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	true_a	visible_a	19,269	5	9.3685	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A77504	The mystical brasen serpent: with the magnetical vertue thereof. or, Christ exalted upon the cross, with the blessed end and fruit of that his exaltation, in drawing the elect world to himself, to believe on Him, and to be saved by Him. In two treatises, from John 3. 14, 15. 12. 32. Whereunto is added A treatise of the saints joint-membership each with other. As they were delivered to the Church of God at Great Yarmouth, by John Brinsley, minister of the gospel, and preacher to that incorporation. Imprimatur, Edm. Calamy. July 30. 1652.	Brinsley, John, 1600-1665.	1653 (1653)	Wing B4719; Thomason E1249_1; ESTC R208891	155,986	284

same faith and love attending upon and submitting to the Ordinances of Christ and performing mutuall offices each to other this is one Body And such is the Church catholick consider it as we will whether in the Invisible or visible state of it it is on Body The Church catholick invisible The Church catholick invisible one Body Being made up of all true Beleevers such as having a reall union with Christ have also union and communion one with another These make up one Body As the Body is one c. so also is Christ saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 12.12 Christ mysticall the Church whereof Christ is the Head For by one Spirit we are all baptised into one Body ver 13. A mystery represented to our eye in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper where the Sacramentall Bread being made of many graines meeting together and making one loaf and the Sacramentall Wine being the juice of many grapes meeting together in the same Cup do excellently represent unto the receiver the unity of the Church catholick wherein all true beleevers being knit together by Faith unto Christ and by love one to another make up one mysticall Body So our Apostle unvailes this mystery 1 Cor. 10.17 For we being many are one bread and one body Such is the Church catholick invisible And such is the Church catholibk visible The Church catholick visible one Body Consisting of the whole company of visible Saints such as professe the true faith of Christ with subjection to his Ordinances professe Faith and Obedience This also as it is one Church so called by the Apostle in that 1 Cor. 12.28 God hath set some in the church first Apostles secondarily Prophets thirdly Teachers c. meaning thereby the Church catholick visible to which those extrordinary and catholick officers were properly and to which the other ordinary officers are primarily given so it is one body so called by the same Apostle Ephes 4.4 There is one body meaning thereby the church catholick to which belongeth that one baptisme ver 5. and to which those officers were given by Christ spoken of ver 11. He gave some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists c. These Christ gave to his Church catholick as considered in the visible state of it And so may we understand the Apostle here in the Text We being many are one body not only that particular Church at Rome but the church catholick visible whereof Paul himselfe was a member as I before expounded it This is One Bodie Whether one Organicall body as they call it or no is made a matter of great dispute in the present times but I shall not trouble you with that notion It is enough for my present purpose that which I suppose in a morderate sense will be granted at all intelligent hands that there is such a Church catholick visible and that Church also is one body one essentiall and integrall bodie made up of many members combined and knit together in the profession of the same faith Thus the church take it as we will still we find a unity in it I mean in the notion O that it were so also in the practice It is one body And that under one head There is a third Resemblance Resembl 3. Unity of the head which is So is it in the Naturall body there is one body under one head A head there must be and but one head otherwise it would be a monstrous body should it be either 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without a head or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 having more heads then one And so is it in this Mysticall body it is also one body under one head which head is Christ so it followeth in the Text. Wee are one body in Christ Christ Sumus unum corpus in Christo id est per Christum qui corporis istius compactor fuit Grot. ad Text. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is not onely per Christum as Grotius dilutely expounds it By Christ as being the Authour of this union the gatherer and compacter of his Elect people into one True it is this Christ doth he being the great Shepherd gathereth all his sheep into one fold so much we may learn from that Suffragan High Priest who spake more then himself understood as too many at this day do though not more thē the Spirit of God intended to speak by him Joh. 11.51 where he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation And not for that nation only but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad This Christ in part hath done and further wil do to the end of the world gather together his Elect of Jewes and Gentiles so making them one Body This is a Truth but not the whole truth There is somewhat more in this phrase In Christ viz. as being the Common head of his Church So Grotius himselfe rightly expounds that other place of the same Apostle Ephes 1.10 Grotius Com. ad Ephes 1.10 where hee setteth forth the mystery of Gods will and purpose now revealed in the Gospel viz. That in the dispensation of the fulnesse of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ Per Christum tanquam caput by Christ as a Head And so much the word there translated Gather together may be conceived to import 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to bring under one Head Such is Christ to his Church Not onely a Head over all things to it as he is said to be Ephes 1.22 but the Head of it Oft times we find him expresly so called The Head of the Body the Church Col. 1.18 Ephes 5.23 Such a relation there is betwixt Christ and his Church as betwixt the Head and the Body And thence it is that as he is called the Head of his Church so the Church is called his Body Ephes 1. last 1 Cor. 12.27 And well may they be so called Christ the Head of the church the Body Christ the Head the Church the Body It The Head participates in the same nature wih the Body So doth Christ with his church 2. The Head is above the Body set over it to rule and guide it so is Christ over his Church 3. The Head looketh out for the Body providing for it and so doth Christ for his Church 4. The Head giveth influence communicateth animall spirits giveth sense and motion to all the members of the Body so doth Christ communicate his Spirit to all the members of this mysticall Body whereby he giveth spirituall sense and motion to them 5. The Members of the Body are all united to the Head by some common bands and ligaments nerves and sinews whereby they come to have union and communion with it And so are all true believers unto Christ united to him by his Spirit on his part by Faith and Love on their part whence they come to have union and communion with him And

in remembrance Which that you may doe I shall second my Counsels with my Prayers resting Yours under God ready to serve you in the Gospell of his Sonne JOHN BRINSLEY July 1. 1652. THE SAINTS Joint-Membership ROM 12.4 5. For as we have many members in one Body and all members have not the same Office So we being many are one Body in Christ and Every one Members of another IN the verse foregoing we have a Charge A generall charge propounded a charge directed by this our Apostle to these his beleeving Romans and in them to all other Christians The sum whereof is that they abandoning of Arrogancy and curiositie not overweening themselves or intermedling with other folks businesses they would quietly content themselves in the Stations wherein God had set them wisely improving the severall gifts bestowed upon them to common and mutuall Edification in all Christian Humility and Charity For I say through the grace given unto me to every man that is among you not to think of himselfe more highly then he ought to think or to be over-wise above what he ought to be wise but to think soberly or to be wise unto sobriety according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith This Charge in the words I have now read he prosecuteth and presseth which he doth by an Argument taken à Comparatis from a Comparison Prosecuted by a comparison a Comparison betwixt the Naturall and Mysticall body in which as in every Comparison we may take notice of two things two parts the Protasis and Apodasis the Proposition and the Reddition The former we have in the fourth verse For as we have many members in one Body The parts of the comparison c. The later in the fifth verse So we we being many are one body c. In the former of these the Proposition 1. The Proposition the Apostle maketh observation of three paticulars 1. The Vnity of the body one body 2. The Plurality of members We have many members in one body 3. The Diversity of Offices And all member have not the same Office So is it in the Natural body the body of Man or other living creature The body is one one Totum integrale one Integrall whole made up of many members which are distinct and differing the one from the other Differing in site and place some higher others lower as the head and the feet Differing in externall forme and fashion some of one fashion others of another Differing in Order and Dignity some more noble and principall others more ignoble Differing in their Offices and Operations All have not the same Office saith the Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the same Action the same Operatoon the eye hath one Office the ear a second the tongue a third and so in the rest Thus it is in the Naturall body There is the Proposition But that is but the shell or paring The kernell and meat which our souls are to feed upon we shall find it in the later part the Reddition 2. The Reddition which followeth So wee being many are one body in Christ Wee Meaning the Church in speciall that particular Church to which he directs this Epistle the Church at Rome in generall the whole Catholick Church whereof that Church was a part and Paul himself a member which he was not properly of the Church at Rome no more then of Corinth or Ephesus or for ought I know of any other And this Church he here calleth a Body The Church called a Body a term usually and familiarly given to any society or combination of men Thus in the Camp as the whole Army so every Brigade every Company being ordered in a martiall way in ranks and files they are called a Body the Body of the Army a body of Horse a body of Pikes c. A Military Body thus in the Civill State as a whole Kingdome or Commonwealth so every particular Society every Corporation is a Body a Politicall Body and such is the Church As the Church Catholick so every particular Congregation is a Body an Ecclesiasticall Body so our Apostle here calls it as often elsewhere 2 Cor. 12.12 Ephes 4.4 16. Colos 3.15 Hebr. 13.3 And not unfitly may the Church be so called and that in regard of those Resemblances which are betwixt it and the Naturall body Resemblances betwixt the naturall and Mystical body The chief and principle whereof our Apostle here in this verse sets before us I shall take them up in their order as I fall with them in the words 1. The first which we meet with is the Plurality of members Resembl 1. Plurality of members which are diverse in We being many So is it in the naturall body which is a compages of many members meeting and joyned together And so it is in this Mysticall body of the Church We being many 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so the members of the Church may be said to be and that in a double respect 1. In regard of their Persons 1. Their Persons they are many Such is the Church catholick a Body made up of many Members The Church Catholick Invisible of the whole company of true Beleevers in all Ages and Places of the world The Church catholick visible of the whole company of Professours which under the Gospel may well be called many and such is a particular Church a congregation a body made up of a plurality of many members How many there must be or may be in such a Church the Spirit of God in Scripture hath not precisely determined it I know some others have done it making the least number in a particular church to be seven without which number it cannot be a constituted organicall church And the greater to be so many as may conveniently meet together in the same place to partake in all the ordinances of Christ But for my part I shal not vouch either of these contenting my selfe with what the Text holds forth that a church is a Company a Plurality a Body made up of many members Many for their Persons 2. Many in regard of their Offices 2. Offices and gifts which are various and diverse So is it in the Naturall body as the former verse tels us Many members many offices All members have not the same office And so it is in the Church as the persons are many so are their Offices and gifts diverse So it followeth in the next verse ver 6. Having then gifts differing c. Here is a first Resemblance 2. A second is in the unity of this Body Resembl 2. Unity of the body Many members but one body so is it in the naturall body We have many members in one body saith the Proposition So we being many are one Body saith the Reddition Such is every particular Church where there is a company of visible Saints joyned together in the fellowship of the Gospel united in the profession of the

from the consideration of the Saints Joint-Membership 1. Negative Instructions members one of another from hence we may take up many usefull Instructions usefull to all the members of this mysticall Body which I shall divide into two ranks Negative and Positive The former shewing what Christians should not do the other what they ought to do Begin with the former What church-members should not do Let them not envy one another 1. Church-members not to envy one another an evill which all men by nature are prone and subject to The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy saith Saint James Jam. 4.5 The spirit of Satan or the spirit of a man so far forth as he is unregenerate being depraved and corrupted among other lusts it enclines and puts him on to envy Thus we read of the Patriarchs that being moved with envy they sold their brother Joseph into Egypt Acts 7.9 Thus even christians are too apt to envy their Brethren But thus let it not be Let not Inferiours in the Church envy their Superiours Those who have lesser either gifts or estates envy those that have greater Let not private christians envy publick officers Those who are under Government envy those who are set over them in the Lord. To that end let them remember what they should never forget that they are members one of another so as what the one receiveth is for the benefit and advantage of the other Livius Hist Lib. 2o. It was the argument which Menenius Agrippa in the Romane story is said to have made use of a story taken up and made use of by divers Expositors writing upon the Text for the quieting of a mutiny among the Plebeians P. Martyr Pareus Grotius ad Text. the common people in Rome who envying the wealth honour and pomp of their Senators were ready to have made a defection from them Thereupon he tels the fable of the Members and the Belly how that they fell foul with it complaining that they were faine to labour and take pains to maintaine that whilest that onely spent what they got whereupon they withdrew their wonted allowance which having done in conclusion by pining it they starved themselves And by this argument taken from the communion betwixt the members of the naturall Body hee appeased that tumult and reduced them to due subjection let the like argument be usefull unto Christians in a like way Is it so that others have gifts and offices in the Church for that I have now properly to deale with above themselves let them not envie them repine and murmure at them So did the Israelites at Moses and Aaron of whom the Psalmist tels us Psal 116.16 They envied Moses in the camp and Aaron the Saint of the Lord. This did Corah and his confederates as you may read it Numb 16.2 They envied Moses as a Magistrate and Aaron as a Minister one set apart for the Priesthood And how many are there who as if they had taken a pattern by them do the very like at this day They envy Moses and Aaron the Magistrate and the Minister And why because they are the one in the common-wealth the other in the church advanced above themselves But this let not any of you do no reason you should What they have is for your good He is the Minister of God to thee for good saith Paul of the Magistrate Rom. 13 4. And it is no lesse true of the Minister you and they are members of the same Body and being so ye are members one of another and therefore no reason you should envy one another So the Apostle himselfe maketh use of this very Argument in that Text which I have and shall have the frequenter recourse unto in as much as as Pareus saith of it it may serve as a commentary upon this I have now in hand 1 Cor. 12. where having to deale with some who envying the Offices or Gifts of some others were ready thereupon through discontent to fall off and seperate from the Church hee tels them ver 14 The Body is not one member but many If the foot shall say because I am not the hand I am not of the body is it therefore not of the body And if the ear shall say because I am not the eye therefore I am not of the body is it therefore not of the Body c. And so he goeth on willing every one to content himselfe in the station wherein God had set him not being discontent with others who were preferred before themselves This being a thing not onely of conveniency but of necessity that there should be such a disparity and difference among the members as of the naturall so of the mysticall Body So it followeth ver 17 18 19. For if the whole Body were an eye where were the hearing If the whole were hearing where were the smelling But now hath God set the members every one of them in the Body as it pleased him And if they were all one member where were the Body Let the consideration hereof for ever lay this evill Spirit of envy Church-members being members of the same Body they are members one of another And being so what any one hath is usefull to the rest and therefore let them not envy one another There is a first Instruction 2. Whilest they do not envy let them not disdaine one another 2. Not disdaine one another A usefull and needfull lesson for Superiours such as God hath preferred and advanced above their brethren betrusting them with offices honouring them with gifts or with successe in their labours or in any other way above their brethren let not them disdaine Inferiours despising them insulting over them thinking meanly of them looking overly upon them Thus as the History tels us that matchlesse Philistine looked upon David when he saw him being but a youth a stripling a childe in comparison of him he disdained him saith the Text 1 Sam. 17.42 And truely thus Superiours both in Church and State are subject to look upon their Inferiours men of greater estates are subject to despise their poor brethren though richer in faith then themselves So Saint James chargeth it upon some in his time Jam. 2.6 Ye have despised the poor Thus aged persons are sometimes apt to despise young ones though it may be their seniours in grace Thereupon was Pauls advice to Timothy that he should carry himselfe the more warily That no man might despise his youth 1 Tim. 4.12 And writing to his Corinthians concerning him he giveth them charge that no man should despise him 1 Cor. 16.11 And thus the strong Christian is apt to despise the weak whereupon the Apostle giveth that caveat to these his Romans Rom. 14.3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not He that knoweth his liberty despise his weaker brother This take you heed of This is a thing which the members of the naturall Body will not do The more principall and noble parts