Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A56022
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A general epistle to friends every where Written in obedience to the requirings of the spirit of life from God.
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Parke, James, 1636-1696.
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1682
(1682)
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Wing P371; ESTC R218729
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29,511
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32
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dear Friends who are Parents of Children wait diligently upon the Lord in his Light that with his Light you may see betimes into the Natures Inclinations and Dispositions of your Children and have a watchful and good Eye over them and their Inclinations and if you see they are inclinable to that which is good cherish that in them if it be never so little strengthen it that more may arise in them and they may more come to see and taste with you how good and gracious the Lord is and be good Examples to them in words and actions that they may hear gracious words from you and behold your good Conversation coupled with fear fear to offend the Lord and fear to do any thing against his glorious Truth and then you will shine as Lights among them and your whole Families and amongst all the Children of men But if you see your Children incline towards that which is evil to Pride vain Fashions of the World or that they delight in the company of the Wicked and in Sports and that they evilly spend their time without delay check and sharply reprove them for it and endeavour as much as in you lies to stop and restrain them there-from and stubbornness high-mindedness and all manner of Evil labour in the love and wisdom of God to break them from and keep down in them If any say What can I do God must do all I fear some amongst you have omitted your Duty on your part to do as Christian Parents under that pretence of God's doing all and therefore do not train up your Children in the way of God Truth and Life as you ought to do But suffer them not to learn the corrupt wayes of evil Men and Women and to chuse their wayes 't is true God worketh all our Works in us and for us but as he worketh immediately by his Spirit and Power in our hearts he also worketh by Instruments and you in the wisdom and spirit of God are or may become fit Instruments for God to work on your Children and Families by and to reclaim your Children and Families from Vice and Wickedness which you may see them incline unto If the believing Husband may save his Wife and the believing Wife her Husband that believeth not then why may not you as believing Parents save your Children duly watching over them for good believing in God for them and doing your duty to them carefully and in God's heavenly wisdom And why may not you your Children and Families be thus sanctified and saved from the Abominations of the times and the Evil of the World while you and they are in it If wholly you discharge your duty and trust as Parents or Masters of Families and then if your Children or Servants notwithstanding remain wicked you will be clear and their Blood will come upon themselves or at their Doors I doubt not but there are many Parents have a Godly care over their Children and as Masters and Mistresses or Dames have a Christian care over their Servants and whole Family to instruct them in the way of Righteousness and that reprove and correct their Children and their Servants when they see them do that which is evil But this is written in the love of God as a caution to and reflection upon all who are negligent and careless amongst us in this respect that all may come into a care of God's glory and of their Children and Servants that as much as in you lies you endeavour to reclaim and restrain them from Sin and Evil and train them up in that which is good that you all may be able to give account to God with Joy when by him you may be called to an account how you have governed and ruled your Families trained up your Children counselled and advised your Servants and what Examples you have been to your Families whom God gave you the rule and government of here a few dayes in this World And you believing Husbands who have Wives that believe not love your Wives and be very careful how you speak and act towards them that no blemish may come upon the Truth by any unadvised words to your Wives neither any unseemly carriages or behaviour that if possible you may gain your Wives that believe not to the Lord and belief of his precious Truth And you Wives that have Husbands that believe not speak and do likewise the same to them that you all may be found Holy and Unblamable in the day of God that the unbelieving Wife may be sanctified by her believing Husband and the unbelieving Husband by his believing Wife loving and cherishing the good in them that believe not whether Husband or Wife but keeping clear of that which is Evil never joyn with that which is Evil for thereby you will not only hurt and darken your selves but also harm your Relations and strengthen them the more in that which is evil and contrary to God and make your Lives more uncomfortable And all Husbands and Wives in general live in Love in the love of God out of a pure Heart loving and cherishing one another submitting your Hearts to God and his counsel in one another as the Lord by his Spirit may move in any of your Hearts so to counsel and advise each other therein that you may be made to each other meet helps in the Truth and helps in him to advance that in your Families or in helps in Government in the Church of God And Children be subject and in obedience to your Parents in the Lord that you may please the Lord for the stubborn and disobedient displease the Lord and come short of the Blessing of the Lord whilst so I mean his Blessing in heavenly things and often in this world and its things they are not blessed to them nor do not enjoy them in the blessing of God Take heed Children disobedience to Parents is a great evil to disobey them and their Commands being that which is good Let none be high or set not your selves against such Commands if you do God will punish you for it and kindle his wrath against you if your Parents command you to keep out of evil Company and out of bad Words and Actions obey them or else it will be ill with you Parents care being over you for good will you grieve them by rewarding them evil for good and rebellion towards them instead of esteem honour and duty which you owe to them even so much as you can scarce do it enough therefore diligently mind your Parents commands in the Truth to observe and do them And all you Servants that are convinced of and own God's Truth let God's fear be before your Eyes and let his Truth guide and order you and keep you that you may be inabled by the Lord to discharge your duty in the place of a Servant every one of you not as Eye Servants or sloathful and careless in your Masters business knowing you must give an