A53732:78
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.
The things ascribed unto those who are to be esteemed the proper Subject Matter of a Visible Church, are such as in the judgment of Charity entitle them unto all the Appellations of Saints; Called, Sanctified, that is Visibly and by Profession, which are given unto the Members of all the Churches in the New Testament, and which must be answered in those who ⟨p. 10⟩are admitted into that Privilege, if we do not wholly neglect our only Patterns. By these things, although they should any of them not be real living Members of the Mystical Body of Christ, unto whom he is an Head of spiritual and vital influence; yet are they meet Members of that Body of Christ unto which he is an Head of Rule and Government; as also meet to be esteemed Subjects of his Kingdom. And none are excluded but such, as concerning whom Rules are given, either to withdraw from them, or to cast them out of Church Society, or are expressly excluded by God himself from any share in the Privileges of his Covenant, Psal. 50.16, 17.
The things ascribed unto those who are to be esteemed the proper Subject Matter of a Visible Church, are such as in the judgment of Charity entitle them unto all the Appellations of Saints; Called, Sanctified, that is Visibly and by Profession, which are given unto the Members of all the Churches in the New Testament, and which must be answered in those who ⟨p. 10⟩are admitted into that Privilege, if we do not wholly neglect our only Patterns. By these things, although they should any of them not be real living Members of the Mystical Body of Christ, unto whom he is an Head of spiritual and vital influence; yet are they meet Members of that Body of Christ unto which he is an Head of Rule and Government; as also meet to be esteemed Subjects of his Kingdom. And none are excluded but such, as concerning whom Rules are given, either to withdraw from them, or to cast them out of Church Society, or are expresly excluded by God himself from any share in the Privileges of his Covenant, Psal. 50.16, 17.