Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	church_n	member_n	visible_a	1,366	5	9.2837	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A50246	A catechisme, or, The grounds and principles of Christian religion set forth by way of question and answer wherein the summe of the doctrine of religion is comprised, familiarly opened, and clearly confirmed from the Holy Scriptures / by Richard Mather, teacher to the church at Dorchester in New England.	Mather, Richard, 1596-1669.	1650 (1650)	Wing M1268; ESTC R43433	66,565	136

live as long as ever any did Q. Is not Sanctification also perfect at the first A. Farre from it for the honest men upon earth have been sensible of such imperfection i in their Sanctification that they durst not stand to be justified before God thereby k Q. VVhat proceeds from this imperfection of Sanctification A. A continuall combat between corruption and grace in the sanctified soule Gal. 5. 17. Rom. 7. Q. And what else A. A continuall exercise of repentance and of fleeing to the grace of God in Christ Jesus Rom. 7. 24 25. Q. Iustification Adoption and Sanctification are excellent benefits that come to believers through Christ tell me what other benefits do accompany or flow from these A. In this life there doth accompany or flow from them assurance of Gods love lively hope and expectation of glory peace of conscience and joy in the holy Ghost Rom. 5. 1 2 5. 14. 17. Tit. 2. 13. Q. If these things be vouchsafed to believers in this life what shall they have in the life to come A. Unspeakable glory and happinesse in the immediate fruition of communion with God and Christ unto all eternity Col. 3. 4. 1 Iohn 3. 2. Heb. 12. 23. 1 Cor. 15. 28. Q But may not a true believer lose his faith and so lose all these benefits that come by faith in this life and fall short of eternall glory in the life to come A. If he should finally lose his faith it would be so indeed but God that of his grace hath wrought this faith in him will preserve and perfect the same untill the day of Christ Phil. 1. 6. 1 Cor. 1. 8. Q. Doe you mean then that a true believer can never totally nor finally fall away but shall persevere in grace unto the end A. Yea I mean so indeed this perseverance of believers in the state of grace being plainly and plenteously taught in the holy Scriptures 1 Pet. 1. 5. Luke 22. 31 32. Iohn 17. 20 21. 10. 28. Mat. 16. 18. Ier. 3● 40. CHAP. 26. Of the necessity of faith its imperfection at the first and the means whereby it may be increased Of hearing the word and of Baptisme and the Lords Supper Q. YOu have shewed many excellent benefits that come by faith but whether is faith of such necessity that these things cannot be without it A. Such is the necessity of this grace of faith that in respect of the usuall way of Gods dispensation there is no hope nor possibility that a man should escape wrath or attaine happinesse in this or in another world without faith Iohn 3. 18 36. Mark 16. 16. Heb. 11. 6. Q. Faith then is very profitable and necessary but whether is it perfect at the first or groweth by degrees A. The best faith is imperfect in this life a and is usually little at the first b increasing and growing by degrees unto more perfection c Q. VVhat are the ordinary and usuall means for increasing of faith A. Hearing the word d Communion of Saints e receiving of Sacraments f prayer g reading h meditation i and conference Q. When must we heare the word A. The usuall and ordinary time is on the Lords day k and other times also l are not to be neglected when God gives such opportunity Q VVhat rules must be observed before we come to heare the word that we may get profit thereby A. We must lay aside our sinnes m seriously consider the weightinesse of the work we goe about n resolve to obey whatsoever shall be shewed to be the will of God o and pray to him that he would teach us to profit p Q. VVhat rules must be observed in hearing A. Reverent attention q with spirituall affections r giving credit to the truth s and applying the word unto our selves t Q VVhat must we observe after we haue heard A. We must meditate of the same afterward u confer of it with others w pray to God for a blessing x and set upon the practice of what is required y Q. VVhat is the generall nature of Sacraments A. They are divine instructions annexed to the word for the teaching of Spirituall things Gen. 17. Exod. 12. Mat. 26. Q. Who is the Author of Sacraments A. Onely God z who is the Author of those Spirituall blessings and duties that are taught thereby Q VVhat are the parts of a Sacrament A. Two an outward and visible signe and an inward and Spirituall blessing which is the thing signified Q. Who are to receive the Sacraments A. The faithfull members of some visible Church and their seed Gen. 17. 10 11. Acts 2. 39. Q. VVhat is the proper effect and use of a Sacrament A. To be a signe and seale of the covenant between God and his people and of those spirituall blessings which are promised therein Gen. 17. 10 11. Rom. 4. 11. Exod. 12. Mat. 26. Q. How many Sacraments are there A. In the New Testament onely two Baptisme and the Lords Supper Mat. 28. 19. 26. 26 c. Q. VVhat is the outward signe or part in Baptisme A. Water a and washing therewith b in the name of the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost c Q. What is the thing signified A. Union with Christ d and forgivenesse of sinnes e with sanctification in the mortifying of corruption and quickning the soule to newnesse of life f Q. Who ought to be baptized A. Men of yeeres when once they are converted to the faith and joyned to the Churchg g and such infants whose parents both or one of them are to be converted and joyned h Q. Who is the author of the Lords Supper A. The Lord Jesus in the same night in which he was betrayed when he was about to lay down his life which was the greatest act of love that ever was 1 Cor. 11. 23 24. Q. VVhat is the outward signe in the Lords Supper A. Bread and Wine with the actions pertaining to them which are breaking and pouring out giving and receiving eating and drinking Mat. 26. 26. 1 Cor. 11. 24 25 c. Q VVhat is the spirituall blessing or thing signified A. The generall sum thereof is Christ himselfe and our communion with him and withall the benefits of his passion Mat. 26. 26 c. 1 Cor. 10 16. Q. What are the things signified more particularly A. The passion of Christ and his sacrifice upon the Crosse consisting in the crucifying of his body and shedding of his blood 1 Cor. 11. 26. Q. What else A. The action of God the father giving k Christ for and to the elect with the action of Christ giving himselfe l to death and likewise giving himselfe to the soules of the faithfull Q. What is the third thing signified in the Lords Supper A. The act of faith receiving Christ and feeding on him spiritually m so as

proofe hereof A. Their union whith Christ wich is the form of that Church is knowne onely unto God Q Name a sixth difference A. The Catholike Church and all the members of it continue for ever n but particular churches by persecutions and corruptions may come to be utterly dissolved and extinct o Q. What is a last difference betweene them A. The ordinary ministery appointed by christ is for the instituted and particular churches but not for the church catholike as such because that church hath no Pastor nor Bishop but Christ Q. How may this appeare that ministers are not ministers of the universall Church but only of some particular congregation A. The church to whom the ministery belong is to chuse her owne ministers p but the unversall church never comes together to make any such choice Q. How else may this appeare A. There is no part of the church to which the ministery belongs but it stands in need of ministers q but a good part of the catholike Church is glorious in heaven with Christ and therefore hath no such need Q. What may be a third ground hereof A. The flock of God over which the Holy ghost doth make men overseers is such as may be attended and watched over even the whole flocke and ministers thereof r Q. And why may not the same be said of the Catholike Church A. Because that Church is so large that it is not possible for any man to attend it or watch over it Q. Is there any evill in it for one man to be a Bishop or minister to all Christians where ever they be disposed of and not onely to one congregation A. Besides that such a man must needs neglect the greatest part of his charge it is a great part of the usurpation of the Bishop of Rome for which he is truely called Antichrist that he will take upon him to be universall Bishop s over all the Christians in the world Q Who is the head of the catholike church A. Onely Iesus Christ t as giving influence of life sense and motion to the same as the head doth unto the body Q Who are the members of that church A. Only they and all they that are effectually called to be true beleevers in Christ Rev. 17. 14. Iohn 15. 19. Q. What are the parts of the Catholike church A. According to the degrees of communion which they have with Christ so that church may be distinguished into that which is militant and that which is triumphant Q. VVhat is the church militant A. It is that part of the catholike Church which is warring and fighting here on earth against spirituall enemies the divell the world and the flesh Eph. 6. 12. Phil. 1. 30. 2 Cor. 10. 4. 1 Tim. 1. 18. Q. And what is the Church Triumphant A. It is that part of the Catholike church which are now in heaven gloriously triumphing over all those enemies which in this world they did conflict and combate withall Eph. 4. 13. Heb. 12. 23. Eph. 5. 27. CHAP. 29. Of the instituted Church or perticular churches Q. WHat is the matter of particular or visible churches A. By the appointment of Christ all churches ought to consist onely of true beleevers a and all that are true beleevers ought to joyn themselves unto some church b Q. If the matter of particular churches for the quality of it ought to be true beleevers in Christ what ought to be the quantity thereof Q No more in number in the dayes of the new Testament but onely so many as may ordinarily meet together in one congregation Acts 2. 46. 5. 12. 3. 2. 14. 27. 15. 25. 1 Cor. 5. 4. and 11. 17 18. and 14. 23. Q. Is any thing else needfull to the being of a visible church but onely the matter above mentioned A. Timber and stones are not an house untill they be compacted and joyned together and as the humane soule and body are not man unlesse they be united so beleevers are not a visible church without some visible bond and union Q. And what is that bond that doth unite them A. An holy agreement and covenant c with God and one another to walke together in such duties of worship to God and edification of one another as the Gospell of Christ requireth of all Churches and the members thereof Q. How many kinds of Churches are there A. The visible Church if we speake of that which is truely so called is one and the same in essence from the beginning of the world to the end thereof namely a company of people united together in the profession of the true religion Q. But may not the true church be some way distinguished A Yes for there is the church of the old Testament and the churches of the new there are pure churches and churches that are corrupt and besides these that are true there are also some that are false Churches Q. What is the Church of the old Testament A A company of people united together in the profession of such a Religion or faith whereby men beleeved on Christ then to come Q. What is a Church of the new Testement A. A company of people united together in the profession of such a religion or faith whereby men beleeve on Christ already come Q What are pure churches and churches that are corrupt A. A pure Church is such a church whose matter forme doctrine worship and ministery is accordding to the appointment of Christ in the word Q. And what is a corrupt Church A. Such an one as in the things last mentioned or in some of them doth swerve from the appointment of Christ yet still holding the foundation of salvation Q. How if their swerving be such as overthroweth the foundation A. Then they cease to be a true church and become either no church or at the best a false church Q. What is a false church A. One that is so exceedingly corrupt in regard of their constitution doctrine worship ministery that if men beleeve and walke according thereunto they cannot be saved Q. And may not thus much befall a true church A. No a true Church is either pure in these things or if corrupt yet not so corrupt as to overthrow salvation CHAP. 30. Of the power or liberty of churches and of church officers Q. WHat is the power or liberty of particular Churches A. It is not civill or worldly for Christs kingdome is not of this world a neither is it independent and supreame for that belongs only to Christ b but their power is Spirituall and ministeriall Q. And wherein have they such power A. They have such power from Christ to exercise all the Ordinances of true Religion and to assemble together for the exercise thereof and in particular to choose Officers to themselves and to practice Discipline or censures Q. Whether have Churches absolute power from Christ to assemble together for the exercise of