Selected quad for the lemma: church_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	bishop_n	city_n	elder_n	3,358	5	10.0309	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A41199	A brief exposition of the Epistles of Paul to the Philippians and Colossians by James Fergusson ...	Fergusson, James, 1621-1667.	1656 (1656)	Wing F774; ESTC R11959	185,316	304

of which grace he perceived in ●●em ver 7. which made him sincerely love them ver 8. And partly by his seeking growth in grace from God to them ver 9 10 11 In the second part of the Chapter lest his present affliction might prove a stumbling-block in their way he shewe●● that the Gospel had gained much by his sufferings already to ver 19. That it should have no losse but advantage thereby in time coming to ver 25. And that he was very confident that his trouble should have an happy issue in his deliverance from imprisonment for their future benefit to ver 27. In the third part of the Chapter he exhorteth them to constancy and unity ver 27. And to courage under sufferings by several arguments unto the end of the Chap. Vers. 1. Paul and Timotheus the servants of Jesus Christ to all the Saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi with the Bishops and Deacons IN this verse is the Inscription declaring who was the Author of this Epistle together with the joynt asserter of the Truths contained in it and to whom it was written Doct. 1. Christian sobriety doth teach us to speak sparingly of our own credit and authority except when weighty reasons do urge thereto for although Paul doth design himself often from his office of Apostleship when he writeth to these Churches where his Apostolical authority was questioned 1 Cor. 1. 1. compared with 1 Cor. 9. 1 2. yet here he doth it not because these Philippians did not call his Apostleship in question 2. Unity and concord among Ministers in giving joynt testimony to the same Truths doth adde a weight unto what they preach in the esteem of their hearers for Paul joyneth Timothy with himself in the Inscription of the Epistle that the Truths contained in it appearing to be attested by them both might have the more weight with the Philippians Paul and Timotheus 3. Preachers of the Gospel are in a special manner the Servants of Christ as being wholly dedicate 2 Tim. 2. 4. and perpetually Luke 9. 62. astricted to his more immediate service As servants were of old to their masters so were Paul and Timotheus the servants of Jesus Christ. 4. It is abundant credit and doth commend a man sufficiently unto those who really are Christs that he is known to be a servant of Jesus Christ for Paul seeketh and expecteth to be had in due regard for this That he and Timotheus were servants of Jesus Christ. 5. The whole bulk of those visible Churches unto whom the Apostles did write is designed by the name of Saints partly because some among them and those the better though usually not the greater part were really Saints and inherently holy Rev. 3. 4. for whose cause the whole Community are called Saints partly because it is the duty of every one within the Church and the end of their calling to be holy Levit. 11. 44. and partly because all and every one within the visible Church are federally and externally holy in so far as God by entering Covenant with them hath separated them from other people as dedicated unto him for his worship and service So whole Israel is said to be sanctified Exod. 31. 13. and the child procreate of parents whereof one is a Believer is called holy to wit by this external and federal holiness 1 Cor. 7. 14. And thus Paul writing here to the visible Church calleth them Saints at Philippi 6. As to make a man internally and spiritually holy it is necessary he be in Jesus Christ united to him and drawing influence from him by faith Job 15. 5. So to make a man externally holy to be called and esteemed federally holy as every member of the visible Church is said to be holy and in Christ requireth a visible and externall union with Christ consisting in external covenanting and serious professing of Truths relating to him the effect of which union is the communication of common gifts unto every one according to his measure 1 Cor. 12. 6 c. for this cause the Apostle here calleth all the professed Christians in Philippi Saints in Christ Jesus See John 15. 2. which supposeth some to be in Christ to wit in the way presently mentioned who yet may be found fruitlesse and consequently unregenerate 7. The dignity and parts of a Minister or of any Church-Officer do not exempt him from a necessity of being taught exhorted reproved and comforted for Paul directeth this Epistle wherein he teacheth exhorteth c. as to the people so to the Church-officers to Bishops and Deacons 8. The Bishops mentioned in Scripture are nothing else but ordinary Pastors and Overseers of particular Flocks of whom many might be and were in one City such as Philippi which could not have been if they had been trusted with the actual oversight of many Congregations and of whole Provinces as is now alleaged by those who distinguish betwixt Bishops and Pastors and make them Office-bearers of a higher degree in the Church for the Epistle is directed to the Bishops at Philippi 9. As the Lord Christ hath appointed some Office-bearers in his House for the oversight of the souls of his people as Ministers and Elders here designed by the name of Bishops or Overseers see Act. 20. 17. compared with ver 28. So he hath appointed others to take inspection of their bodily necessities that those who are indigent may be supplied by their care and the charity of the Flock who are here called Deacons See Act. 6. 1 c. Vers. 2. Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. He saluteth them most Christianly by wishing unto them Grace that is Gods favour as the fountain and Peace that is peace with God peace with their own conscience peace one with another and all sort of prosperity as streams flowing from that fountain and all this he seeketh from God through vertue of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ. Doct. 1. Gods grace and favour is the root and fountain from which peace with God with our own conscience and all sanctified prosperity and peace among our selves do flow for all those are understood here by peace which Paul wisheth unto them as the fruits of Gods grace joyning Grace and Peace 2. In seeking things needful from God we would look unto him not as standing disaffected to us and at a distance from us but according to the nearest relations which we can reckon our selves to have unto him So Paul eyeth God as his and their father reconciled through Christ from God our Father 3. Whatsoever cometh from God to Believers is conveyed unto them by vertue of Christs merit whereby he hath purchased all things for them Isa. 53. 5. and of his intercestion whereby he applieth his purchase unto them Heb. 7. ●5 Whence it is that he asketh from God the Father but through Jesus Christ. Vers. 3. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you 4. Alwayes

Doct. 1. Distance of place should not cool those affections of love and good-will which ought to be among Christians for those salutations were outward expressions of their inward love and they do salute though at a distance 2. As little mercy is to be expected from persecuters So the crosse of Christ and suffering for Truth is a thing not to be ashamed of for Paul as it were glorieth in the style of Prisoner though he was used as a captive slave Aristarchus my fellow-prisoner the word signifieth a captive of war 3. As reall friendship doth not expire with prosperity So the sharpest sufferings of God's people have some sweet ingredient in them for Paul hath a fellow with him while he is prisoner even Aristarchus who was his companion in travels Acts 19. 2. and 20. v. 4. and now doth not quit him in his sufferings Aristarchus my fellow-prisoner 4. Such love and respect should be had to those who are faithfull Instruments in the Church of God that even those who have relation to them ought to be the more respected chiefly if they walk in their steps So Mark is commended from this that he was sisters son to Barnabas who was separated for the work of God Acts 13. 3. 5. Notwithstanding a man hath fallen to the grief and scandall of others yet after evidences given of his amendment he ought to be received and conversed with as formerly So Mark otherwayes called John did desert Paul and Barnabas Acts 13. 13. whereupon arose that hot contention betwixt those two Apostles Acts 15. 37. But now having given proof of his remorse for what he did he is recommended by Paul to those Colossians Touching whom ye have received commandments if he come unto you receive him 6. As folk should not follow the multitude of the kinde from whom they are descended in an evill course So this tendeth much to a man's commendation when he breaks off his evill kinde and is not carryed away with them for those three were of the Jews a people for the most part enemies to the Gospel Rom. 11. 28. who are of the circumcision which is mentioned for their commendation that though they were Jews yet they had become Christians and companions of Paul under his affliction 7. There is no way which leadeth to the Kingdom of Glory but that which is held forth in the Gospel Acts 4. 12. And Christ doth rule in the world by the Gospel subduing thereby the hearts of men to live by his Laws Psal. 110. 3. written in the Gospel Rom. 2. 16. and exercising Government and Discipline in his visible Courts according to the Rules prescribed by the Gospel Matth. 18. 17 18. Therefore the Gospel in this place is called the Kingdom of God See Matth. 4. 23. Mark 4. 11. Fellow-workers unto the Kingdom of God 8. This maketh much unto a man's commendation when he hath any hand in the promoving of this Kingdom and especially when his discouragements are many and incouragements few from the example of others who should joyn with him in that work and do it not for they are commended from this that they onely of the circumcision were Paul's fellow-workers unto the kingdom of God 9. It appeareth hence how small ground there is for the Pope's pretended supremacie and head-ship over the Church the main Pillar whereof is that because Peter was Bishop at Rome therefore the Pope must be his successor now beside that they can never prove Peter to have been Head of the Church it is certain that he was not at Rome when Paul wrote this Epistle there being onely there then those three of the circumcision who were his fellow-labourers unto the Kingdom of God Neither is there any word in Scripture to prove that ever Peter was at Rome but much to the contrary 10. The most eminent servants of God in time of persecution have need of comfort incouragement and up-stirring so ready are the best to saint in the hour of temptation Dan. 11. 35. but God in mercy doth not suffer them to be destitute of some who are comfortable and incouraging unto them when their necessity calleth for it for saith he Which have been a comfort to me The word signifieth they had been for comfort counsell or incouragement unto him which supponeth that even Paul had need of those somtimes 11. As most eminent Christians are ready to acknowledge with thankfulnesse how steadable any are made unto them in their suffering case So it is matter of no small commendation to be in any measure helpfull by counsell advice incouragement or comfort unto those who are suffering for Christ and any part of his Truth for herein are those three commended that they had been a comfort unto Paul as is acknowledged by himself Vers. 12. Epaphras who is one of you a servant of Christ saluteth you alwayes labouring fervently for you in prayers that ye may stand perfect and compleat in all the will of God Here are salutations directed from Epaphras who is described from his Countrey his Office of the Ministerie and his affection to those Colossians testified by his servent and constant praying to God for them that they might be gifted with perseverance in universall sincere and hearty obedience to the will of God Doct. 1. A Minister ought not to omit any duty of civility tending to keep a good understanding betwixt him and his flock for Epaphras who was their Minister chap. 1. v. 7. saluteth them 2. The power of a call from God and his People ought to make a man venture upon apparent inconveniences which other wayes he were obliged to eschew for Epaphras their own Countreyman had imbraced a call to the Ministery among those Colossians though Christ showeth a Minister is in hazard to meet with dis-respect in his own Countrey Joh. 4. 44. who is one of you 3. As it is the duty of a Minister not onely to preach unto pray with but also to pray for his flock and that alwayes when opportunity offereth So an honest Minister who maketh conscience of this duty in earnest will finde it to be no easie task considering how indisposed he is sometimes to pray for himself Matth. 26. 40. and how many in the flock pray not for themselves Matth. 13 47. c. and so are an heavy burden unto any who would pray for them and how many they are also concerning whom God will not be be intreated Matth. 22. 14. Thus Epaphras was a wayes labouring fervently for them in prayer The word signifieth to be striving in a battell and in an agony for them 4. A Minister ought not to rest satisfied that he himself preacheth Truth plainly or that the people committed to his charge attain thereby to the knowledge of Truth but practice and obedience to the will of God so known must be added together with perseverance and constancie in their begun obedience lest by their falling away they lose themselves and disgrace the Truth for he prayeth