Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	peace_n	spirit_n	unity_n	1,812	5	8.9331	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A60699	An Exalted Diotrephes reprehended, or, The spirit of error and envy in William Rogers against the truth and many of the antient and faithful Friends thereof manifested in his late monstrous birth or, work of darkness, (viz.), his false and scandalous book, intituled, The Christian Quaker-distinguished, &c. ...	Snead, Richard, d. 1711.	1681 (1681)	Wing S4390; ESTC R4219	32,521	50

of those things that they testifie are commendable in the Church of God we are sorry that any weakness should appear in us to give occasion for such offence and as † How comes it to pass that there is now nothing in all this and that it is no better than a Rattle to please Children is not this manifest deceit and hypocrisie satisfaction to our brethren and the Church of God in general we do from the very bottom of our hearts condemn that spirit whether it hath appeared in us or any that hath given offence to the Church of God in general or that oppose the order of the Gospel or any faithful Brethren in the practice of those things they believe are their Duty This paper being sent to some Friends in divers parts of the Nation for the satisfaction of such to whom-the knowledge of the differences had come the end for which it was given forth J. S. and J. VV. were offended at it set themselves to extenuate or take off the weight of it not owning it according to the common acceptation of A condemnation of themselves therein confessing they owned the Paper but in another sence than against themselves Notwithstanding what it plainly imports and they knew the Brethren took it for and William Rogers who confessed he drew it for J. S. and J. W. Reported there was nothing in it and that the most innocent man amongst us might own it and never hurt himself and that it was no better than a Rattle to please Children implying those Friends and Brethren Assembled at Drawel he hath as before Recited out of his own Narative given such a Character of and these things we have proved already by sufficient Witnesses out of his own mouth instead of bringing forth Fruits of Peace and Humiliation the said J. S. and J. W. having dealt thus un-sincerely with the Brethren began a new Quarrel with them that were concerned in the hearing and declaring the judgment of the Spirit of Truth at Drawel concerning the differences c. calling their Account a lying Narrative and charging them with doing wickedly by them both by word and writing W. R. also joining with them who by this time began to be desperate and warmly to engage in their Quarrel and in defence of their pretended Innocency they set themselves to oppose and Exclaim against the proceedings of the Brethren at Drawel-Meeting with many opprobrious terms in perfect contraries to the Character W. R. had before given thereof all which things have been made appear at large And instead of breaking up their separate-Meeting or clearing themselves of them which is a publick Ensign of Division and Reproach to the Truth and instead of making void their Subscription tending to a separation both are continued with J. S. and J. W's names thereto whereby some have been encouraged in the Divisions and so far have they made void as to themselves the benefit of all the Transactions of that Meeting at Drawel And now because the Friends of Truth cannot be at Peace and Unity with them in their work of Separation and Division but keep the Spirit of sound judgment upon that dividing Spirit and are at a distance from them until they Repent and be Reconciled therefore are they disquieted And as for William Rogers their furious Warrier and whom they have permitted to fight their Battells for them against the Lamb's followers we have look'd upon him of late as A Man Tormented in Spirit under the disappointments he hath met with in his way on the one Hand Note his Articles have not only Demonstrated this to be his Design but his words also very frequently to be what he would have accomplished amongst us in not being able to Effect that Mischief of Division and Separation which both publickly and privately he hath Laboured to bring to pass in this City about those Men and on the other Hand finding the Cause of his Party whom under pretence of Crying down Man he hath industriously Laboured to Exalt Man or Men above as well as against their Brethren notwithstanding all his Endeavours Manifestly to Decline not only in the General but in the Consciences of some from amongst themselves as by divers Testimonies under many of their Hands shewing how they were Betrayed and Led aside from the Antient Unity to joyn in a Subscription of Party with J. Story and J. Wilkinson may be made appear And now as to the utmost Mischief W. R. is able to do he hath in the Bitterness and Envy of his Spirit and Power of Darkness with which of late he hath been Acting Printed his most scandalous and abusive Book which he had long threatned to bring forth and which is now come Abroad and so Wicked that we must needs say though we knew the Mans lofty Spirit and expected no other than bad from him yet we are sorry for his sake at what he hath brought forth it being so Monstrous and Confused and abundantly supplyed with most grievous Falsehood wicked Perversions and Mis-representations of many Faithful and Innocent Men who truly fear God though he hath for the most part omitted their Names which we take not to be out of any Favour or Kindness in him towards such but rather under Apprehension that the Eminency of divers of them together with the Credit of their Integrity in the Consciences of persons of all Qualities and Degrees would have but worsted and disserted his Cause and for as much as it is Evident to us that the Generallity of the People called Quakers in this Nation some few here and there in some Countries excepted are at Unity with those Brethren in their Testimony against this Spirit and Work of Division William Rogers is now principally concerned in and for which those Brethren are so villified and abused in William Rogers his Book we cannot but look upon such his Injuries and Reproaches to extend through them to the Body of the People called Quakers in this Nation and their Holy Profession thereby prostrated to the publick Ignominy and Contempt of the open and secret Enemies of the Truth who may be too apt to believe what he Writeth which being duely considered let all that have the Fear of God before their Eyes Judge whether the Man that is Guilty of these things can be rightly Esteemed a True Christian Quaker We having thus given a short but true Account of the Occasion Subject Proceedings and Continuance of the present Differences shall proceed to say something of William Rogers his late behaviour amongst us in this City His Qualifications with Respect to his Profession of being a True Christian Quaker is that we are concerned about and to lay him open as they have been plentifully Manifested to us by his behaviour of late Years amongst us in this City to our Great Grief and Exercise Know then that whatever William Rogers hath formerly been or whatever he is yet accounted to be by any that taketh part with

himself is of late fallen so that he must bear his own judgement and condemnation Thou art inexcusable O man whosoever thou art that judgest For wherein thou judgeth another thou condemnest thy self For thou that judgest dost the same things But we are sure that the judgement of God is according to Truth against them which commit such things Rom. 2.1.28 The Epistle with the following Marginal observations is here commended to the Conscience of the impartia● reader London the 26th 3d month 1673. Dear Friends and Brethren THe Lord our God having by his Eternal Power raised up and preserved many faithful and living Witnesses of his blessed Truth until this Day both for the Conversion of many from Darkness to Light and for the building up Establishment and Comfort therein by his own Living Word of Life and Reconciliation And having also signally Blessed a a This was at the yearly or general Meeting which Meeting was then Approved by W. R. but now Smitten at by W. R. and the Members thereof as consisting of an uncertain Number of uncertain qualified Persons p. 1. p. 7. and yet in the same page undertakes to Assign some of the following Qualifications viz. False Accusers Men-pleasers and many of them Lovers of Preheminence and time Servers that take that as an opportunity to appear unto others that which they are not in themselves and do take upon them to call themselves a general Meeting See his Confusion and Self-contradiction both in word and practice this precious Opportunity of our assembling together with his glorious presence power and Majesty manifest amongst us which many were and are Eye witnesses of and in the unspeakable sense thereof many have been as melted and their hearts exceedingly broken and their souls overcome and deeply affected with Gods unspeakable goodness and power love and life so plentifully shed abroad amongst us and in our hearts in the sense whereof our hearts are open and affected towards you all even in the same dear and tender love and life that is abundantly shed forth unto us and from which our salutation is to all our dear Friends brethren and Sisters in this and other nations having the General State of the Churches and people of God opened unto us with a tender care upon our hearts and breathing of our souls that they all may grow prosper and be preserved in Unity Peace and good order that divine life and vertue may Reign and abundantly flow over and through all to the Replenishment and unspeakable comfort that you may keep out the Enemy in all his appearances that would make divisions and disturbances in the Churches for at this time the Enemie is busie and secretly at work for that end to make b b Note the end and occasion of this Epistle against the Rents and Divisions then on Foot and now Espoused by William Rogers to the Gratifying the Enemy and bringing the open Opposers and Adversaries of Truth over us formerly judged but now practised by Willam Rogers witness his whole Book made publick to the view of the World rents endeavouring thereby to bring the open opposers and adversaries of Truth over it is that strife division may be stirred amongst our selves that they desire and watch for and therefore where any are instruments thereof they serve not the Lord Iesus Christ but the Enemy c c Mark the very Character of William Rogers his Work and Spirit and his Judgment against all such as are Guilty of these things which now includes himself in chief Witness not only his Offence against such like Exhortations as excluding of Jealousies and having an Eye to the Brethren Preface p. 6. but also his own evil Surmizes and hard Speeches in this Book against many of these very Brethren with whom he joyned in the Epistle and many other faithful Labourers in the Lord's Work though most of them are not particularly Nominated whom he terms Up starts Innovaters Adherents to G. F. pag. 3. of his Preface Insinuating most grievous and faise Charges against them as the main Design of his Book rendring them Apostates false Accusers Imposers Persecutors Exercising Gentilian Lordship blind Obedience Setting up an outward Directory Orders Innovations Prescriptions Decrees and what not seeking thereby to Undermine and to beget a disesteem and slight of their Testimony See how this Man is now found in the very Practice of those things he once Condemn'd whereby out of his own Mouth he is Judged being like the Dog returned to the Vomit and the Sow that was Washed to her Wallowing in the Mire They that make divisions and cause offences contrary to the Gospel and that seek to sow discord amongst brethren are not only to be marked but the Lord will make them manifest and his power will bring them under and debase them as it hath done and will do that spirit that is guilty of jealousies Evil-surmisings whisperings and hard speeches against the brethren and faithful Labourers in the Lords work it is the accuser of the brethren that strikes at their Testimony and seeks to undermine to beget a disesteem and slight of them in it which adversary must be watch't against and forever cast down and out and we are assured from the Lord that all sowers of discord accusers of the faithful brethren slighters and undervaluers of their Testimony and gifts self-seekers Whisperers Back-biters and all self-willed and self-exalted spirits God will abase them his eternal power will work them under and all that which offends shall be removed Gods pure power is at work refining throughly purging his floor and sanctifying his Church and people that there may be no rent nor schism but that the Lord may be one and his name one amongst us and blessed are you that keep to your first love and retain your integrity to the end d d Had William Rogers been of this Spirit and continued we had never seen his contrary Work of Darkness and Confusion but this he is far from now having approved himself an utter Enemy Villifier and Opposer of Christ's Rule and Government in his Members insomuch that the very Term it self viz. Church-Government is become an Offence unto him as may appear in Divers parts of his Book particularly Pag. 45. of part the First Oh dear friends and brethren watch in the light against all the enemies wiles and pray for the peace of Ierusalem that she may be seen in her beauty and splendor or as a City without breaches that peace may remain within her walls and prosperity within her pallaces Oh! let it be the general care of all our brethren to whom the Lord hath committed an oversight in the Churches to keep things quiet and in good order by the power and wisdom of God who is not the Author of confusion but of peace and that the publick affairs of Truth be managed and carried on in the same power and wisdom which is pure and peaceable that all in Humility may

one while confessed they are publikely own'd another while charging an Apostacy therein We refer to the many printed Testimonies written by divers eminent Brethren still living in the Defence of the Gospel-Truths and how much in perspecuity and clearness they are beyond any thing in William Rogers his Book is left to the impartial Reader to judge as a Reproof to his strange conceited Confidence as well as false and ungodly insinuations against them and the People call'd Quakers in general as though the Doctrin and Life of Christianity were in danger of being reputed to be wholly Extinct among them unlesse he and a few others in comparison of the People call'd Quakers however he is pleased to magnify their number who are of party with him had discharg'd that concern of Conscience he pretends lay on many to incourage the publication of his Book designing thereby no doubt being the natural Consequence of his Lynes to obviate the Universality of such a Reputation by rendring themselves the men that kept their primitive Station in the Life of Truth and retain'd the ancient Doctrines thereof whil'st they undertook so generally to detect so many of the most publick and most reputed Quakers so call'd and their Adherents who are People in general who have Unity with them in the Truth and blessed order thereof and which makes up the other part of Degeneracy therefrom into an Apostacy and Innovation It still seemes strange to us that such men if such they be whom W. R. intends should lye so hidden and conceal'd as not to be found and no less strange that they should make use of and encourage W. R. to be their mouth to speak to the world by who hath known so little of the sanctification of his Nature and consequently very unlike what his lines bespeak them to be This adds no Credit to their matter but gives just occasion of jealousie and will do unless they disprove it by a discovery of themselves That what ever is pretended they are but too much like him for if it be otherwise and that they really are such as excel in the Doctrine and Life of Christianity let them come forth and shew themselves What though they are but as one of a City and two of a Tribe yet if they have the Truth on their sides that is stronger than all and shall prevail It is likewise to be observed after what an injurious as well as disingenuous a rate William Rogers hath dealt with the People call'd Quakers in often gathering up the words of some person or persons we know not who neither doth he tell us nor when if ever spoken by any particularly the Doctrine in the sixth page of his Preface which he makes so much adoe about in several parts of his Book as one of his great Marks of Apostacy wherewith he reflects upon the Brethren viz. Let us exclude Reasoning the Wisdome and the jealousie and let us have an Eye to the Brethren But who seeth not the unrighteousness of such dealing which together with many pieces and scraps of matter collected out of divers Papers and Epistles he hath not only quoted in such a confused manner that no Reader unless before acquainted with the grounds and occasion thereof can rightly understand and consequently not in a capacity to make a sound judgment therefrom But to extort a judgment as it were from the inconsiderate and prejudiced he hath so paraphrased upon such Words and Doctrines such scraps and pieces of matter so collected by him and framed such notorious false insinuations and perversions therefrom and vilifications of many faithful and eminent Labourers and through them the generallity of the People call'd Quakers that adhear to them as guilty of such things as their Souls abhor and is particularly mentioned in the beginning of this Treatise which the Righteous God of Heaven and Earth sees and beholds and will plead with him and recompence him for it in his due time if he Repent not The next thing we have to notice of is his unjust Charges and Reflections on those Sixty-Six Friends and Brethren that subscribed the Epistle dated from Ellis Hooks his Chamber the 12th of the 7th month 1677. and more particularly with relation to his manifest abuse of the four Friends of Bristol that were concern'd therein On this Epistle it is to take little notice of his Objections against the Constitution of the Meeting it came from more than to tell him that what he would not have it to be that it is viz. from the Yearly-Meeting we observe William Rogers grounds another of his great Marks of Apostacy he chargeth those Brethren with viz. judging of the Merits of the Cause without hearing the same Preface page the Sixth and for proof thereof saith That John Story and John Wilkinson have been judg'd by many of the Subscribers thereof if not all without a hearing of either Party for that the Epistle doth not import that the judgment given was on the hearing either of one or both Parties Convened before them 2d part page 77. But the fallaciousness of this Insinuation will easily appear by what follows We have already given an Account of the Meeting that many Friends and Brethren had with Iohn Story and Iohn Wilkinson at Drawell in Yorkshire and the Result of that Meeting We have also signified how J. S. and J. W. have behaved themselves since to the grief of those very Friends abusing them both by word and writing with many opprobrious Terms disowning their Judgement as Unjust and Unrighteous c. Extenuating Their Paper of Condemnation not owning it as such against themselves continuing their former Subscriptions to a Paper tending to a Separation upheld and maintained in some part of Westmoreland c. whereby they made void as to themselves the Benefit of all those Transactions at the Meeting aforesaid and which would have Succeeded had they behaved themselves as they ought to have done But forasmuch as they have continued in the same Spirit of Division and Separation Contemning the Counsel and Advice of those Brethren they still stand justly Chargeable with those things they were before found Guilty of Those things consider'd the Sixty Six Friends and Brethren who Subscribed that Epistle some of them being the same that were personally present concerned at the Meeting at Drawell before mentioned and many other approved Travelling Brethren in the Work of the Ministry however now termed Vpuarts Apostates and Innovators having received satisfactory Knowledge upon the undoubted Credit and Testimony of many Brethren of their Proceedings at Drawell And likewise many of them being abundantly sensible and divers having certain Knowledge of their persisting in the same Spirit of Division and Separation had a Concern upon their Spirits under the Apprehension of the dangerous Consequence of such Men's Travelling up and down in a disreconcil'd Estate sowing and spreading their Discontents and Divisions being forewarn'd thereof with a renewed Admonition against that Spirit of