Selected quad for the lemma: order_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
order_n	close_a	command_n	file_n	2,681	5	12.7690	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A53732	The true nature of a Gospel church and its government ... by the late pious and learned minister of the Gospel, John Owen ...	Owen, John, 1616-1683.	1689 (1689)	Wing O815; ESTC R13410	211,358	294

to be fit Matter of a visible Church before he can challenge Church Privileges or they can be allowed him 3. It 's not many professing Believers that make a particular Church For though they are fit Matter for a Church yet they have not the Form of a Church without a mutual Agreement and Combination explicite or at least implicite whereby they become by vertue of Christs Charter a spiritual Corporation and are called a City Houshold House being united together by Joints and Bonds not only by internal Bonds of the Spirit but external the Bonds of Vnion must be visible as the House is by profession This is a Society that Christ hath given Power to to choose a Pastor and other Officers of Christ's Institution and enjoy all Ordinances The words Sacrament and Prayer as Christ hath appointed Hence a visible Church must needs be a separate Congregation Separation is a proper and inseparable adjunct thereof the Apostle speaks of Church Membership 2 Cor. vi 14 Be not unequally yoked together 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yoked with those of another kind the Plowing with an Ox and Ass together being forbidden under the Law with Vnbelievers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Visible Vnbelievers of any sort or kind for what participation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath Righteousness with Vnrighteousness what 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Communion or Fellowship hath Light with Darkness Vers. 13. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what harmony hath Christ with Belial Men of corrupt Lives and Conversation or what part 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath a Believer i. e. a visible Believer with an Vnbeliever it ought not to be rendred Infidel but it was done by our Translaters to put a blind upon this place as to its true intention and to countenance Parish Communion for why did they not here Vers. 14. and every where else render 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Infidel Vers. 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what consistency hath the Temple of God i. e. the Gospel Church with Idols c. I take this place to be a full Proof of what is before spoken That a Gospel Church is a Company of Faithful professing People walking together by mutual Consent or Confederation to the Lord Jesus Christ and one to another in Subjection to and Practice of all his Gospel-Precepts and Commands whereby they are separate from all Persons and Things manifestly contrary or disagreeing thereunto Hence as it's separate from all such impurities that are without so Christ hath furnished it with sufficient Power and means to keep it self Pure and therefore hath provided Ordinances and Ministers for that end and purpose for the great end of Church-Edification cannot be obtained without Purity be also maintained in Doctrine and Fellowship Purity cannot be maintained without Order a disorderly Society will corrupt within it self for by Disorder it 's divided by divisions the joints and bands are broken not only of Love and Affection but of visible Conjunction so that roots of bitterness and sensual Separation arising many are defiled It 's true there may be a kind of Peace and Agreement in a Society that is a stranger to Gospel-Order when Men agree together to walk according to a false Rule or in a supine and negligent Observation of the True Rule There may be a common Connivance at each one to walk as he list but this is not Order but Disorder by Consent Besides a Church may for the most part walk in Order when there is Breaches and Divisions Some do agree to walk according to the Rule when others will deviate from it It 's orderly to endeavour to reduce those that walk not orderly though such just Vndertakings seem sometimes grounds of Disturbance and causes of Convulsion in the whole Body threatning even its breaking in pieces but yet this must be done to preserve the whole The Word Translated Order Colos. ij 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a Military Word it 's the Order of Souldiers in a Band keeping Rank and File where every one keeps his place follows his Leader observes the Word of Command and his Right-hand Man. Hence the Apostle joys to see their close Order and Stedfastness in the Faith their Firmness Valour and Resolution in fighting the good Fight of Faith and the Order in so doing not only in watching as single Professors but in Marching Orderly together as an Army with Banners There is nothing more comly than a Church walking in Order when every one keeps his place knows and practiseth his Duty according to the Rule each submitting to the other in the performance of Duty When the Elders know their places and the People theirs Christ hath been more Faithful than Moses and therefore hath not left his Churches without sufficient Rules to walk by That Order may be in a Church of Christ the Rules of the Gospel must be known and that by Officers and People They that are altogether Ignorant of the Rule or negligent in attending it or doubtful and therefore always contending about it will never walk according to it Hence it 's the great Duty of Ministers to study Order well and acquaint the People with it It 's greatly to be bewailed that so few Divines bend their Studies that way They content themselves only with Studying and Preaching the Truths that concern Faith in the Lord Jesus and the meer Moral part of Holiness but as to Gospel-Churches or Instituted Worship they generally in their Doctrine and Practice let it alone and administer Sacraments as indefinitely as they Preach care not to stand related to one People more than another any further than Maintained by them Likewise many good People are as great Strangers to Gospel Churches and Order and as their Ministers have a great Adversness to both and look upon it as Schism and Faction and this is the great reason of the readiness of both to comply with Rules of Men for making Churches Canons established by humane Laws being carried away if they would speak the Truth by corrupt Erastian Principles That Christ hath left the Church to be altogether Guided and Governed by Laws of Magistratick Sanction Reformation from the gross Idolatrous part of Antichristianism was engaged in with some Heroick Courage and Resolution but the coldness and indifference of Protestants to any further progress almost ever since is not a little to be lamented Many think it enough that the Foundation of the House is laid in Purity of Doctrine and it 's well if that were not rather written in the Books than preached in Pulpits at this Day but how little do they care to set their Hands to Building the House Sure a great matter is from that Spiritual Sloathfulness that many are fallen under as likewise being ready to sink under the great Discouragements laid before them by the Adversaries of Judah when they find the Children of the Spiritual Captivity are about to Build a Gospel Church unto the Lord. And how long hath this great Work ceased

should appoint in the same Church many more Teaching Elders though it is plain that the Elders intended were many I SHALL add for a close of all that there is no sort of Churches in being but are of this perswasion that there ought to be Rulers in the Church that are not in Sacred Orders as some call them or have no interest in the Pastoral or Ministerial Office as unto the dispensation of the Word and Administration of the Sacraments For as the Government of the Roman Church is in the hands of such Persons in a great measure so in the Church of England much of the Rule of it is managed by Chancellors Officials Commissaries and the like Officers who are absolutely Lay-Men and not at all in their holy Orders Some would place the Rule of the Church in the Civil Magistrate who is the only Ruling Elder as they suppose But the generality of all Protestant Churches throughout the World both Lutherans and Reformed do both in their judgment and practice assert the necessity of the Ruling Elders which we plead for and their Office lies at the foundation of all their Order and Discipline which they cannot forgo without extream confusion yea without the ruine of their Churches And although some among us considering particular Churches only as small Societies may think there is no need of any such Office or Officers for Rule in them yet when such Churches consist of some Thousands without any opportunity of distributing themselves into several Congregations as at Charenton in France it is a weak imagination that the Rule of Christ can be observed in them by Two or Three Ministers alone Hence in the Primitive Times we have instances of Ten Twenty yea Forty Elders in a particular Church wherein they had respect unto the Institution under the Old Testament whereby each Ten Families were to have a peculiar Ruler However it is certain that there is such a Reformation in all sorts of Churches that there ought to be some attending unto Rule that are not called to labour in the Word and Doctrine CHAP. VIII The Nature of Church-Polity or Rule with the Duty of Elders HAVING declared who are the Rulers of the Church something must be added concerning the Rule it self which is to be exercised therein Hereof I have Treated before in general That which I now design is what in particular respects them who are called unto Rule only whereunto some Considerations must be premised 1. THERE is Power Authority and Rule granted unto and residing in some Persons of the Church and not in the Body of the Fraternity or Community of the People How far the Government of the Church may be denominated Democratical from the necessary consent of the people unto the principal Acts of it in its exercise I shall not determine But whereas this consent and the liberty of it is absolutely necessary according to the Law of Obedience unto Christ which is prescribed unto the Church requiring that all they do in compliance therewith be voluntary as unto the manner of its exercise being in dutiful compliance with the guidance of the Rule it changeth not the State of the Government And therefore where any thing is Acted and Disposed in the Church by Suffrage or the plurality of Voices the Vote of the Fraternity is not Determining and Authoritative but only declarative of consent and obedience It is so in all Acts of Rule where the Church is Organical or in compleat Order 2. THAT there is such an Authority and Rule instituted by Christ in his Church is not liable unto dispute Where there are Bishops Pastors Elders Guides Rulers Stewards instituted given granted called ordained and some to be Ruled Sheep Lambs Brethren obliged by command to obey them follow them submit unto them in the Lord regard them as over them There is Rule and Authority in some persons and that committed unto them by Jesus Christ. But all these things are frequently repeated in the Scripture And when in the practical Part or Exercise of Rule due respect is not had unto their Authority there is nothing but Confusion and Disorder When the People judge that the Power of the Keys is committed unto them as such only and in them doth the Right of their Use and Exercise reside that their Elders have no interest in the disposing of Church Affairs or in Acts of Church Power but only their own suffrages or what they can obtain by reasoning and think there is no Duty incumbent on them to acquiesce in their Authority in any thing an Evil apt to grow in Churches it overthrows all that beautiful Order which Jesus Christ hath ordained And if any shall make Advantage of this Complaint That where the People have their due Liberty granted unto them they are apt to assume that Power unto themselves which belongs not unto them an evil attended with troublesome Impertinencies and Disorder tending unto Anarchy let them remember on the other hand how upon the confinement of Power and Authority unto the Guides Bishops or Rulers of the Church they have changed the nature of Church-Power and enlarged their Usurpation until the whole Rule of the Church issued in absolute Tyranny Wherefore no fear of consequents that may ensue and arise from the darkness ignorance weakness lusts corruptions or secular interests of Men ought to entice us unto the least Alteration of the Rule by any prudential Provisions of our own 3. THIS Authority in the Rulers of the Church is neither Autocratical or Sovereign nor Nomothetical or Legislative nor Despotical or Absolute but Organical and Ministerial only The endless Controversies which have sprung out of the mystery of iniquity about an Autocratical and Monarchical Government in the Church about power to make Laws to bind the Consciences of Men yea to kill and destroy them with the whole manner of the execution of this Power we are not concerned in A pretence of any such Power in the Church is destructive of the Kingly Office of Christ contrary to express Commands of Scripture and condemned by the Apostles Isa. 33.22 Jam. 4.12 Mat. 17.5 Chap. 23.8 9 10 11. Luke 22.25 26. 2 Cor. 1.24 1 Cor. 3.21 22 23. 2 Cor. 4.5 1 Pet. 5.1 25. 4. AS the Rule of the Church in those by whom it is exercised is meerly Ministerial with respect unto the Authority of Christ his Law and the Liberty of the Church wherewith he hath made it free so in its nature it is spiritual purely and only So the Apostle Affirms expresly 2 Cor. 10.4 5 6. For its object is spiritual namely the Souls and Consciences of Men whereunto it extends which no other Humane Power doth nor doth it reach those other concerns of Men that are subject unto any political Power Its end is Spiritual namely the Glory of God in the guidance and direction of the Minds and Souls of Men to live unto him and come to the enjoyment of him the Law of it is spiritual