures 2 Chron. 33.16 Manusses commanded all Judah to serve the Lord God of Israell so did Josiah 2 Chron. 34.33 He made all Israell to serve the Lord their God So Gen. 18.19 I know Abraham that he will command his children and his houshold after him that they shall keep the ways of the Lord Josh 24.15 Luke 14.25 But secondly if they seem to bring Scripture try whether that sence they give of the Scripture they bring do not contradict other Scriptures if it do reject it it comes from the spirit of errour The Devill when hee tempted Christ brought Scripture out of Psal 91.12 but it was directly against another Scripture as hee applyed it as you may see Deut. 6.16 which was cited by our Saviour Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God as some would have us tempt God in neglecting the means as heating praying the Sacraments but it comes from the same spirit as tempted Christ So some that are contentious will bring Jude 3. and Matth. 11.12 Contend for the faith The violent take it by force But as they apply them they plainly contradict other Scriptures as Philip. 2.3 Let nothing be d●ne through contention or vain-glory 2 Tim. 2.23 The holy Ghost bids us to avoid such questions as ingender strife For the servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle unto all men apt to teach patient c. so Titus 3.9 1 Cor. 11.16 If any man be contentious we have no such custome neither the Churches of God Chap. 14.33 God is not the author of tumult or unqu●etnesse but of peace in all the Churches of the Saints therefore contentious spirits are not from God but are earthly sensuall and devillish James 3.14 15. Therefore if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts rejoyce not neither be lyers against the truth saith the spirit of God But as many as are led by the spirit and Word of God they are the sonnes of God 2 Another way to try the Spirits may be this Those motions or perswasions that are pleasing to the flesh and take most with naturall men are not from the spirit of God but from Satan for the spirit lusteth against the flesh and the flesh lusteth against the Spirit for these are contrary the one to the other Gal 5.17 1 Cor. 2.14 The naturall man cannot receive the things that are of God Observe then from whence these motions come that tend to the neglect of the Sabboth and of the means of grace and casting off the Law as no rule to walke by and would not be under command of superiours but would have the liberty of their conscience to doe or hold what they list These are pleasing to the flesh and are received and imbraced by meer naturall men and therefore cannot be of the spirit of God and to be rejected as erronious and devillish What spirit think you were they led by in Mal. 3.13 14. who said It was in vain to serve God and what profit is it that we have kept his Ordinances and that we have walked mournfully before him and is not this spirit among us still that dare thus to speak against God for so God chargeth them and what is it but to charge the onely wise God who is wisdome itselfe with folly in ordaining and setting up Ordinances in his Church that are of no profit therefore consider it well and be not led by such spirits least you be found fighters against God But those motions that moves you to use and reverence all Gods Ordinances and to watch over your hearts and wayes to sanctifie the Sabboth to mortifie sin to fast and pray and give thanks for every mercy to walk according to the law and word of God in all things that moves to love and peace and holinesse and such like Quench not these motions but entertain obey and follow and be led by them for they are the motions of the Spirit of God and as many as are led by the spirit of God they are the sonnes of God Now the Spirit bids you to stand fast in the truth you have been taught and be not like children tossed to and fro with every winde of Doctrine by the cunning craftinesse of men whereby they ly in wait to deceive Ephes 4.14 But hold fast the form of words yee have been taught 2 Tim. 1.13 So if any shall say Lo here is Christ in the desart believe it not if they say he is in the secret chambers goe not after them Mat. 24.26 Nay the Spirit of God bids you to marke them that cause divisions and offences among you contrary to the Doctrine that yee have learned and avoid them Rom. 16.17 Now if you obey these and be led by them the same spirit will witnesse with you that you are the sonnes of God Rom. 8.16 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God but if you will not obey and be led by these motions and directions of the Spirit of God then you resist the Spirit of God as those in Act. 7.57 Take heed of sinning against the Spirit of Ood consider the words of our Saviour Mar. 3.28 All manner of sins and blasphemies shall be forgiven to the sonnes of men