Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	law_n	power_n	true_a	2,794	4	4.3821	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A26199	The suffering condition of the servants of the Lord at this day vindicated and some reasons given why the people called Quakers do own the doctrine of Christ, to continue in it, and to meet together in the name and fear of the Lord, to wait upon him, and worship him in spirit and truth, not withstanding they meet with sufferings in this present time for so doing : Bristol, the 6th month, 1662 / John Audland.	Audland, John, 1630-1664.	1662 (1662)	Wing A4198; ESTC R22605	21,740	31

plead our cause in the hearts of his Enemies Obj. And if any say Why will you not swear And why will you meet seeing there is a Law against you Ans For these two things we say We dare not disobey the Lord for fear of punishment or suffering outwardly and we meet together in the Name and fear of the Lord 1. Because the Lord God of Life requireth it of us that we should meet in his Name and Power and wait upon him and edifie one another in his love and life and in our meetings waiting upon the Lord we have the Presence of the living God of Life with us and the feeling of the virtue of his love in our hearts and he lifts up his countenance upon us yea and comforteth us by his free Spirit whereby we know and are assured that it is according to the mind and will of the Lord and that he speaks peace unto us And this being the real truth let all the honest-hearted judge how we can in Conscience leave that which God requireth of us in obedience to which we have God's presence with us and do that which man requireth of us contrary to the truth in observing of which we should fall into condemnation and feel God's anger and the Testimony of his Spirit against us to judge us which would be greater sufferings in the inward man than all the outward sufferings which we may meet with for in these being faithful the Lord comforteth our hearts 2. Again We meet together to wait upon the Lord because we fear the Lord God he hath placed his fear in our hearts and and we know him to be great and mighty a great King above all Kings and a great God above all Gods that is able to do whatsoever he will in Heaven and in Earth and in the Kingdomes of men and we know he is worthy to be worshipped and to have the heart given up unto him for he hath power to change the heart which men by all their force cannot do and to give true and lasting peace which the World can never take away and his fear being in our hearts we account him Lord and Ruler in our Consciences and worthy to be obeyed in heart soul and spirit And because we fear him more than man we are bound in duty to obey him for he hath power over both soul and body which man hath not for man can but kill the body he hath not power to kill the soul neither hath he power to redeem the soul neither can man convert the soul by any force or penalty outwardly therefore man doth but labour in vain for he can neither kil nor cure the soul but the Lord whom we fear hath power and is able to kill and to make alive And because vve fear him more than man therefore we chuse to obey him rather than man to meet in God's fear And this being our condition let the sober-hearted judge Hovv can vve deny the Lord vvho hath all Povver and hath quickned us redeemed our souls from death go to obey man contrary to Christ's Doctrine vvho hath no povver over the Soul Surely as vve stand in God's fear and counsel vve may not do this evil and sin against our God 3. Again We meet together to wait upon the Lord because God hath made it manifest to us and perswaded us that the Way in which we walk is according to his mind and will and we look not for direction in our Religion by mans Wisdom or Will how we should serve and worship God for we know it 's God alone by his Spirit that leads people in the exercise of the true Religion as it is written I the Lord teacheth thee to profit and leadeth thee in the way in which thou shouldest go and so we are content with our Religion which the Lord hath led us into and in the exercise of it we have God's blessing filling our hearts vvith love and joy peace and satisfaction in which our souls are comforted and vve look not for another Religion contrary to that which vve are in but our hearts are fixed vvaiting upon the Lord and we received it from the Lord and not upon any such terms as to continue in it till man made a Law against it or spake against it and no longer but even as the Way of Truth vvas made manifest to us so to press on in it unto the end And vve see the Wayes and Religions of men to be so changeable sometimes one vvay and sometimes another that it appears to us as if men received their Religion but till Orders of another sort of men to the contrary And vve see many people so ready to part vvith their Religion and take up another that gives us just ground to believe they found not the Presence of God vvith them in their Way and Exercise And so it 's but loose vvith them and they can leave it upon occasion rather than suffer the loss of any thing for it and this makes us prize that vvhich God hath made manifest to us the more because vve receive Refreshment from the Lord in the exercise of our Religion besides if vve had been voyd of the true Religion till this day vve should have been as unstable as others tossed about vvith vvinds of doctrine and have knovvn no true rest to our Souls but it is vvell knovvn that vve vvere of the same mind that vve are novv in the time of the former Povvers and vve received not our Religion from them neither but from the Lord our God neither vvas our Religion or vve in the exercise of it confirmed by any Lavv or Decree of theirs but on the contrary did suffer much hardship under them and by them whom they cherished at that time in the Religion which they allowed and they then said theirs was the right way and they stockt and prisoned many who were contrary to them and now others say they are in the way and useth force and such like to them that differ from them One said the Law is on our side and we are in the right the others say The Law is on our side and we are in the right and you must conform or suffer deeply We say None of these things can perswade our Consciences but come forth in the Power of the Lord as good examples with spiritual Weapons if you will perswade us for we cannot with a safe Conscience leave our Religion which the Lord hath led us into by his own power upon these things but must rather give up to suffer in the Will of the Lord for we know plainly it is God alone by his power that doth bring people into the true Worship And this is according to the Scriptures of Truth and also to the Service which is now allowed for 't is said in the Collect for that which is called the thirteenth Sunday after Trinity Almighty and most merciful God of whose onely gift it cometh

not do it for we may not disobey the Lord because of these things Obj. Well then say they you will be ruinated have you no wisdom will you spoile your selves with these things Ans More is the pity say we that we may not serve the Lord and worship him but such lufferings will be exercised upon us by a people that profess themselves Christians and reformed ones too Well say we we must commit our cause to the Lord and even give up all to him who knows how to deliver on us by a people that profess themselves Christians and reformed ones too Well say we we must commit our cause to the Lord and even give up all to him who knows how to deliver the righteous out of all their trouble Obj. I but say they cannot you meet four and no more Ans We say We may not limit the Lord neither in the things of God must we order our selves And again if some could stoop to that it would not serve neither Obj. Then say they you must be forced and then you or some of you will yeild and then we will boast over you with those Ans But we say that force with carnal Weapons by pains and penalcies as it was not the way of the Lord nor the practise of the true Christians so neither doth it effect the end for it will never make men truly religious neither will it be for the better in the end to them that go about so to compel no nor yet any comfort in the mean time for there is a Prick that meets with the Persecutors now and then which stops their furious driving and gives them no ease in their Way as it was vvith Saul while he persecuted the Saints and brought them bound both Men and Women that believed in the Lord Jesus and he is not a good example in that to be followed for he made havock of the Church entering into every House and halling men and women committing them to prison having Authority from the Chief-Priests and being exceedingly mad against them Acts 8 3. Acts 26.10 11. as he aftervvards confessed and as he vvent to Damascus with Authority and Commission he vvas struck dovvn for all his Authority and heard a voice saying to him Why persecutest thou me it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks And it will be very hard for all such vvho persecute the Children of the Lord the Lord will smite them one vvay or another if they be not smitten to their Conversion But if the Lord smite them often and they still go on to sin more and more he will ease him of his Adversaries and avenge him of his Enemies and smite them vvith an irrecoverable stroke Obj. And if it be objected That these were Jews that did not profess Christ that thus persecuted the Christians and it was evil done of them but we are a Reformed Church and we do it in zeal to Christ that people might be all of one way and the Law doth allow us to it Ans 'T is ansvvered thus The Jews had a zeal for God which vvas not according to knovvledge and they had a Law also by which they judged the Holy One that he ought to dye but although they supposed they did God service and for the defending of the Law yet indeed they fought against God and they had as much to say for their vvay of Worship it being ancient and they vvhich differed from them their vvay vvas but nevv in appearance I say the Jews might plead for their Way far more groundedly than many novv especially people vvho neither live in their Way of Worship according to the Jews under the Law no nor yet according to the Saints in the Primitive times And those that profess themselves Christians and yet persecute the Innocent they are far more guilty than the Jews vvere inasmuch as they both profess more Light and also vvalk so quite contrary to their ovvn Profession yea and to the example of Christ vvhom they profess and the true Christians who said Love your Enemies pray for them that persecute you not persecute them that pray for you Neither had the Saints such Weapons to bring people into their Church as is now used but spiritual ones mighty through God and vvent forth in his Power this brought people to be of one heart and one vvay and to serve the Lord with one mind which force vvith carnal Weapons vvill never accomplish to bring people to be of one vvay Obj. And as it 's said But some will yeild and then we will rejoice in that Ans 'T is answered That 's a bad Work to force people and compel them to deny that vvhich God hath made manifest to them to be truth and the greater is their sin that so do 'T is said that Saul compelled some to blaspheme against the Name of Jesus when he raged so against them but he afterward confessed it as a great sin And though some did so or do so yet that is no confirmation to the persecutors that they are in the Way of God no nor yet a true Testimony against the persecuted that they are not in the Way of God neither doth it truly convert men at all Indeed force and compulsion may make some men conform to that outwardly vvhich otherwise they would not do but that is nothing of weight their hearts are never the better but are rather worse and more hypocrites than before for force doth but make Hypocrites at the most for it is God alone by his powerful Word of Life operating in the hearts of people that changeth them and reneweth them in the Spirit of their minds and brings them into the true Service and Worship even to draw near him with their hearts and to worship him in Spirit and Truth and it 's out of man's power and that which God doth not require of men at this day to force by penalties and carnal Weapons to this or that Worship and is absolutely against the practice of the Saints and the Spirit of Jesus as also against Christ's Royal Law which is Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you even so do ye unto them Now let every man make it his own case He saith his way is the way of God and anothers is not Well then would he be forced to leave his own way and to go to the other vvhich he is not satisfied of to be according to the mind of God especially when nothing is offered to convince his Conscience or perswade his mind and understanding but force and compulsion Surely no man would be so dealt with in his own case Obj. But if it be said We have Power and a Law and we are wise and learned men and we would not be forced from our Religion but we would force people to ours Ans This hath no weight in it at all for you ought to put your selves in the same capacities as them you deal with are and to consider

that thy faithful people do unto thee true and laudible service Now then if it come onely by the gift of God that the faithful do true service unto God then they that would force people from serving God according to his gift given them would force them from the true and laudable service of God and to make them act contrary to the gift of God and unavoidably lead and force people from the true Worship of God into hypocrisie and a false feigned lifeless and heartless Worships in which the Lord takes no pleasure And so this being truly considered we can put it to the Consciences of all that fear the Lord to judge whether we can with a safe Conscience leave our Religion which God hath led us into and the exercise of it according to the gift of God by which onely true service is done to God in which also we find acceptance with God through Jesus Christ and go to a Religion in the will of man contrary to the gift of God by force and compulsion where we could not act affectionately with our hearts nor yet find the blessing and presence of God with us acting contrary to the gift of God Truly it is in our hearts and consciences as the truth of the Lord that we may not ●affly do it But if any should object and say Your Religion is but new or of a late standing ours is a hundred years old or thereabouts since Popery was brought from having the upper hand in this Nation for they forced but they were out of the way but ours is a reformed Church 'T is answered That though the name or denomination by which we are distinguished from other people be but of late years which was cast upon us by some that mocked us because of the Power of the Lord which caused many to quake and tremble yet the Life in which we live and the truth which we profess is ancient and the practice in which we are exercised in the worship of God is according to the truth and practise of the Saints of old And so it might be said of the Saints and of Paul when he was converted and turned from the Jews Worship that it was a new Religion but it was the mighty Power of God that changed them though many in that day opposed them And so we say Force now with Prisons and carnal Weapons is of the same nature as it was formerly in the Papists and others for they said they had a Law and they were the true Church and they forced about Religion and killed many and now here is but the same Argument The Law saith so and so Therefore we see the same Nature forcing now as formerly as it 's said He that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit even so it is now And for being of a hundred years standing this adds no strength to it at all for the Jews Religion was far more ancient and yet being in the persecuting nature and resisting the Holy One and the Just though they professed God with their mouth yet that would not cover them nor will it cover people now to profess God with their mouth while they are found in the Nature steps and practise of them who persecuted the Saints and Servants of God in ages past And for that which is said That we are but of late years We say Men are not true Christians by Generation neither by an outward Profession but by an inward change in the heart wrought by the Power of God in the Regeneration And so if it be but a few years in comparison since we or any of us were changed and turned to the Lord yet it was in the time when the Lord was pleased and saw good to visit us and we can truly say it was an acceptable day and time when we were turned from darkness to the true Light and from the Power of Satan to God And we are glad of it and can say Blessed be the Lord for it if it had been but yesterday that any of us were renewed in the Spirit of our minds to God for it is matter of joy to us that the Lord hath gathered us in our day and time from off the barren Mountains into his Fold to wait upon him and to receive teaching and satisfaction from him This is far more to us to know the Lord changing us in our day and bringing us to know the things that pertaineth to our everlasting peace than to have a large Profession of the Saints words and yet to be out of the Saints Life and out of the way where true peace and rest is found to the soul and so the Lord having manifested his Truth to us and brought us into the Religion in which he manifests his presence to us we are content to wait in the Will of the Lord and may not forsake our Religion nor the assembling of our selves together because man saith to the contrary but walk according to the gift of God by which onely it is that true and faithful service is performed unto him 4. Again we meet together to wait upon the Lord that our Consciences may be kept clear towards him that we may have the answer of a good Conscience towards God which if we should walk contrary to that which the Lord hath made manifest here would be shipwrack of Faith and a good Conscience for so it was formerly if any forsook the Lord and his Truth after they had tasted of his good Word if they fell away from that which they had once known and professed of the Truth and Gospel of Jesus they made shipwrack of Faith and a good Conscience and then they could not have the answer of a good Conscience neither had they peace with God and what remained if they continued so but a certain fearful looking for of Judgement and fiery indignation which will devour And therefore we knowing the preciousness of the answer of a good Conscience towards God do prize it and esteem it as a Jewel of great worth and we may not forsake the way of the Lord wherein we have the answer of a good Conscience because of outward force go into that in which we should suffer anguish have a certain fearful looking for of judgment and a sting in our own consciences therefore we can put it to all who fear the Lord to judg of if it be not safe for us to abide in the way of the Lord and to be faithful to him though we may meet with sufferings in this world 5. Again we meet together in the fear of the Lord and own the doctrine of Christ to live in it because we are perswaded in the fear and power of the Lord God of life who is our strength that nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which we have in Christ Jesus our Lord the love of God is so comfortable and his favour is so refreshing to