A53732:358
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.
3. TO bear patiently and tenderly with the weakness, ignorance, dullness, slowness to believe and receive satisfaction, yea, it may be, Impertinences in them that are so tempted. These things will abound amongst them, partly from their natural Infirmities, many being weak, and perhaps froward; but especially from the nature of their Temptations, which are suited to disorder and disquiet their Minds, to fill them with perplexed Thoughts, and to make them jealous of every thing wherein they are spiritually concerned. And if much patience, meekness and condescension, be not exercised towards them, they are quickly turned out of the way.
3. TO bear patiently and tenderly with the weakness, ignorance, dulness, slowness to believe and receive satisfaction, yea, it may be, Impertinencies in them that are so tempted. These things will abound amongst them, partly from their natural Infirmities, many being weak, and perhaps froward; but especially from the nature of their Temptations, which are suited to disorder and disquiet their Minds, to fill them with perplexed Thoughts, and to make them jealous of every thing wherein they are spiritually concerned. And if much patience, meekness and condescention, be not exercised towards them, they are quickly turned out of the way.
IN the discharge of the whole Pastoral Office, there is not any Thing or Duty that is of more importance, nor wherein the Lord Jesus Christ is more concerned, nor more eminently suited unto the nature of the Office it self, than this is. But, whereas it is a Work or Duty, which because of the Reasons mentioned, must be accompanied with the exercise of Humility, Patience, Self-denial and Spiritual Wisdom, with Experience, with wearisome Diversions from other occasions; those who had got of old the conduct of the Souls of Men into their management, turned this whole part of their Office and Duty into an Engine they called Articular Confession, whereby they wrested the Consciences of Christians to the promotion of their own Ease, Wealth, Authority, and oft-times to worse ends.