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
A91898	Panoplia. Universa arma. Hieron. Or, The Christian compleatly armed: being a treatise of the Christians armour, clearly opening every part thereof, both pressing to the putting of it on, and instructing us so to use it, as we may not be soyled in time of temptation. / Delivered by that late reverend, and faithfull minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. Ralph Robinson, pastor of Mary Woolnoth, London, to his congregation there, in several lectures: and now published for the further benefit of the Church of God.	Robinson, Ralph, 1614-1655.	1656 (1656)	Wing R1710; Thomason E1586_2; ESTC R208953	180,905	372

there is a fourfold kind of faith Historical Temporary The faith of Miracles Justifying ●reden Deo faith 1. Historical faith is the knowledge and beleef of the truth of divine Revelations upon the testimony of God himself Of this the Apostle speaketh Jam. 2. 19. This faith was in Simon Magus Acts 8. 13. 2. The faith of Miracles is a special gift of bringing to pass some extraordinary work or foretelling some certain event by devine revelation 1 Cor. 13. 2. Mat. 17. 20. 3. Temporary faith is an assent unto the Doctrine of the Scriptures accompanied with the external profession thereof and some kind of joy in the knowledge thereof for a time vide Mat. 13. 20 21. Of this faith the Apostle speaks when he saith that Hymeneus and Philetus have overthrown the faith of some 2 Tim. 2. 18. 4. Justifying and saving faith of which the text speaks the great effect of it doth clearly evince it to be a faith of the best kind for no other faith besides justifying can quench the fiery darts of Satan Now in opening the nature of this grace I shall do two things 1. I shall give you a discription of it 2. I shall shew the several steps or degrees of it 1. For the Discription of it I shall give it thus Saving faith is a supernatural special gift of grace wrought in the heart of an elect person by the spirit of God through the preaching of the word of the Gospel whereby he is enabled to beleeve that Jesus Christ is not onely the Saviour of the World but his Saviour and thereupon cast himself upon him for life and salvation according to the promise I shall open this Discription 1. T is a a gift of grace Eph. 2. 8. Phil. 1. 29. Acts 18. 27. He helped them much who had beleeved through grace 1. The first preparing of the heart to it 2. The first plantation of it the infusing of the habit 3. The means whereby it is wrought 4. The preservation and continuance of it all these are of grace Faith is a part of the new Creature the great and chief part of it and the new Creature is meerly of garce T is called indeed a mans own faith subjective but effective originaliter t is meerly of grace Col. 2. 12. The faith of the operation of God 2. T is a special supernatural gift This doth distinguish it from all other kinds of faith and all other common gifts which are bestowed promiscuously upon men by the Lord Heb. 6. 4. T is an evtraordinary gift afforded unto none but special favourites 3. T is wrought in the heart of an elect person T is bestowed onely upon the elect Here the Apostle calls it the faith of Gods Elect Tit. 1. 1. Ye beleeve not because ye are not of my Sheep John 10. 26. And then t is wrought in the heart the Scripture makes the herrt or will to be the seat of faith Rom. 10. 10. With the heart man believeth unto righteousness The will rather than the understanding is the subject of faith because faith is an act of Election whereby the soul chuseth Christ Now election is more than an act of the understanding 4. T is wrought by the spirit of God through the preaching of the Gospel This sets out both the efficient cause and the instrumental cause The efficient cause is the Holy Ghost not excluding the Father and the Son for Opera Tunilatis ad extra sunt indivisa but the Holy Ghost is the immediate worker of it the Father and Son work this and all other graces by the Spirit and therefore he is called The spirit of faith 2 Cor. 4. 13. And the Spirit works it powerfully not only inciting and stirring up the soul to believe by a moral perswasion only but by an Almighty strength creating such an habit in the heart The Apostle therfore mentions the same power for the working of faith which raised up Jesus Christ from the dead Eph. 1. 19. And then the ministry of the Gospel that 's the instrumental cause Rom 10. 17. called therefore the word of faith Rom. 10. 8. Faith is therefore called the fruit of the lips Isa 57. 19. And we shall do well to take notice of this that the Apostle makes it to be the word preached by a lawful instituted Ministry Rom. 10. 15. It s not the preaching of men that run upon their own account but of such as are lawfully sent to preach the Gospel 5. Whereby he is perswaded that Jusus Christ is not onely the Saviour of the World but his Saviour also Faith must have not only have a general beleef but a particular application also The just shall live by his faith Who loved me and gave himself for me 6. And thereupon casts himself upon Christ for life and salvation according to the promise This shews the very nature of faith T is Recumbency upon Christ T is cleaving to God with full purpose of heart Acts 11. 23. T is the casting of our burden upon Christ T is coming to Christ as to a living Stone Faith is nothing else but the souls venturing it self upon Christ according to the promise This I ad according to the promise to distinguish true faith from false presumption 2. The several steps or degrees of this grace I shall give you that in six particulars 1. Knowledge T is impossible that there should be faith in Christ or in any thing propounded by God till there be the Knowledge of it T is true knowledge is not faith they are two several distinct habits yet it necessarily preceeds faith Faith is the sight of the mind now sight presupposeth a visible object The Apostle makes it impossible to beleeve where knowledge is not Ro. 10. 14. How shall they beleeve in him of whom they have not heard there is a knowledge indeed which followes faith 1 John 4. 16. We have known and beleeved the love that God hath to us Faith is called knowledge Isa 53. 11. Faith is an Cognovenius credendo Calvin advised grace it will not rush headlong into unknown paths when Christ asks the man when he had restored to his sight whether he did beleeve on the Son of God he answered that question with another Who is he Lord that I might beleeve on him John 9. 35 36 37 38. and when he knew the person then he both beleeved and worshiped him 2. Assent After the knowledge of the thing propounded is wrought in the understanding then followeth the Act of the Will giving an assent unto that which is known John 3. 33. This setting to of the seal is nothing else but the firm assent of the soul unto the truth revealed that Gods Testimony is true in every thing to which it gives witness This is that which is recorded of Abraham Gen. 15. 6. He beleeved in the Lord i. e. he did freely yeild his assent to the truth firmness stability of all that which God had delivered to him

16. 20. Shortly Ay shortly in the fittest time in the neediest time that 's done speedily that 's done seasonably You are sure the siege shall be raised and therefore do not surrender upon any condition Charge your Cannons again and shoot them and continue so and you will do execution at last to purpose And know this that the neerer you are to ruine in your own sense the neerer you are to victory Meditate upon the four Reasons I gave you to prove the Doctrine and let your hands and hearts be strengthened in the Lord. And know this that the day of victory will recompence all your waiting and feares vid. Matth. 4. 11. Consider that And so much for the thirteenth verse LECT VIII Novemb. 28. 1649. EPHES. 6. 14. Stand therefore having your loyns girt about with truth c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 IN the former Verse the Apostle gives a LECT 8 general Exhortation to the Christian Souldier to cloth himself with the whole Armour of GOD and to withstand Satan in the evill day of Temptation In this and the following Verses which contain the second general part of the Text He gives him a particular Catalogue of the several pieces of this Armour Offensive and Defensive with Directions how to make particular use of them that he may be enabled to overcome There are in the whole seven pieces of this Armour two of which are laid down in this verse viz. The Girdle of Truth and The Breast-Plate of Righteousness He doth allude to the Habit wherewith Souldiers were used to be accoutred in those times that they might be fit to encounter an Adversary And he doth compare the several Graces of the Spirit to the several pieces of that Armour to let Christians see that the graces of God are as necessary for the soul to resist and overcome temptation as Armour is for the Souldier to resist and overcome his enemy in the day of battel We may in the general note from this comparison made between the graces of God and the Souldiers Armour That Spiritual and Heavenly matters Note are ordinarily in Scripture set out by Earthly and Natural things The graces of God are set out by Armour and the Christian managing of our graces is taught us by the Souldiers right using and managing of his Armour in the day of battel The glorious Mysteries of Religion in Scripture are commonly delivered and held out by the resemblance of outward and natural things A Christians fruitfulness and growth in grace is set out by growth and fruitfulness of trees Psal 1. 3. He shall be like a tree planted by the Rivers of waters c. The glory and beauty and fragrancy of graces is set out by the beauty and fragrancy of flowers and sweet perfumes in many places of the song of Solomon particularly Cap. 3. 10 11 12 13 14. The great Mystery of our union with Christ is set out by the vine and branches Joh. 15. ●nit and of the Foundation stone and the rest of the stones builded upon it Ephes 2. 20 21. Spiritual security is set out by the natural sleep Cap. 5. 2. applying of Christ by Faith is set out by natural eating and drinking John 6. 56. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me and I in him Justification by the Righteousness of Christ imputed to a sinner is in Scripture set out by the garments put upon the body Isa 61. 10. I will rejoyce in the Lord c. for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation c. The Communion between Jesus Christ and a Believing Soul is set out by the joy and delight of friends feasting together Rev. 3. 20. Behold I stand at the door and knock c. I will sup with him c. Spiritual Desertion is set out by the horrour of Natural Darkness Isa 5. 10. The preaching of the Word in the publike Ministry is set out by the work of the Husband-man in sowing his Seed Matth. 13. 3 4. The carrying on of the Work of Grace and Conversion in the Hearts of men is set out by the growth of the seed sowen in the earth Mar. 4. 26 27 28. The glory of the Saints at the Resurrection and in the other Life is set out by the glorious shining of the Sunne and Stars Dan. 12. 3. They that be wise shall shine as the brightnes of the Firmament and they that turn many to righteousness as the Stars for ever and ever I note this for these two Reasons 1. That Christians may see what use they may make of Natural and Earthly things There is not any natural Action there is not any kind of Employment or Trade of Life there is not any Creature by which a Christian might not learn some Spiritual Lesson did God but give him a Spiritual Heart When thou seest the Merchant busle about his business then mightest thou learn diligence in the things of the Gospel For the Kingdome of Heaven is as a Merchant man c. When thou seest the Souldier buckle on his Arms and march with them to meet the enemy then mightest thou think of the putting on and using thy graces c. And for this cause it is that our Saviour did so frequently preach in Parables and Similitudes drawn from earthly things that by this meanes the sons of men might be the better able to conceive of Heavenly Matters when they are thus delivered in their own way And that they might have ever before them visible Monitors to bring to their minds the things of God Indeed if these spirituall things had not first been revealed and taught in the Scriptures the beholding of things Natural would never have taught us such Doctrines but being now made known in the written Word our Memories Understandings and Affections may be very much helped by the studying and contemplation of things natural which set them forth 2. How necessary it is for the Ministers of Christ who are to interpret open and apply the Scriptures to men to have an universal knowledge of all kind of Learning Many think that Humane Knowledge and Learning is of no absolute necessity to fit a man for the Ministry If he have but knowledge in the History of the Bible and a gracious work upon his heart he is sufficiently enabled without the knowledge of other Learning This Text shewes us the contrary some places of Scripture cannot be well interpreted without the knowledge of Natural Philosophy Others cannot be rightly understood without some skill in Astrology Others require the knowledge of Agriculture to expound them to profit Others of the Art of Navigation Others of Military Affaires Similitudes almost from all kinds of Arts Sciences Trades are used in the Scriptures and the more general a Ministers Knowledge is in all these things the better will he be inabled to interpret the whole Word of GOD in the course of his publike Ministry He must study all kind of books And make his

the contrary vertues 13 Look very narrowly to the heart the inward man It 's impossible to preserve Holiness of life if Corruptions be not dayly purged out of the heart Let the blood of Jesus be sprinkled upon the heart every day purge the Conscience and then the Conversation will be kept clean also Out of the abundance of the heart c. Matth. 15. 18. EPHES. 6. 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lect. 14. Janu. 9. 1649. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 IN these words we have the third piece of the spiritual Armour The preparation of the Gospel of peace In which we shall consider of these three things 1. The Epithite given to the Gospel Evangelium pacis 2. The Armour it self The preparation of the Gospel 3. The Subject of this Armour the part of the body upon which it is to be put the Feet I shall at this time onely go over the first of these viz. The Commendation given to the Gospel And it teacheth us this lesson viz. That the Gospel is a Gospel of peace Doctrine In the opening of which Doctrine I shall 1. shew you what the Gospel is 2. What peace this is 3. How the Gospel is a Gospel of peace 4. Answer an Objection against it 1. The Gospel according to the notation of the word signifieth good news glad tydings so the greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so the hebrew word Desporah signifieth it is here used to set forth the joyful tidings of salvation by Jesus Christ first preached to Adam in Paradise by God himself Gen. 3. 15. afterwards by the Prophets by Jesus Christ himself and his Apostles The Doctrine of free grace and obtaining righteousness by faith in Christ without the works of the Law It s called in the Scripture sometimes The word of Gods grace Acts 14. 3. because it doth reveal the riches of Gods grace to the children of men for their salvation Sometimes it s called the word of faith Rom. 10. 8. because it holds out faith in Christ as the instrumental cause of our salvation Sometimes it s called the grace of God Titus 2. 11. Sometimes it s called the mystery of Christ Ephes 3. 4. because it doth reveal Jesus Christ to the sons of men in his person natures offices benefits conveyed by him to such as beleive Sometimes the hidden wisdom of God 1 Cor. 2. 7. It s wisdom because it contains the wise design and plot of God for the saving of sinners And its hidden because it was from eternity hidden in the secret counsels of God till he was pleased to make it known to Adam and because Rom. 16. 25. it is still hidden from many who have not the knowledge of it and because many who know it in the letter do not savingly embrace and entertain it Sometimes it s called the word of life Phil. 2. 16. because by the right beleiving of it men are translated from the state of death to the state of life Sometimes the unsearchable riches of Christ Ephes 3. 8. because in this shop it is that all those riches are laid abroad to the view of men Sometimes it s called the good word of God Hebr 6 5. Every word of God is good the Law is a good word all the threatnings are good they come from him who is good the matter of them is good the end of them is good but the Gospel is by way of eminency called the good word because the greatest goodness and mercy that God ever manifested to his creatures is contained in the Gospel God was very good to man in creation the goodness of God was expressed in the Covenant of works but the highest expression of goodness and love lies in the Gospel And in the Text it s called the Gospel of peace the reason of which we shall see when we have done with the next particle viz. 2. What peace is here meant There is a threefold peace 1. Peace with the Creature of this Eliphaz in Job speaks Chap. 5. 23. Thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field and the beasts of the field shall be in peace with thee He is said to be at peace with the Creatures who is in such a condition that no Creature can be an instrument of his hurt but all creatures are instruments of his good and serviceable to him for his advantage All things are yours things present and things to come 1 Cor. 3. 21 22. 2. Peace with a mans self Peace of conscience of this the Apostle speaks Rom. 15. 13. The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing This peace is a fruit and consequence of faith of this our Saviour speaks Math. 11. 28. Come unto me c. and ye shall find rest to your soules When the soul apprehending the pardon of sin and assurance of Gods love is freed from those fears and horrors which attend unjustified sinners 3. Peace with God Which is nothing else but Reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ of which the Apostle speaks Rom. 5. 1. Being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ For the understanding of this we are to consider man in his threefold state 1. In the state of Innocency In this state man had peace and communion with God God and man were united in a Covenant of friendship There was nothing but Amicableness between God and man man was able to know God as the chief good To will God as the last end of all To give God the glory of his works actively To converse with God There was nothing in him opposite to God or in God till man by sin on his part had made a breach 2. In the state of corruption or the fallen estate of man This is a state of enmity and wrath God and man in this state are at deadly fewd one with another They are said to be afarre off from God they are said to be without hope and without God in the world Ephes 2. 12. Sin hath made such a wide distance that there is no hopes for God and man to come together as friends untill some meanes be used for the removal of this distance This is the state in which all unregenerate persons are The wrath of God abideth on them John 3. 36. In this state man is opposite to God His nature is opposite to God His wayes are contrary to God His heart is full of hatred to him And in this state God hath put man under Rom. 1. 30. the curse and is resolved to have his envy out of him 3. In the state of Graee or regeneration This is a state of reconciliation It consists in these four things 1. The wrath and displeasure on Gods part is quite done away so that he loves the persons and carrieth no indignation in his breast against them Some think that there is no reall wrath in God towards the vessels of election while they are in their natural