Selected quad for the lemma: world_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
world_n	darkness_n	light_n	shine_v	11,650	5	9.6082	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A62880	A faithful vvarning to all backsliders, who hold the truth in vnrighteousness, for to return to the Lord and cleave to the light which leadeth out of darkness	Tompkins, Anthony, d. 1699.	1668 (1668)	Wing T1829; ESTC R10283	9,718	11

A Faithfull VVARNING TO ALL BACKSLIDERS Who hold the Truth in Vnrighteousness FOR To return to the Lord and cleave to the Light which leadeth out of Darkness IT is now in my heart to discover unto you the manner of my falling from the Truth notwithstanding I had tasted of the Lords Love and did come in measure to see what was laid up for them that love him in his appearance VVH●n the time of Trials came on that the Lords People were carried to Prison the reasoning part got up in me the which the Enemy soon joyned with shewing me the danger that might happen if I went to Meetings that then I should or might be put into a Prison then as I said the reasoning part got up insomuch that I began to take care for my Wife and Children and Family considering the weak capacity of my Wife she being altogether uncapable of mannaging my Trade it must of necessity fail which Friends I would have you to take notice this was whilst the reasoning part was gotten up which when that began first to enter if I had stood in that which did discover it not to be of God my heart had been kept clean but joyning to the evil that caused the Lords Presence to be withdrawn then did the Devil transform himself into an Angel of light shewing me that Friends did not do so well as the Infidels did for they took care of their Families then the thoughts of this began to minister to me a false peace insomuch that I became one that did weaken the weak and to lay a stumbling-block in their way so then when I had done this yet had I no peace but was still condemned in my Conscience then the transformed Angel had another way signifying to me that I might be serviceable in my b●●ng forth of Prison for I might go and serve the Body of Friends which did for a little while satisfie but yet the Lords Love was such that he shewed me that was not enough but had I should go to the Meetings and bear my Testimony for God who caused the Light to shine and had shined into my heart which gave me to understand my duty towards God and man a●d walked in it and obeyed it But when I had thoughts of obeying the Will of the Lord then would my Wives tears flow from her eyes which drew me to be tender to her and not standing in the Cross I came more and more to lose my portion Then the Devil drew me to acquaint my self with those that did also flee the Cross and we began to daub our selves with untempered Morter and so grew light and vain and so come to speak our own words and to think our own thoughts and to do our own work and so become rebelious Children unto him that was our Father whilst we obeyed the Light in our hearts which shewed our duty towards God but we re●using to obey it the Enemy came amongst us and sowed his seed and so here was a waring in us for victory insomuch that we or I had no peace but continually filled with trouble at the very time when I was jesting and jearing the Light in my heart did condemn me and at my lying down or at my rising up I was so condemned that I had some breathings towards the Lord for to desire forgiveness and was ready to cry unto the Lord Father forgive me but before the word Father was uttered the Lords Witness would arise in my heart and shew me that I was not to call God Father for I had done the will of the Devil which caused me to remember what was said of some that was calling God Father and was doing the works of the Devil and I was out of the redeemed state as well as they but as for my dealing amongst men I have very little to charge my self with but can truly say as to that point I kept my self very much unspotted of the World and ●isplaid had some respect for the same of the Truth and could not endure to hear the Truth evil spoken of although I was in a great measure departed from it So by my plain dealing among men I was esteemed with many up and down the Country my name was famous insomuch that my Trade did much increase so that I came to be very much hurried in the World which did choak the Seed more and more and so became worse and worse so the god of the World blinded the mind that when I would have done the will of God something or other lay in the way which did hinder so Death and Darkness came to reign and to rule and have the preheminence insomuch that the Light which did shine once in me came to be darkned so then that wicked Prince began to reign over the Seed and kept it in bondage which would have reigned over the Devil had it been obeyed as it ought to have been for I could and did witness it so once but by disobedience I became a Captive to the Devil to do his will in a great measure But yet had there not been a Seed I may say I might have been as Sodom or made like unto Gomorrah but I can say I was kept out of the practice of many things which at some times was almost or altogether concluded in my mind to act therefore who is like unto the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob who left us a Seed or else what had become of me in this apostatising state When I was first convinced of the Truth and Living Way then accounted I all but dross and dung in comparison of Christ the Way the Truth and the Life insomuch that the Lord was pleased to manifest himself unto me in his Way which was by Christ the Light that lighteth every one that comes into the World so as I come to the Light of Jesus I come to see that I had done amiss in giving money to the Parish Priest whose Doctrine I could not own I had been a hearer of those people called Baptists before I came to hear Truth declared by the Servant of the Lord Edward Borough at which time when I went to hear him I went not to hear the despised people called Quakers so as to receive their Doctrine but rather gaze at them to see their manner when I first came in he that went with me seemed to be very much dissatisfied with what my dear Friend layed down for which cause he spake unto me my answer was to him I had heard nothing but what was truth at which time I come away when the Meeting was parted or the Friends one from each other with joy which I knew not how to express but coming to a Relations house I declared to the Woman that I had heard the Truth declared and that I did never know the way to which I could witness satisfaction but in this Way which was that there was the Light of Christ

thou Lord spoke unto me to the informing of me just as a man doth his Friend all but the sound of the tongue Oh what a Father have I what a God have we that pardoneth sin and transgression in us though we have rebelled and done despite to his Spirit of Grace in resisting it in its appearance which would have taught us to have denied all ungodliness and worldly lusts and to have lived godly and righteously in this present world Oh Lord thy Love is never to be forgotten what shall separate thee from us O Lord shall tribulation shall persecution nay Lord in thee is my strength thou art my Captain thou hast gathered me from off the barren Mountains thou hast pluckt me out of the horrible pit out of the mire and clay thou hast set my feet upon a Rock thou hast established my goings this can I say Lord thou knowest the Covenant that I have made with thee it is in thy Wisdom I write and in thy Stength of my self I cannot do it but thou art my chief Captain thou art my Strength thou art my Fortress therefore I give thee the glory who is worthy of all thanks all the praise for ever When thou camest unto me as I lay upon my bed thou didst shew me that there was yet a door of Mercy open if I would return did it not then arise in my heart Speak Lord thy Servant heareth glory be unto thee who hath caused the Light of thy self to appear in me who was in bondage to sin and to the power of darkness which is the Devil who is the God of the World and ruleth in the children of disobedience praises be unto thee whose presence is with me who art my Strength and doest put me upon this great work which is of weighty concernment for there he many Gazers at me and us who are wise in the comprehending part they would be glad to have me to write my own words but I am in the Will of my God who is my Guide who leadeth me into all Truth not to write any thing that is in my own will but what I do is in the will of the Lord insomuch that the mouthes of some will be stopped which otherwise would be apt to say I did it in my own will to be seen of men but the Lord knoweth my heart I have no reservation at all in my mind but that my God may be glorified and my Soul comforted and strengthened that I may never grow faint or weary but still press forward toward the mark which is set before me which is the end of Gods calling me out of darkness into his marvellous Light and this doth arise in my heart that whither soever these lines may come which were written in the fear of the Lord and in obedience unto his Name that they be not read in a mind that is filled with prejudice let all of that be removed as it is out of me at the writing hereof the Lords Love is raised in me which doth cause me to write to inform all that there is yet a day of mercy held forth for all that will come out from among those that are resisting the Counsel of the Lord yea those that resisteth his Will and are doing the will of the Devil I bear my Testimony for the Lord there is yet a day of mercy If you will return unto him he will return unto you and he will heal your backslidings and remember your sins no more Therefore be encouraged for I was as bad as some of you yet the Lord hath appeared to me by his Light which never consenteth to sin this as is heeded and obeyed it will lead unto the Father For none cometh unto the Father but by the Son who is the Way the Truth and the Life nor doth any come unto the Son but whom the Father draweth So in love to all have I took my pen in hand who am of my self altogether insufficient but God hath hath hid those things from the wise and prudent and hath revealed them to Babes and Sucklings that his Name may be glorified and your Souls comforted for ever praises be unto my God for ever and for ever world without end Amen saith my Soul And by me this is written in the simplicity of my heart without any self end the Lord knoweth my heart therefore let all be carefull of speaking evil of what they know not lest in so doing they should offend This being all I find of necessity to write at this time I rest in the Love of my Father who hath in measure begotten me again unto himself and hath caused me to make a covenant with him never to leave him but to follow him through good report and through evil report knowing that I shall reap if I faint not for it is they that indure to the end that shall be saved This in pure love to all who are yet resisting the Light in their Consciences to warn them to return whilst it is day for it is to day if you will hear the Lords voice in you harden not your hearts as they did in the old World who lived in pleasure marrying and giving in marriage till the Flood came and swept them away all but Nōah and eight persons as the Scriptures of Truth doth declare Oh Father who is sufficient for these things I could not do this without thy Presence without thy Counsel without thy assistance Lord take thou the glory who art worthy of all and none besides thee of all praises and thanksgiving now and for evermore Amen Written in the true fear of the Lord by me his Servant Anthony Tompkins The 2d day of the 11th Moneth 68. THE END