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	great_a	religion_n	1,317	5	5.4600	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A57327	Confirmation revived, and, Doom's-day books opened in two sermons, the one preach'd at Coventry before the Right Reverend Father in God, John, Lord Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, upon his first performance of confirmation in that city, June 23, 1662 : the other preach'd at Warwick before the Right Honourable the judges of Assize for that circuit upon the 2d of July next following / by John Riland.	Riland, John, 1619?-1673.; Riland, John, 1619?-1673. Doom's-day books opened.	1663 (1663)	Wing R1518; ESTC R26991	41,777	76

6th Chap. to the Hebr. ver 1 2. there treating of the principles of Christ's doctrine amongst the rest presently after Baptism we find mention of the laying on of hands whereby it is not to be doubted but this Solemnity was signified as Anselme upon this place Laying on of hands that is saith he Episcoporum in Confirmatione Neophytorum Ansel in Ep. ● Hebr. S. Cyprian his testimony you have heard already hear him also who was before him and whom he calls his Master Tertullian as he is worthily styl'd That great Depositary of Church-Antiquities Caro manus Tertullian Lib. de Resur impositione adumbratur ut anima Spiritu Illuminetur Imposition of hands saith he shades the Body that the Descent of the Spirit may Enlighten the Soul Which Solemnity as is judged was also received by our Saviour himself the Divine feet of the holy Dove descending and standing on his head being in Lieu of the Laying on of John Baptists hands or what other Creature he might have advanc'd to that honour Secondly It 's Sacredness and Solemnity Confirmation in the Primitive style is known by the name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the complete Consummation of a Christian Indeed for the esse of a Christian as Schoolmen speak we were Compleat by Baptism but for the Bene esse the Bettering of that being it was ever thought that Confirmation was very requisite In reference whereunto it had the name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that which made and Perfected other Christian mysteries In short so Sacred and Solemn a Rite this was ever held that so far as I can find the Christian was not accounted perfectly Consummated without it if he might have it But most desperate was the condition of all despisers Thirdly for the great Expediency hereof First if any Christian should have received a vain or improper name at the Font I think the Bishop has power to take Cognizance thereof and as he sees good to change it into one that is fitter and of a more Christian significancy Besides this hereby triall is made how Children and the younger sort have improv'd their time and what progress they have made in knowledge and practise of that doctrine which is according to godliness And therein also we take a view of the Care of the Natural and the Conscience of the Spiritual Parents in the discharge of their duties And in many other respects if duly perform'd and receiv'd it cannot suddainly be said of what advantage it would be to the truth and power of Religion In particular how would it stop the mouths of Anabaptists that fatal affliction of these Western Churches Insomuch as that Great Ornament of the English Church affirms Ad perenne Christi obsequium ●r Hammond c. Nothing in the world if well perform'd does more strictly and strongly Oblige a Soul to the perpetual Service of Christ Jesus but if miserably neglected or slightingly receiv'd Hinc magna pernitiosa pietatis dispendia c. Hence saith He arise those great and undoing Decayes in Christian Religion which have so far provoked Gods judgments upon us that no wonder it is to have such turnings and Over-turnings amongst us when Confirmation it self could not stand I should now in method proceed to the third generall Branch of this Tree i. e. the Fruitfulness thereof and therein consider it's Proportion Propriety and Tempestivity But what might grow upon this Branch the small allowance of time remaining has made it a kind of a Forbidden Fruit yet so that whereas Adam and Eve Tasted and the Eyes of them both were opened Gen. 3. 7. If you that have Freely Eaten of the Former should but Tast what grow's upon this Branch your Eyes might be shut and your Eares closed For as through an unavoidable longsomness in reference to my self The Daughters of musique would be brought low so I doubt Those that look out at your windows would be darkned and the Doors shut in the streets Therefore our Subject being a Fruit-bearing Tree lest the Immoderate Droppings thereof by a too tedious discourse should of Fruitfulness cause Barrenness as they say it will I shall here take leave of my former Road and make a short Turn toward you in a few words of Application wherein amongst other things I may speak somewhat of Fruitfulness in generall and so conclude Some we read have been perswaded to become Beasts that 's nothing any Circean Sensuality can do that yea many Souls can with too much easiness perswade themselves into such a Brutish Transformation God forbid I should attempt any such Metamorphosis as to Sollicite men to turn Bruits yet pray pardon me if I perswade men to turn Trees such Blessed ones as this Text yeilds Trees of Gods own planting In particular I beseech you all emulate Trees in these four properties their Straightness Firmness Unitedness and Fruitfulness First Straightness God never Plants but he Guards and Fences his young Plant from forein violence For that we may observe here our Tree is planted by the Water-side not by the way-side for then it would be apt to be wrencht and writhed by every Passenger And such is the Condition of our ordinary Hedge and High-way Christians that cannot endure any Retirement to the Rivers to Sit down and weep there as they did but presently cast themselves into any Company ●sal 137. mixt with any multitude and so carelesly expose themselves to the violent wrestings and distortings of every temptation whereby they lose their straightness and come for ever to be Crooked Souls The which quality as it has a natural but much more a Spiritual deformity so on the contrary the Straightness we now speak of is so Graceful and Becoming to a Christian that Christ himself is willing to be compared to an Arrow He hath made me a polished shaft A shaft for his Smoothness as well as Swiftness ●sa 49. 2. and as there it is for his Politeness no less than his Piercingness Not only as swift but as straight as an Arrow And as was the second so was also the first Adam at his first making Though the Rows of Eden stood all upright and even Not one Bow-backt plant in all Gods Orchard yet at first Adam himself was the Straightest Tree in all Paradise His Soul and body both pointed directly toward heaven according to that of Solomon God made man upright but they have Eceles 7. ●9 sought out many Inventions Him that Overcomes will I make a Pillar in the Rev. 3. 12. Temple of my God We know Pillars are upright and proper for Houses as there the Temple is God s house though any Bowed or Crooked Timber may happily serve in a Ship or Sea-vessel which will not serve at all in the Supporting of a house and those Rumpled pieces which will not be usefull for Pillars for those must be straight may yet be put into Plow-timber and such low kind