Selected quad for the lemma: world_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
world_n	catholic_a	church_n	visible_a	2,933	5	9.1820	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A88816	Gospel-separation separated from its abuses; or The saints guide in Gospel-fellowship. Whereby they may be directed not onely to preserve the purity, but withall the unity of Gospel-worship: by a well-wisher to Sions purity and unity, R.L. Imprimatur. Joseph Caryl.	Lawrence, Richard, d. 1684.	1657 (1657)	Wing L676; Thomason E1613_5; ESTC R202679	77,723	176

strife or vain-glory but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better then themselves Look not every man on his own things but every man also on the things of others Let this mind be in you which was also in Chrst Jesus In whom I rest Your Friend and Brother in the Unity and Purity of the Gospel R. LAWRENCE THE CONTENTS TRuth seldom found in extreams p. 1. Searchers after truth must suspect danger of erring on each hand p. 1. 2. As the door of the Church may be opened too wide so it may be shut too close p. 2. That since God hath had a Church on earth its separation from the World and unity in its self have been required by him as an equal duty p. 3. All the Reformed Churches justifie separation p. 4. The General notion of a competent knowledge and suitable conversation are to intricate and uncertain rules to be the visible bounds of Gods visible Church p. 5 6 The Lord hath alwayes preserved to his Church a visible undisputable bound betwixt them and the World p. 6. 7 8. Circumcision and Abrahams seed in the Type and Antitype was foreordained established to be the infallible and everlasting bounds of Gods visible Church on earth p. 8 9. It continued so unquestionable untill Christ came who only changed the Type for the Antitype p. 9 10. Believers ought to make the same use of the Antitype under the Gospel the Type served for under the Law p. 10 11. The Antitype of Circumcision and Abrahams seed is visible Grace and Holiness p. 11. Which Paul affirms to be the visible bound of Gods Church and mark of Gods children to Rome and Galatia c. p. 11 12. Antichrist set up his Kingdom by laying waste these Gospel Bounds and Christians open the door to all division and confusion by not repairing them p. 13. 14. Gods Church must not only be a City of righteousness but a City with Walls p. 15. All Churches of Saints ought to own one another as true Churches of Christ and fellow members of his body p. 16. Seven General Heads from whence the arguments to prove the duty of Saints union as such are drawn p. 17 18. 1. From the choyce and approbation of the Father p. 19. Prooving that such as the Father hath manifested his visible Choyce and approbation of to be his Children beleevers ought to admit and chuse to be their Brethren p 9 Christ and all Saints have but one Father for which cause he was not ashamed of their infirmities p. 20. 21. 2. General head is from the choyce and approbation of God the Son p. 22. Christ a perfect Emblem of union in his person p. 22. Christ had no helper in his work nor no partner in his relations to his Church that Gods designe of union in him might be visible p. 22. Christs chiefe designe in assuming our nature was a work of union p. 23. Christ walked by uniting Principles prest uniting dutyes and commended uniting Graces most to his People p. 23 24. Christ owned all visible gracious persons to be members of his body therefore ought all Saints to own them so p. 25. The 3 sort of Arguments is drawn from the visible choice and approbation of the holy Spirit p. 26. The most infallible rule to chuse Church-members by is to follow the track of the Spirits choyce p. 27. The sanctifying effects of the spirit in Saints ought to be admitted as sufficient testimony of the Spirits choyce p. 27. No beleevers without some visible mark of the Spirits choyce p. 28. Prooved that this choyce of the spirit instates a Beleever in all Gospel relations and Priviledges both in the Kingdom of grace and glory p. 29. The 4 general head from whence arguments are drawn is from the visible choyce and approbation of the infallible servants of God in all ages p. 30. They made the choyce of the Father Son and Spirit their choyce p. 30. They laid more weight upon the duty and mercy of the Churches union then upon most others dutyes and mercyes p. 31. Paul laid more to heart and endeavored more to preserve the Churches union then all other errors to reform p. 32 33 34. The Argument for Saints union from the whole p. 35. The 5 generall Head from whence Arguments are taken is from the several Metaphors and Similitudes the Church is compared unto in Scripture p. 35. 1. From that of Beleevers being Gods Children and thereby of his Family the housholder of faith p. 36 37. 2. From that of the membership of the same body which relation is inconsistent without union p. 38 39. The 6 general Head is from the sad consequences and effects of our present divisions p 40. Division is usually the forerunner of destruction the former preparing the way for the latter p. 40. Directions to be observed in heart searchings for the cause and cure of Saints divisions p. 41 42 43. The spirit of division sometime imployes our graces as well as our Corruptions to divide by p 42. Knowledge and Zeal much imployod at this day by the spirit of division in dividing work p 42. 43. The sad effects and consequences of our divisions p. 44. 1. They have obstructed and hindred reformation p. 44. 2 They have opened the door and let in upon us that overflowing flood of Errors heresies and blasphemies which many Professors among us are carried away with p. 45. And the continuation of them will make that disease uncurable p. 46. They have been the cause of that great decay in the life and power of Religion amongst us p. 46. They have rendered the power and life of godlyness contemptible in the eyes of Formalists and the carnal multitude p. 47. 5. They have rendered the power and purity of Religion and the professors of it unacceptable in the eyes of authority and several persons in eminent place p. 48 49. 6. They have brought scorn and contempt upon the glorious cause of God in these Nations and have stained the glorious presence of God with his People that had once stained the pride of all the Glory of the World p. 50 51. They have been the cause of the removal of many eminent worthy Instruments from their Publick Stations therby made way for others no wayes spirited nor principled for the places they stand in p. 52. 8. They furnish wicked Magistrates and Ministers with plausible excuses in the exercise of their oppressing persecuting principles p. 53. 9. It is from this spirit of division so many eminent gracious persons in Authority are disabled from doing that good in their places they have otherwaies an opportunity for p. 53 54. The argument for union from the whole p. 55. The 7 General head from whence arguments for Saints union is drawn is from the evident and great good it would be attended with to Gods Church p. 55. 56. 1. Vnity would renew its strength and make it terrible to its enemies p. 56. 57. 2. Vnity would

Ministers p. 140 ERRATA PAge 7 l. 1. r Iohn 17.3 p. 17. l. 8. r. which p. 26. l. 24. for the r. that p. 44. l. 12. for care r. Core p. 60. l. 19. r. unseasonable p. 66. l. 21. r. quoted p. 32. 33. 34. p. 72. last line for peace r. place p. 85. l. 16. r. p. 68. p. 98. l. 8. r. aflictions p. 101. l. 10. for time r. kinde p. 104. l. 11. r. as it is p. 116. l. 11. r. p. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35 p. 119. l. 1. for which r. such GOSPEL-SEPARATION SEPARATED From its Abuses Wherein is asserted the Duty of Gods Churches separating from the World AS it is a Principle in Moral Philosophy that vertue is usualy found in mediums and Vice in extreams so may it be admitted in a great measure that Divine truth is found in mediums Errous in extreams For the Lord was not in the Wind nor in the Earthquake nor in the Fire but in the still small voyce 1 Kings 19.11 12. And therefore the way of truth in Scripture is held forth to be the strait-way Psal 5.8 Isai 40.3 4. and 42 1● Matth. 3.3 in opposition to the crooked ways of Errour Psal 125.5 Prov. 2.15 Therefore they that would walk in the strait-path of truth and peace must take heed they avoid the Errours of the right hand as well as the left Deut. 5.32 Josh ● 7 2 Kings 22.2 Prov. 4 27. Jsai 30.21 all which Scriptures evidence to us that there is danger of running into Errour of both hands which many Christians not duely considering have runne into sad extreams like those people Amos mentions that fled from a Lyon and a Bear hath met them Amos 5.19 And as this sad evill of extreamity hath had its influence over most controversal points at this day amongst the rigid sticklers for them so in especiall manner hath it produced sad effects in the point of separation wherein as on the one hand several professing Christ not duely weighing the bounds the Lord hath set in distinguishing the Precious from the Vile have opened the door of the Church too wide so many others under pretence of separating the sheep from the Goats do shut the door too close and reject those that God hath chosen and keep such sheep out of Christs fold as have his own mark upon them And he that justifieth the wicked and he that condemneth the just even they both are an abomination unto the Lord Pro. 17 15. And therefore that the truth may be found out in this weighty case I shall make an enquiry after the rule of Christ in Church-separation from the world shal therein occasionally discusse the several principles and practices which those that erre in the extreams of either hand are stumbling in that betwixt both the straite and narrow yet sweet and pleasant path of puritie and unitie may be found out and walked in And for the more distinct handling of this matter that the truth I plead for may be as well discerned as the Errour pleaded against I shall state these two general Positions First That it hath been in all ages wherein God hath had a visible Church on earth a duty required by the Lord from such his Church and People to separate themselves in matters of his worship from all the rest of the Nations and People of the world For proof read Exod. 19.6 compared with 1 Kings 8.53 so Ezra 10.11 and 6.21 Exod. 23.16 Lev. 20.23 24 25 26. so Neh. 9 2. and 13.3 Rom. 1.1 2 Cor. 6.1 Secondly That it hath been also required by the Lord as an equal duty from his Church and People so separated to walk together in the practice of all those dutyes of worship and service required at their hands without dividing or separating from one another Deut. 5.1.3 and 18.6 and 1 Kings 8.55.62 1 Chron. 13.5 6 7 8. and 28.21 and 2 Chron. 30.1 and 35.3 Ezra 10.5 Psal 31.23 24. In which Scriptures consider the word ALL Israel and ALL Saints and so Eph. 4. to the 14. Cant. 6.9 Psal 133. Hosea 10 1 2. Rom. 16.17 and 1 Cor. 1.10 and 3.3 and 11.18 But these two Positions thus generally stated I judge will be agreed unto by most if not all sober Christians and therefore I shall spend no time in the demonstration of them in this place but referr the Reader to the Scriptures quoted and to what shall be spoken in the ensuing discourse to the several particulars relating to them And first I desire you to note if the first Position be true then the difference amongst Christians about separation is rather about the manner or extent then the thing for that the church of God in the world should be a separated People from the the World in matters of Gods worship would be ridiculous to deny Therefore the difficulty lieth in a right distinguishing betwixt the World and the Church wherein some would have that part of the World called the Christian World to be the universall Catholique Church and only the Nations of the Jews Turks Pagans c. to be the World but I hope the most vehement against separation among the reformed Churches will not admit this extent if they should it would be a difficult thing for them to clear themselves from those brands of Separatists and Schismaticks cast upon them by the Papists which if they do not they then assent that a separation may be lawfull from a People makeing an outward profession of the Christian Religion But say others when there is not only an outward profession of the Christian Religion but also a competent knowledge of the Doctrine of the Gospel and a suteable life and conversation thereto there are the bounds of the true Church but the terms of this Qualification will admit of so much difficulty in their explanation that the generality of Christians will be as far to seek for their satisfaction in this point as before For first some will interpret that term of a competent knowledge of the doctrine of the Gospel to be a bare ability through education to answer to questions given them in a Catechism which a child of six or Seaven years of age is usually more capable of and expert in then persons of grown yeares which if that be admitted then repentance from dead works and faith towards God Heb. 6.1 with all other Gospel qualifications attending the work of conversion and regeneration may be spared as to Church fellowship on earth But as various as men opinions are in the several points of Religion at this day in controversy so various are their explanations of a competent knowledge of the principles of Religion each makeing those points wherein they differ from others in and separate upon part of those points of Doctrine which the knowledge of is necessary to a Church-member the discussing of all which would take a Treatise by it self Then for the other term of a suitable conversation that will admit of as

much controversy as the former for say some They that are not of a scandalous conversation are of a suitable conversation and if so then many Papists nay Jews Turks and Pagans are of a suitable conversation for abundance of all them are free from scandal in their lives and do walk very unblameably Paul before his conversion was according to the Law blamelesse the Pharises made cleane the outside of the Cup and Platter and therefore sure a Suitable conversation to the Gospel must be more then a meer moral conversation but if all persons of the several perswasions walking by these Rules that admit of so much variousness and uncertainty were put to give their several meanings in these qualifications they would leave the enquirer after truth at a greater uncertainty then they found him But surely the Lord hath not left his People in this great and weighty Case at so evident an uncertainty and therefore to spend no more time in this labyrinth of different Opinions in this Case Let us consider what light the infallible word of the Lord wil afford us therein For as the Lord knows who are his Jo. 10.14 and is known of his Col. 1.10 so hath he left to his Church and people a rule of knowing one another from all the people of the world Psal 4.3 But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself And since the day that the Lord put an enmity betwixt the two seeds Gen. 3.15 there have been visible marks and rules of distinction to know them by After Abels death we read nothing of a visible Church or Gods visible worship upon earth until the dayes of Seth who was given in stead of Abel whom Cain slew and after his posterity began to increase in the earth that is after Enoch was born then began men to call upon the name of the Lord Gen. 24.25 26. in whose seed the Church of God continued until the Flood at which time the Church and people of God polluted themselves and corrupted the holy seed by mixing themselves in marriages with the seed of the world For the Sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair and took them wives of all which they chose at which the Lord was greatly provoked and said My Spirit shall not always strive with flesh Gen. 6.2.3 and after the Flood the holy seed was again revived in Shem Gen. 9.26 27. in whose line the visible Church continued until Abraham's time with whom the Lord again renewed his Covenant and made another separation betwixt the two seeds Gen. 12.2 3. who again reformed and revived the visible worship of God Gen. 12.7.8 Gen. 13.4 After which God did at several times not onely renew his Covenant of Promise but in the seventeenth of Genesis did declare more fully then before the Condition of his Covenant for as before he usually said my Covenant will I keep with thee he here saith my Covenant thou shalt keep with me verses 9 10 11 12 13 14. And God said unto Abraham Thou shalt keep my Covenant therefore thou and thy seed after thee in their generations This is my Covenant which ye shall keep between me and you and thy seed after thee Every man-child among you shall be circumcised And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskins and it shall be a token of the Covenant between me and you And he that is eight dayes old shall be circumcised among you every man child in your generations he that is born in the house or bought with money of any stranger which is not of thy seed He that is born in thy house and he that is bought with thy money must needs be circumcised and my Covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting Covenant And the uncircumcised man-child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised that soul shall be cut off from his people he hath broken my Govenant In which words the Lord doth ordain and establish a new pale or bound to his Church which was never again to be altered for Abrahams seed and circumcision in the type or in the Antitype in the flesh or spirit shall ever continue to be the true bound of Gods Church militant which Covenant we finde was renewed again to Isaac Gen. 26.1 2 3 4. Rom. 9.7 Gal. 4.28 Hebr. 11.1 And after that to Jacob Gen. 28.13 14 15. from whose time this Covenant of distinction was usually repeated to be the Covenant made with Abraham Isaac and Jacob Exod. 2.24 Lev. 26.42 and that for an everlasting Covenant 1 Chron. 16.16 17. compared with the thirty fourth verse Which Rule of Church-membership or visible bound of Gods Church continued in the type unquestionable until the coming of the promised Messiah Luke 1.59 2.21 And therefore the Pharisees in the 8th of John thought they made a good plea to Christ verse 33. We are Abrahams seed and verse 39. Abraham is our Father which our Saviour admits to be true verse 37. I know that ye are Abraham's seed And this priviledge Paul pleaded Rom. 11.1 Hath God cast away his people God forbid for I also am an Israelite of the seed of Abraham And so against those false teachers in the Church of Corinth 2 Cor. 11. Are they Hebrews so am I are they Israelites so am I are they the seed of Abraham so am I By all which and much more of that nature that might be added it is a truth out of controversie that the Condition of the Covenant made with Abraham c. was the standing unalterable bounds of the Church of God until Christ came who did not at all disannul this Covenant as it was a distinguishing Covenant nor alter the least Condition of it but fulfilled it that what our Lord saith of the Law in general may be truly applyed to this particular Think not that I am come to destroy the Law and the Prophets I am not come to destroy but to fulfill for verily I say unto you till heaven and earth pass one jot or one title shall in no wise pass from the Law till all be fulfilled Mat. 5.17 18. And so Paul argues Rom. 3.31 Do we then make void the Law through Faith God forbid we establish the Law So that we must not seek for another Rule to know Gods Church and people by under the Gospel then what was under the Law But to enquire after that Legal Rule Gospelized that what the seed of Abraham and Circumcision under the Law were Types of under the Gospel that must we enquire for and make the same use of the Antitype now which the type then served for Now the seed of Abraham in the Flesh typed out to us the seed of Abraham in the Spirit the Carnal seed under the Law was the type of the Spiritual seed under the Gospel Rom. 4.11 to the end Rom. 9.10 first verses so Gal. 3.14 to to the end concluding with these words if ye be Christs then are ye