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A13530 Christs combate and conquest: or, The lyon of the tribe of Iudah vanquishing the roaring lyon, assaulting him in three most fierce and hellish temptations. Expounded, and now (at the request of sundry persons) published for the common good, by Tho. Taylor, preacher of the word of God, at Reeding in Barkeshire; Christs combate and conquest. Taylor, Thomas, 1576-1632. 1618 (1618) STC 23822; ESTC S105331 393,043 443

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Gods word and therefore art not the Sonne of God But the Papists deale more impudently with vs then the deuill did with Christ who said no such thing but yeelded to euidence of truth which they will not In the precept it selfe are three things 1. the person 2. the matter 3. the obiect 1. The person thou the whole man and person which consisteth of a body and soule thou any reasonable creature that challengest God to be thy God 2. The matter shalt worship and serue Worship is twofold Ciuill or Diuine Ciuill is a prostrating or bowing of the body or any outward testification of an high and reuerent respect of man And this is due to men two wayes 1. Of dutie when men are to be reuerently acknowledged for somthing wherein God hath preferred them before vs as for yeares gifts graces authoritie or such as are set ouer vs as parents and fathers of bodies and soules of Church and country And this is required by the 5. commandement and Rom. 13.1.7 neither doth the Gospel and Christianitie take away but teach ciuility And performed by the godly both in speach as Daniel said O King and Paul to Festus O noble Festus and also in outward behauiour and gesture as Iaacob bowed seauen times to Esau and Ioseph taking his sonnes from the knees of his father Iaacob hauing blessed them did reuerence to his father downe to the ground Gen. 48.12 Dauid inclined his face to the earth and bowed himselfe to Saul who pursued his life 1. Sam. 24.9 The like of Ruth to Boaz chap. 2. and of Abigail to Dauid 1. Sam. 25.23 she fell on her face and bowed her selfe to the ground and fell at his feet 2. Of curtesie which is a fruit of humility when a man to his equalls and inferiours sheweth reuerence and respect as Abraham to Lot Gen. 13.8.9 and to the Hittites his inferiours cap. 23.12 he bowed himselfe before the people of the land Farre vnlike the surlinesse and stiffenesse of proud and conceited persons who beeing void of all good nature nurture and religion know not to bow to any neither their betters in the way of duty nor equalls in way of curtesie Diuine worship is twofold 1. inward the summe of the first commandement standing in feare loue and the like 2. outward bowing or reuerence the summe of the second commaundemen● The former bindes the soule and the will and affections and the whole inner man the latter the outward man to giue God his worship and seruice and to giue no part of that to any other For the word onely onely mentioned in the latter branch must be extended and referred to the former too The latter of these is here meant for the word properly signifieth to kisse or adore by some outward gesture to manifest a veneration 1. Because this was it which Satan required of Christ namely to fall downe or bow vnto him but Christ aptly refuseth it 2. This worship proceeds from an inward feare and apprehension of a diuine excellency power not communicable to any creature which Satan well knewe for euen by this bowing hee would haue Christ to acknowledge in him a power to dispose of all earthly things which is proper to God And him onely shalt thou serue By seruice is not meant the inward seruice of the heart for the words in Deut. 6.13 Thou shalt feare the Lord and serue him will not beare it the first thereof betokening the inward seruice the second the outward following the former as the effect the cause Neither would our Sauiour inuert the order in setting the streame before the fountaine Therefore this word serue serueth to expound the former as an addition signifying nothing els but the outward seruice of God so that Christ here shewes that it is not enough to giue God outward reuerence but that we must as seruants performe duties according to his will so the word signifies being taken from seruants who performe seruice to bodily Masters in bodily actions 3. The person to be worshipped and serued is God only Him onely whom we call the Lord our God according to the speach of Samuel 1.7.3 Direct your hearts vnto the Lord and serue him only for his glorie will he giue to no other Quest. Must we giue outward worship to none but God Must we not bow our knee and vncouer our heads to our King and Rulers Must we not rise vp to the hoare-head Leuit. 19.32 Must we not serue one another in loue How then must we outwardly worship and serue God onely Ans. Wee must not denie any ciuill worshppe to any man to whome God hath made it due but externall religious worship must not be giuen to any creature man or Angell Quest. How may we know one from the other Answ. They differ greatly 1. In the kind one is seruill the other sociall the former due to an absolute Lord and commander the latter due from one fellow-seruant to another This distinction is grounded in Reu. 19.10 where the Angell refused the worship done him by Iohn vpon this ground because he was a fellow-seruant and one of the brethren for Iohn beeing ouercome with the greatnesse of the Angels glorie and splendor out of humane infirmity ascribed to him more then ciuill honour and mixed some religious worship with it which onely was due to God 2. Another difference is in the intention of the mind in worshipping Religious bowing is when a man inwardly apprehends a diuine power proper to God and incommunicable to the creature or when god-head or diuine properties are conceiued in the thing bowed vnto As for example in falling downe to an image vncouering the head praying c. the minde now conceiues a diuine power in the image of knowing ones thoughts hearing helping and the like at least that God hath tied his presence and grace to such a place where such an image is set vp But the ciuill bowing to the King or superiour or to the chaire of estate is a meere token of ciuill subiection without any conceit of deity in the minde onely because we see in them excellent gifts of God or in place aboue in the Church common-wealth or familie For the same gesture may be ciuill and spirituall according to the intention of the minde of the worshipper 3. The end distinguisheth them the one is to exercise godlines the other to expresse ciuility the one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one done as a man is a member of Gods kingdome the other as he is in the ranke of an earthly kingdome As for example Kissing of the Popes feet is a worship done to a man and so seemes euill but beeing tendred to him as to the Vicar of Christ as one that can pardon sinnes and cannot erre this religious end makes it a religious worship and therefore none of his beeing not offred to any other Prince or Emperour vpon the earth 4. Some difference may be taken from the
beware of wronging the children of God euen because they haue the protection of the Angels To rise vp against any of them is to rise vp against the Angels their keepers Offend none of these little ones for their Angels behold the face of their heauenly Father and thou prouokest the Angels against thee If the Sodomites rise vp against Lot the Angels will saue him and destroy them If Balaam will goe to curse Gods people he shall haue an Angell against him with a sword drawne readie to kill him 4. Learne wee to giue God the honour of our saluation and safety when we haue auoided any danger publike or priuate It is not by chance nor by our prouidence and policie but Gods charging his Angels to saue and keepe vs. Daniel did rightly ascribe his deliuerance to God by the ministery of the Angell chap. 6.22 My God saith hee sent his Angell and shut the lyons mouth 5. To be partaker of all this comfort these meanes are to be vsed 1. Become a godly man Psal. 34.9 The Angell of the Lord pitcheth his tent round about them that feare the Lord Hebr. 1.14 They are ministring Spirits to the heyres of saluation 2. Hold on in a godly course keepe thee in thy wayes in the duties of thy calling generall and speciall for thus long the charge of the Angels stands in force 3. Pray not to Angels but to the God of heauen to send his Angell before thee to direct and assist thee in thy duties and waies For what God hath promised we must pray for Gen. 24.7 Abraham tells his seruant that God will send his Angell before him to take a wife for his sonne and this Angell prospered his iourney v. 40. And that this was the practise of the Church of Egypt appeares by Moses his message to the King of Edom Numb 20.16 Beeing ill intreated in Egypt we prayed to the Lord and he sent an Angell and brought vs out of Egypt I doubt not but this dutie were it more faithfully practised would bring home much more successe and comfort then many men finde in their labour who scarce knowe whence or how their prosperitie commeth vnto them Obiect If God should send his Angels in humane forme and as familiarly to conuerse with vs as aunciently they did with the Patriarkes we should beleeue this doctrine but now there is certainly no such thing Ans. 1. Christ is now in heauen where our conuersation ought to be by faith rather then by the visible apparition of Angels 2. The beginnings of the Church needed such heauenly confirmation but now the word is sufficiently confirmed by the Sonne himselfe from heauen 3. The Scriptures are perfect and fully and plainly reueale vnto vs Gods will in euerie particular as if the Angels should come and teach vs daily 4. The blessed Spirit is more abundantly giuen in our hearts and supplyeth their absence in bodily shape and apparition 5. We must labour to get the eyes of our soules open and then we shall with Elishaes seruant see their comfortable presence notwithstanding they take no bodies to appeare in VERS 7. Iesus said vnto him It is written againe Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God NOW followeth the repulse of our Sauiour to this second temptation wherein are two things 1. his resistance 2. his reason drawne from a testimony of Scripture I. Christ resisteth and yeeldeth not albeit he heareth Scripture alleadged Why If yee were of God saith Christ yee would heare his word neither doth Scripture speake any thing in vaine But the reason is 1. because our Lord perceiued that the word was wrested and abused by Sathan● and 2. that Scripture abused binds not to obedience 3. that Scripture turned out of his right sense is not Gods word but carries something in it besides Scripture and then if an Angel from heauen should bring it we must be so farre from receiuing it as to hold him accursed 4. for our example that wee should not take all allegations hand ouer head but as Christ here trie whither they tend if to cast vs downe refuse them II. Christ resisteth but not without reason but by Scripture and opposeth Scripture to Scripture not as repugnant one to another but by way of collation and conferring one with another that the right vse of one may ouerthrowe the abuse of the other not in way of contrarietie but of commentarie Quest. But why did not our Sauiour shut his mouth by telling him how wickedly he had abused the text he had alleadged by adding detracting and wresting it to a contrarie ende and meaning Answ. This might indeed haue confounded him sufficiently but our Sauiour his combate is not only victorious for vs but exemplarie and therefore we are herein trained in our fight and encounter 1. To hold close to the Scripture in answering the deuill It is written againe which word of our Sauiour noteth how he buckled the Scripture to him both as a buckler to defend him and as a sword to foyle and wound his enemie and so must we who are not so able to dispute with Satan about the true meaning of a place as our Lord was 2. To informe vs that the best and onely way to discouer the abuse of Scripture is Scripture it being the onely rule and iudge of it selfe and all the controuersies rising out of it And therefore the deuill no sooner heard this testimony but his mouth was shut as well knowing how the wisdom of his Father had discouered his subtiltie The best commentarie of Scripture is Scripture euery man is the best interpreter of himselfe and so the Author of the Scriptures is the best interpreter of them 3. To let vs see that although Satan had abused the Scripture yet he nor we must ouercome by no other weapon and that the abuse of a thing takes not away the right vse of it nor good things to be reiected because they are abused by them that can vse them aright If Christ had been of the Papists minde he would haue condemned and shut vp the Scriptures from common men because the deuill had abused them for so doe they because heretiques his instruments doe abuse them the Laitie may not meddle with them But it is plaine that in things necessarie no abuse in one takes away the right vse in another As for example A murderer vseth a sword to kill a man may not another vse a sword or that sword in his owne defence And are not the Scriptures the sword of the Spirit more necessarie A drunkard a glutton a proud person abuse meat and drinke and apparell to surfeting drunkennesse riot and excesse shall we therefore cast away meat drinke apparell and refuse the necessarie vse of it And is not the word a more necessary food Because a wolfe comes in sheeps cloathing must the sheepe cast away their fleece No the Prophets did not refuse the word of the Lord because the false Prophets did say The word of the
drawne from the expectation of reward or wages which if their Masters should faile God would not faile to repend vnto thē knowing that whatsoeuer good thing any man doth that same hee shall receiue of the Lord. Now if the Lord so liberally reward faithfull seruice done to meane and euen wicked men how rich and royall a reward giues he to the faithfull seruice of himselfe If gifts then may mooue vs to serue God the Lord truly saith All these doe I giue thee and more also my Christ my Spirit my selfe and life eternall No man giues such wages no seruant euer had such a pay-master To these might be added sundry other motiues as 1. To serue God is to raigne and to be a king ouer the world fleshly lusts c. and to suite with Saints and Angels 2. God hereby becomes our protector maintainer and reuenger as Dauid often prayeth Lord saue thy seruant teach thy seruant reuenge the cause of thy seruant c. 3. Seruants of vnrighteousnesse meet with the wages of vnrighteousnesse 4. All our comfort in crosses and afflictions stands in our seruice of God and a good conscience or else wee haue none 5. To feare and keepe his commaundements is the whole dutie of a man and that which makes him fully happy Notes of a good seruant of God 1. Labour to know the will of the Lord which he hath reuealed in his word as Dauid prayed Psal. 119.125 For in the Scripture he hath laid out our worke for vs and let vs expect our calling to euery businesse there let vs be ready to heare not lightly absent nor present for custome but conscience 2. Let vs serue him in affection and be glad to doe any thing to please him and grieue when we faile either in doing that we should not or in not doing that we ought or not in that manner that may please the Lord. 3. Be euer imployed in his worke How know I a mans seruant but by his labouring in his masters businesse Yee are his seruants to whom ye obey Rom. 6.16 and Ioh. 15. Yee are my disciples if yee doe whatsoeuer I command you If I see a man spend his time in the seruice of sinne of lusts of games pleasure the world c. I know whose seruant he is certenly he is not in the seruice of God he is not in Gods worke 4. Intend thy Lords profit and glorie A good seruant knowes his time and strength is his Masters and he must be profitable to him and seeke his credit It will be with euery seruant of Christ as with Onesimus Philem. 11. beeing conuerted howsoeuer before grace he were so vnprofitable and pilfering as he was vnfit for any honest mans house and much more the house of God yet now he profits the Lord and credites him and takes not his meat and drinke and wages for nothing 5. A good seruant sets forward his masters work in others he will prouoke his fellow-seruants and not smite and hinder them as the euill seruant did he will defend his Lord hee will venture his life for him he will stand also for his fellow-seruants while they are in their Masters busines he will be a law to himselfe if there were no law no discipline he will not idle out his time his eye is vpon the eye of his Master his minde vpon his account his endeauour to please him in all things VERS 11. Then the deuill left him and behold the Angells came and ministred vnto him HAuing by the assistance of God now finished the two former generall parts of this whole historie which stood in the 1. preparation and 2. the combate it selfe we proceede to the third and last which is the issue and euent of all which affordeth vs the sweete fruite and comfort of all our Sauiours former sufferings from Sathan and of our labours and endeauours in opening the same In this issue two parts are to be considered 1. Christs victorie 2. His triumph His victorie and conquest in that the deuill left him His triumph in that the Angels came and ministred vnto him In both which shine out notably the markes of his diuine power which euen in all his lowest abasements did discouer it selfe to such eies as could see it and gaue shew of a person farre aboue all that his outward presence seemed to promise as for example His conception was by the holy Ghost His birth as meane and base as might be but graced with a starre and the testimony of Angells and his circumcision with Simeons His baptisme performed by Iohn in Iordan but graced by his Fathers testimony and the Spirits descent in a visible shape of a doue H●s ciuill obedience causeth him to pay tribute but he sends for it to a fish His person was called Beelzebub but Beelzebub confesseth him to be the Son of God At his passion what greater infamie then to be hanged betweene two theeues what greater glorie then to conuert and saue one of them At his apprehension they that tooke him fell backward to the ground Ioh. 18.6 In death he trode vpon deaths necke and being shut vp in the graue he opened it So here he is carried and recarried in the hands of the deuil but as one weary of his burden he is forced to leaue him on the plaine field and to giue vp the bucklers because a stronger then he is come This is the great mysterie of God manifest in the flesh 1. Tim. 3.16 In the victory of Christ consider three things 1. The time when the diuell left him then 2. The manner hee departed from him 3. How long he left him and that is in Luke for a season Then this particle may haue reference to three things 1. When the temptations were ended saith Luke namely all those which his Father had appointed him to endure at this time in the wildernes For as the Son of God knew how much to suffer so Satan would not giue ouer till he had spent all his powder and had exercised all his malice in these most hellish temptations wherein he vsed all his skill strength and malice if he might possibly in this seed of the woman ouerthrow all the sonnes of men and in the head kill all the members Whence we may Obserue the obedience of the Sonne of God who stood out resolutely and departed not the field at all nor expected any rest till all the temptations for this time were ended Christ could haue confounded Satan in the beginning of the temptations and so haue freed himselfe from further molestation but he continues and abides all the triall to the end And why 1. His loue to his Father made him submit himselfe to the lowest abasement euen to the death of the crosse and refuse no difficult seruice for which his Father sent him into the world of which this was a principall The speech of Dauid was most proper to this sonne of Dauid Behold here am I let the Lord doe with mee euen