Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	better_a	good_a	great_a	1,484	5	2.2112	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A13069	A fourth proceeding in the harmony of King Dauids harp That is to say; a godly and learned exposition of six psalmes moe of the princely prophet Dauid, beginning with the 62. and ending with the 67. Psalme. Done in Latin by the reuerend Doctour Victorinus Strigelius professor in Diuinitie in the vniuersitie of Lipsia in Germany Anno 1502. Translated into English by Richard Robinson citizen of London 1596. Seene, perused, and allowed. ...; Hypomnēmata in omnes Psalmos Davidis. Psalm 62-67. English	Strigel, Victorinus, 1524-1569.; Robinson, Richard, citizen of London.	1596 (1596)	STC 23362; ESTC S105184	33,513	60

Church which by the grant and gift of GOD doe heare the preachers of the gospel and ministers therof in Churches and Schooles but they also which ioyne together their prayer and confession with the true church for like as Dauid was not at all seuered from the societie of Gods church bicause hee was banished So the godly ones with Turkish or pontificall tyranny being oppressed and destitute of publike ministery are and remaine citizens of the church if they adioyne their praiers and worshippings vnto those congregations wherein the gospel is preached and doe not cast away their confession of the trueth The Psalme and exposition thereof Verse 1 O God thou art my God early wil I seeke thee Verse 2 My soule thirsteth for thee my flesh also longeth after thee in a barren and drie land where no water is THis is a notable description of a feruent desire For like as the Hart being pursued flieth and is made weary with long chase so that he earnestly desireth the liuely running waters to quench his thirst and refresh himselfe withall so the godly minde vnfainedly and from his heart desireth to haue recourse vnto the publike congregation of the church wherein soundeth the pure word of the gospel and the sacraments are rightly administred for so saieth the 27. Psalme verse 4. One thing haue I desired of the Lord which I will require euen that I may dwell in the house of the Lord al the dayes of my life to behold the ●a●e beauty of the Lord and to visit his holy temple And the 95. psalme and fourth verse saith Blessed is the man whom thou chusest and receiuest vnto thee He shall dwell in thy Court and shall be satisfied with the pleasures of thy house euen of the holy temple These and such like sayings which are euery where extant in the psalmes do instruct the Reader touching greatest matters For first they do teach that there is no thing better nor any thing more wishfull then to liue most friendly and louingly with the congregation which is the Temple and dwelling house of God and shal for euermore enioy the sight of God Secondly they accuse and condemne the erronious persons which will bee members of no church but seeke for Platoes citie wherein is no infirmitie Let such knowe that they are not chosen vnto the society of life euerlasting because they are not of that congregation of those that be called according to that saying of S. Paul Rom. 8.14 Whom he hath chosen those he hath called Thirdly they comfort the godly ones who indure great sorrow in their mindes to be absent from the common assemblies of the church for Mat. 5.6 They are blessed which hunger and thirst after righteousnesse and most earnestly wish and desire to be ioyned with the true church Last of all they discerne the true church from other Sectes For the church holdeth fast the possession of the holy and sacred fountain from whence are drawne necessarie doctrine and whole some consolations But other sectes are desart places full of errours and darkenesse and voyde and barren of al consolation for though they retaine a particle of the Lawe yet they either are vtterly ignorant of or corrupt the gospell But touching this difference I haue oftetimes elsewhere spoken in the Psalmes Verse 3 So haue I looked for thee in holines that I might behold thy power and glory He expresseth plainely the cause of this desire because God is in the Church alone truely acknowledged and called vpon and the speciall presence of God is perceiued for he calleth Gods glorie the proper ornament of the church namely the pure doctrine of the gospel and signes of grace which are called vsually the Sacraments The power of God he signifieth that maner of presence wherwith god is present vnto his church alone for though God in power and substance be euery where according to Ieremies saying 23.24 Doe not I fill heauen and earth And Paul saith Actes 17.28 In him wee are liue and moue yet by another reason God dwelleth in his church for there he is by his word and sacraments so effectuall as he may regenerate sanctifie many vnto life euerlasting This power doeth not reason see which is mal-contented with the simple and base outward shewe of the worde and sacraments But Dauid and other the godly ones feele in their heart a new light and the beginnings of euerlasting life inflamed by the word and signes of grace Rom. 1.16 The gospel is the power of God for saluation vnto all that beleeue Verse 4 For the louing kindenesse is better then the life it selfe my lippes shall praise thee He amplifieth the cause of feruent desire by comparison of present and eternall benefits The greatest part of men seeketh after honours and pleasures and thinketh these fading and vanishing shadowes the chiefe good gifts or blessings But I preferre thy mercy promised in the gospel before al benefites which are momentanie in this life For what doth the whole possession of the world profite a man if thereby he endanger his owne soule with this sentence our mindes are so to be confirmed that we may euen despise those which deride vs so thinking Verse 5 So long as I liue will I magnifie thee on this manner and lift vp my handes in thy name Verse 6 My soule shall be satisfied as it were with marrow and fatnesse when my mouth praiseth thee with ioyfull lips He spake before of the impulsiue cause that is of the obiect which mans will chiefly desireth Now addeth he the small causes of so great a desire I desire not the coniunction or aggregation vnto the church with a certaine ambition or couetousnesse associate themselues with the church for wealth and promotions sake but I looke for and seeke after those chiefest and most excellent conclusions that I may call vpon God and declare my thankfulnesse vnto him both with tongue and other dueties For although in these miseries of banishment I doe call vpon God yet with sighs and teares I make my supplications Seeing then God loueth a cheerefull giuer there shoulde be nothing more wishful vnto me then with a ioyful mind and mouth to worship and honour God And if I might be once partaker of this desire I should iudge my selfe of nothing more happie and with my head to touch the top of the skies But the first fiue verses doe excellently describe the reason of his praier For first in his praier shineth faith beleeuing that wee haue God mercifull vnto vs as the Psalme in this place saith O God thou art my God Secondly his feruent praier riseth of this faith which is compared vnto a thirst My soule thirsteth for thee Thirdly praying he seeth God that is feeleth the speciall presence of God So haue I looked for thee in holinesse Fourthly the feeling of Gods mercie comfort farre passeth all pleasures For thy louing kindnes is better then the light it selfe Fiftly vnto praier is the worshipping of