A41330:869
The questions between the conformist and nonconformist, truly stated, and briefly discussed Dr. Falkner,…
The questions between the conformist and nonconformist, truly stated, and briefly discussed Dr. Falkner, The friendly debate &c., examined and answered : together with a discourse about separation, and some animadversions upon Dr. Stillingfleet's book entitled, The unreasonableness of separation : observations upon Dr. Templars sermon preached at a visitation in Cambridge : a brief vindication of Mr. Stephen Marshal.The questions between the conformist and nonconformist, truly stated, and briefly discussed Dr. Falkner, The friendly debate &c., examined and answered : together with a discourse about separation, and some animadversions upon Dr. Stillingfleet's book entituled, The unreasonableness of separation : observations upon Dr. Templers sermon preached at a visitation in Cambridge : a brief vindication of Mr. Stephen Marshal.
London: printed for Tho. Cockerill, 1681
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.
As for that Question, Whether every particular Congregation makes a particular Church? which you deny, and oppose the Dissenters, p. 234. &c. I pray, Sir, why do you not answer Mr. Alsop's Text which he brings p. 45. from 1 Cor. 11.18. compared with 20. that Text deserves an answer; and till that be done, they are not confuted; you have left out the strongest Argument.
Sir, you must state the Question a little closer, else you will not carry it. I doubt not but there may be one particular Congregation which may be invested with the power, and execute all the power of the keys, and I think that is a Church. For instance, take your own Congregation, and a few more in London, where four or five thousand meet to worship God, so large are your places, with Galleries also. I would suppose in such a Congregation there would be required four Teaching Elders, four Ruling Elders (Sir, I must own that Officer, though I think there hath been an error in assigning him that power which is not due to him) and four Deacons. Let all these Officers ply their work as hard ⟨p. 103⟩as they will, I doubt not but they will find their hands full and hearts full too, unless the Four thousand be the better Christians. But Sir, will you deny this Congregation to be such a Church as we read of in the Gospel, complete as to exercise of all the power of the keys? I am sure you will not.
Sir, you must state the Question a little closer, else you will not carry it. I doubt not but there may be one particular Congregation which may be invested with the power, and execute all the power of the keys, and I think that is a Church. For instance, take your own Congregation, and a few more in London, where four or five thousand meet to worship God, so large are your places, with Galleries also. I would suppose in such a Congregation there would be required four Teaching Elders, four Ruling Elders (Sir, I must own that Officer, though I think there hath been an error in assigning him that power which is not due to him) and four Deacons. Let all these Officers ply their work as hard