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	righteousness_n	work_n	2,859	5	6.2434	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91899	Safe conduct, or The saints guidance to glory. Opened in a sermon preached at Dunstans in the East London. November the second, MDCLIV. At the funerall of the vertuous and religious gentlewoman, Mris. Thomasin Barnardiston, late wife of Mr. Samuel Barnardiston, merchant. / By Ralph Robinson, pastor of Mary Wolnoth, Lumbardstreet, London.	Robinson, Ralph, 1614-1655.	1655 (1655)	Wing R1711; Thomason E823_7; ESTC R203376	61,656	101

Law is Light If any Doctrin of faith if any precept for Life and manners abide obscure to us it is not because the Scriptures are dark but because our understandings are blinde or because through slothsulness we neglect to use those Spiritual keys of Prayer Meditation comparing one text with another which God hath appointed as helps to unlock the meaning of his Word All the words Prov. 8. 9. of Wisdom are right to them that finde knowledge and plain to him that understandeth He is either grosly ignorant or desperately envious that chargeth the Word of God at least in the principal Doctrins thereof with obscurity God who is the great Master both of Understanding and Language knows how to speak plainly that the meanest capacity may be edified The Sun in the Firmament doth not shine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysost with more clearness than the Sun of the Scriptures doth to those that do not wilfully shut their eyes against it Whatsoever is necessary is plain evident perspicuous to him that desires understanding This makes it fit to be a guide Secondly It is a perfect word there is nothing 2 It is perfect needful to be beleeved for Salvation nothing necessary to be done but it is to be found in the Holy Scriptures either in express tearms or by necessary deduction and consequence All false ways are here discovered all Sins are here forbidden all Holiness is here commanded The Prophet David tells us that The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the Soul Psal 19. 7. and the Apostle saith that All Scripture is given by inspiraetion of God c. That the Man of God may be perfect 2 Tim. 3. 16 17. throughly furnished unto all good works and therefore is a Curse denounced against those that either adde or take away any thing from it Revel 22. 18 19. The Scripture is profitable for Doctrin for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness as the Apostle speaks and therefore perfect It proceeds from a most perfect voluntary cause and therefore must needs be exactly every way perfect The Church of God needs not the help of any unwritten mouldy Traditions to compleat the Holy Scriptures of truth We are not commanded to beleeve Human Traditions or the Doctrins of men but such things as are promulged and written by the Prophets and Apostles Those that argue without the Scriptures do but tye Ropes of Sand such Arguments have no strength in them Ego vocem magni pastoris inquiro saith Austin Lege mihi hoc de Prophetâ recita de lege Aug. lib. de pastore cap. 14. recita de Evangelio recita de Apostolo I enquire what the great Shepherd saith read me such things out of the Writings of the Prophets rehearse out of the Law out of the Evangelists out of the Writings of the Apostles whatever is not according to the Law and the Testimony is to be rejected as that that hath no light in it As the Word of God is a pure Word so it is a perfect Word because of its perfection it is fit to be a Guide Thirdly It is a sure Word it is infallible The Apostle speaking of the written Word saith We have 3 It is sure a more sure word of Prophecy whereunto yee do well that yee take heed He had been discoursing of that voyce 2 Pet. 1. 19. which came down from Heaven at the transfiguration of Christ in the Holy Mount and yet he saith That the word of Prophecy which God hath put into the hands of the Church is a more sure guide than that he doth not say a more true Word for that voyce came from the excellent glory but a more sure word All 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Revelations are to be tried by the written word of Prophecy The Apostle commands us to try the Spirits 1 Job 4. 1. We have no other standard to try any Doctrins which men pretend to bee from the Spirit but the Word of God which we are sure was indited by the Spirit and because it is the breathing and inspiration of the holy Spirit it must needs bee infallible as the Spirit is And it is a sure word in regard of the stability of it as well as the infallibility of it it is a Word that abides for ever It is Davids comfortable meditation For ever O Lord thy Psal 119. 89. Word is setled in heaven The Mountains may fail and the Hills may be removed but the Word of God stands fast for ever Thy testimonies O Lord are very sure Psal 93. 5. The Church and People of God have no other foundation for the assurance of their Salvation but the unchangeableness of Gods Nature and the certainty of his Word and being a sure Word it is fit to be a guide Fourthly It is an Uniform word The Holy ● It is uniform Scripture is in all things constant and like to it self There is no discord or jarring but a sweet Harmony and concord in all tho●e blessed writings some appearing disagreement there may seem to be but no real contradiction He that compares one place with another shall finde a sweet consent in all That there is any shadow of dissent between one text and another ariseth not from any dissimilitude of Scripture to it self but from the Readers ignorance or unexperiencedness in the word of righteousness That which is forbidden by one Prophet is forbidden by another that which is enjoyned by the Prophets is enjoyned by the Apostles in their writings The Apostle Paul proves his Doctrin concerning the Messiah out of the Prophets and out of Moses he said No other things than those which the Prophetss and Moses did say should come And the Apostle Peter in that excellent Acts 26. 22. 23. Sermon which he preached to Cornelius and his Friends shews how unanimous the Prophets were in their Writings about that Doctrin To him give all Acts 10. 43. the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever beleeveth in him shall receive remission of sins And hereby indeed it appears that the Scriptures are of Divine authority because there is such a perfect harmony in them Though they were penned by several men at several times and these distant one from another not advising or conferring one with another yet they often speak the very same words and always when they write of one subject the same sense without the least contradiction which is an unquestionable Argument to prove that they were dictated unto them by the same Spirit And because of this consent they are fit to be the Beleevers guide And as the Word of God is so fit for this work so Secondly The Spirit of God is a fit Guide This will evidently appear by the ensuing considerations The Spirit of God a fit Gu●de because 1 The Spirit makes the word plain First The Spirit of God is able to expound the VVord of God and to make it plain

prays O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes That is true obedience which is not only agreeable to the holy Commandement but is founded upon the Authority of God who gave the Commandement Thirdly Others there are that make their Lusts 3 Those that make the flesh their guide Gal 1. 16. their guide As they make provision for the flesh so they ask direction from the flesh The Apostle when he was called to preach the Gospel tels us That he consulted not with flesh and bloud he did not conferre with flesh and bloud and yet there are many that have no other Counsellor They ask direction of their Corruption instead of asking at Gods mouth When they are exhorted to be humble they ask counsel at the Lust of Pride when they hear a Sermon of Charity they go to the Lust of Covetousness and know whether that will consent when they are perswaded to be patient they enquire at the Lust of Frowardness whether they shovld obey whither Lust leads thither they follow and they will not be beaten off To follow the guidance of Lust is very sad and will at last be very uncomfortable Lust is an enemy and who would be guided by an enemy To follow the guidance of Lust is to follow the guidance of the Devil All sinful Lusts are the works of the Devil for 1 Joh. 3. 8. this cause was the Son of God manifested saith the Apostle that he might destroy the works of the Devil the sinful Lusts of the Soul are the Devils Garrisons He that goes to Lust for counsel goes to Hell for counsel and he that takes direction from Hell will never finde the way to Heaven The Apostle tells us That he that Gal. 6. 8. soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption If the flesh be the seed Corruption will be the fruit The flesh is to be crucified They that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts He that makes Gal. 5. 24. the flesh his Counsellor will be crucified by the flesh instead of crucifying the flesh That one text of the Apostle Rom. 8. 13. is enough to cause men to withdraw their feet from following the flesh If yee live after the flesh yee shall dye but if yee through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body yee shall live The flesh knows the way to Hell but it never trod one step in that way that leads to Heaven Sampson by harkening to the allurements of Delilah lost both his eyes afterwards his liberty and then his life Hee that makes the flesh his guide shall finde that Hell will be his eternal lodging Thus much shall serve for the rebuke of those who neglect the guidance of Gods 2 Reason of Reprehension to those that would have God guided by their Counsel Counsel and set up other guides instead thereof Before I leave this Use I must a little dispute with another sort and they are those who instead of desiring to be guided by Gods Counsel would have God guided by their Counsel There are many who take upon them the boldness to dispute with God about his ordering the affairs of the world they are offended because the wheels of Providence do not move according to their minde they think if they had the reins of Government in their hands they could mannage things in a better way than God doth All that wrangle with their Maker about his Dispensations are guilty of this sin Jeremiah cryes out Why do the wicked prosper Wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously Jer. 12. 1 2. Mens hearts even good men are ready to swell because of such Providences as they do not understand such men should do well to consider That by censuring the motions of Providence they meddle with things that are too high for them Shall any teach God knowledge saith Job seeing Job 21. 22. he judgeth those that are high Wise Artists will not be controld by bunglers The raw Mariner must not teach the skilful Pilot. It is mans duty to submit to all the Dispensations of God and to admire them but not to quarrel with them God guided the world in Wisdom and Righteousness before we had breath and so will he do when we are in the dust Clouds and Psal 97. 2. darkness are round about him righteousness and judgement are the habitation of his Throne The most cloudy paths of Providence are paths of Righteousness those motions which we are apt to judge irregular are very orderly Those actings which our foolish hearts sinfully call the deformities of Providence are the beauties of Providence The foolishness of God saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 1. 25. is wiser than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men That which men count foolish hath infinite wisdom in it and that which men judge weak hath Almighty strength When we are at a loss God is not at a loss We see but the present movings of Providence but God sees his work from the beginning to the end God hath from Eternity laid the frame of all his Works and whether we see it or no he fits all his Providences to that Pattern Hee can break enemies by exalting them Hamans highest advancement was the Prologue to his fall He can raise his people by their castings down Josephs Iron Chains were a way to the Golden chain he had never been a Ruler in Aegypt if he had not been a slave in Aegypt God can reconcile Providences and Promises when they seem to fight one against another The Promise of God shall be made good though the Son of Promise be laid on the Altar The Passengers with Paul shall be saved though the Ship be broken with the violence of the waves Providence can carry a man to shore on a broken piece of a Plank as well as in the long Boat Some Providences are cross to us but they are all direct to God The Saints of God when they come to Heaven shall admire those actings of Providence most which they have here most condemned You that are the Servants of God take heed of questioning with God in such cases you are not to prescribe God but to follow God When hee is in the Sanctuary when his way is in the Sea when his foot-steps are not known follow him in a way of holy Prayer in a way of faithful dependance in a way of humble submission and you shall see that his hidden wayes were wayes of wisdom Let the Providences of God be never so amazing wee may conclude of this That he can do nothing against his own Glory that he will do nothing against the best good of them that fear his name Thus much for the Second Use which was for Reprehension Thirdly for Exhortation These two Doctrins do Use 3. Of Exhortation recommend three Duties unto all of us that are here present First Bless God O yee Saints for this great Privilege 1

Bless God for this guidance of Divine guidance When you have any occasion to go to a Lawyer for Counsel you give him his Fee without asking VVhen you hire a guide to conduct you in the way you are willing to give him satisfaction God expects that his people should with thankfulness acknowledge his great kindness in laying his VVord before them in putting his Spirit within them in making his Providence subservient for their safe conduct David wisely and Psal 16. 7. graciously resolves upon this I will bless the Lord who hath given me counsel my reins also instruct me in the night seasons God did not only give him his VVord to advise him but his Spirit to teach him The Holy Ghost did stamp such powerful impressions on his affections which he calls his reins that hee was effectually bowed to embrace the Counsels of the VVord VVhen the Wise Men that went to finde out Christ saw the Star the text saith they were exceeding Mat. 2. 10. glad had not that directing Star gone before them they had never found the Babe Jesus No doubt the Children of Israel lift up their hearts and glorified God when that pillar of Cloud and Fire was erected among them And should not the Beleevers heart rejoyce and leap for joy that hath as certain a guide to go before him as that was Let mee but hint some advantages which accrue to the people of God by reason of this guiding Counsell and they cannot but see cause of continuall thansgivings I shall but instance in three particulars First By vertue of this divine guidance you are 1 Hereby are wee preserved from sin preserved from those sinfull waies in which others walk to their everlasting ruine The Prophet David found this benefit Concerning the works of men by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer hereupon he praies in the very next words hold Psa 17. 4 5. up my goings in thy paths that my footsteps slip not Why is it that the Saints do not defile their precious Souls with those horrid blasphemies wherewith others are infected but because they are guided by the Counsell of God That you are not Drunkards Murtherers Covenant-breakers Idolaters Lyers is from hence because God is pleased continually to guide you That you do not swim down the stream with others in a corrupt age that you keep faith and a good conscience in a faithlesse and adulterous generation it is to be ascribed to this guidance of heaven That you do not deny Christ that bought you that you do not reject the Scriptures that you do nor forsake the Ordinances and Ministry as many do that you have not washed your hands in innocent blood and conspired against the life of the righteous it is because God hath led you by the Counsell of his word and spirit The best and holyest person in this assembly would have acted his part in the most horrid designs that others have been imployed in carrying on if God had left him to his own heart If you therefore account it a mercy that you have not stained your hearts and hands and consciences with the black and bloody guilt of the worst of sinnes bless the Lord who hath given you Counsell Secondly By means of this guidance you are kept safe from those dangers whereby others have been 2 Hereby are wee kept from danger overtaken It was by reason of the Pillar of Cloud that the people of God escaped the fury of Pharaoh Exo. 14. 20. and his host when they did pursue them with such impoysoned malice The Pillar came between the Camp of the Egyptians and the Camp of Israel so that the one came not neer the other all the night Gods guiding presence with beleevers is for protection as well as direction As God marcheth in the Vann of the Army to shew his people the way so his presence is in the ●ere to prevent their danger Thy righteousnesse shall go before thee saith the Prophet to the beleever and the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward Isa 58. 8. The fiery darts of Devills would long since have gangren'd your flesh and the venom of their Arrows drunk up your spirits if God by his guiding presence had not stood by you for defence The same God that hath been a wall of fire for your protection hath been a wall of fire for your enemies destruction When Israel saw themselves on dry land and the Egyptians dead on the shore then they sung praises to God Exo. 15. 1. It is by vertue of the fiery Pillar that you have to this day escaped the rage of your Pursuers let the remembrance of it inflame your hearts into the highest praises 3 Hereby is our way sweetned Thirdly by means of this guidance the way of your pilgrimage hath been sweetned to you A good guide doth not only preserve the passenger from dangerous paths but by his discourse and company renders the journey comfortable Through Gods guiding presence that hath been with you in the way you have enjoyed sweet communion with him you have had many a daies comfortable converse with God you have hereby had opportunity to open your souls to him to lay your doubts fears temptations before his face God did not only direct the people of Israel by the Pillar of Cloud but hee did from thence reveal himself to them upon all occasions Hee spake to them saith David out of the fiery Pillar God in guiding Psa 99. 7. the Saints by his Counsell doth familiarly make himself known to them who is this that commeth out Cant. 8 5. of the Wildernesse leaning upon her beloved The phrase doth not only signify conduct but familiarity God by the guiding of his people gives them opportunity to see the boylings of his affection towards them and to unlock all their secrets unto him Hee tels them many a pleasant story whereby their drooping hearts are cheered and gives them leave to declare all their griefs whereby their souls are dis-burthened Now let mee again beseech you and charge you O yee holy ones of God by all the sinnes from which you have been preserved by all the dangers from which you have been delivered and by all the sweet comforts which you have received by the guiding Counsell of God to get your hearts fired into flames of holy praises Secondly Bee willing to submit to the guidance 2 Submit to this guidance of Gods Counsell Do not pull away the shoulder do not harden your hearts be not stiff-necked but where Gods bids you go thither resolve to go The Children of Israel did move when the Pillar of Cloud moved and they went which way soever it went and when the Pillar stood still then they pitched their Tents At the Commandement of the Lord they journeyed and at the Commandement of the Lord they pitched Num 9. 17 18 19 20 21 22 23. their Tents