Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	inferior_n	master_n	superior_n	1,172	5	10.9124	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A03342	CVIII lectures vpon the fourth of Iohn Preached at Ashby-Delazouch in Leicester-shire. By that late faithfull and worthy minister of Iesus Christ. Arthur Hildersam.; Lectures upon the fourth of John	Hildersam, Arthur, 1563-1632.; Cotton, John, 1584-1652.	1632 (1632)	STC 13462; ESTC S119430	700,546	622

confirmed and increased in these words I haue now read vnto you Thirdly the confirmation and stablishment which he receiued in his faith by these meanes and the fruit whereby he declared it in the latter end of the 53 Uerse The first of these three points we finished the last day it remaineth now we come vnto the second namely vnto the meanes whereby the faith that was begun in him was confirmed and increased Now in these words two principall things are to be considered First his seruants meeting of him and bringing him word of his sonnes recouery Verse 51. Secondly the enquiry he made of them concerning the iust time of his sonnes recouery and the satisfaction that he receiued therein Uerse 52 53. For the first it is worthy to be obserued here what care these seruants had of the comfort of their Master first they knew how much the sicknesse and danger of his sonne did disquiet and trouble him Secondly they knew that he was gone to Cana vnto Christ to seeke helpe for him Thirdly so soon therfore as they perceiued that the child was recouered they come to tell him that they might ease him of his griefe and comfort him and would not let him abide in his griefe till he might come home and see his sonne recouered but they come to bring him the newes of it Fourthly there comes not one seruant onely to bring him this newes but sundry of them each of them being vnwilling as it should seeme to be ouer-gone by another in this duty to their Master Fifthly yea they shewed great care not to deceiue their Master with false newes and therefore they did not come forth so soone as they perceiued the child began to mend for it is said they met not with their Master till the day after the child began to amend and Cana being but fiue miles or thereabout from Capernaum and the child beginning to mend about one of the clocke in the after-noone they might haue beene with him the same day if they had come forth presently but they would be well assured that he did mend indeed and therefore they taried a while that they might haue some proofe of his amendment before they went and thereupon they come and tell their Master confidently Thy sonne liueth that is he is recouered and past the danger of this his sicknesse The seuer hath left him as Verse 52. The Doctrine that we are to learne from the example of these seruants is this That it is the duty of euery seruant to loue his Master to desire and seeke the comfort of his Master This Doctrine concerning the duty of seruants peraduenture will seeme to many not very profitable or fit to be stood vpon But I would haue such to consider First that my Text drawes me to it and I must not seeke matter but take such as my Text giues me direct occasion to speake of Secondly that this is a Doctrine very necessary to be taught sometimes Obserue I pray you in the Epistles of the Apostles how oft this point is taught and with what earnestnesse it is vrged Ephes. 6. Colos. 3. 1 Tim. 6. Tit. 2. 1 Peter 2. And marke how the Apostle concludes it 1 Tim. 6. 2. These things teach and exhort And Tit. 2. 15. These things speake and exhort and rebuke with all authority I will therefore handle this point as briefly and profitably as I can so as not seruants only but all you that heare me may receiue some benefit and edification by it This is then the Doctrine That euery seruant is bound to loue his Master to desire and seek the comfort of his Master And that which you shall heare me speake concerning the duty that the seruant owes to the Master you must vnderstand to be meant as well of the duty that the seruant owes to the Mistris For there is the like reason for both and thus runs the Commandement whereby all inferiours are taught their duty to their superiours Exod. 20. 12. Honour thy Father and thy Mother that is the superiour of either sexe Say a seruant should be neuer so true vnto his Master neuer so diligent neuer so profitable yet if he loue not his Master if he desire not by all the meanes he can to procure the comfort of his Master he hath not discharged his duty before God We haue here in the Text an example of seruants that yet were not conuerted to the Faith and it should be a foule shame for seruants that professe the Gospell to go behind them in this duty to their Masters But I will giue you examples also of such seruants as no Christian seruant of what degree soeuer can disdaine to propound to himself for his imitation The one is Eleazar Abrahams seruant and steward of his house of whose loue to his Master and care to procure his Masters comfort we shall read Gen. 24. He saw what a trouble it was to Abraham when he was old for feare his sonne Isaac should take a wife of the Canaanites and what a comfort it would be to him if he might see him matched with one of his owne kindred See the maruellous loue of this man to his Master and care he had of his comfort First in the diligence he shewed in the businesse Ver. 33. When he was come to Labans house they set meat before him but he would not eat till he had done his Masters businesse And so soone as he had obtained his suit and done his businesse though his entertainment were very good he would not be stayed one day longer but would needs returne to his Master with all speed as you shall find Ver. 54 56. because he knew well what a comfort it would be to his Master when he had vnderstood how he had sped Secondly you shall obserue his loue to his Master in the ioy he took in that good successe God had giuen him in his businesse not so much in respect of himselfe or any reward he looked to receiue for his good seruice but euen for his Masters sake because he knew how great a comfort it would be to his Master See this Ver. 26 27. when he perceiued that God had brought him directly and safely to Bethuels house The man bowed himselfe and worshipped the Lord and said Blessed be the Lord God of my Master Abraham which hath not with-drawne his mercy and truth from my Master See still all his respect was to his Master A good seruant will reioyce in his Masters comfort as much as in his owne it will do him good to see his Master prosper The other example is Nehemia who was Cup-bearer or Taster to the greatest Emperour that was then in the world and he professeth of himselfe Neh. 2. 1. That he had neuer been wont to be sad in the presence of his Master Why was that vnlawfull No doubtlesse it well beseemes a Christian to be sad sometimes Sorrow is better than laughter for by the sadnesse of the