A53732:373
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.
7. IT may be enquired, what is the State of those Churches, and what Relation, with respect unto Communion, we ought to have unto them whose Pastors are evidently defective in, or neglective of these things, so as that they are not in any competent measure attended unto. And we may in particular instance in the first and the last of the Pastoral Duties before insisted on. Suppose a Man be no way able to Preach the Word unto the Edification of them that are pleaded to be his Flock; or having any ability, yet doth not, will not give himself unto the Word and Prayer, or not labour in the Word and Doctrine, unto the ⟨p. 109⟩great prejudice of Edification: And suppose the same Person be openly defective, as unto an exemplary Conversation, and on the contrary, layeth the stumbling block of his own Sins and Follies before the eyes of others; what shall we judge of his Ministry, and of the state of that Church whereof he is a constituent part, as its Ruler? I Answer,
1. I DO not believe it is in the power of any Church really to confer the Pastoral Office by virtue of any Ordination whatever, unto any who are openly and evidently destitute of all those previous Qualifications which the Scripture requireth in them who are to be called unto this Office. There is indeed a Latitude to be allowed in judging of them in times of necessity and great penury of able Teachers; so that Persons in holy Ministry, design the Glory of God and the Edification of the Church, according to their Ability. But otherwise there is a nullity in the pretended Office.
1. I DO not believe it is in the power of any Church really to conferr the Pastoral Office by virtue of any Ordination whatever, unto any who are openly and evidently destitute of all those previous Qualifications which the Scripture requireth in them who are to be called unto this Office. There is indeed a Latitude to be allowed in judging of them in times of necessity and great penury of able Teachers; so that Persons in holy Ministry, design the Glory of God and the Edification of the Church, according to their Ability. But otherwise there is a nullity in the pretended Office.