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	way_n	2,901	5	4.3688	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A36980	The true and absolute bishop with the converts returne unto him : wherein is also shewed how Christ is our only shepheard, as well as our truest bishop : and also, how lamentable and miserable the condition of those men doth appeare to bee, which are out of Christs fold, out of Christs diocesse / by Nicolas Darton ...	Darton, Nicholas, 1603-1649?	1641 (1641)	Wing D273; ESTC R10864	47,823	62

thoughts and words and actions for those are highly to bee commended for rare and excellent Ch istians but against those that will bee so singular in their wayes Luk. 13.14 that with the ruler of the Synagogue they will make sinne to be there where God makes none and count that to be sinne that comes not into Gods ●●●unt Thousands and ten thousands runne astray by this grand provocation 1 Tim. 6.20 giving themselves over to profane and vaine babbling and making the sacred Scriptures at their pleasures and opinions to be like a nose of wax and therefore for conclu ion hereof let me say to such as Saint Paul speakes to Titus Tit. 3.9 saying avoyd foolish questions and genealogies and contentions and strivings about the law for they are unprofitable and vaine Ob. I but saies the wounded conscience seeing those are the provocations that cause men to goe astray how shall we for our parts know when we goe astray and when not yea and when we keepe the fold and when not Sol. For answer whereunto though wee have spoken before of some discoveries in this kind observe these symptomes and characters in Divinity which doe most assuredly certifie mens consciences when they are out of Christs fold and when they appeare to the eye of all GODS people to bee like lost sheepe Diverse symptomes whereby we may know when we are out of Christs fold The first Symptome is an hating of reformation Acts 7.51 to 54. First the first symptome and token that declares a man before God and the world to be a lost sheep to be straying from the fold of Christ to be a Wolfe or a Goate and not a Lanb of the flocke is an hating of reformation when men cannot endure to be told of their faults when they will not hearken to the voyce of the Charmer charme hee never so wisely when like gall'd backes and consciences they cannot endure to bee touched and when reprehension and instruction is bitter in their eyes Such straying sheepe for examples sake were Saint Stephens madde men who when the holy man of GOD tells them of their faults how stiffe necked and uncircumcised in hearts and eares they were and how they and their fathers had slaine the Prophets and how that touching the just one they were no better than betrayers and murderers instead of making good use thereof frendebant cordibus they were cut to the heart and gnasht upon him with their teeth not like Peters converts that were the better for their reproofe of whom the Text saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that they were prickt to the heart and said Acts 2.37 men and brethren what shall we doe to be saved but like Amos his Revolters that did hate him that rebuked in the gate Amos 5.10 and that did abhor him that spake uprightly Now if the Children of God tell such what a lamentable condition they are in how that their wayes are the wayes of destruction and how that they are in the gall of bitternesse and in the bondage of death and they are ready to brasse over their words and to flint their foreheads and to say with those straglers in the Prophets time It is not the Lord Jer. 5.12 13. neither shall evill come upon us neither shall we see sword nor famine and again the Prophets shall become winde and the word is not in them and again hee further proceedeth come let us smite him with the tongue and not give heed to any of his words but alasse alasse what a misery thinke you doe such wandring goats such haters of reformation even hale and pull upon their own heads and upon ●hem tha● belong unto them the Prophet telleth us that their children shall be delivered up to the famine Ier. 18 21 22. and their bloud powred out by the force of the sword and their wives bereaved of their children and bee widdowes and their young men bee slaine with the sword in battel and that a cry shall be heard in their houses when that the Lord shall bring a troupe suddenly upon them all which is concordant with the words of the wise man viz hee is in the way of life that loveth instruction P●o 10.17 but hee that hateth reproofe erreth Secondly The second symptome of a straying sheepe from Christs fold is a defileing of the Ordinances of heaven the second character and symptome that declares a man to be a straying sheep and a great way from Christs fold is a polluting or defiling of the ordinances of the most High when men doe not only forsake the practice of Gods testimonies themselves but to their uttermost power speake evill of the good way of God that thereby they may discourage others from being zealous in GODS cause For instance sake such accursed wandring Goates the Prophet Malachy speaketh of saying Mal. 3.14 how that they said that it was in vaine to serve God and what profit is it that we have kept his testimonies and that we have walked mournefully before the Lord of Hosts like those rake-hells also in Saint Peters time who that they might cause others to stray from the flocke and fold of Christ as well as themselves utter such and the like reproachfull taunts and tearmes viz where is the promise of his comming for since the fathers fell asleepe all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation but what I pray is like to be the doome and destinie of such stragling Goates The Prophet Ezekiel tells such filthie Cattell that foule with their feete the residue of Gods Pastures Eze. 34.22 and that thrust with side and with shoulder and push all the diseased with their hornes till they have scattered them abroad that he will at the length take judgment on them The third Symptome of our going astray from Christs fold is a too much rellishing of mundane matters 2 Tim. 4 10 1 Sam. 15.9 26. The third and last Character and symptome that declares a man when he is straying from the fold of Christ is a savouring or a rellishing or a tasting of nothing else in the world save worldly matters Hereupon it was said of Demas that hee had forsaken the flocke of God and had betaken himselfe to this present world and of Saul sparing Agag and the best of the Sheep and that Oxen that he had disobeyed the commandement of the Lord and that therefore the Lord had rejected him from being King over Israel and therefore for conclusion of this point remember the golden lesson of our blessed Saviour to his beloved Lambes which he would have for to keepe the fold Mat. 6.33 saying Oh seeke first the kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof and then all other things shall bee added unto you Ob. I but suppose saith the wounded conscience that I am branded with all these markes that all those Characters and symptomes of a straying sheepe are upon me what am I