Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	best_a	zeal_n	zealous_a	58	3	9.1151	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A58050	Of religious melancholy a sermon preach'd before the Queen at White-Hall March 6, 1691/2 / by the Right Reverend Father in God, John Bishop of Norwich.	Moore, John, 1646-1714.	1694 (1694)	Wing R2548; ESTC N24486	14,188	16

wonder they should have more zeal in their Devotions But God will not reject any Man because he is of a cold Complexion or disdain his reasonable Sacrifice because it is offered with less vehemence of Passion 2. We may say further That they who are not carried by their Passions to the Service of God but render worship to him upon rational motives because he is the giver of all good things seem to act upon a higher and more sublime Principle For notwithstanding they are destitute of that pleasing warmth in their Passions which provokes others to pray unto God and to be thankful unto him yet they do not cease to celebrate his Praise because it is their duty to do it and because Reason suggests that they ought to make grateful acknowledgments of his Infinite Mercies 3. We may observe That the most zealous are not always the best Men. For their zeal may be without knowledge or on the wrong side as it was in St. Paul when he Persecuted the Church And it is his own observation That notwithstanding a Man had such a zeal for the Cause of God as would prompt him to suffer Martyrdom and yet wanted Charity his sharpest Sufferings would profit him nothing I must confess where a Man is zealously affected in a good matter and his active Spirits are discreetly directed to the Service of God such an one may prove a glorious Instrument for the propagating and promoting the Fear and Honour of God among Men and also may have a more sensible pleasure in every Religious Performance But all cannot raise their Affections to this pitch however God will not quench the smoaking flax nor break the bruised reed but pardon the wandrings pity the weaknesses quicken the aflections and make gracious allowances for all the defects of infirm but honest Christians 4. That the most holy Servants of God cannot maintain an equal wamth in their Devotions at all times Experience doth teach them that in some Seasons an unaccountable heaviness will seize upon their Hearts while they are on their bended Knees supplicating the forgiveness of their sins who at other times can put their Souls all in a bright and pure flame by intense meditations on the unspeakable love of God If therefore now and then you perceive your minds dull and heavy at your Prayers it is but what sometimes doth happen to the most sincere Christians how great care and diligence soever they use to uphold life and vigour in their Souls so that this is no just-cause of disquiet and dejection of Spirit Moreover Sickness Losses and all Afflictions do sometimes so disorder the Passions and oppress the Spirits even of the best Men that it is hardly possible they should serve God with as much chearfulness under Calamities and Troubles as at other times tho' they may have as much integrity and as sincere desires to please him and he will take what they then do as kindly at their hands and bountifully reward such Services Hence I gather That since Men are notable at all times to keep their Affections at an equal height when they address themselves to their Heavenly Father either in the Church or in their Closets that he doth not expect it from them and they ought not to give place to melancholy Fears when they shall find it otherwise with themselves God has made nothing the subject of our obedience which is not within the bounds of our abilities and he will at the Day of Judgment condemn Men for the Actions only which proceeded from their Wills and not for that want of heat in their Passions which was owing to the natural make of their Constitutions that they could not help or to outward unhappy Circumstances which they had not at their command 5. What hath been hitherto said about coldness and damps in the Minds of Men while they are engaged in Religious Duty has been to comfort those who are exceedingly grieved at it and who yet have not been able to conquer it tho' they have used true pains for that purpose Now notwithstanding it is not to be expected nor necessary that these innocent Persons should meet with a compleat cure of their grief yet I must tell them that nothing will more enliven their Spirits in the Service of God than deliberate Meditations of him and of themselves before they enter upon any part of Divine Worship If they would often engage their minds in Contemplations about the Divine Attributes and the Infinite Perfections of the Nature of God it would strangely help to deliver them from that drowsy Stupidity of which they so sadly complain and which hath so strong an influence on their Actions For frequent thoughts of Almighty Power will make the most sturdy Temper to tremble and the proudest Heart to submit There is no thinking so seriously of unsearchable Wisdom without being wrapt up in admiration of it and becoming very willing to be ruled by it And will not the meditations of Infinite Love diffusing it self over the World oblige us to adore to honour to love and to praise that most Glorious Spring from whence it floweth Do but consider as the Providence of God watches over all the Works of the Oreation so with what a particular care it hath preserved you and deliver'd you from many and great dangers which you did not foresee and against which you could make no Provision and certainly it will give a sensible touch to your Soul and cause you to break forth into Songs and Hymns of Thanksgiving But if you proceed still further to contemplate the deep Mysteries and inconceivable love shewn by Christ in the mighty work of your Redemption to consider the great Condescension of your Saviour when he left the Heavens to dwell amongst us the wonderful humiliation of himself when he took our frail Mortal Nature upon him the Pains the Agonies the Horrors of the most dreadful Death he suffered to save us ungrateful Sinners this can hardly fail to dissolve the most obdurate and stony Heart and make you firmly conclude that you can sufficiently admire love serve or suffer too much for this most Blessed Saviour Can your Passions continue all puiet when you look to this your most merciful Redeemer who left the Bosom of his Father to seek you when you had lost your in the ways of Sin and the paths that lead to death Who came to procure reconciliation for you with God whom as you had heinously provoked so you were in no respectable to make him satisfaction Do but with some seriousness recollect how often the Lord hath spar'd you when your own hearts have told you that you did deserve Punishment how very often you have highly offended him and fearfully looked when he should destroy you and yet you are still suffered to be in the Land of the Living as so many Monuments of his Compassion and he is not yet wearied with waiting for your return that he may be gracious unto you Do