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	good_a	life_n	4,162	5	5.3241	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A09386	A C[hristian] and [plain]e treatise of the manner and order of predestination and of the largenes of Gods grace. First written in Latine by that reuerend and faithfull seruant of God, Master William Perkins, late preacher of the word in Cambridge. And carefully translated into English by Francis Cacot, and Thomas Tuke.; De prædestinationis modo et ordine. English	Perkins, William, 1558-1602.; Cacot, Francis.; Tuke, Thomas, d. 1657.	1606 (1606)	STC 19683; ESTC S103581	116,285	285

fourthly that the Reprobate may bee conuerted and saued 〈◊〉 ly that Christ dyed for the reprobates and that it is the purpose and will of God simply that all men without exception should be saued Some do subiect Election vnto Gods eternall decree but not Reprobation Others putting no difference betweene Reprobation and Damnation do thinke as God doth passe by some men of his meere pleasure that he doth in like sort damne them of his meere will and pleasure whereas indeed sinne is the cause why men are damned Many of the Romish synagogue do teach that men are elected for their foreseene faith and meritorious works And it is the common opinion of all Papists that the Elect cannot be certaine and sure of their election vnlesse it be extraordinarily by some speciall reuelation and singular priuiledge Many also there are which would not haue this doctrine publickly taught by the Minister but without good reason For first as the Minister must not search the secrets of God which are not reuealed so he must not suppresse or hide that which is reuealed For things Reuealed belong to Deu. 29. 29. vs and to our children for euer as Moses teacheth Therefore as we may not search into those things which God will haue kept secret so we may in no wise be wholly ignorant of those things which he hath reuealed vnto vs. But this doctrine of Predestination is very plentifully and perspicuously reuealed and deliuered vnto vs in the Scriptures Secondly as the word of God omitteth nothing which is needefull to be knowne touching the saluation of our soules so wee must know that it teacheth nothing but that which is profitable and worthy to be learned of all For that speach of Paul to the Romanes is true of all the writings of the Prophets and Apostles also VVhatsoeuer things were written were written for Rom. 15. 4 our learning But the word of God doth teach this doctrine of Election and Reiection as is euident by many places therein therefore it is necessary and fit to be taught of the Minister and to be learned of the people Thirdly it is the duetie of all faithfull Ministers to teach all the counsell of God as Paul sayth Act. 20. 27. hee did but Predestination is a part of Gods counsell therefore it ought to bee deliuered of vs vnto the people of God alwayes remembring that wee applie our selues to your capacities and teach it orderly as occasion serueth keeping our selues in all sobrietie within the limits of the Word Fourthly Christ commaundeth the Gospell to be preached Mark 10. 15. to euery creature but this Doctrine belongeth to the Gospell and therefore is to bee preached vnto the vnlearned as to the learned Lastly all Ministers are bound to keepe back nothing which is profitable but to shew Act. 20 20. it as Paul did But the doctrine of Predestination is very profitable For first it letteth vs see the omnisciencie the omnipotencie the soueraignetie and immutable nature of God Secondly it serueth to increase and confirme our faith and hope concerning the eternall felicitie of our soules and bodyes seeing it is not founded vpon our selues or vpon any sandie foundation but vpon the constant and vnchangeable good pleasure of God Thirdly it teacheth vs not to wonder at the small number of beleeuers and at the hardnesse and blindnesse of many mens hearts and minds For it sheweth that God hath elected but a fewe and hath Math. 20. 16. passed by many leauing them vnto themselues and deliuering them vp into the hands of the Diuell Fourthly it serueth to strengthen and comfort vs in all afflictions and to arme vs against all the fiery darts of the Diuell and the fury of his lims For it sheweth that nothing can separate vs frō the loue of God and that all things Rom. 8. 28 39. worke for the best vnto them that loue God euen vnto them that are called of his purpose All stormes and waues of woe shall passe ouer and in the end we shall rest in the quiet hauen of euerlasting happinesse Fiftly this doctrine stayeth vs from taking offence at the Apostacy of many professors for it sheweth vs that all is not gold which glisters and that some stand for a time and some stand fast for euer If they had been of vs sayth Iohn they should haue continued with vs. Sixtly it teacheth 〈◊〉 Iohn 2. 19. vs to acknowledge Gods singular goodnesse towards vs who of his meere good will toward vs hath elected vs vnto eternall life and the fruition of immortall glory in the heauens Seuenthly it serueth to teach vs humility and to beate downe the pride of our harts For it sheweth that Gods grace and not our goodnesse is the originary cause of our welfare and saluation The cause which mooued God to choose vs rather then many others was not our foreseene preparations or meritoriou● works but his owne loue and free good will toward vs. Lastly to 〈◊〉 sundry vses which might be made of this one doctrine it teacheth vs to ascribe the glory of our saluation to God alone and to walke thankefully before him manifesting the gratitude of our hearts by our religious righteous and sober liues To conclude some are so far out of loue with this doctrine that they can scarce with patience indure to heare it spoken of And many licencious and prophane persons do very wickedly abuse it to take vnto themselues liberty of lasci 〈◊〉 us and loose 〈◊〉 For say they if I be ordeyned to 〈◊〉 ed I cannot be damned 〈◊〉 if damnation be my destiny I can neuer be saued And therefore it skilleth not how I liue for if God haue appointed me to be saued I shall be saued though I do iust nothing and it he haue determined that I shall be damned I shall neuer escape it though I liue neuer so well For Gods decree is constant his appointment shall stand whosoeuer sayth nay to it But these men forget that God doth predestinate men as well to vse the meanes as to atteine vnto the end As he hath appointed a man to liue so he hath appoynted the same man to vse those meanes which preserue life as meate drinke rest recreation labour phisicke Euen so as hee hath appoynted a man to be saued hee hath appoynted him to vse the meanes and to walke in the way of saluation as to bele●ue and therefore the scripture saith So many as were ordeined to euerlasting life beleeued Act. 13 48. And Paul shew 〈◊〉 that those God doth call 〈◊〉 bee hath predestinated and iustifieth those 〈◊〉 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth effectually call before he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 them And in his Epistle to the Ephesians he teacheth that as God hath chosen vs vnto life eternall so he hath Ephes. 1. 4. also chosen vs in Christ that we should be holy and without blame before him in loue and that as hee hath ordeyned vs vnto saluation so hee hath created vs

sanctifie Any but Those who are cleansed and dead to sinne Redemption washing away and sanctification are partakers together The Application is when as Christ is giuen vnto vs of God the Father by the Spirit in the lawfull vse of the Word and Sacraments and is receiued of vs by the instrument of a true faith And Christ being giuen is made vnto vs of God wisdome righteousnes sanctification and redemption 1. Cor. 1. 30. The accomplishment of the application is Glorification whereby God shal be all in all by Christ in all the elect By this which hath been said it is apparent that the decree of election is the cause and foundation of all good giftes and workes in men From hence is true faith Act. 13. 48. As many as were ordained vnto eternall life beleeued And calling Rom. 8. whom he predestinated them he called And who are called of his purpose Hence Adoption Eph. 1. predestinated to Adoption And sanctification Eph. 1. He hath chosen vs that we should be holie and blamelesse Hence good workes Ephes. 2. Which he hath prepared that we should walke in them And perseuerance Ioh. 6. All that the Father giueth me shall come vnto me and 〈◊〉 6. 37. 39 him that commeth to me I cast not away Againe And this is the Fathers will that of all which he hath giuen me I should lose nothing 2. Tim. 2. 19. The foundation of God remaineth sure and hath this seale the Lord know●te who are his Excellent is that saying of Augustine He did choose no man worthie but by chusing he made him worthie Againe Cont. Iul. Pelag. lib. 5. cap. 3. In Psal. 41. It is the grace of God whereby he doth elect me not because any worthines is in me but because it doth vouchsafe to make me worthie Againe And did not they also afterwa●ds chuse him and preferre him before all the good things of this life but they did chuse him because they were chosen they were not chosen because they chused him And thus much of the decree of election The decree of reprobation is a worke of Gods prouidence whereby he hath decreed to passe by certaine men in regard of supernaturall grace for the manifestation of his iustice and wrath in their due destruction or it is his will whereby he suffreth some man to fall into sinne and inflicteth the punishment of condemnation for sinne It hath in like manner two actes The first is the purpose to forsake some men and to make knowen his iustice in them This act hath a finall cause but no impulsiue cause out of God For it ariseth of Gods meere good pleasure no respect had of good or euill in the creature For the will of God is the cause of causes therfore we must make our stand in it and out of or beyond it no reason must be sought for yea indeed there is nothing beyond it Moreouer euery man as Paul Rom. 9. 21. auerreth is vnto God as a lumpe of clay in the potters hand and therefore God according to his supreme authoritie doth make vessels of wrath he doth not find them made But hee should not make them but find them made if we say that God willed in his eternall counsell to passe by men only as they are sinners and not as they are men for causes most iust though vnknowen to vs. Thirdly if God did reiect men because he foresaw that they would reiect him reprobatiō should not depend vpon God but vpon men themselues And this is all one as if a man should say that God foresaw that some would chuse him and others refuse him And the contempt of the Gospell doth not befall infants which die out of the couenant of the Gospell Fourthly Paul who was a most skilful defender of Gods iustice doth exclude all workes in the first place out of this wonderfull election of one from another made in the counsell of God Not by worke● saith he and therefore excludeth all respect of sinne then Rom. 9. 11. afterwards being rauished with admiration he quieteth himselfe in the alone will of God Who hath resisted his will But O man who art thou which pleadest against Rom. 9. 19. 20. Rom. 11. 33 God Againe O the deepenes of the riches both of the wisedome and knowledge of God how vnsearchable are his iudgments and his waies past finding out To conclude if it be demaunded why God created this world and no more we must haue recourse 〈◊〉 ●he meere will of God and why must we not doe so if it be demaunded why God electeth this man and forsaketh that man or another Author de vec gent. A part of mankinde is redeemed a part perisheth But who can tell why God doth not pity them and pitieth these the reason of the distinction is vnknowen but the distinction or separation it selfe is not knowen The second act is the ordaining of them to punishment or due destruction This ordination in respect of the diuerse consideration thereof may be distinguished and so it is either simple or comparatiue The simple ordination is that wherby this man suppose Peter or Iohn is ordained to punishment And this ordination is of the most iust will of God yet not without respect of originall and actuall sinnes For as men are actually damned for sin so God hath decreed to damne them for the same sinne Yet notwithstanding sin is not the cause of the decree of reprobation but in regard of order it goeth before in Gods fore-knowledge not that former but this latter act The ordination which stands in comparison is that whereby one man and not another and this man rather then that being in the like condition is ordeined to punishment This serueth to shew the libertie of Gods will in the dispensation of supernaturall benefits For in that God chuseth this man and not that it declareth the libertie and very great perfection of God and therefore vnder the name of an housholder he challengeth the same vnto himselfe when he saith May I not do● Ma● 20. 15. with my own what I list And verely though God destroy and condemne all those whom he doth forsake yet should he not be iniust For we our selues in the daily killing and slaughtering of beasts will not be counted vniust neither indeed are we and yet in comparison of God we are not so much worth as a flie is in respect of vs. If it be lawfull for thee to receine in or to thrust out any out of thine house because thou wilt it were a point of desperate boldnes to take the same right from God in his house The cause of this comparatiue ordination is the sole wil of God yea euen without respect of any sinne at all So Augustine God deliuereth no man but of his free mercy and condemneth no man but m●st righteously Now why he deliuereth this man rather then that let him search who can diue into the great depth of his iudgements Againe why is

7. Greg. 14 Innoc. 9. Clemon 8 nine or tenne Monsters her mortall enemies though their slaues continually plotted and practised against her and thought the Prince of the aire thundered against her in his * Pius 5. Greg. 13. Sixtus 〈◊〉 Lieutenants as it were from the clouds with curses and cursed Excommunications Lately also he hath vouchsafed an admirable deliuerance to his Anointed our gracious King and to vs all from a most barbarous and horrible confusion And of this kinde of fauour and fauourable dealing vsed of the Lord we may reade plentifully in Diuine and Ecciesiasticall stories And no doubt the wicked haue sometimes fared the better for the Electsake as Laban did Gen. 30. 27. Gen. 39. 5. Act. 27. 24. Gen. 18. 32. Iob. 22. ●0 for Iacob and Potiphar for Ioseph and those which say led in that dangerous voyage to Rome for Paul who was in their companie God told Abraham that if there were but ten righteous persons in Sodom hee would not destroy it for their sakes Eliphaez saith that the innocent shall deliuer the Iland meaning that God doth often deliuer a whole countrey from perill for the iust m●ns sake For his Elect GOD hath altered the course of nature He diuided the waters Priuil 6. of the red sea that his people might passe dry-shod through it He caused the Sunne Exo. 14. 22. I●sh 10. 12. to stay and the Moone to stand still till his people had auenged themselues vpon their enemies For Gideons sake he caused the dew to fall only vpon a fleece of wooll and kept it from falling vpon the ground Iud. 8. 38 40. and afterwards at his request he let it fall on the earth and kept the fleece drie For Hezekiah his sake he brought the shadow in the dyall of Ahaz ten degrees Isa. 38. 8 backward by the which degrees the Sunne was gone downe GOD doth often preserue his chosen Priuil 7. children from pe●●is then when he doth persecute the wicked Many sorowes Psal. 32. 10. 〈◊〉 Dauid shall be fall the wicked but he that trusteth in the Lord shall be compassed of mercy Noah was deliuered when the wicked were drowned The Israelites Gen. 19. 16. passed whē the Egiptians perished Whē Sodo● was burned Lot was brought foorth When Ierico was sacked Raha● was saued When Abab was slaine Iebosaph●t escaped When Ierusalem was to be destroyed the Lord commanded Ezek. 9. 4. the godly to be brāded that they might be preserued Moreouer when the Lord deliuereth his own people then he doth sometimes thrust the wicked into their dangers The righteous sayth Salomon Pr●● 11. 8. escapeth out of trouble and the wicked shall come in his stead And as he doth vsually crosse their cursed counsels so he doth often times curse theyr malicious and bloudie enterprises and cracks them vpō their owne crownes and breakes them vpon their own backs Haman was hanged on that galowes which he himselfe Hest. 7. 9 had prepared for Mordecai whom the King did greatly aduance Daniel was brought●om the Lions and his accusers Dan. 6. 23 24. being cast into the den amongst them were deuoured of them God preserued Shadrak Meshak Abednego in the hot Dan 3. 22. fiery furnace and ●lew the men with the flame of the fire that brought them forth to be burned The Lord deliuered good Ieh●shaphat and caused his enemies that 2. Chron. 20. 23. came against him to help forward their owne destruction The Lord hath deliuered vs frō their barbarous and blood-thirsty Catholiques and hath for the honour of his mercy pulled the rotten house of their diuelish muentions vpon their owne heads His name be praysed for euer and euer Amen Christ hath altered the nature of affsictions Priuil 8. vnto his elect and faithfull members For whereas they are cast vpon the wicked as punishments due vnto them for their sinnes wherein they liue they are inflicted vpon the Godly by Psal. 8● 31 32. Hab. 12. 6. God as a mercifull Father that desireth the amendment of his children Because our hearts are drossy the Lord as our most skilfull founder casteth vs into the furnace of afflictions that he might refine vs. Because we are subiect to transgresse and goe astray the Lord imparketh vs within the pales of aduersitie and hedgeth vs about with the thorny quick-set of the crosse that we might be kept in some compasse Dauid sayth Psa. 119 67. Before I was afflicted I went astray but now I keepe thy word Because wee are by nature vntoward to that which is good the Lord vseth the crosse as a Schoolemaster to instruct vs. Therefore Dauid sayth It is good for me that I haue beene afflicted that I may learne Psa. 11● 71. thy Statutes Because wee are by nature inclined to the loue of the world the Lord as our Nurse doth weane vs from the loue thereof by affliction as the Mother or Nurse driueth her Child from the brest by rubbing it with some bitter thing To be briefe the Lord by afflictions ex 〈◊〉 eth our faith and patience ●●a●neth vs humility and teacheth 〈◊〉 to esteeme of prosperity By aff 〈◊〉 s bee maketh vs to take experience or his loue and of those graces which he hath giuen vs. By afflictions he learneth vs to be mercifull vnto the miserable for the sense of sicknes and the feeling of pouerty through Gods blessing is a notable meanes to make vs pity the poore and the sick The Apostle sayth Our light affl●ction which is but for 2 Cor. 4. 17. a moment worketh vnto vs a far most excellent and an eternall weight of glory though not as a cause procuring it for wee are Ephes. 2. 8. Rom. 6. 23. saued by grace and euerlasting life is the free gift of God in Christ yet as a way and meanes directing and leading vs thereto Christ hath two Crownes the one of thornes the other of glory hee that will be honoured with the last must bee humbled and tryed with the first Thus it is euident that God sheweth himselfe a Father in afflicting his Children But as for the Reprobate his erosses are curses and his afflictions are fore-runners of further iudgements inflicted and sent of God as a seuere and dreadfull Iudge God hath altered the nature of death Priuil 9. vnto all the elect For Christ by his death hath been the death of death and the death of sinne which is the sting and strength of death First of all God by death teacheth vs to detest sinne and to acknowledge the seu 〈◊〉 ty and sharpnes of his anger against it Secondly by death he deliuereth vs vtterly from the body of sinne Till death we attaine not vnto perfection and at death sinne is wholy con 〈◊〉 ed. When we dye sinne dyeth For sinne is so nething like ●uy which falleth downe and dyeth when the tree on which it hanged is cu● d 〈◊〉 Thirdly the Lord doth sometimes take