Selected quad for the lemma: earth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
earth_n	church_n	member_n	visible_a	3,390	5	9.5639	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A37894	A reviving word from the quick and the dead, to the scatter'd dust of Sion, or, A breathing of the spirit of life, in a few bones, that begin to rise and rattle, in and about this city of London by a solemn declaration for an immediate uniting of all saints into one body, upon the growing principles of grace, and kingdome of our Lord Jesus, in every administration thereof ...	Edmonds, Edward.	1657 (1657)	Wing E178; ESTC R13451	58,240	72

of the mystery of Godlinesse which is without controversie Object 2. But the mysticall Church consisting of the elect in Christ Angels and men alive and dead borne and unborne c. cannot be properly ●alled Church-state instituted by Christ in the Gospel being constituted from Eternity in Gods Decree c. Answ. Yet the visible Church in Communion with them with Angels and Spirits of just men made perfect i. e. in a most sweete secret and invisible way is of Gospel institution Heb. 12. 22 23. Ephes 2. 19 20 21. and this is all that we affirm that our Communion must be of such a Nature and comprehensivenesse of Spirit as should not onely admit an Onenesse with them in Spirit but a walking with them on earth were they all alive amongst us under their diverse Administrations forms gifts and apprehensions Object 3. Some hold that the Church at Jerusalem was made up of many particular Churches and this you make your pattern Answ. Not in that sense nor do we hold so but we hold the Church at Jerusalem was but one particular Church having diverse sorts of Members and Meetings at some times and so it is our patterne and not as an universall visible Church for that we deny the universall Church being partly visible and partly invisible comprehending all times places and sorts in heaven and earth Answ 2. It is a great mistake to think the particular meetings of this Body are particular Churches for any one Church may have at some times severall meetings about several matters as Acts 12. 5. 12. 17. 20. 20. Gal. 2. 2 3. and yet be but one particular Church So it is here Notwithstanding in another consideration it seemes to some with as good Analogy and Property of speech consonancy and consistency of truth and Rule as now any Particular Church what ever may be called One and yet the members in particular or the families be many may the meetings too be many and it be said The Church that is at their house Rom. 16. 5. 1 Cor. 16. 19 Col. 4. 15. and the Church which is which meets at his house So Phile 2. So those of Caesars houshold yet in this sense that we speak they were but members of the Church So those that met in Maries house Act. 12. 5. 12. yet were but members of the Church at Jerusalem Now the reason is because two or three together in Christs name or the faithfull of some one Family or a meeting of brethren may be called a Church in one respect and not as they stand related in another Phil. 4. 22. and thus may we be said to be but ONE COLLECTIVELY and yet MORE THEN One if every meeting must be so interpreted DISTRIBUTIVELY wherein one may differ and be in his joynt from Another Though for our parts we cannot Understand it so as of many but of one BODY as 1 Cor. 12. 25. but now are they MANY and many sort of members yet but ONE BODY As SION may have many Gates wherein might be severall Assemblies as of one sort that sat in one gate and another sort in Another and yet be but ONE SION Psal. 84. 2. As the BODY hath many joynts members Arteries Sinewes Veines wherein every one Member from joynt to joynt may be lookt upon as distinct and yet as conjunct or a member of the WHOLE yet makes but one BODY Rom. 12. 4. As a CITY Psal. 122. 3 4. 46. 4. hath many houses Trades Streets Corporations and Societies wherein every one in it's own bounds may be called in a sense a Body yet makes but one City compact As an Army with Banners Cant 6. 4. 10. wherein every Company Regiment Colour Brigade and Wing is as it were an Army by it selfe yet makes but one in all as a Kingdome Joh 18. 36. Heb. 12. 28. Mat. 21. 43. may have many Families Cities Villages Shires Countries c. wherein every one by it's selfe may be said to be a little Kingdome and yet are all but one Kingdome And as Heaven Mal. 13. 11. 24. 31. wherein every firmament Element Planet Star and Constellation make up but one Heaven So is it with a true Church of Christ which is called a Body a City an Army a Kingdome and a Heaven in Scripture So the new Jerusalem Rev. 21. 14. may be said to have twelve Foundations and in them the name of the twelve Apostles and the Lamb every particular member of different Sate vers. 19 20. as the Jasper and Saphire and Calcedony c. to be upon his own and proper Foundation wherein one differ from another as Paul from Peter c. and yet in another sense All have but one foundation 1 Gor. 3. 11. For other foundation can none lay then that which is Jesus Christ So that if any do understand us distributively as of MANY because of our severall meetings members or branches yet they must conclude us collectively All to be but ONE BODY or Church at last Object 4. But then you are like an Vniversall visible Church Answ 1. No no more then every particular Church was in the Primitive times who had their many meetings and different members as well as we 2. There is no such Church as we know of as universall VISIBLE But 3. That there is an universall Church we beleeve and that every particular Church of Christ should be as like to the Vniversall in Integrals and Parts as the Child is like the Parent or the Daughter the Mother we also beleeve and therefore the nearer and liker we are to the universal Church or mother of us All Gal. 4. 26. in Spirit grace and communion with All Saints visible and invisible the more thank●full are we to the Lord whose workmanship we are in Christ Jesus And yet we are but a poor despised Dust a particular visible Church that would faine look like the choice one of her Mother Cant. 6. 9. far short yet pressing after a more Likenesse indeed to the Vniversall consisting of All Saints Jew and Gentile past present and to come and more of the Nature and Spirit of the New Jerusalem But we believe that others are to follow after us and in this Principle too prefer'd before us whose shoes we are not worthy to untie We know not what Influences and Tendencies this may have thereto Obj. 5. But we fear you have no pattern from the Primitive times for such different and sundry Meetings besides the publick of the whole together were that clear we could be satisfied Answ 1. If there had not been left us a plain and direct Example for it as we find in some circumstances yet God hath left his Wisdome with the Church Eph. 3. 10. 1 Cor. 2. 7. a wisdome that is from above James 3. 17. in such Cases as tend to keep up good order Edifying and Discipline in the Body Rom. 14. 19.