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
A85805	The path-way to peace. Or, The only assured and most certain means, whereby to heal the sores, make up the breaches, remove the fears, prevent the ruine, reconcile the differences, and put a finall end to the manifold divisions of this famous (though now much distracted) kingdom. By that faithfull and painfull preacher of Gods Word, Thomas Gardener, late pastor of St Maries in Sandwich. It is ordered this thirteenth day of February, 1642. by the committee of the House of Commons in Parliament concerning printing, that this book, intituled, The path-way to peace, be printed. John White.	Gardener, Thomas, d. 1635.; England and Wales. Parliament. House of Commons. aut	1643 (1643)	Wing G250; Thomason E105_1; ESTC R5591	12,202	17

negatively The second Point THe manner how the Lord doth make our very enemies at peace with us The Lord makes our enemies at peace with us by changing their affections Prov 21 1. Gen. 41.38.39 1 Sam. 29.6.9 This he bringeth to passe divers wayes 1. By altering and changing their affections for he turneth mens hearts as the rivers of water which way it pleaseth him and working in them an admiration of his hidden ones Thus Pharaoh King of Aegypt wondered at the wisedom of Joseph and his gift in the interpretation of dreams So was David admired of Achish King of Gath an Heathen as if he had been an Angel of God This effect was most illustrious in the Officers which were sent by the Scribes and Pharisees to apprehend Christ and went to seek him for that very purpose but when they came and heard him preaching to the people they either forgot their errand or willingly disobeyed the command of their masters and fell into admiration of our Saviour saying Never man spake like this man John 7 46 Converting them Isa 11.5 6. 2. By converting their wicked hearts to become godly Saints for JEHOVAH by the power of his Word can change the savage Leopard into an harmlesse Kid and the ravening Wolf into an innocent Lamb. Thus persecuting Saul Acts 9.1.6 who breathed out nothing but threatnings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord was made a true convert and a preaching Paul And thus the Jaylour who once imprisoned stocked and whipped Paul and Silas Acts 16.24 33 34. was converted to the faith and became a friend to those whom formerly be hated washing their stripes and setting meat before them 3. By a divine terrour which the Lord striketh into the hearts of their enemies Striking terror into their hearts Gen 31.24 Thus the Lord dealt with the fury of Laban when he and his company pursued after Jacob in all probability intending to offer violence unto him he charged him that he should not so much as speak ought but good unto Jacob. This terrour was wrought in Jeroboam 1 Kings 13 48 by withering of his arm miraculously when he intended evill against the man of God who spake to him in the Word of the Lord and thereby Jeroboam was constrained to receive him courteously Destroying them 4. By destroying them that their irreconciliable hatred may perish with their lives if their heart be so hard that it will not be made pliable to his will Thus dealt the Lord with Senacherih and his Host 2 Kin. 19 35 37 when they encamped against his people he slew him by his own sons and of his Army 185000 men by an Angel Thus doth the Lord with the enemies of his Church when they will needs band themselves against his anoynted Ones Isa 8.9 Let them associate themselves they shall be broken in pieces let them gird themselves they shall be broken in pieces saith the Lord by his Prophet 5. By working as we say against the hair when by permitting of the wicked to be at enmity with us Suffering them to do their worst he procures our peace and prosperity Satan was at enmity with man-kinde and the Lord permitted him to do his worst He thought to bring everlasting contempt upon all man-kinde Rom. 5.15 through Adams fall but God made it an occasion of the greater exaltation of his Church God suffered the AEgyptians to afflict his people but the more they were afflicted Exod. 1.12 Deut. 23 5. Gen. 50.20 Rom. 8.28 the more they multiplied Balaams curse was turned into a blessing The hatred of Josephs brethren turned to his greatest advancement Thus all things conspire for the welfare of Gods beloved ones Thus of the manner how the Lord maketh our very enemies to be at peace with us The third Point The Lord doth thus deal with his own 2 Sam 19.36 WHy the Lord doth thus graciously reward his servants As B●rzillai said to David Thy servant will go with thee this little way and why should the King recompence it me with such a reward So may we say in this case Behold we have done the Lord this little piece of service and why should be recompence us thus bounteously Surely not for this our service for is it any pleasure to the Almighty that thou art righteous Or is it gain to him that thou makest thy wayes perfect Job 22 3. Luke 17.10 And when we shall have done all those things which are commanded us we may say We are unprofitable servants we have done that which was our duty to do nor for the righteousnesse of our wayes in pleasing him Deut. 9 4 5. The Scripture teacheth us another lesson The main reasons are these For the manifestation of his goodnesse 1. His goodnesse and kindenesse towards us free and undeserved whom it pleaseth to reward his own gifts and to crown his own graces in us 1 Cor. 15.10 That we can do any thing well pleasing to God it 's his gift and that while we do thus please him he makes our very enemies to be at peace with us is also from him who neglecteth nothing that might be an encouragement unto us in well-doing For the demonstration of his power 2. The necessity of consequence for if the Lord be once our friend who can or dare be our enemy This the Apostle sheweth Having evidently demonstrated That God hath reconciled us unto himself in Christ Jesus and is become our friend he doubts not of the infallibility of this consequence If God be for us who can be against us Rom. 8 31. As if he should have said I ask you all if you can name that creature that can be at enmity with us no ye cannot He is the Lord of Hosts namely Of the Armies of his Creatures and he rules over them with more then Imperiall Authority And if he be on our side the very stones of the street Job 5.22 23. Simil. and the beasts of the field shall be in league with us It 's not with the favourites of the King of heaven as with the favourites of the little kings of the earth These may be in great favour with their Prince and yet one of the subjects of the same Prince may lay violent hands upon them even to the deprivation of their life as was long ago exemplified in Abner who though in league with King David and entertained into his favour 1 Sam. 3.27 yet was treacherously slain by Joab Davids subject Isa 37.38 Yea even Kings themselves cannot in this case protect their own persons from the injury of their own subjects but those are in a more safe condition And in this respect he that hath a care that his wayes may be pleasing to God hath more security and safety for his person then even the greatest Monarchs that are without this care The Lord is a sure Bulwark to all those that are his