Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A18049
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A sermon of Gods omnipotencie and prouidence
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Carter, Bezaleel, d. 1629.
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1615
(1615)
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STC 4692A; ESTC S119930
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18,895
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50
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hee is not subiect to these infirmities it is the great power of God that hee cannot lie and so for sinne in generall therefore it is not in God because he is Almighty and omnipotent But I leaue the doctrines and hasten to the vse I will first deliuer one vse in generall and so wee will come to more particular application Since God rules all things in heauen The generall vse and earth c. therefore nothing comes to passe without his speciall notice and prouidence nothing comes by accident nor nothing comes by chance The lot is cast into the lappe but the whole disposition is of the Lord Prou. 16. 33. who saith a thing comes to passe the Lord hath not done it out of the mouth of the most High proceeds euil and good Lam. 3. 37. The Lord saueth man and beast Psal 36. 6. God careth for the birds of heauen and feeds them Matth. 6. 26. and hee numbers our hayres Matth. 10. 30. Nay takes notice of euery teare that is shedde by the faithfull and puts them in a bottell Psal 56. 8. Nay his prouidence extends to the lilies of the field and to the birds of heauen euen to the little sparrow The Lord giueth and the Lord taketh away as it pleaseth the Lord so come things to passe Iob. 1. 21. Indeede ordinarily we ascribe whatsoeuer betides vs to fortune and chance and to the influences of the starres as if God were not the disposer and ruler of all his workes there can be no euill in the citie saith Amos but the Lord hath done it Amos. 3. 6. plagues come from God punishments from God crosses from God the couetous man imputeth his losses to fortune his encrease to fortune generally vntimely deaths burnings blastings c. these are imputed to accident chance when indeed sinne is the cause and God is the author of punishment Man suffers for sinne Lam. 3. 39. our sinnes are the cables and cartropes that hurries down Gods vengeance vpon vs. I kill saith God and I giue life I wound and I make whole Deut. 32. 39. I forme the light I create darkenesse I make peace and I create euill I the Lord doe all these things Isai 45. 7. This in generall Now in particular this doctrine may serue First for terror to the wicked Secondly for comfort to the elect Terror to the wicked 1. In regard of this life 2. In regard of a better life Consolation to the elect 1. for this life 2. for a better life Vse 1 How can a wicked and a godlesse person harbour any quiet in his breast since God rules in all places how can they promise themselues any safety since God doth whatsoeuer hee pleaseth in heauen in the earth in the sea and in all deepes how can they promise peace to themselues when the Lord of heauen is able to muster vp al his heauenly powers and set legions of heauenly and celestiall soldiers in battell array against them nay how can they euer thinke to be saued since God is the Lord of the heauens that excludeth and admitteth whomsoehe pleases how can they thinke to prosper vpon the earth or to be safe vpon the sea since God rules in both these when his power reaches higher then the heauen deeper then hell since the measure of it is longer then the earth and broader then the sea Iob. 11. 8. If they looke vp to heauen the mighty God of heauen their enemy Christ their enemie archangels and Angels the orbs and arches of heauen the starres and the planets all things in heauen ready at Gods command to bandy against theÌ„ nay the gates of heauen bard vp against them as it was against the fiue foolish virgins Math. 25. 12. If they looke downe to the earth the earth is weary of bearing so vile a burthen if they flie to the sea that swells and rages against them if they flie to the East God is there if to the West God is there if to the North hee workes in the North if to the South hee hides himselfe in the South Iob. 23. 8. So as the estate of a wicked man is like the estate of him that the Prophet Amos speakes of that flew from a lion and a bare met him Amos 5. 19. Or like Plinies flying fish which beeing in the sea is chased by the fishes and flying into the ayre is pursued by the birds which way soeuer they go they runne headlong to their destruction if they take the wings of the morning and flie to the sea God commands the sea and that makes warre against them as it did against the Egyptians Exod. 14. 28. If they returne to the earth the earth shal be cursed to them as it was to Cain Gen. 4. 12. If they looke vp to heauen they flie from a lion to a beare God likewise ready to execute vengeance vpon them for their wicked courses And therfore truly said the Deuil to Saul Doest thou aske counsell of mee and God is thine enemy 1. Sam. 28. 16. It is vaine to consult or aske counsell if God opposes if God takes in against vs it is a vaine thing to trust in charrets or horses woe to the rebellious children saith the Prophet that strengthen theÌ„selues with the strength of Pharaoh and trust in the shadow of Egypt for the strength of Pharaoh shall be their shame and the trust in the shadow of Egypt their confusion Isai 30. 1. 2. Though hand ioyne in hand saith Dauid nation ioyne with nation kingdome with kingdoms though hand ioyne in hand yet shall not the wicked escape vnpunished I kil saith God neither is there any that can deliuer out of my hands Deu. 32. 39. Though they dig downe to hell thence shall mine hand take them though they climbe vp to heauen thence I will bring them downe though they hide themselues in the top of Carmel I will search and take them thence and though they be hidden in the bottome of the sea I will command the serpent and he shall bite them Amos 9. 2. 3. This then is the estate of a wicked man but I purpose to handle this point more particularly First God doth what hee pleaseth in In heauen the heauen and therefore in what a dangerous in an vncertaine and slipperie estate is euery wicked person that stands not in good grace tearmes with God but stands in the estate of rebellion and is out of his fauour which way soeuer hee turnes encompassed about with as many enemies as God hath creatures For euen as Princes out of their absolute authoritie leauie vp forces in the court in the citie in the countrie amongst their subiects superiour and inferiour So I say the Lord hath as the earth and sea at his command so likewise all his celestiall courtiers the Angels as it were his Nobles whereof one is able to ouerthrow an hundred fourescore and fiue thousand 2. King 19. 39. and as he hath his noâ—â—es so hath hee his