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	good_a	know_v	2,039	5	3.4458	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A43709	The believers duty towards the Spirit, and the Spirits office towards believers, or, A discourse concerning believers not grieving the Spirit, and the Spirits sealing up believers to the day of redemption grounded on Ephes. 4. 30.	Hickman, Henry, d. 1692.	1665 (1665)	Wing H1906; ESTC R2810	113,118	243

by his Comment on the Revelations He was much troubled about that place Rev. 13.5 Where it is said that the Beast had power to continue forty two months after much prayer he had though not a voice yet an impression so strong that a voice from heaven could scarce have made him more confident that he must count these months by Sabbaths as Daniels weeks are counted by Sabbaths he did so by the help of some Merchants and found the years to be Two hundred ninety four just the time of the ten first persecutions Doubtless therefore saith he that was the time of the Beast But who follows him in this who almost though he cannot confirm his own interpretation doth not think himself able to overthrow this 4. The most ordinary and safe way of coming to Assurance is that I before mentioned The discursive way in which a Believer from the fruits and effects of grace inferrs he hath the habit and from the habit concludes his justification and adoption This is proved 1. Because as it is a way least subject to delusion so is it also most suited to a rational creature whose way of acting is by discourse and argumentation If any Probleme be propounded to the Understanding which is not of it self known and evident the Understanding naturally falls to finding out some middle term or argument by which it may prove that the Predicate doth or doth not agree to the Subject let any man whatever try and he 'l find he cannot do otherwise And how little would be the difference betwixt a man and a beast if a man should assent to a thing unknown through an instinct and impression and should to one who asks him a reason of his perswasion be able to return nothing in answer but this I am perswaded because I am perswaded 2. We must also make Christ to have put himself to a very unnecessary expence in inspiring holy men to give unto us so many descriptions of Grace so many characters by which the power of Godlinesse may be known from the form if we were not to come to the knowledge of our grace by making practical Syllogismes before mentioned 3. Nor should we so often and so earnestly be called on to try and examine our selves whether we be in the faith if we were not to come to the knowledge of our faith in a discursive way arguing from the Effect to the Cause Nor can we give a better reason why our good works are called fruits then this Because as the Tree is known by its Fruits for a good tree cannot bring forth bad fruit nor a bad tree good fruits so the Heart by what proceeds from it is known whether it be good or evil 4. We find the Saints in Scripture coming to their Assurance this way Our rejoycing is this the testimony of a good conscience that in godly sincerity we have had our conversation in the world 2 Cor. 1.12 His joy was founded on the testimony of his Conscience but from what did his Conscience testifie from his sincere conversation 2 Tim. 4.7 8. I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righteousnesse How plainly doth he here conclude his right to the Crown of Life from his having fulfilled the terms of the Covenant of Grace Nay in Scripture we do find that men are exhorted to do good works that by them they may ascertain themselves of their Calling Election Salvation 2 Pet. 1.10 Give diligence to make your calling and election sure by good works so it is in all the Latine copies so in some Greek copies not in those that our English Translators followed which is the reason why they are not in the English Bibles not as the Rhemists do slander us because we do not like them for as Dr. Fulke well replies the circumstance of the place doth of necessity require that good works be understood though they be not expressed in the Text. And the Rich 1 Tim. 6.17 18 19. are exhorted not to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God to do good to be rich in good works ready to distribute willing to communicate to what end that they might lay up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come and lay hold of eternal life The least that can hence be inferred is that good works are a foundation of evidence or if any one dislike the term foundation and shall choose rather with Petit to translate a Bill of contract a Bond or Obligation it comes much to the same for thence it will be easie to inferr That he who is rich in good works receives and layes up an Obligation from God that this mercy of his shall have it's recompence of reward 5. What need we go further then the experience of Christians Do not all find that their Assurance is higher or lower according as they can more or less discern the fruits of holiness When they are dead lumpish doth not Hope then fail or flag And if any after back-sliding be as confident of his estate as ever he was before such back-sliding do we not think that mans Faith was Presumption Now of this that hath been said concerning the way of attaining Assurance several good Uses may be made I. It confutes those who condemn all use of Signs and Marks asserting that we are presently to believe that God loves us with a special love The late times among many other sad effects produced or brought abroad sundry who in their printed Pamphlets did make it a sin to doubt or once to enquire whether we be in Christ saying that we do never find that any in the course of Christ's or his Disciples preaching that did ask the question Whether they believed or whether their faith were sincere But what if none did ask that question then must none ask it now Are all the various conditions of troubled souls set down in particular examples in the New Testament If any one had then doubted of the sincerity of his graces could he unless some one had been present that had the gift of discerning spirits have been cured of his doubts any other way then by examining himself by marks and signs But doubtless there were then some who did doubt or else the Apostle saw they had reason to doubt for when he exhorts 1 Cor. 11.28 Let a man examine himself and Gal. 6.4 Let every man prove his own work none can rationally think his meaning was Let a man take it for granted that his state is good and force himself into a perswasion that his work is acceptable to God he that should so do would neither have rejoycing in himself alone nor in another But this evil spirit of Antinomianisme is pretty well blessed be God laid and I will not dispute against it lest I should raise it again onely I judge it not unmeet to answer one Objection Object It may

difficult to find out the cause viz. when Assurance goes away simul and semel when all of a sudden a man is carried out of the Wine-cellar into the Dungeon he can hardly be ignorant what it was that provoked God thus to change his actings towards him it can hardly be that it should be any thing but some notorious sin lately committed by him Such sins are found without secret searching Jer. 2.24 They are open before hand and go before hand to judgment 1 Tim. 5.24 These must humbly be acknowledged to God and the Church too if they be of that nature as that the Church by them hath been scandalized Let wanton proud wits argue as they please and cavil as they list God will own that power he hath entrusted his Church with and retain the sins that she retaineth But when Conscience hath brought in some such sin as the cause of all the unquietness and trouble feared or felt it must not rest satisfied in acknowledgment of that sin a man must by and through it go to the other sins of his life and to Original sin the fountain of every sin As David when by Nathans message he was made to possess the sin of Murder from which he prays to be delivered Psal 51.14 doth also confess the corruption of his nature ver 5. Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me Sometimes the black cloud hath been long a gathering then it is the more difficult to find out what the sins are that did contribute most matter toward it And therefore more care must be used in searching our hearts and trying our ways and Prayer must be made to God that he would shew unto us Wherefore he hath hardned our hearts from his fear and caused us to err from his ways This was Elihu's counsel to Job Job 34.31 32. Surely it is meet to be said to God I have born chastisement I will not offend any more That which I see not teach thou me if I have done iniquity I will do no more This searching must be continued till we find And when the Achan is found out must we then sit still Nay then must we bewail it before God The evil way must be forsaken that caused God to forsake us That good way which when we left God did leave us must we return unto Remember from whence thou art fallen repent and do thy first works Revel 2.5 Obj. Can one in this case do his first works A. Not in their wonted perfection but in some sort he can or at least he can go to him who reneweth strength to the weak and comforteth those who are in trouble To spend time in whining complaints is more easie and more pleasing to those who have bruised themselves but to stir up strength and be doing is more safe and pleasing to God I would not have deserted souls chidden for crying out and roaring How can they do other whose wounds stink and are corrupt whose sores run all the night long But they must not spend all their time in roaring but get the broken bones set and make use of them so shall they recover strength and rejoyce III. He that would regain his Assurance must justifie God until it return This is if any other in all Christianity an hard duty Satan reckons that all whom God toucheth not onely in their bone and flesh but also in their spirit will not fail to curse him to his face Job did not do so but he came as near it as one could do and not do it he cursed almost every thing besides God Job 3.1 c. Yea many an hard thought did rise in his heart against God himself and some hard words he uttered against him as will appear to any that will read his Book the way to prevent all whether hard thoughts or speeches is to hold our eyes on our sins and well and duly to consider their demerit so shall we wonder that no worse thing hath befallen us that we are not under horror and despair total and final and remediless Psal 51.3 4. I acknowledg my transgression and my sin is ever before me Against thee thee onely have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight That thou mightest be justified when thou speakest and be clear when thou judgest When we seriously and frequently think of sin and God against whom sin is committed we do soon clear him and when we justifie him it is not long ere he justifie us in his Court of Heaven in the Court of our own Consciences and in the Court of the Church too many of whose members are apt to condemn those for hypocrites against whom God writes bitter things While Job thought that God wronged him God ceased not to scare him with dreams and terrifie him with visions to shoot arrows into him the poyson whereof did drink up his spirits When he acknowledged that God could do every thing and that no thought could be with holden from him and began to abhor himself in dust and ashes then God takes his part against his uncharitable friends turns his captivity and gives him twice as much as he had at first Job 42. IV. He that would regain his lost Assurance must offer unto God what terms of agreement he pleaseth be glad to be received into favour upon the hardest conditions I have sinned against Heaven and before thee and am no more worthy to be called thy son make me as one of thy hired servants Luk. 15.18 19. as one of thy hired servants who fare hard and work hard and seldom are admitted into the presence of their Master he was content to be any thing so he might again be admitted into his Fathers house This is the genius of repentance whether initial or renewed it makes a man peremptory never more to draw in the iron yoke of sin but willing to take any other yoke that Christ shall think meet to lay on him to put his mouth in the dust yea to lick the dust if there may be any hope for him Therefore Absalom when he would counterfeit a strain of true repentance thus expresseth himself 2 Sam. 14.32 Let me see the Kings face and if there be any iniquity in me let him kill me He chose rather to be out of the world then out of the Kings favour Whether Davids favour were to be bought so dear or no Gods favour is for as his anger is worse then death so his loving kindness is better then life He never duly estimated the light of Gods countenance who would not get one glimpse of it though on condition presently after to enter into the chambers of darkness He never truly prized communion with the Father and Son who would not part with houses full of silver and gold rather then not partake of it I have born nine Children saith that good woman in Mr. Bolton with as great pain I think as other women I would with all my heart bear