Selected quad for the lemma: saint_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
saint_n	apostle_n	church_n	corinth_n	1,463	5	10.8722	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85401	Irelands advocate: or, A sermon preached upon Novem. 14, 1641. to promote the contributions by way of lending, for the present reliefe of the Protestants party in Ireland. In the parrish church of St. Stephens Coleman Street London, by the pastor there.	Goodwin, John, 1594?-1665.	1642 (1642)	Wing G1178; Thomason E149_2; ESTC R5164	23,228	41

the commandement might have secmed somewhat hard and the practise of it might have bin stuck at but now since he who hath ingaged us to ingage our selves so deeply in the behalfe of others when they stand in need hath ingaged them likewise to ingage themselves proportionably for us when we stand in need obedience unto the commandement cannot but seeme very equall and reasonable as well on our part in respect of others as upon others in respect of us The Apostle taketh off the seeming hardnesse or offensivenesse of that demand which he made to the Church of Corinth for somewhat a larger contribution then ordinary the necessities of the Saints in other places requiring it for the present by this very consideration or reason 2 Cor 8. 13. For I meane not saith he that other men be eased and you burdened But by an equalitie that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want that their abundance also may be a supply for your want that there may be equality Reason 7 GOD hath endued those that are his with power from on high to doe it he hath furnished them with a new principle out of which by a due and conscionable improvement of it in themselves they are able to afford all that is required of them in this kinde So that if any man or woman I meane that is borne againe and is a childe of GOD shall finde their hearts low and base and unworthy in this kinde below the line and levell of that duty now presented unto you it is because they doe not effectually stirre up the grace of God within them as the Apostle somewhere speakes they bow downe their backs to the suggestions of the flesh whereas their strength were it put forth accordingly would serve them to goe upright Consider that one Scripture to this purpose 1 Pet. 1. 22. Seeing you have purified your Soules in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the Brethren see that yee love one another with a pure heart fervently Here two things amongst many others are plainely implied First that no man is able out of any naturall principle to love the Brethren that is the Saints the heart must be purified through the word and Spirit of GOD together that is that base and drossie affection of inordinate self-love must be purged away before a man be able to lift up his heart to such a spirituall and heavenly service as this Secondly that a man or woman having obtained such an excellent principle as this a power of loving the Saints unfeignedly through the purifying of their hearts are bound in a speciall manner to give out themselves fully and freely according to the nature strength and importance of this principle to expresse themselves in excellent termes of love and respects unto them as their necessities shall require it This for the 7 and last reason We addresse immediatly to the Vse and application of the Doctrine we shall be very briefe in particulars here By way of Instruction in the first place we may from the Doctrine observe sundry particulars As First that the minde and good pleasure of JESUS CHRIST concerning his Saints and people on Earth is that you should be a societie or body of men and women in the world animated and quickened as it were mooved and acted by a spirit of love as the life or soule of it that you should abound in this affection above all other societies of men whatsoever Doubtlesse he that commands us to lay down our lives one for another commands us also by a commandement involv'd and wrap'd up in this commandement to maintaine a Spirit of most ardent and burning affection towards one another A man can never be instructed or taught to die willingly by any other teacher or teaching whatsoever but by Love yea and that such a Love of such a conquering and commanding power that it must tread downe the strength of a thousand loves and desires besides yea and many of these of soveraigne strength and power also To require a man to lay downe his life for the Brethren out of any other ground or principle whatsoever then out of an affection of love to them and that transcendently glorious is in effect to bid him gather grapes of thornes or figges of thistles Secondly This likewise is by way of instruction observable from the Doctrine That men doe but that which is their duty in this kinde when they are enlarged in the greatest measure in the expressions of their love towards their Brethren if they should give all their goods and part with their whole substance to them yea if they should lay downe their necks and jeopardie their lives for their sakes yet there is nothing to boast of in all this they are never-the-lesse to remaine vile and little in their own eyes If their right hand doth never so much in this kinde yet should not their left hand know any thing at all of it Heights of duty should no waies prejudice or hinder the depths of humilitie So likewise yee saith our Saviour to his Disciples when you shall have done all things that are commanded you say we are unprofitable servants we have done that which was our duty to doe Observe Thirdly by way of Instruction what gratious and blessed provision the Lord JESUS CHRIST hath made for the poore and weake and distressed ones in any kinde in his Church Hee hath ingaged the rich and strong and those that are at libertie and that have meanes of reliefe or support in any kinde in their hand to be ready at all times to minister unto them The necessities of any as farre as they are made knowne are a summons from Heaven to call the rest to looke after them and relieve them If this royall Law were duly observed in the Church of CHRIST one sufferer should create and raise up many relievers neither should there be heard the complaint or crie of any man sinking whilst there remaines any one swimming It is a signe that the minde of CHRIST is not fulfilled by his body if there be one member hungry whilst another is drunken if there be want in any place before there be want in all Fourthly we are yet in the way of instruction If the highest and deepest expressions of our love to the Saints be but matter of duty in us as their necessities may determine it then is it not any discharge of a mans duty nor to be counted obedience unto GOD or unto the Lord JESUS CHRIST when the necessities of your Brethren being great and sore upon them men shall minister unto them in a sparing pinching and contemptible manner when the condition of the Saints requires it may be the one halfe of our substance and we cast in two mites into their treasury when their exigences call us to lay downe our lives for them and we are willing onely to bestow the parings of our nailes upon them Doubtlesse