Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	ability_n	act_n	act_v	25	3	7.4886	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A76788	Endevors aiming at the glory of God, that peace & truth may meet together: wherein is contained the excellency, benefit, and necessity of good government and governors: a loving reply to Mr William Prynnes speech made to the House of Commons, and afterwards published. Some matters are propounded to the consideration of the ministry; and also to particular (and to all) opinions. The first, purest, best and most blessed form and manner of government, prescribed by God, (and recorded in Gods sacred word;) together with the way of entrance, or Gods calling of persons to places of chief government, the great consequence thereof. Wherein is shewed, that government by succession, from the father to the son, was none of Gods institution, in the first and purest times. And also the government by Judges is plainly proved to be the best form of government, being Gods immediate direction, most blessed and approved for Gods glory, and for a peoples greatest good, comfort, and safety. / By John Blackleach.	Blackleach, John.	1650 (1650)	Wing B3074; Thomason E590_5; ESTC R206330	147,760	171

if we deminish Object But is there any president or example that warranteth a people to depose and punish their Governors Answ The condition expressed and recorded in the Book of Joshua doth plainly hold out That the whole body of a people or such as represent or are Deputies for the Common-wealth or part of that body may in cases wherein their Governors act not for God but contrary to his revealed Will in such cases I conceive the Word recorded in the Book of Joshua plainly warranteth and teacheth people That they ought to make such exceptions This people that gave Joshua his Answer were a part of the people And although this Covenant or Caveat had not been expressed yet it had been the peoples duty and wisdom to follow him in Gods ways but not other ways If we take notice and consider that place recorded Numb 25.1 The people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab c. The people for this cause were commanded by God to slay those Governors that were guilty in this matter The Lord said to Moses Take all the heads of the people and hang them up before the Lord against the Sun that the fierce wrath of the Lord may be turned from Israel Numb 25.4 Now this sheweth That it is Gods Will that Governors shall by the people be punished in such cases as are notorious breaches of Gods Law for although these Governors were not equal but inferiour to Moses yet they were Governors of the people as for example all Governors are not Emperors nor all Kings nor all Judges of an equal rank yet they are all of one kind Gods Law bindeth and hath the same authority over all But further consider this it is there recorded for our learning Num. 25.6 That one of the children of Israel brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses and in the sight of c. Note That this man was a Prince Vers 14. Vers 7. And when Phineas the son of Aaron saw it he rose up c. and took a spear in his hand and followed the man of Israel into the Tent and thrust them both through c. From this Text it plainly appeareth That in such openly known sins Princes are liable to punishment nay further That God taketh this as a matter that is so acceptable to him that he rewardeth it with an extraordinary commendation and reward Vers 10. Then the Lord spake unto Moses saying Phineas the son of Aaron hath turned mine anger away from the children of Israel while he was zealous for my sake amongst them therefore I have not consumed the children of Israel in my jealousie Vers 12. Wherefore I say unto him Behold I give unto him my Covenant of Peace Here note That Phineas stood not to search over the Punctilioes of the Common Laws neither was he a Judg nor ordinary Officer to put men to death he stayed not till this man was tryed by his Peers but he considered that God was highly dishonored the case was extraordinary therfore he put his life in his hand and couragiously zealously pursued the transgressor and slew him this is recorded for our learning Rō 15.4 Whatsoever things are written aforetime are writen for our learning It is to be admired That people they should be offended at the Army and at some of the Parliament because they executed Justice upon such an offender as had sinned in the sight of the Sun by setting up Idolatry that had sinned in shedding innocent blood such an offender as was tryed and found guilty to the knowledg of the Land and by the opinion of Lords Commons Army and People witness their Writings in Print and is this so hainous a matter This maketh me call to mind the Prophecy Revel 18.16 17. Alas alas that great City that was clothed in fine linnen and purple and scarlet and guilded with gold and precious stones and pearls For in one hour so great riches are come to desolation And every ship-master and all the people that ocupy ships and whosoever doth trafique on the sea shall stand afar off and cry c. But what saith the Spirit of God Vers 10. O Haeven rejoyce over her and ye holy Apostles for God hath punished her to be revenged on her for your sakes Dear Friends you that are not drunk but in good frames of heart consider that this great Tower of Confusion is fallen the Prophets foretold of these days Isaiah Daniel Hosea Micah and others they tell us plainly That corrupt Governors must down I believe the time is accomplished that God did in his counsel determine these matters therefore hang down your heads no longer but you that wait for the Salvation of Israel lift up your heads I pray you Countrymen note That the Army and the Parliament they being zealous for Gods glory they put their lives in their hands they look all oppositions in the face they executed Justice upon an offender this was Gods work that guarded them with strength this act of theirs was beyond their own abilities I pray you compare this act with that of Phineas is not there the same cause in the offender Is not the zeal of Phineas and their zeal like in the very countenance and of near affinity And hath not God crowned this act of theirs Consider that God hath blessed the fruits of the earth and hath enriched our barns and stores Hath not God blessed us in our fishing abroad not the like for many years before Hath not God blessed us by giving us Victories at Sea and Victories at the Land Whithersoever they turn themselves they are blessed since the death of the late King This maketh me commend to your consideration that blessing that God gave to Joshua and is acknowledged thus There was not a City that God delivered not into his hand nor place was too strong for him Consider it well and apply it If any will be obstinate and blind let them be so I cannot help it But to go on in 2 Kings 11.15 Jehojada the Priest commanded the Captains of the Hundreds that had the rule of the Host Vers 16. And they laid hands on her c. and there she was slain We may here observe That there is a president recorded in Scripture that sheweth That when a principal Governor shall do evil in the sight of the Lord the people did account it to be their duties to punish such great offenders and offences by death thus was Jesabel slain The example of the Israelites likewise is considerable 1 King 12.20 where the ten Tribes by reason that Rehoboam would not hearken to them in easing them of those Taxations that they said were too heavy they therefore deposed or rejected him from being their King for although that Jeroboam forsook Gods Commandments afterwards that was his sin But touching their act in casting off and renouncing all obedience to Rehoboam for his sin of oppression God plainly alloweth that and owneth

so rest in peace because a good Shepherd is their watchman Was not this the very foundation and cause that David Ps 23. found such great comfort and refreshment namely from his Shepherd Dear Friends if God help us to obtain good Shepherds good Governors our strife will end our differences will be composed Corrupt Opinions on the one hand and desperate Blasphemy and Profaneness on the other hand will vanish as smoak before the winde The very presence of Moses destroyed the profaneness of Idolatrous Worship Dear Christian Friends if God help us in this matter then shall peace and truth meet together and as Moses and Aaron they shall kiss one another in the Mount of God Then shall we well provide for the comfort of our children and for their posterity Then shall the generations to come have cause to bless us Then shall the Name of the Lord be praised with joyful hearts Then shall the Lord bless us and we shall be blessed I shall endeavor to write in this ensuing Treatise without partiality without turning to the right or to the left hand without respect of persons further then in a way of righteousness accept of this my mite And let those men who have received more abilities and opportunity put more into the Treasury Dear Friends and Country-men I dare not say that for your sakes I could be content to have my name blotted out of the Book of Life Nor with Paul That for this cause I could be content to be a cast-away from the presence of God for ever For the thought of that would be more bitter then death But this I do say That so far as I know my own heart provided that the loss of my temporal life would be the means to procure this happiness to you namely that you might possess Judges as the first and Counsellors as at the beginning I could be content to lay down this temporal life that for a little season I do here enjoy Beloved Friends I considering that there is so great a distance at this time between Opinions but more especially there is a greater difference between the affections of many I shall desire leave of the courteous Reader that without offence I may propound some other matters to consideration My ends therein are that I may extinguish that heat if not wholly yet in some measure that is burning or smothering in the hearts of many For otherwise these will lie as a block or as a bar in the way to hinder that peace and truth should not meet together I remember Jacob his example herein he being intended and desirous to be reconciled to his brother Esau who had determined or threatned his death He labors to prevent and pacifie his brothers anger by sending presents and soft answers good words before him Such gifts as I have I offer to you Silver and Gold I have but little I desire that I may finde the like acceptance that Jacob did The first and great hinderance that I find laid in the way to hinder Peace and Truth from meeting together is the death of the late King the removing of divers Lords and some others from their present Being or acting as Members of that Court and the pretended wilful breach of a former Covenant I am not desirous to call back those things that are done and past I am not desirous to take abroad those imbers in which wherein hath been or may be contained coals of fire that might or may kindle such f●●●es as are not easily quenched It is better for peace sake to suffer some yea much wrong then to endeavor to right our selves in such a way as may turn to far greater loss Our Saviour counselleth us rather to suffer wrong then to contend in Law and rather to lose our garment then to contend too earnestly for it In those things wherein sin is committed by others and we no actors nor consenters in it we may in some cases especially then when by seeking revenge we may plunge and throw our selves ●●to greater dangers and temptations in such cases we may wait patiently and commit those cases to God that judgeth righteously Sin shall slay the wicked doer and God will bring down the evil and the deceitful men He that riseth up to right another mans cause must look well to his own calling and abilities Did not these lie as a bar in the way to hinder Peace and Truth from meeting I should be silent and commit the matter to him that judgeth righteously and so I desire to do I shall not use here any carnal weapons onely make some use of Truth so well as I am able that thereby we may find the way to Peace And first touching the late Kings death consider that we cannot recall that What then Are you resolved to set up the eldest Son upon the Throne of his Father Consider well of it Can you tell whether he will prove wise or foolish Can you tell whether he will care for the Flock Can you tell whether he will love or hate the Flock Can you tell whether you should obtain your desires or whether that the pursuance thereof may not be a means to ruine your selves and many others that desire to live in peace Are you nevertheless resolved to have such a Watchman such a Shepherd Will you expect grapes from thorns I have indeed to my sorrow heard this with my ears lately spoken That if a Turk or any other as bad almost should come hither and contend for the Government there would be a great party for him Oh horrible impiety that men should so far be transported beyond the bounds of Reason and Religion Indeed there is a generation too apparent that by their works by their swearing and prophaneness and hatred of those that love and fear the Lord declare evidently that they are Gods enemies It is therefore not to be wondred that God should give them over to strong delusions to believe lies What if Gods Word declare evidently That the Government by Judges be better more agreeable to his mind more useful and more comfortable to us will you nevertheless have a King consider of it Friends Countrymen Beloved I have no prejudice against a King but this I say I honour love worship and desire to cleave to the Precepts and Commandments of him that is the King of Kings of him who gave me life and is able to raise me up to life when this span of time is past when the King of Terrors hath done his utmost spite I was no actor in the Kings death I had taken a great journey above four years before the death of the King and was many hundreds of miles distant from this Land and returned hither very lately I speak therefore the more freely with more liberty I have endeavored with the greatest care I could to weigh mens words and passages in the ballance of the Sanctuary and I find many that speak loosely carelesly and many more prophanely Is

are not indeed true Shepherds but Wolves and Foxes and shall we love them so well that we shall take them by succession and not enquire of God who shall be the man thirdly if we are yet more negligent so that when they appeare to be as they too often prove Wolves in sheepes clothing yet do we observe Gods Lawes which layeth such open to punishment The reason seemeth to me to be evident that caused the People from time to time to use such paines and diligence to obtaine from former Kings grants that the Kings should not oppresse or tyrannize over the People or their consents to severall such Acts in Parliament was it not because the Law of God was kept in obscurity the time fore determined by God was not then accomplished who or where was the man that durst or did so far adventure to declare the Law of God in that particular namely that Kings were subject to the Law of God according to the true latitude of it for had the Law of God bin fully plainely and clearely opened the People might easily have seene that they had had lesse neede of such promises because the Law of God is a more strong a more cleare and shining light then all the Lawes of man whatsoever And was not this the very grounds why it came to passe that notwithstanding all the grants that the People could obtaine from former Kings they proved too weake to hold down their loftinesse Witnesse queene Mary did not she and many others breake the Lawes of God and draw the poore people to Idolatry and take away the lives of the poore servants of God notwithstanding all the Charters that the People had obtained in former Ages Was it not because the People were kept partly in feare of their great overtopping power and partly by reason they were kept in ignorance that the Kings and great men of the earth were equally without respect of persons subject to the Law of God and most especially because Gods time fore-determined for the Reformation of government not being fully compleated the People did not see nor cleave stedfastly to Gods prescriptions to the way God in his word appointed for the calling of governors but on the contrary the People were carelesse and negligent in the matter of governors they made too light account of governors not throughly seeing it to be of any great concernment and did not God so withdraw his good Spirit of illumination from the People that he denied them wisdome power or opportunities to punish offending governors Dearely beloved suffer this truth of God to be fully and freely opened and I believe we shall not neede to feare to set up one as chiefe And this likewise will be beneficiall to us for by this means we shall not have so much bloudshed for to obtaine Crownes and Kingdom●● I pray you further to consider that if a people should set up government composed of many heads or many members making or head or chiefe having all equall authority in the steede or for the want of one chiefe governor and if this should be their places their power and actings constantly to judge and determine the affaires of a Common-wealth this must needs be considered that they likewise are subject to erre yea are they not often times more subject to err and to break Gods Lawes Now in such cases of delinquency must not there be left a way open to punish them which must be some other invention and will it not follow thus ad infinitum multiply what numbers you will Consider o● the benefit that a People get by having one chiefe governor from this example suppose there were a hundred thousand Men in a Campe● and suppose that there were one hundred Generalls over every thousand of Men one Generall and suppose that every one of these Generalls had an equall authority and not any one to command in chiefe Consider would the Campe be in greater security because their Cheiftaines or Generalls were many no one commanding in chiefe above the rest No verily but in much more danger thereby not only in regard of a common enemy but also in danger of emulation and strife amongst themselves And suppose further that these Generalls should agree that no act should be done by any one of these Generalls that should be valid and of force without the consent of the rest would it not follow that the People thereby should be more burdened because when they had a matter they could not have it ended without the consent of the whole would not their matters be longer in agitation and obtained with greater charge and difficulty and it would be a great danger trouble and burden not to be borne to the Generalls themselves let us therefore be exhorted to follow Gods wisdome in this matter I doubt not but that a Parliament or Assemblie of Elders may be of eminent use and benefit to the People especially in such times as these till matters be fully ended and setled and after they may assemble and meete to that end that Gods Commandements may be observed by all and to question and punish any governor for the breach of Gods Lawes because God approveth and blesseth two or three that meete together in his Name to do Gods worke but is not the constant Government of the Common-wealth to be put into the hands of one Man and must not he have so much power as Ioshua had and other good Iudges of Israel the more we strengthen the authority of a good governor the more it is for Gods glory and for our comfort and safety Consider another instance if a Merchant or a great Tradesman had many people to deal with all by reason whereof he hath occasion to imploy 20 or 40 men under him to dispatch businesse these are not to the intent that they shall constantly act in every businesse for then if they had all equall authority no one commanding in chief they would one hinder another and businesse would go more slowly forward Therefore the end why he calleth or taketh more men to helpe him it is to the end that they may at once tend upon and dispatch severall occasions and also these are all of them to be subject to the Masters order and all the rest orderly to be subject one to another Thus did God ordain one Moses chief governor to whom God committed the government which did nearly resemble Gods government in Heaven but through Mans weakenesse not being able to act like God therefore God permitted Moses to ordain other Rulers inferior to himself and those were distributed amongst the People over thousands and hundreds and fifties and tenns Whereby it appeareth that the end was not that all those rulers should act in the judgement of the same causes that Moses acted in Neither were any of those governors much lesse were they all to have equall authority with Moses This did further appear by the authority that all the Iudges of Israel had