Selected quad for the lemma: christian_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
christian_n	body_n	church_n	unity_n	1,412	5	9.5035	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A58188	A sermon preached at the primary visitation of the Right Reverend Father in God, John, Lord Bishop of Norwich June, 20th. 1692 / by George Raymond ...	Raymond, George, A.M.	1692 (1692)	Wing R413; ESTC R12214	14,670	32

A SERMON Preached at the Primary Visitation OF THE Right Reverend Father in GOD JOHN Lord Bishop of NORWICH JUNE 20th 1692. By GEORGE RAYMOND A. M. Minister of St. Lawrence in Ipswich LONDON Printed for Randall Taylor near Stationers-Hall MDCXCII TO THE Right Reverend Father in God JOHN Lord Bishop of NORWICH My Lord YOVR Lordship's pleasure to have this Sermon published is founded as I suppose upon this Opinion That the Meditations it contains are useful though obvious and have a genuine force though not set off with Illustration nor enforced as they might have been with artificial Arguments Indeed my aim in preaching it was only to be a Remembrancer of such apposite and seasonable Truths as might merit to be considered and the consideration of which might promote in us of the Clergy a faithful wise and close attendance on our Ministerial Charge To which end if the Publication may in any sort serve I am abundantly rewarded for my Labour and shall ever rejoice in my Obedience to your Lordship's Commands Which however shall be always most readily observed by Your most Humble and Dutiful Servant GEO. RAYMOND A SERMON Preached at the Primary Visitation c. EPHES. IV. 12. For the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the Body of Christ I Have thought it unnecessary in this Auditory to travel into the Context or spend any of the time in unfolding the Text but have designed only to offer to your meditation such useful Observations and practical Remarks as the words furnish suitable to our present Occasion The general Instruction contain'd in them is this viz. That the Sacred Ministry appointed by Christ in his Church when he ascended up into Heaven is a signal Pledge of his love to and care for it For whether that Ministry were Extraordinary and to continue for a time only as that of the Apostles Prophets and Evangelists or whether Ordinary and Perpetual as Pastors and Teachers the end of both is for the perfecting of the Saints and for the edifying of the body of Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For the compacting [a] The original notion of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is to compact or knit together either members in a Body or parts in a Building Exod. 15.17 Psal 40 6. more largely it signifies to prepare corroborate and lastly to perfect as the building of a House is the perfecting of it So Hesychius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ham. in 2 Cor. 13.11 c. or knitting together the Saints or Christians sanctified unto God by their Calling and fellowship in the Gospel of his Son And this may afford us the first useful Note or Observation viz. 1st That regular communion and fellowship among Christians is necessary to the edification of the Church But the Separatist whatever his Pretence be neither edifieth himself nor the Church of God As a House is finished by compacting its several Materials so Ministers edify the Church of Christ by holding Christians together in Unity and Peace in orderly Assemblies and regular Communion This Chapter contains an Exhortation to Christian Unity and this is one Argument by which the Apostle presseth it viz. That the Ministry left by Christ in his Church as the greatest Pledge of his kindness may have a consummate effect and fully answer the ends of his Love For verse 16. From Christ the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth according to the effectual working in the measure of every part maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of it self in love They therefore prophane the Ministry they pretend to and destroy the Church which they should edify who are the Authors and Abettors of uncharitable Schisms causeless and unchristian Separations He that hath not more regard to Christian Unity and the Churches peace than to his own Honour Humour or Interest wants the Spirit of a Minister of Christ is like to make sad Work and to give a dreadful Account of the Ministry committed to or assumed by him And they who forsake their regular Ministers (b) Inexpiabilis gravis est culpa discordiae nec passione purgatur Cypr. de Unit Aliud altare constitui aut sacerdotium novum fieri praeter unum altare unum sacerdotium non potest Quisquis alibi collegerit spargit Procul ab hujusmodi hominum contagione discedite vitate lapos qui oves à Pastore secernunt Id. Ep. 40. for better Edification purer Ordinances or upon the new pretence of Absolute Loyalty do as a Man that pulleth down his House for the more easy coming at the Roof to mend the Tiles or beautify the Ceiling But I will not enlarge upon this Note 2. We may observe That the Office of Ministers doth respect the Body or Church of Christ and private Christians in order to the whole as Members of the Body The perfecting of the Saints is in order to the edifying and consummating of the Body of Christ Whence it follows that the Governors of the Church must take such order as tends to General Edification and may not consult the Opinion Fancy or real Benefit of some individual Christians to the detriment and offence of a considerable Body of Chistians much more of the whole Christian Church Neither may Ministers gratify the desires of private Christians to the breach of publick Order It becometh private Persons to be modest and tractable to publick Discipline lest they be found guilty of obstructing the Work of the Ministry and frustrating the tender Love of Christ to his Church Whilst they are so perverse that if they be not gratified in every thing and yet so fickle as scarce to know what pleaseth them all must go to wrack and confusion by their obstinate Separations Indeed an excellent Prudence generous Charity tender Compassion to the Infirmities and Prejudices of Men are highly requisite in the Authors of publick Constitutions but Humility and Modesty becomes those who are to observe them and by both these when they happily meet shall the Church be edified particular Christians growing up to perfection by regular Submission to wise Constitutions sincerely ordain'd for publick benefit 3. The words teach us the Divine Original of the Ministry it is from Christ appointed by him in his Church for the Edification thereof Let men therefore so account of us as Ambassadors and Ministers of Christ and let us shew the faithfulness requisite in Stewards of the Mysteries of God 1 Cor. 4.1 2. Christ hath given to his Church Pastors and Teachers and when he ascended into Heaven entring into his Kingdom the first Act of his Royal Authority was the constituting and sending these his Officers and Messengers into the World He sent the first with a power to provide themselves Successors for he promiseth to be with them to the end of the World [c] Matt. 20.20 John 14.16 He gave them their Commission furnished them with Instructions and appointed