Selected quad for the lemma: christian_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
christian_n	church_n	pastor_n	visible_a	1,446	5	9.4786	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A00415	Certaine godly and learned expositions vpon diuers parts of Scripture As they were preached, and afterwards more briefly penned by that vvorthy man of God, Maister George Estey, sometimes fellovve of Goneuill and Caius Colledge in Cambridge. Late preacher of the word of God in Saint Edmunds Burie.	Estey, George, 1560 or 61-1601.; Estey, George, 1560 or 61-1601. Most sweete and comfortable exposition, upon the tenne commaundements, and upon the 51. Psalme.	1603 (1603)	STC 10545; ESTC S101734	265,746	444

take it is of the Greeke Kyriake as belonging to the Lord for so it doth For better vnderstanding heereof consider the distinctions of the Church and some properties The distinctions are in words not of the scripture but of learned writers 1 As into generall The whole company particular A part The generall is meant in the Creede 2 Againe the whole hath parts So is the Church militant triumphant Militant is that which is warring in this life against the flesh the deuil and the world Triumphant is in glory in heauen Both together heere are meant 3 The Church is 1 visible that may be seene to be a Church 2 Inuisible that is not apparent to outward sence to be a Church The whole Church together in this life is inuisible Particular Church is sometimes visible inuisible The visible particuler Church hath hypocrites admixed The Creede speaketh of the whole Church together and so inuisible in this life Properties of the Church besides these named in the Creede 1 It is but one 2 It hath but one head Christ 3 Out of it is no saluation 4 It shal neuer decay Math. 16 18. 5 It is neuer seuered from Christ The markes in the Creede are holy Catholique Holy is free from sinne raigning and condemning One may be holy vnperfectly perfectly Vnperfectly by sanctification in this life Perfectly by imputation in this life sanctification in the life to come It is meant euery way heere Catholique is a Greeke word and is vsed in Wryters two wayes vnproperly properly Vnproperly and so it signifieth as much as orthodoxall In which sence sometimes the Fathers vse it So might Rome in former time haue been Catholique so is England Scotland c. Catholique now Where marke a cosonage of the Papists who would make the world beleeue that Catholique and Romaine Church is all one and for that Rome was sometimes in this sence Catholique it should be euery way now As well might they iudge the Catholique King to be King of all the world Properly it signifieth as much as vniuersall not tied to one people in one Country of one time of one condition c. So is it to be taken heere The Nicene Creede addeth Apostolique that is holding the Apostles doctrine This the Romanists wrongfully appropriat to themselues Iointly the words together carie this sence that euery one who professeth this Creede 1 Beleeueth that there is such a company as is specified before 2 That himselfe is of the same company Heb. 3 1.1 Cor. 12 13 Heb. 12 22 23. The things which we are to beleeue cōcerning the church are whatsoeuer the word of God teacheth which though we cannot reckon vp all in this short manner of teaching in short time and in right order yet in the most necessary we will endeauour 1 To iudge and thinke very highly of the Church euen next God not onely for the place it hath in the Creede and order after the holy Ghost but for the titles it hath house of God pillar and firmenes of truth body of Christ spouse or wife of Christ. Christ himselfe 1 Cor. 12 12. Yet heere we must take heed that we think not too highlie of the Church As to iudge First that it is aboue the scriptures as the Papists in words teach at least some of them and all that the authority of the scriptures to vs ward hangeth vpon the Church and can no otherwise be knowne The Church is founded vpon the scriptures and Christ not Christ vpon the Church The authority of the scriptures is from thēselues or God in them as the authority of a Princes deede is from the Prince himselfe not from any other witnes So doeth light cause it selfe to be seene as the euidence of scriptures shew themselues to be scriptures Que. Doth the Church nothing to the scriptures Aun Yes 1 It keepeth the Roles and Records of the scripture 2 It discerneth canonicall from Apocriphall it maketh none canonicall 3 It publisheth the scriptures like a Crier 4 It expoundeth and openeth the scriptures Secondly to hold that the Church cannot erre For better vnderstanding whereof wee must know that some part of the Church is in heauen and that indeede can not erre the other is on earth of this doe we speake heere this can and doth erre being a visible company wherein are mixt bad with good Yea it may erre iudicially as the false Prophets to Achab the Scribes and Pharisies against Christ So as that it is no good saying this saith the Church therfore it is to be beleeued Thirdly to hold that the safest way from all error is to hold to the Church True it is indeede it is safe being in the Church visible whereof this is said but the safest is to hold to Christ and the scriptures 2 Neuer to doubt but that there is and shall be a Church for euer So as that it is not possible it should all alwayes be feene for some part are vnborne some are in heauen and very few sometimes haue beene on earth and could not be knowne to be of the Church 3 Thoroughly to take knowledge of the nature of the Church which wee beleeue and is not onely a company professing Christian faith hauing the same Sacraments and lawfull pastors vnder one head the Pope but as we heard before predestinate to glory in time called iustified sanctified and glorified 4 That Christ is the onely head of this Church 5 To know the proper markes of a true visible Church These are the word sacraments prayer good life When I say the word I meane the pure text in the pure sence of it and the sacraments in lawfull administration Que. Whether then is the Church of Rome a true visible Church Aun No For though it keepe a coppie of the Bible text yet it is with great corruption neither in the true and proper exposition For their body of doctrine which they would fetch from the scriptures ouer-turneth the foundation in their idolatry of the masse worshipping saints creatures their iustification by works c. Obiect They haue baptisme Aun They should haue it with the word so haue they it not 2 They haue Baptisme as a theefe might steale away the great seale without authority set it to writing no otherwise 6 That we should ioyne in communion with a true visible Church a true visible Church I call that hath the marks as before holding the foundation of saluation as before and must not seuer our selues there from Indeede we must not consent to sinne or discent in loue 7 That wee must labour to be true members of this Church which heere we beleeue So shall we doe by giuing all diligence to make our calling and choosing sure Calling implieth setting in sauing knowledge faith and obedience 8 That the Church is not appropriated to any people place time So as the Romanists doe fondly who would haue vs beleeue the Catholique Romaine Church As if one shold say the French Paris or English London church

goe first and the Father being the first in order the doctrine touching him must be so and againe the doctrine of Christ being cleerely manifested after that of the Father it is not without iust cause set after it Thus much as it is ioyned with the former as it is in it selfe it is concerning Iesus Christ c more largely sette downe then any other doctrine in the creede Whereby is declared vnto vs that as we should make account of all other so of this in more speciall sort Hence it is 1 Cor 2 2 Philip. 3 7 8 1 Cor 16 22. In it selfe it is from this in Iesus Christ c. And setteth out the second person by names or estates The names are simple relatiue Simple Iesus this of person Christ this of office First let vs see the grounds of scripture for this 1 He is so called by the Angell Math 1 21 2 So preached to be beleeued in Act 2 36. 3 Being made the sum of the Gospel 2 Cor. 11 4 4 So as God iustifieth him who is of the faith of Iesus Rom 3 26 5 To which very end Paul speaketh Phil 2 10 11 6 Thus doth Christ himselfe commaund Ioh. 14 1 7 Paul and Silas particulerly speake Act 16 31 8 He is in that name prayed vnto This name Iesus is a broken Hebrew word of Iehosuang thus written pronounced in Greeke for that the Greeke tongue hath no aspiration in the middle of words This name hath in it as Chrisostome saith a 1000 treasuries of good things and is as Bernard saith honey in the mouth musicke in the eare a ioyfull showte in the heart In delight wherein Genebrard obserueth that Paul vseth it fiue hundreth times in his Epistles Yet for all that we must take heede we doe not abuse it 1 To make it a word of wonder as some doe Iesu 2 To think it will driue away deuils 3 To giue more reuerence to that name then to other of God Obiect But Paul Phil 2 10 Aun The meaning is that Iesus is the true God and that all creatures should be subiect to him as to the Father Name is for person bowing the knee a bodily ceremonie to expresse inward subiection 4 Not to make it a name of sect or order as those haue done who call themselues of the societie of Iesus or Iesuits This Iesus in Greeke is SOTER 4 in verr vvhich cannot as Tully saith be expressed in one Latine word who gaue or giueth health and therefore the Latine Diuines doe call him rather saluator then seruator He is who recouereth out of miserable estate setteth in happy and keepeth therein The Angell giueth a reason of this Name He shall saue his people from theyr sinnes That is 1 from the fault of sin This is Adams imputed to vs. Ours originall actuall 2 Punishment of sinne 3 Corruption of sin And indeede euery way is Christ a Sauiour 1 By rescue and recouery by strong hand 2 By raunsome He gaue himselfe for vs. 3 He forgiueth our sinnes 4 He destroyeth sin in vs. 5 Hee fully recouereth vs in the life to come from all remainders of sin and calamities comming therefore And all this he doth alone so as iustly he is our Iesus and Sauiour We professe then heereby 1 To haue need of Iesus by the feeling of our sinnes 2 That the Iesus set out in scriptures is our Iesus alone Acts 4 12. Ob Some are called Sauiours Obadi 21 1 Tim 4 16. Aun Those in Obadiah are bodily Sauiours Timothie was a Minister of the doctrine of saluation 3 That in all our neede we will runne to Iesus 4 That wee reioyce at the preaching of the doctrine of saluation by Iesus 5 That in heauen he will fully saue vs from all crosses and calamities Hetherto the name of person that of office foloweth Christ. Consider likewise the grounds of Scripture the meaning the things to be belieued and professed 1 It was thus prophecied by Moses Deut 18 15. repeated by Esay 61 1 expounded by Peter Act 3 22 applied by Christ Luk 4 21 2 God himselfe dooth in some sort commaund it Esa 42 6 3 Consider 2 Cor 5 20. 4 Euen particulerly Luk 2 26 5 The Apostles preach thus Act 2 36 Act 8 5. Act 9 20 and 24 25 6 God threatneth if we refuse Deut. 18 15 19 7 Peter is highly cōmended for thus beleeuing Math 16 17. 8 It was a common knowne thing among the Iewes Ioh. 1 41 and Ioh 4 25 The meaning will appeare 1 by considering where-with it is to be ioyned 2 how it is to be reade 3 what the signification of it is It is to be ioyned with Iesus not to be set alone It is not enough to beleeue in Christ we must beleeue in Christ Iesus The Iewes beleeue in a Christ after a sort Therefore are both ioyned Act 2 36 Luk 2 26 27. It is to be reade not only and barely Christ but the Christ as if it had an article notificatiue Such an especiall one looked the Iewes for Ioh 1 41 and Ioh 4 25 Math 16 16 17 The signification appeareth by the right knowledge of the name Christ is a Greeke word and signifieth anointed It is as much as the Hebrew Messms This name by a part for the whole signifieth appointing to an office whereof oyle or the oyntment was a signe signifying that as many spices went to make that oyle so manie graces should be in the party anointed which should make him nimble to doe and acceptable in the doing of his duty They were wont to anoynt Prophets 1 King 19 16. Priests Kings Thus is Christ heere to be vnderstood looke Act 4 27 and Acts 10 38 wherein wee may consider his calling his gifts his office His calling is whereby hee is of the whole Trinitie appointed and designed to his office Esa 61 1. His gifts are whereby he is enabled fully to do it These are the fulnesse of the holy Ghost Psalm 45 7 Iohn 1 32. Acts 10 38. The office is remaining which is most properly and effectually in himselfe And is propheticall sacerdotall princely Propheticall is whereby he teacheth his the whole will of God to saluation This office is saide to be his for that himselfe first did it sendeth others so to doe Requireth that all their teaching should be according to his He teacheth foretelling expounding Law Gospell Hee expoundeth by publishing making effectuall Sacerdotall or priestly is whereby he is a Priest properly so called for his Church He was the last properly called Priest In his priesthood he maketh reconciliation intercession In respect of his priestly office he is our Mediatour Princely or kingly whereby as a King he is ouer his Gouerning the Church 1 by giuing gifts 2 by ruling by his word and Spirit Keeping vnder the enemies by taking away their power themselues Now of this Christ are wee called Christians partaking the same Spirit dooing in some sort the same things There is difference Christ

that had beene a persecutor to become an Apostle and also Peter who was a fisherman So that 1 Wee ought to distrust nothing which shall please the Lord 2 Neither let vs indeede ascribe any thing to secondarie causes but all vnto God 3 Wee ought so much the more to beleeue because wee see the power of God to shew it selfe in most contemptible things Que. But why doth Luke alone take paines in wryting of a praeface Aun Not that his writings were not authenticall but for that being instructed in Rethorique he doth thus purchase fauour and attention whence he is thought to haue written the best Greeke as also that hee might satisfie the Church requiring a reason of his fact and might procure greatest authority Wherfore vse of humane learning consisting in tongues and Arts is not at all altogether to be reiected whiles it may serue to edefie the Church 2 And godly men vndertake nothing wherof they haue not warrantable inducements 3 We are also to take care that our doctrine may be most acceptable in the eyes of the world The person vnto whom is written is Theophilus Some thinke this name to be appellatiue others proper looke Baronius 533. He is most noble that is according to the Greeke placed in authority 1 Princes are not excluded from the Kingdome of heauen 2 The godly honour the chiefe men in the Church 3 Christians doe speake courteously and ciuilly neither doth that hinder which is in Iob 32 22. Que. But why writ Luke vnto this man Aun Not onely for priuate consideration for peraduenture he had beene before instructed of Luke but also for the good of the Church For if a man in great place authority shal haue once receaued the word others also will receaue the same 4 Wherefore wee ought especially labour to bring all those vnto Christ which are in any high place not onely for themselues but for the Church that others may be conuerted vnto the faith and confirmed in the same 5 Godly men must be holily wise 6 Neither doth this booke any thing more containe particular doctrine because of this compellation or dedication then the Epistles of Paule The thing it selfe followeth which is the writing of an orderly disposed narration c as was shewed before Wherein are the manner orderly disposed c. matter those things whereof wee are fully perswaded The manner containeth 3 things narration order writing A narration is a plaine propounding and setting forth of the thing as it is in it selfe without any externall glosing So as the Euangelists ought to propound nothing which is not receaued and no colouring is either to be set vpon it or to be expected The order from point to point with respect had of the time that the truth might be more manifested and the memorie helped So likewise let vs also endeuour to keepe in memorie sayings and writings Writing is a setting downe in bookes or monuments So as we ought to receaue nothing which is vnwritten The matter followeth those things whereof wee are fully perswaded He meaneth the deedes and sayings of Christ Wherefore let vs heare of Christ These are said to be fully perswaded of the persons in whom we The word in the Greeke which signifieth to be fully perswaded of is a metaphore borowed from ships which are caried with full saile and it signifieth a most certaine perswasion of the truth so as nothing can make vs to recoile from it no not death or any thing else This perswasion is proper to faith necessarily required in euery one of vs. The persons we to wit the Disciples and Apostles that were called none other Wherefore the Gospel was in the world neither was it beleeued of all Let vs not therefore much disquiet our selues if now also all doe not beleeue the Gospell And seeing that Luke doth bring in the called alone to beare witnes for the truth of this doctrine let vs know that not what the world but what the called doe is to be regarded The causes follow and first the impulsiue The first as was reheased before These men were many Cerinthus Merinthus as Epiphan saith 186. Apelles Basilides and others vnder the names of Thomas Matthew as Ambr witnesseth also vnder the names of Iames and Nichodemus Peraduenture he meaneth others which had written before him men inspired of God but these were not many they were onely two The force of the reason is that wee ought to be as diligent for the true doctrine as others are for that which is false We gather therefore that diuers forged Apocriphall and such like writings should be in the Church So as there is required very great iudgement in reading Wherefore let vs not be dismayed with Popish writings but let vs try all things and keepe that which is good 2 That euery man is according to his place to encounter with false teachers And these onely haue taken in hand not finished but I will saith Luke goe thorough withall The second reason they did it of their owne heads but I doe it by the instigation of the holy Ghost Obserue that wicked men doe intrude themselues into matters without a calling that godly men vndertake duties God onely mouing them Que. But it may be demaunded how I shal know that I am stirred vp of God to doe any thing Aun By obseruing these things 1 That the worke be honest 2 That you be furnished with gifts neceslatie for the discharge of it 3 That mouing authority concurre God within vs the Church or the common-wealth or the family without vs. 4 That you seeke to obay God and to doe good vnto others The third reason is in the verse 2 3. Verse 2. and 3. I know all things most perfectly wherein he sheweth the worke of others towards him and his owne industrie towards the thing it selfe The worke of others is as they haue deliuered them vnto vs which from the beginning c. by whom is meant the Apostles For these were they which saw them their selues and were Ministers of the word Where is contained a description 1 of persons which are such as saw or were Ministers of the word 2 Of action haue deliuered By the word some vnderstand Christ not vnsitly but Luke doth not vse to speake so I thinke therefore that the preaching of the Gospell is meant looke Piscator vpon this place I gather 1 That the word of God is knowne to no body from himselfe 2 That the word of God is most excellent where-vnto the Apostles haue serued as Ministers so as none ought to contemne the base function of the ministerie 3 That those which saw and were ministers of the word ministred vnto the word and not vnto themselues The action is haue deliuered that is haue related by word of mouth Is there place then to be giuen vnto traditions yes surely to written traditions but not to vnwritten excepting only such as appertaine to decent and comely order and not to godlines Obserue