A53701:26
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.
9. THIS Position of Truth is abused by Interest and Pride; an enclosure of it being made by them, who of all Christians in the World can lay the least and weakest claim unto it; namely, the Church of Rome. For they are so far from being that Catholic Church, out of which there is no Salvation, and wherein none can perish, like the Ark of Noah, that it requires the highest charity to reckon them unto that visible professing Church, whereof the greatest part may perish; and do so undoubtedly.
9. THIS Position of Truth is abused by Interest and Pride; an enclosure of it being made by them, who of all Christians in the World can lay the least and weakest claim unto it; namely, the Church of Rome. For they are so far from being that Catholick Church, out of which there is no Salvation, and wherein none can perish, like the Ark of Noah, that it requires the highest charity to reckon them unto that visible professing Church, whereof the greatest part may perish; and do so undoubtedly.
10. Our enquiry is, what truth there is in this Assertion, with respect unto these particular Churches or Societies, for the celebration of Gospel-worship and Discipline, whereof we treat. And I say,
1. No Church, of what denomination soever, can lay a claim unto this Privilege▪ as belonging unto it self alone. This wa• the ancient Donatism; They confined Salvation unto the Churches of their way alone. And after many false charges of it on others, it begins really to be renewed in our d•ys. For some dispute, that Salvation is confined unto that Church alone, wherein there is a Succession of Diocesan Bishops; which is the height of Donatism. The Judgments and Determinations made concerning the