Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n
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A80320
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The confession of faith and catechisms, agreed upon by the assembly of divines at Westminster together with their humble advice concerning church government and ordination of ministers.; Westminster Confession of Faith.
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1649
(1649)
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Wing C5760; Thomason E1419_1; ESTC R210325
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119,624
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love him in sincerity endeavouring to walk in all good conscience before him may in this life be certainly assured that they are in the state of grace c 1 Ioh. 2. 3 1 Ioh. 3. 14 18 19 22 24 1 Ioh 5. 13. and may rejoyce in the hope of the glory of God which hope shall never make them ashamed d Rom. 5. 2 5 II. This certainty is not a bare conjecturall and probable perswasion grounded upon a fallible hope e Heb. 6. 11 19. but an infallible assurance of faith founded upon the divine truth of the promises of salvation f Heb. 6. 17 18. the inward evidence of those graces unto which these promises are made g 2 Pet. 1. 4 5 10 11. 1 Ioh. 2. 3. 1 Ioh 3. 14 2 Cor. 1. 12 the testimony of the Spirit of Adoption witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God h Rom. 8. 15 16 which Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance whereby we are sealed to the day of redemption i Eph. 3. 13 14. Eph. 4. 30. 2. Cor. 1. 21. 22. III. This infallible assurance doth not so belong to the essence of faith but that a true beleever may wait long and conflict with many difficulties before he be partaker of it k 1 Iohn 5. 13. Isa 50. 10 Mark 9. 24. Psal 8â— throughout Psal 77. to verse 12. yet being inabled by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given him of God he may without extraordinary revelation in the right use of ordinary meanes attain thereunto l 1 Cor 2. 12 1 Ioh. 4. 13 He 6. 11 12 Eph. 3. 17 18 19. And therefore it is the duty of every one to give all diligence to make his calling and election sure m 2 Pet. 1. 10. that thereby his heart may be inlarged in peace joy in the holy Ghost in love and thankfulnes to God and in strength and cheerfulnes in the duties of obedience the proper fruits of this assurance n Rom. 5. 1 1 2 5. Rom. 14. 7. Ro. 15. 3. Eph. 1. 3. 4 Psal 4. 6 7 Psal 119. 32 so far is it from inclining men to loosnesse o 1 Ioh. 2. 1 2 Rom. 6. 1 2. Tit. 2. 11 12 14. 2 Cor. 7. 1. Rom. 8. 1 12 1 Iohn 3. 2. 3 Psal 1 30. 4. 1 Iohn 1. 6 7. IV. True beleevers may have the assurance of their salvation divers wayes shaken diminished and intermitted as by negligence in preserving of it by falling into some speciall sin which woundeth the conscience and grieveth the spirit by some sudden or vehement temptation by Gods withdrawing the light of his countenance and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darknesse and to have no light p Can. 5. 2 3 6 Ps 5. 1 6 12 14. Eph. 4. 30 31. Psa â—â— 1 to 10. Mat. 26. 69 70 71 72. Psal 31. 22. Psal 88. throughout Esa 5. 10. yet are they never utterly destitute of that seed of God and life of faith that love of Christ and the brethren that sincerity of heart and conscience of duty out of which by the operation of the Spirit this assurance may in due time be revived q 1 Ioh. 3. 9 Luke 22. 32 Iob 13. 15 Psaim 73. 15 Psal 51. 8 12 and by the which in the mean time they are supported from utter despair r Mich. â— 7 8 9. Ier. 52. 40. Isa 54. 7 8 9 10. Psalme 22. 1. Psalme 88. throughout CHAP. XIX Of the Law of God GOD gave to Adam a Law as a Covenant of Works by which he bound him and all his posterity to personall entire exact and perpetuall obedience promised life upon the fulfilling and threatened death upon the breach of it and indued him with power and ability to keep it a Gen. 1. 26 27 with Gen. 2. 17 Rom 2 14 15 Rom. 10. 5 Rom. 5. 12. 19. Gal. 3 10 12. Eccles 7. 29 Iob 28. 20 II. This Law after his fall continued to be a perfect rule of righteousnesse and as such was delivered by God upon Mount Sinai in Ten Commandements and written in two Tables b Iam. 1. 25 Iam 2. 8 10 11 12. Rom. 13. 8 9 Deut. 5. 32 Deut. 10. 4 Exod. 34. 1 the foure first Commandements containing our duty towards God and the other six our duty to man c Mat. 22 37 38 39 40. III. Beside this Law commonly called Morall God was pleased to give to the people of Israel as a Church under age Ceremoniall Laws containing severall typicall Ordinances partly of Worship prefiguring Christ his graces actions sufferings and benefits d Heb 9. chap Heb. 10. 1 Gal. 4. 1 2 3. Col. 2. 17. and partly holding forth divers instructions of morall duties e 1 Cor. 5. 7 2 Cor. 6. 17 Iude ver 23 All which Ceremoniall Laws are now abrogated under the new Testament f Col. 2. 14 16 17. Dan. 9. 27 Eâ—h 2. 15 16. IV. To them also as a body Politique he gave sundry Iudiciall Laws which expired together with the State of that people not obliging any other now further than the generall equity thereof may require g Exod. 21 Chapter Exod. 22. 1 to 29 Gen 49. 10 with 1 Pet. 2. 13 14 Mat. 5. 17 with ver 38 39. 1 Cor. 9. 8 9 10. V. The Morall Law doth for ever bind all as well justified persons as others to the obedience thereof h Rom. 13. 8 9 10. Eph. 6. 2 1 Iohn 2. 3 4 7 8 and that not only in regard of the matter contained in it but also in respect of the authority of God the Creatour who gave it i Iam. 2. 10. 1â— Neither doth Christ in the Gospell any way dissolve but much strengthen this obligation k Mat. 5. 17 18 19. Iam. 2. 8. Rom 3. 31. VI. Although true Believers be not under the Law as a Covenant of works to be thereby justified or condemned l Rom. 6. 14 Gala. 2. 16 Gala. 3. 13 Gala. 4. 4 5 Acts 13. 39 Rom. 8. 1 yet is it of great use to them as well as to others in that as a rule of life informing them of the will of God and their duty it directs and binds them to walk accordingly m Rom. 7 12 22 25. Psal 119. 4 5 6. 1 Cor. 7. 19 Gal. 5. 14 16 18 19 20 21 22 23. discovering also the sinfull pollutions of their nature hearts lives n Rom. 7. 7 Rom. 3. 20 so as examining themselves thereby they may come to further conviction of humiliation for and hatred against sin o Iam. 1. 23 24 25. Rom. 7. 9 14 24. together with a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ and the perfection of his obedience p Gal. 3. 24 Rom. 7. 24 25. Rom. 8 3. 4. It is likewise of use to the Regenerate to restrain their corruptions in that it forbids sin q
publickly for the proof of which 1. That the Priests and Levites in the Iewish Church were trusted with the publick reading of the Word as is proved Deut. 31 9 10 11. Neh. 8. 1 2 and 13. 2. That the Ministers of the Gospel have as ample a Charge and Commission to dispence the Word as well as other Ordinances as the Priests and Levites had under the Law proved Isa 66. 21. Mat. 23 34. where our Saviour intituleth the Officers of the New Testament whom he will send forth by the same names of the Teachers of the Old Which Propositions prove that therefore the duty being of a moral nature it followeth by just consequence that the publick reading of the Scriptures belongeth to the Pastors Office To feed the Flock by Preaching of the Word according to which he is to teach convince reprove exhort and comfort 1 Tim. 3. 2. 2 Tim. 3. 16 17. Tit. 19. To Chatechise which is a plain laying down the Principles of the Oracles of God Heb. 5. 12. or of the Doctrine of Christ and is a part of Preaching To dispence other divine Mysteries 1 Cor. 4 1 2. To administer the Sacraments Mat. 28 19 20. Mark 16. 15 16. 1 Cor. 11 23 24 25. compareth with 1 Cor. 10. 16. To bless the People from God Num. 6. 23 24 25 26. compared with Rev 14. 5 where the same blessings and Persons from whom they come are expresly mentioned Isai 66. 21. Where under the names of Priests and Levites to be continued under the Gospel are meant Evangelicall Pastors who therefore are by Office to bless the People Deut. 10. 8. 2 Cor. 13 14. Eph. 1. 2. To take care of the Poor Acts 1â— 30. 4. 34 35 36 37. 6. 2 3 4. 1 Cor. 16. 1 2 3 4. Gal. 2 9 10. And he hath also a ruling power over the Flock as a Pastor 1 Tim. 5. 17. Acts 20. 17. and 28. 1 Thes 5 12. Heb. 13. 7. 17. Teacher or Doctor THe Scripture doth hold out the name and title of Teacher as well as of the Pastor 1 Cor. 12. verse 28. Ephes 4. verse 11. Who is also a Minister of the Word as well as the Pastor and hath power of administration of the Sacraments The Lord having given different gifts and divers excercises according to these gifts in the Ministry of the Word Rom. 12. 6 7 8. 1 Cor. 12 1 4 5 6 7. Though these different gifts may meet in and accordingly be exercised by one and the same Minister 1 Cor. 14. 3. 2 Tim. 4. 2. Tit. 1. 9 yet where be several Ministers in the same Congregation they may be designed to several imployments according to the different gifts in which each of them doth most excel Rom 12. 6 7 8. 1 Pet. 4. 10 11. And he that doth more excel in exposition of Scripture in teaching sound Doctrine and in convincing gain sayers then he doth in application and is accordingly imployed therein may be called a Teacher or Doctor the places alledged by the Notation of the Word doth prove the Proposition Nevertheless where is but one Minister in a particular Congregation he is to perform so far as he is able the whole work of the Ministry as appeareth in the 2 Tim. 4. 2. Tit. 1 9 before alledged 1 Tim. 6 2. A Teacher or Doctor is of most excellent use in Schools and Universities as of old in the Schools of the Prophets and at Jerusalem where Gamaliel and others taught as Doctors Oâ—her Church-Governors AS there were in the Jewish Church Elders of the People joyned with the Priests and Levites in the Government of the Church as appeareth in the 2 Chron. 19. 8 9 10. So Christ who hath instituted a Government and Governors Ecclesiastical in the Church hath furnished some in his Church beside the Ministers of the Word with gifts for Government and with commission to execute the same when called thereunto who are to joyn with the Minister in the Government of the Church Rom. 12. 7 8. 1 Cor. 12. 28. which Officers reformed Churches commonly call Elders Deacons THe Scripture doth hold out Deacons as distinct Officers in the Church Phil 1. 1. 1 Tim. 3. 8. whose Office is perpetual 1 Tim. 3. 8. to verse 15. Acts 6. 1 2 3 4. To whose Office it belongs not to preach the Word or administer the Sacraments but to take special care in distributing to the necessities of the poor Acts 6. 1 2 3 4. and the verses following Of particular Congregations IT is lawful and expedient that there be fixed Congregations that is a certain company of Christians to meet in one Assembly ordinarily for publique Worship When Beleevers multiply to such a number that they cannot conveniently meet in one place it is lawful and expedient that they should be divided into distinct and fixed Congregations for the better administration of such Ordinances as belong unto them and the discharge of mutual duties 1 Cor. 14. 26. Let all things be done unto edifying and verses 33. 40. The ordinary way of dividing Christians into distinct Congregations and most expedient for edification is by the respective bounds of their dwellings First Because they who dwell together being bound to all kind of Moral duties Deut. 15 7 11 one to another have the better opportunity thereby to discharge them which Mat. 22. 39 Mat. 5 17 Moral tye is perpetual for Christ came not to destroy the Law but to fulfil it Secondly The Communion of Saints must be so ordered as may stand with the most convenient use of the Ordinances and discharge of Moral duties without respect of persons 1 Cor. 14 26. Let all things be done unto edifying Heb. 10 24 25. James 2. 1 2. Thirdly The Pastor and People must so nearly co-habite together as that they may mutually perform their duties each to other with most conveniency In this company some must be set apart to bear Office Of the Officers of a particular Congregation FOr Officers in a single Congregation there ought to be one at the least both to labour in the Word and Doctrine and to rule Prov. 29 18. 1 Tim. 5 17. Heb 13 7. It is also requisite that there should be others to joyn in Government 1 Cor. 12 28. And likewise it is requisite that there be others to take special care for the relief of the poor Acts 6 2 3. The number of each of which is to be proportioned according to the condition of the Congregation These Officers are to meet together at convenient and set times for the well-ordering of the affairs of that Congregation each according to his Office It is most expedient that in these meetings one whose Office is to labour in the Word and Doctrine do moderate in their proceedings 1 Tim. 5 17. Of the Ordinance in a particular Congregation THe Ordinances in a single Congregation are Prayer Thanksgiving and singing of Psalms 1 Tim. 2 ver 1. 1 Cor. 14 15 16. The Word