Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	call_v	good_a	sin_n	1,729	5	4.5767	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85987	A pleasant walk to heaven, through the new and living way, which the Lord Jesus consecrated for us, and his sacred Word reveals unto us. Published by Claudius Gilbert, B.D. minister of the Gospel at Limrick.	Gilbert, Claudius, d. 1696?	1658 (1658)	Wing G703; Thomason E939_2; ESTC R202211	58,214	83

Divine Oracles in every branch of Gods Word All the expressions that describe it testifie so much being equivalent with regeneration and conversion the new Creature and new man the translation of men from Darkness to Light and from Death to Life their bearing of his Image and partaking of the Divine nature their coming out of Bondage into Liberty by Redemption from Satans Kingdom into Christs own Kingdom c. Instances might be given of the excellency of every part hereof with relation to this Christian Vocation The Precepts requiring it the Promises assuring of it the prefigurations typifying it the Presidents performing it are all eminent All Instructions and Incouragements thereto all Threats and Punishments for the neglect and abuse thereof do eminently ratifie the same The Reason of it is as remarkable if we consider the Cause and Terms the Properties and Effects thereof 1. THE Cause is eminent It s God himself that calls thus by the Spirit of Christ internally and externally His Divine Excellencies shine here in their Brightness This is his Work-man-ship in the product whereof all his glorious Attributes concur harmoniously He is the fountain and the final Cause whence it flows and wherein its terminates He is the Prime and choise Agent who appoints and over-rules all Means in tendency thereto His Voice gives the formal Impression of it upon that matter which his Spirit disposes orderly according to his eternal purpose to be a fit subject for the Reception and Improvement thereof He speaks actively and effectively calling things that are not that they may be according to the good pleasure of his Will God thus considered both Essentially and personally is the eminent Cause of this Vocation not any meer Creature nor any thing considerable in it either in Gods purpose or execution Reason 2. The Terms of it are eminent Ones both the terminus à quo whence they are called and terminus ad quem to which they are called It s from slavery to freedom from a sinfull to a gracious state from the Power of Satan to God from misery to felicity from the drudgery of Hell to the glorious Grace of Heaven Is not this call then a most eminent One Reason 3. The Properties of it do further ground its Eminency it is a high calling a holy heavenly Vocation free and full sure and singular Nothing excellent in any creature but it sets out the choise qualities of this noble Vocation It s the highest Preferment which the most high can afford in his Kingdom to his best friends Children and Spouse It s the conforming of them in holiness to that which is the Top of Divine Excellency It comes from Heaven leads to Heaven and trains up for Heaven gradually efficaciously It s of his free gift to sinfull unworthy Wretches to fill them with the fulness of Christ It s surely made out and made good in a singular manner to all the Vessels of Mercy prepared for Glory through Grace Here are eminently fulfilled the fathers purpose and the sons purchase in proper applications of every Covenant-promise through the operations of his holy Spirit freely and fully surely and singularly in an high holy and heavenly manner All the Properties thereof are most eminent Reason 4. The Effects demonstrate its Excellency also This Vocation renders men truly noble and eminent It raises up their spirits to the best pitch of generous magnanimity to the scorning of all sinfull baseness It stamps the characters of Divine Nobleness upon their souls giving them so large an Interest in the royal blood of the King of Saints They are hereby qualified with that Princely Spirit which enobled Caleb to act so eminently for God and the publique So far as Christians harken to this Call it works on them and by them in a choise manner to the promoting of the Lords Interest and the publique Weal against all internal and external enemies of both This is it that duly improved makes all sorts of Christians eminently usefull in their respective places whether superior or Inferior The Application may 1. Inform our Judgement in two Corollaries 1. Of the Excellency of Grace which cals Christians thus eminently Car●●… hearts cannot see any beauty nor comliness therein no more then in Christs own person who was accounted a Worm and no Man Yet is the Kings Daughter all glorious within in the beauties of Holiness though blind eyes cannot discern it The natural man understands not the things of Gods Spirit neither indeed can he because they are spiritually discerned but the spiritual man judges of all things spirituall by due comparing thereof The Kingdom of God said Christ comes not with ostentation and observation but is within you and among you like the Curtains of Solomon whose out side appears like the Tents of Kedar What if God do not thus call many noble nor many wise nor many rich after the flesh that his Grace may appear to be free Doth not he make them truly noble rich and wise whom he thus effectually calls Have not the famous Worthies of all Nations in all ages learned in Christs school with Theodosius to account their Relation to Christ the choisest flower of their honor and happiness Coroll 2. Observe hence also the baseness of every sin Original Habitual Actual It is sin that so notoriously opposes maligns and hinders this eminent Vocation Sin is that unworthy Varlet that cheating Mountebank who dares v●e it with the Lord and give a counter-call to millions of Souls Sin is that impudent Strumpet that bewitches the simple with flattering Charms of seeming pleasure profit and credit thereby to keep off Customers from hearkening to Christ Sin like the Hyena counterfeits often the shepheards voice in many disguised Seducers to draw in silly sheep into her snares Sin is that Monster which Panther-like draws brutish sensualists by plausable allurements into her cruell clutches This is the Dalilab that inveigles and captivates so many Sampsons by her juggling Tricks Sin is that cunning Rook which draws out of Christs road so many Travellers into the crooked wayes of error and baseness by misperswasions Is it not sin that debased the glorious Angels and the first Adam and hath made them Maps of w●●tchedness that were at first Mirrors of happiness Is it not baser then Hell it self being the cause and founder thereof Nothing vile enough in the worst of Creatures to express this unworthiness of sin The poison and bane the venome and pest the excrements and filthiness of the very worst kind are mentioned in Scripture to point at the inexpressible baseness of sin This dung and dirt this puddle and vomit this filthiness and excess of naughtiness is the inveterate and desperate enemy of our eminent Vocation Vse 2. This should convince every Christian nominal and real of their unanswerableness 1. NOminal Christians that have

usefully 1. BY way of Instruction in vindication of the Ministry and Ministers of Christ They are appointed and blessed of him as a special means towards the foresaid end and therefore most maligned and opposed by the common enemy Christs ordinances are his Charets of state wherein he rides in progress among men to dispense his gifts and graces unto them His Ministerial servants are peculiarly entrusted therewith as Instruments and stewards under him by whom he brings home his people to himself to build them up in himself The many honorary Titles which his Word discribs them by setting forth their office denote their Duty to the effecting thereof The same Engine which is mounted by notional Spirits against Christs Institutions would as easily level the Magistrates civil constitutions When men cease to be weak and sinfull they shall then cease from needing such helps and not till then Evangelical worship must continue in force till every one of Gods Elect be perfectly brought to the full measure of the stature of Christ The Ministry was given for that purpose by the Lord Jesus as the choise Product of his Ascension Both the Office and the Officers are peculiarly set in the Church by God himself that his People may never want sufficient means for effectual quickning in their Christian walk The holy Ghost makes them Overseers who being by him duly qualified are orderly called to rule in the Church after due probation and approbation Such shepheards as come in at his door he blesses to his People the rest he accounts but Thiefs and Robbers who intrude themselves into the Lords flock in an ill manner and to an ill end Confusions in his Church are as distastefull to him as they are destructive to his Himself makes the difference between Rulers and those that are ruled whilst he forbids them Lordly-dominion and arbitrary dictates he commands them to look to their charge with all Authority in his name and strength requiring their flocks to shew their observance and Christian obedience according to his Word If every one were left to his own Will How soon would Anarchie and desolation ruin Church and State All will become slaves whilst all do strive to rule and tyrannize none studying to obey Good Intentions will excuse no man from the sin and Judgement of irregular Usurpations Vzzah and Vzzias met with sad stroaks in their bold invasions of the Sacerdotal Work Corah and his company of pretended Saints Jeroboam and his self called Priests ruined themselves and followers by their illegal Intrusions if any that are called Ministers prove a blot to their Profession by their ignorance sloth or scandall good reason they should be reckoned with as they do deserve but little cause that Christs faithfull servants should suffer for their sake If any thing be found to be unscriptural that hath been used about any Ordinance of his the fault may be mended without imparing of his Institutions If any cannot find benefit by Christs appointmenss let them blame themselves and not him nor his Is the Spirit of the Lord restrained Doth not his Word do good to them that walk uprightly As all Christians need mutual quickning that they may walk worthy of their vocation it becomes them to mind and observe that Gospel-ministration which Christs spirit sanctifies so gloriously to the enlightning and enlievening of all his chosen according to his Word 2 It speaks convinction to all that are careless and unwilling to give or receive this quickning helpfulness This is a common and sad miscarriage among Christians and the best find much cause to blame themselves for their guilt thereof As it s our sin it should be our sorrow that we do so much evil and so little good we receive not friendly Admonitions in a friendly way thereby discouraging those that would help us with seasonable advise Our sores must needs wrankle for want of dressing and our ill humors cannot but increase and distemper us for want of purging We are more ashamed to hear of our faults then to commit them and more ready to neglect our duty then to hear of it Should it not shame us to find self still so prevalent in us against others good and against our own by thus shrivelling up our minds and hearts our tongues and hands that this singular charge cannot be discharged Sinfull bashness makes us still unwilling to offend others by our faithfull dealing and selfish Love makes us as ready to be offended at their faithfull dealing Christ was full of bowels and cloathed with them we are empty and destitute thereof David desired to be smitten by the seasonable reproof of the righteous esteeming it to be a precious Balm that should not hurt his head Why should any of us be of another mind Are not the wounds of a friend more faithfull then the kisses of an enemy Why should any be counted our enemy for telling us the Truth as Paul was among the foolish Galathians Why should we be backward to receive and and give that Christian help by mutual reciprocations which our abilities annd opportunities challenge clearly from us Let it grieve us that we have so often grieved the Lords Spirit in grieving his friends by sinfull silence neglects and offences Le ts be ashamed that Heathens and Turks Jews and Papists should out-strip us in the demonstrations of mutual helpfulness What Bunglers are we at this noble Trade How untowardly and unskilfully do we go about it Are not we often like foolish Chirurgions mistaking the Case and wronging the Cure Do not we usually run into extreams of fond pitty or cruel Austerity Are not we found too indulgent or too impatient too mild or too harsh Should we not be humbled for our imprudence and ignorance our rashness and unhandsomness our passion and pride our sloath and frowardness about this choice work 3. It may prompt us to a serious Examination in our Capacity Religious and Civil 1. IN our Religious Capacity Do we act as becomes true Christians both in doing and receiving spiritual Good in preventing and removing spiritual evil Is it our desire to be found still in a readiness for Christian helpfulness Do we delight in all officious reciprocations of faithfull reproofs and exhortations supports and helps for mutual quickning Is it our design and resolution to take nothing ill but all in good part at the hand of others purposing to be as friendly to them in all due ways of Christian freedom and assistance Do we actually endeavour to manifest it in the most effectual means that may best conduce to the mutual quickning of each other in all the ways of Christ that we may jointly walk worthy of our Calling Do we to that end prize and improve every Ordinance of his publique and private with diligent care and spiritual observance Do we so seek his face and attend his word study our duty and consider others case that we may still be enabled and directed excited and supported in this

God holy and beloved bowels of Mercie Kindness Humbleness of mind Meekness long-suffering forbearing and forgiving one another if any man have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you so also do ye and above all these these things Put on Charity which is the bond of Perfection We should be alwaies ready to accept of reconciling terms and pitty others that do offer us wrong rather then to cherish spleen and malice in any degree such Candor of Spirit becomes Christians who still find cause to bewail their own failings and wrongs towards others If we be enforced at any time to challenge our civil rights it should be done with such discretion as that we may avoid Jars and reflections Passions and Prejudices If others offences may seem to carry much of aggravation therewith we shall shew the more generosity and true gallantry in forgiving and forgetting all that personally concerns us It s the Glory of God to cover a matter and mans Glory to imitate him He proclaims himself to be the Lord merciful and gracious of long suffering and tender commiserations obounding in Pitty and Truth reserving mercy for Thousands pardoning iniquity transgression and sin Should it not be our Delight to resemble him therein as it s our honour thus to advance his name How sad were it with us if he should deal with us as we deal with others Do we not still need pardon from men as well as from God Shall we not willingly measure out to others as we would desire to be measured to The Gallant Roman and the noble Grecian thought it the best revenge to return good for evil and scorn the baseness of a spitefull spirit Shall Christians come short of Heathens herein They have the worst of it that do offend us as Precious Mr. Dod was wont to say pitty them pray for them help them to repent as God hath helped us by Patience and Love kindling such a fire on their heads as may melt their hearts 7. Ingenuous disposition and carriage of our thoughts words and actions with utmost candidness of Interpretation about the Intentions Expressions and Demeanure of others It becomes Christians to make the best Construction of all others that may possibly be Charity saith Paul by choise Experience suffers long and is kind it envies not it is not rash it is not puffed up it doth not behave it self unseemly is not easily provoked thinks no evil rejoyces not in Iniquity but rejoyces in the Truth covers all things so the Greek Stegei properly imports believes all things hopes all things endures all things Brethren Therefore if a man be over-taken with a fault ye that are spiritual restore such a one with the Spirit of meekntss considering thy self lest thou also be tempted let us not then judge one another any more but judge this rather that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in our brothers way We that are strong ought to bear with the infirmities of the weak and not to please our selves but every one to please his neighbour for his good to edification We should wisely discern between weakness and wickedness between infirmities and enormities There will be still many sickly froward and pettish Children in Christs family that must be tenderly not roughly medled with Grace will teach us so to observe their several tempers and distempers as to think of them speak and act towards them in the best way of doing most good and least hurt Imprudent and rugged Christians will be sure to do themselves and others wrong in bringing disgrace to their profession for want of discret moderation Some Spirits resemble the sweet Bazil as the Genoan Embassador observed in the Duke of Florences Garden which if gently touched will yield a fragrant smell but if harshly crushed will smell rank and strong and give a very offensive Odor Others seem like Nettles which if they be not very warily handled will sting and trouble one with smart and anguish Study we therefore industriously that we may neither give nor receive offence as far as we are able being wise as Serpents innocent as Doves in such a crooked generation 8. Meet Consolation sutably to the various conditions of other Christians in their spiritual or temporal troubles Herein we should be followers of Christ who made it his business to speak comfort to the broken-hearts and mournfull Spirits He was anointed from Heaven to that end that he might speak a word in season to the weary soul He sends his Spirit to be our Comforter and comforts us in all our tribulations that we may be able to comfort others also with the same comforts wherewith we our selves were comforted of God If there be therefore any consolation in Christ if any comfort of Love if any fellowship of the Spirit if any bowels and commiserations fulfill ye my joy saith the great Apostle that ye may be like minded heartily giving refreshment to others in their necessities to speak and act like Christ in this very thing must needs be desireable in the highest degree Should not Christians demonstrate themselves to be true Barnabasse's Children of consolation Is it not our honour that the Father of Mercies and the God of all consolation will imploy us instrumentally that he may create the fruits of our lips Peace Peace true and lasting Peace to the distressed Much wisdom is required in administring of such a cordial orderly and seasonably so as it may do good and no hurt The matter of it is extracted out of Divine Promises and Providence the Spirit of Christ must direct us by his Word to the right manner of dispensing it He purges and prepares the souls of his people as wise Physicians deal with their bodies that he may revive and corroborate He removes the cause of grief that the effect may cease He clenses away sin to take away sorrow He convinces of sin of righteousness and of Judgement that he may be a sure Comforter He shews unto men the worst of themselves that they may come to see the best of Christ He makes them poor in Spirit to hunger and thirst mourning after Purity and Meekness that he may bless them with the Comforts of Peace Let 's learn in his school to follow his Coppy and mind such a Divine Principle and Patten of Consolation 9. Liberal Contribution freely to communicate to the support and supplies of others wants as God enables us becomes all Christians As we have therefore opportunity let us do good to all especially to the houshold of Faith Charge them we must that are rich in this world that they be not high minded nor trust in uncertain riches but in the living God who gives us all things richly to enjoy that they do good that they be rich in good works ready to distribute willing to communicate laying up in store for themselves a good foundation