Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	judgement_n	lord_n	sin_n	3,017	5	4.8345	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A92776	The head of the church, the iudge of the vvorld. Or, The doctrine of the day of iudgement briefely opened and applyed in a sermon preached before the Right Honourable, the House of Peers; in the Abby-Church at Westminster, on a publike fast day, Ian. 27. 1646. By Lazarus Seaman Preacher at Allhallowes Breadstreat London. One of the Assembly of Divines.	Seaman, Lazarus, d. 1675.	1647 (1647)	Wing S2176; Thomason E372_11; ESTC R201316	30,329	46

so much please themselves Note with the thoughts of their reigning with him as in the meane while to forget that even they also must be judged by him 4. To conclude seeing Christ shall judge the world let the world take heed how she carry her selfe toward Christ and his Church As Christ was content to stand at Pilats barre and Paul before Cesars judgement seat (g) Act 25 10. so must all the members of the Church be subject in like manner Christ himselfe thinkes it enough to have supremacy in all causes hereafter though in some respect he is supreame now His Church the Spouse can be in no better condition on Earth then her Lord was But he that is head of the Church shall be judge of the world and though this claime be justly rejected in the man of sinne yet it cannot be denied unto this man whom God hath indeed ordained as he by whom he will judge the world in righteousnesse This brings me to the last point The man Christ Jesus shall judge the world according to ● Point the will of God and in righteousnesse According to the will of God for God shall judge by him And shall not the judge of all the Earth doe right (h) Gen 18. 25. And in righteousnesse this must needs follow because the will of God is the rule and roote of righteousnesse Righteous judgement is that which God commandeth to be used betweene man and man and that which all men expect from God The want of this in men and our not discerning of it in many of the wayes and workes of God is that which makes a future-finall judgement to be most necessary and therefore this particular of all others belonging to that day must needs be most certaine The glory of God who ordaines Christ and the glory of Christ who undertakes that whereunto he is appointed and the glory of the worke it selfe which is the last and most solemne of all that comes within the compasse of divine providence depends altogether upon this condition that all be done in righteousnesse But what doth this import that Christ shall judge the world in righteousnesse I answer 1. Negatively 1. There shall be no respect of persons (i) Rom ● 11. kindred friendship greatnesse shall take no place with him 2. He shall not judge according to the sight of his eyes or hearing of his eares (k) Jsa 11. 3. or according to appearance (l) John 7. 24. but as the truth of every cause and case shall require Some suppose that a Judge on earth is tied to go secundum allegata probata according to legall proofe and Baldwin de Cas Cons lib. 4 cap. 12. casu 6. evidence though in his conscience he be perswaded otherwise or else that he must deponere personam judicis suspend his act as Judge and take upon him the place of a witnesse before an other But Christ shall never be brought to this streight by causing all evidence to be brought in or by supplying of it with his righteous sentence 3. He shall not onely give sentence but also cause the equity of it to appeare when he saies come yee blessed his reason followes for I was an hungred and yee gave me meat c. (m) Math 25. 34 35. 2. For the Affirmative part of the answer he shall iudge in righteousnesse that is 1. In generall according to the tenour of all prophesies which went before of him wherein no particular belonging to the office of Christ is more frequently or emphatically express'd then this that his judgement shall be righteous (o) Psa 45. 6. 7. 72. 2. 3. 4. and righteous in this sense that poore afflicted ones shall have benefit by him and the wicked and ungodly be condemned And therefore his judgeing in righteousnesse shall be to speake more particularly Both 1. according to the tenour of all promises made to such as believe in him and obey him and all testimonies which import any thing that tends unto their happinesse The summe of all which is that all teares being wiped from their faces (p) Jsa 25. 8. they shall have fulnesse of joy and pleasures at God right hand for ever more (q) Psa 16. 12. And 2. according to the threatnings denounc'd against the wicked hypocrites and unbelievers all which speake nothing lesse then that as vessels of wrath fitted unto destruction they shall be filled with wrath and lie under it for ever 2. His judgement shall be righteous both with reference unto God that his councell may stand and decrees take place and also in relation unto men and therefore his decrees shall so take place as the harmonie of them with his revealed will shall be sounded forth though in severall tunes as well by them who perish as by those who are heires of glory every tongue shall confesse to God (r) Rom 14. 11. This point requires a larger application then Application the proportion of a Sermon will allow and another kind of use then is proper for a day of humiliation for the present I shall onely touch upon these few heads It serves 1. to assure us that there is an infallible Iudge provided for the deciding of all controversies and to put an end unto all strife The Papists busie themselves and puzzle others with disputes about this question who is to be the supreame and infallible Iudge of controversies in matters of Religion whether the Pope or generall Councells Our answer is neither the one nor the other nor any at all * Davenant de Iudice norma fidei cap 4. Carkon in exercit Theol. since Christ and his Apostles but he onely at his second comming They that will submit to no government but upon the supposition of infallibility in the persons judging must be subject unto none at all neither civill nor ecclesiasticall no nor to their owne judgement of discretion If any might presume of infallibility the Church hath the fairest pretence because she hath many promises which the world hath not The last resolve of things shall be most exact but here we are all subject more or lesse either to errour or uncertainty Happy is he that can say I know nothing by my selfe but that which followes in St. Pauls words must needs be added yet I am not hereby justified he that judges me is the Lord. (ſ) 1 Cor. 4 4. If Moses Aaron and Samuel were amongst us the best Magistrate Priest or Prophet that ever was they could not satisfie in all things either some unrighteousnesse might be found in them or they though innocent might fall under suspition and therefore both they who are in place of judicature and all that are under authority for the present have need of patience wrongs and injuries may be the better borne here because hereafter God will judge the world in righteousnesse 2. Though on a fast day the ministery of the word should tend to humbling

suffer evill and this hath not onely puzzeld many learned Heathens in their disputations about Divine Providence as Seneca and Plotinus * Quare bonis vir●● mala accidant cum fit providentia Sen. per totum librum Plotinus Ennead 3. lib. 2. c. but the best of Gods children have been much offended hereat as David (m) Psal 73. 2. and Jeremy (n) Jer 12. 1. The best answer to all objections raised from this ground is by asserting a future judgement 3. There be many mysteries and Labyrinths of providence The judgements of God are unsearchable and his waies past finding out and while they are so we may well admire and adore but we can not give God that distinct and rationall service which he deserves and we might render if we had more understanding of his workes The end of Gods workes is for the manifestation of his glory and that he may receive glory neither of which can be perfectly attain'd on his part or ours without a day of judgement But thirdly which is the strongest of all There are plaine Prophesies of the day of judgement in Scripture and that in two kinds 1. By way of threatning against the wicked And 2. by way of promise for the present comfort and future benefit of the godly The way of threatning is most frequent I need not therefore to instance in the particular places The way of promise is very expresse The Lord is not slack concerning his promise (o) 2 Pet 3. 9. saies Peter while he is speaking of the second comming of Christ and answering their objections who say where is the promise of his comming And if God be either as he certainely is both Just and Good Faithfull every way there must needs be a day of judgement If his merce were so great that he should repent of the evill intended though that be but to dream with Origen yet even that greatnesse of his mercy would make the judgement so much the more necessary for the good of his Elect. The use of this truth is either 1. for all in generall Application or 2. more especially for such as are in authority There shall be a day of judgement Therefore 1. Let it ever be in our eye eare and heart and let 's be frequently meditating of it and of all that belongs to it but above all of the account which wee must then give and that condition and state of Eternity which will follow thereupon some never dreamt of a Parliament but they have seene it and felt the weight of it and if we should be so foolish as not to thinke of this day the comming of it will be never a whit the farther off because we put it farre from us but the more dreadfull The Scripture speakes so much of it as serves to call in all our senses For the eye Behold the Lord commeth with ten thousands of his Saints (p) Jude 15. to execute judgement upon all and to convince all that are ungodly among them The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospell of our Lord Jesus Christ (q) 2 Thes 1. 7. 8. Behold he commeth with clouds and every eye shall see him and they also which peirced him and all kindreds of the Earth shall waile before him (r) Rev. 1. 7. For the eare The Lord himselfe shall descend from Heaven with a shout (ſ) 1 Thes 4. 16. with the voice of the Archangel and with the trump of God But that which should most of all affect our hearts is that God shall judge the secrets or hidden things of men * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (t) Rom 2. 15. Our swarmes of evill thoughts and lusts our simulations and dissimulations as one distinguishes * Dike of the deceitfulnesse of the heart and all wicked desires devices and purposes shall then be disclosed and whereas carnall policy hypocrisy and deceit stands us here instead sometimes among men they shall make most against us before God To thinke on these things and such like may prevent many sinnes speed and quicken our repentance and make us carefull to have a conscience void of offence towards God and man (u) Act 24. 16. 2 Seeing there shall be such a day let oppressors persecutors Tyrants and all that are any way injurious tremble but let the oppressed and afflicted be of good cheere verily there is a reward for the righteous and doubtlesse there is a God that judgeth the Earth (x) Psa 58. 11. The Nimrods Pharaohs Herods Pilates and such like of the Earth shall not stand in judgement as the Psalmists phrase is (y) Psa 1. 5. And where shall the sinner and ungodly appeare when the righteous are scarcely saved (z) 1 Pet 4. ●8 But the poore and meeke of the earth shall there be pleaded for and avenged (a) Jsa 11. 4. Therefore thirdly Let us all live as becomes those who professe this faith Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect unto all thy Commandements (b) Psa 119. 9. There is no way to live free from inward rebuke here or from open confusion before God men and Angels hereafter but to live up in the power of godlinesse unto that perfect rule which is set before us in the word If the argument be good as it is from the dissolution of the world to a most holy life it is the stronger if we joyne with it the day of judgement Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godlinesse * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (c) 2 Pet. 3. 11. 12. Looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God (d) Psal 51. 6. Labour we therefore both for truth in the inward parts and to clense our selves from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit perfecting holinesse in the feare of God (e) 2 Cor. 7. 1. 2. For such as are in authority Gods on earth judges among men (f) Psal 82. 6. First Let them be upright and humble because they resemble him are subordinate unto him and must be countable There be higher then they * Eccles 5. 8. And they must one day heare that command and obey it Give an account of thy Steward-ship * Luke 16. 2. Let them therefore judge as those who must be judged 2. Let them beware of all corruptions in judgement to respect persons take bribes directly or indirectly neglect the cry of the widdowes and Fatherlesse with hold good from the owners thereof protract causes and so to make the remedy worse then the disease to be partiall to prefer private interest before publike are all abominations in the sight of God For such like the Land mournes the foundations of it shake some courts of judicature are thrown downe others

according to his heart As for the things which Christ hates there be some particulars which are accented with his abhorring as 1. Hypocrisie Woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites (b) Mat 23. 13. 2. The deeds of the Nicolaitans for thus he writes in his Epistle to the Angel of the Church of Ephesus But this thou hast that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans which I also hate (c) Rev. 2. 6. 3. the doctrine of the Nicolaitans as well as their deeds for so he writes to another I have against thee * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 h. e. this great evill to lay unto thy charge or some heavy judgement to inflict because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans which thing I hate (d) ver 14. 15. So as evill doctrines are hatefull to Christ as well as evill deeds we may as well plead for the toleration of the one as of the other yea to hold the doctrine h. e. to be stiffe in maintaining evill opinions or to suffer such as doe which thing I hate * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is abominable before Christ as well as to teach them 4. Lukewarmenesse also is another particular because thou art lukewarme and neither cold nor hot I will spew thee out of my mouth (e) Rev. 3. 16. This is said to be the Church of Englands sinne in worship and government Brightman in apoc c. 3. under Liturgy and Episcopacy would to God it were not her sinne even till this day we are neither so cold as by publique indulgence to tolerate all opinions nor so hot as to suppresse one Sect. Not so cold as not to admit of Presbyteriall government upon triall and in part nor so hot as to receive it wholly in the power and practise 'T were well if in these things we were more then almost perswaded to be Christians The Fourth use Above all things let 's take heed of crucifying Christ againe and of putting of him to an open shame or of betraying him or his cause for by-respects least as he said unto his Brethren I am Joseph whom ye sold (f) Gen 45. 4. so it be said unto us I am Christ whom ye denied The Jewes will not believe him to be the true Messiah and feare not his second comming though some prove a first and second comming of the Messiah by their owne traditions * Petrus Galat. de Arca. Cath. verit lib. 4. c. 1 Tit 2. 13. but his glorious appearing is our blessed hope yet while we desire he may be our Saviour let 's so walke as becomes those who remember he must be our Judge The fifth point followes The world is to be Iudged by this man The world this 5. Point implies 1. All persons for we must all appeare before All persons the Iudgement seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body (g) 2 Cor. 5. 10. And whereas it is written Jsa 45. 23. As I live saith the Lord every knee shall bow to me and every tongue shall confesse to God The Apostle from thence concludes in this manner So then every one of us shall give an account of himselfe to God (h) Rom. 14. 11 12. Saints as well as sinners for of such he there speakes And yet more distinctly Jewes and Gentles Behold he commeth with clouds and every eye shall see him they also which pierced him and all kindreds of the Earth shall waile because of him (i) Rev 1. 7. small and great (k) ch 20. 12. quicke and dead (l) 1 Pet 4. 5. Our Saviour speakes of Tyre Sidon and Sodome that it shall be easier for them at the day of Judgement then for Capernaum and Bethsaida (m) Mat 11. 22. 24. which implies that all who ever lived not onely after his incarnation but from the beginning of the world shall be respectively countable unto Christ one as well as another And as all persons so All causes 2. all causes shall be judged by him The distinction between civill and ecclesiasticall judicatories shall then vanish all things shall be indifferently heard at one Barre and men shall give an account of their practise or conversation He shall reward every man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (n) Mat. 16. 27. Of their workes The dead were judged out of those things which were written in the bookes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (o) Rev 20. 12. of their words Every idle word that men shall speake they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgement (p) Mat 12. 36. of their councells Judge nothing before the time untill the Lord come who both will bring to light the hidden thing of darknesse and will make manifest the councels of the hearts (q) 1 Cor 4. 5. and of their secrets God will bring every worke to judgement with every secret thing whether it be good or whether it be evill (a) Eccl. 12. 14. 3. As all persons and causes so likewise all creatures All the Creatures the Angels not excepted The creature it selfe also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God (b) Rom 8. 21. And the Angels which kept not their first estate but left their owne habitation he hath reserved in everlasting chaines under darkenesse unto the judgement of the great day (c) Jud. 6 ●e This in the use of it serves 1. To shew us the vanity Application of the world and of all humane jurisdiction 't is not finall nor supreame When a Parliament is sitting all inferiour courts tremble and every one is ambitious to get in to be a member of that Court which is the highest There shall be a time as we are now assured when Lords and Commons must also give an account How much better is it therefore to be a Christian a Saint then a member of either House Doe you not know that the Saints shall judge the world (d) 1 Cor. 6. 2. Let all that judge in this world carry themselves so in all respects as to be not onely willing to be judged by Christ but also in the number of his assessors at the last 2. Hence is comfort to Gods people they are chastened in and by the world But when we are judged we are chastened of the Lord that we might not be condemned with the world (e) 1 Cor. 11. 32. 3. Let 's all prepare for judgement in every thing Here the Church complaines not onely of men but sometimes of God himselfe My judgement is passed over of my God (f) Jsa 40 27. Though there is no cause for this yet Satan takes occasion to make corruption give such language But surely when Christ judges all the world he will remember his Church yet let Saints beware that they doe not