Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	christian_a	prove_v	true_a	6,151	5	5.4132	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B22558	The Popish labyrinth wherein is made manifest, that the Papists are entangled in the fundamental article of their faith, that the church cannot erre / written in Dutch by ... Dr. Simon Episcopius, unto which is added, The life and death of the author ; as also, The life and death of James Arminius, both of them famous defenders of God	Episcopius, Simon, 1583-1643.; Bertius, Petrus, 1565-1629. Oratio in obitum reverendi & clarissimi viri D. Jacobi Arminii. English.; Chardon de Courcelles, Etienne, 1705-1775? Short and compendious history of Simon Episcopius.	1673 (1673)	Wing E3163	56,195	122

will not recede so much as a fingers breadth from the Opinion they have undertaken to maintain is all one as by Arguments to perswade him the Sun shines who shuts his eyes against the Light thereof and refuseth to see its Light Indeed for their sakes who continually fasten on such kind of Questions as when they be fully discust do yet nevertheless not convince Consciences of the principal Truth to spend much pains and to weary ones self with continual disputing is nothing else but to draw water with a sieve which if one take up out of the water immediately it appeareth empty and void of that Humour or Moysture which it abundantly drew CHAP. II. Of that kind of Papists who will not be taught better Amongst the most of Christians especially the Papists or by which title they love to be called the Catholicks when any Dispute is had with them we ordinarily meet with these two sorts of Men. The first Sort is twofold Some fear not roundly and with full mouth to affirme that they will not be taught better but that they will tooth and nayl and obstinately stick to their own Opinion Insomuch that though they should see with their eyes that the Wall is white yet nevertheless they would believe their Church so believing and judging that it is black because being forced by necessity they find that they must so speak Whereupon although they find by all their Senses that is see smell taste feel hear that the bread in the Eucharist is nothing but bread yet notwithstanding they ought to be willing to believe that it is not bread but only the accident of Bread which cannot be tasted touch'd or smelt Not considering that themselves do by this means give very many cause to doubt of every thing and so to call in question the chief Foundation of the whole Christian Religion that is the Truth of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead which is built on this Foundation that the Apostles and Disciples of Jesus Christ and amongst these Thomas otherwise not over-credulous perceived Jesus Christ with all their senses saw handled heard and veiwed him near to them judging that that very thing ought to be an irrefragable Argument to themselves and to the whole world for to believe that Christ rose from the dead not in shew and appearance but really in his proper body And they indeed call this very thing mens believing those things which they do not see who yet do quite contrary here whilest they do not believe that very thing which they see touch smell hear and taste He that seeth not that this is a great Efficacy of errour he seeth nothing at all and if Thomas had followed this Rule he might by the same Parity of Right have believed that it was not Christ himself whom he beheld before him into whose side he thrust his Hand and his Finger into the Prints of the Nails CHAP. III Of some Papists that cleave so stifly to their own Opinion that they will not give place to any Reason THere are others who seem not on set purpose to be willing or to dare roundly and openly to profess that they will not be taught better yea who protest to the contrary deeming that too gross and rustick a Saying and yet nevertheless they do not obscurely declare when they see their Forces reduced to Straits that they neither can nor ought to yield to a better Opinion much less receive any Information from those whom their Church counts Hereticks and although they perceive themselves in such sort wrapped in that they can give no reason of their Belief or Opinion neither from the Sacred Scriptures nor Councils nor Fathers and that their own Reasons are so solidly and strongly refuted that they may as it were feel with their hands that their Exceptions to the contrary are of no Weight or Force at all yet they defend or maintain their own so obstinately that they will rather perswade themselves that those Arguments though they seem solid and altogether Achillean are more brittle than Glass and do onely deceive under a shew of Reason which others more skilful than themselves would easily and with no trouble solve or answer and so being blinded with a prejudicate Opinion and also led with a Love and Reverence of their Mother the Church they count them meer Sophisms by this means indeed confessing on the one hand their own weakness and on the other hand shewing their singular Constancy or Obstinacy in the Faith of their Church contrary Arguments notwithstanding which press their minds and force them to doubt of their fore-going Belief yea to believe to the contrary We may easily observe that these two Sorts of Men do not seek the Truth with a pious and honest Mind but that they onely hunt after vain Glory and the Praise of Victory gotten by any means whatsoever deeming they have alwayes sufficient Causes of glorying whilest they dare affirm they are not satisfied That the case so stands daily Experience sheweth Nor is it to be wondred at The first and chiefest Article of the Papists is this That their Church cannot err consequently that of all other Churches that differ from their Church we are to conclude that they err and that as long as they persist in their Errour are liable to eternal destruction damnation With whom this foundation doth not remain wholly fixt and unshaken he cannot be a true Papist but if any hold it tooth and nail he openly professeth that he is not willing to be taught better although he shall be convinced of his Errour or if he make shew of some desire to learn yet doth he with his whole Strength and Might maintain his Opinion although the Truth be proposed to him as clearly and resplendently as the Sun-beams are wont to be when the weather is fair and clear This Foundation being laid it necessarily follows that to dispute with a true Papist is fruitless and endless and that it cannot be hoped that such an one should be taken off from his resolution or by Arguments be reduced into the right Way Furthermore a true Papist as he renders himself unmeet to embrace the Truth and to acknowledge his own Errour so doth he unadvisedly cast himself into a Labyrinth or Maze of inextricable absurdities out of which he is utterly unable to extricate or free himself as it frequently useth to befal them who receive not the Love of the Truth that they might be saved as Paul shews 2 Thes 2.10 And this appears more clear than the Noon-dayes Light when any Dispute is undertaken with them even concerning any Point whatsoever of the Christian Religion nor is it necessary in many words to prove it CHAP. IIII. That the Papists cannot show which is that true Church which cannot err THis chief and fundamental Point which they have alwayes in their mouth and on which they chiefly build That the Church of Rome cannot err is a Labyrinth out

and shall not be ungratefull will acknowledge to have exceeding well deserved of the whole Church of Christ Why dost thou take unjustly to thy self a power of condemning thy brother whom the Lord hath commanded thee to love Hear him Neither this man hath sinned nor his parents but these things are done that the works of God may be made manifest Hear him again Judge not that ye be not judged Hear the Apostle It is with me a very small thing that I should be judged of you or of mans judgment He that judgeth me is the Lord Therefore judge nothing before the time untill the Lord come who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the heart And then shall every man have praise of God Art thou so assured of what shall happen to thy self as to know for certain that thou thy self shalt not be tormented with more bitter pain and dolour And yet 't was not his right eye that was amiss neither was it blindness but only a dimness and his arm was not dried up but swelled His tongue truly even to the last moment of his life readily discharged its office Thus things above things below things on the right hand things on the left things divine things humane wait together on these wretched Hierophants Expounders of divine mysteries to serve them when they will There were somes who playing on his name devised Vani orbis amicus i. e. A friend of the vain world as if impiety was not sometime bold to do the same on the sacred name of Christ Go your wayes for beetles the unprofitable things of the world What will ye not attempt to do on the servant who have not spared God himself and the Lord of life But I return to that which I made digression from He although tired with all these evils yet notwithstanding kept a stedfast courage and quiet mind He therefore never abated any thing of the pleasantness and comely gracefulness and accustomed cheerfulness of his countenance and candor of heart his most ardent prayers ascending to God for himself and the concord of the church How frequent how fervent in his sickness were his ejaculations to Jesus Christ What joyes did he promise himself With what perseverance of faith did he expect his last day in the world If the brethren did compose themselves to prayers and he himself was hindred by pain he now and then desired them to stay till he should come to himself that he might together with them perform this brotherly office These few forms of prayers among many more were noted OH great Shepheard of the sheep who by the blood of the everlasting covenant wast brought again from the dead Oh! Lord and Saviour Jesus be present with me thy weak and afflicted sheep Oh Lord Jesus the faithfull and mercifull High priest who wast willing to be tempted in all things like unto us but without sin that thou learning by experience it self how hard it is to obey God in sufferings mightest have compassion on us in our infirmities have pity on me and succour me thy servant who am sick an pressed with many afflictions Oh God of my salvation make my soul fit for thine heavenly kingdom my body for the resurrection Now when upon the increasing of his disease he was admonished by the physicians that by reason of the doubtfullness of his life he would set his house in order and that if any thing were to be given in charge by his last will and testament he would take care to do it he then composed himself for death with such great quietness of mind that friends standing by who had observed the whole manner of his life admired at his so great and so heroick moderation in the last act and they took from him the last example of dying blessedly of whom long before they had learned many things for the well ordering of their lives He then perceiving that the time of his dissolution was at hand and not being ignorant of the Devils stratagems took speciall care when he made his will to give a brief Account of his designs and of his life This because it contains the duty of a faithfull Teacher I shall recite for an Example and for a Testimony Out of his will or Testament BEfore all things I commend my soul when it shall depart out of its body into the hands of God its Creator and faithfull Saviour before whom I witness that I have with a good conscience singly and sincerely walked in my charge and calling taking heed with much solicitousness and carefulness not to propose or teach any thing which I had not found by a diligent search out of the holy Scriptures to agree exactly with the same Scriptures and that I have taught those things which might conduce to the propagation and amplification of the truth the Christian religion the true worship of God common piety and holy conversation among men Lastly to tranquility agreeing to the Christian profession and peace according to the word of God excluding from among these Papacy with which no verity of faith no bond of piety and Christian peace can be kept These things being thus finished some days were spent in the invocation of Christ and in thanksgiving and the meditation of a better life In which time Mr. Jo. Vtenbogardus and Mr. Hadrian Borrius did more frequently visit him then others did Both of them were his old and most faithfull friends But Mr. Borrius was even always present in the daily performance of prayer with his sick friend Now at length on the 19th of October about noon this faithfull servant of God being discharged of his warfare having finished his course fought the good fight kept the faith did render his soul now weary of cares now glutted with the miseries of this world now desiring deliverance now having a fore-tast of the joys of the Saints now seeing Christ his God and redeemer did I say with his eyes lifted up to heaven render quietly among the holy prayers of them that were present his soul to God the Father his creator to the Son his redeemer to the Holy Ghost his sanctifier all crying out Let me dye the death of the righteous Thus even this our Sun did set thus that just man dyed of whom this world was not worthy thus the father of so many prophets was taken away thus James Arminius by the charet of Israel and horsemen thereof was carryed from us into heavenand now is free and delivered from miseryes hath the crown sought for by so many labours by so great holiness and enjoys the heavenly Jerusalem in the great assembly of many thousands of Angels and the Church of the first-born that are written in heaven and he sees the Judge of all and the Spirit of just men made perfect and Jesus the mediator of the new Testament and the blood of sprinkling speaking better then that of Abel But he expecteth

was but willing to hear Christ speaking in Scriptures which by his divine moderation and equinimity we all knew and have by so much the more admired it by how much the further we by the testimony of our own conscience perceive our selves yet to be from these good things Now when the University deprived of her Professors by the death of those famous and excellent men Dr. Junius and Dr. Luke Trelcatius the elder sought for an Hercules that might sustain this Orb which in the mean while that Reverend man Dr. Francis Gomarus being destitute of all his Colleagues did as another Atlas support alone they by the general vote and the publick consent of their country came to Arminius who thinking of nothing less was taking care for the church of Christ at Amsterdam which he had served now fifteen years But when they of Amsterdam profest that they could not be without his endeavours amongst them because as they said they had chiefly him by whom they might oppose the growing monsters of heresies it cannot be spoken how great then the consternation of good men was They variously deliberate and advise no stone is left unturned The Curatours of our University viz. most noble Dousa and Neostadius went themselves in the publick name together with that most honourable man Nicholaus Zeystius the Syndick of our Common-wealth To the same end Mr. Jo. Vtembogardus Pastor of the Church at the Hague was sent by the most illustrious Prince and also Nicholaus Cromhousius out of the supream Court All these after a diverse manner did earnestly move and perswade the most prudent Senate of this Common wealth and the Consistorie of the Pastors and Elders At length by many labours intreaties and also the intercession it self of most illustrious Prince it was hardly obtain'd that he should be dismissed from Amsterdam and serve the University Nevertheless petty Rumours of suspicions which most commonly are wont to subvert the best endeavours did withstand him against which he set the shield of his innocency and candour and learning Trusting in this he confidently expected the blessing of God in that which was behind This matter therefore being heard and debated at the Hague before the Lords Curators in the presence of some grave Divines it was found That those suspicions were ill supported and that there was no cause why any one should have an ill opinion of that faithf●ll servant of Christ for they found that he used the allowed liberty of prophesying in the Church had taught nothing which was contrary to the Christian religion He then first obtained in this University with the good liking of God and men the degree of a Doctor which in the year 1603 that reverend man Dr. Francis Gomarus conferred on him here in this very place Thus then James Arminius succeeded Francis Junius the Curators so commanding it And that nothing might be wanting here to his credit and authority by reason of those things that had been given out at Amsterdam it pleased the Ecclesiastical Presbyters to commend him to all godly honest and learned men by adorning him at his departure with a very fair testimony which soundeth thus The Testimony of the Church at Amsterdam If the reason it self of equity in the common society of men was willing long since to have it establish'd for a law That they should be judged worthy of a singular good commendation and more honourable testimony of truth who had any where very well merited of the common-wealth they much more are worthy of this honour who labouring in the word of God have been for many years Ministers of the holy Gospel with singular fruit and praise in the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ Wherefore sith that Mr. Dr. James Arminius a Reverend brother in the Lord hath now requested this same of us we said that we must by no means deny it him Therefore we would by this writing testifie to all and every one that the very great integrity of both the unblameable life and sound doctrine and manners of the forenamed worthy man and to us all a most dear companion in the Lord hath now by long acquaintance been so well perceived and tryed by us that there is nothing of more account with us than always to enjoy his counsell labour familiarity and intimacy and to maintain that friendship which now for a long time hath been between us But secing the most blessed and almighty God seems to have appointed another thing concerning him and us we have cause of giving very great thanks to the Lord our God for that very great benevolence oi his towards us and this our whole Church hitherto through which it hath come to pass that we can with very great delight see and perceive fruits not to be repented of from the study and labour of the foresaid our very dear fellow-labourer in the Vineyard of Christ which he hath with us unweariedly and cheerfully undergone here among ours We all confess with a most willing heart that we are in all things indebted to this our dearly beloved brother in the Lord for his alacrity in continuing with us in the same parts of his function and for his very ready Councel communicated to us whensoever we desire it Wherefore that we may briefly say all in a word because his very great both piety and probity and his singular learning seems after a sort by their proper right to challenge it to themselves we so commend to all godly vertuous and learned men this honourable Gentleman and our most reverend brother in Christ that with greater affection and more heartily we are not able to commend Dated in our Consistory at Amsterdam September 8th 1603. In the name of all John Vrsinus Minister of the Divine Word c. President of the Consistory John Hallius Preacher at Amsterdam John Halsbergius Pastor of the same Church Yea and the whole Classis gave to him their commendatorie Letters which thus run The Testimon of the Classis of Amsterdam To all and every one that shall read or hear this our present Testimony Salvation and Peace through the only Mediator Christ Because the most accomplished and learned man Mr. James Arminius hath by the illustrious and for learning most famous Lords Curators of the University of Leyden been called from the holy Ministry which now for many years he hath discharged with very great commendation in the Church at Amsterdam to the publick profession of sacred Theology and hath been inaugurated publickly thereunto we were willing at his departure to commend him to the same Curators and to all vertuous men by this our present writing although but little and to honour him by our Testimony as the manner is We therefore the servants of Jesus Christ together with the Elders of the same Classis of Amsterdam do testifie that the foresaid Mr. Dr. Arminius has been now fifteen years a member of our Classis in which time he hath taught with much fruit sound Doctrine

purely administred the Sacraments according to the Lords institution and propagated with great zeal the true and Christian Religion and by his diligent presence hath always adorned our Classical meeting also by his prudent Counsel hath with others composed matters hard and of great moment hath always readily sustained all imposed burthens that respected the Churches Edidification and hath by honesty and goodness of life adorned to this very day his holy calling In a word he hath shewed himself such both in his holy Office and in his manner of life towards all as becomes a true servant of Christ that we give to him very great and immortal thanks for his benevolence and humanity towards us by which he hath embrac'd every one of us We therefore intreat all and every one of what order soever they be to have acknowledge embrace and favour the foresaid Mr. Dr. James Arminius as such a one as we have said Also to affect him with such honour as he for his eminent and singular gifts shining in him is worthy of and according to their ability to help forward his holy endeavours for the Glory of Gods name and the Edification of the School and Church Unto which end we all his Collegues and fellow-servants do heartily desire for him the manifold grace of the Holy Ghost At Amsterdam from our Classical meeting on the Calends of September 1603. John Halsbergius President of the Classis John Hallius Preacher at Amsterdam Scribe of the Classis in the name of the Classis Have the Brethren honourably and laudably enough testified of Arminius thus then he came into the University From this time all his Collegues have had experience of him as a most Falthful friend The Schools as a Senator Professor Rector all the Students as a most gentle Father Suddenly after his entrance into the University he found that the Students of sacred Theology did entangle themselves in the thickets of questions and did follow Thorny Theormes and Problemes the Scriptures being neglected This evil after the matter had been communicated to his Collegues he studied to amend and did in a great measure effect it for he brought back the antient and masculine and mighty kind of studying and drew back as much as in him lay the wandring youth to the Fountains of Salvation those pure and slimeless Fountains that out of them Religion might be sought for not that Religion which being satisfied with wrangling debates or bare speculation is gotten to feed the phantasie but that which breaths out charity and follows the truth which is after godliness by which youth learn to fly youthful lusts and having subdued fleshly allurements to shun the pollutions of the world and to do and suffer those things that make a distinction between a Christian and an Heathen That saying of our Saviour Except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharises ye shall in no wise enter into the Kingdom of Heaven he did repeat often to fix the same upon their memories In the mean while the consideration of Christians so miserably divided and driven asunder one from another troubled him he seldom spake of it without tears never without deep and hearty sighs He declared that he wished all the scattered members of Christ might grow together in one body according to the Lords Commandment He rightly judged that the Papal Court sought not the things which are of Christ but the pleasures the honours the lucre the pomp of this present world and Tyranny over the souls as well as the bodies of men And therefore that no man could or ought to consult with that Harlot about matters of Salvation and the establishing of a common peace He judged that a great part of others were conscienciously and piously affected and were not divided not so much through an evil intent and purpose as through doubtfull ambages or obscurities in which many were driven from peace and concord by ignorance many by the authority of their Ancestours many through pertinacy or stiffness in those opinions which either themselves had devised or long defended many through shame of revoking and retracting their writings lastly many through prejudice and an ill opinion of their brethren All which he thought might be remedyed not by killing one another but by prayers and by peaceable and friendly instruction and by the example of an holy conversation He therefore both exhorted all to piety and especially took care of this that when thornie questions and the huge luggage of vain and empty assertions were removed and taken away with which the Schools make an huge confused noise those things might be fetcht only out of the Scriptures which might be usefull to bring them to the belief of necessary things and to lead a good and blessed Christian life Which endeaur of his Satan going about to elude and frustrate endeavoured to perswade the inconsiderate that these things were done by him to get honour to shew the strength of his wit to cause innovations to maintain contention and wrangling Some therefore through suspicion that ill counsellour moved again old Camarina or were the cause of mischief to themselves but the Professors themselves and the Colleagues by the prudent advice of the Curators did quell and quash it at its first shooting up for credit to which matter I have thought that this Instrument out of the Acts of the Vnoversity is fit to be produced The Professors of the Theological faculty when it was related to them That the Classis of Dort had laid down among other this Grievance Seeing there is a rumor that some controversies about the doctrine of the reformed Churches have risen in the Church and Vniversity of Leyden the Classis have thought it to be necessary that the Synod deliberate concerning these Controversies and how they may most safely be composed that all Schismes and offences which thence may arist may seasonably be removed and the union of the reformed Churches to preserved against the calumny of the adversaries did when the Lords Curatots and the Consuls asked whether any controversies of this sort were certainly known unto them answer unanimously after the matter had been first privately among themselves examined and weighed That they wished that the Classis of Dort had in this matter acted better and more orderly That they thought that more things were disputed among the Students than it liked them should be but that among themselves that is among the Professors of the Theological faculty there was nodifference which may appearto be in the fundamenralls of doctrine Also that they would endeavour that the disputations of this sort which arose among the students might be lessened Acted the 10th of August 1605. James Arminius Rector of the University pre tempore Francis Gomarus Luke Trelcatius Subscribed The very same day when the same thing was also proposed to D. John Kuchlinus Regent of the Theological Colledge be answered That he gave his suffrage to those things that had