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sense_n church_n member_n visible_a 3,354 5 9.6016 5 true
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A19634 The guide vnto true blessednesse. Or, A body of the doctrine of the Scriptures, directing man to the sauing knowledge of God. Collected by Sam. Crooke Crook, Samuel, 1575-1649. 1613 (1613) STC 6066; ESTC S117175 109,968 342

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place as the Churches of Iudea Asia England France Germanie c. which all beeing b 1. Tim. 3.15 one yet as the sea receiue seuerall names from the countries where through they passe and are c Reu. 1.11 accounted as so many seuerall Churches Q. Must not then this one visible Church haue one visible head here on earth A. No For it is visible not in the whole but in the parts whereto the circumstances of time and place for opportunitie of visible profession do agree and therefore as Catholike or vniuersall the Church hath no head but d Ephes 1.22.23 Christ alone alwaies e Mat 28.20 present by his word and spirit to giue f Gal. 2.20 life sense and motion to euery member Q. Is the Church alwaies visible in her parts A. Christ hath and g Rom. 11.1 2 3 4. euer had from the beginning his Church visible vpon earth that is some companies of beleeuers making profession of the same common faith howbeit many times by persecution forced to a Reu. 12.14 hide themselues from the eye of the world happily by the rage of the enemie so scattered that as in the b 1. Kin. 19 10 daies of Elias they can hardly be knowne or haue entercourse betweene themselues Q. What are the infallible notes wherby to discerne a true visible Church with which we may safely ioyne A. The same and no other which are the onely outward meanes ordained by God for the calling and gathering of his Saints and which giue being to a Church prouing it to bee a c 1. Tim. 3.15 pillar of truth viz. the d Mat. 28.19 20. word preached and Sacraments administred according to the commandement of Christ our Sauiour as for other notes they are either 1. Accidentall and in great part separable or 2. Vtterly impertinent forged for the vpholding of the Romish synagogue Q. May not such a Church erre and bee corrupted or fall and become no Church A. 1. The Church considered in her true members can a Mat. 16.18 Phil. 1.6 1. Thes 5.24 neuer vtterly fall howsoeuer b Cant. 1.4 no congregation bee so pure that it may be said at any time to be free from all corruption or so constant but that at times it may be shaken in the very foundation of truth as may appeare by the churches of c 1. Cor. 15.12.33 Corinth d Gal. 3.1 c Galatia c. 2. Being considered with respect to the place God doth not alwaies continue a succession of true beleeuers within the same limits and borders and hence we say that diuers Churches are fallen as those of Asia c. neither is any place so priuiledged but that for sinne the e Reu. 2.5 Candlesticke may in time bee thence remoued Q. How may wee iudge of a Church corrupt or ceasing to be a Church A. 1. Where God vtterly a Act. 13.46 taking away the meanes of his word and worship hath apparently giuen the * Esay 50.1 bill of diuorce there are wee not to acknowledge any Church at all as at this day in Ierusalem once the holy Citie 2. But where these meanes are yet continued wee are to acknowledge a b Reu. 2 1● 13 Church of Christ howsoeuer more or lesse corrupt according to the greater or lesse abuse of Gods word and worship Q. Since Churches may be so diuersly corrupted from which and how farre are we to separate A. From Churches mortally sicke of c T it 3.10 11 heresie or d Reu. 18.4 idolatry as it were of a contagious plague or leprosie wee are to separate Howbeit whiles there is yet any life rather from the scab or sore then from the bodie that is from the preuailing faction maintaining fundamentall errours and forcing to idolatrous worship Such is our separation from the present Church of Rome not from such therein who either meaning well in generall are a Reu. 2.24 ignorant of the depth of Satan or b 1 ●●n 19.18 secretly dissent from those damnable corruptions with whom as a bodie yet retaining life wee desire to c Phil. 1.18 ioyne so farre as wee may with safety from the foresaid contagion Q. Are wee to continue fellowship with all other Churches not so deadly and dangerously corrupt A. From Churches holding the foundation in substance of faith and worship though otherwise not free from blemish wee are d 1. K●n. 15.14 2● 43 not to separate farther then in dislike and refusall of that wherein they doe apparently separate from Christ in respect either of maners doctrine or forme of publique worship Q. To conclude touching the Church what distinction is there of the particular members A. 1. Generally they are all the e Ephes 3 15 familie of Christ and f Ioh. 10.2 3 4. sheepe of his flocke hearing his voice and following him 2. More specially out of these Christ the chiefe Prince and Shepheard hath instituted as guides vnto rest 1. a 1. Cor. 12 28 Ministers called Pastors b Joh. 21.15 1. Pet. 5.2 to feede his flocke with the wholesome foode of the word and Sacraments 2. Princes and Magistrates to see to the wayes of his houshold that all both c 2. Chro. 35.3 c. 34. ver 32 33 Ministers and people doe their office and dutie euen in things concerning God SECT XX. Of our Communion with Christ in regard of his Priestly office viz. our Justification Q. THus much of the benefit flowing vnto vs from the Propheticall Office of Christ what fruit haue we of his Priestly function A. Our a Rom. 3.25 2. Cor. 5.19 Reconciliation with GOD through him made vnto vs of God b 1. Cor. 1.30 righteousnesse whereby alone we are perfectly c Ro. 8.33 34 iustified i. acquitted accounted iust in the sight of God Q. How doth Christ become righteousnesse vnto vs for iustification in the sight of God A. Onely by Gods free and gracious d Ro. 5.18 19 imputation of the righteousnes of Christ vnto vs e Phil. 3.9 in which as in the garment of our elder Brother wee are accepted and obtaine the blessing from him our heauenly Father Q. What righteousnesse of Christ is it that God imputeth to vs A. Not the essentiall righteousnesse of his diuine nature but onely that perfect f Heb. 7.26 integritie of the humane nature which in him was without all guile and that absolute obedience whereby in that nature of ours hee 1. g Mat. 3.15 Fulfilled in act euery branch of the law of God 2. a Esay 53.5 1. Pet. 2.24 1. Joh. 2.2 Satisfied by his sufferings for the sinnes of the whole world of his Elect. Q. How can Christs righteousnesse be accounted ours A. Because it is in CHRIST not as in a person seuered from vs but as in the head of our common nature the second Adam b Rom. 5.19 from whom therefore it is