Selected quad for the lemma: church_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	angel_n	bishop_n	ephesus_n	3,413	5	11.4256	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A87158	The weary traveller his eternal rest being a discourse of that blessed rest here, which leads to endless rest hereafter. By H. H. D. D. Rector of Snaylwell, and Canon of Ely.	Harrison, Henry, 1610 or 11-1690.	1681 (1681)	Wing H893A; ESTC R215784	80,142	276

ordain'd and placed in the Church for the spiritual Government of Mens Souls in order to Gods service here and Mans eternal Rest and Salvation hereafter And these gifts Saint Paul in the first to the Corinthians 12.28 reckons up to be eight in number First Apostles Secondarily Prophets Thirdly Teachers After Miracles then gifts of healing helps Governments diversities of Tongues Whereof five were needful only at first and so to continue but for a time But those that were to abide for ever are reduced to Three Teachers Helps Governments Priests or Presbyters to teach Deacons to help Bishops both to teach help and govern These all the Church had from the beginning and our Church blessed be God still hath them These the Synod of Carthage calls the Three degrees of the Clergy and we find frequent mention of them in all the Monuments and Records of the Church whether Provincial Synods or general Councels Publick Liturgies or private Writers Historians or Fathers Canons made for their several Offices and Administrations bounding and limiting each from other in their proper works and operations That of Presbyters and Deacons hath been less questioned but that of Bishops more disputed in late times yet who can question or doubt of their being placed in the Church by the Apostles themselves that hath with any impartial Eye read and considered either the Scripture or the ancient expositers of Scripture Timothy at Ephesus and Titus at Creet have their Episcopal Office and duty plainly described and order'd in Scripture by St. Paul The Seven Stars in Christs hand Rev. 1.20 are the Seven Angels of the Seven Churches saith Christ himself And he that considers what these Churches were of how numerous Christians of what large circuit containing several Cities and Countries can hardly doubt of what the Ancients have said That the Angels of these Churches were not only Bishops but Metropolitan arch-Arch-Bishops Sure we are that Church Writers and Historians set down the very particular names of these Seven Angels or Bishops and not only so but their Successors for several Ages The first general Counsel of Nice from which the Nicene Creed hath its name consisted of Three Hundred and Eighteen Bishops as many as Abraham had in his Army against the Kings in the story of Genesis as St. Ambrose wittily alludes And the first general Synod calls the Government by Bishops Arch-Bishops or Metropolitans 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the antient guise So ancient it was that the ancient writers we have and some we have of the next Age after the Apostles mention it as universally spread over the Church and from no other at first derived than from the Apostles Nor could it indeed have been so early or so generally diffused from any less authority than theirs These are they whom St. Paul calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 giving them power of ordination and of Government Rulers and Presidents Ignatius every where distinguisheth them from Presbyters and Deacons as being above them and calls them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Governours So doth St. Cyprian Origen Eusebius Epiphanius and who not attributing to them not only the chief place but the highest authority and power of Government Hierom himself though but a Presbyter and a zealous defender of Presbyters dignity derives the difference of degrees no lower than from the times of the Apostles for so are his words When they began to say I am of Paul I of Appollo I of Cephas then were Bishops every where placed to prevent Schism And that we may know that these Apostolical traditions are taken from the Old Testament what Aaron and his Sons and the Levites were in the Jewish Temple that Bishops Presbyters and Deacons were in the Christian Church And therefore if we will not make so learned and so religious a Person plainly contrary to himself he must be so understood in his other sayings as not to deny what he plainly affirms That Episcopal Government came from the Apostles But this hath been so fully discussed of late years in this Nation and particularly by a Person of great worth and learning at a Visitation in Cambridge to which I refer you that I shall no longer insist upon it only remind you that differences there are of Administrations that is of Offices in the Church as well as diversities of gifts and all these different Administrations high and low as well Bishops as Priests and Deacons are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the proper term of the lowest of the three the Deacons which we translate Administrations but might as well be rendred Ministeries or Services But why are they so called Surely to teach the highest of them both diligence and humility in their Office Every honour hath its burthen answerable to it and the higher the Office of Government if it be truly and conscienciously discharged the pain-fuller is its work and service 'T is an old saying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Master in a great house is the greatest Servant while all they serve him in their several places he is fain to serve them all study and watch to provide for all to govern all In no house is this so true as that of the Church For whose cares studies dangers watchfulness are so great so various so perpetual as theirs if they do their duty And whose Condemnation is so great if they do it not Bishops are Generals in this Spiritual Army and yet faith St. Paul fellow Souldiers accountable to our Common Lord Christ Jesus not only for their own Souls but for others too nor is the meanest Common Souldier by the hundreth part obliged to so many cares and pains exposed to so many dangers and troubles as these Generals Rulers they are in Gods House but their ruling is for Gods service and Mans Salvation And what a load of cares and pains doth this ruling lay upon them Fathers they are in place and dignity but Brethren in love and humility they must be Stars and Angels they are called but how do the Stars run their course day and night for the service of this inferior World How do the Angels condescend to be ministring Spirits to the poorest of Gods Family Read but what our Saviour saith Matt. 20.27 Whosoever will be chief amongst you must be your Servant even as the Son of Man came to Minister and to give his life a ransom for many Read what Saint Paul saith 2 Cor. 11.23 to the 30. and you will surely confess that the highest Offices in Gods Church are the most painful dangerous services Ministeries truly so called so truly that the Ancient Bishops entering that Office might truly say nolo Episcopari But the more painful their service is the greater ought to be their honour both of inward respect and outward maintenance All that are under these Ministeries or Administrations ought to take heed of despising them for this reason because they are Ministeries but rather honour them because they are over you in the Lord. The higher