A53704:219
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.
Chapter 3: The Continuation of a Church-State and of Churches unto the end of the world; what are…
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 Causes of the continuation of this Church-State unto its appointed period were two.
1. The Promise of God unto Abraham, that he would keep and preserve his Seed in Covenant with him, until he should be the Heir of the World, and the Father of many ⟨p. 39⟩Nations, in the coming of Christ, whereunto this Church-State was subservient. (2) The Law of God it self, and the Institutions thereof, which God appointed to be observed in all their Generations, calling the Covenant, the Statutes and Laws of it, perpetual and everlasting; that is never to cease, to be abrogated or disannulled, until by his own Sovereign Authority he would utterly change and take away that whole Church-State, with all that belonged unto its Constitution and Preservation.
1. The Promise of God unto Abraham, that he would keep and preserve his Seed in Covenant with him, until he should be the Heir of the World, and the Father of many ⟨p. 39⟩Nations, in the coming of Christ, whereunto this Church-State was subservient. (2) The Law of God it self, and the Institutions thereof, which God appointed to be observed in all their Generations, calling the Covenant, the Statutes and Laws of it, perpetual and everlasting; that is never to cease, to be abrogated or disannulled, until by his own Soveraign Authority he would utterly change and take away that whole Church-State, with all that belonged unto its Constitution and Preservation.
2. The Means of its continuance were three. (1) Carnal Generation, and that on a twofold account. For there were two Constituent Parts of that Church, the Priests, and the People; the continuation of each of them depended on the privilege of Carnal Generation. For the Priests were to be all of the Family of Aaron, and the People of the Seed of Abraham by the other Heads of Tribes, which gave them both their foundation in, and Right unto this Church-State. And hereunto were annexed all the Laws concerning the Integrity, Purity, and Legitimacy of the Priests, with the certainty of their Pedigree. (2) Circumcision; the want whereof was a bar against any advantage by the former Privilege of Generation from those two Springs; and hereby others also might be added unto the Church, though never with a Capacity of the Priesthood.