Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	heart_n	spirit_n	word_n	8,255	5	4.2520	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A84229	The examiner defended, in a fair and sober answer to the two and twenty questions which lately examined the author of Zeal examined, in this answer are (not unseasonably) touched, Christ's interest in this and all nations. Christ's interest, and the Commonweals, as to the present affairs. The true nature of all civil states. The nature of all civil magistracie, and of the civil sword. The title of Christian magistrate. National churches and covenants. The world of religions ... The permission due to conscience ... Idolatry, and the kindes of it. The spiritual and civil sword, ... The forms of worship. The causes of destruction in nations. The violence to the souls of men; ... The dangerous consequence of such violences, ... Christ Jesus himself, ... The crying guilt of soul-rapes ... The light of nature in spirituals. The acts of Asa, Artaxerxes, &c. The fast of Nineveh. The conscientious differences ... The justice and prudence of state-provision against all uncivilities both of popish and protestant ranters.		1652 (1652)	Wing E3732; Thomason E675_2; ESTC R206745	60,783	103

such whose either consciences or necessities cannot permit them to practice that notorious Iudaism of Tythes The Nonconformers it 's true were sued and cast and paid but they were never so torn with the three-tooth'd Hook of Elies SOns the Treble da mages and oppressions I as therefore shat Grace what Godliness that is that teacheth us after all our our former sins and judgements and deliverances and vows to stop our Eares from the oppressed their Cries their Teares their Consciences and to imagine that our Commonweal our parliament our Counsel our Commonweal our parliament our Counsel our Army our Navy must prosper in our most knowne oppressings of Him whose is all power in Heaven and Earth the Son of God Christ Iesus The sum of the fourth Question Whether the Magistrate Quest 4 he not bound to love God and to advance his Glory true worship and service and the good of his people with all his might I ask Whether as before the Magistrate being the Civil officer of the People hath any Might Answ Authority or Power but what the People commit unto him And Whether any People will or can betrust such a Power to the civil magistrate to compel their Souls and consciences unto his Secondly Spiritual weapons and carnal compared Whether the Spirit of God speak not expresly that the Weapons of Christians are not Sword and Might but the Spirit and whether his Spiritual Weapons 2 Cor. 10. be not sufficiently and abundantly able and mighty to bring down every strong hold and every high thing and every imagination and thought to the obedience of Iesus Christ And Whether ever any carnal might ever did or can effect ought in Christianity but the storming of the Nations into an Antichristian Hypocrisie and Compliance Thirdly The woful effect of carnal weapons in Spirituals Whether this Principle of the Magistrates putting forth his carnal might in spirituals hath not constantly occasioned the Magistrate according to the mistakes of his owne conscience to promote Superstition and Idolatry And also hath rendred the strongest sword to be the measure and standard of all Religion in the World and the Magistrates thereof the Nimrods and mighty Hunters before the Lord Fourthly I ask Where Christ Iesus the onely Law-giver to Christians hath appointed in his holy Testament Christ Jesus not forgetful to furnish his kingdom with spiritual weapons the civil swrod the judge and defender of his Religion and Worship And why he hath not furnished his civil Magistrates of Iustice in the World with such hearts and spirits but contrarily hath call'd few of them to the profession of his Name And whether he hath not ever furnished and doth and will his spiritual Ministers and Messengers with spiritual might and power sufficiently and abundantly efficacious for the propagating of his holy Name and Truth and for the confounding of Antichrist and all Antichristians by the breath of his Mouth that two edged Sword of his Spirit Fifthly Whether Christianity did ever so flourish The sirst and last times of Constantine considered as when the people of God in the first 300 yers after Christ had no might but that of Christs spiritual weapons Ans when it pleased God to raise up Constantine to give some rest to his people from persecution whether Christianity did most flourish in the first time of Constantine when he with his Colleageue Licinius published the edict of Freedome of Religion to hissubjects or in his after-times when he compell'd all the World to Christianity but as is confest by many occasioned the World to put on the bare and empty name of Chrislian c. Lastly I ask Whether this Principle of the Magistrates employing the carnal sword or Might in spirituals The Carnal sword an Spirituats the occasion of so much bloodshed in former and in our late Wars have not in all Histories and Experience been the Firebrand which hath kindled such devouring flames of War about Religion in all both Popish and Protestant Countries And Whether it did not kindle our late Wars and occasion all the dreadfull Calamities between the Bishops and the Presbyters which proved fatal to the both And whether all these Experiences are not the voice of God out of the whirlwind to waken all the Magistrates of the World to keep within the Civil sphere of Civil Jurisdiction and Deminion The sum of the fifth Question Whether the people be not bound to pray for Magistrates Quest 5 that under them we may live a peaceable and quiet life in all Godliness and Honesty and whether the Magistrate is not bound to do that for which the People pray c. 1. I ask Answ Whether as some have urged these words godliness and honesty be rightly translated but rather upon a mistake in the Translation weakly made the ground for the Magistrates being the heeper of godliness in the first and honesty in the second Table 2. I ask The puring and pre-eminence the first Christian times To whom this direction of praying for Magistrates was given Whether they were not the first and purest Saints and those times the most glorious wherein the Saints enjoyed two such helps as no Christians ever since did First the presence of the holy Apostles or messengers of Christ Jesus amongst them Secondly the wonderful effusion of the holy Sourit of God in those rare and miraculous gifts and operations 1 Cor. 12. Now to imagine that those first Saints should pray for the Civil sword to defend I speak not of their persons but their godliness and suppress ungodliness c. doth it not imply this twofold strange and most unchristian Paradox First Two strange Paraderes that those Saints must imagine those Civil Magistrates to have a clearer sight in discerning and an higher Authority in judging of Godliness and Christianity then themselves and the Apostles of Christ Jesus who are call'd expresly the Ministerial Foundations of the Churches Fphes 2. Secondly That they being thus call'd of God and indued with the Spirit of God so savingly so miraculously yet should not be able to live in Godliness and the pure profession of Christ Jesus without the help of a carnal sword to preserve them pure establish and reform them c. Thirdly I ask therefore Whether the scope of the holy Exhortation be not this The scope of 1 Tim. 2. pray for Magistrates That those first Believers and all Believers in the Ages following should be much in prayer with God and not onely for themselves but for all men and especially for Magistrates the Chiefe of men 1. That such as were Gods Elect amongst them might be called 2. For the peace of the Nation and Cities wherein they lived and so consequently that God would gratiously guide the hearts of the Helms-men the Magistrates that the ships of the several states wherein the Saints as Passengers were imbarqued might Sail in peace and safety that in the peace thereof they might have peace according to the

and Paul the Tent-maker Further I ask Whether that Rule be not constant in the Christian Profession Not many Wise not many Noble not many Mighty And therefore Whether it be not against the purpose and designe of God and aaginst his declared will and course that his Servants should expect many Christian great or noble persons many Christian wife or learned men many Christian mighty men either for wealth or valour many Christian magistrates c. Hence though we finde the Saints in Caesars houshold Phil. 4. yet I ask How many Caesars Masters of those houshoulds do we finde believing in lesus for three hundred years together and therefore shether the poorest Saint in the Houshold or Court of these Caesars were not higher in Spiritual and Christian respects then those Emper ours of the World themselves Thirdly A true Christian who What is it that makes a Christian but the Spirit of Christ in a person manifested in the profession of his Name before the World Mat. 16. Rom 10. And if so I ask Whether that more of the Grace and knowledge of Christ render not persons more and more eminent and glorious in Christianity And consequently Whether the poorest Subject or Servant participating of more of the Grace and spirit of Christ be not invested with more of the Authority and Power of Christ Iesus What Christions the highnest in his affaires and Kingdome then the highest Magrstrates or Superiours that are not so indowed According to that Honour of all his Saints who especially bind Kings in chains c. And that charge from Heaven Iames 2.1 My Brethren have not the Faith of our Lord Iesus with respect of persons a Scripture that being read out in the following words seems at first blush to intrench upon civility and good manners except it be granted this in Christianity the greatest respect is not given to greatness of Place Birth Wealth Autherity Braverie c. but to the greatness of Humility and Grace of Christ according to that of the Lord Iesus Match 18. Whosoever shall humble himself as this little child the same is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven We read of two mighty Princes professing the name of Christ meeting together in England Charles the Fifthe Emperour of Germany Two mighty Princes pretending to glorious Hights in Christianity and Henry the Eighth of England Their names then soar'd so high for Christianity that they were both in Letters of Gold set upon the very Gates of Guildhal in London Carolus Defensor Ecclesiae Henricus Fidei yet when Luther or the poorest follower of the truth of Christ iesus witnessed by Luther were condemned and persecuted by that Charles the Fifth the great defender of the Church I ask Who had the greatest Authority in Christs affaires the great Emperous Charles or the poorest true Christian Yet the poorest witness of any truth of Christ Jesus above them And when that glorious pretended Defendour of the Faith Henry the Eighth with all his Nobles and Bishops sat in person with so much Glory and Majesty Terrour and Authority in that famous Disputation and Condemnation of that faithful witness of Christ Iesus Iohn Lambert I ask where was in truth the true Autority and power of Christ Iesus Whether in the stately assembly of Kings Nobles and Bishops or in the two-edged Sword of the Word and Spirit of God in the mouth of that one single and yet most faithful witness of Christ Iesus Nay further I ask The Authority of reproving in the name of Christ If that rule of Christ Iesus Luk. 17. be not yet in force If thy Brother sin against thee reprove him if he repent for give him Consequently Whether a Magistrate eminent in the grace and knowledge of Christ yet if a Brother in Christ be not to be reproved for sIn by his lowest Groom or handmaid and that by way of Authority in hte Name of Christ Jesus Yea and I add Whether have not such inferiour persOns Authority from Christ upon Repentance to grant a true pardon to such a magistrates penitent Soul then all the Popes and Priests in the World can affoard him And in case of final obstinacy contradicting and blaspheming I ask Whether such a poor Believer in Christ Jesus hath not a power and priviledge to separate from such a Magistrate in spiritual respects and refuse to touch Spiritually sUch a Spiritually unclean person The sum of the seventh Question Whether Artaxerxes and the K. of Nineveh Quest 7 did well in making their decrees c. I ask Answ Whether these two Kings and the Instances be not ill coupled for the one Artaxerxes Ezra 7. gave free liberty of conscience to the Iewes Artaxerxes his decree examined whereas the King of Nineveh forced all his people to a positive Act of Fasting But more particularly as to Artaxerxes 1. Was not an Idolatrous King A Terror of God sometimes causeth dilaters to favour Gods people a stranger from the God of Israel one that held the people of God in slavery one that had no true love to the God of Israel nor his people but onely out of a fear of the wrath of the God of Israel she wed favour to his people granted them free liberty of their conscience to go up to Ierusalem to worship 2. He bountifully incouraged and assisted them 3. He furnished them with a Decree suiting to their National Estate and mixt condition of Church and Comonweal But Secondly I ask Did this Artaxerxes compel any of these Iewes to his owne Religion which he believed to be the onely true the Religion of the Persians Or did he compel the Persians to the worship of the God of Israel Or did he compel the Iewes themselves or any one man of them to go up to the worship of their owne God at ierusalem but verse 13. Let all which are minded of their owne free will go up c. Therefore Thirdly I ask Artaxerxes his edict freely made for soul freedom What Conclusion can be gathered from thence but that it sometime pleaseth God to affect the hearts of Idolatrous Kings with kindness to his people and forceth them to permit his people the liberty of their consciences yea and that with Countenance Incouragements and Authority for which mercy although the Nations where they live and the Princes thereof partake not of such mercies themselves yet ought Gods people to praise God as Ezra doth Fourthly I ask Whether this Instance of Artaxerxes do not absolutely condemn the forcing of all the people and consciences in a Nation to one way of worship whether Popish or Protestant or to any particular sect or way of either of them And Whether it do not absolutely make for Soul-Freedom in spiritual matters in that these very Iewes were not forced to their own Ierusalem but as every one was freely willing c. Secondly As to the proclamation of the King of Nineveh First I ask Whether all

Paul and Peter and Christ and God saith Festus until I have a more convenient time c. It is the voice of my Beloved saith the soul Cant. 1. yea Martha knows 't is Christ 's voice but dinner must be drest and 't is for Christ himself also c. This Jesus say the Jews cannot be He This man is a Glutton a Drunkard a Company-keeper And just as John because austere and harsh came from hell and had a devil was Jesus a Glutton c. because of a mire loving and sociable of a more merciful and pitiful disposition and cenversation I acknowledge the followers of Christ Jesus The lives of Gods children causing his name to be blasphemed like to kindle Fares of persecution by unchristian courses may cause the Name of Christ to be blasphemed as questionsess the lives of many Papists and Protestants cause both Jews and Turks and Pagans to stumble at him and therefore were there no slaughter of Witnesses in question I cannot but suspect a storm a fire ● straight impending which shall bring forth a more refined and purer Edition of Christianity to the whole world yet since the devil in English is an Accuser standeres c. it is but devilish to reproach and it is but foolish to stumble at reproaches There is another of a finer spun and thread 10. Our spiritual sences may deceive us which damps the ingennous searchings after Truth and that is like unto deceptio visus a Delusion from our very Senses and from our very experiments of our good canditions Truth kept out by experience Thus not onely ignorant souls plead for the old Religion and the Jews for their cakes to the Queen of heaven then 't was better c. but what rejoycing findes the heart of David himself and so wany thousands of Israel with him even in a false carrying of the Ark the signe of God 's most holy presence Yea is it not one of the unkindest Answers that ever was given to so dear a Saviour Cant 5. My feet are washed how shall I defile them c. Lastly 11. Hatred of Truth the highest wall against it What trembling calls for that most black and horrid sackcloth of hell it self to the weaving of which many of the former contribute to wit a malicious hatred of the very purity and holiness of the Son of God There is a twofold hatred of Christ Jesus Two walls of hatred of Truth First Natural The wisdom of the flesh is enmity with God But this wall is saltable and breakable and blessedly gives way in Gods chosen to reconciliation and leagues of eternal loves with Jesus Christ The second is a wall so high and strong as it stands for ever This is a malice and hatred after light Such probably was Saul 's against David the shadow and the Pharisees against Christ Jesus himself They hated him and said He shall not raign over us Thus among the many hundreds of false Prophets there is one more saith Ahab Micaiah but I hate him c. The result of all these gentle Reader is too often even in the heart of the greatest lover of Truth in the world a seeret prejudice Resolutions against truth a barricado a resolution against some Truths of God Such a resolution was that of the Captains consulting Jeremiah about their stay in Caldea yet secretly resolved to go down to Egypt Thus like those fourty resolved to kill Paul they pretend to enquire something more perfectly The truth is Truth is a prisoner upon suspition How many millions are the conspirators against the life of it And yet let 's examine the prisoner call Assemblies Classes Synods Councels c. appoint Disputations Conferences c. But before the prisoner come to the Governour the Parliament the Councel c. stab it kill it Yet God forbid we should wound the Truth but the Heretick the Seducer the Disturber c. My humble prayer therefore is presented to the Father of lights who is light and love and truth that these honorable Examiners and all those noble Bereans who candidly shall please to examine them and this may cry with David sensibly and cordially Psal 119. I am a stranger in the earth O hide not thy commandments from me ERRATA Page 10. read shadowing rocks and trees p. 27. l. 4. put out but. p. 41. for Religions r. religious p. 42. for ought they r. ought they not p. 54. l 24. for height and prudence r. high prudence p. 56. l. 29. for Whe● r. Whether p 57. l. 12. for Sorms r. Storme p. 61. l. 2. r. Canaan p. 74. in the margin r. whether the pishops p. 76. for the Idolatry r. Idolatry The EXAMINER DEFENDED THe Ship of the Commonwealth like that gallant * The Soveraign or Commonwealth Ship now going forth so called must share her weals and woes in common As the one so the other hath its dangers of Rocks and Sands Common Woes Storms and Tempests Want of Provisions Sicknesses and Diseases treacherous and professed enemies Fires Leaks Mutinies and c. I humbly beg of God and wish to both their Fair Windes and Weathers Plentiful provisions Unanimity and Peace Preservations Victories Boon Voyages Weals and joyful Anchoring in their desired Ports and Harbours Such woes and weals are common to all that sail in either Now in a Ship there is the whole and there is each private Cabbin A private good engageth our desires for the publike and raiseth cares and fears for the due prevention of common evils Hence is it Common Duty that in a Ship all agree in their commanding orders and obeying stations to give and take the Word to stand to the Helm and Compass to the Sails and Tackling to the Guns and Artillery This is this must be done in Artificial and in each Civil Ship and Commonweal Hence not to study and not to endeavour the common good and to exempt our selves from the sense of common evil is a treacherous Baseness a selfish Monopoly a kinde of Tyranny and tendeth to the destruction both of Cabin and Ship that is of private and publike safety I hope it will not therefore be offensive Christs Interest the Commonweals that into the great and common treasury I cast my mite and say Christs interest is the Commonweals Christs interest is that Sheat Anchor at which this Ship hath rid and can onely ride in safety All power in heaven and earth is his If England make peace with him ally with him c. though every dust of the field were an army and every drop of the Ocean sprung up a Navy against us yet our tranquillity should not be shortned our Commonweal our Parliament our Peace should flourish But where is that man whose Case is not right Where is the conscientious Papist or Prelatist or Presbyterian Every Christ but one the true calls for the Civil sword and maintenance or Independent that assumes not