A53704:143
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 Way whereby I became to be at all engaged in this Contest, and the Reasons whereon I undertook an harmless Defence of our Innocency, as to the Charge of Schism at this time, I shall give a brief account of.
The Way whereby I became to be at all ingaged in this Contest, and the Reasons whereon I undertook an harmless Defence of our Innocency, as to the Charge of Schism at this time, I shall give a breif account of.
Some days after the Drs. Sermon was printed and published, One of those whom he supposeth we persuaded not to read it, brought it unto me, and gave it me, with such a Character of it, as I shall not repeat. Upon the perusal of it, (which I did on his Desire, being uncertain to this day, whither without that occasion, I had ever read it at all) I confess I was both surprised and troubled, and quickly found that many others were so also. For as there was then a great Hope and Expectation, that all Protestants would cement and Unite in one common Cause and Interest for the Defence and Preservation of Religion against the Endeavours of the Papists for its Subversion; so it was thought by wise men of all sorts, that the only Medium and Expedient for this End, was the deposing of the consideration of the lesser Differences among ourselves, and burying all Animosities that had arisen from them. And I yet suppose my self at least excusable, that I judged the Tendency of that Discourse, to lye utterly another way. Nor is it in my ⟨p. 70⟩Power to believe, that a Peremptory Charge of Schism upon any Dissenters, considering what is the Apprehension and Judgement of those who make that Charge concerning it, with respect unto God and Men, is a means to unite us in one common Religious Interest. And on this Account, not knowing in the least that any other Person had undertaken, or would undertake the Consideration of the Drs. Sermon, I thought that My endeavour for the removal of the Obstacle cast in the way unto a sincere Coalition in the Unity of Faith among all sorts of Protestants, might not be unacceptable. Neither did I see any other way whereby this might be done, but only by a Vindication of the Dissenters from the Guilt of that state, which if it be truly charged on them must render our Divisions irreconcilable. And continuing still of the same Mind, I have once more renewed the same Defensative, with no other Design but to maintain hopes, that Peace and Love may yet be preserved among us, during the continuation of these Differences. And whereas it is a work of Almighty Power, to reduce Christian Religion unto its first Purity and Simplicity, which will not be effected but by various providential Dispensations in the World, and renewed Effusions of the Holy Spirit, from above; which are to be waited for;