Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	bishop_n	church_n	pastor_n	3,273	5	9.0845	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A15866	A guide unto Sion. Or certaine positions, concerning a true visible church Wherein the nature of a true church is so plainely described, as all men may easily decerne the same from false assemblies. Written by a learned and judicious divine.	Learned and Judicious Divine.; Ainsworth, Henry, 1571-1622?, attributed name. aut	1638 (1638)	STC 26125; ESTC S102219	15,484	34

curche being joyned togither in the profession practise of the Gospell of Christ have his 〈◊〉 power and presence with them and is convene or come togither in one for the worship of God performance of publick duties 29. Whatsoever promise or blessing of God is bestowed on the church on earth generally considered the same may be apprehended and injoyed by every particular Church though not in like measure by all as the promises generall and examples particular of the Church in Corinth and others mentioned in the Scripture do confirme 30. The Testament of Christ sheweth us no Provinciall Nationall Emperial or other like Church having several meetings or assemblies and speciall Pastors over the same neyther synce th' Apostles Prophets and Evangelists were takē from this world are there any other lawfull Bishops or church-governours then Bishops or Overseers of the particular churches neyther ever was ther other lawfull Head Lord or Lords spiritual of the church then Iesus Christ alone 31. Vnto the Church are to be admitted all unto whom the covenant and promise of God doth apperteyn and they are so ma●y as the Lord our God shall call and all those are called in the judgements of man which having heard the word of God do professe repentance from dead works and faith in God by Iesus Christ the alone Saviour of the world and promise obedience to the word through the holy Gost the sanctifier of the elect Such of all sorts and estates of people in the world are with their leed to be received into and nourished in the church their ignorance being holpen by instruction their weaknes born by lenity their faults corrected with love and meeknes and their feeble consciences comforted with the promise of God 32. Out of the Church are all such to b● kept as are profane wordly and wicked u●till they be called of God unto repentance and faith in his promise for every Churc● rightlie constituted must consist of faithful● and holy persons Our reasons are these 1. The Scriptures every where so teac● 2. All wicked men are forbidden expres●● by tthe word of God from medling wit● his covenant or ordinances 3. they have no● Christ for their head and therefore cannot be of his bodie 4 The godly and wicked are contraries guided and let by different causes now two contraries are not capable of one and the same forme 5. Only faithfull men worship God aright please him are accepted of him and have right to the covenant of grace and seales thereof The ordinarie officers perpetuallie be longing to all true Churches Are Pastors Teachers Elders Deacons and Helpers The election and ordination of them must be made by the free chose of the congregation of which they are members and wherein they are to administer And this is cleare 1. Because the Apostles who only taught Christs commandements so established the primitive churches 2. The people amongst whome they have been conversant can best judge of their fitnes both in ●espect of their persons and families 3. It ●●rtheretn much the diligence and faithfulness of the minister that they whose minister ●s have freely chosen him as unto whome under Christ they commit the most pretious treasure of their soule as also it bindes the people to greater love and conscience of obedience of him and his ministry whome themselves have made choice of 4. The Church beeing a most free corporation spirituall under Christ the Lord is in all reason and equity to chuse her ministers and servants under him unto whome also she is to giue wages for their service and labour 34. The Pastor must be apt to teach no young scholer able to divide the word a right he must be a man that loveth goodnes he must be wise righteous holy temperate he must be of life unreproveable as God steward he must be generally wel reported of and one that ruleth his owne house hould under obedience with all honestie he must be modest humble meeke gentle loving he must be a man of great patience compassion labour and diligence feed the sheep of Christ in green and wholesome pastures of the word pray for them seale up to them the promises of God by the Sacraments He must alwayes be carefull and watchfull over the Flock of Christ defend it from ravenous beasts and the wolfe and take the little Foxes discerne mens deseases and apply the word according to every disease and every time and occurrant And these things he must doe with all willingnes and chearfulnes not holding his office in respect of persons but doing his duty to every soule as he will answer before the chiefe Shepheard c. 35. The Doctor or Teacher must be a man apt to teach mighty in the Scriptures able to convince the gainsayers He must be of life unreproveable one that can governe his owne househould he must be of manners sober temperate modest gentle and loving Hee must take diligent heed to keepe the Church from errours preserve knowledge build upon the rock which is Iesus Christ gould silver and pretious stones that his worke may endure the triall of the fire and by the light of the same fire reveale the timber hay and stubble of false Teachers And further hee must deliver his doctrine pure sound plaine not with curiosity or affectation but so that it may edifie the most simple approving it to every mans conscience that the Church may increase with the increasing of God and grow up unto him which is the head Christ Iesus 36. That this is an Office different from that of the Pastor is manifest by these reasons 1. The Apostle doth so distinguish them one from another Rom. 12 7 8. Ephes. 4 11. 2. Their gifts appeare to be divers 1 Cor. 12 8. 3. The Pastor is commaunded to take one course in Teaching the Doctor another Rom. 12 7 8. 4. This distinguishing of them makes more for the building of the Church then to unite and make them one 37. The third Officers are Governours or Ruling Elders These men must be of life likewise unreproveable sober gentle loving temperate Governing their owne Families orderly they must bee men of wisedome knowledge and sound judgement able to discerne betweene cause and cruse betweene plea and plea and accordingly to prevent and redresse evils Their especiall care must be to see the Ordinances of God truly taught and practised as well by the officers in doing their duties uprightly as to see the people obey willingly readily It is their dutie to see the congregation holily and quietly ordered and no way disturbed by the contentious and disobedient froward and obstinate Not taking away the liberty of the least but uphoulding the right of all wisely judging of times and circumstances They must be readie assistants to the Pastor and Teacher helping to beare