Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	good_a	grace_n	work_n	2,630	5	5.5140	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A25468	The first dish at the Wil-shire feast, Novemb. 9, 1654, or, A sermon preached at Laurence Jury to those that there offered their peace-offerings, and went thence to dine at Merchant-Taylors-Hall by Samuel Annesley ...	Annesley, Samuel, 1620?-1696.	1655 (1655)	Wing A3229; ESTC R10429	15,607	23

THE FIRST DISH AT THE WIL-SHIRE FEAST NOVEMB 9. 1654. OR A SERMON Preached at LAURENCE JURY to those that there offered their Peace-offerings and went thence to dine at MARCHANT-TAYLORS-HALL By SAMUEL ANNESLEY L.L.D. Minister of the Gospel at John Evangelists London If by any means I may provoke to Emulation them which are my flesh and might save some of them Rom. 11.14 God is able to make all Grace abound towards you that ye alwayes have all sufficiencie in all things may abound to every good Worke 2 Cor. 9.8 LONDON Printed by E.T. for Nathanael Webb and William Grantham at the Black Beare in Pauls Church-yard 1655. To the Gentlemen and Others of Wil-shire SIRS AS the extreame shortnes of time for the composing of this Sermon did not fright me from preaching it so neither did the extreame importunity of friends allure me to print it Conscience of duty makes me dare not to refuse my Masters worke And hopes of provoking others to Emulation while several Counties are in the humour of feasting doth enforce the exposing it to publique view I am not onely ashamed but griev'd to heare of many County-feasts but nothing more I must confesse there 's a Tang of indignation in this crambe bis cocta this mushroome againe set upon the table the trouble begun in that you did no more for your County and it hath been since heightned that others doe not so much for theirs You have the honour to give the Nation a Precedent pray scorn to be outstript by any Other Counties may see how easily they may doe themselves good I hope they will scorne you should be singular Hath not this put many Counties upon feasting such a County feasts and why should not wee will it not better follow such a County invited Christ to their feast and why should not we O that I could put every County into a flame of contention but t is onely who should doe most for the suppressing of wickednesse removing of ignorance promoting of godlinesse And for your County that I may warrantably invert my Text The men of Wil-shire which were men that had understanding of the Times to know what England ought to do about five hundred of them met at a Feast and all their brethren are willing to further their pious Projects This is the unfeigned desire of Your Servant for Jesus sake SAMUEL ANNESLEY THE FIRST DISH AT THE WILL-SHIRE FEAST NOVEM 9. 1654. 1 CHRON. 12.32 And of the children of Issachar which were men that had understanding of the Times to know what Israel ought to do the heads of them were two hundred and all their brethren were at their commandment I Forbear a Preface because I have so much work in the Text. To improve time at the first that we may not want it at the last I shall fall directly upon the words And of the children of Issachar which were men that had understanding of the times to know c. In an historical relation you expect no other choice of words then only fit expressions neither will a narrative well endure a garnish for many times while the story is trim'd the truth is smother'd yet in some cases the highest strains of Rhetorical elegance can but sufficiently adorn noble Truth And what will you say to this Text here is an extraordinary emphatical Hebraisme and an ordinary Metanymie in one sentence and a significant Trajection in the next but I will shew you not tell you what there is And of the children of Issachar a quiet midling tribe neither the head nor the tail In the solemn and prophetical blessing of the Tribes both by Jacob and Moses there 's not much good promised to them and therefore the more observable to read such things of them They Were men that had understanding of the times here 's their excellency and 't is excellently exprest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 knowing understanding to the times the word knowing respects the mind in way of apprehension the word understanding respects the mind in way of consideration when the mind doth accurately discern and judge of things And the word times lagnittim the 70. well renders 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the occasion of time and ther 's a Metanymie of the adjunct time being put for the things done in time q. d. they had given themselves much to observe seasons wherein matters of moment were meetest to be done and by observing the occurrences of affaires they got much experience and thereby much wisdome And this their understanding was not for meer speculation but To know what Israel ought to do or if you admit of a trajection that Israel might know what to do They instructed them that were any way under them or that came to them for advice The Heads of them were 200. the division of Canaan unto the several Tribes is not altogether unlike the division of our and into Shires And the officers of their particular Tribes do somewhat resemble our Sheriffe Justices of the Peace Mayors Bayliffes Constables and other Officers of Shires Cities Burroughs Hundreds and Parishes And all their brethren were at their commandment gnal pihem super os eorum because the command proceeds from the mouth Their prudence was so highly esteemed that every one was willing to do what they advised In short here were 200. of the children of Issachar men that had understanding of the times that knew and considered what was seasonable to be done and all their brethren were willing to follow their advice Whence you may learn this Doctrine That where some few hundreds of countreymen meet that understand the duty of the times they may lead their whole countrey along with them for their general good Here were two hundred of the tribe of Issachar met together at Hebron then the chief City of the Nation and they met at a Feast of their own providing for vers 40. The men of Issachar brought bread meat meal cakes of figs and bunches of raisins and wine and oyle and oxen and sheep abundantly for there was joy in Israel They manage the proper duty of the times with such understanding and discretion that all the countrey whence they came are willing to do what they advise them The Doctrine is so natural I need not call in Scriptures to avouch it Take one that will do more then prove it 2 Sam. 20.16.22 one wise woman of the City went unto all the people in her wisdom and perswades them to what preserves them from destruction Quest 1. Wherein doth this understanding consist I will keep within the very words of the text and what they plainly import Resp 1. In a true knowledge and apprehension of things as they are in their own nature To know the nature of a divine command and the nature of a christian duty And to speak plainly in a word such knowledge you will never attain to but by the Scripture I remember Augustin closeth his commendation of Scripture thus That whatsoever a man

hath learned extra Scripturam if it be hurtfull there 't is condemned if it be profitable there 't is found There you shall abundantly find all those things which you can profitably learn elsewhere and those things which you can learn no where else are there taught with wonderful height yet condescention Prov. 3.4 Forget not the Law keep the Commandement so shalt thou have good understanding in the sight of God and man Good understanding or good success the Hebrew word signifies both and there is good reason why it should because of the near dependance of the things themselves Good understanding doth beget good successe 2. This understanding consists in a due consideration of their duty I dare appeal to your own consciences whether consideration be not a principall ingredient in the composition of all graces How come persons to repent of sin when do they set themselves against sin when they consider the evill of it and the danger they are exposed to by it When do persons look after Christ but when they consider the necessity of him and that they are undone without him that he invites them to come and 't is best to take his invitation How come men to get this practical wisdome this understanding in the text but by enquiring what is their duty and considering the fit circumstances of performing it Job saith Iob 23.15 when I consider I am afraid q.d. When I weigh in my mind all Gods proceedings with me I am afraid When conscience is asleep consideration will awaken it men could never run so madly into sin were they not inconsiderate 3. Diligence is requisite to this understanding This is implied in both the other you will never get a right knowledge of things without a diligent searching after knowledge you will never consider rightly of things without a diligent fixing of your hearts upon your duty The diligent hand saith Solomon makes rich rich in grace rich in all good works a lazie christian is alwayes a beggatly christian You know one of the first curses that God denounced against man was in the sweat of thy brow thou shalt eat thy bread Now though all curses be taken away by Christ yet this lies still as a a cross in the way of a christian that even in spirituals he cannot earn his bread he can never get nor improve any grace without sweating for it Gods free gift doth not hinder but further and encourage labour and diligence Eccles 9.10 whatsoever thy hand findeth to do do it with all thy might for there is no work nor device nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest This brings to the second Quaere Quest 2. What understanding ought we to have of the times I must intreat you to be serious in the answer to this enquiry for it cannot but thwart the common practice of the generality of men This understanding of the times consists in these three things Resp 1. In the understanding of the general duties of all times There are some duties which run through the whole course of our lives we ought to live alwayes in the fear of God Acts 17.30 God calls upon all men every where to repent we ought alwayes to make Religion our businesse to do nothing to Gods dishonour but to put forth our selves to the utmost to walk acceptably before him to bind our selves to our good behaviour Yet do not mistake as if the strongest engagements to be wholly for God had any the least bondage in them but I would have Religion to be like the marriage bond That as there is none more strong so there is none more desireable more comfortable I would have you al to entertain Religion with something sutable to the Israelites entertainment of the Ark 1 Sam. 4.5 When the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord came into the Camp all Israel shouted with a great shout so that the earth rang again so that the enemies of holinesse may cry out Woe unto us woe unto us who can deliver us out of the hand of this mighty God who will smite prophane persons with all manner of plagues And another general duty of all times is to be profitable unto others to do what we possibly can to promote Religion in the world The Apo. in Eph. 4.12 13. compares the collective body of christians to the natural body of an infant and Christ to the soul as the child grows in all the parts of the body so the soul puts forth it self in all rational operations Now every member grows not out of self-interest but common interest and Christ communicates of his spirit according to such growth only here 's the dissimilitude let a child grow never so fast yet the growth doth not make any addition of new members unto the body there 's not so much as a finger or a toe the 〈◊〉 for all the growth but now Religion spreads it self like l●●●● communicates it self unto those that are yet unlevened Ther 's addition of members in the mystical body of Christ And there is not any gracious soul but can heartily joyn with Paul in his wish for Agrippa Acts 26.29 I would to God that not only thou but also all that hear me this day were both almost and altogether such as I am Secondly The understanding of the times consisteth in the understanding of the particular duties of speciall times every season of a mans life brings ' its particular duties along with it Remember thy Creatour in the daies of thy youth doe not spend the morning of your life in vanitie so let young men improve their strength and old men their experiences for God and the good of others But the Text fits us with two adjuncts of time very considerable First they were times of division alteration and changes and what are ours they had been long harrast with civill war between Saul and David between David and Ishbosheth and they were yet unsettled now at such a time the sons of Issachar many of them shepheards most of them plaine country-men These knew what to doe this shews their wisdome Goe you and doe likewise But what shall we doe I will tell you what and give you a president for it 1 Pet. 2.15 for so is the will of God that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men there 's your duty Daniel 6.4 5. Then the Presidents and Princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the Kingdome but they could find none occasion nor fault for as much as he was faithfull neither was there any error or fault found in him Then said these men we shall not find any occasion against this Daniel except we find it against him concerning the law of his God There 's your president Observe the time of it 't was when Darius had broken the head of gold the Babylonian monarchy and now Daniel is againe gracious in court and prefer'd in office above all the enemies of the

church These could find no occasion no matter of accusation nor colour of suspition of unfaithfulnes neither was there any error his many mighty envious subtill enemies despaired to find him faulty or colourably faulty in the management of so great affairs in so tickle times except we 〈◊〉 it against him concerning the law of his God they must proceed to out-rage against God himselfe or they can do nothing against him In a word then walke so exactly that your very enemies may have nothing against you and if the world use you like it self Matth. 5.12 rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven Secondly they were times of opportunities for doing good and so are ours 'T is confest all times have somthing peculiar in them to exercise the graces of the godly and there will never want snares to entangle those that are godly but let us not for any evill that we feel or feare neglect the opportunities of doing that good which we may what opportunities you have I shall shew you in the application Thirdly The third thing wherein the right understanding of the times consists is in prudently observing the fit season for the performing of all duties Every thing is beautifull in its season and it is considerable God never calls to any worke but he gives a fit season for the doing of it I must work saith Christ while it is day the night cometh when no man can worke Eccles 8.6 Because to every purpose there is time and judgement therefore the misery of man is great upon him Every enterprise hath its proper season and peculiar manner of acting upon which narrow point the successe of such undertakings doth depend and this cannot without wisdome be duely observed There 's a word used Rom. 8.26 helpeth our infirmities 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lifts over against us 't is a metaphor taken from two mens lifting at a logg which one man cannot move now the spirit of God lifts at the heavier end if we lift with him we may go thorough with our duty but if we lose the season of his help all our endeavours may come to nothing For if that season which God affordeth us for businesse be lost 't is probably lost irrecoverably I once saw a ship strike upon the Goodwin sands but the tide coming in and help being at hand just in the nicke of time it came off safe whereas had it beene let alone a little till ebbing water it had beene lost irrecoverably Doe but time your businesse and you sayle before the wind loose your opportunity and you drive as Pharaoh did in the red sea when his chariet-wheeles were taken off I cannot better expresse this thereby turning you to Christs owne words which he uttered with tears over the once holy city which is now a ruinous heape Luke 19.41 42. when he was come neare he beheld the city and wept over it saying if thou hadst known even thou at least in this thy day the things which belong unto thy peaco but now they are hid from thine eyes Quest 3. How is it likely that a few understanding men may probably ingage all their country-men to performe the duties of the times they live in I shall only name a two fold ground Resp 1. Men know the state of their owne country better then strangers can to speake directly ad rem here you are met from all parts of your country Doe not you know the state of your country better then ten times your number of any other men in the world One can say I was born in such a place where the Gospel was never powerfully preacht in my time Another can say I live in a place where profanenes doeth exceedingly abound And a third can tell stories of the ranting and licentiousnesse of apostate Christians Againe you know the temper of your owne neighbours and country men better then others can you know in what places people be incorrigible and men must deale with them as with thornes as David expressed it you know where people are fickle and unsetled that they must be stroakt into a good liking of sound truth or they will fly out be worse by means of bettering them And Secondly Men of the same country are interested in one anothers affections which doth exceedingly fit them for the doing receiving of good men will take that from a countryman a neighbour a friend which they will not from another Let me tell you plainly you have carried your selves ill in the places of your abode if you have not gotten some esteeme and credit more then in places where you are not knowne that a reproofe or an admonition will come with authority from you Men commonly love the places of their birth and their country-men among whom they were bred being more willing to doe for them then for others and the places of our nativity and education doe challenge and looke for somthing from us This is deservedly put into Sions lamentation that of all the sons shee brought up there was none to comfort her Now if God give you opportunity will you not answer it you read of Mordecai Ester 10.3 Mordecai the Jew was great among the Jews and accepted of the multitude of his brethren seeking the wealth of his people and speaking peace to all his seed But I hasten to the application and begin with an use of Reproofe wherein if any shall thinke I am too keene let them thinke withall that I shall be glad to be mistaken in the sins that I reprove if you can plead for your country in any particular not guiltie But if these sins be among you the two edged sword had need to cut and therefore I will not say beare with me but as Jothan to the Shechemites Hearken unto me you men of Shechem that God may hearken unto you There are five sins I shall reprove and with the reproofe propose a remedy that as I launch the sore I may apply a plaister First Profanenesse Are there not with you even with you aye with us in this congregation some profane Esau's that will hunt away their blessing and game away their blessing and sweare away their blessing and drinke away their blessing that scorn precisenesse and hate reproofe to such as these I am sent with heavy tidings I must tell you from a holy God that when you can laugh no more at holinesse God will laugh for ever at your destruction that when you have wearyed your selves in workes of darkenesse you shall have your portion in everlasting darkenesse I remember astory of your owne country 't is of Roger Bishop of Salisbury that built Shirborne Castle and the Castle of the Devises accounted once one of the goodliest Castles of Europe when he was ready to die 't is reported that inter mortis metum et vitae tormenta vivere noluerit et mori nescierit Betweene feare of death and torment of life he would not live and yet he