Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	faith_n	good_a	salvation_n	3,234	5	7.4195	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A09362	A case of conscience the greatest taht [sic] euer was, how a man may know, whether he be the son of God or no. Resolued by the vvord of God. Whereunto is added a briefe discourse, taken out of Hier. Zanchius.	Perkins, William, 1558-1602.; Zanchi, Girolamo, 1516-1590.	1592 (1592)	STC 19666; ESTC S110395	35,569	79

it was sure vnto him before the foundation of the worlde but vnto our selues and to our neighbours And this is one of the chiefest vses of good woorkes that by them not as by causes but as by effects of predestination and Faith both we and also our neighbours are certified of our election and of our saluation to Furthermore considering whiles we haue a care to glorifie God to do good works and wee will not bee conformable to the world in the wickednes of it neither submit our selues to our flesh Sathan the flesh the world and Sathan do perpetuallie war against vs therwithal it cōmeth to passe they being most valiant enemies that eyther we are ouercome or at the least in fighting are foyled And therfore we are constrained to flie vnto the Lord and to craue his assistance Therefore the eight effect of our predestination is the calling vpon God that in this fight he wold giue vs aide against the Deuil the worlde and the flesh For this is the propertie of the Spirite which the elect haue to stir them vp to prayer for the Spirit it selfe maketh request for vs vvith groninges vvhich cannot be vttered that is to say it mooueth vs to make request And because we are sonnes God hath sent the spirit of his sonne into our hearts crying Abba Father And God biddeth vs call vpon him in the day of tribulation promising to heare vs. From these proceedeth the ninth effect of predestination namelie a perpetuall repentance for our daylie slips and a continuall desire to be bettered in godlines So that also for this cause chieflie we hartily desire to be dissolued out of this world and to be with Christ for this end that we might sin no more For this is a thing proper to the elect of God euen now borne anew as we may see in the Apostle who speaketh thus in the name of all the regenerate O miserable man that I am vvho shal deliuer me from the bodie of this death And againe I desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ. From this ninth effect proceedeth the tenth namelie a desire that Christ may come make an end of all our miseries and sinnes perfectly restore his own kingdome That this is proper to the elect the Apostle sheweth when he saith that they loue the comming of the Lord and Iohn bringeth in the Spouse of Christ crying Come Lord Iesu come quicklie Yea and Christ himselfe hath taught vs to pray Let thy Kingdome come And because that they which pray on this wise are also heard according to Gods promise In the day of tribulation call vppon mee and I vvill heare thee Thence appeareth the eleueth effect of predestination true patience that is not onelie true comfort but also a reioycing in aduersitie as the Apostle describeth it And therefore a certaine taking vp of courage and recouerie of strength against his enemies Whereby it commeth to passe that al things turne to the saluation of the elect For the elect albeit they be often beaten downe in fight yet because Christ speedilie sendeth ayde from heauen vnto them they rise vp couragiously and begin againe the fight against sinne and the Diuel and al other the enemies of Christ and they fight so long til they be made conquerers are assured of the victorie and of the crowne which assurance also is an effect of predestination giuen to all the Electe For what saith the Apostle shall we say to these things If God be on our side who can be against vs Therefore our Lord Iesus techeth that the elec●●annot be seduced and so perish no not by the comming of Antichrist and his miracles And lastly hence appeareth that last effect of predestination vvhich vve can obtaine in this life the gift of perseuerance vnto the end in faith and a true confession of Christ ioyned with a manifest care to liue a godly life a desire to glorifie him For this gift is bestowed vpon all the elect as the Lorde promiseth by Ieremie I will put my feare into their heartes that they may not departe from me And when they shal come to the end of their liues they shall bee receiued into the heauenly glorie vntill such time as their bodies also being raised vp they may take full possession of eternall life Thus we see that it is very certaine that those which are elected to eternall life ar also predestinate to vse those meanes by which as by certaine steppes and stayres they climbe into that heauenly dwelling place And therefore that we were predestinate to these meanes namely Faith Iustification and good workes because wee were elected to eternall life according to the purpose and grace of God Wherefore by this means the doctrine also of the Pelagians is confuted as touching predestination to life by our faith and workes which God foresaw we shuld do Whereas on the contrary therefore God did predestinat vs to faith and good workes because he did choose vs to eternal life For the Apostle saith not I obtained mercie because I was faithfull or because I should be faithfull but that I might be faithfull Neither saith he that we are elected in Christ because we should be holy and without blame but that vvee might be holy and vvithout blame Neither doth he say that we were created in Christ becaus wee did or should do good workes but we were created to good workes vvhich God prepared that vvee might vvalk in them Lastly he saith not that the grace of christ appeared becaus we were to liue soberly iustly and godly but that it therefore appeared that we denying all vngodlines the lusts of this worlde might liue soberly iustly godly in this present vvorld Wee see therfore that by this doctrine that wicked opinion is ouerthrowen which teacheth that we do preuent the grace of God by our merites which God foresaw And on the contrary here wee see how fowlly the belli-gods of this world are deceiued which reason thus If wee be predestinate to eternall life and our predestination be certaine and vnchangeable what neede we endeuour our selues beleeue or doe good workes for howsoeuer it fall out howsoeuer the elect do liue vndoubtedly they cannot perish because they are predestinate to eternall life Alas poore wretches they see not that they seuer those thinges that are to be conioyned namely the end and the meanes of the end and that they breake the cheine which in no wise either can or must be loosed whilst that they seuer their calling and iustification yea and Faith too and good works from predestination and glorification As though God did glorifie them whome he did predestinate before hee called and iustified them yea and before they can beleue and shew their quick and liuely faith by workes Contrariwise let vs learn what our duetie is If any be elect to eternal life they also are predestinate to the meanes

by which they come vnto it And wee beleeue as we are bound to do that we are predestinate to eternal life and therefore wee must also beleeue that we haue bene elected to Faith and good workes that by them as by certaine steppes we might be brought to eternall life And therefore so far must we be from neglecting faith and the meanes of good workes and of a holy life that contrariwise it is rather our dutie to keepe faith in a good conscience to be conuersant in good workes which God hath prepared that we might walke in them And because wee can neither attaine to the ende nor the meanes that bring vs thereunto of our selues Therefore it is our parts to craue them at Gods hands by prayer that hee woulde giue vs Faith and a care to do good workes and encrease them in vs. Nether must we onely ask them but also certainly trust that we shal obtaine them for Christ his cause For if for all them which are predestinated to eternall life God hath prepared faith by which they may beleeue and good workes to walk in therefore if wee beleeue as by Gods commandement wee are bound that wee are in Christ elected to eternall glory we must also be perswaded that before we depart hence hee will giue vs true repētance increase true faith inflame vs with loue lastly that he wil minister vnto vs aboundantly all thinges in Christ to obtaine the end Yea this confidence also and prayer it is one effecte of predestination by which wee get the rest Therefore this doctrin we must hold that predestination to eternall life doeth not take away the meanes of obtaining it but rather establish them And therefore both these principles are true namely that the elect to life cannot perish and vnlesse a man beleeue in Christ and perseuer vnto the end in this faith working by loue hee shall perish The reason is because in predestination the meanes and the end of it are so ioyned together that the one cannot be seuered from the other Wherfore whosoeuer holdeth not the meanes vnto the end amongst which faith is one it is manifest that hee was neuer predestinate and therefore mu●● needes perish as on the cōtrary he which holdeth faith must needes be saued So the truth of these propositions is euident hee which beleeueth in the son hath eternall life contrariwise he which beleeueth not in the Sonne the anger of God remaineth vpon him because as a constant faith is a sign of election so obstinat infidelity is a token of reprobation FINIS Bradfords ansvvere to Careles Careles I Am troubled with feare that my sinnes are not pardoned Brad. They are for God hath giuen thee a penitent and beleeuing hearte that is an heart which desireth to repent and beleeue For such an one is taken of him hee accepting the will for the deed for a penitent and beleeuing heart indeed Trin. vni Deo gloria Profession without practise a note of an hypocrite Sincerity of life and religion a note of communion with God To professe perfect sanctification in this life a note of an hypocrite humble confession of sin to God is a note of remission of sinne An endeuo● to keep th● commandementes a sign of faith Faith without obedience a note of an Hypocrite profession ioyned with hatred and malice a note of an hypocrite Loue of our brother a signe of regeneration Gods spirite dwelling in the heart a signe of perseuerance papists deny Iesus to bee Christ for though in words they magnifie him yet in their doctrin by necessary consequent they denie him to be a king a priest a prophet perseuerance in the knowledge and obedience of the Gospell a sign of communion with Christ. A desire an indeuour to vse good means to cleanse our selues of our corruptions and priuie sins is a mark of adoption Loosnes of life or the practise of sin a note of the child of the deuill for the present time To loue a christian because he is a christian or godly man is a note of Gods chiid Compassion stirring in the heart a note of loue Workes of mercy signs of loue sincere loue a note of sincere profession Boldnes in praier a signe of a pacified conscience The operation of gods spirit in sanctifying vs a sign of communion with God A sincere confession of the Gospel a note of communion with Christ. To be like God in holines of life a signe of his loue to vs particularlie Our loue of God a signe that he loueth vs particularlie An indeuor to keep the commandements a sign of loue of our brother Proofes invinsible that Iesus of Nazaret the son of Mary was the son of God against the Iewes A signe of our praiers granted vs if God do but heare them Sincerity of life in righteousnes holines a note of Gods child Seuen notes of an vpright man 1. Cor. 2.10 Math. 11.27 1. Cor. 2.16 Rom. 12.34 The elect by the testimonie of the holy Ghost are made sure of their election ch 19.13 1. Cor. 2.10 Ioh. 16.13 Rom. 8.15 Gal. 4.6 Rom. 8 9 Vers. 2. The elect out of the word of god their conscience making the assumption at length they may be certainly perswaded of their predestination That wherby a man applies the general promise to himselfe Deut. 27.26 They which do trulie beleeue know that they beleeue 2. Cor. 13.65 Ier. 32.40 Luk. 22.33 Vers. 3. By the effects of predestination a man may gather his predestination Heb. 11.12 The effectes of predestination which are in vs are like seals imprinting the image of Gods electi in vs. Ioh. 10.14 Col. 4.9 1 Ioh 4.10 1. Iohn 4.7 Rom. 5.5 Ephes. 1.4 Rom. 8.30 2. Tim. 2.19 Apoc. 2.3 Ioh. 6.27 2. Cor. 1.21 Eph. 1.13 4.30 The chiefe effects of predestination by which the elect ar discerned from the Reprobate 2. Cor. 13.5 Rom. 8.30 The weaknes of our faith as touching our eternal election by what staies it may be held vp How a man may knowe whether the testimonie which is giuen of the Spirit be of of the spirit or not Whereby a man may knowe whether his faith be a true faith or not The ende of our predestination The means to which we are predestinate how manie they bee Eph. 2.20 The first benefit of god predestnating vs is Christ. Eph. 1.4 c. 2. Tim. 1.5 Rom. 8.30 Iohn 8.47 Rom. 1.7 1. Cor. 1.2 Tit. 1.1 Heb. 11.6 1. Cor. 7.25 Rom. 8.30 Eph. 1.4 Eph. 1.4.5 Iohn 3.6 Rom. 8.1 5. Psal. 45 8. psa 119.113 40.9 101.3 26 5. Rom. 7.22 1. Ioh. 3 7. Eph. 2.10 Eph. 1.4 1 Tim. 1.19 Tit 1.15 2. Pet. 1.10 Rom. 8.29 Gal. 4.6 Psal. 50.15 Rom. 7.27 phil 1.23 2. Tim. 4. 8 Apoc. 22.17.20 Mat. 6.10 Psal. 50.15 Rom. 5.3 8.28 Rom. 8.31 Mat. 24.24 Ier. 32 4● The vse of this doctrin 1. Cor. 7.25 Eph. 1.4.2 Tit 2.11 Ioh. 3.3

from the alone goodnes of God the Father and grace of christ In this manner the Deuill will neuer perswade any Lastlie the perswasion of the holy ghost is ful of power for they which are perswaded that they are the sonnes of God cannot but needs must call him Abba Father and in regarde of loue to him doe hate sin and whatsoeuer is disagreeing to his will and on the contrarie they haue a sound and a hartie desire to do his will If at anie time thou hast felt in thy selfe any such testimonie perswade thy selfe it was the testimonie of the holie Ghost and that very true certain to therfore that thou art the child of God predestinate to eternal life This is the first proppe by which wee must vnderset that weake beleefe we haue of our certain election to eternal life Again hold this without wauering whosoeuer thou art that art tempted to doubt of thy election euen as nothing is required at our handes to worke our election for God chose vs of his onlie meer goodnes so that we may trulie know whether we bee elect or not this one thing shall be sufficient namelie if we shal attain to the certain knowledge of this that we are in Christ and partakers of him for he that is nowe ingrafted into Christ is justified it cannot be but that he was elected in Christ before the foundation of the worlde And that wee may be in Christ Faith is both required and is sufficient not perfect faith but true faith though it be so litle that it be like a graine of mustarde seed and feeble like a young borne babe and that sore diseased to Now that faith which is a liuelie and a true faith lasteth alwaies as hath bene before declared neither can it at any time altogether faile And so it commeth to passe that they which once haue ben truly ingrafted into Christ remaine alwaies continue in him according to that saying All that my father giueth me shall come to me he which commeth vnto me I wil not cast forth This is true no doubt that look how much the faith is more perfect so much the greater power it hath to knit vs more to Christ and therefore we must alwayes endeuour to increase in Faith Yet for all that this is most certaine one litle sparke of true faith is sufficient to ingraft vs into Christ. And for that cause we must in no wise doubt of our ingrafting into Christ and of our election to by reason of the weaknesse of Faith and of the small and slender fruits it bringeth out But how shal I certainly know say you whether my Faith be a true liuely Faith or not Out of the same groundes from whence the testimonie of our adoption is perceiued First of all if you shall trulie feele that you are perswaded of the truth of the Gospell yea and that all your sins are pardoned you for Christ and you receiued to fauour Againe if you see that this perswasion is grounded not vpon any merits of yours but on the sole goodnesse of God and grace of Christ. Lastly if you feele such a confidence to approch vnto and call vpon the Father such a loue towards him and his son Iesus Christ that ye do hate and detest whatsoeuer is against his glorie as all sinne and on the contrarie bee caried away with a desire to doe those things which serue for the aduancing of his glorie and therfore that you loue all those which desire and seeke the same as the brethren friendes of Christ. For these be the effectes which can neuer be seuered from true Faith And this is the disposition of true faith therefore as long as thou feelest these effects in thy selfe albeit verie slender and greatlie languishing yet assure thy selfe thou art indewed with true Faith although it bee weake and therefore thou art in Christ yea and in Christ elected to Wherefore thou must not doubt of thy saluation and election by reason of thy daylie slips proceeding from thy weaknesse of Faith no not for haynous crimes like as neither Dauid for his adulterie and murther nor Peter for his threefold deniall did dispair of their election which appeareth in that being plunged in the verie gulfes of their temptations they held fast their Faith as an anchor and called vppon God This is the second propp Lastlie in no wise wee must forget namelie that our election is certaine and immutable and therefore as it is done without respect of any works of ours so in like sort it can neuer be chāged by any of our euill deserts For as it is first proceded from the only free purpose of God so it is grounded thereon True it is we prouoke Gods wrath against vs by our sins and neither wil God let them escape vnpunished but hee chastiseth vs by diuers both inward outward scourges as may appeare in Dauid aboue all other Yet for al that it is his good pleasure that for his goodnes sake and trueth for the obediēce of Christ that his purpose shuld remaine sure and our election So it commeth to passe that he giueth vs repentāce anew to raise vs vp to receiue vs to fauour Therfore although for the present thou feelest thy selfe to be of weake faith and to haue fallen to diuers sinnes Yet whereas heretofore thou hast had many and euident testimonies of thy election as the testimony of the holie Ghost and the testimonie taken from Faith the effects of Faith at this present assuredlie thou canst not doubt of thy electiō for thy sins committed but thou shalt much derogate from this free election and also from the testimonies of thy election heretofore injoyed yea those which yet thou enjoyest For if thy sinnes displease thee thou desirest to liue without blame onely for that thy sins displease thee why now thou hast a new testimonie of thy election For such repentance as this is is onely proper vnto the elect Therefore by these three proppes we must vphold our faith as touching euerie ones particular election And thus much as concerning the certaintie with the which euerie man must bee perswaded that he is elected in Christ to eternal life before the foūdation of the world ASSERTION II. Whosoeuer are predestinate to the end they are also predestinate to the means vvithout vvhich they cannot attaine to the end and therefore as the elect necessarilie at length doe come vnto the end by reason of the certaintie of their election so also by reason of the same certainty it is necessary that they should bee traced through those means vvhich tend to the same end WEe must mark the end to which we are predestinate to which we say that one day wee shal be brought for there is a double end of our election the one concerneth the elect themselues namely their glorification or their eternall life and glorie in heauen Of which is spoken Rom. 8.