Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	believe_v	faith_n	holy_a	1,533	5	5.3032	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91793	Justification by Christ alone, a fountaine of life and comfort, declaring that the whole worke of mans salvation was accomplished by Jesus Christ upon the crosse, in that he tooke away & healed all his, from all sinnes, and presented them to God holy without fault in his sight. And the objections against this are answered, for the consolation of such as beleive; & that they may not ascribe that which is proper to Christs preistly office, to their beleiving. / By Samuel Richardson.	Richardson, Samuel, fl. 1643-1658.; Kiffin, William, 1616-1701.	1647 (1647)	Wing R1408; Thomason E392_32; ESTC R201586	62,108	73

soul The things God hath prepared for us he hath revealed unto us by his Spirit 1 Cor. 2. 9 10. saying I am thy salvation I have done away thy sins I will remember them no more Heb. 10. 15. 17. The Spirit beareth witnesse to our spirits that we are the children of God Rom. 8. 16. Now the work of faith is to assent to the truth of this testimony and receive it Now to assent unto and receive a thing is not to manifest it for giving and receiving are two things as to declare a thing and to beleeve the Declaration are two things Ephes. 3 5. There are three that bear record in heaven the Father the Word and the Spirit these agree in one that our sins are forgiven There are three that bear witnesse on earth 1. the Spirit 2. water viz. dipping Baptisme 3. Bloud viz. the Sacrament of the Supper wherein Christs blood is shed and his body broken and these three agree in one that is they witnesse hold forth and declare the record which is that God hath given unto us eternall life and that this life is in his Son 1 Joh. 5. 7 8 11 12. By which ●t appears that faith is none of the three witnesses in heaven nor any of the three on earth If faith did justifie us would it not follow that faith were greater and more to be prized then love yet love is greater 1 Cor. 13. 13. We may more properly be said to be justified by the Scriptures the Word of God then by our beleeving for that is that which evidenceth to us our justification by Christ and happinesse by him for how could we know the safetie and happinesse of a beleever without the Word or that the world was made of things that did not appear but by the Word Heb. 11. 2 3. How could we try the spirits but by the Word of God which is more purer then our beleeving and I will rest upon that more then on my beleeving Psal. 119 42. 89. Sixthly we are not justified by our beleeving because all that are justified are justified before they beleeve which will appear if ye consider 1. The titles given to such persons whom Christ justified they are termed sinners enemies ungodly Rom. 4. 5. 5. 8. 10. The Scripture doth not call any that are beleevers ungodly they have their name from their better part therefore beleevers are called holy Saints living stones babes in Christ And therefore seeing they were justified when ungodly they were justified before they beleeved and therefore their beleeving did not justifie them Christ justified many by bearing their iniqnity he in taking away our sins made us righteous and this was our justification Isa. 53. 5. 6. 11. Rom. 5. 9. 2. If I am to beleeve I am justified and that all my sins are forgiven me is it true or false If it be true that I am to beleeve Isa 40. 1 2. then I was a justified man and free from all sin before I beleeved it and therefore I am to beleeve it because it 's true If it be not true and so is false then it seems I am to beleeve a lye and for me to beleeve I am justified when I am not is to deceive my self in beleeving that which is false Also if I am to beleeve I am justified when I am not justified that so I may be justified is to beleeve that which is false that it may be true which is unreasonable because neither faith nor unbeleef can make any thing true or false nor cause the being of that which had no being before Therefore when Christ by his Spirit and Word of truth declares and reveals to a soul that all his sins are forgiven and washed away in the blood of Christ c. it is a certain truth and it is the holy Spirit that bears witnesse because the Spirit is truth 1 Joh. 5. 6. Therefore seeing we are justified by Christ before we beleeved it we may not beleeve that faith in us was either a cause or a means or any instrument of it but onely a means of our receiving the knowledge of it and of our injoying the comfort of it And as for such as are troubled because they cannot beleeve as they think all that I can say to them is Use the means to know where life is wait upon God he cals one at the third houre and another at the eleventh thou knowest not but there may be life in the Son for thee it is there for thee if thou belong to the election of grace else not Also if if thou hungerest and thirstest after righteousnesse viz Christ Matth. 5. thou art blessed and shall be saved Seventhly they that say they are justified by their beleeving know not what to stand to sometimes it is the act of faith justifieth them sometimes it is not the act but as it is a grace then not for the excellency of it but because God imputes it for righteousnesse then that there is a righteousnesse in faith it self We place justification in Christ alone by which means we are at a certainty And they that think otherwise if they please let them satisfie me in these few questions 1. Whether faith in the nature and power of it unacted do justifie or no if yea I desire to know how the power to beleeve apart from the exercise of it can be known to us 2. How it may fitly be called faith when there is no beleeving as there is not without the act seeing faith and to beleeve is one thing and whether the same light and power c. be not the same power by which we obey the rest of Gods commands and if it be how you can distinguish it apart from it's act and if it justifie as it is a grace unacted can you tell how and when you were justified and if it may abide in the soul one houre and not act why not two and so two seven yeers and whether then this opinion doth not imply that a man may have faith in him and be justified by it and yet he never beleeve nor know it And if Faith justifie in respect of the righteousnesse or meritoriousnesse of it whether it will not follow that we are righteous in our selves and so stand in no need of any righteousnesse in another and so need not live by faith in the Son of God seeing we have our righteousnesse in us If there be no merit no righteousnesse in the act of our beleeving but onely God is pleased to accept it for righteousnesse and reckon it so whether it will not follow that God esteemes and accepts of that for righteousnesse and imputes it for righteousnesse which is not so in it self and whether this is for his honour or no and whether it tends not to the dishonour of Christ that his righteousnesse in him is not sufficient and may not be that which justified those he dyed

come in amongst the rest of the righteousnesse which we have done therefore they say I will make mention of thy righteousnes even of thine onely Psal. 71. 10. 16. 13. That faith is not this righteousnesse it will appear if you consider what faith is in it self simply so considered apart from Christ it is no righteousnesse at all much lesse this righteousnesse we speak of The Apostle in 1 Cor. 15. 17. speaks of the faith of such as did truly beleeve he tels them that if Christ was not risen their faith was vain that is worth nothing So that if Christ had not been the true Me●●as and so the right object for their faith their beleeving could not have done them any good for all their beleeving they had been in their 〈◊〉 So that faith considered apart by it self it 's like a picture without life an empty and cold businesse onely to please the fancie But if faith be filled with Christ with light and love it 's the powerfullest thing in the world as Heb. 11. Ephes. 3. 16. c. Man at the first was earth till God breathed in him life Gen. 2. 7. and such as his life is such is his food earth bread yet he lives not by bread onely but by the Word of God Matth. 4. 4. Bread 1 Cor. 11. 28. c. strengthens the senses and they faith the Spirit gives life to faith 2 Cor. 3. 6. 4. 13. Christ is this bread Joh. 6. 35. He is our life Gal. 2. 20 Col. 3. 3. This life is discovered and made known to us 2 Cor. 14. 10 11. Our life is hid with Christ in God We shall live with him 2 Cor. 13. 4. Col. 3. 4. In this life we injoy our life by faith Faith is the evidence of things not seen Heb. 11. 1. In this world crosses are frequent and comforts few if the Saints were to have no more then they have in this life they were of all men most miserable 1 Cor. 15. 19. 10. 15. according as Christ shal fill our faith with the discoveries of life and love our lives shall be sweet and comfortable and serviceable c. Though I have the gift of pr●phesie and understand all mysteries and all knowledge had all faith yet this alone profits nothing See 1 Cor. 13. 3. 9. 2 Pet. 2. 20. Heb. 6. 4 5 6. 10. 26. 29. Isa. 48. 1. 2. 58. 2. Luk. 8. 13 14. Many make a god of their beleeving and depend upon it and fetch all their comfort from it and venture all their salvation on it if men did live upon and prise Christ as they do their beleeving I had spared this labour Because men beleeve some fly out in high expressions saying their faith is God and they are goded with the Godhead of Christ and that the divine nature is in them I grant we are made partakers of the divine nature but how by union not by infusion the seed that remaineth in us is not God but the Word of God Rom. 10. 8. we are born of God 1 Job 5. 18. that is made the sons of God he sinneth not that is so as the wicked one can touch him or come neer to hurt him for it 1 Joh. 5. 18. He is freed by Christ he is free indeed he need not fear curse nor wrath hell nor devil c. He that beleeves hath the witnesse in him 1 Joh. 5. 20. But faith is not that witnesse 1 Cor. 2. 10. 2 Cor. 4. 13. If you search the Scriptures above-named it will appear our life ● hi● with Christ in God● we enjoy not life it self but the knowledge of it and the comfort of it We can tell you what great things are provided for us and though we have them not now we shall have them Therefore Paul prayes that this mystery may be revealed to us Christ prayed that Peters faith might not fail Christs prayer was heard that which keeps the Saints is not their faith but the power of God ●Pet. 1. 5 ● 2 Cor. 13. 4. Col. 3. 3 4. Because I live saith Christ ye shall live also Joh. 14. 19. It doth not appear that there was any difference in the house that fell and that which stood save onely in the foundation the one being built on the Rock Christ and the other was built upon the sand not upon Christ something else qualification faith c. Faith is to have it's denomination from the object of it and the foundation of it the confidence of an hypocrite may be as great that he shall be saved as his is that shall be saved as I have proved elsewhere out of Isa. 44. 20. Abraham beleeved and it was imputed to him for righteousnesse So Phineas executing judgement was counted viz imputed to him for righteousnesse unto all generations Psal. 106. 30 31. that is it was a good act a righteous action to be commended If God did impute his beleeving to him for righteousnesse then it was made his righteousnesse but it was Christ the object of his faith that was his righteousnesse for nothing can make us righteous but Christ By whose obedience we are made righteous Rom. 5. 19. Righteousnesse is imputed not faith and so much the word beleeving doth import that our righteousnesse is else where and not in faith nor in our selves for faith apprehends that which is out of us in another the righteousnesse of Christ Rom. 4. 7 8 11. Who is our righteousnesse Jer. 23. 6. 1 Cor. 1. 30. Our propitiation Rom. 3. 25. 1 Joh. 22. Our peace Ephes. 2. 14. Our sanctification Tit. 2. 14. our victorious Conqueror Col. 2. 14 15. our Redeemer Saviou● eternall life 1 Joh. 5. 11 12 20. He that hath him hath all he that hath not him hath nothing at all A man is first called before he is justified for justification i● after calling Rom. 8. 30. Then men are not justified by faith for if they be called they beleeve or how else are they called and if they are beleevers and yet are not justified it was because their faith could not justifie them Although the elect are justified yet no man can know that he is justified untill he beleeve whosoever beleeveth on him shall receive remission of sins Act. 10. 43. so that men receive not remission of sins till after they beleeve So that God dispenceth out these priviledges and that we receive them in this order as 1. calling then justification and after glorification which seems to be the meaning of the Apostles words which I deny not but we receive them in this order He that beleeves and is baptized shall be saved and ●e that beleeveth not shall be damned Mark 16. 16. therefore faith is a condition required to salvation Faith saves not as a cause

or condition as Ministers remits sins so faith saves declaratively Joh. 20. 23. 3. 16. Mark 16. 16. These words declare how the Gospel is to be preached and applyed by the Preachers and hearers thereof so that neither of them may apply to themselves nor unto any others salvation untill they beleeve and therefore this is a rule to direct how the Gospel is to be preached When he sent them forth he said unto them Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature He that bele●ves and is baptized shall be saved and he that beleeveth not shall be damned Mark 16. 14 15 16. and so they preached the Gospel 2. If faith and Baptisme be a condition required absolutely necessarie without which no man can be saved then our salvation depends upon works now as it did under the Law 3. If faith be a condition required to partake of the covenant of grace then there is a condition required and so the covenant of grace is not absolute nor free If it be said God gives what he requires I answer That makes the condition easie to be performed but still if faith be as a condition required there is a condition but the covenant of grace is absolute and free and unconditionall on our part And that this appears 1. Because the covenant of grace is not made with man but is onely between God and Christ Thou spakest in a vision to thy holy One thou saidst I have layed help upon one that is mighty I have exalted one chosen out of the people My faithfulnesse and my mercy shall be with him I will make him my first-born higher then the Kings of the earth My mercy will I keep for him ☜ my Covenant shall stand fast with him Psal. 89. 19. 24. 27 28. So that all the conditions of the covenant did onely belong to Christ to perform seeing Christ had undertaken it and he onely was ingaged to it and he did it to the utmost which was that Christ should be made a sacrifice for sin and be should see his seed and prolong his dayes and the pleasure of the Lord should prosper in his hands Isa. 53. 10 11. See also Psal. 89. 35 36 37. 2. And seeing no covenant is made with the elect there is nothing required from them as any cause or conditions without which they cannot be saved as appears Heb. 8. 10 11 12. For our salvation depends not upon our beleeving but upon Christ Because I live ye shall live also Joh. 14. 19. And that there is not the least condition required from man to partake of the covenant of life and salvation appears by these words His seed will I make to endure for ever If his children forsake my Law and walk not in my judgements if they break my Statutes and keep not my Commandments then will I visit their transgressions with the rod and their iniquities with stripes Neverthelesse my loving kindnesse will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my faithfulnesse to fail My Covenant will I not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of my mouth Once have I sworn by my holinesse that I will not lye unto Christ Act. 2. 25. His seed shall endure for ever Psal. 89. 29. to 32. 3. Faith is a fruit of the Covenant and a branch of the Covenant but not a condition on our part to perform 4. All the elect were ever in this Covenant for they were ever in Christ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath b●essed us with all spirituall blessings in Christ acco●ding as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world Ephes. 1. 3 4. Christ is this Covenant I will give thee for a Covenant of the people for a light to the Gentiles to open their eyes to bring out the prisoners from the prison and them that sit is darknesse out of the prison house Isa. 42. 6 7 8. 49. 9. Therefore faith is not required as a condition to partake of this Covenant nor salvation My kindnesse shall not depart from thee neither shall the covenant of my peace be remoued saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee Isa 54. 10. Thus God to shew unto the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsell confirmed it by an oath that by two immutable things oath and covenant in which it is impossible for God to lye we might have strong consolation Heb. 6. 17 18. with Psal. 89. 35 36. Oh this is strong consolation indeed behold the liberty of the sons and daughters of God To be justified is for to be declared or pronounced just by sentence The word justifie properly signifieth to make just and men are made just 1. By infusion when the habite or vertue of justice is put into a person so God made man upright or just Eccl. 7. 29. 2. Men are made just by the justice of another so were we by Christ As by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one many are made righteous Rom. 5. 2 Cor. 5. 21. so that Christs satisfaction is our justification And to affirm we are not made just by Christs justice is to overthrow the foundation of Religion and mans salvation 3. Men are said to be made just or justified by sentence or pleading one to be just in this sense a man may justifie himself Job 9. 20. and be justified by witnesses Isa. 43. 9. 26. In this men are said to give righteousnesse and to take the righteousnesse of the righteous from him Isa. 5. 23. This is not to be understood strictly but in a large sence for although this hath the name of justification yet sometimes it is worth nothing having onely but an appearance or shadow of justification and doth men no good at all and is of no force except onely with such as are ignorant and de●uded and is to be abhorred is when persons are declared to be just when they are not so which is to justifie the wicked As Prov. 17. 15. 24. 24. Now to declare one to be just cannot make one just for these Reasons 1. If to declare one to be just doth make a man just then he was not just before 2. God and wisdom are said to be justified by men Rom. 3. 3 4. Matth. 11. 19. Luk. 7. 35. But if to declare him to be so makes him so then he was not so before Which to affirm is blasphemy 3. If to declare one to be just doth make him so is it not good to justifie the wicked and their actions because it must needs be good to make the unjust just But all the declarations of justification the wicked and their actions can have they remain wicked and their actions sinfull still 4. We grant God by his Spirit declares to the soul that he is