Selected quad for the lemma: diversity_n
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A53732
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The true nature of a Gospel church and its government ... by the late pious and learned minister of the Gospel, John Owen ...
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Owen, John, 1616-1683.
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1689
(1689)
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Wing O815; ESTC R13410
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211,358
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294
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have to do and the manner how they are to do it is altogether unreasonable and senceless unto them who have another Idea of Church-Affairs and Rule conceived in their Minds or received by Tradition and riveted by Interest And on the other hand those who know little or nothing of what belongs unto the due Edification of the Church beyond Preaching the Word and reaping the Advantage that is obtained thereby cannot see any necessity of the distribution of these several Works and Duties unto several Officers but suppose all may be done well enough by One or Two in the same Office. Wherefore it will be necessary that we treat briefly of the Nature of the Rule of the Church in particular and what is required thereunto which shall be done in the close of this Discourse 9. THE Exceptions which are usually put in unto this Testimony have not the least countenance from the Text or Context nor the matter treated of nor Confirmation 〈◊〉 any other Divine Testimony It is therefore in vain to contend about them being such as any Man may multiply at his pleasure on the like occasion and used by those who on other considerations are not willing that things should be as they are here declared to be by the Apostle Yet we may take a brief Specimen of them Some say it is Gifts absolutely without respect unto distinct Offices that the Apostle Treats of which hath been disproved from the Text and Context before Some say that Rule is included in the Pastoral Office so as that the Pastor only is here intended But 1. Rule is not his principal Work which he is to attend unto in a peculiar manner with diligence above other parts of his Duty 2. The care of the Poor of the Flock belongs also to the Pastoral Office yet is there another Office appointed to attend unto it in a peculiar manner Act. 6. 3. He that Ruleth is in this place expresly distinguished from him that Exhorteth and him that Teacheth Some say that he that Ruleth is he that Ruleth his Family But this is disproved by the Analysis of the Chapter before declared And this Duty which is common unto all that have Families and confined unto their Families is ill placed among those publick Duties which are designed unto the Edification of the whole Church It is objected that he that Ruleth is here placed after him that giveth that is the Deacon I say then it cannot be the Pastor that is intended if we may prescribe Methods of expressing himself unto the Apostle But he useth his Liberty and doth not oblige himself unto any Order in the annumeration of the Offices of the Church see 1 Cor. 12.8 9 10 28. And some other Exceptions are insisted on of the same nature and importance which indeed deserve not our consideration 10. THERE is the same Evidence given unto the Truth argued for in another Testimony of the same Apostle 1 Cor. 12.28 God hath set some in the Church First Apostles Secondarily Prophets Thirdly Teachers after that Miracles then Gifts of Healings Helps Governments Diversities of Tongues I shall not insist on this Testimony and its Vindication in particular seeing many things would be required thereunto which have been Treated of already Some things may be briefly observed concerning it That there is here an Annumeration of Officers and Offices in the Church both extraordinary for that season and ordinary for continuance is beyond exception Unto them is added the present exercise of some extraordinary Gifts as Miracles Healing Tongues That by Helps the Deacons of the Church are intended most do agree because their Original Institution was as helpers in the Affairs of the Church Governments are Governours or Rulers the Abstract for the Concrete that is such as are distinct from Teachers such hath God placed in the Church and such there ought to be But it is said that Gifts not Offices are intended the Gift of Goverment or Gift for Government If so then these Gifts are either ordinary or extraordinary if ordinary how come they to be reckoned among Miracles Healing and Tongues if extraordinary what extraordinary Gifts for Government were then given distinct from those of the Apostles and what instance is any where given of them in the Scripture Again If God hath given Gifts for Government to abide in the Church distinct from those given unto Teachers and unto other Persons than the Teachers then is there a distinct Office of Rule or Government in the Church which is all we plead for 11. THE Original Order in these things is plain in the Scripture The Apostles had all Church-Power and Church-Office in themselves with Authority to exercise all Acts of them everywhere on all occasions But considering the nature of the Church with that of the Rule appointed by the Lord Christ in it or over it they did not they would not ordinarily exercise their power by themselves or in their own persons alone And therefore when the First Church consisted of a small number the Apostles acted all things in it by the consent of the whole Multitude or the Fraternity as we have proved from Acts the First And when the number of Believers encreased so as that the Apostles themselves could not in their own Persons attend unto all the Duties that were to be performed towards the Church by virtue of Office they added by the direction of the Holy Ghost the Office of the Deacons for the especial discharge of the Duty which the Church oweth unto its poor Members Whereas therefore it is evident that the Apostles could no more personally attend unto the Rule of the Church with all that belongs thereunto without an entrenchment on that labour in the Word and Prayer which was incumbent on them than they could attend unto the Relief of the Poor they appointed Elders to help and assist in that part of Office-Work as the Deacons did in the other THESE Elders are first mentioned Act. 11.30 where they are spoken of as those which were well known and had now been of some time in the Church Afterwards they are still mentioned in conjunction with the Apostles and distinction from the Church it self Acts 15.2 4 6 22. Chap. 16.4 Chap. 21.18 Now the Apostles themselves were Teaching Elders that is such as had the Work of Teaching and Rule committed to them 1 Pet. 5.1 2 Joh. 1. And these Elders are constantly distinguished from them which makes it evident that they were not Teaching Elders And therefore in all the mention that is made of them the Work of Teaching or Preaching is no where ascribed unto them which at Jerusalem the Apostles reserved to themselves Act. 6.2 3. but they are every where introduced as joining with the Apostles in the Rule of the Church and that in distinction from the Church it self or the Brethren of it Yea it is altogether improbable that whilst the Apostles were at Jerusalem giving themselves wholly unto the Word and Prayer that they
Society overthrow its Nature and frustrate its Institution in direct opposition unto the Scripture That there is such a Rule in the Christian Church see Act. 20.28 Rom. 12.8 1 Cor. 12.28 1 Tim. 9.5 Chap. 5.17 Heb. 13.7 17. Revel 2.3 2. DIFFERENT and distinct Gifts are required unto the discharge of these distinct Works and Duties This belongs unto the Harmony of the dispensation of the Gospel Gifts are bestowed to answer all Duties prescribed Hence they are the First Foundation of all Power Work and Duty in the Church Vnto every one of us is given Grace according to the measure of the Gift of Christ that is Ability for Duty according to the measure wherein Christ is pleased to grant it Ephes. 4.7 There are diversities of Gifts but the same spirit and the manifestation of the spirit is given to every Man to profit withal 1 Cor. 12.4 7 8 9 10. Having then Gifts differing according to the Grace given unto us c. Rom. 12.6 7 8. Wherefore as every Man hath received the Gift so are they to minister the same as good Stewards of the manifold Grace of God 1 Pet. 4.10 Hence are they called the Powers of the World to come Heb. 6.4 5. Wherefore differing Gifts are the first foundation of differing Offices and Duties 3. THAT differing Gifts are required unto the different Works of Pastoral Teaching on the one hand and practical Rule on the other is evident 1. From the Light of Reason and the nature of the Works themselves being so different And 2. From experience Some Men are fitted by Gifts for the Dispensation of the Word and Doctrine in a way of Pastoral Feeding who have no useful Ability in the Work of Rule And some are fitted for Rule who have no Gifts for the discharge of the Pastoral Work in Preaching Yea it is very seldom that both these sorts of Gifts do concurr in any eminency in the same Persons or without some notable defect Those who are ready to assume all things unto themselves are for the most part fit for nothing at all And hence it is that most of those who esteem both these Works to belong principally unto them do almost totally decline the one or that of Pastoral Preaching under a pretence of attending unto the other that is Rule in a very preposterous way for they omit that which is incomparably the greater and more worthy for that which is less and inferior unto it although it should be attended unto in a due manner BUT this and sundry other things of the like nature proceed from the corruption of that Traditional notion which is true in it self and continued among all sorts of Christians namely that there ought to be some on whom the Rule of the Church is in an especial manner incumbent and whose principal Work it is to attend thereunto For the great depravations of all Church Government proceed from the Corruption and Abuse of this notion which in it self and its original is true and sacred Herein also Malum habitat in alieno fundo There is no corruption in Church-Order or Rule but is corruptly derived from or is set up as an Image of some Divine Institution 4. THE Work of Rule as distinct from Teaching is in general to watch over the walking or conversation of the Members of the Church with Authority Exhorting Comforting Admonishing Reproving Incouraging Directing of them as occasion shall require The Gifts necessary hereunto are Diligence Wisdom Courage and Gravity as we shall see afterwards The Pastoral Work is principally to reveal the whole Counsel of God to divide the Word aright or to labour in the Word and Doctrine both as unto the general Dispensation and particular Application of it in all seasons and on all occasions HEREUNTO Spiritual Wisdom Knowledge Sound Judgment Experience and Vtterance are required all to be improved by continual study of the Word and Prayer But this difference of Gifts unto these distinct Works doth not of it self constitute distinct Offices because the same Persons may be meetly furnished with those of both sorts 5. YET distinct Works and Duties though some were furnished with Gifts for both was a ground in the Wisdom of the Holy Ghost for distinct Offices in the Church where one sort of them were as much as those of one Office could ordinarily attend unto Act. 6.2 3 4. Ministration unto the poor of the Church for the supply of their Temporal Necessities is an Ordinance of Christ. The Administration hereof the Apostles were furnished for with Gifts and Wisdom above all others But yet because there was another part of their Work and Duty superior hereunto and of greater necessity unto the Propagation of the Gospel and Edification of the Church namely a diligent attendance unto the Word and Prayer the Wisdom of the Holy Ghost in them thought meet to erect a New Office in the Church for the discharge of that part of the Ministerial Duty which was to be attended unto yet not so as to be any obstruction unto the other I do not observe this as if it were lawful for any others after them to do the same namely upon a supposition of an especial Work to erect an especial Office. Only I would demonstrate from hence the equity and reasonable ground of that Institution which we shall afterwards evince 6. THE Work of the Ministry in Prayer and Preaching of the Word or labour in the Word and Doctrine whereunto the Administration of the Seals of the Covenant is annexed with all the Duties that belong unto the especial Application of these things before insisted on unto the Flock are ordinarily sufficient to take up the whole Man and the utmost of their endowments who are called unto the Pastoral Office in the Church The very nature of the Work in it self is such as that the Apostle giving a short description of it adds as an intimation of its greatness and excellency Who is sufficient for these things 2 Cor. 2.16 And the manner of its performance adds unto its weight For not to mention that intension of Mind in the exercise of Faith Love Zeal and Compassion which is required of them in the discharge of their whole Office the diligent consideration of the state of the Flock so as to provide Spiritual Food convenient for them with a constant attendance unto the issues and effects of the Word in the Consciences and Lives of Men is enough for the most part to take up their whole time and strength IT is gross ignorance or negligence that occasioneth any to be otherwise minded As the Work of the Ministry is generally discharged as consisting only in a Weekly provision of Sermons and the performance of some stated Offices by Reading Men may have time and liberty enough to attend unto other occasions But in such Persons we are not at present concerned Our Rule is plain 1 Tim. 4.12 13 14 15 16. 7. IT doth not hence follow that those who are called