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	lord_n	sin_n	3,005	5	4.4939	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A86505	A sermon preached before the Parliament, the Councill of State, the Lord Major, aldermen, and Common Councill of the city of London, and the officers of the Army, in Christ-Church London, Octob. the 6th. A.D. 1659. Being the publick day of Thanksgiving appointed by the Parliament, to be celebrated in the cities of London and Westminster, and parts adjacent, for the suppression of the northern insurrection. By Doctor Nathanael Homes.	Homes, Nathanael, 1599-1678.	1659 (1659)	Wing H2577; Thomason E1001_1; ESTC R207844	20,201	48

all that we shall speak is briefly to resolve a case of conscience and pertinently to the point in hand viz. Seeing afflictions may prove mercies to believers and so to be praised for Psal 119.67 Before I was afflicted saith David I went astray but now I have kept thy word And ver 71. It is good for me that I was afflicted that I might learn thy statutes Why do believers pray to prevent or remove afflictions and praise for deliverance from them To make way for a distinct resolution of this case I must premise some previous propositions by way of distinction 1. That there are two sorts of afflictions some are killing afflictions depriving of naturall life Others are onely correcting afflictions sparing naturall life Of which we must note these five propositions or distinctions 1. That those correcting afflictions are not simply good inse in their own nature but conditionally and instrumentally to such an end as to keep us from evill or cure us of evill of sin As chvrurgery using Phlebotomie scarifying or lancings is not good in it selfe but as it cures the sick or diseased patient And therefore afflictions are somtimes called by God himself evills as Amos 3.6 Shall there be EVILL in a City and the Lord hath not done it 2. Nor are they conditionally and instrumentally good so viz. to such an end to keep off or cure of sin as immediate necessary causes or media but per accidens that is per aliud by the help of another viz. by the speciall influence of God in and upon our correcting afflictions blessing and sanctifying them unto us As sometimes the Chyrurgions Phlebotomizing scarrifying or lancings may cause ranckling Gangrenes or festering without timely application of his Balsom c. We see good Jonah a godly Prophet in his prophesie though the better for his Sea-affliction in the Whales belly was the worse for a time for his Lana-affliction when God blasted his shaddowy succouring Gourd 3. God doth oftentimes onely show and shake his rod to give us warning which if we take he lays away his rod and lays not on the stroaks Prov. 22.3 The prudent sore-seeth the plague and hideth himselse but the simple posse on and are punished And Hebrews 11. verse 7. By Faith Noah being WARNED of God of things not seen yet moved with FEAR prepared an Ark to the saving of his house 4. When wee are brought off from our sins and nearer to God the work is done the use of the rod is at an end in GOD'S usuall way of afflicting Isa 27.7 8 9. Hath he smitten him to wit Israel as he smote those that smote him c In measure when it shooteth forth thou wilt debate with it He stayeth his rough wind and By this therefore the iniquity of Jacob shall be purged and this is all the fruit to take away his sinne So Jerem. 31.18 19 20. I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himselfe thus Thou hast chastised me and I was chastised c Surely after I was turned I repented Upon this see there what God saith Is Ephraim my deare Sonne Is he a pleasant child For since I spake against him I remember him still Therefore my bowels are troubled for him I WILL SURELY HAVE MERCY ON HIM saith the Lord. Add Hosea 5 last verse I will go and return to my place TILL they acknowledge their offence and seek my face in their affliction they will seek me early Fifthly The afflictions of believers may be an occasion of great evill in the hearts and hands lips and licenciousnesse of the wicked who thereupon may tryumph over if not trample upon the people of God or their religion and blaspheam the name of the God of that religion and of that people Of which David complains oft Psal 25.21 Psal 42.3 Psal 71.11 that the wicked cry where A●…a is their God God hath forsaken them c. Now things thus prepared take our answer to the case in these positions 1 There is no doubt but we may pray against Killing afflictions and praise for deliverance because we live to pray and praise This is Davids own Argument Psal 6.4 5. Return O Lord deliver my soul O save me for thy mercy sake FOR IN DEATH THERE IS NO REMEMBRANCE OF THEE IN THE GRAVE WHO SHAL GIVE THEE THANKS So Psal 28.1 c. To thee I cry be not silent O Lord LEST I BECOME LIKE THEM THAT GO DOWN TO THE PIT So upon such grounds Hezkiah prayed that he might not dy by that his disease which in likelihood was the Pestilence or some such Ulcer as appears by the Plaister Isa 38. compare 2 Kings 20.1 c. 2. For correcting afflictions that spare life we may lawfully pray unto God to prevent them or remove them in these four cases 1 When God warns and believers take the Alarm and are warned they may pray to God to prevent the affliction by divine warrant Amos 4.12 And because this I will do unto thee PREPARE TO MEET thy God O Israell Thus did Niniveh Jonah 3. commended by our Saviour for so doing Mat. 12.41 2 To pray for prevention of Afflictions or removing of them when they may be occasion of sinne to us is warrantable by Scripture Prov. 30.7 Two things have I required of thee deny me not afore I dy Remove far from me vanitie and lies give me not povertie least I be poor and steal and take the name of my God in vain 3 When Correcting afflictions have been sanctified to us making us better God having had his end we may lawfully pray for their removall by divine example Psal 119.71 David having acknowledged and praised God that he had been bettered by his afflictions that it was good for him that he had been afflicted c. he presently prays in vers 76 77 78. that God would remove his afflictions 4 When in and by our afflictions the wicked are animated against us and our profession insulting over us and it we may lawfully pray to God on that accompt that God would remove them Thus did David Psal 35.22 23 24 25. Psal 42.9 10. Psal 71.12 13. And beside we have a promise Psal 76.10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise God and the remainder of wrath God will restrain And Zech. 1.15 God professeth I am sore displeased with the Heathen that are at ease for I was but a little displeased and they helped forward the affliction By which two last places of Scripture it appeares we may lawfully pray for what God hath promised and against that with which God is angry The Disciples and the Church with them likewise pray in opposition to the enemies insultations and persecutions Acts 4.23 c. to 31. verse The close is that as in those five cases aforesaid believers may lawfully pray for prevention or removall of afflictions so we may warrantably give praise when they are prevented or removed For 't is a sure Rule What we may lawfully pray to have we may lawfully