Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	work_n	work_v	worker_n	129	4	11.6337	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91366	The way step by step to sound and saving conversion, with a clear discovery of the two states, viz: nature, & grace: and how to know in which state one is, and the way to come out of the one into the other. Or, The ready and right path-way for the first Adams posterity to get out of their fallen estate accompanied with sin and misery, into the relation and family of the last Adam, which estate is attended with grace and glory, &c. With many weighty questions answered, and cases of conscience resolved, for the clearing and confirming the truths asserted. / By Robert Purnell.	Purnell, Robert, d. 1666.	1659 (1659)	Wing P4241; Thomason E1800_1; ESTC R209703	66,581	144

acceptable with the Lord a will to obey the Lord is all that a blessed Paul can sometimes find Rom. 7. 18. One may be a babe in Christ though carnal 1 Cor. 3. ● and I brethren could not speak unto you as unto spiritual bu● as unto carnal even as unto babes in Christ or as some rendreth the word as unto sucklings in Christ To closeup this consider one drop of water is for the quality the same as the whole Ocean Sea one grain of gold is as pure gold as a whole mountain of gold the least bud by the side of a great tree draws sap from the same root that the greatest limb or branch doth So the least measure of grace is as true grace as the greatest measure it is as pure for the quality though not so much for the quantity Our salvation depends upon the truth of grace our consolation depends upon the degree● of grace Certain Objections answered which some out of weakness and others out of prejudice may be apt to make against the foregoing Discourse Qu. If a people refuse to imbrace the doctrine and practice the disciplin of the true Religion whether they are not to be forced to receive the one and practise the other yea or no Ans Religion is to be taught not to be forced and that for these reasons 1. Because Christ and his Apostles never used any force in propagating of religion not the sword but the Word and Prayer were the instruments used to propagate christianity 2. If it be not in our own power to believe till it be given us from above how can it be in the power of any other to make us believe how can they forceus to take that which is not given and to profess that which we have not received 3. Religion is the free gift of God which as it is freely given so it must be freely received without constraint for the will cannot be forced 4. As he is not to be esteemed an heretick or an Idolater that is forced thereto neither is he to be esteemed religious that is compelled to embrace it 5ly The forcing of Religion hath been the cause of much mischief viz. murthers disorders and changes in States Therfore the wise Romans saith Mr. Woll●bius p. 332 permitted the Iews after they were subdued to use freely their own Religion But men are to be warned and exhorted to make use of the means If the acts of hearing reading praying meditation conference are means by which Religion is both begot and nourished to neglect the use of these and the like means is to neglect our own salvation c. Q. Whether liberty of conscience be as some say a cursed toleration or of divine institution yea or no An. If under a pretence of liberty of conscience men shall own any other God or preach any other Christ or Gospel than what is written for our learning or press people to walk by any other rule this undoubtedly is a cursed tole●ation and to be lamented But for a people that doth hold the head and agree in the doctrinal part of Religion holding all to the essence of substantial truths if they differ somwhat in the discipline how and when and in what plac●s this God is to be worshipped here in the strong must bear with the weak and give the new-born babes leave to feed upon milk and the child to speak and think as a child whilst the young man is grabling with gainsayers and the old man going on to perfection and thus seeing the one cannot see by the others eyes Col. 2. 6. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk ye in him Nevertheless whereunto ye have already attained let us walk by the same rule let us mind the same things Phil. 3. 15. 16. If in any thing ye be otherwise minded God shall reveal even this unto you Vniformity in discipline as well as in doctrine is much to be desired and the want of it to be lamented and the accomplishment of it to be indeavoured by all that are truly convicted Qu. What is or ought to be the ground of commanion and fellowship in the church of Christ An. Vnion For without union there is no communion or fellowship a Christian having Christ formed in him comes by degrees to see his union with him and from that union with Christ as the ground and foundation desires to joyn himself in fellowship with the people of Christ that he may inquire in his temple and behold his glory and injoy the communion of Saints which is a great part of ou● comfort on earth See Psal 27. 4. compared with 1 John 1. 3. Qu. Whether there be any preparatory work required of men and women before conversion and if so what it is An According to the ordinary dispensation of God the soul is made sensible of sin and the wages thereof death curse and hell but all the preparatory works before conversion may be reduced to these few heads 1. Revelation of its finful and lost estate so far as to acknowledge himself a lawfull captive 2. Revelation of Christ in some small measure in and by whom there is a possibility of obteining mercy 3. The soul is resolved to wait on God in the use of means for the obtaining of mercy But let the Reader take notice that whatsoever preparations and qualifications there is required they are first wrought in us by the finger of God who worketh in us both to will and to doe of his own good pleasure man is merely passive in the first work of conversion or regeneration he could not so much as really wish it but in all the rest man is a fellow-fellow-worker with God he is the instrument though not the cause of his own salvation viz. the Lord speaks and he hears the Lord calls and he answereth the Lord draws and he comes the Lord commandeth and he in some measure obeyeth man is not like a stock when he is called for he is the fit subject of vocation seeing he is a reasonable creature yet his reason helps him nothing to his vocation till it be enlightned and so the minde is changed and the stonie heart softned Eze. 36. Q. Whether there be not a free-will remaining in all the posterity of Adam An. A mans will remains free but it is to evil only the imagination of the heart is only evil Gen. 6. 5 Mans will is not free until it be by grace made free yet poor man would be like the Spider spinning out a thred of his own and so think to climb up to heaven by a thred spun out of his own bowels wheras we are not sufficient of our selves to think that is good as of our selves but all our sufficiency is of God 2 Cor. 3 5. Q. Whether Adam by his fall did totally lose eve●y good thing that there was in him yea or no An By original sin our natural gifts are corrupted but supernatural gifts are utterly lost