A90265:50
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.
Secondly, the second thing I observe concerning the business in hand, is, that the offering up unto God, of some metaphorical sacrifices, in a peculiar manner, is appropriate unto men, set a part for the work of the Ministry: as the slaying of mens lusts, and the offering up of them being converted by the preaching of the Gospel, unto God: so Saint Paul of his Ministry, Rom. 15. 16. That I should be the Minister of Jesus Christ, unto the Gentiles, ministering the Gospel of God; That the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, &c. Ministers preaching the Gospel, to the conversion of souls, are said to kill mens lusts, and offer them up unto God, as the fruit of their calling; as Abel brought unto him an acceptable sacrifice, of the fruit of his flock; and so also in respect of divers other acts of their duty, which they perform in the name of their Congregations. Now these sacrifices are appropriate to the Ministers of the Gospel, not in regard of the matter, for others also may convert souls unto God, and offer up prayers and praises, in the name of their companions: but in respect of the manner, they do it publicly and ordinarily; others privately, or in extraordinary cases; now if the Ministers, who are thus Gods instruments for the conversion of souls, be themselves ingrafted into CHRIST; all the acts they perform in that great work, are but parts of their own duty, of the same nature in that regard, with the rest of our spiritual sacrifices: so that they have not by them, any further peculiar interest in the Office of the Priesthood more then others: But if these Preachers themselves do not belong unto the Covenant of Grace, (as God oftentimes out of his care for his flock, bestows gifts upon some for the good of others, on whom he will bestow no graces, for the benefit of their own souls, men may administer that consolation out of the Word unto their flock, which themselves never tasted, preach to others, ⟨p. 25⟩and be themselves castaways. Saint Paul tells us that some Preach Christ out of envy and contention, not sincerely, but on purpose to add to his affliction; and yet saith he whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is preached, and therein do I. rejoice, yea, and will rejoice, Philip. 1. 16, 17, 18. surely had there been no good effected by such Preaching, Saint Paul would not have rejoiced in it;