Selected quad for the lemma: love_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
love_n	know_v	love_v	true_a	9,910	5	5.1266	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A77504	The mystical brasen serpent: with the magnetical vertue thereof. or, Christ exalted upon the cross, with the blessed end and fruit of that his exaltation, in drawing the elect world to himself, to believe on Him, and to be saved by Him. In two treatises, from John 3. 14, 15. 12. 32. Whereunto is added A treatise of the saints joint-membership each with other. As they were delivered to the Church of God at Great Yarmouth, by John Brinsley, minister of the gospel, and preacher to that incorporation. Imprimatur, Edm. Calamy. July 30. 1652.	Brinsley, John, 1600-1665.	1653 (1653)	Wing B4719; Thomason E1249_1; ESTC R208891	155,986	284

is that which the Apostle meaneth where he presseth it upon his Philippians that they should stand fast in one spirit with one mind Phil. 1.27 And again in the next Chapter ver 2. Fulfill ye my joy saith he that ye be like minded having the same love being of one accord of one mind 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the same with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 before Concordes of one heart one soule Thus was it anciently said of two entire friends 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There was one soule in two bodies Thus should it bee with Beleevers though they be distinct persons and divided into severall societies yet they should have but one soul be all of one heart Sois it in the naturall Body there are many members but one heart Thus should it be with the members of the mystical Body O that it were so they should have but one heart So is it promised to the Church under the Gospel in those known Texts Jer. 32.39 Ezek. 11.19 I will give them one heart And accordingly it was performed in the Proto-primitive times as you shall find it Acts 4.32 The multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soule Vnanimous in their judgments united in their affections O that it were so in these might be so in all times All of us pray for it strive after it 1. That we may be of the same mind the same judgement 1. Onenesse of judgement to be desired This our Apostle begs for and from his Corinthians 1 Cor. 1.10 Now I beseech you brethren by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you but that ye be perfectly joyned together in the same mind and in the same judgement A Text which I have heretofore handled in this place and given a publick account to the world And this let all of us beg for our selves and for all the Churches of Christ in this Nation and elsewhere that we and they may all bee in this sense like-minded thinking and speaking the same thing Thus is it with the members of the naturall body many members but one Tongue Thus should it be with the members of the mysticall Body they should all speak the same thing all looking the same way In the naturall body there are two eyes and two legs but they both look and go one and the same way Crosse eyes and splay-feet where the one looketh one way and another another are no small blemish and deformity to the natural body And so are Crosse-Christians to the mysticall Body such as are crosse in their judgments singular in their opinions affect to be so 2. Much more they who are crosse in affections It is that which I now more directly and principally aime at and I wish I may hit the mark Christians 2. Christians should be of one heart like affected towards each other though they cannot alwayes be of the same mind yet should they be of the same heart Though they cannot bee like minded towards some controverted points of lesser concernment yet they should be like minded one towards another So our Apostle presseth it upon these Romanes ver 16. of this chapter Be of the same mind one towards another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Be like affectioned one towards another A consectary fitly following upon this conclusion in the Text Christians being members one of another let them be like affected one towards another 1 Loving one another 1. Loving one another Be ye like minded having the same love saith the Apostle in that place forenamed Phi. 2.2 Love as it is the bond of all Christian vertues so it is the bond of all Christian Societies In both which respects it is called the bond of perfectnesse Col. 3.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The most perfect bond tying hearts together which no other bond can do And being so it must in the first place be put on by all those who would join themselves to the mysticall body 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith the Apostle there Above all put on charity which is the bond of perfectnesse This our Saviour layeth down for a character whereby his Disciples may be known By this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples if ye love one another Joh. 13 35. As malice is Satan's brand which he sets upon his Goats so Love true Christian love brotherly love as the Apostle calleth it Heb. 13.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is the mark of Christs sheep All of us then who professe such a Relation to Christ and his Mysticall body see that this affection dwel in us that wee do unfainedly love all out fellow members So our Apostle presseth it in the 9. verse after the Text Let love be without dissimulation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a usefull and needfull qualification There is a great deale of seeming but little sincere love in the world Scarce is there a man but maketh some shew of love or friendship to his neighbour yet how many in the mean time have their hearts brim full of rancour and malice Let Christians seek after sincerity as in all graces so in this of love that they may imbrace each other with mutuall and cordiall affection So the Apostle there prosecutes his Charge in the verse following ver 10. Be kindly affectioned one towards another with brotherly-love or in the love of the Brethren A very emphaticall expression Christians must not onely be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lovers of the brethren but they must also be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 kindly affectioned in that love The word properly signifieth a Parentall love such as is betwixt Parents and their children a natural love Such should the love of Christans be towards their brethren wherein they ought to abound each to other That is Pauls prayer for his Thessalonians 1 Thes 3.12 The Lord make you to increase and abound in love one towards another and towards all men Thus was Paul affected towards them as it there followeth Even as we do towards you And thus would he have them affected towards their brethren with an exundant love so as it might over-flow even to others also to all that came in the way of it And it shall be my prayer for you all of you of this Congregation and particularly for you who have given up your names and selves anew unto Christ to wait upon him and submit unto him in all his holy ordinances And not for you onely but for all the true Churches of Christ and all the members thereof as elsewhere so specially in this Nation Now the Lord make you to abound in love one towards another A low Ebbe of Brotherly-Love in this Nation A Prayer I think never more needfull since Christ had a Church upon earth then it is at this day amongst us in this Nation wherein what a sad and low ebbe of this affection may we see every where Divided

it If so here are comfortable evidences that Christ hath begun to put forth an effectuall power in and upon our soules 2. But secondly Enquire how our hearts stand affected towards Jesus Christ 2. Enquire touching the affections of the heart towards Jesus Christ This is Christs drawing of men to himselfe viz. the drawing of their hearts and affections to him These are the feet of the soule whereby a man cometh unto Christ Non pedibus sed affectibus Now are these drawn to Christ How stand our hearts affected towards him Make this enquiry in three or four particulars 1. In respect of our affiance 1. Affiance in him Can we say that we rest upon him and him alone Have we cast our souls upon him as upon an alone all-sufficient Saviour Have wee committed them to him 2 Tim. 1.12 I know whom I have beleeved or trusted saith Paul and I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him Thus stood Paul affected towards Jesus Christ so as he durst trust him nay he had trusted him and that with his best Jewel with his precious soul or with his Crown which he had committed to him deposited with him And thus doth the soul that is truly drawn to Christ it le ts go all other things and betakes it selfe wholly and alonely unto Jesus Christ as unto an alone Saviour leaning upon him that is the Churches posture Cant. 8.5 Who is this that cometh up from the wildernesse leaning upon her beloved Imbracing and resting upon him Now are we thus drawn to Christ Do wee find our souls thus coming out of the wildernesse of this world and clasping and imbracing Jesus Christ leaning and resting upon him fixing all our affiance and confidence upon him so as we can say that we have none other in heaven or earth but him if so certainly the heart which thus leaneth upon Christ is drawn to him 2. In respect of Love 2. Love Eph. 6. last Can we say that we do unfainedly love the Lord Jesus Love him in sincerity so as our souls do cleave unto him Thus will it be with the soul that if truly drawn unto Christ it will close with him and be exceedingly affected with him Thus was it with Peter Peter lovest thou me Lord Joh. 21.15 Luk. 7.47 thou knowest that I love thee Thus was it with Mary Magdalene She loved much because much was forgiven her Cant. 5.8 The Church in the Canticles is sick of love And thus will it be with the soul that is truly brought to Christ it will be inamored with him Apprehending the intire and infinite love of Christ towards it it cannot but be inflamed with love towards him again and this love it expresseth by a high prising of him 3. Which may serve for a third enquiry 3. Appretiation What price do we set upon Jesus Christ The soul that is truly drawn to Christ is drawn to an high estimation of him so as it prefers him before all other things accounting meanly and basely of all other things in comparison of him I account all things loss and dung saith Paul so that I may win Christ c. Phil. 3.9 4. 4. Willingness to part with al for Christ And this estimation it expresseth by a willingnesse and readinesse to part with all for Christ which may be a fourth Enquiry Are we so taken with Jesus Christ as rather then part with him we are resolved to part with all So was Paul affected towards him hee accounts all dung and he willingly maketh losse of all for Christ and so will the soul do that is truly drawn to Christ it will let go all what ever it is that stands betwixt Christ and it Riches and Honours and Pleasures and Ease and Credit and Life Even as Peter and Andrew when Christ had called them They straightway left their nets and followed him Mat. 4.20 Thus where Christ drawes the soul effectually it leaves all parts with all viz. in purpose and resolution In case any thing comes to stand in competition with Christ the resolution of such a soul is rather to part with it then Christ 5. And hereby it expresseth an earnest and Longing Desire after Christ 5. Longing desires after Christ which may yet be another Enquiry Can we say that our souls do go out in earnest desires after Jesus Christ after nearer union and more full communion with him Such affection the Spouse in the Canticles frequently expresseth towards her Well beloved complaining of his estranging and withdrawing himselfe from her how doth shee seek after him earnestly desiring to enjoy him and to be enjoyed of him And truly so will it be with the soul that is truly drawn unto Christ it will affectionately long after him earnestly desiring to be more nearly united to him to have a more full communion with him to injoy the presence of his grace here and glory hereafter The Spirit and the Bride say Rev. 22.17 20 Come Even so come Lord Jesus come quickly 6. To name but one more in the sixth place as touching our Submission to Jesus Christ Can we say that we have taken him as our Lord that we have given up our souls unto him and that we are not only contented but desirous to be ruled and governed by him that we are as willing to be ruled as to be saved by him If so finding our hearts standing thus affected towards Jesus Christ in respect of our affiance in him love to him High-prizing of him readinesse to part withall for him earnest desires after him willingnesse to be governed by him now may we conclude it to our comfort that we are in the number of those who have felt the effectuall power of Jesus Christ put forth and exercised in and upon us in drawing us to himselfe Otherwise having no such affections towards him our hearts not resting upon him not closing with him preferring other things it may be every base lust before him not willing to part with any thing much lesse with all for him having no desires after him not submitting unto him certainly wee never yet knew what this effectuall work meant Upon this Triall thus made two sorts of Vse 2. persons come now to be dealt with 1. To such as are thus drawn Such as shall find themselves thus in measure wrought upon Let them 1. 1. Comfort from their interest in Christ Take unto themselves the comfort of this blessed worke Having by experience felt in themselves this fruit of Christs death let them be assured that all the merits and benefits of his death belong unto them Those whom Christ thus draweth he draweth not onely to union but communion with himself being thus drawn to Christ to receive him believe on him submit unto him now all that is Christs is theirs The merit of his death is theirs for their Justification The vertue of his death and

heads have made divided hearts Division in judgement hath bred division in affection so as the love of many is now waxed cold So it was foretold by our Saviour Matth. 24.11 12. Many false Prophets shal arise and shal deceive many And because iniquity shall abound the love of many shall wax cold And surely never was it more truly and sadly verified then in this Age this Nation wherein through the seduction of false teachers every where sowing the tares of their erroneous doctrines and the abounding of all kind of iniquity the love of many many professours their love to God and love to their Brethren is now grown cold not shewing it selfe as heretofore in the offices and exercises of true piety and charity O that that God who causeth the sea when it is at the lowest ebbe to flow againe would also cause a returne of this Affection unto his Church and people in this Nation That those who being members of the mysticall Body are also members one of another might be truly and cordially affected each to other which were there no other argument to perswade yet me thinks this alone which I have now in hand being duely considered should bee abundantly sufficient What members of the same Body and mutuall members members one of another and shall wee not own one another shall we not imbrace one another be cordially affected each to other Now the good Lord who can and will make dry bones to live revive this affection where it is dead or dying and confirme it where it yet continues that being thus members one of another we may fulfill the great and everlasting Commandement which as it hath been taught from the beginning of the world as Saint John tels us 1 John 3.11 so is it to be practised to the end of it yea to eternity That we love one another And that not impaling and confining this Affection within the narrow bounds of that particular Society to which we have a speciall Relation love so appropriated may well bee suspected but extending it to all the true Churches of Christ and all the true members of those Churches as being all members of the same Body To this grand and primary respect I may now subjoyne some other which are but as off-sets to this maine Root daughters and hand-maids to this Mother and Mistresse-Affection as viz. 2. In the second place 2. Sympathizing one with another Christians upon the account of their Joint-membership thus loving one another let them also sympathize one with another This doe the members of the naturall Bodie being joint-members they sympathize have a fellow-feeling each with other So much did we not know it by experience we might learn from our Apostle 1 Cor. 12.26 And whether one member suffer all the members suffer with it or one member be honoured all the members rejoyce with it So should it be with the members of the mysticall Body being fellow-members let them thus sympathize one with another So Saint Peter presseth it 1 Pet. 3.8 Finally be ye all of one mind having compassion one of another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sympathizing having a fellow-feeling of each others condition Thus should Christians be like affected with their Brethren rejoycing with them sorrowing with them So our Apostle here presseth it upon these his Romans bringing it in upon the account of this their Joint-membership ver 15. of this Chapter Rejoyce with them that rejoyce and weep with them that weep H. Grotius Drusius ex Rabbi Jud. ad loc An allusion as some conceive of it to the two Gates in Solomons Temple the one of which was the marrying door the other the Penitents door and so those who entered in at the one were merry and joyfull those who came in or went out at the other were sad and sorrowfull to both which the Levites applied themselves in their speech and demeanour sutable to their conditions speaking chearfully to the one mournfully to the other Thus ought Christians to sympathize with their brethren being like affected with them both in regard of joy and sorrow 1. Rejoycing with them that rejoice 1. Having mutuall joyes Rejoycing in the welfare of their brethren In their Temporall welfare not envying it nor repining at it but rejoicing in it So did Elizabeths Neighbours and Friends as the story tels us Luk. 1.58 When they heard that the Lord had shewed great mercy unto her viz. in giving her a son they rejoyced with her But specially in their Spirituall welfare Are there any entred or entring in at the Marrying door coming in giving up themselves to be married to Jesus Christ here is a matter of rejoicing It is so with the Angels in Heaven There is joy in the presence of the Angels of God over one sinner that repenteth Luk. 15.10 And so let it be to the Saints upon earth Do we see any who were before alienated brought home unto God either in their first conversion of returning after their defection and departing from him herein rejoice It was meet that we should make merry and be glad saith the father of the Prodigall to his malecontented son for this thy brother was dead and is alive again was lost and is found Luk. 15.32 And so where we see any standing fast in the faith walking in the truth herein rejoice So did John on the behalfe of the children of that Elect honoured Lady as he calls her and tels her 2 Joh. v. 1 4. I rejoice greatly that I found of thy children walking in the truth The like he tels Gaius in the following Epistle ver 3 4. And so was this our Apostle affected for these his Romans Hearing of the fame of their obedience I am glad therefore saith he on your behalfe Rom. 16.19 Thus should mysticall fellow-members rejoice one with another 2. 2. Mutuall sorrows And so mourn one with another having a fellow feeling of each others sorrowes and sufferings Such a Sympathie there is betwixt the Head and members of this mystical Body We have not an High Priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities saith the Apostle Hebr. 4.15 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christ being the head of his Church is sensible of the ailements of his meanest members Sympathizing with them Saul Saul why persecutest thou me saith the voice from heaven Act. 9. The foot was trodden on upon earth and the Head feels it in heaven And such a Sympathy there should be betwixt the members of this body and that both in their Spirituall distempers and Temporall Sufferings An Instance of the former we have in the Apostle himselfe 2 Cor. 11 29. Who is weak saith he and I am not weak who is offended and I burn not Thus did he take to heart the Distempers In Spirituall distempers Infirmities Scandals of any weak member of the Church The like should all Christians do not insult over the fals of their Brethren but mourne over them Is it so

same faith and love attending upon and submitting to the Ordinances of Christ and performing mutuall offices each to other this is one Body And such is the Church catholick consider it as we will whether in the Invisible or visible state of it it is on Body The Church catholick invisible The Church catholick invisible one Body Being made up of all true Beleevers such as having a reall union with Christ have also union and communion one with another These make up one Body As the Body is one c. so also is Christ saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 12.12 Christ mysticall the Church whereof Christ is the Head For by one Spirit we are all baptised into one Body ver 13. A mystery represented to our eye in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper where the Sacramentall Bread being made of many graines meeting together and making one loaf and the Sacramentall Wine being the juice of many grapes meeting together in the same Cup do excellently represent unto the receiver the unity of the Church catholick wherein all true beleevers being knit together by Faith unto Christ and by love one to another make up one mysticall Body So our Apostle unvailes this mystery 1 Cor. 10.17 For we being many are one bread and one body Such is the Church catholick invisible And such is the Church catholibk visible The Church catholick visible one Body Consisting of the whole company of visible Saints such as professe the true faith of Christ with subjection to his Ordinances professe Faith and Obedience This also as it is one Church so called by the Apostle in that 1 Cor. 12.28 God hath set some in the church first Apostles secondarily Prophets thirdly Teachers c. meaning thereby the Church catholick visible to which those extrordinary and catholick officers were properly and to which the other ordinary officers are primarily given so it is one body so called by the same Apostle Ephes 4.4 There is one body meaning thereby the church catholick to which belongeth that one baptisme ver 5. and to which those officers were given by Christ spoken of ver 11. He gave some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists c. These Christ gave to his Church catholick as considered in the visible state of it And so may we understand the Apostle here in the Text We being many are one body not only that particular Church at Rome but the church catholick visible whereof Paul himselfe was a member as I before expounded it This is One Bodie Whether one Organicall body as they call it or no is made a matter of great dispute in the present times but I shall not trouble you with that notion It is enough for my present purpose that which I suppose in a morderate sense will be granted at all intelligent hands that there is such a Church catholick visible and that Church also is one body one essentiall and integrall bodie made up of many members combined and knit together in the profession of the same faith Thus the church take it as we will still we find a unity in it I mean in the notion O that it were so also in the practice It is one body And that under one head There is a third Resemblance Resembl 3. Unity of the head which is So is it in the Naturall body there is one body under one head A head there must be and but one head otherwise it would be a monstrous body should it be either 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without a head or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 having more heads then one And so is it in this Mysticall body it is also one body under one head which head is Christ so it followeth in the Text. Wee are one body in Christ Christ Sumus unum corpus in Christo id est per Christum qui corporis istius compactor fuit Grot. ad Text. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is not onely per Christum as Grotius dilutely expounds it By Christ as being the Authour of this union the gatherer and compacter of his Elect people into one True it is this Christ doth he being the great Shepherd gathereth all his sheep into one fold so much we may learn from that Suffragan High Priest who spake more then himself understood as too many at this day do though not more thē the Spirit of God intended to speak by him Joh. 11.51 where he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation And not for that nation only but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad This Christ in part hath done and further wil do to the end of the world gather together his Elect of Jewes and Gentiles so making them one Body This is a Truth but not the whole truth There is somewhat more in this phrase In Christ viz. as being the Common head of his Church So Grotius himselfe rightly expounds that other place of the same Apostle Ephes 1.10 Grotius Com. ad Ephes 1.10 where hee setteth forth the mystery of Gods will and purpose now revealed in the Gospel viz. That in the dispensation of the fulnesse of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ Per Christum tanquam caput by Christ as a Head And so much the word there translated Gather together may be conceived to import 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to bring under one Head Such is Christ to his Church Not onely a Head over all things to it as he is said to be Ephes 1.22 but the Head of it Oft times we find him expresly so called The Head of the Body the Church Col. 1.18 Ephes 5.23 Such a relation there is betwixt Christ and his Church as betwixt the Head and the Body And thence it is that as he is called the Head of his Church so the Church is called his Body Ephes 1. last 1 Cor. 12.27 And well may they be so called Christ the Head of the church the Body Christ the Head the Church the Body It The Head participates in the same nature wih the Body So doth Christ with his church 2. The Head is above the Body set over it to rule and guide it so is Christ over his Church 3. The Head looketh out for the Body providing for it and so doth Christ for his Church 4. The Head giveth influence communicateth animall spirits giveth sense and motion to all the members of the Body so doth Christ communicate his Spirit to all the members of this mysticall Body whereby he giveth spirituall sense and motion to them 5. The Members of the Body are all united to the Head by some common bands and ligaments nerves and sinews whereby they come to have union and communion with it And so are all true believers unto Christ united to him by his Spirit on his part by Faith and Love on their part whence they come to have union and communion with him And

hence is it that they are said to be one Body in Christ Being united unto him as unto one common Head all having interest in him all having union and communion with him viz. all true livingmembers Here is the Head to this Bodie And this Head is but one So is it in the naturall and so is it in the mysticall Body The Head of the mysticall Body but one The Church hath but one Head not one Principall Head and another Ministeriall So they of the Church of Rome would have it who cry up their Pope to be Head of the Church viz. subordinate under Christ But what were this but to make the Church a monstrous Body having a Head and a Head one Head under another Many other Arguments I finde here taken up by Pareus and some others writing upon this Text to refute and nullifie this claime of the Popes Headship But I shall passe them by as needlesse This being an Argument so trite and worne as every one may see the thread of it As for the Pope well were it if he might once approve himselfe a sound member of this Body as for Head he neither is nor can be This is Christs peculiar not communicable either to Man or Angel The Church is one Body under one Head Wee are one Body in Christ There is a third Resemblance The fourth and last followeth viz. The mutuall Relation betwixt these members Resembl 4. Mutuall Relation betwixt the members which we fall within the last clause And every one members of another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 singulatim severally every one Members one of another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 One anothers members Invicem membra mutuall Members Commembres a word somtimes used by Augustine as Estius Estius ad Text. notes it Com-members Joint-Fellow-members so is it in the naturall Body The Members thereof are Joint-members having all a common relation to the same Head they have a mutuall relation each to other So is it in a Military Body where all the souldiers are Commilitones Fellow-souldiers And so is it in Politicall Bodies Those who are of the same Corporation are Concives Fellow-citizens Fellow-burgers Fellow-members as it were members one of another And so is it in the church not onely in a particular congregation the members whereof have or ought to have a speciall relation each to other But in the Chuch catholick all the true members of the Church are fellow-citizens So called Eph. 2.19 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fellow-citizens with the Saints And Fellow-heirs So you have it Ephes 3.6 where the Apostle speaking of the believing Gentiles he cals them Fellow-heirs and of the same body and joint-partakers of the promise Three words very emphaticall in expressing and setting forth this mysticall union and communion among Christians They are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Joint-heirs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Joint-members of the same body 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Joint-partners in the same promise Among all expressions looking that way we shall find none more full then this in the Text where the Apostle speaking of church-members saith they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one anothers members Thus have I with what brevity and perspicuity I could passed through the severals in the Text wherein I have given you a succinct and short account of five Doctrinall Propositions 1. That the church is a body 2. That in this Body there are many members 3. That these many members make one Body 4. That these many members are one Body in Christ 5. That these members are members one of another That which now remaines is the Application Application where we shall find never a one of these Branches but is fruitfull I shall onely give you a taste of the four first intending to make a full meale of the fift and last 1. Is the Church a Body a spirituall Society a mysticall Corporation Why then let all the members thereof seeke the good of the whole Vse 1. All the members of the Church ought to seek the good of the whole Body not onely of that particular Society that congregation whereof they are members in particular as our Translation renders that Text 1 Cor. 12.27 This indeed they ought to have a particular regard unto but not so as to impropriate their respects unto it Let them all seek the good of the whole the Church catholick Thus doe the members of the naturall Body they all seeke to maintaine not onely that part of the Body to which they have a proximate adherence but the whole Body And thus is it in a military Body every souldier seeketh the safety not onely of his owne company or Regiment but of the whole Armie And thus it either is or ought to bee in civill Societies in Bodies politick the members thereof should seek the welfare not only of their own families but of the whole Incorporation And so let it be in this spirituall Incorporation of the church Let all that professe themselves members thereof seriously seek the good of the whole Seek the peace of it Pray for the peace of Jerusalem Psal 122.6 Seek the prosperity of it Peace be within thy wals and prosperity within thy palaces v. 7. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Sion build thou the wals of Jerusalem Ps 51.18 Seek to maintain the outward priviledges of it This the members of civil Incorporations upon their first admission into those Societies are sworn to do an Oath too little regarded as many other of like nature are to maintain the Priviledges Immmunities Lawful usages and Customes thereof Let all Christians do the like in the behalf of the Church the Church catholick whereof they are made or acknowledged to be members by their Baptisme Let them seek to maintain the Spirituall priviledges thereof to hold up all the Ordinances of Jesus Christ that they may be dispenced with Liberty Purity Power Every wayes seeking the good of this body Vse 2. Every member ought to keep his place and look to his office Are there many members belonging to this Body and these having severall offices functions and gifts why then let every one rest himselfe contented with that degree that station wherein God hath set him in the Church not thrusting himselfe upon the offices and imployments of others This is one thing as I told you and a principall one which the Apostle here aimeth and drives at This I say saith he that no man think of himselfe above what he ought to think but think soberly according as God hath given to every man the measure of faith Hee requireth every one to know his own place and his own gifts and so move within his own sphear containing himselfe within the bounds and limits of his Calling not affecting to put his oar into other mens boats his Plough into other mens fields his sickle into other mens harvests busily intermedling with what belonged not to him And this lesson he would have