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	sin_n	soul_n	4,646	5	5.4196	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A04389	The haughty heart humbled: or, The penitents practice: in the regall patterne of King Ezekiah Directory and consolatory to all the mourners in Sion, to sow in teares, and to reape in ioy. By S.I. preacher of Gods Word.	Jerome, Stephen, fl. 1604-1650.	1628 (1628)	STC 14510; ESTC S120707	108,145	145

a fourefold speciall reference and relation 1. To himselfe permitting 2. To his seruants sinning 3. To his Saints that yet stand 4. To the wicked that stumble All which being considered first wee shall with more caution looke to our selues secondly with more charity censure our brethren thirdly with lesse carnality reioice in their infirmities fourthly with more deuotion glorifie God First I say the Lord in the sinnes of the elect hath a speciall reference to his owne glory that glory of his to which as to a center euery thing tends * Ioshuah 7.19 Psal 12.1 Mat. 6.9 Iohn 9.24 Acts 3.12 12.23 1 Cor. 6.20 10.31 Philip. 1.20 c. in heauen earth and hell shines as the bright starres in the darkest night yea as the Sunne through the clouds of the sinnes of his Saints he brings good out of euill light out of darknes and this as I said is the glory of his mercy in pardoning vpon their repentance oh this mercy of his which is his chiefe attribute in which he most delighteth * De hac diuina misericordia lege fusius apud Gregor Moral lib. 2. Bernard Ser. 88. that shines amongst the rest as the Sunne amongst the Planets that is eleuate aboue his truth as the heauens aboue the clouds (u) Psal 103.11 12. that triumpheth and reioyceth ouer Iustice Euen this Mercy that is ouer all the Lords workes is most resplendent in the sinnes of his Saints in pardoning vpon their humiliation sinnes great for quantity hainous for qualitie many for number crying for nature crimson and bloody in hue and colour x Esa 1.16 17 18. Ezek. 18.21 Mic. 7.18 Ioel 2.13 Exod. 34.6 Psal 86.111.112.145 as many of these formerly enumerated oh not onely the skill but the good will of our blest Physitian is wondrously magnified the vertue of his Balmes of Gilead the vigour of his mercies mithridate deseruedly extolled that is able and willing euen with application of his owne blood as the Pellican y Alciat in Emblem for her young to cure great gastly and vlcerous wounds to pacifie and settle distressed consciences yea euen to reuiue those that were seemingly dead in sinnes and trespasses And sure if there were no sinners on earth where should be the chiefe exercise of the Lords mercie Yea if his Saints should not sinne for we know the Reprobates neuer taste of his sealing assuring sauing sanctifying mercie vnlesse with the out-lip or the tip of a finger they neuer drinke of the fountaines of Shiloh those are onely open for Iudah z Zachar. 13.1 and Ierusalem if there were none wounded what need were there of any skilfull Surgeon and if there were none sicke and diseased what occasion were there either of the practice or praise of the most exquisite Physitian What should we regard either the knowledge or vse of the most excellent drugs and simples in nature What reckoning should we make of the most exquisite extractions the most vigorous quintessence of herbs plants mineralls c. And if there were no sinners no sinnes committed by the Saints the Lord should want the greatest power and praise of his mercy which is chiefly exercised where sinning misery is the obiect and therefore as the Lord hath daily exercise of his prouidence euen to this day and of his wisedome in the gubernation and gouernment of the world in disposing of all actions euents causes effects contraries contrarieties euils good creatures animate inanimate reasonable vnreasonable to excellent ends and vses as hee doth still inuisibly in the soules and consciences visibly vpon the bodies goods good names and families of Atheists swearers drunkards riotous and profane persons exercise his iustice so in pardoning couering concealing passing by the sinnes and culpabilities of his seruants vpon their confessing godly sorrowing returning conditions to which grace is annexed he doth daily exercise his mercy and will to the end of the world SECT 2. The Saints much bettered by their sinnes SEcondly euen the Saints themselues are bettered by their sinnes for if all things according to the Apostles consolation a Rom. 8.28 worke together for the good of those that loue God as all the Planets worke together by their influence euen the malignant as well as good and benigne for the benefit of these sublunaries b Couper in loc as all the simples in some compounded Physicke euen bitter Aloes as well as Honey worke together for the health of the Patient then why not sinne Sure as an exquisite Physitian or Apothecary that out of venomous Toads Aspes Nutes Cicutaes c. * He that reads Gesner de quadrupedibus de Serpentibus c. Dioscorides and Dodonius Herbals shall see there is some medicinable extractions from the worst of Animals or Vegitables extracts an Antidote against poyson and out of stinking despicable foot-trodden weedes drawes some excellent and soueraigne waters from their leaues and roots for very vsefull cures in inward and outward diseases so the wise God euen out of the worst the vilest the most scandalous transgessions of his seruants can effect his owne gracious ends can both heale them of all their present sores preuent their future diseases and make them more healthfull and stronger then euer yea as experience shewes in some and as the Apostle plainly delineates in the renewed repentance of the Corinthians c 2 Cor. 7.11 the Saints come out of the bed of their sinnes as Ezekiah out of his sicke bed d 2 King 20. Esay 38. more humble more holy more pious more penitent as the Eagle that is wearied comes out of the water into which she dips her wings e Plin. with a stronger flight with a more surging ascent towards heauen then euer with greater care to please God to walke before him as a wrong wandring Traueller with a more heedfull attention stronger desires to runne the right the strait the straight way to Sion once returning right from his bemoned wandring with a greater hatred and indignation against sinne as a man against an impostor or deceiuer that hath deceiued him as Sampson against Dalilah or any other penitent person against a harlot that hath betrayed him with greater feare to offend for hereafter like the burnt child that dreads the fire or feares the water out of which it hath beene extract and saued from drowning Yea more zealous then euer for God desirous to restore that glory againe to God by all meanes by priuate or publike confessing f Iosh 7.19 as the nature of the offence shall require that was taken away by scandalous sinning and thus are the Saints bettered by their sinnes God perhaps suffering them once foully to fall that they may rise for euer * Periissemus nisi periissemus O amici inquit olim Themostocles post exilium As those that are Bell-founders deale with their old iarring Bels the Lord breakes them in pieces by contrition and godly sorrow melts them anew in

Homerus et Bernardus non vidit omnia Learn'd Laureat Homer may in somethings wincke Nor in best Bernards braine doth each truth sinke As also this Qui pedibus vadit quat nor ipse cadat The nimble foure-foot Steede may chance to trippe And best of men may fall or slide or slippe And in these specialties enumerated we haue in Ezekiah and the rest plaine euidences of mans humane frailty his sinning misery SECT 2. The force of inbred corruption NOw if any will be further inquisitiue in diuing into this mystery this misery of mans iniquitie and would know the reasons for his further satisfaction of this sinning condition incident to the best of men they may be referred I thinke to these 3. heads respecting God respecting Sathan respecting Man himselfe To begin with the last first There is in euery man duplex homo as it were a double man if hee bee regenerate for of such we now speak there is the old man and the new * In me duplex Homo Caro et spiritus Iacob et Esau c. Hieronimus or as diuinity vseth the phrases the old Adam and the new the first Adam and the second Grace and nature flesh and spirit corruption and sanctification these saith the Apostle lust the one against the other * Gal. 5.17 these haue in their commotions contrary motions appetites desires inclinations affects effects betwixt these there is a continuall Duell an irreconciliable ciuill warre till it be stinted by death their striuings and strugglings within the heart are as the wrastlings x Gen. 25.22 See Downam his Christian Warfare of Iacob and Esau within the wombe of Rebecca the Christian soule the place of this conflict is oft as Rebecca so greatly distressed distracted with the broyles bickerings shee knowes not oftentimes she is in such straites what to say or thinke of her owne estate Now as in all ciuill wars as we know as betwixt Romulus and Remus Scylla and Marius Caesar and Pompey c. now the one party had the better end of the staffe now the other * Of the effects of these and other ciuill wars vide Daneum in Aphoris polit p. 18. et p. 21. Pezelitos in postillis part 3. pag 504. et Antim●tchiauellus l. 2. p. 366. 367. 368. as in a paire of weascales now the one party went vp now the other downe so it is in this spirituall conflict As it is with two combatants that are weekely in the Field with Sword or Rapier euen the stronger may sometimes be foiled so how euer corruption be in vs as Saul in the Field pursuing Dauid the greater party and Grace be in vs as little Dauid the lesser partie but the stronger because God is with him and on his side yet Dauid may feare to fall some day into the hand Saul y 1 Sam. 27. his pursuit is so vehement and violent and sure by the allurements and flatteries of the treacherous flesh that layes in waite and ambushment continually to betray the soule as a domesticke inbred Traitor within the bosome the soule is often soiled quelled ouercome and caried as a manacled and fettered captiue to sin by the strength of corruption as it was with Dauid when by that poysoned bullet of Bethshebahs beauty 2 Sam. 11. Cur lumina noxia vidi which his treacherous eye shot into his heart hee was so hot and lustfully inflamed that his fire could not be quenched till he actually committed adultery with her SECT 3. The preuailing power of Sathans Temptations SEcondly as the Apostle saith we are not ignorant of the wiles of Sathan he goes about saith St. Peter as a roaring Lion seeking whom he may deuour z 1 Pet. 5.8 He is the serpent that deceiued Eue saith S. Paul a 2 Cor. 11.3 the old Dragon b Reu. 12.3 in the Reuelations of S. Iohn this Lyon this Dragon this Deuil this Serpent this Sathan this Tempter c Math. 4.1 as hee was to Christ this accuser d Reu. 12.10 of the brethren as he was to e Iob 1.9 See Zanchius de sex operibus de malis Angelis Casman his Angelographic and Smalcald of the nature of Angells As also Wierus de prestigijs Demonum Delrius l. 2. Disquis Psellus de Demonibus Cycogna de Magis with Augustine de ciuitate Dei Of the nature power and imployment of wicked spirits Iob is another cause of the sinnes of the Saints he was chiefe author of chiefe actor in the fall of the first man as an enuious man whose house being on fire fires his neighbours too or hauing the plague vpon himselfe seekes to infect a whole towne Sathan falling from heauen himselfe plots and practiseth mans fall on earth by the meanes of the woman he effects it This roaring Lion this Cerberus or dog of hell as a slouth-hound being flesht then euer since seekes the blood of soules and for that purpose as he is a spirit and so restlesse as he is a Deuill and so wicked as he is Sathan so enuious as a Lyon so powerfull as a serpent and so subtill with continuated incessant motion circling compassing the earth f out of his wicked and deuillish disposition he improues all his power and his pollicie his might and his malice his force and fraud vses all his trickes his traps his engines by himselfe by his instruments by outward obiects by inward suggestions by iniected Temptations from pleasure profit and the like to insnare mens soules in sinne and so to bring them to desired destruction and as his malice is against all mankind in generall so chiefely against the Elect in whom the Image of God is most resplendent Grace most eminent his hatred being mainly and immediately against God against his Christ it is most extensiue against the best seruants of this Lord against the dearest children of this Father * The Deuill is like a Panther who when he cannot deuoure a man teares his picture saith Basil exem hom 10. et expressius hom 50. hating as is the manner of his impes in their inueterate malice euen the children for the fathers cause Rich preyes soules richliest loaden with precious iewels lustrous Iems iustifying faith liuely hope ardent zeale feruent loue the spirit of prayer Doue-like innocency inuincible patience c. are the most desired booties of this infernall Pyrate Therefore he doth not onely fill the heart of Ananias and Saphira with hypocrisie * Acts 5.3 possesse the hart of Iudas by the lusts of Treason g Iohn 3.2 and couetousnesse c. but seekes euen to winnow Peter a disciple h Luke 22.31 a chosen vessell riseth vp against Israel i 1 Chron. 21.1 tempts euen Dauid himselfe the sweet singer of Israel the man after Gods owne heart neither are the best free from his temptations no person free not Dauid not Peter not Ezekiah no not Christ himselfe in the dayes of his flesh no place free