Selected quad for the lemma: christian_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
christian_n	believer_n	church_n	visible_a	1,349	5	9.2573	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A17384	A commentary: or, sermons vpon the second chapter of the first epistle of Saint Peter vvherein method, sense, doctrine, and vse, is, with great variety of matter, profitably handled; and sundry heads of diuinity largely discussed. By Nicholas Byfield, late preacher of God's Word at Isle-worth in Middlesex.	Byfield, Nicholas, 1579-1622.; Gouge, William, 1578-1653.	1623 (1623)	STC 4211; ESTC S107078	497,216	958

sacrifice their owne affections which resemble those sweet odors with which the Tabernacle was perfumed The outward couerings of the Tabernacle do assure safety and preseruation to the Godly and the rather because the cloud rested vpon them as is affirmed Esay 4.5 6. Besides the double couering of slain beasts may signifie that God hath two waies to prouide for the Church The red skinnes of Rammes may note Christ crucified which is that which on the inside of the Tabernacle was onely sewed The couering of Badgers skinnes may note that God will serue himself of the wicked their skins shall protect the Church If Israel want room Canaan must dy for it Now thirdly the Tabernacle was a type of euery beleeuer if we respect the end of it For the Tabernacle was erected of purpose as the place of the presence of God God's visible House such are the hearts of Christians they are prepared of purpose for the entertainment of Iesus Christ that by his Spirit he may liue and dwell therein Gal. 2.20 Col. 1.27 2. Cor. 12.9 2. Cor. 13.5 Vse The vse of all may be both for instruction and consolation For instruction and so it should teach vs diuers things First to abhor fornication seeing our bodies are the temples of the holy Ghost 1. Cor. 6.21 Secondly to keepe our selues for being vnequally yoked Because there can bee no communion betweene light and darknes the Temple of God and Idols Thirdly to looke to our harts in respect of inward sinnes and to keepe the roome cleane for the Lord to dwell in 2. Cor. 7.1 Fourthly to stir vp our selues to much praier if our hearts be the house of God let them bee a house of praier also Fiftly let vs still lift vp our harts as euerlasting dores for the Lord of Glorie to come in Psalme 24.7 For consolation Shall wee not say as Paul doth We will reioice in our infirmities that the power of Christ may dwell in vs How should wee hold vp our head against all tentations and afflictions Is not the grace of Christ sufficient for vs 2. Cor. 12.9 And shal we not be confident that through Christ we can doe all things Will he forsake the house vpon which his Name is called Will hee not perfect his owne work and repaire his owne dwelling place Was the tabernacle safe in the wildernes while the cloud was vpon it and are not our hearts safe while Christ is in them How are the abiect Gentiles honored Col. 1.27 whose hearts are so enriched by Christ that dwels in them If the outward Sanctuary were like high palaces Psal. 78.69 what is the hart of man the true tabernacle and if he established it as the earth how much more hath he established vs in his fauour and grace so that it may comfort vs in respect of honor done to our harts and against tentations and afflictions and in respect of hope of perseuerance and also in respect of increase of power and wel-doing Hee will work our works for vs. And it shewes vs also the honor cast vpon our good works they haue a noble beginning in respect of Christ and as they come from him Howsoeuer wee ought to be abased for our owne corruptions that cleaue vnto them Yea how should it wonderfully establish our hearts in all estates to think that Christ is with vs wheresoeuer we goe not only as our witnes but as our guide and our protector If God be with vs who can bee against vs. As also it is comfortable if wee consider the comparisons imported in the furniture of the outward tabernacle And thus much of the fourth thing The fift thing is Wee must bee a holy priest-hood vnto Christ which is amplified both by the labour of it To offer sacrifice and by the honor of it acceptable to God through Iesus Christ. Heere are many things to be noted The first is that Christians are priests before God and Iesus Christ This is acknowledged in other Scriptures Reuel 1.5 Exod. 19.6 The meaning is that they are like to the Leuiticall priests and that in many things First in respect of separation they are Gods portion giuen him out of all the people so are the godly all the portion God hath in the world They are said to bee the ransome of the children of Israel Numbers 8.9 Secondly in respect of consecration The oile of God is vpon the godly and as it was powred out vpon Aaron and his Sonnes The oile of grace and gladnes powred out vpon Christ our true Aaron hath run downe vpon his garments so as all his members are Christians that is anointed with him Psalme 133.2 Cor. 1.22.1 Ioh. 2. The holy Ghost is called the anointing in this respect Thirdly in respect of the substance of the ceremonies in their consecration for First as it was required in the Law that the Priests should bee without blemish Leuit. 21.17 so is it required of Christians Col. 1.22 Secondly as the Priests were washed in the great lauer of water Exod. 29.4 Leuit. 8.5.6 so must Christians be washed in the lauer of Regeneration Eph. 5.23 Titus 3.5 Thirdly as the Priests had their holy garments beautifull and goodly ones which they called their Ephods so doth the Queene the Church stand at Christs right hand in a Vesture of Ophir Psalme 45. Thus Iosuah hath change of garments mystically giuen him Zach. 3.4 Those garments are promised to such as haue had a spirit of heauinesse Isaiah 61.3 called garments of saluation verse 10. and roiall garments and like the newe wedding garments of the Bride Isaiah 62.5.7 Those garments signified either the singular glory and ioy of Christians Esaiah 61.3 or the righteousnes of Christ imputed Reuel 19. or the excellent diuine gifts and graces bestow'd vpon them Fourthly The Priest must haue blood sprinkled vpon his eare and vpon his thombe and vpon his toe to signify that our hearing practice and progresse must bee all sanctified to vs by Christ and that the maine thing Christians should expresse and attend to should be Christ crucified and that Christ by his blood hath consecrated them in all these respects so as their hearing and practice and progresse shall all bee blessed vnto them And thus of the ceremonies of their consecration Fourthly Wee should bee like the Leuiticall Priests for knowledge the Priests lips should preserue knowledge and they should seeke the Law at his mouth Malac. 2. And it is true of Christians that they are a people in whose heart is Gods law Esay 57.7 Hebr. 8. Ierem. 31. Fiftly We should be like the Priests in respect of the work they did For First It was the Priests office to carry about the Arke of the Lord when it was remoued vpon their shoulders What is the Arke to be carried but the doctrine of Christ and the Church Christians must carry about the Word of God and hold it forth in the light and life of it as lights that shine in the darke places of the

door of euery opinion and before thou let it in ask this question What shall my soule bee aduantaged by this opinion at the day of IESVS CHRIST And if it cannot answer to it directly reiect it Psal. 119.66 Dauid praies God to teach him good iudgement and knowledge Fiftly let the publique Ministery of GOD's seruants be the ordinary rule of thy interpretation so long as no sense is taught there contrary to the former rules 1. Cor. 14.36 and where thou doubtest thou must seek the law at the Priest's mouth and be very fearfull in any thing to bee wiser than thy Teacher I mean to nourish priuate opinions which are not iustified by publick doctrine Sixtly pray to God to ●each thee and to giue thee his Spirit to lead thee into all truth vnderstanding is God's gift 2. Tim. 2.7 and hee will teach thee humbly his way Psal. 25. Thus of the first rule wee must first soundly vnderstand the sense of the Scripture wee would apply Secondly thou must bring a minde apt to bee taught willing to be formed and to bee all that which God would haue thee to bee thou canst neuer profit by application without a penitent minde a minde that will part with any sin God shall discouer in thee and a minde carefull to obserue the conditions required aswell as the promise tendred Iames 1.21 This is indeed to glorifie the Word Thirdly it is an excellent help in application to follow the guiding of the holy Ghost in thy heart thou shalt finde in all doctrines a difference Some things read or heard haue a speciall taste put vpon them by Gods spirit or a special assurance of them wrought at the time of reading or hearing Now thou must be carefull to take to thee these truths which the Spirit of GOD doth cause to shine before thee Eat that which is good Esay 55.2 Try all things and keep that which is good 1. Thes. 5.20 Fourthly knowe that serious and secret meditation vpon the matter thou hearest is the principall nurse of fruitfull application it is but a flash can be had without an after deliberate meditation and about meditation remember these rules 1. Let it be secret 2. He must let it be full Giue not ouer till thou hast laid the truth vp in thy heart take heed of that common deceit Psalm 119.45 of resting in the praise or liking of the doctrine bee not a Iudge against thine owne soule For if the doctrine be worthy of such praise why darest thou let it slip and run out Let not the diuell start it out of thy heart Mat. 13.20 or the cares of life choke it Luke 11.28 3. Let it be constant Bee at the same point still from day to day till it bee soundly formed and seated in thy heart How rich might many Christians haue been if they had obserued this rule Psal. 1.2 Psalm 119.3 5. Esay 26.9 Fiftly be wise for thy self take heed of that errour of transposing thy applications say not This is a good point for such and such till thou haue tried thine owne heart whether it belong not to thee Psalm 119.59 Pro. 9.7 Sixtly by any means bee carefull of the seasons of doctrine be wise to vnderstand the season There bee many truths which if thou let passe the opportunity of informing of thy selfe thou maist perhappes neuer haue it so again and therefore take heed of losing precious things when thou hast the time and meanes to attaine them c. Thus of the first point The second thing is the speciall duty of Ministers to apply the Scriptures to the hearers that belong to their charge we see the Apostles doe it and for this purpose hath God set apart the ministery of the Word that by them it might be applied God inspired the Scriptures and the Ministers are to vrge them and whet them vpon the hearts of their hearers for their Instruction Reproofe or Consolation 2. Tim. 3.17 They are like the Priests for cutting vp or diuiding of the Sacrifices 2. Tim. 2.15 And this may serue to iustifie the course of godly and painfull ministers that most studie the sound application of their doctrine and secretly staineth the pride of these men that auoide with scorne application vainly affecting the praise of wit and learning Thirdly we may hence note that all men in the visible Church haue not a right to the comforts of the Scripture and it is the Ministers dutie to driue wicked men off from claiming anie part in the promises which are the only treasure of the Saints as here we see in these two verses the Apostle carefully doth Men must doe the workes of Iacob if they would haue the comforts of Iacob Micah 2. verse 7. A Minister must separate betimes the cleane and vncleane His word must be like a Fanne that will driue the chaffe one way and the Wheat another and though wicked men brooke not this yet God requireth this discretion at the hands of his people Gods Ministers must not dawbe with vntempered morter or giue the childrens bread to dogs or cast holy things to swine Fourthly they may hence cleerly also see that no other difference may be put between many then what faith and vnbelief obedience and disobedience make Men must not be knowne after the flesh Fiftly t is hence also apparant that all the godly haue a common right to the promises made in Christ. The godly in the Apostle Peters time had right to the former consolation as well as the godly in the Prophet Esaies time God is no respecter of persons Col. 3.11 Thus in generall Two things are to be obserued in particular The one concernes the godly who are comforted The other concernes the wicked who are terrified The Godly are comforted in these words To you therefore which beleeue he is precious In which words it is the drift of the Apostle to raise a vse for consolation out of the former Text whence consider First the persons comforted viz. you that beleeue Secondly the happinesse applied vnto them He is precious For the first It is manifest that the Apostle directs them to look for faith in their hearts if they would haue comfort in God's promises It is not enough to knowe that beleeuers shall bee saued but we must be sure that men in particular are beleeuers we must examine our selues whether we be in the faith or no 2. Cor. 13.5 Which should both reproue and direct It reprooues the great shamefull slothfulnesse of Christians that suffer the tempter to keep them without the assurance of faith some haue no faith at all and the better sort liue in too much doubtfulnes in the point of the assurance of faith And therefore we should bee warned and directed to try our faith and to make it sure that we are beleeuers Quest. What is it to be a true beleeuer Ans. It is To imbrace with our hearts the reconciliation and saluation which by Christ is purchased for vs

wear the badges of righteousnes The vncircumcised were accounted vnholy and the Iewes a holy nation because being circumcised they had the signe of righteousnes so are Christians holy by Baptism sacramentally Fiftly they are holy in regard of separation from the wicked and the World A thing was said to be holy in the Law which was separated from common vses to the vse of the Tabernacle so are the Godly holy because separated from the vnholy But chiefly the Godly excell for holinesse if we respect the holinesse First of justification they are holy by the imputation of the perfect holinesse of Christ and so are they as holy as euer was Adam in Paradise or the Angels in heauen Secondly of sanctification they haue holinesse in their natures and they practise holinesse too and thus they are holy in heart and by inchoation They haue grace in all parts though not in all degrees they are not destitute of any sauing or heauenly gift 1. Cor. 9.11 And this kind of holinesse must not bee slighted or meanly accounted of for first it is a holinesse wrought by the holy Ghost Secondly it is presented to God by the intercession of Christ whereby all imperfections are couered And thirdly it is acknowledged in the couenant of grace which admits of vprightnes and sincerity in stead of perfection which in the other couenants were required Thirdly they are holy in hope because they look for perfect holinesse in nature and action in another world There is a righteousnes which they wait for that exceeds all the righteousnes that euer was in any man in this world Christ Iesus excepted But I conceit it is the holinesse of sanctification which is heer meant Now this holiness consists either of mortification or viuification Mortification is imploied about the subduing of corruptions and viuification about qualifying the heart and life of the beleeuer with holinesse Viuification also is exercised either about new grace in the heart or new obedience in the conuersation I take it the later is heer meant and so the Apostle intends to say that no people are like the belieuing Christians for the holinesse of their conuersation Vses The vse of this point may bee first for great encouragement to the true Christian notwithstanding all his infirmities with which he is burdened and therefore hee should take heed that he be not wicked ouer-much Eccles. 7. that is hee should not think to vilely of himselfe For though hee be guilty of many sinnes yet hee is truely holy and that many waies as was shewed before God hath done great things for him that hath giuen him a holy head and a holy calling and especially that he hath already made him perfectly holy by Iustification and will make him perfectly holy in Sanctification in another world yea hee ought to take reason of comfort for his holines of Sanctification as for the reasons before so the verie holines of his conuersation is much more exact then is the conuersation of the wicked or then was his owne before his calling And withall this should much stirre vp godly men to the care of sound holines in their conuersation and the rather because first they were redeemed from a vain conuersation by the bloud of Christ 1. Pet. 1.18 Secondly they should much thereby aduance the profession of true Religion Phil. 1.27 Thirdly because a holy conuersation is a good conuersation God requires nothing of vs to doe but it is all faire work and good for vs whereas when wee haue done the Diuel the world and the flesh work that which was extremely ill for vs. Fourthly wee hold our profession before many witnesses many eies are vpon vs and the most men are crooked and peruerse 1. Tim. 6.12 Phil. 2.15 and the best way to silence foolish men is by vnrebukeablenes of conuersation 1. Pet. 2.15 Fiftly our heauenly Father is heereby glorified Math. 5. and 6. Sixtly it will bee a great comfort to vs in aduersity 2. Cor. 1.12 Lastly great is our reward in heauen For heereby will bee ministred aboundantly an entrance into the glorious Kingdome of Iesus Christ 2. Pet. 1.11 But then wee must looke to diuers rules about our conuersation that it may bee right for First it must be a good conuersation in Christ 1. Pet. 3.16 Secondly it must bee a conuersation discharged from those vsuall vices which are hatefull in such as professe the sincerity of the Gospell and yet common in the world such as are lying wrath bitternes rotten comunication or cursed speaking or the like Eph. 4.25 Col. 3.8 1. Pet. 1.14 Thirdly it must bee all manner of conuersation 1. Pet. 1.15 we must shew respect to all Gods commandements at home and abroad in religion mercy righteousnesse or honesty Fourthly wee must shew all meeknes of wisdome when wee heare outward praise or doe good or are to expresse our selues in discourse or otherwise Iam. 3.13 2. Cor. 1.12 And that wee may attaine to this holines of conuersation First wee must walk according to the rule of Gods Word and let that bee a light to our feet and a lanthorne vnto our pathes Gal. 6.16 Ioh. 3.21 Secondly wee must set before vs the pattern of such Christians as haue most excelled that way Phil. 3.17 and walke with the wife Thirdly especially as obedient children wee should learne of our heauenly Father to fashion our selues according to his nature and in all conuersation striue to be holy as hee is holy and as it followes in this verse wee should study and striue to shewe foorth the vertues that were eminent in Iesus Christ 1. Pet. 1.15 16. and 12.10 Thirdly in so much as holines is the prerogatiue of a Christian it should teach all sortes of men to try themselues whether they haue attained true holines or no so as they bee sure their holines exceed the holines of the Scribes and Pharises For else they cannot enter into the Kingdome of heauen For a Christian must haue that holines of conuersation which no wicked man can attaine vnto Now that this triall may bee done effectually I will shew wherein the holines of a true Christian exceedes the holines First of a meere ciuill honest man Secondly of the most glorious Hypocrite First for the meere ciuill honest man the true Christian exceedes his righteousnes both in the righteousnes of faith and in the internall holines of the heart and the power of holy affections but because it is holines of conuersation which is especially heere meant I will touch the differences in conuersation and so First they differ in one maine cause of orderly life For the holines of the godly Christian proceedes from a regenerate heart whereas the meere ciuil man is so naturally or onely by restraining grace Hee hath not beene in the furnace of mortification for sin Secondly the meere ciuil honest man glories in this that hee paies euery man his owne and is no adulterer or drunkard or the like notorious