A90265:98
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.
1. Then a diligent searching of the Scriptures, with fervent prayers to Almighty God, for the taking away that veil of ignorance, which by nature is before their eyes, that they may come to a saving knowledge in, and a right understanding of them, is not only lawful and convenient for all men professing the name of Christ, but also absolutely necessary because commanded, yea indeed commanded, because the end so to be attained is absolutely necessary to salvation: to confirm this, I need not multiply precepts out of the old or new Testament, such as that of Isa. 8. 20. To the law and to the testimony, and that of Joh, 5. 39. Search the Scriptures, which are innumerable, nor yet heap up motives unto it, such as are the description of the heavenly country, whither we are going, in them is contained, Joh. 14. 2. 2 Cor. 5. 1. Revel: 22. 1. &c. the way by which we are to travail laid down, John 5. 39. and 14. 5, 6. Jesus Christ whom we must labour to be like, painted out, Gal. 3. 1. and the back-parts of God discovered, Deut. 29. 29. by them only true spiritual wisdom is conveyed to our souls, Jere. 8. 9. whereby we may become even wiser then our teachers, Psa. 119. in them ⟨p. 43⟩all comfort and consolation is to be had, in the time of danger and trouble, Psa. 119. 54. and 71, 72. in brief the knowledge of Christ which is life eternal Joh. 17. 3. yea, all that can be said in this kind comes infinitely short, of those treasures of wisdom, riches, & goodness, which are contained in them; the law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul, the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple,