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	servant_n	unprofitable_a	1,244	5	10.6349	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A81634	Gospel-mysterie or, the great union that is betwixt Christ and the saints. From Cant. 2. 16. With a true way to discern a godly man from a carnal or ungodly man: and the way how the saints return after back-sliding. Also, the worth of a good conscience. By Robert Dornford.	Dornford, Robert.	1652 (1652)	Wing D1935; Thomason E1315_3; ESTC R209206	36,827	79

destroy both open sins in others and secret sins in himself and he is most busie with that at home he will harbour no sin so neer the spirit of God Seventhly A godly man makes Conscience of time he accounts his time precious and therefore he takes much care how he spends it and by this indeed may every man be discerned in taking notice how men spend their times A godly man takes all opportunities to do his duty is carfull that he waste not that which was bought at so deer a rate he knows it cost the blood of Christ as 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. And also the blood of many a Saint hath been spent for it to gain this liberty and time we now enjoy and therefore the godly man will not squander it away he knows how to employ himself in it he is not like to those that say they know not how to pass away time and therefore use foolish gaming and carnal mirth no he is not to seek what to do in any spare time his heart is on God and his glory and therefore when time is to be had he studies how he may advance that glory Again he knows that Fellowship and Communion with God is sweet to him and therefore hath no time to spend wherein he desireth not this enjoyment Also he sees much of the minde of God in his Word and therefore all spare time that he can have he imploys himself to search it out He sees Communion with the Saints and Communion with the godly both pretious and profitable and therefore his heart is so after it that he cannot waste any of his precious time in carnal and fruitless Discourses his delight is to meditate in the precepts of God day and night as David saith in Psal 1. where thou hast this largely set forth there thou shalt finde what are the ways of the godly and also what kinde of men wicked men are which make no conscience of time how they spend it And here now let none deceive themselves and shift off this Mark as though it did not concern them for assure your selves t is a truth that godly men account time precious and make Conscience how they spend it Lord teach me to number my dayes saith David that I may spend my time in wisdom Again the godly man knows that time is uncertain and therefore whilst he hath it he will not be imployed about base and unfruitful Acts. And therefore now who ever thou art that hast not thus valued time look into that 1 Pet 1 2 3 4 5. Is it not a shame that a godly man should live in sin what shall he spend his time as doth the wicked Did Christ die on the Cross for a people to make them sons of God Heirs with himself and shall they live to the flesh and spend their time after that as 1 Pet. 4. Then I pray from what did Christ Redeem his Saints was it not from sin from dead works as 1 Pet. 1. 17 18. if not what meaneth that saying of the Apostle Paul in Eph. 4. 1 2 3 what meaneth that 1 Pet. 1. 14 15 also that in 1 Pet. 2. 9 10 11 12. Read lay these to heart for thou seest it is a truth that the Saints make conscience of their time A godly man sees that he was called to that end and therefore makes aright use of it I shall end this branch with the same Advice Caution that the Apostle used to the Hebrews in ch 3. 12 13 14. And I say take heed lest thou hast an evil heart in departing from the living God and from the ways of godliness to spend thy time in idleness and profaness lest thou finde thy heart besotted with the deceitfulness of sin and so instead of holding out and persevering in holiness thou art cut off and cast out as a dead branch and so witherest away even to destruction See what Christ saith Joh. 15. 6. Read and consider this Chapter Eightly Wouldst thou know a godly man thou shalt finde him out by his manner of performing holy duties thou mayst perceive his heart to be affected with what he doth If he prayes thou shalt see how his words savour of the Spirit of God in him so in his Discourse his experience of God flows from him And here thou mayst know him from one who enjoys not the Spirit of God easily thus though the godly mans abilites be small yet his duties are performed rightly the other out of fear of Judgement or out of formality or to appease Conscience keeps much ado as the Pharisees did of whom Christ speaks in Matth. 6. thinking to get something by it and so salve up their wounded Consciences who cry guilty But the godly man doth his duties out of a tender love and obedience to the object who hath so loved him and so maketh good that word of the Apostle John we love him because he first loved us so he doth them out of love and also out of Obedience to his Commands A godly man performs holy duties because God commands them and so maketh good that saying of Christ If ye love me keep my Commandments A godly man in his duties rests not on them but flies from them to Christ and accounts all that is done in the creatures strength but as dung and dross Again a godly man hath a low esteem of himself and he thinks he is in his best but an unprofitable servant He desireth not a high esteem in the sight of men This thou mayst see in a godly mans performances of duties Ninthly and Lastly Wouldst thou know a godly man then take that course to finde him as Christ speaks of in the 7 of Matthew ver 16. to 21. See what fruit he beareth a godly man bringeth forth good fruit and by that thou mayst know him He is as David saith Like a tree planted by the rivers side which bringeth forth his fruit in due season his leaf withereth not it is not so with the wicked see Psal 1. Here thou mayst know a godly man from frothy turbulent-spirited men the godly man bringeth forth fruit with patience Luke 8. 15. But the other three sorts there mentioned were carried away they could not have patience to wait so long on God something choaks their hearts therefore be not deceived as Paul saith neither mistake in this for if thou doest miscarry here all is lost Ephes 5. where from ver 1. to 26. the Apostle discourseth what godliness is and what kind of men godly men should be and also the ungodly what they are Read and Consider A godly man is a fruitful man and therefore be not deceived Let men go under what title or name soever they will pretend what they will t is to no end except they bring forth fruits they cannot be godly and therefore now we come to the last pinch give me leave to tell thee who ever thou art great or small rich or poor let thy