Selected quad for the lemma: faith_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
faith_n	church_n	invisible_a	visible_a	9,700	5	9.4455	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91733	Rules for the government of the tongue: together, with directions in six particular cases. [brace] 1 Confession of our faults to men. 2 Confession of Christ before men. 3 Reprehension of faults in others. 4 Christian communication. [brace] Vrbanity and eloquence. 5 Consolation of the afflicted. 6 Self-commendation, and a disproof of perfection in this life. Added, as a supplement, to the Rules for governing [brace] 1 the thoughts, 2 the affections, in the Precepts for Christian practice, or, The rule of the new creature, new model'd. / By Edward Reyner, minister of the Gospel in Lincolne.	Reyner, Edward, 1600-1668.; Reyner, Edward, 1600-1668. Precepts for Christian practice.	1656 (1656)	Wing R1230; Thomason E1594_2; ESTC R208861	220,132	401

of building his Church of a new frame or model under the Gospel the old Fabrick of the Jewish Church being then to be taken down about the time of Christs passion and the new to be set up after his assension according to his commission and direction given to his Apostles to that purpose Act. 1.2 3. beeing seen of them forty dayes after his Resurrection and speaking to them of the things pertaining to the Kingdome of God that is his Church hee first requires an account or confession of their Faith Whom say yee that I am Vers 15. Then Peter answered in the name of all the Apostles as our sound Orthodox Divines conceive Thou art Christ the Son of the living God Therefore Peter saith in John 6.69 not I only but wee Apostles beleeve and are sure that thou art that Christ the Son of the Living God and Christ replyed thou art Peter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is a stone in this spiritual building yea a pillar in the Church Gal. 2.9 and upon this rock 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 16.18 that is upon this confession made of mee to be the Christ or upon mee the rock as confessed I will build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it Hence we may collect two things 1 That a good confession of Faith in Christ should bee made and laid as a foundation at the gathering or constituting of Churches to build them upon which may bee effectual to keep them sound in the faith and free from errours and to ingage them to hold fast their principles and not to swarve from the same but to preserve the doctrin of Religion pure therein and to strengthen the whole building that is raised upon it 2 That those are the fittest stones for the building of a Church that can give the best account of their faith in Christ 2 At our Admission into a Church of Christ to which wee desire to joyn our selves and they require us to give an account of our faith and holinesse that wee are Saints and Beleevers This we should be free and ready to do 1 Because as to beleeve with the heart makes a man a member of the invisible Church so to confesse with the mouth or open profession of faith qualifies him to bee a member of a visible Church of Christ 2 This will give the Church knowledge of us and satisfaction in us yea move them to glorify God for us and to receive us in the Lord unto fellowship with them in all Christs Ordinances without which they may bee afraid of us as the Church of Jerusalem was of Paul when hee assaied to joyn himself to it until Barnabas had satisfied them concerning him Act. 9.26 27. 3 This seems to have been the practice of the Primitive Church as now it is of the reformed Churches The 3000 converted at Peters Sermon did not they confesse Christ Act. 2. or make a profession of their faith and of a change wrought in them Else how could the Apostles know that they gladly received the word to wit of faith repentance Vers 41. and obedience to the Gospel and distinguish them from all others and upon that account baptise them I am apt to think that those who beleeved at Ephesus confessed their Saviour as well as their sinnes and their Faith as well as their Repentance 4 What is done at the planting of a Church is proper and suitable to bee done in the augmentation of it that is confession of Faith whosoever would bee a Peter that is 1 Pet. 2.5 a lively stone fit to be laid in this building should be a confessour of Christ 2 When wee are called thereunto by a Magistrate or secular powers or brought before Rulers and Governours for Christs sake and examined about our Religion then wee ought to bear witnesse to Christ and his Truth as Christ and his Apostles did 1 Christ who witnessed a good confession before Pontius Pilate then President in Judea recorded in John 18.37 1 Tim. 6.1 when Pilate said unto him art thou a King Jesus answered Thou sayest that I am a King This is an Hebrew manner of confession aequivalent to an affirmation q. d. that thou sayest is true I am so indeed Christ did the like before the Council Luk. 22.70 when they all said art thou the Son of God and he said unto them ye say that I am q. d. I am what you say and before the High-Priest when hee asked him Art thou the Christ the Sonne of the blessed Mark 14.61 62 And Jesus said I am 2 The Apostles witnessed a good confession of Christ and of that main truth scil that Salvation is onely by Christ as Peter and John before the Council Act. 4.5 to 16. and cap. 5.27 to 33. and Steven Act. 6.12.15 and 7. chapter and Paul before Felix the Governour Act. 24.14 to 22. before King Agrippa Act. 26.2 c. especially 22 23. vers and before Festus 24 25 to 30. vers 2 When wee are called to it privately especially in three cases First When wee are asked by a single person who desires to bee informed by us and seeks not to lay a snare for us Bee ready always 1 Pet. 3.15 to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meeknesse and reverence Now to give a reason of our hope what is it but to yield an account of our faith which wee are bound to do upon a private demand or when just occasion is given though but by a private person as Christ made confession of himself to the Samaritan woman and to a blind man Iohn 4.25 When shee made confession of the Messiah to Christ as 1 That he would come 2 That he was now upon comming 3 That when hee is come hee will tell us all things i. e. teach his Church more fully and perfectly though shee was a woman Trap in John 4.7 and a Samatan and a poor Tankerd-bearer a sinner one that lived in fornication yet Christ rejects her not but takes occasion from her Confession of the Messiah John 4.26 to confesse or make known himself to her to be the Christ or Messiah shee spake of Though he did not manifest himself so plainly to the Jews no not when they pressed him saying How long doest thou make us doubt John 10.24 if thou bee the Christ tell us plainly But hee would not in plain Termes tell them that hee was hee because hee knew their hearts that they asked not sincerely to beleeve in him but captiously to get advantage against him though hee told the woman because Christ knew shee was now a Convert and would bee a means of the conversion of others When the blind man asked Christ who was the Sonne of God that hee might beleeve in him though the Pharisees had excommunicated him for confessing Christ yet Christ confesseth himself to him and tells him

of the living c Mat. 16.16 God Joh. 6.69 2 Of his Offices Rabbi said d Joh. 1.49 Nathaniel Thou art the Son of God thou art the King of Israel The Samaritan woman confessed Christ to be a Prophet both to e Joh. 4.19 Vers 29. himself Sir 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I see that thou art a Prophet and before the Samaritans Come saith she See a man which told mee all things that ever I did Is not this the Christ did not John confesse Christs Priestly Office when he said Joh. 1.29 Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world All that confessed him to be the Christ or Messiah did implicitly at least acknowledge his offices scil to be King Priest and Prophet to which he was anointed 3 Of his beauty excellency and dignity What a large confession did the Spouse make of Christs beauty to the Daughters of Jerusalem when they asked her what is thy Beloved more than another Beloved Cant. 5.9 my Beloved is white and ruddy the chiefest among ten thousand John confessed the dignity Vers 10 c. and excellency of Christ when he said I am not the Christ but his praecurtor Joh. 1.20 or harbinger and he is preferred before mee whose shooes latchet I am not worthy to unloose Ver. 27. and in his last testimony of Christ in Joh. 3.28 to 33. he saith that Christ is the Bridegroom of his Church he was but the Bridegroomes friend that Christ must increase hee decrease this was Johns joy that Christ came from Heaven above and is above all and therefore hath justly most high preheminence This is held forth in that Catholick confession of Christs divine Nature Power Soveraignty and Excellency that he is worthy to receive all honour glory and blessing in Rev. 5.11 12 13. 4 Especially of those things concerning Christ which others deny or doubt of as his resurrection from the dead In the times of the Gospel the Jews and Gentiles confessed Christs death Act. 4.2 but would not acknowledge his resurrection the Priest and Sadduces were grieved that the Apostles preached it Therefore Christians were required to make confession of this Truth in those times scil that God raised Christ from the dead Rom. 10.9 and they should be saved Therefore Paul boldly confessed the resurrection of the dead Act. 24.15 before the Council Act. 23.6 and before Felix 2 Confession is an open profession of our selves in reference to Christ in five Particulars 1 Of our Faith in Christ and his Gospel as the Father of the Child in Mar 9.24 cryed out and said with tears Lord I beleeve help thou mine unbelief and the blind man in Joh. 9.38 Lord I beleeve Paul confessed his Faith and Hope before Felix Act. 24.15 I beleeve all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets and have hope towards God Surely shall one say that is confess saith the Lord by the Prophet Isaiah chap. 45.23 24. in the Lord have I Righteousness and strength and of our interest in God and in Christ by Faith as David did upon all occasions He is my God my portion Job made an excellent confession of his Faith in Christ as his Redeemer before his Friends Job 19.25 26 27. as Thomas did when he said My Lord Joh. 20 2● and my God and the Spouse my wel-beloved is mine and I am his Cant. 2.16 This is the Name whereby Christ shall be called i. e. confessed by us Jehovah our Righteousness Jer. 23.6 2 Of the grace of Christ in us of the work and workings of it Such a confession Paul made to the Corinthians 1 Cor. 15.10 By the Grace of God I am that I am q. d that gives mee my specifical being life and operation as I am a Christian and his grace in mee was not in vain but I laboured more abundantly than they all yet not I but the grace of God which was with mee And he made the like to Timothy 1 Tim. 1.13 14. that hee had been a blasphemer and a persecutor c. but the Grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with Faith and love which is in Christ Jesus q. d. God wrought a wonderfull change in mee by Grace to make mee a new Creature by Faith and Love to form Christ in mee and to conform mee unto Christ And when he declared his conversion before the people in Acts 22. 1 King 18.12 Obadiah professed his fear of God to Elijah I thy Servant fear the Lord from my youth Peter professed his love of Christ yea Lord thou knowest that I love thee Joh. 21.16 and David professed God to be his exceeding joy Psal 43.4 and Paul his glorying in the Cross of Christ Gal. 6.14 2. Cor. 12.10 3 Of our worship of God after a Gospell mode purely and spiritually without humane Inventions or superstitious vanities This we should openly own and professe though others dislike it and call it Schism or Novelism 〈◊〉 24.13 14. So did Paul before Felix They cannot prove the things whereof they now accuse me but this I confesse unto thee that after the way that they call Heresie so worship I the God of my Fathers 4 Of our Practice or manner of life what is the constant Bent Act. 24.16 or Bias of our Resolutions and indeavours Paul also confessed this before Felix Herein do I exercise my self to have alwayes a conscience void of offence towards God Act. 23.1 and towards men and before the Council I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day 5 Confession is an open Profession of our experiences of God and of his gracious dealings with us of Christ and of his Grace in us love to us and of our fellowship with him The account David gave to them that feared God was a confession of his experiences Psal 66.16 Come and hear all yee that fear God and I will declare what hee hath done for my soul Such was Johns first Epistle wherein he declares to all 1 Joh. 1.1 3. that which the Apostles have seen heard and felt Relations of experiences are Confessions of Christ before men I may adde that to bear witnesse against sin is to give Testimony for God which is good and acceptable service to God though wee suffer for it as John the Baptist lost his head for witnessing against Herods Adultery and Incest Mar. 6.18 27. The second thing 2 When. When this Confession should bee made to wit when wee are called thereunto either publickly or privately 1 Publickly either by a Church or by a Magistrate 1 By a Church of Christ either 1 At the Constitution of it 2 Or at our admission into it 1 At the Constitution of it for the Lord Jesus makes the confession of faith to be the Rock or foundation upon which his visible Church is built Mat. 16.16 to 19. Therefore when he first was about to tell his Apostles

therefore what you have received Act. 13.25 Rev. 3.3 and heard and hold fast and speak out the same even to the end We should confess Christ with our Tongues while we are able to speak yea chuse to dye with a Testimony of Jesus in our mouthes of our Faith and Hope in him and love to him and for the Truth against Errors for the straight and holy wayes of God against all false and by-wayes Then we may boldly look God in the face and go triumphantly to Heaven We should confesse Christ in evil times when others deny him When Christ and his truths and wayes are opposed despised and persecuted and his servants for them Then to own Christ and to speak for him 2 Tim. 1.8 and for his and not to be afraid of his Crosse nor ashamed of his cause or Testimony will be kindly taken by Christ as Paul● witnesse of him at Jerusalem and Rome and elsewhere was Rev. ● 1● and the Church of Pergamos her not denying his Faith but holding fast his Name even in those dayes wherein Christs faithful Martyr Antipas was slain Rev. 3. ● and in that place where Satan dwelt and had his Throne The Church of Philadelphia though she had but a little strength yet she kept Christs word and denyed not his Name though she had adversaries and because shee kept the word of Christs patience that is Vers 1● with great patience she held and maintained the Truth of Christ and her profession of it Therefore Christ will keep her from the hour of Tentation which shall come upon all the World 5 Innocently without giving offence or occasion to any to speak evil of us while we are speaking good of Gods Name or for his Truths and wayes This was Pauls care Act. 24.20 and for this he challenged his enemies Let these same here say If they have found any evil doing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or thing amiss in mee while I stood before the Council scil to give Testimony of Christ the Scribes that were of the Pharisees part said Act. 23.9 we find no evill in this man To this end wee should give a reason of our hope or an account of our faith with meeknesse and fear 1 Pet. 3.15 1. With meeknesse from an humble lowly spirit without any shew or appearance first of pride ostentation or vain-glory or secondly of passion or bitternesse in us for the wrath of man as it worketh not so it testifieth not the righteousnesse of God it doth not at all adorn the Truths or wayes of God nor our profession or confessions of them which meeknesse of spirit doth 2 With fear of God of offending him while wee are confessing him of saying or doing any thing that may cause the way of Truth to bee evil spoken of for our sakes and reverence of men to give all due respect to them before whom wespeak Sixth Sincerely Out of Love and Zeal 1 Out of Love to Christ and his truth for what wee love wee will own or avouch openly Confession and commendation are fruits of love Love knows no shame in acknowledging and praising its beloved Lovers are the freest and largest Confessers and Commenders See it in the Spouse her Encomium of Christ her beloved from head to foot when the Daughters of Jerusalem asked her what is thy beloved more than another beloved Cant. 5.9 to the end when love to Christ and to his truth move us to confess him and it then we will speak liberally yea all that we can possibly for them whosoever saith nay thereto Love is strong as death and the love of Christ will constrain us to confesse Christ to death yea though wee die for it Hence John who was the best beloved and most loving Disciple gave special Testimony of Christ Joh. 19.35 and 21.24 Those that leave their first love grow loath and averse to confesse Christ 2 Out of Zeal for God for the glory of his name the credit of his cause the honour of his truth the propagation of his Gospell for the encouragement and comfort of Christs Friends for the conviction and obstruction of his enemies not to get praise to our selves nor to seek our own glory for love of praise is a great prejudice to the confession of Christ Joh. 12.42 43 Some among the chief Rulers did not confesse Christ for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God The Sanctuary fire of zeal kindled from heaven in our hearts will burn out that Lukewarmness Neutrality and indifferency of spirit which makes us to bee of Gallio's temper in the things of God carelesse of such matters what any say or do against the Name or truth wayes or Kingdome of Christ what errors heresies and blasphemies are broached dispersed or maintained This will also consume to ashes the Conceits of the Libertines and Familists who think it lawfull to dissemble their faith even before the Magistrate and of the Nicodemites of these dayes who count it sufficient to beleeve with the heart taking liberty to confesse what they list with their mouth Seventh and last Wee must confesse Christ patiently with a disposition and resolution to suffer for our Testimony if God call us to it because the confessing of Christ before men may cost us dear the losse of Liberty goods Friends yea life and all as it did the Apostles Mat. 10.37 38 39. and many other the faithfull witnesses of Christ Christ requires wee should bee willing to part with all upon that Account Confessing of Christ hath been a cause of suffering for Christ ever since Christs time Satan and his instruments have raised opposition and persecution against the profession of Faith as well as against the practice of piery and against the persons that have held forth the same even from Generation to Generation The Jews agreed that if any man did confesse Christ Joh. 9.22 Rev. 1.9 he should bee put out of the Synagogue John was banished into the Isle of Patmos for the word of God and for the Testimony hee gave of Jesus Christ When the Lamb had opened the fifth Seal Rev. 6.9 John saw under the Altar the souls of them that were slain under the Roman Emperours for the word of God and for the Testimony which they held Rev. 11.3 The two witnesses of Christ prophecy in Sack-cloath and when they have finished their Testimony Vers 7 they shall bee slain by the Beast to wit of Rome that is Anti-Christ and the inhabitants of the earth that is of the Malignant or Antichristian Church shall rejoyce thereat and make merry and as a congratulation of their riddance send gifts one to another This was the cause of the Dragons quarrel with a remnant of the Womans seed scil Rev. 12.17 they kept the Commandements of God and had the Testimony of Jesus Christ Rev. 20.4 John saw also the Souls of them that were beheaded for the witnesse of

obtained mercy that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all long suffering for a pattern to them which should hereafter beleeve on him to life everlasting Paul commends himself for his grace and labour through grace to commend God for his mercy and grace to poor sinners that none may despair of either but apprehend a possibility and hope thereof seeing he obtained both who was so unworthy of it Fourth Case is Fourth Case To give others occasion and provocation 1 To pray for us as the Apostle did the Hebrews Heb. 13.18 Pray for us for we trust wee have a good Conscience in all things willing to live honestly Paul speaks of his good Conscience and honest living to them to bespeak their prayers to God for him 2 To praise God for us and glorifie God on our behalf Paul craved the Corinthians not only prayers but praises that thanks may be given to God by many on the behalf of him and Timothy 2 Cor. 1.11 12 Why so For our rejoycing is this the restimony of our Conscience that in all simplicity and godly sincerity and by the grace of God we have had our conversation in the World and more abundantly to you wards The conversion of sinners Gal. 1.24 Eph. 1.15 16 and the graees of the Saints are just occasion of great thanksgiving to God 3 To glory on our behalf before others especially those that seek to traduce and slander us 2 Cor. 5.11 12 We are made manifest in your Consciences saith Paul to the Corinthians that is we have attested and manifested our sincerity to you not to get praise from you Vers 12. but to give you an occasion to glory on our behalf that you may have somewhat to answer the false Apostles the enemies of our credit and comfort which glory in the face and not in heart 2 Thes 1.4 Paul gloried in the Thessalouians in the Churches of God for their faith and patience in all their tribulations Fifth case is Fifth Case when others require an account of our faith holiness obedience or experience as Christ asked the Disciples Mar. 16.19 Ioh. 21.15 Whom say yee that I am and Peter Simon thou Son of Jonas lovest thou me or when any ask us a reason of the hope that is in us either for their satisfaction to know what manner of persons we are whether the root of the matter be in us or what progress wee have made in Christianity or for their instruction to learn something from us concerning Gods dealings with us 1 Pet. 3.15 in this case we should be ready always to give an answer to every man be free and open to them Sixth Case Sixth Case When wee would propound our selves unto others as examples of faith patience godliness or the like to draw others to follow our steps To this end we should invite them to us and tell them what God hath done for our souls as the Psalmist did Psal 66.16 Paul commended himself to the Philippians as a pattern for their imitation or copy to write after Phil. 3.17 Brethren saith he bee followers together of me c. Wherein Hee declares his steps throughout the Chapter in worshipping God in the Spirit Vers 3. Vers ● and rejoycing in Christ Jesus in counting all things dung for Christ in being found in Christ having on his righteousness Vers 9 10 Vers 12 13 14 20 and being made conformable to him in forgetting what is behind and pressing towards the mark in having his conversation in heaven Christs Ministers do often preach their own Graces Lives Experiences that the hearts and lives of their Hearers may bee fashioned and ordered accordingly Seventh Case Seventh Case When our enemies accuse us falsly and our friends who can and ought to vindicate us refuse or neglect to do it then we may commend our selves and bear witness to our selves 2 Cor. 12.11 as Paul saith he was compelled to doe because the Corinthians would not do it for him when the false Apostles did slanderously asperse him I am saith he become a fool in glorying yee have compelled or necessitated me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for I ought to have been commended of you It was your duty to have attested my uprightness and unblameableness and to have maintained the honour of my Ministry and to have contested for me with my undermining false accusing Opposers but yee would not commend me therefore am I forced to commend my self and if I bee a fool in glorying yee have made yea constrained me to be so Eighth Case Eighth Case To shew and approve our integrity and reality that we are Israelites indeed sound at bottom not almost but altogether Christians before those to whom we relate or with whom wee have to do to make our selves manifest in their Consciences as Paul did to the Corinthians 2 Cor. 5.11 to stand right in their opinion and make it appear that wee seek not theirs but them 2 Cor. 12.14 1 Thes 3.4 5 6 not their praise nor their Temporal good but their Spiritual profit that they may be saved 1 Cor. 10.33 that we may appeal to God and them as witnesses thereof as Paul did to the Thessalonians Yee are witnesses and God also Vors 10.11 how holily justly and unblameably wee behaved our selves among you that beleeve Thus wee may commend our selves 1 To uphold the credit of our Callings as Paul did of his Ministry 2 To further the success of our labours as Paul did in his Epistles to the Churches to adde weight to his Doctrin 3 To promote the efficacy of the Counsel or charge we give to others and make it penetrate as Paul related to Timothy That he served God from his fore-fathers with a pure conscience and had remembrance of him in his prayers night and day To what end 2 Tim. 1.8 To perswade him to hearken to his advice which was to stirre up the gift of God which is in him 2 Tim. 1.6 by the putting on of Pauls hands i. e. execute the office to which he was set apart by imposition of hands 4 To manifest our love to others by unbosoming our selves or opening our hearts or the cabinet of our souls to them to let them look in and see the treasures of graces comforts and experiences the Jewels God hath laid up in them 2 King 20.13 as Hezekiah shewed the Embassadours of the King of Babylon the house of his precious things to testifie his respect to them and as men shew their best Rooms and Furniture Jewels and Ornaments to them they love best Also to gain their love to us to insinuate into their bosoms and bee a means of doing them more good to take prejudice off their spirits against us and jealousies of us and to obtain kindness from them Receive us saith Paul to the Corinthians 2 Cor. 7.2 Why so for wee have wronged no man defrauded no man

Piety though it come farre short of compleat perfection Thus the holy Scripture frequently call grown Christians in understanding and wisdom in grace obedience and experience perfect that is in comparison of VVeaklings Novices New beginners or Non-proficients in Christianity Heb. 5.12.13 14 Or of Babes who have need of Milk and not of strong meat but strong meat belongs to the perfect who by reason of habit got by long practice have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil In this sense we are to understand Perfect in the following places Wee speak wisdom among them that are perfect 1 Cor. 2.6 Let as many as be perfect be thus minded Phil. 3.15 If any man offend not in word the same is a perfect man Jam. 3.2 The Apostle John makes three several Ages of Christians to wit Children Young men and Fathers John writ to each of them 1 Joh. 2.12 13 14. and a higher Age may bee said to be perfect in respect of a lower as young men in comparison of Children and Fathers being compared with Young men Thus high acts of Graces attainable in this Life are cald the perfection of them as 1 Of Faith as Abrahams leaving his Country in obedience to Gods call going he knew not whither Heb. 11.8 and his offering up Isaac vers 17. and his beleeving he should beget I saac in his Old age when his body was dead and his Wives barren Rom. 4.19 20. these were high acts of his faith the sincerity officacy excellency or sublimity whereof was manifested by his works Jam. 3.22 By works saith James his faith was made perfect that is declared so to be 2 So high acts of Patience as to endure many and heavie and tedious afflictions and persecutions for Christs Name are the perfection of Patience that is cald perfect patience Let patience have her perfect work Jam. 1.4 saith James that yee may be perfect and intire wanting nothing 3 So high acts of Love as to love God with all our hearts to love others as our selves even our enemies to lay down our lives for the Brethren to serve God without servile fear these and the like are call'd perfect love 1 Joh. 4.17 18. This is call'd Perfectio viae the perfection which the Saints can attain unto in or by the way to Heaven That is the greatest measure of God which God hath decreed to give to every one of his Elect in this world which some conceive to be Pauls meaning in Ephes 4.7 The height of our grace here proceeds from the measure of Christs Gift To every one of us is given Grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ To this perfection Paul laboured to bring the Colossians by his Ministry as every faithful Minister of Christ should do his people that hereby he might prepare them for and lead them forward to their absolute perfection in Heaven Col. 1 2● We preach Christ saith Paul warning and teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ That which is called Perfectio patriae is that plenary perfection which the Saints injoy in their own Country when they go home to their Fathers house in Heaven not before 3 In respect of uprightness This is generally call'd perfection both in the Old and New Testament To be sincere and simple-spirited without guile in our Principles and intentions or aims this is not Legal perfection which is absolute conformity to the Law of God exacted in the Governant of VVorks but Evangelical required in the Covenant of Grace wherein new obedience performed with a sincere heart and willing minde is accounted perfection 2 Cor. 8.12 yea God hath promised therein to accept of us in Christ according to that we have and not according to that wee have not even of the will for the deed and not to impute unto us our imperfections For God measureth not our new obedience by the perfection of our performance but by the sincerity of our affections and purpose of our hearts In this sense Perfection is opposed not to imperfection but to Hyprocrisie A sincere Christian is a perfect that is a true real Christian An hypocrite is but the picture of a Chri-Christian In our militant state integrity and infirmities are consistent in the same soul What is done uprightly is said to bee done with a perfect heart Iob 1.1 Psal 37.37 and with the whole heart in this sense as I shewed before Job was cald a perfect man and Noah Gen. 6.9 Mark the perfect man behold the upright saith David Asa's heart was said to be perfect with the Lord all his days 2 King 20.3 1 King 15.14 Hezekiah walked before God in truth and with a perfect heart 1 Chro. 28.9 David commands his Son Solomon to serve the God of his Father with a perfect heart and with a willing minde Pauls simplicity and godly sincerity was his perfection in this world 2 Cor. 1.12 Revel 3.2 I have not found thy works perfect before God saith Christ to the Church of Sardis that is sincere but hypocritical 4 We are said to bee perfect in respect of Furniture when we are furnished with Gifts and Graces for the place God hath set us in or for the work God hath called us to do and we are made able and ready thereunto All Scripture saith Paul is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrin reproof 2 Tim. 3.16 17. instruction in righteousness that the man of God that is the Minister may be perfect What is that Throughly furnished for every good work that is the discharge of his whole duty A supply of what is lacking in Grace attainable here or a furnishing to duty is cald perfection in Gods Word Ephes 4.12 When Christ ascended on high he appointed Ministers in his Church for the perfecting of the Saints that is to supply what is wanting in their holiness and obedience to build them up further Acts 20.32 Pauls earnest desire and endeavour was to perfect what was lacking in the Thessalonians faith 1 Thes 3.10 Heb. 13.21 The God of peace prays Paul for the Hebrews make you perfect in every good work to do his will or prepare and fit you for every good work or accomplish that in you which yet is defective as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 intimates To bee able in some measure to do his will on earth is a Christians perfection on earth a setting of things in good frame and comely order in the Church which formerly were amiss is call'd perfection 2 Cor. 13.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So Beza expounds that place This also wee wish even your perfection your restauration or reconcinnation that the members which were shaken out of joynt might bee restored and things amiss among them in faith and manners rectified 5 In respect of desire and indeavours after perfection to advance in Gods ways as farre and fast