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 love_n love_v 4,041 5 6.5654 4 true
View all documents for the selected quad

Text snippets containing the quad

ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A19293 A familiar treatise laying downe cases of conscience, furthering to perseuerance in sanctification. By Thomas Cooper, preacher of Gods word.; Converts first love, discerned Cooper, Thomas, fl. 1626. 1615 (1615) STC 5700; ESTC S120771 80,590 120

There is 1 snippet containing the selected quad. | View lemmatised text

be or what others are yet let not this discourage vs in our present measure or from attaining further because he which hath giuen others more is the same also vnto vs and will bee in like measure both accepting what he giues for the present and perfiting of his owne worke in due season 2. That though wee are sometimes ebbing and sometimes flowing in the measure of holinesse yet our God is alwayes the same vnto vs. And therefore measure wee not his loue by our different measure of increase but rather resolue we that as when we increase more we haue more cause to loue him because hee answers our endeauours so when we seeme to goe backward we haue then cause to loue and trust him more that so hee may recouer vs as wee haue more need of his loue when wee faile to lead vs forward againe so we haue as great need of his loue when we haue done our best to emptie vs of all carnall respects of vaine-glory c. that so it may appeare his onely loue hath occasioned this increase all this seruice shall redound to his glory 3. That in the worke of grace wee must liue by Faith and not by sense not measuring our estate by what wee are in our selues but by what wee are in Christ not what we are for the present but what wee shall be in the life to come And therefore comfort we ourselues that as the least sparke of grace is an euidence that we are ingrafted in the Vine so being the Vine we shall be daylie purged and prepared to bring foorth more fruite that what wee doe for the present shal be accepted as perfect in Christ and the more sense wee haue of the imperfection thereof the more may we be assured of our interest in Christ Iesus the more shal we be prouoked still to be found in Christ not hauing our owne righteousnesse that so in him and through him the worke may be perfited Fourthly Make wee tryall of increase by these markes 3. That wee grow in euery part aswell inward as outward 2. That we discerne our corruptions more and are more humbled for them 3. That our affections to the world are more lessened and quieted 4. That we are more contuetned with our estates and can more cast our care on God 5. That we are more willing to endure afflictions and ready to lay downe our liues for the Name of Christ 6. That wee can more grieue for the sinnes of the time and yet labour more hartilie the conuersion of sinners 7. That wee are more sober and wise in the vse of Christian libertie 8. That wee are more cheerefull and able to holy dueties and so doe more hunger after our dissolution and are willing to die 9. That he can be emptied of all by respects yea of all respect vnto our selues for the glory of God 10. That wee finde such sinnes most weakened to which formerly we haue bene most subiect 11. That howsoeuer we differ in practize yet still our desires are more enflamed especially vpon our fayling to more constant obedience Lastlie For our comfort learne wee that our God that commands perseuerance giues grace to the same and therefore we shall continue and not finally decay wee shall leaue out first loue but not loose it altogether 1. Philip. 6. Iohn 13. Luke 22.33 Wherein note That euery conuert hath a first loue that is Doct. 7. Euery true conuert hath a first loue when God hath reuealed his loue vnto him in Christ and by the Spirit of God it is shed abroad in his heart then is the heart of a sinner inflamed to loue God againe then is it enlarged with ioy vnspeakable and glorious 1. Pet. 17. for so great saluation then doeth it striue to expresse it thankfulnesse vnto God for so great mercie then is loue as strong as death much water can not quench it Cant. 8. And this is called his first loue and it is discerned by these markes 1. By his renouncing of all in comparison of it and parting with the dearest for the enioying of it First loue discerned by markes Matth. 13. Ioh. 6. Coloss 3.1 so did the Apostles forsake all in act so must we forsake all in affection and in act too so farre as it may hinder our enioying of Christ Zacheus Luke 19.6.7 2. When we endure any affliction for the Wordes sake 1. Thess 1.9.10 and that with great ioy in the holy Ghost Hebr. 10. Ephes 1. submitting our selues to the power of the word though it be neuer so bitter to the flesh and crosse the lusts thereof 3. When we reuerence highly the Ministers of the Gospell Galath 3.4 thinking nothing too deare for them Act. 16. 4. When we cleare our conscience of all sinne by which our sweet fellowship with Christ may bee hindred so Zacheus Luke 19. not being ashamed to confesse our particular sinnes and renouncing them vnfainedly 5. When for Christs sake we loue his poore members 1. Tim. 1.15.16 17. and impart of our worldly goods bountifully to their reliefe Luke 19. Zacheus 1. Ioh. 2. Ioh. 13. Psal 16.2 6. When wee continue in the powerfull meanes of the diuine worship Act. 2. 7. When we consult not with flesh and blood nor communicate with it but doe vtterly renounce the same in regarde of heauen Act. 9. Galath 2. Matth. 8. c. 8. And being rauished with the sweetnesse of the loue of Christ Luke 22.33 wee enlarge our selues to declare the same to our brethren labouring to bring them to Christ by plucking them out of the fire Ioh. 1.18 Iude 22. The wisedome and mercie of our God in vouchsauing his children vpon their conuersion this liuely and ardent affection of holy loue is manifold Reasons of this first loue First hereby to scale vnto them the trueth and assurance of this blessed Change by this sensible and sweet change of their affections that whereas before they could not relish and brooke the power of the worde neither had any delight in the excellent but esteemed their persons contemptible and odious deemed of their wayes as madnesse or hypocrisie now finding by the mercie of God their hearts enflamed to the loue of the worde though it vtterly confound all former hopes and cut off wholly all future expectations for the flesh and withall pretending such to bee most deare vnto them who are hated of the world and in regarde of outward appearance are not able to requite our loue and yet because they are in Christ are therefore for his sake to be beloued may wee not hence assuredly conclude vnto our soules that wee are translated from death to life because wee loue the brethren is not this our euidence that wee are now chosen out of the world because we loue those whom the world hates is not this an argument that wee are now in Christ because his loue onely constraines vs to loue his members and seeing our loue vnto them is to make them like