A90265:8
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.
THE PREFACE TO the ensuing Discourse.
THE glass of our lives, seems to run and keep pace with the extremity of time: the end of those ends of the world awhich began with the Gospel, is doubtless coming upon us, he that was instructed what should be, till time should be no more, said, it was [Greek or Hebrew] the last hour in his time: much sand cannot be behind, and Christ shakes the glass:2 many minutes of that hour cannot remain; the next measure we are to expect, is but a moment, the twinkling of an eye, wherein we shall all be changed; now as if the Horoscope of the decaying age, had some secret influence into the wills of men, to comply with the decrepit world, they generally delight to run into extremes: not that I would have the fate of the times to bear the faults of men, like him who cried,3 [Greek or Hebrew] to free himself, entitling God and fate to his sins; but only to show how the All-disposing providence of the most High, works such a compliance of times and persons, as may jointly drive at his glorious aims, causing men to set out in such seasons as are fittest for their travel. This Epidemical disease of the aged world, is the cause, why in that great diversity of contrary opinions, wherewith mens heads and hearts are now replenished: the truth pretended to be sought with so much earnestness, may be often gathered up, quite neglected, between the parties litigant; medio tulissimus, is a sure rule, but that fiery spirits, pyrout Eocus & Aethon quartusque Phlegon, will be ⟨p. 10⟩mounting. In the matter concerning which, I propose my weak Essay, some would have all Christians to be almost Ministers, others none but Ministers, to be Gods Clergy: those would give the people the keys, these use them, to lock them out of the Church, the one ascribing to them primarily all Ecclesiastical power for the ruling of the Congregation; the other abridging them of the performance of spiritual duties, for the building of their own souls: as though there were no habitable earth between the valley (I had almost said the pit) of Democratical confusion, and the precipitious rock of Hierarchical tyranny: when unskilful Archers shoot, the safest place to avoid the arrow, is the white: going, as near as God shall direct me, to the truth of this matter, I hope to avoid the strokes of the combatants on every side.