A53701:74
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.
Men might at a cheaper Rate, as unto the Eternal interest of their own Souls, provide another Covering for their sloth, negligence, unbelief, and indulgence unto proud foolish imaginations, whereby they render the Churches and Ordinances of the Gospel useless and ineffectual unto themselves; thereby charging them with a decay and uselessness, and so reflecting on the honour and faithfulness of Christ himself.
Men might at a cheaper Rate, as unto the Eternal interest of their own Souls, provide another Covering for their sloth, negligence, unbelief, and indulgence unto proud foolish imaginations, whereby they render the Churches and Ordinances of the Gospel useless and ineffectual unto themselves; thereby charging them with a decay and uselesness, and so refl•cting on the honour and faithfulness of Christ himself.
2. THEY do not cease, because there is at present, or at least there is shortly to be expected, such an effusion of the Gifts and Graces of the Spirit, as to render all these ⟨p. 46⟩external Institutions needless, and consequently useless. This also is falsely pretended. For (1.) The greatest and most plentiful effusion of the Holy Spirit in his Gifts and Graces, was in the days of the Apostles, and of the first Churches planted by them; nor is any thing beyond it, or indeed equal unto it, any more to be expected in this World. But yet then was the Gospel Church-state erected, and the use of all its Ordinances of Worship enjoined. (2.) The Ministry of the Gospel which compriseth all the Ordinances of Church worship, as its object and end, is the Ministration of the Spirit, and therefore no supplies or Communication of him can render it useless. (3.) One of the principal ends for which the Communication of the Spirit is promised unto the Church, is to make and render all the Institutions of Christ effectual unto its edification. (4.) 1 Joh. 2.20, 27. is usually pleaded as giving countenance unto this fond pretence. But (1.) The Unction mentioned by the Apostle, was then upon all Believers. Yet (2.) It is known that then they all walked in Church-Order, and the sacred observation of all the Institutions of Christ. (3) If it takes away any thing, it is the Preaching of the Wod, or all manner of Teaching and Instruction;