Selected quad for the lemma: ground_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
ground_n	apostle_n	church_n	pillar_n	1,918	5	10.1330	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A42679	A general epistle given forth in obedience to the God of peace. [part 1] for the preservation and increase of charity and unity amongst the professors of Christ Jesus, and the teachings of his divine light within / by ... William Gibson.	Gibson, William, 1629-1684.	1682 (1682)	Wing G684_pt1; ESTC R18589	75,922	183

contemn that which the Light or Spirit of Truth hath spoken and dictated to write in its servants and Children for the Profit Edification Confirmation Establishment comfort of the Body which Thousands being Children of the Light have gladly received and finds the great comfort and profit of These are not the Lights Children these do not walk in it though they talk of it and though some of them may be full of self-confidence that they walk in it and that they are discerning Persons Wise Strong c. yet this is their great mistake herein they shew their spiritual darkness blindness nakedness miserableness Laodician like Fourthly Again Observe That the Apostles who had turned the people to the Light and Spirit of Truth within who were thereby gathered into Congregations or Churches did afterward write the several Epistles to the several Churches and therein gave to them Commands Doctrines Instructions Exhortations Admonitions and sometimes sharp Reproofs and Rebukes as the Lord by his Light and Spirit moved in them according to the several States and Conditions of those they writ to the Apostle Exhorts Timothy viz. them that sin rebuke before all that others also may fear 1 Tim. 5. 20. Again Reprove Rebuke Exhort with all long suffering and Doctrine 2 Tim. 4. 2. Again he writ to Titus viz. These things speak and exhort and rebuke with all Authority let no man dispise thee Titus 2. 15. And again Wherefore rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in the Faith it is rendered out of the Greek in the Margent Cutingly touching to the quick Titus 1. 13. Here take notice that Reproofs and Rebukes are commanded of the Lord and profitable in their season though it sometimes comes to pass that those who are seasonably reprooved and rebuked do not seasonably and rightly receive the same but turns against it in Self-justification and into Enmity against those who in the Councel of God give it unto them for their good in some such is that Proverb verified Reprove a fool and he will hate thee but a wise man and he will love thee Fifthly Observe Timothy and Titus were Overseers made so by the Holy Ghost Spirit and Light therein to watch over the Saints for their good to Minister to them from time to time whether by Word or Epistle what was needful and profitable for them we do not read in the Scripture of Truth nor believe that these two Overseers did reject Paul's Epistles written to them or call them Man's Edicts Man's Decrees Prescriptions or put any such contemptable names upon them but on the contrary we believe they received them in Love and obeyed the good Counsel Charge and Exhortations therein given them we do not read nor believe that these two Ministers of Christ did plead their Place and Office in the Body and Church of Christ to Exclude and Reject Paul's Epistles to them which he gave forth in the Light and motion of the Holy Ghost we do not read nor believe that they said to Paul we deny thy Forms D●de●s Prescriptions c. we are Ministers of the Gospel as well as thee thy Epistles are of no use or service to us why dost thou seek to impose them upon us the Holy Ghost and Light within by which we are made Overseers is sufficient for us away with thy Orders The Apostle Paul writ thus to Timothy viz. These things write I unto thee being to come to thee shortly but if I carry long that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thy self in the House of God which is the Church of the Living God the Pillar and Ground of Truth 1 Tim. 3. 14 15. Behold here Paul in this Epistle Instructs Timothy who was an Overseer in the Church how to behave himself in it we do not read nor believe that this Overseer in the Church did Reject Paul's Instruction herein or that he pleaded the Sufficiency of the Light within in opposition to Paul's Advice and Instruction but we do believe that he saw in the Light the Instruction given to be good and profitable for him and therefore gladly received the same Now if these Overseers in the Holy Ghost could see a Service to them in Paul's Epistles which certainly they did then there certainly was a Service in his other Epistles to the Novices Paul who in the Light and Holy Ghost taught the Elders by his Epistles to them he also taught the Younger by his other Epistles though both of them knew and obeyed the Light within in it they saw the good use profit and comfort of them and therefore did not contend against them but chearfully received them and obeyed the Councel of the Lord therein given or young Schollars weak in the Faith feeble minded c. Upon all which Observe That neither these strong men Overseers in the Churches nor the younger who walked in the Light of Christ did plead their being taught by the Light of Christ or Holy Ghost within in opposition to their being Taught Exhorted and Instructed by the Instrumental helps of those Epistles which Paul and other of the Apostles writ to them as they were moved by the Holy Ghost I do Advise and Exhort those professors of the Light within who are offended at some profitable and wholsome Epistles given forth by some of the most ancient and faithful of the Children of Light in this Age concerning good Order and Government in the Church of Christ to read the two Epistles to Timothy and that to Titus and Peter's Exhortations to the Elders or Overseers to f●ed the Flock of God over which the Holy Ghost had made them Overseers which take as followeth viz. The Elders which are among you I Exhort who am also an Elder and a Witness of the sufferings of Christ and also partaker of the Glory that shall be revealed feed the flock of God which is among you taking the oversight thereof not by constraint but willingly not for filthy Lucre but of a ready mind neither as being Lords over God's Heritage but being Examples to the Flock and when the chief Shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away likewise ye Younger subm't your selves unto the Elder yea all of you be subject one to another and be cloathed with Humility for God resisteth the Proud and giveth grace to the Humble humble your selves therefore under the mighty hand of God that he may Exalt you in due time casting all your care upon him for he careth for you Be sober be 〈…〉 or watchful because your Adversary the Devil walketh about seeking whom he may devour Whom resist stedfast in the Faith knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your Brethren that are in the World But the God of all Grace who hath called us into his Eternal Glory by Christ Jesus after that ye have suffered a while make you perfect stabtish strengthen settle you To him be Glory for ever and ever Amen 1 Pet.