Selected quad for the lemma: church_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	earth_n	heaven_n	militant_a	4,766	5	11.7120	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A22701	Saint Augustine his enchiridion to Laurence, or, The chiefe and principall heads of all Christian religion a most profitable booke to all those which desire to haue a most compendious briefe of Augustines doctrine, out of Augustine himselfe, when he was old, being repurged, by the old manuscript, of many faults and vnusuall wordes, wherewith it formerly flowed.	Augustine, Saint, Bishop of Hippo.	1607 (1607)	STC 921.5; ESTC S1512	82,205	310

remaineth happie and is assistant to that part which is militant vpon earth as it ought to do Because both parts shall be one in that eternall coniunction and is now one in the Bonde of charitie All being ordained to worship God And therefore neither this vniuersall Church not any part thereof will generally or particularly be worshipped for or as a God neither yet bee a God vnto any person which is a member of Gods Church the same being composed of the Gods which the God not made doth make By which reason the holy Ghost if it were a Creature and not a Creatour should no doubt haue beene a Creature indued with reason For hee should haue beene the chiefest Creature by that reason he should not haue beene preferred before the Church in that Article of our faith Because hee should haue beene a branch of that Church in respect of that part thereof which inhabiteth the heauens Neither should he bee prouided of a Temple or Church but rather should haue been a Church himselfe But he hath a Church wherof the Apostle made mention saying Are yee ignorant that your bodies be the Temple of ●●e holy Ghost which is in you being giuen vnto you by God Of whome hee spake in another place saying Knowe yee not that your bodies are the members of Christ How then commeth it to passe that he should not be a God or inferiour to Christ whose members that Church cōtaineth who in this sort hath his Temple For neither is his Church one thing and Gods Church another when as the selfe same Apostle saith Knowe yee not that yee are the Temple of the Lord For confirmation whereof hee further affirmeth and the spirit of God dwelleth in vs. God therefore dwelleth in his Church and not the holy Ghost alone but the father also and the Sonne who saith of his bodie by which he is made the head of the church instituted amongst men vpon earth wherby he houldeth the pri 〈…〉 acie ouer all Destroy this temple and I will builde it vp againe in three dayes Gods Temple therefore is none other than the holy Church ordained for the whole and highest Trinitie being that vniuersall Church which is both in heauen and on earth TOVCHING GOOD ANGELS CHAP. 57. That the state of the Church in Heauen is permanent and certaine BVt as touching that Church which is in heauen what may we say of it otherwise then that there is not any one bad member therein and that there neither hath beene any that ●ell or was like to fall from the same sithence that time that God spared not the Angells that trespassed as Peter the Apostle writeth but casting thē into chaines of infernall darkenesse deliuered them to be kept to receiue punishment in the day of Iudgement CHAP. 58. It is vncertaine whether there be be any superioritie or differēces amongst the Angels Also some things there be which may breede argument and question concerning the Stars and Planets HOw it is in that blessed and heauenly societie and what differences of persons there bee there as wherein albeit all of that number are called as it were by that generall name of Angels according as wee reade in the Epistle to the Hebrewes For to whom of the Angels hath God at any time said Sit on my right hand whereby hee comprehended all vnder that vniuersall name of Angels yet notwithstanding that there should bee some in that place that were called Arch-angels and whether those Arch-angels were called powers whereupon that saying was grounded where it is said Praise him all his Angels prayse him all his Powers as though hee should haue saide Prayse him all his Angels prayse him all his Arch-angels As also what difference there is amongst those fower appellatiōs vnder which the Apostle seemeth to comprehend that vniuersal societie in heauen saying Whether the Thrones whether the Kingdomes whether the principalities whether the Powers Let them say that can if yet they proue that which they say yet wil I acknowledge mine ignorance in all these things Neither can I certainly say whether the Sunne the Moone and al the Planets may be said to be of that heauenly societie albeit they seeme vnto some to bee onely lightsome bodies voyd of sense and vnderstanding CHAP. 59. It is a matter without perill to be ignoraunt how and in what manner the blessed Angels doe speake vnto vs or appeare vnto vs either in our sleepe or waking AGaine who can expresse in what shapes or formes of bodies Angels do appeare vnto mortal Creatures whereby they are not onely seene but touched and felt and likewise how not by any solide Corpulencie or firme substance but rather spirituall power they do present not to our bodily eyes but to our spirits and mindes certaine visions and apparitions or whether they speake any thing not to the outward eare but rather inwardly thēselues hauing inward possession in the minde of man as it is written in the booke of the Prophets And the Angell tould me which spake in me hee doth not say that spake vnto me but in me Or whether they do appeare in dreames speake vnto vs for wee haue in the Gospell this text Behould the Angell of the Lord appeared vnto him in his dreame saying By these meanes Angells do as it were themselues declare that they haue no bodies that are to be felt Making thereby a verie doubtfull question how the fathers of olde time washed their feete and in what manner Iacob wrestled with the Angell grappling with him so hard as he did When these last and first questions bee propounded euery one coniecturing thereof according to his reach and capacitie mens wittes bee therein not vnprofitably exercised if these questions be soberly disputed and the erroneous iudgements of such suspended which suppose they knowe that which they vnderstand not For what necessitie is there that these and such like things should either be affirmed or denied or yet discussed with daunger seeing without perill they may be vnknowen CHAP. 60. Wee are chiefly to take heede least Satan deceiue vs who putteth on the similitude of an Angell of light VVE haue more neede to iudge and discern when Satan doth transforme himselfe into an Angell of light least by deceiuing vs hee seduce vs to some pernicious errors For when hee deceiueth the bodily senses and doth not peruert the minde in matter of truth and veritie thē is there no daunger for matter of religion Or when in the coūterfeit shew of goodnesse hee doth or speaketh those thinges which are correspondent with good Angels although in this case hee is beleeued to be good yet is this errour nothing pernicious to Christian faith But when by these shewes of good borrowed from others hee beginneth to drawe vs to those euills which are his owne then and in such case to descry him and not to follow him is a matter greatly and needfully to bee looked vnto But how is euery man apt of himselfe

to eschue all his deadly eleceipts except God be his guide protectour The difficultie whereof is profitable to this ende lest any man presume too much of himselfe or one man depend too much vpon another but that euerie one should repose his hope and helpe in God Which to do none of the godly certainely make any doubt but that it is our better course by much CHAP. 61. That the Church militant vpon the earth consisteth of the faithfull liuing in this world which also is redeemed by Christes blood and vnder his protection THis part of the Church therfore consisting of the Angels and powers of God shall then as it is be knowen vnto vs when wee are vnited thereunto in the laten day to dwell together in eternall felicitie Wherfore this Church which is farre distant from that by reason of her peregrmation vpon earth is the better knowen vnto vs in that wee be in the same and because also it consisteth of mortall Creatures which wee are And this Church is freed from al sinne by the blood of the Mediator who was without sinne and therefore she vseth this confident speach If God bee with vs who can bee against vs Which God spared not his onely sonne but gaue him for vs generally For Christ suffered not for Angels Howbeit whatsoeuer freedome and deliuerie from destruction mankinde receiued by his death is therefore auaileable for Angels also because hee is likewise after a sort reconciled vnto them after those differences whereof sinne was the cause between men and holy Angels as also for that the number that was impaired by the fall of the Angels was repaired by the redemption of mankind TOVCHING OVR Reconciliation and Peace with the holy Angells CHAP. 62. That all things bee restored by the blood and death of Christ and that thereby the blessed Angels and faithfull amongst men be reconciled IN like manner the holy Angels doe knowe being taught by God through the eternall contemplation of whose truth they are made happie what an infinite supply the sanctitie of that Citie exspecteth from mankinde Whereupon the Apostle saith All things are repaired in Christ which were decayed either in heauen or in earth For as touching the ruine in heauenly things all was made whole againe by Christ in as much as whatsoeuer member was wāting in heauen by the fall of the Angels was restored out of the inhabitants vpon earth And on the other side they which liue vpon the earth are restored to integritie whereas mortall creatures predestinate to eternall saluation be renewed hauing put off their auncient corruption And so by that sole sacrifice wherein the Mediator was offered vp whereof the manifold sacrifices vsed in the old lawe were but figures there was an attonement made betweene celestiall and terrestiall earthly and heauenly things or creatures Because as the same Apostle saith In him it pleased the fulnesse of the Trinitie to dwell and through him to reconcile all things to himselfe by his bloodshed vniting whatsoeuer either in heauen or vpon earth in the bond of peace CHAP. 63. That peace is the fruit of this reconciliation which peace with God is alwayes aboue our vnderstanding and that also which we haue with the good Angels is a thing whereof wee are not capable in this life although in that to come wee shall vnderstand the same THis peace passeth as it is written all vnderstanding neither can it be knowen of vs vntill wee come where it is For peace is alwayes in that place ioyntly amongst all intellectuall Creatures as also with the Creator therof Which peace passeth as is said all vnderstanding particularly ours not theirs which alwayes see the face of the Father For wee mortall Creatures notwithstanding we haue all the vnderstanding that man can haue yet do we know but in parte our sight in this world being obscurely by a glasse But when wee shall bee associates to the Angels of God Then euen as they shall we also behould those things face to face and beare as charitable an affection towards them as they do to vs because we shall loue them as much as they do vs. And so shall their loue towards vs be made knowne vnto vs because ours shall bee such and as great towards them Neither shall it then passe our vnderstanding But the peace or loue of God which is in heauen towards thē shall without all doubt exceede both theirs and our vnderstanding For by God the reasonable Creature which is blessed is made happie and not God by the Creature Which being so it followeth vpon that which hath beene said that that saying The peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding is taken in the better sense when in that hee saith all no not the vnderstanding of the holy Angells may bee exempted but onely Gods For his owne peace or loue passeth not his owne vnderstanding TOVCHING REMISsion of sinnes and Iustification CHAP. 64. That remission of sinnes is necessarie to all the godly because although many of them liue without fault in action yet not without sinne NOw when as our sinnes be pardoned then be the holy Angels reconciled vnto vs and at peace with vs. Therfore after memorie made of the Church forgiuenesse of sinnes followeth the same as it is set downe in the order of the Creede For vpon this foundation standeth the Church which is vpō earth By this also that is not lost which was lost and found againe For set a-part the gift of Baptisme which was bestowed to redeeme originall sinne whereby that which was vitious in our first birth might bee taken away by our second birth or regeneration freeing vs also from al offences cōmitted in thought word or deede which it meeteth with This great indulgencie therefore I say excepted from whence mans renouation hath his beginning and by which indulgencie●al guiltinesse or imputation of sinne as well originall as actuall is satisfied yet the rest of mans life after such time as hee hath vse or reason howsoeuer it excell in fruitfulnesse of good workes cannot run on his course in this world without remission of sinnes because the children of GOD so long as theyliue in the flesh haue conflict with death And albeit it is truely said of them that as many as be led by the spirit of God be the sonnes of God yet are they so prouoked by the spirit of God and as the children of God learne to become his as that also chiefly through the burthen of the bodie being corrupted euen by the weakenesse of their owne spirit and as they are the children of men are they imperfect in themselues sinnefull by reason of certaine humane motions wherin there is a difference as hath beene sufficiently said thereof For it followeth not that because euerie crime is a sinne therefore euery sinne should be a crime Wherfore we say that the life of godly men in this world wherein they liue may bee found to bee without crime but if we should say

sinne doe infants die by regeneration but to that which they conceiued in their birth and generation By which reason that which followeth doeth belong also vnto infants where it is said Wee are buried with him by baptisme into his death that 〈◊〉 Christ chose from the dead by the glory of the f 〈…〉 n so wee should walke in newnesse of 〈◊〉 For if we be fellow plants in the resemblance of his death euen so should we bee in the like cale of his resurrection beeing assured thereof because the old man in 〈…〉 with Christ that the bo 〈…〉 sinne might be extinguished whereby wee might bee no longer the set●●ts of sinne For hee that dead is iustified from sinne or 〈◊〉 no sinne And in case wee 〈◊〉 with Christ we beleeue we 〈◊〉 also liue with him beeing assulred thereof because Christ rising from death doeth not now die for euer and that death also had no further power ouer him For in that he died to sinne hee died but once and in that he liueth hee liueth vnto God In like manner thinke you that you are dead to sinne and yet liuing to God in Christ Iesus Out of this doctrine he began to proue that wee ought not to persist in sinne that grace might abound saying If wee bee dead to sinne how shall we liue in it And to shew that we are dead to sinne he addeth saying Doe yee not know that whosoeuer we be which be baptized in Christ Iesu we be baptized in his death He therefore concluded that place as hee began for in such sord he specifieth the death of Christ that he pronounceth Christ died vnto sinne And to what other sinne did he 〈◊〉 but to sinne of the flesh wherein 〈◊〉 as no sinne but a similitude onely or 〈◊〉 and therfore he calleth it by the name of sinne Hee saith therefore vnto those which be baptized in Christ death wherein not onely men but also infants me baptized for also we yowe that is to son 〈◊〉 Christ so 〈◊〉 also to thinke than yee art dead vnto sinne liuing also vnto God in Christ Iesu CHAP. 53. That the crucifying of Christ his buriall resurrection ascension into heauen and sitting at the right hand of his father doe demonstrate what the life of a Christian ought to bee in this world WHat soeuer therefore was actually performed in the crucifying of Christ in his buriall resurrection the third day ascension into heauen and sitting at the right hand of his father was done to that ende that the life of a Christian acted vpon this terrestriall stage should resemble these actions of Christ which were not mystically performed onely by relation but actually indeede suffered For as touching his crosse it is saide to those which will follow him therein They which be Christs haue crucified their flesh with their sins concupiscences And as touching his buriall it is said Wee are also buried with Christ by Baptisme into his death Also concerning his resurrection That as Christ did rise againe from the dead by the glory of his father euen so wee should liue in newenesse of life And as touching his ascension into heauen and sitting at the right hand of his father If ye be risen againe with Christ seeke those things which bee aboue where Christ is sitting on the right hand of God Seeke after celestiall things and not terrestriall For ye are already dead and your life laid vp with Christ in God TOVCHING THE last day of Iudgement CHAP. 54. That article touching the second comming of Christ and the day of iudgement concerneth euerlasting life and saluation NOw as touching that part of our Creede which concerneth Christ inasmuch as hee is to come downe from heauen to iudge both the quicke the dead that matter is not pertinent to our life in this world because it was no part of his actions formerly done but of things to be performed in the ende of the world For it doth concerne vs so ●arre as it agreeth with that saying vsed by the Apostle afterwards When Christ your life shall appeare then shall ye also appeare with him in glory CHAP. 55. The signification of these wordes Liuing and Dead CHrists Comming to iudge the quicke and dead may be taken two waies as namely whether we will vnderstand the liuing to be those whom his second comming shall find in this world not then dead but still liuing in the flesh As also that the dead signifie those which either are dead or shall die before his comming or els that the righteous are those liuing and the vnrighteous those dead because the vnrighteous shall also be iudged For sometimes Gods iudgements are taken in y ● worst sense Whereupon it is said Because they haue liued wickedly they shall rise to their condemnation And sometimes againe it is taken in good part according to that saying Saue me O God for thy names sake and iudge me in thy strength For through that iudgement of God there is a separation of the good from the euill that the good being to be diuided from the euil and the destruction incident to thē may bee selected to sit at the right hand of God For which cause Dauid cryed out Giue sentence with me O God and in the same vers to expound himself he saith and defend my cause against the vngodly people TOVCHING THE Holy Ghost and the Church CHAP. 56. That the Trinitie might be compleat that article in the Creede is added touching the H. ghost after which consequently in a most conuen●ent order is remembred the Church because that is the Temple and house of the Trinitie that is to say of the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost NOw that wee haue spoken of Iesus Christ the onely sonne of God our Lord and Sauiour as it is briefly laide down in our Creede Wee are consequently so to beleeue in the holy Ghost that thereby the Trinitie may be complete which is God Afterwardes the holy Church is to bee spoken of Whereby we are to vnderstand that the reasonable Creature being a Citizen of that free Citie Ierusalem after commemoration of the Creator which is the eternall Trinitie should bee put downe Because whatsoeuer hath beene said of the man● Christ doth appertaine to the vnitie of the person of the onely begotten Therefore to follow the direct rule of the Creede it requireth that the Trinitie may haue a Church as an inhabitant his house God his Temple and the builder his owne Citie All which laied together is in this place to be vnderstood not onely of that part which wandreth in this world from the Sunne rising till the setting of the same praysing the name of the Lord as also after this worldly peregrination is finished which singeth that newe song mentioned in the Apocalips But also is meant of that Church which sithence the fabrication thereof cleaued alwayes vnto God and neuer felt the punishment of her falling from God This part consisting of the holy Angels