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	work_n	4,394	5	6.6946	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A51810	Catholick religion: or, The just test or character of every person that in any nation is accepted with God discovered, in an explication of the nature of the true fear of God, and working of righteousness, with which the same is connected. In some discourses upon Acts 10. 35, 36. Wherein several important doctrinal truths, more immediately influential upon practise, are plainly opened, and vindicated from their too common misunderstanding. By William Manning.	Manning, William, 1633?-1711.	1686 (1686)	Wing M491; ESTC R217102	67,577	173

and ye clothed me Mat. 25 35. For is a rational particle and assigned for the reason tho not the proper efficient or meritorious cause of acceptance That they be rich in good works ready to distribute willing to communicate laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold of eternal Life 1 Tim. 6.18 19. not so as Christ is the Foundation 1 Cor. 3.11 but in Christ it hath the Promise to it and Gods word is to be trusted to it 's attested by his Apostles and all the Prophets Eph. 2.20 See Matt. 7.24 4. He maintained a good report for Piety and Religion which is the last Fruit of Righteousness instanced in And of good report among all the Nations of the Jews v. 22. They would scarce think that he could be saved but for all that they thought that if any one a Gentile could he might he was true to his light and walked most convincingly they could say no other of him the same was the Character of Ananias Acts 22.12 And a weighty one it is that wherein the Test of a pious Man doth much lie that is one Qualification of a Person called to the Ministry That he must have a good Report of them which are without 1 Tim. 3.7 His usefulness otherwise in the Church of God must needs be impaired and so will any man else in his place Yea and tho to be a man-pleaser to get every ones good word may be an evil and is Gal. 1.10 And moreover no mans name be he never so exact is in his own keeping through evil report and good report saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 6.8 and our Lord himself found it so Yet I say a good man ought to look after it and to value a good report for Piety and Godliness Demetrius hath a good report of all men and of the Truth its self 3 John 12. so ought we to endeavour it 1 Pet. 3.16 The tryal of Sincerity lieth not only in a regard to things obviously commanded or forbidden but in a regard to the Glory of God in matters not so particularly or expresly provided for in the letter of the Law as being but of ill report or carrying but an appearance of evil which comes within the Construction of the Law Abstain from all appearance of evil 1 Thes 5.22 A bare appearance of Good is of no worth in the sight of God but to avoid the appearance of Evil is Finally brethren whatsoever things are True Honest Just Pure Lovely whatsover things are of good Report if there be any Vertue and if there be any praise think on these things Phil. 4.8 It 's an ill sign for a man to take the stretch of his Liberty and strain the Law it may be too A pious Soul that fears God will have a care and conscience exercised to keep him back from any thing that may border upon evil 1 Cor. 9.15 or that any ways tho without just cause might likely give occasion to others to reflect a dishonour unto God or cause the name of Religion to suffer He is tender of Gods Name and the Reputation of pure Religion which he Professes tho with an Abridgment of his own Liberty otherwise or receding from his right Such a one was Cornelius or he had not kept up his good report among a people so self-confident and scornful of all other people of the Gentiles as common and prophane Thus have we finished the second character of a person accepted with God and the indication or mark of a true fearer of him which may suffice for the doctrinal part It remaineth only to bring the same more home in its Application or Use The Use we shall handle 1. by way of Information or Instruction 2. Of Reproof or Conviction 3. Of Consolution and Establishment 4. Of Exhortation and Direction pursuant to the Doctrine insisted upon 1. By way of Information or Instruction Is it so that of a truth God is no respecter of persons or of what Nation they be in the point of acceptance with him otherwise than as they be found fearers of him c Then how vain will the pretentions of multitudes even with us one day be found who hope to put in their claim unto the Favour and Mercy of God on no better foundation or plea than that they are a Christian people or of a Nation or Body of that belief and profession Could not Uncircumcision stem the currant of the Grace of God to anticipate his acceptance of true piety in whomsoever it might be found Neither would Circumcision avail any thing unto his favour where the same piety and fear of him was wanting This the Text concludes and is directly within its scope In every Nation such as sear not God neither work Righteousness shall not be accepted with him And what was true of the Jews is as true with us and what their pretensions were are obvious and thine no question may equal them and more if thou beest a Christian Let us weigh the parallel and give thee thy advantage and try what it will amount unto in the case without the fear of God They were a Covenant-people the whole bulk of them good and bad God was their God otherwise than of any other people and they his people by virtue thereof Isa 1.2 3. Jer. 31.32 Deut. 32.19 Not putative or secundum apparentiam only in visibility or appearance only The notion of a visible Church or people of God as now sensed was not then known in the World Coram Deo In the sight and judgment of God they stood so related unto him in reality who yet were no true fearers of him many of them yea the greater part Well then the Kingdom of God is now taken from them Matt. 21.43 and amongst others its given to this Nation an Isle of the Gentiles Isa 42.4 and thou hast thy share in it Behold therefore the severity and goodness of Gud on them severity which fell but towards thee goodness if thou continue in his goodness otherwise thou also shalt be cut off Rom. 11.22 Thou art grafted into and partakest of the root and fatness of the Olive-tree the Covenant of Abraham in the room of the branches broken off who also were once really in but stumbled at Christ and fell v. 17. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledg of God! v. 33. With what a passion did Paul resent the wicked Jews loss of their antecedent relation to God! Rom. 9.3 the which through the forbearance of God thou yet retainest But all this availed not unto life or acceptance nor will thee Yet further They were Jews by nature in the force of God's Covenant and not sinners of the Gentiles Gal. 2.15 i e. Natural branches Rom. 11.21 born such and their seed Gods tho of wicked Parents Ezek. 16.8 21. And thou art a Christian born Rom. 11.16 17. and thy Children holy not common 1 Cor. 7.14 I

the Learned and is Denominated of Judges who are then Termed Respecters of Persons when in Judgment they have regard to any thing but the Equity of the Cause when respecting the Face and overlooking the Cause Equalibus inaequalia tribuuntur right is not done the cause is commended for the person sake and not the person for the cause And this is it which Peter denies of God How grosly then are they mistaken who would make this to be one Essential difference between the first and second Covenant That in the former acceptance began at the Work and so proceeded to the Person but in or under the later the Person is first accepted and thereupon the Work that the former saith Do this and Live the later Live and do this Contrary to the whole Currant of Scripture Prov. 4.3 4. Ezek. 18.21 Mat. 19.17 27 28. 1 Cor. 7.19 1 Tim. 4.8 Jam. 1.25 Rev. 22.14 Making the Command of Christ to the Young man Mat. 19.17 to be exploratory only to try him as likewise the Declaration made by God unto Cain Gen. 4.7 If thou do well shalt thou not be accepted As if he meant not one word as he said to him Mat. 2.21 Rom. 2.13 Gods Love of Complacency Favour and Acceptance has its rise in his Legislative Rigteousness and Justice is regulated by his standing Law in its Gospel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 equity and is dispensed judicially Hence look as on the one hand God abhorreth that his Damning of any Person should be resolved into meer Dominion Is God unrighteous saith the Apostle when he taketh vengeance Absit God forbid how then shall he Judg the World Rom. 3.5 6. No! it 's a Just Recompence of Reward Heb. 2.2 a Revelation of the Righteous Judgment of God Rom. 2.5 So on the other hand in saving any one he will render to every man according to his deeds to them who by patience continue in well doing seek for Glory to them eternal life Rom. 2.6 7. But glory and honour and peace to every man that worketh good to the Jew first and also to the Gentile v. 10. for there is no respect of persons with God v. 11. It 's a Righteous thing with God thus to do 2 Thes 1.7 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love which ye have shewed toward his name Heb. 6.10 Henceforth is laid up for me a crown of Righteousness which the Lord the Righteous Judg shall give me at that day and not to me only 2 Tim. 4.8 the free Gift of God indeed it is Rom. 6.23 but withal quoad ordinem conferendi it 's the reward of Righteousness And as the Remunerative Righteousness of God with a contemperation of Mercy too Psal 62.10 2 Tim. 1.16 18. for still we are sinners is concerned in the constitution of the Law so is his Essential Justice in the Execution thereof as supream Governour of the World and final Judg thereof concerned that his favour and acceptance be equally dispensed in the case in hand according to his Law Psal 11.7 and that without regard to the outward advantages or condition of persons Religious or Civil Knowing saith the Apostle that whatsoever good thing any man doth the same shall he receive of the Lord whether he be bond or free whether servant Eph. 6.5 8. or master v. 9. neither is there respect of persons with him So Col. 3.23 24 25. Now we are come to the main point considerable in St. Peters conclusion contained in v. 35. namely the restriction of the Subject by their Character shewing who they be that in every Nation are accepted with God And they are such and only such as sear him and work Righteousness Of the predicate much need not to be spoken It hath been hinted at already what we are to understand by acceptance with God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It 's a most comprehensive term It includes Justification Reconciliation Pardon of Sin and title to Life Everlasting Now when they heard these things they held their peace and glorified God saying Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life So ends the Story ch 11.18 what greater priviledg than to be a favourite of Gods And God accepted Job ch 42.9 In his favour is Life To be rejected or disallowed of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 13.5 6. is the direct opposite thereunto The publication of the Gospel of peace and salvation is the proclaiming of this Jubile for the manumission of sinners termed the acceptable year of the Lord Luk. 4.19 Abraham was called the friend of God and that involved within it his Justification Jam. 2.23 and this comprised the whole of what St. Paul laboured after that whether present or absent clothed with the Body or out of it that he might be accepted with God 2 Cor. 5.9 and he it is that worketh us for the self same thing v. 5. and for all the Glorious Effects of it Giving thanks unto the Father which hath made us meet to be partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light Col. 2.12 nothing more is required to make meet for one than for the other The description of the Subject who they are that without all discrimination do and shall partake of this great priviledg is it which I design more fully to dwell upon The Character here given of a Petson accepted with God is one the most just full comprehensive and indisputable in the whole Book of God And every Souls Concernment it is to be solicitously inquisitive about it It 's the only true Wisdom Job 28.12 28. The same is Reduced in the Text unto two Heads 1. A Fearer of God 2. A Worker of Righteousness Each of which we shall speak particularly unto with regard to Cornelius all along the Samplar which the Apostle had in his Eye for the contribution of light unto our enquiry Some Interpreters do expound the former of sound Piety and true Religion toward God The later of unspotted Integrity Equity and Justice toward Man in Conformity to the two great Commands to love God with all the heart and our Neighbour as our self on which two hang all the law and the prophets Mat. 22.40 Or in the general I chuse rather to Interpret the former of Internal Religion or Veneration paid to God in the Heart and the latter of the exterior overt acts thereof whether respecting God or man Psal 15.2 which in the issue comes much to the same However the particular handling of both Branches will fully let us into the understanding of the meaning of the whole But before we proceed there lies a double objection in our way which must be removed 1. How Cornelius or any one in his Circumstances could be said to be a Pious Man on a true Fearer of God when as yet he had not imbibed the Doctrine of the Gospel nor had any explicit belief of Christ as it is Evident that he had not nor yet his Houshold 2.