A53732:448
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. If there be but one sort of Elders mentioned in the Scripture, it is out of all question, that there may be many Pastors in the same Church. For there were many Elders in every Church; Act. 14.22. Act. 20.28. Phil. 1.1. Tit. 1.5. But if there are sundry sorts of Elders mentioned in the Scripture, as Pastors, who peculiarly feed the Flock, those Teaching Elders of whom we have spoken, and those Rulers concerning whom we shall treat in the next place; then no determination of this enquiry can be taken from the multiplication of them in any Church.
3. It is certain, that the Order very early observed in the Church was one Pastor, [Greek or Hebrew], Praeses, quickly called Episcopus by way of distinction, with many Elders assisting in Rule and Teaching, and Deacons Ministering in the things of this Life, whereby the Order of the Church was preserved, and its Authority represented. Yet I will not deny, but that in each particular Church there may be many Pastors, with an equality of power, if the Edification of the Church doth require it.
3. It is certain, that the Order very early observed in the Church was one Pastor, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, Praeses, quickly called Episcopus by way of distinction, with many Elders assisting in Rule and Teaching, and Deacons Ministring in the things of this Life, whereby the Order of the Church was preserved, and its Authority represented. Yet I will not deny, but that in each particular Church there may be many Pastors, with an equality of power, if the Edification of the Church doth require it.