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	people_n	word_n	2,775	5	4.0281	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96520	Miranda, stupenda. Or, The wonderfull and astonishing mercies which the Lord hath wrought for England, in subduing and captivating the pride, power and policy of his enemies. Presented in a sermon preached July 21. 1646. before the honorable House of Commons in Margarets Church Westm. being the day appointed for thanksgiving for the surrender of Oxford. / By Henry Wilkinson, B.D. pastor of Dunstans in the East, London, and one of the Assembly of Divines.	Wilkinson, Henry, 1610-1675.	1646 (1646)	Wing W2224; Thomason E345_7; ESTC R200988	36,334	48

120. yeers before Christ Which prodigious star then appearing did by the consent of the learned foreshew the declining of the Greek Monarchy and the rise and strength of the Roman Empire hath taken notice of many signes in the heavens and earth before the destruction of Jerusalem one of the most famous alterations in the Heavens which hath had its most remarkable influences below was in the yeer 1572. when there appeared a strange light exceeding in the apparent brightnesse thereof all the fixed stars and shewing forth a bright and majesticall lustre not in the night onely but at noon day also It was the wonder of the world and the work and businesse of all the Astronomers of Europe but Ticho Brahe a Noble man of Denmark treateth of this starre in above 500. pages of his book called by the name of Astronomica Progymnasmata In which book he speakes of the influences of this star and the overthtow of States and Kingdoms and reparation and glory of the Church I make mention of these onely to shew how the Lord doth great things even overthrowing or changing and altering the frame and course of nature As for the operations or portending signification of superiour lights I think it cannot be denied but that extraordinary wonders visible in the heavens may have their significations and impressions also nor may it be altogether incongruous literally to interpret those words Joel 2. 30. I will shew wonders in the heavens and the earth partly of that flaming sword like the Comet d Egesip de excid urbis Hierasol l. 5. c. 44. Nam per annum fere supra templum ipsum Comites passim ignis gladii quandam praeferens similitudinem denunciabat quoque ferra igni gentis regni urbique ipsius vastitatem futuram quid enim similitudo gladii nisi bellum quid ignis nisi incendium denunciaret The third thing propounded is concerning the season and time when it shall be said What God wrought that appeared as a forewarner of the destruction of Jerusalem The third thing propounded was when it shall be said What hath God wrought for the time When creature helps faile first in point of prudence they know not how to advise secondly in point of power they know not how to deliver or save Deut. 32. 35 36. thirdly in occasionall emergent difficulties such as could neither be foreseen nor prevented fourthly in great extremities and streights when enemies are very high and the Saints are very low when heaven and earth and hell seem to joyne issue when God himselfe seemes to take part against the Church then she is in the greatest extremity ahd when she is in this case then doth God arise and help her Indeed Gods season is when it seems to be past season his time is when it is past time Isa 33. when the people of God are in a forlorne condition given up for lost then God ver 10. sayes Now will I arise now will I he exalted now will I lift up my selfe Now now now he repeats it three times with variety of language there is something more then ordinary in that expression so trebled as it is to encourage their sinking souls who thought God would not or could not or had altogether laid aside the thoughts and care of helping them when the wound is past cure then he undertakes the cure Jer. 30. 12 13. there it is said Thy wound is incurable and ver 17. It is said I will cure thee When all passages are blockt up when there is a close siege of difficulties and impossibilities when dangers are inextricable and the matter past recovery then is Gods time when the ship is full of waves Mat. 8. 24. when Lazarus was dead and buried John 11. 21 32 39. when the woman had spent all she had upon Physitians and there was as little hope as mony left Luke 8. 43. then is the Lords time to work and fetch out of the fire as it were Zech. 3. 2. and from the dead Revol 11. 11. and from the ruines and destruction of death Ezek. 37. 7 10 11. The fourth thing propounded was why doth God thus The fourth Particular propounded was concerning the reason why doth God thus appeare in such a wonderfull manner for his people The first reason respects Gods glory appeare for his people first to magnifie his owne glory more the first end respects Gods glory there be three things in the wonderfull proceedings of God that magnifie him very much First there is a mystery in the proceedings of God mysteries affect with wonder and admiration and the Lord doth carry on his work in a very mysterious way and in a hidden manner Isa 45. 15. it is said Thou art a God which hidest thy selfe spoken with reference to the great things which he would doe for his people so also Hab. 3. 4. He had hornes came out of his hand and there was the hiding of his power there be many intricacies of providence Ezek. 1. 16. and perplexed and involved difficulties so Zech. 1. 8. the Lord Christ is in that vision presented in a Wood and in a bottome not easily discerned when he comes to work for his people mysteries doe affect with wonder more and they magnifie the Lord more Secondly there is a majesty in these wonders and this doth cause men to admire also to magnifie the Lord he seems to goe in state as it were when he will doe great things for his people Deut. 33. 26. The Lord rideth on the heavens for thy help and his excellency on the skie so Hab. 3. 8 9. the Lord appeares in his Majesty there and ver 10 11 the Sun and other creatures seem to be trembling and wondring and Nahum 1. 3 4. the Lord is brought in in a glorious manner and then ver 5. The mountaines quake c. this also doth magnifie the Lord and shew forth his glory Thirdly there is a peculiar excellency in Gods great workes which doth affect the heart with wonder the excellency of his wisdome shewes it selfe in infatuating and blasting the councels of the wise and of his power that shines in breaking their strength in which the wicked are so confident the excellency of his justice that appeares in the execution of the wicked and vindication of his peoples cause the excellency of his faithfulnesse and truth breaks out in making good his Word and fulfilling his promises This is the first reason why God doth work wonders for his in which there is a mystery a majesty and a peculiar excellency appeares A second thing respects the enemies of Gods people first The second reason respects the enemies of the Saints two wayes 1. That the confusion of the enemies might be the more notable that so the greater confusion and shame may come on the enemies of the Saints for God to deliver his Saints from many and mighty and malicious enemies is a wonder especially when it is with great

came out of the Whales belly How did Peter deny his Master with an oath that had the honour besides other favours to see him transfigured in the mount We are in danger first a It is reported of Philip King of Macedon that he appointed a Lad to come to him every morning before any other and say to him three times Philipe homo●es least upon the successe of his victories over the Athenians he might forget himselfe Aelian variar Histo. l. 8. c. 15 that of Tacitus is sure acrius explorant animum resprosperae quam adversae Terrul in Apologet. Arrian l. 3. of pride of being lifted up above our selves It was the sin of Vzziah 2 Chron. 26. 16. when he waxed strong his heart was lifted up secondly we be in danger of forgetfulnesse Dent. 8. 16. thirdly b They that write of the ruine of Kingdoms Common-wealths do give this as on caus that a chief one to wit prosperity Althus Polit. l. 23. c. 7. Val. max. l. 7. c. 2. Alex. ab Alex. l. 3. c. 20. lips lib. 6. and the Scripture is frequent and full in this particular we are in danger of luxury and riot we quickly surfet and wax wanton with mercies fourthly of carelesnesse you need not advise one that is poore or ready to be staryed to look out for provision such will be too carefull but you had need advise them that are rich and full least they grow negligent and supine and carelesse in their duty to God and laying out what they have for his glory fiftly we are in danger of relapses after recovery out of great dangers and diseases c. if there be not great care we fall into the old trade and way againe daily experience testifies this truth sixtly we are in danger of great judgements Ezra 9. 13 14. in all these respects we have a much more slippery standing then we had before A Paradise is a much more dangerous place for us to be in then a Wildernesse But what must we beware of chiefly First that we doe not forget our low estate before God wrought these wonders for us For this consideration doth much advance Gods wonders by how much the lower our state condition was when he began to work for us by so much the greater is the mercy and therefore God will not have us forget our low estate The Lord doth very often make mention of the deliverance he wrought for Israel and he makes expresse mention of Aegypt and the house of bondage he speaks of it first in giving of the Law Exod. 20. 1. secondly when he instituted the Sacrifices Levit. 22. 33. thirdly when he makes the promise of blessings to them Levit. 26. 13. fourthly in reckoning up his great works he had done for them Deut. 4. 32 33 34. and when he speaks of the favours he would bestow Deut. 6. 10 11 12. fiftly he reckons it as a great signe of his love Deut. 7. 8. sixtly when he disswades them from ingratitude Deut. 8. 14. seventhly when he instituted the paschall Lamb Deut. 16. 6. eightly when the Angel reproved the people Judges 2. 1. ninthly when he purposed to give them victory over the Midianites Judges 6. 8 9 10 c. tenthly when they were about to set up a King 1 Sam. 10. 18. how frequent is the Lord in making mention of Aegypt upon every occasion surely to put them in mind of their low estate Revel 2. 5. the Church of Ephesus is bid to remember from whence she was fallen and surely we must not forget from whence we are risen Jer. 2. 6 7. that it may with greater wonder be said What hath God wrought for us that were so low for God himselfe takes occasion to amplifie his favours upon this consideration Ezek. 16. 3 4 5. so David reckons it among the miracles of mercies that God remembred them in their low estate Psal 136. 23. we must not forget who they were that owned us and the cause we undertook in our low estate It was confessed that our Brethren of Scotland did such service for us that they deserved much at our hands as much at least as a In his Sermon intituled New Englands sence of old England and Irelands sorrowes Master Hooke in his Sermon gives them when he stiles them that honourable Nation that united in a Covenant against the Prelats we may have cause enough to think on them as Master Cotton doth in his Sermons on the Vials where he apprehends that God made use of them to poure out his Viall upon the seat of the Beast and his Kingdome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he thinks that the word there cleerly pointed out the b Vide 5. Vial Scots Of whom he sayes Nor doe I know that any of the former Vyals have been poured out by any men whose loynes have been more girt about with truth and whose cloathing hath been more pure and white then these servants of God have been girt with and cloathed withall II. We must beware we doe not forget the speciall providences of God which goe along with his great mercies for these doe put a very great price upon the favours you receive God sends you a Cabinet in such a mercy you must open it and you shall find many jewels in it he doth dismember a mercy that doth not take it in all its dimensions nor can God have the full praise of a compleat mercy when we our selves doe not see into all the parts of it we must therefore look at the mercy and First the season of the mercy in the Mount extremity was Gods opportunity when thy spirit would have failed if God had not then come Isa 57. 16. then to afford mercy when the full time to have mercy was come Psal 102. 11. is a blessed fit time or perhaps it was at such a season when we were praying and fasting or presently after God is pleased to time his mercies which he bestowes for it is said Isa 49. 8. In an acceptable time have I heard thee and David sayes Psal 69. 13. In an acceptable time have I prayed it is a blessed season for God to be giving when we are praying as it is Isa 65. 24. Whilst they are speaking I will heare How oft have our Thanksgiving dayes trod on the heels of our Fasting dayes how oft have Victories come flying on the wings of prayer so fast that they have taken us upon our knees Secondly we must not forget the many difficulties and intricacies through which our mercies have been conveyed to us we must look at the crosse perplexed passages of providence there hath been many a time in our great affaires an appearance as it were a wheels within a wheele Ezek. 1. 16. so that God manifested his mervailous loving kindnesse as David speaks Psal 57. 7. when he hath given a blessed issue in such cases Thirdly we must not forget this providence when God makes many meanes conspire for our

men before spoken of You have an University and a Kingdome to purge which lyes like the Augean Stable and it is a very vast businesse to doe it but as it is reported of Hercules being to cleanse the Augean Stable in which was kept three thousand Kine and it had not been cleansed for thirty yeers together but Hercules letting in the River Alpheus did that with ease which was thought impossible So you by letting in the waters of the Sanctuary spoke of Ezek. 47. 2. The River which refresheth the house of God shall purge it so shall it be said What have you wrought Fifthly the Lord hath protected you in a most strange and admirable manner so that it may be said What hath God wrought by way of gratitude be you a sword and a shield to the truth a shield and to errour and heresie a sword It was said of Fabius that he was Romanorum clypeus and of Marcellus that he was Romanorum ensis because it was the chiefe care of the first to safeguard his Souldiers from the danger of Annibal and of the other to destroy him Certainly it may be said of you as it was Deut. 33. 29. Happy art thou O Israel who is like unto thee O people saved by the Lord the shield of thy help and who is thesword of thy excellency and thine enemies shall be found lyars unto thee and thou shalt tread upon their high places Sixthly the Lord hath appeared eminently in executing judgement on your enemies we may say as it is Psal 9. 16. The Lord is knowne by the judgement which he executeth the wicked is snared in the work of his owne hand Higgajon Selah by way of gratitude doe justice execute right judgement There be many sad complaints of partiality and affection in Committees of retarding of causes of pleading for delinquents of oppressing of right it is vox populi which is sometime called vox Dei It was your honour to put downe those bloody Courts of the Star-chamber and High-commission and the arbitrary proceeding of the Councell-table and I hope it shall be your care that there be not a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a translation of the spirit of those Courts into the Parliament they did turne judgment into wormwood and leave off righteousnesse as it is Amos 5. 7. but I hope that judgement shall now run downe as waters and judgement as a mighty streame ver 24. God refuseth to have any thing to doe with his people till they came to doe justice Isa 1. 16 17. then sayes he Come let us reason together the Lord presseth it on them Ezek. 45. 9 10. Seventhly the Lord hath done great things for us in the surrender of OXFORD if all things be well considered it is a great mercy The strength of the place the provisions of all kinds within the resolution of the men to hold out a sullen siege the danger of demolishing an University famous as any in the world the danger of breaking our Army the advantages which hereby we have of being assistant to Ireland together with the advantages that you may have of promoting the reformation in that place above others all these put together make it a great mercy Now by way of gratitude make it your businesse and care now to purge and reforme that place above others Give me leave to propound some things to your consideration concerning that place with submission still to your wisdome herein I doe it the rather because I know there ought to be had a more then ordinary care of such places as that is for a Fountaine a Garden and a Nursery must in a speciall manner be lookt unto for it is a rule that quod initio est vitiosum tractu temporis non convalescet and it is a rule concerning Physick that an errour in the first concoction is not corrected in the second besides there ought to be a speciall care of what is put into new and fresh Vessels and what mold is to be laid on tender plants and young trees these things laid together make me the bolder to propound some things to your wisdome with reference to that place First if there be any such to be found there which by reason of necessity have been constrained to live in that place yet they have that mark on their fore-heads which is to cry a What Tacitus speaks of a Prince I doubt not but you will observe Non poena semper sed sapius poenitentia contentus esse Agric. Poenam igitur si tuto poterus donabis sin minus temperabis Sen. dc Clem. 1. for alll the abominations of it as it is Ezek. 9. 4. or if there be any that shall be found which now remember their doings and wayes wherein they have defiled themselves Ezek. 20. 43. if there be any such who whatsoever they have been heretofore episcopall c. yet if now they shall doe that heartily which the adversaries of the captivity did but pretend to doe Ezra 4. 1 2. help you to build and seek God as you doe if perhaps in all things they shall not come up to close with every particular with you yet they will be quiet will not oppose or hinder you I hope you will doe by these as Herekiah did by them that were not cleansed and did eat the Passeover otherwise then was written 2 Chron. 30. 18. he prayed for them the Lord pardon thē that prepare their heart to seek the Lord c. ver 19. and ver 22. he spake comfortably to the Levites c. Not that I would have a toleration of practice for any error but a tender usage and respect to such of whom we cannot say they will not but for want rather of a cleerer discovery have not doe not see what for the future perhaps they may assent unto It shall be your glory to recover and gaine such as these with love and the spirit of meekness rather then to cast them out b Peragit tranquilla potestas quod violenta nequit mandataque fortius urget Imperiosa quies Claud. Paneg. Adhibenda est moderatio quae sanabilia ingema distingucre a deploratis scia Sen de Clem. 1. Secondly if upon due search made and cognizance had you find that the Fountaine is become bitter like the water of Marah Exod. 15. 23. if there be mors in olla as there was in that pot which was set on for the sonnes of the Prophets 2 Kings 4. 38 40. if it be found that the salt of the earth be unsavoury Matth. 5. 13. if the light be extinguished if it be so that the Garden be overgrowne with Nettles and Brambles and Weeds c Infoelix lolium steriles dominantur avenae Pro molli viola ac purpureo narcisso Carduus spinis surgit palinurus acutis Virgil. and Thornes If d Whither that of Fr. Petrach concerning Rome may not in some sort be true here let others judge Errorum ludus sectarum nobile