Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	light_n	spirit_n	true_a	4,661	5	5.2779	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A50256	Irenicum, or, An essay for union wherein are humbly tender'd some proposals in order to some nearer union amongst the godly of different judgments / by Mr. Samuel Mather ...	Mather, Samuel, 1626-1671.	1680 (1680)	Wing M1282; ESTC R7678	14,413	24

Bar upon Church Union with them as being no Churches But the severity of this dis-uniting principle as we cannot find it expresly asserted in their Confession of Faith before mentioned H. L. of Baptism so we know some of that way who do disown it and affirm that Baptism doth not enter the definition of a Church but they make Union and Communion with Christ the foundation of Church-Communion which as it is a more Scriptural so it is a more Brotherly and a more uniting principle These therefore are the main things in difference and under dispute amongst the three Forms omitting only some few things which either seem to be of Lesser moment or cannot well be affixed to any of the three Forms or Parties as the Judgment of the whole Party or else are implyed and included in these which have been mentioned Proposals And now having seen and taken this short survey of the Controversies agitated amongst professors under these several Forms we may with the more clearness proceed to consider whether there might not be some nearer closure and Union than yet hath been and that without intrenching upon the different persuasions of each party Doubtless there may if our Spirits be not at a greater distance than our Principles Supposing both the Agreements and the Differences to be truly and rightly stated as to the main things in this which hath been said as we suppose all that understand them will readily acknowledge and the Agreements being so great and many and the differences so few that which we have to propose upon the whole is this Quaery Whether Union in so many great Truths which in the Light and Grace of Christ and in the Conduct of his Word and Spirit we have attained to be not a sufficient foundation for three things more 1. For a mutual owning and giving the right hand of Fellowship to each other as true Churches and Ministers of Jesus Christ in whom something of his grace and presence doth appear notwithstanding those lesser differences before mentioned 2. And consequently to concern our selves in the Affairs of one another so far as to give mutual Advice and Assistance as occasion may require And 3. To receive the Approved Members of each others Congregations to occasion all Communion in the Lords Supper Answer We humbly conceive with submission to better Judgments that these Queries may be answered in the Affirmative And that the greatness of the Agreements and the smallness of the differences before evinced by such a particular Induction is a Basis and a ground work firm enough whereon to demonstrate not only the possibility but the necessity of our Uniting Whereunto these Motives beside many others may persuade 1. It cannot be denied but that such as agree in all those great principles of Truth before mentioned if also their Lives and Conversations be without offence are visible Saints or Godly Persons in the Judgment of rational Charity And certainly it is the duty of Saints to unite and come as near together as they can and to receive one another as Christ also received us to the Glory of God Rom. 15.7 Corrupt Associations and mixtures of Professors with Men visibly wicked and ungodly the Scripture every where testifies against But the Persons of whom we treat are to humane Judgment and to outward appearance Saints yea Confessors and fellow-sufferers in the cause of Christ than which there cannot be a greater Indearment 2. If ever there be a time and season for it wherein the Lord calls his people to it to study Union and lamenting their former distances and offences to seek peace and pursue it surely it is at such a time when he hath brought them all into a suffering Condition together under the pressures and yoaks of men upon upon their Consciences It is time then to lay aside their mutual animosities and to learn that Golden Rule Rom. 14.3 Let not him that eateth despise him which eateth not and let not him which eateth not Judge him that eateth for God hath received him A Golden Rule of Christian Love the sense whereof may be thus rendred in the Aspect it beareth to the disputations of our Times Let not him that dependeth in the way of Classical subordination despise him that dependeth not and let not him that dependeth not Judge him that dependeth for God hath received him 3. There is no selling Truth to purchase peace There is no such dead fly in the Ointment There is no silencing or suppressing of any Truth of God by these Proposals nor any tendency we hope to scepticism or personal Indifferency in the things of his House and Worship whereunto that good principle of tenderness and moderation towards Brethren of differing Judgments hath been by some either unskilfully or perversely misimproved Which Form soever hath the mind of Christ and the Truth on their side here is nothing doth so far intrench upon them but that they may freely hold it forth they may retain and practise that wherein they differ according to their present Convictions notwithstanding this degree of Union and so neither is any truth suppressed nor any ones Conscience imposed upon 4. Yea if we could thus far unite as it would conduce through the Grace of Christ to a further increase of Love so likewise to the further discovery and clearing up of the Truth in those things wherein we differ by vertue of that promise Phil. 3.15 16. If in anything ye be otherwise minded God shall reveal even this unto you nevertheless whereto we have attained let us walk by the same rule let us mind the same things 5. It would in some measure remove that great stumbling block from before the blind prophane world who pretend to take offence at our divisions looking upon them in the multiplying Glasses of their own enmity and so accounting every difference in Religion to be a different Religion But who knows how Convincing this might be to them according to the Lord's prayer for his Disciples John 17.21 23. That they all may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us that the world may believe that thou hast sent me Doubtless it will Convince such as belong to the Election of his Grace so as to bring them in and the rest will be left the more without excuse And finally it will rejoice them that Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and be pleasing unto him whose name is called upon us and who hath so often Commanded us To love one another FINIS