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	truth_n	witness_n	3,073	5	8.6773	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A37049	A practical exposition of the X. Commandements with a resolution of several momentous questions and cases of conscience.	Durham, James, 1622-1658.	1675 (1675)	Wing D2822; ESTC R19881	403,531	522

them by any of these thus Exod. 21.19 the Lord will have reparation made for lost time as well as for lost means Many tiplers are thieves this way to each other and to themselves which God will make them count for how little soever they think of it 20. There is a wronging of our neighbour without a compensation and there is a wronging him with a pretended compensation that is either when the thing is not so good in it self or not so good to him thus A ●hab 1 Kings 17. was guilty in desiring Naboths Vineyard even though he offered him as good yet it was not so good to Naboth because this was his Fathers and he esteemed it more Thus also there is a stealing of another mans contentment although that in which he placeth it may be a matter of very little or no worth at all but yet if therein he hath an interest of affection as they call it such as a man may have for some petty Jewel a Hawk a Hound or the like so that it please him or delight him the wronging of him in that is not only a sin against the sixth Command in grieving him but against this in prejudicing him of his contentment which as to him in some respect is a sorer wrong then the taking from him of that which in it self were of far greater worth would have been 21. There is a failing by unskilfulness as when one taketh on him some office and receiveth wages or hire for it and is not qualified for nor sutable to the place and employment thus Physicians Lawyers and Judges often steal from men through their ignorance As also Ministers who supply Charges they are unfit for and consume that which should entertain others but this sin in Ministers is oftentimes more through unfaithfulness when being sustained for the good of the people they turn rather to be hurtful Thus Christ John 10.1 calleth false Prophets Thieves and Robbers And indeed it is the worst gain in the world that utterly unskilful and unfaithful Ministers get by starving and murthering the immortal souls of men 22. We wrong others when we communicate not to them when they are in need and we in a capacity to help them yea when by idleness and prodigality we incapacitate our selves to communicate to the necessities of others as Ephes 4.28 is clear 23. Beside there cometh in here all selling and buying of what should not be sold or bought as publick places in Church or State this first from Simon Magus Acts 8.18 19. is called Simony and is a sin of a high degree making that saleable which the Lord will have free and it taketh in not only giving money but any other thing upon this account to promove such and such persons or receiving any thing to be sweyed so and so whether it be munus manus linguae aut actionis a gift of the hand tongue or action 1. By a gift of the hand is understood money or things that are usually given 2. A gift of the tongue comprehendeth f ●ir speeches solicitations flatteries c. 3. By a gift of action is understood service dependence on waiting and courtesies as they are called made use of to procure anothers favour and in all these three men may greatly sin as when they hunt after and are sweyed with any of them and so covet them as when Magistrates or Judges sell Justice for bribes when men by lying and false-false-witness bearing sell the truth whereof Lawyers are chiefly guilty who for fees plead ill causes wittingly or when one giveth them that he may gain more really upon the other as for instance when men by any of these bribes buy Justice and much more Injustice and buy lies and false testimonies to prevent or pervert Justice 24. There is a guilt in consenting too incouraging in conniving at or justifying of such as commit this sin or are receivers or resetters of what is stollen for their strengthening and incouragement see Psal. 50.18 Prov. 1.10 25. Seasing upon other folks goods sometimes under pretext of escheats as Admirals doe upon Sea wrack and such like when there is no just ground to take away the owners right and this is reckoned open violence before God and is a most cruel adding of affliction to the afflicted This sin then of Theft in reference to our neighbours is fallen into by violence deceit negligence unfaithfulness ignorance unskilfulness c. And when all is said a tender heart will still need its own examination and tryal of it self there being as many wayes to break this Command as there are wayes to prejudice our neighbours estate We come novv to consider hovv a man is guilty in vvronging his ovvn estate for there is a skill and dexterity in the managing the unrighteous Mammon vvhich vve consider tvvo vvayes 1. As he vvrongeth and diminisheth his estate by not providently caring for its preservation and increase or improvement vvhen he is not frugal or not so frugal as he ought to be but lazie and sloathful he becometh guilty of the breach of this Command because he incapacitateth himself for being useful to others and putteth himself in hazard of poverty and vvant vvhich is the proper snare of this sin of stealing and disposeth for it Prov. 30.9 This poverty which is so ensnairing is brought on 1. By sinful spending and debauching away of our estate and time as the Prodigal did Luke 15.11 c. 2. By unnecessary waste in prodigality and lavishness such as though unjustly Judas condemned in the woman spoken of John 12.5 For much spending must have much to uphold it and must have many wayes to furnish it self according to the Proverb most ordinarily verified Omnis Prodigus est avarus every Prodigal man is greedy or covetous to satisfie one lust he exerceth another however he being but a steward of what he possesseth he by his prodigality not only interverteth from the right end what means God hath given him to be otherwayes disposed of but also draweth upon himself poverty 3. By negligence laziness carelesness c. in a lawful calling for they that are given to sleep or idleness shall come to poverty as the Wise man saith or being without a calling altogether When God giveth men ability of body or mind it is sad that they should be useful for nothing nor active in any thing but to sin and be snairs and reproaches unto Christians and Christian Religion as all idle persons bearing the name of Christians are whoever they be whether Gentlemen or others It is observable that both before the fall and after the fall God put that task of working in mans hand commanding him to labour many other such foolish wayes there are whereby a man cometh unto poverty and becometh guilty of not providing for himself or his family Also by suretyship many are bowed and brought low which although it is not simply to be condemned more then to give freely yet it is to be well