Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	jesus_n	lord_n	spirit_n	7,577	5	4.8812	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47561	The gospel minister's maintenance vindicated Wherein, a regular ministry in the churches, is first asserted, and the objections against a Gospel maintenance for ministers, answered. Also, the dignity, necessity, difficulty, use and excellency of the ministry of Christ is opened. Likewise, the nature and vveghtiness of that sacred vvork and office clearly evinc'd. Recommended to the baptized congregations, by several elders in and about the City of London.	Knollys, Hanserd, 1599?-1691.	1689 (1689)	Wing K711A; ESTC R213604	49,141	150

they are prevented of Improving what they have for the future comfort and advantage of their Families Nay and we have heard to our great trouble how some worthy Men who have Laboured fully to improve their Ministry through the Peoples neglect of their duty to them have in process of time sunk in their Estates and in Truth have been brought to a low Condition for 't is rare to see a Pastor of our Churches to abound in Riches Tho some Blessed be God may be indifferent well to pass in the World now to expose a rich man to Poverty or to let a poor man shift for himself under wants and necessities are Evils much of the like nature and for a prevention of both God hath ordered it so that neither of these things should or ought to be Therefore this neglect in short exposeth Ministers to Temptations considering the moral Duty that lies upon them in common with other men to provide for their Families namely to content themselves in doing but one part of their Work viz. to Preach a Sermon or two in the Week c. Now our desires are that they may all be wholly sequestred to the Lord's Work and Service and not be other ways imploying themselves when they should be Preaching the Kingdom of God but to Labour to fulfill their Ministry they have received of the Lord so that they may have their Accounts to give up with Joy in the Day of Christ Object But our Church is small and our Pastor can't take up all his time in the Lord's Work. Answer We Answer If he wants work who will hinder him from following of his secular Business provided he doth faithfully and fully discharge every part of the duty of his Place and Function But do not the Neighbouring Villages and places adjacent want the Gospel having no Bread for their Souls and this too by reason such Pastors are unconcerned in this matter and by which means 't is doubtless that the Glorious Gospel is no more promulgated up and down in dark and blind corners of this Nation nor the Church increases no more Besides do not many poor Sinners daily perish hereby for want of Knowledg Brethren 't is not for our selves but for the Lord and his sinking Interest that we plead for it grieves our Souls to hear what cries there are in many parts of this Kindom for want of Bread some being forc'd we hear to go twelve or sixteen Miles to hear a Sermon now if Ministers of Churches made it their whole Business to Preach the Word and concern themselves for the promoting of the Truth it would not be as it is at this very time nor can we think it should be otherwise unless we had a travelling Ministry which we fear we shall hardly find unless Pastors and Teachers in the respective Churches were taken off of all Incumbrances and so give themselves up to the Ministry of the VVord God has done great things for us and hath opened a mighty door and shall not we do some great thing for Him The Case Blessed be the Lord is much altered You may come now into any Town and none dare forbid you if any one will but entertain you and Preach the Gospel And shall we not take care to answer this Mercy and do what we can that the poor Blind VVorld may be Inlightened and brought to the saving Knowledge of Jesus Christ If the present Providence of God be not answered by a due Improvement to his Glory and the furtherance of the Gospel VVe may say with Solomon Why is there a price in the Hand of a Fool seeing he hath no Heart to it Prov. 17.16 By this time we hope you may more clearly understand us and what we drive at and earnestly desire to see accomplished viz. That Ministers may not only bear that Name but with all Faithfulness do the VVork they are called to 't is not to press our People to Minister to such Preachers who are Idle and Negligent in their Business whose Hearts and Hands are in the VVorld and eagerly pursue their own secular Affairs and matter not what becomes of the Interest of Jesus Christ No 't is to encourage the Faithful and Labourous Person who is willing to give himself up to the Lord in the Discharge of that great Turst committed to him and to Labour indeed in Christ's Vineyard it is in truth ● shame for a Minister to receive the Lord's VVages and not do the Lord's VVork some there are in the World ●hat do not deserve the Name of Mini●…ers they doing the VVork of the Lord so deceitfully Our Churches also are 't is like in some places in the Country but small and ●re like to be smaller if the Ministry 〈◊〉 not awakened to become more Labourous Are there not such in some Towns who are hardly known by the Inhabitants to be Ministers at ●ll they are so little concerned in Preaching they are better known to be Farmers Yeomen and Tradesman then Preachers of the Gospel they are in●angled so in the Affairs of this Life ●hat they have but little time to mind ●he great Work they are called to We would ask some Ministers whether ●hey could not do much more Preach oftner and in more Places and take greater Pains to promote the Gospel and gather in Souls to Christ than they do Certainly they will and must say yea we might VVhy what is the reason of your not doing it Ought we not with Mary to do what we can VVe conclude this Omission of Duty either arises from the evil of your own Hearts or else from the Remisness and Neglect of the People in Respect of their Duty to you 1. It may arise from the Evil in your own Hearts in that you have not or do not espouse the Interest of Jesus Christ equal with or above your own Can any be contented in doing a little Service for Christ tho his Interest sinks in their Hands whilst they thrive in their own concerns and grow Rich in the VVorld Lord what will become of such Ministers in the day o● Judgment Can they think to loo●… Christ in the Face with Comfort tha● have been such slothful Servants bu● God forbid there should be any among us who mind more thei● own trifling Affairs than the grea● VVork and Business of their blessed Lord and Master Is this the making full Proof of your Ministry you have received of the Lord Christ's Ministers are called Labourers but we fear some Labour but little unless it be at their own work should you be as Remiss in your own Affairs as possibly you are in the Lords you would find quickly a decay in your Estates and be in a sinking Condition in the World which 't is like would soon startle you and stir you up to greater Care and Industry and ought you not to be as considerate in the great concernment of Christ his Gospel and Churches We take it not upon us to reprehend any of

actual Investiture in our Nature of a●… Power in Heaven and Earth Mat● 28.18.19.20 And Jesus came an● spake unto them saying All Power 〈◊〉 given unto me in Heaven and in Earth Go ye therefore Teach all Nations ●… And lo I am with you always even 〈◊〉 the End of the World. Amen Also after His Blessed and Glorious Ascention and Sitting on the Throne of the Majesty in the Heavens Heb. 8. ● Angels and Authorities and Powers being made subject unto him 1 Pet. 3. 22. Did by His Apostles give Commandment and Direction for the continuance hereof to the end of the World and his Second Coming without Sin unto Salvation Heb. 9.28 As Acts 14.21,22,23 After they had by their Ministry been blest with the Conversion of many Souls they took care to direct them into the Duty of Church Communion and by their Suffrages Ordained them Elders in every Church So the Apostle gives this as the Reason Why he left Titus in Creete he not having opportunity after Preaching the Gospel to them to put things into due Order Tit. 1.5 That he should set in Order the things that were wanting or left undone by the Apostle and Or ●…e Elders in every City that is Church in euery City as before Acts 14. who are called Elders Bishops or Pastors and Teachers Names significative of the●… Authority Office and Work. 2. Christ being now in Heaven and an extraordinary Call being ceased the Scriptures being a perfect and standing Rule to the Church through all Ages he has committed this Care to her self according to the Power given to Her who is the Pillar and Ground of Truth to provide Ministers for her own Edification in Obedience to his Commands and Rules given in his word as he shall see good to Bless her with Spiritual Gifts and Abilities in order to the fitting them for this Work the Father also has Covenanted to give his Spirit in the Gifts and Graces of it and promised that the Words he has put into Christs Mouth and the spirit that is upon him shall never depart from him nor his seeds seed for ever Likewise has according to the Circumstances of time the Church hath been under blest her as with his Grace so with all needful Spiritual Gifts Eph. 4.7.11 For the perfecting the saints for the Work of the Ministry for the Edifying the Body of Christ So that whilst there is a Church Millitant Saints on this side Perfection any of the Members of Christ Mystical Body on Earth those Spiritual Gifts needfull to their present State shall be given and be amongst them for the Support of the great Ordinance of the Ministry and for the good of the Church 3. And as its the Churches Duty to Seek these Spiritual Abilities and improve them when they are given to these great and Holy Ends so she must walk regularly herein in obedience to the Rules given by Christ in this Case who hath laid down the qualifications both Negative and Positive of all such as ought to be called to this great work and Trust of Ministring by Office 1 Tim. 3.1 to 9. Tit. 1.6.9 we have no warrant to put any into the Ministry otherwise save such as are here discribed and competently fitted for it For as it was a sin of Old in the Church to put any into the Ministry but those whom God appointed by the Rules given to them so it can be no less Evil for the Church now to call any forth into Office but such who are qualified as God's Word directs and now as Christ hath made this grant of Power to the Church of choosing her own Officers for her Edification so he hath left Rules for her who and how to chose as we said before So likewise he has laid down those special Duties of the Officers in the Church who are to take the oversight Feed Govern Go in and out before them Acts 20.17,18 1. Pet. 5. and 2. 4. When the Church has had a Tryal of the meetness and Abilities of any Person or Persons for this work and service they are by Election and Choice solemnly to set him or them a part by Prayer and Laying on of Hands Acts 14.21,22,23 Acts 6. By which a new relation ariseth of an Elder and a Church a Pastor and a Flock This must be therefore by the mutual voluntary acts of each other by which the Duties of each relation becomes binding upon them according to the Laws of Christ It is the Pastors Duty now to Watch Feed and Govern the Flock and to give himself up to it It is the Churches Duty to submit themselves to Him in the Lord to Love Reverence and Administer freely to him 1 Pet. 5.1,2,3,4,5 Heb. 13.7.17 How greatly then must those Churches be to blame that unconcernedly live in the neglect of so great a Duty upon which the Edification of the Church and her Well-being so much depends as well as Gospel Order For although the Essence and Being of a Church depends upon its Institution in respect both of Matter and Form A competent number of Believers may by mutual agreement lay the Foundation of the Being of a Gospel Church but they cannot be a Church Organical without Officers which the Lord hath placed there for the orderly Exercis●… of his Authority committed to her To neglect this is to despise the Wisdom of Christ who best knows wha● is for the good of His Church and for Her Edification in this State. 2 To slight His Goodness in so useful and beneficial an Institution 3 It s a contempt put upon his Authority as King of Saints who has in his Soveraign Right in and over the Church Ordained it so to be for the Churches Good and Well-being Secondly As there should not be a neglect of this Duty so there should be great care taken that we answer the Will of God herein wherein His Name and Honour is so much concerned in Respect of his Love to and Care of his Church therefore the greaest diligence should be taken that the Rules He has given be duly observed and Applications made of the Qualifications laid down in respect of all such that are called unto Office The outward Call is an Act of the Church the acceptation of the Person so called is an Obediential Act of him to the Will of God but neither of these can be regular where there is not at previous indication of the Mind of God in bestowing those Spiritual Gifts and Qualifications as may render him competently fit to the Discharge of his Office and Work. Now in a Churches undue proceeding herein they discover their own weakness if not Ignorance in respect of the Rule it self and injure the Person so called in laying the weight of so great a Work upon him who is not furnished with Spiritual Abilities to discharge it thereby expose the Honour of Christ and Reputation of His Gospel in the World which should be dear unto us And we have reason to