Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	according_a	faith_n	work_n	1,745	5	6.1448	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91899	Safe conduct, or The saints guidance to glory. Opened in a sermon preached at Dunstans in the East London. November the second, MDCLIV. At the funerall of the vertuous and religious gentlewoman, Mris. Thomasin Barnardiston, late wife of Mr. Samuel Barnardiston, merchant. / By Ralph Robinson, pastor of Mary Wolnoth, Lumbardstreet, London.	Robinson, Ralph, 1614-1655.	1655 (1655)	Wing R1711; Thomason E823_7; ESTC R203376	61,656	101

weighed in the ballance of reason and if they be allowed by it they will receive them but if reason disapprove them they are rejected as spurious and illegitimate Alas Alas Reason is an unsufficient guide to direct us especially in matters of faith Our Saviour sends men to Scripture in all such cases not to Reason Search the Scriptures for in them yee think to have eternall life Joh 5. 39. and they are they which testify of mee And elsewhere to the Law and to the Testimony God needed Isa 8. 20. not have set his pen-men on work to have written his will if Reason had been a sufficient Umpire in such matters To make reason a guide in matters of Faith is to unscripture the Scriptures Reason is not high enough though it stand on tipetoe to see to the bottome of those deep mysteries of Faith which are revealed in scripture Reason loseth it self grows mad when it dives into these deeps Reason is vitiated and corrupted by the fall as well as the Will the carnall Rom. 8. 7 mind is emnity against God Mans head is by nature as full of rottennesse as his heart Reason hath need of the tutorage of the word as well as the affections The light of reason is but as the light of the Gloworm but the light of Scripture is as bright as the Sun Reason doth stand in as much need of the correction of Faith as sense doth of the correction of reason St. Paul tells 1 Cor. 2. 14. us that the naturall man take him in his highest attainments receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishnesse unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned Reason is now become like the wise Counsellors of Pharaoh brutish The Heathen that followed their own reason how Rom. 1. 21. 22. did they wander from the truth They became vain in their imaginations their foolish heart was darkned professing themselves to be wise they became fools as the Apostle speaks It is precious counsell which Solomon gives Pro. 3. 5. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thine own understanding Hee had a longer line of reason than any of Adams posterity that succeeded him and yet hee prefers Faith in God before the deepest reason He that makes reason his guide doth in effect make it his God Hee that is acted according to the direction of Reason especially in matters of Faith will see cause to bewail such unreasonable actings The high scaling ladder of Faith must be set upon the head of reason if ever we would get a true apprehension of the things of God He that makes reason his guide especially in matters of Faith may find it a Pillar of Cloud but hee shall never find it a Pillar of Fire Reason is a good staff but no good guide I shall add this for a conclusion of all It is the highest and best reason to forsake our own wisdome and in all divine matters to stick to the unerring Counsel of Gods word and Spirit Reason though a very glorious thing is but the handmaid of Scripture Secondly Others there are that make men their 2 Those that make men their guide guide If wee examine narrowly wee shall find thousands in the world that set up no other guide besides this They walk according as they see others walk and they beleeve according to the belief of others It cannot be denied but it is a duty to tread in the steps of good men There is much of Gods Light in their Light wee are many times incited to walk according to the holy patterns of gracious men It is the Apostles advice Remember them which have the rule over you who have spoken unto you the word of God whose faith follow considering the end of their conversation Ministers are Heb. 13. 7. guides by Doctrin and they are guides by life and it is a duty lying on the flock to follow their holy example as well as their Doctrin And therefore doth the same Apostle in his Epistle to the Philippians Phil. 3. 17. give this Counsell Brethren bee followers together of mee and mark them which walk so as yee have us for an example God hath for this purpose set up his graces in his Saints that by the light of them others may bee able to see the way to Heaven more clearly But yet to make men the best and holiest of men absolutely our guide either for Doctrin or Life is unpleasing to God and unsafe for our selves For First VVe ought not to esteem of men above that which is meet or as the Apostle saith above that 1 Cor. 6. 6. which is written It is an honour too high and too glorious to be put on any man to make him an universal guide VVe are commanded by our Saviour to call no man Father on earth it is not unlawful to call men Fathers Mat. 23. 9. upon earth the Fifth Commandement enjoyns Pa●ernum honorem falso hominibus tribui si Dei gloriam obscurat Calv. both the name and the honour but we are not to call men our Fathers so as thereby to obscure the glory of God as Calvin expounds the place Now to make any man our guide in opposition to the Counsel of God is to call man our Father in a sinful sense Hee that thus makes man his guide makes man his God which is a breach of the first Commandement Secondly The best of men is an insufficient guide the wisest of men need the guidance of God The best of men are fallible Men of low degree are vanity and Psal 62. 9. men of high degree are a lye The best of men are imperfect both in Knowledge and Holiness they are like the Moon that hath a dark side as well as a bright God hath scattered his Graces among his people but he hath not given any one Saint all his graces I mean not all degrees of any grace the best and most perfect hath grace in imperfection The wicked are seducing guides the godly are defective guides and therefore not to be followed any farther then they follow the Counsels of God The Apostle puts in that condition when he propounds his own example Be yee followers of me as I am of Christ It is a limitation 1 Cor. 11. 1. that must never be left out It is no dishonour to any man to dissent from him when he dissents from the Counsel of God Thirdly VVhatsoever wee do if wee have no higher a rule for it then man will not be accepted of God To assent to Divine truths only because they are beleeved of men is to assent to them but with an Human faith To do what God commands only because men do the same is but a Human obedience which God will not reward Thou hast charged us saith Psal 119. 4 5. David that we should keep thy precepts diligently And then he

prays O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes That is true obedience which is not only agreeable to the holy Commandement but is founded upon the Authority of God who gave the Commandement Thirdly Others there are that make their Lusts 3 Those that make the flesh their guide Gal 1. 16. their guide As they make provision for the flesh so they ask direction from the flesh The Apostle when he was called to preach the Gospel tels us That he consulted not with flesh and bloud he did not conferre with flesh and bloud and yet there are many that have no other Counsellor They ask direction of their Corruption instead of asking at Gods mouth When they are exhorted to be humble they ask counsel at the Lust of Pride when they hear a Sermon of Charity they go to the Lust of Covetousness and know whether that will consent when they are perswaded to be patient they enquire at the Lust of Frowardness whether they shovld obey whither Lust leads thither they follow and they will not be beaten off To follow the guidance of Lust is very sad and will at last be very uncomfortable Lust is an enemy and who would be guided by an enemy To follow the guidance of Lust is to follow the guidance of the Devil All sinful Lusts are the works of the Devil for 1 Joh. 3. 8. this cause was the Son of God manifested saith the Apostle that he might destroy the works of the Devil the sinful Lusts of the Soul are the Devils Garrisons He that goes to Lust for counsel goes to Hell for counsel and he that takes direction from Hell will never finde the way to Heaven The Apostle tells us That he that Gal. 6. 8. soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption If the flesh be the seed Corruption will be the fruit The flesh is to be crucified They that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts He that makes Gal. 5. 24. the flesh his Counsellor will be crucified by the flesh instead of crucifying the flesh That one text of the Apostle Rom. 8. 13. is enough to cause men to withdraw their feet from following the flesh If yee live after the flesh yee shall dye but if yee through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body yee shall live The flesh knows the way to Hell but it never trod one step in that way that leads to Heaven Sampson by harkening to the allurements of Delilah lost both his eyes afterwards his liberty and then his life Hee that makes the flesh his guide shall finde that Hell will be his eternal lodging Thus much shall serve for the rebuke of those who neglect the guidance of Gods 2 Reason of Reprehension to those that would have God guided by their Counsel Counsel and set up other guides instead thereof Before I leave this Use I must a little dispute with another sort and they are those who instead of desiring to be guided by Gods Counsel would have God guided by their Counsel There are many who take upon them the boldness to dispute with God about his ordering the affairs of the world they are offended because the wheels of Providence do not move according to their minde they think if they had the reins of Government in their hands they could mannage things in a better way than God doth All that wrangle with their Maker about his Dispensations are guilty of this sin Jeremiah cryes out Why do the wicked prosper Wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously Jer. 12. 1 2. Mens hearts even good men are ready to swell because of such Providences as they do not understand such men should do well to consider That by censuring the motions of Providence they meddle with things that are too high for them Shall any teach God knowledge saith Job seeing Job 21. 22. he judgeth those that are high Wise Artists will not be controld by bunglers The raw Mariner must not teach the skilful Pilot. It is mans duty to submit to all the Dispensations of God and to admire them but not to quarrel with them God guided the world in Wisdom and Righteousness before we had breath and so will he do when we are in the dust Clouds and Psal 97. 2. darkness are round about him righteousness and judgement are the habitation of his Throne The most cloudy paths of Providence are paths of Righteousness those motions which we are apt to judge irregular are very orderly Those actings which our foolish hearts sinfully call the deformities of Providence are the beauties of Providence The foolishness of God saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 1. 25. is wiser than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men That which men count foolish hath infinite wisdom in it and that which men judge weak hath Almighty strength When we are at a loss God is not at a loss We see but the present movings of Providence but God sees his work from the beginning to the end God hath from Eternity laid the frame of all his Works and whether we see it or no he fits all his Providences to that Pattern Hee can break enemies by exalting them Hamans highest advancement was the Prologue to his fall He can raise his people by their castings down Josephs Iron Chains were a way to the Golden chain he had never been a Ruler in Aegypt if he had not been a slave in Aegypt God can reconcile Providences and Promises when they seem to fight one against another The Promise of God shall be made good though the Son of Promise be laid on the Altar The Passengers with Paul shall be saved though the Ship be broken with the violence of the waves Providence can carry a man to shore on a broken piece of a Plank as well as in the long Boat Some Providences are cross to us but they are all direct to God The Saints of God when they come to Heaven shall admire those actings of Providence most which they have here most condemned You that are the Servants of God take heed of questioning with God in such cases you are not to prescribe God but to follow God When hee is in the Sanctuary when his way is in the Sea when his foot-steps are not known follow him in a way of holy Prayer in a way of faithful dependance in a way of humble submission and you shall see that his hidden wayes were wayes of wisdom Let the Providences of God be never so amazing wee may conclude of this That he can do nothing against his own Glory that he will do nothing against the best good of them that fear his name Thus much for the Second Use which was for Reprehension Thirdly for Exhortation These two Doctrins do Use 3. Of Exhortation recommend three Duties unto all of us that are here present First Bless God O yee Saints for this great Privilege 1

Bless God for this guidance of Divine guidance When you have any occasion to go to a Lawyer for Counsel you give him his Fee without asking VVhen you hire a guide to conduct you in the way you are willing to give him satisfaction God expects that his people should with thankfulness acknowledge his great kindness in laying his VVord before them in putting his Spirit within them in making his Providence subservient for their safe conduct David wisely and Psal 16. 7. graciously resolves upon this I will bless the Lord who hath given me counsel my reins also instruct me in the night seasons God did not only give him his VVord to advise him but his Spirit to teach him The Holy Ghost did stamp such powerful impressions on his affections which he calls his reins that hee was effectually bowed to embrace the Counsels of the VVord VVhen the Wise Men that went to finde out Christ saw the Star the text saith they were exceeding Mat. 2. 10. glad had not that directing Star gone before them they had never found the Babe Jesus No doubt the Children of Israel lift up their hearts and glorified God when that pillar of Cloud and Fire was erected among them And should not the Beleevers heart rejoyce and leap for joy that hath as certain a guide to go before him as that was Let mee but hint some advantages which accrue to the people of God by reason of this guiding Counsell and they cannot but see cause of continuall thansgivings I shall but instance in three particulars First By vertue of this divine guidance you are 1 Hereby are wee preserved from sin preserved from those sinfull waies in which others walk to their everlasting ruine The Prophet David found this benefit Concerning the works of men by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer hereupon he praies in the very next words hold Psa 17. 4 5. up my goings in thy paths that my footsteps slip not Why is it that the Saints do not defile their precious Souls with those horrid blasphemies wherewith others are infected but because they are guided by the Counsell of God That you are not Drunkards Murtherers Covenant-breakers Idolaters Lyers is from hence because God is pleased continually to guide you That you do not swim down the stream with others in a corrupt age that you keep faith and a good conscience in a faithlesse and adulterous generation it is to be ascribed to this guidance of heaven That you do not deny Christ that bought you that you do not reject the Scriptures that you do nor forsake the Ordinances and Ministry as many do that you have not washed your hands in innocent blood and conspired against the life of the righteous it is because God hath led you by the Counsell of his word and spirit The best and holyest person in this assembly would have acted his part in the most horrid designs that others have been imployed in carrying on if God had left him to his own heart If you therefore account it a mercy that you have not stained your hearts and hands and consciences with the black and bloody guilt of the worst of sinnes bless the Lord who hath given you Counsell Secondly By means of this guidance you are kept safe from those dangers whereby others have been 2 Hereby are wee kept from danger overtaken It was by reason of the Pillar of Cloud that the people of God escaped the fury of Pharaoh Exo. 14. 20. and his host when they did pursue them with such impoysoned malice The Pillar came between the Camp of the Egyptians and the Camp of Israel so that the one came not neer the other all the night Gods guiding presence with beleevers is for protection as well as direction As God marcheth in the Vann of the Army to shew his people the way so his presence is in the ●ere to prevent their danger Thy righteousnesse shall go before thee saith the Prophet to the beleever and the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward Isa 58. 8. The fiery darts of Devills would long since have gangren'd your flesh and the venom of their Arrows drunk up your spirits if God by his guiding presence had not stood by you for defence The same God that hath been a wall of fire for your protection hath been a wall of fire for your enemies destruction When Israel saw themselves on dry land and the Egyptians dead on the shore then they sung praises to God Exo. 15. 1. It is by vertue of the fiery Pillar that you have to this day escaped the rage of your Pursuers let the remembrance of it inflame your hearts into the highest praises 3 Hereby is our way sweetned Thirdly by means of this guidance the way of your pilgrimage hath been sweetned to you A good guide doth not only preserve the passenger from dangerous paths but by his discourse and company renders the journey comfortable Through Gods guiding presence that hath been with you in the way you have enjoyed sweet communion with him you have had many a daies comfortable converse with God you have hereby had opportunity to open your souls to him to lay your doubts fears temptations before his face God did not only direct the people of Israel by the Pillar of Cloud but hee did from thence reveal himself to them upon all occasions Hee spake to them saith David out of the fiery Pillar God in guiding Psa 99. 7. the Saints by his Counsell doth familiarly make himself known to them who is this that commeth out Cant. 8 5. of the Wildernesse leaning upon her beloved The phrase doth not only signify conduct but familiarity God by the guiding of his people gives them opportunity to see the boylings of his affection towards them and to unlock all their secrets unto him Hee tels them many a pleasant story whereby their drooping hearts are cheered and gives them leave to declare all their griefs whereby their souls are dis-burthened Now let mee again beseech you and charge you O yee holy ones of God by all the sinnes from which you have been preserved by all the dangers from which you have been delivered and by all the sweet comforts which you have received by the guiding Counsell of God to get your hearts fired into flames of holy praises Secondly Bee willing to submit to the guidance 2 Submit to this guidance of Gods Counsell Do not pull away the shoulder do not harden your hearts be not stiff-necked but where Gods bids you go thither resolve to go The Children of Israel did move when the Pillar of Cloud moved and they went which way soever it went and when the Pillar stood still then they pitched their Tents At the Commandement of the Lord they journeyed and at the Commandement of the Lord they pitched Num 9. 17 18 19 20 21 22 23. their Tents