A53704:228
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.
Our Enquiry therefore is, Whereon the Continuation of this Church-State, unto the end of the World, doth depend; what are the Causes? What are the Means of it? whence it becomes infallible and necessary. I must only premise, that our present Consideration is not so much de facto, as unto what hath fallen out in the World, unto our Knowledge and Observation, but de jure, or of a Right unto this Continuation. And this is such as makes it not only lawful for such a Church-State to be, but requires also from all the Disciples of Christ in a way of Duty, that it be always in actual Existence. Hereby there is a warrant given unto all believers, at all times to gather themselves into such a Church-State, and a Duty imposed on them so to do.
The Reasons and Causes appointing and securing this Continuation, are of various sorts, the principal whereof, are these that follow.
1. The supreme Cause hereof, is the Father's Grant of a perpetual Kingdom in this World unto Jesus Christ, the Mediator and Head of the Church. Psal. 72.5, 7, 15, 16, 17. Isa 9.7. Zech. 6.13. This Grant of the Father, our Lord Jesus Christ pleaded as his Warranty for the Foundation and Continuation of the Church. Mat. 28 17, 18, 19, 20. This Everlasting Kingdom of Jesus Christ, given him by the irrevocable Grant of the Father, may be considered three ways. (1) As unto the real Subjects of it, true Believers, which are the Object of the Internal, Spiritual Power, and Rule of Christ. Of these it is necessary, by virtue of this Grant and Divine Constitution of the Kingdom of Christ, that in every Age there should be some in the World, and those perhaps no small multitude, but such as the Internal Rule