Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	holy_a	spirit_n	way_n	4,450	5	4.7553	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A53346	Amsterdam: toleration, or no toleration in a discourse between conformists, non-conformists, papists, Anabaptists, Quakers, &c. In their own words, before a gracious king, about the extent of a Christian indulgence to all dissenters. By J.V.C.O. A friend to men of all religions.	J. V. C. O.	1663 (1663)	Wing O2A; ESTC R207624	19,722	59

and dispenseth as himself pleaseth and my errour is my misery and not my fault L.O.J. p. 16. The Church doth not punish you for being in the wrong which you cannot it may be help although I could wish you would heartily endeavour all the means to come to the right but for doing what is contrary to that which is established as right which you may help You may chuse whether you think as we think and you may chuse whether you should do or teach as you do what is so scandalous to the Church and so repugnant to publick Authority Anabaptist For you to suppress whatever is done or taught against the received Way is to hold the truth in unrighteousness B. Gauden Because it is possible that some truths of Religion may be unseen and so omitted by the most publick Diligence and some may afterwards be discovered by private industry and devotion which ought not to be smothered or concealed if they have the Character of Gods Will revealed in his written Word whose true meaning is the fixed measure and unalterable Rule of all true Religion to prevent the suppressing or detaining any Truth which may be really offered unto any Church or Christians beyond what is publickly owned and established also to avoid the foolish obtruding whatever Novelty any mans fancie listeth to set up upon his own private account contrary to the publick establishment nothing were more necessary and happy then to have in every National Church which hath agreed with one heart one minde one spirit and one mouth to serve the Lord Jesus according to the pattern of primitive Piety and Wisdome persons of eminent Learning Wisdome and Integrity publickly chosen and appointed to try and examine all new Opinions publickly propounded no man being to print or publish any thing different from the publick establishment of Religion until he hath first humbly propounded to the Church or to reverend men appointed by the Church his Opinion in writing together with his Reasons why he adds or differs from the publick profession Let the prophets prophesie one by one and let the others judge If the Church allows his Opinion and Reasons propounded he may then publish his judgement by preaching disputing writing or printing if it doth not he shall then keep his Opinion to himself in the bounds of private conference onely for his own satisfaction but in no way to publicate it to the scandal or perturbation of what is setled in Religion Here every man may enjoy his ingenuous liberty as to private dissenting without any blame or penalty which he shall incur or undergo in case he doth so broach any thing without leave as a rude Innovator and proud Disturber B. Usher p. 118. Private and modest dissentings among brethren safely may and charitably ought to be born with all Christian meekness and wisdome no private Christian being forced to any explicite Conformity or Subscription under penalty of any mulct or prison much less with the terrour of fire and faggot which was the violence of Papal Tyranny onely they should take care that people be duly taught that Religion which is setled that none be a publick Preacher that is a declared Dissenter or Upholder of it that no man doth broach any Novelty without their approbation that no man oppose scorn or perturb that constitution of Religion which is publickly setled as supposed to be the best that no man abuse the name of Christian liberty to the Publicks injury making it a cloak of maliciousness and that we be not ever learning and never coming to the knowledge of saving and necessary truth that we be not still tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine and never cast anchor upon the sure and safe grounds of an wholesome form of sound words Poor souls are undone and perish for ever if they be betrayed to themselves if God and good men be not better to them then they desire or designe to themselves either in things sacred or civil if there be not in just and honest ways such holy restraints and wholesome severities laid upon them as may keep them within the bounds of sobriety and piety The Lord may dispense the beams of his Spirit in the light of truth as well as in the heat of love how where and when he will yea and oft doth reveal his secret and hidden things not to the wise and learned but to the babes and foolish therefore a publick liberty at least and a fair toleration ought to be granted to any men to opine to teach and accordingly to act as they are inwardly perswaded or moved without any restraint upon their spirits or quenching of the Spirit of God B. Gauden We desire not to quench the work of Gods Spirit in any man but to restrain the workings of a mans own errours according to the will of God to which to subject our selves is our most perfect freedom Perfect freedom is to be able without sinful impediments to understand to speak and to do such things as we ought to God or man in such a way as charity sobriety order and gravity allow Papists We hope your Majesty out of the sense of our Loyalty in these disturbed times will be pleased to allow us such indulgence as they may deserve who dissent from the publick Way peaceably and soberly King What you have done was but your duty for your Loyalty to me in civil things you shall have protection from me in those things too for an indulgence to your Religion I must consult my Divines What say you my Lord of Canterbury Archb. Abbot I fear I have offended by my too long silence I must needs say that your Majesty is undone if you tolerate a Religion so displeasing to God so dangerous to all humane states and societies Now I have delivered mine own soul you may do with me what you please Papists Why is it that we are so severely censured B. Usher p. 67. Because your Religion is idolatrous your Doctrine heretical and your Church in respect of both Apostatical To give you therefore a toleration or to consent that you may freely exercise your Religion and profess your Faith and Doctrine is a grievous sin whereby we are Accessories to your Delusions and like to be partakers of your plagues and therefore we beseech the zealous God of truth to make you who are in Authority zealous of Gods glory and of the advancement of true Religion zealous resolute and couragious against all Popery Superstition and Idolatry Papists We hope you will deal as favourably with us as you would be dealt withal in those Countries where our Religion prevails Protestants Our greatest rigours reach not your persecutions in forreign parts we would yet be merciful unto you if we could without being cruel to our own souls Papists Your favour here to us may oblige other Princes to oblige your friends abroad Protestants We must not do evil that good may come therefore we must discountenance your

or that way but you must faithfully inform me what I may do in Duty and Conscience which by Gods assistance I will do and leave the success to God Politician May it please your Majesty I presumed not to inform or impose upon your Majesty but according to the duty of my place I humbly offer what I think may be subservient to your declared Moderation and Condescention that the Accommodation begun by your gracious Declaration may be entire and perfect and fully settled to a perpetual unity Moderate Men. It is the earnest expectation and hope of the Religious and Well-affected to Publick Peace that as your gracious Disposition doth not suffer you to cleave to any divided Party of your Subjects to the discouragement of others that are alike truely Loyal so as a common Father you will protect cherish all those that are found capable and worthy and be our great Moderator by your Authority and Wisdom to lessen Differences to allay Animosities between dissenting Brethren which already agree in the main points of Religion King What do you advise me to do The Indifferent Truly in these great varieties of Opinions that trouble the world to maintain particular Opinions against others is in the experience of all Ages but to widen Differences and to make Divisions more vehement more lasting and more spreading whiles every one is so addicted to his own way that he cannot allow a charitable thought for any Dissenter nor let fall a good word for him nor acknowledge a truth in him Therefore I have always thought that the onely way of composing the troubles of the world in the matters of Religion were to allow every man his liberty to serve God according to his Light and Conscience provided he live soberly and peaceably B. Sanderson God forbid that every one should do what is good in his own eyes Shall we now cast away the Law of Nature which in all Ages was allowed to help us to judge of good and evil 6 Serm. Shall we leave the Law of God holy just and good Shall we reject the Laws of Order and Government to which all men submit in Reason and all Christians for Conscience sake Shall we fear neither God nor man but walk in the ways of our own hearts live after our own devices be our own Law Shall we live to our selves Shall we die to our selves Shall we who in our Religion profess to deny our selves and our own ways own nothing but our selves and our own ways Is it in man that walketh to direct his steps Shall every man go his own way when all flesh have corrupted their ways B. Reynolds It 's one of our greatest sins to be Self-movers to be a Rule to be a God to our selves Life Christ pag. 425. It 's one of Gods extreamest Judgements to give us over to our selves and leave us to follow our own Rules When he hath wooed us by his Spirit and he is refused he teacheth us by his Prophets and they are reviled governs us by his Magistrates and they are disobeyed when he offers to teach us and we stop our ears to lead us and we pull away the shoulder to restrain us and we break out when we non-plus and pose all the methods and ways appointed of God and observed by men to keep us within the bounds of sobriety piety peace and honesty it 's his last Judgement upon us to let us be a Rule and a Way unto our selves My people would not hearken unto my voice and Israel would have none of me so I gave them up to their own hearts lusts to walk after their own counsels Psalm 81.11 12. Non ex arbitrio Deo serviendum est sed Imperio B. Gauden p. 143. I acknowledge and allow that just plea which is made by learned and godly men for Christians mutual bearing with and forbearing one another in cases of private and modest Differences either in Opinions or Practices I would willingly yeild to all men much more to all Christians that Liberty Natural Civil and Religious which may consist with Scripture Precept and Right Reason with grounds of Morality and Society which is as much as I desire to use or enjoy my self in point of private Opinion and publick Profession I know Religion is not to be forced but perswaded as matter of choice not of constraint whereunto rational men are not to be compelled but to be convinced with meekness of wisdom yet because experience teacheth us that such is the infirmity and weakness of some people that they cannot finde out of themselves the truths of God which are the grounds of true Religion such is the laziness and indifference of others as to neglect all means that might help them and such is the pride and peevishness of others that they must needs be singular For these and other weighty Reasons Christian Religion ought not to be left loose without any limits or restraints upon their licentiousness who cannot endure any thing solid strict or settled in Religion as to themselves or others whereby they may live in any godly order upon Principles established by publick consent upon most mature Deliberation and impartial advice in order to Gods glory and the common good of humane society Therefore in all humility I offer that we may have some wise and grand Establishment which should be the Rule of the publick Doctrine Worship and Government This in all uprightness ought to be set before all people and not onely propounded and commended to them but so far commanded and enjoyned by Authority as none should neglect it or vary from it without giving account much less should any man publickly scorn or contemn it or the Ministers and Dispensers of it by writing speech or action to the scandal of the whole Church and Nation whose Constitutions ought to be received with all godly fear and reverence entertained with sollicitous diligence maintained with honourable munificence all containing themselves within the bounds of charitable union and humble subjection so as no private fancy upon any pretence whatsoever be permitted rudely and publickly to oppose the universal Constitution Mr. Baxter and Mr. Brinsley God forbid that faln man should be left to himself If poor souls be left without controul to the errour of their own ways they are undone for ever If a bare connivence at these several Opinions hath bred so much misery what do you think will a Toleration do a Toleration of all sorts of Opinions which is by some and those more then a good many under the abused notion of Liberty of Conscience pleaded for For my own part should this be once yeilded which I hope their eyes shall first fail who look for it I should look upon it as the Passing-bell to the Churches peace and glory if not to the true Religion of God in this Kingdom Mr. Vines p. 76. The chiefest apparent Cause and most pregnant outward occasion of our Ecclesiastick mischief and miseries

would have me countenance which I may advise upon and try according to the great Rule of Scripture and universal profession All. VVe desire some time to debate our several differences and to think upon such happy expedients as may be for general satisfaction L. C. Supreame Magistrate is willing that you who are of a loose wayes of Fanulisme Rantisme Adamites Cathoriss c. should bring a plat forme of your opinions to the Quakers whom he impowers to reject what they think fit and to offer what they approve of together with their own way to the fift Monarchy men who have the like liberty to suppresse what they think fit and to offer what they allow of together with their own Faith to the moderate Anabaptists who hath the like power to reforme what he thinks amisse and to propose what he assent to the Independent who may rectifie what is amisse and carry what he allowes of with his own judgement to the Presbyterian who may bring what he finds agreed upon by others with his own confession of Faith to Supream Authority who may very well take equal liberty to judge of their way as they have to judge of others L. B. Indeed that was Cardinal Richlieus way K. In short before you go how far will you of the Independant Anabaptists way c. allow that way we call Presbyterian Fan. Not at all for we look upon it as the great Tyranny that we can be subject to their fingers are heavier then the Bishops Loyns Anabaptist 1. Edw Gang p 54. We hope to see Heaven and Earth on fire before Presbyters be setled 2 We hope to see Presbyters as much troden under feet as the Bishops were Gans P. 73. 3 The Presbyterian Government is Anti-christian a limb of Anti-christ Tyrannicall Lordly cruell a bondage under Taske-masters as the Israelites in Aegypt ibid 221. K. Forbear your passion I hope that upon a mutuall correspondence you will grow to a better temper Mr. Sterry The seed of God in this Nation hath had two capitall enemies the Romish Papacy and the Scots Presbytery L. Ch. I pray do you of the Presbyterian Perswasion satisfie his Majesty how far the Independents and those who are called Sectaries may be tolerated Sion house Ministers The toleration of these men hath not been established in any Christian State by the Civil Majestrate and if one way should be tolerated then all wayes must be tolerated and such a toleration is utterly repugnant and it consistent with the Solemn League and Covenant for Reformation K. I pray let me hear what my good Subjects of Scotland think of a Toleration Mr. Bayly Liberty of conscience Disswasive from the Errors of times Ep ded or toleration of all or any Religion is so prodigious an impiety that this religious Parliament cannot but abhor the very naming of it Mr. Ruth In thee England in thee London in thee associated Counties in thee Armies and that after a Solemn Covenant to extirpate Heresies and Schisme are there found such errors such opinions such strange practices such liberty K. If after you have all met with freedome offer your several thoughts with modesty debate your differences with reason and manage your controversies with moderation in the feare of God and love of truth so as becomes men of learning gravity and good conscience in so grand concernments as import the peace of the Church the satisfaction and salvation of Mens soules you should return condemning each other and you would not allow them their way and they will not allow you yours what would you have me doe when you condemn the Independant Anabaptist as Sectaries and they you as Antichristian what shall I doe but have an eye upon the warrant of holy writ the primitive institutions and practises the universall way of ordering externalls in Religion The establishment of particulars here by the consent of the people The regular injunction of lawfull Authority and if you in your own consciences shall not think one another tolerable And I in my conscience cannot allow you I must leave you to the conscience of the whole Kingdome in Parliament to whose grand establishment I hope you will submit In the meane time if you can agree upon a modest offer for a general accomodation comprehensive of all sober parties It shall be very acceptable to Me and with all advantage offered to the Parliament L. Ch. But if any of you in the mean time by Pride or Faction Schisme or Ambition novel fancies or arrogance or ignorance or sedition or popularity or vain glory or envy or discontent or correspondence shall cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine we have received troubling themselves and others with ungrounded scruples uncharitable prejudices and unquiet singularities I shall need love him with no other guilt then the Apostle doth that he is not the servant of Christ for how can he who is without peace and love serve that God who is the God of love whose Law is love L. B. ch You see his Majesty's gracious inclinations to all lawfull condescention compliance and forbearance in the meane time it may be expected that you prudently suspendent your practices against the established Law as wise men that can discerne time and judgement If meate saith the Apostle make my brother offend I I for I lay no other burden upon you then I would bear my self who know and am perswaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is uncleane in its self yet I will abstaine not only from flesh offered to Idols but from all flesh and that not a little while while the world stands if it prove but a bare scandall or offence justly or unjustly not for any by-end but least my brother should offend at me for I would say I will never meet privately never forsake the assemblying my selfe with good men never refuse innocent things to offend a whole Church yea a whole Kingdome The reconciling of the real interests of Episcopacy Presbytery and Independency Bp. Gauden In order to that happy accommodation which you are advised to you are all to know that how ever in lesser things you differ one from another yet you seem to agree as in the Canon of the Scripture so in the soundnesse of Faith the holynesse of divine Mysteries in the celebration of them by such as are some way ordained for that holy service also in the participation of them by such only as are in the judgement of charity worthy or meet to be partakers of them all agree in the main Christ in graces virtues and morally required in a good Christian go along with us in these maine things which are necessary rational wise and truly religious which we aime at designe endeavour and are principled for goe along with us in sound and diligent preaching spiritual and discreet praying in holy and solemne communions the serious dispensation of ministerial power and usefull execution of Church Discipline which are the substance of Religion and for some Ceremonies I shall entreat you to see how far they are lawfull and what you really think not forbid in the Scripture you would submite in obedience to Authority and if you really think between God and your own soules that some circumstances enjoyned are unlawfull as they that use them shall not despise you that cannot use them so you that use them nor must judge them that use them good people let us meet together in Gods worship which we all own to some Rites or gestures let every one be fully perswaded in his own mind FINIS