Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	discouragement_n	exercise_n	great_a	18	3	2.0863	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B08429	The helmet of hope, distinguished from the hope of hypocrites. And published to prevent the danger of false hope, and to promote the duty of living in true hope of glory. With an appendix of the grounds of hope, collected in a catalog of promises and experiences. / By A.B. ...	Barnett, Andrew, 17th cent.	1694 (1694)	Wing B875BA; ESTC R172272	76,414	184

Souls should fallely apply this to themselves and so aggrivate their discouragements I shall first describe the Hypocrite and then lay open the falsness of his Hope That Professor is an Hypocrite that for self-interest conforms to the outward exercises of Christianity and walks in the tract of the duties thereof but is a stranger to the inwards of duty viz. the enjoyment of Christ and the exercise of Grace therein hath no regard to the inward man hath nothing of the Image of Christ in the Soul is wholly carnal and sensual not having the Spirit is altogether destitute of saving Grace And as for his gifts he useth them for by ends to quiet his Conscience to keep up his Name and Credit amongst Christians or to curry favour with some that he hath a dependance upon As for such as labour under a trembling fear of hypocrisie and bewail that partial hypocrisie they find in themselves and fight and pray against it they hereby give such an evidence of their sincerity as declares that they are of the number of true Christians and cannot be ranked amongst Hypocrites and their Fault lies not in hoping but in the weakness of their Hope and oft in rejecting the Hope of Glory But the Hypocrite tho' he be not in a hopeful condition yet he is commonly full of confidence and cherisheth false hope in himself but this Doctrine overthrows his hope Si tollitur causa tollitur effectus Take away the Cause and the Effect ceaseth Now in these the experience of the saving work of Grace in the heart is wanting Christ was never formed in them and therefore there can be no such thing in them as any true Hope of Glory And hence it is the Spirit of God in the Word cries down the hope of the Hypocrite and tells him that it is not to be trusted to but that in vain they hope for Glory Job 8.13 14. The Hypocrites Hope shall perish His trust shall be a Spiders Web Spun out of a false conceit of their own brains and when the besom of destruction comes it fails and proves a Spiders Web for weakness and worth and durance it proves of no value Job 27.8 What is the Hope of the Hypocrite when God taketh away his Soul Then where is his hope Alas he then finds his hope turned into despair and he that hoped for Heaven is cast down into Hell Oh these false Hopes how do they vanish under the greatest needs of the Soul such come before God like men to a Market with Money enough in their Pocket that they took for good but proves counterfeit and will not pass and so they cannot supply any of their need with it So these hopes fails them when they most need them and will not pass for currant their hopes of Glory have not 〈◊〉 grain of good in them they are counter●eit Coin away with them 2. To prophane Wretches that live scan●alous Lives wallow in wickedness that ●ne would think that they could not pretend 〈◊〉 any hopes of Glory and yet I have met with many of these that feed themselves with hopes of Glory Though these hopes are the Childrens bread yet these Dogs snatch at them and they that are Posting towards Hell will not be brought to see their Danger but think they are going to Heaven Oh you that live prophane Lives and yet hope for Glory hear what is said of your hope Job 11.20 The Hope of the wicked shall be as the giving up of the Ghost that is He that is seized with Death and his Soul ready to expire may as well hope to Live as such hope for Heaven in the State they are in Or their Hope is as the giving up of the Ghost that is as a puff of breath like the last puff of breath that a dying man puffeth when he leaves the World that vanisheth in a moment It 's no more to be regarded no more to be relied upon then such a puff And when the Wicked puff out their last breath their breath and hope will vanish together Then adieu to Breath and adieu to Hope Oh ye that live in notorious Wickedness and yet hope for Mercy from God in this State of Sin at your Death give me leave to expostulate with you a little about your hopes 1. What reason can you give for this hope that is in you what Word of God have you met with to ground your hope on Alas alas that you should take up a hope that hath not one Word of God for its support but much against it in the Scripture Nay let me tell you your hope is false or God himself false in his Word reconcile your hope if you can to these Scriptures Psa 9.17 The wicked shall be turned into Hell Job 19.7 He shall perish for ever like his own Dung Isa 3.11 Wo to the wicked it shall be ill with him for the reward of his hands shall be given him Isa 27.11 He that made them shall not have mercy on them and he that formed them shall shew them no favour Rom. 2.9 Tribulation and Anguish upon every Soul that doth evil 2 Thes 1.7.8.9 The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven ta-Vengance on them that know not God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting Destruction 2. What Right can you claim to Christ and to Salvation by him he is a Saviour of the believer and of none but believers if you say you believe and therefore he is your Saviour then hear what James says to you James 2.18 19 20. Thy Faith is a dead Faith and profits nothing and this he proves thus Faith without works is dead thy Faith is such a Faith and therefore but a dead Faith Obj. This Doctrine tends to despair and leaves a Sinner without Hope and therefore a dangerous Doctrine Answ It 's the Doctrine of the Gospel and tells you that there is no hope for you in a State of Sin and yet there is Hope no Hope and yet Hope No Hope whilst you cleave to your Sins and prefer your Sins before your Salvation And yet Hope if you turn true penitent Believers Ezra 10.2 There is hope in Israel viz. For Sinners in case of Repentance Ezek. 18.30 Turn you from all your Iniquity so Iniquity shall not be your ruin otherwise it will certainly ruin you so that Life and Death are set before you Salvation and Damnation Salvation in case of Repentance but Damnation in case you live and die without true Repentance Now what will ye do in this Case will you be as you are and do as you do then you remain hopeless but if you will turn from all your Sins to God and accept of Salvation by Christ in Gods appointed way then you may live in Hope of Glory Heb. 6.18 Who have fled for Refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us You see there is a Refuge for you to flie to a Present Patent

that they may awaken you and convince you of your need of Christ and provoke you to submit to the Gospel and to the way that God therein hath appointed for your Salvation and so by degrees brings you to live in sure and certain Hope of Glory 2. To such as are weak in Faith and Hope There are many precious Souls that have Christ in them and yet are weak in Faith and full of doubting and enjoy little Hope in themselves of Glory and I would willingly contribute something towards the encrease of their Hope of Glory And in order thereunto shall propound to such some means and helps that tend to the strengthening of the Hope of Glory and beseech them diligently to employ themselves in the use of them 1. See that you praise God heartily for the mercies you have already received Col. 3.15 Be ye thankful You are full of Complaints of your wants you want Peace and Joy and Assurance But are ye thankful for what you have thankfulness for what you enjoy is the way to obtain a speedy supply of what you want The thankful Soul is a Soul fitted for mercy And God will be the more ready to give when he knows that what he gives will be thankfully received Were we more thankfull he would open his hand the sooner and wider when we come to him for new supplies but when enjoyed mercies are undervalued and God wants his praise for them then it 's no wonder that he delays to give more mercies he will make you wait the longer to teach you more thankfulness A mite of Grace is of more worth than a Mountain of Gold And you have Grace and much Grace but because you want Comfort you overlook your Graces and do not own them with thankfulness and God is offended hereat and takes an effectual course to make you more thankful 2. See that you proceed in the exercise of what grace you have A Babe in time may become a strong Man and weak beginnings may have large endings A small Tallent may be doubled by good usage Mat. 13.12 He that hath to him shall be given and he shall have abundance alway provided that he husband well what he hath Therefore what Faith and Hope you have though it be weak yet exercise with Dilligence Repetition of Acts beget habits and diligent endeavors are attended with a Blessing and so you may come to have abundance Prov. 11.25 The diligent Soul shall be made fat You complain of leanness of Soul take heed that your leanness be not the effect of your own negligence exercise more diligence in the use of what Grace you have and your diligence will be blessed with fatness 3. See that you plead the Promises at the Throne of Grace This was good David his frequent Practise Psal 119.25 Quicken thou me according thy Word v. 28. Strengthen thou me according to thy Word v. 41. Let thy mercy come unto me O Lord even thy Salvation according to thy Word In this one Psalm he useth this Plea very oft no less then eleven times It s no presumptious but a profitable Plea to urge God with his Word of Promise and it is our Wisdom to reduce it to Practise It s much in use betwixt Man and Man You promised me to do so and so when will you perform it let us use the same Plea betwixt God and us It is thy promise be it according thy word It 's the Plea of Faith it is as if the Soul should say Lord thy promises are faithful Promises and here I spread one of thy Promises before thee and trust to thee for the accomplishment of it be it according to thy Word 4. See that you press the Commands of Faith and Hope upon your own Spirits This Course David took Psal 43. last Why art thou cast down Oh my Soul hope in God It 's ill done O my Soul to cast aside thy Hope and to give way to dispondency it 's thy Duty to trust in God and see that thou hope in God Hoping in God is an indispensible Duty that God requires from thee 1 Pet. 1.13 Be sober and hope to the end And it 's a very acceptable Duty Psal 157.11 The Lord takes pleasure in those that fear him in those that hope for his mercy And wilt thou O my Soul cast of thy Duty a Duty that God takes Pleasure in O far be it from thee Oh my Soul hope thou in God! thus press it upon your Souls 5. See that you Parley not with Satan about the great concerns of your own Souls have nothing to do with him He is an open Enemy to Christ and Christianity and you have renounced him in your Baptism therefore reject his Temptations for Sin as well as his Temptation to Sin Enter not into dispute with him he is too crafty a Sophister to be disputed with by weak Christians it will be your wisdom therefore to take the course that Paul took 2 Cor. 12.7 8. There was given me a thorn in the flesh the Messenger of Satan to buffet me For this thing I besought the Lord thrice Note 1. The Case that Paul was now in There was given him a Thorn in the flesh viz. Satan was permitted to buffet him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the evil Angel Satan not a Menssenger of Satan but Satan himself And this is added exegetically to explain what his Thorn in the flesh was viz. The buffets of Satan his immediate Suggestions darted into his Soul which commonly are unnatural in kind suddain in motion and violent in prosecution 2. The Course he took in this case he betook himself to God by Prayer Paul had much Grace and much of the Spirit yet declines disputing with the Devil and flies to God for refuge against him and herein is an example for us to follow We must decline Disputes with the Devil and Pray him down and were this course well followed Satan could not get such advantage against Christians as oft he doth I 'le conclude this matter with the Prayer of Paul Rom 15.13 The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that ye may abound in hope through the Power of the Holy Ghost It s not the words of Man that perswade the heart to live in hope but the Power of the Holy Ghost and his Power can make you abound in hope and raise your feeble hope to a full assurance of hope Now I pass to the third sort 3. To such as are waiting in hope for the Glory of Heaven There are some yea many that through Free-Grace are brought to wait in hope for the glory of Heaven my Instructions to these follow 1. Confine your Hopes to the limits of the Gospel The Gospel allows you to wait upon God in hopes of Glory in the World to come this I am sure is your Duty but as for such as extend their hopes according to their fancies and wait Night and Day and that in a Triumphant

your Wants Now consider the Apostle and High-Preist of our Profession Christ Jesus Consider what he is in himself the Son of God the great Mediator of the Covenant and Consider what he is to such as receive him he is their Apostle and High-Preist and their Advocate with the Father and so their Hope of Glory Consider 1. His fullness and all-sufficiency Though your disease is Heritary and Mortal yet his Blood hath Vertue and Efficacy enough in it to recover you Though your need is so great that the Riches of the World cannot supply it yet he is so Rich and All-sufficient that he supplies all the wants of all that come to him He is wonderful the Wonder of the World and the Wonder of Heaven not only for his greatness but for his goodness How amazing is it to consider all the rich supplies wherewith he supplies his People 2. His faithfulness As the fulness of his Person so the faithfulness of his Promises is very considerable Heb. 10.23 Faithful is he that promised He hath promised to entertain all that come to him and to cast off none that come John 6.37 But to supply all their wants and to save them from the wrath to come and great is his faithfulness and continues to all Generations that it 's beyond all doubt that all such shall be saved and may live in sure and certain hope of Glory Now you see what considerations are required from you and if you consider these things you will find that they will convince you of your Misery by nature and incline you to make use of your Remedy But then Remember what Considerations they must be they must be serious Considerations Some are inconsiderate and do not mind things of this Nature others consider them slightly and not seriously and this keeps them off from the benefit of such Considerations they do not weigh Matters nor mind the great importance of them nor consider themselves how much they themselves are concerned in the Matter and hence it is that their Considerations work no Convictions nor Conversions in them You must so Consider as that your Considerations may make deep impressions upon your Souls Your Considerations must be fiducial Considerations and frequent Considerations and affectionate Considerations dwelling upon the matters pondered and driving them home to the Conscience 'till you find your Souls much concerned about them And then from Consideration proceed to Consent and so I come to the second thing required from you viz. 2. Sincere Consent Follow on with Consideration 'till the Soul freely Consent And your Consent must be real and Religious it must be a willing voluntary Consent without constraint and compulsion given out of choice as a matter that is most eligable rational and useful It must be an upright sincere and cordial Consent without Hypocrisie synister Ends or worldly Respects as to a matter purely Religious and of a Divine Nature And it must be an Universal Impartial and Catholick Consent without Reservation Limitation or secret Exception to all the Terms of the Gospel This Consent must be given 1. To the Covenant of Grace as to the Magna Charta of all your Christian Rights and Priviledges You must consent to the matter of it as Gracious Immutable Royal Irrevocable and Fundamental And you must consent to the main end of it as it 's a standing Monument of Free-Grace and bespeaks God reconciled by Christ to all faithful Consenters And as it 's a special Pledge of his infinite Love to his Elect and the Confirmation of their Faith and their sealed Indenture for Glory 2. To Christ the great Mediator of the Covenant as to the Person from whom you expect all the blessings of the Covenant and upon whom you wholly depend for Salvation and for all the Mercies that accompany Salvation you must consent to his Offices and to the exercise of all his Offices in and over you You must consent to his Yoke of Government to submit to his Laws and to his Sovereignty You must consent to his Cross to partake with him in Suffering and pass through much Tribulation to the Kingdom of Heaven and must take him for better and worse to be true and faithful to him to the Death 3. To the Conditions of the Covenant be they never so hard to flesh and blood He consents not only to such Conditions of the Covenant as may consist with his Profits and Reputation ease and safety but with such as are inconsistent with the same as he consents 1. To part with all his Sins be they never so pleasant and profitable to him be it as his right Hand or right Eye you must be willing to part with them and consent to be divorced from them As Abraham consented to the Sacrificing of his dear Son Isaac and God accepted the Will for the Deed and his intention is accounted his Action Heb. 11.17 So you must consent to the Crucifying of your beloved Sins and willingness to part with them all will find acceptance with God though they be not wholly put to Death in you in this Life 2. To practice all the Duties of Religion at all times and under the greatest Hazzards even then when the Laws of men contradict the Laws of God and make it penal to obey them you must consent to all matters of Faith and Obedience because enjoyned by God and oblidging to Conscience though thereby you expose your selves to the Scorn and Malice of wicked and unreasonable Men you must consent to live to Christ as well as to be saved by Christ and all that you do for God must be done out of Love Thankfulness and Obedience 3. To place all your hope in Christ without respect to any Merit that is in your own good Works You must consent to the doing of good Works with all diligence as they are the Paths in which you are to walk and the evidences of your Faith and the Comforts of your Lives and the works that belong to your general Calling But as for your Faith and Hope they must be fixed on Christ and you must consent to take him for your only Saviour and to hope in his Word and to trust to his faithfulness for the supply of all your wants And from a sincere Consent you must proceed to a sacred Complyance There is required from you 3. Sacred Compliance Your sincere Consent must be seconded with a holy Compliance When you are come up to a free and full Consent do not stick there but follow it with a heavenly Compliance fall to the work that you have consented to and put good Intentions into godly Actions He that gives his Assent and Consent to what in his Conscience he disallows and in his practise he resolves not to perform is condemned in himself See that you demonstrate the sincerity of your consent by a holy compliance with Christ your Saviour In every branch of your Christian Consent make an open profession of your Consent by a