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	year_n	2,888	5	4.9547	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

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

integrity obedience more beautifying then a Crowne performed to Gods command in sincerity This will doe it even all the fore-mentioned And we are convinced hereof by a common light and naturall principles and can conclude therefrom when we are our selves that vve should give out our strength and be most active for the first and last thing in the PROTESTATION To maintaine RELIGION in it's purity and the BROTHER-HOOD in Sincerity for therein are contained the very strength and spirits of the Covenant as hath been said and cannot be to often thought upon But now vvhat blunts the edge of our indeavours and affections this way comes now seriously to be considered on ¶ 3. Our Priests who pretend to lead us mislead us destroying all that the Church doth for our building up to the subverting of our soules and the putting out of a common light by their common and unclean conversation The Church points us to a more excellent way VVE are naturally blind and cannot see farre off * 2 Pet. ● 9. We are not instructed to discretion not so discerning as to approove the things that are excellent much lesse to contend for them And a great cause hereof is we are naturally stupid and blind a spirit of infirmity naturally boweth dovvne but I say a chief cause is without us in our guides and leaders for the most part blind and yet they leade us Many of them preach once in a Yeare perhaps some of them once a Moneth and not a sound word of Doctrine then comes from them but their TEXT Their practise is as bad it corrupts like a canker We observe that and nothing else we see they oversee nothing amongst us with any care or diligence but their Easter-booke and their Tythes all the yeare after That hath been the complaint against Bishops from Dayes of old to this present Day a See Hist of the Councel of Trent 2. p. 252. p. 216. Non magis de pāscen●o grege cogi tant quam sutor de arando Pastors now a dayes the werst part of the think no more of feeding the flock then a Cobler do's of the plough Cal Ins 4. cap. 5. Sect. 1● 13. And if our SEERS doe so we think and are perswaded we may do so too mind Earth and do well enough for Heaven for they do so and yet they know better and see farther then wee can see for they are called Seers The Lord unscale their eyes and unvaile their hearts and deliver His people from these murderers because of whom the Churches soul is wearied b Ier 4. 31. The Lord stirre up your hearts to pitty the Countryes round about yet more For vve are in a sad condition if we saw it Our Teachers are as you heare and the People content to have it so Truly had not the Oppressor touched us in that we make our god outward profits and Priviledges vve should never have complained what violence the Priests had done to the Law of God to the House of God to His vvorship there we regarded not but what violence the Judges did to the Laws of Man that we regarded and then vve could howle Truly we mind not what bands you have broke nor what yoakes c Facile est quicquid in praesenti seculo nocet illud grave illud perniciosum quod in aeternitate iugulabit Salv d● Eccl. Cath. l 2. 410. you have taken off the necks of Ministers Nor that you have advanced the Scepter of the Lord Christ and that worship which is according to the Rule and mind of God these things we mind not No nor that you have troubled the troublers the Achans That you have searched their Tents and found out the Babilonish garments We regard these things no more then Gallio did the beating of Sosthenes for so we are instructed Our Prophets for the most part prophesie to us of wine and strong drinke which pleaseth the sense well and our walking is thereafter we regard only our Oyle and Wine And yet upon sadder thoughts vvhen we think as men we are halfe convinced That this our walking is not right That rivers of Oyle and wine i. e the marrovv and fatnesse and fullnesse of the world is but emptinesse and will ●ot satisfie All this reacheth but to the body no farther and vvill leave us or vve them on this side the grave We can consider sometimes that vve have a Spirit within us vvhich is called the soule a vast large and capacious thing It can measure and graspe all the fore-mentioned all the things in the world and when all is done find but an emptinesse in all We are able to consider That the vvorld cannot satisfie this soule no more then can the East-wind the stomach It is Heaven and the great things there which can satisfie this great capacity vvhich can vviden and stretch forth it selfe like the Heavens The soule may goe from creature to creature as the Bee from flower to flower and be as restlesse still and as unquiet in its motion as is the needle not pointed right and so must be till it be pointed stedfast to Heaven All this vve can consider and upon due consideration approove the things that are excellent But then we behold our Priests and are quite off againe seeing them vvalke like men nay many of them more like be●sts I would rather my tongue were silent in darknes then it should cast a note of contempt upon outward civility These have not so much but as beasts could they phancy happines would place it in fat pastures and sweet waters so do these droves and heards of men This is a mighty snare unto us lead not so much by rule as by example * Persuade● lingua iubet vitae Athan. ad Monachos The Tongue perswades the life commands We consider not what ought to be done but what is done by our betters and thereafter we practise as our leaders do as if what they did vvere well done and as if outvvard things could inwardly satisfie This digression is necessary declaring how our minds stand Now I must shew That the Church is of another mind and so make vvay to the scope ¶ 4. The Church desires to prosper as her soul may prosper Contends for the advancing of Christs Kingdom prefers inward enlargements before outward priviledges ESaues ENOVGH a Gen. 33. 9. Gen. 6. will not content the Church though that be much or a great deale Iacobs ENOVGH b Gen. 33. 9 1● only contents her which inwardly satisfies and fills up the vast capacity of the soule This God alone doth Who is Iacobs ENOVGH for HE is ALL. The Churches Sons and D●ughters looke after those things which may further them in their way Heaven-ward such things as will make their soules to prosper are to their mind and heart They looke after spiritu●ll enlargements they would have their Lord Christ to be highly ●d●anced in the world It would rejoyce them at the heart to see