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A14721 Theologicall questions, dogmaticall observations, and evangelicall essays, vpon the Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Matthew Wherein, about two thousand six hundred and fifty necessary, and profitable questions are discussed; and five hundred and eighty speciall points of doctrine noted; and five hundred and fifty errours confuted, or objections answered: together with divers arguments, whereby divers truths, and true tenents are confirmed. By Richard VVard, sometimes student in the famous vniversities of Cambridge in England: St. Andrews in Scotland: and Master of Arts of both the kingdoms; and now a preacher in the famous city of London. Ward, Richard, 1601 or 2-1684. 1640 (1640) STC 25024; ESTC S118017 1,792,298 907

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therefore should not be strangers unto this duty And IV. To visite the sicke is commended in the Scripture Iob. 2.11 12 13. yea lauded by Christ in this place verse 36. And V. This duty shall be rewarded both on earth Psal 41.1 and in heaven in this place And therefore if people desire either the praise or reward of Christ they must visite the sicke Thirdly it is the Ministers duty to visite the sicke who are under his charge if as our Canon excepts the sicknesse be not contagious as appeares thus I. They must take care for their whole flocke in generall and for every member of their flocke in particular and therefore they must not absent themselves from them in the time of their sicknesse it being a fitting season to administer saving advice and counsell unto them Reade Ezech 34.1.2 3 4. II. People principally stand in need of consolation and comfort when they are sicke whence we see that Christ was cheered and refreshed in his agony by the company and consolation of Angels Luke 2● 43 And therefore Ministers must visite their sheepe when they lye on their sicke beds III. Those who are sicke are exhorted to desire the visitation of the Ministers and the Ministers are commanded to visite those who are visited with the hand of sicknesse Iames. 5.14 And therefore they neglect both their duties to God and man if they be back-ward herein What are the fruits of hospitality that our Saviour Quest 3 reckons it up amongst the rest of the workes which shall be rewarded First if the studious Reader would see this enlarged Answ and seven fruits of hospitality expressed let him reade Stapleton Antidot animae pag. 181. 182 183. where he shall find something false something fabulous and something true Secondly God is so well pleased with this duty Answ 2 of hospitality to the poore and to strangers that he hath and doth often incline the hearts and affections of great personages to seeke the love and familiarity of them who are given thereunto although they be their inferiours and of low place in respect of the world and by this occasion those who descend from great houses doe often match with those who are obscure thus Raguel the Priest of Madian for his hospitality unto Moses was by the providence of God rewarded with this That that great and incomparable Prophet became his sonne in Law Exod. 2. Thirdly God is so delighted with this duty Answ 3 of hospitality that he hath made the wives of the lovers thereof fruitfull which were barren before and without children and by this meanes hath delivered them from that reproach which was counted great in old time as is cleare from the Shunamite 2 King 4 for whom the-Prophet of God obtained a sonne because she ordinarily received him with joy into her house Fourthly some for hospitality haue had their Answ 4 dayes prolonged by God as we may see in Rahab Iosh 2 And Fifthly it is of such force that by meanes of it corporall diseases have bene cured in the houses of them who have kindly entertained the servants of God even by the servants of God themselves as we may see from Acts. 18. Sixthly for this duty of hospitality God hath Answ 6 multiplied the store of the hospitable as is cleare from 1 King 17. where the widdow was rewarded for her entertainment to the Prophet with a multiplication and miraculous augmentation of her oyle and meale Seventhly it is of such vertue that it is oftentimes Answ 7 an occasion to many that be ignorant to come to the knowledge of God and of their salvation as Zacheus did who having received beyond his expectation JESVS CHRIST in to his house and entertaining him as kindly as possibly he might heare 's that which was as marrow to his bones viz This day salvation is come unto thine house Answ 8 Eightly some being given unto hospitality have instead of men entertained and received Angels into their houses yea God himselfe that is the second person in the B. Trinity as we see truely in Abraham who received Christ and two Angels into his house Gen. 18. and in Lot Gen. 19. and Hebrew 13.2 Object 2 The Papists object this place for justification by workes arguing thus We are judged according to our workes therefore wee also are justified by them Answ The last judgement is not the justifying of a man but a declaration of that justification which we had before obtained therefore the last judgement must be pronounced and taken not from the cause of justification but from the effects and signes thereof Perkins Object 3 From hence the Papists would also prove if they could that our good workes are the meritorious causes of life everlasting because good workes here are rendred as the cause why eternall life is rendred Their argument is this That is the meritorious cause of the Kingdome for which the Kingdome is adjudged and given to the sheepe But for these workes of mercy and charity the Kingdome is adjudged and given to the sheepe Therefore these workes are the meritorious cause of this Kingdome The Minor proposition they confirme thus The Judge here saith inherit the Kingdome for I was hungry and ye gave me meat For that is because ye fed me for the causuall particle Enim For doth expresse the true cause of the inheriting of this Kingdome Canisius Catech. Rhemist First some say that good workes are the efficient Answ 1 cause of the Kingdome but yet Non per modum meriti sed per modum viae medii not by way of merit but of meanes because as followes in the next Answer they are the way and meanes unto this Kingdome Answ 2 Secondly good workes are alleadged not as the meritorious cause or reason of life but as the way and order thereunto Habet vitam eternam fides c. Faith hath life eternall as a good foundation and good workes also whereby a righteous man is proved in word and deed Ambros officior lib. 2. Cap. 2. Good workes then are recompensed as testimonies and proofes of our faith or as signes shewing the sincerity of our faith and not alleadged as the meritorious cause of life eternall And this is evident from the very text For I. CHRIST saith Inherite the Kingdome or take and enjoy the Kingdome as an inheritance now an inheritance is not of merit Againe he saith which was prepared for you from the beginning of the world That is before ye were and before yee had either done good or evill and therefore it was prepared and is imparted freely II. The elect and faithfull themselves doe plainly deny all merit in these words Lord when saw we thee hungry or naked c. As if they would say it is nothing which we have done neither of such worth that thou O Lord should thus accept it as done unto thee or thus infinitely reward it Scultet Idea conc Pag. 646. Thirdly there is but one worke onely which Answ 3
and the like which he hath formerly professed it is an argument of this unpardonable sin m Math. 12.31 Heb. 6.6 10.29 Here wee must carefully observe because I say presumption is a signe of this sin that there Is a double presumption De Deo a presuming too much of the mercy of God And thus the godly may presume Contra Deum when a man presumes that he can prevaile against God and thus Iulian the Apostate and Herod and the Pharisees Mat. 28. did Fourthly this sinne thus qualified is unpardonable Answ 4 Mat. 12.31 because it cannot be repented of § 3. Forgive us our debts Sect. 3 How doth God forgive us our sinnes Quest 1 Two manner of waies first freely and Secondly totally First Answ the sinnes of the faithfull are remitted freely without any helpe or payment of theirs at all that is their sinnes are pardoned of grace and meere mercy and not for their workes How doth it appeare that we are not justified Quest 2 for our workes First the Apostle saith it is impossible Rom. Ans 1 8.3 That the workes of the law should save us Secondly our best workes are imperfect Ans 2 like a menstruous cloath Esay 64.6 And therefore David desires God not to enter into judgement with him Psal 143.2 Thirdly if our workes were perfect yet they Ans 3 could not be a price whereby wee could procure any thing at Gods hands because they are debts all men owing the debt of obedience unto God as was shewed in the former verse A man cannot with one summe both satisfie an old debt and buy a new purchase and therefore our obedience being due unto God can merit nothing much lesse justification and remission at Gods hands Fourthly because if Justification bee by the Ans 4 workes of the law then faith is made void and the promise of none effect Rom. 4.14 Because it cannot bee both of faith and of workes Rom. 11.6 Fifthly the first mooving cause of our redemption Ans 5 and salvation was in God not in our selves In him there was a double cause namely first his love towards us God so loved the world John 3.16 and 1. John 4 9 10. that hee gave Christ for the salvation thereof Secondly the will of God Reade Esay 53.7 Iohn 10 ●5 18 and Iames 1.18 Christ hath merited purchased redemption Obiect 1 〈…〉 and justification for us by his blood Therefore how doth God forgive us our debts Liberè Freely Answ 1 First certainely our sinnes were remitted and our soules ransomed by a deare price even the blood and bitter death of our Dearest Lord. 1 Cor. 6.20 Answ 2 Secondly but this remission which was purchased by Christ was Free in regard of us and that I. Because God did it willingly that is God the Father of his owne free mercy and good will sent Christ for the effecting of this worke Iohn 3.16 II. Because Christ God the Sonne willingly undertooke the work of our salvation Iohn 10.15 18. III. Because this was done by God and Christ without our asking or entreating we did not implore either God the Father or God the Sonne for this great worke of our redemption we by nature being dead blinde averse and reprobate unto every good worke Reade Ephes 2.1 2 3.5.12 Rom. 5.10 Acts 2.37 Gal. 1.15 and 1 Thes 1.9 IV. Because we by no meanes or way could possibly deserve this at Gods hands and this is the chiefest thing to be observed For one of these three things every man must affirme First that either Christ came in vaine because man by his owne workes might have satisfied for his owne sinnes and saved his owne soule which I thinke no Christian dare say Or Secondly that wee could not have beene redeemed justified or saved without Christ but we deserved that he should doe it for us Here let man pleade with his Maker and produce his strong reasons What there could be in a poore base despicable and wicked creature which might deserve that Christ the Sonne of God God with God equall with the Father the Lord of glory and King of Kings should take mans nature upon him and by his death and blood purchase his salvation Or Thirdly man must confesse the point in hand that our sinnes are remitted freely by God for Christs sake without any worthinesse or workes of ours at all we neither having I. A price in our hands by which we could buy this plenary Indulgence of our sinnes Nor II. An adequate merit of heaven nothing being in a poore mortall wight which can deserve that eternall and unspeakeable weight of felicity and glory Neither III. After grace can wee merit any thing of our selves at the hands of our great God but must even then pleade guilty before his Tribunall as was shewed in the former question Object 2 Saint Iames saith that Workes justifie us Iames 2.21 24. Answ 1 First they justifie us before men Shew me thy faith by thy workes James 2 18. Answ 2 Secondly before God they justifie that is approve our faith to be true Iames 2.22 Answ 3 Thirdly workes doe not justifie that is make just the person neither doth Saint Iames affirme it Obiect 3 Saint Iohn saith hee who workes righteousnesse is a righteous man 1 John 3.7 Answ He argues from the effects not from the cause Evil workes merit therefore also good It followes not because they are free and perfectly wicked so are not these but of this elsewhere Object 4 Answ Our workes are accepted in Christ Obiect 5 T' is true but that is after we are justified Answ not before Fides sola faith onely doth not justifie us Iam. Object 6 2.14.17 Faith onely justifies without workes Answ although faith which is alone without workes doth not that is justifying and saving faith must not neither can goe alone without workes Galat. 6.5 But justification is ascribed solely to faith not at all to workes This doctrine that our workes doe not justifie Object 7 us before God makes men prophane T' is false for workes conduce much that is Answ they are both necessary and profitable First workes are necessary and that in a threefold regard namely I. because our dutie must be discharged which is obedience unto God Eph. 2.10 II. because thankefulnesse must be shewed unto God for all his mercies and that by obedience o Psalme 116.12 III. Because God is glorified by our good workes Mat. 5.16 Secondly workes are profitable and that in these respects to wit I. they confirme our faith hope confidence and assurance in the mercies of God II. they are acceptable unto God yea by workes we please him III. They shall bee rewarded even to a cup of cold water Thirdly but they merit not this reward Luk 17.10 What is required of us unto the assurance of Quest 3 this forgivenesse of our sinnes We must labour truely to repent Answ and then we may be assured of remission whatsoever our persons whatsoever our sinnes have beene Whose persons are
it hinders not at all that here are two and there also are two blind men who were healed for there were many blind men healed by him as for example First these two mentioned in this place Secondly many when Christ speaks of Iohn Baptist Luke 7.18 Thirdly a possessed man who was blind and dumbe Mat. 12.22 Luke 11.14 Fourthly many in the Mount of Galilee Mat. 15.30 Fifthly one neer to B●●hesda Marke 8.22 Sixthly two neer to Iericho Mat. 20.30 viz. Barthimeus Marke 10.46 Luke 18.35 Seventhly many in the Temple Mat. 21.14 Eighthly one that was born blind Iohn 9.1 c. Ninthly Saint Paul Act. 9.17 Tenthly Elimas who was restored to his sight Act. 13.11 § 2. Two blind men cried Sect. 2 Wee see here the manner of their desiring mercy Cl●mant they cryed unto him whence wee might learn That I. Prayer is necessary and II. That Prayer ought to be fervent but I conjoyn them thus that vehemencie and fervour of prayer is the best means for the obtaining of grace Observ and mercy Reade Rom. 12.11 Iames 5.16 Iude 20. and 1 Cor. 14 15. Ephes 6.18 How doth it appear Quest that prayer is such a prevalent means to obtaine mercy It appears thus namely First Answ vehemencie in prayer argues the power of the heart and hence the Saints have beene said to poure forth their soules unto God when they prayed fervently See Psalme 42.4 and 1 Sam. 1.10.16 2 King 22.19 and 20.3 and 2 Sam. 12.22 Secondly Prayer ought to arise from these three roots namely I. From a sight of danger And II. From feare of the danger which is seene And III. From a vehement desire and endeavour of praying Reade Ezra 9.5 unto 10.1 Neb. 1.4 Psal 6.6 55.2.17 Mark 9.24 Thirdly because prayer hath his fruit that is God will hear Psalm 6.8 and 42.3 And will be bent and mollified with prayers Ose 12.4 And therefore he that poures forth his heart in hearty praiers unto God out of a true sense of his sins and a sincere desire of mercy shall never be sent from the Lord empty away Sect. 2 § 2. Have mercy upon us Quest 1 What is meant by mercy in this place Answ This word Mercy doth intimate three things namely 1. Animum benevolum II. Impertire cum effectu III. Impertire liberè sine merito First Mercy implies Animum benevolum a willing mind or a mind ready to doe good as if these blind men would say Oh Lord we know that thou art mercifull and gentle willing and ready to give and therfore open the door of mercy and be mercifull unto us Hence wee might observe Observ 1 That our prayers should be built upon the trust and confidence of that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 love of God and Christ unto Mankind that is wee must remember that God and Christ are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lovers of man-kind and therefore when wee pray unto them wee must pray confidently Ierem. 31.20 Luke 1.78 Secondly Mercy intimates Impertire cum effectu the effects of mercy as if these blind men would say Oh Lord wee know thou art mercifull in thy owne nature and therefore wee beseech thee shew the effects thereof unto us Hence we might learn Observ 2 That true mercy is never unprofitable or unto whomsoever God shewes mercy unto them also he doth good Reade Matt. 14.14 and 15.32 and 18.27 and 20.34 Luke 7.14 Iohn 11.36 For the true nature of compassion or mercy consisteth in these four things to wit First simul sentire wee must remember them that are in bonds as bound with them Heb. 13.3 Secondly simul dolere as wee must bee touched with a sense of our brethrens miseries so wee must also sorrow with them and for them weeping with those that weepe Rom. 12.15 Thirdly Mal●● ablatum cupere as we must be sensible of our brethrens burdens and sorrowful for them so we must also desire that their evill and griefe were removed from them Fourthly pro virili conari wee must not onely desire this but endeavour it also with the utmost of our strength And therefore this being the true nature of Mercy we may boldly conclude that upon whomsoever the Lord takes compassion he will also helpe and deliver them out of all their misery and evill Thirdly Mercy implies Impertire liberé to bestow a thing freely without any merit or desert at all This also these blind men acknowledge for by their prayer they shew that they are unworthy that Christ should remove their blindnesse from them Hence then we may learn That the grace of Christ is given unto us without Observ 3 any merit of ours at all Author Christus medium fides status gratia Grace is given unto us by faith from Christ Rom. 5.2.17.20 Ephesians 2.5.8 Gal. 2.16.21 Rom. 3.20 unto 28. and 4.14 c. How doth it appear that grace is given undeservedly Quest 2 on our parts It appears most evidently by these Arguments to wit First Answ the creature cannot deserve any thing at the hand of the Creator by reason of that great disproportion which is betwixt them both in regard of their essence substance nature and power yea every way Secondly there is no proportion betwixt any work we do yea all our workes and the reward of eternall glory Thirdly our workes are debts and therfore cannot merit Luke 17.10 Now wheras the Papists say that our works merit not Naturâ suâ sed de compacto of their owne nature but in regard of the Covenant and Contract which is betwixt us and God we answer that this very Covenant and Contract is of meer grace favour and mercy Fourthly our workes are imperfect and therefore they can merit nothing at Gods hands To this the Papists answer that it is true our workes merit not in themselves but onely as they are sprinkled with the blood of Christ But the vertue of Christs blood is to give life eternall unto us yea the blood of Christ is Ipsum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the price and satisfaction it selfe and therefore there is no projection therof as they say p Opera merentur quatenus fit projectio sanguinis Christi which makes our works meritorious Fifthly the good works we doe are not ours and therefore thereby wee can merit nothing The strength wherby wee are able to performe any good worke well is given unto us from God 1 Cor. 4.7 And therfore what merit can there be in fraile and weak man Sixthly our good workes do not goe before but follow after our Iustification and therfore no work of ours doth merit grace or is the cause but only the effect thereof For I. The Author Christ gives grace unto us II. Then followes faith and then wee are justified III. Lastly followes love the fruit of faith 1 Tim. 1.14 Gal. 5.6 Who are here to be blamed Quest 3 Answ In generall all Merchants of Merit or Merit-mongers whereof there are divers sorts namely First some who are grosly erroneous
is meritorious of eternall life and that is the merit of the Sonne of God Fourthly the Assumption is false for not for Answ 4 the workes of the sheepe but for the blessing of the Father whereby he hath blessed the sheepe with all spirituall blessings in CHRIST that is by and for that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 alsufficient and superabundant satisfaction and merite of Christ is the Kingdome ot heaven adjudged and given unto them Fifthly unto the causall particle enim For we Answ 5 answer that it signifies indeed a cause but not the meritorious cause of the Kingdome but a declarative cause of the just sentence pronounced by the Judge that is that his adjudging and giving of life eternall vnto the sheepe on his right hand was a just and righteous sentence because by their workes they had truely declared and shewed forth that they were Christs sheepe that is faithfull and beleevers If the studious Reader would see this Answer concerning Enim learnedly enlarged and fully prosecuted Let him reade Bp. Daven de just actual Cap. 32. pag. 411. obj 9. and Pareus s Page 848. b. and Amestus Bel. enerv tom 4. p. 207. Against our last words of our former Answer Object 5 they object againe The Judge doth not say inherite the Kingdome because you are faithfull or because you beleeved but because you fed me and cloathed me and the like And therefore For doth denote the meritorious cause and not a declarative cause onely of the justice and equity of the sentence First as the Iudge doth not say inherite the Answ 1 Kingdome because ye are faithfull so neither doth he say as they say because ye have merited and deserved it Secondly the Reason why our Saviour doth Answ 2 mention their workes rather then their faith we shewed before quest 1. of this § VERS 41 42 c. Vers 41 42. c. Then shall he say unto them on the left hand Depart from me yee cursed into everlasting fire which is prepared for the Devil and his Angels For I was an hungred and ye gave me no meat I thirsted and ye gave mee no drinke I was a stranger and ye lodged me not I was naked and ye clothed me not sicke and in prison and yet visited me not Then shall they also answer him saying Lord wh●● saw me the● an hungred or a thirst 〈◊〉 a stranger or naked or sicke or in prison and did not minister unto thee Then shall he answer them and say Verily I say unto you inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these ye did it not to me Sect. 1 § 1. Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire The foure last things are Death Judgement Hell and Heaven and they are thus differenced Nothing is more horrible then Death nothing more terrible then Iudgement nothing more intollerable then Hell nothing more delectable then heaven Bern. And therefore blessed are they who by death are brought unto heaven but wretched and infinitely miserable are all they who by Iudgement are sent unto hell Quest 1 Which are the last words which shall be uttered in this world Answ Sphinx answers th●se in the text in this Elegiake Aspera vox Ite sed vox benedicta Venite Ite malis vox est apta Venite bonis that is This word DEPART the Goates with horrour heares But this word COME the Sheepe to joy appeares And hence Bernard in Psalm 91. prayes O Domine in die illo libera me a verbo Aspere O Lord deliver me at the great day from that soule killing word Depart Quest 2 What harme is there in this word Depart or in the whole sentence Answ These words are as so many mortall and ghastly wounds and poysoned arrowes sticking deepe in the flesh unto every wicked man For this sentence and doome doth containe five incurable and insufferable blowes which are given to such to wit First Depart get you gone flee hence out of my sight and from the society of the Elect for ever Secondly yee cursed which loved not blessing and therefore are now justly excluded out of heaven and deprived of all felicit and happinesse Thirdly into the fire not into the scorching flame or parching heate but into the burning fire Fourthly into everlasting fire not into a fire that will either burne and quite consume them or which will be consumed it selfe at the last which will either cause them to dye or dye and extinguish it selfe but into everlasting fire which shall never goe out but torment them world without end Fifthly with the Devill and his Angels as they said unto the Almighty depart from us we desire not the knowledge of thee or thy Law and wished that the righteous might be taken out of their sight so they shall be excluded and driven out of the presence of God and deprived of the society of Saints and Angels their companions thenceforward being onely devils wicked Angels and damned spirits Then will they oppressed with griefe crye out I. To the Sunne O Sunne hitherto thou hast refreshed us with thy comfortable light but now we shall never see thee more but must be cast into everlasting darkenesse And II. To the Aire oh aire thou hast often refreshed me with thy sweet breath and wholesome smell but now I must enjoy no aire but detestable stinking vapours and stif●ling sents And III. To the Earth oh eartn thou hast often delighted me with many rare dainties fruits liquors and the like but now I must never tast good bit or drop more but be reserved unto endlesse hunger And IV. To the Water oh water how often have I bene cheered with thy drops and draughts but now I must goe where I shall thirst eternally And V. To the faithfull oh holy Saints for your sakes and societies I have escaped many temporall judgements and enjoyed many temporall mercies but now I must never come into your company nor see you any more but must converse with devils for ever and ever And VI. Lastly to CHRIST oh holy Lord thou hast often called me unto repentance obedience and faith promising to receive me into favour to be reconciled unto me and to pardon all my sinnes but now for my impenitency and hardnesse of heart J am justly cast out of thy favour and presence and must now suffer for my sinnes insufferable sorrow and smart in everlasting fire And thus those who are not like unto the righteous in piety shall never be like them in eternall felicity This place is urged by the Papists against us to prove that Infants dying unbaptized shall not suffer any sensible torment in hell and is produced also by us ag●inst them that they doe I will consider and treat briefely of them particularly Salmeron the Jesuite argues hence thus Those Object 1 who would not exercise the workes of mercy and charity are adjudged to everlasting fire but those who did are rewarded with life eternall Now children are neither of