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	member_n	mystical_a	1,520	5	10.6674	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A50328	The bruised reed, or, A sermon preach'd at the cathedral church of St. Asaph, for the support of weak Christians by D. Maurice, D.D., sometime chaplain in New Colledge, Oxon.	Maurice, David.	1700 (1700)	Wing M1357A; ESTC R43437	22,707	31

of their ignorance of the nature of Grace and their mistakes about the exercises and operations of Grace especially by reason of the motes in their eyes of Faith they think they have no Faith because they want the assurance of faith which the Apostle calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is not of the essence of Faith but a consequent of it and a reflex act of the Soul upon it self attain'd by a long continu'd course of holy and close walking with God which few Believers have but Faith is a recumbant act of the Soul upon Christ and is usually express'd by the instance of one that having suffer'd shipwrack cast himself upon a floating plank of the ship and there sticks in a trembling doubtfull hope of coming ashore 2. Because they cannot distinguish betwixt Grace in ideâ and Grace in subjecto in actu signato and in actu exercito as in 1 Cor. 13.7 8 9 c. The wonderfull operations of Charity are describ'd there now because weak Christians can find no such effects in themselves they presently conclude themselves to be no better than sounding brass and tinkling cymbals meer empty nothings and no real Christians but they ought to distinguish betwixt this Grace in it's own abstracted nature and as it is in the subject mixt with the flesh and contrary elements of corruptions and so it is not so operative in the best of Christians as being obstructed by it's contrary qualities Fire by it self is visible and active but not so in the flint and yet we know it is there tho' conceal'd under the other elements so we may judge of Charity and other Graces with the mixtures of contrary imperfections which do retard and make them come short of their genuine productions 3. It is because they compare themselves with the uppermost in Christ's school for proficiency and because they are not such glorious lights in the firmament of the Church as St. Paul St. John and other Scripture Saints therefore in their own opinion they are but Meteors and wandring Stars Hypocrites and Unbelievers But they should know that as it is in the Kingdom of Glory so it is in the Kingdom of Grace one star differeth from another and the members of the body mystical as in the body natural are not of equal strength and bigness All Christians should therefore labour to be of the body of Christ and not be discouraged though they be but the meanest finger or the lowest toe for their head will be sure to take care of them and bring them at last to himself We must be sure to get the same Grace as others for truth though we cannot attain to the same grace for measure we must try our selves by the same touch-stone tho' not weigh our selves in the same ballance we must be of the same mettal as others though not of the same weight 4. Because they examine themselves in an unseasonable time when overcome with sadness and black melancholick thoughts then indeed they are to seek for the least Grace But we must consider that though this self-examination is necessary yet it is not at all times to be used Having thus briefly dispatch'd what I at first proposed to speak to I come now in the last place to apply the whole This truth concerns four sorts of people 1. The Ministers of the Gospel 2. Strong Christians 3. Weak Christians 4. Such as are aliens from the common-wealth of Israel 1. Ministers should have the same mind in them as was in Christ Jesus when they see a bruised reed to support it and carry on the work of Grace in Christian hearts we must encourage the weak hearted and strengthen feeble knees for we are the immediate subordinate outward agents to do this work for Christ and to fulfill this promise of his Epiphanius calls St. James the Apostle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the WALL of the people and so should we be an impregnable wall about our people for to defend them especially at this time of Apostacy from Seducers and false teachers There are wolves in sheep's clothing that will soon make a havock of Christ's lambs that will by their Sophistry seduce young Christians unless we fortify them not only by our constant preaching of the truth in publick but also by our personal application of that truth to them in private 2. Strong Christians should make it appear that they are so by serving the Lord Christ in this work and labour of love by taking their weak brethren by the hand and helping them out of the mire of temptations you know whose language it was Am I my brother's keeper a cursed Cain's be you therefore blessed in incouraging the feeble instructing the ignorant and confirming the doubtful comfort weak Believers against the violence of the persecutor arm them against the Sophistry of the Seducer and by your exemplary lives teach them to mortify the flesh to bridle the tongue to adorn their profession with a holy conversation and to prepare themselves against approaching miseries In all your stations and relations do all the good you can for YOUR LORD'S and MASTER'S sake 3. Here is a word to weak Christians here is a cordial for them to restore their fainting Spirits when surpriz'd with any fears touching their persevering to the end of their warfare 1. Be of good comfort thy life spiritual and eternal is hid with Christ in God say not thou art a bruised reed for with this will Christ break Satan's head and he will not cease 'till he hath brought forth Judgement unto compleat Victory in thy Soul All the power and malice of Hell shall not be able to extinguish the least spark of Grace in any Soul 2. Take the cup of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord bless God whilst thou livest for thy new creation and preservation take up David's language My soul praise thou the Lord all that is within me bless his holy name what shall I render unto the Lord for all his care and kindness his preservation and providence Alas how soon had Satan winnowed me if the Lord had not prayed for me and upheld me his almighty arm supported me else I had long ago inevitably dropt into everlasting burning 3. Love him with all your heart with all your soul all this care and tenderness towards you is the fruit of his love Oh! then let love in him beget the like love in you beget an earnest desire to run the ways of his commandments with great delight Oh! pant and breath after him and rest no where but in the bosom of his love 4. Be you tender of him and careful to please him as the Spouse was Cant. 2.6 7. she was weak in knowledge and in Grace and therefore Christ's left hand is under her head and his right hand embraceth her then she chargeth her self in her particular members not to disturb him 5. Take heed you quench not this smoking flax your selves which is done First by negligence and carelessness in God's service we must 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stir up the Grace of God that is in us or else it will dy of it self if we do not blow this fire into a flame it will quench unknown to us Secondly By returning to folly again this is the water that quencheth the sparkle of Grace and is abominable to God and therefore compared by him to the vomiting of a dog and to the wallowing of a sow in the mire Thirdly By accompanying wicked Men which are as floods of waters and waves of the sea to quench this sparkle and so term'd by the Prophet David in several Psalms therefore avoid them as you would avoid the Devil for they are his instruments 4. The fourth use is to strangers from the covenant of promise that they would consider what a blessed condition it is to have Christ for a guardian and how happy are the people that are under his tuition 't is impossible to conceive how wonderfully careful and tender he is of the weakest Believer the relations of a Shepherd a father of a mother Husband c. do prove it and preach it Oh! then let all be hence incited to take him upon his own terms that they may be under his care and tenderness that he may keep you in all your ways defer not therefore to close with him that you may be thus and eternally happy Now to God the Father God the Son God the Holy Ghost be ascribed all honour praise and dominion now and for ever Amen FINIS