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	justification_n	justify_v	3,020	5	8.4033	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A43587	The sure mercies of David: or, a second part of Heart-treasure Wherein is contained the supream and substance of gospel-mercies purchased by Christ, and promised in the covenant of grace, together with the several ways how they are made and are to be improved for the saints fort and defence, settlement and incouragement in shaking and back-sliding times. Being the fruit of some meditations upon Isa. 55. 3. By O. Heywood an unprofitable minister of the gospel.; Heart-treasure. Part 2.	Heywood, Oliver, 1629-1702.	1670 (1670)	Wing H1775; ESTC R216795	143,081	284

questioned or denyed Well God hath his way and day to convince these wretched Atheists by real and unanswerable demonstrations so that all men shall say Verily there is a reward for the righteous verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth Psal 58.11 2. It notably confutes the Papists because all these good things of the Covenant are mercy not merit we are under a Covenant of Grace not of Works Dei miscricordia merita nostra the mercies of God are our merits We have cause to renounce our own righteousness alas what are our best works to obtain favour at the hands of God those before Conversion which they call meritorious de congruo are not truly good works wanting a Principle and those after Conversion which they call works of condignity these are not exactly good without the stain of imperfection and therefore cannot merit they hold two justifications according to these preparatories They acknowledged Christs Righteousness to be the only meritorious cause of this first justification i. e. he procureth the infusion of this grace all Papists assert roundly that man is justified per solum gratiam inhaerentem tanquàm per formam integram sine imputatione externae justitiae Christi Suarez l. 7. c. 7. p. 83. the first is when a sinner of an evil man is made a good man which is done by pardon of sin and infusion of inward righteousness i. e. the habit of Hope and Charity the second is when a man of a good man is made better and this say they may proceed from works of Grace because he which is righteous by the first justification can bring forth good works by merit whereof he is able to make himself more just and righteous but we assert that the very thing by which we are justified and accepted is only the mercy of God and the merits of Christs active and passive obedience which are imputed to us and received by faith alone and our obedience or performances cannot be satisfaction to Gods justice because they are imperfect and defective Isa 64.6 filthy rags a rag and cannot cover us and filthy therefore will rather defile than justifie us at the great day we must have something that can countervail the justice of God but Paul durst not appear in his own Righteousness but in Christs Phil 3.9 and how dare we Certainly Paul's Doctrine is an infallible truth of God Rom. 3.20 by the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight And ver 24. being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ and though Papists deride imputed righteousness Yet 't is mentioned ten times in Rom. 4. and frequently asserted and proved through Paul's Epistles So 2 Cor. 5.21 as Christ was made sin for us so are we made the Righteousness of God in him now Christ was made sin for us no otherwayes than by God's imputing our sins to him for 't is Blasphemy to say Christ was sin by infusion of sin into him or inherency of sin in him Besides our justification comes to us as our condemnation which was not only by propagation but by the imputation of Adam's disobedience Rom. 5.19 all the mercies of the Covenant are to believers made over by a deed of gift indeed the wages of sin is death but eternal life is only the gift of God with all that leads thereunto Rom. 6.23 But however Papists may dispute in the Schools yet when they come to lye upon sick and death-beds they are glad to come off with Bellarmines tutissimum est it 's safest to rely only on the mercy of God and merits of Christ for justification let us still hold the safe way and leave them to their uncertain imperfect Righteousness Dr. Prideaux Lect. 5. De just fol. 64. But 't is easily discernable what is the reason of the Papists opposing free justification by grace only because it would demolish their Purgatory Masses for quick and dead Invocation of Saints Worshipping of Images Indulgences and their Treasures of Merits See this Doctrine stated and cleared in Durham on Rev. fol. 585 c Vid. fol. 590. to 594. Ipsa gloria Secundum totum suum esse ut ita dicam s●cundum substantiam tan ●●a● merces meritorum ●●mittitur Suarez lib. 12. cap. 28. page 222 223. hence a modern Divine hath laid down the grounds that render the Salvation of a Papist in a sort impossible and clears it in this about Justification and proves undeniably that their contrivance of the way of Justification doth overturn most if not all the truths of the Gospel and is utterly inconsistent with Gods way of saving sinners for it is the same for matter and form with the Covenant of works which they say Christ hath merited and strength anew to keep the same as Adam in innocency and now sinners are to stand and fall in the obtaining of life promised according to their own performing of the condition of works in the use of that first grace and by this they merit perseverance and Heaven and lest in-dwelling corruptions and defects in duties marr this they say concupiscence is not a sin against the Moral Law and there are many sins Venial and not Mortal which therefore do not hinder merit and acceptation alas what a new and Anti-evangelical way is this which confounds Justification and Sanctification derogates from the Nature of Grace enervateth the merit of Christ altereth the nature of the Gospel-covenant c. But I must not inlarge let us study this important subject and take heed of corrupting this Fountain or building on any other foundation besides Christ's sole righteousness 2. There 's another uncomfortable Doctrine of the Papists which is a denyal that a Christian can be assured of his interest in the Covenant and his eternal salvation We hold that a Christian may attain to assurance of faith without extraordinary Revelation they say a man may indeed attain to a conjectural certainty which only ariseth from hope in regard of God which promiseth but in regard of our selves and our indisposition so we are to be at uncertainties certainly a Child of God may not only be assured of Gods fidelity but his own sincerity these Mercies are Sure in respect of the Subject as well as the Object for the promises run in general and indefinite terms whosoever believeth shall be saved but I saith the soul truly believe therefore I shall be saved and this particular application and reflection is as much as if he said if thou John Thomas Peter do believe thou shalt be saved now though the heart be deceitful yet the Scripture hath laid down such Characters by which a man may try and discern the sincerity of his own act in closing with Christ for true believing is a receiving of him as he is offered to us in the Gospel Joh. 1.12 Besides the Saints receive the Spirit of Adoption which beareth witness with their spirits that

they are dear to Jesus Christ but free to us they are purchased with the warmest blood in the veins of the Son of God yea he thought his dearest heart-blood well bestowed to purchase these sure mercies he sees of the Travel of his soul and is well satisfied the fruits of his purchase are the joy of his heart he thinks these worth all his pains pain and dolours God the father is well pleased and accounts these mercies a valuable fruit of his Sons purchase and shall not we be thankful 3. They are Deep mercies Aquae quo sunt profundiores eo sunt puriores quoniam crassa terrea materia in profundum depressa est hinc profunditatem a quarum bibea Ezek. 34.18 high and broad and have all the dimensions of greatness Psal 36.5 6. these mercies can fetch up a drooping despairing soul out of the grave yea out of Hell be the soul sunk as low as sin can make it in this World these mercies can fetch it up and raise it out of the grave and pit of silence and save to the uttermost Oh what a long arm of mercy hath been reached forth unto your troubled hearts in your low estate and doth not this deserve thankfulness 4. They are Designed mercies purposely designed aimed and intended to set forth riches of grace the infinite contrivance of the blessed God to magnifie riches of love to sinners 't is true God intended to set off his power wisdom justice truth but he hath magnified his mercy above all the rest of his name it 's beyond the rest of his works the attributes of God are set very high but mercy sits in the chiefest Throne he declares to Angels and Saints what he can do for sorry man oh advance free-grace 5. They are Dignifying mercies such honour have all his Saints oh what an height doth God raise his Covenant-Children to he deals bountifully with them by these Covenant-mercies was David raised up on high 2 Sam. 23.1 and therefore confesseth that God regarded him according to the estate of a man of high degree 1 Chron. 17.17 and truly it is the highest preferment in the World to partake of these sure mercies and therefore we have great cause of thankfulness 6. They are Sanctifying mercies they season all other mercies and make common mercies to become Covenant-mercies yea they make crosses mercies they perfume the most offensive griefs and are like Moses's Tree that sweetens the Waters of Marah if you poure a paile of Water on the floor it seems a little Sea but pour it into the Ocean it 's swallowed up and seems nothing so afflictions out of the Covenant are intollerable but as in Covenant-love they are inconsiderable the depth of mercies drowns the depth of miseries and is not this ground of thankfulness 7. They are Separating mercies hereby are Gods Children distinguished from all the people that are upon the face of the Earth Exod. 33.16 19. even in their finding grace in Gods sight and his presence with them and making his goodness pass before them if there be any discriminating mercies for any of the Children of men as protection provision direction these Covenant-mercies usher them in and sort them out to the heirs of Promise and if they be good for them they shall partake thereof then bless God 8. They are Sealing mercies they signifie exhibit and represent Gods love to the soul where-ever these mercies are laid up in the breast of a sinner that soul is the Jedidiah or beloved of Gods soul they testifie such a souls relation to God and Gods affection to it wicked men are strangers to Covenant-love Gods people are the proper subjects of these endeared thoughts of Gods heart and are you of that number oh give God the glory of this mercy 9. They are Extensive mercies they are exceeding broad they have wide arms and embrace all the heirs of Promise not a gracious soul though never so poor is left out yea they are largely extended to every Christians state case exigency and necessity let doubts be what they will let ●ears falls faults be sad and soul-astonishing yet these sure mercies will answer all they are commensurate and proportionated to all conditions of soul body estate relations oh bless God for them 10. They are Comprehensive mercies they contain all the good that God promiseth or a soul needeth grace and glory holiness and happiness peace and pardon all our fresh springs are herein the good things of this life and of a better and there are many precious things put forth by this Sun of righteousness in a Covenant-way Oh what cause have we to bless God and admire free-grace that hath not only given us the spiritual good things of his Kingdom righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Ghost but temporal good things by a sure and sweet tenure so that these sure mercies of the Covenant insure unto us the corporal mercies that are good for us and and after another and better manner than any uncovenanted persons though never so great can enjoy them for in a Covenant-way believers do enjoy common-mercies 1. More refinedly taken off the dregs o● cares and sorrows Prov. 10.22 a Saints bread Psal 81.16 though never so course is of the finest of the wheat and he is satisfied with honey out of the rock Luk. 8.18 Psal 39. yea they come 2. More really other comforts are but seeming comforts as man walketh in a vain shew so what he enjoys is but a dream but outward comforts coming through the blood of Christ are solid substantial refreshments again they come more 3. Sweetly have not those prickles and stings that worldly things have to natural men Oh the peace and quietness that a Christian enjoys with outward comforts and further comforts come to a Child of God more 4. Serviceably the creature doth homage to its Maker and Masters Children so that what they have is for their good and doth them good and comforts also come more 5. Satisfyingly a Godly man is more contented with his little than the men of the world can be with abundance a little that the righteous hath is better than the riches of many wicked Psal 37.16 and then a Child of God enjoys his comforts in a Covenant-way more safely he needs not fear want bread shall be given him his waters shall be sure Isai 33.16 God is the Christians purse-bearer and it 's in safer hands than in his own and they are here more 7. Lastingly we shall have corporal mercies as long as we need them and when we need them not they shall be swallowed in eternal enjoyments O therefore let the Saints of God be truly thankful let the high praises of God be in their mouths this is the chief rent and reasonable Tribute that God expects for these sure mercies sacrifice these sacrifices of thanksgiving take this Cup of salvation and give God the praise that 's due unto his name Begin that work here in time which shall be fully managed by the ransomed of the Lord to all Eternity this this shall be the burden of the Saints triumphant Song in Heavenly Mansions that glorious pallace shall ring and eccho with the blessed note of mercy mercy free-grace laid the foundation and grace grace only lays the top-stone of Saints glory Oh how will God be admired by and in all that believe at that day well sirs begin those Hosanna's here that will be seconded with Hallelujahs hereafter speak well of your gracious God admire this new-Covenant design and let him have all the glory of this blessed contrivance so shall you accomplish Gods end and evidence your Covenant-interest in these sure mercies of David Thus though these Divine graces which adorn the Temple of a Christians breast do sometimes disappear and sin costs the soul some tears yet the gracious soul hath abundant ground of thankfulness for the whole transaction take it in Divine Herbert's Poem of Church-floor Mark you the floor that square and speckled ston which looks so firm and strong is Patience And th' other black and grave wherewith eac● on is checker'd all along Humility The gentle rising which on either hand leads to the Quire above is Confidence But the sweet Cement which in one sure band tyes the whole frame is Love and Charity Hither sometimes sin steals and stains the Marbles neat and curious veins But all is cleansed when the Marble weeps Sometimes death puffing at the door blows all the dust about the floor But while he thinks to spoil the room he sweeps Blest be the Architect whose art could build so strong in a weak heart FINIS