Selected quad for the lemma: reason_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
reason_n	mean_n	motive_n	object_n	5,564	5	11.3929	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A06732	Christs love and affection towards Jerusalem Delivered in sundry sermons out of his words and carriage when he came unto her, as they are recorded, Luke 19. 41, 42. Wherein are handled, 1 Christs teares which he shed for Ierusalem, and the matter of singular observation in them. ... 6 The sin and misery of those who live under the meanes, and have the things of Christ and the Gospell hid from them. By Richard Maden B.D. preacher of the word of God at St. Helens London, and late fellow of Magdalen Colledge in Cambridge.	Maden, Richard.	1637 (1637)	STC 17179; ESTC S111890	200,454	300

both alike that is because there is a possibility that both may prosper and succeed well therefore neglect no season or opportunity of sowing thy seed and doing that which God requires and if one time succeed not according to thy minde bee not discouraged still apply thy selfe to God in the use of the meanes that which one day yeelds not another day may bring forth The people of Nineveh went upon no other ground but this when they humbled themselves in fasting and prayer they knew not whether God would be intreated to spare them or no but they knew nothing to the contrary but that their humiliation might prevaile with God and therefore they resolve to make triall c Iona. 3.9 Who can tell if God will repent and turne from his fierce wrath that wee perish not And it was not in vaine for them so to doe for God saw their workes that they turned from their evill wayes and hee repented him of the evill that he said he would doe unto them and he did it not But here is more encouragement to seeke for those things which are simply and absolutely necessary to salvation because there is not onely a possibilitie of obtaining them but also a reall purpose and intention in God as hath beene shewed to give and bestow them if they bee sought for and he that would make his advantage out of this truth hee must doe these two things d Cajetan com in loc Haec duo oportet credi non à quolibet Deo grato sed à quolibet accedente ad Deum non e● conjuncto Calvin com in loc Haec est ratio cur citra fidē nullus Deo placeat quia nullus ad Deū unquā accedet nisi qui credit Deū esse et statuit remuneratorem esse omnibꝰ qui cū quaerunt Hinc ostendit Apostolus quomodo gratiā nobis conciliat fides nempe quia ad colendū verum Deum nobis Magistra est deinde quia nos de ejus volūtate certiores reddit ne frustra nobis videamur eū quaerere haec duo mēbra non leviter praetereunda sunt nempe ut ipsum esse Deū credamꝰ deinde ut persuasi fimꝰ non frustra ipsum à nobis quaeri 1 Hee must lay a good foundation by setling this perswasion in himselfe that God is both able and willing to give him life and salvation 2 He must addresse himselfe unto God in the use of those meanes that hee hath appointed for the obtaining of it First this foundation must be laid that God is both able and willing to give him life and salvation and it is no other foundation than that which the Scripture hath laid already e Heb. 11.6 Hee that comes unto God must beleeve that hee is and that hee is a rewarder of those that come unto him In which precept there are two things considerable 1 The person to whom it is given and that is he that commeth unto God that is as I conceive not a person actually beleeving in Christ for then there would be a tautologie in the Precept and the sense would runne thus Hee that beleeveth in God must beleeve that hee is c. which were a needlesse injunction requiring nothing but what was done already but by him that commeth unto God I understand such a person as first begins to entertain some thoughts of leaving his sinne and turning unto God such a one it is to whom the precept is given 2 What it is that is required of him and that is to beleeve and perswade himselfe of these two things touching God 1 That he is that is that hee is God infinite in wisedome and power and therefore able to supply all his wants to subdue all his corruptions and to make good whatsoever hee promiseth unto him for infinite Wisedome can never be at a losse to finde out wayes and means to doe him good and infinite Power can never faile to put those meanes in execution 2 That hee is a rewarder of those that seeke him that is that he is willing to doe them good willing to enter into a covenant with them and therefore it shall not bee in vaine for them to seek unto him they shall not lose their labour but they shall bee sure to speed in their errand for God hath signified his willingnesse and consent already in the Gospell there needs no more but their consent to make an actuall agreement and to strike up a covenant betweene them 2 When this foundation is well and soundly laid the next care must bee wisely to build upon it by applying himselfe unto God in the use of those meanes f Mat. Martin com in Psal 2. pag. 298. Quò consequaris ut conditionem impl●re queas non opus est curiosa disputatione sed simplici obsequ●o in usu mediorū quae Deus ad fidem creandam constituit c. omnibus nobis ad fidem salutem praeparandis ac du●endis vi● ista est ut informari nos sustineamus c. in divini spiritus disciplinā nos tradamus ut sincere stud●●mus sequi Dominū nostrū et longe fave●tiorem in nos experiemur quam mente percipere possunius which he hath ordained for the obtaining of life for though a man cannot plant in himselfe any principles of life either in whole or in part yet he may use the meanes wherein and whereby God is pleased to doe it Like as it was with Naaman the Assyrian though he could not cure his Leprosie either in whole or in part yet hee could wash himselfe in Iordan according to the Prophets direction g 2 King 5. if he had not done so for any thing we know he had never beene healed so it is with men that are indued with an inferiour and more common worke of the Spirit although this doe not worke a perfect cure upon them and restore health into their soules yet it doth inable them to use the meanes whereby they are fitted and prepared to receive those essentiall ingredients and principles of grace by which a perfect cure is made and in the use of the meanes there is a double care to bee had The first is to pitch upon the right means The second is so to use them as that they may prove effectuall for the obtaining of those blessings which God hath promised to such as use them aright First there must bee a care to pitch upon the right meanes The outward meanes is the hearing of the Word h Jsa 55.3 Heare and your soule shall live The inward meanes which are especially to be used are meditation and prayer Meditation whereby he steepes his thoughts in the consideration of those arguments and reasons those objects and Motives which the Scripture propounds unto him to draw his heart and affections nearer unto God i 2 Tim. 2.7 Consider what I say c. Prayer whereby hee makes his approaches to the Throne of Grace and becomes an