Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A27261
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A loving salutation to all people who have any desires after the living God but especially to the free-will-Anabaptists / from ... I. Beevan.
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Beevan, J. (John)
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1660
(1660)
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Wing B1696; ESTC R10285
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8,133
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8
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appear the answer was that the greatest professors in the Nation were the greatest enemies to the Crosse of Christ I do not justifie my self for condemnation hath passed on all my good and evil actions but I find very few professors walk so exactly as I did in those dayes concerning things without though all this did not reach so far as the Scribes and Pharisees who were clean on the out side I saw it to be so though we called our selves the Saints of the Most High yet I said in my self if the Saints condition was thus it was a miserable estate I was weary and heavy laden I went from meeting to meeting to find out one that was in my condition all were full and smoothed up one another with words and no Reformation I durst not partake of their Bread and Wine for I saw we were ignorant of the Lords Body I was brought very low and to a waiting condition what truth I heard declared I owned and the rest I let alone and said little waiting for the promise of the Lord to be fulfilled which I read of in the Scriptures that the Lord would Teach his People himself in this estate I remained almost a year I loved to be by my self for then I could pour out my Soul before the Lord saying Ah teach me the way that I should go and lead me in the Paths of Righteousnesse Oh when shall I see the day of thy appearance in fulfilling thy promise which thou hast made of old O why are thy Charret Wheels so long a coming O shall I never see the day of deliverance Thus my Soul groaned under a heavy burthen until I met with one of the Lords Messengers and sore sufferers for the Testimony of Jesus whose words struck deep through the Earth and reacht to the witnesse of God insomuch that I durst not speak a word against that thing that I once enjoyed I owned his words and spake against Professors Priests and People I denyed the Worlds words Wayes Fashions and Customs in a great measure I became a reproach a Proverb and a by-word unto the Countrey round about and yet the Life of Truth I knew not my Lovers and Acquaintance stood afar off me my familiar friends were ashamed to own me Professors they denied me as Philip Farmer a Teacher of others did judge me much for denying the Rule and stumbling at Strawes and leaping over Blocks and he affirmed that Jesus Christ did bid a woman God speed that was committing Adultery and that he did bid a man God speed at Plow and said he would prove it by Scripture and several lies more Another Teacher judged me for denying the Ordinance and he affirmed though Bread was Bread at the Bakers and Wine was Wine at the Vintners yet when it came to them it was the Body and Blood of Christ Friends I do not write this out of any evil will that I bear to any mans person the Lord is my witnesse but that Truth may appear and that you may see who denied the Rule them or I or who denied the coming of God them or I I did then denie the Rule that they walked by for all such actors are shut out of the Scriptures though at that time I knew not the right hand from the left though brought through that before mentioned I would have taken up a rest there but the flaming Sword which turned every way cut me down great were the sights that I saw with mine Eyes and that which I heard with mine Ears one woe poured out after another earth-quakes in divers places this was but the beginning of sorrows the great and Red Sea before me Pharaoh and his Host behind me and in that day I knew not God I durst not name his Name because I was not departed from iniquity I knew not what the first principle of Religion was I feared least any should ask a reason of my Faith I cried for the disquietnesse of my heart I curst the day and the hour my Mother brought me forth and in that year I did witnesse Pharaoh plagued with many plagues before he would let Israel go I would have done any thing that was pleasing in his sight but all was accursed nothing but Wars and rumours of Wars many dispairing thoughts entered into me I was like one that went from a Lyon and a Bear met him and leaned upon a wall and a Serpent bit him I was pleaded with by Sword and by Fire yea the Fire burned all the day till I was almost consumed I went about like a Fool or like one destracted yea if I had been to write but a Note of an outward thing I could not compose it no more then a natural Fool all my building was decayed not one stone upon another that was not thrown down I went mourning all the day like a woman that mourneth for her only Son there was no eye pitied me but then was the time of love I heard a voice cry agree with thy adversarie quickly whilst thou art in the way with him for Judgement am I come into this World that they which see not might see and they which see might be made blind Now praises praises to his great Name for ever who hath made a way in the deep Waters and path in the Sea for his own Seed to passe over and hath drowned Pharaoh and his great Host and overwhelmed them all and delivered Israel out of many troubles and hath turned and overturned till pure peace and joy is witnessed in the Land and I witnesse his words who said a woman that is in Travel hath sorrow because her hour is come but assoon as she is delivered of her Child she remembreth no more the anguish for joy but only for your sakes is the Father pleased to bring to remembrance and I dare not be silent but declare what the Lord hath done for my soul it may be those that are in the Serpents Wisdom will judge these things to be frothy empty things but really it is that which you must all pass through if ever you come to witness a Restauration again although you may create to your selves many rests yet it is that which will not indure the fire seven times to be tried My Friends I know the thing I call you Friends out of tender love and pitty that I bare to you though I have not found you so yet my love is dear to the Seed of God which is kept under in you Whether you will hear or forbear I have cleared my Conscience for I see Satans policy if he can keep men and women from believing in the Light then his kingdom stands sure for the Light discovers his dark wayes and works and leads the Creature out of them by degrees to an innocent estate and to a Holy Life Therefore retire your minds into that which shews you that you come too short of what you ought to be You have been long sweeping without and hath not made it clean now learn the Parable of the woman and sweep the house for verily there is no other place to find that which you have lost Dig deep to find that Pearl of great price and buy it though it cost you all you have do not esteem the Light a low thing calling it natural for verily if you will but wait in it it will discover spiritual wickednesse in high places and shew you the secret intents of your hearts this is that light which the Prophet prophesied of which should lighten the Gentiles and old Simeon and Anna rejoyced to see him that the Prophets prophesied of this is the True Light which John bare witnesse of and whosoever followed him should not abide in darknesse as he himself said this is he which Zacharias prophesied of which should give Light to them that sit in darknesse and in the shadow of death this is that Light which the Apostle Peter said Shone in a dark place until the day dawn and the day star arise in your hearts Therefore take heed to it this is he that searcheth the heart and trieth the Reins and sheweth to man what is his thoughts Amos 4.13 Thus have I in love to all your Souls written of the tender dealings of the Lord to my Soul as a warning to you that you should no longer resist the loving kindnesse of the Lord. THE END London Printed for Thomas Simmons at the Signe of the Bull and Mouth near Aldersgate 1660.