Selected quad for the lemma: sense_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
sense_n	call_v	church_n	visible_a	1,949	5	9.0907	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A16643	A plaine confutation of a treatise of Brovvnisme, published by some of that faction, entituled: A description of the visible Church In the confutation wherof, is shewed, that the author hath neither described a true gouerment of the Church, nor yet proued, that outward discipline is the life of the Church. Whereunto is annexed an ansvvere vnto two other pamphlets, by the said factioners latelie dispersed, of certaine conferences had with some of them in prison. Wherein is made knowen the inconstancie of this sect, what the articles are which they still maintaine: as also a short confutation of them. There is also added a short ansvvere vnto such argumentes as they haue vsed to proue the Church of England not to be the Church of God.	Alison, Richard, controversialist.	1590 (1590)	STC 355; ESTC S100153	67,007	148

VVell the church of Christ must be guided by his officers and lawes How is this proued Heere is alleaged Matth. 11. 29. where Christ willeth vs to take his yoke on vs. Mark. 13. 34. where is shewed that he hath committed to euerie man his worke in both these he speaketh not of discipline onely he willeth men in all meeknes to walke in their callings VVhereunto is fitly ioyned that of Paul 1. Cor. 11. 16. If any man lust to be contentious we haue no such custom nor the churches of God And I wish with all my heart that he which quoted these places had the grace to practise that doctrine which in them is contained That of Iohn Reue. 22. 9. where the Angel doth forbid Iohn to worship him I acknowledge my ignorance in not conceiuing how it is applied to the matter in hande Keeping the dutie of faith This keeping of faith in the bond of peace loue beeing required in the foresaide officers as the wordes seeme to import cannot be concluded by the places of Scripture which are cited for that purpose Eph. 4. 3. 1. Cor. 1. 13. Mark 9. 50. Iohn 13. 34. 1. Cor. 13. 4. 1. Pet. 1. 22. 1. Iohn 3. 18. for all these one of them onely excepted viz. 1. Co. 13. 4. which describeth the properties of loue are generall exhortations vnto all men not particular to these officers to keep the vnitie of the spirit in the bōd of peace and loue Thus farre of the matter wherof this visible church is framed Now followeth the dignity and glorie thereof Brownist Most ioyfull excellent and glorious things are euerywhere in the Scriptures spoken of this church it is called the citie house temple and mountaine of the eternall God the chosen generation the holy nation the peculiar people the vineyard the garden enclosed the spring shut vp the sealed fountain the orchard of pomgranads with sweete fruites the heritage the kingdome of Christ yea his sister his loue his spouse his queene and his bodie the ioy of the whole earth To this societie is the couenant and all the promises made of peace of loue of saluation of the presence of God of his graces of his power of his protection Answere The excellency of the visible church of God is cōmended vnto vs by the names titles giuen vnto it also by this that the couenant and promises of peace are made vnto it both which we acknoledge with them both iointly and in euery particular title and promise Onely I would haue obferued that some of these quotations are not made in the wisest sort for Heb. 3. 6. and 1. Cor. 3. 17. do not speake of the whole visible church which is a companie of both good and bad which ioyne in one profession but of the faithfull only which are members of the same VVheras the church is called a holy people Zach. 8. 3. 1. Pet. 2. 9. as vpon the like allegation hath bin said it is partly in regard of Gods couenant and partly to put them in remembrance of that holinesse whereunto they are called and wherein they ought to walke and not as if they were void of pollution as our author fantastically dreameth This church is called a vineyard Esay 5. 1. but not in the place cited for this purpose It is compared vnto a garden inclosed but not so called Cant. 4. 12. and Esa. 51. 3. It is called the kingdom of heauen Matth. 11. 12. but in the thirde of Michah alleaged is no such thing In deede in a written copie I finde Math. 3. 2. quoted where the kingdome of God is mentioned not for the visible Church but for that happinesse which is assured in newnesse of life In which sense that of Christ is to be vnderstood Iohn 3. 3. whereas the Church is called the body of Christ. Ephes. 1. 23. It is not meant by the visible but the vniuersall church of God Thus vnder hope to get credit by folding vp a multitude of scriptures in a narrowe roome ignorance hath vnfolded and laide it selfe open to the broad world But why are these titles of the church broght into this treatise Surely that from the excellencie of them might be enforced a perfection But who knoweth not wherefore these titles were giuen and those promises were made vnto the Church viz. that it and euerie member there of might bee assured of Gods loue whereby they might bee comforted in the middest of the reproches of men knowing that the temporal miseries which they endure and the despightfull dealings wherevnto they are subiect shall not be able to ouerwhelme them seeing they are so precious in the eies of God Also that the remebrance of this excellēcy might stir thē vp to looke vnto their cōuersation that as God hath begū to deal graciously with thē so they shuld labor for the cōtinuāce of his loue in a daily mortifieng of their corrupt affections putting on the Lord Iesus in whō only standeth the glorie comfort saftie of the church And surely if this Church be considered in her partes it shall appeare most beautifull yea most wonderfull and rauishing the senses to conceiue much more to beholde what then to inioy so blessed a communion For behold her king and Lord is the king of peace and Lorde himselfe of all glorie She enioyeth most holie and heauenly lawes most faithfull and vigilant pastors most sincere pure teachers most carefull and vpright gouernours most diligent and trustie deacons most louing and sober releeuers a most humble meek obedient faithful louing people euerie stone liuing elect precious euery stone hath his beutie his burden his order al bound to edifie one another exhort reproue comfort one another louingly as to their owne members faithfully as in the eies of God No office here is ambitiously affected no law wrongfully wrested or wilfully neglected no truth hid or peruerted euery one here hath fredom power not disturbīg the peaceable order of the church to vtter his cōplaints griefes freely to reproue the trāsgressiōs errors of any without exceptiō of persons Here is no intrusiō or climbing vp another waie into the sheepfold thē by the holy free electiō of the Lords holy free people that according to the Lords ordinance hūbling thēselues by fasting and praier before the Lorde crauing the direction of his holy spirite for the trial and approuing of his gifts Here is a third matter set down to commend the church vnto vs viz. the glorie excellēcy sincerity of euery part therof being seuerally considered VVhich matter if it could be as soundly proued as it is cōfidently spokē thē were this church in itself without Christ most beutiful yea most wonderfull and euen rauishing the senses to conceiue much more to