Selected quad for the lemma: heaven_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
heaven_n	earth_n	new_a	renew_v	1,972	5	10.4308	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A57068	The tabernacle of God with men, or, The visible church reformed a discourse of the matter and discipline of the visible church, tending to reformation / by Richard Resbury ...	Resbury, Richard, 1607-1674.	1649 (1649)	Wing R1136A; ESTC R32282	56,135	82

THE Tabernacle OF GOD with MEN OR The Visible Church Reformed A Discourse of the Matter and Discipline of the Visible Church tending to REFORMATION By Richard Resbury Minister of the Word in Oundle in Northamptonshire London Printed in the yeare 1649. The Preface to the Reader Reader THere are many interests in this active age contended for the Soveraign interest the Kings Prerogative the State interest the Priviledges of Parliament the popular interest the Subjects Liberty there is one above all these to be heeded the interest of the Church as more excellent those civil this spiritual those the interests of men as men in their severall stations this the interest of the Saints as Saints those making for a politicall this for a spirituall those for a momentany this for eternall happinesse this the interest of Christ himselfe who is head of his Church aswell according to her visible and ministeriall as her invisible and saving state and therfore he alone it is who appoints her officers administrations lawes priviledges liberties in the grand charter of his word none of which may the highest upon earth without crimen laesae Majestatis attempt against the Crown of Christ to violate Neither is this onely excellent above the rest but most advantageous to them It is not onely the piety but the true policy of Kings Parliaments and people to give due heed to the setling of this which setled truly settles all theirs surely and beautifully Be wise now therefore O ye Kings be instructed yee Judges of the earth Kisse the Son Nay the obtaining of the kingdome of Christ in the world in all its claims shall renew the face of the whole Creation and make a new heaven and a new earth It hath been my endeavour in the integrity of my heart so far as I have obtained mercy to discern that deceitful piece to enquire into the true state and order of the visible Church of Christ and if I may to bring something if but a little Goats haire towards the setting up of the Sanctuary One thing I have labour'd I hope not unuseful to bring down the enquiry particularly to our condition in this Nation that we might distinctly consider what after so many engagements to the Lord by his great works for us by our solemn Covenant with him lies upon us to practise No more Only I have if thou beest faithfull thy prayers if ingenuous thine indulgence where thou shalt finde slips Thine in the service of the Gospel RIC. RESBURY The Heads of this ensuing Discourse are these eight Propositions or Instructions following I. THe true matter of the visible Church is visible Saints onely II. Discipline is an Ordinance of Christ for ordering the visible Church in her several Congregations III. To the people of the Church it belongs by Divine right to chuse their officers IV. Christ hath committed the power of Discipline not to the Officers alone but to the Church that is to the Officers with the brotherhood V. There is a Church-power formally distinct from the Civil VI. That Bishops in office above Presbyters are no Church officers of divine institution it is pleaded by Jerome from Scripture and the highest Gospel-antiquity VII To a particular Congregation of visible Saints furnished with Officers it belongs to exercise all parts of Discipline within it selfe VIII To a Congregation of visible Saints not yet possest of Officers it belongs to possesse themselves of them The Tabernacle of God with Men. OR The Visible Church Reformed CHAP. I. The first Instruction The true Matter of the Visible Church is visible Saints onely BY visible Saints we understand with Bucer those in whose conversation the necessary Signes of regeneration appear For clearing this 1. We do not mean that the regeneration of the Person can be certainly concluded from such a conversation as we here require because the heart within may not be answerable therefore an hypocrite not discerned may be the true matter of the visible Church 2. But our meaning is that the conversation must be such as if the heart be answerable it is certaine the Person is regenerate To cleare this further by instance Not only such as are commonly granted scandalous are here shut out in whose conversation as sin reignes so in their heart for ought that may appeare at the least but such also as we commonly call meerly civill honest men because though their hearts be answerable to their conversation yer are they strangers to regeneration the Proposition thus cleared we come to Arguments to confirme it 1. To be visibly of the Church is to be visibly Abrahams seed to be visibly Abrahams seed is to be visibly of his faith and to be visibly Christ's Gal. 3.29 Abrahams flesh was to the Jewes the visible bond of the Covenant but to the Proselytes and to the Gentile Churches not his flesh but his faith 2. To be visibly of the Church is to be such in the sight of men as they are in the sight of God who shall indeed be saved and therefore visibly beleevers and holy the people of all the promises of all the Priviledges of the Gospel therefore a justified a sanctified people a people adopted a people of Communion with God and Christ a people of new obedience a spirituall people c. 3. To be the visible Church of God is to be visibly his Temple visibly an habitation for himselfe by his spirit Ephes 2.21 22. but such are only they who are visibly regenerate The Temple was built of old of polisht stones and costly timber it received only the clean the visible Church now is his visible Temple made up of lively stones into a spirituall house 1 Pet. 2.5 to abide apart from the unclean that the presence of God may fill this Temple of his 2 Cor. 6.16 17. 4. From the end of the visible Church which is that God might have an holy people separate from the world enjoying all Ordinances performing in severall Congregations all solemn worship to him glorifying his name by the light of good works c. but only such as are visibly regenerate are in any measure fitted for these ends wicked men quite contrarily affected therefore as he is in no wise to be owned for a Minister of the Church who is no way fitted for the ends of the ministery but is manifestly contrary thereto so neither are they to be owned for members of the Church who are qualified contrary to the ends of Church-Communion 5. From Scripture-patterne who were they that were received by the Baptist and by the Apostles Such as being wrought upon by the word preacht to an holy Profession forsaking false religions confessing their sins professing their faith and repentance desired to be solemnly received and that when the Profession of Christian Religion exposed to great temptations in the world 1. For the Baptist Mat. 3.6 it is a mean conceit at the best to think such a Confession then served the turne as was palpably a

and Christ himselfe are mocked From this discourse of Discipline besides the nature of it appears 1. The weight of it binding to wrath or loosing from it retaining or remitting sins opening the kingdome of heaven to the penitent or shutting it against the impenitent casting out of the commonion of the faithfull cutting off from the body of Christ delivering over to Satan or readmission into the communion of the faithfull reimplanting into the body of Christ rescue from their subjection to Satan and so as all this done here upon earth where rightly administred is confirmed in heaven 2. The necessity of it 1. Standing upon so cleare a precept and institution of Christ therefore being a Gospel ordinance unchangeable 2. Being so maine a part of the visible kingdome of Christ as Mediator 3. From the ends of it for reclaiming and gaining of offending brethren from deterring others from the like offences for purging out that old leaven which might infect the whole lump for vindicating the honour of Christ and the holy profession of the Gospel and for preventing the wrath of God which might justly fall upon the Church if they should suffer his Covenant and the Seale thereof to be prophaned by notorious and obstinate offenders CHAP. IV. The third Instruction To the people of the Church it belongs by divine right to chuse their Officers THat Christ hath appointed Officers in his Church for the administration of the Word Sacraments and Discipline we need not prove The confirmation of this Proposition that the choyce of Officers is the peoples right makes not a little for the due setling the Church For this I shall do three things 1. Point to the Scriptures teaching this truth 2. Adde some reasons according to Scripture 3. Give in the testimonies first of the Primitive then of the reformed Churches 1. For the Scriptures Acts 1.15 with 23. The Disciples go as farre as is possible for man to have an hand in chusing an Apostle who must have his commission immediately from God they appoint two and give forth lots Acts 6.3 4 5. The whole multitude chuse their Deacons and present them to the Apostles for Ordination Acts 14.23 It is said of Paul and Barnabas when they had ordained Elders to the Churches the word translated ordained signifies solemnely to appoint to office upon the peoples vote or choyce or suffrage So Stephen in his Treasure of the Greek tongue renders it to make or create by suffrage See Calvin and Beza afterwards 2. For reasons 1. The Officers are given for the good of the Church Ephes 4 11 12. therefore she may in a certaine and ordinary way procure them which yet in many cases she cannot do if she have not right to chuse them 2. They are given to the Church 1 Cor. 3.21 22. therefore she hath a right to call them to her selfe If she depended upon either Magistrate or Patron or any other for a right to call her Officers they were then rather given to them on whom she should so depend then to her 3. Otherwise the Church sc the company of Beseevers should be in a worse condition then any Society as to the setling of her selfe in her best state no people without rulers over them and Officers for their good but may settle such among themselves as the experience of all Common-wealths shews 4. In this choyce of the faithfull is laid the foundation of greater love betwixt the people and their Officers and so the ministry of the Officers becomes more fruitfull 5. The faithful are to hear the true Teachers to shun the false to try the spirits which imports 1. Morall ability for chusing 2. A right of chusing or applying themselves to the true Ministers add to these Christian practise and experience what faithfull soule makes any scruple of leaving a faithlesse and unedifying Minister at home to go abroad for enjoying a faithfull and edifying ministry which yet might not be allowed if Christians had not a right to chuse their own Officers 3. For testimonies 1. Of the ancient Church Cyprian who lived a great light of the Church about 240 yeares more or lesse after Christ is plentifull herein As in the Scripture testimonies it appears so in those times according to the Scriptures and so in the reformed Churches Ordination of Officers succeeded their Election Hence Cyprian to the Presbyters Deacons and all the people in the Ordination of ministers Most dear brethren we are alwayes wont to advise with you and to weigh the manners and merits of every one by Common Counsel Epist 33. according to Pamelius Edition at the beginning Cyprian to the people to avoid the faction of Felicissimus and five Presbyters siding with him speaking of them Epist 40. They mindfull of their conspiracy against my Episcopacy Episcopacy distinct from Presbytery had then place in the Church though of a far purer stamp then our Prelacy nay against your suffrage or Election by vote and the judgement of God renew their old opposition c. he justifies his own standing by the peoples choice of him to the same purpose upon the occasion he speaks Epist 55. Cyprian to Antonianus a brother about Cornelius chosen Bishop of Rome by the people and the ministery And Novatian seeking to make himselfe Bishop Cornelius is thus justified that he was made Bishop by the judgement of God and Christ by the Testimony of almost all the ministery by the vote or suffrage of the people then present c. Here was the ministers testimony but the choice the peoples Epist 52. the same Cornelius he justifies against Novatian and that with the concurrent judgement of a councel assembled upon the same ground the suffrage of the ministry and people Epist 67. Cyprian to the ministry of Spaine Cyprian with his fellow-Bishops assembled praiseth the ministry and people of Spaine that they had by lawful Election placed Sabinus and Felix in stead of Basilides and Martial lapsed Bishops we have here most pregnant testimonies and proofes of the peoples right in chusing They when they had met together read letters out of Spaine desiring their advice where in answer Cyprian with the rest of the Bishops first urging of how great 〈◊〉 it is that the minister or Bishop be holy he thus speaks further Wherefore it behoves that with full diligence and sincere tryall they be chosen to the ministery who are such as God may heare their Prayers Neither let the people flatter themselves as though they might be free from guilt communicating with a sinful minister or Bishop and affording their consent to the unjust and unlawfull Episcopacy or ministery of him that is set over them A little after Therefore the people obeying the Lords Commandments and fearing God ought to separate themselves from a sinful Church ruler neither mixe themselves at the sacrifices of a sacrilegious Priest forasmuch as they have the greatest power either of chusing the worthy Priests that was the language of those times for Bishops