Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	let_v	lord_n	see_v	4,698	5	3.6890	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A88695	The persecuted minister, in defence of the ministerie, the great ordinance of Jesus Christ. Setting forth the severall names of Apostles, prophets, &c. [brace] 1. That there is a ministerial office. 2. That the sacrament of baptisme by a lay-person is invalid. 3. That necessity is no plea. 4. That the long omission of the Lords Supper is unwarrantable. With many other things, plainly and methodically handled / by William Langley late of S. Maryes in the city of Lichfield, minister ...	Langley, William, b. 1609 or 10.	1656 (1656)	Wing L408; Thomason E860_4; ESTC R202682	143,990	208

acknowledgeth retain it and the reverend Fathers recite it Omnis qui irascitur fratri suo temerè Whosoever is angry with his Brother unadvisedly or rashly as Cain with Abel Ahab with Naboth Saul with David shall be in danger saith CHRIST of judgment he alludes as Bullinger and Beza upon the place to the proceedings of the Jewes in their Civil ●ourts by whom a small matter was heard and decided by the judgment of three men that of greater importance determined in a Councel of three and twenty Judges and the greatest of all by the sentence of threescore and eleven Now Christs intent is to shew that as amongst men so before God there are different degrees of punishment according to the different degrees of sin and maketh the malice of the heart aswell murther as that of the hand Whosoever is angry with his Brother c. Secondly he condemneth scornful gesturs Whosoever shall say to his brother Racha shall be in danger of the Councel some derive this word of the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in English as much as ragged Others from the Syrian Racha which is a terme of disgrace Hierome from rec signifying Idle head S. August and others make it an interjection or broken speech of an angry minde bewraying a malitious heart Others think that by it is signified something betwixt close and open railing as a fiery countenance such as was in Cain a jeering fleering look such as was in Ishmael bending of the browes shaking of the head gnashing of the teeth thrusting forth of the tongue and the like Thirdly Christ condemneth opprobrious words railing and reviling Whosoever shall say Thou fool shall be c. Bitter words are like the pricking of swords Prov. 12.18 And David complains of men whose tongues are as spears and their words as sharp arrows set on by the fire of hell saith S. James Jam. 3.6 and so are liable to hell fire The railer with his venemous tongue not onely poysons his neighbours name his box of pretious ointment but like a sharp rasor cuts his throat this is one prop and that a main one of Sathans kingdome A second is hypocrisie the Jewes vile and sinfull yet could boast of their Father Abraham Joh. 8.53 This conceit John the Baptist would have beaten down Mat. 3. Think not to say c. The varnish of their hypocrisie did delude them so that they grew in love with themselves and undervalued all others This is another great prop of Sathans kingdome A third is Sophistry fraud and cunning Most men strive how to supplant and overthrow one another to undermine the walls of innocency plain dealing is dead and which is to be lamented it died without issue Once Orbis ingemuit factum se videre Arianum The world groaned seeing it selfe made an Arian It may now groane Factum se videns Machiavellum Seeing it selfe made a Machiavell this is that false key that opens the doore of the wrath and vengeance of God maketh the Church of God so thin of Saints and the World so full of Dissemblers A fourth prop is Cruelty what the Fox cannot doe the Lyon must when railing fails and patience is a conquerour then Sathan works in his instrumens by violence John 8.59 They took up stones to cast at him These four are not the weapons of a Christians warfare the properties of a true disciple parts of Gods building but the props of Sathans kingdome They fearfully sinne against God that either despise the Messengers of God or his message Preachers or preaching his servants or his service and yet a thousand offend of mean ones of great ones even in this particular Oh how contemptible vile and base are the Ministers of God in the eyes of many They may justly complain with the Prophet Zachary that they are wondred at Zach. 3.8 And with the Apostle That they are made a spectacle unto the world and Angels and to men and made as the filth and off-scouring of all things unto this day 1 Cor. 4.9 13. They are Christs servants in a speciall manner his Ambassadours Stewards workers together with him such as he parles with all and makes his fellow-Commoners as David said to Sauls men 1 Sam. 18.23 Seemeth it unto you to be a light thing to be the Kings Son-in-law So may I say Seemeth it a small matter to be servants in ordinary to the King of kings Receive them in the Lord with all gladnesse and hold such in reputation Phil. 2.29 We beseech you Brethren to know them which labour c. 1 Thess 5.12 13. God will revenge their wrongs their persecution shall light on the persecutors pates Thou shalt smite saith one of the Children of the Prophets unto Jehu the house of Ahab thy Master that I may avenge the blood of my servants the Prophets and the blood of all the servants of the Lord of the hand of Jesabel 2 Kings 9.7 Many great discouragements attend the Ministery We may spend our lungs preach out our hearts before we can pierce mens hearts or be instrumental to convert their souls If the Lord close the heart we cannot by all our strength open it if people conceive not the things of God let them not blame the Ministers dulnesse but their own hardnesse dig at the root and there see the cause for the Lord hath set open the doors of mercy Gospel grace and glory onely mens hearts are shut up and untill the Lord unlock them we may aswell preach to these walls and move the stones as their cauterized and benumm'd consciences Now as stubbornnesse attends their Ministery so persecution their persons for they are sent forth as Lambs in the midst of Wolves not as Wolves amongst Wolves or Shepherds among Wolves or Sheep about Wolves but as harmlesse innocent Lambs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the midst of hurtfull and hungry Wolves Now from this persecuting none are free 1. Not Christ of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it may be said by way of Anagram 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tu es Ovis Thou art the Lamb So saith John the Baptist Take him typically and really he was slain he was oppressed he was afflicted he was brought as a Lamb c. Isa 53.7 The fleecers fleece him and then the Butchers kill him 2. Not the Church poor thing she hath many Enemies Lyons Psal 58. Break out the great teeth of the Lyons oh God Wilde Boares and Beasts Psal 80. The Boare out of the wood c. Bulls Psal 22. Many Bulls have compassed me strong Bulls of Basan have beset me round thus are the sheep Christs Church devoured It is observed Caetera animalia armavit Natura solum Agnum dimisit inermem Other living creatures Nature hath armed but the Lamb is sent into the world naked giving it neither offensive nor defensive weapons The Dog hath teeth to bite the Bear nayles to teare the Bull his horns to dash the Boare his tush the Lyon his paws and jaws to devoure To these

Christs Record that he is of God but he that heareth the Word to carp and snatch at it and persecute he Messenger is of the Devil It is a positive truth that no childe of God cometh into Gods presence to hear his Word but with Godly reverence due preparation and carefull attention It is an Argument of a hard and stubborn heart of a son of Belial to sleight the Word of God how weak and mean soever the Organ or instrument be I doe declare that they fearfully sinne against God that doe disesteem the preaching and message of the Servants of God and doe procure to themselves the wrath and anger of the Lord. They that hear not Moses and the Prophets that is the Law and Doctrine of Moses and the Prophets they will not believe though one arise from the dead Luke 16.31 It was S. Paul complaint of Alexander 2 Tim. 4.15 He greatly withstood our words not our person which had been a breach of charity but our preaching which was a direct offence against piety Much to be condemned are they that will not hear and so are carelesse that carp and snatch at what they hear and so are malitious or will have nothing but placentia smooth and pleasant things spoken to them so rip up the swelling of their hypocrisie make bare their wickednesse detect their ungodly proceedings and then they will flie in your faces with Away with such a man from the face of the earth The Devil stirres not till God rouze him as the wilde Bore sleeps till he be hunted Let darknesse cover mens impieties and their slumber is unmolested produce them to light and they cannot endure it The ulcerous side full of dead flesh feels not till you touch the quick Let Elijah tell Ahab of his Idolatries and John bloody Herod of his Lusts and then thou art mine enemy Many had rather goe to Hell fast asleep than to Heaven with their eyes open to be lulled in the cradle of security than awakened by the voice of God Thus you see that reverence and esteem to the Ministers of the Gospel consists First in carefull attention and diligent hearkning to their Doctrine Secondly it consists in the Reverend regard and estimation of their persons There is a Thief which entreth not by the door and cometh to destroy beware of such an one and there is a good Shepherd which entreth in at the door and careth for the sheep know such an one and account of him and have him in singular love for his works sake Why doth God style them Angels Stewards Ambassadours Why doth he parle with them enter them into commons make them his fellow-commoners one main Reason is that you should with the word have a reverend regard and estimation of them according to these Exhortations 1 Thes 5.12 And we beseech you brethren to know them c. And obey them that have the rule over you Heb. 13. ver 17. It is observed that the worst men of a Parish regard a Pastor the least one gives a Reason they are like Legs and Arms out of joynt and so cannot endure the touch of the Chirurgions hand whose chief care is to worke their cure He that is sick of a Lethargie desires to sleep though he die for it and he that is lulled asleep in sinne cannot away with the Watchman of God Nothing is a greater trouble to him that loveth sleep than to be kept awake It maketh the secure soule cry out against the Minister as those against Paul Acts 22.22 Away with such a fellow he troubleth the City Acts 16.20 when as they in their carnal security malice and envy are the Ahabs that trouble Israel None but the scum and refuse of people the most carnal-minded are the contemners of the Ministers of the Gospel for from a loathing of their persons there followeth a detestation of their doctrine the instrument of conversion and means of salvation and so in the end ruine and destruction It is a sad thing that many more affect take delight in variety of Teachers than in verity of Doctrine Brethren the meanest Preacher whom God hath sent you can shew you that which if you obediently follow shall effectually save you The Word is powerfull what Instrument soever bringeth it and Gods strength is made manifest in our weaknesse it is not we by our Learning and Eloquence but God by his Spirit that must work you to himself I have observed that this immoderate crying up of some to be Elijah's and Elisha's to have their spirits redoubled on them and the vilifying of others have been a great cause of those rents amongst us and Factions we may see thus kindled which while we live perhaps we shall not see extinguished I am of Paul and I of Apollos and I of Cephas were such cryes as bred in the Church of Corinth sad divisions and make the Apostle conclude them not Christians but carnal 1 Cor. 3.34 For ye c. This way and course is a direct opposition to that unity and unanimity that God would have in his Church for observing rather the diversity of Instructors than the unity of truth there ariseth in the end as many mindes as men as many Sects as Cities as many Gospels as Gossips for schismes heresies disorder and confusion are the effects of Christians unchristian divisions and therefore if ye would not be thought carnal cease from partiality and carry a loving affection and honourable esteem towards all the Servants Ambassadors of Christ As Saint Paul of Epaphroditus so I of them Receive them in the Lord with all gladnesse and hold such in reputation Phil. 2.29 Doe not discourage them either by contempt of their persons or doctrine I speak not this as to any one particular I neither stand or fall by the opinion of any When a Minister first steps into the Ministery he is to consider he is as a Lamb amongst Wolves S. John Baptist came neither eating nor drinking and yet the people said he had a Devil CHRIST came eating and drinking and they said he was a glutton and a wine bibber The Servant is not greater than his Master He must not saith S. Chrysostome in his 6. Hom de laudibus Pauli enter into this high and holy calling except he be willing to suffer a thousand deaths I thought good to let you know your duty in these times in which so much contempt and contumely is thrown upon the Ministers of the Gospel and this high and honourable calling is esteemed base and contemptible We may justly complain with the Prophet We are wearied with men Isa 7.13 With the other Prophet that We are wondred at Zach. 3.8 And with the Apostle that We are made a spectacle unto the world to Angels and to men 1 Cor. 4.9 And are as the filth of the world and off scouring of all things unto this day verse 13. This contempt and disobedience of Gods message and Messengers may be easily perceived by