Selected quad for the lemma: diversity_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
diversity_n	church_n	prophet_n	teacher_n	471	5	9.2767	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A42583	An essay toward the amendment of the last English-translation of the Bible, or, A proof, by many instances, that the last translation of the Bible into English may be improved the first part on the Pentateuch, or five books of Moses / by Robert Gell ...	Gell, Robert, 1595-1665.	1659 (1659)	Wing G470; ESTC R21728	842,395	853

Church in a matter of the greatest moment such as is the power of judging spirituall things such a Government is in the Church And therefore Arias Montanus speaking of those our Lords words saith Hoc loco constituit Dominus Ecclesiasticum Judicium authoritatemque Episcopis conciliis omnis Ecclesiae tradit In this place the Lord appoints an Ecclesiastical Judicatory and gives authority to the Bishops Councils and the whole Church So he So that there are or ought to be spiritual men in the Church who are meet and fit to judge of spiritual things So the Apostle tells us that the spiritual man judgeth all things that is all spiritual things whereof he is a competent judge But why then is there not such a judgement such a Council Surely matter is not wanting whereof to judge What then is the reason I shall give such an answer as one of our great Statesmen in the dayes of blessed Queen Elizabeth gave concerning Offices and Places One told him he had excellent Plates in his gift being Lord Treasurer of England he should therefore do well to prefer some of poor his kindred and friends to them The Lord Treasurer confessed he had excellent places in his gift but saith he I want excellent men to put in those places And we may say the like touching Places of spiritual judicature Surely they are excellent places to be Judges of spiritual things but we want excellent men to fill up such places Men of most holy life The High Priests themselves were not admitted to be of the Sanhedrin unless they were eminent for wisdom and holiness of life Men of sound doctrine that is healing doctrine such as heals the soul of spiritual maladies That 's properly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Such are the truly Oxthodox men Men of Christian prudence able to rule themselves and the Church of God 1 Tim. 3. Tit. 1. where we have other notable characters of a spiritual Elder For want of such a Spiritual Judicatory how far alas How far is the present generation from that purity of religion whereunto yet almost all pretend The Christian religion will not allow a bitter or reproachful word much less a root of bitterness rash and unadvised anger but condemns it as murder and summons wrathful persons before the Judgement and Council We have been reformed and reformed again over and over and we have now long been under the reformation of the Sword yet where shall we finde maugre all our preciseness and demure profession where yet shall we finde the reformation of bitter words the circumcision of the lips the reformation of wrath anger revenge hatred malice envy bloody-mindedness where shall we finde the reformation the circumcision of the heart What care and tenderness our Lord supposeth should be in the Governours of his Church that not so much as a reproachful or contemptuous word shall pass without rectifying by due correction or censure That what ever difficulty and doubts shall arise there may be a present remedy had We see a specimen of this in that first Council when doubts arose in the Church concerning circumcision the Apostles and Elders came together to consider of this matter Acts 15.6 All this care diligence and tenderness proceeded from a spiritual fatherly indulgence yea from a motherly and nurselike love and affection Gal. 4.19 1 Thes 2.7.11 which Moses discovered in his complaint and prayer as a legal patern which could not perfect those things Hebr. 7.19 but left them to an higher dispensation for their accomplishment even that of the Gospel Now under the Gospel because this government is supposed and confirmed by Christ as hath been shewen there hath been and yet is much contention about the government of the Church into what hands it should be put Surely where ever the Spirit of God rules the Governours that must needs be the best government and that Church the best reformed Church 2 Sam. 23. v. 2 3. So saith David in his last words The Spirit of the Lord spake in me and his Word in my tongue the God of Israel said The Rock of Israel spake to me Let the Ruler among men be just ruling in the fear of God Otherwise if the Spirit of God that separate reserved and excellent Spirit rule not the Rulers of the Church it matters not much who are the Rulers and Governours of the Church For if that Spirit rule not it is no more a divine and spiritual government such as Christs government ought to be but at the best humane and prudential For Christ the Head of his Church is not only faithful in all Gods house as Moses was only as a servant for a testimony of those things which were after to be spoken of but Christ is faithful as a son over his own house Hebr. 3.5 6. and therefore he provides the best Governours over it wherein he hath respect unto the former paterns in the Law spoken of before by Moses And so as the twelve sons of Jacob gave names to the twelve Tribes and afterward the like number of Apostles was appointed by the Lord who had promise to judge the twelve Tribes of Israel so in memory of the Seventy persons who came with Jacob into Egypt Gen. 46.27 they ordained so many Elders and Governours over them And our Lord sent forth the like number of Disciples Vnto those seventy Elders our Lord sent Moses Exod. 3.16 who reported the Lords message unto them Exod. 4.29 Vnto these Moses by the advise of Jethro committed the less matters in controversie to be judged reserving the greater and more difficult to his own cognisance Exod. 18.22 which proved a burden too heavy for him whereof he complaining the Lord ratified the counsel of Jethro and commands Moses to gather Seventy Elders such as he himself knew to be such whom he enabled for the government by his excellent spirit of Judgement which consisted of Priests Levites and religious and devout Israelites as appears 2 Chron. 19.8 This Council judged of all causes divine and humane civil and capital Now since so great care and circumspection was taken for the government of the Church under the Law there is no doubt but the Lord Jesus is altogether as provident for the government and Governours over his own house the Church The Governours are not only Pastors and Teachers 1 Cor. 12. v. 28. Elders and Deacons as some say but S. Paul tels us of more then these and saith that God hath set some in his Church first Apostles secondarily Prophets thirdly Teachers after the miracles then gifts of healings 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not helps in governments as our Translators render the words but helps governments 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not diversities but kindes of tongues Whereof he recites some again Ephes 4.11 and in both places he mentions first Apostles And why they may not be as standing Officers of the Church as any of the rest I know not For when the place of Judas