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
A20805	The lambes spouse or the heauenly bride A theologicall discourse, wherin the contract betwixt Christ and the church; the preparation against the mariage; and the solemnization it selfe, and the exclusion of hypocrites and temporizers, is plainly and profitably, with the partucular vses, set forth. Whereunto is annexed an exact preparatiue to the Lords Supper. By T.D. Minister of the word of God.	Draxe, Thomas, d. 1618.	1608 (1608)	STC 7185; ESTC S114693	59,295	211

senectute confectum in sempiternae be●titudinis portum paradisum perducat Couentriae Ian. 1. 1608. Tuae dignitatis studiosissimus Thomas Drâx The Lambes Spouse or the Heauenly Bride Math. 25. 10. And they that were ready went with him to the wedding and the gate was shut OVr Sauiour Christ the onely head Br●de-groome of the Church hauing in the former part of this allegorie vnder the metaphoricall borrowed termes of Wise Virgins that were inwardly called furnished with sauing faith and godlinesse and watchfully expected his comming and vnder the appellation of Fool●sh virgins that were hypocrites and temporizers called onely outwardly and contenting themselues with the outward profession and blaze of faith and godlinesse the pith and substance whereof they wanted described and depainted vnto vs the estate and condition of the visible Church wherein amongst the beleeuers are intermingled hypocrits and onely seeming Christians he doth in this tenth verse set downe their contrary euents and iudgements for the Wise Virgins the sincere and vndissembling Christians went with Christ to the wedding that is they were receiued into heaven vnto the immediate fellowship presence of Christ but the foolish virgins voide and destitute of iustifying faith and inward holinesse were shut out that is debarred from entring into the kingdome of heauen and consequently adiudged and cast into hell Wherevpon our Sauiour exhorteth all men to watch and carefully to waite for his comming to iudgement least being vnready at his comming they be shut out from the heauenly marriage vnto which dutie they are so much more to attend because that they know not the day nor the houre wherein hee will come Thus much of the dependance and order of the text Now according to the difference and diuersity of persons viz. the wise virgins and the foolish their diuers and different euents and iudgements are to be obserued and handled In the wise virgins three heads or points are to be considered First their contract with Christ in these words wise virgins Secondly their readinesse and fitnesse therevnto in these termes they that were ready Lastly the consummation of the marriage in these words Went with him to the wedding Of all these points I will speake in order and afterwards God assisting proceed to propound and handle the most different estate iudgment of the foolish virgins In the cōtract diuers points are contained As first that there is such a contract betwixt Christ and his Church Secondly the forme nature of it Thirdly the benefits prerogatiues of it lastly the vses of the doctrin Touching the contract that there is such a contract betweene Christ and the Church it is plaine and demonstrable by sundry places of Scripture The Lord by the ministery of Esaias the Prophet whom he sent vnto Ezechies to comfort him and his people against the blasphemies and threatning speeches of railing Rabsaketh the seruant of the King of Assur thus stileth and saluteth the Church This is the word that the Lord hath against him The virgin the daughter of Syon hath despised thee and laughed thee to scorne the daughter of Ierusalem hath shaken her head at thee Isay. 57. 22. The Church is distinguished and adorned with the title of Virgin Because shee was consecrated and espoused to God alone and his true worship as a virgin to her onely bridegroome or husband Likewise Psal. 45. 10. Hearken O daughter and consider incline thine eare c. So shall the King haue pleasure in thy beauty for hee is thy Lord and worship thou him Heere Solomon representeth Christ and King Pharaoes daughter that was married to him the Church of the Gentiles espoused and affianced to Christ. Thirdly the Lord by Hosea speaketh I will marry thee vnto me for euer I will marry thee vnto mee in faithfulnesse Hos. 2. 19. 20. In the Canticl●s the Church by force of this contract maketh claime to Christ saying My beloued is mine and I am his c. Cant. 2. 16. Paul shewing his vnfeigned affection to the Corinthians who in part missed by false Apostles began without cause to distaste him maketh this protestation I am iealous ouer you with a godly iealousie for I haue prepared you for one husband to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 2. Cor. 11. 2. In the Apocalyps the Church is called Virgins that are not defiled with women Apoc. 14. 4. and the Lambes Wife or Brid● Chap. 19. 7. and Chap. 21. 2 All these places euince and demo●strate a spirituall coniunction and contract betweene Christ and the elect Lastly not to dwell long vpon authorities Saint Iohn most notably manifestly in the allegorie of the Vine and the branches Iohn 15. 1. 2. 3. 4. shadoweth and setteth out vnto vs the nature of the coniunction for as the Vine doth yeeld and communicate life and nourishment to the branches and the branches receiue and partake it from the Vine so Christ the noble Vine that hath life in himselfe and of himselfe and that is full of grace and truth doth infuse and communicate spirituall life comfort and grace vnto his seuerall members and the Church being ingrafted into him draweth and receiueth the same from him by the hand and instrument of faith Whereas therefore the true Church of God consisting aswell of marryed persons as vnmarried yea for the greatest part in all times and ages of those that bee marryed thus the holye scriptures and experience and practise of all pure and holye Churches doe testifie is in respect of their sound faith onely and firme hope in Christ and sincere loue stiled by the name of Virgins it serueth to check and condemne the error of the Church of Rome who from these and like places of Scripture taketh occasion and would needs prooue that virginitie and single life is a state in it selfe farre more holy and acceptable before God thē mariage yea that it is meritorious and a type of the perfection of eternall life and here-vpon they forbid their Bishoppes Ptiests Deacons Monkes Iesuits c. to marry tollerating notwithstanding and allowing the Stewes concubines hatlots and all manner of vncleannesse They vrge and commend Virginity with as much conscience and equity as the theefe doth truth the drunken man sobriety and the glutton abstinence For it is notoriously knowne to the world not onely what vnchaste hearts they carry and in what lusts they burne but how filthily they liue that amongst the rest would be accounted the most holy exquisite But briefly to refute their error wee thus prooue that virginity is not a state more holy in it selfe before God then marriage much lesse meritorious First God in the old Testament and Christ in the New allowed and permitted marriage to Priests Prophets Patria●kes Apostles Euangelists and Ministers aswell as any others If there had beene any vnholinesse in their marriage or virginity estate for them so incomparably better or more necessary God in his wisedome would haue otherwise ordered