A90265:110
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.
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,
Thirdly, That the end why God bestoweth these gifts on any, is meerely, that within the bounds of their owne 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 withall, 1 Cor. 12. 7. Christ gives none of his talents to be bound up in napkins, 1but expects his owne with increase: and from these considerations it is easily discernable, both what the people of God distinct from their Pastors in a well ordered Church, may do in this kinde, whereof we treate, and how: in generall then I assert,
That for the improving of knowledge, the increasing of Christian charity, for the furtherance of a strict and holy communion of that spiritual love and amity which ought to be amongst the brethren, they may of their own accord, assemble together, to consider one another, to provoke unto love and good works, to stir up the gifts that are in them, yielding and receiving mutual consolation, by the fruits of their most holy faith. Now because there be many Uzzahs amongst us, who have an itching desire to be fingering of the Ark, thinking more highly of themselves, then they ought to think, and like the ambitious sons of Levi, taking too much upon them; it will not be amiss, to give two cautions, deducted from the former rules: First, that they do not, under a pretence of Christian liberty and freedom of conscience, cast away all brotherly amity, and cut themselves off from the communion of the Church; Christ hath not purchased a liberty for any to rent his body: they will prove at length, to be no duties of piety, which break the sacred bonds of charity.