Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A97104
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A prediction of Mr. Edvvards his conversion and recantation. By William Walvvin.
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Walwyn, William, 1600-1681.
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1646
(1646)
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Wing W691; Thomason E1184_5; ESTC R208197
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7,451
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23
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yet have I most unworthily reviled and reproached divers sorts of honest Tradesmen and other vsefull laborious people for endevouring to preach and to instruct those that willingly would be instructed by them tearming them illiterate Mechanicks Heriticks and Scismaticks meerly because I would not have my superstitious friends to give any eare or regard unto them And for these respects have I magnified our publique Churches or meeting places and reproached and cryed out upon all preachings in private houses calling them conventicles and using all endevours to make all such private meetings liable to that Statute that was enacted and provided to restraine and avoyd all secret plotâ—â—ngs against the civill government when in the meane time I knew the scriptures plainly shewed both by the precepts and practices of our Saviour and his Apostles that all places are indifferent whether in the mountaine or in the fields on the water in the ship or on the shore in the Synagogues or privat houses in an upper or low-roome all is one they went preaching the Gospell from house to house Not in Ierusalem nor in this mountaine but in every place he that lifteth up pure hands is accepted Wheresoever two or three are gathered together in my name there saith our Saviour I will be in the midest of them all this I knew yet because the superstitious were through long custom zealous of the publique places I applyed my selfe therein to their humors and my owne ends and did what I could to make all other places odious and ridiculous though now I seriously acknowledge that a plaine discreet man in a privat house or field in his ordinary apparell speaking to plaine people like himselfe such things as he conceiveth requisit for their knowledge out of the word of God doth as much if not more resemble the way of Christ and the manner of the Apostles as a learned man in a carved pulpet in his neate and black formalities in a stately high and stone-built Church speaking to an audience much more glorious and richly clad then mosâ— Christians mentioned in the Scriptures and may be as acceptable I have most miserably deluded the world therein and those most with whom I have beene most familiar and have thereby drawne off their thoughts from a consideration of such things as tended to love peace and joy in the Holy Ghost to such things as tended neither to their owne good nor the good of others I have beene wise in my own eyes and despised others but I must abandon all I must become a foole that I may bee wise hitherto I have promoted a meere Clâ—rgy Religion but true Christian religion pure religion and undefiled I have-utterly neglected I have wrested the covenant from its naturall and proper meaning to make use thereof for the establishment of such a Church government as would maintaine the power of the Clergy distinct from and above the power of Parliaments and such as would have given full power to suppresse and crush all our opposers but I now blesse God the wisdom of Parliament discerned and prevented it I have been too too cruel and hard hearted against men for erors in religion or knowledge supernaturall though I my selfe have no infallible spirit to discern between truth and erors yea though I have seene them so zealous conscientious in their judgmentâ— as to be ready to give up their lives for the truth thereof yet have I as the Bishops were wont argued them of obstinacy and in steed of taking a christian-like way to convert them have without mercy censured some of them worthy of imprisonment and some of death but I would not be so used nor have I done therein as I would be done unto my selfe I have beene a great respecter of persons for outward respects the man in Fine rayment and with the gold ring I have ever prefered whilst the poore and needy have beene low in my esteeme I have too much loved greetings in the market place and the uppermost places aâ— feasts and to be called Rabby And to fill up the measure of my iniquity I have had no compassion on tender consciences but have wrought them all the trouble cruelty and misery I could and had done much more but that through the goodnesse of God the present authority was too just and pious to second my unchristian endevours My mercifull Saviour would not breake the brused reed nor quench the smokeing flax but my hard heart hath done it O that I had not quenched that I had not resisted the Spirit what fruit have I of those things whereof I am now ashamed O how fowle I am and filthy yea how naked and all uncovered my hidden sinne lyes open I see it and the shame of it and how fowle it is and the sight of it grieveth and exceedingly troubleth me I would faine hide my selfe from mine owne sinne but cannot it pursueth me it cleaveth unto me it stands ever before me and I am made to possesse my sinne though it be grievous and loathsome and abominable and filthy above all that I can speake what shall I doe whither shall I fly who can deliver me from this body of death my spirit is so wounded I am not able to beare Can there be mercy for me can there be balme for my wounded spirit that never had compassion on a tender conscience my case is sad and misserable but there is balme in Gilead with God there is mercy with him is plenteous redemption I will therefore goe to my Father and say unto him Father I have sinned against Heaven and against thee I am not worthy to be called thy child make me as one of thine hired servants I will faithfully apply my selfe to thy will and to the study of thy Commandements yea I will both study and put in practice thy new commandement which is love I will redeem the time I have mispent love will help me for God is love the love of Christ will constraine me through love I shall be enabled to doe all things should I not love him that hath loved me and shewed mercy unto me for so many thousand sinnes shall not his kindnesse beget kindnesse in me yes love hath filled me with love so let me cate and so let me drinke for ever love is good and seeketh the good of all men it helpeth and hurteth not it blesseth it teacheth it feedeth it clotheth it delivereth the captive setteth the oppressed free it breakes not the brused reed nor quencheth the smokeing flaxe farewell for ever all old things as pride envy coveteousnesse reviling and the like and welcome love that maketh all things new even so let love possesse me let love dwell in me and me In love and when I have finished my dayes in peace and my yeares in rest I shall rest in peace and I shall dwell with love that have dwelt in love May his meditations hence-forward and his latter end be like unto this or more exellent and Heavenly which is all the harme I wish unto him as haveing through Gods mercy in some measure learned that worthy and Heavenly lesson of my Saviour But I say unto you love your enemies c. and may all that love the Lord Iesus increase therein FINIS July 22. 1646. Imprimatur JOHN BACHILER