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	law_n	moral_a	2,108	5	9.1759	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A40080	A friendly conference between a minister and a parishioner of his, inclining to Quakerism wherein the absurd opinions of that sect are detected, and exposed to a just censure / by a lover of truth.	Fowler, Edward, 1632-1714.	1676 (1676)	Wing F1706; ESTC R1363	82,434	183

our Lord saith Matth. 5. 34. But I say unto you swear not at all And the same is repeated by the Apostle James c. 5. 12. From whence it appears all manner of Oaths are unlawful and they who say the contrary do live in opposition to the Gospel Min. You mince the Text by taking a piece of it only as your usual way is of which I hope to convince you in the process of this discourse in order whereunto I shall pitch upon this method following First I shall shew you that these words do not generally forbid all manner of Oaths in that large sense you take them Secondly I shall endèavour to give you the true sense of the words and shew you what sort of swearing is there forbidden Par. It will very much contribute to my conviction if you do as you say Pray you therefore first prove to me that the words do not forbid all manner of Oaths in that large sense wherein we take them Min. I shall do it in this order First by proving it an act of Natural Religion towards God Secondly an act of necessary justice and charity towards men Thirdly that it is therefore a part of that moral and eternal Law which our Saviour professeth he came not to destroy but to fulfill And fourthly that we find it practised in the New Testament Par. I much desire to hear the first particular prov'd viz. that an Oath is an act of Religion Min. I prove it first by Reason Secondly by consent of Nations thus That whereby we glorifie God and adore his Attributes is an act of Religion but by an Oath rightly taken we glorifie God and adore his Attributes therefore such an Oath is an act of Religion The first part of the Argument is evident of it self for what else is Religion but to adore and glorifie God in the humble acknowledgment of his Attributes And that we do by an Oath reverently taken glorifie God is clear from the nature and definition of it for an Oath is a religious appeal unto God the searcher of all hearts as a witness of what we assert or promise and the avenger of perjury Now that by such a reverent appeal unto God we glorifie him appears in that we do therein make acknowledgment 1. Of God's existence and being for he that cometh to God must believe that he is c. Heb. 11. 6. and an Oath certainly is one sort of coming to God being an immediate appeal to him as Witness and Judge 2. Of his Omnipresence and Ubiquity that he is present in all places and at all times according to Psalm 139. Whither shall I go from thy presence c. How could we call upon him either as Witness of our sincerity or Judge of our hypocrisie if we did not believe him within hearing and therefore the not having God before our eys is in Scripture the description of the most profligated wretchless state of sin 3. Herein we acknowledge his Omniscience that he is in the Apostles stile 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the searcher of hearts that all things are naked and open to the eyes of him with whom we have then more immediately to do 4. His truth and veracity a Witness brought into the Court that cannot lie nor be impos'd upon as saith the Apostle Gal. 6. 7. Be not deceived God is not mocked 5. His providence and paternal care of the concerns of mankind taking the cause of the righteous into his own hand and helping them to right that suffer wrong 6. His superiority or rather supremacy over all things according to that of St. Paul Heb. 6. 16. For verily men swear by the greater Therefore in swearing by him we own him to be Supreme and most high 7. We herein acknowledge his vindictive justice as he is a Revenger of Perjury such an one as will by no means patronize iniquity fraud or guile Exod. 34. 7. and will both bring sin to light 1 Cor. 4. 5. and punish it Rom. 12. 19. So that I hope you see by this time that an Oath rightly circumstantiated and taken viz. in truth in judgment and in righteousness Jer. 4. 2. is a comprehensive part of Religion It being such a solemn acknowledgment where by we glorifie God's Existence Omnipresence Omniscience Truth Providence Superiority and revenging Justice How can you think it less then a duty fit to be commanded by God and to bear a part in the Moral Law as indeed we find it doth Deut. 6. 13. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God and shalt serve him and swear by his Name And Jer. 4. 2. Thou shalt swear the Lord liveth in truth in judgment and in righteousness Par. I had thought that an Oath had been so far from glorifying God that it had been the only prosanation of his Name Min. Then it would never at any time have been commanded Par. I confess this Discourse inclines me to some more consideration about it than hitherto I have entred into Min. Therefore to confirm you further I shall resume the method propos'd and prove that an Oath is an act of Religion out of the light of Nature and the consent of Nations as is evident to such as are conversant in ancient Authors Aristotle the great Philosopher saith An Oath is the most venerable thing that pertains to Religion Cicero the learned Oratour gives this account of an Oath An Oath is a religious affirmation and what you affirm or promise by taking God to witness ought to be kept that is such an Oath binds you to performance And elsewhere he hath these words Our Fore-fathers thought no tie more fast to bind mens faith than an Oath And therefore anciently Captains of War in listing their Souldiers did alwayes bind them to their fidelity with an Oath which Oath was had in so great reverence with them that they honoured it with a religious title calling it a Sacrament or religious Solemnity whereupon Seneca that excellent Moralist saith Religion that is that military Oath which they call'd a Sacrament is the chiefest bond of fidelity in the Militia Yea so great a reverence had they for an Oath that those that broke it were the infamiâ notati the only men of infamy and justly seiz'd upon by Divine vengeance The Heathens had so great a dread of the sin of perjury that they said It laid waste the whole stock and family root and branch And what other is this then what the Prophet Zachary hath said almost in the same words cap. 5. 1 2 3 4. concerning the flying roll That it should enter into the house of him that sweareth falsly and consume it with the timber and stones thereof So that herein you may take notice of the harmony and agreement between the light and the law of Nature with the positive and Moral Law of God given by Moses to mankind which was nothing but the Law of Nature renew'd and improv'd Par. How come you to alledge