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A25460 Fides Catholica, or, The doctrine of the Catholick Church in eighteen grand ordinances referring to the Word, sacraments and prayer, in purity, number and nature, catholically maintained, and publickly taught against hereticks of all sorts : with the solutions of many proper and profitable questions sutable to to [sic] the nature of each ordinance treated of / by Wil. Annand ... Annand, William, 1633-1689. 1661 (1661) Wing A3218; ESTC R36639 391,570 601

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glory of God Iohn his zeal was not zeal but ambition 4. In a found knowledge of things prayed for we must understand what we pray that our zeal may be according to knowledge and our Amen agreeable to religion 5. In a constant making conscience of the duty for Gods glory our own and our neighbours good This grace in prayer is very necessary For 1. It is a servent of zealous Prayer that will avail for any thing Iam. 5.17 2. It is a servent prayer that will only obtaine heaven Mat. 11.12 3. It is by it only that the true Christian can be distinguished from the Hypocrit Math. 23.14 These are the graces that constituts prayer and makes it move toward heaven and indeed without these prayer is no more a prayer then 2 dead coarse is a man these being the very form and inward life of it Read pag. 513. before p. 512 made by him therefore he is great honour by it 1 Cor. 6.20 2. God hath redeemed the body as well as the soul he cures the deseases of the one as well as pardons the sins of the other 3. God will glorify the body as well as the soul. 4. We can only give a good example by the body not by the soul how shall our light shine to others but through the lanthrone of our outward man and where this light appears not It is to be suposed there is no light in them For were they burneing they would also be shineing lights Iohn 5.53 SECT VII Questions Resolved Quest. 1. Whether men by Industry may obtaine a promptnesse in prayer Quest. 2. Whether the wicked be bound to pray Quest. 3. Whether the set forms of prayer used by law in the Church of England be lawfull Quest. 4. Whether there be not vaine repitions in those formes Quest. 5. Whether it would be convenient to altar any part of those formes Quest. 1. Whether men by Industry may obtaine a promptnesse in prayer This question taketh its rise from the practise of those ignorant pretenders to the spirit of prayer whose devotion in a great 2. The external forme which consists in the gestures of the body must be considered God will be worshipped with the whole man that is both soul and body We have them that pretending to inward worship will not give God outward service but we shall find the Saints both in the old and new Testament using their bodies in this duty of prayer both in the generall and some particular parts of it 1. The body in general and that in different gestures as prostration Numb 16.22 Kneeling Acts 20.36 Standing Luk 18.13 Lying Isa. 38.12 a Sitting 2 Sam. 7.18 leaping Act. 3.8 2. We have some particular parts of the body exercised in this ordinance in a particular sort as the head eyes hands mouth or tongue 1. The head and that bowed down 2 Chro. 29.30 noteing the reverence they bore to him in their hearts It is also called a bowing with the face and once was done so low as the very ground of the pavement 2 Chro. 7.3 2. The eyes and they sometimes cast down Luk. 18.13 noteing humility and sometime cast up Iohn 12.41 noteing faith 3. The hands and they spread abroad noteing fulnesse of grief Ezra 9.5 and also fulnesse of joy 1 King 8.22 holding forth anger to throw a way the thing prayed against and a desire to receave the thing prayed for Again the hands are lifted up noteing zeal of Gods glory Psal. 63.4 and sincerity of heart Lam. 3.41 In praying and noteing an appeal to God inswearing Gen. 14.22 Dan. 12.7 further they finite some parts of the body at the breast noteing sorrow Luk. 18.13 as the thigh noteing shame and guilt Iere. 31.19 3. The tongue this needs no proof it is so clear and so commonly known And was there not a cause to use the severall parts of the body in his service did the Saints do this without a reason 1. The body is Gods as well as the soul it is a creature measure consisted in hums and haws way faces and strained words not being prompt in their extemporary deliveries which to a voyd and that the weak Christian may have where with to expresse himself in a prompt and decent manner let him practise those known following rules 1. Be observant of the providences of God to themselves or others that they ether know hear or see this evil befalling now upon such and this good being given to others our own deliverance in such a danger and anothers being left in the same danger will afford abundance of matter in prayer 2. Be studious of the Scriptures of God by observing and heading the promises threatnings and passages therein a great furtherance shall they be to him that intends to go to God by prayer 3. Be often in the pactise of prayer In this use may go a great way and bares a great stroake men that have great parts may lose them by not useing of them and they that have small parts with exercise may abundantly improve them ● Be frequent in examinings the turnings and windings of the heart the vanity and folly and wickednesse that lodge therein will bring in great store of provision to that part of prayer Confession 5. Be strengthening the heart in the doctrine of faith this will make a man bold confident which will also make him prompt and fluent 6. Be studious in reading practical Divinity which treasures the soul with abundance of found knowledge and that affords matter of meditation and that again in prayer is brought forth with abundance of advantage 7. Call upon God for the Spirit of prayer not that I mean thou shouldst desire the spirit imediatly to act upon the heart and mind and then upon the tongue as some fond ones in those dayes for it may be aquestion whether that prayer would be lawfull in regard that whatever is sayd upon that ground is equall to what was delivered by the Apostles and equally binding the whole Church of God and to be a rule and canon of faith to all that hears thee so pray and Indeed some mens zeal in calling up a spirit of prayer gave breath to their Impudence who pretended a spirit of preaching which spread so farre that even womens preaching hath been taught to be as Infallible as St. Pauls and their sayings to be received under the pain of damnation as well as the sayings of our Lord. By the Spirit of prayer therefore we understand two things 1. The spirit of Justification to sprin le the soul of Christ. of sanctification to wash away all uncleannesse called the washing of regeneration Tit. 3.5 which spirit wherever it is is accompained with a desire to pray and disposeth the soul to pray though it were but in groans and wishes Rom. 8.26 and by observeing the rules before given having obtained this gift the soul may not only gro●ne but speake unto God its desires 2. The graces of the spirit or fruits of
and received as the word of Christ which other Scripture is as well as the Psalms But 3. Because of all Scripture the Psalms are of most generall use as having in them the greatest variety of doctrine the most fervent and working motives to godlinesse and piety and 4. Because of all the Scripture they were usually most if not only sung they were in a special way chanted by the Saints and sung by the holy men under the Law which besides the Spirit of God who by David did compose those Psalms suitable to be sung was occasioned from those holy raptures that by experience believers felt in themselves in the using of them arising upon the variety of Doctrine that was naturally perceived to be in them and flow from them but of these things more at large when vve come to handle that Ordinance of singing in particular CHAP. III. HAving opened the Text we shall now by the assistance of him whose word is to be spoken of come to the drawing out of such truths as shall and may serve for firm pillars whereby the true Christian and sober Saint may stand upright against and in despite of the storms and blasts of all contrary Doctrine Our purpose is to speak of the nature of and to defend the Churches practise in those effectual and grand Ordinances viz. the Word Sacraments and Prayer the Conduit Pipes to convey the water of life to the languishing and thirsty soul though some in this Age surfeiting through plenty account them but as puddle and to be shunned by men As a foundation and ground to the whole Discourse we shall therefore handle this point of Doctrine from the words in generall That it is a Duty incumbent upon all persons to have knowledge of and to be well acquainted with the holy Scriptures The word of Christ is the unum necessarium that one thing needfull for a Christian in this earth and in his passing or travelling toward heaven indispensably necessary as a guide to direct him as light to comfort him and as armour to defend him Ephes. 6.17 Psal. 119.105 Psal. 19.7 In the opening of this doctrine we shall observe this method 1. Show what knowledge it is that lies upon all Christians as a Duty 2. What it is to be well acquainted with the Scriptures 3. Give other Scriptures for the proof of the point 4. Demonstrate the truth of it by reasons drawn from Scripture 5. Discover some causes that hinder the knowledge of the word in our days 6. Draw some Corollaries 7. Resolve some Questions This shall be the Order that we will follow and the God of Order cause his blessing to go along with it that it may effectually teach us how to order our Lives aright towards God and towards man in these irregular days of ours SECTION I. VVHen Christ had ascended up on high and led captivity captive he gave gifts to men Ephes. 4.8 which gifts did vary and were more or less according to the good pleasure of him that ruleth all things Every man hath not knowledge alike and no man knoweth all things he that knoweth most knoweth but in part 1 Cor 13.12 According to the Order God puts men in he will give five two or but one talent and no more some things lie hid from the wisest and other things God will have the lowest of men find out he hath given his word universally to all that by it all may know their duty and he is a wise man which knoweth that There are three things that every Christian must indispensably know in Scripture 1. All necessary truths God will be offended if they know not how to be good Christians not if we be not good Disputants We are to know that God is a Spirit And they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in truth John 4.24 that he is a hater and punisher of sin Rom. 1.18 that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Saviour of the world Acts 9.20 Acts 5.31 c. From the knowledge of these and the like things there are none excepted they are indeed the ground work of all Religion and God will be angry if men know them not 2. All profitable truths It is necessary for men in health strength and wealth to lay up some comfortable provision against the days come wherein they shall say I have no pleasure in them Texts that can mitigate sickness suppress doubts and keep off despair conduce much to a Christians being and his well being also The mysteries of Daniel will not afford so much comfort to a drooping soul as the great mysterie of godliness What time thou art afraid trust in God Psal. 56.3 Remember Happy is he what case soever befals him that hath the God of Iacob for his help whose hope is in the Lord his God Psal. 146.5 God may bring thee through the fire and refine thee as silver is refined and try thee as Gold is tryed Zach. 13.9 Meditate therefore upon the Faith and patience of the Saints Rev. 13.10 and upon the end of the Lord Jam. 5.11 3. All Relative truths i.e. to know those things that God hath given a man in charge in reference to that particular calling or relation that God hath given to him or put him in A Father must know his Duty for he shall answer for his failings in that particular the Magistrate his the Minister his the people theirs God will punish Eli for his failings as a Father 1 Sam. 3.13 Saul for his as a Magistrate 1 Sam. 15.26 Nadab and Abihu for theirs as Priests Lev. 10.2 The people for theirs Mal. 3.8 9 10. Eonus Civis sed malus homo it is one thing to be a good Christian and another to be a good Father be both or if thou be not thou mayst be saved yet so as by fire 1 Cor. 3.15 that is as a man that hath his house and his goods burned may yet escape with his life so thou mayst be brought to heaven but not in that comfortable and joyfull condition which thou mightest hadst thou filled up all thy Relations according to the duties enjoyned thee by the word But of these there may be and is a twofold knowledge 1. A speculative or a head knowledge a knowledge that goeth no further then the brain old Eli might know w●●t he ought to have done The word of Christ may be in a mans brain and there it will speed no better then the seed that was sown in stony ground Matth. 13.5 wanting depth of earth A head-knowledge will but encrease our guilt and that will increase our misery for he that knoweth his Masters will and doth it not shall be beaten with many stripes 2. An affective or heart-knowledge Theologia est scientia affectiva directiva which goes down to the affections and causes a man to walk and to do according to that which he knows Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophesie of this Book Rev. 22.7 This is to
carriage without and some their deportment within the Pulpit we shall see only the chief of them In a Minister there is required 1. Courage Tit. 2.15 2. Sobriety 1 Tim. 3.2 3. Liberality 4. Docibility or aptness to teach 5. Temperance 6. Patience 1 Tim. 3.2 7. A Lover of good things and of good men 8. Holiness 9. Justice 1 Tit. 7.8 We must note that some of these cannot be known by the quickest eye No Bishop is omniscient to know the heart and therefore may ordain a man that wants many of these and also we must observe that a person may come for ordination with many or all of these and yet may backslide which takes not away the force of ordination The Angel of the Church of Ephesus fell from his first purity and love yet was an Angel still Rev. 2.4 5. he may loose his patience his temperance his holiness yet a Minister still and the power of preaching and administring the Sacraments and exercising the keys abide with him these ordinances not depending upon the quality of him that doth administer them more then the force of the Broad Seal of England depends upon the merits of my Lord Chancellour as shall God willing be proved in its own place To all these qualifications above named must be joyned competency of knowledge It is not every man that is just holy or patient must be ordained he must be of understanding competent for the work which competency appears in these particulars from Tit. 1.9 viz. 1. His adhering to the truth known not opinionated 2. In his ability to teach and that soundly for the edification of the Church according to that truth 3. In his dexterity in maintaining of that truth stopping the mouth of Gainsayers he that is so qualified cannot be refused ordination We say competently qualified ' For who is sufficient for these things SECT III. Let us see who they are that must thus ordain whose hands they be that by their laying on the person is qualified in an external way for the publick preaching of the word 1. Not their own Heb. 5.4 It is against the practise of the whole Church of God in all ages for any man though never so well gifted to separate himself or ordain himself as is clear in the examples of Stephen Nicanor c. Nay if it were in a mans own power to separate himself for the work of the Gospel Paul needed not to have left Titus in Creet to ordain Elders in every City Tit. 1.5 It is a practice beyond a president in the Church of Christ for one to ordain himself We read indeed how Frederick the second upon Easter day through necessity crowned himself with his own hands King of Ierusalem in Ierusalem but that ever man made himself a Priest in Ierusalem save Saul Ieroboam and such prophane Wretches whom God did curse even for so doing we read not Neither in old or new Testament is there any instance of one who set himself apart for holy functions or that thought himself qualified in an authoritative way to reach the Gospel upon the sufficiency of gifts as Courage Holiness Knowledge and the like if so Stephen Philip Prochorus c. needed never have been ordained Deacons Acts 6.3 4 5. Nor Paul nor Barnabas Apostle or Evangelist Acts 13.2 nor Timothy a Bishop or E'der 1 Tim. 4.14 2. Not the multitude Never did God give the power of ordination to the people in general before nor after Christ if so where two or three would please to meet they might ordain which in few dayes would make the Church of Christ con●ist of Shepherds rather then of sheep yea would make all Apostles all Teachers c. We find the contrary practised For when the multitude had chosen and nominated persons of honest report full of the holy Ghost and Wisdom th●y set them before the Apostles who prayed and l●id their hands on them Acts 6.3 6. yea as was said before the inhabitants of the Cities of Creet might have ordained Elders Titus might have gone forward with Paul In summe God never giving the people the power of ordination since the creation they can never deliver that power to any untill the dissolution of the world Presumptuous are they therefore that will take ordination from them impudent before the Lord therefore they that will presume to give that authority in matters of so great concernment as the word and Sacraments to any of their own body 3. Only Church officers or the Apostles successors they are only to teach and to baptize unto the end of the world Paul and the Presbytery ordains Timothy he ordains others and they others and so by a moral succession from the Apostles is the Ministerial office upheld but of this we have spoken It were too great a task for me to offer to wade into that troublesome discourse touching Episcopal or Presbyterial ordination least I should drown my self being but of small standing in the Church of Christ yet by vertue of that Proverb It is good to be sure Episcopacy is much to be preferred that being the most ancient way since if not before the Apostles departure from the world and albeit it hath some ruptures or breaches in some of the reformed Churches yet the Acts and Lawes of England make no ordination valid but what originally is Episcopal SECT IV. We are to behold the man thus separated for the Lords use For the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ Ephes. 4.12 We say we are to see what his duty is and what he is to perform amongst men The very naming of his ordination shewes you what he is to do and the distinction above named discovers his duty but to be more particular yet not large 1. He is to take all advantages and opportunities of preaching that word the preaching of which he is separ●ted for 2 Tim. 4.1 2. The more wicked the times be he lives in the more bold and confident he ought to be 2 Tim. 4.3 yet this excludes not but that he may flee persecution Acts 9.25 3. In preaching of the Word he is to observe the proportion of faith Rom. 1●2 6 4. He is to teach the word according to the capacity of his people 1 Cor. 14.9 the other parts of his duty are clear and obvious SECT V. Questions resolved● Quest. 1. Whether ordination may better a Ministers gifts Quest. 2. Whether a Minister may renounce his ordination Quest. 3. Whether the Ministerial office be to continue alway in the world Quest. 4. Whether it be lawfull to hear an unordained man preach Quest. 5. Whether an ordained person may bear an office in the Common-wealth Quest 1. Whether Ordination may better a Ministers gifts Though this sacred ordinance be of no account with some yet to the conscionable Receiver it may be very advantageous For 1. It is an odinance of God alwayes practised in his Church it may appear at
the faith of others to give it Education according to the Gospel which satisfies the Church during the time of Inf●ncy and Child-hood but at the ye●rs of discretion ●he ●s not s●tis●●ed except the party pray for himself promise for himsel● to live in that Faith wherein his Wi●nesses and Parents b●ptized him b● the reviving ther●fore of this Ordinance might th●●●●licious and seldome gro●n●ed Objection be truly and S●●ip●r●lly answered 4. It would make P●rents the more careful of their childrens ●ducation and holy instruction and the child it self to give more heed to true Doctrine Scripture and Catechismes whereby he might Answer the more readily to such Questions as at Confirmation may be put unto him least for his ignorance Imposition of hands might at his presentment be denied unto him 5. It might give fresh and new motives unto all to go forward in the duties of Mortification and Holyness and shame them that after so open a Profession in the face of the Church would yet live scandalously and loosly 6. It would make the Sacrament of the Lords Supper to be more reverenced and regarded unto which by the Lawes of the Church none ought to approach but by going or stepping over this threshold of Confirmation 7. It wo●ld much satisfie the scrupulous and doubting conscience in reference to their being witnesses in Baptisme that in the dayes of child-hood they may train their Infants up in the things promised which is no more then a faithful Education to enable them to fight against sin Sathan and the world from which ●harge at the dayes of puberty they are honourably acquitted by their Infants open Confession and solemn and personal Protestation in this solemn Ordinance of Confirmation CHAP. III. Of the Communion THere are three grand Ordinances of high and great concernment that in this Age have been above all others by the generality of men exploded out of the Church They are 1. That of Baptisme a Sacramental signe of the baptizeds Regeneration 2. That of Imposition an outward signe of the baptizeds Confirmation 3. That of the Supper a Sacramental signe of the sinners Remission Of the two former we have spoken the latter is now before us Called by God A Communion 1 Cor. 10.16 A breaking of Bread Acts 10.7 The Lords Supper 1 Cor. 11.20 And by the Church the Sacrament of the Supper from the circumstance of the time wherein the Lord gave it which was at his Supper Of it we shall consider 1. It s Nature 2. It s End 3. It s Necessity 4. Its Elements 5. What it is to receive it unworthily 6. What it is to receive it worthily 7. Resolve some Questions SECT I. AS the Sacrament of baptisme hath been violently detained from Infants so this of the Supper hath been sinfully kept from believers though both Ordinances of God by some in this generation yet according to the Scriptures let us do our duty and see the particulars above mentioned in Order thereunto The nature of this Ordinance may be known by the examining of this description It is a holy Ordinance instituted by the Son of God whereby a believer by receiving of bread and wine according to Christs appointment and institution doth declare his growth by him and his continuance in him 1. It is called a holy Ordinance in several respects 1. In regard of its Author It was appointed by that holy thing which was to be called the Son of God Luke 1.35 2. In regard of its end Arts and sciences are more or less noble according as their ends are high and low It hath for its end the remembering of the death of Christ 1 Cor. 11.26 3. From the receivers At several Ordinances all are admitted but here none must approach but the Lords people 1 Cor. 10.17 4. From its bond or Obligation It binds men to be holy and to walk before him in love 1 Cor. 10 21. 5. It must be performed in a holy manner we are not rashly nor preposterously to approach this table but we are to examine our selves 1 Cor. 11.28 2. Whereby a believer by receiving bread and wine c. It is not every eating or receiving of bread and wine that is a Sacrament It must be according to Christs institution by blessing those signs for that very use end and purpose 3. Doth declare his growth by him by baptisme we are grafted in him by the Supper we shew that we are grown by him 1. In faith the soul hath heard much of him and by this she declares that all is believed and therefore in the Sacrament of the Supper desires to see him an● seek him who is the Lord her God 2. In love the soul hath heard his voice and calls to the Stewards of the Wine-cellers Stay me with flagons for I am sick of love 2 Cant. 5. 3. In good work the soul hath learned by heart Christs sufferings his patience and his charity declaring by this that all injuries are blotted out and the hundred pence forgiven 4. His continuance in him fruitfulness supposeth continuance yet for amplification it is here added we are by baptisme entered in his schoole listed in his army brought into h●s house and coming to this Supper declares o●r con●inuing in it 1. By our obedience h● hath given us a charge to eat of this b●ead and drink of this cup Luke 22.19 and we do it 2. By our love When he sends us word that he hath prepared his dinner his Oxen and fatlings Ma●●h 22.4 and we leaving our fa●m our Oxen and other delights upon this invitation demonstrates affection when Christ●●ns throw all ●way ●nd go● in flocks to his house may not the Infidels say 〈◊〉 how they love him 3. By our honouring of him when we trim and deck our souls for his presence and reverently worship towards his holy Temple and with pure souls approach his table we declare a regarding of him 4. By our Union one with another as we are of his body so by this we shew forth that we are members each of other 1 Cor. 10.17 5. By our triumphing over s●n it is now brought under our feet and we come here that we may be brought under it no more Matth. 26.28 SECT II. THe ends why Christ instituted his receiving of bread and wine to be a standing Ordinance in his Church comes next to be considered they were such as these 1. For the remembering of the death of Christ Luke 22.19 that our dull memories might be rubbed up by these sensible signs are they laid before us and to be received of us Now there is a twofold remembering of Christ. 1. Historical that is the manner or the history of his death of his being fold buffeted mocked derided crucified which is common to the Christian with the Turk or Iew and for that this Sacrament is not onely appointed 2. Eucharistical that is a remembering of his death and being thankful for it as praising magnifying worshipping and blessing God that he dyed