A53704:121
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.
The Noise hereof coming abroad unto other Churches, great Offence was taken at it by many of them, and Victor was roundly dealt withal by sundry of them who agreed with him in Practise, but abhorred his Imposition of it, and making it a Condition of Church Communion.
Among those who so opposed and rebuked him, Irenaeus was the most Eminent. And I shall observe some ⟨p. 57⟩few things out of the Fragment of his Epistle, as it is recorded by Euseb. lib. 5. cap. 23.
And (1.) He tells us, that he wrote unto Victor in the name of those Brethren in France whom he did preside amongst. The Custom of considering things of this Nature with all the Brethren of the Church, and writing their Determination, in their Name, was not yet grown out of use, though the Practise of it now would be esteemed Novel and Schismatical.
(2.) He tells Victor, that there were great varieties in this thing, as also in the Times and Seasons of Fasting, which did not, saith he, begin or arise in our days, but long before was introduced by such, who being in Places of Rule, rejected and changed the common and simple Customs which the Church had before. The Dr. therefore need not think it so strange, that an Alteration in Church Order and Rule should fall out in after Ages, when long before Irenaeus's time such Changes were begun.