Selected quad for the lemma: earth_n
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A54060
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Some queries concerning the order and government of the church of Christ
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Penington, Isaac, 1616-1679.
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1663
(1663)
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Wing P1199; ESTC R23175
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10,737
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17
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Some QUERIES concerning the Order and Government of the Church of CHRIST Query 1. WHether CHRIST who is the Head Lord King c. hath not appointed a Spiritual Order and Government to be in his Church and Congregation Qu. 2. Whether a Spiritual Order and Government is not useful profitable and necessary for the well-being and right-managing of this Spiritual Body and Holy Society in the Faith and Life of our Lord Jesus Christ In Natural Societies Natural Government and Order is profitable and necessary and is not Spiritual Government as profitable and necessary in Spiritual Societies Qu. 3. Did not Christ give power of Government to his Apostles and Ministers at the first publication of his everlasting Gospel All Power was given him in Heaven and in Earth and did not he who had all Power given him give Power to his Apostles and Ministers to preach his everlasting Gospel to the World to gather his Sheep out of the World and to watch over them oversee them repreve exhort admonish build up in the holy Faith and out off and cast out that which was unholy and would dispute against but not submit unto the Spirit Life and Power of Truth Qu. 4. Did not Christ give them Gifts also answerable Spirits of Discerning that they might be Eyes to the Body and quick Ears that they might hear for the Body For though the Lord hath given every one an Eye and an Ear as to themselves yet every one is not made by the Lord an Eye or Ear unto the Body but this is appointed for and given to those to whom the Lord pleases who hath ordered all things wisely carefully and tenderly for the good of all Qu. 5. Were there not Titles given them suitable to their Offices and Services in this kind as Pastors or Shepherds after God's heart according to the Promise of the New-Covenant Overseers or Bishops such as watch for the Soul such as were not only to lay the Foundation but also carry on the Building even to perfection even till they were able to present the Gathered and quickned Souls a chast Virgin to Christ and were they not to watch against testifie against and in the Power and Authority of the Lord to strike at all that was contrary and would endeavour to interrupt overturn and destroy their work which was of in and from the Lord Qu. 6. Whether the Body and common Members of the Churches were not to hearken to these He that knoweth God heareth us 1 Joh. 4. 6. to obey them in the Lord to submit to this Ministry and their work in it in the Lord to receive the Word of Truth and holy Exhortations and Admonitions milked out by these to them from the Breast of Life And were not they that did hearken and obey commended and were not the other that were not subjected but slighted them and their Ministry and Authority testified against as disorderly and unruly Qu. 7. Were there not some reliques of this Order and Government all along the Apostacy in the true Church and Ministry thereof for there hath been a Church and a Ministry all along the Apostacy blessed be the Name of the Lord though not so visible and outwardly glorious as many who have erred from the Spirit and way of Truth and are out of the holy Understanding would make it It is true the Church hath been as in a Wilderness desolate as a woman forsaken as a Widow bereft of her Husband stripped of her Children her Visage marred her Witnesses mourning nothing of her beauty former estate or glory to be discerned or found out yet all hath been preserved in the root and there have been some shootings and sproutings of it forth which have been inwardly felt by that which is of God in the heart though not outwardly seen by mans eye Thus the Witnesses have had a Ministry have had the Testimony of Jesus even the Spirit of Prophecy all this dark night of Apostacy and in it have spoken mourningly to the World and to the captivated Souls which that which was of God in his hath hearkned to and there hath been a bowing and subjection of spirit in the Lord. O reade this and praise the Name of the Lord for his mercy to his in former generations ye who are now gathered into his pure Light and living Power from whom the Night is past and on whom the Day the everlasting Day-spring from on high is risen Qu. 8. After the Apostacy doth not God renew his Commission and send forth his Angel for they are all but one to preach his everlasting Gospel and doth not he give them power to preach to the World and to gather those that hear the everlasting Voice through them into Holy Assemblies separated in spirit nature and appearance from the World and have they not authority and gifts as well to build up as to plant and ought not those that are gathered by them as well to be subject to the Light Spirit Power and Authority of the Lord in them as the former to the former Ministers of the Lord O that the World knew them O that the World knew the appearance of God in them surely then they would bow to the Word of Truth and the glorious appearance thereof and happiness both inward and outward would break forth upon the Earth There would be no more misery sorrow nor distress in Nations if the Dispensations of Life from God had but their course in the Earth yea Nations and Persons that are now deadly sick would soon be healed did they but eat of the Leaves of the Tree of Life which are appointed by God for their healing and can easily heal those wounds and repair those breaches which the wisdom or counsels of man cannot heal or repair And O that they that are gathered might keep and be preserved in that sense and subjection which they had and received from the Lord in the day of their Convincement O how beautifull how precious how glorious was the Ministry and Ministers of God in their eye then And to those that are still there they are still precious and to those that grow there they are yet more precious But those that enter into or are ensnared in another thing which leadeth from the true Spirit lose the sight and sence which they then had and instead thereof are filled with prejudices and wise reasonings which to them may seem very strong and undeniable though Truth and the true spiritual eye sense and understanding easily pierces through them and preserveth those who abide single in it to the Lord. Now against this holy Order and Government appointed by God there may arise in some hearts some such Objections as these following Object 1. But is not this a turning away from the measure of Life in a mans own vessel to another mans measure Answ Waiting on God in his Ordinances and Appointments and upon the Ministry which he hath set up the measure of Life in him teacheth