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A01638 A golden chaine of divine aphorismes written by John Gerhard Doctor of Divinitie and superintendent of Heldburg. Translated by Ralph Winterton fellow of Kings Colledge in Cambridge; Loci communes theologici. English Gerhard, Johann, 1582-1637.; Winterton, Ralph, 1600-1636.; Cecil, Thomas, fl. 1630, engraver. 1632 (1632) STC 11769; ESTC S103039 111,208 568

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Dispensation his good will pleasure in that which is Good and by way of Permission onely in that which is ●vil 66 This Permission is not as of one imprudent or simply unwilling or not caring or idly looking on or opening a wide field to the Plots and machinations of men and Satan but it is the Permission of a most just judge and avenger and also a most wise ruler and governour 67 God doth in such manner punish sinnes with sinnes that yet he is not the cause of sinne 68 And seeing that the divine Providence doth not exclude the Second causes neither change their qualitie according to the ordinarie manner Hence it is that in respect of the Particular causes some things may be said to be fortuitous and casuall which yet come under the order of the Vniversall cause 69 Chance and Fortune are the voice and words of Humane ignorance August 5. de Civ Dei cap. 9. 70 The holy Meditation upon the divine Providence may effect thus much in us That we be neither lift up in prosperitie nor cast down with despair in adversitie 71 Let us wholly commit our selves and all that is ours unto his care who hath such a care of every one of us as if he had but one to take care of and such a care of all that he forgets not to take care of every one CHAP. VII Wherein are contained Theologicall Aphorismes concerning ELECTION and REPROBATION 1 PRedestination is a certain peculiar act of the divine Providence about the salvation of men 2 By it the reasonable creature is directed to an end which exceedeth its proportion to wit unto eternall life 3 In which sense Predestination is made part of the divine Providence Thom. p. 1. q. 23. art 1. 4 The doctrine of Predestination is not to be involved or concealed in the cloud of silence seeing that it is in Scripture evolved or revealed by the Holy Ghost 5 But we must handle it soberly reverently and prudently 6 Let us speak not what and as much as the curiositie of mans heart desireth but what and asmuch as the Holy Ghost teacheth 7 Predestination or Election is called The Enrolling Registring or writing of our names into the Book of life 8 But yet this Book of life serveth not to put God in minde of some lest he forget them but it signifies the Predestination of those which shall inherit everlasting life Aug. 20. de Civ Dei cap. 15. 9 As therefore none of those that are elected do perish So of those that have their names written in the Book of life none are ever blotted out 10 But they are Properly and according to the phrase of Scripture said to be written in the Book of life who cleave unto Christ by Faith and Perseverance 11 Election as well as Creation is the immediate action of one and the onely true God alone 12 Which belongeth also to the Sonne of God not onely as he is one with the Father and the Holy Ghost but also as he is appointed to be the Mediatour 13 In which sense we are said to be elected not onely by Christ but also in Christ. Ephes. 1.4 14 And it is an Action not Emanant but Immanent 15 And it is also Ordinate whence it is that the elect are said to be ordained to eternall Life Act. 13.48 16 The reason and manner of this order is made manifest unto us by the Gospel by which the Mystery of our salvation which was kept secret since the world began is now made manifest Rom. 16.26 27. 17 In which sense we are said to be elected according to the Purpose and Foreknowledge of God Ephes. 1.11 and 1. Pet. 1.2 18 That Purpose is the counsel and good pleasure of God concerning the salvation of men by faith on Christ. 19 Gods Election is meerly of his grace not according to any merits of works foreseen 20 The onely cause and foundation of this grace is Christ. In him the beloved we are freely beloved Ephes. 1.6 21 But inasmuch as Christ profits no man without Faith Therefore the mention of Christ in this businesse doth include the action of Faith 22 In which sense we are said to be elected not onely in Christ but also through Faith 2. Thes● 2.13 23 Again Because the end of Faith I do not mean such Faith as is temporarie and endureth but for a time but that which persevereth and continueth unto the end is Eternall Life Therefore when we name Faith we understand Perseverance also 24 The end of Election in respect of our selves is sanctification in the kingdome of Grace and glorification in the kingdome of Glory 25 The end of our Election in respect of God is the glory of God and the cleare manifestation of his mercy 26 God willeth and earnestly willeth the life of a sinner but he willeth also his conversion by the word and the Holy Spirit 27 If the sinner refuseth and rejecteth the word and resisteth the Holy Spirit and so is not converted then God willeth the death of the sinner and that most justly 28 These things are not repugnant the one to the other but do manifest unto us the wonderfull temper of Gods mercie and justice 29 What some produce concerning the hidden will of God contrary to his will revealed in his word That inasmuchas it is not revealed is not without just cause hidden from the godly 30 Neither doth God in word onely testifie unto us that he earnestly desireth the salvation of all men but also in deed and in truth 31 The first Adam was created after the Image of God whereof immortality was a part 32 All men were in the loins of their first Father Adam Therefore in him they may be all said to have been created after the Image of God unto immortalitie 33 What Christ by his precious bloudshedding purchased for all That the Holy Ghost in the precious treasure of the word offereth unto all 34 The Gospel is offered unto all and in the Gospel the benefits of Christ and in them the grace of God and in that eternall life 35 And thus the love of the Father the satisfaction of the Sonne and the calling of the Holy Ghost are allwaies joyned together 36 That calling in it self and of it self in respect of God which calleth is Vniversall For it is his good will and pleasure that the Gospel should be preached unto all 37 But it is made Particular by the fault of men who by their detestable contempt of the word rob themselves and their posteritie of so great a treasure 38 In which sense such are said to judge themselves unworthy of everlasting Life Acts 13.46 39 If we descend unto particulars we confesse that there are many things yet obscure which hereafter shall be made manifest unto all in the light of glory 40 Neither is the Grace of God which calleth all to be depressed nor the Power of Freewill accepting Grace to be extolled 41 Let the salvation of men
Essentia Actus and Potentia Nature and Actions are in them distinguished 51 Sometimes they appeare in bodily shapes and yet they are not corporeall For they are but the Forms Assistent and not Forms Informant of the bodies which they assume 52 The Angels understand by Species as well Connate as Superadded 53 Which Knowledge of the Angels is called Vespertine unto which is added that which is called Matutine by which in the light of the Word they are said Intuitively to know all things 54 But what can the Intellect of poore man that crawleth upon earth know or conceive concerning the Intellect or understanding of the Angels 55 Alas we know not the manner of our own knowledge And why do we begin to babble like children about the knowledge of the Angels 56 Neither are the Angels endued onely with understanding but also with power And therefore they are called Vertues and Powers 57 But yet this Power of theirs is finite as is also their Essence 58 They are Finite not by circumscription of any bodily place but by designation of a certain Vbi 59 Some say that the Eternity of God is the Measure of the Angel● Scal. Exerc. 359. Sect. 7. 60 This is to be understood of the Measure of Perfection and not the Measure of Duration 61 That there are certain Hierarchies or Orders amongst the Angels we deny not But that we are able to know what they are That we deny 62 The Order of the Angels is onely known unto him that did ordain them 63 Whom we shall hereafter behold face to face when we shall be equall unto the Angels Luke 20.36 64 All the Angels were created by God good and perfect For from him which is good and perfect nothing can proceed but that which is good and perfect 65 But some yea a great part of them by a voluntary fall fell away from that goodnesse in which they were created 66 Which fall of the Angels what it was seeing that the Scripture sayes nothing of it who shall declare it The Ancients dispute that it was either Pride or Envie 67 The evil Angels fell without all hope of recovery But the good Angels are confirmed in goodnesse and freed from all fear of falling 68 Which Confirmation of theirs was not the Adequate and due reward of any merit but the free gift of God rewarding beyond all condignitie 69 From the Confirmation of some of the Angels in goodnesse and the obstinatenesse of others in malice there arise contrary works on both parts 70 The good Angels are praising and lauding God and sent as ministring Spirits for the good of men 71 The Angels are present with us for good to protect us and to fight for us Bern. Serm. 10. in Psalm 92. 72 The number of the Angels is innumerable as concerning us 73 How the Angels conferr● and discourse one with another let them discusse and determine who are present at their conferences and discourses 74 The Divels by the subtiltie of their nature and their experience for time and also by superiour revelation may foreknow some things but yet not all 75 They may do many things to be admired but they cannot work Miracles properly so called 76 They do what they can by Gods permission They do not what otherwise they can at Gods prohibition 77 And this is such as it is The description of the first work of God which was wrought in time that is the Creation whereof there can be no other moving cause given but onely the superabundant riches of his goodnesse Damasc. 2. Orthod fid cap. 2. 78 For God wrought his works not out of any indigencie but of his meere beneficencie Nothing is added unto him by our praises but he is manifested unto us by his works Euch. lib. 1. in Gen. 79 He is the Finall Cause of the Vniverse in respect of his Goodnesse the Exemplarie Cause in respect of his Wisdome and the Efficient Cause in respect of his Power Thom. 1. q. 46. art 1. 80 Therefore the Glorie of God is the Vltimate and chief end of Creation and the good of Men is the Mediate and secundary end 81 God which is Good yea Goodnesse it self did all things well and made all things good whatsoever he made To him be praise honour and glory for ever and ever Amen CHAP. VI. Wherein are contained Theologicall Aphorismes concerning the PROVIDENCE of GOD. 1 GOD which is Almightie is not onely the Creatour of the Vniverse but also the Vpholder Conserver and Governour of the same 2 He did all things well and doth guide and govern all things well whatsoever he at first made 3 As nothing was made but by Gods creating Essence So nothing is able to stand or endure but by his conserving Power Ansel. in Monol 4 Gods upholding supporting and governing all creatures is usually called Gods Providence 5 Concerning which Nature it self giveth an evident testimony But the Holy Scripture giveth a testimonie much more evident 6 The Laws therefore of true Religion do proclaim it that All things have their being and existence and are governed by the Providence of God Euseb. 6. de praepar Evang. cap. 5. 7 Now the Providence of God consisteth in these three things His Foreknowledge his Purpose and his Administring and Governing all things 8 Which is expressed by Hugo de Sancto Victore after this manner In the Providence of God we must consider his Knowledge directing his Will commanding and his Power exequuting 9 His Foreknowledge is a most present and cleare sight of all things past present and to come 10 God in a moment fixed and not sliding stable and immoveable and not successive beholdeth all things clearly alltogether all at once 11 God by the propertie of his Eternitie excludeth all space and distinction of time 12 As God is not said properly to Remember that which is past so neither is he said properly to Behold afarre off the things which are to come For to him all things are present 13 The things which are known are mutable transitorie and successive but the vision of him that knoweth knoweth no change alteration or succession Polycrat lib. 2. cap. 21. 14 By this knowledge all things are known unto God better then they are unto themselves 15 God beholdeth himself in ●imself and all other things likewise in himself For from him and in him are all things 16 This knowledge of God is immutable But yet notwithstanding some things unto which Gods knowledge extends it self are in themselves mutable 17 All things are Necessary by a necessitie of Consequence but not by a necessitie of the Consequent 18 For it cannot be unknown unto God who is Omniscient which way the force of action in causes or Agents working contingently and freely will incline 19 Yet God by this his Vision doth not inferre upon them any absolute necessitie For then should they not be free and contingent Agents 20 It is a most greivous and hainous sinne to make the Providence
verse he saith that some fast are of a sad countenance that they may appeare unto men to fast 22 The other is but Lame Repentance and by the halfes deploring sinne but without grace and faith 23 But true and saving Repentance consists in serious Contrition and Faith 24 Some call it Evangelicall But here we must adde this explication That in respect of the better part that is Faith which is from the Gospell it is so called 25 True Repentance is a motion of the heart kindled by the Holy Ghost by which a man coming to the knowledge of his sinnes and the wrath of God doth earnestly grieve and by faith in Christ who made satisfaction for his sinnes is again raised up being certainly perswaded that for Christ his sake his sinnes ar● forgiven 26 For Repentance is a kinde of Conversion from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan unto God Act. 26.18 27 Therefore the Term from whence is our sinnes from the consideration whereof there ariseth Contrition and the Terme unto which is God unto whose Mercie we have accesse by the merit of Christ. 28 As many Kindes of Celestiall Doctrine as there are by the ministerie whereof God preacheth unto men Repentance and Remission of sinnes and worketh the same in men so many are the Essentiall parts thereof But there are two kindes of Celestiall Doctrine to wit the Law and the Gospell Therefore also there are two parts of Repentance 29 Each of these Doctrines hath its proper and peculiar effect in the conversion of man The Law striketh fear and terrour whilest it manifesteth sinnes and the wrath of God against them The Gospell giveth comfort whilest it sets before the man that is cōtrite Christ the Mediatour that Lambe of God which taketh away the sinnes of the world 30 These Effects of the Law and the Gospell although they be distinct yet they both concurre in this to make up the complement and perfection of Repentance 31 We do not call good works or new obedience a part but the Fruits worthy of Repentance as the Scripture witnesseth Luk. 3.8 Acts 26.20 32 Some dispute That there are two parts of Repentance to wit Mortification of the flesh and Vivification of the Spirit 33 For my part I am not against them if by Mortification they understand Contrition or griefe conceived upon the acknowledgement of sinnes and the sense of Gods wrath and by Vivification likewise Consolation which is from Faith 34 But if they understand that perpetuall studie of the converted and regenerate in mortifying the old man following the fruits of the Spirit Then I say it belongs to new obedience 35 Which forasmuchas it is not perfect in this life therefore The whole life of a Christian man is called a continued act of Repentance Luther in prim suis propos de Indulg th 1. 36 Those three parts of Repentance according to which it is divided into Contrition of heart Confession of mouth and Satisfaction of work have no place in that saving and inward Conversion unto God by which we return unto God but they have place onely in that publike and Ecclesiasticall Pe●ance used by the Ancients 37 For in time past those which by their publike offences had given ●●and all unto others and were therefore excluded out of the communion of the Church were required to give publike testimonie and signes of their repentance beside inward contrition of heart to wit by their sorrow confession and begging pardon and forgivenesse c. To give the Church satisfaction B. Rhe●anu● 〈◊〉 Schol. ad Tertull d● Poenit. 38 Therefore they abuse that division whosoever say that those are the parts of that saying Repentance by which we return unto God 39 For from that can Faith by no means be excluded for without Faith Repentance cannot be Repentance unto life Act. 11.18 40 Teares are good if thou doest acknowledge Christ. Ambros in cap. 24. Luc. 17. 41 But that which is annexed is farre worse If those actions of the Penitent or Repentant are made to have the force of an Element or the Materiall not onely signifying but also causing and effecting remission of sinnes in the Sacrame●● of Penance and the voice of the Confessor absolving be added thereunto as the Formall Concerning which there is wonderfull great difference amongst writers 42 For thus we should attribute unto our owne endeavours and merits that remission of sinnes which the Scripture appropria●eth unto Christ and his merit apprehended by Faith 43 Contrition is required in our Conversion not as the cause merit of our reconciliation with God out in respect of order 44 Christ preacheth the Gospell but it is to the poore he healeth but it is the humble in heart he preacheth libertie but it is to the captives he preacheth sight but it is to the blinde he preacheth binding-up but it is to the broken in heart Isai. 61.1 Matth. 11.5 To the broken in heart that is to those that know and acknowledge their own spirituall povertie captivitie and blindenesse and therefore are contrite and broken in heart 45 To this Contrition belong Acknowledgement of sinne sense of Gods wrath grief and anguish of a terrified conscience detestation and ●light of sinne as also outward signes of Contrition Teares fasting beating of the breast sackcloth c. 46 But there is a great difference between the Contrition of the Good and Godly and the Contrition of the Hypocrites and Vngodly 47 The Contrition of the Godly ariseth from the speciall operation of the Holy Ghost but the Contrition of the Vngodly and Hypocrites ariseth for the most part from the old man from the naturall powers of free-will 48 The Godly in the terrours of Conscience have an eye unto the principall Object of sinne that is God himself and are onely grieved that they have offended him But the Hypocrites contrarily are more afraid of the judgement of their own mindes and the judgements of other men and they are vexed more with the consideration of the punishment then of the sinne 49 The Godly have an eye not onely to their Actuall sinnes but also to Originall the fountain of all Actuall not onely to outward offences but also to their inward corruptions not onely to the punishments of this present life but also of the life to come But the Hypocrites make confession onely of their outward offences and that in a negligent manner and for the most part they think onely upon the punishments of this present life but if at any time their thoughts be bent upon the consideration of eternall punishments they are carried headlong into the gulf of despair 50 The Godly confesse and acknowledge God to be just and that his judgements are just But it is the propertie of Hypocrites to extenuate their sinnes and to challenge Gods justice 51 But yet we must beware that we make not one Contrition Legall and another Evangelicall 52 For even that Contrition of the godly which they call