Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	charity_n	good_a	work_n	979	5	5.4756	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A14664	An exposition of the tvvo first verses of the sixt chapter to the Hebrewes in forme of a dialogue. Wherein you have a commendation of catechising, also a declaration of the sixe fundamentall principles wherein the Christians of the Primitiue Apostolicall church were catechised. By T.W. minister of the word.	Wilson, Thomas, 1563-1622.; Walkington, Thomas, d. 1621, attributed name.	1600 (1600)	STC 24966; ESTC S102108	79,110	106

Now to the end that our prayers may be the more humble and feruent vnto the former meanes must be ioyned Fasting which being seuered from opinion of merit and superstition and being religiously vsed auaileth not a little to the taming of our stubborne and rebellious hearts And this the Apostle Paul by his owne experience found to be true I beate downe my body saith hee least whiles that I preach to others my selfe proue a cast away 1. Cor. 9.27 where the word which the Apostle vseth importeth as much as to beat downe with clubs to note the great obstinacie of sinne and the great endeauour which is to be vsed that the lusts of it may be suppressed and kept downe And how conuenient an helpe fasting is for that purpose and certainly as a moderation in eating and drinking and other lawfull pleasures of life when there is a meane kept in the vse of them that wee temper our selues rather comming short of that we may wel haue then going so far as our ability the custome of the place where wee liue will suffer vs as I say this continuall and dayly sobrietie is no little helpe to the mortification of our sinnes so the vtter abstinence from all delights of life for a certaine time as for the space of one day in a weeke or fortnight is a very good meanes for the furtherance of this worke in vs if diligent reading of Scriptures godly meditations and earnest prayers be coupled therewith for if such excellent and rare men as Paul and Timothy had need to vse such moderation abstinence for the subduing of sinne shall any man thinke that hee can want these meanes and be in good case or that he shal not tempt God if he neglect them But amongst other things wee are not to forget the fellowship of the brethren by whose admonitions and prayers wee may be much confirmed against the power of sinne therefore wee are commanded to loue God and to loue brotherly fellowship The Apostle Iames would not charge vs to confesse our sinnes one to another and to pray one for another Iames. 5.16 vnlesse in the counsell comforts and prayers of the Godly there were great helpe against the strength of sinne neyther would the Authour of the Epistle to the Hebrewes exhort vs to consider one of another to whet on to charitie and good workes if there were not a blessing giuen to the right vse of such means for the staying vs in euery good dutie and causing vs still to goe forwards in our workes of sanctification As it fareth with brands or coales when they are almost extinct and put out by laying them close together the fire is kept in and made the hotter so by the conferring of graces mutually by Gods children to the strengthening one of another their zeale against sin and for God is kept aliue and more encreased And to giue you another similitude as they who haue a iourney to go in a way which is vnknowne are glad to ioyne themselues to such as are expert in the way so the fellowship and conuersation of such as are well acquainted with the pathes which lead to our celestiall countrie doth much further vs in our spirituall wayfaring Therefore if ye desire to get to your selues an especiall aduantage against sinne and a blessed meane to guide and confirme you against all whatsoeuer hinderances in your way see yee euer make conscience as on the one side of eschewing all needless● familiaritie with all such whose hearts are seene not to be right by the crooked steps of their life saying vnto them with the Prophet away from me yee wicked so on the other side be inward with some godly Christians which walke wisely in a perfect way to whom as occasion is offered you may reueale your secret corruptions and wants to haue aid from their prayers and Christian aduise saying of such I will be companion to them which feare God But ye are here to be aduertised that it is not sufficient to vse all these good meanes against inward lusts and motions of sinne there must also be a very great care and earnest purpose of auoyding the outward occasions wherby these lusts are raised and stirred vp in vs. The obedience to sinne is very much crossed and letted by our carefull remouing and shunning of such occasions as wee are wont to be prouoked by vnto euill therefore let the proud man auoyde flattery and foolish praises the drunkard strong drinke the glutton delicates the couetous let him auoid the often sight and much fingring of money let not the angry man meddle much with contentious persons such as loue contradiction nor the fearefull man come amongst threatners nor such as cannot yet rule their tongue amongst such as are giuen to much talke nor the effeminate amongst wantons at a word Whosoeuer will no euill doe must refraine whatsoeuer belongeth thereto Remember Ioseph hee would not endure eyther the speach or company of his lewd alluring Mistresse and it had beene good for Peter that hee had not come into the high Priests hall and for Dauid he had not so wantonly cast his eye vpon faire Bathsheba One saith truely occasion maketh a theefe and occasion will make an adulterer a lyer a rayler and so in other sinnes they are drawn on by occasions it is therfore to no great purpose to warre against inward 〈…〉 except we watch ouer our selues to beware and flie the outward occasions of sinne Hitherto I haue mentioned onely priuate meanes which serue to with-hold our obedience from the lusts of sinne to which if ye doe adde the frequent vse of publike meanes in the ministery of the word prayer and Sacrament in humblenesse of a sincere hart with constancie and perseuerance therein by the mightie blessing of God there will grow much strength against all manner of rebellious lusts Finally sithens it will serue to no other end but to iustifie and encrease our condemnation to know the reasons why the kingdome of sinne is to be resisted and the way and meanes also how it is to be done vnlesse there be hear● repentance for our faylings heretofore and a falling to a more thorow practise hereafter therefore yee are to be most earnestly exhorted so to doe that euen as ye desire to signe ouer sinne and that it may not raigne ouer you as yee will shew your selues thankfull to Christ who hath de●●uered you from sinnes tyranny and hath put grace into ●ou that you may obey from your hearts the doctrine of godlinesse as you iudge it meet to endeauour so much the ●eruing of Christ now that you are regenerate as before you were careful to serue sin when you were vnregenerate as you couet to attaine reape the fruit of spirituall holinesse in this life and of eternall happines in the life to come ●o eschew shame in this world and death in the next as the safe protection of God the

good this may be called birth sinne Psal. 51.3 Gen. 6.5 The frame of mans heart is onely euill continually Qu. What doe ye call actuall sinne An. All thoughts words and deeds being contrary to the will of God issuing from that bitter roote of birth-sin Also all omission of duties eyther toward GOD or our neighbours Mat. 25.42 Lastly all imperfections eyther in manner or measure or end of doing good duties for whatsoeuer transgresseth the law is sinne 1 Iohn 3.4 Qu. For what respects are these sinnes called dead workes An. For two respects First because they proceed from those who be spiritually dead Eph. 2.1 Secondly because they tend to death and deserue it Rom. 6.23 Qu. Seeing our works are dead and we dead in them doth not this imply that we did once liue An. It doth so and the truth is wee did once liue an holy and an happy life Gen. 1.26 Qu. Wherein stood our holinesse An. In the vprightnesse of soule and body Eccles. 7.31 called Gods Image Gen. 1. Qu. Wherein stood our happinesse An. First in our enioying of Gods presence and fauor Secondly in the excellency of our person Thirdly in our Lordship ouer the creatures Gen. 1.26 Qu. How fell wee from this estate An. By the malice of Sathan suggesting and by the free wil of our first parents obeying his temptation Gen. 3 ver 1.2.3 c. Eccles. 7.3 God made man righteous but they found out many inuentions Qu. What followed hereupon An. Our first Parents became sinfull and most miserable Gen. 3. throughout Qu. Doth their fall any thing appertaine vnto vs An. Yes surely for in Adam wee all sinned Rom. 5. ver 12.19 they being the head and roote of our kinde haue wrapt all their ofspring in the guilt and hurt of their transgression Qu. But are wee not also vnder death through our owne naturall corruption and actuall sinne An. We are so by nature seruants of sinne and the children of Gods wrath Eph. 2.3 Rom. 6.20 Qu. What is meant by Repentance An. An vtter renouncing of our selues and our owne workes in which there is nothing but matter of death and a returning to God to doe his workes Qu. Wherein standeth this renouncing of our selues and workes An. In these two things First that we neuer haue either affiance or liking to any thing which commeth from our selues Secondly that both in purpose and practise in desire and deedes wee endeauor to cease from our owne works Esay 1.16 to doe the workes of God Qu. What call ye returning to God An. When both minde and will are changed from blindnesse and malice to the sound knowledge and loue of God and his workes Qu. What workes doe yee call the workes of God An Such workes as God in his morall Law appointeth to be done Qu. What doth the morall Law teach vs An. To loue God with all our soule might and heart and our neighbour as our selfe Mat. 22. Rom. 13. Qu. Wherefore is Loue made the summe of the Law An. Because our duties to God and man are nothing worth vnlesse loue beget them Qu. In how many commandements is the morall Law contained Ans. In tenne whereof foure concerne the loue and worship of God and the other sixe concerne the loue and welfare of our neighbour Qu. Tell vs briefly what do the first foure Commandements require An. The first that the true God alone be worshipped of vs this shutteth out false Gods The second that wee yeeld him such a worship for the matter and parts thereof as himselfe in his word commandeth this shutteth out false worship of the true God The third that for manner and end hee be worshipped with all holy and religious reuerence referring all to his glory this shutteth out prophanenesse in his true worship The fourth that he be worshipped at such a time as he hath prescribed the seauenth day vnder the law now one day in seauen Q. Now shew vs summarily what the sixe latter do require An. The fift that the excellency of our neighbor be duly respected without all contempt to any Superior Equall or Inferior The sixt that his life be carefully preserued without all crueltie The seuenth that the chastitie of his person be purely kept without all vncleannesse The eight that we increase and maintaine his substance without wrong by deceit or violence The ninth that his name be tendred without any infamie and reproch done to it by lyes slanders or false-witnesse The tenth that our very thoughts be free from desiring the least good thing which he hath reioycing in his good as in our owne Qu. What rules can you giue for the further and fuller vnderstanding of the law An. First where any one vertue is commanded all of that kinde with the meanes and occasions are also commanded Secondly where any vice is forbidden all of that kinde with the meanes and occasions are forbid Thirdly where any good is commanded there the sinne contrary to it is forbidden and where any sinne is forbidden there the good contrarie to it is commaunded Fourthly the Law being spirituall euery commandement is spirituall requiring obedience from the thoughts and motions Qu Can any Christian by the helpe of grace keepe the whole Law in euery part An No surely because our sanctification is vnperfect Rom 7. ver 14.15 Qu. Whereunto then serueth the Law An. First to vtter what is sinne Rom. 3.1.2 Secondly to reueale the anger of God against sinne Rom. 4.15 Thirdly to conuict and terrifie the conscience for sin and so to be a Schole-maister to Christ. Gal. 4.24 Fourthly to be a lanthorne and light to direct the steps of such as come to Christ. Psal. 119. ver 105. Qu. What is the beginning of repentance and returning to God An. A displeasure and griefe conceiued for feare of gods vengeance hanging ouer vs for sin Acts 2.37 called there a pricking of the heart Qu. Whence commeth this griefe and feare An. From the spirit of God working in the preaching of the Law and is thereof called the spirit of feare and bondage 2 Tim. 1.7 Rom. 8.15 because by the Law truely expounded and wisely applyed the spirit is forcible to terrifie mens consciences and pierce them with griefe vpon the sight of their seuerall sinnes and the great condemnation due to them as happened to Foelix and Iudas Qu. You doe iudge then that the right vnderstanding of the ten commandements is requisit to prepare vnto repentance but how is the grace of repentance wrought An. As the word of the Law doth prepare and begin repentance so it is effected and wrought by the word of the Gospell wherein the same spirit of God is mightie to stirre vp in the Elect a loue of Gods will with a loathing of euery thing which is against it vpon the sight of Gods meruailous mercie toward them in the forgiuenesse of all

faith worketh but an assurance of the promise concerning Christ. Qu. Is any faith so strong as altogether to be without doubting and vnbeliefe An. None because all faith as all other graces hath imperfection and is mingled with some doubting feare ignorance or vnbeliefe which yet the stronger faith doth sooner ouercome then the weake Qu. By what meanes is faith engendred An. Ordinarily by the word preached Rom. 10.17 Rom. 1.16 by the word not of the law which engendreth terrour but of the Gospell Qu. By what meanes is it increased A. First by the word both read and preached secondly by the vse of the Sacraments thirdly by prayer and godly meditations of Gods works and promises fourthly by carefull keeping of a good conscience Iames. 2.22 fiftly by long experience of Gods mercies Psal. 23. throughout Qu. How shall wee know whether we haue faith An. First by the feeling and striuing against our vnbeliefe Mark 9.24 Secondly by trauelling to settle our faith Psal. 42.5.9.11 Thirdly by remouing all lets of faith feares distrusts c. Fourthly by vnfained loue to God his people his word and sacraments 1 Iohn 3.14 Fiftly by repentance and amendment of life present and willingnesse to dye in hope of a better life Qu. What be the fruits of faith An. All good works Iam. 2.22 Gal. 5.22 Qu. What doe ye call good workes An. All vertues and duties eyther towards God or man which be required in the ten Commandements contrary to the common opinion of men who thinke onely almes deeds to be good workes Qu. What things are needfull to a good worke An. These things first that it be commanded of God Mat. 15.9 Deut. 12.32 Secondly that it proceede and come from faith Heb. 11.4 Thirdly that it be referred to his glory or done with a desire to glorifie God 1. Cor. 10. Whatsoeuer ye doe c. Qu. Haue good workes any power to merit with God An. They haue not Rom. 4.1.2 because they are not done in perfect loue and also as they come from vs with their imperfection they haue their spots and staines All our righteousnesse is as the menstruous cloth c Esay Qu. How then can they please God A. They please God as fruits of his own spirit through forgiuenesse of the wants and spots which cleaue to them and by the imputation of Christs righteousnesse to the working beleeuers Qu. Rehearse some principall good workes An. Patience vnder the crosse Rom. 5.4 Confession of God before men Rom. 10.9 hope of eternall glory Rom. 5.5 Mercy to the poore called in Mat. 6 4. Almes Loue of our neighbours friends and enimies Luke 6.7 And Prayer Rom. 10.15 Qu. What doe ye call prayer An. It is a worke of the beleeuing soule desiring things needfull of God with confidence of obtayning through the mediation of Christ Psal. 25.1.2 1 Tim. 2.3.4 Qu. What doe ye call things needfull An. They be eyther things that concerne Gods glory as in the three former Petitions of the Lords Prayer or our owne welfare as in the three latter eyther of our bodyes all necessities for this life Petition 4. or of our soules forgiuenesse of sinnes past Petition 5. or protection and deliuerance from sinnes to come Petit. 6. Qu. Why must these things be desired of God An. First because God onely is to be trusted in Rom. 10.1 Secondly Prayer is a religious seruice of God and God onely is to be serued Mat. 4.10 Thirdly God alone knoweth the desires of our hearts Acts. 1.26 Fourthly God alone is all-sufficient to help Gen. 17.1 Qu. Is not voyce needfull in prayer An. Prayer may be without sound of words as in Moses Hannah Exod. 14. 1 Sam. 1. Yet there is great vse of the voyce in prayer Qu. What vse An. For the expressing and exciting of our owne deuotion and feruencie if we pray alone and for the same end as also for edification of others if we pray with others Iohn 17. throughout Qu. What be the kindes of Prayer An. Prayer is of diuers sorts eyther in respect of the place or of the things asked in prayer Qu. How is Prayer distinguished in respect of the place An. It is eyther priuate if the place of prayer be priuate or else publike if prayer be made in a publike place Qu. How is prayer distinguished by the things asked in prayer An. First when we desire to haue euils eyther sinnes or afflictions taken from our selues this is deprecation example hereof Psal. 25.7 and Psal. 6. throughout Secondly if wee desire to haue these euils remoued from others or any good done to others then it is called intercession Psal. 25.21 Psal. 51.20 Thirdly when wee would haue good things graces or benefits inward or outward giuen to our selues this is called prayer or petition Psal. 25.4.5 Fourthly if wee desire that God should haue praise eyther for deliuerance from euils or for bestowing good things towards our selues or others this is called thankesgiuing 1. Tim. 2.2 Qu. What graces are chiefly to be vsed and set on worke in prayer An. First sound knowledge of God and our wants secondly humilitie Luke 10.13 thirdly zeale Iames ● 16 fourthly faith Iames 1.6 Rom. 10.14 fiftly loue Mat. 6.14.15 sixtly constancie Luke 18.1 seauenthly godly sorrow eightly spirituall ioy 1 Thes. 5.16 17. ninthly compassion or fellow-feeling tenthly sobrietie eleauenthly watchfulnesse Mat. 26.41 1 Pet. 4.7 twelfthly singlenesse of heart 1. Tim. 2. Qu. Doth not this proue that no hypocrite or wicked man can pray aright An. True it doth so because they haue but the shadow and appearance without the truth and substance of these graces Also this proueth prayer to be one of the hardest works of a Christian contrary to the common opinion of ignorant men who take prayer to be but a mouing of the lips and repetition of certaine words Qu. But are not hypocrits and euill men which liue within the Church bound to pray An. They are bound by vertue of the Commandement of God to all externall works of Religion and their praier though not made aright yet preuaileth for many temporall blessings and deliuerances this is proued by the story of Simon Magus Act. 8. Achab. Psal. 107. Qu. Why is Christs mediation needfull An. Not onely for the commandements sake which biddeth vs pray in his name but because our best prayers haue their wants and faults and therefore cannot be accepted except they be purged by the death of Christ. Heb. 13 15. Reu. 7.3.4 Qu. What is it to pray in Christs name An. First to desire to be heard for his loue and merit Secondly to trust that our praiers shal please God through Christs merit Qu Why doe yee require that both desire and confidence or trust should be had in prayer An. Because these are the two wings vpon which the soule of a Christian in prayer must mount and soare vp to heauen