A90265:40
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 here before I enter directly upon the matter, I must remove one stone of offence, concerning the common appellation of those who are set apart for the preaching of the Gospel: that which is most frequently used for them in the New Testament is [Greek or Hebrew], so 1 Cor. 3. 5. 2 Cor. 3. 6. and Chap. 6. 4. and 11. 15, 23. 1 Tim. 4. 6. and in divers other places; to which add [Greek or Hebrew], 1 Cor. 41. a word though of another original, yet of the same signification with the former: & both rightly translated Ministers: the names of Ambassadors, Stewards and the like, wherewith they are often honoured are figurative, & given unto them, by allusion only, that the former belonged unto them, and were proper for them, none ever denied but some Rabshakes of Antichrist; another name there is, which some have assumed unto themselves, as an honour, and others have imposed the same upon them for a reproach: viz. that of Priest, which to the takers seemed to import a more mysterious employment, a greater advancement above the rest of their brethren, a nearer approach unto God, in the performances of their office, then that of Ministers: wherefore they embraced it, either voluntarily, alluding to the service of God and the administration thereof amongst his ancient people the Jews, or thought that they ought necessarily to undergo it, as belonging properly to them, who are to celebrate those mysteries, and offer those sacrifices, which they imagined, were to them prescribed: the imposers on the contrary, pretend divers reasons why now that name can signify none but men rejected from Gods work, and given up to superstitious vanities; attending in their minds, the old Priests of Baal, and the now shavelings of Antichrist: it was a new Etymology of this name, which that learned man cleaved unto, who unhappily was engaged into the defence of such errors, as he could not but see, and did often confess: 1To which also he, he had an entrance made by an Arch-bishop; to wit, that it was but an abbreviation of Presbyters, knowing full well, not only that the signification of these words, is divers amongst them, to whom belongs jus & norma loquendi, but also, that they are widely different in holy writ.