Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	apostle_n	faith_n	word_n	1,525	5	4.2834	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B36604	Preparation for sufferings. Or The best work in the worst times Wherein the necessity, excellency, and means of our readiness for sufferings are evinced and prescribed; our call to suffering cleared, and the great unreadiness of many profesours bewailed. By John Flavel minister of Christ in Devon.	Flavel, John, 1630?-1691.	1681 (1681)		85,227	160

have a flourishing Faith rouze it up out of the dull Habit and live in the daily exercise of it 4. Go to Jesus Christ who is the Author and Finisher of Faith and cry to him as Mark 9.24 Lord increase my Faith Yea beg the assistance of others Prayers in this behalf as the Apostle did 1 Thes 3.10 2 Thes 1.11 Faith animates Prayer and Prayer increases Faith 5. Improve times of affliction for the increase of Faith For certainly sanctified afflictions do notably exercise and increase this Grace 1 Pet. 1.7 In times of Prosperity we see not what stock of Faith we have We live so much upon things seen that we cannot many times tell whether we have Faith or no But when difficult days come then we must get out our whole subsistance and livelihood by Faith Hab. 2.4 Yea then we have many Proofs and Experiments of Gods fidelity in the Promises which is a choice help to Faith 2 Cor. 1.10 6. Keep Catalogues of all your remarkable Experiences treasure them up as food for your Faith in time to come Oh! it is a singular encouragement and heartning to Faith when it can turn over the Records of Gods dealing with you in years past and say as Joshua Not one thing hath failed Jos 23.14 When it can say so of Promises that have already had their accomplishments then they will be apt to say concerning those yet to be accomplished as Elizabeth said to Mary Luke 1.45 Blessed is the Soul that believeth for there shall be a performance of those things which are told it by the Lord. These Experiments are the Food of Faith Psal 74.14 Thou brakest the Heads of Leviathan in pieces and gavest him to be meat to thy people inhabiting the Wilderness i. e. That famous Experience of the Power and Love of God in their Red-Sea Deliverance where he destroyed that Sea-Monster Pharaoh and his Hoast was Meat to the Faith of Gods Israel in the Wilderness afterwards We often find Christ charging the peoples unbelief on a bad memory Mat. 16.8 9. And hence it was that the Lord commanded the Israelites to keep Journals of every days Occurrences Numb 13.1 2. It 's a thousand pities such choice helps should be lost Oh! if you could but remember how the Lord hath appeared for you in former Exigencies and how often he hath shamed you for your unbelief it would exceedingly animate your Faith both in present and future distresses Mic. 6.5 7. Lastly Beware of Sense which is the supplanter of Faith O if you live upon things earthly you put Faith out of its Office things earthly have an enmity to Faith This is the victory by which we overcome the world even our Faith 1 John 5.4 Overcoming notes a conflict and conflicts infer oppositions Oh you that live so much by sight and sense on things visible what will you do when in David's or Paul's case Psal 142.4 2 Tim. 4.16 when all outward encouragements and stays shall utterly fail What had Abraham done if he had not been able to believe against hope i. e. such an hope as is founded in sense and reason Reader I advise and charge thee in the Name of the Lord and as thou hopest to live when visible comforts die that thou be diligent in the improvement and preparation of this excellent Grace of Faith if it fail thou failest with it and as thy Faith is so art thou Consult all the Cloud of Witnesses and see if thou canst find a man among them that did not atchieve the Victory by his Faith Had they not all been run down by the furious assaults of temptation and instead of a Cloud of Witnesses been so many Pillars of Salt and Monuments of reproach and shame to Religion if their Faith had failed in its tryal CHAP. IX Wherein the necessity and usefulness of Christian fortitude in order to sufferings is evinced with a brief account of its nature and the means of attaining it THe next Grace which concurs to the compleating of our actual readiness for sufferings is Christian Fortitude or holy courage which must say in thy heart in a time of danger as Elijah once did As the Lord lives I will shew my self This also is a choice part of your preparation work In this Grace our Apostle was Eminent When he was told Bonds and Afflictions waited for him he could say That none of those things moved him Acts 20.24 yea when he was to appear before the Lyon Nero and not a man would own or stand by him yet he stands his ground resolving rather to die on the place then dishonourably to recede from his Principles and Profession 2 Tim. 4.16 17. He set the World with all its threats and terrours lower than it set him Oh how conspicuous was this Grace in all those Heroes that have past on before us And if ever you hope to stand in the evil day and be fetched off the Field with honour you must rouze up and awaken your courage for God And the necessity thereof will appear upon these four considerations 1. Because the success and prevalence of Satans temptations in the hour of persecution depends upon the fainting and overthrow of this Grace Wherefore doth he raise persecutions in the world but because such terrible things are fitted to work upon the passion of carnal fear which rises with those dangers and makes the Soul as a tumultuous Sea This is it he aims at Neh. 6.13 This is a multiplying passion that represents dangers more and greater than they are and so drives the Soul into the very Net and Snare laid by the Devil to take it Prov. 29.25 The fear of man brings a snare which was sadly exemplified in Abraham Gen. 12.12 and divers others of the Saints If he can but subdue this Grace he will quickly bring you to capitulate for life and liberty upon the basest and most dishonourable terms therefore the preparation of this Grace is so exceedingly necessary 2. Because this is the Grace that honours Jesus Christ abundantly when you are brought upon the Stage for him There is a great Solemnity at the suffering and tryal of a Saint Heaven Earth and Hell are Spectators observing the issue and how the Saints will acquit themselves in that hour We are made a spectacle saith the Apostle The word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we are set as upon a Theatre in publick view 1 Cor. 4.9 God Angels and Saints wait to see the glorious triumphs of their Faith and Courage reflecting honour upon the Name and Cause of Christ Devils and wicked men gape for an advantage by their cowardise Certainly very much lies now upon the Christians hands Should he faint and give ground how will it furnish the triumphs of Hell and make Christs Enemies vaunt over him as if his love ran so low in the hearts of his people that they durst not adventure any thing for him or if notwithstanding their brave words and glorious profession they durst