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
A88756	A confutation of the Solemn League and Covenant, against the persecuting dividing sense put upon it by such who seeke more themselves and their ends, then the glory of God, or the peace of the kingdomes. / By R.L. A true friend to all reall covenanters.	R. L.	1648 (1648)	Wing L53; Thomason E443_38; ESTC R204751	17,854	15

men how pleasing so ever their opinions may be there is little ground to judge they either know or love sound doctrine Least we partake of other mens sins c. Among which the sins of persecution and in destroying good people under bad names the exalting the forme of godlinesse against the power thereof was not the least And thereby be in danger to receive of their plagues c. As it is two evident we have committed the same sins so have we much cause feare the same punishments which God laid upon them by our hands is at our dores the Lord helpe us to be sensible of the one in time that we may prevent the other And that the Lord may be one and his name one in the three Kingdomes c. It is a desireable end the Lord direct us in the meanes A third head of the Covenant We shall with the same sincerity reallity and constancy in our severall vocations indevour with our Estates and Lives mutually to preserve the Rights and Liberties of the Parliament and the liberties of the Kingdome c. Of both which the Parliament themselves are the most equallest Judges they having no priviledges but what is in order to the better preservation of the peoples liberties the Parliaments just priviledges being the principle Bull warke to our Lawes and Liberties And to preserve and defend the Kings Majesties person and authority in the preservation and defence of the true religion and liberties c. Not otherwise wayes we being at the same time in actuall warre against his Majesties person and prerogative power in the defence of our religion and liberties That the world may beare witnesse with our Consciences of our loyalty that have we no thoughts nor intentions to diminish his Majestis just power and greatnesse c. And likewise of our forwardnesse to hazard the losse of our lives and all things else deere to us in the vindication and protection of our just freedome and liberties against his Arbitrary unjust power and greatnesse We shall also withall faithfulnesse indeavour the discovery of all such as have beene or shall be incendiaries Malignants or evill instruments by hindering the reformation of religion c. Which principally and chiefely those are which hinder the free progresse of the Gospell in the Common dispensation of the preaching the word which are angry because it is the good pleasure of the father to hide the mysteries of Christs kingdome from the wise and prudent and reveale them unto Babes Matth. 11.25 1 Cor. 11.27.28 2 Per. 2.16 Matth. 21.16 Because God hath chosen the foollish weak bases despised things of the world and things that are not to bring to naught the wise and mighty things that are because God sometimes opens the mouth of the dumb asse to reprove the madnesse of the Prophet and by the mouthes of Babes and Sucklings perfects his own praise the despising of the day of these small things being the Grand hinderance of a true reformation Dividing the King from his people c. The King hath ever beene so farre divided from his people in Covenant that he hath saved all evill instruments a labour in that worke Or one of the Kingdoms from another c. Who soever it is that endeavours to involve or intermix the distinct interest of each Kingdome hazards much the making a greater division Abraham and his brother Lot agreed best after they had divided their substance and became two distinct families or little common-wealthes there was strife between their heads-men before Gen. 13 7. and the keeping two distinct interests or property to each others substance did not breake the bond of brother-hood nor hinder their mutuall assistance of each other against their common enemy Abraham was ready to relieve his Brother Lot from under the Captivity of Chedorleromor Or making any faction or parties among the people contrary to this League and Covenant Gen. 14.15 c. Which those men are chiefely guilty of next to the common enemy which would turne the sharpest edge of the Covenant against their differing brethren who hath testified in the worst of times their affections and faithfulnesse to the Covenant and cause as fully as themselves who would put such a sence upon some branches or expressions in the Covenant as no rationall man can make it beare nor impartiall can judge it meanes and stirre up one party of the Covenanters to force a disputable fence upon the other which hath been the principall cause of those factions and divisions among the Covenanters if any there be that hath been made That they may be brought to publike triall and receive condigne punishment as the degree of their offences shall require or deserve or the supreme judicatures of both kingdomes respectively or others having power from them for that effect shall judge convenient c. If onely the supreme judicatures of both kingdomes or others impowered by them ought to judge in this case then sure it doth not become particular men one to judge or accuse each other much lesse to judge their judges The fifth head And whereas the happinesse of a blessed peace betweene these Kingdoms denyed in former times to our progenitors is by the good providence of God granted unto us and hath beene lately concluded and settled by both Parliaments we shall each one of us according to our place and interest endeavour that they may remaine conjoyned in a firme peace and union to all posterity and that justice may be done on the wilfull opposers thereof in manner expressed in the present Articles c. In pursuance of which the onely meanes that can be used in a Christian brotherly forbearance of each other in things wherein we differ a friendly faire disputeing of accidentall controversies out of an earnest desire to give one another satisfaction wholy to leave all grand controversies between the two Nations to be judged and determined by the Parliaments of each Kingdome who alone are capeable of giving the Kingdoms sence or resolution in things dispureable and for all particular persons to forbear their crying out against Covenan● 〈◊〉 and Covenant breakers in their Pulpits and Communications it being no lesse then scandalous rayling and reviling whether true or false which is very ill becoming leading Christians whethers Ministers or others and especially in a time of reformation and let them rather particularize Covenant breakers and what of the Covenant it is they have broken and deale with them either as Christians according to the rule Matthew 18.15 Or as men by complaining of them to those who have power to judge and determine things in such cases there being no such prejudice to the union and peace betweene the Covenanters in the two kingdomes as such kinde of exasperating the spirits of any people interested in the Covenant whether pro or con The sixth head We shall also according to our places and callings in this common cause of Religion Liberty and the peace

sense of the Assembly of Divines themselves as you may see in their exhortation annexed to the Covenant which is cleere in these severall places As first in page 30. For the Vindication and defence of their Religion Liberties and Lawes against the Popish prelaticall and Malignant party so agai●e in page 32. to joyne with their brethren in this happy bond for putting an end to the present miseries and for saving both of King and Kingdome from utter ruine now so strongly and openly laboured by the Popish Faction and such as have been bewitched and besotted by that viprous and bloudy generation They likewise acknowledge in page 34. the whole Government of the Church to be but of humane constitution at the best and prejudiciall to the Civill State a great hinderance to the perfect Reformation of Religion and further addes thus ye who knoweth it not to be too too much an enemy thereto and destructive to the power of godlinesse and pure administration of the Ordinances of Christ And likewise they justisie their covenanting to oppose these persecuting Principles though in Kings and Rulers by the practise of the Kingdome of Scotland pag. 38. Upon whose action and successe they make this inference page 39. therefore how ever some men hoodwinked and blinded by the Artificesses of those Jesuiticall Ingineers who have long conspired to sacrifice our Religion to the Idolatry of Rome our Lawes Liberties and persons to Arbitrary slavery and our estates to their unsatiable avarice may possibly be deterred and amused with high threats and Declarations flying up and downe in the wings of the Royall name and countenance now captivated and prostituted to serve all their lusts to proclaime all Rebels and Traitors who take this Covenant yet let no faithfull English heart be afraid to joyne with our brethren of all the three Kingdomes in the solemne League And further making the great end of this Covenant to be the terrour and confusion onely of those men of bloud the confederate Enemie of God and the King who have long combined and have now raked together the dregs and scumme of many Kingdomes to bury all the glory honour and Liberty of our Nation in the eternall grave of dishonour and destruction What more can be said to discover a people fully sensible of the evill and wickednesses of persecution and troubling men for non-conformity to Nationall Church-government it being the very ground and cause of all the sufferings of godly people in these Kingdomes by those men who are set out in these bloudy Colours by our now conforming brethren nay so tender were they of making the covenant a bond or yoake to compell any man to act further in any thing than hee had freedome of spirit to doc that they declare this Covenant doth not binde us to persecute our persecutors whom we covenanted against but onely to hold their hands and hinder them from destroying us in these words Page 35. Nor is any man hereby bound to offer any violence to their persons but onely in his place and calling to indeavour their extirpation in a lawfull way Now what pitie is it that a Covenant or ingagement wherein the safety and freedome both of our C●vill and christian Liberties is so much provided for should be so little set by so little prized or valued on the one hand and so much wrested and adulterated on the other hand Some cry up the Covenant the Covenant as the Scribes and Pharisees did the Temple the Temple and the Law Acts 24.6 Marke 15.29 Acts 6.13 And others cry it down or stand at a distance from it onely because it was thus cryed up now that both these extreames might be avoyded and a more christian way of observing the Covenant practised let us consider these following Rules 1. That we preferre the common Interest safety and preservation of all sorts of people is teressed in and acting for the ends of this Covenant before ●he satisfaction of any particular sort of men who will not be satisfied with any thing lesse than having their owne sense forced upon the judgements of all others in Covenant with them though contrary to the judgement of the Parliament themselves 2. That all private men be satisfied in the in joyment of their owne liberty to act in the persuing the ends of this Covenant as they shall finde themselves bound in Conscience and satisfied in their judgements to doe in their severall places and callings and freely to cast themselves upon the judgements of those whom the Kingdome hath chosen to be their Judges and to give their sense upon it such things as concerne the Kingdome in generall that the Peoples representative may be neither menaced to forbeare setling Church-Government if their judgements and Consciences lead them to doe it nor to settle it before such time or in any other manner than they themselves shall finde cause that as the Parliament hath ever since their taking this Covenant declared to the Kingdome their intentions and resolutions to settle Church-government and particularly Presbytery none may by any unlawfull meanes indeavour to hinder them and as they have likewise publickly declared and protested to have a speciall regard to tender Consciences in their setling Church-government and Discipline none may endeavor by evill meanes to prevent them 3. That we may make it more our businesse to observe and keep the Covenant our selves lesse work to force and compel it upon others it being a Covenant of Freedom not of Bondage a Covenant which we took with satisfaction in Iudgement and Conscience not for fear of punishment or hope of rewards and for us to force any other by Penalties or punishments to enter into the Covenant with us especially such who are known to us to be professed enemies to the covenanted Cause how grosly do we force and compell men to take Gods Name in vaine To make them swear with their hands lifted up to the most high God that they shall sincerely really and constantly prosecute such things which we know in our own judgements and consciences they are bitte enemies against Do you think the Army of Cavaliers which are gathered together in Scotland that are reported by some to have taken the Covenant hath any thing more in their hearts and resolutions than the making the covenant a reproach and a by-word to the generations to come or if they do joyne with you in your covenant will they not expect you should joyne with them in their wickednesse which if you do remember the time will come when judgement shall be layd to the Line and righteousnesse to the Plummet and the Hayle shall sweep away the refuge of lyes and the water shall overflow the hiding place and then your covenant with Death shall be disanulled and your agreement with Hell shall not stand when the overflowing surge shall passe through then shall ye be trodden down by it Esa 28.18 For with such covenanting and covenanters God is not well pleased but unto the wicked saith God what bast thou to do to declare my Statutes or that thou shouldest take my Covenant in thy mouth seeing thou hatest Instruction and cast my words behind thee Psal 50.16 This is that which God complaines of in Hosea 10.4 They have spoken words swearing falsly in taking a Covenant So Malachy does sharply reprove the Priests for prophaning of the Covenant Malachy 8.10 4. That we be very tender of pressing any disputable sense upon any branch of the Covenant especially when many godly people in covenant with us though in some things differing from us are subject to be offended at us it being contrary to the Apostles exhortation Rom. 14.10 15. 5. That all manner of offensive words and actions be forborne on all sides which tend much to the increasing dissatisfactions and jealousies among us and that in every thing wherein we differ there may be a Christian brotherly submitting to each other so far as possibly we ma●● without wilfull sin Being ready alwayes to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason yf the hope that is in you with meeknesse and fear 1 Pet. 3.15 6. Since we have declared the first and chief thing we had in our eye at the entering into this Covenant was the glory of God and the advancement of the kingdom of Jesus Christ p. 11. Let us consider God will not be glorified nor the kingdom of Iesus Christ advanced by our sinfull compliance with those men whom our own consciences must tell us we have fought against as the enemies of God and his Son Iesus Christ Not by our putting names of reproach and scorne upon our distering Brethren and thereby exasperate and inrage the spirits of wicked ignorant and lewd people against them God will not be glorified by our seven yeares in frequent preachings fistings prayers and sightings to the expence of much bloud in opposition to oppression tyrannie and persecution and at the end thereof to give the people of God as small hopes of ease or relief as Rehoboam did the people of Israel 2 Chron. 10.14 7. Let it be the care and eneavour of every man to strive for the best things to attain if possible the purest Reformation of Religion the total abollishing of superstition humane traditions and all manner of compulsing persecuting practises in all men and withall let us learne to acknowledge and be thankfull to God for the smallest mercy that we are gotten thus far out of Egypt though we be much short of Canaan It may be the will of God that we shall have our time in the Wildernesse as well as his people of old where we must be subject to the stinges of fiery serpents and to the furie of cruell beasts where we may have the triall in wants and distresses in straights and dangers and if so let us take heed we do not murmur against God that we do not prize the flesh-pots of Egypt before our Manna in the Wildernesse as theirs did Well may those whom God hath made Instruments in the Kingdome say as Moses sayd to the people Exod. 16.8 The Lord heareth your murmurings which you murmure against him And what are we Your murmurings are not against us but against the Lord. May 14th 1648. Imprimatur Gilb. Mabbot FINIS