A53734:238
Two discourses concerning the Holy Spirit, and His work the one, Of the Spirit…
Two discourses concerning the Holy Spirit, and His work the one, Of the Spirit as a comforter, the other, As He is the author of spiritual gifts ... / by ... John Owen.
London: printed for William Marshall, 1693
OF Spiritual Gifts. PART II. › Chapter 3: Of Gifts and Offices Extraordinary: And first of Offices.
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.
(§ 5.) First, For the Apostles, they had a double Call, Mission and Commission, or a Twofold Apostleship. Their first Call was unto a subserviency unto the Personal Ministry of Jesus Christ. For he was a Minister of the Circumcision for the Truth of God, to confirm the Promises made unto the Fathers, Rom. 15. 8. In the discharge of this his Personal Ministry it was necessary that he should have peculiar Servants and Officers under him to prepare his Way and Work, and to attend him therein. So he Ordained Twelve that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to Preach, Mark 3. 14. This was the substance of their first Call and Work, namely to attend the presence of Christ, and to go forth to Preach as he gave them order. Hence because he was in his own Person as to his Prophetical Office the Minister only of the Circumcision, being therein according to all the Promises sent only to the lost Sheep of the House of Israel, he confined those who were to be thus assistant unto him in that his especial Work and Ministry, and whilst they were so, unto the same Persons and People, expressly prohibiting them to extend their Line or Measure any further. Go not, saith he, into the way of the Gentiles, and into any City of the Samaritans enter you not; but go rather unto the lost Sheep of the House of Israel, Mat. 10. 5. This rather was absolutely exclusive of the others during his Personal Ministry, and afterwards included only the preeminence of the Israelites, that they were to have the Gospel offered unto them in the first place. It was necessary the Word of God ⟨p. 140⟩should be first spoken unto them, Acts 13. 46.
(§ 5.) First, For the Apostles, they had a double Call, Mission and Commission, or a Twofold Apostleship. Their first Call was unto a subserviency unto the Personal Ministry of Jesus Christ. For he was a Minister of the Circumcision for the Truth of God, to confirm the Promises made unto the Fathers, Rom. 15. 8. In the discharge of this his Personal Ministry it was necessary that he should have peculiar Servants and Officers under him to prepare his Way and Work, and to attend him therein. So he Ordained Twelve that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to Preach,