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	grace_n	justification_n	5,753	5	9.4155	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93368	Soule-reviving influences of the sun of righteousnesse, or Some bright beames of light and love, sparkling from Christ upon the darke and drooping hearts of sin-weakend and clouded believers, even while we are in this solitary wildernesse, not yet arrived at the land of spirituall Canaan; but taking a turne in the darke and dampe valley of the shadow of death. With several evangelicall and heart-winning incouragements to the life of faith in the Sonne of God, notwithstanding our manifold weaknesses and hainous provocations; yea to the keeping up of the same comfort, hope confidence, and joy in him in the sadest straights, of the sorest darknesse.	Smith, John, of Badgworth.	1654 (1654)	Wing S4091A; Thomason E1485_1; ESTC R208761	97,631	237

Christ and he in them they live in Christ their life is hid with Christ in God when Christ who is our life shal appear then shal we also appeare with him in glory and be found in him not having our owne righteousnesse c. And also in the meane time God ever lookes upon his as they are in his Son and not simply as they are in themselves For that which I doe I allow not for what I would that do I not but what I hate that doe I. Now if I doe that I would not it is no more I that doe it but sin that dwelleth in me with the mind I my self serve the law of God but with the flesh the law of sinne sin doth the evil the flesh lusteth He knoweth our frame and remembers that we are but dust God looks upon his as they are justified or in covenant with himselfe and they are pure in his sight as the uprightnesse of Christ can make them though impure and vile in their own eyes that there might be worke for faith And indeed were they not in such a perfect righteousnesse they could not be beloved of him who chargeth the Angels with folly and is of purer eyes then to behold iniquitie or to love a sinner as a sinner 4. Reason Because a believers happines depends not upon his owne doing but upon Christ who is of God made unto him righeeousness sanctification c. VVho hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace c. If a believers faith faile yet God remaines faithful when he cannot apprehend God yet he is then comprehended of God Our sanctification hath nothing to doe with our justification or salvation so as to be the least cause of it but the effect of it sanctification admits of degrees but justification neither of rules nor degrees being abundantly more glorious then sanctification and hath not any dependencie upon our apprehending or receiving it In a word our justification is quite out of self and consists in the imputation of the righteousnes of Christ unto us which righteousnes is inherent in him who sits at the right hand of God far above the reach and spheare of sinnes acttivity and is therefore gloriously perfect and compleate though thy actual righteousnes be but as menstruous raggs and often failes thee yet consider * thou hast the righteousnes of Christ Surely shall one say in the Lord have I righteousnesse and strength their righteousnesse is of me saith the Lord and this righteousnesse as it is ours by imputation so it is perfect and endureth for ever and is the foundation of all blessednesse therefore rest satisfied with Christs righteonsnesse and add nothing to it let thy heart say with David I will make mention of thy righteousnesse even of thine only And waite upon him in faith prayer and patience who hath promised that He will be as the dew unto Israel and that he shal grow as the lilly and cast forth his fruits as Lebanon 5. Reason Because Christ and all true believers are one they are but one body one spirit flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone what union is like unto this What union so full real intire wonderful glorious spiritual eternal and infinite poore believers by vertue of their marriage unto and union with their husband and head the Lord Jesus have in him perfectly kept the whole law of God perfectly satisfied every demand that the Law can make and though they be not in themselves yet in Christ they are just and the Law of God can never come upon them nor the sergeant the Devil arrest them for one penny or farthing the weake believers may say with Paul the righteousnesse of the Law is fulfilled in us and we are dead to the Law that is we are as free from the Law as a man that is dead when a man is dead the Law goes no further upon him in this sense it is further said that believers are delivered from the Law and freed from the Law and hence it is that our salvation is put upon the accompt of the righteousnesse of God and believers are acquitted from their sins and justified as wel in the court of Gods justice as in the court of his mercie Were our faith in Christ as full strong and real as our union with him wee should ingrosse and possesse all that is in heaven and nothing on earth could trouble us yea the losse of our all on earth if its all were ours could not have any uncomly influence upon us 6. Reason Because the state of a believer in Christ as considered in him is a state of perfection he is cleane from all sinne by the blood of Christ they are removed from us thou hast cast all my sinnes behind thy back As farre as the East is from the West so farre hath he removed our transgressions from us Seventy weeks are determined upon the people and upon the holy City to finish the transgressions and to make an end of sinnes and to make reconciliation for iniquitie and to bring in an everlasting righteousnesse * which shall certainly be accomplished c. Hereupon the soul begins to exult in God I wil greatly rejoyce in the Lord. My soul shall be joyful in my God for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation he hath covered mee with the robe of righteousnesse c. We are compleate in Christ as Christ is so are we in this world c. Thy sins are all laid upon Christ and he is Jehovah our Righteousnesse his righteousnesse is ours And hereupon saith God Thou art all faire my love there is no spot in thee The perfection of Christs righteonsnesse is held forth unto us and doth ever remain before us that we might at all times suck the brests of its consolation rejoyce in it and be thankful for it there is enough to refresh and abundantly to satisfie all the Lords children to the dayes of eternity There is not any sin that a believer can commit ought to be a ground for his questioning of the love of God unto him nor ought he to cast away his confidence in God for any thing he doth or can befall him I omit here to mention such reasons of the point as might be deduced from the Covenant of grace and the nature of the same having written upon that subject in the former part of this Treatise Four things from whence it is that the children of God have not their comfort hope joy confidence c. the same at all times 1. From living by sense I say from a sensual practice of consulting with flesh and blood which cannot discern spiritual things and is condemned of God

this quickning Spirit of Christ the two edged sword of the word preached wil prove but as Scanderbegs sword which without Scanderbegs arm was able to doe little or nothing It is through grace that men believe yet men are to use the means for in the preaching of the word God hath covenanted that his Spirit go along with and add power to the word spoken make it effectual to the enabling of the creature to obey he said unto me Son of man stand upon thy feet and the Spirit entered into me when he had spoken unto me and set me upon my feet And the dead shal hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live otherwi●e were it in vaine to speak unto dead men to believe and all men are by nature spiritually dead only they believe whose hearts God opens None can believe but they unto whom it is given When the soule is come to believe that Christ was made sinne for it its doubts are vanquished and the soul sweetly quieted and setled As soone as Jesus Christ by his Spirit hath convinced the soule that he is made sin for it and that it is made the Righteousnesse of God in him then do all its doubts fears and objections vanish and Christ is believed in and lived upon with thankfulnesse and joy yea such a soule by its eye of faith sees it farre better that Christ was made sin for it then if it had never sinned yea as much better as a spiritual body is better then a natural as much better as the image of the heavenly is better then the image of the earthly body yea as much better as strength is better then weaknesse and as heaven is better then earth It is faith in Christ that rids the soul of all its distempers doubts fears and discouragements we may not separate the Spirit from faith for faith is the fruit and effect of the Spirit and wee cannot rationally expect the effect without its cause And it is the want of faith that causes troubles in the soul saith Christ ye believe in God believe also in me and let not your hearts be troubled believing in Christ sweetly quiets and settles a troubled soule and those that know God wil trust him with their bodies and souls and that upon his word all that know thy name wil trust in thee yea they wil cleave unto God in his promise even then when they are in their greatest fears and most sensible of their owne vilenesse and that not without sufficient war●ant Trust in him at all times God is a refuge for us Selah if at all times then at the worst of times yea even then believe and hear nothing against thy believing of God in his promise Abraham the faithfull believed against hope oh believe God intends thy good Christ came to seeke and to save the lost such as are lost in their sight and sense of their owne vilenesse insufficiency and misery A Collection of divers things from wh●n●e it is that many weake Believers are incompassed with so many doubts feares and discouragements together with sundry especiall meanes which they are to make use of and wherein the Lord Jesus usually qui●ts and 〈◊〉 a disquieted soule in the assurance of his Love Negatively the doubts feares and discouragements of weake Believers proceed not from God for his voice is peace and comfort to his people I know the thoughts that I think towards you saith the Lord thoughts of peace and not of evill Comfort yee my people saith the Lord speake yee comfortably to Jerusalem cry unto her that her warfare is accomplished that her iniquity is pardoned You see they come not from God Nor come they from Christ he neither troubles nor discourages any it was promised concerning him that hee should speake peace Thy King cometh he shall speak peace unto the Heathen this is his worke and he doth it therefore he doth not trouble nor discourage any He is the horne of Salvation that God hath raised up for us to guide our feete in the way of peace He opens the blinde eyes He brings out the prisoners from the prison and them that sit in darknesse out of the prison-house He is that light that is sprung up unto those that sit in darknesse and in the Region and shadow of death he bindes up the broken hearted he proclaimes peace and liberty he comforts all that mourne He gives beautie for ashes the oyle of joy for mourning and the garments of Praise for the spirit of heavinesse he was given to heale the broken hearted to preach deliverance to the Captives and recovering of sight to the blinde to set at liberty poore bruised prisoners that have been taken Captive by the Devil and the maine end of his coming is to abolish death and to bring life and Immortality to light through the Gospel this is his worke and he doth it he is gracious and pitifull hee will not quench the smoaking flax nor breake the bruised reed his voice is full of love and tendernesse his words are sweet words as Let not your hearts be troubled feare not it is your fathers pleasure to give you a Kingdome Cast your care upon me I will care for you Christs voyce unto his poore people is Open to mee my sister my Love my Dove my undefiled his name is King of Salem that is King of peace It is palpably apparent that our feares and discouragements come not from Christ Nor come they from the holy Spirit of God for he is the great and most sweet Comforter he causes no discouragements but removes them all by revealing and applying unto the soule the love of God and carries the soule by faith from all discouragements unto God who is love and peace where the soule is to rest and be filled with sweet peace This is the worke of the Spirit and hence it is that he is called the Comforter he never caused the least feare or discouragement in the soule of any The consideration that our feares doubts and discouragements come not from God nor from Christ nor from the holy Spirit is sweet for then what need wee regard them yea we may slight them Affirmatively the doubts feares and discouragements of weake believers doe proceed viz. 1. From the Devill who is a malicious adversary to the Saints hee either tempts us to sinne and that will cause us to doubt or else hee tempts us to doubt and that will cause us to sinne and thus he raises doubts and feares to hinder their comfort and peace in believing he also tempts them and takes the word out of their hearts least they should believe From whence these particulars ensue 2. From our owne hearts Take heed brethren lest there be in any of you an evil

imputation of Christs righteousnesse inherent in him who sits at the right hand of God and farre above the reach and spheare of sins activity and is therefore perfect and compleate yea the foundation of all blessednesse The later is in our selves and therefore weake and uncertaine he that understands not the true nature and doctrine of justification cannot enjoy true stable and constant peace In the right understanding of this point is treasured up a fountaine of soul-reviving consolation 11. Means Let not thy comfort depend upon thy owne personal sanctification because from it there can no stable comfort proceede this is none of the least causes of much trouble in many weak believers viz. to seeke the living among the dead to think to suck consolation at the brest of their own sanctification whereas the spiritualized Christians experience tels him that his sanctification hath nothing to do with his justification or salvation as any cause of it sanctification also admits of degrees but justification neither of rules nor degrees and is abundantly more glorious then sanctification nor having any dependency upon our apprehending or receiving it but upon what the Lord Jesus hath done for us justification is effected by Christ and apprehended by faith The Spirit and faith do evidence unto us our justification All that believe are justified c. The Spirit also in another place intimates unto us that it is possible to have a full assurance of faith faith is an unquestionable evidence and when faith is hidden and doubtful Justification is not apprehended nor sanctification evident but doubtful and so cannot evidence unto us our Justification but rather induce us to call it into question And that soule that apprehends its free justification by Christ Jesus alone may live upon it and thence enjoy unspeakeable peace joy and strength the sweete fruits and effects thereof yea at that time when he sees no personal sanctification in himselfe since Christ is made unto him sanctification Why may not a soule live by faith upon that at all times and say I have sanctification in him that hath justified me and this is perfect my own actual righteousnesse often failes me saith such a soul but Christs endures for ever therefore wil I fetch all my comfort from Christ and from my free justification by him And as we are not to conclude our justification from any effect of sanctification so we are not to conclude that apprehension of Justification to be from God which takes us off the meanes waies or rules of sanctification for when the grace of God appeares it teaches men to deny ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and in our souls bodies and conversations to honour and magnifie the God of our mercies who hath justifi'd us freely by his grace 12. Means Allow not your selves in any sin but in the strength of God hate and abhor all sin and the appearance thereof yea with the greaest indignation it is better to die then to sinne there is that in sin which strikes at a poore believers peace and comfort and joy in God it wil damp and straighten the soul yea is a let to our faith and brings unsettledness and disquietness to the poor soul 13. Means Mind seriously those promises that are sutable to thy condition and apply them to thy owne soule God hath imparted himselfe and ingaged his faithfulnesse in the promise and it is our duty and would be our wisdome to rest thereupon in order whereunto separate thy selfe to meditate thereon thou knowest not but that God may reveale the promise more and more in thy meditation of it and settle it by his almighty power upon thy soule let not the precious promises of God be strange unto thee be not willing to leave a promise until thou art refreshed by it yea raised and ravished with thankfnlnesse for the exceeding riches of his mercy and plentious redemption held forth in them as for example that one promise in Heb. 10 17. Their sins and iniquities wil I remember no more This is enough if accompanied with the Spirit of Christ to quiet and settle a troubled soul 14. Means Treasure up experiences of Gods goodness unto thy soule Remember the dayes of old saith David I have considered the dayes of old and the years of ancient time thou hast beene my helpe I was brought low and he helped mee therefore thy God who is unchangeable wil helpe thee still and be thy refuge in the time of thy trouble I tell thee oh disquieted soule that the calling of the experience of the goodness of thy God into thy mind will be a notable means of quieting thy soule This duty the Lord knowes a poore believer is backward to But who among you wil give eare to this who wil hearken and heare for time to come It is thy duty and priviledge oh believer to set the loving kindness of thy God ever before thine eies We have thought of thy loving kindnesse oh God 15. Means Slight not nor refuse the consolations of thy God let them not seeme small unto thee Are the consolations of God small unto thee oh disowne not the comfort that God gives out for thee lest thou live to complaine as David my soul refused to be comforted and to wish that thou hadst not despised nor refused it be thankful unto the Lord for what thou hast received hold it fast improve it to the glory of the Donor and let nothing go that may tend to thy peace and establishment 16. Meanes Rest fatisfied in Christs righteousnesse and adde nothing to it I wil make mention of thy righteousnesse even of thine only Thy righteousnesse saith the Psalmist is an everlasting Righteousnesse See Psalm 31 50. 6. Jerem. 33. 16. The perfection of Christs righteousnesse is held forth unto us and alwaies lies before us for us that we may be ever comforted in it and rejoice with thanksgivings for it Oh it is compleatly perfect and ful of divine consolation yea it is a welspring of life to refresh and satisfie all the Lords people to the dayes of eternity so that we have enough we neede no other nor any more righteousnesse to live upon 17. Meanes Let not thy comfort depend upon Gods actings or dispensations towards thee whether inward or outward for so doing thou canst not be setled for these are often changeable and contrary each to other one day thou mayst have peace joy and strength another none of these to day perhaps God shewes himselfe unto thee and in a moment hee may hide himselfe to day perhaps thou art rich and enjoyest health and many friends and yet to morrow thou mayst be poore sick and thy friends alienated Gods actings in us and upon us are not alwayes as he is unto us God is unchangeable and ever the same however he may seem to be therefore