The Duty of Pastors and People Distinguished, Title page – Dedication
The duty of Paſtors and People diſtinguſhed. OR A BRIEFE DISCOVRSE, 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 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, at the gilded Lion in Pauls Church-yard. 1644.
TO THE TRVLY NOBLE, and my ever honoured friend, Sir EDWARD SCOT, of Scots-Hall in Kent, Knight of the honourable Order of the BATH.
SIR:
HAving of late been deprived of the happineſſe to ſee you, I make bold to ſend to viſite you; and becauſe that the times are troubleſome, I have made choiſe of this meſſenger: who having obtained a licenſe to paſſe, feares no ſearching: he brings no newes (at leaſt) to you, but that which was from the beginning, and muſt continue unto the end, which you have heard, and which (for ſome part thereof) you have practiſed out of the word of God. He hath no ſecret meſſages prejudiciall to the ſtate of Church or Common-wealth; neither I hope, will he entertain any ſuch comments by the way▪ conſidering from whom he comes, and to whom he goes; of whom, the one would diſclaime him, and the other puniſh him. Ambitious I am not of any entertainment for theſe few ſheetes, neither care much what ſucceſſe they find in their travel; ſetting them out meerly in my own defence, to be freed from the continued ſolicitations of ſome honeſt judicious men, who were acquainted with their contents: being nothing, but an houres Country-diſcourſe, reſolved, from the ordinary pulpit method, into its own principles: when I firſt thought of ſending it to you, I made ful account to uſe the benefit of the advantage, in recounting of, and returning thanks for ſome of thoſe many undeſerved favours which I have received from you. But addreſſing my ſelf to the performance, I fainted in the very entrance; finding their ſcore ſo large, that I know not where to begin, neither ſhould I know how to end: only one I cannot ſuffer to lye hid in the croud, though other engagements hindred me from embracing it, viz. your free proffer of an Eccleſiaſtical preferment, then vacant, and in your donation. Yet truly all received courteſies, have no power to oblige me unto you, in compariſon of that abundant worth, which by experience I have found to be dwelling in you. Twiſe by Gods providence, have I been with you, when your County hath been in great danger to be ruined, once by the horrid inſurrection of a rude godleſſe multitude; and againe, by the invaſion of a potent enemy, prevailing in the neighbor County; at both which times, beſides the generall calamity juſtly feared, particular threatnings were daily brought unto you: under which ſad diſpenſations, I muſt crave leave to ſay (only to put you in mind of your ſelfe, if it ſhould pleaſe God againe to reduce you to the like ſtraights) that I never ſaw more reſolved conſtancy, more cheerfull unmoved Chriſtian courage in any man. Such a valiant heart in a weak body, ſuch a directing head, where the hand was but feeble, ſuch unwearied endevours, under the preſſures of a painful infirmity, ſo well adviſed reſolves in the midſt of imminent danger, did I then behold, as I know not where to parallel. Neither can I ſay leſſe in her kind of your vertuous Lady, whoſe known goodneſſe to al, and particular indulgences to me, make her (as ſhe is in her ſelf) very precious in my thoughts and remembrance: whom having named, I deſire to take the advantage thankfully to mention her worthy ſon, my noble and very deare friend C. Weſtrow, whoſe judgement to diſcerne the differences of theſe times, and his valour in proſecuting what he is reſolved to be juſt and lawfull, places him among the number of thoſe very few, to whom it is given to know aright the cauſes of things, and vigorouſly to execute holy and laudible deſignes. But further of him I chooſe to ſay nothing, becauſe if I would, I cannot but ſay too little. Neither will longer detain you from the enſuing Diſcourſe, which I deſire to commend to your favourable acceptance, and with my hearty prayers, that the Lord would meet you and yours in all thoſe wayes of mercy and grace, which are neceſſary to carry you along through all your engagements, untill you arrive at the haven of everlaſting glory, where you would be: I reſt
Your moſt obliged Servaent in Ieſus Chriſt our common Maſter: JOHN OVVEN.