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	way_n	word_n	4,565	5	4.0752	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A33927	A brief discovery of the corruption of the ministrie of the Church of England, or, Three clear and evident grounds from which it will apear that they are no ministers of Christ published for the information of all by Thomas Colyer.	Collier, Thomas, fl. 1691.	1647 (1647)	Wing C5271; ESTC R35631	15,769	32

only which remains to be proved is That the Priests of England buy their gifts of purpose to sell them First that they buy them it will appear these things considered First What gifts and abilities they have are humane such as they have attained in the Schools which cost them much money as well as industry for the gaining of them Secondly Their appropriating all abilities of Preaching to themselves accounting it altogether impossible for any other to have any gift at all who have not bought it like themselves so that they doe not only buy themselves but deny any other way of attaining gifts to any else pretending Phylosophy to be the Mother of Theology Ah horrible blasphemy against the Spirit who is freely given and freely opperates as it pleaseth Thirdly Their owne confession when they come to sell that their gifts cost them much money and therefore they sell them at the dearest rate 2. That they buy of purpose to sell appears First It was the great end for which they were by their Parents dedicated and set a part a purpose to get a living even as they binde their children Apprentices c. Secondly It appears by their practise which is to sel all and that at the dearest rate too witnesse their looking after the greatest and fattest livings where there are most Calves Lambs and Tyth-pigs Corne Hay and Gleb-land thither usually is their call witnesse their often removing from a lesser living to a greater ten pounds more per annum is a sufficient call from one Parsonage to another witnesse their first quere what it is worth per annum and if that pleaseth them then they go never querying what Saints be there nay so far are they from that if they hear that Christ and Saints be there then they dare not come there for fear that light will discover their darknesse witnesse their indenting for thus much by the weeke in case they supply any place that wants which is so much clear gain unto them for their own pay goes on neverthelesse at home witnesse their Petitioning the Parliament for increase of maintenance where they judge it is too little although some of them have 40. pound some 80. livre. some 100. livre. some 140. livre. and besides a great wrong to the Parliament or at the least to the Subject witnesse the common practise of Towns and populous places who beholding their temper dare not attempt the getting of a Minister as they desire to be called untill they first make up either by petition to the Parliament for the states money which poor Soulders want or some other way a round sum of money which being effected puts courage into poore simple Country men to adventure into their presence with all lowly submission Sir we have maintenance for an honest man perhaps 100 livre. per annum if that be too little wait a while and perhaps 200. or 300. appears which will serve to make up the bargain just as a servant who puts forth himself for a year will make the most of his service although it 's true the conditions are contrary Conditions INprimis I will be your Minister which signifies a Servant or rather your Lord on condition that you will engage to give me thus much by the year in money or Tythes as the condition is Ergo the Priests of England preach for hire 2. I will be your Minister in name provided I may be your Lord for so they are indeed and rule over you and you will become subjects and slaves unto me bow down before me and call me your Master Ergo the Priests of England are the peoples Lords 3. I will be your Minister provided you will not contradict me in what I preach and teach you if you will believe as I believe and teach you or rather then this Article shall make a breach they will get an Ordinance from the House of Lords which will serve their turn to prevent any from objecting against their Orthodox Divinity although never so humane O horrible impiety Men may now preach lyes by a Law 4. And finally I will be your Minister provided that I may have my liberty to remove again when I see a call which is like to be the next Parsonage tendred wherein 10. or 20 livre. per annum be augmented to his yearly maintenance as the hired servant keeps himself at liberty for his own advantage at the end of every year Thus the bargain is made and the condition is drawn the Priests now with much comfort and alacrety fals a preaching for he knowes to a peny what he hath comming in for every Sermon he makes One thing by the way I cannot omit which I have known in case any one be so simple as to limit himself for thus much by the year while he live unto a people they have a way to fetch him off again with credit as thus refer it into the hands of a Jury of Divines as they call them although indeed but humane the simple people agree unto it judging these men if any will be honest This Jury of humanes quaeries into the businesse finde that their brother hath engaged himself for life perhaps for some 70 livre. per annum the more simple man he Now within a year after some 6 or 7 score is tendred the conclusion it delivered in he may lawfully suspend with his promise and former engagement being called unto another place 1. There is more maintenance the great Lord that drawes he is by the Scripture to provide for his own or else he is worse then an Infidell 2. There are perhaps more Souls and so more need of a Preaching Ministry c. And thus the man may lawfully remove his brethren so determine it And why It possibly may be their own turn next that this is truth witnesse Master Swayn at Tradbrook in Suffolk with others thus the minor appears that the Priests of England buy that they may sell for advantage therefore guilty of the sin of Simon Magus so that the truth is we have many Sir Simons amongst us though under fair pretences and colours only note one word by the way wherein it will appear that they exceed Simon in wickednesse 1. Simon would have bought the gifts of the spirit that so he might have done something for his money but these men buy humane gifts instead of the spirit and set up and sell that as if it were spirit 2. Simon had good thoughts of the spirit he would have bought it but these cry down the spirit calling it a spirit of giddinesse and its like they know no other spirit but that which comes from Oxferd or Cambridge Horrible blasphemy against the spirit Mat. 12. 3. Simon did only desire the spirit himself not to limit it to himself as those who know not what the spirit is who would have none to have it but themselves no Fisher-man as Peter or Tent-maker as Paul c. 4. And finally Simon was made sensible of

A brief DISCOVERY OF THE Corruption of the Ministrie of the Church of England OR Three clear and evident grounds from which it will appear that they are no Ministers of CHRIST I. A Parrallel between them and the Jewish Priests II. A Parrallel between them and Simon the Sorcerer III. A Parrallel between them and the artificiall marchandizing tradesmen Published for the Information of all By THOMAS COLYER LONDON Printed for Giles Galvert and are to be sold at the black spread-Eagle at the west end of Pauls To the Reader READER the reason why I have brought forth this small Treatise to publike view is for thy information who hast been a long time deluded with a Ministry of Antichrist under the name and notion of a Ministry of Christ 2. Because the Lord hath said it that we should shew no pitty to Babilons inhabitants much lesse then to the ring-leaders of that mysticall confusion that at this day the world lyeth in under the name of Church Ministry Ordinances c. Some perchance may suppose that the end of this discovery is to make them contemptible in their persons names c. flowing from a private spirit of revenge But truly friends it 's not so I can say truly the Lord hath taught me another lesson to doe good to enemies pray for them seek their conversion and I can say truly that it would be a great joy to me to see any of them enlightened renewed changed but when I behold the great confusion that is among the men of the earth principally occasioned by the Ministers of the earth thousands and ten thousands lying not only dead in trespasses and sins but in professions and Ordinances c. I say not only for Zions sake but for the sake of the poor deluded Soul who live below and without truth under the profession of something like the externall part of truth I cannot hold my peace till all these falshoods and delusions fall to the ground and the glory of Zion be more known and lived in read and judge with an impartiall spirit and I trust you shall not finde one word of a malicious spirit not like Mr. Edwards reckoning up personall infirmities for then I could say much more but clearer and true discoveries of deceivers under the name and notion of Christ Thus much by way of information as likewise by way of prevention of thy mis-understanding of that which followeth by him who remains thy friend and the truths servant Thomas Colyer The first Parrallel BETWEEN The JEWISH Priests and Levites And those of our times The Jewish Priests and Levites and those of our times are as like as if they had indeed been all the Sons of one Father the Tribe of Levi they say the Lot of Gods own Inheritance although in truth there is no such thing 1. THe Jewish Priests were to offer Sacrifice to make Peace and Reconciliation for the sinnes of the People and herein they were a Type of Christ Levit. 9. with Hebr. 9. This hath been one principall work of the Priests of these latter times to offer Sacrifice to make peace and reconciliation for sinne this hath been their end in praying and pressing others to pray that so they might make peace and reconciliation for transgression although not positively yet circumstantially there it ends though Christ be often mentioned yet not without prayers teares reformation c. to fit the Soul for Christ 2. Hence it is that sinners are so often prest to weeping and mourning that so they might weep and mourn out sinne and never tell of believing till sinne be wept forth and then believe nay that there is no ground of believing till then a meer delusion a very lye Hence it is likewise that prayers dayes of Humiliation have been so much exalted as peace-makers and the glory of both of internall consolation as of externall deliverances hath been given unto it and the Priests must have the greatest share of that honour Why Because they pray most and best they doe it by office it is their trade to offer Sacrifices to make peace others may pray wel and doe much but they can pray better because they doe it by office this I have heard ascerted by them therefore affirme it and thus they have not only been peace-makers themselves in their own apprehensions but have directed others to the same work to the same way what is the conversion taught by them but only a legall conversion from sinne to duty If thou canst forsake thy sinnes pray hear Sermons walke holily my soul for thine thou shalt be saved thus setting up self-reformation duties c. in the roome of Christ making peace Oh wonderfull and horrible delusion And People look well unto your selves if you build upon this foundation and so live and die you are like to be undone for ever If the blinde lead the blinde both are like to fall into the pit 2. The Jewish Priests were to interpret the Law Nehem. 8. 7 8. Hence it is that Christ cals them Lawyers woe be unto you Lawyers c. and this hath been the work of the second Tribe a long time to interpret the Law to set people a working for life Preaching the Law and threatning judgement to drive to Christ and not to draw with the cords of love which is sutable unto the Gospel True it is of late that many of them have learned to say something of the externall part of the Gospel because else they cannot be esteemed neither will their wares goe off any longer people having received some farther light but this they doe with much confusion some times almost loosing themselves and some-times thwarting and contradicting themselves often in a Sermon Although it be well known that not many years since it was a matter of fact and deserved censure to preach Christ freely justifying sinners without themselves duties prayers tears reformations to fetch in love consolation c. not acting to God from the enjoyment of life peace love power c. so that they might enjoy Communion with God and receive from him what is their own in him 3. The Jewish Priests were to purifie their women Levit. 12. They were to be accounted unclean untill the time of their purification this is likewise the work of the Priests of these times to purifie the women until which time they are accounted as formerly unclean I wonder what is become of the Lamb and the Pigeon commanded for a burnt and a sin offering vers. 6 7. It 's like the Priests-prayer must passe in stead of it only note in one thing they passe the Priests then though they come short in the Pigeon and Lamb that is they provide a purifying Sacrifice and sell it unto the women instead of a Lamb a praier or two for four pence although skarce worth it 4. The Jewish Priests were to live by Tythes and offerings they had no portion given them in the land of Canaan and this hath the Priests of