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
A79831	Emanuel, or, God with us. Wherein is set forth Englands late great victory over the Scots armie, in a battle at Dunbar, Septemb. 3. 1650. And by many particulars of Gods acting and appearing then for us, it is certaine (and so much is clearly proved) that our armies marching into Scotland, and the wars undertaken and prosecuted against that nation, to be upon grounds of justice and necessity, as the Parliament of England hath declared. Also here is shewed, how grosly the Covenant is abus'd, and what an idoll it is now made. With the fraud and falshood of the Scots, and their kings hypocrisie and dissimulation. Moreover such objections are answered, as seeme to have any thing in them, against the point here asserted. / By John Canne. The first part, published by authority.	Canne, John, d. 1667?	1650 (1650)	Wing C439; Thomason E614_11; ESTC R206534	45,110	52

England No more then Balaam helped Balak by his Enchantments and Sorceries he is so far from having any thoughts to reward them as that he is upon the point to cast them off and to cloth the naked Germaine againe with Red and Black as making use no more of the Blew for he sees the Covenant so ominous and unhappy as no designe or plot ever prospers that goes forth under the name of it As if God had spoken of it Cursed shalt thou be in the City and cursed shalt thou be in the Field cursed shalt thou be when thou commest in and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out And thus much of Balak and Balaam or the pararell between them and the Enemies of this Common-wealth ‖ Isa 44.11 in acting their Designes or cause alike Let them all be gathered together let them stand up yet they shall feare and be ashamed together I should now speake something in Answer to such objections as might be made against the thing here stood for something I shall write although a larger discourse the Reader shall have in the Second part Object 1. Solomon sayth a Eccl. 9.1 2 Judicium carnis de administratione dei erga personas ipsas Junius in Loc. Est autem hic descrip●io elegantissima totius judicj carnalis ibid. Sententia carnis de administratione dej in mundo Gartw in Loc. No man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before him All things come alike to all there is one event to the wicked and to the righteous Hence it follows that nothing can be concluded from Successes Victories or outward deliverances as if thereby it might be proved that God should owne and justifie one mans cause more then another Answ 1. It is a great Question whither these are the words of Solomon some say not but the Atheist or carnall reason is here brought in denying Gods providence and framing an Objection thus If things here below were ordered and administred by a just and wise God some distinction then would be seene between men and men in order to their condition and events of things but wicked men and such whose cause is sinfull and unjust prosper and have as great successe as the righteous and those whose cause is right and good Ergo. An Argument like Catos after Pompey was beaten by Caesar and the same in effect which the Scots and English Presbyters now maintaine to darken the glory of God shining forth in his works But 2. Admit another interpretation neverthelesse by these words All things come alike to all c. It cannot be meant as if nothing could be gathered from Gods dispensations in the World or that Events and successes prove nothing for such a sence is a plaine contradiction unto other Scriptures b Psal 34.15.16 The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous his face is against them that doe evill to cut off the remembrance of them from the Earth When he saved Noah and his Family from drowning and left the rest to perish in the great waters delivered Lot out of Sodome and gave up the Sodomites to be burnt with fire and brimstone brought Israel safe through the red Sea and left the Aegyptians there to be overwhelmed and destroyed Here all things are not alike neither is there one event to the wicked and to the righteous Besides by the deliverance and good successe which the Lord gave Noah Lot and the Israelites it did appeare and had there been nothing else that same thing was enough to prove their way and cause to be better then the others It is therefore most true as one saith * Jermin upon Eccles 9.3 p. 312. As God beholdeth men who are not alike so he beholdeth them in a manner not alike And much to the same purpose are Salvians words ‖ Intelligis generalem quidem esse in omnes domini vis●onem sed meritorum fieri disparilitate di●● versum boni quippe aspi●iun tur ut conserventur mali ut disperdantur Salvian de Gub dej l. 2. Thou understandest the sight of God to be generall upon all but to be made different by diversity of their deserts for the good are beheld that they may be preserved the wicked that they may be destroyed so he 3. Should the place be understood that nothing can be proved by Events and Successes there would then little use many times be made of Gods pow er justice goodnesse or any cause to ascribe glory and praise unto him for his great and marvelous works for suppose he have saved a people by a speciall and mighty hand and destroyed their enemies in an unwonted and extraordinary sort and all this after both have solemnly and often appealed unto Heaven that the Lord would judge the cause betwixt them yet must not any man beholding these things say that God in all this either gave any signe or token to the Conquerors of approving their Action or that they subdued had not a just and righteous cause Now what place is there here if such Events and successes speake nothing to sing the Song of Moses Great and marvellous are thy works O Lord God Almighty just and true are thy ways thou King of Saints As for the grounds of the War between them it is possible many may be ignorant thereof therefore if they may neither say nor think of the cause by the events be they whatsoever here then they must either hold their peace or offer the Sacrifice of fools It is a rule in Aristotle Ex vero semper sequitur verum but this Doctrine that Events prove nothing cannot be Sound because such an absurdity and untruth follows thereupon 4. Had these men been living who teach that nothing can be concluded from successe or event when the ‖ † There is a● much now in a solemn appealing unto God as there was in casting a Lot so that if men being at difference doe appeale and that before the World unto God that he should judge the cause between them No question but the Lord now upon this appealing to him will doe as formerly he did in the Lot give a most righteous sentence by his ordering hand of providence And therefore it seems to me that had a Scot and others of his mind bin found out by a Lot as Achan was they would not have allow'd it or stood to it but have said One event to all Lot fell to Achan Jonathan Jonas and others they could easily have evaded it had it been their case as for example they would have pleaded all things come alike to all there is one event to the wicked and to the righteous And therefore whatsoever the successe or event be of the lot nothing thence can be inferred as to prove a man guilty or that any distinction or difference should be put betweene person and person Cause and Cause But what cannot men doe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by wit and art as to make

the works of God and his Administrations sought out of all that have pleasure therein to be of no effect and to teach men so to doe when and as they please I have read of Antonius when he angled some dived under water put fishes upon his hook the which he cast up at his pleasure one after another hee that would learn to wrest the Scripture needs not seeke any further Counsel then here for if he cast in his hooke where these Divers are hee may be sure they will fit him with fish to the purpose a subtle device and trick whereby to mock God and destroy his owne soule 5. Sometime the event or successe of a thing is so far from being Null or standing as as a Cipher as the equity and truth of the Cause is thereby confirmed and no other way Put a staffe in the water and it will seeme crooked not that it is so but we cannot see it right for the water Even so a Cause howsoever right and just yet through the cunning of men by the water of their calumniation and slander it may seem otherwise and by many otherwise believed As on the contrary a filthy dunghill may be covered with snow a viper hid under a rose an a 2 Sam. 15.8.11 an unrighteous Cause so coloured and cloak'd with such titles of Truth piety Religion Gods worship c. as some deceiv'd thereby may think the same to be just and good When Jannes and Jambres two Aegyptian Sorcerers withstood Moses and five hundred false Prophets of Baal contended with Elias Here was Cause against Cause Plea against Plea as it is now between us and the Scots But how was the truth here discovered and made to appeare and those satisfied or convinced which were concern'd therein Truly by the Event or Suc●●sse that is he Lord making them Conquerours and giving them the victory who had the just and rightfull Cause That ●aul by his calumniations lyes flatteries and other deceitfull practises had so clouded David's Cause as many thought that his carriage dealing toward his Father in law was not good and that Saul had some reason and ground for what he did so much is very cleare by many passages and expressions of David in the Psalms But the Successe and Event cleared David and justified his Cause as how to wit by the many wonderfull and seasonable deliverances which David had by the Lords mighty appearing and working salvation for him with an high hand On the contrary is not destruction to the wicked Job 31.3 and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity that Divine Justice that followed Saul all along in life and death was such an Event as did prove with a witnesse what for a man he was and how un●● righteously he had dealt with David It is true and I know it to be so that the Parliament of Englands Cause in reference to the publique Enemies of this Common-wealth by what name or title soever hath beene proved sufficiently to be a Just Cause even th● Cause of GOD both by the law of God of Nature and Nations As for instance * See a booke Intituled the golden Rule or Justice advanced The putting to death the late KING the laying aside the House of LORDS the Constitution of England a COMMON-WEALTH the present Parliament a true REPRESENTATIVE and Supreame Authority of the Nation The marching of our Army into Scotland upon grounds of Justice and Necessity All these things have been proved over and over neverthelesse some envying the good we have because it came not to us by them Others perceiving that their private profits and interests must goe downe and lye in the dust if publique Good be set up and prosper hereupon they consult together and are Confederates and what can be done by fraud or falshood or any way they seeke to attempt Yea such are the depths of Satan and mystery of iniquity now working to deceive every where and every one as that the just and righteous Cause of the Parliament is questioned by some denyed by others and all this through the deceit and craft of such men who either are discontented because others under God did the good work and not they or who finde themselves now shut out from the * Act 10.25 〈…〉 know th●● by this 〈◊〉 we have 〈◊〉 wealth A 〈◊〉 reasō●●●●e●ore 〈◊〉 should 〈…〉 ●ccupation g●infull trade formerly they had and unwarranble ways to deceive and 〈◊〉 the people in soule purse and person But the Lord whose wayes and judgements are all ●●●●teous he I say who justifies the righteous and condemns 〈◊〉 wicked seeing them to cast such a cloud over his Cause and to make it contemptible before men by aspe●●ng 〈◊〉 with Treason Vsurpation Oppression Fraud c. comes forth in behalfe of it and as hee did for Moses against the Magicians for Elias against Baals Prophets and for David against Saul so doth hee for us or rather for his great name gives such such glorious Successes and most remarkable Events to this Cause every where that unlesse men did wilfully shut their eyes or made themselves blind through malice pride covetousnesse c. they might see * Quid faciun video nec me ignorantia veri de●ipiet sed amor as clearly as they doe the sunne shining at noone day to be a RIGHTEOUS AND GOOD CAUSE the which the Lord hath doth and will still defend Object 2. The Israelites in two Battles were overcome by the Benjamites but they had a good Cause the which the others had not Therefore Successes or Events in Warre prove nothing in respect of the Cause whether it be just or unjust Answ 1. Some mens tongues are like a mill that is loose hung keepes a mighty crackling but grinds no corne This example of the Benjamites I heare is much talked of and as David said of Goliah's sword there is none like that So some say there is none to this it cannot be answered But how farre this is from that rule simpliciter ad simpliciter inconsistent to the matter they bring it for and to what they apply it will appeare by putting it into forme for thus it must be if it be any thing If GOD sometimes for reasons known to himselfe suffer wicked men to prosper in a bad Cause as to have a Victory once or twice being fewer in number then their Enemies It will necessarily follow that what soever assistance he gives a people in Battle what Victory and Deliverance soever they have in what manner or way soever he appeares for them and against their Enemies Nothing by the Successe or Event can be gathered concerning the justice of the Cause on whose side it is A simple Reader without helpe of Schoole-learning may easily see the vanity and absurdity of such reasoning Suppose I would argue thus there is not any light that shewes a distinction or difference betweene day and night and to prove this assertion I

instance that neither the Moon-light Star-light or Candle-light doth it or can doe it But thou wilt say by the shining light of the Sunne the day is known from the night Canst thou finde out the depth and subtlety of this argument looke over then upon the other it 's the very same in Mood and Figure because that Light or Appearance of God which is like Moon-light proves not the day or Cause therefore the greater light will not doe it not the sunne not the highest and most glorious shinings of God 2. That the Benjamites had an ill Cause and yet in Battle overthrew the Israelites two severall times we grant which might be to humble the one and harden the other but here the main and essentiall part to make the comparison hold between this Example and the thing whereto they apply it is altogether wanting We do not say that Victories and Successes barely considered prove a good Cause but this we say such may be the Actings and Appearances of God for a People so wonderfull may be their Victories and Deliverances as thereby it doth infallibly appeare the LORD his owning and justifying their Cause For the Victories which the Benjamites had there is nothing appeares in them of any speciall divine presence no remarkeable foot-steps of Gods walking in their Camp not one thing in the History witnessing a singular and transcendent love of God towards them Whereas our Victories all along in England Ireland and Scotland have had most apparent evidences of Gods especiall presence with us we have seen his Goings in our Army before us and our salvation hath been wrought for us by an extraordinary powerfull hand and therefore unlesse they shew us that the LORD was with the Benjamites in the same manner hee was with us * where doe they read that Israel Benjamin before they sought did both parties solemnly appeal to God and after they had referred the Cause betweē them to Gods tribunall seat Israel lost the Battle and gave them the like victory in the circumstances and severall particulars which we had over the Scots In mentioning this example as they shew their great perversnesse against the works of God and implacable malice to us so it only serves and we cannot imagine for what other use and end they bring it then to darken the glory of God and deceive simple people Object 3. Many have been great Conquerours as the Caldeans Assyrians Romanes howbeit wicked men and their Cause sinfull and unjust Ergo Victories and Successes in War prove nothing Answ That this Objection may be capable of answer there are 3. things to be cleared 1. Whether men howsoever wicked may not have just cause to fight and therein the Lord to take their part 2. How it doth appear that when their Cause was unjust that the Lord then gave them good successe 3. But if so then where is it recorded that wicked men in sinfull and unrighteous Causes have had the assistance and help of GOD in as full and large manner and way as we have had I have now done for this time and as I am upon closing I remember how the Clown served Aristides who giving his voyce to the banishing of Aristides and being asked of him unknown * Plutarch in Apo. whether he knew him against whom he had given his voyce answered that he knew him not but it was trouble to him to heare him termed a just man It may well be that some who know mee not will give their voyce against me for what I have now done but they must be such then as are troubled to hear of justice of an honourable and righteous Cause This just Cause I have indeed here pleaded and in the Second Part by the good hand of God assisting me will plead it more to the satisfaction of all such as love the present Government and desire the prosperity and peace of this Common-wealth FINIS