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
A15527	Saints by calling: or Called to be saints A godly treatise of our holy calling to Christ, by the gospell. With the seuerall gifts proper vnto the called: and their counterfeits in the hypocrites which are not partakers of this effectuall calling. Written by Thomas Wilson, minister of Gods word, at S. Georges Church in Canterbury.	Wilson, Thomas, 1563-1622.	1620 (1620)	STC 25796; ESTC S103067	273,228	442

effected by force of Christs death applied vnto vs for that same diuine power of Christ which sustained his manhood in the suffering of death and gaue it merit to deserue for vs remission of sinnes the same godhead and diuine power worketh in the members of Christ thereby the death and mortification of sinne that it should be lessened in force as well as it wipeth away the guilt of their sinnes Hence it is saide Our sinne is dead by his body and againe Our old man is crucified with him because the body of Christ crucified did deserue for vs that his diuine power should kill and crucifie sinne in them which beleeue in his death The second part of Sanctification is the buriall of sinne which is the continuall proceeding of mortification euen as buriall is the proceeding of death sinne wasting in the Elect touching his vigour and strength euen as corpes waste and moulder in the graue this is wrought by Christ buried whiles that diuine might which preserued the body of Christ in the graue without putrifaction doth effect in the members of Christ by meanes of his buried body a greater degree of mortification euen to the burying and casting mould as it were on their sinnes then they are saide to be buried with him The third part of Sanctification is the quickening of the new man which consists of two parts to wit holinesse containing all vertues and duties whereby we are fitted for the loue and worship of God 2 Righteousnesse which hath all such vertues and duties as enable to loue and profit our neighbour in all things which concerne him This proceedeth from Christ raised againe from the dead that same diuine vertue which wrought in Christs body for the quickening and raising it being dead working also in the soules of his members in whom sinne is already wounded by his death and buriall for their raising vp and quickening vnto godlinesse that they may liue to God hauing strength to practise and doe the workes of God as before they did the workes of sinne For the Elect being coupled to Christ by faith and being one with his manhood touching the substance of it yet spiritually are also one with the godhead touching the efficacy thereof whence it is that the godhead which vttered force and might in Christ to vphold him in his death preseruing him from corruption in his graue and to raise him againe the third day the same godhead powerfully effecteth in Christs members the mortification of sinne by his death and buriall and newnesse of life by his resurrection As the graft which is set in a new stocke taketh iuyce and life from that stock into which it is newly planted so the faithfull partake of the vertue and power of Christ dead and raised with whom they haue communion being grafted into him by his Spirit through faith But this power of Christ communicated to the beleeuers to the killing of sinne and to the quickening of them to God and all godlinesse it doth not effect this worke all at one time but after a long time bringeth it to perfection They therefore are in a dangerous errour such as tendeth to the making of such swel as do beleeue it for truth and others to tremble which feare it may be a truth namely that the grace of Sanctification doth perfectly deliuer from sinne in this life so as thereby one shall be able to liue here without doing any sinne which is the next way to pitch downe headlong to despaire such as find not this perfection or to lift vp vnto hellish pride such as dreame they haue such a perfection Besides the falshhood of it all Scriptures both examples and testimonies crying the contrary and euery mans owne conscience and experience proclaiming aloude that we neuer ceasse to sinne till wee ceasse to liue and that the breath of sinne and our breath be both at once stopped In so plaine and vndoubted a matter proofe is needlesse yet the forme of prayer by Christ appointed to all Christians to be vsed of them as a prayer and patterne of all prayers to be made by them in their pilgrimage enioyning them to aske forgiuenesse of sinnes past to craue deliuerance from temptations of Sathan and sinne for the time to come and the Sacrament of the Supper which belongeth not to men which want nothing but to such as hauing many and great wants do in the sence of them hunger after Christ and his graces and finally the chastisements of God common to all his children which are corrected of God to preuent future faults and offences especially that iudgement of death which taketh hold of all doe demonstrate to euery one that is not wilfully blind that there is none of all the Saints which here in this World doe or can liue without sinne Therefore it will be good to spare this labour and in stead of prouing this which were as if one would bring a candle to giue light to the Sunne to declare rather the ends of Gods counsell therein and withall seeing sanctified persons haue still sinne stirring and striuing in them and bringing forth most loathsome fruites how they may perceiue that they haue the grace of Sanctification Apollos Friend Aquila I doe well allow of your purpose for I am of this minde that for many proofes in matters not darke nor doubtfull nor of great profit it is but waste time and rather bewrayes the vanity of the speaker his indiscretion at least then any whit auailes the hearer may it please you then to goe to those points which you haue propounded and sithence it is so that it had beene as easie for God in the regenerating of his Elect to haue freede them vtterly of sinne and put into them absolute holinesse as he did at first create man righteous voide of all corruption and this had beene much better for vs as one would thinke at once to be rid of such an enemy and had also more expressed Gods power to haue quelled it at one blow rather then by many strokes what might therefore be the reason why it is otherwise that his children after sanctification not onely haue sin still abiding but more troublesome to them then before Aquila That it hath pleased God to haue it thus the matter it selfe speaketh and being he is most wise therefore he will haue it so for most iust causes For touching his power there is no doubt but thereby he could haue caused it to be otherwise for how could not he quit the soule and body from sinne in the time of life that can doe it at death in one instant and his goodnesse is such that had it been more expedient for his children to haue had it so it had surely beene so But the truth is Gods way as in all other things so in this is the best way For as it was Gods wonderful mercy at all to giue them sanctification in any measure and so to put them out of that 〈◊〉

euill company alone but whatsoeuer occasions of sinne by place persons times or things must be taken heed of for occasions being taken hold of giue great strength to our sinfull nature but being taken heed of doe much pull it in I would also counsell men sometime to faste and refraine from meate and all pleasures of life for at certaine fit times they can beare it and alwayes to vse great temperance in meates and drinkes and other lawfull delights but aboue all thought and study must be had that these priuate meanes be holpen by the publike That men put themselues vnder a good Ministerie it being the principall instrument of our calling for howsoeuer the word of God read or preached if we respect the letters sillables hath not any strength at all nor the action of reading or preaching as it is performed by man how well soeuer they be as weake as water to this purpose of conuersion and calling yet being both the good and holy ordinances of God they become strong because the God of strength and might worketh by them yet in a seueral degree For the Scripture teacheth vs that ordinarily it pleaseth God by preaching Christ to saue such as beleeue 1 Cor. 1. 21. That is to say both to begin their saluation by it drawing them effectually out of their infidelity making them to beleeue Also to build them vp further in their holy faith and godlinesse of life vntill they come to possesse fully saluation in Heauen Hence it is that the preaching of Christ crucified is there verse 18. termed the power of God to saue that is the powerfull instrument by which it pleaseth God mightily to worke for the sauing of the Elect. Moreouer we are taught in Rom. 10. 14 15. that ordinarily we are not otherwise being of yeeres brought to haue faith to beleeue in God then by hearing such Preachers as be sent and furnished from God with authority and gifts for that ende as it is written How shall they beleeue in him except they doe heare and how shall they heare except they preach and how shall they preach except they be sent In the Acts of Apostles Chap. 26. 18. Saint Paul reporteth that hee was called to this very ende that by his preaching the Gospell hee might open the eyes of the blinde turne men from Satan to God from darkenesse to light Finally to omit infinite authorities of Scripture as Ephe. 4. 11 12. 1 Cor. 14. 24 25. and such like places which oftentimes yoake or ioyne preaching and beleeuing as cause and effect Acts 11. 20 21. and 14. 1. c. I doe beside reade of innumerable soules euen by thousands at once called to Christ by the opening and application of the word Albeit then we are to leaue to Christ to engender encrease faith and sanctification by what meane he himselfe will yet for our selues we are to depend vpon such meanes as wee find in the word to be ordained for such workes and this is principally by preaching the word that is by a faithfull deliuery of the sense of Scripture by the Scripture with wise and fit application of doctrines to exhortation confutation rebukes comforts threatnings as it is written He that prophecyeth speaketh to men to edification to exhortation to consolation 1 Cor. 14. 3. In the 24 25. verses of this Chapter we may reade the mighty operation of this Ordinance of Christ for begetting and confirmation of a liuely faith most notably to be commended If saith Paul all prophecie and there commeth in one that beleeueth not or is vnlearned he is rebuked of all and so are the secrets of his heart laide open and so he will fall downe on his face and worship God and say plainely that God is in you indeede By this it is cleere that together with preaching God coupleth his owne arme and power both to enlighten the minde to see inward and secret corruption hid from vs before and to bow the heart to reuerence and obey God As men therefore for the health of their bodies doe chuse places conuenient to dwell in where there is wholsome ayre sweete water and other commodities so they wil much more doe this duty to their soules for the health and safety thereof as to prouide for it good diet by the wholsome preaching of the word ordinarily on the Saboath which together with Catechizing and the benefit of publike prayer and Sacraments shall in Gods appointed houre effect this blessed worke of a true calling to their present comfort and euerlasting saluation of their soules Where these meanes be not at all vsed if so be they may be had or some and not all or vsed negligently or by fits and starts onely there the case will goe hard For howsoeuer our calling hath God alone for the Authour and beginner the finisher also and perfiter of it yet there is a necessity laide vpon vs to serue the gracious prouidence of Almighty God as instruments therein by attending and exercising the meanes appointed Therefore as Paul Acts 27. hauing a warrant from God of good security yet saide If these Mariners doe not tarry in the Ship we cannot be safe so I may say Gods ordinary dispensation considered that if these meanes be cast off and not cared for we cannot be called Now for such as be already called and can finde in themselues the true markes thereof as this is the greatest comfort in the World so if they will preserue this comfort then they must see to it that such meanes as it pleased God to blesse vnto them at first for the obtaining of an effectuall vocation and conuersion these very meanes they addict themselues vnto vsing them still and them all if there be no necessary let and being constant without being weary in a right manner also sincerely and humbly with a feruent desire of Gods glory aboue all things being much in prayer and godly meditations and as euer they will be thankefull for such a grace as their effectuall calling is let them striue to walke worthy of the vocation wherewith they are called in all lowlinesse and meekenesse long suffering and loue Ephe. 4. 1 2. Apol. Friend Aquila ye haue reported vnto me verie much of that which ye learned touching effectuall calling now if ye will let vs passe on to the other point namely the graces which doe necessarily goe with this calling except ye haue somewhat further to speake of this matter which if ye haue I will gladly giue you the hearing Aquila Yes Sir I will craue your patience alittle for I forslowed to tell you when ye asked me of the meanes of calling that it hath seemed good in the eyes of God to call some immediately without any ministry of Angels or Men as Adam in Paradise Abraham in Charran Paul in his iourney to Damascus to declare himselfe to be most free not bound to the meanes which are rather