Selected quad for the lemma: diversity_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
diversity_n	apostle_n	prophet_n	teacher_n	630	5	9.4590	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A67178	An apologetical narration, or, A just and necessary vindication of Clement Writer against a four-fold charge laid on him by Richard Baxter, and published by him in print.	Writer, Clement, fl. 1627-1658.	1658 (1658)	Wing W3722; ESTC R12025	57,785	109

Sorcerers insomuch that the Sorcerers themselves were convinced and openly confest them to be no otherwise wrought then by the Finger of God And do not you your self in your Saints Rest part 2. pag. 232. tell us That Irenaeus affirmeth That in his time the working of Miracles the raising of the dead the casting out of Devils healing of the sick by meer laying on of hands and prophesying were in force and that some that were so raised from death remained alive among them long after And that Cyprian and Tertullian mention the (c) Note here that these powerful gifts of the Spirit were both ordinary and yet convincing ordinary casting out of Devils and challenge the Heathen to come and see it And in your Saints Rest part 3. pag. 242 243. you do likewise tell us That it is certain from currant Testimony of Church-Records that the gift of casting out of Devils and making them (d) even to the Devils themselves and continued 3 or 400 years at least in the Church after the Apostles all which is granted and proved by R. B. himself confess themselves mastered by Christ did remain in the Church three or four hundred years at least after the Apostles And for this you produce divers Authors and after say That no where could Satan keep his Possession where the power of Christ did assault him And it is likewise evident by the Scripture That the gifts of the Spirit and the Ministry thereof by laying on of hands were to continue in the Church for all that were either then or afterwards called or converted to the Faith to partake thereof even as well all afar off as those that were neer Act. 1. 5. Act. 2. 38 39. 2 Cor. 3. 6. Gal. 3. 5. Comp. Act. 18. 12 14 to 18. Act. 19. 1 to 7. And it is evident also That the Apostolical Office to whom the Ministry of the Spirit was committed together with the Prophetical and Evangelical as well as the Pastoral and Doctrinal being all such meerly by gift were all joyntly by gifts to continue in the true Church for the perfecting of the Saints c. till we all come to the Unity of the Faith c. in Christ from whom the whole body fitly joynted together and compacted by the effectual working of that one Spirit by his several gifts in the measure of every part maketh encrease in the body unto the edifying of it self in love being all baptized into that one Body by some manifest gift of the Spirit to profit the body withal Eph. 4. 8 11 12 13 16. 1 Cor. 12. 7 13. For God saith the Apostle hath set in the Church first Apostles secondarily Prophets thirdly Teachers after that Miracles then gifts of healings helps in Government diversities of tongues 1 Cor. 12. 28. And as the gift of tongues was to continue for a signe to unbelievers so also was the gift of prophesie to continue in the Church for the profit and comfort of believers 1 Cor. 14. 22 31. All which laid together manifestly prove the continuance both of the Apostolical and Prophetical Offices in the true Church not onely for the first age and for four hundred years after but also that they were and are alwayes to continue therein and are and will be therein wheresoever it is and whensoever it shall be upon the face of the Earth notwithstanding all that is or can be produced or proved by R. B. to the contrary in his proposing a lame and imperfect body of Christ dismembred and without his chiefest members yea and quite memberless These spiritual diversities of manifest Gifts being the formality of the diversity of the spiritual members of Christ their spiritual Head but R. B. tells the world That these Gifts are now both useless and unnecessary if a man might with safety take his word against both reason scripture and experience and albeit he may therein nevertheless easily prevaile with many weak and inconsiderate men yea and please many thousand others whose interests are concerned who though they be at Daggers-drawing with him and amongst themselves concerning the most material points of the Gospel yet herein his service will be acceptable in that he affords them help though very little at so dead a lift even when they were breathing out their last of divine right both to Office and Benefice and which was not long since quite dead as may appear by their petitioning the long Parliament for its reviving but the Parliament declared and that most truly That all just power must be derived from the people hence they proceed to act mighty matters and all in the name and authority of the people of England and still at the adjournment of the Court after a solemn cry of O yes they founded out with a loud voice God save the good people of England whence will follow as a necessary Consequence that if any divine right remains now in England it is in the people of England But a little further to the point in hand and to use Christs argument against the Pharisees slandering his casting out of Devils to be done by the Prince of Devils If Satan saith Christ cast out Satan how shall his Kingdom stand The like may I say If God doth not apparently distinguish the works done by his Spirit and Power for the Confirmation of the Gospel from those wrought by Satan or any other created power how shall his Wisdom Truth and Justice stand in his requiring Faith and Obedience unto the Gospel and that upon pain of damnation meerly upon the account of the mighty works wrought for its Confirmation and yet not to distinguish them by some such apparent signes from all other done by Satan or his instruments as they might evidently and undoubtedly be known by all men For saith Christ if I had not done and that among them the works which none other man did they had not had sin John 15. 24. The second Charge is in pag. 7. If Miracles saith R. B. were ordinary few would be moved by them as any proof of a divine testimony To this saith he Clem. Writer answers me miracles were convincing in the first age when they were common How common saith R. B. not as natural operations Answ VVho ever said they were as common as natural operations not Clem. Writer But here R. B. sets up a Dudman of his own invention to affright Daws from questioning his far-fetcht false and unwarrantable Doctrines and then when he pleaseth makes an Adversary of it fights it stoutly conquers it beats it to Clouts with his Fists and who now can deny him his just triumph for so glorious a victory But to the Charge it self against Clem. Writer for answering you Miracles were convincing in the first age when they were common is this any offence in Clem. Writer for so saying when R. B. himself hath proved it over and over That Miracles were both ordinary and convincing even to the Devils themselves not onely in the