Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	meek_a	zeal_n	zealous_a	37	3	8.5264	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A89503	A practical commentary, or An exposition with notes on the Epistle of Jude. Delivered (for the most part) in sundry weekly lectures at Stoke-Newington in Middlesex. By Thomas Manton, B.D. and minister of Covent-Garden.	Manton, Thomas, 1620-1677.	1657 (1657)	Wing M530; Thomason E930_1; ESTC R202855	471,190	600

obstinate Gods tender Lambs though straying must be gently reduced put a difference saith our Apostle vers 19. Ad evangelizandum non maledicendum missus ●s said Oecolampadius to Farrell who was a good man but a little too violent Thou wert not sent to revile but to preach the Gospel but on the other side there is a difference to be used in the case of Hypocrites that gain by that repute and esteem which they have Christ himself inveyed against the Pharisees asperrimis verbis in the roughest ways Mat 23. Woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites c. we may pluck off the disguise from an Hypocrite especially when they seduce and deceive the miserable multitude by an opinion of holinesse the Pharisees and Sadduces to keep up their repute submitted to Johns Baptism but doth he treat them gently no Mat. 3. 7. O generation of Vipers c. So Paul to Elymas the Sorcerer Acts 13. O thou full of all subtilty and mischief thou child of the Devil and enemy of allrighteousness wilt thou not cease to pervert the holy ways of the Lord in these cafes there is a regard had to others that they may not perish by too good an opinion of such deceivers and here that of Solomon is of regard Prov. 28. 4. They that forsake the Law praise the wicked and they that keep the Law set themselves against them a vigorous opposition doth better here then a cold dislike 3. For the manner with our zeal we should still manifest love and compassion and our way of dealing must rather be rational then passionate there is an holy contemperation of zeal and meekness it we could hit upon it the same spirit that appeared in cloven tongues of fire appeared also in the form of a Dove the work of righteousnesse may be sown in peace Jam. 3. 18. The Churches Garden thriveth by the cool gales of the North wind as well as the suliry heat of the South Cant. 4. last Gods cause should neither be neglected nor a●sparaged by an indiscreet carriage 4. Concerning the principle see that it be good it must not be zeal for our private concernments but for the glory of God not a strange fire but an holy fire Moses was the meekest man upon earth in his own cause Numb 12. 3. When Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses the man Moses was meek above all mon of the earth when our zealous contests come from an heart bleeding for Gods dishonour from hatred of sin a fear of the publick then they are right Lot was vexed not with Sodoms injuries but Sodoms filthinesse 2 Pet. 2. 8. When love of our neighbor desire of his amendment we are loth to suffer sin upon him puts us upon this earnestness your heart is upright with God but when we seek to disgrace the men rather then to condemn the sins and we rage most upon the hazard of our own interest and can be earnest against some sins and errors and comply with worse 't is not zeal for God but for a purity 5. Great regard must be had to the end a Reproof aimeth at the conviction or conversion of a sinner but censure at his disgrace and confusion our aim must be as right as our passion is strong what ever we do must not be done out of a spirit of ostentation or popularity or to keep up a devotion to our own interests John Baptist sharply reproved the Pharisees not when contemuing his person but when coming to his Baptism There remaineth nothing of the ninth Verse to be discussed but the last Clause The Lord rebuke thee Though Michael doth not rail yet he referreth the matter to God Whence observe That in Religio●s contests we must carry we the opposition though not in an unseemly manner Michael doth not let Satan alone so we must not let errors alone and the Devil to carry it clearly without rub and opposition many under a pretence of meekness are still and silent in the cause of Christ cursed is this peace and meekness when we let the envious man sow his tares we never give warning Gods Messengers are compared to watchful Dogs when the Wolf cometh we must bark if the sleepy world be troubled at it we must bear their reproch Again He referreth it to God who is the fittest Patron of his own causes In our contests about Religion God must especially be sought unto for a blessing Michael contended but said the Lord rebuke thee disputing times should also be praying times prejudices will never vanish till God send out his light and truth Psal 43. 3. and if the Devil be not prayed down as well as disputed down little good cometh of our contests VERS X. But these speak evil of the things they know not but what they know naturally as bruit Beasts in those things they corrupt themselves IN this Verse he sheweth the disproportion between them and the Arch-Angel he was modest in a known good cause but these are contemptuous and given to railing in matters of which they are wholly ignorant Two faults are charged upon them in this Verse 1. Pride in condemning things without knowledge 2. Wickedness in abusing the knowledg they had But these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Seducers spoken of in the Context speak evil 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 take liberty to belch out their reproches of the things they know not what are those things Some say the Dignities before spoken of others the Mysteries of the Christian faith For the former opinion that clause may be alledged vers 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 speaking evil of dignities and so it will imply that they were ignorant of the nature of Angels with whom they pretended so great a familiarity as to know their courses services conjugations or else of the nature of Church-Ordinances they taking upon them to speak so reprochfully of the Offices which God hath set in the Church or of the nature of civil power and Magistracy they allowing themselves in such intemperate Language But for the latter opinion the universal Particle in the Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Whatsoever things they know not so Peters phrase is general 2 Pet. 2. 12. But these as natural bruit beasts made to be taken and destroyed speak evil of the things they understand not The scope of both these Apostles being to set out these deceivers as ignorant and bruitish sensualists and yet under a pretence of great and more curious knowledge than others had wherefore they were called Gnosticks for my part I shall interpret the clause generally of their ignorance in all truly spiritual matters which was bewrayed in that they did deliver their sense in matter of Magistracy and Church Ministries with some impudence and reproach But what they know naturally as bruit Beasts in those things they corrupt themselves before I come more particularly to open the words let me tell you that there is some difference about that clause as bruit Beasts to