Selected quad for the lemma: hand_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
hand_n	bring_v	lord_n	right_a	5,328	5	6.9323	4	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

fully sufficient for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edification of the body of Christ lesse then which would be too little more then which would be too much for if the minde and judgement of his Saints be well informed and instructed in what they ought to know believe and do which is the work and office of the Teacher and if the conscience be convinced the will bowed to holy obedience the affections rectified and set upon their object which is the office and work of the Pastor if the life and conversation be well ordered also which is the proper imployment of the ruling Elder and if all things be beautifully ordered and governed in the House of God in all the administration hereof which is the joynt work of them all together there and then also if the outward man be provided for convenienly comfortably and timely that no lack be there no crying and complaining in our streets for want of supply which is the office of the Deacons and if the sick be helped refreshed comforted which is the office of the Deaconesse then there is full provision for the necessity of the Saints all which Christ hath given us here these we have and more then these we are like six fingers to an hand now these we say and no others being the officers which are in our eyes to call wee proceed to election and then to ordination in this manner following First the men that wee are to call to office are our own members 1. Election Acts 6. or if members of other Churches they joyn with the Church which calls them before they have any propriety in them or power in the Lord over them to call them to office in that body then they are well known and approved by some convenient space of triall seeing we must lay hands suddenly on no man 1 Tim. 5.22 and we discern that not only his gifts graces and frame of spirit are in themselves desireable and commendable but in some good measure also sutable and fit for that people For every worthy man is not fit for every godly people no more then every glove is fit for every hand nor every key fit to open every lock though happily it be a key of gold another of Iron which is fit may be better They being thus approved the Church her self over which he is to be an overseer calls him and none other for them as Acts 16.3 those I say whose soules hee is to take the charge of call him and submit themselves to his administration in the Lord and not some of the Church as the officers only if there be any or the people only but all of us with joynt consent as one man or at least the greater part elect an officer over us So wee reade that the Primitive Church was carried in all their votes and elections Acts 1.23.26 14.23 Acts 23. All things thus ripened for election when wee are to elect a Pastor Teacher or ruling Elder wee give notice thereof to the Magistrate and all the next adjoyning Churches who and when and to what office we ordain him unto and intreat their presence and company with us for their brotherly counsell and assistance when the day is come and well spent in preaching fasting and prayer as Acts 13.2 3. then one of themselves appointed to oversee the work of the day stands up and is inquired of the Church if none after this solemn seeking of God for his counsell and direction in that weighty work they still resolve to proceed in the seeking such a one to be Pastor or Teacher as before they resolved to do Then having taken their silence for a testimony of their purpose hee tells them now hee sees all is cleer for his Call hee desires the Brethren to testifie their votes in calling such a one to such an office by holding up their hands which being done hee desires of the party to know if hee accepts of the Call to the office which the Brethren in the name of Christ hath given him to exercise in the Church after his acceptance expressed the Elder requires of the Church to promise solemnly by Christs help to do the duties of a Church to him as to a Pastor or Teacher viz. to submit to him in the Lord to be obedient to his doctrine to love him to give that respect to him that Christ commands and requires also that the same ingagement from him to do all the duties of a Pastor or Teacher to them The Election being finished Ordination they proceed to Ordination which is nothing but a setting apart for and putting him into that office to which be is elected and committing the whole charge into his hands or laying it on his shoulders before the Lord and this is done by imposition of hands and prayer The Elders of the same Church if there be any do impose their hands if there be none but himself is the first then two or three of the principall and most grave and eminent Christians being required by the body do in the name of Christ and the Church and this is no unusuall thing in Scripture as wee conceive Numb 8.10 Moses must bring the Levites to be consecrated before the Lord and the children of Israel must lay their hands on them and then Aaron shall offer them to the Lord so also Zadock the Priest was consecrated 1 Chro. 29.22 and Solomon anointed by the Congregation In time of which imposition of hands 1. They pray over them for all needfull gifts and graces fit for that great place to which he is called 2. They speak the words themselves of Ordination of him in Christs name and the name of that Church to that very office 3. Put a solemn charge upon him as in the sight of Almighty God 2 Cor. 5.10 before whom hee must shortly appeare to give an account of all those soules committed to his charge by the great Shepheard Christ Jesus himselfe Num. 27.20 that hee be diligent faithfull carefull and constant in a full discharge of that great charge laid upon him After this the Elders of the Church some in the name of the rest Gal. 2.9 do give him the right hand of fellowship in the sight of all the Assembly and testifie their brotherly respect unto him and after thankfulnesse to God for his gracious gifts bestowed on him do exhort him in the Lord to fulfill his ministration received from the Lord and so after praises given to God by him in the name of the Church hee dissolves the Assembly with a blessing For our calling of Deacons Deacons wee judge it not necessary because we want a rule to effect it with fasting and prayer as in the Ordination of other Officers but the Brethren look out from among themselves men fitly qualified according to the rule of the Word Acts 6.3 1 Tim. 3.8 9. and after due approose made

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 LONDON Printed by Matth. Simmons for John Rothwell and are to be sold at his Shop at the signe of the Sunne in Pauls Church-yard 1645. A BRIEFE NARRATION of the practises of the Churches in NEW-ENGLAND PREFACE Mr scope in this Declaration is onely to answer your owne desire and cleere our way from some misapprehensions which I plainly see have been suggested to you against our proceedings what weaknesse may fall from my pen in this relation impute it to my own slendernesse not to the cause in our hands Dirige corrige Jesu benignissime OUr practise in Discipline consists in these six heads especially 1. In gathering or founding our Churches 2. In calling Officers as Pastors Teachers Ruling Elders Deacons 3. In solemne Church-worship 4. In admitting of members 5. In recommendations and dismissions of members to other Churches 6. In censuring delinquent members by Admonition Excommunication For the first such as do intend to gather into Church-followship 1. Gathering the Church doe often in private meete together and seriously examine the spirituall conditions one of another even untill they be mutually satisfied in the judgement of charity of the truth of grace of each other of all such as they intend to make the foundationalls of that Church Which done they certifie the Magistrates and all neere adjoyning Churches of their intentions to erect a Church and the day when they purpose to meet in publique for that end and this is done 1. To shew they are not ashamed of the light 2. To crave the help of their prayers and the assistance of their counsell in so weighty a work being better experienced in those wayes of Christ then themselves as yet are 3. To cleere their own proceedings in their Brethrens consciences that they seeing their entrance to be according to the Rule may accept of them more comfortably into communion as any occasion shall require When the day appointed is come and some deputed persons sent from all the neighbour Churches which usually are the teaching and ruling Elders there present and most part of that day solemnly spent in fasting and praying for a blessing upon that enterprise Then one of them chosen to order the work of the day stands up and speaks to the other of the Brethren that they may now begin to act what they met that day for which is to joyn together into holy fellowship if the will and pleasure of the Lord be so and withall desires then that whereas they have manifested already Gods gracious workings upon their hearts to each other in private now they would do the same again before the Churches in publike Then himself begins Confession and makes confession of his faith in all the principles of Religon and then a declaration of his effectuall calling to Christ and how God hath carryed on the work of grace viz. Repentance from dead works and faith towards God both of which they insist upon in his soule to that day Then all the rest do the like which done to the satisfaction of the Brethren present they give testimony of the godly and approved life and conversation of each other After this Covenant they enter into a sacred and solemne Covenant engagement profession call it what you please whereby they protest and promise by the help of Christ to walk together as becomes a Church of God See Cottons Way in New-England p. 8. in all duties of holinesse before the Lord and in all brotherly love and faithfulnesse to each other according unto God withall producing their Covenant agreed on before amongst themselves then read it before the Assembly and then either subscribe their hands to it or testifie by word of mouth their agreement thereto Then the Brethren of other Churches some in the name of the rest reaching forth the right hand of fellowship unto them beare witnesse to their proceedings to be according to God testifie their acceptance of them into brotherly fellowship and do exhort them also in the Lord to proceed according to those beginnings and so prayers made and praises given unto God and a Psalme sung the blessing is pronounced and the Congregation dissolved The Churches thus gathered 2. Calling of Officers Acts 6.3 they look out from among themselves such who are fit for office and if none among them be so though usually those that joyn into a Church have one amongst them upon whom their eye is for such imployment they seek to the Lord of the Harvest to direct them elsewhere Matth. 9.38 and because Apostles Prophets Evangelists have no successors appointed in Scripture the ordinary officers we use to call Ephes 4.10 are Elders Teaching Pastors Teachers Ruling Deacons The Pastors office properly is to bend himself to exhortation Pastors Teachers Rom. 12.7 8. The Teachers office to give himself to instruction in points of doctrine explication of Scripture confutation of error c. The ruling Elder to order the Assemblies Ruling-Elders to look to the life and conversation of the whole Church and to visit from house to house to see how all thrive in godlinesse while the other give themselves to the Word and Doctrine and all of them together to govern the House of God and also to prepare in private all matters for Church and to survey the estates and ripen all such as are to be admitted in the Church before they produce them in publike c. The Deacons office is to have a diligent eye to look into the necessities of the Church and with a tender heart Deacons and carefull hand supply them from the Church Treasury with such things as they need for necessity conveniency and comfort and to see that none want but honourably to supply them even before they fall into any extremity or be forced to crave help from the Church and therefore he is To Collect diligently To Keep faithfully To Distribute carefully the Churches treasure Acts 6.2 that so hee may serve the Tables which is the proper work the Lords Table Ministers table and the poores table To the Deacons office Deacon 1 Tim. 5.3 we would adde Deaconesses where such may be had according to which should be widowes of the Church faithfull approved and full of good works who may give themselves to works of mercy cheerfully and to be serviceable also to those that are sick when the Deacon so conveniently cannot and sometime so modestly may not send their help as that sex may And here behold by the way the faithfull and tender care of our blessed Lord that fully provides in those officers for the necessities of all his Saints Ephes 4.12 viz. By Pastors Teacher Elders Deacons Widowes and hath given them their names works and titles in his House which are