A53704:21
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.
Neither doth there seem at present to be any design or expectation in the Most for the ending of Controversies about the Church, but Force and the Sword; which God forbid.
It is therefore high time that a sober Enquiry be made whether there be any such Church state of Divine Institution as those contended about. For if it should appear upon Trial, that indeed there is not, but that all the fierce digladiations of the Parties at Variance, with the doleful effects that attend them, have proceeded on a false supposition, in an adherence whereunto they are confirmed by their Interests, ⟨p. 3⟩some advances may be made towards their Abatement. However if this may not be attained, yet Directions may be taken from the Discovery of the Truth, for the use of them who are willing to be delivered from all concernment in these fruitless endless contests, and to reduce their whole Practice in Religion unto the Institutions, Rules, and Commands of our Lord Jesus Christ. And where all hopes of a general Reformation seem to fail, it savours somewhat of an unwarrantable Severity, to forbid them to reform themselves who are willing so to do; provided they admit of no other Rule in what they so do, but the Declaration of the Mind of Christ in the Gospel, carrying it peaceably towards all Men, and firmly adhering unto the Faith once delivered unto the Saints.
To make an Entrance into this Enquiry, the ensuing Discourse is designed. And there can be no way of the Management of it, but by a diligent impartial search into the Nature, Order, Power and Rule of the Gospel Church state, as instituted, determined and limited by our Lord Jesus Christ and his Apostles. When we depart from this Rule, so as not to be regulated by it, in all Instances of Fact, or pleas of Right that afterwards fell out, we fall into the confusion of various Presumptions, suited unto the Apprehensions and Interests of men, imposed on them from the Circumstances of the Ages wherein they lived. Yet is it not to be denied, but that much Light into the nature of Apostolical Institutions, may be received from the declared Principles and Practices of the first Churches for the space of 200 years, or thereabouts. But that after this the Churches did insensibly depart in various degrees from the state, Rule, and Order, of the Apostolical Churches, must I suppose be acknowledged by all those who groan under the final Issue of that gradual Degeneracy in the Papal Antichristian Tyranny. For Rome was not built in a day, nor was