Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	people_n	pray_v	prayer_n	2,487	5	6.7769	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A43822	Nevv lords, nevv lavvs, or, A discovery of a grand usurpation, in opposition to the Holy Laws of God and contempt of the good laws, and royal prerogative of the supream magistrate, as it hath been lately practised by the lordly Matthew Caffin, a pretended true apostle of our blessed Lord and Saviour, and ruling head of his congregation, usually meeting at Southwater near Horsham in Sussex. By R. H.	Haines, Richard, 1633-1685.	1674 (1674)	Wing H202B; ESTC R216445	62,553	67

am perswaded it must be otherwise then in the way of Regeneration There is an old Proverb Kissing goes by favour But suppose an honest Widdow or Maid should marry with one that is not in fellowship be he of the Church of England Presbitery or Independent and notwithstanding he be of a more honest life and conversation than he that was fain to marry his own Favorite yet for this thing according to his Law she shall be accused as an offender and no humility to be accepted of but excommunicated she must be and she not to be forgiven to the hour of death except they part or he be converted to them but in the mean time she is to be adjudged to live in Forincation and so their children are Bastards but this Doctrine is opposed by the Congregations in London and elsewhere and by what Authority he doth maintain it I know not but this I with others do believe that persons fearing God ought to match with those that do agree with themselves therein if they can to their contentment One thing more is observable which is this that before this meeting he had certain knowledge of this disorder and yet at the meeting signified that he was ignorant of it But to smooth up the matter possibly he may pretend that the cause of his bearing with this Female Favorite was because she was his nearest or dearest Kinswoman and therefore this thing was suffered without pulick rebuke contrary to order for publick Sin To which I answer that if the Case be so and this sufficient then it may be concluded that if a man will but purchase a Kinswomans favour of him he then may keep a Concubine without any publick rebuke But to all this I know that some whose eyes are blinded with Idolatrous zeal will yet say that I do not well to censure him for say they I am CONFIDENT that he hath holy good ends in what he doeth and that he designs the good of all To which I answer so did others as honest as himself pretend and that without doubt Pope Clement the first did as soberly and seriously pretend the same thing and those that idolized him did believe that he designed the good of the Church when he made pardons and Indulgences saleable for seeing said he that one drop of our Saviours blood had been enough to have saved all mankind and yet that all his blood should be spilt he perswaded himself that the overplus was given as a Treasure to be dissposed of by the chief Officer of the Church But say you these things are not according to the Law of God and the holy Scriptures which we own for the unerring Rule and I say so is not Usurpation Tyranny Rebellion conniving at sin and partiality the Case is as broad as long sin is the same think among the Baptists where it is allowed of as it is amongst the Papists whom you condemn and seperate from What think you of it when a man shall be thus publickly charged with cruelty and cursing by many creditable persons and yet connived at whilst another man hath spent all his days so as to commit scarce any publick evil to the dishonour of the Gospel or the Church of Christ as ever yet was proved and yet that an Accusation should be received and Credited against him and that from the mouth of one person and he one of the world too and doth speak in his own Case and for his own Ends all that he saith is not this partiality I leave it to all the world for to judge But forasmuch as I am blamed by some of my pretended brethren for calling them Idolators I must confess it is very ill done of me if it be not true But if I can make it appear that they do give more homage to their new Lordly Officer than they give to the most high I suppose they not I deserve the blame Now that it is so doth it not appear by this viz. one of his chiefest adherents soon after they had practised their Tyranny without any the least shew of mercy I at a meeting at this mans house did take an occasion to interrupt him in his discourse and said that they preached one thing and practised another he having not wherewith to defend their practise declares publickly that I had lived in transgression these several years but would name nothing and said he I have convinced you thereof and yet you have continued in it and further said that I deserved to be excommunicated for that very thing now Sirs I pray observe that if this dangerous thing without name which he accuseth me with to render me odious to the people were true and that he knew it to be so which if not is he not a lyar and a false Accuser of his Brother but if true pray Sirs how hath he done his duty have we not often been both at the Lords Table since that time have we not ear and drunk several times to our greater condemnation if it be as he said I pray sirs observe all that could be swallowed up very well notwithstanding it was to the great dishonour of God and tending to the damnation of us both Now all this he can suffer without the least disquiet of Conseience doth it not therefore appear that he is more zealons to do the will of his new Lord than the will of him that is in Heaven if not why did he not rebuke ●e before this time and disowned to have fellowship with me if I was obstinate but that the thing for which he condemned me was as a sin as doubtless he would have the people to believe it was a most intollerable one I utterly do deny and also do affirm that he never did convince me that it was so and therefore I leave the Reader to judge whether he be not a Iyar and an abusive false accuser for saying that he did Again if I did confess it to be a sin and yet to his knowledge I did live several years in it why then did he not admonish me according to order but inasmuch as he did not I pray what condition is he in by neglecting his duty and having fellowship and Communion with it if as he said I deserved excommunication for the case was only this A certain person from year to year was often a Trespasser upon me by his Cattle lying in my Corn and Pasture which said person at a certain time dealt dishonestly with his own Brother in a Case that was injurious to my self also by which means I was provoked the more to require satisfaction for the wrong which he did unto me his Cattle at that very time lying on my Corn and because I did take money of him in satisfaction of all the injuries that he had done me for the time past And notwithstanding I never troubled him nor in any wise hurt or abused his Cattel nor did take half so much as the damage did amount unto

by the Dispositions and Actions of the Servants may be discerned what manner of Spirit the Master is of they being the only Three three more such I would hope he may not find amongst you so fit to serve him The first was he in whose Judgment I deserved to be Excommunicated for offending his Lordship rather than for offending the most High and Holy One. The second Assistant was he that defended his own unlawful Acts of Covetousness by means directly unlawful viz. Deceit and Fraud and yet condemns me for coveting a Patent Of whom I would ask this Question VVhether he be willing to receive the same measure as he hath meered The last and more eminently zealous in his Masters business than the other two was he who with his fist of wickedness did abuse his Brother and after his exercise of Cruelty to his abused Beast wished the Plague and the Pox to the poor tyred Creature Think you that these Spirits will strain at a Gnat that can swallow such Cammel-Impieties Or will you be offended if to such a triple Knot of Preaching Conspirators I recommend that Text You Hypocrites first cast out the Beams that are in your own Eyes and then may you see more clearly to pluck out the Mote that is in your Brothers Eye And whereas your Lordly Apostle hath as it were scoffingly called me Dreamer give me leave to say That though I am far from Practising or Justifying any Superstitious Observation of Dreams as knowing that they are oft times caused by Natural means and prove only Delusive motions of the ever-busie Fancy retained by the waking Memory whilst the Judgment and distinguishing Faculties together with the external Senses lie fast lock'd up in the Charms of Sleep yet since we have both Examples and positive Texts shewing That in Dreams was one way whereby the Lord was pleased heretofore to communicate himself to his Servants I dare not censure all Representations of that kind as vain casual or signifying nothing Nay some Reasons I have considering the Time and several Circumstances to apprehend that a certain Dream of mine the Relation whereof might occasion such his Lordships Scoffs may prove no less certain in the Event than the Dreams of him who for his Dreams was envied by his Brethren And for the satisfying your curiosity who have not heard it I shall here faithfully relate it as it happened thus On the Day on which you were pleased to deal with me as an Offender of the weak Brethren I arose early in the morning resolving as at other times not to omit the performance of any thing that might be my duty towards God in order whereunto I prepared by Fasting and Prayer to rely on him only for his guidance and assistance without the least premeditation what to Answer And with sincerity I can say it as I went out so did I come home with a gracious confidence of his Mercy and Favour But it being then somewhat late in the Evening so soon as I had refreshed my self and performed my Duty as at other times I went to Bed and in my Sleep I had a Dream That I was standing a little distant from that House wherein this unhappy and ill-managed Meeting was and as I stood still observing the House to be full of People and my self at a distance as a Person not regarded Behold a great Fire did on a sudden appear in the House at which I stood amazed crying out Your House is on Fire but immediately it seemed to me to Blaze through all the Windows on the South-side of it whereupon with a loud voice I cried to them within to depart the House telling them what danger they were in and often saying The House is on Fire But all the care and pains I could take to perswade them was in vain and wholly contemned But whilst I was busie thus warning them to escape behold all the House seemed to be in a Flame the Fire breaking violently forth even through the Roof of it Then did I observe every Person suddenly to be in motion and every hand set work whereby the Fire began to ab●te and in short time after was quenched This being done I then came into the House where I found all the People in a little disorder some walking about and others sitting still in that Room where they had compassed their unhappy Act of unmerciful Tyranny but at the upper End of the Table where the unjust Judg or false Apostle used to stand and perform his Devotion I beheld the perfect form of a Pulpit with the door open and on the outside of the Pulpit door there was a little woodden-pin on which there hung a very bright key of which I did often take notice but the Pulpit being empty I inquired for the person that should be in it but none made me Answer till at last it was observed by all that the Party belonging to the said place was lost and could no where be found and also that my Company was Acceptable This was my Dream as one to wit my Servant that then was and was one of their Company and knew more of my mind than any other can if he will witness that I related the same to him the next day but this is observable that in all my dream I was not sensible of any thing that had passed between the Church and my Self nor did I awake till the morning Light and then my dream came to my remembrance Another dream some what remarkable I had some few days before there was a slop put to my obtaining the great Seal of England for the Confirmation of his Majesties grant before the late Lord Keeper by reason of the untrue Information of two Conspirators who suggested That I was not the first Inventer and that I designed to prohibite all persons from Cleansing of Clover All which was utterly false Some few days I say before this stop was made I being at London in my sleep had this dream That as I was going about my business in Order to have his Majesties grant Confirmed under the great Seal behold there stood in my way a Church as it were quite Cross the street so that I could not pass by it whereupon I stood still to Consider whether there was no other way by which I might go whither my business lay but whilst I was thus Considering methoughts a strange thing came into my mind viz. That I must go over the Church which seemed to be of a considerable Height and on the middle of it stood a very High and Stately Steeple which seemed to overtop all the Churches in London At the sight whereof I was somewhat afraid of Climbing so High as to get over the Church but so it was over it I must and up I got to the Top of the Church and being there the losty Steeple standing in my way over that I must go also which I did and went down again to the ground on the other side

where looking up to the top of the Steeple I returned thanks that I came over so dangerous a place without hurt but passing towards my business methoughts I was discouraged and given to doubt that at that time I should be frustrared of my intent and was moved to go home with Content there to settle my self to the work I should find my self most concerned in and afterwards I should have my Expectation as in relation I mean to the Confirmation of the Patent This dream I confess I did little heed though it of● came into my thoughts till such time as the day of hearing before the Lord Keeper came who upon their false Allegations was pleased to put a stop to my business and then home I came where I not only found how these Conspirators had Alarm'd the Country with news of the great things they had done one of them boasting as I was told that they were promised That if I did go any more to private meetings It should cost me every time 100 pound But also that my pretended Brethren were lifted up above measure beginning to boast that they were Justifyed on all hands and that they were glad they had done it viz. Excommunicated me before that time All which Considered together with the premifes herein before declared I was then and not till then fully Convinced That it was my duty to Publish their Acts of Injustice and defend my own Innocency thus beyond measure abused Whereupon I did apply my self to the Lord by Fasting and Prayer several days Desiring that he would assist me in the work or otherwise withhold me from it by what means best pleased him yea I did desire the Lord to bring upon me those Evills which that false Apostle did predict Should befall me rather than that I by this means should dishonour his glorious name But the work lay before me and as well as I could I then drew up the greatest part of what is here presented to publique view And then to London I went with a full Intent to Printthe same and and also to move for a Rehearing of my Case concerning the Patent About which makeing some Inquiry I found all things seemed to smile upon and in order to obtain a Rehearing I went to the Right Honourable the Earl of Shaftsbury then Lord High Chancellor of England and without Petition Bribe or Fee was admitted to treat with his Honour who after several times discoursing the matter was pleased to Confirm what His Majesty had gratiously granted unto me under the Great Seal of England But the cause of my not publishing this Narrative at that time I have truely declared in my Epistle to the Reader Thus part of my last dream being accomplished in such good success in my Business of the Patent after I had applyed my self with diligence to make a discovery of the Usurpers Wickedness why may I not rationally Imagine that no part of the rest will pass unfulfilled in its kinds Yet cannot I boast any Certainty nor dare pretend to Divine Revelations acknowledging that what I have related were really dreams but whereas this false Apostle as I hinted before hath prophesied saying to me at a time when I was not well in Health That if I would not be ruled by him and decline the said business of the Patent I should not prosper in Body nor Estate and to another That I should not be able to subsist or to that effect my Condition would be so strange Blessed and for ever Blessed be the most High God Even the God of my Salvation I have found him a false Prophet and though at his Instigation I was Cast out by my pretended Loveing but deluded Brethren saying Let the Lord be Glorified I comfortably hope That be will appear to my Joy when they shall be Ashamed If. 66. 5. Oh! What shall I say unto you my most unkind yet pretended tender Loveing Friends May I flatter you as your seducer hath done whereby to Engage you on my part No I dare not the matter is weighty A Soul Concern and most dangerous it is to play with Thunder-Boults and Jest with things that are sharp and burning Did you not believe that what your pretended Apostle with your consents hath done on Earth was also done in Heaven I know that you did believe it And yet how easily were you drawn to Consent to this horrible Cruelty though youhad no Command for it Why would you to that degree punish where no Law was Transgressed Why would you Condemn where no sin was proved As for my offending weak Brethern I have I suppose sufficiently proved that to be a meer pretence and Juggling Stratagem to Engage you to Joyn and become ignorantly his instruments to accomplish his designe before resolved upon And yet even in this I was ready and earnest to have given you Satisfaction if he like an Enemy to Peace and good Order had not perpetually disturbed our Reasoning together as aforesaid Let not I beseech you a fond veneration for him or prejudice against me any longer prevent your laying to heart this Act of rash Cruelty and your dealings equally unjust and unkind towards a person who can with a good Conscience say That he hath been and is still ready to be kind to you all according to his Duty Consider I say my Beloved what was become not only of mercy and Compassion Christian Love and mutual pitty but even of Justice and Common right in that day when you Condemn'd me so that I could not find so much as a little Heathenish Equity I speak not this to insilt over but to regain you and Convince you of your Condition for whatever you may think I cannot but Believe That without Repentance for such unjust and uncharitable deeds you must be in danger And think not my friends That I am such a son of Belial that in a way of Love you may not without Interruption speak unto me for I can truely say I have longed for an opportunity to Converse with you so as the Usurper be not present to disburb our friendly Reasonings continually with his Clamorous interposeings Nor should I after this manner have spent one hour in this work had I not believed that it was indispensably my Duty to endeavour by this means to make you senfible of your Delusions And I pray God that it may prove effectual to that purpose so that henceforth you may say of him who like a seducer hath Caused Confusion and Disorder What have we to do with thee Ob full of all Subtlety c. For untill you Repent and acknowledg your Acts of Injustice practised under pretence of Authority how shall you and I be reconciled For my self I am always ready to do my part so far forth as it Concerns me declaring hereby That upon the performance of your Duties I am as ready and willing to forgive the worst of you that hath hated me most as you can be willing that I should