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
View all documents for the selected quad

Text snippets containing the quad

ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A13065 A proceeding in the harmonie of King Dauids harpe That is to say, an exposition of 13. psalmes of the princely prophet Dauid, from the 22. vnto the 35. psalme, being a portion of the psalmes expounded by the reuerend Doctor Victorinus Strigelius, professor in Diuinity in the Vniuersity of Lipsia in Germany. Translated out of Latin into English by Richard Robinson, citizen of London. Anno Christi 1591. Seene and allovved. ...; Hypomnēmata in omnes Psalmos Davidis. Psalm 22-34. English Strigel, Victorinus, 1524-1569.; Robinson, Richard, citizen of London. 1591 (1591) STC 23359; ESTC S101002 113,808 186

There are 3 snippets containing the selected quad. | View lemmatised text

be gouerned by him and defended against the deuill least that wee shoulde be drawne headlong into such like furies The other verses which pertaine to the declaration are more largely expounded in the Historie of the Gospell Verse 19. But be not thou farre from mee ô Lord thou art my succour haste thee to helpe me Verse 20. Deliuer my soule from the sword my darling from the power of the dogge Verse 21. Saue mee from the Lyons mouth thou hast heard mee also from among the hornes of the Vnicornes These three last verses doo rehearse a prayer amplified by mentioning the dangers wherein he was then distressed The seconde part of the xxij Psalme touching the Resurrection of CHRIST Verse 22. I will declare thy Name vnto my Bretheren in the midst of the Congregation will I prayse thee LIke as Lucius Aemilius Paulus who was called the Conquerour of Greece the Macaedonian warres within a few daies most speedilie and most happily finished was carried with tryumph into the Cittie and mounting vppe to the Capitoll rendred his thanks vnto the Gods for his affaires well exployted So our Captaine and Sauiour Christ by the power of GOD béeing raysed vp from death to life and now making his tryumph ouer the multitude of his enemies gaue thankes not vnto Iupiter as Aemilius did but vnto his Eternall Father who had crowned him with the glorious victorie which is beneficiall vnto the Church That benefite he promiseth to retaine in perpetuall memory and to celebrate the same with a thankfull hart vnto all eternitie But therwith also he describeth the chiefe effect of his resurrection he affirmeth that he is againe raised from death to life not to the end he should be idle or thenceforth not to be busied in any good worke or that he should boast himselfe onely of his wisedom and power and so hold for most assured that he should alwaies remaine in most great and eternall pleasures but he sayth expresly that he is risen for this cause to the ende hee may gather vnto God hys Church by the ministery of the Gospell which may praise and worship him in the life euerlasting This then is the speciall effect of his Resurrection namely the gathering of his Church which comes to passe by the ministery of the Gospell which the Apostles dispersed or published throughout the whole worlde So in an other place it is sayd Thus it behooued Christ to suffer and to rise againe the third day and that in his Name repentance and remission of sinnes should be preached among all Nations beginning at Ierusalem Luke 24. verse 46.47 Truly héere is sette before vs a manifold consolation The Sonne of GOD affirmeth that hee will preach the Gospell yea though the worlde repine and repugne the same and that he will publish another doctrine besides the Law Hée wyll therefore preserue the Ministery and these studies and learning and hée alloweth the endeuours of them which preach the Gospell Let vs comfort our selues with thys consolation so often as wee doo consider the daungers of the Church though fatall punishments oppresse the worlde for theyr Idolatries Epicuriall furies lustes other mischiefes which are innumerable yet sure and certaine it is that the Church of God shall remaine which amidst the thickest of the enemies shall preach the worde of the Gospell of Christ And neyther will Christ suffer that at any time the knowledge of him shall be vtterly forgotten of men but hee himselfe wil execute the Office of teaching like as in this place hee sayth I wyll declare thy Name vnto my Bretheren in the midst of the Congregation will I praise thee But euen in these selfe words there is deliuered vs a most swéete doctrine touching the efficacie of the Gospell preached by miserable and weake persons The world iudgeth the Gospell to be a deceiuable doctrine and derideth her Ministers as it were vnprofitable bablers which goe about to take quite away the chiefe strengthes of humane societie from amongst men but these prophane iudgements Christ dooth heere confute yea saith he I my selfe will preache and will bring to passe that the Ministers shall not be discouraged with vnprofitable contention but that the Ministerie of the Gospell shall indeede be the power of saluation to all that beleeue Although therefore the Ministers are in trueth but Earthen vessels yet sure it is that theyr preaching is effectuall and shall profit manie men Hetherto also approcheth the thyrd consolation which the most swéet phrase Brother setteth before vs. I wil declare thy name vnto my bretheren I pray you what may be more swéetly thought or spoken then that Christ calleth all men his Brethren which heare learne and embrace the Gospell And that Christ indéede doth loue vs with a brotherly loue that doth hys taking of humane nature vpon him declare For that he might ioyne vs in a most néere bonde with hym hee became fleshe of our flesh and bone of our bones as Paule sayth Heb. 2. ver 24 Thys taking and knytting of our nature is a testimonie of a great loue towards vs. But the Passion of Christ declareth thys effect much more euidently wherein hee suffered punishment due to the righteousnes of GOD and fully paid y e raunsome for vs. For it was his good pleasure to redéeme and reduce vs which were oppressed with most gréeuous mischiefes as sinne death into our auncient dignitie and former liberty Héereby it appeareth that there is no such loue of any brother towards hys naturall Brother as is the feruent loue of Christ towards vs whereunto he giueth the name of brother So often therefore as thou beginnest to pray and that thy vnworthinesse hindereth thee be thou turned in minde thought vnto thys little verse of Christ wherin he expresly calleth Beléeuers his Bretheren For sithence he is our Brother and loueth vs most feruently let vs not doubt but that we are receiued and heard though vncleane and manifoldly guilty we be yet for the intercession and prayer which our Brother maketh for vs and neyther is there any thing so surely layd vp in the vnmeasurable treasure of Gods goodnes and mercy which hee will not willingly bring foorth and fréely partake with thys when he is requested of this High Priest and Mediator whom the name of a Brother maketh not abashed nor ashamed Wherefore in all our lyfe long in all our dangers and in our daily prayers let vs thinke vppon this most swéet name Brother and inculcate the same to our mindes that wee may surely beleeue our Brother sitting at the right hand of our Father will helpe vs and bestow vpon vs present and eternal benefits Let it suffise to haue héere bréefely thus much noted of these words because the greatnesse of the matters cannot be conceiued in words Verse 23. O prayse the Lorde yee that feare him magnify him all yee the seede of Iacob and let all the seede of Israell feare him Before Christ raysed from death to life directed
this roring Lyon which seeketh to catch ouercome and carry away the same Fourthly he bringth into the right way and healeth those that goe astray and offende without contumacie or stubborne disobedience neyther casteth he vs away which are the shéepe of his pasture by reason of our infirmities but hanging about hys necke he louingly beareth vs and with hys blood washeth vs when we are filthy and deformed Thys admirable and almost incredible louing kindnes of our Shéepheard let it stirre vs vp So as we denying all vngodlines and worldly lusts may liue godly iustly and soberly in thys present worlde looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great GOD as S. Paule most sweetly wryteth in his second chapter to Titus verse 12. Lastly vnto all these hee addeth as it were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 viz. a surplus or superaboundance for the helping sustentations of this our life namely fruitfulnesse of the earth of the liuing creatures prosperous health liuing clothing meane dwelling places peace good Princes quiet and sweet wedlock necessarie gyfts in our calling good successe in our counsels studies prosperitie of our children and finally other good gifts which are innumerable But wilt thou vnderstande howe necessary the benefits of thys Pastor are then haue in thy mind the silly Sheepe and vnto her compare the great infirmitie of our own nature The silly Sheepe hath in herselfe neyther any wit nor counsell but the flesh wandereth at randome till she light into the Wolues iawes and what is the wandering sheepe when shee cannot without the Shéepeheards helpe be brought againe to the fold Furthermore she neither hath any courage nor defence wherwith she may or is able to resist or withstand the violence and assault of the Wolues Finally that I may manifest the matter in one word The shéepe is a beast foolish fearful weake and layd open for all iniuries of the Wolues if she be destitute of the Shéepheards watching and warding Neyther indéede is one Egge so like another or Milke like vnto Milke as the state of humane nature is resembling thys figure For in the darke places and in the darkesome night our mindes doo wander astray neither haue they any prouidence which respecteth life euerlasting we all like shéepe haue wandered out of the way which leadeth vnto eternall blessednesse yea except we be layd vpon Christes shoulders and be carried hanging about his necke we shall plunged headlong in darknesse and errours perrish euerlastingly And what in vs is there wherewith wee are able to resist the deuill when he assaulteth vs There is no such wisedome or power without GOD but the deuill is able to ouerthrow and quite extinguish it which things sith so indéede they be let vs in our daily prayers remember that we are the sheepe of this Shéepheard and let vs flée for succour vnto him and craue help defence and gouernment of him But in thys place some man woulde aske the question why the Shéepeheard of the Church ought to be Iehoua that is the true GOD Creator of heauen and earth There are many causes for which it is néedfull that the guide and Sheepeheard of the Church should not onely be man but also by nature GOD. The first is Nature onely which hath ende cannot destroy the workes of the deuill namely sinne and death and restore vnto the Church righteousnesse and life euerlasting The second is no creature can alwaies and euery where bee present with the Church and euery member thereof The thyrd is no creature can sée the sights of the hart and discerne true inuocation from hypocrisie And the fourth cause is no creature entreth into counsell with the diuine nature For these causes which els where are largely explained it is needfull that the Sheepeheard and Bishoppe of our soules be Iehoua that is GOD whose nature and power is eternal vnspeakable and infinite Thus farre haue I spoken of the first part of the Syllogisme indéede more breefe then for the greatnesse of the matter but as the manner of these Comments ought in truth to be now wyll I speake of the other part or member which of Logicians is called the Consequent I shall not lacke or nothing shall be lacking vnto me It is a most sure rule hee that hath the word of God he hath God himselfe hee y t hath God to him can nothing of the principall blessednes be lacking because God was before the worlde was made and by his word he made all things therefore the word of God maketh and bringeth all things vnto vs but contrariwise hee that hath not the word hee hath nothing but fainteth amidst the floodes like vnto Tantalus and as he séemeth most to haue any thing so yet within a while after euen that is taken away from him according to that saying of Christ To hym that hath shall be giuen and from him that hath not namelie the word euen this that he seemeth to haue shall be taken away from him Luke 19 verse 26. But although these spéeches are proudly scorned hatefully handled of prophane persons yet notwithstanding let vs beléeue Christ affirming them who is Trueth it selfe so to vs saying First seeke ye the Kingdome of God and all other things shall be giuen vnto you Math 6 33. As if he said if any man haue by Gods graunt and gyft the chéefe good things acknowledgment and calling vpon God consolation and gouernment of the holie Spirit obedience agreeable to the wyll of God and specially remission of sinnes and deliueraunce from the power of the deuill and from euerlasting death finally if he haue righteousnes and life euerlasting to him are none appurtenaunces lacking or helping sustentations of thys our mortall life and calling This sentence dooth the example of Salomon and the figure of the prodigall Sonne notably describe Salomon in the beginning of hys raigne required nothing of GOD but wisedom to acknowledge GOD with a true feare and fayth and to gouerne his Subiects according to Gods wil. This prayer so pleased God that he said vnto him I haue giuen thee a wise and vnderstanding hart so as not any one before thee was like vnto thee neither shal any be thy like after thee But these things also which thou hast not asked I haue giuen thee namely riches and honour so as there shall neuer be thy like at any time heereafter 3. Reg 3 12. The prodigall Sonne returning home required nothing els of hys Father but to be reconciled into his fauour and swéetly applauding himselfe héerein hee desired to be but placed amongst the basest hyrelings but what happened Hys Father by and by commanded a Ring to be giuen him a new Garment vpon his back and shooes to his féete and prepareth a delicate banquet wherewith he might entertaine his recouered and reconciled Sonne Let vs therefore followe the guide and good successe of thys our Shéepeheard and let vs not doubt but that in purpose and euent he will
Paule sayth The afflictions of thys present time are not woorthy of the glory which shall be shewed vnto vs. Rom. 8.18 And in the second Epistle to the Corinthians he sayth Our light affliction which is but for a moment causeth vnto vs a farre more excellent and an eternall weight of glory Chap. 4 verse 17. Wherefore with a good courage let vs suffer momentanie incōueniences for while we looke about vs as they say and doo heere busie our selues loe immortalitie shall approche Verse 6. And in my prosperitie I sayd I shall neuer be remooued thou Lord of thy goodnesse hast made my hill so strong Verse 7. Thou didst turne thy face from me I was troubled The meaning of these verses is most simple which D. Luther now and then in expounding the Booke of Genesis reciteth We were all wont in time of victory tryumph of the Spirit against the flesh to be strong and couragious but whē incredulitie assayled our harts by by we wexe faint-harted Ieremie féeling the consolation and victory of fayth sayth thus in hys twentie Chapter The Lorde is with me like a mightie Gyant therefore my persecutors shall be ouerthrowne and shall not preuaile but shall be greatly confounded c. ver 11. But the same man within a while after with most sorrowful complaints describeth the debased estate of his minde Idem How is it that I came forth of the wombe To see labour and sorrow that my daies might be cōsumed with shame Wherfore not in vaine nor vnaduisedly dooth he pray in the seuenteene Chapter saying Be not terrible vnto me thou art mine hope in the day of aduersitie verse 17. So all and euery such of vs as are replenished with spyrituall ioy let vs couragiously abide the assault of sathan and the worlde and let vs not wey all the inuentions or practises of our enemies no not the value of a trifle But when we are plunged into sorrowfulnesse by the sufferaunce of God and feele not the Spirit of fortitude in vs then indeede are wee by nature fearefull and wee are amased euen as much wyth the sounde of a leafe falling from the Tree as if all the world crushed together should suddainly oppresse vs. I my selfe knowe a certaine Pastor of the Church who when he had with a mighty courage endured very many and most great calamities and was well addressed and armed against the threatnings of Tyrants euen at the last point as it were béeing cast downe from the step of fayth he begun to be so tossed with sorrowfull sadnes that hee was not very far from vtter desperation But goe to let vs not alwaies speake of spirituall combats and conflicts which of vs all is endued with so great strength of Fayth that he is not sometime troubled in mind how to liue and to obtaine other necessary benefits for his bodie Seeing therefore it is a hard and difficult thing to keepe such a course as our shyppe may escape both the Rockes viz. Pryde and Desperation let vs daily pray with the Apostles Lord increase our fayth Luke 17. verse 5. For true it is that the Church singeth of the Spirit of Fortitude Loue and Chastisement Sine tuo Numine nihil est in homine nihil est innoxium Without thy grace ô God in man Nought well he doth nor well he can Thys good Spirit helping vs we are able euen from on high to despise death and all daungers but when the same Spirit dooth not imprint and fixe in vs his power or vertue we then lie ouerthrowne and yeelde the victorie to the verie shadowes of our enemies Verse 8. Then cryed I vnto thee ô Lord and gat mee vnto my Lord right humbly Verse 9. What profit is there in my bloode when I goe downe into the pit Verse 10. Shall the dust giue thanks vnto thee or shal it declare thy truth Verse 11. Heare ô Lord and haue mercy vpon me Lorde be thou my helper S. Augustine sayth notably in a certaine place Whether shall I flee from God angry vnto God mercifull For there is nothing more wholesome then to returne vnto him when he striketh vs and of him to craue remedies for our sorrowes Like as Iob in hys thirteenth Chapter sayth Yea though he should kill me yet will I trust in him and he shall be my Sauiour Thys example let vs followe in great violence of tempests and in the concourse of calamities and let vs not séeke inordinate remedies but let vs flée vnto the fountaine of the lyuing water that is vnto GOD which when so we shal doo wée shall assuredly prooue the helpe and presence of God and finde the restitution of eternall lyfe But while we are praying vnto God there are both other causes to be proponed and also euen specially this final cause Tu mihi praesidium tua me protectio seruet Vt tibi seruatus carmina grata canam Thou art my safegarde thy defence keepe mee That beeing safe I may sing thanks to thee Thou art not delighted with our destruction therfore preserue me together with thy Church that I may in thys life and in all eternity magnifie thée but as touching thys cause of deliueraunce I haue elsewhere oftentimes spoken Verse 12. Thou hast turned my heauinesse vnto ioy thou hast put off my Sackcloth and girded mee wyth gladnesse Hée affirmeth plainely that prayer is not a vaine noyse but obtaineth of GOD a ioyfull end of miseries Thou hast turned saith he my heauinesse vnto ioy such as Boyes and Gyrles in a calmetime of the Common-weale were wont to sport themselues withall and my mourning wéede béeing cut in péeces thou hast adorned me with a wedding garment so no doubt of it as I may so say with Tobie God will restore to euery one which call vpon him in confidence of the Mediator after heauines gladnesse Verse 13. Therefore shal euery good man sing of thy praise without ceasing ô my God I will giue thanks vnto thee for euer Euen as in hys prayer he made mention of the final cause Therefore deliuer me that I may prayse thee so now after hys deliueraunce he is not a dissembler or vniust but with an excellent fayth performeth hys promises and hee dooth not onely for a small time declare the goodnes of GOD but with euerlasting prayses magnifieth God The same must al we doo neyther must we after benefits receiued nourish in vs Epicuriall cogitations as thus perhaps thou hast deliueraunce by good hap or by humane industries This horrible vnthankfulnes let vs as they say with Oares and sayles that is by all possible meanes auoide and eschew and let vs most firmely beleeue that through Gods alone helpe the danger is driuen away To him that excelleth ❧ A Psalme of Dauids deliuerance In te Domine speraui The Argument THE sentence of Plato in his Epitaph is praised which Cicero expresseth in these words Nam cui vero ex seipso apta sunt omnia quae ad beate