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	good_a	great_a	1,656	5	2.4302	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A33283	Two sermons preached at Cambridge the first at the Lent assizes, 1654, the other on the yearly commemoration of Dr. Andrew Pern, 1655 / by J. Clerk.	Clarke, Joshua.	1655 (1655)	Wing C4481; ESTC R29962	25,596	69

respect of the circumstances of his power The substance of his power is from God and God onely for his is the Kingdome power and glory The circumstances of his power as person place duration degree c. are from God and man too in a different sense from man as an inferiour agent electing deriving procuring or constituting the power in all respects and therefore Peter calls it a humane Ordinance from God as the supreme agent contriving all the motions of man to the service of his providence for the Lord he is the Judge he set●eth up one and pulleth down another as the Psalmist speaks The action of man herein is ofttimes corrupt and indirect but cannot stain the providence of God nor disanull his Ordinance Jacob became superiour to his elder brother by Gods appointment though by his own indirect and fraudulent procurement If either compassing of power by sinfull and unwarrantable means or abuse of it by tyranny and injustice could so farre invalidate the Ordinance of God as to disoblige private Christians from their obedience to his lawfull commands surely the Apostles doctrine here was very unseasonable when Nero was in the throne And therefore if any impatient spirits being onely private persons shall upon any surmise of their own whether true or false ask the power as the Pharisees did our Saviour by what authority doest thou these things and who gave thee this authority He may answer them with another question not much unlike that of our Saviours there The doctrine of Paul was it from heaven or of men sure you will not say from men for fear of the people for all men esteem Paul an Apostle if you shall say from God why then do not you obey it and acknowledge the Magi●trate to be the Minister of God 3. His strength 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the minister of God supported by his hand He is established by the laws countenanc'd by his superiours if he have any guarded with arms but all this but the arm of flesh herein lies his chief strength he is back't with the power of God his Master whose very weaknesse is stronger then men The onely enemy he is to conflict with by his commission are sinnes against God and man and he hath all advantages he can desire he hath the advantage of the ground he is the higher power he hath the advantage of the weapon he bears a sword he hath the advantage of outward strength he hath the laws for so many nerves and sinews but he hath the advantage of the cause which is greatest of all he fighteth for God and Bonae causae spem adesse comitem Grot. Praef. was an old proverb a good cause teacheth confidence He hath the sword of man and the sword of the Spirit too the expresse word of God to assure him that he judgeth for God and that God is with him in the judgement 2. Chron. 19.6 Behold here are two swords methinks he should say it is enough methinks if he know his own strength he should not weigh the big looks of the sons of Anak he should make no difference either in civil or criminall causes betwixt the mighty hunters that commit wickednesse with a high hand and the cowardly lurchers that dare not shew their faces he should make no more of a powerfull oppressour a valiant dueller a gallant high-way man or a mad ranter then of a sneaking cutpurse Once a sling and a stone in the hand of David and in the name of the Lord triumphed over the long sword and weighty spear of Goliah and shall the Minister of God arm'd with sword and spear and coming forth in the name of the Lord too be afraid of unarmed naked guilty and therefore cowardly malefactours shall ●he sword of justice be afraid of the fist of wickednesse Shall such a man as I flee saith Nehemiah Isa 58.4 Shall the Ministers of God be afraid of the slaves of Satan Shall Gods be afraid of men the worst of men ●et the Magistrates reverence themselves as ●hey expect reverence from others and do ●othing unworthy the Master they serve and ●he titles they bear Indeed if this Minister of God leaves his Masters service he leaves his ●wn safety when Samson leaves judging Is●ael and instead of watching in the chair ●eeps in Delilahs lap his strength soon de●rts from him but whilest he is doing Gods ●ork he is strong and should be strong and 〈◊〉 a good courage for God is with him 4. His Duty The Minister of God ordained for his service To instruct the Magistrate in the particularities of his duty would be a bold and immodest undertaking especially in me that know not what bounds are fixt him by the laws and the tenour of his commission Mine is onely the easier task to lay down the generall rule but to make application of it to particular cases is a difficult work and better becoming the wisdome and gravity of the Magistrate himself The generall duty this title calls for is that he mind Gods businesse that he execute judgement with all faithfulnesse for the judgement is Gods Deut. 1.17 The Lord is Judge of all the world his Assizes are described by David Psal 9.7 c. He hath prepared his throne for judgement and he shall judge the world in righteousnesse he shall minister judgement to the people in uprightnesse The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed a refuge in times of trouble vers 12. When he makes inquisition for bloud he remembreth them he forgetteth not the crie of the humble or as Peter describes him more briefly to Cornelius He is no respecter of persons but in every nation he that worketh righteousnesse is accepted of him Act. 10.34 This is Gods work Let the Minister of God go and do likewise let him shew himsel● 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as he is called a God upon earth a living law If he regard onely or chiefly his own honour profit and advantage as if that of Carneades were true in the worst sense Vtilitas justi prope mater aequi That 's onely just which is profitable or as if he thought the people were intended onely for a beast for him to ride on he may retain the name but he neither performs the duty nor shall receive the reward of the Minister of God but of a wicked servant that hath hid his Lords money nay that hath embezel'd it that 's worse 5. His Dependance The Minister of God wholly subject to his dispose God hath not so invested his Minister in power as to strip himself but He standeth in the congregation of the mighty he judgeth among the Gods Psal 82.1 Upon him the Magistrate depends in the rise of his power By me Princes rule and nobles even all the Judges of the earth Prov. 8.15 Upon him he depends in the use and exercise of his power By me Princes decree justice From me they have understanding to discern and