A53732:153
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.
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.
4. BUT yet this Church State is not complete; nor are the ends of its institution attainable in this State. For the Lord Christ hath appointed such things in and unto it, which in this State it cannot observe. For he hath given Authority unto his Church to be exercised both in its Rule and in the Administration of his solemn Ordinances of Worship. The things before mentioned, are all of them acts of Right and Power, but not of Authority.
4. BUT yet this Church State is not compleat; nor are the ends of its institution attainable in this State. For the Lord Christ hath appointed such things in and unto it, which in this State it cannot observe. For he hath given Authority unto his Church to be exercised both in its Rule and in the Administration of his solemn Ordinances of Worship. The things before mentioned, are all of them acts of Right and Power, but not of Authority.
5. WHEREFORE the Lord Christ hath ordained Offices, and appointed Officers to be established in the Church, Ephes. 4.13, 14. Unto these is all Church Authority granted. For all Authority is an act of Office-Power, which is that which gives unto what is performed by the Officers of the Church, the formal nature of Authority.