Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	age_n	church_n	time_n	2,142	5	3.6322	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A30720	A name, an after-one, or, Onoma Kainon, a name, a new one in the later-day-glory, or, An historical declaration of the life of Shem Acher especially as to some more eminent passages of his day relating to his more thorow lawful call to the office and work of the ministry for about twenty years last past. ...	Bampfield, Francis, 1615 or 16-1683.	1681 (1681)	Wing B627; ESTC R16732	65,787	41

and others † 1 Cor. 12. 28 29. Eph. 4. 11 12 13. Act. 13. 1. 1 Cor. 14. chap. Apostles and Prophets are expresly mentioned as established Officers set and appointed by Christ in his Church This was not confined only to Judea for in other parts of the inhabited Earth there was Job Eliphaz and others in the East who were eminent Leaders of Congregated Societies and there was a Balaam of Syria Mesopotamia who had a Prophetick Gift To distinguish of Prophets and of the several kinds of them and of the distinct parts of their Office is not my present work let it suffice at this time to shew that the LORD has not been wanting to his Church and People when he has been sought unto aright as to his gifting gracing calling and sending extraordinary Officers with a larger Commission than only to a small gathered handful of Disciples of Christ when the ordinary ones have been corrupted or negligent ignorant or unfaithful or upon some other special Occasions Shem in his own case tho altogether unworthy of the least and lowest place of Service ministerial in Christ's House yet for about these twenty years last past having been Christ's Servant to gather feed and rule a particular Church or particular Churches and to this day is so he has declared against his being staked or teddered down to any one Place or People he being Christ's Servant at his Masters dispose to do what publick work his LORD shall call him unto wheresoever to whomsoever it be having never as yet either singly by himself or jointly with others laid on his Hands upon any one as to an ordaining of him to the Ministerial Office This part of Shem's Narrative should put some dissenting Brethren upon more serious considering whether they have not been very short of their Duty who have cryed down and run down all gathered Churches and Church-Ministers because of some Antichristian and Unscriptural Principles and Practices corruptly crept in some for five others for ten some others for twenty othersome for thirty years together not seeing or not believing or not acknowledging or not promoting any extraordinary Ministry over gathered Curch or Churches set up by Christ in the room thereof And O! who will give that this seasonable Word might fall and abide with kindly in working Efficacy in the demonstration of the Spirit and with power upon prepared Hearts and unprejudiced Minds both as to non-Church ones and also as to the present Claimers of Ministry by Office whether National Classical Congregational pleading for a right in their Tenure whether by Succession Authority from the People or what else That one and another may yet be think themselves of a more Scriptural way for the informing setling satisfying healing and uniting of Christians As Scripture-History doth clear it up that so it hath been so Scripture-Prophecy and Scripture-Promise will fulfil and accomplish it that so it shall be in this latter-day-Glory even a Prophetick Apostolick Evangelick and otherways extraordinary Ministry as well as a Pastoral Teaching ordinary Ministry revived and advanced continued and blessed such special Administrators in Christ's House by whom resort shall be to the Mouth of Jehovah to ask Counsel at an Oracle of Aelohim who has in all Ages of his Church both before and since the Apostle's days sent some special Messenger or Messengers to witness for Himself and for the Truths of Christian Religion against the Corruptions of the Times and Age wherein they lived tho the number of such under many Providences has been but small and the true Ministry and Churches have not so shined forth with visible Pomp and outward Glory There may if Jehovah our Aelohim and Adonai do bring it forth by and in the Hand of his Providence shortly come abroad a Scripture-Directory concerning an House for the Sons of the Prophets for the training up of such whose Hearts the LORD shall make willing to study useful Arts and Sciences in the Book of Books the Holy Scriptures of Truth Inspired Gifts and Acquired Gifts where * 2 Tim. 3. 14 15 16 17. 1 Sam. 10. 5 13. 2 Kings 2. 3 5 7 16. 4. 38. both are sanctified how useful are they when employed for the Edification of the Church and People of Christ And who of us can tell but that the open declaring for both these by some Gentile-Christians and Believers and Ministers who express their Faith in Prophetick Scriptures that † Isa 32. 15. 44. 3 4. Ezek. 39 29. Joel 2. 28 32. Ezek. 47. 1 12. 1 Cor. 12 13 14. ch 2 Cor. 3. 17. 18. there are near at hand some further more immediate Inspirings from the Holy Spirit with extraordinary Charisms or edifying Gifts and those of working of Miracles and Gifts of Healings and of Tongues particularly For * 1 Cor. 1. 22 24. the Jews do to this day require a Sign and who withal do in the use of ordinary means wait upon the Holy Spirit for his inner Teachings and for his Blessings of their unwearied Endeavours and diligent Industry of their serious cryings after Scripture-Knowledg in the Original Language and giving their Voice for Understanding seeking her as Silver and searching for her as hid Treasures For the Greeks do still seek after Wisdom I say who knows but that both Jew and Gentile may fall in love with this Art of Arts and Science of Sciences if Jehovah will in either or in both these ways give Wisdom out of whose Mouth Knowledg and Understanding when Wisdom shall thus enter into Hearts Oh! how pleasant will Knowledg be to the Soul † Mar. 16. 15. Mat. 28. 18 19 20. Gal. 2. 7 8. Isa 40. 9. 52. 7 8. As the LORD here tofore honoured some of the Christianized Jews to be under him his Apostles for the converting of the Gentiles so in these later Days he may honour some of the Christianized Gentiles to be under him his Apostles for the converting of the Jews and Israelites * Zech. 2. 5. Isa 46. 13. then shall the LORD and his new created Ones be the mutual Glory of each other Oh! how glorious a Day will that Day of such Glory be PAVL † Acts 9. 15 20. 26. 16 20. 1 Cor. 15. 10. Paul being thus put by Christ into the Ministerial Office sets about the work wherein he laboured more abundantly than all the Apostles his Travels up and down with the Gospel as one Historian has computed them were ten thousand two hundred and seventy Miles from his first beginning until his being Prisoner in Rome and altho he might have required maintenance * 2 Cor. 11. 9 10 11 12. 12. 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19. 1 Cor. 9. thorow yet for the Gospel's sake he did forbear the demanding of it † 2 Cor. 11. 21. and so to the end 4. 6 7 8 9 10. Gal. 6. 17. Rom. 3 8. His Sufferings were many and great his being reproached was

as Gifted yea suppose him to have great common edifying Gifts who is thereby presently commissioned by Christ for the Ministerial Office seeing some such are notoriously scandalous Livers bitter Persecuters of the Saints open declared Enemies against the Power and Purity of right Worship and of other true good Religion against which they sharpen and set the edg of those Weapons of Knowledg which they have who whilst such are so far from being to be admitted Administrators of Church-Ordinances that they ought not to be admitted to or continued in a state of Church-Membership but should by the due regular exercise of Church Discipline be shut or thrust out from such Communion And here when he duly considers and seriously ponders ‖ 2 Tim. 3. 17. 1 Tim. 6. 11. 1 Sam. 9. 6 7. Lev. 21. throughout Ezek. 44. throughout 1 Tim. 3. throughout Tit. 1. 5 9. Rev. 1 2 3. cha 1 Pet. 5. 1 4. Tit. 2. 1. Acts 6. 2 4. what Men of God what chief Men among the People how holy how unblemished how unblameable how sober and vigilent how temperate how moderate how sound minded how wisely circumspect how modest how well behavoured how fitly attired and well adorned how hospitalish and harbourous in a courteous receiving and entertaining of Strangers how apt able fit apposite to teach well-habited and disposed for orderly-clear-convincing-teaching endued with a good Faculty of instructing and and of discipling of others how not given to Wine-bibbing or to Excess in any other Strong Drink which makes Drunk not an Ale-stake or common Tipler not one that loves tossing of Cups not a striker smiter or beater of others not one of ungoverned heat or of military Fierceness not filthily-gaining not covetously intent upon dishonest base gain how equal full of Equity in all things how courteous gentle patient how unbrawling either as to Speeches or Actions declining the offered occasions of sinful contendings no lover of Silver nor Idolizer of Money how well governing his own Family Houshold having his Children if the LORD give him any in Subjection under Discipline in good order faithful Children not refractory not obnoxious to the Sin of Luxury not one who is but newly ingraffed or implanted in Christian Profession in God's House such as ought to have a good Testimony from those that are without such a one as cannot justly be called into question or into Court for any manifest Crime what a Dispenser of God as his Steward not pertinaciously pleasing of himself not prone to anger not hasty not spirited for rage what a lover of goodness of good both Men Truths and Things how Just how Holy how Pious how Continent how firmly adhering to that faithful Word which is according to wholesom Doctrine that so he may be able also to exhort in Doctrine such as is healthful and sound and to convince such who are contradicting and gainsaying ones not attending to Jewish Fables or to Precepts of Men averse from the Truth or turning Truth away or turning from the Truth one speaking those things which do become sound Doctrine a Feeder of the Flock of God where he is a carefullywatchfully-overseeing one not forcedly but willingly freely with a prompt or ready Mind not imperiously domineering or lording it over those allotted to his Care and Charge being Exemplary to the Flock one who believeth and prepareth for the Appearing of the chief Pastor to receive and carry away an unfading Crown of Glory one who gives himself to Prayer and to the Word whose Wife must be one who is honest who proves constant no Calamniatrix not a devilish Slanderer or false Accuser no malicious Detracter one sober faithful in All what a Star what an Angel When these Qualifications and many more that might be added are brought and put together to measure as by a straight Rule many of those by who lay claim to this Office that doth put Shem Acher upon deep Sighing and makes him ask this Question in his Thoughts Where do the able faithful Ministers dwell He has had some signal Calls to this Office by Christ especially at three times one about fourteen years ago another about seventeen years since of both which an account has been given before for some other purpose and once before both these when with the former of these last two he did set himself by Fasting and Prayer to know the Mind of Christ whether he had indeed set him apart to this Office in all which times he had satisfying Answers and Signs fulfilled quickly after in some remarkable returns by eminent Conversions He has had such a sight of Christ in the North as was clear and evident to his Eye of Faith chiefly more at one Season mentioned before which was made so real to him and has more or less so continued for so many years Night and Day as doth leave it out of doubt with him in a degree as if he conversed with the Person of Christ himself so far as Shem Acher in this state of Imperfection has a Capacity of walking with an exalted Christ in his state of Glory As for the Sealings on Earth of his Commission received from Heaven in the Hearts of converted Sinners of edifyed Saints of comforted Souls he had rather others would speak and declare than himself however seeing somewhat may be expected from him as to this Parrallel he doth * 2 Cor. 2. 14. 17. give thanks unto God who especially for twenty years or more has caused him to triumph in Christ and has made manifest the favour of his Knowledg by him more or less in every place as he has travelled up and down with the blessing of the Gospel of Christ For besides some ownings of him and of his labours before whilst he lived in a little Parish when he was called to that Neighbour Town spoken of before there was as hopeful a budding and blowing of young ones there and in the Neighbourhood and he hopes much good brought forth to the praise of Grace in and by many there being yet alive several scores who can as he supposeth somewhat sensibly call to mind the Truth of this besides what the LORD hath done by him in two Counties during his Imprisonments for above nine years at which time some were begotten again in the bonds of the Gospel and also what good and gracious effects his preaching of the Gospel has brought forth by the Spirit and Blessing of God upon his Works since his Liberty in any other place particularly near and in London For † 1 Thess 2. 19 20. what is his Hope or Joy or Crown of rejoycing are not even a converted edifyed comforted confirmed People in the Presence of our LORD Jesus Christ at his coming For these are his Glory and Joy As for a Miracle-working Power such as Paul had he doth not pretend to this either for all the Kinds or for those high Degrees and great Measures as Paul was honoured withal yet this he can

best way where she according to her raised expectation has received more of the Holy Spirit and of influences from Christ as a living Member under this Church as the only Head and as the Supream Material Cause of the Church then neither she nor they are under Guilt so far in this Matter But Christ in all this c. Therefore This was drawn from the Material Cause of the Church Supream A further Argument shall be drawn † 1 Cor. 6. 15 12. 27. Eph. 1. 22 23. 4 4 12. 5. 23. 30. Col. 1. 18 24. 2. 19. Joh. 10. 16. 1 Cor. 1. 2. and the Titles of Paul ' s other Epistles to the Churches Heb. 12. 23. Eph. 4. 16. from the inferior Material Cause of a Church of Christ which are the Elect Believers and Saints who are the Members and the Body of Christ and have mutual care of and for one another Communion with one another and are jointly helpful to each other and do faithfully and friend●●y discharge the Gospel Duties of Church-Fellowship mutually towards one anothe● such as mutual considering of one another c. It is here thus argued If this Sister have joined her self there in Church-Fellowship with them amongst those whom she charitably hopes may be such living Fellow-Member● in Christ with her more and better suited to her Spirit in such a Church-way of Spiritual Incorporation where she has more freedom and better agreement in her 〈…〉 an more Spiritual Communion more really expressed and acted helpfulness as to Spirituals more enjoyment of the Gospel-Duties of Church-Fellowship mutually towards one another than in that Society where she was before and all this as the Inferior Material Cause of the Church then neither she non they c. But this Sister c. Therefore Another is drawn from the Formal Cause of a Church of Christ The Formal Cause or Form or * Eph. 4. 3 4. Acts 2. 41 47. 4. 32. 9. 31. 1 Cor. 12. 12 13 27. 10 17. 1. 10 11. Phil. 2. 1 5. Eph. 1. 21 22 23. 3. 17. 2. 19. Rom. 8. 9. 1 Joh. 4. 13. Col. 1. 18. 2. 19. Eph. 5. 32. that which doth give a spirited Life Being and Motion is the uniting Spirit of the LORD enlivening the Church-Body and that Union of Believers in the Spirit with Christ as the Head and with and another as Fellow-Members of the same Mystical Body The Argument thus presenteth it self to be considered If the Spirit of this Sister in Experience according to the Word both were before Admission and hath been and still is since her Admission amongst such more knit and united by the Holy Spirit in Holy Spiritual Union to Christ and to these Fellow-Members where she has more of spirited Life Being and Motion than when amongst those with whom she walked in Society withal before which was broken off and taken away from her as to the quickness and comfort o● it as to the former Church in whose fellowship she could not any longer to any good satisfaction continue and where she had little or no expectation after much proof and long waiting to have it otherwise as the Case was circumstanced she being now made more sensible that her Spirit doth more close with and is more one in Union and Communion with the Spirit of that Church in this Church-way of Ordinances with whom she is joined and all this as the Formal Cause or Form or that which doth give a Spirited Life Being and Motion to a Church then neither she nor they c. But the Spirit of this Sister c. And therefore From the Final Cause a strong Argument may be drawn and its right words are forcible † Isa 43. 7 21. Jer. 13 11. 14. 21 Eph. 5. 26 27. 4. 11 12 13 15 16. 1 Cor. 12. 13. 10. 16 17. Luke 12. 32. 1 Cor. 14. 3 26 40. 10. 16 17. 2 Cor. 13. 10 The Final Cause or the great End or Ends for which Jehovah Aelohim has formed his Church and for which Christ gave and delivered up himself in respect of him is his Glory the Honour of his Name in the World that it may be as a Throne of his Glory the purging and cleansing of his Church and People their enjoyment of Spiritual Priviledges and Benefits purchased by the Blood of Christ their nourishing growing more up into and further perfecting in Christ their receiving more of all Spiritual Supplies from Christ their mutual Edification being built up more and more in their most holy Faith their possessing of signed sealed witnessed delivered free gracious Grants from the Father through his Son by his Spirit in the word of his Truth of Grace and at the last their everlasting Happiness in a clear sight and full enjoyment of the Heavenly Glory in his Eternal Kingdom in the better Country In the mean time the giving and receiving of Spiritual Alms Bread and Wine to hungry thirsting Souls as necessary Provision in their Voyage whilst here in the way The Argument is thus formed If this Sister after long Experience and much waiting and earnest Praying could not attain the forementioned Ends of Church-Fellowship in that way wherein she walked before whereas since she passed into Church Communion with others the LORD has graciously given her to enjoy in growing Measures much of these desired Ends and some good Beginnings as she hopes of the filling up of these in the Heavenly Country where she longeth and waiteth prayeth and prepareth to be with her LORD in the most pure and Glorious Church then neither she nor they c. But this Sister after long Experience c. Therefore Two other Arguments may be drawn from the just Right and due Property of this Sister * 1 Cor. 3. 21 22 23. Deut. 18. 6 7 8. The Gifts and Graces and Experiences of all the Faithful Ministers of Christ in the same City especially being one with Christ and his Word in the Faith and Order of the Gospel are a part of every Believers Portion there which they may use as their own especially when actually really more to their Edi●●cation as Providence doth give opportunity From hence it is thus argued If this Sister in this have acted but as her just Right and due Property is to enjoy this part of her Spiritual Portion and if they have but done her Right in granting her what is her own as due unto her then neither she nor they c. But this Sister in this has acted c. Therefore Also from her lawful Liberty This Sister reserved a Liberty if she found in Experience that her continuing there were not to her Satisfaction and Edification that then it should be free to joyn her self to some other Church of the same Faith and Order in the main of 〈◊〉 Believers and Seventh-day-Sabbath-Observers where she might be more to her Soul-profiting ● and † Rom. 13. 7 8. Prov. 3. 27