Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	evil_a	good_a	know_v	2,974	5	4.2147	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A17017	The first part of the resolution of religion devided into two bookes, contayning a demonstration of the necessity of a diuine and supernaturall worshippe. In the first, against all atheists, and epicures: in the second, that Christian Catholic religion is the same in particuler, and more certaine in euery article thereof, then any humane or experimented knowledge, against Iewes, Mahumetans, Pagans, and other external enemies of Christ. Manifestly convincing all their sects and professions, of intollerable errors, and irreligious abuses.	Broughton, Richard.	1603 (1603)	STC 3897; ESTC S114320	118,360	300

admitteth no companion in equality of perfection And euery man and creature is so much more indebted and religed to him then to any inferiour agent parent Prince or potentate to whome we yeeld reuerence for benefits receaued by how much his infinit greatnesse and perfection exceedeth any limited and depending thing and by how much euery effecte is more beholding to the first and vniuersall cause without which absolutely it cannot be then to any secondary and particuler worker without which by the power of the former absolutely it may bee produced But if sence and experience may not bee admitted with these sensuall and beastlie men if no reason can haue allowance with such vnreasonable mindes and all naturall arguments demonstrations and daily experiments must be condemned with such vnnatural monsters if we should grant them al they can demande with so many impossibilities in ordinary connaturall things that inferiour causes could worke without dependance assistance of the superiour that no creature is depending either in essence or opperation that there is no first principall cause that chance and fortune which can be nothing but the accidentary concourse or effect of inferiour causes made all thinges and whatsoeuer impossibility any foolish and franticke braine can imagine to excuse their wicked and lasciuious liues Yet thousands of effects which haue beene and coulde not be by the production of any created cause must needes condemne them For all nations and people in the world Christians Iewes Mahumetanes Pagans and all estates of men haue prooued and must and doe acknowledge that infinite miraculous and supernaturall operations haue beene wrought which no limited power with all the coniunctions inclinations aspects constellations either of celestiall elementary or compounded thinges which they can deuise coulde possibly doe hauing no potentiality in them to effecte the meanest of those strange and meruailous operations onely able to be produced by an omnipotent and infinite agent And further to shewe an absolute dominion ouer all creatures to resist and restraine the most vsuall and naturall habilities of all inferiour causes as the most mooueable heauēs that they did not mooue but stand as it were amazed at so great a maiestie that the greatest planets which could be commanded of no inferiour agent haue changed their course and order The highest and ascending Element of fire hath descended euen to punnish the Irreligious The Aire hath denyed respiration to creatures The Waters in most huge quantities haue ascended against their natural propēsity to dtowne both particuler countries and the whole world in the generall inundation The whole earth hath trembled and all the firmaments and foundations of the world haue bin mooued at the pleasure of their Creator which no creature nor al creatures togither could effect yet all countries peoples and estates are witnesses to these thinges Thus we see all testimonies crie out there is a God infinite omnipotent and independing which hath effected these thinges This is the euidence of all creatures all nations and kingdomes all estates and degrees of men Patriarkes Prophets Priestes Kings Rulers Princes Philosophers Christians Iewes Mahumetanes Pagans al Rabbynes Doctors Sybilles Flamens Arch-flamens Calyphes Brachmans al that can be cyted for authority agree in this that there is a God This is the sentence vniforme consent of them all that disagree so much about his nature and religion in particuler Al good men allowe of this this all impious and wicked haue confessed except perhaps some fewe priuate men in so many generations times of the world which drowned in all licentious liuing haue to excuse their impieties rather wished it in will then affirmed in iudgement and those also when they came to death and miseries as I cited before acknowledged it And to conclude against barbarous and absurde people with absurdities if there is no firste omnipotent and most excellent cause then no religion which is onely due to so great a maiesty is to be rendred Then all nations and people of the worlde in all generations and so many thowsands of yeares that euer professed it were fooles and one Lucretius that liued and dyed mad or any particuler and beastly man that to tumble in filthinesse would wish so vnpossible a thing is only wise and holy If there is no first absolute and independing cause no operation can be effected nothing is now done nothing can be brought to passe hereafter because depending causes cannot worke without assistance so there neither is or can be any change alteration generation or corruption in the worlde but all thinges must needes returne to nothing If there is no God first and illimited cause to haue created the worlde there is no science knowledge or facultye in the worlde there neither is was or can be any creature or the least effecte because none of these limited and depending thinges coulde by any possibility bee of it selfe or any other depending cause And a thousand such impossible absurdities which follow this most blasphemous and sacriledgeous assertion there is no GOD if any barbarous and beastlie mouth durst be so impudent to pronounce it But this will bee more manifest in many chapters the whole treatise following to the confusion of al enemies to true Religion For which cause as also that I hope no man can be so vnreasonably blasphemous to make it a doubt I passe it ouer more brieflie in this place THE NECESSITY OF A DIuine prouidence towards man and other creatures ordeyned for him and his duety to render Reuerence and Religion ¶ CHAP. III. BVT to preuent the prophane and blasphemous excuses of this impious generation accusing the infinit wisdome of God of folly challenging his incomprehensible goodnes of improuidence If by impossibility thinges could be effected caused without any cause which nature generally reacheth for a most euident contradiction yet nothing coulde endure or be preserued without the prouidence and protection of an independing cause For duration and perseuerance of second causes is no lesse depending then their first creatiō Then how doth that infinit number of things which this worlde possesseth endure without corruption How can so many and diuers creatures not only wanting iudgment and reason for their rule and direction but all sense and life obtayne their endes and remayne in order so infallibly as they doe When by reason we knowe nothing wanting reason can make comparison conferre past present and future times and things iudge and discerne what is danger what is not what euill to be auoided what good and to be followed or by any possibility either knowe prosecure or imbrace that order and ende whereunto it is ordeyned And yet the certaine orderly and indefectiue motions of Heauens operations of Elements concourse of causes and workes of all inferiour and compounded creatures sensitiue vegetiue and such as haue neither reason sence or vegetation vtterly vnable to order and direct themselues giue testemony they are guided

to reade their bookes And Attilius himselfe Duum vir one of the two principall men to whome their custody was committed only because hee wrote them forth was sewed into a sacke and cast into the Sea If we make comparison betweene the writers of holy Scriptures and Diagoras and such Atheists as woulde deny them or the Panym Philosophers though wee single them forth that were accounted best there is no semblance of proportion The Prophets and writers of holy Scriptures were most holy and a spectacle of sanctity to all generations and many of them dyed for defence of those thinges they committed to writing Many of the Phylosophers were of such filthy liues that their sinnes are not to bee named and their errors intollerable and their chiefest men as themselues acknowledge did not as they did beleeue beleeuing one God with Scriptures and seruing Idols as Plato to Dyonisius giueth plaine witnesse of himselfe If we consider the efficacie of the doctrine of those holy writers although they entreated of harde most difficulte vnpleasing things to sensuall mindes and the Pagan Philosophers of pleasing and delightfull thinges yet the austere doctryne of them hath almoste conuerted the whole worlde to liue as they beleeued and these philosophers could neuer yet allure one Kingedome or Citie euen to thinke only as they taught And yet as I wil proue herafter they haue attempted it by all meanes they coulde If we talke of consent or disagreement in Wrighters vpon which in matters of Authoritie Trueth or Falsehoode may easilie be concluded No man is ignorant that not only all Pagan prophane Historians disagree amonge themselues and all Philosophers of the diuided Sects of Stoicks Peripateticks Accademicks and Epicures but the professors of euerie of these sectes were at warre among themselues and yet they entreated onely of naturall things proportionate to humane capacitie contrariewise not onlie the sacred histories of Scriptures agree but all theyr Writers Prophets Priests Euangelists and Apostles agree in one without any leaste difference or variance in doctrine and yet they all entreate of matters Supernaturall and aboue the reache of mans reason Wherefore I conclude in this Argument when so many holie writers as moyses Dauid Esdras Ieremie Ezechiell Dani●ll Zachary Malachie S. Mathew Marke Luke Iohn Peter Paule Iames and others were so diuided in time seperated in place as Egipt Hierusalem Babilon Rome and others where they wrote so distinct in natures and naturall conceits and iudgementes as all men are and yet in so many bookes as the Scriptures conteine and in so manie supernaturall misteries agreed vniformely together without the leaste dissent or contradiction this Direction must needes proceed of God who penetrateth al things and cannot lead into error When I see so miraculous agreement in the 72. that by the appointment of Kinge Ptolomy of Egipt translated the olde testament recorded by enemies and like assistance in later handlers of those sacred workes farther consider how in so many garboiles troubles of Nations many writings of the moste allowed Pagans haue perished yet these haue bin preserued in all the most famous languages of the worlde I cannot bee induced but they be the euidence of God and preserued by him Further when I perceaue the greatest humane Authoritie that can be cited for anie monument vsed for the crediting of these religious testaments as for the bookes of the first testament all Christians Iewes Mahumetans and many Gentiles consenting that they be holie and for euery booke of the new testament besides the authorities of all Schooles Vniuersities and thousands of p●ouinciall Sinods the whole Christian worlde in their moste learned Doctors and Fathers assembled twenty times in generall councells and confirminge them all by theyr sentence and neuer so any ten persons together iudiciallie agreeing to approoue any Pagan writer in all things I cannot be of opinion but these books were penned by holie instinct from God Moreouer when the light and law of nature and reason make me secure and all Philosophers Christians Pagans the learned of the whole world euer ageed togither in this giue it for a distinction betweene a limmited and infinite power that future thinges which haue no certaintie in their causes cannot certainelye bee knowne and foretoulde but by an infinite knowledge penetrating thinges more perfectly then they be in their causes and whosoeuer certainlie prophesieth of such things must needes receaue that facultie from God which can bee ignorant of no effect But the whole sacred Scripture is euidence that many things within their causes be moste vncertaine as depending of the freedome of mans will election and others more secret onlie to bee produced at the moste secret will and pleasure and by the Omnipotent power of god himselfe haue bin as certainely plainelie foretolde with their manner and circumstances manie years before they came to passe as if they had bin present witnesses of those things as so manye Predictions of Abraham Iacob Moyses Dauid Daniell Esaie Ieremie Zacharye Christ his Apostles and others and ●o●ie Scriptures of the Regiment of Iuda the diuisiō of the Land of Canaan the perpetuall desolation of Ierico of the birth and acts of Iosias three hundred years before he was borne the destruction of Babilon by kinge Cirus his name foretolde two hundred years before he came And two witnesses named of it Vrias and Zacharias which were not borne manie yeares after this was prophesied The captiuitie of the Israelites in Babilon the time of that continuance and their deliuery againe in the time of Esdras The destruction of Balsasar kinge of Babilon and the verie night of his desolation the time of the cōming of the Messias his life death resurrection ascention other misteries as they were effected in christ the miracles which happened then the reprobation of the Iewish people conuersiō of the Gentiles destruction of Ierusalem the pittifull miseries it did endure and the like which were vncertaine thinges and yet were as certainelie fortolde as they were certaine when they were performed therefore seeing these things be so vndoubtedlie come to passe we cannot make question of any other to be effected in his time hereafter the one being as difficult to be foreseene as the other consequently much more all other matters reuealed in those holye writings which be of more easie subiect are vnfalliblie true and so to bee beleeued Lastlie to put all out of doubt that euen from the firste time of committinge those misteries to writinge by the holye penne men of Sacred Scriptures euerie man might be secure they were spoken and reuealed of God which coulde neither be deceaued in himselfe or bringe others into error So manye miraculous workes and operations which none but a diuine power and such as had authoritie from him coulde effect were giuen vnto those chosen Scribes of this holye lawe and wrought by them to confirme the

performe it vntill they became irreligious and disobedient and at such times that they might knowe as he had often admonished them before that their Religion was cause of their prosperitie and irreligion woulde bring the contrary and vnfortunate miseries howe was that people punished howe often conquered and subdued spoyled of wealth Countrie Wiues Children Temple Altar Kinges Prophets and all comforts howe often led captiues and kept vassailes and since they fell to their laste irreligious apostasie from Christ how long time in how many Countries to howe many Nations haue they beene and at this time are the most miserable people in the worlde so that if a man woulde bee so incredulous that he would not beleeue the scriptures and promises and threates of God contayned in them towardes that people for those causes yet when the whole worlde doth witnesse these thinges haue beene so effected in so many generations no man can be so impious to denie it And this he performed not only to that people in generall but euen to the very particuler mē of that Nation as their Priests Kings and other priuate persons Who was so highly honoured and exalted of God as Moyses their Priest and Captaine was he not borne of meane parentage of the tribe of Leuie what patrimonie had hee left him what title had he to be so greate a man was he not condemned to death before he was borne was he not committed to the waters to bee drowned was hee not enforced to forsake his frendes and renounce his countrie to get his liuing among strangers by keeping sheepe And yet how was hee aduaunced honoured and exalted of God what miraculous and wounderfull priuiledges did hee graunt vnto him howe did he appoint him Captaine and Conductor of his people what victories and conquests did hee giue him oner Pharao and his Egiptians hovve did he ordaine him not onely superiour to depriue him of his riches life people but to vse the words of God constituted him the God of Pharao Constitui te Deum Pharaonis what misteries and secrets did he reueale vnto him how did he chuse and elect him alone among so manie hundred thousandes to conduct his people to the lande of promise And yet notwithstanding all this when hee shewed but one act of irreligion want of duty at the waters of contradiction he was for the same preuented by death and neuer entred in and Iosue was chosen to bee their guide So it happened to Noe to Abraham Loth Iacob Iosue Gedeon Sampson and the rest Religion was their exaltation and honour Thus it was and chaunced both to rulers and subiectes of that people as to exemplifie in their Kinges whose prosperities and harde fortunes and the causes of them were most knowne and famous What comparison was there betweene the felicities of the religious irreligious Kinges of Iuda howe honourable and prosperous vvere the raignes and regiments of their religious Kinges Dauid Asa Iosaphat Osias Ionathan Ezechias and Iosias if they be compared to the lamentable dishonors and miseries of their irrreligious Princes Saul Roboam Abias Ochozias Amasias Ozias and the rest that vvere impious Howe shorte and impotent vvere these mens regiments and kingdomes howe little vvas theire glorye hovve greate theire ignomye and dishonour when coutrarie how long and ample were the Empires howe noble and glorious was the honour of those religious Princes Such like were the successes and aduentures of the irreligious Kinges of Israell that falling from God and true Religion fell to Schisme and Idolatry they were but eighteene in number and tenne of them were miserablie slaine Nabath Ela Zamri Achab Ioram Zacharias Sellum Phacee Osee and the Scepter and Regiment was nine times translated from the families of the Kinges No family of them continuing the kingdome aboue the fourth generation that the curse and malediction of the irreligious might be imposed vpon them and there was but one onely familie of all those which enioyed it so long and that was of Iehu which drewe nearest to true Religion for he ouerthrewe the Altars Idols and idolatrous places of the Idoll Baall and put his Priests to death And although the Kinges of Israell descended of the same Imadge of Abraham as the Kinges of Iuda did and were for number of people farre aboue them beeing ten tribes and the Kingdome of Iuda only two yet howe were the irreligious Kinges of Israell tossed turmoyled and led captiues more then the other howe were they alwaies inferior their kingdome of lesse continuance The enemies of Religion Balthasar Aman and others came to vnnaturall endes and were lamentably depriued of all dignities and life it selfe So in the time of the Machabees it came to passe with the fauourers of Religion and contrary with the irreligious enemies and persecutors thereof Such relation may bee made of the proceedings of other children of Abraham descending of Cetura and from his sonne Ismael those which were vertuous and religious flourished as the others did and their persecutors were dishonourable And that it might be euident to all posterities that the promise of God is true that he rewardeth the Religious and debaseth the Impious the most holy and religious Patriarke Abraham when there were many more potent and mighty then he yet because he was so religious aboue the rest God promised for that cause to make him the father of many Nations and wee see how manie Kings and mightie Princes haue descended from him For not the ancient Kings of Iurie and Israel but of Arabia Ethiopia Idumea Egipt Colchians that most potent christian Prince Pret Ianne of Iude and all Christian Kings are either his spiritual or temporal posteritie And as a memorie of their discent from Abraham and not for anie religious ceremonie the inhabitants of the Christian Empire of Pret Ianne are circumcysed as also diuers other people as approued writers are witnes And who doubteth but many potent infidell and irreligious Princes as Turkes and Arabians although for them selues and their owne iniquities and irreligion they neither deserue either temporall or spirituall blessings of God Yet because they were as some suppose the carnall children of Ismael Esau the offspring of Abraham and Isaac although in holy Scriptures they are depriued of some spirituall faucurs graces and preeminences and commaunded to be cast out and haue no inheritaunce yet that they possesse and enioy there temporall felicities and possessions from the temporall benedictions of their religious auncestors Abraham and Isaac and the promise of God vnto them for concerning Ismael God said vnto Abraham Sed et filium ancillae c. But also I will make Ismael the son of thy hand-maide a great people which the Angel after promised to his mother Agar in me same wordes such was the benediction of the religious Isaac to his Irreligious childe Esau in temporall thinges when he was depriued of some spirituall