A53704:255
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 4: The Especial Nature of the Gospel Church-State appointed by Christ.
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.
2. Whereas there are great contests about Communion with ⟨p. 59⟩Churches, or Separation from them, and mutual charges of Impositions and Schisms thereon, they must be all regulated by this Enquiry; namely, what is that Church State which Christ hath prescribed. Herein alone is Conscience concerned as unto all Duties of Ecclesiastical Communion. Neither can a cha•ge of Schism be managed against any, but on a supposition of Sin, with respect unto that Church-State and Order which Christ hath appointed. A Dissent from any thing else, however pretended to be useful, yea advantageous unto Church Ends, must come under other prudential considerations. All which shall be fully proved, and vindicated from the exceptions of Dr. St.
3. There have been, and are in the World, several sorts of Churches of great Power and Reputation, of several Forms and Kinds, yet contributing Aid to each other, in their respective stations; As (1) The Papal Church which pretends it self to be Catholic or Universal, comprehensive of all true Believers or Disciples of Christ, united in their Subjection unto the Bishop of Rome. (2) There were of old, and the shadow of them is still remaining, Churches called Patriarchal, first 3, then 4, then 5 of them, whereinto all other Churches and professed Christians in the Roman World were distributed, as unto a Dependence on the Authority, and Subjection to the Jurisdiction, and Order of the Bishops of 5 principal Cities of the Empire, who were thereon called Patriarchs. (3) Various Divisions under them, of Archiepiscopal or Metropolitical Churches; and under them of those that are now called Diocesan, whose bounds and limits were fixed and altered according to the Variety of Occasions and Occurrences of things in the Nations of the World. What hath been the Original of all these sorts of Churches, how from Parochial Assemblies, they grew up by the Degrees of their Descent now mentioned, into the height and centre of Papal Omnipotency, hath been declared elsewhere sufficiently.