A53704:109
An enquiry into the original, nature, institution, power, order and communion of evangelical churches.…
An enquiry into the original, nature, institution, power, order and communion of evangelical churches. The first part with an answer to the discourse of the unreasonableness of separation written by Dr. Edward Stillingfleet, Dean of Pauls, and in defence of the vindication of non-conformists from the guilt of schism / by John Owen.An enquiry into the original, nature, institution, power, order and communion of evangelical churches. The first part with an answer to the discourse of the unreasonableness of separation written by Dr. Edward Stillingfleet, Dean of Pauls, and in defence of the vindication of non-conformists from the guilt of schisme / by John Owen.
London: printed by J. Richardson for Nath. Ponder, 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.
Fourthly; That Conscience is immediately and directly concerned in no other Church Unity as such, but what is an effect of the Rule of Christ given unto that End. We know what is spoken concerning Obedience unto the Guides and Rulers of the Church, which is a part of the Rule of Christ. But we know withal, that this Obedience is required of us, only as they teach us to observe and do all that he hath commanded, for other Commission ⟨p. 52⟩from him they have none. When this Rule is forsaken, and another substituted in the room of it, as it quickly diverts the Minds of Men from a Conscientious Attendance unto that Rule of Christ as the only means of Church Unity, so that other, doth either proceed from mens secular Interests, or may easily be accommodated thereunto. And whereas the Lines of it must be drawn in the Fields of pretended Indifferencies, and real Arbitrariness, it will be the cause of endless Contentions; whilst whatever some think themselves to have Power to appoint, others will judge themselves to have Liberty to refuse.
Fourthly; That Conscience is immediately and directly concerned in no other Church Ʋnity as such, but what is an effect of the Rule of Christ given unto that End. We know what is spoken concerning Obedience unto the Guides and Rulers of the Church, which is a part of the Rule of Christ. But we know withal, that this Obedience is required of us, only as they teach us to observe and do all that he hath commanded, for other Commission ⟨p. 52⟩from him they have none. When this Rule is forsaken, and another substituted in the room of it, as it quickly diverts the Minds of Men from a Conscientious Attendance unto that Rule of Christ as the only means of Church Ʋnity, so that other, doth either proceed from mens secular Interests, or may easily be accommodated thereunto. And whereas the Lines of it must be drawn in the Feilds of pretended Indifferencies, and real Arbitrariness, it will be the cause of endless Contentions; whilst whatever some think themselves to have Power to appoint, others will judge themselves to have Liberty to refuse.