A53701:19
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.
We do therefore avow, that we cannot admit any into our Church Societies, as to complete Membership, and actual Interest in the privileges of the Church, who do not, by a profession of Faith in, and obedience unto Jesus Christ, no way contradicted by sins of life, manifest themselves to be such, as whose ⟨p. 8⟩duty it is, to join themselves unto any Church. Neither do we injure any baptized Persons hereby, or oppose any of their Right unto, and Interest in the Church, but only as they did universally in the Primitive Churches, after the death of the Apostles, we direct them into that way and method, wherein they may be received unto the glory of Christ, and their own edification. And we do therefore affirm, that we will never deny that Communion unto any person, high or low, rich or poor, old or young, male or female, whose duty it is to desire it.
We do therefore avow, that we cannot admit any into our Church Societies, as to compleat Membership, and actual Interest in the priviledges of the Church, who do not, by a profession of Faith in, and obedience unto Jesus Christ, no way contradicted by sins of life, manifest themselves to be such, as whose ⟨p. 8⟩duty it is, to joyn themselves unto any Church. Neither do we injure any baptized Persons hereby, or oppose any of their Right unto, and Interest in the Church, but only as they did universally in the Primitive Churches, after the death of the Apostles, we direct them into that way and method, wherein they may be received unto the glory of Christ, and their own edification. And we do therefore affirm, that we will never deny that Communion unto any person, high or low, rich or poor, old or young, male or female, whose duty it is to desire it.
2. IT is added in the description of the Subject, That it is such an one who takes due care of his own Salvation. Many there are who profess themselves to be Christians, who it may be hear the word willingly, and do many things gladly, yet do not esteem themselves obliged unto a diligent enquiry into, and a precise observation of all the commands of Christ. But it is such whom we intend, who constantly fix their minds on the enjoyment of God, as their chiefest good and utmost end, who thereon duly consider the means of attaining it, and apply themselves thereunto. And it is to be feared, that the number of such persons will not be found to be very