Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	church_n	day_n	time_n	2,357	5	3.6533	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A61475	The spirit convincing of sinne opened in a sermon before the Honorable House of Commons, assembled in Parliament upon the solemne day of their monethly fast, Novemb. 26, 1645 / by Peter Sterry ...	Sterry, Peter, 1613-1672.	1645 (1645)	Wing S5483; ESTC R34606	20,614	44

understand the difference between these that you may judge your sorrows As God shall assist me I will assist you in this enquiry by which you are to examine your selves Rationall and Spirituall convictions differ in their Perswasives in their Principles Rationall Perswasives in conviction for sinne are such as these First Self-love Will you heare the workings of this One man afflicted and oppress'd laments after this manner I have blasted my reputation wasted my estate brought my body into diseases by my lusts and now I hang over a pit of flames by the thin worn thread of this life in the same moment that this thread is cut I drop in and am lost for ever Wo is me Thus he cryes then he runs to prayers Sermons Fasts in these he hopes for ease Another as he lies restlesse all the night hath these thoughts working like a storm in his breast I have expos●d my life to the Censure of the Lawes by Treacheries against my Countrey and my God If the Preacher's words prove true and there be a hell at last there remaines nothing for me but a fearfull expectation of my share there In these anguishes this man breathes forth a groan and cries to God to have mercy on him So Pharaoh so Ahab were convinc'd This is like weeping with an Onion the eyes shed teares because they smart 2. Sparklings of Naturall Worth A generous heart if it be no more when it hath done any thing foulely dishonest or dishonorable will call aloud for Seas of Teares a Laver of Blood to wash it clean The Jewes in the Wildernesse when once they had refus'd to fight at God's command would purge that blot with their blood fighting though forbidden when they were sure to fall This is not beyond that Elephant which reproach'd with the offer of another Elephant to draw his burthen for him drew till he broke his heart and fell down dead 3. Naturall Religion heightned by temper education custome formalities of Nation age in which wee live The Heathen Romanes wounded deeply with the losse of an Army or the pestilence sought reliefe in reforming their Religion The Sibyl's books were search'd Ludi instaurati solemne showes and pomps for devotion renew'd Temples set open Cushions laid Holy tables seats beds made ready the Matrons flock't in Troops fill'd the Churches fell on their faces with their haire spred and torne moystening the Marble pavement with their plentifull teares at the feet of every Idoll In after-times the Heathens among whom the Christians lived on every sad accident exclaimed The Christians are the cause of this which joyn not with us in the worship of our gods Appease the gods by the suppression or slaughter of these Christians Happy are our times if some amongst us doe not upon no higher Conviction then these of Naturall Devotion call for dayes of Humiliation Reformation in Religion But do I condemne these Convictions No God commands and commends them from the example of Brute Creatures The Oxe knowes his owne and the Asse his Masters Crib But this I say These are no better things then the Best of Beasts the worst of Men have attain'd unto These indeed if they be but Single may procure Temporall Temporary blessings But if they be not Subordinate to the Convictions of the Spirit they can doe your souls no good You may save the Kingdome by such teares but alas what shall be done for Your souls Spirituall Perswasives follow First Sense of Divine Love Zach. 12. 10. First a Spirit of Grace or Love is shed upon the Heart Then teares are shed What an eye was that which Christ cast upon Peter when he went out and wept bitterly Was it not an Eye of love a Melting look You have seen how a Sugar-loafe dissolves and weeps it selfe away when it is dipt in wine So hearts dissolve so they melt dip't in the sweet sense of Divine Love Who knowes not what a wound abused love a wronged Friend makes upon a tender breast How then doth the dearest love the sweetest friendship of the great God wound a soule with the sense of Love and Sin Have you not sometimes read that place and drop't teares upon it some have told me that they have done it often The place is Es 43. 22. I have not wearied thee with sacrifices thou hast wearied me with thy sins O Israel I blot out thy transgressions like a Cloud remember then no more Give me the worst the hardest Heart in this great Assembly how soft would it grow on a sudden if the Spirit of Christ should whisper to it such words as these are Many years hast thou lived profanely many a secret wickednesse hast thou practis'd which mine eye hath seen Often I have set my selfe before thee in the blood of my Manhood in the glory of my Godhead in the love of both my Natures Thou hast wearied me with thy scornings But thou sha't be mine I freely forgive all thy sins as if they never had been committed Come and see how much I love thee how I have ever loved thee What temper would thy heart be in when thou shouldst hear these words Would it not be like unto that when Joseph revealed himselfe to his brethren Whiles thy Saviour falls on thy neck to kisse thee thou would'st fall at his feet unable to speak any word for weeping I appeale to you that feel the love of your God how it works in the soules of men doe you not often in sweet pangs cry out Ah! my God the sweeter thou art to me the more sinfull still doe I appear to my selfe This is a Spirituall Conviction a Conviction by Love 2. Sight of Jesus Christ They shall see him whom they have pierced and mourne over him As the looking forth of the Sun melts the Snow so doe the shinings out of Jesus Christ melt the Soule 'T is sweet when a Saint sayes Mine eyes have seen my Saviour and now they powre forth teares A Rainbow the Covenant of peace is then form●d when the Sun shines upon a watry cloud When Christ puts forth himselfe and scatters his beams upon a mourning cloudy soule then followes faire weather there is peace This is a spirituall Conviction a Conviction by the Beames of Beauty 3. The greatest sin the not-beleeving in Iesus Christ In spirituall Perswasives the Person of our Saviour is the Argument and Conclusion of all Convictions A sight of Christ is that by which Men are powerfully convinc'd Not-beleeving on Christ is the grand sin of which they are convinc'd They shall mourn over him whom they have pierced Not to beleeve on Christ is to pierce him To beleeve Christ is to see him So in those Chronicles of Faith Hebr. 11. c. 27. v. Moses's faith is exprest by his sight He saw him who was invisible But this sight is Inward Spirituall Divine a sight by no ordinery Light St Peter describes the state of beleeving the sight of faith 1 Pet. 2. 9. Hee hath