Selected quad for the lemma: world_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
world_n	soul_n	whole_a	worth_a	1,913	5	9.2236	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A88892	The sacramental stumbling-block removed. Or a brief discourse concerning examination by the congregational eldership, before admittance to the sacrament. Wherein all contrary scruples are silenced : the equity and necessity of that duty vindicated, both by scripture, and undenyable arguments. Set forth for, 1. The satisfaction of the weake. 2. The information of the ignorant. 3. The conviction of the obstinate. 4. The edification of the Church of God. / by W.L.	L. W.	1648 (1648)	Wing L96; Thomason E425_16; ESTC R204558	31,401	51

be wiser for the body then for the soule which is more worth then the whole world 5. Although men be never so rich and great in the world yet if they be called and quallified for this work they must become fooles children and servants or else not fit 1 Tim. 5.17 either for the Kingdom of heaven or to be imployed in the Church of God And this is one obsticle in the way of great men who if they had eyes to see they might know that the service of God and his Church is not only the greatest freedom 1 Cor. 4.20 but the highest honour 6. It s an Argument of an ignorant and carnall heart and of such as are utterly unacquainted with Iesus Christ thus to stumble at his crosse was it not the ignorance and impietie of the Scribes and Pharisees thus to do did not they say of the Lord Christ Is not this the Carpenters sonne are not his brethren with us c. Do any of the Rulers beleeve in him c. Who is it that counts the wisdom of God foolishnesse but men worldly wise And are not we apt to say What is such or such a one do not we know them well enough taking exceptions at men excellently quallisied if not so great in the world as our selves 7. Know this is only a block cast in the way by Satan that men may stumble without cause and fall Notwithstanding men of abilicie and known fidelitie be in most places chosen yet it s ordinary with the devil and his instruments to obstruct therefore if he cannot quarrell with the Ordinances then with dispensations if no cause there then with the Instruments and if with none of those then with Christ with Truth it selfe For he knows the settlement of the discipline of the Church will exceedingly obstruct the increase of his Kingdom when corruptions are cast out and persons ignorant and scandalous debarred that Ordinance which makes them ten fold more the children of the devil by unworthy participating For it s all one to him either to make men rush hand overhead upon the Ordinance to their ruine or to raise a prejudice against the duty and Instruments imployed to deprive them of that mercy which by Gods blessing might be very Instrumentall to their salvation 8. If they be Legally chosen have past the tryall and the time of exception not made use of blame your selves Neverthelesse if they be unfit there is place of appeal and remedy 9. Ob. Me thinks the Pastors and Elders in Presbyterian Congregations are neither rightly called nor fitly qualified A I. Although I doubt not but many yea the most of them are as well qualified as we can expect for that as we cannot expect perfection here nor in a Legall sence any fitly qualified yet Evangelically considered although none are sufficient the Lord looks upon them with approbation and acceptance 2. Notwithstanding there is also sufficient provision made for the removall of such whether Pastor or Elder as are uncapable either by ignorance or scandall It s not here as in Independent Churches where if the people injure their Pastor or Elders c. or the Officers injure the people without redresse but if either party be found faulty they are responsible and satisfaction is given to the suffering party according to the demerit and doubtlesse corruption will creep especially into Churches where provision is not made to keepe it out 3. Although I would not plead for the unsutablenesse or incapacitie of any cal'd to the meanest office in the Church of God yet I would have them looked upon as men subject to infirmities not as Angels and if we would not have such we must ascend higher to look for Pastors Elders c. then either God or man ordained or expects And yet ordinarily those that stumble most at the inablities of Church-Officers are men most incapable of Church Communion Secondly For the Calling of Church-Officers If Pastors Teachers Elders c. be chosen according to those directions laid down in the Ordinance and have past thorow the door of tryall accordingly as in most places they have or otherwaies men disaffected to the Government would quickly have let them know it There can be no just exception especially if the time limited for exception be more then past abundantly unlesse you deny the publique Congregations in England to be true Churches which hath been and is generally attested not only by the National Synod now sitting the Godly Learned in generall whether Episcopall or Presbyterian but all the reformed Churches nay the most pious and prudent of the Independent judgement also have publiquely positively and affirmatively declared them to be true Churches of Iesus Christ however confessed on all sides to be full of corrupti●ns or else we should have no need of Reformation many Godly and learned Divines having taken much pains in publique to defend the Truth against all opposers and indeed the satisfaction of such weak Christians as stumbled hereat together with that other scruple of participating the Sacrament in mixt Assemblies was the chief cause of my own undertaking that Subject published for common benefit in the Book called the Bramble berry wherein there is full satisfaction given to that point therefore not willing now to insist further I refer such as yet scruple thither 10. Q. But why must we appeal to Classes have they any power to determine differences and to reform abuses in particular Congregations A. Yea and that for very good reason for 1. Besides the appointment by Parliament and Assembly they are our own Trustees or Representatives such as are chosen by particular Congregations to hear and determine differences and reform such abuses as in case of error or injury they themselves cannot for were it not for Classis the Pastors Elders c might injure the Congregation or the people injure the Pastor c. and remain remedilesse Classis therefore are as Committees chosen out or made up of pastors and Elders out of particular Churches and although they have appointment by Authoritie of Parliament and Assembly so they are approved and chosen by particular Churches as their Trustees so that every particular Church hath like interest and so receive like redresse in point of appeal And that these may not be oppressive or injurous they are responsible to the Provincialls which are also made up of so many delegates as are thought fit out of the severall Classis as their Representatives and those also responsible to a National Synod and they likewise to a Parliament so that as much provision as may be is made to keep out Arbitrary proceeds and tyranny and to redresse all abuses and that neither Pastor or other Officer be wronged by the people or the people by the Pastor c. or joyntly fall into errors without remedy 2. Although its true wee read of no such power in the Church as Classis Provincialls Nationalls c. in the Scripture yet we finde something