Selected quad for the lemma: honour_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
honour_n	abundant_a	body_n	member_n	1,662	5	10.0159	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A64833	Venning's remains, or, Christ's school consisting of four classes of Christians, I. babes, II. little children, III. young men, IV. fathers : with their several characteristical differences and attainments, also the doctrines proper to be taught to each of them : being the substance of many sermons / preached by Ralph Venning and fitted by him for the press before his death.	Venning, Ralph, 1621?-1674.	1675 (1675)	Wing V225; ESTC R27039	205,701	393

the grudge and picque against his Brother David Saul also ey'd him with an evil eye when his Victories increased and the ten thousands were attributed to David and but thousands to himself 1 Sam. 18.5 9. Thus 't is with weak Christians they are apt to envy their superiors and betters the very grace of God but let envyings as well as wrath be laid aside which the Apostles speaks to Babes 1 Pet. 2.1 2. On the other hand let not the strong despise the weak but bear with and bear their infirmities which is to fulfil the Law of love and of Christ Gal. 6.2 3. with Rom. 15.1 7. this honour is due to these weaker Vessels for God hath bestowed it upon them he hath so tempered the body that the hand cannot say to the eye I have no need of thee nor again the head 't is strange for the head is Christ yet his Church is his fulness Ephes 1.23 much less can any of the members say to the feet I have no need of you nay much more those members of the body which seem to be most feeble are not only convenient but necessary And not only we do or ought to give but God himself doth give more abundant honour to that part which lacketh 1 Cor. 1.12.21 24. 'T is said Prov. 22.2 The rich and poor meet together in the same body and the Lord is the maker of them all he that made him poor and thee rich could have made him rich and thee poor and as 't is now the rich need the poor as much as the poor need the rich therefore despise not the poor and low Job tells us that he despised not nor durst to despise the cause of his Man-servant no nor of his Maid-servant no though they contended with him for as he saith he could not Answer it to God who made and fashioned his Servant in the womb as he did himself Job 31.13 15. Excellent arguments Well then let not the Babe envy the Young-men c. In a great court many times there is a special favorite but all the rest are apt to envy him though they also are in the same court because they are not favoured and honoured as he is Every one would be the only one So too often in the Court of Heaven upon Earth i. e. the Church Jesus Christ the King of Saints takes one or other as John to be his bosom favorite and truely the other ambitious Courtiers cannot bear this they look upon such a person with an evil eye as Peter did upon John as you may read John 21. When Christ Jesus had told Peter not only what he must do but suffer also in relation to which he makes sure of his love first for one that loves not or loves little will not do or suffer much or willingly yet after this being told of his sufferings and nothing of that nature said concerning John he seems to take it ill and is not able to forbear asking the Question and what shall this man do which was a spice of envy for Christ takes him up for 't with an angty what is that to thee Joh. 21 15-22 When some poor souls Babes that they are see Children-Saints made so much of that they enjoy the light of Gods countenance and lie in his bosom all the day long and others Youngmen-Saints making great conquests and obtaining victories over temptations and when they hear Father-Saints tell long stories of their antient acquaintance with Christ through every turn and dispensation and what variety of experiences they have had in all conditions and withal how little joy victory experience c. they themselves have they are apt to envy and regret the others enjoyments and glory So perhaps on the other side when the Fathers hear the younger ones speak of experiences how they lisp and speak but dimidiata verba half words and see how short they fall of their attainments when the Young-men see how the Children are baffled and led into captivity by temptations when the little Children see how ignorant the Babes are and that they know not their Father at such times the rich and strong are apt to deride or at least to undervalue the poor and weak as unworthy of their company and converse 'T is but too common with them that know much to know it too much and for them that are wise and rich though but in their own eyes so many times to have very low thoughts and to speak as meanly of their inferiours but it should not be so with Saints if it be 't is their infirmity not to give it a worse name let not therefore him that eateth strong meat despise him that eateth milk nor let him that eateth but milk envy him that eateth strong meat that I may allude something to what the Apostle speakes in another case Rom. 14.3 6. Seeing there are several degrees of Saints let all be willing that each may have a share and portion at a Sermon or in an Epistle as here in 1 Job 2.13 14. or at least that some may be spoken to at one time and some at another for we cannot speak to all at once Some men must have patience at a Doal for all cannot be served at one time so it is in this case Some when they come to a Sermon think nothing worth the hearing but what is spoken to their case and truly almost so many minds as men if it be not a discourse for humbling saith one for consolation saith another for exhortation saith a third 't is nothing worth Thus one is for Paul another for Apollo and a third for Cephas some for Barnabas and others for Boanerges some for the Law and others for free-grace some for Faith and others for Works Fathers are for antiquities Young-men for wars Children for love-tokens and Babes for milk But my beloved all should wait for their meat and portion in due season And 7. Every one should endeavour to make the best use of what they hear and read All Scripture is profitable and is written for every ones learning Are Fathers spoken to 't is of use to the younger sort to provoke them to aspire and endeavour after such attainments and experiences and therefore the Apostle resolved to go on and to treat of perfection strong meat and doctrine though his Hearers were but Babes Heb. 6.1 Are the younger sort spoken to 't is of use to Fathers to call to remembrance what once they were for such were some of you And also to stir them up to thankfulness that God hath advanced them to a state of which it may be said such honour have not all the Saints and to say as David did Who am I O Lord God and what is my house that thou bast brought me bitherto 2 S●m 7.18 I have heard of an eminent person who had been with others at a Sermon and when some complained and seemed to be offended because the Preacher was a Boanerges and threatned

making And when in the Body that this should be an Eye that an Ear this an Hand that but a Foot is because God hath set the members in the Body every one as it pleased him That this is a Babe and but a Babe and so of the rest 't is even so Father for it seemeth good in thy sight 't is thy Will and pleasure it should be so And yet beside this 7. God hath great and glorious ends in having people of several sizes and degrees in his Church several members in the Body and several Classes and Forms in the School of Christ Though God be not bound to give an account of any of his matters yet he is pleased to be so condescending as to vouchsafe to do it As every thing is beautiful in its season so in its place When God was about to erect the material temple he made men and things fit on purpose there were Stones and Timber as well as Gold and Vessels of several sorts and sizes some men wrought in Gold some in purple and blew some had one office and employment and some another So when he erected a spiritual * 1 Pet. 2.5 house and building his Church the Body of Christ he did and continueth to do the like but far more gloriously that as then so now every one may speak of his glory or as 't is in the Margent every whit may utter glory viz. to him to whom 't is due Psal 29.9 To this the Apostle alludes when he saith Ephes 2.21 In whom i.e. in Christ Jesus the whole building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy Temple in the Lord. So Col. 2.19 From the Head viz. Christ all the Body by joynts and bands having nourishment ministred and knit together increaseth with the increase of God And more fully Eph. 4.16 From whom the head Christ the whole body fitly joyned together and compacted by that which every joynt supplieth according to the effectual working in the measure of every part maketh increase of the Body to the edisying of it self in Love By all which we see with what curiosity and exactness of Art may I so speak God hath ordered every part in relation to the beauty and perfection of the whole Here is Beauty Harmony Communion Edisication all met together The more pieces there are in any work drawn into an union the more admirable is that work When the Queen of Sheba saw the House that Solomon had built c. there was no more spirit in her she was rapt with admiration 1 King 10.4 5. Much more is it matter of transport to see the variety and unity of the House of God! This made the first workmanship of God so glorious that he brought together and united so many Atoms of dust into the Body of a man to frame such a curious piece out of dust was worthy of a behold and wonder And 't is no less a beauty that 's drawn by God himself but a far greater in the second Creation especially as to the whole Body-mystical 1 Cor. 12.20 made up of such different Members as Fathers Young men little Children and Babes all united to so glorious an Head as Christ is and called his fulness That in Musick so many several sounds should melt into one and in Painting so many lines and colours should conspire to make one Face is admired even by Artists but alas what 's Art to Nature and what 's Nature to Grace What Bedy was ever like to the Body of Christ so fitly framed together But In 1 Cor. 12. the Apostle gives us a more particular account of Gods design herein and tells us that there is not one unnecessary member no not the most feeble 1 Cor. 12.22 And if these have such abundant honour bestowed upon them what is the honor of the comely parts that have no need Vers 23. No need what though they need not what the other parts do yet have they no need of one another Yes surely for God hath so tempered the Body and hath so set the Members That the Eye cannot say to the Hand I have no need of thee Nor the Head to the Feet Oh stange I have no need of you Vers 21. There is as much need of the Foot as the Hand of the Ear as the Eye and of the Smelling as of Seeing and Hearing Vers 15 16 17. to make the Body complear for if there were but one sort of members it were no body Vers 19. But what 's the end of all this variety and disparity 't is Vers 25 26. that there should be no schism or division in the body but that the members should have the same care one of another as if it were for themselves Heb. 13.3 as if the case were your own for so it may be and that if one member suffer all the members may suffer with it or one member be honoured all the rest may rejoy● with it There is such a mutual assistance resulting from this united variety that 't is far better not only for the whole but for each one than if they were every one for themselves as the world is and were to be concerned for none else Wo to him that is alone without the Society and Sympathy of others but what an hapisying communion do the Babes desires the little Childrens love the Young mens strength and the Fathers wisdom I say what an happisying communion do these make in relation to one another And that these may the better contribute to each other God embodies them as 1 Cor. 12.27 it there follows What alas should the weak do were there not some stronger to bear their infirmities Rom. 15.1 What should an overtaken one do if there were not some spiritual ones to restore him and set him in joynt again with a Ladies hand yea with a spirit of meekness Gal. 6.1 And this they are obliged to do as if they were in their stead and condition considering themselves that eitheir they have been or may be tempted and therefore should bear one anothers burden Yea I may add also what would the elder sort do with all their strength and knowledge if there were not others to be strengthned and taught by them for scire tuum nihil est nisi te scire hoe sciat alter the good of knowledge and experience is not only in being pessest of it but in communicating it the design of such mens having more grace than others is not only for their own salvation less would do that but for others edification also as gists so great degrees of grace are given 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for a common good As Paul was converted not meerly to save him but that he might be an example to them that should believe hereafter 1 Tim. 1. So in his tribulations and temptations he was comforted not only for his own support but for the consolation and salvation of others that he might be able to comfort them which are in any trouble by

2 3. And 't is said of the Gentiles again that they were alienated from the life God Chap. 4.18 But the least the Babe-Saint is quickened and made alive for behold he breaths Prayers as 't was said of Paul as soon as he was new-born Acts 9.11 These Babes have life yea life more abundantly for in a measure and degree they partake of a Divine nature and life 'T is upon this account among others and in the first place that the righteous is better than his Neighbour viz. that is not righteous Prov. 12.26 The least Saint is better than the best man in the Parish that is not a Saint As our Saviour said of John That he was among them born of women one of the greatest yet that he who was least in the Kingdom of God was greater than he Matth. 11.11 so in an allusive sense I may say that the least and lowest of Saints born of God is greater than the greatest that is but born of a Woman They that believe in Jesus have this honor to be called and to be the Sons of God who are born not of Blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God and surely they are most highly descended who are born from above or of God Joh. 1.12 13. and Jam. 1.18 Of his own will begat he us that we should be the first-fruits i.e. the most excellent of his creatures For as manis greater than all the Creation of God Angels excepted Psal 8.4 8. so of all men the Saints are the first-fruits and in some respect advanced beyond the Angels Heb. 1.14 For the Angels are their attendants and servitours yea they learn of the Church the manifold or much varying wisdom of God Ephes 3.10 and though Christ be head over them yet he is not their head as he is the head of the Church which is his Body Ephes 1.22 23. and 5.23 The best of men are but men at best but grace makes men more men than they were and more than men 2. As there is a great difference between Saints and men so there is disparity between Saints and Saints they as the Stars differ from one another in glory All Saints are excellent but they are not all alike excellent Psal 16.3 All of them do vertuously but some excel the rest In the Body of man there are some members that are far more noble than others there are principal and vital and there are less principal and but accidental as to life indeed all the members of Christs body are vital and necessary and yet some are more so than others and as to their functions and operations do far excel the rest as the eye doth the ear the hand the foot 1 Cor. 12. And the Apostle tells us 2 Tim. 2.20 That in a great house such is Gods Church there are vessels of Gold and vessels of Silver and also of wood and earth some to honour and some to dishonour which refers not only to the difference that there is between common and special grace among men and Professours as Rom. 9.21 but to the true members of the body as 1 Cor. 12.23 they are called less honourable Now no man doubts but the vessels of Silver and Gold are more excellent and honourable than them of earth and wood There are some that are but wooden-Saints and but earthen-Saints in comparison of some that are Silver and others that are golden-Saints See and consider 1 Cor. 3.12 15. Yet this I say also that the highest of Saints doth not so far exceed or excel the lowest as the lowest exceeds and excels the highest of men for the Saints compared one with another differ but gradu gradually but Saints and men do differ specie in kind Gold in the Oare is not so much inferiour to the most refined and pure Gold as clay and earth is inferiour to Gold in the Oare that difference is but gradual but this is specifical 3. There is something common to all the Saints of what degree soever they be viz. they are all born of God all his Children all taught of God from the greatest to the least Heb. 8.11 with 1 Joh. 2.20 27. which he speaks of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 little Children to whom he last of all addrest his speech v. 18. The Babe is in Christ Jesus as well as the Father though not so well rooted and grounded in him 1 Cor. 3.1 Col. 2.6 7. their sins are forgiven alike 1 Joh. 2.12 to be gracious is common to all though some have more grace than others as 't is to all men to be rational though some are more rational than others Truth of Grace is common to all though growth of Grace be in some respects more peculiar to some They are all brethren and are brought forth in the Image of God and created according to him or his likeness in righteousness and holiness of truth You may espie the Fathers Image in the Babe his eye Though they be but newly born yet they are new-born and new creatures In short and fine they are all members of the Body the foot as well as the hand the ear as well as the eye 1 Cor. 12. Though the Stars differ from one another in glory yet they agree in this that they are all of them Stars The Fathers the Young-men the little Children and the Babes also have this in common that they are of Gods Family and of the houshold of Faith the sons of God they are all in Christs School though not all of one Form 4. As there is something common to all so there are some things proper and peculiar to each state something proper to the Fathers which cannot be said of the young-men something proper to the young-men which cannot be said of the little Children something proper to the little Children which cannot be said of the Babes as there is something proper to the Babes which cannot be said of them that are not yet new-born though there be too much in common with Babes and carnal men they being not yet throughly cleansed from their blood and pollution but are as carnal and walk as men There is something in the best Saints that may be found in every one but there is that in some that cannot be found in all The Apostle gives these three Classes peculiar attributes That of Fathers is Wisdom that of young men is Valour that of little Children is Love and St. Paul tells us that the Babes eat but milk i. e. they repent and believe a little faintly c. to which St. Peter adds desires as was noted before from 1 Pet. 2.2 'T is true indeed the highest and greatest contains the less but not the less the greater much less the greatest The Father knows all the four states for he hath past from a Babe to a little Child from a little Child to a young man and from thence to a Father The young man knows three states for he