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	suffer_v	suffering_n	2,047	5	9.4271	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A38376	Englands apology for its late change, or, A sober persvvasive of all disaffected or dissenting persons to a seasonable engagement for the settlement of this common-vvealth drawne from the workings of providence, the state of affaires, the danger of division.		1651 (1651)	Wing E2942; ESTC R20286	29,201	44

with those whom God ownes Shall all these things be forgotten and spilt as water on the ground is there nothing of glory sparkling out through these manifestations that may convince us of our opposition and disaffection to these proceedings It cannot be but some men conquer their convictions as the Army hath done malignant persons who yet hate them because of their owne interests But to goe on how gloriously hath God appeared ever since while the enemy beyond the water have been studying with what solemnity to Crowne their King God hath crowned our cause with many Diadems of his glory and mercy for after that Battel at Dunbar and the strangenesse of the issue contrary to all their faith and assurances and many who were accounted the honest party began to reflect on their former principles and carriages and having rallyed in the West by their friends adde more strength and remonstrate against the State for their tampering so much with the King and their juglings among themselves which they have largely exprest in print whereby they show some sence of Gods hand against them yet neverthelesse what ever thought they had of their owne party at home they continued their enmity against us and notwithstanding all overtures made to supple their spirits and improve these convictions which if truly weighed are from the same principles with ours and no more difference then of a Scots and English interpretation of the same thing notwithstanding all these faire and cordiall affections we to the utmost exprest to them yet they cunningly watched their opportunities First to slip into England of which they were prevented and then Secondly to fall upon a part of our Army in their quarters where God appeared againe and both took their chiefe Leaders and ●cattered their whole party this great and further appearance of God wants not its circumstances to make it an eminent mercy and to strike deep into our spirits for First they were the Army which had most of the hearts of the godly with them as being separated from the grossnesse of the royal principles protesting with more zeale and honesty for the Kirkes interest and so would have gained more then ordinary on mens spirits and againe they had the great command in the West whereby they did great damage to our Army and had advantages of stealing into England both to withdraw part of our Army from them and stirring up new fires among us which would too soone have been effected by their Covenant pretences besides the manner of their overthrow is as remarkeable God striving in all this war to leave signal characters of his own hand in every of our mercies for when the General had marched a great way from Edenborough towards the West and sent expresse orders to the Major General to meet him without fail at such a time in such a place where the General came according to his appointment with a great body of Horse and foot they could not hear any newes of the Major Generals approach the weather being so bad and provisions so seanty both for horse and man his Excellency was forced to march back with all his forces and frustrate his own intentions the Countrey people hearing of the Generals retreat run to Kerr and his party tell them of the estate of things and how his Excellency was returned to Edenburgh and that Major Generall was left alone Kerr seeing his advantage which he had long waited for presently fals on his Quarters promising himselfe a full defeat of that party But they being in readinesse received them valiantly with some few Troops and quite routed him and pursued and tock and shattered all his confidents whereby we may see how every deliverance and victory is circumstantiated with some beame of peculiar glory and providence And if the delivery of Edenborough Castle that impregnable Fortresse were added and the manner of obtaining it it would bring forth a new matter both for praise and conviction but I intend not this for an exact history Thus it hath been from first to last and every victory like one star that differs from another in glory and however there may be a difference between persons and parties in respect of profession or hol nesse as there was between the Army under Kerr and that under Lieut. General Leslye the former being more purged and professing of principles with more zeale and indeed we may justly call them a Sectarian Army opposing and divided from the publique proceedings of Kirke and State yet they are all one looked on by God as to helpe and prosperity when they either with others or by themselves have lifted up their hands against this cause a consideration which is not slightly to be rejected and which may well make men wary of second actings against them God hath yet made that good in these Nations to this Common-wealth and Army so farre as they have had sincere intentions in the management of this warre which he did once to Israel No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper though carved and whetted by the fairest glosses and religious instruments Wee have hitherto in summe and as in transitu given the Reader an account of the series of Gods workings for us since he thought fit to make use of this Army against the common enemy Let us now reflect with wonder and astonishment at the dulnesse of our apprehensions and strangenesse of the opposition and inward murmurings of many otherwise observant and godly against this Common-wealth and Army for which God give us leave a little to expostulate with their spirits with whom are you angry who hath done all these things is there nothing of the image of Gods mercy power and wisdome written on any of these victories could so small a bulke of flesh and bloud destroy such potent Armies storme such brasen walls clime such high places with so little losse if the Almightie had not seconded and engaged his right hand with them These are farre from Rhetoricall but they are reall expostulations Are wee angry that God hath heard our prayers which wee so long time put up to him for subduing the common enemy in the three Nations or that he hath done his own worke without our mediums What shall be said shall all these actions of Gods power in and so much goodnesse be buryed in a discontented humour and the glory of them blasted by a designed prejudice God forbid the ages to come shall remember our insensiblenesse with teares of bloud and owne themselves to be our children as high raised up-starts doe their poore parents who blush when they are named But if any spirit be so sleight as to say all these are but events and no proper declarations of the truth of a good principle they being oftentimes occasionall and permissive by God to a bad as a good cause I answer in generall that its true that commonly and ordinarily God keepes such an even course in the universe that all things fall alike to all and the same event unto both the bad and the good cause thus God suffers it for a long time for the hardening some and destroying others and to draw off the hearts of his from depending on these injoyments or advantages in this world yet at the same time he would not have his people put the right of their sufferings or

hear●● they finde little else but Histories of Civil affaires r●vilings and defamings of authorityes and casting fire bals of sedition up and downe Congregations to incense mens spirits against the present Government This is one of the greatest reasons which I can by observance finde out that the Ministry is so low and in such contempt because they mingle Christ and this world so promiscuously together and do not keep within the bounds of the Gospel in their publique preachings to the world But speake more in the language the of Stage then of a crucified Christ and this makes many withdraw from the publique assemblies because they can heare little but cavils in Pulpits and Christ in private houses I wish the honour of the Ministry might shine in the glory of the Gospel for other respects they will finde them to be but temptations and hinderances to their worke Is there any thing else which stands in our way for st●●wes must be removed as well as reall blockes before p●●judiced eyes are there any complaining wee are yet 〈◊〉 setled and opprest Let these men answer themsel●●● that if they will have a settlement they must contribute to the procuring of it for while every one divides who shall settle If they cry out of oppressions it s very unjust they should expect otherwise who will not come under protection as it s most unreasonable any should desire protection who will not engage to be serviceable to promote the Common-wealth I shall end with proposing some Queries to zealous and honest men with a word of application from what is done in Scotland and no more trouble the Reader in this kinde First Whether must there bee an act of oblivion past for all the mercies and victories wee have had over the common or secret enemies of this State or to what use shall wee put all these wonders Secondly What lower improvement could there have b●en of so much bloud and continuall deceipt among us by the name of the King and his family but a cutting off the one and racing out the name of the other or whether ever any peace with these persons could bee sound or acceptable without some speciall sacrifice of them to Justice let it lye on our consciences Thirdly Whither wee can imagine that God had not higher ends then wee first proposed in our engaging against the King or then what could bee at first by us for●seene or whither any condescension in us could have gaind him without hazard and losse of our maine liberties and priviledges Fourthly Whither the providences of God seeing they have been so peculiarly acted are not to be guides and rules to us in prosecuting a generall and indefinite principle or how wee can with comfort satisfie our selves in civill quarrells but by providentiall events or what is that event wee thinke most demonstrative of Gods minde if these are not Fifthly Upon what hinge will wee turne the a●ore of our affaires if not upon the continuall and daily manifestations of God having our end and principle right or whither any person or power can foresee all the turnings and changes in a multiplyed affaire without some leading providence of Jehovah Sixthly Whether is the better foundation for action a supposed principle with contrary actings of providence or the like supposed principles with extraordinary lettings forth of Gods power and Majestie But what need wee querie humors and discontents will soone turne all these expostulations to encouragements wee are now through Gods blessing come to a period at home all the expectations of our enemies is from the broken reed of Scotland but the vaile is now off the malignant party is but retired there under another head and if wee may beleeve the Scots themselves and those which are accounted the honest party and their Remonstrances wee have nothing to fight against but the malignant party in Scotland the honest party who were first deluded being first subdued and now beyond the water they are put to the shifts of a generall complyance which will be no discouragement to us as formerly for then wee fought against many pretenders to the Covenant and who were with a conscience engaged and yet God esteemed it not but now wee have a full marke the old enemy newly crowned and all things made up in Scotland to follow this designe But I hope Englishmen can doe no lesse then the honest Scots have done remonstrate against those proceedings and yet God makes them know that bare Remonstrance against that party without union with Gods instruments will not serve but there must be an unanimous correspondency of all good men against these shifting zealots And wee have now a more ground of hope against them if God hath owned us when they seemed to keepe at a distance from the malignant party and to fix their principle on a surer and more cleare foundation how will he now appeare for his people when they have past thorough all delusions and are to meete againe with their old enemy but what horror of spirit will fall on these good men who will rather venture themselves with malignant assistances then comply with Gods workings I have no more to say he that cannot trust God now with our cause hath either too much interest or too much ignorance after all the wayes God hath taken to open our eyes Let our Parliament and Army never doubt encouragement but keepe up their spirits high for Gods ends seeing they have none now to encounter but their old enemies without any pretence that may trouble their consciences or delay their marches And let godly men know who stand yet out as God hath done all for us without them so he will now more especially because they are now under the first consideration and must come under the same viall and at least expect the sprinkling of it while they have any conjunction with that party which God hath devoted to destruction if our consciences be not quite asleepe and if wee have any sensiblenesse of our present advantages and future miseries let us set our seales to Gods actings and rejoyce in the Lords will so gloriously manifested and not strive against the streame of providences but as men convinced by God not by men engage our selves to maintaine this Common-wealth which is the onely Bulwarke left us both to keepe out tyranny and preserve our liberties which in due time wee shall have most free and stablished if our owne fond affections to strangers and prejudices of our friends doe not undoe all FINIS