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	think_v	word_n	4,073	5	4.0677	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A36925	Evangelical politie, or, A Gospel conversation a sermon preached at St. Paul's, London, May 20, 1660. : being the Sunday next (but one) before His Majesties happy return to his said citie / by James Duport ...	Duport, James, 1606-1679.	1660 (1660)	Wing D2650; ESTC R17238	21,197	39

tables of the money-changers and exchangers when I see and consider this methinks it is no very comely nor handsome sight to see so much ivie cleaving and twining about so royal and stately an oak till it eat the heart out To see either Church-isles exchanged into shops or Church-yards into markets with submission to better judgements in my apprehension I confess is a thing not much becoming the Gospel of Christ I put no holiness in wood and stone nor yet much less do I place any holiness in pulling down Churches or letting them fall or taking away wood and stone and lead and all I never read of any that envied the cost and comeliness bestowed upon Christ and his Church but a Iudas or a Iulian * Ut quid perditio haec said the one Ecce qualibus vasis was the speech of the other by the mouth of his Treasurer Felix back-friends I assure you to the Gospel both And truly I cannot count them any fast friends to religion to whom the beautifull gate of the Temple is so great an eye-sore And it would be considered in sober sadness whether they that have been so forward to demolish our Churches have not gone the ready way to ruin our Church at least occasionally if not intentionally For my part I clearly profess I cannot yet see any sufficient grounds to secure me from my fears but still to me it seems very suspicious that our fanatick Hieromastix hath been plowing with the Romish heifer and the hand of Ioab hath been in all this Yea sure Hoc Ithacus velit For did not they that cried down our Churches and Parishes cry down our Church and our Ministry yea and Universities too and then the work is done welcome you know who Venient Romani certainly for once take away an able and a learned Gospel-Ministry and who shall hinder them or keep them out But blessed be God who hath disappointed the hopes of our Adversaries and infatuated the counsels of our Achitophels and put a stop to these furious hotspurs in their full carere Blessed be God of whose onely goodness and mercy it is that our poor Church though by the rash indiscreet and intemperate heats and unruly passions of men like Moses's bush it hath been all this while a burning yet it is not consumed And blessed be they of the Lord who have been any way instrumental in quenching these flames and giving check to those wilde exorbitant phrenetick spirits who being in all probabilitie prompted and put on by some Popish emissaries under pretence of a Gospel-purity would have brought in the greatest deformitie even a chaos of confusion by subverting all order and decencie and government both in Church and State But if this be the way of the Gospel if this be the genuine issue and fruit of the true Christian religion Sit anima mea cum Philosophis As God is the God so the Gospel is the Gospel {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} not of tumult and disorder of unsetledness and discomposure as the word signifies of confusion as we render it {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} but of peace and order And Ministers of the Gospel have their spiritual power given them {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} 2 Cor. 13.10 for edification and not for destruction in a proper literal sense too for building and setting up and not for demolishing or pulling down That such places as these should not be pulled down or suffered to drop down but be kept up and maintained in a comely decent and orderly manner questionless is very agreeable to the rules of Christianity and altogether becoming the Gospel of Christ There is a decorum certainly a decencie and comeliness to be used and observed as to the time and place and manner of Gospel-worship And now if after all that hath been said this must needs be counted and called superstition who can help it I am sure it will be hard to prove it to be so and I dare boldly say That among those who exclaim most against superstition our Separatists I mean and Sectaries not one of an hundred knows what it is either name or thing But whatever it be truly I think as the case stands there is little fear of it now adays For were we not rather in the other extreme were we not run so far from the Scylla of superstition that we were fallen into the Charybdis of Atheisme and profaness Did not ataxy and confusion rudeness and irregularity irreverence and irreligion swell and overflow and break in upon us like a land-floud or a mighty torrent High time I trow to mend the banks and put a stop to the inundation if ever we look to have an orderly decent comely face of a Church and such a publick worship as becomes the Gospel nay if ever we look that holiness and righteousness true religion and the fear of the Lord should get up and grow and spread and flourish among us And indeed this is that that I drive at in my discourse all this while for to this purpose onely it is and for this reason and no other that I commend order and decencie and comeliness in a Christian Church and a Gospel-worship because I conceive it really makes for the advancement of godliness and hath a natural tendency to the encrease of true pietie and religion so far am I from thinking it bears any antipathy or repugnancie to it or any the least inconsistency with it And therefore upon these grounds I shall once be bold to ask the banes If any one can shew any just cause why outward decencie and inward devotion bodily service and spiritual worship due reverence without and true religion within the comely face of a Church and the heavenly heart of a Saint the beauty of holiness and the power of godliness may not-be joyned together let him speak for my part I must needs profess and declare before God and man that I know none no reason in the world that I know why they may and ought not joyn hands and be linkt as it were together in the bond of wedlock seeing they are such a mutual help and advantage one to another Did I think otherwise far be it from me to further or favour the match or to speak the least word in behalf of external reverence order and decencie in the worship and service of God But being verily perswaded and clearly convinc'd of the truth hereof viz. that outward comeliness doth very much conduce to inward holiness and that order and decencie in worship is a great help and furtherance to religion and godliness and a means to kindle and encrease true pietie zeal and devotion upon this account and upon this occasion at this time and in this place especially I could not choose but set my seal to it and give this fair testimonie of it and recommend it to you but still in order and reference to the main end

do themselves and me that right as to mend with the eye what was marred with the ear and upon a serious review afford it a right understanding and a candid reception To which purpose as well for my own vindication as their satisfaction I have printed my Sermon verbatim almost as it was spoken with very little or no alteration I am sure with no alteration at all of those passages concerning the abuse and misimployment of Church and Coemetery at which if at any some exceptions it seemes were taken but how justly I shall leave it as I said to all unbiased and indifferent Readers to judge The Lord in much mercy make up the rents and breaches of our Church and put it into the hearts and hands of our Rulers and Governours both Civil and Ecclesiastical like good Nehemiahs to promote and set forward the building of the Temple and to help to repair the breaches and ruins of our Churches and Cathedrals that so we may all with one heart and mind glorifie God and agree together to worship and serve him in the power of godliness and the beauty of holiness as it becometh the Gospel of Christ This is Christian Reader the constant and hearty prayer of Trin. Coll. Cambridge Nov. 21. MDCIX Thy friend and servant in our Lord Christ J. D. PHIL. 1.27 Onely let your conversation be as it becometh the Gospel of Christ PROVIDENCE so disposing of me that I have not occasion to speak often in one place it makes me strive the rather to single out such portions of Scripture to treat upon as are of most usefull importance of grand fundamental concernment and such as hold forth the most comprehensive truths comprising in them the very pith and marrow the summ and substance of all Christianity that so if possible I may preach the whole Gospel {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} altogether and at once declare the whole counsel of God and the whole duty of man The whole counsel of God in the language of the best Preacher under the Gospel and that was Paul Act. 20. The whole duty of man in the language of the best Preacher under the Law and that was Solomon Eccles. 12. Such a comprehensive truth I conceive we have here before us wherein is briefly and yet clearly contained both the whole counsel of God and the whole duty of man the whole counsel of God the Gospel of Christ that is the doctrine of mans salvation by faith in Christ the whole duty of man a conversation suitable and agreeable thereunto And these two might pass for the parts of the Text or else there might be these three things considered in the words Regula Regulatum Applicatio Regulae First The Rule The Gospel of Christ Secondly The thing to be regulated ordered and squared by this rule a Christian conversation Thirdly The {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} or application of this rule to the thing to be regulated ordered and squared by it as becometh the Gospel that is suitably and agreeably thereunto all this usher'd in with a {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} this being the unum necessarium the {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} and the {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the one onely thing to be regarded and lookt after {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} says S. Chrysostome upon the place this is all in all the {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} of a Christian all that Paul or any other Minister need to preach all that the Philippians or any other people need to practise a Christian conversation a life conformable to the precepts and rules of the Gospel But because these three Regula Regulatum Applicatio Regulae should in our practise always be joyned together therefore I shall not divide them in my discourse nor put them asunder but take them joyntly as they lie together in the words and so they spell out this grand fundamental truth a truth writ in such legible characters in the words of the Text that he that runs may read it A Gospel-profession requires a Gospel-conversation or A Christians conversation should be conformable to the rules of the Gospel There ought to be a sweet harmony concord and agreement between the life of a Christian and the Gospel of Christ Several books I have seen bearing this title Harmonia Evangelica The Harmonie of the Gospel this is the true Gospel-Harmony indeed when there is a mutual harmonie and agreement between a Gospel-profession and a Gospel-conversation between the life of a Christian and the Gospel of Christ This lies so clear in the words as if it were writ with a sun-beam so that I shall not need bring any reasons or arguments either to demonstrate prove the Doctrine to you or to press and enforce the Duty upon you Else I might tell you 1. That this is the onely way and so take in the {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} too the onely way to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things the way to put a lustre and beauty upon religion to bring the Gospel into credit and repute in the world and to gain proselytes to it 2. That this is the grand designe the main scope and end of the Gospel to bring men to a complyance with it and a conformitie to it The grace of God that is the Gospel of Christ that brings salvation hath appeared Why to what end to teach us to live soberly righteously and godly in this present world 3. That this is the onely way {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} to stop the mouths of gainsayers {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} by well-doing to put to silence the ignorance of foolish men and to confute and confound the adversary whether heretick or schismatick whether Papist or Anabaptist 4. And lastly That this is the {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the onely thing God expects and requires of us a Conversation suitable to our Profession and to allude to that 1 Cor. 9.14 that they which live under the Gospel should live up to the Gospel But this in the general is so evident in the Text and withall so rational in it self that it needs neither proof nor pressing And therefore in stead of this I might rather come to particulars Indeed Generalia non pungunt while we hover in generals we do but beat the air and flutter about the head seldome touch the quick or pierce to the heart And therefore here I might bring sundry particulars to show wherein this conformitie stands wherein this harmonie and correspondence between a Christians conversation and the Gospel of Christ should hold and wherein it consists and to this purpose I might lay down several intrinsick essential marks and characters and properties of the Gospel wherein and according whereunto a Christians conversation should be suitable and agreeable to it as viz.

these five especially First The Gospel of Christ is a Gospel of truth and faithfulness sinceritie and plainness {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a faithfull saying 1 Tim. 1.15 the word of truth Eph. 1 13. 2 Tim. 2.15 and truth it self Joh. 1.17 Gal. 3.1 Suitably and agreeably hereunto a Christian conversation should be a true upright single-hearted sincere conversation without fraud or deceit lying or dissembling guile or hypocrisie Secondly The Gospel of Christ is a Gospel of peace expresly so called Rom. 10.15 Eph. 6.15 The main designe of the Gospel is to make peace in the world to compromise all differences to unite all parties to reconcile God and man man and man together therefore it is called the ministery of reconciliation and the word of reconciliation both in one chapter 2 Cor. 5. Christ is the Alpha and Omega of the Gospel the great peace-maker the Prince of peace the Spirit of the Gospel the Spirit of peace the Ministers of the Gospel Gods Ambassadours messengers of peace and the Gospel it self the Gospel of peace Now in a conformity hereunto Christians should be men of peace peace-makers as Christ himself was lovers of peace and livers in peace followers of peace with all men men of closing reconciling healing uniting cementing spirits and a Christian conversation a quiet calm and peaceable conversation Thirdly The Gospel of Christ is a Gospel of love and philanthropie grace and goodness and mercy the Gospel is wholly made up and compounded of love or if truth be the matter of it love is the form if truth be the body of it love is the soul it is a designe of pure love and philanthropie of free grace and mercy that is the very essence and genius of the Gospel all along every leaf every line every letter in the Gospel breaths nothing but love and pure love Such is the rule and such should our conversation be this the true character of the Gospel and this the character of a true Christian the badge and cognizance of Christs disciples this the mark and brand of his sheep by which they are known to be his and distinguisht from all other Joh. 13.35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye have love one to another And this was the mark and character whereby the Primitive Christians used to be painted and pointed out Vide inquiunt ut invicem se diligant See how these Christians love one another If then you would have your conversation suitable to the Gospel of Christ it must be an amicable loving and charitable conversation Fourthly The Gospel of Christ is a Gospel of humilitie and meekne●s indeed the Gospel is nothing else but a continued history of Christs humiliation from the cratch to the cross a Sermon of humility all along Christ the great gift of the Gospel and the Spirit the great promise of the Gospel the one a lamb the other a dove both emblems of humility and meekness and the chief lesson of the Gospel Christ came to teach was humility and meekness Learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart Ye see what the rule is would ye frame and square your life and conversation according unto it why then it must be an humble lowly and meek conversation ye must follow the Lamb flee after the Dove be clothed with humility 1 Pet. 5.5 {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} that is the Gospel robe Christs livery the Christian garment even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit 1 Pet. 3.4 Humility the first second third thing in Christianitie as Pronunciation in Rhetorick Fifthly and lastly The Gospel of Christ is a Gospel of holiness and purity Sacrosanctum Evangelium the Holy Gospel is the proper style and epithet of it The Gospel is a glass wherein we behold the glory of the Lord {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} 2 Cor. 3.18 and it is a pure spotless mirrour a clear crystal glass The fountain of Christs bloud that runs so fresh and so freely in the current and stream of the Gospel it is a clear and a pure fountain the Gospel-promises are purifying and cleansing promises 2 Cor. 7.1 God a holy God the Spirit a holy Spirit the Gospel a holy Gospel Suitably and agreeably hereunto a Christian Conversation should be a pure and holy and spotless conversation A profane unholy impure Christian is contradictio in adjecto Saints by profession should be Saints indeed the Gospel say's to us as God himself does Be ye holy for I am holy Thus I have given you as it were the sceleton of a Sermon already I might lay sinews and flesh upon it and cover it with skin as the bones in Ezekiel and so I would have done in another congregation for indeed these particulars might deserve to be further enlarged and set home upon us as being very usefull and profitable in themselves and likewise suitable to the scope of the Text and not unseasonable for the times we live in wherein there hath been so much profession of religion so much noise and sound and talk of the Gospel of Christ and God knows so little life and practise suitable and agreeable thereunto Yet I shall not go this way neither but wave all these for the present first because these are common themes ordinary beaten tracks and I would willingly go off of the thread-bare common or at least handle {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} secondly because these are transcendents of an universal aspect and of general concernment to all and I desire to be a little more particular proper and pertinent in my discourse to such an Audience considering where I am and to whom I speak I shall therefore crave leave to use another method and that is a little to insist upon those two words in the Text which speak the duty of Christians in complyance with the Gospel of Christ the Verb and the Adverb the one expressing the matter of the duty the other the manner the matter we have in the Verb {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the manner in the Adverb {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} both words very emphatical full and significant the strength and energy importance and improvement whereof I shall endeavour to make out unto you and to fasten upon you First for the Verb take it first in the general as we render it according to Calvin and the Vulgar Latine Conversamini Let your conversation be or as Beza very well Vos gerite Carry or behave your selves or as Castelio not amiss Vitam agite Lead your lives and so it denotes an uniform constant continued course Let your constant carriage and behaviour your whole course and conversation be agreeable to the Gospel of Christ Have a care of your conversation that is of the constant continued frame and model and tenour and course of your carriage Good men may have their flaws and failings