Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
lord_n	day_n	keep_v	week_n	11,303	5	10.2397	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A79883	Ministers dues and peoples duty; or A bill of accounts between ministers and people: shewing vvhat people owe unto their ministers; which may also serve to mind ministers, what they are to expect from their people. By Sam. Clark M.A. sometimes fellow of Pembroke-Hall in Cambridg, and now minister of Grendon Under-wood in Buckinghamshire.	Clark, Samuel, 1626-1701.; Baxter, Richard, 1615-1691.	1661 (1661)	Wing C4494; Thomason E1057_4; ESTC R204352	37,580	60

Lord that obeys the voice of his Servant i. e. Priest or Prophet Where by the way Observe That 't is the property of one that truly fears God to obey his Minister 2 Cor. 2.9 For this end did I write that I might know the proof of you whether ye would be obedient in all things a large word And 7.15 His inward affection is more abundant towards you while he remembreth the obedience of you all how with fear and trembling you received him Here 's a universality of persons as in the former place of things All persons must be obedient in all things And this was mystically represented in Ezechiels Vision where the wheels were guided by the four living creatures c See Lightf Descript of Temple c. 38. p. 255. i. e. b people by their Pastors and Ministers Thus much I suppose will be readily and generally granted being so plainly and positively enjoyned all the difficulty is Dub. Concerning the extent of this Obedience How far forth and wherein people are bound to obey their Pastors This therefore we shall a little enquire into and the rather because some who yet pretend great respect and friendship to the Ministery do so clip and restrain it that they make it little more then a meer cipher and leave scarce any thing but the name thereof Solut. In Generall It must be In all things 2 Cor. 2.9 whereby 't is parallel'd with and made as large as the obedience of children to parents Col. 3.20 Servants to Masters ver 22. and wives to their husbands Eph. 5.24 And this I shall branch out into three particulars In necessary Duties undetermined Circumstances and doubtfull points or Cases 1. People must obey their Ministers In those necessary duties plainly laid down in the Word which they declare unto them and in Gods name require their conformity to as Sanctification of the Sabbath performance of Family duties diligence in frequenting the publick Assemblies avoiding drunkenness swearing lying c. Matth. 23.3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe viz. not of their own heads or according to the Traditions of the Elders but which is enjoyned in the Law of God that observe and do People must conform to their advertisements both in obedience to God and them and the neglect hereof is a contempt and disobedience against them as well as against God and rendred censurable by Christ Mat. 18.17 If he neglect to hear the Church sc urging the reformation of scandalous miscarriages let him be c. And is also a great aggravation of their sin 2 Chron. 36.12 He Zedekiah did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the Prophet speaking to him in the name of the Lord. Therefore also the Lord saith Ezek. 33.33 that when that should come to pass viz. which he hath threatned vers 27 29. that they should then know that a Prophet had been among them i. e. their own consciences should in their afflictions aggravate their sin by this circumstance that the Lord had sent his Prophets to them and they had not regarded or obeyed them 2. In those circumstances of publick worship which are necessary in the generall but not particularly determined by God Such are Time as What hour on the Lords day to begin how long to continue together what dayes the Lords Supper shall be administred and how oft when any shall be baptized what day of the Week to keep a Lecture Place as Where the Assembly shall meet where the Minister shall stand to read preach administer the Sacraments and where the people shall sit to hear receive c. Whether the Corpse shall be brought into the Church or stand by the grave or put into it while the solemnity is performing Gesture as To hear sitting or standing with the Hat off or on and so for the Minister to preach to receive the Lords Supper sitting or standing or kneeling Habit as Whether the Minister shall preach in a Cloak or Gown c. of what colour or materialls his cloathes shall be * See a full enumeration of them in Baxt. of Episc p. 400. Many other such circumstances there are which being necessary in generall i. e. such as no action can be performed without and yet not particularly determined by God now under the Gospel and so being left to the prudence of Church-guides to determine of according to the generall Rules of Order Decency Edification c. people ought to yield conformity to such determinations for if a difference should arise concerning any of these circumstances between Pastor and people whether think you fittest should submit Pastor to flock Ruler to ruled or on the contrary See Baxt. of Episc p. 10. Propos 10. 3. In doubtfull points and difficult cases which either they are ignorant in or cannot be satisfied about till they receive satisfaction or understand them themselves and are able to judge of them Heb. 13.7 Whose faith follow For where common people have not time or leasure or ability to study all points of Divinity themselves whom is it more fit they should hearken to and be ruled by then their own Pastors and Teachers as a wife should by her husband and children by their Parents It being to be supposed ordinarily for I speak not of extraordinary cases which may sometimes happen in some places as in the Universities or Innes of Court that they understand themselves better in these things then their people because it 's their business and employment to study them And therefore as we see in all other cases men will usually take the judgements of Artificers in matters that concern their own trade If you have a matter of Law you go to Lawyers of health to Physicians of building to Carpenters c. And if I were to be resolved in a point of Husbandry which I understand not my self I would come to some of you that have been versed and experienced in it all your time and take your judgement rather then mine own because it 's your calling and not mine so ought you in those points you understand not especially controversall points to submit your judgement to ours and to conform your practice to our directions for it being our office to teach you it 's your duty to believe us with a humane faith Oportet discentem credere in cases where you have no evidence to the contrary So that in case a Minister require his people to believe such a point which they know not whether it be a truth or no or conform to such a practice which they know not whether it be lawfull or no then the command of obeying them takes place for the duty of obeying them being certain and the error of the point held forth or unlawfulness of the practice required being uncertain and unknown and only suspected they must go on the surer side But yet withall let me adde That you are not so wholly to rely

of God inwardly by his Spirit outwardly by his Ministers Hence Cornelius was appointed by the Angel to send for Peter Acts 10.5 6.9.6 Hag. 2.11 and Paul is sent by Christ himself to Ananias for instruction and God sends the people to the Priests to be resolved in a Law-case And it is observable that this was the ordinary practise of the Disciples when Christ had taught any thing in publike which they understood not to ask him privately about it Mark 4.10 And when he was alone they that were about him with the twelve asked of him this Parable i. e. the meaning of it So again Mark 7.17 and 10.10 Yet they should not enquire so much concerning doubtfull disputations as the Apostle calls them and notionall points as the woman of Samaria questioned Christ about the great controversie then in fashion Rom. 14.1 between the Jews and Samaritans concerning the place of worship though there may be time and place for these also as about practicall cases of conscience that thereby they may learn rather how to do better then to know more which was the first and principall care of the Jailor when his heart was toucht Acts 16.30 Sirs what must I do to be saved So Sir How may I walk more holily enjoy more communion with God get power over such a corruption and the like 2. They must watch all opportunities of publike Instruction As one that attends upon another waits his leisure and is ready upon all occasions so people must be ready not only on the Lord's day but on a week day if opportunity be offered to hear the word They must lye daily at wisdoms gates Prov. 8.34 and at the pool of Bethesda Thus the people of God are described Calling upon and quickning one another hereto Esay 2.3 Many people shall say Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord to the house of the God of Jacob. And sitting in his presence Ezek. 33.31 they sit before me as my people Psal 122.1 And David rejoiced in such opportunities I was glad when they said unto me Let us go into the house of the Lord. But especially 3. They must hearken diligently and heed and give attention to what is delivered Prov. 4.1 Attend to know understanding Fix thy quick-silver mind and set thy self to hear as Jehoshaphat did to pray Thus did Lydia Acts 16.14 Luk 19.48 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 She attended to the things that were spoken of Paul And the people on Christ who were very attentive to hear him or they hanged upon him as Birds do on the bills of their Dams for food They did as it were hang their ears upon his lips They gaped after his words And here it may not impertinently be enquired Cas Consc Whether it be lawfull for people to make a common practise of going from their Minister that God hath set over them to hear another I answer briefly Solut. See Hild. on Joh. 4. p. 241. Baxt. Christian Concord p. 35. It 's not without good ground generally resolved by Divines that if the Minister of a place be such an one as is approved by the Church of God for his ability faithfulness and diligence in his place so that there is no just exception to be made against him it is not lawfull for any of his flock to go ordinarily from him to hear another because he is in a more especiall manner appointed by God to watch over them and it 's to be supposed that he is better acquainted with their temper and condition and consequently is beter able to suit himself to their occasions then another who is but a stranger to them or not so well acquainted with them And besides it would bring confusion into places 1 Cor 14.33 which God allows not of As for that common pretence of many that they cannot so well profit by their own Minister as another I answer If he be such an one as is before described for I would not be thought to be an advocate for any idle ignorant or insufficient person of which sort God knowes too many were put into places in these later times No let Baal plead for himselfe for me but if I say he be such an one as is before mentioned then you had need to examine your hearts strictly whether there be no fault in your selves For I must needs say I cannot but think that generally I will not say alwayes the defect is rather in your selves that you do not profit than in your Minister My reason is plainly this Because our profiting by any mans Ministery depends principally 1 Cor. 3.7 nay wholly for neither he that plants nor he that waters is any thing upon the blessing of God and assistance of his Spirit and not upon any mans parts gifts and abilities Insomuch that our Saviour Christ himself though He spake as never man spake Joh. 7.46 most graciously to admiration Luk. 4.22 most powerfully and demonstratively to conviction Luk. 14.6 Mat. 22.46 yet had not such success in his Ministry as many of his Apostles because the Spirit was not yet given in that plentifull manner as afterwards Joh. 7.39 Now the blessing of God being * Mat. 28.20 promist and so belonging as well to one true Minister of Christ as another certainly if there be any defect and want of profiting 't is not on Gods part but on ours 'T is true God being wont to concur with meanes according to their naturall capacity and efficacy where he hath bestowed greater gifts it may reasonably be supposed that caeteris paribus he doth concur with a greater degree of efficacy and assistance whence wee finde the gaine answerable to the talents Mat. 25.15 17. and therefore people under such an eminent Ministery may be more edified yet it warrants not others to forsake their own Minister upon this account for the Reasons forementioned But yet to grant with the most Suppose that any should not yet be satisfied but after much experience dealing impartially with themselvs they do find that they can profit far more by another than by their own Minister yet they must not go to another constantly or ordinarily without the consent and leave of their own Minister Because by Gods Ordinance they owe duty to him as their Superior in all things that concern their souls as shall be shewed presently And likewise they are bound to seek his comfort and give him all good encouragement that he may do the work of his Ministery with joy and chearfulness Heb. 13.7 4. Ready and chearfull obedience Ready Obedience Enjoyned plainly and fully Heb. 13.7 a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies such a subjection as an inferior who counts himself under another yields to him who is over him Gouge in loc Obey them that have the rule over you even your ordinary Pastors Mentioned also in severall other places Isa 50.10 Who is there among you that feareth the

10.6 and that in a higher way and with greater punishment then any Magistrate on earth can inflict For all punishment inflicted by the Civil Magistrate is but outward either upon the persons body or estate Psal 49.20 or both but the punishment infligible by the Minister or Ecclesiasticall Magistrate is spirituall and reaches to the soul so that by how much the soul is more valuable then the body or estate by so much is the punishment infligible by the Minister more terrible and dreadfull then any can be inflicted by the Civil Magistrate Although 't is true because men do so much obbrutescere and become like the beasts that perish and are led so much by sense thence it comes to pass that they are more affected with corporall then spirituall punishments and more fear the death of the body then the damnation of the soul and consequently stand more in awe of the Laws of the Land then of the Laws of God Yet in it self the spirituall punishment is incomparably the greater and consequently there is incomparably a a Quod si homines reputarent metuerent sibi plus ab Ecclesiae censuris quàm à gladio virgis Reipubl cùm Ministri habent potestatem vitae necis aeternae ut de omnibus vel ad vitam vel ad mortem sententiam ferant Si è terrâ exigere exturbare sit magnum quanto magis expellere è caelo si è collegio vestro civem movere quanto magis è coetu collegio Sanctorum aliquem excludere posse Cartwr Harm p. 560. stronger obligation lies upon persons to obey the commands of God and his Officers i. e. Ministers than the Laws of the Land and the Civil Magistrate because I say the soul is concerned in the punishment inflicted by the Minister Now it reaches to the soul inasmuch as while persons lye under Ecclesiasticall Censures duly inflicted they are in a state of damnation as far as man can judg of them because their sins are unpardon'd Joh. 28.23 whose soever sins ye retain they are retained and without pardon no blessedness Psal 32.1 The Kingdom of Heaven is shut against them b portam coeli ei occlusam iri cui Ecclesiae ostium valvas obturaverit rem Sacramenti illis substractam iri cui Ecclesia Sacramentum negaverit c. id p. 604. b. for God ratifies and confirms the censure Mat. 16.19 whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven He adds his Dicu le veult whereby it becomes not only an Ordinance of the Church but a Statute-Law of Heaven too so that if a justified person should fall under this censure 't is as impossible for him to die in that condition as for David to die in the act of adultery before repentance so that in it self 't is incomparably greater Only here 's that that something qualifies the matter That punishments inflicted by the Civil Magistrate are sometimes purely at least perfectly vindictive as when they touch the life of the offender for in that case there 's no place left for Repentance and amendment but now the punishment inflicted by the Church is purely and perfectly in its own nature medicinall aiming at the reformation and amendment of the party punished that his soul may be saved in the day of the Lord 1 Cor. 5.5 for his edification not destruction 2 Cor. 10.8 that he may learn not to blaspheme or transgress in any other particular 1 Tim. 1.20 So then Lay all these things together and then tell me whether Ministers have not a compulsive as well as a directive power For can you imagin that a Minister hath no more power over his people than a Physician over his patient who cannot inflict the least shadow of punishment upon them for the greatest non-observation of or contrary practise to his directions or that people are no more bound to obey their Minister than a patient his Physician who yet I doubt not but is bound in conscience to follow his prescriptions No 't is certainly in it self the highest compulsory power imaginable and I see no reason why it may not properly be called Jurisdiction which is nothing else but such a commanding as carries in consequence a revenge against the disobeyer as the greatest Scholer of his time defines it F. Paul Hist of Inquis p. 85. 2d Edit in 8o. which the Apostle Paul almost totidem verbis attributes to Ministers in the place aforementioned 2 Cor. 10.6 Having in readiness to revenge all disobedience As also Why it may not be said That people should obey their Ministers not only for conscience sake but for wrath which yet is commonly denied as subjects must their Magistrates not only for wrath but for conscience sake Rom. 13.5 only the obligation lies stronger towards Ministers than Magistrates because they are more immediate deputies of Christ and deal more immediately for him than Magistrates do Object If it be objected as 't is by some to elevate and extenuate their power That all this power of Ministers is but a Morrice of the Sacrament Sect. 32. p. 300. derivative delegated executive and Ministeriall Answ I grant it and yet 1. However they have at least as much power in their sphears as any subordinate Magistrate whatsoever Judg or Justice of Peace in theirs who act all in the Name of another viz. the Supream Magistrate and nothing in their own 2. 'T is so in relation to God only and not to man They derive not their power from man nor are his servants therein And thus the highest Civil power on earth is derivative viz. from God True we are our peoples servants 2 Cor. 4.5 to do them all the good we can but yet they are not our masters to rule and command us 6. Another duty people owe unto their Ministers is Humble meekness Humble Meekness under reproof which though it belong properly to the former head as a branch thereof yet in regard of the length of that I shall handle it distinctly by it self I say Quiet and meek enduring of reproof Heb. 13.22 I beseech you Brethren suffer the word of Exhortation which phrase the word of Exhortation though it may be taken generally for all manner of instruction whether Information Direction Admonition or the like yet the word suffer seems to aim at something which was grievous and distastfull to them and which they did not care to hear and therefore I take it here more strictly for matter of reproof that people should willingly and patiently hearken to the reproofs of their Ministers take Potions as well as Cordials suffer them to apply corrasives when there is occasion as well as lenitives at other times thus did David Nathan doth not sprinkle him with Court holy-water but tells him plainly of his sinne Thou art the man 2 Sam. 12.7 and threatens him grievously for it ver 10 12. Now David doth not fret and fume at him for it but takes