A90265:124
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.
But may not this be a means for men to vent and broach their own private fancies unto others? 1to foment and cherish errors in one another? to give false interpretations of the word, there being no way to prevent it?
But may not this be a meanes for men to vent and broach their owne private fancies unto others? 1to foment and cherish errors in one another? to give false interpretations of the word, there being no way to prevent it?
- 13. Object.
For interpreting of the word,1 I speak not, but applying of it being rightly interpreted; and for the rest, would to God the complaints were not true, of those things that have for divers ⟨p. 54⟩years in this Church been done publicly, and outwardly according to order: but that no inconvenience arise from hence, the care rests on them, to whom the dispensation of the word is committed, whose sedulous endeavour, to reprove and convince all unsound doctrine, not agreeing to the form of wholesome words, is the sovereign and only remedy to cure, or means to prevent this evil. For the close of all, we may observe, that those who are most offended, and afraid, lest others should encroach upon their callings, are for the most part such, as have almost deserted it themselves, neglecting their own employment, when they are the busiest of mortals, in things of this world. To conclude then, for what I have delivered in this particular, I conceive that I have the judgement and practise of the whole Church of Scotland, (agreeable to the word of God) for my warrant; witness that Act of their Assembly at Edinburgh, An. 1641. wherewith the learned Ruthersurd concludes his Defence of their Discipline, with whose words I will shut up this Discourse; Our Assembly also, commandeth goldy conference at all occasional meetings, or as Gods providence shall dispose, as the word of God commandeth, providing none invade the Pastors office, to preach the word, who are not called thereunto by God and his Church.