Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	day_n	holy_a	keep_v	4,585	5	6.3970	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85659	Nehemiah's teares and prayers for Judah's affliction, and the ruines and repaire of Jerusalem. Delivered in a sermon in the Church of Magarets Westminster, before the Honourable House of Commons upon the day of their monethly humiliation, April 24. 1644. By John Greene Master of Arts, late pastour of Pencomb in the countie of Hereford.	Greene, John, Master of Arts.	1644 (1644)	Wing G1822; Thomason E48_7; ESTC R14498	37,819	46

ye know these things happie are ye if ye doe them The day of our Fast should be observed as an holy day an holy Levit. 2● 27 28 30 31 32. Numb 29. 7. Joel ● 14. Nehem. 9. convocation no work to be done on that day it is called a Sabbath and in all respects to be kept with as much if not more strictnesse then the Sabbath sanctified and set apart for holy duties as praying reading preaching hearing confession of sin renewing of Covenants as in that whole Chapter of Nehemiah The continuance of the Fast a whole day from Even to Even Lev. 23 31. Jos 7. 6. Joshua and the Elders kept it till eventide All persons of all ages and conditions to observe it in Jehoshaphats 2 Chro. ●0 13. Jon. 3. 5. fast all Judah stood before the Lord with their little ones their wives and their children In Ninevehs fast all from the greatest to the least The outward speciall duties are 1. Abstinence from food so farre Ezra 10. 6. Esther 4. 16. as strength of nature will beare Ezra in his fast did neither eate bread nor drink water In Esthers fast a charge not to eate nor drink Abstaining from marriage comforts Let the bridegroome got Joel 2. 16. 1 Cor. 7. 5. forth of his chamber and the bride out of her closet that of the Apostle makes it cleare Forbearing better apparell the Easterne parts used upon the dayes of their fast to lie in sackcloth in Nehemiah's fast in Davids Nehem. 9. 1. Psal 35. 13. Ionah 3. 5. in that of Nineveh with other instances that might be added Abatement of our ordinarie sleepe so that of Esther applyed by our Divines requiring the continuance of the fast three dayes night Esth 4. 16. Ioel 1. 13. and day as also that of Joel lye all night in sackcloth And wherefore all these but to further the main dutie of the day the humbling and afflicting of the soule a dutie of such necessitie for that day as whatsoever soule it be that shall not be afflicted in Lev. 23. 29. that same day he shall be cut off from among his people And what will more humble the soule then the serious consideration of its unworthinesse to receive pardon of sin great mercies for the Church in generall for it selfe in particular then by its abstinence from all even the least outward comforts to professe its unworthinesse of any the least of these and surely we might by such meditations as these help to put our soules on the day of our Humiliation into an humbled frame We come Lord to beg this day pardon for our own sins and the sins of our Nation reconciliation for our selves for Kingdomes to intreat thy Majestie to give beautie for ashes the Isal 61. 3. oyle of joy for mourning the garment of praise for the spirit of heavinesse and we acknowledge these every way so needfull for our spirituall life as food and raiment for our naturall but Lord we professe our selves most unworthy the least of these and shall we not be humbled to think that we are altogether unworthy of any greater favour I have given you a small hint your private thoughts may more fully inlarge But are these outward observances and inward afflicting of the soule sufficient doe not we heare some in the Prophet complaining Wherefore have we fasted and thou seest not wherefore Isai 58. 3. have we afflicted our soules and thou takest no knowledge here you see is both fasting and afflicting yet no acceptance what 's more then to be done the Prophet will there tell you it is a forsaking of sinne for I will instance only in that without which whatsoever is done upon the day of our fast will neither have power with God nor bring comfort to our selves The Ninevites were very punctuall in the out-works of their fast The King came down from his throne put off his robes clothed himselfe with sackoloth there was crying mightily to the Lord neither man nor beast took any food questionlesse God took notice of all this yet when the Prophet comes to set down what moved the Lord not to bring upon them the destruction threatned he over-looks as it were all Ionah 3. 8. the rest and fastens upon this God saw their works that they turned from their evill way and so he repented of the evill that he said he would doe unto them and did it not and beleeve it our fasts will never doe that work for which we keep them till this be done now our soules are then truly afflicted for sin when sin is in our soules like a thorne in the joynt that will give no rest till it be out and surely were our putrified sores of sin once throughly cleansed I doubt not but the wounds of our land would soon be healed had the strong Physick which the Lord hath given our nation emptied it of the foulnesse and fulnesse of sin we should ere long have cordials of truth and peace and deliverance ministred unto us to conclude this could the Lord see England and Ireland turning from their provoking sins I doubt not but England and Ireland should also see God turning from the fiercenesse of his wrath Observ 6. The time hastens me to that other meanes of Nehemiahs helpe his Prayer another main duty required on this day of Humiliation 3. Incouragements to pray and I might be very large in shewing what severall great incouragements we have to use this helpe of Prayer in the behalfe of the Church I shall reduce them to three 1. in respect of God 2. of Prayer 3. of our selves In respect of God the Lord commands it nay looks for it for however God be willing to give yet it is his will that we shall aske what we desire to receive his promises of giving are made upon the condition of asking as that knowne place of Christ Aske and it Matth. 7. 7. shall be given you The Lord knowes what England and Ireland want and what every one of us stand in need of for our particular necessities and God wants not will to give us his Church what mercies he seeth wanting but yet he will be sought unto Indeed Psal 21. 3. we have cause to blesse God that of his free goodnesse he often prevents us with liberall blessings so reads the Geneva gives many unsought favours yet it is not safe to stay till God bestow mercies without asking many gratious promises are made in the Ezek. 36. 37. former verses to Gods people but thus saith the Lord God I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel to doe it for them You have not saith the Apostle because you aske not and assuredly James 4. 12. we want many blessings from God because the Lord hath not our Prayers for them The second incouragement is drawn from Gods power I prayed to the God of Heaven this assures that what Gods love makes him