Selected quad for the lemma: master_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
master_n	duty_n	lord_n	servant_n	4,270	5	6.7893	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A48760	A letter, written by that famous and faithful minister of Christ Mr John Livingstoun unto his parishoners of Ancram in Scotland, dated Rotterdam October 7. 1671.	Livingston, John, 1603-1672.	1671 (1671)	Wing L2599; ESTC R216776	17,702	19

courses would necessarily recoil against former endeavours of purging the army against the Opposition made to the unlawful Engagement in the year 1648. yea against the Solemn League and Covenant and by consequence against the late work of Reformation yea against the first Reformation from Popery and that the bulk of the disaffected Ministers of the Land some whereof although born down might have been observed in every General Assembly even from the year 1638. that these did natively joyn to make up the party I judge these courses to have been no small step of the defection of the Church I could have wished indeed that more moderation more real endeavours for union in the Lord had been used on both sides but I was also convinced that the late sad change was in some respect seasonably sent from the Lord that faithful Ministers and Professours should rather suffer by the Prelats and such as by overturning the Work of God brought them in than by Judicatours of the Church which in all appearance would shortly have followed yea in some places was already begun And it is most sad that when time hath brought to light the necessary consequence of these courses yet few or none of these have testified any resentment thereof Beside clear Demonstrations of the Efficacy of the Gospel in converting and confirming sinners which hath been as conspicuous in the Church of Scotland as in any of the Reformed Churches the Lord was pleased from the beginning to put in the hand of his Servants in that Land apiece of Service not so directly called-for at the hands of same others of the Churches to wit as Christ's Prophetical Priestly Office had been debated suffered-for and cleared so they should stand and contend for his Kingly Office that he is not only inwardly a Spiritual Head to his Mystical Church but externally a Spiritual Politick Head to the Politick Body of the visible Church of Professours their only Law-giver to invest them with intrinsick power to meet for his Worship and their Officers appointed by him to meet for Discipline Ordering the affairs of his house that no Ceremonie or Invention of man that want his stamp is to be brought into his Worship no Officer to be brought into his house but such as he hath appointed in his Word although his servants people are to carry towards Gods Ordinance of Magistracy where they live as any other Subjects to deny them no respect or obedience due to them yet in their Meetings Administrations they are not subordinat unto or dependant on any Civil power These and such others were the points asserted and suffered for by the renowed worthies of this Church by Mr Knox Mr Welsh Mr Bruce and many others who now shine in glory And although there have been in former times several sad dayes of the defection of Ministers as in the year 1584 and at other times yet because there never was such a black houre and power of darkness as is now fallen upon us I shall in the second place touch some particulars for which I judge ye and I and many others have reason most bitterly to mourn before the Lord. I. That in the beginning of this grievous defection such a base cowardise fell generally on all that not one Testimony from any Church Judicatory in Scotland was given to the cause of God and against the horrid violation of a sworn Covenant yea some as industriously stopped Testimonies as if they had been hired so to do some whereof pretending it was not a fit time when a most fit time came and being urged thereto by Authority yet declined it It was first and last the guilt of those who had the conviction on them to neglect the duty for want of the concurrence of others True Zeal for the honour of our Master or remembrance of our reckoning before him would have stirred us up to another sort of boldness we would not have been so blunt in our own concernment the sight of the Fathers danger brake the tack of a Son's tongue who was tongue-tacked from the birth The Lord indeed provided a real Testimony from some who had and have yet of their bones witnessing before the sun But oh that we did not adventure somewhat for his glory for our own peace for the good of Posterity yea for the true good and edifying even of our Opposites We ought not only to be deeply humbled and deal much and long for pardon of such an Omission but earnestly seek grace and strength to take hold of any opportunity for reparing such a loss 2. That some of those Ministers who were laid aside by Authority did in a manner lay themselves aside as if they had been exonered of all Charge whereas such as have any liberty of a Subject and feet and tongue loose ought rather be instant in season and out of season and from house to house instruct and warn young and old both of former Charge and every where as occasion offers It is true none are now Apostles but Ministers have the same charge that Apostles had to feed the Flock of Christ and are given primarily not to any particular Charge but to the Universal visible Church few of the Apostles or Apostolick Men had either such Churches and Pulpits to preach in or a setled maintenance Love to Christ and love to the souls of People that are perishing in ignorance and disobedience would banish the love of ease and the fear of danger and the idol of carnal prudence That however a man for maintenance of himself and his family might practise medicine or labour land or betake himself to any other employment yet he is to remember the ministrie is his main imployment and that at his admission he engadged befor God to be diligent and faithful therein Some have preached out of prison windowes some have converted their keepers It were to be wished that a Minister in all places in all company at all times were about somewhat of his Masters work so shall he hear at last well done good and faithful servant Let us deal with the Lord that he will deal with the hearts of all his Servants and thrust them out into his harvest as I hope some who seemed to be somewhat deficient in that duty are already begun to bestir themselves and others upon sight of the courses of the time and the peoples necessity and willingness to hear will do yet more abundantly 3. That after the destroyers of the Lords heritage had razed the work of Reformation to the foundation and had not only invaded the rights that he hath allowed this Servants in the Government of his house but as far as creatures can do usurped his own Prerogative Royal and not at all hiding the snare but by the letter to the Council and the Councels Act opening the designe to have the Ministrie of the Word wholly dependant on the Civil Power and Supremacy that yet some