Selected quad for the lemma: work_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
work_n	faith_n	faithful_a	justify_v	5,528	5	9.0241	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91883	Liberty of conscience: or The sole means to obtaine peace and truth. Not onely reconciling His Majesty with His subjects, but all Christian states and princes to one another, with the freest passage for the gospel. Very seasonable and necessary in these distracted times, when most men are weary of war, and cannot finde the way to peace.	Robinson, Henry, 1605?-1664?; Walwyn, William, 1600-1681, attributed name.	1643 (1643)	Wing R1675; Thomason E39_1; ESTC R20544	74,273	74

upon good will the one preach Christ of contention not sincerely supposing to adde affliction to my bonds but the other of love knowing that I am set for the defence of the Gospel what then notwithstanding every way whether in pretence or in truth Christ is preached and I therein doe rejoyce yea and will rejoyce for I know that this shall turne to my salvation through your prayers and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ Yea will some say great shame it were if we should not rejoyce that Christ be truly preached in what manner soever but such as we silence and persecute though they confesse and preach Christ in words yet they hold certaine erronious tenets which strike at the foundation and overthrow Christianity I desire such to remember those Scriptures which say that Whosoever is borne of God doth not commit sin for his seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is borne of God Whosoever ● Joh. 3. 9. beleeveth in him shall not perish but have eternall life And whosoever shall confesse that Jesus is the Sonne of God God dwelleth in him and he in John 3 13 〈…〉 4 15 God Now as we know that David though he committed adultery and murder was borne of God notwithstanding this text because it means only that God imputes not sinne unto them that are borne of God so he that beleeveth in God and confesseth that Jesus is the Son of God though he do together with this foundation hold certain points which may seem to crosse it and be in a great degree erronious but contrary to his owne intention it is both very possible and probable that such a one notwithstanding shall not perish but God dwelleth in him and he in God In the very Bible we finde severall texts and passages which seem to thwait and contradict themselves yet we are certaine that the whole Scripture being the inspiration of one and the same blessed Spirit cannot but be at unity within it selfe and all good Christians are fully assured thereof though they be not able sometimes to make it appeare so to their weake and carnall understandings and in such cases we have the example of St. Paul Rom. 11. 13. the great Apostle of the Gentiles who though he testified of himselfe that he gave his judgement as one 1 Cor. 7. 25. 40. that had obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithfull and thought that he also had the Spirit of God yet having waded into the mystery of Predestination so far as his owne reason could arive burst out into a most devout admiration O the depth of the riches both of the wisdome and knowledge Rom. 11. 33. of God how unsearchable are his judgements and his wayes past finding out In S. Pauls Epistle to the Romans chap. 3. 28. it is said Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the Law And St. James saith James 2. 24. Ye see then how that by workes a man is justified and not by faith only Now as we are fully assured that these two Scriptures though they differ so much litterally are notwithstanding not only in their owne being reconcileable but even in our shallow capacities and apprehensions And as God had good cause why he counted Paul faithfull and put him into the Ministery who was before 1 Tim. 1. 12 13. a blasphemer and persecuter So we may safely thinke that God can much more after the manner of men be it spoken tell how to prosper their endeavours and bring unto salvation such as beleeve in him and confesse Jesus to be the Son of God for his word and promise are engaged and cannot be frustrated through their weaknesses and unsoundnesse in some points of Discipline Doctrine or of both But it will be objected Object why should such be suffered to preach Christ who withall mix unsound doctrine since there may be teachers enough besides who are all orthodox and unquestionable I answer That this is not the true state of the case for that the Puritans or other conscientious Christians Answ hold their owne teachers to be the soundest and if they be silenced conceive they are bound without power of dispencing with themselves to heare none at all rather then such with whom they cannot possibly joyne or be present without a doubting and condemning conscience Rom. 14. 23. Matth. 13. 29 30. so that at the very best this can be but a pulling up of good wheat together with the tares which as was said before our Saviour would not have so much as hazarded and endangered or a doing evill that good Rom. 3. 8. may come of it which is as absolutely forbidden I will therefore forbeare to make any further application of Pauls rejoycing so Christ were preached in whatsoever manner but beseech with meeknesse all such as read it to pause a little and consider that since Paul rejoyced in whatsoever way that Christ was preached whether of contention envy pretence or in truth how inexcusable will all those be that persecute or silence such as preach him in any other maner then they themselves prescribe whereby many eminent abilities and gifts have been smothered and lost To the same purpose is that place in St. Markes Gospel where John in the name of the Apostles tells our Saviour saying Master we saw one casting out divells in thy name and he followeth not us and We forbad him because he followeth not us but Jesus said forbid him not for there is no man which shall doe a miracle in my name that can lightly speake evill of me he that is not against us is on our part Marke 9. 38 39 40. Paul tells the Hebrewes how He that despised Moses law dyed without mercy under two or three witnesses and askes them how much sorer punishment Heb. 10. 28 29. they supposed such should be thought worthy of who have trodden under foot the Son of God and counted the bloud of the Covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing which is a plain evidence that though such as live under the Gospel and neglect or despise the means of comming to the knowledge or yet speake against the truth thereof deserve greater punishment then those that violated the law of Moses which was certaine death in the mouth of two or three witnesses yet he saies not that it ought to be so under the Gospel but though he aggravate the crime as far more heynous under the Gospel yet he declines to say they should be punished corporally in this life and plainly insinuates that it must be left untill the day of judgement as appeares by the coherence with the words which follow where he brings the Lord in saying Vengeance is mine and I will recompence it and againe Ver. 30. 31. The Lord shall judge his people It is a fearfull thing to fall into the hands of the living God And this is yet more manifest if we

say but they Object were Papists in Q. Marie● dayes and Episcopacie is Antichristian but Presbytery or some other government may be jure divino and will only suppresse Heresies and settle a uniformity in the Church of Christ I answer that the Bishops in Queen Maries dayes and since whether Answ Papists or others did then say as much and with equall confidence in defence of their coercive proceedings for preventing Schifines and establishing uniformity and that they had Gods word to backe them in it and though I am fully assured that God hath been pleased to dif●nver unto us since a greater measure of his truth then ever yet if a Presbytery or other Ecclesiasticall government shall silence or persecute in whatsoever manner such Christians as are conscientious pious in their actions zealous for God and painfull in propagating of the Gospel though they differ in opinion and hold some points contrary to the current of the times but are obedient to higher powers in civil matters that such should be persecuted whether by Presbyteriall or other government I never yet heard other reason for it then what Antichrist himselfe alledged so long since nor doe see any other likelihood from the politick constitution of this State much lesse can finde evidence in Scripture but it may run the hazard that future times when God shall please to enlighten us yet further will acknowledge it to be erronious that it will appear in the last day to have been a fighting against God and persecuting of Christ or at least a resisting and quenching of the Spirit and gifts of God which are acknowledged to be in such men so silenced and opposed St. Paul in his Epistle to the Corinthians tells them 1 Cor. 12 in the beginning There are diversities of gifts but one Spirit one Lord one Gods to one he saies is given the word of wisdom to an other the word of knowledged to one faith and an other the gift of healing to one the gift of 〈◊〉 to an other prophesie to one discerning of spirits to an other divers kinde of tongues and to an other the interpretation of tongues but all these work by one and the selfe same Spirit And though all these are gifts of the Spirit and that there is not any one of these but a man may have it and be a reprobate for even of faith Paul himself saies 1 Cor. 〈…〉 though he had it in such a degree as he could remove mountaines if he had not charity withall he were nothing yet it is said in the 7 verse of the 12. Chaper That the manifestation of the Spirit in the diversity of gifts is given to profit with that is for the profit and benefit of the Church to which these gifts were to be communicated now if all these gifts are from God and if God gave them that they might be improved or dispenced unto all Nations nay since in the third verse of the same Chapter it is revealed unto us that no man can so much as say That Jesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost how can it be denied but that the silencing or persecuting of any man that hath but one or more of these gifts in him Note because he wants some others or hath not all is not a plaine suppressing of the Holy Ghost which though given in a smaller measure like him that had but one talent in the Gospel and was condemned to utter Matth. 25. darknesse for not imploying it or if it had extended only to the saying that Jesus is the Lord were all given to profit by and would doubtlesse effectually prove profitable if they were not unwarrantably quenched Suppose I were of the faith generally professed in New England and had a brother of the Presbyteriall Discipline in Scotland who loving me as himselfe desired nothing so much as to conforme me to his own opinion I that ammo whit inferiour to him in affection that I may bee the better able to give account of my owne faith free from the least doubting but prepared to imbrace any truth which to me remains yet unrevealed after I have tried it by the touch stone of Gods word and made use of such other helpes as God hath given me that I may be the stronger setled and not seem obstinate in my opinion but especially hoping hereby as St. Paul Rom. 9. 22. whilest he became all things to all men to convince my brother in the errour of his wayes I render my selfe complying upon his request to heare or read whatsoever can bee said in the defence of Presbytery Now when I have used all those lawfull meanes which he prescribed me or could thinke any waves available to reduce a man to that opinion and tell him notwithstanding that I finde not the least scruple or ground of doubting in that faith which before I made profession of my brother who sees no greater errour or weaknesse in me then in himselfe hath nothing else to except against me knowes that I cannot be of what religion or opinion I will my selfe untill I be fully convinced about the truth there of and that a bare doubting in point of conscience would bring damnation on me can I say my brother Presbyter in such a case upon good ground or reason thinke I ought to be silenced or persecuted in any manner Can there be a Law according to Gods word to punish me for what lay not in my power to remedy nor may with a safe conscience be dissembled But it will be said that this plyablenesse and Object readinesse to receive such truth as shall be discovered may be counterfet and hypocriticall and that such as Scripture and reason doe not convince are wilfully obstinate or instate of reprobation though they know it not themselves To this I answer That though it be said of Answ the Jewes This people is waxed grosse and their cares are dull of hearing and their eyes have they closed lest they should see with their eyes Act. 28. 27. and heare with their eares and under stand with their heart and should be converted and I should heale them yet it was not meant that every one of that Nation was hardned or of any particular person that he could bee distinguished from the rest nay it is plaine there are no signes or tokens given us infallibly to know an obstinate or reprobate heart by for though it be said A good tree doth not bring forth bad fruit you shall know Luke ● 43 44. Act 22. the tree by the fruit and that of thornes men do not gather figs nor of bramble bushes grapes yet we know that Paul persecuted was a blasphemer to the last even till he was vocally called by Christ from heaven and the same Christ when he was on earth said No man can come unto me except Joh. 6. 44. the Father draw him and therefore we have expresse order to judge nothing before the time untill

and Reply Answ none but coercive will prevaile if they had order to make use of them how can they be sure that forcible means would have better successe and how much more blameable are they that use them when they neither have commission nor assurance that they shall prevaile Our Saviour told his Disciples That if they were of the world the world Joh. 15. 19. would love his owne but he had chosen them out of the world and therefore the world hated them and lest this should not prove a sufficient item to them and us St. Paul tells us plainly How all that will live godly in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 3. 12. must suffer persecution whereto that we may be the better induced our Saviour in his Sermon on the Mount amongst other blessings pronounces this unto them Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you Matth. 5. 11. 12. and shall say all manner of evill against you falsely for my sake rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven for so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you And lest such poor distressed Christians should be to seek how to behave themselves in so great a temptation and distresse the blessed Spirit of God by St. Paul to the Romans instructs Rom. 12. 14. Mat. 5. 44. Joh. 5. 16. 15. 20. 1 Cor. 4. 12 us to blesse such as persecute us so that in these and many other Scriptures we have the practise of persecution given us as a sign to know the Church malignant by and to be persecuted as a love token and most peculiar livery of Jesus Christ to distinguish true from false beleevers And if it be objected that then there must be no true Church amongst Christians and that all of them doe persecute one another more or lesse Object it wil notwithstanding follow that such Christian States and Churches as Answ persecute most are most corrupted and though I could hope for their sakes which still retaine it with lesse rigour that every smaller degree of persecuting Christians which differ from them in opinion may not hinder such to be true Christians though imperfect and failing in this particular yet my earnest desires are that all such as are causers counsellours or instruments promoting or not endeavouring and disswading persecution will seriously consider with themselves whether the thus persecuting one another by Christian Churches which differ in opinions though it should not hinder them from being true Churches yet if it may not be found at least an errour and exceeding great blemish in them all even those that use it seldomest and in milder manner expressely forbidden in so many places of Scripture and continually declamed against by the whole proceedings of our Blessed Saviour his Apostles and most conscientious and truly mortified Christians famous for greatest piety and devotion in their respective generations St. John saies That light is come into the world and men loved darknesse Joh. 3. 19 20 21. rather then light because their deeds were evill for every one that doth evill hateth light neither commeth to the light lest his deeds should be reproved but he that doth the truth commeth to the light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God Methinkes we may well resemble the true professours of Jesus Christ to those that seek the light that the truth which they teach may be made manifest and contrarywise such to be false prophets and hypocrites that hate the light lest their beloved errours and counterfeit doctrines should be discovered reproved and forsaken Indeed many a man hath been over confident and delivered up his body to be burnt in a bad cause but this should make such as have a good one to gather so much more courage to themselves and not decline any lawfull triall or disputation whereby falshood would be vanquished and the light of truth shine out so much more amiable and bright as before it had greater opposition In the ordinary course of the world betwixt two which are at law together when either of them uses meanes to prolong the suit and prevent what possibly he can the comming to a judgement may we not say and that justly too that such a man hath a bad cause or else that he hath not all his proofes and evidences in readinesse especially if we suppose that he knew he had a Judge who both understood his cause fully and would infallibly do him justice surely the same may be said and that more warrantably concerning Religion and differences in opinion about any point thereof Confidence and boldnesse prevaile sometimes and that not a little even in a bad cause but never fail when they maintaine a good one we may see it in the Acts that both Peter and John with the cause of Jesus Act. 4. 13. Christ sped the better for their boldnesse which when the Scribes Elders Annas and all high Priests kindred saw and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men they marvelled and took knowledge that they had been with Jesus And beholding the man which was healed standing with them they could say nothing against it and how wonderfully the cause prospered hereupon appears in that fourth Chapter to the Acts which is well worth reading out and cannot by a heart truly sanctified be passed over without great admiration St. Paul confirmes it Eph. 3. 12 Phil. 3. 19. 20. 25. unto the Ephesians saying That through faith in Jesus Christ we have boldnesse and accesse with confidence And to the Philippians he hath yet a fuller expression where he sayes I know according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed but that with all boldnesse as alwaies so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body whether it be by life or death and having this confidence I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith Surely as all true Beleevers have the same good cause and Gospel so can they not possibly fare worse if they had but such a faith and confidence as Pauls was Now Jam. 2 2 true and lively faith cannot be without works and the most eminent and glorious worke of all is to seek the propagation of it in such means and manner as are most warrantable and likeliest by the precept and president of our only wise Saviour and his blessed Apostles to prove successefull Oh let us not then defer the practise of it any longer doe we suspect that errour should vanquish truth this is so vaine that no man will confesse so much but for their full conviction if they were so conceited let them take notice what St. Paul saith to the Corinthians We cannot do 2 Cor. 13 8. any thing against the truth but for the truth we may plot contrive and endeavour whatsoever our owne depraved natures will suggest us to against it but great is