Selected quad for the lemma: life_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
life_n	according_a	eternal_a	work_n	4,290	5	5.6981	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A77295	The smoak of the Temple cleared, through the light of the Scripture· By the unworthiest of al the ministers of Christ Jo. Brayne.	Brayne, John.	1648 (1648)	Wing B4332; Thomason E455_9; ESTC R205015	42,833	64

of man 4. The net is full before he draws which shews 1. He observes the time in drawing 2. He draws not for nothing 3. He must not neglect to draw 4. I suppose the net then full when there are sufficient for numbe rand fitness to injoy communion withall in publike Ordinances 5. He draws to shore away from communion with the rest of the ungodly world 2 Cor. 6.17 Come out from among them and be ye seperate Now this was that part of Ministry done without the Church the second part begins 1. They sate down which shews 1. Their sedulity and care in doing what they did 2. That they were to attend on this same 3. That this work was a conjunctive work not of any single person 4 That they must be drawn out of the Sea before any putting them into the vessels Now by putting them that were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fair into vessels may be understood of the Nations severally gathered into several Churches but I rather understand the Lord here speaking of a particular Church in which there are to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vessels and the fish to be put in its own proper vessel which is either to his company of youth children or men 2. They sate down shews the disposing of the Saints in their several places for Communion is a Conjunctive work of the Ministry 3. The casting out of the bad is a word used in the Scriptures usually for casting out men by Church-Censures out of Church-Communion Obj. That the casting into the Sea the sitting down and putting into the vessels are not said to be done by any other then the same persons Answer 1. The work is one and the same 2. As in the former Parable the son of man did sow the seed but the Angels gathered out the tares So ver 49. the Angels Ministry is to seperate the good from the bad they are not said to cast the net into the Sea 3. This work was to begin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at the end of Moses Ministry 4. This work of Seperation among the Gentiles is to be continued in the Church until all offences and offenders are gathered out of Christs Kingdom which is unto the end of the world Vers 52. of this Chapter is indeed the key of this Scripture without which it cannot be rightly understood in which it is said a housholder bringeth forth of his treasury new things and old 1. Hence it is clear Christ mainly intended in these Parables the Gospel-estate 2. He that would understand them rightly must apprehend somewhat of that estate which went before the Gospel 3. It is implyed that unless all things were understood rightly both of the old and new if but any thing of them all were misunderstood it would bring a misunderstanding of all as experementally the end of the world misunderstood begat generally a misunderstanding of the whole Scripture Ezekiel's Vision Chap. 40.41 which is of a new Temple and seems to allude unto that which we have formerly written of which I shall write in a few words That the vision is apprehended to set out the Church under the Gospel estate and its several conditions unto the end of the world is assented unto of some 1. Then by the wall in the gate whereof stood the man who had line and the rod in his hand I understand the primitive times in which Christ was and wherein the measure was given unto the Apostles to measure the Church by which was the Gospel 2. In the outer Court I suppose was intended Luthers time which had but little measuring in it which was further off from the Temple-estate and next insued the ending of the Church after the primitive times 3. He is brought to the inward Court which I suppose to have reference to the Reformation made by Calvin which was farther from the wall signifying the primitive times and nearer to the Temple-state of which much is spoken in the Epistle to Philadelphia Rev. 3.12 which if it be understood to typifie with the 6 other Churches the estate of the Church to the end of the world as many suppose will then fall out to be accomplished in these times and that are now to succeed and also in Rev. 11.1 Chap. 15.8 which estate did succeed the Sardin estate in which was but a name of life and is rightly understood by some to represent Luthers time as Bernard in his Introduction to the Revel 1. In the former Courts were only 30 single Chambers on a row one by another in the Temple-estate there are 3 Chambers one over another so in order and the wideness of the house still upward from the lower to the middle and so to the upper as having an allusion to the three-fold Congregation belonging to the Church the last having most enlargements in it 2. In this estate before the doors of the Chamber was a separate place but none in the Courts 3. In this estate Rev. 11.1 the Temple is measured and the worshippers but not in the other 4. In this estate the Courts are left out and not to be measured by command which John would have done else as is to be thought having been before measured Object Why may not Episcopacy be looked on as the first Court Resp. They were brought off from it by King Henry the eight but Christ was to bring these from Court to Court and not man as I verily suppose both Calvin and Luther were as appeared by the work the Lord wrought by them the last great work which the Lord brings the Church to is the Temple-estate which will greatly differ from the other estates in which the world will be more blessed then ever For which is reserved the greatest mercy in which will be amends made to the Saints for their many miseries abundantly through the grace that is to be revealed of Jesus Christ To end al one word more of places of Assembly spoken in the Scripture 1. The Synagogue was a place the Apostles oft preach't in but never as to the Church but disputing or perswading the things of the Kingdom as having to do with men arguing against the way of God there and not perswaded of it being a mixt people 2. When men were brought to beleeve the Gospel then they were seperated thence to some private house where they had set up the Gospel Ordinances among them Acts 18.4 7 8. We read not that in the Synagogues any publike Church-work was done as baptizing administring the Lords Supper and the like 3. Because that one house it is like could not contain all for number and to avoid confusion in the execution of the Ministry in publike meetings it was necessary that they should be distributed according to the several administrations of the Gospel dispensed among them into several places Hence Paul writing to the whole Church of Rome writes in particular to the Church in the house of Priscilla Rom. 16.3.5 here called a Church Synec dochically for a part of the Church of Rome as the Pastors part or Teachers for the whole 4. The place where the whole Church met as is observed by Master Mead was called by the name of Church figuratively calling so the thing containing for the people contained in it 2 Cor. 11.22 Have ye not houses to eate in or despise ye the Church of God where he notes That the Church here set in opposition to their houses is to be taken for a material house seperated to publike meetings among them Obj. May be made That there was no particular place for general meetings or for receiving Sacraments The Scripture saith they went from house to house breaking of bread Resp As Mr. Mead hath well observed that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may be understood for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the house which some understand to be the house in which the Disciples were at the descending of the Holy Ghost 5. I suppose that whereas in several places of Scripture we have mention made of certain Churches in particular houses I suppose it serves to illustrate the truth of the doctrine proposed and this one thing I dare affirm that the way of God when ever brought out to the world will be as strange though contained in the word as if it had been never written in it as appears in Ezekiel's writing of the Government to be under the Temple-state Ezek. 43.10 11. which is yet to be Thou son of man shew the house to the house of Israel that they may be ashamed of their iniquities and let them measure the pattern And if they be ashamed of all that they have done shew them the form of the house and the fashion thereof the goings out thereof and the commings in thereof and all the forms thereof and all the Laws thereof and all the Ordinances thereof write it in their sight which sheweth that all these things were to be hid for the sins of the people when revealed it should be as a thing now written and new to the world which the Lord will not reveal until the putting away of our abominations out of his sight and have pulled down the posts we have set up by his posts and the thresholds placed by his thresholds which keeps the Lord and his way from us and may occasion being hid through dissentions destruction to us from which God and his truth can only rescue and save us which is to be diligently sought for of al as that in which our lives and peace are bound up in of our posterity by which we shal become one in God in Christ in the Faith in way and worship of the Lord and become all of one mind and one spirit as becometh the Saints and the Servants of the Lord Jesus Christ all which the good Lord for the glory of his grace works in all the Saints according to his mighty working which he worketh in those that beleeve to peace and righteousness here and eternal life hereafter Amen The Orthodox true Minister the Seducer and false Prophet

themselves 2. Not in their Ministerie 3. Not in their societie the strong being commanded to bear with the weak 5. The Apostle proves 6. Hebr. 1. both that the Euangelists Office is the highest and a distinct Office from the Doctours where he sheweth that under that administration the Doctrine of Repentance fromidead Workes is to be left and of the beginnings of Christ under this administration and in saying Let us go to perfection he sheweth that under the former administration these Doctrines which he was now about to teach them had not been taught 1. If their Congregations were according to the Papal congregational wayes and not divided there were no leaving the first Principles because daily some being to be added to the Church and in infancie would then be left to perish for the lacke of meanes of meanes of grace And here fitly may I speak a word of this lack of this dividing the Ministerie to the worke How it is savoured by godly men in the Land 1. A man preaching that Doctrine is preparatory to fit for the Church is not so acceptable to men called and sanctified and this is cried out as a Legal Ministerie others they preach the Gospel grace to men in a natural estate and do apply it in a general way they are hardened by it and these are called Antinomists though not approving the error but how to remedy this that is not apprehended nor indeed can it be but by dividing People and then dividing the Ministerie before which it is nothing but confusion in all that we do Object It is very strange that men in the Euangelical Ministerie must not preach the Doctrine of repentance but leave that Must not repentance be preached to the higher and the lower congregations Resp. The Apostles Answer is not sutable for any estate but that of euangelized Christians which live under the highest dispensations of Gospel mercie as appeares verse 4. chap. 6. where he sheweth what these are that are thus to be lead to perfection they must be men illightened men that have tasted the heavenly gift and are made partakers of the holy Ghost and have tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the World to come if these fall away there is no preaching repentance to them it is impossible to renew them again thereby and on this ground the Doctrine preached in the first congregation is left in the last 1. Hence see what degrees of common gifts is required of men before they be admitted to be of this fellowship 2. See to what perfection the Saints were brought who lived under this government it is not the governments that are erected by men can have that in it nor that from God which he communicates to his own Church 3. It sheweth that there may be hypocrites men that fall away in the chiefest Societies 4. See the ground of this Gospel dispensation 1. It is to carry men onwards to perfection What a lack do all the Saints of God lack of this helpe from the Ministerie here and in all the World 2. How are the Saints gifts left to wither in them by reason that meanes which should stir up their affections and enlarge their hearts is wanting to them they are onely shut up to lesser and lower things below that measure of manifestation the Spirit hath given to them to apprehend God in and by as the Jewes were under Pedagogues so these are straitned in the present Ministerie 3. Those that fail under this dispensation cannot be restored and therefore no need of the Doctrine of Repentance they being as the Salt which hath lost its savour and cannot be seasoned I know this Doctrine will be mightily distasted of us Ministers we having desires naturally in us as we have heard to be in the Apostles every one desiring to be chief and few content to deny himselfe so as to serve with others in the Gospel 1. Brethren let us consider Do we Christs worke or do we our own if Christs let us take a care and do it as he will have it done 2. As it is said of Christ when he washt his Disciples feet he said he did this for example so Christs Ministerie being at first but preparatory sheweth us that he was content to do any thing for his Church and shews how we should follow his example herein and he presseth Peter yet he loved him he should feed his lambs as well as his sheep 3 Consider our parts they are not sufficient for the dispencing of the lowest administration for saith the Apostle we are the savour of life to life in those that are saved and of death to death in those that perish and who is sufficient for these things here he saith we joyning as fellow workers in their other part of work with himself and for all or any he implyeth none is worthy no not man nor Angel the lowest place will take up all thy gifts knowledge wisdom love mercy heavenly mindednesse and finde thy heart much wanting to God in the execution of it both to thy self this ministry God and his flock 4 We had rather teach in a confused way to the multitude in an unprofitable way then in Gods way to doe good among them our very naturall opposition to this worke and way proves the divinenesse and excellency of it 5 God saith 1 Tim. 3.14 if a man have obtained the office of a Deacon he hath obtained a good degree in the house of God and David he esteems highly of a door keepers place in the house of God 6 If God hath gifted us for the more eminent places he will in his time call us thereunto before which it is not good for us to seek any or exercise any 1 By this means men in the ministry that is without the Church ministry will come to have their gifts known and parts exercised 2 The Church ministry to be sound and incorrupt that the Chuch come not to be corrup by false teachers 3 Mens gifts for teaching highly improved 4 Mens abilities to the uttermost manifested Apl. Let us take heed of that of James 4.5 the spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy marke your own spirit how it is with God when God requires thee to part with any thing for the Gospell how apt it is to swell against it and argue against it denie it condemn it and also speake hardly of it as you know the Scribes and Pharises did to Paul concerning the way of God I can the more freely speake of this because mine own heart abundanly abounds with these dayly in me being indeed a fruit more bitter then death 2 Cor. 1.5 We have made our selves your servants for Christs sake remember this and we cannot refuse any place we shall be imployed in the Church at all unlesse publik we say so Complementally onely to God and the Church Again hath not Christ said he that will be greatest let him be your servant yea and did not the Evangelist in