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	world_n	3,255	5	4.3685	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85418	Theomachia; or The grand imprudence of men running the hazard of fighting against God, in suppressing any way, doctrine, or practice, concerning which they know not certainly whether it be from God or no. Being the substance of two sermons, preached in Colemanstreet, upon occasion of the late disaster sustain'd in the west. With some necessary enlargements thereunto. / By John Goodvvin, pastor of the Church of God there.	Goodwin, John, 1594?-1665.	1644 (1644)	Wing G1206; Thomason E12_1; ESTC R5086	47,494	57

considerable ground and reason that that ancient and learned Father * Gregorie N●zianzene should say that he never saw good end or desirable successe of any Councell or that they procur'd any decrease but rather increase of evi●s Yea and adds that the pertinacious contentions and inordinate desires of domineering or bearing rule were such as words could not expresse Him saith the Apostle God raised up the third day and shewed him openly not unto lith● people but unto witnesses chosen before of God even unto us who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead Mary a woman had both the first revelation made unto her of Christs rising againe from the dead and also the first enterview and sight of him after he was risen Joh. 20. 12. 14. The Scripture takes speciall notice of Lots departure from Abraham before God was pleased to make that excellent discovery of himselfe unto him spoken of Gen. 13. 14 15 c. Yea most of those revelations of himselfe which he was graciously pleas'd to impart unto his ancient Church of the Jewes were not imparted unto them by their Synedrion or Great Councell but by particular men who likewise usually if not alwayes received their inspirations from God in their greatest privacie and sequestration yea and that if the observation of the Rabbins will hold in that behalfe whilst they were yong That light of Evangelicall truth wherein the Reformed Churches rejoyce at this day yea and triumph over Antichristian darkness did not break out of the clouds of Councels and Synods unto them but God caused it to shine upon them from scattered and single starres as Luther Calvin Zuinglius Martyr c. God never took any pleasure to cumber his arme with flesh and bloud when he meant to doe any great thing for his Church by it Wee find him once complaining right out that the people were too many for him to give deliverance or victory by but we never heard of any complaint from him that they were too few And why may we not think but that God may as well say within himselfe that there are too many learned and wise men in a great Councell for him to reveale truth or to give victory against error by The reason of this kind of dispensation is obvious and therefore I forbeare for the present to insist upon it 3. As a presuming confidence of a mans leggs is a signe of such a time or chance in Solomons phrase wherein the race shall not be to the swift and so the challenging a victorie as it were of course because we have chariots and horses and vast multitudes of men expert in warre above our enemies is a presage seldome failing that the battell will not be to the strong in like manner when Synods and Councels shall beare themselves inordinately upon their numbers and multitudes upon their wisdome learning and pietie and because of these shall upon the matter challenge an infallibilitie for what doe they lesse when they command all mens judgements and consciences to bow downe at the feet of their determinations this is little lesse then an authorized ground of Divination that they will miscarry and that God will not honour them with the discovery of any of his Truth unto the world A Synod or Councell though of men never so conscientious and learned though never so both frequent and fervent in fasting and prayer before God that shall assemble and meet together upon such terms I meane so as either to expect but especially peremptorily to conclude before hand that all men shall make Faith and practise of their decisions or else be censur'd and made to suffer like evill doers doe in this set up their idols in their heart and put the stumbling block of their iniquitie before their face and consequently devest themselves of that capacitie wherein they should be meet to enquire of the Lord Should I be enquired of at all by them saith God himselfe Ezek. 14. 3. of such Indeed where greater numbers of men accomplished with grace and parts of learning shall assemble together with humilitie and meeknesse and for ends proportioned to the line and sphere of men as viz. candidly and unpartially to argue and debate and so to finde out the Truth in things appertaining unto God onely with an intent and desire to be helpers of the Saints as by making rough things plaine and things that were hard easie and dark things lightsome and not to exercise a dominion over their Faith as the Apostle speaketh by an authoritative commanding them out of their present judgement what ever it be to doe homage to the results of their debates whether they see light and truth in them or no they may expect a speciall presence of God with them and the Churches of God about them may comfortably waite for somewhat more of the minde of Christ from them then they knew In the multitude of such Counsellors there may be safetie as Solomon speaketh I would gladly beleeve if I could find where to set the sole of the foot of such a Faith that Councels and Synods are wont to meet upon such terms which if they doe not I am almost as farre out of hope of having the joy of my Faith holpen or increased by them as I am of gathering grapes from thornes or figgs of thistles And therefore 4. and lastly Whereas the objection urgeth that wise men are like to see more then those that are weake and many then few I answer That this is not alwayes found true no not in naturall civill or artificiall things wherein notwithstanding there is usually a greater regularitie and uniformitie in the actings and workings of second causes much lesse is it alwayes true in matters belonging unto God wherein himselfe more frequently interposeth by his prerogative and ordereth the tenor and course of occurrences and effects besides the proportion of second causes by the good pleasure of his will All the great and rare inventions of the world which either former or latter ages have brought to light were not the issues or results either of the thoughts or studies of the wisest or learnedest of men nor yet of the consultations or communications of the greatest numbers or multitudes of men but the wise Disposer of all things according to his owne good pleasure and will cast this honour upon particular and single men for the most part and those not alwayes of the most learned or profound as by many instances might readily be evicted if it were necessary And Solomon reports unto us a case wherein one poore man by his wisdome delivered a Citie out of imminent danger which it seems all the rest of the Inhabitants did not see or apprehend how to doe Yea in Councels themselves or greater assemblies of men it is usually seene that some one or few either of predominant parts or authoritie amongst them sway and steere all the proceedings and act the judgements and

of God by doing that which is more like to expose others also to the same stroke then any wayes to comfort or relieve them But whatsoever she can reasonably conceive or judge to be a means any wayes likely to save a soul from death to translate men from darknesse unto life she girds her self to minister unto the world both farre and neer in every such thing She cordially prayes for the conversion of the unconverted she mourns over them she causes her light to shine before them she bears their burthens she intreats them gently she feeds their hungry and cloatheth their naked as she is able she recompenceth evill for evill unto none of them with all such exemplatities of life and conversation which are sanctified and appointed by God for the winning of those without the Word who refuse to obey it 1 Pet. 3. 1. And besides all this that which is the first-born means of conversion she preacheth the Gospel with as much diligence and faithfulnesse and power and with as much libertie and freedome unto all to partake with her in this her ministration as any other way whatsoever yea as readie and forward she is as any other to contribute her proportion to the full whether in counsell purse or otherwise for the furnishing of all the candlesticks in the land with burning and shining lights I mean for the erecting and setting up a faithfull preaching Ministery throughout the Land yea if it were possible throughout the whole world Therefore Fifthly and lastly to the main objection whereas this way with the permission and sufferance of it is burthened with this jealousie and fear that it is so highly displeasing unto God that he is not like to turn in mercie unto the Nation untill it be removed and all the factors for it taken away I answer First that this jealousie and fear is of the same inspiration with that wherewith Rabshakeh of old sought to possesse the heart of the good King Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem that so upon the discouragement they might be the more willing to compound for their City But if thou say to me ●● trust in the Lord our God is it not he whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away and said to Judah and Jerusalem ye shall worship before this altar That which Hezekiah had done in destroying Idolatry with great acceptation in the sight of God and which consequently was in it self a pledge and confirmation unto him and his people that God was and would be with them to save them and their Citie out of Rabshakehs hand this doth this deceived ambitious man contrive into an argument of jealousie and fear unto them that God was offended with them and so represents their hope and confidence in the shape of diffidence and deep discouragement unto them He that perswaded the woman that God knew how that in the day wherein they should eat of the tree i● the mid ●●st of the garden their eyes should be opened and they be like gods c. hath it seems possest many amongst us with this semblable apprehension that from the day wherein they shall destroy that way we speak of out of the Land and suppre●●e all those that walk in it God will be gracious unto them and remember their iniquities no more as if to sacrifice the children in the Fathers sight were the onely means of making atonement with him But Secondly how doth this carrie any shew or shadow of reason or truth in it that God should turn away his face from a State or Nation for not hating his people or for refusi●g to persecute his anointed ones God sometimes said That Nation whom they shall serve I will iudge Gen. 15. 14. Is his mind so far altered in this point that now he should say the Nation who shall give them libertie I will iudge The generall rule of restraint which God hath charged upon States Kingdoms and Nations is this Touch not mine a●●i●ted and do my Prophets no harm and hath he anywhere made Independencie so called an exception from this rule or hath he anywhere made Presbyterie a distinguishing character of such of his anointed ones who must not be touc●'d from others of them who may be crush'd and whose bon●s m●y b● broken Surely circumcision and unci●cumcision differed as much as Presby●erie and Independencie can do yet the Apostle tels us Gal. 6. 15. that in Jesus Christ neither circumcision av●ileth any thing nor uncircumcision but a new creature If Independents be new creatures and born of God their Brethren need not fear any displeasure or anger from their Father for suffering them to dwell in peace by them in the same Land but have cause to rejoyce in such their neighbourhood and societi● as being pillars of the s●me strength with themselves to support the State and Nation wherein they dwell But Thirdly and lastly when mens table becomes a snare unto them and their welfare a trap it is a signe that God is about to bow down their backs if not to make their habitations desolate When the Jews began to reason after this manner and to act accordingly If we let him thus alone all men will beleeve on him and then the Romanes shall come and take away both our place and nation it was a presage that the Romanes indeed would come and take away both which they did not many yeers after Make the heart of this people fat saith the Lord by his Prophet concerning the same people and make their eares heavie and shut their eyes lest they see with their eyes and hear with their eares and understand with their heart and convert and be healed I say no more in this but onely pray with all mine heart and with all my soul that the people of this Kingdom may see with their eyes and hear with their eares and understand with their hearts that they may convert and be healed The Heathens were wont to say Jupiter quos vult perdere dementat Another objection leavied against the Way is this If this way be let alone and suffered to take place it will still undermine the credit and comfort of many worthy and conscientious Ministers in the land For as fast as they through the blessing of God upon their faithfull labours in the work of the Ministery shall convert souls unto God this Way will allure them away from them unto it self whereby their hand must needs be enfeebled and discouraged to their work But to this also I answer First that if that way of Government and worship wherein those good Ministers shall walk who are supposed to convert people unto God be indeed and in truth the way of God there is little ground or cause of fear that any other way should separate between them and their converted ones For first the verie grace of conversion being dispensed unto these by their hand is a great and solemne ingagement upon them to love and

affections of the rest though conscientious and learned to a degree So that upon the matter and just accompt the resolution● of Councels and Synods themselves are but the fruits or putting-forth of the learning and judgement of a very few men and whether these be alwayes of the most conscientious I had rather others should consider then I determine The last objection designed for present examination is this that the intent and project of this way is ambitious high and dangerous that it affecteth a Dictatorship Ecclesiasticall a power of Law-giving that it undermines Civill or Parliamentary Authoritie c. But to this also we answer omitting what was formerly said concerning extravagant height of accusations and charges and the slender probabilitie of truth in them as likewise concerning the speciall disposition of God in ordering the malice or ill will of those that are enemies either to his people or wayes still to shoote the arrowes of their accusations against their b●e●s●plate of righteousnesse where it is strongest and least penetrable 1. That there is not the least colour no nor the least colour of a colour to charge any ambitious or Dictator-like designe upon this Way The reason is because the most essentiall int●insecall and fundamentall principles of it stand diametrally bent against all dictatoring and law-giving by men in the things of God The Sunne may with as much or more reason be suspected of consulting darknesse against the world as this Way of meditating or projecting any Authoritative greatnesse unto it self in this kinde Indeed when it degenerates from it self and passeth into another kind there may be some danger and fear of this Way as there is that Honey should turn into choler when the native property of it is altered by the stomack A Congregationall man become a Classique may as soon as another make a Son of such a designe as is specified in the objection 2. If the Way wee speak of should be so contradictory to her self as to desire or project such a Kingdome as she stands charged with in the Objection yet should not the world have the least cause to fear her prosecutions or executions in this kinde If the Lamb in the fold should threaten or project the slaughter and destruction of all the Lions in the Wildernesse had these ever the more cause to be afraid of her The kingdomes and powers of this world need not fear either the numbers or power of the Saints for taking away their crowns or breaking the scepters of their rule and government untill the world that now is be translated into that which is to come And therefore 3. Whereas this Way is further arrested by the Objection for a Pioner and underminer of Magistracy or Parliamentary Authority I answer that there is no more in this Way to undermine or endanger any Civill Authority or Power whatsoever then there was in Daniels heart to prejudice the life and honour of the King when hee prayed three times a day contrary to the Kings commandement or then was in Pauls Doctrine of Justification by Faith to make voyd the writings of Moses or the Law whereby indeed he did establish it as himself affirmeth Rom. 3. 31. though the Jewes apprehended and charged him with the contrary And doubtlesse the learned Gentleman who undertakes the unmasking of Independency which never wore any is in an utter mistake not only of the intentions of the two Brethren of this Way who ever they were whose words he citeth p. 3. of his late Examination but also of the rationall and Grammaticall construction and import of the words For whereas they say that a man may as well bring a clean thing out of an unclean as make a spirituall extraction ●●t of a se 〈…〉 the Gentleman will needs interpret that they make both Parliament and Assembly secular and unclean whereas by the tenor and carriage of the whole passage it is as clear as the Sun that in neither of these expressions they reflect either upon the one or the other no nor yet in those following words wherein they affirm that it will be demonstratively prov'd against their adversary who makes the Law of the State the first and most considerable band or tye upon men for their submission to his Church-government that he resolves the government of the Churches of Christ in the last resolution of it into the humors wills and pleasures of the world yea of the vilest and most unworthy of men And therefore whereas upon his citation of these words his demand is Brethren bona verba quaeso the Brethren upon his interpretation of them have far more reason to make this request unto him Brother bonam glossam quaesum●● The words are good if the interpretation did but answer For doubtlesse the Brethren in the mentioned period and expressions reflected only upon the generality of the people in the Land who according to the Lawes of the Land yea according to the principles of all reason and equity have the right of nominating persons into the places of Parliamentary trust and power but have no Authority or power from Christ to nominate or appoint who shall be the men that shall order the affairs of Christs Kingdome or institute the government of his Churches These and especially the ignorant and irreligious part of them which they that know any thing concerning the generality of the Kingdome for matters of Religion must needs know to be far the greater part in every place are that secular root out of which the Brethren conceive an impossibility that a spirituall extraction should be made that is that a legitimate Ecclesiastique power should according to the minde of Christ or any precept or president of Scripture be by them conferred upon any man and this impossibility conceived by them they only illustrate and declare by that parallel expression in Job Who can bring a cleane thing out of an uncleane When they imply that men unworthy and strangers to the power of godlinesse and matters of Religion have the right and power of conferring Parliamentary trust and power upon persons chosen by them hereinto they reflect not the least touch of prejudice or disparagement upon the persons honoured with that choyce First because there is no other way no nor is there any conveniency or lawfulnesse of any way whereby to ascend the height of the interest and honour but such a choyce And secondly the votes and voyces of such men being carried upon persons of honour worth and Religion demonstrates that there was so much the more of God in their election which is so far from diminishing their honour in the least that it add● double and treble unto it But to hold that the persons so elected as hath been said have a power by vertue of such nomination or election to enact Laws and Statutes in matters of Religion and to order under mulcts and penalties how men shall worship and serve God as it is a means to