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
A94296	Of religious assemblies, and the publick service of God a discourse according to apostolicall rule and practice. / By Herbert Thorndike.	Thorndike, Herbert, 1598-1672.	1642 (1642)	Wing T1054; Thomason E1098_1; ESTC R22419	207,469	444

have publick Ministeries no lesse then those that have miraculous Graces both being for the common benefit of the body which is the Church But the Apostle having enlarged this comparison to the full in this place to shew to whom he speaketh as members of publick places proceedeth vers 28. to particularize all to whom his Exhortation belongeth Apostles Prophets and the rest among whom he reckoneth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Helps and Governments which our English rendereth Helps in Governments which whether they mean miraculous Graces such as the Apostle calleth The Manifestation of the Spirit or Ministeries of publick Service in the Church I referre to further consideration afterwards In the mean time observing that the Apostle writing to the Romanes for the same purpose hath reckoned more particulars of the same nature not necessarily proceeding from miraculous Graces though his discourse there xii 6. compriseth those also when he saith Having severall Gifts according to the Grace that is given to us For the present we may see what this whole discourse of the Apostle aymeth at by the conclusion of the Chapter where he saith Covet earnestly the best Gifts and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way For this Exhortation it is that tyeth all that hath passed with that which followeth The Syriack readeth it thus If ye be zealous of the best Graces I will yet shew you a more excellent way Theodoret and Oecumenius make a question of it thus Are ye zealous of the most eminent Graces I will yet shew you a way beyond them all But whether the meaning be to exhort them to pursue the most usefull Graces or to suppose that they did it thus much for certain his intent is to give the ground and reason why all members of publick Service in the Church are not to seek the eminence of their persons but the common benefit because there is a thing called The common Charity of Christians more available towards the esteem of all mens persons be they never so private in the Church with God then all those Gifts of the Holy Ghost that appear so marvellous to common sense This is the occasion of that comparison which followeth throughout the thirteenth Chapter between the common Charity of Christians and their particular miraculous Graces which being dispatched there in good time doth the Apostle proceed to resume that which he had proposed afore and upon this occasion intermitted concerning zeal and study for the most excellent Graces which he tyeth up with that Charity which hitherto he hath preferred to them all in that proposition which he openeth the fourteenth Chapter with Follow after Charity and desire spirituall Gifts but rather that ye may Prophesie For when he preferreth Prophesying before other spirituall Gifts it is plain enough what he meant when he said before Be zealous of the best Graces a thing in which there can be no doubt because it is the subject of what is behind in this Discourse Now let me lay down the words of the Apostle wherein he reckoneth in particular the Graces and Ministeries of the Church 1. Cor. xii 28. And God hath set some in the Church first Apostles secondarily Prophets thirdly Teachers after that Miracles then gifts of Healing Helps in Governments diversities of Tongues whereunto we may adde out of vers 29. Interpreting of Tongues And herewith compare the Catalogue of the same which he compriseth under the name of Gifts and Graces Rom. xii 6 7 8. Having then gifis differing according to the grace that is given to us whether Prophesie let us Prophesie according to the proportion of faith Or Ministery let us wait on 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 chearfulnesse That which followeth concerneth the particular virtues of Christians and the works of them as Love Hope Patience and the like such as are also those that went afore of giving and shewing mercie which the Apostle hath ranked among those Graces which tend to the generall good of the Church it seemeth because they also respect the benefit of others Last of all adde unto these the Ministeries which the Grace of Christ upon his Asscension poured out upon the Church appointeth according to the same Apostle Ephes iiii 11 12. And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastours and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ By which words as well as by the particulars which he putteth down and which he leaveth out of those which he reckoneth in the other places it appeareth that he intended according to the purpose of his speech there to comprise none but those Graces and Ministeries which tend to the edification of the whole Church in matter of doctrine But writing to the Corinthians his intent was to set down all manner of Graces and Ministeries tending to the common benefit of the whole Church either in spirituall or corporall necessities in working miracles and the like none whereof he mentioneth to the Romanes neither the Graces of Apostles and Evangelists it seemeth because they are Graces and Offices not confined to one Church in particular These Catalogues are here compared for the ease and direction of them that desire to judge of such particulars as seem not yet out of doubt in the Ministeries appointed by the Apostles To which purpose we must resume what hath been elsewhere observed That nothing hindereth divers of the Graces specified to meet in the same person For though we suppose as the Apostle seemeth to suppose all Ministeries to be accompanied with the Graces which the discharge of them requireth as the Elders of Israel Num. xi 25. received part of Moses his spirit and though all Graces inferre Ministeries as he that is indued with any of the Graces specified to the Corinthians ministreth the effect of his grace to the benefit of others yet there is a difference between Ministeries of publick office in the Church whether to cease or continue and Graces which inable either a publick person to a publick or private persons to a particular work as that of Miracles Severall Ministeries of publick place in the Church must belong to severall persons but publick persons are capable as well of the Graces which private persons have as of those that belong to their publick charge including perhaps the Graces of inferiour Ministeries And the instance of the first in the Catalogue shall put this out of doubt that is of Apostles For nothing hindereth an Apostle to be a Prophet to speak strange languages to work miracles or the like The Commentaries under S. Ambrose his name Quamvis sint Apostoli Prophetae quia primus gradus reliquos subjectos habet Though saith he Apostles also are Prophets because the chief degree hath the