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	work_n	6,191	5	6.9192	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47050	The grand case of subjection to the higher powers in matters of religion resolved to which is added an appendix to a late book intituled A plea for liberty of conscience, wherein the kings supream power in ecclesiastical matters is asserted ... / by James Jones, a Protestant-dissenter, and now a prisoner in Woodstreet-compter for nonconformity.	Jones, James, fl. 1683-1684.	1684 (1684)	Wing J956A; ESTC R36209	11,281	12

Commandments of Men. Question II. But must not or may not the Higher Powers be AT ALL Concerned in Establishing Religion in their several Dominions for their Subjects to Conform thereunto Answer First Such of the Higher Powers as are without the Knowledge and Profession of Christianity are not capable to Establish Religion so as to agree with the Will and Word of the Holy God but they will be ready to Establish a Worship to a false God as the poor ignorant Indians do or else Establish the Worshipping of the true God in a false manner as the Jews and Turks do and I hope that none will Plead for the Conformity of Christians to such Established Worship Secondly Such of the Higher Powers as are Christians yea and such as are most Right in the Christian Religion have not Received any Authority from Jesus Christ to establish his own Worship in their Dominions so as to Exercise Outward Force or by Punishments to Compel their Subjects to come to Christs Divine Service Objection But some will now be ready to say that Christ hath Required the COMPELLING of Persons to be brought to his Gospel-Feast See Luke 14.23 And the Lord said unto the Servant Go out into the High-ways and Hedges and COMPEL them to come in that my House may be filled ANSWER That we may Rightly understand these words of Christ we must consider what kind of Compelling is intended by Christ whether it be Magisterial or Ministerial Compelling First It cannot be Magisterial so as to Compel by Penal Laws Because Jesus Christ had not then given any such Power to the Magistrates of that time for they were Opposers of Christ his Doctrine and his Ministers and did what they could to Compel the Professors of Christ to Conform to them in Renouncing Christianity Thus speaketh Paul when he acted by their Authority Act. 26.10 11. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem and many of the Saints did I shut in Prison having Received Authority from the Chief Priest and when they were put to Death I gave my Voice against them and I punished them oft in every Synagogue and COMPELLED them to Blaspheme and being exceedingly mad against them I Persecuted them unto strange Cities And since that time Christ hath not given any Law to any of the Higher Powers to Compel any of their Subjects to come to his Divine Service by Inflicting the Penalties of Imprisonment and Forfeitures of great or small Sums of Money for their Neglect Secondly I do Humbly conceive that the Compelling which Christ intended is to be understood Ministerially Viz. That his Gospel-Ministers should take great Pains in the Ministry of the Word so as to Inform Persons Judgments Convinces their Consciences and to Convert their Souls that so they may from a Principle of Love to Christ and his Worship Conform themselves thereunto And if after all such Spiritual Means Persons are not brought to Conform to the Doctrine and Ordinances of Christ they must be left to those Punishments that Christ will inflict upon them for their Disobedience 2 Thes 1.8 9. Taking Vengeance on them that know not God and that Obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be Punished with Everlasting Destruction from the Presence of the Lord and from the Glory of his Power But thirdly I do Humbly conceive that the best of Christian Magistrates are and ought to be much concerned to promote the Christian Religion in the Purity of it according to the best of their Knowledge briefly thus First By being good Patterns themselves in their own Profession and Practice of Godliness 2. By Encouraging a Pious and Painful Ministry to work upon Ignorant and Obstinate Persons by Sweet Intreaties and Strong Arguments But not at all to Compel Persons to Comply with Spiritual Matters by outward Punishments because that is the ready way to make men Hypocrites and such cannot be true Members though they should Conform to the Best of Churches Question III. But What kind of Subjection is intended unto the Higher Powers by those Words of the Apostle Paul Rom. 13.1 Let every Soul be Subject to the Higher Powers Answer Having already shewed that Gods Servants are not bound to be subject unto the Higher Powers in Conforming to their Established Religion it is now meet that we should know what kind of Subjection the Apostle doth Require that so we may not come short of our Duty to those that God hath set in Authority which I shall endeavour to Resolve as followeth First By Subjecting to the Higher Powers in the meaning of the Holy Apostle we are to understand not Resisting the Higher Powers Considered as the Ordinance of God whose place and Office is to be a Terror to Evil Doers and a Praise to them that do well And if at any time these Higher Powers should miss of the Right Vsing of their Authority and deal hardly with the Servants of God then it is the Duty of Gods Servants to Exercise Patience and not Resist by seeking to Avenge themselves see verse 2 3. And this is the Doctrine of the same Apostle in Rom. 12.18 19. If it be possible live Peaceably with all men Dearly Beloved Avenge not your selves but rather give place unto Wrath for it is written Vengeance is mine I will Repay saith the Lord. And in verse 21. he saith Be not overcome of evil but overcome evil with good and then cometh in these Words Let every Soul be subject to the Higher Powers And thus to be truely subject is not to Avenge our selves but to be Peaceable under Authority patiently Suffering for the Cause of Christianity and unto this agrees the Counsel of Paul Tit. 3.1 2. Put them in Mind to be subject to Principalities and Powers to Obey Magistrates to be ready to every good Work To speak Evil of no man to be no Brawlers or Fighters but gentle shewing all meekness unto all Men. Secondly To be subject to the Higher Powers in the true meaning of the Apostle is Paying them their Tributes and giving them such Reverence as is their due see verse 5 6. Wherefore ye must needs be subject not only for Wrath but for Conscience sake for this Cause Pay you Tribute for they are Gods Ministers Attending continually upon this very thing Render therefore to all their dues Tribute to whom Tribute is due Custom to whom Custom Fear to whom Fear Honour to whom Honour And to this agreeth the Words of the Apostle Peter 1 Pet. 2.13 14. Submit your selves to every Ordinance of Man for the Lords sake whether it be to the King as Supream or unto Governours as sent by him for the Punishment of Evil Doers and for the Praise of them that do well Now from these words of Peter let these Particulars be considered concerning Submitting to those in Authority 1. It cannot fairly be understood to be the meaning of the Apostle that the Servants of Christ should submit to every Ordinance of Man considered as Decrees