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	member_n	mystical_a	10,421	5	11.0632	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A28344	Vindiciæ foederis, or, A treatise of the covenant of God enterd with man-kinde in the several kindes and degrees of it, in which the agreement and respective differences of the covenant of works and the covenant of grace, of the old and new covenant are discust ... / [by] Thomas Blake ... ; whereunto is annexed a sermon preached at his funeral by Mr. Anthony Burgesse, and a funeral oration made at his death by Mr. Samuel Shaw.	Blake, Thomas, 1597?-1657.; Burgess, Anthony, d. 1664.; Shaw, Samuel, 1635-1696.	1658 (1658)	Wing B3150; ESTC R31595	453,190	558

viz. à duplici modo communionis externo interno Vindication page 4. One and the same Church hath members of a visible and invisible notion a more full explanation may there be seen This being premised I affirm that interest in Church-membership in a visible Church-state is theirs and may be claimed by all those that have interest in the covenant before named an external interest or an interest in the external covenant as usually it hath been called This is a sure rule Where the Covenant is there the Church is and in what latitude soever men are taken into covenant they are received into the Church Lawes tendred by a Prince and received by a people whether they be tendred immediately by himself or by his Heraulds or Embassadours make up the relation of King and people A marriage-covenant tendred by a man as by Abrahams servant in the name of Isaac to Rebecca Gen. 24. and accepted by a Virgin makes up the relation of husband and wife covenant-draughts between man and man for service as an apprentice his indentures make up the relation of Master and servant now the Gospel-covenant is all of these between God and a people where God tenders it and a people receive it there God hath his Spouse his Subjects his Servants These are his people and all of these are Church-members The Word preached and received hath ever been assigned by Orthodox Divines as the characteristical note of a Church of God a Church stands and falls with it where it is professedly received there is a Church-interest Let one man apart receive it as was the case of the Eunuch he forthwith becomes a Church-member and is to have as we see he had his present matriculation and to be admitted by baptism a member not of this or that Congregation but of the Church universal visible and upon this account wheresoever he comes is a Saint a Disciple a Christian a Beleever and so to be received and acknowledged This is abundantly confirmed in those parables of our Saviour Christ of the floore where there is both chaffe and wheat Mat. 3. 12. of the field where there is both wheat and tares of 〈◊〉 draught-net where are fishes good and bad Mat. 13. 24 47. As also in that of the Apostle 2 Tim. 2. 20. In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver but also of wood and of earth and some to honour and some to dishonour The Church is this floore this field this draught-net this great house in which there is chaffe tares fish unfit for use and vessels of dishonour to which may be added the parables of the wedding feast in which there is a mixture of some without a wedding garment Mat. 22. of the sheepfold with kids and goats These parables are brought by Bellarmine for proof that the Church doth not consist only of the elect lib 3. de Eccl. Mil. cap. 7 to which Whitaker Controv secundâ quaest primà cap 7. answers by distinction Bellarmine saith he ought to prove that in the Catholick Church which is the body of Christ there are both good and bad reprobate as well as elect and for proof of this saith he he brings the parable of the floore in which there is wheat and chaffe but by the floore in this place is not meant saith he the Catholick Church but each particular Church in which we confesse there are bad as well as good and for the most part more bad than good And though he makes some exceptions against some of the Parables yet he applies the same answer to others Concerning that of the draw-net he saith The sense of the parable is manifest It happens in the Church when the Gospel is preached as in the sea when the draught-net is cast to take fish 1. All the fishes that are in the sea are not enclosed in the net 2. All are not good that are inclosed but some are unfit for use 3. The bad fish are not separate from the good till the net be drawn to land so when the Gospel is preached all men do not come in all are not good that come and the good and bad are not separate till the end of the world And Doctor Reynolds maintaining that position That the holy Catholick Church which we believe is the whole company of Gods elect and chosen saith The wicked must needs be a part of the Church if the name of Church did signifie the visible Church as we call it consisting of the good and bad Amesius who as we heard judges it very probable that there is no visible Church where the Word is truly preached in which there are not some that are godl● and therefore is farre from concluding the godlinesse of all saith in his Bellar. Enervatus lib. 2. de Eccles cap. 1. It is false that inward graces are required of us to a mans being in the Church as to the visible state of it see Apollonius Syllog pag. 8. Professores Leyden disput 40. pag. 3. If any man judge it to be absurd that Christ should have wicked men who are limbs of Satan to be of his mystical body carnal wicked men to be members of such a gracious and glorious head Christ is the head of his Church say they if such be church-Church-members then Christ is their head I shall referre them to a full and satisfying answer to Master Hudsons Vindication page 6 7 8. And for those that deny any being of a Church universal visible as Master Blackwood in his Storme page 65. who saith the objector is overtaken in a grosse absurdity to think there is some universal Church visible begun in Abraham into which upon the rejection of the Jewes the believers among the Gentiles and their seed are to be received for besides the invisible Church the body of Christ mystical there are only particular Churches under the Gospel I would learn of them into what particular Church the Eunuch was received and by baptisme actually and solemnly admitted or whether he was still no Church-member but an alien and stranger to the Common-wealth of Israel not added to the Church To what particular Congregation the Apostles Prophets and Evangelists joyned themselves by covenant and to save farther labour leave them to Master Hudsons Vindication of the essence and unity of the Church Catholick visible which will receive a satisfactory answer when the Sun hath no more being in the Heavens CHAP. XLII A man in Covenant with God and received into the universal Church visible needs no more to give him accesse to and interest in particular visible Churches 2ly IT farther followes that a man by vertue of covenant being thus enrighted to membership in the Church universal visible and baptized into this body there needs no farther covenant to give him accesse to and interest in particular visible Churches What the Apostle gives in charge to the Church at Rome concerning those that are weak in the

do any where is every where valid within the limit of that power under which they act It is of force through the whole Nation Some functions are topical or local as Justices of Peace a chief officer in a Corporation Sheriff or Constable who are without power out of their own limits A Minister or Presbyter is a Catholick or Universal Officer he hath jus in re in the whole Church visible for all Ministerial actions whether of Word or Sacraments he hath jus ad rem in the place assigned and appointed him where alone he is regularly to officiate and so hath the title of an Aggel or Elder of such a particular Church to which he is called Rev. 2. 1 7 c. Acts 20. 17. He hath a first right every where a second right only where he is orderly placed This is to be done by examination or tryal if no word of Scripture did mention it yet the thing it self evinces the necessity of it Scripture layes down the requisites or qualifications in Ministers First for years not a novice 1 Tim. 3. 6. Some are old young which may answer some want of years more fit at twenty foure then others at thirty Secondly for conversation Blamelesse as the Steward of God not self-willed not soon angry not given to wine no striker not given to filthy lucre but a lover of hospitality a lover of good men sober just holy temperate Titus 1. 7 8. Thirdly for parts and gifts 2 Tim. 2. 15. A workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of Truth Tit. 1. 9. Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and convince gain-sayers Fourthly for graces of the Spirit they should be as Barnabas full of the Holy Ghost and of Faith Acts 11. 24. From which gifts of nature must not be excluded as strength of body in its measure that the body may in some sort keep pace with the soule The gift of utterance that not only his head but his lips may preserve knowledge that he may be able to speak to edification exhortation and doctrine of these such that act in Ordination should have knoweldge of each of them so far as they may come to cognizance of some of these by letters of commendation from faithful persons 2 Cor. 3. 1. of others by proof and examination 1 Tim. 3. 10. The Apostle having laid down the qualifications of Bishops and proceeding to that of Deacons hath these words Let these also be proved and then let them use the office of a Deacon both Bishops and Deacon must undergo examination Timothy must lay hands suddenly on none 1 Tim. 1. 22. He must then lay on his hands no otherwise but upon proof and trial which the context speaking of sins some open going before to judgement others following after seems to evince such cautiousness cannot stand without all possible wayes and means of proof and trial All this is to be solemnized by fasting and prayer in which we have Scripture-precedents Act. 13. 2. When they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them they sent them away Acts 14. 23. When they had ordained them Elders in every Church and had prayed with fasting they commended them to the Lord on whom they beleeved This I take not to be of the essence of Ordination not necessary to the very being but the better being of it in imploring Gods assistance and blessing It is a great work a work of glorius concernment it is a work above our strength to manage more weighty than our shoulders can bear there is more than parts gifts and endowments whether natural or acquired required in it All supplies being as before we heard to be expected from heaven heaven must be implored God must be earnestly sought in it Fasting should add wings to our prayers that our voice may be heard on high A shadow of this still remained in the Church as appers by those Jejunia quatuor temporum at the times of Ordination which indeed was almost brought to a meer shadow The last thing mentioned in the Definition is imposition of hands A rite or usage in practice before the Law Gen. 48. 14. held in the time of the Law Levit. 1. 4. and continued in the dayes of the Gospel as consisting with the simplicity of it It was used in blessing Gen. 48. 14. Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it upon Ephraims head in his blessing of them Matth. 19 13. They brought children to Christ that he should put his hands on them and pray which accordingly he did Mark 10. 16. He put his hands upon them and blessed them It was used in Offerings Levit. 1. 4. If any man bring an Offering unto the Lord he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt-offering and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him It was used in bearing witnesse as Levit. 24. 14. Where the Lord gives charge concerning the blasphemer Bring forth him that hath cursed without the Camp and let all that have heard him lay their hands upon his head It was used in conferring extraordinary gifts Acts 8. 17. Peter and John laid their hands on those that beleeved in Samaria and they received the Holy Ghost It was used in miraculous cures Mark 6. 5. Christ could do there no mighty works save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folke and healed them Acts 28. 8. It was used in designing men for office and that either civil for the work of the Magistracy Deut. 34. 9. Joshua the son of Nun was full of the Spirit of wisdome for Moses had laid his hands upon him and the children of Israel hearkened unto him and did as Lord commanded Moses Or Ecclesiastical and that for the work of the Lord in the time of the Law Levit. 8. 10. and also in the dayes of the Gospel Acts. 13. 3. And from this rite of imposition of hands in use in this work of Ordination the whole work hath sometimes its denomination 1 Tim. 5 22. Lay hands suddenly on no man where imposition of hands is put for the whole work Some I know would take all this off as to Ordination by laying on of hands by the objection of extraordinary gifts which were this way conferred as was before confessed of which they will have that Text understood 2 Tim. 1. 6. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God which is in thee by the putting on of my hands But this is too weak to avoid it for though we have already said that when the Holy Ghost was given in those extraordinary endowments hands were imposed yet whole Presbyteries cannot ordinarily be conceived to be vested with that power yet they joyntly in this work laid on their hands 1 Tim. 4. 14. And that advice of Paul to Timothy 1 Tim. 5. 22. plainly contradicts it lay hands