A53701:100
A guide to church-fellowship and order according to the gospel-institution
A guide to church-fellowship and order according to the gospel-institution wherein these following particulars are distinctly handled, I. The necessity of believers to join themselves in church-order, II. The subject matter of the church, III. The continuation of a church-state, and of the administration of evangelical ordinances of worship, briefly vindicated, IV. What sort of churches the disciples of Christ may and ought to join themselves unto as unto entire communion / by ... John Owen ...A guide to church-fellowship and order according to the gospel-institution wherein these following particulars are distinctly handled, I. The necessity of believers to joyn themselves in church-order, II. The subject matter of the church, III. The continuation of a church-state, and of the administration of evangelical ordinances of worship, briefly vindicated, IV. What sort of churches the disciples of Christ may and ought to joyn themselves unto as unto entire communion / by ... John Owen ...
London: printed for William Marshall, 1692
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.
(3.) It is of the same Importance that Persons so called do take heed unto their Ministry that they fulfil it, that they give themselves unto the Word and Prayer, that they labour continually in the Word and Doctrine, and all those other Duties which in the Scripture are prescribed unto them; and this not only as unto the Matter of them, but as unto the Manner of their performance with Zeal, Love, Compassion and Diligence. Where there is a great Defect in any of these things, on what Pretence soever it be; where Men esteem themselves exempted from this Work, or not obliged unto it; when ⟨p. 64⟩they suppose that they may discharge their Office at a cheaper rate, and with less trouble, as unto their present Interest, by such ways as I shall not here express, No Man is, no Man can be obliged to confine his Church Communion, unto such a Ministry.
(3.) It is of the same Importance that Persons so called do take heed unto their Ministry that they fulfil it, that they give themselves unto the VVord and Prayer, that they labour continually in the VVord and Doctrine, and all those other Duties which in the Scripture are prescribed unto them; and this not only as unto the Matter of them, but as unto the Manner of their performance with Zeal, Love, Compassion and Diligence. Where there is a great Defect in any of these things, on what Pretence soever it be; where Men esteem themselves exempted from this Work, or not obliged unto it; when ⟨p. 64⟩they suppose that they may discharge their Office at a cheaper rate, and with less trouble, as unto their present Interest, by such ways as I shall not here express, No Man is, no Man can be obliged to confine his Church Communion, unto such a Ministry.
(4.) It is required that they be Examples, unto the Flock, in the Expression of the Nature and Power of the Doctrine which they Preach, in their Conversation, especially in Zeal, Humility, Self-denial, and readiness for the Cross.