Selected quad for the lemma: church_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	learned_a	pastor_n	reverend_n	3,088	5	16.4121	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A80639	The true constitution of a particular visible church, proved by Scripture. Wherein is briefly demonstrated by questions and answers what officers, worship, and government Christ hath ordained in his church. / By that reverend and learned divine, Mr. Iohn Cotton, B.D. and pastor of Boston in New England.	Cotton, John, 1584-1652.	1642 (1642)	Wing C6468; Thomason E107_15; ESTC R10034	10,218	18

The True CONSTITVTION Of A particular visible Church proved by Scripture Wherein is briefly Demonstrated by Questions and Answers what Officers Worship and Government Christ hath ordained in his CHVRCH By that Reverend and Learned Divine Mr. IOHN COTTON B. D. and Pastor of Boston in New England IEREMY 50.5 They shall aske the way to Sion with their faces thitherward saying Come let us joyne our selves to the Lord in a perpetuall Covenant that shall not be forgotten LONDON Printed for Samuel Satterthwaite at the Signe of the black Bull in Budge Rowe neare to Saint Antholines Church 1642. THE true Constitution of a Particular visible Church proved by Scripture Quest WHat is the Church Ans The Church is a Mysticall body (1) Eph. 5.30 31 32. Rom. 12.4 5. 1 Cor 12.28 whereof Christ is the Head (2) Eph. 2.22 5.23 the members and Saints (3) 1 Cor. 2.12 Col. 1.2 called out of the World (4) 1 Cor. 2.2.9 and united together into one Congregation (5) 1 Cor. 11.18 14.23 by an holy Covenant (6) Exo. 19 5. 24.3.7 Deu. 5.2.27 and 29.2.9 to 15. to worship the Lord and to edifie one another in all his holy Ordinances (7) 1 Cor. 5.4 1 Cor. 14.26 Quest What sort of Members hath God set in his Church Ans Some that are Ministers (1) 1 Cor 4 17 Eph. 4.12 Col 4.17 Rom. 12 7 or Officers (2) 1 Tim. 3.2.10.13 Rom. 11.3 Psal 109.8 in the Church others commonly called by the generall name that belongeth to all the members Brethren (3) Act. 15.22 23. Rom. 16 3 and Saints (4) Paul 2.2 Quest What sorts of Ministers or Officers hath God set in his Throne Ans Some extraordinary as Apostles Prophets and Evangelists (1) Eph. 4.11 1 Cor 12.28 some ordinary and perpetuall as Bishops and Deacons (2) Phil. 2 2 1 Tim. 3.1 2 3 Quest What manner of men are to be called to these Offices to be Bishops or Elders in the Church Ans A Bishop or Elder in the Church must be in himselfe a blamelesse man for Holinesse and Righteousnesse and for freedome from passions and lusts also a vigilant man and of good behaviour Moreover he must bee in his Family a man of good Government and of good Hospitality in his Name a man of good Report even of those that are without in his Profession not a young Plant but holding fast the faithfull Word apt to teach it and able to maintaine it (1) 1 Tim. 2.2 to 7. Tit. 1.6 to 9. Quest What sorts of Bishops or Elders hath God ordained in his Church Ans Of Bishops who are also called Elders God hath ordained two sorts Ruling Elders and such as labour in word and in Doctrine (1) 1 Tim. 5 17 1 Cor. 12.28 Rom. 12.6 7 8. Acts 20.28 Tit. 1.5.7 commonly called Pastors and Teachers (2) Eph. 4.11 all of them to watch over one certaine Flocke the Church of a particular Congregation (3) Act. 14 23 and 20.17 with 28. Phil. 1.1 Tit. 1.5 Quest What is the Office or worke of the Pastors or Teachers Ans The Pastors worke is to attend upon Exhortation and therein to dispence a word of wisedome the Teacher is to attend upon Doctrine and therein to dispence a word of knowledge (1) Rom 12.7 8. 1 Cor. 12.28 Quest What is the Office of the Ruling Elders Ans Seeing the Kingdome of Christ is not of this World but Heavenly and spirituall (1) Ioh 18 36 and the Government of his Kingdome is not Lordly (2) Mat. 20 25 26. but Stewardly and Ministeriall (2) Luk 12 42 and to labour in the ministry of Exhortation and Doctrine is the proper work of the Pastor and Teacher (3) 1 Tim. 5.17 it remaineth therefore to bee the part and Office of the ruling Elders to assist the Pastor and Teacher in all other Acts of Rule besides as becommeth good Stewards of the Houshold of God (4) Rom. 12 8. as first to open and shut the doores gf Gods House (5) Math. 16.19 by admission of Members (6) Acts 20.28 29. by ordination of Officers (7) 1 Tim. 4.14 by excommunication of notorious and obstinate offenders (8) Math. 18.17 18. Secondly to see that none without the Church live either inordinately without a calling or Idly in their calling (9) 2 Thes 3.10 11 12. thirdly to prevent and heale such offences in life and Doctrine as might corrupt either their owne Church (10) Rev. 22 14 15.20 or other Churches if their Counsel be required (11) Act. 15.2.6 Fourthly to prepare matters before hand for the Churches consideration (12) Acts 21 18. and to moderate the carriage of all matters in the Church assembled (13) Act. 6 2. as to propound matters to the Church (14) Act. 6 2 3 and to order the season of speech and silence in the Church (15) Acts 13 15. Fifthly to feed the flock of God with a word of admonition (16) 1 Thes 5.12 Acts 20.31 and as they shall be called for to visite pray over their sick brethren (17) Iam. 5.14 Quest What manner of men hath God appointed to be called to the Deacons Office Answ Men of gravity and of good report not given to dissembling nor to Wine nor to covetousnesse ful of the holy Ghost and wisedome holding forth the mistery of the faith in a pure conscience keeping their houshold in good Rule and enjoying such wives as may neither dishonour nor corrupt their Office not slanderers but brave and sober and faithfull in all things 1 1 Tim. 3.8 to 12. Act 6.3 Quest What is the office of the Deacons Answ To receive the offrings of the Church brought unto them and laid downe before them (1) Acts 4 34 35. and therewith to serve Tables (2) Acts 6.2 distributing with simplicity (3) Rom. 12.8 not onely to the Ministers of the Church (4) Gal. 6.6 but to any other of the brethren as they shall have need (5) Act. 4 35 Quest But is it not the Office of the Deacons to shew mercy with cheerfulnesse Answ Yes verily to their Brethren in misery (1) Rom 12.8 but that part of their office they do chiefly performe by the hand of the widdowes chosen into their number who are therefore called the Deacons or servants of the Church (2) Rom. 16 1 Quest What manner of widdowes hath God allowed to be taken into this number Answ Ancient women well reported of for good workes for nursing her children for lodging of Strangers for washing the Saints feet for relieving the afflicted for following diligently every good work (3) 1 Tim 5 9 10 Quest What manner of men hath God appointed to be received as Brethren and members of his Church Answ Such as are called of God out of this world to the fellowship of Christ