Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	efficient_a	end_n	final_a	2,172	5	9.9792	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A39696	Two treatises the first of fear, from Isa. 8, v. 12, 13, and part of the 14 : the second, The righteous man's refuge in the evil day, from Isaiah 26, verse 20 / by John Flavell.	Flavel, John, 1630?-1691.	1682 (1682)	Wing F1204; ESTC R177117	170,738	308

fury of the oppressour 3. Behold its opening unexpected and unlikely refuges and securities for the Saints in their distresses Isa. 16. 4. Let mine out-casts dwell with thee Moab he thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler for the extortioner is at an end the spoiler ceaseth the oppressors are consumed out of the land Rev. 12. 16. the earth helped the woman and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the floud which the Dragon cast out of his mouth 4. Behold it frustrating all the designs of our enemies against us Isa. 54. 17. no weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn Behold I have created the Smith Isa. 54. 16. q. d. He that created the Smith can order as he pleaseth the weapon made by him hence our enemies are not masters of their own designs O then depend upon this power of God for it is your security there is a twofold dependence the one Natural and necessary the other Elective 1. Natural dependance so all do and must depend upon him 2. Elective and voluntary and so we all ought to depend upon him and for your encouragement take this Scripture Psal. 9. 9 10. The Lord also wil● be a refuge for the oppressed a refuge in times of trou●ble and they that know thy name will put their tru●● in thee for thou Lord hast not forsaken them that seek thee And thus of the first Attribute of God prepared for the safety of his people in times of trouble CHAP. VII Opening that glorious Attribute of Divine Wisdom as a second Chamber of security to the Saints in difficult times SECT I. THe next Chamber of Divine Protection into which I shall lead you is the Infinite Wisdom of God I call it the next because I so find it placed in Scripture Iob 36. 5. He is mighty in power and wisdom Dan. 2. 20. Wisdom and might are his This Attribute may be fitly called the Council Chamber of Heaven where all things are contrived in deepest wisdom which are afterwards wrought in the world by power Eph. 1. 11. He worketh all things after the counsel of his own will Counsel in the Creature implies weakness and defect we are not able at one thought to fathom the depth of a business and therefore must deliberate and spend many thoughts about it and when we have spent all our own thoughts we are oft times at a loss and must borrow help and ask counsel of others but in God it notes the perfection of his understanding for as those acts of the creature which are the results of de●●beration and counsel are the height and top of all rational contrivement so in its accommodation to God it notes the excellent results of his infinite and most perfect understanding Now this wisdom of God is to be considered either Absolutely or Relatively 1. Absolutely in it self and so it is That whereby he most perfectly and exactly knows himself and all things without himself ordering and disposing them in the most convenient manner to the glory of his own name Wisdom comprehends two things 1. Knowledge of the natures of things which in the creature is called Science 2. Knowledge how to govern order and dispose them which in the Creature is called Prudence these things in man are but faint shadows of that which is in God in the most Absolute perfection he fully knows himself for his understanding is infinite Psal. 147. 5. And the thoughts he thinks towards us Ier. 29. 11. and as he perfectly understands himself so likewise all things that are without himself Act. 15. 18. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world Together with all the secret designs thoughts and purposes which lie hid from all others in the inmost recesses of mens hearts Psal. 139. 2. And as he perfectly knows all things so he fully understands how to govern and direct them to the best end even the exalting of his own praise Psal. 104. 24. Rom. 11. 36. for of him and through him and to him are all things Of him as the efficient cause through him as the conserving cause and to him as the final cause And in this wise disposition of all things he hath a gracious respect to the good of his chosen Rom. 8. 28. All things shall work together for good to them that love God More particularly the wisdom of God is to be considered by us in its excellent properties amongst which these four following are eminently conspicuous as it is the 1. Original 2. Essential 3. Perfect and 4. Only wisdom 1. The wisdom of God is the Original Wisdom from which all the Wisdom found in Angels or men is derived and unto that fountain we are directed to go for supplies of Wisdom Iam. 1. 5. If any man lack wisdom let him ask it of God There is indeed a spirit in man but it is the inspiration of the Almighty that giveth understanding Iob 32. 8. The natural faculty is ours but the illumination thereof is Gods the understanding of the Creature is as the Dial which signifies nothing till the Sun shine upon it 2. Gods Wisdom is Essential Wisdom Wisdom in the Creature is but a quality separable from the subject but in God it is his Nature his very Essence he can as soon cease to be God as to be most wise 3. The Wisdom of God is perfect wisdom full of it self and exclusive of its contrary the wisest of men are not wise at all times the greatest wits are not without some mixture of madness it is an high attainment in humane wisdom to understand our own weakness and folly the deepest heads are but shallows but the wisdom of God is an unsearchable deph Rom. 11. 33. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God how unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out 4. To conclude The wisdom of God is the only wisdom there is no wisdom without him none against him he is the only wise God Iude v. 25. 2. The Wisdom of God must be considered Relatively and that in a double respect 1. To his Promises 2. To his Providencs SECT II. LEt us view it in its relation to the Promises where you shall find it made over by God to his people for divers excellent uses and purposes in times of distress and danger As 1. It is made over to them in Promises for their direction and guidance when they know not what to do or which way to take So Psal. 25. 9. The meek will he guide in judgment and the meek will he teach his way And Isa. 58. 11. The Lord shall guide thee continually And Psal. 32. 8. I will guide thee with mine eye And with this the Psalmist encourages himself Psal. 73. 24. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel and afterwards receive me to glory O what an invaluable mercy is this we