A53732:152
The true nature of a Gospel church and its government
The true nature of a Gospel church and its government ... by the late pious and learned minister of the Gospel, John Owen ...
London: printed for William Marshall, 1689
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Chapter 3: Of the Polity, Rule, or Discipline of the Church in General.
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. WHERE the number of Believers is increased, so as that they are sufficient as unto their number to observe and perform all Church Duties in the way and manner prescribed for their performance, they have Right and Power granted unto them, to make a joint solemn Confession of their Faith, especially as unto the Person of Christ and his Mediation, Matth. 16.16, 18. as also to give up themselves unto him and to one another, in an holy Agreement or Confederation to do and observe all things whatever that he hath Commanded. Hereon, by virtue of his Laws in his Institutions and Commands, he gives them power to do all things in their Order which he grants unto his Church, and enstates them in all the Rights and Privileges thereof. These Believers, I say, thus congregated into a Church State, have immediately by virtue thereof, power to take care that all things be done among them, as by the Lord Christ they are Commanded to be done, in and by his Church.
3. WHERE the number of Believers is encreased, so as that they are sufficient as unto their number to observe and perform all Church Duties in the way and manner prescribed for their performance, they have Right and Power granted unto them, to make a joint solemn Confession of their Faith, especially as unto the Person of Christ and his Mediation, Matth. 16.16, 18. as also to give up themselves unto him and to one another, in an holy Agreement or Confederation to do and observe all things whatever that he hath Commanded. Hereon, by virtue of his Laws in his Institutions and Commands, he gives them power to do all things in their Order which he grants unto his Church, and enstates them in all the Rights and Privileges thereof. These Believers, I say, thus congregated into a Church State, have immediately by virtue thereof, power to take care that all things be done among them, as by the Lord Christ they are Commanded to be done, in and by his Church.
THIS therefore is the Church Essential and Homogeneal, unto which the Lord Christ hath granted all that Church Power which we enquire after, made it the Seat of all Ordinances of his Worship, and the Tabernacle wherein he will dwell. Nor since the ceasing of extraordinary Officers, is there any other way possible for the congregating of any Church, than what doth virtually include the things we have mentioned.