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	righteousness_n	work_n	4,718	5	6.5009	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A65392	A short story of the rise, reign, and ruin of the Antinomians, Familists, and libertines that infected the churches of New-England and how they were confuted by the assembly of ministers there as also of the magistrates proceedings in court against them : together with God's strange remarkable judgements from heaven upon some of the chief fomenters of these opinions : and the lamentable death of Mrs. Hutchison : very fit for these times, here being the same errors amongst us, and acted by the same spirit : published at the instant request of sundry, by one that was an eye and ear-witness of the carriage of matters there.	Winthrop, John, 1588-1649.; Weld, Thomas, 1590?-1662.	1692 (1692)	Wing W1270; ESTC R6157	84,225	86

Light 4. That his party might not fear lest he should break the rule of Meekness c. he bringeth in the Example of Stephen Act. 7. 58. and the Example of Christ Ioh. 8. 44. and Mat. 23. 23. 5. To those who might fear lest this strife should cause a combustion in Church and Common-wealth he answers and tells them plainly it will do so but yet to uphold their hearts he arms them with the Prediction of Christ Luk. 12. 49. and tells them that it is the desire of the Saints that that fire were kindled and with that in Esa. 9. 5. which he interprets of Michael and the Angels and with that in Mal. 4. 2. and by that in the Revelation the Whore must be burnt 6. He arms them against persecution by exhorting them not to love their lives unto the death but be willing to be killed like sheep seeing it is impossible to hold forth the Truth of God with external peace and quietness This he inforceth by the Example of Sampson who slew more at his death than in his life These passages of his Sermon being openly read Master Wheelwright did acknowledge and justifie the same and being demanded either then or before whether by those under a Covenant of works he did mean any of the Ministers and other Christians in those Churches he answer'd that if he were shewed any that walked in such a way as he had described to be a Covenant of Works them he did mean Here divers speeches passed up and down whereof there was no special notice taken as not material to the purpose in hand The Court proceeded also to examine some witnesses about another Sermon of his whereat much offence had also been taken and not without cause as appeared to the Court for in that he seemed to scare men not only from legal Righteousness but even from Faith and Repentance as if that also were a way of the Covenant of works but this being matter of doctrine the Court passed it by for the present only they and the Ministers present divers of them declared their grief to see such Opinions risen in the Countrey of so dangerous Consequence and so directly crossing the Scope of the Gospel as was conceived and it was retorted upon him which he in his Sermon chargeth his adverse party with tho' uncharitably and untruly when he saith they would take away the True Christ that to make good such a Doctrine as he held forth to common intendment must needs call for a new Christ and a new Gospel for sure the old would not own or justifie it Then the Court propounded a question to the Ministers which because they desired time of consideration to make answer unto was given them in writing upon the outside of Master Wheelwrights Sermon in these words Whether by that which you have heard concerning Mr. Wheelwrights Sermon and that which was witnessed concerning him ye do conceive that the Ministers in this Country do walk in and teach such a way of Salvation and evidencing thereof as he describeth and accounteth to be a Covenant of works To this question being again called for into the Court the next morning they returned an affirmative answer in the very words of the question adding withal that they would not be understood that their doctrine and Master VVheelwrights about Justification and Salvation and evidencing thereof did differ in all things but only in the point presented and debated now in Court and that of this their answer they were ready to give reasons when the Court should demand them and that to this they consented except their Brother the Teacher of Boston After this by leave of the Court the Ministers all spake one by one in order some more largely laying open by solid Arguments and notorious Examples the great dangers that the Churches and Civil State were fallen into by the differences which were grown amongst us in matters of Religion offering themselves withal to imploy all their studies to effect a Reconciliation shewing also their desires that Mr. VVheelwright would be with them when they should meet for this purpose and blaming his former strangeness as a possible occasion of these differences of Judgment Others spake more briefly but consented with the former and all of them as they had occasion to speak to Mr. VVheelw or to make mention of him used him with all humanity and respect what his carriage was towards them again those who were present may judge as they saw cause The matters objected against Mr. VVheel being recollected and put to the vote the opinion of the Court was that he had run into Sedition and Contempt of the Civil Authority which accordingly was recorded to the same effect and he was injoyned to appear at the next general Court to abide their further Sentence herein And whereas motion was made of injoyning him silence in the mean time the Ministers were desired to deliver their Advice what the Court might do in such a case Their Answer was that they could not give a clear resolution of the question at the present but for Mr. VVheel they desired that the Court would rather refer him to the Church of B. to deal with him for that matter which accordingly was done and so he was dismissed Such of the Magistrates and Deputies as had not concurred with the major part in the Vote some of them moved that the dissent might be recorded but it was denyed as a course never used in this or any such Court. Afterward they tendered a Protestation which was also refused because therein they had justifi'd Mr. VVheel as a faithful Minister of the Lord Jesus and condemned the Court for undue proceeding but this was offered them that if they would write down the words of the record and subscribe their dissent without laying such Aspersion upon the Court it should be received Although the simple Narration of these Proceedings might be sufficient to justifie the Court in what they have done especially with these of this Jurisdiction who have taken notice of the passages in the general Court in Decem. last yet for satisfaction of others to whom this case may be otherwise presented by Fame or Misreport we will set down some Grounds and Reasons thereof some whereof were expressed in the Court and others tho' not publickly insisted upon yet well conceived by some as further motives to lead their judgments to do as they did And 1. It is to be observed that the noted differences in point of Religion in the Churches here are about the Covenant of Works in opposition to the Covenant of Grace in clearing whereof much dispute hath been whether Sanctification be any evidence of Justification 2. That before Mr. VVheel came into this Country which is not yet two years since there was no strife at least in publick observation about that point 3. That he did know as himself confessed that divers of the Ministers here were not of his Judgment in those points and

where the Holy Ghost saith That by unfeigned and hearty love we may have assurance and yet neither there nor any where else would have us trust to our Sanctification so vers 7. He that doth righteousness is righteous as he is righteous Secondly If poverty of spirit which emptieth us of all confidence in our selves may evidence a Man's Iustification without trusting to it then may Sanctification without trusting to it but the former is true therefore also the latter Thirdly If it be an ordinance of God to evidence our Iustification by our Sanctification then we may do this without trusting to it but that is apparent from 2 Pet. 1. 10. Ergo. Error 68. Faith justifies an Unbeliever that is that Faith that is in Christ justifieth me that have no Faith in my self Confutation 68. This is contrary to Hab. 2. 4. For if the Just shall live by his Faith then that Faith that justifies is not in Christ. So Iohn 3. ult He that believeth not the wrath of God abideth on him It is not another's Faith will save me Error 69. Though a Man can prove a gracious work in himself and Christ to be the Author of it if thereby he will prove Christ to be his this is but a sandy foundation Confutation 69. This is contrary to these Scriptures Iohn 14. 21. and 28. He that keepeth my Commandments is he that loveth me and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and will shew my self unto him 1 John 3. 14. We know that we have passed from death to life because we love the Brethren And 1 John 5. 12. He that hath the Son hath life therefore he that can prove that he hath spiritual life may assure himself that he hath Christ. Error 70. Frequency or Length of Holy Duties or trouble of Conscience for neglect thereof are all signs of one under a Covenant of Works Confutation 70. This is contrary to these Scriptures 1 Cor. 15. 58. Be abundant always in the work of the Lord If the Faithful in Christ Jesus be commanded to abound always in the work of the Lord that is Holy Duties then frequency in Holy Duties is no sign of one under a Covenant of Works but the former is true therefore also the latter as also 1 Thess. 4. 17 18. Psal. 55. 17. Evening and morning and noon will I pray and make a noise and he will hear me and elsewhere Seven times a day do I praise thee Psalm 119. 146. Psal. 1. 2. So also contrary is the third branch to these Scriptures 2 Cor. 7. 8. 11. the Corinthians were troubled in Conscience and sorrowed that they had neglected the holy duties of Church-Censure towards the incestuous person and Esa. 64. 7. and 8. Cant. 5. 2. Rom. 7. 19. I do not the good I would which he lamenteth and complaineth of Error 71. The immediate revelation of my good estate without any respect to the Scriptures is as clear to me as the voice of God from heaven to Paul Confutation 71. This is contrary to Iohn 14. 26. He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance c. Whence we reason thus If the Spirit reveal nothing without concurrence of the Word then this revelation of the Spirit without respect to the Word is not clear nor to be trusted but the Spirit doth reveal nothing but with respect to the Word for Iohn 14. 26. If the office of the Spirit be to Teach and to bring to remembrance the things that Christ hath Taught us Esay 8. 20. Whatever Spirit speaks not according to this Word there is no light there Error 72. It is a Fundamental and Soul-damning Error to make Sanctification an evidence of Justification Confutation 72. This is contrary to these Scriptures Rom. 8. 1. They that walk after the Spirit are freed from condemnation and are in Christ and so Justified So 1 Iohn 3. 10. in this are the children of God known c. Error 73. Christ's work of Grace can no more distinguish between an Hypocrite and a Saint then the Rain that falls from Heaven between the Just and the Unjust Confutation 73. This proposition being general includes all gracious Works and being so taken is contradicted in the Parable of the Sower Mat. 13. 20 21 22. where the good ground is distinguished from the stony by this that it brings forth fruit with patience so Hebr. 6. 9. there is something better in the Saints than those common gifts which are found in Hypocrites Error 74. All verbal Covenants or Covenants expressed in words as Church Covenants Vows c. are Covenants of Works and such as strike Men off from Christ. Confutation 74 First This is contrary to Scripture Esay 44. 5. One shall say I am the Lord 's and another shall call himself by the name of the God of Iacob Rom. 10. 10. With the mouth confession is made to salvation Secondly Contrary to Reason for then the Covenant of Grace is made a Covenant of Works by the Writing Reading and Preaching of the same for they are verbal expressions of the Covenant on God's part as Church-Covenants verbally express our closing herewith Error 75. The Spirit giveth such full and clear evidence of my good estate that I have no need to be tried by the fruits of Sanctification this were to light a Candle to the Sun Confutation 75. This opinion taken in this sense that after the Spirit hath testified a Man's good estate the person need not to be tried by the fruit of sanctification is contrary to the scope of the whole first Epistle of Saint Iohn where variety of arguments are propounded to all Believers in common 1 Iohn 5. 13. to distinguish the persons of Believers from Unbelievers the water is annexed to the Spirit and blood 1 Iohn 5. 8. Error 76. The Devil and Nature may be cause of a gracious Work Confutation 76. The words are unsavoury and the position unsound for taking gracious according to the language of the Scripture gracious words Luke 4. 22. Let your speech be gracious gracious words are such as issue from the saving Grace of Christ's Spirit in-dwelling in the Soul which neither the Devil nor Nature is able to produce for Christ professeth John 15. 3 4. Without me ye can do nothing nothing truly gracious John 3. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh And Rom. 7. 18. In my flesh dwells no good truly spiritual and gracious Gen. 6. 5. Every imagination of the thoughts of a Man's heart is evil and that continually Besides the Devil is that evil and wicked one onely wickedness an adversary to God's grace and glory that which is contrary to corrupt nature and the hellish nature of Satan and above the power of both they cannot be the causes of gracious works Error 77. Sanctification is so far from evidencing a good estate that it darkens it rather and a Man may more clearly see Christ when he seeth no

of the party c. they might and would use their liberty as they should see cause and for the other part of the Petition when any matter of Conscience should come before them they would advise what were fit to be done in it When Mr Wheelwright came in the Court was private and then they told him they had considered of his Sermon and were desirous to ask him some questions which might ●…nd to clear his meaning about such passages therein as seemed offensive he demanded whether he were sent for as an innocent person or as guilty It was answered neither but as suspected only Then he demanded who were his Accusers It was answered his Sermon which was there in Court being acknowledged by himself they might thereupon proceed ex officio at this word great exception was taken as if the Court intended the course of the High Commission c. It was answered that the word ex Officio was very safe and proper signifying no more but the Authority or Duty of the Court and that there was no cause of Offence seeing th●… Court did not examine him by any compulsory means as by Oath Imprisonment or the like but only desired him for better satisfaction to answer some questions but he still refused yet at last through perswasion of some of his friends he seemed content The question then put to him was whether before his Sermon he did not know that most of the Ministers in this Jurisdiction did teach that Doctrine which he in his Sermon called a Covenant of Works to this he said he did not desire to answer and thereupon some cryed out that the Court went about to ensnare him and to make him to accuse himself and that this question was not about the matter of his Sermon c. Upon this he refused to answer any further so he was dismissed till the afternoon the reason why the Court demanded that question of him was not to draw matter from himself whereupon to proceed against him neither was there any need for upon a conference of the Ministers not long before there had been a large dispute between some of them and himself about that point of evidencing Justification by Sanctification so as the Court might soon have convinced him by Witnesses if they had intended to proceed against him upon that ground In the afternoon he was sent for again in the same manner as before and the Ministers also being in the Town and come hither to confer together for further discovery of the ground of the differences which were in the Countrey about the Covenant of Grace c. they were desired to be present also at the Court to bear witness of the Proceedings in the case and to give their Advice as the Court upon occasion should require so the doors being set open for all that would to come in and there was a great Assembly and Mr. Wheelwright being willed to sit down by the Ministers his Sermon was produced and many passages thereof were read to him which for the better understanding we have digested into this order following He therein describeth two Covenants the Covenant of Grace and the Covenant of Works the Covenant of Grace he described to be when in the point of Justification and the knowledge of this our Justification by Faith there is nothing revealed but Christ Jesus but if men think to be saved because they see some works of Sanctification in themselves as hungring and thirsting c. this is a Covenant of works if men have revealed to them some work of Righteousness as love to the brethren c. and hereupon come to be assured that they are in a good Estate this is not the assurance of Faith for Faith hath Christ revealed for the object therefore if the assurance of a mans Justification be by Faith as a Work it is not Gospel Having thus described those who go under a Covenant of Works he pronounceth them to be Enemies to Christ to be Antichrists to be flesh opposed to spirit such as will certainly persecute those who hold forth the Truth and the ways of Grace he resembleth them to the Philistines who stop up with the earth of their own Inventions the Wells of true Believers he resembleth them also to Herod who would have killed Christ so soon as he was born and to Herod and Pilate who did kill Christ when he came once to shew forth himself and would have kept him eternally in the Grave he further describeth them out of the second Psalm to be the people of God as the Iews were and such as would take away the true Christ and put in false Christs to deceive if it were possible the very Elect he also describeth them by that in Cant. 10. 6. they make the Children of Grace keepers of the Vineyard they make them travel under the burden of the Covenant of Works which doth cause Christ many times from them He cometh after to an use of Exhortation wherein he stirreth up all those of his side to a spiritual Combat to prepare for battle and come out and fight against the Enemies of the Lord those under a Covenant of works he shews whom he meaneth thus to excite alluding to David's valiant Men to Baruch Deborah Iael and all the men of Israel and bind them hereunto under the curse of Meroz He further exhorteth them to stand upon their guard c. by alluding to the 600 valiant Men who kept watch about the Bed of Solomon a type of Christ then he incourageth those of his side against such difficulties as might be objected as 1. If the Enemies shall oppose the way of God they must lay the more load upon them and kill them with the word of the Lord and there he alludeth to those places which speak of giving the Saints power over Nations binding Kings in Chains and of threshing Instruments with Teeth and foretels their flight by that in Esa. 21. 15. They shall flee from the Sword c. 2. Though the Enemies under a Covenant of Works be many and strong as he confesseth they are yet they ought not to fear for the battle is the Lords this he inforceth by that in Iosh. 23. 10. One of you shall chase a thousand and that of Ionathan and his Armour bearer 3. Against tenderness of heart which they might have towards such under a Covenant of works as are exceeding holy and strict in their way he animateth his party by perswading them that such are the greatest Enemies to Christ this he seeks to illustrate by resembling such in their zeal to Paul when he was a Persecutor and in their Devotion to those who expelled Paul and Barnabas out of Antioch He taketh it for granted that these Holy Men trust in their Righteousness and that it thrusteth out the Righteousness of Christ and so concludes and foretels from Ezek. 33. They shall die and their Righteousness is accursed yet they transform themselves saith he into Angels of