Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	father_n	ghost_n	son_n	4,633	5	6.0871	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A53734	Two discourses concerning the Holy Spirit, and His work the one, Of the Spirit as a comforter, the other, As He is the author of spiritual gifts ... / by ... John Owen.	Owen, John, 1616-1683.; Mather, Nathanael, 1631-1697.; Owen, John, 1616-1683. Discourse of spiritual gifts.	1693 (1693)	Wing O818; ESTC R2819	174,342	306

Son of God the Messiah and Saviour of the World they should die in their Sins John 8. 5 21 24. But in this Unbelief in this Rejection of Christ the Jews and the rest of the World justified themselves and not only so but despised and persecuted them who believed in him This was the Fundamental Difference between Believers and the World the Head of that Cause wherein they were rejected by it as foolish and condemned as impious And herein was the Holy Ghost their Advocate For he did by such undeniable Evidences Arguments and Testimonies convince the World of the Truth and Glory of Christ and of the Sin of Unbelief that they were every where either converted or enraged thereby So some of them upon this Conviction gladly received the Word and were baptiz'd Acts 2. 41. Others upon the preaching of the same Truth by the Apostles were cut to the heart and took counsel to slay them Chap. 5. 33. In this Work he still continueth And it is an Act of the same kind whereby he yet in particular convinceth any of the Sin of Unbelief which cannot be done but by the effectual internal Operation of his Power 2. HE thus convinceth the World of Righteousness Ver. 10. Of Righteousness because I go to my Father and ye see me no more Both the Personal Righteousness of Christ and the Righteousness of his Office are intended For concerning both these the Church hath a Contest with the World and they belong unto that Cause wherein the Holy Spirit is their Advocate Christ was looked on by the World as an Evil Doer accused to be a Glutton a Wine-bibber a Seditious Person a Seducer a Blasphemer a Malefactor in every kind whence his Disciples were both despised and destroyed for believing in such an one And it is not to be declared how they were scorned and reproached and what they suffered on this Account In the mean time they pleaded and gave Testimony unto his Righteousness that he did no Sin nor was Guile found in his Mouth that lie fulfilled all Righteousness and was the Holy One of God And herein was the Holy Ghost their Advocate convincing the World principally by this Argument that after all he did and suffered in this World as the highest Evidence imaginable of God's Approbation of him and what he did that he was gone to the Father or assumed up into Glory The poor blind Man whose Eyes were opened by him pleaded this as a forcible Argument against the Jews that he was no Sinner in that God heard him so as that he had opened his Eyes whose Evidence and Conviction they could not bear but it turned them into Rage and Madness John 9. 30 31 32 33 34. How much more glorious and effectual must this Evidence needs be of his Righteousness and Holiness and God's Approbation of him that after all he did in this World he went unto his Father and was taken up into Glory For such is the meaning of these Words Ye shall see me no more That is th●● shall be an end put unto my State of Humiliation and of my Converse with you in this World because I am to enter into my Glory That the Lord Christ then went unto his Father that he was so gloriously exalted undeniable Testimony was given by the Holy Ghost unto the Conviction of the World So this Argument is pleaded by Peter Acts 2. 33. This is enough to stop the Mouths of all the World in this Cause that he sent the Holy Ghost from the Father to communicate Spiritual Gifts of all sorts unto his Disciples And there could be no higher Evidence of his Acceptance Power and Glory with him And the same Testimony he still continueth in the Communication of Ordinary Gifts in the Ministry of the Gospel Respect also may be had which Sence I would not exclude unto the Righteousness of his Office There ever was a great Contest about the Righteousness of the World This the Gentiles looked after by the Light of Nature and the Jews by the Works of the Law In this State the Lord Christ is proposed as the Lord our Righteousness as he who was to bring in and had brought in Everlasting Righteousness Dan. 9. 24. Being the End of the Law for Righteousness unto all that believe Rom. 10. 4. This the Gentiles rejected as Folly Christ crucify'd was foolishness unto them and to the Jews it was a Stumbling-Block as that which everted the whole Law And generally they all concluded that he could not save himself and therefore it was not probable that others should be saved by him But herein also is the Holy Spirit the Advocate of the Church For in the Dispensation of the Word he so convinceth Men of an Impossibility for them to attain a Righteousness of their own as that they must either submit to the Righteousness of God in Christ or die in their Sins 3. HE convinceth the World of Judgment because the Prince of this World is Judged Christ himself was judged and condemned by the World In that Judgment Sathan the Prince of this World had the principal Hand for it was effected in the Hour and under the Power of Darkness And no doubt but he hoped that he had carried his Cause when he had prevailed to have the Lord Christ publickly judged and condemned And this Judgment the World sought by all means to justifie and make good But the whose of it is called over again by the Holy Ghost pleading in the Cause and for the Faith of the Church And he doth it so effectually as that the Judgment is turned on Sathan himself Judgment with unavoidable Conviction passed on all that Superstition Idolatry and Wickedness which he had filled the World withall And whereas he had born himself under various Masks Shades and Pretences to be the God of this World the Supreme Ruler over all and accordingly was worshipped all the World over he is now by the Gospel laid open and manifested to be an accursed Apostate a Murtherer and the great Enemy of Mankind WHEREFORE taking the Name Paracletus in this Sence for an Advocate it is proper unto the Holy Ghost in some part of his Work in and towards the Church And whensoever we are called to bear Witness unto Christ and the Gospel we abandon our Strength and betray our Cause if we do not use all Means appointed of God unto that and to engage him in our Assistance BUT it is as a Comforter that he is chiefly promised unto us and as such is he expressed unto the Church by this Name FOURTHLY That he hath a peculiar Work committed unto him suitable unto this Mission Commission and Name is that which will appear in the Declaration of the Particulars wherein it doth consist For the present we only assert in general that his Work it is to support cherish relieve and comfort the Church in all Tryals and Distresses And this is all that we intend when we say that it is

the Lord God is upon me because the Lord hath anointed me His Unction consisted principally in the Communication of the Spirit unto him For he proves that the Spirit of the Lord was upon him because he was anointed And this gives us a general Rule that the anointing with material Oyl under the Old Testament did presigure and represent the Effusion of the Spirit under the New which now answers all the Ends of those Typical Institutions Hence the Gospel in opposition unto them all in the Letter outwardly visibly and materially is called the Ministration of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3. 6 8. So is the Unction of Christ expressed Isa. 11. 2. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding the Spirit of Counsel and Might the Spirit of Knowledge and of the Fear of the Lord. 4. WHEREAS the Unction of Christ did consist in the full Communication of the Spirit unto him not by Measure in all his Graces and Gifts needful unto his Humane Nature or his Work though it be essentially one entire Work yet was it carried on by several Degrees and Distinctions of Time For 1 He was anointed by the Spirit in his Incarnation in the Womb Luke 1. 35. the Nature of which Work we have at large before explained 2 He was so at his Baptism and Entrance into his Publick Ministry when he was anointed to Preach the Gospel as Isa. 61. 1. And the Holy Ghost descended on him in the shape of a Dove Matth. 3. 17. The first part of his Unction more peculiarly respected a Fulness of the Grace the latter of the Gifts of the Spirit 3 He was peculiarly anointed unto his Death and Sacrifice in that Divine Act of his whereby he sanctify'd himself thereunto John 17. 19. which hath also been before declared 4. He was at his Ascension when he received of the Father the Promise of the Spirit pouring him forth on his Disciples Acts 2. 23. And in this latter instance he was anointed with the Oyl of Gladness which includes his glorious Exaltation also For this was absolutely peculiar unto him whence he is said to be so anointed above his Fellows For although in some other parts of this anointing he hath them who partake of them by and from him in their Measure yet in this of receiving the Spirit with a Power of Communicating him unto others herein he is singular nor was ever any other Person sharer with him therein in the least degree See the Exposition on Heb. 1. 8 9. Now although there be an inconceivable difference and distance between the Unction of Christ and that of Believers yet is his the only Rule of the Interpretation of theirs as to the kind thereof And 5. BELIEVERS have their Unction immediately from Christ. So is it in the Text You have an Unction from the Holy One. So is He called Acts 3. 14. Rev. 3. 7. These things saith He that is Holy He Himself was anointed as the most Holy Dan. 9. 24. And it is his Spirit which Believers do receive Eph. 3. 16. Phil. 1. 19. It is said That he who anointeth us is God 2 Cor. 1. 21. And I do take God there Personally for the Father as the same Name is in the verse foregoing For all the Promises of God in him that is in Christ are yea and in Him Amen Wherefore the Father is the Original Supream Cause of our Anointing but the Lord Christ the Holy One is the immediate Efficient Cause thereof This Himself expresseth when he affirms that he will send the Spirit from the Father The Supream Donation is from the Father the immediate Collation from the Son 6. IT is therefore manifest that the anointing of Believers consisteth in the Communication of the Holy Spirit unto them from and by Jesus Christ. It is not the Spirit that doth anoint us but he is the Unction wherewith we are anointed by the Holy One. This the Analogy unto the Unction of Christ makes undeniable for as he was anointed so are they in the same kind of Unction though in a degree inferior unto him For they have nothing but a Measure and Portion from his Fulness as he pleaseth Eph. 4. 7. Our Unction therefore is the Communication of the Holy Spirit and nothing else He is that Unction which is given unto us and abideth with us But this Communication of the Spirit is general and respects all his Operations It doth not yet appear wherein the especial Nature of it doth consist and whence this Communication of him is thus expressed by an Unction And this can be no otherwise learned but from the Effects ascribed unto him as he is an Unction and the Relation with the Resemblance that is therein unto the Unction of Christ. It is therefore some particular Grace and Priviledge which is intended in this Unction 2 Cor. 1. 21. It is mentioned only neutrally without the Ascription of any Effects unto it so that therein we cannot learn its especial Nature But there are two Effects elsewhere ascribed unto it The first is Teaching with a saving permanent knowledge of the Truth thereby produced in our Minds This is fully expressed 1 John 2. 20 27. You have an Unction from the Holy One aend you know all things that is all those things of the Fundamental Essential Truths of the Gospel all you need to know that you may obey God truely and be saved infallibly This you have by this Unction For this anointing which you have received abideth in you and teacheth you all things And we may observe that it is spoken of in an especial manner with respect unto our Permanency and Establishment in the Truth against prevalent Seducers and Seductions so it is joined with establishing in that other Place 2 Cor. 1. 21. WHEREFORE in the first Place this anointing with the Holy Ghost is the Communication of him unto us with respect unto that gracious Work of his in the Spiritual saving Illumination of our Minds teaching us to know the Truth and to adhere firmly unto it in Love and Obedience This is that which is peculiarly ascribed unto it and we have no way to know the Nature of it but by its Effects THE Anointing then of Believers with the Spirit consists in the Collation of him upon them to this End that he may graciously instruct them in the Truths of the Gospel by the saving Illumination of their Minds causing their Souls firmly to cleave unto them with Joy and Delight and transforming them in the whole inward Man into the Image and Likeness of it Hence it is called the anointing of our Eyes with Eye-salve that we may see Rev. 3. 18. So doth it answer that Unction of the Lord Christ with the Spirit which made him quick of Understanding in the fear of the Lord Isa. 11. 3. Let these things therefore be fixed in the first place namely that the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Unction which Believers receive from the

his infinite Power that he chooseth first to satisfie her in as that which all his actings towards her were founded in and resolved into without a due consideration whereof all that otherwise could be expected would not yield her Relief And this being fixed on their Minds he next proposeth unto them his Infinite Understanding and Wisdom there is no searching of his Understanding Conceive aright of his Infinite Power and then leave things unto his Sovereign unsearchable Wisdom for the Management of them as to Ways Degrees Times and Seasons An Apprehension of want of Love and Care in God towards them was that which immediately caused their Disconsolation but the Ground of it was in their Unbelief of his Infinite Power and Wisdom Wherefore in the Work of the Holy Ghost for the comforting of the Church his Infinite Power is peculiarly to be considered So the Apostle proposeth it unto the weakest Believers for their Supportment and that which should assure them of the Victory in their Conflict That greater is he that is in them than he that is in the World 1 John 4. 4. That Holy Spirit which is bestowed on them and dwelleth in them is greater more able and powerful than Sathan that attempts their Ruine in and by the World seeing he is of Power Omnipotent Things of our Disconsolation arise from the Impressions that Sathan makes upon our Minds and Consciences by Sin Temptation and Persecution For we find not in our selves such an Ability of Resistance as from whence we may have an Assurance of a Conquest This saith the Apostle you are to expect from the Power of the Holy Spirit which is infinitely above what-ever Sathan hath to make Opposition unto you or to bring any Disconsolation on you This will cast out all that Fear which hath Torment accompanying of it And however this may be disregarded by them who are filled with an Apprehension of their own Self-sufficiency as unto all the Ends of their Being and Obedience unto God as likewise that they have a never-failing Spring of Rational Considerations about them able to administer all necessary Relief and Comfort at all Times Yet those who are really sensible of their own Condition and that of other Believers if they understand what it is to be comforted with the Consolation of God and how remote they are from those Delusions which Men embrace under the Name of their Rational Considerations will grant that the Faith of Infinite Power is requisite unto any Solid Spiritual Comfort For 1. WHO can declare the Dejections Sorrows Fears Despondencies and Discouragements that Believers are obnoxious unto in the great Variety of their Natures Causes Effects and Occasions What Relief can be suited unto them but what is an Emanation from Infinite Power Yea such is the Spiritual Frame and Constitution of their Souls as that they will oft-times reject all means of Comfort that are not communicated by an Almighty Efficacy Hence God creates the Fruit of the Lips Peace Peace Isa. 57. 20. produceth Peace in the Souls of Men by a creating Act of his Power and Direction in the place before mentioned to look for it only from the infinite Excellency of his Nature None therefore was meet for this Work of being the Churches Comforter but the Spirit of God alone He only by his Almighty Power can remove all their Fears and support them under all their Dejections in all that Variety wherewith they are attempted and exercised Nothing but Omnipotence it self is suited to obviate those innumerable Disconsolations that we are obnoxious unto And those whose Souls are pressed in earnest with them and are driven from all the Reliefs which not only carnal Security and Stout-beartedness in Adversity do offer but also from all those lawful Diversions which the World can administer will understand that true Consolation is an Act of the exceeding Greatness of the Power of God and without which it will not be wrought 2. THE Means and Causes of their Disconsolation direct unto the same Spring of their Comfort Whatever the Power of Hell of Sin and the World separately or in Conjunction can effect it is all levelled against the Peace and Comfort of Believers Of how great Force and Efficacy they are in their Attempts to disturb and ruine them by what various ways and means they work unto that End would require great Enlargement of Discourse to declare And yet when we have used our utmost Diligence in an Enquiry after them we shall come short of a full Investigation of them yea it may be of what many Individual Persons find in their own Experience Wherefore with respect unto One Cause and Principle of Disconsolation God declaring that it is he who comforteth his People Isa. 51. 12 13 14 15. I even I am he that comforteth you Who art thou that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die and of the Son of Man which shall be made as Grass And forgettest the Lord thy Maker that hath stretched forth the Heavens and laid the Foundations of the Earth And hast feared continually every day because of the Fury of the Oppressor as if he were ready to destroy And where is the Fury of the Oppressor The Captive Exile hasteneth that he may be loosed and that he should not die in the Pit nor that his Bread should fail But I am the Lord thy God that divided the Sea whose Waves roared the Lord of Hosts is his Name He sees it necessary to declare his Infinite Power and to express in sundry Instances the Effects thereof WHEREFORE if we take a View of what is the State and Condition of the Church in it self and in the World How weak is the Faith of most Believers How great their Fears How many their Discouragements As also with how great Temptations Calamities Oppositions Persecutions they are exercised How vigorously and sharply these things are set on upon their Spirits according unto all Advantages inward and outward that their Spiritual Adversaries can lay hold upon It will be manifest how necessary it was that their Consolation should be entrusted with him with whom Infinite Power doth always dwell And if our own inward or outward Peace seems to abate of the necessity of this Consideration it may not be amiss by the Exercise of Faith herein to lay in Provision for the future seeing we know not what may befall us in the World And should we live to see the Church in Storms as who knows but we may our principal Supportment will be that our Comforter is of Almighty Power wonderful in Counsel and excellent in Operation 4. THIS Dispensation of the Spirit is unchangeable Unto whomsoever he is given as a Comforter he abides with them for ever This our Saviour expresly declares in the first Promise he made of sending him as a Comforter in a peculiar manner John 14. 16. I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for