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	universal_a	visible_a	1,862	5	9.6958	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A33925	The body of divinity, or, A confession of faith being the substance of Christianity, containing the most material things relating to matters both of faith and practice : published for the benefit and profit of all, especially those who love the Lord Jesus ... / by Thomas Collier.	Collier, Thomas, fl. 1691.	1674 (1674)	Wing C5268; ESTC R23929	303,320	630

to be the universal visible Church would perswade us that the visible Church of Christ have in it multitudes of Hypocrites though it 's true that Hypocrites have been and it 's like are and may be in the true Church of Christ yet they have no right and must give an account for their being there Mat. 22. 12. Luk. 26. 27. And surely they do bad work and draw a bad conclusion from the premises that is because Christ's Church may have Hypocrites in it they will pretend a Church for him of openly profane and ungodly Hypocrites But to prove that the visible constituted Churches of Christ are or should be true Believers this appeareth 1. From the way of entrance which is by Faith Repentance and Baptism Matt. 28. 19 20. Mar. 16. 15 16. Act. 2. 39 41. None must enter but in this way to let us to know that none else ought to be there 2. From the provision made for them when they are come in that they may find feeding for their souls according to the promise Joh. 10. 9. That is his holy appointments that lead to him who is the true Bread of Life for their building up in the Faith till they come to Glory Act. 2. 42. Eph. 4. 11 12 13. And truly we cannot rationally nor religiously imagine that he hath given such Gifts and left us such Ordinances to build up a company of profane and godless persons I think they are profane thoughts in those that think it 3. The order he hath left in his Church to exclude Hypocrites when discovered evidently declares that he never intended to have a Church of Hypocrites Matt. 18. 15 16 17. 1 Cor. 5. 7 8 13. 2 Tit. 2. 21. 4. It appeareth by the Titles given to the Church of Christ they are called Saints that is holy ones sanctified in Christ Jesus called to be Saints holy Brethren partakers of the heavenly calling the body of Christ and members in particular a chosen Generation a royal Priesthood an holy Nation c. With many like expressions all which do more than evidently demonstrate that Jesus Christ never intended to have his Church to be a den of Hypocrites and cage of unclean and hateful birds but to be an holy people to shew forth his praise in the World This is the visible Kingdom of Christ in this World though not of the World and those powers on earth that oppose his rule and government by his Laws in his Church are very bad neighbours to him he is content to let them have the outward regality and his subjects on that account to be subject to them and is a good neighbour to them and will do them no wrong but good all their daies if they would but be friendly to him and his for by him it is that Kings Reign but if they will not permit him his right what will be the issue is easy to be discerned Ps 2. 10 11 12. 2. The word Church of Christ does sometimes intend all true Believers in the World whether in or out of particular constituted Churches and this is it which is so commonly called the invisible Church which is indeed in some sense invisible that is none can certainly know the true believers but God alone 2 Tim. 2. 19. The Lord knoweth them that are his and none else no not themselves some of them and at some times yet in some sense the Church thus considered is visible in the world and do visibly own the Lord according to the measure of means and light enjoyed the Church thus considered I take to be intended in these Scriptures Rom. 10. 11 12 13. 1 Cor. 1. 2. Eph. 1. 21 22 23. where the Church is called The body and fulness of Christ Col. 1. 24. and as it is without question that in all ages many of the visible Church in profession have miscarried being none of Christs body truly the Church taking its denomination from the better part though all ought to be such so likewise we are in charity to judge that many may be out of the right constituted visible Church and Churches of Christ that are Members though it s none of their virtue so to be God hath his people in Babylon Rev. 18. 4. and his Church on this account hath he had in the world throughout all ages Eph. 3. 21. although for a long while but little of visibleness according to Gospel rule did appear and that is it I understand is intended Rev. 11. 1 2. Where the Worshippers are measured rather by the spiritualness of their invisible Worshipping then by the rule of their Ordinances Order and publick bearing up the name of Christ in this matter being troden under foot of the Gentiles that is of the Babylonish and Antichristian world and this is it I take to be the Universal and in some sort visible Church of Christ in the World the body of which all true believers are Members 3. The word Church sometimes intends all the elect of God and this is the invisible Church as to man and this is evident from the Scriptures Eph. 5. 25. Christ loved the Church before it was visible and gave himself for it So Heb. 12. 22. we read of the Vniversal Church of the first born c. the Church in this sense includes all the Elect but it is the bounden duty of all true believers to get themselves into the visible Profession of Christ and bearing up his Name in the World according to the rules by him prescribed and the highest and best light they have or may attain therefrom in this matter and to be under the government of Christ in some particular constituted Church of his CHAP. XXVIII Of the Ordinances Officers and Administrations in the Visible Constituted Church of Christ OUr Lord Christ Jesus hath left instituted Laws and Ordinances for his visible Church and Kingdom that his people by their submission to him therein might shew their subjection to his Regal Authority as to their Lord and King As there is no King but hath his Laws by which he rules so Christ our Lord and King hath his Laws by which he rules in his Church which is his Kingdom and a government distinct from all humane and worldly governments and admitteth not of any mixture of humane inventions or ordinances of men nor of any humane power to inforce to the obedience thereof Mat. 15. 9. Isa 29. 13 14. Psal 110. 3. Acts 2. 41. His subjects must ●e Volunteers voluntarily subscribing to his government they are a willing people in the day of his power being wrought thereto by his word and Spirit he is so far from foreseeing that he accepts none but those who serve him willingly Christ will have his Subjects like those 2 Cor. 8 3. Willing of themselves that is without humane constraint and ver 12. If there be first a willing mind it is accepted according to what a man hath and not according to what he hath not and this is a truth

and herein is the Royal and Regal Authority of Christ in an especial manner kept up in his House his Church his Kingdom which consists in the execution of his Laws upon Transgressors in all cases according to the fact reproof admonition withdrawing 2 Thes 3. 6. rejecting if there be no other remedy nor means can prevail and this is that which makes much for the honour of Christ and good of his Church to preserve from sin recover faln sinners and to preserve the Church pure from defilements of this the Scripture is full and clear 1 Cor. 5. 7 8 13. 2 Tim. 2. 21. Heb. 12. 15 16. Mat. 18. 15 16 17. 2. Of the Officers in the Church of 2. Of the Officers in the Church of Christ Christ take we the Church of the New Testament since the death and Resurrection of the Testator to be but one Church state as the Church of the Old Covenant was from Circumcision untill the Death of Christ Then 1. Jesus Christ is the great Officer in of his Church the Angel Messenger Bishop Shepherd Prophet Apostle Lord Law giver and King of his Church whose lawful subjects believers are but he being ascended up on high to do work there for his Church in order to its spiritual and eternal wellfare hath left in his room and stead Gifts and Officers for the good of his Church which are as enumerated in the Scripture Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors and Teachers and all for the good of the Church Eph. 4. 11. 12. 1. Apostles men immediately called 1. Apostles inspired and sent for the first publishing of the Gospel and first planting of the Gospel Church being endued with power for such a work to give laws and directions from Jesus Christ for his Churches direction in Faith and practice till his second coming but such Apostles we now have none but they were and are our Apostles we being of the same Gospel Church Though according to the common sense of the word Apostle that is sent so we have or might or should have Apostles in the Church it signifying a messenger or one sent as I shall more fully declare in its place 2. Prophets now this of Prophets I 2. Prophets take not to be a distinct ordained Office as Pastor and Teacher but a gift in the Church and so an Ordinance of Christ for the Churches Edification not extraordinary any more then the other Ministry that we account to stand as the Ordinary Ministry in the Church probably the Prophets in the Primitive times might have more and greater gifts then any now but that Nulls not the gift nor use thereof in the Church no more then that because the Pastors and Teachers then had greater spiritual gifts then any now have Therefore we should have no Pastors nor Teachers now and so no Church and so no Religion those who work Prophets out of the Church might by the same reason and rule work out all and themselves too that by Prophets were intended ordinary Prophets for the edification of the Church what ever gifts they then had will appear if we consider 1. It was a gift to be obtained by industry and endeavour extraordinary prophesie was an immediate gift 1 Cor. 12. 31. and 14 39. 2. It was a Gift for the common good and Edification of the Church most of profit viz. of the Gifts singly Administred without Office in the Church therefore not to be lost or expulced out of the Church 3. Yet it was in some sense inferlour to that of Preaching by Office because he that is called to Office is not only a Prophet but more then a Prophet and this will appear if we consider 1. That all the Prophets work was to speak by way of Edification Exhortation and Consolation but the Elders or Officers work and duty was and is to Exhort Reprove Rebuke with all authority 2 Tim. 4. 2. Titus 2. 15. which none out of Office might authoritatively doe 2. The Doctrine of the Prophets must be judged and tryed as supposing they might speak amiss and fail but the Officers are supposed to have attained to such a degree of knowledge in the School of Christ as that there is no such rule prescribed for them 1 Cor. 14. 29 30 31. not that Officers or Elders are without all limitation in this matter but under the Churches judgment 3. Prophesie was such an Ordinance in the Church of Christ as that the Church it self might be too apt to despise it by reason of its meanness as is implyed 1 Thes 5. 19. 20. Quench not the spirit despise not Prophecyings it seems they were all for Preaching but despise Prophecyings as it is too much at this day 4. The Prophets might through weakness bring forth something that was not good or true yet not to be despised v. 21. Prove all things hold fast that which is good Which implyeth that there might drop some things from the Prophets that might not be good yet it should not be despised nor they discouraged but that which was good imbraced and that which was bad left and the Prophets instructed therein for their amendment All which proves that the Prophets were ordinary gifted persons in the Church for Edification after its first gathering till Officers were chosen and the Officers was to be chosen out of the Prophets that is to say the best gifted and quallified among them and this answereth the order 1. Apostles Secondarily Prophets c. and this was the rule observed Acts 13. 1 2. And out of these Prophets and Teachers must Barnabas and Saul be taken for more publick work and service and if this rule were observed in the Churches it would be a way according to the Lord's Order to raise up gifts in the Church fitted for Office as occasion calls for it for this of Prophecy is a constant order in the Churches to be continued Prophets and an official Ministry may and should be together in the Church so would not the Church be without persons gifted and fitted for office as need requireth The next out of the Prophets are Evangelists 3. Evangelists Gospel cryers or Gospel preachers or Apostles that is ordinary Apostles this is an office of great use in the Church though almost left out and lost as if it were extraordinary and only for the primitive times the reason thereof rendred because there are no such Gifts now nor Apostles to call them to the work or direct them in it A wonderful weak way of reasoning by the same rule we may reason out all offices and officers out of the Church yea and reason out Church and all for want of Apostles and Gifts and here lieth the great reason of the seekers loss want of Gifts and gifted persons as the Apostles to administer Gospel Ordinances and this is next of kin to it for the same reason that works out Evangelist will if followed work out all 1. That there were such called and authorized

Gospel as c. 1. 10 11 12. and after the Text mentioned ver 6 7 8. so that ver 5. is a relative to that both before and after it being usual in Scripture to intermix things that wisdom may be exercised to find out the Relatives to which each matter do●h relate instance 1 Cor. 6. 12 13. which m●st be understood with c. 8. and 1 Tim. 5. 23. inserted without any re●ative as we find but a sentence intermixed relating to Timothies health 2. Ob. Peter in his 2d Ep. 3. Chap. speaks Object of a Dissolution of the Heavens and E●●th by Fire and not a Restauration therefore it seems unlikely to be restored c Ans We must understand the Di●sol●tion to intend the corrupted estate thereof Answ and so a refining and purifying or renewing out of its old estate and must be understood with other Scriptures as Heb. 1. 11 12. taken out of Psal 102. 26. and applyed to the Restauration work of Christ they shall perish but thou remainest and they all shall wax old as a garment as a vesture shalt thou f●ld them up and they shall be changed c. which explains what Peter intends by dissolving or burning or changing and making new and this Peter himself explains to be his meaning in the same chap. v. 13. Nevertheless we according to his promise look for a new Heaven and a new Earth c. That is though I speak of bur●ing with fire yet I intend not a dissolution but a changing restoring A new Heaven and new Earth according to his promise 3. Object That Christ doth already Reign and is in his Kingdom his Church and in some sence his people do Reigne Object with him 2 Pet. 1. 11. So an enterance shall he ministred to you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ And Col. 1. 13. We are said to be delivered out of the Kingdom or power of darkness into the Kingdom of his dear Son Answ We have an entrance by Faith into the Kingdom of Christ now and are become his subjects i. e. true believers but Answ that does not argue that neither Christ nor Saints shall have no Kingdom hereafter it s a truth believed of all Christians that Christ hath his Kingdom of Grace here in and over his Church and that Christ and Saints shall have the Kingdom of glory hereafter and it is the same in substance that I plead for Christs Kingdom in and over his Church now in this world may not should not work such thoughts in any that he shal have no Kingdom in the world to come 4. Object The Fifth Kingdom is already that Kingdom mentioned Dan. 2. 44. that in the dayes of these Kings the God of Heaven will set up a Kingdom c. That is in the days of the fourth Monarch the divided Kingdom in their days shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdom which had its enterance at the first publishing of the Gospel after the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus So that if you will have another Kingdom state for Christ and Saints you must find out a sitxh Kingdom for the fifth is already in being where place will be found for the sixth is uncertain Ans There is no need to find a sixth that which is to come will be but the perfecting of that which is already begun it s the same in substance with the former Objection and the answer in s●bstane must be same it is a Kingdom begun now in the day of grace and shall be perfeted in the day of glory there is the beginning work of the stone before it becomes a M●untain to fill the whole Earth and break and consume all other Kingdoms so that it is the fifth Kingdom that is begun and is in the world though not of the world and shall be perfected and become glorious and stand for ever at the appearing and Kingdom Object of our Lord Jesus 5. Object Christ speaks as if all should be done at his appearing on a sudden the Resurrection and Judgment and the Execution thereof M●t. 25. 31. to 41. Joh. 5. 28 29. and the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. 51 52. We shall all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye c. which seems to import that there shall be no such work as you speak of at that day Answ Ans It s the Lords usual way in Scripture to speak much in few words as Isa 9. 6. There is Christ presented a Child in his birth and humiliation then the Government is upon his shoulders and of the increase thereof there shall be no end in one breath as it were is the birth and Kingdom of Christ stated as if it were to be accomplished all at once whereas in that Scripture is described that which from the beginning to the perfection of his Kingdom may be near upon 2000 years and so for ever and so things mentioned in those Scriptures may and must be done at and after the appearing of Christ in their time and order but not in so little time as is by some imagined 1 Cor. 15. 23 24. as to the Resurrection which is the case in hand Christ the first fruits afterward they that are his at his com●ng then or afterward cometh the end afterward more properly for it is the same in the Greek as is before Translated afterward which includes the whole time from Christs Resurrection till the finishing work at the giving up of the Kingdom to the Father and why the second afterward may not be as long as the first I know not And the hour of the Resurrection spoken of Joh. 5. 28. may be understood by ver 25. which hour doubtless includes the whole time of Gospel Conversion till Christs second coming a large hour and why the hour ver 28. should be limited more then the other I know not especially the Scripture presenting us with the order of the Resurrection as it doth i. e. First and Second Christ the first fruits afterward they that are his at his coming afterward cometh the end When all shall be raised and Death conquered and the Redemption perfected and doubtless the change shall be in a moment as is exprest But this proves not that all the work of this last and great day must be done in a moment because the Saints shall be changed in a moment and I do believe that they are very much mistaken that will allow our Lord but a moment of time to accomplish all his great work at his second and glorious appearing and Kingdom The 6. Ob. The Scripture saith that Christ must sit at the right Hand of God till all his enemies be made his footstool which seems to import that there will be no such work for Christ to do when he comes from heaven i. e. to subdue his enemies and to set up his Kingdom Ans The Scripture fully presents us with this that he is at the right hand of God the Father