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	sin_n	wage_n	2,391	5	11.9240	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85988	A soveraign antidote against sinful errors, the epidemical plague of these latter dayes. Extracted out of divine records, the dispensatory of Christianity: for the prevention and cure of our spiritual distempers. By Claudius Gilbert, B.D. and minister of the Gospel at Limrick in Ireland.	Gilbert, Claudius, d. 1696?	1658 (1658)	Wing G704; Thomason E939_4; ESTC R202212	152,383	185

Latitude according to the variation of its aggravations As diseases do vary in their gradual recess from health being either simple or compound either more or less malignant hurtfull Thus Errors admit of many adjuncts which render them more or less sinful and injurious In every Error there is a sinfulness an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a defect of Truth privative a disposition to falshood positive As in every disease there is an evil deflection from the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or sound disposition of the body so in Error from that of the mind But this deflection is not alike in all but is cloathed with numerical differences and personal aggravations Some Errors are more and others less rooted Some are more single and others complicate Some are more submissively held and others more pertinaciously some are kept close others published some have more of the Will and Affections attending them others less some are more and others less pernicious some are more quiet others more turbulent As the malignity of infectious diseases admits of a great Latitude as the variety of venomous Creatures whether Plants Minerals or Sensitives is multipliciously diversified by the variations of their clime intentions of degrees c. some being cold as Hemlock others hot as Euphorbium some in the first or second others in the third or fourth degree some working more slowly others more quickly some by their Tail as the Scorpion some by their Teeth as the Viper and Rattle-snake some by their Tongue others by their Excrements some more sensibly as a mad Dog some more insensibly as the Asp So do Errors appear under variety of offensive qualities and adjuncts 5. The Cause of Error also as of every disease is multipliciously observable especially in a three-fold Division of Evident Antecedent and Continent 1. An Evident Cause among Physicians is much from Externals if not altogether whereby a Distemper is occasioned in the body So in mans soul this sickness of Error may be occasioned by external Causes as by infection ill company bad books various Temptations c. 2. An Antecedent Cause of sickness bodily is from some thing within whether vapor humor or Spirit distempering any part disabling it from its proper Action Thus the foregoing Cause of this spiritual disease lies in some flatuous humorous or spiritual evil that disorders the mind from its right discerning of the Truth causing it to deviate into the way of falshood Habitual Corruption within flowing from Adams first sin which is ours by Imputation attended with the want of original Righteousness and often called original sin because the womb of all sin in us is the chief cause from which all other evils flow that breed and increase these sad distempers This Corruption acts variously in the way of Pride and Self-seeking Security and Worldliness c. 3. The Continent Cause of a corporal distemper is that immediate thing which cherishes it being cherished from the remote cause whether corrupt blood wind water gravel c. So the continent Cause of Error is that peculiar Corruption whether Ignorance or Pride self-conceitedness or worldliness c. which sticks close to the mind to breed and cherish its several dyscrasies and distempers Thence such clouding of mens Iudgements and disorders in their Reasonings hence perverse Disputings of men that are reprobate concerning the Faith as Ambition and Pride carried Simon and Menander Nestorius and Macedonius away Discontent and Envy prevailed with Arrius Covetousness carried on Demetrius and his Comrads There is a Complication of such causes in most 6. The Effects of Error as of every corporal disease are likewise variously numerous according to the variations of its numerical Idea of its specifical nature of its descent gradations causes This spiritual sickness is a Tendency to further sin eternal Death as every bodily sickness is the beginning of corporal death The wages of sin is death sin deserves it it binds ever it leads to it it fits for it it begins it As much as there is of sinfulness so much is there of death attending it Corporal civil spiritual and Eternal Grace indeed doth restrain and limit it pardons and subdues it purges out gradually and at last exterminates all sin in Gods Elect yet it changes not the Nature or desert of sin though it chances the sinners nature and relation Providence limits and over-rules this sinfulness also in the Reprobate As the wise Physitian corrects his Opium in a Confection so doth God correct sin remaining in his Children As the same Physitian appoints fit means against infection to all indefinitely so doth our Soveraign Physician by shewing the dangerous effects of Error As the effects of Poisons are very various yet always sad so are sin and sorrrw inseparable Twins Error was set forth to the Life by that Leprosiy of the head which had a peculiar mark of Ignominy Infection and danger It s like to those poisonous Minerals and Vegetables which strike first ai the head and thence at all other parts It s a spiritual Plague which cannot but be mischievous still though not in all alike All sorts of men in all relations are made to feel the sad Consequents thereof It s a fruitfull womb a breeding dung hill a poisoned spring Lerna malorum It engages and leads insensibly to more evil notional and practical It disgraces God opposes his Truth distempers mens souls endangers their families blasts their Profession stains their Repute scandalizes many ensnares divers troubles Church and State and complies with Satan in his various designes by nursing of his brood This Age gives sad demonstations thereof As Cephalical diseases are on many accounts the most dangerous of all in the Body so are these heady distempers in the soul which are easily communicated to all the vital inferior parts The poison of some works in a stupifying way as Opium Henbane Hemlock c. others venom acts by an enraging quality as Elaterium Euphorbium Scammony The effect of some is more speedily mortal as in the Touches of a Basilisk and Asp of the Viper and rattle Snake if not very timely look'd to others are more slow and less dangerous as in the operations of various simples appears The Parallel of spiritual Poisons therewith is easily drawn by an observing Christian 7. The Symptoms or Signs of Error as of Corporal deseases are of divers sorts some more Common others more Proper 1. The common signs are such as attend divers distempers in a general way as enfeebling of the parts change of complexion Indiposition to action c. Thus Errors have their Common signs wherein many of them agree appearing much in their sad effects against Gods Honor and mans good though often under far Colors like that Indian Apple in the Western Islands which seems beautifull and yet is rank poison 2. There are proper Tokens and characteristical 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and notes of each

Mountebanks speak you fair and big distrust them the more beware of self conceitedness be not wise in your own eyes dread the smallest Beginnings of evil in opinion affection or converse The sums of this arsnick rats-bane and mercury will distemper you before you be aware Avoid the first step to avoid all the rest Beware of the brink if you fear the Precipice if you keep ill diet and feed on venom wonder not at your wasting and decayes Remember Ephesus who sadly miscarried by neglect of this care Make sure of Christ upon his own terms and keep close to him The noble Bereans shewed their Nobleness in trying daily the Doctrine of Paul by the Scripture-rule duly examined take heed what you hear and how you hear it so Christ directs you bring all things still to the Lords Touch-stone to his Rule and standard to his Ballance and Test to move you consider That Doct. 3. All Christians even the best need still warning to keep themselves from Error and Apostacy SAith the Text keep your selves well that you may be kept be very active that you may not suffer This voice answers the Hebrew Hithpael keep your selves with all delight and diligence let every power of soul and body be kept on the watch All Christians need this yea the very best They must take warning from every part Heaven and Earth do warn and must be hearkened to Christ warns in conscience by his Spirits motions in his Word and Providence by the same Spirit His motions are regular and harmonious still they are seasonable and proportionable He warns by friends and sometimes by foes in adversity and prosperiry Satans motions are irregular unseasonable and unproportionable They are unscriptural in the scope and substance though often disguised with Scripture expressions sadly perverted All do need warning though but few take it The best find most need and benefit thereof Peter warns the Christian Hebrews here though well grounded and settled in the Truth Warning never hurts it cannot but do good if it be well taken The best retain much sin and weakness still They cannot but feel their sinfull Reliques To prevent Relapses and remove much evil warning must be given The Physitians warnings are of singular use to all sorts of Patients None stands so fast but he still stands on slippery ground The world is a great Ice very dangerous The enemy is subtile and numerous vigilant and active We cannot but find many lurking fiends in our own bosoms our hearts are deceitfull and desperately wicked We stand no longer then we keep our hold God indeed keeps his unto Salvation and therefore bids them keep themselves He appoints the means as well as the end As he keeps them by his own power so must they keep close to him by faith They shall never fall totally nor finally but they may often fall partially and dreadfully If left to themselves they would kill themselves They must therefore be faithfully warned Objection But what needs all this if the Elects salvation be sure Answer 1. All are not elect that seem to be such many are called but few are chosen 2. Though Salvation be sure to the Elect yet must it be assured to them Warnings must be taken that they may obtain such an assurance They may have the Grace without the comfort All diligence is therefore required to make their Calling and Election sure 3. Though Salvation be sure to the Elect yet must it be wrought out by them with fear and trembling because its God that works in them both to will and to do of his good Pleasure He will be sought and found in every one of his waies that he may still meet them with a Blessing 4. Though Salvation be sure to the Elect yet because they are men mixed among men he deals with them by men after the manner of men Rational creatures must act rationally and so be acted with He changes not the substance but their qualities in renewing them They are so moved that they are enabled to move themselves in following him Though the Elect cannot perish utterly yet they may fall very sinfully Warnings well taken are effectual means to prevent much shame sorrow and loss God warns his children that they may be taught good manners Conditional Threats are intended to prevent the mischief treatned and are effectually blessed to Gods Elect. 6. The assurance of the Elect lies not in themselves as it flows not from themselves The Fathers Purpose and the Sons purchase the Spirits indwelling and the Covenant-Promises made by the Father in his Son through his Spirit to them are their efficacious Grounds In subserviency thereto all due means are therefore needed and blessed warnings among the rest God neither promises nor commands in vain His word is still sure as all ages have found Psal 93. 5. 7. There is a peculiar vertue attending the word and means of Grace to all Gods Elect in due time and order That quickning power raises a Lazarus leaving others dead destitute thereof That saving Grace of Heaven betters the good plants under every shoure when the weeds grow worse That discriminating Influence from the Sun of Righteousness makes the flowers fragrant though is occasions the dung-hill to stink Thereby is Gods word made a savour of Life to some whilst it proves a savour of death to others Who makes a man to differ from another What hath he that he hath not received Must not the prime and ultimate cause resolve into Gods Will Do not you else subject Gods Will to mans There can be surely but one Independant either God or man which is to be chosen let reason it self judge by scripture-Light Consect 1. SE the usefulness of a Gospel-Ministry Christs Officers are given especially to that end the Churches watch-men are called to this great work He sets them apart by an orderly call to be his Heraulds and Ambassadors his criers and publishers The Father sets them in the Son gives them to the Holy Ghost makes them overseers in the Lords flock They are especially charged to warn the unruly to prevent Error and Revolt Therefore did Christ receive and give so many royal Coronation-gifts upon his triumphant assention for the perfecting of the Saints c. that we hence forth migh be no more Children tossed too and fro with every wind of Doctrine by the craftiness of Seducers c. The best need warning Christs sheep must attend their Shepheards who are deputed to office by that grand Shepheard of their Souls Such must be set a part thereto from age to age as Timothy was charged by Paul to chuse and charge such who should be able to instruct others all indeed are bound in their several ●alces to instruct each other charitatively according to their abilities and opportunities But