Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	death_n	law_n	sin_n	5,839	5	5.9889	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A01719	Eight sermons, vpon the first foure chapters, and part of the fift, of Ecclesiastes Preached at Mauldon, by G. Giffard.	Gifford, George, d. 1620.	1589 (1589)	STC 11853; ESTC S114031	104,274	286

be sought It séemeth so still vnto men and that it is a most abiect nature which can not tast it In déede vnto such as can not sée farre of as S. Peter speaketh 2. Pet. 1. but haue the beames of their sight determined within the limites of this world it must néedes be all in all and the thing which they doe thirst after But if they could sée thus farre that all this glorie shall doe a man no good when he goeth downe into the darke pit of hell it would alter their minde For he which passeth through that gate must leaue his traine behind him he must put of his robes of honour lay aside his weapons of war This will some say is nothing to the purpose these were Heathen men whom ye haue named they knew not God A man may haue al this glory and the glorie of heauen also as many haue had That is most true that a man may haue the glory of this world and the glory of heauē also and that some haue had both or else were it wide with Dauid and Solomon many other But yet we must note this that those be no other then as Heathen which delight and glorie in the pompe of this world and account them fooles which cannot as they say tast this glorie Lette not the wise man glorie in his wisedome nor the strong man in his strength nor the rich man in his riches But he that glorieth lette him glory in this that he hath vnderstanding knoweth me c. Ierem. 9. Our Sauiour speaketh in this wise of those which séeke the glorie of this world Ioh. 5. How can ye beléeue which séeke glorie one of another and séeke not the glorie which commeth of God alone Whereby it is manifest that such as set their hearts to séeke the honour that is of men be Infidels The godly men as king Dauid and others which had the glorie of this world made it not their delight and glorie but gloried in the Lord. Yet it will be said that this doctrine is absurd For is not wisdome and knowledge in the noble Artes and Sciences the gift of God are they not helpes then and furtherances to approch néerer vnto God and vnto true glorie I answere that they be good giftes of God where the corrupt nature of man doth not hinder they be helps vnto higher and better things But Solomon doth not dispute what this wisdome is in it selfe but whether a man can attaine any true felicitie by it Which he denieth for though it benefit a man for the present as touching worldly cōmodities yet it is no true good because it is transitorie doth vanish It is gotten with sorrowes and vexations so that a little swéet is mixed with a great deale of sower It is neuer perfect neither cā it make that straight which is crooked It is so farre from bringing a man néerer vnto God that it casteth men further frō him as the state of man is now For it setteth vp man in pride and to glorie in himselfe It is so blind touching spirituall heauenly mysteries in which God reuealeth the knowledge of himself vnto saluation that it is not onely not capable of them but doth blasphemously and madly condemne them to be foolishnesse as the holy Apostle teacheth 1. Cor 2. the reasons cogitations which come from the wisdome of this world or from the flesh are compared vnto holdes and munitions high things which exalt themselues against the knowledge of Christ which the Gospell must throw downe when it turneth mē vnto God 2. Cor. 10. And therefore the same Apostle saith that God hath made the wisdome of this world foolishnes that he doth destroy the wisdome of this world willing that hee which will be wise become a foole that he may be wise 1. Cor. 4. Not that a m● can emptie himselfe of the wisdome tha● he hath attayned or that he is to reiect ●● vtterly but that he must not stay vpo● it nor rest in it nor glorie in it nor let ●● blinde him but acknowledge that ther● is a higher and a more excellent wisdom euen the wisdom of God which shewet● the way vnto true blessednes Trust i● the Lord with all thine heart and lean● not to thine own vnderstanding saith th● holy Ghost Prou. 3. For in déede the corrupt nature of man is made so wonderfull proud by knowledge that it despiset● and treadeth downe the trueth Nothing séemeth glorious or excellent vnto th● wise of this sort but their owne skil All must be measured by that and look what soeuer doeth not square with it is condemned From hence it commeth that among the prudent after the flesh few are called to inherite the kingdome of God as we● are taught 1. Cor 1. It is so hard a thing to bring them to be fooles It will be replyed here againe that this is more absurde then the former namely to cōfesse that euen humane wisdome is Gods gift a thing therefore good and commendable and withal to affirme that it doth not bring men néerer vnto God but casteth them further back Can a good thing be the cause of euill I answer that a good thing cannot be blamed iustly to be the cause of euill We doe not affirme that the knowledge and skill of all that is vnder the Sunne is in it selfe the cause that menne are caried further from God but mans corrupt nature is the cause which dooth peruert abuse it as it doth the best things of all vnto destruction As for example the law is good the commandement is holy iust pure saith the Apostle And yet it is called the ministrie of condemnation the letter that killeth and the strength of sinne Is that which is holy and ordeined for life made sinne or the cause of sinne or death Looke how the Apostle answereth Rom. 7. Sinne doth take occasion and worketh all manner of concupiscence by the commandement It tooke occasion by the law and seduced me and siue me Yea he sheweth that sinne through the law doth become out of measure sinfull And what shall wee say further doth not the vile nature of man abuse the grace of God it self Why doth the Apostle say shall we continue in sin that grace may abound God forbid Ro. 6. Why doth he giue this admonition brethren ye are called vnto libertie only make not your libertie an occasion to the flesh Gal. 5. but that there is so vile corruption in men by nature as that they will make the lesse regard of committing sinne because sinnes are fréely pardoned by the bloud of Christ Shall wée then maruaile that the wisdome of this world though in it self good doo not bring men néerer vnto God but carrie them further from him Yet how will some man say First thus the more a man is lifted vp in pride doth glorie in him selfe the further he is remooued