A53732:455
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.
SO under the Old Testament, where the Word doth not signify a difference in Age, but is used in a moral sense, Elders are the same with Rulers or Governors, whether in Offices Civil or Ecclesiastical; especially the Rulers of the Church were constantly called its Elders. And the use of the Word, with the abuse of the Power or Office intended by it, is traduced to signify Men in Authority (Signeiores, Eldermani) in all places.
SO under the Old Testament, where the Word doth not signifie a difference in Age, but is used in a moral sence, Elders are the same with Rulers or Governours, whether in Offices Civil or Ecclesiastical; especially the Rulers of the Church were constantly called its Elders. And the use of the Word, with the abuse of the Power or Office intended by it, is traduced to signifie Men in Authority (Signeiores, Eldermani) in all places.
2. CHURCH-Power acted in its Rule, is called the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, by an expression derived from the Keys that were a sign of Office-Power in the Families of Kings, Isa. 22.22. and used by our Saviour himself to denote the communication of Church-Power unto others, which was absolutely and universally vested in himself under the Name of the Key of David; Revel. 3.7. Mat. 16.19.
3. THESE Keys are usually referred unto Two Heads; namely, the one of Order, the other of Jurisdiction.