Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n
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A28310
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A soul-searching catechism wherein is opened and explained not onely the six fundamental points set down Heb. 6. I. but also many other questions of highest concernment in Christian religion : wherein is strong meat for them that are grown and milk for babes, in a very short catechism at the end, exceeding needful for all families in these ignorant and unsetled times / written by Christopher Blackwood.
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Blackwood, Christopher.
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1653
(1653)
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Wing B3101; ESTC R24658
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62,833
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92
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suffers it so to do 3. His ordination or appointment whereby God orders brings and disposes all things and the actions of things how disorderly soever they may seem to be to certain ends according as it seemeth good to him for the bringing about of which ends he also appointeth means Q. How is the providence of God conversant about sinne A. 1. God preserves that nature and will that produces sinful actions God hath a concurrence about sinful actions as appears Gen. 45.8 It was not you that sent me hither but God Deut. 2.30 God hardened the Spirit of Sihon King of Heshbon Psal 105.25 God changed the mindes of the Egyptians that they hated his people But as in a chain that breaks there is no link in fault but that which breaks so in these concurrences of causes none is to be blamed but the next and immediate cause which is the will of man so that though God will the being yet man alone wills the nature of sin Q. What are the positive actions of God in and about sin A. Three 1. His withdrawment of his help and grace from the creature both the help of light Deut. 29.4 The Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive and eyes to see and also the help of supportance 2 Chron. 32.31 Hezekiah was left of God to his pride that he might know what was in his heart which two helps being withdrawn the creature sins necessarily but voluntarily so that as the Sun causes darkness not by overcasting the air but by hiding his light as the staffe falls to the ground being not forced by the hand but only forsaken of it so God withdrawing either light or supportment man sins God who suffers sin hath the power of hindering without any obligation to us and man hath the power of doing without any compulsion the action in God is without fault the action in man without excuse 2. God works about sin by removing the impediments that hindered us from sinning God took away good Jehoiada and then Joash shewed his wickedness 2 Chron. 24.17 So God takes away a Master or Father that kept such a person from wickedness who being removed his wickedness appears 3. God works about sin by setting before us objects whereby he knows our corruption will be enticed as a beautiful woman before an unchast person wine or beer before a Drunkard 4. God works about sin by setting bounds to sin that it shall go so far and no further Psal 76.10 The remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain 5. God works about sin in that he preserves the person nature and faculties of the sinner even whiles he is in sinning Act. 17.28 In him we live and move as an hors-man driving a lame horse is the cause of his going not of his halting so is God the cause of our moving though not of the sinfulness in our moving Q. What use may we make of Gods providence A. 1. See that nothing befalls unto thee by chance if we take chance as a cause in opposition to God as the Philistims took it 1 Sam. 6.9 2. To perswade us to the use of prayer Gen. 24.12 Neh. 2.4 3. To free the heart from disquieting carefulness Matth. 6.32 34. 4. Eye God in all thy affaires Psal 145.15 Prov. 3.6 Psal 139.3 5. Not to fear the terrors of men and so neglect duty Matth. 10.28 29. 6. To comfort us that we are in covenant with him that sits at the stern and governs all 7. To comfort us in respect 1. of our poor condition 1 Sam. 2.7 2. against enemyes plots Luk. 11.31 33. See Exod. 34.24 3. against fear of danger Matth. 2.13 Job 29.4 8. To work patience in afflictions 1 Sam. 3.19 Psal 39.9 Job 1.20 21. Qu. In what condition did God create man at first A. In an holy and happy condition Gen. 1.26 Eccles 7.29 God made man upright which uprightness consisted in a perfect conformity of the faculties of the soul and members of the body to the will of God Eph. 4.24 Col. 3.10 Qu. Did man continue in that state wherein he was created A. No All have sinned and come short of the glory of God Rom. 3.23 Rom. 5.12 By one man sin entred into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men in whom all have sinned Qu. What death did Adams sin procure was it only a temporal death or was it not also eternal A. Adams sin procured to his posterity eternal death in respect of desert Rom. 5.15 If through the offence of one many be dead much more the grace of God and the gift by grace hath abounded unto many As the grace of God gift by grace abounded unto many that is to eternal life and to remission of sins so the offence on the contrary abounded unto eternal death and so it is set down vers 25. that as sin hath reigned unto death even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ as if he should say As the one is so is the other 2. Such as the justification is by the second Adam such is the condemnation by the first Adam But the justification by the second Adam is a justification of life that is of or to eternal Therefore the condemnation by the first Adam is a condemnation to eternal death Rom. 5.18 Therefore as by the offence of one the judgment came upon all men to condemnation even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men to justification of life If any man object that it 's against equity that eternal death should be inflicted for another man's sin A. The same may be said against temporal death it 's as unjust that natural life should be taken away for the sin of another yet the Objectors whether Socinians or Arminians acknowledge this 2. The will of God is the rule of righteousness and if Adam would enter into such an agreement with God that if he stood he and all his posterity should stand eternally and if he fell he and his posterity should perish eternally Who hath any thing to reason against it Hos 6.7 the words are They like Adam have transgressed the Covenant so you have it varied in the margin So that a Covenant passed betwixt God and Adam for the violation whereof on Adams part he and his incur'd eternal death and we hold it equitable in the Courts of men that for the treason of the Father the Posterity smarts also Levi in the loynes of Abraham is said to pay tithes Heb. 7.9 Qu. What did Adam passe over to his posterity besides temporal and eternal death A. Besides their being children of wrath that is not only persons with whom God is angry but upon whom his wrath abides John 3.36 they are children of wrath by nature Eph. 2.3 signifying not only that we are cursed but that we are so by nature or birth natura being derived a nascendo from being born Of Adam and Eve it might