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
A53701	A guide to church-fellowship and order according to the gospel-institution wherein these following particulars are distinctly handled, I. The necessity of believers to joyn themselves in church-order, II. The subject matter of the church, III. The continuation of a church-state, and of the administration of evangelical ordinances of worship, briefly vindicated, IV. What sort of churches the disciples of Christ may and ought to joyn themselves unto as unto entire communion / by ... John Owen ...	Owen, John, 1616-1683.	1692 (1692)	Wing O760; ESTC R38177	32,962	84

to be blamed they do but discharge their Duty who refuse to receive into Church Communion such as are ignorant of the fundamental Doctrines and Mysteries of the Gospel or if they have learned any thing of them from a form of words yet really understand nothing of them The promiscuous driving of all sorts of persons who have been baptized in their Infancy unto a participation of all Church privileges is a profanation of the holy Institutions of Christ. This knowledge therefore belonging unto profession is it self to be professed 2. THERE is required unto it a professed subjection of Soul and Conscience unto the Authority of Christ in the Church Matth. 28.18 19 20. 2 Cor. 8.5 This in general is performed by all that are Baptized when they are Adult as being by their own actual consent baptized in the Name of Christ. And it is required of all them who are baptized in their Infancy when they are able with Faith and Understanding to profess their consent un●o and abiding in that Covenant whereinto they were initiated 3. An Instruction in and consent unto the Doctrine of Self-denial and bearing of the Cross in a particular manner For this is made indispensably necessary by our Saviour himself unto all that will be his Disciples And it hath been a great disadvantage unto the Glory of Christian Religion that men have not been more and better instructed therein It is commonly thought that who ever will may be a Christian at an easie rate it will cost him nothing But the Gospel gives us another account of these things For it not only warns us that Reproaches Hatred Sufferings of all sorts oft-times to Death it self are the common lot of all its Professors who will live godly in Christ Jesus but also requires that at our initiation into the Profession of it we consider aright the dread of them all and engage cheerfully to undergo them Hence in the Primitive Times whilst all sorts of miseries were continually presented unto them who embraced the Christian Religion their willing engagement to undergo them who were converted was a firm evidence of the sincerity of their Faith as it ought to be unto us also in times of Difficulty and Persecution Some may suppose that the Faith and Confession of this Doctrine of Self-denial and readiness for the Cross is of use only in time of Persecution and so doth not belong unto them who have continually the countenance and favour of publick Authority I say it is at least as they judge well for them with others it is not so whose outward state makes the publick avowing of this Duty indispensably necessary unto them And I may add it as my own thoughts though they are not my own alone That notwithstanding all the Countenance that is given unto any Church by the publick Magistracy yet whilst we are in this World those who will faithfully discharge their Duty as Ministers of the Gospel especially shall have need to be prepared for sufferings To escape sufferings and enjoy worldly advantages by sinful compliances or bearing with men in their Sins is no Gospel Direction 4 Conviction and Confession of Sin with the way of deliverance by Jesus Christ is that answer of a good Conscience that is required in the Baptism of them that are Adult 1 Pet. 3. 5. Unto this Profession is required the constant performance of all known Duties of Religion both of Piety in the publick and private Worship of God as also of Charity with respect unto others Shew me thy Faith by thy Works 6. A careful Abstinence from all known Sins giving scandal or offence either unto the World or unto the Church of God And the Gospel requires that this Confession be made with the Mouth Confession is made unto Salvation against 1. Fear 2. Shame 3. The Course of the World 4. The Opposition of all Enemies whatever Hence it appears that there are none excluded from an Entrance into the Church State but such as are either 1. grosly Ignorant or 2. Persecutors or reproachers of those that are good or of the ways of God wherein they walk or 3. Idolaters or 4. Men scandalous in their Lives in the Commission of Sins or Omission of Duties thro' vitious Habits or Inclinations or 5. such as would partake of Gospel Privileges and Ordinances yet openly avow that they will not submit unto the Law and Commands of Christ in the Gospel concerning whom and the like the Scripture Rule is peremptory From such turn away And herein we are remote from exceeding the example and care of the Primitive Churches Yea there are but few if any that arrive unto it Their endeavour was to Preach unto all they could and rejoiced in the multitudes that came to hear the Word But if any did essay to join themselves unto the Church their diligence in their Examination and Instruction their severe Enquiries into their Conversation their disposing of them for a long time into a state of Expectation for their Trial before their Admittance were remarkable And some of the Ancients complain that their promiscuous Admittance of all sorts of persons that would profess the Christian Religion into Church Membership which took place af●erwards ruined all the Beauty Order and Discipline of the Church The things ascribed unto those who are to be esteemed the proper Subject Matter of a Visible Church are such as in the judgment of Charity entitles them unto all the Appellations of Saints Called Sanctified that is Visibly and by P●ofession which are given unto the Members of all the Churches in the New Testament and which must be answered in those who are admitted into that Priledge if we do not wholly neglect our only Patterns By these things although they should any of them not be real living Members of the Mystical Body of Christ unto whom he is an Head of spiritual and vital influance yet are they meer Members of that Body of Christ unto which he is an Head of Rule and Gove●nment as also meer to be estee●ed Su●jects of his Kingdom And none are excluded but such as concerning whom Rules are given either to withdraw from them or to cast them ●ut of Church Society or are expresly excluded by God himself from any share in the Prieiledges of his Covenant Psal. 50.16 17. But unto the Wicked God saith What hast thou to do to declare my Statutes or that thou shouldest take my Covenant in thy Mouth Seeing thou hatest instruction and castest my w●rds behind thee Advertisement OF the Subject Matter of the Church You may be sa●isfied farther in a Book l●tely Published Intituled T●e true Nature of a G●spel Church and its Government ●y the same Author wherein those following particulars are distinctly handled I. The Subject Matter of the Church II. Formal Cause of a particular Church III. Of the Polity unto or Discipline of the Church in General IV. The Officers of the Church V. The Duty of Pastors of Churches VI. The