Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	great_a	lord_n	way_n	3,966	5	4.6102	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A56573	The testimony of that dear and faithful man, John Matern who had lived six years and faithfully served the Lord in his vocation in the family of C. T. now dwelling at Edmonton in Middlesex. Also, other blessed testimonies concerning him, and the truth itself; with something concerning his blessed condition in the time of his sickness, and when he was near his departure. With several testimonies of sensible children who had been under his tuition. Published that God may have his glory in preserving his faithful ones faithful to the end. A. P.	Matern, John, 1639 or 40-1680.; Paterson, A., Quaker.; Taylor, Christopher, ca. 1615-1686. aut	1680 (1680)	Wing P683; ESTC R217118	17,546	37

who is the Light and Life of our Souls may never forget it nor give him any occasion to Withdraw his Love and Mercy from us but that his Holy and blessed Work of Regeneration and Renovation of our minde as it is begun by his Holy and Glolious Power it also may be carried on by the same that daily we may Witness an increase with the increase of the Lord and a thorow change in our inward Man from Glory to Glory as by the Spirit of the Lord that thus his Praises may be perfected out of the Mouths of Babes and Sucklings unto which he hath made known himself in his Heavenly Light and Life Mercy and Power Grace and Truth by which many of them are come to know the things of God and of his Spiritual Kingdom revealed within them in his Holy power Righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Ghost which things are hid from the Wise and Prudent of this World because they hate and despise the Light of Jesus Christ in and through which alone they should receive the true and Saving Knowledge of God and his Son Jesus Christ whom to know is Life Eternal wherein also the operating virtue of the Living Bloud of the Son of God is onely effectually felt and Witnessed cleansing away all Sin and Iniquity unto the saving of the Soul from the Wrath to come that so an entrance may be adminstred unto it abundantly into the Everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ wherein the Righteous live with God in unspeakable Joy and full of Glory O that many of the young and tender ones here with us may be kept in the Life and Virtue Wisdom and Power of the Lord God to the confusion of many in their Earthly Wisdom and the conversion of them from their Evil wayes O thou Shepherd of Israel lead them on Gently and Tenderly and go before them out and in as a Shepherd goes before his Flock and lead them to the Green Pastures of Life that Feeding there they may have Light and Life in them and that they may have it more abundantly and by it become an Eternal Excellency to thee and a Joy of many Generations O Lord I humbly beseech thee Bless our Godly undertakings and indue us with thy Heavenly Wisdom that we may bring them up in the nurture and admonition of thee O Bless this Family here and all the Families of thine inheritance every where with Heavenly and Spiritual Blessings in thy Son Christ Iesus O Lord keep keep and preserve me every one of us that have tasted of the sweet Love and Heavenly Power by which our Souls have been reached convinced and converted faithful unto thy self keep us always in a Living Sence of thy manifold mercies and tender Love to us that we may live in thy holy Fear and never return to folly any more but walk low and humble with thee our God and tender Father in Christ Iesus O Lord establish our Hearts with thytruth that we may never depart from thee Season our Souls with thy Holy Powerful Word of Grace that all our Words and Works may be Savoury and good for the use of Edifying strengthen our inward man with might by thy Spirit that under thy banner of Love we may fight the good fight of faith and keep a good Conscience and finish our course with joy and receive the Crown of Righteousness which is laid up for all them that love thy appearance in thy Heavenly Light So O Lord for all thy goodness and mercys and benefits both Temporal and Spiritual bestowed upon me and our Family my Soul praises and glorifies exaltes and magnifies thy holy Name Glory and Honour Wisdom and Power be unto thee who art God over all blessed for ever and for evermore Amen Edmonton the 24th of the 6 Month 1680. J. Matoi● He died about 7 Days after that he brought in his Testimony and caused it to be read amongst the Scholars My most Loving and Endeared Friend and Colleague John Matern being taken ill of a Feaver the 24th of the 6 Month 80. was called out of this Life the 1st day of the 7 Month a little after the 7 hour in the Afternoon THis is my Testimony and belief concerning him that he is entred into everlasting favour with the Lord who in his life-time much regarded the Honour of his Maker and it was the delight of his Soul to be imployed either amongst young or old in his Fathers business it was his hearts delight and Souls great joy to have the oppertunity to benefit others He was a Man very much Dead to the World the sense whereof I felt Livingly upon my Spirit at present and I hope the comfortable fellowship and Heart-gladding society that I have had with him for these three years and more and that wherein we have mutually enjoyed in one another shall never be forgotten by me but shall be matter of Praise and Thanksgiving to the God of true unity who was pleased to bless us together and work up our Spirits into an oneness so that I may truly say my Dear Friend to my knowledge was never exercised one way or another with sorrow or grief but my Soul was engaged to sympathize with him and to feel the weight of his Burthens and then we both breathed together to the God of Grace whose Mercies are infinite till he in his tender Bowels of compassion was pleased to afford ease and Relief And as in his Life-time we were Indisolveably knit together in our Spirits so that at his Death our Loves were not abated but much more Large then ever About Four hours before he departed we kept our Family Meeting in the room where he Lay i● being his desire and there Lovingly together we enjoyed one another in the Lord to the melting and tendring of I believe the hearts of all that were present And in the time of the Meeting he was filled with Divine praises and Heavenly Hymns and a Heavenly presence was felt supporting his Spirit all the time of his Sickness but more especially during the time of the Meeting so that he was first exercised in Singing Praises to the Lord and in magnifying his great Power evidenced in himself and in this Family his cryes were strong tha● the Lord might carry on his Blessed work begun in this Family and he besought the Lord to prosper his truth daily more and more every where till all were Subjected thereunto which he declared should come to pass he likewise confessed the many Singular favours he had Partaken of in this Eamily and as it were with regret bemoaned his absence from it so long that he should have so long wandered not knowing his place and service in the Body When the Children were all sitting round about him in the Meeting his Heart was open and large towards them in exhorting and beseeching of them to persevere and go on in the name and authority of the mighty God and that

faithful in a few things ● will make thee ruler over many things enter thou int● the joy of the Lord Oh it is a blessed sentence to al●● them that receive it as he hath Oh how sorry h● used to be if he saw any of us do amiss I can say i● would very much grieve him but when he saw an● of us do well Oh he would be glad and incourag● us to go on in the way of the Lord so I cannot bu● give him the Glory the Honour and the Praise both now for ever and evermore Ezekiel Wooley Jun. 11 years old This I have to Speak to the Praise of the Lord God and his Truth as concerning our dear Teacher John Matern HE was a man that feared the Lord and walked in his path and I can truly say the Lord was with him and the last day that he lived he lived to the praise of his name and it was his endeavour and intent as long as he lived to fear the Lord his maker and the name of the Lord was praised by him as long as he breathed in this World O that all People would arise for the name of the Lord that none may stick in the deep pit of Darkness but that they may come and fear the Lord that none may stay behind but come on with the Lord's people and walk on hand in hand with them and so press forward to the mark Christ Jesus as this man did who is gone to his rest in peace O Lord it hath pleased thee to take away one of thy Servants who served thee in uprightness of heart O Lord I humbly of thy Children thy presence ●s with us at this time and Oh pluck up the root of iniquity and throw down the great Tree of Wickedness that is growing in the hearts of Peo●●● that thy work may prosper and the light of thy countenance may shine through the Nations Oh raise up yet more Witnesses for thy self tha● all may fall down before thee and magnifie thy name who art God over all blessed for evermore William Loosvelt 12 years old O Lord thy love is unspeakable when th●● scatterest the Clouds and makest the Ram 〈◊〉 descend as upon the tender grass and visitest us with the day Spring from on high then are we constrained to praise thy name Oh thou refreshest u● from time to time for we have none in Heaven bu● thee nor in the Earth in comparison of thee O● we have fresh encouragement to follow hard after thee O thou hast often broken our hearts befor● thee the living God and haste caused abundance o● melting tears and Soul-ravishing gladness among us and a remnant can say that one day in thy Court is better then a thousand elsewhere and it is better to be a door-keeper in thy house then to dwell i● the Tents of Wickedness Oh Lord what shall w● say unto thee or what shall we render unto thee fo● thy mercyes for thy Arm of power hath been about us to this very day Thy Hand is not slackened nor thy Ear dull t● bear the Sighing of the needy thou lookest dow● upon them with an Eye of pity and compassion an● thy love is the same that ever it was unto thy Children and thy all-seeing Eye is every where and in every place to watch over them who art the watchman of Israel who never slumbers nor sleepest but feedest thy sheep and makest them to lye down in the green pastures of Life O that when we depart out of this world we may lay down our head in peace with thee as the blessed man John Matern hath done who is deceased Oh he is gone to his resting place who was faithful to the end of his dayes and when he had finished his course in this world the Lord took him into himself Oh how pleasantly ●e lay upon his Bed praising the Lord whom he served in his lfie time he made his Calling and Election sure and is at rest with the Lord his maker who aboured for our good every way and is gone to a very pleasant habitation where he will have joy for ever Mary Taylor 10 years old This is my Testimony concerning my Dear Teacher John Matern THat he was a man that feared God with the uprightness of his heart and his greatest Travel was to do the will of God making it manifest amongst us and telling us what the Lord would have us to do and exhorting us to leave off the evil of our doings to follow the Lord to fear him and it was his greatest joy if he saw any of us bring forth a Testimony for the Lord O how would it refresh him yea that he could nor forbear but must praise the Lord before he went out of the Meeting and if there were any that did grieve the Lord Spirits and Rebel against him then he would be so grieved and troubled that he could scarce take his rest upon his Bed I can truly say that he was a man that sought the well-fare of our Souls and Bodies too and he taught us with all the might he had and that faithfully and if he found out a nearer way he told it us and if there be any that have not improved their time I can truly say that the fault is theirs and nor his for he did as much as he could for us and when he was upon his Death bed he exhorted us to fear God and he Praised and Glorified the God of Heaven unto the last breath that he fetcht in this world so that the Lord hath taken this good man out of this world and he is gone to his rest in peace with the Lord Jesus Christ where is joy for ever and evermore Thomas Green 16 years old This day the Spirit of the Lord giveth me utterance that I can bear a Testimony for my deceased Teacher John Matern THis I can say of a truth he was an upright man in his generation serving God with his whole heart he had a very great care that he might teach faithfully that so he might not bring any guilt upon his conscience and moreover he had a great Travel in the Lord for us who were under his tuition that we who felt the Power of God in us and had in some measure regenerated and changed us that we might walk uprightly and according to the truth he also had a Travel for them that had not felt the Power of God to change them but were yet in rebellion against God's Spirit that they might come to feel themselves in some measure changed and his Travel was great for the prosperity of truth every where and we whom he taught find a great want of him but the Lord supplyeth it and this can I say for him that the very same day about four hours before he Dyed we had a meeting with him where he being raised up by the Power of God though very weak in body but of Perfect understanding ●e exhorted us even with

a mighty Power that most I belive I may say all were broken and tendered before the Lord and all the while I was with him he did Sing Heavenly Praises unto the Lord in the inward man and dyed in the Faith of Christ Jesus the Son of God and then his Soul ascended up to the God of Heaven and now he enjoys pleasures without end and at this time considering the manner of his Death my Soul cannot but render to the God of Heaven Glory and Dominion for ever Amen The 13th of the 7th Month 1680. Philip Dymond 14 years old A Testimony concerning my late Decensed Master John Matern HE was a man that feared the Lord and wa● very serviceable in his place and I can trul● say he was a fit Instrument in the hand of th● Lord and taught us his Scholars with all the diligence as could well be expected In his life time h● laboured through hardships that we might be educated in the truth as well as in other things and believe he dyed in the Lord and his reward follows him for assuredly the Lord did bless him an● will bless all others that lived as he did Oh that we may all walk as he did in the wa● of Christ and follow his steps for ever I can sa● with many more of my School-fellows that we ne● desir●d a better Tutor then he was When I hea● he lay upon his sick bed many times I have cried the Lord in my heart to raise him up again but hath been the will of the Lord to take him awa● and now he is at peace to all eternity John Woolley 10 years ol● This is my Testimony concerning our Dear Teacher John Matern who is lately departed out of this Earthly Tabernacle THat he was a righteous Man walking uprightly with the Lord his Maker and Creator he was a man with whom the Lord was both in his goings out and commings in this can I truly say in living experience He was an adversary to all manner of evil but he cherished the good as the apple of his Eye wherefore I am sensible that he is departed in peace and though I was not here at the day of his death yet my Soul was sensible of the goodness of the Lord towards him on his Death-Bed as praising and magnifying the name of the Lord and now I am sensible he is at rest and peace with the Lord his Maker and Creator in that desired Heaven wherein never any unclean can ever enter This was the Lord pleased to put in my heart to Write concerning our dear and well beloved Teacher who is departed and entered into the blessed rest with the God of our Fathers Abraham Isaac and Jacob world without end John Butcher 14 years old I have this to say for my Dear Teacher John Matern HE was one that lived in the fear of the Lord and when he lay upon his Death-Bed he Glorified the Lord and made a sweet melody in his Soul and at the present time we had a blessed Meeting and the presence of the Lord was amongst us and he also pleased the Lord and made a happy end for surely he made a Covenant with the Lord and I am sure he was filled with the presence of the Lord Oh he was a blessed man indeed he had made it manifest for in his life-time it was his greatst joy to see any of his Scholars grow up in the fear of the Lord and if at any time he saw the enemy to prevail over any he would with grief of heart admonish them to return and repent that they might find mercy with the Lord and beseech them to have a care least the Enemy should prevail again he also was greatly exercised if any of his Scholars did not mind their business and Learning as to the outward and would encourage them that minded the same assuredly he Preached Righteousness in his life and conversation assuredly he hath made his calling election sure now he is at rest with the Lord for he hath left a good Savour behind him and the rememberance of him is blessed he is gone to the Lord and is at peace with him for ever and evermore Margaret Rouse 12 years old This I have to say for my dear Teacher John Matern THat he was an upright true honest man one that feared God and eschewed Evil one that laboured for the good of the Souls of them that he taught he taught them inward as well as outward knowledge he was a man that spent himself much for the Lord he was a true labourer in the Lord and one that Preached his Holy name unto us and made it known but now he is gone out of this Body of Flesh O he hath laid down his Head in Peace with the Lord and is at rest with the highest in the Holy Jerusalem the City of the everlasting God I can truly say that he hath been much troubled when any of the Boyes had been disorderly and he would often exhort them to fear the Lord. O he was a Man that spent himself much for us but now he is repayed for it he would often cry unto the Lord for us that we might all fear the Lord from the least to the greatest and the last day he lived he praised the Lord and we had a Meeting in his Chamber which he desired and he did exhort us and pray the Lord for us He was a righteous man the Lord hath blessed him blessed be his name for it O how he would fight against the Devil to the praise of the Lord and honour of his name in whom he trusted and had his life and beeing Thomas Hutson 14 years old I have a few Lines to Write concerning my Dear Husband HE was an upright hearted man in his doings he served the Lord with all his Heart and was faithful in his place to every one that he was concerned with to do them good and it was his greatest delight to see truth prosper especialy amongst the young ones with whom he was concerned it was his greatest joy and satisfaction to see the Lords power breaking in upon them so that he could not but Praise and Glorifie the Lord many a time for it often upon his very Death-Bed he lay praising and glorifying of the Lord for his great mercies bestowed upon him And although I lost a dear and tender Husband who was very dear to and tender over me yet being in the Lords will I am content with the will of God being also that he now reaps the reward which many a time he travelled for and in forsacking his country and his Fathers house to come amongst a people that served the Lord with uprightness of heart he had his desire answered and what great joy and peace he departed this Life and is gone into everlasting happiness to be with the Lord for ever and evermore Rosina Matern THE END

THE TESTIMONY Of that Dear and Faithful Man JOHN MATERN Who had Lived Six Years and Faithfully served the Lord in his Vocation in the Family of C. T. now Dwelling at Edmonton in Middlesex ALSO Other Blessed Testimonies concerning Him and the TRUTH it self With something concerning his Blessed Condition in the time of his Sickness and when He was near his Departure WITH Several Testimonies of Sensible Children who had been under His Tuition Published that God may have his Glory in Preserving his Faithful ones Faithful to the end A. P. LONDON Printed and are to be S●●d by Ben. Clark in George-Yard in Lumbard-street 1680. TO THE READER DEar Friends to whose Hands these following Testimonies may come here you may see the wonderful dealings of the Lord God whose faithfulness fails neither Young nor Old who Travail in their measures for the prosperity of his blessed Truth both in their own particulars and that the Increase thereof may be great in the Earth These Testimonies both of that faithful Servant of the Lord J. M. as also of others who are considerable members of this Family together with the sensible Childrens Testimonies concerning the aforesaid Man We thought good to Publish that the Goodness Mercy and Loving Kindness of our tender and Compassionate Father may be Proclaimed in the Ears of many that through the Travelling Birth in others who at any time may have the occasion to peruse them there may Praises ascend even on this account to the God of Heaven this I believe will be the Effect that they will have in the Hearts of all Zions Favourites And not only so but the Love of God constrains us to send them abroad as so many Messages and Invitations to others who may have been under the profession of Truth for some time and yet Strangers to the Life and efficacy thereof as to leaven their Hearts and Souls with it's Savoury and Soul refreshing vertue that they may be awakened and alarmed to bestir themselves to make their Calling and Election sure while it is called to Day as the afore-mentioned Deceased Person had done There are Subjoyned some Testimonies of the more serious and sensible Children concerning their Deceased Guardian which I know will be Servicable where they come especially amongst young ones and may also be of some use to some Teachers and Instructers of Children The unprejudiced and Impartial Reader may feel and savour the Power of Truth even in these Childrens Testimonies who are but young in Years neither can it be in any probable manner supposed that they could frame such things by their own acquired Abilities but must with me confess that it is the Lords work and who can stop it or who can shut when the Lord opens and how can we sit silent and not invite others to come and share with us of that Heavenly Food the Father is pleased to hand forth unto us and that in a plentiful manner for which I render and return the Praise the Honour and the Renown of all unto Him who is Worthy God Blessed for ever Amen A. PATERSON THE TESTIMONY OF Iohn Matern c. I Cannot but Praise and Magnifie the Lord our God who in the abundance of his Love and tender Mercies hath oftentimes even to this very day Graciously Powerfully visited my Soul with the Day-spring from on high and hath livingly Refreshed my Soul with many others in our Family who in Sincerity of Heart and Mind in his Fear and Dread have quietly and patiently waited for his Loving Glorious and Powerful appearance more than they that watch for the Morning O how hath he often broken in upon our Hearts with his Holy Heavenly Almighty Power and hath tendered our Spirits before him that in the sence of his overcoming and quickning Power I have been constrained to Speak forth his Praises even admiring his goodness and mercies unto my Soul who when I was a Stranger to his Heavenly Truth going astray like a lost Sheep without a Shepherd not knowing the way to his Blessed Fold and to the Pastures of Life where he makes his flock to rest at noon watering and refreshing them with the Water of Life he was pleased in his everlasting mercy and endless goodness to follow me as the good Shepherd seeking that which was lost and not giving over till he found me wandiring from Mountain to Hill and from Hill to Mountain dry barren and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ I say the Lord in his everlasting Love and tender Bowels of compassion followed me and found me revealing himself unto me in my lost and undone State and Condition not knowing whither to go or where to rest till he opened and enlightned the Eyes of my mind in and through his Heavenly Light which he commanded to shine out of darkness by which I came to see and to know my self and him who I had often pierced with my Sins and Iniquities unto which the enemy of my Soul did lead me Captive at his will till the good Shepherd and Bishop of my Soul did unstop my Ear that I could hear his voice and knocking 's at the door of my Heart Yea in and through his Heavenly Almighty Power begot in me a willingness to forsake the Evil of my wayes and to deny my former Teachers and Leaders that caused me to Err from his Holy Heavenly word of Truth which was and i● nigh in the Heart and in the Mouth and directed me to outward things seeking the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness which was to be revealed within not in outward observances and Ceremonyes one crying loe here the other loe there leading away from the Principle of Life and Truth in the inward parts by which my Soul should have been quickened and made alive unto God Thence it came to pass that even in the strictest observation of such things as I was directed unto having a ●e●l for God but not according to the knowledge of God that I my self also directed others to the sa●● when according to the wisdom of Man and acquired natural Learning in Colladges where I was bred up I had got Learning intending to be a Priest a guide for the Blind a Light to them which are in Darkness an Instructer of the Foolish a Teacher of Babes as having got the form of the literal knowledge but destitute of the Power Life and Spirit without which I my self was Blind and Foolish Dead in Sins and Trespasses till it pleased the Lord to reveal his Son in me in his holy pure and Heavenly Light by which I came to see out of Obscurity and Darkness which was in my Heart and the vail of Iniquity which was over my Mind came to be rent by his Almighty Power that so I came to behold him whom my Soul loved not afar off but nigh in me in and through his Holy Heavenly Quickning Spirit by which my Soul was quickened and turned from Darkness to Light