Selected quad for the lemma: saint_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
saint_n	epistle_n	paul_n	timothy_n	1,469	5	10.7239	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A29122	A sermon ad clerum at the visitation of the deane and chapter there, holden the 19th day of November, anno Dom. 1662 : by the Most Reverend Father in God Acceptus, by Divine Providence Lord Arch-Bishop of York his Grace, Primate of England and Metropolitan / preacht by Thomas Bradley ...	Bradley, Thomas, 1597-1670.	1663 (1663)	Wing B4137; ESTC R36506	23,744	42

whom the Epistle is directed The Angel of the Church we are to consider 1. What is meant by this Angel 2. Who in particular this Angel was 3. Whether under that Name he understand some one particular Person onely or whether there were any more included under that name 4. Why he is represented under the name and notion of an Angel To the Angel of the Church of Ephesus Then out of the next part of the Text The Person from whom the Epistle is sent we are to consider out of the first part of his description Holding the seven Starrs in his right hand what or who are meant by these seven Starrs whether it may not be literally understood of that famous Constellation clearly visible in our Horizon in dorso Tauri called by Astronomers the Pleyades by our vulgar people in plain English the seven starrs Or if not them then who or what else is meant by them And thirdly Why represented under the similitude of the seven Starrs And next What is meant by his holding of them in his right hand Then out of the next part of his Description as he is represented Walking between the seven golden Candlesticks we are to enquire VVhat these golden Candlesticks are who they are that are represented by them and why And lastly what is meant by his walking in the midst of them not sitting nor standing but walking Non in angulo sed in medio in the midst of them Out of the third part The speciall notice that he takes of their works We are to consider what works he means and how and why he is so exact in observing them and taking notice of them All these things clearly offer themselves to our consideration and enquiry And if I should methodically and exactly treat of them all I might well continue my Discourse as large as Paul did his Sermon which he Preach't to this very Church Acts 20. till Starr-light and till we should have occasion to make use of these Candlesticks here before us to finish it But I am commanded brevity and I will observe it as well as I can in so copious a subject as this is in which Crede mihi labor est non levis esse brevis But I have heard of foure sorts of Preachers The Quoter the Noter the Taunter and the Flaunter Amongst all these upon this account I shall fall in with the second sort I shall neither Taunt nor Flaunt nor fill the Margin with Quotations but onely note as it were with an asterisme and point with the singer at those things which are most remarkable tanquam Canis ad Nilum hint and away And first of the Person unto whom this Epistle is directed here represented to us under the Name and Notion of an Angel To the Angel of the Church of Ephesus First VVhat was this Angel Pererius tells and generally the current of Interpreters that by the Angel here is meant the Bishop of the Church of Ephesus Per Angelum hunc non alium intelligimus quam Episcopum Ecclesiae Ephesinae By the Angel here we understand none other but the Bishop of Ephesus And reason it self suggests it for it is clear by that which we Reade Acts 20. and in the Epistle written by Saint Paul to Timothy That there were many Pastors and Teachers in that Metropoliticall Church yet our Lord writing unto the Church doth not direct his Epistle indifferently to them all but to one more eminent then all the rest one that was Superintendent over all the rest whom here he stiles The Angel of that Church though there were many Pastors and Teachers in that great and populous City yet they are not all indifferently styled Angels although they might all in a way of resemblance be styled Angels yet not all nor any of the rest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Angel But to this Person he writes as to one more eminent then all the rest to one that had power authority and jurisdiction over the rest whom here he styleth by an Emphasis and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by an excellency 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Angel To the Angel of the Church of Ephesus Note It appears then there were distinctions and different Orders and Degrees among the Clergy from the beginning even under the Gospel In our Saviours time there was first himself the Prince of the Order then the Apostles then the Evangelists then the seventy Disciples all Ministers of the Gospel But can you imagine that all these were of equall Dignity in the Church In Titus 1.5 Saint Paul authorizes Titus to Ordain Elders in every Church That the Elders were Teaching Elders it appears by their Ordination But can any man imagine that these Elders Ordeined by Titus and Titus Ordaining and Saint Paul authorizing Titus to Ordain them were all of an equall authority in the Church Ejusdem Ordinis ejusdem Dignitatis ejusdem Potestatis Reason it self speaks the contrary In Heaven above there is an Hierarchy we Reade of Angels and Arch-Angels c. And why should it seem so strange that there is such an one here below and that we should heare of Bishops and Arch-Bishops c. If it be usefull in the Church Triumphant surely in the Church Militant much more So it was here in this Church of Ephesus there were many Pastors many Priests or Ministers belonging to it and Ministring in it yet among all the rest one more eminent then the rest of greater Dignity Power and Authority then the rest here styled The Angel of the Church To the Angel òf the Church of Ephesus The second Quaery is Who in particular this Angel was then Bishop in that See And 't is generally noted to be Timothy Sure we are that Timothy was Bishop there and that much about this time We have Scripture for that in the Close of the second Epistle to Timothy where Paul Dates and Directs his Epistle thus The second Epistle to Timothy Ordained the first Bishop of the Church of the Ephesians Written from Rome when Paul was brought bèfore Nero the second time After whom Saint John himself that writ this Epistle Succeeded him in the same See where he lived many years and at last ended his dayes a very old Man and dyed in Peace in his Bed and so did none of the Apostles but he all the rest being Crowned with Martyrdome For the latter of these we have the History of the Church But for the former we have the Canonicall Scripture it self to confirm it So that you cannot cast Bishops out of the Church Root and Branch as the cry goes among some of you except you will burn your Bibles 3. But why doth he write in the singular number To the Angel of the Church as to one VVere there no more concerned in it Surely yes all the Clergy at the least so Rupertus Dum ad Angelum scribit ad totum Clerum scribit VVhen he writes to the Angel or Bishop of the Church he Writes to

the whole body of the Clergy of that Church Lyra goes further In Angelo Ecclesiae totam affatur Ecclesiam In the Angel of the Church he speaks to the whole Church however most especially to the Pastors and Ministers of it But why in the singular number as to one but because he was their Chief he was their Governour he had the oversight of all the rest he had the Charge of them as they had of the Flock of Christ and of the Congregations under him he was to give them their Charge to set them upon their Duty and to see that they did discharge it accordingly and therefore as if they were all involved in him and included in him whatsoever is found good in them is imputed unto him and he is commended for it whatsoever is found reproveable in them is charged upon him all along throughout the whole Epistle and he is blamed for it Judge you then if he and all his Successors in the like Charge have not reason to look into the Carriage and Behaviour of those which are so immediately under their Government and under their Charge if they have not reason as their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to Oversee them to Visit them to take an Account of them how they carry in their Places and discharge their Duties in their severall Charges Surely it is but reasonable and necessary that he should take an Account of others which is to give an Account for others unto God and such is the Case in the Text To the Angel of the Church is the Epistle directed of him is the Account required for all that are under his Charge and Government especially his Clergy To the Angel of the Church of Ephesus Write But the main thing offered out of this superscription of the Epistle to be inquired into is this Why it is Directed to the Bishop or who ever else are included in it under the Name and Notion of an Angel To the Angel of the Church And Saint Augustine gives the Reason in a word Propter similitudinem for the likenesse that is between them and for the many properties wherein all Bishops Pastors and Ministers of the Church should resemble the Angels and the resemblances between them for which they are called by that Name are principally these five 1. Propter Dignitatem For the Honour and Dignity that God hath put upon them God hath Clothed them with Honour and Dignity above their Brethren and hath Anointed them with the Oyle of Grace and gladnesse above their fellows Hath Dignified them with the highest Titles that Men can be capable of Spirituall Fathers Pastors Rulers Embassadors Starrs Angels that they may be Honourable in the Eyes of the People it is much for his own Honour that it should be so it is for the Honour of his Service that it should be so it is much for the advantage of their Ministery that it should be so it is for the Honour of the People that it should be so and therefore hath he Commanded that we should account them worthy of double Honour if not for their own sake yet for their works sake and for their Masters sake we should not think much to Honour them whom God doth Honour And let them whom God hath thus Honoured take heed they doe not dishonour him nor themselves Remember the Item given to Elyes Sonns in this very case Those which Honour me I will Honour but those that despise me shall be despised 1 Sam. 2.30 made good Malach. 2.9 2. Propter Ministrationem Pastors and Ministers of the Church are called Angels for the likenesse of their Ministration with that of the Angels Angels are Ministring Spirits sent out for the good of those that shall be the Heires of salvation Heb. 1.14 Pastors and Ministers are such for all the world called commissionated and sent out for the good of those that shall be the Heires of Salvation to Preach unto them the Gospel of Grace To Publish and Declare unto them the Mistery of Godlinesse To Proclaime the glad tydings of Salvation To Instruct them in the way of Life To Comfort to Confirme them to strengthen them and every way to Build them up upon their most holy Faith and so to fit and prepare them for the Glory that is intended them their very Name imports their Duty Angels Messengers from God to Man And the Message that they bring is good 't is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 good newes tydings of Peace and of good things How beautifull therefore ought their very Feet to be upon the Mountains which are shod with the preparation of such Gospel 3. Angels Propter Scientiam Sapientiam for their wisedom and knowledge Angels are wise and knowing Spirits As an Angel of God so is my Lord the King to discern good and evill sayes the widdow of Tekoah to David 2. Sam. 14.17 And verse the 20. My Lord the King is Wise as an Angel of God to know all things Angels are wise and knowing Spirits such ought Pastors and Ministers of Churches to be Wise and Knowing The Priests Lips must preserve Knowledge and the people shall seek the Law at his Mouth for he is the Messenger of the Lord of Hosts Malac. 2.7 The Roman Orator was wont to say of the Lawyers House that it was Oraculum Civitatis the Oracle of the City I am sure it ought to be so of the Divines The Divines Residentiary House ought to be Oraculum Civitatis from whence any of the People ought to fetch Instruction Direction Resolution Satisfaction in all their Doubts and Difficulties Tanquam ab Oraculo as from an Oracle and this requires much knowledge wisedome and prudence He must not be a Novice saith Saint Paul 1 Tim. 3.6 He must be as a Steward saith our Saviour plentifully furnished that may bring out of his Treasury things New and Old God will not send a Message by the Leggs of the Lame nor make Blind men Seers nor Dumbe men his Orators Vbi desinit Philosophus ibi incipit Medi●us It was wont to be said Where the Philosopher ends there the Physitian begins I am sure it ought to be so with the Divines Arts and Sciences Knowledge in the Learned Languages Histories and all other kinds of Humane Learning were wont to be accounted the Stayres into the Pulpit the Handmaids to Divinity But how ordinary hath it been in these latter and looser Times for young Neophytes to skip over all these at one jumpe into the Pulpit and there with great Confidence and Impudence the onely Armour of Ignorance to vent their own raw Fancies or such things which they have taken up upon Trust from such Authors as they have light upon or what they have taken from the Mouth of their admired Teachers by Brachygraphie and so Communicate them unto the people apt to take any new Impressions and fill them with varietie of Fancies and Innovations The fourth property wherein the Bishops Pastors and Ministers of Churches doe

resemble the Angels and for which they are so called is Propter Celeritatem for their readinesse chearfulnesse and swiftnesse in Executing the Commands of Almighty God Angels are represented to us Winged and those Wings not let down and clapt to their sides but raised up expansit and stretched out to shew their readinesse to execute the will of the Heavenly Father they stand in his presence their Eye is upon him they doe but watch for the word of Command and presently they are upon the Wing They doe not goe but runne not runne but fly such should be our readinesse in doing the will of our God we must not runne before we be sent but being sent we must not linger delay nor make excuses we must not Drive heavily in his Service the wheeles of our obedience must be oyled with Chearfulnesse and Alacrity that we may move swiftly in all our Duties and Performances as we dayly Pray so we must dayly Practise That his will may be done on Earth as it is in Heaven and we see how the Angels doe his will with winged Chearfulnesse and Swiftnesse Goe thou and doe likewise The fifth resemblance for which Bishops Pastors and Ministers of the Church are styled Angels is Propter Puritatem for their Holinesse and Purity Angels are pure Creatures so had they need be that stand in the presence of the holy God and are admitted so neer unto him in this respect we must be as the Angels and that upon the same account Moses tells Korah Numb 16.9 That the Lord had taken him neer unto him to doe the service of the Tabernacle Even so we that are the Lords Priests set a part to doe the service of the Tabernacle and to Minister before him in holy things are taken neer unto the Lord And he hath said He will be sanctified in them that come neer him Levit. 10. Oh what a hatefull thing it is to God and Man to see a profane person polluted and besmeared with all manner of impiety impurity and uncleannesse to draw neer to God in holy Services with his polluted Heart polluted Lips polluted Life and polluted Hands to pollute all that he toucheth it is a wonder that in such cases the holy God doth not break out upon them to strike them through with a Thunderbolt or by Fire from Heaven avenge himself upon their presumption as he did upon Nadab and Abihu in the like Case and for the same Sinn Levit. 10. And how hatefull it is to Man we may perceive by that which Ely his Sonns are Charged with in the same Case 1 Sam. 2.17 You make the Lords People to abhorre the Sacrifice of the Lord. Woe be to us if through our profannesse or irreverent handling of holy things we make the Lords People to abhorre the Sacrifice of the Lord take heed we handle holy things in a holy manner that we put off our Shooes when we approach the burning Bush and stand upon holy Ground that we wash our Hands in innocency before we compasse the Altar All the washings and purifyings under the Law did but Typically Teach us how holy we ought to be Our very Garments that we wears reade unto us Lectures of holinesse and purity In the Consecration of Aaron to the Office of the Priesthood among other Religious Ceremonies it was Commanded That the Blood of the Sacrifice should be Sprinkled upon his right Eare and upon the Thumbe of his right Hand and upon the great Toe of his right Foot And what did all this signifie but that the Lords Priests must be Sanctified throughout and from Top to Toe Consecrated as holy unto the Lord. The Motto of the High-Priests Miter was Holinesse to the Lord It should be the Motto of every one of our Hearts our Lips our Lives and all our Service should Proclaime Holinesse to the Lord. We are here styled Angels to shew That we should walk before the Lord even in Angelicall purity and holinesse We should now come to speak of the Person from whom this Epistle is sent But by the way we may not omit the Charge here given to Saint John concerning the things to be signified unto the Church from him and that is To Write them down To the Angel of the Church of Ephesus Write Saint John had been an Authentique Messenger to have delivered Viva voce byword of Mouth a Message from Christ to the Church But Christ doth not think that sufficient but he must Write The Reason was Those things that he there wrote to that Church did concern all other Christian Churches to the worlds end He that hath an Eare must hearken unto them And therefore that they may come to the knowledge of them it was necessary they should be written Secondly Things delivered by word of Mouth and so transmitted from Mouth to Mouth by Tradition are subject to be corrupted misreported to admit of Addition Diminution Alteration there can be no certainty in them but Litera Scripta manet Away then with all your Popish Traditions Anabaptisticall Revelations Fallacious 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vnwritten Verities as they call them when you speak of the Canon whereby we should be directed in matters of Faith and Manners in order to our Eternall salvation God hath better provided for his Church then so By giving us a more sure Word of the Prophets and Apostles and our Lord himself all in Writing unto which we shall doe well to take heed as to the Lights shining in a dark place to guide our Feet in the wayes of truth life and peace We now come to consider of the Person from whom the Epistle is sent Intererit multum Davusne loquatur berusne It adds much to the luster and authority of that which is written to consider from whom it is written And that is here from this wonderfull Person described in the Text by Holding the seven Starrs in his right hand and walking in the midst of the seven Golden Candlesticks As the Prophet Isay once askt the question Isay 63.1 Who is this that commeth from Edom with Garments died red from Bozrah So here Who is this wonderfull Person which here we see walking in the midst of the seven Golden Candlesticks Why It is none other but the Sonne of God the Lord of the Candlesticks and the owner of them the very same which we saw before bolding the seven Starrs in his right hand But hath he no Name Yes But the Spirit thought it more fit to represent him here in a Glorious Vision to set him forth in such a Heavenly Description and Periphrasis as might strike in the Church an awfull reverence of so Divine a Majesty to tremble at his Word and carefully to heed it in the promises the Threatnings the Instructions the Admonitions the Reprehensions and all the severall dispensations of it as the Word of the Mighty God and not of Man the King Chiefe Priest and Prophet of the Church and one that was perpetually in the midst