Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	authority_n	ecclesiastical_a	supreme_a	2,155	5	8.4962	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A42999	Self-contradiction censured, or, A caveat against inconstancy, and the inconsistent contrariety of the same mens pretences, principles, opinions and practices dialogue-wise digested into a deliberative discourse between affection and judgement : and intended to serve as spiritual physick for two great diseases of phanatick spirits, hypocritical deceitfulness, and enthusiastical delusion / by Christopher Harvey ...	Harvey, Christopher, 1597-1663.; Harvey, Christopher, 1597-1663. Aphēniastēs.	1662 (1662)	Wing H1044; ESTC R19273	60,139	192

natural body conceived by the holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary and that in the same individual body he was crucified died was buried rose again from the dead ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God That interpretation which accords with these and all other principles you may be sure is true as the latter evidently doth and that which is contrary to and inconsistent with these or any other certain principles must needs be false as the later apparently is And the like may be said in other controverted points of doctrine Secondly for matter of practice It is disputed between the divines of the reformed Churches and those of Rome how that passage of St. Paul Rom. 13.1 c. Let every soul be subject to the higher powers c. must be understood whether of the subjection of all persons and causes as well Ecclesiastical as civil unto those Magistrates in whom the supreme authority resides or of civil only To try which of these is the true meaning of the place bring them both to those undoubted principles which no good Christian no nor reasonable man can deny Quod tibi fieri non vis alteri ne feceris and suum cuique which we may see attested by our Saviour Mat. 7.12 All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you do you even so to them Mat. 22.21 Render unto Cesar the things which are Cesars and by St. Paul Rom. 13.7 8. Render unto all their dues c. That interpretation which accords with these principles as the former doth you may be sure is true and that which is contrary to and inconsistent with these principles as the latter is must needs be false and the like may be said in other cases and questions Aff. But what if I be not able to resolve of that accord or contradiction Judg. Such a case can hardly happen if you seriously consider all particulars and if it could the equal evidence on either side which should leave you without any certain ground of resolution would manifest the question it self to be but vain and frivolous and the indifferencie such that it would be no matter at all whether ever you resolved or no. But however having used all the means you can for your best information when you resolve let it be according as you shall be led by the most convincing evidence What is the other particular wherein you desire to be satisfied SECT XVIII Special immediate revelations from God to shew what is unlawful or necessary to our selves in particular although useful heretofore are neither to be expected nor easily to be believed now Aff. YOu said even now that as I must esteem that unlawful in it self which by God is forbidden unto all men in general so I must esteem that unlawful for me which God hath forbidden to my self in particular or though not unto all men in general yet unto men of such particular places and callings estates and conditions as for the present I am in For the former you have told me that my resolution must be guided by the holy Scriptures interpreted according to the rules of right reason and the general received principles of religion but for the latter I am yet to seek How shal I know that that which is lawful in it self as not being simply forbidden by God unto all men in general is yet unlawful for my self in particular or that that which is not absolutely necessary as not being by God required of all men in general is yet necessary for my self as being particularly required of me Judg. Whilst special immediate revelations were in use as in the dayes of the Patriarchs Prophets and Apostles the spirit by which those particular instructions and directions were given was able also sufficiently to manifest his own authority and as well to subdue and incline the will and affections to assent unto and imbrace the truth of such discoveries as to enlighten the minde and understanding to apprehend the meaning of them This made even Balaam to say If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God to do less or more Num. 22.18 And the Prophet Jeremiah Jer. 20.9 Then I said I will not make mention of him nor speak any more in his name But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones and I was weary with forbearing and I could not stay St Luke of St. Paul and Timothy saith That after they were come to Mysia they assayed to go into Bithynia but the spirit suffered them not Acts 16.7 That when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia Paul was pressed in spirit and testified unto the Jews that Jesus was Christ Acts 18.5 and St. Paul of himself that he went bound in the spirit to Jerusalem 20.22 But this was extraordinary proper unto those times and must neither be expected now nor easily believed either of our selves or others although I doubt not but that even now adayes there are some that are both deceived themselves with false perswasions and deceive others with fair pretences that in some particular cases they are immediately directed by the spirit of God when indeed it is either the voice of their own corrupt hearts only which they hearken to or the subtile suggestions of Satan who sometimes transforms himself into an angel of light and his ministers into the Apostles of Christ and ministers of righteousness 2 Cor. 11.13 14 15. And we need not think it strange since the holy Ghost hath so long ago expresly given warning of it 1 Tim. 4.1 c. Aff. Do you think there may be no special immediate revelations now adayes whereby some men may be guided and directed themselves and stirred up and enabled to guide and direct others in the performance of particular actions as necessary or effectually conducible to special ends Judg. I doubt not but there may for the holy Ghost is not limited or straitned any more in respect of time then place but divideth severally to whom and where and when and how he will 1 Cor. 12.11 But it is not ordinary now nor easily to be believed as I said before either of our selves or others for fear lest in stead of the spirit of truth and of Christ we either be deceived our selves or deceive others by the spirit of error and of Antichrist SECT XIX Some directions to try the pretended revelations of private spirits by Aff. WHat directions can you give me then to try the pretended revelations and instructions of private spirits by Judg. Even the same that I mentioned before viz. their accord and agreement with or their inconsistent contrariety to and contradiction of themselves or of the written word The good spirit the spirit of truth is alwayes constant to it self the evil spirit the spirit of errour is alwayes contrary either unto it self or unto the spirit of truth Bring them then unto

exorbitancies of the three great wheels upon which the motions of all our miseries have turned Popery Presbytery and Popularity rightly understood as I have said elsewhere with relation to their rebellious principles opinions and practises so loud as that those who are deafest if withal they be not dead in those trespasses and sins might be awakened to repentance and those that have yet any kindness for them might be ashamed of their own inadvertency when they should hear them apparently convinced of notorious guiltiness in those four particulars which in that discourse I have endeavoured to disswade men from false pretences and principles factious prejudice and partiality But considering withal that much hath been done to that purpose already by others especially in the Mystery of the two Juntoes and the History of Independency and conceiving it very difficult at least if not almost impossible to use sharpness and speak bitterly against those enormities themselves without a particular reflexion upon some mens persons which would be a likelier means to alienate their affections then to rectifie their understandings I set down my rest upon my former resolution and have altered nothing either in respect of the notions or expressions from that which I had written at first Nor will I now add any thing more but only a serious admonition and earnest exhortation unto all them that have read or shall read that discourse to consider how much it concerns them to take heed that presumptuous sins have not dominion over them and that they may be innocent from the great transgression of Self-contradiction which first or last will be sure to bring with it self-condemnation to beware of giving credit unto false pretences of building their opinions upon false principles of giving entertainment unto any unjust uncharitable prejudice against or too indulgent partiality towards others Especially to take heed that they do not pull down more by their practise then they build up by their profession nor by their actions bolster up and underprop the very same things which by their opinions they pretend to demolish and pull down For mine own part I think that of the three great wheels upon which as I said before the motions of all our miseries have turned it is not easily to be resolved whether Popery have been more beholding to Presbytery or Popularity Presbytery to Popularity or Popery Popularity to Popery or Presbytery or which of the three is the greatest enemy to Catholick Christian Principality and Prelacy But oh what a strange kinde of Self-contradiction would it be if those that profes they love and honour them both and do it indeed so really and cordially that they would not spare their estates to do them good nor fear to adventure both limbs and lives in their defence should yet in the course of their conversations fight against them by obstinately disobeying their holy just and good Commandments and not theirs alone but Gods also Out of question an Orthodox Libertine a Schismatical Saint an holy heretick a covetous conformist a proud Prelatist a riotous Royalist are all of them equally contradictions in adjecto and each of them as odious in the sight of God of all good men as any of the rest what ever success they may have for a time at last they will finde that prediction of our Saviour true Every plant that my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted out Mat. 15.13 And that censure of St. Paul will one day fall heavily upon them all Therefore thou art inexcusable O man whosoever thou art that judgest for wherein thou judgest another thou condemnest thyself for thou that judgest dost the same things Rom. 2.1 When Jerusalem had grievously sinned Lam. 1.8 God in the indignation of his anger despised the King and the Priest Lam. 2.6 Nor is it only violent resisting the power of Governours but obstinate disobeying their authority also that tends to the depriving their people of them and may be if not the means whereby yet the meritorious cause for which God may be provoked so to punish them subjects sometimes may say of their Soveraign as the Prophet Isaiah doth of our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus though not in the same sence Is 53.5 6. He was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities All we like sheep have gone astray we have turned every man to his own way and the Lord hath layd on him the iniquity of us all Great need we have all therefore to take heed that none of us presume to keep a course in any sin for fear lest by that we should though but unwittingly against our wills take part with our professed enemies Rebels and Traitors to deprive both our selves and others of that happiness which we might all enjoy in the prosperity and peaceable government of those higher powers which would be the ministers of God to us for good if we did well to whom we must be subject not for wrath but for conscience sake and for whom we are exhorted by St. Paul 1 Tim. 2.1 2. first of all to make supplications prayers intercessions and giving of thanks that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty which then onely we can hope to do when as the same Apostle beseecheth the Ephesians Eph. 4.1 c. we walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called with all lowliness and meekness with long-suffering forbearing one another in love and endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace When we are no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the slight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lye in wait to deceive but speaking the truth in love grow up into him in all things which is the head even Christ to whom be honour and power everlasting Amen FINIS ERRATA PAge 10. Line 5. read end may p. 16. l. 9. r. abode p. 23 l. 3. r. like a. l. 20. r. concluding p. 24. l. 20. r. carelesly l. 21. r. shall finde p. 27. for Paul r. John p. 33. l. 15. r. the same p. 35. l. 4. r. fift p. 39. l. 15. r. as is p. 58. l. 26. r. therefore p. 65. l. 23. r. former p. 73. l. 20. r. Davids p. 86. l. 16 r. to take p. 87. l. 4. r. your p. 88. l. 6. r. Thesi p. 90. l 20. r. to take p. 101. l. 8. r. nor p. 110. l. 23. r. Lam. 4.12 p. 111. l. 4. r. to be p. 113. l. 12. r. yea though p. 116. l. 6. r. John 18.11 p. 117. l. 20. r. could p. 119. l. 18. r. may be