Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	bad_a	good_a	reason_n	1,431	5	5.5448	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A74947	Rayling rebuked: or, A defence of the ministers of this nation: by way of answer to the unparrallel'd calumnies cast upon them in an epistle lately published by Thomas Speed merchant of Bristol, unhappily become the Quakers advocate. Wherein, some Scriptures are opened, and diverse things objected by the Quakers, examined and answered. With an hortatory epistle prefixed to fasten Christians to Jesus Christ in these un-glewing times, wherein so many play fast and loose with him. By William Thomas minister of the Gospel at Ubley.	Thomas, William, 1593-1667.	1656 (1656)	Thomason E883_5; ESTC R207300	68,071	90

much pleased the Framer it comes in regard of the two former passages in it to this sense if it be sense you must not call upon the Magistrate to punish those that deserve it because somtimes the Magistrate is called upon to punish those that deserve it not A man must not call upon Moses to put a blasphemer to death because the Elders and Nobles of Naboths City were some-times called upon to put Naboth to death upon an unjust accusation of blasphemy Is not this a good Argument you ought not to call upon the Magistrate to to trouble a true man therefore you may not prosecute the Law to hang a Thief and a Murderer 3. It s true that the Parliament was called upon by Presbiters for the settling of a Government according to the Word of God and the example of the best Reformed Churches wherein they held and held forth a brotherly compliance with Independants even unto the utmost of that which their principles built as far as they could apprehend on Scripture would give way unto with sufficient declaration also of due respect unto and willingnesse to close with others that were godly though of dissenting principles and perswasions They intended no yoke but the yoke of Christ and were not as some have been formerly friends to soule-annoying restraints but only enemies to soule-destroying Liberties 4. It may be somthing wondered at that he should acknowledg that Teachers of all Sects and Factions cry out for help against his Sect Doth not this shew them to be like Ishmael Not only because of their persecution of others with bitter words but also of others dis affection to them their hand being against every man and every mans hand against them I do not say bad mens only but good mens also unlesse there be no Teachers good in the Nation besides Quakers now how sad is the condition of these men whom so many wise and godly men can see no cause to approve and favour 5. What he saith in jest No Minister no Magistrate will be found a truth in good earnest for they that contemne Gods expresse ordinance in the former will for the same reason undermine it in the latter to wit that an open way may be made for what they like and what they like yea Magistrates are in so much more danger than Ministers because such men are more hindered in their purposes by their greater ter power and may gain more if they can accomplish their purposes by their subversion Herein late experience will give some light by which it hath been observed that they that had an evil eye upon the Ministry and being not content with Reformation thereof meditated ruine were also possessed with principles leading to the overthrow of the Fundamental I awes and of Magistracy The affecting of a fist Monarchy hath an evil aspect upon whatsoever is reckoned a branch of the fourth T. S. Horrible blasphemers they are grand Heriticks and notorious blasphemers and that you may knowe w● do charge them to be such on as just grounds as our brethren the Scribes and Pharises charged Christ we desire you to scan over this ensuing list of their monstruous blasphemies W. T The generals being passed over we must now come to the particular charge which this accuser hath drawn up in ●est against himself and his assosiates in earnest against the publick Teachers o● the Nation I cannot but exreamly loath the spirit with which it is written and exceedingly blame the writer and yet it grieves me whensoever I think of it and that is very often that one formerly reputed to be religious should so far forget Religion and shew so little fear of God as to strain his wit which God hath given him for a better purpose to frame such a play Book as this is made up of Fifteen fancies thereby to mock and blaspheme Gods Messengers As concerning which he must be told in the first place that persons criminous would think themselves in very good case if they might but draw up their own charges and make such a list against themselves as themselves list Yet shall the several Articles of this his charge be considered as they proceed from himself that sits down let all men judge whether it be not in the seat of the scornful and thus gives them forth T. S. First they blaspheme and say that Christ is the light of the world and hath enlightened every man that cometh into the world and that he that followes that light shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life which light is sufficient to teach them and guide them unto the Father c. W. T. Here are two Scriptures joyned together with more subtilty than soundnesse and upon a designe rather than reason for though there be a similitude in words yet the words import different things and are spoken upon a different account for which purpose I shall take it for granted that the first Scripture to wit John 1. 9. speaks of Christs enlightening the world as God before his coming in the flesh or at least as well before his coming as after which will I suppose appear clearly two waies 1. Because the purpose of the Evangelist in the former part of that chapter is to set forth Christs Divinity which he doth both by reason and the testimony of John Baptist 2. Because it is not said that is the true light but that was If any say that enlightning work is still carried on I shall not deny it but that will amount to no more but this that the thing intended there is to advance Christ in the eminent work of enlightning the world in the generallity and to shew that Christ is the fountain of light to all generations successions of men Now I conceive that it may with good reason be made out that the lighting intended there is most properly with the light of nature and that 1. Because o● the latitude of the subjects enlightned to wit every man that cometh into the world that is that is born into the world 2. Because it doth not appear that the light of Gods Word and the knowledge of Christ hath been or is communicated to all the world Vniversally much lesse to every one born into the world Individually but rather the contrary Psal 147. 19 20. Acts 14. 16. with Deut. 18. 14. Acts 16. 6. Divers there fore understand this of the light of nature and they that understand it otherwise yet no way favour that which the Quakers would deduce from it for they limit the words thus Christ lighteth every man that comes into the world that is every man that is enlightned he enlightneth him And again thus every man that cometh into the world that is both Jewes and Gentiles in which sense the world is taken 1 Iohn 2. 2. And yet again every man that comes into the world that is that

tremble to think what the end will be of so dolefull and dangerous a backsliding O think with your selves each of you if I that have been guilty of so sad a departing were now a dying Could I say with a good and grounded Conscience and confidence Come Lord Jesus come quickly Into thy hands I commend my soule a soule that loves thy Word thy Sacraments thy Sabboths thy Ministers thy Saints far lesse then it was wont to doe Will not such things bring thy hoare head with sorrow to the grave If ever the Lord be so mercifull as to return such as if they belong to him he will O with what weeping and heart-smart will they come to seek the Lord their God And if God do not this what will become of their poor seduced soules Leave this God once leave this God still whom if you do enjoy you must enjoy in Ordinances Job 22. 21 22. Psal 65. 4. and assure your selves you shall never meet with such a God again The Lord make you to know it and thereupon make all to know that he hath turned your heart back again 1 Kings 18. 37. And this prayer is after I have been so long in this fifth cansideration 6. The last meanes I shall propound and way of revocation of revolted Christians O that they would come again to prayer and fasting that would cast out all evils and Devils Mark 9. 29. In conclusion I shall advertise the Reader that whereas I write more roundly in this Rejoynder than I use to do and than I have ever done and wherein if in any thing I have exceeded in the judgment of wise and godly men I am ready to be reproved that manner of writting I have been drawn into not only because the things are so grosse which this Opponent holds and the spirit so insulting with which he holds them forth a temptation which I have endeavoured to resist but more particularly for these reasons 1. Because the Apostle directs in some cases to cutting rebukes Tit. 1. 13. which I write with fear least I should take my self or incourage any other to take a liberty to walk in such a way unlesse with a desire to cure those that are corrupt or to deter others that are such or to confirm those the better that are not such c. Yet sure all men are not to be dealt with alike Jude v. 22. 23. and with these men both wayes are tryed I wish one or other may doe them good 2. Because I doubt not but zeale and resolution is required in pleading for the cause of God and against the irreligious and injurious usage of his word and servants especiall when it 's covered with shews of reason and religion 3. Because it is not reasonable that by a cold discourse there should be any suspicion that our consciences accuse us as this adversary doth or that we doubt of the regularity and righteousnesse of our calling and carriage which are here so much inveighed against which is the more considerable because such men as he who hath set himself a work in this Book are apt to interpret a milde way of Refutation a secret conviction and vertuall concession that the cause is such that we dare not boldly and strenuously give witnesse to it 4. That Christians that feare God may not be abused and deluded into doubts by the lofty and Thrasonicall Language of this or any vaunting opposite nor be induced to think by a remisse reply that there is something of truth and honesty in that cause of his which is carryed all along with so transcendent a confidence 5. Nor is this done without some respect to Solomon's counsell Prov. 26. 5. that one that is of so great a spirit as this writer is and yet in no wiser a way may not be altogether so high as otherwise he might be in his owne conceipt or if he will needs be so yet that it may be in his owne conceipt only I should not have been thus long but that I account the answering of one that declaimes or exclaimes rather their disputes far less considerable than the communicating of something upon this occasion which as God hath enabled I have endeavoured to doe for the information and conformation of humble sincere and ordinance observing Christians The Lord give a blessing to what I have written that it may be to those that are firme in their resolutions for God as Josua's stone sometimes was chap. 24. 26 27. a sealing-stone to those that are doubtfull a Touchstone yeelding some assistance for a right discovery to those that are fallen away a Load-stone to draw their hearts if God say so too back againe 1 Kings 18. 37. and to none a Milstone by rejecting that in scorne which is offered unto them in love and with a sincere aime at their spiritual and everlasting good This shall still be the prayer of him whose reall desires are to be Your servant in his utmost capacity for the safety of your Soules WILLIAM THOMAS May. 21. 1656. Jer. 3. 22. Return ye backsliding children and I will heale your backsliding Can any heart be so hard as not to Answer Behold we come unto thee for thou art the Lord our God I will go and return to my first husband for it was better with me than then now Hos 2. 7. To the Reader Reader BE pleased to understand that since the writing of this Epistle I find that there is a sober answer made to the angry Epistle of T.S. by my Reverend Bretheren the Ministers of Redding which I doubt not will give very good satisfaction to the understanding and indifferent Reader yet I shall not desist from publishing my selfe what I intended before but shall goe on in my purpose both because the Booke the Epistle wherefore they have answered is directed to my selfe by name and because God hath in mercy so directed mine and my Bretherens meditations that we shall walk in something a different way in one and the same worke and yet not onely without difference and disagreement but I hope with a more full and cumulative assistance to such selfe-knowing and sincere Christians as see they need and desire to profit by our labours which we pray God to blesse unto them for their greatest good I shall further advertise the Reader of two things 1. That my purpose at first was to answer at once the whole Booke of T. S. And in order thereunto I framed the precedent Epistle which reflects more properly upon all of it then upon a part But in regard of my many occasions and inability of body for study it will require some longer time to goe through the whole yet I am so importunately call'd upon by divers godly Persons to whose spirits that booke is extreamly displeasing that I cannot deferre the doing of something for some present satisfaction I have resolved therefore for this time especially considering that the pleading of my own personall cause is