Selected quad for the lemma: body_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
body_n	church_n	head_n	visible_a	10,670	5	9.6541	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A25294	The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easie draught of the Christian catechisme in LII lectures on chosen texts of Scripture, for each Lords-day of the year, learnedly and perspicuously illustrated with doctrines, reasons, and uses / by that reverend and worthy laborer in the Lord's vineyard, William Ames ...	Ames, William, 1576-1633.	1659 (1659)	Wing A3003; ESTC R6622	173,739	322

politick as is found in worldly Cities or Commonwealths but unto a natural body such as is that of man Now it is called the body of Christ for its most neer union that it hath with Christ as being as it were flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone as it is in the Text. Reas. 2. Because of that dependance it hath from Christ as its head For as all sense and motion of a sensitive creature is derived from the head into every particular member so also all spiritual vertue is derived by influence from Christ into his Church Reas. 3 Because of the union and communion that the faithfull have amongst themselevs in Christ which is the communion of Saints and the joynts whereby these members are coupled together The bonds also of this conjunction are the Spirit Faith and Charity By the spirit they are properly conjoyn'd with God in Christ and also amongst themselves but by Faith they are properly conjoyn'd to God in Christ onely and by Charity most properly they are conjoyn'd amongst themselves Use 1. Of Consolation to all believers because they are made partakers of so great dignity as to be assum'd to the body of Christ on which behalf they may also certainly expect all good things from Christ. Use 2 Is of Admonition that we dishonour not this most holy body of Christ with our life and manners but with all our care and diligence may go about this that our conversation may be such as is worthy of them that have so neer a conjunction with Christ and his most holy servants Doct. 3. The Church in that acception of the word as she is mystically considered is one onely holy and universally Catholike These things are understood of her mysticall estate because in her visible or external estate she is neither one nor Catholike nor altogether holy These things are thus gathered from the Text she is one because she makes but up one body of Christ neither hath he more bodies but one She is holy because she is said to be sanctified and purified by Christ to wit by separation from the world by pardon of her sins in justification by renovation of our inherent righteousness in sanctification of this life and perfecting of it in the life to come She is lastly Universal or Catholike because all the elect or faithfull of all Nations and of all times and places make up but one and the same mysticall body of Christ. Use 1. Is of Resutation against Papists who wrest all that are proposed to be believed and spiritually understood of Christs mystical body unto the Popish state of their Romane visible Church which is neither one because not now the same that she was when the Apostles wrote to her neither holy because by their own confession many Popes that is heads of the Romane Church were most wicked beasts nor is ●…he Catholike or Universall because it implies a contradiction that one particular Church as the Romane properly is should be Universall in any propriety of speech Use 2. Is of Consolation to all believers because in this very thing that they are actuall believers they are members of this Church that is proposed to us to be believed and they are in the same condition as to the main business in which the Patriarches Prophets and Apostles and all the Saints were that ever lived or shall live hereafter in any place or time of the world Doct. 4. Unto th●…s Church all those benefits relate and belong that Christ hath procured for men by his death It is gathered from hence because Christ is said to have done all that he did out of love to his Church Reas. 1. Because it was the wise purpose and intention of God gloriously by Christ to communicate his grace unto certain men For else the whole dispensation of Christ's incarnation life and death had been of uncertain success or event Reas. 2. Because Christ not onely promerited this but also brings it to pass and that to perfection by his efficacy or power Use Of Consolation chiefly to all true believers For whatsoever is said of the whole Church in common is extended unto each member of the same because the Church is nothing else but a collection of believers or believers considered as gathered together or conjoyned in one body or multitude The two and twentieth Lords day Phil. 3. 20 21. Verse 20 For our conversation is in Heaven from whence also we look for a Saviour the Lord Iesus Christ. 21 Who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself A Reason is given in these words why believers should rather follow the true Apostles than false Teachers and it is taken from the comparison of unlike things The unlike qualities are a care for the things of the world in false Teachers and a care for things heavenly in the true Apostles This care of the Apostle is illustrated by a double argument 1. From the adjunct manner which is set out to us by the similitude of Burgesses 2. From the efficient cause of this care which is faith and hope of the glory that is to come This glory again is illustrated 1. From its principal cause which is Christ Jesus 2. From the subject of it which is extended also to the body and not to the soule alone 3. From the quality of the body which is pointed out to us by a similitude with the body of Christ. 4. From the virtue and power of that efficient cause aforesaid for producing such an effect which is no other than omnipotency according to that mighty power whereby c. Doct. 1. The resurrection of mans body is certainly to be This is taught in the Text 1. In that a transmutation of our bodies is determined on 2. In that it is said they shall be made conformable to the body of Christ which by its resurrection was raised unto glory The foundations or grounds of that article are two The power of God and the truth of the Scriptures as Christ himself teacheth in his answer to the Sadduces Ye erre to wit about the resurrection now knowing the Scriptures and the power of God By the power of God the raising of our bodyes again is possible it being as easie to God to do that as at first to make all things out of nothing yea as to make man out of the clay of the earth For it is easy to conceive that the same efficient cause can again joyn the same principles which once before he did conjoyn and moreover made them all out of nothing As for the Scriptures the truth and certainty of this resurrection is expresly declared by its testimony Reas. 1. Because man was created for eternity and therefore must be set free from death which assaults the whole race of man kind against its nature that so it may again attain to eternity Reas. 2. Because

the soule cannot come to its perfect and compleat glory by its reunion with the body because it would be as it were maimed as to such faculties the operations whereof it exerciseth by the body and so in some sort it should remain as it were blind deaf dumb c. Reas. 3. Because the equity of divine dispensation requireth this that those bodies which had their own share in the labours and workes that belong unto this life should also have their share in such rewards as belong unto the end of this life Use Is to establish our faith about this truth which is one of the principal articles of the Christian faith Doct. 2. The same bodies that we had as to their essences and natures shall arise again though not the same as to their dispositions and qualities This is hence gather'd that in the Text our bodies are not onely said that they shall be transfigured by which phrase we are to understand that the substance of our bodies shall remain the same and that the outward figure or fashion or manner of its disposition and complexion shall onely be changed But also that they are said that they shall be transfigured after the manner of Christs body For Christ had the same flesh and bones which he had before and this he made manifest unto his Disciples Reas 1. Because neither reward nor punishment would have any place in the body after its resurrection unless the very same bodies were restored to men whereof they made use here upon earth before either for doing evill or doing good Reas. 2. Because otherwayes after the resurrection the party should not remain the same man determinately this man that man or that he was before Reas. 3. Because it is as easie to God to glorifie the same bodily substance that he had before as any other Use Of Resutation against such Hereticks who having almost blended their own dogmatical fictions and phancies with the true Doctrine would also have our bodies after the resurrection not to be the same but new ones even as to their substance Doct. 3. Perfection glory and eternal happinesse shall be given to believers after that in the resurrection they shall be clothed with their bodies again It is in the Text. This glory is partly in the soul and partly in the body but in both there shall be a removal of all imperfection and a communication of all perfection which shall be thought fit for every one to receive In the soul shall be the fruition of God whereby all desire of desirable things shall be in a certain eminent way satisfied There shall be also an abundantly heaped perfection of all gifts and virtues as is in the blessed Angells This glory shall also so stream forth unto the bodies that they shall be like unto heavenly bodies which is the point chiefly expounded in the Text Our body shall be made conformable c. Reas. 1. Because it is God's purpose singularly to glorify himself in that supernaturall blessednesse that is to be given unto us Reas. 2. Because Christ already glorified is not onely the efficient cause but the pattern of our glory We shall not therefore have onely such a likenesse to Christ as is between any effect and its cause according to that maxime as the cause is such is the effect But also that proportion which is between the pattern and its pourtraict Reas. 3. In order of dignity by the bountiful appointment of God believers shall next after Christ have their place together with the blessed Angells Use Of Direction that we may often set before our eyes in our meditation the greatnesse of this glory unto which we are called that so we may both stirre up thankfulnesse in our selves to God and a certaine holy contempt and neglect of all things in this world Doct. 4. This resurrection of our bodies from the dead and the glorification of them shall be by the most powerfull operation of Christ. From these words According to that mighty power of working he should transforme c. And this agrees to Christ as he is one and the self same God with the Father Reas. 1. Because it is the work of that supereminent greatnesse of power that is proper unto God 〈◊〉 1. 19. Reas. 2. Because that most wonderfull quickening of our bodies should come from the living and alive-making God who is the fountain and source of all life Therefore in the same manner it is not attributed onely to the Father but also to the Son and Holy Spirit Rom. 8. 11. This agreeth also to Christ as he is Mediator but still as united unto God essentially also as he submits himself together with the humane nature in one person to be mediator Ioh. 5. 26. and 6. 40. Reas. 1. Because it belongs to the Mediatory office of Christ not onely that by his merit he should procure life eternal to us but also by his powerfull working actually bring the same to pass Reas. 2. Because Christ as Mediator is the head of his Church from whom is derived and communicated to us the Spirit of life whereby as well our soules as our bodies are quickened our soules especially in this life and our bodies in the day of the resurrection Reas. 3. Because Christ as Mediator and as the Son of man but as united pesonally in the Godhead in the Son of God shall judge the world Ioh. 5. 27. Now this belongs to the power of the Judge that he can bring before himself and make the parties to be judged to appear Use Of Direction that by all meanes we do this as in our prayers so in our meditations and other our spiritual exercises to wit that we may behold this supereminent power and greatnesse of Christ's might as the Apostle wisheth to the Ephesians and to us as one of the greatest gifts of God Ephes. 1. 17 18 19 20. For by this meanes 1. Our faith and confidence in Christ is established 2. We will be forearmed against all terrours of this world and of Hell it self 3. With all cherefulnesse we shall recommend our soules to Christ in well-doing because he is able to performe all that he hath promised all that we seek of him and above all that can come into our thoughts Doct. 5. We should so look for this glory to come in this present life as that we lead in some sort an heavenly life ●…ven here upon earth This is it which is said in the beginning of the Text We behave our selves as Burgesses or Citizens of Heaven Reas. 1. Because where our treasure or chief good is there will our hearts be also and where the ●…cart is there will the whole man be if therefore we have our treasure and chief good in Heaven our heart will be in Heaven also and our conversation will be heavenly Reas. 2. Because all these worldly things whereabout men are busied and most are drowned in can never come in competition with the blisse of Heaven

in us Rom. 8. 11. Use 1. Of Admonition that we suffer not sin to reigne in our natural bodies that we offer not our members weapons of unrighteousnesse to sin but weapons of righteousnesse to God Rom. 6. 12 13. Use 2. Of Exhortation that we glorify God in our body as it followes in the Text verse 20. For we ought to have that care of our body in order to things spiritual that is due to the Temple of God as in the Text and to an offering to be offered up in the Temple of God Rom. 12. 1. Doct. 4. The indwelling of this Spirit is a flat enemy to the 〈◊〉 of sin in us This is the consequence of the argument in the Text to wit that the Temple of God cannot be prostituted to whoredome and other such sinnes without Sacriledge Reas. 1. Because there should be an agreement between the Temple and him whose temple it is or to whom it is dedicated as it is 2 Cor. 6. 16. what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idolls For by a like reason we may say What agreement hath the temple of God with reigning sin Reas. 2. Because therefore the Holy Spirit dwels in believers that he might impart holiness to them and as his nature and name so also his indwelling and operation is an enemy to all ungodliness Reas. 3. Because if the Kingdome of sin should prevail in the Temple and dwelling of the Holy Spirit this would turn to the disgrace and disho●… of the Holy Spirit himself And this is indeed the thing that is done when some prophane men blaspheme and mock at the name of God of the Holy Ghost because of the unworthy carriage of those that make profession to be led by this Holy Spirit Use 1. Of Reproof against such as turn the Temple of the Holy Ghost into 〈◊〉 Den of Thieves or into a Cage of unclean birds Use 2. Of Admonition that we give no place to sin either in our soules or bodies but as farre as is possible that we imitate Christ who as it is written Mat. 25. did cast out of the Temple of God even buyers and sellers and the tables of money changers and Iohn 2 15. with a wl●…ip drave out of the Temple sheep and beeves Doct. 5. All the faithfull ought to have both faith and experience about this indwelling of the Holy Spirit in them This is intimated in these words Do ye not know brethren that is ye ought not to be ignorant of this but to believe this and 〈◊〉 know it from your own proper experience or fe●…ling Reas. 1. Because this is amongst the greatest benefits that belong to our salvation Reas. 2. Because from this benefit depends the knowledge of all the rest that God hath freely given to us 1 Cor. 2. 12. So that the same may here ●…e said that is said of Christ 2 Cor. 13. 5. Know ye not that Christ is in you c. So here Know ye not what the Holy Ghost is in you c. Use 1. Of Direction that we try our selves in this point and never rest as if it were well with us untill unto our comfort we can perceive that the Holy Spirit dwelleth in us Use 2. Of Exhortation that we study to have this knowledge lively and powerfully according to the intent of the Apostle here who intimates to us that this knowledge if it be such as it should be cannot consist with whoredome or any such like impurity of life The one and twentieth Lords day Eph. 5. 25 26 27. Vers. 25 Husbands love your wives even as Christ also loved the Church and gave himself for it 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing But that it should be holy and without blemish IT is the Apostle's purpose in this place to stir up men to the duty of love to their wives And he illustrates this duty and perswades it from the example of Christ's love to his Church and in the example the love of Christ towards his Church is declared from its effects whereof the first is that he laid down his life for her The second is the end and effect of the former to wit that by vertue of his death he sanctified and purified the Church unto himself The third is the effect and end of both the former that he namely makes her glorious The fourth is the conjunction and union that the Church hath with Christ to wit that she is his body and of his flesh and bones verse 30. The manner of which union and its nature is shewn to consist in a mystery and not in any carnal or bodily way but in a most spiritual and hidden way Doct. 1. The Church is the whole company and community of the elect This is hence gathered because she is here described and designed by Christ's spiritual love to her as ought the love of an husband to be to his wife Now this love includes alwayes in it self a differenceing of her beloved separating of her from all other and so it is nothing else but an election or choice made of her before others This is to be understood of a company chosen unto eternall life Now this company is considered of two manner of wayes First as election lies in the absolute and internal counsell of God Secondly as it is described and manifested by its effect of calling and the blessing that followes on it They that are chosen the first way they are members of the Church onely virtually and potentially to be such in time but such a power as is determinate and certainly to be brought forth into act in due time by the decrees of God Therefore the elect not yet called are not yet actually and in themselves formal members of the Church The second way as the act of vocation and effect of election is there it makes men actual and formal members of the Church Now that first effect of election internal which is proper to the elect is effectual calling which 〈◊〉 a kinde of external election as it were made in time Therefore the Church hath her name rather from this calling than from justification sanctification or glorification unto which this accrues moreover that by this meanes the company or community of actual believers is fitly designed seeing that none are ordinarily called effectually but such as by actual faith answer that call Use Is of Direction how we may obtaine to our selves the certainty of our election to wit if we can be certain of our effectual calling that is be sure by inward feeling and experience of our true faith and unfaigned repentance of their operations on and in our hearts and by the effects that thence follow Doct. 2. This Church is the body of Christ. Reas. 1. It is called his body by way of proportion or similitude not unto a body