A53678:565
A continuation of the exposition of the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the…
A continuation of the exposition of the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews viz, on the sixth, seventh, eight, ninth, and tenth chapters : wherein together with the explication of the text and context, the priesthood of Christ ... are declared, explained and confirmed : as also, the pleas of the Jews for the continuance and perpetuity of their legal worship, with the doctrine of the principal writers of the Socinians about these things, are examined and disproved / by J. Owen ...
London: printed for Nathaniel Ponder, 1680
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.
Lastly, The especial manner of the exercise of this labour of Love is called Ministration, and the especial Object thereof is the Saints, of whom we have spoken already. And concerning this Ministration the Apostle ascribes it unto them with respect unto what was past, and what they did at present, both which were necessary to found the Judgement on which he made concerning them; You have ministered and you do minister.
[Greek or Hebrew] is a laborious and industrious Ministry. And this in the Church is twofold. (1) Of Especial Office. (2) Of Common Love and Charity. The rise, occasion and institution of an especial Office or Ministry towards the poor is at large declared, Acts 6. and mentioned afterwards by our Apostle as an abiding Ordinance, Rom. 12. 7. 1 Tim. 3. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. And this Ministration is comprised herein though not solely intended. For what is done by these Deacons, being done in the name and by the appointment, and out of the Charity of the Church, is to be esteemed the Ministration of the Church it self. And though there be a peculiar Faithfulness and Diligence required in the persons called unto this Ministration, yet the Ministration it self will abound or be straitened according ⟨p. 113⟩as the whole Church dischargeth its Duty. But the common Ministration of Brotherly Love, what every one doth or ought to do in his own person is here intended. And therein six things may be considered not here to be insisted on. As (1) The Root, Spring, and Cause of it, which is Love. (2) The manner of its performance, which is with labour and diligence. (3) The Object of it, or the Saints in wants, troubles, straights, or necessities. (4) The acts of it which are many and various; the chief whereof are, (1) Visiting of them. (2) Advice and Counsel. (3) Consolation. (4) Supplies of their wants by outward things. (5) Endeavours in the use of means for their full relief: (1) With God in continual Prayers and Supplications, (2) With men according unto our Interests and Advantages, not being ashamed or afraid to own them in their poverty, distresses, and sufferings. (6) The Rule of this Ministration is every mans (1) Opportunity, (2) Ability, (3) Especial call by objective circumstances. But these things I must not here enlarge upon.