A53732:612
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.
IF any shall rather think that both of the Expressions do signify an increase in Gifts and Grace, which is a certain consequence of Mens faithful discharge of their Office in the Church, wherein many Deacons of old were eminent unto Martyrdom, I shall not contend against it.
IF any shall rather think that both of the Expressions do signify an encrease in Gifts and Grace, which is a certain consequence of Mens faithful discharge of their Office in the Church, wherein many Deacons of old were eminent unto Martyrdom, I shall not contend against it.
2. WHEREAS there are Qualifications expressly required in the Wives of Deacons, as that they should be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things, 1 Tim. 3.12. which is to be considered before their call to Office; supposing that any of them do fall from the Faith as becoming Papists, Socinians, or Quakers, whether their Husbands may be continued in their Office?
2. WHEREAS there are Qualifications expresly required in the Wives of Deacons, as that they should be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things, 1 Tim. 3.12. which is to be considered before their call to Office; supposing that any of them do fall from the Faith as becoming Papists, Socinians, or Quakers, whether their Husbands may be continued in their Office?
Ans. 1. HE who in his own Person faithfully dischargeth his Office, may be continued therein, yea, though his Wife should be actually Excommunicated out of the Church. Every One of us must give an account of himself unto the Lord. He rejects us not for what we cannot remedy. The sinning Person shall bear his own judgment. (2.) Such an one ought to take care, by virtue of his Authority as an Husband, that as little offence as possible may be given to the Church by his Wife, when she loseth the qualification of not being a slanderer, which is inseparable from such Apostates.