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	life_n	sin_n	9,880	5	5.5192	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A86329	The order of causes. Of [brace] Gods fore-knowledge, election, and predestination. And of mans salvation or damnation. Laid down so clearly, and proved so plainly by the scriptures, that even the meanest capacity amongst rational men may understand it, to their great satisfaction. As also, whether Christ died for all, or not for all: with the causes and effects that may follow or not follow, seriously considered, meekly controverted, and plainly proved by the scriptures of truth; to the great satisfaction of all rational people fearing God. By Henry Haggar, a servant of Christ, and of the congregations of his saints.	Haggar, Henry.	1654 (1654)	Wing H188; Thomason E735_20; ESTC R206976	22,700	32

wicked are an abomination to the Lord but it is because of works of righteousness that Christ himself hath wrought for us in his own person and doth work by us and in us by his Spirit when we are believers And though boasting in the works of the Law and boasting of works before believing be reproved yet Paul saith As the truth of Christ is in me no man shall stop me of that boasting 2 Cor. 11.10 and although be cryed down works before faith in so many places yet he preacheth up works after believing loud enough in these words Tit. 3.8 This is a faithful saying and these things I will that thou constantly affirm That they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works for they are good and profitable c. and Phil. 2.12 13. Work out your salvation with fear trembling for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure Thus we may see that although it be not for our workings without Christ that we are chosen or predestinated to life and glory yet it is by our workings with Christ when he by his Spirit dwelleth in our hearts by believing and is in us the hope of glory for then he worketh in us and our works are acceptable because he works them by us and we work them in him Therefore Paul saith We therefore as workers together with him beseech you c. Therefore if men would but open their eyes they might easily see what works the Apostle speaks of when he saith Election is not of works But of this more plainly anon Secondly I answer Although God saw Adam would fall yet he saw him a creature first or else he could not have foreseen he would fall when he was a creature therefore God is the God of order and not of confusion 1 Cor. 14.33 and fore-seeth all things orderly and not confusedly So then I conclude that first he saw Adam created Secondly He saw him fallen and all his postery in his loynes Thirdly He saw Christ crucified for them Fourthly He foresaw the Gospel preached to all men in their generations Fifthly He foresaw all mens receiving or refusing believing or not believing obeying or disobeying his Gospel in their several generations as it was is or shall be communicated to the end of all ages in order at once And seeing as well then what men would do in their ages and generations to come as they do know themselves when their lives and actions are finished God could thereupon make up his Election and Reprobation chusing or electing obedient believers according to his foreknowledge to Life and Salvation and refusing and reprobating disobedient unbelievers to eternal death and damnation And thus is Election and Reprobation to be considered according to the sorekowledge of God in Christ or out of Christ from the foundation of the World according to the Scriptures Which if well considered it would put an end to all the confused and distracted thoughts in men about these things But it may be that some will yet object that I hold faith and obedience in us to be the cause of Gods electing or chusing us to life and glory Answ That faith in Christ and obedience to Christ is a cause without which God chuseth none to Life and Salvation I affirm because we never read that God chose any disobedient unbeliever to life and glory which lived and dyed so but that it is the cause for which he doth chuse any I shall utterly deny and shew the contrary in the Order of Causes thus Suppose I should affirm my obedience to be the cause of my Election to Salvation then what is the cause of my obedience Answ My love to Christ But what is the cause of my love to Christ Answ The preaching of the Gospel of Christ viz. that he died for my sins and rose again for my justification without which there could be no believers for take away Christ and take away faith and then believe who can But what is the cause of the preaching of the Gospel to us Answ Christs dying for us But what is the cause of Christs dying for us Answ Even Gods great love of pity wherewith he loved us even when we were dead in trespasses and sins Eph. 2.4 at that time he commended his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners Christs died for us Rom. 5.8 Thus all men may see that I do not hold that God chose any to Life and Salvation for any good in them before he put it in them as I shall now make appear more at large by the Scriptures considering the causes in order descending from God to us or ascending from us to God 1 Cause Gods love to the sons of men as they were sinners against him and enemies to him was the cause of his sending his Son to die for sinners for his enemies for the ungodly for the unjust as appeareth by these following Scriptures John 3.16 Rom. 5.6 8 10. 1 Pet. 3.18 God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life For when we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly And God commendeth his love to us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his life For Christ also hath suffered for sins the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God 2 Cause Christs dying for our sins and rising again from the dead is the cause of the Gospels being preached to sinners as appeareth by these Scriptures Mat. 28.18 19. Mark 16.15 16. 1 Cor. 15.13 14. And Jesus came and spake unto them saying All power is mine both in Heaven and in Earth Go ye therefore and teach all Nations c. And again he said unto them Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature c. But if Christ be not risen then is our preaching vain and your faith is vain and ye are yet in your sins c. 3 Cause The Gospels being preached to sinners is the cause of their believing as appeareth by these Scriptures Rom. 10.14 15 17. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a preacher and how shall they preach except they be sent As it is written So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God 4 Cause Mens believing is the cause of their justification from sin as appeareth by these Scriptures Act. 13.38 39. Rom. 3.26 28. chap. 4.3 23 24 25. Be it known unto you therefore that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins c. By him all that believe are

justified from all things c. To declare his righteousness that he might be just and the justifier of all that believe in Jesus Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the Law For what saith the Scripture Abraham believed God and it was imputed to him for righteousness Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him for righteousness but for us also to whom it shall be imputed if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead who was delivered for our sins and raised for our justification 5 Cause Our knowing our selves justified from our sins by faith in the blood of Christ is the cause of our love to Christ according to these Scriptures Joh. 4.10 19. Herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins Therefore we love him because he loved us first 6 Cause Our love to Christ is the cause of our obeying of Christ according to these Scriptures 1 John 5.3 John 14.15 21 23. If ye love me keep my Commandments And he that hath my Commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me And if any man love me he will keep my words For this is the love of God that we keep his Commandments and his Commandments are not grievous 7 Cause Our obeying of Christ is the cause of his giving us eternal life as it is written Mark 16.16 Rev. 22.14 Heb. 5.9 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved And blessed are they that do his Commandments that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in thorow the gates into the City And Christ being made perfect through sufferings he became the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him Thus are the causes of Gods Election and mans Salvation laid down in order so clearly that the meanest capacity may understand them which more briefly are thus 1. Gods love was the cause of his sending his Son to die for sinners 2. Christs dying for sinners and rising again for their justification is the cause of the Gospels preaching 3. The preaching of the Gospel is the cause of our believing 4. Our believing is the cause of our justification from sin 5. The knowing our selves justified from sin by the blood of Christ is the cause of our love to Christ 6. Our love to Christ is the cause of our obeying of Christ 7. Our obeying of Christ is the cause of his becoming the author of eternal Salvation to us and all them that obey him Now if we consider the causes in order from us to God it is as clear beginning at the last 7. Our obedience is the cause of our salvation 6. Our love is the cause of our obedience 5. The knowing of our selves justified from sin by the blood of Christ is the cause of our love to him 4. Our believing is the cause our justification 3. The preaching of the Gospel is the cause of our faith 2. Christs death and resurrection is the cause of the Gospels preaching 1. Gods love is the cause of sending his Son to die for us Thus it appears that it is not for any works of righteousness that we have done but of his love and mercy he saved us by sending a Saviour Titus 3.4 5. From all which these following things are considerable and ought to be considered of all that desire to fear God a right 1. There was a necessity of Gods love in sending his Son to die for us without which he had not come to die 1 John 4.10 2. There was a necessity of Christs love in dying for us without which the Gospel could not be preached 1 Cor. 15.3 4. 3. There was a necessity of the Gospels being preached without which there could have been no believing Rom. 10 14 15 17. 4. There is a necessity of our believing the Gospel without which we cannot be justified from our sins by faith in the blood of Christ Rom. 3.25 5. There is a necessity of our being justified by faith in the blood of Christ without which we cannot come to know that he loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood Rev. 1.5 6. There is a necessity of our knowing his love wherewith he first loved us without which we cannot love him again For we love him because he loved us first 1 John 4.19 7. There is a necessity of our loving Christ who loved us first without which we cannot keep his Commandments For this is love that we keep his commandments and his Commandments are not grievous 1 John 5.3 8. There is a necessity of our keeping his comandments and obeying his voice without which we cannot inherit the promises nor be heirs of eternal life For Christ is become the Author of eternal salvation to all those that obey him Heb 5.9 And blessed are they which do his Commandments that they may have right to the tree of life and enter it through the gates into the City Rev. 22.14 And we have need of patience that after we have done the will of God we might inherit the promises Heb. 10.36 for the doers of the Lords work are blessed in their deeds James 1.25 But those that are contentious and do not obey the truth but obey unrighteoussness he will render indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doth evil And Those which will not hear him even Christ that great Prophet in all things whatsoever he shall say unto them shall be destroyed from among his people with an everlasting destruction from the presence of God and from the glory of his power when he shall come in flaming fire to render vengeance on them that know not God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord jesus Christ See Rom. 2.8 9. Act. 3.22.23.2 Thess 1.7 8.9 By all which we see that there is as great a necessity of our keeping the Commandments and Ordinances of Christ as there was of Gods sending his son to die for us and as there was of Christs dying for our sins and rising again for our justification for without faith in Christ and obedience to Christ there is no promise of life and salvation by Christ All which may serve sharply to reprove three sorts of people First Those which are ignorant and know not Christ nor his commands what they are and are contented with their ignorance and think to make that a cloak for their sins Secondly Those which are careless and when they know God and Christ and his Commandments will not do them but presume upon mercy and salvation without obeying of Christ These are those which think to be saved by faith onely without doing the will and work of God in their generation the which James calleth vain men James 2.14 17 20. saying What doth it profit if they have faith and not works Can faith save them But

The ORDER OF CAUSES Of Gods Fore-knowledge Of Election and Of Predestination AND Of Mans Salvation or Damnation Laid down so clearly and proved so plainly by the Scriptures that even the meanest capacity amongst Rational men may understand it to their great satisfaction AS ALSO Whether Christ died for All or Not for All With the Causes and Effects that may follow or not follow seriously considered meekly controverted and plainly proved by the Scriptures of Truth to the great satisfaction of all Rational people fearing God By HENRY HAGGAR a Servant of Christ and of the Congregations of his Saints Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure having this seal The Lord knoweth them that are his and let every one that nameth the name of Jesus Christ depart from iniquity 2 Tim. 2.19 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach because we trust in the living God who is the Saviour of all men but especially of those that believe 1 Tim. 4.10 London Printed by James Cottrel for Richard Moone at the seven stars in Paul's Church-yard neer the great North-door 1654. To the Reader Courteous Reader I Have presented thee with a small Volume in which is contained much Truth which may through the blessing of God give thee great satisfaction if thou search the Scriptures diligently and ask wisdom in faith of him who is the giver of every good and perfect gift without whose help I can promise thee no profit The matter I treat of is about Gods Predestination Election and Reprobation according to his foreknowledge and of the death of Christ for the sons of men The body and substance of all objections I have laboured to answer briefly and plainly and that both by Scripture Reason to the satisfaction of all rational men fearing God And I am conscious to my self before God that I aim at nothing more then the glory of the great God in whom we live move and have our beings and to whom we must all give an account of all our actions at the great day and in the next place at the good and benefit of all that shall read or hear the holy Scriptures and by them try these following lines They are so few that thou maist easily purchase them and if thou findest no profit in them it will be but three or four pence lost but if they prove profitable to thee it will be very well bestowed The times are now drawing nigh in which the Lord himself will appear from Heaven to take an account of every man how they have spent their talents of wisdom and understanding which he hath lent them happy will every man be that can give up his account with joy can say with Paul that they have labored to have consciences void of offence towards God towards all men and walked in all the Ordinances and Commandments of the Lord blameless the which while some men are laboring after I finde them drowned and lost in a labyrinth about Predestination Election and Reprobation of which distractions I my self have formerly had my share but now through mercy having escaped them by the help of the Lord I think it no less then my duty to inform others and to that end I have composed these few lines which new I commit to thy serious consideration desiring thee to search the Scriptures and see whether the things I have written be so or not and judge impartially and the Lord give thee understanding in all things into whose hands I commit thee to be guided here by his Counsels that afterwards thou maist be received into glory with him in whose service I desire to continue A servant of all that fear God and keep his Commandments till death Henry Haggar The Order of Causes c. THe Scripture saith Ephes 14. speaking of Gods Election that he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love c. and Peter also 1 Pet. 1.2 calleth the Saints elect according to the fore-knowledge of God the Father through Sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience c. and Paul 2 Thess 2.13 saith to the Saints that God hath from the beginning chosen them to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth whereunto he called you by our Gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ From all which places we must needs conclude that God hath chosen some to life and glory even before or from the foundation of the world because the Scripture saith it and as Christ saith in another case the Scripture cannot be broken Therefore the wisdom of all Christians is To labour to have judgements informed according to the Scriptures and that the Scriptures and their Judgements may speak both one thing and to that end Let us consider the maner of Gods speaking to the sons of men Rom. 4.17 He saith to our Father Abraham As it is written I have made thee a father of many nations before him whom he believed even God who quickneth the dead and calleth things that are not as though they were c. Observe God speaks then in that present time to Abraham saying I have made thee a Father of many Nations notwithstanding Abraham was not the Father of one Child at that time but Ishmael see Gen. 17.5 how then must we understand I have made thee a Father of many Nations Answ The Apostle telleth us plainly Rom. 4.17 that it was so before God who calleth things that are not as though they were and so he calleth Abraham the Father of many Nations though he was not as yet no not the Father of Isaac in whom his seed should be called The like may again be observeth when he called Christ a Lamb slain from the foundation of the World Rev. 13.8 yet he was not slain many thousand yeers after Therefore the same may again be considered about Gods Election from the foundation of the would thus God calleth Abraham a Father of many Nations though not so God calleth Christ a Lamb slain from the foundation of the World though not slain many thousand yeers after till he was a man in the flesh even so he calleth men elected from the foundation of the world though not elected many thousand yeers after till they are men in the flesh yet it is all so and done before God who foreseeth and knoweth all things even from eternity to eternity and therefore calleth things that are not as though they were for he seeth the beginning and end of all mens actions whether good or evil at once and knowing as well from the foundation of the world what men would do in their generations as they can know when their lives and actions are finished He therefore could as well conclude of mens salvation or damnation then as men can know themselves at the end of their days or at the day of judgement By all which it is clear that as