A90265:99
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.
2. They may not only (as before) search the Scriptures, but also examine, and try by them the doctrine that publicly is taught unto them; the people of God, must not be like children tossed too and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the slight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive: Ephes. 4. 14. all is not presently Gospel, that is spoken in the Pulpit, it is not long since, that Altar-worship, Arminianism, Popery, Superstition, &c. were freely preached in this Kingdom; now what shall the people of God do in such a case? yield to every breath, to every puff of false doctrine? or rather try it by the word of God, and if it be not agreeable thereunto, cast it out like salt that hath lost its savour: must not the people take care that they be not seduced? must they not beware of false Prophets, which come unto them in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves? and how shall they do this? what way remains, but a trying their doctrine by the rule? in these evil days wherein we live, I hear many daily complaining, That there is such difference, and contrariety among preachers, they know not what to do, nor scarce what to believe; my answer is, Do but your own duty, and this trouble is at an end; is there any contrarity in the book of God? pin not your faith upon mens opinions, the Bible is the touchstone: ⟨p. 44⟩that there is such diversity amongst teachers is their fault, who should think all the same thing; but that this is so troublesome to you, is your own fault, for neglecting your duty of trying all things by the word: Alas, you are in a miserable condition, if you have all this while, relied on the authority of men, in heavenly things; he that builds his faith upon preachers, though they preach nothing but truth, and he pretend to believe it, hath indeed no faith at all, but a wavering opinion, built upon a rotten foundation: what ever then is taught you, you must go with it, to the law, and to the testimony, if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them, Isaiah 8. 20. yea, the Bereans are highly extolled, for searching whether the Doctrine concerning our Saviour, preached by St. Paul, were so, or no, Acts 17. 11. agreeably to the precept of the same Preacher,