A53704:244
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.
But there are some who maintain that the Continuation and Preservation of this Church State, depends solely on a successive Ordination of Church Officers, from the Apostles, and so down throughout all Ages unto the end of the World. For this they say is the only means of conveying Church Power from one time to another; so as that if it fail, all Church-State, Order, and Power must fall, never in this World to be recovered. There is they say a Flux of Power through the hands of the Ordainers, unto the Ordained, by virtue of their outward Ordination, whereon the Being of the Church doth depend. Howbeit those who use this Plea, are not at all agreed about those things which are essential in, and unto this successive Ordination. Some think that the Lord Christ committed the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven unto Peter only, and he to the Bishop of Rome alone, from whose Person therefore all their Ordination must be derived. Some think, and those on various Grounds, that it is committed unto all and only Diocesan Bishops, whose Being and Beginning are very uncertain. Others require no more unto it, but that Presbyters be ordained by Presbyters; who were rejected in their Plea, by both the former sorts; and other differences almost innumerable among them who are thus minded might be reckoned up.
But there are some who maintain that the Continuation and Preservation of this Church State, depends solely on a successive Ordination of Church Officers, from the Apostles, and so down throughout all Ages unto the end of the World. For this they say is the only means of conveying Church Power from one time to another; so as that if it fail, all Church-State, Order, and Power must fall, never in this World to be recovered. There is they say a Flux of Power through the hands of the Ordainers, unto the Ordained, by vertue of their outward Ordination, whereon the Being of the Church doth depend. Howbeit those who use this Plea, are not at all agreed about those things which are essential in, and unto this successive Ordination. Some think that the Lord Christ committed the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven unto Peter only, and he to the Bishop of Rome alone, from whose Person therefore all their Ordination must be derived. Some think, and those on various Grounds, that it is committed unto all and only Diocesan Bishops, whose Being and Beginning are very uncertain. Others require no more unto it, but that Presbyters be ordained by Presbyters; who were rejected in their Plea, by both the former sorts; and other differences almost innumerable among them who are thus minded might be reckoned up.