Selected quad for the lemma: work_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
work_n	evil_a	good_a	tree_n	33,809	5	11.7409	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A53263	The old leaven purged out, or, The apostacy of this day further opened being a true and faithfull narrative of the orderly prooceedings [sic] and dealings of the lesser part of the congregation formerly walking with Mr. John Sympson, with and against severall souldiers of the army, who (being fallen in with the apostacy of this day, contrary to professed and declared principles, and the many out-goings of the Lord thereupon) are withdrawn and separated from, together with Mr. Sympson their chief abettor, and others, after neer two years labouring whilest while we were in the congregation, and neer two years more since : as also the true coppies of seven of the letters which Mr. Sympson wrote with his own hand, and sent to the congregation an answer to several objections that have been, or may be raised against printing and published the whole : all humbly presented to publique view, not in strife, vain-glory, or to be seen of men, but we hope out of conscience, to endeavor a recovering of the name of the Lord ...	Hathorn, Humphrey.	1658 (1658)	Wing O205; ESTC R32246	96,744	101

for a time have acted their parts with applause upon this stage How bravely did Judas act his part in praying preaching working of miracles by Christ and afterward betrayed his Master How well did Demas manage his businesse before he embraced this present world Alexander the Copper-Smith who did much wrong unto Paul and against whom he prayed in the Spirit of the Gospel that God would reward him according unto his works had almost suffered death as a Martyr for Jesus Christ Acts 19.33 May we go so far in paths of light and righteousness and afterwards prove like the Renegado Turks the greatest Persecutors of Christians in the world Oh! Then how ought we to examine our works our prayers our hearing our speaking of the things of God lest there should be any root of bitternesse in them which at length springing up should discover us to be Liars Impostures Mamonists Hypocrites before God Angels Saints and sinners My Letters unto you as yet have been as suits of clothes made up but not fitted for any particular person if they fit any Men and their guilty Conscience do apply particularly unto themselves the things spoken and prophesied of in them in general I shall begin to be perswaded that I do not drop Ink upon paper in vain give me leave therefore to come home into your bosoms hearts and consciences in a word of Trial of your works gifts duties actions professions performances and the like First try the original of your Actions if the spring of your Actions be poysoned the streams cannot be healthy if flesh be the fountain whatsoever proceeds from it is fleshly If the tree be evil the fruit cannot be good Ask thy soul this question dost thou pray and speak of spiritual things by a gift or by the Spirit of regeneration the prayers of the Formalists though never so well guilded are abominable unto Jehovah because they are not from the spirit of the New Creation Secondly Try the rule of thy Actions Christians are to walk exactly by rule and by line darest thou bring thy heart and thy Actions to be tryed by the good light of the word of God Thirdly Try thy wayes by the good example of Saints and prophets Take my brethren the prophets for an example Jam. 5.10 Not the court Chaplains and Temporizing Demases of this backsliding generation Fourthly Try thy Actions by thy faith two men may do the same thing Abel and Cain the one doth the will of same thing it is not the same thing which they do One man Preaches Free-grace and the Interest of Christ and Saints in the flesh and then abhors his own Preaching the other doth Preach the same things in faith and hath the smile of God for the present and his Crown of glory hereafter for a reward Fifthly Try thy wayes by the sincerity and uprightness of thy heart upright walking is sure walking Let Jehu say Come see my Zeal for the Lord of hosts But be thou able to say with Hezekiah Lord thou knowest that I have walked uprightly before thee Sixthly Try thy Actions by thy affectionate willingness to do or suffer for God Gods people are a willing People in the day of his power Psal 110. Christ loveth chearfull and obedient Servants Seventhly Try thy Actions by the Testimony of a pure and enlightned Conscience Beloved if our hearts condemn us not then have we confidence towards God and whatsoever we ask we receive of him because we keep his Commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight 1 John 3.21 22. Lastly that my Letters may not be burthen some try and search your wayes by your aims and ends do nothing as to man or to your selves but all as to God and the glory of God 1 Cor. 10.31 I put you not to a harder task then by the help of Christ I have done many times since I came into this place And after my most exact scrutiny and search into my own heart the Spirit of truth bearing me witness To me it is given not onely to believe but to suffer as a Prisoner for Jesus Christ By the light of the Spirit I do like my Cause in which I suffer every day better and better I do rise higher in my faith for obtaining promises Heb. 11.33 That God will bring down Tyrants and Persecutors new and old I do not repent but rejoyce in the things which I have delivered and am confident that within a few years not to say moneths I shall be found without Cromwells timely repentance as true a Prophet unto him as I was to the long sitting Parliament In the mean while abstain from all appearance of evil abhor Jezabels Fasts pray down the Antichristian Clergy and their Nasty Nests the Universities Believe down Antichrists High Commissioners with Patrons Parsons Vicars Curates Lecturers and their Tythes and all things belonging to that New Hierarchy wait for the pouring forth of the Spirit in grace and gifes and the power of God and the grace of Christ shall be with you and him who is Christs Prisoner John Sympson Windsor the last day 1. Moneth 1654. This is a true Coppy of the Original examined by us Tho. Cary. John Clementa Brethren in Christ GOd hath brought you upon the stage of this world to live in such times in which the hearts of many Hypocritical Professors shall be discovered and the inward parts of all Saints shall be very much tried And thereofre it doth concern you all to be much in Trying and Examining your base deceitful hearts lest any of you having walked a great way hand in hand with the Saints should at Lengt shamefully and wrectchedly forsake them and with Demas imbrace this present world If ever the Devil had an advantage against Professors he hath an advantage against them in these times He cometh unto them as he did unto Christ with his last and strongest temptation Matth. 4. 9. These things will I give you How many eminent Professors doth the Devil swallow down his wide throat and doth bury them alive in the belly of this world Secondly How evident doth that truth of Christ shine forth at this time Ye cannot serve God and Mammon Your gilded Mamonists in London will not be able to hold long their profession without wavering but will basely and unworthily desert the Cause and Interest of Christ and his People for a morsel of Bread You will finde that many who were very Zealous for the interest of Christ when it was calm will not be able to hold it out in a storm They that pleaded for Christ and his Interest in the Sun-shine day will in the clouldy rainy and stormy day plead against him and his People such Christians who have not learned to deny themselves daily and to take up their Gross and follow him will forsake him The whole world will wonder after the Beast and his horns Rev. 13.3 If God doth not put you among

ground of our seperation and with-drawing to this day so as that the name of the Lord is greatly reproached thorough these Misreports concerning us it might therefore hereby appear that the cause why we do so is for such sins as are publikely scandalous and sinful that so whatever becomes of our persons the truth may be vindicated Reas 3. That all who fear the Lord in uprightness of heart may consider and see it 's their duty to with-draw and seperate from all such persons For what saith the Apostle Know you not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump Purge out therefore the old leaven c. And may it not be spoken with grief of heart that the lump or generality of the Churches in this day are much leavened with a luke-warm sensual selfish spirit seeking the honor and favor of men for their own advantage rather then setting the Lord before them and approving their hearts to him and indeavouring after the advancement of his glory in the world which comes to pass in a great measure for want of doing their duty to such persons in this particular Reas 4. That if it should please the Lord to call any or all of us further to suffer herein or upon such like account it may appear we suffer for his Name sake and not as evil doers the mouthes of many professors having been already opened in this respect though wee could wish it hath not rather been to palliate and cover over their own Apostacy Reas 5. Because thus saith the Scripture Them that sin to wit in the sight of all men as these have done and that against the light of Nature and Grace rebuke before all that others also may see and fear and do no more so wi●kedly for as Jannes and Jambres Korah Dathan and Abiram with their company withstood Moses in the work of GOD in their day so these likewise do resist his cause and truth in our day proceeding from iniquity to iniquity Reas 6. That so such as are unknown to us and have been already engaged in this work of seperation may bee incouraged and not discouraged and may know that whatsoever their afflictions and trialls are thereupon the same are also accomplished in others of their Brethren upon the same account that so from a spirit of love to truth we may be strengthning one anothers hands in so blessed and honorable a work Rea. 7. If Pilate was so sensible of the innocency of Jesus Christ that he could do no less but in the presence of the Court and the whole multitude take water and wash his hands saying these words the better to clear himself from being guilty of his blood I am free from the blood of this just man look ye to it Doth it not much more concern us in such a day as this when our Lord in his members and cause contended for in the late warrs is again crucified afresh put to open shame to take this water of our publike testimony in the presence both of Saints and Sinners and testifie our dislike of and seperation from so great iniquity as also the persons guilty thereof And if our Lord Jesus could charge upon the Jewes all the righteous blood shed from Abel to that day and Peter Act. 3.13 and so Stephen Act. 7.51 52. likewise charge them for retaining their forefathers wicked spirit though they pretended otherwise manifested in denying betraying delivering up and killing of Christ and the Saints who were witnesses to the truth in that day May not wee justly fear that if we should be silent in this day the guilt of their blood which was shed in the late wars as also of the sufferings of the Saints formerly and yet imprisoned for their faithfulness to the despised cause and interest of Christ who did and do offer themselves so willingly may be found upon us when the Lord makes inquisition for the same and we come to be partakers of that judgement which we are perswaded will lye heavie upon all that shall be found guilty more or less Reas 8. Because of the so plain discovery through a generall silence of a Laodicean or luke-warm spirit for Christ in this day which the Lord loaths and threatens to spue out of his mouth But on the contrary commends the Churches of Ephesus and Smyrna c. for their zeal and faithfulness in discovering of and not bearing with sin nor sinners yea the Lord delights in such who offer themselves willingly And the Inhabitants of Meroz are cursed with a bitter curse not because they appeared against Gods cause and people but for standing Neuters and not coming forth when an opportunity was offered to his help against the mighty So in Psal 94.16 there seems to be another plain word of instruction in this case where the Prophet by way of Proclamation hath these vvords Who will rise up for me against the evil doers Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity He doth not say as some say novv Sit still and let God alone for he will finde out wayes and means to do his work in his appointed time himself for he hath power at command why do you trouble your selves more then a great many wiser men No So the Lord seems to speak in this day as once Iohn said Who is on my side who And although such poor creatures as vve are can adde nothing to him yet he loves to see us shevv our good affection and to do vvhat vve are able and he hath so appointed that the foot yea the feet of the poor and the steps viz the indeavours of the needy shall tread down the lofty City And the least of the Flock shall draw them out c. And it may not be forgotten how that the Parliament in the time of the late war as they took notice of Neuters by way of dislike on the one hand so they did very kindly resent the constant good affections of others on the other hand Reas 9. When sin comes to be National First in respect of the sin it self Secondly in respect of the persons committing it being in a National or publike capacity Thirdly And contrary to professed and declared light as the sin of this day is and persisting therein after many admonitions so as that we may truly say of the transgressors of this day as the Spirit of the Lord by Isaiah said of Israel of old Wo to the rebellious children saith the Lord that take counsel but not of me that cover with a covering but not of my spirit that they may add sin to sin that walk to go down to Aegypt and have not asked at my mouth to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharoah and to trust in the shadow of Aegypt c. Now as in verse the eight the Prophet is commanded to go write is before them in a Table and note it in a Book that it may be for

excusing of them and by his suddain starting such a question of Non-communion without serious consideration whereby many Brethren and Sisters were ensnared as they afterwards confessed and notwithstanding that truth had such hard usage from the beginning almost to that time yet we have since our withdrawing been waiting upon the Lord almost one whole year and half thereby bearing a more particular Testimony against their evil also by admonishing them twice according to the rule of the Gospel but no repentance as we can discern apprearing but rather hardness of heart and their sin every day more and more manifesting it self to the great dishonour of God and reproach of his Name We do therefore hereby declare That we can have no more fellowship and Communion with them then with Heathens and Publicans till the Lord shall give repentance unto life by acknowledging and forsaking their iniquity and do hereby humbly Testifie our separation from the accordingly Secondly That our Brother Sympson whose condition we desire to mourn for yet can but humbly testifie that he hath been for many moneths a secret opposer of those Brethren that prosecuted the cause of Christ against the evils of those Brethren of the Army and every day more and more did and doth stand by maintain and plead for them Nay more he is not afraid nor ashamed to plead for those very evils which he himself hath declared against openly and for which he for sometime suffered very boldly so that we can do no less then declare before the Lord Angels and men that he is now become guilty with the other Apostates to build again the things which he and they formerly destroyed and is become very skilful to cover the iniquity of this day which appeareth to all unbyast persons But least any should think that we had neglected our duty in not admonishing him privately before this publique testimony against him we answer That several Brethren had been with him privately upon that account Moreover we did at another time by several Brethren in the name of the whole apply our selves unto him intending particularly in love and due respects to have opened our hearts concerning his evil but in stead thereof he absolutely refused to give the least entertainment unto us as Brethren and Sisters or to hear any thing we should say unto him upon that account but looked upon us as Heathens and Publicans and thereupon refused so much as to pray with the Brethren who were sent by us Adding hereunto that thorow his pleading for and excusing of them he hath been the Instrumental Cause of this breach and separation and hardning the hearts of the Souldiers when some of them were in some measure convinced of their evil as we thought saying That if it were a sin to have Communion with them let it be charged upon himself and such as were satisfied with them as they should answer it at the day of the Lord Jesus For which and much more if needful at this time to declare We can have no more fellowship with him nor scarce so much as with those Brethren among you that wear the sword whose wickedness we have been so long contending against onely leaving him unto the Lord who can when he pleaseth convince him of his evil and give him grace to do his first works Thirdly That several other Brethren whom we could Name if need require have likewise much abetted excused and pleaded for this iniquity and particularly one of them who was formerly so convinced of the Soldiers evil as being the first person that put pen to paper to draw up Articles against them who said It was true but he thought it would not come to this And therefore we do judge it our duty also humbly to Testifie against them and separate from them as such who are greatly partakers of the Souldiers evil though it is possible that they may be much oversway'd in ther judgements by our Brother Sympson and cannot have Communion with them till such time that the Lord doth convince them of their evil and cause them to return from whence they are fallen and do their first works Fourthly That many other Brethren and Sisters though they have little to plead for the Souldiers as under those sins laid to their charge yet care not for inquiring into truth neither considering that Scripture 1 Cor. 5.6 Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump purge out therefore the old leaven that you may become a new lump But are willing to have their judgements byassed thorow affection to our Brother Sympson and so are willing to stand or fall in his bottom as we have just ground to fear and thereby become partakers of their evill deeds and if the Lord do not in time graciously awaken them out of this drowsie sleepy frame of Spirit we fear they may in time feel the sorrow of that Scripture Isa 9.16 For the Leaders of this people cause them to erre and they that are led of them are destroyed And therefore hereby testifie and declare that we cannot hold Communion with them till the Lord shall discover unto them their evil therein Fifthly As for those Brethren and Sisters amongst you that groan and mourn under the sense of those crying abominations that our Brethren the Souldiers with their Abettors are guilty of we do desire to open our hearts to them with all bowels of tenderness and compassion declaring that although we can see no Scripture ground or bottom for their present practise and the rather when the Lord hath enabled their poor unworthy Brethren and Sisters though but a remnant to withdraw and separate from the evil doers whereby the decission is made And that Scripture Psal 26.4 5.6 Seems unto us a plain word of Instruction for them in these words I have not sate with vain persons neither will I go in with dissemblers I will wash my hands in innocency and so will I compass ●●●e Altar Whence the Spirit of the Lord seems to hint himself not innocent had he not refused Communion with dissemblers and vain persons without having respect whether they were the greater or the lesser number And how they can call that part of the Body a Church when those they joyn with are onely the disorderly walkers for those who bear the Testimony are withdrawn we do not well understand which is the more considerable when they are commanded to withdraw from every Brother that walks disorderly However we judge it our duty to continue our prayers for them and to spread their condition before the Lord in secret as if it were out own that he would enlighten and inform them in their duty and give them obedient hearts thereunto that the Lord would deliver their feet out of the snare and do hereby intreat exhort and desire them as they tender the glory of God and the comfort of their own Souls in the time of Tryal and Temptation to come out from amongst them and separate