Selected quad for the lemma: honour_n
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A53671
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A brief instruction in the worship of God, and discipline of the churches of the New Testament, by way of question and answer with an explication and confirmation of those answers.
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Owen, John, 1616-1683.
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1667
(1667)
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Wing O721; ESTC R9489
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80,905
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231
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11.44 I am the Lord your God ye shall therefore sanctifie your selves and ye shall be holy for I am holy neither shall ye defile your selves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth Not defiling our selves with the touching or eating of creeping things is now no morall Duty since the institution is ceased although it be inforced by many morall considerations Qu. 5. Is there any farther alteration to be expected in or of those institutions and ordinances of worship which are revealed and appointed in the Gospel Answ. No! The last compleat Revelation of the will of God being made by the Son who is Lord of all his Commands and Institutions are to be observed inviolably unto the end of the World without alteration diminution or addition Heb. 1.1 chap. 10.25 26 27. Matth. 28.20 1 Cor. 11.26 1 Tim. 6 14. Explication It was shewed before that all the Institutions of the Old Testament had respect unto the coming of Christ in the flesh who was the end of the Law Rom. 10.4 and thereupon they were subject to alteration or abolition upon a twofold account First Because that which they were appointed principally to instruct the Church in and to direct it unto the expectation of was upon his coming accomplished and fulfilled so that their end was absolutely taken away and they could no more truly teach the mind and will of God for they would still direct unto that which was to come after it was past and accomplished And this is that which the Apostle Paul so variously proves and fully confirms in his Epistle to the Hebrews especially in the 7 8 9. and 10. Chapters Secondly The Lord Christ during their continuance was to come as the Lord over his whole house with more full and ample authority then any of those whom God had employed in the institution of his Ordinances of old were intrusted withall Heb. 1.1 2 3. He spake in former dayes by the Prophets but now by the Son whom he hath appointed heir of all Chap. 3.5 6. Christ as a Son over his own house whose house are we And therefore they are all to be at his disposall to confirm or remove as he saw reason and occasion And this he did virtually in the sacrifice of himself or the blood of his Cross fulfilling and finishing of them all John 19.30 Breaking down the middle wall of partition abolishing in his flesh the enmity even the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinances blotting out the hand-writing of Ordinances he took it out of the way nayling it to his Cross Eph. 2.15 Colos 2.14 Secondly Authoritatively by his Spirit in the Apostles and the doctrine of the Gospel preached by them Acts 15.10 11. Now therefore why tempt ye God to put a yoak upon the neck of the Disciples which neither our Fathers nor we were able to bear but we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved even as they Gal. 3.24 25. Wherefore the Law was our Schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ that we might be justified by faith but after that faith is come we are no longer render a Schoolmaster Chap. 5.2 3 4. and eventually or providentially when he caused sacrifice and offering to cease by the Prince of the people that came with an Army making desolate to destroy both City and Sanctuary Dan. 9.26 27. according to his prediction Mat. 24.2 But now under the New Testament the worship that is appointed in the Gospel is founded in and built upon what is already past and accomplished namely the death and life of Jesus Christ with the sacrifice and atonement for sin made thereby 1 Cor. 11.23 24 25 26. which can never be again performed neither is there any thing else to the same purpose either needfull or possible Heb. 10.26 So that there is not any ground left for any new institution of worship or any alteration in those that are already instituted Nor Secondly Can any one be expected to come from God with a greater and more full authority for the Revelation of his mind than that wherewith his only Son was accompanied which yet must be if any alterations were to be made in the appointments of worship that he hath instituted in the Gospel For no Inferior nor an equall authority can abolish or alter that which is already appointed so as to give satisfaction unto the consciences of men in obedience unto such alterations And therefore because there arose not a Prophet like unto Moses under the Old Testament there could be no alteration made in his institutions but the Church was bound severely to observe them all untill the coming of Christ Mal. 4.4 Remember ye the Law of Moses my servant which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel with his Statutes and Judgements and that because there arose not a Prophet afterwards in Israel like unto Moses whom the Lord knew face to face Deut. 34.10 And our Apostle to prove the right of Christ to alter the Ordinances of the Law layes his foundation in manifesting that he was above the Angels Heb. 1.4 being made so much better than the Angels as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they and that because the Law was given by the Ministery of Angels chap. 2.2 and so also that he was greater than Moses chap. 3.3 For this man was accounted worthy of more glory than Moses in as much as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house Moses verily was faithfull in all his house as a servant but Christ as a Son over his own house Because Moses was the Law-giver and the Mediator between God and Man in the giving of the Law Now if this be the sole foundation and warrant of the alteration made of Mosaical Ordinances by Christ namely that he was greater and exalted above all those whose Ministry was used in the dispensation of the Law unless some can be thought to be greater and exalted in authority above the Son of God there can be no alteration expected in the Institutions of the Gospel Qu. 6. May not such an Estate of faith and perfection in obedience be attained in this life as wherein Believers may be freed from all obligation unto the observation of Gospel Institutions Answ. No! For the Ordinances and Institutions of the Gospel being inseparably annexed unto the Evangelical administration of the Covenant of Grace they may not be left unobserved disused or omitted whilest we are to walk before God in that Covenant without contempt of the Covenant it self as also of the Wisdom and Authority of Jesus Christ. Heb. 3.3 4 5 6. Rom. 6.3 4 5 6. Luke 22.19 20. 1 Cor. 11.24 25 26. Heb. 10.25 Rev. 2.5 chap. 3.3 Explication All our faith all our obedience in this life what ever may be obtained or attained unto therein it all belongs unto our walking with God in the Covenant of Grace wherein God dwells with Men and they
of them all they have all the same rule of obedience all the same Head the same end all carry it on by the observation of the same Ordinances in kind Now besides these things which belong unto the nature of a Church in general and wherein they all equally participate they must also have each one its proper difference that which doth distinguish it from all other Churches and this gives it its speciall form as such Now this cannot consist in any thing that is accidental occasional or extrinsical unto it such as is cohabitation which yet the Church may have respect unto for conveniency and farthering of its edification nor in any civil or political disposal of its members into civil societies for civil ends which is extrinsecal to all its concernments as a Church nor doth it consist in the relation of the Church to its present Officers which may be removed or taken away without the dissolution of the form or being of the Church but it consisteth as was said in the agreement or covenant before mentioned For First This is that which constitutes 〈◊〉 a distinct body different from others for thereby and no otherwise do they coalesce into a society according to the law of their constitution and appointment Secondly this gives them their especial relation unto their own Elders Rulers or Guides who watch over them as so associated by their own consent according unto the command of Christ. And Thirdly From hence they have their mutual especial relation unto one another which is the ground of the especial exercise of all Church duties whatsoever Quest. 52. Wherein consists the duty of any Church of Christ towards other Churches Answ. 1 In walking circumspectly so as to give them no offence 2 In prayer for their peace and prosperity 3 In communicating supplyes to their wants according to ability 4 In receiving with love and readiness the members of them into fellowship in the celebration of the Ordinances of the Gospel as occasion shall be 5 In desiring and making use of their counsel and advice in such cases of doubt and difficulty as may arise among them 6 In joyning with them to express their communion in the same doctrine of faith 1 1 Cor. 10.32 2 Psalm 122.6 Ephes. 6.18 1 Tim. 2.1 3 2 Cor. 8.4 6. Acts 11.29 30. Rom. 15.26 27. 4 Rom. 16.1 2.3 Ep. Joh. 8 9. 5 Acts 15.2 6 1 Tim. 3.15 Explication Churches being gathered and setled according to the mind of Christ ought to preserve a mutual holy communion among themselves and to exercise it in the discharge of those duties whereby their mutuall good and edification may be promoted For whereas they are all united under one Head the Lord Christ Ephes. 1.22 23. in the same faith and order Ephes. 4.5 And do walk by the same rule they stand in such a relation one to another as is the ground of the communion spoken of Now the principal wayes whereby they exercise this communion are the acts and duties enumerated in the answer unto this Question as First Carefull walking so as to give no offence unto one another which although it be a moral duty in reference unto all yet therein especial regard is to be had unto other Churches of Christ that they be not in any thing grieved or tempted 1 Cor. 10.32 Give none offence neither to the Jews nor to the Gentiles nor to the Church of God Secondly In constant prayer for the peace welfare edification and prosperity one of another Rom. 1.9 Colos. 1.9 Ephes. 6.18 And this because of the special concernment of the name and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ in their welfare Thirdly In communicating of supplyes for their relief according unto their ability in case of the outward wants straits dangers or necessities of any of them Acts 11.29 30. Rom. 15.26 27. 2 Cor. 8.1 2 3 4 6 14. Fourthly The receiving of the members of other Churches to communion in the celebration of Church Ordinances is another way whereby this communion of Churches is exercised Rom. 16.1 2.3 Ep. Joh. 8.9 For whereas the personal right of such persons unto the Ordinances of the Church and their orderly walking in the observation of the commands of Christ are known by the testimony of the Church whereof they are members they may without farther enquiry or satisfaction given be looked on pro tempore as members of the Church wherein they desire fellowship and participation of the Ordinances of Christ. Fifthly In desiring or making use of the counsel and advice of one another in such cases of doubt and difficulty whether doctrinal or practical as may arise in any of them Act. 15.2 6. And from hence it follows that in case any Church either by errour in doctrine or precipitation or mistake in other administrations do give offence unto other Churches those other Churches may require an account from them admonish them of their faults and withhold communion from them in case they persist in the errour of their way and that because in their difficulties and before their miscarriages they were bound to have desired the advice counsel and assistance of those other Churches which being neglected by them the other are to recover the end of it unto their utmost ability Gal. 2.6.11 And hence also it follows that those that are rightly and justly censured in any Church ought to be rejected by all Churches whatever both because of their mutuall communion and because it is and ought to be presumed untill the contrary be made to appear that in case there had been any difficulty or doubt in the proceedure of the Church they would have taken the advice of those Churches with whom they were obliged to consult Lastly Whereas the Churches have all of them one common faith and are all obliged to hold forth and declare it to all men as they have opportunity 1 Tim. 3.15 to testifie this their mutual communion their interest in the same faith and hope for the more open declaration and proposition of the truths of the Gospel which they profess and for the vindication both of the truth and themselves from false charges and imputations they may and if God give opportunity ought to joyn together in declaring and testifying their joynt consent and fellowship in the same doctrine of faith expressed in a form of sound words Quest. 53. What are the ends of all this dispensation and order of things in the Church Answ. The glory of God the honour of Iesus Christ the Mediator the fartherance of the Gospel the edification and consolation of Believers here with their eternal salvation hereafter Rev. 4.9 10 11. Chap. 5.12 13. 1 Cor. 3 22.23 Ephes. 4.11 12 13. Finis