Selected quad for the lemma: order_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
order_n	church_n	people_n	power_n	2,379	5	4.8524	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A90832	The vindication of Christ and his ordinances from the corrupt and false glosses made thereon by the subtil and deceivers of these times. By Christopher Pooly, minister of the word at great Missingham, in Norfolk.	Pooly, Christopher, 1575 or 6-1653.	1652 (1652)	Wing P2860; Thomason E682_1; ESTC R206797	181,996	208

the same and those in whom Christ is by his Spirit are made and fitted by his Spirit to be his Instruments of the goodness of obeying submitting and serving willingly and joyfully as unto Christ his Government Order Law guiding and teaching having goodness it is Christs although by or with the instrument of man Therefore the Apostle saith Be obedient as unto Christ as the servants Eph. 4 6 7 of Christ and again Serving the Lord and not men Certainly man of himself cannot rule well neither can man of himself obey well nor do any good thing This David a King and Prophet a man after Gods own heart sheweth There is none saith he that doth good no not on● Psal 14. 3 And the Apostle of Christ also saith I find no means to perform that which is good It is certainly true that which the Spirit writeth to the Rom. 7. 18 Angel or Minister of the Church of Laodicea of all men Thou art wretched miserable poor blind and naked meaning in respect of good Rev. 3. 17 and righteousness before God Good ruling and governing is Christs ruling and governing and good obeying is Christs obeying they are the good works of Christ wrought by his Spirit in man and brought forth of his Spirit by or with the fitted Instrument of man and no doubt but they that have the Spirit of Christ their conscience will tell them that unto good ruling governing teaching ordering and commanding it pleaseth Christ well that there be good obeying and submitting by or through whatsoever means and Instruments Christ holds forth the same as he pleaseth If Independents and those with them acknowledg that Christ hath power to good only and doth all good in man only by his holy Spirit sent to man of ruling and obeying and whatsoever else and that man himself of himself can do no good and that the good ruling governing Lawgiving judging ordering and teaching done of Christ by and with his Instruments fitted of him by his Spirit given them for the good comfort and society of his people in the way of their pilgrimage is the Rule and Government of Christ himself though with the Instrument of man and of his pleasure and grace accounted mans by him as he doth all manner of his righteous and good works love joy peace c. done of him by his Spirit in them which he pleaseth of his grace to make his Instruments of the same and of his grace as appeareth in the word of grace nameth and calleth them theirs Then there will be no question of Christs Government of his Church nor of the obedience submission and service due to his Government without which the question is not nor will be satisfied with answer and in truth it is the same of righteousness only that giveth light to them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death to guide their feet in the way of peace The Legalists strive much about this undecided question of Christs Government of his Church against the Independents Anabaptists and Brownists much of the same way but being misled by the Spirit of Antichrist they prevail little for all their Arguments are but mans as Antiquities Customs humane Reasons conveniences and inconveniences the letter of the Scripture of Laws and Ordinances but they draw not so deep as out of Jacobs Well the fountain of Grace They say Though Christ hath power over all and hath Almighty power yet man hath power of his own unto good as unto evil and that man hath power of his own to get to himself habitual vertues by studying laboring practising and endeavoring the same And they say and hold forth That although Christ be King of Kings and Lord of Lords that is supream King supream Prince and Lord c. yet there are Kings Princes and Lords upon Earth and that Kings Princes and Lords upon Earth are Kings Princes and Lords of themselves and their Titles are their own of their own right property and interest and that they by their own power rule govern command and order their people under them and of their own right and that by their own power and right they do and may command the whole Church and people under them and all ought to obey and do service to them and submit to their power and command as their Kings Princes and Lords absolute and that through this their power ruling governing Lawgiving judging and the rest the people have their peace safety society and communion and that they have right to honor for the same But these and such attributions to man favour too much of the spirit that dis-throneth Christ and exalteth man into the Throne of Christ There is no man that is a King Priest or Prophet of himself Christ only is so of himself by the eternal Unction man is nothing of good himself Therefore the Apostle saith If any man think himself to be somewhat when as he is nothing he deceiveth himself in his own imagination Gal. 6. 3. And there is no man whatsoever he be that hath any power to Mans power rotten and corrupted See Iam. 4 13. 14 15 Rom. 13. 1 get or procure to himself an habit of holy vertue or vertues or any goodness before God by his own labor industry study practice or endevor or that hath any power of his own to any good All power saith the Apostle is of God it is Gods power not mans own neither can any man do any thing that is good of himself although he hath the Spirit of Christ for so David who had the Spirit of Christ acknowledged of himself and all others There is none that doth Psal 14. 3 good saith he no not one And Paul which had received the Spirit of Christ acknowledged the same of himself saying I find no means Rom. 3. 10 11 12 Rom. 7. 18 Isai 64 6 to perform that which is good It is Christ only by his Spirit that hath power and that doth the good work by or with his fitted instrument of man of his grace and accounteth the work done by his Spirit of his grace the work of man his instruments only thereof made and fitted by his Spirit whereby and wherewith Christ doth the work And so as the good works of Kings and Rulers and Governors are not theirs but Christs or theirs only by account and of grace as they are the instruments of Christ So their Titles of Kings Rulers Governors Lawgivers Judges Teachers and the rest are not mans Titles by any merit interest or property they have to them or in any of them but only of grace and account as Paul called an Apostle acknowledged he had no property or interest to that Title of Apostle but by account and grace By the grace of God saith he I am that I am I am an Apostle but by the grace of God it is that I 1 Cor. 15 10 am so not of my self my property or interest thereto Man is

Christ That notwithstanding all that Christ hath undertaken and done for them the moral Law is still a rule which they of necessity must follow and do the commands thereof before God unto life as being left in such bonds by Christ otherwise they believe they cannot be saved by Christs performances For say they Christ came not to destroy the Law but to fulfil it which Scripture they do and must Mat. 5. 17 needs take thus to uphold their dissembling believing in Christ That Christ did not by his coming take away the power command dominion and bond of the Law from his Ele●t Believers but did fulfil the Law for them But alass what benefit should the Elect have by Christs fulfilling of the Law for them if Christ should have left them under the power command and bond of the Law still If a friend payeth the whole sum of mony due by a bond to whom his poor friend is bound and leaveth the bond still in ●o●ce and the debt still to be demanded of the poor man what benefit hath the poor man of that his friend payd So if Christ hath fulfilled the Law for his Elect and left his Elect still in bond to the Law and under the command and power of the Law before God what benefit have the Elect by Christ fulfilling the Law for them Solut. But they understand not the words of Christ rightly for indeed Christ came not to destroy the Law that is not to take away any power command bond or penalty of the Law touching the reprobate which he came not to fulfil the Law for yea nor to take away the Law in all respects touching his Elect For it is the justice of Gods righteous Law that he continually pleadeth to and with the Father for his Elect that he hath fulfilled all for and done all for for their peace with God Therefore the Apostle saith If any man sin we have an Advocate that is a Pleader of Law and Justice with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous and he is the propitiation for 1 Joh. 2. 1 our sins It is the Law and Justice of God that Christ pleadeth for his Elect which he payd the uttermost farthing of their bond and debt to God for by his righteousness suffering and performances whereby he obtaineth discharge from them of the binding Law and is the propitiation for their sins And saith the Apostle touching the Elect He hath put out the hand-writing of Ordinances that was against Col. 2. 14 us meaning of all Laws before God which were contrary to us he even took it out of the way and fastened it upon his Cross But that of the Apostle touching the Elect where he saith Sin shall have no more dominion over you for ye are no more under the Rom. 6. 14 Law but under Grace doth still make more for their dissembling in believing For the Apostle saith Sin hath no dominion or power over the Elect because the Law hath no dominion or power over the Elect they are no more under the Law but under Grace Therefore we must needs conceive the Elect are in truth discharged disburthened and freed from the dominion and power of the Law before God that is the commands and bonds thereof before they are or can be discharged unburthened and freed from the dominion and power of sin before God which is the curse and death And this Christ shewed in the order of his work to both For first Christ fulfilled all righteousness of the Law in his life before men that so the power and dominion of the Law in the commands and bond thereof might be answered and satisfied before men for this command and bond was but that the Law might be kept and fulfilled of man And then when he had fulfilled the command and bond of the Law he payd his death and blood for the transgression of the Law both made in Adam actually vertually and successively of all the Elect of God then in Adams loyns whereby Christ leaveth not his Elect neither under the command nor bond of the Law which is the dominion and power thereof not under the penalty curse and death for sin and transgression of the Law which is the dominion and power of sin Christ hath discharged his Elect both of the power and dominion of the Law and of sin and curse And yet this sort of dissembling Believers not here satisfied as men not humbled truly but deceived by the spirit of Antichrist which ever exalteth man will say They are not blocks and stones unto good unto the holy commandment They can endevor and must They have power in themselves if not to do all and follow all the rule of the Commandment before God yet by the leave of God by Gods grace and by the help of Christ they may So that they presume they have power enough of their own to do and follow the rule of the Commandment before God if God will give them leave and give them grace to do and follow it at least if Christ doth help them in the work if themselves be not strong enough Herein holding fo●th as if God were sometime a Hinderer of his workman or not always a furtherer of his work and workman and as if Christ were as a journy-man at a pinch to help on a work charged or undertaken and themselves the principal workmen But God hath revealed to his Elected Believers that they know that themselves lost all power will and inclination to the doing any thing at all of the holy and just Commandment of God in Gods sight in the first sin and fall of Adam meaning in the estimation of God and they know there remaineth to themselves no power will or inclination to good as in themselves and of themselves before God as Paul an Elected Believer acknowledged of himself I find no means saith he to perform that which is good before God We cannot Rom. 7. 18 2 Cor. 3. 5 think any thing that is good as of our selves Neither did God in the Promise or Covenant of Grace made to Adam in Paradise promise to restore or give again to Adam and his E●●ct of mankind in general the power which he had lost of doing the commandment before him but all the promise of power was made to the seed of the woman which seed was Christ The seed of the woman shall break the Serpents head saith God he meant only that his Christ Gal. 3. 10 should have power to break the Serpents head to do the work of God and loose the works of the Devil And they know that in themselves dwels no good thing as Paul confessed of himself 1 Ioh. 3 8 but that they are miserable wretched poor blind and naked in themselves Rev. 3. 17 And they know that God knowing the loss weakness and want of power in his Elect unto all good before him did therefore according to his fore-purpose and love give and send his Christ

with his own Names and Titles of his Offices as King Lord Prince Ruler Governor Law giver and the rest to be honoured with the same Titles as the Instruments of Christ our God And are not the Ruling Governing ordering Law-giving commanding teaching of Christ by his spirit in those his Instruments of his ruling governing commanding judging and the rest wrought done and brought forth by his spirit in them as the fruits of his spirit by or with them his Instruments and of his grace imputed accounted and called by Christ himself there ruling governing judging Law-giving ordering commanding and teaching though they be Christs to be accounted and called of men their ruling governing and therest though they be but instruments thereof when as Christ our God himself so accounteth and calleth them there providing always that they do acknowledg as Peter did It Act 3. 12. 16. Rev. 22. 9. is not through our own power or godliness that we have done this but the name and power of Jesus hath done it And as the Angel did to John I am thy fellow-Servant worship God that is that men do not take Christs honour to themselves not give Christs honour to men Then do not those manifest themselves not to have the spirit of Christ whose fruit is all manner of goodness as well the goodness of obeying submitting and serving as the goodness of ruling governing ordering Lawgiving commanding and teaching c. and so to be none of Christs for the Apostle saith he that hath not the spirit of Christ is none of his Yea rather do those not bewray themselves to have the spirit of Antichrist that deny and withstand to obey humble submit and do service to such Christs ruling governing ordering Law-giving commanding teaching and judging as is wrought done and performed of Christ by or with his instruments of men or that deny to account and call such Christs instruments Kings Lords Governors Law-givers and the rest as Christ himself so calleth of his grace or that deny to call that Christs Government of his Church which is done of him by and with his fitted instruments of men for 1 Cor. 15. 25. Heb. 5. 6. chap. 6. 20. 7. 3. Christ is a King Priest and Prophet still he shall raign till all his enemies be subdued under his feet he is a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedeck yea certainly Christ is not a titular King but doth execute his Offices of King Priest and Prophet still amongst men for the good comfort and society of those which are his in his power wisdom and grace by and with his instruments of men in the ruling governing ordering Law-giving judging commanding teaching c. and in obeying submitting and serving And to make this clear and plain unto men the Apostle of Christ himself being the instrument of Christs spirit advertiseth much to Christians and Christian-churches of ruling preaching or prophecying teaching waiting on the office men have exhorting doing service giving honor And of submitting to powers paying tribute resisting See Rom. 12. Rom 13. 1 Tim. 2 of powers praying for Kings and all that are in authority that under them we may lead a godly and peaceable life and many more touching ruling governing and obeying And wherefore should the Apostle of Christ hold forth these things belonging to the Church and republique of Christ but to shew that these good things being Christs performances in his Church and republique which hath only power to do that which is good by his spirit in his Elect with them his instruments for man himself of himself can do none of these good things as hath been shewed That those are and in those is Christs Government of his Church as by and with his fitted instruments Neither touching Gods Elect people is the Government of his Church taken for inward spiritual Government Christs Government only and Republique Government taken for outward and bodily Government mans Government left to mans corrupt wisdom reason and power for then Christ should not do all good to and for his Elect people then the Government of the Republique of Gods people must needs be evil wholy for man of himself cannot do and bring forth with all his wisdom reason and power any thing that is good either spiritual or bodily inward or outward before God I Rom. 7. 18 find no means to perform that which is good saith Paul But he that is the Keeper of Israel keepeth spiritually and bodily inwardly and outwardly doth govern his people Israel his chosen ones spiritually and bodily doth all good to them by his Spirit in them with such fited means as he knoweth best and pleaseth for their good for the Apostle saith to Gods people The Lord careth for you 1 Pet. 5. 7. And why should men question where Christs Government of his Church is or what the Government of Christs Church is when they see Christ hath always had hath now and undoubtedly will always have his Instruments of his goodness the fruits of his Spirit both in ruling governing and the rest of that kind and also of obeying submitting and serving for the comfort and society of his Church and people in the way of their pilgrimage and for his own glory As he had Abraham his Instrument and his most publique Instrument then of his Church to govern and teach by him the Church in his house Gen. 18. and those that belonged to him And Moses and Aaron and Joshua his Instruments to govern teach and take such other offices of his as he pleased to make them his fitted Instruments in his Church the people of Israel And after Joshua the Judges David the King Solomon and others to judg and govern being his Instruments And afterward his Apostles Bishops or Overseers Presbyters Christian Emperors Kings and by whatsoever names or titles they were called many other his Instruments of his goodness of ordering governing and teaching his Church And whilest goodness appeared or appeareth in the ruling governing ordering Lawgiving judging teaching and Isai 8 20. Act. 20. 32 guiding of the Church according to Christs Law given in Grace and the Testimonies is not this Christs governing of his Church For it is sure there is no true goodness nor righteousness but that which is Christs but that which is the fruit of Christs Spirit which is always accompanied with the rest of the fruits of Christs Spirit Love joy peace long-suffering gentleness meekness righteousness faith temperance Gal. 5. 22. and all manner of goodness as the Apostle speaketh Certainly that was the Government that was layd upon Christs shoulders Isai 9. 6. and is still his Government ordering teaching and guiding which hath true goodness righteousness meekness love and peace known to be Christs by holding forth the fruits of the Spirit and agreeing to Christs Isai 8. 20. Acts 14. 3. Act. 20. 32 Law given in Grace and the Testimonies whomsoever he pleaseth to make his Instruments of