Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	affliction_n	great_a	sin_n	1,620	5	5.2580	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91901	The petitioners vindication from calumnie and aspersion. And the young mans animation to the building up of Zion. Published in their defence, against a scurrilous book or pamphlet lately written against them by I.W. and scandalously intituled, Petitions against bishops and their votes in Parliament. Subscribed unto after a clandestine, delivered after a tumultuous manner, and falsly going under the name of a whole county or town, proved to be both contrary to our late taken Protestation, as also utterly unlawfull by many other cleare and evident reasons. Now answered and refuted, and petitions delivered unto the Parliament, by impregnable reasons proved to be both lawfull, and according to the petitioners duty, and the late taken Protestation. With many other remarkable passages worthy of observation. By T. Robinson, veritati devotum.	Robinson, T., fl. 1642.	1642 (1642)	Wing R1715; Thomason E146_24; ESTC R212725	45,496	53

assured that i sin is the prime cause of all my sufferings and I fear that ingratitude in not being thankefull and walking worthy of those great mercies received hath been a principall cause why God hath shut the hearts of some of our Governours at this present as is much feared This whole argument is good and godly let the Devill have Answer his due and worthy of practise in all Protestants yet it tends nothing to prove that the Petitions against which my Author hath undertaken his discourse are unlawfull or that the authors of them hath therein acted any thing either against God or man And I do confesse that for the wickednes of a people God sendeth wicked Governors and that i sin is the prime cause of all our miseries But that ingratitude or other sin of the people is the principall cause why God doth shut up the hearts of Governours I do deny that is their own wickednesse Witnesse Pharaoh and Saul 1 Sam. 15. 23. 26. Many people have suffered for their Governours but to my knowledge I never read that ever any Governour suffered for the people Saul the hypocrite dealeth falsely and slayeth the Gibeonites but the people endure three yeers famine for it 2 Sam. 25. 1 2. So David sinneth but the people are plagued 1 Chron. 21. 7. 17. For the sin of Manasseh the King was all Judah carried captive 2 King 24. 3 4. And were they not the high Priests and Elders that crucified Christ yet was the whole Nation therefore destroyed And that it is the Governors own sin that causeth God to harden them I further prove it thus They having a will to fin and no regard unto God nor unto his word therefore doth he in his just judgement give them up to a reprobate mind to do things that are not convenient Rom. 1. 28. 30. Had Gods Word been by Saul regarded Saul by God had never been rejected And thus fall they to sin the more freely and abuse their authoritie eating up Gods people as bread untill God by their hand hath sufficiently punished them and then doth he break those rods in peeces and consume them in his wrath for the evill of the people shall not excuse their ungodly government no nor extenuate their judgement And so I proceed again as followeth fo 12. viz. Sixthly I know God will correct his children for their sins and in The Author the exceution of his judgements on the world he will begin at his own house either to work out sin or to work in grace or to make that grace more manifest which is already wrought I know that the end of Gods correction is reformation till then if smaller afflictions will not prevail greater shall if not one kind then another if the sword of our enemies do not the swords peradventure of our own amongst our selves shall if not they peradventure the pestilence or the famine or some other shall sundrie of which sometimes come together to let the world know that our afflictions come not immediate from any one k secondary or instrumental cause but that it is from the will and pleasure of the Almighty so to order and to dispose it who will not take off his judgements as the effects till our sins as the cause be removed Herein likewise is nothing to be gainsaid Onely I must still Answer notifie that whatsoever is here alledged doth not justifie mine Authors clandestine aspersions against the aforementioned Petitioners and Petitions or any wayes condemne therein either their actions or persons That our afflictions come not immediately from any k secondarie cause who knoweth not Is there evill in the City and God doth it not Amos 3. 6. Lam. 3. 38. Yet this doth not therefore prove that such instruments as a●● manifestly the secondarie causes of our troubles either justifiable or tolerable And as mine Author would not have us account the Bishops the immediate cause of our perturbation and affliction so I wish he would advise them not to take us for the onely cause of their shamefull fall and confusion but their own detestable impietie and abomination the which the righteous Lord hath justly brought on the heads of them to the astonishment of the whole earth So I come again to his own words fo 13. viz. Seventhly I dare not l use any unlawfull means to ease mine The Author affliction I know no better way then by m humiliation and prayer to God for a sight of those sins whereby I had provoked him to wrath and for grace and true repentance for the same and remission by the merits of my Sav●our Jesus Christ And then to apply my self with all diligence to all lawfull means to remove them yet I am not to put too much n confidence in them I could never yet find any benefit by o impatience under the hand of the Almighty I have found more afflictions procured thereby and I am assured that the Church and children of God never lost by their p patient suffering What this man l dare not do I am sure as yet we have not Answer done as hath been plainly proved albeit he secretly involves our rebuke in his dare not For as not he so no man can prove a petitionary way unlawfull and other means then humble petitions and modest solicitations there hath been none used by us excepting that principall means of m humiliation by himself so much preferred the which by the goodnesse of our King and Parliament hath rather been president then subsequent to our other endeavours And I verily beleeve men have been so farre from putting too much n confidence in the use of means as that they have not given due credit to the promise of God made unto them For how many but a while since did even despaire * Witnesse every mans arming himself and standing upon his guard notwithstanding the means used And of o impatience who can reprove us what people have so easily subjected their necks to such grievous yokes as we have done and that not for daies but yeers illegal taxes impoverishing Patents forcible impositions popish Inquisitions cruell censures and bloody sufferings And now the waters are moved God hath sent his Angel to cure us shall we not stir shall we not enter shall we not lay hold upon so happie an occasion if we cannot make means our selves we may with the lame man at the pool of Bethesda sit still long enough there are none so charitable many otherwise to make means for us We have not with the traiterous Papists rebelled for our oppressions but like a woman with child patiently waited though in great anguish the Lords appointed time for our deliverance and it being come and we in pain may we not seek for help to the Midwife of our heavy burthens the skilfull Parliament yes doubtlesse lawfully and ready and willing are we to undergo whatsoever charge or trouble they shall enjoyn and put upon us so that we

in their stead They have been false in much how then can they be faithfull in a little They have not well governed their own house how then can they govern well the house of God 1 Tim. 3. 4. 5. And so I come again to his own words fo 9. viz. Thirdly because that which is or seemeth to p be a prejudice now ● Author may in Gods good time prove a great benefit We many times earnestly pray for those things which afterwards we give God thanks for not q granting our requests and this hath many times been for the removall of our present afflictions I am confident if there were good care taken as there may be that r good men may be made Bishops we shall never p repent of their lawfull office or place for s greatnesse with goodnesse will much advance the cause and welfare of the Church and commonwealth And further I know it is possible for some t inferiours to execute the Law and the Gospel likewise in a farre more imperious and tyrannicall way then some Superiours have done True it is that many things which seem p hurtfull at the Answer first may in due time prove very good in taste they may be bitter but in digestion profitable But it must be considered whether things be simply evill and fundamentally or by occasion and accidentally Now what is simply evill and fundamentally can never prove good nor produce any otherwise then God by his all ruling providence shall dispose it but that is not thank-worthy to the instrument And such is the power and jurisdiction of the present Bishops and therefore both we and ours need never fear p repentance for seeking to have them removed but q heartily praise God if it may be granted I know it is possible to have r good men for Bishops but then they must be chosen according to the rule of the Gospel and not after the Articles of their Doctrine Act. 1. 15. 24. to the end and 14. 23. and not one Bishop be elected by another as they are receiving the holy Ghost from such as may be suspected never had it And my Author and the whole world in my opinion do mightily mistake whilest they imagine that such externall s state and greatnesse is requisite in the Ministers of the Church This was that delusion wherewith the devill blinded the eyes of the poore Jews they looked for a triumphing Messias with stately attendants and in pompous trappings but lo he cometh meekly riding on an Asse Surely if outward state and glory had been expedient for Christs Church He himself being her head and husband would have put it on and left it for a rule and an example to his Apostles and their successours especially at that time when he came from heaven to marry her and occupied the place of a Bridegroome Matth. 9. 15. But we do neither find it in his person for imitation nor in his doctrine for direction nay his rules are contrary and so were his Apostles practises Paul that Architect in the house of God and chief Planter of Churches although most worthy if any more then other was content to live in mean estate not seeking his own but the good of others I find not in all the new Testament that any of them had either lands or livings I am sure not glebe or Ecclesiasticall as they call them if they had other they did sell and communicate them Act. 2. 45. and 4. 37. no nor set allowance Indeed they eat of the fruit of their labours as is most just according to that in the 1 Cor. 9. 1. to the 24. and it is our duty to take care for them Rom. 15. 27. Gal. 6. 6. But I know no precept for any positive means The Leviticall Law is abolished tithes and tents are certainly ended the Priesthood being changed their rights are likewise changed Hebr. 7. 12. and for certain the Apostles were not ignorant both of the force and extent of this Law I speak not this to abase the Ministerie or encourage any in their neglect or disrespect toward them The Labourer is worthy of his hire and God forbid but they that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel 1 Cor. 9. 14. and that comfortably void of care For if the servant of the old Law was so honourable much more is the Minister of the new How beautifull are the feet of them that bring glad tidings of salvation Isa 52. 7. But again I say I conceive neither rule nor reason why they should have so many thousands and so many hundreds per annum tithe of all even to an egge yea and all will hardly * Witnesse that unreasonable demand and unsatiable pursuite of 2. s. 9. d. in the pound suffice being most of them too much like those greedy dogges in Isaiah 56. 11. for by these means they become puft up and set themselves in competition with the men of this world contending for preheminence and priority forgetting that godlinesse is great gain and that they ought to teach the Gospel of a * Christus ob gratiam Christi non muneris mundi praedicandus est ready mind and not for filthy lucre they plough not in hope they thresh not in hope as the Apostles did 1 Cor. 9. 10. But they will be at a surer lock they wil know before hand what they shall have like Judas quid dabis and if their own termes and conditions be not fulfilled they wil neither * Witnesse Mr. Finch Mr. Hutton Mr. Davies Mr. Swadling c. cum multis aliis quos jam praescribere longum est preach pray with you administer the Sacrament to you nor bury your dead nay if a man put not into their mouthes they prepare war against him Mich. 3. 5. Thus by practise making good the old popish Proverbe No peny no Pater noster These things have caused them to mind the Fleece onely and not the Flock and given them horns to gore the poore Saints of God And besides for these * Quisquis ad praemia velox things sake have many crept into the folds who have not been shepherds but ravening wolves And I have observed that corruption came first into the primitive Church by the doore of ambition and the coveting of worldly pomp and dignitie was the very Basis of the Seat of Rome and the first step of the Beast his throne for under the colour that exterior wealth and power would elevate and advance Religion crept up that man not of God but of sinne with all his lordly train But some will say was it not for these incouragements few or none would apply themselves to the Ministerie I commend incouragement it is not the use but the abuse not the end but the excesse and unequall disposing of it I condemne And fear not labourers whilest there is a harvest for God hath promised to send or thrust forth Labourers into his harvest and to that end hath he

deserved a bitter curse for not coming forth to help the Lord against the mighty Judg. 5. 23. a place considerable Much more then deserve they to be cursed that help against the Lord and take part with the mighty against his people Even so let thine enemies perish O Lord But they that love him shall be as the Sun when he riseth in his strength And so I return to the words of mine Author as followeth fol. 11. viz. I am to judge charitably of the z actions and intentions of my The Author Governours what I think a peradventure is for my hurt may be b intended at leastwise turned to my good I must walk by the c rule of Gods Word and follow the d examples and precepts of my Saviour To pray for them that hate me and do good to them that persecute me and not to forget to pray for all that are in authoritie that I may live a godly life under them in all peace and quietnesse Why may I not suspect that this long enjoyment of the Gospel in peace and plenty hath produced e ill effects in me as well as in my governours But be my governours what they will I have learned to obey all their f lawfull commands and g thank God that I may live under so happy a command If they command me to do no otherwise then what is just and right I must and will willingly do it neither dare I h neglect my duty to them though they forget theirs to me For their offences and neglects to me shall not excuse me to God for them for my offences and non performances of mine to either of them We are not onely to judge charitably of the z actions and Answer intentions of our governours but of the actions and intentions of other men also yet with this proviso that they be not obstinate and persist not in their actions and intentions when as they see or are informed that either in themselves or the issues of them they are evill and ungodly and that they do it of ignorance and misunderstanding and not of wilfulnesse despight and malice as many of the Bishops works and plots yea and of others in authority too have been and are proved Nor must we go upon a peradventures in cases so fundamentally adverse to the universall good For it is not peradventure but most sure that he which seeks to raze the * And by the Bishops and their faction the very foundations both of Church and State have been shaken foundation of an edifice seeks utterly to subvert it nor will any man be so charitable as to let him alone saying he perhaps may intend some better structure or other work to it Nor is it wisdom in any man to suffer a known evill if it lie within his power to avoid it in hope or meer conceit it may be well b meant or at least so prove This is a tempting of the most holy One. We know God turneth all things to the best of his chosen but ought not therfore his chosen to use the lawful means for the avoiding those evils which palpably threaten them or the State and Nation wherein they live or whereof they are members Yes sure Otherwise Mordecai and Esther might have done well to have sate still and said in secure charitie or uncharitable securitie sure Haman intends not such deadly mischief against us as he seemeth or howsoever it may peradventure turn to our greater good But they took another course or else they had been in a dolefull case and all their people And even so had we and this whole Land if we had not used the means God called us to Mine Author saith he must follow the c rule of Gods Word I wish he may for as yet in this he hath not to call evil good and good evil and the d examples and precepts of our Saviour who teacheth us to pray for them that hate us c. and for all that are in authority that we may live godly c. that precept of praying for our enemies is as I conceive principally meant as they are private enemies to our persons onely so prayed Stephen for them Acts 7. 60. not as they are publique and irreconcileable foes of Christ and his Church Anathema Maranatha saith Paul to all that love not the Lord Jesus And for praying for all Governours I agree with him provided they be in lawfull authority and with his own conclusion that we may live godly under them in all peace and quietnesse the which we must not expect under the Bishops That long peace and plenty under the Gospel hath produced e ill effects in us as well as our Governours is undeniable And we are all like a ship that hath laine long still in harbour over grown with the mosse and slime of corrupting securitie and what then Must we therefore any longer abide therein God forbid Let us up rather and be doing and the Lord will prosper us Let our sleeping Commanders be either rowsed or with supine Jonas be cast over board better they then the whole vessell the Nation perish And let our great Barke of Church and State be careined have her very keele turned upward scraped searched calked rigged and trimmed and so faithfully maned out again to the astonishment of our foes and the rejoycing of all those which are imbarked in her and wish well unto her And although the f lawfull commands of evill governours are to be obeyed yet it argueth not that evill Governours are to be tolerated And indeed it is well nay a Miracle and a man hath speciall cause to g thank God if his Governours being evill command nothing but what is lawfull But can an ill tree bring forth good fruit raro aut nunquam very seldom or do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles if it be so is it not by an overruling hand are not the wicked tethered doth not the Almighty turn their wrath to his praise and restrain the rest of their rage Psal 76. 10. yea and bridle their thoughts too But we have much more cause to praise God when our Governours be good men of courage fearing God and hating covetousnesse Exod. 18. 21. then may we with boldnesse expect both good commands and good effects and blessed are the people that are in such a case Eccles 10. 17. True it is that we must h do our duty and perform on our parts though the Governours be wicked and fail on theirs for their neglect shall not excuse ours every vessell shall stand on his own bottome Yet for such Governours as are not lawfully constituted and authorised as the Bishops it is a Quaere what duty is there due whether any So I come to what followeth fol. 11. videlicet Fifthly I dare not but look at the hand of God and not at the instrument The Author onely of my afflictions I know nothing can come to passe but by his permission I am