Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	lord_n	love_n	love_v	2,989	5	6.7075	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A60339	True treasure: or, Thirtie holy vowes. Containing the brief sum of all that concernes the Christian centurians conscionable walking with God first. Solemnly made, since often renewed, and again seriously reviewed; with some particulars added: the more to encrease and confirme his Christian resolutions. All in the onely strength of the Almighty. By Phillip Skippon, Sergeant Maior generall, &c. The most unworthy souldier of Christ Jesus.	Skippon, Philip, d. 1660.	1644 (1644)	Wing S3953; ESTC R214777	36,411	165

most heavy burthen that even over presseth him avoiding as before in this further increasing of them that he may by Gods good providence to deminish and get out of them to use all possible lawfull meanes to discharge them to beg of his God often and earnestly that he will please to free him of them to betake himselfe to such promises as in this case may most support and assure succour unto him to take the best course he can out of conscience to God whatsoever his may seem to suffer hereby that all may be fully paid that shall be found justly due at his decease and then not to trouble himself too much about them but to rest fully perswaded that the Lord as he sees good can and wil as he hath declared easily speedily amply and remarkably helpe him out of them The eighth maine part concerning Death The thirtieth Vow or the last of all and onely Vow of this maine part To prepare himselfe conscionably carefully constantly for the day of his death In this manner AMong many other these four main points offer themselves to his consideration chiefly Viz. 1 How to demeane himself in life and health 2 In time of sicknesse and at the point of death 3 Some sound reasons moving to this course 4 The great benefit following thereupon In life and health By Gods great goodnesse and grace to set himselfe about these two things especially viz. 1 To make his peace with God 2 To put his outward estate in good order For the first of these To pray to endeavour daily and seriously to search out acknowledge bewaile abhor protest against resolve to forsake fly the occasions of to beg pardon for strength to resist and overcome every knowne sinne whatsoever his especiall ones in especiall manner those principally that his wofull experience hath told him doth or may tell him have broken doe will or may most violate his sweet peace with his sweet God most trouble his mind terrifie his conscience makes him most fear Gods displeasure for the present and would most affright his soul if he were ready to dye and had not assurance they were pardoned so not daring for any respect to persist in any knowne evill impenitently but seeking of walking with his God in all things revealed to and so required of him sincerely and watchfully cleaving to the Lord with full purpose of heart in all good conscience inseperably thus dying to sinne and living to grace daily the sting of death which is sin unrepented of may be plucked out throughly so shall death have no power to hurt me Further for this By faith feelingly and effectually to apply the pardon which his most mercifull Father hath freely promised and by his Covenant examples and according to the goodnesse of his owne nature infinitely assured in the blood of the Lord Jesus for all his sinnes though never so many and hainous that the Lord loves him in his most dearly Beloved with an undeserved infinite unchangeable love notwithstanding his unmeasurable unworthinesse extreame weaknesse and never so great impediments to looke for mercy and grace the cause of true peace from the Lord of life onely often and earnestly to pray to the Prince of Peace for that Peace that he hath graciously left with and plentifully promised to his to consider be affected with and imbrace what he hath found most to further or that he daily finds and conceives he shall find to be most furtherable to the procuring and keeping this sweet peace which passeth all understanding to prize this Peace before al the world without it in any measure injoying it to be affectionately thankfull for it to be most fearfull of loosing it if it be wanting or decayed never to be at peace till it be vouchsafed or restored nor to give the Lord rest till he grant it considering the great setling against all distempers it brings with it and what miserable disquiet yea that nothing in this world can give true content without it yea that the remembrance of death is sweetned and the cure of the feare of death is furthered by it for having peace with God through Jesus Christ neither sinne nor affliction nor death nor devill nor hell shall ever be able to harme us for our God who hath assured it in spite of all that all these can make against us will cause all to procure good unto us For putting his outward estate in order According to the meanes his good God in his good providence hath afforded or shall please to vouchsafe unto him to have especiall care without delay conscionably and wisely to order all so that those to whom he may be indebted at his decease may be honestly paid that none may have just cause to complaine against him or lose the least by him that it may appeare he hath dealt honestly with every one to his uttermost power to keep a true and exact account of all he owes continually to prevent future trouble disorder and mistakings And further As by Christianity and nature he is bound of what shall remaine others to whom he was indebted being paid to provide for his Family by appointing every one his portion as conscience and equity requires and he with good judgement sound deliberation throughly weighing the circumstances and his charge sees most fit and so far as is possible for preventing heart-burnings contentions and Law-suits among those of his he leaves after him and from others against them concerning both these poynts of debts paying and division among his own timely to make carefully and constantly to keep in readinesse his Will or some other writing according to the course of Law whereby may plainly appeare what course he would have followed in each particular and as occasion requires changing or confirming the same leaving the good successe of these his honest intendments and endeavours to the Lords good blessing and which he must often beseech the Lord in the future as need requires to make prosperous that none may be wronged that his may be relieved and all contentions prevented Thus while he is in life and health In time of sicknesse At the beginning and as it increases by the Lords assistance most seriously to search out what sinnes he can conceive to have procured the visitation or that any way troubles his conscience to renew the most humble acknowledgement of them to lament and crave renewed remission of them and assurance of pardon for them also more earnestly renewing his resolutions against them and vowes if God please to send recovery no more to fall into them to ply the promised duty of examination now especially to find out as neere as he can what sinnes are threatned with the punishment of sicknesse particularly and to take the same course to be rid of them that is here mentioned already having thus nenewed his repentance and faith and his peace with the Lord in Christ to review and settle his will or writing for ordering his

little and taking liberty sometimes he be so intangled that he cannot without great distaste be againe freed yea rather then faile at some times in some places and companies to vow against and abstaine from all wine strong beere hot-waters and the like altogether when where and among whom he feares or it is likely he may be provoked To lay to bea rt The basenesse and beastlinesse of this vice what fooles and mad-men drunkards are the sinfulnesse and punishment thereof how it layes us open to all apishnesse shame and scorn to all injuriousnesse villany and mischiefe how unfit it makes us to serve God to converse among men to discharge our calling so that no body respects or cares to imploy dare or will trust such an one yea how those that are otherwise wicked men and their owne companions in their hearts contemne scornfully speak of deride laugh at and shamefully abuse such Especially let Professors Consider seriously and conscionably how foule a blemish this vice is and how much shame scorn and injury it hath procured and will procure unto them his owne sinfull forrowfull and shamefull experience makes him speak it for it hath been cast in his teeth and he hath justly deserved it he prayes and hopes to be the better for it and resolves by Gods good grace never more to fall into it but carefully to eschew all occasions of it solemnly protesting as farre as is possible never to come in company with those who out of malice nor conscience have spoken of it or so to abridge his lawfull liberty and to carry himselfe so circumspectly and soberly that their malicious mouthes may be stopped former scandals remored and furture prevented nerer forgetting what horrible dejections of spirit terrours of conscience and distempers of body he hath found upon it therefore daily to pray and watch against it The seventeenth Vow and third of this maine part To watch against all filthinesse in all places That is NOt to invent give way to or cherish any vile conceits contemplative wickednesse or remembring any forepast uncleannesse with contentment to resist strive and pray against the first motions thereof not to utter any impure but onely chast speeches not to suffer his eyes to seek out to look at or wander after any lustfull or unclean object but to make a covenant with his eyes and to turne them from such objects nay not to behold lawfull objects of delight to stirre up lust to abhorre not at all to listen to but to forbid or else to goe away from all ribald talk songs or books detesting all such gestures and pictures taking heed of all immodest behaviour secretly or with others avoyding companying with any woman privately though at first intending no harme especially with such whose too free and loose behaviour might provoke or whose ill repute would ofter the more freedome not yeelding to the very least daliance not playing with the flame least he burne avoyding all occasions abhorring the act of all self-pollution though in never such darknesse and closely and all other abominations not fit to be named and most horrible to be committed And further Seriously considering his former offches to be deeply humbled his evill inclination to be constantly watchfull his great weaknesse to feare alwayes to remember Josephs speech and example for imitation the threatnings against and judgments upon uncleannesle to be terrefied therefrom or else to looke for the like to lay to heart whatsoever hath occasioned or may occasion any impurity in himselfe or others or that hath brought him the neerest to fall therein to run from the like hereafter to bear down his body and to break off sloth to eschew idlenesse solitarinesse and intemperance to learne well that Heathen lesson sure cerere bacho friget venus to pray often and earnestly that the Lord as he wils will please to work his sanctification that he may possesse his vessell in all holinesse and honour and that continually The eighteenth Vow and fourth of this maine part To take heed of breaking out into pashon upon any occasion Especially UPon evill suspicions without warrantable cause upon bare relations of others before hearing the cause upon taking things in the worst part wresling others words or mis-interpreting their meaning or upon rash judging or old grudge or out of an irreconcileable disposition or being crossed in his hopes or proceedings contemned in his person slandered in his good name wronged in his right ill spoken of behind his backe villified without cause or any way injured justly or unjustly if justly to be silent and doe no more so if unjustly to take heed he deserve it not and to consider Gods dearest Children and Christ himselfe were served so therefore to examine the cause seriously to weigh all circumstances warily to be informed throughly to take all in the best part to judge as he would be judged to heare the party fully if he deny it to be easily satisfied if he maintaine it having truely and soberly informed him to be silent and setled and to turne from him till his distemper and his owne heat of blood be over then to discourse againe deliberately rather to suffer as may stand with Christian decency then to enter into contention Gods Word his own and common experience tels him it is much better to cease from strife in the beginning then after the matter is divulged the one procures peace love and credit the other trouble hate and shame yea so to labour for a meek and sustering loving and forgiving disposition and to abhorre watch against and break off the contrary that whereas he hath been noted for hastinesse chollar and passion to force them by Gods grace and government to say see how remarkably is the man changed what a conquest hath he gained yet if there be cause to cleere himselfe as if the wrong may tend to the scandall of his Christian profession disabling him for his calling or blemishing his honest reputation to declare himselfe boldly and wisely and to assure them that wrong him conscience not cowardlinesse the feare of God not of their faces restrains him from taking the roughest course to right himselfe and in his calling in the greatest danger to call upon them to behold and testifie the truth thereof he is no coward that will not but he that dares not fight he that is truly valiant when there is just cause will shew it feare the Lord and nothing else by mild carriage and soft speeches prevent and cut off wrath strife and vexation de part from palsion and discord for an hasty and contentious man never wants woe and anger is a short madnesse procuring to body and mind most strange distempers The nineteenth Vow and fifth of this maine part To set himselfe against all misgovernment of the tongue without ceasing That is TO the uttermost to watch against to avoyd to breake off all ignorant speaking of things he understand not all foolith unadvised rash supershous unseasonable

utterly lost that the Lord hath freely chosen him to be one of his who was and is worse then the worst that he hath created him so excellent a Creature and not a most loathsome d●formed wretch or monster that he was borne and hath been brought up in times and places when and where the Gospell flourisheth that the Lord hath estectually called him by his Word and Spirit that he may so freely plentifully peaceably enjoy the opportunities and meanes of every part of Gods worship that the Lord hath pleased to give him any measure of saving knowledge true faith sincere obedience lively hope sound repentance sollid comfort by Gods blessing on the use of the meanes that the Lord grants him to enjoy his most holy and faithfull Word the onely guide and stay of his soule that God hath caused him to escape so many and otherwise inevitable calamities that he hath heard and knowne to fall most heavily upon others that the Lord hath pleased so often and remarkably been his strength in trouble and great deliverer out of greatest extremities that his God hath so seasonably wonderfully and constantly protected and provided for him whereas else he had perished utterly Not forgetting How the Lord hath pleased to make us that were meere heathens his owne people and what great preservations victories and deliverances and blessings the Lord hath pleased to vouchsafe from time to time to his Church and Children especially in England and the Netherlands c. How graciously it hath pleased our God to shew mercy to give grace unto to keep in health to restore to health to relieve preserve deliver to ease strengthen and recover his poore Wife and Children as every occasion required and every way to watch over him and his for good and how the Lord hath most freely plainly plentifully and infallibly assured him those most neere and deare unto him and all his all that is good for us here and all happinesse with himselfe in Heaven for evermore see in his records of Gods especiall mercies All these and the like To be laid to heart with more large meditations on each with all intire affection in the sense of the Lords unutterable goodnesse towards us and with all deep humiliation in the sense of our unworthinesse of them and with all Christian confidence in the assurance of his promised favoures so to give his God the glory due unto his great name in heavenly contemplations holy acknowledgement and sincere obedience The seventh maine part concerning his outward condition The five and twentieth Vow and the first of this maine part To labour after a sanctified use of his outward condition whatsoever the same is or may be After this manner HIS present outward condition being exceedingly distressed decaying daily and in outward appearance threatning uttermost extremity as also in any other outward calamity th●● may befall him to weigh the same with all its circumstances throughly not to despaire or dispure to murmure or be impatient or to be over perplexed or to limit the Lord about it but to be moved the more camestly and frequently to seek that wisdome and strength from God aright to beare it that he hath promised and a seasonable deliverance our of it Further Seriously to call to mind confesse bewaise with resolution to forsake those particular sinnes which his conscience tels him have brought this heavy affliction upon him to beg pardon for and reformation of them and that they may not hinder Gods helping of him or the Lords vouchsafeing a sanctified use of the visitation to him to consider wisely what outward occasions procured the affliction unto him not to blame the ●ame but his owne folly sinne and weaknesse chiefly to rayse his thoughts to him that sent it yea that the Lord pleased so to have it who assuredly though flesh and blood cannot digest it intends and will worke spite all oppositions and impossibilities his reall good by it that he daily in all humility with fervency and confidence commends his condition to the Lords most mighty wise mercifull and faithfull disposing wholly who knows the same and all circumstances therof fully by often fasting and prayer as by Gods grace he hath done to beseech his God according to his owne good pleasure to have regard unto it graciously especially to pray the Lord to discover to him the inward causes of it that he may aright know his hand in it and kisse the rod that scourgeth him and in all good conscience with a contented mind to await for such an issue as his good God shall please to give but of it to use onely the lawfull meanes and as farre as he conceives all lawfull meanes in lawfull manner to be relieved so to commend the rest to him that can doe with him what he will and will do what in wisdome love and faithfulnesse he sees best for us in the end and nothing shall let it because his mouth hath spoken it who if he think fit to deny in this or that particular what we conceive wee so much want and doe so earnestly crave will undoubtedly helpe some other way abundantly Far his further assurance of all these Well to weigh how the Lord hath formerly oftentimes and most remarkably helped in greatest extremity when them was as small hope and possibility Consider also what the Lord in such cases hath promised in fallibly and that he hath innumerable wayes to help continually yea when all seem past remedy that he can as easily deliver out of the most and greatest miseries as if they were never so few and small and as well out of this as our of any other that he is our beavenly Father in Christ whom he hath given to save us with whom he hath given and assured us whatsoever he sees best for us Therefore In wel-doing to trust God most in greatest extremity and by Gods especiall grace to hold fast his integrity whatsoever he suffer thereby resting fully perswaded though Heaven and earth should meet together yet that the Lord who hath so expresly promised it cannot will not faile forsake or forget us Lord my God My soule seeketh all help only from thee I know no helpe without thee I pray alone unto thee I depend onely upon thee I await alwayes for thee I submit wholly to thee surely thou that art to come wilt come and not tarry Not forgetting How graciously the Lord yet sustaineth me and that I am not over-charged utterly and that my punishment herein is so infinitely lesse then mine iniquity and that so many millions more worthy then I am suffer greater misery and what an especiall favour the Lord does me that I can all seek to and trust in him in my necessity Lord doe but hereby bring me home unto thee and further my salvation eternally and it is enough for me deale as thou pleasest with me see in his prayer to this purpofe in his daily devotions and in his sure stay in greatest