A53701:119
A guide to church-fellowship and order according to the gospel-institution
A guide to church-fellowship and order according to the gospel-institution wherein these following particulars are distinctly handled, I. The necessity of believers to join themselves in church-order, II. The subject matter of the church, III. The continuation of a church-state, and of the administration of evangelical ordinances of worship, briefly vindicated, IV. What sort of churches the disciples of Christ may and ought to join themselves unto as unto entire communion / by ... John Owen ...A guide to church-fellowship and order according to the gospel-institution wherein these following particulars are distinctly handled, I. The necessity of believers to joyn themselves in church-order, II. The subject matter of the church, III. The continuation of a church-state, and of the administration of evangelical ordinances of worship, briefly vindicated, IV. What sort of churches the disciples of Christ may and ought to joyn themselves unto as unto entire communion / by ... John Owen ...
London: printed for William Marshall, 1692
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.
(3.) All Christians actually do so; they do judge for themselves, unless they are brutish; they do Act according unto that Judgment unless they are hardened in Sin; and therefore who do not so, are not to be esteemed Disciples of Christ. To ⟨p. 75⟩suppose that in all things of Spiritual and Eternal Concernment, that men are not determined and acted, every one by his own Judgment, is an Imagination of men who think but little of what they are, or do, or say, or write. Even those who shut their Eyes against the Light, and follow in the H•rd, resolving not to enquire into any of these things, do it, because they judge it is best for them so to do.
(3.) All Christians actually do so; they do judge for themselves, unless they are brutish; they do Act according unto that Judgment unless they are hardened in Sin; and therefore who do not so, are not to be esteemed Disciples of Christ. To ⟨p. 75⟩suppose that in all things of Spiritua• and Eternal Concernment, that men are not determined and acted, every one by his own Judgment, is an Imagination of men who think but little of what they are, or do, or say, or write. Even those who shut their Eyes against the Light, and follow in the H•rd, resolving not to enquire into any of these things, do it, because they judge it is best for them so to do.
(4.) It is commonly acknowledged by Protestants, that private Christians have a Judgment of Discretion in things of Religion. The Term was invented to grant them some Liberty of Judgment in Opposition unto the blind Obedience required by the Church of Rome; but withal to put a restraint upon it, and a distinction of some Superior Judgment, it may be, in the Church or others. But if by Discretion, they mean the best of Mens Understanding, Knowledge, Wisdom, and Prudence, in and about the things wherein it is exercised, I should be glad to be informed, what other Judgment, than this of Discretion in and bout the things of Religion, this or that or any Church in the World, can have or exercise. But to allow Men a Judgment of Discretion, and not to grant it their Duty to act according unto that Judgment, is to oblige