Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	action_n	sin_n	will_n	1,909	5	6.8826	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85985	The blessed peace-maker and Christian reconciler: intended for the healing of all unatural and unchristian divisions, in all relations: according to the purport of that divine oracle, pronounced by the Prince of Peace himself, Matth. 5.9. By Claudius Gilbert, B.D. minister of the Gospel at Limrick.	Gilbert, Claudius, d. 1696?	1658 (1658)	Wing G701; Thomason E939_3; ESTC R202209	119,212	155

Scripture yields the Major conscience suggests the Minor and from both premises deduces a comfortable conclusion There is a reflexive Act of Faith necessary hereto called the faith of evidence or assurance to perfect such a gracious Eccho resounding from Earth to Heaven Paul enjoyed such a Peace by a due Improvement of Grace Christians should labour orderly for it by their due progress in spirituall Growth working out their salvation with fear and trembling to make their Calling and Election as sure to themselves as they are sure in themselves Yet many gracious Hearts often want this sight through the many Blasts of external temptations and cloudy vapours of internal Corruptions 3. External Peace with men is answerable to our several Relations both religious and civil 1. There is a Religious Ecclesiastical Peace which is the tuning of Gods People into a due composure and Christian Correspondence in the affairs of his Church and Worship This Peace are we often minded of and pressed to that having Salt in our selves we may have Peace one with another The members of Christs body though different and distant are thus to be at Peace as in the Church mystical Invisible so in the Church Political visible They must study the things that are for Peace wherein they may edifie one another They that agree in the main of Christianity should labour to agree and help one another in the means thereof All the living stones of Christs spiritual house that are duly set on him the foundation should be regularly squared to comply with each other therein Schisms and Convulsions are alwaies bad but worst of all here Though we may not joyn with Gods people in that which appears evil to us yet that difference must not hinder us from closing with them in such things which they and we do account needful and good This Peace includes not Approbation of evil nor doth it exclude due Administration of regular Censures private or publick We are herein to imitate Christ our Head who approves of no evil and still administers all due censures yet is not in the least hindred thereby from bearing with his children and servants in forbearing them as he sees convenient He keeps peace with them whilest he chides and frowns threatens and corrects so should Christians do after his pattern for each others good 2. A civil Peace bears its proportion to our respective stations either political in the State or Oeconomical in the family To this Peace we are all called being bid and bound to seek and follow it hard not only with the gentle but also with the froward As we are men subject to humane frailties and willing to be born with so must we think the like of others No politick fabrick can stand without this The Laws of Nature and of Nations are subordinate to the Laws of Heaven for the cementing and maintaining hereof This Peace includes not any Commission of evil or omission of duty but only that which tends to an orderly accommodation of mutual Relations for good against evil This threefold Peace hitherto explained will appear to be a blessed thing if we do but consult with Scripture and Experience Blessedness is the confluence of all good in the removal of evil opposite to that good Such as the Peace is such is the Blessedness attending it whether spiritual or temporal publick or private Divine Records comprize still all good under this expression either as included in it or joyned to it or flowing from it It s the constant Dialect of Christ and his Apostles in their salutes and fare-wells as it was the Spirits language under the Old Testament whence the New Testament borrows most of its expressions Benedictions and Valedictions run s●●ll on this wise Peace be to you Peace be with you in the Word of God Induction might easily be made by pregnant instances in each particular branch were it needful in so clear a point The experience of all Ages publick and personal verifies it more then sufficiently This Sun-light needs not the help of our Candle 3. The Demonstration and Ground of this truth may be contracted into a threefold Reason from the Author Nature and Adjuncts thereof Reason 1. Peace is a blessed thing because the blessed God is the peculiar Author and Cause thereof considered both essentially and personally 1. God essentially considered is the God of Peace that 's his Title of Honour frequently proclaimed by his Heraulds and Embassadors What 's Peace but the congruity of the workings in each creature to that end whereto the supreme Mover hath appointed their respective Beings All Good must needs be from the first and chief good being ruled by him and leading to him as it comes from him The more of true Peace there is found anywhere the more of God and Blessedness still Gods excellency is shadowed out to us by Divines in a triple Method of exemption eminency and causation Thus God is declared to be infinite unchangeable c. he is most just most wise c. and he is the Cause of Causes who supports governs and supplies all things by a constant Influx of Providence being alwaies the proxime immediate Cause to every action His divine causality runs as a string through all secundary Causes to knit them to their respective operations and effects which he suspends and orders at his will The Correspondency of creatures to his will keeps the Peace and Blessedness so far their breaking of rank and forsaking their appointed station and motion brings the Jar and Woe by breaking that Peace Sin and sorrow come in at such a gap whilest the rational creature loosens this Bond of Peace in any Relation God himself challenges a special interest in this great blessing as the Author and Ruler Supporter and Promoter Restorer and Preserver Proprietor and Disposer thereof 2. God personally considered is the God of Peace which makes it to be such a Blessing In the divine Trinity a perfect Peace shines most gloriously Unity and Order the great Essentials of Peace appear therein by the beams of that eternal Brightness Unity of Essence and Order of Persons hold forth that transcendent Peace in the divine Trin-Unity There are three that bear Record in heaven the Father the Word and the Spirit and these three are one Here is priority not superiority a co-ordination though no subordination These three divine Persons have a distinct as well as a conjunct influence into Peace there are three that bear Record on earth agreeing in one also towards Peace 1. God the Father is the Head-spring and Original Source of Peace to man It flows from him primarily to us thus the Apostle teaches us to expect Grace Mercy and Peace from God the Father 2. God the Son is the grand Treasurer of our Peace which he receives from the Father for us You have him therefore still joyned to the Father in the Magna Charta the great

with fear and trembling because its God that works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure Strive to enter in at the straight gate and attend still at the posts of wisdoms house all whose waies are pleasantness and all her paths are Peace In your way to Peace mind industriously the Subject and Matter the Ground and End the Rule and Effects hinted at before The Lord gives Peace by the mouth of his servants at his pleasure creating the fruit of the lips Peace Peace all kinds and degrees in all the waies and means of true Peace to him that is near and to him that is far off in healing of them observe his method forbearing what he forbids taking what he gives improve his Promises obey his Precepts follow his directions and be sure to break with sin and Satan as you desire to have Peace with God Conceal no enemy but discover all to your Soveraign that you find plotting Treason within you keep no rebellious arms make no League no Truce with any spiritual Adversaries Be sensibly ashamed and weary of your sinful Peace manifest to all especially to God in his appointed waies that you design and labour through his grace to be wholly and constantly his His Covenant of Peace gives you those Articles of marriage on which you are to embrace his Son conjugally in giving up your self to be wholly his Study the same that you may punctually observe each of them through his Spirits help Take all in Christ and take Christ in all in surrendring up your self unto him so shall you surely enjoy the Peace of God with the God of Peace 2. This Exhortation should also perswade the real Possessors of Peace to make the best improvement thereof Such a blessed Thing should be made use of in every Relation in every Condition in every Occasion according to its worth Men improve their Lands and Estates their Trades and Offices to the best advantage with all diligence Is not this Peace of far greater moment in all Spiritual and Temporal respects Learn to be faithful Stewards of this choice mercy he entrusts you with whom he hath made the subjects of this Peace Keep the Kings Peace that it may keep you in every good thing Observe that Rule and Ground for that end of Peace before signified that the blessed effects of the same may orderly follow Improve with thankfulness and fidelity that Blessed Portion afforded you fcom heaven Beware of every thing that threatens a breach between God and you Keep this Jewel with all watchfulness and industrious care Make much of that which cost Christ so dear Be sure to keep close to the divine Author of your blessed Peace in the due review of its Nature and Adjuncts Peace with God well kept will be of special help to the preserving of Peace in your conscience and both will further your Peace with others too in all the means tending thereto Sin and Satan will be still striving to endanger and disturb the same Keep your eye and heart stedfast on your God in keeping your hand steady on his Work He hath promised to keep in perfect Peace such who thus faithfully rely and trust in him Believe and pray resolve and labour for Peace in all his waies so will the God of Peace give you Peace alwaies and by all means according to his Word The very God of Peace will throughly sanctifie you in soul body and spirit and his Peace shall keep you as with a garrison against all enemies internal and external You must still be receiving help from God that you may still be helpful unto others So shall you be blessed Peace-makers which is the next thing to be considered Propos 2. Peace-makers are blessed Persons This is Christs assertion plainly expressed the sense and truth whereof being made out and made good good Application will be made thereof 1. The sense and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is wrapped up in the words sufficiently cleared when we have but opened how this Peace-making is to be understood The Greek expression 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imports a kind of humane efficiency variously expressed in Scripture dialect God makes Peace as the supreme Agent man as a subordinate Instrument under him God works it as the Primary cause man as a Secundary acted by him in every motion God effects it by over-ruling the minds and hearts of men Man by directing and perswading in offering Reasons and Motives suited to such minds and hearts God can do it without means at his Will but usually by Blessing the means appointed by him Man by the diligent improving of those means whereon the Lord hath promised his Blessing According to the nature of the Peace such is mans way of working towards it 1. With respect to eternal Peace with God Man is said to make his Peace when he follows the Lords directions in order thereto through the efficacious help of Christs renewing Spirit closing with Christ by a lively faith upon Gospel terms receiving of him cleaving to him resting on him and surrendring up himself to him according to the conjugal Articles of his gracious Covenant Thus whilest a man is exercising Faith and Repentance in an obediential love that he may through the Spirit die unto sin and live unto God in Christ he is said to make his Peace with God 2. In regard of internal Peace a man is said to be the maker thereof instrumentally when he observes the Lords instructions through Christs sanctifying Spirit in purging himself from all filthiness of flesh and spirit to perfect holiness in the fear of God Whilest he is thus searching of his heart viewing of his waies and washing his conscience in the blood of Christ often that he may behold therein as in a Crystal Glass the Lords image by due reflexion he is then subordinate unto the holy Spirit in the clearing of Peace in his conscience 3. In relation to external Peace both Civil and Ecclesiastical Man is then a Peace-maker when he is carefully diligent to attend and improve the multiplicious means appointed of God thereto according to the variations of his proper state and opportunities through the supplies of the Spirit of Jesus Christ This Peace-making then is a multiplicious Act of the whole man flowing from a gracious principle within whereby all the powers and parts of soul and body are s●t on work to promote this Blessed Peace with all possible diligence and care though such cannot alwaies effectually produce what they sincerely and faithfully labour for Such Peace makers are blessed Persons 2. The Truth of this Proposition in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of it that it is so appears sufficiently from the Word and Providence of God made out to man in all successive Generations The God of Peace by his manifold precepts and promises prefigurations and prophesies doth largely make out the Duty and Dignity of his Peace-makers The friends of God were