Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	christian_n	day_n	lord_n	1,759	5	4.1527	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A61638	Shecinah, or, A demonstration of the divine presence in the places of religious worship being an essay, tending to promote piety, prevent apostacy, and to reduce grosly deluded souls, first to their right wits, then to the right waies, of Gods publick instituted worship / by John Stillingfleete ...	Stillingfleet, John, 1630 or 1-1687.	1663 (1663)	Wing S5680; ESTC R9466	109,230	256

knowing men have of all their knowledge and learning if when they come to dye they want Grace That will bee the most comfortable knowledge that a man can reflect upon and find comfort in when he comes to leave the world and is just going to give up his account to God And I leave any to judge whether the profound Schollar the deep Polititian the knowing Artist the skilful Lawyer the expert Physitian the exact Mathematician or the plain practical Christian is like to have more comfort in reflecting upon their knowledge at that day The name of the Holy Spirit our teacher is also Comforter John 14.26 Because what the Spirit teaches advances the Christians comfort as well as informs his conscience § 8. To back the present exhortation further to the two motives mentioned I shall subjoyn some directions which shew us how wee must own the Spirit as our teacher 1. Let us hear him frequently The best teaching cannot come too often The Word of God and Ordinances of the Gospel are those means the Spirit teaches Souls in Frequency in these is our duty and the Spirit will teach us therein Frequent reading the Word Meditate day and night in the Law of the Lord. Psal 1.2 Bee often hearing the Word Preached Psal 26.8 Lord I have loved the habitation of thy house and the place where thine honour dwells Men will bee there often whither their love carries them Gods House will bee frequented by those that have any love to the Ordinances those that do not own them shew they have no love to them at all Psal 122.1 I was glad when they said unto mee come let us go up into the house of the Lord. The great joy of a Christian lyes in this that hee can Frequent Gods Ordinances Oh at what a rate would the persecuted Christians in the primitive times have purchased those liberties of hearing which now may bee had yet most abominably contemned When they were forced to meet in Caves in the night to hear the Word and would lose their lives rather than bee deprived of the benefit of Ordinances § 9. 2. Let us hear the Spirits teaching diligently It is one thing to bee bodily present another to have an ear to hear the Spirit teaching This therefore comes in often in the Gospel Hee that hath an ear to hear let him hear what the Spirit saith Most men are like Idols when they come where the Spirit teacheth they have eyes but see not ears but hear not But if wee would have the Spirit to bee our teacher wee must labour to have that frame that Eli put Samuel into Saying go lye down 1 Sam. 3.9 and it shall bee if hee shall call thee that thou shalt say speak Lord for thy Servant heareth Here is a Rule for us to learn to profit by where-ever God hath a word to speak we should have an ear to hear Speak Lord for thy servant heareth The more earnest heed wee give the more are wee like to keep up the Spirits teaching Heb. 2.1 Therefore wee ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that wee have heard least at any time wee should let them slip Diligence and attention are the best materials to stop our leaking souls from running our 3. Let us hear ardently with devotion 'T is the unhappinesse of all men to be dark by nature and of some in the midst of spiritual light The way for us to have preaching profitable is to begg the Spirits teaching in the teaching of the Word Psal 119.18 Open mine eyes that I may understand the wonderful things of thy Law Hebr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Reveal mine eyes i. e. take off the veyle of darkenesse and ignorance from mine eyes Had not David Gad and Nathan and other excellent teachers Yet hee prayes to have his eyes opened by the Spirit Where wee may observe hee does begg to have his eyes opened so as not to throw by the Word and to account that Spiritual perfection to live either above or without the Word But his devotion lyes here to have enlightned eyes to look further into Gods Law which hath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wonderful things in it or as the word denotes Things that are above and separated from us from our reason and understanding and so want a better teacher the Spirit of God to inform us Gospel Truths like Gods Children are separated things Carnal eyes can see but the outside of true Christians and carnal hearts can perceive but the external part onely of Gospel Truths till the Spirit comes to teach them § 10. Judges 3.20 4. Let us hear him reverently with submission As Eglon to Ehud when he came and told him hee had a message from God Eglon in reverence to that rises off his seat When God speaks in anger hee can make the Heavens and Earth to tremble with fear And if hee speak by his Spirit to our souls in mercy and love wee should tremble too with reverential affection and a Filial fear Great Doctors do command reverence from their inferiour Schollars How would Solomon with his wisdome bee reverenced by us but behold a greater than Solomon is here Here is the Spirit that is wisdome it self to teach souls the way to Heaven Solomons teaching is but the teaching of a man but this is the teaching of God himself which calls for our reverence and submission 5. Let us hear him obediently with resolution to practise To hear the Spirit teach and not to Practice is the next way to lose the benefit of so good a Master If the Spirit kindle a spark within us wee should endeavour to get it up to a perfect flame Quenching of the Spirit either in our selves or others is no work for a Christian to put in practise Quench-coals as to the Spirits teaching are the Devils Granadoes he throws into the world to do mischief withall These are the devils plots to blow up men without fire to undo men by extinguishing the fire of the Spirit within Bee not hearers onely but doers also of the Word Otherwise yee deceive your selves It is the grossest self-deceit Jam. 1.22 because soul-deceit to rest barely in hearing and knowing without doing Hee that knows his Masters will and does it not shall be be aten with many stripes Either obey what ye know is commanded and practise what ye hear or else better never to know or hear at all § 11. III. From Gods Presence and teaching of his Spirit there arises matter of reproof to three sorts of persons 1. To such as depend onely upon the teachings of the Spirit without the Word of God If there be any delusions in the world wee must own this as the Belzebub amongst them This is the master plot the Devil hath used in the late times to lay Gospel Ordinances under the brand of ignominy and grossest contempt Oh it 's an easy way to be spiritual to say the Spirit

unnecessary Jewish and meerly Ceremonial 2. Tithes are abolished as Jewish and Ceremonial a burden to the Saints of God and a discouragement of Industry and Tillage 3. Ministers are abolished as Antichristian and of no longer use now Christ himself descends into the hearts of the Saints and his Spirit enlighteneth them with Revelations and Inspirations 4. Magistrates are abolished as useless now that Christ himself is in purity of Spirit come amongst us and hath erected the Kingdome of the Saints upon the Earth besides they are Tyrants and Oppressors of the Liberties of the Saints and tye them to Laws and Ordinances meer humane inventions 5. Shewing them a Bible hee said here is a Book you have in great veneration consisting of two parts the Old and New Testament I must tell you 't is abolished it containeth beggarly rudiments Milk for Babes But now Christ is in glory amongst us and imparts a fuller measure of his Spirit to his Saints than this can afford and therefore I am commanded to burn it before your faces so took a Candle that hee had in a Lanthorn and set fire on the leaves Oh horrid and monstrous blasphemy Are not these New Lights think you such as are kindled with some sparkles from the fire of Hell When such Revelations and Visions are admitted then the Word is vilified and decryed And the same Spirit wee see that witnesses in the Saints as they call themselves against Tithes witnesses also against Sabbath Ministers Magistrates yea and against the very Bible too So true is that observation of Aristotle Grant one absurdity and many will unavoidably follow Admit once of New Lights and Visions of the Spirit as they are termed and you cannot keep out the most devilish and damnable errors from following after To return therefore from whence I have a little digressed when I say the Spirit teaches gradually It is thus to be understood that hee sets home Old Truths with New Light and Discoveries of them made to the soul which were not experienced before Gradual progress and such growth in grace and knowledge is the Christians duty as well as the donation of the Spirit of God Grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 3.18 God in the Gospel commands us and hee by his Spirit helps us to grow in grace and knowledge And though the Spirit teaches in the Word that there can be no absolute perfection in this life telling us in the Words of St. John 1 Joh. 1.8 That if wee say wee have no sin wee deceive our selves and the Truth is not in us Yet the Spirit teacheth the soul of a true Christian gradually to breathe after Perfection Hee makes him come to God in and through Christ for justification and absolution from sin ne damnet that the condemning power of sin may be taken away hee breathes after sanctification ne regnet that sin should not reign in their mortal bodies hee breathes after glorification ne sit that sin should not exist or have any being at all in him that hee may be wholly freed from sin CHAP. XIV Practical Deductions from Gods Presence by his Spirit Matter for examination and tryal Seven Rules to try whether wee are taught by Gods Spirit Exhortation to own the Spirit as our Grand Teacher Motives and Directions Matter of Reproof to those that are all for the Spirit and nothing for the Word To Formalists To Carnal Persons Matter of Consolation to true Christians The Spirit teaches them the best lessons Especially four They are taught to walk in the best way To aim at the best ends § 1. FRom the Presence and Teaching of the Spirit of God many practical and profitable inferences may be raised Some few that are most material and most subservient to the design of this Treatise I shall propound and prosecute in this chapter as the Conclusion of the whole I. If God be present to teach his Children by his Spirit If wee would know then whether wee are the Children of God let us examine and try whether wee are taught by the Spirit or no. There is an easie way for our being deceived herein Natural parts may carry men far in the knowledge of the things of God and common illumination of the Spirit may carry us much further and yet all this while wee may come far short from the saving teaching of the Spirit of God 'T is worth while then to examine our selves by such Rules as may clearly undeceive us in a matter of so great concernment § 2. Rule 1. That Knowledge of Divine Truths that drives us off from God comes not from the teachings of the Spirit The very end and main design of the Spirits teaching is to bring us home to God and Christ Now if any Truth drives us off from God how can this come from the Spirits teaching Conviction of sin and self-abhorrency under it may and usually do come from the Spirit of God but then these drive the soul to God for the pardon of sin And when the Spirit is come he shall convince the world of Sin Joh. 16.8 and of Righteousness When the Spirit sets home sin upon the soul in order to conversion and salvation hee also clearly discovers the Righteousness of Christ for the removal of it But when sin is discovered so as to drive us to despair or to tempt us to presume upon Gods mercy without any consideration at all that the Justice of God also must be satisfied this is no teaching of the Spirit Coming unto God in a way God never owned nor prescribed is a direct running away from him So that though wee come to God to presume upon his mercy wee do in reality run away from him because God cannot shew mercy to the eternal dishonour and ruine of his Justice Mercy cannot be exerted on poor sinners till the breaches of Gods honour are repaired and his Justice satisfied Coming to God by Faith through Christ makes way for both and then both Mercy and Justice shall triumph and rejoyce together in the salvation of rebellious sinners § 3. Rule 2. Hee that pretends to much new knowledge and yet continues in his old sins is not taught by the Spirit of God To pretend to the Spirit and live in the flesh is double iniquity Simulata sanctitas est duplex iniquitas The Law of the Spirit frees the soul from the Law of sin and death Rom. 8.2 Vers 5. They that are after the Spirit mind the things of the Spirit read 6 7 8 9. verses Gods Spirit teaches none to continue in the constant practice of known sins Hee doth not allow them to sin and then teach them that that is to be spiritual to deem nothing sin that wee possibly can commit Hee doth not allow souls to live as they lift and then teach them that God sees no sin in his Children How can you be taught of God and yet follow your old courses of sin

character had this been of St. Pauls Christianity and Saintship I live according to the light within I am directed by the rule of Reason I avoid all those gross sins that the light of nature checks mee for I am no sensualist nor swearer nor drunkard nor adulterer or prophane person yea but what is all this to the life of Faith in the Son of God And indeed Paul could have said all that and much more whilst hee was in his wretched estate of unregeneracy Yea as touching the Righteousness of the Law hee was blameless Phil. 3.6 Hee was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such an one that in the judgement of others hee could not be complained of as a breaker of any Law hee was a strict Pharisee a very exact observer of Gods Law Yet how doth hee esteem of these things which once hee counted his gain vers 7. Vers ● But what things were gain to mee these I counted loss for Christ The inside the outside the all of a Moralist reaches no further than the meer outside of a true Beleever I have sometimes thought that the Pharisees prayer which describes his profession of Holiness meerly by negatives was a pretty exact character of that Religion that is most exactly squared by the Light within Quaker God I thank thee sayes the Pharisee that I am not as other men are Extortioners Unjust Adulterers or even as this Pablican Luk. 18. Thus they ordinarily make up their Profession of Negatives they are none of the debaucht prophane swearing rabble Alas what is all this to the Positive part of Christianity to the life of Faith and Holiness in a crucified Jesus and depending upon his Righteousness for eternal salvation Look but to the Positive Practical part of a Pharisees Religion see how they are shamefully out-stript Vers 12. I fast twice in the week Vers 12 I give Tithes of all that I possess Alas what hopes of Heaven in the way of such a Profession that leaves men far short of Pharisaical Holiness When as our Saviour in his Sermon on the Mount tells us plainly Mat. 5. ● Except your Righteousness exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees yee shall in no case enter into the Kingdome of Heaven Well! when all is done the life of Faith is the life that a true Christian must lead that will bring him to Heaven This the Word of God teaches and this was St. Pauls practice when hee out-went his own former Pharisaical Holiness Phil. 3.8 9 I do count all things but dung that I may win Christ and be found in him not having mine own Righteousness which is of the Law but that which is through the Faith of Christ the Righteousness which is of God by Faith § 6. Secondly Heavenly-mindednesse 'T is the VVord of God onely directs us to this ●ol 3.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Set your affections upon things that are above not upon things that are below The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To set our affections implyes a double act of the soul the one of the mind meditating the other of the will loving and embracing Things above should be objects of a true Christians thoughts will and affections Doth any Loadstone in the world draw Heaven-ward except the VVord of God To mind things that are above is quite crosse to our natural inclinations and our carnal desires And if ever wee are effectual in this duty wee must attribute it wholly to Gods Presence in his VVord that sets it home closely and powerfully upon our hearts Hence S. Paul Phil. 3.2 Our Conversation is in Heaven 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our Citizen-ship it is in Heaven The VVord of God is a Christians Charter that entitles him to be a Citizen of the New Jerusalem Look to the wisest man in the world that wants Grace and the direction of the VVord hee hath much of the Devil and of the Beast in him his very wisdome is both sensual and Devilish VVill not such as these are stand upon their own heads and shake their heels against Heaven rather than set their hearts and affections and minds there 'T is the VVord of God alone that herein is like to water which mounts up as high as its first rise it had its Original from Heaven and it rests not till it brings mens minds thither again at present and both soul and body too of all true Beleevers at the last § 7. 3. Mortification of all the most hidden and secret sins Rom. 6 1● Col 3.5 Let not sin raign in your mortal bodies c. Mortisie therefore your members that are upon the earth that is wee must study how to repress and beat down all our corrupt nature however it breaks out whatever affections or unlawful actions do arise wee must slay in their first rising This is a peculiar injunction of the VVord of God to promote inward mortification of the whole body of sin and all the members thereof And this speaks First A serious purpose of resisting of sin and this turns the heart from the waies of sin Secondly An avoiding all the occasions of sin this keeps the heart from returning unto sin Thirdly A daily use of the best means to subdue sin this helps us to a constancy in our purpose against sin that wee may prosperously go on in this work of God § 8. 4. Inward Humility of the mind Be clothed with Humility Pet. 5.5 1 Pet. 5.5 To make Humility the inward ornament of the soul is onely an effect of the VVord of God which no other Rules can reach unto And herein the VVord of God is no waies unreasonable in this Rule for our inward soul-adorning If wee consider man either as a creature depending upon God or as a sinful creature defiled with Original sin or as a renewed creature accomplished with grace the free issue and product of Gods distinguishing mercy who may by grace become sincere but can never be made innocent or as one endowed with humane Learning though his knowledge be much yet his ignorance is greater Such like considerations as these are speaks it highly rational for a man to be truly humble The highest Moralists are ignorant of this spiritual duty because they are unacquainted with those pressing motives that the Word of God urges us to humility with Let never so great a shew of humility be made if wee own not the Word to teach us our very humility will discover our pride Wee may perhaps make a shew of humility because there is some real comeliness in that grace but not in that way or manner that the Word directs us and so wee discover our pride in that wee will not be beholding to the Word to teach us Such duties as these are come not from corrupt nature nor indeed can they for nothing crosses it more than these VVe need not suspect the Devil to have a hand in the putting of us upon the sincere