A90265:109
The duty of pastors and people distinguished [sic]. Or A brief discourse, touching the…The duty of pastors and people distingushed [sic]. Or A briefe discourse, touching the…
The duty of pastors and people distinguished [sic]. Or A brief discourse, touching the administration of things commanded in religion. Especially concerning the means to be used by the people of God (distinct from church-officers) for the increasing of divine knowledge in themselves and others. Wherein bounds are prescribed to their performances, their liberty is enlarged to the utmost extent of the dictates of nature and rules of charity: their duty laid down in directions, drawn from Scripture-precepts, and the practise of Gods people in all ages. Together with the several ways of extraordinary calling to the office of public teaching, with what assurance such teachers may have of their calling, and what evidence they can give of it, unto others. / By John Owen, M.A. of Q. Col. O.The duty of pastors and people distingushed [sic]. Or A briefe discourse, touching the administration of things commanded in religion. Especially concerning the means to be used by the people of God (distinct from church-officers) for the increasing of divine knowledge in themselves and others. Wherein bounds are prescribed to their peformances, their liberty is enlarged to the utmost extent of the dictates of nature and rules of charity: their duty laid downe in directions, drawn from Scripture-precepts, and the practise of Gods people in all ages. Together with the severall wayes of extraordinary calling to the office of publike teaching, with what assurance such teachers may have of their calling, and what evidence they can give of it, unto others. / By John Ovven, M.A. of Q. Col. O.
London: printed by L. N. for Philemon Stephens, 1644
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.
Secondly, That all these gifts coming down from the Father of lights, are given by the same Spirit, dividing to every one as he will, 1 Cor. 12. 11. he is not tied in the bestowing of his gifts, to any sort, estate, calling or condition of men, but worketh them freely, as it pleaseth him, in whom he will; the Spirit there mentioned, is that God which worketh all things, according to the counsel of his own will, Ephes. 1. 11. they are neither deserved by our goodness, nor obtained by our endeavours.
Secondly, That all these gifts comming down from the Father of lights, are given by the same Spirit, dividing to every one as he will, 1 Cor. 12. 11. he is not tied in the bestowing of his gifts, to any sort, estate, calling or condition of men, but worketh them freely, as it pleaseth him, in whom he will; the Spirit there mentioned, is that God which worketh all things, according to the counsell of his owne will, Ephes. 1. 11. they are neither deserved by our goodnesse, nor obtained by our endeavours.
Thirdly, That the end why God bestoweth these gifts on any, is merely, that within the bounds of their own calling (in which they are circumscribed, 1 Cor. 1. 24.) they should use them to his glory, and the edification of his Church, For the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal, 1 Cor. 12. 7. Christ gives none of his talents to be bound up in napkins, 1but expects his own with increase: and from these considerations it is easily discernible, both what the people of God distinct from their Pastors in a well ordered Church, may do in this kind, whereof we treat, and how: in general then I assert,