Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	love_n	zeal_n	zealous_a	64	3	9.1788	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A01711	Certaine sermons, vpon diuers textes of Holie Scripture Whereof some haue been seuerally before published, and other some for the greater benefit of the godly reader are here now added. By M. George Giffard, preacher of the worde of God at Mauldon Essex.	Gifford, George, d. 1620.; Gifford, George, d. 1620. A sermon on the parable of the sower. aut; Gifford, George, d. 1620. Two sermons upon I. Peter 5. vers. 8 and 9. aut; Gifford, George, d. 1620. Foure sermons uppon the seven chiefe vertues of faith. aut; Gifford, George, d. 1620. A godlie, zealous, and profitable sermon upon the second chapter of saint James. aut; Gifford, George, d. 1620. A sermon preached at Pauls Crosse the thirtie day of May. aut; Gifford, George, d. 1620. A sermon on the third chapter of Saint Iames. aut	1597 (1597)	STC 11848.5; ESTC S120470	152,707	288

well therefore I thinke good not to disquiet them Heere is now woonderfull patience these are verie godly and charitable persons yea euen a treacherie towards God and men For is there anie of them which being slandered with some foule crime wherby they shuld receiue great iniurie or be spitefully rayled vpon if some of their neere friendes sit by and hold their tougues when they know they be iniuried that cannot by and by feele say this was colde friendship that they could not haue dealt so vnlouinglie towardes their friendes by whomsoeeuer they should haue heard them so abused they could not haue helde their tonges Then belike God nor his truth are none of their deare friends that they can put vp such iniurie done towardes him There is plentie of this patience in all places but godlinesse cannot be suffered to come neere for hee is a breake peace and a verie vnpleasant fellowe hee is ouer rough and precise and ouer captious there was good neighbourhood and friendship before he came they could bee merie together and bee in vnitie without any iarre had it not beene better to vse gentlenesse and patience then to haue this broyle for there is nothing better then loue where that is not there is nothing good O miserable dayes this is the good loue now among men that they cannot loue one another but they must hate God to haue peace and concord with men to be at oddes with God for mens sake to put vp the dishonoring of his name not to continue in patience vnles godlines be wanting The vngodlie world and leud nature that is in men taketh occasion to accuse godlie zeale vnder this pretence and to finde fault with the preaching of the word because say they it setteth men at strife But wee must learne in this place to ioyne godlines with our patience for otherwise we shall bee found to bee nothing els but irreligious and prophane dogs although we pretend loue neuer so much The time will not suffer to handle the rest which remaineth in this Text. Let vs rememeber that which hath beene said and giue all diligence to pursue these excellent vertues that so wee may approoue our selues to be right Christians and look for the blessed hope promised in Iesu Christ THE THIRD SERMON 7 And with godlinesse brotherlie kindnesse and with brotherlie kindnesse loue 8 For if these things be with you and abound they will make you that ye shall not bee idle nor vnfruitfull in the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ 9 For he that hath not these things is blind and seeth not a farre off and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sinnes ANd with godlinesse brotherlie kindnesse c. We haue heard alreadie that with our faith must be ioyned vertue or godly deedes which it cannot bee without if it bee a true faith with vertue wee are commaunded to ioyne knowledge which may bee a guide thereunto our knowledge must goe with temperance with this must come patience and thereunto must be ioyned godlinesse There remaine yet two branches of these speciall vertues about which wee are to trauell the first of these is brotherlie loue or kindnesse which must be yoked with godlinesse as I said that this godlinesse hee speaketh of is referred to the first Table of the Lawe respecting God and his religion that we be sound and zealous in the same and not as those which are for all all times and all religions and therefore care not what bee said against religion being very bellie-gods and Atheistes so this is referred to the second table shewing what we owe vnto men This is verie fitlie and necessarily added for as there bee manie which regarding men onely how to please and not to grieue or offend them altogether forgetting their dutie towardes the Lord God and wholie shutting him out as though their chiefe care should be of men let passe godlinesse so there bee some that offende on the other side which looking alwaies so high as to haue respect to the Lord and his trueth to bee earnest and fierie in that ouerlooke men forgetting the duties which they owe vnto them the holie Apostle meeteth with this mischiefe and telleth vs that we must so loue God that we also loue men ioyne saith he to your godlines brotherly kindnesse For vnlesse this bee ioyned and goe with our zeale of Gods worde it is no true godlines although we bee neuer so sound in iudgement and seem to be as hot as Moses or Elias yea euen to bee swallowed vp with burning zeale for it doth not proceed from Gods spirit who doth also work the loue towards men whersoeuer he goeth but it doeth proceed of some corrupt cause as of vaine glorie or self-selfe-loue and such like and deserueth not indeed to bee called godlie deuotion no more than the true faith can bee without vertue or deserueth to bee called ought saue a shadowe or image of faith if it bee without good workes but it is a bitternesse which resembleth the true zeale which doth euermore carrie with it a loue and care towards men True it is that to be zealous in spirit is a singular and speciall gift of God they which be without it are but brutish and sencelesse creatures not knowing God nor how precious his glorie is yet this must bee looked vnto in euerie one of vs whether we beare a louing affection toward our brethren or no for if we loue God we must needs loue men which beare his image If we delight in the word of God this is one chief point of doctrin that is taught in it that we be louing kind vnto men Therfore as S. Paul 1. Cor. 13. sheweth that verie excellent gifts doe not profit without loue so likewise in this place we be taught that if wee would seeme to bee godlie and haue not loue it is nothing woorth Let euery man therefore lay this doctrine to his heart that he must be earnest in the causes of the Lord zealous in religion preferring God and his truth before all men whosoeuer and whatsoeuer they be but yet withall that hee must look downe vnto men rendring vnto them their due also this doing hee may bee bolde he is in the right way Vnto this brotherlie loue we be charged to ioyne loue It may bee heere demaunded againe what maner of speech this is which the Apostle doth vse for is not brotherlie kindnes or brotherly loue as the word doth signifie and loue all one Wee must bee farre from thinking Saint Peter to deale with so little heede as to will vs to ioine the very same thing to the same we must therefore seeke a difference betweene these two Wee may take this difference either that the first of these doth expresse what we owe towardes the godly who bee chieflie called the brethren and the latter what wee owe vnto all both good and bad or els the former doth signifie the inward affection of loue and the

his spirit vpon them that in compassion there may bee labourers sent foorth and that such as haue taken vpon them the charge and be idle or absent may be compelled to doe their dutie that such as bee not able to feede or that walke in a dissolute and wicked behauiour in life and conuersation may bee remoued And that such as bee both skilfull to teach and of godlie life may bee set ouer them to guide them both by doctrine and example If this be not per formed how is the true concord and vnitie sought If the people bee not instructed and led in the way of godlines how shall they be framed and built together in one holie temple If the Shepheard bee vngodly and giue corrupt example what peace what vnitie or what agreement can such as will feare God hold with him And if there be a diuision betweene the sheepe and the shepheard where shall be the vnitie of brethren It is out of all controuersie that the meane to worke the godlie vnitie of brethren is that the flocke of Christ be fedde and guided by skilfull godly men which teach doctrine and giue good example in life and conuersation And now touching the care of the flocke not by constraint nor for gaine but willingly and of a readie mind not as Lords ouer Gods heritage but as examples to the flock I doe againe instantly beseech the pastors and gouernours euen for Christs sake to abound and to increase in all fatherly loue towards the Lords people without which this care cannot rightly be performed Follow herein the example of Saint Paul who setting foorth his labour and trauaile not of ambition or desire of gaine nor with roughnes but as he saith we were gentle among you euen as a nurse cherisheth her children 1. Thess 2. ver 7. where this fatherly loue is broken off there followeth to the exceeding decay and desolation of the Church that which the Lord complained of by the Prophet Ezechiel against the pastors of Israel Woe be vnto the shepheards of Israel that feede themselues should not the shepheards feed the flocks Ye eate the fat and ye clothe ye with the wooll ye kill them that are fed but ye seed not the sheep the weake haue ye not strengthened the sick haue ye not healed neither haue ye bound vp the broken nor brought againe that which was driuen away neither haue ye sought that which was lost but with violence and with crueltie haue ye ruled them Ezec. 24. vers 3.4 This was the state of the flocke then and shall be euen to the worlds ende that among Christs sheepe as some be strong so some bee weake some sicke some going astray Yea such are the frailties of all the faithfull so many are the errors and the sinnes which doe breake foorth but yet they are still the sheepe of Christ the Israel of God and the shepheards of Israel are to looke to them Now I say if there bee not a fatherly loue in the shepheards to couer the multitude of sinnes if there be not a tender compassion as in the Nurse towards the little babe in stead of care to heale the broken and sick to support the weake to bring into the way that which straieth they shall despise and lothe them as not worthie to bee regarded yea they shall with violence and rigor beate and bruse them certaine it is that the greater the frailties are the greater care and compassion is to be shewed So that violence rigor are not fit to bee in the shepheards For shall the nurse throw the little infant against the stones or push it forward when it can hardly stand alone Shall the shepheard take his staffe and strike the young and tender Lambes or shall he beate and bruse the weake and feeble sheepe What shall we say are the sheepe of Christ of lesse valew Many of them are weake and feeble in knowledge many of them are but as young babes as touching the spirituall power of sanctification A number of sins doe breake from them Many are wounded in conscience and troubled in spirit here is place for the loue the care the compassiō and labour of Shepheards O ye shepheards of Israel put on this loue and compassion lothe not the sheepe of Christ for these frailties rule them not with violence and crueltie but feed and support and heale them with all meeknes and long suffering Let no peruersnes or iniuries of any of the sheep towards the shepheards breake off the course of this loue and care For if they look vnto this how the sheep despise them how they walke stubbornly against them they shall neuer bee able with patience and meekenes to goe through with the worke If wee thinke it an vnworthie thing or such as doth discharge the shepheard from his tender loue care or that may warrant him to bee rigorous that many of the sheepe do not reuerence him Look vpon Moses and Paul two great notable seruants of God two speciall shepheards of the Lords flocke who is worthie to be compared with them They haue left an example to be followed How great things did Moses for the people And yet how often did they murmur against him and were readie to stone him How many were their rebellions and iniuries done vnto him And yet his loue is not quenched his care doth not faile but his prayer is most earnest vnto God to pardon them he still esteemeth them though not all as the Lords chosen people What can they doe more vnto vs then goe about to stone vs Behold also the exceeding aboundant loue of Paul who wished himselfe accursed from Christ that his kinsemen the Iewes which were obstinate might be saued How much greater was his loue to the faithfull of his kindred And yet could they euen the Church of Ierusalem scarse think any thing well of him al the time that he liued but thought hardly of him though he did neuer so much for them This is gathered by that which he writeth Rom. 15. where he first sheweth that it had pleased them of Macedonia Achaia to giue somwhat to the poore Saints in Ierusalem and that he went with this their beneuolēce to see it deliuered and then he intreated them to be verie earnest in praier to God for him that he might be deliuered from the disobedience of Iudea and that his ministerie towards Ierusalem might be accepted of the Saints It is a marueilous thing to consider that there being so great need in the Church at Ierusalem and that money being so welcome to those which are in penurie he carying so plentifull store yet there needeth earnest prayers that this his seruice might be accepted He had moued the Churches of the Gentiles as appeareth in his second Epistle to the Corinthians to make this liberall contribution He wrought this matter he goeth vp with it so great was his care Yet when he shewethal this loue and diligence towards thē how

great was their misliking of him that he feareth his ministrie would not be acceptable to thē The cause of the misliking Iames doth shew vnto him when he was come vp Act. 21. ver 21. Namely that it was reported hee had taught the Iewes among the Gentiles to depart from Moses and not to circumcise their children Wee see hee loueth them deerely for all this and calleth them saints notwithstanding their great frailtie in this matter the hard opinion they conceiued and held of him so great and so worthie a seruant of the Lord Iesus Christ What a paterne of meekenes fatherly loue is here for all the shepheards of the Lords flocke to follow among the poore feeble and wandring sheepe which doe not so reuerence and regard them as they ought to doe The shepheards as S. Peter requireth must bee examples to the flockes and therefore of all other are to shew meekenes long suffering and that loue which couereth the multitude of sinnes Where the pastors abound in this fatherly loue and doe not fall vpon the fraile sheepe and tender lambes with rigour and violence the blessed vnitie of brethren here praised is chiefly furthered for the building vp of Christs bodie in sanctification is greatly aduanced by the example of the pastors and teachers The multitude are drawne thereby to imbrace and to follow the trueth I doe therefore againe humbly beseech all the pastors and guides of the Lords people to consider of this holy rule and worthie examples and to practise it that the people of the Lord may bee brought into true concorde and brotherly amitie Then lastly it appertaineth also vnto rulers in ciuill matters to maintaine this vnitie according to the trueth They are to minister iustice true iudgement vnto all to punish the euill doers and to cherish maintaine the good Mercie loue is also necesssarily required in them that they may deale euen as fathers when they correct chastise If this be not there will great mischiefes ensue euen to the disturbance of all godly peace and concord for let a ruler a Iudge or a mightie man be void of religiō and withall giuen to anger dealing among the Lords weake and feeble sheepe he will be readie to beate them downe and to crush them in pieces The frailties and sins are many that breake foorth euen from some of Christs sheepe lambes as we see there be the weake the sicke the brused and such as erre the thing is odious in thē because they professe holinesse and therefore cannot in them be borne therefore lift vp your hearts in earnest praier vnto God that he will powre downe the spirit of fatherly loue and mercie vpon rulers and iudges that they may deale in the Lords flocke and towards his poore weak sheep with such regard as that they may answer before Christ Thus if we honour and imbrace the truth if we practise the rules therof euery one performing those duties which the Lord inioyneth the rulers and iudges pastors gouernors in the church as also the priuate persons we shal grow into this holy vnitie which the holy Ghost here praiseth we shall receiue all heauenly gifts and blessings yea euen that great blessing of all blessings the lfie for euermore Grant this vnto vs O Lord for thy deare sonnes sake our redeemer and Sauiour to whom with thee and the holy Ghost three persons one euerlasting God whom we worship be all honour glorie dominion and power for euermore Amen FINIS