A53732:397
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.
1. IT seems not to be lawful so to do, merely on the account of weakness of Work and Labour, though occasioned by Age, Sickness, or Bodily Distempers. For no Man is any way obliged to do more than he is able, with the regular preservation of his Life; and the Church is obliged to be satisfied with the conscientious discharge of what Abilities a Pastor hath; otherwise providing for it self in what is wanting.
1. IT seems not to be lawful so to do, meerly on the account of weakness of Work and Labour, though occasioned by Age, Sickness, or Bodily Distempers. For no Man is any way obliged to do more than he is able, with the regular preservation of his Life; and the Church is obliged to be satisfied with the conscientious discharge of what Abilities a Pastor hath; otherwise providing for it self in what is wanting.
2. IT is not lawful, merely on a weariness of, and despondency under opposition and reproaches; which a Pastor is called and obliged to undergo for the Good and Edification of the Flock, and not to faint in the warfare whereto he is called.
2. IT is not lawful, meerly on a weariness of, and despondency under opposition and reproaches; which a Pastor is called and obliged to undergo for the Good and Edification of the Flock, and not to faint in the warfare wereto he is called.
THESE two were the Reasons of Eustathius at Perga, which were disallowed in the Council at Ephesus: But,