A53732:500
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.
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.
GROTIUS, as was before intimated, Disputes against the Divine Institution of such Temporary Lay-Elders as are made use of in sundry of the Reformed Churches. But when he hath done, he affirms, That it is highly necessary that such conjunct Associates in Rule from among the people, should be in every Church; which he proves by sundry Arguments. And these he would have either nominated by the Magistrate, or chosen by the People.
GROTIVS, as was before intimated, Disputes against the Divine Institution of such Temporary Lay-Elders as are made use of in sundry of the Reformed Churches. But when he hath done, he affirms, That it is highly necessary that such conjunct Associates in Rule from among the people, should be in every Church; which he proves by sundry Arguments. And these he would have either nominated by the Magistrate, or chosen by the People.