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	lord_n	people_n	4,203	5	4.5705	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B08768	Reasons of a fast, appoynted by the Commission of the General assemblie to bee kept through all the kirks of this kingdom, on the Lords day; December 22, 1650.	Church of Scotland. General Assembly. Commission.	1650 (1650)	Wing C4251B; ESTC R171358	7,559	18

REASONS OF A FAST Appoynted by the Commission of the Generall Assemblie To bee kept through all the Kirks of this Kingdom on the LORDS DAY December 22. 1650. THe Commission of the Generall Assemblie seriously considering That how-so-ever this Land lyeth under the Guiltiness of many-fold Provocations of al sorts against the Cōmandemēts of the Law of GOD abounding in all Rancks Conditions of People Yet that the despysing and refusing of the Gospell and of the Rich Free Grace of GOD in CHRIST held foorth therein is the Great National Sinne of this Kirk and Kingdom against which the LORD is most evidently and remarkeably pleading a Contraversie in His present judgements vpon the Land And that this is the very Fountayn and Cause of so great abounding of all other sinnes Considering also that this Sinne having been often mentioned and held foorth amongst the Causes of former Fasts hath been little or no wayes at all layd to heart Yea nor well understood what it meaneth by the most part of People And therefore having appoynted a Fast and Humiliation to bee kept especially for this Sinne on the LORDS Day December xxij 1650 throughout all the Congregations of this Kirk it is thought fit to the effect That all may haue the more clear and distinct apprehension of the foresayd Sinne and bee helped the better to discern their guiltiness therein To hold foorth unto People the Mayn Branches thereof in this Paper which is desyred to bee read in all Congregations Sinnes relating to the Gospell-Ordinances FIrst To the WORD Neglecting to come and attend on the Preaching of the Word both on the LORDS Day and on week dayes in these places where such Exercises are on these dayes 2 Not comming to the Preaching of the Word for the right end viz to fynd communion with Christ and a taste of His goodnes and excellencie to be built vp in the most holy fayth but eyther out of custome or to eschew censures or to satisfy hold off the challēges of a naturall conscience or some other by-respect And not preparing the heart befor hand in secret to come with Godly fear and reverence humility spiritual hungring and thirsting after the Kingdom of God and the Righteousnes thereof and desyring as new born babes the sincere milk of the Word to grow thereby 3 That when People are at the preaching of the word besyds great carelesnes overlines sleeping wandring of the heart in advertencie to what is preached the Word is not heard as an Ordināce and meane appoynted of God to work vpon and carry in grace and comfort vnto the heart but is only reguarded as other discourses proceeding from mens ability and parts and is accordingly esteemed by the most part or at most is only made vse of as a mean of informing the judgement 4 That in the preaching of the Word neyther doeth Ministers speak the same as the Oracles of God not remēbring themselves to be the ambassadours of Christ speaking in Gods stead nor doeth people present thēselves in so immediat a way befor God Himself as to receive the Word not as the Word of man but as the true Word of God whence it commeth to pass that there is litle trembling at the Word and so litle rejoycing in it 5 That people in the hearing of the Word contents themselves with mans teaching and doeth not in the conviction of their own blindnes vtter inability of themselves to perceive the things of the Spirit and of the insufficiencie of the outward means without Gods immediat work therewith vpon the heart imploy Him self to teach them inwardly by His Spirit joyning with the outward means according to the promise of the Covenant They shal be al taught of God whence it commeth to pass that there is so much Preaching and so little profiting so much Learning and so little speed comming in the knowledge of GOD. 6 The not mixing of the Word preached with Fayth whyle as in the hearing thereof even these who seem to giue most heed thereunto do for the most part rather imploy the judgement to consider and judge of the pertinencie coherence the way of uttering of the doctrine delivered or in a meer speculatiue way to apprehend the matter trueth of what is spoken than they do labour with the heart to close with embrace and apply to themselues the Trueth preached 7 No care to lay up hyde the words of CHRIST in the heart to remember the same for use making But letting them slip and run thorow which the Apostle accounteth a neglecting of the Great Salvation of GOD HEB. 2.1.3 Nor imploying the Spirit to bring the Word that hath been heard but forgotten to remembrance Not making conscience to conferre on the Word Preached and to whet it on upon an other Not taking payns nor delight in it in private to reade and meditate on it 2. IN relation to the Sacraments And first in general cōmon Not making vse of them as Seals of the Covenant of Grace and promises thereof made to us in Christ but laying al the weyght of confidēce vpon thē selves being cōtent with the deed done which was the ordinary sin of the Iews in the vse of Circumcision other Rits and ceremonies of the Law so often charged vpon them in Scripture Then particularly In Baptisme 1 In Parents bringing their Children therevnto eyther out of meer fashion and custome as meerly to have a difference put between them and vnchristned people or in effect as vnto a meer ceremonie and not from any sense that they are vnclean from vnclean born dead in sins and children of wrath of themselves defyled with original guilt and corruption nor from a desyre that they may be spiritually regenerated incorporated vnto Christ to be made partakers of the vertue of His Death Resurrection to be washed from their filthines in the blood of Christ and to get interest in the Covenant of grace and promises thereof sealed vp vnto them 2 Not setting themselves in the administration of this Sacrament to consider pryze the free love and grace of God which hath prevented vs our seed in provyding such a fountain for sin vncleanes in Christ making such a Covenant with vs so well ordered in al things sure preventing vs and our seed with the seall thereof nor to apply the Covenant and the promises thereof for our selves and our seed and this Sacrament as the seall of the same 3. The great evident slighting of the administration of this Sacrament while as few in the Congregation joyneth therin eyther for their own edification or to hold vp the baptized to God that He might bless His own ordināce to them and receive them in amongst His Children in Christ and many with-draweth themselves from the administration thereof as if it did not concern them and only the Minister and Presenter were to be actors in it 4 Parents not making conscience to make known vnto their

Children when they come to years of Capacity their Baptism the ends and vse thereof and the obligation therby layeth vpon them as consecrated to Christ 5 The not making vse of this Sacrament all a-long the course of our lyf for renewing strengthening our cōfort in the Fayth and assurance of our Regeneration Adoption and of our interest in God as our GOD and Father in CHRIST and for strenthening through Christ our resolutions endeavours of Mortification and newness of lyf Which is a great despysing of this Ordinance In the Lords Supper 1. The great profanation ther of by the comming and admitting there vnto of many gross Ignorants who cānot discern the Lords Body nor knoweth how to examine thēselves māy profane Ones Godless Livers without the Worship of GOD in private and into many places al sorts of persons promiscuously without making a difference between the precious the Vyle whereby the Blood of Christ is much profaned altho the constitutions of our Kirk were they well observed doth sufficiently guard against these evills Which no doubt is one of the mayn sins for which GOD hath beene provoked to suffer so much of our blood to be shed See 1 Cor. 11.30 2. The little or no care or payns that is taken for preparation to so high and holy an Ordinance wherein we are called to the nearest and most familiar Communion with Christ that is heere vpon earth most part contenting themselves giving their presence at a Preparation Sermon many not making conscience of so much as this Very few separating themselves as is needfull to examine themselves that being sensible of their Guiltyness Spirituall inlacks c. They might come with humble broken and contrite Spirits with Spirituall hunger and thirst for Christ Crucified And sincere purposes of heart to forsake their former sinfull courses and to renew their Covenant with GOD in the strength of CHRISTS Grace 3 The great and lamentable Blockishness of the most part in the participation of this Ordinance who may be have some kynd of amazement at the Solemnityes thereof but doth no wyse therein exercyse themselves in remembring the Lords Death till He come agayn to apply the same to themselves for peace with GOD and mortifying the Body of Sin for working deep Repentance and Gospell sorrow for Sin and getting the Love of Christ more kindled in them and their hearts enlarged with greater thankfulness towards Him Who loved vs and gave Himself for vs. And on the other hand the great heartless sinfull Dejection of many sensible Souls who at no tyme are readyer to be plunged in legall heavyness feeding as it were on gall and Worm-wood then at this Ordinance wherein they ought to be most rejoycing through Fayth on the propitiation in the Death of Christ so familiarly set foorth therein to them 4 That the tyme and occasion of this Sacrament is vsed by the most part only for some outward restraint of grosser sins for a day or two before and after but all such goodnes being as a morning clowd no constancie nor reall reformation but presently turning to wonted naturall worldly and carnall courses Not-with-standing renewed remembring of the Death of CHRIST and Profession of renewing Covnants with GOD. 3. IN Relation To the Ordinance of Discipline 1. Which partiality in the administration of thereof with respect of persons and according to affection which appeareth in that whyle as Offences and Scandalles in meaner persons are taken notice of challenged and censured There is not the lyke Christian-Freedom Faythfulness and Zeall used towards such as are more eminent for Wealth Place or Dignitie in the World 2 Want of a Spirit of Meekness sometymes in the administration thereof whereby men if GOD peradventure would give them Repentance might bee recovered out of the Snare of Satan And on the other hand want of Zeall often tymes to saue others with fear plucking them out of the Fyre 3 Much Vilifying Contemning of the Censures Exercise of Discipline Yea hateing thereof and the Officers of the Kirk for it 4 Not making use of it as a Spirituall Medicine and Means of Salvation but as a meer Punishment which as it is in it selff a miss-apprehension and abuse of this Ordinance So is no doubt the cause of so much impatience and indignation agaynst it in people and of so much inaequality and mixture of selfish affection in the administration thereof 5 The great Formality that is every where in the vse thereof whyle as so bee it that persons under censure continue out their set tyme and dayes of censure little care or respect is had of the effects for which it was instituted To wit Humiliation of hearr and Godly sorrow bringing foorth Repentance not to bee repented of which maketh the administration thereof to look too lyke the way of Popish Pennance 4. IN Relation to Prayer 1. Great neglect thereof by most part of persons and families throughout the Land in private and secret 2 Many more imminent persons in the World accounting the performance thereof in their families altho this bee incumbent to them by their Place and Station a disparidgement and therefore turning it over vpon others as a Service bee low them 3 In the publick Prayers of the Kirk Peoples lying by from joyning therein al along with their Spirits which should bee stryving together with the Minister either mutering words of their own or taking liberty to themselues to bee ydle in the work and raving in their thoughts As if the Minister only were to bee an Actor in that Service 4 Not using this Ordinance as a mean of communion with GOD and of obtayning blessings from Him But using it meerly as a Duety and many as a matter of meer task Whereof many may bee convinced by this That they do not make conscience nor setteth themselues to obserue what commeth of their Prayers how they are taken off their hand what speed they haue come and what answer they get 5 The little care that is had either by Ministers or others to pray in the Spirit or to imploy the Spirit of Grace and Supplication for this Service The most part in their performāces thereof too evidētly acting meerly their own memory invention wit c. And that often tymes with apparent affectation 5. RElating more immediatelye to CHRIST Himself and the Free Grace of GOD in Him which is the Matter and Object of the Gospell as 1 Gross ignorance in the most part and great short comeing of the best in the knowledge of Iesus Christ His Person offices His blessings and benefits of the Covenant of grace established in Him and the way of making vse of Christ and the covenant of grace 2 Undervaluing and misprysing of Christ communion with Him His spiritual graces and blessings Which appears most evidently by the great neglect of the vse of these means and exercyses publick privat secret wherein He offereth Himself to be sought found the great wearying