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	know_v	see_v	4,988	5	3.1452	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A48454	The Christian mans triall, or, A trve relation of the first apprehension and severall examinations of Iohn Lilbvrne with his censure in Star-chamber, and the manner of his cruell whipping through the streets : whereunto is annexed his speech in the pillory, and their gagging of him : also the severe	Lilburne, John, 1614?-1657.; Kiffin, William, 1616-1701.; Lilburne, John, 1614?-1657. Work of the beast.	1641 (1641)	Wing L2089; ESTC R1513	44,603	44

shined very hot upon mee and the tipstaffe-man at the first would not let me have my hat to keepe the vehement heate of the Sunne from my head Also hee many times spake to the Cart-man to drive softly so that the heate of the Sunne exceedingly pierced my head and made me somewhat faint But yet my God upheld mee with courage and made mee undergoe it with a joyfull heart And when I came to Chearing Crosse some Christian friends spake to me and bid me be of good cheere so I am said I for I rest not in mine owne strength but I fight under the Banner of my great and mighty Captaine The Lord Iesus Christ who hath conquered all his Enemies and I doubt not but through his strength I shall conquer and overcome all my sufferings for his power upholds me his strength enables mee his presence cheeres mee and his Spirit comforts me and I looke for an immortall crowne which never shall fade nor decay the assured hope and expectation whereof makes mee to contemne my sufferings and count them as nothing for my momentany affliction will work for me a farre more exceeding crowne and weight of glory And as I went by the Kings Palace a great multitude of people came to looke upon me and passing through the gate unto Westminster many demanded what was the matter To whom I replyed My brethren against the Law of God against the Law of the Land against the King or State have I not committed the least offence that deserves this punishment but onely I suffer as an object of the Prelates crueltie and malice and hereupon one of the Warden of the Fleets-officers began to interrupt inee and tols me my sufferings were just and therefore I should hold my tongue whom I bid meddle with his owne businesse for I would speake come what would for my cause is good for which I suffered and here I was ready to shed my dearest blood for it And as wee went through Kings-street many encouraged mee and bid mee be cheerfull others whose faces to my knowledge I never saw before and who I verily thinke knew not the cause of my suffering but seeing my cheerfulnesse under it beseeched the Lord to blesse me and strengthen me At the last we came to the Pillorie where I was unloosed from the Cart and having put on some of my clothes wee went to the Taverne where I staid a prettie while waiting for my Surgeon which was not yet come to dresse mee where were many of my friends who exceedingly rejoyced to see my courage that the Lord had enabled me to undergoe my punishment so willingly who asked mee how I did I told them as well as ever I was in my life I blesse my God for it for I felt such inward joy and comfort cheering up my soule that I lightly esteemed my sufferings And this I counted my wedding day in which I was married to the Lord Jesus Christ for now I know hee loves me in that hee hath bestowed so rich apparell this day upon mee and counted mee worthy to suffer for his sake I having a desire to retire into a private roome from the multitude of people that were about mee which made mee like to faine I had not beene there long but Mr. Lightborne the Tipstaffe of the Star-Chamber came unto me saying the Lords sent him to me to know if I would acknowledge my selfe to be in a fault and then hee knew what to say unto me To whom I replyed Have their Honours caused mee to be whipt from the Fleet to Westminster and do they now send to know if I will acknowledge a fault they should have done this before I had beene whipt for now seeing I have undergone the greatest part of my punishment I hope the Lord will assist me to goe through it all and besides if I would have done this at the first I needed not to have come to this But as I told the Lords when I was before them at the Barre so I desire you to tell them againe that I am not conscious to my selfe of doing any thing that deserves a submission but yet I doe willingly submit to their Lordships pleasures in my censure Hee told mee if I would confesse a fault it would save mee a standing in the Pillorie otherwise I must undergoe the burthen of it Well said I I regard not a little outward disgrace for the cause of my God I have found alreadie that sweetnesse in him in whom I have believed that through his strength I am able to undergoe any thing that shall be inflicted on me But me thinks that I had very hard measure that I should be condemned and thus punished upon two Oathes in which the partie hath most falsly forsworne himselfe and because I would not take an Oath to betray mine owne innocencie Why Paul found more mercy from the Heathen Romane Governours for they would not put him to an Oath to accuse himselfe but suffered him to make the best defence he could for himselfe neither would they condemne him before his accusers and hee were brought face to face to justifie and fully to prove their accusation but the Lords have not dealt so with me for my accusers and I were never brought face to face to justifie their accusation against me it is true two false Oaths were sworne against me and I was thereupon condemned and because I would not accuse my selfe It is true said hee it was so with Paul but the Lawes of this Land is otherwise than their Lawes were in those dayes Then said I they are worse and more cruell than the Lawes of the Pagans and Heathen Romanes were who would condemne no man without witnesses and they should be brought face to face to justifie their accusation and so he went away and I prepared my selfe for the Pillory to which I went with a joyfull courage and when I was upon it I made obeysance to the Lords some of them as I suppose looking out at the Star-chamber window towards me And so I put my necke into the hole which being a great deale too low for mee it was very painfull to me in regard of continuance of the time that I stood on the pillorie which was about two houres my backe also being very sore and the Sunne shining so exceeding hot and the Tipstaffe-man not suffering mee to keepe on my hat to defend my head from the heate of the Sunne so that I stood there in great paine yet through the strength of my God I underwent it with courage to the very last minute and lifting up my heart and spirit unto my God While I was thus standing on the pillorie I craved his powerfull assistance with the Spirit of wisedome and courage that I might open my mouth with boldnesse and speake those things that might make for his greatest glory and the goood of his people and so casting mine eyes on the multitude I began to speake after this manner My Christian

not thou worme Jacob and yee men of Israel I will helpe thee saith the Lord and thy redeemer the Holy one of Israel c. Secondly that place in Esay 43. 1. 2. Where God speakes thus to his Elect. Feare not for I have redeemed thee I have called thee by thy name thou art mine When thou passest through the w●ters I will be with thee and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee Thirdly that in Heb. 13. 5. 6. In these words For he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee So that we may boldly say the Lord is my helper I will not feare wh●t man can doe unto me With the consideration of these and other gracious promises made to his people I being one of his chosen ones did claime my share and interest in them and the Lord of his infinite goodnesse enabled me to cast my selfe upon and rest in them knowing and stedfastly beleeving that he is a God of faithfulnesse and power who is able and willing to make good these his promises to the utmost and to his praise be it spoken I desire to speake it my soule was that morning exceedingly lifted up with spirituall consolation and I felt within me such a divine supportation that the basenesse of my punishment I was to undergoe did seeme as a matter of nothing to me And I went to my suffering with as willing and joyfull a heart as if I had been go●●g to solemnize the day of my marriage with one of the choisest creatures this world could afford The Warden of the Fleete having sent his men for my old fellow souldier Mr. Iohn Wharton and my selfe being both in one Chamber we made our selves ready to goe to the place of Execution I tooke the Old Man by the hand and led him downe three paire of staires and ●o along the yard till we came to the gate And when we came there George Harrington the Porter told me I must stay a little and after our partin● commending one another to the protection of our alsufficient God I was bid goe to the Porters Lodge no sooner was I gone in but came Iohn Hawes the other Porter to me using these words Mr. Lilbourne I am very sorry for your punishment you are now to undergoe you must strip you and be whipt from hence to West-minster I replied The will of my God be done for I know he wil carry me through it with an undanted Spirit but I must confesse it seemed at the first a little strange to me in regard I had no more notice given me for my preparation for so sore a punishment For I thought I should not have beene whipt through the streete but onely at the Pillory And so passing a long the Lane being attended with many Staves and Halberts as Christ was when he was apprehended by his enemies and led to the High Priests Hall M●t. 26. we came to Fleete-bridge where was a Cart standing ready for me and I being commanded to strip me I did it with all willingnesse and cheerefulnesse whereupon the Executioner tooke out a cord and tied my hands to the Carts-Arse which caused me to utter these words Welcome be the Crosse of Christ With that there drew neere a young man of my acquaintance and bid me put on a couragious resolution to suffer cheerefully and not to dishonour my cause for you suffer said he for a good cause I gave him thanks for his Christian encouragement I replying I know the cause is good for it is Gods cause and for mine owne part I am cheerfull and merry in the Lord and am as well contented with this my present portion as if I were to receive my present liberty For I know my God that hath gone along with me hitherto will carry me through to the end And for the affliction it selfe though it be the punishment inflicted upon Rogues yet I esteeme it not the least disgrace but the greatest honour that can be done unto mee that the Lord counts mee worthy to suffer any thing for his great Name And you my brethren that doe now here behold my present condition this day be not discouraged be not discouraged at the wayes of godlinesse by reason of the Crosse that accompanies it for it is the lot and portion of all which will live godly in Christ Jesus to suffer persecution The Cart being ready to goe forward I spake to the Executioner when I saw him pull out his Corded whip out of his pocket after this manner Well my friend doe thy office to which he replyed I have whipt many a Rogue but now I shall whip an honest man but be not discouraged said hee it will be soone over To which I replyed I know my God hath not onely enabled me to believe in his Name but also to suffer for his sake So the Carman drove forward his Cart and I laboured with my God for strength to submit my backe with cheerfulnesse unto the smiter and he heard my desire and granted my request for when the first stripe was given I felt not the least paine but said Blessed be thy Name O Lord my God that hast counted mee worthy to suffer thy glorious Names sake and at the giving of the second I cryed out with a loud voyce Hallelujah Hallelujah Glory Honour and Praise be given to thee O Lord for ever and to the Lambe that sits upon the Throne So wee went up to Fleetstreet the Lord enabling me to endure the stripes with such patience and cheerefulnesse that I did not in the least manner shew the least discontent at them for my God hardened my backe and steeled my reynes and tooke away the smart and paine of the stripes from mee But I must confesse if I had had no more but mine owne naturall strength I had sunke under the burthen of my punishment for to the flesh the paine was very grievous and heavie but my God in whom I did trust was higher and stronger than my selfe who strengthened and enabled mee not onely to undergoe the punishment with cheerefulnesse but made mee triumph and with a holy disdaine to insult over my torments And as wee went along the Strand many friends spoke to mee and asked how I did and bid me be cheerfull to whom I replied I was merry and cheerfull and was upheld with a divine and heavenly supportation comforted with the sweet consolations of Gods Spirit And about the middle of the Strand there came a friend and bid mee speake with boldnesse to whom I replied when the time comes so I will for then if I should have spoken and spent my strength it would have been but as water spilt on the ground in regard of the noyse and presse of people And also at that time I was not in a sit temper to speake because the dust much troubled me and the Sunne

the Scorpions of the earth have power to hurt and undoe men as the Prelates daily doe and also Revel. 13. 2. And the Beast which I saw saith Saint Iohn was like unto a Leopard and his feete were as the feete of a Beare and his mouth as the mouth of a Lion and the Dragon that is to say the Divell gave him his power his seat and great authoritie and verse 15. 16 17. And whether the Prelates as well as the Pope doe not daily the same things let every man that hath but comon reason judge For doe not their daily practises and cruell burthens imposed on all sorts of people high and low rich and poore witnesse that their discent is from the Beast part of his state and kingdome So also Revel. 16. 13 14. all which places doe declare that their power and authoritie being from the Pope as they themselves confesse therefore it must needs originally come from the Divell for their power and callings must of necessitie proceed either from God or else from the Divell but it proceeds not from God as the Scriptures sufficiently declare therefore their calling and power proceeds from the Divell as both Scripture and their owne daily practises doe demonstrate and prove and as for that last place cited Rev. 16. 13. 14. If you please to reade the second and third parts of Doctor Bastwicks Letany you shall finde hee there proves that the Prelates practices doe every way suit with and make good that portion of Scripture to the utmost For in their Sermons that they preach before his Majestie how doe they incense the King and Nobles against the people of God labouring to make them odious in his sight and stirring him up to execute vengeance upon them though they be the most harmelesse generation of all others And as for all these officers that are under them and made by them for mine owne particular I cannot see but that their callings are as unlawfull as the Bishops themselves and in particular for the callings of the Ministers I doe not nor will not speake against their persons for I know some of them to be very able men and men of excellent gifts and qualifications and I perswade my selfe their soules are very deare and pretious in the sight of God Yet notwithstanding this proves not their callings to be ever the better as it is in civill government If the King whom God hath made a lawfull Magistrate make a wicked man an officer hee is as true an officer and as well to be obeyed comming in the Kings name as the best man in the world comming with the same authority for in such a case hee that is a wicked man hath his calling from as good authoritie as the godliest man hath and therefore his calling is as good as the others But on the other side if hee that hath no authority make officers though the men themselves be never so good and holy yet their holinesse makes their calling never a whit the truer but still is a false calling in regard his authority was not good not lawfull that made them and even so the Ministers be they never so holy men yet they have one and the same calling with the wickedest that is amongst them their holinesse proves not their callings to be ever the truer seeing their authority that made them Ministers is false and therefore they have more to answer for than any of the rest by how much the more God hath bestowed greater guifts upon them than upon others and yet they detaine the truth in unrighteousnesse from Gods people and doe not make knowne to them as they ought the whole Will and Counsell of God And againe the greater is their sinne if their callings be unlawfull as I verily believe they are in that they stil hold them and do not willingly lay down and renounce them or they do but deceive the people and highly dishonour God and sin against their own soules while they preach unto the people by vertue of an Antichristian and unlawfull calling and the more godly and able the Minister is that still preaches by vertue of this calling the more hurt he doth for the people that have such a Minister will not be perswaded of the truth of things though one speake and informe them in the name of the Lord but will be ready to reply Our Minister that preaches still by vertue of this Calling is so holy a man that were not his calling right and good I doe assure my selfe he would no longer preach by vertue thereof And thus the holinesse of the Minister is a cloake to cover the unlawfulnesse of his calling and make the people continue rebels against Christ his Scepter and Kingdome which is an aggravation of his sinne for by this meanes the people are kept off from receiving the whole truth into their soules and rest in being but almost Christians or but Christians in part But Oh my brethren it behoves all you that feare God and tender the salvation of your owne soules to looke about you and to shake off that long security and formality in Religion that you have laine in For God of all things cannot endure Lukewarmnesse Rev. 3. 16. and search out diligently the truth of things and try them in the Ballance of the Sanctuary I beseech you take things no more upon trust as hitherto you have done but take paines to search and find out those spirituall and hidden truths that God hath enwrapped in his sacred Booke and find out a bottome for your owne soules for if you will have the comforts of them you must bestow some labour for the getting of them and you must search diligently before you finde them Prov. 2. Labour also to withdraw your necks from under that spirituall and Antichristian bondage unto which you have for a long time subjected your soules lest the Lord cause his plagues and the fiercenesse of his wrath to seize both upon your bodies and soules seeing you are now warned of the danger of these things For he himselfe hath said Rev. 14. 9. 10 11. That if any man worship the Beast and his Image and receive his marke in his forehead or in his hand the same shall drinke of the wine of his wrath which is powred out without mixture into the cup of his indignation and he shall he tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy Angels and in the presence of the Lambe and the smooke of their torment ascended up for ever and ever and they have no rest day nor night who worship the Beast and his Image and whosoever receiveth the marke of his name Therefore as you love your owne soules and looke for that immortall Crowne of happinesse in the world to come looke that you withdraw your selves from that Antichristian power and slavery that you are now under even as God himselfe hath commanded and injoyned you in Rev. 18. 4. saying Come out of her my people

fashion of the world yet notwithstanding for the cause of Christ and to doe him service I have and doe bid adue to father friends riches pleasures ease contented life and blood and lay all downe at the foot-stoole of Iesus Christ being willing to part with all rather then I will dishonour him or in the least measure part with the peace of a good conscience and that sweetnesse and joy which I have found in him for in naked Christ is the quintessence of sweetnesse and I am so farre from thinking my affliction and punishment which this day I have indured and still doe endure and grone under a disgrace that I receive it as the welcome Crosse of Christ and doe thinke my selfe this day more honoured by my sufferings then if a crowne of gold had beene set upon my head for I have in some part beene made conformable to my Lord and Master and have in some measure drunke of the same Cup which hee himselfe dranke of while he was in this sinfull world for hee shed his most pretious blood for the salvation of my poore soule that so I might be reconciled to his father therefore am I willing to undergoe any thing for his sake and that inward joy and consolation within me that carries me high above all my pains and torments and you my brethren if you be willing to have Christ you must owne him and take him upon his own termes and know that Christ and the crosse is inseparable for he that will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution and affliction it is the lot and portion of all his chosen ones through many afflictions and trialls we must enter into glory and the Apostle saith that if wee be without afflictions whereof all are partakers then are yee Bastards and not Sonnes And therefore if you will have Christ sit downe and reckon before ever you make profession of him what hee will cost you lest when you come to the triall you dishonour him and if you be not willing and contented with all and let all goe for his sake you are not worthy of him If Parents Husband Wife or children lands or livings riches or honours pleasure or case life or blood stand in the way you must be willing to part with all these and to entertaine Christ naked and alone though you have nothing but the Crosse or else you are not worthy of him Matth. 10. 37. 38. Oh my brethren there is such sweetnesse and contentednesse in enjoying the Lord Jesus alone that it is able where it is felt to make a man goe through all difficulties and endure all hardships that may possibly come upon him Therefore if he call you to it doe not deny him nor his truth in the least manner for he hath said Hee that denyes him before men him will he deny before his Father which is in Heaven And now is the time that wee must shew our selves good souldiers of Iesus Christ for his truth his cause and glory lies at stake in a high degree therefore put on couragious resolutions and withdraw your necks and soules from all false power and worship and fight with courage and boldnesse in this spirituall battell in which battell the Lord before your eyes hath raised up some valiant Champions that fought up to the eares in blood therefore be couragious souldiers and fight it out bravely that your God may be glorified by you and let him onely have the service both of your inward and outward man and stand to his cause and love your owne soules and feare not the face of any mort●ll man for God hath promised to be with you and uphold you that they shall not prevail against you Esay 41. 10 11. But alas how few are there that date shew any courage for God and his cause though his glory lies at the stake but thinke themselves happy and well and count themselves wise men if they can sleepe in a whole skin when Christ hath said Hee that will save his life shall lose it and he that will lose his life for his sake shall find it What shall it profit a man if he gaine the whole world and lose his owne soule Therefore it is better for a man to be willing and contented to let all goe for the enjoying of Christ and doing him service then to sit downe and sleepe in a whole skinne though in so doing hee gaine all the world and see him dishonoured his glory and truth troden under foot and the blood of his servants shed and spilt Yes without doubt it is but many are in these times so farre from suffering valiantly for Christ that they rather disswade men from it and count it a point of singularity and pride and selfe-ends for a man to put himselfe forward to doe God service asking what calling and warrant any private man hath there unto seeing it belongs to the Ministers to speake of these things Yes so it doth but alas they are so cowardly and fearfull that they dare not speake And therefore it belongs also to thee or me or any other man if thou beest a souldier of Jesus Christ whatsoever by place or calling thy rank or degree be be it higher or lower yet if he call for thy service thou art bound though others stand still to maintaine his power and glory to the utmost of thy power strength yea to the shedding the last drop of thy blood for hee hath not loved his life unto the death for thy sake but shed his precious blood for the redemption of thy soule hath hee done this for thee and darest thou see him dishonoured and his glory lie at the stake and not speake on his behalfe or doe him the best service thou canst If one of a base cowardly spirit thus thou dost let me tell thee here and that truly to thy face thou hast a Dalila in thine heart which thou lovest more than God and that thou shalt one day certainly finde by wofull experience Alas if men should hold their peace in such times as these the Lord would cause the very stones to speake to convince man of his cowardly basenesse Having proceeded in a manner thus far by the strength of my God with boldnesse and courage in my speech The Warden of the Fleet came with the sat Lawyer and commanded me to hold my peace To whom I replyed I would speake and declare my cause and minde though I were to be hanged at the gate for my speaking And hee caused proclamation to be made upon the pillory for bringing to him the bookes so then he commanded mee to be gagged and if I spake any more that then I should be whipt againe upon the Pillory So I remained about an houre and a halfe gagged being intercepted of much matter which by Gods assistance I intended to have spoken but yet with their cruelty I was nothing at all daunted for I was full of comfort and courage being mightily strengthned