Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	apprehend_v	faith_n	righteousness_n	2,102	5	8.3942	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91733	Rules for the government of the tongue: together, with directions in six particular cases. [brace] 1 Confession of our faults to men. 2 Confession of Christ before men. 3 Reprehension of faults in others. 4 Christian communication. [brace] Vrbanity and eloquence. 5 Consolation of the afflicted. 6 Self-commendation, and a disproof of perfection in this life. Added, as a supplement, to the Rules for governing [brace] 1 the thoughts, 2 the affections, in the Precepts for Christian practice, or, The rule of the new creature, new model'd. / By Edward Reyner, minister of the Gospel in Lincolne.	Reyner, Edward, 1600-1668.; Reyner, Edward, 1600-1668. Precepts for Christian practice.	1656 (1656)	Wing R1230; Thomason E1594_2; ESTC R208861	220,132	401

him better than he was 2 Cor. 12.6 We should bewail the neglect of and aversenesse to this duty in all sorts even from young to old the most are more forward 1 To commit sin with others or to incourage others unto sin 2 To deny hide or excuse their sins even when they are taxed and reproved for them 3 Or to outface their faults and justifie them than to confesse them to others It is the property of sinners and the infirmity of Saints who are but as Infants in measure and sanctified but in part to palliate and cover their sins as much as they can This hath been their manner from the beginning or from sins entrance into the World See it in our first Parents Adam layed the blame of his sin upon Eve and Eve of her sin upon the Serpent Sarah covered her laughter with a lye she feared a reproof for what she had done Gen 18.15 but she was not afraid to deserve it by denying what she had done What a miserable sort of excuses will bee pleaded saith one when men are charged with sin for all are graven out of Adam Mr. Greenham I have read a Proverb that sin seweth it self a garment being ashamed to go naked that is excuses invented by Satan but made by men and women as the suit of fig-leaves were by Adam and Eve who were the first offenders but they cannot cover sins nakednesse nor keep it warm nor put any comliness upon it for the excuse of sin multiplies sin and makes addition thereunto Quest Why are men so backward to confesse sin Ans 1. Because confession of sin contains in it or brings shame and grief along with it for sin which sin cannot indure They are as smoak to the eyes Vinegar to the teeth bitter as Gall and wormwood to the taste of sin Sin hath so perverted the soul as to misplace shame in acknowledging offences which should be placed in offending 2 Confession is an Ejection of sin as it is said where sin is freely confessed it is fully cast out It layes an ingagement upon men not to commit sin again when they have confessed it but absolutely to hate it to part with it and put it away This neither Satan nor sin its brat can indure They hate putting away where they have gotten possession they desire to hold it Confession separates between sin and soul and makes a divorce 3 Because Confession is a bringing of sin that horrid Monster to light an open discovery of it in its shape and colours which are most ugly and deformed Now sin hates the light Joh. 3.20 and hates comming to the light and hates Confession which causeth it and hides it self in the bosome of the sinner Satan imploys all his pollicy and sin all its power and interest it hath in us to conceal it and to wave the confession of it Sin loves to wear a veil of secrecy or a vizzard of counterfeit piety or a Garment of excuses that the filth and shame of its nakednesse may not appear or to wrap it self like the Devil in Samuels mantle As false Prophets come to us in sheep cloathing so doth sin in the guise colour or shew of vertue to deceive us Object Sin is a filthy shamefull thing it becommeth Saints not once to name it as Fornication Vncleannesse Covetousnesse Ephes 5.3 why then should we confesse it Ans 1. Though sin bee filthy and abominable in it self yet the Confession of sin is clean and commendable 2 There is difference between naming and naming of sin scil 1 With delight in it boasting of it or indulgence to it This naming of sin is sin 2 Or with detestation of it and indignation at it and grief for it This naming of sin is good and gracious 3 To conceal sin but not to confesse it when there is occasion is sinfull modesty shamefull shamefastnesse to keep Satans counsell to hide and harbour a Theef or murderer in our bosomes that will rob our souls and cut our throats this argueth stubbornnesse of spirit and self-hardening against reproof Such a disposition is the high-way to destruction For he that covereth his sins Prov. 28.13 that is who will not confesse them no not when he is called thereunto shall not prosper and he that being often reproved hardeneth his neck refusing to confesse or to amend his fault shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy 4 A serious and religious confession of sin is a Remedy to cleanse and heal soul-maladies The first peece of amends for our sinning is to confesse our sins The hiding of sin is like the covering or skinning of a sore which will fester inwardly and break out dangerously What a restraint would this be to sin to take liberty to do nothing no not secretly which we would not take boldnesse to confesse even openly To Confesse sinne aright is an Herb of Grace which grows not in natures Garden when a man is condemned in himself through deep Conviction and sense of sinne hee will bee free to accuse himself before others when hee feels the bitternesse of sinne in his Soul he will cast it up as loathsome stuff though hee swallowed it down as a sweet morsel Many famous men as Austine Origen and others have been free to publish the Errors of their opinions to the world Why should we be unwilling to confesse the Errors of our manners Rom. 10.10 With the heart man believeth unto righteousnesse and with the mouth confession is made unto Salvation HEre is a double duty annexed to two principal parts of man 1 The Duty of the Heart that is faith and the effect thereof is Righteousnesse that is we are justified by faith apprehending the righteousness of Christ 2 The Duty of the Mouth that is confession and the consequent of it is Salvation Observe the order and Connexion of these two 1 The order the Heart goeth before the Tongue and Believing before Confessing 2 The Connexion of them as of the cause with the effect for Faith in the Heart is the Root or principle of confession with the Mouth both should go together as fire and flame as spring and stream as Tree and fruit Doctrine It is a Gospel-Duty to confesse with the Mouth as well as to beleeve with the Heart I desire to open four things 1 What this Confession is 2 When it should be made 3 Why 4 How 1 What it is This Confession is an open Profession of Christ What Confession is and his Gospel Truths and wayes and a pleading for the same 1 Of Christ of whole Christ 1 Of his Natures or divinity and humanity The woman of Canaan confessed Christ to bee Lord and the Son of David that is to bee both God and a Mat. 15.22 man John the Baptist confessed him to bee the Son of b Joh. 1.20 27 34. God the Eunuch did the like Act. 8.37 Peter confessed him to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Christ the son

more or lesse when he was drunk 2 Sam. 25.36 37. until the morning when hee had slept out his wine Words are lost when spent upon such as are uncapable or indisposed to receive them Christ had many things to say unto his Disciples which he deferred to declare unto them untill they could bear them q Joh. 16.12 6 When those speak who are above us in age gifts grace or authority Unto mee men gave ear saith Job and waited Job 29.21 22. and kept silence at my counsel after my words they spake not again and my speech dropped on them Elihu because he was young and Job and his three friends were all elder than hee therefore he kept silence as long as Job or any of his friends had any thing to say r Job 32.4 to 8. I am young and yee are very old wherefore I was afraid Vers 6. and durst not shew you mine opinion I said daies should speak and multitude of years should teach wisdome Vers 7. See that phrase of laying the hand on the mouth in such a case Job 29.9 10. Judg. 18.19 7 When we hear reproofs for our miscarriages we should drink them in as the earth doth rain and bring forth the fruits thereof in amendment It s a fit season then to be silent especially for Servants when their masters tell them of their faults They should not answer again ſ Tit. 2.9 but hold their peace and mend their faults 8 The last season of silence is when we are ignorant of the matters spoken of or they are above our reach or they are such things as do not concern us we should not be busie-bodies with our Tongues no more than with our hands in other mens matters or they be secrets our own or others In these cases silence would better become our mouthes than speech as it would have done theirs who desired to be teachers of the Law 1 Tim. 1.7 yet understood neither what they said nor whereof they affirmed Now its good to keep silence in the seasons thereof Reasons for Silence for three Reasons Reas 1. Because silence prepares for audience and for learning what others teach us either in publick or in private Then all the multitude kept silence Act. 15.12 and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul that is held their peace to hearken attentively when they declared what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them Pauls Rule holds true for men as well as for women Let the Women learn in silence t 1 Tim. 2.11 and so the man Let both bee silent that they may learn Eliphaz u Job 4.16 17. stood still and was silent waiting to hear what should bee spoken to him by the spirit then hee heard a voice saying Shall mortall man be more just than God Reas 2 Because silence is a semblance of wisdome Even a fool when hee holdeth his peace is counted wise vv Prov. 17.28 and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding Eloquere ut te videam For speech discovereth what men are Fools would discover their ignorance folly and weaknesse if they speak which is covered by their silence O that you would altogether hold your peace Job 13.5 and it should bee your wisdome was the speech of Job to his friends Reas 3 Because silence in its season is a grace to the lips as well as speech and there is beauty in the one as well as in the other Gods word teacheth us the Art both of silence and of speech There is wisdome in keeping silence as in speaking Hee that refraineth his lips is wise saith Solomon x Prov. 10.19 and A fool uttereth all his mind but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards y Prov. 29.11 Till then is a time of silence It is a true saying hee knoweth not how to speak who knoweth not how to hold his peace If we speak when we should hold our peace then speech is our folly So much of the Seasons of silence 2 Now follow the seasons of Speech The seasons of Speech when its time to speak I will name four First when we are called to speak by God or man 1 Pet. 3.15 when wee are stirred up in our spirits to speak provided we keep within the compasse of our Callings therein and do not stretch our selves beyond our line let private persons take heed how they undertake to speak publikely or usurpe the place of Magistrate or Minister They may question whence such a motion proceeds whether from Pride passion Envy Bitter Zeal or a mis-guided spirit rather than from the good Spirit of God who is the God of Order not of Confusion what men speak out of their place is spoken out of season Second Season 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when God gives us the door of utterance ability freedome and boldnesse of speech which is a great grace to our Lips when our words flow freely from us as water out of a Fountain and fly swiftly like arrows out of a bow Eph. 6.19 Paul beg'd the Ephesians prayers to God to obtain this grace of Speech for him for mee that utterance may bee given mee that I may open my mouth boldly Third Season When an opportunity is given of speaking for the glory of God or for the good of Men. 1 For the Glory of God as to defend his truth plead his cause advance righteousness and to disgrace and suppresse sinne to own God in the particular dispensations of his providence and to give him the praise of them whether mercies or judgements To this end turn your Tongues to Gods Providence 1 To sing praises for mercies as the Jews did When God turned again the Captivity of Sion Psal 126.1 2 then was our mouth filled with laughter and our Tongue with singing Then said they among the Heathen the Lord hath done great things for them When the heart rejoyceth the Tongue is glad z Act. 2.26 or the glory rejoyceth a Psal 16.9 to glorify God 2 To make Lamentation for miseries so the Jews in Babylon did sigh weep and lament the miseries of Sion but could not sing the Lords Song in a strange land 2 For the good of men Psal 137.1 4 as 1 To instruct the ignorant 2 To reprove the disorderly In this case Answer a Fool according to his folly Prov. 26.5 least hee be wise in his own conceit Stop his mouth by reproof Stone him as one saith with soft words and hard Arguments 3 To comfort the feeble minded and support the weak 1 Thess 5.14 4 To resolve the doubtfull 5 To reduce the Erroneous b Jam. 5.20 6 To Stablish the wavering Act. 14.22 7 To vindicate the Slandered 8 To deliver the persecuted Act. 12.5 as the Church did Peter out of prison by their Prayers 9 To help them to right that suffer wrong To this end we should speak

give thanks to God 2 Because if wee confesse God and Christ and the Truth c. wee shall be confessed by both 1 By the Father hee will own and avouch us to bee his his people portion Jewels his Servants friends sons and that before Men and Devils 1 Before Men If wee testify for God he will give testimony of us as hee did of Abraham that he was the friend of God of Moses that hee was the meekest man upon earth of David that hee was a man after Gods own heart of Daniel that hee was a man of desires of Abel Heb. 11.4 5 that hee was righteous of Enoch that he pleased God Hence Gods servants have appealed unto God as their witnesse as Job Behold my witnesse is in heaven and my record is on high Iob 16.19 and as their examiner and judge as David did Ps 139.23 24 and 7.8 and 26.1 2. If wee plead for God God will plead for us against our enemies Numb 12.8 as hee did for Moses against Aaron and Miriam Wherefore then were yee not afraid to speak against my Servant Moses and for Job against his friends yee have not spoken of mee the thing that is right Iob 42.7 as my servant Job hath and as hee did for the faithful Psal 37.6 in Lament 3.58 O Lord thon hast pleaded the causes of my soul God will bring forth our righteousnesse to the light clear our innocency and judge our enemies 2 Yea before Devils as hee confessed Job Iob 1.8 and 2.4 The Lord said unto Satan hast thou considered my Servant Job that there is none like him in the earth a perfect and upright man one that feareth God and escheweth evil and stil he holdeth fast his integrity although thou movest mee against him to destroy him without cause 2 By the Sonne If wee confesse Christ Christ will retaliate and recompence confession with confession his of us with ours of him between which there is no proportion nor comparison Mat. 10.32 Luk. 12.8 for hee will confesse us before his Father and all the Angels of God and say These are my servants members Spouse people who did beleeve in mee with their heart and confesse mee with their mouths before men to bee their Saviour Lord and Master head and Husband that were not afraid of men in my cause nor ashamed of my crosse Whereas if wee deny Christ before men or his Truths or ways hee will also deny us before his Father which is in Heaven Matth. 10.33 and before the Angels of God Luk. 12.8 Whosoever shall bee ashamed of me Mark 8.38 and of my words saith Christ of him also shall the Sonne of man bee ashamed when he commeth in the glory of his Father with the holy Angels 3 Because If wee confesse God and Christ wee shall bee incouraged defended and honoured even here 1 Encouraged and strengthened by Christ to and in our Testimony as Paul was at Corinth to whom the Lord spake in the night by a Vision Acts 18.9 Bee not afraid but speak and hold not thy peace and at Jerusalem The night following after Paul had like to have been pulled in peeces for his confession before the Counci● the Lord stood by him Act. 23.10 11. and said Be of good chear Paul for as thou hast Testified of me at Jerusalem 2 Tim. 4.16 17 so must thou bear witnesse also at Rome And at Rome at Pauls first Apology all men forsook him none stood by him notwithstanding saith hee the Lord stood with mee and strengthened mee Rev. 11.5 6 10 God bears witnesse to the Testimony of his two witnesses by infusing great power both into them and into it 2 Wee shall bee defended and delivered from the assaults and designs of our enemies as God promised Paul at Corinth I am with thee Act. 18.9 10 and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee and at his Conversion when Christ tells him I will make thee a Minister and a witnesse Act. 26.16 and promiseth to deliver him from the people Chap. 23.10 11 20 21 and from the Gentiles unto whom he hath sent him v. 17. and performed to him both at Jerusalem where hee was rescued by the Captain from violence and saved from the Jews conspiracy lying in wait to kill him and at Rome where hee was delivered out of the mouth of the Lion 2 Tim. 4.17 that was Nere God hath a wing of special protection to spread over his witnesses And though the two witnesses bee slain for the Testimony of Jesus Rev. 11.11 yet after three days and an half the spirit of life from God shall enter into them and they shall stand upon their feet and great fear shall fall upon them that see them Hence some think that their killing and reviving are in respect of their prophetical life 3 If we honour God by confessing him he will honour us 1 With favour affection and respect from men Christs Confessors and Martyrs have been very highly esteemed dearly beloved 1 Pet. 4.14 and longed for and greatly rejoyced in for the Spirit of God and of glory rests upon them which makes them very amiable in the eyes of others When the Apostles gave witnesse of the Resurrection of Christ Act. 4.33 great grace that is favour and honour was upon them all Because the Church of Philadelphia kept Christs word that is in her mouth by confession Rev. 3.8 9 as well as in her heart by beleef and denied not his name Behold saith Christ I will make them of the Synagogue of Satan which say they are Jews and are not but do lye Behold I will make them to come and worship before thy feet not in way of Religious Adoration Pareus but of external reverence and to know that I have loved thee that is to reverence and honour her as one beloved of Christ When the two witnesses of Christ are revived Rev. 11.12 they shall hear a great voice from heaven saying to them Come up hither They shall bee received triumphantly with great joy and honour into the Church even to the Admiration of their Enemies when they are restored who have been silenced ejected imprisoned banished or the like for the Testimony of Jesus 2 With victory over Satan for the holy Martyrs and Confessors under the Roman persecutions overcame the Accuser of the Brethren as Christians do now by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their Testimony that is by the Testimony or Confession they gave to Jesus Christ and to the word of God Rev. 12.10 11. 3 Yea God will honour us with mutual inhabitation which implyes intimate communion and the continuation thereof between him and us 1 Joh. 4.15 for whosoever shall confesse that Jesus is the Sonne of God God dwelleth in him and he in God Fourthly Because if we confesse Christ aright we shall be saved Confession is unto salvation saith Paul in the