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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

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A64806	Panoplia, or, The whole armour of God explained and applyed for the conduct and comfort of a Christian in all his tryals and tentations : as also the dying preachers legacy in several sermons, being the last labours of the reverend author in the course of his ministry : together with certain seasonable considerations proving the lawfulness and expediency of a set form of lyturgy in the church / by Richard Venner.	Venner, Richard, b. 1598?	1662 (1662)	Wing V194; ESTC R27038	215,543	611

Gilead where the best Balm is to be had and do use many Medicines yet we shall still remain incurable and irrecoverable 2. As it befel Babylon also Jer. 8.9 So that though we do howl and take Balm for this pain and would fain heal these things yet we cannot be healed 2. And I know we have the Scriptures the Oracles of God which are the best Balsam in the world to close and cure these wounds if we would admit them to be the Judge of our Controversies and that they were rightly applyed and made use of See Camerons Judge of Controversie 1. Melancthon that mirrour of Germany for learning and Moderation of spirit in his Time did mightily endeavour to unite the Romish and the reformed Churches 2. And Grotius a man of great learning and eminent in parts hath since of late industriously laboured in the same work to name no more for that work 3. Some others have endeavoured an Argreement betwixt the Sectaries of these times and the truly Orthodox Protestant Ministers and people of the Church of England Yet all endeavours in these cases have hitherto proved fruitless and in vain And no marvel For as Jehu said to Joram 2 Kings 9.22 what peace can there be whilest the Whoredoms of Jezabel and her Witchcrafts are so many Whilest men are still so obstinate and pertinacious in erroneous ways and opinions Yet no doubt there is a way left for healing and there might be a cure if all persons on each side would but patiently submit and yield to such things as are to be added or abated for the union of the whole the good cementing of the stones of our Christian Building till we all become an holy Temple in the Lord Ephes 2.20 21 22. Where you see our Foundation must be the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone and accordingly Ap. 1. If Rome would be content to part with her Idolatry Superstition and manifold Innovations 2. If all Sects would lay aside their unjustifiable Separation their censorious spirits and self-conceited opinions and let all be tried by the infallible Touch-stone of the Word of God then without doubt we might quickly meet and agree together But whilest all persist in their perverse opinions and vehement Animosities one against another There can be no peace amongst us But now if at last by any good means this blessed peace might be effected and that all the professed Christians in the world both of the East and West Churches were rightly reformed according to this rule of the Word and made suitable with the foundation Jesus Christ so that we were all become like those primitive Christians Acts 2.46 and 4.32 Of one heart and one soul of one mind and of the same Judgement 4. How joyfully then and with what abundant comfort which this fourth Branch of this 1. Use leads us to consider might we sing that Psalm 133. Behold how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity c. This would be an oyl of Perfume and the dew of fruitfulness and blessing 2. How happily then should we live together as the Houshold of Faith the Communion of Saints in the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace till we all become perfect in Jesus Christ and attain unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Ephes 4.3 13. 1. In the ripeness and perfection of Christs Mystical Body which shall be by 1. The Addition of all the Members And 2. The perfection of all graces in them when they shall be joyned to Christ their Head in the world to come and should All come to Mount Sion the City of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem and an innumerable company of Angels Heb. 12.22 c. And shall be set down with Christ in his Throne according to his own gracious promise to his servants Rev. 3.24 And shall Reign with him for ever and ever Rev. 22.4 5. Note That 1. Antichrist began betime 2 Thes 2.7 2. Novatus Anno 250. 3. Donatus circa An. 320. 4 Anabaptists Anno 1520. 5. Brownists Anno 1580. 6. Independents yesterday As for the Quarrel betwixt Episcopacy and Presbitery I could never see other cause then in the Animosities of men which if laid aside the difference might soon be decided and the Controversie ended For I could never find but that 1. Episcopacy is a Presbytery elevated and advanced And 2. Presbytery rightly managed is an Episcopacy regulated Nor could I ever approve the total rejecting of the names Bishop and Episcopacy they being so often used in the New Testament and the name Bishop so honoured by our Saviour that He himself is styled the great chief Shepherd and Bishop of our souls Heb. 13.20 1 Pet. 2.25 Thus you have heard the point and proof thereof with Reasons suited to the ten particulars contained therein We are upon Use and you have heard the first Use answerable to the first particular which hath 1. Inform'd us How great care should be taken of this Field Vine House the Church of God that it be not wrong'd by any Enemy 2. Exhorted us to consider the charge often imposed upon us to that end Act. 20 28 to 33. And how praise worthy the Primitive Fathers the Orthodox party in after-ages and the Reformed Churches of Christendome have been and are for thus doing 3. Reproved as very faulty all such as neglect this care of prevention or hinder the Church of the means of recovery out of Errours and Heresies if the Church should be sick of such Maladies as often Thus do 1. Papists 2. Antient Schismaticks and Hereticks as Novatians Donatists 3. Modern Separatists whether Anabaptists Brownists or Independents All which do agree in the three forenamed particulars viz. 1. Schism 2. Uncertainty or Obstinacy in unjustifiable Tenets And 3. Independency and Uncontroulableness 4. Comforted us If these great differences could be reconciled ☞ To the former three you may add a fourth Parallel betwixt Papists and Independents or the Papacy and Independency viz. Their Antichristianism which we do not fix upon the forehead of this or that particular Pope or Papist but upon the Papacy that status Papatus in which is involved the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Mystery of Iniquity that Antichrist who in pretence is most for but in practise most against the Lord Jesus Christ according to the signification of the preposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies For or Against Ap. And who in a special manner doth act his Antichristianism in opposition to the power of Magistracy and Ministry in the right Office and Use Power and Efficacy of the same to do good 1. What they say against the Civil Power over the Church is evident 2. And for the Ministry though they may seem to advance it in external pomp great Honours plentiful provisions c. yet they have overthrown the right office best Use powerful Efficacy of it for the conversion of souls by 1.

Use I. Informs us how wanting we be in performing good works how wicked we be in producing and practising so much evil as provokes the curse of Christ Use II. Of reproof to men of all ages babes old and young for that having so much means they continue so weak sick and wicked as they do and produce no better fruit Use III. Exhorts men of Eminency and Authority and all men to labour for proficiency which to effect prune and lop off superfluities which hinder growth and fruit viz. Idleness Pride Worldliness Custome of smaller sins and ill company Make use of such things as further Increase and Fruitfulness viz. Industry Humility heavenly Mindedness Conscience of all duty and Gods Society All which are soveraign Antidotes against Dwarfishness and Barrenness and then provide for growth and fruit thus Get the Spirit and let the Vine-dressers be diligent Make use of Ordinances and Means Exercise your Graces and use good company Use IV. Of Examination teacheth us to try whether we Increase or not Use V. Of Comfort But alas When can all this be done Not in a moment or in one hour c so that I am at a stand what to do the acceptance of me and my labours of late and the manifold exceptions against both my sickness and weakness neither considered nor pitied have put me almost upon the resolution of the Prophet Jer. 20.8 9. viz. To preach no more for as he so have I been rewarded c. But that I have a glorious God and Father in heaven that design'd me to this work from my birth a gracious Redeemer that doth command me often to feed his Sheep John 21.15 16 17. A blessed Spirit that doth encourage and strengthen me hereunto That many Souls are to be edified and instructed I have a Conscience to be discharged as in the sight of God A great Account to be answered and cleared And a Soul to be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus And but that the Word of God is as a fire burning in my heart with zeal for his glory and the good of souls I had been utterly discouraged long since in our confused times But a necessity is upon me yea woe is to me if I preach not the Gospel 1 Cor. 8.16 Therefore with the Prophets Isa 62.1 Jer. 4.19 I will not nor I cannot hold my peace for Sions sake for your souls sake till your righteousness appear in brightness and that you do grow on to perfection in some good measure Therefore though aged and weak I shall resolve with aged St. Peter not to be negligent to put you in remembrance of the things that concern your salvation though you know them and be established in the present truth 2 Pet. 1.12 13 14 15. Now to pursue our premised and intended Method I hope I need not produce many particular proofs For the whole Scripture aims at this and perswades us to grace and to the fruits thereof by many Arguments 1. Yet to give you in a few for many St. Peter layes a strict charge upon us for the root 2 Pet. 3.17 18. Beware of being misted c. But grow in grace c. Auxanete implies Motion and Augmentation Growth and Increase a progress to a fulness and abundance 2. And for the fruit our Apostle is as serious 1 Cor. 15.58 Be ye stedfast c. Always abounding 3. And for both the Apostle tells us That this is the main end of the work of the Ministry and the manifold gifts of God upon men viz. For the edifying of the body of Christ unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ vers 13 14. That we be not children c. But speaking the truth in love may grow up into him in all things which is the Head Christ c. and may receive increase of the body unto the edifying of it self in love Ephes 4.12 to 17. 4. And answerable hereunto are our Apostles incessant prayers for the Colossians Col. 1.9 10 11. That they might be filled with the knowledge of Gods will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding that they might walk worthy of the Lord c. being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God strengthened with all might by his glorious power unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness And this is a passing from strength to strength fath to faith and from glory to glory 1. From strength to strength Psalm 84.7 i e. Never weary but encreasing in strength and courage till they came to Mount Zion to Gods House so doth the Christian till Heaven From Faith to Faith Rom. 1.17 Not to several kinds of Faith but from one degree of faith to another till it do attain its full accomplishment in Life Eternal From glory to glory 2 Cor. 3.18 i.e. From glory begun upon Earth by Grace to glory consummated and perfected in the glory of Heaven Thus much for Scripture proof 2. I shall add a few instances of either sort proficients non-proficients men of stature and Dwarfs fruitful and barren 1. For the first sort Christ is the incomparable president and most transcendent pattern in this for he encreased in wisdom and stature c. Luke 2.5 2. For stature he encreased by little and little as Children do and that Lege humanae naturae by the course of Nature Enthyminus And for Wisdom although the fulnesse of the Godhead did dwell in him bodily Col. 1.19 and that God gave him the Spirit beyond measure John 3.34 Yet because he assumed a reasonable Soul as well as an humane Body the Deity thereto united was so vailed that the graces thereof discovered themselves by certain degrees according to the nature of his humane Faculties so he is said to encrease And he encreased in Wisdome Experimentally for though he was a Son yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered Heb. 5.8 ☞ As God he was absolutely perfect and needed no encrease but as Man consisting of an humane Body and Reasonable Soul and as a man obvious to sufferings he is said to encrease in wisdom and stature c. But this first is an instance beyond Example a President that admits no parallel incomparable 2. Come we to a second that reflects more upon us viz. The Thessalonians that were here exhorted to this duty how are they commended 2 Thess 1.3 4. in that the Apostle gives thanks to God for them that their Faith grew exceedingly and that their Charity towards each other abounded so that the Apostle c. did glory in them in the Churches of God c. Oh how well were it if all people would give their Teachers cause thus to glory but these Examples are Rare 1. Their faith encreased in regard of the Object when they apprehended more profound Mysteries of faith then before Subject When more confirmed in the Mysteries apprehended and that we give a more full Assent unto them without any staggerings or