Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	speak_v	spirit_n	true_a	4,053	5	5.1525	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A77585	The charity of church-men: or, A vindication of Mr William Walwyn merchant, from the aspersions plentifully cast upon him in a pamphlet, intituled, Walwyn's wiles. By H.B. Med. a friend to truth, his county and Mr Walwyn.	Brooke, Humphrey, 1617-1693.	1665 (1665)	Wing B4903A; Thomason E556_20; ESTC R205772	19,318	16

good And since he knows that Religion doth restrain men from committing those evils that otherwise they would rush u on were that necessary Tie of Conscience taken off Besides I professe as in the presence of Almighty God that I know no man that endeavours with more exactnesse to square his life according to the Rule Scripture then Mr Walwyn doth which is the clearest argument in the world that they are dear and precious in his eies and all those I know that are observers of his life and conversation will give testimony thereunto The true ground of this bitternesse of spirit against him may well be supposed to be because he cannot associate into a Church way upon their grounds as not knowing any persons to be so quallified as Ministers of the Gospel ought to be which he thinks is essentiall to such an association and is in expectance that in time it will be so In the mean time he approves Congregationall Assemblyes for instructing the people and for the consideration and right understanding of the Scriptures as also for the making every man in love with true piety and virtue and to loath whatsoever is evil But because he can no more approve the Divine Authority and Saintship of the Independent Pastours then of others before them and reckons that they are such but in pretence and shew only and is esteemed able to manifest and evince the same Hence have they drawn out their sharpest arrows even bitter words and let them fly at him hoping thereby to make invalid whatsoever he shall say in order thereunto And this indeed appears to be the true ground of their persecuting him and making use of all means direct or indirect to blast his spotlesse reputation and which hath made them gather up that heap of forgeries and calumnies which in that Book are contained For these speeches which are said to be other mens whom he hath perverted although I very much question whether they were ever spoken by any man they are so abominably profane and wicked yet 't is most clear that for Mr John Price or whoever is the Author of the Pamphlet to suggest that which he cannot know namely that such wicked speeches have proceeded from the mans acquaintance with Mr Walwyn doth clearly discover the malitiousnesse of his heart and the Un-Christian spirit that is within him which indeed is more evident by these bitter expressions that are scattered through his Book as English man Hunter Factor for the Devil Cunning and Hypocriticall Jugler Wretched man Journey-man and Apprentice to the Prince of darknesse Artificiall and great Imposter c. all which comming from within him do clearly manifest the defilements of his soul and from what rancour all the rest hath proceeded But the height of his bitternesse is discovered in a story concerning a Gentlewoman whom he is said in her great paine and distemper to advise to make away with her selfe a thing so false and scandalous as I know not what can be more For Mr. VValwyn hearing of her distemper and melancholly resolutions did out of the respects he bore unto her being a Woman of so much goodnesse and with whom and her husband he had been of long intimate acquaintance frequenty visit her and advised me to do the like purposely to fortifie her spirit against so harsh and sinful a resolve which we both did and as her husband knowes to good purpose that she was often much more chearful and better dispos'd after our being with her then at other times Insomuch that he has often desired both Mr. VValwyns and my frequent visitation of her For a fuller testimony thereof I intended that the Gentleman himself should have attested so much but he being very sick in the Country and his Sister and servants urging to me the danger of bringing to his remembrance his Wives sad disaster and telling me that probably it might be his sudden death I have forborn for a time till God shall give him more strength and health But forasmuch as Mr Walwyn hath been often with him since his Wives death and been as fairly accepted as ever as his Son and servants know What cleerer Argument can there be but that he does acquit M. Walwyn of any such horrid action as perswading his wife to make away with her self Besides if M. Walwyn had bin so wicked as to urge her can he be supposed to do it before I know not what stranger that told them the business when the Gentle-woman that was alwaies with her her Sisters and servants do none of them know any thing of the business but are ready to attest his frequent perswading her to the contrary By the falshood of this particular slander a man may guess at the truth of all the rest for they that will be so forward to divulge a Forgery so exceedingly tending to the discredit of another and make expostulations thereupon and appeals as the People advising them to judge of the Frame Temper and Spirit of the man by this action where will they stick Or what will they not do to take away his life which when a mans good name is gone is not at all to be valued For a good Name what is it but the life of a mans life I am very sorry for Religions sake which I fear will very much suffer by this demeanor of men whom I wish I could alwaies have accounted Religious But I see it is not an habit of Speaking gained by Study and Custom nor an Ability to Dispute or Discuss a point in Controversie that truly denominates a man such but the inward sweetness and calmness of Spirit that Christianity prescribes and which indeed is more eminent in M. Walwyn then I have known it in any man whose way hath alwaies bin to take the injur'd mans part to diminish the aggravations of an accuser slowly and unwillingly to hear any thing that tends to the preiudice or dis-repute of another as knowing well the aptness and propension in most men to give credence when they hear o●hers ill spoken of I cannot chuse but upon occasion break out into these Speeches concerning M. Walwyn and I question not but good men will excuse me for it because I am so experimentally sensible of the Truth thereof Indeed if I were to chuse a true Friend a vertuous and Religious Associate addicted to no vice or extravagancy the most averse from contention the most cheerful and pleasant but for the disturbance of his Spirit to see the Common-wealth still in so sad a condition If I would chuse a man to be readily assistant to his power in any distress and that makes Conscience of his duty to God and man It should be M. Walwyn And I heartily bless God that he hath afforded me the enjoyment of his Society for these eight yeers together and upward which I do reckon among the prime blessings of this life and which I would not utterly leave for any worldly Temptation whatsoever God

the Tyrant or Megapenthes and afterwards commended it as very usefull in the time he lived when by setting forth the foulnesse and deformity of Tyrannie in a third person he informed the people of the wickednesse of such under whom they lived but that any comparison was made between that and the Bible is as false as in it self ridiculous 'T is at least 4 or 5 years that the Gentleman hath charg'd his memory with this in all which time his hatred and enmity against Mr VValwyn being in its growth for he is of the Councel and Faction 't is no wonder if he be biass'd thereby to find that which he came purposely to look for whether it were really there or no. Besides Mr VValwyn prefer'd Lucian as the Pamphlet saies for wit before the Bible 'T is well known that Mr VValwyn hath the lowest esteem of wit that may be counting it the lightest volatile and superficiall part of a man whence his observation is that commonly those that have most wit have most wickednesse He distinguishes between Wit and Wisdom and prizes only the latter as of reall behoof and benefit to mankind it being that which through the concomitant blessing of the Almighty bears a man through all the straits and exigencies of this life whereas Wit is but the exuberance of light and unsteady minds which since he in all other matters dislikes for the truth whereof I appeal to all that know him What ground is there for the least supposall that he should for that prefer Lucian before the Bible For his opinion concerning Hell 't is clearly thus Though he judges every wicked man to have intus Gehennam a Hell in his own Conscience as on the contrary every good man to have the Kingdom of God within him yet upon strict search which we to-gether have made into the Scripture we have concluded that there is another Hel succeeding judgment convinced by those places of Scripture Psal 6.8 Mat. 25.41 2 Thess c. 1. So that the mistake is that because he said there is a Hel within man therfore he concludes there 's none without him And though it seems contrary to reason that a man should be punished everlastingly for a little sinning in this world in which sense only he spoke it yet have we both submitted our Reasons to Gods Word the places fore mentioned being expresse for the same For Books of Morality and History though Mr VValwyn gives them their doe esteem and judges that the peoples reading them would very much advance their knowledge and enable them to preserve themselves in freedom by seeing through the policies of bad men and their many sleights by which they abuse and enslave the people which are plentifully described in those Books And thus far the Author speaks truth of him Yet hath Mr VValwyn never elevated them beyond their proper sphere or desert nor made comparisons between them and that Book which he ever hath accounted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Book of Books and truly deserving the name of Bible or the Book in comparison to which all others though good and usefull in themselves do not yet deserve any esteem This I do as truly know to be his judgment in this particular as I know 't is day when the Sun shines amongst us That he hath blamed the simple practice of this Nation in bringing up their Children to learn Latin and Originall Languages is most false but that he hath and doth condemn the tedious and tiresome way that is taken in doing the same is most true his judgment in this particular being that Children may be taught Latin Greek and Hebrew in a fourth part of the time that is now spent therein and that purposely for the gain of the Schoolmaster It is as true that he dislikes in the education of Children that the Languages only are proposed and not the principles of Divinity and the precepts of Morality in such a manner as that their understandings may be possessed therewith whereby they may be made both religious and true Common-wealths-men And that also some Art Mechanick or Manufacture be taught according as their genius and disposition of body shall encline them that so they may be both able to provide for themselves and serviceable to the Common-wealth How easie in these particulars it is for other men to mistake him that continually lie upon the catch and are ready to interpret every thing he speaks to the worst let the world judge And consider likewise how exceedingly it doth mis-become those that professe Christianity especially a more pure and refined way then other men to lie lurking privily to destroy the innocent That the Scribes Pharisees and Lawyers should ask questions and insinuate themselves into good mens company to betray them is no wonder but that it should be done and professedly done by such as would be thought of a near relation to God such as separate from others because they will not have a profane person among them doth to my understanding call in question the sincerity of their assembling and import the end thereof to be not the edification one of another but the undermining of all other men and waies that are in any opposition to them I speak not this of the generality of the Members who questionlesse have good and Religious ends in congregating together but of that Vestry or Conclave of them that sit as Judges of every mans fame and reputation and have for that purpose their Emissaries to bring them in matter to raise Batteries against any mans good name they would make hatefull They have indeed too exactly learn'd Machiavel's rule to spare not to scandalize and traduce their adversaries for that though some of the dirt may be wiped off yet part of it will stick and they shall be sure not altogether to lose their labours Where by the way let every good man consider whether their mixing with other men under the notion of Friends their getting into familiar acquaintance eating and drinking together and all this to betray be not like Judas kissing our Saviour and in effect the dissolving of all society and friendship For how should I or any man know but that every man though seemingly a bosome Friend is indeed a Traitor How can this choose but take away the sweetnesse of friendship and make us every one jealous one of another Seriously I think they could not have done an action so discordant to Religion nor of so evil consequence to mankind For the Objection in the generall That Mr VValwyn labours and makes it his main businesse to bring people out of love with Religion and the Scriptures is a thing in it self so absurd as I think nothing can be more For what can be the end of a man in doing so And certainly every wise mans actions are directed to some end What would mens Athe●●● advantage him since 't is clear as day and all his endeavours manifest it that he strives to have every man

knows I flatter not for what need have I to flatter but speak the truth of my heart being inwardly conscious both of his innocence and goodness of the many pressures that undeservedly ly upon him out of which I hope God almighty will shortly free him by cleering all Scruple and false Apprehensions concerning him But to proceed What M. Walwyn has said concerning Professors I know not but sure there is much to be said and much in them to be amended haply in this particular he has bin more earnest than ordinary because he sees so large a disproportion between the Rule and their Practise and since this is true and acknowledged so by the Author how uncharitable must he needs appear in judging M. Walwyns urging the same to proceed from a designe to disparage Religion and the Professors thereof Sure I am that if any man could be so wicked as to propose such a designe to himself as the disparagement of Religion and its Professors he would not check but countenance their wickedness then which nothing can 〈◊〉 discreditable to Religion M. Walwyns next drift●s said to be to procure the trouble misery and mi●e of this Common-wealth A goodly work indeed and which is likely that a 〈◊〉 which hath spent himself for the Parliament and in endeavouring a good and happy settlement of the Common-wealth should ever admit into his thoughts For what end should he attempt any su h thing If for wealth or greatness was an improbable way is that to get e ther Besides he has hitherto bin regardless of both and certainly if they had bin his end he has brain and ability enough to have compassed them both by striking in with any party that has had the dispensation thereof But in this the calumniation of M. Walwyn is not so principally intended as to startle the people from finding fault with any thing that is aunswer from complaining of the failings and undue management of things by such as 〈◊〉 or may be in Authority for this he cries out upon as the means to carry on his private designe which will questionless be extended to any who sit not down contented with whatsoever happens but appear in never so moderate desires for the rectification of what is amiss How has he by this means fitted every man with a way how to find fault with Petitioners to stilo them of Walwyns gang deceived by his Wiles and Impostures and so to take away that last human Refuge which good men have left them viz. of making their Grievances known and desiring Redress For the waies which he is said to use to seduce the poor and indigent is by telling them that vertue and ability for discharge of a Publike trust ought to be the characteristical tokens of fitness to bear Office and places of Government and that it is a most unfiting thing that one man should have thousands to spend upon his lusts and another want necessaries though neither of these I think have so much irrationality or unchristianity in them as to deserve to be cryed down by a Member of a Church and are as uncharitably urged as supposed weapons M. Walwyn fights withal in order to an imagined design their either weak or wicked thoughts have invented Yet can I truly say of M. Walwyn as from my own knowledge that he hath ever protest and proposed not to supply poor men by injuring the Rich but by reducing the Common-wealth to so good a pass that every man by care and easie labour might have wherewithal to maintain himself and his Family in some comfortable manner To take away from any man what is his by inheritance or by his trade or industry or any other way is so visibly contrary to the equity which he hath ever according to his understanding held forth not onely in the front but in the very heart of his designes or what you please to call them which makes me think that book was compiled by some-body that knows him not but has had a h●●p of matter at random gathered up and given him by such as knew him able to make inferences and contrive a subtle Pamphlet thereupon not onely to calumniate M. Walwyn but to stop the mouth of all the aggrieved and discontented people of the land and for that end has he marshall'd all the several oppressions and burdens of the Common-wealth into several ranks as if they were not real things but inventions of M. Walwyn to irritate by some of them the poor by others the rich by some the rash and cholerick by others the discreet and apprehensive to discontent and dis-affection against such as are in Authority So that questionless they hope by this means to terrifie all now from opening their mouths be they under what oppression soever though for my part I think it will work a contrary effect when men shall see the Arts and Stratagems that are used to make them stoop under their burdens Issachar-like and that the private Church-men are become the Sluggards of their fair and lawful endeavors to redeem themselves from those pressures that ly upon them Did not in like manner the King and Bishops make the Scots odious and the Puritan Party in England a by-word urging such like slanders of them and saying that it was the designe of some discontented spirits to alienate mens affections from their Governors and that by private discourses by printing and publish ng Books sending into several Counties and slinging them into mens houses as this Author imposeth upon Mr Walwin Nay did not the Presbyter Party in particular Mr Edwards Mr Jenkins and others do the like upon the Independents Sectaries Seekers c. inventing strange Designs like these father'd upon Mr VValwin and casting them upon any that they had a mind to make odious And did not Mr Goodwin himself bear an ample share of these Calumnies being stiled by them The Grand Heretick of England a plucker up presumptuously of the Fundamental Priviledges of Parliament by the roots and is not this work of our Author the very same in effect manner and design the tide being now turn'd and the stream of profit runing into a new Channel the only difference being a more subtile contrivance in this pageant of scandals then hath yet by any of them been produced It will be needless for me to run over more particulars the Principal having been already cleered and the Remainder being but of the same batch and leven with the other and if true as in the rankness of their expression they are not they cannot beget that abomination against him which they expect For the Ware business it is so base and abominable a Fiction so apparently the wicked ofspring of a Politick brain that little needs to be said to it only thus That if there had been any such design of the Agitators at Ware of the Outing the Lord General destroying the Lievt General and forcing the Parliament to prosecute the King and Mr Walwin privie