Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n
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A59271
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A sermon preached before the people called Quakers in the park of Southwark on the 27th day of the 9th month, called by some Nov. 1687 : wherein is contained a word concerning the penal laws and tests / by a reverend and dearly beloved sister who came from Scotland to rejoyce with us for our liberty of conscience and leave her testimony at London.
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Reverend and dearly loved sister.
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1688
(1688)
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Wing S2635; ESTC R23610
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5,377
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9
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his Head for his pains Therefore that Church that maketh the arm of Flesh her trust may be questioned whether she be the true Church or not Moses and Joshua tho they knew the truth of their Religion did not force the Children of Israel to accept of it but set life and death before them but the punishment of obstinacy they left to the Lord. Paul may plant and Apollos may water but God gives the increase He is a foolish Steward that hireth a Servant to his Master whom he knoweth he will not accept of How then can rational men force one another to accept of that Religion which they think true whilst they know that God accepteth none but those that come willingly He only can make people willing in the day of his power All the Host of Hell could not prevail with the Apostles yet soberly could they say The love of Christ constraineth us A Poet of my acquaintance compared a persecuting Church to A Golden Cup of Dragon's Poyson full Or Aaron 's Calf grown to Perillu 's Bull Which is made this or that or what you will As doth the State Affairs require it still A strange Hysteron Proteron Sad fate To see the Church the Basis of the State. Paul's Persecution tho it was zeal wrapt up in ignorance was a heinous sin before the Lord. None must do evil that good may follow He that would propagate and enlarge God's Church by Blood and Persecution is like one who under pretence of zeal would steal money to give the poor and so make his Theft the Author of his Charity The Church is Christ's Spouse the Bride the Lambs Wife he fought a duel with the Devil and Death for her his right is good Let him then be head of his own Body if any thing be interposed the Son of Righteousness is Eclipsed and darkness is over the whole Members Penal Laws and Tests are but the Patrons of Hypocrisie and the Sword of the Spirit of Antichrist Hob-goblings of Apostacy wrapt up in Sheeps Cloathing which at a distant seem innocent but approaching nearer found to be like revenous Wolves which frighten Men in the Kingdom of Darkness to sacrifice both Faith and Conscience to brazen fac'd Babylonian violence and humane power Let God then be Guardian of his own Church The Spirit of meekness is not a Spirit of outward violence but a still and calm voice One who was my Persecuter in a sober fit told me he never lik'd the Religion that was thrust in at a Man's Broad-side with the point of a Sword yet however it be the Devil is no gainer For the Palm of victory flourisheth best under the burden of Persecution when the Children of Men Lord it over God's heritage Be stedfast then and Waver not neither draw back whatsoever be your condition sweet Meats must be eaten with sour Sauce good Bees draw Hony from bitter Herbs the Rod and the Staff go well together outward Troubles are the Pravoes Spiritual which drive us within the line of the Church-militant The Lord thought it not fit to cast out all the Enemies of the Children of Israel in one year lest the Beasts of the field should prevail against them even so if we had no Temptations to drive us to the Throne of Grace and keep us on our guard we would become secure and confide in our own selves and our own bruitish and corrupt Natures would prevail against us Fear God and keep his Commandments for this is the whole Duty of Man pure Religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this to visit the Fatherless and Widows in their affliction and to keep himself unspotted from the World. Let every one order his Conversation aright and strive to keep free from all known sin and to him that hath learned this lesson God will shew what further he would have done according to that of the King and Prophet David To him that ordereth his Conversation aright will I shew the Salvation of God For the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him and he will shew them his Covenant Thus it is not Sayers nor bare Believers that are justified before God and to whom he giveth the Spirit of discerning to chuse the good and refuse the evil but What Man is he that feareth the Lord him shall he teach in the Way that he shall chuse Do not err then my beloved Brethren neither give heed to the various Opinions of Men of Corrupt Minds distitute of the Truth and tost aboue with the Wind of the Times changing their Doctrin for filthy Lucar's sake and unadvisedly contradicting their former Assertions The Gospel of Christ is but one and every good gift comes down from the Father of Light with whom is no variableness nor shadow of turning Fix not your Faith to a future Contingency nor tip your belief with the turnings of Time a Poet exclaiming against this Evil saith The World 's confus'd whilâ—t in a loafty strain Each Fool doth Print the Notions of his Brain Neither give your selves to read idle Controversies though they be guilded with the Title of the Learned for by the Spirit of Antichrist under the Notion of Philosophy a falsifying Glass which can represent one thing in divers shapes the World is darkned and the key of Knowledg laid by and the Kingdom of Heaven shut up according to that of the Prophet Thy Wisdom and thy Knowledg it hath peruerted thee a Woman once going to be burnt at the Stake for being a Christian answered those who would by Arguments perswaded her to renounce her Religion I cannot dispute for Christ but I can die for Christ Be ready then like this Woman rather to suffer then by Seditious Arguments to give offence Finally My Beloved Lambs Let your Moderation be known unto all Men the Lord is at hand For he that walketh uprightly walketh surely Give no offence But submit your selves to every Ordinance of Man for the Lord's sake whither it be to the King as supream Or unto Governours as unto them that are sent by him for the Punishment of evil doers and for the Praise of them that do well Had our Noble and Heroick King stood out against that Principle that perswaded him to the Religion he now Professes he had been much to blame but now considering his Courage which hath leap'd over the Wall of Worldly Temptations and stumbling Block of the feat of losing his Crown and Kindom he is a greater Conquerour then Alexander the Great and more Powerful then any of his Ancestors It is the Lord's work and doing therefore let no Man grudge or repine For the Powers that be are ordained of GOD Whosoever therefore resisteth the Power resisteth the Ordinance of God. Therefore with the Apostle Honour all Men Love the Brother-Hood Fear God Honour the KING Be charitable in Opinion and Judge no Man especially these that are without Paul was much dejected to think that the Israelites his Kinsfolk should not be Saved but after serious and deep Meditation he cryeth out as with a Plaudite God hath shut them all up together in unbelief that he might have Mercy upon them all O the depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God! How unsearehable are his Judgments and his Waies past finding out It is very observable that the Apostle telleth that after the Elected Israelites were sealed in the Fore heads be saw a great Multitude which no Man could Number of all Nations and Kindreds and People and Tongues which stood before the Throne and before the Lamb cloathed with White Robes and Palms in their hands Grace and Peace then be upon all the Israel of God and all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in Sincerity for there is neither Greek nor Jew Circumcision nor Uncircumcision Barbarian Scythian Bond nor Free but Christ is all and in all Now to him whose Kingdom is Vbiquity and whose Duration is Eternity God all sufficient who only is able to keep you Spotless and present you before the Throne of his Grace with exceeding great Joy and do abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the Power that worketh in us he Glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all Ages World without end Amen THE END