Selected quad for the lemma: life_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
life_n	believe_v	word_n	world_n	4,311	5	4.7234	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47127	The benefit, advantage and glory of silent meetings both as it was found at the beginning, or first breaking forth of this clear manifestation of truth, and continues so to be found by all the faithful and upright in heart at this day / writ for the stirring up and encouraging of those more especially who are lately convinced unto the love of them, and diligent improving them unto those ends and uses for which they serve by George Keith.	Keith, George, 1639?-1716.; Crisp, Stephen, 1628-1692.	1687 (1687)	Wing K145; ESTC R29891	18,469	27

THE Benefit Advantage and Glory of Silent Meetings BOTH As it was found at the beginning or first breaking forth of this clear manifestation of Truth and continues so to be found by all the Faithful and Upright in Heart at this Day Writ for the stirring up and encouraging of those more especially who are lately Convinced unto the love of them and diligent improving them unto those ends and uses for which they serve By George Keith LONDON Printed by Andrew Sowle in the Year 1687. The Benefit Advantage and Glory of Silent Meetings BEfore the breaking forth of this clear manifestation of Truth that now shineth in great Brightness and Glory which began in the Nation of England some twenty six Years ago or so there was many People both in that Nation and elsewhere in whom there was some true desires and breathings raised and begot after the Lord by the secret workings of his Eternal Power insomuch that many in that day began to seek the Lord in great Earnestness and Zeal upon whom he had caused his Light so far to shine forth that thereby they came to see their Poverty Nakedness and Emptiness notwithstanding of the large and much Profession which they had made in divers Sects and also by the same they came to see their want of the living God though they had learned a notional and litteral knowledg of him from them who spoke weakly upon the Scriptures what they had gathered from the Letter by their Hammerings and Toolings upon them and so it came to pass that many who were diligent and zealous followers of these Ministers of the Letter through these dawnings of the Light of God and Christ which began to appear in them became to weary and tire of that ministration they were under which was at best but that of the Letter and for most part also had much of Falshood and Untruth mixed in with it from the Worlds Spirit and Wisdom so that their Doctrine had neither the sound Words of Truth nor the Virtue and Life of Truth to make it Savoury and Nourishing into the Souls of the People so that many come to loath and refuse it for it appeared unto them no better then as Dead Corrupted Water yea as the Waters of Egypt that became Blood which they loathed to drink off and the same People who began to loath the Doctrine and Ministry of the National Priesthood and also of others who pretended more finding it both Dead and Corrupt they found great perpexity and heaviness of Mind as not knowing what to do whether to go they were pressed in Spirit to leave and forsake the Dead and corrupt Ministry they were formerly under as finding it hurtful yea killing for the Letter killeth but they knew not where to find the living and true Ministery which might administer unto them that which could answer unto the living desires of their Souls and could Satisfie and Nourish them at the same time there were divers in divers Parts who had some inward true and Living openings and Manifestations of Truth but they were not come to a Clear and Sound State and Condition in their own particulars nor to a clear discerning of the Manifestations and workings of Truth from their own imaginations And from the Enemies transformings and likenesses yet in this uncleanness unsoundness they went forth and spoke and declared and Preached and Writ many things which because they did in part issue or proceed from the Light of Truth were much taking into their hungring seeking Souls who had left the Dead and tastless Ministery they were formerly under and so because there was somewhat in the Words or Declaration of these men which did partly answer unto the Witness and truth of God in their hearts they began much to look after them follow and hear them and drink in their Doctrine even as the parched and dry Land drinketh in the Rai● of a Summer shower yet this came to prove much unto the great hurt and loss both of these Teachers and also of them who gave up to be taught by them For their Ministery not standing in that cleanness and soundness either of Doctrine or Spirit as was needful it could not but prove as unwholsom and hurtful food especially seeing there was not that discerning begot in People whereby they could make a clear difference betwixt the pure and the impure that which was of God and that which was but of Man and of the Enemy betwixt the pure and clean Grains and the Tares for indeed in their Ministry they did not sow altogether clean Grain but many noisom Tares with it and that in much more abundance then the true Wheat and the Tares sprung up and choaked the good Seed and hindered it so the good Seed withered in many and in many others was in a decaying and withering condition but the Tares waxed great and flourished and as for those Teachers who went forth as to sow for most part it proved most to their own loss and prejudice for not being brought into a cleanness and soundness in their own particular Condition neither as to Doctrine nor Spirit the Serpent who beguiled the Woman betrayed the simplicity in them and so through his subtilty drew them forth still further and further from the true openings of Truth which at sometimes were opened in them truly from the Lord out into their own vain imaginations and apprehensions and also into the Enemies transformings and likenesses whereby the tender dawnings and breakings forth of Truth became to be vailed and clouded in them and the Darkness prevailed to blind the Eye which had received some half opening and so their latter condition was worse then the first yea many of them became worse then others as unsavoury Salt having run out from the Sence and Savour of that which Savoured them in some Measure and thereby gave occasion of offence unto many People for some of these aforesaid having run out from the Measure of Truth in their own particulars vented and published both in Words and Writing Gross Unsound and Pernicious Doctrines and others of them became loose and desolate in their lives all which the Enemies of Truth charged upon Truth it self and spoke evil of the Way of it unto many Simple People who too much believed them and so were scared and offended even at the appearance of Truth it self And about the same time the People even those of them for most part who were most tender Ingenious and Zealous through a weakness of understanding and because of the customary Way they had been used to had too much an Eye to Words and too much a Life in them for they could not meet together but some behoved to speak in Doctrine Exhortation or Prayer c. Otherwise they would have thought the Time mis-spent so much as passed away of it without Words for their minds were much drawn forth seeking satisfaction and refreshment in outward Words Practices and

Observations which yet they found not but both their Words and Practices for most part proved their Burden and they Groaned under them and yet they knew not what to do for they saw no way how either to Worship God or profit their own Souls or one another but as they thought was in Words or outward Practises and Observations and yet they missed the Kingdom which they in some true Measure desired and so were scattered abroad as in Divers Flocks and Companies like Sheep without a Shepherd seeking the true Fold and Pasture but not finding it And the Lord who had Pity upon them of Old whom he beheld as Sheep without a Shepherd and whose Bowels Yearned over them in the same Yearnings of Bowels extended his tendrr Mercies and Compassion into these who at that time had Tender Breathings and desires raised in them after himself and to know and Worship Him aright and in the acceptable Way and he prepared Messengers and seat among them in a needful and acceptable time who having attained unto the soundness and clearness in their own Condition both as to Doctrine and Spirits through the Power and Grace of the Lord with and upon them which others before them as aforesaid were not come into Preached the glad Tidings of the Gospel in Purity and Soundness upon a People whom the Lord had prepared to receive them as he had prepared them to Minister to them the first Principles whereof were to this purpose or effect That what was to be known of God was manifest within that the Kingdom of God was to be sought after and found within by every Man in a Heavenly Seed and Principle which was of God in every Man the Word near in the Mouth and in the Heart that God Christ was to be sought within found received and enjoyed within in the Measure of the Light wherewith he did enlighten every one that comes into the World and that whoever do truly believe in God and in Christ must believe in the Light wherewith Christ did enlighten them who is given of God a Light to lighten the Gentiles and the People and who so believe in the Light which convinceth of sin judgeth and reproveth it in thought Word and deed come to receive life by it and be made alive unto God so as to have a Sence of his Divine Power and Vertue and to see him and behold him and enjoy him and have fellowship with him in which Life they come to receive Power over Death Sin and Darkness and in the same they come to receive the true knowledge of God and Christ and the things pertaining to his Kingdom and therein and therefrom and thereby they come to receive right thoughts and apprehensions of God and also the right and sound Words which are fit to be spoken of him and concerning him and his Way and Kingdom and which thoughts and Words had a manifestation of his heavenly Life and Vertue in them as they were received in the Living and Eternal Word near and in the Heart and so that all thinking or speaking of God or to him or the things of his Kingdom behoved to have this rise the Word Light and Life of God in the heart otherwise they were all wrong dead and unsavoury and so neither acceptable unto God or profitable either unto the speakers or hearers and in like manner all practices and works which are not wrought in this Principle the Light Life and Spirit of God within are but dead and unprofitable Works and Fruits of Death and Darkness as not having the Life of God for their Rise Spring and Original and so the first beginning of the Ministry in great part was in the Life and Power of God to call off people from all their dead and dark thoughts Words and Works as to God and his Way and Worship which were not brought forth in the Life and Light of God in the Heart were not thought in the Life spoken in the Life done and practiced in the Life as being all but false unsound unprofitable and unacceptable and as the sound and clear Ministration g●ven them in the Light and Life of God was to call people off from all the thoughts Words and Works of Death and darkness so was it also to call them off and turn them from the Darkness it self unto the Light which lighted every one of them and from Death unto the Word of Life nigh unto every one and which would give Life unto every one who became turned towards it in the drawings and Vertue thereof and this was the clear and Sound Ministration which the Apostles received from Christ and particularly Paul who was sent unto the Gentiles to turn them from Darkness into Light and from the Power of Satan unto God which Ministration as it was greatly Blessed of God in the primitive times unto that effect so was it and is it in this our Day the Work of Labour and Love of him whom the Lord sent as the first of many others who came after did greatly prosper though in much contradiction into many who opposed some through Ignorance and others through Malice whereby in a small time many out of Divers Sects and Professions came to be turned into the Light and be convinced of it and by it that it was the very saving Light of Christ Jesus notwithstanding of all that Priests or Professors said or disputed to the contrary for the Ministration had that Light and Evidence Life and Authority yea Power Dominion of Truth in it which even by a Spiritual compulsion forced an assent in the Hearts of many and the Measure of Truth which was Clouded and Vailed in many came to be reached unto through this Ministration so as to answer unto it to the sufficient convincement of these in whom it is thus answered And as for them who came to be clearly and soundly reached so as to feel the Power and Life of God in the Ministration reach into the Measure and Seed of Truth in their own particulars O what a Day and Time it was unto them that was even such a Day as they had never the like of it before nor in some Sence after it for it was a Day unto them both of Joy and Heaviness Comfort and Sorrow Light and Darkness Life and Death their Joy and their Comfort was in the Morning Dawnings of the Beauty and Glory of God which begun somewhat to appear in the Light as they became turned towards it but their heaviness was in that they began to find the exceeding sinfulness of sin and how to feel themselves so hedged and compassed about with intanglements and hindrances both within and without but more especially within to stop them from entring into the new and living and perfect way of God which began to be revealed in the Light insomuch that they came to see that these things which they formerly counted gain were now Dung and loss unto them and that which they

Dominion whereby his Life hath had its course through all that Darkness that stood in the way to the reaching the weak and small measures of Life in the others and so by its Influence quickening and strengthening Life in every particular till it was raise● over all that stood in its way and all were abundantly Refreshed Comforted and Quickened and such through the Goodness and Providence of God are sent unto others or raised up among them to be unto them as Nursing Fathers and Stewards and Shepherds unto whom as it were the Keys of the Kingdom were given that may open it unto others not but that it is possible to be opened even without all Instruments from without yea the Service and Benefit of Instruments fitted and prepared of God hath been and is found to be great unto the more abundant opening of it and helping the Weak and Feeble unto the more ready and easie entrance into it wherefore such cannot but be dearly Loved and Honoured in the Truth for their Works sake and because of that excellent measure of Life in them which hath such universal Influence and Service unto all And though the Unity and Fellowship of the Children of Light and Truth doth not simply consist in their outward Nearness Company or Presence for that though at never so great an outward Distance their Unity remains in that Spirit which reacheth over and through all yet it is certain that even their being together in the outward when they are gathered in the Name of Christ as aforesaid as in the particular measure of his Life and Light made manifest in them doth greatly conduce and contribute to increase and strengthen their Unity and to make their Fellowship and Communion of Life the more sensible as is known and witnessed by certain experience for that when they are outwardly present Life hath and oppertunity to convey it self unto one another by an through the natural Spirit and the very Face of one sharpneth another as Iron doth Iron for where Life is rased in the Heart it hath its Image on the very Face or Countenance which by a secret Vertue reacheth unto others Yea not only doth Life convey it self and its pure influence through the Voice and Sight but even through the taking one another by the Hand where it is done in pure and undefiled Love and by the laying on of Hands also as was witnessed in the Primitive Times so that those who were indued with a large measure of the Life and Spirit of God whilthey laid Hands on them who Believed Vertue went forth from that force and strength of Life in them an● reached unto these on whome Hands were laid whereby they came to feel the Life to be raised in their own particulars and the Power of the Holy Ghost to fall or break forth upon them as even so it is witnessed at this Day in and among the Children of Truth through the form●r formality of laying on of Hands that is in the false Church which hath only the empty and bare imitation is not regarded And thus now it being showed how great an Advantage and Benefit the Children of Light and Truth have in their Meeting together through the Communication of Life yea from all to every one and from one to all and that without all Words as well as with them the Benefit and Advantage of their meeting together even in Silence cannot but be manifest and this serves to answer that common Objection used by many who say We may sit silent at Home and wait in silence in our own Houses and so be as much edified a● to come to a silent Meeting where nothing is spoke for our Instruction or Learning to which I say nay if your outward Liberty and Health can permit you to come and yet you come not but stay at home you cannot Profit nor be Edified so much at home though you should give your selves to waiting in silence as by coming to the Meeting of the Lords People and waiting together with them in silence first because to meet together is the Ordinance of God which he doth bless yea he hath promised that where two or three do meet together in his Name he will be in the midst of them and this promise is to meeting simply in his Name though there should be no Speaking among them but secondly because as is said through that universal influence of Life which the whole Meeting hath upon every particular Life to raise and refresh and strengthen Life in every particular th●refore it is manifest that it is more profitable and edifying to wait with others where oppertunity can be had then alone for while we wait with others we become a strength and help unto one another in waiting which many can seal the truth of by certain experience who have found much more ready and easie access and entrance to wait upon the Lord and a much more freedom of Mind from vain Thoughts and Encumbrances while they were waiting with others then while alone as also many has been Convinced and brought to the knowledg of the Truth by coming to Silent Meetings and seeing as is showed that Life doth readily most prevail abound while they wait together surely these occasions cannot but be the more Edifing and Profitable when rightly improved for when Life is most raised and doth most prevail and abound in the Heart then a man hath the best opertunity to feel the operation of it in him to work and purge out the old Nature and Spirit with the Works thereof and to leven him into a new lump so as to mould and transform him unto its own pure Similitude and Image And so these who came together to meet after this manner in Silence so that they would sit together many hours in a deep Silence and Quietness came to sind great Benefit and Advantage in them yea and a great Glory though such Meetings became the Worlds wonder and natural and dark spirited men did scorn and deride them as they do unto this day yet the Children of Truth found them and do find them the most Profitable and Edifying Meetings that ever they were at where all Flesh is made Silent and the Lamb alone is waited for to appear in his Temple and speak forth his holy Mind Will and Counsel in such Vessels as are fitted and prepared of him and those who met together in this Silence where at that time perhaps not one in the Meeting had a Mouth opened or utterance gave them in the Life and Spirit of God came in due time to receive the opening of the Mouth in a very large and powerful and glorious manner as continues unto this day with them who yet remain alive in the Body and now many have received an opening of the Mouth and come to witness the Word of Life sprung up in great Power and Glory to the putting Words into their Mouths which are Spirit and Life that Minister Grace largely

unto the Hearers and are a Sweet and Precious Savour and Odour unto God even a Sacrifice of a sweet Smell and so they witnessed the Promise fulfilled unto them upon the matter though the many Tongues and Languages with other circumstantial things be not as the Disciples did who were commanded to tarry at Ierusalem and wait for the Promise of the Father which was the pouring forth and effusion of the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit and Life of God upon them and they wait so it came to pass that on the day of Penticost being assembled together with one accord they were filled therewith and began to speak forth the wonderous things of God as they felt them in their Hearts and as the Spirit gave them utterance And seeing they were not commanded to Speak Preach nor Pray nor Sing but in the Name of Christ that is in his Life Spirit and Power as it moved them it is manifest at times the Disciples or Christians in the Primitive Times had Silence among them as we now have seeing they were not to Speak but when the Life moved and surely there were among them who did not always feel the motion of Life to Speak nor were always in a Capacity or Condition for Speaking and though now since the glorious increase and growth of Truth few Meettings have some or other to whom a Ministry in Words is given more or less so that seldom or rarely Meetings are under a necessity to be wholy Silent from first to last yet because of the great Advantage and Benefit and Glory that is found in them Friends are many times willing and desirous to sit down and feed together in Silence upon the heavenly and invisible Life so as to reach unto one another in the Communications of Life and feel the States and Conditions of one another therein in Silence and enjoy that secret and hid Fellowship together which the World knoweth not so as even to be silent though both a Liberty and Ability in the Life may be present with divers where no pressure no pressing occasion is found to utter Words which indeed hath a great Glory in it that People should Converse together in Spirit and deep Silence and without all Words Now among divers great an 〈…〉 d Advantages and Benefits which they who came to be Convinced did find in the sitting down together to wait in silence there were some that in the silence their Minds being turned towards the Light and Life of God which had appeared to them they came to find their Mindes stayed therein and thereby for a great and mighty Power broke forth in the Light unto which their Minds were turned and did gather their Minds into it more and more whereby they came to know a being Planted and Grounded and Rooted and Setled and Established in the Truth and in the Light and Life and Spirit and Power thereof and so they came to be gathered out of all the Tossings and Waverings of Mind and out of all the Incumbrances and Wandrings into Stability and Steaddiness in the Truth which was even as to be delivered from a Stormy and Tempestuous Sea and brought to dry Land and thus also they came to be gathered out of all their own Thoughts and Imaginations and uncertain Conjectures and Guessings concerning the things of God and Religion into the clear and certain manifestation of Truth by which also they came to receive an inward discerning so as to distinguish make a difference infallibly betwixt things and things in them as to see and know and feel what was of God and what was not of him but of Man or of Satan and so as they waited in this silence their minds being turned towards the Lord they could discern the right and wrong Spirit and the Work and motion of each and came to see what was to be Kept and Spared and what was to be Denied what was to be preserved Alive and Cherished and Nourished and what was to be Slain and Famished and Starved and so in the Silence they came to find the pure Judgment of the Lord to pass over and through all in them as the Refiners Fire which purifieth the Glod and Silver but consumeth the Dross and maketh a clear Separation and the Power of the Lord God was found and felt to work mightily in them for the breaking down and Killing and Consuming and Destroyed every Evil Thing and Work which had place in them and removing and taking out of the way whatever Clouded or Vailed or Burthened the pure Life to arise and shine forth and so the Mountains which were raised over the Seed and burthened it came to be shaken yea the Earth and the Heavens by which these bodily Quakings and Tremblings did also seize upon divers and from this the Name Quakers was in scorn cast upon Friends that the Mountain of the Lord might be raised up a top of them all and so through the mighty working of Gods Power which was revealed in the Light to which their minds were turned in silence they came to be brought out of the mixture wherein they stood formerly into a clearness and soundness of Condition in the Truth both as to Spirit and Judgment in their own particulars and so they came to a clear and sound understanding of the things of God of Truth Religion and the way of Worship and to have clear and sound Thoughts and Apprehensions of them which did purely and clearly arise in the Light in which their minds became stayed and so in due time a pure and clear ministration in Words was given unto many of them so that they preached pure sound clear Doctrine in a pure and clear manifestation of Life unto which pure Ministration many came to be brought who had a Ministration formerly among People of divers Sects and Opinions which stood in the mixture aforesaid that was not clear Grain and Food and therefore hurt both themselves and others but being gathered together unto thi● pure Ministration which they received by sitting down to wait upon the Lord to learn together in silence with all subjection the pure and clear and perfect knowledg of things they came both to be saved themselves and to be made instrumental to save many others And so in silence they came to receive these many precious openings and discoveries of Truth and Religion and the Scriptures were largely and purely opened unto them concerning these many things which are the matters of Difference between the Friends and Children of Truth and the Priests and Professors and these together with many precious and excellent Gifts of the Spirit and also much inward Peace Joy Refreshment and Consolation in the holy Spirit and much increase of Life and Grace and Righteousness and much Beauty and Glory and Dominion in the Life were among the Blessed and Glorious Advantages they received in meeting together and waiting together upon the Lord in pure Silence and Stilness and which are all