A90265:66
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.
CAP. VI.
What assurance men extraordinarily called, can give to others, that they are so called in the former way.
The next thing to be considered, is, what assurance he can give to others, and by what means, that he is so called. Now the ⟨p. 33⟩matter, or subject of their employment may give us some light, to this consideration: and this is either, the inchoation of some divine work to be established amongst men, by virtue of a new, and before never heard of Revelation of Gods will; or a restoration of the same, when collapsed and corrupted by the sin of men. To the first of these, God never sendeth any, but whom he doth so extraordinarily and immediately call, and ordain for that purpose, and that this may be manifested unto others, he always accompanieth them with his own almighty power, in the working of such miracles, as may make them believed, for the very works sake which God by them doth effect. This we may see in Moses, and (after Jesus Christ anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows to preach the Gospel) the Apostles: but this may pass; for nothing in such a way, shall ever again take place, God having ultimately revealed his mind, concerning his worship, and our salvation; a curse being denounced to man or angel, that shall pretend to Revelation, for the altering or changing one jot or title of the Gospel. For the other, the work of Reformation, there being, ever since the writing of his Word, an Infallible rule, for the performance of it, making it fall within the duty and ability of men, partakers of an ordinary vocation, and instructed with ordinary gifts; God doth not always immediately call men unto it: but yet because oftentimes he hath so done, we may enquire what assurance they could give, of this their calling, to that employment. Our Saviour Christ informs us, that a Prophet is often without honour in his own country: The honour of a Prophet, is to have credence given to his Message; of which it should seem, Jonah was above measure zealous; yet such is the cursed Infidelity and hardness of mens hearts, that though they cried, Thus saith the Lord, yet they would reply the Lord hath not spoken; hence are those pleadings betwixt the Prophet Jeremiah, and his enemies the Prophet averring of a truth, the Lord hath sent me unto you, and they contesting, that the Lord had not sent him, but that he lied in the Name of the Lord;