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	see_v	5,118	5	3.3465	3	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

of them great willingnes and readines to bestow tyme and payns vpon things worldly even vanityes trifls than on these preferring the interests of creatures to the interests of Christ and not giving Him the preheminence above al by the readines which appears in people in tymes of tryall to cōply with sinful courses to the prejudice of Christs causs and the hazarding of their own peace with God for maintayning their case temporary safety and worldly commodities rather then to deny themselves take vp their cross and follow Him 3 Not receiving of Christ nor making vse of Him as He is held foorth in the Gospell in His fulnes of grace nor living in fayth by Him more especially in Not receiving and making vse of His free gifted and imputed Righteousnes for Iustification acceptation befor God and for peace of cōscience while as most part securely rest on meer outward church priviledges many confyde in their own Morall Honestly performances and Duetyes So going about to establish their own Righteousness and following Duetyes this way to make their Peace and Reconciliation there by with GOD AND even the Best Professours no not so purely inteirly rest on his righteousnes as the Gospell requyreth as well appear by these things amongst many others heartless fears miss-be-lieff I carring to apply Christ and to make vse of the promises not rejoicing in Christ and His propitiation with humility when there is a discovery challenges and apprehensions of want short comming failing of duetyes which in effect is in a degree and in part an establishing our own righteousness and not submitting to the Righteousness of GOD. Not making vse of Christ for Sanctification according to the promises of the Covenant and not acting in a way of dependence on Him in al the performances of our common Christian calling and of particular lawful vocations for direction quickning strength to mortify corruptions to every duety and to carry vs through agaynst discowragements tentations but acting only or most part by the strength of our own wits abilityes and payns In not making vse of the Mediation and intercession of Christ in approaching to the Throne of Grace in prayers supplications and thanksgivings while as many doeth neglect prayer altogether albeit they have some course of performancce of this duety yet knoweth not what it is to put their prayers vp to GOD thorow the Mediator tho they may perhaps name His Name but doth as that Uzziah who would offer incense himself neglecting the high priest and even believers themselves doth not directly distinctly and steadfastly in their approaches to God eye Christ to offer in al their service through Him nor do come with that humble boldness and full assurance of fayth in God as a Father where with the intercession of Christ warrandeth them to come Heb. 10.19.20 21 22 4 Not walking as becometh the Gospell of Christ in Righteousnes godlines and sobriety many not-with-standing their profession of the gospell and claming interest in Christ and His grace yet living loose profane godless carnall and earthly in their way in effect turning the grace of God vnto wantoness securety and taking liberty to sin because grace doth abound And even best not so constrayned with the love of Christ to live to Him who dyed for them not stryving to keep the thoughts of the love of Christ and the free grace of God in Him vpon their hears so fresh constant as they should be to keep thē watchfull tender zealous enlarged for God and His Honour 6. In relation to the operations of the Spirit wherein the Gospel is the Ministration maketh it effectuall as 1 Profane mocking miscalling mis-interpreting the tender acurat wolking of the Godly in the wayes of God as vnnecessary and prowd precyseness And their Spirituall exercyses as fantastickness melancholy or madness Which is a horrible sin sib to that which is vnpardonable yet very frequent amongst carnall and naturall people 2 The meer naturall and morall way of living in a civill honesty and sitting down contented therewith of the most part of people not labouring in their conversation to walk after the Spirit i. e. upon Spirituall Principles according to the Spirituall Rule of Gods revealed Will in His Word nor for Spiritual ends the Honour of God Glory and immortality 3 Not observing and yeelding vnto the knocking 's of the Spirit whereby Christ maketh tender to come in to hearts that He may sup with them and they with Him resisting and quenching His motions whereby He stirreth vp to Duetyes stiffling or putting by His challenges whether in publick or secret which tendeth to repentance humiliation or with-draw-ing from sin not being tender of His presence and consolations to entertayn the same but grieving Him by mispryzing them refusing them careless walking in not attending on His direction and guiding in giving way to known sinfull thoughts and lustings in a continued tract altho not growing vp to a full accomplishing of them and sometymes in giving way even to grosser out-breakings and in not watching agaynst predominant corruptions whereof even the best are much guilty 4 Not delighting in nor improving Spiritual company and spirituall exercises 7 Of Ministers in relation to their preaching of the Gospell as 1 Many not labouring to sett foorth the Excellency of Christ in His Person Offices and the vnsearchable Riches of His Grace the new Covenant and the way of living by Fayth in Him nor making this the mayn and chief Theme and matter of their preaching as did the Apostle 1. Cor. 3.2 2. Cor. 4.5 Coloss 1.28 Nor preaching other things with a relation to Christ To wit Not preaching convictions reprooffs discoveries of sin and of short commings in Duetyes and threatnings to leade to Christ to pryze Him the more highly and to embrace Him the more earnestlie especially for justification and pressing Duetyes in a meer legall way not urging them as by the authority of Gods Commandements so from the love of Christ the grace of the Gospell nor poynting and directing people to their furniture for them in Christ often tymes craving hard but giving nothing wherwith to pay 2 What they preach of Christ and the matters of the Gospell not preaching the same in a Gospell way whereof See 1. Cor. 3. from the beginning at length 3 Not commending as they ought neither their own work whether of meditation or delyverie nor their hearts to Christ that He might give the increass but going about the work either altogether in their own strength or much that way 4 Often tymes not speaking because they believe and many not seeking for communion with Christ in their own personall estate and to feele the power of the Word vpon their own hearts that they might speak so These branches of contemning and abusing of the Gospell are thought fitt for the better Information of all to bee held foorth at this tyme as beeing most obvious recommending with all to Ministers to apply themselues to make a more full and particular discovery thereof as is not doubted but they will do according to their wisdom and vnderstanding in the Gospell and the experience they have by observation of their own hearts and of the wayes and consciences of people It is also found needfull and appoynted that in reguard it is not one or two but many provocations of the people of God in this Land which have drawn on the present sad calamities and judgements and that the servants of God tho they have condescended vpon many sinnes of the King and his Family of Iudicatories and of the people as vndoubted Causes thereof yet are perswaded that there is need of a further discovery Therfore vpon the foresayd day of Humiliation at other tymes both in publick and private earnest supplications to be made to God for light and unanimity to His servants in this matter that the causes of Gods wrath being more fully and throughly seen and the hearts of al humbled accordingly befor God wee may bee yet sett in a Way to fynd the Lords Mercy in due tyme. FINIS