Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	heart_n	lord_n	sin_n	2,722	5	4.5112	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A61609	A sermon preached on the fast-day, November 13, 1678, at St. Margarets Westminster, before the Honourable House of Commons by Edward Stillingfleet ...	Stillingfleet, Edward, 1635-1699.	1678 (1678)	Wing S5649; ESTC R8213	27,301	58

be the paternal affection of the Holy Father at Rome if this indeed be zeal for the Catholick Cause if this be the way to reconcile us to their Communion have we not great reason to be fond of returning into the Bosom of such a Church which may strangle us as soon as it gets us within her Arms But there are some whose concernment it is to make men believe there was no such dangerous plot intended I meddle not with that evidence which lies before you but there is one notorious circumstance obvious to all persons and sufficient to convince any which is the horrid Murther actually committed on one of his Majesties Justices of Peace in cold blood with great contrivance and deliberation Do men imbrue their hands in blood for nothing Why no other Person why at such a time why in such a manner There was a Reason for all this he had taken the examinations he knew too much to be suffered to live and they hoped by his death to stifle his evidence and to affrighten others from searching too far and they managed that matter so as though they had a mind to convince the World they had no other end in taking away his life but to prevent a further Discovery And they whom his Death doth not convince neither would they be convinced though he should rise again from the Dead God forbid that we should charge such barbarous cruelties such wicked conspiracies such horrid designs on all who live in the Communion of that Church but we must distinguish between the seduced party who are not thought fit to be trusted with such things for fear their Consciences check at them and their good nature disclose them and the busie Active Faction who are always restless and designing and act by such Maxims of Morality as the more sober and modest Heathens would abhor What hath this Party of men been doing among us this last hundred of years and more but plotting conspiracies inflaming our differences betraying our liberties heightning our discontents and in short undermining the Foundatior s both of our Government and Religion And shall such men alwayes triumph that they are too hard for our Laws and that like the Canaanites and Jebusites to the Children of Israel they will still be as scourges in ●●r sides and thorns in our eyes If these things must be I hope God designs it not to destroy us at last by them but I am sure it doth prove and try us whether we will hearken to the Commandments of the Lord or to the vain Traditions of Men. God knows I speak not these things out of any malice or ill will to the Persons of any for that I may use St. Paul's words My hearts desire and prayer to God for them all is that they might be saved And although I cannot bear them witness yet my hopes are some even of these may think they have a zeal for God in all this but we are sure it is not according to knowledge Such a blind zeal as the Jews had who when they killed the Apostles thought they did God good service But it is so furious so inhumane so unchristian a zeal that it is charity to them as well as necessary care of our own safety to keep them from a capacity of doing themselves and others mischief But before I conclude the Text suggests to us three things very pertinent to the duty of this Day which I shall briefly recommend to your consideration 1. Matter of humiliation for our sins as they have an influence upon the Nations suffering 2. Matter of Advice Only fear the Lord and serve him in truth and with all your heart 3. Matter of encouragement For consider what great things he hath done for you 1. Matter of Humiliation for our sins Which have been many and great and aggravated by all the Mercies and Deliverances which God hath vouchsafed to us and therefore he may be justly provoked to punish us proportionably to the measures of our ingratitude and disobedience Let us lay our hands upon our hearts this day and seriously consider what requital we have made to the Lord for all the benefits he hath bestowed upon us For the Light of his Truth the Purity of his Worship the Power of his Grace the frequency of his Sacraments the influences of his Spirit and the continuance hitherto of our established Religion in spite of all opposition whatsoever But have we not been guilty of too much slighting that Truth neglecting that Worship resisting that Grace contemning those Sacraments quenching that Spirit and of too great coldness and indifferency about matters of Religion I do not fear that ever the Church of Rome should prevail among us by strength of Reason or force of Argument with all its specious colours and pretences unless it be among those who understand neither one nor the other Religion but if men be loose in their principles and unconcerned about Religion in general there will not be courage and constancy enough to keep it out I do much more fear Popery coming in at the back-door of Atheism and Prophaneness than under all its false and deceitful pretences of Universality and Infallibility And this those have been aware of who have been so industriously sowing among us the seeds of Irreligion knowing that if men be unconcerned as to all Religion they will never have the courage to oppose any but will be sure to close with the prevailing side Next to this I know no greater advantage that they take against us than from the unnatural heats and unchristian divisions which have been among us If men were wise they would consider at least in this our day the things which do belong to our Peace How can men answer it at the great day if in such a critical time as this is they stand upon little niceties and punctilios of Honour rather than Conscience or upon keep up the interests of their several Parties and do not those things which themselves think they lawfully may do towards an Union with us I pray God the continuance of these breaches may not look like an argument of Divine Infatuation upon us But what can we say to that looseness and debauchery of manners to that riot and luxury to that wantonness and prophaneness to that fashion of customary swearing and Atheistick Drollery which have been so much and so justly complained of among us I hope there are many thousands at this day in England whose souls abhor the abominations that are committed and who mourn in secret for them and therefore our case may not be so desperate as that of Jerusalem was May we all this day so heartily repent of all these follies and impieties that the Cause of our Fears which our sins give us being removed we may hearken 2. To the matter of Advice here given Only to fear the Lord and to serve him in Truth and with all our heart As though Samuel had said Your hearts