Selected quad for the lemma: saint_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
saint_n	body_n	member_n	mystical_a	1,656	5	10.4255	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A89720	Christ's commission-officer: or, The preachers patent cleared, and the peoples plea considered. In a sermon preached before (and now presented to) the associated ministers of Christ, in the county of Sommerset, at the late solemn ordination at Sommerton in said county, June, 9. 1658. By John Norman ...	Norman, John, 1622-1669.	1658 (1658)	Wing N1240A; ESTC R210141	61,437	165

the contents and aim of these Epistles which concern publick tranfactions in the Church especially publick teachers or if 3. the command it self be duly weighed fo● such as are to teach but privately an● from grounds of charity only need n● such commitment of these things t● them nor needs it that there be such choyce of men this being every ma● and womans duty Heb 5.12 Nor ca● any thing be justly impleaded from the Apostles use of the future tense who shall b● able to teach others also for though tha● they shal be able to teachothers be necessari● antecedent to the commitment of the Office● sensu physico i. e. that they shal have abi● lities to teach yet it followeth the commitment of the Office sensu morali i. e. tha● they shall use such abilities ordinarily or b● able to teach others acceptably and lawfully remembring still that old honest an● veceived principle Illud tantum possumu● quod jure possumus We are able to do n● more than we are able in Law or may 〈◊〉 lawfully And thus our text aptly corresponds to that of the same Apostle Rom. 10. vers 15. How shall they preach except they be sent i. e. how shall they preach warrantably Abilities they must have before sending but sending vests them with authority So that the words speak as much in effect as this Doth Timothy know such as are faithfull and fit or able to teach others he must commit these things to them as Trustees for others Doth he find any so qualified for the Office to teach hee must leave them Commissioned to this Office Are they qualified with fidelity and ability Timothy must commit to them a furniture of authoriy Thirdly but how must Timothy commit these things this Office to them What! he only he and none but hee No we never find the Ministry committed to any by a single person but still it is done by severall in society We always read of more than one concurring to it and never remember less than two And those are no less than were Paul Barnabas Act. 14.23 The Twelve are associates in it Acts 6.2 3 6. and it is the joint act of how many teachers and Prophets Act. 13.1 2 3. The seat and subject of this power is not a Presbyter but the Presbytery 1 Tim. 4.14 Can we rationally think that Paul doth require Timothy to commit the Ministry to others so as recedes from and hath no consistency with the practice of Paul in the same case upon Timothy himself Well and who of us doth not remember that Timothy received his Commission no tonly by the laying on of Paul's hands but of the Presbytery likewise 2 Tim. 1 6. and 1 Tim. 4.14 True 't is that Titus is to Ordain Elders 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 City by City where the Churches were planted and their condition called for it but with this proviso as Paul had appointed him Tit. 1.5 And who can think that Paul's appointments and Paul's actions should so little accord or so much interfere that Paul should order either Titus there or Timothy here to do that singly by himself which Paul an Apostle never did if I may not say never durst but in society It is granted that this command did concern Timothy eminently and signally above others but not exclusively so as to shut out all others It must be done by others likewise though it be directed to and is to be directed by him especially as one that had an eminent and speciall trust about the ordering of this and all other Church affairs being by office an Evangelist 2 Tim. 4.5 Fourthly Yet once more to whom must Timothy commit this trust these things in way of office What to all the Congregation No There must be some to be taught as well as others sent forth to teach What then to any of whatever qualification Nor this They must be at least men of a good life faithfull men yea and men of good learning too that shall be able to teach others also The text thus opened the truth is obvious which I shall at this time take up or observe from it Observ Those that are authoritatively from Christ in his Church to teach others must have that Office committed to them as well as bee qualified for that Office How orient me thinks is this observation in all its truths from the text Lo 1. Some there must be in the Church who are authoritatively from Christ to teach others But then 2. That there may be such in the Church who are from Christ to teach authoritatively they must have the Office committed to them by some Timothy Yet 3. Timothy may not give Commission to this Office unlesse he find qualifications for this Office Timothy may not dare to confer authority on any without due cognizance first had both of their fidelity and ability Well 4. Hath God qualified any with fidelity and ability yet though they are able to teach others they may not acceptably teach others in the sense mentioned unlesse for proof of those abilities untill Timothy hath from God committed to them authority likewise But to lead you further abroad Give me leave to open and offer to you these five things and thereto lend me I beseech you your most strict and serious attention 1. There must bee some in the Church who are by Office from Christ authoritatively to teach others 2. They must be qualified for this Office 3. They must have this Office cōmitted to them 4. How it must be cōmitted And 5. Why it must be committed to them First there are to be some in the Church who are by Office authoritatively from Christ to teach others I say by Office but this not civil but spiritual Officers wee are not in the Common-wealth but in the Church to which Christ hath promised I will also make thy Officers peace Isa 60.17 Thus brethren and beloved we may with Paul magnifie our Office * Rom. 11.13 An Office the Ministry is 1 Tim. 3.1 Yea such is the Deaconship ver 10.13 and therefore this much more which as to your want and its worth doth so much transcend that as the Apostles intimate Act. 6.2 What lesse than this that it is an Office doth Paul assert of his own Ministry Rom. 11.13 or assure the Saints of ours when he tells them Rom. 12.4 That as we have many members in one body naturall and all members have not the same Office so 't is in the body mysticall too ver 5.6 wherein Deacons Pastors Teachers and Rulers be in distinct Office as the 7. and 8. verses import So that Preachers are by Office distinct from and dignified above the people Are all Teachers saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 12.29 It is no more possible that all be Ministers or Teachers in the body spiritual than that all be Magistrates in the body civill or that all be Officers in the body military or that all the members be eye or tongue in the body