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
View all documents for the selected quad

Text snippets containing the quad

ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A96805 The abridgment of Christian divinitie so exactly and methodically compiled, that it leads us, as it were, by the hand to the reading of the Holy Scriptures. Ordering of common-places. Vnderstanding of controversies. Cleering of some cases of conscience. By John Wollebius. Doctor of Divinity, and ordinary professor in the University of Basil. Now at last faithfully translated into English, and in some obscure places cleared and enlarged, by Alexander Ross. To which is adjoined, after the alphabetical table, the anatomy of the whole body of divinity, delineated in IX. short tables, for the help of weak memories.; Christianae theologiae compendium. English. Wolleb, Johannes, 1586-1629.; Vaughan, Robert, engraver.; Ross, Alexander, 1591-1654. 1650 (1650) Wing W3254; Thomason E1264_1; ESTC R204089 204,921 375

There are 3 snippets containing the selected quad. | View lemmatised text

that it can never be utterly lost Isa 42.3 He shall not break the bruised reed nor quench the smoaking flax Phil. 1.6 I am perswaded that he who hath begun a good work in you will perfect it untill the day of Jesus Christ Heb. 12.2 Looking unto Jesus Christ the author and finisher of our faith CHAP. XXX Of Justification THe mediate effects of Vocation proceeding from faith are Justification Sanctification Assurance of salvation and Christian liberty Justification is Gods free action whereby the Elect through the most full satisfaction of Christ are absolved from their sins and are declared righteous and inheritors of life eternal The RULES I. Justice in Scripture is either of the Cause or of the Person Justice of the cause is when a man otherwise sinfull is said in this or that particular to be innocent and just Justice of the person is either begun or it is perfected This is called Legal as it is required by the Law and Evangelical as it is shewed in Christ by the Gospel Begun justice is that which the Holy Ghost begins in the faithful in this life and perfects it in the other The perfect righteousnesse of Christ then is the gift of Justification but that which is begun is the gift of Sanctification II. To justifie in this place is not to punish nor to infuse inherent righteousnesse as the Ponti teians will have it but in the sense it is taken in the Courts of Justice it is to absolve from sin and to pronounce one just Prov. 17.15 To justifie the wicked and to condemn the just both are abomination to the Lord. Isa 5.23 Which justifie the wicked and take away the righteousnesse of the righteous Mat. 11.19 Wisdome is justified by her children Luc. 7.29 When these things were heard all the people and the Publicans justified God Luc. 10.29 He willing to justifie himself III. The efficient cause of Justification actively understood is the whole Trinity 2 Cor. 5.19 God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself 1 Cor. 6.11 But you are washed but you are sanctified but you are justified in the name of the Lord Iesus and by the Spirit of our God IV. The internal moving cause is meer grace or Gods free favour That this is a free favour and not an infused grace will appear by these testimonies Rom. 3.24 For they are justified freely by his grace Ephes 2.8 You are saved by grace through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God Tit. 3.4 5. But after the goodnesse and love of God our Saviour appeared towards man not by the works which we had done 〈◊〉 but by his mercy he hath saved us V. The external moving cause is Christ God and man Christ as the Son of God is the efficient cause of justification in common with the Father and Holy Ghost but as he is God-man and our Mediator he is the outward moving cause because by his merit he hath procured this gift for us VI. The instrumental cause of this is the word of the Gospel For it is the power of God to every believer Rom. 1.16 VII If we take Justification passively in reference to man who is justified it hath no other cause but faith the instrumental VIII This phrase We are justified by faith is metonymical and equivalent to this We are justified by Christs merits apprehended by faith IX Faith only is said to justifie in respect of works which are effects following faith but not the causes of justification for they do not precede him that is to be justified but follow him that is justified Although this particle alone is not found in Scripture yet it is expressed by like phrases Such are Without works freely by grace Rom. 3.24 27 28. But by faith Eph. 2.8 Gal. 2.16 Though then faith be not alone but is joyned with works yet it justifieth alone As the Sun is not in heaven alone yet he alone makes day X. Faith doth not justifie as if it were a work or by its own dignity but as it is an instrument apprehending Christ The Papists grant tha● we are justified by faith but then they take faith here as ● work Now faith in Scripture hath nothing ascribed to it but as it apprehends as a Gold-ring bears a high price for the Jewel in it And hence it appears how finely those places of Scripture do agree in which we are said to be justified now by grace then by faith then by Christs merits for we are justified through Gods grace for Christs merits apprehended by faith XI The matter of justification taken actively is Christs whole satisfaction whereby he suffered the punishment due to our sinnes and yielded perfect obedience to the Law We have shewed above cap. 18. that Christs satisfaction is placed both in his suffering and in his actual obedience XII The matter of this taken passively is man miserable in himself but elected in God called and endowed with faith Though then vocation naturally is before faith and faith before justification yet in time there is no difference For as soon as man is effectually called he is endowed with faith and justified by faith XIII The form of it actively understood is the imputation of Christs whole satisfaction whereby it is made all ours as if we had performed it our selves That justice which is imputed to the believer is in Christ by inhesion in us by imputation Our adversaries deny that in Scripture there is any mention of this imputation But what can be cleerer then these ensuing places Rom. 4.6 As David calleth that man blessed unto whom God imputeth righteousnesse without works Phil. 3.8 9. I account all things dung that I may gain Christ and may be found in him not having my own righteousnesse which is of the Law but that which is by the faith of Christ that is the righteousnesse which is of God by faith This is chiefly seen in that an tithesis whereby our sinnes are imputed to Christ and his justice imputed to us 2 Cor. 5.21 He made that he should be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him The Papists also think it as absurd that we should be justified by the justice of another as if one should be called learned for the learning that is in another But these examples are not like for one man is not so united to another as the faithful are to Christ their head Again they will not have Christs justice imputed to them and yet they stick not to say that the merits of dead men and the justice of Monks are imputed to them XIV Yet for understandings sake the form of justification is expressed by two acts by remission of sins and imputation of justice by judging our sins to be none and our righteousnesse to be perfect XV. And although these two benefits be the same in subject and time yet they are indeed distinct For they differ 1. In definition
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the works of the law c. 11.6 If by grace then not of works otherwise grace were not grace 2. So to be justified by Christ and his merit and by works Gal. 2.21 If righteousnesse is of the Law then Christ died in vain 3. By faith and by works Rom. 3.28 We conclude then that we are justified by faith without works 4. To be justified by imputed justice and by works Rom. 4.4 5. To him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace but of debt But to him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousnesse II. If by justification all matter of bragging is excluded that God only may be glorified then we are not justified by works Rom. 3.19 That every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God v. 23. They have all sinned and come short of the glory of God v. 27. Where is boasting then It is excluded By what law of works nay but by the law of faith The Pontificians here say that in these places are meant only ceremonial works But he who will observe that catalogue of works rehearsed c. 1 2 3. ad Rom. shall find that not only ceremonial but moral works also are meant III. If we be justified by works then they are either such as go before or follow after regeneration But with neither of these are we justified for before regeneration our works are meerly evil and after imperfectly good XIX The effects of Justification are Peace with God an accesse to him with boldnesse a rejoycing in tribulation and freedome from sin not only in respect of guilt as the Papists say but in respect of punishment too Otherwise Christ had suffered for us in vain Isa 53. Neither are the Elect chastised by God that they might satisfie but that they might be proved and bettered XX. Imputed righteousnesse is perfect and equal in all believers The imperfection of our faith is no hinderance for as the same Jewel is touched by the firm and infirm hand so is the same Justice of Christ obtained by the strong and weak believer XXI The same is never to be lost For the gifts of Vocation are without repentance Rom. 11.29 XXII It is also one Therefore when the Saints who are justified pray for forgivenesse of sins they do not so much respect or consider the act of justification as the fruit certainty and confirmation thereof XXIII Justification before God if by faith Justification before men is by works Of this see Jam. 2.24 You see then that man is justified by works and not by faith alone Which saying is not contrary to that of Rom. 3.28 We conclude then that man is justified by faith without works For there is meant that justification which is before men but here that which is before God there is understood historical faith which worketh not by charity but here that faith which is true and lively Others say that man is justified by works not as by the cause but as by the declarers and manifesters of justification CHAP. XXXI Of Sanctification SAnctification follows Justification as the light follows the sun This is that free action of God which sets at liberty the faithful ingraffed into Christ and justified by the Spirit more and more from their native corruption and renews them to his image that they may be fitted by good works to glorifie God The RULES I. To sanctifie in this place is not to separate from profane use or to dedicate to holy uses but habitually to make holy In the former signification we are bid to sanctifie the Sabbath II. It is called regeneration renovation conversion penance repentance and glorification Yet these words are ambiguous for the word regeneration renovation conversion is either equivalent to vocation and the gift of faith or it signifieth newness of life when in the very act man dieth to sin and liveth to righteousness in the first sense it goeth before justification and is the cause thereof in the latter it follows it and is the effect thereof it is also named penitence and resipiscence from the effect which words do as much differ as the Hebrew terms Nicham and Schubh or the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for that is of the minde this of the heart that wicked men may also have this onely the godly Albeit this difference doth not still hold It is called glorification by way of inchoation or beginning as it is a forerunner of future glorification III. The efficient cause of this is in general the whole Trinity particularly and in respect of the terminus the Holy Ghost for this end sent by Christ Hence he is called the Spirit of Sanctification Rom. 14. IV. The internal impulsive cause is Gods free bounty Tit. 3.4 5. But after the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared toward man not by works of righteousness which we had done but according to his mercy he hath saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost V. The external impulsive cause is Christ with his merit and efficacie Ephes 5.25 Christ loved his church and gave himself for it that he might sanctifie it VI. The external instrumental cause is the doctrine of the Law and Gospel but the internal is Faith the root of good works VII To these we may adde extraordinary means whereby God casteth down the proud and raiseth the humble such are afflictions miracles terrours c. VIII In the first regeneration or vocation man is meerly passive but in sanctification when he is endowed with saving faith he is the chief agent of his own actions yet not without the special grace and motion of the Holy Ghost IX The matter of sanctification is the whole man with his intellect will and affections 1 Thes 5.23 Now the very God of peace sanctifie you throughout and I pray God your whole spirit soule and body be preserved blamelesse untill the comming of our Lord Jesus Christ X. The form is expressed in two acts in the aversion from evil and conversion to good a that is called the mortification of the old man this the vivification of the new man b that a crucifying and burying this a resurrection c a Psal 34.15 Isa 55.7 b Eph. 2.1 Col. 3.9 10. c Rom. 6.2 c. Gal. 2.20 XI The end of this is Gods glory our salvation and certainty thereof for there is no signe of election more evident 2 Tim. 2.21 If a man therefore purge himself from these he shall be a vessell unto honour sanctified 1 Joh. 3.3 And who hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure XII Sanctification in this life is not perfect hence the works of the Saints are imperfect for they feel a combate in them between the flesh and spirit so long as they live Rom. 7.19.23 24. Gal. 5.17 XIII
is a sensitive creature but the latter as he is man But by Philosophers it is taken more strictly so that they reduce the inferior appetites to the concupiscible faculty but the affections to the irascible Ordered appetites are whereby man desires meat drink rest sleep and such like moderately and to the end appointed by God 1 Tim. 5.23 Drink no longer water but use a little wine for thy stomacks sake and often infirmities To this is opposite Inordinate appetite whereby more is desired then nature or Gods ordination do require or for another end then that to which God hath ordained natural things lawful Rom. 13.13 Not in surfeting and drunkennesse not in chambering and wantonnesse The chief affections are Love Hatred Joy Sadnesse Hope Fear and Anger Ordered Love is whereby we sincerely love our neighbour and desire the things that be good fair and of good report Rom. 12.9 Let love be without dissimulation abhor that which is evil cleave to that which is good Phil. 4.8 Whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be any vertue and if there be any praise thinke on these things To this is opposite the too much love of our neighbour a selfe-love b impure love c and the love of this world d a 1 Sam. 2.29 Thou hast honoured thy sonnes above me b 2 Tim. 3.2 Men will be lovers of themselves c Prov. 6.25 Desire not her beauty neither let her eye-lids intice thee d 1 Joh. 2.15 Love not the world c. And v. 16. Because whatsoever is in the world the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the Father but of the world Ordered hatred is whereby we onely hate those who hate God a in other men and in our selves we hate not the person but by all meanes we hate and avoid the sinne b a Psal 139.21 Do not I hate them O Lord that hate thee b Mat. 18.15 If thy brother offend thee reprove him between thee and him alone c. Rom. 7.19 For I do not the good which I would but the evil which I would not do that do I To this is opposite the unjust hatred of our neighbour a and the hatred of good men b a 1 Joh. 3.15 Whosoever hateth his brother as a murtherer b Psal 41.5 My enimies said of me when shall he die c. Ordered joy is whereby man rejoyceth moderately for his own prosperity a and heartily for his neighbours felicity b a Psal 30.12 Thou hast turned my mourning into joy b Rom. 12.15 Rejoyce with them that rejoyce To this is opposite carnal and immoderate joy a also rejoycing at our neighbours misfortunes b a Luke 6.25 Woe to you that now laugh for you shall weepe and mourne b Prov. 24.17 Rejoyce not at thy enemies fall Ordered sadnesse or sorrow is whereby we moderately bemoane our own afflictions a and heartily condole our neighbours calamities b a Jam. 5.13 If any amongst you be afflicted let him pray b Rom. 12.15 Mourne with those that mourne To this immoderate sadnesse is opposite a sadnesse also for our neighbours prosperity b and too much sadnesse when wicked men are punished c a Prov. 17.22 A merry heart doth good like a medicine but a broken Spirit dryeth the bones b Mat. 20.15 Is thine eye evil because I am good c 1 Sam. 16.1 How long wilt thou mourn for Saul seeing I have rejected him Ordered hope is whereby we expect better things for our selves and by the law of charity also for our neighbours Of hope as it is a vertue we have spoken before 1 Cor. 13.7 Love suffereth all things believeth all things hopeth all things To this is opposite disordered hope when we place more trust in our selves and neighbours then is fit Jer. 17.5 Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man Ordered fear is whereby we walk carefully neither trusting too much our selves nor others Prov. 14.8 The wisdome of the prudent is to understand his way To this is opposite disordered feare whereby man feares himselfe and others too much Mat. 10.28 Feare not them that can kill the body c. Ordered anger is whereby we are offended ordispleased with our selves and others upon just cause yet moderately and with hope of amending Eph. 4.26 Be angry but slane not To this is opposite inordinate anger whereby we are incensed upon light causes or more then is fit or when we intend private revenge Jam. 1.20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousnesse of God So much of the ordering of concupiscence Wrestling against tentations and the assaults of an evil conscience is whereby a Christian man denies an evil conscience crucifying his flesh with the lusts thereof and against the assaults of the flesh the devil and the world watcheth and stoutly fighteth There are many reasons that induce us to wrestle stoutly 1. Because the Scripture forbids evil desires and lusts Pro. 6.25 1 Cor. 10.6 Gal. 5.6 26. Col. 3.5 1. 1 Thes 4.5 2. Because he that is given to lusts loves not God 1 Joh. 2.15 16. 3. Because lusts in regenerate men are hateful Gal. 5.16 17. 4. Because they inconse God to anger Col. 3.5 6. 5. Because the Apostle furnisheth us with the whole armour of God against them Eph. 6. Invisible lusts are overcome by us saith Austin 6. Because the fire of lusts is most hurtful and breaks out into most sad events the Scripture is full of examples there was never yet any sin committed which did not spring from evil lust To this is opposite carnal security whereby man flatters his own flesh whereby he willingly entertaineth lusts whereby he gives himself to idlenesse or sloth which is the devils cushion whereby he omits holy exercises whereby he burdens his soule with intemperance covetousnesse and such like Vices There are three degrees of our wrestling against lusts to wit against suggestion delight and assent To understand these degrees that of James helps c. 1. 14 c. Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed then when lust hath conceived it bringeth forth sinne and sinne when it is finished bringeth forth death We must then first resist suggestions and thoughts which are either ascending from the fewel of concupiscence or descending being suggested elsewhere the first are not without sinne the latter are not sinnes being cast in by Satan if so be we let them passe and entertain them not We cannot avoid the first degree let us shun the second lest we come to cherish evil thoughts with delight but we must chiefly beware of the third degree that we give not our assent for the more we obey the sinne of concupiscence the more it increaseth Which that we may more and more avoid we beseech God the Father in his Sonne through the Holy Ghost to which one God in Trinity be praise honour and glory for ever and ever Amen FINIS A TABLE