Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	family_n	master_n	servant_n	3,657	5	6.8258	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A61692	A short discovery of certain truths of God according as they are revealed through the manifestation of the eternal light of the Son of righteousnesse, which are, a reply against two things in an epistle, and, an answer to certain queries contained in a book, intituled Christian queries, to quaking Christians, subscribed by one J.B. : also queries propounded, to be answered by the authour of the same book, or any other / by John Story.	Story, John, d. 1681.	1664 (1664)	Wing S5753; ESTC R4917	25,813	34

that spiritual Feast which is kept amongst the children of God for whom Christ their Passover is sacrificed and by his power they purge out the old leaven and keep this spiritual Feast not with the old leaven neither with the leaven of malice but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth 2 Cor. 5. 7. 8. for the bread of God which comes down from Heaven is that by which they keep this spiritual feast and the flesh and bloud of Christ is this bread which the holy people break and spiritually feed upon and the incomes of his love is that spirituall wine by which he doth wonderfully refresh their souls through which they come to grow into the endlesse life and in which they more abundantly partake of the everlasting consolation that is in Christ Jesus in which they spiritually eat and drink with him and he with them who are his lillies in his heavenly Kingdome And this is a small hint of that spiritual Passeover or feast which was and is kept by the Saints in this glorious Gospel-day through which the night is expelling and the shadowes vanishing away Glory glory be unto the Lord our God for ever But to return this practice of breaking of bread together was continued by the Apostles in the Churches as I. B. hath already instanced Acts 2. 46. And they brake bread from house to house and ate their meat with singleness of heart as is the practice of true Christians at this day and in which they ought to continue to the end that whether they eat they may eat unto the Lord or whether they drink they may do it unto him not making an idol of the creature or any Christian practice be it never so good in it self but may both eye and discern the Lord in all their practices and duties which was that good end for which the Apostle delivered unto the Church of Corinth the thing in question practised by Christ and his Apostles at the Passeover which many did soon abuse if not idolize even in his time for which he often reproved them 1 Cor. 10. 14. 1 Cor. 11. 20. where he saith When ye come together this is not to eat the Lords Supper for in eating every one takes before other his own supper and one is hungry and another drunken and tells them vers 25 26. As often as they break the bread and drink the cup they should do it in remembrance saying they that eat and drink unworthily eat and drink damnation to themselves not discerning the Lords body vers 29. Oh that all drunkards and gluttoners ignorant persons who make an idol of the creature in breaking the bread and drinking the cup unworthily Oh that they would seriously consider and lay these things to heart that they may not henceforth any more break the bread and drink the cup unworthily in the sinfull lust of the flesh the doing of which brings them to be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord in that they eat to and feed the same lusts of the world as was in them which slew him and none can be partakers of the table of the Lord while they thus feed at the table of Devils 1 Cor. 10. 21. But it may be the enemy will tell them it is no such thing for they neither are nor drank that day before they break that bread and drink that cup and call to natural memory with trembling and fear before they practice the thing before mentioned that Christs body was broken for them and his bloud shed for them the which I say all this thou maist do and yet be an idolatrous and unworthy eater in an unholy fear adoring the outward bread and the cup beyond what is meet even as there are too many that look upon it to be more then a sign and worship it as the thing signified and so in ignorance worship the bread and the cup as a God at sometime and at other times using it without that holy fear and remembrance in which Christs body is discerned and the heavenly virtues and fulnesse thereof enjoyed which fills all things and is that glorious and everlasting substance which lives and remains when all created excellencies come to an end and shadows are past away and is that eternal fountain which fills with spiritual grace and satisfaction all that in sincerity love him for ever and for evermore 6. Query Whether Christians are not bound to the performance of such religious duties as were practised by the people of God under the law and not abrogated by the Gospel 1. Whether Christians ought not to pray morning and evening as David very frequently did evening and morning and at noon will I pray and cry aloud and he shall hear my voice Psa 55. 17. Or 2. Is it not lawfull for Christians to appoint and set apart a convenient time and season for the performance of religious exercises as did Daniel who not withstanding the Kings command thought himself obliged not to omit his duty once but prayed three times a day Dan. 6. 10 13. Or 3. Are we only to pray when our own spirits move us and not at the motion of Gods Spirit which bids us to pray continually or te be always in a frame and frequent in the duty of prayer 1 Thes 5. 17. Or 4. Whether it be not a duty incumbent upon all Christians to exercise family duties as the people of God in former times did whether parents ought not to instruct their children masters their servants for which God so much commended Abraham because he would command his children his houshold after him Gen. 18. 17 18 19. 5. Whether it be the duty of all Christians frequently to read over confer about the holy Scriptures both in their families with others as the Lord commanded the children of Israel thou shalt teath them diligently unto thy children and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house and when thou walkest by the way and when thou lyest down Deut. 6. 7. Nay 6. Whether is it not necessary for all Christians to beg Gods blessing with and return him thanks for every mercy they receive according to the practice of our blessee Saviour who when he fed so many thousands would first look up to heaven for a blessing upon what they enjoyed on earth Mat. 6. 41. And after his Resurrection he practised the same thing amongst his disciples Luke 24. 30. Whose blessed example the Apostle followed taking bread and giving thanks in the presence of them all Acts 27. 35. further recommending it to the practice of others that in every thing they would give thanks as the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning them 1 Thess 5. 18. Answ Christians are bound to the practice of many religious duties which was practised by the people of God under the Law for though the cerimonies types and shadws of the Law or first Covenant are abolished by the Gospel yet the weighty matters are

not abolished or made void through faith in Christ Jesus as it is written Do we through faith make void the Law God forbid Rom. 3. 31. Through faith we establish the Law for it is by virtue of faith in the Gospel that Christians are fully enabled to practice those religious duties which were commanded under the Law viz. to love God with all their heart and with all their mind for our Saviour calls this the first and great Commandement saying the second is like unto it thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self and on these two commandements hang the whole Law and the Prophets Mat. 22. 37 38 39 40. these religious duties with many other righteous practises of the people of God under the Law are indeed binding to Christians under the Gospel First Christians ought to live and continue in sincere desires after God at all times and to pray unto him not onely at morning evening and at noon day but at all seasons and hours wherein they shall find the immortal birth of life inclining their hearts to seek after him and his spirit to help their infirmities without the help of which Christians cannot pray ask or seek aright as it is written Rom. 8. 26. 27. We know not what we should pray for as we ought but the spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered and the motions of this immortal life and spirit of our heavenly Father is not limitted to dayes set times places or houres of dayes but when and what time it inclines and moves Christians are to follow and as they seek through and by its assistance they shall find and as they ask in the life and nature thereof they shall receive theirs hearts desire and obtain the thing which they pray for Secondly It is lawfull for Gods people to set apart a time for religious exercise as did Daniel and the rest of the servants of the Lord who notwithstanding the great afflictions and persecutions which attended them for righteousnesse sake and for their practice in the worship of God yet did they continue not only to professe him openly but to worship him after their accustomed manner as appears by the Scriptures which I. B. hath instanced Dan. 6. 10 13. with several other Scriptures which might be mentioned whose example herein I desire the Lord may instruct all Christians in sincerity to follow and continue in the practice of the doctrines exhortations of the Apostles and Ministers of Christ who exhorted the Saints not to forsake the assembling themselvs together as the manner of some was Heb. 10. 25. but as the day approacheth exhort one another in which practice the true Christians ever did walk and continue notwithstanding the cruel persecution grievous afflictions that were inflicted upon them by ungodly men of this world for so doing viz. their continuing in the profession of Christianity and practice of meeting together to wait upon and worship the Lord in Spirit and truth for which holy practice so great were the sufferings and afflictions by them indured as may be read at large in Ecclesiastical Histories that Fox saith in the book of Martyrs what fires what tortures without respect either to age or sex they were inforced to feel then did the earth without doubt bewail her children and the round world which containeth all things being imbrued with their bloud made a dolefullamentation for them and the day it self provoked to mourn was amazed for them when the very barbarous Nations rejoyce for their sakes which received and harboured them when they were afraid and fled from us keeping them as it were in a most loving and amiable captivity to which I may say Alas alas that ever any that professe the same Christ as these persecuted Christians suffered for should now Acts and Monuments lib. 1. fol. 92. become persecutors and not only of such as in words deny him but even of such as confesse and believe in him to be the only Saviour of the world Surely the true Christian soul that seriously considereth will be greatly afflicted and the heart that sees it cannot but mourn in the beholding of the woful apostacy darknesse and delusions in which many thousand Christians are fallen who professe Christ in words and yet walk so far contrary to the light of Christ and are so far out of his nature which is to shew kindnesse mercy and love to all men not only to them that believe but to them that believe not even with long patience to instruct them that they may believe and repent but the heart that is possessed with the true knowledge of the woful backsliding from the ancient doctrine and truth of the Gospel in which those persecuted Christians walked both in and after the Apostles dayes beholding this dismal night that is come upon multitudes of Christians cannot but even take up a lamentation and cry Alas alas that ever any who professe Christ should be so far void of his bowels and mercies and should have so far lost all tendernesse of conscience that they should even now persecute their brethren who professe and believe in the same God and Christ as they in words professe and believe having no other reason for their so doing but only because they differ from them in some ceremonial and outward practices of Christianity Alas alas that ever the Devil the enemy of mankind should so far delude and deceive men who agree in the outward profession of one God and Christ which is the main and weighty matter in the outward profession of Christian Religion Oh that ever they should be so far darkned and misled to afflict and persecute about the smaller matters or outward practices of Religion whenas it ought to be a duty incumbent upon all who professe the name of Christ to perswade one another in the power of the Gospel and if the true Christian cannot overcome the errour of the mind in the false Christian after this manner he ought notwithstanding to walk in love towards him and leave him to the Lord who is that great Potter that hath power over all men to change from errour to truth and out of death into life when and what time soever he pleaseth Thirdly Christians are to mind in that serious and weighty duty of Prayer the motions and leadings of Gods Spirit through which their infirmities are helped and they not praying in their own name or will but in the name of Christ their prayers become effectual and God answers them in the things they pray for as it is written John 14. 13 14. Fourthly It is a duty incumbent upon all true Christians to use family duties viz. to pray unto him as they are led thereunto by the heavenly birth and Spirit which of him they have received And parents ought to instruct their Children by word and godly example as they may find the Spirit of Christ lead them so to do by the virtue and authority of which their

exhortations will become effectual to their children and servants not only to turn them from errour unto truth but to establish and build them up in the truth that they may serve the Lord in their day and herein all Christian parents and masters of families ought to follow the example of Abraham in commanding their housholds after them to walk in the holy commands of God and to serve him in their generation c. Fishly the Scriptures were written for our learning therefore it is necessary for Christians to read them and to confer about the heavenly things signified of in them all their life long as they are inclined thereunto by the life and Spirit that gave them forth for though eternal life cannot be found in the Scriptures yet they testify of Christ in whom it is to be found and the holy sayings contained therein which were given by the divine inspiration of God are profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousnesse that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works 2 Tim. 16. 17. Therefore all true Christians prizeth the Scriptures for unto such they are comfortable and bear true testimony of that living way and truth in and by which we have eternal redemption Sixthly it is necessary for Gods people to pray unto him and to beg his blessing with and upon those creaturely benefits which they receive from the hand of their heavenly Father and to return him thanks for his unspeakable mercies towards them which was the moving cause of that heavenly visitation by which the Lord God hath visited his people with the day spring from on high through which many that have sate in darknesse are now both come to see and walk in the light of life blessed be the Lord our God for evermore 7. Query Whether it be not lawfull for Christians to give a civil respect to the several degrees and relations in which persons may stand as 1. Whether the younger ought not to reverence the elder as saith the Scripture Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head and honour the face of the old man Lev. 19. 32. and 2. Whether a Christian may not evidence his respect by some outward action or gesture of his body according to the custome of the Countrey he liveth in as Abraham bowed to the sons of Heth Gen. 23. 12. So did Nathan a Prophet to King David 1. King 1. 23. and 3. Is it not lawful for Christians to expresse their respects by giving to every man the titles belonging to him in reference to the several dignities or places they may be advanced to as Luke doth Theophilus calling him most excellent Luke 1. 3. So Paul to Felix calling him most noble Felix Acts 26. 25. and John to the elect Lady 2 John 1. Answ It is lawful for people to give civil respect to the several relations and degrees in which persons may stand First Christians ought to respect with subjection and obedience either actively by doing the commands of their magistrates or passively by suffering for not doing in case any thing should be imposed contrary to Gods law and a good conscience by the authority either set up or permitted by the Lord to be set up over them and in so doing they give the respect that is due to men thus related unto them as Superiours whose honour and respect consists not in putting off the hat and bowing the knee and body but in obeying their just commands for the respect by adoring or bowing to mens persons who wear the gay cloathing is forbidden and he that gives it transgresseth the law of God James 2. 9. Secondly the younger ought to reverence the elder by an inward love and respect The true reverence from children to their parents hath its beeing in the heart and is evidenced by outward obedience to their just and lawful commands and bodily actions of not despising them when their strength faileth but in lowlinesse and humility to help them in their old age not following the example of the Pharisees whom our Saviour reproved for making the commands of God void by their traditions which command was to honour father and mother for they said whosoever should say to his father or mother it is a gift by whatsoever thou might be profited by me and honours not his father or mother he shall go free and thus they broke the command by their traditions Mat. 15. 4 5 6 7. Neither following the example of Ham but the good example of Shem and Iaphet who covered their fathers nakednesse Gen. 9. 22 23. and in so doing the love and respect of children is demonstrated towards their parents and not by putting off the hat and bowing the knee according to the custome of the countrey and people where they dwell for both vain and idolatrous may the custome of the people be herein as in the dayes of old Ier. 10. 32. Though Abraham did bow to the sons of Heth and Nathan to King David in that ministration in which the types and shadows were in force and the seed not come to full dominion but he outwardly as a stranger in the land which God had promised to give to his seed after him for an inheritance I say Abraham's and Nathan's example herein is no more binding to Christians under the Gospel ministration then is their example of swearing outward circumcision with divers other things that they were commanded or permitted of God to doe in that ministration c. Thirdly it is lawfull for Christians to give unto every man those titles which of right belong unto him according to the place or office to which he may be advanced as to call a King King and a noble man noble man and a Judge Judge and a man that excells in reason and moderation may be called excellent c. In this wise a Christian may expresse his love and respect to persons advanced to the aforementioned dignities and not by worshipping and adoring their persons for that is a transgression of the law of God James 2. 9. 8. Query Whether Christians may not make use of and take delight in those creatures God affords us either for food or clothing And 1. whether at sometimes it be not lawful to feast and enjoy the creatures afforded for our use in a lawful mirth provided it be done in its proper season and with moderation Eccl. 3. 12 13. And 2. whether it be lawful for Christians to wear what apparel they shall think best in their own Christian prudence to be apparelled in if without excesse did not God command the children of Israel that they should borrow jewels of silver and jewels of gold of ths Egyptians Ex. 11. 2. And Abraham 's servant gave unto Rebecca bracelets for her hands which she also wore Gen. 24. 22 30. Answ Christians may make use of the creatures for through faith and the birth immortal they only of all people upon earth have right to