Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	bishop_n	church_n	presbyter_n	1,031	5	10.3609	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A67849	The Lords-day, or, A succinct narration compiled out of the testimonies of H. Scripture and the reverend ancient fathers and divided into two books : in the former whereof is declared, that the observation of the Lords Day was from the Apostles ... : in the later is shewn in what things its sanctification doth consist ... / lately translated out of the Latine.; Dies dominica. English	Young, Thomas, 1587-1655.; Baxter, Richard, 1615-1691.	1672 (1672)	Wing Y93; ESTC R5902	202,632	471

of Old and New Testament yet did they judge that Fasts on that day were to be relaxed To the Africans he that fasteth on the Lords day is no Catholick to Ignatius he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a killer of Christ Yea in Concil Gangren Can. 18. an anathema is denounced against the observers of this fast and prohibitions of this nature are frequent amongst the ancients the cause whereof Zonaras seems to teach while he saith the time of fasting is appointed for sorrow but a festival celebrity for mirth and joy He teaches the same in Can. 18. Concilii Gangrensis Therefore because the Lords day being consecrated by Christs Resurrection from the dead it is a day of joy to the Church thereupon the rejoycing Christians gave thanks on that day to God and relaxed their fasting and abstained from every right that might inferr any sorrow They were stirred up to this also by the pranks of Hereticks who denied the Resurrection of Christ amongst whom the Manichees acted with a Diabolical spirit and studying to diffuse this errour that they might extinguish the joy of Christians for the saving Resurrection of Christ have prescribed Fasts on the Lords day to their followers whose errours and others which held the same that the Orthodox might prevent they have lookt to it that on overy Lords day the Fast should be relaxed But although we reject not the Canons set out by the Church in detestation of Hereticks yet we affirm that provision was made in them about this matter was ordained by the Fathers and not by the Apostles Otherwise St. Austin had missed it when he said It is not defined by our Lords command or of the Apostles on what dayes we ought not and on what to fast And if this had been a true Apostolical ordinance it had been lawful for the Church to fast on the Lords day when no occasion was offered But Hierom thinks otherwise while he wisheth that we might fast at every season he excepts not the Lords day and sayes that Paul and the faithful with him fasted on the Lords day yet doth he not accuse them of the Manichean Heresie And because we read not that the aforesaid Canons were ordained by the Apostles therefore they are grown out of use in the Church because like as the impious madness of Hereticks adulterating the Christian faith hath given the Church occasion to ordain divers ceremonies in the external worship of God by which they might both extinguish their poison and better confirm the minds of Christians in the truth once received which as before those Herefies did put up the head were not in use so those being extinct they grew into disuse again Therefore whatever we meet with in the ancients of prohibiting Fasts on the Lords day doth not at all enervate my opinion of avoiding surfeit on that day which is confirmed with the gravest sayings of the approved Fathers neither do they make any thing against me to fast and surfeit do differ far enough between which extremes a third thing is given namely a sober and moderate dinner the use whereof none will deny to Christians on the Lords day unless any think with Urbicus that not to fast is to be drunk Austin who used a sparing and frugal table tells us that he entertained at dinner with him a man miraculously restored to his former health on the Lords day because he shewed hospitality as Possidonius Arbogastes being entertained at a feast by the King of France and asked Whether he knew Ambrose answered that he knew the man and was beloved of him and often was wont to feast with him Some interpret this as if St. Ambrose fared delicately on the Lords day on which day and the Sabbath and when the birth-dayes of Martyrs were celebrated Paulinus reports he was wont to dine because on that day Noble men were entertained by him but Paulinus relates not that Ambrose did entertain to a Feast Count Arbogastes on the Lords day Arbogastes boasteth in Paulinus that he often feasted with Ambrose but whether he spoke the truth in this is a question although Baronius reporteth it for a truth who yet mentions not the day on which he held this feast Arbogastes also glories that he was beloved of Ambrose but it 's easie to conjecture that there was but small friendship between Ambrose and Count Arbogastes whenas Ambrose so hated his sacrilege for which cause Arbogastes being incensed vowed that he would make a stable of the Church of Millain and would try how the Clergy could fight Therefore it 's not certain whether what he spake of the feast was true He might perhaps insinuate to the King who highly esteemed Ambrose the Bishop of Millain that he was prized by him somewhat that he might be more highly regarded of the King However it was when Ambrose himself would never be present at a feast in his own countrey being invited it may be judged whether it 's likely that he would invite others to a feast on the Lords day who refused to be present at other mens feasts himself Lastly if it were granted that Ambrose did entreat Count Arbogastes at a Feast whether will any believe it who considers the austere life of Ambrose chastizing his body with that discipline as Paulinus ibidem that he observed a daily Fast that he would distain himself with feasts on the Lords day which hindred the exercises of Religion either publick or private Nay truly He might perhaps dine on the Lords day as the custome of the Church required but we must not believe that the grave Father did fare so daintily on that day as that he could not attend the duties of piety concerning which nature of feasts we are here speaking in which number that is to reckoned which Baronius mentions out of Gregor Turonens who tells us of a certain Presbyter invading the Bishoprick of Avergue after the death of Sidonius Apollinaris who when the Lords day came having prepared a banquet commanded that all the Citizens should be invited into the Church a wickedness indeed beseeming the author that he who had ambitiously invaded the Bishops See against the Canons of the Church should violate the Lords solemnity by his feast that hindred the duties of Divine worship which unlawful example I hope no body that relisheth any thing of Christ will follow And now I will conclude with St. Austin that none can rightly deny that a Christian may on the Lords day be refreshed with a moderate and sober dinner and also will affirm with that grave Father that those who fear God must not riot on the Lords Day CHAP. XIV Sports are not at all to be held on the Lords Day by the judgment of divers Fathers and Emperours Four kinds of shows condemned by the Fathers and not to be acted on the Lords Day and that not only while the sacred meetings are kept THey that are

Hierosolymitan saith he esteems of Apostles after one sort and of other Treaters after another And Ep. ad August he calls those Treaters that did interpret the Holy Scriptures Aug. Ep. 11. In explicating this Section about Treatises upon Scriptures first we will consider whose office it was to interpret them Secondly the manner which they used in explaining of them In the third place something shall be added about the time at which the ancients did attend these In the first place we will speak of the Treaters themselves Those to whom the administration of the Word was committed by God in the Scriptures they were by a name familiar enough to the Fathers called Clerici the Clergy or in Clerum ascripti admitted into the Clergy either because Matthias was chosen by lot who was the first that we read of that was ordained by the Apostles so Augu. in Psal 67. or because they are the Lords lot 〈…〉 should possess him for their lot and inheritance with the children of Levi for ever So Austin in Prolog in Psal if that Preface be Austins Hierom gives almost the same reason who fatih they are the Lords lot and because the Lord himself is the lot that is the portion of the Clergy The Apostle comprehends all to whom any publick charge in the Church of the Philippians was committed under Bishops and Deacons Philip. 1. 1. Where under the name of Bishops he understandeth all that especially executed the office of teaching and under the name of Deacons he intimates others that ministred The name of Bishop is a general appellation signifying all those that labour in the Word of God and attend upon the cure of souls Whence the office of an Apostle is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Bishoprick Act. 1. 20. and by the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are elegantly described men that administer the Word according to the Scriptures For it signifies both indulgently to attend as shepherds their flocks as Jacob Gen. 32. 38 39 40. that they may drive away wild beasts from the sheep and to watch like watch-men Ezek. 3. 17. I have made thee a watch-man to the house of Israel namely that thine adversaries come not near thee who threaten thee destruction So Heb. 13. 17. the teachers of the Gospel are said to watch for the souls of the Church The Holy Scripture calls these watchmen who watch the actions of all men and with an aim of religious curiosity spie out how every one liveth with his houshold in his house how with the Citizens in a City Where the duties of Bishops or Watchmen is excellently set out Ambrose interprets Bishops super inspectores overseers lib. de dignitate sacerdotali cap. 6. Hierom contends that they are most truly called Superintendentes because they are to look diligently over or superintend every one in their flock and Ep. ad Evagrium he renders the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by superintendentes These words therefore do not signifie any perfunctory inspection which only is undertaken for knowledge sake but a diligent and accurate watchfulness that ought to be Bishops that they might make provision of necessary means to feed their flocks and instruct them to live piously As Alipius was whom Austin Ep. 35. acknowledges to be a Pastor carefully governing the Lords pasture sheep Under the title of Bishop both Bishops and Presbyters are comprehended And though there be some that distinguish not a Presbyter from a Bishop yet I do with Austin who expounds the words Oratio Precatio Postulatio choose to understand that by these words which all or almost all the Church doth often use Ep. 59. Therefore since according to the custom of the Church or according to the words of honour which the Church useth the office of a Bishop is greater than that of a Presbyter the highest Ministry in the Church is now signified under the title of Bishop The Bishops work was especially to interpret the Holy Scriptures when the Church was gathered together and therefore I think their power was of the Ancients signified in the name Cathedra because chiefly it consisted in teaching Optatus saith the first gift of the Church was Cathedra whereby is signified that the Churches power is instructive and for this cause Aug. confesses that Christs Chair or cathedram succeeded Moses chair i. e. the Apostles of Christ succeeded the Interpreters of Moses and the Prophets The Bishops duty therefore is to instruct the people commended to their care and Hierom thinks this ability to be so necessary for them that it can profit a Bishop nothing at all to have the testimony of his virtues in his own mind except he be able to instruct the people committed to him And Hilary acknowledges that by the necessary virtue of his office he is bound to serve the Church in preaching the Gospel And therefore Athanasius excited Dracontius to take upon him a Bishoprick to which he was elected with this reason because the people by whom he was made Bishop did expect that he would bring them meat out of the Doctrine of Scripture Neither did the greatest Bishops decline that charge but rather for a Bishop to abstain from preaching seemed to Gregory the Great a foul shame and wicked act and he saith that he is dead that walks without the sound of preaching ibid. Since therefore the principal duty of Bishops is terminated in Doctrine to which by necessity of office they are obliged and without which although they otherwise live a pious life they are not to be adorned with the title of Bishops their first and principal charge was to interpret the Word of God the onely subject for all doctrine of Ministers in the Church Luk. 24. 27. when the Church was assembled for hearing the same that the most vigilant Bishops of old did this with great praise and for the great fruit of the Church their most learned Treatises which are extant among their works do testifie But to explain the Holy Scripture in the Churches publick assembly did not only lie upon Bishops but upon Presbyters also and that ex officio So 1 Pet. 5. 2. Therefore the second chair in the Church was assigned them by the Fathers So Clem. Alexand. Strom. l. 6. Origen saith that some Deacons in his age did seek after the first chairs of them who are called Presbyters If the chair was assigned to them then it was their duty to instruct the people in the doctrine of the Gospel if it had not been their duty to feed the Church with the food of the Word and Sacraments why should St. Paul charge them to take heed unto themselves and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost had made them overseers to feed the Church of God Augustine being yet a Presbyter while Valerius was alive edified the Church with the Word and Sacraments It was the custome at Alexandria

great industry And for this cause Prosper De vita contempt lib. 2. cap. 2. contends it is that Bishops are called Watchmen Because they watch the actions of all men and with an aim of religious curiosity spie out how every one liveth with his houshold in his house how with his Citizens in the City what good men they approve they confirm by honouring them whom they observe to be vicious they amend by reproving them St. Prosper judged it to be the Bishops duty whom the Lord hath appointed to be the Watchmen of his Church not onely to attend preaching of the Word in the Church assembly but also when that was ended and the people dismissed diligently to observe the manners and conversation of the people that they might promote godliness if by any means they could while they excited those whom they saw to walk according to what they heard in publick to a farther progress in godliness and sharply admonished those that turned not what they heard into works Which office if ever we believe they did faithfully perform on the Lords Day which we may see in St. Chrysostome who when he observed any not to be attentive enough to his publick Treatises promised that he would when he had finished his Treating by interrogatories make tryal whether they retained what they had heard Homil. 4. in Hebr. Yea he tells them that when the assembly was dismissed he would discourse some time with his Auditors about what they had heard in the conclusion of Hom. 6. ad Pop. Antioch And elsewhere he declares the reason of his diligence Hom. 9. ad Pop. For saith he if it be no reproach for a Physician to ask his patient how it is with him neither is it amiss in us to be still inquiring about our Hearers salvation for we being thus advertised what to do and what to leave undone shall apply remedies according to congruous discipline And this diligence he calls a sollicitude not of curiosity but provision where by an argument from the less to the greater he illustrates the necessity of the aforesaid industry For if a Physician who attends the cure of a frail body doth diligently enquire of the state of his patients health after he hath administred his medicines why doth it not much more lye upon Bishops to whom the inspection of souls is committed ex officio to observe whether their people lead their life according to what they have heard after that they have prescribed unto them wholsome admonitions and exhortations whereby on every emergent occasion they may prescribe necessary remedies Chrysostom himself confesses that he undertook private labours in teaching some of his Hearers while he inculcated some things to them who entred communication with him privately Thus he speaks of himself Hom. prim de Lazaro It grieved St. Cyprian to the heart while he was in exile that he could not have liberty to go to every one that was committed to his care and to exhort them cording to the Ministry of the Lord and of his Gospel He commends the Presbyters and Deacons that supplied his place for strengthening all by their daily exhortations Ep. 40. If therefore Cyprian set upon all that were commended to his care with his exhortations and commended others that did the like he thought that something more after the Church-meetings were ended in which he could not go to them severally was to be done by him Possidonius in the Life of Austin chapter 12. mentions his private labours that he frequently undertook in instructing and exhorting the Catholick people All these vigilant Fathers did not onely propound the Word in Church meetings but also shewed us by their own example that it is privately to be inculcated upon the minds of the Hearers and their own testimonies teach us that this was done by them daily Secondly he that shall consult the Fathers touching the observation of the Lords Day will observe that they did frequently stir up their hearers to a religious meditation and discoursing of what they had heard in the publick assembly Chrysostom more than once doth labour what he can to perswade his hearers that after they are returned home from the Church friends among themselves parents with their children masters with their servants meditate and strive how they may do what they are taught Homil. 5. ad Pap. Antioch which he elegantly explains by divers similitudes Even as saith he many that depart out of a meadow do take a Rose or Violet or some such flower and carrying it about a while in their fingers do depart and others returning home out of an Orchard do carry the boughs of trees that bear fruit others again bring to their kinsfolks fragments of the table from sumptuous suppers so also thou when thou depart'st carry back an admonition to thy children wife and all thy kindred For this admonition is of more use than a meadow an orchard and a table These roses never wither this fruit never falls off these dishes never are marred Afterwards Think what a thing it is setting aside all other things both publick and private to be alwayes discoursing of Gods Laws at table and in the market and in other Conventicles c. Homil. 6. ad Populum Where by an induction of divers similitudes he declares what Christians are to do after they be returned home from the publick assembly namely that they conferr at home of what they heard in the Church In the beginning also of the second Homil. on John he requires of his hearers that they talk not only with one another publickly but at home of what they had heard and when he reproves those that went out of the Church who did not well remember what they had heard he prescribes this remedy for that malady namely that when they are return'd home they read the Holy Scriptures and call their wife and children together to confer of those things that were spoken It 's an excellent place which the Reader shall find lib. 5. chap. 12. We wish saith Origen that you would study what you have heard not onely hear the Word of God in the Church but in your houses be exercised and meditate in the Law of the Lord day and night for Christ is there and every where present to them that seek him From the fore-mentioned testimonies it appears that the Fathers treated seriously with their people to conferr among themselves of what they had heard Now if any one think that they meant conferring of what they had heard on other dayes than the Lords Dayes I doubt not but he is deceived that perswades himself of this For if they require of their Hearers to confer● of the Word heard on other dayes which he will not deny they did that looks into their writings do they therefore judge that the Word of God which was handled on the Lords Day must be forgotten Nothing less especially when elsewhere they counsel their hearers to conferr with