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
A77775	The Gospel-covenant; or The covenant of grace opened. Wherein are explained; 1. The differences betwixt the covenant of grace and covenant of workes. 2. The different administration of the covenant before and since Christ. 3. The benefits and blessings of it. 4. The condition. 5. The properties of it. / Preached in Concord in Nevv-England by Peter Bulkeley, sometimes fellow of Johns Colledge in Cambridge. Published according to order.	Bulkeley, Peter, 1583-1659.	1646 (1646)	Wing B5403; Thomason E331_1; ESTC R200735	319,203	371

grant first that all the promises are made to Christ only even to Christ personall in this sense if men mean to Christ that is with respect to Christ as Gal. 3.17 and that in him they are yea and Amen as 2 Cor. 1.20 But this doth not hinder but they are made to us also they being in and through him confirmed to us 2. I adde more that those promises which do concern us are not only made to us through Christ but they are made first to Christ in our behalf before they are made to us because all the whole work of our redemption and salvation was transacted between the Father and the Son before the foundation of the world and is afterwards revealed to us in due time as is evident Tit. 1.2 and 2 Tim. 1.9 But this doth not hinder but that the same promise is afterwards in time made to us also Look as it is in covenants among men while the childe is yet unborn the father takes conveyance of an Inheritance for him which he keeps in his own hand till the childe be born and comes to yeers and then he puts it into his own possession so it is here we are for a time hid in the womb of Gods election till we be brought forth by the grace of regeneration during which time we are not in our selves capable of receiving any promise of life made to us but it is made to Christ in our behalf and he receives the promise from the Father in our stead but yet so that when we come to be born anew the promises are made unto our selves and we are put into possession of them 3. I grant there are some promises made to Christ not only in our be●alf and for us but to Christs own person as we have shewed before in speaking of the C●venant between the Father and Christ but yet so as that th● people of God h●ve also a right and interest in some of them Such a promise is that in Isai 50.7 8. which words imply a promise made to Christ that though Christ did take upon him the sins of Gods people yet God would justifie him from them all and this promise Christ relied on and yet this promise is by the Apostle applied to us also Rom. 8.33 that we should be justified by faith in him so also there is a promise made unto Christs person Isai 42.1 that he should be filled with the Spirit yet not made unto Christ only but unto us also Isai 44.3 from Christs person they are derived unto us they belong unto him as the head yet unto us as the members and even those promises which are made thus to Christ and to us both may be truly said to be made to the one seed of Abraham which is Christ namely Christ mysticall Christ with all his body consisting of all the faithfull both Jews and Gentiles Before I proceed to Use I will adde two or three Reasons more to cleer this interpretation that this seed is meant of Christ mysticall not personall Frst one was named before because it is such a seed as comes to have right to the promise as second in order from Abraham Secondly consider next that when God saith to Abraham Gen. 17.7 I will be thy God and the God of thy seed look what seed is there meant the same is meant in this place of the Galatians chap. 3.16 Now what seed is meant Gen. 17.7 the Apostle expounds Gal. 3.7 They that are of the faith are the children of Abraham and vers 29. they that are Christs they are Abrahams seed not only Christ but those that are Christs are Abrahams seed and heirs by promise these therefore are the seed to whom the promise is made Thirdly the Apostle in this place of the Galatians speaks of such a promise as whereby a sinner should receive justification and forgiv●nesse of sin before God for he is handling the matter of ju ●ification and shews how a sinner comes to partake of the blessing of life and righteousnesse therefore he must needs speak of such a seed as stands in need of justification and righteousnesse which do most properly agree to the faithfull F●u●thly the Apostle here speaks of two Testaments one coming after the other one disanulling the other from which I reason thus look to whom the latter Testament of the Law was given unto them was the first covenant or testament of grace given now the latter testament or covenant of the Law was given to all the faithfull seed of Abraham for saith the Apostle it is a Scoolmaster to bring them to Christ Gal. 3.24 therefore to them also was the former testament or promise given That ye may the better discern the force of this reason consider how the Apostle in treating of justification delivers this heavenly doctrine that a sinner is justified by faith alone in Christ without works Now hee makes an objection True might some say before the giving of the Law justification was by free promise but when the Law was given then there was another way of justification appointed at least to joyn works with the promise and the former way of justification by free grace was disanulled by the latter that is the bringing in of the Law here is the force of the objection Now if we shall conceive the promise was made to one seed and the covenant of the Law given to another and not both of them to the same seed then there is no colour of reason in the Apostles objection for if the promise of Grace was given to one seed of Abraham that is to Christ personall and the covenant of the Law given to another seed then one need not disanull the other but they may both stand together for if a man make two different covenants with two severall persons they may both stand the one not impeaching the other but here is the strength of the objection that it is supposed that the two covenants are made with the same persons and then there is some seeming appearance of one disanulling the other therefore the strength of the objection infers cleerly that both the promise of Grace and covenant of the Law was made to the same persons to Abrahams seed to all the faithfull which are the children of Abraham Thus this objection is answered and the doctrine confirmed that whatsoever salvation c. Vse 1 To let us s●e the abundant grace and kindnesse of God to us poor cap●ives vassals wretched undone creatures that he should vouchsafe to enter into covenant with us it was much in Davids eyes that Jonathan the heir of the crown should enter into covenant with him how admirable then is this in our sight that the great God of heaven and earth should enter into covenant with the sons of men he hath herein stooped below himself and hath lift us above our selves this grace we may stand and wonder at that the high God who is free from all and bound to none no

indued with such truth of Grace as may assure us of our abiding in it for ever True Grace is of an abiding nature It is a treasure that will never faile It s that part which can never be taken from us Luk. 10. All the things of the world are fading and perishing Riches take their wings as an Eagle and flye away Prov. 23. or else they are made a prey and spoyle by the enemy as the Sabaeans and Caldaeans did of the goods of Job Had we Solomons Treasures who made silver as stones in Ierusalem yet we must goe naked out of the world and take nothing away with us But Grace is a durable and an everlasting possession It never failes if we live it lives with us if we die it will not leave us nor forsake us One graine of true sanctifying Grace though it be but as a graine of mustard seed is more worth then the riches and treasures of a Kingdome you that want it ●eek it as your life you that have it keep it as you would keep your soule Let both take heed of being deceived with shews and shadows of Grace in stead of truth All is not gold that glisters every one which makes a shew and carries out in his profession a forme of godlinesse hath not the truth and power of it in his heart These shadows will vanish and come to nothing it is the substance only which remaines Let us take heed we be not deceived in nothing is a mistake so dangerous as in this matter in hand Seeming shews and shadows of Grace will end in reall misery whereas truth and soundnesse of Grace will bring to a weight of glory We here in these parts where Religion hath a name and profanesse is discountenanced by all we I say had most need to look to our selves It is to be feared that many an one which now makes a good profession before men yet if the state of things and times should change would quickly be turned into other men Those that now seeme to live and to bee for Christ for Religion for Gospel and for Ordinances would then turn to be either enemies or Neuters and shew themselves to be hollow-hearted and double-minded unstable in the way which now they walk in And there be divers sorts of these As 1. Some rest in outward Reformation of grosse sins they make cleane the outside of the cup that they may seeme cleane before men but they harbour many corrupt lusts within which they doe not seek to cast forth Into such the unclean Spirit though he seem to be dispossed will return again 2. Some take up a profession of Religion for carnall ends following Christ for loaves Joh. 6.26 becomming Disciples because they look to rise and come to preferment by Christ Iudas would never have cleaved to Christ but that he hoped for some advantage by him and what came of it in the end when he saw that his hope failed him then he falls off and takes part with the High-Priest against Christ When men doe thus take up a profession of Religion for gaine for credit for outward respects in the world a crosse day will come which will blast their hopes in these things God will on purpose crosse the hopes of such men that they might thereby be discovered made known He will have both approved and not approved to be known 1 Cor. 11. and when this unlooked-for-event falls out then as they see their hopes to faile them so other men shall see their Religion and profession to faile with them This assumed body of Religion not being animated and quickned with life and vigour of Spirit within will at length be laid down when they have made use of it for a season to serve their turn 3. Some professe the feare of God and yet carry in them an heart estranged from such as are most faithfull and upright in their walking before God like Cain that would come and sacrifice as well as Abel and yet nourish grudge in heart against Abel one Altar shall serve them both to sacrifice on but they have not one heart in them nor one way to walk in There will be a day which will declare and make manifest what is in them 4. Some will doe as those in Isai 58.2 and in Ezek. 33. They will come as Gods people use to come as if they would seek after Ordinances of righteousnesse and would know the way of truth but yet when the Word toucheth their sore and comes to the quick to meddle with that which they have hid under their tongue then they begin to mislike and to murmure against Moses and to finde fault with him that rebuketh them So long as the word speaks pleasing things they like it well but when like salt it begins to bite then they put it from them Such as these often have the word in their eares they will heare it and in their tongue they will talke of it and in their fore-heads make a profession of it and it shall be written on the posts of their doors they keeping a course of family duties that all men may think the best of them but it is not in their heart to love it it is not written in the inward parts and not being there there is nothing within to maintaine the life of Grace The oyle that should feed the lamp is wanting and therefore the light of such will at length goe out and end in darknesse 5. Some attaine unto great gifts in knowledge utterance ability in prayer c. but withall they grow high-minded and conceited by meanes of them and are pufft up thinking themselves more excellent then their neighbours that they are not as other men These swelling walls will not stand long these that are so pufft up with a fleshly minde the Apostle saith of them that they hold not the head Christ Colos 2.18 19. And if they hold not the head they are but unsound members of the body if they receive not life and quickning from the head they will die and wither Let us look to our selves that we be none of these These may be written in Jerusalem Isai 4.3 they may subscribe with their hand and name themselves by the name of Israel Isai 44.5 but they are not written in heaven nor shall they enter into the land of Israel Ezeck 13.9 These want that Grace which accompanies salvation Rest we not in these things but seek after truth of heart labour for that Grace which will last and hold out Get an humble meek upright frame of Spirit Let our hearts be knit unto Christ more then the rewards of Christ Instead of that fulnesse with our own gifts get a sence and feeling of our own wants and weaknesses and come to him that hath all fulnesse dwelling in him that out of his fulnesse we may receive Such an humble thirsting and impotent creature sensible of its own unsufficiency yet lying daily at the beautifull gate of mercy to