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	soul_n	2,937	5	5.5712	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A00407	The scourge of securitie, or The expulsion and returne of the vncleane spirit. By William Est, minister and preacher of Gods word, at Bedford in Deuonshire	Est, William, 1546 or 7-1625.	1609 (1609)	STC 10537; ESTC S111377	36,719	111

hearts be hardened in sinne and so sinne growe into an habite but without delay cast of your olde sinnefull conuersation and be renued in the spirit of your mindes and betime put on the new man which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse Ephe. 4.23 O consider that in thy first estate thou didest fight against the flesh the world and the diuell but if thou still addest sinne vpon sinne thou prouokest besides these another enemie wicked custome which will wage hostile warre against thee drawe thee after it and will bring thee into that wretched estate that thou shalt not feele the malice of sinne but drinke in iniquitie like wine and so be the more hardly conuerted Let vs flie all occasions auoyde the societie of wicked men the lillie is hardly preserued vnhurte among those thornes And so in this a respect the last state of sinne is worse then the first 3 Thirdly the last state of sinne is worse then the first in respect of God because the farther the sinner departeth from God the oftner he returneth like the dogge to his owne vomite and as the Sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire ● Pet. 2.22 The more God departeth from him and giueth them vp to their harts lust to a reprobate minde vnto vile affections Rom. 1 vers 24.28 As the physition giueth ouer the sicke which through his intemperancie and disordered life falleth many times into a relapse of sickenes Wherefore the Lord complaineth against Babel Ier. 51. We would haue cured Babel but she could not be healed forsake her c. And euen as a trauailer the more he goeth on his way the farther he is from the place from whence hee came so the greater sinne and more often that a man committeth the farther is he still from God But marke heere the policie of Sathan when hee cannot drawe a man especially such as haue bin exercised in godlinesse at one pull from God he laboureth to effect this pedetentim paulatim by little and litle euen as feuers and other infirmities of the bodie are the forerunners of death so many infirmities of the soule goe before the committing of many sinnes in action Thou commest deuoutly daily to prayer by litle and litle thou growest more colde at last thou waxest keycolde and vtterly neglectest the dutie of prayer Thou repayrest zealously to neare the word preached hee it be euery day in the weeke at last thy zeale waxeth more colde then thou saist it is sufficient to heare a Sermon vpon the Sabboth day in the end thou sayest to what purpose is so much preaching and so by litle and litle sathan draweth thee to despise Preachers and contemne the word of God and by degrees bringeth thee to vtter destruction So our Mother Eue by litle and litle fell from God first she beheld the Tree in the midst of the Garden that it was a faire Tree and pleasant to the eie then she desired the fruite next she plucked it and did eate and so transgressed Gods commandement Gen. 3.6 So Caine from a litle enuie which at first might easily haue bin suppressed giuing place to the diuell his hatred so increased that it grewe at last to murther Take heede therefore principiis obsta resist betime lubricus est serpens antiquus whose first suggestions if they be not resisted totus in intima cordis dum non sentitur illabitur Isidor The diuell is a slipperie serpent whose head that is his first suggestions if they be not resisted he windeth in his whole bodie ere thou be aware And that he may the sooner withdrawe vs from God he laboureth first to corrupt and falsifie the election of our will which one calleth amoris affectionum bilancem the ballance of our loue and affections whereby it commeth to passe that in the estimate of our loue we so litle esteeme God and the heauenly good things that in our election we preferre the creature before the creator and transitorie things before the heauenly So the Iewes Christ and Barrabas being put in this deceitfull ballance in their choise Barrabas waighed downe Christ Math. 27. Because they more esteemed Barrabas then Christ Thou wilt say that the Iewes deserued eternall torments for that they so vniustly did ponderate the different worthynes of these 2. But if one should demaunde of thee whether thou louest Christ or Barrabas no doubt thou wouldest say Christ but if thou makest choise of one worse then Barrabas what wilt thou say what if thou more esteemest sinne then Christ thou takest from thy neighbour his substance thou betrayest thy soule vnto the diuell thou wilt sweare and forsweare to increase thy wealth and for the gaining of one groate thou forsakest Christ dost thou not now more esteeme thy gaine then God Dost thou not loue sinne and the diuell more then Christ and seeing the diuell is worse then Barrabas and thou louest the diuel more then Christ it necessarily followeth that thou art worse then the Iewes And what is the cause hereof but the ballance of loue or hatred which is placed in thy will which sathan adulterateth and falsifieth in the estimate of this loue and inclineth it to the worst And so as the sinner through the malice of his will turneth away from God so God turneth his face from him which is the greatest of all euils And euen as the farther one goeth from the Sunne the longer is his shadowe for in the euening the Sunne declining euerie thing hath the greater shadowe so the farther a man departeth from God the greater shadowes of worldly vanities followe him for what are all earthly things which so greedily we desire but shadowes as the wicked themselues but too late shall confesse Wisd 5. All those things are passed away as a shadow And the farther we plunge our selues in the loue of the world the farther stil we are from God and therefore the more difficill our conuersion And euen as the Sunne the farther it departeth from any Countrie the more colde and barraine it maketh it contrariwise the nearer the Sunne directeth his course to any region the more warme and fruitfull it is and the sooner it bringeth forth fruite so the nearer our Lord Iesus Christ the Sonne of righteousnesse is vnto vs and with his presence and ho●e beames of his grace holy spirit collustrateth our soules the sooner and more aboundantly we fructifie be conuerted bring forth the fruits of pietie to the ioyfull and blessed haruest of eternall life But when Christ the true Sonne of righteousnesse departeth hee leaueth the soule desolate barraine vnfruitfull and openeth the gate vnto all vices And therefore the Lord saith by his Prophet Hose 9 1● Woe be vnto them when I depart from them For as the spirit of God dwelling in our hearts maketh the way of vertue easie and pleasant so the absence of Gods spirit when through sinne we greeue the spirite of God maketh the way of repentance difficill and vnpleasant And so in this respect the last state of the sinner is worse then the first Wherefore brethren I beseech and exhort you in the bowels of mercie of our Lord Iesus Christ that yee would euer remember this wholsome caueat of our Sauiour Io. 5.14 Sinne no more least a worse thing happen unto thee Take we heede of often back lyding Remember Lots wife Luc. 17. Gen. 19.26 For if we after we haue escaped from the filthinesse of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and of our Sauiour Iesus Christ are yet intangled againe therin ouercome our later end wil be worse then the beginning 2. Pet. 2.20 Let vs take the present opportunitie of repentance let vs not thinke to find it more easie heereafter when all the causes of difficultie are increased by adding sinne vpon sinne When an euill custome hath taken a deepe habite in our hearts when sinne by continuance bringeth a plea of prescription when the diuell hath more strongly fortified his Castle which is our soule when God which is our light is departed farther from vs when the powers of our soules become more weake by receiuing of many wounds and more insufficient goodnesse To conclude againe I exhort you brethren that taking pittie vpon your selues whiles yet this life lasteth whiles yet there is time for mercie while the the Iudge himselfe calleth you to repentance louingly expecteth you offereth his grace reacheth out his hand to receiue you before the gate of heauen be shut against you that yee would in time prouide for your selues that walking the way of repentance the hand of the Lord guiding directing you yee may come after this earthly Pilgrimage into the blessed Chanaan of eternall felicitie where shall be eternall health and healthfull eternitie where our ioy shall neuer decrease nor loue euer waxe colde euen that blessednesse which the eye hath not seene the care hath not heard neither hath entred into the heart of man which God hath prepared for them that loue him 1. Cor. 2.9 To whome with the Sonne and the holy Ghost 3. persons in one most glorious Trinitie one God in Vnitie might maiestie be all honour praise power and dominion now and for euer more Amen FINIS

that thou shalt haue litle pleasure to stay with me So whē God seeth that we more esteeme the dung husks and trash of this world then we doe him he forsaketh his dwelling and departeth being so iniuriously vsed To vse this familiar example If thou being maried to a beautifull honest and louing wife descended of honourable parentage shouldest fixe thy loue vpon a fowle deformed and filthy Neger place her by thee at the higher end of the table compell thy wife to serue her as a vile handmaide may she not iustly complaine of thee and willingly forsake thy companie In like manner when we esteeme more our owne lusts and appetites preferre them before the loue of God following whoredome enuie malice blasphemies oppression c. Should God take any delight to dwell in our hearts and when God departeth from vs it is the most greeuous and incomparable euill that possible may happen vnto vs and greatest lost that may be imagined For as we see many to insult vpon the Widowes and fatherlesse because for the most part they are destitute of friends to succour and defend their cause and therefore exposed to all iniurie and oppression so the soule that is destitute of Gods aide and protection lyeth naked and open to the malice and fury of the vncleane spirit This Dauids enemies well knew when they sayd Psa 71. God hath forsaken him let vs persecat● and take him for there is none to deliuer him And therefore this princely Prophet wisely prayed Psal 51. Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy spirit from me For euen as when the court remoueth all the attendants and courteors departe also so when God departeth from the soule all blessings goodnesse and graces goe away with him O consider this yee that forget God and with a feeling heart consider now whether there be any thing so vnprofitable to man as is sinne which depriueth him of the fountaine of all goodnesse and ouerwhelmeth him with such a deluge of cuils O my brethren is it not to be wondred at that any reasonable creature knowing this as reason it selfe teacheth vs should be so easily drawne by the enemie of mankind to commit and that without any remorse of conscience all wickednes and vncleanesse O then let vs take heede and be carefully carefull how we fall from God for if we depart from the mildnesse of his mercie we must of necessitie fall into the rigor of his iustice Euen as a trauailer the farther he goeth from the East the nearer hee approacheth to the West and the farther hee goeth from the South the nearer he commeth to the North so the sinner the farther he departeth from Gods mercy the sooner hee falleth into the hands of Gods iustice 2 Sinne is also opposite to honestie and therefore a vile vnhonest and shamefull euill For it alwayes brandeth the sinner with a note of infamie which is the cause that the wicked doer hideth himselfe and would be seene of none for he knoweth if his euill deeds be espied he hath lost his honest reputation and credite among good men and with shame and ignomine is pointed at of all men Qui malè agit edit lucem he that euill doth hateth the light Io. 3. vers 20. 3 It is opposed bono delectabil● to the pleasant and delightsome good and therefore it is an euill full of sadnesse greefe and vexation of minde and bringeth not only eternall death but also maketh this present life bitter and vnpleasant for God will not suffer sinne to escape his vengeance it hath euer Gods reuenging hand following it Knowe therefore and behold that it is an euill and a bitter thing that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God Iere. 2. vers 19. I will not heere speake of the eternall punishmēt which shall tormēt the wicked but of the horror secret stripes wherewith their conscience in this life tormenteth them Sinne hath euer an euill end and leaueth behind it certaine stinges and prickes which are stil whipping wicked men and drawing them to desperation It is like poysonedwine the force whereof is found in the end Sinne is like a strong wine which inebriateth a man and bereaueth him of his sences so that he may be compared vnto a brute beast Psa 40.12 It layeth before the eyes a false colour and shewe of pleasure as honour riches worldly delight c. But when sinne is accomplished it leaueth a kind of bitternesse which will not suffer the heart to bee at rest and the repining conscience is inwardly gnawing biting And euen as Iob. 1. in the midst of his calamities neuer wanted a messenger which brought him euill newes so his Alastor is neuer wanting to the wicked after the accomplishment of sinne which layeth before his eyes the good he hath lost when he offendeth God and the wretched estate into which he is fallen and euill conscience is an odious companion a turbulent tempest a scourge which inwardly whippeth the wicked and counterpoyzeth their pleasures with bitter Aloes and still casteth Colloquintida into their sauces and scarse is the garlicke of Aegypt tasted but it bringeth teares from the eyes So that this of Eliphas is true Iob. 25. ●2 The wicked man is continually as one that trauaileth with child a sound of feare in his eares c. O the greeuous and intollerable yoake of sathan O the slauish condition of the seruants of sinne with how great labour doe the wicked seeke the things they desire with what feare doe they possesse them with what sorrowe doe they lose them as they that worship the beast shall haue no rest day nor night Apo. 14. No more shall they which adore their beastly appetites Sinne it selfe is a greeuous torment and punishment of the sinner as the light of nature tolde Seneca when he saide sceleris in scelere supplicium est The punishment of sinne is in sinne All things to a wicked man are seasoned with gall wormewood if they be in prosperitie they are vexed with continuall feare of loosing their felicitie if they be in aduersitie in what care and sorrowe doe they liue which neuer suffereth them to be at rest O the vnhappie and wretched life that is a seruant of sinne and a slaue to his owne lusts But marke nowe the importunitie of sinne If a wicked man be litle iniured of any see how mad and discontented in minde he getteth him home he abstaineth from meate and drinke he cannot sleepe nor take rest hee armeth himselfe and seeketh to reuenge him How much more pleasure ioy and tranquillitie of minde doe the seruants of God inioy which hauing receaued many iniuries are not moued to wrath they breake not their sleepe they are ioyfull they seeke not reuenge they giue place vnto wrath they commit their cause into Gods hands who hath saide Vengeance is mine and I will repay Rom. 12. For as the diuell and the world miserably afflicteth their followers in this life so Christ