Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	bishop_n	king_n	time_n	2,213	5	3.5907	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85176	The new non-conformist; who having obtained help of God, doth persist unto this very day; witnessing, both to small and great, some of those glorious things which the Apostles, the prophets, & Moses, did say should come to pass. Or, the voice of a careful shepherd, crying from his watch-tower at W.C. unto his little flock at W.L. with a loud voice.	Feake, Christopher, fl. 1645-1660.	1654 (1654)	Wing F571; Thomason E737_1; ESTC R202090	39,800	63

THE NEW Non-conformist Who having obtained help of GOD doth persist unto this very day WITNESSING Both to Small and GREAT Some of those Glorious Things WHICH The Apostles the Prophets Moses did say should come to pass OR The VOICE of A Careful Shepherd Crying From his Watch-tower at W.C. Unto his Little Flock at W.L. With a loud Voice Matth. 10.17 Matth. 7.15 Philip. 3.2 Tit. 1.12 BEWARE of Men Beware of Dogs Beware of Wolves and of other evil Beasts Joh. 10.11 12 13. The GOOD SHEPHERD giveth his life for the sheep But He that is an HIRELING and not the Shepherd whose own the sheep are not seeth the wolf coming and leaveth the sheep and fleeth and the wolf catcheth them and scattereth the sheep The Hireling fleeth because he is an Hireling and careth not for the sheep Printed at London for Livewel Chapman at the Crown in Popes-head-Alley 1654. A PREFACE To every Honest and Intelligent READER IT seemed good unto the Apostles and Elders Act. 15.23 〈◊〉 and Brethren at Jerusalem when they wrote to the brethren of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia to recommend their beloved Barnabas and Paul with this short choice Character They are men which have hazarded their lives for the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tradiderunt animas Bez. exposuerunt And verily they must not love the Lord Jesus at that ordinary rate which even the Bishops and the Deacons of the Churches generally content themselves withal at this day who do intend to adventure their lives in his Cause and for his Name against the present refined policies and practices of the Whorish Woman and her lovers the Kings of the earth with their Retinue It is a sad Symptome Mat. 24.12 when the love of many grows colder and colder at that point of time when the Lord expects as well he may if you knew all Christian friends it should grow hotter and hotter till it amounts to that degree and perfection of operation which is mentioned Rev. 11.5 If any One will hurt them who stand before the Lord of the whole earth fire proceedeth of out their mouth and devoureth their enemies and if ANY ONE will hurt them he must in this maner be killed I humbly conceive the Word of JEHOVAH is not in any of his servants hearts as A BURNING FIRE but they are also at the same time enflamed with love and zeal this multiplication of heat as I may so say causeth them like Ieremiah to be weary of forbearing Jer. 20.9 so that they cannot stay and contain themselves within those bounds of Mediocrity and Moderation which used to be cried up by the luke-warm generation of Preachers and Professors in all ages hitherto But the Scriptures must be fulfilled and therefore it 's not to be admired that there should be such an universal Apostacy and that those who had a Name to live Rev. 3.1 are now dead Wonder not I say Oh Little Remnant that there are so many fallen asleep but rather ponder the true reason why there are any kept awake For that most excellent old Doctrine which our Lord taught his Disciples in the daies of his flesh and accordingly after his ascension was very much practised hath been of late if you observe it almost utterly out of date I mean the Doctrine of self-denial and of forsaking all Relations Mat. 16.24 Luke 9.23 Liberty Goods good Name yea life it self for his sake and the Gospels How little is it preached now how much less is it practised But the reason is ready and upon record These are the last days and the Spirit speaketh plainly 2 Tim. 3.1 c. and without a Parable That in those days men shall be lovers of their own selves cevetous boasters proud blasphemers c. lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God yet having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof Observe whether very many in stead of denying themselves as Christ hath taught do not deny the power of godliness 2 Pet. 2.1 and the Lord that bought them as the world and lust perswade But hearken dear hearts and be cheerful yea be ye very joyful in believing that the Spirit of life and power from God shall ere it be long enter into a choice company Rev. 11. Ezek. 37.10 and they shall stand upon their feet and fear shall fall upon all those who see them for I know and am perswaded that there is at this present time a remnant according to the election of grace reserved by God to himself Rom. 11.4 5. notwithstanding the present Apostacy who have not bowed the knee either to the Beast or to his Image I wait to see this reserved remnant call'd out of their several holes and caves where they are hid from the world and from one another and so brought together even as so many dry bones bone to his bone c. to make a standing Army for the King of Saints in the time appointed of the Father Mine heart Judg. 5.9 a Deborah's was is towards the Governours of Israel that offer themselves willingly among the people bless ye the Lord. Oh! keep your garments clean and close about you and you shall walk with Christ in white for such are worthy How do I rejoyce in Spirit that I can in Spirit go thorow the grates of my Prison and pass thorow all the guards which are set to shut and keep me up from the society of the Saints and converse sweetly in a mystery with those beloved Brethren of mine whose faces I never saw in the flesh Methinks I hear A mystical Conference betwixt the prisoner and his Brethren who are one spirit with him in the present truth and work of God in the world Dan. 8.13 with Daniel one Saint speaking and another Saint saying unto that certain Saint which spake How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice and the transgression of desolation to give both the Sanctuary the Host to be troden under foot Then methinks I hear a sweet voice from another Believer saying The Sanctuary shall be cleansed it shall be cleansed Amen say I from my watch-Tower the Lords Sanctuary hath need of cleansing Quest But where are the Instruments say others and who shall be imployed in this glorious work we thought the Son of David had had such Worthies come from New-England from Holland at the beginning of the late great revolution as would not onely have helped to maintain their own their Brethrens attainments but would also have advanced valiantly like undaunted Leaders of the Lords voluntiers 2 Tim. 2.3 upon the old carnal Church and its Clergie and as becomes good Souldiers of Jesus Christ would have endured any hardness rather then have given place by retreat or subjection though but for an hour Gal. 2.5 that so the truth of the Gospel of the Kingdom might have prevailed in the

World We had these honorable thoughts of them but alas where are they and what is become of these reputed Champions for the Lamb against the Beast are not most of them even revolted and gone 2 Tim. 2.4 are they not entangled in the affairs of this life yea are not some of them busie in building again the Things they have destroyed Answ Be not doubtful of minde Oh little Flock live not in careful suspence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luke 12.30 carried like Meteors betwixt Heaven and Earth The zeal of the Lord of Hosts shall perform this great Thing whereof we speak and if need be Jehovah will create a Spirit of judgement and a Spirit of burning for the accomplishing that honourable Enterprize for his Son which the hearts of the choicest Saints are so much upon Again It 's probable 1 Cor. 1.27 God will take some foolish Thing or other some weak some despised Thing to perfect his praise in the midst of all his enemies For oftentimes of old the Instruments have been too Many sometimes too Mighty sometimes too Wise for God to use Wherefore let us remember It 's thy part and mine to believe that notwithstanding the Retrograde motions both of persons and Things as we suppose yet certainly the Main Designe is carried on with an High hand but in paths so secret that the most sharp-sighted Politicians in the Kingdom of the Beast cannot well tell how and where to obviate or countermine And which is the most confounding Consideration of all the rest such is the nature of this great Contrivance which you through mercy are privie to that if there be at any time a Discovery made of its mighty Eruptions as now and then there is yet the Souldiers weapons with the Counsellors and States-mens wits in conjunction dare not suddenly grapple with it but if they at any juncture of time are found so hardy as to make this bold adventure it 's with utmost hazard of being ground to powder As for me a reproached Outcast an exile Captive it is upon my heart to desire Two Things of you my brethren and companions in tribulation and in the Kingdom and Patience of Jesus Christ Pour out prayer and then lift up prayer for the prisoner Eph. 6.18 Jude 20. verse Oh! let there be a Continuation of prayers and requests on my behalf in the Spirit I say in the holy Spirit for certainly the Lord hath heard your supplications for me as I shall I hope demonstrate in due season Oh pray and pray again ye close followers of the Lamb That if this Close prisoner be delivered up again to the Councils for Christs Name sake Mat. 10.17 and his Kingdoms sake he may be made Mighty in the Scriptures Acts 18.24 and eloquent with that eloquence and elocution onely which the Spirit of Christ was wont to administer to the suffering Saints in all ages And That I may be of a very high and of a mighty spirit for our dear Lord Jesus yea of a lofty and a daring spirit according to the glorious Ministration of the New Testament and not otherwise in the least which yet will never be unless He be dearer to me then my life whom my soul loves and unless I am kept under the constraining power of divine love 2 Cor. 5.14 Oh Brethren this Divine love will make bitter Things sweet and turn a strait Prison into a stately Palace Do I say Will do these things yea it hath performed greater works then I can possibly after much meditation compass to express Wherefore I intreat you to remember my bonds my strait bonds as you do and I am perswaded your brotherly love herein will turn to good account for each of you also when with diligent observation you ponder what improvements you have made in the industrious prosecutions of so good a trade And let men beware how they impute it to proud presumption in me thus to hope Luke 21.28 to look up and to lift up my head with such boldness in this Cause even before the faces of the Highest and most Majestical Potentates in the World if call'd before them for hath not my God asked me many times Wilt thou in such a Cause as this though most perfidiously forsaken by very many be afraid of a man that shall die and of the son of man that shall be made as grass Did not Stephen Acts 7. that renowned Deacon of the Church of Christ carry it sweetly and yet stoutly for his Lord when he was brought before the High Priest and the Council His Highness did not affright him in the least Stephen was protected and incouraged by One who was infinitely higher then He and all the Lords of the Council before I had tasted of Stephen's Cordial I often wondred how he did dare to speak at so high a rate before and unto the High-Priest as you read Act. 7.51 52. Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears ye do alwayes resist the holy Ghost as your fathers did so do ye Which of the Prophets have not your fathers persecuted and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murtherers c. Again was not Luther in the presence of Charles the fifth and the many illustrious Princes of Germany inab●ed by the most High to bear up with invincible courage so that they could not prevail to terrifie or affright him from his Faith and Doctrine which he had taught the people from the holy Oracles and then it 's easie to conjecture how improbable it was that all the Monks and Friers all the Prelates and Parish Priests should afterward be able to resist the Wisdom and the Spirit by which he sp●ke Oh! how sweet hath that word been made to my soul 1 Iohn 4 Ye are of God little children and have overcome Them because Greater is He that is in you then he that is in the world Offer up praise for the prisoner I beseech you also let there be m●intained a constant conjunction in praising the Name of our God and Father Le● us agree to meet every day many times in the day for the performing this Celestial this Angelical service O! Psal 34.3 magnifie the Lord with me and let us exalt his Name together in the Spirit 〈◊〉 and though our outward man be not capable during my restraint of local fellowship in this spiritual ●acrifice of praise yet it will refresh me much to recount the mercies which are our proper portion and inheritance in distinction from the world 1. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly things in Christ as That he hath chosen us in him and that b●fo●e the foundation of the world c. That he hath predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself c. That he

speak in the Spirit pray in the holy Spirit rule in the Spirit come together in the Spirit continue together in the Spirit conclude in the Spirit all your meetings reserve the Brethren that are fullest of the holy Spirit for the last in exercises that you may go home with a sweet relish of the presence of Christ with warmed refreshed hearts with an appetite to come again the next opportunity because you found Jehovah so graciously present the last time Oh! when Brethren dearly beloved and longed for shall I see your faces again in the great Congregation In the Lords best time in the time appointed of the Father my Father your Father to Him with the Lord Jesus and the holy Spirit be glory for ever Amen Salute every Saint in Christ Jesus The Lord the eternal God be with you and keep you every one in his bosome for ever Amen The 8 of the 12 Moneth 1653. Yours in the Lord to serve and love you unfeignedly Christopher Feake For the Saints and faithful Brethren in CHRIST meeting in Warwick-lane LONDON My dear Brethren in Christ THe prosperity of whose souls I ardently desire more and more Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for all those spiritual blessings in heavenly things in Christ wherewith he hath and doth bless us the unworthiest of his sons and daughters Let me now write a few words unto you by way of exhortation to press forward toward the mark for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus for I perceive that in the neglect of this duty Satan takes great advantage to keep up his tottering and sinking kingdom at this day If the Angels of all the Churches had been zealous in the prosecuting of those things of which they made a fair shew in the flesh and in face or appearance Undoubtedly the several Congregations had been the glory of the Nation in the midst of it as God was willing to be their glory in the midst of the Nation then had not the faces of the most intelligent and spiritual Saints waxed pale with grief to behold the apostacy of the most eminent leaders then had not the forceries and witchcrafts of this present world beguiled them ere they were aware then had not Satan filled their hearts and the hearts of so many of the Brethren to deal treacherously with the Lord Jesus and this glorious Cause which is in great danger to be deserted utterly as a thing of no value But they are the last times and therefore it is the less wonder to see men to be lovers of their own selves covetous boasters proud truce-breakers false accusers incontinent fierce despisers of those that are good traitors heady high-minded lovers of pleasures hunting feasting musick worldly pompe and pastime more then lovers of God having a form of godliness and denying the power of it from such those who are contrary minded must and will turn away namely such Christians as being full of the Spirit 1. Are not lovers of their own selves but of the Lord Jesus and of all the Saints 2. Not covetous but liberal laying aside as God hath prospered them honouring the Lord with their substance and with the first-fruits of all their increase doing good rich in good works ready to distribute willing to communicate 3. Not arrogant boasters but lowly and meek self-denying resigning up all to the wise disposal of their Father 4. Not promise-breakers or covenant-breakers but faithful not changing a good resolution or word though it be to their hurt 5. Not traitors to the Saints to Christs Interest to Gods Glory but zealous promoters of common justice of righteous laws 6. Not heady or rash wilful violent advancers of their own forms but praying waiting deliberating 7. Not lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God but lovers of God of Christ of the Saints of the Common-wealth and publick-good more then of all the pleasures delights honours powers and glory which the world can by any means administer to her admirers Oh take heed of mingling with backsliders and revolters you will gain nothing by acquaintance with them or dependence on them be contented with such things as you have if it be possible yea if you have but food and raiment be not sollicitous do not make a busling for places and preferments as do others lest you be brought into the temptations of serving proud imperious mens lusts and humours The word of command from our Captain-general by this his unworthy leader of one of his Companies is To your close order to your close guard and the watch-word is The Lord is coming watch and pray the Lord is coming watch and pray Give the word fellow-Souldiers throughout the Lords Host which is armed with invisible invincible spiritual weapons it will become in due time terrible as an Army with Banners Amen Finally my Brethren the time being short Oh! beg of the Lord that you may go forward towards Gospel-perfection that you may be full of spiritual knowledge experiences and acquaintance with God even the Father and with the Lord Jesus Christ Now let the word of Christ dwell richly in you As for faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ and love to all the Saints if your souls flourish and prosper therein all will flourish then you will press onward you will be zealous not luke-warm you will admonish one another watch over each the other advise help one the other you will glorifie the Lord adorn the Gospel shine like lights in the dark world and put formal worldly hypocritical professors and Church-members to shame at the coming of Jesus Christ Salute every Saint especially those who are most helpful exemplary and diligent to promote the communion of Saints If there be any that will not obey the Law of Christ upon admonition in love note that man or woman by letter that I my help to heal them at this distance for I am with you in Spirit The Lord even the Lord that fanctifies and saves you be your portion for ever The 11 of the 12 Moneth 1653. Yours in the Lord with all I am Christoph Feake My Beloved in the Lord I Do again salute you as those to whom the Father of glory hath appeared in the face of Jesus Christ and to whom the holy Spirit hath already come as the Comforter to satiate the soul of the hungry and thirsty ones more or less My soul is still waiting upon the Lord for your good as knowing that all your fresh springs are in him as mine are otherwise we should soon lie down in sorrow But blessed for ever be the glorious Name of our Jehovah who in the superabundant riches of his grace hath made most precious provision in the Lord Jesus Christ for us and for all the Saints Verily Brethren the consideration of the willingness and large heartedness of our heavenly Father is enough to overwhelme our poor weak Spirits our frail hearts are not in any wise able to

and to prove you and to see what is in each of you and what the workings of your Spirits are and to let you know by experience that the wisdom of God in appointing guides and leaders to your use and edifying is that which cannot but be acceptable to the sober serious and stedfast Saints As for mine own condition I desire to deal plainly with you Blessed be my God and my gracious Father my lot is falsen to me in a pleasant place and I have a goodly heritage as for personal contentment it is very great I am doing my Fathers work and will I am suffering for the Gospel of the Kingdom I am learning to be more conformable to Christ my Head in learning obedience by the things that I suffer It is absolutely the best estate for the present that my heavenly Father can put me into The words of Manoah's wife to him are sweet unto me If the Lord were pleased to kill us he would not have received a burnt-offering and a meat-offering at our hands neither would he have shewed us all these things nor would as at this time have told us such things as these so I say If the Lord were not pleased with our sufferings in this Cause if this service for Christ-were not acceptable but unacceptable unto him he would never have revealed himself so graciously and so gloriously unto us as he hath done he would never have filled us with so sweet peace and joy in believing but our hearts would have condemned us if he had left us so that through rich mercy I am not careful what men think of us what their opinions are how they carry ●hemselves in speaking evil of things they know not It is sufficient and abundantly sufficient to us that our comforts abound and increase they diminish not I tell you Brethren the very confidence that God hath put into us by his Word and Spirit hath great recompence of reward There are two things that do I am perswaded work for our good 1. The malice of our enemies that scorn us and backbite us and judge us busie-bodies and evil doers and disturbers of the peace c. saith the Lord to us Your enemies speak falsly and the more they curse the more I bless and will bless Verily this is sweeter then honey And then secondly There are a company of faithful souls who in the light of God do understand the present Cause of Christ and that we are sufferers upon that acount and so they wrestle and will not let the Lord go unless he bless us poor prisoners with special and sutable blessings Verily I bless the Lord night and day in remembrance of the prayers of the Saints who understand the times next unto my blessing his name for the glorious intercession of our faithful and merciful High-Priest Finally Brethren farewel live in love follow those things that make for peace and whereby one may edifie another do not grieve one anothers Spirits by any uncomly expressions in words or behaviour Grieve not the Spirit of Christ but study the happiness of the whole body and glorifie the Lord by an holy sweet meek and gentle profitable conversation I salute you every one once more in our dear Redeemer Imitate those who walk most like Jesus Christ and we shall meet again with joy and our joy shall no man take from us Amen From my Prison-lodging the last day of the 3 week of the 1 moneth -- 54. Yours next unto my being Christs desirous of your best good Christoph Feake Dear Brethren THe superabounding satisfaction wherewith the Lord hath condescended to inrich a poor empty creature calls aloud upon me to magnifie his Goodness toward me If I should tell you a feigned story of That which I have not seen nor felt nor experienced in my self the Lord would finde me out and make me an example to those that should come after of his severity and strict dealing with me but in very deed I do plainly perceive that the Lord hath purposed to shew me more of his glory Indeed a great part of my care will be concerning You to whom I am as neerly related in the fellowship and service of the Gospel as ever notwitstanding this distance and therefore shall not cease praying for you as I have begun that you may every one adorn the glorious Gospel of the blessed God and walk worthy of the Lord who hath called you unto his Kingdom and Glory And I would that you should understand Brethren and believe that the things which have befallen me have come to pass rather for the furtherance of the Gospel then otherwise and I hope some if not many of the Brethren in the Lord Jesus will grow confident by my bonds and will be much more bold to speak the word without fear considering especially that the Lord hath made a most sweet addition to my former joy and comfort in the Holy Spirit so that I may say boldly The Lord is my Helper I will not fear what man can do unto me I know I shall ere long come again and continue with you all for your furtherance and the joy of your faith that your rejoycing in Christ Jesus may be more abundant for me by my coming to you again Dear Brethren Innocency and Independency make the highest and the mightiest Spirits and let the Princes the Priests the Captains who are so busie in bolstring up the cursed whore of Babylon know it for a Truth that the Lords Hidden Holy Ones will in the might of the Spirit of Jehovah shout down the walls of the Babylonish Jericho though they are as high as Heaven they shall come tumbling down Amen Hallelujah Oh! that I might be one of the teeth of that sharp threshing instrument which the worm Jacob shall ere long be transformed into and so help to thresh the High and Mighty Mountains of the Earth and to beat them small and to make the Hills as chaff I do very much hope when I come again I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel more then ever Wherefore I beseech you to be at peace among your selves to admonish the disorderly in abundance of tenderness in love to comfort the feeble-minded to support the weak to visit the fatherless and widows that are widows indeed I thought to have spoken with some concerning whom it was needful to look into their condition but the wise God prevents me for the present that I may hereafter have more light from his word to guide me in difficult affairs Pray forme that in this retirement I may attain better to understand then ever hitherto how to behave my self in the Church of God in the house of the living God Oh! it 's sweet to be sensible of a growth in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to whom be glory and dominion now and for ever Amen From my pleasant country-house this 31 of the 11 Moneth 1653. Your