Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	church_n	member_n	visible_a	1,366	5	9.2837	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A42363	The Christians great interest: or A short treatise, divided into two parts the first whereof containeth, the tryal of a saving interest in Christ. The second, pointeth forth plainly, the way how to attain it: wherein somewhat is likewise spoken to the manner of express covenanting with God. By W. Guthrie, minister of the gospel in Scotland.	Guthrie, William, 1620-1665.	1681 (1681)	Wing G2273; ESTC R218716	96,110	156

lay aside all thoughts of saving themselves by the Covenant of Works or inherent righteousness and will agree heartily to be saved by Christ Jesus they shall be restored to a better condition than formerly man was in and shall be saved So then to close with Gods device of saving sinners by Christ Jesus is to quit and forego all thoughts of help or salvation by our own Righteousness and to agree unto this way which God hath found out It is to value and highly esteem of Christ Jesus as the treasure sufficient to enrich poor man and with the heart to believe this record That there is life enough in him for men It is to plead this invention and to acquiesce in it as the only way to true happiness It is to point towards this Mediator as God holdeth him out in the Gospel with desire to lay the stress of our whole estate on him This is that which is called Faith or Believing the receiving of Christ or believing on his Name John 1. 12. This is that believing on the Name of the Lord Jesus commanded unto the Jaylor for his safety Acts 10. 31. This agreeth to all the descriptions of justifying faith in the Scripture this doth answer the type of looking to the Brazen Serpent lifted up in the Wilderness John 3. 14 15. and this is supposed in all these ordinary actings of Faith to which promises are annexed in the Scripture and will be found in all who have got the new heart from God and it will be found in none else As to the Second thing viz. That this is the necessary duty of all such who would be in favour with God and secure their Souls It appeareth thus 1. This closing with Gods contrivance or believing in Christ is commanded every where in Scripture by the Lord as the condition of the new Covenant giving title and right unto all the spiritual blessings of the same for it is upon the matter the receiving of Christ This is commanded whilst God bids men come and buy that is impropiate all by closing with that contrivement Isa 55. 1. the weary are commanded to come uuto him thus for their rest Mat. 11. 28. This is his commandment that we believe on the name of his Son 1. John 3. 23. this is enough to prove it a duty incumbent But further it is such a duty as only giveth title and right to a Sonship for only they who receive him are priviledged to be Sons John 1. 12. To as many as received him to them he gave power to be the sons of God even to such as believed on his name 2. It appeareth to be the necessary duty of all thus No less than this doth give a meeting unto God offering himself to be our God in Christ and no less than this doth answer our profession as we are in Covenant with him as Members of his visible Church The Lord offereth to be our God in Christ if we do not close with the offer in laying aside all thoughts of other ways by which we may attain to happiness we give no meeting to him he saith This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear ye him Mat. 17. 5. If we close not with the offer we give no answer unto God Moreover we are all baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of Sins Acts 2. 38. Now unless we close with Christ as is said we falsifie that profession therefore since this is the thing which doth answer Gods offer in the Gospel and make good our profession as members of his Church it is a necessary duty lying upon us 3. Whatsoever a man hath else if he do not thus close with Gods Invention about Christ Jesus and do not receive him it doth not avail either as to the accepting of his person or of his performances or as to the saving of his soul Men are accepted only in Christ the beloved Eph. 1. 6. Abel and his offering are accepted by faith Heb. 11. 4. Without faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11. 6. and He that believeth not is condemned already and shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him John 3. 18. 36. for want of this no external title doth avail the Children of the Kingdom are cast out if this be wanting Mat. 8. 10 11 12. The people of Israel are like other Heathens in regard of a graceless state lying open to the wrath of God Jer. 9. 25 26. If men do not believe that he who was slain at Jerusalem who was called Christ Jesus and witnessed unto by the Prophets and declared to be the Son of God by many mighty works I say if men do not believe that he is the way and close not with him as the only way they shall dye in their sins John 8. 24. We say then it is a most necessary duty thus to close with Christ Jesus as the blessed relief appointed for sinners every one who is come to years of understanding and heareth this Gospel is obliged to take to heart his own lost condition and Gods gracious offer of peace and salvation throngh Christ Jesus and speedily to fly from the wrath to come by accepting and closing with this offer heartily acquiescing therein as a satisfying way for saving of poor Sinners And that all may be the more encouraged to set about this duty when they hear him praying them to be reconciled unto them let them remember that peace and salvation is offered to the people in universal terms to all without exception If any man will he shall be welcome Rev. 22. 17. If any thirst although after that which will never profit yet they shall be welcome here on the condition aforesaid Isa 55. 2 3. all are commanded to believe 1 John 3. 23. The promises are to all who are externally called by the Gospel God excludes none if they do not exclude themselves Acts 2. 39. so that if any have a mind for the thing they may come forward he will in no wise cast them out John 6. 37. being able to save to the utmost them who come to God through him Heb. 7. 25. And these who have long delayed to take this matter to heart had now the more need to look to it lest what belongs to their peace be hid from their Eyes but all these words will not take effect with people until God pour out his Spirit from on high Isa 32. 15. to cause men to approach unto God in Christ yet we must still press mens duty upon them and beseech and charge them by the appearing of the Lord Iesus Christ and their reckoning to him in that day that they give the Lord no rest until he send out that Spirit which he will give to them who ask it Luke 11. 13. and cause them to know what belongs unto their peace and bring them up to their duty We come now to speak of the Third thing viz.

God in all manner of conversations For if a man thenceforth do any thing unsuitable he doth falsifie his word before God which will stick much in his Conscience and prove a snare If a man henceforth forget God and take on him to dispose of himself since he is not his own and hath opened his mouth unto the Lord he makes enquiry after vows and devoureth that which is holy Prov. 20. 25. 2. He who transacteth with God should hold stedfast that determination and conclusion it is a shame for a man whose heart hath closed with God and whose mouth hath ratified and confirmed it solemnly before him to contradict himself again and to admit any thing to the contrary he ought boldly to maintain the thing against all deadly Then let me beseech you who desire to be established in the matter of your interest in God that with all conveniency you set apart a piece of time for Prayer before God and labouring to work up your heart to seriousness affection and the faith of the duty to make a Covenant and to transact with God by express words after this manner O Lord I am a lost and broken Creature by Nature and by innumerable actual transgressions which I do confess particularly before thee this day And although being born within the visible Christ I was from the womb in Covenant with thee and had the same sealed unto me in bapsïsin Yet for a long time I have lived without God in the world senseless and ignorant of my Obligation by vertue of that Covenant Thou hast at length discovered unto me and bound upon my heart my miserable state in my self and hast made manifest unto my heart the satisfying relief thou hast provided by Christ Jesus offering the same freely unto me upon condition that I would accept of the same and would close with thee as my God in Christ warranting and commanding me upon my utmost peril to accept of this offer and to flee unto Christ Jesus Yea to my apprehension now thou hast Soveraignly determined my heart and shaped it for Christ Jesus leading it out after him in the offer of the Gospel causing me to approach unto the living God to close so with him and to acquiesce in his offer without any known guile And that I may come up to that establishment of Spirit in this matter which should be to my comfort and the praise of thy glorious Grace Therefore I am here this day to put this matter out of question by express words before thee according to thy will And now I unworthy as I am do declare that I believe that Christ Jesus who was slain at Jerusalem was the Son of God and the Saviour of the World I do believe that record that there is life eternal for men in him and in him only I do this day in my heart plead and acquiesce in that device of saving sinners by him and do interest my soul unto him I do accept of reconciliation with God through him and do close with thee as my God in him I chuse him in all that he is and all that may follow him and do resign up my self and what I am or have unto thee desiring to be divorced from every thing hateful unto thee and that without exception or reservation of any thing consistent with my knowledge or intended reversion Here I give the hand to thee and do take all things about me witnesses that I whatever I be or have hitherto been do accept so Gods offer of peace through Christ and do make a sure Covenant with thee this day never to be reversed hoping that thou wilt make all things forth-coming both on thy part and mine seriously begging as I desire to be saved that my corruptions may be subdued and my Neck brought unto thy sweet yoke in all things and my heart made chearfully to acquiesce in whatsoever thou dost unto me or with me in order to these ends Now glory be unto thee O Father who devised such a Salvation and gave the Son to accomplish it Glory be to Christ Jesus who at so dear a rate did purchase the out-letting of that love from the Fathers bosome and through whom alone this access is granted and in whom I am reconciled unto God and honourably united unto him and am no more an Enemy or Stranger Glory be to the Holy Ghost who did alarm me when I was destroying my self and who did not only convince me of my hazzard but did also open my eyes to behold the relief provided in Christ yea and did perswade and determine my wild heart to fall in love with Christ as the enriching treasure and this day doth teach me how to Covenant with God and how to impropriate to my self all the sure Mercies of David and blessings of Abraham and to secure to my self the favour and friendship of God for ever Now with my soul heart head and whole man as I can I do acquiesce in my choice this day henceforth resolving not to be my own but thine And that the care of whatsoever concerns me shall be on thee as my Head and Lord protesting humbly that failings on my part against which I resolve thou knowest shall not make void this Covenant for so hast thou said which I intend not to abuse but so much the more to cleave close unto thee and I must have liberty to renew ratifie and draw extracts of this transaction as often as shall be found needful Now I know thy consent to this bargain stands recorded in Scripture so as I need no new signification of it and I having accepted of thy offer upon thy own terms will henceforth wait for what is good and for thy salvation in the end As thou art faithful pardon what is amiss in my way of doing the thing and aceept me in my sweet Lord Jesus in whom I only desire pardon And in testimony hereof I set to my Seal that God is True and in declaring him a competent Saviour Let People Covenant with God in fewer or more words as the Lord shall dispose them for we intend no Platform of words for any person Only it were fitting that men should before the Lord acknowledge their lost state in themselves and the relief that is by Christ and that they do declare that they accept of the same as it is offered in the Gospel and do thankfully rest satisfied with it intrusting themselves henceforth wholly unto God to be saved in his way for which they according to his faithfulness If men would heartily and sincerely do this it might heartily through the Lords blessing help to establish them against many fears and jealousies And they might date some good thing from this day and hour which might prove comfortable unto them when they fall in the dark afterwards and even when many failings do stare them in the face perhaps at the hour of death 2 Sam. 23. 5. It is much if a man can appeal unto God and