A53732:156
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.
6. THEREFORE unto the Church, in the State before described, Right and Power is granted by Christ to call, choose, appoint and set apart persons made meet for the work of the Offices appointed by him, in the ways and by the means appointed by him. Nor is there any other way whereby ordinary Officers may be fixed in the Church, as we have proved before, and shall farther confirm afterwards.
6. THEREFORE unto the Church, in the State before described, Right and Power is granted by Christ to call, chuse, appoint and set apart persons made meet for the work of the Offices appointed by him, in the ways and by the means appointed by him. Nor is there any other way whereby ordinary Officers may be fixed in the Church, as we have proved before, and shall farther confirm afterwards.
THAT which hereon we must enquire into, is, How or by what means, or by what acts of his Sovereign Power, the Lord Christ doth communicate Office-Power, and therewith the Office it self unto any persons whereon their Authority is directly from him; and what are the Acts or Duties of the Church in the collation of this Authority.
THE Acts of Christ herein may be reduced unto these Heads.