Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	eternal_a	faith_n	life_n	2,807	5	5.0322	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47561	The gospel minister's maintenance vindicated Wherein, a regular ministry in the churches, is first asserted, and the objections against a Gospel maintenance for ministers, answered. Also, the dignity, necessity, difficulty, use and excellency of the ministry of Christ is opened. Likewise, the nature and vveghtiness of that sacred vvork and office clearly evinc'd. Recommended to the baptized congregations, by several elders in and about the City of London.	Knollys, Hanserd, 1599?-1691.	1689 (1689)	Wing K711A; ESTC R213604	49,141	150

they Preach but now and then Answ That must be left to the Wisdom and Consideration of the Church who ought to consider the Persons Circumstances with the Call he hath to Preach c. But principally it belongs to those who are set a part to that Work whose Strength and Time is taken up about the great Affairs of Christ and the Gospel Thus we have indeavoured to discharge our Duty as touching this great Work and have we hope Answered all the material Objections any have to bring or urge against the Ministers Maintenance But since we have a little Room we shall add some brief hints further to shew the great charge and work of a true Gospel Minister and so conclude that all may see how needful a thing it is that every one take care to discharge their Duty in this matter to them whereby also the Justness and Righteousness of the Law and appointment of God herein may yet further appear to all The Great and Weighty Work of a True Gospel Minister opened THE Nature and Weightiness of the Work of the Faithful Servant of Christ together with the necessity and difficulty of it we shall consider in its parts in a brief and compendious manner First 'T is a Holy and a sublime Office he is placed in a very high Sphere and Station hence called the Ambassador of Christ What higher Dignity can be conferred on Man The greatness of the Prince whose Messengers they are sets forth their Dignity they are in Christ's stead Imployed in the great Affairs of His Spiritual Kingdom and have received Authority from Him and are also prepared and qualified for this Sacred Work by Him and indeed therefore ought to be blameless as the Stewards of God And hence it is that those who are said to receive them receive Him and those who despise them despise Him. O! with what Holy Fear Dread and Reverence ought they to enter upon this Work and Office least they should dishonour their great and glorious Prince and Heavenly Soveraign whom they represent Is it not a weighty thing to be made the Mouth of Christ 2. Nay and this is not all they are intrusted with matters of the highest moment in the World Christ having committed the Management of his Glorious Interests and great concerns he has on Earth into their Hands they are sent to treat with poor Sinners about Eternal Matters even the Eternal Life or Eternal Death and Damnation of their Precious and Immortal Souls in and about these things Ministers of the Gospel are Fellow Workers together with Christ 2. Cor. 6.1 Though but as Instruments serving him as the principal Agent and efficient Cause He trod the Wine-Press of his Fathers Wrath alone but in the Application of the purchase of Man's Salvation he admits of Fellow-workers tho the internal Work be his i. e. the effects of his Spirits upon the Souls of those whose Hearts are changed yet there is a Ministerial part which lyeth on the faithful Discharge of the Minister's Duty which consisteth partly in Exhortations Motives and Arguments by the Ear conveyed to the Soul and thus Ministers may be said to be Workers together with Christ and without him they can do nothing they are Workers but they must have Christ Work with them or they will find that they Labour in Vain But is it not think you a high and most sacred Place and Office thus to be imployed May not every one of us say who are sufficient for these things for we are unto God saith the Apostle a sweet savour of Christ in them that are saved and in them that perish 2 Cor. 2. for that God whom we serve will not Judge of us nor reward us according to our Success as a worthy Author observes but according to our Faithfulness and Diligence in his Work we give as if Paul should say a good savour by our Doctrine unto all and our Labours are a sweet savour in the Nostrils of God whatever effects they have upon the Souls of Men God accepteth of our Labours as to good Men to whom we are Instruments of Eternal Life and Salvation and though others despise the Gospel and refuse the sweet sound thereof yet as to them also we are a sweet savour in the Nostrils of God tho Israel be not saved saith the Prophet yet I shall be glorious it is not through any neglect in us as to our duty if any perish but from their own Willfulness and Rebellious Hearts To the one we are the savour of Death unto Death and to the other the savour of Life unto Life And who is sufficient for these things ver 16. As sweet smells which are to some pleasant and comfortable saith a Worthy Author yet are to others pernicious and deadly so it is with the sweet savour of the Gospel the report which we in all places make of Christ to some through their unbelief and hardness of their Heart and fondness of their Lusts proveth but the Savour of Death unto Death hardning their Hearts to their Eternal Ruine and Destruction but to such who being ordained to Eternal Life believe our Report and imbrace the Gospel and live up to the Precepts and Rule thereof our Preaching proves a Cause of Spiritual and Eternal Life to which that leadeth but O how great a work is this What Man What Angel is sufficient for it O it is a mighty VVork to Preach the Gospel as we ought to Preach it it is that by which Faith cometh How shall they believe on him of whom they have not heard And how shall they hear without a Preacher And how shall they Preach except they are sent Rom. 10.14 i. e. Unless they have an extraordinary or ordinary Mission i. e. either from God more immediately which Call is long since ceased or else by the Election of the Church and Ordination of the Elders or Presbytery this is necessary in all Regular Ministers How else can they duly or profitably in the Name and Authority of Christ preach the Word of Life Brethren you who are Christ's true Ministers being orderly called to this sacred Work your Preaching hath attendency either to save or eternally to condemn the Souls of Men and with what trembling then ought this Work to be undertaken and performed you are intrusted with Men's Souls and must be accountable for them especially such who are committed to your Charge did we consider it and duly ponder upon it in our Minds certainly we should have little else to think upon nor trouble our Heads and Hearts about it would be sure cause us to be more Serious and Laborious we are perswaded than we are VVhat shall we do if through our Neglect and Remisness in this great VVork any should die and perish in their Sins Mind what God saith in that of Ezek. 3.18 Unto his VVatchman When I say unto the wicked thou shalt surely dye and thou givest him not warning nor speakest to warn the wicked from