A53732:413
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 6: Of the Office of Teachers in the Church, or an Enquiry into the State, Condition, and W…
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.
2. SOME say, it is only another name for the same Office with that of a Pastor, and so not to denote any distinct Office; of which mind Hierom seems to be, Ephes. 4.
3. OTHERS allow, that it was a distinct Office, whereunto some were called and set apart in the Church, but it was only to Teach (and that in a peculiar manner) the Principles of Religion, but had no Interest in the Rule of the Church, or the Administration of the Sacred Mysteries; so the Pastor in the Church was to Rule and Teach, and Administer the Sacred Mysteries: The Teacher to Teach or Instruct only, but not to Rule, nor Dispense the Sacraments; and the Ruling Elder to Rule only, and neither to Preach nor Administer Sacraments; which hath the appearance of Order, both useful and beautiful.
4. SOME judge, that it was a distinct Office, but of the same nature and kind with that of the Pastor, endowed with all the same Powers, but differenced from it with respect unto Gifts, and a peculiar kind of Work allotted unto it: But this Opinion hath this seeming disadvantage, that the difference between them is so small, as not to be sufficient to give a distinct denomination of Officers, or to constitute a distinct Office. And it may be, such a distinction in Gifts will seldom appear, as that the Church may be guided thereby in their choice of meet Persons unto distinct Offices. But Scripture-Testimony and Rule must take place; and I shall briefly examine all these Opinions.