Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	king_n	lord_n	people_n	4,953	5	4.9858	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96886	The churches thank-offering to God her King, and the Parliament, for rich and ancient mercies; her yeares of captivity; her first yeare of iubile; that is, for the marvelous deliverances wrought with God the first wonderfull yeare (since the yeare 88) beginning at September 1640. and ending the ninth of the same moneth following: in all which time, the Lord appeared for his church, as in the dayes of old, out of the middest of the bush, so the church burn'd with fire, and was not consumed. In the preface, the thank-offering is vindicated, and set free, from all the cavills and charges against it; where also it is cleared to be, as every mans duty, so every mans purpose, to offer willingly now, who doth not make full proofe, that he falls short of pagan, papist or atheist; and is wilfully resolved to walk crosse to the most supreme law, the highest reason, and the unquestionable will of God.	Woodward, Ezekias, 1590-1675.	1642 (1642)	Wing W3484; Thomason E122_1; ESTC R18182	151,993	158

performe according to the PROTESTATION even the Lord shake him out and emptie him c Neh. 5. 1● The Lord grant thes● Malignants th●se sonnes or B●liall these troublers of Israel vvho will be bound by no other cord but by the cords of their owne sinnes may be cut off even all cut-off that trouble the Church those that love peace and pursue it These sonnes of Beliall cannot frame to pronounce an holy just and good Commandment ô that they vvere dealt vvith now as those persons vvere vve reade of in the Text Then they tooke him and sl●w him at the passages of Jordan d Iud. 12. 6. The Church knowes that there vvould be a greater slaughter then was that vve reade of and there fell at that time of the Ephramites fourty and two thousand Heere comes in a doubt and it will bee easily resolved The Obj●ction ●s Ob. The Church is a peaceable Mother in Israel her Father is the God of peace her Lord the Prince of peace her servants the children of peace then sure the Church doth not know vvhat spirit shee is of that prayes for Fire and Sword to come downe from Heaven Answ Yes the Church knows she hath the Spirit of God dwelling in her and by that Spirit she can and doth pray as afore-said ●nd will fight anon and be a peaceable vvoman for all this and a true Mother in Israel and follow the Lambe here also for in some cases and none riseth higher then this He even the Lambe hath wrath and that must be executed by her Sword Nay more as she prayeth for this thing so she can rejoyce to see this vengeance and to wash her feet c Ps ●8 10. in the bloud of the wicked and the whole City with her yea and to shout for joy d Prov. 11. 10. These are wicked persons professed enemies to God and His Christ Without naturall affection truce breakers false accusers inconti●c●t fierce despisers of those that are good Traitors heady high-minded lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God not having so much as a forme of Godlinesse e 2 Tim. 3. 3 4 5. Pitty these vvicked Malignant persons and you destroy the Good shew mercy here you are cruell to the Church spare such and they will make havocke of Gods Servants as you see they doe and have done in all ages Wicked persons they and desperately bold and daring They would turne the Songs of the Temple into howlings f Amos 8. 3. She can rejoyce to see the vengeance yea and to wash her feet in the blood of these slaine And till this be done she never looks to have peace on the Earth for these are they who have taken peace from her Therefore she is resolved upon it now she vvill not onely pray but use her WEAPONS too Yes you will say PRAYERS and TEARES True for these are the Churches weapons and very prevailing nay commanding they are Prayers command God He is pleased to say so much and to yeeld g Esa 45. 11. so farre but the Church said she will fight too in a case wherein her Prince His State Crowne and Dignity is concerned for in all this the Church is concerned her Lawes Liberties Religion Life In such cases He vvill fight Let it goe it is good construction to apply a Masculine vvord to so Heroicke a spirit as I reade Queen Elizabeth did not well digest that Grammaticall nicety to be prayed for by the Title of DEFENDRESSE of the Faith DEFENDER vvas better concord in her Eares And indeed never any man Answered the Title better I was saying the Church hath another weapon which vvee call the Sword and she will make it drunke in the bloud of these Adversaries and yet doe no more then what she hath done in all Ages from the Primitive time downe-ward For though Prayers and Teares and these onely are her Sonnes and Daughters vveapons as they are private persons Yet as they are publike persons That alters the case and exalted in the Earth the Sword belongs unto them as their proper right and they stand bound to use it though then also They STVDIE TO BE QVIET h 1 Thes 4. 11. and know themselves CALLED VNTO PEACE so they may have TRVTH too i 1 Cor. 7. 15. The Church hath her Ioshaah's and they must not lye upon the face * Iosh 7. 10. wishing those even cut-off that trouble us k Gal. 5. 12. He must rise and cut-off those TROVBLERS it is his office so to doe The Church hath her Nehemiah's they may build with one hand and hold the Sword in another Shee hath her Davids the truest Subjects in the world as then hee was and yet their H●ast may be as his was as the HOAST OF GOD l and all for their owne safety and to maintaine as ● Chr● 12. ●2 David did their Masters peace The Church hath her Princes and her Nobles and her Worthies blessed be God for them all to whom the Sword belongs and they are charged to use it for the cutting off those that trouble her and are enemies to her Lords Crowne and Dignity They are charged to be of good courage and to play the men for their King and His people and the Cities of their God and the Lord doe that which seemeth Him good d 2 Sam. 10. 12. Then in the last place ¶ 4. Private Persons must make Supplications THe Church makes her Supplication to you That you would rise up and be doing that you would avenge her of these Adversaries who have done what they can to take peace from the Earth All is contained in your Covenant every whit Remember that and you remember all and the Lord remember His Covenant with you for the darke places of the Earth are full of cruelty e Ps 74. Doubtlesse the Lord Who keepeth Covenant and mercy for ever will not breake with you now Remember f Deut. 7. 18. WELL what the Lord your God hath done for you That will give you assured confidence for the time to come Onely deale couragiously g 2 Chron. 19. 11. stand to what you have said and what in you lyeth cause the Covenant to passe through the Land and doe as the good King did vvhat you can to make the people stand to it h 2 Chron. 34. 32. and the Lord shall be with the good i 2 Chron. 19. 11. Amen for they will make their prayer to Him which cannot be in vain k Esa 45. 19. being one of the most prevailing things in Heaven or Earth but it is reserved for the time when ye as Esther l Est 4 16. commanded Prayer then it will appeare how prayer commanded for you SECT IV. The engaging the heart to God engageth God to our Businesse then they slide-on the loftinesse of Man shall be bowed downe and the ●aughtinesse of Men shall be made low Idols and Idol-men and Idoll-garments and bloody Courts shall

and will contend for the Truth and yet not one Rev. 11. 7. Iesuited HEL-HOWND it is a Kings word contending with a Cardinall not one Catholicke murderer in our Hoste so hee hath bin accounted in all times and places making no more conscience to out his Kings throat then to cut a peece of bread These Irish Romish Catholiques universally bloody and monstrous Savages all the world over so brawned in cruelties are accounted now the only loyall Subjects ever since the Lord Christ hath taken to Himselfe great Power reigning more visibly upon the Earth demanding His Rights there And His faithfull Servants are resolved to give these Rights unto Him Whose they are not with-holding a hoofe nor dishonourably compounding His matters so forfeiting Truth for Peace but resolving to maintaine both with honour or an honourable warre ever since this contestation for Christ and His Truth Rebellion which is as the sinne of Witchcraft against God and His Christ hath been accounted obedience and loyall subjection And a true sense of Dutie to God and man and to doe thereafter even what God commands and will have done is accounted Rebellion and Treason both The comfort is Wisdome is justified of her children yes and in this point of all that are not unreasonable and wicked men The Truth is I could not beare this at such a time as this being to render a THANK-OFFERING in the Churches Name but I must Preface to it against such contradictions of Sinners and render the THANK-OFFERING free and the Churches Servants as cleared of these blackes as was the Snow in Salmon And what is wanting here shall be supplied else where for I will goe on from this Preface to another Treatise where by the helpe of God And His Law I shall cleare this very way wherin the Nobles have walked so spoken against now and blasphemed as a way of Rebellion and Treason to be the very way wherein all the Nobles that ever were in the world have walked who walked uprightly with God dealt faithfully with His people not treacherously and as Traitors to King and Kingdome and their owne souls for I have a most comprehensive mercy to treat on and enlarge upon which I may call the Abridgement of this last yeares wonders containing as in a most fruitfull wombe all nationall blessings which the Nobles and Worthies have hitherto or their children after them shall travell with and bring forth to the Nation And this they are compleating and in so excellent a way as that though we shall never say of it in this world the worke is done and compleated of that comprehension it is yet I say they have so orderly proceeded in it by that line and plummet afore-said of all the truly Noble that ever were on the Earth as that it is fully to the Mind of the Lord and the heart of the Nation And now let the Devill rage and his Servants roare for in that they glory though by a wofull prolepsis here in sport for hereafter in earnest when they and their King of the bottomlesse pit shall roare there to all eternity Let the Arabian Dukes with their companies of Sabeans let the noble Monsters of these dayes so they were called anciently who are Gentile and noble in the root but monstrously degenerate in the fruit of their conversation d Nequitiae sordibus imbuta Nobilia portenta Valer Max. l. 3. c. 5. let these doe their worst rob spoyle pillage shed bloud to their power yet by the helpe of God and the Law the worke shall be carried on and the work-men shall prosper and overcome by the bloud of the Lambe e Rev. 12. 11. But what is our worke now Worke and Pray or pray and worke no matter which is first so both goe together Worke with hand and mouth and heart and all We have a noble paterne before us of Work men who blessings be upon them both from above and beneath have offered themselves willingly to this worke and will very gladly spend and be spent for us in this worke though they may reade on the more abundantly they love us the lesse they are beloved f 2 Cor. 12. 15. But we have our patterne and we see our dutie worke we as men who can very gladly spend and be spent for this cause for it is His cause Who did say indeed and did as He said for H●● zeale eat Him up He was a whole burnt-offering I VVILL VERY GLADLY SPEND AND BE SPENT for you so it was indeed the cause of the Lord Iesus Christ Who was made for us a curse once That He might make us as He is blessed for ever having such an example before us and such a cause in our eye we will worke now or never VVorke we now as we are able and let the Lord worke as He pleaseth He will worke like Himself Truly He worketh wonderfully in all His peoples sight But if He wrought in the dark as sometimes He doth if His foot-steps are in the waters as M Bradford expresseth it a man can see no prints where His Hand is or which way His feet goe whither towards us or against us yet said that good man My hand and my spirit should worke after Him for I am sure I am in the way though I see it not my God goes right though I discerne not the path Worke we I say as we can and let the Lord worke as He will He doth worke gloriously and in sight worke wee and pray too else our worke is vaine and to no purpose worke we but say BLESSED BE GOD first Blessed be Thy Name for the Governours among the people and for them that offered themselves willingly It was because Thou commandest and so it is the North gives and the South keepes not backe Sea and Land comes in for Thy Churches helpe peace peace be to her helpers to deliver us from the Heathen that we may give thankes to Thy holy Name and glory in Thy praise Amen Now Pray for the peace of Jerusalem they shall still prosper that love her Pray in Prayer pray earnestly our children shall reape the fruit thereof if we doe not now for now we have reaped what our fore-fathers have sowne the fruit of the prayers of many Generations Pray we That the Lord would owne His owne cause certainly He will and so He doth but He must be sought unto for this and enquired after That His eyes would be for good upon His Children and servants all over the world for their eyes and hearts are set stedfast towards Him and His Jerusalem here below and there they fix waiting what God will doe at such a time as this and hearkning what God will speake now It is their confidence He will speake peace and doe according to His owne word give His Servants the opening of the mouth that the enemies may know HE IS THE LORDs The Churches all over the ● Ezek. ●● 21. world are resolved now to

God O! what an exceeding mercy is this at such a time as this vvhen she thought verily she should be termed also forsaken and her Land Desolate Her Lord said no But thou shalt be called Hephzi-bath and thy land Beulah e Esa 62. 4. Deliciae meae oblectatio mea for the Lord delighteth in thee and thy land shall be married What loving kindnesses are these how wonderfull how unutterable Againe The Church lookes over the land and Nation where we live and behold corruptions in Doctrines and manners have leavened the land from corner to corner and have eat and consumed the heart thereof as doth a canker whence it is that wee see strange vanities horrible impieties abominable Idolatries vile Priests and almost as uncleane a people All setting themselves and taking councell together against the Lord and against His annoynted saying let us breake their hands asunder and cast away their cords from us And yet see the exceeding goodnesse of the Lord they prevaile not with their number nor with their strength they assemble themselves and are broken they take councell and God turnes it into foolishnesse and their recompences upon their own head f Ioel ● 7. Thus the weake overcome the strong and the fewest in number prevaile We know not how but so it is the Lord hath set His King upon His holy Hill and if the Lord the Captaine of His Hoast march out before it matters not whether few or many of Gideons souldier march after but the fewer they are the more is the strong arme of the Lord exalted And vvhat cause hath this Church to speake good of the Name of the Lord and to exalt His Arme Who hath made her to stand upright and above her Adversaries with a Catalogue in her hand wri●●e● vvithin and vvithout as afore-said and vvhich hightens the mercies at such a time as this vvhen her other sisters are recording their dayes of trouble she is recording the loving kindnesses of her God The Church here must stand still a little to behold the severity and goodnesse of God a Rom. 11. 22. towards her sister Churches severity towards her people Goodnesse And that the may the more magnifie free Grace exalt the Riches therof the go●dnesse and exceeding patience of God All His excellencies the Church reasoneth out the case and asketh vvhy is it so vvhy such severity towards her sister-Churches And yet towards her people such goodnesse Did Thy vvrath burn-out against them because Thy Sabbaths vvere profaned there Here they vvere profaned too and more by a Law and Statute in Israel notvvithstanding a fire did not kindle in our gates nor devoure our palaces b Icr. 17. ●7 Was it because the people there turned Grace into vvantonnesse they slighted the offer and means of Grace they would have none of Thee they turned their backs upon Thee and the Gospell vvas it for this Heere vve sit downe astonished for here vve have done so too Was it because of their unfruitfulnesse under the meanes of Grace H●re vve stand astonished considering hovv hig● vve have bin lifted-up in respect of the meanes no Nation under the Sunne like to us and then thinking of our casting downe how lovv that vvill bee Was it because of their unthankfulnesse for and abuse of mercies Here also our Tables are full of vomit and filthinesse so that there is no place cleane c Esa 28 8. And vve reele and fall dovvne in the Streets at Noon-day Was it because the Messengers of the Churches and Glory of Christ d 2 Cor. 8. 23. Thy faithfull Ministers there vvere villanously used We heare of no such matter they vvere contemned in deed and of no account vvith them but vvith us they have beene used vvorse then Davids Messengers Their Beards and Garments were cut by halves * 2 Sam. 10 4. But here they vvere smit on the cheeks and as Svvine lug'd by the eares Were they bruitish Pastors f Esa 56 9. Ier. ●0 2● 12. ● vvho broke dovvne the Hedge and laid open gaps vvhereat men after the manner of Beasts skillfull to destroy might enter in The same Pastors are with us vain men treacherous Prophets light Priests Was it because violence was done to the Law g Zeph. 3. 4. Because they did as they could to their power to shed bloud h Eze. 2● 6. Because their Judges vvere as Evening i Nic 3. 11 12. Walves ravening the prey so it vvas here such judg'd here Why then is not our Zion plowed like a Field k Esa 9. 5 Why are not our garments rolled in bloud l Why are vve not long before this time dashed to peeces one against the other Brother against his Brother and Neighbour against his Neighbour in all our Cities and Countries in all places and corners of the Land Why is it not so She knowes the answer must be because is pleaseth the Lord it shall not be so * Amos 7. 2. ●aith the Lord It is His good pleasure so He loves the Land because He loves it He vvill rejoyce in shewing mercy and it may be will overcome us and lead us captive with loving kindnesses and give gifts to the Rebellious Be it so good Lord because it pleaseth Thee Amen Thi● is all the Church can say to all this SECT II. Some light Obiections blown away and a grave Obiection cleared BUt now there is something said against the Church that she need not be so b●ag of her mercies her tranquillity and peace for she may now looke to the end thereof her peace is taking from her she is sinking now downe downe downe she goes so her adversary boasteth so he puffeth at the Righteous g Ps 10. 5. The Church answers hereto in order and blows away this as you will a dust from your sleeve The Adversary saith first Ob. The Church may see now to the end of her mercies An. No but she cannot her mercies are the mercies of a God and they have no end 2. He saith Her peace is taken from her No that it is not ● her peace cannot be taken away it shall flow in like the Rivers and come-in unto her as the waves of the Sea h Esa 4818. Though the Assyrian should come in to her Land and tread in her Pallaces i Mic. 5 5. yet he cannot take away her peace When the enemie shall come in like a 〈◊〉 the Spirit of the Lord shall lift-up a standard against him k Esa 59. 19. 3. The Adversary saith That the Church is falling No The Adversaries flesh shall consume away first and his eyes consume away in their holes and his tongue consume away in his mouth l Zach 14 1● but the Church shall not sinke nor fall away she is well under laid as well this present yeare as the last yesterday and to day and for ever The eternall God is her Refuge and underneath her are the everlasting Armes m

then once to quicken up His servants to more caution about themselves and their worke and the manner of performing their Masters charge But here is the point we drive unto vvhen Deliverances come-in unto His people with the seale and impression of the wisdome and power of God upon them this is ever because they are His people He delights in them there is innocency in their hearts and their hands are pure from that great evill suggested against them Such Salvations the Lord wrought for David They had the impresse of the Almighties hand upon them Saul hunted him like a Partridge God would not deliver him into his hands Hee rescued him here and there and every where It had not beene so if innocency had not beene found in his hands and integrity in his heart towards Saul his peace and dignity for he was the Lords annoynted The Text is plaine it needs not my Comment but I 'le apply it comparing the Salvations then and now together for their accusation is the same crimes objected the same their defence or apology the same and God the same in rescuing them and clearing their innocency as the Noon day The servants of the Lord are thus accused at this day they are enemies to their King they seeke his hurt they have driven him away c. These servants of the Lord answer God forbid for who can doe so against the Lords annoynted and be guiltlesse They seeke the hurt of their King their consciences beares them Record and God also they seeke God for the King and are not weary Grace Grace unto him Peace Peace unto him and that is all Peace bee both to him peace to his house and peace be to all that he hath a 1 Sam. 25. 8. peace peace unto him and peace be to his helpers for their God helpeth them b 1 Chro. 12. 18 They enemies to their King the Lords annoynted So they are to their own souls for so they pray for him They have driven him away from them As a man drives away the candle vvhen he is in the darke and must walke but would not stumble They quench the light of Israel As they would the light and influence of the Sunne vvithout vvhich they could not move the least finger As they would quench the light and motions of Gods Spirit in them without which they sit in miserable darknesse and move not or move to their owne destruction They secke his life They doe indeed heare them in the Church or in the Closet O King live for ever The eternall God be thy Refuge and underneath the EVERLASTING ARMES Deut 33. 27. They deliver their King up into his enemies hands they set him in the Front of the battell As they would set themselves at the mouth of a Cannon or thrust themselves into the mouth of a Lyon or Beare bereaved of her whelpes which will teare the Cawle of their hearts So they cleare themselves and their innocency at this point Ai but a man is not justified by the words of his own mouth Well be it so that their owne vvords cleare them not See how the Lord cleares them How They behave themselves wisely and God is with them They proceed on and doe exploits as Men made wise by the wisedome of God and mighty in the strength of His power They can strengthen their hand in God They can encourage themselves in Him He hath made an hedge about them and about their house and about all that they have on every side He hath blessed the worke of their hands and prospered the very thoughts of their hearts These were to promote Christ the Glory for He is worthy He hath constantly shin'd upon their counsels He or they that can observe and can speak by the Spirit must say concerning this people as Amasai did concerning David Thine are we thou blessed of the Lord and on thy side thou daughter of Zion Peace peace be unto thee and peace be to thine helpers for Thy God helpeth thee d 1 Chro. 12. 18. Indeed He doth and in all the peoples sight They can see the Salvations of a God comming in unto them with the seale impresse and inscription of the Wisdome Power Majesty of a God upon them These servants of the Lord can say as David did My soule was among Lyons but the Lord shut the mouth that Devourer could not swallow-up e Ps 57. 4. They did lye among them who were set on fire yet their garments did not smell of the smoake But for the wicked it shall not be so with them not so with them that seeke the hurt of their King They may triumph for a short time and joy for a moment but how oft is their candle put out how oft commeth their destruction upon them f Iob 21. 17. God distributeth sorrowes in His Anger The wicked shall be as stubble before the wind and as chaffe that the storme carrieth away The Lord rewardeth the wicked and they shall know it Thus and thus shall it be to the wicked but thou Lord Ps 5. 12. wilt b●esse the righteous with favour wilt thou compasse him as with a shield That 's the Conclusion That the salvations of God great salvations are evermore the portio● of the Church the Israel of God who seeke the p●ace and life of their King and so they can commit their righteous cause unto a righteous God Whose eyes are upon the Truth and will blesse those that are children of blessing even according to the innocency of their hands and integrity of their hearts in this matter even so Amen ¶ 1. I shall passe-over now a chiefe thing vvhich must be concluded also from the premises and containes much I shall name it only and no more and so put a Marke upon it for observation † 1. That the Lord hath a time to bring downe H●s Adversaries When Then when they are a float when the flood of their pride riseth to the highest When they say in their hearts They will climbe up above the heights of the clouds and be like the most high d Esa 14. 14. They had an arme like God such were their proud thoughts Who changeth the times and the seasons ramoveth and setteth up a Dan. 2 21. they could sl●y whom they would and whom they would they could keep alive They could set up whom they would and whom they would they could put down b Dan. 5. 17. When their heart was thus lifted up then they came downe mightily then the Lord was above them in all wherein they dealt proudly c Exo. 18. 11. and made them know that they are but Men d Ps 9. 10. Vehementissimèag n●scant Iun. But this knowledge is too high for them they will not know in good earnest that they are but Men. For truely wee are a stubborne Generation as our fore-Fathers vvho vvhen they saw their fellowes killed vvith plagues yet they Repented not of the workes