Selected quad for the lemma: kingdom_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
kingdom_n	build_v	church_n	peter_n	2,152	5	7.8262	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A77901	Poimēnopurgos. Pastorum propugnaculum. Or, The pulpits patronage against the force of un-ordained usurpation, and invasion. By Thomas Ball, sometimes Fellow of Emmanuel College in Cambridge, now minister of the Gospel in Northampton, at the request, and by the advice, of very many of his neighbour-ministers.	Ball, Thomas, 1589 or 90-1659.	1656 (1656)	Wing B584; Thomason E863_10; ESTC R206670	204,465	356

longer we live the wiser and more knowing we may and ought to be yet withall considering the exactnesse and ambition of every age that thinks it needful to out-doe what ever went before we are as much to seek as those that went before us the Scripture-times made but a very little progress in dilating and expatiating of the truths proposed in the word of God and the next three ages after were wholly entertained and exercised in bearing witness to the truths propounded to us in the first The fourth was a laborious and learned age wherein those great lights shone unto the world Ambrose Austin Chrysostom Jerome the Gregories and Athanasius but were imployed and taken up for the most part in encountering and repelling of the Arrian Nestorian Eutichian and Pelagian Heresies their worth and pi●h so buried in voluminous and vast replies unto those enemies that the succeeding ages from that unto the eleventh were wholly drowned in monastick contemplations and devotions in the eleventh the Schoolmen rose and put the Fathers sense and sayings into a method and body of divinity but that Text of Lumbards who began and was acknowledged their School-master was by his Scholars that succeeded so dilated beaten thin and wire-drawn that distinctionum minutiis senteniarum frangebant pondera by the subtilty and smallness of the thred they wrought with they buried the beauty of the work as one observes And though in these late Gospel glorious times Divinity is much recovered and restored unto its force and purity proportioned un●o the practices and lives of men made vulgar and familiar yet withall it s stretched by the eloquence and strains of Rhetorick in popular and common auditories unto such exactnesse height and bravery that it is not easie for to reach it nor safe to fall short of it so that if men be not helped by education art and industry they shall be sure to meet with scorn contempt and contumely if by their care and labour they make their Sermons strong and well wrought they are accounted Orators and over-doers if tune their Instruments unto the plain song of their Auditors that every body may conceive and carry all away they are accounted vulgar and contemptible and every Cobler Taylor Tinker thinks he can do as much and as well So as it was wont to be in Cambridge if a boy had been at Gog-Magog-hills he was esteemed a Rachel if he had not a fresh-man Yet all this art and excellency is not sufficient without a supernatural and efficacious influence of the holy Ghost upon the powers and parts of men (x) 1 Cor. 2. 14. for the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishnesse unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned Now who can come by all these excellencies and accomplishments have wit and art and elocution and acumen enough for these things yet those will only speak him an able Orator a Tully or Tertullus make him facundus sed malo publico for if unto all these gifts he have not grace he is become as sounding brasse and as a tinkling Cymball as the Apostle speaks (y) 1 Cor. 13. 1. there is a wisdom which the holy Ghost teacheth a tincture and relish that is put upon it by the Spirit of God that makes it penetrate and prick as Peters Sermon when the holy Ghost was visible upon him (z) Act. 2. 37. Set all together and it will appear that the most able eloquent improved man is much below the work and business of a Gospel-Minister which was the third step or stayr in this enquiry but we proceed unto a fourth 4. That at every gate avenue entrance of the Temple or house of God there be established a solid rigid acurate exact enquiry scrutiny and examination of such as do attempt to go in and attend these holy things The Apostle hath restrained women and enacted a kind of Salick Law that this Scepter and the dist●ff should not be coupled (a) 1 Tim. 2. 11. I suffer not a woman to teach but it s not enough to be a man for they mustal so be so qualified as God would have them not only men but work-men and not work-men only but work-men that need not be ashamed (b) 2 Tim. 2. 15. Hence it will follow that there must be Porters at the doors to whom the keyes must be committed as they were unto Peter for when Christ had told him that he would build his Church upon that Rock and the gates of hell should not prevail against it he adds and I will give unto thee the keyes of the Kingdom of Heaven (c) Mat. 16. 18 19. for should the doors stand open there might get in so many enemies that would be able to prevail against it When the Theeves in China had resolved to besiege Peking the Metropolis or royal City their Captain sent before hand a great number of his Army and gave them mony to buy Commodities and so pretend occasions to continue as sojourners and strangers and when he had begirt and did assault it to make insurrections and disturbances within it whereby he mastered it with much more case then otherwise he should have done this hath been often acted in the Church (d) Gal. 2. 4 5. because of false Brethren unawares brought in who came in privily to spie out our liberty that they might bring us into bondage To prevent these narrow Guards are to beplaced on all the entrances that such may be kept out nam durius ejicitur quam non admittitur hospes it s easier to keep them then thrust them out All men are very fearful of Witches and very careful to keep them from their habitations and places of abode because of the mischief which they are able for to do false Teachers in the Apostles judgement are no better (e) Gal. ● 1. O foolish Galathians who hath bewitched you these venefici or Witches were wont to have their venom or hurting power in their eyes as in the Poet nescio quis teneros oculos mihi fascinat agnos but now it is faln down into their tongues and its all one to say your Child is bewitched and to say he is under an evil tongue and therefore we should be very careful to keep such out for he that enters ill will ha●dly act well qui intravit ut vulpes regnabit ut leo as it was said of Hildebrand when the Apostle had suggested to them that Wolves would enter he bids them watch (f) Act. 20. 31 and the reason is given by our Saviour (g) Mat. 7. 15. bec●use they come in the habits and garbs of sheep till they are in they do not nor will shew their teeth There was never any body or society of men that gave immunities and liberties but had some kinde of tryall and examination at their admission Plato writes on his Academy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 no man might

and he shall be a father to the Inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the House of Juda and the key of the House of David will I lay upon his shoulder so he shall open and none shall shut and he shall shut and none shall open for as God doth not require us to act and exercise before we have abilities and instruments so when we have them he would not have us idle wherefore I put thee in remembrance to stirre up the gift of God that is in thee by the putting on of my hands for God hath not given us the spirit of fear but of power of love and of a sound mind for its truly said use legs and have them so as truly have legs and use them But God hath furnished and fitted Ministers as well for Discipline as Doctrine for the Word of God which Ministers are to mannage and apply serves for the one as well as the other is profitable for Doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in right eousness that the Man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works where hee is furnished and fitted for Discipline we see as well as Doctrine reproof and correction a●e tearms of Discipline howsoever words are counted wind yet the words of Ministers are more (r) Jer. 5. 14. behold I wil make my words in thy mouth fire and this people wood and it shall devoure them some men have very sharp tongues he that was famous for abuses stript and whipt had nothing but his tongue to whip them with and the Holy Ghost assures us that there be some whose teeth are spears and arrows their tongue a sharp sword (s) Psal 57. 4. and therefore it was no Soloecism nor improper Phrase when the Apostle bids Titus rebuke them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cuttingly that they may be sound in the faith (t) Titus 1. 13. Peter was a good Sword-man as did appear when he cut of Malcus ear although he was not on the Pillory and he was not dull in handling of the Spirituall Sword for when Ananias and Saphira would adventure to jest with edge tools to play the Hypocrits in so select and sacred a Convention they found that Peter did loquill apides spake like the piercing of a Sword as the wise man expresseth it (u) Pro. 12. 18. they found his doom and sentence was quickly followed with execution (w) Acts 5. 3 4 5. what did Paul mean think wee when hee threatens the Corinthians to come unto them with a rod (x) 1 Cor 4. 21 was it not the same that a School-master doth mean when he calleth for a rod or ferula its true that School-masters should study all diversions and wayes of ordering their Scholars and Disciples without this open execution but if the rod be not expected they will do nothing they will be baffled and despised which will evacuate all his instructions he shall find his Doctrine quickly sleighted if it be not edged and improved by Discipline as Paul to Titus (y) Titus 2. 1 these things speak and exhort and rebuke with all authority let no man despise thee as it is said of Kingdoms and Commonwealths that contempt is alwayes the fore-runner of insurrections and confusions as in the Fable of the Frogs and the Beam that Jupiter let fall among them at first they trembled and durst not look at it but when they sound they might approach without danger that they might lacessere impunè they wholly fell into disorder and cast off all respect and care of duty to him some School-masters have thought it proper instead of whipping Boyes to restrain and lock them up in the School when all their Fellows go to play where they shall lye if they will not learn Gods Ministers are furnished for this way have given to them the Keyes of the Kingdom of Heaven that Key of David that openeth and no man shuteth and shuteth and no man openeth (z) Revel 3. 7 whereby they are enabled to shut out those that are unruly and unquiet in the Church Christ promised those keys to Peter (a) Mat. 16. 19. not only the Key of Doctrine to open and explain the Scripture to them but also the key of Discipline to open and shut remit and restrain their faults as the Master when a Scholar cannot say his Lesson or hath committed some notorious crime locks him up in the School untill he have expressed his remorse and reformation so Gods Ministers when any of their people are exorbitan● restrain and bind them to their good behaviour exclude them from communion or enjoyments of the Ordinances untill repentance do solicite their release and therefore when Christ did give the Keys unto th●n he used those tearms of b●nding and loosing remitting and retaining whose soever sin ye remit they are remitted to them and who soever sins ye retain they are retained which is not onely a declaring and discovering whose sins God doth remit or not remit but God hath vested in them power and authority to do it as proper Judges in the Case as at the Assizes there is almost no body but can tell who is cast or quit who is to dye and who not yet none have power to order execution but the Judge himself who is in Commission and hath authority derived to him for that end Peter did but declare what was resolved by the Holy Ghost in the Case of Ananias and Saphira but he did it as a Judge and execution followed so Paul with that in destuous Corinthian doth not only discover and declare what was to be effected and done by God but doth it shuts him up in a Dungeon and sets the Devill to be his Gaoler untill by true repentance he moved compassion in the Apostle and was released and let out not that this power in the Minister is absolute and independent for if he walk not according to his rule judge not according to that Royall Law that is to guide him it bindeth not but is reversible and lyeth open to an appeal but if he walk according to his rule and shut up alave non errante there is no man in the world can release him or let him out The Commissioners at Lambeth had their Prisons for mens bodies and Lollards Tower is yet remembred but had they acted according to the rules of Christ and set the saddle on the right horse they had not needed corporall and carnall prisons had the weapons of their warfare not been carnall they would have been more mighty than they were but leaving their rule they lost their efficacy Argu. 7. What was given by the Bishops unto such Ministers as they Ordained and laid their hands upon should not be grudged or denied to them by any body for they were never accounted lavish or over liberal unto them especially in point of Jurisdiction that was alwayes a very tender point and had a guard and centry alwayes on it for conceiving themselves the

had it from the hands of those whom God designed and appointed thereunto (r) Exod. 29. 5 6 7. so there is no question but those Elders had authority whom Paul sends for unto Miletus (s) Act. 20. 28. yet they had not any extraordinary imposition or investiture but what was given by the Presbytery as the Apostle doth imply (t) 1 Tim. 4. 14. 7. To attend and act in holy things that is in the things of God as we have shewed before at large in stating of the Question namely in preaching the Word and administring the holy Sacraments and exercising of that Discipline which in the Scriptures is allowed and without which confusion cannot be barred out and the Saints enjoy that sweet Communion that is their due and the best part of their joy and comfort here in their absence and distance from the greatest good 8. By those deputed thereunto by God for as we said before God doth not need to leave his Throne and come down in person to ordain and consecrate men unto his service and attendance but it sufficeth if it be done by those that are deputed thereunto by God as Aaron was and after him the Levites (u) Numb 8. so that this enquiry is determined unto that one point who those should be that God hath thus deputed and appointed unto his service For we acknowledge it s a great power to give authority to men over the House which is the Church of God as Paul doth unto Timothy 1 〈…〉 15. over the holy things of God to make one a Steward of the Mysteries of God as they are called (x) 1 Cor. 4. 1. to deliver unto him the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven as Christ doth promise unto Peter (y) Mat. 16. 19. so that none shall go in or out without his leave and this power may be and hath often been misplaced and unduly given but yet it must be done by some body and who those are is now the thing to be enquired We are apt to find fault with whatsoever wee our selves have not a hand in quae non fecimus ipst vix ea nostra voco Absolom finds great fault with all Administrations in Davids Government (z) 2 Sam. 15 2 3 4. and could think of no reformation and relief for the abused people unless he were made Judge so we are apt to think nothing well done but what is done by us every body can reform and form a State but they that are imployed about it as every body can rule a Shrew but he that hath her It wa● said of Galba Omnium consensu capax imperii nisi imper asset Let us therefore see to whom this power is committed to give authority to men to attend and act in holy things that no mans right or claim may be prejudged or prejudiced but all pretenders have their liberty to plead and that we think will best be done if we proceed by such degrees and demonstrations as cannot be refused any therefore we say 1. There is in some Christians and in some persons in the Church such a power for certain it is that Pastors and Teachers are to continue in the Church untill our Saviour come again (a) Eph. 4 11. 12 13. And some Pastors and Teachers till we all come in the unity of the faith of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man now we are sure those very men that then were Pastors could not continue There went a rumour concerning John that he should not dye as it s said (b) Joh. 21. 25. but it was grounded in a mistake as there it s said for sure we are that he and all the rest are dead as they said to Christ (c) Joh. 8. 52. Abraham is dead and the Prophets so may we say Paul is dead and Peter is dead and all the Apostles and extraordinary Prophets are dead and how shall Pastors and Teachers be preserved but as all other men are by propagation and succession so Christ himself Behold I am with you always even to the end of the world (d) Mat. 28. 20 with whom not with the men to whom he spake for they are in their graves but with them in their Seed and Off-spring their fellow-Servants and Success●rs from age to age if therefore children must continue there must be fathers if there be Harvest promised there must be seed-time as it s said said (e) Gen. 8. 22. 2. They must be more than one It s well observed by our Brethren of London that hands are laid on in the plurall number nor in the singular or dual and the hands not of the Presbyters for that might besaid of one or two but of the Presbytery which was a Coleg or Society of Presbyters (f) 1 Tim. 4. 24. for though Paul did confide this power into the hands of Titus who was a single person yet he never meant he should put it in execution without assistants for in the exe●cise and execution of it he restrains him to the manner as he appointed him (g) Tit. 1. 5. now sure we are that Paul would never appoint him to ordain otherwise than himself was ordained when he was sent abroad about the Conversion of the Gentiles (h) Act. 14. 2 3 where all is in the plurall number or than Barnabas and he himself di● practise when they ordained Elders in every Church as it is said (i) Act. 14. 23. for Ordination is not only a sacred but also a very solemn thing as we have shewed and therefore should have many hands multorum manibus grande levatur onus yet Timothy and Titus are pitched upon to be the guiders and leaders of the action the presidents and patrons of it 3. They must be strong and able Christians Ordination is the preservation or propagation of the kind or species a kind of Spirituall Generation Paul every where calls Timothy his Son not because he had begotten him unto the Faith for he found him a Disciple k his faith was in a (g) Act. 1 6. 1. sort extraducè descended to him from his Grand-Mother and Mother but he had ordained him with others and so he was his Son now generation implyes perfection perfectissimum naturae opus est generare sibi simile if one must be of age before he can beget a Son what must he be before he can beget a Father if one must be strong before he can beget a Child what must he be before he doth beget a Man and therefore when Paul enjoyneth Timothy this act of propagating he bids him first be strong in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus (l) 2 Tim. 2. 1. for Ordination is a work that doth not only require maturity and ripeness of skil and parts to make an estimate and judgement of those they do admit to try their knowledge and understanding in the things they are to teach but also to resist temptations and