Selected quad for the lemma: diversity_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
diversity_n	gift_n	miracle_n	teacher_n	556	5	9.5967	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A32819	A serious examination of the independent's catechism and therein of the chief principles of non-conformity to, and separation from the Church of England / by Benjamin Camfield ... ; in two parts, the first general, the second more particular.	Camfield, Benjamin, 1638-1693.	1668 (1668)	Wing C383; ESTC R6358	213,588	410

them after Deacons such as our Church-wardens or Vestry-men still are men trusted with the utensils and stock of the Church and employed about the ordering of Seats and Rates and such like outward affairs of the Church Of these therefore we retain not only some foot-steps but the things themselves Secondly Some light in this matter saith the Catechist may be taken from the Church of the Jews wherein the Elders of the people were joyned in Ruling with the Priests both in the Sanhedrim and all lesse Assemblies 'T is much he should not discern by this light the vanity of cavilling against the term of Lay-Elder which is but the very same with Elder of the People to whom he is now compared But as to the thing it self here referr'd to it shall suffice to annex this short observation Dr. Doughtee Vel. Polem p. 92. That the main reason of joyning Elders to the Priests Synodical Elders among the Jews was the mixt condition of the Judaical Law they had to deal with howbeit of Divine institution wholly and from God yet in regard of the drift and scope thereof partly divine and partly humane occupied in a decision of doubts hapning betwixt God and Man as likewise betwixt Man Man and accordingly the Priests and Levites besides the ordering of the Sanctuary their peculiar task 1 Chron. 24.5 2 Chron. 34.8 had principally to do in matters of it appertaining unto God and the Elders in things belonging unto Men the one over the matters of the Lord the other over the matters of the King 2 Chron. 19.8 9 10 11. In brief the Jewish Sanhedrim if so at least-wise it be to be understood in those places commonly alledged Exod. 18.25 26. Numb 11.16 17. Deut. 17.8 9. and 19.16 17. was upon the point a Civil Court and had to deal in matters of Right or Title yea of Life it self But come we Thirdly to his express Scriptures There is saith he in the Gospel express mention of persons that were assigned peculiarly for Rule and Government in the Church As 1 Cor. 12.28 Rom. 12.8 1 Tim. 5.17 I might here except First at the phrase here as well as in the general Answer Ruling-Elders are mentioned in the Scripture A phrase very distant from proving their institution by Christ inasmuch as many things are mentioned in H. Scripture which are not there allowed of much less enjoyned and prescribed Secondly That he saith there is express mention of these in the Gospel and yet brings all his proofs out of St. Paul's Epistles But these are lesser incongruities which I shall not insist on We will view impartially the places themselves which are here brought in to prove That there are such Church-officers instituted by Christ and so of perpetual necessity to be retained as Elders whose duty consists in rule and government only Elders in distinction as well from the Civil Magistrate as the Pastors of the Christian Church The first Text is 1 Cor. 12.28 God hath set some in the Church first Apostles secondarily Prophets thirdly Teachers after that Miracles then gifts of Healings Helps Governments Diversities of Tongues Well here are mentioned Helps Governments here are also Miracles gifts of Healings Diversities of Tongues now What is this to Ruling-Elders or Lay-Presbyters 'T is answer'd moreover by some That these were so many gifts and endowments appertaining to the Officers before mentioned Apostles Prophets and Teachers To which purpose it is observable that the Apostle useth the Abstract and upon an exact recapitulation made afterwards in the Concrete of the said Church-administrations he omitteth helps governments as being only appendents 't is like to the foregoing Offices and so comprized under them ver 29 30. Are all Apostles are all Prophets are all Teachers Are all Workers of Miracles have all Gifts of Healing do all speak with Tongues do all Interpret and then follows an Exhortation to the pursuit of the best gifts verse 31. So that this Exposition seems well grounded upon the Text. But what saith the Catechist It is in vain pretended that those words helps governments do denote gifts only seeing the Apostle expresly enumerates the persons in Office or Officers which the Lord Christ then used in the foundation and rule of the Churches as then planted What and were Miracles Gifts of Healings Diversities of Tongues too reckon'd in the number of those Officers But grant what is pleaded for that helps and governments import here a distinction of Offices personally different Are therefore Ruling-Lay-Elders presently the men or Dr. D. Vel. Polem p. 77. must they necessarily be understood Why not rather Deacons if there be room for guesses who were plainly taken in as helps to the Apostles in their work of Ministring to the Saints Acts 6.1 2. and had moreover some power questionless assigned them in the rule and government of the Church which makes St. Paul require before their admission a skill of governing their own houses well 1 Tim. 3.4 5 12. This then for the first Text. The second follows He that ruleth also is distinguished from him that teacheth and him that exhorteth Rom. 12.8 and is prescribed diligence as his principal qualification in the discharge of his duty Let the whole period be viewed from the 6th verse which upon another occasion we consulted once before and I demand first How it appears that the Apostle treats there of Offices subjectively distinct as to persons and not rather of a diversity of spiritual gifts co-incident to the same person since at his very entrance upon the enumeration he expresly nameth Gifts verse 6. Having then gifts differing according unto the grace that is given unto us c. And it may certainly appertain to one and the same person to prophesie be that to expoun● Scripture or what it will and do the ministry of a Deacon and to teach and to exhort and to distribute Church-goods and to govert and to give alms which are the particulars there specified And then supposing th● question resolved Secondly How appears it that the Apostle here meant any distinct officer in the Church any Ruling-Elder and not rather extended his admonition unto all to whom the charge of Ruling is committed even the Civil Magistrate as well as any other of whom doubtless diligence is also required for having in the beginning of this 8 verse joyned to the two immediately precedent gone through with Church-offices he may be thought without injury to the Text to strike out into more general and common duties wherewith he holds on to the end of the Chapter As yet then we have not Ruling-Elders so much as mention'd in the H. Scripture not one word or syllable of these Ruling-Elders that are contra-distinguished to Teaching-Presbyters and Civil Magistrates It may be the third place will satisfie for all Ad Triari●s ventum est If this fail the Catechist must quit the field To that therefore let us bend our observation The words of the Apostle to this purpose