Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	bring_v	fruit_n	good_a	2,614	5	4.5284	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A67561	An apology for the mysteries of the Gospel being a sermon preached at White-Hall, Feb. 16, 1672/3 / by Seth, Lord Bishop of Sarum.	Ward, Seth, 1617-1689.	1674 (1674)	Wing W815; ESTC R38484	24,128	100

things which are not The sum of the whole Mystery of the Gospel is contained in two words Christ Crucified I preach saith he Christ crucified to the Iews a scandal to the Greeks foolishness the opinion they had of it was that it was an absurd and a foolish dispensation a dispensation whereof a Christian a Preacher ought to be ashamed Thus much of the first general part of my Discourse concerning the Prejudices against the Gospel II. I come now to the second part To shew the Iniquity and unreasonableness of these Prejudices And here I shall endeavour to evince two things 1. That there is reason for the Contemners of the Gospel to be ashamed of their Prejudices 2. That there is no reason for Christians or Ministers to be ashamed of the Gospel 1. First There is reason for the Contemners of the Gospel to be ashamed Because their Contempt of it doth not proceed from any Generous or Noble Principle or qualification it comes not from height of Spirit or Wit from depth of Reason or Judgement from largeness of Learning or Knowledge But from the want of all these qualifications and is finally resolved into an ungentile and if I may be permitted to speak plainly a kinde of Rustical Ignorance and want of Ingenuity In Acts 17. 11. St. Paul comparing the Thessalonian Jews with the Beraeans saith that the Beraeans were more Noble 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because they did not precipitously and temerariously reject the Gospel as the others did but were diligent in searching of the Scriptures daily and in a strict enquiry concerning the Grounds and Motives to Belief alleadged by the Apostles whether they were of that weight which was pretended whether they were so or no. In matters of so great moment as the Gospel doth pretend to be in reference to this world and that which is to come to despise or to reject the Proposals without a just consideration of them and without an impartial and ingenuous examination and full understanding of the Grounds and Reasons upon which they are propounded savours not of Prudence or Wisdom Wit or Learning Ingenie or Ingenuity in one word it savours neither of a Gentleman nor a Scholar Now that this is the Case in the Contempt of the Gospel I think it will appear if we shall attentively consider 1. What was the Judgement of Christ who was the Author of the Gospel concerning this matter 2. The signal Instances of the contempt and neglect of the Gospel mentioned in the Scriptures 3. If we shall make a rational enquiry into the Principles and Postulata into which the contempt of the Gospel is finally resolved 1. First this will receive evidence from the Judgement of Christ himself concerning the resolution of the rejection and contempt of the Gospel I suppose none will be so Jewish as to object the bringing of Christ to be a Witness in his own behalf seeing his case is not the case of an ordinary witness but resolves it self as afterwards will be briefly shewed into attestation of the greatest credit I say then that Christ himself who knew what was in man and needed not that any man should teach him hath resolved the contempt and rejection of the Gospel into want of understanding and of due and ingenuous consideration into Ignorance and want of Candour and Ingenuity In the Parable of the Sower we finde this Argument largely and profoundly handled by our Saviour the Parable is three times delivered in the Gospel and is very well known so that I need not stand upon the declaration or repetition of it The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 concerning the bad that is the high-way the stony the thorny and the good that is the fruitfull ground I shall not mention He that shall harmonize the triple Narration and Analyze the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of this Parable shall finde that our Saviour therein propounds and intimates the causes immediate and mediate Mediate nearer and remoter of the reception and rejection of the Gospel whereof as to the point in hand the sum is this That the irregular endeavour after the attainment of temporal good things and the avoidance of temporal Evils The lust of the Flesh the lust of the Eye and the Pride of Life the Cares of the World and Deceitfulness of Riches the lust of other things Pride and conceitedness of Wisdom and other Carnal Interests are the cause of the want of an attentive and patient an ingenuous and impartial consideration And that the want of such a consideration is the cause of the want of a thorow Understanding and that the want of a thorow Understanding this is the cause of the Contempt or Rejection or neglect of the Gospel In the Gospel of St. Luke he resolves the causes of the Reception of the Gospel into honesty and goodness of heart sincerity and ingenuity into a patient and constant attention to hearing and keeping of the word In the Gospel of St. Matthew he resolves the whole matter into this one point of a perfect and thorow Understanding The good ground says he is he that hears the Word and brings forth fruit with understanding A fair and honest a candid and ingenuous attention and Consideration and a full Understanding are the causes of the Reception Therefore an Attention hypocritical and unsincere An ignoble ignorance perversness and want of candour and ingenuity are the causes of the contempt of the Gofpel in the judgement of our Saviour 2. The same also will further appear if we might be permitted to examine the several Instances of contempt and neglect of the Gospel and so go thorow the various degrees of the Symptoms of Infidelity mentioned in the Gospel I shall only touch them very briefly and the heads of them are such as these 1. The egregious hesitation or slowness in believing 2. The refusal or rejection of the Gospel 3. The Offence or Scandal at it 4. The quarrelling and disputation against it and opposition to it 5. The down-right scorn and contempt of it 6. And lastly the Persecution for it I say if we might stay upon this Argument it would appear that as the Remoter causes of every Case are easily reducible to the lusts and interests mentioned by our Saviour so the more immediate Causes whether in Jews or Gentiles will be found to resolve into want of Ingenuity and Understanding 1. The Apostles were slow in believing before the Resurrection and Mission of the Spirit Christ tells them that then they were Fools and slow of heart inconsiderate and inadvertent stupid and Disingenuous 2. The most eminent Rejecters of the Gospel were the Scribes and Pharisees if we shall enquire after the Vertue or Modesty Candour or Ingenuity of these men we will finde them the most barbarous and covetous proud and supercilious insincere and hypocritical in the world how often doth our Saviour charge them with all these things And if we enquire after their Knowledge and