Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	command_v	forbid_v	sin_n	4,155	5	5.7209	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A44684	Of charity in reference to other mens sins by John Howe ...	Howe, John, 1630-1705.	1681 (1681)	Wing H3033; ESTC R19382	22,776	72

add to all their other wickedness that folly and madness as to count all men hypocrites that are not as bad as themselves And reckon there is no such thing as real Religion in the World A like case as if because sometimes spectres have appeared in humane shape one should conclude there is therfore no such creature on earth as a very man 2. But there are also other things that ought to come into practice in the case of other mens sinning very suitable to the case and not unsuitable to charity Which tho' they proceed more directly rather from some other principle yet are not inconsistent with this As the graces of Gods Spirit and the duties of Christians never interfere so as to obstruct or hinder one another Things which tho' Charity do not expresly command yet are otherwise commanded and which Charity doth not forbid As 1. That we labour to avoid the contagion of their example That we take not encouragement to sin from their sinning They are not our rule We have not so learned Christ. 2. That we take warning by it And endeavour that their example may not only not be tempting to us but that it may be monitory We should reckon such things are our examples for this purpose 1 Cor. 10. and were not only heretofore recorded and written but they are also in our own days permitted to fall out for our admonition We that think we stand should therefore take heed lest we fall And must remember we are to stand by faith and are not to be high minded but fear 'T is a costly instruction that is given us in such instances Consider the dolour and pangs that they may perhaps endure who are our Monitors If they do not cry to us to beware their case doth Reckon as the Psalmist Ps. 73. It is good for you to draw near to God they that are far from him shall perish Labour to be sincere living Christians Let me tell you what I have often inculcated A meer form of godliness will one time or other betray you And that it is not being of this or that party conjoined with a formal lifeless Religion that will secure you from being publick scandals on earth and accursed wretches in hell Let every one prove his own work and make through work of it so shall he have rejoycing in himself and not in another Gal. 6. yea tho' he may have much cause of mourning for another For every one must at last bear his own burden and give an account of himself to God 3. Seriously bless God for being kept from gross and scandalous enormities Such words savour well spoken with deep humility and unfeigned sense of divine favour not with Pharisaical ostentation and scorn God I thank thee I am not as other men If the poor man was so transported and pour'd out his soul in tears of gratitude to God upon the sight of a Toad that he was not such a creature how much more cause is there for it upon the sight of a gross sinner For I should think Who made me differ Why was not I the example And reduc't to such a condition before which I would prefer the greatest sinless misery in all the world There is a threesold degree of mercy in our preservation from more hainous and reproachful wickedness We may owe it to nature that less inclines us to some sins as gluttony drunkenness c. to external succedaneous providence that keeps us out of the way of temptation Or to victorious Grace able to prevail both against corrupt inclinations of nature and what soever temptations also God is to be acknowledg'd in all He is the Author of Nature the Ruler in Providence the Fountain of Grace Under the first of these notions he ought more to be eyed and praised than the most are aware of I could tell you if it were seasonable of some and no despicable Heathen Philosophy which speaks of such an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or goodness of natural temper though the word hath also another signification that is said to carry in it a sort of seminal probity and vertue Which when it shall be observed how some others have the seeds of grosser vitiosity and of all imaginable calamities more plentifully sown in their natures there is no little 〈…〉 be thankful for Tho' all are 〈…〉 nough by nature to be children of 〈…〉 and for ever miserable without 〈◊〉 mercy And tho' again none 〈…〉 so bad natures as to be thereby excusabl● in wickedness they should endeavour and seek relief the more ●●●nestly yet some are less bad and their case more remedible by ordinary means and therefore the difference should be acknowledged with gratitude And surely there is no small mercy in being kept out of the way of temptation by the dispensation of a more favourable Providence that orders more advantageously the circumstances of their conditions in the world so as they are less exposed to occasions of sin than others are Which Providence I called succedaneous for distinctions sake because even the difference of natural tempers is owing to a former Providence But now who can tell what they should be or do in such circumstances as might have befal'n them 'T is a singular favour not to be exposed to a dangerous tryal whereof we know not the issue Nor yet should any satisfie themselves without that grace which can stem the tide Which they that possess how should they adore the God of all grace 4. Charity doth not forbid and the case it self requires that when others do grosly and scandalously sin we should at length upon plain evidence admit a conviction of the matter of fact For otherwise we cannot perform the other duty towards them unto which Charity doth most expresly oblige Nor discharge an higher duty which another love requires that ought to be superior to all other No Charity can oblige me to be blind partial unjust untrue to the interest of God and Religion When we are told in the Text it rejoyces not in iniquity 't is added in the next breath it rejoyces in the truth i. e. in equity and righteous dealing We are not to carry alike to good men and bad And are therefore sometime to distinguish them if there be a visible ground for it or to take notice when they manifestly distinguish themselves For it is necessary to what is next to ensue viz. That 5. We are to decline their Society i. e. when their hainous guilt appears and while their repentance appears not Scripture is so plain and copious to this purpose that it would suppose them very ignorant of the Bible for whom it should be needful to quote Texts We must avoid them for our own sake that we be not infected nor be partakers in their sin and guilt For theirs and so Charity requires it that they may be ashamed which may be the means of their reduction and salvation And which is most considerable for the honour of