Selected quad for the lemma: church_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	according_a	body_n	member_n	3,100	5	7.2395	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A34673	The covenant of Gods free grace most sweetly unfolded and comfortably applied to a disquieted soul from that text of 2 Sam. 23. Ver. 5. : also a doctrinall conclusion that there is in all such who are effectually called, in-dwelling spirituall gifs [sic] and graces wrought and created in them by the Holy Ghost / by that reverend and faithful minister of Gods word, Mr. John Cotton, Teacher of the Church at Boston in New-England ; whereunto is added, A profession of faith, made by the reverend divine, Mr. John Davenport, in New-England, at his admission into one of the Churches there.	Cotton, John, 1584-1652.; Davenport, John, 1597-1670. A profession of faith.	1645 (1645)	Wing C6424; ESTC R30971	35,301	46

continually dwelling in them by his holy Spirit begetting and nourishing in them faith hope love repentance obedience with peace and joy unto immortality but on the contrary limiting using restraining the reprobates his enemies by his mighty power as seemeth good in his divine wisdome and justice to their seduction hardening and condemnation till his appearing in glory with his mighty Angels to judge both quick and dead where he will be and separate all his elect from them for ever punishing the wicked with everlasting perdition from his presence and joyning together the godly with himself in endlesse glory 12. Concerning his Kingdome 2. In speciall That in the mean time besides his absolute rule in the world Christ hath here on earth a spirituall Kingdome in his Church which hee hath purchased and redeemed to himself as a peculiar inheritance into the body whereof he doth by the power of his Word and Spirit gather his heople calling them through the Ministery of the Gospel out of the world and from Idolatry superstition and from all works of darknesse to fellowship with Jesus Christ and by him with the Father and the Holy Ghost and with his people making them a royall Priesthood an holy nation a people set at liberty to shew forth the vertues of him that hath called them out of darkness into his marvellous light and uniteth them together as members of one body in his faith love and holy order unto all generall and mutuall duties and instructs and governs them by those instruments and ordinances which he himself hath prescribed in his word for the edification of his body the Church 13. Concerning the Application of Redemption That the Holy Ghost is sent by the Father and the Son to make application of Redemption only to those whom the Father hath by his eternall Decree given to Christ and for whom Christ maketh intercession to his Father and whom the Father accepts in Christ unto fellowship of the everlasting Covenant of his free Grace having called them out of the world to fellowship with Jesus Christ by the Gospel made effectually to that end by the mighty power and operation of the Holy Ghost Which grace of effectuall calling is thus dispensed to a poor lost sinner awakened and humbled by the Law through the effectuall working of the spirit of bondage judging himself worthy to be destroyed for his sins and seeing himself utterly destitute of all help or hope of himself The Lord in the preaching of the Gospel by the powerfull work of the Holy Ghost revealeth the fulnesse and all-sufficiencie of that grace and salvation which is laid up in Jesus Christ as the only sutable good to him that hee also enableth him spiritually and savingly to apprehend Jesus Christ as given him of the Father And the same Spirit having thus enlightened him doth leave a supernaturall vertue and impression of Gods love upon the soul whereby the soul is drawn to close with Christ and with that grace of God in him so entirely that there is now nothing between Christ and the soul but it willingly parts with all things that hinder his enjoying of Christ and by this effectuall calling all that are brought to Christ are 1. justified that is absolved from sin and death and accounted righteous unto life for and through Christ apprehended received and relied upon by faith 2. They are adopted that is accepted for Christs sake to the dignity of Gods children They are also 3. sanctified that is really changed by degrees from the impurity of sin to the purity of Gods Image and lastly they are glorified that is changed from the misery or punishment of sin unto everlasting happinesse which begins in the inward sense of Gods love to them in Christ whence they have hope of glory boldnesse in accesse to God certainty of salvation peace joy unspeakable and it endeth in their full perfection in soul and body 14. Concerning a particular instituted Church and the Priviledges thereof That it is a company of faithfull and holy people or persons called out of the world to fellowship with Jesus Christ and united in one Congregation to him as members to their head and one with another by a holy covenant for mutuall fellowship in all such wayes of holy worship of God and of edification of one towards another as God himself hath required in his Word of every Church of Christ and the members thereof 15. Concerning the manner of gathering a Church That it is the duty of all Christians having renounced all false wayes of Idolatrous Antichristian and superstitious worship and of sin and the world as to instruct and govern their own families according to God so to joyn willingly together in Christian communion and orderly covenant and by free confession of the faith and profession of their subjection to the Gospel of Christ to unite themselves unto peculiar and visible Congregations wherein as members of one body whereof Christ is the head they are to worship God according to his Word To this Church he hath given royall priviledges as the holy Oracles the Promises the Seals of the Covenant his presence love protection and blessing in a speciall manner here all that acknowledge him to be their Prophet Priest and King are to be inrolled amongst his houshold servants and to present their bodies and soules and gifts and solemn services for a spirituall sacrifice acceptable to God by Jesus Christ Being thus united they to whom God hath given gifts to interpret the Scriptures being approved by the Church and appointed thereunto may and ought to teach publikely the Word of God by prophecying according to the proportion of faith for edification exhortation and comfort of the Church till such time as men may be had fit for such office or offices as Christ hath appointed to the publike Ministery of his Church and then they are upon due triall to proceed to the choyce and ordination of those officers according to God and then the officers are to dispense the seals of the Covenant viz. Baptisme to the seed of the faithfull in their Infancy and to others not yet baptized when by profession of their faith they are added to the Church And all of the Church that are of yeers and are able to examine themselves must communicate also in the Lords Supper in both kindes viz. Bread and Wine 16. Concerning the Sacraments That they are in the ordinance of God signs and seals of Gods everlasting Covenant with us representing and offering to all receivers but exhibiting only to true believers the Lord Jesus Christ and all his benefits unto righteousnesse sanctification and eternall life through faith in his name to the Glory and praise of God 17. Concerning the power of every Church That Christ hath given the power of chusing Officers and of receiving in or calling of any member to the whole body together of every Church and not to any one member apart or to more members sequestred from the whole or to any other Congregation to do it for them yet so as every Church ought to use the best help they can hereunto and the most meet member they have to pronounce the same in their publike Assemblies if they want Officers And to this censure and judgement of Christ duly and orderly dispensed every member of the Congregation yea and officer also how exellent or learned soever he be is subject Yet ought not the Church without great care and advice to proceed against such publike persons 18. Concerning the Communion of Churches That although particular Churches be distinct and severall Independent bodies every one as a city compact within it self without subordination under or dependence upon any other but Jesus Christ yet are all Churches to walk by one and the same rule and by all means convenient to have the counsell and help one of another when need requireth as members of one body in the common faith under Christ their only Head 19. Concerning Church-officers That Christ when hee ascended up on high gave gifts unto men and disposed of them in severall functions and for publike ordinary ministery he gave Pastors Teachers Elders Deacons helpers for the instruction government and service of his Church to the worlds end and that none may usurp or execute a Ministery in the Church but such as are rightly called by the Church whereof they stand Ministers and being so called they ought to give all diligence to fulfill their Ministery and to be found faithfull and unblamable in all things And that this ministery is alike given to every Church of Christ with like and equall power and commission to have and enjoy the same as God offereth fit men and means and the same rules are given to all for the election and execution thereof in all places which rules lawes it is not lawfull for those Ministers or for the Church wittingly to neglect or transgresse in any part And those Ministers thus chosen and executing their office faithfully every Church is bound to have them in singular love for their works sake to reverence them according to the dignity of their office which they execute and to provide for them that they be not entangled with the cares of this life according to the Law of Christ And this to do not as in way of courtesie or mercy but out of duty to them in the Lord and having hope in God that the resurrection shall be of the just and of the unjust of the just to the resurrection of life and of the unjust to the resurrection of condemnation 20. Concerning giving every man his due That unto all men is to be given whatsoever is due to them in regard of their office place gifts wages estate and condition endeavouring our selves to have alwayes a conscience void of offence towards God and towards men FINIS

use much fasting and prayer and yet fail much of our performances of the best duties yet notwithstanding if we give up our selves to be bound to this service if we come to God submit our selves to him in all things to do with us as hee pleaseth and as shall seem good in his sight submitting our selves to be ruled and squared by him in all things hee shall have our whole hearts to do with us what he will here is the Covenant made up between God and a good Christian God then offers himself to us he is ours and wee are his Psal 27.8 When thou saidst seek yee my face my heart said unto thee thy face Lord will I seek You must herein resolve to take heed of all sin labour to perform every good duty and be sorry you can do it no better notwithstanding herein stands the difference between one that serves an apprentiship to become free and one that enters into service to be with God The apprentise must serve seven yeers before he can become a free man but the childe of God is made free that first day that hee gives up himself to God though thou be a servant to another man yet art thou the Lords free man 1 Cor. 7.22 If we can but content our selves to be the Lords servants we shall be his freemen yet herein are those services sutable in the beginning an apprentises service is very difficult hee is exposed to much hardship he knowes not how to please Master or Mistresse if he knew their mindes hee would be willing to frame himself accordingly So when we come into Gods service if he but a little hides his face we think presently wee are cast off and that we were never any of his but all this comes for want of experience of a Christian mans life if you can be content to break off from all your evill wayes and with all your hearts cleave unto God doubtlesse then God hath made with you an everlasting Covenant ordered in all things and sure If you be not in the Covenant but your whole desire is that you may you must labour to bring your selves into a good family and that you may be fitted for any service you must deny your selves and give up your mindes wills and affections unto God take Christs yoak upon you if hee calls you to any crosse stumble not at it but bear it patiently and wait upon him for a deliverance out of it and that you may the more earnestly strive to get within this Covenant consider that in so doing you shall certainly bring a blessing upon you and yours though you and your family be disordered yet Gods Covenant will remain firm and sure unto you all estates though never so free conveyed are nothing unto this and therefore as you love your selves and would leave a sure inheritance to those that shall come after let your speciall care be how yee may attain to this for even a kingdome without this is but a poor state Vse 3 It must teach all such as are under this Covenant of Grace to walk thankfully and humbly and faithfully See Davids humble thankfulnesse 2 Sam. 7.18 Who am I O Lord God and what is my fathers house that thou hast spoken of thy servants house for a great while to come We must walk fruitfully with God in the sense of this Covenant in pardon of sins in beating down corruptions there is no better sign that we are in this Covenant then to grow thankfull for it and humble under it and fruitfull in communicating our experience unto others and labouring to bring them within the compasse of it Thus much for this Doctrine The third thing is the confining of Davids desire and salvation to this Covenant whence observe Doctr. 3 That the security and sufficiency of the Covenant of Gods Grace is all the salvation and desire of Gods people This is evident in the Text it is all his will the will comprehends the desire and the delight of a man so that this Covenant is so compleat that a man needs nothing more to salvation or to satisfie his desires and these two comprehend all that hath been said of Gods Covenant What is it that he saith it is all my salvation and desire Salvation comprehends in it these two things First a deliverance from dangers Secondly a safe comfortable and glorious estate So that salvation implies in it safety viz. deliverance from all dangers Ps 3.8 So also a safe comfortable and glorious estate in heaven When David said This is my salvation his meaning is I had never been freed from danger nor set in a safe and glorious condition but by vertue of this Covenant Secondly this is the substance of my salvation for this Covenant gives us such hold of salvation that though we have it not yet we believe we have salvation by vertue of this Covenant we are in many discouragements but God hath made a covenant to deliver us Thirdly This is all my desire viz. the object and summe of all my desire nothing but as it comes within the compasse of this Gods glory is my desire as all my desire is here so all my rejoycing for the word which is here desire in the first Pslam v. 2. is translated delight all Davids desire and delight was in this Covenant he took no comfort in his crown nor that he was a sweet Singer of Israel nor in his children though comly nor in the ordinances of God no further then they were wrapped up to him in this Covenant of God and the Reason is Reason 1 First because there is no blessing safe to us no desire or delight but so far forth as it is conveyed in this Covenant unto us If a man were delivered from danger unlesse by vertue of this Covenant it is a cold deliverance For if he be saved from drowning the gallows may claim his right of him if the gallows cannot hell fire will reach him if he be not within the compasse of this Covenant if hee have credit and wealth in this world yet if not conveyed unto him by vertue of this Covenant it is a miserable estate children beauty strength gifts may be desired if they come under this Covenant Reas 2 Secondly from the compleatnesse of the sufficiencie of this Covenant No deliverance we can stand in need of but this Covenant can convey it unto us all the desires and delights of the Church are wrapped up in it No good thing will he with-hold from them that live a godly life Psal 87.7 All my springs saith David are in thee God delights in us when we are in his Covenant his Covenant reacheth to his Church and wee being members of that Church Hence it comes to passe that we partake of all the pleasant springs of Gods love and rich mercies to us in Christ Jesus For the Use of this point Vse 1 First it may serve to teach men and women be their condition never so happy