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	think_v	3,328	5	3.8263	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A88660	A word in season: being the commentary of Dr. Martin Luther, on three selected Psalms: viz. the CXXIVth, CXXVth, and CXXIXth. With his commentary on some part of the fourth and fifth chapters of the First Epistle of St. Peter. Being of special use for the present times.	Luther, Martin, 1483-1546.	1685 (1685)	Wing L3519; ESTC R180278	46,197	62

it Likewise where four or five or ten godly Persons are to be found for their sakes the whole City is called Holy For these are the Elect corner stones these are the precious Pearls which God so highly esteemeth and for whose sakes he spareth the Wicked Therefore saith David As Jerusalem is compassed about with Mountains so doth the Lord compass his People and mightily defend them on every side In like manner Zachary Prophecyeth of a City whose Wall is of fire These Similitudes do set forth unto us the Safety of Gods People that weak and little poor Flock against all Dangers Upon this promise if we also do rest which at this day enjoy the inestimable Benfit of Gods Holy Word we shall be defended against the Rage of Satan and the whole World not by fiery and brazen Walls but by the Lord himself These things albeit we cannot comprehend yet should we believe them so certainly as if we did see them with our bodily Eyes If we should see our selves compassed about with brazen and fiery Walls we would be without all fear and Triumph against Satan But it is a matter of Faith not to trust unto that which the Eyes see but which the Word offereth and promiseth This one thing therefore is lacking in us that we have not eyes of the Spirit but we judge according to the eyes and sense of the Flesh For else we should be no more afraid then they which being closed within the Walls of an invincible Castle fear not the force and power of their Enemies be they never so terrible We must not doubt therefore but if we believe we are compassed about with fiery and brazen Mountains that is to say we abide for ever invincible against the Rage of Satan and all the Powers of Darkness Blessed therefore is he that believeth These Mountains are the Angels which compass us on every side that Satan with his Angels and Ministers cannot hurt us as he would Whose Malice and Power is such that if they did not continually behold us continually defend us and watch over us he would destroy us every moment This can all they testifie which know that Satan is a Murtherer and a Lyar which cannot abide to see the godly prosper and therefore he seeketh by all means to root them out from the face of the Earth That we are not then utterly consumed it is the benefit of these Mountains by whom we are so compassed and defended Sometimes Satan hurleth his Darts at us as it were through the window to destroy us and worketh us indeed some sorrow but he cannot move us This similitude seemeth to be taken out of the Story of Helizeus in the second book of the Kings where the servant of Helizeus saw the Hills about him full of fiery Chariots and Horsemen compassing Helizeus round about and mightily defending him This succour which the Servant of Helizeus saw and the Prophet believed when he saw nothing is saith the Prophet round about all them which trust in the Lord as also the 34. Psalm witnesseth The Angel of the Lord pitcheth round about them that fear him But our eyes are shut up and see not these miracles whereof not with standing we have daily experience This promise then will never deceive us only let us not deceive our selves If therefore we did believe no doubt we should sleep we should live we should die yea that more is we should suffer what soever Satan and the world can do against us without all fear For thus should we think if I suffer any thing it is not without the Will of God nor without good cause well known tho' not unto me yet unto God Therefore although Satan break through the wall in one place yet shall he never be able utterly to overthrow it altogether Thus should we think in our troubles and afflictions and comfort our selves with the good Will of God But we are afraid when any trouble cometh and never feel that security which Faith bringeth Thus do we worthily suffer the punishment of our infidelity which we nourish within us although we be called away from it by so many notable places of Scripture Besides all this it is not enough that we are compassed about with fiery Walls that is with the sure Custody the continual Watch and Ward of the Angels but the Lord himself is our Wall so that every way we are defended by the Lord against all Dangers Above us he is a Heaven on both sides he is as a Wall under us he is as a strong Rock whereupon we stand so are we every way sure and safe Now if Satan through these munitions cast his darts at us it must needs be that the Lord himself shall be hurt before we take harm But great is our incredulity which hear all these things in vain Yet must they be taught and learned least the time come that we be destitute of all Counsel and Comfort in these matters For certain it is that the hour shall come when we must have experience of these things or else utterly perish Where he addeth From henceforth and for ever By these words he sheweth that this vigilancy of the Lord our God over us is not temporal but eternal according to that which he said before in the first verse of this Psalm They shall remain for ever Let us learn therefore out of this Psalm that our Constancy and perseverance consisteth in this that we are defended by the Power and Providence of the Lord on every side Verse 3. For the rod of the Wicked shall not rest on the lot of the Righteous least the Righteous put forth their hand unto Wickedness Here the Prophet plainly declareth that the People which rest under this Defence and Protection are afflicted and subject to all Miseries and Calamities as touching the flesh altho' they be compassed about with such high and mighty Mountains as touching the Spirit as Satan can never surmount yet touching the Flesh and the Old man they lye open on every side to the Darts of Satan and the World For God by these means will afflict and exercise the Flesh that Sin and the foolishness of the Flesh may be mortified in them and that spiritual Wisdom and the inward man may increase This is the cause why we are according to the Flesh as a broken Hedge and as a City whose Walls are cast down and so lyeth open to the Enemies on every side Wherefore there is no sort of men so vile and abject which do not think that they may do what they list against the true Professors of the Gospel Hereof come such intollerable injuries horrible blasphemies cruel torments and bloody slaughters of the Saints of God For the Flesh hath no Walls no Munitions to defend it but the Spirit Therefore the flesh is in danger to all Storms and Tempests broken and troden down of the wicked as Isaiah saith Chap. 51. Which have said unto thy Soul Bow down that