Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	forwardness_n	zeal_n	zealous_a	12	3	8.3767	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A86934	A brief exposition of the prophecies of Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah. By George Hutcheson minister at Edenburgh. Imprimatur, Edm. Calamy	Hutcheson, George, 1615-1674.	1654 (1654)	Wing H3822; Thomason E1454_1; ESTC R209588	282,367	353

1. Christ will have nothing seen in his Churches protection and deliverance but himself only nor will he make use of any thing which might seem to obscure his glory in doing all therefore whatsoever might seem to challenge any of that glory must in that day be cut off See Judg. 7.2 Zeph. 3.12 13. 2. Humane helps confided in prove a great hinderance of deliverance therefore Cities Horses c. will he cut off not only by judgements to come on that people but even in that day of restitution they will be laid by as impediments 3. Confidence in outward things is idolatry Therefore here their cities horses chariots to wit as they are depended on are ranked in with witchcrafts and idols 4. It is rare to see a people enjoying outward things that may seem to promise any thing unto them and yet not confide in them this is evident in that their cities chariots c must be cut off they can hardly enjoy them and acknowledg God as becomes them 5. When the Lord is pleased to deprive his people of probable means of help and calleth them to depend on him it is a pledge of his appearing in an eminent way for them for their cities c. being cut off ver 10 11. so will he destroy their enemies as the latter part of ver 14. ought to be read as agreeing with the Original also and fitting the scope best in this place 6. In the Church of God there is hazard of falling into grossest evils for here it is supposed there may be witchcraft or magi●k whereby men wanting the fear of God enter into one expresse or implicite league with the devil for attaining such ends as their discontentment in their condition impatience under affliction envie malice or curiosity propound unto them there may be soothsayers or divinations whereby men not con●ent to know their duty nor with what God hath revealed of future events do take sinful and damnable courses and put other things in Gods room to foretel what they desire there may be also images and the work of mens hands set up in Gods room as the object of worship and groves or shadie places where they pretended to worship God or indeed worship their idols after their own imaginations There are no evil courses but the Church of God how reformed soever is to be afraid of falling into them 7. These devillish courses and corruptions in worship do hinder the Lords appearance for his people for these must be cut off that he may do for them 8. The cutting off of idolatry and wicked courses is a work of the Lords own hand it is he who oft-times destroyes them by sore plagues and it is he only who can banish these things out of mens hearts I saith the Lord will cut off witchcrafts out of thy hand or make thee not to practise it I will cut off thy graven images c. 9. There can be no blessed delivery from trouble but when there is a compleat and thorough reformation of Religion endeavoured and a destroying of the very monuments of idolatry for not only shall they not worship any more the work of their hands but their images and groves shall be cut off and plucked up and so will he destroy their enemies 10. The Lord will appear for his Church in a singular and wonderful manner and plague their enemies with unuseful judgements after that he is reconciled with them and hath brought them to walk in his wayes for after all this is done I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen such as they have not heard saith the Lord. CHAP. VI. IN this Chapter the Lord again after these many promises stirs up the Prophet to plead his controversie and expostulates with his ungrateful people v. 1 2 3. shewing forth his kindnesse toward them v. 4 5. and what duty they offered to him v. 6 7. with what they ought to have done v. 8. which seeing they did not obey therefore he gives an alarm of the rods coming upon them v. 9. then he more particularly sets forth and proves their several transgressions of their duty in sins against the second Table v. 10 11 12. for which he gives out sentence against them v. 13 14 15. and for their idolatry against the first Table v. 16. Vers 1. HEar ye now what the LORD saith Arise contend thou before the mountaines and let the hills hear thy voice 2. Hear ye O mountaines the LORDS controversie and the strong foundations of the earth for the LORD hath a controversie with his people and will plead with Israel The Prophet propounds in general the Lords controversie given him in commission to plead publickly as it were in view of all the creatures from the high mountaines to the low channels or foundations of the earth this way of procedure formerly used chap. 1. v. 2. doth yet further teach us 1. That sin causeth a controversie betwixt God and the sinner for the Lord hath a controversie 2. The controversie is so much the sadder as it not breaks out betwixt God and strangers but betwixt him and his Church with whom he dealt friendly and who professed friendship and subjection to him and therefore he can endure their offences the worse The Lord hath a controversie with his people and he will plead with Israel 3. The Lord is zealous to have the controversie discussed and himself cleared Arise saith he the Prophets zeal coming short of his forwardnesse to plead this cause contend thou c. and he will plead with Israel that is not only will he have his quarrel shewed but will have it clearly demonstrated that he gave no occasion of the discord and therefore will justly punish as the following purpose cleares 4. Even insensible creatures are so to say more fit to be spoken to then an obdurate people and will bear witnesse against them for therefore beside other reasons insinuate on chap. 1 2. are the mountaines and strong foundations of the earth called to in this processe they keep still their obediential subjection to their Creatour and do tremble if he threaten whereas Israel was stupid and withal these had sometime been shaken and discovered for the good of Israel Psal 18.15 and 114.3 4. and therefore might beare witnesse against their ingratitude 5. A backsliding people are for the most part dull of hearing and plagued with obstinacie and cannot be sensible of their case and danger therefore is the dispute repeated again and they called to hear Hear ye now what the Lard saith 6. Messengers of God their reproofs are not to be sleighted but taken notice of as the Lords controversie for Micah by contending is to cause the Lords controversie to be heard Vers 3. O my people what have I done unto thee and wherein have I wearied thee testifie against me Followeth the pleading of the controversie wherein God first appears and challengeth them for their ungrateful departing from him and his obedience