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	soul_n	whole_a	1,465	5	5.4082	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A79993	The sect every where spoken against or, the reproached doctrine of Ely. As it was held forth in several sermons in the year, MDCLI. By Christopher Cob, lay-man, minister of an united people in Ely. Collected and analized for a private use, by Hampden Reeve, Master of Arts, one of that Society, and a constant hearer. Now published by the assent of the whole Society (as a short character, at present, of them and their way, till an opportunity of a farther and fuller discovery) for satisfaction in general.	Cob, Christopher.; Reeve, Hampden.	1651 (1651)	Wing C4769; Thomason E1251_1; ESTC R209173	234,596	386

out of the words I. Who are They that will kill the Body They are hinted out Vers 17 21. Beware of men And they are ranked into four sorts 1. Governors Which are set to defend and protect yet beware of these they shall be against you 2. Kings Which are set to defend and protect yet beware of these they shall be against you 3. Brethren Brother shall betray Brother to Death c. 4. Children and Children against their Parents c. This wonderful unnatural yet all made true in our own experience II. What is it to kill the Body what ways may they take to do that 1. By taking away estate and means which maintain the Body 2. By reproaches and evil reports that none will Trade with us 3. By binding our hands that we may not defend our selves 4. By ensnaring and making an evil of our words 5. By tentering the Law to the utmost that no stirring but we may be found offenders 6. By false witness as against Christ when He innocent 7. They may kill by their Law when we clear by Law of God These several ways may They kill the Body if the Lord prevent not III. The Exhortation Fear not them Why should not They be feared that kill the Body 1. Fear them not in respect of themselves For 1. They are vanity a nothing fade as the grass 2. They but instruments the sword cannot cut without the hand 3. Pity them 'T is their woe and misery to do this work 4. Before their Plots are ripe They may be cut off so Haman was and the Powder-Treason prevented in very nick 2. Fear not in regard of the Body which they can kill 1. The Body is but the outside the cask the shell 2. 'T is a perishing thing and will soon dye of it self 3. This is not to enter into glory but must first put on incorruption therefore this but a small thing to kill the Body IV. Whom ought we to Fear FEAR HIM that can destroy Soul and Body And that for these Reasons 1. He is our Maker our Being and all we have is of Him 2. He can bring down and twist away thy life and all in a moment 3. He hath no Controuler none can rescue out of his hand 4. In thy own conscience He hath many just occasions against thee 5. He will certainly bring to judgment and account for all thoughts words actions Therefore there is good ground to fear Him 6. Fear Him because there is mercy with Him VI. What is it to have the Soul destroyed what ways doth God take to bring this about Five several ways 1. By withdrawing the sap when God leaves striving and motioning the Soul dyes of it self if not fed upheld maintained 2. By giving up the Soul to beleeve lyes wholy filled with them 3. By leaving it alone without one to pity pray or care for it 4. By shutting out all prayers and means that nothing shall prevail 5. By taking away all doors and gates that all lusts and floods of ungodliness may break in and mould the Soul into the image of the Devil VII What is it to be in Hell In three Things 1. When the Soul sensibly feels it is excluded from God Many are in Hell and know it not the thing is not opened 2. To feel the torments and pains of Hell the warm that dyes not 3. To have the everlasting sentence of this condition witnessed to the Soul this makes up all the saved ones may be in the two former All summ'd up in a word of Vse 1. If possible to warn some of this woe That They may never come into this place of torment 2. To minde such as shall be saved both by hintings in themselves and witness from others yet see how neer destruction you may come 3. To counsel us to stand in awe always to fear not knowing what we may be left to lest that day come unawares c. MATTH 10.28 And fear not them that can kill the Body and are not able to kill the Soul c. I Would propound these several things to you to be considered of out of this Scripture 1. Who they be that will kill the Body 2. What it is to kill the Body 3. Why should they not be feared that can kill the Body 4. Whom ought we to fear Fear Him c. 5. Why should we fear Him what cause for it 6. What is it to have the Soul destroyed 7. What is it to be in Hell First Who are they that will kill the Body You may see in the Verses before Christ speaks to his Disciples Behold I send you forth as sheep amongst Wolves be ye therefore wise as Serpents and innocent as Doves But beware of MEN for they will deliver you up to the Councels c. And it is farther explained who these MEN be of whom they should beware Ver. 18. And you shall be brought before Governors and Kings for my sake for a testimony against them And vers 21. And the Brother shall deliver up the Brother to death and the Father the Child and Children shall rise up against their Parents and cause them to be put to death So that these MEN are of these four sorts Governors Kings Brethren and Parents 1. Beware of Kings Kings should preserve their People and Solomon saith The Glory of a King is in the multitude of his People And we can truly witness for our selves and God is our Witness that we have been and are as true faithful and loyal to the present Government of the Kingdom as any other who ever yet we know not how their hearts may be ordered to consider of us Such cases have been we know as that Kings have been let out to undo and pillage and kill their own Subjects And though we may yet truly own the many mercies and liberties we have enjoy'd by this Parliament yet who knows how Things may be turned against us such a case may be Christ bids beware of Kings 2. Beware of Governors Now Governors and Rulers are appointed of God to be a Terror of evil works but not of good They were set to be Defenders and Protectors of them that do well to defend to secure to do them right and justice against such as falsly reproach slander or any ways wrong and injure them yet Beware of men saith Christ Governors themselves shall be against you such as should defend and secure you And we have lately had some experience of this how our Governors which should have been our safeguard and protection that they have slighted our Cause and rather inclined to the false accusations of our adversaries then hear us speak the Truth for our selves nay if the Lord had not prevented it we might have been knockt on head and have lost our lives by the rude and envious multitude which were set against us 3. Brethren Brother shall betray Brother c. Beware of Brethren And how hath this been made true upon us also

would break presently they were not intended for that use You see Saul had of this wine in him he was among the Prophets the spirit of God was upon him but the Vessel broke and all ran out and was lost so Judas he was a Preacher and went in and out with Christ and had enjoyments and seasons of Truth but the vessell had holes and all was lost and came to nothing and therefore it is said of some that they make shipwrack of faith and a good Conscience All is shattered and broken and gone as if it never had been some are compared to the Corn that grows on the house top though it be green and flourishing yet soon withers and comes to nothing It was sown there by some chance or carried by some fowl the Husbandman never intended to have a Crop from thence so may it be and hath been with many that are very green they have Light and Knowledge and parts and Forwardness I but they grow upon the house top the place was not intended for that purpose to bear a Crop the stony ground flourished for a time but soon dies for want of root ye did run well saith Paul but they were left and soon turned aside but now whoever is pitched upon by God and made a chosen vessel he is set apart for some end some service say ye saith Christ the Master hath need of him and he speaks to Ananias concerning Paul He is a chosen vessel to carry forth my name whoever of you are thus chosen and pickt and gathered by God out of the world out of relations and all your straglings Do you think God hath no end in it Is it think you you should still live to your wills as you did and walk as other Gentiles no sure it is that you may do him service be his and no more your own 6. Things that are chosen men expect more from them then from other refuse they leave behind A man when he is hungry chooseth bread and not a stone and he looks for more refreshment and nourishment from that then he would from a stone God expects not to gather grapes of thorns he looks not to reap where he never sowed the unjust Servant accused him falsly in that but if he please to take advantage he may he may come in an hour unthought of as Christ came to the Fig tree and cursed it because no fruit was on it though it is said it was not the time of fruit it seems strange but such a Lord is he if he will take the advantage if he will be extream to mark what is done amisse then who may stand He can if he please cast a man into sickness and torments of body or let loose horrours upon his Soul there is cause and advantage enough to be taken if he will make a man an example a witness of his power and severity for the Gospel hath that in it too it is to be preacht for a witness to all as well as for Salvation to some but now from his own his Chosen Generation He expects somewhat out of Love If I be a Father where is my Honour he expects fruit from you he looks for sweet grapes from his Vine he expects you should hear Sure they are my people they 'l be ordered and perswaded and prevailed with he expects better entertainment from them then from the world and though it falls out that they are the chief of Sinners and found the most ill requiting of all People I but it is their shame and their sorrow and their Sin he looks for other fruit he looks for more where he trusts with more where he trusts with Heavenly Treasure I sayd They are my People Children that will not lye and in all things he expects their moderation that at all times they stand open and ready to receive him that alwayes their Lamps be burning and their Loyns girt as those that expect their Lords coming and he is grieved if they disapoint him therefore he complains The Ox knows his Owner and the Asse his Masters Crib but Israel doth not know my people doth not consider This grieves him to be thus dealt with at their hands 7. Things that are chosen are more looked after and more carefully minded then other things they are not layd scattering about but charily reserved So doth the Lord deal with his chosen He takes them into his bosom hides them under the shadow of his wings Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints and if their Death be precious if an eye after them then in their blood if the minstration of condemnation be glorious if there be Love in that work of bringing to Death Then how much more Love will be seen in bringing them again to Life He says of his Vineyard that He watches it night and day And in the Canticles My Vineyard which is mine is continually before me There is no time he watches it not night and day take in all In the Light and in the Darkness in their sorrows and in their enlargements still he watches whether we sleep or wake yet the Keeper of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps If they are sent into captivity it is for their good there his eye is after them If the three children are cast into the furnace there is a fourth like the Son of God He will walk with them there If Daniel be cast into the Den of Lions his God is there to shut the Lions mouths If Joseph be sold into Egypt God goes with him if he be cast into prison he is with him there and findes favor for him where ever these chosen go a special eye is after them when they wander from one Nation to another from one Kingdom to another People yet there He suffers no man to do them harm but reproves even Kings for their sakes Touch not mine anointed c. His charge is given out to secure them a guard is set about them that nothing may harm them He shall give his Angels charge over thee and they shall preserve thee in all thy ways This is his care of his chosen and this is their safety and happiness Before I come to make Use of this I would speak something of the next words A Royal Priesthood This chosen Generation is intended for that to be a Royal Priesthood to offer up Prayers and Praises to God Hitherto saith Christ you have asked nothing in my Name because as yet they were not brought to beleeve the words of Christ They knew not they were a Chosen Generation till at the last when he was about to leave them then he says to God And these have beleeved that thou hast sent me There is no coming to your Priesthood till you are first brought to know and beleeve you are a Chosen Generation A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD Royal of the royal Blood born of God sprung from that stock and kindred And hence three great Priviledges belong to

And this man would never chuse to have these contrary beings live so near together If the soul be once in the Ministry of circumcision with Peter then it would by no means touch any thing common or unclean But the Promise is That the Lion and the Lamb and the Ox and the Bear shall lie down together and yet do no hurt in all the holy Mountain Yet observe there is a difference made but two of a sort of all the unclean were to be kept but of all the clean seven couple which had this in it to shew That however here sin and righteousness dwell together in the Ark yet there are more for us then against us Seven couple of the clean sort a compleat number of the righteous seed and but some few reliques of sin yet a spawn lives to keep the Soul in awe always lest it should increase and multiply and that there might ever be a crying out against this Body of Death for 't is a wearisom condition at best and full of snares These unclean Beasts cannot but be ill companions for the clean having always a devouring mind if it were possible to destroy them Then in this Ark Noah had a Dove to send out to bring tydings to him how it went abroad which had this meaning in it That who ever have indeed built this Ark attained to a certain estate of Salvation the Holy Ghost is given them to go to God for them in all straits We know not how to pray but the Spirit it self helpeth our infirmities This is the Messenger between God and the Soul in all straits and distresses What time as I am afflicted saith David I will pray unto thee O Lord if you had but a heart to consider it When your house is on fire and the Enemies at hand when you are compassed about with fears and miseries and distresses as you will be and yet no Messenger is at hand to send to enquire of God and know his meaning and what he intends and what the end shall be O how miserable is it to be left alone without this Comforter There are many that set themselves to pray and speak words but alas he hears not any for their much babbling if there be not this Holy Ghost that proceeded from him to go to him He hears not other cries and noyses Though they howl on their beds and abase themselves to Hell he matters not The Father will hear none but his own Spirit and that knows how to get nigh him to hold him fast and plead with him I will not let thee go unless thou bless me And if this Dove return once without the Olive branch yet it hath no rest but goes out again till it obtain a blessing and bring tydings of Peace Now can any of you answer that question of Peters Have you received this Holy Ghost after you believed You have believed indeed I know and it lives in your Consciences that Truth is here and God is amongst us that here are the words of eternal life But now hast thou received the Holy Ghost after this believing Else what a miserable plunge must thou needs be at when straits and Tryals come as thick as Hail and thou hast none to send to God to enquire the meaning none to intercede for thee and plead thy Cause but art left as the whole world to live in darkness and judg all things like beasts which know no farther then they feel in all that befalls them Now I would proceed to speak of the Consequents or Effects which follow this building of the Ark and they are layd down in the words to be these three 1. Noah did it to the saving of his house 2. He condemned the world by it 3. He became Heir of the Righteousness which is by Faith 1. He saved his house by it it is worth noting It is not said He did it to the saving himself though that was included in it yet a farther thing was in it to save his house The servants of God in all times have had that reward of their labor to save a People That hath been their care and work to seek up the lost sheep to turn others to Righteousness And in this saving of his houshold three Things are considerable How Noah did it 1. He saved his house that great work by being a Hearer first himself He was first warned of God himself and had an ear open to receive and learn the lesson before he can teach his house What I received of the Lord saith Paul that I delivered to you Many go to teach others and were never taught themselves Alas how can their work stand They preach they know not what nor to whom They would be Teachers of the Law not knowing the things whereof they affirm They never heard his voyce at any time nor saw his shape as Christ said to the Jews and how can they save a People They are blind Leaders of the blind and therefore wo to the Preachers that have not first learn'd of the Lord themselves and woe to the People that are left to such Guides for both the wall and the Dawber shall fall together But Noah was first warned of God himself 2. He saves his house by taking charge of them and standing engaged for them as for his own Soul Take heed saith Paul of the flock of whom the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers The Holy Ghost lays the charge upon Gods Ministers and they are made to receive it and wait and tend and look after their People as their own Souls As Judah saith of Benjamin If I bring him not back again to thee let me bear the blame for ever Such a weighty charge they take upon them But where is now in our days such a Noah such a Preacher of Righteousness Many Preach indeed and they take the charge of a People as they say but how long Till another hundred pound a year comes and then they are gone or till some suffering and hardship or inconvenience come and then they are gone They fly at the sight of the Wolf O wicked generation God will find them out But Noah takes charge of his People they are his house his family his life and therefore sticks to the saving of them 3. That is the third thing He sticks close to them and follows on till the thing be done till he hath indeed saved them till brought them into the same condition with himself He will lay down his life for his sheep and this is a true Shepherd indeed that cries out with Moses Nay rather blot my name out of the Book of Life then that this People should be destroyed And Paul he is at a strait and could wish himself accurst from Christ for his Brethrens sake Now to have such a Saviour to stand in the gap to travel for a People and never leave till Christ be formed in them this is the great Mercy and after this sort do the Noahs