Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	church_n	faith_n	true_a	1,190	5	4.8677	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A89351	Sion's prospect in it's first view. Presented in a summary of divine truths, consenting with the faith profess'd by the Church of England, confirmed from scripture and reason: illustrated by instance and allusion. Compos'd and publish'd to be an help for the prevention of apostacy, conviction of heresy, confutation of error, and establishing in the truth, by a minister of Christ, and son of the church, R.M. quondam è Coll ̊S.P.C.	Mossom, Robert, d. 1679.	1652 (1652)	Wing M2868; Thomason E800_1; ESTC R207347	108,410	128

beauty to the blind Why the Scriptures are not discernable by their own ligh● without the Spirit nor the plainest Scripture in its Divine Truth to the c 1 Cor. 2.14 unbelieving and Faith being the d Ephes 2.8 Gift of God none can believe but to whom it is e Luk. 8.10 given Yea were the Scriptures like the Sun discernable by their own light all should acknowledge them Divine who read them written or hear them preach'd but the contrary practice confirms the contrary opinion that seeing all do not receive them it is by a f 1 Cor. 2.15 peculiar Gift of the Spirit that any do believe them that they are the word of God § 12. What and from whence the Authority of the Scriptures And believing these books of Holy Scriptures to be as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word of God we acknowledge them to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of soveraign and sacred Authority for the proving deciding and determining all a Deut. 17.9 10 11. Isai 8.20 Acts 17.2.11 1 Cor. 15.3 4. Gal. 1.8 controversies in Doctrines of Faith containing in them b 2 Tim. 3.16 17. Acts 20 27. all Truths necessary to Salvation Their sufficiency Their perfection and as not being subject to c Mark 12.24 error in themselves nor to receive d Joh. 10 35. 2 Pet. 1.19 Deut. 12.32 Prov. 30 5 6. Rev. 22.18 Addition or Diminution or Change by the e Gal. 3.15 2.8 Authority of Men or revelation of Angels § 13. How the Rule of our faith We say the Holy Scriptures are the a 1 Thes 5.21 1 Joh. 4.1 6. 2 John 9. Rom. 16.17 Canon and Rule of our Faith and as a Rule hath its just measure inherent in it selfe not depending upon the hand of the Artificer so the Scriptures have their infallible truth inherent in themselves not depending upon the judgement of the Church And as when we speak of a Rule we mean not the materiall wood but the formall measure so when we speak of the Scriptures being the Rule of our Faith we mean not the materiall Book but the formall Truth even the will of God revealed And we expect not any more nor any other Revelation as a Rule of faith or life Such to the end of the world but this to b Heb. 1.1 2 Mat 28.20 1 Cor. 11.26 2 Thes 2.8 continue to the end of the world § 14. Prophesies and particular Revelations Particular Revelations not now to be expected they were to the Church as the light of the Moon and of the Stars to the world of much use and benefit in the night even in the darknesse of ignorance and dim light of Types and Figures whereas the glory of the Gospel like that of the Sun it gives us a Noon-light of divine Truth so that now to expect particular Revelations in matters of faith were to light a candle in the Sun or to look for a Star at Noon Doubtless this is the high way to a 2 Thes 2.10 11 12. 1 Tim. 4.1 2 Thes 2.1 Heresie and gives advantage to Satan b 2 Cor. 11.13 14. transformed into an Angel of light the more easily to deceive and the more dangerously to seduce What received as the Truth by the Church § 15. Whatsover is preach'd or taught express'd in the letter or agreeable to the Analogy of the Holy Scriptures we receive as a Mal. 2.6 John 17.17 Acts 18.28 2 Tim. 2.15 Truth But what is opposite to or dissenting from them we reject as b Acts 17.11 Mark 12.24 error And what things are indifferent in their own nature as being neither directly express'd in the word nor necessarily deduc'd from it nor any way opposite to the word or inconsistent with it those things we acknowledge left to the Prudence of Governours What left to the Prudence of Governors and to what end for the preservation of c 1 Cor. 11.16 chap. 14.26 33 40. Heb. 13.17 Philip. 2.14 Order and Unity in the Church which things indifferent in their nature by the command of lawful Authority do become necessary in their use In what the Scriptures are plain and in what hard to be understood § 16. And seeing the Holy Scriptures though in most texts they are a Deut. 30.11 14. Psal 19.7 8. 2 Tim. 3.15 1 Cor. 3.1 2. Psal 119.105 2 Cor. 4.3 4. clear yet in many they are b 1 Cor. 2.6 7. 2 Pet. 3.16 obscure Though in Truths absolutely necessary to salvation they are easie yet in mysteries excellently profitable for edification they are difficult to be understood Therefore for the true Interpretation of Scripture How to be Interpreted we admit the judgement of the Church as a trusty Guide and the opinion of the Learned as a rational Argument but we approve the Scripture it self as an c 2 Pet. 1.20 infallible Rule clearing those texts which are dark and doubtful What the Analogy of Faith by those places which are more plain and evident being careful to keep close to the d Rom. 12.6 Phil. 3.16 Analogy of Faith which doth consist in those Principles of Christianity which are clearly set forth in Scripture and generally received of the Church A Sum whereof we have in those short Confessions of Faith call'd the Apostles Creed Athanasius Creed and the Nicene Creed together with the Decalogue the Lords Prayer and the Doctrine of the Sacraments § 17. The duty of Christians in the use of the Scriptures And that every true Christian may be throughly furnished with Knowledge unto works of Holiness and Righteousness it is his duty diligently to a Joh. 5 39. 2 Pet. 1.19 Luke 16.29 search the Scriptures and to b Deu. 5 32 33 John 13.17 Jam. 1.22 25. conform his judgment and conversation according to their rule and direction Their fulness of heavenly Doctrine They being the Heavenly Store-house from whence the Church of Christ is furnish'd with all spiritual c Luke 4.4 Heb. 5 12 13 14 1 Pet. 2.2 Provision of sound Doctrine whether it be in matters of Faith or Manners d 2 Tim. 3.16 Profitable they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for Doctrine and Instruction in what concerns God and Christ Creation and Redemption Sin and Grace Death and Life Misery and Blessedness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for Argument and Conviction in discovering and refuting Error in discerning and confirming Truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for Correction and Reformation How a perfect form of Institution in what concerns Minde and Manners the inward and the outward Man in thoughts in words and in works and of these Three doth consist the Apostles perfect 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 form of institution in Righteousness CHAP. II. Concerning God in the Unity of Essence § 1. AS the Sun is in it self most visible Why the Nature of God is not to be comprehended by

then the stronger apprehensions of those by whom he is instructed and therefore he hath desired and endeavoured so to express himself that he might not amaze but inform not puzzle but teach studying brevity and clearness which h Brevis esse laboro obscurus fio Hor. seldome meet in one subject especially where the matter is mysterious brevity as an advantage to memory and clearness as an help to the understanding both conducing much to an instructing and establishing in the Truth If any demand a reason of the Authors composing this Treatise this answer will be satisfactory if that demand be not too supercilious that the publick behoofe did put him upon it for among the many excellent Works compos'd by our Churches Heroes we have not one Systeme of Divinity in al parts consenting with her judgment and practice but what hath been of this kinde hath had a taste of the vessel some private opinions i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys in Gen. Hom. 4. domestica judicia as Tertullian calls them or at best some forraign Resolves hath been intermix'd with our Churches more pure and perfect determinations Upon observation whereof the Author design'd his studies to do with Christian Theology as Florus with the Roman History k Flor. Epit. Rer. Rom. l. 1. In brevi tabella totam ejus imaginem amplecti draw its whole pourtraiture in a small Table comprise its large Body in a short Volume therein delivering the whole and entire judgment of our Church confirmed from testimony of sacred Scripture and illustrated by argument of divine Reason This whole Work bearing the Title of Sion's Prospect he hath divided into two Parts as its first and second View the First is now published the second reserved till its more fit oportunity for publication which in a correspondency of Method Scripture Reason Brevity and clearness doth treat of those several Heads which concern that peculiar part of Gods Providence over the Church of his Elect viZ. Concerning Election and Predestination concerning Christ in the Person and in the office of Mediator concerning the Church concerning the Covenant of Grace concerning the divers Administrations of this Covenant before the Law under the Law and under the Gospel c. That this former part published doth prevent that latter part design'd for publication the Author gives this most full and satisfactory Reason that he would gladly hereby prompt an able judgment and pen to undertake the task rather then do it himself lest through weakness and insufficiency in those grand Mysteries of the Gospel he should l Veritatem defendendo concutere fidem explicando obscurate shake the Truth in defending it and obscure the faith in explaining it Wherefore if what he hath already done may occasionally stir up some eminent person in an holy emulation of pious zeal to undertake so useful and honourable a Work He shall desist from his further Enterprise and rest very well satisfied yea very much joy'd with this Blessing from God that he hath given breath to anothers divine flame Otherwise if he finde the incouragement of acceptance and be confirmed in some hopes of publick benefit to the Church rather then this so much necessary and so much desired work be not done at all He will by the assistance of Gods Spirit finish and publish what is now under his hand tuneing the Instrument to the best of his skill thereby happily provoking some more dextrous hand and more accurate Artist to perfect the harmony If any man shall Critically question or enviously quarrel at the Authors present undertaking be thou Courteous Reader so far his Advocate as to plead in his behalf that it is not his ambition to be expos'd publick to the world but to be accepted of private Friends to whom especially he hath devoted the present service of the Press and if this particular service to some few Friends shall by a gratious dispensation of divine Goodness be extended as a general benefit to the whole Church it will be an additional blessing as much beyond his own hope as it is above anothers envy and well may the blessing be beyond his hope for the attainment who is himself so far short of the blessing by his unworthiness and therefore doth he the more earnestly beg the benefit of thy Prayers if not as a return of gratitude for his service yet as a boon of charity to his soul who is from his soul in all Christian and Ministerial offices Thine faithfully devoted ROBERT MOSSOM The SYLLABUS To the TREATISE CHAP. I. Concerning the Holy Scriptures Sect. 1 REason arguing from Scripture for the Scriptures Sect. 2 The Knowledge of God and his worship by Revelation This Revelation either with the Jews or with the Christians Sect. 3. The Church of the Jewes enquired into by Reason Sect. 4. Reason leads from the Church of the Jews to the Church of the Christians with the Church of Christ is found the word of God as the Revelation of his will Sect. 5. The word of God is the holy Scriptures in the books of the old Testament and the new What Editions are Authentick Translations in the vulgar tongue allowed Sect. 6. The Apocrypha why so called Why not canonical The Old Testament received from the Jews Sect. 7. The Authority of the Scripture is not from the Church Sect. 8. The Authority of the Church is from Christ by the Scriptures Sect. 9. The Tradition of the Church leadeth to the Scriptures The excellencie● of the writings effect the mind The Spirit convinceth of the Truth Sect. 10. A moral perswasion from the Church and the letter a divine belief from the Spirit Sect. 11. Why the Scriptures are not discernable by their own light without the Spirit Sect. 12. What and from whence the Authority of the Scriptures Their sufficiency Their perfection Sec. 13. How the Rule of our faith Such to the end of the World Sec. 14. Particular Revelations not now to be expected Sec. 15. What received as the Truth by the Church What left to the prudence of Governors and to what end Sec. 16. In what the Scriptures are plain and in what hard to be understood How to be Interpreted What the Analogy of Faith Sec. 17. The duty of Christians in the use of the Scriptures Their fulness of heavenly Doctrine How a perfect form of Institution CHAP. II. Concerning God in the Unity of Essence Sec. 1. WHy the nature of God is not to be comprehended by the understanding of Man How the incomprehensible God is apprehended by faith Sec. 2. How God is described in Scripture the Names of God Sec. 3. The description of God according to his names Sec. 4. Further described by his Attributes The first and principal Sec. 5. Why incommunicable to the creatures Sec. 6. The Attributes communicable to the creatures How communicable Sec. 7. Gods essential attributes his one entire Essence how distinguished why diversly express'd in different names Sec. 8. Why there