Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	best_a	cause_n	great_a	166	4	2.0875	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A60983	A sermon preach'd Novemb. 14, 1698 and now publish'd at the request of the societies for the reformation of manners, in the cities of London and Westminster / by John Spademan ...	Spademan, John, d. 1708.	1669 (1669)	Wing S4784; ESTC R32648	13,042	48

Magistrate oblig'd him to punish his own Sons and nothing could excuse his neglect or prevent the terrible proceedings of Divine Severity If there be ground which I determine not for the conjecture of our Translators who in the Margin have alter'd the word restrain into frown it intimates that the frown of a Magistrate an indication of his displeasure against Vice belongs to his Office and has an aptitude to repress that which is Evil. III. Instance of this contending with wicked Men is solemn pleading and protesting against Wickedness by those whose Office requires it A Magistrate hath many occasions of bearing a publick Testimony against Sin and Evil Courses As we read Nehemiah the Governour of the Jewish State judg'd it his duty to testify against the prophanation of the Sabbath and contended with the Nobles of Judah whose bad Examples might have corrupted others Nehem. 13.17 Such a Remonstrance made by one cloath'd with Authority is very Serviceable to repress Sin which often despises the best Reasons that are urged by those of a private Condition 'T is the unquestionable Duty of all Ministers to plead the Cause of Religion against every thing that opposeth it with an unwearied Constancy herein they are to imitate their great Master who did not silently behold the Vices of the Age and People to whom he was sent but on all proper occasions testified of the World that its Works were Evil as himself hath declared Joh. 7.7 A IV. Instance of this contending with Wicked Men is particular reproving of Sin when a just occasion is offer'd This Office of Charity is enjoin'd by the Great Law which requires every one to love his Neighbour as himself This Subject has been frequently discourst and the Duty of fraternal reproving been prest tho' 't is to be fear'd without desired success Indeed 't is found very difficut to overcome the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or culpable Modesty which generally obstructs the performance of this excellent Duty But there is another kind of reproving which hath more facility and would produce good effect viz. The with-holding of familiar Converse from vicious Persons which is expresly enjoyned by the Apostle 1 Cor. 5.11 I have written to you not to keep Company if any Man that is called a Brother be a Fornicator or Covetous or a Drunkard with such a one no not to eat I question not but the practising of this one Rule did very much contribute to the purity of the Christian Church in her Virgin Age when the Heroick Piety of Christians did adorn their Doctrine and more succescesfully vindicate the Christian Religion than the most Learned Apologies publish'd in Defence of it And indeed the strictest Discipline and Ecclesiastick Censures though a proper Method of repressing Vice can't attain their End while the Apostolick Order is neglected and those who keep the Law Xenoph. Lac. Pol. C. 9. extend their Friendship to such as openly forsake it A judicious Writer has related among the Causes which made the Lacedemonians so eminent for their Courage in War That contrary to the usage of other Nations in that City every body was asham'd to admit a Coward into the same Lodgings or so much as permit him to bear a part with them at their Games and Exercises There is is no Law that prohibits civil Commerce and negotiating with openly Vitious Persons but we can't contend with them if our Friendship embraceth their Persons which they and others will interpret a favouring of their Crimes which also spread their contagion where a Passage is opened by Familiar Converse This Consideration induced a celebrated Pagan Law-giver Diodor. S. Lib. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Charondas to enact a severe Law against Conversing with bad Men for which the guilty were to be Endited and Punish'd We may fear such Pagans will rise up in the Judgment against many professing Christians and condemn those who practice not this Method of reproving the works of Darkness V. Another Instance of contending with wicked Men is the assisting of those whose Office obligeth to the repressing of wickedness The single Eye of a Ruler can't scatter this threatning Evil if he be not assisted by the Eyes and Hands and Tongues of others I know the Name of a Delator or Informer is become odious but as might be easily evinc'd if it had not been already done this infamous Title no ways belongs to those who only witness concerning a Criminal Act which ought to be discover'd and punisht In such Cases Silence and Concealment make us Confederates with wicked Men and partakers with their Sins Surely none can fix an opprobrious Character on the Excellent Joseph of whom 't is related Gen. 37.2 That he brought to his Father the Evil report of his Brethren who unjustly hated him while he exercised a real Charity to them as well as discharg'd a Duty he owed to his Parent None has charg'd the Renowned Chrysostom Tom. 6. Hom. 44. with being an Informer though in a Sermon wherein he vehemently reproveth the Sin of Swearing He tells his Hearers that after the parting of the Assembly he would largely Discourse every one that he might know who had and who had not reform'd that Fault And if I find saith he any who have not reform'd I will make them known to those who have to the end that all the Latter may reprove and correct them who remain guilty of this Vice To publish a secret Fault may on some occasions violate the Laws of Charity and Humanity but how can it be blame-worthy to witness against those who declare their own Sin and hide not their own Shame VI. The last Instance of this contending with Wicked Men is earnest Prayer and Supplication to God to obtain success to the Methods which have been mentioned and the Divine Influence which can effectually repress all kinds of Wickedness The Divine Almighty Arm alone can destroy this many headed Hydra which often despiseth all Human Attempts David though he liv'd in a State that was provided with the best Laws against Sin yet addresseth to God in a most earnest Petition O bring the wickedness of the Wicked to an end Psal 7.9 The Jewish Writers whose words are set down by a Learned Writer of our own tell us Dr. Outram de Sacr. L. 1. C. 8. That in the short Prayer used by the High Priest on the Day of Expiation this was always one Petition Let not the Prayer of them who break the Law be gathered before Thee i. e. Let not God by granting the Requests of Wicked Men put it into their Power to act their Evil Designs When we pray Let thy Kingdom come this includes the effectual repressing of Wickedness which most directly opposeth the Kingdom of God that is a State of Purity and Righteousness It only remains that the described Duty should be press'd and recommended by a few Considerations 1. In contending with Wicked Men you imitate the best Examples This Practice is