Selected quad for the lemma: sense_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
sense_n	church_n	invisible_a	visible_a	2,874	5	9.2871	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A51037	Propositions concerning the subject of baptism and consociation of churches collected and confirmed out of the word of God, by a synod of elders and messengers of the churches in Massachusets-Colony in New-England ; assembled at Boston, according to appointment of the honoured General Court, in the year 1662, at a General Court held at Boston in New-England the 8th of October, 1662.	Mitchel, Jonathan, 1624-1668.	1662 (1662)	Wing M2292; ESTC R380	36,245	49

exclude the least in age from the good of that promise Heb 8 11 they being sometimes pointed to by that phrase from the least to the greatest Jer. 44.12 with verse 7. no more then the least in other respects compare Isa 54.13 In Acts 2.39 at the passing of those Jews into New Testament Church estate the Lord is so far from repealing the Covenant-interest that was granted unto children in the former Testament or from making the children there losers by their Parents faith that he doth expresly renew the old grant and tells them that the promise or covenant for the promise and the covenant are terms that do mutually infer each other compare Acts 3.25 Gal. 3.16 17 18 29. Rom. 4.16 Heb. 6 17 is to them and to their children and the same is asserted to be the appointed portion of the far off Gentiles when they should be called By all which it appeareth that the covenant of Abraham Gen. 17.7 whereby God is the God of the faithfull and their seed continues under the Gospel Now if the seed of the faithful be still in the covenant of Abraham then they are members of the visible Church 1. Because that covenant of Abraham Gen. 17.7 was properly church-covenant or the covenant which God makes with his visible church i. e. the covenant of grace considered in the external dispensation of it and in the promises and priviledges that belong to that dispensation For many were taken into that covenant that were never of the invisible church and by that covenant the family of Abraham as also by the renewing thereof the house of Israel afterward were established the visible church of God Gen. 17. and Deut. 29 12 13. and from that covenant men might be broken off Gen. 17 14. Rom. 11.17 19. and to that covenant Circumcision the badg of church-membership was annexed Therefore the covenantees therein were are church-members 2. Because in that covenant the seed are spoken of in terms describing or inferring church-membership as well as their parents for they have God for their God and are his people as well as the parents Gen. 17 7 8. with Deut 29 11 13. They have the covenant made with them Deut 29 14 15. and the covenant is said to be between God them between me thee and between thy seed after thee so the Hebrew runs Gen 17 7. They are also in that covenant appointed to be the subjects of the initiatory seal of the covenant the seal of membership Gen. 17 9 10 11. Therefore the seed are according to that covenant members of the visible church as well as their parents Such seed or children are federally holy 1 Cor. 7.14 Argum 2 The word holy as applied to any sort of persons is never in Scripture used in a lower sense than for federal or covenant-holiness the covenant-holiness of the visible Church but very often in that sense Ezra 9 2. Deut 7 6. 14 2 21 26 19 28 9 Exod 19 6 Dan 8 24 12 7 Rom 11 16 So that to say they are holy in this sense viz. by covenant-relation and separation to God in his Church is as much as to say they are in the covenant of the visible church or members of it From Mark 10 14 15 16 Mat 19 14 Argum 3 childrens membership in the visible Church is either the next and immediate sense of those words of Christ Of such is the kingdome of heaven and so the kingdome of heaver or of God is not rarely used in other Scriptures to express the visible church or church-estate Mat. 25 1 21 43 8.11 12 or it evidently follows from any other sense that can rationally be given of the words For those may not be denied a place and portion in the visible church whom Christ affirms to have a portion in the kingdome either of invisible grace or of eternal glory Nor do any in ordinary course pass into the Kingdome of Glory hereafter but through the Kingdome of Grace in the visible Church here Adde also that Christ there graciously invites and calls little children to him is greatly displeased with those that would hinder them asserts them notwithstanding their infancy to be exemplary in receiving the kingdome of God embraceth them in his arms and blesseth them all which shews Christ's dear affection to and owning of the children of the Church as a part of his kingdome whom we therefore may not disown lest we incurre his displeasure as the Disciples did Such seed or children are disciples according to Mat 28 19 Argum 4 as appears 1. Because subjects of Christ's Kingdome are equivalent with disciples there as the frame of that Text shews verse 18 19 20. but such children are subjects of Christ's Kingdome or of the kingdome of heaven Mat 19 14 In the discipling of all Nations intended in Mat. 28.19 the kingdome of God which had been the portion of the Jews was communicated to the Gentiles according to Mat. 21.43 But in the kingdome of God these children have an interest or portion Mark 10.14 2. The Apostles in accomplishing that commission Mat. 28.19 did disciple some children viz. the children of discipled parents Acts 2.39 15.10 They are there called and accounted disciples whom the false teachers would have brought under the yoke of circumcision after the manner of Moses verse 1 5. But many of those were children Exod. 12.48 Acts 21.21 Lydia and her houshold the Jaylor and all his were discipled and baptized Acts 16.15 31 33. Paul at Corinth took in the children into the holy school of Christ 1 Cor 7.14 3. Such children belong to Christ for he calls them to him as his to receive his blessing Mark 10 13-16 They are to be received in his Name Mark 9.37 Luke 9 48. They have a part in the Lord Jost 22.24.25 therefore they are disciples for to belong to Christ is to be a disciple of Christ Mark 9.41 with Mat. 10.42 Now if they be disciples then they are members of the visible church as from the equivalency of those terms was before shewed The whole current and harmony of Scripture shews Argum 5 that ever since there was a visible church on earth the children thereof have by the Lords appointment been a part of it So it was in the Old and it is and shall be so in the New Testament Eve the mother of all living hath a promise made Gen. 3.15 not only of Christ the head-seed but through him also of a Church-seed to proceed from her in a continued lineal succession which should continually be at visible enmity with and stand at a distance or be separated from the seed of the Serpent Under that promise made to Eve and her seed the children of Adam are born and are a part of the Church in Adam's family even Cain was so Gen. 4.1 3. till cast out of the presence of God therein verse 14. being now manifestly one of the seed of the Serpent 1

cause for it many of the Elders in these Churches both such as are now living and sundry who are now deceased did declare their judgements as aforesaid and this many years ago Secondly Touching Consociation of Churches take these few Testimonies in stead of many more that might be alledged Mr. Cotton Keyes p. 54 55. It is a safe and wholsome and holy Ordinance of Christ for particular Churches to joyn together in holy Covenant or Communion Consociation among themselves to administer all their Church-affairs which are of weighty and difficult and common concernment not without common consultation and consent of other Churches about them And how it is so he there sheweth in all the particulars See also p. 24 25 47 59. Mr. Hooker Survey see part 4. p. 1 2. p. 45. And in the Preface he professeth his consent with Mr. R. That Consociation of Churches is not only lawful but in some cases necessary That when causes are difficult and particular Churches want light and help they should crave the assistance of such a Consociation That Churches so meeting have right to Counsel Rebuke c. as the case doth require And in case any particular Church shall walk pertinaciously either in the profession of Errour or sinful Practise and will not hear their counsel they may and should renounce the right hand of fellowship with them And after he sets down this of Consociation of Churches amongst other things wherein he had leave to profess the joynt Judgement of all the Elders upon the River of New-haven Guilford Milford Stratford Fairfield and most of the Elders in the Bay By which it is clear that this point of Consociation of Churches is no new invention of these times but was taught and professed in New-England many years agoe for so it was we see in Mr. Hooker's time and it is now above fifteen years since he departed this life To these of our own Ministers we shall only adde a passage in the Apologetical Narration of Dr. Goodwyn Mr. Nye Mr. Sidrach Simpson Mr. Burroughes and Mr. Bridge wherein besides much more to this purpose touching the Remedy provided in the Congregational-way for mal-Administrations or other miscarriages in Churches p. 16-21 They set it down in p. 27. as their past and present Profession That it is the most to be abhorred Maxime that any Religion hath ever made profession of and therefore of all other the most contradictory and dishonourable unto that of Christianity that a single and particular Society of men professing the Name of Christ and pretending to be endowed with a Power from Christ to judge them that are of the same Body and Society within themselves should further arrogate unto themselves an exemption from giving account or being censurable by any other either Christian Magistrate above them or Neighbour-Churches about them See also Mr. Burroughes Heart-Divis pag 43 47. Brethren bear with us Were it for our own Sakes or Names or Interests we should not be sollicitous to beg Charity of you With us it is a small thing to be judged of man's day But it is for your sakes for your children's sake and for the Lord's sake that we intreat for a charitable candid and considerate Acceptation of our labour herein It is that the Congregations of the Lord might be established before Him in Truth and Peace and that they might have one heart and one way in the fear of God for the good of them and of their children after them Do we herein seek our selves our own advantage ease or glory Surely we feel the contrary What is it we desire but that we might do our utmost to carry your poor Children to Heaven and that we might see these Churches bound up together in the Bonds of Truth and Peace Forgive us this wrong But should the Church-education of your children be by the want of your hearty concurrence rendred either unfeizible or ineffectual should they live as Lambs in a large place for want of your agreement to own them of the Flock we beseech you to consider how uncomfortable the account hereof would be another day We pray with the Apostle that you do no evil not that we should appear approved but that you should do that which is good and right though we be rejected For we can do nothing against the truth but for the truth and this also we wish even your perfection 2 Cor. 13.7 8 9. However we hope after-ages will bear witness that we have been in some measure faithful to the Truth in these things and to this part of Christs Kingdome also in our generation But we may not let pass this opportunity without a word of Caution and Exhortation to the Youth of the Country the children of our Churches whose Interest we have here assorted Be not you puffed up with Priviledges but humbled rather in the awful sense of the Engagement Duty and Danger that doth attend them It is an high favour to have a place in Bethel in the house of God and in the gate of Heaven but it is a Dreadful place God will be sanctified in all that come nigh him A place nigh unto God or among his people who are near to him Ps 148.14 is a place of great fear Psa 89.7 Take heed therefore unto your selves when owned as the people of the Lord your God Deut. 27.9 10. lest there should be among you any root that beareth gall and wormwood Take heed that you do not with a spirit of pride and haughtiness or of vanity and slightness either challenge or use any of your Priviledges Think not to bear the Name of Christians without bearing the Yoke of Christ Remember that all Relations to God and to his people do come loaden with Duty and all Gospel-duty must be done in humility The wayes of the Lord are right and the humble and serious shall walk in them but proud Transgressors shall fall therein Be not sons of Belial that can bear no yoke Learn subjection to Christs holy Government in all the parts and wayes thereof Be subject to your godly Parents Be subject to your spirtiual Fathers and Pastors and to all their instructions Admonitions and Exhortations Be subject unto faithful Brethren and to words of counsel and help from them Ye younger submit your selves unto the elder and to that end be clothed with humility Lye under the Word and Will of Christ as dispensed and conveyed to you by all his appointed Instruments in their respective places Break not in upon the Lord's Table or upon the Priviledges of full Communion without due qualification and orderly admission thereunto lest you eat and drink your own damnation Be ordered and take not upon you to order the affairs of Gods Family that is not the place of those who are yet but in the state of Initiation and Education in the Ch●rch of God Carry it in all things with a spirit of humility modesty sobriety and fear that our soules may not