A59692:169
Subjection to Christ in all his ordinances and appointments the best means to preserve…
Subjection to Christ in all his ordinances and appointments the best means to preserve our liberty : together with a treatise of ineffectual hearing the word ... : with some remarkable passages of His life / by Thomas Shepard ...
London: printed by S.G. for John Rothwell, 1657
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Members are not to stand like beautiful pictures in Church-windows, and as costly Images in Churches; that have eyes, and see not, ears, and hear not; but they are to be living stones in Gods building; not only to build up themselves, but one another also, that so a man may not only get no hurt from communion of Churches, but he may get good indeed from the same. And if I mistake not, here is the wound of Churches: When Members seek not, and endeavour not the good one of another; and so have Ordinances and means of doing one another good, but exercise them not; or if they do, receive not the good they might hereby; but may say, and shall say at last as he, Prov. 5. 14. I was almost in all evil in the midst of the Congregation: Sin prevailing, and sorrows by little and little, like water in a leaking ship, sinking the poor bark.
Members are not to stand like beautifull pictures in Church-windows, and as costly Images in Churches; that have eyes, and see not, eares, and hear not; but they are to be living stones in Gods building; not only to build up themselves, but one another also, that so a man may not only get no hurt from communion of Churches, but he may get good indeed from the same. And if I mistake not, here is the wound of Churches: When Members seek not, and indeavour not the good one of another; and so have Ordinances and means of doing one another good, but exercise them not; or if they do, receive not the good they might hereby; but may say, and shall say at last as he, Prov. 5. 14. I was almost in all evill in the midst of the Congregation: Sin prevailing, and sorrows by little and little, like water in a leaking ship, sinking the poor bark.
Quest. 1What are those means that are left to the Saints themselves, even private Members to exercise in Christian communion for men and women; and so you may see when these are neglected, or not improved, the power of Christ in his Church is cast off so far forth?