God commanded his Prophet Ezekiel, chap. 43. v. 10, 11. saying, Thou Son of Man, show the House to the House of Israel(b) — And let them measure the Pattern—Show them the Form of the House—And write it in their sight. A wise Master-builder will ⟨p. 47⟩take care to prepare fit Materials in every respect answerable and suitable unto the House he is about to build; and so ought the Ministers of Christ, who are Co-workers with God in building his House, (which is his Church) to take heed both what, and how they build, 1 Cor. 3.9-14. Every mans work shall be made manifest, for the Day shall declare it: And the fire shall try every mans work, of what sort it is, &c. Young Converts, new-born-Babes in Christ may be added to the Church of God, Act. 2.41, 47. But they are not fit Materials to be laid next unto the Corner Stone of that Spiritual building I say again, they are not fit for the Foundation-work of God's building; nor are they fit for Pillars in the House of God. Consider what St. Paul, that wise Master-builder, saith of such young Converts, 1 Cor. 3.1, 2, 3. & Heb. 5.12, 13. Read the words. These, and such as these are not fit Matter for the Foundation, nor for Pillars, nor for Beams in the House of God, at the first Beginning, Planting, and Building, or Gathering of a Church of God. But rather Fathers, ⟨p. 48⟩that is, grave, gracious, holy, wise, and experienced Believers▪ Also some young Men, that is, such Christians that are strong in Faith, and have in some measure overcome the World, the Devil, and their own Corruptions, who are full of the holy Spirit, rich in Grace, and zealous for the House of God, and the Purity of his Worship; I say, a competent number of such Christians, being sound in the Faith, holy in their Life, and fitly qualified with diversity of spiritual gifts, knowledge and grace, are (in my Opinion) most meet to be (by their own mutual free consent and agreement) joined together to become a particular Church of Saints by the help of some wise Master-builders, and faithful Ministers of Jesus Christ, 1 Cor. 3, 9-11.
God commanded his Prophet Ezekiel, chap. 43. v. 10, 11. saying, Thou Son of Man, shew the House to the House of Israel(b) — And let them measure the Pattern—Shew them the Form of the House—And write it in their sight. A wise Master-builder will ⟨p. 47⟩take care to prepare fit Materials in every respect answerable and suitable unto the House he is about to build; and so ought the Ministers of Christ, who are Co-workers with God in building his House, (which is his Church) to take heed both what, and how they build, 1 Cor. 3.9-14. Every mans work shall be made manifest, for the Day shall declare it: And the fire shall try every mans work, of what sort it is, &c. Young Converts, new-born-Babes in Christ may be added to the Church of God, Act. 2.41, 47. But they are not fit Materials to be laid next unto the Corner Stone of that Spiritual building I say again, they are not fit for the Foundation-work of God's building; nor are they fit for Pillars in the House of God. Consider what St. Paul, that wise Master-builder, saith of such young Converts, 1 Cor. 3.1, 2, 3. & Heb. 5.12, 13. Read the words. These, and such as these are not fit Matter for the Foundation, nor for Pillars, nor for Beams in the House of God, at the first Beginning, Planting, and Building, or Gathering of a Church of God. But rather Fathers, ⟨p. 48⟩that is, grave, gracious, holy, wise, and experienced Believers▪ Also some young Men, that is, such Christians that are strong in Faith, and have in some measure overcome the World, the Devil, and their own Corruptions, who are full of the holy Spirit, rich in Grace, and zealous for the House of God, and the Purity of his Worship; I say, a competent number of such Christians, being sound in the Faith, holy in their Life, and fitly qualified with diversity of spiritual gifts, knowledge and grace, are (in my Opinion) most meet to be (by their own mutual free consent and agreement) joyned tegether to become a particular Church of Saints by the help of some wise Master-builders, and faithful Ministers of Jesus Christ,
- (b)[Greek or Hebrew] [ex [Greek or Hebrew]] in conjugation hiph. Annunciavit, exposuit, narravit, indicavit.〈non-Latin alphabet〉 [ex 〈non-Latin alphabet〉] in conjugatione hiph. Annunciavit, exposuit, narravit, indicavit.
