A53701:71
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
Chapter 3: The Continuation of a Church-state▪ and of the Administration of Evangelical Ordinances…
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.
1. It is so as unto the limitation of any Time, as unto their Duration and Continuance. For (1.) There is no Intimation given of any such thing, either in the Divine-Word, Promise, Declaration about them, or the Nature of the Institutions themselves. But whereas those of the Old Testament were in Time to be removed, that the Church might not be offended thereby, seeing Originally they were all of immediate Divine Institution, God ⟨p. 42⟩did by all manner of ways, as by Promises, express Declarations, and by the Nature of the Institutions themselves, foresignifie their removal, as the Apostle proves at large in his Epistle to the Hebrews. But nothing of this Nature can be pretended concerning the Gospel Church state or Worship. (2.) There is no Prediction or Intimation of any other way of Worship, or serving God in this World, that should be introduced in the room of that established at first; so that upon a Cessation thereof, the Church must be left unto all uncertainties and utter ruin. (3.) The principal Reason why a Church-state was erected of old, and Ordinances of Worship appointed therein, that were all to be removed and taken away, was, that the Son, the Lord over his own House, might have the Preeminence in all things. His Glory it was to put an end unto the Law, as given by the Disposition of Angels, and the Ministry of Moses, by the Institution of a Church-state and Ordinances of his own appointment. And if his Revelation of the Will of God therein be not complete, perfect, ultimate, unalterable, if it be to expire, it must be, that Honour may be given above him, unto one greater than he.
1. It is so as unto the limitation of any Time, as unto their Duration and Continuance. For (1.) There is no Intimation given of any such thing, either in the Divine-Word, Promise, Declaration about them, or the Nature of the Institutions themselves. But whereas those of the Old Testament were in Time to be removed, that the Church might not be offended thereby, seeing Originally they were all of immediate Divine Institution, God ⟨p. 42⟩did by all manner of ways, as by Promises, express Declarations, and by the Nature of the Institutio•s themselves, foresignifie their removal, as the Apostle proves at large in his Epistle to the Hebrews. But nothing of this Nature can be pretended concerning the Gospel Church state or Worship. (2.) There is no Prediction or Intimation of any other way of VVorship, or serving God in this VVorld, that should be introduced in the room of that established at first; so that upon a Cessaion thereof, the Church must be left unto all uncertainties and utter ruin. (3.) The principal Reason why a Church-state was erected of old, and Ordinances of VVorship appointed therein, that were all to be removed and taken away, was, that the Son, the Lord over his own House, might have the Preheminence in all things. His Glory it was to put an end unto the Law, as given by the Disposition of Angels, and the Ministry of Moses, by the Institution of a Church-state and Ordinances of his own appointment. And if his Revelation of the Will of God therein be not compleat, perfect, ultimate, unalterable, if it be to expire, it must be, that Honour may be given above him, unto one greater than he.