Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	world_n	write_v	writing_n	115	3	8.2962	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A68568	Ruths recompence: or a commentarie vpon the booke of Ruth wherein is shewed her happy calling out of her owne country and people, into the fellowship and society of the Lords inheritance: her vertuous life and holy carriage amongst them: and then, her reward in Gods mercy, being by an honourable marriage made a mother in Israel: deliuered in seuerall sermons, the briefe summe whereof is now published for the benefit of the Church of God. By Richard Bernard ...	Bernard, Richard, 1568-1641.	1628 (1628)	STC 1962; ESTC S101697	273,649	490

the faithfull concerning some of them or to shew some wicked instruments in their posteritie as in the genealogie of Cain The genealogie of the godly is set downe for these ends First to shew how God registreth vp his people in a booke of remembrance as being precious in his eyes Secondly to shew how hee hath had from time to time thorowout all ages a race of righteous people a peculiar generation to himselfe in despite of Satans malice and all his bloody instruments Thirdly for helpe to Chronologie as may bee seene in Gen. 5. from the liues of the Patriarkes Fourthly to shew the descent from the first Adam to the second as appeareth in the Euangelists where Matthew intitleth Mat. 1. Luk. 3. his first Chapter the booke of the Generation of Iesus Christ from Abraham to Ioseph and then Luke from Ioseph to Adam This genealogie here in Ruth is to teach the truth of Iacobs prophecie concerning Christs comming of the Tribe of Iudah for here it beginneth at Pharez Iudahs sonne and descendeth to Dauid the royall Prophet and type of Christ Also to shew why the house of Pharez was so extolled in verse 12. by the Elders and people and thirdly to let vs know for what end this Story was written not to praise and set out the vertues of a couple of poore women but to shew from whom Dauid came the figure of Christ euen of Ruth a Gentile a Moabitesse Lastly this may bee to shew the efficacie of the prayer of the people at Boaz marriage wishing by this seede Obed his house to bee as famous as Iudahs house was by Pharez as it was indeed For as Nahshon and Salmon Princes came of him so of this Obed came Iesse and Dauid and so a royall posteritie Of Pharez The Catalogue beginneth here and from this man though misbegotten incestuously the honour of the families is fetched for so in truth it was the Lord making Pharez renowned in his posterity whence not First that the holy Writers are without partialitie they write as things be they omit not for feare of disgrace that which is true and ought to bee set downe they will not spare any friend foe farre off nor neere no not themselues Moses will write his owne faults his Wiues his Brother Aarons and Miriams Samuel will not slip ouer his sonnes miscarriage nor Ionah his owne rebellion against God and his peeuish brabbling with him Ieremie will record his owne impatiencie and Saint Paul his bloody rage against the Saints for indeed they are led by a better Nam quis nescit primā esse historiae legē ne quid falsi dicere audeat deinde ne quid veri non audeat ne qua suspicio gratiae sit inscribendo ne qua simultatis Cic. de Orat. lib. 2. Vide Iesephum Antiq. lib. 16. ca. 11. vbi me●itò culpat Nichol. Damasceni historiam Herodis res falsis laudib ornantem Spirit then that of the world they also cast off selfe-loue and they prefer the truth Gods glorie aboue all which may perswade vs to the reading of these holy Histories full of varieties and yet trueths not to bee found in any writings of men And this should teach such as vndertake to write Stories to deale truely without fabling and to auoide partiall relations that wee may reade true Histories and not fictions and falsehoods to the deceiuing of the posteritie which should bee thereby instructed Secondly that men hold themselues honored to come of such as haue gained honour in the world though otherwise stained in their birth for so here it is accounted honorable to come of Pharez as many with vs doe to come but into this Iland which William the Conquerour obtained how base so euer he was by his birth for outward honour and glory procureth estimation and becloudeth birth so as that no notice is taken thereof Now if outward honor effect this with what honour may we thinke our selues honoured when God the Emperor of Heauen and earth is willing to acknowledge vs to bee borne of him and to bee called his Sonnes But of this few glory because it is onely spiritually discerned and for that such as bee so honoured with God finde here many crosses and so are in contempt with the worldly-minded Now in handling the rest of the names I will shew you out of them that as one naturally begets another so the Elect of God are to be qualified one grace as it were producing another The first in this naturall generation is Pharez which signifieth separate so in the supernaturall worke of Regeneration the Elect must bee first Pharez separate by their effectuall calling by the Word and by the holy Spirit in their conuersation from the vaine world for such 2. Cor. 6. 17. are the Children of God and such ought they to bee as the Apostle exhorteth else wee bee Ephe. 5. 11. not of this spirituall Regeneration Such then as are companions with wicked and so liue they are no Pharezes and so none of Christs line Pharez begate Hezron So is it plaine Gen. 46. Verse 19. 12. Matth. 1. 3. 1. Chron. 2. 5. who went downe Gen. 46. 26. with Iacob into Egypt contrary to the opinion of some Popish writers the name signifieth in the midst of gladnesse and such bee the Elect after they become Pharezes they must needs be Hezrons full of ioy when they feele the benefit of their separation they are a glad people euen as the Israelites separated from the Egyptians and their heauy bondage Hezron begate Ram. 1. Chron. 2. 9. Matth. 1. This Ram or Aram was not Hezrons first borne but Ierahmeel to giue vs to know that the Lord tyed not himselfe to the first borne but he chose sometime the second as here and sometime the youngest as Dauid and so he doth at this day which is the cause of the difference of Children from one Father and one Mother hauing the same education some doing well other some ill The name signifieth high for so are the Elect Deut. 32. 10. Zach. 2. 8. with God and being once Hezrons ioyfull in the waies of God they seeke and set their mindes on things aboue as the Apostle exhorts Col. 3. ● all risen with Christ to doe They be not base-minded to pore vpon the world as Earth-wormes but are high-minded towards God and things aboue they are of a generous spirit not suffering the things below to tread downe their affections and to draw them from God Ram begate Aminadab 1. Chro. 2. 10. Matth. 1. He was Father in law to Aaron who married his Exod. 6. 23. daughter Elishebah this name signifieth my people is noble or free and so are the Elect for hauing attain'd to this height that they become Rams or Arams they free themselues from the world as far as it hindereth them from setting their minds on things aboue And Aminadab begate Nahshon 1. Chron. 2. Verse 20. Matth. 1. Who was

friend nor kinsman nor the nighest of blood they can weepe for are very vnnaturall and worse then bruite beasts which bleate and loow for their own kinde so also they which can perhaps weepe for the world for departure of friends for losse of parents children husband or wise yet not for sin not for Gods dishonor not for the affliction of Ioseph not for want of the Word and the taking away of the righteous are worldlings are destitute of diuine grace of the true loue of God and goodnesse for men can and will mourne for such things as be euer neere and deare vnto them and which they indeede take to heart And Orpha kissed her mother in law As Naomi did by this act in verse 9. take her farewell of Orpha with Ruth so now Orpha departing thus taketh leaue of her She wept in loue and kissed her in token of loue and as loth to depart yet voluntarily leaueth her because shee perceiued by Naomi her words that she could not receiue worldly contentment if shee should goe with her So here were signes of loue onely but not the truth of it It is easie to make signes of loue but not to shew the true fruits of loue These be chargeable the other cost nothing therefore they are afforded very cheape and where onely outward signes of loue be and not a hearty vnion there worldly losses or the feare of such losses or not the hope to gaine the things of this life will soone separate such friends as wee see in this woman Note further I. That worldly respects are great hinderances in the course of Godlinesse the world keepeth from the entertaining of the Truth Mat. 22. 5. It hindereth in the receiuing of it Mat. 13. It pulleth men from it which haue somewhat gone forward in it as wee may see here in Orpha in Iehu Iudas Demas and Henry the 4. the last King of France and this commeth from the exceeding loue of it and our chiefest care for the body and the things of this life But let vs take heede of this world for such as loue it the loue of God 1. Iohn 2. 15. the Father is not in them many for loue of the world forsaking Religion haue felt the wo thereof and haue lost that which they loued Remember Iudas he had the money but what was hee the better it did not comfort him neither did it continue with him neither he long in the world And yet wretched Caitifes that wee be like Gadarens we will lose Christ rather then our swine and with Eue lose Paradise for an Apple II. That an vnsound heart may for a time make a faire shew in the way to Canaan but yet turne backe at the last as Orpha doth here and as we may see in Iehu Iudas Demas Hymeneus Alexander Philetus and many other in all ages falling backe from the Truth which they indeed did neuer soundly loue and yet will such make so faire an entrance And this is by reason first of certaine general motions of Religion which maketh them in generall to approue of the same againe the generall esteeme of the very name of Religion all holding this that it is a good thing to bee religious and that none can find fault with a man for that Further the working of the Word mouing the heart in some sort to intertaine it and lastly the desire of praise and good esteeme with men These will make hollow hearts to set on a while to heauenward but shall not bee able to enter Therefore we are not easily to entertaine men for sincere because they haue made and doe make faire shewes in Religion for a time seeing they may be vnsound and after fall away And this should make vs to examine our owne hearts lest secret hypocrisie lurke therein and it breake out at the length to our shame III. That such as want soundnesse towards God for Religion may yet haue otherwise commendable parts in them For Orpha is commended for a kind wife as well as Ruth by Naomi and for a kind daughter in law verse 8. and shee shewed good humanity ●● going on the way with her mother in law ye●● good natural affection in weeping so at parting What shall I speake of Ioahs valiant and hardy spirit of the great vvisedome of Achitophel in all worldly affaires and of morall men among the Heathen Many which had no part nor portion in Christ haue done vvorthily in the things praise-vvorthy among men by a restrained nature by the povver of conscience from the law of nature vvritten in their hearts and by the common gifts of the Spirit And therfore not to iudge our selues or others soundly religious and regenerate by Gods Spirit for our cōmendations in meere moral vertues or common gifts of the Spirit for the Heathen haue surpassed many true Christian hearts herein many by a meere ciuill education and orderly bringing vp in the lavvdable fashions of men and good carriage of themselues as men among men attaine to great commendations in and for their courtesie affability discretion many qualities in learning and Arts which they affect for praise with men for their priuate profit for aduancement in the world and not that they doe good things for goodnesse sake from the power of grace and godlinesse in their hearts which was as yet neuer ingrafted in them as appeareth by their little knowledge in the Word of God by their demeaning of themselues like Statists indifferently betweene two religions by neglecting the examination of their wayes by the Word but keeping company with all sorts alike so farre as worldly disgrace come no● hereby by neuer caring for the growth of Religion in themselues or in others to make the least opposition for it against the common streame By all which and by many good things wanting in them as a holy zeale feruency in prayer the loue of the truth for the truths sake such as loue it delight in meditating of Gods Word and conferring thereof sorrow for the afflictions of Gods people and ioy in the ouerthrow of the enemies thereof which graces meere moralists are quite destitute of wee may see that the life of Religion and that heauenly light of true grace is not ingrafted in them which is more worth than all the rest which yet are commendable but these ought chiefely to be our praises and yet not leaue the other vndone for the one makes a man but the other a Christian and these together I meane good carriage and ciuill behauiour Learning Arts and other good qualities make an excellent Christian man But Ruth claue vnto her Though Orpha gaue occasion for Ruth to fall off from Naomi yet her example moued not A well-grounded affection is not remoued by the inconstancy of others Ioh. 6. 68. for true loue is fixed vpon the thing beloued and is not tyed to any by-respects Their loue then is to be reproued who fall off for company their affections were neuer well

kind that euen as men haue wished so hath the iudgement falne out and therefore let vs not be See the booke called the Theater of Gods iudgements rash with our mouthes herein lest the Lord make vs examples of his iustice If ought but death part thee and mee This is that which shee sealeth with an oath euen to be constant to death and this is the praise of her action Many can begin well but they hold not on to death as did this Ruth Of constant loue I haue spoken before Note further that though nothing else can yet death will diuide friends asunder therefore Ruth doth not except against any thing but death which cannot be auoided This will separate Abraham and Sarah Iacob and Rachel Aaron and Moses Ionathan and Dauid and this Ruth from Naomi but nothing else shall so firmely are faithfull friends vnited and made one I will not complaine here of the leuitie of this age of the inconstancie of mens hearts and how for euery trifle they that seemed to be one become two of a suddaine they will preuent death and seuer themselues before But so much shall suffice for this verse and the constant resolution of Ruth Verse 18. When shee saw that shee was stedfastly minded to goe with her then she left off speaking vnto her HEre is the force and effect of Ruths resolution vpon Naomi and withall the very drift of Naomi her speeches to Ruth concerning her going backe only for triall of her constancie which when shee saw shee ceased to speake thereof any more vnto Ruth So as here is to be noted First the silence of Naomi Secondly the cause thereof This is in the first place the other followeth in the last words of the verse When she saw That is when she perceiued her full resolution then she admitted of her fellowship but not before whence and from whose wisedome we learne That the godly wise are warie in their admittance of others into their company till they well know them Wee see the wisdome of Nehemiah Chap. 6. 2 11 12. of Iacob when Esau offered him kindnesse and of Dauid towards Saul though he both wept and spake him faire hee kept off from him neither would our Sauiour commit himselfe to all his followers Ioh. 2. 24. for mans heart is deceitfull and a shew may bee made of that which is not in the heart indeede therefore should wee learne Christs counsell to be as wise as Serpents with a Doues innocencie lest like a well-meaning Gedaliah without suspicion of euill in others because wee intend none euill in our selues we perish by hypocriticall Ishmaels Ier. 41. 6. Let vs in these fraudulent times trie know and so approue and admit or dislike and leaue men That shee was stedfastly minded to goe with her This is it which held Ruths stedfast spirit she was not of a light and vnstable heart But how savv Naomi this in her By Ruths constant abyding by her promise expressing her minde and by her solemne oath confirming the same promise So then words with an oath and actions agreeing sufficiently may perswade vs of the stedfastnesse of the heart and the inward disposition of the minde of such as shew themseules vertuous And with this should wee rest satiffied as Naomi doth here as it followeth in the next words for charity bindeth vs to thinke the best of such testimonies of promises oathes and actions concurring True it is that all these may be feigned for wicked men will promise sweare and in some sort doe but yet not so as they bee free from guile therein they will promise what they truly intend not they will sweare to be the better credited and lesse distrusted euen when they meane to deceiue because they feare not God and in some things they will be doing in such things as may rather delude than indeede effect what they pretend but not what they secretly intend Such Machiauellians or rather matchlesse villaines there bee in the world But I spake before of such as feare God who are to be beleeued when they take an oath to shew the truth of the heart in that which they doe speake But that we may rest satisfied with an oath wee must obserue these things in the party first see to his life whether such a one feare God then whether hee make conscience of an oath or be an ordinary swearer not regarding an oath and thirdly what doth make him to sweare whether it be hope of gaine some comming towards him or feare or some suddaine passion and not a religious ground as these concurre so may wee beleeue or doubt The words translated was stedfastly minded are in Hebrew Shee strengthened her selfe to wit by her oath By which we may learne that an oath is the strengthening of the mind of him that sweareth to doe that which he hath sworne to doe if it bee lawfull and that the oath was not rashly taken Thus Elisha strengthned himselfe not to leaue Eliah till he was taken vp and Michaiah to performe faithfully his ministerie before and vnto Ahab when he came thither where he was And this is lawfull sometime in great and weighty affaires Wherein wee may feare the fainting of our hearts then with prayer to God to vow our obedience and if iust cause require to vvitnesse by oath our resolution as Ruth doth here and the rest before named But when we haue sworne lawfully then let vs looke to it that we doe not breake it Psal 15. Iosh 9. 19. for God will require it at our hands except it be like Herods oath it is then better broken and to be repented of rather than kept Then she left speaking vnto her To wit of her returning backe againe and of willing her to goe after Orpha vnto her owne Countrey and people and she left off because she saw that Ruth was resolued to go with her without sinister and by-respects for that Ruth could not by such reasons as she had laid before her be made to depart from her being an old poore woman and stranger albeit Orpha did leaue her So then hence note that there is no reason to make further triall where an honest resolution is or may be well discerned for this were folly and also vncharitablenesse to call still into question that which is out of question and to suspect an honest mind which fully sheweth it selfe as far as it can for the present Let vs then learne this wisdome so to trie before we trust and then to trust after sound triall for this is the end therof Againe where we see the mind settled to well-doing let vs not put it to further triall then neede is lest we doe weaken the parties faith and bring the mind into wauering but leaue him to his honest resolution Act. 21. 14. 1. Cor. 16. 12. Verse 19. So they two went vntill they came to Bethlehem and it came to passe when they were come to Bethlehem that all the Citie was moued about them