Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	child_n	father_n	see_v	1,602	5	3.6371	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A14996	A caveat for the couetous. Or, A sermon preached at Paules Crosse, vpon the fourth of December, out of Luke. 12. 15. By William Whatelie, preacher of the word of God, in Banbury; Caveat for the covetous.	Whately, William, 1583-1639.	1609 (1609)	STC 25300.5; ESTC S105709	57,700	142

Psal 39.6 Man walketh in a shadow he troubles himselfe in vaine euery man heapes vp and knowes not who shall gather it Will it not say A flowre 1. Pet. 1.24 for all flesh is grasse and the glory thereof as the flowre of grasse Will it not say lies Psal 62.9 Eccle 1.2 The chiefe men are liers Will it not say Vanitie for All is vanitie Wil it not say Nothing as Salomon Prou. 23.7 Wilt thou set thine eyes vpon it and it is not it hath no being Eyther challenge God of folly or falshoode which hath called this wealth shadowes flowers lyes vanitie nothing or else yeeld that we haue been deceiued in thinking better of it Wil we not see our errour and confesse that wee haue beene cousoned as children with gawdes and now begin to trust our fathers iudgement But you shall see that it is not without cause vilified with these titles and if you will but lend an heart to iudge as an eare to heare you shall perceiue as cleare as noone day that they be as vnprofitable as any shadow What will you terme that that can do no good to soule body name state nor keepe any euill from soule body name state nor mittigate such euils as a man is pressed withall in any of these respects Euery man will yeeld it may well be called a thing of nought and cannot well be called by a better name Beleeue not shewes and conceits and then be your selues iudges if wealth I meane ouerplus of maintenance can doe any thing in any of the forenamed respects 1. Soule for getting good things of it What is good for the soule but faith repentance the spirit of God the answering of our praiers the pardon of our sinnes and the attaining of eternall life And I pray you can you buy these things for money can you purchase them with Iewels or get them for exchange of goods will God giue heauen to any man if hee will morgage a faire liuing to him for it Will he giue him faith that can bring a rich Iewell or a purse of golde for it or will he heare his prayers any whit sooner in his need that is clad in cloth of gold and hath thousands by the yeare than if he went in meane apparell had not twice twenty pound nay twenty pence yearely or is there any commuting of penance in heauen or can we by a great fine answere for a fault Indeed if any of you be so blockish as to beleeue the palpable deceits of popish Rome some of these things are set to sale there and there you may buy indulgences and pardons but we know well enough that Rome and heauen stand a good way a sunder and they be not ruled by the same lawes neyther wil God stand to those bargaines that the Pope makes for money You haue all yeelded now that for soule money cannot bring any good to it But what 2. Body for the same respect cannot it profit the body more Aske experience Will wealth buy health will it purchase ease or a good nights rest or an houres sleepe or a good stomack or any of these things that are lesse then these Answere what you know by proofe will wealth buy these things and what is the body the better for it then But yet perhaps the name may be more beholding to it 3. The Name It will surely bring credit and good estimation Indeed here if in any thing the rich man magnifies himselfe aboue the poore because he takes himselfe to be in better reputation But here if in any thing he is most of all deceiued I confesse it makes him think much better of himself but neither God nor man doe thinke the better Yea God and good men thinke the worse of him for this If it come in by violence oppression robbery and vniustice you will yeeld that no man hath the better liking of one for such wealth But say that a man hath not waded through these filthy and stinking guzzels to get it but haue come vnto it in the most cleanly manner as some but not the most doe it shall be plaine if any reason will rule vs that it cannot get a good name or credit For say what will you call credit to haue cap and curtesie and a bended knee and a few complements of behauiour acted vnto your silken coate or before your selfe it may be or to be looked after and gazed vpon by the deceiued multitude and to be followed by a great number of hangbyes that runne after you as Eagles after a dead carkasse to feede vpon you Is this credit is this estimation to be crouched vnto as a little curre doth to a mastiffe to be soothed vp and heare faire words to be all besprinkeled with courtholy water euery day in a word to be stabd with the cut-throat kindnesse of flatterie If you call this credit and if this be the good name you talke of it is euen a fit thing to bee gotten with wealth an vnprofitable credit an vncomfortable credit an hurtfull credit with vnprofitable vncomfortable and hurtfull riches And if any man haue but a graine of wisdome he will see that this is sar from credit or a good name But if it be to be vvell esteemed of in the hearts of men to finde reuerence in their soules to haue their consciences commend one and their inward man set him as it were in a good roome of the affections and their priuate thoughts to yeeld a good testimonie for him If I say this be accounted credit as it is indeed a man is neuer a whit the neerer to it for abundance of goods That will make men fawne and wag the taile as a curre vpon his maister that is at dinner to get a bone yea and perhaps also to licke ouer his sores with a poysoning not an healing tongue for in this a flatterer is ten times worse then a dog yea he is a venimmouthed dog but behinde his backe and in his absence none shall be more readie to talke of his saults to deride them to blaze them to disgmce them than he that crouched so much in his presence and did him so much as you please to call it credit to his face yea and in the middest of all this crouching no mans heart doth more loath abhorre scorne and contemn him than the man that is so seruile and officious because of wealth And this is all that wealth can procure for the name but nothing vnder heauen can make the hearts of men to reuerence any and their soules to haue in good account yea and prefer him in their mature iudgement euen before themselues Nothing can doe this I say but grace and vertue true pietie true holinesse and godlinesse of conuersation to which money cannot helpe a man A poore man that fares but reasonably and goes in ordinary attire and cannot shew either money or lands of his own in any great abundance shall yet if

such generall termes wherefore it is our purpose to speak more particularly thereof and leauing these practises that are of all men condemned as odious and vile 2. In particular of such vniustice as is found and practised alone by the vilest men in corners and in darknesse such as are stealing robbing forgerie and all manner of cousonage so termed we will speak of those which haue been practised in the world vsually with more applause and in the Sun shine yea and some of them perhaps also defended as if they did not deserue the censure of vninstice And because the things be many wherof we must speake we will ranke them into certaine heads according to the nature of the subiects in whom they be most often found for the reliefe of our owne and your memories Some wrongfull actions therefore are found in ministers of iustice some in ministers of the Gospel some in tradesmen some in landlords some in all men without respect of their seuerall callings of all which we will speake somewhat in order and briefly to the intent that by them euery man may as we hope euery Christian man professing religion will search himselfe to the quicke and vnpartially First then for ministers of Iustice by which name I terme all those that haue any thing to doe in the administration of publique equitie in them vnlesse they be carefull Ministers of iniustice there will be found very often three notorious points of wrong through the desire of gaine There first is briberie or the receiuing of gifts 1. Taking a gift though it be from the innocent to haue hearing and iustice For a bribe is any gift taken by him that hath to deale in matters of iustice of those which are to come vnder his censure whether for matters penall or capitall whether they be offenders or not offenders And therefore the holy Ghost hath flatly forbidden to them the receiuing of any gift at all Exod. 29.8 and in more then one or two places hath cryed out against those that loue gifts and take gifts A gift of this kind is a thing of very ill name and note in the writing of the Spirit of God who shewes his anger saying Fire shall deuoure the houses of bribes Iob. 15.34 This doth euen as it were build a nest for vniustice and falshoode wherein she may come with allowance hearing and entertainment to lay all her subtill and craftie deuices and tales for the forestalling of a true narration that might else cleere a case to the full This fils vp the eare with the earewaxe of partialitie that trueth cannot haue liberty with approbation to shew her minde and speake for her selfe vnlesse she vse a golden earepicke first and therefore God himselfe saith Exo. 23.8 That it blindes the eyes of the wise let a man haue neuer so good skil and knowledge in the law and matters of Iustice if he suffer this dust of a bribe to bee scattered in the eyes of his iudgement this will surely follow his eyes will as I may say water and twinckle and growe worse and worse till at the length he can see nothing but becomes as blinde as a mole or bat And indeed this kind of gaine must needs in Gods account be as stolne goods for the party receiuing the same hath no manner of right or interest into it For if the man that giues it be innocent to the knowledge of the magistrate he should haue his cause heard and sentenced aright euen for his innocencie sake though he gaue nothing If the magistrate know him to be nocent a world of goods should not keepe his sinne from being made knowne and punished If the magistrate doe not yet know either his innocencie or faultines he shuld not make himselfe blind with a blinding gift before he come to looke vpon the cause And if any thinke that the will of the giuer doth transferre right to him that takes in such case he must knowe himselfe to be deceiued in so thinking for it is not a pure and voluntary will but forced because hee knowes the humor of the man to be such that he will not doe right vnlesse he be hyred to it Euen as a man is willing rather to giue this purse to the purse-taker than to venter his life or lim so is he to giue a bribe to the bribe taker rather than aduenture his cause therfore I dare boldly I say and the God of heauen will iustifie my words at the last day that a theefe hath as much true right to the money that hee takes by the hye way as the magistrate to the gift that he takes euen of the innocent party for a day of hearing or the like yea though it come not immediately vnto his owne hands but be giuen to the wife or sonne or seruant or friend by his appointment or allowance which is but a little more cleanly conueiance of a bribe Should Iustice be made as an hackney that stirres not out of dores but for hyre or as a mercenarie Souldier 1. Peruerting iustice or reward that will not draw his sword but for his pay A second thing incident to this calling is peruerting of iustice for a reward which is a thing different from the former for a man may bee said to take a bribe though hee passe true sentence do iustice for it but this that I speak of is worse when a man will goe against equitie for wages sake and this the scripture doeth also plentifully condemne in many places If the iudge for something that he hath already receiued or hath couenanted or hopes to receiue hereafter for him or any by his procurement wil find a knot in a rush condemn the cause which hee should maintaine but maintaine that which he should condemne or if those that are to plead and declare matters in that truth which they see in them will for an ouer-abundant fee set a faire colour vpon a false cause paint ouer a lie with shews that it may seeme truth as by concealement of some circumstances the like to delude right which is to call euill good and good euill light darknes darknes light a thing that the holy Ghost cries wo vpon whatsoeuer the wit of a couetous man can say to make it seeme lawfull or when other officers that haue the execution or helping to execute orders will for a peece of mony find out delayes shifts and deuices as for example frustrating or changing the order or decree in setting it downe and twenty such other waies that I know not but their consciences can tell of that practise them and God doth also see all to shield and defend the wrong doer from the verdict that equity hath passed against him these and euery of these practises to peruert iudgment for aduantage sake are notorious and palpable wrongs and such as euery man would condemne and abhor if they were offered to himself A third action of

it might to pursue after wealth and this is the originall of couetousnesse So is this foule euill begotten of the minde it is the darke and blind brood of an erronions and deluded iudgement And both these causes are laid open cleere enough before vs in the Scripture The first in Heb. 3. where hauing warned vs of couetousnes he saith for he hath said I will neuer leaue c. By this coherence sufficiently intimating that couetousnesse comes because one thinks God will not be sure enough to him but too quickly and lightly leaue him to himselfe And the second cause Christ notes in this Text saying for though a man haue much his life consists not in his wealth as if he had said you desire much wealth because you think it can make you liue more comfortably safely but indeed it cannot You see now the true causes of couetousnesse I know men are willing to make shew that this their desire of wealth is of better parentage but the truth is it is as I haue said the base brood of ignorance and errour Now come wee to shew the remedies of this sinne 2. The remedies 1 Apply the word to it in serious meditation and how it may be consumed out of vs First there are foure remedies in all The first is to meditate vpon the word of God that forbids it Applying the reproofes and threatnings and commaundements against any sin in the word of God to a mans owne soule by serious meditation is a common remedy against all sins and so also against this The word of God is the sword of the Spirit seruing to keep out all lusts from comming within vs and to cut wound and slay them to which purpose it is then effectuall when it is weelded as it ought by turning the precepts and reproofes of it into earnest complaints against our sins strong petitions for our selues before the Lord in secret Indeede lamentable experience driues vs to confesse that the word of God is of litle operation in most men for God whēce is this euen from their owne folly that out of their sinfull hollownes will not lay it as a plaister to the sores of the soule but bee this spoken in assurance of truth let the heart of euery godly man giue consent to it that whosoeuer hee be which takes the word of God in any perticular matter and alone betwixt God his own soule stands to consider saying Loe how plainly the Lord hath forbidden this sinne what sharp reproofes he hath vttered against it how great the danger is that he hath threatned shall arise from it why do I commit it why do I liue in it Doe I either not beleeue his word or not feare his displeasure And then turning himselfe vnto the Lord doth earnestly cry out against himselfe saying Ah Lord God how wicked haue I beene to break this thy law and to endanger my selfe to thine indignation and rush vpon thine anger so ouer-ventrously Now Lord giue more wisedome more grace strengthen me to do thy will which I see know but of my selfe cannot obey whosoeuer I say doth in this or the like manner spread the plaister of Gods word vpon his own heart let him count the promises of God but leasings if he finde it not able to heale any lust though neuer so cankered and inueterate to quell any corruption though neuer so strong and violent Doe thus therefore brethen for couetousnes we have shewed you sufficiently what an hurtfull and vnlawfull thing it is Enter into thy closet as Christ bids thee ponder of these things set downe your owne hearts with these reasons and conuince your selues of the wickednesse thereof and accuse your selues before God with indignation against your selues that are so basely enclining to this world when the Lord bids the contrary Yea and beseech him to strengthen and sanctifie your hearts now that seeing his will you may yeeld to it and that these reproofes may be present with your hearts to controll them and checke them sharply when they so offend that it would please him to encline your hearts to his testimonies and not vnto couetousnes and hee that thus doth constantly day by day or as often as occasion is let him be bold to promise to himselfe that the word will proue a word of life and power vnto him It will knock off these clogs of worldlines from his soule that his affections shal be no longer so fettered with them The second remedy against couetousnesse Get assurance of eternall life is to labour for more and more assurance of the fauour of God and euerlasting life through Iesus Christ his son and euery man must haue his happines and delight And if any mans hart be not set vpon the true felicitie it will be seduced by false one guilded vanitie or another will steale it away from him but let a christian endenour to make his calling and election sure and to be stedfastly resolute of this that God for his deare sonnes sake pardoning all his finnes wil beslow eternall happines vpon him cause him to raigne as a king with his Sonne in a throne of immortall glory where is no sin no sorrow no trouble nothing to grieue or vexe him but the fulnesse of ioy at Gods right hand for euermore and the sight and comfortable expectations of this estate will so rauish his heart and take vp his desires that this vile earth will appeare to be as it is and he shal be able out of his owne feeling to call it dung and ashes as the Apostle doth not suffering it to cary the name of a treasure in his estimation Yea and his soule from this maine ground will draw another conclusion of no lesse force to beat downe the rising of worldlines saying If God wil giue the flesh and bloud of his sonne to be the food of my soule wil not he giue me bread and drink to sustaine my body If his loue were so infinit that he spared not his most beloued and onely begotten sonne for my sake how shall he not with him giue mee all things He that will saue the soule will he not feed the body will he deny drosse that gaue gold will he say nay for a pibble that so liberally scattered pearls Nay sure if our Lord would giue Christ for vs and to vs for our saluation it were madnes to doubt whether he will giue earthly things for maintenance so farre as is good and further what Christian can wish them for God is alwayes suitable to himselfe in all his dealings Get good reasons to trust God with thy foule and thou wilt neuer feare thy body and thine estate Haue euidence strong enough for heauen and thine heart will not desire earth and much lesse doubt of hauing sufficient therein The third remedy against couetousnes is to consider aduisedly 3. Consider well Gods temporall promises of Gods gratious promises abundantly made and written in his