Selected quad for the lemma: head_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
head_n	apostle_n	church_n	whole_a	3,176	5	6.0386	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A95963	The authours, nature, and danger of hæresie. Laid open in a sermon preached before the Honorable House of Commons at Margarets Westminster, upon Wednesday the tenth of March, 1646. being set apart as a solemne day of publike humiliation to seeke Gods assistance for the suppressing and preventing of the growth and spreading of errours, heresies, and blasphemies. / By Richard Vines. Printed by order of the House of Commons.	Vines, Richard, 1600?-1656.	1647 (1647)	Wing V545; Thomason E378_29; ESTC R3304	47,605	81

that both matter and forme mission and vision gifts and calling must concurr to the constitution of him who exercises a publike ministry For even our Lord Iesus Christ in whom all fullnesse dwells glorified not himselfe to be made a high Priest but was called of God as was Aaron Heb. 5. 4. 5. and the rule is there given that no man takes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an honour or office to himselfe whatsoever be his parts or abilities the apostle saith not how should they 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 publikely preach the word without gifts and abilities but except they be sent Rom. 10. 15. It must not be denyed that every member in the body hath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his proper office Rom. 12. 4. 5. wherby it may contribute to the good and edification of the whole The word of God that dwells in any ought to diffuse it selfe for the benefit of others in their families relations and conversations The talent which God hath given to every one is to be put forth to use the Samaritan woman may call out her neighbours to Christ and the shepeards may spread abroad what they have heard of him though they be but shepheards and neither priests nor Levites but every starr in his owne orbe or Sphaere a Bellarm. de ecclesia militante diversa est ratio membri instrumenti publici there is a difference betweene a private member of the Church and a publike instrument For all the free-men of this City or corporation are not Aldermen and the edification of the body by ministry and by membership are plainely distinguisht Eph. 4. ver 11. and 16. If every Phaeton that thinkes himselfe able may drive the charriot of the sun no wonder if the world be set on fire I should not doubt to say that as in some cases Omnis homo miles against a suddaine assaulter or invader every man is a souldier so as the case may bee omnis Christianus Evangelista every Christian is an Evangelist as Edesius Frumentius publisht the Gospell to the Indies and the woman to the Iberians as the Ecclesiasticall story S●crates lib. 1. chap. 15. 16. Theod r. lib. ● chap 23. reporteth And it is said Acts. 8 4. those that were dispersed by the persecution against the Church at Ierusalem went every where preaching the word They disseminated the knowledge of Christ to the ignorant Iewes and Hellenists Acts. 11. 20. the circumstance defends the action if it could be proved that these dispersed Christians were private men and that they preacht the word in Ierusalem which was a constituted Church before they were scattered Mornay du pl●ss●s of the Church ch 11. thence it would be some thing to the purpose The noble Mornay puts another case that if the sentinells be in a dead sleep any common souldier or man may give the alarum to the City as when the dogs do not barke the geese do save the capitol and yet it remaines good that there is an office in the hands whereof Christ hath lodged the stewardship of the misteries of God the word and sacraments for teaching and baptizing are both put into the same hand It is not a mans able parts which make him the steward of any of your houses but your committing the keyes into his hand Nor abilities but commission which makes an Ambassadour what if a Gibeonite or any other man was able and had the skill to dresse a sacrifice and performe all the outward work thereabout as well as any Priest Must hee therefore take upon him to usurpe the Priests Office I think none will say it No constituted Church either under the Law or Gospel can be denied to have had Officers appointed for the worke of the Ministry and dispensation of the holy things of God As concerning the Church under the Law who can doubt of it And for the Churches under the Gospel that they should be constituted and founded by Christ and the Apostles who were sent for it s said John 20. 21. As my Father hath sent me so send I you and then that all sending should determine and cease as if Christ had given Apostles Prophets Evangelists but no Pastors and Teachers can enter into no mans head till sense and reason be first gone out of it what else should bee the meaning of those words a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Elders Rulers Bishops Pastors Governours which are contradistinguisht to the Community of the Church As the Elders and whole Church Acts 15. Rulers and Saints Heb. 13. verse 24. Angells and Churches Revel 1. 20. and the one sort are said to Rule and governe The other enjoyned to submit and obey them Heb. 13. 17. for so doubtlesse Christ hath formed this house of his as other houses are This City as other cities this body or common-wealth as other societies That is to consist of such as govern such as are Governed for otherwise it would be more like a Cyclops den then an ordered family If any shall say that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doe signifie nothing but one that carries the lanthorne of doctrine or goes before others by good example let him sayalso that a Master or a father of a family doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. Tim. 3. 4. 5. give but a good example to his house as a very servant may doe or that Joseph was set 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts. 7. 10. a good example to Egypt and no more The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to preach is in the new testament most usually and for the most part appropriated to preaching by office and authority and when the Apostle saith 1. Tim. 2. 12. I permit not a woman to teach 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nor to exercise authority as the word f Docere est actus poteslatis Calvin in lo●●● signifies it is plainely signified that to teach in the Church is an act of authority those then to whom the Apostle commended the oversight of the Church at his farewell Acts. 20. 28. to whom Peter wrote and charged them with the flocke 1. Pet. 5. 1. whom the golden Candlesticks had for their Angells and upon whom that comfortable promise is entaild I will be with you alwayes unto the end of the world Matth. 28. 20. are men in office not indeed called unto Lordship and dominion but to a ministry and stewardship which is to be regulated by that most excellent rule and to that onely end For your edification and not for your destruction 2. Cor. 10. 8. But this office is undermined and pulled downe by piece-meale stone by stone as if a man should say this stone is not essentiall to the house nor this nor that and so pull all downe at last This is a stratagem of the Socinian art It is said that imposition of hands in ordination is but a ceremony or formality and in it selfe a cyphar and being so why may it not be laid