Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	know_v	lord_n	time_n	3,131	5	3.5997	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A52803	A chrystal mirrour, or, Christian looking-glass wherein the hearts treason against God and treachery against man, is truely represented, and thoroughly discoursed on and discovered : whereby the soul of man may be dressed up into a comeliness for God ... / published for publick good by Christopher Nesse ...	Ness, Christopher, 1621-1705.	1679 (1679)	Wing N445; ESTC R31077	117,479	262

the Earth and the Sun is by the Interposition of the body of the Moon 'twixt us and him in the first God's goodness only draws you but in the second your own Necessity drives you to God 12. The sixth and last Direction is Look upon all your Plenty and Prosperity that you do enjoy with no other than a Pilgrims eye and use all with no other than with a Pilgrims heart This David did acknowledging himself but a Stranger and a Sojourner even in the best and most flourishing estate that ever he was in 1 Chron. 29.15 looking through all his Riches and Honours at God the giver of them ver 12. Who giveth all things richly to enjoy 1 Tim. 6.17 18 19. Prov. 10. 22. Psal 75. 6 7. and therefore hath a Right and Soveraignty to take from you at pleasure as well as to give to you Job 1. 21. You must both use and loose all with a God-blessing heart knowing that Pilgrims are subject to many miseries and molestations both Satanical and secular and that the property of all is God's even while the possession is yours This the Patriarchs acknowledged Gen. 47. 9. Hebr. 11. 13. and the Apostles Hebr. 13. 14. and Prophets Psal 39. 12. CHAP. VIII Of the Hearts Treachery in Adversity 1. THe second Temporal state wherein the Treachery of the Heart is discovered also is The state of Adversity which is a state that knocks at every mans door less or more for man bears misery in his very name There be four Hebrew names for Man usually mentioned in the holy Scriptures and these are Ish Enosh Gheber and Adam and of these four there be three of them that do carry Misery in their very sence and signification So that 't is three to one against every man but he shall have his Adversity or as the word imports something to be against him in one kinde or another if yet he say not with old Jacob All these things are against me Gen. 42. 36. The first name of Man in Hebrew is Ish so named à sonitu from sound or noise for Man comes into the world crying and goes out of the world groaning and all the time betwixt those two extremes or Termini à quo ad quem the first term of birth and the last term of death Man is no more than a sound or noise while he is acting his part upon the stage of the world whether it be a publick or private part all that time of his appearing upon that stage he indeed may make some noise less or more in his place or station but when the time of his disappearing cometh to wit the day of his dying as 1 Sam. 26. 10. then all his noise is at an end 2. The second name in Hebrew for Man is Enosh which hath two significations first it signifies Misery or Calamity as if Man in the fallen estate were made up of nothing else but of Sin and Misery Secondly it signifies as some render it Oblivion as if Man because of his misery were scarce worthy to be taken notice of or remembred Deut. 25.19 and 32.26 Job 18. 17. Psal 34. 16. Eccles 9. 15. The third Hebrew name for Man is Gheber Lamen 3. 1. I am the Gheber or man that hath seen affliction though the word indeed doth signifie great or a great man yet not so great as to be beyond or above the touch yea the churlish touch of trouble No man was ever yet found in the world either so good or so great as to be raised either by his goodness or greatness above the reach of Adversity The fourth Hebrew name for Man is Adam which signifies earthly which plainly intimates that suppose a Man a son of Adam do grow great in the world yet cannot he continue long in that greatness because he is earth He is of the earth earthly Joh. 3. 31. and he is of the earth earthy 1 Cor. 15. 47. Dust he is and unto dust he must return Eccles 12. 7. And possibly his return may be like that Return in the term of Law called Returna brevi a very short return God knows how soon how suddenly All Adam is all Abel as the Original runs elegantly Psal 39.5 in his best estate is all over vanity or Adam is Abel's mate Psal 144. 3 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Soul and Soil a puff of winde is his breath and but a bag of dust is his body Jam. 4.14 a mere flash and a curious well-drawn Picture of Nothing 1. Of the Malady 2. Of the Remedy First the Malady 3. The Deceitfulness of the Heart in this state of Adversity is discovered in the many branches thereof as first 't is discovered by mans dulness to understand the minde of God in his Afflictions or the spring and original of them from whence they come whether from chance or from God God commands man to hear the rod and who hath appointed it Micah 6. 8. But alas man is exceeding dull and deaf to hear the voice of the rod or the voice of God in the rod God speaks once and twice and man perceives it not Job 33. 14. Herein Job himself was puzzled and at a non-plus when he cryed to God Shew me wherefore thou contendest with me Job 10. 2. Those reflect acts of the inner man come hardly off with the heart of man blind and dumb crosses such as we know not what they point at and speak to us nor from whence they come are never good as in ascribing them to chance as if things were of themselves and fall out well or ill of themselves and the hand of the great God were in none of them The Pagan Philistims consult with their Diviners about the causes of their Afflictions 1 Sam. 6. 2. When the hand of the Lord was heavy upon them 1 Sam. 5. 6. 9. not knowing whether to ascribe them to Chance or to divine Providence vers 9. If you at any time harp upon this string of Hap and Chance in the mean while if not denying yet at least doubting of Gods all-ordering Providence your heart doth deceive you The Rabbins say when Jeroboam's hand was withered up 1 Kin. 13.4 that his lying Prophets told the King It was but a chance that had hapned to him and thereby they withheld him from thinking upon God who had smitten him and from reflecting upon himself and his sin which was the procuring cause of that Judgment of God Still Satan and your own subtle heart will be suggesting to you that crosses are but common events and such as had a time to come in and must have a time to go in whereas nothing comes to pass in all the world but by Gods appointment Amos 3. 6. Matth. 10. 30 c. 4. The second Discovery of the Hearts deceitfulness in Adversity is in ascribing your Afflictions to Fortune which is worse than that of the Philistims aforesaid of ascribing that which is called The hand of the Lord 1 Sam.

and the Hammer at the upshot of all 15. The fifth Allusion is Dalilah who dealt deceitfully with Sampson and betrayed him into the hands of the Uncircumcised Judg. 16. 4 6. to 21. no doubt but she allured him with all seeming signs of her love that thereby she might hide from him all suspition of treachery she might magnifie his Heroick exploits and admire the prodigious and extraordinary strength whereby he atchieved them and then desire for her own private satisfaction onely to know wherein his great strength did lie and probably she added many fair promises and possibly not a few fowl Oaths Harlots abound with such Hellish Rhetorick that she would keep his counsel secret to her self then she prevailed 1. To bind him with three green withes v. 7 8. which he yielded to not onely as a put-off but also in a way of sport and wanton dalliance with her but this availed not hereupon 2. after her blaming him for mocking her he yields to be bound with new Ropes this proves unsuccesful also then 3. she continuing her importunate allurements brings him nearer to the mark and mystery than before and yields to have the seven locks of his head weaved with the Web and winded about the beam of the loom v. 13 14. This likewise took not as the other before it he having feigned a false cause of his strength three times to her all along forgetting that Gods children will not lye Isa 63. 8. as their Father is a God that cannot lye Tit. 1. 2. but at the fourth Assault she carries it and conquers him the great Conqueror of Men was at last Conquered by a Woman he was so bewitched with her flatteries that she at last exhausted as the Hebrew word Dalal from whence her Name Dalilah comes signifyeth his very heart v. 16 18. which whoredom had indeed taken away before Hos 4. 11. Thus this strong man discovers great weakness in yielding further and further even till it came to Neck-break and life it self Prov. 6. 26. 7. 21 23. to a treacherous Strumpet that had given just grounds of suspecting her treachery against him both in putting all those three former experiments upon proof and in having so many cut-throat Philistims ready by her yet so besotted was he with his sensual sins that he reveals that secret to her which cost him the loss of his strength of his eyes of his liberty of his life yea of his God too All this will your treacherous heart do to you if God leave you in the hand of your own counsel 't will make you sleep upon the knee of presumption as she did him v. 19. 't will cut off your Locks or seeming graces those seven locks or seven spirits Revel 1. 4. and you may not know that your God is gone from you as he v. 20. and you may stand out for a while as he did against the sollicitations of your fleshly heart which hunts for your life and wars against your Soul 1 Pet. 2. 11. but woe to you if left of God Hos 9. 12. to the lusts thereof you fall you fall and may never rise any more as Dalilah was not alone in the room but had her company of Philistims with her so your treacherous heart will not be alone but will have its company of deceitful lusts Eph. 4. 22. to be with it 16. The sixth Allusion among Scripture-Females is the Witch of Endor that cheated Saul 1 Sam. 28. 11 12. with indeed Satan for Samuel That Spectrum Samuelis or apparition of Samuel whereby she beguiled Saul was no other than Satan the Devil who first personates Samuels form and then his speech Samuel while alive had told Saul that rebellion is as Witchcraft 1 Sam. 15. 23. Now he falls from the like to the same and trades with Witches indeed which he had turned out of his Kingdome 1 Sam. 28. 3. but not out of his heart and bids this Witch to bring him up Samuel This is more than the Devil himself can do for it could not be 1. the Soul of the true Samuel that is here brought to Saul 't is not in the Devils power to degrade a glorified Saint and to bring him from glory Satan fell from Heaven and can fetch none out of Heaven neither was it 2. the body of the true Samuel for the Devil hath not the key of the Grave but that key hangs at Christs girdle Revel 1. 18. Neither 3. would the true Samuel have said as v. 15. Why hast thou disquieted me It can therefore be no other but Satan representing Samuel who can transform himself into an Angel of light 2 Cor. 11. 14. and Samuel himself could not have preach'd more gravely severely divinely then this foul fiend of Hell did v. 16. c. But above all 4. this Apparition appears to be a meer cheat in his appearing in a Mantle for the true Samuel could not well have a Mantle to bring with him from the grave and place of the dead it could be nothing else but onely a garment in shew of Satans making and by him put upon himself that he might the more speciously act the part of Samuel both his person and his habit as well as his words and speeches in his conference with Saul Thus as the Witch of Endor cheated Saul with a representative shew instead of a real and true presence even so your heart may cheat you with seeming instead of saving grace yea the Devil is Gods Ape thus far in mans heart that he beguiles him so far by false representations as to make him believe those to be glorious truths which indeed are no better than Doctrines of Devils 1 Tim. 4. 1. and damnable errours 2 Pet. 2. 1. CHAP. V. Of the Hearts Treachery 1. FRom deceitful persons the first pass we on to deceitful things the second and the Sequel will evidence in the Issue that the heart of man is not onely as deceitful as both but more than so 't is deceitful above all persons and above all things 1. The Serpent was more subtle than all the beasts of the field Gen. 3. 1. and beguiled Eve v. 13. making her to eat forbidden fruit Hanachash Hisheani Vaokel The serpent beguiled me and I did eat Oh how oft have you cause to cry out to Jehovah as she did that your heart hath beguiled you and you did eat the forbidden fruit of Sin The Hebrew word Nasha signifies to surprise one by laying Ambushments as Josh 8. 7 19. Alas every Creature-comfort in the fallen state hath an Ambushment a Serpent lying in ambush in it latet Anguis in Herbâ there is a Snake in the Grass a Snare in every dish You may cry out with the Sons of the Prophets Mors in ollâ there is death in the pot 2 King 4. 40. Had Eve thought there had been death in the Apple she would never have swallowed such a gilded bole or morsel 'T was pleasant to the eyes and fruit to be desired

or that particular sin but for the trial of his Grace and to evidence unto Satan that he was no Hypocrite yet did he acknowledge to God I have sinned what shall I do unto thee O thou preserver nf men Job 7. 20. He puts himself into the hands of his Justice in hope of his Mercy he confesses his Malady to wit his sinning to be the just occasion of his suffering and ardently enquires after a due Remedy yet this good man desired further to know not so much to satisfie his Curiosity as his Conscience why he was so afflicted whether for sin or for trial and if for sin he begg'd of God to Make him know his transgression and his sin Job 13. 23. to wit that particular sin which thou chiefly strikes at 15. Afflictions have a voice as above and say to the afflicted as the Lord said to Joshuah Vp and search Israel hath sinned Josh 7. 10 11. And as the Mariners said to Jonah What evil hast thou committed what good hast thou omitted Jon. 1.8 Something surely is amiss that God would have amended It is therefore meet to be said unto God and that with a Surely I have born chastisement I will not offend any more and though yet I be in the dark and know not the right and particular cause wherefore I am afflicted That which I know not teach thou me Job 34.31 32. Alas men are very apt to mistake themselves herein and like the Child Samuel when God calls one way to run another way 1 Sam. 3. 4 5 6 8 9. Yea the Devil also deals with the afflicted just as the wretched Jews did with Christ when they did blind-fold him and bid him prophecy who smote him Luke 22. 64. Thus Satan holds his black hand before the eyes of mens Understanding and then bids them prophecy who smote them and for what Hence it is that in our Afflictions we many times grope like blinde men only guessing at this cause and at that but seldome hitting upon the right and therefore God must be sought unto for direction herein and besought also graciously to point out the sin he strikes at This Job had done once Job 10. 2. and again Job 13. 23 but Elihu would have him to do it yet better as he tutor'd him Job 34. 31 32. Lastly Consider these few following Directions 1. When you have thus sought and besought the Lord for Instruction herein Observe at what door doth your Conscience awakened by the Word lay your Affliction for God keeps his Petty-Sessions in the Court of Conscience and therein you may hear his Voice 2. Labour to have as deep a sense of Spiritual Evil as of Temporal A blind eye may bring you to Christ for Cure and Comfort when a blind Soul will not do so 3. In your Adversity forget not Divine Promises as in your Prosperity you may not be mindful of Divine Threatnings 4. Let your minde be above your means in Adversity as it ought to be below them in Prosperity 5. Let not your custome of being delivered from this or that particular Danger encourage you more than Gods promise of Deliverance from all evil 6. Be not more prone to speak of your Miseries than of your Mercies of your Losses than of your Gains as most men commonly do for if so it plainly shews you would rather have your self pitied for the former than your God praised for the latter 7. 'T will qualifie your Sufferings to take notice how many do suffer more pains for eternal Pains and for Damnation than you have yet done for everlasting Life and for Salvation 8. It may likewise comfort you to know that Christ by his Cross hath taken away the Curse of your Cross though not the cross it self which if he had done then as the Cross indeed would have done you no hurt so neither could it have done you any good whereas how many Saints have blest the Lord for their sanctified Afflictions and they would not have been without them for a world Psal 119.71.75 9. Know that Misery 't is true may be your Condition yet if you be truely godly it shall never be your portion 't is Mercy not Misery that is the portion of all the Vessels of Mercy 10. Know also that your God who chastens you will soon say It is enough c. 2 Sam. 24. 15 16. 'T is an excellent Note that Vatablus makes upon this place understanding by the appointed time the evening of the first day which if so understood doth mightily commend the Mercy and Gentleness of God who for three days of Pestilence threatned sends it but one day onely and then his bowels yern Hos 11. 8. and he cryes even then 't is enough he cannot finde in his heart to go thorough with destroying-work for he is a God and not man yea such a God as None is like him for pitty and pardons He may indeed afflict yea he must do so but he will not do so for ever 1 Kin. 11. 39. No he quickly repents him of the evil and leaves a blessing behinde him Joel 2. 14. Lastly Let God vindicate his own Holiness who though he pardon sin yet will not patronize it no not in his own Children 2 Sam. 7. 14. Psal 89. 30. 32 33. yet Paul may be happier in his chains of Iron than King Agrippa was in his chains of Gold Oh that a bitter life may make you look for a better life CHAP. IX Of the Hearts Treachery as to your Spiritual state 1. HAving made some Discoveries of the Deceitfulness of your Heart in respect of your Temporal state whether Prosperity or Adversity we come now to your Spiritual state which is of mighty importance and upon which your everlasting weal or wo in the other world dependeth Therefore must you keep your heart with all keepings and with your utmost Care and Caution that you put not an everlasting Cheat upon your own Immortal Soul in this matter of such weighty and eternal consequence 1. The Malady 2. The Remedy First The Malady And this cheat may befal you two ways 1. Your own Heart may deceive you in falsly conceiving What you are in Gods thoughts And 2. in falsly conceiving what you are in your own thoughts First of the first You may be deceived in conceiving what you are in God's thoughts to wit that you are predestinated to Life and Salvation whatever you be and however you live in the world Even all people have a natural proneness to bless themselves with a false hope of their Predestination to life Deut. 29. 19. and that they shall have peace Now the thoughts of God are in those two unchangeable Decrees of Election and Non-election which the great Apostle exemplifies by Jacob and Esau Jacob have I loved and Esau have I hated before they were yet born or had done either good or evil Rom. 9. 11 12 13. There is no doubt but Esau blest himself in his own heart and came presumptuosly to his