Selected quad for the lemma: love_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
love_n	charity_n	zeal_n	zealous_a	51	3	9.1941	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47294	A discourse explaining the nature of edification both of particular persons in private graces, and of the church in unity and peace, and shewing that we must not break unity and publick peace, for supposed means of better edifying in private virtues : in a visitation sermon at Coventry, May 7, 1684 / by John Kettlewell ...	Kettlewell, John, 1653-1695.	1684 (1684)	Wing K365; ESTC R13841	32,265	39

End of Gifts Thus we are told of Knowledge which St. Paul rejects when it is used only to build up and please our selves and is not govern'd by Charity that edifies others 1 Cor. 8. 1. And thus also of Prophesie or Preaching that great Means of Edifying Believers For tho it was then an extraordinary and inspired Gift yet was it to be limited by Publick Ends and the Spirit of Prophecy to be stinted and suppressed when it came unseasonably upon them in the Church and by moving several to speak at the same time bred confusion and Publick disturbance The Spirits of the Prophets are subject to the Prophets i. e. to govern them in subserviency to the Churches Peace For God is not the Author of Confusion i. e. he bestows no Gifts to serve that end but of Peace as in all Churches of the Saints 1 Cor. 14. 32 33. And to name no more in this case St. Paul as I have shewed makes Charity that uniting Virtue and sure obstacle of all Schisms the most excellent of all Gifts So that when the gifted Men themselves are zealous to exercise their Gifts or others are zealous to be under them they must both have a higher zeal to shew their Charity and maintain it in the first place Follow after Charity says he again and desire Spiritual Gifts So that in all exercise and pursuit of them they must not fail to follow Love and take it along with them 1 Cor. 14. 1. 2. It is also the great end of those Officers whom God has appointed and empowered and whom he has endowed with these Gifts for the edification of his Church such as Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors and Teachers For they are given says St. Paul for the perfecting of the Saints and the edifying of the Body of Christ. Eph. 4. 11 12. They are given for the perfecting of the Saints i. e. for the edifying particular Christians in Faith and Practice but yet so as to be given also for the edifying of the Body of Christ till we come in the Unity of the Faith to a perfect Man So that when these Officers seek to edifie particular Believers they must be sure at the same time to secure another end i. e. the edification of the Body and Unity of the Church They are given as Members which shews evidently they must make up but one Body and keep Unity with the other parts Nay they are given as joynts which are the very Ligaments of Union and Compactness These Officers are given as Members of the Church and that shews they must make up one Body and keep Unity with the other parts For the Unity of the Body is to be the care of all the Members especially of those which excel in Gifts or are highest in Dignity and Office Thus it is as the Apostle observes 1 Cor. 12. in the Natural Body It has several Members very different in endowments and destined some to more some to less honourable Offices But because of this difference the more able and honourable Members do not set up for themselves and seek a Separate Profit or applause or make a Schism and divide from others Tho there be many Members says he they all make up but one Body v. 20. And the Eye tho a more Honourable Member cannot separate Interests or say to the Hand tho less Honourable I have no need of thee nor again the Head to the Feet I have no need of you v. 21. And none seek only themselves which would cause Divisions but they have all the same care one for another if one suffer all the rest suffering or if one be honoured all the rest rejoyceing with it that there be no Schism in the Body v. 25 26. And like to this in Natural Bodies is the difference of Officers in the Church Tho that have variety of Gifts as Wisdom Knowledge Prophecy Faith Miracles c. v. 8 9 10. And variety of Officers and Ministers some gifted more some less some higher some lower in Authority than others for there are differences of Administrations v. 5 God having set first Apostles secondarily Prophets thirdly Teachers after that Miracles and Gifts of Healing i. e. Persons endowed with them Helps i. e. some distributing Charity as Deacons or attending on Impotent and Orphans Governments as Bishops and Presbyters Diversities of Tongues v. 28. Tho I say in the Church there be this difference both of Gifts and Ministries yet must not those differently Gifted or Authorized Officers draw different ways and form divided Parties but all aim at the Unity of the whole Body as its Natural Members As all the Members in the Body Natural are one Body so also is Christ the different Ministeries and Members making but one Body in him likewise v. 12 And the several Ministeries as Apostles Prophets c. are all the Body of Christ says he and Members in particular which therefore must cement together and not fall off and divide from each other v. 27 28. And as we have many Members in one Body Natural and yet all these Members though the Body be but one have not one and the same Office more than these Members of the Church So we being many Members and Officers the variety whereof is described v. 6 7 8. are still to be but one Body in Christ and every one Members one of another the difference in Offices giving no more liberty to divide the Church than the same difference in the Natural Members doth to divide the Natural Body Rom. 12. 4 5. Nay these Officers are not set only as Members which as we have seen is enough to prevent Schism but they are set in the Church as joynts which are to compact all the other parts and are the very Bonds and Ligaments of Union The whole Body says St. Paul fitly joyned together and compacted by that which every joynt supplies Eph. 4. 16. Every joynt i. e. Every Officer and Church-governour for in them the other Members are joynted and united to one another And since they are joynts they must fasten and unite all the other parts together not tear them from each other what they supply says the Apostle must compact the Body and therefore must in no wise divide it and of one make many So that as for the extraordinary Abilities and edifying power of some Pastors and Teachers it must never occasion or head Schisms and Divisions But must be so applied by them and so sought to by others that whilst it labours to build up Faith and Good Life in particular Persons at the same time it build up Unity in the Church and Body of Christ. When an increase is endeavoured by the effectual working in every part that must be in such measure as the Apostle says again as secures the whole Body and consists with Publick Peace and settlement The effectual working in the measure of every part makes increase of the Body to the edifying it self in Love Eph. 4. 16. 4.

Belief especially of weighty and useful Things when he is more fervent in Godly Affections chiefly if they are accompanied with Convictions of Reason and rais'd by powerful Arguments when he is more unalterably fixed in virtuous and holy Resolutions more satisfied in Practical Cases and Doubts of Conscience or more comforted with Joy in God and the Hopes of Eternal Happiness I proceed now 2. To shew wherein lies the Edification of the Whole Church and that is mainly in the settled Peace and Union of its Members Edification in the Scriptures doth Principally and most commonly refer to the whole Church For it as I have noted is most usually styled and most properly resembled to a Building since it contains in it such a Number of Particulars which as so many live Stones as St. Peter says are built into this Spiritual House 1. Pet. 2. 5. And this Edification of the Church or Body of Christians is spoken of by St. Paul in the Text Seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the Church and so again to the Ephesians Christ gave Apostles and Prophets c. for the perfecting of the Saints and for the edifying of the Body of Christ. Eph. 4. 11 12. Now this edifying of the whole Church lies mainly in the settled Peace and Union of its Members and the Great instrument of that is Love which makes us look not altogether at our own things but at the things of others 1. The edification of the whole Church I say lies mainly in the settled Peace and Union of its Members The Church indeed is edified in the edification of its particular Members when they grow in Faith and Manners because it is not barely a Body of Men but a Body of Men professing Faith and Holiness so that then it is perfected and improved when they grow in these Virtues And so those Gifts which were most instructing and most apt to improve Knowledge and Good Life as Prophecy are said here to be more for the edification of the Church than other Gifts less instructing as Tongues But the edification Peculiar to it as it is one Body and a Church is the Peace and Union of its Members For Peace and Unity edifies and builds up as Separation and Division dissolves and plucks asunder all Societies The laying together and cementing Wood and Stones builds up as the dividing and scattering them abroad pulls down a House and so do Unity or Division build up or destroy all Communities A House or City divided against it self says our Saviour shall not stand and every Kingdom divided against it self is brought to desolation Mat. 12. 25. So that the edification of the Church which consists of such a vast number of Members is the keeping and establishing them in Unity and Peace and nothing is more opposite to edifying than Schisms and Divisions St. Jude opposes Edification to Separation These be they who separate themselves but contrary to that Ye Beloved building up your selves on your most Holy Faith c. intimating that to edifie or build up they must forbear to Separate Jude v. 19. 20. St. Luke says the Churches were edified when they ceased to be Persecuted and Dispersed and were suffered to be settled and united Then says he had the Churches rest throughout all Judea Galilee and Samaria and were edified Acts 9. 31. where by Edified I think we may well understand their being settled in Peace and established not only because their Rest is given as the reason of it to intimate that then they were edified when they were no longer scattered but also because the increase in Grace and Spiritual Comfort the other meaning of Edification is mentioned besides and added to it were edified and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost were multiplied v. 31. And St. Paul says the Church edifies it self not only when by the supply of all the Parts there is an increase in Goodness but when moreover it preserves Unity and the Whole Body is compacted by what every part supplies So that Edification must imply Unity and Compactness in the Body as well as other instances of Personal and Private Virtue From Christ says he the whole Body fitly joyned together and compacted by that which every joint supplies makes increase of the Body unto the edifying of it self Eph. 4. 16. Thus in the Scripture Notion doth the Edification of the Church consist in the Unity Peace and Compactness of its Members And this St. Paul plainly teaches when he exhorts to Follow after the things which make for Peace because it is with them we must edifie one another Rom. 14. 19. And when he ascribes Edification to Charity that Great Bond of Peace and Union 't is Charity says he that Edifies 1 Cor. 8. 1. And thus Theophilact well explains the Scripture Notion The Building says he that is all the Faithful compacted and united into one Body So that in his Sense the Church is then Built up when it is compacted and united And again Knowledge without Charity puffs up and swells and by that means divides from other Members and makes a Schism Whereas on the contrary Charity edifies opposing Edification to Separation i. e. maintains Union 2. And The great instrument of this Peace and Union is Love which makes us look not altogether at our own Things but at the Things of others If Men seek only themselves and will use nothing but what seems best to their own Fancies and works most upon their own Humours and Affections it is not possible there should be Peace and Unity in any Church For there is almost as great a diversity in Fancies and Affections especially about lesser matters as there is in Faces and it is never to be expected that in such cases all Men should like and approve of the same things more than that all Palates should be pleas'd with the same Meats and Sauces So that whilst every Man will please himself and gratifie his own Humour there is not like to be any Union and Edification of the Church But that which works this Peace and Union must be Love of others The Body increases saith St. Paul by the supply from every Part to the edifying of it self in Love Eph. 4. 16. And whereas Knowledge puffs up and cares not though we lose others Charity says he edifies i. e. preserves Peace in the Church and keeps together all its Members 1 Cor. 8. 1. The Members of Christ saith St. Austin are coupled to each other by the Charity of Union it being Love which unites them and by the same Charity they cohere to Christ their head too 'T is Love that is the Publick-spirited Virtue which as the Apostle says seeks not her own 1 Cor. 13. 5 and carries us to deny our selves out of care and kindness for our Brethren And this care of others is the only thing which can maintain Unity and prevent Schism The Members must have the same

in Knowledge he loses more than he gets for in Christianity Love is better than Learning and a peaceable Temper in the Eyes of God of higher Price than a skillful Understanding Covet earnestly the best Gifts among which Prophesie and Knowledge must have Preference and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way to be coveted beyond all of them viz. the way of Charity which he begins there to treat of 1 Cor. 12. 31. If he disolves Unity and incurs Schism to profit better in some other Duties of a Christian he takes a very mistaken course since Love and Unity are most especially recommended and are the very chief of them If it be possible and as much as lies in you live peaceably with all men Rom 12. 18. Above all things my Brethren put on Charity which is the very bond of perfectness i. e. most perfect in it self and that which perfects all other Virtues Col. 3. 14. And above all things have fervent Charity among your selves for Charity shall cover the multitude of sins i. e. it shall stand you in more stead at the Great day than any other Duties 1 Pet. 4. 8. And now abideth Faith Hope and Charity these three all Chief and Cardinal Graces but the greatest of these is Charity 1 Cor. 13. 13. Thus are Love and Peace and Unity the very top of Christian Duties and the most edifying things in all private Persons so that they are first to be secured and must not be parted with in hopes thereby to improve in any others Nay without them we cannot edifie in any others to any purpose For if we throw aside Charity which seeks not her own but has a care of other Men v. 5. and that care of others as he declared just before will keep out Schism the greatest Proficiency in Knowledge or other Virtues is unprofitable and useless We have no profit at all by Knowledge or other accomplishments of our Understandings Tho I have the gift of Prophecy and understand all Mysteries and have all Knowledge and the Tongues of Men and Angels and Faith to remove Mountains If after all I have no Charity it profits me nothing 1 Cor. 13. 1 2. Nay we have no profit by the bravest Actions but even the best and costliest things we do a sad Case God knows are thrown away and will not avail to save us Tho I am Heroically liberal in Alms and leaving my self naked bestow all my Goods to feed the Poor yea tho I die for Religion and give my Body to be burned a Martyr yet if I have not Charity it profits me nothing v. 3. So true was that Observation of the Primitive Christians that wilful Schism that consummate Breach of Charity and Union is the same among other Virtues that the Dead Fly is among the Costliest Oyntments it will mar all that any man doth and is not to be expiated by any thing no not by Martyrdom Schismaticks says St. Cyprian tho they are slain for confessing Christ yet is the stain of Schism so deep their very Blood cannot wash it out It is an inexpiable Crime from which a man cannot be purged though he dies for Christ. Let him give himself to fry in the Flames or be tore in pieces by Wild Beasts that shall not crown his Faith with Victory but pass only for the Punishment of his Treachery He may be slaughter'd but he shall not be Crown'd For he cannot be one of Christs Martyrs who is not one of the Churches Members Thus are Charity Peace and Unity the most excellent and edifying things in every private Christian nay of that necessity that no other Gifts or Graces not the deepest Knowledge nor the noblest Alms nor Martyrdom it self are of any use or able to profit us without them So that when to edifie in other Duties Men transgress them they give away more than they get and are not so truly advanced forward as set back and so cannot pretend to go on in Private Edification But besides that they are thus really made worse as Private Christians I observe 2. That if they were as much improved as really they are hindred yet would it by no means be lawful for them to make a Schism and break the Peace and Unity of the Church to be better edified For though it be well that Men should seek to edifie and profit themselves in particular Virtues and do this with care seeking after the best means yet at the same time it is equally true also that in so doing they must secure the Peace and Edification of the whole Church They must not be so zealous for any means of better edifying and profiting themselves as for its sake to make a Rent in the Church and create Publick Disturbance And this may appear from these Reasons 1. Because it is against the Fundamental Law of all Societies which is That no Man shall seek his own Private Profit and Enrichment by the Publick Loss and Dissettlement And particularly 't is against the Laws Christ has made for the Peace and Preservation of his Church who engages his Members to forego their own Private Profit for the Publick Peace and Benefit more than any others 2. This breaking Unity to redress and supply less edifying Means in the Church is like Sedition in the State for Redress of Civil Defects and Grievances and subject to a like Condemnation 3. 'T is against the End even of the best Helps and Means of Edification which is to establish Peace and keep out Schism and so are utterly perverted when they are made the Ground of Separation 4. When the Corinthians broke the Unity of the Church on this Ground the Apostle charg'd the great Sin of Schism upon them 5. If this Pretence would acquit from Schism there can be no such thing as Unity in the Church nor any stop to Separation 1. I say thus to break Unity and Publick Peace only that we may have better means to edifie and profit our selves in private virtues is against the Fundamental Law of all Societies which is That no Man shall seek his own private profit and enrichment by the publick loss and dissettlement The Publick Interest in all reason deserves to be more regarded than any Mans Private Benefit For it is infinitely of greater weight and contains more in it So that if any private profiting may claim to be pursued the publick much more wherein every single Mans share weighs as much as that and has the vast number of all the rest added to it And the subsistence of all society and good order requires it should be so prefer'd since otherwise it would evermore be some Mans turn for his own particular profits sake to break it And when any Men embody and combine in Societies by so doing they all virtually ingage and profess to do it And in all Communities he really is and is generally held an ill Man who doth otherwise He is a bad Member in a Family that