Selected quad for the lemma: faith_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
faith_n	covenant_n	grace_n	seal_n	4,967	5	9.5543	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96168	A brief narration of the practices of the churches in New-England. Written in private to one that desired information therein; by an inhabitant there, a friend to truth and peace. Published according to order.	Weld, Thomas, 1590?-1662.	1645 (1645)	Wing W1263; Thomason E298_20; ESTC R200239	15,892	20

them the Elders upon some Lords day or other publique meeting do ordain him to the office and appoint him over that businesse by prayer and imposition of hands The Church thus gathered and furnished with able helpers for edification proceeds to all publike administrations in the body 3. Solemn worship wherein our desire and care above all things is to have all and no more then all the Ordinances of Christ himself Deut. 12.32 and all those as far as God is pleased to lend light in the native purity and simplicity without any dressings or paintings of humane inventions Wee use not to reade in the publique Assemblies Reading Records or Writings of men but that alone which is able to make the man of God perfectly and throughly furnished to all good works the pure Word of God it self and that all things may be done to best edification Exposition wee use to expound and apply the Word unto the people as occasion permits and because we desire to sing as well as to reade the pure Word of God it being an Ordinance of God as sacred as the other wee have endeavoured Nehem. 8.8 according to our light and time to retranslate the Psalmes as neer the originall as wee could into meeter Singing of Psalmes because the former translation was very defective and sing them in the Churches according thereunto For Prayer we use not any prescribed formes or stinted Liturgies but seeing the Ministers of Christ are called as well to give themselves to prayer as to the ministry of the Word Prayer Acts 6.4 wee pray as that blessed inditer of our Prayers who teacheth what to pray as wee ought helping our insirmities according to the peoples necessities the present occasion and the work of Christ in our hands requireth Rom. 8.26 We administer the seals of the Covenant not to all but only to believers or their seed which are either in covenant with our selves or with some other Church of Christ for though wee verily believe there are many precious Saints amongst us who with their children are under the Covenant of Grace through faith in Christ whom we tenderly embrace and esteem deare unto us because they are so to Christ Jesus himself and are ready to give to such approved ones the right hand of fellowship in case they shall desire it yet seeing such are not liable and subject to the Churches censure it is not meet they should partake of the Churches priviledges therefore wee have hitherto for born it untill further light shall appeare For the administration of the Supper Sacrament of Supper 1 Cor. 11.25 because Christ bids us do it often we commonly have it monethly though wee tie not our selves to any set time but alter it as often as good reason appeares and for better remembrance of the duty and preparation thereunto the Elders give notice the Lords day afore and stirs them to an holy preparation for so holy a duty When the time of solemn action is come the Pastor sets apart the Elements for so sacred employment he blesseth the bread he breaketh it in the sight of all the people declaring withall and applying the signification of those holy Rites and Actions He distributes it to those who be neer about him Acts 6.2 and gives the rest to the Deacons hands who stand ready according to their office attending on the Table to give unto all the people not bowing or kneeling which are forms of worship that never came into Christs minde Matth. 26.20 Luke 22.27 to 30. so far as wee know to appoint nor any way sutable to a Table-gesture but in that posture of body in which Christ himself gave it unto his Disciples After the bread hee taketh the cup and blesseth it distinctly by it self for so our Lord Christ did Matth. 26.26.27.29 hee powres out the wine and distributes it this done a Psalme is sung Prayers returned and the congregation dissolved Mat. 26.30 Wee also take our liberty to solemnize holy feastings and fasting dayes as God gives occasion by his extraordinary hand of providence of speciall mercy or judgement either to our selves or native countrey or other churches For the admitting of additionall members to those that are the fundamentalls 4. Addition of members we proceed in this manner Such as desire to joyn to the church do make known their desire to the Eldership who take a survey of their spirituall estates both of the knowledge in the principles of Religion 1 King 6.7 and of the work of Grace in their hearts as also their blamelesse and godly conversation among men in any of which if they finde any wounded they plainly declare it to the parties themselves labouring by love and patience to heal them and ripen them where all things are cleer to themselves they propound them to the church and intreat them as opportunity may serve to take some time to deal with them about their spirituall condition and inquire of the godly approved which know them that nothing may hinder when they are called to admission After some due space the ruling-Elders call them before the church in publike Confession of faith who heare them confesse their faith in the grounds of Religion then their effectuall Vocation to Christ First in their sound repentance from dead works Secondly their unfeigned faith toward the Lord Jesus Matth. 3.7 Luke 3.7 Acts 8.37 Then if they be satisfied in both these as where they discern the least true breathing of Christ though but as sinoaking slax they are they call if need be for testification of their godly conversation which being done they rest and testifie all their consents to their admission by holding up their hands after that the Pastor or Elder propounds to them the covenant which they are to make before God and his people the summe of which is to this effect Covenant To give up one selves to the Lord in all duties of holinesse 2 Cor. 8.5 then to the Church and the Officers in all love and submission according to the will of God and this they doe not trusting in their owne strength See Cottons way of the Churches in New-England pag. 55. more fully expressing the Covenant but in the name and by the grace of Christ himselfe To this Covenant when they have given their consent the Elders in their own name and the Churches reciprocally doe covenant also with them to performe the like duties backe againe unto them Then after prayers made by the whole Church for his gracious assistance in performing these mutuall duties each to other and all of them to God they depart away with a blessing If any member thus admitted hath afterward any speciall occasion to reside for any considerable space of time Of recōmendation and dismission of members in some other Church that wee may the better know according to our charge received of them what becomes of our members