Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	effect_n	good_a	work_n	5,591	5	6.3844	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A66756	An improvement of imprisonment, disgrace, poverty, into real freedom, honest reputation, perdurable riches evidenced in a few crums & scraps lately found in a prisoners-basket at Newgate, and saved together, by a visitant of oppressed prisoners, for the refreshing of himself and those who are either in a worse prison or (who loathing the dainties of the flesh) hunger and thrist after righteousness / by George Wither.	Wither, George, 1588-1667.	1661 (1661)	Wing W3163; ESTC R14994	55,794	128

do no harm to me Though that which is without me wrong'd hath been And may be still all shall be safe within So long as GOD assisteth me by whom I with this confidence am arm'd become And peradventure they who think to spoil This confidence may give themselves the foile Their scandal in the first place I le assay To wipe off who suppose my losses may Provoke me or that my oppressions had Prevail'd to make me grow a little mad But they mistaken are in that surmise For to the world-ward I am so wise To be by them distempred in a mood Like those who trust in Riches more than GOD And by what I am like to undergoe It will be proved whether it be so I am not so in love as men conceive With that whereof the World can me bereave As to ingage for such poor Interests My quiet in this life by those contests Which I adventure on if I saw nought That much more worth such hazards I had thought And this mind if my Actions did not shew In former times those will that shall ensue When more undoubtedly those things appear Which of my Writings the chief motives were And will shew whether I did ought intend To drive on an ignoble or self-end It may he known by what was heretofore Divulg'd that nothing now befalls me more Then I expected That I did foresee What lately seiz'd on other men and me That having been here in the Worlds great School So long a time I was not so much Fool As not to know how Friends and means to make In seasonable time to save my stake And mend my Game if I unto that end Had play'd it which most other men intend Or if I thought those men who look on me With most contempt were better then they be I knew as well as any how to Fawn And flatter what to give and what to Pawn For my advantage if I could have thought That worth my seeking for which most men sought But though I find it an imperfect Light Whereby at first I walk'd it gave me sight Of much more then the World believ'd I saw And kept me of mine own heart so in awe That notwithstanding I did for a season Oft stagger to and fro 'twixt Faith and Reason And stumbled otherwhile into those things Which Ruine unless Grace prevention brings I in the main pursu'd a Good Design Not I confess by any power of mine And by some Symptoms at the last perceiv'd That till of my Estate I was bereav'd My work would neither well be carryed on When that time came wherein it should be done Nor take so good effect as it would then Upon my Self or upon other men For which cause when I saw it must be so Without reluctancy I let all go And without nourishing a secret spleen Against their persons who my foes have been This future things much better will display Then all which at this present I can say As also that they who from me of late Have torn unmercifully my Estate By far worse motives thereunto were led Then those which me inclin'd to what I did Loss to prevent or to regain what 's lost I did adventure no more pains or cost Then Reason warranted and obligations Which bound me to have care of my Relations Or might then by pursuing of that course Assure me how much better'd or grown worse Men by those Judgements and those Mercies were Which GOD had variously dispensed here And having thereby learned what GOd meant I with my losses was as well content As is a Christian when by Turks pursu'd Who overpower him by their multitude He wracks his Vessell on a friendly shore Where he hath Life and Freedom though no more Why should I angry be to see that gone Which if I had not lost had me undone Which also will undo them who now have it And if good heed he take not him that gave it Or which will be restor'd again to me If for GOD's Glory and my good it be Why should I be displeas'd to be bereft Of that whose loss hath an assurance left Of better things Of that which whilst possest Increast my troubles and disturb'd my rest Of that which I must shortly leave though mine And know not when the same I must resign Whether it to their Weal or Woe shall tend To whom when I am dead it will descend These things considered all wise men know That nor these nor my former Musings flow From discontentments or from wrath that springs From loss of inconsiderable things And Wisemens good esteems if keep I may A rush I care not what fools think or say On whom the less impression it will make The more I rationally write or speak But that whereby most blame to me may come And which will probably be charged home Is an Impeachment for a hainous thing That some are pleas'd to call a Lybelling Against the COMMONS which if proved true I le ask no favour For I think none due And if it be an unjust imputation I for my sufferings claim a Reparation Expecting which ought not to be refus'd That what is call'd a Lybel be produc'd To open view and sight of ev'ry one Who may concerned be in what is done And that none may usurp a Priviledge Thereon to passe a Sentence as my Judge Who shall not read or hear the same throughout For Solomon hath freed it so from doubt That to averr I shall not be a fear'd He that doth Censure what he never heard Deserveth shame And I shall rather laugh And Jeer thereat then either grieve or chafe Because at worst I then a Doome shall have Much like as if a Fool had call'd me Knave If left to Publick view my Poem be And finisht as intended was by me No worse construction thereof can be made Then this that I have call'd a Spade a Spade And means devis'd whereby men may appear Unto themselves what others know they are By fained speakers I have onely said What was to me by Common-fame convey'd And murmur'd in most places to worse ends Then that wheteto my harmless Poem tends And if I may presume the Truth to tell I am rewarded ill for doing well For thereby I not onely turn'd aside That general reproach which was apply'd To all the House of Commons and alone To them confin'd it who brought blame thereon But likewise without personally blaming Or marking any forth to their defaming Have sought to bring it to their Cognisance Who might thereby the Publick weal advance And who if it prov'd worthy Approbation Might useful make it for the Reformation Of that which else will have a Cousequence More hurtful then my Innocent-Offence For though by publication I had done What might have seem'd a fault and now is none The Generality but little more Had thereby known then what most knew before When to worse ends and more apparant wrongs 'T was tost upon the Rackets of mens Tongues

that which their own hearts devis'd Although they by experiments had seen What of their Policies the fruits have been These were of old examples Saul thereby Deprived was of Life and Soveraignty King Solomon by something like that Knack To please his Wives in honour suff'red Wrack So Jeroboam though GOD promis'd him And to his seed a lasting Diadem By that State-policy whereby he sought To keep the Throne the loss thereof was wrought Jehu regardless of GOD's promises The same course following had the like success High places Altars Groves and Priests of Baal Were chief occasions of King Ahabs fall The bringing of the Gods of Edom home In hope that they a strengthning might become Unto his Kingdom was the overthrow Of Amaziah and of many moe State-Policy made Judah's King contemn The Prophets Counsel when Jerusalem Was first destroyed and the Jews inslaved Who might then from that Bondage have been saved And they who truly sought their preservation Reputed were as now Foes to their Nation Disloyal to their King seiz'd as supitious And punished as Factious or Seditious State-Policy caus'd breaking of that Oath For which GOD was with Zedekiah wroth And punished in such a Signal wise That he lost both his Kingdom and his Eyes And Politick enlarging of Possessions Or Power by loading Nations with Oppressions To further State-Designs until it wracks Their Loyalties and then their patience cracks Hath been and will be in all times and Nations The cause of Wars Rebellions desolations And changing Governments But now ere long When human Policy hath made most strong The MISTRIS of Terrestrial Potentates By Counsel Strength and by Confederates Combin'd as they intend and when their might Hath raised Expectation to the height Then She and They shall be unto each other A mutual Plague and be destroy'd together With ev'ry Person Family and Nation Which is a Member of that Corporation And then those PEDLERS who are now so jolly Shall packing up the Tokens of their folly Run to seek out where they their heads may hide From that whereby they shall be terrifi'd Let him that hath an ear to hear this hear it Let proud men tremble Let the mighty fear it And let the Meek rejoyce For GOD will turn Their Sorrows into Gladness who now Mourn It is not only now of much behoof But necessary too that sharp Reproof Advice and Admonition should be given To all Estates and Princes under Heaven Yea and particularly be apply'd By some and in some cases when aside They from the way of safety stray so far That to apparant danger nigh they are How ere they take it or what ever shall Thereby to their Premomters befall Because by States if wickedly inclin'd The greatest Plagues do fall upon mankind This made Elia's to become so bold When Ahab of his wickedness he told Unto his face and when to like intent A Writing he to King Jehoram sent This to reprove King Asa without dread The SEER Hanani encouraged This made the Prophet Samuel so to School King Saul that in effect he call'd him Fool And John the Baptist speak as plainly too Of Herod as now they term'd Quakers do To some with us This also did induce King David who observed the abuse Of Courts and Councils to cry out on them To this effect how long will ye condemn The poor and Innocent how long oppress The man afflicted and the Fatherless How long will ye unrighteously neglect The cause that 's just for personal respect Do Justice and vouchsafe compassion more Hereafter then ye have done heretofore For if it be not to you be it known You walk in darkness you have overthrown The worlds Foundations wilfully inforce All things to move out of their proper course And that though GOD himself hath call'd you Gods A difference making with no little odds Twixt you and common men yet die you shall Like them yea die such Death's as did befall To wicked Princes who unto their place Went down with greatest horror and disgrace Although such rough Reprooss on silken Ears Grate harshly and are thought by Flatterers To sound like Blasphemy This in old times The Language was in which great Princes crimes Rebuked were This was the usual mode Till slavish men fear'd mortals more then GOD. Thus David spake unto the Congregations Of mighty men Thus through all Generations To them should Truth be told as need requir'd By those who to that purpose are inspir'd Republicks Kings and Councils Objects are Of such Reproofs and so reproved were And how inrag'd soever they are grown GOD will be King his pleasure hee 'l make known By whom soever he pleases that their crimes May now as well as in preceding times Reproved be For States and private men Are every whit as guilty now as then The same at this time or the like Omissions The like Exorbitances and Oppressions In this our Generation may be found And more and more are likely to abound If not prevented for the things we should We neither do nor suffer those who would And if we can but force men to professe As we do though against their Consciences We think we have secur'd them to our side Whereas when such mens Truths come to be try'd Who are for fear or for advantage won To act what is against their Conscience done They being both to GOD and Men unjust In them there 's of all other the least trust For how long or to whom or unto what Will they be true who Conscience violate Doubtless without a speedy Reformation It wholly will corrupt this Generation Fit us for nothing but for what is Evil And to be serviceable to the Devil As therefore 't is unfit that ev'ry one Should States reprove 't is as unfit that none Perform that Work and brutish to conceive That GOD the Worlds last and worst Age should leave Without Premonitors or that the dayes Most wicked grown requir'd not stranger wayes Of Admonition then have been in use When of GOD's Grace there was much less abuse For Providence that nothing doth omit Which either Work or Season may befit Although but little heed thereof be took Hath lately to this Generation spoke By many Prodigies Each Element Hath very plainly Preached GOD's intent Yea many Dispensations which to us Seem to be wicked or ridiculous Have somewhat in them which relates unto That which we have done or else ought to do Or have Omitted or else to be Signs Of that whereto this later Age declines And that such things as those in these last Ages Should be we have Authentical Presages But Visions Revelations Prophesies Or such like now the common-voice decries As at an end which I confesse is true As they concern revealing Doctrines new To saving Faith relating yet of that Which may concern the Temporarie State Of CHRIST'S Church Militant or his Elect In Actings or in Suff'rings to direct Or of unfolding Prophesies to them Which were seal'd up till an appointed time

him that we love his whole Creation Nought hating but what 's his abomination We will not then permit Humane Tradition With his known will to stand in competition Lay bonds on them whom he from Bondage frees Charge him with Ordinances and Decrees Which he did never make but forged were By him who layes for ev'ry Soul a snare Or by his Instruments whose Merchandizes And Pomp are much advanc'd by those devises We will not when he graciously invites To penitence reject him with despights And foes implacable to them appear Who zealous of their Weal and Safety are These are the Well-springs of those many errors Distractions miseries and Pannick Terrours Which are among us That which chiefly here Begetteth troubles and augmenteth fear Is want of such a Fear and such a Love As may become effectual to improve Those Judgements these Mercies which our eyes Have seen whereby though we see GOD tryes These Nations to this day nor Prince nor Peer Nor Priest nor People doth as yet appear So mindful as they ought to be of that Which was for or against them done of late Nor see I any Fruit which thence proceeds Save Thorns Brambles Thistles tares or weeds But they who stop their Ears and shut their Eyes Against those Wonders and those Prodigies Which have been lately sent to startle them From that security wherein they Dream And they who are not much displeas'd alone With Publication of what God hath done But also with his Word shall see and hear Those things ere long with trembling with fear Which will not be concealed but befall So openly as to be known to all These have the causes been that Christendom Is lately an Acheldama become For these are those things which advance the works Of Antichrist and make way for the Turks Let us repent therefore whilst we have space Lest Fields of Blood be turned to Golgotha's Let us in this our Visitation day Give ear unto GOD's Voice whilst yet we may Not like Bruit Beasts pursuing one another But lincking fast in Charity together Be reconcil'd to GOD with Loving-awe For that sums up the Gospel and the Law Do this and if of ought your fearful be Let all that you can fear fall upon me A short Excuse rendering some Reasons why this Prisoner makes no Adresses for his Release to great Persons for their Favour in his Cause I Am inform'd by men of good report That there are Noble Pers'nages in Court Who hate Injustice and are of their Tribe Who love not baseness flattery or a Bribe And that should I my self to these Adresse I might perhaps obtain a quick release 'T is possible But I may much indanger Their Quiet and am now grown such a stranger To Courtship that I cannot Complement Or act effectually to that intent Nor think it prudence were I mov'd that way To seek a Needle in a Trusse of Hay 'T is not my Principle though other while I have been over-ruled to beguile My understanding that course to endeavour And having found it unsucesful ever Resolve now be it for my gain or loss To signifie my Cause to them in grosse In open Courts to whom it doth belong To be my Judges of what 's right or wrong For if impartially they will not hear My cause at large and do me Justice there I will not be oblig'd to any one To do for private ends what should be done For Justice-sake because where one man shall Be so corrupt it may corrupt them all And in each Case by turns for unjust ends They may Bribe one another for their Friends As heretofore they did and as they may Hereafter whatsoever I do or say Not much esteem of any thing I make Which other men can either give or take Nor Safety Wealth or Honour pleaseth me But that which will inseparable be From me and which I may attain unto And also keep whether men will or no. Vertue 's the Fountain whence true honour springs Not Popes Grand Segniors Emperors or Kings For what they give to make men Honourable To me appears to be so dispicable That though most men do their chief darling make it If they would give it me I would not take it What is there likely for me to be done By those who such-like Baubles dote upon I never hitherto a kindness had By any Friend which I my self have made But by such onely as God had inclin'd Without a by-respect in any kind To do me Justice or to shew compassion Mov'd by their own Heroick inclination And to that end GOD often heretofore Hath from among meer strangers rais'd me more True Friends at need my cause to undertake Then I deserved or had pow'r to make And as it me contented much the better So thereby was their honour made the greater Most seek the Judge but I believe his word Who said The Judgement cometh from the LORD And unto me it seems an indirect Aspersion or a Symptom of suspect A Judge in private to preoccupate And him by Friends or Gifts to captivate For in great Counsels men should nothing do In love to Friends or hatred to a Foe I have observed that Judicial Courts Whether they be of good or bad reports Or whether what is actually there done Seem just or to the wrong of any one Are guided by a Spirit which directs To what is alwayes Righteous in respects Unto GOD's Justice though perhaps it may A Humane Righteousness infringe some way Or though they to whom Judgement is refer'd Through Ignorance or Wickedness have err'd I le therefore make no Friend nor fear a Foe But when the COMMONS call me I will go To hear their Charge for which I have begun To suffer er'e 't is known what I have done That least I break or die before the time In which I must make payment for my crime If crime it prove they rather overweight May lay then that which is a Dram too light For punishments are usually well paid Though other debts till Dooms Day are delay'd And Innocence is oft pursued further Upon suspect then real Theft or Murther In that for which unheard some precondemn My Person hither I TO GOD and them Whom it may most concern Appeals have made Whereon I ought a Tryal to have had Before I suff'red My Appeal prefer'd To GOD hath betwixt him and me been heard Within his Court of Conscience in my heart And there am quit of what may on his part Be brought against me for what I have writ He sees it though the world concealeth it And read it must be by the Commons too Ev'n quite throughout if Justice they will do Before they censure it Needless it were If just and conscientious men they are To Court them to their Duties and so strong No Charm of mine can be whereby a wrong May be prevented if to take that ill They be resolv'd which flowed from Good-will At all aduenture wholly to the Laws And to