Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	old_a	prophet_n	testament_n	5,085	5	8.1969	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A64335	The reason of episcopall inspection asserted in a sermon at a visitation in Cambridge by John Templer ...	Templer, John, d. 1693.	1676 (1676)	Wing T665; ESTC R18565	44,463	68

encouragement to encounter those difficulties which the exercise of their Authority might expose them to he assures them by promise of a propitious influence not onely to be communicated to themselves but those who should succeed them even to the end of the World Lo I am with you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all the days of your life and with you in your Successours when there shall be a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or transmigration of your power 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 even to the end of the world That this Phrase is of no inferior an importance is manifest Mat. 13.39 46 48. In the words there is an accommodation to the manner of Speaking amongst the Jews which divide the time from the Creation to the finall Period of the mundane System into two Ages the first extending to the Coming of the Messias the second to the Dissolution of all things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cannot signifie the first Period the Messias being in our Nature when the words were spoken therefore they must by an unevitable consequence import the last To this S. Paul is very agreeable Eph. 4.11 where he asserts that the Apostles were given for the perfecting of the Saints Ver. 12 13. till all be brought into the unity of the Faith This is the end of this most transcendent Gift which hath not yet obtained a full accomplishment and therefore if the means must continue till the end be obtained the Apostolicall Function is not yet arrived at its finall Period If it be objected that this argument will conclude as well for the duration of Prophets and Evangelists which are mentioned in the same Verse we may reply with security enough that there is no inconvenience if it do so By Prophets we are not obliged from any thing in the Text to understand any other Persons then such as had an excellent skill to preach the Gospel out of the Books of the Old Testament such as Judas and Silas were When the gift of Prophecy is mentioned 1 Cor. 13.2 the understanding of mysteries namely Evangelical Doctrines locked up in the figures of the Law and the predictions of the Prophets is immediately added as an exegesis of it The Evangelists are such as had a profound insight into the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Gospel as contained in the writings of the New Testament and could with singular dexterity open and explain its true importance It is observable that this word was not in use till a considerable part of the New Testament was penned In the first Epistle to the Corinthians which hath an early date when S. Paul reckons first Apostles secondly Prophets and the method which he useth in his Epistle to the Ephesians seems to engage him to give the third Place to Evangelists yet he passeth them by in silence the Church at that time being a stranger to the denomination Both these as they stood in relation to Government were of the same order namely Suffragans to the holy Apostles the Prophets are joyned with them Eph. 2.20 We read of their imposition of hands in an Apostolicall manner Acts 13.3 Timothy who is enjoined to do the work of an Evangelist did cooperate with S. Paul and minister to him in his Ecclesiasticall concerns This being premised I see no reason why such persons may not still be continued Bishops are Successors in ordinary to the Apostles their Suffragans to the Prophets and Evangelists It is to be noted that as the Apostles are joined with these two in the same Verse so these are with Pastours and Teachers that is Elders which were set over particular Congregations and Deacons as Theophylact asserts which did occasionally teach and help the Elders in their Ministeriall Function In Ep. ad Eph. c. 4.11 and therefore are said to be given 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the same end is prefixed for all of them namely the edifying the Body of Christ Ver. 12. and the same term of time set out for their duration till all come into the unity of the Faith Therefore if Pastours and Teachers are to continue in the Church we have reason to believe the same concerning Prophets and Evangelists The thing may remain although there be an innovation in the Names The first Epistle to Timothy is very consonant to what hath been asserted After the prescribing Rules C. 6. v. 14. how to regulate his deportment in the Church of God and in particular with what prudence to exercise his Superiority over an Elder he leaves this injunction with him I charge thee to keep the Commandment untill the appearing of the Lord Jesus The mortality of Timothy rendring it impossible to do this in his own person it is necessarily imployed that there shall be a succession of some with the like Authority even to the second Coming of Christ By the Commandment we must not understand onely what is expressed in the precedent Verse concerning fighting the good fight but the systeme of rules delivered in the Epistle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signanter must import what is principally commanded in it That is principally enjoyned which hath the most immediate connexion with the end for which it was written The end of the penning of it was to instruct Timothy how to behave himself in the Church therefore the precepts in the body of the Epistle in particular those which relate to an Elder having the most direct aspect upon this end must necessarily be contained in the command which Timothy is charged to keep By the appearing of the Lord Jesus we are not obliged to understand Timothy's decease The time of death is never so stiled by S. Paul or any other in any part of Holy Writ and it is not safe and becoming to attribute to the Apostle a manner of speaking which neither he nor any before him did ever use Whereas the last coming of Christ is frequently stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Context which is no bad Interpreter 2 Tim. 4.1 Tit. 2.13 doth determine it to this sence in this place for it imports such an appearance as the blessed and onely Potentate shall shew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tempore quod ipse novit namely at the Day of Judgement the knowledge of which He hath entirely reserved to himself All this can amount to no less then a Declaration of the Divine Pleasure that the Apostolicall Government and Inspection should still be continued in the Christian Community 3. As a further Evidence we have the practice of the universall Church which if after our most diligent inquiry into the Holy Scriptures the sense of any branch of the Divine Will remains ambiguous is the best Interpreter we know of The Church may be considered in a twofold State either under persecution before the conversion of the Emperours to the Faith of Christ or else in her prosperity after Constantine the Great had obtained the throne There are none who doubt whether an Apostolicall imparity prevailed under the