Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	bold_a	concern_v	great_a	61	3	2.1088	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A87103	A sermon, preached at St. Gregories church by St. Paul's on Sunday the 13th. day of Iune, 1658. Intended for the funeral solemnization of Iohn Hewit, Dr. of divinity, and late minister there	Hardy, Nathaniel, 1618-1670.	1658 (1658)	Wing H747A; ESTC R231880	12,735	26

perishing and more then so taken away and when this perishing and taking away of the righteous was a prediction that concerned themselves of their ruin their judgements was at hand and ready to overtake and overthrow them and they not to consider it adde to this that this shall be so and that there should not be a man to consider it not as if there was none at all there were some though the number be but very small that did bemoan and lay this thing to heart yet it is usuall in Scripture to expresse where there is but a few as if there was none at all as in the 53 Psal. 3. 5 Ierem. 15. Because there is but a very few therefore it is expressed as if there were none at all there was but a few zealous in regard of the multitude and generally it they did not consider that the Righteous perish and they did not lay it to heart the mercifull men are tak●n away from the evil to come I say these things being put together you will find it was noe small sin and that the Prophet hath noe little reason to complain that they did not lay it to heart if you consider it in reference 1. Vnto God 2. Vnto them 3. To our selves 1. In reference unto God this was a great work and aspeciall work of Gods provience that he was pleased to suffer his righteous ones to p●rish and be taken away It is a very great sin not to observe Gods dealing they are equally bad when Gods word sounds in our eares his works appears in our eyes and neither is regarded by us As the Psalmist complains in the 26 Psalm This is great impiety that God should passe by us in a speciall providence and we not take notice thereof if not a sparrow fall to the ground without his knowledge nor a hair of our heads fall to the ground much lesse our heads they cannot perish but by a speciall providence and they should be taken notice of when God intends to take them from us and as it impiery against God so likewise it is a sin against them it argues that as we want piety so pity as purity so bowels when those that are our Fellow-members Righteous ones especially nay when in a higher rank then our selves Ministers or others are in misery and we are not troubled at their sufferings this argues we want much pity they are but glasse eyes that weep not for such a losse and it is but a woodden leg that is not sensible what the rest of the members endures And as it is a sin against them so likewayes it is an evil against our selves it argues a stupid mind a secure heart and an obdurate spirit that is not moved with such providentiall dispensations against us especially when it presages judgement and misery to come upon a people and yet it should not work upon us All this considered you will find it was a just matter of complaint which the Prophet takes up the righteous perish and no man layes it heart c. I beseech you in the fear of God let us learn to practise the contrary and to lay to heart the miseries distresses and perishings of the servants of God but especially when they die by a violent death the Sun daily shines and noe man regards it but when once it is in an Eclipse then every eye will be upon it neither do men mind the high mountains when standing but if it chance to fall then every eye consider it and shall we not take notice of the Eclipses of Gods faithfull servants and so lay them to heart by remembring to register the deeds of Gods faithfull servants How and when taken away and withall bemoaning and bewailing both the miseries they suffer and the Calamities we are like to suffer by reason they are taken away from the evil to come and by imitating their vertues following their graces setting before us their exemplary lives and treading in their steps so as to prepare for dying for suffering in the like or any other kind that death may not find us unprovided and if we do live to prepare for the evil to come judgement is at hand Let us be making our peace with God by repenting of our own and the sins of the land that when the evil comes it may not come upon us unprepared and though we be taken away we may be but taken to the fruition of Glory and happinesse and that I may not be guilty of this sin I here declaime against it I dare not but stir up my self and you sadly and veriously stir up you and me to lay to heart this mercifull man of God this righteous man that hath been lately taken from us I hope none will envy his Character if we look no further then his death it was a violent death but as for the cause of his death it concernes not me it must be referred to that great day the day of judgement I hope without offence to any here I may look to the manner of his death the righteous are said to be bold as a Lyon and hath hopes in his death and what is this but the serene consequence of a well led life that made him meekly bold and humbly confident and chearful at his dissolution of all acts of mercies none is greater then that of forgiving enemies which that he did witnesse those lines those excellent lines read at his interrment or those gracious charitable words and prayers he uttered upon the Scaffold which proclaims him a man full of grace mercy I want time and tongue to go over his life and al that knew him will acknowledge this that the whole course of his life was a constellation of graces and vertues both as he was a Christian and as he was a Minister This righteous man is now perished this mercifull man is now taken away But I trust nay I have some measure of confidence he is but perished from the earth taken from us and removed to a better habitation to enjoy a safer a more Glorious life and I hope though he be out of sight yet he is not out of mind and will not be forgotten especially by you among whom he hath been a faithfull and painfull Laborour he having spent his time strength and labour for your Souls good therefore do you lay his death to heart Remember how often you have behold him from his sacred Oratory How often you have heard him dropping nay overflowing with faithfull reproofes sweet comforts wholesome admonitious Remember all those savery instructions you have heard from him remember and practice them that will be the best way to lay to heart the losse of this viagilant and faithfull Minister and lay to heart your own barrenesse and unfruitfullnesse that hath provoked God to deprive and Rob you of such a Iewell lay it to heart that you have been no more bettered and mended by those saving Doctrines and not onely you but all of us lay it to heart this and all others of Gods servants that have been taken from this City not many years ago which is a sad persage that the ruine thereof is at hand if a timely repentance and amendment of life prevent not which is the end of our discourse that all of us may be brought to a serious repentance as to lay to heart the perishing and taking away of the Righteous ones so not to murmur and repine at those that have been the instruments of our losse but to repent of our sins with grief and sorrow as the cause thereof by contempt of the word and Sacraments having used all means to provoke God to take them from us Let us for the time to come so repent that if it be possible Gods wrath may be appeased his judgements diverted and those faithfull ones that are yet among us may be continued and that more faithfull messengers may be sent into his harvest which God of his mercy grant AMEN FINIS