A53701:97
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.
There are four things that are necessary Fundamentals unto the Order of the Church, on the part of the Ministry.
(1.) That all the Ministers or Officers of it, be duly chosen by the Church it self, and solemnly set apart in the Church unto their Office, according unto the Rule and Law of Christ. This is Fundamental unto Church Order, the Root of it, from whence all other parts of it do Spring. And it is that which is [Greek or Hebrew], or expressly provided for in the Scripture, as we shall see. If there be a neglect herein, and no other Relation required between Ministers, Elders, Rulers, Bishops, and the Church, but what is raised and created by Ways and Rules of mens appointment, or if there be a Temporary disposal of Persons into a discharge of that Office, without a solemn Call, Choice, Ordination, and Separation unto the Office it self and its work, the Law of ⟨p. 62⟩Christ is violated, and the Order of the Church disturbed in its Foundation.
(1.) That all the Ministers or Officers of it, be duly chosen by the Church it self, and solemnly set apart in the Church unto their Office, according unto the Rule and Law of Christ. This is Fundamental unto Church Order, the Root of it, from whence all other parts of it do Spring. And it is that which is 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, or expresly provided for in the Scripture, as we shall see. If there be a neglect herein, and no other Relation required between Ministers, Elders, Rulers, Bishops, and the Church, but what is raised and created by Ways and Rules of mens appointment, or if there be a Temporary disposal of Persons into a discharge of that Office, without a solemn Call, Choice, Ordination, and Separation unto the Office it self and its work, the Law of ⟨p. 62⟩Christ is violated, and the Order of the Church disturbed in its Foundation.