Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	bear_v	end_n	truth_n	1,796	5	6.9490	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A40515	Select sermons preached upon Sundry occasions by John Frost ... ; now newly published together with two positions for explication and confirmation of these questions, I. Tota Christi justitia credentibus imputatur, 2, Fides justificat sub ratione instrumenti.	Frost, John, 1626?-1656.	1657 (1657)	Wing F2246; ESTC R31718	315,416	365

to What thankfull admiration should it create in our hearts and we say with Mary Luke 1. 46 47. My soul doth magnifie the Lord and my spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour that he should thus come into the world to save sinners of whom we are chief Fifthly How Christ carried on this design or in what respects Partic. 5. be said to save sinners I. Not barely by giving himself an example and pattern for a Christians imitation It is true that Christum imitari salutis via est which Socinus make his ground for this assertion to imitate Christ is the way to salvation It lies upon Christians as a duty to walk as he walked 1 John 2. 6. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk even as he walked And it is one end of Christs death to set us a copy of patience and submission 1. Pet 2. 21. Because Christ also suffered for us leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps And it is as true that whoever expects upon good grounds Christ for his purchase must take him as his pattern and example but through the rebellion of the flesh and the temptation of Satan it comes to pass that the best of us can but imperfectly imitate him and so still stand in need of a Saviour to satisfie for the imperfections of our obedience through whom it must be accepted Besides in this sence the Prophets Apostles and Martyrs may be called Saviours as setting us an example of piety and patience and so the Apostle bids us to account of them Jam. 5. 10. Take my brethren the Prophets who have spoken in the name of the Lord for an example of suffering affliction and of patience And therefore we must rise higher then this in conceiving Christ to save sinners therefore the Apostle where he propounds the death of Christ as an example of patience suggests it also as an expiation for sin and purchase of our pardon as 1 Pet. 2. where exhorting to patient suffering for well-doing after the example of Christ ver 21. For even hereunto were ye called because Christ also suffered for us leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps he adds at ver 24. who his own self bare our sins in his own bodie on the tree that we being dead to sin should live to righteousness by whose stripes ye were healed And it is the issue of Christs undertakings his death and purchase that we are redeemed from sin and freed to walk in imitation of Christ in righteousness and holiness then which Scripture speaks nothing more plainly as is clear from Gal. 1. 4. Who gave himself for our sins that he might deliver us from this present evil world and 1 Pet. 1. 18. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversation c. and so Titus 1. 14. Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works II. Not as Christ is an instrument to convey salvation to sinners which is another account Socinus gives why Christ may be said to save sinners It is true indeed that Christ doth bestow and confer eternal salvation upon sinners yea but not instrumentally and principally but in joynt efficiency with his Father who as one in being so in working as in John 10. 28 30. therefore he is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Authour of eternal salvation Hebr. 5. 9. and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 3. 15. the Prince of life III. Not onely because he revealed the way of salvation to sinners though this be true yet it is too short and insufficient for thus the Prophets Apostles and Ministers of the Gospel may be said to save sinners as laying before them the way and opening to them the Gospel of salvation So the Apostle of himself 1 Cor. 9. 22. I am made all things to all men that I might by all means save some and Acts 16. 17. it is the confession of the Damosel possessed with the spirit of divination These men are the servants of the most high God which shew unto us the way of salvation he exhorts Timothy so to preach as that he may save them that hear him 1 Tim. 4. 16. If Christ be only in this respect a Saviour then after he had by his Doctrine revealed the way to salvation his death was altogether needless upon which yet Scripture laies the great stress of saving sinners He is the Saviour of the bodie saith the Apostle Ephes 5. 23. he tells you how verse 25. he gave himself for it and expresly Tit. 2. 13 14. Who gave himself for us c. IV. Not onely by confirming this doctrine revealed It is true this was one end of Christ's coming so saies our Saviour himself to Pilate demanding of him Art thou a king John 18. 37. To this end was I born and for this cause came I into the world that I should bear witness unto the truth But who can imagine that God should give up his onely begotten wel-beloved Son expose him to the scorns of men frowns of God and at last to a cursed ignominious death onely for confirmation of Gospel-doctrine which was sufficiently done by the innocencie of his life and his miracles for it is said of the Apostles Mark 16. 20. That they went forth and preached every where the Lord working with them and confirming the word with signs following The Martyrs and Apostles might as well upon this account be called Saviours who sealed to the truth of the Gospel with their bloud as S. Paul saith of himself Acts 20. 23 24. The holy Ghost witnesseth in every city saying That bonds and afflictions abide me But none of these things move me neither count I my life dear unto my self c. to testifie the Gospel of the grace of God Christ is therefore said to save sinners by way of a real price paid and purchase made this Scripture speaks expresly Mat. 20. 28. where it is said The Son of man came to give his life 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a ransome for many which word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 properly signifies to redeem by way of purchase as those other words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so frequently used in Scripture as to Christ giving h●mself for sinners 1 Tim. 2. 5 6. Coloss 1. 14. So that Christ did truely pay to God a price for the Salvation and recovery of sinners Ephes 5. 2. The effects of which in reference to this end of saving sinners were 1. A perfect satisfaction to Divine justice which required the punishment for sin either in the person offending or in his suretie hence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and such like expressions in Scripture an oblation a ransome a propitiation for sin 1 John 2. 1. hence those expressions Isaiah 53. 5. The chastisement of our peace was

oft in divers successions one contrarie to another in the guidances and direction of our Pastors and Teachers Nor can we certainly or safely resolve our belief into them for we are bid to trie these Spirits whether they be of God They may either out of ignorance 1 John 4. 1. or malice mislead you Scripture Canon is the onely infallible guide and God may as soon deceive you as Scripture can 3. The excellent ends fruits of this revelation and the knowledge of it that is not onely for discourse though I could heartily wish it were made more use of this way not onely to exercise a subtile wit though there be Scripture-mysteries will do this too not onely to ripen a lascivient fancie which are the greatest ends of all other knowledge but the ends of Scripture-knowledge are more heavenly and spiritual The Apostle hath enumerated them to our hands it is profitable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 2 Tim. 3. 16. doctrine if thou beest ignorant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for reproof if thou beest erring and misled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for correction if thou beest sinning 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for instruction in righteousness to lead the to and direct thee in thy dutie Consider the excellencie of it in these respects above all other knowledge 1. It is a confirming knowledge the foundation and principle of constancie and settledness in Religion The chief cause of the light Scepticisme and wavering unsettledness of our times is the want of a sound Scripture-knowledge of the Truth with which if mens spirits were well ballassed they would not so soon be tossed about and carried away with every wind of doctrine The Apostle speaking of such gives this account of it that they were children Ephes 4. 14. in understanding Observe who they are the Apostle speaks of who are led captive by those seducers who creep into houses they are sillie women And why they the reason is given because they verse 7. are ever learning and can never come to the knowledge of the truth No man can simply desire to be deceived Error as error hath no sutableness or adequation to mans understanding but many are deluded by error under the vizard of truth Jacob was deceived with blear-eyed Leah instead of fair Rachel While men are in the dark not enlightned by a clear Scripture-knowledge they oft court error for truth This never more easie then in these daies when that which will most secure us from Apostatizing from acknowledged and received truth is a sound Scripture-knowledge which therefore the Apostle prays God for the Colossians and others that they might have the full assurance Coloss 2. 2. of understanding to the acknowledgement of the mysterie of Christ and he gives the reason This speak I lest any man should beguile you with Verse 4. e●tising words 2. It is a comforting supporting knowledge So David found it Psal 19. 8. The statutes of the Lord are pure rejoycing the heart and verse 10 sweeter they are then the honey and the honey-comb The Wise-man and he spake it experimentally as having more wisdome then all that were before him in Jerusalem found the upshot of all his knowledge to be nothing but vexation of spirit Eccles 1. 16. passing this deliberate judgement and sentence upon it verse 18. that in much wisdome is much grief and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow But the comfort of Christians was one end of Scripture which was written That we through patience and comfort of the Scripture might have hope Here an observant Rom. 15. 4. Reader may discover many glorious promises which are rich treasures of comfort full breasts of consolation from which the pious Christian may suck much supporting and chearing sweetness Here we may suck and be satisfied with the breasts of consolation as the Prophet expresseth it Isaiah 66. 11. The promise is as full of comfort as a dugge is full of milk as crying children are quietted with the dugge so perplexed consciences are quieted and eased by the promises this all other knowledge in the world cannot help you too What refuges hath Seneca the wisest of Stoicks found for doubting and troubled mindes and yet all ended in mere disquietness Not Athens must teach this lesson but Jerusalem not Reason but Revelation not Nature but Scripture I have read of a woman who was much disquieted in conscience even to despair and endeavouring to prove her own executioner was comforted by that promise Isaiah 57. 15. Thus saith the high and the loftie one which inhabiteth eternitie whose name is Holy I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of an humble and contrite spirit to revive the hearts of the contrite ones and of another who being readie to die Lord saith he I challenge thy promise by which thou art engaged to give rest to those who are weary and heavy laden and so was comforted 3. It is a Transforming knowledge which no other knowledge is We read Rom. 1. 21. of the Heathen who when they knew God glorified him not as God and the Psalmist having spoken of the knowledge of God in his creatures subjoyns this as the perfection of the word of God Psal 19. 7. that it converteth the soul The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul In a word natural knowledge is onely sufficient to make men without excuse but Scripture-knowledge to make us wise unto salvation 2 Tim. 3. 15. Secondly The usefulness and necessitie of it as to an Apollos is still in Scripture justly accounted the cognizance and commendation of of an able Minister It was Ezras commendation that he was a readie Scribe in the Law of Moses and Timothies that 2 Tim. 3. 15. from a child he had known the holy Scriptures which Paul notes as the badge of a good Minister Thou saith he to Timothy shalt be a good Minister nourished up in the words of faith and of good 1 Tim. 4. 6. doctrine This knowledge is necessarie 1. That he may truely and savingly make known and discover Jesus Christ This is the great dutie of Ministers which was the end for which S. Paul desired the door of utterance Colos 4. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to speak the mysterie of Christ and therefore he desired to know nothing among the Corinthians but Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 2. 2. and him crucified Christ he is the summe of Law and Gospel the substance and as it were Epitome of the written Word Every thing in Scripture relates some way or other to Christ the Types shadowed him the Prophets foretold him the Sacraments signifie him and seal him The Law is a School-master to lead us unto Christ Gal. 3. 24. the Gospel offers him and conveys him our faith receives him our love imbraces him our hope expects him our obedience imitates and honours him the promises are grounded upon him by the Gospel-priviledges purchased by him Thus Christ is the