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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
ground_n	church_n	truth_n	world_n	1,700	5	5.2016	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A89271	An explicite declaration of the testimony of Christ according to the plain sayings of the Gospel: and therein, of the purposes, promises, and covenants of God, as by Gospel declared. With, a consideration of a question stated about faith. By Thomas Moore, Senior.	Moore, Thomas, Senior.	1656 (1656)	Wing M2593B; ESTC R231372	616,621	754

spiritual Gifts and Vertue to witness the Testimony of Christ still in all this time And as God forsook Shilo where his Tabernacle was in Canaan first pitched for the wickedness thereof Jer. 7.12 and returned his Tabernacle no more thither Rev. 12.1 so God may reject this outward Court in which his Sanctuary once was and his Glory shined in it and for the wickedness of it never beautifie it with his true Sanctuary again but preserve his true Sanctuary by his Word and Spirit till Christ come Rev. 11 19. and the Holy Ones beneath and the Holy Ones above do meet and the false Prophet be slain and the Church become a Kingdom which whether hinted in leaving out the Name of the outward Court Heb. 9. I will not say but onely that the placing helps in Government among such Temporary things as came in afterward may afford these instructions to us and so leave it to each man as Light of Truth perswades But for the Gospel and these spiritual Gifts given from Heaven that they have already been abundantly confirmed by Miracles and they so divinely recorded as is enough to confirm Faith and no need of doing them over again is that affirmed and proved and yet to make it more cleer and evident we have it expresly testified 4. By the Apostles own words to the Hebrews when having set forth the excellency of Christ as in Testimony of him set forth and then exhorted them to diligent heed taking thereto Heb. 1. 2.1 2 3 4. he admonishing them saith How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was after confirmed unto us by them that heard him God also bearing them witness both with signs and wonders and with divers miracles and gifts of the holy Ghost according to his own will So that the Gospel hath been confirmed above all that the Law of Moses was and as the Miracles confirming that was no more to be iterated after the Law was once taught setled and confirmed but those remembred with the Law yea the Prophets that came after endeavouring to move them to deviate from that Law with Signs and Wonders Deut. 13. were not to be believed or hearkned to so we are now warned for these times that false Prophets false Christs and Antichrists will come with signs and wonders to deceive and draw credit to their false Doctrine with Mat. 24.24 Mar. 12.22 2 Thes 2.10 So that which we are now to heed is the Word of the Testimony of Christ in which is testified Jesus to be The Christ the Apostles and first Witnesses to have declared his Minde even the Gospel according to the Revelation of the Mystery and the spiritual gifts with which they went forth and the Gospel revealing all this to be taught and left upon record by them Mat. 24.14 Rom. 10.18 the sound whereof went through the whole World before the first Witnesses all of them left the World And it was and hath been setled in many Churches in divers parts of the World and sufficiently confirmed with Signs Wonders Miracles and miraculous Gifts of the Holy Ghost already and they also written that we might believe And thus have I shewn according to this last and fullest Revelation of Christ who were chosen in and by him the first Instruments for laying the Foundation and beginning the building on it and so to set this glorious Ministration on foot and how plentifully they were furnished Now it is needful also to shew the Furniture of the following Witnesses that are of the same society and house and to carry on this Ministration to the same end till the return and personal appearing of Jesus Christ CHAP. 15. Of the Furniture of the following Witnesses till Christ come again WHo are the chosen of God in Christ to be Part 3. c. 11. and so are these Witnesses to carry on this blessed business till Christ come again is already before shewn and that they are such as through belief of his Grace in the Testimony of Christ delivered by the Apostles are by his Spirit built on Christ and so come unto Mount Sion Heb. 12.22 2 24. and unto the City of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable company of Angels to the general Assembly of the first-born which are written in Heaven and to God the Judge of all and to the Spirits of just Men made perfect and to Jesus thn Mediator of the New Covenant c. and so have fellowship with the Prophets 1 Joh. 1.3 Eph. 2.19 22. Isa 59.20 21. Phil. 2.15.16 Heb. 3.6 1 Tim. 3.15 and Apostles and so with the Father and the Son being now fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God build upon the Foundation c. having the same Word and Spirit in their Heart and in their Mouth which the Apostles had these are to hold forth the Word of Life c. as hath been shewn for these are the House of God and of Christ the Church of the living God the Pillar and Ground of Truth So that 1. Isa 43.10 Act. 13.47 As a Pillar was used for a Witness of Peace Gen. 31.51 52. so these are God's Witnesses to the World of Christ being his salvation to the ends of the Earth to open the eyes of the blinde c. 2. Isa 43.10 11. 1 Joh. 2.2 2 Cor. 5.19 Rom. 3.25 1 Tim. 1.16 Heb. 12.1 As the Pillar of the Cloud was a Testimony of God's presence and a Guide to Israel Exod. 13. so these are God's Witnesses and Holders forth of his presence and propitiatoriness to the World as Preachers and Patterns that they might repent and come in to follow him God spake to his People in a cloudy Pillar Psal 97.7 8. and through the same Pillar looked upon the Egyptians and troubled them Exod. 14.24 and so by and through these God speaks unto the World 2 Cor. 5.20 and manifesteth the savour of his knowledge through them 2 Cor. 2.14 17. which proves a savour of Life unto Life in them that in believing receive it and a savor of death unto them that oppose and rebel against it 3. As a Pillar the word is sometimes used to express some chief ones as Gal. 2.9 so whereas God hath testified his goodness in that rumour of the Gospel proclaimed in Paradise and in his works of Creation and Providence and after by Types and Prophesies and after by the Fore-runner of his Son Eph 3.3 4 5 6 9 10. 1 Pet. 1.11 12. 1 Tim. 3.16 and had Instruments suitable to each for Ministration yet when his Son is manifest as come in the Flesh who is the Brightness of his Glory and chief Testimony of his goodness so in that respect the Ministers that thus hold him forth they are the chief and such are these and the Church now 4. A Pillar is used for an upholder

and stay and so the Truth is the upholder and stay of the Church and the giver of Authority to it and not the Church the stay of and Authority-giver to the Truth yet even in this respect also as Christ is the Head of the Church and his Truth and Spirit and he thereby an Indweller in the Church so they in holding forth the Truth are instrumental upholders of it Act. 9.15 2 Tim 4.7 Mat. 5.14 and maintainers of the Faith to the World and so the Light of the World and in respect of some in the outward Court that turn the Grace of God into wantonness pervert the Gospel deceive the World and labour to beguile Believers in turning them from the Faith These are the Keepers of the Faith by teaching it and opposing and fighting with the sword of the Spirit against their prophaness and errors and so maintaining the Faith against their falshoods And in all these senses the Church that are these Witnesses 2 Tim. 4.1 7. 2 Cor. 10.4 5 6. Jude 3 4. is the Pillar of Truth and yet more fully in one sense more including all the former in it This Church is the Pillar and Ground of Truth taking in as is given us both the words that is to say 5. As they were of old to write the Commandments and Statutes of the Lord upon the door-posts of their house Deut. 6.9 11.20 and their gates as the Ten words were written in Tables of stone that they might be seen and read and as some say The Prophets did hang or fasten their written Prophesies upon one of the Pillars in the Temple as is the use of the chief Magistrate to have his Proclamation fastned on some noted post or pillar in the Market-place where all the Country may take notice of it and read it so these are the Church or House and so that post and pillar the Table or Ground in and upon whom the Truth is so written that all may read it though some with likement and some with dislike as the Apostle hath plainly affirmed saying to the Church Ye are our Epistle written in our hearts seen and read of all Men forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ ministred by us written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God not in Tables of stone as the Law of old was but in the fleshly Tables of the heart in which there is a performance spiritually by Christ of that said to the Prophet of old Write the Vision Feb. 2.2 and make it plain upon Tables Isa 29 11 12. that he may run that readeth it and being taken with that read he may read to others even that Vision of All and others may read it on him And this writing is the very work of Christ by his Spirit in Ministery of the Gospel We never read that Christ did personally in his own Body write any part of the Scripture that work he left for his Servants by his Spirit to do yet once we finde that he wrote with his Finger on the ground as not regarding his Tempters Joh. 8.6 yet what he wrote is not said but to say the Apostle alludeth to that I dare not nor yet will I say it was an intimate Instruction of his own work so freely to write by his Finger which oft signifieth his Spirit his Epistle in the ground of the heart of his unworthy ones but this I may say in treating of his spiritual writing To allude to this is no error But however it cleerly appears this Society and Church spoken of is the Pillar and ground of Truth where Truth is written and holden forth to be read 1 Tim. 3.16 yea even the Truth that is the Mysterie of godliness that great Mystery God was manifested in the Flesh justified in the Spirit c. And so these unfeigned Believers united to Christ having his word as delivered by his Apostles in their heart be his Witnesses now and the Ministers he hath chosen for this Ministration to minister according to the grace and gifts given them none presuming beyond these are the holy City and Sanctuary of his building and the Ministers of the things thereof Rev. 11.1 2 3. to whom he gives Spirit and Power that they may witness him even to the World and among these is the true Altar even in this Temple and these are the Worshippers thereat and because of the Gospel in their hearts and there through some portion of these forementioned spiritual gifts by which they witness him hold forth the word of life with their tongues therefore their tongue is said to be as choice silver and their lips to feed many Prov. 10.21 22. Pro. 15 10. Psa 35.28 71.24 119.172 51.31 1 Thes 1.8 1 Cor. 3.3 18. Gal. 5.22 23. their tongue useth knowledge aright and speaks of God's righteousness and praise all the day yea even so as sinners may be converted to him and so from them the word of God soundeth forth And also by the same Spirit in the Gospel their hearts being framed to the minde and design of Christ they so have a Christ-like Spirit springing up Love Joy Peace c. which leadeth them to walk in Faith and Love in Holiness and Mercy Mat. 5.16 c. So that also hereby they do witness of him and hold forth the word of Life also in their conversation in good works and holy profession whence the Fruit of the Righteous is called A Tree of Life Prov. 11.30 Ezek. 47.12 Rev. 22.2 2 Cor. 9.2 and a way of winning Souls yea their Fruit is for Meat and their Leaf for Medicine so their Conversation winneth and their Zeal provoketh many and because the Spirit of Glory resteth on them 1 Pet. 4.10 11 14. and giveth them power to glorifie God in witnessing both these wayes though through sufferings Therefore in respect of their twofold witnessing and holding forth the word of Life to glorifie God and do good to Men convincing by Truth and comforting with Truth and confuting falshood Rev. 11 4. They are also called the two Witnesses that witness yea that witness the Truth on God's part against the Man of sin and God of the World and the two Olive-Trees that bring forth that good Fruit whence the good Oyl runneth and the two Candlesticks that hold forth the true Light that shineth so that every way it appears that these unfeigned Believers united to Christ in him by Faith and he in them by Word Spirit are his chosen Ones to bring forth Fruit his Ministers for carrying an end the Ministration of this last Revelation of Christ till he come again these are the Temple of God the House of God the Church of God I need not to use worldly terms else I might shew how these are the Achademah or School University and Colledge in which are all the Scholars that are taught of God And

also might believe and this in Redemption applied to fallen Mankinde hath also in it an opposition in respect of sinfulness to righteousness and so he did not offer the Oblation for himself or for the Holy Angels but for us sinners and unjust and somtime in respect of the nature species or kinde in which fallen Men are opposed to fallen Angels whose nature and cause he took not on him but the nature and cause of Man and so gave himself for us Men and not for the Angels somtime the word is used with a special reference to Mankinde above other Creatures so as the life in him is the light of Men. And in confession of Truth the word Us We and Our is frequently used in Scripture as comprehending all Men yet testifying the Faith of the Confessors so Psal 100.3 It is he that hath made us and not we our selves Psal 100.3 v. 1 3. Psal 33.8 9. Roin 15.10 11 This true of all Men of all the Lands and Nations in all the ends of the Earth and that a good Ground to move them all to come in to believe in him rejoyce in him fear and serve him that so they might become the sheep of his pasture yet the special benefic and the Testimony of Faith is enjoyed breathed forth by the believing Confessors the like Mal. 2.10 Hath not one God created us This true of all Men and the Confession grounded on that very Truth That he is the Creator of all the ends of the Earth Isa 48.28 Act. 17.26 and hath made all Nations of Men of one Blood yet the force of the reproof and exhortation is found only in the believing Confessors of the same so 2 Pet. 3.9 The Lord is long-suffering to us-ward not willing that any should perish c. where it is evident vers 3. with Rev. 2.21 that Us includes as yet the very scoffers and such as yet were not come to the knowledge of the Truth express vers 9. and grounded on that Truth b Psal 1 45.8 9. and that the word Us is used in the same sense and signifieth all Men in Tit. 2.14 He gave himself for us us men and Believers confess it is evident and manifested divers wayes by the Scriptures namely 1. In the place it self in the beginning of the Profession or Confession Tit. 2.11 12 13 14. vers 11. The Grace of God saving to all Men or bringing salvation to all Men hath appeared c. and giving the Ground both of its appearing and teachings He renders it thus Who gave himself for us and having made no difference what can Us be less than all Men though the believing Confessors are they that receive and enjoy the benefit of its teachings And this will yet farther appear 2. By comparing with it other places of Scripture speaking of like things to the same end Act. 17.26 27. Act. 7.26 31. where having affirmed That God made all Nations of Men of one Blood c. and also shewn his gracious end towards them all in their several Generations and Habitations that they should seek the Lord c. in removing the Objection of impossibility and affording encouragement he saith Though he be not far from every one of us where it 's evident That Us is us Men yea in such a sense as is true from the beginning us Men every one in their Generations Us every one now living in our Generations Us every of us following in all the Generations of Men on Earth where also we may note That this Apostle like the residue of the Apostles as did the Prophets of old when speaking of the love and goodness of God to Mankinde Gen 2.7 23. 1.27 Eccles 7.29 either in the first Creation wherein Man was made in innocency and said to be flesh and bone he speaks of it as that which pertained to all Mankinde in the first Man 2 Cor. 15.50 before the fall and what he speaks of the love and goodness of God extended through a Redeemer Mediator to Mankinde fallen that by the fall became flesh and blood Heb. 2.14 weak and mortal which weakness and mortality the second publick Man for a time partook of that through Death he might destroy him that had the power of Death and so what goodness God extends to this fallen Mankinde in making them of and from the first fallen man whose Nature and weakness the second man took making them of the same Blood Psal 75.3 Col. 1.17 Psa 33.6 7 8. Rom. 2.4 of the same Nature and kinde and preserving and extending mercies to them as it is through the second man that is the Redeemer so it is all to one and the same gracious end in the first place that they might seek and finde him and fear him so the Apostle speaks of this as appertaining to all men and so in relation to men both Unbelievers and Believers he saith Every one of us Act. 17.27 28. and then proceedeth in giving some evident and undeniable demonstrations thereof saying For in him or by or through him We live and move Joh. 1.2 3 4. or have our being as vers 25. yea takes advantage from the power and victory of this Truth causing one of their own Poets in his way to confess it saying For we also are his off-spring Joh. 1.4 5 9. Act. 14.17 and however this Light hath formerly shined in Darkness and the Darkness comprehended it not yet God being patient and forbearing till he brought forth the Light more cleerly yet bringing forth the Light more cleerly Act. 17.30 31. he doth now admon̄ish Men all men all Men every where to repentiso that that former Every one of us and We he shews it to mean all Men and all Men every where and then gives this as the ground of the verity and equity of that admonition and a motive to receive it Because he hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath appointed Rom. 14.9 10 11 12. or ordained namely by vertue of his Death and Sacrifice for them to that rule dispose and judgement of them whereof he hath given assurance to all men or offered Faith in giving a sure object for Faith and medium to bring to Faith a witness of the Truth to move to and facilitate Faith to all Men in that he hath raised him from the dead So that all the way here about these things the words Us and We and all men are of like extent and in the largest sense that can be appliable to Men in their several Generations from the beginning of the World to the end thereof and if I should add to this those places in which he saith That Christ died for all tasted death for every Man and gave himself a ransom for all and is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world and compare them with other places where speaking of