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
A86660	The happiness of a people in the wisdome of their rulers directing and in the obedience of their brethren attending unto what Israel ougho [sic] to do recommended in a sermon before the Honourable Governour and Council, and the respected Deputies of Mattachusets [sic] colony in New-England. : Preached at Boston, May 3d, 1676, being the day of election there. / By William Hubbard ...	Hubbard, William, 1621 or 2-1704.	1676 (1676)	Wing H3209; ESTC W12661	72,888	77

out as Solomon saith Ec. 10.15 the labour of the foolish wearyeth every one of them for they know not how to find the way to the city Where wisdome is wanting to direct mens actions labour will be endless the issue mischief or disappointment at the best When once the people of Rome were ready to mutiny upon quarrel that fell out between the Citizens of the higher and those of the lower ranke Menippus healed the breach by a wise Apologus of the contention between the belly and the members in the body natural which carryed such a convincing evidence along with it that all partyes at variance were soon agreed about the way of their own welfare The like wise medium was propounded by Jotham in the ninth of Judges but it could not be attended because God had sent an evill spirit amongst them as the text there speaks 2. The mutual interest that the members of the same Society have in the affections of each other gives great advantage to promote this Unity if duly considered There was no small argument in the words of Abram used to Lot Let not us fall out for we are Brethren Nature leaves a strange instinct upon those of the same kind even amongst the bruit creatures to defend one another and to revenge the injury done to their owne kind such inclinations use to work more strongly with those that are endued with reason The joynt interest of people in the same family nation or religion tends much this way Joab could not have used a more pathetical argument to his brother Abishai then the mention of our people and the cityes of our God whereby to engage him to a mag●animous combate with the common enemy as also the promise of mutual assistance each to other and no doubt the preceding exhortation to magnanimity took the firmer hold on either of their hearts to consider their neer relation each to other David engages much on this account For my Brethren and Companions sake I will now say peace be within thee Psal 122 8. On the other hand when the minds of persons are either leavened with pride or discontented or their spirits imbittered with jealousies or prejudices against each other it cannot but much hinder this desired Unity When the envy of Ephraim and the ve●ing of Judah shall cease one toward another Isa 11.13 they may the more easily subdue all other of their enemies 3. This comes to pass by the prudent and condescending behaviour of those that are leaders of others who by their discreet behaviour may doe much to maintain Love and unity in Societyes for want of which oft times it is miserably lost The soft answer pacifieth wrath and the soft tongue breaketh the bone saith Solomon Gideon by a mild and gentle answer prevented a quarrel betwixt him and the Ephraemites which afterwards upon the like occasion brake forth into a bloudy warr in the dayes of Jeptah David bowed the hearts of all the men of Israel as one man by an insinuating speech as by his discreet behaviour in former times he won the hearts of all Sauls servants notwithstanding that inveterate prejudice envy and malice of their master against him Duro con duro non sat bon muro say the Italians a firm wall will not be made up of hard stones without the mixture of some more yielding matter to cement them together That may easily be drawn by love that will not be driven by a mighty force The rigor of a Command may be much sweetned by the gentleness of the expression Paul though now the aged will rather for loves sake beseech or intreat a favour of Philemon then enjoyne a duty Moses his calling the Israelites Rebells was more like to increase the Rebellion of their wills against God then any way alter that evill disposition of their minds Joabs peremptory adjuring of David although in that exigent it gained the present end he aimed at yet it for ever after lost his interest in his Sovereigns heart the harshness of the words being harder to be digested then the matter contained in them Many times also the difficulty of a message is much sweetned by the courteous disposition of them that bring it as the third messenger sent by the king of Israel to Elijah seems to find by experience Rehoboams yoke had not seemed so intollerable if it had with more gentle words been imposed wherefore following kings chuse rather to express their non-assent to the demands of their subjects by an Advis●ra●le Roy then by an harsh and absolute refusal When Themistocles once told the Adriens to whom he was sent to demand tribu●e that he would bring two mighty Gods to overcome them Love and Eloquence it was replyed to him that they had two mightier then they sc Poverty and impossibility or else very probably the other might easily have prevailed This way of procuring unity and peace is as much seen in matters of Religion as in things of another nature where as a late Author truly saith by passionate hot and eager Disputes peace is alwayes lost and truth is seldome or never found 4. In the fourth and last place This is brought about by the influence and assistance of Divine Grace so disposing the wills and affections of men that unity and peace are thereby both procured and preserved For if God be provoked to send an evil Spirit as he did betwixt the men of Shechem and the house of Millo the wisest Counsels shall not prevail as at that time was delivered them by Jotham a very sage Apologus yet it could not prevent that wicked conspiracy between the men of Shechem and Abimelech for God had purposed by that means to punish them both so that a mutual fire is kindled whereby the men of Shechem the house of Millo are devoured one by another when a mans ways please the Lord his very Enemies shall be at peace with him much more easie it is to expect that such may obtain peace one with another when God is stiled the God of love and peace it is therein implyed not only that he is the approver of those Blessings but the Author and Giver of them It was prophecied of Solomons Reign that there should be an abundance of Peace and so it was fulfilled till God stird him up Adversaries which put an end to his peace So as if God will give a Commission to any Instruments to take away peace from this or that part of the Earth it may not be expected to continue longer there for he will either mingle a perverse spirit amongst their Counsellors as was threatned to Egypt or hide the Counsels of peace from the eyes of the People or their Leaders whence they may be dashed together to their mutual destruction and ruine 4. The fourth and last thing considerable in this exact pattern of a civil state is the height of their courage and resolution It is a sign of great prosperity and success in any enterprises

of their hearts and conformity to the mind of God doth not in Gods account denominate a man wise or one that knows what Israel ought to do God may make use of the common gifts of the spirit or natural endowments of men unsanctifyed for the good of his people often doth when the Goverment is by providence unavoidably devolved upon them but it may be questioned whether a people can expect a blessing under Rulers of their own voluntary choyce whose piety may upon certain good grounds be suspected or denied whatever their other qualifications may be 2. Humane Learning in conjunction with the former Such as by the benefit of natural parts Experience Education and study have advantage above others to be acquainted with the affairs of the world abroad as well as with the Laws and Customes of their own people at home For seing persons of that alloy have generally the chief managing of affairs in other Nations as much of that as may be had cannot but be necessary for the better ordering the affairs of Israel It was no doubt some advantage to the officers of Hezekiah in their treating the messengers of the Assyrian that they understood the Syrian tongue as well as their owne It may be presumed that no man unless a We●e●n Sceptick ever did account Moses less fit to be a Leader unto Israel because he was learned in all th● wisdome of the Egyptians a man mighty in words and in deeds Nor Paul the less fit to be an Apostle because he spake with tongues more then all the rest of the Apostles Yea it appears that upon that account he is called a chosen Vessel the better qualifyed to be a Doctor to the Gen●s And if J●ptah had not had understanding of the times sc the knowledge of things done in forepassed times as well as in the present it may well be questioned whither he had been so fit to have been an head of the G●leadites as afterward he proved if he had not been able to have disputed with arguments of reason as well as weapons of warr he could not have managed the quarrel so succesfully as he did The chief Leaders of Israel before he Kings were called Judges a potiori parte though the chief part of their work usually was to be Captains of their warrs yet they received their title from their power of Judging which certainly required skill and knowledge of the Lawes by which they were to judge which how well it could be attained without help of humane learning I doe not understand It was well replyed by an officer of State to a Nobleman that made small account of learning in the education of his son aiming at no higher learning then to be able to ride an horse or fly an hawke that if it were so then Noble mens Sons must be content that mean mens children should govern the Kingdom 3. Constancy or steadiness is another property of a wise man at least of one fit to be a Leader of others Not but that a wise man may sometimes change his mind and his wisdome may lead him so to do Sometimes we say secundae cogitationes sunt meliores but to be of a fickle unconstant minde is the character of one as Jacob said to Reuben that will never excel He is unstable as Water which is neither easie to be kept in any bounds nor observant of one constant motion but apt to change upon every occasion Instability in our wayes is an argument both of want of faithfulness before men and of sincerity before God Homo quadratus is the fittest to manage a trust That is the figure that stands surest wise men that act upon principles are like an House built upon a foundation that will not turn aside by a sudden and violent storm Sceptical men none knows where to have them they will not be bound to be of the same mind on this morning that they were of on the last night Solomon therefore advises to fear God and the King and not to meddle with them that are given to change Prov. 24.21 These are Inquieta ingenia of Quick silver tempers that are never quiet in any place yet would alwayes be uppermost which are observed to be the most dangerous in any state A wise man alwayes sailes by the same Compass though not alwayes by the same wind Particular actions may be changed upon occasion though the same mark be still aimed at Moderation is another property of wisdome for if peace and truth be the best end that all ought to aime at moderate and pacifick wayes and principles that run not in extreams are certainly the directest wayes that lead thereunto Therefore it is observed that men of moderate and peaceable tempers are both the wisest and most useful men in all Societies Extreams are alway●s dangerous for as the Philosopher sayes of virtue that it lies in the middle between two vices as the extreams are opposites on either hand so may truth generally be found in the middle between two Errors Some men think they can never run far enough from that they hate whereas wisemen can see as dangerous a precipice of error before them as that which they left be●ind them This is too too evident in most of the controversies which have been bandyed for and against in our times In most of which he that hath taken the least view of the managing of such controversies will finde that men of rigid and severe spirits have missed both of peace and truth the designe of all good and wise men Thus did the Donatists in Africa and the Novatians about Rome of old who separated from all other Christians save those of their own perswasion till at last there were none left either to joyn with or separate from the spinning of thread too fine doth but draw the wool beyond the staple and will never hold in the weaving Thus hath it been found in these last dayes of Reformation the Religion of many proving like precious Liquor too often distilled till at last all evaporates into meer fume some that could not be content to keep company with their honest minded Brethren in the middle Kegion of revealed Truth the most wholsome practical points of Doctrine have soared so high aloft that they have as well lost themselves as those they pretended conscience to depart from whose root is rottenness and their blossome gone up as dust as the Prophet speaks Isai 5.24 The Apostle Paul gives this caution to the Romans to be wise to sobriety 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which words have an elegancy in the Greek not easie to be exprest in our Language Rom. 12.3 Pareus observes in his time that they who did nimium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sectari did more hurt then good in the Reformation of the Church Matth. 23. It is that which highly commended the wisdome of Basilius Magnus in those times of controversie in which his Lot did fall that his moderation lead him to

abstain from some expressions in the controversies then stirring with great freedome and boldness used by others that he might not be the envy of words and phrases draw upon himself and in him upon the Church of God an inevitable and unnecessary danger As a great Divine of ours notes out of Gregory Nazian If the like wisdome and Moderation had been observed in those that earnestly contend for truth so as not to load the truth they maintain with hard severe though it may be true expressions that beget more obstinacy in the Adversaries and it may be suspition in the weak or unresolved looker on differences amongst men might be more soberly composed and the truth with more assurance entertained Dr. R. on Psal 110. p. 372. The words of the wise saith Solomon are heard in quiet more then the cry of him that ruleth among fools i.e. A wise man that speaks without clamour noyse or contention gains more credit to his words by the weight of the matter then another can do by the obstreperous noise and loud sound they are wont to be uttered withal The like wisdome doth moderation discover in things of a civil nature where many times the rigorous exaction of the strict letter of the rule of Justice proves unjust in the issue and most unprofitable to the Cumini sectar himself or his instruments According to the usual saying summum jus est summa injuria The Duke of Burgundy began a quarrel with the Switzers about the Toll of a load of Calve-skins wherein he lost his life and all his treasure 5. Peaceableness is another property of Wisdome which ought to be esteemed by the tendency it hath toward the obtaining the great end that all ought to aym at sc the honour of God and good of Societies which is much more promoted by peace then by the proceeding of force The Woman of Ab●l whom the Scripture commends for her wisdome discovered her wisdome by her peaceable Counsel The poor wise man saved the City by wise counsel not by weapons of War Eccles 9.15 when a great King came against it besieged it built Bulwarks against it There is nothing more easie then to begin a War as nothing more difficult then to manage it aright or bring it to a good issue therefore is peace in a wise mans eye a rich booty Contention saith Solomon is like the breaking forth of water therefore his advice is to leave off before it be medled with Prov. 17.14 D●lc● b●llum inexpertis is a true saying i. e. War uses to be welcome to none but those that never made tryal thereof as I fear New-England may find by woful experience which will leave a reflection of the deeper guilt if any have had any needless hand in the inviting of such an unwelcome guest into the Country But I judge charitably of the present Auditors and dare not censure others It was the spirit of David one wise as the Angel of God and no mean Warriour neither I am for peace but when I speak they are for War Psal 120.7 It seemed then David used not Wars but when necessity forced him thereunto In matters of Religion who is it that gains by Contention it is the duty of every Christian to contend for the Faith once delivered to the Saints but they ought 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Apostle speaks Eph. 4.15 least otherwise the loss of love is more matter of grief then the truth we suppose we have gained is matter of rejoycing like them that angle for small fish with a golden Hook Not that any truth of God ought upon any pretence to be undervalued nor any precept of God be counted little but every thing is beautiful in his season where the urging of some truth of less moment may certainly endanger the breach of peace which is a greater good I know not but it might with more acceptation have been forborn for we know our Saviour Christ did not nor the Apostles after him at every season declare such Truths as the Hearers were not capable to receive For all necessary and fundamental Truths we cannot be too resolved in Contention for them But for Opinions of less certainty and moment where wise and good men have alwayes needed a latitude wherein to differ and turn aside one from the other it can be no part of wisdome to be too eager or rigorous about them some with the Disciples Luke 9.54.55 are ready to think he deserves no less then to be destroyed by fire from Heaven if he follows not them whom yet our Saviour justly reproves for giving too much way to their own Spirits 6. Condescension may in the next place be added as another property of Wisdome Humility the ground of condescension is nearly allyed to wisdome both are the procreant causes of great Blessings to the Sons of men Prov. 22.4 The wisdome that is from above is gentle easie to be entreated No man ever thought that Abraham was the less wise because more willing to yield in the controversie between him and Lot Those parts of the natural body that are the most yielding are the stronger and most useful were all the other members of our body as hard and as stiff as the Bones how uncomfortable would our Actions and motions be If any finde it better to break then bow they may thereby gain some reputation for their wilfulness but not for their wisdome This must alwayes be understood of things lawful and expedient to be yielded to else Moses the meekest man upon Earth will not bate an hoof nor Paul the most humble of all Christians will not yield or give place for an hour both which in other cases could deny themselves and yield very far 7. Deliberation is the last property of Wisdome which I need mention it can hardly be thought to consist with Wisdome to do any thing rashly in matters of moment Temerity of Counsels argues rather height of folly and pride then depth of wisdome for in so doing we should lay aside Reason our most faithful and best Councellour and commit our affairs into the hands of passion and affection or worse cum res transit in affectum perit omne judicium they loose their wisdome that suffer themselves to be transported with passion Deliberandum diu quod semel statuendum it had need be a long time deliberated upon that is to be appointed for ever after For although our statutes be not unalterable like those of the Medes and Persians yet that which is maturely agreed upon at the first will stand in the less need of alteration or abrogation the frequency of either of which abates much of the rigour of the Laws and honour of the Law-makers Many things in humane affairs admit not of second thoughts notwithstanding they are generally known to be the best In bello non b●s ●ccat therefore sayes Solomon with good advice make War and manage it likewise with the same care lest there be no room