Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	body_n	see_v	soul_n	2,772	5	5.0753	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93085	Subjection to Christ in all his ordinances, and appointments, the best means to preserve our liberty. Together with a treatise of ineffectual hearing the word; how we may know whether we have heard the same effectually: and by what means it may be come effectual unto us. With some remarkable passages of his life. By Tho. Shephard, late pastor of the Church of Christ in Cambridge in New-England. Now published by Mr. Jonathan Michell pastor of the said church in New England.	Shepard, Thomas, 1605-1649.; Mitchel, Jonathan, 1624-1668.	1652 (1652)	Wing S3141; Thomason E1245_2; ESTC R209199	106,113	223

is better then to be curb'd in But let the Lord strike an arrow in the heart of these wilde bucks that have broke parke and pale send affliction and an Iron yoke of sorrow upon them or distresse of conscience if there be any sense and feeling left they will bemoan themselves and say I did think my liberty sweet but now I see 't is bitter in a sinful way and the Lords way was most sweet by their own confession Hence Psal 2.3 Let us break their bands c. But Oh now hence learn this truth and digest it throughly that the greatest liberty lies here do not in thy judgement think Christian liberty lies in being freed from the law as a rule of obedience in respect of the matter of it to be done nor in thy practise but know though thou didst meet with a thousand Sorrows with it and griefs yet 't is sweet Christs yoke Mat. 11.30 is easie and his burthen light What When not a hole to hide his head in when a reproach of men a worme no man when be boare the Fathers wrath Yes when he was meek under it not mine but thy will be done it was then most sweet 1 Kings 9.21 22. To be a servant to Solomon is no bondage Psalm 119 32. I will runne when thou shalt inlarge my heart Vse 2. Vse 2 Hence see the reason why the Lord hath deprived his Churches of their liberty and his government over them at sundry times and hath put them under Iron yokes and bonds and sore pressures the reason is shewn they have either openly or more secretly cast off the government of the Lord here hath been the very wound the aile of all Churches famous and glorious Psal 81.14 Oh that they had hearkened I should then soon have subdued their enemies The cause is not so hard to finde to a discerning spirit who is privy in any measure to the councels of God 1 King 9.8 9. Solomon hath a promise that the Lords eyes and heart shall be to his people which are under him but if once they slip the Coller then wo and why Because they forsook the Lord that brought them out of Egypt they had liberty but they cast it off What do you think was the moving cause of all those bloody persecutions when the blood of dogs was more precious then of Christian Churches were not they godly yes I do not doubt of it but as it was here though humbled they must be in bondage because they had cast off the government of the Lord Jesus And hence in the Apostles time evil times were come sad apostasies from the truth and because it was long before they were low enough And hence Revel 6. till the fifth seal was opened no crying as it was with Israel in bondage no prayer to purpose and because the Lord saw they would abuse all liberties if they had them And hence in Constantines time when peace came in contention came with it and so abused all that their peace was their poyson And hence in the primitive Churches they began to cast off the government of the Lord Jesus murmurings there were hence came persecution but they were a precious people and made blessed use of it And the Lord couples their chief persecution with their rest And 't is said Acts 9.31 Then had the Churches rest c. And what do you think of the reason of the long reign of Antichrist exalting himself above God and all that 's called God bringing the Church under the heaviest bondage for body and soul that ever the earth saw Men did not love the truth either speculative to guide their minds or practical to rule their wils and hence left to this day What is the cause of Bleeding Germanies wo Oh poor Germany Whence the Gospel first brake out in its full strength that now 't is a field of blood that men in woods like satyres are afraid of men and men in cities glad to eat the intrailes of Beasts and sometimes the flesh of their own babes to preserve their lives What was there no evil but the common condition of the Church to be under the crosse ask them they cannot tell what ailes them but curse the Emperour and Swedes c. Oh think of it with sorrow in secret for them that know it not themselves they have secretly I say secretly cast off the government of a merciful Christ and hence are under the hand of unmerciful men What is the cause in our native countrey notwithstanding all prayers and tears no deliverance truly men do not know it but the Lord sees it they know not how to use their liberty And for our selves what shall I say I cannot but blesse God and wonder to see how 't is with many and rejoyce to see many precious holy ones to whom one day in Gods court is sweeter then a thousand elsewhere but I must professe and cannot but mourne for others men that were eminent under bondage but never worse then here as if the Lord should say Look here be your eminent ones look and feare and mourn you ministers of my house here be the people you had thought had been converted and that of all others such a one would never a fallen so one an opinion takes him another a lot another loose company another his lust another growes proud another fierce another murmuring what should I name al Oh that my words might be healing c. Vse 3. Vse 3 Hence see what will become of us that are now under the government of the Lord if ever we cast it off either inward or outward or both We are not dearer to him then his people Israel here nay Judah When old Israel the great and numerous tribes of Israel had set up calves little Judah and Benjamin received the Priests and yet they fell and were in bondage I know we are not yet in bondage yet it is not more unseasonable to speake now then for the Lord to Solomon 1 King 9.1 Quest Quest But there being much unsubduednes in the hearts of the best how shall one know when there be such sinnes for which the Lord will cast from under his government Answer 1. Answ 1 When men do not loath their own hearts for their unprofitablenesse but loath Gods ordinances secretly and grow weary of them as of their burdens because of the unprofitablenesse of them When a people finde not that special good by them which recompenceth all losses and so prize them but lay blame on them because unfruitful to them Malachie 3.13 He speaks to a people got out of Captivity Your words have been stout against me no say they 'T is in vaine to serve the Lord what profit is there in this you must conceive they had many losses were very poor as vers 11. a temptation which a proud heart cannot indure above any here is now no profit in mourning fasting c. and Gods own people began to think so and hence

one Hence it must fall but for the other hence it shall rise by its fall Hence set your selves against this 't is to oppose the power of Christ Jesus And hence in Henry the 8th time the Abbies fell and never could rise to this day but the sixe Articles against the Saints pursued with blood made them increase the more 3. When men will not submit to the wholesome Lawes of Magistrates which are either fundamental and continuing or Orders that have their date and time of expiring made for common good When men will either have no awes or as good as none or submit to none but what they please Deut. 17.12 He that will not hearken but do presumptuously shall dye He being the Minister of the Lord and indeed it is to call off the Lord. I go not about here to establish a sovereigne power in Magistrates which is proper to God to make what lawes they will about civil Religious or indifferent things and then people to submit to them for no other reason but because of their will under which notion sup●rstition in Churches hath been ushered and maintained you must obey authority in that case it 's better to suffer then to sin and not to do then do But I suppose the lawes just righteous holy and for publick good and that apparently so and not in saying so only Now here to cast off lawes is to cast off Christ There are two things especially which are the cause and occasion of the breach of all other lawes and the strongest sins and sweetest which men young men especially the hopes of the Common-wealth are catcht with Prov. 2.13 16. 1. Whoredome secret lusts and wantonnesse and other strange lusts which I cease and dare not name 1 Kings 14.24 The sin before Shishah came a sin which many times Salomon cannot see thorow his win dow nor the eye of authority discerne but God will judge for it Heb. 13.5 and if he be Judge who shall be thy Jailor but Satan and what shall be thy sentence but death and what thy chaines but a hard heart for the present and horrour afterward A sin which pollutes the very earth the land the very dust of the ground and the cause of all sin almost in a place as drunknnesse idlenesse corrupt opinions scoffing at the Ministers of God and wayes of God For I seldome knew a persecutor but he was an adulterer though it 's not alwayes true and in the end poverty and mine And know it though no mans eye has seen thee no power of Magistrate can reach thee this word shall be fire to consume thee unlesse thou repent for thy looks thy lusts thy dalliances thy thoughts thy speeches thy endeavours this way much more for the thing Mans law shall not binde you here because it cannot reach you but know that Christ is cast off by you 2. Loose company vain men Prov. 25.3 4. A Common-wealth is a refined vessell of use for God and judgement is established when these are taken away your knots of loose company Take a poor souldier alone he is as other men but when they are got into a knot together now they grow strong against all lawes of God or men So here the knot of good fellowship hath been the bane of the flourishing Stale of England meeting in Tavernes and such places and the cause of whoredome and of all evil commonly in a Nation For hence 1. Much precious time is lost which if spent in praying as in sporting with them many a young mans soul had been blessed Hence sometimes dicing feasting excessive drinking merry tales which take off all spiritual joy Hence filthy songs and lascivious speeches by which hopefull young men are insnared and taught to do wickedly and so knit to them that it's death to part with them and it 's better to burne a whole town then to poyson one hopefull young man Next to communion with wanton women I have ever looked on unnecessary fellowship with gracelesse men as the next Well know it you cast off the Lords government from you by his servants which will be sad to answer for another day And as the Prophet said to Jehosaphat Shouldest thou love them that hate the Lord his wrath is against thee for this So say I to thee Quest 3. Quest 3 Inferiour power when is that cast off viz. in particular Cities or Townes by meaner persons Answ I shall expresse it in three things chiefly Answ 1. When Souldiers in particular Townes cast off respect care conscience to the commands of their leaders set over them of God and who under God are the walls of outward safety for the countrey 't is not now an artillery day only I must speak a word because it 's a thing of moment and matter of great conscience with me I suppose in such a place at least according to the Centurions example amongst Heathens Mat. 8.9 a word of a Commander to any of them should be a law I say to one Go he goes Now for men to come when they list to those meetings and so time is lost and when they do come no care I had almost said conscience to minde their work in hand and do it with all their might as it to which they are called but Officers may speak charge cry yea strike sometimes yet heed not its intolerable but that Members of Churches which should be examples to others should do this at least it is but brutishnesse But I do wonder what rules of Conscience such do walk by and if they do where is their tendernesse to withdraw their shoulders from under the work which if there be but English blood in a Christian he will endeavour to be perfect in his Art herein but if grace much more that he may make one stone in the wall and be fit to shed his blood if need be for the defence of Christs servants Churches and cause of God 2. When any Town dost cast off the power and rule of Townsmen set by the supreme Magistrate to make such orders as may make for the publick weal thereof I know sometimes men may not be so able wise and carry matterrs imprudently Town-orders may also sometimes want that weight that wisdome those cautions that mature consideration as is meet as also that due and prudent publication that all may know of them with records of them But take Town-orders that be deliberately made prudently published for the publick peace profit comfort of the place to oppose these or persons that make these with much care fear tendernesse If I know any thing is a sin of a crying nature provoking God and casting off his government I confesse if there be not care here I know no way of living under any government of Church or Common-wealth if the publick affaires of the Town be cast off I know sometimes godly and dear to Christ may through weaknesse want of light sudden passion and violent tentation oppose here but I am perwsaded

188 To Hear God speaking in the word p. 189 I. THings Indifferent not to be restrained by a Law p. 129 Setting up humane Inventions casting off Christs head-ship p. 60 Just with God that those that would not be under his Government should be under the power of lust p. 16 God to be Justified in all his judgements p. 3 K. CHrists Kingdome puts not down the Kingdomes of the world pag. 111 In the Kingdomes of the world there is a double power ibid. Knowledge twofold notional and experimentall p. 4. Two degrees of Knowing God in this life p. 155 L. TWo things chiefly occasion the breach of all Lawes p. 118 Gods Lawes only absolutely binde Conscience p. 123. and why ibid. All good Lawes either expresly mentioned in the word or deduced from it p. 124 Why all Lawes should be according to the Word p. 125 Humane Lawes agreeable to the Word binde Conscience secondarily and why p. 126 What a Christian should do in case Lawes be not according to the word p. 127 How to know when agreeable to the word ibid. All Lawes to be made for publick good ibid. Things indifferent not to be restrained by Law See Indifferent Lawes for publick good to be submitted unto though prejudicial to private and why p. 129 130 Of breach of Lawes meerly penal p. 130. and mixt p. 131 Why God often deprives Churches of their Liberties p. 18 In places of Liberty most danger of Licentiousnesse p. 134 Liberties of Gods people the price of Christs blood p. 137 How many wayes Libertie may be abused p. 138. to 140 Love to Christs will and members an evidence that we are under his Government p. 148 How great a sin to neglect this p. 150 God will not serve our Lusts See God M. WE must be subject to the civil Magigistrate and why p. 113 When this subjection is cast off p. 114 Whether he may punish sins against the first Table p. 115 116 May not make what lawes they please p. 118 Ministers how to preach p. 187 O. POwer of Church Officers See Power The evil of not submitting to them p. 104 105 What need there is of this Doctrine at present p. 109 Men apt to cast off Ordinances for temporall advantage and the greatnesse of the sinne of it p. 62. to 68 Secret pollution of Ordinances drives the Lord away from them p. 68. and what those pollutions are p. 69 To come to Ordinances and not to Christ in them is to cast off Christ p. 72 We must not be content with some movings in Ordinances but receive the power of the life of Christ p. 75 God gives not such comfort out of Ordinances as in them p 176. and why P. LOok not for an earthly Paradise of Christ p. 141 Seldome a Persecutor but he is an Adulterer p. 119 Supreme Power of Christ in his Church p. 54 When this is cast off p. 55 What Power given to the Church joyntly p. 79 c. Power of binding and loosing p. 82 Power of Church-Officers p. 95 What Power they have not p. 97. to 99 What Power they have p. 99. to 109 The sin of those that usurp it p. 100 The Power of Officers more then the Power of Members ibid. How Ministers are to Preach p. 187 S. WHat meant by Service p. 3 Difference between Gods Service and others See Government and Difference The Sinne of Servants not subject to their Masters p. 131 132 Of such as live under no Masters p. 132 Sinne cause of Warre p. 2 Sinnes for which God cast s people from under his Government p. 23 24 Souldiers not to neglect the commands of their Leaders p. 121 Spiritual refreshments abundant recompence for temporal distresses p. 142 Of coming to Christ for Strength See Christ Not to be Subject to God is to make him Subject to us p. 4 5 T. WHat reason we have to be Thankfull for the Liberties we enjoy pag. 136 Means of Thankfulnesse p. 137 God takes his own Time to punish those that cast off his Government p. 11 Towns-men ought to be obedient to Town-Orders p. 122 V. HOw to know whether we have heard the Lords Voice p. 165 Gods Voice in the word singles a man out in particular p. 166 Is of everlasting efficacy p. 168 c. Carries home to Christ p. 170 Victory against sin either incompleat or compleat p. 185 W. TRansgression cause of Warre p. 2 The whole soul must close with the whole Will of Christ. p. 38 Will of Christ directing or correcting p. 39 Cast off either in judgement or practice p 42 We must submit to Christs Will by Christs strength p. 44. For Christs ends p. 49 Gods Wisdome seen in subordination of all things to himself p. 10 A twofold Word of God outward and inward p. 157. The inward Word double effectual or ineffectual ibid. The efficacy of the Word may lye hid p. 173 After it hath been felt the sense of it may be lost againe p. 174 Not needful alwayes to feel a like efficacy of the Word p. 175 Preserved in a Spirit of prayer and longing after it p. 176 And thankfulnesse for the good we have found p. 179 A double vertue in the Word to beget and nourish p. 181 Efficacy of the Word appeares in a power of conflict against corruption p. 183 Trust not to the outward Word but to the grace of God with it p. 190 Place our happinesse in closing with the Word p. 191 Every tittle of the Word cost the blood of Christ p. 193 If not under the power of the Word we are under the power of lust ibid. The curse of God on those that enjoy the Word and receive no benefit by it p. 194 The comfort of the Word remaines till death yea unto eternal Life ibid. FINIS