Selected quad for the lemma: conscience_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
conscience_n	bind_v	law_n	obligation_n	1,970	5	9.7701	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A79883	Ministers dues and peoples duty; or A bill of accounts between ministers and people: shewing vvhat people owe unto their ministers; which may also serve to mind ministers, what they are to expect from their people. By Sam. Clark M.A. sometimes fellow of Pembroke-Hall in Cambridg, and now minister of Grendon Under-wood in Buckinghamshire.	Clark, Samuel, 1626-1701.; Baxter, Richard, 1615-1691.	1661 (1661)	Wing C4494; Thomason E1057_4; ESTC R204352	37,580	60

10.6 and that in a higher way and with greater punishment then any Magistrate on earth can inflict For all punishment inflicted by the Civil Magistrate is but outward either upon the persons body or estate Psal 49.20 or both but the punishment infligible by the Minister or Ecclesiasticall Magistrate is spirituall and reaches to the soul so that by how much the soul is more valuable then the body or estate by so much is the punishment infligible by the Minister more terrible and dreadfull then any can be inflicted by the Civil Magistrate Although 't is true because men do so much obbrutescere and become like the beasts that perish and are led so much by sense thence it comes to pass that they are more affected with corporall then spirituall punishments and more fear the death of the body then the damnation of the soul and consequently stand more in awe of the Laws of the Land then of the Laws of God Yet in it self the spirituall punishment is incomparably the greater and consequently there is incomparably a a Quod si homines reputarent metuerent sibi plus ab Ecclesiae censuris quàm à gladio virgis Reipubl cùm Ministri habent potestatem vitae necis aeternae ut de omnibus vel ad vitam vel ad mortem sententiam ferant Si è terrâ exigere exturbare sit magnum quanto magis expellere è caelo si è collegio vestro civem movere quanto magis è coetu collegio Sanctorum aliquem excludere posse Cartwr Harm p. 560. stronger obligation lies upon persons to obey the commands of God and his Officers i. e. Ministers than the Laws of the Land and the Civil Magistrate because I say the soul is concerned in the punishment inflicted by the Minister Now it reaches to the soul inasmuch as while persons lye under Ecclesiasticall Censures duly inflicted they are in a state of damnation as far as man can judg of them because their sins are unpardon'd Joh. 28.23 whose soever sins ye retain they are retained and without pardon no blessedness Psal 32.1 The Kingdom of Heaven is shut against them b portam coeli ei occlusam iri cui Ecclesiae ostium valvas obturaverit rem Sacramenti illis substractam iri cui Ecclesia Sacramentum negaverit c. id p. 604. b. for God ratifies and confirms the censure Mat. 16.19 whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven He adds his Dicu le veult whereby it becomes not only an Ordinance of the Church but a Statute-Law of Heaven too so that if a justified person should fall under this censure 't is as impossible for him to die in that condition as for David to die in the act of adultery before repentance so that in it self 't is incomparably greater Only here 's that that something qualifies the matter That punishments inflicted by the Civil Magistrate are sometimes purely at least perfectly vindictive as when they touch the life of the offender for in that case there 's no place left for Repentance and amendment but now the punishment inflicted by the Church is purely and perfectly in its own nature medicinall aiming at the reformation and amendment of the party punished that his soul may be saved in the day of the Lord 1 Cor. 5.5 for his edification not destruction 2 Cor. 10.8 that he may learn not to blaspheme or transgress in any other particular 1 Tim. 1.20 So then Lay all these things together and then tell me whether Ministers have not a compulsive as well as a directive power For can you imagin that a Minister hath no more power over his people than a Physician over his patient who cannot inflict the least shadow of punishment upon them for the greatest non-observation of or contrary practise to his directions or that people are no more bound to obey their Minister than a patient his Physician who yet I doubt not but is bound in conscience to follow his prescriptions No 't is certainly in it self the highest compulsory power imaginable and I see no reason why it may not properly be called Jurisdiction which is nothing else but such a commanding as carries in consequence a revenge against the disobeyer as the greatest Scholer of his time defines it F. Paul Hist of Inquis p. 85. 2d Edit in 8o. which the Apostle Paul almost totidem verbis attributes to Ministers in the place aforementioned 2 Cor. 10.6 Having in readiness to revenge all disobedience As also Why it may not be said That people should obey their Ministers not only for conscience sake but for wrath which yet is commonly denied as subjects must their Magistrates not only for wrath but for conscience sake Rom. 13.5 only the obligation lies stronger towards Ministers than Magistrates because they are more immediate deputies of Christ and deal more immediately for him than Magistrates do Object If it be objected as 't is by some to elevate and extenuate their power That all this power of Ministers is but a Morrice of the Sacrament Sect. 32. p. 300. derivative delegated executive and Ministeriall Answ I grant it and yet 1. However they have at least as much power in their sphears as any subordinate Magistrate whatsoever Judg or Justice of Peace in theirs who act all in the Name of another viz. the Supream Magistrate and nothing in their own 2. 'T is so in relation to God only and not to man They derive not their power from man nor are his servants therein And thus the highest Civil power on earth is derivative viz. from God True we are our peoples servants 2 Cor. 4.5 to do them all the good we can but yet they are not our masters to rule and command us 6. Another duty people owe unto their Ministers is Humble meekness Humble Meekness under reproof which though it belong properly to the former head as a branch thereof yet in regard of the length of that I shall handle it distinctly by it self I say Quiet and meek enduring of reproof Heb. 13.22 I beseech you Brethren suffer the word of Exhortation which phrase the word of Exhortation though it may be taken generally for all manner of instruction whether Information Direction Admonition or the like yet the word suffer seems to aim at something which was grievous and distastfull to them and which they did not care to hear and therefore I take it here more strictly for matter of reproof that people should willingly and patiently hearken to the reproofs of their Ministers take Potions as well as Cordials suffer them to apply corrasives when there is occasion as well as lenitives at other times thus did David Nathan doth not sprinkle him with Court holy-water but tells him plainly of his sinne Thou art the man 2 Sam. 12.7 and threatens him grievously for it ver 10 12. Now David doth not fret and fume at him for it but takes

Gospel-Ministers as well as Legall 1 Cor. 9.14 even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the Gospell should live of the Gospell q. d. As God took care of the Priests under the Law to make provision for them by severall Laws and ordinances concerning their maintenance so hath the Lord Christ likewise for Ministers of the Gospell viz. Luk. 10.7 8. In the same house remain eating and drinking such things as they give for the labourer is worthy of his hire i. e. deserves to be maintained for his labour and therefore meat and drink include all things requisite thereto Nor makes this any thing against that freeness of preaching the Gospell which some in simplicity or worse do urge as inconsistent with liberall maintenance for even the Volunteer follows not the warre at his own charges Concerning which maintenance observe with me these following particulars worthy consideration 1. That it must not be pinching and scanty but liberall and plentifull Thus it was under the Law for though the Priests were not above a fourth part of the people as a See Dr Reyn. on Psal 110. p. 478. Dr Reynolds computes it or not above a fifth or sixth part according to the Learned Selden yet their revenues in first-fruits and prediall tenths amounted to neer a fifth part of the profits of the Land as b See Seld. Review c. 5. prope finem Selden reckons it besides their lands and many other advantages so that they had above ten times as much as the same number of persons of other Tribes Now Ministers of the Gospell having a more excellent Ministry as the Apostle shews 2 Cor. 3. their maintenance also should be proportionably liberall for 't is prophecied that in Gospell-times it should be so Isa 23.18 where the Prophet speaking of the conversion of Tyre and how she should employ her riches when she was converted saith It shall not be treasured nor laid up viz. for any civill common use either publike or private for her merchandize shall be for them that dwell before the Lord to eat sufficiently and for durable cloathing i. e. from the Tyrian trade they being converted to God means and maintenance should be freely and largely afforded to God's Ministers for all necessaries and accommodations so the English Annot. but more clearly the Apostle gives an express command that he that is taught should communicate to his Teacher 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in all his goods Gal. 6.6 and that Ministers should have double honour i. e. maintenance 1 Tim. 5.17 so as to be able to keep hospitality 1 Tim. 3.2 2. This maintenance must be proportion'd out of the least arising profits as well as the greatest Mint annise and cummin and all manner of hearbs ought to be tithed Mat. 23.23 Luk. 11.42 The Jewish Doctors deliver by tradition with Selden Seld. of tithes p. 20. that all things growing out of the earth and fit for man's meat is titheable 3. It is not a matter of alms or in the nature of a free gift but that which Ministers have power to require of the people 1 Cor. 9.4 6 12. 2 Thes 3.9 being due both by God's Ordinance as was shewed afore and also by a Law of Justice they performing service for it 1 Cor. 9.7 10. Who goes a warfare any time at his own charges c q.d. Ask the souldier husbandman shepheard whether they will serve you for nought and whether they do not justly require recompence for their labour And if it be but just to pay them then 't is but just to recompence these 4. That maintenance Ministers receive from their people they receive it in Gods name and stead it belongs primarily to him and they are but his Officers in receiving as well as dispensing and therefore defrauding of them is robbing of God Mal. 3.8 Will a man rob God yet ye have robbed me but ye say wherein have we robbed him in tithes and offerings 5. Whatsoever maintenance Ministers receive from their people yet their people can never make them amends because there is no proportion between what people give to them and what they receive from their Ministers 1 Cor. 9.11 If we have sown unto you spirituall things is it a great thing if we reap your carnall things Dr Rey. q.d. If you rightly judg of those heavenly treasures which we bring in abundance to you it 's impossible you should judg our pains and service towards your immortall and precious souls sufficiently rewarded with any of these earthly perishable things we receive from you And therefore Paul tells Philemon that he owed him even his very selfe Philemon 19. 6. Ministers may justly require maintenance of their people though they have estates of their own for thus God had expressely provided under the Law Deut. 18.8 They shall have like portions to eat beside that which cometh of the sale of his patrimony The Priest must live of his service notwithstanding his private estate the equity of which Law belongs to the Ministers of the Gospel See Jus Divi. Mini. Evang. p. 15. 7. Though 't is true Paul and Barnabas for some speciall reasons received nothing from some Churches but did work with their own hands to supply their necessities yet 1. They put it into the Catalogue of their sorrowes and sufferings 1 Cor. 4 12. We labour working with our own hands 2. They still thought that it was a Gospell-ordinance and assert their power to receive it 1 Cor. 9.4 15. 1 Tim. 5.17 18. 2 Thes 3.9 3. They received much from others 2 Cor. 11.8 That which was lacking to me the Brethren that came from Macedonia supplied Phil. 4.16 Even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again to my necessity And 4. He highly commends the Philippians for this their liberality towards him Phil. 4.14 Ye did well that ye did communicate with my affliction And ver 18. having received of Epaphroditus the things that were sent from you an odor of a sweet smell a sacrifice acceptable well-pleasing to God Concerning the particular proportion of Ministers maintenance I shall not meddle with the Divine right of tithes only say that this way of maintenance by tithes being establisht by the Laws of the Land people are bound in conscience to obey the Law except they can shew that it interfears with the Law of God in paying of them Rom. 13.5 Ye must be subject not only for wrath but for conscience sake And therefore a person may as well pick the money out of a Ministers pocket as defraud him of any due the latter being as much to be abstained from as the former because both are forbidden ' by the same Law 10. Another duty is Fervent Prayer for them Fervent Prayer 1 Thes 5.25 Brethren pray for us So Heb. 13.18 Thus when Paul and Silas went forth to preach they were recommended by the Brethren to the grace of God viz by prayer Acts 15.40 People should pray that God would qualifie

the temper of the ingratefull world of whome the Ministers of Christ may complaine as David of some in his time They compassed me about with words of hatred and fought against me without a cause for my love they are my adversaries and have rewarded me evill for good and hatred for my love Psal 109.3 4 5. They are the Ministers of all others who are made the cheife butt against which many persons do shoot all the invenomed arrowes of their rage and malice and no sort of men I dare say are more odious to a number of loose untractable persons sons of Belial than they who are many of them so desperatly bent and furiously driven on with a rage reaching up to heaven that nothing lesse then their bloud if they could tell how to come at it and utter extirpation would quench their thirst and satisfy their revengefull hearts as it was with Herodias concerning John the Baptist But as we say Curst cowes have short hornes so some that have spoken big swelling words of vanity against Ministers and Ministry breathing out threatings and designing their utter ruine and destruction have been not only defeated and disappointed in their intended mischeif but the wheel is brought upon them selves as Solomon speakes Prov. 20.26 whereby they are bruised and crusht and thresht and so their faces are filled with shame as 't is said concerning such Psal 83.16 So that we have seen of late daies the propheticall imprecation of Moses upon the enemies of Levi notably verified Smite through the loines of them that rise up against him and of them that hate him that they rise not againe Deut. 33.11 3. Take heed of non-attendance upon them for instruction neglect not seeking unto them Privatly for satisfaction and resolution a very common and continuall fault the duty being sildome or never practised in many places so that whereas the doores of Lawyers and Physitians are thronged many times with attendants poore Ministers may sit longe enough before any one will come to the mon such an errand though the former be costly and this they may have upon free-coste only for asking but however Neglect not frequenting the publicke Assemblys for instruction there Forsake not the Assembling of your selves together as the manner of some a great many now a daies is Heb. 10.25 'T is a sign of some sad distemper hanging upon the soule when persons either have no stomack at all to their spirituall food or prefer unsavory stuffe yea infectious trash before wholsome provision Therefore let neither profanesse flothfulnesse nor presumption detaine you from Church Nay ramble not from your own Pastor if he be in any measure able and faithfull A rolling stone gathers no mosse and rambling Christians cannot grow much either in grace or knowledge And therefore let not a gadding humor drive you from your own Church And when you are there Be not drowsy sleepy carelesse heedlesse carelesse hearers let not your heads be like leaking vessells letting that go out at one eare which you take in at the other when you bring your bodies in to the Congregation leave not your soules behind you But be swift to heare Jam. 1.19 Heare as for your lives when you are hearing the word of life 4. Take heed of contemning their Authority and disobeying their commands and directions Heareby a light mispirsion may grow up into a grand transgresson an inconsiderable anomy an diniquity may swell into an hainous and heavy enormity For as obedience is better then sacrifice and to hearken then the fat of rams so Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and stubbornesse is as iniquity and idolatry 1 Sam. 15.22.23 Thinke not your selves wiser than your teachers so as proudly to contradict and oppose them A sin not of the least magnitude for it is set as a brand of infamy upon those that were guilty of it and as an instance of a notorious sin Hos 4.4 Thy people are as they that strive with the Preist And therefore threatned to be punisht proportionably Deut. 17.12 The man that will do presumptuously and will not hearken to the Priest that standeth to Minister there before the Lord thy God or unto the judge even that man shall dy and thou shalt put away the evill from Isaerl And actually censured by the Apostle 2 Thes 3.14 If any man obey not our word by this Epistle note that man and have no company with him that he may be ashamed And truly methinkes these words of Chrsts Mat. 18.18 Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven should be as so many thunderclaps to strike terror into the consciences of all stuborn and rebellious persons who disobey and neglect to heare their Ministers and thereby incur Ecclesasticall censures that they are not only condemned and censured by them but by God likewise and beleive it sirs it s no playing and dallying with such edg-tooles O therefore take heed least you find cause one day to bewaile your folly heerin when 't is too late and to complain of your selves as he in Prov. 5.13 How have I hated instruction and have not obeyed the voice of my teachers nor inclined mine eare to them that instructed me 5. Take heed of impatience under their censures or undervaluing thoughts of them as if they were but bruta fulmina blunt weapons like cannons charged with powder only which make a great noise but do no execution or like a bee that hath lost his sting which though it may humme yet it cannot hurt True they wound not the body nor prejudice the estate directly and immediately yet are never the lesse terrible for that for like lightning that melts the Sword and meddles not with the Scabbard they seize upon the soule and punish persons in a spirituall way they turn them out of dooers as I may so say as masters do unruly servants by banishing them from communion with the Church they make them to fast as Parents do untoward children many times by depriving them of the bread of life in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Whereby such persons are in the state of Publicans and heathens Mat. 18.17 Yea like dogs and swine Mat. 7.6 Which surely is no contemptible matter Yea by these censures they are bound over to the vengeance of God with such strong cords which 't is true they may unty by Repentance but they shall never be able to breake and disintangle themselves from by all their impenitence and contempt or any such like courses Is he that adviseth thee thy superior Thine anger is undutifull Is he thy friend It is ungratefull Dr Rein. 6. Take heed of being angry with them for their Reproofes Wee Ministers are too apt of our selves to be mealie-mouth'd many times and let you alone in your sins for feare of your displeasure A pettish patient maketh the Chirurgeon search the wound lesse than is necessary to a through cure Now do not you help forward this humor in us