Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
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A26409
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A declaration of a small society of baptized believers, undergoing the name of Free-willers, about the city of London
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Adis, Henry.
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1660
(1660)
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Wing A576; ESTC R211455
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11,743
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4
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A DECLARATION Of a small Society of BAPTIZED BELIEVERS undergoing the name of Free-Wilââ¦s about the City of London WE well knowing that we are and have been mis-represented to the people of this and other Nations as well by particular Letters from friend to friend as by publick intelligence in pamphlets and news books by which means we have been rendred odious in the eyes almost of all and as it were made a by-word and a hissing to all Were notwithstanding willing according to the requirement of our Saviour Luke 21.19 In our patience to possess our souls and silently to wait upon our God for a clearing of our innocency and the cleanness of our hands in his eye-sight but lately having had a view of a Declaration dated the 12 of December last made by some persons of the particular Judgment in which some others of another perswasion have joyned to the which in several particulars we cannot in the least assent to we therefore thought it our bounden duty for the vindication of that truth which we are in present profession and practice of as also fearing lest they having declared to publick view we by our silence should be looked upon either to be of the same Judgment with them in what they have declared or else guilty of all or some of those five particulars they in that Declaration say the Baptists in general are charged withall have therefore set pen to paper and shall first give a particular of the said five charges and then as in the presence of God lay down our real Judgments and perswasions grounded upon Scripture record to those charges by which it will be apparent that we are not guilty of them at all and that we differ from the said Declarers in point of Judgment and if we shall in any thing therein derogate from the mind of God we shall desire in the Spirit of love to be rectified by better Judgments from the word of truth and shall think our selves happy gainers in such a Christan reproof Say they we being mis-represented to the Nation 1. As such as are opposite to Magistracy 2. That we would destroy the Publick Ministry of the Nation who differ from us in some things about Religion 3. That we do countenance the people called Quakers in their Irregular practice 4. That we do endeavour a tolleration of all miscarriages in things ecclesiastical and civil under preâence of Liberty of conscience 5. That we desire to murder and destroy those that differ from us in matters of Religion To the first we positively say that we are so far from opposing Magistracy as that it would be to us matter of great rejoycing to know who were our Magistrates But far greater to see such set up who are men fearing God and hating covetousness that so Justice might be duly executed without respect of persons and Iudgment run down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream that so there might be no more leading into captivity and that complaining in our streets might have an end But for our parts to take a caânal weapon in our hands or use the least violence either to support or pull down the worst or to set up or maintain the best of men we look not upon it to be our duty in the least much less to have a thought of endeavouring to set up our selves either directly or indirectly for were we Abillitated and furnished with such endowments as might render us capable of being Rulers yet could we not allow our selves to act as Magistrates because we are a people chosen out of the World Iohn 15.19 And look upon our selves as Pilgrims and strangers in the earth Heb. 11.13 1 Pet. 2. â1 But this we know to be the mind of God from Rom. 13. the beginning 1 Pet. 2 13. T it 3.2 that we are to be subject to and not to resist the powers because they be ordained of God and as God sets them up so he requires his Sons and daughters to render to them Tribute Custome Fear and Honour Rom. 13.7 And we further declare That it is our bounden duty in obedience to our God to pray for Kings and all that are in authority 1 Tim. 2.2 So that we are so far from opposing them as that we say it is our duty to obey them in all civil things that are agreeable to the mind of God and if they shall require any thing from us that is contrary to his mind and will revealed in his holy Scriptures of truth we say we are not to resist them but if in conscience we cannot obey them then we are patiently to suffer under them whatever they shall inflict upon us for our non obedience to their requirements and to this we yet further declare that it is our real Judgment as to things spiritual not to own them as our Law-givers in the least for there is one Law-giver which is able to save and to destroy Iam. 4.12 which is the Lord Isa. 33.22 And therefore if they shall at any time impose upon us Laws in point of worship that is either to worship a false God or the true God after a false manner we by Gods assistance shall tell them with Shadrach Meshach and Abednego Dan. 3.16 That we are not careful to answer them in that matter yet shall not violently resist but with them patiently suffer under them as aforesaid To the second That we would destroy the publick Ministry of the Nation that differ from us in some things about Religion We do declare that if there be a destruction intended between us we must leave it at their doors and desire them to Judge between the al-seeing God the searcher of all hearts and their own consciences what they have intended by their so often pressing Parliament men from time to time for a suppression of all that are not of their Judgment in matters of Religion and upon search made if they find themselves guilty of a desire of any such destruction to us we shall beg them in Gods fear to break off that evil by timely repentance and make their peâce with God as for our parts we are so far from desiring any revenge against them or any other that shall desire or endeavour our ruin as that in the presence of God we shall rather pitty then envie them and according to the requirement of our Law-giver Mat. 5.44 pray for them and their conversion not at all in the least desiring or endeavouring their confusion That there are many things wherein the publick Ministry of the nation and we differ in matters of religion both in doctrine and discipline is very clear and that we design or so much as desire the destruction of them or any other persons whatsoever for such differences or any other matters concerning our selves we hope in our further answer to this and to the fourth and fifth particulars we shall manifest to be as clear and also therein discover our selves to be the