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	people_n	sabbath_n	981	5	9.0818	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A92172	A briefe narration of some church courses held in opinion and practise in the churches lately erected in New England. Collected out of sundry of their own printed papers and manuscripts with other good intelligences. Together with some short hints (given by the way) of their correspondence with the like tenents and practises of the separatists churches. And some short animadversions upon some principall passages for the benefit of the vulgar reader. Presented to publike view for the good of the church of God by W. R.	Rathband, William, d. 1695.	1644 (1644)	Wing R298; Thomason E36_11; ESTC R21802	84,830	61

execute all Ecclesiasticall duties and offices t Hereby it comes to passe that because oft-times their Churches are long without Ministers that they are also long without Sacraments both the Lords Supper for the elder people and Baptisme for their infants Sacraments only excepted by meere lay men that neither are nor perhaps ever shall be officers in the Church 5. This Church being thus invested with all Church-power deriveth part thereof upon her officers viz. so much as she cannot conveniently execute her selfe and the rest she keeps still in her own hands and executes accordingly Ans to 32. q. p. 57. R. M. to W. R. ‑ R. M. to E. B. p. 4. Barr. Disc p. 223. 6. The officers have no power in Church matters but what the Church deriveth on them and which she may revoke and resume unto her selfe if she conceive they doe not use it well Ibid. And therefore she may call them to account for their actions though they were even Apostles themselves J. Cott. on 5. viall p. 10. 7. The officers are all but the Churches u Where saith the Scripture that the Church should rule her officers and the officers obey the church we find that officers are called rulers and people are commanded to obey them in the Lord frequently 1 Tim. 5.19 Heb. 13.17 but the other we never find We find indeed the Apostles call themselves the servants of the Church as Christ also made himselfe servant unto all but that is not to be understood properly but metaphorically and by way of some similitude unto servants who it good do seek their masters good and are for their profit not their own so did Christ and all the Apostles seek the Churches good not their own and so all Christians are commanded to serve each other in love But we may not thence conclude that therefore every Christian is in peoprietie to be anothers servant for then who should be master much lesse that the Apostles were properly the servants of the Church who gave rules to the Church what to doe and how to walk but received none from the Church least of all that Christ was so who both was and is the head of that body and King of that Kingdome We read also that Ministers are to do the acts of their ministerie in the Name of Christ and by his power 1 Cor. 5.4 Matth. 28.19 Mat. 7.22 But that they act in the name of the Church or by the power of the Church such phrases we do not reade them and therefore we do not beleeve them servants in proprietie of speech and she is the mistresse the queene In all things she hath the power of decreeing and they with her as others the meanest members of the Societie but as Ministers so they are only as her mouth to speake and her hand to act what she decrees doing all things for her by her power and in her name Ibid. Mr N. to W. R. ‑ R. M. to W. R. Rob. Apol. p. 49. Rob. justif p. 121 122 138 166 178 180 185 303 322. 8. The x And this were well too if this service of the Church were reserved only and intirely to the officers but alas this is but cōmon to them with other members For if either the officers be not or be absent or refuse through scruple of conscience perhaps to act according to their mind they will and they hold they lawfully may call forth any other member whom they judge fit and enable him with their power to doe all that which their officers should have done Sacraments only excepted acts which they ascribe unto the officers are such as these viz. 1. To declare unto their people the mind of God in any matter to advise counsell exhort reprove c. 2. To moderate in Church meetings that order may be observed by propounding of things to be debated gathering of voyces pronouncing the sentence accordingly 3. To execute all the Churches decrees in admission of members ordination of ministers admonition excommunication c. Ans to 32. q. p. 57. Cott. cat p. 3 10. Cott. on viall 5. p. 9 10. Rob. justif p. 9 111 114 116 121. Cannes necess of separation p. 135. 9. y This body is all eye and all tongue no diversity of members all governours none to be governed All teachers contrary to the Apostles rule Are all teachers 1 Cor 12. ●9 And if their reasons for this be well examined it will appeare they make as much for women to rule as men No marvell then if this be so that they complaine in print and otherwise that Ministers are slighted amongst them yea trampled upon by some Cott. on vial second p. 24. Master H. to S. A. They professe to condemne Morellian and popular Government but what can be more popular then this wherein all have equall power to decree and any of them may be used to act as well as the officers and the officers are used as meer servants to the body which is the Mistress● At most they are but as the Speaker in the house of Parliament or as a Moderator in a Synod which rule not but are rather ruled Every member of the Societie that is of yeares except women hath equall power with other even with the ministers themselves as they conceive in propounding debating objecting answering and in judicially decreeing and giving sentence in all matters of the Church whether pertaining to faith or manners doctrine or practise whatsoever W. T. to P. H. ‑ Mr W. letter to a friend ‑ Ans to 32. q. p. 44. Barr. refut of Giff. p. 81. and in his Discov p. 36 38 125 223. Rob. justif p. 9 111 121. Sions royall Prerog Preface 10. And therefore although the officers may lawfully prepare matters in private for the Churches hearing yet they hold all things ought to have a full publike debate in the z This popular government makes good store of work both for Ministers and people especially if the body be numerous as the Apostolicall Churches were and ours ought to be if conveniently they may and if they must all conveene in one Congregation to he are examine and debate all matters till all be satisfied and brought to one unanimous vote It will not be one houre or two in a weeke nor in every day of the weeke nor searce all the whole weeks time that will suffice to finish all businesses that may fall out And what time shall the Ministers then have for studie and other duties or the people to follow their worldly callinge This course seemes neither agreeable to the wisedome of God nor profitable to the weale of the Church Besides the time of keeping their courts on the Sabbath day seemes many wayes inconvenient It must needs tire men out both Ministers and people make them forgetfull of what they have heard neglective of private and domesticall duties fill their heads and tongues full of worldly discourses and their hearts of carnall passions and distempers

some things are subject to an harsh construction as where they promise to submit to Christian Discipline without murmuring i.e. as some would thinke without complaining But what if he receive wrong may he not orderly complain either to his owne Church or to the neighbour Churches for redresse Especially that clause seemes to be of a very large extent where they promise to be ready to take their Churches advice for themselves and theirs as occasion shall be presented which will reach if extended to the utmost not only to restrain their libertie of removall from that Church without their consent which yet were too much but also in other things as in marrying a mans daughter changing a mans servant taking a journey making a bargain c. 2. Here are many good duties promised and sins protested against but the most of them are common to all men at least to all Christians not to Church-members only But by the same reason that its needfull and usefull to expresse these particulars ' its needfull and usefull to expresse many more as they protest against oppression idlenesse and earthly cares may they not as justly adde non-payment of debts wastfulnesse by pride apparell and riot in wines and the like 3. The former covenant mentions little or nothing of that for which the Church-covenant is so pressed as essentiall c. viz. Church-fellowship in Church-duties with approptiation to this particular Church And may be as sit at a wedding as at the constitution of a visible Church for ought I know 4. The latter tyes strictly to duties to their own Church but no word of watching over admonishing comforting releeving the members of other Churches or Christians that are no members Charitie they say begins at home but it should not stay there It seekes not its own things only but also the good of its neighbour of as many as possibly it can Doe renue our Covenant in Baptisme and avouch God to be our God 2. We resolve to cleave to the true and pure worship of God opposing to our power all false wayes 3. We will not allow our selves in any known sin but will renounce it so soon as it is manifested from Gods Word so to be the Lord lending us power 4. We resolve to carry our selves in our severall places of government and obedience with all good conscience knowing we must give an account to God 5. We will labour for further growth in grace by hearing reading prayer meditation and all other wayes we can 6. We meane not to over-burthen our hearts with earthly cares which are the bane of all holy duties the breach of the Sabbath and the other Commandements 7. We will willingly and meekly submit to Christian Discipline without murmuring and shall labour so to continue and will endevour to be more forward zealous faithfull loving and wise in admonishing others 8. We will labour by all our abilities for the furtherance of the Gospell as occasion shall be offered to us 9. We promise to have our children servants and all our charge taught the wayes of God 10. We will strive to give no offence to our brethren by censuring them rashly by suspitions evill speakings or any other way 11. Lastly we doe protest not onely against open and scandalous sins as drunkennesse swearing c. but also against evill companie and all appearance of evill to the utmost of our power Per me F.H. 2. The Covenant of the Church of Christ at Salem was renewed to this effect WE whose names are here-under written 5. We have in the latter a particular promise not to be forward in speaking in publike or scrupling By which it appeares that they are allowed when called publikely both to speake that is as I understand it to prophecie and to scruple that is to propound questions make objections c. else what need a law to restrain them from doing it uncalled And if it were not for some such law to restrain them there must needs be much consusion where each member hath equall power if he had equal liberty to exercise that power when he pleased But what differs this law in force from an Ecclesiasticall Canon but that Canons are now grown out of request that Church Covenants may bee the better cryed up members of the present Church of Christ at Salem c. solemnly in the presence of God c. renew that Church Covenant which we find this Church bound unto at their first beginning viz. We covenant with the Lord and one with another and do binde our selves in the presence of God to walk together in all the wayes of God according as he is pleased to reveale himselfe to us in his Word And doe more explicitely in the fear of the Lord professe and protest to walk as followeth 1. We avow the Lord to be our God and our solves his people in the truth and simplicitie of our spirits 2. We give up our selves to the Lord Jesus Christ and the word of his Grace for the teaching sanctifying and ruling of us in matters of worship and conversation resolving to cleave to him alone for life and glorie and oppose all contrary wayes canons and constitutions of men in his worship 3. We promise to walk with our brethren and sisters in this Congregation with all watchfulnesse and tendernesse avoiding all jealousies suspitions backbitings censurings provokings secret risings of spirit against them but in all offences to follow the rule of the Lord Jesus to bear and forbear give and forgive as he hath taught us 4. In publike or private we will willingly do nothing to the offence of our Church but will be ready to take advice for our selves and ours as occasion shall be presented 5. We will not in the Congregation be forward either to shew our own gifts or parts in speaking or scrupling or there to discover the failings of our brethren or sisters 6. In this latter also here is a strict tye or bond of walking together in Church-fellowship and mutuall watchfulnesse one over another But how can they do that that live farre asunder and never see one another but at publike meetings and some of them that live some thousands of miles asunder and perhaps being Ministers of Churches there yet accept of fixed imployments even the charge of soules here How can these watch over one another but attend an orderly call thereunto knowing how much the Lord may be dishonoured c. by our distempers and weaknesses in publike 6. We binde our selves to studie the advancement of the Gospell in all truth and peace both in regard of those that are within and without no way slighting our Sister-churches but using their counsell as need shall be not laying a stumbling block before any 7. We hereby promise to carry our selves in all lawfull obedience to those that are set over us in Church and Common-wealth knowing how wel-pleasing it will be to the Lord c. 8. We resolve to approve our selves to