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
A88417	England faithfully watcht with, in her wounds: or, Christ as a father sitting up with his children in their swooning state: which is the summe of severall lecvtures painfully preached upon Colossians 1. / By Nicho. Lockyer, M.A. Published according to order.	Lockyer, Nicholas, 1611-1685.	1646 (1646)	Wing L2794; Thomason E321_1; ESTC R200573	432,053	511

above earth and above heaven above visible and above invisible things above thrones and dominions above every being as the being thereof Soveraignty is peculiar state Christ must have glory in the highest that salutation was but due which they gave when Christ came into Jerusalem Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord peace in heaven and glory in the highest Christ set highest in the soul is set no higher then he should be the king is but set in his throne men fancie that they thus set up Christ in their thoughts but they do but fancy it I doubt I will give you some things to demonstrate where this is reall that the soul doth indeed as the Apostle here look upon Christ as supreme and above all Where Christ is indeed looked upon as above all there is fear soveraignty holds forth majesty divine majesty indeed in sight is humbling you may see an instance of this in Job who thought he had as right an apprehension of Gods soveraignty as any man but God reasons with him about this point and Job fails Canst thou do this and canst thou do that saith God and holds out his soveraignty over all before him Then Job answered and said I know that thou canst do every thing and no thought can be held from thee Job 42.12 Job did but fancie this point before that he apprehended God as over all but now he comes indeed to behold it his heart shakes and he draws doctrine upon doctrine from it I know that he which is over all can do what ever he will he made me of the dust with his word and he can turn me to dust with his word I cannot hide a fault from him he that made the eare shall he not heare if I speak sin he that made the eye shall he not see I do sin and he that made the heart shall not he discern if I think sinne The soul is full of strong argument with its self when it doth indeed behold God as the maker of all his soveraignty Where Christ is indeed looked upon as above all there is he esteemed One set above all carries all soveraignty holds forth glory and this makes love If I see Christ indeed a chief corner-stone he is precious if I see him the sonne of the highest I give glory in the highest to him As things are in height so in honour honour carries glory and glory carries the heart the one seen and the other is more seen and swayes glory is a very taking thing The Lord is high above all nations and his glory is above the heavens If I indeed behold the person of God above the earth and above the heaven I see him in glory above all these and if I see him in glory above all these I am taken with him above all Most vaunt of light and yet have nothing in love such apprehension is fancy and not reall apprehension Can I indeed see the sunne and not be taken with it Soveraigntie holds forth remedie soveraignty is soveraigne the soul in the midst of all tossings knows where to rest persons very high oppose me yet there are higher then the highest that is the quieting argument If thou seest the oppression of the poore and violent perverting of judgement in the Province marvell not at it for he that is higher then the highest regardeth and there be higher then they The soveraignty of Christ indeed beheld takes off disquiet though powers opposing be never so great the soul can argue with its fears and find out shoulders for his burthens as long as God is above all He that made all is above all and will maintain his universall soveraignty the highest shall know they have one above them and here the oppressed rest A man that indeed looks upon God as a Creatour rests his soul upon him as a faithfull Creatour that is as one that will regard the beings which he hath made although various and so many Great troubles make great fears and great fears make great shifts and sinnes What a fearfull time and what a sinfull time is this Princes are but men and yet humane soveraignty makes us do any thing Fearfull souls you do but fancie Christs soveraignty that he is King of kings and the Creatour of all you have no apprehension of what you speak you fear God and offer to Baal as the expression is that is you set man above Christ what ever you say Some of you may possibly see your sinne by this point that you are not so noble spirited as you dreamt that you have but low conception of Christ You that are proud in spirit carnall in affection and fearfull of men have a base and low opinion of Christ and Christ will require it As long as God is supream a brave spirit flincheth not a step but others do like themselves which will be their shame and judgement He judgeth those that are high saith brave Job to his friends which carried themselves high Job 21.22 he saw his opposites high yet this daunted him not a jot because he beheld one higher Judge not light of this point in hand you cannot heare one more usefull in this trying time A man fears nothing that sees Christ above all neither what men can say nor do a man fears where no fear is that sees not this Also now behold my witnesse is in heaven and my record is on high my friends scorn me but mine eye poureth out tears unto God Job 16.19 20. Men think of me thus and thus but it troubles me not a jot I look at one that is above all men that made all and knows all and will judge all to him I referre all all cannot daunt one in good that sees God above all Low souls look upon him that is high if you would become high as high as Christ and heaven Coloss 1.16 For by him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth visible and invisible whether they he thrones or dominions or principalities or powers c. HEaven and earth and the Authour and end of both are wrapt up in this verse and what we shall say of either for the good of your precious souls depends wholly upon the blessing of Christ Christs house is stately but of few causes efficient and finall first by him and secondly for him were all things created Christs house is great but of few rooms Heaven and Earth For by him all things were created that are in Heaven and that are in Earth Christs family is but of few kinds visible and invisible From one cause to another from the efficient to the finall from one kind to another from visible to invisible from one room to another from Earth to Heaven is a Christians journey quite home and lies all along in this text for us to travell Christ is considered under much variety of notion and still sweet under all as a redeemer as the image of God as

in husband and sometime in children in houses and in lands but never in Heaven when it setteth about this 't is tired presently As the body so the soul goeth downward with ease but up hill with much pains-taking you must be full of complaints to Christ to keep your souls in his bosome Finally as idlenesse so wilfulnesse destroyes divine contemplation Pride puffeth up and swelld souls go more to hell then to Heaven like-spirits bosome The heart swelld thoughts are all prest and taken up to make vent for this that there is scarce a thought to be spared to ascend to Christ When the heart is high and haughty Christ and Truth are under foot and thoughts never bosome themselves in that which the heart tramples upon Every thing that crosseth will vex a wilfull man though it be truth and vexation and contemplation are as opposite as Saul and David as Heaven and hell I look upon some men and they are puft up will leads them and not truth I smite my breast and say Ah Lord where do these souls dwell In hell certainly and not in Heaven Errour is the fruit of pride the soul goeth away from God and bosomes it self in a lie as it groweth heady and high minded Citizens look about you I see an ignorant idle proud spirit amongst you Christ may be much in such mens tongues but surely he is but little in their hearts The excellency of Christ you do not indeed dwell upon nor find sweetnesse in nor cannot as long as these evils are in your hearts Let us all know our dutie and do it all Christ is to be considered so did David so did Paul and so must we consider him I will meditate of all thy works and talk of all thy doings Psal 77. what Christ hath done as a Redeemer and what as a Creatour what he hath done with his finger what with his hand what with his spirit and what with his bloud we must meditate on all his works Divine things are still unfruitfull as unthought of when we seek after Christ then he brings us into his chambers the efficacy of all that Christ is cometh in by contemplation Every thing in Christ is usefull the very leaves of the tree of Life are healing consider Christ under any notion in which the Scripture holds him forth as a Redeemer or but as a Creatour as the image of God as the first-born and the like or under any other more remote consideration and they are all powerfull to take off the heart from earth and send it to Heaven Christs action and Christs person yea and Christs garments all he said and all he did and all he wore very virtuall and instructing Know your duty and know your felicity you have now but a few things to think upon this world is bleeding and dying apace he that giveth all being me thinks every one should now much think upon when all creatures cease to be so fast A mans tranquility is permanent when his thoughts dwell upon Christ let friends means towns kingdomes die and yet his Heaven lives because his heart is lodged in one that can die no more that ever lives Misery is double because losse of the creature doth not reduce thoughts to Christ the end of affliction not accomplished you will be afflicted seven times more till your prodigall souls return home to their father and leave feeding on husks Coloss 1.16 For by him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth visible and invisible whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers c. I Have given you the respect which this verse bears to those which precede and I am now to give out to you as I am able what it hath in it self If you read this verse you will find it to consider creation in reference to two parts and two causes two parts heaven and earth visible and invisible two causes efficient and finall the first is in the beginning of the verse and the second is mentioned in the latter end the one saith all things were made by him and the other saith that all things were made for him Christs method pleaseth me best I will therefore take terms as they lie and suck as much out of them as I can for my self and you For by him were all things c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in him were all things created saith the originall Christs method and Christs expression pleaseth me best God doth create and new-create in Christ. God doth all things respecting the creature in his Son the Father works in the Sonne the Sonne in the Spirit and the Spirit in your spirits The order of divine action is admirable the beauty of God in his out-goings is held out to us Christ is the wisdome of the Father all that God doth he doth in wisdome The Lord by wisdome hath founded the earth and by understanding hath established the heavens Prov. 3.19 a like place to this you have Jeremy 10.12 He hath made the earth by his power he hath established the world by his wisdome and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion Divine action is made with delight you have many prime agents but God hath but one you look more at abilitie to your work then suitablenesse to your spirits in the agents you imploy but God doth not you can beare discontent in the agent so his work be well done but God cannot he so moveth as to have delight in both not onely in the work done but in the agent that doth it and therefore doth all in Christ I was daily his delight rejoycing alwayes before him saith Christ speaking of God when in the creation of all things Prov. 8. Successe The comfort of the godly is in this point all divine action going forth in Christ we may conclude successe successefulnesse to their good Christ is mighty in strength and wisdome our agents are unsuccessefull for want of power and for want of wisdome but the agent in and by whom God acts is mighty in both God is mighty in strength and wisdome he preserveth not the life of the wicked but giveth right to the poore Job 36.5 Where great humane power is it is Elihu his speech to Job men think to evade the bent and force of divine action and to shun what God intends as they shun what man intends to get out of his reach as out of ours but no such matter for all his action shall acquire his intention and no man shall evade it for he works in him who is mighty in strength and wisdome God intended a world did he misse the accomplishment of it Godly souls you look much in and by whom the king acts such and such skilfull men and mighty men and shake and fear but look in and by whom God acts and comfort your selves Hath the king such an agent as Christ is for strength and wisdome Full successe All divine action going forth in

whither it will if you fight against it you cannot kill it but you will kill your souls Rebellious strugglings are soul-stabbings carry things by force against all divine resistance and you run head-long to Hell Out of self is the way into the kingdome of Christ pleasure must be nothing parts nothing nothingnesse is the way to all Blessed are the poore in spirit for theirs is the kingdome we speak of Lay your spirits naked before Christ and let him further strip them as he will and then cloath them and order them as he will and this is the way to a kingdome it is something painfull to get into Christs kingdome but when you are once into it you would not be out of it again for all the world Coloss 1.13 Dear sonne or sonne of love CHrists honour and thy foundation of it are the two things which take up this latter clause his honour is great to wit a kingdome the rule of all his favour is great and this raisd him so high he is a dear sonne a sonne of love saith the originall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The father loveth the sonne and gave all things into his hand Joh. 2.35 and Joh. 5.20 The father loveth the sonne and sheweth him all things that himself doth c. Love gives forth preferment to all Gods children not any sonne but riseth this way not any adopted sonne no not the naturall sonne he hath a kingdome because a sonne of love Love is the common doore by which all favours go forth to all children some children are higher then others in dignity but none by their wits or any thing else but all from love Wits make their way too much with men and 't is all the friends which some have to rise by but they procure no preferment with God if not beloved let a man be as crafty as the devil he will never be rais'd by God God flatters none whom he cannot love he tells them so in all he doth every thing works to throw them down not to raise them up as every thing tends to the advancement of them that are beloved We do make distinction of talents some bigger some lesser but love hands them out all to children God gives to all his children with his own hand adopted sonnes and the naturall sonne have a kingdome as dear children as sonnes of love God gives orderly his heart first and then his hand persons are indeared and then have all countrey city the whole kingdome Isaac could not blesse at a distance Come near my sonne c. God doth not cast great blessings he knows not upon whom he takes persons very near him relates them and indears them and then advanceth them The Lord did not set his love upon you and choose you because ye are more in number c. Gods order in advancing is here set forth he first setteth his love upon persons and then chooseth them forth for advancement according to that love The Lord did not set his love upon you and choose you c. Love singles out persons and then singles out preferments suitably she culls out and then crowns so naturall and so adopted sonnes rise to the kingdome There are kings in wrath in a temporall sense but none so in a spirituall all spirituall kings are kings in love and from love set up and kept up Kings of a little spot of earth and the king of all the earth all one in the originall of their preferment all children of love therefore children of honour and greatnesse and carry away all from all the world beside The heart of God is the foot-stool up to the throne for all God gives purely nothing without him ingages him to any no not to the naturall sonne You are given unto and therefore give but God gives so to none Who hath given unto him first did the naturall sonne or do the adopted sonnes All his children have what they have because beloved love onely is the wombe that brought forth sonnes and a kingdome for them Designe makes you stir but God cannot be more happy then he is the advancing of love is all his designe in all he raises he makes persons great to make great his love no sonne should have had a kingdome neither adopted sonne nor naturall sonne had it not been to make great his love Love is the efficient and finall cause of all Gods actions towards all his children the naturall sonne and the adopted sonne are made great of love and for love set up by love that love may be set up by them and for no other designe Gods gives solacingly that is so as to delight himself in what he gives so as to delight the giver as well as those that are given to all given in love makes a heaven to God and to man to the giver and to the receiver The motion of father and children each to other is by the same spirit children move towards their father in love and that 's the heaven of their way the advancement and kingdome which they give God in their hearts is in love Father moves to all his children in love and that 's the heaven of his way the fruit of the spirit is love so the reward of the spirit is love the one speaketh that which we give to God and that is love and the other speaketh that which God gives to us and that is love Gods way within and without to all his is in a rapture he makes a heaven to himself in making one for us All motions between father and children make love-meetings we obey him in love and he crowns us in love adopted sonnes and the naturall sonne all Gods children move in love to their father and their father meets them in love and imbraceth them so did Christ advance his father and so did his father advance him as a dear sonne Vse You see Gods generall way of raising persons he first loves and then advances not a person in the world doth God preferre out of this method Many men have a mind too much to a heaven here and hereafter but no mind to look after the love of God wrath secretly consumes these in their blind strugglings to be happy Is hatred or love fastened upon you so will you rise or fall struggle and strive and do what you can Is despised Christ a sonne of God a sonne of love If he be of that seed he will rise and will flourish into a kingdome notwithstanding all the devils in hell oppose Is Mordecai of the beloved seed then he will rise let Haman struggle his heart out Is Haman an Agagite of the cursed Amalekites then he will fall and all the favour in the world cannot keep him up I am grieved to see what preposterous wayes men take for preferment the love of this man and that man is made out after and not the love of God as the onely medium to rise by I view the wayes of men and sigh in secret