Selected quad for the lemma: head_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
head_n	body_n	church_n	fullness_n	4,230	5	10.3232	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93925	The church, the proper subject of the new covenant. Delivered first in three sermons at Rochester Afterwards contracted into two, and delivered againe at Gravesend. Together with a covenant to walke with God. By Will: Sandbrooke, LL:B:Ox. and Minister of Margarets Rochester.	Sandbrooke, William, d. 1658.	1646 (1646)	Wing S571A; ESTC R229760	9,881	72

be seasonable my improvidence left me in a snare I must acquaint you my resolution is to desist from the prosecution untill the wisedome of the State shall set up a way which is Vniforme and then I hope I may prosecute without disturbance In the interim because what hath beene delivered is snuffed at by some whom I scarce believe understood if heard it I shall therefore acquaint you with two things 1. The conclusions prosecuted already in this businesse 2. The conclusions remaining yet behind in the nature of a Church which I will only name These I will lay down as principles which must be as a firme basis to all deductive conclusions in the businesse of a Church so that 1. I shall adhere to them as of eternall verity 2. I shall yet willingly submitt to a full conviction of any error deduceable from them if cleared to me and humbly correct it These things being supposed by way of Appology I come now to my businesse EPHES. 1.22 23. And hath put all things under his feet and gave him to bee the head over all things to the Church Which is his body the fulnesse of him that filleth all in all AFter a short Analycitall resolution of the body of the Text I inferred divers conclusions whereof the first was God the Father hath given to Christ by speciall donation Thes 1. priviledge and grants the power interest and propriety and in succession of time the Actuall possession of a Church This proposition I laid downe as leaving the rest to the expository way for forenoones in my exercise onely to cleare it I laid downe some concluosins which were the same in substance and run paralell to this in this forme 1. Isa 32.1 Psal 2.6 God the Father hath invested Christ in the propriety and possession of a Kingdome 2. Rom. 8.2 This kingdome in order to its subjects was endowed with 3. grand priviledges 1. Rom. 8.12 Exemption from the curse of any Law 2. From the Tyranny of any power to enthrall or engage them to obedience except of Christ 3. Col. 2.21 From observation of any ordinances in point of absolute subjection but what himselfe hath instituted to them Whence I called in to aide one cleare and confessed conclusion The Kingdome of Christ and the Church of Christ are in substance the same thing So that in issue if Christ hath beene enthroned and established in a kingdome ergo also in a Church But Christ hath beene enthroned and established in a Kingdome by the conclusions ergo the sequell is easie from the last conclusion thus the Kingdome of Christ and his Church are the same in substance ergo If Christ have a Kingdom he must have a Church also The maine quaeriethen to be examined thus What this Church of Christ is After examination of the Termes incident to this businesse in the old and new Testament I concluded A Church or the kingdom of Christ is a combination or confaederacy of faithfull persons meeting together in a joynt consent to walke with Christ and to enjoy communion with him and amongst themselves in all his ordinances I cannot see but this discription of a Church agreeth with the Nationall Provinciall Parochiall Church of England unlesse we suppose intended and studied hypocrisie in receiving the Gospell In this I observed these distinct conclusions fully to cleare the businesse The members of this combination are faithfull persons Concl. 1. or actuall beleevers by profession This was made cleare in reason thus Christ being a living head all that come to him are also quickned for the cause being put the effect must follow and we live by faith in Christ ergo The members of a Church are living members or beleevers Thus reason gave attestation fully clearly 19. Art of the church of Eng. Agni 3. q. 8. Ar. 3. ad 3. Bell. to 2 c. 2. p. 271. so Scripture also Esay 26.2.6 Acts. 2.40.41 This first conclusion made good the 2o. is 2. These beleeving persons joyne together in a mutuall combination or joynt consent to bee a Church The reason is from proportion a common wealth joynes together by consent under one head to make a body politique and the members of a naturall body by one Spirit of animation constitutes the whole But the Church is in proportion a naturall and politique bodie Bell. ibid. Act. 19. Ergo. Iere. 50.4 Acts. 11.21.22 Thus this 2. conclusion cleared the 3d. was 3. This voluntary and joynt combination of Beleevers is to give themselves up wholly to walke with Christ The reason I assigned was because in this combination they joyned themselves wholly to Christ and gave themselves totally to him Ergo. Live walke with him Iere. 50.5 Acts. 2 42. And here the starting of one doubt hath caused all this dust and made such a misconstrued interpretation of things Is this combination by joynt consent Quest so necessary to a Church that it is not sufficient for every particular beleeuer to give himselfe up to Christ to walke with him but a society must joyne in it Because herein the businesse did pinch give me leave to give you a a breife account of what propositions I laid down in the same words and then I le to the rest 1. Every beleever after calling is engaged to bring over his Spirit to an universall resolution and answerable execution of walking with Christ The reason was given because every member is or ought to be at the whole disposition of the head and subordinat to it But c. Ergo. 1 Cor. 6.20 Psal 119.106 This first particular conclusion the second was 2. This particular resignation of any beleever thus to Christ makes him an actuall member of the Catholike Church of Christ which is onely one The reason given in this case it made them of the bodie of Christ as by a speciall act of faith Rom. 12.5 1. Cor. 10.16 1. Cor. 10.12.17 The second particular proposition thus done 3. There followes after this an actuall vnion and visible combination of the same person with other members which collected bodie make up a visible society of beleevers This is properly joyning to a particular visible Church and the reason is from the very construction of the Termes and the manifold places of Scripture Acts. 9.28 5.13 20.17 And this is the same with our parishes or parochiall congregations and combinations to worship Christ and to walke with him Art 19. Prop. 2. Preface to the Catechisme in the Common-Prayer B. So that hence it will be safe I suppose to inferr 1. Such a collected body or congregation so vnited is a particular visible Church And from thence also I inferred as a second conclusion necessary to the businesse 2. 1 Cor. 1.2 Though the catholike Church of Christ be but one yet there are divers particular Churches as Parochiall Nationall Provinciall or the like 3. Act. 16. p. 2. Rom. 16.4 Gal. 1.2 Every person so joyning

waving difficulties that you may ghesse which way my thoughts tend 1. All Beleevers and every member ought to frequent and assemble to that place which is appointed for the meeting of the congregation in the use of Divine Ordinauces publiquely This only I name as confest on all hands and therefore in the next place 2. Every family of Beleevers ought after publike ordinances in the Church or congregation to assemble together for recognition conference mutual assistance in what hath been publikely done and the use of such Ordinances as are proper to them These two propositions no man I know if taken in this generall sense so much as stickes at Onely if I should adde one glance more it may be it would startle yet I hope not offend especially if taken as 't is intended by mee I 'le venture upon good natures and lay it downe in sum thus Many grand sticklers and contenders for an universall outward conformity which I shal for ever supplicate the throne of grace for us comming nearest to a state of glory Are the most peccant and defective in the main businesse to wit sensible quickening communion with Christ which is the maine end of those Ordinances and the Saints or Beleevers generall conformity to them Brethren I would demand from these eager spirits whether it hath not been the practice of this and former ages to terminate their devotion in a circular course of comming to Church reading or hearing a chapter with the Minister turning downe leaves at Chapter and verse things I know good and ought to bee done yet when 't is manifestly apparant this terminates all and they look no further but only to the exercise of the body which profits not nor see any thing of the power of Christ shining out in strength in their Ordinances I would demand whether 1. These things are not uselesse in our relation to Christ in them 2. This be not to profane pollute that which he hath ordained to communicate and shew himselfe by to his people 3. Condemnation will not be advanced hereby Brethren these things I only propose without reflexion upō any mans particular let his owne conscience judge Whether this method had not in the dayes of yore eaten out the power of godlinesse and left the body of religion an empty carkasse But I doe but name this doubt obiter and by the bye I must yet crave leave a little patience to insert a third conclusion in this businesse of assembling or meeting least I should be accused of bauking or dissembling the maine For I expect to heare of it on both sides the head take it thus 3. It is lawfull for Christians or Believers of severall families in a Towne Parish or Countrey to meete together to conferre and examine truths delivered to communicate each others experience for mutual consolation and edification in the way of Christ This Brethren I would have rightly understood and that wil prevent a carping take then these two cautions in 1. Such assembling or meeting ought not to prejudice the publike Ordinance and Assembies 2. Such assembling or meeting ought not to disturb or violate the peace or quiet of the State or Kingdome These two cautions observed I 'le justifie the conclusion to bee warrantable It is an expresse injunction of the Apostle and nothing can come in for a supersedeas where hee commands Thus I have declared briefly to you as well as I could the nature of a Church under the Gospell What it is in the sense of other men either for the place of meeting or in that relation it stands to the Kingdome or Nation as protected and in some cases bound by Lawes and Edicts I have not medled as leaving it to the Lawyers and Magistrates to determine my errand was never so far as I know to preach penall Statutes but obedience to the KING and other his subordinate Governours which I shall ever bee diligent in both in word and practice What I have done amisse herein I shall submit to censure and errour I shall bee convict of Thus farre may suffice for the nature of a true Church The next thing I did propose to my self in the businesse of a Church is SECT 2. THe Priviledges of Beleevers mett in the way of a Church or Congregation in the use of the Ordinances of Christ And these I did resolve to reduce in distinct conclusions in these few heads SECT 1. generall THe great Priviledge of Beleevers joyned in fellowship in the Gospell and met together in the use of any Divine Ordinances is To have an intimate tender and prevailing effectuall presence of Christ himselfe with them This both Scripture and reason abundantly testifie for Christ being a living head and appointing his Church to be his body it must follow the body must find the influence from the head in every channell and vessell ordained for that purpose Matth. 28.19 20. Thus much in generall now again in SECT 2. Speciall AS severall branches arising from this common stocke they are to bee reduced to a two-fold head SECT 1. Internal ANnd these againe admit a distinction 1. Generall A constant quickning influence and power of spirituall refreshing from this presence of Christ This is cleare in the former demonstration and made mention in former places of Scrip●ure SECT 2. Speciall ANd that again shold be dispatcht in these things 1. A sensible active spirituall taste of Divine love or of God himselfe in his Ordinances by this presence of Christ For by this comming to him wee come to and see the Father by him And hence also followes in the use of the Ordinances by this presence of Christ these three things 1. Peace with and spirituall joy in God 2. A strength communicated to walke with Christ and in his power with God 3. A sealed assurance of eternall communion with God in glory These are those internall Priviledges of the Church to be powred out and communicated to the Saints in their assembling in the use of divine ordinances SECT 2. Externall Priviledges ANd these I should refer to these three conclusions 1. A free use of all the Ordinances of Christ belongs to the church 2. A power of establishing of Officers for the governement of the Church 3. A power of exercising of all censures or the power of the Keyes for the matter of Discipline Whence I would had I prosecuted infer red one thing as a most necessary corollary All these Priviledges are made truly efficacious and effectuall by the prevailing and actuall presence of CHRIST with them One thing more I added to be heeded Cautions to wit thus 1. Whether you 'le call a Church thus invested with these great priviledges made efficacious by Christs reall presence to be A Church 1. Nationall 2. Provincial 3. Classicall 4. Parochiall 5. Independēt or Congregationall Let others dispute the question I will not I conceive all are 2. Whether the government bee invested in an Episcopacy Classicall Parochiall or Congregational Eldership from the donation of the Church for 't is her inheritance I will not determine let the King State determine I can with peace submit so farre as my conscience yet beares mee witness will so soone as the hand is put to execution The other two points of the use of the 1. Law 2. Baptisme I touched not FINIS