Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	arise_v	zeal_n	zealous_a	13	3	8.5352	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A86934	A brief exposition of the prophecies of Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah. By George Hutcheson minister at Edenburgh. Imprimatur, Edm. Calamy	Hutcheson, George, 1615-1674.	1654 (1654)	Wing H3822; Thomason E1454_1; ESTC R209588	282,367	353

1. Christ will have nothing seen in his Churches protection and deliverance but himself only nor will he make use of any thing which might seem to obscure his glory in doing all therefore whatsoever might seem to challenge any of that glory must in that day be cut off See Judg. 7.2 Zeph. 3.12 13. 2. Humane helps confided in prove a great hinderance of deliverance therefore Cities Horses c. will he cut off not only by judgements to come on that people but even in that day of restitution they will be laid by as impediments 3. Confidence in outward things is idolatry Therefore here their cities horses chariots to wit as they are depended on are ranked in with witchcrafts and idols 4. It is rare to see a people enjoying outward things that may seem to promise any thing unto them and yet not confide in them this is evident in that their cities chariots c must be cut off they can hardly enjoy them and acknowledg God as becomes them 5. When the Lord is pleased to deprive his people of probable means of help and calleth them to depend on him it is a pledge of his appearing in an eminent way for them for their cities c. being cut off ver 10 11. so will he destroy their enemies as the latter part of ver 14. ought to be read as agreeing with the Original also and fitting the scope best in this place 6. In the Church of God there is hazard of falling into grossest evils for here it is supposed there may be witchcraft or magi●k whereby men wanting the fear of God enter into one expresse or implicite league with the devil for attaining such ends as their discontentment in their condition impatience under affliction envie malice or curiosity propound unto them there may be soothsayers or divinations whereby men not con●ent to know their duty nor with what God hath revealed of future events do take sinful and damnable courses and put other things in Gods room to foretel what they desire there may be also images and the work of mens hands set up in Gods room as the object of worship and groves or shadie places where they pretended to worship God or indeed worship their idols after their own imaginations There are no evil courses but the Church of God how reformed soever is to be afraid of falling into them 7. These devillish courses and corruptions in worship do hinder the Lords appearance for his people for these must be cut off that he may do for them 8. The cutting off of idolatry and wicked courses is a work of the Lords own hand it is he who oft-times destroyes them by sore plagues and it is he only who can banish these things out of mens hearts I saith the Lord will cut off witchcrafts out of thy hand or make thee not to practise it I will cut off thy graven images c. 9. There can be no blessed delivery from trouble but when there is a compleat and thorough reformation of Religion endeavoured and a destroying of the very monuments of idolatry for not only shall they not worship any more the work of their hands but their images and groves shall be cut off and plucked up and so will he destroy their enemies 10. The Lord will appear for his Church in a singular and wonderful manner and plague their enemies with unuseful judgements after that he is reconciled with them and hath brought them to walk in his wayes for after all this is done I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen such as they have not heard saith the Lord. CHAP. VI. IN this Chapter the Lord again after these many promises stirs up the Prophet to plead his controversie and expostulates with his ungrateful people v. 1 2 3. shewing forth his kindnesse toward them v. 4 5. and what duty they offered to him v. 6 7. with what they ought to have done v. 8. which seeing they did not obey therefore he gives an alarm of the rods coming upon them v. 9. then he more particularly sets forth and proves their several transgressions of their duty in sins against the second Table v. 10 11 12. for which he gives out sentence against them v. 13 14 15. and for their idolatry against the first Table v. 16. Vers 1. HEar ye now what the LORD saith Arise contend thou before the mountaines and let the hills hear thy voice 2. Hear ye O mountaines the LORDS controversie and the strong foundations of the earth for the LORD hath a controversie with his people and will plead with Israel The Prophet propounds in general the Lords controversie given him in commission to plead publickly as it were in view of all the creatures from the high mountaines to the low channels or foundations of the earth this way of procedure formerly used chap. 1. v. 2. doth yet further teach us 1. That sin causeth a controversie betwixt God and the sinner for the Lord hath a controversie 2. The controversie is so much the sadder as it not breaks out betwixt God and strangers but betwixt him and his Church with whom he dealt friendly and who professed friendship and subjection to him and therefore he can endure their offences the worse The Lord hath a controversie with his people and he will plead with Israel 3. The Lord is zealous to have the controversie discussed and himself cleared Arise saith he the Prophets zeal coming short of his forwardnesse to plead this cause contend thou c. and he will plead with Israel that is not only will he have his quarrel shewed but will have it clearly demonstrated that he gave no occasion of the discord and therefore will justly punish as the following purpose cleares 4. Even insensible creatures are so to say more fit to be spoken to then an obdurate people and will bear witnesse against them for therefore beside other reasons insinuate on chap. 1 2. are the mountaines and strong foundations of the earth called to in this processe they keep still their obediential subjection to their Creatour and do tremble if he threaten whereas Israel was stupid and withal these had sometime been shaken and discovered for the good of Israel Psal 18.15 and 114.3 4. and therefore might beare witnesse against their ingratitude 5. A backsliding people are for the most part dull of hearing and plagued with obstinacie and cannot be sensible of their case and danger therefore is the dispute repeated again and they called to hear Hear ye now what the Lard saith 6. Messengers of God their reproofs are not to be sleighted but taken notice of as the Lords controversie for Micah by contending is to cause the Lords controversie to be heard Vers 3. O my people what have I done unto thee and wherein have I wearied thee testifie against me Followeth the pleading of the controversie wherein God first appears and challengeth them for their ungrateful departing from him and his obedience

out a great winde into the sea and there was a mighty tempest in the sea so that the ship was like to be broken Followeth Jonah's correction The Lord by a violent tempest likely to break the ship pursues him till he bee found guilty and cast into the sea Whence learn 1. A storm will sooner or later overtake them who rebel against God though they were his own people for Jonah went on in his way but the Lord sent out a great wind c. 2. God is Sovereign Lord of the winds and in the sea as well as the dry land and can arm any creature he pleaseth against a rebel for The Lord sent out a great wind and caused a mighty tempest in the sea 3. To be in company with wicked men or with men in a wicked way of rebellion against God is dangerous and may involve the society in hazards with them for the ship was like to be broken and all the rest in danger of perishing with Ionah Ver. 5. Then the Mariners were afraid and cryed every man unto his god and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea to lighten it of them but Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship and he lay and was fast asleep In the next place we have some effects and consequences of this tempest by which at last Gods purpose in it is brought forth The first effect upon the Mariners is fear stirring them up to do all that is usual in such desperate cases for their own relief both such means as they accounted divine in calling on their gods and such as were humane in casting out of their commodities to lighten the ship all which is amplified from Jonah's security who in the mean time was sleeping Doct. 1. God can shake and by trouble will shake the hearts of stoutest men and make them fear for the Mariners otherwise stout at sea are afraid 2. Men may be afraid and much exercised about troubles whom yet the Lord intends not to hurt by them for the Mariners are afraid of the storm sent out to pursue Ionah and not them however they had their own gross sins 3. Even natures light may teach men to ascribe singular effects to the hand of a Sovereign Lord and that without acknowledging thereof there can be no safety in eminent dangers for so doth these Pagans practice teach us while in their fear they cried every man to his god 4. As natures light in corrupted man will mislead him in taking up the true God so when men turn their back upon the true God and the knowledge of him they become vain in their imaginations and endless in their seeking out of false gods and confidences therefore among Pagans even in one ship there are more false Gods then one worshipped They cryed every man to his god There is no certainty when the true God is forsaken 5. Although men ought not to be unwilling to yeild up their life to God when or wheresoever he in his providence shall bee pleased to call for it yet life is so precious that nothing worldly beside is too dear to be employed for preservation of it Natures light teacheth this to these Mariners who cast out the wares that were in the ship to essay if that could be a means of preserving their life 6. Ordinarily those who are most guilty and whom affliction is pointing at are most secure under it for all this while Jonah the guilty man was fast asleep 7. The conscience of a renewed man may after it is wounded by a grosse sin be a very dead and stupified conscience for a time for Ionah flying from his Master in the midst of the storm lay fast asleep and was gone down to the fides of the ship for that end 8. It is ordinary for guilty consciences to think to shift and sleep away challenges without essaying the true remedy for Ionah in his rebellion was gone down to the fides of the ship to sleep away his trouble Ver. 6. So the shipmaster came to him and said unto him What meanest thou O sleeper Arise cal upon thy God if so be that God will think upon us that we perish not To the end the Lord may discover the guilty man and cause of this tempest as he made the Mariners sensible themselves so the Shipmaster is set on work to waken Ionah to try his interest with his God whom they knew not yet to be the true God if possibly he had more power or good will to such as worshipped him then theirs had Which is the first step to his discovery Doct. 1. A childe of God may sometimes miscarry so far through infirmity negligence and tentation that even a Pagan by natures light may see him reproveable and blame-worthy for so is Ionah reproved by the shipmaster What meanest thou c. 2. It is deeply censurable and absurd even to natures eye to be secure in trouble What meanest thou O sleeper arise c. 3. Variety of false Gods hold men in great suspense and incertainty therefore every man having cryed to his god ver 5. yet they are not setled but will have Ionah to essay his God if he be better then the rest Arise call upon thy God so much also doth that doubtful speech if so be that God will think upon us c. import in this place in part 4. Natures light will acknowledge that he who is the true God hath power to deliver in most extreme dangers for in this great tempest they assert it If God think on us we will not perish 5. Howsoever in a calme day nature conceit and boast of merit yet in a strait even natural men are forced to have their recourse onely to the favour of God for these Pagans have no ground of hope that they shall not perish but in Gods thinking or being bright and shining as the word signifies that is looking favourably on them Ver. 7. And they said every one to his fellow Come and let us cast lots that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us So they cast lots and the lot fell upon Jonah The second effect of this tempest tends to a further discovery of Jonah to be the guilty man Hee being awaked and not confessing his sin the tempest continues notwithstanding all they had done Therefore the mariners in stead of searching every man into himselfe that all might take with guilt and finde favour begin to suspect that God was pursuing some notorious guiltinesse in some of them and none voluntarily confessing it they resolve with common consent to seek it out by an extraordinary way of lots Wherein whatever fault there was yet Gods providence ordered it so as the lot fell on Jonah to awake his conscience Doct. 1. Nature may lead men so far as in great difficulties to take up sin to be the cause thereof for so much doth this consultation import which however it was true in this case

made a rehearsal of his whole condition for the edification of others 2. Great afflictions or tempeations arising from them are so far from being just cause of discouragement to hinder our praying that they ought to stir us u● to more fervency and earnestnesse for Jonah cried by reason of affliction when he was straitned on every hand as the word signifies that he could not flee or finde relief he took it as a Call to seek inlargement in God and turn to him and as a whet-stone to sharpen his otherwise sluggish desires yea Out of the belty of hell he cryed when he was buried quick and put as it were under the dominion of death in the ●●shes belly and when he felt the ange● of God in all this as an hell on earth yet faith directs him to God and when hee was as far to his owne sense from God and his favour as hell is from heaven hee looked on that but as an argument to move him to cry the lowder 3. As God can help in greatest distresses so the prayers of the children of God in their deep afflictions flowing from real indigence and need will get a good answer for Jonah's faith strengthned of God saw the one when in affliction and out of the belly of hel he cryed and in his experience he found the other that he prayed not in vaine He heard me Prayer speedeth best when felt necessity instructs the sincerity of it and when it is spoken out of the dust then faith will by prayer bring help from heaven to one little better then in hell 4. The Lords seasonable answering of his peoples needy desires in their extremity will not onely ease their griefes but be refreshfull afterward to think much upon it as appeareth in his repeating and dwelling upon this mercy I cryed and he heard me twice over and the oftner he lookes on it sees the more in it That his voice should be heard from the belly of bell and the more it be thought on it ought to inlarge our hearts the more with affection toward God as is imported in his directing of his speech at last to God Thou heardest my voice as one overcome with the kindnesse of God in it Ver. 3. For thou hadst cast me into the deep in the midst of the seas and the floods compassed me about all thy billows and thy waves passed over me Jona● is not content to have spoken so briefly of so rich a purpose but to the end that he may glorifie the grace and mercy of God in supporting him in his strait and delivering him from it and that he may edifie the Church hee enlargeth the Narration and speakes more particularly of every step of it And first he sheweth the greatnesse of his tryall in that he had to doe with an angry God pursuing him in anger who had taken and cast him into the sea and into the depth and midst of it where waves of seas without and of tentations within overwhelmed him Hence learne 1. Serious thoughts and apprehensions of trouble are needfull not onely when we are in it for stirring us up to prayer but when delivered also to set forth the greatnesse of mercy for all this variety of expressions in setting out his trouble Thou hast cast me into the depth in the midst of the seas c. tend to this purpose to shew that it had set him on edge I cried for thou hadst cast me c. And to shew from how great danger he had been delivered and what a mercy he thought it to be heard of God even when hee was so dealing with him 2. Much of God seen in our trouble will hide those from being too much eyed who have been most instrumental and active in it therefore there is no word of the Mariners but Thou hadst cast me into the deep 3. Unto the childe of God afflictions are nothing to beare in comparison of Gods displeasure who afflicts and of the tentations which looking on him as a party doth raise for his affliction is imbittered with this Thou being angry hadst cast me into the Sea all thy billowes and thy waves not onely raised by thee in the Sea to pursue me a rebel but tides of tossing tentations begotten by the sense of thy displeasure passed over me so that hee could doe no more then be overwhelmed and run downe with one of them after another 4. It may comend the rich mercy of God toward his children and furnish rich matter of praise to him that he suffers them not to quit him out causeth them to follow him when he seemeth to forsake them and flee in to him when he is pursuing in hot displeasure for the scope of all this account of his trial and tentation tends also to set forth the grace of God that had enabled him to cry to him in all this extremity it being the admirable power of faith supported by grace that he durst call on an angry God durst follow after him when he went away durst lay hold of him when hee smorte and pray him to desist from anger when he was threatning him with worse and durst look and seek for better tidings when he was run downe with the current and tide of tentations Ver. 4. Then I sayd I am cast out of thy sight yet I will look againe toward thy holy temple He rehearseth further his exercise upon this trial that there was a conflict betwixt unbeliefe and despair concluding his rejection from Gods favour and care any more and faith looking to God in heaven and the Covenant made in Christ with the Elect a signe whereof was his presence on the Mercy-seat in the Temple at Jerusalem toward which the godly were to direct their prayers 1 Kings 8. which gave him yet ground of hope Doct. 1. It is the usual lot of the Lords children to have not onely outward afflictions to wrestle with but spiritual tentations and sad conclusions gathered from their troubles which are ●orer to endure then many simple afflictions for so was it with Jonah while he was in the sea 2. The children of the Lord in their troubles may be so tossed and divided betwixt hope and despair that faith and unbelief will be taking word about for so doth Jonahs experience teach I said I am cast out yet wilt I looke again 3. In a time of tentation unbeliefes word is ordinarily first out till faith come and correct it ordinarily what is said in haste is unbeliefes language and to be un-said again for this comes first out I am cast out of thy sight 4. A child of God may not only be assaulted with fits of despaire but for a time be overcome with it and yield to it and yet for all that recover his feet again for Jonah once concluded and said I am cast out of thy sight 5. As it is ordinary under tentation to judge of all Gods respect care and love by our sense of his present dealing so