Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
lord_n	aaron_n	according_a	levite_n	270	3	10.3862	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A41067	A touch-stone, or, A perfect tryal by the Scriptures, of all the priests, bishops, and ministers, who have called themselves, the ministers of the Gospel whose time and day hath been in the last ages past, or rather in the night of apostacy : they are tried and weighed by the Scriptures of truth, and are found out of the life and power of the scriptures, and out of the spirit and doctrine of them that gave them forth, and quite contrary to their principle and practice, both Papists and Protestants : unto which is annexed, Womens speaking justified, &c.	Fox, Margaret Askew Fell, 1614-1702.	1667 (1667)	Wing F639; ESTC R7178	82,431	96

and by this Power of Darkness that hath lodged in this ●ody of Teachers and Preachers who have called themselves Christians both Papists and Protestants in this Night of Apostacy that the True Church of God hath been in the Wilderness and the Witnesses prophesied in Sackcloth this hath been a Night of Darkness but the Day is Springing Glory to the Lord for ever I say for this Seeds sake we shall proceed to mention some particular Heads of their practice and try them by the Scriptures And the first is that which they call their Studying and their placing the very Foundation of their Call and all their practices in that Function in that which they call Learning which thing we never finde neither in the Old-Testament nor New that they who were called to the Office of the Priesthood that obtained it by such wayes and means as they use viz. That which they call their Studies and Fountains of Learning which is their Universities and in them so many several Orders and Degrees to ordain and appoint such as belong to that Function of the Ministry which we do not finde in the Old-Testament that either Aaron or his Sons or those that were of the Tribe of Levi were ordained after such a manner and by such Orders as they pretend to theirs for when the Lord spake unto Moses for the setting up of the Tabernacle and after what manner he should do all things about it he said Thou shalt set the Laver betwixt the Tent of the Congregation and the Altar and thou shalt put water therein and thou shalt bring Aaron and his Sons unto the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation and wash them with water and thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy Garments and anoint him and sanctifie him that he may minister unto me in the Priests Office and thou shalt bring his Sons and cloath them with coats and thou shalt anoint them as thou didst their Father that they may minister unto me in the Priests Office for their Anointing shall surely be an everlasting Priesthood throughout their Generations Thus did Moses according to all that the Lord commanded him for he set the Laver between the Tent of the Congregation and the Altar and Moses and Aaron and his Sons washed their hands and their feet thereat as the Lord commanded Moses Exod. 28 29. chap. Levit. 8. Moreover the Lord said unto Moses Take the Levites from among the children of Israel and cleanse them and thus shalt thou do unto them to cleanse them sprinkle water of purifying upon them and let them shave them all their flesh and let them wash their clothes and so make them clean then let them take a young Bullock with his meat offering even fine Flowre mingled with Oyle and another young Bullock thou shalt take for a sin offering and thou shalt bring the Levites before the Tabernacle of the Congregation and thou shalt gather the whole Assembly of the children of Israel together and thou shalt bring the Levites before the Lord and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites and Aaron shall offer the Levites before the Lord for an offering for the children of Israel that they may execute the service of the Lord and the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the Bullocks and thou shalt offer the one for a sin-offering and the other for a burnt-offering unto the Lord to make an atonement for the Levites and shalt set the Levites before Aaron and before his Sons and offer them for an offering to the Lord thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel and the Levites shall be mine and after that shall the Levites go in to do the service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation and thou shalt cleanse them and offer them for an offering for they are wholly given unto me from among the children of Israel instead of such as open every womb even instead of the First-born of all the children of Israel I have taken them unto me for all the first-born of the children of Israel are mine both man and beast in the day that I smote the first-born in the Land of Egypt I sanctified them for my self and I have taken the Levites for all the first-born of the Children of Israel and I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his Sons from among the children of Israel to do the service of the children of Israel in the Tabernacle of the Congregation to make an atonement for the children of Israel that there be no plague among them when they come nigh my Sanctuary And Moses and Aaron and the Congregati of Israel did unto the Levites according as the Lord commanded them and the Levites were Purified and they washed their Garments and Aaron offered them as an offering before the Lord and Aaron made an atonement for them to cleanse them and after that the Levites went in to do their service in the Tabernacle of the Congregation before Aaron and before his Sons And the Lord spake unto Moses saying This is it that belongeth to the Levites from twenty years old and upwards they shall go in to wait upon the service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation and from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof and shall serve no more but shall minister with their brethen in the Tabernacle of the Congregation to keep the charge and shall do no service thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge Numb 8. Now here is nothing of Studying or going to the Universities nor diving nor divinining into the Body of Darkness which defiles and polutes but here was Washing and Cleansing and Purifying and an Offering of two Bullocks one for a Sin-offering another for a Burnt-offering the Levites being offered with the Offerings and they laying their hands upon the heads of the Offerings and Moses making an Atonement for them to Cleanse them before they could be admitted into the Service and then they were to wait from twenty five years and upwards unto fifty years before they might cease waiting and then they were to minister with their Brethren in the Tabernacle but they did not wait at the Universities and at the Schools of Learning but they waited upon the Service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation for the Lord had called them for that end that they might make an Atonement for the Children of Israel that there might be no Plague among them So that it is strange that Ministers that profess Christianity and profess themselves to be Ministers of Christ and Ministers of the Gospel should run into such extravagances being that they profess the Scriptures and that they should not walk in by-paths but they go quite opposite to what the Scriptures of Truth hold forth concerning both the First and Second Priesthood It is true indeed the Lord complaineth by his Prophets when Israel was gone

his bait and it is much if they cast not themselves down for it is contrary to the Doctrine of Christ for his Exhortation was That they should take the low●st Seat that it might be said unto them Friend Go up higher but they have not taken that way But they have several Objections or Colours for what they do with which they do a little blind some ignorant people which is an easie matter to do While the Blind lead the Blind saith Christ they both go into the Ditch One thing they alledge for Tythes is That Melchisedec took Tythes when Abraham paid them Gen. 14. when Abraham returned from the slaughter of the Kings and this the Apostle cleareth himself in Heb. 7. and taketh away the objection of all that can be said for Tythes For first of all as for Melchisedec King of Salem Priest of the Most High God who met Abraham in his return from the slaughter of the Kings and blessed him to whom also Abraham gave the tenth part of all c. Here the Apostle describes Melchisedec being without descent having neither beginning of dayes nor end of life So that our Tythe-Takers in these last days cannot claim them by this Order for they are not without descent for the furthest they can claim was Levi and hundreds of them have ended their dayes and their dayes are come to an end Besides the Apostle saith that this Melchisedec was greater then Abraham and Abraham had the Promise of God and the Oath of God passed unto him and unto his Seed which the Apostle saith is Christ Gal. 3. But the Apostle saith He was made like unto the Son of God and remaineth a Priest continually Now consider saith he how great this man was unto whom even the Patriarch Abraham gave the Tythe of the Spoils and verily they who are of the Sons of Levi who receive the Office of the Priesthood have a Commandment to take Tythes of the People that are of their Brethren though they came out of the Loins of Abraham but he whose descent is not counted from them received Tythes of Abraham and blessed him that had the Promises and without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better So if our Tythe-Takers can say they are better then Abraham then they may claim Tythes from Melchisedec but if they say nay but they will claim them from the Tribe of Levi then they must own themselves to be of the Levitical Priesthood and they must take Tythes of none but their Brethren the Jews For so the Apostle saith That the Priesthood had a Commandment to take Tythes according to the Law that is of their Brethren Hebr. 7. 5. And he saith further If therefore perfection were by the Levitical Priesthood for ●●der it the people received the Law what further need was there that another Priest should arise after the order of Melchisedec and not after the order of Aaron But the Priesthood being changed there is made of necessity a change also of the Law For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another Tribe of which no man gave attendance at the Altar For it is evident our Lord sprang of Judah of which Tribe Moses spake nothing coucerning the Priesthood And it is more evident that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another Priest who is not made after the Law of a carnal Commandment but after the power of an Endless Life For he testifieth Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec For there is verily a disanulling of the Commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof For the Law made nothing perfect but the bringing in of a better Hope did by which we draw nigh unto God Hebr. 7. Here the Apostle testifieth clearly of the overturning and changing of the Priesthood of Levi and the disanulling of the Law by which they took Tythes because that made nothing perfect And for this other Priest that remaineth for ever Who purgeth and purifieth the Conscience from dead Works to serve the Living God for the witnessing of this Everlasting High-Priest being come hath many suffered and do suffer by this Generation of Tythe-taking Priests who are neither according to Law nor Gospel and though they take the Apostles words here and it may be may read them to the people yet do they act quite contrary to the Apostles Testimony here and to all his practices that he practised while he was upon Earth And so we that have a Testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ our Everlasting High-Priest that he is come we cannot deny his Testimony in paying Priests Tythes which was paid under the Levitical Priesthood before he came now we have another Priest that remaineth continually who is not made by a Law of a Carnal Commandment as they all are but by another Law Even the Law of the Spirit of Life which maketh us free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom. 8. But they set up Laws against us and make us suffer by their Laws and by their Courts and when we cannot Swear cast us into Prison But the Apostle taught his Son Timothy otherwise when He besought him to abide still at Ephesus that he might charge some of them that they preach no other Doctrine neither give head to Fables and endless Genealogies which minister Questions rather then Godly Edifying which is in Faith Now the end of the Commandment is Charity out of a pure Heart and of a good Conscience and Faith unfained from which some having swerved have turned again aside into Jangling desiring to be Teachers of the Law understanding neither what they say nor whereof they affirm But we know that the Law is good if a man use it lawfully Knowing this that the Law is not made for a Righteous man but for the Lawless and Disobedient for the Ungodly and for Sinners for Unholy and Prophane for Murtherers of Fathers and Murtherers of Mothers for Man-slayers for Whoremongers for them that defile themselves with mankind for Men-stealers for Lyars for Perjured Persons and if there be any thing further that is contrary to Sound Doctrine 1 Tim. 1. Surely these late Bishops have learned another Lesson then this Bishop Timothy did for they execute their Law against the Harmless and the Innocent and such as abide in Sound Doctrine and those that bring forth the Fruits of the Spirit which is Love Peace Long suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance against such the Apostle saith there is no Law Gal. 5. And yet these are they that are made the object of their Laws and are kept under the Scourge of the Laws in these dayes and this disorder is because our Leaders and Teachers have caused the people to err from the Faith and from the Truth But to come to the particular which is concerning Ministers Maintenance where they object and say The Apostle alloweth them a maintenance by what he holds forth 1 Cor. 9. where he saith Have not we

see that the blessed Apostle foresaw the state and condition the Church was falling into and the time that hath been since hath manifested the truth of it And thus we see the good and wholesome Doctrine that the holy Apostle left with them that were Overseers in those dayes that had the Spirit of the Lord Jesus living and dwelling in their hearts but this Gospel hath been hid from them that have been lost And this may serve for the Sixth Head which is their Maintenance The seventh and last is their Garbe and Habit which they seem to place much in in matter of their Worship and they being Gospel-Ministers we know no ground nor Example they have from Christ or any of his Apostles to wear such Garments It is true Aaron when he was to minister in the Priests Office there were holy Garments to be made for him for beauty and for glory And these were the Garments which they were to make a Brest-plate an Ephod and a Robe a broidered Coat a Mitre and a Girdle and they were to take two Stones two Onix stones and grave on them the names of the Children of Israel and set them in four rows and Aaron shall bear the names of the Children of Israel in the Brest-plate of Judgment upon his heart when he goeth in into the holy place for a memorial before the Lord continually and thou shalt put in the Brest-plate of Judgment the Urim and the Thummim which is Lights and Perfections and they shall be upon Aarons heart when he goeth in before the Lord and Aaron shall bear the Judgment of the Children of Israel upon his heart before the Lord continually Exod. 28. Here was more than the long Gown and the Surplice the Tippet and the hood here was the Urim and the Thummim and the Judgement of the Children of Israel upon his heart Also Aaron had a Brest-plate of pure Gold and graven upon it like the engraving of a Signet Holiness to the Lord Vers 36. This is far beyond the long Robes of our dayes for there is little holiness graven upon them neither Lights nor Perfections and if they do take the long Robes and Surplices Hoods and Tippets from Aaron they miss the Garbe and Fashion of this for upon the Hemme of Aarons Garment there was Bells and Pomgranets of gold A golden Bell and a Pomegranet a golden Bell and a Pomegranet round about the hem and this was to be upon Aaron when he went to minister that his sound might be heard when he was to go in the Holy Place before the Lord. But they set Bells upon the top of their Steepls in stead of these to make People hear the sound when they go to their Worship And so in this as in all other things that have been shewed they differ far from Scripture-Rule Moreover the Lord said unto Moses Thus shall Aaron go into the holy place with a young Bullock for a sin-offering and a Ram for a burnt-offering and he shall put on the holy linnen Coat and he shall have the linnen Breeches upon his flesh and shall be girded with a linnen Girdle and with the linnen Mitre shall he be attired these are the holy Garments therefore shall he wash his flesh in water and so put them on Levit. 16. So here we see Aaron was to bring a Bullock and a Ram for a burnt-offering and a sin-offering and to wash his flesh before he put those Garments on It is to be feared that our Long-Robed and Surplice-Men miss it in this too except they offer a sin-offering and a burnt-offering and wash their flesh We do not hear they use this they calling themselves Ministers of Christ and of the Gospel but certainly they have not taken up the imitation of these things from hence from Aarons Garments but from the Scribes and Pharisees for from Christ and his Apostle they had none at all but the quite contrary For Christ Jesus when he spake to the Multitude and his Disciples said The Scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses Seat and that which they bid you observe and do observe but do not ye after their works for they say and do not and all their works they do to be seen of men They make broad their Philactaries or Fringes and enlarge the borders of their Garments and love the upermost rooms at Feasts and the chiefest seats in the Synagogues But he saith Woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites for ye shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men for ye neither go in your selves nor suffer them that would Woe unto you for ye devour Widows houses and for a pretence make long prayers therefore ye shall receive the greater condemnation Matth. 23. And he saith unto them in Mark 12. in his Doctrine Beware of the Scribes which love to go in long cloathing and love salutations in the Market-places and the chief seats in the Synagogues and uppermost rooms at Feasts which devour Widows houses and for a pretence make long Prayers these shall receive greater damnation And Luke saith Chap. 20. That then in the audience of all the People he said unto his Disciples Beware of the Scribes which desire to walk in long Robes and love greetings in the Markets and the highest seats in the Synagogues and the chiefest rooms at Feasts which devour Widows houses and for a shew make long Prayers the same shall receive greater condemnation Surely the Disciples and Apostles after they had heard Christ thus often to testify against them that went after this manner certainly they would keep themselves clear for ever going in this garb Besides it is clearly manifested by their practices that they never went after this manner in long Robes and Surplices for that would have been a great charge to them that wrought with their hands and were not chargable to any except those that were raised up by the power of Almighty God by their preaching of the Gospel of Christ unto them the Lord might move their hearts to give them what they should stand in need of which they could not want if those had it that were one with them in the Spirit for so the Apostle holdeth forth to the Philippians where he saith But I rejoyce in the Lord greatly that now at last your care of me hath flourished again wherein ye were also careful but ye lacked opportunity not that I speak in respect of want for I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content I know how to be abased and how to abound every where in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry both to abound and to suffer need notwithstanding ye have done well that ye did communicate with mine affliction for even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again to my necessity not because I desire a gift but I desire fruit that that may abound to your account But I have all and abound and am full Phil. 4. But surely