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
A77300	The riches of grace displayed: the second part. In the great instances thereof. In giving the son. Sending the spirit. Effectual calling. God's covenanting with man. By W. Bagshaw, minister of the gospel	Bagshawe, William, 1628-1702.	1685 (1685)	Wing B433BA; ESTC R230488	68,148	214

than most near ' em Doth not God sometimes direct his Call to the chief of sinners Acts 9.1 2 3 4. Sometimes stopping 'em as he did Saul in pursuit of their sins I add Agens liberrimum Is not God most free in all he gives And so in giving this Call May we be taught of God hereof to make the best Application First inferring That the Free Grace of God particularly of God the Father bespeaks our Meditation yea our Admiration 1. Do not the Riches of his Grace shine upon if not into the Eyes of all those that are externally called by the Word of God Is not the Gospel styled Grace Tit. 2.11 the Grace of God not onely because Grace is the Subject on which it treats but withall because it is the Spring from which it flows I deny not that the Creatures are Witnesses as of the Being so of the Bounty of God they have a Tongue and Language Psal 19.1 2 3 4. But Scriptural Revelations have the Advantage both as to fulness and clearness They more shew the Face and Heart of God And that the Sun of Righteousness in the dispensation of the Gospel should arise on some when others are benighted and left in the dark Is not the hand of Grace in this Surely then 2. The exceeding Riches of Divine Grace are displayed on behalf of those to and in whom the Call of God is inward and effectual Doth not this appear on a right resolving of some Questions 1. Were they not chargeable not onely with distance from and difference with God as they were in their Natural state Isa 53.6 but withall with many and great deviations from and provocations of God in their Practice 2. Can they upon their coming in Psal 16.2 and answering the Call of God add a mite to his Essential Glory Doth their goodness at best extend to him 3. Was not the state out of which they are called a very dismal and doleful one Eph. 5.8 And so set out by the name of Darkness * See Dr. Manton which takes in Ignorance Sin and Discomfort and implyes their unfitness to honour and enjoy God 4. Is not the state into which they are called a most desirable one Is it not set out by Light 1 Pet. 2.9 which hath its lustre Is not this Light styled marvellous And that deservedly Seeing 1. It resembles that which appears to those that have been long in the dark being Glorious 2. It discovers things great See Mr. Watson and greatly to be admired even Heavenly Mysteries 3. It hath admirable Vertues 1 Cor. 2.10 being 1. Cleansing 2. Healing 3. Quickning 4. Hearing 4. Mat. 25.41 It is the dawning of the Day of Glory which is full and will be Eternal where the Joy is always fresh and beyond expression refreshing The Second Inference is The Office and Employment of the Ministry is of great Usefulness and Honourableness May all engaged therein consider this Are not Ministers as the Lords Mouth by whom as the Gospel is the voice in which he useth to call men Doth he not create the fruit of the Lips Power Power as well as Peace Isa 57.19 Peace Doth he not much send by these Messengers Wooing very many and winning not a few Did not one of the Ancients call another of 'em the Parent of his new Life Novae vitae parentem he being so under God O that at him through Ministers Hearers did more look The Third Inference They who hear the joyful sound of the Gospel should hearken diligently thereunto and wait that he who therein gives 'em Calls would therewith give 'em hearing Ears Isa 55.3 and understanding Hearts I am far from saying that men can give efficacy to Calls given 'em but I know they may provoke God not to give Efficacy to 'em and as to those that continue unconverted Psal 51.4 God will clear himself when he Judgeth 'em for not coming wholly over to Christ 1. Was not Christ presented to 'em as an adequate object of Faith 2. Were they not urged to come to him by moving Motives drawn from the sweetest Promises and severest Threatnings 3. Had they not the same Natural Powers with those that came to him 4. Did they as they should have done call on and cry to the Lord that he would give 'em ability and willingness and cause 'em to come 5. Will it not on a due search be found Joh. 5.40 that their unwillingness was the immediate hindrance of their not coming And that unwillingness was caused by their being in league with some base Lust That Hearers may be more mov'd to hearken to Gospel-calls Be it consider'd 1. The Lord is very real in the offers and tenders of his Grace and it would highly please him if sinners did embrace and accept ' em Far be it from us to question his Word in the case who yet to give us full measure hath added his Oath 1 Tim. 2.4 Ezek. 33.7 Vae nobis si Deo juranti haud credamus and sworn by his Life which none can question will not woe be to those that believe him not when he swears 2. God calls not sinners for any need he hath of 'em Job 22.2 Stars might rather profit the Sun than man be profitable to his Maker 3. The way of sin from which God calls men is dishonourable to them and not to him onely and will if not turn'd from damnifie yea Ezek. 18.31 damn 'em for ever 4. The Obedience he calls to is every way for their good Micah 6.8 Mat. 11.29 Qui jubet juvar 5. It will be made easie through his Grace who is ready to qualifie the Humble for that which he calls 'em to May sinners give these things the weight they deserve The Fourth Inference It is the near concern us all to commune with our own Hearts and make diligent search whether God from and by his Grace hath effectually Called us Motives unto it are 1. Many have an external Call who want an effectual one 2. They that are Call'd effectually Mat. 20.16 2 Cor. 13.5 Psal 32. last may come to know their state 1. The Rule for Tryal is right 2. The Spirit is ready to assist Tryers 3. They whose Evidences are good have great cause to rejoyce 4. Ezra 9.2 See on this my dear Brother New-come's Sinners hope If on Tryal the Case of Persons be not found good there is a Cure in and for it May great heed be taken that the Standard be set even and agreeably to Scripture and neither too high nor too low that so we may take a true measure of our selves For our furtherance therein I shall on this Subject as I did on a former lay down Marks exclusive If they be on us we are not called according to God's purpose and grace The First is Being in love with darkness and so with the sleep it inclines

14. We do not use to call those that are at hand and near us Though God be nigh to all as to his Essence and Providence many and many are far from him as to their Choice and Affection They are in the World without God in the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they are so willingly and so in a sort Atheists The Second is No meer Humane voice no word of Man can or will reach those that are in that state Isa 43.8 They are as unwilling as unable to come in of themselves and so a strong and loud Call from God is needful in the case Is there not a stone in mens Hearts that may be called as one we have read of is the deaf stone In Heylin Psal 58.4 5. It renders 'em like the deaf Adder they hear not Spiritual Charmers The Third is Though men cannot God can speak home to the Hearts that are hardest of Hearing Is not his voice attended with Power Psal 29.3 4. Are not the Spiritually deaf and dead made to hearken to it As none hath an Arm like Gods John 5.25 so none whether Men or Angels have a Tongue like his Was not his Word a Creating Word And is it not an effectually calling word The Fourth is When God speaks to persons powerfully he speaks to 'em particularly even to every one of 'em by Name and doth in effect say So said Rouzing Fenner Thou art the Man Thou art the Woman with whom I have to do Too many put off the Word of God from 'em Acts 13.46 and count the great things of his Law a strange thing or things wherein * Hos 8.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Septuag the concern of others lyeth but those whom God calls in the sense of my Text cannot do so they must hear and Answer And so the Fifth is Upon this Call persons come out of their former respect to their sins and confidence in themselves unto Jesus Christ that they may be and abide in him They that have sitten general calls to them among others cannot but stir when God directs this peculiarly to themselves 1 Thes 1.5 Doth not Power go forth with the Word so that it is a working Word He saith to one Come and he cometh to another Go and he goeth and to a third Do this and he doeth it He so calls that he Converts ' em The Sixth is Ordinarily this Call is given to Men that sit under the Ministry I deny not the Lords Liberty to go his own way far be it from me to limit the Holy One of Israel Micah 6.9 I grant he makes good use of Rods many have tasted Honey on the end of ' em But is it not his manner by Rods to cause words to be more regarded 2 Cor. 10.4 5. Doth he not love to own and honour his own special Institutions and speak by his Embassadors that are as his mouth If any desire a further account concerning the Nature of this Call they may do well to repair to the Catechism On the description given therein of it I shall give the hints that come next First Effectual Calling is a Divine work A work of God on the Creature Phil. 3.14 Opus ad extra and so the undivided work of all the Persons though according to my Doctrine the Father or first Person in order of working is first in it Ordine operandi Wolleb Clear it is 1. This work flows from a Power that is Divine Who short of the Almighty can so call as that men shall hear and live 2. This work hath its rise from Divine Pity Who but he that is the God of all Compassion would so call those that have wilfully departed from him and are prone to do so Secondly See Mr. Woodbridge Firmin c. Effectually-called Persons are convinced Persons All that hear of Christ are bound to come to him but none will come save those that see and feel a need of him Mat. 11.28 Is the Physitian of Israel in great request with any save such as are sensible of their Souls Diseases Doth not he especially invite the weary and heavy laden Thirdly Gal. 1.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When God calls Persons so as to cause 'em to hear and come to him he not onely convinceth 'em of sin but withal reveals his Son to yea and in ' em Acts 26.18 He opens their Eyes whom he turns from the power of Satan to himself Faith is a seeing Grace and so is styled Knowledge Do not they who choose Christ see the greatest reasons for their Choice Fourthly They that are according to my Text Called Velle naturae bene velle gratiae est have a change wrought in their Hearts and Wills Though there is no force put on the faculty of willing there is a blessed alteration of the quality of the will Phil. 2.13 They who still will freely are enabled so to will the best good Psal 110.3 Are not People made to choice purposes willing in the day of God's Power For the demonstration of the truth of the Doctrine I shall touch on two plain important Points The First Point is God doth give sundry persons an Effectual Call Who can make a doubt of this that well observes those effects that are as so many Evidences of it To wit 1. Mens leaving yea loathing those sins they once extreamly loved yea being most set against ill ways they were most set on 2. Mens being for the denying yea Ezek. 36.26 31. dethroning of that self which was once their Idol so that they who loved themselves more than God would onely love themselves in reference to God 3. Christ who was out of mens Hearts is highest in ' em Cant. 5.10 He in whom they saw no Beauty is in their Eyes the chiefest of ten thousands 1 Pet. 2.7 They greatly prize him when they cannot clearly prove their Interest in him 4. Holiness and strictness which they formerly declined is made their way Isa 56.4 They choose the things that please God and are grieved for their short failings as to following him 5. The setting forth the Honour of God which before they slighted is now much in their Aims and Designs Philip. 1.10 The Second Point is They who are Called owe their Being so to God's Free Grace This will be evident 1. If we consider 'em absolutely Are they not utterly unworthy thereof Were they not most worthy to have been past by yea Psal 51.5 Rom. 5.12 cast off Were they not altogether born in sin And have they not in the course of their Lives acted suitably to the corruption of their Natures Is not this manifest to their Consciences 2. If we compare 'em with others Can it be thought that Grace which hath made did find a difference in 'em 1 Cor. 6.9 10 11. except it found sundry of 'em in worse Circumstances