Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	master_n	respect_n	servant_n	1,977	5	7.1711	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A02741	Tvvo treatises I. The purchase of Grace, shewing the excellency of Christ, and the graces of his spirit. II. The soules delight in Gods tabernacles, shewing the excellency of time, spent in duties of God's solemne service. Instances in the chiefe, viz. prayer, word, and sacraments. Motives and directions for right performance. Lastly, the chiefe usurpers of time discovered, with apt remedies against each of them. The contents of the booke are methodically exprest in the margent, which to the diligent reader may serve instead of a table. By William Harrison, Mr. of Arts, and minister of the Gospell at Canwicke neare Lincolne.	Harrison, William, minister at Canwick.	1639 (1639)	STC 12871; ESTC S103879	208,196	400

Commandements as David speakes Psal. 119. 21. whether they be young or olde Not onely the curse of the Prophet but the curse of the great God is readie to seize upon them O then let us set our selves to serve God in our youth and we may have the blessing of God upon us both in our youth and age Thus you see also the necessitie of it CHAP. VI. Containing the second branch of the Vse of Exhortation SEcondly Seeing time spent in Gods service is the best spent time This serveth to exhort us that have once begun to serve God that we should be constant in it It is to no purpose to begin to serve God unlesse wee resolve to hold on and persevere left we be justly charged with that of the Apostle Galathians 5. 7. Ye did runne well who did hinder you that ye shuold not obey the truth i. e. How commeth it to passe that yee did not persevere and for this they were justly called O foolish Galathians Gala. 3. 1. Time spent in Gods service is fitly resembled unto a race Let us runne with patience the race that is set before us saith the Apostle Hebrewes 12. 1. It is a meere folly for any man to begin a race unlesse he resolve to persevere and bee constant in it and therefore faith the Apostle 1 Cor. 9. 24. So runne that ye may obtaine that is begin speedily without delay and hold on constantly without intermission This was holy David's pious resolution Psalme 119. 33. Teach me O Lord the way of thy statutes and I shall keepe it unto the end There was constancy and perseverance Now for the perfecting of this point I purpose to runne this course 1. I will shew you the Motives that may perswade us to it 2. The chiefe Meanes that we must use to attaine it 1. The Motives that may perswade us hereunto are especially these three 1. In regard of the equity of it 2. The Vtilitite 3. The Necessity of it 1. Now the equity of the dutie appeareth in this sc. because the God of heaven is our chiefe Lord and Master and we are his servants in many respects and therefore in all equity it is fit that we shuold be constant in his service For. 1. We are the Lords professed servants 2. His vowed or sworne servants 3. His made servants 4. His bought servants And lastly His obliged or hired servants 1. We are Gods servants by profession wee doe all professe our selves to bee Gods servants yea we should take it ill from any that should speake or repute us otherwise We are all ready to say with David Psalme 116. 16. Behold Lord how that I am thy servant c. We we are Gods Livorie it appeareth by our very profession that we would be esteemed to be Gods servants hence we come to Church we depend upon his Ordinances yea no doubt but if we should be questioned the most of us would be ready to say to God as the Elders of Israel said to Iehu 2 Kings 10. When Iehu had slaine his Master hee sendeth this message to the Elders of Israel Verse 2. Seeing your Masters sonnes are with you and there are with you Chariots and Horses a fenced City also and armour Looke even out the best and meetest of your Masters sonnes and set him on his Fathers Throne and fight for your Masters house But they were exceedingly afraid saith the Text Verse 4. and said Behold two Kings stood not before him how then should wee stand But they sent unto Iehu saying we are thy servants and will doe all that thou shalt bid us Loe they were Iehu's servants by profession And the most of us no doubt are ready to professe no lesse to God Behold we are thy servants and will doe that which thou shalt bid us O then let us bee constant in Gods service because we are his servants by profession Secondly Wee are his vowed or his sworne servants as appeareth by the promise and solemne vow that wee made to God in our Baptisme which was That we would not only become but also continue Gods faithfull servants and souldiers untill our lives end Yea this vow we have renewed since so often as we have received the Sacrament of the Lords Supper How often have we publikely and solemnly dedicated our selves wholly to Gods service saying Here Lord wee offer unto thee our selves soules and bodyes c. How can we then for shame flinch from his service and be inconstant having so often solemnly protested and sworne the contrary This made David constant in Gods service because he had sworne to be constant in it Psalme 119. 106. I have sworne and will performe it that I will keepe thy righteous judgements We have vowed and sworne as well as David and therefore must needs be perjured persons if we be not constant in his service Offer unto God praise or thankesgiving and pay thy vows unto the most High Psalme 50. 14. Wee are the Lords sworne servants and therefore it standeth with equity that wee should bee constant Thirdly We are the Lords made servants it is the very speciall end of our Creation we were made on purpose to doe God service And therefore the consideration of our creation doth strongly binde us to bee constant in Gods service Psalme 100. 2 3. Serve the Lord with gladnesse come before his presence with singing and marke the reason of it verse 3. Know ●●e that the Lord he is God it is he that hath ●ade us and not we our selves How can we choose but chearefully and constantly ●oe service to our Maker And so againe Psalme 95. 6. O come let us worship and ●all downe and knele before the Lord our Maker c. And no marvell for it is the very end of our Creation and comming into this world sc. to doe God service and thereby to advance his glory He made all things for his owne sake yea even the wicked for the day of evill saith the Wiseman Proverbs 16. 4. It is for his owne sake and service to advance his glory and glory will he have of us one way or other one time or other if we doe not honour him by doing his pleasure here on earth we shall perforce glorifie his justice in suffering his pleasure for ever in hell the Lord will attaine his owne end in one kinde or other For my glory have I created him saith God I have formed him yea I have made him Another Motive to be constant Fourthly We are the Lords bought servants redeemed and purchased at a very great rate to this purpose only to doe God service Suppose a man should meete a poore man going to prison for debt whence hee was never like to come out and should pay the summe and set him at liberty upon condition that hee should bee constant in his service as long as he lived Oh with all my heart would the poore man say how much better is

Yet a little sleepe a little slumber a little folding of the hands to sleepe Thus still he keepeth his bed and there he delighteth to spend his time and there the Wiseman letteth him alone and bestoweth no more paines to call him up but even passeth sentence upon as he lyeth in his bed So thy poverty commeth as an armed man This will bring both temporall poverty and spirituall misery upon a man such a man shall surely come to poverty Proverbs 20. 13. for this stealeth away not only much time that was better spent in Gods service but it robbeth us of two speciall seasons and opportunities of doing GOD service and getting good to our soules sc. the morning season and the Sermon time or the time for the exercises of religion which is the very harvest of our soules Is not he likely to bee a poore man that will keepe his bed in harvest time and like to reape shame and penurie Prov. 10. 5. Well What shall wee doe with this unruly person Put him to death O no What Not sleepe at all Rather binde him to the good behaviour send him to the house of correction for sleepe in it selfe is a refreshing mercy of God which he conferreth upon those whom he loveth Psalme 127. 4. For so he giveth his beloved sleepe What then Deale thus with this companion cut shorter this prodigall allow him lesse liberty Hee that mispendeth his meanes it is pity but he should want let some of his meanes be taken from him he doth but wast and mispend it And therefore the best way is to observe these two rules which I will prescribe on purpose in this case for our Direction 1. Let us habituate or accustome our selves to early or timely rising Let us even forcably breake off our sleepe for religious and godly meditations and that which at first will seeme even impossible will by a little use and custome prove not only be possible but also most facile easie even as the Cocke clappeth his wings early in the morning thereby to shake off drousinesse and to stirre up himselfe to crow so let us shake off our sluggish humour by degrees and even stirre up our selves to holy duties in the morning Thus David stirreth himselfe and endeavoureth to shake off his drousie temper Psalme 103. 1 2. Blesse the Lord ô my soule and all that is within me blesse his holy Name Blesse the Lord ô my soule forget not all his benefits Yea this he would doe early or betimes in the morning Psalme 5. 3. Early in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee and will looke up Yea this was not all but sometimes he would breake his sleepe even at midnight to doe God service Psalme 119. 62. At midnight will I arise to give thankes unto thee because of thy righteous judgements Thus by degrees in time we should prevaile exceedingly against that sluggish humour that will else keepe us from embracing many blessed opportunities of doing God service Thirdly Wee must beware of excessive eating and drinking The immoderate use of the good creatures of God doth very much dispose to sleepe but indispose us to any holy and religious imployment When the belly is full c. saith the homely Proverbe a man in that case is fitter to serve the Devill in sinning or the flesh by sleeping then God in any religious duty whatsoever Put a knife to thy threat if thou be a man given to appetite Wisely doe thou refraine from the immoderate use of that which will altogether indispose thee to Gods service and make thee a very prey to lust and unto the Devill Hee that in this case maketh his belly his god is then ready for sleepe almost at any time but will scarce bee fit to serve GOD at any time Consider the place of the Apostle Romans 13. 13. Not in ryotting or gluttony and drunkennesse and what followeth Nor in chambering and wantonnesse where we see that ryot and excesse in the use of Gods good creatures disposeth strongly to lust and filthinesse When I fed them to the full then they committed adultery against me and assembled themselves by troopes in the Harlots houses saith God Ieremy 5. 7. It was Sodoms fulnesse that made them so filthy But of this hereafter when I come to speake of feasting and recreations which is another great mispender of precious time and a great impediment to keepe us from spending time in Gods service And so much therefore as touching this second great mispender of precious time and that is excessive sleeping CHAP. XI Wherein other chiefe Le ts are removed containing the other part of the fifth Direction THirdly All that would spend much time in GODS service must very carefully take heede and beware of another great mis-spender of precious time and that is immoderate carking and caring for earthly things all inordinate and covetous thought taking for outward things must needs be carefully shunned and avoyed How many precious houres doe men usually spend in taking thought saying What shall we eat and what shall we drinke What shall I doe when I am old and past my worke Or how shall I doe in a deare yeare c and such like terrible dreames Thus many an houre is mis-spent in such worldly distrustfull cogitations that were farre better spent in Gods service Not but that an honest moderate care is lawfull and necessary but all distracting distrustfull care is forbidden as a great usurper of precious time It is the Apostles direction Phil. 4. 6. In nothing be carefull but in every thing let your requests be made knowne to God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where the Apostle prohibiteth only a distrustfull distracting or heart-dividing carefulnesse as the word signifieth and sheweth That time spent in covetous carking and caring and religious prayer and invocation cannot well stand together according to that of our Saviour Mat. 6. 24. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon no more then a man can looke upwards and downwards both at once Let us a little consider of the great hurt that this usurper will doe us in this case This covetous carking will eyther keepe us from or distract us in profiting by the performance of holy duties and therefore is a great enemy in this case and must needs be mortified 1. It many times keepeth us from the performance of holy duties Where covetous carking reigneth there is no roome for pietie godlinesse is quite put downe there is no leasure for private prayer in the Closet and familie nor many times there is no time for the publike duties of Religion See how the world kept men from the great Supper whereof our Saviour speaketh in the Gospell Luk. 14. 16. A certaine man made a great Supper and bad many and sent his servant at Supper time to say to them that were bidden come for all things are now readie How could they finde in their hearts to slight or reject such a loving invitation

abuse of the Kings broad seale extendeth to his Majesty Secondly There is none of us but may receive much good by this Sacrament of Baptisme whensoever it is administred if the fault be not in our selves for hereby we shall not onely testifie our due respect to Gods Ordinance and consequently to his owne Majestie but besides hereby we shall be put in minde of our owne Baptisme and our participation in this blessed Sacrament and of those admirable benefits which we then received as sc. the remission of our sins our spirituall new-birth and regneration being borne of water and of the Holy Ghost Ioh. 3. 5. Yea hereby we become the members of Christ the children of God and inheritours of the kingdome of heaven as we have it in our Catechisme And how can we be put in minde of these benefits without being in some measure stirred up unto praise and thankfulnes for the same when we have such a lively commemoration of our being ingrafted into the body of Christ and of our originall sins being washed away in the bloud of Christ Now if any wonder or thinke it strange how any such benefits should hereby be conveyed unto us let him consider that Gods ordaining of any thing doth make it effectuall to the end for which it is appointed although in it selfe it seeme never so improbable or wholly impossible See 2 Kings 5. Naaman the Syrian comming to the Prophet to be cured of his leprosie he sendeth him to wash seven times in Iordan and he should be cleansed this seemed a very incredible thing in the eyes of this great man goe wash in Iordan here a likely course to cure a man of his leprosie if washing in a river would have served the turne I need never to have come hither for saith he Are no Abanah and Pharpar rivers of Damascus better then all the waters of Israel c. and so he began to goe his way in a rage saith the Text verse 12. yea and if some of his servants had not better considered of the matter hee had gone backe againe as uncleane as he came for say they My father if the Prophet had bidden thee doe some great matter wouldest thou not have done it How much more when he saith unto thee Wash and be cleane What hurt can it doe thee if thou wash in Iordan Besides it may happily prevaile beyond all expectation And see the sequell ver 14. He went downe and dipped himselfe seven times in Iordan according to the saying of the Man of God and his flesh came againe like unto the flesh of a little childe and hee was cleane So let no man say What likely-hood or probability is there that the washing or besprinkling the face of an Infant with baptisme should bee the instrument of regeneration Or that a bit of bread and a small sup of wine should be of such admirable efficacy as to make us partakers of Christ with all his merits For certainely the Ordinances of GOD make a thing admirably effectuall above and beyond all imagination What an admirable passage to this purpose is that which we have Numbers 21. 9. Where being stung with fiery Serpents in the Wildernesse God commandeth them as a remedy that they should make a Serpent of brasse and set it upon a Pole Now in the eye of carnall reason this was an unlikely thing to doe any good at all and yet the Text sheweth how admirably effectuall it was so that he that could looke towards the brasen Serpent was healed immediatly and so whosoever can look at Christ with an eye of faith in his Ordinances shal surely be healed So that here is the first benefit that we may receive and the ground of it Secondly So often as we see this Ordinance of Baptisme administred so often we may be put in minde of our duty and the solemne vow and promise that we made to God in that Sacrament sc. that wee would forsake the Devill and all his works c. and that we would believe in God and keepe his Commandements and so approve our selves to be Christs faithful servants and Souldiers unto our lives end And is it not of singular use to bee put in minde of our duty And how can we choose but remember it when we see and heare the like nay the same vow and promise made to God in the behalfe of another This is another speciall benefit Thirdly Hereby we may be put in mind of that which we undertake as solemne Witnesses in the behalfe of our God-children or our children in God that so we may put them in minde of what we promised for them and see that they be vertuously brought up and to this end call upon them to heare Sermons c. all which all promise but few performe This will minde us of this duty Fourthly and lastly Hereby we have a fit opportunity of performing a good office in respect of the present infant baptized sc. to pray unto God for it that it may be made a lively member of Christ a true child of God and hereafter an inheritour of the kingdome of heaven In which respect it would be a good point of wisedome in Parents if they would provide as much as may be that their children may be baptized on the Sunday or holy day for solemne assembly of Gods people that by this meanes their children may have the benefit of the joynt prayers of the whole Congregation Secondly The excellency of the other Sacrament of the Lords Supper and the benefits which we receive thereby is another strong motive to perswade us not only to delight in the exercises of Gods publike worship and service our selves but also to exhort and stirre up others hereunto For this blessed Sacrament doth fitly succeed and follow after the former for first we live and then we are nourished So that as the Sacrament of Baptisme is a Sacrament of initation or implantation into Christ So the other is a Sacrament of our continuance and growth in Christ. By the first the life of grace is begun and by the second continued or preserved in us This also is an Ordinance of Christ's owne instituting for the Apostle telleth us expresly that he received it of the Lord Iesus who the same night that he was betrayed tooke bread c. So that this blessed Sacrament is no lesse excellent then the former let us as in the former consider what benefits wee may receive so often as this Sacrament is celebrated among us and received of us 1. Hereby the Lord Iesus Christ with all his precious and soule-saving merits are graciously offered unto all and bestowed effectually upon the soules of all worthy receivers a matter that is fitter to be admired and faithfully believed then curiously disputed for the manner of it this is enough for our satisfaction to believe according to the doctrine of our Church that by the Bread and Wine in the

of diverse sorts 1. Sort. 1. Such as can finde time for every thing but onely for Gods service 2. Sort. Are such as spend more time in idle pleasures and recreation then in Gods service Remedies against this 1. Remedie 2. Remedie 3. Sort. Are such as stay long before they beginne to spend any time at all that way Simile Antidotes against this Gods command Consider that the time wee have to spend is very uncertaine The longer we are before we beginne the more difficulties wee shall meete withall Consider how just it is for God to reject such as doe turne at last 4. Sort. Such as spend some time in Gods service but not enough 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 The stronger our assurance of salvation Wee shall bring credit to our profession 5. Sort. Such as spend more time in the Devils service then in Gods Preservatives 1. Remedy Whilest we live thus we are children of wrath 2. Remedy God wil not heare their prayers that doe so 3. Remedy All such are at utter enmity with God 4. Remedy Consider that the devill is the worst Master that we can serve 6. Sort. Such as will neither spend Time in Gods service themselves nor suffer others Luk. 11 52. See the wofull estate of all such Guilty of the bloud of soules Ezec. 33. 6. A sinne of a large extent reacheth up unto heaven The wrath of God is ready to fall on them to the uttermost A fearefull signe of reprobation A signe they belong to Sathan Vse 3. sc. For Exhortation to sundry duties especially three 1. Duty That wee begin betimes and set our selves ever speedily to serve the Lord and without all delay Motives 2. 1. The utility as appeareth in sundry benefits which flow from hence Benefit The Lord taketh it exceeding kindly if we set our selves to serve him in our youth 2. Benefit It will prevent the Lustes of youth which will else lie heavie upon us in our age Service of sinne bitternesse in the end 3. Benefit Quo semel est imbuta c. It will make us constant in Gods service in our age 4. Benefit The more comfort for the present the more glory hereafter 5. Benefit Hereby wee shall comfort our parents and requite their love 2. Motive 2 Necessity Eccles. 12. 1. Sundry mischiefs which flow from the neglect of it 1 Mischiefe Wee shall serve worse Masters 2 Mischiefe The more difficult Qui non est hodie cras minus aptus erit 3. Mischiefe God hath just cause to reject such in their age See their Histories Mr. Harris Abs. Funerall Mischiefe As none can be saved except he repent● so none can repent unlesse it be given him from above Men may dye three wayes 1 Suddenly 2 Sullenly 3 Desperately Qui dat misericordium poenitentibus non dat semper poenitentium petentibus Aug. Vt vera poenitentia nunqu●m est sera sic sera poenitentia raro vera Bis dat qui citò dat Sen. Proverbe 5. Mischiefe Bringeth Gods wrath upon children Vse of Exhortation 2. Branch sc. To bee constant in Gods service when wee have once begun Motives Which are threefold The equity God is our Master and wee his servants many wayes Wee are Gods servants by profession 2 His sworne servants We are his made servants His bought servants or by way of Redemption Simile We are his hired servants Psal. 105. last 2. Motive From the Vtilitie as appeareth by sundry benefits 1. Benefit It will assure us 〈◊〉 when wee dye we shall goe to heaven 2. Benefit This will be our crowne of glorie in our age 3. Benefit This will also assure us that we 〈◊〉 Christs Disciples 4. Benefit That God will heare our prayers 5. Benefit All such shall bee taught of God and directed in his truth 6. Benefit This will afford us comfort in the greatest troubles that can befall us yea even in death 3. Motive The neces●itie of it Constancie in Gods service is necessarie Arguments Els we loose all the pains we have taken in Gods service heretofore Danger of backsliding It is a thing most odious and hatefull to God Necessary to bee constant because the devill seeketh continually to doe us mischiefe and bring us backe to his kingdome Meanes Generall A right disposition of the heart shewing it selfe In sundry specialties 2. Speciall 1 It must bee a faithfull or beleeving heart A loving heart An heart fraught with the true feare of God A sound and upright or a good and an honest heart An heart yeelding obedience in lesser matters Dike Deceitf of heart page 191. Lastly an heart ●tored with courage and pa●●ence 3. Dutie To spend as much time in Gods service as wee can possibly Motives Time present is the only time for this purpose 2. Motive This time is short Ars longa vitabrevis 3. Motive Wee stay long before we begin 4. Motive The excellency of our Master Almightie Master able to defend his servants and to provide for them He is ever present with them Very pitifull and full of compassion Readie to pardon the wants and weaknesses of his servants A soule-saving Master Accepteth the will for the deed Helpeth his servants in doing their duties to him A good pay-master and bountifull Taketh pleasure in their prosperitie Heareth p●avers and revengeth the wrongs and injuries that are offered to them * Rom. 10. Meanes And directions how to spend much time in Gods service 1. An heart rightly fitted and prepared for this purpose 2. Direction Sc. Constancy in the private duties and exercises of Religion 3. Direction 1. Beginne each day with the private duties of Religion 4 Direction Wee must labour to have our hearts fraught with the love of Gods house and Ordinances Motives To perswade us to the love of Gods house and Ordinances 2. Motive The worth and excellencie of Gods Ordinances 3. Motive The singular use and benefit of them 1. Benefit Of the Word preached it is the Word of God 2. Benefit The Word of Health 3. Benefit The Word of Comfort 4. Benefit The Word of spirituall consolation 5. Benefit The word of eternall life and salvation 5. Direction Redeeme the Time Whately Redemption of Time All mispenders of time must be suppressed Let. 1. 1. Sinnc Quest. Resp. 1. Remedy Sinne must be discovered and found out 2. Remedy Smite it with the two edged sword of the Spirit Heb. 4. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Super ●mnem gladinm ancipitem 3. Remedie Fl●e unto Heaven for a●de b●●ervent praye● Whateley's Husbandry pag. 8 Ibid. p. 8● M. Bernard Isle of man pag. 165. 4. Remedie 1. Medit. Iam. 1. 21. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. Medit. 3. Medit. 2. Let. Excessive sleeping or sluggishnes 1. Rule or Remedie To habituate or accustome our selves to timely rising 2. Rule or Remedy Take heede of immoderate use of the Creatures 3. Let. Immoderate carking and caring for the things of this life The great hurt that this thiefe will doe us It keepeth us from the performance of holy duties Or