A90265:26
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.
And briefly only observe those things, which are most immediately conducing to my proposed subject. The worship of God among them, ⟨p. 9⟩was either Moral, or Ceremonial and Typical, the performances belonging unto the latter, with all things thereunto conducing, were appropriated to them, whom God had peculiarly set a part for that purpose: By Ceremonial worship, I understand all Sacrifices and Offerings, the whole service of the Tabernacle, and afterwards of the Temple: all which, were Typical, and established merely for the present dispensation, not without purpose of their Abrogation, when that which was to be more perfect, should appear. Now the several Officers with their distinct employments, in and about this Service, were so punctually prescribed, and limited by Almighty God, that as none of them might [Greek or Hebrew] without presumptuous impiety, intrude into the function of others, not allotted to them, as Numb. 16. 7, 8, 9, 10. So none of their Brethren might presume to intrude into the least part of their Office, without manifest sacrilege. Josh. 22. 11, 12. True it is, that there is mention of divers in the Scripture that offered Sacrifices, or vowed so to do, who were Strangers from the Priests Office, yea from the Tribe of Levi, as Jepha. Judges, 11. Manoah, Jud. 13. David, 2. Sam. 6. And again, 2. Sam. 24. Solomon, Kings 3. and again, 1. Kings 9. But following our former rule of Interpreting, the practise, by the precept, we may find, (and that truly) that all the expressions of their Offerings signify no more; but, they brought those things to be offered, and caused the Priests to do, what in their own persons they ought not to perform. Now hence by the way we may observe, that the people of God, under the new Testament, contrary distinct from their Teachers, have a greater interest in the performance of spiritual duties belonging to the worship of God, and more in that regard is granted unto them, and required of them, then was of the ancient people of the Jews, considered as distinguished from their Priests, because their duty is prescribed unto them under the notion of those things which then, were appropriate only to the Priests; as of offering incense, sacrifice;