Selected quad for the lemma: life_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
life_n	company_n	elect_a	predestinate_v	173	3	15.8390	5	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

according to the purpose of him that worketh all things according to the counsel of his own will Mark how he concludes and approves the purpose of God to be such and his predestination of them according to his purpose even from his works in them that God having so chosen and blessed and furnished them-above all his former Servants and put them in this Ministration for such a Dispensation and confirmed it with such Blessings he working nothing at randome but all things according to the counsel of his own will This is an evidence that such was God's purpose and according to his purpose did he predestinate us to all this to this end Vers 12. Eph. 1.12 That we we so elected and furnished according as we were predestinated that we should to be the praise of his glory we in our Ministration in this Dispensation setting forth his glorious rich Grace in and through Christ as never was before should lay the Foundation and deliver the Doctrine and Dispensation in which the Glory of his Grace shall be displayed to the end of the World so that we now in our personal doctrinal delivery and Dispensation and we after in the same Doctrine and Dispensation delivered and recorded by us held forth in the Ministration of those that believe through our word in which our Fruit still remaineth and encreaseth that so we should be to the praise of his glory even we who first trusted in Christ and so were Eye-witnesses of him and had our Gospel immediately from him in which he puts a distinction between the first Witnesses that first trusted in Christ and the believing Ephesians that also trusted in him after they had heard the Word from the first Witnesses Vers 13 14 c. of which Believers he affirms graciously but short of what he affirmed of the first Witnesses putting a remarkable difference in respect of the measure of the Furniture between himself with those spoken of and these he speaketh and writeth unto So that the whole Series of all the things affirmed from vers 3. to vers 12. will agree to none but the Apostles and first Witnesses of Christ to none of the Servants of God before Christ carried our Nature into Heaven nor fully in all and every of the things affirmed scarce to any since their times but to all them all that is said doth fully agree and in the Text is expresly affirmed of them Vers 12. which doth abundantly testifie the Truth and Goodness of the Gospel delivered by them who were so abundantly furnished with such a full and cleer Revelation of Christ which they received so immediately from himself whom they also saw and being so filled with his Spirit have according to his purpose left the same on record for us Ephes 3.3 4. Phil. 3.1 2 Tim. 1.13 2.2 2 Pet. 3.2 Rev. 22.18 19. who have the same Gospel and Dispensation a revealed by them to believe and declare as we have it mediately from them and not to gape after another immediate Revelation of it to us but to take it as in believing we may by the Spirit come to know it in and by their writings and so Blessing Election and Furniture with the Predestination according to his purpose for such a gracious end for these last times here set forth speaks good to and for all the Sons of Men to whom it comes that they might believe and sweet Consolation to all Believers and the wresting of Election and Predestination here spoken of to mean a certain set Company of Men severed from the residue of Men that they and onely they shall be eternally saved that were thus absolutely predestinated thereto before the Foundation of the World and these onely and all these thus chosen and blessed as Ephes 1.3 4. sure there is not one word in the whole Text or elsewhere expressing or importing such a sence as this But there are many things in the Text against such a sense and that will not admit it as appears in that said over and beside the expression of this Company to be the first Trusters in Christ and speaking of them distinctly from after-Trusters changing the person from those spoke of to those spoken to with some difference in that affirmed of either yea this sense pretended in the Face of it compared with the Text would cut off all the Fathers from Adam to Noah and all the Believers in their times and all from Noah to Abraham and all from Abraham to Moses and all from Moses to David and from him to John Baptist from being of the number of the Elect and predestinate to Eternal Life for the things here affirmed of these Elect and predestinated cannot be affirmed of those from the beginning no not of John Baptist himself yea and by that Trial few Believers since will ever come to finde themselves of this elect Company beside this pretended sense pleaded for weakens and denies the evidence of good and credit this place affords to the Gospel-Dispensation and darkens the light of the whole Text so cleerly shewing and intended to shew forth the excellency of the Gospel as now revealed and the heavenly and rich Furniture of the Apostles and first Witnesses to deliver it and the Gospel and Dispensation recorded by them to be the Dispensation for these last times and all this according to the purpose of God so were they furnished and in the Gospel recorded they are in Spirit with all this Furniture with us now But as this Furniture was in a sort common to all the first Witnesses so they had also a Furniture of spiritual gifts in which was difference some one some another some more some less Let us view these also CHAP. 13. Of the Furniture of spiritual gifts the first witnesses had as in Ephes 4. EPhes 4.7.13 Ephes 4.7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ Wherefore he saith 8 When he ascended up on high he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men 9 10 11 And then there is an inference read vers 9 10. and then he saith And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ 12 13. till we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature or age of the fulness of Christ In these words are many things affirmed and taught both shewing their rich and plentiful furniture of spiritual gifts and worthy our observing 1. That these gifts as here mentioned were never so given to the Servants of Christ in this manner Ephes 4.9 10. Psal 68.18 19 20. Act. 2.2 6 16 21 33. before his personal Death and Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven in that personal Body of his that

his delivering up the Kingdom even to God the Father that God may be All in All and so the Government not Dividical but wholly Divine yet the Kingdom without end So that ●he beginning of this Day is in the entrance or beginning of Christ his coming to Raign and to sit upon the Throne of David his Father and the end of this last and great Day is after the Resurrection and Condemnation of all the wicked when will be the last and utter destruction of Death 26 28. in delivering up the Kingdom to the Father that the David●cal Regiment may be translated into that which is wholly and altogether Divine And that this Resurrection done by God yet he doing it by the Man Christ as he will in that Day judge all men by him our Saviour Christ himself teacheth speaking of himself as the Son of Man saying Rom. 2.16 Joh. 5.26 27 28. The hour is coming in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth they that have done good to the resurrection os life and they that have done evil to the resurrection of damnation Agreeable to which is that Confession of Faith That there shall be a resurrection of the dead Act. 24.15 Isa 26.19 1 Thes 4.14 Luk. 14.14 Joh. 5.24 both of the just and the unjust And the Resurrection of those that are by Faith united to Jesus and dying in the Faith sleep in Jesus is called the Resurrection of the Just in which Rewards are to be given them And though both Resurrection of Just and Unjust shall be in this last and great Day yet this Resurrection of the Just being at Christ his coming in the beginning of that great Day and of those that have believed on Christ and suffered with him in the Dayes of his patience who are to live and raign with him in the Davidical Regiment till the wicked be raised out of Death and judged and cast into the lake of fire which is at the end of this last and great Day and of all Time when also the Kingdom is delivered to the Father The Resurrection of the Just is therefore called The first Resurrection Rev. 20.5 6. which work our Saviour affirms to be the will of our Father that he should do and that he will do shewing the Father's will in general he saith This is the Fathers will c. Joh. 6.39 That of all which he hath given me and that is all men into his dispose by vertue of his Oblation I should lose nothing as is before shewn and will be more after he loseth none if any perversly lose himself yet he is to judge him and therefore it is said but should raise it up again at the last day And then speaking of the Father's special will he saith And this is the will of him that sent me That every one which seeth the Son and believeth on him may have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day Which he speaks more particularly and emphatically as the first and choice having not proceeded in the other to such-like affirmation for that reason given Joh. 12.47 48. So that this next coming of Christ is first in the beginning of the last Day to raise and cloath with immortality all his Saints which will be done in a moment the same moment he is descending from Heaven that so they meeting him in the Air may come along with him to the next work as is affirmed they shall which next work is also plainly affirmed to be 2. To overthrow all the Powers and Governments of the World that now is that are upon this Earth and so it is said 1 Cor. 15.24 He shall put down all rule and all authority and power The Persons ruling if any of them Saints will be taken into that Company Dan. 7.12 Isa 60.12 and be changed and go with him if not if they at first submit to serve him and his people their lives shall be prolonged though their Dominion be taken away but all the wicked that rebel against him in that Day in which no more space of Repentance given for the the Lord will make a short work on Earth shall be destroyed and burned up Rom. 9.28 Mal. 4.1 Jude 14 15. 2 Pet. 3.7 10. 2 Thes 1.8 9. Isa 9.4 5 6. 11.4 Psa 72.4 both Root and Branch whence it is called The Day of Judgement Destruction and Perdition of ungodly Men which shall be with flaming Fire For this Battel shall not be like the former Battels on the Earth with confused noise and Garments rolled in Blood but with burning and fewel of Fire for he shall smite the Earth with the Rod of his Mouth and with the Breath of his Lips shall he slay the wicked and break in pieces the Oppressor He hath long left the Government of the Affairs of this World in the Hands of Men Psal 82.1 2 3 4. 2.10 11. whom he called Mighty or Gods and bade them judge righteously that it might be well with them in their account to him and he hath often changed the Governours and manner of Government and waired with patience to see if they would do right but he seeth That though he hath given them warning Psal 75.4 5 6 7. Psal 82.5 yet ● they know not neither will they understand they walk on in darkness all the foundations or Governments of the earth are out of course even moved Isa 59.16 50.2 3. And he saw and there was no man no Government he wondred there was no intercessor therefore his Arm brought salvation to him and his righteousness it sustained him and he dried up the Sea c. And saith to them Ye shall die like men and fall like one of the Princes And then it follows Arise O God Psal 82.7 8. Isa 13.6 7.11 judge the earth for thou shalt inherit all Nations And thus will he come in that Day to destroy sinners out of the Land to punish the World for their evil and the wicked for their iniquity and to cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease and lay low the haughtiness of the terrible yea Isa 13.13 Heb. 12.26 Hag. 2.6 Zach. 13 2-6 Rev. 19.20 1 Cor. 13.8 9-12 Jer. 31.34 2 Thes 1.7 8 Mat. 13.41 so great will this shaking be that he will not only shake the Earth but the Heavens also in that Day not only in destroying the false Prophet and so all Idolatrous Congregations with all their forms of Church-Government but also in causing to cease all the outward Government and Ordinances suitable to the Church of Christ in this frail state at that Day and no till that Day shall all these things be done And though he did the first work himself alone yet in this work for these things he comes not only with his Holy Angels but also with all his Saints joyning with him in this work as is said Let their

is to say first as a Description of the predestinate with that whereto they are predestinate and for what end secondly a propounding of examples to them of such Saints as have gone before and finished their course and so according to both these let the words be minded First I shall consider those three things as the Description of the Predestination 1. Who they are that God hath thus predestinated enough is said already to shew they are not any of Adam's Sons as fallen in him and naturally come forth from him as so remaining and so beheld but only such as are foreknown fore-owned of God which are onely the Called according to purpose 1 Cor. 8.3 Gal. 4.6 9 Joh. 15.16 Act. 9.15 16. 10.41 42. 1 Tim. 1.11 12 2.7 that through the grace and love of God in Christ believed do love God all these and none but these are known of God these all and onely these elect owned and approved God doth having first or fore-owned them in that very election and owning of them appoint ordain and predestinate them to this conformity 2. That is both intimately hinted what not to or expresly affirmed to what intimately shewed that it is not to make propitiation for sins and to offer the acceptable sacrifice c. for according to purpose Christ onely was to do and hath done that and God hath commended his love to Man-ward through him nor is it to be called as sinners to repentance and to believe in Christ and in believing to receive remission of sins past and so to be framed to love God and by Faith to be the Sons of God and in that Faith in him to have the beginnings of eternal life All which in some good measure they haye already being Lovers of God and called according to purpose and so known and approved of God before this predestinating them but that which they as Sons are predestinated unto is something in which Christ as the prime Son is set forth as a pattern to them and so it is expresly said They are predestinated to be conformed to the Image of his Son which must needs be to that likeness of him in which he is set before us for a pattern and example to conform to and that may be comprehended in these three Branches as the Scripture plentifully and plainly shews I. 1 Pet. 2.5 9 Eph. 2.10 Rom. 7.4 5 Joh. 15.16 19 1 Tim. 1.11 12 2.7 2 Tim. 1.11 Act. 10.41 42 In services of love in declaring his Name and shewing forth his praises and vertues in word and conversation to this end were they created in him to good works that they should walk in them yea to this end their marrying and uniting to Christ that they should serve in newness of Spirit so Christ in chusing ordains to go and bring forth fruit so Paul when counted faithful was put in the Ministery and so ordained a Preacher and an Apostle Eph. 1.4 Phil. 2.15 16 Eph. 5.1 2. Joh. 13.15 34 35 15.12 yea all his chosen Witnesses and specially his Apostles were predestinated to the Adoption of Children by Jesus Christ in their Ministration and all Believers commanded to hold forth the word of life c. and so to be Followers of God as dear Children and to walk in love as Christ hath loved us who tells us he hath given us an example and bids us so to do To this they are predestinated II. In bearing the cross of Christ in this their service 1 Thes 3.3 4 in patient acceptance and indurance of such afflictions as they meet with for the Name of Christ and as God is pleased to try and exercise them withall And this the Apostle speaks of Mat. 20.23 10.22 1 Pet. 4.12 1.6 7 Act. 14.22 2 Tim. 3.12 Heb. 12.6 as a known thing among Believers which he had taught them also speaking of afflictions he saith For your selves know that we are appointed thereunto And Christ told his Disciples That they should indeed drink of his cup and be baptized with his baptism Whence Peter admonisheth not to count the fiery trial strange as if some strange thing hapned to us And the Apostle puts it in as of necessity We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God And Paul puts it down not onely as necessary but general All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution and God scourgeth every Son whom he receiveth To this they are predestinated III. Phil. 3.9 10 2 Cor. 4.17 18 Rom. 5.3 4 5 Jam. 1.2 3 1 Pet. 4.14 Heb. 2.10 Luk. 24.26 Rom. 8.17 2 Tim. 2.11 12 Mat. 5.11 12 Jam. 1.2 3 4 1 Pet. 4.13 Through these sufferings to be conformed to the Image of Christ in this life in spiritual vertues in meekness patience submission to the will of God experiments of divine power in fortitude constancy c. and after this life in glory and raigning that as it was appointed him through sufferings to be made perfect and to enter into his glory so it is by the same divine appointment that Believers follow him in the same way to enter rest and glory whence that is closed in with our Sonship and being Heirs If so be that we suffer with him that we may be glorified together if we be dead we shall also live with him if we suffer we shall also raign with him whence those callings to rejoyce when such sufferings befal us And the predestination is principally to the way means and orderly leading to the purposed end and this that to which God's chosen are predestinated 3. The end for which he hath thus predestinated those he hath owned as unfeigned Believers and lovers of him to be thus conformed to the Image of his Son that is express That he his Son Christ might be the first born among many Brethren Plain it is Col. 1.18 Prov. 8.22 c. Col. 1.17 15 Col. 1.18 Act. 17.31 Mat. 2.18 Ier. 31.16 17 That this great design of God in this predestination of the Believers to such conformity to him still to advance and glorifie his Son that in all things he may have the pre-eminence he was and is without controversie in himself the first-born and before all things yea he is also the first-born of every creature so as they were made by him he is also the first-born from the dead and so the object of Faith for all Men. And more I might say in respect of those dying in infancy but in this it is that he might be the first-born among many brethren even those chosen and predestinated to conformity to him in such services and sufferings to pass therethrough to glory Heb. 12.23 Col. 1.18 Eph. 1.21 23 Ioh. 17.1 whence so believing on him they are called the Congregation of the first born as he is also the Head of the Church all whose excellency and happiness is in being still more conformed to him in that in which for