Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	know_v	life_n	lord_n	3,996	5	3.6605	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A84289	An exhortation directed to the elders of the several congregations within this province of Lancaster. By the Provincial Assembly at Preston, May 1. 1655.	Preston (Lancashire, England). Provincial Assembly.	1655 (1655)	Wing E3866; Thomason E850_18; ESTC R207413	9,123	16

and oppositions In the carrying on of which it had need still to be remembred that we are to take heed as well unto our selves as to all the flock Let each of us therefore look carefully to himself and all of us one to another that we may be both blameless and ensamples to the flock Where any of our Brethren in the Ministry shall be ready to do his part for the restoring of the Discipline and he be destitute of an Eldership to ioyn with him either by reason there hath not hitherto been any elected or for that they that have been chosen to it persist in refusal to act or that otherwise the Presbyterie be fallen as also where the number of Elders is not competent to the charge we desire our Brethren in every such place to look into their respective Congregations and to essay if any fit persons can be found and brought in by election to make up an Eldership and therein to use the advice of the classical meeting or in supply thereof the neighbour Ministers And if yet any Minister should be unprovided of an Eldership in his congregation we exhort him still to beware of running upon a promiscuous admission of persons to the Lords Supper and to use all lawful means for the prevention of such persons as would from either seeking or obtaining it and particularly to endeavour this by a personal address before to those that offer themselves to that ordinance by way of communication with them touching their understanding and faith and by instructing and admonishing them in reference to their coming to or refraining from it as they shall find their capacity to be as also to repair for mutual advisement and help to the classical meeting and to the Provincial if they find themselvs still difficultated Lastly We desire that in every Classis an account be taken by the meeting thereof from time to time of the state and proceeding in relation to this work of the Brethren of each congregation within their precincts as also that from every classis there be sent to the Provincial Assemblies successively an account of their classical constitution and progress and particularly that the next Provincial meeting be from every classis certified of their receit of this our address to them and of their active concurrence in the subject matter of it For a close of this our Invitation unto the necessary things above pressed let us call to minde and put you in remembrance Brethren how those primitive Elders we read of in the writings of the New Testament stood disposed unto their respective charges The Scripture records to us They were affectionately desirous of them They were willing to have imparted to them not the Gospel of God only but also their own souls because they were dear unto them Like mothers of their children they travelled in birth of them until Christ were formed in them As nurses do their children they cherished them and were gentle among them Like as Fathers do their children they exhorted and comforted and charged every one of them They could not forbear to seek to know their faith and to endeavour their establishment and comfort concerning it Their cares of their Churches were like a tumult thronging in upon them daily They sought not theirs but them They would gladly spend and be spent for their souls In the things wherein they were free they made themselves servants unto all that they might gain the more They pleased all men in all things not seeking their own profit but the profit of many that they might be saved They naturally cared for their peoples estate They had great zeal for them They prayed exceedingly and laboured fervently in prayers for them They had great conflicts or ag●●●●● for them They greatly longed after them all in the bowels of Jesus Christ They wished above all things that they might prosper They had no greater joy then to hear that those their children walked in the Truth It was their life to know them to stand fast in the Lord. They were to them their hope joy crown of rejoycing glory their dearly beloved and longed for Not only were their mouths opened but their hearts were enlarged to them They were in their hearts to die and live with them They were jealous over them with godly jealousie that they might present them as a chast Virgin unto Christ These were some of the workings of the minds and affections towards their flocks of those our Fore-leaders Now the Father of mercies and God of all Grace grant you and us to be like-minded towards the flock of God which is among us This Exhortation is immediately sent and committed to the hands of our beloved Brethren undernamed to be by them communicated to the rest of our Brethren to whom it is addressed within their respective Classes and with them joyntly to be considered and put in practise FINIS