Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	day_n	lord_n	see_v	3,711	5	3.5921	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A48760	A letter, written by that famous and faithful minister of Christ Mr John Livingstoun unto his parishoners of Ancram in Scotland, dated Rotterdam October 7. 1671.	Livingston, John, 1603-1672.	1671 (1671)	Wing L2599; ESTC R216776	17,702	19

A LETTER Written by that famous and faithful Minister of Christ M R JOHN LIVINGSTOUN Vnto his Parishoners of ANCRAM in SCOTLAND Dated ROTTERDAM October 7. 1671. M R LIVINGSTOUN'S Letter to his Parishoners of Ancram VVell beloved in the Lord I cannot excuse my long silence I have a woful lazie disposition and indisposition for writing yea I judge any thing I write is scarse worthie that any should look on or read besides that my slow and shaking hand is some hinderance to me Yet when I consider that I have an account to make for you to the great Shepheard as having laboured amongst you in the ministrie of this Word some fourteen Years and now after neerby nine years banishment age and infirmities creep on and through a constant pain of the gravel I have much ado once a week on the Lords Day to go a very short way to the publick Worship so as there is no great probability I can see your face in this life and it is most fitting for me to set my face forward toward my last reckoning I thought I behooved in a manner to make unto you my Testament and open my minde concerning my self concerning you and concerning the present postour of affairs in that Land And in the entrie notwithstanding of all the sad things that have fallen out of late I would put you in minde of the many good dayes we have seen together both of Sabbath Dayes and solemne Communion Dayes wherein we saw the Lords Power and his Grace in his Sanctuary that in remembrance thereof we may exalt his Name together and know that though he cause grief yet he will have compassion according to the multitude of his Mercies ye may easily discerne what a difference is between those dayes and such as ye now see and what an evil and bitter thing it is that by our not improving of those dayes we have provoked him to hide his face and send such an inundation of matchless Apostacy Perjurie Persecution Profanity Atheism yea Darkness Distractions and Despondency amongst his own in all which we may yet expect he is waiting to be gracious and will be exalted that he may have mercy upon us I. For my part I have peace in regard of these particulars 1. That not only since my entrie into the Ministrie but even from my infancy the Lord was pleased to lead me to an aversion from Prelacy a stinted Liturgie the Ceremonies and other Corruptions of that time and that in my Ministrie both in Irland and Scotland I joined with those who were streight in the Cause of God and testified against these evils that I joined in the National Covenant and Solemn League and Covenant and other parts of the work of Reformation that was carried on in the Year 1638. and thereafter as being assured that the Lord did then does yet and will ever approve of that work and the prosecution thereof 2. That I came to Ancram not out of any worldly end but from a desire to do service to God and to the Souls of his People and had thereto the Lords call by your invitation and the consent and sending of the rightly constituted Church that then was both the General Assemblie and Presbytery 3. That in my Ministrie among you howbeit I came much short of attainment my resolution and aime was only to set the Glory of God good of your Souls before mine eyes that it pleased him so to bless my poor weak endeavours as that sundrie Seals of the Ministrie of his Word were visibly seen some whereof are already in Glory and some are wrestling thither 4. That when I appeared before the Council at what time I was sentenced with banishment for refusing to swear the Oath as they called it of Alledgeance and which was indeed the Oath of Supremacy and did really contain such a Supremacy as is since fully established that then I did not as was propounded by them take time to advise of mine Answer which I judged could import my unclearness in the matter and that it was not so much out of respect to me as for that very end propounded but told plainly I was fully clear and resolved not to take it For these and many such singular passages of the Lords gracious guiding me in my Pilgrimage I desire from my heart to blesse his Glorious Name and would beg help of all his People to joine with me therein But 2. I have challenges beside many others in respect of these particulars that all along in my Ministrie I did not so stir up or improve the gift that the Lord had given me nor so carry my self like a Spiritual Grave Diligent and Faithful Servant of Christ as I ought to have done 2. That in my Ministrie among you I was not more frequent in visiting Families and dealing with Persons in particular to bring them to and keep them in the wayes of God 3. That when the late grievous defection began in the Year 1661. and 1662. I did not stir up my self and others whatsoever hazard might have ensued to appear by Supplications and publick Testimonies in avowing the Covenant and work of Reformation which if it had been done by Church Judicatories or but singly by Ministers and Professours in the due season according to our engagements might both have glorified God been a doore of hope for the Posterity procured more Peace to our own Consciences yea possibly stopped much of the Defection and Suffering that hath since ensued 4. That when I appeared before the Council I did not take occasion humbly yet plainly to remonstrate the guilt of those things which were publickly enactcted and done against the Prerogative Royal of Jesus Christ and against his Church and People and to give warning of the wrath to come on them and the Land without Repentance but did content my self with answering what was propounded to me For these and such other neglects and miscariages in my life I would desire to go mourning to the grave and would intreat for help from you and others of the Lords People to seek from Himself pardon and purifying of both private and publick both sins of Person and Calling II. As for you I may reckon you all in three Ranks The first Rank and I fear the greater number is of those who although in general profesours of Christianity yet so far as could be observed never laid Religion to heart and some of these for grosse Ignorance and loosness were alway debarred from the Lords Supper others although having some knowledge and a civil walk yet upon good grounds were alwayes suspected to be void of the Love and Fear of God continuing in their natural unrenewed condition neglecting the Worship of God in their Families and alone and shewing by all their carriage that their thoughts and desires never went beyond this World These no doubt are glad of the change now com'd that they may cast off Christs yoke and be free of the