Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A93419
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The safe vvay to glory, in several exercises of general use. / By William Smyth M. Ar. R. of Cotton in Suff.
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Smith, William, b. 1615 or 16.
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1656
(1656)
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Wing S4280; Thomason E1686_2; ESTC R209170
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74,414
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270
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the Gospel as to such an holy obedience Ans. Where it is said that the Gospel teacheth us to live godly righteously and soberly in this present world Quest What obligation to holiness do these three expressions signify Ans. All that is required of a soul in this condition that is to lâ—ve godly to God justly to our neighbour and soberly to our selves Quest Forasmuch then that in them is contained the third great condition of salvation It concerns thee to be well informed what they oblige thee to And first what is it to live godly to God Ans. It binds me to perform to him all that holy worship and service which he hath required of me Quest Now because God hath appointed both publick and private worship for his faithful servants to perform To what duties do the publick worship of God oblige thee Ans. To worship him in all the publick exercises of the Church that is First in the administration of the Sacraments Secondly in the hearing the word preached and thirdly in adjoyning my self to the publick prayers of the Congregation Quest Conceiving thy readiness to entertain a clear understanding of thy duty in all these parts of his service First what and how many Sacraments hath Christ ordained to be observed Ans. Two Baptisme and the Supper of the Lord both instituted by himself to become outward and visible signs of inward and spirituall grace arguments of his love to us and actions of our service and obedience to him Quest What is Gospel-Baptisme Ans. A dipping or sprinkling with water in the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost Quest With what spirituall benefits doth Christ bless the baptized Ans. With grace to die unto sin and to be borne again to a life of righteousness thereby to put on Christ and to be received into the Covenant of Grace Quest To what respective duties do the baptized stand obliged by that Sacrament Ans. An engagement to give up themselves to the Kingdome of Christ by faith and holy living with whom they then entered covenant to forsake whatsoever is contrary to that his Kingdom that is the devil and all his works the Pomps and vanites of this wicked world and all the sinful lusts of the flesh Quest Are not christian parents bound in duty to Christ to present their infants to Baptisme Ans. Yes for Parents must consider that the promises were not made to themselves onely but to their children also to which promises they having a right as well as themselves are not to be debarred from nor deprived of the seal consignation of them in that blessed Sacrament Further as to the right of baptizing infants as it is proved by many necessary deductions from so as to the matter of fact it is collected by many probable instances in Scripture In either of which if the scruples of an unbeleeving and quarrelling age have raised doubts and questions the universal practice of the Churches of Christ in all ages and places hath determined it from which to depart in this or any other service of God that is grounded especially upon such binding consequences of Scripture gives a just reason for any man to be charged with private presumption and dangerous singularity Quest What is the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Ans. The receiving of bread and wine in remembrance of the death and passion of our Saviour which bread and wine being blessed by the Minister are the communion of the body and blood of Christ to the prepared receiver Quest What spiritual benefit doth God communicate to such a receiver Ans. The strengthening and refreshing his soul with all spiritual graces and the participation of Christ in all the effects of his death and passion Quest What preparation is required of them that come faithfull receivers to that Sacrament Ans. To examine themselves whether they repent them truly of their former sinnes stedfastly purposing to lead a new life To have a lively faith in Gods mercy through Christ with a thankful remembrance of his death and be in charity with all men Quest What other consideration may be added in order to the service of God in that Sacrament Ans. To make conscience of entertaining all possible opportunities to receive the same as my love to God will make it necessary to serve him as often as I can Omitting no present occasion lest it be the last that shall be offered to me and to decline which there can be no plea allowable before God either in respect of sins or enemies unless I can think it safe for me to dye which I may the next moment without repentance or charity Quest But may not the sinfull and scandalous conversation of some that are admitted to the same Sacrament with thee give thee a just cauâ—e to decline it Ans. No For had any detriment accrewed to the other Apostles by Judas his receiving with them Christ who knew his unpreparednesse by his desperate designe against him and other gross wickednesse and which was not likely to be unknown to the rest of the Apostles would certainly for presidents sake have debarred him the Sacrament And Saint Paul who punctually treated his Corinâ—hians about the holy communion and so fully described sharply reproved those scandalous persons who mixed themselves in the society of the faithful receivers would not certainly have passed over so necessary a reproof to the Ministers of Corinth for admitting them and to the faithfull for receiving with them had an unworthy receiver eat damnation or sin to any other besides himself Quest The second part of publick worship being hearing of the Word preached How mayest thou serve God acceptably in that Ans. To hear the Sermon attentively as a religious exercise and instrumentall to the work of Grace To treasure up the promises to my comfort the reproofs for my amendment and the directions for the rule of my life Not taking offence at Religion in general nor at that service in particular by the weakness or infirmities of him that ministers those holy things unto me Quest The third part of publick worship being to adjoyn thy self to the publick prayers of the congregation How mayest thou discharge thy duty to God therein Ans. To oblige my self conscioâ—ably to be present at them as at the hearing of the Sermon or the performing any other holy duties to come timely and with a pious mind to honour God and with a charitable spirit that the whole Church of Christ and the present congregation may receive the benefit of my prayers Quest What other directions may be propounded for the more pious performance of thy duty to God in all the publick worship Ans. That I be present with an humble and awfull mind a lowly and reverent comportment of my body
God is not only pleased to entertain them as acceptable sacrifices but as actually done unto himself And that he hath engaged his promises for as certain an increase in this life as any temporal blessing can be hoped for at his hand and for an infallible reward in the life to come Quest But are not thine enemies and such as hate injure and offend thee excepted from such acts of thy mercy and charity or how far is the command of the Gospel in these cases obliging as to them Ans. To forgive them whatsoever they have done against me from my very soul even as I would be forgiven at the hand of God To chuse to suffer ten thousand evils from them then to return one evill to them After the highest provocations from them to blesse them pray for them and to do good to them in all my capacities Quest Is not a justification of our right by duelling after injuries received consistent with this part of Christian holiness and what is your judgement therein Ans. That duelling is directly against the doctrine of Christ an unhappy custome grounded upon the mistake of true honour and valour and the duel iâ— self either voluntarily accepted or offered is a sinne against this duty of charity on either part both in him that exposeth his own and in him that seâ—keth anothers blood and the fall of either miserable Quest But suppose he hath injured thine honour mayest thou not endeavour thy reparation Answer By any lawfull means I may where neither passion nor revenge hath interest and if I cannot otherwise obtain it then it is an argument of the clearest noblenesse and magnanimity to trust God with the defence of my honour and to forgive the offender Quest Suppose thou hast injured a person and offered all just satisfaction to him and yet he pursues thy life upon refusall of a duell What is in that case safest to be done Answ. To prevent it as much as possibly I can tenderly regarding his sinne as much as mine own suffering after which being unavoidably assaulted if in my pure defence he or I fall my soul is safe as to his or mine own blood CHAP. VI Quest THe rules of the first part of obeying the Gospel of Christ by all immediate services to God being discovered the Gospel as you sayd requires further holinesse of them that will live up to the institution of Christ which is to live justly to men What is then the obligation of the Gospel as to that part of holy life Answ To do to all men as I would they should do unto me Quest Now because this Doctrine of Christ obligeth to a duty which consists of infinite particulars of divers kinds First mention how many sorts of Iustice a Christian is bond to observe Answ. These two the first is called distributive justice which respects the allowance of all just duties from inferiours to Superiours and back again from Superiours to inferiours The seâ—ond is commutative justice which respects honest proceedings in civill contracts and dealings Quest The duties of the Gospel-distributive justice being further various according as men have publick or private relations First what duties of justice are required of Christians as to their publick relations Answ. Such as the people ought to perform to the civil Magistrate and Spirituall Pastor and such as they ought to return to their people back again Quest What duties are required of a Christian by the Law of the Gospel to the Civil Magistrate Answ. To give to Caesar the things that are Caesars To yield obedience for Conscience sake To submit to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake and not to resist their power upon peril of damnation By all which a Christian stands obliged not to do nor consent to any act that may impair the honour safety estate or power of them that God hath set over him in Government Quest How may a Christian Magistrate live justly as to his Subjects Answ. By interesting his power in the maintenance of an holy Religion against all its opponents by a tender regard to their peace quiet enjoyment of their proprieties by taking care that Iustice be impartially distributed and that their Subjects be securely protected from enemies abroad and from the insolencies of unquiet spirits at home Quest What are the duties which justice requires to be paid to the spirituall Pastors of the Church Answ. To obey them in their spirituall guidances as having rule over us justly to pay to them their allowed carnalls from whom we have received spiritualls and to have them in esteem for their work and office sake Quest What is in this holy justice required of them to their cures Answ. Faithfully to feed the flock of Christ by life and Doctrine and in all parts of their offices to be ready to do and administer every thing that may conduce to their salvation alwayes expressing a greater care of their peoples souls then of their own advantages in their places Quest Thus if thou livest thou hast kept a good conscience and obeyed Christ as to thy publick relations What are now the duties that concern private relations where further distribitive justice is required of Christs disciples Answ. Such concern the Family that is the reciprocal duties of Husband and Wife Parent and Child Master and Servant Quest How do the Servants of Christ fulfill the righteousnesse of the Gospel as to the first relation Answ. When the Husband expresseth love respect tendernesse and sweet carriage to the wife living with her and providing for her when the wife gives meek submission reverence and tender love to him both together bearing with one anothers infirmities do live like good yoke-fellows in all religious exercises and imployments of their callings Quest How do Christians perform Gods will in just living as to the second relation Ans. When children honour and obey their Parents supporting their decayes and protecting them in their helplesse ages when Parents govern them by the rules of piety not discouraging nor provoking them by caustlesse anger and providing for them honest educations and callings and means of livelihood Quest How is the Gospel obeyed in the third relation Answ. When Servants conscionably perform their offices and labours as in the sight of God preserving their Masters interests and honour and when Masters endevour to keep them in Gods fear using them mercifully in their labours and restraints respecting their burthens and rewarding their faithfulnesse and toyls Quest O blessed State where Religion and Christian justice guids all interests and happy family where Christ rules But you said the Gospel also requires commutative justice in all bargains commerces and dealings whatsoever and what is that justice Answ. Not to make use of any mans