Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	act_n	effect_n	will_n	1,670	5	6.6468	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A43586	A new creature: or, A short discourse, opening the nature, properties, and necessity of the great work of the new creation upon the souls of men Being some plain discourses on Galatians vi. 15. By O. H. an unworthy minister of the Gospel.	Heywood, Oliver, 1629-1702.	1695 (1695)	Wing H1774; ESTC R221314	109,851	208

Christ his infinite and co-eternal Son All things were made by him i. e. by this Essential Word and without him was not any thing made that was made John 1.3 By him were all things created visible and invisible By this Heir of all things he made the Worlds both according to the Matter and Form thereof Col. 1.16 Heb. 1.2 And thus it is in the New Creation for we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good Works Eph. 2.10 As Christ is the First-born of the Creatures after whom the New Creature is formed for God in his naked Majesty is invisible not obvious clearly either to corporal Eyes or humane Minds but Christ is the express Image of his Person Heb. 1.3 and manifests the glorious Perfections of the infinite God That as we have born the Image of the earthly Adam we should bear the Image of the heavenly 1 Cor. 15.45 49. That is Christ thus in the Incarnation God was Man in Regeneration Man becomes like God 4. God created all things with a Word So saith the Apostle Through Faith we understand that the Worlds were framed by the VVord of God Heb. 11.3 God's Fiat or Let it be produced the whole Fabrick of Heaven and Earth By the Word of the Lord were the Heavens made and all the Host of them by the Breath of his Mouth Psal 33.6 Art needeth many Helps Nature needeth few God needeth none nor doth use any Instrument in the Creation for nothing can intervene betwixt the First Cause and the First Effect it is an immediate Product of his arbitrary Will and Pleasure So it is in this New Creation James 1.18 Of his own Will begat he us with the Word of Truth God speaks the Word and the Sinner is converted If it be said That Ministers are Instruments in Conversion I Answer But still they are nothing neither is he that planteth any thing 1 Cor. 3.7 They need God God needs not them he can do his Work without them yea in the first Infusion of a Principle of Saving Grace there 's nothing of Instrumentality it s done Immediately 5. God made all things good and perfect at first 1 Tim. 4.4 Gen. 1.31 Every Creature of God is good And God saw every thing that he had made and behold it was very good quia nec temere nec frustra factum nothing was made either unadvisedly or to no purpose A thing may be said to be good as it is correspondent to the Idea of the Divine Wisdom or as it is fit for that use to which it is designed and for which it serves It needs not be enquired whether God could not have made the World or its parts better or more perfect for if we consider the World in respect of the whole so it is perfect both as to its degrees and parts But as to its parts severally God could have made them better as in a Camp there are Captains Souldiers and a General in some respect if a Souldier were a Captain he were better but in respect of the whole Camp which consists of Superiors and Inferiors he is better as a Souldier So in this New Creature it is perfect in its kind in subserviency to God's great Ends though defective in point of degree in this World hence God's Children are said to be not perfect as having not attained Phil. 3.12 Yet they are perfect Ver. 15. To be sure this New Creation is good as will appear anon 7. Though God from Eternity purposed to create the World yet the World was created but in Time not from Eternity Gen. 1.1 In the beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth God worketh all things according to the Counsel of his own Will Eph. 1.11 It s true all things had a kind of Being in God as in the Cause whence all things flow in the Eternal Mind or Idea according to which all things were framed but they had not their real or actual Existence till God in his Wisdom thought good to produce them In thy Book saith David Psal 116.16 were all my Members written Thus it is in this New Creation God hath a Book of Life and such as are in the Book of Life shall in time be savingly Converted Called Sanctified Justified Glorified Thus runs the Golden Chain Rom. 8.29.30 As many as were ordained to Eternal Life shall believe All such as the Father gives to Christ shall come to him John 6.37 He hath chosen us in Christ before the Foundation of the World that we should be holy Eph. 1.4 So then this New Creation in time is the result and effect of God's determination before all Time see 2 Thes 2.13 7. The Creation of the World was gradual both as to Time and as to Manner In point of Time God made the World in Six Days Gen. 1. Not but that God could have dispatch'd all in a Moment but for sundry weighty Reasons he took every day a moment to do the work of that day in Thus God is perfecting this New Creation all the time of a Christian's Life and for his manner or method of working God proceeded from imperfect to perfect first God made a confused Chaos then he made the Elements then orta ex Elementis what ariseth from them First he made things without Life then things having Life Man that was the Master-piece of the whole Creation he made the last Even thus doth Grace proceed in the New Creation he first forms a Chaos some confusion of Spirit by a legal Work first comes a Spirit of Bondage to fear then a Spirit of Adoption Rom. 8.15 First some glimmering Light in the Mind then the Day-Star ariseth in the Soul 2 Pet. 1. And the Sun of Righteousness comes with healing under his Wings Mal. 4.2 And the Grace of God grows till the Christian comes unto a perfect Man unto the measure of the Stature of the Fulness of Christ Eph. 4.13 8. The first thing that God created was Light Gen. 13.4 God said Let there be Light and there was Light In this he proceeds from total Privation to Habit it is hard to describe this Light possibly it was a bright lucid Body like the Fiery Cloud in the Wilderness giving imperfect Light successively moving over the several parts of the Earth and afterwards condensed increased perfected and gathered together in the Sun the Apostle applies this to the workings of God's Spirit in converting a Sinner 2 Cor. 4.6 For God who commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our Hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ The first thing a Limner draws in a Picture is the Eye the first Lineament of this gracious new Man is Saving Knowledge God will not dwell in a dark House and therefore first he beats out Windows in his Habitation without knowledge the heart is not good Prov. 19.2 The Devil's Kingdom is a Kingdom of Darkness Christ's of Light Converting Grace

5.6 〈◊〉 we are all without strength cannot think a g● thought 1 Cor. 3.4 Yea dead in Trespasses and Sins Eph. 2.1 And are meer Passives in the first Infusion of Spiritual Life Subjectum dei actionem suscipens a Subject capable of divine operations but in the power of Darkness lead captive by Satan at his pleasure Col. 1.13 Yea The Carnal Mind is enmity to God 1 Tim. 2.26 God works both to will and to do of his good pleasure Rom. 8.7 ut velimus in nobis sine nobis operatur Aug. 3. Quest Why then doth God and Man call upon us to turn our selves yea to make us a new heart and a new spirit Ezek. 18.31 if this be not in our power Doth he not mock us when he calls us to do that which he knows it is impossible for us to do Answ No for 1st It was once in our power to do good by his Donation and if we have lost it by our own Folly and cannot do what he requires we must hereby know that God hath not lost his Authority to command because we have lost our Ability to obey He will let us know his Soveraignty But 2dly God knows Man is a proud Creature and thinks he can do what he cannot And now God commands to convince him of his insufficiency that he may look uy to God for help Yet 3dly Though Man hath lost the Rectitude of his Faculties he hath not lost his Faculties he hath a Rational Soul if he have not Spiritual Grace Though carnal Persons be morally dead yet they are naturally alive Men have a self-reflecting Conscience which they may and must use It is the Candle of the Lord searching all the inward parts of the Belly Prov. 20.27 4thly It was the saying of Augustin Twelve Hundred Year● ago He that made thee without thee will not save thee without thee If thou be not an Efficient in thy own Conversion thou mayst and must be an Instrument in thy Salvation thou art bound to work out thy own Salvation Phil. 2.12 4. Quest What is a Man better for his endeavours unless God give him the Grace of this New Creature All that he can do will be to no purpose nothing can be pleasing to God or available to himself in his natural state For without Faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 Answ 1. Though carnal men cannot do what God requires in a due manner yet God hath some respect to such as for the matter do something of their Duty God took notice of Ahab's humiliation and promiseth not to bring the Evil in his days 1 King 21.27 29. Jehoahax● wa● none of the best Kings Yet when he besought the Lord he hearkned to him 2 King 13.4 And upon Rehoboam's humiliation the Lord considerably remitted of his punishment 2 Chron. 12.6 7. And is not a relaxation or removal of outward punishment of some worth with you Yea though the young Gentleman's obedience was but poor stuff and he in his natural state yet Jesus beholding him loved him see Mark 10.20 21. Is this nothing 2. However such as frame not their Hearts and Doings to turn to God and through sloth or wilfulness neglect God's appointed Means of becoming New Creatures do First evidently declare themselves to be causes of their own damnation Secondly render themselves daily worse and worse and grow more unable to repent 2 Tim. 3.13 Thirdly provoke God to give them up to their own Hearts Lusts Psal 8.10 11. Fourthly make themselves manifold more the Children of Wrath Matth. 25.15 Are more inexcusable and sink themselves deeper in Hell And is this any way desirable 3. But though such poor Souls cannot with all their endeavours make themselves New Creatures yet we may say of such as our Lord said of the Scribe Mark 12.33 34. When he saw that he answered discreetly Thou art not far from the Kingdom of God You are in an hopeful way to Heaven while you are endeavouring in the use of God's appointed means 4. And who can tell what these Labours will produce It s true thou canst not deserve Grace ex congruo to challenge it of Debt for the work done nor can I say that Grace is due to thee by any Promise for all the Promises of God are made in Christ 2 Cor. 1.20 But I have something yet to say for thy Encouragement For 1st thou hast to deal with a God of infinite Goodness that hath Sworn he delights not in the death of a Sinner Exod. 34.7 Ezek. 33.11 And who knows what he may do for thee 2dly God hath yet spared thy Life and is sending terms of Reconciliation to thee a vile Sinner 2 Cor. 5.20 and stands knocking at thy Door while thou knockest at his A general Pardon is proclaimed Mark 16.15 thou hast no cause to despair 3dly Didst thou ever meet with any that came sad and disappointed from his Door Did he ever say to any Seek ye me● in vain Isa 1. Nay doth he not say Those that come unto me I will in no wife cast off John 6.37 4thly And doth he not say Those that seek me early shall find me Prov. 8 Doth not the Gospel promise what the Law commands God doth graciously undertake to do what he requires us to do he bids you make you a new Heart and the same God saith I will put a new Spirit within them Ezek. 11.19 O put him to it and try him what he will do the Means I shall suggest hereafter This only in Answer to this Question 5. Quest Is not the New Creature begot in the Ordinance of Baptism which is called the washing or Laver of Regeneration Tit. 3.5 then we need no more Answ 1. Baptism as Circumcision of Old is a Seal of the Righteousness of Faith Rom. 4.11 And supports Faith either in the Parent or in the Child or Party baptized for the Promise is to you and to your Children Acts 2.38 The Apostles baptized Believers Now the Effect is not before the Cause If they were Regenerated before Baptism could not be the Cause of Regeneration 2. Yet some have been baptized upon the Profession of their Faith that never were regenerated as Simon Magus who was still in the gall of bitterness Acts 8.13 23. So it was but a Sign no proper Cause which would have had its certain Effect 3. If Baptism were the Cause of Regeneration then no unbaptized Children were regenerate and so could not be saved if dying in Innocency but David believed his Child's Salvation 2 Sam. 12.23 tho' not Circumcised by vertue of the Covenant 4. It is a groundless Popish Doctrine to think that Sacraments confer Grace ex opere operato meerly because used that they stamp an indelible Character on the Party baptized it s but an External Act and cannot reach the Heart or Conscience no more then Old Testament Rites could do Heb. 10.1 3. Nor is it in the power of the holiest Minister on Earth or Angel in Heaven its

Nature of this New Creature take this Description of it The New Creature is a supernaturl Work of Gospel-Grace wrought in the Soul of a Sinner by the Word and Spirit of God changing the whole Man from an old state and course into a new thereby transforming it into the Divine Likeness and turning the Heart and Life to the rule of the Word in order to the glory of God and the Souls present and everlasting communion with him This is the New Creature I confess this Description is long but I cannot leave out any of the parts thereof I shall very briefly open the Branches of this description 1. For the general Nature of it I call it a Supernatural Work for it is above the power of nature to produce it it comes from above so he that 's born again John 3.3 Is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from above This perfect Gift comes down from the Father of Lights James 1.17 That Jerusalem that 's above is the Mother of us all Gal. 4.26 This New Creature is no Herb that grows in Nature's Garden it s a Plant of Paradise Flesh and Blood cannot so much as reveal this to the sons of men Matth. 16.17 Therefore it s no wonder if learned Doctors such as Nicodemus laugh at such Doctrine as Fantastical Fancies and say How can these things be John 3.4 Or like Ezekiel's hearers who saith Ah Lord God they say of me Doth he not speak Parables Ezek. 20.49 For such wisdom is too high for a Fool. Psal 56.9 In God's light only must we see light Experience is the best Mistriss in these Cases We speak wisdom saith the Apostle among them that are perfect But the natural man receives not the things of the spirit of God 1 Cor. 2 6 14. This New Crerture is of a Coelestial Original and must have an heavenly Interpreter 2. In this Description we have the particular Nature of this New Creature I call it a Gospel-Grace it is no branch or fruit of the Old Covenant of Works for the Law maketh nothing perfect There was no Law which could give Life Gal. 3.2 21 28. But the New-Testament Dispensation called the Promise this only produceth the New Creation Objection You 'l say Had not Old-Testament Saints this New Creature Doth not David say Create in me a clean heart Psal 51.10 I Answer Old-Testament-Saints had a New-Testament-Spirit for they without us could not be made perfect Heb. 11.40 The same Gospel belonged to them and us and was preached to both Heb. 4.2 Abraham saw Christ's Day they all partaked of Gospel Grace John 8.56 both in Justification and Sanctification they were but different Editions of the same Gospel-Covenant they were as Children in Minority under Tutors and Governours Gal. 4.1 2 25. Gospel-Saints as Children at Age their state was under the Bond woman in Mount Sinai Ours is of Jerusalem which is free However that Gospel-Promise made known in the Old Testament belongs both to them and us Ezek. 36.26 A new Heart also will I give you and a new Spirit will I put within you This is the proper Gospel-Work in both Dispensations and sincere Believers of Old had experience of it tho' the Veil was upon the Face of Moses 2 Cor. 3.14 15. and the Hearts of Carnal Jews as it is on all Unbelievers to this day but Gospel-Grace renews Souls 3. Here 's the subject in which this New Creature is and that is in the Soul or Heart of a sinner There 's the Seat and Centre of this New Creation it s not meerly external in the Eye or Foot or Hand or Tongue but it s an internal work in the Soul the Christian is renewed in the Spirit of his Mind Ephes 4.23 Behold saith David thou desirest Truth in the inward parts in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know Wisdom Psal 51.6 It s called the hidden man of the heart 1 Pet. 3.4 Not but that it breaks out in Lip and Life but the Root and Spring lies under Ground out of the view of the world as the best Treasures are lock'd up the best Goods are under Deck or as Merchants Wares lie in a back Shop not exposed to the open view of the World A Christians Life is hid with Christ in God Col. 3.3 Hence they are called God's hidden Ones Psal 83.3 And the King's Daughter is all glorious within Psal 45.13 These gracious Souls are like Kings in disguise and it doth not yet appear what they shall be 1 John 3.2 But when the Shell is broken the Pearl will appear all external Changes in men are but the change of the Clothes this the change of the Man and his Manners For he is not a Jew that is one outwardly but inwardly Right Circumcision is that of the Heart in the Spirit not in the Letter whose praise is not of men but of God Rom. 2.20 30. It is wrought by God and known to God who alone searcheth and sees the Heart 4. The Instrumental or Organical Cause of this New Man which is the Word of God Rom. 1.16 This is the power of God to Salvation James 1.18 Of his own Will begat he us by the Word of Truth 1 Pet. 1.23 Being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the Word of God which liveth for ever The Word is the Seed which being ingrafted in the Heart springeth up in obedience which is the Flower and visible product of the New Creature yea 't is properly the Gospel-Word Moses or the Law may bring us to the Borders but Joshua leads us into Canaan the terrors of the Law prepare the way as John Baptist but the Word of the Gospel is the door of Faith that takes Souls by the hand and leads them into the Chamber of Presence this is God's method to work this New Man by a powerful Gospel-Sermon so saith blessed Paul 1 Cor. 4.15 I have begotten you in Jesus Christ through the gospel there 's the Instrument Paul I have begotten you the means by the gospel the author in Jesus Christ faith comes by hearing Rom. 10.14 Prov. 8.34 Therefore let all lie at the Gates of Wisdom Expect not this New Creation if you turn your backs on God's Institutions 5. The Efficient Cause is the Holy Ghost The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us Rom. 5.5 Oh what a gracious Tincture doth the Spirit leave upon Hearts what a sweet Breath doth it breath into them which breaths out Love to God and Men How is this New Creature diffused into all the Faculties of the Soul by the Spirit This is both a Seal and an Earnest who hath also sealed us Eph. 6.13 14. and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our Hearts 2 Cor. 1.22 All good is conveyed to us by the Holy Spirit from the Father and the Son especially this Saving Good of Conversion we are born again of Water and of the Spirit John 3.3 8.