A53732:200
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.
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.
THE first Officer or Elder of the Church is the Pastor. A Pastor, is the Elder that Feeds and Rules the Flock, 1 Pet. 5.2. that is, who is its Teacher and its Bishop; [Greek or Hebrew], Feed, taking the oversight.
THE first Officer or Elder of the Church is the Pastor. A Pastor, is the Elder that Feeds and Rules the Flock, 1 Pet. 5.2. that is, who is its Teacher and its Bishop; 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, Feed, taking the oversight.
IT is not my present design nor work to give a full account of the Qualifications required in Persons to be called unto this Office; nor of their Duty and Work, with the Qualities or Virtues to be exercised therein. It would require a large Discourse to handle them practically, and it hath been done by others. It were to be wished, that what is of this kind expressed in the Rule, and which the nature of the Office doth indispensably require, were more exemplified in practice than it is. But some things relating unto this Officer and his Office that are needful to be well stated, I shall treat concerning.
IT is not my present design nor work to give a full account of the Qualifications required in Persons to be called unto this Office; nor of their Duty and Work, with the Qualities or Vertues to be exercised therein. It would require a large Discourse to handle them practically, and it hath been done by others. It were to be wished, that what is of this kind expressed in the Rule, and which the nature of the Office doth indispensably require, were more exemplified in practice than it is. But some things relating unto this Officer and his Office that are needful to be well stated, I shall treat concerning.