Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	great_a	know_v	lord_n	3,918	5	3.5901	3	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A66097	The child's portion, or, The unseen glory of the children of God asserted and proved together with several other sermons / occasionally preached and now published by Samuel Willard, teacher of a church in Boston, New-England.	Willard, Samuel, 1640-1707.	1684 (1684)	Wing W2271; ESTC R33658	112,015	240

when was the World without such since Cain's time Pro. 2. That the Ring-leaders and principal Agents among God's enemies are men of the greatest natural wit and understanding So that if events were to be judged of according to the quality of instruments they would be thought most likely to speed If there be a plot laid against Gods Davids you shall hear that the Worlds Achitophels those Oracles of Policy are in it The Devil if at any time he finds any that are singularly witty useth with most endeavours to make them notoriously wicked and seeks to fill their hearts with deepest prejudices against the wayes and People of God He useth more than ordinary care to make such men his own That observation of our Saviours is too observable to be questioned Luk. 26. 8. The Children of this World are in their generation wiser than the Children of light The Apostle when he would Charactarize those that stand on Gods side and those that take part with his enemies puts the greatest number of the wise and prudent of the World on the adverse part and finds a very few standing on God's side 1 Cor. 1. 26. Not many wise Pro. 3. That the enemies of God and his People do make it their business to consult and contrive how they may manage their cause to the best advantage against them It is a plot which is ever on foot and unto which contribution is continually made For this they ride and run and communicate their counsels Such is their wrath and malice that they cannot ly still This is the very piece they have on the Anvil and upon which they are alwayes beating It is the Master-plot in the World David describes their sedulity in this business Psal 64. 5 6. They commune of laying snares privily they search out iniquitie they accomplish a diligent search They strein their inventions turn every stone dig deep to lay their counsels secret and bring about their purposes unexpectedly Hence they are said to go in travail with them Psal 7. 14. He travaileth with iniquity Pro. 4. That this conspiracy hath a great many friends favourers and confederates It hath the greatest strength of men on its side and is daily growing and encreasing Psal 3. 1. How are they encreased that trouble me It may be said of this as of that of Absalom 2 Sam. 15. 12. The conspiracy was strong for the People encreased continually with Absalom The great men of the World are wont for the most part to engage in it Psal 2. 2. The Kings of the earth set themselves and the Rulers take counsel together And the little ones are apt in greatest number to follow their leaders especially in that which is evil to which they are drawn by a natural propensity yea this malignity spreads so far as to draw many People and joyn hearts and counsels and confederacies in it Psal 83. 5 to 8. The Tabernacle of Edom c. The army of the Saints are but a little flock their enemies fill the country What these politick heads contrive they have a multitude of hands ready prest to put in execution Pro. 5. The enemies of God are very presumptuous and full of confidence that the day shall be their own they make no doubt of bringing about their devices against God and his Church Such is their bold confidence that they can even make a triumph before the Victory and look upon the opposite cause as gone before ever they strike a stroke Psal 10. 6 -- 11. He hath said in his heart I shall not be moved God hath forgotten And 64. 4. They encourage themselves in all evil matter 71. 11. saying God hath forsaken him Persecute and take him for there is none to deliver him See with what a confident boasting Senacherib sends his defiance against God Isa 37. 10 c. And Pharaoh Exod. 5. 2. As if Heaven were not able to confront them They say that Wisdom and Counsel and Strength are all on their side and who then shall think to defeat them of success Thus they boast before they put off the Harness Pro. 6. God many times suffers his enemies to be seemingly prosperous and successeful in their undertakings against him Infinite Wisdom hath holy ends for which it 〈◊〉 permits wicked men to proceed a great way against his Cause and People The Church is oftimes brought very low whiles God seems to stand by and not regard so that his People are ready to think that Providence sleeps and God appears as if he had withdrawn and estranged himself from his own interest Hence The Psalmist's sorrowful complaint and earnest Prayer Psal 44. 17. to the end Hence The Prophets earnest expostulation Jer. 14. 8 9. The enemy hath sometimes an apprehended advantage to ask them where is their God Psal 42. 3. There may be great outward Calamities upon those that are called by God's Name as we may see by that doleful complaint made Psal 77. 7. c. And the ends which God propounds in his so doing are 1. That he may humble and reform his own People Hence the Churches enemies are called his Rod Isa 10. 5. Corruptions and depravations do sometimes grow insensibly upon the Church and People of God especially in times of peace and tranquillity God by thus doing cleanseth them of their pollutions Pe●secution and oppression and a yoke of bondage is a fire in which their dross and filth is melted out and taken away Isa 27. 9. By this 〈◊〉 shall the iniquity of Jacob be purg●d away c. 2. That by the Saints perseverance under affliction he may be glorified God is greatly honoured by the patience and constancy of his Children under the opposition and oppression of their adversaries As he puts an honour upon them when he counts them worthy to suffer for his name so the Apostles reckoned it Act. 5. 41. So is he also honoured by them when they with an holy resolution suffer quietly and chearfully in defence of the truth and for the sincere profession of the Gospel 2 Thes 1. 4 5. 3. That he may gain the more glorious triumph over the enemies of his Name and Glory Hereby God honoured himself upon Pharaoh by letting him proceed to the height of his rage before he crusheth him God will have a wicked world to know how easie a thing it is with him to curb them in and give check to their rage and fury and to the discovering of this he will permit them to arrive at the height and utmost pitch of their hoped advantage and suffer his own cause hereupon to be most deeply hazarded that so he may give them the more notable defeat and make them to know that he is above them in all those things wherein they have dealt most proudly Hence Jethro's confession Exod. 18. 11. Now I know the Lord is greater than all Gods c. Pro. 7. By all their plots and practi●●● against Gods cause wicked men cannot carry their design one hairs

putting Truths together is from some connexion which there is and appears to us to be between them as when I see that there is a connexion betwen the nature of Man and Reason my judgment thence compounds and concludes that Man is a reasonable creature Now these connexions are not all alike some are tyed of a slip knot or are so connected as they may easily be separated such is the Relation between all contingent causes and effects or only probable and conjectural antecedents and consequents as when we say the diligent hand maketh rich here is some rational connexion between diligence and prosperity but yet there are so many casualties in the over-ruling Providence of God that may check aud over-bear this that sometimes it falls out that we labour in the fire for very nothing sow much and bring in little and when we say it will be a fair day for the evening is red though this be an ordinary symptom yet it is no infallible presage it is oftentimes so and sometimes otherwayes Now the judgement of these things is called Opinion because it is a conclusion that is drawn from reasons which are only probable and contingent But other connexions are tyed of a fast knot they flow from the very nature of the things are therefore necessarily predicated of the subject and it cannot be without them Such are all natural Causes and effects as when we say the Sun shines Man is a reasonable Creature c. And the judgement of these things is that which we call Science or Knowledge viz. When we discover and conclude ●● necessary effects from necessary Causes necessary causes from necessary effects now such as this is is that Knowledge which a Child of God may have of his future Glory Hence 2. I come to make it evident in particular that our after happiness may be thus known and there will need but these two things to be cleered for the proof of it viz. 1. The happiness of beleevers depends upon necessary causes And 2. That their sanctified reason is capable of searching out and discovering the truth of these causes and so concluding infallibly 1. That the happiness of beleevers depends upon necessary causes my meaning is that there is such a connexion between the Causes of Salvation and Salvation it self that they cannot fail to bring it about viz. 1. The immutable will of God purposing and resolving of it with this our Saviour encourageth his Disciples Luk. 12. 32. Fear not little flock it is your Fathers pleasure to give you the Kingdome The foundation of this happiness was laid in Gods Decree this is the Book of Life in which their Names were written here began that everlasting love which is the cause and fountain of all the grace afterwards revealed this is the writing that receives no blots this is the Record that admits of no alterations this is the foundation of God which stands sure having this seal the Lord knows who are his Hence we have Paul bringing down of this foreknowledge infallibly unto Glory in that chain of his Rom. 8. 29. 30. 3. The Redemption of Christ purchasing and procuring of it for them eternal Glory is one part of that purchase for which Jesus Christ laid down that great price and it was sealed up to him in the Covenant of Redemption for those whom he was to redeem and this purchase is made sure and ratified and that not only in respect of the purchase it self for which he hath payed and of which payment he hath received a full acquittance in his resurrection and is actually put in possession being ascended up into Heaven and there invested with the tenure and possess of the Crown of Glory but also in respect of the persons for whom it is bought and on whom it is to be bestowed Hence Christ speaking of the Elect declare that it was for their sakes that he did that work Joh. 17. 9. And professeth that he had lost none of those whom his Father had given to him vers 12. Hence We read of purchased possession Eph. 1. 14. And an inheritance reserved for us in the Heavens 1 Pet. 1. 3. And of Christ willing that all of them should be with him Joh. 17. 24. 3. Unalterable promises made to them Believers are said to be heirs of the promise They have great promises 2 Cor. 7. 1. Eternal felicity comes within the compass of the promise which is made to them Psal 84. 11. The Lord shall give Grace and Glory Joh. 3. 36. He that believeth hath everlasting life and this promise is firm and stable it is not a mutable thing because it is made by an immutable God and it cannot fail because uttered ●● the mouth of God that cannot lie And from hence the Apostle argueth the necessity of our felicity in Heb. 6. 17 18. 4. Infallible Conditions such as are necessary not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or universally as Joh. 3. 36. Whosoever believeth c. But also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 reciprocally as Mar. 16. 16. He that believes shall be saved he that believes not shall be damned When therefore God worketh these conditions in the souls of any when he sanctifieth the means to become unfailing helps to Faith and bring the Soul to repent and believe in Christ that foundation is laid that shall aspire to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 building unmoveable this is to be built upon the Rock Mat. 7. 24 25. This is a seed which when ●own is immortal and abiding these gifts and callings are without repentance 5. Powerful and unfailing assistance They are said to be in God's and in Christ's hand and as it is certain that they will not throw them out so it is equally certain that no other can pluck them out There are those indeed who do attempt it but in vain Joh. 10. 27 28. God's Omnipotency is the Garrison or guard to which they are committed on purpose that they may enjoy Salvation 1 Pet. 1. 5. Ye are kept by the power of God through faith unto Salvation They are given to Christ and he hath commended them to the care and keeping of his spirit and he seals them up to the day of Redemption Eph 4. 30. 2. The Believers sanctified reason is capable of searching on t and discovering the truth of these causes and so to conclude infallibly The evidence of this assertion will then be plain when we have considered 1. That there are such effects of these causes wrought in the souls of all the Children of God as are peculiar and proper to them there is that done in and for every Child of God which is wrought in and for no other in the world Proper effects are undeceiving evidences of their causes The Apostle speaks of things that accompany Salvation Heb. 6. 9. There is a faith which is the faith of Gods Elect Tit. 1. 1. There is a vocation which is linked fast unto following glory Rom. 8. 29 30. There is a

the greatest felicity But this discovers their mistake for if it be so that when we shal attain the highest pitch of created felicity our happiness will receive its denomination from hence VIZ. That we shal be like Christ then certainly the more any are like Christ in this World the more of true happiness they now possess It is true conformity to Christ in this evil World procures Men hatred and persecution and that makes Men who Judge according to outward appearance vote them miserable but still their inward unseen Glory which proceeds from their consimilitude to Jesus Christ is a preponderating blessedness and as it is it self a Man's good estate so also it derives those solid joyes to the Soul of him that is so that render it full of unspeakable Glory in the midst of the greatest outward oppression because whiles they are thus hated and persecuted for their conformity unto Jesus Christ The Spirit of God and of Glory rests upon them 1 Pet. 4. 14. Begun happiness is founded on holiness here and perfected holiness shal be found to be true happiness in the Kingdom USE II. For Exhortation to the Children of God Shal we be like unto Christ at his appearance and is this consideration so full of Satisfaction Then 1. Be we exhorted to labour in preparing for that Day that so we may then be like him There is a work to be done by the People of God in this life in order to their glorious likness to Christ in that other And our Apostle tells us what endeavours the hopes of it will excite in those that are possessed of them in the verse following my Text He that hath this hope purifieth himself as he is pure It is q. d. they that expect to be like Christ then will use means to be like him now Holiness is the way to happiness Heb. 12. 14. Christ first sanctifieth his Church before he glorifieth it Eph. 5. 26 26. And we must labour in this Work to get Sin mortified Paul having put his Colossions in mind of that Glory which they shal have at Christ's appearance takes argument from thence to press this duty Col. 3. 4 5. They that look for such a change hereafter are under strong tyes to an heavenly conversation here Phil. 3. 20 21. Our Conversation is in Heaven from whence we look for Christ c. And a like advice the Apostle Peter gives to them he writes unto 2 Pet. 3. 14. Seing ye look for ●such things be diligent that you may be found in him in Peace without spot and blemish We should therefore lament that we are so much unlike him now and pray to God for his Spirit to dwel powerfully in us and to lead us effectually in his way to purge our hearts from all impurity and fill them with holiness 2. Labour we to draw consolation and establishment to our Souls from the forethoughts of this great benefit there are many troubles and discouragements which the Children of God ●●●t with all here in this life and their hearts are often born down therewithal but if we did but truly ponder and well digest this consideration of that glorious condition which we shal be put into at that great Day it would lift up the hands that hang down and strengthen the feeble knees it would make us patient in tribulation quiet under all the affronts and disgraces that are put upon us willing to wait and in the mean while not weary of well doing could we but know in its dimensions what it is to be like Christ what an admirable felicity it must needs be to he assimilated to him in that Day it would set us down with Paul's perswasion Rom. 8. 18. That the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the Glory that shall be revealed in us Yea the very ghuesses and conject●res which we may make of it affords matter of solid joy and triumph to the Children of God Pray therefore earnestly to God for this Divine illumination pray Pauls Prayer Eph. 3. 16. to 20. Oh! How glorious will Christ appear when he comes to Judge the World when he shal come in the Glory of his Father when he shal be attended with an innumerable company of Angels and in great Majesty sit down upon a Throne of Judgement when Holiness shal be to him for a Robe and Righteous for a Garment Then to be like Christ holy as ●e is holy adorned with his Robes Resplenden● with his Glory sitting down upon Thrones with him and with him Judging the World when he shal declare us Heirs of his Kingdome Children of his Father and make us sharers with him in the purchased Possession and it shal be known that he took possession of all that Glory not for himself alone but in the name of all those who had believed in him then it shal be known that it was not a vain thing to serve him and to suffer with and for him then shal● our happiness be full perfect eternal when we shal by plentiful experience know that to be like him is to be everlastingly blessed in the full fruition of the most glorious God to all eternity For we shall see him a● he ●s These words are an argument which the Apostle brings by way of evidence to make good his former assertion or prove that we shal be like him under which is contained another great truth concerning the happiness of the Children of God in another World As for the force of the Argument very briefly It may at first blush seem to argue weakly at least obscurly to prove our likness to him from our vision of him Devils and wicked Men shal see him as Rev. 1. 7. but they will not thence be more 〈◊〉 him I answer it is true these shal see a great deal of his Glory they shal see him coming as their Judge but they shal not see him a● their Saviour as the Saints shal Again they shal see him with great horror and fly from his presence as Adam did in the Garden and as they shal do Rev. 6. 20 21. Whereas the Children of God shal see him with great content and satisfaction Some thinks that John argues from the cause supposing that this Vision will be a transforming Vision changing us into the Image or likness of Christ perfectly others suppose him to argue from the part to the whole the Doctrine of the Beatifical vision being a received Doctrine in the Church as being the perfect felicity of the understanding Hence He argues for our whole perfection for if in one part o● faculty we shal be perfected by consequence all our whole man shal be rendred perfect for it is an whole blessedness that we shal have and that consists in perfect conformity to Christ But that which seems best to clear the argument is to look upon him as arguing from the effect or consequent Paul tells us that without Holiness no Man shal see God Heb. 12