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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	know_v	lord_n	see_v	3,997	5	3.2299	3	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A72913	Three godly and fruitfull sermons declaring first how we may be saved in the day of iudgement, and so come to life everlasting: secondly, how we ought to liue according to Gods will during our life: which are the two things that every one ought to be most carefull of as long as they liue. Preached and written by the reverend & godly learned M. Iohn More, late preacher in the citie of Norwitch. And now first published by M. Nicholas Bovvnd: whereunto he hath adioyned of his owne, A sermon of comfort for the afflicted: and, A short treatise of a contented mind.	More, John, d. 1592.; Bownd, Nicholas, d. 1613. aut	1594 (1594)	STC 18074.5; ESTC S125128	118,386	153

soone to profit vnder the crosse that so it may be remooued and not so much to labour for the remoouing of it as for the fruit of it least it going away without profit the Lord bring vpon vs some greater afterwards seeing he is purposed thereby most assuredly to doe vs good Moreouer by this we knowe that whereas euery man desireth that which is best for him and yet most men erre in the particulars desiring that which is most pleasant profitable honourable c. in this worlde that in deede is best for vs at all times whatsoeuer it be which maketh most for the glorie of God in vs our owne saluation and the edifying of our brethren which because the Lord worketh many times by afflictions as wee haue heard euen they then are best for a man Euen as when a mans bodie is so distempered and some member so putrified then it is best for him to haue his bloode taken away from him to be launced and seared yea to haue a part cut off therefore when any affliction or calamitie doth befall vs let vs not be discontented therewith or be impatient but submitting our iudgements wills to the iudgements and will of God let vs quietly indure seeing the Lord giueth vs that not which we fondly desire as the best but which he knoweth to be and is indeede the best Now seeing it is so what then I pray you is the cause why not onely the wicked but euen the godly which ought to knowe this and to beleeue it doe so grieuously complaine of there afflictions as Dauid Iob and the rest as though they should be hurt thereby when as we haue seene they worke their good and therefore are best for them Truly it can not be denied but that men for the most part doe more complaine of their afflictions then they ought to doe and doe not so comfortablely beare them as they should yet this hindereth not but that men should get good by their afflictions and be also perswaded thereof though they be full of complaints whilst they are in the midst of them for who complaineth more then these two men and yet who had more profit and got greater good of them then they for such is our nature that we must needes haue the feeling of afflictions vnlesse our heart were hard like yron or brasse and so we were stocks and no men but seeing it is otherwise that our hearts are soft and tender it can not be but that euery thing should worke vpon vs and we be mooued according to the nature of it to ioy sorrowe loue hatred anger and feare and therefore tribulation must needes trouble vs and affliction afflict and the crosse crucifie and yet we may be perswaded that it is for our good and looke for it from thence euen as the sicke patient can not as he is man but feele the launcing and searing of his flesh and so complaine of it with great griefe yea cry out for the extremitie of paine though he knoweth it to be best for him then and therefore after a sort doth most willingly suffer it But many others are so full of complaints in their affliction because they are not perswaded at that time that the very thing is sent for their speciall good and therefore such are to meditate vpon that which we haue alreadie spoken concerning this matter In the latter part of this verse when he saith to them that loue God as he thereby restraineth this generall promise so he sheweth to whome it appertaineth namely to those that beleeue in Christ Iesus and are sanctified by his Spirite for he intreateth of the certaintie of the saluation of such nowe the true and faithfull beleeuers as he hath before discerned them from others by this fruite of faith namely sanctification so he doth here by one part of it which is loue as in the Epistle to the Galat. chap. 5. vers 6. so that vnder one kinde he comprehendeth all godlinesse but he taketh this thing rather then any other as most fitte for his purpose for speaking of affliction he saith By this we shall trie our faith if our loue vnto to GOD continue euen then For vvhereas the vvicked vvill pretend to loue God in prosperitie but in adversitie they fall unto hatred yea unto plaine cursing and banning he that truly loueth God loueth him not for his backe and bellie alone nor principally but because he is goodnes it selfe and therefore to be loued And herein the one bevvray their servile nature that like as servants loue not their masters if they once beginne to correct them and the other their liberall and childish disposition whome no correction or stripes of the father can make to chaunge their loue to him much lesse driue avvay from him This is that which Satan knowing generally to be in the nature of man thought to haue found in Iob though he vvas deceiued vvhen he said Doeth Iob loue or feare God for nothing hast not thou bene an hedge round about him but touch all that he hath and see if he vvill not blaspheme thee to thy face Therefore if in affliction we cease not to loue God and in loue to serve him vve shall be sure that he vvil fulfill this promise to vs of turning all things to our good Moreouer seeing that the Apostles purpose is to intreat of patience in affliction this no doubt is most fit for the purpose namely the consideration of the loue which vve ought to beare unto God For if that in worldly matters we vvill beare many great things at the hands of them vvhome vve loue as the childe at the mother the husband at the wife and one friend at another then how much more ought vve to beare all things at the hands of God vvhome vve knovve so loueth vs in Christ and therefore vve ought so to loue him againe and no doubt would beare if there vvere that loue in us unto him which ought When he addeth in the same verse Which are called of his purpose as hee doeth further shewe to whome this promise doeth appertaine euen to such so he shevveth the cause of it vvhich is not any vvorthines of theirs or right be having themselues under the crosse as thereby deseruing it but the free loue of God vvhereby he before the beginning purposed to doe them good vvhich purpose of his nothing can alter but he maketh all things to further it euen afflictions so that thus he declareth the certentie of this for vvhat can hinder the purpose of God Nothing and therefore afflictions can not hinder the good of his children seeing that hee hath purposed to do them good which purpose of his appeareth by their effectual calling and therefore when he had purposed to saue them he called them in time to the knowledge of it and from thence it came that the worde was effectuall to them when it was unprofitable vnto others So the Lord continuing the same purpose of his

is an horrible abuse of Gods worde yea of God him selfe whē we so dally with God ye if I that preach the word should thinke it sufficient for me when I haue told you Gods will out of his word and yet not applie it to my selfe to reforme my life after the same assuredly I should answer that horrible contēpt of Gods maiestie before his eternall throne of iustice if ye shall then good brethren harden your faces against this worde of God and shake it off and say still in your hearts For all this I will continue in my sinne a while and for all his threatning I trust I am not so neare death but I may amend before that day come let him say what he will I vvill not yet begin then I testifie vnto you before the eternall God that the master of the house vvill come in an houre vvhen ye least thinke and giue you your portion vvith hypocrites vvhere shal be vveping and vvayling and gnashing of teeth and then vvhen ye vvould it is too late alas ye can not If ye shall novve abuse this day of mercie and Gods long suffering that dravveth you to repentance and like carnall beasts fling abroad and kicke vp your heeles against the Lord violently throvving from you all godly admonitions vvhereby he goeth about to pul you vnto him he shal come vpon you like a fierce lyon vtterly consume you in your greatest pride vvhen ye least think but I hope better of you brethren and good cause I haue so to doe I thank God for it I trust the Lord vvill vvorke in your heart that ye vvill not deferre the time but euen novv beginne to turne to him vvhile he offereth you mercie and presume not of hereafter Remember the fiue foolish virgins that had no oyle in their lamps and yet for all that tooke no thought but snorted and slumbred vvithout all care thinking they should haue time enough to prepare but alas they vvere deceiued for the bridegrome came sodainly and those that vvere found readie entred in and those iolly fooles that deferred so long vvere shut out and shall neuer enter in for Gods sake brethren let these things enter deep into our head heart let vs haue these things so deeply imprinted in our hearts that vve may think vpon them continually say alvvay vvith that holy man vvhether I sleepe or vvake me think I heare continually sounding in mine eares the trump of the Lord that saith Arise ye dead come to iudgement let vs alvvay be prepared against that day alvvaies say in our heart vvith the saints in the Apocalyps Come Lord Iesu come quickly I am ready for thee come vvhen thou vvilt that our hearts may still long after it say vvith the Apostle I desire to be dissolued to be with thee ô Christ othervvise if we shall deferre it and take our pleasures in this vvorld then alas euen the remembrance of death Oh how bitter wil it be to him that hath his heart vpō the things of this world it will nippe our heart a sunder to part with our goods to part with our pleasures and all because we haue so long abused Gods long sufferance and prolonged the day of our repentance till suddenly we are taken then we could with the wicked contemners of God wish the very hils and mountaines to couer vs and hide vs from the presence of the fierce iudge whom we haue so stubbornly contemned but alas it will not preuaile we must euen be hayled before his iudgement seat in spite of our teeth wherefore good brethrē let vs thinke vpon it and thinke vpon it againe that it neuer part from vs these be waightie matters to be thought vpon these be things that must alwaies keepe vs occupied and not heard with the eare for the space of an houre but they must be our continual meditation our whole life I trust by Gods grace ye wil think vpon it that you may profit by it I hope well of you as good cause I haue especially because I see the Lord hath mooued you to this good work whereunto you are assēbled that you think not much neither of cost nor trauail for the benefit of the common-wealth and ease of your brethren continue and goe on forward be not wearie of well doing seeing the Lord is with you in blessing your labours remember the time we haue is short let vs be doing good while we haue time remember that your callings require the same beeing magistrates of peace to be carefull of peace remember that ye must once be called to account before the iudge for your calling then though all the men in the earth would cleare you if God doe condemne you there is nothing but destruction let the vprightnes then of your consciences be in these your meetings that ye may be void of vaine glorie before men and be simple before God to doe good and then the Lord will blesse your labours in this life and in the life to come ye shall receiue full ioy both of soule and bodie for euer Ye see then the meaning of this sentence and how the Apostle takes it to his vse to take his profite by it in setting it alwaies before his eies to keepe him thereby in a continuall awe of God while he skanneth his doings not onely by man but especially by God who hath his iudgement to call vs vnto to answer the matter when we least think herin how we are admonished to do the like and to take our profite by it in like manner thus much I say hath bene declared out of this place in that sence and manner that it is vsed by the Apostle There is yet further doctrine in particular to be delivered out of the same very profitable for vs for our instruction of which we must in like maner gather our profit for whereas it delivered vnto vs that we must once appeare before the iudgement seate of God we are not onely thereby taught to be raised vp to a more diligent vew of our doings that they be sincere before God which the Apostle doth here but further having entred into our selves and found in vs many imperfections yea and horrible sinnes which the Lord hateth and which he hath pronounced to be punished with his heavie curse and eternall condemnation knowing that he is both a iust God and a true which hath set this punishment downe and hath already summoned vs to his iudgement seate we are hereby I say admonished carefully to consider how we may be discharged in that iudgement day delivered from that same punishment which our sinnes haue deserved This is a speciall point to be considered and deeply to be waighed of every one of vs and not slightly to be passed over it is our chiefest ioy in our life our only comfort in our death and our true happinesse after death Without this wee are most miserable of all

the more grieuously against vs. The chiefest cause of all this was their incredulitie Psal 78. 22. they did not beleeue that the Lord had a fatherly care of them sought in all things to do them good euen as he knew what was commodious for them which was so much the greater a sinne in them by how much the Lord had so many waies testified his great loue to them not onely by his word but by his workes v. 23. where he beginneth to reckon vp so many benefits of his bestowed vpon them Therefore that we might auoide all these sinnes we must labour first of all to beleeue the forgiuenes of our sinnes by Christ Iesus and that we are receiued into Gods fauour by the imputation of his righteousnes then we must be perswaded of his fatherly prouidence watching ouer vs for good and that he hauing giuen his sonne Christ Iesus vnto vs will with him giue vs all things needefull for vs and that there beeing a kingdome prouided for vs in heauen much more are wee heyres of this worlde which faith that wee might be confirmed and strengthened in we must not onely barely acquaint our selues with the promises of the worde wherein hee testified and shewed all these thinges vnto vs but also marke his fatherly dealing with vs from time to time wherein he hath confirmed the truth of these promises vnto vs. Moreouer concerning this matter this is an especiall meanes to bring vs to a contented minde if in worldly things we neuer propound too high an estate to our selues neither looke for great matters of this life but set a meane condition before our eyes as Iacob did Gen. chap. 28. 20. If God will be with me and keepe me in this iourney which I goe and will giue me bread to eate and clothes to put on so that I come againe to my fathers house in safetie c. with words proceeding from the trueth of his heart not purposing to dissemble with God did declare a maruelous contented minde if we consider who it was that spake it First of all the graundchilde of that mightie Abraham who was able to reske we his kinsman Lot with three hundred and eighteene souldiers borne and brought vp in his house Gen. chap. 14. vers 14. and who was so rich that the land in which he soiourned was not able to beare them cap. 13. 6. Then he was the onely heyre of that rich Isaak who dwelling in Gerar sowed and found by estimation an hundred fold and was exceeding rich cap. 26. 12 13. and was so blessed that the king of the land was afraid of him v. 28. Thirdly it was he who was so blessed in all earthly and heauenly things by his father in the chap. going before and was confirmed in the same againe in this very chap. v. 1. 3. and last of all was established in the faith of it by the Lord himselfe v. 17. After all so many and great things which might haue made him looke a loft what a minde had he that desireth 〈◊〉 meate and drinke and clothes especially in so long a time of absence from his friends for he knewe well the cause of his owne departure euen the cruel rage of his brother which could not be appeased but in a long time And this is so much the more worthie to be considered if we reade the text as some of the learned translatours doe namely when the Lorde shall haue bene with me shall haue kept me in this way by the which I am to goe and shall haue giuen me bread to eate and clothes to put on and to be short when the Lord shall haue bin my God then this heape of stones which I haue set up for a pillar shalbe Gods house c. wherein as hee doth not tie Gods favour to the aboundance of these outward things but confesseth that he may be mercifull unto him yea in a meane estate so this mercie of God he desiring aboue all is contented that the Lord should shew it unto him which way it pleaseth him if it be but in meate and drinke and clothes So our Sauiour Christ hath taught us to pray for our daily bread by which though he meane all things needefull for this life yet in naming bread he sheweth us what meane things we should looke for whereunto agreeth the prayer of the wise man Proverb 30. 9. Giue me not pouertie nor riches feed me with food conuenient for me and the exhortation of the Apostle 1. Timoth. 6. 8. When we haue foode and raiment let us be contented therewith which that we might so much the more earnestly labour to attaine unto let us consider how God hath alvvaies blessed them that haue looked for small matters and punished them that haue had aspiring mindes resisting the proud and giuing grace to the humble Dauid when hee was accused of treason against the king truly protesteth of himselfe Psalme 131. Lorde mine heart is not havvtie neither are mine eyes loftie neither haue I walked in great matters which are to high for me And when Saul in pollicie offered his daughter unto him to be his wife that by that meanes he might be destroyed of the Philistines he answered VVhat am I that I should be sonne in law to the king 1. Sam. 18. 18. and when it was further urged upon him he said Seemeth it a small thing unto you to be the kings son in law v. 23. yet afterwards God made him King But Adoniah Absolon both of them afterwards aspiring unto the kingdom by the punishments which God brought upon thē were made spectacles of so great ambition to the posteritie Mordecai in time of the captivitie having well deserued of the king Hest 2. 22. sought not ambitiously to preferre himselfe but serving still faithfully in his former estate was highly aduanced at the last cap. 6. Contrariwise Haman swelling with pride like a toade as it appeareth in many places of that story was at the last brought to that great shame confusion which deseruedly fell upon him And that we might in all persons consider the truth of this we shall find that if they haue no other punishment of God upō them yet they haue this which is no small one restles minds unquiet spirits For besides that the mind of man is insatiable there is no worldly thing so great but mans desire is greater therfore when he hath this that still he desires more is not satisfied we must remember that great things are very rare hard to be attained unto therfore we like to misse of them and so the mind must needs still be unquiet So the other if they haue no other blessing yet they shall haue this quiet spirits contented minds which is an especiall grace For besides that smal meane things are especially promised of God and are most common in the world therefore most like to be attained unto and so the desire soonest satisfied the

our condemnation it is no sleight nor slender stuffe but sound proofe out of the word of God here is no counterfeit deeds no forged evidences but such as are sealed and ratified by the Sonne of God himselfe which testifieth of himselfe that his comming was not to disanull them but to fulfill and accomplish them wee must not then thinke but that this geare that is here brought in against vs will stand and be allowed euen before the Lord in his tribunall seate because it is nothing but his owne word by the which he telleth vs he will iudge vs and though heaven and earth passe yet that word never passeth wherefore it standeth vs now in hand to see how this matter may be answered on our part we had need to looke about vs and seeke for as good stuffe for the answering of the matter to our discharge as is brought in against vs to our condemnation or else the Lord knoweth we be in miserable case vnlesse we haue as sure profe out of the selfe same word of God for our discharge there is no remedy but we perish euery mothers child for the Lorde can not goe against his worde let vs see then good brethren how we can answer the matter and let vs beware that we bring not our ovvne cauills against God not the deuices of our ovvne braine nor that vvhich vve thinke good of our selues unlesse it haue his ground on the vvord of God vvhich onely must be the great court rolles that this heauenly iudge vvill use in this court And this is one speciall cause that mooveth me to handle the matter of our saluation before the throne of God not as here upon earth because euery fond devise of our ovvn foolish head seemeth to vs vvhile vve keepe vs here belovv to be most excellent sound as nothing can be more euery toy trifle that liketh vs seemeth to be so firme strong as God must needs yeeld unto our liking but it shalbe far othervvise vvhen is commeth to be handled before God all such imaginations must needes vanish avvay as smoke before the iudgement seate of God nothing can abide his presence there but only his ovvne blessed vvord and that vvhich is grounded upō it Let us therefore so examine the matter of our saluation as it may stand steady strong before the eternall God against Satan sinne all the povvers of hell Let us come novv to the ansvvering of the matter There hath come proofe against vs as ye haue heard out of the vvord of God that vve are all of vs accursed of Gods ovvne mouth because vve haue transgressed his lavv and holy commandements this is prooued against us vvhat shall vve say can vve deny it not unlesse vve vvill denie God himselfe for it is prooued unto us out of his vvord that all of vs haue sinned none but sinneth vve can not then deny that if that be graunted the other must needs follovv that vve are therefore subiect to the curse of God eternall death because it is vvritten that the reward of sinne is death Cursed is every one that doeth not abide to fulfill all that is written in the booke of the law it is then apparant that the vvrath of God is pronounced upon us for our disobedience to God that can not be denyed vvhat shal vve say then vve stand before God to ansvver the matter vvhat shall vve say to it I am afraide a great number of us are far to seeke in these lavv points of our saluation although vve be othervvise neuer so excellent cunning skilfull in other lavv matters to handle them marueilous subtilly vvisely I am afraid for all that vve are farre to learne in these most chiefe waightie causes of life death eternall And yet I know we be not altogether without our answers such as they be very simple God knoweth slender far unmeet to come before so glorious a iudge in so waightie causes We doe not deny but we haue broken these blessed commandements of God we confesse that but in the meane time vve haue our shifts gloses to assvvage the matter withall vve can alledge for our selues that although vve haue broken Gods cōmandements offended God yet they be not so great offenses as deserue any great punishment herein vve be marveilous eloquent to paint out the matter to make our selues beleeue that our sins be not so great because we see other men haue done greater or because vve see our selues void of notorious crimes such as be punished by the magistrate vve can very readily alledge for our selues what man I trust I am not so great a sinner I thank God I am no theefe I labour truly for my liuing nor I am no murtherer or cōmon whoremaster such like and hereupon we set our selues in a good stay neuer busie our selues to answer the matter any further before the throne of God but conclude with our selues that God must be good vnto us because vve be not so notorious sinners as outragious men be Yea good brethren but will God be so answered think you wil this stand for good euidence before the throne of God Doth the vvord of God say Cursed be euery one that doth not abide in the greatest commandemēts as in abstaining from murther man slaughter whordom these such like doth it speak on this matter only no it goeth further saith Cursed be every one that doth not abide fulfill all that is written in the book of the law it doeth not say some part but all so forth in the rest Although thou be no whoremaster nor murtherer yet be a swearer thou hast not fulfilled al. And therfore the Apostle S. Iames reproueth such kind of people as dare so boldly blanch vvith Gods commandements to think themselues in good case for doing one or tvvo of the commandements neglecting the rest He telleth vs Whosoever should filfill all the cōmandements yet breake but one of them is guiltie of the whole burthē of the law which threatneth curse to the transgressours breakers of any one yea euen of the lest as Christ Iesus also vvitnesseth yea further Gods commandemēts be so pure deare and precious that they are to be fulfilled and done not only with our outward body but especially with our heart for the commandements of God are spirituall so saith Paul pearce euen to the heart God that giueth them is not God of our bodies only but also of our soules therefore giueth us lavves not only to tye our hands frō doing euill but the heart also frō thinking deuising euill because he is a God that loueth pure truth sincerity not only in outward shevv but especially in the in ward heart as testifieth the Psalm Therfork Iesus Christ doeth tell vs that they be broken not onely whē our body