Selected quad for the lemma: world_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
world_n	base_a	choose_v	confound_v	2,480	5	10.0841	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

the power of truth and it will prevaile at last or doe we then feare that the true professours may fall from their former stedfastnesse it is true that some which once made profession of the truth may fall from that profession but such though they make profession of the truth yet were they never true professours as St. John saies in his first Epistle They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had 1 Joh. 2. 1 been of us they would no doubt have continued with us but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us And doubtlesse it were much to be desired and all justifiable meanes to be imployed whereby hypocrites and such as are not true at heart might be best moved to discover themselves of their owne accord for then the people of God might be kept from falling into many a sin through their ill example and avoid many a temporall judgement and affliction for holding fellowship and communion with them but blessed be God this is the worst that can befall them neither divells nor the deepest wiles of wicked reprobates can possibly deceive the true Professours Gods Elect. Mat. 24. 24. Our Saviour hath passed his word That not one of these little ones shall perish Mat. 18. 4. And my sheep heare my voyce and I know them and they follow me and I give unto them eternall life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand John 10. 27 28. And Paul saies We are persecuted but not forsaken cast down but not destroyed 2 Cor. 4. 9. And he told Timothy That the foundation of God standeth sure having this seale that the Lord knoweth them that are his 2 Tim. 2. 19. But since heresies must needs be though a woe betide the authours of Cap. 1. 87 them how much more may we well thinke should there be a Liberty of Conscience since the authours instead of woe may be certain of a blessing and nothing can more manifest the truth when all such as for feare of imprisoning fining corporall punishment or any worldly prerogative had heretofore made profession thereof would now appear in their own colours and follow the false calls of their more false teachers leaving truth to herselfe and such only as did imbrace her in true sincerity of heart and yet this is not all the benefit which would accrue hereby the greatest and best part is still behinde for as in the Primitive times when Scribes Pharises and all the learned Doctors both Jews and Gentiles Note disputed and opposed the truth with more liberty and freedome it became then much more famous and prevailing untill the mystery of iniquity undertooke the protecting of it by the Civill Sword which if it were but sheathed againe and the Blessed Spirit which bloweth where it listeth not resisted we might even in these dayes with Gods assistance Joh. 3. 8. expect to see victorious trophees and multitudes of Christians set at liberty and redeemed out of Babylon to the speedier downfall of Antichrist But some will say that the learned and wisest men have alwaies been and are still of opinion that it is no good policie to suffer so many severall Object Religions to be publickly professed in one and the same Kingdome and jurisdiction because that though many men may be able with Scripture to defend their owne Religion and others perhaps stedfast and obstinate enough in their opinions what ever they be yet if contrary tenets may be debated freely and made profession of without controle some numbers more or lesse amongst such multitudes of people either by importunity worldly advantages or in that their ignorance or little knowledge in spirituall matters is not able to withstand the arguments which are urged against them must needs be seduced and led a way from the Religion established by Law Whereto I answer That the advice Answ of wise and learned men if they be otherwise also as well qualified is to be far preferred before that of ignorant and lesse wise but such whose affections and carnall lusts are mortified and whose guifts are sanctified these mens counsells ought to take place before the deepest Polititians of State or grand Rabbies of the Law or Gospel worldly wisdome and humane learning are both usefull and expedient when they concur with Scripture not against it It was the argument of the Jews against our Saviour and his Apostles That the Scribes Pharises and great ones beleeved not on him the Papists urged the like that all the learned Doctors and oh 7. 48. profoundest schollars throughout the Christian world were of their opinion against Luther and the first Reformers and although we all acknowledge of how little account and force this argument was then yet is it now as much stood upon and altogether as weakly grounded even by the greatest part of Reformed Churches against such as yet strive for and endeavour only a further Reformation surely if such would but consider of what low condition and meane estate the Apostles were they Act. 4. 13. Matth. 4. 18. 21. would never think the worse of truth because it was held out unto them by men of most inferiour ranke and quality this would make such as are Scripture wise to thinke the better of it for who are likeliest to have spiritualll things discovered to them then such as are spirituall themselves and who likeliest to be spirituall then such as are poore base and abject both in the eyes of others and their owne opinions Surely St. Paul speaks plaine to this purpose when he saies Not many wise men after the 1 Cor. 1. 26 27 28. flesh not many mighty not many noble are called But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty and base things of the world and things which are despised hath God chosen And againe where is the wise where is the scribe where is the disputer of Ver. 20. the world hath not God made foolish the wisdome of this world And to the Corinthians he gives a reason why God made use of men of such low ranke and esteem in the world to be the chiefest instruments of propagating the Gospel when he sayes We have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellencie of the power may be of God and not of us 2 Cor. 4. 7. And in another place he saies Christ sent me to preach the Gospel not with wisdome of words lest the crosse of Christ should be made of none effect 1 Cor. 1. 17. If these passages of Scripture with sundry others were seriously considered by a minde prepared to submit to Gods good will and pleasure what ever it were when it should be discovered unto him such a soule would not be swayd and led a way with any carnall priviledges or worldly circumstances how plausible soever since all such are but vanity and vexation of spirit as the wise man assures us evidence of Eccles 1. 2. 14. Scripture is that only which ought to be our guide in what we do or say our supreame rule or touchstone to make triall of what we heare or see according whereunto if we proceed whatsoever be alledged to the contrary we may cleerly finde That persecution for matters of Religion does plainly crosse so many places of Scripture murders so many of Gods Saints and so much hinders the propagation of the Gospel as no other erronious tenet or heresie whatsoever for if the Gospel had but a free passage and the true Professours liberty to teach and publish it this only as a sovereigne remedy and counter poyson would prevaile against all heresies unlesse you will grant that errour may possibly vanquish truth and though our owne fond fancies should suggest never so many inconveniences to ensue thereon we ought to rest satisfied with so great a manifestation of Gods revealed will no waies attempting any thing or cleaving to such opinions which either directly or by rationall consequence and induction may hinder the preaching of the Gospel to all Nations If Kings or States may lawfully enact a Religion or settle any point of faith to be beleeved and practised by force and virtue of a new law then ought all subjects to be conformable thereunto and so become lyable to change and alter their Religion so often as the State and chiefest Councell of the Land shall deem just and requisite for as our predecessours could not make a law to binde their successours irrevocably or Note longer then they pleased themselves in civill matters much lesse in what concerns the Conscience so neither can we that are now living engage our posterity in any act but what they may repeal at pleasure with the same liberty and power by which it was made since the whole Kingdome being a body politicke indowed with a supremacie cannot have greater or lesse power over it selfe at one time then another wherefore since it is our duty to think very reverently of Laws and Acts when once established by the highest Court yet if we consider that they themselves doe not assume infallibility that both they Synods and chiefe Generall Councells have thought it expedient and just to repeal alter and sometimes enact Laws concerning Discipline and Doctrine quite contrary to their predecessours by which means a people in their life time have been compelled to change Religion twice or thrice my humblest desires beg leave to prostrate themselves in meeknesse and most submissive manner unto the three estates in Parliament That all former acts which countenance persecution for matters of Religion may be repealed and Liberty of Conscience which is the greatest liberty the Gospel brings restored lest whilest the prevailing party of Protestants in England think it lawfull to force other Protestants because lesse in number and differing from them in opinion to change Religion God in justice permit Papists to doe the like with Protestants in Ireland as well for our sins as their owne to the further desolation of both Kingdomes FINIS