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	law_n	power_n	1,638	5	4.9096	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A60562	A discourse concerning divine providence, in relation to national judgments	Smith, Thomas, 1638-1710.	1693 (1693)	Wing S4222; ESTC R3450	13,165	32

providence_n except_o a_o very_a few_o who_o interest_n it_o be_v to_o wish_v there_o be_v none_o that_o they_o may_v live_v as_o they_o list_v according_a to_o their_o corrupt_a inclination_n without_o the_o least_o molestation_n or_o disturbance_n and_o yet_o these_o very_a man_n who_o deny_v a_o providence_n can_v but_o acknowledge_v and_o confess_v that_o it_o be_v agreeable_a to_o reason_n yea_o and_o necessary_a to_o the_o well-being_n of_o the_o world_n that_o there_o shall_v be_v such_o a_o overrule_a power_n regulate_v and_o direct_v by_o the_o high_a wisdom_n for_o if_o in_o a_o private_a family_n there_o can_v be_v no_o peace_n nor_o safety_n without_o rule_n and_o order_n to_o be_v observe_v by_o every_o one_o in_o their_o respective_a quality_n if_o in_o a_o kingdom_n confusion_n can_v not_o possible_o be_v avoid_v without_o law_n they_o be_v the_o ligament_n of_o the_o body_n politic_a that_o tie_v the_o member_n of_o it_o together_o whereby_o they_o perform_v the_o several_a office_n of_o civil_a life_n in_o a_o orderly_a conjunction_n much_o more_o will_v the_o world_n which_o consist_v of_o such_o a_o variety_n of_o part_n fail_v and_o decay_n if_o the_o creator_n have_v not_o set_v they_o a_o law_n which_o they_o be_v not_o to_o transgress_v and_o if_o they_o be_v not_o restrain_v and_o keep_v in_o from_o prey_v one_o upon_o another_o and_o if_o a_o omnipotent_a and_o alwise_a god_n have_v not_o the_o whole_a order_n and_o disposal_n of_o they_o 2._o how_o come_v thing_n to_o be_v endow_v with_o those_o quality_n which_o produce_v such_o strange_a and_o admirable_a effect_n as_o we_o daily_o see_v and_o hear_v of_o it_o be_v a_o vain_a attempt_n to_o go_v about_o to_o explain_v and_o solve_v the_o appearance_n of_o nature_n by_o the_o mechanichal_n philosophy_n how_o witty_a and_o subtle_a and_o refine_v soever_o without_o believe_v god_n not_o only_o to_o have_v create_v matter_n and_o put_v this_o matter_n into_o motion_n but_o to_o determine_v and_o modify_v the_o several_a motion_n of_o it_o and_o though_o some_o effect_n flow_v necessary_o from_o their_o cause_n according_a to_o the_o establish_a law_n of_o mechanism_n yet_o this_o be_v whole_o according_a to_o the_o will_n and_o contrivance_n of_o the_o first_o cause_n nor_o can_v they_o display_v this_o virtue_n without_o the_o divine_a concourse_n all_o second_o cause_n in_o their_o several_a motion_n need_v the_o continuation_n of_o the_o divine_a power_n and_o influence_n in_o order_n to_o their_o operation_n as_o well_o as_o to_o their_o subsistence_n all_o thing_n than_o be_v at_o the_o disposal_n of_o god_n who_o make_v use_v of_o they_o as_o it_o please_v he_o and_o the_o virtue_n which_o they_o have_v derive_v from_o he_o even_o man_n be_v the_o instrument_n of_o his_o will_n and_o that_o without_o any_o restraint_n of_o or_o prejudice_n to_o their_o natural_a or_o moral_a liberty_n he_o bring_v about_o the_o purpose_n of_o his_o providence_n by_o action_n which_o they_o design_v to_o other_o end_n nay_o sometime_o by_o their_o sinful_a passion_n and_o the_o exhorbitance_n of_o their_o temper_n nabuchadnezzar_n a_o neighbour_n heathen_a prince_n make_v war_n upon_o the_o jew_n god_n own_o people_n either_o to_o satisfy_v his_o thirst_n of_o fame_n and_o glory_n or_o to_o enlarge_v his_o dominion_n or_o it_o may_v be_v upon_o some_o pretend_a affront_n or_o injury_n do_v he_o or_o the_o like_a and_o yet_o god_n call_v he_o his_o servant_n jerem_n xliii_o 10._o because_o by_o he_o he_o punish_v that_o people_n for_o their_o sin_n and_o it_o be_v upon_o this_o account_n that_o attilas_n such_o another_o instrument_n in_o the_o hand_n of_o god_n as_o be_v oliver_n cromwell_n when_o with_o his_o barbarous_a troop_n he_o break_v into_o christendom_n as_o if_o he_o have_v receive_v a_o commission_n from_o heaven_n to_o execute_v god_n wrath_n upon_o the_o christian_n of_o that_o age_n for_o their_o luxurious_a and_o unchristian_a life_n have_v the_o title_n of_o flagellum_fw-la dei._n none_n can_v deny_v civil_a war_n to_o be_v a_o grievous_a judgement_n to_o a_o nation_n notwithstanding_o all_o the_o plausible_a pretension_n of_o cunning_a and_o design_v man_n to_o draw_v the_o people_n into_o their_o party_n and_o to_o take_v up_o arm_n in_o defence_n of_o religion_n and_o property_n both_o which_o suffer_v infinite_o more_o by_o a_o rebellion_n than_o by_o a_o persecution_n if_o any_o such_o have_v follow_v according_a to_o their_o fear_n and_o jealousy_n whether_o well_o ground_v or_o ill_o ground_v it_o matter_n not_o yet_o in_o every_o such_o war_n god_n give_v commission_n to_o the_o sword_n and_o say_v sword_n go_v through_o the_o land_n ez._n fourteen_o 17._o much_o more_o may_v god_n make_v use_n of_o all_o other_o part_n of_o the_o visible_a creation_n which_o have_v no_o principle_n of_o liberty_n within_o they_o thus_o fire_n and_o hail_n snow_n and_o vapour_n and_o stormy_a wind_n be_v say_v to_o fulfil_v his_o word_n psalm_n cxlviii_o 8._o and_o thus_o god_n do_v in_o the_o plague_n of_o egypt_n and_o though_o judgement_n be_v not_o always_o so_o quick_a and_o immediate_a but_o oftentimes_o advance_v slow_o and_o by_o degree_n yet_o this_o do_v not_o hinder_v but_o that_o they_o be_v judgement_n still_o such_o for_o instance_n be_v infectious_a air_n malignant_a disease_n blast_v and_o mildew_n drought_n and_o barrenness_n of_o ground_n deut._n xxviii_o we_o must_v then_o look_v beyond_o natural_a cause_n even_o to_o the_o god_n of_o nature_n who_o order_n and_o direct_v they_o to_o their_o several_a end_n and_o overrule_v they_o and_o oftentimes_o carry_v they_o beyond_o their_o usual_a power_n according_a as_o it_o seem_v good_a to_o his_o divine_a wisdom_n and_o the_o end_n of_o providence_n in_o a_o pestilence_n we_o must_v not_o look_v at_o the_o evil_a influence_n of_o the_o air_n but_o at_o the_o evil_a influence_n of_o sin_n for_o the_o infection_n come_v first_o thence_o god_n may_v continue_v the_o same_o temper_n to_o the_o air_n if_o he_o please_v that_o it_o may_v be_v for_o ever_o healthful_a but_o he_o suffer_v those_o alteration_n to_o be_v make_v in_o it_o by_o degree_n and_o warn_v a_o nation_n by_o such_o slow_a approach_n of_o his_o future_a intention_n so_o that_o notwithstanding_o we_o can_v trace_v the_o natural_a and_o immediate_a cause_n of_o it_o yet_o because_o they_o can_v act_v but_o by_o virtue_n of_o his_o influence_n and_o he_o make_v use_v of_o the_o order_n and_o course_n of_o thing_n as_o it_o best_o please_v he_o the_o beginning_n and_o progress_n and_o decrease_v of_o a_o plague_n be_v to_o be_v ascribe_v to_o his_o will_n and_o pleasure_n as_o much_o as_o that_o which_o we_o read_v of_o 2_o sam._n xxiv_o 16._o when_o the_o angel_n of_o the_o lord_n stretch_v out_o his_o hand_n upon_o jerusalem_n to_o destroy_v it_o the_o lord_n repent_v he_o of_o the_o evil_a and_o say_v to_o the_o angel_n who_o destroy_v the_o people_n it_o be_v enough_o stay_v now_o thy_o hand_n and_o as_o the_o angel_n so_o what_o be_v call_v nature_n be_v the_o instrument_n of_o god_n and_o therefore_o god_n be_v please_v to_o ascribe_v to_o himself_o the_o ordinary_a work_n of_o it_o one_o will_v judge_v it_o necessary_a from_o the_o constitution_n of_o the_o world_n that_o there_o be_v refresh_a shower_n and_o dew_n to_o water_n and_o moisten_v the_o dry_a and_o parch_a ground_n who_o fruitfulness_n will_v otherwise_o fail_v and_o decay_v yet_o this_o in_o the_o judgement_n of_o saint_n paul_n be_v enough_o to_o convince_v the_o heathen_a that_o there_o be_v a_o god_n as_o he_o tell_v the_o people_n of_o lycaonia_n act_n fourteen_o 7._o he_o leave_v not_o himself_o without_o witness_n in_o that_o he_o do_v good_a and_o give_v we_o rain_n from_o heaven_n and_o fruitful_a season_n fill_v our_o heart_n with_o food_n and_o gladness_n to_o this_o 14●_n tertullian_n do_v elegant_o allude_v deum_fw-la in_o aperto_fw-la constitutum_fw-la &_o vel_fw-la ex_fw-la ipsis_fw-la coelestibus_fw-la bonis_fw-la comprehensibilem_fw-la ignorari_fw-la non_fw-la licet_fw-la and_o indeed_o if_o we_o do_v but_o consider_v the_o ordinary_a work_n of_o nature_n which_o we_o do_v not_o value_v by_o reason_n of_o their_o commonness_n and_o therefore_o pass_v over_o slight_o we_o shall_v find_v so_o much_o wisdom_n in_o their_o contrivance_n that_o we_o must_v of_o necessity_n have_v recourse_n to_o a_o infinite_a author_n if_o then_o a_o fruitful_a summer_n if_o a_o plentiful_a and_o seasonable_a harvest_n and_o vintage_n be_v a_o sufficient_a attestation_n of_o providence_n can_v we_o think_v that_o judgement_n though_o bring_v about_o by_o natural_a cause_n be_v not_o the_o effect_n of_o the_o divine_a anger_n and_o displeasure_n can_v a_o sparrow_n fall_v to_o the_o ground_n without_o the_o will_n of_o god_n st._n matth._n x._o 29._o and_o shall_v there_o be_v any_o kind_n of_o judgement_n

a_o discourse_n concern_v divine_a providence_n in_o relation_n to_o national_a judgement_n london_n print_v for_o randal_n taylor_n near_o stationers-hall_n m_o dc_o xciii_o a_o discourse_n concern_v divine_a providence_n in_o relation_n to_o national_a judgement_n notwithstanding_o that_o it_o be_v most_o consonant_a to_o reason_n to_o believe_v that_o he_o who_o make_v the_o world_n do_v govern_v it_o and_o that_o all_o thing_n be_v subject_a to_o the_o law_n of_o providence_n and_o that_o the_o order_n and_o course_n of_o nature_n whereby_o thing_n act_v regular_o and_o make_v up_o that_o beauty_n and_o harmony_n and_o proportion_n which_o be_v visible_a throughout_o the_o world_n be_v not_o the_o effect_n of_o chance_n but_o of_o contrivance_n and_o design_n and_o owe_v its_o original_n to_o the_o divine_a will_n regulate_v by_o a_o infinite_a wisdom_n yet_o such_o be_v the_o pride_n of_o some_o who_o yet_o can_v but_o be_v conscious_a of_o their_o own_o defect_n and_o how_o little_a they_o be_v able_a to_o do_v either_o of_o themselves_o apart_o or_o in_o conjunction_n with_o other_o in_o comparison_n of_o what_o they_o see_v do_v both_o in_o heaven_n and_o upon_o earth_n as_o that_o they_o will_v scarce_o acknowledge_v god_n to_o be_v supreme_a but_o set_v up_o for_o themselves_o as_o absolute_a and_o think_v to_o reverse_v his_o decree_n by_o their_o wit_n and_o policy_n attribute_v the_o success_n of_o their_o counsel_n to_o the_o strength_n of_o their_o part_n and_o wisdom_n and_o never_o refer_v their_o defeat_v and_o disappointment_n to_o his_o overrule_a power_n but_o to_o some_o cross-accident_n which_o they_o shall_v have_v provide_v against_o and_o then_o seven_o they_o cry_v out_o upon_o the_o extreme_a malignity_n and_o spightfulness_n of_o fortune_n as_o they_o speak_v when_o all_o their_o wicked_a and_o devilish_a policy_n have_v be_v blast_v and_o prove_v to_o be_v nothing_o but_o elaborate_a folly_n beside_o they_o will_v have_v all_o the_o great_a revolution_n that_o be_v bring_v upon_o the_o world_n to_o be_v the_o result_v of_o mere_a nature_n which_o they_o set_v up_o as_o a_o distinct_a principle_n from_o providence_n that_o be_v that_o they_o flow_v from_o a_o series_n of_o natural_a cause_n link_v and_o tie_v together_o and_o that_o such_o a_o kind_n of_o combination_n necessary_o produce_v such_o effect_n and_o that_o all_o those_o astonish_a act_n of_o providence_n which_o we_o by_o a_o general_a name_n call_v judgement_n be_v natural_a and_o consequent_o in_o a_o manner_n fatal_a and_o periodical_a what_o be_v this_o but_o to_o leave_v the_o world_n to_o itself_o and_o to_o exclude_v god_n from_o have_v any_o thing_n to_o do_v in_o the_o government_n of_o it_o and_o in_o effect_n to_o rob_v he_o of_o the_o glory_n and_o perfection_n of_o his_o godhead_n but_o i_o know_v not_o whether_o the_o folly_n or_o impiety_n of_o this_o opinion_n be_v the_o great_a not_o to_o acknowledge_v a_o divine_a hand_n in_o those_o event_n which_o be_v confess_o extraordinary_a let_v we_o lift_v up_o our_o eye_n to_o the_o heaven_n and_o contemplate_v the_o number_n of_o the_o star_n their_o greatness_n their_o inexhausted_a light_n their_o regular_a and_o uninterrupted_a motion_n and_o order_n and_o let_v we_o fancy_v if_o we_o can_v that_o they_o make_v themselves_o or_o that_o such_o glorious_a body_n result_v from_o the_o fortuitous_a concourse_n of_o little_a particle_n float_v up_o and_o down_o in_o a_o infinite_a space_n according_a to_o the_o idle_a and_o precarious_a hypothesis_n of_o epicurus_n let_v we_o turn_v our_o eye_n downward_o and_o look_v into_o ourselves_o and_o reflect_v upon_o the_o faculty_n of_o our_o mind_n upon_o the_o power_n and_o command_v which_o we_o have_v over_o ourselves_o and_o our_o action_n upon_o the_o law_n imprint_v upon_o our_o nature_n upon_o those_o notion_n of_o good_a and_o evil_n that_o grow_v up_o with_o we_o and_o which_o we_o can_v never_o throw_v off_o and_o upon_o the_o dictate_v and_o judgement_n of_o conscience_n and_o this_o will_v show_v we_o that_o we_o be_v fit_a subject_n and_o capable_a of_o a_o law_n after_o this_o let_v we_o proceed_v to_o consider_v the_o original_a of_o our_o be_v the_o prerogative_n which_o reason_n give_v we_o above_o other_o creature_n and_o the_o obligation_n lie_v upon_o we_o as_o we_o be_v man_n and_o this_o will_v prove_v to_o we_o that_o we_o be_v not_o only_o capable_a of_o but_o actual_o under_o a_o law_n that_o we_o be_v accountable_a for_o the_o action_n of_o our_o life_n to_o a_o supreme_a power_n and_o that_o every_o violation_n of_o the_o divine_a law_n the_o eternal_a and_o unchangeable_a law_n of_o righteousness_n which_o god_n have_v reveal_v and_o manifest_v not_o only_o in_o the_o scripture_n but_o in_o our_o very_a nature_n be_v just_o punishable_a by_o he_o this_o be_v once_o grant_v we_o shall_v be_v soon_o make_v to_o confess_v except_o we_o will_v do_v violence_n to_o our_o reason_n that_o god_n show_v his_o anger_n against_o sin_n by_o the_o judgement_n which_o he_o bring_v upon_o the_o world_n and_o that_o nothing_o of_o this_o nature_n do_v come_v to_o pass_v or_o can_v come_v to_o pass_v without_o his_o order_n and_o appointment_n and_o but_o for_o some_o cause_n the_o prophet_n amos_n chap._n iii._o verse_n 6._o lay_n it_o down_o by_o way_n of_o question_n and_o appeal_v to_o the_o reason_n and_o conscience_n and_o understanding_n of_o all_o mankind_n shall_v there_o be_v evil_a in_o a_o city_n and_o the_o lord_n have_v not_o do_v it_o which_o according_a to_o the_o know_a law_n and_o method_n of_o argue_v amount_v to_o this_o universal_a negative_a proposition_n that_o there_o neither_o be_v nor_o can_v be_v any_o judgement_n in_o a_o city_n or_o kingdom_n whereof_o god_n be_v not_o the_o author_n now_o in_o the_o first_o place_n in_o order_n to_o vindicate_v the_o honour_n of_o the_o divine_a providence_n i_o lay_v down_o the_o follow_a proposition_n as_o infallible_o certain_a that_o no_o evil_a of_o punishment_n which_o be_v bring_v upon_o the_o world_n happen_v by_o chance_n and_o particular_o that_o those_o judgement_n which_o seem_v to_o derive_v from_o natural_a cause_n be_v the_o effect_n of_o his_o justice_n and_o govern_v power_n which_o i_o thus_o brief_o prove_v that_o god_n do_v concern_v himself_o with_o the_o transaction_n of_o man_n and_o either_o do_v or_o will_v punish_v they_o soon_o or_o late_a according_a to_o their_o misbehaviour_n and_o demerit_n have_v be_v the_o belief_n of_o the_o very_a heathen_a notwithstanding_o the_o corruption_n and_o degeneracy_n of_o their_o manner_n notwithstanding_o that_o vast_a number_n of_o false_a opinion_n which_o they_o have_v take_v up_o according_a to_o their_o fancy_n and_o which_o make_v way_n for_o other_o of_o a_o fatal_a consequence_n to_o the_o great_a shame_n and_o discredit_v of_o their_o reason_n and_o notwithstanding_o all_o those_o brutish_a custom_n and_o violation_n of_o the_o law_n of_o humanity_n which_o they_o have_v bring_v into_o practice_n the_o impression_n of_o this_o fundamental_a truth_n of_o nature_n be_v make_v so_o deep_a upon_o their_o mind_n that_o they_o can_v not_o total_o efface_v they_o in_o a_o time_n of_o common_a calamity_n for_o instance_n when_o they_o be_v distress_v by_o a_o invade_a enemy_n or_o when_o a_o plague_n have_v diffuse_v its_o venom_n over_o their_o country_n or_o in_o case_n of_o any_o violent_a inundation_n or_o famine_n or_o earthquake_n they_o acknowledge_v that_o this_o be_v the_o punishment_n and_o demerit_n of_o their_o sin_n that_o their_o god_n be_v angry_a with_o they_o and_o that_o the_o way_n to_o get_v these_o judgement_n remove_v be_v to_o appease_v their_o anger_n whereupon_o they_o erect_v altar_n and_o heap_v up_o sacrifice_n upon_o they_o some_o devote_a themselves_o to_o death_n and_o other_o be_v offer_v up_o alive_a they_o think_v to_o gain_v the_o favour_n of_o their_o deity_n by_o such_o kind_n of_o barbarous_a and_o bloody_a rite_n it_o be_v certain_a that_o they_o have_v corrupt_v this_o truth_n horrible_o by_o their_o superstition_n and_o impiety_n but_o the_o foundation_n and_o ground_n be_v that_o there_o be_v a_o vindicative_a justice_n a_o nemesis_n which_o proportion_v our_o punishment_n according_a to_o the_o measure_n and_o degree_n of_o guilt_n now_o i_o demand_v 1._o if_o all_o thing_n come_v to_o pass_v of_o themselves_o without_o be_v guide_v and_o direct_v by_o a_o invisible_a hand_n how_o come_v the_o belief_n of_o the_o contrary_a so_o universal_a it_o be_v a_o blemish_n to_o our_o reason_n to_o imagine_v that_o by_o the_o constitution_n of_o humane_a nature_n false_a principle_n shall_v be_v infuse_v into_o our_o mind_n and_o that_o we_o shall_v be_v fatal_o incline_v to_o error_n or_o that_o all_o the_o world_n shall_v mistake_v in_o the_o belief_n of_o this_o great_a truth_n that_o there_o be_v a_o alwise_a