Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	reason_n	scripture_n	word_n	4,497	5	4.2578	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A64822	The new command renew'd, or, Love one another being an endeavour after the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace, by several uniting principles, among which there are ten rules for a right understanding of scripture, very useful for these divided times / by Ralph Venning.	Venning, Ralph, 1621?-1674.	1652 (1652)	Wing V214; ESTC R3161	28,675	54

is with them that fear him and he will shew them his Covenant Psal 25.14 converse with them who converse with God The Saints have clearer apprehensions of the Scripture then other men and can give a better account of the mystery not so perhaps of the History then many a learned man can do the reason is apparent for the godly man though illiterate hath the Law in his heart and the truth in his inward parts The Bible is transcrib'd within him But the most learned man in the world if not a Saint hath it not in the experience though he have it in the expression Not beloved that I speak in dislike of learning and its use no I do confesse that next to the Lord Jesus Christ and Communion with God in him there is no portion whether riches honours or pleasures like unto it in my esteem This by the way now to our purpose Prov. 24.6 It is good therefore to consult with the Saints a conjunction of Counsellors will do well for in the multitude of them there is like to be safety Prov. 11.14 As to depend only on other mens judgement were to make as if the spirit had not come to thy self so to depend only on thy own judgement were to make as if the spirit of God had not come to others Thirdly Three other Rules Use such helps as God hath made useful to others for their right understanding of Scriptures Rules for the understanding of the Scripture Such as God hath made useful to me and many other Christians I shall set before you I speak as to wise men judge ye what I say The first Rule 1. The first Rule That the Father Son and Spirit as they are one so they agree in one 1 Joh. 5.7 8. they have but one designe The Father Son and Spirit are not like the gods of the heathen which indeed are not gods always quarrelling one with another clashing against and contradicting one another though they will many things their will is but one Therefore if you find in Scripture that the Sonnes designe in Redemption seems to be of larger extent then the Fathers in Election and the Spirits in Sanctification reconcile it by this rule for there is but one and the same object of the Fathers Election the Sons Redemption and the Spirits Sanctification to eternal life The second Rule 2. Second Rule Every particular is to be interpreted by the scope of the whole and that will free Scriptures from all seeming contradictions Paul saith Rom. 3.28 a man is justified by Faith without * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or apart from the deeds of the law but Iam. 2.24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified and not by faith only * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or alone Now here seems to be a contradiction but the scope of the Scripture will unty this knot as I understand thus By Faith alone we are justified but the Faith by which we are justified is not alone 'T is not as I conceive the work Faith nor the works of Faith but a working Faith whereby we are justified By Faith the Person is justified and by works the Faith is justified and thus beloved I hope you see clearly that there is not concordia discors a disagreeing agreement but discordia concors an agreeing disagreement between these two Scriptures One saith to this our purpose that to hang on any word or phrase in a Text and neglect the scope savours of an Hereticall disposition And Luther hath a sweet saying to this purpose Grammaticam decet Theologiae cedere quùm subjecta sunt verba rebus non res verbis vox meritò sensum sequatur litera spiritum The sense in short is this Words must give place to the matter and sense His reason is this because the matter is not for the words but the words for the matter And again Divinely Iste modus intelligendi aut interpretandi Scripturas diversa scil ex diversis locis decerpere est fallacissimus habenda igitur est tota Scriptura ante oculos contraria contrariis conferenda That way of understanding or interpreting Scriptures viz to gather diverse things from diverse places is most deceitfull the whole Scripture therefore is to be had before our eyes and contraries to be compared with contraries Friends I hope it will not be an offence to any to quote an Author for I believe 'T is as lawfull to consult with the experience of dead as of living Saints The third Rule 3. The place is not truly interpreted 3 Rule nor consequence well inferr'd the consequence whereof is an absurdity and speaks any thing to the disparagement of the God of grace or the grace of God as Luther Divine Luther Omnis Scriptura est pro Christo interpretenda ex gr Serva mandata scil in Christo quia fine Christo nihil potestis All Scripture is to be interpreted for Christ as keep the Commandements viz. in Christ for without him ye can do nothing And againe fully excellent and excellently full Si Adversarii urgent Scripturam contra Christans urgeamus Christum contra Scripturam If our adversaries urge Scripture against Christ let us urge Christ against Scripture If the interpretation of any Text draw such inferences after it as these viz. That God is unjust that God is mutable that God cannot do all things that Christ is not able of and by himselfe to save to the utmost that the Saints shall not be kept through Faith by the power of God to salvation I say if such inferences follow the interpretation of any Scripture 't is not truly interpreted for they cannot speak against the truth but for the truth The fourth Rule 4. 4 Rule Take heed of distinctions though there may be use of them yet for the most part the most part of distinctions arise from darkness and ignorance or from wilfulness Therefore take heed of them and admit not of any which are not well grounded on the Scripture Did we speak more punctually to all points and more distinctly there would be fewer distinctions It is a common thing with many men that cannot or will not Oh that there were not such as will not understand the truth to raise distinctions and evade that way When men know not what to say then like Sophisters they cry distinguish we must distinguish And then Materialiter and formaliter strictè and latè poore thread-bare tearmes are tossed up and downe like Tennis-Balls The fifth Rule 5. 5 Rule Parables and similitudes hold not in the particulars but in the whole not in every sentence but in the scope They runne not on all soure as we say they are of more use for Illustration then Demonstration And I believe there is not a truth held out in a parable but i'ts held forth also in some other place of Scripture which will be better to ground on being usually more cleare The sixth

Rule 6 Seeing God in Scripture speaks much in a little interpret Scripture in the largest sense 6 Rule The Hebrew Doctors say that the Law hath seventy faces i. e. manner of ways to beopened and applyed Scripture is like to Laws of favour which are to be extended as farre as may be We wrong many a Text of Scripture by comfining bounding and limiting it in a narrow compasse The Evangelists look upon severall Texts as fulfilled in their days which were fulfilled long before as Matth. 3.17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by the Prophet Jeremiah saying c Now this was fulfilled Literally in Jeremy 31.15 When Ephraim which came from Rachel was in captivity In the New Testament the Apstles bring the same Testamony to diverse purposes and fulfilled here by allusion as much as if it had been said we may now take up the words of the Prophet as if that place was not fulfill'd till now And so you shall often finde severall Texts upon severall occasions applyed to severall uses which shews that the sense should not be confined As for instance that Text Hab. 2.4 The just shall live by Faith is applyed in severall senses as appears by comparing it with Romans 1. ●7 Gal. 3.11 Heb. 10.38 in all which places 't is quoted The seventh Rule 7. No place must be interpreted so 7 Rule as to make the two Commandements love God and love your Neighbour to prejudice each other As the Proverb is we must not rob Peter us cloath Paul We may not take from God to give to our Neighbour nor take from our Neighbour to give to God As Honour thy Father and thy Mother now we must not under pretence of honouring our Parent dishonour God no 't is obedience to disobey them wherein we cannot obey them unlesse we disobey God Neither may we under pretence of Corban or a gift Mark 7.11 refuse to do ought for our Father and Mother as God commands us lest we make the word of God of none effect The eighth Rule 8. 8 Rule Distinguish between things spoken properly and things spoken figuratively as also between things meant literally and things meant spiritually The Prophet Malachy said Mal. 4.5 that Elias must first come which was spoken of John the Baptist as Christ cleares it Mat. 17.12 So these words Mat. 16.6 Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees are not meant properly but figuratively If a man should take that place Mat. 5.29 If thine eye offend thee pull it out literally he might be guilty of Selfe-murder Therefore it is to be understood spiritually viz. of any thing that is as neare deare and tender as our eye to us Origen who interpreted all or almost all other places of Scripture mystically understood this place literally Mat. 19.12 Some make themselves Eunuches for the Kingdome of God and thereupon gelded himselfe but surely Origen had not that ab origene for from the beginning it was not so it was not instituted by God therefore must not be executed by man The nineth Rule 9. 9 Rule All places which speak of Administrations and Administrators are best understood and interpreted the nearer the sense comes to Gods designe Gods designe is Eph. 4.11 12 13. by all Administrators and Administrations to bring about the perfecting of the Saints the worke of the Ministery and the edifying of the Body of Christ till we all come c. Now all Administrations and Administrators being to help on this the places of Seripture speaking of such things are undoubtedly best understood in the sense which doth promote that worke The tenth Rule 10. If Scripture speak it believe it 10 Rule though Reason cannot finde out the reason of it The Scripture saith in Iob 26.7 That the earth hangeth on nothing The Scripture saith that one is three and three are one 1 Ioh. 5.7 How can reason think this true and yet 't is true for God who is truth and speaks nothing but truth saith 't is so Yea let me adde that could God be comprehended by our reason we might think it reason to think he were not God The third Principle 3. If after all these endeavours 3 Principle to attaine and obtaine the right understanding of Scripture they yet seem in any particular to speake darkly and as to externall dispensations thou know not with which to close make holiness thy Rule That way which conduceth most to self-abasing and Christs advancement is the safest and did Christians judge of opinions and practices by this Rule they would better discern between things that differ You heare men say this is Christ and here is Christ and both may seem probable to you but you know not how to determine there are strong arguments on both hands Now consider and in good earnest weigh and that without partiality which makes most for a most exact walking with God and building up one another in the Faith and feare of Jesus Christ and accordingly ingage The fourth Principle 4. 4 Principle Make not that common to all which God hath made peculiar to some nor make that peculiar to some which God hath made common to all do not ye inlarge when God hath strait'ned nor straiten when God hath inlarged Cast not Pearles before Swine nor give the Childrens Bread to Dogs neither refuse to give the children bread and deny not Pearles to them whom God hath made his Iewells Give every one his due tribute to whom tribute love to whom love honour to whom honour Be not you shy of joyning your selves when God will joyne himselfe lest you call call that common and uncleane which God hath sanctified be sure also to make a difference between the precious and the vile Ier. 15.20 then God will make you unto this people a fenced brazen Wall and though they fight against you they shall not prevaile for the Lord will be with you to save you The fifth Principle 5. 5 Principle Confine not God to any nor deny to God any way of working know this that he worketh when where how and by whom he pleaseth Because the first Gospel Ministery was with miracles can there be none now without miracles why will ye limit the holy one of Israel If he bring about his end that is by the Gospel to bring in poore sinners to himself what matters it whether it be done by the Work of his Hand or by the Word of his Mouth And yet who knowes but God who did will again appeare in working miracles especially at the calling in of the Iewes as he did then at the calling of the Gentiles But whether he will or no let not us limit the holy one of Israel The sixth Principle 6. Do not divorce what God hath married 6 Principle nor separate what God hath joyned together The fulfilling of the righteousnesse of the Law without us doth not hinder the fulfilling of it within us nor the fulfilling of the

not hinder closing with truth The third Principle 3. When God is sought 3 Principle speak plainly aNd clearly and you begin to discourse deal faithfully as in the presence of God Fit words are better then fine use not policy and sophistry to vaile the truth Do not ye equivocate nor mince your meanings hiding it under dubious termes but propose all things clearly Affect not novelty or nicety of language but speak in known and familiar phrases Many times there 's such a do kept about termes that before the discourse be ended men lose themselves and the question too therefore speak plainly and not in parables * How many 3000 words have these three words cost 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It 's no little vanity to speak such words as will constrain you to use twenty and sometimes twenty times more to explain what you meant The fourth Principle 4. Be as willing to hear as to speak 4 Principle hear much speak little a man should hear twice as much as he should speak and it seems to be intimated in his having two cares but one tongue Were there in times of discourse more hearers and fewer speakers there would probably be easier and speedier determinations much talk hinders observation and keeps things from being weigh'd A man shall meet with such talkatives as like the beating of an unbrac'd drum are able to beat some men out of their wits at least their patience they are so confusedly busie and so busily confused The fifth Principle 5. 5 Principle weigh what is spoken Weigh not who speaks nor how it is spoken but what is spoken you should not overvalue nor undervalue a truth because ye like or dislike the party or his manner of speaking Sometime according to the Proverb we dandle the child for love of the Nurse and take up an opinion for his sake that brings it * Maldonate said of the explication of a place of Scripture that it was most agreeable to antiquity but because Calvin h●d so interpreted it he would chuse a new one Phil. 4.15 and others refuse an opinion because such a one holds it But Christians consider what you do would a man take poyson though from a Father or refuse a Cordiall though from an enemy It was better said Amicus Plato and Amicus Aristoteles sed magìs amica veritas And the Apostle rejoyced that Christ was preached though they that preacht him did it out of envy and to add to his bonds go from any man to go to truth but go from no truth to go to any man As Christ said the pollution is not from without neither indeed in this sense the purity What is the word the better for being in Pauls mouth or the worse for being in Apollos What is the Heavenly treasure the worse for being brought in an earthen vessell or the better when handed to us by an Angell is the word of Wisdome the better for the Wisdome of words or is truth the lesse beautifull because naked and not arrayed with Sattin words and silken phrases what though a man have neither silver nor gold to give you is not Christ worth the receiving 'T is strange to see how men are led into and led out of opinions meerly by an opinion of the man The Philosopher though he were the same man and of the same minde in his squallid rags could not finde admission when better robes procur'd both an open doore and reverence Boldnesse and readinesse of speech with the most though not with the most judicious bears away the Bell. To go from Aristotle Ipse dixit swaid all though a man go to reason is or had wont to be no small disgrace in the schooles If Herod speak then it is the voyce of God and not of man but if Paul speake then 't is what will this babler say Some cannot heare unlesse a Doctor preach others will not heare if a Doctor preach Surely Christians these things ought not to be so truth should be well-come to us though the Devill the father of lies brought it to us and no hing but truth though an Angel from Heaven be the messenger The sixth Principle 6. 6 Principle custome Christ call'd himself truth not custome Let not custome beare sway for or against an opinion Let not Antiquity or Novelty make you respect or disrespect a truth father truth for truths sake whether old or new Though all truth be old * Old truths may come newly to light God is not tied to time for the gift of Illumination Dr. Hall yet our sight of truth may be new why then should new light be a trouble to some or tradition a burthen to others why should Divine or Orthodox or Orthodox Divine grow out of date or why should not a Gospell-Preacher be in season Some like words and practices because of custome others have no other reason for their dislike Never walk by what hath been done or what is done unles it be what ought to be done Reduce things to their primitive institution and then see what God saith of them Matthew 19.8 as our Saviour told the Pharisees Matth. 19.8 Though Moses for the hardnesse of your hearts suffered you to put away your Wives yet from the beginning it was not so Men do now adayes by opinions as many do by their cloaths some will keep to their great grandfathers habit and fashion others as changeable as the Moone think they are never in fashion unlesse they be ever changing fashions Some cannot like a truth because 't is not of ancient standing others like it because it is of yesterday Some can reverence none but gray-hair'd opinons others like none but youthfull and smoothfac'd ones T is true the * Age. multitude of yeares teacheth wisdome and so may the * Youth few of dayes 't is truth and nothing but the truth and all the truth which should have our esteem whether it be old or young whether the first borne of time or the last The seventh Principle 7. 7 Principle proper Arguments In all discourses and disputations use proper Media or arguments to prove your tenets by bring not Scriptures to your reason but your reason to Scripture or judge reason by reason and Scripture by Scripture Morall arguments are not fit and proper to prove naturall Principles by nor in many things rationall Arguments to prove or disprove Scripture by Prove spirituall things by spirituall Arguments as the Apostle hints to us 1 Cor. 2.13 1 Cor. 2.13 which things also we speak not in the words which mans wisdome teacheth but which the holy Ghost teacheth comparing spirituall things with spirituall or judging spiritualls with spiritualls The Apostle did not borrow words or Arguments from without but fitted spirituall Arguments to prove spiritual things Neverdraw Ecclesiasticall conclusions from Politicall premisses The eighth Principle 8. Discourse not to cavill but to convince 8. Principle cavil not or to be