A53701:93
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.
2. Where there is any Church taught or allowed, a Mixture of Doctrines or Opinions, that are prejudicial unto Gospel Holiness or Obedience, no man that takes due care of his Salvation can join himself unto i•. For the Original Rule and Measure of all Church Communion, is agreement in the Doctrine of Truth. Where therefore there is either not a stable Profession of the s•me Doctrine in all substantial Truths of the Gospel, but an uncertain s•u•d is given, some s•ying one thing, some another; or that Opposition is made unto any Truths, of the Importance before mentioned; None can be bound or obliged to ⟨p. 60⟩hold Communion with it; nor can incur any blame by refraining from it. For it is the Duty of a Christian in all things, [Greek or Hebrew]; And to join with such a Church, would (1.) Stain their Profession, (2.) Hinder their Edification; (3.) Establish a new Rule of Communion unknown to the Scriptures; namely, besides Truth; as might easily be manifested.
2. Where there is any Church taught or allowed, a Mixture of Doctrines or Opinions, that are preju•icial unto Gospel Holiness or Obedience, no man that takes due care of his Salvation can joyn himself unto i•. For the Original Rule and Measure of all Church Communion, is agreement in the Doctrine of Truth. Where therefore there is either not a stable Profession of the s•me Doctrine in all substantial Truths of the Gospel, but an uncertain s•u•d is given, some s•ying one thing, some anoth•r; or that Opposition is made unto any Truths, of the Importance before mentioned; None can be bound or obliged to ⟨p. 60⟩hold Communion with it; nor can incur any blame by refraining from it. For it is the Duty of a Christian in all things, ; And to joyn with such a Church, would (1.) Stain their Profession, (2.) Hinder their Edification; (3.) Establish a new Rule of Communion unknown to the Scriptures; namely, besides Truth; as might easily be manifested.