A53732:543
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.
7. IN particular, He that Ruleth, is a distinct Officer. An Officer, because Rule is an Act of Office, or Office-Power. And he is expressly distinguished from all others. But, say some, he that Ruleth, is he that doth so, be who he will, that is the Pastor or Teacher, the Teaching Elder. But the contrary is evident. (1.) He that says, He that Exhorteth, and then adds, He that Ruleth, having distinguished before between Prophecy, whereunto Exhortation doth belong, and Ministry whereof Rule is a part; and prefixing the Prepositive Indicative Article to each of them, doth as plainly put a difference between them, as can be done by Words. (2.) Rule is the principal Work of him that Ruleth. For he is to attend unto it, [Greek or Hebrew], with Diligence, that is such as is peculiar unto Rule, in contradistinction unto what is principally required in other Administrations. But Rule is not the principal Work of the Pastor, requiring ⟨p. 156⟩constant and continual attendance. For his labour in the Word and Doctrine, is ordinarily sufficient for the utmost of his Diligence and Abilities.
7. IN particular, He that Ruleth, is a distinct Officer. An Officer, because Rule is an Act of Office, or Office-Power. And he is expresly distinguished from all others. But, say some, he that Ruleth, is he that doth so, be who he will, that is the Pastor or Teacher, the Teaching Elder. But the contrary is evident. (1.) He that says, He that Exhorteth, and then adds, He that Ruleth, having distinguished before between Prophecy, whereunto Exhortation doth belong, and Ministry whereof Rule is a part; and prefixing the Prepositive Indicative Article to each of them, doth as plainly put a difference between them, as can be done by Words. (2.) Rule is the principal Work of him that Ruleth. For he is to attend unto it, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, with Diligence, that is such as is peculiar unto Rule, in contradistinction unto what is principally required in other Administrations. But Rule is not the principal Work of the Pastor, requiring ⟨p. 156⟩constant and continual attendance. For his labour in the Word and Doctrine, is ordinarily sufficient for the utmost of his Diligence and Abilities.