Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	aaron_n	moses_n	murmur_v	99	3	10.4666	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A89503	A practical commentary, or An exposition with notes on the Epistle of Jude. Delivered (for the most part) in sundry weekly lectures at Stoke-Newington in Middlesex. By Thomas Manton, B.D. and minister of Covent-Garden.	Manton, Thomas, 1620-1677.	1657 (1657)	Wing M530; Thomason E930_1; ESTC R202855	471,190	600

to God taxing the administration of his providence as if he dealt too hardly with us so that in effect murmuring is an anti-providence first cherished by repining thoughts and then vented and uttered in bold and uncomely speeches thoughts are audible with God but 't is worse when thoughts are not controled but break out openly in words tending to Gods dishonour if the fire be kindled in our bosoms 't is some kind of victory if we smother it and will not let the sparks fly abroad There are several kinds of murmuring either against men or against God though in the issue all be against God against God about men 1. Against men and so either against our equals or superiours 1. Equals when we murmur because they are admitted to the same priviledges with our selves see Mat. 20. 11. They murmured against the good man of the louse saying these last wrought but one hour so Luk 15. This thy son devoured his living with harlots c. and Beza of some that reproached him with the sins of his unregenerate condition Hi homines invident mihi gratiam divinam surely these men are angry because God hath shewed me mercy there is an envious nature in man we would all shine alone and inclose the common salvation to upbraid men with late conversion is all one as to make it a crime because they are born but yesterday 't is to take up that filth which God would have covered 2. Against Superiours especially because invested with Magistracy or Ministry some men are of a yokeless libertine spirit will acknowledge no other Law but their own lusts as in the Text Murmurers walking after their own lusts think Magistracy to be an incroachment upon their freedom and therefore cannot away with any established order and as for Ministry that all the Lords people are holy Numb 16. 3 what need any to be set a part for that work thus would they level all things in Church and Common-wealth as those Rebels rose up against Moses and Aaron but though not against the Office we may murmur at the persons that are advanced as if we would teach God how to govern the world and whom to lift up and cast down or else by finding fault with their government without a cause some presumptuovs persons that never learned obedience are always unsatisfied 't was * observed of Egypt that it was Loquax est ingeniosa in contumeliam praefectorum provincia si quis forte vitaverit culpam contumeliam non ●ff●git many such ungoverned spirits there are that are always traducing publick government especially when 't is most faithfully manag'd and to the discouragement of Opinionists and evil-doers God will not suffer this evil to go unpunished Exod. 16 8. and 1 Sam. 18. 7. the calling is his Ordinance the persons are designed by his providence and the work concerneth his glory and therefore God taketh himself to be much interested in the querrel 2. There is a murmuring which is immediately against God himself since the fall man is always quarrelling with his Maker either against his Decrees or his Laws or his Providence 1. Against his Decrees proud man cannot endure to hear of Gods absolute Soveraignty we will do what we will but we will give leave to God to do what he will The good man of the house was fain to plead his right Mat 20. 15 Shall I not do with my ●wn c. we can see no reason why God should pass by one and chuse another though we can see no reason 't is enough 't is Gods pleasure Mat. 11. 26. God hath his arcana imperii as well as earthly Princes and we have cause to admire what we cannot understand things may be just though his reasons appear not to us God is not bound to give us an account or to tell us all his secrets humane reason groweth giddy by prying into the depth of Gods Decrees 't is good to change disputes into wonder and reverence Rom 9. 10 Who art thou Oh man that disputest with God we may chop Logick one with another the potsheards of the earth with the potsheards of the earth but Gods prerogative is above the tribunal of our reason 2. His Laws a proud creature cannot endure to hear of restraints we could love other things in God but not his legislative power the carnal mind will never stoop but complaineth of him as harsh and severe as if he had forbidden us the satisfying of those desires which he hath planted in us the Israelites murmured thus the Land was a good Land but there were Gyants and Sons of A●ak Numb 13. 32. the Heaven promised is a good Heaven but the way is rough and unpastable duties are difficult and 't is cumbersome to thwart our lusts the project of carnal nature is to find out an easie and smooth path to etern●l happiness see Psal 106 24 25. They despised the pleasant land they b●leeved not his word but murmured in th●ir Tents Heaven figured by the Laud of Canaan is not counted worth the pains and difficulty of getting thither 3. His Providence in general when the wicked prosper 't is a temptation that hath shaken the tallest Cedars in Lebanon David though a Steward he was ashamed of it and counts it bruitish ignorance Psal 73. 22. so Jerem. 12. 1. 2 3. and Habakkuk chap. 1 But let us come to temptations that are of a more particular and private experience We murmur either for what we want or for what we have lost or for what we affect First for what we w●nt as soon as we are streightned we complain presently this is not so bad as when we murmur out of wan onness the Israelites I observe did sall a murmuring either out of want and then they were spared as for want of waters Exod. 5. 14. for want of meat Exod. 16 2. want of bread Numb 20. 3. but at other times out of wantonness they loathed Manna must have Quails but then some special judgment or other brake out upon them but however 't is bad enough when our necessities extort these complaints from us want is a time of praying not of murmuring the Throne of Grace was erected for a time of need Heb. 4. 16. but 't is mans usual custome to change duties into sins as admonition into censuring instead of speaking to men we speak of men so instead of complaining to God we complain of God and so make murmuring take the room of prayer Necessity is a time to put the promises in suit to try faith to awaken affections not to provoke murmurings I was dumb and opened not my mouth saith David Psal 39. We may open our mouths in confessions of sin humble narratives pleading of promises but not in self justifications stormings against Providence or words of unbelief and impatience so we must be dumb and not once open our mouths Secondly For what we have lost we complain when God taketh away such a child or such a comfort