Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	good_a	great_a	time_n	5,928	5	3.4202	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A33543	A continuation of the historical relation of the late General Assembly in Scotland with an account of the commissions of that assembly, and other particulars concerning the present state of the church in that kingdom.	Cockburn, John, 1652-1729.	1691 (1691)	Wing C4805; ESTC R2774	64,454	78

persons of men in admiration and favours of that Spiritual and pha●isaical pride which will render all our solemn humiliations hateful to God 9. We do protest that these words We have sinned notwithstanding of Promises and solemn Vowing and Covenanting with God to the contrary are not understood by us with any reference to the Solemn League and Covenant which some do apprehend to be the meaning of the General Assembly All these and the like Reasons and Causes of the Fast tho not here exprest that are inconsistent with our declared opinions are renounced and disowned by us And we do protest that our observance of this Fast shall not be interpreted as the approving and homologating any of these And we do desire and intreat all that are of the same Principles with us as they will avoid the Sin of Hypocrisie and mocking of God and would be accepted of him that they carefully separate betwixt these grounds and reasons of the Fast that are agreeable to and these that are contrary to their duty and good Conscience and that they joyn with us in this our Protestation openly owning and declaring their Judgment anent the same We do also earnestly exhort all in the love and fear of God that laying aside all prejudices malice uncharitableness and indiscreet and irregular zeal lying and slandering that they may unite together in confessing the Sins they are guilty of and humble themselves in the sight of God for their Sins and the Sins of their Fore fathers without any partial respect to the opinion that hath occasioned some divisions and differences in present and former times and that they send up their fervent prayers to Almighty God that he would be pleased to bestow of his Grace and Spirit upon all Orders and Ranks of People that they may live as becomes the Gospel and shew forth the praises of him who has called them from darkness to his marvellous light and in particular that they would pray that it may please our most merciful Father to inspire all the Members of his Church with the meek and loving Spirit of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and that every one may seek after these things that make for peace and whereby they may edifie one another that there may be a mutual forbearance of one another as to the opinions anent the Government of the Church which hath occasioned so much disquiet and disorder to this Church and Kingdom and that none be forced or tempted to declare or do against their Consciences and that amidst the differences of opinions there may be a chearful concurrence in all things that have a respect unto the glory of God and the advancement of true Godliness Finally we do exhort all as we our selves do resolve by Divine Assistance religiously and devoutly to observe the Fast for all these ends and purposes and in the manner specified in the Act of the General Assembly in so far as that is consistent with this our Protestation and is allowable by the Laws of the Gospel But upon second thoughts it was concluded that the Protestation might give greater offence than the total neglect of the Fast and so at last it was agreed that none should observe the Fast in any wise But one Mr. D. who was not present being advised that it was safest to make some observation of it that he might not be singular he prevailed with the Minister of Haddington and one or two more to break off from that general resolution and to keep the Fast with him In Edinburgh it was only observed by Mr. Wilkie in the Tolbooth and Mr. Craig in the Lady Yesters Church But no mans Behaviour in this affair was so worthy to be remarked as that of the Reverend Mr. Charters heretofore Professor of Divinity in the Colledge of Edinburgh and at present Minister of Dirleton All who have any acquaintance with him know that he is a person both of great learning and piety whose Charity prompted him to think all the good of every one that can be reasonably conceived He was convinced that there were too many reasons and causes which called for fasting mourning and humiliation but as he well knew the practices of Presbyterians in former times so it seemed evident to him that at this time they were endeavouring to carry on their own Selfish ends under the colour of Religion and had appointed this Fast to be a snare whereby the weak and ignorant might be drawn unawares to own and acknowledge their false and narrow principles and which might afford a fair opportunity of inflicting Ecclesiastical Censures and other punishments upon others who would not so sordidly desert their Principles nor debase their former Character and Profession He had such an impression of this base dealing of the scandal and prejudice which Religion suffered by it and of the danger which threatened the best part of the Church that he thought every one obliged to testifie against this Act of the Assembly and to do all he could to prevent the peoples being deceived And because a bare forbearing a Fast in his judgment was not a sufficient Remonstrance 〈…〉 to be read the Assembly's Act and Reasons publickly in the Congregation and afterwards he spoke to the people to this purpose Ye have heard the causes of the Fast as they are represented by the General Assembly they have recommended it to Pastors and others to be serious and sincere in the Confession and acknowledgment of their own and the Nations transgresions and to be earnest in the●r Supplications for such favours from God as the present condition and circumstances in which this and other Reformed Churches are do call for I hope after the hearing of so long a Paper you will have a little further patience while I sincerely represent to you somethings concerning the sins we are to confess and the mercies for which we are to supplicate All who are wise and have a right sense of true Religion and Christianity cannot but see that there hath been a great defection amongst us This defection hath not been from the truth or from the fundamental Articles of the Christian Faith but from the life of God and the power of Religion and from that temper and conversation which the Gospel requires in us so that I doubt not but we and all good men will joyn with the Assembly in acknowledging the sins and defection of the Nation But whereas the Assembly seems to represent Episcopacy as a principal and capital point of the defection and as introductory into further degrees of Corruption I find my self obliged to declare my sense in this affair upon this ocasion I do not take my self to be bound to endeavour to justifie the manner of the introduction of Episcopacy into this Church An. 1662. nor the manner of Election and nomination of persons to that Office which was in use among us nor the legal Establishment nor the Laws by which it was established among us