Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	spirit_n	true_a	worshipper_n	5,073	5	12.1898	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A30026	De Christiana libertate, or, Liberty of conscience upon it's [sic] true and proper grounds asserted & vindicated and the mischief of impositions amongst the people called Quakers made manifest : in two parts : the first proving that no prince nor state ought by force to compel men to any part of the doctrine, worship, or discipline of the Gospel, by a nameless, yet an approved author [i.e. Sir Charles Wolseley], &c. : the second shewing the inconsistency betwixt the church-government erected by G. Fox, &c., and that in the primitive times ... : to which is added, A word of advice to the Pencilvanians / by Francis Bugg.	Bugg, Francis, 1640-1724?; Wolseley, Charles, Sir, 1630?-1714. Liberty of conscience upon its true and proper grounds asserted and vindicated.; Wolseley, Charles, Sir, 1630?-1714. Liberty of conscience the magistrates interest.	1682 (1682)	Wing B5370; ESTC R14734	148,791	384

a rational Creature if I do I must necessarily be a Judge for my self for if I am guided by another judgment than my own as that I think best for me there is as clear an act of my judgment in so doing as if I were punctually directed by my own This we call knowledge in men God hath given to taste Principles and Notions as the Mouth tasteth Meats take away once the use of this taste and you take away the noblest accomplishment of a man You make a man created in honour if he do not understand like a Beast that perisheth as the Eye guideth the Body so the judgment of the Understanding guides the Soul force a man once from the use of this and you betray him into a dark Chaos of slavery and bruitish subjection and render him an object fit for the same scorn and contempt that Sampson found when he had lost his two Eyes By these things we may plainly discern that the necessity of every mans being a Judge for himself in divine things is grounded both upon Scripture and Reason and that 't is not only lawful but a positive duty God expects the performance of and obliges every man living to And this being so for any Power on Earth to compel men to believe or practise contrary to their Judgment and Conscience must needs be both unlawful and unreasonable Lastly The ill success Force and Imposition in Religion hath ever had and which it hath a necessary tendency to have may very well make us out of love with it there can possibly be no other effect of it but either to debauch men in their Consciences or bring violent Persecutions upon their Persons and Estates If the first those that impose bring a guilt upon themselves and partake of the sin as being the great occasion and causers of it So did Jeroboam when he made Israel to sin the guilt stuck to himself as well as to the People If the second men are sufferers from men for doing their duty to God and part with their Estates because they cannot with their Integrity and in this case the Punishment falls upon the Sufferers but the Guilt still upon the Imposer Either a Magistrate imposing in Religion is to be obey'd in whatsoever he commands or not if he be we shall then excuse those that obey'd Jeroboam and cast reproach upon all the Martyrs that have suffered for refusing the sinful commands of Superiors If they be not there must be then some judgment when they are to be obey'd and when not and that can be no other than every mans own Conscience And if every mans own Conscience and the light of it is to be his Rule by which he is to judge then whenever I refuse to obey a command in Religion because my Conscience tells me 't is sinful I am plainly punished for doing my Duty and following that Light God hath given to guide me Nay suppose my Conscience be erroneous 't is confessed by all 't is a sin not to follow it till better informed and if so I am sure 't is likewise a sin to force me out of it Conscientia quamvis errans semper ligat ita ut ille peccat qui agit contra Conscientiam quoniam agit contra voluntatem Dei quamvis non materialiter vere tamen formaliter interpretive Ames de cas Con. If we look upon this practice in the Roman Church where 't is in its Meridian what a Massacre of Souls hath it made What Darkness and miserable Ignorance is grown up in the Laity by it And amongst the Clergy what Pride Corruption and Tyranny Where it has been practised in the Reformed Churches it has introduced nothing but Divisions and Animosities and the sad effects of them those who have been freed from the Roman Imposition and enlightened in the Protestant Truths being less able to endure Imposition than any being by their departure from Rome furnished with Principles that do wholly overthrow any such Power by whomsoever exercised How little hurt would variety of Opinions about Religion do in the World if it were not for this What hurt could any mans Opinion do me if he used no other Weapons than Reasoning and Discourse 'T is the Imposing Opinions makes them pernicious and troublesom to the World and makes every Party strive to get the Magistrate on their side that they may suppress the rest and turn Religion into a worldly Interest Religion troubles no body as Christ left it but as men make it By this practice men of differing judgments in Religion can never live together in the World nor enjoy the great advantages they might afford one to another in civil concerns and in Religion too so far as they agree because their Consciences will not let them come up to the practice of an imposed Uniformity in all things How different from this were the thoughts of Paul he bids us joyn together so far as we agree and in other matters wherein we do not agree to wait till God shall reveal himself to us What an unreasonable thing is it to oblige Christians either to suffer or follow all the changes made by human Powers in Religion upon what worldly or political ends soever to have the Conscience floating about at the Magistrates pleasure as his property which is only God's peculiar Those that lived in the days of Henry the 8th Edward the 6th Q. Mary and Q. Elizabeth had occasion enough to experience this who must either have withstood a conformable practice with suffering or else surely have been sometimes out of the way But that which should put us perfectly out of all charity with the use of Force in Religion is when we consider the true Worship of the Gospel can never be established by it You may establish a false Worship or a formal outside Worship but never make such Worshippers as Christ speaks of when he saith The true Worshippers under the Gospel are such who Worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth You may establish a false Worship that is a Worship of mens appointing for if they be but outwardly obey'd in what they institute they look no farther Jeroboam's business was to keep the People from Jerusalem if they came but to Dan and Bethel he cared for no more he little minded the Religion he had set up for he made Priests of the meanest of the People his end was Political to bring men into subjection to himself You may also establish a formal Worship you may by force make men hypocritically conform to the out-side of true Worship you may force men to the Sacraments but without they be qualified with those Praerequisites God requires instead of performing an acceptable Service you force them to commit a great Sin That you cannot by force establish the right Gospel-Worship appears by these two things 1st 'T is a spiritual Worship and 2dly 'T is a voluntary Worship First 'T is a Spiritual Worship there is no one

be a Record in Writing witnessing the Day Place and Year of such things to be kept in that Meeting the which the one or both of them are Members under which Writing the Witnesses may subscribe their Names or so many of them at may be convenient for the stopping of the Mouths of Gainsayers and for the manifesting of the Truth to all who are without This is the seventh Particular mentioned in the said recited Epistle of Advice to the Brethren in the North which in number were twenty wherein it is manifest what regard they had to the Practice of the Holy Men of God recorded in Scripture and yet by the Conclusion of the said Epistle it is manifest that they were far from limiting Friends in that Day to a prescribed Rule or Form and that under the greatest Penalty too that they were able to inflict as of late days hath been the Practice of George Fox and those of Party with him as hereafter will be manifest see the Conclusion of the said Letter of Advice which is as followeth Viz. Dearly beloved Friends these Things meaning the 20 Particulars advised to we do not lay upon you as a Rule or Form to walk by but that all with the measure of Light which is pure and holy may be guided and so in the Light walking and abiding these things may be fulfilled in the Spirit not from the Letter for the Letter killeth but the Spirit giveth Life c. Thus the Reader my see That in the Beginning our Advice by Letter did concur with our publick Testimony and both with the Scriptures and Evidence of the Spirit in the Hearts of the People to winch our Ministring Friends in that Day both by Word Epistle and Doctrine desired to be made manifest for they then did not desire to exercise Dominion Gentile-like c. CHAP. II. Manifesteth an Alteration and Change Shews the Womans Charter for their Jurisdiction Sets forth the Grant and Confirmation made at a London Yearly-Meeting 1675. I Am now come to manifest the Alteration and Change and the cause of Divisions amongst us about Matters of Faith and the Exercise of it Church-Discipline and Conformity to it whereby William Penns Saying in his Address to Protestants pag. 149. is fulfilled Viz. For all Societies are to govern themselves according to their Institutions and First Principles of Vnion where there is Violence upon this part Tyranny and not Order is introduced Now since Perswasion and Conviction began all true Christian-Societies All Christian-Societies must uphold themselves upon the same free Bottom or they turn Antichristian c. And for proof that we so find and by woful Experience know there is an Alteration and Change and Violence done to our First Principles of Union I am now about to manifest and in order thereunto I shall here insert George Fox his New Order which was wrote about the Year 71. for Womens-Meetings to be held distinct from Mens Meetings and was confirmed afterwards by a general Council or Yearly-Meeting c. VIZ. Dear Friends TO whom is my Love in that which changes not it would do well and be of Service for you to have a Womens-Meeting as they have in other Parts that the Women may come into the Practice of the pure Religion which is to visit the Fatherless and Widdows and to see that all be kept from the spots of the World and so the Lord Jesus redeeming you by his Spirit out of the Old Adam in the Fall into the Image of Gods Righteousness and Holiness that Man was in before he fell in which you are all Helps Meet to the Men in Righteousness and Truth and Holiness and Justice and the Wisdom of God and you may assist and inform the Men of Necessities in what you cannot do your selves for Man and Woman being both in the Power and Seed of Christ they are both Helps Meet and so it would do well for the Women to have a distinct Meeting by themselves as it is in other Places and to set that nothing be lacking then all is well amongst you that you all may be perfect and compleat in Christ Jesus your Heed holding Him from whence you have Understanding and Wisdom to order all things toh is Praise and Glory and when you do see that all is well and nothing is lacking to honour God that all may be kept out of that which dishonoureth Him and all may be kept in your Testimony of Jesus and to see that nothing is lacking outwardly in Gods House in his Family who have the Mind of Christ to do good unto all especially the Houshold of Faith and when you see that all is well then whose mouth the Lord opens in the Womens Meetings 〈…〉 praise confess him to his Glory they are to be obedient as it is in other Womens-Meetings so once a month to have a Womens-Meeting in the County Town or other Places convenient then the other Neigbouring Women may come and go home they Meeting together about the tenth Hour of the Day And so they may keep a little Stock among themselves to help the Poor and those that be in necessity and what they cannot do themselves they may inform the Men of all the poor Widdows and poor Mens Children that are fit to go to be Apprentices and to Services to Friends that they may be trained up in the Fear of God and in the New-Covenant He might have said in the New-Governmet that they may be the Children of the New-Covenant where all may come to know the Lord who is Blessed for ever Amen George Fox having thus laid a Foundation on for the Womens-Meetings distinct and apart from the Men to be once a month at the tenth hour of the Day and to get a little Stock by them under many specious Pretences and Fine Coverings insomuch that many began to assemble and to meet together accordingly in several Parts of the Nation yet there were also very many that waited to see the End and Purpose of their so meeting it being a New Thing and also knowing that the very Papists at their raising and first ordaining the several Orders of Fryars and Religious Nuns were not without as fair Pretences and fine flourishing Shews as this Grant or Order of George Fox for the ordaining these Womens-Meetings so that after a little season several Friends perceiving that these Women thus assembled aspired after the comly and beloved Apple of Rule and Government they shewed their Dislike and it began to be too hard for George Fox to carry them on on his own sole Authority so that at a Yearly-Meeting or General Council held at London in the Year 1675 the said Grant or Order was strengthened and confirmed in all Points and with as much Policy as ever the Learned Bishops or grave Senates used to Establish their Monarchical Governments c. And that the Reader may be assured of the Truth thereof and that it is not of my own devising to accuse

in Authority and of their hearing and doing Justice and Intimated as if their Moderation in some Cases had exceeded whatever yet hath been manifested from G. F. G.W. and those of Party with them I now deem it reasonable to give a Demonstration of it lest it should seem incredible c. I shall begin with a Coppy of a Letter I wrote to Edward Turner Judge of Ely Assizes and the rest of the Kings Justices VIZ. A few words presented in the Love and Fear of the Lord to the Judge of the Assizes and Justices serious Consideration by us who have been Sufferers about three Years only and alone for keeping of a good Conscience c. As for our refusing to Swear we would have you all to understand that it is not out of Obstinacy or Wilfulness that we do refuse or as though we had any Reserve to our selves c. with pritty much on that Subject of not Swearing we being that Assizes to be Premunir'd which for Brevity I here omit But see the Closure and the Effect that followed Thus in short have we endeavoured to satisfie you by shewing you the Cause of our not Swearing which if you weigh our Sufferings in an equal Ballance you will find that you have dealt very hardly by us in keeping of us in Prison one Year after another In which time of Confinement one of the Servants of the Lord Thomas Richardson hath finished his Course and dyed a Witness of Jesus and a Prisoner for his Name-sake And the last Summer the Prison being close was so thronged with Prisoners that it was Gods great Mercy to preserve us from the Contagious Disease of the Plague Thus much in short may serve as a Motive to stir you up to let the Oppressed go free From us who subscribe our Names George Thorrowgood John Ives Francis Bugg William Custance Clement Crabb And others The 10th of the 11th Month 1666. This Letter we sent to Judge Turner by a Woman Friend and the Judge bid his Clark read it which he did deliberately and he leaning upon the Table heard it all and instead of telling us we were deluded the next day or the day after released us all And when our Meetings in Ely were disquieted by the Pesecution of the Act against Conventicles when it came first in Force where I then lived I then again wrote to Edward Turner when he came the Summer Assizes 1670. And he hearkned and heard our Complaint in our Sufferings and after we sent that Letter I do not remember that ever a Warrant was granted during the time of that Storm and because the Letter is short and that his Example may be of Service I may transcribe the most of it which is as followeth Viz. To Edward Turner Judge of Ely Assizes These FRiend as our manner hath been so it is once more in our Hearts to lay before thee in short our Oppressive Wrong and Injury which we have met withal from some Magistrates in Ely Knowing thou art not a Stranger to the Letter nor nature of the Law lately made against Seditious Sectaries who under a Colour of Tender Consciences may contrive Mischief c. That so thou mayst hear consider and do us Justice as in other Cases we perceive thou art very willing to do yea though to Thieves and Murtherers by searching out the Truth in every Testimony or Evidence before thou passest Judgment c. Now as for us who are in Scorn called Quakers who meet together to worship God in Spirit and Truth Not under Colour but in the Reality of our Hearts the Lord is our Witness Whether we be the People against whom the late Act was made or no remaines a Question Seeing in the Preamble of the said Act it is said to be For the suppressing of such who under Pretence of Tender Consciences may contrive Insurrections c. Or words to that purpose which we are clear of Blessed be the Lord having not the least Evil Intention in our Heart against the King nor the Present Government Established But notwithstanding we are clear from the Facts therein provided against and so consequently free from the Punishment therein prescribed for the Fact is the Cause of the Penalty Yet notwithstanding there are many are willing so largely to construe it as to stretch it to us having nothing whereof justly to accuse us save concerning the Law and Worship of our God and whether the Justices be informed against us we certainly cannot tell Yet this we know that whereas the Law says We should be first Convicted We never were so much as brought before them to hear our Accusers and answer for our selves a Priviledge not denyed Thieves and Murtherers nor us in some Places where they have any respect to Justice And thus are we disinabled to go on with our several Imployments through the false Construction of those who are not willing To do as they would that others should do to them By whose meanes our Cloth both Wooling and Linning our Stuffs our Peuter and Brass Boots and Shoes are taken out of our Shops we being of several Trades yea our Feather-beds from under us with other Bedding and Houshold Goods And all this severity extended towards us altogether without any just Cause ministred on our Parts Oh that ever Judgment should thus be turned backward as we have just Cause to say it is and Justice find no Place in the Hearts of those who profess Christianity surely if Turks Heathens and Pagans should be suffered to deal thus with us it would be no other Cruelty than what we should expect at their hands But for our own Country-men our own Neighbours professing all one God Christ and Scripture only differing in some things to deal thus with us contrary to Justice contrary to Law contrary to Reason and Neighbourly Affection Oh surely Will not these Proceedings these Rendings and Tearings Selling Goods not half to their value laying Families Wast and Desolate be a Cause for other Nations to have Christianity in Derision Much more might be said of this Nature but being loath to be tedious at present conclude greatly desiring that both thou and others would lay these Things to Heart which are writ in Love and in the same sent from the People in Ely called Quakers This Letter was given him he likewise ordered his Clark to read it and that in the presence of several of the Magistrates who had Persecuted us so that one would think it might have been the worse for us but from that time no more Warrants as above observed Likewise about three years after many of us were Sufferers in this Town of Milden-hall at which time I wrote a Letter to Judge Hales who was a very courteous man who received my Letter at my Wifes Hand and read it and said Truly Sweetheart the Execution of this Law is left with the Justices and is out of our Power but if I could do you any good I would My

Wife replyed That she did not question but that if he did but speak to the Justices they would hear him and he said He would and much Favour he shewed her c. One Instance more I will mention of this Nature and that is in April 78. as I remember my self and four or five Friends of our Town were convict of Recusancy and Persecuted in order to seize our Free-Hold And upon a time I being at Norwich on the account of my Trade when I came home my Wife told me that here had been the Sheriffe and his Bayliffs and had Impanelled a Jury of Inquiry of the value of our Estates who stood Convicted as aforesaid in this Town and the Jury had found us some more some less yet moderately as not knowing indeed what we had clear and further they were not oblieged to find so I forthwith wrote a Letter to Sir Henry North Knight so called who lived in our Town being at London and acquainted him with the nature of their Proceedings and instead of saying to me You are deluded Why do you not Conform to our Church-Disciplin c I say instead of this he took such care as that not only my self and those Friends of our own Town but he took off all our Friends that we knew of who stood in the same Jeopardy in these Parts of Suffolk so that at present I Bless God we live a quiet Life and free from Disturbance And Blessed be the Lord for putting it into the Hearts of the Rulers and Men in Authority to shew Mercy when otherwise they have Power enough to Oppress and Spoil many Families And I further desire that a Blessing may rest upon all such who Act in Moderation and are willing to do as they would be done by for all men would have their Liberty there are none would be Impos'd upon contrary to their Faith and Perswasion c. And now I shall turn to the Bishops of the Protestant-Churches and do not question but shall make it appear that they their Power considered and that the Laws are on their Sides are more moderate use not that Severity to the Members of their Church although they are severe enough too that George Fox and those of Party with him use to the poor Quakers if they chance to transgress their Traditions c. As for Example J. B. in the City of London who is a Man of a good Conversation and one whom they say themselves they have no evil thing to lay to his Charge other than for selling the Book of W. Rogers his putting forth Entituled The Christian-Quaker Distinguished from the Apostate and Innovator c. I do believe the Book did anger them sorely for it Detected G. Fox of Errour and what if I should say It Detected him of that which is worse to wit Lying and False Accusing of the Innocent Namely John Story behind his Back yea and there are many Witnesses stand ready to prove it I say this Book did so anger them that Christopher Taylor called the very Title Blasphemy and the reproachful Words that he and others called W. R. for putting it forth are intollerable no Bishop ever did the like that I read of that are of the Protestant-Churches For Dr. Stillingfleet may write his Opinion of Schisme and Separation and Alsop may answer that and write his Opinion of Imposition and by both their discoussing of these Points and divers others the Standers by may reap Advantage and the Magistrate Information Here is no Excommunication pronounced to either of these Sons of the Church neither are the Booksellers that sell these Controversial Books no such matter for if the Bishop of London should Excommunicate all Booksellers in London that sell any Book that speaks any thing against the Common-Prayer against Marrying with a Ring that speakes any thing against the Bishop of Canterbury c. he should have work enough and thankless work too and perhaps no Bookseller nay in all probability not one Bookseller in London Un-Excommunicated c. But however J. B. is Excommunicated Ipso Facto for nothing else but selling the said Book of W. Rogers c. A Coppy of I.B. his Excommunication here followeth From the Monthly-Meeting at Devonshire-House the 4th of the 11th Month 1681. VVHereas there have been some unruly Spirits gone out from Truth and the Unity of the Blessed Power of God which hath gathered us to be a People Writing Printing and Publishing things hurtful and prejudicial to Truth by Corrupting of Peoples Minds tending also to draw them into disesteem of many of the Lords Servants whose Faithfulness hath manifestly appeared amongst us with whom our Unity stands to our mutual Satisfaction and Refreshment Upon consideration of these things we find our selves Conscientiously concerned to take notice of something of this kind befallen J. B. who was formerly a Member of this Meeting who having dispersed into several Parts of this Nation divers of those pernitious Books in Print wrote by W. R. called The Christian-Quaker Distinguished from the Apostate and Innovator c. Which have manifestly been proved in many material Passages Erronious and False both in the Historical and Doctrinal Part of it was privately and publickly reproved for that unrighteous Action by several Friends at divers times according to Gospel-Order as they found it on their Spirits from the Lord as also admonished against it yet after all the Labour and Travel Friends have had on his Behalf being desirous if possible to reclaim him out of the Enemies Snare into which he is fallen he hath from time to time resisted their Advice and Counsel So that now we being wholly clear having used our utmost Endeavour in the good Will of God to reclaim him as aforesaid do not only testifie against that SPIRIT which hath as aforesaid led him into that disorderly Practice but also against him while joyned thereunto nor can we have Spiritual Communion or Fellowship with him until unfeignedly he shall return unto the Truth by Condemnation of that Work and Spirit which in the Love of God we exhort him to and desire that for him a Place of Repentance may be found Now if I thought the Bishop of London would take Example against the poor Booksellers in London for dispersing any Book that speaks against the Cannons and Constitutions of the Church of England the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England I should then repent that I have transcribed this Antichristian Piece of Work But as the Jews were more zealous for their own Traditions than for the Scripture and the Papists more zealous for their heap of Ceremonies than for Holy Scriptures as Dr. Lloyd in his Sermon Preached November the 5th 1678 at St. Martins in the Fields p. 4. 9. 16. sufficiently makes appear and which I was purposed to transcribe as pertinent to my present occasion but Brevity constrains me to leave it out it being somewhat large Even so it is manifest that the Contrivers of