Selected quad for the lemma: death_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	body_n	flesh_n	life_n	6,515	5	4.6902	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A41067	A touch-stone, or, A perfect tryal by the Scriptures, of all the priests, bishops, and ministers, who have called themselves, the ministers of the Gospel whose time and day hath been in the last ages past, or rather in the night of apostacy : they are tried and weighed by the Scriptures of truth, and are found out of the life and power of the scriptures, and out of the spirit and doctrine of them that gave them forth, and quite contrary to their principle and practice, both Papists and Protestants : unto which is annexed, Womens speaking justified, &c.	Fox, Margaret Askew Fell, 1614-1702.	1667 (1667)	Wing F639; ESTC R7178	82,431	96

the face of Jesus Christ For we have this Treasury in earthen Vessels that the excellency of the Power may be of God and not of us For we are troubled on every side yet not distressed we are perplexed but not in despair persecuted but not forsaken cast down but not destroyed always bearing about in our body the dying of our Lord Jesus Christ that the Life of Christ might be manifested in our body for we who live are alwayes delivered unto death for Jesus sake that the life of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh so that death worketh in us but life in you Thus the Apostles laboured in the work of the Ministry even under cruel sufferings which Gospel it may well be said hath been hid for the Gospel that hath been preached since the Apostacy hath laid Oppressions and Sufferings upon others and they themselves have Ruled and Lorded over Peoples Consciences but the Apostle Paul said I Paul am made a Minister of the Gospel that is preached to every Creature under heaven now rejoyce in my sufferings for you and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his Bodies sake which is the Church whereof I am made a Minister according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you to fulfil the Word of God Col. 1. But this Ministry and Ministration hath been lost and the Church for which the Apostle suffered hath been in the Wilderness and if there was any small Appearance or Testimony of Jesus Christ in any such have suffered Oppressions and Hardships and much Detriment from such as were the Professed Ministry So these Scriptures with many more which might be mentioned shew the contrariety between the Ministers of the Gospel in the Apostles Dayes and the Professed Ministry that hath been since the Apostles Dayes in the Apostacy And as the Supremacy and Superiority hath been contrary to the Apostles Way and Manner and Order in laying Oppressions and Burthens upon the People so also they have been contrary and opposite to Christ and the Apostles Doctrine Practice and Example in not preaching Liberty and Freedom to the Spirits in Prison for Christ Jesus who is the Anointing of God Preacheth Glad Tidings to the Poor Liberty to Captives his Commission that he gave to his Disciples was to Preach the Gospel to all Nations to every Creature And he said to those that believed in him If ye continue in the Truth the Truth will make you free John 8. And the Apostle confesseth That the Law of the Spirit of Life had made him free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom. 8. And the Apostle saith when he was speaking of the Ministration of the Law and the Gospel When Moses is read the Vail is over the Heart Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord the Vail shall be taken away Now the Lord is that Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty 2 Cor. 3. And so this is that Substance the Apostle Preacheth from and Preached to the Spirit of the Lord that takes away the Vail and giveth Liberty and Redeemeth from under the Power of Darkness and from the Bondage of Corruption and therefore they did not set themselves to Rule over mens Faith or to lord over their Consciences but they endeavour still to be made manifest unto every ones Conscience in the sight of God But we have saith the Apostle Renounced the hidden things of Dishonesty not walking in Craftiness nor handling the Word of God deceitfully but by Manifestation of the Truth commending our selves to every mans Conscience in the sight of God 2 Cor. 4. Knowing therefore the Terrours of the Lord we perswade men but we are made manifest unto God and I trust also are made manifest in your Consciences So here the Apostle preached to Gods Witness in Peoples Consciences and that answered to them again and they were made manifest to that and therefore did the Apostle John say That they needed not any man to Teach them but as the same Anointing teacheth them which is Truth and is no Lye And so this is unlimited neither doth the Apostle limit this when they were gathered into the Eternal Spirit and all drank into one Spirit and all baptized into one Body by one Spirit he told them they might all prophesie one by one and that though they were many Members yet they were one Bread and one Body and every Member of the Body had its several Office the Head did not say to the Feet I have no need of you Now concerning Spiritual Gifts Brethren I would not have you ignorant there are diversity of Gifts but the same Spirit and there are differences of Administrations but the same Lord and there are diversities of Operations but the same God which worketh all in all but the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal For to one is given by the same Spirit the Word of Wisdom to another the Word of Knowledge by the same Spirit to another Faith by the same Spirit to another the Gift of Healing by the same Spirit to another the working of Miracles by the same Spirit to another Prophesie to another Discerning of Spirits to another divers kinds of Tongues to another interpretation of Tongues But all these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit dividing to every man severally as he will For as the Body is one and hath many Members and all the Members of that one Body being many are one Body so also is Christ For by one Spirit we are all Baptised into one Body whether we be Jews or Gentiles whether we be Bond or Free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit for the Body is not one Member but many 1 Cor. 12. And so the Apostle goes on to the end of the Chapter discoursing of the several Gifts all given by one Spirit So here is no binding nor limiting nor Supremacy one over another not to sit Judges one of another but every one to wait in their several Gifts of the Spirit given unto them to profit withal For I say saith the Apostle through the Grace of God given unto me to every man that is among you not to think of himself more highly then he ought to think but to think soberly according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of Faith For as we are many Members in one Body and all Members have not the same Office so we being mary are one Body in Christ and every one Members one of another Having then Gifts differing according to the Grace that is given us whether Prophesie let us prophesie according to the proportion of Faith or Ministy let us wait in our ministring or he that teacheth on Teaching or he that exhorteth on Exhortation he that giveth let him do it with simplicity he that ruleth with diligence he that sheweth Mercy with chearfulness let Love be be

hardness as a good Souldier of Jesus Christ 2 Tim. 2. And when he writes to Titus he saith To Titus mine own Son after the common Faith for this cause left I thee at Creet that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting Tit. 1. And again he saith to Timothy Let no man despise thy youth but be thou an Example of the Believers in word in conversation in charity in spirit in faith in purity Till I come give attendance to reading and to exhortation Neglect not the gift that is in thee which was given thee by prophesie with the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery 1 Tim. 4. I would know which of the Bishops hath received such a Gift as this and whether by making proof of this Gift of Prophesie that is in them they have attained to these Titles of Lord-Bishops and Reverend Fathers in God But since we find the Scriptures so much contrary to these Titles it must needs follow that they have received their Titles from men But Timothy and Titus were made Overseers of the Church of God by the Holy Ghost but no Lord-Bishops and so was the Apostle Paul and the other Apostles And James the Apostle speaks expresly My Brethren have not the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of glory with respect of Persons For if there come into your assembly a man with a gold Ring or goodly Apparrel and there come also a poor man in vile Rayment and ye have respect to him that weareth the gay Cloathing and not to him that is Poor Are ye not partial in your selves c. But if ye have respect to persons ye commit sin and are convinced of the Law as transgressours Jam. 2. Here the Apostle gives perfect judgement against the respecting of mens persons which most men do because of advantage but with Christ Jesus and his holy Apostles you see it was not so and therefore those that take upon them the name of the Ministers of the Gospel of Christ should follow their examples and not go quite contrary And this I look upon to be sufficient for the proof of the first head which is their Titles The Second is their Qualifications State and Condition First Christ Jesus said to those he preached unto Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest take my yoak upon you learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart Mat. 11. This is contrary to highness and haughtiness And when he preached his first Sermon in the Mountain and his Disciples came unto him He opened his mouth and taught them saying Blessed are the poor in Spirit Blessed are they that Mourn Blessed are the Meek as you may read Mat. 5. And likewise when he sent forth his Disciples he said Behold I send you as Lambs in the middest of Wolves be ye therefore wise as Serpents but harmless as Doves Mat. 10. And when he had sent out the seventy by two and by two he said unto them Go your wayes behold I send you forth as Lambs among Wolves Luke 10. This was one Quality of those that Christ sent forth they were Meek they were Harmless Secondly They were such as were to go into Sufferings as he said unto them in the next verse Beware of men for they will deliver you up to the Counsels and they will scourge you in their Synagogues and ye shall be brought before Governours and Kings for my Names sake for a Testimony against them and the Gentiles and ye shall be hated of all men for my Names sake Mat. 10. Mark 13. 9. And when Peter rebuked his Master when he told them that he was to go to Jerusalem to suffer He turned and said unto Peter Get thee behind me Satan c. Then said Jesus unto his Disciples If any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his Cross and follow me Mat. 16. And when he told them that tho Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected of the Elders and Chief Priests and Scribes and be slain and raised again the third day and he said unto them all If any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his Cross daily and follow me Luke 9. Mark 8. And according to this the Apostles of Christ went through many hardships and sufferings as may be read at large throughout the Book of the Acts. And the Apostle Paul saith to the Corinthians And I brethren when I came to you came not with excellency of speech or wisdome declaring unto you the Mystery of God for I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ and him Crucified and I was with you in weakness and fear and in much trembling For Christ sent me not to Baptize but to Preach the Gospel not with wisdom of words least the Cross of Christ should be made of none effect for the preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness 1 Cor. 1. and Chap. 2. It is many ages since those that took upon them the Preaching that which they have called the Gospel were in this state and condition for the Cross of Christ which is the Power of God which makes to tremble as the Apostles did hath been an offence unto them and is mocked and scoffed at by them to this day Thirdly They were also such as were to live in Love and of this Christ himself gave them an example when he took a Towel and girded himself and poured water into a Bason and began to wash the Disciples feet and said Ye call me Lord and Master and ye say well for so I am If I then your Lord and Master have washed your feet ye ought also to wash one anothers feet And a new Commandment I give unto you that ye love one another as I have loved you for I have given you an example that ye should do as I have done to you By this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples if ye love one another John 13. and Chap. 15. And the Apostle saith when he wrote to the Thessalonians but as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you for ye your selves are taught of God to love one another and indeed ye do it towards all the Brethren But we beseech you that ye increase more and more 1 Thes 4. And the Apostle John saith He that saith he is in the Light and hateth his Brother is in darkness He that loveth his brother abideth in the Light 1 John 2. And again he saith This is the Message that ye have heard from the beginning that we love one another not as Cain that slew his brother and wherefore slew he him because his own works were evil and his brothers righteous But we know that we have passed from death to life because we love the brethren He that loveth not his brother abideth in death whosoever hateth his brother is

persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them out of their Coasts but they shoke of the dust of their feet against them and came unto Iconium Acts 13. This was that which the Ministers of Christ that he sent forth were to do against those that would not receive them not to hale them to Courts and punish their Bodies and Estates and make them give them money by their citing of them if they did not believe in their Doctrine they did not deliver them up to the Civil Magistrate to lay their Laws upon them and to Whip them and Scourge them as the Christians of these Ages have done both Papists and Protestants what they cannot do with their Inquisitions and Bishops Courts they can deliver them up to the Civil Magistrates to their Racks and Tortures and Hanging and Banishment and Imprisonment to Death and this is the way that the Christians of these late Ages have used with such as did not believe in their Doctrine of Darkness as many thousands of Witnesses might be instanced that have born their Testimony against them even to the loss of their Lives and Blood and in this they have been like unto the High-Priests and Scribes and Pharisees and manifested themselves to be of that Generation which Christ pronounced woe upon That upon them may come all the Righteous Blood shed upon the Earth from the Blood of Righteous Abel Matth. 23. But this was not the way that Christ taught his Disciples to do for he said unto them It is impossible but that Offences should come but woe be to them by whom they come it were better for him that a Milstone were hanged about his neck and he cast into the Sea then that he should offend one of these little ones Take heed to your selves if thy brother trespass against thee rebuke him and if he repent forgive him and if he trespass against thee seven times in a day and seven times in a day and turn again unto thee saying I repent thou shalt forgive him And the Apostles said unto the Lord Increase our faith and the Lord said If ye had faith as a grain of Mustard-seed ye might say unto this Sycamore-tree Be thou plucked up by the roots and be thou planted into the Sea and it should be so Luke 17. Here is the power of their Ministry Planting and Watering in the Faith Moreover he saith If thy brother shall trespass against thee go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone if he will hear thee thou hast gained thy brother but if he will not hear thee take with thee one or two more that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established but if he shall neglect to hear them tell it unto the Church but if he neglect to hear the Church let him be unto thee as an Heathen man and a Publican Here is no citing to the Bishops Court though he was to be brought to the Church it was but to instruct him and exhort him and to shew him his fault and if he would not hear let him be as an Heathen or as a Publican not to deliver him up to the Civil Magistrate or to be cast into Prison all his dayes or to be Tortured or Racked And when Peter heard these Exhortations of Christ he came unto his Master and said Lord how oft shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him till seven times Jesus saith unto him I say not unto thee till seven times but till seventy times seven therefore the Kingdom of God is likened unto a certain King which would take an account of his Servants c. Matth. 18. I desire the Masters and Upholders of the Courts and Inquisions Racks and Tortures Imprisoners and Persecutors to read the remaining part of this Chapter and see whether they be not the men that have owed much unto the Lord and sinned and transgressed against him and had need to crave his Pacience and Mercy though they have been cruel with their Fellow-Servants and have laid violent hands on them and have taken them by the Throat and said Pay me the Debt and would not have Patience but cast into Prison so that the Lord may well say unto them O ye wicked Servants I forgave you because ye desired me and should not ye have compassion on your Fellow-Servants surely the Lord is wrath for these things and will deliver you unto the Tormentors Here ye see to use Violence and Cruelty is absolutely contrary to the Doctrine and Command of Christ though some bring that Scripture where Christ saith Go into the High-wayes and Hedges and Compel them to come in this Christ spake when he was in the House of one of the chief Pharisees to eat Bread and he exhorted them in several particulars one of them was That when they made a Dinner or a Supper they should not invite their Friends Brethren and Kindred and Rich Neighbours but when they made a Feast they should invite the poor which could not recompense them again and when one of them that sate at meat heard these gracious words that proceeded from him he said unto him Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the Kingdom of God and then he spake a Parable unto them and said A certain man made a great supper and invited many who made excuses and did not come as you may read in this 14th chapter of Luke And therefore it was that he sent into the High-wayes and Hedges because those that were bidden were not worthy to taste of his Supper neither went he about to compel them And there were great multitudes with him and he turned and said unto them If any man come to me and hate not his Father and Mother and Wife and Children and Brethren and Sisters yea and his own Life also he cannot be my Disciple And whosoever doth not bear his Cross and come after me cannot be my Disciple And this Scripture they abuse and make it a cover for their violence and cruelty but what is their Supper or Dinner that people can receive when they have compelled them Is it worthy of forsaking Father and Mother Wife and Children House and Lands and ones own Life I trow not But this is but like the Scribes and Pharisees when they came to Christ and said Why did his Disciples transgress the tradition of the Elders in eating with unwashen hands But he answered and said Why do ye transgress the Commandments of God by your Traditions In vain do they worship me teaching for Doctrine the Traditions of men Matth. 15. And this hath been the Doctrine of our Ages last past the Traditions of men and Imaginations and Inventions of men By this they have holden up the Superiority according as the Apostle saith having mens persons in Admiration because of advantage and so have Lorded over God's Heritage and so have kept his People under the weight of Oppression as the Scribes and Pharisees did binding heavy

a murderer and ye know that no murtherer hath eternal Life abiding in him Hereby perceive we the love of God because he hath laid down his Life for us We ought also to lay down our lives for the Brethren Chap. 3. And so this is contrary to what hath been the practise of those that have taken upon them the function of the Ministers of Christ for many hundreds of years for though they have professed Christ and Christianity yet they have been killing and slaying and murdering one another as many examples might be instanced in ages past Those that call themselves Papists and those that call themselves Protestants one killing and slaying and murdering another and yet all professing and confessing themselves to be Christians and would profess the Scriptures Christ and the Apostles words and in doing thus one to another they have thought they have done God good service and so have fulfilled Christ's words who saith Yea the time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doth God good service and these things will they do because they have not known the Father and me John 16. And this may suffice for the second head which is their Quallifications The third is their Call For Jesus when he came and spake unto his Disciples he said unto them All power is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you and loe I am with you alwayes even to the end of the world Mat. 28. And he said unto them Go ye into all the world and preaceh unto every creature he that believeth shall be saved and he that believeth not shall be damned And again he saith Behold I send the promise of my Father upon you but tarry ye in the City of Jerusalem till ye be endued with Power from on high and he blessed them and they worshipped him and they returned to Jerusalem Luke 26. Which is rehearsed again in the first of the Acts and fulfilled in the second Chapter and the Spirit was poured upon them plentifully and there were some then that mocked and said These men are full of new Wine but Peter stood up with the eleven and said These men are not drunken as ye suppose but this is that which was spoken of by the Prophet Joel It shall come to pass in the last days saith the Lord I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh and your Sons and Daughters shall prophesie and whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord in that day shall be saved This holy Spirit the Apostles received when they were met together also Paul the Apostle who was made an Apostle after them he also was separated for that work by the holy Ghost for as the Apostles were met together with the Church at Antioch as they ministred to the Lord and fasted the Holy Ghost said Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them So they being sent forth by the Holy Ghost departed c. Act. 13. And so the Apostle writes himself when he wrote to the Romans Paul a servant of Jesus Christ called to be an Apostle separated unto the Gospel of God And again when he wrote to the Galatians he wrote thus Paul an Apostle not of men neither by man but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead and all the Brethren which are with me unto the Churches of Galatia And he saith further I certifie you brethren that the Gospel which was preached of me is not after man for I neither received it of man neither was I taught it but by the Revelation of Jesus Christ But when it pleased God who separated me from my mothers womb and called me by his grace to reveal his Son in me that I might preach him among the Heathen immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood Gal. 1. And again when he wrote to the Ephesians when he was a Prisoner of Jesus Christ he wrote thus to the Gentiles Ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of the Gospel of God which is given me to you ward how that by Revelation he made known unto me the Mystery as I wrote unto you in a few words which in other Ages was not made known unto the Sons of men as it is now revealed unto his holy Apostles and Prophets by the Spirit Ephes 3. I do not know neither have I heard that the Ministers and such as take upon them to teach People neither those that are their Lords Bishops and Arch-Bishops that they have had their Calls after this Order for there have been other wayes and meanes used for many hundred of years together as Schooles and Colledges and Universities and Nurseries of Learning which they call their Mothers with a heap of Stuffe which are better known by them that exercise themselves in them than the Revelation of Jesus Christ is and the Ministers they make are by men and of men and they will have them Fitted and Ordained according to their Wayes and Orders But if any one have received the Revelation of Jesus Christ and his Holy Spirit if any such have a Word to speak from the Lord they must not be received nor admitted this is not according to their Order this they call an Heresie and a Sect any that speak and meet together and worship the Lord God in his Spirit and in his Truth such are taken notice of and are brought under the Whip and the Scourge and are apprehended and cast into Prision if they do but pretend the Teachings and Leadings of the Spirit of God and if they have not freedom in their spirits to pay them Tythes or to maintain their Steeple-houses presently they are brought into the Bishops Court and if they cannot for Conscience-sake swear and take an Oath then presently they are cast into Prison But of this more hereafter And thus it is truly manifested that the order of their Calling is not according unto Christ nor his Apostles for Christ saith expresly All things are delivered unto me of my Father and no man knoweth the Son but the Father neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son and he to whom the Son revealeth him Mat. 11. And again Christ saith It is written in the Prophets They shall be all taught of God every man therefore that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh unto me not that any man hath seen the Father save he that is of God he hath seen the Father John 6. This may be sufficient to prove the Third head which is their Call which is contrary to the Apostles The fourth their Worship and the manner of it And first for the Worship it self Christ when he spake to the woman of Samaria and she told him That their Fathers worshipped in that Mountain of