Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	wonder_n	work_n	work_v	96	3	6.3578	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96886	The churches thank-offering to God her King, and the Parliament, for rich and ancient mercies; her yeares of captivity; her first yeare of iubile; that is, for the marvelous deliverances wrought with God the first wonderfull yeare (since the yeare 88) beginning at September 1640. and ending the ninth of the same moneth following: in all which time, the Lord appeared for his church, as in the dayes of old, out of the middest of the bush, so the church burn'd with fire, and was not consumed. In the preface, the thank-offering is vindicated, and set free, from all the cavills and charges against it; where also it is cleared to be, as every mans duty, so every mans purpose, to offer willingly now, who doth not make full proofe, that he falls short of pagan, papist or atheist; and is wilfully resolved to walk crosse to the most supreme law, the highest reason, and the unquestionable will of God.	Woodward, Ezekias, 1590-1675.	1642 (1642)	Wing W3484; Thomason E122_1; ESTC R18182	151,993	158

there If we have our outward Liberties and Priviledges as free Subjects and Citizens here of the Ierusalem below then we are well and marvellously appayed Indeed we say a Gen. 33 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Esau said We have enough that is much or a great deale The Church not so give her the liberties of sonnes and daughters of Ierusalem above or else but that Christ liveth in her She will dye So unsatisfiable are All things here below to her everlasting soule But if She have her God though with Him captivity fire sword what other evils you can name if with these She hath her God She is well enough and with Iacob She hath enough for She hath All b Gen. 33. 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ¶ 3 The Church referres all to the first Cause and thereon fixeth VVE must note That the Church beholdeth all the Workes wrought by Man not as Mans works but the works of Him Who only doth wonders She looks through them and through Man also unto God There She terminateth her sight Whence it is That whatsoever thing comes unto her through the hands and by the administration of Man She accepts with all thankfulnesse but She writeth upon it upon every thing what ever were the meanes of conveyance the Gift of God ¶ 4. The Righteous are calme and setled what ever the newes is or troubles are in the World and thankfull for all VVE should observe her quiet and calme deportment and carriage in all administrations of God for She looks upon them as His Administrations and She accounts all good nothing evill except sinne and by the good hand of God towards her even sinne shall worke for her Good God be thanked that ye were the servants of sinne All is well She saith and will end well Well What ever Rom. 6. 17. Newes She heares What ever Troubles and Tumults unquiet Motions there are yet the Church is not full of stirres not a tumultuous City c Isa 22. 2. for all that She is quiet notwithstanding all that can be said or done Her Sonnes and Daughters are as well contented with the Newes they heare as the honest Shepheard with the Weather his judgement was asked What weather it would be He answered It will be what weather it shall please me The Answer seemed darke and to containe a Riddle therefore he was courteously requested to explaine it which he did thus It shall be said he what weather pleaseth God and what weather pleaseth God pleaseth me Truly just so are the Righteous pleased with their Newes It shall be what pleaseth God and what pleaseth God pleaseth them If Newes this day be as we call it good They are cheered at it but not over-joyed they say It is well If the next Day such turnings there are and tydes of things the Newes be contrary they are the same they were the Day before for they know their God is the same He is not changed Therefore they conclude notwithstanding that crosse Newes It shall be well in the Morning perhaps before night They are not troubled about the fixed time it is not for them to know that they know it will be well Straitnings serve very much to widen the way for enlargements and stops towards the Spring-head make the waters rise the higher and anon will cause them to streame the faster Blockes in the way make them walke more warily and lift up their feet the higher It is so with the spirits of Men. But yet the Church lookes not to Man for He is full of Changes but her eyes are to her God who changeth not and according to the Counsell d Exod 14 13. Ne commoveami●● ac fluctuetis animo ●ed spe firm● ope● D●mini expecta●e Iun. stands still waiting the salvation of her God and is not greatly moved e Psal 62 2. nor doth She faint in her mind She doth not float nor roule this way and that way but roules her selfe upon her God In firme hope her mind is anchored and fixt upon Everlasting strength and lapt up in a promise within Everlasting Armes expecting His Salvation which She is confident to see in the fittest time SECT II. We that have not fixed spirits feele unquiet Motions NOw let us observe our owne spirits ours of the Common-sort it is a thing worth our observ●tion If we observe right we are in Deaths often not as Paul in reall Dangers but imaginary onely and in conceit for as often as crosse Newes comes we die In extreames still either all hope and no feare or all feare and no Hope We cannot cast away our confidence f Heb. 10. 3● for wee have none unlesse it be in the Creature and i● that ●ailes us wee sinke and our spirits faile too A miser●ble condition this and a trembling posture to stand in Indeed we doe not stand wee totter like drunkards because we are so filled with the sweets of the Earth and so empty of the comforts of Heaven Wee are as weake as water carried and t●ssed as C●rke vvith the tide there Just so hurried are our spirits with winde and tide As the water riseth or falleth at the Parliament-staires just so doe our spirits at the hearing the Newes thence As the winde and gale of breath sits there so our mindes turne just like a weather-cocke If the newes thence be pleasing to sense then we rise high that 's well say we and then we are all Hope If the contrary That troubles are like to abide us then vve are downe the wind and make conclusions as men doe that have no Hope This is to have spirits as weake as water and a minde not standing-still but turning like a weather cocke SECT III. The Reason of the Churches settlement and of our unquiet Motions very necessary and considerable at this time VVE must note what causeth the Churches stability and our floating What is the reason that the Church standeth still quiet and calme in her spirit when trouble is on every side while we are at our wits end for expectation troubled and mooved As the Trees of the Wood are mooved with the win● g Esa 7. ● Wee must I say enquire into this thing and find out what is the reason hereof The Resolution must be this Because the Church stayeth her selfe on the Arme of God Therfore she standeth still is firme and stedfast Whatever changes are below vvhatever turnings and windings of things here vvith us yet there is no change in that Arme no diminution tall of that power It is the same yesterday to day and the same for ever h Esa 59. 1 2. -40. 27. 51. 9. Sinne causeth some change in us but there is no change in God The Churches eye is upon her God there shee fixeth she will not trust in charets nor in horses i Ps 20. because shee hath asked from one end of Heaven to the other she hath enq●ired of all ●ges vvhat became of

N●w every considerate man was very jealous of the Clergy of England as corrupt then every whit as once it was in the Iewish Church vvhen head and heart all vvas sicke and faint from the sole of the foot ●ven u●to the head there vvas no soundnesse in ●t but vvounds and b●u●ses and putrified sores So it was in the Church a Esa 1. 5. No better in the Common wealth for where Gods Law is insulted over Mans law will be trodden under such a confusion there vvas in the Kingdome The Pillars were so wrested out of place Prerogative so strayned Priviledges so broken and underfoot such vexations there vvere on every hand such breaches in the great house such clefts in the little house b Am. 6. 11. such a howling for v●xation and oppression That it had beene a wonder if a Parliament had not beene summoned Ai but to see two Parliaments in one yeare and to see one hold so long and to give Cauti●n against so long a vacation to that High-Court is a wonder sure No none of all this time was when a Parliament was called twice a yeare and oftner as the aff●ires of the Kingdome might require So I remember a great Sage of the Law r●p●rts Therefore I have no warrant from the Church to call this a wonder the having two Parliaments in one yeare or the having ●ne every third yeare it is rare with us but every thing that is rare is not a Wonder Naturall causes can produce and so did all this The breaking of the one Naturally and Rationally work'd for the producing of another and to make it hold and to put in Caution for after-time We never exclude the first cause That we suppose goes along with us still as the Needle before the Threed and then no wonder is all this but a very great Mercy as we heard and shall heare And all this we have heard is but to prepare the eare to let in the Wonder and that it may not stay there but linke downe into the heart SECT IIII. Gods marvellous workes for the Church and with the PARLIAMENT That it wrought for her Liberties and enlargement every way YEs that is the marvellous worke indeed not that she hath a Parliament and that continued c. But that the Church hath received so much good from a Parliament the finger of God is there most remarkably there The Church hath as much cause to complaine of Parliaments as to speake good of them though she can blesse God for all She was never trod downe never set under-foot till a Parliment had set their foot upon her You may beleeve her the Church did tremble and had fainted but that the Lord was her staffe and stay when she heard newes of a Parliament Therefore she bestirred her self and used her weapons to purpose Prayers and Teares and so became Israel a prevailer with God The Church doth acknowledge That she never received such enlargements from any meanes here below of humane institution as from the hands of a Parliament nor ever cast into such straits and bondage as by the same hand That Court ever made her happy or miserable it laid the foundation ever either for the greatest blessing or the sorest curse either it lifts up a Nation making it honourable or sinkes a Nation making it the basest of Kingdomes That this Parliament did not doe the later make her Desolate and leave her as forsaken That will be the Wonder the marvellous working of a God towards His People if wee consider I might say first the Trust and Confidence we put in that High-Court We rested-upon it more then upon God we waited for it as for the raine and opened the mouth wide as the parched ground for the latter raine So we did well but our eyes which should be single to God only were single b Iob 29. 23. towards it as the only means that could doe us good and recover our sicke and languishing State And this our vaine Confidence might have spoyled all for as God doth curse bold and daring Attempts so he doth shrinke-up and wither the Arme of flesh when man will make it his arme depend and rest upon it for then his heart departeth from the Lord c Ier. 17 5. There is but one thing wherein is assurance and strength strong confidence d Pro. 14. 26. and the Lord doth commonly reject all other confidences so as man shall not prosper in them e Iet ● 37. But I passe this for the Lord hath passed it over not charging upon His servants their vaine Confidences ¶ 1. THis we must chiefly consider That it was the great Designe of the Adversary This they plotted and contrived for this they spent their pretious spirits that such might be chosen who might draw to their side and establish their wicked and mischievous Devices by a Law wherein the HEAD and TAYLE both work'd together the HEAD contrived the TAYLE put forth it is sting and therewith did much hurt All conte●●ed and contended and altogether not only to make the hope of the righteous Null as they call it invalid and of no force but to take them away from the Earth Root and Branch that they might be no more a people or if so then the most despicable and peeled people on the face of the Earth Thus HEAD and TAYLE contrived and contended Who are they I thanke the Reader that he will not conster my words before I have explained them By the Head I doe not meane the Ruler of the People but him that presumes to rule the Nations and that with a Rod of Iron which he cals seeding f Rom. 2. 27. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Not him that beareth the Sword but him that challengeth two Swords and hath right to neither I meane him that is the Head of Heads and Lord of Lords the POPE I meane I confesse I never heard him speake but I have heard some of his flatterers say That a Priest is so much above a King as a Man i● above a Beast Tantum Sacerdes praestat Regi quantum homo praestat Bestiae quantum Deus praestas Sacerd●ti tantum Sacerdo● praest as R●gi Qui Regem anteponi● Sacerdo●● is anteponis Creatu ram ●reato●● Stanu laus Ovichovius I find it in M Iu●ls Apol. 4 par as much as God is better then the Priest so mu●h is the Priest better then the King He that setteth the King be ore a Priest setteth the Creature before the Creator Then how farre thinke you doth a Pope exceed Kings and Emperours How much then is that Head above other Heads It is answered w●th liberty enough for they take leave to pen ●heir owne Ch●rter He is as much higher above Kings as the Sunne is above the Moone He sits i● the very ZENITH of the Church in the highest place there as hi●h above your Head as you can looke with your eyes There 's a tall Man indeed True but he

can the treasures of the snow and of the haile k Iob 38. 22. nor comprehend no more then I can measure the wind in my fist or Heavens with my Span for I must looke backe to the dayes of eternity and Thy ancient thoughts towards Thy Sons and Daughters before the foundation of the world And behold Thy wayes there as undiscernable as the way of an Eagle in the Aire or of a Serpent upon the Rocke l Pro. 30. 19. as is the path which no foule knoweth and which the vultures eye hath not seen m Iob 28. 7. But blessed be Thy Name though there in that darke path the soule can find no rest nor feels any bottome yet in Thy Christ * De praedestinatione d●sputaturu● incipe ● Christi vulneribus Mel. Ad. in vitâ Sta●●p Vera est ea poenitentia quae ab amore justitiae Dei incipit we have a foundation even according to the good pleasure of Thy will towards us in Him to the praise of the glory of Thy Grace n Eph. 1. 5. For Him we blesse Thee we praise Thee we adore Thee for Thy glorious manifestations secret inspirations immediate workings for all the meanes of conveyance whereby Heaven is pleased to condescend and to have communion with earthly creatures and earthly creatures have fellowship with the FATHER and the SONNE For Thy Sons sake all this therefore we blesse Thee for that unspeakable gift with Whom Thou givest all things a subduing of iniquity victory over sin sinne is not left to bring forth its owne cursed fruit an exceeding mercy pardon of sinne communion with Thy selfe joy in the Holy Ghost then the strongest when we are weakest and our sufferings the greatest Then the highest elevation of spirit then the floud of consolation runnes highest when the floud of wickednesse runnes over the head and seemes ready to swallow up This is that the world stumbles at nay we shrinke at too at sufferings at persecution though yet a thousand experiences tels us Persecution is the signe of a Thes 1. 7. the true Church and to them who are persecuted Rest with us and our Rest is in Thee and with Thee at last and then even in that houre of temptation then dost Thou administer abundant consolations even according as the sufferings are through fire yet not consumed through water yet not drowned o Esa 43. 2. Surely this is because Thou dost guide Thy Servants by Thy Councell we are not carefull whether we goe when Thou hast us by the hand being assured the end of the way is GLORY And now that the people may flow in hether cause them to turne aside and behold this sight why the BVSH burnes and is not consumed All that looke on must resolve it thus because Thy GOOD WILL DWELLS IN THE Esa 63. 9. BVSH In all their affliction Thou wast afflicted and the Angell of Thy presence saved them O blessed be the Father Son and Holy Ghost for Thy GOOD-WILL That dwels in the Bush O let not my Lord be angry and I will speake yet but this once we Thy people have said in our haste Our hope is cut-off we shall be termed FORSAKEN and our Land DESOLATE But we behold and wonder Thou hast shewen grace unto us to give us a nayle in Thy Esa 62. 4. Holy place and hast revived our hope That we shall be called HEPHZ●BAH and our Land Beulah Truly Lord Thou hast comforted all my waste places Thou hast made my WILDERNES like EDEN and my DESERT like the Garden of the Lord ioy and gladnesse is found therin Thanksgiving Ezr. 9. 8. and the voyce of Melody * Esa 51. 3. But Lord why is it so Why such severity towards our sister-Churches and such goodnesse towards us and our Land Even so because it pleaseth Thee It is Thy good will so Be it so but we are over-charged with the consideration thereof and are silent Truly Lord we stand wondering at Thy works beholding terrible things r Esa 64. 3. which our Fathers saw not and we look'd not for The turning councels upside downe c. for had Thy Servant the tongue of an Angell she could not expresse it but at our selves we wonder most of all at the drossinesse the dregginesse of our spirits not yet resolved into a spirit of Thankefullnesse no not yet though we have seene such and such things above all such forbearance such a patient suffering our manners o Act. 13. 18. at such a time as this Why Lord God Thou didst send unto us Saviours we should have looked through them as through a thin covering to Thy arme made bare for our Salvation we did not so it was a thicke covering before our eyes it hid Thy Almighty Arme quite from us We did leane upon that Reed such is the helpe of flesh yet did it not pierce nor breake O wonderfull it is not Thy manner so the prop of flesh did not breake though we laid so great a weight of expectation thereupon notwithstanding it hath held c. for Thy Servant is overcome more she would speake to that point and is not able But she hath wherewith to answer Thy Adversaries as followeth The Enemy reproacheth Thy Name daily and asketh where is now your God Our God is in Heaven and thence Thou hast declared Thy selfe against Thy Enemies confounding them and for Thy people reviving their hope Thou hast exalted THY CHRIST before our Eyes and received Thy people into COVENANT these two things Thou hast done this last yeare And if Thou dost no more in our dayes yet thy Servants have ENOVGH And by Thy good hand upon them they have out-plotted all their enemies Thy Servants have no more to say but Remember Lord Thy Covenant and keepe the hearts of Thy Servants close with thee therein Thou art Lord of Lords and King of Kings and onely art able to make Thy Servants to performe the words of Thy Covenant and to STAND TO IT p 2 Chro. 34. 31 32. and then though the Enemy rage he shall not hurt though he conceives mischiefe he shall bring forth a lye God in Covenant defeates all their hellish counsels weakneth all their power answers all Arguments against Thy people or their Cause nothing shall doe them hurt every thing shall doe them good It is Thy Promise Lord I will not turne away from them to doe them good a Ier. 32. ●0 All shall worke together for their good losses in the World for their good troubles in the flesh for their good come what can come all is sanctified by all Thou wilt doe Thy children good Reproaches wants necessities Persecutions Captivities b Ier. 24. 5. All to doe them good even so Amen And yet Lord we remember Thou hast spoken good words and gracious concerning the Church for the time to come We humbly conceive now is the time when Thou art making good this good word to Thy people

and will contend for the Truth and yet not one Rev. 11. 7. Iesuited HEL-HOWND it is a Kings word contending with a Cardinall not one Catholicke murderer in our Hoste so hee hath bin accounted in all times and places making no more conscience to out his Kings throat then to cut a peece of bread These Irish Romish Catholiques universally bloody and monstrous Savages all the world over so brawned in cruelties are accounted now the only loyall Subjects ever since the Lord Christ hath taken to Himselfe great Power reigning more visibly upon the Earth demanding His Rights there And His faithfull Servants are resolved to give these Rights unto Him Whose they are not with-holding a hoofe nor dishonourably compounding His matters so forfeiting Truth for Peace but resolving to maintaine both with honour or an honourable warre ever since this contestation for Christ and His Truth Rebellion which is as the sinne of Witchcraft against God and His Christ hath been accounted obedience and loyall subjection And a true sense of Dutie to God and man and to doe thereafter even what God commands and will have done is accounted Rebellion and Treason both The comfort is Wisdome is justified of her children yes and in this point of all that are not unreasonable and wicked men The Truth is I could not beare this at such a time as this being to render a THANK-OFFERING in the Churches Name but I must Preface to it against such contradictions of Sinners and render the THANK-OFFERING free and the Churches Servants as cleared of these blackes as was the Snow in Salmon And what is wanting here shall be supplied else where for I will goe on from this Preface to another Treatise where by the helpe of God And His Law I shall cleare this very way wherin the Nobles have walked so spoken against now and blasphemed as a way of Rebellion and Treason to be the very way wherein all the Nobles that ever were in the world have walked who walked uprightly with God dealt faithfully with His people not treacherously and as Traitors to King and Kingdome and their owne souls for I have a most comprehensive mercy to treat on and enlarge upon which I may call the Abridgement of this last yeares wonders containing as in a most fruitfull wombe all nationall blessings which the Nobles and Worthies have hitherto or their children after them shall travell with and bring forth to the Nation And this they are compleating and in so excellent a way as that though we shall never say of it in this world the worke is done and compleated of that comprehension it is yet I say they have so orderly proceeded in it by that line and plummet afore-said of all the truly Noble that ever were on the Earth as that it is fully to the Mind of the Lord and the heart of the Nation And now let the Devill rage and his Servants roare for in that they glory though by a wofull prolepsis here in sport for hereafter in earnest when they and their King of the bottomlesse pit shall roare there to all eternity Let the Arabian Dukes with their companies of Sabeans let the noble Monsters of these dayes so they were called anciently who are Gentile and noble in the root but monstrously degenerate in the fruit of their conversation d Nequitiae sordibus imbuta Nobilia portenta Valer Max. l. 3. c. 5. let these doe their worst rob spoyle pillage shed bloud to their power yet by the helpe of God and the Law the worke shall be carried on and the work-men shall prosper and overcome by the bloud of the Lambe e Rev. 12. 11. But what is our worke now Worke and Pray or pray and worke no matter which is first so both goe together Worke with hand and mouth and heart and all We have a noble paterne before us of Work men who blessings be upon them both from above and beneath have offered themselves willingly to this worke and will very gladly spend and be spent for us in this worke though they may reade on the more abundantly they love us the lesse they are beloved f 2 Cor. 12. 15. But we have our patterne and we see our dutie worke we as men who can very gladly spend and be spent for this cause for it is His cause Who did say indeed and did as He said for H●● zeale eat Him up He was a whole burnt-offering I VVILL VERY GLADLY SPEND AND BE SPENT for you so it was indeed the cause of the Lord Iesus Christ Who was made for us a curse once That He might make us as He is blessed for ever having such an example before us and such a cause in our eye we will worke now or never VVorke we now as we are able and let the Lord worke as He pleaseth He will worke like Himself Truly He worketh wonderfully in all His peoples sight But if He wrought in the dark as sometimes He doth if His foot-steps are in the waters as M Bradford expresseth it a man can see no prints where His Hand is or which way His feet goe whither towards us or against us yet said that good man My hand and my spirit should worke after Him for I am sure I am in the way though I see it not my God goes right though I discerne not the path Worke we I say as we can and let the Lord worke as He will He doth worke gloriously and in sight worke wee and pray too else our worke is vaine and to no purpose worke we but say BLESSED BE GOD first Blessed be Thy Name for the Governours among the people and for them that offered themselves willingly It was because Thou commandest and so it is the North gives and the South keepes not backe Sea and Land comes in for Thy Churches helpe peace peace be to her helpers to deliver us from the Heathen that we may give thankes to Thy holy Name and glory in Thy praise Amen Now Pray for the peace of Jerusalem they shall still prosper that love her Pray in Prayer pray earnestly our children shall reape the fruit thereof if we doe not now for now we have reaped what our fore-fathers have sowne the fruit of the prayers of many Generations Pray we That the Lord would owne His owne cause certainly He will and so He doth but He must be sought unto for this and enquired after That His eyes would be for good upon His Children and servants all over the world for their eyes and hearts are set stedfast towards Him and His Jerusalem here below and there they fix waiting what God will doe at such a time as this and hearkning what God will speake now It is their confidence He will speake peace and doe according to His owne word give His Servants the opening of the mouth that the enemies may know HE IS THE LORDs The Churches all over the ● Ezek. ●● 21. world are resolved now to