Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n
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A65902
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A manifestation of truth ... writ in answer to a book which a nameless author hath written against the people called Quakers : wherein is contained divers untruths and hard speeches tending to beget jealousies and evil thoughts of them who are known to be harmless and innocent ... : also the truth of those things which they believe and practice ... is declared / by John Whitehead.
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Whitehead, John, 1630-1696.
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1662
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Wing W1979; ESTC R26356
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14,009
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17
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because Christ Jesus the great Law-giver in the New Testament hath by plain and express precept wholly forbidden it against which precept no argument conclusion or interpretation whether of Council Synod or private man is good though grounded upon the Law of Moses the words of the Prophets or practice of Gods Servants Saints or Angels for their words and practises are to be reduced to an harmony with his and not his to theirs he being given to be head over all things to his Church which is his body the fulness of him that filleth all in all and therefore cannot the example of Saints or Angels and much less the practice of men in strife justifie us in the breach of his command had we no other ground for our denyal to swear but to swear at all is against the Law of the Spirit of Truth that dweleth in us and derogates from the glory of his verity who hath made our yea yea and our nay nay in all things but the Apostle James who writ to the twelve Tribes scattered abroad as if he had foreseen that because of former precepts and customs they would have stood to justifie some swearing contrary to Christs command was very positive and expresly did forbid it above or before all things saith he my brethren swear not Jam. 5 12. neither by heaven nor by earth Mark nor any other oath but let your yea be yea and your nay nay lest ye fall into condemnation Therefore we cannot swear by heaven nor the things therein nor by earth nor the things therein nor by any other oath though by such Christians as be in the Apostacy from the Spirit and Life of Christ it be accounted lawful for if we did swear at all we should justly fall with them into the same condemnation Concerning the worship of God and why we separate from them that worship in Temples made with hands First Because we do thus believe and declare that God is a Spirit and dwells not in Temples made with hands Acts 7.48 Chap. 17.24 25. neither is rightly worshipped there and therefore we cannot joyn with them in worship that be erred from the Spirit and from the Truth Mat. 15.8 9. and do in their wills worship in vain having their fear towards God taught by mens precepts and their worship consists not of Gods Ordinances but in divers observations inventions and traditions which are not the Commandments of the Lord from heaven Read Is 2. but rather a loathing to his soul and a grief to his spirit because in matter and manner they are contrary to the Primitive Christians worship For first they did not sprinkle Infants and call that baptisme into the Church that we can finde in the Scripture nor in History for near the first three hundred years neither was it a part of their worship to sing Davids Psalms in rime and meeter as in these dayes men do which are far enough from the condition that David was in when he gave forth the Psalms and besides the Ministers that were allowed among the Primitive Christians did not read Prayers for money nor study Sermons to last an hour and preach them for money neither did the Primitive Christians love to have it so as the titular Christians now do who by their divisions envying and persecuting about worship do make it manifest that they are neither in the same Spirit nor worship in the same manner as the Primitive Christians did and therefore we separate from them which we have sufficient ground to do 2 Cor. 6.17 18. 2 Tim 3.5 though they had the very form of godliness which yet they have not seeing they are out of the power which should crucifie them to the world and the world to them and are conformed like to the world and for the generality of them do live in sensual lusts if not in open Prophaneness but although we cannot for conscience sake joyn with them in their worship because we do in heart believe it is not right yet do we not as he saith Joh 21. to the 24. cast off all worship and Ordinances of God for we are sought out by the Father to worship him in Spirit and in Truth where we have found aceeptance with God at what time soever and wheresoever we have been gathered together to wait upon him whether by day or in the evening as the true Christians were when Paul continued his speech till midnight and sometimes we meet in a believers house upper-chamber field or barn Acts 20.7 8. as the ancient Christians did who were gathered out of the world and separated from the Jews worldly Sanctuary and Heathens Temples and yet were not of those that did creep into houses and separate themselves sensual not having the Spirit no more then we are though by such as accused them and persecuted them we have all manner of evil said against us falsly and are persecuted as they were because for conscience sake we cannot forsake the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is but must meet together in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ Heb. 10.25 Mat. 18.20 that we may enjoy his presence and comfort and edifie one another in love Concerning Ministers and maintenance We do say how shall they preach and declare unto us the minde of God except they be chosen and sent of God Rom. 10.14 15. and therefore we do deny to hear such as run and are not sent of God but for lucre and honours sake take upon them to Preach and speak of those things which by wisdom humane learning 1 Pet. 5.2 3 Job 38.2 and natural parts they can never understand but do darken counsel by words without knowledge for the generality of them say that revelation is ceased and that they have no vision in these dayes therefore we wonder not that they and their people are so ignorant of God Mat. 11 27 for none knows the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son reveals him neither do we wonder why so many perish for want of true knowledge though we greatly pity to see it so for we know that when the Teachers have no vision as by their own confession they have not the people perish Prov. 29.18 therefore we dare not trust our souls with them though people that have itching ears do chuse them for their Pastors or such Bishops as exercise Lordship and Dominion over peoples consciences impose them upon us for the Lord Jesus Christ is the Bishop of our souls 1 Pet. 2.19 Jer. 3.15 and he hath given us Pastours according to his own heart that feed us with knovvledge and understanding and leads us to living springs and a fold of rest Mar. 10 8 9 10. and them vve do dearly ovvn and esteem for their vvorks sake that be Christ true Ministers vvhom he hath sent and doth furnish and enable by the gift of his Spirit for the vvork of the
A MANIFESTATION OF TRVTH 1 Concerning the Scriptures and concerning the Word Light and Spirit within 2. Concerning trial of Spirits 3. Concerning Perfection 4. Concerning Salvation by Christ 5. Concerning Swearing 6. Concerning the Worship of God and why we separate from those that worship in Temples made with hands 7. Concerning Ministers and Maintenance 8. Concerning womens speaking in the Church 9. Concerning Superiours and Inferiours and the honour that is due from the one to the other wherein something is said concerning Title Courtesies and Salutation by the highway WRIT IN ANSVVER To a BOOK which a Nameless Author hath written against the People called QUAKERS WHEREIN Is contained divers Untruths and hard Speeches tending to beget jealousies and evil thoughts of them who are known to be Harmless and Innocent in the Authors Tennants and Neighbours to whom he hath sent this Book which is here detected and the Innocency of Gods servants cleared Also the Truth of those things which they believe and practice in these particulars aforesaid is declared By John Whitehead who hath no pleasure in stirring up strife and contention about things of his nature And therefore hath laboured rather to manifest the Truth to the unbiassed Reader than particularly to traduce his Adversary desiring that he and those to whom he directed his Book may have a sight of this if peradventure it may be in instrumental to remove from them all prejudice that they may receive the naked Truth as it is in Jesus Friendly Reader I Have lately received in manuscript a small Book which in the fear of the Lord I have read over and seriously pondered which I was the more induced to because I had some ground to suspect if not to conclude that it was writ by Lord Say who hath been famous for the profession that he hath made of Christianity And therefore I should admire Isa 29.14 but that I know the pleasure of the Lord is to confound the wisdom of the wise and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent from whom he hides that which he reveals to babes that no flesh might glory in his sight I say but that I know and do consider these things I should admire that he who hath read the Scriptures Mat. 11.25 and so long professed Christ who said that men would say all manner of evil of his blessed and peculiar people should be so far degenerated both from Christian Charity and true Nobility Ch. 5.10 as to harbour so many evil thoughts and groundless jealousies of an Innocent harmless people and my soul mourns that he is so far given up to believe lies and report such palpable untruths against us amongst which I shall only instance these few as none of the least viz That George Fox desired a Gentlewoman to wear a Bracelet for his sake and thereby enchanted her to follow him from which George Fox hath approved himself innocent as a child and so shall I ever look upon him till the spreaders of that slander bring forth their Author That James Nailor made himself or said of himself that he was Christ is another lie though it be true that some foolish women which both he and we reproved said so of him And it hath often been proved and printed to the shame of the first raisers of that slander that he never said of himself that he was as holy just and good as God Therefore till the contrary be made manifest by some known Author we must conclude that another lie A fourth is That Jesuites and Priests are known to mingle themselves amongst us and be our Teachers and Instructers which thing I know to be false and the grievous sufferings of divers of my dear friends for testifying against their bloody persecuting principles and Idolatrous worship may sufficiently evince that we mingle not with them nor they with us And my hearts desire is that English men might beware lest while they look for Jesuites and Popish Priests amongst us they be not led by them themselves into such snares as they cannot easily break and till the parties be named which see one of our friends go with a rope about his middle to hang a Minister I shall conclude that another lie because I know it is contrary to our very nature and principle who are born from above which is to save mens lives and not to destroy as also all whoredom and uncleanness is an abomination to us therefore do we both warn and testifie against the practisers of it which is sufficient to demonstrate that he who solicites to filthiness and she who said she was commanded of the Father to go to bed to a man being none of her husband if any such there were are not of us therefore do I conclude those reports slanderous Divers other hard speeches and groundless suggestions I find which I shall not particularize being satisfied they are not grounded upon any just cause given by us either in doctrine or practice also hoping that the Author may be sensible say this time wherein truth is risen above slanders that he hath overshot himself in writing such grievous things against us whom I am perswaded he doth not sully know and therefore I cannot wonder if he do persecute which yet I will not positively affirm though I do certainly know that his principle leads to it which saith that a Blasphemer may justly be put to death in Gospel times though Christ Jesus who is far more excellent then Moses gave no such command but rather held forth the contrary in the whole course of his doctrine and practice Read Mat. 13. But if he with whom I now deal have had his hand against any which for conscience sake could not respect his person so as to imprison their persons or spoil their goods for things done in obedience to the Light of Christ in their consciences though contrary to his judgement that will be found in Gods day persecuting their persons under the pretence of persecting the Devil and their sin which narrow cover the most bloody persecutors ever had but howsoever Jer. 20.10 this I say and do desire that he may know it if he be yet alive that he is at least guilty of their sin who said Come let us smite him with the tongue report ye and we will report it But surely the Lord sees how we are set as a mark for every one to shoot at Isa 25.8 and I am perswaded that when he hath fully tryed us he will rowl away the reproach from us for ever And their eyes that wait to see us slumble and fall into foul enormities as divers professors but not professors of the fame Life have done shall certainly fail for hitherto hath the Lord helped us and blessed us and made us to stand in the sufficiency of his grace in the sight of our enemies and I know that his presence is yet with us and we are of him and not of that Spirit