Selected quad for the lemma: state_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
state_n	church_n	salvation_n	visible_a	2,151	5	9.7825	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A51810	Catholick religion: or, The just test or character of every person that in any nation is accepted with God discovered, in an explication of the nature of the true fear of God, and working of righteousness, with which the same is connected. In some discourses upon Acts 10. 35, 36. Wherein several important doctrinal truths, more immediately influential upon practise, are plainly opened, and vindicated from their too common misunderstanding. By William Manning.	Manning, William, 1633?-1711.	1686 (1686)	Wing M491; ESTC R217102	67,577	173

turn Jews or they could not be Saved that the gathering in of the People must be unto them Of this perswasion was Peter himself as yet till better inlightned v. 26. It 's true multitudes of Prophecies were Extant in the Sacred Records of the gathering of the Gentiles unto Christ of whole Nations and Kingdoms of them Such as spake of his sprinkling many Nations Isa 52.15 Of giving him a Portion with the great ch 53.12 That Kings should be Nursing-Fathers when God should lift up his hand to the Gentiles and set up his Standard to the People ch 49.22 23. That every man should worship him from his place even all the Isles of the Heathen Zeph. 2.11 That God would call them his people that were not his people Hos 1.10 And many Nations should be joined to the Lord and should be his people Zech. 2.11 Till his Dominion should be from the River even to the ends of the Earth ch 9.10 And his Name become great among the Gentiles from the rising of the Sun even to the going down of the same Mal. 1.11 Psal 22.27 28. 68.9 But their Case was not much unlike to the Ethiopian Eunuchs Acts 8.31 they wanted an Interpreter and no wonder when the Vail if I mistake not is not yet done away on the minds of the generality of men both learned and pious in the reading of the Scriptures which speak of the Kingdom of God or of Christ here in this World or of the external church-Church-State of the Gentiles whilst not doubting but that Salvation is of them or that Gods Election runs among them they yet interpret all the Scriptures such as these forementioned of the Mystical Church State of the Gentiles or which yet is more wide would have them to speak of a visible church-Church-State only of the Gentile Nations or of their becoming only visibly a People to the Lord so far as concern the whole bulk of the unregenerate at least or of a Kingdom to be erected unto Christ of visible Saints or of persons in visibility or in foro humano pious which hath no footing at all in the Scriptures something real doth sub esse respecting the whole To proceed in the Story The time was now come that the Wall of Partition between the Jew and Gentile was to be broken down Eph. 2.14 All were to be gathered up under a new Head and the Gentiles no longer to remain afar off as strangers v. 19. but to become fellow Heirs and of the same body ch 3.6 Now was Abraham to become Heir of the World Rom. 4.13 And the Gentile Nations to be discipled Mat. 28.19 and grafted in amongst the Jews or in their room into the Olive Tree or Covenant of Abraham no longer neither they nor their Children to be accounted common or unclean Rom. 11.16 17. 1 Cor. 7.14 If consequently they embraced the Gospel they stood upon even terms with the Jew in the point of Salvation as nigh as they and accordingly Conversation might be held with them in order to it tho it was meet that the Jews should have the Preheminence of the first tender as they had on the account of their antecedent covenant-relation to God Acts. 3.25 26. Job 1.11 Acts 13.46 Matt. 10.6 This was a Mystery which in other Ages was not made known unto the sons of men as now it is saith the Apostle Eph. 3.5 9 And here it was that Peter stuck as was said notwithstanding the Prophesies of old and last Instructions of Christ Mar. 16.15 Acts 1.8 given to the Apostles yet he could not get over it still two things lay in his way the one relating to the external Ceremony of the Kingdom of God which he thought should still be confined to the narrow compass of one single Nation the Common-Wealth of Israel little thinking that the Children of the Kingdom rather should be shut out Mat. 8.12 or the Kingdom of God should be taken from them and given to other Nations ch 21.43 Hence it was that he accounted it unlawful as was said to keep company with one of another Nation v. 28. whereof eating was a symbol also or to preach the Gospel to them to the Jews belonged the giving of the Law and the Service of God and the Promises Rom. 9. and he doubted not of going unto the lost Sheep of the House of Israel tho otherwise wicked but of giving the childrens Bread unto Dogs or of the enlarging the sheepfold unto the Gentile Nations The other Obstacle in his way was a prepossession of mind respecting the future state of Persons he doubted it seems of Gods acceptance of any of the Gentiles unto Life Eternal being strangers to the advantages of the Covenants of Promise whereof the Jews were the Heirs whether or no in any single Instance any one of them could be in favour with God The method which God took to convince Peter was extraordinary the account whereof beginneth at ver 9. he went up to pray about the sixth Hour that is at noon-time according to the computation of the Jews at which time being very hungry while they made ready he fell into a Trance and in a Vision he saw Heaven opened and a Vessel descending unto him wherein were all manner of Beasts c. Amongst which were unclean meats prohibited by the Law of God for a Jew to eat of them and yet there came a Voice to him Rise Peter kill and eat v. 11 this he regreted as a thing which he had never done but the Voice answered him again What God hath cleansed that call not thou common v. 15. this being interpreted to him not only to relate unto meats but unto men also that he should not call any man common or unclean v. 29. he was now fully satisfied in his mind and so continued However after this through his too much Condescention for Peace sake or preposterous fear of offence to some leading good people he sometimes dissembled it and led others into the same for the which he received a severe check from the Apostle Paul Gal. 2.11 12. Now was the Apostolical Commission broken up and opened unto him and the Vision had been thrice doubled unto him for the more Assurance hereupon Peter forthwith goes to Cornelius taking along with him certain of the Brethren whom Cornelius meeting fell down at his feet v. 25. whom Peter first corrects for his too much Worship or Reverence giving unto him tho an Apostle or Minister of Christ being but a man v. 26. and then proceeds to his discourse First by way of Apology for himself lest Cornelius should suspect him to do what he did with an evil Conscience against the Law of God or manner of the Fathers he clears himself by shewing his Warrant from Heaven for his coming unto him v. 28. which when Cornelius himself had confirmed by the like Testimony recited by him and declared with what earnest expectation they were there met before God to hear what Message it was

How he could in the mean while be accepted of God without Faith in the Mediator or his Prayers considering also the hint which himself received from God that he should send for Peter who should tell him words whereby he and all his house should be saved mentioned ch 11.14 I would willingly wave what is controversal in so practical a Subject but the Text must be cleared Besides that whatsoever is written is for our instruction and the slighting and passing over whatever seems difficult at first in the opening of the Scriptures do but betray men to perpetual ignorance in the things of God One Answer will serve to both Objections Without Faith it 's impossible to please God or be accepted with him Heb. 11.6 or to be a Pious Person True but the Faith necessary thereunto hath been diversified according to the several Editions of the Gospel and Gradual Revelations made by God of his mind unto Man Cornelius had the Faith there described by the A postle which was the Faith of the Ancient Patriarchs Namely the belief that God is and that he is the rewarder of them that diligently seke him Nor can any one come unto God without it He came to God as Gracious and Merciful and Pardoning sin and as a Rewarder of all that uprightly serve him on the Principles that the King and People of Nineveh went Jonah 3.5 9. tho he knew not distinctly on what account on whose score it was that God was so propitious Never was any man Heard Saved or Accepted but for the sake of the Satisfaction and Merits of Christ But what on mans part was absolutely necessary to be known unto him or believed by him in order to his actual participation of the Benefit of the undertaking of Christ is another question The same hath been oft-times varied The Rule of Gods Final Judgment shall be the remedying Law or new Covenant with all Men but still according to the several notices or discoveries that in several Ages and to several Persons he hath made of the same to them Rom. 2.12 14 17. Luk. 12.48 Nor can there remain any matter of wonder or doubt touching this Instance of Cornelius his acceptance with God unto any one that shall but impartially think upon the Faith of the Apostles and Disciples of Christ how short and defective it was in the main Fundamentals of the Christian Belief for a time whilst yet they were in a state of Salvation for all that notwithstanding the advantages they had moreover to know more above what Cornelius had They looked for some visible outward Kingdom to be erected by him in the World Acts 1.6 to be set up under the Messias Luk. 19.11 they thought not that he was to die Matth. 16.22 ch 17.23 Mark 9.32 nor believed his Resurection from the Dead v. 10. not after it was attested John 20.25 29. Luk. 24.20 21 25 37 41. much less did they think of his Ascention to the right hand of the Father How little did the Virgin Mary her self understand of Christ her Son according to the Flesh Luk. 2.50 51. yea how little did the Angels or glorified Spirits know of Christ his Priestly Office before his Incarnation 1 Pet. 1.12 Eph. 3.9 10. Rev. 7.15 the full understanding of which Mystery was much more hid from former Ages Col. 1.20 no instance we have of their putting up Prayers to God in the Name of a Mediator before the assumption of the Humane Nature by Christ in which he was a middle person Ye believe in God believe also in me John 14.1 The way into the holiest of all was not yet fully made manifest Heb. 9.8 ch 10.20 whence was the bondage state even of the Jews Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name Joh. 14.24 Whether or no there be any now in the World out of the Church that have not heard of Christ that are strangers to the Covenant in its peculiar advantages now under the last edition of the Gospel that be true fearers of God the Candle of the Lord being so far extinct among them Gal. 2.22 1 Thes 2.16 may be a doubt but whether if any such there be they shall be accepted with God cannot be doubted Cornelius was such a one the Faith that he had purified his Heart and influenced his Life and he was accepted of him tho his Faith was short of what was necessary to his Salvation afterward when he had more revealed unto him ch 11.14 Two great Truths are in this our Enquiry cleared up by the way to this day hid unto many good men 1. That Faith precisely in the Brieftly Office of Christ is not the only condition of our Justification in the sight of God Nor is it truly said that such Faith alone justifieth and must so do for that it 's alone apt to receive Christ and that no other Grace is capable of such an Assignation True it is that we are justified by Christ alone as the meritorious cause thereof Rom. 5.9 But besides that the Scriptures do indispensibly require now more of us to the end that we may be justified by him than Faith only namely Repentance Acts 3.19 Regeneration Tit. 3.5 And an upright Conversation Heb. 5.9 1 Joh. 1.7 Yea denies it to Faith only Jam 2.24 Besides this I say then must the truth asserted in the Text be quite overturned for Cornelius was so far from being justified by such Faith alone that he was justified before he had it or without it or he was not justified or accepted at all now when the Apostle affirmed it of him some other Grace was capable of being the condition thereof or he must be utterly uncapable of it 2 Yet farther then is Justification or Acceptance with God for it 's all one thing meant a continued act suspended still on the future performance of the commands of God whatever God hath or shall reveal to be his VVill. Cornelius was actually in a state of Favour with God so saith the Text But yet if upon Peter's Preaching unto him he embraced not the Faith of the Gospel with his Houshold neither he nor they could be saved ch 11. No man is but conditionally pardoned and admitted unto Favour with God here it 's suspended still with an If and Except it will not be questioned in the matter of Faith which was Cornelius his case and vice versa it 's as sure and as plainly affirmed in the VVord of God in the matter of Obedience in all other Instances of it Let a Mans Faith be what it will suppose him once justified too Gods complacential Love and Favour or Acceptance to Life is still suspended on his future continuance in obedience unto what he knows to be his Will or may to him be yet further revealed so to be tho the Revelation its self be already finished If ye keep my Commandments ye shall abide in my love John 15.10 14. If we walk in the Light as God is in the Light the Blood