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A51837 Christs eternal existence, and the dignity of his person asserted and proved in opposition to the doctrine of the Socinians : in several sermons on Col. I, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 verses / by the Reverend Tho. Manton. Manton, Thomas, 1620-1677. 1685 (1685) Wing M520; ESTC R33496 105,834 258

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pastors and teachers for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ. Mark there he doth not describe all the Officers for the Deacon is not mentioned but onely such as labour in the Word and Sacraments and observe he mentioneth ordinary and extraordinary Apostles to write Scripture Prophets to attest it Pastors and Teachers to explain and apply it And mark Christ gave some it is his Prerogative as Head of the Church to appoint the several sorts of offices and officers He gave them at first and will raise up some still according as the exigence of the times requireth it The end why to perfect the saints that is to help them on to their final perfection and for the work of the ministry All Offices under Christ are a ministry not a power and imply Service not Lordship or Domination over the Flock of Christ. Lastly The great end is to prepare and fit men more and more to become true members of Christs mystical Body 4. To maintain and defend his people in the exercise of these things to preserve the verity of Doctrine and purity of Worship Alass many times where neither Worship nor Government is corrupted yet the Church may be in danger to be dissipated by the violence of persecutions Now therefore it is a part of Christs office as Head of the Church to maintain verity of Doctrine purity of Worship and a lawful order of Government for all which he hath plenty of Spirit The Papists think this cannot be without some universal visible head to supply Christs Office in his absence and so are like the Israelites Exod. 31.1 Make us Gods that shall go before us They would have a visible head that should supply Christs room in his absence an external infallible Head but that is a vain conceit for since the Pope hath his residence in Rome and cannot perform these functions but by the intervention of ordaining Pastors why should it be more difficult for Christ in heaven to Govern the Church than for the Pope in Rome when he sitteth at the right hand of God till he hath made his ●oes his Footstool Is he less powerful to Govern the Church and to preserve and defend his People against the violence of those that would root out the memorial of Religion in the World Who is more powerful than Jesus Christ who hath all Judgement put into his hands 1 Iob. 4.4 2. In regard of influence So Christ is an head to the Church as he giveth us his Spirit That Spirit which gives Life to Believers is often called Christs Spirit Gal. 4.6 God hath sent forth the spirit of his son into your hearts It is purchased by his Merit Tit. 3.6 conveyed to us by his Power Ioh. 15.26 I will send the comforter from the father The communication is by his Ordinances The Word 2 Cor. 3.18 Beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord we are changed into the same Image from glory to glory even as by the spirit of the Lord. Sacraments 1 Cor. 12.13 For by one spirit are we all baptized into one body whether we be Iews or Gentiles whether we be bond or free and ●●ve all been made to drink into one spirit To ●●omote the Religion which he hath est●●●●●hed Ioh. 16.13 14. When the spirit 〈◊〉 ●ruth is come he will guide you into all tr●● 〈◊〉 for he shall not speak of himself but wh●● 〈◊〉 ever he shall hear that he shall speak And he will shew you things to come and he shall glori●ie me for he shall receive of mine and shall shew it unto you He comes to us as his Members and by influence from him as in the natural body the animal spirits are from the head are by the members conveyed to all the parts of the body so Christ in this spiritual Union worketh in us a quickning Spirit Eph. 4.15 16. We grow up to him in all things which is the head even Christ From whom the whole body joyned together maketh increase c. The spirit is not given to any one Believer but derivatively from Christ to us First it is given to Christ as Mediatour and to us onely by virtue of our union with him He is in Christ as radically inherent but in us operatively to accomplish certain effects or he dwelleth in our Head by way of radication in us by way of influence and operation 2. According to what nature doth this office belong to Christ Divine or Humane I answer both for it belongeth to him as God incarnate 1. He must be man that there may be a conformity of nature between the head and the rest of the Members therefore Christ and the Church have one common nature between them he was man as we are men bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh Eph. 5.30 We read of a monstrous Image that was represented to Nebuchadnezzar in a dream where the head was Gold the breast and arms of Silver the belly and thighs of Brass and the Legs and feet part of Iron and part of Clay Dan. 2. All the parts of a different nature In every regular body there is a proportion and conformity so it is in the Mystical body of Christ because the brethren took part of flesh and blood he also took part of the same The Godhead which was at such a distance from us is brought down in the person of Christ in our nature that it might be nearer at hand and within the reach of our commerce and we might have more incouragement to expect pity and relief from him 2. God he also must be None was sit to be head of the Church but God whether you respect Government or Influence 1. For Government to attend all cases to hear all Prayers to supply all wants defend us against all Enemies to require an absolute and total submission to his Laws Ordinances and Institutions so as we may venture our Eternal Interests upon his Word Psal. 95.11 He is thy God worship thou him 2. For Influence none else hath power to convey the spirit and to become a vital principle to us for that is proper to God to have life in himself and to communicate it to others 1 Tim. 6.13 I charge thee in the sight of God who quickneth all things c. Whatever men may think of the life of Grace yet surely as to the life of Glory he is the onely life-making Spirit 1 Cor. 15.45 Now this honour is not given to the Angels much less is it due to any man nor can it be imagined by him for none can influence the heart of Man but God 3. The Reasons why this body must have such an Head 1. Every society must be under some Government without which they would soon dissolve and come to nothing Much more the Church which because of its manifold necessities and the high ends unto which it is designed more needs it than any other Society 2.