Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n
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A02182
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Propositions containing answers to certaine demaunds in divers spirituall matters specially concerning the conscience oppressed with the griefe of sinne. With an epistle against hardnes of heat, made by that woorthie preacher of the Gospell of Christ, M. R. Greenham pastor of Drayton
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Greenham, Richard.
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1597
(1597)
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STC 12323; ESTC S120335
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28,959
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82
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blood so vvas his prayer effectuall even to them vnder the Lawe much more vnto vs vnder grace and vvhen you can finde testimonie of your heart that when you would do well yet evil is present with you and that you do the evill you woulde not then doe not you it but sinne in you when it leadeth you captiue Rom. 7. Much more then when Sathan worketh with all buffeting you assure your selfe that God hath pittie on you and that the vertue of his power shall bee perfect in your weaknes 2. Cor. 12. 9. If you beleeue according to your faith be it vnto you but you will say you cannot beleeue that this vile and crooked hardnes of heart can bee remitted and renewed And this was the second point within the former part of my Letter I gaue you to vnderstand what was the cause of your excessiue distresse I besech you in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ that you will not willingly lye nor offer iniury to Gods spirit nor to your selfe who haue receiued it tell me what is the reason why you thinke you haue no faith verely because you haue no feeling nor noe other fruites thereof as you think vvell first then agree with mee herein as you must if you will not disagree with the trueth that feeling is but an effect a fruite of faith and therefore there may be faith without feeling as the cause may bee without the effect and the tree without any appearance of fruite yea of sap for a season And as a man sore wounded or diseased may for a season be depriued almost of al operations of the naturall life to the outwarde shewe and his owne iudgement and feeling so may a spirituall man bee sore wounded by Sathan and be diseased by present sight and feeling of his sinfull corruptions specially in that the life of the spirit ts not in him Thus Peters holie faile as you haue hearde or else the prayer of our Saviour prevailed not Thus when David Psalm 51. 12. declared that his heart was vncleane and his spirit crooked and vnstable and verse 14. that hee had lost the ioye of his salvation and the spirit of liberty or adoption yea vers 13. hee prayeth that God would not take his holy spirit from him therefore he was not depriued of the spirit of sanctification Heere seemeth repugnance but there is none he was depriued for a season of the graces of the sanctifying spirit but not of the holy Ghost wherewith he was sanctified which graces as God restored vnto him so I am perswaded that he will vnto you yea I doubt whether you are deprived of them but onely that partlie melancholie and partly Sathan working therewith makes you do iniury to your selfe to the graces of the spirit in you which I beseech you take heede of But the Messenger cannot stay I therefore cannot write as I wold either of this or of the remedies you shuld vse which hereafter I will if God shall enable mee And I praye you let mee vnderstand as I requested in the beginning of your estate in particular somewhat more that by this bearer if you can because he is of your acquaintance and will bring it vnto me faithfullie Onely I adde nowe vnto that which I haue written of hardnesse of heart at large that you must diligently obserue the word Create which Dauid vseth Psal. 51. declaring howe he had no feeling of his heart To this ioyne that which the Prophet Esay speaketh in the persone of God 57. 3. I create the fruite of the lippes to be peace as well to him that is far off as to him that is neere Therefore in Faith you may as well pray with the hope to obtaine as did David therefore saye vvith him often and vvith Gods people Esay 64. 12. O Lord thou art our Father wee indeede are clay but thou art our maker and wee are the work of thine handes c. Know you that God can cause Wolues Lyons Leopards c. wallowing with lambs calues and kyne Esay 11. 6. And that vvhich is vnpossible vnto men is possible vnto God euen to cause a cable rope to go through a needels eye that is to change the heart of the vnbeleeuing covetous and vvretched man much more yours yea knowe you that all things are possible to him that beleeueth Crye then I beleeue oh Lord help mine vnbeliefe and I do promise you in the name of our Lorde Iesus Christ that you shall haue your desire in goodnesse Thus abruptlye I must make an end I commend you vnto God and the vvorde of his grace vvhich is able for to builde you vppe and to giue you the right of inheritance amongst them vvhich are sanctified And the very God of Peace sanctifie you throughout that your vvhole spirit soule and body may bee kept blamelesse vntill the comming of our Lorde Iesus Christ Faithfull is hee vvhich hath called you and vvill do it I pray you pray for me and I trust as I haue so I shall pray for you and much more Yours in Iesus Christ to vse in any neede R. GREENHAM