Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	seek_v	worship_n	worship_v	2,731	5	9.3155	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B09776	The Anabaptists meribah: or, VVaters of strife. Being a reply to a late insulting pamphlet, written by Thomas Lamb, merchant, intitulled, Truth prevailing against the fiercest opposition; or, An answer to Mr. John Goodwins Water-dipping, no firm footing for church-communion. Wherein the impertinency of M. Lamb's answer, and the validity of M. Goodwin's Water-dipping, &c. are manifested by I. Price a member of the Church of Christ, whereof the said Mr. Goodwin is pastor.	Price, J., fl. 1656.	1656 (1656)	Wing P3332A; ESTC R182056	87,699	107

which you say he hath after used of such splashy Reply shallow watry thin and barren argumentation either pro or con than the writing of seven such boo●s as this is which we now implead You speak much of your findings but if you have found any such place in all his writings namely where he hath denyed that true proper and natural consequences from granted premises in the Scripture are not to be admitted as the truths of God I believe you may rejoyce in it and eat the morsells thereof your self alone having no partner with you therein in any part of the world whereof the Sun in the firmament is Overseer But this is onely to give Mr. Goodwin a running-rap but you could not reach him You procee 8. Mr. Lamb. I found the unregenerate world naturally falling in with childrens baptism which is a shrewd sign is a de●ice of her own the world loveth her own c. SECT XLVIII YOU finde the unregenerate world no more naturally falling in with childrens baptism Reply then you found it naturally falling in with the profession of Christ For they are baptized and do baptize their children in no other name nor into the profession of any other Saviour then Jesus Christ And is not this a shrewd argument that this Doctrine of the Messiah the unregenerate world so naturally falleth in withall is a device of her own the world doth love her own Your 9th particular is summ'd up in this Mr. Lamb. infant-Baptism is unlawfull because baptism being the initiating Ordinance into the Church it letteth in a sort of Members which the New-Testament knoweth not namely such as cannot worship God inspirit God now seeking onely such to worship him The whole bedy must be fitly framed together and every part must effectually work And can these things be affirmed of children SECT XLIX First you affirm that baptism is the innitiating Ordinance into the Church I suppose you mean not the Church generall but dejure it is the initrating Ordinance into particular Churches If that be your meaning Baptism not proved to be the initiating Ordinance into Church-fellowship this then is such a conclusion as you can hardly make good no not by any ifs may-bee's and why-nots gatherable from any place or places in the Holy Scriptures that is to say that baptism did make any person ipsosacto a member of any particular Church But it is proveable that many and many were baptized of whom it is impossible to prove that by baptism or any other way they were ever immembred into any particular Church And it is a difficulty too hard for you or I or any other in the world to undertake namely to prove that all and every particular member of particular Churches were ever baptized at all 2. It is true Gad seeketh such and onely such now to worship him as can worship him in spirit and in truth Iohn 4.23 that is as I conceive according to the context Now the time of reformation approacheth God will be worshipped and obeyed neither in the Iudaicall rites consisting in external performances as some among you so much contend for nor according to the Samaritans false worship who worshipped their Idol Gods together with God 2 King 17.26 27 28 29. but in a pure spirituall manner extending to the very heart such as was typified by those shaddows and the Son of God comes now to draw all men unto this way of worship from the Iudaicall from the Samaritan way This text indeed with severall others renders men uncapable of Church-worship in an acceptable manner that content themselves only with outward forms and yet leading a vitious life But what is this to the exclusion of children As for them here is the grace of the Gospell that he accepteth of little children and would not have men forbidden as you do to bring them to Christ He accepteth according to what any person hath and not according to what he hath not 3. Again God was alwayes a spirit as well as now and he did alwayes seek for such to worship him as should worship him in spirit and in truth as well as now He alwaies loved-truth in the inward parts he alwayes required of all his Sons to give him their hearts in his worship he alwayes commanded the Jews to love the Lord their God with all their hearts and minds and soul and strength Did this under the Law any way hinder that children might not be admitted members of the Iewish Church because they could not perform inward heart-worship and spirituall service did God upon their circumcision accept of them as if they did perform all those spirituall services and heart-duties untill they came to an actuall and personall capacity actually and personally to perform the same And will he not now accept of children baptized as if they did actually and personally perform those services unto him which under the Gospell he requireth untill they likewise come to an actuall and personall capacity so to do And then wil he accept or reject them as they are found faithfull or unfaithfull in these things 4. Whereas you say that the New-Testament knoweth us such member of Churches as infants c. I answer that tho I will not say or deny that the New-Testament knoweth not any infant-members of Churches yet the New Testament knoweth and hath taught others also to know that children are due subjects of Baptism And that it never knew not taught any to know where ever they were or ought to be rejected and denyed the participation thereof Our controversie is not about infant-Church-member-ship but infant-baptism Your tenth Argument for your beliefe in the business of Baptism viz. against Infant-Baptisme and for your separation Mr. Lamb. c. is taken from your observation of the righteous hand of God who causeth the sharpest and most able Adversaries to you in this point to let fall such expressions as justifie what they go about to oppose and condemn as Mr. Richard Baxter saith the aged are 1. the most fully capable subiects 2. the most excellent subiects 3. the most eminent subiects 4. of whom Scripture fully speaketh 5. the greater part of the world when Baptism was instituted who were to be partakers of it But on the contrary for infant-baptism he Mr. Baxter acknowledgeth it so dark in the Scripture that the controversie is thereby become not onely hard but so hard c. SECT L. YOU needed indeed to have written this in Capitall Letters that every one that runs may read the profundity thereof Reply The aged are the most capable subjects of Baptisme Ergo Children are no subjects thereof The aged are the most eminent subjects Ergo Children are no subjects Mr. Lambs miserable inferences from Mr. Baxters words the Scripture speaketh fully of them Ergo not at all of Children The aged were the greater part of the world that did partake of Baptisme Ergo Children were no part of the world that did partake

Vision of it and causing them to stand at a convenient distance from it having prepared and raised up the devotion of their minds with much gravity of speech at last with very low genu-flections once and again and the third time also with all reverence he took off one mantle and then with the like ceremony he took off another and another until he came to the very last which was of very rich scarlet When he came to that he required them with all serious devotion of mind and thought to gather up all their visive faculties and to look stedfastly and fixedly upon the said Relique when he should unfold that last mantle which he said he was to do and to sold it up again with all holy celerity and expedition and having most nimbly opened the said mantle and with the like speed folded it up again he demanded whether they did not see it Some held their peace others said they faw nothing How said the Priest what saw you nothing did you shut your eyes are you wilfully blind Pray Sir said some of them having a little more courage then the rest pardon us but tel us what it was What it was said the priest I am sorry that you have eyes and cannot see or which is worse you wil not see but I 'le tel you what it was mary it is the breath of the Asse upon which Christ rode to Jerusalem when the people cried Hosanna unto him At which they that were silent before did professe they saw it very plainly and wondered that the rest did not see it and so they departed very thankful very much satisfied and wel apaid at their bargain In like manner Mr Lamb hath filled the eares of the World round about him vvith the mighty noise of the great truth of God concerning baptisme on his side that it is most apparently evident in his book and by the light thereof that the baptisme of believers at age in opposition to Insant baptisme is the great truth of God and that the separation from such societies as are not of the same saith and practice therein is justifiable by the Word or God that the baptisme of such persons only and that by dipping them under vvater is the initiating Ordinance into Church-fellovvship that all Congregations othervvayes gathered are little betterthen the Synagogue of Sathan though they cal themselves Jews I mean the Churches of Jesus Christ that it becomes all men and Women that would be accounted visible christians to become devout Voraries hereunto And this grand Truth is as visible in hi● book that ever and anon Heaven and Earth God Angels and me● are called to Witness mens dovvn-right vvilfulness in shutting their eyes vvhen they might see the same and do homage thereunto We have the talk of Truth in the Title truth in the trunck or body truth in the taile of the book truth in the praescripts truth in the grand-scripts truth in the post-scripts but though you unfold mantle after mantl● seaf after leaf page after page paragraph after paragraph all vvhich I confesse are richly trimd imbroidered and laced vvith many holy scriptures and devout expressions yet though you should gather up all your visive capacities and abilities of ingenuity knovvledg and Wisedom you vvil find nothing of that vvhich you seek for in this kind but meer aire and breath yea sometimes breath of a very loathsome savour proceeding from distempered and ulcerated Lungs Nay the truth is if an ingenious Reader should dismantle his book 1. Of all the impertinent passages 2 M. Lambs Book fill'd and stuff'd with impertinences Of all the Quotations of scriptures irrelative to the businesse for which they were quoted ●l Of all the vain flourishes and displaying of his colours after his conceited Victory expressed in such words as these Good Reader judg c again What man is he that doth not glory in men whose faith and practise standeth not in the wisedom of men c but must conceive c again be astonished therefore O yee Heavens and horribly afraid O earth c again good Reader what saist thou hath not Mr Goodwin the wrong end of the staff c again I appeal to the Conscience of the judicious Reader c. again Heavens Earth judge with many more of the same kind 4ly Of all his unbrotherly and unhandsome reflections upon M Goodwin let his book I say be dismantled of these and their likes he shal find it a meer skeleton a starved carkasse like one of pharaos lean kind not having so much spirit life and strength of argument to the busines he pretends unto as to be able to crawl up down in the considerations of any out blind Votaries that can discern offer sacrifice unto meer air and breath folded up in many sheets of paper For the eviction whereof let us consider that that follows in the next place viz his Epistle to the Reader which begins thus Good Reader M Lamb. GOd knoweth with what regrett of spirit I publish this Answer to M Goodwins Book c. SECT IIII. THou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain for the Lord wil not hold him gu●●●ese that taketh his Name in vain Reply How desirous are you to preach into us a strong belief of your great candor of spirit unto Mr Mr. Lamb pretends much candor of spirit to M Goodw Goodwin that ever and anon throughout your Book after you have given him a rap as you suppose you fall a stroaking him againe First strapado-like you lift him up then down with him again then up again Doth not this argue there was a sore contest between your conscience and concupiscence in the writing thereof and the Victory is deplorable If you have bitter envyings and strife in your hearts saith James glory not Mr. Lamb perplexed in his conscience about writing his Book James 3 14. Rev 8 11. Were you not under the maligne influence of the star called Wormwood mentioned by John when you wrote that book against Mr Goodwin which makes more then the third part thereof so bitter against him do you not believe it Then let me tel you How a man may know conscience from concupisence and when he is acted by the corrupt principles of the flesh viz popularity spiritual pride and vanity of mind even in seemingly devout and religious performances preaching praising printing discoursing about good things and when by the holy Spirit of God is a Question the answer whereunto would be more profitable fit for you and me to study and to understand then to contend and make war with the chariots and horsemen of Israel in and about the controversie in hand And were I to give my opinion in the question I should think it would not be an impertinency to offer this for one answer viz that in cases disputable and controversall among the godly The spirit of God doth not compel in controversal points learned

and it is the truest answer you have yet given Mr. Goodwins 18th Consideration viz. that it is hard to prove it sinfull to refuse not only not to be dip but to be baptized in one form or other 1. Because hard to finde out a lawfull administrator 2. The command to baptize is given to the Apostles 3. They were not enjoyned to baptize any person against his will 4. Those words teaching them to observe whatsoever I command them do not prove that the Apostles did teach believers to require baptism of them except it be proved that Christ did command the Apostles so to do 5. Neither is it found in the Scriptures that the Apostles did teach a church or people to seek baptism at their hands c. SECT LXXII YOU answer first with grief of heart that such noble parts and abilities are so desperately engaged in so bad a cause By this You seem a little to grudge that such precious Oyntment should be spent upon the service of truth you know who said it were better sold and given to the poor But thus say you If I prove from Scripture that it is sinfull for Disciples to remain unbaptized and that by the precept of Christ then all your far-fetcht pleas will fall to the ground And then you fall to the work from page the 69. to page the 79. toyling and labouring to catch that which at least mist of it you might have had granted you for asking but you answer to what was objected as if like the Disciples when Christ told them of his going up to Jerusalem to suffer c. Luke 18.34 you understood none of those sayings but that they are hid from you neither know you the things that were spoken Those that have a blemish in their eye said one the more wishly they look into any thing the less they see of it the truth is in this you answer as if the language of the consideration were Barbarian unto you and you to it and instead of pursuing the Partridge with the Faulconers you flie after a gilded butterflye with children when one thing is called for by Mr. Goodwin another thing is fetcht by Mr. Lamb Like that of Dabartus writing of the building of N●mrods Tower Bring me quoth one a Trowel quickly quick One brings him up a Hammer Hew this brick Another bids and then they cleave a Tree Make fast this Rope and then they let it flee One calls for Plancks another Morter lacks They bring the first a Stone the last an Ax. You go about to prove it sinfull for Disciples to remain unbaptized if you mean Disciples whom Christ commanded to be baptized having all opportunities thereunto as they had in the primitive times M. Goodwin and you are of one minde in that but if you mean Disciples now in these dayes wherein we live you must prove that God hath given them the same opportunities unto baptism which he gave those Disciples in the primitive times Jesus Christ surely doth not command things to be done and that upon penalty of his sore displeasure and banishment from his dwelling place which are ultra posse or impossible Jesus Christ is no such hard Master if you will prove it incombant upon us to be baptized which is not by us denyed by vertue of the command of Christ you must then prove and that not by a flourish of words but evidence of Scripture 1. VVho is the person sufficiently authorised by Jesus Christ hereunto Hard it is for M. Lamb to prove his authority to baptize Whether you can clearly prove your commission for baptizing other men and women and why those men yea and women too whom you baptize may not go out and baptize others for where do we finde in the Scriptures that those whom John baptized did after their baptism baptize others as also the like querie may be made of those converts in the Acts of the Apostles c. 2. If you will answer the argument of the consideration in hand you must prove the command of Christ Mat. 28.19 Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them c. was a Law imposed upon you if you wil take upon you to baptize others as well as upon the Apostles As also who are those mentioned in baptizing them what is the antecedent or substantive to this relative pronoun them Again you must prove that the Apostles did teach believers to require baptism of them and that Christ did command his Apostles to teach the Nations to observe it and that the Apostles in their ministry did teach churches or persons to seek baptism at their hands much less to threaten them for not seeking it Again you must prove if you will speak to the consideration or that under consideration that the Apostles had power by vertue of their commission to make it a standing Law for all Pastors and Teachers who were to succeed them in the ministry to impose the observation of the same law upon all believers and the rather because 1. water baptism seems by the practise of the Apostles to be intended by God chiefly if not only for to attend the Gospel in its first reception by a people 2. In that where the work or office of Pastors and Teachers or their qualifications are described there is no mention made of any charge upon them to baptize c. Again if you consider the consideration you must prove that those words Mat. 28.19 and so I am with you to the end of the world do necessarily imply that baptism is to continue unto the end of the world for as much as the phrase to the end of the world may mean 1. His being with them unto the end of their lives 2. That their labours should prosper and be fruitfull when they were dead and gone even to the end of the world Again you must prove the promise of his presence not only to his Apostles and successors in the administration of baptism unto the end of the world but that the like promise is made unto private Christians also in their administrations of baptism These things are propounded as Mr. Goodwin saith not as intending to argue the extinction of the Ordinance of baptism but rather as a demonstration of the many Labyrinths and Difficulties which you ought to overcome and clear who are so confidently positive and assertive of your practise and who pronounce all men unworthy of christian-communion who are not as positive and assertive as your selves But alas Mountains and Rocks are not so easie removed by Babes and Sucklings and puft away with a breath SECT LXXIII THE 19. Consideration being as you say the same with the 8th you pass over with reference to your answer thereunto and so do I with reference to my reply to that answer and if that 19th Consideration were nineteen times put upon your thoughts it would be too little for you to withstand the due weight and import thereof Mr. Goodwins 20. Consideration is to