A53732:498
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.
SOME by Elders that Rule well, understand ordinary Bishops and Presbyters; and by those that labour in the Word and Doctrine, Evangelists; so carrying the Text out of the present concernment of the Church, Deacons are esteemed by some to have an Interest in the Rule of the Church, and so to be intended in the first place; and Preaching Ministers in the latter.
SOME speak of two sorts of Elders, both of the same Order, or Ministers; some that Preach the Word and Administer the Sacraments; and others that are Employed about inferior Offices, as Reading, and the like, which is the conceit of Scultetus.
SOME speak of two sorts of Elders, both of the same Order, or Ministers; some that Preach the Word and Administer the Sacraments; and others that are Imployed about inferior Offices, as Reading, and the like, which is the conceit of Scultetus.
Mr. MEDE weighs most of these conjectures, and at length prefers one of his own before them all; namely, that by Elders that Rule well, Civil Magistrates are intended; and by those that labour in the Word and Doctrine, the Ministers of the Gospel.
BUT some discerning the weakness and improbability of all these Conjectures; and how easily they may be disproved, betake themselves unto a direct denial of that which seems to be plainly asserted in the Text; namely, that there are two sorts of Elders here intended and described, which they countenance themselves in, by exception unto the application of some Terms in the Text, which we shall immediately consider.