Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	authority_n	child_n	parent_n	1,909	5	8.7664	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A81905	A case of conscience concerning ministers medling with state matters in or out of their sermons resolved more satisfactorily then heretofore. Wherein amongst other particulars, these matters are insisted upon, and cleared. 1 How all controversies and debates among Christians ought to be handled regularly, and conscionably to edification by those that meddle therewith. 2 What the proper employments are of Christian magistrates, and Gospel-Ministers, as their works are distinct, and should be concurrent for the publick good at all times. 3 What the way of Christianity is, whereby at this time our present distractions, and publick breaches may be healed : if magistrates and ministers neglect not the main duties of their respective callings. Where a ground is layed to satisfie the scruple of the Demurrer, and of the Grand Case of Conscience. / Written by John Dury, minister of the Gospel, to give a friend satisfaction: and published at the desire of many. Octob. 3. Imprimatur, Joseph Caryl.	Dury, John, 1596-1680.	1649 (1649)	Wing D2836; Thomason E579_1; ESTC R206157	157,053	200

Pulpits directly or indirectly as of State-matters to declare their judgment thereof unto their hearers I shal declare that herein I do dissent from them and think it altogether unlawfull in the Ministers of the Gospel and no wayes appertaining to the calling wherein Christ Jesus hath set them over his people to acquaint them with their own or other mens judgments concerning the affaires and interests of their Magistrates whether to commend or discommend the same unto them I say then two things First that although Ministers living in a State as private men for in a State they are nothing else though in the profession of Christianity they are publick persons as a City set Matth. 5. 14. on a hill may take notice of State proceedings and interests and heare and observe what others think thereof and judge with themselves as Members concerned what is to be thought thereof yet I say that it is unlawful for them to publish those thoughts with Reference to their Ministerial employment to make it any way instrumental to deface the same into the thoughts of the people as to give them notice thereof by way of publick intelligence Nay it is a very great Question with me whether any other men being private and Subjects may lawfully publish their own or other peoples thoughts concerning their own State Affaires any other way except only in times of general deliberations wherein all are priviledged to propose by their Trustees what their desires and grievances are to have them redressed Secondly that it is far more unlawful for them upon such observation of State matters to use any perswasions or insinuations to sway this or that way the vulgar affections to or from those that are in Authority for the suggestions by which Ministers ought to engage Subjects affections towards their Magistrates are not to be raised from any private observations which are deceitfull and no true grounds to oblige the Conscience unto any duty but from the manifest will of God commanding the duty and the nature of the Relation which God hath setled between Magistrates and Subjects which is grounded upon love and doth partake of the conjunction which is between Parents and Children whence it is that as our Parents are to be beloved of us their Children not so much because they do this or that particular favour unto us but because they are our Parents and next unto God over us because God hath made them to be Authours and Protectors of our life and being conduit-pipes of all blessings towards us so Magistrates are proportionally to be respected by all dutiful Subjects upon the same grounds not upon any particular contemplations which their observation of State-contrivements may lead them unto and to the performance of this duty the faithful Ministers of the Gospel should become both leaders monitors towards their flocks And therefore as they ought to do nothing that may any way corrupt the simplicity of their mind from this ground of respect due unto their Rulers So they should use none other motives or arguments to perswade them thereunto but such as are powerful in this kind The Question then is not with me whether faithfull Ministers may dogmatically from the word of God and the nature of humane society speak in the Pulpit of the righteous wayes of governing States in Thesi Antithesi and whether yea or no they may instruct warne and exhort Statesmen concerning the duties of their Calling towards God and men that they may know how to keep a good Conscience therein according to the will of God revealed in his word I say the Question is not with me concerning these things for I am cleer that the Ministers of the Word may handle and apply all humane and divine matters thus But the Question is concerning particular matters of State done or to be done hic nunc relating to our selves or our Neighbours wherein some of our interests lye I say concerning such matters either to make narratives for information or to apply those matters to move the peoples affection to any humane Resolutions is a thing utterly unlawful in the Ministerial Function as I conceive What the distinct State of the Question is Thus I have stated the Question and separated it from that which is not the Question and I hope shewed therein my meaning sufficiently If now this assertion of mine should be debated between me and such as allow at large in Ministers the handling of State-matters as some use to do it ought to be offered as a doubt and made a Question indifferently thus Whether yea or no it be lawfull for the Ministers of Iesus Christ in their Sermons or Testimonies concerning the Gospel to declare their opinions also concerning State-Interests wherein the Magistrate is concerned to make Narratives to inform their hearers of the condition of State-affaires and of their Rulers wayes and designes and to sway directly or indirectly their Subjects affections this or that way in complyance to this or that worldly designe To this I say no and if any man doth think otherwise who doth not except any thing material against that which hath been said hitherto I shall willingly discourse the matter with him and sift it to the brain That it therefore may be known by what rule I will submit the matter to a tryal I shall after these two Principles which no rational man will deny or except against as I suppose The Principles by which it is to be decided 1. That it is not to be counted lawfull for any Servant to do his Masters service that which his Master doth not only not allow but forbiddeth to be done therein 2. That it is not to be counted lawful for any Servant to do in his Masters Service that which is wholly contrary to the nature of the employment and doth frustrate the true end and effect of the work which is to be performed thereby although his Master doth make no inhibition concerning it I take these principles to be so evident that none who hath common sence can deny them Therefore I shall come now in the last place to propose the orderly way of applying these unto the matter in hand that if no exception be taken at this also then the particular dec 〈◊〉 sion of the doubt may follow thereupon in case any shall enter upon the debate thereof The Application of the Principles to the Doubt I propose then the application of these Principles to be made in this order First let us consider whether yea or no the Ministers of the Gospel are to be accounted Servants to Iesus Christ if yea then whether he is not their Master and his will in his service their law if no then whose Servants they are and who else is their Master Secondly Whether yea or no to preach the Gospel or to bear witnes concerning Christ Iesus be the service wherein they are employed Thirdly What properly this service is and whether yea or no

others to teach them or observe them being taught and imposed worship God in vain Matth. 15. 9. 16. That the greatest honour and priviledge that can befall to a Magistrate as being a Christian is to become a Member of the mystical Body of Iesus Christ and so to be under the spiritual inspection and care of the Ministery of the Gospel and the dispensation of the mysteries and graces of the Kingdom of Heaven 17. That a Christian Magistrate being a fellow-Member of the Body of Christ is obliged not only as a Magistrate to oversee them in outward things for their good but as a Professor and Brother to watch over their soules considering them in love to provoke them and stir them up to all good works 18. That a Magistrate being a Christian although he is set over all men in respect of the outward and visible Government of the society yet in respect of the inward and spiritual Charge of soules committed to the Ministers of Christ he is under their care and inspection to be watched over that he should walk worthy of God in the Heavenly profession 19. That although a Magistrate as a Christian is thus under the inspection of the Ministerial function as to his personal behaviour and walking in the holy profession and may lawfully be admonished in case he doth any thing contrary to the rules of his profession yet his Magistratical function is not under the inspection of the Ministers of the Gospel for their line doth go no farther than their Stewardship and their Stewardship doth go no further than the Mysteries and the house of God therefore as the Ministers are not set to oversee and direct him in his Magistracy So he is not accountable to them of his proceedings in State-matters 20. That although the Ministers of the Gospel depend not upon the Authority of any men in the duties of their spiritual function yet they are accountable not only to the civil and Christian Magistrate of the reason and manner of all their proceedings in their administrations but to any other that shall desire to know what their way and purpose of walking is in any thing belonging to their profession because 2 Cor. 4. 2. 1 Iohn 1. 7. they are bound to reject all the hidden things of darknes to walk in the light and approve their wayes unto the Consciences of all men as in the sight of God 21. That a Concurrence of the Christian Magistrate with the Ministery by way of Councel and cooperation of countenance protection in all things belonging to the advancement of the Kingdom of Christ is not only lawful but very expedient and commendable and a concurrence of the Ministery with the Magistracy to teach both them and their Subjects the duties which God hath Commanded all of them towards one another is necessary because it is a part of that Charge which God hath given to the Ministery Tit. 3. 1. 2. 22. That the Councels the Resolutions the Lawes and the executions of State-Government which are the proper works of the Magistrate whereupon according to his best understanding he doth attend ought not publickly to be controuled by any of his Subjects or in a privat way resisted 23. That the conjunction of endeavours in the Magistracy and Ministery ought to be only for the publick good either of Church or Common-wealth or of both and by each of them his work is to be done distinctly in the way of his own Calling wherein Christ hath set him and not otherwise 24. That the Ministerial Function and Stewardship of the Mysteries of God which Christ hath appointed to be dispensed for spiritual and eternal concernments in foro interiori may not be employed for bodily and temporal and State designments as subordinate thereunto in foro exteriori 25. That Ministers as private men and living as Members in a State may and ought to contribute their natural Talents to further the publick good thereof in subordination to the Magistrates lawful desires and to give example to others of their duty 26. That Magistrates professing Christianity if they make a faire shew and pretence to advance a publick good but in effect be found manifestly to seeke nothing but their own private ends in their places they may and ought discreetly to be admonished of their duty and warned of the danger of Hypocrisie whereunto their passions their pride and their covetousnes may lead them 27. That Ministers as they ought not to refuse lawful employments wherein as Members of a Commonwealth they may be called to do the publick some service so they may not entertain that employment after such a manner as to be taken off thereby from their spiritual Function or to confound and mix the use and end thereof with matters of a different nature to serve and please themselves or other men thereby for if I sought to please men saith Paul I should not be the Servant of Christ Gal. 1. 10. 28. That all Conjunctions and Concurrences of the Magistratical and Ministerial Functions which are not undertaken for their own direct ends and uses respectively but either by the neglect of those ends or by indirect meanes or commixture of Relations tend to other ends are unwarrantable because they take away the boundaries and right uses of Christs Ordinances and so apply them not to his service 29. That if Ministers deal with a people of matters which are the proper concernment of their particular Magistrate with that people which is his Subject they do manifestly set themselves with him in his Charge and whether they meddle with his matters towards his Subjects willingly and in love to him or without love to him and that either unwillingly as by command and constraint or of their own accord as by jealousie and competition of interests which way soever this is done in all or any of these cases it is evident they apply themselves to their hearers not as spiritual men and Disciples of Christ to spiritual men and to Christs Disciples but as interessed men to men of interest in this world whether therefore the Magistrate be pleased or displeased as a service or disservice is done unto his Authority designes thereby the service of Christ Iesus in all this is not regarded The matters of disagreement how to be thought upon What they are in this controversie These Positions I hope will find no contradiction by any that I shall have to deal withall but if any of them be excepted against it may either be laid aside or regularly discussed by it self if it deserve to be handled by it self or if it hath any fundamental relation to the point of doubt it may be brought in as one of the particulars afterward to be decided when the Question is fully stated which now is to be done If then after all these material points of agreement there be any that to maintain the practice of some held at large that Ministers may meddle with State-matters in their

convicted that their ultimate end must not be so much to serve themselves and others in temporall matters as to protect the City of GOD from all anoyances of the wicked of this world for that is Davids meaning when he saith in the conclusion of this Psalme that He will early destroy all the wicked of the Land that he may cut off all wicked doers from the Citie of the LORD Where it evidenty doth appeare that the last effect of his endeavours in his Magistracie was to procure the well being of the Church of GOD by the wayes of power and authority which God hath put into his hand And if so then these Corollaries will follow as I conceive concerning the power and duty of the Magistrate The grounds upon which it is hoped 1. That to the Magistrate a coercive power of all wickednesse doth belong both in Church and Common-wealth 2. That no persons may pretend any exemption from being under his power and jurisdiction in outward visible matters belonging to their places 3. That he is bound by his place to protect those whom he judges true and faithfull servants to God in all the duties of his service 4. That he ought to take notice of the carriage of all Ministers in their places how they behave themselves therein without blame and oversee all the affaires which are agitated amongst them in all their publick Assemblies 5. That as the Citie of GOD without his protection cannot be in safety so without his concurrence the publick Reformation thereof cannot be accomplished 6. That it doth no way belong unto any who by Gods appointment are under his inspection protection and jurisdiction and ought to act with his concurrence to take upon them to act any thing in a publick way or of publick concernment whereof to him they intend not to be accountable The necessity of it These Corollaries as they follow clearly to my understanding upon the last words and matter of the Text so I am perswaded they will meet with no objection or contradiction which to a rationall man may not easily be answered Therefore taking them as Truths to be granted I shall endeavour to build thereupon that which I thinke may and hope will and judge should work a Christian correspondendency between the present ruling Powers and the Ministery of these Churches for seeing it is evident that the Ministery and Magistracy are the Pillars of humane Societies and that a House cannot stand when the pillars which support it stand not firme together or by their standing weaken one another Therefore we must needs conclude that if there be no amiable correspondency sought but a manifest division maintained between these two that our publicke diseases will become absolutely incurable and that this symptome thereof will be fatall to this State For except a Cure can be found unto this breach how can there be any true healing of other breaches or prevention of future Calamities hoped for will not from hence inevitably follow a perpetual increase of animosities and offences on all sides and from thence an endless sequel of judgements and will not God destroy all those that are accessary to the Causes of such evils except they prevent him by repentance therefore to compleat the application of the forenamed Remedies which we have found to be specifical to our Diseases nothing can be thought upon more useful nor so necessary than to work out and procure this correspondency for as without the Concurrence of these two hands there can be no settlement or advancement of any publick undertakings So with their joynt strength and cooperation in this way of God we may confidently hope that the works of our Reformation may be speedy safe full and permanent Let me therefore as one touched with the sence of this necessary Duty discharge my Conscience in the presence of God Three points to be spoken to about it I shall not stretch my self beyond my line either in respect of superiour Powers or of my Brethren in the Ministery but with all tenderness faithfulness and humility of spirit I shall apply my self unto them both joyntly and as briefly as may be in so waighty matters and for a close to this discourse I shall represent unto the one and the other indifferently three things 1. What the conscionable inducements are which should equally move both Magistrates and Ministers unto a friendly correspondency in the discharge of their publick Duties 2. What the meanes and wayes are by which this correspondency both may and ought to be entertained 3. How the obstacles which stand in the way thereof should be removed Of the first Concerning the Motives obliging Magistrates and Ministers to correspond in their charges If Conscience should be reflected upon and consulted withall in respect of the inducements which should equally move Christian Magistrates and godly Ministers to correspond together in the discharge of their publick duties three things will be found considerable to them both 1. Their joynt relation unto God who hath put them both in their publick places as his servants 2. The great interest of Christianity which he hath mainly recommended unto them both 3. The immediate ends of their mutuall correspondency which are these two the purifying of the City of God from all wickednesse and the strengthning of each others hands in going about that work both which things they are equally obliged in the presence of God to intend If therefore any weak voice could reach unto them both at once I would with due respect say thus if either of you do mind the great Lord and Master under whom you stand as Moses and Aaron did if to him you judge your selves to be fellow-servants equally accountable as well of your mutuall willingnesse to concur in his service as of any other duty if you think the profession of Christianitie a businesse worth the owning and a work incumbent to your charges that you should uphold and advance it as well joyntly as severally if the well being of the City of God and of the Common-wealth of Israel be at all a designe to be thought upon by you and if you can rationally conceive that your amiable concurrence will be highly helpfull towards these undertakings and that the want thereof will be as great an obstruction as any that can befall thereunto then I must intreat you that are upright in heart and that understand what such engagements mean that upon the consideration thereof you would shew your selves conscionably loving and inclinable to a correspondencie but if you will not lay this duty to heart nor make use of the interest which ye have in each other for the service of the Lord My soul shall weep in Ier. 13. 17 secret places for your pride and mine eye shall weep sore and run down with tears because the Lords flock is carried away captive by reason of your undutifulnesse If these things are not at all understood to be obligatorie or being understood are not thought