Selected quad for the lemma: diversity_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
diversity_n	body_n	member_n	unity_n	542	5	10.1952	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47294	A discourse explaining the nature of edification both of particular persons in private graces, and of the church in unity and peace, and shewing that we must not break unity and publick peace, for supposed means of better edifying in private virtues : in a visitation sermon at Coventry, May 7, 1684 / by John Kettlewell ...	Kettlewell, John, 1653-1695.	1684 (1684)	Wing K365; ESTC R13841	32,265	39

End of Gifts Thus we are told of Knowledge which St. Paul rejects when it is used only to build up and please our selves and is not govern'd by Charity that edifies others 1 Cor. 8. 1. And thus also of Prophesie or Preaching that great Means of Edifying Believers For tho it was then an extraordinary and inspired Gift yet was it to be limited by Publick Ends and the Spirit of Prophecy to be stinted and suppressed when it came unseasonably upon them in the Church and by moving several to speak at the same time bred confusion and Publick disturbance The Spirits of the Prophets are subject to the Prophets i. e. to govern them in subserviency to the Churches Peace For God is not the Author of Confusion i. e. he bestows no Gifts to serve that end but of Peace as in all Churches of the Saints 1 Cor. 14. 32 33. And to name no more in this case St. Paul as I have shewed makes Charity that uniting Virtue and sure obstacle of all Schisms the most excellent of all Gifts So that when the gifted Men themselves are zealous to exercise their Gifts or others are zealous to be under them they must both have a higher zeal to shew their Charity and maintain it in the first place Follow after Charity says he again and desire Spiritual Gifts So that in all exercise and pursuit of them they must not fail to follow Love and take it along with them 1 Cor. 14. 1. 2. It is also the great end of those Officers whom God has appointed and empowered and whom he has endowed with these Gifts for the edification of his Church such as Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors and Teachers For they are given says St. Paul for the perfecting of the Saints and the edifying of the Body of Christ. Eph. 4. 11 12. They are given for the perfecting of the Saints i. e. for the edifying particular Christians in Faith and Practice but yet so as to be given also for the edifying of the Body of Christ till we come in the Unity of the Faith to a perfect Man So that when these Officers seek to edifie particular Believers they must be sure at the same time to secure another end i. e. the edification of the Body and Unity of the Church They are given as Members which shews evidently they must make up but one Body and keep Unity with the other parts Nay they are given as joynts which are the very Ligaments of Union and Compactness These Officers are given as Members of the Church and that shews they must make up one Body and keep Unity with the other parts For the Unity of the Body is to be the care of all the Members especially of those which excel in Gifts or are highest in Dignity and Office Thus it is as the Apostle observes 1 Cor. 12. in the Natural Body It has several Members very different in endowments and destined some to more some to less honourable Offices But because of this difference the more able and honourable Members do not set up for themselves and seek a Separate Profit or applause or make a Schism and divide from others Tho there be many Members says he they all make up but one Body v. 20. And the Eye tho a more Honourable Member cannot separate Interests or say to the Hand tho less Honourable I have no need of thee nor again the Head to the Feet I have no need of you v. 21. And none seek only themselves which would cause Divisions but they have all the same care one for another if one suffer all the rest suffering or if one be honoured all the rest rejoyceing with it that there be no Schism in the Body v. 25 26. And like to this in Natural Bodies is the difference of Officers in the Church Tho that have variety of Gifts as Wisdom Knowledge Prophecy Faith Miracles c. v. 8 9 10. And variety of Officers and Ministers some gifted more some less some higher some lower in Authority than others for there are differences of Administrations v. 5 God having set first Apostles secondarily Prophets thirdly Teachers after that Miracles and Gifts of Healing i. e. Persons endowed with them Helps i. e. some distributing Charity as Deacons or attending on Impotent and Orphans Governments as Bishops and Presbyters Diversities of Tongues v. 28. Tho I say in the Church there be this difference both of Gifts and Ministries yet must not those differently Gifted or Authorized Officers draw different ways and form divided Parties but all aim at the Unity of the whole Body as its Natural Members As all the Members in the Body Natural are one Body so also is Christ the different Ministeries and Members making but one Body in him likewise v. 12 And the several Ministeries as Apostles Prophets c. are all the Body of Christ says he and Members in particular which therefore must cement together and not fall off and divide from each other v. 27 28. And as we have many Members in one Body Natural and yet all these Members though the Body be but one have not one and the same Office more than these Members of the Church So we being many Members and Officers the variety whereof is described v. 6 7 8. are still to be but one Body in Christ and every one Members one of another the difference in Offices giving no more liberty to divide the Church than the same difference in the Natural Members doth to divide the Natural Body Rom. 12. 4 5. Nay these Officers are not set only as Members which as we have seen is enough to prevent Schism but they are set in the Church as joynts which are to compact all the other parts and are the very Bonds and Ligaments of Union The whole Body says St. Paul fitly joyned together and compacted by that which every joynt supplies Eph. 4. 16. Every joynt i. e. Every Officer and Church-governour for in them the other Members are joynted and united to one another And since they are joynts they must fasten and unite all the other parts together not tear them from each other what they supply says the Apostle must compact the Body and therefore must in no wise divide it and of one make many So that as for the extraordinary Abilities and edifying power of some Pastors and Teachers it must never occasion or head Schisms and Divisions But must be so applied by them and so sought to by others that whilst it labours to build up Faith and Good Life in particular Persons at the same time it build up Unity in the Church and Body of Christ. When an increase is endeavoured by the effectual working in every part that must be in such measure as the Apostle says again as secures the whole Body and consists with Publick Peace and settlement The effectual working in the measure of every part makes increase of the Body to the edifying it self in Love Eph. 4. 16. 4.