Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	lawful_a	oath_n	swear_v	2,912	5	8.9124	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A31491	Certain disquisitions and considerations representing to the conscience the unlawfulnesse of the oath, entituled, A solemn League and Covenant for reformation &c. As also the insufficiency of the arguments used in the exhortation for taking the said Covenant. Published by command.	Barwick, John, 1612-1664.	1644 (1644)	Wing C1700A; ESTC R1967	44,647	55

so far as lawfully we may then so to swear it He that so swears swears with judgement against his judgement and to unrighteousnesse without truth and condemneth himself in that which he alloweth Thirdly to swear saving all former Oaths to what we judge to be opposite to our former lawfull Oaths is to delude both our former and present Oath to warrant that we may without scandall abjure in words not in heart what we have sworn before to keep because we have sworn before to keep and never to abjure it to make vain as far as in us lies the great and dreadfull name of God the wholsome end and use of Oaths and particularly to destroy the end of this present Covenant if the takers intend not what the Oath intend● and may also hereafter saving this present Oath swear to the contrary For the present be it considered that whereas this Oath is a League for unity if each may take it in their own sense its end will be none and we as far from joynt union of assistance as before For swearing to assist all who enter into this League if we think our selves bound to assist o●ely the takers in our own sense then we may happily be tied to assist none hereby for perhaps our own sense is peculiar and different from all others and probably from most for most take it in the common sense of the words Lastly if one end of this Covenant be that if it succeed it may be encouragement to other Christian Churches in like case to joyn in the same or like Association and Covenant we judge it necessary to admonish our selves and others that if in this we offend we also lay a stumbling-block of offence before the faces of so many Christian Churches now and hereafter who are here invited to follow our example Should we not therefore sadly consider whose example in this action we follow before we give and invite others to follow our example Ought we not wisely to fear lest by this we expose our brethren of the reformed Churches beyond the Seas to the jealousie of their severall Princes under whom they live and become guilty of the provocation of all those evils wherewith Princes in prevention of what is here suggested to their Subjects if not declared against by them may aggrieve our brethren of the reformed Religion And also have we not cause to question with our selves how the example of entring a covenant mutually to assist and defend one another when there is declared a joyning in Armes without and against the consent of the supream Magistrate how this example we say will make as is here said to the Peace and Tranquillity of Christian Kingdoms and Common-wealths Now the Lord of Peace himself give unto us and to all the Churches of God Peace alwaies by all means Amen An Exhortation to the taking of the solemn League and Covenant c. IF the power of religion or solid reason if loyalty to the King c. IF it had not been intimated that the Authors of this Exhortation were the Assembly of Divines as they are stiled in the 14 Article of the Instructions and expressed that the end of it was the satisfying of such scruples as may arise and that by the same Authority by which the Covenant it selfe is to be imposed it could not have given the conscience of any man either so much licence to examine the discourse with strictnesse and severity or so much satisfaction one way or other in the examination seeing there is scarce any other end of writing which necessarily obliges to a discovery of all the consequences and the principles of a discourse and there is no such outward encouragement to the conscience towards satisfaction as when it shall consider that it is examining an Exhortation and a Defence the Authors of which have been chosen the worke appointed and after the performance twice publiquely read and considered and lastly ordered to be published by them who are the managers of the Cause for which this Exhortation and Defence is made But this being the declared end and those the Authors it will not stand with the opinion of the faithfulnesse of those men towards the Cause it self to imagine that they reserve to themselves clearer and firmer principles upon which they are able to enforce the taking of the Covenant then those they have here expressed And consequently if upon just examination it shall appear that all the truth that is by them laid down is not sufficient to infer their Conclusion they may be more tender of those who are of different perswasion from themselves though they shall notwithstanding their endeavours persist in their opinion nay though they should hereby gain a degree of adhesion to it The conclusion which they would infer is the taking of the Covenant and the generall end of that as expressed in the Covenant it selfe and in all the Declarations which concern the same is in our calling the assistance of those of the Kingdoms of England and Scotland joyned in Arms c. against the Popish Prelaticall and Malignant party in a word to assist or comply with those English and Scottish Forces against the Forces raised by the Kings personall command This being the case wherein the scruples by them spoken of are supposed to be removed that their Arguments to that end might be effectuall it was necessary to their end that the present case should have been clearly and particularly laid down considering that the discovery of strong and not doubting presumption and supposall of that part which is defended though it might produce a degree of confirmation in those who are though not so strongly of the same opinion yet can it not in reason be reputed a means to take off scruple from a rationall adversary This being necessary in it self for a true and thorough resolution of conscience in the case it cannot be denied but their discourse is imperfect in it selfe and consequently they may as well have erred in assuming to themselves all that is holy and perfect and esteeming of the adverse party as of people bewitched and besotted hoodwink't and blinded c. nay as the dregs and scum of the people and in affirming the name and countenance of His sacred Majesty to be captivated and prostituted to serve all the lusts of such men and in setting in opposition the King and those that be faithfull in the Land But seeing that it is possible that a case may be so clear and plain to all men that it may without any great damage be omitted in a discourse made for the resolution of the conscience it will concern the conscience however impartially to set before its eyes the present question and then to examine the discourse of this Exhortation upon which the determination of conscience will naturally follow To propound the State of the question impartially though not according to the utmost truth of the case it will be enough if it be made