Selected quad for the lemma: head_n
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A86226
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Herberts beleefe and confession of faith made in CLX articles. For th'instruction of his wife & children.
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Herbert, William, fl. 1634-1662.
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1646
(1646)
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Wing H1537; Thomason E1207_1; ESTC R208783
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30,491
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60
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or feele th' effects of Gods bountie LXXV I Beleeve that my flesh my verie flesh shall by the pow'r of Christ be then reunited unto my Soule never to be separated but to enjoy both together the fruits of Christs merits a perpetuall fulnes of joy which surpasses all conception expression of man my whole person being made so glorious that neither spirit nor flesh shall want any thing requisit to their full perfection LXXVI This glorious Resurrection being proper to the Elect is a free gift of God to the secret members of Christs bodie which is known by the name of Church I Beleeve then that God hath here a Church or assemblie of men call'd by his Spirit Word unto the State of Grace that this Assemblie is Christs spirituall mysticall Bodie LXXVII I Call it Spirituall for as Adam is the Head of the companie of carnall men who live after the flesh as being his Children engendred in his corruption so those who live after the Spirit are the blessed bodie of Christ who is their Head by Adopotion Redemption Sanctification or Renovation LXXVIII I call it likewise Mysticall or hid because Gods Election our Regeneration are not things subject to the eye so the Church is invisible her members being not seen as they are Elect though they be visible as men professing the true Religion by their holines manifesting their faith an effect of their Election I say their Holines 'cause LXXIX I Beleeve that Gods Church is Holie all faire and without spot yet not properly in her selfe for being compounded of men of whom the best is a Sinner this Holines of the bodie is as his Righteousnes Imputative God imputing unto the Church the holines of Christ which covers her impurities as Gods gifts are without repentance so LXXX I Beleeve this holines so inherent unto the Church that she cannot erre finally in those points of faith manners which work her damnation for though she admits some errors commits grievous sins yet she 's recall'd reformed by her Lover Lord so that her fall is not finall nor her sicknes to death LXXXI Her members then by which I understand onely th' Elect either never loosing or certainly recovering their donative integritie in faith all good workes Christ having promised her a subsistence or being till the end of the World I call her Infallible LXXXII And in this respect of continuation from the Worlds beginning unto its end because she 's not ty'd to places persons but is or may be spred through all nations consists of all sorts or degrees of persons I Beleeve her Catholique or Universall although sometimes she be contain'd in a litle compasse confin'd to a kingdome or Towne there being sometimes but few outward professors of the truth among them but few whose faith life be right for though many be call'd yet few are chos'n those manie who are thus call'd not chosen are often but a small number compard unto the rest who never heare Gods voyce know not his iudgements LXXXIII Which being true so considering the Church as Visible Invisible a Politique mysticall Bodie I allow her two Heads Beleeving her as a Civill Bodie subiect to Kings States under whom she subsists and so oblig'd to all their Lawes if iust that she sins against Christ her Invisible Head to denie them her Obedience LXXXIIII The Church which is likewise a Spirituall bodie the Assemblie of those faithfull persons who live walke after the Spirit must be subject unto Christ in all things for all his Lawes are iust there is no authoritie which on anie pretext may exempt her from her due Obedience to Christ her Husband Head Sunne LXXXV Considering Christ as a Husband the Church as a VVife I Beleeve her subject to him oblig'd to obey all his Lawes acknowledge him for her onelie Husband Lord adhere to him depend on him forsake all false lovers and seeke to please him in all things LXXXVI Considering Christ as a Head the Church as a Bodie I Beleeve there must be an union of the members with the head mongst themselves so that they all receive life from the head live among themselves in a holie union which is call'd Communion of Saints having Being Life Affections Actions Food Faith Hope common for certainly LXXXVII I Conceive Beleeve that all the members of Christs Church make but one mysticall Bodie Quickned by him Aiming as one man unto his glorie the preservation good of the Bodie Agreeing in the performance of the Heads commandements Breaking one bread feeding on his flesh the merits of his life death the graces of his Spirit Yeelding faith to his Word beleeving his promises Expecting his mercifull Rewards LXXXVIII This one Bodie of Christ having manie Members most fitly joyned together to grow up into him he hath for the edification of his Bodie for the collection perfection of all his Saints for the worke of the Ministerie given Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors Teachers so sent manie labourers into his field Vineyard I then Beleeve that the Ministers of the Church must have from God their Commission either Extraordinarie or Ordinarie LXXXIX The Apostles Prophets Evanglists being Extraordinarie Ministers had I Beleeve an Extraordinarie Vocation seal'd by Gods spirit both inwardly outwardly inwardly by a great knowledge of his mysteries strong motifs to advance his glorie outwardly by a good life by the gifts of tongues miracles prophesies XC The Leviticall Law being abolisht the Gospel Preacht writ beleev'd by manie nations those holie men did die those gifts ceas'd then succeeded succeede Ministers call'd ordinarily examin'd by the Church concerning faith knowledge good life then elected confirmed for the right administration of the Sacraments predication of Gods Word to give their flockes what they owe them full instructions in faith good manners dissvasions from all sins exhortations to pietie all Christian vertues meanes of reconciliation with God men visits comforts in their miseries captivitie diseases death XCI These Ministers being Shepheards to feede the Church must discharge their dutie both in publick in privat both by examples counsels leading their flocks to greene pastures still waters taking care of a weake sheepe which cannot well follow the rest of that too which goes astray XCII These Ministers being likewise as dogs must watch over the flock least grievous wolves enter the fold yea least some of the Church arise speaking perverse things teaching false doctrines breaking the Communion of Saints For though the members of the Church cannot say one to another I have no need of you sith even the feeble members are necessarie that in love policie those members are adorn'd which are lesse comelie Yet XCIII I Beleeve
the Church must not admit may expell all those who erre obstinatly in points foundamentall shaking the foundation of necessarie saving truths or who live so lewdly that they might infect the faithfull with their vicious customes be a scandall to the Church by their wicked conversation for the Elect being children of light the Church compar'd to the Moone it becomes them to walke by light XCIV Conceiving Christ a Sunne I call the Church a Moone I beleeve then that she must borrow all her light from him Although therefore the Church hath pow'r in things indifferent as concerning the time place of Gods worship fasts feasts postures other things which in themselves are neither good nor bad but left to each mans discretion yet she must not presume to alter or infringe the lawes of Christ adde to them or detract from them or to impose upon his children members that is upon her self aniething repugnant to the revealed will of her Husband Head but in all her decrees concerning faith discipline good manners anie great controversie the Church whether particular provinciall nationall or universall must in all her consultations decisions receive her light onely from Christ her Sunne XCV This Sunne shining in the holie Scripture as in his glorious firmament I cast my eyes on him there to behold admire his beautie As then I Beleeve that there is a God Beleeve or Trust in that God so I Beleeve to him giving assent unto his Word being fully perswaded of its infallible truth in all things namely XCVI In the declration of Gods nature power wisdom mercie justice will in the manifestation of his Son in the flesh in the gift of his holie Spirit in the Creation Rule of the World description of mans State both in Adam Christ doctrines of faith workes confutation of falshood errors condemnation correction of sinfull affections all vicious actions narration of things past prophesies of future consolations in miseries threatnings of destruction damnation for sin promises of preservation Salvation through Christ whom with the armes of faith love I do embrace XCVII All these excellent things being containd in the Scripture I Beleeve it the chiefe booke of all made by divine inspiration or speciall assistance of God for the studie use of the faithfull who may yea must either reade it or heare it read indeavour to understand beleeve it XCVIII For though it be obscure in respect of its prophesies some deepe mysteries yet in respect of necessarie truths concerning faith works it is most cleare to them who with an humble heart fervent prayers frequent reading serious meditation religious intention seeke the meaning of it making that holie book the sure onlie foundation of their whole faith principles of their religion rule of wisdom justice all vertues so preferring it to all writings books traditions Canons or Constitutions of Church or State that it be the touch stone to trie the truth goodnes of others XCIX By the name of Scripture I Understand onely those Bookes which are call'd Canonique as such receiv'd beleev'd by the Protestant or reformed true Church who knowes them to be the right Word of God by the effectuall persuasion of the holie Ghost by their owne excellence above the light of our nature by their great pow'r to inlighten move comfort terrifie the divers hearts of men by the Satisfaction they give faithfull readers both in faith manners by the accomplishment of what is prophesi'd in them by the conformitie of their writers when they handle the same matters by the consent of the Jewish Christian Churches so being assur'd that they are such doth shew commend command them to all Christians in the name of her Lord Head C. I say she commands them in the name of her Lord for though the Church shew me these Books yet their authoritie is not from the Church but from God whose written Word will they are so sufficient full that they are able to make the man of God wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus perfect in all good workes CI. The Scripture containing Gods Covenant of favor blessings both corporall spirituall temporall and eternall to his faithfull obedient people I Beleeve he was pleas'd to confirme seale his gracious promises least anie man whom they concerne should mistrust or forget them The confirmation was by an Oath God swearing by himselfe to blesse in Christ the seed of Abraham all nations of the earth The Seales were are Sacraments which represented to the Fathers doe still assure us of Salvation through Christ for though their matter did differ from ours yet their signification was the same even Christ the Lambe slaine from the worlds beginning to its consummation CII These Sacraments being holie signes of Christ must have from him institution promise of grace matter forme with the analogie or correspondence betweene the element or signe the thing signifi'd in some proprietie I Beleeve then that Christ ordain'd the Sacraments our holie Church hath now appointing their matter forme by which matter he represents the inward effects of his grace promis'd to those who shall receive the signe in faith love purâ—â—â— CIII Christ being the substance or inward matter of the Sacraments is likewise th' inward Minister giving or doing to the faithful soules what the signes doe to the bodies for unto such the signes are not naked but with the signes they receive Christ with all his benefits the merits of his life death wheras the Reprobat infidell or wicked persons being not of Gods election so wanting the good disposition which is requir'd in all worthie Communicants or partakers of Christs merits receive the signes to their condemnation missing the grace which is not ty'd unto the signes nor shut in them For though the signes be common to all the visible members of the Church yet the grace signify'd is proper to the sole Elect to whom onelie the Sacraments are most true Seales assurance meanes of Gods love towards them in their Election Vocation Justification Sanctification Glorification CIV. Considering them in this respect of Seales assurance meanes not as Causes of Salvation I esteeme them greatly yet never adore them albeit the neglect of them be dangerous yea damnable because ordain'd commanded by Christ yet I beleeve that God being not ty'd to the meanes second causes manie men may be are sav'd without the Sacraments or signes for Christ being th' inward matter Minister of them may supplie the want of outward matter Ministers CV Whom I Beleeve to be onely the Stewards of Gods mysteries those men who are lawfully call'd for the dispensation of their Lords Word Sacraments yet I dive not into their intentions nor consider their worthines for the