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	good_a	great_a	1,387	5	2.5396	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A04211	Anno Domini 1616. A confession and protestation of the faith of certaine Christians in England holding it necessary to observe, & keepe all Christes true substantiall ordinances for his church visible and politicall (that is, indued with power of outward spirituall government) under the gospel; though the same doe differ from the common order of the land. Published for the clearing of the said Christian from the slaunder of schisme, and noveltie, and also of separation, & undutifullness to the magistrate, which their rash adversaries doe falsely cast upon them. Also, an humble petition to the K. Majestie for toleration therein.	Jacob, Henry, 1563-1624.	1616 (1616)	STC 14330; ESTC S120216	22,778	71

Cor. 16.1.2 Cōcerning the gathering for the Saincts as he ordeyned in the Churches of Galatia also viz. Every first day of the weeke let every one put aside by himself and lay up as God hath prospered him This shewing what the Apostle then required of thē for an occasionall reliefe of other brethren farr off from them doth shew more that he requireth them thus to doe for their owne constant ordinary and necessary supportation maintenance Of Tithes the Pastors fittest and due and necessary maintenance 26. Wee believe that Tithes for the Pastors maintenance under the Gospell are not the just and due meanes thereof Howbeit yet we doe not think these Tithes absolutely unlawfull if they remaine voluntary but when they are made necessary we think them not so lawfull The same doe we judge also of whatsoever other set maintenance for ministers of the Gospell established by temporall Lawes We graunt for the Ministers security such established maintenāce is best but for preserving due freedome in the Congregation sincerity in Religion and sanctity in the whole flock the Congregations voluntary conscionable contribution for their Pastors sustenance and maintenance is doubtless the safest and most approved nay it seemeth the onely way wherewith the Apostles caused their times to be content neither did they take care for other order herein which certainely they would and should have done if other order had been better Onely they are carefull and that very religiously commanding all Churches of conscience and duety to God to give not sparingly but liberally and not as almes but as duety for the upholding advancing and countenancing of the holy worship and service of God which is either much strengthened or weakened much honoured or abased amongst men according as the Pastors maintenance is To this end tendeth that which is written † 1 Cor. 9.7.9.11.14 Who goeth a warfare at any time on his owne cost Thou shalt not muzzel the mouth of the Oxe that treadeth out the Corne If wee have sowne unto you spirituall things is it a great thing is wee reap your carnal things God hath ordeyned that they which preach the Gospell should live of the Gospel or else a people herein negligent * Mal. 3.8.9 robbeth spoileth their God will a man spoile his God Wherefore † Prov. 3.9 honour the Lord with your substance and with the first fruites of all your increase and | Gal. 6.6 let him that is taught in the word make him that taught him partaker of all his goods Also every one as hee soweth † v. 7. so hee shall reape And ‡ Deut. 16.16 none may appeare before the Lord emptie By all which it is manifest that Almighty God commandeth the people to mainteyn with their goods their ministers And in the Gospell their maintenance to be free yet honest liberall and plentifull that * 2 Chrō 31.4 they may be incouraged in the way of the Lord. Of the civil Magistrates duety and charge to oversee and order his Churches in spirituall matters 27. Wee believe that we and all true visible Churches ought to be overseene and kept in good order and peace ought to be governed under Christ both supreamely and also subordinately by the Civill Magistrate yea in causes of religion when need is By which rightfull power of his he ought to cherish preferre the godly and religious and to punish as truth and right shall require the untractable and unreasonable Howbeit yet alwayes but Civilly And therefore we from our hart most humblie doe desire that our gracious soveraigne King would himselfe so farr as he seeth good and further by some fubstituted † Supplicat for Tolerat p. 8.12 civill Magistrate under him in clemency take this speciall oversight and government of us to whose ordering and protection wee most humbly commit our selves acknowledging that because we want the use of this divine ordinance That therefore most greate and infinite evills both to us and even to the whole kingdome doth ensue and also because of the spirituall Lords their governmēt over us And notwithstāding the spirituall Lords ‡ Ibid. pag. 12. doe think it injury and wrong to themselves not small if the King should substitute civill Magistrates to this busines yet as it is sayd that is Gods owne ordinance and to doe otherwise namely to commit either spirituall or civill government viz. Diocesan or provinciall to Ministers of the word is evill and as we believe a direct transgression of the text of the Gospell above rehearsed in Artic. 4.10.24 Touching the necessity that lyeth upon us to obey Christ rather then man in our using of the true and in refusing the contrary ecclesiasticall ordinances above specified 28. Wee believe that by the word of God all Christians are bound each one for his own part to keepe observe actually and perpetually the Affirmative ecclesiasticall Commandements and ordinances in the Gospell as well as the Negative That is so farre as one person sufficeth to performe the same singly by himselfe he ought so to doe where some number are required are ready for the observing of any such Commandement there each christian which can be present with other standeth bound to give his consent to make one with them therein Alwayes after the bestorder they can and namely that maine order which is in the Gospell notwithstanding whatsoever mans forbidding or whatsoever affliction in the world should followe upon it But that touching the use of Christs visible politicall Church under the Gospell viz. A free independēt c̄ogregatiō prescribed in Mat. 18.17 is such an Affirmative Cōmandmēt Ordinance Mat. 18.17 and it agreeth to that order afore named as wee see in the Scriptures alleaged for the 2. point in the 4. Article Therefore every Christian is bound by Gods word to keepe and observe the same perpetually so as is before declared And namely this all are commanded occasiō requiring viz. to tell such a Church and to heare such a Church Therefore all are commanded and stand bound by Gods word so as before is declared perpetually to have such a Church and to be members of it first Further all simply are cōmanded * Mat. 28.20 to doe whatsoever Christ commanded the Apostles and to † 1 Thes 5.21 try all things and to hold fast that which is good And to ‡ 1 Joh. 4.1 try the spirites whether they be of God And | Rom. 16.17 brethren marke them diligently which cause dessentions and offences besides the doctrine which yee have learned and avoid them These duties we may very well doe according to that true order above noted if we enjoy such a visible Church a free Congregation as is before described But wanting such a Church it is not possible for us to doe them which any good order as is shewed Therefore we all are simply commanded to enjoy and use an independent Church exercising spirituall

goodnes at all times Yea whether we obteyne mercy at your Majesties hands or no Neverthelesse still to you doe we apply your grace we doe and will attend And so together wee offer with all willingnes to receive the oath of your Supremacie and that of Alleagiance likewise Sixtly Your Majestie heretofore discovered on occasion your tender pitty and commiseration towards the consciences of your subjects and those being such as more resist your royall dignitie then wee through Gods grace ever have shall or can doe by the tenour of our open profession which also your Majesties wisdome it selfe † Tortus Lyes 4. doth well discerne Yet towards those your subjectes the Catholikes in your Kingly affection Clemencie you have signified that ‡ Apol. p. 4. you intend no persecution against them for conscience cause and that | p. 60. you never laid any thing to the charge of any for cause of conscience This giveth us to have great hope and confidence and to comfort our selves upon the same your royall word And therefore also we adventure to be suters to your Highnes in this our need as now we are for the due and sweete effecte hereof towards us Some perhaps will object that we will not be content with our conscience to our selves but also we use meeting in private for the exetcise of our religion Weanswer our religion hath no manner of evill in it any manner of wayes as by our fore rehearsed Confession is made manifest before thanks be to God And for meeting in private it is not that we desire or delight in the Lord knoweth The publike places with peace and protection under your Highnes would be in this world the greatest blessing and benefite which our heart desireth or which could come unto us But we dare not expect neither doe we ask so great favour at your Majesties handes onely that in private peaceably we might serve God with cleare and quiet consciences according to the effect of our fore remembred Cōfession we in all lowlinesse craue but your Toleration For meetings of a Congregation to the joint and common exercise of Gods worship are necessary partes of religion and duties in conscience as being Christes very ordinance and commandement Your Majesties wisdome understandeth perfectly that without such meetings cōmon prayers and other actes of religion in a Congregation God neither is nor can be served as he ought to be Wherefore this duty we cannot in any safety of conscience relinquish or neglect neither can our meeting thus onely in a competent Cōgregation any way in the least measure be prejudiciall or suspicious to your Highnes peace or dignitie But by Gods grace you yeelding us this favour shall every way succeede to the advancing of Gods true glory and your Majesties flourishing government here and hereafter to your more sure attaying of immortall honour and soules health c. These causes therefore ô Gracious and Magnificent King constraine us and binde us to implore this your favour and succor at this time in this behalfe And so being not ignorant of your gentle and gracious clemencie many times shewed to sundry persons on sundry occasions of no such importance as this is to our poore soules and as we judge to the cleerer demonstration of your eternall happinesse to come we lay downe our cause at your Highnes feete and thus commend our most humble suite to your gracious and mercifull consideration Beseeching the Almightie to blesse and to honour your excellent Majestie your royall posteritie with all the ornamēts of Grace in this life of everlasting salvatiō hereafter through Iesus Christ Amen ⸪