Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
authority_n	apostle_n	church_n	minister_n	2,916	5	6.7721	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47522	The glory of a true church, and its discipline display'd wherein a true gospel-church is described : together with the power of the keys, and who are to be let in, and who to be shut out / by Benjamin Keach.	Keach, Benjamin, 1640-1704.	1697 (1697)	Wing K66; ESTC R19810	25,670	74

with them in every State and Condition with all Love and Compassion 4. And to shew them in all respects as near as he can a good Example in Conversation Charity Faith and Purity that his Ministry may be the more acceptable to all and the Name of God be glorified and Religion delivered from Reproach 5. He must see he carries it to all with all Impartiality not preferring the Rich above the Poor nor lord it over God's Heritage nor assume any greater Power than God hath given him but to shew a humble and meek Spirit nay to be clothed with Humility The Office and Work of Deacons THE Work of Deacons is to serve Tables viz. to see to provide for the Lord's Table the Minister's Table and the Poor's Table 1. They should provide Bread and Wine for the Lord's Table 2. See that every Member contributes to the Maintenance of the Ministry according to their Ability and their own voluntary Subscription or Obligation 3. That each Member do give weekly to the Poor as God has blessed him 4. Also visit the Poor and know their Condition as much as in them lies that none especially the aged Widows be neglected Of the Duty of Church-Members to their Pastor 1 st 'T IS the Duty of every Member to pray for their Pastor and Teachers Brethren pray for us that the Word of the Lord may run and be glorified Again saith Paul Praying also for us that God would open unto us a door of utterance to speak the Mystery of Christ. Prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him They that neglect this Duty seem not to care either for their Minister or their own Souls or whether Sinners be converted and the Church edified or not They pray for their daily Bread and will they not pray to have the Bread of Life plentifully broken to them Motives to this 1. Ministers Work is great Who is sufficient for these things 2. The Opposition is not small which is made against them 3. God's loud Call is as well as Ministers themselves for the Saints continual Prayers and Supplication for them 4. Their Weakness and Temptations are many 5. The Increase and Edification of the Church depends upon the Success of their Ministry 6. If they fall or miscarry God is greatly dishonoured and his Ways and People reproached 2 dly They ought to shew a reverential Estimation of them being Christ's Ambassadors also called Rulers Angels c. they that honour them and receive them honour and receive Jesus Christ. Esteem them very highly in Love for their Work sake Again he saith Let the Elders that rule well be accounted worthy of double Honour especially they who labour in Word and Doctrine that is as I conceive such that are most laborious 3 dly 'T is their Duty to submit themselves unto them that is in all their Exhortations good Counsels and Reproofs and when they call to any extraordinary Duty as Prayer Fasting or days of Thanksgiving if they see no just cause why such days should not be kept they ought to obey their Pastor or Elder as in other cases also Obey them that have the Rule over you and submit your selves 4 thly It is their Duty to take care to vindicate them from the unjust Charges of evil Men or Tongue of Infamy and not to take up a Reproach against them by report nor to grieve their Spirits or weaken their Hands 5 thly 'T is the Duty of Members to go to them when under Trouble or Temptations 6 thly It is their Duty to provide a comfortable Maintenance for them and their Families sutable to their State and Condition Let him that is taught in the Word communicate to him that teacheth in all good things Who goeth a Warfare at his own Charge who planteth a Vineyard and eateth not of the fruit thereof c. Even so hath the Lord ordained that they that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel If we have sown unto you spiritual things is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things They should minister to them chearfully with all readiness of Mind Ministers are not to ask for their Bread but to receive it honourably The Ministers Maintenance tho it is not by Tythes c. as under the Law yet they have now as just a right to a comfortable Maintenance as they had then the equity of the Duty is the same Our Saviour saith Dr. Owen and the Apostles plead it from grounds of Equity and Justice and all kind of Laws and Rules of Righteousness among Men of all sorts calls for it 7 thly It is their Duty to adhere to them and abide by them in all their Trials and Persecutions for the Word Ye were not ashamed of me in my Bonds c. 8 thly Dr. Owen adds another Duty of the Members to their Pastor viz. to agree to come together upon his Appointment When they were come and had gathered the Church together c. Query Are there no ruling Elders besides the Pastor Answ. There might be such in the Primitive Apostolical Church but we see no ground to believe it an abiding Office to continue in the Church but was only temporary 1. Because we have none of the Qualifications of such Elders mention'd or how to be chosen 2. Because we read not particularly what their Work and Business is or how distinct from preaching Elders tho we see not but the Church may if she sees meet choose some able and discreet Brethren to be Helps in Government We have the Qualifications of Bishops and Deacons directly laid down and how to be chosen and their Work declared but of no other Office or Officers in the Church but these only Quest. May an Elder of one Church if called warrantably administer all Ordinances to another Answ. No surely for we find no warrant for any such Practice he being only ordained Pastor or Elder of that particular Church that chose him c. and hath no Right or Authority to administer as an Elder in any other where he is not so much as a Member Quest. May a Church call out a Teacher that is no ordained Elder to administer all Ordinances to them Ans. You may as well ask May a Church act disorderly Why were Ministers to be ordained if others unordained might warrantably do all their Work if therefore they have no Person fitly qualified for that Office they must look out from abroad for one that is Yet as we say Necessity has no Law provided therefore they can't do either it is better their Teacher be called to do it than that the Church should be without their Food and Church-Ordinances neglected yet let all Churches take care to organize themselves and not through Covetousness or neglect of Duty rest incompleat Churches and so

Jesus Christ hath born for thee 2. What a Burden thou hast to bear of thine own 3. Mayst not thou in some things be a Burden to thy Brethren 4. Wouldst thou not have others bear thy Burden 5. May not God cause thee to bear a more heavy Burden because thou canst not bear thy Brother's 6. 'T is a fulfilling the Law of Love nay the Law of Christ. XV. The Glory and Beauty of a Congregation is the more manifest when the Authority of the Church and the Dignity of the Pastoral Office is maintained How great was the Evil of the gain-saying of Corah The Apostles speaks of some that are Selfwilled Presumptious who are not afraid to speak evil of Dignities God has put a Glory and high Dignity upon the Church and in it's Authority and Power Whom ye bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven Moreover the Pastoral Office is an Office of Dignity they are called Rulers Angels Fathers For any therefore to cast contempt on the Church or Pastor is a great evil and a reproach to Christ and tends to Disorder and Confusion Lastly When Holiness Righteousness Charity Humility and all true Piety is prest upon the Consciences of every Member and appears in the Minister also that all strive to excell therein with their uttermost Care and Diligences The Conclusion KNow my Brethren That God loves the Gates of Sion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob Therefore the publick Worship of God ought to be preferred before private 1. This supposeth there must be a visible Church 2. And that they frequently meet together to worship God 3. That they have an orderly Ministery and one ordained Elder at least to administer all Publick Ordinances 4. Moreover that all Persons have free liberty to assemble with the Church and to partake of all Ordinances save those which peculiarly belong to the Church as the Lord's Supper holy Discipline and days of Prayer and Fasting Then the Church of Old separated themselves from all Strangers Yet others may attend on all other publick Ordinances with the Church as publick Prayer Reading and Preaching the Word and in Singing God's Praises as hath formerly been proved May others my Brethren join in Prayer with us and not praise God with us But O my Brethren let me beseech you to shew your high Value and Estimation for the publick Worship of God Motives hereunto 1. Since God prefers it thus Or has so great Esteem of his publick Worship 2. Because he is said to dwell in Sion It is his Habitation for ever The place where his Honour dwells 3. Here God is most Glorified In his Temple every one speaks of his Glory My Praise shall be in the great Congregation 4. Here is most of God's gracious presence as one observes it 1. His effectual Presence in all Places Where I record my Name thither will I come and there will I bless thee 2. Here is More of his intimate presence Where two or three are gathered together in my Name there am I in the midst of them He walks in the midst of the seven Golden Candlesticks 5. Here are the clearest manifestations of God's Beauty which made holy David desire to dwell there for ever See the appearance of Christ to the Churches Rev 2. cap. 3. 6. In that it is said that those that should be Saved in the Apostles days God added unto the Church 7. Here is most Spiritual Advantage to be got Here the Dews of Hermon fall they descend upon the Mountain of Sion Here God commands the Blessing even Life for evermore I will abundantly bless her Provision and satisfie her Poor with Bread Here David's Doubt was resolved 8. Here you received your first spiritual Breath or Life many Souls are daily Born to Christ. That good which is most Diffusive is to be Preferred but that good which most partake of is most Diffusive O magnifie the Lord with me let us exalt his Name together Live Coals separated soon die 9. Brethren as a worthy Divine observes the Church in her publick Worship is the nearest Resemblance of Heaven especially in Singing God's Praises What Esteem also had God's Worthies of old for God's publick VVorship My Soul longeth yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord. How amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord of Hosts 10. See how the Promises of God run to Sion or to his Church He will bless thee out of Sion O let nothing discourage you in your waiting at the Posts of Christ's Door David desired Rather to be a Door-Keeper in the House of God than to Dwell in the Tents of Wickedness Yet nevertheless do not neglect for the Lord's sake private Devotion viz. Secret and Family-Prayer O pray to be fitted for publick Worship Come out of your Closets to the Church What signifies all you do in Publick if you are not such that keep up the Worship of God in your own Families O neglect not Prayer Reading and Meditation And take care also to Educate and Catechise your Children and live as Men and Women that are dead to this World and walk for the Lord's sake as becomes the Gospel See that Zeal and Knowledge go together a good Conversation and a good Doctrine go together These Two together are better than One. Brethren he that makes the VVord of God his Rule in whatsoever he doth and the Glory of God his end in what he doth shall have the Spirit of God to be his strength This is like Solomon's Three-fold Cord that will be One or it will be Three it can't be Two not can it be broken The Solemn Covenant of the Church of Christ meeting in White-street at it's Constitution June 5. 1696. WE who desire to walk together in the Fear of the Lord do through the Assistance of his Holy Spirit profess our deep and serious Humiliation for all our Transgressions And we do also solemnly in the Presence of God of each other in the Sense of our own Vnworthiness give up our selves to the Lord in a Church state according to the Apostolical Constitution that he may be our God and we may be his People through the Everlasting Covenant of his Free grace in which alone we hope to be accepted by him through his blessed Son Jesus Christ whom we take to be our High Priest to justify and sanctify us and our Prophet to teach us and to subject to him as our Law-giver and the King of Saints and to conform to all his Holy Laws and Ordinances for our growth Establishment and Consolation that we may be as a Holy Spouse unto him and serve him in our Generation and wait for his second Appearance as our glorious Bridegroom Being fully satisfied in the way o● Church-Communion and the Trut● of Grace in some good measure upon one anothers