A90265:13
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.
CHAP. I.
Of the Administration of holy things among the Patriarchs before the Law.
Of the Administration of holy things among the Patriarks before the Law.
1. Concerning the ancient Patriarchs; from these, some who would have Judaism, 1to be but an intercision of christianity derive the pedigree of christians, affirming the difference between us & them, to be solely in the name & not the thing it self: Of this thus much at least is true, that the Law of Commandments, contained in Ordinances did much more diversify the Administration of the Covenant, before, and after Christ, then those plain moralities, wherewith in their days it was clothed: where the assertion is deficient, Antiquity hath given its authors sanctuary from farther pursuit. their practice then, were it clear, can be no president for Christians; All light brought to the Gospel, in comparison of those full and glorious beams, that shine in it self, is but a Candle set up in the sun: Yet for their sakes, ⟨p. 11⟩who found out the former Unity, I will, (not following the conceit of any, nor the comments of many) give you such a bare narration, as the scripture will supply me withal, of their administration of the holy things and practise of their Religion: (as it seems Christianity, though not so called) and doubt you not of divine approbation, and institution: For all prelacy, at least, until Nimrod hunted for preferment, was dejure divino: I find then, that before the giving of the Law, the chief men among the servants of the true God, did every one in their own families with their neighbours adjoining, of the same persuasion, perform those things which they knew to be required, by the Law of nature, tradition, or special revelation (the unwritten word of those times) in the service of God, instructing their children and servants in the knowledge of their creed concerning the nature and goodness of God, the fall and sin of man, the use of sacrifices, and the promised seed, (the sum of their religion) and moreover performing [Greek or Hebrew] things appertaining unto God.