Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	word_n	work_v	worth_a	16	3	8.5296	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A25297	The light upon the candlestick serving for observation of the principal things in the book called, The mysteries of the kingdom of God, &c., against several professors / treated of, and written by Will. Ames ; printed in Low-Dutch for the author, 1662, and translated into English by B.F.; Lucerna super candelabrum. English.	Ames, William, d. 1662.; B. F.	1663 (1663)	Wing A3007; ESTC R16094	8,069	12

words are not the Scriptures but the mind alone is the Scripture and this meaning can never be truly and justly hit but by those alone that stand in the same Light out of which the Scriptures proceeded These are they then to whom the Scripture is a Co-witness and as a seal of their being Sons of God while by experience they find themselves every one according to his measure in the same condition in which the Saints formerly were who spake writ all those things comprehended in the Book of the Scripture these then have the true understanding and meaning of the Scriptures not those that imagine unto themselves a meaning by opinion and guess thorough a thousand imaginations without the least assurance of not erring which becomes the very ground of all jangling and contention In fine and lastly This Light in every man is the means to come to the knowledge of God And seeing all external signes must needs presuppose this knowledge therefore its self must needs be immediate without any external sign that signs must presuppose such a knowledge is undeniable for these signs must either be words or effects works or miracles If Words we see at first an impossibility in in the thing it self for Words are created and finite and God who should make known himself by them uncreated and infinite and therefore here is so infinite a difference that there is no manner of agreement nor any thing in the world by which they might be capable to do it But again if you flye to the meaning of the words as being fit for such a thing then that which we say will more manifestly appear As put case for example sake that GOD about to make known himself by words should say I AM GOD and that this should be the sign by which he would make himself known we see clearly that it would be impossible for a man at first to know God by this For if he should comprehend any thing out of the sence of the words he must needs formerly have had the signification of the word GOD and what he is to understand by it In like manner if God maketh his will known to man the Knowledge of God which hath its original from the true Light must precede and convince him that that Manifestation can be from none but God alone whereupon he 's then sufficiently assured If by Effects or outward miraculous Works 't is the same thing for these are no less created no less terminated And though we might observe somthing in the nature of a thing which might be too difficult for the power of any creature which we know to effect Yet this at the utmost would be but a demonstration taken from our impotency and not from the nature and all the operations of it and this kind of demonstration cannot be certain and stable till we were able clearly and distinctly to see that there was not a concurrency of many causes to produce such an effect but that it must needs have been caused by an infinite and unlimited cause whom we call God But who knoweth this Or who can declare it Add to this That the knowledge of God in all things must first be before the knowledge of any creature or particular thing so no particular thing without this can be well known and so consequently altogether uncapable to come to know God by or certainly to make known himself to man by Go to then Without thy self O man thou hast no means to look for by which thou maist know God Thou must abide within thy sel● to the Light that 's in thee thou must turn thee there thou wilt find it and no where else GOD is considered in Himself nearest unto thee and every man He that goes forth of himself to any Creature thereby to know God departs from God and so much the further as he comes more to mistake himself by it This thou must then shun and the contrary mind viz. Mind the Light that 's in thee by it to work unmovably and faithfully to persevere THE END If words are too gross to express the refined thoughts of mortal men how much less then can they be in truth said to be the ineffable Word of the eternal God 'T is little worth that is not worth the trial The loss is little the gain may be unvaluable 'T is hard helping him that durst not try No knowledge of God without this Light The Light being found and God thereby known a sure foundation is discovered Where there is nothing to work there nothing can be wrought * Where any see there must needs be LIGHT 'T is folly to expect effects from unsuitable Means No man wittingly chuseth his own harm but being blinded Therefore to undeceive the judgement is the first step The Iudgement being amended the will and affections must follow If you know the truth the truth shall make you free saith Christ. * No man will part with what he judges best till be sees something better and then he need not be forced This the one and first thing necessary There is but one thing which is uncorruptible which cannot be corrupted which must be the Judge of all things that offer themselves to our tryal which are liable to be corrupted as are all things without us Therefore this one Iudg is undeniably within man No man farther knows the Scriptures then he is what the Scripture speaks No other sure Foundation can be laid Where the knowledge of God is not there all external things are of no value Therefore this knowledge must needs first be immediate and altogether independent to all externals Words too weak to give the knowledge of God Many things may seem Divine Miracles which are produced by a hidden concurrence of many natural causes Therefore without the knowledge of God precedes no man can d●scern in this case From whence undeniably is concluded That these can nei●her be any sure foundation or certain nay nor p●ssible means to bring any to the knowledge of God God considered in himself is nearest unto every man then himself because he penetrates the most inward and intimate parts of man and is the life of the inmost spirits as the spirit is of the soul the soul of the body Therefore is he worthy to be turned to minded sought waited upon and feared Let all blind Leaders that say 't is not God that appeareth in the hearts of the wicked hear this and all fools that say In their heart there is no God

THE LIGHT UPON THE Candlestick SERVING FOR OBSERVATION Of the principal things in the Book called The Mysteries of the Kingdom of God c Against several Professors Treated of and written by Will. Ames 1 John 1.5 This is the Message which we have heard from him and we declare unto you That God is LIGHT and in him is no darkness at all Eph. 5.13 For whatsoever maketh manifest is LIGHT Printed in Low-Dutch for the Author 1662. and translated into English by B.F. LONDON Printed for Robert Wilson 1663. The Light upon the Candlestick THings are not for words but words for things if therefore we understand things aright as they ought by words it must be by such as are fit to imprint the things themselves in those to whom they should occur and then it were enough to make known our thoughts to others as we conceive them only to make use of such Words But forasmuch as we find the matter in this case far otherwise and that two men speaking or writing the same words may nevertheless have different yea sometimes contrary thoughts the disability of performing this fitly by words or discourse is clearly inferred Nor may we at all wonder at it seeing we know to what a perpetual change Languages are subject even such that the very words may be changed from their pristine signification And the imperfection is so great that whosoever should have invented them such as now they are in use we should certainly believe that he had little or no knowledge of those things that are thereby intended to be signified So that if we would better express things unto another by words and speeches we had need find new words and consequently a whole new Language But that would be a toyle and labour indeed In the mean while we see what a Sea of Confusion flows from hence upon all mankind For although there should be none who sometimes through ignorance and sometimes by subtilty or wickedness might rest or pervert words contrary to the mind the Work upon whom they may cast the whole burthen Surely no for he that sees but a little clearly sees that there 's always contention behind and no end till a man grows weary of it Nor is the Conquest just his that hath Truth but that can best handle his Tongue A miserable thing if it were thus to be sought and found But it is not so with the true Religion Go to then O man who ever thou art we wil not draw thee off from one heap of men to carry thee over unto another 't is somewhat else we invite thee too Lend us but a little audience Surely thou knowest thus much That as it is an extremity to receive all things without distinction that present themselves to us so 't is no less to reject all things without judgement We invite thee to something which may be means to attain to thy own salvation and well-being Be as distrustful or rather prudent or foresighted as thou wilt thou canst not in reason refuse us thy ear in this thing All the damage thou canst possibly have by doing that which we exhort thee to is only to have taken a little pains in vain if that which is promised should not ensue Whereas on the contrary should it follow thou mightest come to the enjoyment of a matter of so great a worth that would not be exchanged for all that 's esteemed great in the earth Moreover 't is not far to seek but at hand 't is nigh thee yea and in thy self And there thou mayest experience the trial of that which we declare which is the most certain and sure that can be desired We direct thee then to within thy self that is that thou oughtest to turn into to mind and have regard unto that which is within thee to wit The Light of Truth the true Light which enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world Here 't is that thou must be and not without thee Here thou shalt find a Principle certain and infallible and whereby encreasing and going on therein thou mayest at length arrive unto a happy condition Of this thou mayest highly adventure the tryal But if thou durst not do so much 't is hard to help thee And if thou happenest to be one of the enjoyment can be but single and transient and the causes incessant Now where this operateth in us after this manner by education and example in manners and customs which are regulated by Opinion and not by the true Light that men live altogether therein is it any wonder that here in these men there is so little or no operation of the Light Not at all We are so involved into the desire of that which is high in the World so overwhelmed in pleasures that it s almost impossible for the Light to cause one desire after Good to spring or bubble up Where then these so contrary operations to the Light are there it can never break through According to the nature and kind of every thing is the operation thereof Where they are opposite the one must give way unto the other and that which is most powerful prevails from whence also the effects thereof becom most visible The LIGHT notwithstanding abides always the same therefore although man by sin through his love and union to corruptible things comes to perish be damned and miss of his everlasting happiness the Light nevertheless which is in every man that comes into the World abides for ever unchangeable The Light is also the first Principle of Religion For seeing there can be no true Religion without the knowledge of God and no knowledge of God without this Light Religion must necessarily have this Light for its first Principle God being then known by this Light according to the measure of knowledg which the finite circumscribed Creature can have of the Infinite and Uncircumscriptible Creator man hath obtained a firm Foundation upon which he may build all firm and lasting things A Principle whereby he may without ever erring guide the whole course of his life how he is to carry himself towards God his Neighbor and himself and all things else whereby he may happily attain unto his chiefest salvation which consisteth only in Union with God And thus this Light is therefore the first Principle of Religion Without this Light there is no power or ability at all in man to do any good This must first raise him and quicken him out of the death of sin 'T is folly to expect any thing where nothing is there 's no effect without a cause There must be something then which must cause a man to act if he does any thing And this cause must have in it whatsoever the effect produced hath in it As for example if the effects of Light be produced Light must do it and nothing else And therefore is it not a silly thing that all men would have people do this

or that as good and leave this or that as evil because they tell them so without any more ado or at best assigning only the accustomary motives wherefore think they have reason too just as if this were enough Who can see such effects as are hereby required included in this Cause Not I for my part Experience also teacheth us the same else how could it all pass away in a train and custom without any fruit These are therefore not the right means But such we must endeavour to furnish people with Means from whence Power may issue forth to do that which they are exhorted to Such is the nature of man that he is forced to chuse that which he judgeth to be best before the worst and is always willing to change for the best Now if it so happens as for the most part it doth that a man chuseth the worst before the best 't is for want of knowledge and contrary to his aim and so he erreth not being led by the true Light Here then it should be begun 't is easie leading of a man to that which of himself he is desirous of If those now who make it their Work to teach others were but lead themselves by the true Light knowing better things then those to which the multitude are link't so fast with love they would be able to hold them forth clearly to others And so making it their continual work 't were impossible their labour should be fruitless for people knowing better would better do Who remembers not the play of our youth how much we were in love therewith and yet how ridiculous is it new unto us but to think upon it And why Because we now know that which we judge better Herehence not by force but very lightly and of it self they came from time to time to be worn out and pass away that there 's now no desire nor motion moving thereunto How may we think then it would be if the Spirit came but once to apprehend those things aright which infinitely transcend all bodily things in worth which are durable and uncorruptible So far as these toyes then should come to be esteemed more glorious then all bodily things so much the more powerful would be the annihilation of those things in which all men even to old age yea death it self do take so much delight and then we might hope and expect that those things which are indeed alone worthy to be known would gain entrance being brought forth in the Light would be also owned and received by every one according to the measure in which they should stand in the same Light Hence from within the amendment and conversion is to be waited for from within it must begin if with foundation the outward then ' wil follow of it self The weakest must give way to the strongest all depends but upon the knowledge of something better to make a true and lasting change Therefore to hold this forth to men is the best thing we can give them This Light is the inward ear by which alone and by no other the voice of God that is the Truth can be heard By this alone must the sence and mind of him that would signifie any thing by words or any outward sign be comprehended and understood So that if the Truth of God be presented to a man who stands not in the Light of Truth 't is impossible he should understand it although he hears and comprehends the words after his manner yet he is still fenced off ftom the true sence and meaning thereof Hence therefore it is that amongst so many hearers there are so few that have ears to hear He that hears Truth aright that is understands it wel must not stand out of but in the Truth it self Therefore neither is it any wonder that all men do not understand and conceive those things that are brought forth by the Light Those only that stand in it are alone and no other capable thereof The case being thus we see of how great concernment it is continually to exhort and excite men to turn in to the Light that is in them that so they may go on to such a condition and measure therein as to be fit to understand aright the ●ord that is the Truth of God because out of this there can be nothing understood and concluded from the words and writings given forth from the Light but meer opinion consequently errors This Light Christ c. is the truth word of God as hath been already said and every way appears by what we have hitherto laid down For this is a living Word and transmitteth man from death to life is powerful and enableth a man to bear witness of it self every where This is also the true Rule according unto which all our actions are to be squared This hath the preheminence before any Writing Scripture Doctrine or any thing else that we meet with from without We are born into the world and brought up as every body knows From the very first we hear differences every one pretends that he knows the matter and hath truth One holds sorth this another that to us If now the Light which is in every man that comes into the world shall not be Judge whither shall we rowle To believe all is impossible to reject all no less Who shall be Judg here Who else can be but the Light within us For whatsoever comes from without is the thing to be judged of Who then fitter seeing this is infallible Again Is not this the Light that by which we must see and know God and so consequently that by which we must judge all things Divine Certainly 't is then it follows also That we can judge of no Doctrine of no Book that is Divine but by this Light and judging it thereby to be Divine it cannot but be truly so As for example If we experience that the Book called the BIBLE in regard of the Divine Doctrine therein comprised hath such an harmony with that in which God is known that he must needs have been the Author of it there cannot rationally any more powerful demonstration be demanded With them that are thus the Scripture may become living and powerful and not a dead letter as it must needs be to those men who have no feeling of this thing And from hence then it 's apparent seeing this Light must stand before all things whatsoever that we meet with from without that then man must first of all be directed to this for without it what profit is there I pray to be reaped any where by any external sign but by it Lay the Book of the Scripture freely before any man let him also have all the fitness the Universities can give him to look into it in its proper Language in which it may have been first written what will all be without the Light Nothing The letters the