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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	good_a	great_a	true_a	2,848	5	3.8360	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96831	Beaten oyle for the lamps of the sanctuarie; or The great controversie concerning set prayers and our liturgie, examined in an epistle to a private friend: with an appendix that answers the paralell, and the most materiall objections of others against it. Unto which are added some usefull observations touching Christian libertie, and things indifferent.	Womock, Laurence, 1612-1685.	1641 (1641)	Wing W3338; Thomason E163_14; ESTC R4346	40,803	77

beacon upon their discovery as if a whole army of Church-trained souldiers were to be raised to encounter them though I confesse in other respects this might be very vsefull The honourable house of Peeres hath set a watch * The Committee for Religion of so many flaming eyes piercing into every quarter tha 't is scarce possible any scruple should escape vnweighed Whosoever stumbles at the stone of scandall may there finde hands enough both ready and of abilitie to remove it Me thinks this might be a super sedeas to all paper quarrells that they have the Soveraigne hornes of such a sacred Altar to repaire unto for Sanctuary where all doubts may as well have a calme as they shall have a just tryall Wee doe see the honourable Court hath done the Dominicall letter justice for whereas it had worne black too long for the funerall of that Sabbath which was not dead but slept now it is reinvested in a festivall robe of scarlet And other things abus'd if they find no redresse here will appeale and cry to a higher throne for vengeance That Liturgy which hath beene sent of so many sacred messages to heaven and so often had Audience with the Almighty does their errand daily who are enenies to her imployment and will bee as ready to joyne with the word * Iohn 12.48 in their judgement hereafter as it is now to co-operate in the worke of their Salvation If we see some passionately religious aginst this vsefull and holy furniture this wind though it blowes with an high gale should not shake the well setled St Paul adviseth us not to admit of Zeale but upon tryall and distinction * Rom. 10.2 Gal. 1.14 Gal 4.18 That zeale of Gods house that eates up us is well qualified a Psal 69 9. But that Zeale in us which eates up Gods house is not commendable Zeale is like fire a good servant but a bad Master even in matters that concerne Gods worship b Iohn 16.2 When the blind zeale of Saul flamed highest it burnt up the Church of God c Act. 9.1 Phil. 3.6 It was well observed by a most learned man of our Church that d Hooker Eccles Polit. l. 5. §. 3. zeale except it be ordered aright when it bendeth it selfe unto conflict with things either in deed or but imagined to be opposite vnto Religion useth the razor many times with such eagernesse that the very life of Religion it selfe is thereby hazarded through hatred of tares the corn in the field of God is pluckt up And with this agreeth that of another worthy writer in a worke set forth lately amongst us e Mr. Leyes Sunday a St bath in the Preface There is saith he a sinister zeale in some against superstition which proveth many times prejudiciall to the practice of Religion For as our late learned Soveraigne hath observed under colour of weeding out superstition it will pluck up by the rootes many plants of paradise f K. Iames his Cign cant p. 8. If any man hath gone about to repaire Rome amongst us this hand that knowes no artillerie more offensive then the quill is as ready as any other to cast the first stone at him But as I must curse him that brings one stick to re-edifie the Popish Iericho Iosua 6.16 so upon the instigation of the same conscience Gen. 11.7 I shall endeavour to confound their language that would build up Babell We shall find the common maxime true in this case t is no thriving way to frame new buildings And there 's no probabilitie of good successe where not so much as the Modell is agreed vpon Our Ancestors thought it good husbandry to reforme and repaire and yet God be thanked we that succeed have no great cause to complaine against them for delapidations Though I am confident there are more blood-shotten then tender eyes that complaine amongst us I could wish the Church were purged from all the dust that is offensiue But I am jealous a new Broome let who will make it will not sweep so cleane here as is imagined Besides why should any man dreame of a new way to prevent offences when God himselfe hath revealed a necessity of their occurring Mat. 18.1 Shall we dis-beleeue Gods word Or can we disappoint his purpose Let us as farre as we can improue those divine directions that are authenticke and leave the successe to the Almighty They are decived that thinke to make the Church on Earth Heb. 11.10 triumphant We must remoue to that city whose maker and builder is God before we find perfection and when no blockes obstruct our way to remoue strawes is but an impediment to our progression God preserue my eyes cleare from beames and I shall be content to dispense with atomes that are vnavoydable in this state of imperfection In the next place let me tell thee Reader that this discourse was never designed to face posts and doores but to settle soules and consciences It was at first intended for the satisfaction of a private friend but is now made publike for the view and I hope for the vse of many And I 'le assure thee it had not come forth in Print had not the Author beene prest before it His modesty was not of proofe to resist or at lest not of ability to prevaile against that importunity that assaulted him therefore looke vpon it but as upon a poore spoile that strength hath forced from weaknesse Perhaps thou wilt not find every knot vntied here The Author knew that hath been performed by sundry hands of more skilfull dexterity Many such peeces have bin discharged already to the battering downe of the strongest Holds erected by our adversaries and 't is a worke may require a volume which cannot be comprised in a short Epistle This relates chiefely to such scruples as as were suggested and objected in a private conference and though it may seeme of no small value yet considering the coyne that passe for currant on the other side I find it may bee put into the ballance with them without allowance and yet because the law affords that liberty it might bee construed too much presumption in me to neglect it Farewell A PRIVATE EPISTLE to a Friend SIR AS you have beene accounted a burning and a shining light amongst us so I desire you would still justifie that opinion by continuing your flaming and devout appearance in the Candlesticke For not to flatter you which the sinceritie of my love forbiddeth I assure you many begin to thinke you are no star but a Comet that can blaze no longer because they see you are not fixed And I must tell you this wandring in mists and darknes will giue just cause to the wise observer to suspect you for an Ignis fatuus You were lighted up for the church and will you put your selfe under the bed-straw I wonder of how many Articles your creed consisteth If you reteine the

prayer Rather let her imploy that intervall of time betweene the prayers to her vagaries then be guilty of an abruption in the midst of her long devotion And this is not a giving of the soule her head that shee may breake loose the sooner for if shee be so piously inclined she may improve that Mite of time by a good thought to prepare for the prayer following If we conforme our prayers to the patterne on the Mount the Lords prayer they must be short and pithy Christ knew what provision was best to be made against our frailty and the Church as I conceive aim'd at a two-fold end in following his example Whereas the Papists goe not to the common Benefactor but have hewed out for themselves a severall cisterne f Ier. 2.13 to furnish them with the several waters that they thirst for and repaire to severall Saints to releeve them in each infirmitie our Church on the contrary puts her wants particularly into the hands of her onely Mediator and hopes to obtaine nothing but through Jesus Christ our Lord. g This is the cloze of every prayer And builds her faith upon that promise Ioh 16.23 Whatsoever ye shall aske the father in my name he will give it you And againe she would have all the people set the seale of their Amen to every blessing that is requested And this is not only significant but usefull It witnesseth their vigilancie it declares their faith and so confirmes their joynt communion in the externall profession of their pure Religion The Church hath learn'd from Christ that where the spirit is willing the flesh may be weake h Mat. 26. v. 40.41 and cannot watch long in Gods service without some moniter to supervize over her and therefore that the Sabbath bee not kept as a rest of sleepe shee would have the people to stirre up themselves and assist the supplications of the Minister with that patheticall ejaculation so often used by our Saviour that hee is therefore as many thinke call'd Amen i Apocal. 3.24 that so their desires burning together in one flame may ascend the swifter with multiplyed wings to heaven * The same may be said for the other Responsals God makes not his construction of our praiers by their length but by their ardencie The Pharisee will for a pretence make long prayers k Mat 23.14 And the Heathen think to be heard for his much speaking l Mat 6.7 the strong cryes of Christ were short yet carnest ones m Heb 5.7 Luke 22.44 and so are the ejaculations of the faithfull n Luke 18.13 The hottest springs send forth their waters by Ebultion * Eructaburt lebia mea Psal 119.171 Devotion is the length and faith the eloquence of our prayers They are like Coine 't is not the bulke but the Image stampt upon them and the excellencie of the metall makes it currant One golden line that hath passed through the Furnace of a devout heart is of more value then a whole sheet of dull and leaden thoughts Wee are Petitioners for our wants to God and not Interpreters Wee doe not pray to expound our will to him but to make an attonement with him to pacifie him to please him that so wee may put a holy engagement upon him to fulfill his promise in fulfilling our desires And if God be to be pacified Opus imperf super Mat. Hom. 13. not instructed Non est necessaria long a narratio sed bona voluntas there is no necessity of a long discourse but of a good affection To put a period to this Argument I should thinke them indiscreetly scrupulous that should leave the outward communion of the church for some inconvenient ceremonies * Possunt te etiam debent multatolerari puetames non recte praecipiuntur Beza ep ad quosaam Anglic. Eccles fratres 1 Cor. 12. and t is more blameable to separate from the maine substance of Gods worship His house is the house of prayer and shall we make it a house of preaching onely that were to be all eare all hearing no mouth no heart which is the Apostles monster in the Church I cannot tell wither I should more pitty or wonder at those men that pretend a transcendent love to truth and vnitie and yet effect an vnreasonable diversity in the formes of their devotion When a good head lookes awry the best ornament is the greatest and the most unseemly deformity The Pythagoreans set a brand upon the Duall number because it was the first that durst depart from unity o Rom. 16.7.18 The Apostle will have us marke those that cause division as well as those that cause offences But all this must be fathered upon the jealousie of a tender conscience whence I take this observation that no men may preserve their Christian liberty about things indifferent so intirely as those who are obedient to the Authority that order them for these men confesse them alterable and therefore as the discreet hand of government shall wind these strings up or downe they can omit or use them without reluctancy Whereas on the other side those that straine at these gnats doe so entangle their consciences with needlesse scruples * Some men to satisfie their weakenes doe rob themselves of their christian liberty Nam ubi semel sein laqucum conjecerunt conscientiae lorgum inextricabilem labyrinthum ingrediuntur vnde non facilis postea exitus patet c vid. Calv instit lib. 3. cap. 19. § 7. that the things which are acknowledged by themselves to be indifferent in their owne nature become dangerous and unlawfull to be used by them and so with striving for it like birds in the lime twigs they doe the more loose their libertie * Non solum spectare debeo quid proximis quid ecclesiae quid honori Christi conducat sedetiam providendum est ne praetextu libertatis solidam sinceram libertatem christianam amittam Pet. Mart. vbi supra But let me expostulate with you a little further Doe we not assemble together in Gods house in Gods name Are not our prayers collects gleaned out of Gods word are not many of them very occasionall and all put up in and through Jesus Christ Doe they not aime at Gods glory and our owne salvation What is the scandall you take yet against them If you thinke mee too much wedded unto Liturgies I 'le assure you 't is not my superstition but my pious constancy for I know in some cases we must tollerate a bleare-eye and other blemishes that are pardonable 'T is no lesse then the crime of adultery that can make a divorce legitimate * Mat. 5.31 But that is a businesse of Gods own institution this of mans And therefore though I acknowledge it good and lawfull usefull and effectuall in the kind yet I am not so inseparably devoted to it as to Gods immediate ordinance I should bee more indulgent