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	pastor_n	presbyter_n	5,642	5	10.0950	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A32762	The divine institution of congregational churches, ministry and ordinances [as has bin professed by those of that persuasion] asserted and proved from the word of God / by Isaac Chauncy ...	Chauncy, Isaac, 1632-1712.	1697 (1697)	Wing C3748; ESTC R38739	70,081	155

and the same thing c Acts 20 17 28. in relation to a Church of Christ and are mostly taken indifferently for any Ruling and Teaching Minister as may be shewed by Classick Authors in Civil respects and by Scripture Language An Elder is an ordinary standing Minister in a Church The Apostles were Elders d 1 Pet. 5.1 and executed Elders places both in Teaching and Ruling where-ever they came but all Elders were not Apostles nor could they exert Apostolick Power Elders being Men of ordinary use in a Church of Christ and must continue e Acts 14.23 An Elder primarily signifies an old Man f ib. 2.17 but applied to an Office of Eldership in Church or State he is fitly called a Presbyter or Alderman in our Language i. e. Elderman Such there were in the Church and State of the Jews g Exo. 12.21 and are in the Churches under the Gospel h Act 14.23 A Bishop is an Overseer of a Charge and may be without Rule Among the Grecians an Attick Magistrate Clark of the Market or Commissary of an Army was called a Bishop but the Scripture useth it for a Ministerial Charge Teaching and Ruling one or both Ruling at least § 4. The Elders of a Church are Pastor or Adjuvant in the Pastoral Charge under Christ The Pastor is an Elder of a visible and particular Church Chosen and Ordained to the Office of Feeding the Flock by the Word Sacraments and Government a 1 Pet. 5.2 3. Eph. 4.11 Act. 20.38 The Office Charge and business of a Pastor is as a Shepherd to his Flock to Feed Guide and Fold So Christ is the great Pastor b John 10 11 16. and the first to the Gospel-Church c Mat. 26.26 31. And as he is the Chief Pastor d 1 Pet. 5.4 so is he the great President and Example to all the Pastors of particular Churches in all things wherein he is to be followed in the Exercise of their Pastoral relation e John 13.15 as also the Guidance of his Spirit and Direction of his Word f Mat. 28.20 with all his holy Institutions are to be diligently observed for to him it is that they must give account g Heb. 13.17 of this their great Stewardship h 1 Cor. 4.1 2. § 5. The Ministerial Charge as to Administration of things of the most spiritual Nature in a Visible Church is contained in the Pastoral Relation and where God gives ability to perform it fully to the edification of the Church One may perform it duly a 2 Cor. 12.19 Eph. 4.12 But in case of bodily infirmity or greatness of the Congregation if he is not able through the first to bear the whole Work of Teaching and Exhorting or for the other reason he is not able to go through the governing Work Christ hath provided Helps and Assistance for him a Teacher in his Teaching work and a ruling Elder to aid and assist in Ruling b 1 Tim. 5.17 § 6. He that is called and ordained of Christ by the Church to concur with the Pastor in the Teaching Work to the furthering the Churches Edification is called a Teacher and waits on that Service helping also in Ruling with the Pastor a Rom. 12.7 1 Cor. 12.28 1 Tim. 3.1 2. Eph. 4.11 12. Tit. 1.9 1 Pet. 4.10 11. § 7. He that is Called and Ordained of Christ by the Church to concur with the Pastor in diligently rulling is required to wait on that Work especially for the Edification of the Church and is called a Ruling-Elder and is Ordained in the same manner with a Teaching-Elder a 1 Tim. 3.1 Rom. 12.8 1 Tim. 5.17 § 8. He that ministers to the external concern of the Church serving Tables for the support of the Worship of God and relief of the Poor is a Deacon a Acts 6.2 4.35 compar'd with ch 6. Neh. 13.13 there may be one or more as the concerns of the Church are and there may be Women-helps in some Cases necessary called Deaconesses b Rom. 16.1 12.8 1 Tim. 5.9 10. The Deacon's Charge is the true and faithful disposal of the Churches Stock and Contributions and to the Church they are accountable c 1 Cor. 4.2 1 Tim. 3.8 9 10. 1 Pet. 4.10 § 9. A Church which hath a Pastor and Deacon is fully Organized the Church requiring no more to Edification The Pastoral Office containing in it all the Teaching and Ruling Charge and the Deacons all that concern the Care of the Church as to Externals CHAP. VIII Of a Call to a Church Ministry How a Church is regularly furnisht by Call and Ordination A Call immediate or mediate What each is How a Church comes to a Call And how made The consummation thereof no Ordination A Person called being not a Member ought to be joined to the Church calling him before Ordination None can or ought to be Ordained to the Catholick Visible Church § 1. A Church of Christ comes to be regularly furnished with a Ministry for its Edification by a due Call a Heb. 5.4 of such as are qualified thereto and Ordination of them A Church Calls when after waiting upon God for Directions b Phil. 4.6 Mat. 9.38 and coming to be acquainted with the Grace and Ministerial Gifts of a person or persons which having tryed c 1 Joh 4.1 1 Tim. 3.10 they are inclined to apprehend him or them suitable for them the Church gives him or them a solemn invitation to a Ministerial Charge § 2. A Call to a Ministerial Charge or Work is either immediately by God himself in a more than usual way or manner a Gal. 1.1.12 1 Tim. 1.1 or mediate by the Church of God and every one that undertakes such holy service must have one of these two Calls or else God sends him not b Rom. 10.15 The immediate Call is when God doth qualifie and call a Person to a Ministerial Service without the instrumentality of Men or Churches and such was the Call of the Prophets and Apostles whose Call was their Ordination and Infallible § 3. A Mediate Call is that which Christ makes by the instrumentality of a Church walking after Christ's commands a 1 Pet. 5.2 2 John 6. but is not infallible but eventually may not answer the Churches end in Calling because the Person called may not be suitable or for some reasons may refuse to submit thereto Hence God answers a Churches Call by sending to them a Person fit and willing whereby it most times proves happy and successful b Jer. 3.15 Mat. 9.37 38. § 4. The Church having wisely and duly debated the whole matter with all secrecy and keeping things within the Church and asked counsel of God and Neighbour Churches so far as may be needful and come to some result among themselves all if possible agreeing without strife and murmuring a Phil. 2.3 8. 1 Pet. 3.8 or

Establishment in its Vailed State and as to its appurtenances appropriate to Abraham's Natural Posterity in a National Church-Constitution waxed old decayed and vanished away n Heb. 8.13 and the substantial part of Abraham's Covenant in respect of the true Grace and Government of the Promised Seed appeared and remained glorious o Gal. 3.17 4.26.28 30 31. § 4. These Extraordinary Ministers were Apostles Evangelists Prophets and Teachers whom the Lord Jesus set in the first Gospel-Church at Jerusalem a 1 Cor. 12 28. and gave them to his Churches for a general good but firstly to that Church b Eph. 4.10 11. where they first exercised their Ministry Apostleship and Eldership The Apostles so called by Christ's first Mission were Twelve c Matt. 10.2 c. one of which fell from his Apostleship d Act 1.20 these were Ordained by Christ himself and had a double Mission one to the Jews only before Christ's death e Mat. 10.6 whereby the Partition-Wall was broken down f Eph. 2.14 and then to all Nations Jews and Gentiles g Mat. 28.19 with a particular charge to go to the Jews first h Acts 13.46 Upon the Fall of Judas Matthias was chosen by the Church and a Divine Ordination by Lot i ch 1.26 Paul and Barnabas were additional Apostles k ch 14.14 and sent especially Paul Apostles to the Gentiles l Ro. 11.13 They had an extraordinary Ordination by Christ's immediate Call and Instigation of the Holy Ghost m Acts 13.2 Ga. 1.12 They were all of them such as had bin Eye-Witnesses of the Life Death Resurrection and Ascention of the Lord n Acts 1.21 22 23. Paul himself had seen Christ but was converted and called to Apostleship after his Ascention therefore he saith he was born out of due time o 1 Cor. 15.8 9. They were divinely inspired had a marvellous effusion of the Spirit upon them p Act. 2.12 had the Gifts of Tongues Healing Interpretation and of miraculous Works q Mark 16 16 17 18. 1 Cor. 12.28 They had more than ordinary Graces and Gifts mightily furnished to the Work of the Ministry and lastly had the Care of all the Churches r 2 Cor. 11.28 § 5. The Evangelists were inspired Ministers of Christ to his Churches a 2 Tim. 3.16 Acts 8.5.26 21.8 Sub-Apostolick Adjuvant to the Apostles in their Work and much at their direction b 1 Tim. 1.3 2.15 2 ep 2.2 Tit. 1.5 Some were Apostolick Evangelists as Matthew and John two of them Called Evangelists from their Evangelical Histories of Christ in their Gospels c Matt. 1.1 Mark and Luke were only Evangelists none of the Twelve Philip Timothy Titus were only Evangelists ordained Apostolically d Acts 6.2 2 Tim. 1.6 Titus 1.5 and employed and sent by the Apostles to places where they had Preached and to Churches already Planted to Visit Teach and Direct to the Election of Officers and see a supply of what was wanting or prepare Matters for the Apostles coming § 6. The Prophets and Teachers of the first stamp seemed to have much of Inspiration by the Holy Ghost a Act 2. by the coming down thereof upon the Apostles and Brethren at Pentecost It appears not that they had any Office or governing Power in the Church nor much differing b ib. 13.1 but being Brethren full of the Holy Ghost as the Deacons and Barnabas before set apart c ib. 6.3 11.24 were employed by the Apostles or moved in themselves to Preach the Gospel where-ever they came for Conversion of the dark unbelieving World d ib. 11.19 There were of later date Gifted Brethren by an ordinary Measure e 1 Cor. 14 4 5 37. 1 The. 5.20 of Grace and Gifts some for Edification within the Church and some for Propagation of the Gospel abroad which may yet remain the reason thereof remaining § 7. These Extraordinary Ministers continue not in the Churches a 1 Cor. 13 8. neither Apostles or Apostolick Men to whom it was essential to be Ordained or immediately sent by Christ and the Holy Ghost as also extraordinarily inspired and qualified The Miraculous Gifts they were furnished with are ceased b Ibid. The Apostles were to be such as had seen the Lord on Earth c Acts 1.21 22. of such there is none now They were charged with the Care of all the Churches d 2 Cor. 11 28. of such there is none now one or more to whom Christ hath committed the Care of all the Churches or of many indefinitely Lastly There 's not the same Reason for such a Ministry now The Doctrine of the Gospel having bin received in the Nations of the Earth the Canon of the Scripture filled Churches have bin planted and walked in by the Rules and Order of the Gospel The Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles abundantly confirmed by divers Signs following e Heb. 2.3 4. and since by the Profession Practice and Sufferings of multitudes of faithful Witnesses f Heb. 12.1 Rev. 12.11 CHAP. VII Of the Ordinary Ministers of a Church Christ hath appointed a sufficient Ministry for the Churches according to their inward and outward concerns What an Elder is What sorts The Pastoral Charge what it contains How discharged by one or more A Teacher what A Ruling Elder what A Deacon what A Church is fully Organiz'd with a Pastor and Deacon § 1. CHRIST being Exalted to God's Right Hand and sitting there an Apostle and High Priest of good things to come a Heb. 9.11 hath made provision for the calling in of the Elect b Acts 13.48 and his redeemed ones c Rev. 5.9 building and furnishing his spiritual Temples and Habitations for God by the Spirit d Ephes 2.20 21. not only by and under the Apostles Ministry but also by a sufficiency of Ministry and Ordinances in an ordinary and standing way and manner of Dispensation to the end of the World e Matt. 28.19 20 21 § 2. According to the great Concerns of a visible Church in this World Christ hath wisely consulted the well-being of it a Eph. 3.10 in instituting and appointing the Ministers thereof b Ephes 4.10 11. As to the higher internal concerns he hath ordained Elders c Acts 14.23 Phil. 1.1 and as to the more external no Church being able to subsist and keep up Ordinances according to the instituted Nature of them without a due care of those concerns he hath ordained and appointed Deacons d Acts 6.2 3. Phil. 1.1 § 3. An Elder is an ordinary Minister to the Church chosen and ordained by it to a Charge with Rule and Government a 1 Tim. 5.17 Act. 4.23 being a Person of Age or Gravity judged to be duly qualified for it b 1 Tim. 3.1 2 c. An Elder Presbyter or Bishop we may find to be taken in Scripture for one