Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A69939
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An afflicted man's testimony concerning his troubles
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Edwards, Charles, 1627 or 8-1691?
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1691
(1691)
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Wing E191; ESTC R215479
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11,783
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22
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that buffeted him most wrongfully If I have spoken or done evil bear witness of the evil but if well why smitest thou me And as I kept innocence towards those above me I did so also towards those about me not seeking to wrong hurt or defile any in Soul or Body Name or Goods either secretly or openly traudulently or violently yea sometimes I had opportunity and took it to shew benevolence not only to my Friends but to my Foes also by praying admonishing and helping them in outward needs and if I can I will do so again I acknowledge that under great pressures I have complained of my wrongs and the doers thereof to such as might disswade them from their evil but that I did any thing publickly or privately with intention to bring any of them to punishment I utterly deny and if any mischief befell any of them it hath been without my Design Contrivance or Consent Yea I am not without fears lest some of my dear Relations and loving Acquaintance have been prejudiced by my Persecutors upon occasion of my Friendly Converse with them or Communication of them And if it be so I hope God will not impute to me what was done against my Will any more than the Death of those innocent Children to the Wise Men that came to worship Christ at his Birth who though wise yet contrary to their expectation by their devout Enquiry stirred up Herod's Cruelty tydings of a meek Saviour making him a Bloody Destroyer beyond all suspicion My Disposition was Moderate also towards the established Ecclesiastical Government acknowledging it's usefulness in exhibiting the Scriptures and Prayers to these Nations in their vulgar Tongues upholding Learning and a deal of smooth and grave Praying and Preaching and melodious Singing which I hope by some are devoutly improved And the generality it keeps in a Customary Profession of the Christian Religion hitherto keeping out Popery Mahometanism and Paganism which are embraced by other Nations Yet forasmuch as the greatest part of our Countreys are void of true Grace and Christian Godliness or the likeness of it as we may well conclude by Scripture and Experience and therefore unfit to communicate at Christs Table and to do many other Duties demanded in the Gospel I think it dangerous that Christ should be deprived of a Spiritual Zealous Holy Worship and Church-Government according to the pattern given us in the New Testament And therfore am glad for the liberty given to such as God enlightens and sanctifies with his good Spirit and makes able to live according to the Gospel to meet together in Christs Name to worship him with their Spirits and to participate of his Supper being the seeketh such to worship him Joh. 4. and to exercise Spiritual Instruction and Discipline as he hath ordained and which the carnal multitudes in all Nations are unqualified for As praying in the Spirit pouring out their Souls with groans and tears and elevated affections in thanksgivings without external Monitors as Christ and his Servants did in Primitive times John 17. Acts 4. 24. Rom. 8. 26 27. preaching with warmth and earnestness Comforting others with the same comforts that themselves are comforted of God 2 Cor. 1. 4. Spiritually admonishing and restoring a lapsed Brother and casting out the impenitent that God may have a clean though little Temple to dwell in and not a Den of Thieves And though of a long time my Afflictions have bereaved me of the help of such Gospel Society and forcibly hindered me to exercise my Talent as I would for the promoting thereof yet I congratulate that others may have it Envy need not counterwork this matter the success thereof in this sinful Age not being like to be exceeding great Providence in Judgment for our Provocations threatning to remove our Candlesticks rather than promising to encrease our Lights And the way that leadeth to Heaven being narrow and not paved with Pearls nor strewed with Temporal alluring Flowers but Thorns rather will be frequented but by few If there be no pieces of Silver given to the Judases but that they be left as destitute as the Nathaniels if the setting Dogs and Wolves in Sheeps-clothing fare no better than the innocent Lambs 't will be apparent that Christs true Disciples be but a little Floâ—k Vertue being poor seldom hath many Suitors Though the Apostles and their immediate Successors in outward poverty drew many followers after them by the sweet Oyntment poured forth upon them and the power of miraculous Healing yet now the Case is altered in the following circumstances Then the Gentile Churches were in their fruitful Youth and teeming Season and brought forth many Sons and Daughters by the Gospel seed but now they are grown old withered and barren both the Eastern and Western Nations having neglected to walk according to the Gospel for many Generations the Lord in anger permits them to obey unrighteousness and because they received not the love of the Truth that they might be saved they are left to continue in strong delusion In the last days times are predicted to be very perilous and little Gracious 2 Tim. 3. 1 2. The Spirit of God also being so generally mocked becomes more reserved Christ refusing to work because of Vnbelief and other hainous sins which makes religious Duties in most places less vigorous than they have been formerly Furthermore The World needs not fear hurt by godly Ones whether they be many or few together or asunder Hypocrites I do not plead for As our Saviours Kingdom is not of this World so his Childrens main part of it is not here but elsewhere laid up with him and therefore have the less need to fight in its defence with carnal Weapons Their Armour is spiritual Faith their Breast-plate Zeal their Fire Tears their Bullets and these are used for their Enemies protection and salvation So that the World may expect benefit by having good men in it I mean not that benefit which some Politicks write of That the Prince is safer by having Subjects at Variance as Cato would keep Servants that were at odds with one another that if one imbezled any thing the other might betray him If differences among men be of use to their Governour there are enough about worldly matters But I mean such a benefit as Joseph brought upon the House of Potiphar All Mankind at present is more beholding to eight such Persons in Noah's Family than to all the multitudes in that Age though mighty and of Renown Gen. 6. and well it had been for Sodom and Gomorrah if ten righteous ones had been tolerated among them And though the World need not fear hurt by the preservation of Gods Servants yet it should greatly fear it for their destruction Saul and all Israel with him payd dear for slaying the Priests of the Lord and so did Jerusalem for slaying his Son and stoning his Prophets And probably wrath for Persecuting is one deadly Ingredient in the Cup of Trembling now