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
A57354	A sermon preach'd at the Cathedral of Norwich upon the annual solemnity of the Mayors admission to his office, being June 17, 1679 by B. Rively ...	Riveley, Benedict, 1627 or 8-1695.	1679 (1679)	Wing R1549; ESTC R428	15,315	42

A SERMON PREACH'D at the Cathedral of Norwich UPON THE Annual Solemnity OF THE Mayors Admision to his Office being June 17. 1679. By B. Rively Curate of St. Andrews Parish in the said CITY Published at the Request and with the Leave of all his Superiors in that Place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. Pet. 3. 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. Pet. 3. 14. In the SAVOY Printed by T. N. for Samnel Lownds and are to be sold at his Shop over against Exeter-Exchange in the Strand MDCLXXIX A SERMON PREACH'D at the CATHEDRAL of NORWICH Upon the Annual Solemnity of the Mayor's Admission to his Office being June 17. 1679. Rom the 13th Vers the 14th For he beareth not the Sword in vain WHatever some misopineing and mispractising Christians of late have Taught the World to the contrary there can be no Greater Friend to Civil Government whether Supream or Subordinate than Christian Religion is And for Proof of it if all other parts of the New Testament were silent the Five first Verses of this Chapter would be sufficient In the whole Discourse you have Two Generals 1. strict and universally concerning Precept And 2. Mighty strong Arguments to back it The Precept is in the first words of the Chapters Let every Soul be subject to the higher Powers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Authorities set over them Civil Authorities having jus gladii as in my Text 'T was here the Roman Emperor and his Lieutenants for the word is taken for the Persons of Governors as well as for their Power To these every Soul is by the Christian Apostle enjoyned Subjection 'T is a Catholick Precept and given to the Roman Christians whether under Claudius or Nero 't is not material for they were both Persecutors and therefore how any that boast themselves Catholick and own themselves of the Romish Communion yet living under a very Constantine and Theodosius can Evade the Force of it I understand not Again 't is a Precept of the Christian Religion given to the first Christians by an Eminent Apostle and Disseminator of that Religion and therefore how any that pretend to that Name especially such as do it more Nicely and Separately then the rest of their Brethren should be made to boggle at it I do as little understand as I did before Yet so it is As Catholick as it is there are whole Orders of Men in the Romish Church that think themselves unconcerned with it And as Christian as it is there were of old and are still whole Sects and Parties of Men in the purer part of the Christian Church that seek to elude and baffle it Therefore 't is well our Divine Author doth not barely propound it but enforces it with strong Reasons which I come next to consider 1. The first Argument for this Universal Subjection to Civil Government is drawn from its Divine Original For there is no power but of God and the powers that be are ordain'd of God Vers 1. Here not only Power in general but the particular Order and Polity of it whether in the hand of a Nero or a Constantine in a Supream or a Subordinate is made to be a Sacred Institution There is an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 both in the words whereby it is asserted not onely to derive from God as the first mover and highest principle in the rank of Beings but to come of God too as the efficient cause And therefore disobedience on this account must needs be the more Criminal as being upon the matter a fighting against God a russling and perturbing the Order and appointment of Heaven 2. Argument from the sin and danger of resistance vers 2. Whosoever therefore resisteth the Power resisteth the Ordinance of God and incurs Damnation First T is resistance of the Ordinance of God and so 't is a sin for sin in its pr per nature is the transgression of a Law and 't is the greater sin because against a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Living Law for so the Magistrate is 't is against Gods Image as well as his Word Against the Power of God in the hand of Man T is all one who Commands God's Word or God's Vicegerent provided he commands nothing contrary to that Word This Consideration at once invites Obedience and aggravates Disobedience Besides 2. A person so sinning incurs damnation which is a mighty danger the most terrible thing within the compass of human apprehension importing not only temporal punishment but without repentance eternal too And if fear be one of the most operative passions in the Human Soul what should so just a cause of it produce 3. Argument from the end and use of Government in respect both of good and evil men ver 3. 4. For Magistrates are not to be feared for good works but for evil Wilt thou then be without fear of the power do well so shalt thou have praise of the same For he is the Minister of God for they wealth but if thou do evil fear for he beareth not the sword for nought for he is the Minister of God to take vengeance on him that doeth evil As if he had said 't vere a huge mistake to imagine that Kings and Governors were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vain and empty names of no benefit or service in the Common-wealth For how should Vice receive its condigne punishment or Virtue come by its proper Guerdon and Reward but this way How should the publick Peace be preserved the common Good be maintained or particular Rights be defended but this way Better set under a Bramble-bush than have no shelter at all It was better with Israel under Abimelech than when there was no Magistrate in the Land to put them to shame in any thing Let Governors be what they will as to their personal faults Foxes as Herod Lions as Nero yet by the designe of their Place and Office they are the Ministers of God to men for their good Gods Sword bearers towards evil-doers and Gods Shield-bearers towards them that do well Therefore for them that should be Subjects under what pretence soever to cast off all aw and regard to Authority to turn Mutinous Rebellious or Seditious and to lift up a Battoon of popular fury against this Sword of regular jurisdiction is to spoil and defeat the most wise and experienced Instrument of Good that ever was in the world 4. Argument from the necessity of subjection and the nature of that necessity ver 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c wherefore ye must needs be subject and that not only for wrath but also for conscience sake as much as to say 'T is not a point of in lifferency and arbitrary Choice that I am now upon but of necessary Duty such as you cannot handsomly avoid nor can any company of men in the world consulting to make a Law against it possibly render it null or absolve you from it 'T is a practice we are held