Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	ceremonial_a	law_n	moral_a	2,252	5	9.4056	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85422	VVater-dipping no firm footing for Church-communion: or Considerations proving it not simply lawful, but necessary also (in point of duty) for persons baptized after the new mode of dipping, to continue communion with those churches, or imbodied societies of saints, of which they were members before the said dipping; and that to betray their trust or faith given unto Jesus Christ to serve him in the relation and capacity, whether of officers, or other members, in these churches (respectively) by deserting these churches, is a sin highly provoking in the sight of God. Together with a post-script touching the pretended Answer to the Forty queries about Church-communion, infant and after baptism. By John Goodwin, a servant of God in the Gospel of his dear Son.	Goodwin, John, 1594?-1665.	1653 (1653)	Wing G1213; Thomason E723_15; ESTC R202234	72,402	91

Observations over the Moral Law or Authority to over-rule the dictates or any the principles of the Law of Nature or to exempt any man from the performance of any duty required hereby How much less will he justifie any man in pleading the necessity of submitting to such a Ceremony which or at least the necessity whereof more probably is of humane then divine Institution by way of bar to the performance of such duties which the Moral Law yea the Law of Nature it self requireth Therefore inexcuseable altogether are such persons both in the sight of God and men who pretend themselves disobliged from the performance of such promises which they have solemnly made unto their Brethren by a necessary of subjecting to an external Rite or Ceremony how much more when the observation of this Rite or Ceremony is and always hath been by all the judicious learned and faithful servants of God in the Christian world a very few and these upon no accompt very considerable excepted adjudged no ways necessary by vertue of any Precept or Command of God God doubtless by the Law of Nature and of love to their Brethren requireth of such men a forbearance of their Ceremony though supposed of Divine Institution for the peace comfort spiritual accommodation and edification of their Brethren rather then the practise of it to their offence trouble and distraction yea to the danger of the precious Souls of many weak ones who are emboldened by their example having no sufficient ground in themselves for such a practise to condemn themselves in allowing and practising the same Ceremony For as our Saviour of the Sabbath so say I of Baptism Baptism was made for man and not man for Baptism Baptism was made or ordained for man i. e. for mans benefit comfort and accommodation and consequently is only to be used and administred in order hereunto and so not to his disturbance danger or distraction not man for Baptism i. e. man was not made or created by God for any such end as this that Baptism by his trouble sorrow molestation or danger should be magnified or exalted in the world And why it should not savour of as much Christianity and be of equal acceptance with God for the peace of the Churches and servants of God in these days to lay asleep a living Ordinance for a time as it did in the Apostle Paul to awaken a dead Ordinance I mean Circumcision upon the same account in his days I understand not CONSIDERATION II. The Churches and Societies of the Saints which are not actually and externally baptized with that figure or kind of Baptism so much contended for yet supposing this very Baptism to be the only Baptismal Ordinance of Christ and that it is his Will that they should be baptized with it they are according to the rule and standard of divine Estimate and Acceptance baptized therewith as well as those persons themselves who so impotently please themselves in their subjection to the letter of it The Standard or standing Rule of Divine Estimate is this If there be first a willing mind a man is accepted according to that he hath so it were better rendered though the difference be not material and not according to that he hath not 2 Cor. 1. 12. By a like rule God likewise estimateth the sinfulness and wickedness of men Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath COMMITTED ADULTERY with her already in his heart Mat. 5. 28. So then if the Members of unbaptized Churches so called have a willing mind are prepared and large-hearted to submit unto all and every the Ordinances of Christ and consequently unto New-Baptism it self supposing this to be one of that retinue but only want the opportunity of light and conviction so to judg conceive of it they are accepted with God and esteemed by him and ought they not then to be so with men as persons baptized with that very Baptism Yea the truth is that if the unbaptized Churches sin or be blame-worthy for not being actually baptized after the manner of the Brethren of New-Baptism these persons themselves are in a great degree accessary unto such their sin partly by administring unto them only weak and insufficient grounds for their conviction partly also and more especially by causing through their pride frowardness insolency and disdainfulness of spirit together with many other strains of most unchristian behaviour towards them that sacrifice of the Lord if such it be to be abhorred Besides I am all thoughts made that the far greater part of those who have been prevailed with to accept of a dip for Baptism neither have nor ever had either that love unto nor sacred and reverent esteem of all the Ordinances of Christ which thousands of those have whom God hath not yet so perswaded So then they who refuse Communion with such Saints who have not been actually baptized with their Baptism upon this pretence only that they have not been thus baptized reject the communion of those whom God reputeth to have been baptized with that very Baptism for the want of which such men reject them always supposed as hath been said that the Dipping-Baptism is the sole Baptism Ordinance of Christ CONSIDERATION III. The Scripture very frequently and expresly teacheth that by Faith men become and are made the children of Abraham and Sons of God But as many as received him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God even to them that beleeve on his Name Joh. 1. 12. But ye are all the children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus Joh. 3. 26. See also Rom. 4. 11 12 16. If then true Beleevers be the Sons of God then must all they needs be Bastards and no Sons of God but children of Satan who are not their Brethren And if they who are the Sons of God and consequently their Brethren be ashamed of them and shall refuse to own them in their Church-fellowship are they not ashamed of those of whom the Lord Christ professeth before Heaven and Earth that he is not ashamed no not ashamed to own them in the relation of Brethren For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one for which cause HE IS NOT ASHAMED TO CALL THEM BRETHREN Hebr. 2. 11. Must not then Jesus Christ needs look upon those men as greater in their own conceit either in Holiness or in Dignity or in both then himself who are ashamed of such persons of whom he is not ashamed yea indeed in whom he glorieth as being with their fellows his Fulness and in whom he shall come to be glorified and admired in the great day a Thess. 1. 10. Or is not the great jealousie of Christ like to be provoked when men shall presume to make or call that common which he hath sanctified with his own blood and made express declaration from Heaven accordingly Or can either a thing or person be made or called common in a more

VVater-Dipping NO Firm Footing for Church-Communion OR CONSIDERATIONS Proving it not simply lawful but necessary also in point of Duty for persons baptized after the new mode of Dipping to continue Communion with those Churches or imbodied Societies of Saints of which they were Members before the said Dipping And that to betray their Trust or Faith given unto Jesus Christ to serve him in the relation and capacity whether of Officers or other Members in these Churches respectively by deserting these Churches is a sin highly provoking in the sight of God Together with a Post-script touching the pretended Answer to the Forty Queries about Church-communion Infant and after Baptism By John Goodwin a Servant of God in the Gospel of his dear Son Ye did run well who did hinder you that ye should not obey the Truth Gal. 5. 7. Let them return unto thee but return not thou unto them Jer. 15. 19. If there be any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the Spirit if any bowels and mercies Fulfil ye my joy be ye like minded having the same love being of one accord of one mind Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory c. Phil. 2. 1 2 3. London Printed by J. M. for Henry Cripps and Lodowick Lloyd and are to be sold at their shop in Popes-head Alley 1653. To the Reader Good Reader HOw thou wilt interpret or accept of the Considerations here presented unto thee I know not The ground of my doubt is because they are but as so many candles lighted up to shew unto men the Sun Never did my pen labor in a cause more expedite and facil yet this I confess is fully balanced with the unreasonableness and difficulty of conviction in those persons with whom I have chiefly to do And since all proof ought to be made by somewhat more manifest and better known then the conclusion in question he whose task it is to prove that twice two make four must needs have an hard Province to manage My engagement in these Papers is upon the matter only to prove That Jesus Christ doth not require of his Followers to be promise-breakers for his sake much less for a Ceremonies sake when the matter of these promises is just and holy and good least of all when these promises have been solemnly made and as in his own presence and unto persons relating in Faith and Holiness unto himself It is a polique Maxim maintained by the Consistory of Rome that Promises are not to be kept with Heretiques but that promises should not be kept with Saints and true Beleevers and so acknowledged certainly is the apprehension and conceit of a troubled and maimed fancy And I confess that the cure of a misused and distempered fancy is {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} little better then an hopeless undertaking seldom atchieved by art or skill sometimes by chance or Providence out of course However my small pains in teaching these Papers to speak as they do shall be largely rewarded if God shall only please to use them as a Shield wherewith to defend those which are yet whole and sound from like impressions of distemper Thine to serve thee in the things both of thy present and eternal Peace J. G. CONSIDERATIONS Proving it not simply lawful but necessary also in point of Duty for persons Baptized after the new mode of Diping to continue in Communion with those Churches or imbodied Societies of Saints of which they were Members before the said Dipping or Baptizing and that to betray their Trust or Faith given unto Jesus Christ to serve him in the relation and capacity whether of Officers or other Members in these Churches respectively by deserting these Churches is a sin highly provoking in the sight of God CONSIDERATION I. IT is evident from many notable passages of Scripture that God himself hath given a kind of Superintendency or power of Regulation unto the Law of Nature the dictates and duties thereof over Institutions and Ceremonial Commands and the observations of these even as he hath given a like power unto some Institutions over others Mat. 12. 5. so that when and whilest the observation of an Institution or Ceremony cannot take place or be practised without trespassing upon some branch or other of the said Law of Nature then and so long the said observation is to give place nor is the Law of God requiring it in such a case broken or disparaged in the least Have ye not read saith our Saviour to the Phaerssees what David did when he was an hungered and they that were with him How he entered into the House of God and did eat the shewbread which was not lawful for him to eat viz. in ordinary cases neither for them which were with him but for the Priests only Mat. 12. 3 4. And soon after But if ye had known what this meaneth I will have mercy and not sacrifice ye would not have condemned the guiltless For the Son of man * is Lord even of the Sabbath day Again a few verses after What man shall there be among you that shall have one sheep and if it fall into a pit on the Sabbath day will he not lay hold on it and lift it out How much then is a man better then a sheep Elsewhere If thou bring thy gift to the Altar and there rememberest that thy Brother hath ought against thee Leave there thy gift before the Altar and go thy way first be reconciled to thy Brother and then offer thy gift Mat. 5. 23 24. Our Brethren in stead of reconciling themselves to their Brethren fall out with them and then go and offer their gift of Dipping From the same lips in another place this dew of Heaven falleth The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath Mark 2. 27. Circumcision was a great Institution of God and obedience unto it most strictly and solemnly commanded Yet they to whom it was particularly commanded omitted the observation and practise of it for forty years together and this without any other warrant dispensation relaxation or permission from God but only that which by the Light and Law of Nature he granted unto them and yet are blameless And yet it may be worthy consideration that the inconvenience in Nature I mean the degree of smart pain trouble or danger in any kind the prevention and avoyding whereof they judged and truly a sufficient dispensation from God for a forbearance of Circumcision during their travel was not so great or threatening but that in probability they might have endured it without the loss of any of their lives The Jews of later times though rigid enough in their Doctrine concerning the observation of their Sabbath yet have this maxim Periculum vitae pellit Sabbatum Peril of life drives away the Sabbath But on the contrary it is no where to be found in Scripture that God giveth any superintendency unto Institutions or Ceremonial