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	good_a	will_n	1,978	5	6.3082	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91010	A bundle of myrrhe. Or Several sweet truths spiritually unfolded under these following heads. 1. Mercy magnified. 2. Practical graces. 3. Christs humiliation. 4. Certainty of salvation. Published by H.P. minister of the Gospel.	Prime, H.	1653 (1653)	Wing P3458; Thomason E1476_1; ESTC R209523	20,540	61

2. It may provoke us to hasten our assurance of our exemption from this ordination to wrath by separation from the way of reprobates by getting grace peculiar to the elect distinguishing between restraining grace and renewing 3. It should stir us up to vows of eternal thankfulness to God having found our exemption from wrath and our appointment to Salvation not onely rejoycing with thanksgiving that God hath appointed us to life but that passing by others he hath respected us Luke 10.21 it addes marvellous amplification to the mercy and love of God Heb. 2.16 Mal. 1.2 3. The soul that hath tasted this mercy can never express the measure of it but rather faint in the admiration of it But to obtain Salvation The salvation of the saved is made sure by decree of the unchangable God It is not onely foreknown but put for us The persons ordained us and we put unto it into Gods eternal decree and fore-ordination which is certain not onely that some shall be saved but for number more or fewer shall not be saved and for persons these be not they Which may be gathered by the distinction of Brother and Brother Abel not Cain of such as have election to the same office of King David not Saul of Apostles John 13. I speak not of you all I know whom I have chosen of ordinary Preachers many never known Matth. 7. Some written in the Book of Life their name in Gods eternal memory Phil. 4. Such as have common favor to hear Salvation offered the Election obtain the rest are blinded As many as were ordained to life believed As if we should say Pew-fellows so Work-fellows Bed-fellows one taken another left as God eternally had decreed that doth all things after the counsel of his will to whom his works be known all from the beginning of the world Act. 15.18 Rom. 8.29 Gods fore-knowledge is in order before predestination Act. 15.18 Rom. 8.29 This puts difference between one and another Gods purpose according to election Rom. 9.11 not of works but of him that calleth Matth. 20.16 Calling is effectual onely in such persons and no other as God hath chosen Whom he predestinated them he called The particulars are known the means sent to them continued for them Acts 18. and made effectual to them The Lord knoweth who are his 2 Tim. 2.19 Christ calls his sheep by name knoweth them and knoweth others not to be his Joh. 10.26 27. Of all the persons that have been are or ever shall be in the world the number is finite defined and certain with God The generation of men as it had a beginning so shall it have an end by Gods will And of all that are some are appointed to salvation some to damnation God is not ignorant whom he will save whom he will damn for he is most wise The means prepared for the salvation of some and fore-seeing ordained for the destruction of some cannot fail for he is most mighty If the hairs of their heads be numbred much more the persons elected be numbred Applic. It follows therefore That God hath not left men to be framers of their fortune casting lots on nond but leaving men to make themselves elect or reprobate and that alterably as they stand in faith and holiness or fall away from it First Mans wisdom deals on better certainties first determining of the end of his work and accordingly disposing of his workmanship Secondly This way we are beholding to our selves more then to Gods grace that I may be elected and saved I must thank God that I am elected and saved I may thank my self God made it possible my free will made that possibility beneficial unto me and so one man may insult over another as making the difference between himself and another man contrary to that 1 Cor. 4.7 Object 2 Tim. 2.21 If a man therefore purge himself from these he shall be a vessel unto honor It seems then a man may frame his own fortune and make himself a Vessel of honor Sol. It is to be understood of his own knowledge of his election by the figns Object It seems God hath not so unalterably determined of the persons but that one that was elect may fall from election and another take his room or else why is there mention of putting out names of the Book of life Psal 69.28 Exod. 32.33 Sol. Such sayings are to be understood of the manifesting of Gods counsel They whom God by open signs joyns unto his people are said to be written in the Book of life and so contrary when God openly casts them away and roots them out of the Church they are said to be blotted out of the Book of Life that he hath written as the false Prophets Ezek. 13.9 They shall not be in the Assembly of my people nor be written in the writings of the house of Israel c. Some seem to be written and are not some seem to be written and are so they that seem and are not the Lord will upon their sin manifest it that they were not written the other shall hold their account Revel 3. It is a strong foundation of comfort that the persons be unalterably elected Rejoyce in this your names are written in Heaven Rom. 8.33 Who shall accuse the Elect of God Nothing can separate from the love of God in Christ Election is in God who changeth not not in us that change of Gods will and fore-knowledge not of our works To obtain Salvation To obtain salvation is not meant here to acquire it by their own merits for the mean of their obtaining is determined in the Text Christ Jesus But it is all one with other places where the Elect are said to be ordained to eternal life God then hath determined of the final state of the Elect Elect they are not onely to Means and Grace but to the End Salvation Acts 13.48 To eternal life Rom. 9.23 prepared to glory to conformity with Gods Son in his Image Rom. 8.29 Blessedness of a Kingdom Matth. 25.34 Their place in Heaven near Christ Matth. 20.23 Blessing with all Spiritual Blessings in Heavenly places Eph. 1. From Election as a cause flows Grace and the right use of it to the Elect whatsoever pertains to Life or Godliness all Graces qualifying the persons elected and making them meet for their Masters use and their lot among the Saints in Light As the revealing of Christ the secrets of the Kingdom Faith in Christ Union with him Justification Adoption Regeneration Good works perseverance with an impossibility to be seduced finally God keeps them by his power unto salvation they shall never perish God reserveth them to himself Rom. 11. preserved in Jesus Christ Jude 1. so as their salvation is sure and infallible Which is matter of plentiful Consolation in all thoughts perplexing or distressing Fear not little flock it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom By Jesus Christ This is the onely mean resolved of in Gods Counsel for the accomplishment of Gods purpose concerning the salvation of the Elect Jesus Christ He is therefore said to be predestinate before the world and we predestinate in him 1 Pet. 1.20 Ephes 1. Our Salvation of his gracious purpose given us in Christ Jesus before the world 2 Tim. 1.9 And given are all to Christ Jesus that God will save that he may purchase their salvation by his merit and put them in possession of it by his efficacy John 6.37 John 17.2 38 39. Him hath the Father sealed to this work to give food unto Eternal Life John 6.27 And propounded for reconciliation by Faith in his Blood Rom. 3.25 There is no other Name under Heaven to claim Salvation by Whence follow these things First That Christ is not the cause of our Election though he be the Saviour There is no cause without God that moved him to chuse where he hath chosen Purpose Grace Good pleasure will of shewing mercy doing with his own what he will working all according to the Counsel of his will These are alledged as the onely cause why he resolved upon these persons in them to shew the riches of his Glory We are chosen in him not for him we are saved according to Gods purpose for him as ordained the mean and meritorious cause the Author of eternal Salvation Secondly As many as God means to save he as he gives to Christ so causeth to come to him and not one more or less that not being in this life joyned to Christ to be finally out of Christ Ioh. 10. is a sign of rejection from Grace and Life It is not as some dream that an honest life in a true or false Religion will save Then what lost the Jews by stumbling at Christ who sought Righteousness and Life without him The Apostle counts all dung for Christ and desireth to be found in him He is our hope by him onely we beleeve and have access to God If we be Christs we are Abrahams seed and heirs of the Promise Christ gives himself for no other but such as are given of his Father to him he layes down his life for his sheep he excludes the rest out of his Intercession What Christ is as Mediator what he doth as Mediator to whom he doth any thing by Mediation is all by the will and appointment of his Father His will he came to do his work was appointed him and that he finished according to his will All other means are but subordinate as Faith Preaching Sacraments with relation to Christ Christ onely absolutely necessary these as instruments to receive him Some wanting these have Christ to Salvation FINIS

sanctification of the Spirit And this study God works in their hearts unto whom he reveals their election unto life for the accomplishing of his counsel that they may witness their thankfulness to him that they may be counted worthy of his Calling and of his Kingdom For howsoever none be worthy of the inestimable felicity in Heaven yet God doth fit all Col. 1.12 and makes them meet for himself and their inheritance in light for whom he hath prepared it and useth their own study care and labor to apprehend that holiness and happiness for which they have been apprehended of him To this purpose are the Exhortations to walk worthy of God and of their Calling and Prayers to be counted worthy to escape the things that come upon the Earth and worthy of his Calling 2 Thes 1.11 Vse 1 When we are tempted to unbeleef to self-love to dispair to cleave to earthly things with neglect of spiritual graces we should thus reason God hath not appointed us to perdition and therefore we must not yeeld to motions stirring us to such things as bring perdition but to obtain Salvation which he hath declared in his calling of us therefore we must and we will flee these things and follow after Faith Love Godliness Righteousness Gentleness c. Fighting the good fight of Faith till we lay hold on eternal life whereunto we are called 1 Tim. 6.11 12. If we do these things we shall never fall but abundant entrance shall be ministred unto us into the everlasting Kingdom of God 2. If sin have prevailed in some act let it move us to repentance to purging our selves reasoning thus This is not the way from election to salvation but from reprobation to damnation I will up therefore and turn my feet into Gods Commandments and forsaking the way of destruction keep the way of life for I am not appointed to wrath but to salvation 3. In them it appears election takes place that make the love and mercy and unchangeable decree of God a motive to follow Heavenly graces and to give themselves to God They that share in the mercies Rom. 12.1 move their resolution thereby to sacrifice themselves to God 2 Cor. 5.14 that partake of Christs love to work an addicting of themselves to Christ c. Where therefore this is wrought it is a sign of our sharing in this grace of election when from the thought of it we fight for our deliverance from sin the world and the devil and arm our selves with grace unto the fight Then it is evident Paul hath his part in the love of Christ dying for him when for Christ he dieth to the world Gal. 2.19 20. that he may live to God She loveth much therefore her many sins are forgiven her her affection argueth in her devout actions to Christ that she hath her part in his merit Hath not appointed or put us unto death In this exemption of the Apostle and the believing Thessalonians from ordination unto wrath there is not darkly insinuated That some are ordained to wrath by the Lord. Some mens destruction not onely in general but in particular not onely simply but in comparison this man not that Cain not Abel Esau not Jacob Judas not Peter decreed c. He will shew mercy on whom he will shew mercy and whom he will he hardneth There are Vessels of wrath prepared to destruction not onely by themselves sinning but by God ordaining their end according to his absolute power and his prerogative as the Potter hath to appoint his clay to the end and use of honor or dishonor and so to frame it out of the lump Rom. 9. I have hated Esau I have loved Jacob without foresight of their works as Christ is set for the ruine of many in Israel Luke 2.34 so some stumble at the stumbling stone Rom. 9.32 33. they stumble at the Word 1 Pet. 2.8 being disobedient unto the which they were even ordained or also appointed Fore-written unto this destruction or condemnation Jude v. 4. Prov. 16.4 He hath made all things for himself even the wicked for the day of evil In appointing to wrath three things are signed Rejection from grace and glory deputation to sins ordained to destruction 1. For clearing God Though we could not finde out his justice in this yet we must hold the principle God is righteous Jere. 12.1 Rom. 9.14 Is there unrighteousness with God God forbid Reject such thoughts with abomination 2. God may be cleared First in respect of his absolute liberty and right or prerogative by the similitude of the Potter He is not unrighteous in his action whose will executes but lawful power Secondly God in his liberty and prerogative may be cleared in his ends of his action He appoints none to damnation for damnation sake he delights not in the destruction of his Creature he respects his glory of power of wrath of justice of patience in bearing long with sinners and at last punishing them powerfully and righteously and declaring his rich glory in the Vessels of Mercy As all things are of him and through him so all things are for him Rom. 11.36 It is just for God to will his own glory by that of which he hath absolute power 3. He is cleared in his obtaining of this end of the glory of his justice and power in that he condemns and destroyeth none in his wrath but the material cause of their condemnation is found in themselves He created all righteous left man in the power of his will by his own free-will he sinned against God and so lost himself and his freewil his minde set on evil his wisdom contrary to God and cannot be subject to God He suffers them with patience giveth means of Repentance and Salvation for many and many gifts not onely worldly but spiritual makes them taste of the excellencies of the life to come doth what he can do for them excepting the new creating of them which is not unto just proceeding required He causeth not but permitteth their sin or in justice makes latter sins punishments of former blinding them that will not see but wink at the light hardning them that harden and obstinate their own hearts against his motions delivering them to their own hearts lusts that will not hear his counsel till they fulfil their full measure of sin rejecting them without purpose of ever reclaiming them And this is just And howsoever they cannot now but sin yet they sin with freedom without constraint from him with delight that they are said to love death Prov. 8.36 and to seek death Vse 1 1. For that there is an appointment of some to wrath it must stay us in our wondering at the ineffectualness of the Word in many to whom it is preached and that in a diverse manner or degree some continue enemies and disobedient being enraged by it some hear gladly yet go back offended at something All are not of God all have not faith