Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	let_v	lord_n	praise_v	1,625	5	9.2054	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A33770	Theophilus and Philodoxus, or, Several conferences between two friends the one a true son of the Church of England, the other faln off to the Church of Rome, concerning 1. praier in an unknown tongue, 2. the half communion, 3. the worshipping of images, 4. the invocation of saints / by Gilbert Coles.	Coles, Gilbert, 1617-1676.	1674 (1674)	Wing C5085; ESTC R27900	233,018	224

understanding and devotion putting an acceptable force upon the Almighty by the fervency and importunity of the whole Congregation I have likewise occasionally shew'd before how the Latine Tongue was propagated with the Roman Conquests by their Colonies and in time became even vulgarly known in many parts of the Western Empire but upon the Inundation of the Goths and Vandals c. And upon the decay of the Roman Empire the Roman Tongue every where gave place to the Conqueror and now there is no Nation or People in the World who generally understand it Now then seeing the Latine Service was in use in divers Countries because it was vulgarly understood and for that reason only as we may well suppose the case being so apparently alter'd and no common People now understanding the Latine Tongue it ought in every Country to give place to that Language which is understood And it is the insufferable Tyranny of the Pope and Church of Rome so strictly to keep up the old custom of Latine Service in several Countries when the reason of the first possession ceaseth and the Language is not understood And therefore in this case Augustin shall give an Answer to himself a De Baptisme contra Donatistas lib 3. cap. 6. Plane respondeo quis dubitet veritati manifestae debere consuetudinem cedere I answer plainly saith he who doubteth but that custom must yield unto apparent truth Phil. If any Nation find it a grievance they may peaceably apply themselves to the Pope and his Cardinals or to a General Council and without doubt may have Indulgence and leave granted to have the Service in their own Tongue For so I read how Cyril an Hermit who was a great Instrument under God to convert Moravia to the Faith of the Gospel having first instructed and Baptized Suatocopius their King who was overcome in a signal Battle by Arnolphus the Emperor and liv'd an Exile in the Wilderness b Aen●as Sylvius hist Bohemica cap. 13. The History shews how this Cyril went to Rome and earnestly sollicited the Pope that in Divine Service he might use the Sclavonian Tongue which was in Moravia the vulgar and it was granted Theoph. But why do you concele the most memorable Passage of the Story namely That when Cyrils request met with great opposition in the sacred Senate of Cardinals a voice was heard as from Heaven saying c Omnis spiritus laudet Deum omnis lingua confiteatur ei Ib ad finem capitis Let every one that hath breath praise the Lord and let every Tongue consess unto him And so they were in that Senate miraculously convinc'd of the Truth now controverted between us That every Nation should serve God and praise him in their own Tongue even in the public Service Now you cannot deny the Story to be credible seeing your self have made use of the first part and it was written by a famous Cardinal who was afterwards chosen Pope But as for Encouragements to ask leave we shall find very few For in the next Century Hildebrand a furious and turbulent Pope known by the name of Gregory the 7 th flatly denied the same Request made by the Duke of Bohemia Vuratislaus in the behalf of his Subjects And whereas in most of their Churches the People had before taken the liberty to use their own Language in the public Service the Pope strictly inhibits it by the Autority of Peter giving the Duke a charge for the honor of the Omnipotent God with all his power to resist such a vain and rash attemt And the lower we descend in Church History the more stiff we find the See of Rome to make any Concessions unto the People The Immunities of the Clergy must be enlarged and the Laics kept under a blind obedience and to this end their little or no understanding of Gods Worship and of the Mysteries d Binius part 1 ma. 7 Tom. Conc l 6. Epistolarum Greg. Pap● 7. Epistola 11. Ne fiat quod à vestris imprud exposcitur autorit beati Petri inhibemus c. of Religion and of the Holy Scriptures is very subservient Phil. You are proud and of a Schismatical Spirit and so pretend great difficulties to excuse good maners Theoph. It is the usual course with Men of your Church to supply their defect of Arguments and Reason with railing I have all this while wondred at your patience but you have not bin long acquainted with their waies But in answer to your reproof I will tell you It is no part of good manners to ask leave to serve God in that way which he hath prescrib'd with the heart and with the lips and with understanding also a Lib. 30. cap. 5. contra Fauseum Manich. neque evim cenceditur secundum Veniam nisi peccatum S t Augustin tells us Indulgence is given to such things as are not lawful in themselves Prove it unlawful to understand our Praiers and we will ask your leave to do so And that we do not pretend difficulties is manifest for your Church is so far from allowing the public Service in a known Tongue that it scarce permits any to use their own Language in their private Devotions training up their Proselytes Men Women and Children to say their Pater noster the Creed the Penitential Psalms their Ave Maries in Latine and so like Parrots they are taught to speak what they understand not in particular to utter broken Latine and many Incongruities the intention of heart and mind all the while being not determin'd to those Petitions which they make with their lips For altho they have a moral perswasion that they say the Lords Praier when they mumble out the Pater noster yet for the distinct Petitions they are altogether to seek as I have had occasion to make the trial For when a Female Proselyte of Rome gloried that she could say her Praiers in Latine rehearsing her Pater noster when she came to the fifth Petition Demitte nobis debita nostra I interrupted her and demanded what that Petition was which the then put up to God she answered She could not tell distinctly but she knew in general that she said the Lords Prayer Now certainly it is necessary that the heart should know when the tongue asks forgiveness of Sins that so it may be smitten and deeply affected with a sense and shame of sin in general and with some particular sins which lie as a burthen upon the Conscience and would come into remembrance at that instant when we with understanding beg pardon And the same reason holds for all requests made to God we ought distinctly to understand them that we may be suitably affected with a due sense of our wants Did you never read the complaint which the Lord made to his Prophet Isaiah chap. 29. ver 13. This People draw near to me with their mouth and with their lips do honor me but have removed their heart far from me

Theophilus and Philodoxus OR SEVERAL CONFERENCES BETWEEN TWO FRIENDS The one A true Son of the Church of England The other Faln off to the Church of Rome Concerning 1. Praier in an unknown Tongue 2. The Half Communion 3. The Worshipping of Images 4. The Invocation of Saints By GILBERT COLES D. D. Fellow of Winchester College At the THEATER in Oxford MDCLXXIV Imprimatur RA. BATHVRST Vice-Cancel OXON Julii 10. 1674. TO THE Right Reverend Father in GOD GEORGE Lord Bishop of WINCHESTER Right Reuerend and my very good Lord I Am bold to entitle these First-fruits unto your Lordships Favor and Protection as being conscious how much they need it to shield them from this Censorious Age wherein impotent Men who ought to learn and become Disciples and reap the Fruits of others Labors usurp the Chair and sit as Judges most severely to censure and condemn A Generation furnish'd only with Principles destructive to pull down and not to edifie to except against what is Written and superciliously smile at the Authors folly as they have concluded whil'st they are wise in their own Conceits and secure themselves from public Censure by doing nothing that would become a public Spirit thro detestable Ignorance or Idleness betraying the Truth unto their Industrious Adversaries yielding up a Righteous Cause to the Lusts of Men for want of Zeal or Courage to defend it Now we must needs acknowledg your Lordships great Example and Encouragement hath not bin wanting to the contrary Your Clergy of this Diocess might have learn'd from you to Preach and Speak boldly in the Defence of Truth to reason with and convince Gain-sayers And for mine own particular having had the favour somtimes to stand before you and hear your familiar Communications in great humility and condescention with such as were far inferior and subject to you I declare That from your Lordships occasional Intimation and Discourse I took the Cue and Invitation to write in the Defence of the Church of England against her Adversaries of Rome having reason to distrust my self in so great an Undertaking I was confident to commit these poor Endeavors unto your Censure and lo thro your Tenderness and Indulgence they are improv'd into a favorable acceptance and Approbation Whereupon I am encouraged to present them unto public view and humbly beg They may pass into the World under the Wing of your Autority and Veneration and then no doubt the malevolent will be sober That Almighty God would lengthen your date of Life to rule his Church and do much good in an evil Generation and finally Crown your Piety with Immortality and Glory is the Praier of Your Lordships Most humble and obedient Servant Gilbert Coles THE PREFACE To the READER I Make no other Apology Christian Reader for my committing these Papers to the Press but this The Love of Truth constreined me and a just indignation against those Emissaries of Rome who lately swarm'd among us and have not yet we fear taken their slight notwithstanding the Law hath banish'd them But the Laws of Princes oblige not them against the Mission of their Superiors hither they will come and here they will abide compassing Sea and Land to make Proselytes They flatter themselves or at least the simple with expectation of great Success of their Labors Observing our sad Divisions and great Corruptions they find good Fishing in Troubled Waters and conclude The general Debauchery of Mens lives will dispose them to entertain a Religion suited to their Vitious Inclinations wherein they may have Indulgencies and Pardons and perfect Absolution upon easie terms They well know That only our Sins can bring such a Judgment upon this Island which God avert as to let in Popery and as they see our Iniquities abound so their Hopes and Confidences improve to make us corrupt in our Religion as in our Lives But we hope better things from a Gracious God and Invincible Truth That the Church of England shall stand against all Vnderminers at home and abroad Only let such as love the Lord hate evil and let the Truths of God be more pretious in our Eyes then to be Sacrificed unto the Lusts of Men. And when we shall observe such Industrious Designs set on foot to bring in Errors Good God! How earnestly should we contend to keep them out Formerly we had Stout and Learned Champions of the Reformed Religion who put our Adversaries well-nigh to silence by the advantage of their Cause their indefatigable Industry and Piety But however it comes to pass the Scene is alter'd The Envious one sows his Tares and few appear to weed them out the Truths of God are contradicted and we are filent Since a Puritan Faction made the Schism disturbing the Peace of Church and State approving themselves better skil'd at their Weapons then their Arguments instead of Writing against their Adversaries Fighting against their Friends Since the Venerable Fathers of our Church were driven from their Habitations bereft of their Libraries and of their Lively-hoods forc'd to seek for succors many of them in Foreign Parts Since the Presbyterian and Independent Chaplains had learn'd the Merchandize of Plundred Books selling whole Libraries upon easie terms unto Popish Factors Since our Universities were Garrison'd and Reform'd All the Fellows and Students of Colleges thrust out to seek their Fortunes a Generation of Seekers and puny Discipies succeeding I say since the year 1642. there hath bin a sad long Vacation in England from studious Reading and Writing of Books and thereout our Adversaries of Rome have suck'd no small advantage They are bold in Challenges and Disputes and Controversial Pamphlets whereunto the true Sons of the Church of England could not rejoin for want of necessaries and Books the Presbyterians for want of Learning Since His Majesties miraculous and happy Return The Church hath had time to breath and all things move in their own Sphere But Learning and Judgment come not in per saltum the Intercision of twnety Years is sadly sensible and to be lamented Our old Divines thro desuetude and the infirmities of Age are indispos'd to enter into the List of Controversies our yong Divines are unfurnish'd with Materials Thirteen Years since His Majesty warm'd the drooping Genius of this Nation with his nearer Influence and Protection being too short a term for men to traverse the Cycle of the Arts and Sciences to revolve the Learned Volumes of the Fathers to be vers'd in the Councils and Histories of the Church and to wind themselves out of the Labyrinth of the Schools And there are very few of the middle sort For when the Glory of the Land was departed and the Virgin Daughter of Sion did sit in the dust our military Schismatics committed an horrible Rape upon Religion and Learning all things were prostituted to their Interests and Lusts our new model'd Universities studied nothing but Politics and Pamphlets compendious Systems of New Philosophy and Divinity so that the Institution of two

that politic Cardinals Observation and yours viz. 1. That the Peace of the Church is better maintain'd by the Sword then by a Reformation of Errors and Corruptions 2. That to acknowledg no Errors but to stand upon the Infallibility of the Church of Rome is the compendious way to cut off all Complaints and Objections against her But whil'st your Doctors say Your Church of Rome cannot err we know she doth err and that damnably And hereof we shall make a Demonstration from the effect and overthrow her pretensions to Infallibility by thewing how in many particulars of Doctrine and Practice she hath miscarried which is the design of this present Conference and by Gods help and your permission I will proceed to other Articles and Points of difference between our Church and yours and let the World judg upon which side the Word and Truths of God determine Phil. You carve out work more then sufficient However at present it is high time to intermit these Severities of Discourse and think of taking some Recreation A pleasant walk into the Grove will refresh us And then to make amends for your poor Entertainment after we have past the Evening in Familiarity and Friendship you shall take your rest and if you please to Morrow we will enter again the Lists of Disputation THE THIRD PART Of Worshipping IMAGES Theoph. SIR I have found so much courtesie within Doors that now we are come abroad to continue a Discourse of Controversie methinks it is not Manners and Civility to oppose your choice and Judgment and try your Patience who have given such Demonstrations of your goodness But when all proceeds from a Zeal to Truth and from a cordial Affection to so worthy a Friend and you have charity to believe it I am encouraged to proceed Having therefore discuss'd already two Points I propose the third to Consideration The great scandal that is given by your Church of Rome unto sober Men and good Christians from Images and their Worship so much pleaded for and defended by your Doctors Phil. This was indeed a third Objection which in the beginning of this Conference you propos'd against the Doctrine and Practice of our Church which you suppose hath given occasion of Scandal both to the Learned and unlearned as being obvious as you said unto every understanding But where lie the apparent Exceptions against this Point Theoph. The second Commandment appears at first sight to forbid worshipping of Images and you allow it Phil. So you make your deluded People to believe designing to create a prejudice and odium against our Church that so you might keep them firm to your heady separation from us But your Learned know in their Consciences that we do not transgress this Commandment neither in the thing forbidden or in the manner of Worshipping our Images which are not included in the prohibition of Gods Law Theoph. You appeal to the Learned of our side as tho you would allow them to decide the Controversie if they would speak the dictates of their Consciences But this is a sleight and Artifice to wipe off your own guilt and lay the charge of Dissimulation to our Doctors But their Grounds and Reasons when produc'd will manifest to the World that the charge they lay against them of transgressing the rule of Gods Word in this Point proceeds out of Conscience and not Design you give a great scandal and offence to God and Man and would not have us zealous to reprove it Phil. Zeal without knowledg and discretion hath set the World in a Flame and you are forward to blow the Coals Theoph. We read Isa 6. 7. how a Seraphim took a Coal from the Altar and laid it upon the Prophets mouth and so gave him commission and command to speak Now the word of God is this coal from the Altar enkindling Holy Fires in the Heart and opening the Mouth of his Servants to adjust his will reveal'd against the Transgressors thereof Phil. You will in short time pretend to Euthusiasm when we have beaten you off from your strong hold your supposed sanctuary in the Scriptures that must be your last refuge Theoph. Your Fathers and Founders of the several Orders have shew'd the way and acted the Phanatic part so well that you presume we must needs be taken with it and herein become their Disciples but if it be Enthusiasm to follow the rule of Holy Scripture and shew how palpably you do swerve from it we shall be ambitious of that reproach Phil. It is an ill Omen to engage in Quarrels and bitter Reproaches before one Argument hath past between us If you have any thing to object against our Doctrine or our practice concerning Images and their Worship let us hear it Theoph. God in the second Commandment hath forbid us to make and worship Images and your Church hath mightily advanc'd the Trade of Painting and Carving and Graving Images and require veneration and worship to be given to them Phil. Let us proceed by degrees to answer your Objection which consists of many parts Do you condemn us for allowing and countenancing the Art of Imagery Theoph. If we did we should not want the Autority of some Antients so severely did they adhere to the Letter of the second Commandment Phil. You know God himself commanded Moses to make two Cherubins for the Ark and to erect a brazen Serpent in the Wilderness Exod. 25. 18. Theoph. And you may know That this was objected to Tertullian and I pray observe how he answers it a Lib. de Idolol cap. 5. Bene quod idem Deus extraordinario 〈…〉 The same Lord who forbad Images by an extraordinary Precept may command them And he concludes excellently to our present purpose b Si eundem Deum observas habes legem ejus ne feceris simili 〈…〉 postea factie c. If you observe the same God you have his Law not to make any likeness If you urge his command afterwards that Moses should make an Image of the Cherubins and the brazen Serpent do then follow Moses example make no Image against the Commandment of God unless the Lord expresly command thee And here by the way you may observe how in this place Tertullian and I could shew the like of many of the Fathers makes no such distinction as your Doctors do of Idols which represent false Gods and so are nothing in the world as the Apostle speaks 1 Cor. 8. 4. and whereunto you precisely restrain the prohibition of the Commandment or of Images which represent real Things or Persons God Angels or Men for you see in Tertullians Opinion even the Cherubins and the Brazen Serpent were included in the Commandment and had not God afterwards expresly commanded them to be made it had not been lawful for Moses to have made them And I must confess I have purposely wav'd that Controversie about the words and sense of the Commandment because your Doctors have so perplex'd it with Notions and